Reading Between the Reels: Film analysis with snark and heart

RBR #121: "The Prestige: Nolan’s Best Twist - and His Pettiest Movie Ever"

For this episode, the latest in our series on the films of Christopher Nolan, we’re diving into The Prestige — the movie that proves Nolan can turn two magicians battling it out for “Most Extra” into a work of art. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale destroy their lives for a trick, but it’s the kind of destruction that makes you think, “Maybe I should be that obsessed with something.” We’re here to praise Nolan’s genius, David Bowie’s perfect cameo, and the mind games at play. No, we still don’t fully get the ending, but wow — what a ride.
Warning: Contains deep admiration for The Prestige's intricate layers, confusing plot twists, and the sheer audacity of its brilliance.

RBR #120: "Batman Begins: The Dark Knight Before It Was Cool"

Bruce Wayne has everything: money, abs, and a crippling fear of bats. Naturally, he copes by burning down monasteries and punching crime in the face. 
In this installment of our series on the films of Christopher Nolan, we revisit Batman Begins, the moody reboot that asked: What if we make an existential Batman movie? We get into daddy issues, weaponized fear, and the real villain of Gotham—urban planning. Also: yes, Christian Bale's voice gets gravelly real fast.
Welcome to Gotham: where the rich cosplay justice and somehow that’s the best-case scenario.

RBR #119: “Insomnia: Still Awake? So Is Al Pacino”

Al Pacino hasn’t slept in days. Robin Williams is playing it straight (and scary). And Christopher Nolan wants you to feel just as tired as the characters. Continuing our series on Nolan’s films, we break down Insomnia, the psychological thriller that proves crime never naps—and neither should you, apparently. Expect confusion, moral decay, and lots of squinting.

RBR #118: “Memento: Trust the Lies”

What happens when your memory resets every 15 minutes, but your fashion sense stays impeccable? As we begin our new series on the films of Christopher Nolan, we’re diving into Memento, the film that launched a thousand confused Reddit threads. Expect talk of unreliable narrators, confusing timelines, and why you probably shouldn’t tattoo your to-do list on your chest. (Or should you?)

RBR #117: "Top 5 Remakes”

In this episode, we reveal our Top 5 Movie Remakes that lived up to or even surpassed the originals. From horror reimaginings to bold reinterpretations of beloved stories, we discuss what makes these films truly great.

RBR #116: "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" (MARVEL before the MCU)

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is a visually engaging but ultimately underwhelming sequel that struggles to elevate its superhero storytelling. As the 16th entry in our “Marvel before the MCU” series, the film introduces the enigmatic Silver Surfer and features impressive CGI, but is bogged down by a weak script, underdeveloped characters, and a lackluster portrayal of Galactus.

RBR #115: "Spider-Man 3" (MARVEL before the MCU)

Spider-Man 3 is the ambitious but overstuffed conclusion to Sam Raimi’s trilogy that struggles under the weight of too many villains and subplots. As the 15th entry in our “Marvel before the MCU” series, the film was a box office success but ultimately fell short of the high creative bar set by Spider-Man 2.

RBR #114: "Ghost Rider" (MARVEL before the MCU)

Ghost Rider is an adaptation of the Marvel comic featuring Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist who makes a deal with the devil and transforms into a fiery-skulled antihero. As the 14th entry in our “Marvel before the MCU” series, the film offers some entertaining action sequences and striking CGI effects.