Revenge of the Film Nerds
42 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago -Gaming celebrity BlackKrystel & amateur film historian Jack Manley host a weekly podcast that goes on deep dives of classic films both old & new, telling the stories of how they are made & sharing the moments of each story that speak to them! SEASON 3 DEBUTING NOW!
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Episodes
Season 3, Episode 9: Coraline (2009)
April 24, 2024 22:00 - 1 hour - 65.6 MBThe Film Nerds are in TERRIBLE danger, girl! On this week's episode, BK & Jack jump headlong back into the world of stop-motion animation with another Henry Selick classic. Learn how Coraline Jones was born from the mind of one of modern writing's most important minds, how it took a Herculean effort to bring the beloved novel to the screen, how the film's production changed the industry forever, and so much more! You probably think this podcast is a dream come true... but you're wrong...
Season 3, Episode 8: The Mask (1994)
April 03, 2024 19:00 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBSOMEBODY STOP US! This week, BK & Jack take us on the incredible, winding journey that led us to the 1994 breakout comedy for Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, & so many people behind the film. Learn how the Mask came from the mind of an independent artist who changed the world of comics forever, how the film went through a development process that was unprecedented in Hollywood, how director Chuck Russell fought for unknown talent to cement the heart of the film, & so much more! Dare I say it? Th...
Season 3, Episode 7: The Big Short (2015)
March 13, 2024 17:00 - 1 hour - 51.6 MBIt ain't what the Film Nerds don't know that gets them in trouble; It's what they know for sure that just ain't so. On this week's episode, BK & Jack dive headlong into the Global Financial Crisis of the late 00's through Adam McKay's electric film on the subject. Learn how the monster of the mortgage-backed security came into being, how it got out of hand, how the early warnings over the market's fraudulence were ignored, how the global economy ended up where it is today, & so much more! ...
Season 3, Episode 6: There Will Be Blood (2007)
February 27, 2024 21:00 - 1 hour - 68.1 MBLadies & Gentleman, the Film Nerds have traveled from halfway across the state to be here tonight.... It's time for BK & Jack to delve into the dark heart of the oil industry, courtesy of Paul Thomas Anderson's cinematic masterpiece. Hear the history of how oil became inextricable from civilization, how the resource became an industry the rewrites the lines on maps to this day, how the meticulous work of the filmmakers brought a forgotten era of prospecting & greed to life, & much, much mor...
Season 3, Episode 5: Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
February 19, 2024 18:00 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBThe universe is so much bigger than the Film Nerds realize... On this week's episode, BK & Jack inaugurate their 2024 by getting into one of most essential films of the current decade - the landmark film by Daniels that changed the way we look at the film industry. Hear the story of how two Emerson film students stumbled upon the ideas of the multiverse by accident, how a philosophical journey over 2,000 years in the making brought us to our understanding of infinite universes, how the Chin...
Season 3, Episode 4: The Aviator (2004)
December 20, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBMy, don't the Film Nerds make a fine pair of miscreants? On this week's episode, BK & Jack tackle their first ever look at a Martin Scorsese film, diving into his portrait of Howard Hughes which manages to be both personal & as grandiose as the man himself. Hear about the controversial life & legacy of the eccentric billionaire, how his story mesmerized Hollywood for decades, how it took a unique perspective & dedication to bring an honest depiction of Hughes & his mental health to the silv...
Season 3, Episode 3: Akira (1988)
December 13, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBThe question before the Film Nerds is simple: To Act or Not Act! On this week's episode, BK & Jack take a look and the most influential work of Japanese animation of all time - a film so pivotal that it has become a ubiquitous reference for all modern science fiction since. Hear the history of how this tale of atomic devastation came to be, from the sobering history of the end of the Second World War through to Japan's reconciliation with its nuclear trauma through art; how director Katsuhi...
Season 3, Episode 2: A Bridge Too Far (1977)
December 06, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBWell as you know, I've always thought we went a podcast too far... The Film Nerds are here with a deep examination of one of the greatest forgotten war epics of all time - and one of the biggest independent productions in the industry's history. Hear the history of how the Allies arrived at Operation Market Garden, how legendary producer Joseph E Levine got hooked on the story of the battle & compelled the film forward, how the tale of hubris & Pyrrhic victory struggled to connect with the ...
Season 3 Premiere: Seven Samurai (1954)
November 29, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBThe wait is finally over: Just when the villagers had lost all hope, the Film Nerds ride to the rescue!!! After a slightly longer than anticipated break between seasons, your favorite film podcast is back & bigger than ever! And do the Film Nerds ever have a treat for you to kick off Season 3: a deep dive into Akira Kurosawa's crowning action masterpiece. Learn how the legendary director rose to the pinnacle of international fame, how the cast & crew went to death-defying lengths to complet...
Season 2 Finale: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
February 06, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBWe didn't choose this movie! We didn't choose these podcasters! They were invited! It's the Season 2 Finale, & the Film Nerds are determined to send it off properly with one of the most wondrous spectacles in the history of film. Cast a long look to the heavens on this deep dive as BK & Jack discuss the history of UFO Mania in the United States, how watching a meteor shower with his father impacted a young Steven Speilberg forever, the serendipitous ways which the film brought out the best...
The Breakfast Club (1985)
January 25, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBI have a question, Film Nerds: Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe? On this week's episode, BK & Jack take a look at the extremely complicated history of what is often considered to be the quintessential film of the 1980s. Hear how John Hughes created a space in the art form for serious teenage voices for the first time by utlizing his own penchant for rebellion, how the principal crew on the project had to fight the studio every step of the way to make the film, how the bonds be...
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
January 18, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 53.8 MBDo you not know that, when in podcasting, one must always choose the lesser of two weevils? On this week's episode of Revenge of the Film Nerds, BK & Jack take to the high seas & dive into a classic historical epic - one of Jack's favorite genres... & one of BK's least favorite. Hear how the film sprang from a beloved series of novels penned by a true eccentric, how 20th Century Fox saw the series as a potential tentpole franchise, how Peter Weir inspired so much passion & investment from ...
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
January 11, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 49.5 MBBy gad, Film Nerds, you are characters! There's never any telling what you'll say or do next, except that it's bound to be something astonishing! In their first episode of 2023, BK & Jack tackle one of the all-time great classic films - THE standard bearer of the film noir genre. Come along on a journey as the Nerds reveal the difficulty in adapting the greatest crime novel of its era, how a project in need of a second chance fell into the hands of a director making the most of his, the st...
tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)
December 21, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 51 MBMusicals or Films; Which do you prefer? Ask the Nerds! On this weeks episode, BK & Jack dive into a contemporary musical that tweaks & bends the biopic genre into a uniquely colorful experience. Hear how Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut interprets this musical work inspired by the true life story of its author, Jonathan Larson. We'll cover how Larson's struggles over his early works led to the revelations that would turn him into one of musical theatre's shining stars, the ways in wh...
Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)
December 07, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 52 MBIt's time for the Film Nerds to decide: Which side are you on? Which side are you on? On this week's episode, BK & Jack make their first-ever foray into documentary filmmaking with a close look at one of the most visceral and revealing documentaries ever made in the United States. Learn how the observational form of documentary defined the approach used by Barbara Kopple to film this struggle for union recognition in an isolated corner of Appalachia, what interested her in this story in th...
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
November 30, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBHe's Not A Film Nerd! He's a Very Naughty Boy! BK & Jack are BACK after a quick break for the Thanksgiving holiday with an incredible comedy to sink their teeth into. Join in on the fun as the Film Nerds discuss the cosmic importance of Monty Python (even if BK refuses to say their name properly), how the film went from a flippant joke to a tangible project, the near death & resurrection of the production, the controversial reception of the film, & much more! A classic film from the greate...
Jumanji (1995)
November 16, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 46.9 MBYou're almost there with much at stake; but now the Pod begins to quake!!! On this week's episode, BK & Jack stampede into one of their favorite family films of all time! Hear how the story went from a beloved children's novel to the big screen, how the cast & crew's collaboration with one another delivered a cinematic spectacle at the cutting edge of the art form, how the film peppers some incredible morals within its telling, and much, much more! And the best part? You don't have to wait...
La Haine (1995)
November 09, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 48.4 MBHow you podcast doesn't matter... It's how you land! The Film Nerds are taking a journey over to France this week to examine Matthieu Kassovitz's timeless character study! Hear about the forces in France which gave rise to the "banlieue" - the country's very own projects, how the tensions between French African immigrants and police reached a boiling point in the early 90s, how this powder keg inspired Kassovitz & his close friends to make an artistic statement on this crisis, & much, much...
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
November 01, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 47.9 MBAlright people, let's do this one last time... On this week's episode, BK & Jack swing into the world of one of the most popular superheroes in history as they navigate the multiverse in this modern classic! Join the Film Nerds as they discuss the debate around the value of superhero films, the long & difficult journey to representation in comics & superhero films, the importance of Miles Morales as a character, the challenges he surmounts in the film, & so much more. This is one foray int...
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
October 25, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 48.6 MBThe podcast which you are about to hear is an account of the tragedy which befell a group of five youths, in particular Sally Hardesty and her brother, Franklin. It is all the more tragic in that they were young... After weeks of build-up, it's finally time for BK & Jack to witness one of the most iconic horror films of all time. Along the way, they will discuss how they reacted personally to the film, how the American fascination with serial killers entered the popular consciousness befor...
Train to Busan (2016)
October 18, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 46.4 MBThe Film Nerds shall rise and walk among the living! And the Film Nerds shall outnumber the living! It's time for another entry in the Month of Horror, and BK & Jack are celebrating by digging into a movie monster that is near & dear to their hearts: The zombie! Join in as they discuss how we got from ancient cultural conceptions of the creature to its modern iteration, how different types of zombie evoke different types of fear, how Train to Busan advanced the genre in new & personal ways...
Perfect Blue (1997)
October 11, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBExcuse me, Film Nerds: who are you? This week, as BK & Jack sink even deeper into the Month of Horror, they set their sights on the Land of Sunshine and one of its scariest animations of all time. Hear the story of how the project came to be, how it landed at the perfect studio for its development, how director Satoshi Kon dramatically altered the story from its source material to give it a psychological edge, how it became an unlikely festival hit, & much, much more. A chilling, thrilling...
Ex Machina (2014)
October 04, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 47.3 MBA podcast on a modern classic? That's not the history of man; that's the history of Film Nerds! On this week's episode, BK & Jack kick off the Month of Horror with a technologically chilling journey through the world of Ex Machina, Alex Garland's essential entry into the modern science fiction & thriller lexicons. Hear about the writer/director's career path from prodigious novelist to helming his own film, how Garland & his cast became the beating heart of the film, the depth of the philo...
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
September 27, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 46.1 MBDude! The Film Nerds have supplied us with a most bodacious new episode! On this week's podcast, BK & Jack take a journey through space, time, & 80s teen comedy as they break down this spectacular comedy from the minds of director Stephen Herek & writers Ed Solomon & Chris Matheson. Hear about the birth of the two iconic protagonists, the quagmire of finding the right actors to fill their shoes, a production that dodged disaster on more than one occasion, how the film was almost lost forev...
It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)
September 20, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 44.9 MBAll this detail the Film Nerds never noticed... They're alive! On this week's episode of Revenge of the Film Nerds, BK and Jack delve into Don Hertzfeldt's animated emotional masterwork, a feature film comprised of his three short films Everything Will Be Okay, I'm So Proud of You, & the titular It's Such a Beautiful Day. Come along on a journey as the Film Nerds discuss the poignancy and resonance of the film, the core principles at play in Don Hertzfeldt's works, the exemplary use of tec...
Brazil (1985)
September 13, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 45.7 MBRevenge of the Film Nerds: It's a State of Mind. On this week's episode, BK & take a deep dive in the history behind Terry Gilliam's dream-like masterpiece, Brazil. Sit back as the Film Nerds spin you a tale of Gilliam's inspiration for the film, how the project was aided by a producer who was not all he seemed, the depths Gilliam went to in the pursuit of putting imagination on the screen, the all-out war to secure the final cut, & so much more! A journey behind the dystopia that you will...
Total Recall (1990)
September 06, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 48 MBHa Ha Ha! You think this is the real podcast? It is! The Film Nerds are back for another week of movie goodness, and they're kicking back this week with Paul Verhoeven's ultra-violent action sci-fi masterpiece from 1990. Hear about the controversial history of gratuitous violence in film that brought us to this point in history, the drama of a development process that nearly killed the film, the actor and the ambitious studio that saved the project, the groundbreaking visual effects, and m...
The Princess Bride (1987)
August 30, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 47.6 MBTaking two seasons to review The Princess Bride? Inconceivable! The Film Nerds are back this week with their first ever dive into the worlds of high fantasy and romantic comedy with the 1987 cult classic directed by Rob Reiner and written by William Goldman. Sit back and enjoy a tale of how some of America's most powerful writing forces brought together a film considered "impossible" to make, the serendipity that assembled its cast, the film's wide-reaching appeal and message, and the joy e...
The Mummy (1999)
August 23, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 53.4 MBFor thousands of years, the Film Nerds lay dormant... WHO HAS AWAKENED US FROM OUR SLUMBER? Okay okay, it's only been 18 months, but after a long hiatus, we are BACK with Season 2 of Revenge of the Film Nerds! And what better way to celebrate our reincarnation than with an all-time classic creature feature: 1999's The Mummy, directed by Stephen Sommers. Join us as we discuss the history of the Mummy creature through its multiple forms throughout history, the historical forces that brought ...
The Third Man (1949)
March 01, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBAfter their foray through time last week, the Film Nerds are going to turn back the clock again! This time, they're taking a look at one of the all-time film noir classics: Carol Reed and Graham Greene's The Third Man. Over the course of the conversation, BK & Jack discuss the roots of film noir as one of the first true amalgamations of film traditions, the events that took place in post-war Austria that provide the film its unique setting, the subtle & overt subversions of the traditional H...
La Jetée (1962) / 12 Monkeys (1995)
February 21, 2021 16:00 - 1 hour - 65.6 MBWe're still in the Month of Love, & the Film Nerds are looking to unwind with another ill-fated romance. What better way to celebrate their condition than to go on a trip through time? In this episode, we take a long look at both Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys & the film that served as its direct ancestor & inspiration, Chris Marker's experimental film La Jetée. Over the course of the discussion, BK & Jack go over the roots of time travel in narrative fiction, the influence of the French New Wav...
Jackie Brown (1997)
February 14, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 71.7 MBJust when you thought it was safe to leave the house, it's..... REVENGE OF THE FILM NERDS!!! After a long and tumultuous holiday hiatus, the Nerds are back to bring you the 2nd half of their 1st season. To kick off the next batch of episodes, the Film Nerds take a deep dive into 1997's Jackie Brown, written & directed by Quentin Tarantino. Over the course of the discussion, they analyze the origins of the pulp fiction phenomenon, the strict focus on characters over plot throughout the scrip...
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
December 10, 2020 03:00 - 1 hour - 66 MBAfter a month off the clock, the Film Nerds are back at it with an absolute classic! On this episode, BK & Jack jump into the world of 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit? directed by Robert Zemeckis. The conversation looks at the roots of combining animation and live action, the monumental technical undertaking of combining these two world in a convincing manner, the ways in which the world of the film breath new life into both the detective story and the world of cartoons, & so much more. Also...
Psycho (1960)
October 31, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour - 62.5 MBOn Halloween, a nerd's best friend is their podcast... The Film Nerds cap off the spooky season this week by checking into the most famous motel in cinematic history. It's time to experience the terror of all-time horror classic Psycho, produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. In the course of examining the film, BK & Jack discuss its revolutionary impact on the industry at a turning point in Hollywood, the many controversies surrounding the story and its content, the brilliance of compos...
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
October 24, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 62.6 MBWhat's this? What's this? A brand new episode? What this? The best podcast you know! The Film Nerds are back, just in time to catch the peak of the haunting season! In this episode, BK & Jack get into the spirit with a closer look at 1993's The Nightmare Before Christmas, directed by Henry Selick, created by Tim Burton, and composed by Danny Elfman. The discussion goes in depth into the history of claymation, the Herculean challenge of producing a feature-length film using stop-motion anima...
Se7en (1995)
September 26, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 66.6 MBWHAT'S IN THE POD!? COME ON, TELL ME WHAT'S IN THE POD!?!?! This week, BK & Jack lift the lid on the grimy, decrepit, violent world of Se7en, directed by David Fincher & written by Andrew Kevin Walker. Over the course of their discussion, the Film Nerds take a look at the genre-bending nature of the film, how the foundations of film noir made the modern thriller possible, the insane detail of the art & production design that created the worst city in the world, &, of course, the controversi...
All That Jazz (1979)
September 18, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour - 68.6 MBThis week's episode of Revenge of the Film Nerds sees BK & Jack tackle one of the most engrossing movies yet: 1979's All That Jazz, directed by Bob Fosse. Together they delve into the startling parallel between the film's protagonist & its director, the film's tributes to and the subversion of Hollywood and Broadway musical standard, the ways in which the story discusses fidelity & death, & much, much more. A film which so thoroughly examines show business could only provoke two artists into...
The Fifth Element (1997)
September 06, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 62.1 MBIt's week five of the first season, & the Film Nerds are ready to break out the popcorn for an all-time action & sci-fi classic. It's time to jump into The Fifth Element, directed by Luc Besson! Over the course of the episode, BK & Jack discuss the arduous process of getting the film greenlit, the fine balance of action & comedy within the story, the extensive design work that went into the film's creation, & the divisive nature of how the film was received by critics & audiences. Is there a...
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
August 30, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBOn this week's Revenge of the Film Nerds, BK & Jack take on an all-time American classic as they delve into the depths of 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, directed by Steven Spielberg & written by Lawrence Kasdan. Our hosts explore the creative collaborations that gave this iconic film life, the grueling struggle endured by the cast & crew to complete the project, the special effects & stunt work that give Indiana Jones his identity, & the enduring significance of the story nearly 40 years af...
Princess Mononoke (1997)
August 21, 2020 03:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBOn this week's brand-new episode of Revenge of the Film Nerds, BK & Jack travel across the Pacific & step into the world of animation for a close look at 1997's Princess Mononoke, written & directed by Hayao Miyazaki. During the course of their discussion, our hosts examine the religious & environmental themes surrounding the film's story, the significance of creating a film with several perspectives, the controversies that nearly changed the film forever, the evolution of how Japanese anima...
Apocalypse Now (1979)
August 14, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBThis week, BK & Jack head up the river, deep into the heart of darkness as they take an incisive look at 1979's Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, co-written by Coppola & John Milius. Our intrepid hosts take on the film's relentless descent into madness as Capt. Willard & his PT Crew allies track down a rouge American colonel during the Vietnam War, the sheer insanity of a creative process that spiraled out of control in pursuit of cinematic perfection, the massive contributio...
Alien (1979)
August 07, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 54.7 MBJust when you thought it was safe to watch your favorite movies, It's...... Revenge of the Film Nerds! In a brand new podcast that combines both heartfelt fan appreciation and insightful film analysis, hosts BlackKrystel and Jack Manley take a deep dive into the world of 1979 sci-fi/horror classic Alien, directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O'Bannon. The discussion explores the history behind the film, a deep analysis of the film's plot and characters, the technical prowess of the pro...