Paul & Amy say buona sera to 1974's epic mobster sequel The Godfather Pt. II! They analyze Robert De Niro's Sicilian, learn which US president loved the film, and ask if this sequel really covers territory not covered by the first film. Plus: Tom Santopietro, author of The Godfather Effect, talk about how the Godfather films have affected the Italian-American community. For The Grapes Of Wrath week, tell us about your experience with unions! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 ...
Oct 24, 2019•1 hr 44 min
Amy & Paul pay tribute to 1972's mobster epic The Godfather! They praise the film's incredible rich cinematography, wonder if Michael makes his character turn too quickly, and debate whether this is truly the second greatest American film ever. Plus: Gianni Russo, who plays Carlo Rizzi in the film, shares stories from the set. Next week is Godfather Pt. II - tell us one of your deepest secrets! Don't worry, you can use a fake voice, just call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824. Fol...
Oct 17, 2019•2 hr 8 min
On this special bonus episode, Paul & Amy compare the controversial supervillain origin story Joker with one of the films that inspired it, Martin Scorcese's Taxi Driver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15, 2019•37 min
Paul & Amy cruise through 1973's George Lucas coming-of-age comedy American Graffiti! They discover why Lucas decided to make a film inspired by his teenage years, learn about the real Wolfman Jack, and watch the trailer for the bizarre sequel. Plus: Candy Clark, who plays Debbie in the film, talks about creating her character. For Godfather week, Paul & Amy are the Godfather, and you have a chance to ask them for a favor on the day of their daughter's wedding. Call the Unspooled voicema...
Oct 10, 2019•1 hr 32 min
In a special bonus episode this week, Paul & Amy ask Shea Serrano, writer for The Ringer and author of “Movies (And Other Things)”, about the three films he would add to the AFI list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 08, 2019•33 min
Amy & Paul get cookin' with 1959's Billy Wilder gender-bending comedy Some Like It Hot! They learn why the film's final line was controversial, ask if films about cross-dressing still need to be made, and dive into Marilyn Monroe's troubled history with Hollywood. Plus: Mira Sorvino discusses getting into Marilyn's head to star in "Norma Jean & Marilyn." What sort of American Graffiti would you draw? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter...
Oct 03, 2019•1 hr 47 min
Amy & Paul fight for 1960's Roman epic Spartacus! They discuss why Spartacus isn't usually considered part of director Stanley Kubrick's canon, learn about Kirk Douglas' heroic efforts to get the film made, and liken the movie to a good casserole. Plus: Thomas Doherty, author of Show Trial, talks about how screenwriter Dalton Trumbo was affected by the Hollywood Blacklist. Next week is Some Like It Hot week - help us come up with a better title for the film! Call the Unspooled voicemail line...
Sep 26, 2019•1 hr 38 min
Amy & Paul traverse 1959’s Alfred Hitchcock blockbuster North By Northwest! They discuss what makes Cary Grant’s suit one of the greatest in cinema, ask why so many Hitchcock films feature women betraying men, and draw a line from this film to the Coen Bros. Plus: Daniel Raim, director of “The Man On Lincoln’s Nose,” talks about Hitch’s famed art director Robert Boyle. For Spartacus week, what do you think the film is about? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer!...
Sep 19, 2019•1 hr 41 min
Paul & Amy fly the coop to 1954's Marlon Brando crime drama On The Waterfront! They ask what the film would have been like with Frank Sinatra in the lead, explore the history of "the Method," and wonder how the ending would change if this were made today. Plus: Paul revisits your thoughts on Lawrence Of Arabia. For North By Northwest week, what is your favorite Hitchcock film? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info a...
Sep 12, 2019•1 hr 35 min
Paul and Amy journey through 1962's David Lean WWI epic Lawrence Of Arabia! They ask if this can fairly be called a "white savior" film, learn about the many injuries Peter O'Tools endured during the shoot, and compare the film's structure to Citizen Kane. Plus: A brief look at the controversy around the Joker premiere. For On The Waterfront week, what are times in your life you could have been a contender? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter ...
Sep 05, 2019•1 hr 38 min
Amy & Paul surf through 1976's Sidney Lumet TV news satire Network! They explore how writer Paddy Chayefsky came up through the TV trenches, listen to modern media figures who took inspiration from Howard Beale, and ask if the film has become too real to work as satire. Plus: Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslany talks about what it was like to reprise the Diana Christensen role onstage. If you haven't seen Lawrence Of Arabia, what do you think it's about? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-6...
Aug 29, 2019•1 hr 32 min
Amy & Paul flirt with 1940's archetypal Katharine Hepburn romantic comedy The Philadelphia Story! They discover the origins of the industry trope of "box office poison," explore the strange social mores of the 40s, and learn that everyone on set may have been in love with Jimmy Stewart. Plus: Screenwriter Katie Silberman (Set It Off, Isn't It Romantic) explains why The Philadelphia Story is one of her top romantic comedies ever. Can you make the most famous line in Network your own? Call the...
Aug 22, 2019•1 hr 31 min
Amy & Paul fly through 1941's Humphrey Bogart proto-noir The Maltese Falcon! They ask if this is the ultimate "dad movie," learn about all of Malta's unique animals and praise the incredible fonts of 1940's San Francisco. Plus: Adam Savage (Mythbusters) talks about his obsession with recreating the original Maltese Falcon prop. How would you recast The Philadelphia Story's love triangle in 2019? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspool...
Aug 15, 2019•1 hr 27 min
Paul & Amy sing the praises of 1975's sprawling country opus Nashville! They compare Robert Altman's loose technique to the perfectionist auteurs of past Unspooled movies, find further parallels to Quentin Tarantino's latest, and learn what real Nashvillians thought of the film. Plus: Screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury shares her inspiration for the film's story. What would you do for the Maltese Falcon? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unsp...
Aug 08, 2019•1 hr 38 min
Amy & Paul dig into 1938's Howard Hawks screwball classic Bringing Up Baby! They ask if Cary Grant was the model for Christopher Reeve's Superman, learn how Hepburn modulated her performance to get the comic tone just right, and wonder why weddings were so casual in the 30s. Plus: Cary's daughter Jennifer Grant shares memories of growing up with her father. For Nashville week, call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with a monologue that we'll turn into some Altman-style overlappin...
Aug 01, 2019•1 hr 27 min
Paul and Amy boogie through 1994's Quentin Tarantino indie breakout Pulp Fiction! They revisit the moment Pulp Fiction won at Cannes, ask what this film did right that so many imitators did wrong, and try to figure out what's in the briefcase. Plus: Some of the couples you thought should star in a modern "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?" What do you think Bringing Up Baby is about, if you haven't seen it? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @U...
Jul 25, 2019•1 hr 19 min
Amy and Paul drink in 1966's black relationship comedy Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? They learn about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's status as the Brangelina of their day, ask which member of the ensemble is the meanest, and wonder if George and Martha are truly in love after all. Plus: A new tasting segment, this time with a very rare spirit! What do you think is in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @...
Jul 18, 2019•1 hr 31 min
Paul & Amy go to war over 1939's blockbuster Southern epic Gone With The Wind! They praise the chemistry of Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh, watch a trailer for the misbegotten sequel, and ask whether a film this messy deserves to be in the AFI's Top 10. Plus: Kevin J. Goff, the great grand-nephew of Hattie McDaniel, talks to Amy about her legacy. Suggest a cocktail for us to drink on next week's episode, Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, by calling the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824! F...
Jul 11, 2019•1 hr 44 min
Paul & Amy take aim at Michael Cimino's 1978 Vietnam War epic The Deer Hunter! They investigate the film's controversial use of Russian Roulette, ask whether Robert De Niro's character is too perfect, and try Unspooled's first ever film-inspired food tasting segment. Plus: Rutanya Alda, who plays Angela in the film, talks about her journey from Latvia to Hollywood. For Gone With The Wind week, fill in the blank: "Frankly my dead, I don't give a ___." Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-...
Jul 04, 2019•1 hr 33 min
Amy & Paul don't fight the power of 1989's Spike Lee breakthrough Do The Right Thing! They praise the film's Shakespearean qualities, analyze the infamous reception it received at Cannes, and ask whether this story has a true villain. Plus: The man himself, director and star Lee joins the show to discuss why the film still feels so timely 30 years later. What do you think The Deer Hunter is about? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspo...
Jun 27, 2019•1 hr 39 min
This week Paul & Amy play with 1995's pioneering CGI adventure Toy Story! They learn about the surprising career of Randy Newman, ask if Sid was really such a bad kid, and debate whether the film was a greater triumph for art or commerce. Plus: Annie Potts, the voice of Bo Peep, tells us how she joined the film, and Josh Cooley shares what it was like to direct Toy Story 4. What Pixar film would you put on the AFI list? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer, and ...
Jun 20, 2019•1 hr 41 min
Paul & Amy walk into 1969's New York hustler drama Midnight Cowboy! They look for meaning in the song "Everybody's Talkin'," ask whether Jon Voight's babyfaced features make him the perfect Joe Buck, and marvel at how modern the film still feels. Plus: More of your picks for horror films that could make the AFI list. For Toy Story week, help us come up with new catchphrases for Woody! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your best one. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get m...
Jun 13, 2019•1 hr 26 min
What horror films should be added to the AFI's signature list? Do films like The Sixth Sense or Psycho count as horror? Paul and Amy debate these questions live from the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, with special guests Sam Zimmerman from Shudder and Phil Nobile Jr. from Fangoria! They ask whether fast zombies are superior to slow zombies, discuss when meta-horror films become too meta, and wonder whether a horror film needs to be a little bit trashy. Next week we return to the list wit...
Jun 06, 2019•1 hr 5 min
50 films down, 50 to go! But first, Paul and Amy celebrate making it halfway through the AFI list on this special episode. They discuss their favorite performances from the films so far, break down a controversial DVD/Blu-Ray packaging campaign, read pitches for AFI movie mashups from listeners, and unveil their newly-ordered Top 50 list. Next week, we're releasing our live episode from the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, where we'll be debating what horror films should be on the AFI list...
May 30, 2019•52 min
Paul & Amy fall into Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 psychological thriller Vertigo! They learn who created the famous Vertigo zoom, listen to a classic 90s song inspired by Vertigo, and ask if the age gap between Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak works to the film's credit. Plus: Tony Lee Moral, author of multiple books on Hitchcock, tells us where Vertigo fits into his filmography. Next week is our 50th movie special - tell us which films we've covered so far surprised you or stuck with you, or offer us...
May 23, 2019•1 hr 25 min
Amy & Paul cross-examine 1962's Southern drama To Kill A Mockingbird! They compare the slice-of-life storytelling to later filmmakers like Richard Linklater, reveal Brock Peters' on-set nickname, and ask whether the film can be considered separately from the book. Plus: author and professor Wayne Flynt talks about his friendship with Harper Lee in her later years. For Vertigo week, what other disorders could be the title of a Hitchcock film? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 ...
May 16, 2019•1 hr 29 min
Paul & Amy dig into 1991's serial killer thriller The Silence Of The Lambs! They praise the many ways the film puts us in Clarice Starling's head, discover the inspirations for Hannibal Lecter's voice, and learn how Buffalo Bill was originally received by LGBT activists. Plus: former detective Paul Holes of the Murder Squad podcast explains what Silence of The Lambs gets right abour criminal profiling. Who should play Atticus FInch in a modern adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird? Call the Un...
May 09, 2019•1 hr 36 min
Amy and Paul suit up for 1982's gender-bending Dustin Hoffman comedy Tootsie! They ask whether Michael is really a great actor, praise Bill Murray's scene-stealing performance, and compare the film to last year's Best Picture winner. Plus: drag comedian Roz Drezfalez ("Ghosted" podcast) tells us why he loved Tootsie as a kid. For Silence Of The Lambs week, help us create a menu for Hannibal Lecter's next meal! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 in your best Hannibal impression.Fol...
May 02, 2019•1 hr 28 min
This week Paul & Amy investigate 1974's sunlit neo-noir Chinatown! They examine the charges against Roman Polanski and discuss how to watch and contextualize his work today, before diving into the film's recurring water symbolism and Faye Dunaway's superlative performance. Plus: historian and writer Hadley Meares (Curbed LA) breaks down some of the true Los Angeles history that inspired Chinatown. What would your alternate title for Tootsie be? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-58...
Apr 25, 2019•1 hr 28 min
Amy & Paul excavate 1948's Humphrey Bogart thriller The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre! They ask if Fred C. Dobbs qualifies as an antihero, look at the wild career of director John Huston, and explore how Treasure inspired everything from Breaking Bad to There Will Be Blood. Plus: film critic extraordinaire Leonard Matin explains how he became a Bogart fan. For Chinatown week, complete the famous line "Forget it Jake, it's ___" with the town of your choice! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at...
Apr 18, 2019•1 hr 26 min
