Author Archives: Chance Solem-Pfeifer

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Almost Famous” (2000), Be Reel looks back at an era-jumping bunch of music movies about fictional bands. This week, it’s “That Thing You Do!” (1996), “Dreamgirls” (2006), “Rock Star” (2001) and, of course, Cameron Crowe’s aforementioned neo-classic about 15-year-old Rolling Stone writer William Miller coming of age in a […]

As we enter the most fraught back-to-school season in recent memory, Be Reel looks back at Hollywood’s conception of underserved students and the inspirational educators who rescue their learning. This week, it’s “Stand and Deliver” (1988), “Lean On Me” (1989), “Dangerous Minds” (1995), and “Precious” (2009). Joining us are Dr. Micia Mosely and Kia Walton […]

Only in a career as pioneering and storied as Gordon Parks‘ could an achievement like “first Black Hollywood director” fall into the second paragraph. Yet Parks’ significance as a photographer and renaissance man does often overshadow a film career that saw him direct “The Learning Tree” (1969), “Shaft” (1971), and “Leadbelly” (1976). This week, we […]

It’s slobs vs. snobs, divas vs. duffers, and Be Reel vs. the bygone bubble of American golf comedies. “Caddyshack” turns 40 this week, which gives us a great excuse to talk about this frozen-in-time genre: when class conflict could allegedly be solved with a 400-foot slapshot (“Happy Gilmore“) and any old folkloric f*ckup could tear […]

When it comes to being an on-screen mariner, Tom Hanks takes his orders from no one. To celebrate his recent birthday and the release of the new WWII submarine movie “Greyhound” (2020), Chance and Noah dive into the boat-bound roles of Hanks’ storied career. That means “Splash” (1984), “Sleepless In Seattle” (1993), “Cast Away” (2000), […]

“Cane River” (1982), a recently unearthed debut from writer/director Horace Jenkins, is now, after a year of remastering, available for streaming. Part love story, part critique of colorism in Louisana, “Cane River” is a moving examination of how cinematic romances can’t escape history. Critic and writer Tiana Reid guests this week (16:00) to unpack the […]

This week, “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” co-creator and star Rob McElhenney talks with Chance about 14 seasons of changing yet not changing Mac, answering constant questions about his physique, and the new quarantine episode of his Apple TV+ comedy “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet.” If that’s not enough, there’s George R.R. Martin talk and McElhenney’s […]

“Chicken Run” (2000) turns 20 this week, and to celebrate, Chance and Noah are looking back at the filmography of Nick Park, the chief creative voice of Aardman Animation through its heyday. To understand the origins of Park’s droll but heartfelt world, we rewind to the original, Academy Award-winning “Wallace & Gromit” shorts and discuss […]

Spike Lee is back and streaming with his latest, “Da 5 Bloods,” an homage to Black Vietnam War vets by way of “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” Delroy Lindo gives the performance of his career as one of four vets who return to Vietnam to retrieve their fallen friend’s body and also the pile […]