The Next Reel Film Podcast

Does Jai Courtney work as McClane Jr.? How many villains is too much? Did McClane really need to go to Russia? Tune in to this week’s show to find out more!

Show Notes

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"Do you know what I hate about the Americans? Everything. Especially cowboys."

With the surprise success of the fourth entry into the “Die Hard” franchise, it was inevitable that the studio would push for yet another film. It took six years, but eventually, they got it made. The script that was developed for the fifth film was the first one developed from an original idea in the franchise and was written by the scribe behind the theatrical adaptation of The A-Team. The director was brought on after making the adaptation of the video game Max Payne. It seems an odd pairing, but clearly, the producers felt they saw something on this team that they felt would bring something new to this franchise. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we conclude our Die Hard series with John Moore’s 2013 film A Good Day to Die Hard.

We talk about Moore’s history, as well as that of writer Skip Woods, and try to figure out why they were the team brought on to make this film. We look at all of the elements that don’t work for us in this film but largely struggle most with the fact that they make McClane really unlikeable. We chat about Jai Courtney and why we really like him as McClane’s son, even if he wasn’t given a good script to really make his mark with. We also talk about Sebastian Koch, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Yuliya Snigir, Rasha Bukvic and more as we look at what they bring to the table. We rank our favorite Yippee Ki-Yays and our franchise villains. And we dig into what works and what doesn’t in big action sequences like the car chase.

It’s a mess of a film that ruins so much of what’s great in the franchise, even while the filmmakers clearly still throw in references and callbacks as often as they can. We may not have liked it, but we have a great time talking about it. Check it out if you must, but tune in regardless! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

Film Sundries

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Creators and Guests

Host
Andy Nelson
With over 25 years of experience in film, television, and commercial production, Andy has cultivated an enduring passion for storytelling in all its forms. His enthusiasm for the craft began in his youth when he and his friends started making their own movies in grade school. After studying film at the University of Colorado Boulder, Andy wrote, directed, and produced several short films while also producing indie features like Netherbeast Incorporated and Ambush at Dark Canyon. Andy has been on the production team for award-winning documentaries such as The Imposter and The Joe Show, as well as TV shows like Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Dentists and Nat Geo’s Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers. Over a decade ago, he started podcasting with Pete and immediately embraced the medium. Now, as a partner at TruStory FM, Andy looks forward to more storytelling through their wide variety of shows. Throughout his career, Andy has passed on his knowledge by teaching young minds the crafts of screenwriting, producing, editing, and podcasting. Outside of work, Andy is a family man who enjoys a good martini, a cold beer, a nice cup o’ joe. And always, of course, a great movie.
Host
Pete Wright
#Movies, #ADHD, & #Podcasting • Co-founder @trustory.fm🎥 The Next Reel Family of #Film Podcasts @thenextreel.com🎙️ Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast @takecontroladhd.com📖 Co-author of Unapologetically ADHD • https://unapologeticallyadhdbook.com

What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

A show about movies and how they connect.
We love movies. We’ve been talking about them, one movie a week, since 2011. It’s a lot of movies, that’s true, but we’re passionate about origins and performance, directors and actors, themes and genres, and so much more. So join the community, and let’s hear about your favorite movies, too.
When the movie ends, our conversation begins.