Reel Review

Reel Review features engaging conversations about film and television with interesting folks and USC experts from across disciplines (public policy, governance, theatre, and cinema) to look at visual storytelling, media literacy, diversity, and the public good.

Hosted by Erroll Southers, Reel Review reminds us that film and TV are powerful and passionate mediums that not only entertain, but reflect and comment on our society. Culture, policy, and politics affect our everyday lives, ideas about how we live, and how we live together. It also influences what we watch, as well as what we take away from those programs.

We want to be smarter about the images and stories we see, and how we can be better together.

CODA (dir. Sian Heder)

Sep 10, 2021

CODA is a film that doesn't take a lot chances, with it's familiar tropes it doesn't stray from the formula. It's a remake of a 2014 French film, it's a coming of age film about a teenage girl breaking away from her family. Audiences get a teen romance or two, an inspiring teacher, and an uplifting ending.

And yet ......

Moxie (dir. Amy Poehler)

May 6, 2021

Netflix's film Moxie brings riot grrrl punk feminism to a whole new generation: music, zines, and voices coming together to make the world a bit better.

Is the world ready for riot grrrls to go mainstream?

Student Perspectives: Judas and the Black Messiah (dir. Shaka King)

Apr 16, 2021

During our recent episode on Judas and the Black Messiah, Professor Bill Resh spoke about using the film as part of his course on citizenship.

We thought it would be great to revisit the film and see how well this worked. So, today we're revisiting Judas and the Black Messiah with students from his course! We'll ask...

Judas and the Black Messiah (dir. Shaka King)

Feb 26, 2021

Under the threat of prison, Bill O'Neal infiltrated the Black Panther Party in Chicago.

Judas and the Black Messiah looks at the last three years of the Black Panther Party Chairman, Fred Hampton's life. While Hampton was falling in love , taking care of his people, and leading the city revolutionaries ... O'Neal was...

Hillbilly Elegy & Between the World and Me

Feb 4, 2021

Today we’ll be doing something a bit different. We’re looking at two memoirs made into films in 2020:

Between the World and Me, from HBO, based on the book of the same name written by Ta’Nehasi Coates. The film is directed by Kamilah Forbes, and the screenplay adaptation is by David Teague.

Hillbilly Elegy is...