Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, & Movements

Cinema Scope is in the running for several awards at the Inaugural Podcast Tonight Awards, including Listener's Choice. If you're a fan of the show, please consider casting a vote for us. Thanks!
After WWII, the Western changed—heroes got complicated, communities got fragile, and violence carried consequences. Andy Nelson and John Sanders explore six key films: Red River, High Noon, Shane, Johnny Guitar, The Searchers, and 3:10 to Yuma.
Listen in one go or in chapters—this one’s built for deep listening over time.
Members: extended discussion on The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Gunfighter, Winchester ’73, Forty Guns, The Big Country, and Ride Lonesome.
🎬 Deep Dive
👤 Meet John Sanders (Appalachian State University)
🎥 Full Discussion on YouTube
🍿 Essential Films
Red River — Apple TV • Amazon • Letterboxd
High Noon — Apple TV • Amazon • Letterboxd
Shane — Apple TV • Amazon • Letterboxd
Johnny Guitar — Apple TV • Amazon • Letterboxd
The Searchers — Apple TV • Amazon • Letterboxd
3:10 to Yuma — Apple TV • Amazon • Letterboxd
📋 View our full list on Letterboxd
🎞️ More Post‑War Westerns John Recommends
(00:00) - Welcome to Cinema Scope • Post-War Westerns
(02:17) - Meet John Sanders
(07:32) - Westerns Pre-War
(14:23) - Societal Shift Post-War
(22:10) - Where It Fits in the Cinematic Family Tree
(27:50) - Key Elements
(46:34) - The Films
(47:28) - Red River
(57:48) - High Noon
(01:11:11) - Shane
(01:23:52) - Johnny Guitar
(01:34:20) - The Searchers
(01:47:14) - 3:10 to Yuma
(01:57:29) - Influence and Impact
(02:07:49) - Wrapping It Up
How to Listen: Long-form, multi-film conversations.
Best enjoyed in chapters—jump in by topic rather than starting at episode one.
Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:
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The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:
Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
The Film Board
Movies We Like
The Next Reel with Andy Nelson and Pete Wright
Sitting in the Dark
Connect With Us:
Main Site: Web
Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
Your Hosts: Andy
Shop & Stream:
Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more
Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed
Originals: Source material from our episodes
Special offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Cinema Scope is in the running for several awards at the Inaugural 2025/26 Podcast Tonight Awards, including Listener's Choice. If you're a fan of the show, please consider casting a vote for us. Thanks!
Anger, Authenticity, and the Working Class
Andy Nelson and special guest Professor David Forrest explore the gritty realism and social commentary of the British New Wave, a revolutionary film movement that transformed British cinema in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Through kitchen sink dramas and authentic portrayals of working-class life, these groundbreaking films captured the raw essence of post-war Britain through innovative storytelling and compelling performances.
Key Films of the British New Wave
The episode examines influential works like Room at the Top, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, A Taste of Honey, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, and This Sporting Life. Members can access bonus discussions about Look Back in Anger and The Entertainer at trustory.fm/join, offering deeper insight into this transformative period in film history. Through these films, viewers witnessed the emergence of new talent including Albert Finney, Rita Tushingham, Richard Harris, Tom Courtenay, Alan Bates, and Joan Plowright, while established actors like Richard Burton and Laurence Olivier embraced the movement's naturalistic style.
Directors and Creative Vision
Pioneering directors Tony Richardson, Lindsay Anderson, and Karel Reisz shaped the movement's distinctive visual style and storytelling approach. Professor Forrest illuminates how they challenged traditional filmmaking conventions by emphasizing location shooting, regional accents, and complex working-class characters. Additionally, the movement tackled previously taboo subjects such as sexuality, race relations, and class mobility, paving the way for future social realist filmmakers like Ken Loach and Mike Leigh.
Impact and Legacy
The conversation explores the movement's connections to other cultural phenomena, including the Angry Young Men literary movement and Free Cinema documentaries. Moreover, they discuss how the British New Wave's influence extends beyond British shores, inspiring filmmakers worldwide and establishing a lasting legacy that continues to resonate in contemporary cinema.
About David
David Forrest is Professor of Film and Television Studies at the University of Sheffield. His research explores questions of class, region and realism in British film, TV and literature.  Forrest’s monographs include Barry Hines: Kes, Threads and Beyond (2018; with Sue Vice), Kes: BFI Film Classics (2024), Film Audiences: Personal Journeys with Film (with Bridgette Wessels, Peter Merrington and Matthew Hanchard; 2023), New Realisms: Contemporary British Cinema (2020), and Social Realism: Art, Nationhood and Politics. He is he co-editor of Social Class and Television Drama in Contemporary Britain, and Filmurbia: Screening the Suburbs. He sits on the editorial boards of The Journal of British Cinema and Television and Studies in European Cinema. 
🎬 Deep Dive
👤 Meet David Forrest: The University of Sheffield | Website | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn
📕 Buy David’s Book “Kes: BFI Film Classics”
🎥 Full Discussion on YouTube
🍿 Essential Films:Room at the Top - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning - Amazon | Letterboxd
A Taste of Honey - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
This Sporting Life - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd

📋 View Our Full List on Letterboxd
🎞️ More to Explore: David's Recommended Films

Cinema Scope is in the running for several awards at the Inaugural Podcast Tonight Awards, including Listener's Choice. If you're a fan of the show, please consider casting a vote for us. Thanks!
The Mechanics of the Perfect Score
Join film scholars Luka Arsenjuk and Tim Palmer with host Andy Nelson for an exciting exploration of heist films. From meticulous planning to dramatic execution, this subgenre has captivated audiences for decades with its clever schemes, charismatic criminals, and intricate plots.
The conversation delves into what defines a heist film, from assembling specialized teams and detailed planning to the tension-filled execution and often devastating aftermath. The guests examine how elements like technology, professionalism, and the relationship between individualism and collective action shape these stories of elaborate robberies.
Ten Essential Heist Films Through the Decades
The discussion covers ten landmark films: The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Rififi (1955), The Killing (1956), Bob le Flambeur (1956), Le Cercle Rouge (1970), The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974), Thief (1981), Ocean's Eleven (2001), Inside Man (2006), and Widows (2018). The public episode explores five of these classics – The Asphalt Jungle, Le Cercle Rouge, Thief, Ocean's Eleven, and Widows – while members can enjoy analysis of all ten films.
A Genre That Keeps Evolving
Though heist films emerged from crime film and film noir roots in the 1950s, they continue to evolve and reinvent themselves. The episode concludes by examining how modern filmmakers incorporate social commentary and diverse perspectives while maintaining the core thrills that make these criminal capers so compelling.
Want to hear complete conversations like this every month? Join Cinema Scope at trustory.fm/join for just $5/month or $55/year. Members get early, ad-free access to all podcasts in The Next Reel family, plus exclusive bonus content and extended episodes.
🎬 Deep Dive
👤 Meet Luka Arsenjuk: University of Maryland, Cinema & Media Studies | Website
👤 Meet Tim Palmer: University of Utah, Chair: College of Fine Arts | Film Matters Magazine | Wikipedia | Website
🎥 Full Discussion on YouTube
🍿 Essential Films:The Asphalt Jungle - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Le Cercle Rouge - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Thief - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Ocean’s Eleven - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Widows - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd

☑️ Charles Kunken’s 16 Conventions of Heist Films
📋 View Our Full List on Letterboxd
🎞️ More to Explore: Luka Arsenjuk's Recommended Films
🎞️ More to Explore: Tim Palmer’s Recommended Films

Cinema Scope is in the running for several awards at the Inaugural Podcast Tonight Awards, including Listener's Choice. If you're a fan of the show, please consider casting a vote for us. Thanks!
In the turbulent landscape of 1970s India, a powerful cinematic movement emerged that would forever change the face of Bollywood—the Angry Young Man. This episode of Cinema Scope delves deep into this revolutionary movement through the lens of its most iconic star, Amitabh Bachchan, whose commanding presence and intense performances defined an era of Indian cinema.
Andy Nelson welcomes distinguished film archivist and director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur to explore how the Angry Young Man movement captured the zeitgeist of a nation grappling with social inequality, political upheaval, and economic struggles. Through detailed analysis of landmark films like Zanjeer, Deewaar, and Trishul, they uncover how these stories resonated deeply with audiences by giving voice to their frustrations and hopes.
The Evolution of India's Angry Young Man
The discussion traces how the movement evolved from Bachchan's breakthrough role in Zanjeer (1973) to more complex character studies in films like Kaala Patthar and Shakti. Members can enjoy bonus coverage of three additional classics: Mili, Don, and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. Dungarpur shares fascinating behind-the-scenes insights about the creation of these films and their lasting impact on Indian cinema.
The episode particularly highlights the contributions of writing duo Salim-Javed, who crafted many of the movement's most memorable characters and dialogues. Furthermore, it examines how the Angry Young Man archetype reflected broader social changes while establishing Bachchan as one of India's most beloved cultural icons.
Whether you're a longtime fan of Indian cinema or newly curious about this influential movement, this episode offers an illuminating look at how the Angry Young Man movement captured the spirit of its time while creating an enduring legacy that continues to influence filmmakers today.
🎬 Deep Dive
👤 Meet Shivendra Singh Dungarpur: Filmmaker, Archivist, and Director, Film Heritage Foundation | Web, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
🍿 Essential Films:Zanjeer - Amazon | Letterboxd
Deewaar - Amazon | Letterboxd
Trishul - Amazon | Letterboxd
Kaala Patthar - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Shakti - Amazon | Letterboxd

📋 View Our Full List on Letterboxd
🎞️ More to Explore: Shivendra's Recommended Films
(00:00) - Welcome to Cinema Scope • India's Angry Young Man
(02:13) - The Draw to Amitabh Bachchan
(04:49) - How It Started
(08:00) - India’s Society at That Time
(12:08) - Around the World
(13:26) - Different Genres and Different Dimensions
(15:33) - Its Evolution
(23:00) - Key Directors
(28:18) - Other Actors
(31:47) - Importance of the Scripts and Dialogue
(38:14) - Writers
(40:33) - Key Components
(42:29) - Masala Films?
(46:37) - The Films
(47:28) - Zanjeer
(57:26) - Deewaar
(01:06:19) - Trishul
(01:11:42) - Kaala Patthar
(01:17:42) - Shakti
(01:28:04) - Wrap Up
Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:
Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
Join our Discord community of movie lovers
The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:
Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
The Film Board
Movies We Like
The Next Reel Film Podcast
Sitting in the Dark
Connect With Us:
Main Site: Web
Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
Your Hosts: Andy
Shop & Stream:
Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more
Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed
Originals: Source material from our episodes
Special offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible

Cinema Scope is in the running for several awards at the Inaugural Podcast Tonight Awards, including Listener's Choice. If you're a fan of the show, please consider casting a vote for us. Thanks!
In this spine-chilling episode of Cinema Scope, Andy Nelson is joined by Lindsay Nelson, an expert in Japanese horror and popular culture, and Dr. Colette Balmain, a specialist in East Asian cinema and cultures, to take listeners on a deep dive into the eerie world of J-horror. Together, they unravel the origins, evolution, and lasting impact of this captivating subgenre known for its atmospheric scares, vengeful spirits, and haunting visuals that have enthralled audiences worldwide.
Starting with the 1988 film Psychic Vision: Jaganrei, an early representation of the subgenre, the episode traces the rise of J-horror through a carefully curated selection of 10 iconic films. From the groundbreaking Ringu and the unsettling Audition to the technophobic terrors of Pulse and the cursed house horrors of Ju-on: The Grudge, Andy and his guests explore the main pillars of J-horror. For members, the conversation delves even deeper, discussing lesser-known gems like the found footage nightmare Noroi: The Curse, the psychological thriller The Inerasable, the dark consequences of domestic abuse in Under Your Bed, the surreal exploration of grief in New Religion, and the haunting tale of societal pressures in Best Wishes to All.
Throughout the discussion, Lindsay and Colette shed light on the cultural specificity of J-horror, its roots in Japanese folklore, and its reflection of modern anxieties in Japanese society. They also examine the subgenre's distinct aesthetics, slow-burn pacing, and psychological depth, which set it apart from its Western counterparts.
Moreover, the episode touches upon the challenges of translating J-horror for international audiences, the representation of gender roles in the subgenre, and the evolving landscape of Japanese horror in the face of changing media consumption habits.
In conclusion, this episode of Cinema Scope offers a fascinating and comprehensive exploration of J-horror, a subgenre that continues to captivate and terrify audiences around the world. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a curious newcomer, this insightful discussion will deepen your appreciation for the rich history and enduring legacy of Japanese horror cinema. So, dim the lights, grab your favorite lucky charm, and join Andy, Lindsay, and Colette on this chilling journey through the realm of J-horror.
🎬 Deep Dive
👤 Meet Dr. Colette Balmain: Web | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Threads
👤 Meet Lindsay Nelson: Web | Instagram | Bluesky
🎥 Check out Fake Documentary “Q” on YouTube
🎥 Check out ZOZOZO on YouTube
🎥 Check out Uketsu on YouTube
Check out Strange Houses and Strange Pictures on Amazon
🎥 Full Discussion with Lindsay on YouTube
🎥 Full Discussion with Colette on YouTube
🍿 Essential Films:Psychic Vision: Jaganrei - Letterboxd
Ringu - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Audition - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Pulse - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
Ju-on: The Grudge - Amazon | Letterboxd

📋 View Our Full List on Letterboxd
🎞️ More to ExploreColette's Recommended Films
Lindsay's Recommended Films