The Nextlander Watchcast

172: Annihilation (2018)

Brad has made his pick for the month, and he's decided to take a trip down south to Alex Garland's Annihilation, where a funny kind of Shimmer has got everyone all confused and refracted and dead. Join us as we discuss at length the phantasmagoric scenes that await our scientific adventurers, the human drama that plagues them both in and out of the zone, and just how how messed up that bear really is.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 172: Annihilation (2018)(00:00:26) - Intro.(00:04:06) - Brad's pick is up this week, and he has chosen Annihilation!(00:08:50) - Talking about the book, Alex Garland, and how he set about adapting this story.(00:16:48) - On the production, and the trouble it ran into pre-release.(00:27:02) - The flashback.(00:38:23) - This is not my beautiful house. This is not my beautiful wife. How did I get here?(00:42:35) - Break!(00:42:54) - We're back, and it's time for our first look at the Shimmer.(00:53:28) - Meeting the squad.(00:59:34) - Time becomes immediately weird.(01:03:11) - The mutations start to become apparent.(01:15:33) - Video logs and environmental storytelling.(01:24:24) - Another flashback in a flashback, and the bear makes its first appearance.(01:33:44) - They find Cassie, then they find some tree people.(01:42:50) - Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear absorbs your consciousness at the moment of grim death.(01:52:28) - Josie becomes one with the field.(01:56:59) - That lighthouse is messed up.(02:07:51) - The titular line.(02:13:13) - Dancing with...myself?(02:26:20) - Are you you? Am I me?(02:30:59) - Final thoughts.(02:37:57) - Housekeeping for next week's movie: Stop Making Sense!(02:41:21) - Outro.

171: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

With our March schedule being on the shorter side, we've decided to once again each pick a movie we felt like watching, and first up is Vinny with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Join our party as we adventure through this tongue-in-cheek spin on tabletop storytelling, tell our own tales of DnD adventures, and say the name Jarnathan every chance we get.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 171: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)(00:00:13) - Intro, and immediately launching into our personal experiences with tabletop gaming.(00:13:41) - Initial thoughts about the movie.(00:19:14) - How this movie (finally) got made.(00:32:34) - The tonal tightrope this movie walks.(00:38:53) - Meeting our Bard and Barbarian in a frozen prison.(00:50:58) - Break!(00:51:19) - We're back, the gang is out of prison, and it's time to head to Neverwinter.(01:01:46) - Time to (re)form the party (and a sidebar about hidden effects shots).(01:14:37) - Scoping out the red wizard's security.(01:19:24) - The Helm of Solving This Specific Problem.(01:25:24) - Waking the dead.(01:29:12) - The most paladin paladin who ever paladin'd.(01:37:08) - To the Underdark.(01:49:19) - Attunement is a real pain in the ass.(01:57:03) - Doing some magical heisting.(02:04:22) - Surviving the games.(02:13:33) - A real life party might've made off with the treasure, but that's not a good movie ending.(02:23:23) - Saving Holga, and keeping the party together.(02:27:56) - Final thoughts.(02:34:51) - Housekeeping for the rest of this month's movies.(02:40:27) - Outro.

170: Sexy Beast (2000)

Alex's final pick for February is here, and for this week's Watchcast he's taking us to the Spanish coast to peek in on the idyllic life of retired thief Gal Dove in Jonathan Glazer's Sexy Beast, a movie that's got a whole lot of unusual style and flavor going on, even outside of Ben Kingsley's ferociously memorable central performance.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 170: Sexy Beast (2000)(00:01:20) - Intro.(00:03:05) - Our final February film for 2026: Sexy Beast!(00:10:57) - How this movie got made.(00:20:58) - Our extremely British cast.(00:26:14) - Sweating, baking, boiling, things of that nature.(00:35:02) - Break!(00:35:26) - We're back, and so is Don Logan.(00:44:10) - The plan.(00:52:00) - Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes! Yes! Yes!(01:06:38) - Don leaves, and then doesn't.(01:14:04) - Onto the heist, but what of Don?(01:24:54) - These are the true heirs to the Wet Bandits moniker. (01:31:03) - Shooting off, are we?"(01:36:52) - Gal survives to suntan another day.(01:39:03) - Final thoughts.(01:44:12) - Housekeeping for next month and next week's movie.(01:45:48) - Outro.

169: Fargo (1996)

It's Fargo week on the Watchcast, and Alex is just gosh darned excited as all get out to talk about his favorite Coens classic. Join us as he takes Brad and Vinny through the frozen wasteland of the Northern Midwest to discuss the supposedly (but not actually) "true events" of the film, the darkness that runs under the surface of Minnesota Nice, and the spectacular array of accents on display.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 169: Fargo (1996)(00:00:15) - Intro.(00:01:18) - What the boys knew about Fargo going in, and how Alex first saw it.(00:10:03) - Some broader Coens talk.(00:17:20) - Cast chat.(00:30:18) - Launching down a snowy highway into the movie proper.(00:46:52) - Wade and Jerry are not exactly aligned.(00:51:07) - Break!(00:51:27) - We're back, and it's time for a kidnapping.(01:06:37) - The plan is in motion, but it's about to hit its first homicidal snag.(01:11:48) - Marge is on the case.(01:19:24) - This is Jerry's deal.(01:25:32) - Marge meets some ladies.(01:27:00) - The Yanagita Affair, and a few other assorted scenes.(01:32:22) - Jerry's getting cut out of his own kidnapping, and Carl endures many indignities.(01:44:11) - The drop goes bad.(01:50:47) - Here are some guys talking, and Carl buries the money.(01:59:32) - Jerry flees the interview, Jean is dispatched, and Carl gets Gaear'd.(02:09:33) - Chipper Cop Finds Man in Wood Chipper.(02:15:46) - Jerry's undignified end, and one last moment with Marge and Norm.(02:23:27) - Final thoughts.(02:27:31) - Housekeeping for our final film of the month: Sexy Beast!(02:30:12) - Outro.

168: Thief (1981)

For this week's Watchcast Alex is returning to his previous profession as a Mannhunter, as he takes the crew through one of his favorite Michael Mann flicks, 1981's Thief. Join us as we pick apart the taxonomy of crooks and goofs populating Chicago's early '80s underworld, and marvel at all the exquisite detail that went into this movie's look and vibe.CHAPTERS:(00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 168: Thief (1981)(00:00:27) - Intro.(00:04:09) - On Mann, his early days, and how this movie got made.(00:12:48) - Before we start talking about the movie, gotta talk about the soundtrack.(00:17:18) - The opening heist.(00:23:12) - What is this movie if not a showcase for profoundly Chicago-type guys?(00:31:46) - Break!(00:32:07) - We're back, and Frank wants his damn money(00:38:13) - Okla and Leo, from one father figure to an aspiring one.(00:51:36) - On the subject of these corrupt dirtbag cops.(00:55:20) - The original Michael Mann Diner Scene.(01:09:37) - The California job, and getting comfy in the suburbs.(01:13:29) - How many fingers am I holding up?(01:17:48) - Chaos in the adoption agency.(01:21:34) - Refusing to grease the wheels.(01:29:10) - Okla, we hardly knew ya, but now we have a baby, so it all evens out.(01:32:07) - Ditching those goofy cops.(01:40:01) - Finally, the big job.(01:52:05) - My money is in your pocket.(02:00:24) - Bye bye, Belush. Bye bye, old life.(02:09:41) - Going tactical in the Chicago suburbs.(02:15:39) - Final thoughts.(02:21:02) - Housekeeping for next week.(02:22:55) - Outro.