Todd Phillips's 'Joker' is one of the year's biggest hits and most controversial films. Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda to talk about the film's success and whether all the hubbub was worth it (1:07). Then they take a close look at Joaquin Phoenix's Oscar chances, the Best Actor race, and Martin Scorsese's comments about Marvel movies (32:20). Then, Sean is joined by The Ringer's Shea Serrano to talk about his new book, 'Movies (and Other Things)' (55:08). Host: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbin...
Oct 07, 2019•2 hr 42 min•Ep. 196
Todd Phillips's 'Joker,' a gritty homage to '70s films like 'Taxi Driver,' has become one of the year's most anticipated and controversial movies. Sean and Jason Concepcion explore the long history of the Batman supervillain, in comic books and on screen (1:30). Then, they take a close look at the new Joaquin Phoenix–starring movie, its societal ramifications, and what it means for the superhero movie genre at large (41:20). Finally, Sean is joined by writer-director Noah Hawley to discuss his f...
Oct 04, 2019•2 hr 51 min•Ep. 195
Marty back! 'The Irishman' premiered at the New York Film Festival to rapturous reviews over the weekend, so Sean and Amanda look at the film's chances at the Oscars. Is Martin Scorsese's latest the new front-runner (1:40)? They also discuss Robert De Niro's hilarious comments on cable, look at Eddie Murphy's return to the screen in Netflix's 'Dolemite Is My Name,' and analyze a quietly shifting Best Documentary category (39:07). Then, Oscar-winning documentarian Asif Kapadia joins to discuss th...
Oct 01, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 194
Sean and Amanda break down a busy news cycle, including Jennifer Lopez's Oscars-related decision to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show and Marvel guru Kevin Feige turning his attention to the 'Star Wars' franchise (1:20). Then, they look at Renée Zellweger's comeback vehicle 'Judy,' a biopic that feels too familiar despite its star's best efforts (29:03). Then director Daniel Scheinert stops by to talk about his poignantly weird ode to a pair of dumbasses living in Alabama (59:40). Hosts: S...
Sep 27, 2019•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 193
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to break down the phenomenon of turning TV series into movies after the box office success of 'Downton Abbey.' Then, the trio discuss the shows they'd like to see extended into new movies, explore Maggie Smith's chances at a third Academy Award, and rank their favorite awards shows in the aftermath of a lackluster Emmys ceremony (1:00). After that, 'Downton' director Michael Engler swings by to talk about supersizing the costume drama into one of the year...
Sep 24, 2019•2 hr 31 min•Ep. 192
Sean and Amanda dive deep into the career of Brad Pitt by sharing their top five favorite performances and examining his work in two of the year's best movies, 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' and James Gray's new space drama 'Ad Astra' (0:38). Then, Gray joins Sean to talk about his long career, working on a bigger canvas than ever before, and the perilous future of movies (48:47). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: James Gray Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...
Sep 20, 2019•2 hr 57 min•Ep. 191
After winning the Audience Award at TIFF, 'Jojo Rabbit' is likely to follow in the footsteps of past winners like 'Green Book' and 'Three Billboards,' straight to the Oscars. Sean and Amanda break down its chances and the post-festival discourse (0:51) before examining the box office success of 'Hustlers' and the failure of 'The Goldfinch' to reassess what we talk about when we talk about "Oscar Bait" (9:55). Then, documentary filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer joins to discuss his latest, 'Where's My Roy ...
Sep 17, 2019•2 hr 50 min•Ep. 190
With the release of 'Hustlers,' a stripper-criminal saga, Sean and Amanda take a close look at the movie career and unusually persistent superstardom of Jennifer Lopez, who has received the best reviews of her career for the film (1:04). Then, Sean is joined by 'Hustlers' writer-director Lorene Scafaria to talk about how she translated a New York magazine feature story into one of the year's most exciting movies (46:56). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Lorene Scafaria Learn more ...
Sep 13, 2019•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 189
'The Oscars Show' returns to read the tea leaves out of Venice and TIFF, including the shocking Golden Lion win for 'Joker'; the divisive reaction to 'Jojo Rabbit'; and the glorious rise of Jennifer Lopez, 'Hustlers' star and Academy Awards contender (1:09). Then Sean digs into this weekend's smash hit, 'It Chapter Two,' with a conversation about the making of the Stephen King saga with director Andy Muschietti (32:04). Finally, Jason Concepcion joins to talk about the challenges of adapting Kin...
Sep 10, 2019•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 188
Ringer contributor Adam Nayman joins Sean to break down the films he's most looking forward to at this year's Toronto International Film Festival (1:10). Then, ahead of the release of 'It Chapter Two,' Sean and Adam share their favorite adaptations of Stephen King novels, including the classics you'd expect along with a few curveballs (7:30). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Adam Nayman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 06, 2019•1 hr•Ep. 187
Sean has returned from Telluride bearing takes on the very best that the Colorado film festival had to offer, among them 'Marriage Story,' 'Ford v. Ferrari,' Uncut Gems,' 'Waves,' and (yes, seriously) 'The Two Popes.' Then, Sean and Amanda take a close look at where the Oscar race stands after Venice and Telluride, what to look forward to at the Toronto International Film Festival, and how a very competitive Best Actor race is shaping up. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Learn more about...
Sep 04, 2019•56 min•Ep. 186
Awards season is nearly upon us, and Netflix has landed on a rollout strategy for its big movies, among them the Eddie Murphy vehicle 'Dolemite Is My Name,' Noah Baumbach's 'Marriage Story,' and Martin Scorsese's hugely anticipated (and also quite long) 'The Irishman' (0:45). Then, with the esteemed Venice, Telluride, and the Toronto film festivals approaching, Sean and Amanda share the movies they're most looking forward to and what their festival showings will mean for the coming Oscar race (3...
Aug 29, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 185
Disney’s D23 Expo brought with it a lot of news about the near and far future of streaming (1:00). Plus, we hand out awards for a slow summer in movies (18:00), and Sean talks to the writer and director of ‘Brittany Runs a Marathon,’ Paul Downs Colaizzo (54:35). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Paul Downs Colaizzo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 27, 2019•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 184
A public, corporate feud between Marvel and Sony could spell the end of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—are we stuck caring about this forever, and will we ever return to the days of movie stars (0:45)? Then, Ben Berman joins the show to discuss his strange and postmodern documentary on magician and comedian “The Amazing Johnathan” (74:51). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Wesley Morris and Ben Berman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice...
Aug 22, 2019•2 hr•Ep. 183
‘Blinded by the Light’ struggled in what was another slow weekend at the box office, while ‘Good Boys’ broke the trend of superhero and franchise-IP movies dominating 2019. We discuss that, the late-breaking news that Annapurna’s debt will be paid off by Larry Ellison, and ‘Where’d You Go Bernadette’—Richard Linklater’s latest film (2:00). Then, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, and Chad Villella—collectively known as Radio Silence—join the show to share their collaborative creative process ...
Aug 20, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 182
With the release of the Springsteen-inspired coming-of-age film 'Blinded by the Light,' Sean welcomes Chris Ryan to share their five favorite songs from The Boss. They also discuss the recent cancellation of the controversial thriller 'The Hunt,' debate the trailers for 'Little Women,' 'A Hidden Life,' 'Parasite,' and more (1:00). Then Gurinder Chadha, writer-director of 'Blinded by the Light,' swings by to share her journey and explain why Springsteen has been so pivotal to her creative life (5...
Aug 16, 2019•2 hr 30 min•Ep. 181
We open the mailbag to answer some of our listeners’ most-pressing questions: What films are we most looking forward to for the rest of the year? Is Adam Driver our best working actor (and is he hot)? What are Sean’s guilty-pleasure movies? And more. Host: Sean Fennessey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 13, 2019•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 180
We attempt to have a nuanced conversation about the complicated reception to Quentin Tarantino’s new film. (0:00) Then, we break down the latest shakeup in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' leadership, and how it will affect the Oscars' future (2:00). Plus: Oscar-nominated writer-director Andrea Berloff joins the show to talk about ‘The Kitchen’—her crime drama about 1970s New York, starring Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, and Melissa McCarthy (1:06:34). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and...
Aug 09, 2019•2 hr 37 min•Ep. 179
Sean and Amanda finally cave and watch each others’ beloved films after months and months of refusing (1:00). Then, director Avi Belkin joins the show to talk about his motivation for diving into a subject like Mike Wallace (1:13:23). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Avi Belkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 05, 2019•2 hr 56 min•Ep. 178
‘Hobbs and Shaw’ director David Leitch joins to talk about the challenges of adapting a successful franchise, his work on 'John Wick,' and the state of the action-comedy genre. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: David Leitch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 02, 2019•40 min•Ep. 177
We gather to discuss Quentin Tarantino’s ninth—and allegedly penultimate—film, ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.’ We break down everything from Leonardo DiCaprio grappling with the end of his career in the leading role, to Brad Pitt’s quiet charisma, to the way historical accuracy competes with fantasy. Hosts: Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins, Chris Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 26, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 176
The ‘Cats’ trailer set fire to Twitter, and Marvel extinguished the flames by announcing its next decade of IP dominance—what are we looking forward to most (1:00)? Then, we finally hash it out: We debate the top five Quentin Tarantino movies (16:15). Lastly, producer Cameron Crowe, director A.J. Eaton, and titular star David Crosby join the show to discuss ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name,’ the long-in-the-works documentary about Crosby’s legendary life and music career (1:22:45). Host: Sean Fen...
Jul 23, 2019•2 hr 49 min•Ep. 175
Disney is in the midst of a nostalgia churn, and the latest installment is a remake of ‘The Lion King,’ the iconic 1994 peak of the Disney golden era. Have we reached a dark place with live-action remakes, and are there more to come? Plus, does the 2019 all-star cast live up to the original voice performances? Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 19, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 174
The slow box office summer continued this weekend as ‘Stuber’ failed to make a real impact in theaters. Is streaming going to put an end to the big-budget action comedy (0:37)? Plus, a long conversation with Lulu Wang about her path to becoming a filmmaker, the deeply personal experience of making ‘The Farewell,’ and what wider success means for a Sundance darling (42:30). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Lulu Wang Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic...
Jul 16, 2019•2 hr 34 min•Ep. 173
David Shoemaker joins the show to talk about how action stars are minted in the post–The Rock era of filmmaking, Dave Bautista’s rise to legitimate actor, and who is primed to make the leap from WWE to the big screen (0:45). Then, ‘Stuber’ director Michael Dowse comes in to talk about the role of improvisation in his films, working with Bautista and comedian Kumail Nanjiani, and what his future in directing looks like (25:07). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: David Shoemaker, Michael Dowse Learn mor...
Jul 12, 2019•55 min•Ep. 172
We take an early survey of the alleged frontrunners in the 2020 Oscars—a slim list of movies that are already getting negative buzz—before discussing the live-action remake trend that Disney is employing in its latest effort to dominate the financial landscapes of moviemaking (1:00). Then, Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Stearns join the podcast (previously recorded at SXSW) to discuss their partnership in making ‘The Art of Self-Defense’ (54:17). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Jesse...
Jul 09, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 171
Chris Ryan joins to discuss ‘Midsommar,’ Ari Aster’s shocking Swedish nightmare follow up to his debut horror hit ‘Hereditary’ (1:00). Then, Aster comes by to talk about the challenges of making a horror film set exclusively in the daylight, the pressure of following ‘Hereditary,’ and what he’s doing next (14:47). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan and Ari Aster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 03, 2019•53 min•Ep. 169
Friendly neighborhood MCU fan Micah Peters joins the show to discuss ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ the Marvel movie tasked with following ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ the wonders of Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio, and how the movie stacks up to last year’s smash hit ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Micah Peters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 02, 2019•43 min•Ep. 170
In this double episode, Sean and Amanda review ‘Yesterday,’ a movie that delivered in Beatles nostalgia but came up short in plot payoff (1:00). Then, Adam Nayman calls in from Toronto to share his top five movies of a slow year so far (42:50). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Adam Nayman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 28, 2019•2 hr 36 min•Ep. 168
The horror genre spent decades as the lowbrow stepchild of the movie industry, but now it’s the vehicle for exciting young filmmakers like Ari Aster and Jordan Peele. Chris Ryan joins the show to help make sense of how we got here (1:00). Then, Gary Dauberman stops by to discuss his path from writing spec scripts to becoming the director of ‘Annabelle Comes Home’—the latest movie in the 'Conjuring' universe, a series he helped grow (21:31). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan and Gary Dauber...
Jun 25, 2019•50 min•Ep. 167
