The Searchers

Kevin and Ben are joined by Letterboxd reviewer extraordinaire and friend of the pod Tyler to discuss the new Tom Cruise movie in an effort to save cinema once again. In addition to reviewing MI 8: The Final Reckoning, we discuss the Mission Impossible series as a whole, storytelling with mythology, artificial intelligence as of 2025, the future of cinema, and more. Your mission, should you choose to accept, is to sit back, mow the grass, commute to your workplace, or whatever it is that you do when you listen to a new edition of The Searchers Film Podcast. Thanks for listening, as always. Find Tyler on LB, HERE [https://letterboxd.com/tylerharris/].  Follow us on Letterboxd.com if you'd like to see what we've recently watched and/or reviewed. Ben [https://letterboxd.com/giant13/], Chris [https://letterboxd.com/ziglet_mir/], & Kevin [https://letterboxd.com/nitebat/] Our episode catalogue: https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/ [https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/]

In this episode, Chris and Kevin review Ang Lee’s Hulk, a bold and visually experimental take on the superhero genre. They explore the film’s unique split-screen techniques and its psychological focus on Bruce Banner’s inner conflict. Was this ambitious, art-house approach a stroke of genius, or did it miss the mark with comic book fans? Tune in as we unpack the film’s legacy, its flaws, and the moments of brilliance that continue to spark debate among comic book fans.   Follow us on Letterboxd.com if you'd like to see what we've recently watched and/or reviewed. Ben [https://letterboxd.com/giant13/], Chris [https://letterboxd.com/ziglet_mir/], & Kevin [https://letterboxd.com/nitebat/] Our episode catalogue: https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/ [https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/]

In this episode, The Searchers dive into the 1964 French classic That Man from Rio [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058203/?ref_=tturv_ov_i], a film that blends action, comedy, and romance in the most improbable ways. Join us as we unpack Jean-Paul Belmondo’s irresistible charm as he embarks on a wild adventure through the streets of Rio de Janeiro. From stolen artifacts to high-flying stunts, this film has it all—and then some! But does its quirky blend of slapstick and suspense still hold up today? Tune in for a review that’s as fast-paced as Belmondo’s character himself, filled with surprises, laughs, and a little bit of nostalgia for the golden age of French action cinema. This is the 1st of three episodes we'll be releasing focused on Jean-Paul Belmondo action films. If you like what you heard, please rate us a 5/5 on Apple, Spotify, or Podbean, and review us on Apple. Submit your mailbags to us at thesearcherspodcast@gmail.com [thesearcherspodcast@gmail.com]. We'll read both on air. Follow us on Letterboxd.com if you'd like to see what we've recently watched and/or reviewed. Ben [https://letterboxd.com/giant13/], Chris [https://letterboxd.com/ziglet_mir/], & Kevin [https://letterboxd.com/nitebat/] Our episode catalogue: https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/ [https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/]

Chris and Kevin take a detour this week into the icy grip of a Buffalo winter with Buffalo '66 [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118789/?ref_=tturv_ov_i]. Written, directed by, and starring Vincent Gallo, the film also features standout performances from Christina Ricci, Anjelica Huston, and Ben Gazzara. Gallo’s background as a painter, musician, and songwriter lends the film a unique, outsider sensibility—raw, personal, and unmistakably his. We’ll be back soon with a new episode. Thanks for listening.  If you like what you heard, please rate us a 5/5 on Apple, Spotify, or Podbean, and review us on Apple. Submit your mailbags to us at thesearcherspodcast@gmail.com [thesearcherspodcast@gmail.com]. We'll read both on air. Follow us on Letterboxd.com if you'd like to see what we've recently watched and/or reviewed. Ben [https://letterboxd.com/giant13/], Chris [https://letterboxd.com/ziglet_mir/], & Kevin [https://letterboxd.com/nitebat/] Our episode catalogue: https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/ [https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/]

Kevin, Chris, and Ben finish off the "philosophical hitman" series with Wim Wenders' The American Friend [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075675/] (1977).  The Searchers will return to you next time with an episode on a Vincent Gallo film before diving into their next 3 episode arc. Thanks for listening, and we'll catch you in May!  If you like what you heard, please rate us a 5/5 on Apple, Spotify, or Podbean, and review us on Apple. Submit your mailbags to us at thesearcherspodcast@gmail.com [thesearcherspodcast@gmail.com]. We'll read both on air. Follow us on Letterboxd.com if you'd like to see what we've recently watched and/or reviewed. Ben [https://letterboxd.com/giant13/], Chris [https://letterboxd.com/ziglet_mir/], & Kevin [https://letterboxd.com/nitebat/] Our episode catalogue: https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/ [https://searchersfilmpodcast.podbean.com/]