The Big Picture
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more, featuring a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons.
Episodes
The King of Physical Media. Plus: The 10 Best Blu-rays of 2024.
Sean is joined by longtime playwright, actor, screenwriter, and physical media collector Tracy Letts to discuss his career and how he became such a fervent collector of physical media. They discuss what got them into the lifestyle, the state of their collections, what it has taught them about being a cinephile, the best physical releases of 2024, and much more.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Tracy Letts
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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11/12/24•1h 50m
The Snubs, Surprises, and WTFs of the 2025 Golden Globe Nominations. Plus: Richard Gere!
Sean is joined by Joanna Robinson to give their immediate reactions to the Golden Globe nominations (1:00), discuss the evolution of the awards and how these nominations stack up against expectations, and opine about what these short lists mean for the Academy Awards. Then, Sean is joined by longtime movie star Richard Gere to discuss his work in Paul Schrader’s ‘Oh, Canada,’ the actor’s collaboration with Schrader over the decades, how he thinks about his career at this moment, and more (59:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Richard Gere and Joanna Robinson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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09/12/24•1h 33m
The Top Five Movies of 2024
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman to discuss the ascendance of ‘Wicked’ in the awards race and the release of a handful of movies, including ‘Queer,’ ‘Kneecap,’ and ‘The Order’ (1:00). Then, the three each share their top five movies of 2024, a mix of widely seen blockbusters, smaller art-house movies, big swings from emergent auteurs, and more (43:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/12/24•1h 41m
Top Five World War II Movies, and ‘Blitz’
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan and Rob Mahoney to discuss the robust domestic box office this past holiday weekend (1:00), before digging into Steve McQueen’s latest movie ‘Blitz,’ now in select theaters and on Apple TV+ (12:00). Then, they explore the renewable resource that is World War II movies, assessing the various subgenres that have sprung from that genre (26:00). Finally, they each share their top five WWII movies (42:00), and talk about whether they think the genre will persist.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Rob Mahoney
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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03/12/24•1h 50m
‘Hot Frosty’ and ‘Moana 2’: What Even Are Movies?
Sean is joined by Rob Harvilla and Yasi Salek to discuss two movies for the fun of it—‘Moana 2’ and ‘Hot Frosty.’ They start by reacting to the new ‘Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary’ (01:40) before discussing the surprising self-awareness, Easter eggs, and music in ‘Hot Frosty’ (04:59). Then, they share their movie-watching experiences while watching ‘Moana 2’ and how it compares to ‘Moana’ (36:50). Before Yasi and Rob leave, they share the movies they are looking forward to at the end of 2024 (62:40). Later, Sean is joined by filmmaker Garret Price to discuss ‘Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary’ (74:56). Created after he finished editing ‘Daisy Jones and the Six,’ he talks about finding the perfect commentators and getting all the bands to be involved.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Rob Harvilla, Yasi Salek, and Garret Price
Producer: Olivia Crerie
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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27/11/24•1h 39m
‘Wicked’ Is a Sensation. But Is It Good? Plus: The Top Five 21st Century Musicals.
Sean is joined by Juliet Litman to discuss another highly anticipated 2024 release in Jon M. Chu’s ‘Wicked.’ They unpack their very mixed feelings (1:07), hypothesize why this movie is such a big hit (41:30), and forecast its Oscar chances by asking whether it could really win Best Picture (50:37). Then, they both rank their top five favorite musicals from the 21st century (58:58). Finally, Sean is joined by writer and director Malcolm Washington to discuss his new film, ‘The Piano Lesson.’ They talk about coming from a Hollywood family, what he hoped to attempt when given the chance to make this film, and turning August Wilson’s stage play into a bold cinematic experience (1:26:57).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Juliet Litman and Malcolm Washington
Audio Producer: Sasha Ashall
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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25/11/24•2h 5m
‘Gladiator II’ Is Here. Are We Not Entertained?
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan and Mallory Rubin to discuss one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2024, Ridley Scott’s new film ‘Gladiator II.’ They work through their complicated feelings on the sequel (05:09), highlight some of the key standout performances (22:49), and predict its box office potential and Oscars chances (67:25). Then, they each rank their top five favorite legacy sequels of all time (76:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Mallory Rubin
Producer: Olivia Crerie
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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22/11/24•1h 55m
Is ‘Red One’ the Worst Movie of the Year? Plus: ‘A Real Pain’ With Jesse Eisenberg!
Sean is joined by Joanna Robinson to assess why the hell ‘Red One’ is so awful (1:00) and try to make sense of the Rock’s baffling movie career. Then, they discuss ‘A Real Pain,’ Jesse Eisenberg’s new movie about a pair of cousins who go to Poland for a Holocaust tour (25:00). They then each share their top five two-handers in movie history (1:00:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Eisenberg to discuss the film, his evolution as not just an actor but a director, casting and working with Kieran Culkin, and more (1:19:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Joanna Robinson and Jesse Eisenberg
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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19/11/24•1h 41m
Best Picture Power Rankings. Plus: Is ‘Emilia Pérez’ Really a Front-Runner?
Sean is joined by Ringer-Verse host Joanna Robinson and The Ankler's awards editor Katey Rich to discuss the state of the Best Picture race. Amid this conversation, they go through the 10 films they think are running hottest to be nominated for the top award at the Oscars and compare their list to the last time Sean did said exercise (1:00). Then, they zero in on one of those front-runners, Jacques Audiard’s ‘Emilia Pérez,’ a challenging swing of a film that's received mixed reviews from critics and Letterboxd users alike since hitting the Netflix service (1:10:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Joanna Robinson and Katey Rich
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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15/11/24•1h 38m
The Clint Eastwood Mt. Rushmore, and the Curious Case of ‘Juror No. 2.’ Plus: ‘Heretic’!
Sean is joined by Adam Nayman to discuss the head-scratching rollout of Clint Eastwood’s justice system interrogation, ‘Juror No. 2’ and the movie’s successes, shortcomings, and Eastwood-isms (1:00). Then, Sean briefly discusses the appeal of ‘Heretic’ (55:00) before being joined by the film’s directors, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, to talk about their writing process, Hugh Grant’s lead performance, the state of getting movies made, and more (58:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Adam Nayman, Scott Beck, and Bryan Woods
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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12/11/24•1h 39m
The Robert Zemeckis Hall of Fame, and ‘Here’
Sean is joined by Ringer editor-at-large and ‘Press Box’ host Bryan Curtis to discuss ‘Here,’ the new wildly experimental movie from Robert Zemeckis chronicling thousands of years of history in one corner of the world (1:00). Then, they build the Zemeckis Hall of Fame, choosing 10 movies from his roller-coaster canon to enshrine (46:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Bryan Curtis
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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08/11/24•1h 35m
The Presidential Movie Draft, With Griffin Newman and David Sims of 'Blank Check'
We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan as well as Griffin Newman and David Sims from the 'Blank Check' podcast to draft their favorite movie presidents.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Griffin Newman, and David Sims
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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05/11/24•1h 57m
‘Conclave’ Crackles, and Christopher Nolan’s Helicopter Movie Takes Off
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the latest rumors about Christopher Nolan’s next film (1:00) and wishcast some lost IP remakes for current hot directors (7:00). Then, they discuss one of the most exciting movies at the box office right now, Edward Berger’s ‘Conclave,’ the papal conclave thriller starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci (32:00). They discuss the performances of its leads, how refreshing it is to have a true thriller with twists at the theaters, and the effectiveness of the film’s final twist. Then, Sean is joined by Matt Tyrnauer, director of ‘Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid,’ a new documentary about political strategist James Carville (1:17:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Matt Tyrnauer
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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01/11/24•2h 9m
‘Venom: The Last Dance’ and 2024’s Comic Book Movie Nightmare. Plus: ‘The Wild Robot’!
Sean is joined by Ringer-Verse pals Mallory Rubin and Charles Holmes to discuss a pair of films that have polar opposite energy. They start by assessing the quality of the third entry in the Tom Hardy Venom trilogy, ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ (1:00), before digging into one of the most heartwarming and visually astonishing movies of the year, ‘The Wild Robot’ (45:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Wild Robot’ director Chris Sanders, a stalwart animation creator whose latest film is a visual reinvention of the genre (1:15:00). Recorded after a screening of the film at Vidiots in Los Angeles, the two discuss pushing the visual style forward, animation in 2024, the role of a director in a feature animation project, and more.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Charles Holmes, Mallory Rubin, and Chris Sanders
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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29/10/24•1h 44m
An Everything-but-Movies Mailbag
Sean and Amanda field your questions about everything BUT movies (and some movie things). They answer questions about their origin story as friends, fiction and nonfiction book recommendations, death row meals, ‘Industry,’ cocktails, golf, fighting animals, and much more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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25/10/24•1h 38m
The Slasher Movie Hall of Fame, With Alex Ross Perry
Sean is joined by Alex Ross Perry to discuss his new film ‘Pavements’ and the film festival hamster wheel (1:00). They then analyze the state of the slasher film subgenre (10:00) and the year in horror. Later, they run through the decades to build their slasher movie hall of fame (47:00), assessing the merits of stone-cold classics like ‘Halloween’ and ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ as well as 90s era masterpieces like ‘Scream.’
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Alex Ross Perry
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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23/10/24•1h 53m
‘Anora’ Is Pure Cinema and the Best Picture Race Is Completely Up in the Air
Now that ‘Anora’ has hit select theaters, Sean assesses the state of the Best Picture race by running through a long (emphasis on long) list of 26 films that have a chance to be nominated at the Oscars (1:00). Then, Sean and Amanda discuss ‘Anora,’ Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or–winning drama about a whirlwind romance between a sex worker and the son of a Russian oligarch (30:00). Finally, Sean is joined by John Crowley, the director of the new Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh romance ‘We Live in Time’ (1:15:00). They discuss, among other things, the qualities that attracted Crowley to Garfield and Pugh, how he chooses to work in film vs. theater, his long-running project of sincere romantic dramas, and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: John Crowley
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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21/10/24•1h 47m
‘Terrifier 3,’ ‘Smile 2,’ and the 10 Best Horror Movies of 2024
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the biggest film at the box office, ‘Terrifier 3,’ the third installment of the independently made horror clown franchise that has become this year’s biggest box office surprise (1:00). After, they talk about another horror franchise that’s become a reliable sensation for moviegoers, ‘Smile 2’ (23:00); they go over the impressive filmmaking but ultimately choppy story. They then transition to each sharing their top five horror movies of the year so far (1:15:00), including some obvious bellwethers like ‘Longlegs’ and some franchise entries like ‘Alien: Romulus’ and ‘The First Omen.’
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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18/10/24•1h 50m
‘The Brutalist,’ the Best Movies at the New York Film Festival, and ‘The Apprentice' With Sebastian Stan!
Sean shares a recap of the best movies he caught at the 62nd New York Film Festival, including the heavy hitters at this upcoming Oscars, the latest installations from old masters and personal favorites, and the biggest surprises of the festival (1:00). Then, Ringer writer and ‘Press Box’ host Bryan Curtis joins to share the myriad successes and failures of ‘The Apprentice,’ Ali Abbasi’s character portrait of early Donald Trump’s rise to power in the New York real estate world and his complex relationship with lawyer and power broker Roy Cohn (50:00). Then, Sebastian Stan, who portrays Trump in the film, joins (1:30:00) to discuss how he chooses projects, what attracts him to playing characters who transform, and the long journey to getting ‘The Apprentice’ in theaters. They also discuss his work in ‘A Different Man,’ Aaron Schimberg’s new A24 movie about an aspiring young actor who undergoes a procedure to drastically alter his appearance in the hopes of improving his career prospects.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Bryan Curtis and Sebastian Stan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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15/10/24•2h 8m
It’s ‘Saturday Night’! Plus: The Top Five Backstage Movies and ‘Piece by Piece.’
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to break down ‘Saturday Night,’ Jason Reitman’s quasi-historical exploration of the beginnings of 'Saturday Night Live' (10:00). They discuss the disbelief that needs to be suspended, as well as the more or less knockout cast, before launching into their top five “backstage” movies and discussion of why it’s so interesting to pull back the curtain in cinema (44:00). Then, Sean is joined by New York Times pop critic and ‘Popcast’ host Jon Caramanica to review ‘Piece by Piece,’ the Pharrell Williams biopic told through Lego animation (1:07:00). They discuss the format, the content, the interviews, and how effectively it does or doesn’t capture the totemic career of Williams and his lasting impact on pop music.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Jon Caramanica
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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11/10/24•2h
The 1996 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! And Amanda is back! She and Sean are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 1996.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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08/10/24•1h 37m
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Hates You. Will You Return the Favor?
Sean is joined by Van Lathan to discuss ‘Joker: Folie à Deux,’ the off-putting sequel to Todd Phillips’s 2019 ‘Joker,’ starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga (1:00). They discuss the jukebox musical format’s successes and failures, the filmmaking vs. the experience of watching it, and whether they ultimately liked the movie. Then, they zoom out to discuss the state of moviegoing and movie watching (43:00) and explore whether we’re in a uniquely strange place with the reception of movies and the conversation social media inspires about divisive films and filmmakers. Finally, Sean is joined by director Greg Jardin to discuss his debut feature ‘It’s What’s Inside,’ an all-in-one-night sci-fi thriller with some unexpected twists (spoilers!) and fresh filmmaking choices (1:05:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Van Lathan and Greg Jardin
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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04/10/24•1h 46m
The Francis Ford Coppola Hall of Fame and ‘Megalopolis’
Sean and Amanda do their best to parse through the messiness of Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis,’ starring, among others, Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Aubrey Plaza (1:00). They discuss the circuitous journey Coppola took to finally making the film, the convoluted plot (and at times lack thereof), and the ambition in comparison to the actual execution of the final product. Then, they launch into the Coppola Hall of Fame, selecting 10 movies to enshrine from his uniquely boom-or-bust career, which features legendary movies like ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Apocalypse Now’ alongside historic financial and qualitative bombs (53:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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30/09/24•1h 54m
‘Wolfs’ Is a Clooney and Pitt Reunion. Is It Anything Else? Plus: Five Movies You Need to See This Month.
Sean and Amanda react to some news around the movie world (1:00), before discussing ‘Wolfs,’ the reunion of Brad Pitt and George Clooney in a movie about two lone wolf “fixers” who get assigned to the same job (13:00). They discuss whether the movie is interesting beyond the charisma of its leads and get into the up-and-down CV of Apple Films through 2024 (30:00). Then, they discuss four more movies either available or soon to be available at home or in theaters: ‘The Wild Robot,’ ‘Will & Harper,’ ‘His Three Daughters,’ and ‘Transformers One’ (39:00). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Transformers One’ director Josh Cooley to discuss his role as director in the process of making an animated movie, his rise through Pixar, his love for Transformers, and what he’s looking to do next (59:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Josh Cooley
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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27/09/24•1h 34m
We’re Addicted to ‘The Substance.’ Plus, the Body Horror Hall of Fame!
Sean and Amanda react to some news about the Golden Globes being … a lot like they’ve always been (1:00). Then, they discuss Coralie Fargeat’s new body horror film ‘The Substance,’ starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley (13:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Fargeat to discuss the first body horror movies she ever watched, the production process for making such a gross film, how she sees the themes of the movie, and more (1:12:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Coralie Fargeat
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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24/09/24•1h 47m
The Brad Pitt and George Clooney Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan and Zach Baron to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan and Zach Baron
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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20/09/24•1h 42m
The Return of the Big Oscar Bet and the Best Movies at the Toronto International Film Festival
Sean and Amanda are joined by film critic, Ringer contributor, and resident “mean pod guy” Adam Nayman to do a speed recap of his favorite (and least favorite) movies out of the Toronto International Film Festival (1:00). Then, they revive the Big Oscar Bet, in which Sean and Amanda predict the nominees and winners of every major category at the 2025 Oscars (37:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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16/09/24•1h 55m
‘Speak No Evil’ and the Top Five “Get Me the F--- Out of Here” Movies, With James McAvoy!
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss ‘Speak No Evil,’ James Watkins’s reimagination of the 2022 Danish psychological horror film (1:00). Then, they discuss other movies that inspire the sensation of needing to get the f--- out of danger and share their top five in the subgenre (1:06:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Watkins and ‘Speak No Evil’ star James McAvoy to discuss why they wanted to remake the film, tapping into darker parts of the human psyche, and the physicality that goes into creating a thriller like this (1:40:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, James McAvoy, and James Watkins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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13/09/24•2h 12m
The Top 10 Garbage Revenge Movies and ‘Rebel Ridge,’ With Jeremy Saulnier!
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to review some news items out of the fall film festival circuit (1:00) before discussing one of their favorite genre movies of 2024, Jeremy Saulnier’s revenge thriller ‘Rebel Ridge’ (17:00). They discuss their delight at having Saulnier back in the director’s chair and Aaron Pierre’s breakout performance, before minting a new subgenre: Garbage Revenge, a.k.a. Trash Justice (49:00). Then, Sean is joined by Saulnier to discuss the production of the movie, what type of writer he is, how exacting type of filmmaking, and what he hopes to do next (1:22:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Jeremy Saulnier
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/09/24•1h 56m
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ and Top Five Tim Burton Movies
Sean and Amanda are joined by ‘Higher Learning’ and ‘Midnight Boys’ cohost Van Lathan to discuss the successes and shortcomings of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ another mega-sequel that's shaping up to perform well at this weekend’s box office (1:00). They discuss Michael Keaton’s return to the namesake character, how the bloated plot prevents it from reaching the highs of the first, the satisfying return of the original cast, and the refreshing addition of Jenna Ortega. Then, they get into the incredible run Tim Burton kicked his career off with and the precipitous drop-off that followed, before sharing their five favorite Burton movies (1:04:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Van Lathan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/09/24•1h 29m
The Best Movies at Telluride and the 10 Most Anticipated Fall Films
Sean and Amanda recap the long weekend in film news and discuss the biggest films out of the Telluride Film Festival, including the much-anticipated ‘Anora,’ the 'SNL' origin story ‘Saturday Night,’ the Trump biopic ‘The Apprentice,’ and more (1:00). Then, they react to the Venice Film Festival from afar and take stock of the impact that this weekend’s major festivals have had on the state of the awards race (58:00). Finally, they share the yet-to-be-released movies that they’re most excited for this fall (1:20:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/09/24•1h 43m
The Michael Keaton Movie Mount Rushmore
With ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice’ on the horizon, Sean and Amanda enlist the help of Michael Keaton superfan and ‘Blank Check’ cohost Griffin Newman to carve out the Michael Keaton movie Mount Rushmore: an ode to a career with incredible peaks and long, fallow stretches (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Between the Temples’ writer-director Nathan Silver and producer and star Jason Schwartzman to discuss the unique production style of the movie, how to inject a specific comedic tone into a script, the movie’s inspirations, and more (1:45:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Griffin Newman, Jason Schwartzman, and Nathan Silver
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/08/24•2h 27m
Sicko Movie Mode: Five F**ked-Up Features to Close Out the Summer
Sean and Amanda return to the feed in triumphant fashion by talking about, among other things, Oasis, the ‘Megalopolis’ trailer, and their weeks away (1:00). Then, they run through five recently released features and their “sicko” natures, measuring the quality of each film and the state of the release calendar in the doldrums of summer (18:00). Finally, Sean is joined by JT Mollner, the director of ‘Strange Darling’, to discuss the long gap between his first feature at Sundance and ‘Strange Darling,’ the twists and turns of his movie, and the way he conceives of making movies within genres that come with audience expectation (1:09:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: JT Mollner
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/08/24•1h 52m
3. Keep Your Distance | The Hollywood Hack
‘The Hollywood Hack’ is a three-part narrative series chronicling the biggest Hollywood heist of all time: In the fall of 2014, a group of cyberterrorists hacked Sony Pictures, stealing hundreds of thousands of documents. The materials were eventually leaked online, causing an international incident that would change Hollywood forever.
In Episode 3, the hackers attempt to halt the release of ‘The Interview’ by threatening to attack theaters—forcing Sony executives to make a difficult last-minute decision. After the dust clears, those involved with the hack reckon with its long-term consequences—both for themselves and for Hollywood.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Devon Renaldo
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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23/08/24•1h 4m
2. All Hope Will Leave You | The Hollywood Hack
‘The Hollywood Hack’ is a three-part narrative series chronicling the biggest Hollywood heist of all time: In the fall of 2014, a group of cyberterrorists hacked Sony Pictures, stealing hundreds of thousands of documents. The materials were eventually leaked online, causing an international incident that would change Hollywood forever.
In Episode 2, the hackers release hundreds of thousands of top-secret Sony emails—causing a scandal that reaches from Hollywood to the White House and beyond. Meanwhile, Sony’s employees deal with the fallout of having their professional lives upended—and their personal lives exposed.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Devon Renaldo
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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21/08/24•50m 9s
1. The World Will Be Full of Fear | The Hollywood Hack
‘The Hollywood Hack’ is a three-part narrative series chronicling the biggest Hollywood heist of all time: In the fall of 2014, a group of cyberterrorists hacked Sony Pictures, stealing hundreds of thousands of documents. The materials were eventually leaked online, causing an international incident that would change Hollywood forever.
In Episode 1, thousands of Sony employees show up for work on November 24, 2014—only to discover a menacing message on their screens. It soon becomes clear that the studio has been targeted by a mysterious foreign power—all because of a goofy buddy-comedy called ‘The Interview.’
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Devon Renaldo
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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19/08/24•50m 47s
‘Alien: Romulus’ and the 'Alien' Movie Rankings
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to react to a handful of casting tidbits (1:00), before digging into the newest installment in the ‘Alien’ franchise, ‘Alien: Romulus’ (11:00). They discuss the new movie’s fealty to the original, the chances it takes, how it works as a pure horror movie, and more. Then, they rank all nine movies in the franchise (53:00), before Sean is joined by ‘Romulus’ director Fede Álvarez to talk about making a movie in the franchise that he is a superfan of, some of the particular choices made around fan service, how he approached practical effects during the production, and more (1:11:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Fede Álvarez
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/08/24•1h 49m
The Matt Damon Hall of Fame. Plus: The Anxious Wonder of ‘Dìdi.’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer contributor Brian Raftery to discuss his miniseries about the Sony hack, running next week on the ‘Big Picture’ feed (1:00). Then, they discuss two recent releases—Sean Wang’s coming-of-age movie ‘Dìdi’ and the Matt Damon and Casey Affleck vehicle ‘The Instigators’ (14:00)—before launching themselves into the Matt Damon Hall of Fame (34:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Wang to discuss making ‘Dìdi,’ the path to his first feature at just 29 years old, the particular time period of the movie, and more (1:36:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Brian Raftery and Sean Wang
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/08/24•2h 14m
‘Sing Sing’ Is One of the Best Things You’ll See This Year. ‘It Ends With Us’ Is … Not. (Our 700th Episode!)
In their 700th Episode, Sean and Amanda discuss the news that the Brad Pitt and George Clooney vehicle ‘Wolfs’ will have a one-week limited theatrical release before moving to streaming, then talk about a slightly deranged combination of films this week (0:45). First up, they dive into ‘Sing Sing,’ a deeply moving prison drama starring Colman Domingo about a small group of prisoners attempting to stage a theatrical production (11:53). Then, they transition to the bizarre and controversial Colleen Hoover adaptation ‘It Ends With Us,’ starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (28:11). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Sing Sing’ director Greg Kwedar to discuss how this extraordinary film came together, casting formerly incarcerated actors, the unusual rollout of the film, and more (1:08:45).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Sasha Ashall
Engineers: Aleya Zenieris and Jack Sanders
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09/08/24•1h 51m
Our Thirst for ‘Trap’
Sean and Amanda dig into a heap of news that Sean missed while he was on vacation (0:55), including the latest on the MCU (1:25), the fall festival landscape (18:27), and the just-announced Britney Spears biopic (30:5r0). Then, they dive deep into M. Night Shyamalan’s latest, the twisty serial killer thriller ‘Trap’ (38:05).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Brian H. Waters
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05/08/24•1h 30m
Sidney Lumet at 100: The Essential Movies From an American Master
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to commemorate the career of one of America’s greatest directors, Sidney Lumet. They talk about him as a person, his path to becoming a workman director, his methodology, and his standout moments (1:00) before going through his entire filmography and choosing the 10 most essential entries in the canon (43:00). Then, they each share their five personal favorites (1:37:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/07/24•1h 43m
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Is Here. Is Marvel Back?
Sean and Amanda are joined by three out of four of the Midnight Boys—Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, and Jomi Adeniran—to have a deep-dive conversation about Marvel’s big 2024 bet: ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ They discuss the somewhat convoluted plot of the movie (5:00), what they liked and didn’t like about it (11:00), what audience it’s aiming for (16:00), whether or not Marvel is back on the right track (1:00:00), and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, Jomi Adeniran
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/07/24•1h 25m
We’re So Back … With a Movie Mega-Mailbag!
Sean and Amanda discuss the smashing success of Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones’s ‘Twisters’ (1:00) before reviewing ‘Fly Me to the Moon,’ a surprisingly under-the-radar Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum movie about the space race (21:00). After that, they open up the mailbag to answer your questions about the 2025 movie slate, Tom Cruise’s next projects, movie theater behavior, film books, James Bond, snacks, and more (30:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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23/07/24•1h 31m
‘Twisters’ Rocks! Plus, the Top Five Natural Disaster Movies.
Sean and Amanda discuss one of the most anticipated movies of the summer, ‘Twisters,’ starring their guy Glen Powell alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones (1:00). Then, in honor of the genre that ‘Twister’ amplified in the ’90s, they discuss what makes natural disaster movies so appealing and which are the most successful (40:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/07/24•1h 14m
The 2000s Summer Blockbuster Draft (Live!)
We’re drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to draft 2000s summer blockbusters.
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Aleya Zenieris and Jack Sanders
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16/07/24•1h 29m
The Evil in ‘Longlegs’ and the Serial Killer Movie Canon
Sean is joined by Rob Mahoney to appraise just how terrifying ‘Longlegs’ is after all the buzz (1:00). Then, they run through the canon of serial killer movies, a horror subgenre that distinguishes itself from slashers (26:00). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Longlegs’ director Osgood Perkins to discuss his career, the particular elements of ‘Longlegs’ he was most interested in exploring, how a film like this gets received by wider audiences, and more (1:02:00).
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Rob Mahoney and Osgood Perkins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/07/24•1h 42m
Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Trailer Hype, Mia Goth’s ‘MaXXXine’ Madness, and ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’
Sean and Amanda react to the trailer for ‘F1,’ Joseph Kosinski’s follow-up to ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ starring Brad Pitt as a Formula One driver (1:00), then react to the news of the Paramount sale going through (5:00). They later dig into Ti West’s third installment in the ‘X’ trilogy, ‘MaXXXine’ (10:00). Next, they’re joined by Van Lathan to discuss Eddie Murphy’s return to the ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ franchise in this past weekend’s Netflix release: ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ (28:00). Sean and Amanda then briefly discuss ‘Despicable Me 4’ and the state of the box office, as it has bounced back recently (50:00), before Sean is finally joined by West to discuss ‘MaXXXine’ in further depth, talk about why he wanted to stay in this story, and dig into some of the myriad influences on the film (58:00).
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Ti West and Van Lathan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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08/07/24•1h 34m
The 10 Best Movies of the Year … So Far
Sean and Amanda are joined by a deep bench of Ringer colleagues to share their favorite movies of the year. The selections range from heavy hitters like ‘Dune: Part Two’ and ‘Challengers’ to big swings like ‘Civil War.’ And, of course, Glen Powell will feature.
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, Adam Nayman, Rob Mahoney
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/07/24•1h 34m
The 2024 Movie Auction: Chapter Two
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan for part two of the 2024 movie auction. They nominate 15 films they’re excited for—including some important movies out of Cannes, an M. Night Shyamalan thriller, a Brad Pitt and George Clooney reunion, and more—and bid on who will get each movie on their team.
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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01/07/24•1h 35m
The Surprising ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ and Kevin Costner’s Big Bet on ‘Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1’
Sean and Amanda recap the third installment of the ‘Quiet Place’ franchise—the Lupita Nyong’o–starring ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’—which surprised both of them with its scale and quality (1:00). Then, they are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss Kevin Costner’s gigantic gamble, ‘Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1’ (25:00). The trio dig into its weirdness, its Western tropes and subversions, and whether it stands even the slightest chance of not bombing.
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/06/24•1h 8m
The Kevin Costner Hall of Fame
With ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ on the … horizon … Sean and Amanda build the Kevin Costner Hall of Fame by running through Costner’s entire filmography to try to narrow it down to 10 movies. From the cowboy, to the athlete, to the spy, and back again, this filmography (and this episode) is a journey!
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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25/06/24•1h 58m
‘The Bikeriders’ and the ‘Dudes Rock’ Movie Canon, Plus ‘Kinds of Kindness’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss ‘The Bikeriders,’ a new Jeff Nichols movie starring Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, and Jodie Comer (1:00). They discuss the film’s successes, its influences, and more, before building a partial canon for movies in the “dudes rock” genre (30:00). Then, Chris leaves and Sean and Amanda discuss ‘Kinds of Kindness,’ Yorgos Lanthimos’s anthology film and the latest installment in his creative collaboration with Emma Stone (52:00). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Bikeriders’ director Jeff Nichols to discuss the production of the movie, the book that inspired it, making such a stylized period piece, and more (1:15:00).
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Jeff Nichols
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/06/24•1h 53m
The 2002 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the best movies of 2002.
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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18/06/24•1h 42m
‘Inside Out 2’ and Pixar’s Mount Rushmore Movies
Sean and Amanda are joined by ‘Midnight Boy’ Charles Holmes to react to the movie business news that Skydance is no longer looking to acquire Paramount and that Sony has purchased the theater chain Alamo Draft House (1:00). Then, they discuss Pixar’s latest attempt to get back to its heyday with ‘Inside Out 2’ and their relationship to the franchise (23:00). Then, they build their own Mount Rushmore of Pixar films, including which films represent which presidents on the monument (1:00:00). Finally, Sean is joined by documentarian Lance Oppenheim to discuss ‘Ren Faire’ and his career thus far (1:35:00).
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Charles Holmes and Lance Oppenheim
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/06/24•2h 7m
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ and the Will Smith Resurgence. Plus, Viggo Mortensen!
Sean and Amanda talk about the successes and shortcomings of the two biggest movies at this week’s box office: Will Smith’s return to franchise moviemaking in ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ (1:00), and ‘The Watchers,’ Ishana Night Shyamalan’s directorial debut (43:00). Then, they briefly discuss ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’ (1:03:00), Viggo Mortensen’s second directorial feature, a Western starring Mortensen and podcast favorite Vicky Krieps (0:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Mortensen to discuss the project, where it came from for him creatively, the importance of casting Krieps, his favorite Westerns, and more (1:08:00).
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Viggo Mortensen
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/06/24•1h 41m
‘Hit Man’ With Glen Powell and Richard Linklater!
Sean and Amanda discuss the unconfirmed casting news that Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, Harris Dickinson, and Charlie Rowe will be the leads of Sam Mendes’s quartet of biopics about the members of the Beatles (1:00). Then, they have an in-depth (and spoiler-filled) discussion about Richard Linklater’s 'Hit Man,' starring 'Big Pic' favorite Glen Powell (15:00). Finally, Powell and Linklater join the show to discuss the genesis of the script, striking a unique tone, their creative partnership, and more (1:02:00).
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Glen Powell and Richard Linklater
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/06/24•1h 38m
Hollywood Is Broken. Let’s Start a Movie Studio.
With no new movies hitting the box office this weekend, Sean and Amanda are instead building their own fantasy movie studio from scratch—directors, stars, writers, IP, studio locations, and more (1:00). Later in the show, Chris Ryan joins to help explain the uniqueness of ‘In a Violent Nature’ (1:22:00), before Sean is joined by the director of the film, Chris Nash, to discuss making it (1:34:00).
To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,’ head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Chris Nash
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/06/24•2h 5m
The Richard Linklater Hall of Fame
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the unique filmmaking prowess of Texas legend Richard Linklater. On the eve of his newest film, ‘Hit Man,’ starring Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, they choose 10 films from his catalog to build out the Linklater Hall of Fame. Then, Sean is joined by director Ron Howard to discuss his documentary 'Jim Henson: Idea Man,' working in the documentary space, how he picks projects, and more (01:38:00)
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan and Ron Howard
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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31/05/24•2h 5m
The Box Office Crisis, a ‘Furiosa’ Deep Dive, and the 'Mad Max' Movie Rankings
Sean opens the podcast by sharing some extended thoughts about the state of the box office as it relates to George Miller’s ‘Furiosa’ (1:00). Then, Chris Ryan and Joanna Robinson join to do a deeper dive into ‘Furiosa’ and its various successes and limitations (17:00), before ranking every installment in the ‘Mad Max’ saga (1:15:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Joanna Robinson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/05/24•1h 34m
‘Furiosa’ Is Here! Witness It!
Sean and Amanda dig into a spoiler-filled conversation about George Miller’s newest installment in his ‘Mad Max’ canon—the Anya Taylor-Joy– and Chris Hemsworth–starring ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.’ They discuss how it compares to 2015's ‘Mad Max: Fury Road,’ whether comparisons are fair or useful, the performances at the heart of the film, its visual prowess, its spot in the year of movies, whether it will have any chance at the Oscars, and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/05/24•1h 15m
May Movie Massacre: ‘IF,’ ‘Back to Black,’ and ‘Unfrosted’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Midnight Boy and resident hater Charles Holmes to discuss a trio of less-than-ideal movies out right now: John Krasinski’s semi-animated ‘IF’ (1:00), the Amy Winehouse biopic ‘Back to Black’ (45:00), and Jerry Seinfeld’s nightmarish directorial debut, ‘Unfrosted’ (1:07:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Charles Holmes
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/05/24•1h 41m
The Action Movie Scene Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the coolest scenes in action movie history.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/05/24•1h 49m
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ and the 'Apes' Movie Rankings
Sean and Amanda are joined by Van Lathan to discuss the new installment in the ‘Planet of the Apes’ franchise, the enduring power of the ‘Apes’ IP, and how it relates to modern IP storytelling (1:00). Finally, they rank the 10 films in the franchise (1:05:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Van Lathan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/05/24•1h 34m
An Ask-Us-Anything Mailbag, and ‘I Saw the TV Glow,’ with Jane Schoenbrun
Sean and Amanda answer your questions about the 2024 box office, roasts, YouTube movie clips, repertory theaters, and more (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Mean Pod Guy Adam Nayman to discuss an exciting new release, Jane Schoenbrun’s ‘I Saw the TV Glow,’ and its unique blend of body horror, nostalgia, and identity (1:15:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Schoenbrun to discuss the making of the movie, growing up hooked in to television, and what kind of films they’re interested in making moving forward (1:45:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Jane Schoenbrun and Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/05/24•2h 40m
Five Ways We’ll Watch Movies in the Future and ‘The Idea of You’
Sean and Amanda share some exciting announcements about the show (1:00), then dig into their experience at four different premium large-format movie theater experiences over the last few weeks (4:00). They later discuss the weekend’s biggest streaming film, the Anne Hathaway vehicle ‘The Idea of You’ (1:00:00). Does the movie work, should it have been in theaters, and what does this signal for Hathaway—one of their favorite stars in Hollywood.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/05/24•1h 36m
‘The Fall Guy’ and Top Five Ryan Gosling Movies
Sean and Amanda reflect on the reaction to the 35 Under 35 movie stars list they put together on Tuesday’s episode (1:00), before discussing the new Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt action-comedy-romance movie, ‘The Fall Guy’ (5:00). Then, they revisit the highs of Gosling’s career by each sharing their five favorite performances from his long and chaptered career (51:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/05/24•1h 23m
The 2024 Movie Star Ranking: 35 Under 35
Sean and Amanda reconvene the movie star committee to rank the 35 most important movie stars under the age of 35, using their proprietary blend of what a star has done already, what they have on their slate next, and what they could turn into in the future. Zendaya, Margot Robbie, Timothée Chalamet, Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi, Florence Pugh … Who will come out on top?
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/04/24•2h 14m
‘Challengers’ Is Sexy, Sweaty, and Undeniable
Sean and Amanda gather to discuss the 2024 film perfectly situated at the center of their respective tastes: ‘Challengers.’ They discuss the thrilling trio of actors at its center, underrated director Luca Guadagnino, its pulsing score, and its thrilling ending (1:00). Then, Sean interviews Justin Kuritzkes, the writer of the movie, about writing this script on spec, the balance of power dynamics among the characters, why he chose to set it in the world of tennis, and more (1:35:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Justin Kuritzkes
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/04/24•2h 6m
‘Abigail,’ ‘Late Night With the Devil,’ and the 10 Best Horror Movies of 2024 … So Far
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the current state of horror in theaters (1:00). They run through a list of movies that are out right now, then dive into what they did and did not like about them (10:00). Later, they’re joined by a special guest to explain the plot of ‘Imaginary’ (27:00) to Chris, who hasn’t yet seen the film. Finally, Sean and Chris discuss the directors they’d most like to see work in the horror genre (1:00:00) and discuss their most-anticipated upcoming releases (1:10:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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23/04/24•1h 23m
The 10 Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2024. Plus: Tarantino’s Pivot, Scorsese’s Sinatra, and Spielberg’s UFOs.
Sean and Amanda discuss the news that Quentin Tarantino has shelved what was previously reported as his 10th and final film, ‘The Movie Critic’ (1:00). Then, they react to some development news for Martin Scorsese’s and Steven Spielberg’s next projects (12:00), and discuss the most anticipated movie of this upcoming summer (29:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/04/24•1h 26m
The 1999 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite and are joined by several special guests for a mega-draft of the best movies of 1999.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan, and Rob Mahoney
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/04/24•2h 33m
‘Civil War’ With Alex Garland! Plus: The 10 Most Anticipated Movies Out of CinemaCon.
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to run through the 10 most anticipated movies from this week’s CinemaCon, which Sean attended (1:00). Then, they have a long—and, at times, combative—discussion about Alex Garland’s big-budget A24 release, ‘Civil War’ (44:00), delving into the film’s politics (or lack thereof), point of view, cinematic style, and more. Finally, Sean is joined by Garland to answer questions regarding some of those very things and where he sees this in the arc of his career, as well as discuss whether he will take a step back from filmmaking (1:50:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Alex Garland
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/04/24•2h 36m
‘Dune: Part Two’ and the 10 Best Movies of the Year … So Far
Sean and Amanda revisit Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Part Two’ and assess whether the fervor for it holds up (1:00). Then, they share their 10 favorite movies of the year so far (25:00), including ‘Immaculate,’ ‘La Chimera,’ ‘The First Omen,’ and others. Sean is then joined by the director of ‘The First Omen,’ Arkasha Stevenson, to discuss the subversive nature of a her legacy sequel, how she got it made, and the career that led her here (1:15:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Arkasha Stevenson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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09/04/24•1h 43m
‘Monkey Man’ Is Here! Plus, the Top Five 21st Century Directorial Debuts.
Sean and Amanda dig into the successes and shortcomings of this week’s biggest release at the box office: Dev Patel’s directorial debut, ‘Monkey Man’ (1:00). They discuss, among other things, the unique action put to screen and the movie’s rumored behind-the-scenes studio management. Then—after casually losing their sanity for 15 minutes in the middle of the podcast—they discuss the best directorial debuts of the 21st century (42:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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05/04/24•1h 16m
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ and the Steve Martin Hall of Fame
Sean and Amanda break down a pair of big franchise releases—‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ and ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ (1:00). They then share their thoughts on the new Steve Martin documentary ‘Steve!’ (30:00) and build the Steve Martin Hall of Fame (49:00). Finally, Sean is joined by the director of said documentary, Morgan Neville, to discuss picking a subject, building rapport with that subject, and how he chooses projects (1:40:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Morgan Neville
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/04/24•2h 9m
The ‘Babylon’ Watch-Along
In a hundred years, when you and I are both long gone, anytime someone listens to this podcast, you will be alive again.
Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda as they discuss Damien Chazelle’s 'Babylon.'
(The movie is now available on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+, so you can stream along with 'The Big Picture.')
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/03/24•3h 13m
‘Road House’ and the Top 10 Junk Fight Movies. Plus: Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Immaculate’!
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to briefly discuss ‘Immaculate,’ the new Sydney Sweeney nun horror movie, before digging into Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Road House’ remake (1:00). Then, Sean and Chris explore a new niche subgenre they’ve invented: junk fights (32:00). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Immaculate’ director Michael Mohan to discuss working in the genre, working with Sweeney, and how he hopes to build on this film going forward (1:08:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Michael Mohan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/03/24•1h 43m
The 1977 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the best movies of 1977—the year of Chris’s birth and a compelling year for many of our most iconic directors.
John Cassavetes on TV sucking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePptcNqXRJA
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/03/24•1h 46m
‘Love Lies Bleeding’ and the 21st Century Noir Movie Canon
Sean and Amanda discuss a recent run of positive 2025 movie news (1:00) before digging into Rose Glass’s second feature, ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ (20:00). They take stock of Kristen Stewart’s unique movie star presence, discuss Glass’s genre command and audacious screenwriting, and praise Katy O’Brian’s wonderfully physical and emotional performance. Then, they run down a list of films they’re calling the 21st Century Noir Movie Canon (36:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Glass to discuss the production of ‘Love Lies Bleeding,’ working with a star like Stewart, why she set the film in America, how Ed Harris became involved in the project, and more (53:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Rose Glass
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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15/03/24•1h 27m
The 2024 Oscars Mailbag and a Way-Too-Early Look at 2025 Best Picture
Sean and Amanda are joined by Joanna Robinson to briefly discuss ‘Dune: Part Two’ and other way-too-early contenders for the 2025 Oscars (1:00). Then, they open the mailbag to answer your questions about ‘Oppenheimer,’ Emma Stone, Lily Gladstone, ‘Rango,’ Bradley Cooper, ‘The Holdovers,’ and more (37:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/03/24•1h 35m
The 2024 Oscars: The Year of ‘Oppenheimer’ and Christopher Nolan
Sean and Amanda give their immediate reactions to the 96th Academy Awards, which were largely dominated by Christopher Nolan and ‘Oppenheimer.’ They appreciate Jimmy Kimmel’s hosting, admire a barn-burning performance of ‘I’m Just Ken’ by Ryan Gosling, analyze a surprising Emma Stone victory over Lily Gladstone, discuss the increasingly international voting body of the Academy, note the continued cultural power of 'Barbie' (despite winning very little at the awards), and wonder whether this year is a one-off or whether it portends the Oscars telecast making a sustained comeback.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/03/24•1h 22m
Oscar Predictions: Who Will Win and Should Win at the 2024 Academy Awards
Sean and Amanda make their final predictions for who will (and who should) win in every category at the 2024 Academy Awards. They discuss whether or not ‘Oppenheimer’ and Christopher Nolan will run the table as expected, who will come out on top in a neck-and-neck Best Actress race, whether any major contenders will go home empty-handed, and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/03/24•1h 32m
The 2024 Alternative Oscars, a.k.a. the Big Picks!
Sean and Amanda are joined by New York Times film critic Wesley Morris to hand out The Big Picture’s very own Alternative Oscars (32:00). They've included a handful of categories they’ve invented, as well as alternative nominees and winners in the major Academy Awards categories. Before digging into this exercise, they open by talking about ‘Dune: Part Two,’ as well as the state of ‘Oppenheimer’ and director Christopher Nolan as overwhelming Oscar front-runners (1:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Wesley Morris
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/03/24•2h 15m
‘Dune: Part Two’ Is Here and It’s Spectacular
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the massively anticipated Denis Villeneuve epic, ‘Dune: Part Two.’ The trio discuss the scope of the film, the fan fervor, the movie star performances it centers, and more (1:00). Then, they discuss Villeneuve’s most successful film entries up to this point and decide where ‘Dune: Part Two’ slots in among his best achievements (1:20:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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01/03/24•1h 40m
Final Best Picture Power Rankings and How Oscar Voting Really Works
Sean and Amanda open the show by discussing the SAG Awards and highlight the Netflix streaming experience, Lily Gladstone’s win for Best Actress, and the dominance of 'Oppenheimer’ (1:00). Then, they create their final Best Picture power rankings (43:55). Later, Tom Oyer joins the show to help explain how the Academy Awards actually work and what the voting process looks like (1:01:44).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Tom Oyer
Producer: Jack Sanders
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26/02/24•1h 43m
‘Drive-Away Dolls’ and Book Club No. 1—Francis Ford Coppola, ‘Apocalypse Now,’ and ‘The Path to Paradise’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer contributor and beloved “Mean Pod Guy” Adam Nayman to discuss ‘Drive-Away Dolls,’ the latest solo Coen movie—this time directed by Ethan and written along with his wife, Tricia Cooke (1:00). After that, it’s the first iteration of The Big Picture Book Club. Sean and Amanda dig into ‘The Path to Paradise: A Francis Ford Coppola Story,’ what it reveals about the highs and lows of Coppola’s career, what it tells us outside of the already well-known mythology of Coppola, and—with ‘Megalopolis’ likely coming out this year—the ways it contributes to Coppola’s presence in the film zeitgeist in 2024 (24:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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23/02/24•1h 10m
‘The Beekeeper,’ ‘Madame Web,’ and a Dumpuary Extravaganza
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Dumpuary! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the box office sensation of the year thus far, David Ayer’s politically charged action romp ‘The Beekeeper,’ starring Jason Statham (1:00). Then, conversely, Sean and Amanda dive (surprisingly) deep into what may be the worst movie of the year, the Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney superhero vehicle ‘Madame Web’ (31:00). They wrap up by running through some other dumpuary movies, including J.Lo’s ‘This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story’ (1:15:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/02/24•1h 34m
The Best Super Bowl Trailers, ‘Bob Marley: One Love,’ ‘The Taste of Things,’ and Top Five Food Movies
Sean and Amanda open by discussing the movie trailers that debuted at the Super Bowl (1:00), before digging into this past weekend’s biggest release: ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ (29:00). Then, they discuss one of their favorite movies of last year, the French cooking romance ‘The Taste of Things’ (39:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Tran Anh Hung and Juliette Binoche, the director and star (respectively) of ‘The Taste of Things,’ to discuss the unique challenges of making a movie so centered around cooking technique, and the ways they went about portraying the authenticity of love between the two main characters (1:20:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Tran Anh Hung and Juliette Binoche
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/02/24•1h 49m
The 1991 Movie Draft. Plus: Wim Wenders!
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the best movies of 1991 (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by master filmmaker Wim Wenders to discuss his new film, ‘Perfect Days’; his return to a film set in Japan; how he looks back on his long career of making movies; and more (1:31:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Wim Wenders and Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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09/02/24•2h 15m
‘Argylle’ and the Death of the Winking Action Movie
Sean and Amanda discuss the wildly unsuccessful elements of ‘Argylle,’ Matthew Vaughn’s meta spy thriller starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell (1:00). Then, they try to contextualize it within what Sean has dubbed "wink action"—a subgenre of action that rose around the turn of the 2010s and has finally started to peter out (44:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Arcel to discuss ‘The Promised Land’ and the key creative differences between making movies in Hollywood and making movies internationally (1:20:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Arcel
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/02/24•1h 52m
Physical Media Strikes Back With Tim Simons
Sean is joined by actor and physical media enthusiast Tim Simons to refresh their conversation on the state of Blu-rays and physical media in the world of cinema.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Tim Simons
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/02/24•1h 27m
The Philip Seymour Hoffman Hall of Fame
As the 10-year anniversary of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death approaches, Sean pays tribute to his favorite actor with an audio essay highlighting the ways in which Hoffman was sui generis on the screen (1:00). Then, Amanda joins to run through Hoffman’s entire filmography and select 10 movies to make up his hall of fame (10:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/01/24•1h 34m
The ‘Barbie’ Freak-Out, Oscar Nominations Mailbag, and ‘The Zone of Interest’
Sean and Amanda open the mailbag to answer lingering questions about the Oscar nominations, including the growing fervor around Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig’s failure to be nominated for ‘Barbie,’ why ‘The Iron Claw’ received no nominations, which film could surprise at the awards, and more (1:00). Then, Sean gives a quick recap of what he saw at the Sundance Film Festival (1:13:00) before they finally do a full deep dive into Jonathan Glazer’s ‘The Zone of Interest’ (1:22:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/01/24•2h
2024 Oscar Nominations: Snubs, Surprises, and WTFs
Sean and Amanda gather after the announcement of the 2024 Oscar nominations to discuss an ‘Oppenheimer’ runaway train, some disappointing and somewhat surprising snubs for Margot Robbie and ‘Barbie,’ and how the nominations circuit is much more of a known quantity than it used to be. Plus: waning momentum for ‘The Holdovers,’ growing momentum for ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ and ‘The Zone of Interest,’ and how ‘Nyad’ snuck into several big categories.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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23/01/24•1h 9m
Oscar Nomination Predictions, ‘Mean Girls,’ and ‘All of Us Strangers’ With Andrew Scott
Sean and Amanda predict the upcoming announcement of the Oscar nominations (1:00), before reviewing ‘Mean Girls’ (49:00)—a musical remake of the 2004 high school classic—and ‘All of Us Strangers’ (1:03:00), a heavily-tipped Oscar movie that is finally being released widely. Finally, Sean talks to ‘All of Us Strangers’ star Andrew Scott about what attracted him to this role, how he selects roles at this stage of his career, and the legwork that goes into building chemistry with costars (1:22:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Andrew Scott
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/01/24•1h 56m
The 2024 Movie Auction. Plus: Jake Johnson!
Sean, Amanda, and Chris gather to auction draft the movies they’re most excited for in 2024, including both Zendaya vehicles ‘Dune Part 2’ and ‘Challengers,’ Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Mickey 17,’ Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis,’ and more (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by first-time feature director Jake Johnson to talk about his movie ‘Self Reliance’ (1:17:00) and how he views it as fitting in the larger arc of his career on and off the screen.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Jake Johnson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/01/24•2h 3m
The Making of ‘Oppenheimer’ with Hoyte Van Hoytema, Jennifer Lame, and Ludwig Göransson
In this special episode audio from our live screening of ‘Oppenheimer’ at IMAX in Los Angeles, Sean is joined by cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema, editor Jennifer Lame, and composer Ludwig Göransson to discuss the making of one of the biggest and best movies of the year: Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer.’
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Hoyte Van Hoytema, Jennifer Lame, and Ludwig Göransson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/01/24•50m 35s
Best Picture Power Rankings and a ‘Poor Things’ Deep Dive. Plus: Julianne Moore and Todd Haynes!
Sean and Amanda react to a mixed bag of movie and awards nominations news (1:00), before digging into one of the year’s biggest movies not yet discussed on the show: Yorgos Lanthimos’s Emma Stone vehicle ‘Poor Things’ (15:00). They close by refreshing their Best Picture power rankings (:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Julianne Moore and Todd Haynes to discuss ‘May December’—the performances at the movie’s heart, the reception of its satire, rendering the recent past, and more (1:50:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Julianne Moore and Todd Haynes
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/01/24•2h 23m
The 2024 Golden Globes: The ‘Oppenheimer’ Behemoth
Sean and Amanda give their immediate reactions to the 2024 Golden Globe Awards ceremony, which turned out to be a massive success for Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer.’ They also share their thoughts about the shortcomings of the television production, the other movies—such as ‘The Holdovers’ and ‘Poor Things’—that had successful nights, and what we still don’t know heading into full-fledged Oscar season.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Additional Production: Cory McConnell
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08/01/24•1h 21m
The 24 Most Anticipated Movies of 2024
Sean and Amanda discuss the new release ‘Society of the Snow’ (1:00) before sharing their 24 most anticipated movies of 2024, including blockbuster releases like ‘Dune: Part Two’ and ‘Furiosa’ (12:00). Then, Chris Ryan joins to recount the plot of ‘Night Swim’ in a follow-up to the time when he and Sean explained the plot of ‘Barbarian’ to Amanda, who has not seen either film (1:08:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/01/24•1h 53m
Our 2024 Movie Resolutions, ‘Anyone but You,’ and ‘The Color Purple’
Sean and Amanda give some box office thoughts from the last couple weeks, before honing in on two films in theaters right now: Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell’s sex comedy ‘Anyone but You’ (15:00) and the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel ‘The Color Purple’ (49:00). They close by each sharing three New Year’s movie resolutions that relate to the show (1:04:00).
RSVP for a chance to attend The Big Picture’s OPPENHEIMER screening at the IMAX campus in L.A. here: uni.pictures/oppenheimerbigpictureevent
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/01/24•1h 25m
‘The Iron Claw’ and the 10 Most Underrated Movies of 2023
Sean and Amanda each share five movies from the year that they feel were either under-discussed or underrated (1:00), before inviting The Ringer’s David Shoemaker on to dive deep on pro wrestling, the Von Erich family, and the way they’re represented in Sean Durkin’s new film, ‘The Iron Claw’ (28:00). Then, Durkin joins to talk about the unique challenges of recreating pro wrestling’s pseudo-reality in cinema, casting stars such as Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Harris Dickinson, what movies he took inspiration from, and more (1:12:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Sean Durkin and David Shoemaker
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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29/12/23•1h 47m
‘Ferrari’ and Top Five Michael Mann Movies
Sean and Amanda are joined by The Ringer’s Michael Mann aficionado Chris Ryan to discuss one of the year’s best and most anticipated movies: ‘Ferrari’ (1:00). They discuss the successes and failures of the casting, how transfixing Adam Driver is at the center of the frame, where this slots into the Mann oeuvre, and whether it will (or should) be Mann’s last film. Then, they each share their five favorite Michael Mann movies (41:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/12/23•1h 5m
The Top 10 Movies Scenes of 2023 and ‘American Fiction’ With Cord Jefferson
Sean and Amanda open the show by talking about their five favorite scenes of the 2023 movie year (1:00), before digging into one of the most exciting directorial debuts of the year: Cord Jefferson’s ‘American Fiction’ (24:00). They talk about the state of family dramas and satires as genres and how ‘American Fiction’ succeeds as a refreshing mix of the two. Then, Sean is joined by Jefferson to talk about the expected and unexpected challenges of directing a film when you have a background as a writer, the movie’s deep and wonderful cast, what kinds of things he’s gravitating toward working on next, and more (38:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Cord Jefferson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/12/23•1h 34m
‘Maestro’: Holy Sh*t. Plus, the Top 10 Performances of 2023.
Sean and Amanda share their top 10 performances of the movie year, focusing on films that did not get as much attention in our top-five lists (1:00). Then, they dive deep into one of the biggest swings of the year, from one of the most ambitious directors we have working right now: Bradley Cooper’s ‘Maestro’ (33:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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20/12/23•1h 30m
The 2020 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the best movies of 2020.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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18/12/23•1h 19m
‘Wonka’ and the Timothee Chalamet Movie Star Playbook. Plus: Jonathan Glazer on ‘The Zone of Interest.’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Joanna Robinson to react to ‘Wonka’—what works, what doesn’t work, musicals in the 2020s, and whether a movie can subvert its early reputation as a meme (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Jonathan Glazer and Johnnie Burn, the director and sound designer, respectively, of ‘The Zone of Interest’ (1:12:00). They discuss recreation in film, interpretive sound design, their other collaborations, and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Jonathan Glazer, Johnnie Burn, and Joanna Robinson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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15/12/23•1h 40m
‘The Boy and the Heron’ and Top Five Miyazaki Movies. Plus: An ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Deep Dive.
Sean is joined by Andy Greenwald and Charles Holmes to revel in the top film at the box office, Hayao Miyazaki’s final film, ‘The Boy and the Heron’ (1:00). They talk about Miyazaki’s whole career, including their top five Studio Ghibli movies (41:00). Then, Amanda rejoins the pod for a detailed discussion of the 2023 Palme d’Or winner, Justine Triet’s French courtroom drama ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ (1:12:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Andy Greenwald and Charles Holmes
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/12/23•2h 24m
Julia Roberts (!) and Sam Esmail on ‘Leave the World Behind.’ Plus: Golden Globes Snubs, Surprises, and WTFs.
Sean and Amanda instantly react to the Golden Globes nominations and what it portends for the Oscars (1:00). Then, they are (somehow) joined by Julia Roberts (28:00) and friend of the show Sam Esmail to discuss ‘Leave the World Behind,’ Esmail’s adaptation of the Rumaan Alam novel. Esmail sticks around for an in-depth conversation about adaptation, set design, costuming, casting, working for Netflix, what’s coming next, and everything in between (48:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Julia Roberts and Sam Esmail
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/12/23•1h 55m
The Power of ‘Godzilla Minus One’ and an Awards Season Mega-Mailbag
Sean and Amanda react to the surprise box office hit of the weekend, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ (1:00); share preliminary thoughts about ‘Poor Things’ and why it’s seemingly losing steam in the awards races (18:00); and then open up the mailbag to answer your questions on all things Oscar season (32:00). Finally, they update their Best Picture power rankings (1:30:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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08/12/23•1h 39m
The Top Five Movies of 2023
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman to share their respective lists of the five best movies released in 2023, including titanic works from master filmmakers, blockbuster hits that captured the zeitgeist, and smaller movies that challenged viewers to consider their artistry deeply.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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05/12/23•1h 33m
The Aggressive Majesty of ‘May December’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Wesley Morris to unpack their feelings about Todd Haynes's ‘May December.’ They discuss the complicated nature of the performances, hypothesize its potential for awards season, and much more (1:19). Later, they talk about their shared love for the newest concert film, ‘Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,’ and highlight their appreciation for its impressive technical feats (55:13).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Wesley Morris
Producers: Jack Sanders and Bobby Wagner
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01/12/23•1h 50m
‘Saltburn’: Iconic or Disastrous? Plus: Alexander Payne!
Sean and Amanda briefly share thoughts on Disney’s ‘Wish’ (1:00), before digging deep into Emerald Fennell’s ‘Saltburn,’ including its cast, its spotty plot, its relation to Fennell’s first feature, and more (5:00). Then, they share their top five “big swing” movies (1:07:00). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Holdovers’ director Alexander Payne to discuss reuniting with Paul Giamatti, casting an actor in their first role, the filmmaking style of the movie, and more (1:20:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Alexander Payne
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/11/23•1h 44m
‘Napoleon’ and the Top Five "Great Men" Movies
Sean, Amanda, and Chris explore the high highs of Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’—in particular the battle scenes—while trying to sort through their feelings on why the movie doesn’t come together as a whole quite how they hoped it would (1:00). Then, they try to place ‘Napoleon’ in the historical context of “great men” movies and share their top five in the genre (40:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/11/23•1h 26m
‘The Holdovers’ and ‘The Hunger Games.’ Plus: Eli Roth!
Sean and Amanda review two divergent releases from this past weekend—a continuation of the Hunger Games intellectual property, ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ (1:00), and Alexander Payne's latest feature, ‘The Holdovers’ (30:00). Then, Sean is joined by writer, director, and actor Eli Roth (1:07:00) to talk about ‘Thanksgiving,’ his feature-length follow-up to the fictional trailer of the same name, which first appeared in the 2007 film ‘Grindhouse.’ Sean and Eli discuss Roth’s particular interests within the horror genre, the state of modern IP horror, and what he’s interested in doing next.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Eli Roth
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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20/11/23•1h 52m
The Ridley Scott Hall of Fame. Plus: Errol Morris!
With Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’ hitting theaters, Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to build the Ridley Hall of Fame, selecting his 10 films most worthy of preservation (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by filmmaker Errol Morris to talk about his new John le Carré documentary, ‘The Pigeon Tunnel,’ Morris’s interviewing style, how he chooses subjects, the overlap between documentary and drama filmmaking, and more (1:27:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Errol Morris
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/11/23•2h
‘The Marvels’ Is Here. Is It Too Late for the MCU?
Sean and Amanda are joined by The Ringer’s Joanna Robinson to discuss the successes and failures of ‘The Marvels’ and what it portends for Marvel’s hopes to pull out of their relative recent tailspin (1:00). Then, Sean talks with ‘Dream Scenario’ writer and director Kristoffer Borgli about how he get his career kick-started, making films in the United States vs. Europe, and working with Nic Cage (1:15:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Joanna Robinson and Kristoffer Borgli
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/11/23•1h 52m
‘The Killer’ Is Cold-Blooded Genius. And Something More
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the trio’s collective favorite movie of 2023, David Fincher’s ‘The Killer’ (1:00). Then, Adam Nayman joins the show to give his take on ‘The Killer,’ the state of American auteur directors in 2023, and where the film fits into Fincher’s larger project (48:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/11/23•1h 30m
Best Picture Power Rankings and ‘Priscilla’ With Sofia Coppola!
Sean and Amanda review Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’ (1:00), including the performances of its leads, Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny, its set and costume design, where it slots in with her film canon, and more. Then, they take stock of the Best Picture Oscars race (47:00) and share the 10 movies they think are most likely to be nominated (1:02:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Coppola to talk about what she saw in Priscilla Presley’s memoir that made her want to adapt it, the process of recreating extremely famous figures, and the scale and scope that she likes to make her movies at (1:09:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Sofia Coppola
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/11/23•1h 37m
The David Fincher Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the work of acclaimed director David Fincher.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/11/23•1h 40m
Did ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Just Save Movies? Plus: The Emily Blunt Movie Star Playbook.
Sean and Amanda discuss the somewhat surprising dominant movie at the box office, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s,’ a horror adaptation of a popular video game series (1:00). Then, they review ‘Pain Hustlers,’ the David Yates–directed drama about the opioid crisis starring Chris Evans and Emily Blunt (27:00), before running through Blunt’s career to this point and laying out her “movie star playbook” (36:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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31/10/23•1h 32m
Introducing the Big Oscar Bet. Plus, A Halloween Mega-Mailbag.
Sean and Amanda debut a predictions-based game surrounding this year’s Oscars ceremony (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by frequent guest Alex Ross Perry to open the mailbag and answer questions about the current state of horror, how the WGA strike and new agreement affects filmmakers and writers like him, the state of physical media, and more (57:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Alex Ross Perry
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/10/23•2h 1m
The Lawyer Movie Draft With Griffin Newman and David Sims of 'Blank Check’
Sean, Amanda, and Chris are joined by David Sims and Griffin Newman of ‘Blank Check’ to draft their favorite lawyer movies—a broadening of the courtroom drama and legal thriller genre that gets contentious with two new guests involved in the draft.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Griffin Newman, and David Sims
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/10/23•2h 13m
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Is Astounding
Sean and Amanda discuss Martin Scorsese’s three-and-a-half hour epic ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and everything that it entails. They explore the adaptation of the David Grann book and how Scorsese and screenwriter Eric Roth shifted the perspective in the film (10:00), Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro’s repeated collaborations with Scorsese (23:00), the spellbinding performance of Lily Gladstone (48:00), the ways the film reflects on themes Scorsese has explored repeatedly (38:00), how it slots into the late Scorsese oeuvre (1:27:00), its chances at the Oscars (1:30:00), and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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20/10/23•1h 49m
‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ Is Here. Is It Worthy of the Hype?
Sean and Amanda discuss the surprise box office smash hit of the year, ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’—what it means for the movie industry, whether any other artists are powerful enough to follow in Swift’s footsteps, and the ripples her music dominance has had on larger pop culture.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/10/23•1h 44m
Why We Need Sex Scenes in Movies and ‘Fair Play’
Sean and Amanda review a trio of movies—‘Fair Play’ (1:00), ‘The Royal Hotel’ (30:00), and ‘Cat Person’ (40:00)—before having a wider conversation about the current role of sex in cinema (52:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Fair Play’ writer-director Chloe Domont to discuss her debut feature, the process of having a movie acquired out of Sundance, and the kinds of projects she’s interested in tackling next (1:20:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chloe Domont
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/10/23•1h 47m
Best Picture Power Rankings and Wes Anderson’s Oscar Chances
Sean and Amanda discuss the quartet of Wes Anderson short films that dropped on Netflix and the trend of established auteurs exploring the short film genre (1:00). Then, they run through a long list of the films they think have a chance at getting a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars and rank the 10 they think are most likely to garner that nomination (35:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Grant Singer to discuss his new crime thriller, ‘Reptile’ (1:21:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Grant Singer
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/10/23•2h
The Horror Oscars and ‘The Exorcist: Believer’
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to review the latest film in the ‘Exorcist’ universe, ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ (1:00). Then, they discuss the ways that horror franchise filmmaking has enveloped David Gordon Green’s career (23:00), before zooming out to take stock of the last five years in horror by awarding "horror Oscars" to one film per year (40:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/10/23•1h 35m
The Martin Scorsese Hall of Fame
With ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ just weeks away, Sean, Amanda, and Chris gather to run through the long list of films that Martin Scorsese has made and build a 10-movie Hall of Fame to Marty’s career.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/10/23•2h 4m
The 21st Century Sci-Fi Canon, ‘The Creator,’ and ‘No One Will Save You’
The 21st Century Sci-Fi Canon, ‘The Creator,’ and ‘No One Will Save You’
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss all things science fiction. First, they cover Brian Duffield’s new film, ‘No One Will Save You’ (4:33) before turning to Gareth Edwards’s ‘The Creator’ (14:58) starring John David Washington. Later, they come together to form the 21st Century Sci-Fi Canon featuring their ten favorite science fiction films since 2000 (48:47).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Jack Sanders
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29/09/23•1h 34m
‘Stop Making Sense’ and the Top 5 Concert Films
Sean and Amanda briefly discuss the news that the Writers Guild of America has a tentative agreement with the AMPTP to end their strike (1:00), before bringing on The Ringer's Rob Harvilla to discuss A24's re-release of Jonathan Demme's Talking Heads concert film 'Stop Making Sense' (7:00). Then, the three rank their five favorite concert films (44:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Rob Harvilla
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/09/23•1h 43m
The Top 10 Garbage Cash Movies and ‘Dumb Money’
Sean, Amanda, and Chris review ‘Dumb Money,’ Craig Gillespie’s new movie based on the events of the 2021 Wall Street GameStop short (1:00). Then, they craft a new entrant into their running “garbage” genre series—Garbage Cash—and list the 10 most apt entrants into the genre (53:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/09/23•1h 24m
‘A Haunting in Venice’ and the Top 5 Haunted House Movies
Sean and Amanda review Kenneth Branagh’s third Agatha Christie adaptation, ‘A Haunting in Venice’ (1:00), before expanding their thoughts on haunted house films by sharing 10 of their favorites in the genre (45:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/09/23•1h 25m
The 20 Most Intriguing Movies of the Fall and the Best of the Toronto International Film Festival
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer contributor and film critic Adam Nayman to discuss the highs, lows, and shifting culture of the Toronto International Film Festival (1:00). Then, they share a joint list of the most anticipated movies of 2023 that neither have shown each other until now (23:00), including ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,’ ‘Pain Hustlers,’ ‘Leave the World Behind,’ and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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15/09/23•1h 31m
The Denzel Washington Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan are joined by Bill Simmons and Van Lathan for a draft of the best Denzel Washington movies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, and Van Lathan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/09/23•1h 50m
600th Episode Mega Mailbag Extravaganza
To celebrate Episode 600, Sean and Amanda open up the mailbag to answer your questions about how they watch movies, Martin Scorsese, what’s changed in the last six years, the fictional location where they’d like to have a drink or meal, the rejected alternate names for the podcast, and more!
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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08/09/23•1h 43m
10 Way-Too-Early Oscar Predictions and the Best Movies at Telluride and Venice
After their respective trips to Colorado and Italy, Sean and Amanda convene to discuss the movies they watched at Telluride and Venice Film Festivals, including films from David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Michael Mann, Yorgos Lanthimos, Bradley Cooper, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, and more (1:00). Then, they share some early Oscar predictions based on the quality and buzz surrounding the films coming out of the two festivals (1:10:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/09/23•1h 40m
The 2006 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the best movies of 2006.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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31/08/23•1h 38m
'Dune 2' Pushed Back, Barbenheimer’s $2 Billion, and Everything We Missed While We Were Out
We’re back! Sean and Amanda discuss all the movies they missed, the big stories out of Hollywood, and much more (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Bottoms’ director Emma Seligman to discuss her new comedy (1:35:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Emma Seligman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/08/23•2h 5m
8. I Love America | Do We Get to Win This Time?
Oliver Stone returns to Vietnam with ‘Born on the Fourth of July’—a movie that closes out the ’80s, as well as the Vietnam movie boom. But ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘Dead Presidents’ prove that ’90s audiences aren’t ready to leave Vietnam for good.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Running on Empty’ (1988), ‘Dogfight’ (1991), and ‘Heaven and Earth’ (1993).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
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25/08/23•1h 13m
7. Ain’t War Hell? | Do We Get to Win This Time?
In the late ’80s, a new wave of big-studio hits like ‘Full Metal Jacket’ and ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ introduces young moviegoers to Vietnam—and helps turn the war into an unlikely pop-culture phenomenon.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Hamburger Hill’ (1987) and ‘Casualties of War’ (1989).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
Interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
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23/08/23•57m 53s
6. I Am Reality | Do We Get to Win This Time?
Oliver Stone’s harrowing and heartbreaking Vietnam drama ‘Platoon’ becomes a worldwide phenomenon in 1986—and signals the beginning of the Vietnam movie boom.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
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21/08/23•48m 49s
5. Nothing Is Over | Do We Get to Win This Time?
In the early 1980s, as America is grappling with the fallout of Vietnam, a troubled big-screen vet named John Rambo launches an unlikely movie franchise—and leads a wave of make-believe soldiers who are ready to fight the war all over again.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘First Blood’ (1982), ‘Uncommon Valor’ (1983), ‘Missing in Action’ (1984), and ‘Rambo: First Blood Part II’ (1985).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
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18/08/23•48m 46s
4. Little by Little, We Went Insane | Do We Get to Win This Time?
‘Apocalypse Now’ closes out the 1970s with the most ambitious Vietnam movie yet: a big-budget spectacle that will bring moviegoers closer than ever to the madness of war—and nearly push director Francis Ford Coppola over the edge.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘Who’ll Stop the Rain’ (1978), ‘The Boys in Company C’ (1978), ‘Go Tell the Spartans’ (1978), and ‘Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse’ (1991).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
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16/08/23•50m 47s
3. What a Strange Country | Do We Get to Win This Time?
In the late ’70s, ‘The Deer Hunter’ and ‘Coming Home’ offer two very different visions of Vietnam—and become unexpected hits. Together, they’d bring the war to the mainstream—and to the Oscars.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
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14/08/23•49m 43s
2. I Just Don’t Talk About It | Do We Get to Win This Time?
It’s the mid-’70s, and Hollywood is still scared of Vietnam. But a series of dark and wildly entertaining B movies brings the war to the big screen, with explosive results.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘M*A*S*H’ (1970), ‘Soldier Blue’ (1970), ‘Brotherhood of Death’ (1976), ‘Taxi Driver’ (1976), and ‘Rolling Thunder’ (1977).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
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11/08/23•39m 11s
1. Give ’Em Hell | Do We Get to Win This Time?
In the late-’60s, John Wayne stars in the first hit Vietnam movie: his controversial blockbuster ‘The Green Berets.’ And the piercing documentary ‘Hearts and Minds’ leads to an Oscar-night meltdown in 1975.
Other films we talk about in this episode include ‘In the Year of the Pig’ (1969) and ‘Winter Soldier’ (1972).
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
All interviews for this series were conducted before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023.
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08/08/23•40m 11s
Prologue | Do We Get to Win This Time?
‘The Deer Hunter.’ ‘Apocalypse Now.’ ‘First Blood.’ ‘Platoon.’ They’re among the hit films dealing with the Vietnam War—a conflict that divided moviegoers and inspired filmmakers. For decades, Hollywood released countless films about the war and its fallout—from action flicks to combat tales to sweeping dramas.
Through exclusive new interviews, ‘Do We Get to Win This Time?’ chronicles the making of Hollywood’s most ambitious and controversial Vietnam movies. Along the way, we also learn how these films reflected and shaped moviegoers’ feelings toward the war—and toward each other.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Manze, Mike Wargon, Amanda Dobbins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Bobby Wagner
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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08/08/23•17m 9s
Sharks, Alligators, Piranhas, and the Top 10 Garbage Fish Movies
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer contributor Brian Raftery to discuss his upcoming series ‘Do We Get to Win This Time? How Hollywood Made the Vietnam War,’ which will be running on ‘The Big Picture’ feed over the next three weeks (1:00). Then, at long last, Sean and Chris Ryan unveil the latest genre in their ongoing niche genre project: Garbage Fish (15:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Brian Raftery
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/08/23•1h 25m
The Top 5 Scariest Summer Movies and ‘Talk to Me’
Sean discusses ‘Talk to Me,’ the horror movie of the summer, and his five scariest summer movies (1:00), before being joined by the directors of the film, Danny and Michael Philippou (10:00). Then, he is joined by ‘Afire’ director Christian Petzold to discuss his new film, his career, and the shared interests of arthouse and commercial cinema (41:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Danny and Michael Philippou, Christian Petzold
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/08/23•1h 6m
The Movie Star Liquor Taste Test
To celebrate Amanda’s birthday, Sean, Amanda, and Bobby gather to taste the various liquors, wines, beers, and mixed drinks endorsed or owned by movie stars. While tasting, they discuss the stars’ careers—past, present, and future—and whether their business projects are to blame for the shift in their focus away from the silver screen.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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31/07/23•1h 57m
The ‘Barbie’ Deep Dive With Greta Gerwig!
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer-verse co-host Joanna Robinson to dive deep into ‘Barbie’—its innovation, its performances, its overwhelming success at the box office, and everything in between (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Greta Gerwig to discuss her approach to building the ‘Barbie’ world, the unique challenges it presented, how it relates to the other two films she’s directed, the cultural phenomenon it has set off, and more (1:29:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Greta Gerwig and Joanna Robinson
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/07/23•2h 9m
The ‘Oppenheimer’ Deep Dive
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ in granular detail, including its script, cinematography, extensive cast, big ideas, and ultimate success.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/07/23•1h 45m
‘Barbie’ + ‘Oppenheimer,’ a.k.a. Barbenheimer, Is Upon Us!
The biggest movie weekend in years is finally here. Sean and Amanda discuss the theater-going experience surrounding Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ (1:00), including the order and circumstances in which you should see them. Then, they dig into their feelings on ‘Oppenheimer’ and where Nolan stands in Hollywood (17:00), before pivoting their focus to ‘Barbie’ and what it signals about Gerwig’s ambitions and desires as a filmmaker (52:00).
This episode makes an effort to be spoiler-free of plot points in both ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer,’ but does feature in-depth discussion of Sean and Amanda’s reactions and feelings about each movie.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/07/23•1h 42m
The ‘Mission: Impossible’ Mailbag, and Movie Rankings
Sean and Amanda discuss the dramatic effect the SAG-AFTRA strike will have on the movie industry (1:00), before opening up the mailbag and answering any and all questions about the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise (15:00). Then, they do the impossible work of ranking all seven installments in the franchise (1:10:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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18/07/23•1h 32m
‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ Is Here, and It’s Spectacular
Sean and Amanda dive into one of their most anticipated movies in years, the return of Ethan Hunt and the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/07/23•1h 25m
10 Movies We Missed This Year
Sean and Amanda dig into the year’s releases that they haven’t covered yet, including ‘Joy Ride,’ ‘Insidious: The Red Door,’ ‘Elemental,’ and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/07/23•1h 10m
The 2023 Movie Auction Returns!
At the halfway point of this year, we take a look at the movies yet to be released and hold an auction for the ones we’re most excited about.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/07/23•1h 47m
The 10 Best Movies of 2023 ... So Far
Sean and Amanda call up an all-star rotation of Ringer colleagues and contributors to share their favorite movies this year so far, from superhero movies to art house darlings and everything in between.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, Rob Mahoney, Jessica Clemons, Adam Nayman
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/07/23•1h 38m
‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ and the Indy Movie Rankings
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer-verse host and Harrison Ford scholar Mallory Rubin to discuss the latest installment in the ‘Indiana Jones’ franchise and whether it functions as a worthwhile send-off to Ford’s iconic role as Indy (1:00). Then, they rank the franchise's five films (56:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Mallory Rubin
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/06/23•1h 19m
The Harrison Ford Hall of Fame
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the life, legacy, and wonder of one of our great movie stars: Mr. Harrison Ford himself. On the cusp of the release of 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,' it’s time to choose the 10 essential Harrison Ford films for our hall.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/06/23•1h 56m
Jennifer Lawrence’s Movie Star Playbook and ‘No Hard Feelings’
Jennifer Lawrence is back in the center of a movie—this time a studio comedy. Sean and Amanda discuss the successes and shortcomings of ‘No Hard Feelings’ and the unique place this occupies in Lawrence’s movie career. Then, they outline the future playbook for J-Law’s continued development as a movie star.
Host: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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23/06/23•1h 14m
‘Asteroid City’ and the Wes Anderson Movie Rankings
Adam Nayman joins Sean and Amanda to discuss Wes Anderson’s career and filmmaking aesthetic before they dig into his latest film, ‘Asteroid City’ (1:00). Then, Sean and Amanda rank all 11 of Anderson’s feature films (50:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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20/06/23•1h 24m
‘The Flash’ Is Here! Is It the "Greatest Superhero Movie Ever"?
Hugely hyped and also facing controversy around its star, ‘The Flash’ arrives at a complicated moment for superhero stories. Van Lathan joins Sean and Amanda to talk about the movie and DC’s future.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Van Lathan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/06/23•1h 25m
The 2001 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the best movies of 2001.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/06/23•1h 57m
Ask Sean Anything Mailbag, ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,’ Five New Movies to Stream, and the ‘Barbie’-‘Oppenheimer’ Hierarchy
Sean digs into his pet obsession, the ‘Transformers’ franchise, and its newest installment ‘Rise of the Beasts.’ Then, he recommends five new streaming movies, and opens up the mailbag to answer your questions.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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09/06/23•1h 20m
'Past Lives,' the Start of Oscar Season, and the Top Five Most Romantic Movies of All Time
Sean and Amanda dive deep into 'Past Lives,' one of the year's finest films and an extraordinary example of writing, directing, and acting in romantic storytelling (1:00). Then, they share their five favorite romantic films (58:00). Finally, Sean is joined by writer-director Celine Song to talk about her debut feature (1:18:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Celine Song
Producers: Bobby Wagner and Sasha Ashall
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07/06/23•2h
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ Is Here to Save Us
Sean and Amanda are joined by Charles Holmes to dive deep into the ‘Spider-Verse’ movies, from the breathtaking animation to the bold storytelling to the expectation-shattering standard they set.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Charles Holmes
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/06/23•1h 8m
Movies Vs. TV in 2023: What the ‘Succession’ Finale Says About Storytelling Now. Plus: A Pointless ‘Little Mermaid.’
Sean and Amanda discuss the finale of ‘Succession’ as a portal into the true divide between movies and TV today, and the ways in which the latter has stolen the former’s mojo (1:00), before a breakdown of the new live-action remake of Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ (30:00). Then, Sean is joined by Cristian Mungiu, the Romanian master filmmaker, to discuss his latest, ‘R.M.N.’ (56:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Cristian Mungiu
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/05/23•1h 37m
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Hype at Cannes and Five Must-See May Movies. Plus: Julia Louis-Dreyfus!
Sean and Amanda come to you live (on tape) from Europe! They recap their journeys, discuss the hype out of the Cannes Film Festival (1:00), and share five new movie recommendations (17:00). Then, Sean is joined by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Nicole Holofcener, the star and the writer-director, respectively, of the new film ‘You Hurt My Feelings’ (58:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Nicole Holofcener
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/05/23•1h 24m
The Robert De Niro Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft, with a twist. We’re drafting movies that feature Robert De Niro.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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23/05/23•1h 48m
‘Fast X’ and the Desecration of Movies. Plus: Paul Schrader!
What a double feature. Sean and Amanda discuss ‘Fast X’ and the troubles of the franchise (1:00), before making the hard pivot to Paul Schrader’s ‘Master Gardener’ (40:00). Then, Sean is joined by Schrader to discuss the film, his long career as a writer and director, the state of movies, and more (57:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Paul Schrader
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/05/23•1h 29m
The 10 Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2023, and the Most Surprising Film of the Year So Far
Amanda and Sean discuss ‘BlackBerry’ before sharing their five most eagerly awaited movies of the summer season (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Matt Johnson, the filmmaker behind ‘BlackBerry’ (55:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Matt Johnson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/05/23•1h 38m
The Movie Star Rankings: 35 Over 35, Revisited
Two years have passed since Sean and Amanda ranked their active and over-35 movie icons. So we’re back with deeply scientific new rankings and deeply weird conversations. Please enjoy.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/05/23•1h 58m
‘Dune: Part Two’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ Hype, How the Writers Strike Affects Movies, Too-Early Oscar Predictions, and a ‘Guardians Vol. 3’ Hangover
Sean and Amanda dig into the mailbag to answer your questions about upcoming movies, the impact of the writers strike, and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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09/05/23•1h 28m
Can ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Salvage Marvel’s No Good, Very Bad Year?
Joanna Robinson joins Sean to talk about all things Marvel, from its rocky run of recent movies to changes in leadership to streaming series delays, before digging into the most anticipated entry in years, James Gunn’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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05/05/23•1h 17m
The Top 10 Garbage Lads Movies and ‘Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant’
In honor of Guy Ritchie releasing two films in 2023, Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan—the team that brought you garbage crime, junk sci-fi, and trash spies—debut their latest hyper-specific, beloved genre: garbage lads.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/05/23•1h 10m
Top Five Coming-of-Age Movies and ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’
Judy Blume’s beloved 1970 classic of young adult fiction has finally hit the big screen. Sean and Amanda discuss that, along with Disney’s new ‘Peter Pan and Wendy’ live-action adaptation (1:00) before sharing their top five favorite coming-of-age films (29:00). Then, Sean is joined by writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig to discuss making ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’ (1:06:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Kelly Fremon Craig
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/04/23•1h 33m
The 1990s Summer Blockbuster Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the summer blockbusters of the ’90s.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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25/04/23•1h 46m
‘Beau Is Afraid’: The Most Audacious and Polarizing Movie of the Year, With Ari Aster!
Ari Aster’s third feature, the Oedipal nightmare comedy ‘Beau Is Afraid,’ is here. Sean discusses the film’s virtuosic gifts and alienating approach at length with Adam Nayman (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Aster to discuss how he made his thrilling new movie (58:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Ari Aster and Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/04/23•1h 33m
The 10 Best Horror Movies So Far This Year. Plus: ‘Renfield,’ ‘The Pope’s Exorcist,’ and ‘Evil Dead Rise.’
Horror is booming—Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to talk about four big releases, the best movies in the genre they’ve seen so far, and what defines this era in scares (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Daniel Goldhaber, the director and cowriter of ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline,’ and Ariela Barer, the star and cowriter of the film (1:05:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan, Daniel Goldhaber, and Ariela Barer
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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18/04/23•1h 34m
Movie Swap: ‘Casablanca’ vs. ‘The In-Laws’ vs. ‘Spy Kids’
It’s time to swap, which means it’s time for our producer, Bobby, to finally watch ‘Casablanca’! Sean and Amanda pitch a pair of beloved spy classics—the 1942 Best Picture winner and 1979’s madcap comedy ‘The In-Laws’—while Bobby shares with them the millennial family romp ‘Spy Kids.’
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/04/23•1h 31m
The Two Best Movies of 2023 So Far, and 10 More We Missed. Plus: Michelle Williams and Kelly Reichardt!
Sean and Amanda discuss ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ and Kelly Reichardt’s ‘Showing Up’ (1:00) before checking in on several 2023 releases they missed on the show this year. Then, Sean is joined by Michelle Williams and Reichardt to discuss their fourth collaboration, ‘Showing Up’ (1:07:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Michelle Williams and Kelly Reichardt
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/04/23•1h 33m
The Magic of ‘Air’ and the Return of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon
At long last! Sean and Amanda dive deep on Ben Affleck’s ‘Air,’ the story of how Michael Jordan signed to Nike and the men who made it happen (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Sam Jones to discuss his new documentary, ‘Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed’ (58:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
Guest: Sam Jones
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07/04/23•1h 36m
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Is Here! Is Our Video Game Movie Future?
Ben Lindbergh and Charles Holmes join Sean to talk about one of the most anticipated films of the year: 'Mario'! They discuss the new film (1:00) and how video games have been the most valuable IP in Hollywood (36:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Charles Holmes and Ben Lindbergh
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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05/04/23•1h 8m
‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Is … Good. But Are Movies Just Brands Now?
Sean and Amanda dig into the surprisingly fun new ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ adaptation from the filmmakers who brought us ‘Game Night,’ before discussing a new sort of IP boom in Hollywood (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by A.V. Rockwell to discuss her debut feature, ‘A Thousand and One’ (58:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
Guest: A.V. Rockwell
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31/03/23•1h 25m
The 2008 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the movies from 2008.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/03/23•1h 24m
The Keanu Reeves Hall of Fame and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’
To celebrate the fourth installment of the 'John Wick' franchise, Sean and Amanda build Keanu Reeves’s hall of fame (9:00) before breaking down the new action epic (55:30). Then, Sean is joined by the director of ‘JW4,’ Chad Stahelski, to discuss how they pulled off the film’s breathtaking action (1:17:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chad Stahelski
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/03/23•1h 50m
The Movie Star Playbook: Adam Driver Edition. Plus: Did the Superhero Era Just Die?
Sean and Amanda look at the disappointing box office for ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ and discuss the perilous future of superhero movies (1:00). Then, they dig deep into ‘65’ and the fascinating career arc of Adam Driver, discussing his role choices and where he’s going as a modern movie star. Finally, Sean talks with writer-director Jamie Dack about her new film, ‘Palm Trees and Power Lines’ (65:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Jamie Dack
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/03/23•1h 32m
‘Scream VI’ and the Scream Movie Rankings
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan and Sean’s sister Grace to dive deep into ‘Scream VI’ and break down the entire franchise.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan and Grace Fennessey
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/03/23•1h 20m
The Oscar Hangover Mailbag: An Unrealistic 2024 Preview and How to Improve the Show
Sean and Amanda are joined by Joanna Robinson to dig deeper into the telecast and answer your questions about the past and future of the Academy Awards.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/03/23•1h 27m
The 2023 Oscars: Everything Everywhere All the Academy Awards
Sean and Amanda break down the 95th Academy Awards, from Jimmy Kimmel’s take-no-prisoners monologue to the dominant performance of ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/03/23•1h 12m
Oscar Predictions: Who Will and Should Win at the Academy Awards
Sean and Amanda dig into what to expect from the Academy Awards, including prop bets for the telecast and predictions for every category.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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09/03/23•1h 53m
The ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Watch-Along
It’s time to wonder what will break first—your spirit … or your body. Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to watch and discuss the final chapter in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. The movie is now available on HBO Max, so you can stream along with 'The Big Picture.'
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/03/23•2h 51m
‘Creed III’ and the Top 10 Boxing Movies
The third film in the Adonis Creed story, and the directorial debut of its star Michael B. Jordan, is here. Sean and Amanda dive deep into the movie before rope-a-doping their way through the definitive list of the top 10 boxing movies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/03/23•1h 21m
The 2023 Alternative Oscars, A.K.A the Big Picks!
That’s right, after a one-year hiatus, the Alternative Oscars are back, and that means Wesley Morris is back! He joins Sean and Amanda to hand out the only awards that matter.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Wesley Morris
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/02/23•1h 51m
‘Cocaine Bear’ and the Top Five Cocaine Movies
That’s right, folks, ‘Cocaine Bear’ is here. It’s a movie about a bear on cocaine. That’s the movie. Sean and Amanda break it down and then share their favorite cocaine movies (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Turning Red’ writer and director Domee Shi to discuss her first full-length animated feature and her ascendant career at Pixar, on both the business and creative sides (57:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Domee Shi
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/02/23•1h 37m
Diving Deep Into ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and ‘Triangle of Sadness’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Van Lathan to plumb the depths of two nautically inclined films that happen to be nominated for Best Picture at next month’s ceremony, 'Avatar: The Way of Water' and 'Triangle of Sadness.’
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Van Lathan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/02/23•1h 28m
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ Is Here! But Is Marvel’s Future Here Too?
Sean and Amanda are joined by 'Ringer-Verse' cohost Mallory Rubin to measure the successes and shortcomings of the first film in Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Peyton Reed’s 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ (1:00). Then, they take stock of Marvel fatigue and its effects on the entire movie industry (43:00) before debuting Amanda’s new segment (1:02:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Mallory Rubin
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/02/23•1h 28m
The 1993 Mega Movie Draft
We are drafting again! And this time, the roster is growing. Van Lathan and Rob Mahoney join Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan for a draft of one of the greatest years in movie history: 1993.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Rob Mahoney
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/02/23•1h 32m
‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ and the Top Five Dance Movies
With this latest installment, Steven Soderbergh concludes his ‘Magic Mike’ trilogy. So, Sean and Amanda are celebrating by breaking down the new film (5:00), taking a long look at the filmmaker’s annual media diary, and sharing their five favorite dance movies (56:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/02/23•1h 33m
Best Picture Power Rankings and a Deeply Weird Best Actress Investigation
With less than five weeks until the Academy Awards, Joanna Robinson joins Sean and Amanda to dive deep into the Andrea Riseborough nomination controversy (1:00), sort an unpredictable pair of Best Actor and Best Actress races, and power rank the Best Picture contenders one last time until the final predictions (54:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Producers: Bobby Wagner and Kaya McMullen
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07/02/23•1h 29m
‘Knock at the Cabin’ and Shyamalan Double Features, With M. Night Shyamalan!
Elric Kane and Brian Saur, hosts of the ‘Pure Cinema Podcast,’ join Sean to talk about ‘Knock at the Cabin’ and provide some double-feature recommendations for our favorite M. Night Shyamalan films (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Shyamalan himself to talk about his career and his new film (1:08:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: M. Night Shyamalan, Elric Kane, and Brian Saur
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/02/23•1h 34m
‘Plane’ and the Top 10 Sky Trash Movies
From the boys who brought you Garbage Crime, Junk Sci-Fi, and Trash Special Ops, comes: Sky Trash. Sean and Chris Ryan break down the latest entrant, ‘Plane' (1:00), and share their favorite examples of the subgenre (45:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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01/02/23•1h 44m
The Oscar Nominations Hangover and the Top 10 Movies at Sundance
Sean and Amanda take a closer look at the Academy’s 2023 picks (1:00) before digging into their experience with a virtual Sundance Film Festival, discussing the sales, the trends, and their favorite movies. Then, writer-director Brandon Cronenberg joins to discuss his new film, ‘Infinity Pool’ (1:15:00)
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Brandon Cronenberg
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/01/23•1h 53m
The 2023 Oscar Nominations: Snubs, Surprises, and WTFs
The Oscar nominations are here! Sean and Amanda break 'em all down, including the big surprises and the final tally for the Best Picture race (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Belgian writer-director and newly minted Oscar nominee Lukas Dhont to discuss his new film, ‘Close’ (59:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Lukas Dhont
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/01/23•1h 45m
The 2023 Movie Auction. Plus: Damien Chazelle on ‘Babylon’!
An action-packed episode! Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to share some final Oscar nomination predictions (1:00) before engaging in a truly chaotic 2023 movie auction. Then, the team from ‘Babylon’—writer-director Damien Chazelle, actor-producer Olivia Hamilton, and producer Matthew Plouffe—talk with Sean about making their ambitious Hollywood feature, and the hive that has grown around it (1:21:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan, Damien Chazelle, Olivia Hamilton, and Matthew Plouffe
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20/01/23•2h 24m
Top Five War Movies and ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the dark horse Oscar contender ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and their favorite films about war.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/01/23•1h 25m
‘M3GAN,’ Plus Five Shocking Awards Season Twists
With the SAG, PGA, and DGA nominations out, Amanda and Sean analyze the results and what they mean for an increasingly confusing awards season (1:00). Then, they dig deep into the first box-office hit of 2023, the hilarious killer doll horror movie ‘M3GAN’ (36:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/01/23•1h 10m
The 2023 Golden Globes: Hollywood’s Messiest Night Returns
The 80th annual Golden Globes returned to the airwaves and carved a path for the next two months of this awards season. Sean and Amanda break down a big night for ‘The Fabelmans,’ ‘The Banshees of Inisherin,’ Angela Bassett, and Austin Butler’s Elvis voice.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/01/23•1h 1m
Best Picture Power Rankings: An ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ Surge and a Surprise No. 1
We’re back to power rank! With the release of Sarah Polley’s ‘Women Talking,’ Sean and Amanda are joined by Joanna Robinson to discuss the new film (1:00) and see where it stands in the Best Picture race (44:00). Then, Polley talks with Sean about her new film (1:04:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Sarah Polley and Joanna Robinson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/01/23•1h 21m
The 23 Most Anticipated Movies of 2023
Happy New Year! Amanda and Sean are gearing up for 2023 at the movies. On this episode, they talk about what happened at the box office over the holidays (1:00) and pick their most eagerly awaited films of the year to come (11:00). Then, Sean is joined by Nikyatu Jusu to discuss her film, ‘Nanny’ (1:20:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Nikyatu Jusu
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/01/23•1h 55m
The Top 10 Animated Movies of 2022 and ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’
Sean is joined by Charles Holmes to talk about the amazing stop-motion achievement ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ and the best animated movies of 2022.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Charles Holmes
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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01/01/23•1h 4m
‘Babylon,’ ‘White Noise,’ and 10 Oscars Contenders to Stream Now
Sean and Amanda double dip into two maximal extravaganzas from two of our most exciting auteurs. First up: Damien Chazelle’s Silent Era Hollywood bacchanalia ‘Babylon’ and then their top 5 movies about Hollywood (1:00). Then, they discuss Noah Baumbach’s adaptation of Don DeLillo’s novel, ‘White Noise’ (1:14:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/12/22•1h 36m
‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ and the Top Five Puzzle Movies
Sean and Amanda dive deep into Rian Johnson’s ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,’ the delightful sequel to his smash murder mystery (1:00). Then, they share their five favorite puzzle movies (50:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/12/22•1h 13m
The 2019 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! And Amanda is back! She and Sean are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 2019.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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23/12/22•1h 40m
The 10 Actors Who Won 2022. Plus: ‘Bardo’!
Sean and Amanda share their 10 favorite performances of the year (1:00). Then, Adam Nayman joins the show to discuss Alejandro González Iñárritu’s new Netflix film ‘Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths’ (33:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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20/12/22•1h 19m
‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and the James Cameron Rankings
Big Jim! We’re goin’ back to Pandora, baby! James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ is here, 13 years after the original dominated the movie world. Sean and Amanda discuss the film in depth, from the extraordinary technological achievements to its familiar-seeming story (1:00). Then, Chris Ryan joins to put Cameron’s filmography in context by ranking all of the director’s films, many of which are among the most successful and significant of the past four decades (44:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/12/22•1h 27m
James Cameron: An Oral History
Alan Siegel interviews some of James Cameron's creative collaborators to find out the secrets of the blockbuster director's success. You can read the written version of this feature at TheRinger.com.
Host: Alan Siegel
Edited by Andrew Gruttadaro
Produced by Steve Ahlman and Vikram Patel
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13/12/22•51m 14s
The Snubs and Surprises of the Golden Globe Noms, ‘The Whale,’ and the Brendan Fraser Hall of Fame
Zach Baron joins Sean and Amanda for an action-packed episode that hits on the Golden Globe nominations; Will Smith’s new movie, ‘Emancipation’; and the new Brendan Fraser film, ‘The Whale.’
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Zach Baron
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/12/22•1h 53m
A 'Big Pic' Gift Guide: 10 Blu-rays Every Human Needs. Plus: Park Chan-wook!
Happy holidays! Actor Timothy Simons joins Sean for the ultimate gift: a conversation about how to build a Blu-ray collection—how to shop for them, what to play them on, the best ones to buy, whether it’s an addiction or not, and so much more (1:00). Then, filmmaker Park Chan-wook stops by to talk with Sean about his film ‘Decision to Leave’ (1:23:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Park Chan-wook and Timothy Simons
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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09/12/22•2h 3m
The Top Five Movies of 2022
It’s here—time for year-end lists! Adam Nayman and Chris Ryan join Sean and Amanda to discuss Sight and Sound’s Greatest Films of All Time poll before diving into 2022 and sharing their top five movies of the year.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/12/22•1h 41m
Best Picture Power Rankings: Let the Games Begin
Oscar season is … here? Sean and Amanda briefly dig into the 2022 Sight and Sound poll before discussing the touching new Robert Downey Jr. family documentary 'Sr.' (1:00) . Then, they run through their first power ranking of the 2023 race, ordering all the contenders for Best Picture (1:08:00). Finally, Sean is joined by documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras to talk about her new film, ‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’ (0:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Laura Poitras
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/12/22•1h 37m
‘The Menu,’ ‘Bones and All,’ and 20 Movies We Missed From 2022
It’s been a long year at the movies. We’ve covered *almost* everything on the show. But a few titles slipped through the cracks. Sean and Amanda run through a list of recent releases and 2022 titles they missed (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Bones and All’ director Luca Guadagnino to discuss his new film (1:17:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Luca Guadagnino
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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29/11/22•1h 46m
The Steven Spielberg Rankings and ‘The Fabelmans’
‘The Fabelmans,’ Spielberg’s deeply personal new film, opens wide this holiday weekend. To celebrate, Joanna Robinson joins Sean and Amanda to break down the movie and rank all 35 of his films.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Producer: Kai Grady
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23/11/22•1h 25m
How to Direct a Movie, With Sam Esmail
‘Mr. Robot’ creator and filmmaker Sam Esmail returns to the show for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of movies and how he made his forthcoming 2023 film, ‘Leave the World Behind,’ from conception to completion.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Sam Esmail
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/11/22•1h 53m
Mega Mailbag: ‘She Said,’ Best Journalism Movies, and an Oscars Power Ranking
‘She Said,’ a new installment in the long history of journalism films, premieres this weekend. Bryan Curtis, the host of the 'Press Box' podcast, joins Sean and Amanda to dig into the film, break down its Oscar chances, and answer some of your media movie questions from the mailbag.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Bryan Curtis
Producer: Jade Whaley
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18/11/22•1h 12m
The 1997 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! And Amanda is back! She and Sean are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 1997.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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15/11/22•1h 31m
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Is Here!
The sequel to Ryan Coogler’s box office–dominating, culture-shifting, Oscar-nominated 2018 film is here. Van Lathan joins Sean and Amanda to break it all down.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Van Lathan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/11/22•1h 16m
The 2022 Movie Star Ranking: 35 Under 35, Revisited
More than 20 months ago, Sean and Amanda embarked on their first-ever Movie Star Ranking. It's become a yearly tradition, and with the streaming release of two under-35 star-led vehicles, Harry Styles's 'My Policeman' and Jennifer Lawrence's 'Causeway,' we're running it back. Who's up, who's down, who's aged out, and who's hitting the scene hard?
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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08/11/22•1h 43m
‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ and Top 5 Movie Friendships
Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to dive into Martin McDonagh’s new film, ‘The Banshees of Inisherin,’ a reunion of Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell from McDonagh’s 2008 cult classic, ‘In Bruges,’ (1:00) before sharing their top 5 movie friendships (38:00). Then, McDonagh talks with Sean about the making of his new film (1:10:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Martin McDonagh and Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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05/11/22•1h 36m
Ten Movies to See Right Now. Plus, James Gray Returns!
It’s a tremendously hectic period at the movies right now, with award season picking up pace, the Streaming Wars in high gear, and some major-event movies right around the corner. Sean and Amanda break down 10-plus new releases now streaming or in theaters (39:00). Then, writer-director James Gray returns to the show to discuss his autobiographical new film, ‘Armageddon Time,’ and the state of the movie business.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: James Gray
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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01/11/22•1h 49m
'TÁR' Is the Movie of 2022. Here’s Why.
Sean and Amanda dive deep into one of the year’s most exciting and resonant movies, Todd Field’s ‘Tár' (1:00). Then, Field joins Sean to discuss the world of classical music, Cate Blanchett, and how he made the film (1:27:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Todd Field
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/10/22•2h 3m
‘Black Adam’: The Worst Movie of the Decade?
The hierarchy of power has changed and Sean is depressed about it. Charles Holmes and Rob Mahoney join Sean to talk about ‘Black Adam,’ the no. 1 movie at the box office, the latest installment in the DCEU, and yet another Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson action vehicle.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Charles Holmes and Rob Mahoney
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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25/10/22•1h 5m
The Julia Roberts Hall of Fame and ‘Ticket to Paradise’
Julia Roberts, the once (and maybe future) queen of the box office returns to movie theaters this weekend with ‘Ticket to Paradise,’ a rom-com reunion of sorts with George Clooney—her first starring role on the big screen in four years. Amanda and Sean will review this new film, then build their Julia Roberts Hall of Fame by choosing 10 of her most essential movie roles.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/10/22•1h 42m
‘Halloween Ends’ and the 'Halloween' Movie Rankings
‘Halloween Ends,’ the third and allegedly final installment of David Gordon Green’s legacy sequel 'Halloween' trilogy, debuted this weekend in theaters and streaming on Peacock. Chris Ryan joins Sean to talk about the new film, the year in horror, and to rank all 13 'Halloween' films.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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18/10/22•1h 18m
The Horror Movie Draft
We are drafting again and since it’s Halloween season, we needed to bring in a big gun. Six-time 'Big Picture' returning champion Alex Ross Perry is live and in studio to parse through the horror canon.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Alex Ross Perry and Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/10/22•2h 9m
The David Lynch Episode
This year marks the 30th anniversary of David Lynch’s ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,’ and the 25th anniversary of ‘Lost Highway.’ To celebrate, Sean and Adam Nayman are diving deep into the unnerving, beautiful, often terrifying dream logic of their Lynchian fascinatination.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/10/22•1h 36m
The Most Exciting (and Baffling) Movies of Awards Season, Plus the Genius of ‘Andor'
Sean and Amanda get excited for the best movie month of the year, digging into some new October releases, including ‘Amsterdam,’ ‘Triangle of Sadness,’ and ‘Tár,’ as well as the best movies at the New York Film Festival and a brief celebration of the new Star Wars show 'Andor.'
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/10/22•1h 21m
The Great ‘Avatar’ Debate with Blank Check’s Griffin Newman and David Sims
‘Avatar: The Way of Water,’ the sequel to the most lucrative movie of all time, is slated for the end of this year. Does anyone care? Sean is joined by Griffin Newman and David Sims, hosts of the ‘Blank Check’ podcast, to discuss the lasting impact of James Cameron’s technologically revolutionary behemoth, and more importantly, whether ‘Avatar’ is actually good.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Griffin Newman and David Sims
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/10/22•1h 51m
‘Bros’ and Our Top Five 21st Century Comedies
‘Bros,’ Billy Eichner’s first leading role in a feature, is in theaters. Sean and Amanda dig into the movie before sharing their five favorite studio comedies of the century (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Nicholas Stoller, the director of ‘Bros’ and other comedy installments like ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ and ‘Neighbors,’ to discuss the film and the current state of theatrical comedies in relation to streaming and television (58:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Nicholas Stoller
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/09/22•1h 31m
‘Blonde’ and the Top 5 Essential Marilyn Monroe Movies
‘Blonde,’ Andrew Dominik’s long-awaited Marilyn Monroe biopic starring Ana de Armas, is now available on Netflix. Sean and Amanda dissect the film’s handful of successes and numerous, puzzling failures, before discussing Monroe’s titanic impact on movie stardom and the various depictions of her throughout cinema history.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/09/22•1h 7m
The ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Fiasco
It’s the movie event of the fall, but not in a good way. Sean and Amanda break down all things ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ Olivia Wilde’s controversy-racked new thriller, and talk about the most scandalous productions in movie history (2:00). Then, Sean is joined by Brett Morgen, direct of the new David Bowie documentary ‘Moonage Daydream’ (1:05:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Brett Morgen
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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23/09/22•1h 35m
‘The Woman King’ and 10 Movies to See Now. Plus: The Best and Worst Films at TIFF.
After a quiet few weeks, movies are back in theaters in a big way—and none bigger than Gina Prince-Bythewood’s warrior epic ‘The Woman King.’ Sean and Amanda break down the new Viola Davis vehicle and nine more new releases, including a pair of disturbing horror movies, a David Bowie doc, and, um, ‘Pinocchio’ (2:00). Then, Adam Nayman joins Sean to share a report from the Toronto International Film Festival, including word on Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans,’ ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,’ and ‘My Policeman’ (56:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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20/09/22•1h 30m
The 1980s Comedy Movie Draft
We are drafting again! And we’re widening the scope this time around. Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of 1980s comedy movies.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/09/22•1h 23m
'Barbarian'!!!
The no. 1 movie in America is a depraved, completely unpredictable horror movie: hallelujah! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan (2:00) to talk about this wonderful freak show before Sean is joined by writer-director Zach Cregger (53:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Zach Cregger
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/09/22•1h 24m
500th Episode Call-In Spectacular!
We did it—500 episodes! To celebrate, Sean, Amanda, and Bobby are taking your calls and answering your burning questions about their favorite episodes, movie theater experiences, Big-Pic bits, and the future of the show.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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09/09/22•1h 58m
10 Way-Too-Early Oscar Predictions and the Best Movies at Telluride
The Oscars Show is back! Sean recounts his biggest takeaways from Telluride and what can be gleaned for the upcoming awards season, before Sean and Amanda share their semi-serious predictions for an Oscars show that is six months away.
To call in and leave a voicemail for our 500th episode mailbag, give us a ring at (916) 900-2826.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/09/22•1h 48m
The 2005 Upside-Down Movie Draft
We are drafting again! And we have a twist: Rather than draft the best movies of 2005, we’re looking at some of the worst and making a case for them. Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan pick their faves and foil their pals in an upside-down draft of the movies from 2005.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/09/22•1h 47m
The Sylvester Stallone Hall of Fame With Bill Simmons
Sylvester Stallone is back on the big screen in ‘Samaritan,’ an Amazon Prime superhero vehicle with Stallone at the center. To mark the occasion, Sean is joined by Bill Simmons to build out the Sly Hall of Fame.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Bill Simmons
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/08/22•1h 22m
Our Top 5 Fantasy Favorites: ‘Lord of the Rings,’ ‘House of the Dragon,’ and ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’
George Miller, the beloved filmmaker responsible for the 'Mad Max' films, 'Babe,' 'Happy Feet,' and more, has a new fantasy film called 'Three Thousand Years of Longing' out this weekend. Sean is joined by Joanna Robinson to talk about the movie, and our undeniable fantasy moment (1:00). Then, Owen Kline talks to Sean about his debut feature ‘Funny Pages' (1:09:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Joanna Robinson and Owen Kline
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/08/22•1h 35m
The 20 Most Anticipated Movies of Fall 2022
It’s been a grim summer movie season, but a promising fall awaits. Amanda and Sean break down the summer doldrums at the box office and then share the 20 fall films of 2022 they’re most excited to see.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/08/22•1h 35m
Top Five “One Crazy Night” Movies and ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’
Joanna Robinson joins Sean to dig into A24’s new Gen Z horror-comedy-whodunit ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ (0:00) and to share their five favorite “one crazy night” movies (1:00). Then, Halina Reijn, the Dutch actress and director of ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies,’ talks with Sean about how she transitioned to working behind the camera full-time (1:12:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Joanna Robinson and Halina Reijn
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/08/22•1h 42m
‘Prey’ and the ‘Predator’ Movie Rankings
The latest in the ‘Predator’ movie saga, ‘Prey,’ is streaming on Hulu now. Chris Ryan joins Sean to talk about the film and where it sits in the ‘Predator’ canon (1:00). Then, ‘Prey’ director Dan Trachtenberg talks with Sean about how he made the film (44:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Dan Trachtenberg and Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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08/08/22•1h 13m
‘Bullet Train’ and the Top 5 Movies Set on a Train
‘Bullet Train’, a new movie set—you guessed it—on a Bullet Train, hits theaters this weekend. Van Lathan joins Sean to discuss the star-studded Brad Pitt action vehicle, and then they share their top five favorite movies set on the railway (23:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Van Lathan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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05/08/22•1h 2m
Five New Films to Stream, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ for Best Picture, and a Summer Movie Mailbag
Sean shares five new films to stream (1:00) before opening up the mailbag to answer your questions and beat the summer doldrums (22:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/08/22•1h 22m
‘The Gray Man’ and the Top 10 Trash Special Ops Movies
The Russo Brothers’ new Netflix action extravaganza got Sean and Chris Ryan thinking about a subgenre they love: trashy spy subcontractor stories. They discuss ‘The Gray Man’ (1:00) and the movies it’s lifting from in depth (33:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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29/07/22•1h 22m
The 1987 Mega-Movie Draft With Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary!
We are drafting again and we have some special guests: Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary, longtime friends, filmmaking collaborators, and the hosts of the Video Archives Podcast join Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 1987.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary, and Chris Ryan
Producers: Bobby Wagner
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26/07/22•2h 30m
‘Nope’ With Jordan Peele!
‘Nope,’ Jordan Peele’s third feature film as writer-director, is in theaters now. Sean and Van Lathan dig into this complex, fascinating extraterrestrial tale (1:00), before Peele himself joins to talk about how and why he made his movie (1:05:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Jordan Peele and Van Lathan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/07/22•1h 28m
John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ at 40, With John Carpenter!
This year marks the 40th anniversary of John Carpenter’s sci-fi horror masterpiece, one of the signature cult classics in American cinema. Sean and Chris Ryan break down everything they love about the movie (1:00) before Carpenter joins the show to discuss how he made the film, and why it resonates to this day (55:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: John Carpenter and Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/07/22•1h 31m
The 2022 Movie Auction Returns!
It’s time to auction again—after a thrilling Part 1 earlier in the year, Chris rejoins Sean and Amanda to bid on the best of the rest of the movies of 2022.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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15/07/22•1h 36m
‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and Five Ways to Fix the Marvel Crisis
There’s some angst among fans of the biggest franchise story of the 21st century. So Sean is joined by Charles Holmes and Rob Mahoney to discuss 'Thor: Love and Thunder', and the MCU'S recent struggles. They then pitch the Marvel stories they want to see on the big screen.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Charles Holmes and Rob Mahoney
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/07/22•1h 24m
‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Is Here!
Sean is joined by Joanna Robinson to reflect on the passing of the great James Caan, before breaking down Taika Waititi’s latest installment of the Thor story, ‘Love and Thunder' (6:37). Then, Sean is joined by the French filmmaker Claire Denis to talk about her brilliant career and her latest film, ‘Both Sides of the Blade’ (67:11).
HOST: Sean Fennessey
GUESTS: Joanna Robinson and Claire Denis
PRODUCER: Steve Ahlman
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08/07/22•1h 33m
The Effing Minions Episode and Top 5 Movies We’ll Show Our Kids
After years of threats, Sean and Amanda finally dive deep into the franchise that houses the world’s biggest movie stars: the Minions! They discuss the movies, including the just released ‘The Rise of Gru’ (2:00) and then share five movies they will show their children (39:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Mike Wargon
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05/07/22•1h 5m
The 10 Best Movies of 2022 … So Far
Sean invites an all-star cast of Ringer contributors to share their favorite movies of the year.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Rob Harvilla, Charles Holmes, Van Lathan, Rob Mahoney, Adam Nayman, Joanna Robinson, Mallory Rubin, Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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01/07/22•1h 34m
The Ethan Hawke Hall of Fame and ‘The Black Phone’
Chris Ryan joins Sean to discuss the new horror thriller 'The Black Phone,' which stars one of our most beloved actors, Ethan Hawke (1:00). Then, they build out the Hawke Hall of Fame with his 10 essential performances (25:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/06/22•1h 21m
‘Elvis,’ ‘Walk Hard’ and Top Five Music Biopics
Baz Luhrmann’s latest film, a life-spanning biopic of Elvis Presley, is here, and Sean and Amanda are breaking down this exhaustive, expansive new film (1:00). Then, Adam Nayman joins to discuss the prescient comedy ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’ and their favorite music biopics (24:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/06/22•1h 21m
‘Lightyear’ and Five Signs of the Streaming Movie Apocalypse
Sean and Amanda break down 'Lightyear,' the one new movie in theaters while a whole bundle of new movies are streaming at home right now, and what that tells us about the state of the movie business.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/06/22•1h 23m
‘Spiderhead’ and the Five Netflix Movies That Matter
It’s real and it’s here. Chris Ryan joins Sean to discuss Netflix’s new sci-fi drama ‘Spiderhead.’ Then they discuss Netflix’s challenges as a movie studio in 2022 (1:00). Finally, ‘Spiderhead’ screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick discuss with Sean how they came to adapt a George Saunders short story and their careers (56:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/06/22•1h 27m
The 2009 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! And Amanda is back! She and Sean are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 2009.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/06/22•1h 30m
'Jurassic World: Dominion’ and the Jurassic Movie Rankings
There’s a new installment of the ‘Jurassic World’ series. Bryan Curtis joins Sean to break down the conclusion of the Jurassic saga and ranks all six films.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Bryan Curtis
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/06/22•1h 9m
Top Five Adam Sandler Movies and ‘Hustle’
Sean is joined by Rob Harvilla to discuss Adam Sandler, his new Netflix NBA drama ‘Hustle,’ and share their top Sandler movies of all time.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Rob Harvilla
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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08/06/22•1h 19m
The Most Awesome Movie of 2022, and 10 More to Stream Right Now. Plus, David Cronenberg!
It’s a recommendations episode! Sean breaks down 10 intriguing new movies that you can watch right now on a variety of streaming services (1:00). Then, he’s joined by David Cronenberg to discuss the legendary director’s new film, ‘Crimes of the Future,’ starring Viggo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart (42:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: David Cronenberg
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/06/22•1h 13m
‘Top Gun: Maverick’: 100 Things We Loved About It
Movies are back, Maverick is back, Tom Cruise is back, and Sean and Amanda are back to dive deep into the movie phenomenon of this young summer: ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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31/05/22•1h 33m
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Is Here!
It. Is. Here! Tom Cruise’s Maverick flies again, after a years-long wait. Sean and Amanda break down the exhilarating arrival of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (1:00). Then, Joseph Kosinski, the film’s director, joins Sean to discuss, in great detail, how they made this action-packed return to the skies (41:00).
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Joseph Kosinski
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/05/22•1h 24m
The Tom Cruise Hall of Fame
It’s a whole darn week of Tom Cruise on The Big Picture, because Cruise is returning to the big screen after four long years with ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ To celebrate, Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to choose 10 key films and construct the Tom Cruise Hall of Fame.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/05/22•1h 50m
‘Ex Machina,’ ‘Annihilation,’ and ‘Men’: The Mind-bending Movies of Alex Garland
Sean is joined by Joanna Robinson to discuss the beguiling movies of writer-director Alex Garland, including his latest, the eerie folk-horror film ‘Men.’ (1:00) Then, Garland talks with Sean about his work and where his career is headed (52:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Alex Garland and Joanna Robinson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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20/05/22•1h 39m
The 1992 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! And Amanda is back! She and Sean are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 1992.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producers: Bobby Wagner and Kaya McMullen
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17/05/22•1h 29m
The Stephen King Movie Hall of Fame
There is a new adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Firestarter’ out this weekend, which got us thinking about King movies and how they never really go away. Sean is joined by Matt Gourley and Paul Rust of the With Gourley and Rust podcast to build a shrine comprised of 10 Stephen King adaptations.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Matt Gourley and Paul Rust
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/05/22•1h 37m
Ask Sean Anything Mailbag: ‘Avatar 2,’ 10 Exciting Under-40 Directors, and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ at the Oscars
Let’s dig into the mailbag! Sean answers your questions about the year in movies so far, film book recommendations, what a producer actually does, and a lot more.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/05/22•1h 21m
‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Is Here!
It’s one of the year’s most anticipated movies, the first MCU entry of 2022, and the first movie in almost 10 years from the great Sam Raimi. Joanna Robinson and Chris join Sean for a non-spoiler conversation, followed by a spoiler-filled breakdown of the new ‘Doctor Strange’ film.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Joanna Robinson and Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/05/22•1h 18m
‘Spider-Man,’ ‘The Evil Dead,’ and the Sam Raimi Rankings
This week sees the release of ‘Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’ which is directed by one of our favorite filmmakers, Sam Raimi. Adam Nayman talks with Sean about Raimi's expansive career and style, before ranking his 15 features (38:00). Then, Sean is joined by Tom Gormican, the director of ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,’ to discuss his Nicolas Cage meta-action vehicle (1:11:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Adam Nayman and Tom Gormican
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/05/22•1h 39m
‘Nightmare Alley’ and Our Favorite Films Noir, With Patton Oswalt!
Of all the movies we saw in 2021, the one we keep returning to is Guillermo del Toro’s modern noir about a mysterious carnival worker. To dig deep into the movie and how its themes connect to our time, Sean is joined by comedian, actor, and certified movie freak Patton Oswalt. Patton shares his deep knowledge of film noir, his favorites in the genre, and where ‘Nightmare Alley’ fits in its history.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Patton Oswalt
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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29/04/22•1h 11m
The Nicolas Cage Hall of Fame and ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’
It’s Nic Cage season! To celebrate, Van Lathan and Rob Mahoney join Sean to talk about the new meta-action-comedy ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ (1:00) before building a shrine to Cage in the form of his Hall of Fame (35:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Van Lathan and Rob Mahoney
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/04/22•1h 42m
‘The Northman,’ and the Top 5 Revenge Movies With Robert Eggers!
The breathtaking new action-adventure epic from Robert Eggers, the director of ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse,’ is here. Chris Ryan joins to dive into this Viking epic (1:00) before Eggers talks with Sean about the making of the film (56:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Robert Eggers
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/04/22•1h 31m
The 2003 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, and Joanna Robinson to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 2003.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Joanna Robinson, Mallory Rubin, and Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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18/04/22•1h 41m
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and Top Five Most Audacious Movies
We’re diving deep into Daniels’ multiversal extravaganza ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ one of the year’s most acclaimed and thrilling movies. Sean is joined by Adam Nayman and Joanna Robinson to break down the film, its bold style, and why it’s become such a sensation (1:00). Then, they share their favorite, zany, audacious movie swings (39:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Adam Nayman and Joanna Robinson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/04/22•1h 28m
Top Five Action Movie Scenes and the Madness of Michael Bay’s ‘Ambulance’
Michael Bay is back on the big screen with 'Ambulance,' a thrilling, nonstop cornucopia of explosions, car chases, shoot-outs, bank robberies, and emergency bullet-removal surgeries. Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to talk about Bay (1:00) and our favorite action movie sequences of all time (38:30).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/04/22•1h 17m
Movie Swap: ‘Fargo’ vs. ‘The English Patient’
It’s time for another movie swap! It’s a 1996 showdown as Sean sends Amanda the Coen Brothers’ thriller ‘Fargo’ and Amanda returns volley with Anthony Minghella’s Best Picture winner, ‘The English Patient.’ They talk 1996 movies, the year’s Academy Awards, and how these two modern classics hold up.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/04/22•1h 15m
Top Five Vampire Movies and ‘Morbius'
With the release of ‘Morbius,’ Van Lathan joins Sean to discuss the new Spider-Man-adjacent Jared Leto vampire thriller (1:00). Then, they share their five favorite bloodsucker movies (25:00). Then, Sean is joined by Charlie McDowell to discuss ‘Windfall,’ his pivot back to film, and the art of the all-in-one-setting movie (48:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Van Lathan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/04/22•1h 34m
Life After the Slap: A Post-Oscars Mailbag
It’s been a couple of days since one of the most shocking moments in Oscars history. Sean reflects on the Will Smith–Chris Rock incident, what the future holds for Smith, and how the Academy could respond (1:00). Then, it’s a post-Oscars mailbag extravaganza (10:30). Finally, Sean is joined by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert to discuss their extraordinary new movie, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (55:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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29/03/22•1h 33m
The 2022 Oscars: The Smack Heard ’Round the World
The 94th Academy Awards is in the books, and Sean and Joanna Robinson are here to break down all the winners, the ceremony, the hosts, and of course that shocking Will Smith- Chris Rock confrontation.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman
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28/03/22•1h 12m
The 2022 Oscar Predictions: Who Will Win and Who Should
It’s almost time for the 94th annual Academy Awards, so Sean and Joanna Robinson are making picks in all 23 categories. Don’t fill out your Oscar ballot until you’ve listened.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/03/22•1h 43m
The 1990s Oscar Winners Draft. Plus: Ryusuke Hamaguchi!
With the Oscars right around the corner, Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to draft their favorite Oscar winners from the 1990s (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Drive My Car’ writer-director Ryusuke Hamaguchi to discuss his Oscar-nominated film (1:13:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan and Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/03/22•1h 43m
‘X,’ ‘Deep Water,’ ‘Turning Red,’ and 10 New Movies You Need to See Now
It’s a recommendations episode! Sean talks about 10 movies from 2022 that he likes, where you can watch them, and why you should (1:00). Spoiler alert, one of those movies is ‘X,’ the new horror movie from director Ti West. Ti joins Sean to talk about making his first horror film in nine years and why he isn’t done yet (38:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Ti West
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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18/03/22•1h 14m
Top Five Film Scores. Plus: Hans Zimmer on 'Dune'!
Let’s talk movie music. Writer Jayson Greene joins Sean to talk about the art of the film score, the giants of the form, this year’s Oscar nominees, and their top five scores ever (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by legendary composer Hans Zimmer to discuss his Oscar-nominated work on ‘Dune’ and his career (1:07:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Jayson Greene and Hans Zimmer
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/03/22•1h 39m
Top Five Best Picture Winners and Why ‘The Power of the Dog’ Is This Year’s Front-runner
We are in the home stretch of a very long award season. On this episode, Sean is joined by Joanna Robinson and they are finally digging into Jane Campion’s widely praised revisionist western ‘The Power of the Dog’ and why it has remained the presumptive Best Picture favorite for months. Then, Sean and Joanna share their favorite Best Picture winners ever.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/03/22•1h 32m
The ‘Free Guy’ Watch-along
That’s right—we are watching ‘Free Guy,’ one of the biggest hits of 2021 and a very divisive movie. Chris joins Sean and Amanda to discuss the Ryan Reynolds action-comedy for its entire running time. The movie is now available on HBO Max and Disney+, so you can stream along with 'The Big Picture.'
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/03/22•2h 1m
‘The Batman’ and Batman Movie Rankings
Sean is joined by Van Lathan and Rob Mahoney to take a deep dive into Matt Reeves’s ‘The Batman’ and have a spoiler-filled conversation (1:00) before ranking all 14 Batman movies (47:00). Then, Sean is joined by director Kogonada to discuss his new film, ‘After Yang’ (1:12:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Van Lathan, Rob Mahoney, and Kogonada
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07/03/22•1h 45m
‘The Batman’ Is Here!
Holy reaction podcast, Batman! Chris Ryan and Joanna Robinson join Sean to break down ‘The Batman,’ the most-anticipated movie of the year so far (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘The Batman’ director and cowriter Matt Reeves to talk about how and why he made the film (58:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan, Joanna Robinson, and Matt Reeves
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03/03/22•1h 32m
Best Picture Power Rankings and the Oscars Take Purge. Plus: ‘jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy’
Award season is (finally) in full swing. Joanna Robinson joins Sean to break down the SAG Awards, the state of Best Picture (1:00), and to let Sean get some takes off his chest (34:30). Then, directing duo Coodie & Chike join Sean to talk about ‘jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,’ Netflix’s new three-part documentary film series tracking the rise of Kanye West (1:02:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Joanna Robinson, Coodie & Chike
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28/02/22•1h 34m
The 2018 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in another hotly contested draft of a memorable year in recent movie history: 2018.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/02/22•1h 21m
‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ and the Most Extreme, Disreputable Movies Ever
We’re looking at the latest chapter in the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ story, now available on Netflix, and the history of extreme, depraved, disgusting, and shocking movies with writer, director, and returning champion Alex Ross Perry.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Alex Ross Perry
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/02/22•1h 37m
The 21st Century Action Hero Hall of Fame
Shea Serrano joins Sean to break down the landscape of action moviemaking. With ‘Uncharted’ in theaters, featuring two generations of action hero—Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland—we ask: What does it mean to be an action star in the 21st century? Sean and Shea build out the Hall of Fame with 10 excruciating picks.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Shea Serrano
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/02/22•1h 24m
The Best Super Bowl Trailers and Movies in the ’90s, According to Chuck Klosterman
Joanna Robinson joins Sean to break down the Super Bowl movie trailers and ‘Death on the Nile,’ Kenneth Branagh’s latest Agatha Christie adaptation, which was released last week (1:00). Then, Sean talks with Chuck Klosterman about his new book, ‘The Nineties,’ and the movies that played a key role during that decade (31:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Joanna Robinson, Chuck Klosterman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/02/22•1h 33m
The Top 10 Junk Sci-Fi Movies, ‘Moonfall,’ and Michael Mann’s ‘Ferrari’
In 2020, Chris Ryan and Sean identified a key subgenre in American movies—garbage crime—and laid out what makes it great. Today on the show, a sequel of sorts. With the release of Roland Emmerich’s interstellar disaster movie ‘Moonfall’ in theaters and Steven Soderbergh’s techno-anxiety thriller ‘Kimi’ now streaming on HBO Max, we are digging into a beloved sister category: junk sci-fi.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/02/22•1h 24m
The 2022 Oscar Nominations: Snubs, Surprises, and WTFs!
The nominations for the 94th annual Academy Awards are here, and Amanda and Sean are breaking down all of them.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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08/02/22•1h 8m
Netflix’s Big Movie Year, ‘Jackass Forever,’ and the Five Greatest ‘Jackass’ Stunts of All Time
Chris Ryan joins Sean to break down the new trailer for Netflix’s 2022 movie lineup (1:00), and then celebrate the new movie ‘Jackass Forever’ (14:00) and the greatest stunts in the history of the franchise (36:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/02/22•1h 5m
The Best Movie of 2022 So Far and 10 Sundance Films You Need to Know
With the virtual 2022 Sundance Film Festival wrapped, Amy Nicholson rejoins Sean to discuss their experience from the couch, the big acquisitions, and their top 5 favorite movies at the fest (:44). Then, Sean is joined by the Norwegian director Joachim Trier to talk about his critically acclaimed new film ‘The Worst Person in the World.’ (1:14:10).
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31/01/22•1h 40m
Ten Movies to Stream, Best Picture Power Rankings, and an Ask Amanda Mailbag
Sean and Amanda hit on the Producers Guild, Writers Guild, and ACE Eddie nominations, key bellwethers of award season, and what they mean for the Academy Awards (0:35). Then they share some streaming recommendations for you (35:00). And finally, since we’re getting down to our final days with Amanda for a little while, we figured it’s time to get as much of her as we can, so we’ve got an Ask Amanda mailbag for the Dobb Mob (51:18).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall
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27/01/22•1h 24m
‘Reservoir Dogs’ at 30 and the Legacy of Sundance ’92
We're hopping in a time machine back to 1992. Why? It’s been 30 years since Quentin Tarantino’s debut film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival along with other movies from a memorable class of other filmmakers. Adam Nayman joins Sean to discuss 'Dogs' and what it means now and how some of those other films were remembered, or not.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Adam Nayman
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25/01/22•1h 21m
The 2022 Movie Auction!
We’re auctioning off movies again, this time with a fresh slate for 2022. Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to discuss the new ‘Scream’ sequel (1:00), before revisiting their 2021 draft auction results (16:00), and digging into a new round of competitive auctioneering (22:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/01/22•1h 27m
‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ and the Coen Brothers Movie Rankings
Sean and Amanda discuss Joel Coen’s ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth,’ the latest Shakespeare adaptation, which stars Denzel Washington and is the director’s first without his brother, Ethan. They talk about how the story has been updated, and how it hasn’t (1:00), where it stands in the awards race (33:00), and how it stacks up in the Coen brothers filmography (1:12:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/01/22•1h 37m
The Bradley Cooper Hall of Fame and the ‘House of Gucci’ Oscars Surge
A surprising SAG Awards nomination has got Sean and Amanda thinking about Bradley Cooper’s unusual path to superstardom. In this episode, they discuss the rest of the surprises and snubs of the nominations (5:00), the incredible legacy of the late Sidney Poitier (1:00), and then finally build a hall of fame for Cooper on the eve of a potential ninth Academy Award nomination (36:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/01/22•1h 29m
Let’s Talk ‘Licorice Pizza’
It’s time for a very important conversation about a very important film: Paul Thomas Anderson’s ninth feature, ‘Licorice Pizza.’ Joining Sean and Amanda to break it all down—including favorite performances, scenes, and needle drops, and how it fits into PTA’s filmography—are Chris Ryan and Wosny Lambre, a.k.a. Big Wos.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Wosny Lambre
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/01/22•1h 37m
The 22 Most Anticipated Movies of 2022
Amanda and Sean are gearing up for a fun 2022 at the movies … if they can go to the movies. On this episode, they pick their 11 most eagerly awaited films (20:00), discuss Steven Soderbergh’s annual media list (1:00), and break down George Clooney’s new film, ‘The Tender Bar’ (10:00). They also celebrate the life and work of the late filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, who died at 82 this week (17:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/01/22•1h 21m
Spider-Man: No Way Home’ for Best Picture—Why the Hell Not?
Sean and Amanda look at a debate that has been roiling the movie industry for nearly 15 years: Should the Academy Awards more accurately reflect the interests of moviegoers? And if so, should franchise films be regularly competing for Best Picture? The campaign for the new ‘Spider-Man’ movie raises new questions as the theatrical movie business endures a historic period of transition (1:00). Then, they discuss Maggie Gyllenhaal’s feature directorial debut, ‘The Lost Daughter,’ now available on Netflix (42:00) and power-rank the Best Picture contenders (59:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/01/22•1h 17m
Year-End Mailbag! The Top 10 Performances, Trailers, and Needle Drops of 2021
It’s our last episode of the year and Sean and Amanda are celebrating 2021 by naming their 10 favorite performances on the big screen (1:00) before opening up the mailbag to answer your questions ahead of the new year (38:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/12/21•1h 27m
‘Encanto’ and the 10 Most Underrated Movies of 2021
Andy Greenwald joins Sean to discuss Disney’s latest achievement in animation, ‘Encanto,’ and share some tips for how to be a dad who wants to introduce their child to movies (1:00). Chris Ryan swings by to talk about Paul Verhoeven’s sexy nuns movie, ‘Benedetta’ (38:00). Then, Adam Nayman and Sean list their 10 most underrated, underseen, or underdiscussed movies of 2021 (51:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan, and Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/12/21•1h 49m
‘The Matrix Resurrections’ and the Wachowski Movie Rankings
‘The Matrix Resurrections’ is out in theaters and streaming on HBO Max. Sean and Amanda talk about the film, the franchise (1:00), and the Wachowskis cinematic experience (43:00). Joining them is Ringer staff writer Rob Mahoney.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Rob Mahoney
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/12/21•1h 14m
‘Scream’: The Oral History
Alan Siegel interviews the cast and crew of ‘Scream’ and uncovers what it took to get the iconic horror film made.You can read the written version of this piece at theringer.com.
Host: Alan Siegel
Producer: Steve Ahlman
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22/12/21•56m 24s
Spider-Man’s Mega Box Office, Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Being the Ricardos,’ and Best Picture Power Rankings
Sean and Amanda hit the stunning box office success of ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (1:00). Then they circle back to the Oscar race because this week sees the release of some serious contenders, including Aaron Sorkin’s ‘Being the Ricardos’ and Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Nightmare Alley’ (12:00). Then, Sean talks with Sean Baker, director and cowriter of ‘Red Rocket’ (1:00:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Sean Baker
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/12/21•1h 39m
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Is Here!
We’re talking about the most anticipated movie of the winter: 'Spider-Man: No Way Home.' Swinging into the conversation with Sean and Amanda is our friendly neighbor Mallory Rubin for a spoiler-free (1:40) and then spoiler-packed breakdown of the movie (33:00). Later in this episode, Sean will have a conversation with Tommy Oliver, the director of 'Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss,' the final film in HBO and The Ringer’s Music Box documentary series (1:15:00).
Hosts; Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Mallory Rubin and Tommy Oliver
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/12/21•1h 48m
The Leonardo DiCaprio Hall of Fame and ‘Don’t Look Up’ With Adam McKay
Sean and Amanda discuss the new Netflix climate crisis satire ‘Don’t Look Up,’ which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and Meryl Streep (1:00). Then, they build a Hall of Fame to Leo, one of the best movie stars ever (20:00). Finally, ‘Don’t Look Up’ writer-director Adam McKay joins Sean to discuss his new film (1:00:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam McKay
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/12/21•1h 35m
‘West Side Story’ and Top Five Steven Spielberg Movies
This week marks the release of Steven Spielberg’s first musical, a remake and modest reimagining of the 1957 show and legendary 1961 film. Sean and Amanda are joined by Joanna Robinson to talk about the original, Spielberg's remake, and their five favorite Spielberg films.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/12/21•1h 31m
Top Five Movie Soundtracks
It’s a music-movies team-up episode. Rob Harvilla returns to the show to talk about the art of the soundtrack and share his top five favorites (1:00). Then, Sean talks with John Maggio, who directed the latest entry in The Ringer’s Music Box film series on HBO. His movie, ‘Mr. Saturday Night,’ chronicles the fascinating life of Robert Stigwood, an impresario of stage, screen, and music responsible for projects like ‘Saturday Night Fever’ (46:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Rob Harvilla and John Maggio
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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09/12/21•1h 22m
Top Five Movies of 2021. Plus: Denis Villeneuve on ‘Dune’!
It's time to talk about the best of the year, so Sean and Amanda are joined by Adam Nayman and Chris Ryan to share their five favorite movies of 2021 (1:00). Then, 'Dune' director Denis Villeneuve comes to the show to talk about his extraordinary adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel (1:17:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Denis Villeneuve, Chris Ryan, and Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/12/21•1h 52m
The Holiday Movie Draft
It’s December, which means it’s officially holiday movie season. We’re bringing Chris Ryan back to draft holiday movies with one special twist—a wild-card category of any holiday content. It’s the most wonderful draft of the year!
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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02/12/21•1h 11m
‘The Beatles: Get Back’ and Our Fab 5 Beatles Albums
The weekend delivered a bountiful feast for Beatles fans: Peter Jackson’s epic, revelatory eight-hour ‘Get Back’ documentary series on Disney+. Amanda and Sean talk about the film today and their favorite Beatles albums (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Penny Lane, whose film ‘Listening to Kenny G’ in the latest installment of The Ringer’s Music Box series, which premieres on HBO and HBO Max Thursday night (49:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Penny Lane
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/11/21•1h 28m
‘Licorice Pizza’ and the Paul Thomas Anderson Rankings
Paul Thomas Anderson’s ninth feature film opens today in select theaters. Sean and Amanda have a spoiler-free conversation about the coming-of-age story set in the San Fernando Valley (1:00). Then, Amanda allows Sean some room to work through his feelings and rank his favorite director’s movies from top to bottom (33:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/11/21•1h 27m
‘House of Gucci’ and Top 5 Ridley Scott Movies
It's time for the house of Gucci! Ridley Scott's much-anticipated family crime drama set among the famed Italian fashion empire, starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, and many others, is here. Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to talk about how much fun they had with the film, the performances, the style, and the Gucci of it all (1:00). Then they share their top 5 favorite Scott-directed films (35:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Chris Frierson, the filmmaker behind the Music Box entry 'DMX: Don't Try to Understand,' to talk about his documentary on the beloved rapper (1:16:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan; Chris Frierson
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/11/21•1h 49m
‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife,’ ‘Tick, Tick ... Boom!,' and Our Top Five Feel-Good Movies
We're talking about a trio of new releases—'Ghostbusters: Afterlife,' 'Tick, Tick ... Boom!,' and 'C'mon C'mon'—that attempt to pluck our heartstrings. They inspired Sean and Amanda to share their top five feel-good movies (1:00). Then, Sean talks with 'C'mon C'mon' writer-director Mike Mills about his wonderful new film (1:00:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Mike Mills
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/11/21•1h 34m
‘King Richard’ and Top 5 Sports Movies With Bill Simmons
With Will Smith in the center of the frame, ‘King Richard’ has garnered a lot of Oscars buzz. Now that the film is in theaters and on HBO Max, we talk about what makes it a throwback sports movie—and ultimately a big success—before sharing our top five sports movies (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘King Richard’ director Reinaldo Marcus Green to discuss how he became involved in the project, working closely with Will Smith, and the lineage of sports movies that influenced his approach to directing this film (1:17:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Bill Simmons and Reinaldo Marcus Green
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/11/21•1h 51m
10 Irrational Best-Picture Oscar Predictions and Why ‘Belfast’ Is the Front-Runner
Once upon a time, this was a podcast dedicated to Academy Awards coverage, so we’re going to throwback today to discuss Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical feature ‘Belfast’ and the state of the 2021 Oscar race (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Alison Klayman to discuss ‘Jagged,’ her film about Alanis Morissette that is part of Ringer Films’ ‘Music Box’ documentary series on HBO (51:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Alison Klayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/11/21•1h 28m
The Royal Movie Hall of Fame and ‘Spencer’
Kristen Stewart’s much-anticipated role as Princess Diana in ‘Spencer’ has finally arrived. We discuss Stewart’s performance, as well as the larger successes and failures of the film (1:00) before building a 10-movie Hall of Fame comprising the best films about royals (34:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/11/21•1h 10m
Top Five Movie Robots, ‘Finch,’ and the Awful Truth About Hollywood
A new Tom Hanks movie, ‘Finch,’ just hit Apple TV+; it's about a man and his robot pal enduring a post-apocalyptic terrain. Sean is joined by 'Gene and Roger' host and writer Brian Raftery to break down the movie and share their favorite movie robots (1:00). Then, writer-director-producer Jim Cummings stops by to talk about his new film, ‘The Beta Test,’ and the uncomfortable truths about a career in Hollywood (49:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Brian Raftery and Jim Cummings
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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09/11/21•1h 21m
‘Eternals’ Is a Big Miss. But Is Marvel Too Big to Fail?
The newest entrant in the MCU comes from Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloe Zhao, but something isn’t quite right about the movie. Sean is joined by Joanna Robinson to break down the film and what its struggles mean for the future of Marvel (1:00). Then, writer-director Joanna Hogg stops by to talk about her latest, ‘The Souvenir Part II,’ the follow-up to her brilliant 2018 film (54:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Joanna Robinson and Joanna Hogg
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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05/11/21•1h 26m
The 1994 Mega-Movie Draft
We are drafting again! And this time, the roster is growing. Shea Serrano and Van Lathan join Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan for a draft of one of the greatest years in movie history: 1994.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, Shea Serrano
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02/11/21•1h 34m
The Edgar Wright Rankings and ‘Last Night in Soho’ With Edgar Wright!
The director’s latest, the psychological horror movie ‘Last Night in Soho,’ is out in theaters. Sean is joined by The Ringer's Rob Harvilla to talk about Wright's fascinating career and their favorite Edgar Wright films, including 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,' 'Shaun of the Dead,' and 'Baby Driver.' Then, Sean talks with Wright himself about how he crafted his new movie, his career, and the movies he loves.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Edgar Wright and Rob Harvilla
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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29/10/21•1h 28m
Dune. DUNE. DUNE!
This is a podcast about ‘Dune.’ DUUUUUUUUUUUNE.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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25/10/21•1h 18m
Top Five Wes Anderson Movies and ‘The French Dispatch’
After being delayed more than a year by COVID, Wes Anderson’s ‘The French Dispatch’ has finally hit theaters in limited release. We gather to discuss the film and rank Wes Anderson’s unique world of film (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Mia Hansen-Løve to discuss ‘Bergman Island’ (1:09:12).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Mia Hansen-Løve
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/10/21•1h 43m
Top 5 Movie Duos and Why ‘The Last Duel’ Rules
We’re talking about ‘The Last Duel,’ the latest film from Ridley Scott and the first produced screenplay from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck since ‘Good Will Hunting.’ Thinking about Matt and Ben has us in the mood to celebrate movie duos, so Sean and Amanda drop some top 5s (1:00). Then, Sean talks to Todd Haynes about his new documentary, ‘The Velvet Underground’ (43:55).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Todd Haynes
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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19/10/21•1h 37m
Let’s Rank the Horror Franchises. Plus: ‘Halloween Kills.’
Every year, Chris Ryan joins Sean to share his favorite horror flicks, break down the state of the genre, and spotlight a few under-the-radar gems. They also rank their favorite horror franchises and put Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, Chucky, and more in their proper place (1:00). Then, filmmaker David Gordon Green comes to the show to discuss 'Halloween Kills' and his 'Exorcist' reboot (58:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and David Gordon Green
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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15/10/21•1h 28m
The 1998 Movie Draft: A Time for Betrayal
We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in another hotly contested draft over a delightful time in recent movie history: 1998 (23:43). Then, actor Fran Kranz sits down with Sean to discuss his impressive and powerful directorial debut, ‘Mass’ (1:24:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Fran Kranz
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12/10/21•2h 10m
No Time to Die’ and Top Five James Bond Movies
James Bond is back! After a nearly two-year delay, ‘No Time to Die’ finally arrives in theaters around the world. To celebrate, Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to talk about the new film, Daniel Craig’s legacy as 007, and their top five favorite Bond films (47:00). Then, Sean welcomes ‘No Time to Die’ director Cary Joji Fukunaga to talk about becoming the first American to take on Bond and the unique challenges of shepherding a massive franchise film (1:22:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Cary Joji Fukunaga
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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08/10/21•1h 53m
‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ and Top 5 Comic Book Movie Sequels
Eddie Brock and his alien symbiote pal are back in 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage,' a sequel to the surprise mega-hit from 2018. To break down the new 'Venom' movie and our favorite comic book movie sequels, Sean is joined by Van Lathan and Charles Holmes, aka The Midnight Boys (0:30). Then, Sean talks to 'Let There Be Carnage' director Andy Serkis, the acclaimed performance capture artist behind Gollum in the 'Lord of the Rings' films and a filmmaker in his own right (1:14:05).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, and Andy Serkis
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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05/10/21•1h 45m
Top Five ‘Sopranos’ Episodes and ‘The Many Saints of Newark’ With David Chase
This weekend sees the release in theaters and streaming on HBO Max of ‘The Many Saints of Newark,’ a film prequel to David Chase’s medium-altering TV series. Justin Sayles, The Ringer’s resident Sopranosologist, joins the show to discuss the movie and his deep dive on every single episode in show history, including his top five picks (35:30). Then, ‘Sopranos’ creator and ‘Many Saints’ cowriter and producer Chase joins Sean to talk about the movie, his relationship to the show now, and a lot more (1:17:39).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Justin Sayles and David Chase
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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01/10/21•1h 58m
A 400th Episode "Ask Us Anything" Mailbag Extravaganza
It’s the 400th episode! To celebrate, Sean and Amanda are opening up the mailbag to answer just about anything you wanted to know, in the world of movies and beyond.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/09/21•1h 28m
The 2021 Movie Star Ranking: 35 Under 35. Plus, the Catastrophe of 'Dear Evan Hansen.'
It's back! We revisit our controversial list of young stars 18 months later and determine what we got right, what we got wrong, and where movie stardom is going in 2021.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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24/09/21•1h 30m
Top-Five Actor Transformations, ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye,’ and the Horrifying Future of Award Shows
It’s late September, and that can only mean one thing: We now begin that deathless march to the center of the hellscape better known as Awards Season. But will anyone care? Sean and Amanda discuss the lay of the land after Telluride and TIFF, including the reception of 'Belfast,' 'Dune,' and 'Dear Evan Hansen' (1:00). Then, they talk about 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye,' a Jessica Chastain showcase and possible Oscar contender, before picking their top-five favorite actor transformations (42:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/09/21•1h 28m
Top 5 Clint Eastwood Movies and ‘Cry Macho’
'Cry Macho,' the 44th film directed by 91-year-old Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood, arrives in theaters and is now available on HBO Max. Adam Nayman and Chris Ryan join Sean to talk about the expansive, six-decade career of one of the signature filmmakers and movie stars of all time. They analyze 'Cry Macho,' his on-screen persona, his complicated political presence, and his relationship to genre, and, finally, they share their five favorite Eastwood films.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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17/09/21•1h 33m
The 2004 Movie Draft
We asked, you decided: After a public vote, we're drafting from the year 2004. Who were we? What were we doing? And what movies were we seeing? Join Sean, Amanda, and Chris as they explore a time of anchormen, eternal sunshine, and sequels galore.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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14/09/21•1h 35m
The Prestige Dirtbag Movie: A Celebration
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to break down the new Paul Schrader film ‘The Card Counter,’ explore Schrader’s seminal works, and define one of their favorite movie subgenres: the Prestige Dirtbag Movie. What is it and why do they love them (0:30)? Then, Sean and Chris review James Wan’s ‘Malignant’ before discussing the state of horror movies in 2021 (59:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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10/09/21•1h 12m
The 20 Most Anticipated Fall Movies and the Winners of the Telluride Film Festival
Sean chats with Amanda about his trip to the Telluride Film Festival, an annual launchpad for Oscar contenders. He talks about the best films he saw and the scene in Colorado (0:30). Then they discuss what to look forward to for the rest of the movie year (44:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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07/09/21•1h 21m
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ and the 10 Movies to See Before It
This weekend sees the release of a hugely important movie for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ‘Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.’ Sean breaks down the character’s place in Marvel mythology, the films that influenced the new movie, and whether it all worked with The Ringer’s Daniel Chin (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by the film’s screenwriter, Dave Callaham, to talk about writing blockbusters in the 21st century, the challenges and rewards of the work, and how 'Shang Chi' came together (46:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Daniel Chin and Dave Callaham
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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03/09/21•1h 34m
‘Dune,’ ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and the Best Trailers of 2021
Sean and Amanda talk about the buzzy new ‘Spider-Man’ trailer, as well as some hotly anticipated awards-season films, including ‘The Power of the Dog’ and ‘Spencer’ (0:31). Then they dig into the mailbag to answer listener questions about ‘Dune,’ their dream biopics, and the HBO Max experiment so far (30:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Michael Sarnoski, the writer-director of the acclaimed Nicolas Cage drama ‘Pig’ (1:20:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Michael Sarnoski
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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31/08/21•1h 54m
Top Five Summer 2021 Movies and Everything Sean Missed While He Was Out
Sean returns from his break and Amanda runs down the major story lines from the world of movies that he missed (0:31). Then, they share their favorite (and not so favorite) movies of the summer (48:30).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/08/21•1h 43m
8. “Something Wonderful Is Coming to an End” | Gene and Roger
Still reeling from Gene Siskel's death, Roger Ebert tries to bring their show into the new century. But Hollywood is changing, and so is the media landscape Gene and Roger conquered during their time together. And as the story of Gene and Roger ends, it's clear that movies—and movie criticism—will never be the same again.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Isaac Lee, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner
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25/08/21•37m 27s
7. “The Realities of Time” | Gene and Roger
By the late '90s, the unlikely alliance between Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert was stronger than ever. But their hard-won friendship would soon face unexpected challenges that would end their time together sooner than anyone expected
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Isaac Lee, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner
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23/08/21•33m 2s
The M. Night Shyamalan Rankings and ‘Old’
In July, the sometimes-acclaimed, sometimes-controversial, sometimes-downright-vilified writer-director M. Night Shyamalan released his 14th feature film, 'Old.' Joining Sean to talk about all things Shyamalan—from his best films to his worst and everything in between—is the cohost of 'Higher Learning' and one-half of the Midnight Boys on the Ringer Podcast Network, Van Lathan.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Van Lathan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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20/08/21•1h 32m
6. “The Human Condition” | Gene and Roger
For Siskel and Ebert, the '90s were a revolutionary era—both for the movies and for their careers. A new generation of filmmakers was taking over Hollywood, and Gene and Roger became cheerleaders for the bold next wave of writers and directors. But the industry was also plagued by problems and controversies, many of which Siskel and Ebert faced head on. By the time the '90s ended, Gene and Roger would become more than just the country's best-known film critics. They'd also become advocates.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Isaac Lee, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner
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17/08/21•32m 10s
The 2007 Movie Draft
We’re drafting again—and this time we’re not messing around. It’s 2007, one of the greatest movie years of our lifetimes, with several personal favorites on the board. Who will drink whose milkshake?
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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12/08/21•1h 16m
5. Attack of the Clones | Gene and Roger
As Gene and Roger jumped from one program to another, they left behind shows that were desperate to replicate the duo’s groundbreaking success. These reiterations, along with other imitations of the format, paved the way for a television market saturated with Siskel and Ebert wannabes. But what they all failed to realize was that what made Gene and Roger special was Gene and Roger themselves.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Isaac Lee, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner
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10/08/21•29m 18s
4. Top Guns | Gene and Roger
The '80s were the blockbuster era—and Siskel and Ebert were its blockbuster film critics. It was the decade in which Gene and Roger would realize the full extent of their powers, as well as their limitations. And it would find them making yet another high-profile business decision, one that would have big consequences for Gene.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Isaac Lee, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner
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03/08/21•29m 56s
Movie Swap: ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ and ‘Titanic.’ Plus: ‘The Green Knight’!
It’s time for another movie swap! This time, Amanda and Sean trade a pair of classics from James Cameron: the Oscar-winning behemoth ‘Titanic’ and the action classic ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (0:30). Then, Sean is joined by David Lowery, the director behind the long-awaited Arthurian fable ‘The Green Knight’ (1:24:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: David Lowery
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/07/21•1h 59m
3. “The Thumbs” | Gene and Roger
In the early ’80s, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert went from PBS stars to pop-culture celebrities. That newfound fame tested their already-heightened rivalry. But it also united them as they made one of the riskiest moves of their careers—a move that would change the way films were talked about, and that made Gene and Roger bigger than ever.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Isaac Lee, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner
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27/07/21•31m 19s
Top Five Music Documentaries and ‘Woodstock ’99: Love, Peace, and Rage’
We’re living in a boom time for music documentaries. Rob Harvilla joins Sean to talk about the history of the subgenre, why it’s exploding, and their top five favorites (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Garret Price, the filmmaker behind the first installment in Ringer Films’ new documentary music series Music Box: ‘Woodstock ’99: Love, Peace, and Rage,’ a powerful and fascinating portrait of a terrifying moment in music and American history (1:12:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Rob Harvilla and Garret Price
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23/07/21•1h 41m
2. “Is the Room Big Enough for Both These Guys?” | Gene and Roger
From the minute Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert hit the air, everyone wanted to know: Did these two guys actually hate each other? In this episode, we’ll learn more about how Gene and Roger came to be critics and rivals, and what made them the perfect foils for each other on TV.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Isaac Lee, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner
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20/07/21•36m 40s
1. “I Must Destroy Him” | Gene and Roger
Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were the most famous and powerful film critics of their time—and their shows were smash hits that changed an entire industry. Over the next eight episodes, host Brian Raftery will talk to Siskel and Ebert’s families, friends, coworkers, and peers to explore the duo's lasting impact—on movie criticism, on the media landscape, and on how we talk to one another.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Isaac Lee, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner
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20/07/21•29m 53s
The Return of the Movie Auction!
The 'Big Picture' Movie Auction is back! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to bid on the rest of the movies coming out this year that they’re desperate to see (17:00). Sean and Amanda also talk to Brian Raftery about ‘Gene and Roger,’ his new podcast series about the true story behind the rivalry and the partnership between legendary film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert (1:30). Finally, Sean is joined by Morgan Neville to talk about his powerful new documentary, ‘Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain' (1:41:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan, Brian Raftery, Morgan Neville
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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16/07/21•2h 13m
Introducing ‘Gene and Roger’
Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were the most powerful and influential movie critics of their time. The way they talked about film set a template for pop culture conversations far beyond the cinema. In this eight-part series, premiering July 20 on ‘The Big Picture’ feed, we’ll talk to everyone from family members to show producers to filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino about the legacy Siskel and Ebert built, and just how impactful they remain to this day.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner
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14/07/21•1m 1s
The Brian De Palma Top 10 and ‘Blow Out’ at 40
It’s a very special episode of the show: a deep dive into the career of one of our favorite filmmakers, Brian De Palma. We’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of one of his masterworks, ‘Blow Out,’ this summer, and exploring the depths of his career. Joining Sean is Ringer contributor and author Adam Nayman.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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13/07/21•1h 25m
‘Black Widow’ Is Finally Here. Was It Worth the Wait?
The first new movie installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 737 days is finally here, available now on Disney+ with Premier Access or in movie theaters. Amanda and Sean break down ‘Black Widow’ and the future of the MCU, emphasis on the “C” (0:30). Then, Sean is joined by writer-director Leigh Janiak to discuss her three ‘Fear Street’ films that are rolling out on three consecutive Fridays on Netflix this month (61:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Leigh Janiak
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09/07/21•1h 31m
Top Five Movies of 2021 So Far. Plus: Questlove on ‘Summer of Soul’
It’s been an odd movie year, but there have been a handful of standouts at the halfway mark. Sean and Amanda share their top fives of 2021 thus far and explore whether we need to define what qualifies (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the Roots drummer and now film director, to discuss his new documentary, ‘Summer of Soul (... or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),’ which is out now on Hulu and in theaters (47:03).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
Producers: Bobby Wagner and Kaya McMullen
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06/07/21•1h 25m
Top 5 Heist Movies and ‘No Sudden Move’
‘No Sudden Move,’ the latest film from Steven Soderbergh—now available on HBO Max—is a return to a familiar form for one of our favorite filmmakers: the heist movie. So in this episode, Sean and Amanda share their top 5 favorite heist flicks. (0:45) Then, Sean is joined by Janicza Bravo, the writer-director behind one of the year’s most entertaining films, the ripped-from-Twitter tale of ‘Zola.’ (48:17)
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Janicza Bravo
Producer: Bobby Wagner
Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall
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01/07/21•1h 29m
Quentin Tarantino on ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’ ... the Book!
Quentin Tarantino is here! The writer-director had adapted his film 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' into a novel, and on this episode he dives deep on everything: what's different from the movie, why he wrote a novelization in the first place, the movies he watched during quarantine, the future of moviegoing, and so much more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan
Guest: Quentin Tarantino
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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29/06/21•2h 4m
‘Fast 9’ and the ‘Fast & Furious’ Rankings
The long-awaited ‘Fast 9’ is here, so Sean and Amanda are digging into the entire ‘Fast & Furious’ series of movies and ranking ’em all with the man who lives his life one-quarter of a pod at a time, Shea Serrano.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Shea Serrano
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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25/06/21•1h 5m
The 1975 Movie Draft
Yes, we are drafting again. It’s the Movie Draft: 1975 Edition. It was simply one of the best years in film history. Let’s get it!
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/06/21•1h 22m
Top Five Movies Time Forgot. Plus: Why the Beatles Movie Is No Longer a Movie.
Sean and Amanda discuss the news that Peter Jackson's Beatles documentary will stretch into a limited documentary television series (0:30). Then, Sean is joined by writer-director Alex Ross Perry to talk about the phenomenon of the lost movie, specifically great works from well-known filmmakers that have fallen out of circulation, critical celebration, and general viewership. With the advent of so many streaming services, it’s shocking how many once high-profile movies can’t be seen easily. So Sean and Alex list five memorable examples and explain the contexts of their releases and how they may have slid into obscurity (14:32).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Alex Ross Perry
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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18/06/21•1h 35m
‘Loki’ and 10 Ways to Build the Perfect Streaming Service
Sean and Amanda discuss the box office returns for ‘In the Heights’ and how the movie’s availability on HBO Max may have affected it. They also discuss the launch of ‘Loki’ on Disney+ and ‘Infinite’ on Paramount+ and the challenges facing movie lovers as more and more services pop up (0:30). Then, they share their plans to build the perfect streaming service, by drafting film and TV libraries, sports rights, signature stars and creators, and more (41:36).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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15/06/21•1h 27m
Top 10 Movie Musicals and ‘In the Heights’
Sean and Amanda discuss one of the year's most anticipated movies, 'In the Heights,' a movie adaptation of the Tony-Winning Lin-Manuel Miranda musical that is now in theaters and available on HBO Max (0:30). Then they discuss what makes a great movie musical and share their 10 favorites (45:00).
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
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11/06/21•1h 30m
Bo Burnham’s ‘Inside,’ Five New Movies to Stream, and the First Couple of ‘The Big Picture’
On today’s episode, Sean and Amanda dig into Bo Burnham’s Netflix special ‘Inside’ ... or is it a movie? They talk about the songs, the production style, the themes, and that pesky "is it a movie?" question. Then, they share some new streaming movie recommendations (31:00) before opening up the mailbag for questions about ‘The Underground Railroad,’ movie book recommendations, and more (47:00). Finally, they’re joined by two special-guest lovebirds (1:20:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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08/06/21•1h 42m
Top Five Threequels and ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’
‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,’ the third ‘Conjuring’ movie and the eighth installment in the franchise hits HBO Max and movie theaters this weekend. We’re diving into the film and our favorite "no. 3" entries in movie history with Chris Ryan. Plus, we discuss the exciting lineup for this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producers: Bobby Wagner and Steve Ahlman
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04/06/21•1h 21m
We Went Back to the Movies to See ‘A Quiet Place Part II’! And It Rocked.
Shhhhhhhhhhh. We’re back in movie theaters! After more than 13 months away from our favorite place, we returned to theaters. This is worthy of a celebration. Sean and Amanda talk about the experience, what they expect in the future at theaters, and then dive deep into a movie that they and many other Americans saw this weekend: 'A Quiet Place Part II.'
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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01/06/21•1h 11m
‘Cruella’ and the Emma Stone Hall of Fame. Plus: The Future of James Bond
Sean and Amanda dive into the news that Amazon has acquired the historic Hollywood studio MGM, what it means for the streaming wars, the future of James Bond, and more (0:21). Then they discuss the new Oscars date and how the awards’ theater requirements continue to evolve (29:30). Finally, they review the new Disney Emma Stone vehicle ‘Cruella’ and build a Hall of Fame for Stone (52:39).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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28/05/21•1h 34m
The 2017 Movie Draft
We’re drafting again, and this time we’ve got a doozy of a year. Chris Ryan rejoins Sean and Amanda to select their favorites from one of the most memorable movie years in recent memory.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
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25/05/21•1h 25m
‘Army of the Dead’ and Top Five Zombie Movies
Zack Snyder returns to the undead with his new Netflix blockbuster 'Army of the Dead.' Sean is joined by Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman to discuss Snyder's latest, what makes a great zombie movie, and share their five favorites from the genre.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/05/21•1h 16m
Top Five Movie Twists and Bill Simmons on ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’
Sean and Amanda break down a handful of new releases because, well, vaccination rates are growing, theaters are open, and movies are being released (0:25). They discuss HBO Max’s ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’ with Bill Simmons (4:10); break down Netflix’s new Amy Adams thriller, ‘The Woman in the Window’ (38:57); and then share their top five favorite movie twists (59:18).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Bill Simmons
Producer: Bobby Wagner
Additional Production: Sasha Ashall
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18/05/21•1h 30m
Top Five Animated Movies of the 21st Century and ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines’
The release of ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines’ got us thinking about the best animated movies since 2000. Rob Harvilla and Charles Holmes join Sean to talk about the medium and their favorites from the past 20 years. (0:21) Then, Sean is joined by ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machines’ director Mike Rianda to talk about his movie and the five-year journey to get it to Netflix. (1:00:08)
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Rob Harvilla and Charles Holmes; Mike Rianda
Producer: Bobby Wagner
Additional Production: Sasha Ashall
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14/05/21•1h 35m
The Best Picture Match Game With Sam Esmail
After his triumphant introduction of the movie director game, Sam Esmail rejoins Amanda and Sean to discuss his 2020 movie-watching experiences, his favorites films of the year, how the medium could change after the pandemic, and what value the Oscars do or don't have. He covers all this with the aid of a helpful new exercise: The Best Picture match game.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Sam Esmail
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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11/05/21•1h 41m
The ‘Tenet’ Commentary : yratnemmoC ‘teneT’ ehT
This is a special episode of 'The Big Picture': a watch-along commentary track for Christopher Nolan’s 11th feature film. In March, we teamed up with Chris Ryan for our first commentary, a four-hour journey through 'Zack Snyder’s Justice League,' a.k.a the Snyder Cut. We barely survived. This time, we’re diving into a more complex movie, but fortunately one we have seen before. This is our collective third viewing of Nolan’s controversial, confusing, and, we will argue, wrongly overlooked 'Tenet.' We will be together for all 150 minutes of this movie, and we want you to watch along with us. Let’s go!
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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06/05/21•2h 38m
Top Five Spy Movies and ‘Without Remorse’
In honor of the new Tom Clancy adaptation ‘Without Remorse,’ Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to break down all things spy movies, including what they love about the genre, how they define it, and their top five favorites (0:13). Then, Sean is joined by director Stefano Sollima to talk about ‘Without Remorse' (1:06:30).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Stefano Sollima
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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04/05/21•1h 38m
We Have to Blow Up the Oscars and Start Again
After a record-low-rated Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, the state of the Oscars has been the subject of debate all week (0:21). Amanda and Sean discuss where the show should go in 2022, what it could look like, and beyond. Then, Sean is joined by Adam McKay, the director behind beloved films like 'Anchorman' and 'The Big Short,' to discuss his new podcast 'Death at the Wing' and the future of movies (1:09:00).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam McKay
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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30/04/21•1h 51m
17 Questions About ‘Mortal Kombat’ and the Worst Video Game Movies Ever
Today, we discuss Fatalities and Flawless Victories. Which one was the new adaptation of the beloved video game franchise ‘Mortal Kombat’? Joining Sean to answer that question and many more about all things video game movies are Ringer staff writers and avowed gamers Justin Charity and Ben Lindbergh.
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Justin Charity and Ben Lindbergh
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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27/04/21•1h 3m
Best Actor Goes to Who??? The Winners, Losers, and WTFs of the Academy Awards.
After 15 long months, the Oscars are here. Sean and Amanda break down every award, the in-person ceremony, the weirdest moments of the night, and more.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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26/04/21•1h 13m
25 Oscar Predictions That Will Win You Cash
The time has almost come for the long-awaited—or maybe just long in waiting—93rd Academy Awards. Sean and Amanda discuss what to expect from the ceremony, and then make predictions in every category.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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22/04/21•1h 25m
The Oscar Winners Draft: 2000s Edition
It's Oscars Week, so it's time for a special Movie Draft—Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to pick their favorite Academy Award winners from the years 2000 through 2009, in the eight big categories.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Bobby Wagner
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21/04/21•1h 21m
The Second Annual Alternative Academy Awards (a.k.a. The Big Picks!), With Wesley Morris
Let’s run back a new tradition: our Alternative Academy Awards with The New York Times’ Wesley Morris. Sean, Amanda, and Wesley pick their favorite performances, first features, cameos, endings, and more as a counterbalance to this week’s Oscars ceremony.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Wesley Morris
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20/04/21•1h 49m
Introducing the 2021 Movie Auction
Welcome to the first 'Big Picture' Movie Auction. What’s that? Well, as we anticipate our return to movie theaters, we thought we’d find a way to measure the movies we’re most excited to see in 2021. The return of James Bond? ‘Top Gun: Maverick’? Three MCU movies? This could be a fun year for Hollywood after all. And what better way to express our excitement than to wager cold, hard (imaginary) cash? Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda for a good old-fashioned auction, movie-style.
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Danny Heifetz
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16/04/21•1h 30m
The 2011 Oscars Were a Travesty. Let’s Fix That.
With key victories at the DGAs and BAFTAs in the books, Sean and Amanda discuss whether it’s all over but the shouting for 'Nomadland’ and the Best Picture prize at the Academy Awards (0:30). Then, they travel back in time 10 years to redo one of the most egregious movie award ceremonies in recent memory: the 2011 Oscars (30:46).
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
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13/04/21•1h 37m