Labor Day • The Next Reel

There is something interesting about going into a film that's had as many bad reviews as Jason Reitman's "Labor Day" has had, and that has flopped at the box office. Does it taint our own views or make us more critical of it? Hard to say, but it certainly makes for an interesting exploration of a film that works in some ways and doesn't in others. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we celebrate the US's Labor Day holiday weekend with another Reitman film to add to our collection and deliberate on our own views of whether we like this film or not. We talk about how we feel about the film itself and look at what worked for each of us and what didn't work, and compare that with what the public consensus seemed to be. We touch on the thriller vibe the film has with the romantic drama vibe, and how marketing one way or the other can definitely determine how a person approaches the film. We chat about the amazing performances from Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin and Gattlin Griffith and how Reitman always brings amazing performances to his films, even when the script is weaker. We discuss the story, specifically looking at several elements that we both have problems with for one reason or another — the montages and the voiceover — and analyze how they could have affected people's perception of the film. And we look at the unfortunate numbers, acknowledging that people did not click with this film which led it to fail at the box office. It's a compelling film that works better for some than for others, and it's certainly one that provides for a stimulating conversation. Plus we have a special guest give us an insider's report from the Telluride Film Festival! Tune in! Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! The Next Reel on iTunesThe Next Reel on FacebookThe Next Reel on TwitterThe Next Reel on FlickchartThe Next Reel on LetterboxdGuess the Movie with The Next Reel on InstagramCheck out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: Follow Andy Nelson on TwitterFollow Pete Wright on TwitterFollow Steve Sarmento on TwitterCheck out Tom Metz on IMDBFollow Mike Evans on TwitterFollow Chadd Stoops on TwitterFollow Steven Smart on LetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible