The often enigmatic chess genius that is Beth Harmon - is the Queen of this week’s episode. Ben and Sasha explore why Beth feels so compelled to clean up after parties - and how her controlled prowess at the chessboard, becomes utter chaos away from it. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email shrinkthebox@somethinelse.com Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Queen’s Gambit to avoid spoilers. If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episo...
Feb 14, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 3
We learn about the making of ‘Till’, and what Danielle thinks about the Awards. Mark reviews ‘Women Talking’ - a harrowing American drama about a religious isolated community starring Jessie Buckley, Rooney Mara and Claire Foy, ‘Epic Tails’ - which tells the story of a super smart mouse named Pattie and her feline friend Sam, who embark on an exciting adventure through ancient Greece. ‘Blue Jean’- Georgia Oakley’s standout feature film about a closeted PE teacher in the 1980s who must lead a dou...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Sliding on their gloves, and stepping into their Hazmat suits, Ben and Sasha distil one of TV’s most infamous characters: The mighty Heisenburg. On this week’s Shrink the Box we uncover why Walter White is often in his underpants, how he taps into his ‘shadow side’ and we explore if the ‘Revenge of the Nerd’ is really a thing. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Breaking Bad to avoid spoilers. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email shrinkthebox@somethinelse.com I...
Feb 07, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Telegraph critic Robbie Collin stands in for Simon this week as he’s unwell. Mark reviews ‘EO,’ Jerzy Skolimowski’s harrowing new film about a donkey that encounters happiness and sorrow along his journey through life, ‘Knock at the Cabin’ - M Night Shyamalan’s apocalyptic film – which tells the story of a same sex couple who are held hostage and asked to make an unthinkable choice, from the Shrek family ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,’ starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Florence Pugh, a...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Unravelling the complex (and surprisingly endearing) layers of the OG mobster: Mr Tony Soprano, all roads lead to New Jersey on the first episode of Shrink the Box! We find out why talking to a therapist is a ‘whackable’ offence, how falling in love with your shrink is not THAT uncommon and why his mother, Livia Soprano could be the real villain of the show. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Sopranos to avoid spoilers. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email...
Jan 31, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Ever wondered why Tony Soprano's therapist stuck with him? Simon and Mark chat with friend of the show, actor/comedian Ben Bailey Smith, and psychotherapist Sasha Bates about their new podcast ‘Shrink the Box’ where every week Sasha and Ben give listeners the chance to delve into the psyches of their favorite fictional film and tv characters. Mark reviews Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical coming of age drama ‘The Fablemans’, ‘Plane’ stars Gerrard Butler who finds himself in even more dang...
Jan 27, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Cate Blanchett is the star of ‘Tár’ and is tipped to win big at the awards this year; in this episode you’ll hear Cate talk to Simon about the impact the film has had on her. Mark reviews Damien Chazelle’s latest film ‘Babylon’ - set in the decedent and depraved world of 1920’s Hollywood, ‘Holy Spider’ a Persian-language crime thriller directed by Iranian director Ali Abbasi, ‘More than Ever’ - a heartfelt drama starring Vicky Krieps and Gaspard Ulliel in the penultimate film before his death, a...
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Would Empire of Light have happened if Olivia Colman hadn’t said yes to playing Hilary? Director and writer, Sam Mendes CBE, chats to Simon in this week’s episode as the pair unpack his latest release. Mark reviews psychological horror ‘Enys Men’, set in 1973 on an uninhabited island off the Cornish coast; Cate Blanchett’s new film ‘Tár’ - about the life of composer and conductor, Lydia Tár; ‘M3gan’ - about a robotics engineer at a toy company, who builds a life-like doll that begins to take on ...
Jan 13, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 37
The daughter of Beatle Paul McCartney, Mary McCartney, joins Ben and Anna to give us a glimpse of what went down in the world-famous Abbey Road Studios. Anna reviews ‘Till’ - the heart-breaking film about the death of Emmett Till in 1960s America, the highly anticipated ‘A Man Called Otto’, the Disney Original documentary ‘If These Walls Could Sing’, and ‘Piggy’- a Spanish French indie thriller. Time Codes (relevant only when you are part of the Vanguard): 13:09 Till Review 24:27 Box Office Top ...
Jan 06, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Mark and Simon take a look at the best bits of Kermode and Mayo’s Take this year including highlights from Rowan Atkinson, Jeff Goldblum, Charlotte Rampling – as well as the biggest reviews like Top Gun Maverick, Elvis and Everything Everywhere All At Once. PLUS Simon interviews TOM HANKS and MARIANA TREVINO about the upcoming comedy-drama ‘A Man Called Otto’. They also reflect on those we have lost this year in the world of Film and TV, including Robbie Coltrane, Angela Lansbury, Olivia Newton-...
Dec 30, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Detective Benoit Blanc is back!! Simon sits down with Daniel Craig, and director Rian Johnson to chat all things ‘Glass Onion: A Knives out Mystery,’ the sequel to ‘Knives Out.’ (2019) Mark reviews ‘The Enforcer’- an American action thriller starring Antonio Banderas who must sacrifice everything to save a young girl from his femme fatale boss (Kate Bosworth), ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ - a gothic horror starring Christian Bale, Gillian Anderson and Henry Melling’s as a young Edgar Allan Poe, ‘I Wanna ...
Dec 23, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 34
It took three years and cost 250 million dollars to make ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’, and Mark has some strong feelings on the film... Mark also reviews animated Christmas movie ‘The Nutcracker and the Magic Flute’ - which follows Marie as she makes a wish and becomes the same size as her toy nutcracker, ‘The Unofficial Science of Home Alone’ - a one off Sky special with comedians James Acaster and Guz Khan, as they step into the shoes of the Wet Bandits as they build and test some of the famous ...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 33
What is it like to work with Tom Cruise? The legendary Hollywood producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, pays us a visit to tell all and to speak to Simon about the making of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. Mark reviews ‘Nocebo’ - a new mystery/psychological thriller starring Eva Green and Chai Fonacier, ‘Anonymous Club,’ a documentary that gives an intimate portrayal at the life of beloved singer Courtney Barnett, ‘The Silent Twins’ - a biographical drama about the twin sisters June and Jennifer Gibbons, who were in...
Dec 09, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Why eating nineteen bowls of noodles helped Gary Oldman get into character for Jackson Lamb – he joins Mark and Simon in the studio, fully in character for ‘Slow Horses season two’. Gary talks filming the new series, as well as the 25th anniversary of ‘Nil by Mouth.’ Mark reviews ‘White Noise’- an apocalyptic black comedy directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver and Don Cheadle, ‘Tori & Lokita,’ which tells the tale of two youngsters who are united by their shared exp...
Dec 02, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 31
The monstrous Miss Trunchbull is played by Dame Emma Thompson in the new musical film ‘Matilda the Musical’ - Simon talks to Dame Emma about this extraordinary role, and how Emma’s comprehensive prosthetics started at 5am each day! Mark reviews ‘Bones and All’ - a romantic horror road film by Luca Guadagnino, starring Timothée Chalamet Taylor Russell and Mark Rylance, ‘She Said’ - a biographical drama based on the 2019 book that follows the New York Times investigation that exposed Harvey Weinst...
Nov 25, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Simon speaks to actor Paul Mescal about his new film ‘Aftersun.’ Mark reviews black comedy horror film ‘The Menu,’ starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Holt, and Ralph Fiennes - about a young couple who visit a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant, but the chef has prepared some shocking surprises for his guests, ‘Armageddon Time’ - a personal coming of age story by James Gray - starring Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong, ‘Aftersun’- the debut feature film from Charlotte Wells, about a wo...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Ben Bailey Smith speaks to writer/director Sebastián Lelio and actor Florence Pugh about their haunting new film ‘The Wonder.’ Mark reviews the much-anticipated ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ the first four episodes of ‘The Crown’ season five, ‘No Bears’ by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi – about two parallel love stories in which the partners are thwarted by hidden, inevitable obstacles, and ‘A Bunch of Amateurs’ – about the survival of one of one of the oldest amateur filmmaking clubs in the ...
Nov 11, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Mark and Simon are LIVE from Indigo at the O2 in Greenwich, and are joined by special guests Aimee Lou Wood (to discuss her new film ‘Living’ in which she stars alongside Bill Nighy), the director of ‘Girls’, and more recently ‘Catherine Called Birdy’; Lena Dunham comes to the stage with her husband Luis Felber who wrote the soundtrack to her latest hit film. Mark reviews ‘Living’ - about a man whose medical diagnosis inspires him to cram some fun into his life, plus some horror themed content i...
Nov 04, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 27
This week Simon speaks to rising British star Harris Dickinson about his role as a male model in ‘Triangle of Sadness’. Mark reviews new horror film ‘Barbarian’ - starring Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, and Georgina Campbell, Sebastián Lelio’s psychological thriller ‘The Wonder’- where Florence Pugh is sent to watch a girl who miraculously lives healthily without eating, new rom com ‘Bros’ - about neurotic podcaster Bobby who’s world is turned upside down when he meets Aron, and ‘Triangle of Sadne...
Oct 28, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 26
This week Simon speaks to the prolific British-Irish playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh about his new irreverent dark comedy ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’. Mark reviews the latest superhero movie ‘Black Adam’ - starring Dwayne Johnson and Piers Brosnan, Park Chan-Wook's new mystery/romance drama ‘Decision to Leave’ - about a detective investigating a man’s death in the mountains,Hulu original horror film ‘Matriarch’ - about a woman who returns home to the secluded village she grew up in to r...
Oct 21, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 25
This week Simon speaks to Emma Mackey about her role as Emily Bronte in ‘Emily’ and the writer and director of the film Francs O’Connor. Mark reviews new adaptation of the popular children's book ‘Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile’- starring Javier Bardem, and Shawn Mendes as the voice of Lyle, Netflix’s new German remake of ‘All Quiet on the Western Front, ‘Emily’ - about one of England’s most talented writers who tragically died at the age of 30, and ‘Halloween Ends’ where Michael Myers is back once again...
Oct 14, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 24
This week Simon speaks to one of Britian’s finest acting talents Sally Hawkins about her new film ‘The Lost King.’ Mark reviews the culinary smash hit series 'The Bear,’ David O. Russell’s new star-studded drama ‘Amsterdam’, ‘Vengeance’ - starring Ashton Kutcher and B. J. Novak about a podcaster who travels to Texas to investigate the death of woman he briefly dated and ‘The Lost King’- written by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, based on the discovery of King Richard III’s remains beneath a Leiceste...
Oct 07, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 23
This week Simon sits down with screen legend Christian Bale to discuss his role in David O. Russell’s latest film ‘Amsterdam.’ Mark reviews Peter Strickland’s culinary black comedy ‘Flux Gourmet’; ‘Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris’ - a 1950’s period film which follows a housekeeper as she embarks on her dream, starring Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert and Jason Isaacs; ‘The Woman King’ starring Viola Davis - about a group of all female warriors in the 1800’s; new horror film ‘Smile’ and the star studd...
Sep 30, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 22
This week Simon and Mark are joined in the studio by the extraordinary Charlotte Rampling to discuss her new film ‘Juniper’. Mark reviews the highly anticipated psychological drama ‘Blonde’- a fictionalized take on the life of Marilyn Monroe; Olivia Wilde’s new film ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ - starring Harry Styles, and Florence Pugh; ‘Catherine Called Birdy’ - a coming of age comedy set in Medieval England, directed by Lena Dunham; and ‘Juniper’- Starring this week's guest Charlotte Rampling, about...
Sep 23, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Power, greed, religion and sex: historian Dan Jones brings the drama of medieval history alive through compelling stories, larger-than-life characters and vivid scenes. In the first season, get to know the most dysfunctional family of the Middle Ages – the Plantagenets – and find out how their scandalous betrayals and bloody politics shaped the world we live in today. A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Sep 22, 2022•2 min
This week Simon speaks to the iconic American actress Pam Grier about the 25th anniversary of ‘Jackie Brown’. Mark reviews Disney+ live action ‘Pinocchio’, Brett Morgan’s new documentary about David Bowie - ‘Moonage Daydream’, Quentin Tarantino’s seminal film ‘Jackie Brown’ and romantic comedy ‘Ticket to Paradise’ starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney. Plus a huge amount of correspondence, What’s On and the Box Office 10. You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com...
Sep 16, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 20
This episode was recorded before the announcement of the passing of HRH Elizabeth II. This week Simon speaks to the multitalented Poet, Musician, and actor Johnny Flynn about his new film ‘The Score.’ Mark reviews new comedy horror ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ - about a group of spoilt friends whose party game goes horribly wrong, ‘See How They Run’ - a mystery/crime set in the 1950’s, starring Sam Rockwell, Adrien Brody, and Saoirse Ronan, ‘The Score’ - a British musical/heist film starring Will Poul...
Sep 09, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Simon and Mark are back from their cruise and joined by very special guest Timothy Spall to discuss his new drama ‘It Snows in Benidorm’. Mark reviews the new drama ‘The Forgiven’ - starring Jessica Chastain, Matt Smith and Ralph Fiennes, ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’ - George Miller’s new fantasy romance starring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, ‘It Snows in Benidorm’, and ‘Blackbird’ - the new spy film starring, written, directed and produced by Michael Flatley. You can contact the show by em...
Sep 02, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Simon and Mark are on the final week of their cruise, so this week covers all the highlights from their Take 2 episodes so far, bringing you the best bits (normally reserved for subscribers, ie. The Vanguard) FOR FREE! To subscribe via any platform, visit: https://extratakes.com/ Highlights include: MORE TOM HIDDLESTON One Frame Back: Films About Mythical Sea Creatures MORE ROWAN ATKINSON Mark and Simon Spoil Everything: Top Gun: Maverick MORE ALICIA VIKANDER Take it or Leave it: You Decide - He...
Aug 26, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Join Robbie Collin and Rhianna Dhillon as they stand in while Mark and Simon are on their annual cruise. Rhianna speaks to national treasure Hugh Bonneville about his sinister new role in Baback Anvari’s new crime thriller ‘I Came By’. Robbie reviews ‘Bad Sisters’ Sharon Horgan’s new comedy/thriller, ‘House of the Dragon’ - following the story of the Targaryen civil war 300 years before the events portrayed in ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘My Old School’ - a new true crime documentary set in a Scottish se...
Aug 19, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 16
