From the time we first saw this film, it’s safe to say that it’s been one of our favorites. It was popular at the time and has become a cornerstone in cinematic time traveling movies. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson - as we kick off our Back to the Future trilogy series with Robert Zemeckis’ 1985 classic Back to the Future.

The ground has been covered with talk about Zemeckis’ fantastic film Back to the Future, but there’s still plenty to discuss with the film. Where does it stand in the realm of time travel movies? Do we buy into the setup with the DeLorean time travel machine? How about the world building? What does the opening of the film say about the characters, the world, and how Zemeckis constructs a film? 

We talk about the actors – Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson, Tom Wilson, Claudia Wells, and more – and what they each bring to their characters. We also talk about the staying power of the cast and how effective they are not just in the film but over the decades. And there’s the story about Eric Stoltz. We dig into that a bit, and how that affected the casting of Wells. 

How do the effects from Industrial Light and Magic hold up? Is that a sticking point for us? And why didn’t Alan Silvestri’s score get more recognition at the time? Huey Lewis and the News sure did! 

It’s a fantastic film and a thrill to finally talk about it on the show. Check out the movie then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins. 

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