Welcome back to Wheel of Film! This week, we’re stepping into the cage with Warrior (2011), Gavin O’Connor’s gritty sports drama that blends heart, family, and hard-hitting MMA action. The film follows estranged brothers—played by Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton—who find themselves on a collision course at a high-stakes mixed martial arts tournament, all while grappling with their fractured past and complicated relationship with their recovering alcoholic father, portrayed by Nick Nolte. Written by O’Connor and Anthony Tambakis, Warrior wasn’t a massive box office hit—earning about $23 million against a $25 million budget—but it’s become a cult favorite, praised for its emotional depth and authentic fight sequences. The film earned Nick Nolte an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, cementing its place as one of the most powerful underdog stories of the last decade.

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Welcome back to Wheel of Film, where we spin through cinema’s most iconic, overlooked, or downright wild titles—and today, we’re diving deep into the animated darkness of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Released in 2000, this direct-to-video DC film bridges the brooding legacy of Bruce Wayne with the cyberpunk future of Terry McGinnis. When the Joker mysteriously resurfaces decades after his supposed death, Terry must unravel a decades-old conspiracy and confront the deepest trauma of Gotham’s original Dark Knight.

Directed by Curt Geda and written by Paul Dini, Glenn Murakami, and Bruce Timm—three titans behind DC's animated renaissance—the film features standout voice work by Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne, Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis, and a chilling return from Mark Hamill as the Joker. With a budget of around $3 million, Return of the Joker garnered critical acclaim for its mature themes, sleek animation, and surprisingly dark turns for a “kids” movie.

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Welcome back to Wheel of Film, the podcast where we spin through cinema one reel at a time. This week, we’re diving headfirst into the eerie shimmer of Annihilation, the 2018 sci-fi thriller directed and written by Alex Garland, adapted from the novel by Jeff VanderMeer.

Annihilation follows Lena, a biologist and former soldier played by Natalie Portman, who joins a team of scientists on a dangerous expedition into “The Shimmer”—a mysterious, mutating zone of alien origin where the laws of nature unravel. As they venture deeper, the team grapples with shifting environments, fractured psyches, and a haunting revelation about change and self-destruction.

The cast also features Oscar Isaac, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Produced on a budget of around $40–55 million, the film grossed $43 million worldwide, though it found a wider audience through its streaming release internationally.

Grab your gear and leave your sense of reality at the border—let’s get into Annihilation.

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This week on Wheel of Film, we're slicing into Little Italy—the 2018 romantic comedy directed by Donald Petrie, best known for How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Written by Steve Galluccio and Vinay Virmani, this film serves up a cheesy blend of love, rivalry, and family dysfunction.

Set in Toronto’s Little Italy neighborhood, the story follows Nikki and Leo—played by Emma Roberts and Hayden Christensen—childhood sweethearts torn apart by their feuding pizza shop families. When Nikki returns home from London, old flames reignite and sauce flies.

With a budget of around $10 million, the film had a very limited box office run and received mostly negative reviews—but has since gained a small cult following for its campy charm and absurd Italian-American clichés. No major awards, but definitely a conversation starter.

So grab a slice and let’s dig into Little Italy.

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Welcome back to Wheel of Film—where the reels spin and the deep dives begin. This week, we’re taking on Snatch—Guy Ritchie’s slick, rapid-fire 2000 crime comedy. Written and directed by Ritchie himself, Snatch features an ensemble cast led by Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, and Vinnie Jones. The plot? A diamond heist gone sideways, an underground boxing ring, and a whole lot of accents you’ll need subtitles for.

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Welcome back to Wheel of Film, the podcast where we spin, land, and dive deep into cinema’s most compelling stories.

This week’s pick: Do the Right Thing — Spike Lee’s explosive 1989 drama that unpacks race, heat, and humanity on one block in Brooklyn. Written, directed, and produced by Lee himself, the film stars Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, Rosie Perez, and Lee as the pizza delivery guy Mookie.

The plot? A scorching summer day boils over into violence after a confrontation at Sal’s Famous Pizzeria — revealing the simmering racial tensions in the neighborhood.

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Welcome back to WHEEL OF FILM! Today, we’re easing on down the road with The Wiz, the 1978 musical fantasy film that reimagined The Wizard of Oz through a dazzling, soulful lens.

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“If you ain’t first, you’re last”—today, we’re throwing it into high gear with the 2006 comedy classic Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

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