Movies are Life

Reel 21 – #99: Memories of Murder (2003)

Before Parasite made Bong Joon-ho a household name, he delivered one of the most haunting detective stories of the 21st century. Memories of Murder follows a trio of detectives in 1980s South Korea as they chase a serial killer—and slowly unravel in the process.In this episode, Nathan digs into how the film blends procedural drama with social critique, why it feels so influential on works like Zodiac and True Detective and why that final scene still lands like a gut punch.Bleak, brilliant, and unforgettable—this is Bong Joon-ho at his best.Up next: Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man—a documentary as mesmerizing as it is unsettling.Read Nathan's thoughts on ’Memories of Murder’.Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/moviesarelife

Reel 21 – #100: Superbad (2007)

The countdown begins! In this first episode of Reel 21, Nathan revisits Superbad—Greg Mottola’s 2007 teen comedy that launched a thousand McLovin jokes—and asks: does it really deserve a spot on The New York Times’ list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century?What starts out as a raunchy teen comedy reveals surprising layers of sweetness, friendship and emotional honesty. Nathan reflects on the film’s legacy, standout performances from Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, and why Superbad might just be more essential than it gets credit for.Plus: Does the cop subplot still work? And what makes this movie actually hold up nearly two decades later?Next up: Bong Joon-ho’s Memories of Murder—which Nathan’s never seen.Read Nathan's thoughts on ’Superbad’.Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/moviesarelife

Trailer: Reel 21: 100 Essential Films of the 21st Century

The New York Times named them the 100 best movies of the 21st century. But what about the ones they left off?Reel 21: 100 Essential Films of the 21st Century is a new movie podcast from Nathan Chandler. From Parasite to The Dark Knight to La La Land, Nathan counts down from #100 to #1—watching every film on the NYT’s list and the ones audiences believe deserved a spot.Each episode of Reel 21 quickly unpacks one essential film: what makes it unique, how it holds up and where it fits in the cinematic story of our century.It’s the best of the century—curated by critics, completed by the crowd.

#110: Commune

In this episode, Nathan sits down with documentary filmmaker Jonathan Berman to discuss the newly restored 20th anniversary release of his 2005 film Commune—a fascinating portrait of Black Bear Ranch, a real-life countercultural commune founded in 1968 with help from rock legends like The Doors, Frank Zappa and The Monkees.Together, they explore the ideals and contradictions of communal living, what it means to build something outside the system and why Commune feels more relevant than ever in today’s fractured world. Jonathan shares the behind-the-scenes journey of tracking down former residents, preserving decades-old archival footage and telling a story that still sparks conversation and curiosity.Whether you're drawn to the 1960s counterculture, alternative living experiments or just love thoughtful documentary filmmaking—this is a conversation worth tuning into.Watch the film / Learn more: communethemovie.comFollow the film on Instagram: @communethemovie More from Jonathan Berman: OpenSignalStudios.comRead Nathan's thoughts on ‘Commune.’Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/moviesarelife

Not Caught Up - Adolescence: Season 1

In this episode, Nathan and Whitney break down the gripping four-part Netflix drama Adolescence, a British psychological crime series filmed entirely in one take per episode. The story follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who’s arrested for the murder of a classmate — but what unfolds is a chilling, timely examination of bullying, toxic masculinity, social media and the emotional lives of boys.They discuss what makes the show a standout of the year so far, how the one-shot format heightens the intensity and why it’s both an artistic and emotional achievement worth watching — especially with teens.🎬 Starring: Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty🎥 Directed by: Philip Barantini✍️ Created by: Jack Thorne & Stephen Graham📺 Streaming on: Netflix📦 Episodes: 4 | Each filmed in one continuous takeSupport the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/moviesarelife