We're releasing this episode of our Premium game show series Screen Test with Paul & Amy for free! To listen to more Screen Test, just sign up for Stitcher Premium - you can go to stitcher.com/premium and use the promo code UNSPOOLED for one month free. In this holiday-themed episode, contestants Bill, Amanda and Alex attempt to say something nice about Cats, act out Arnold Schwarzenegger looking for a Baby Yoda toy, and pitch the next great Hanukkah movie. Learn more about your ad choices. ...
Dec 15, 2020•46 min
In this bonus episode, Paul & Amy complete the Unspooled Godfather trilogy by watching "The Godfather, Coda: The Death Of Michael Corleone," director Francis Ford Coppola's new edit of The Godfather Pt. III. They also talk to Talia Shire, star of "The Godfather" and "Rocky" franchises, about all things "The Godfather", how she reapproached the character of Connie Corleone and which film she would like to see blasted into space. You can join the conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://disco...
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Paul & Amy invite themselves over to 1967's Sidney Poitier "meet the parents" dramedy Guess Who's Coming To Dinner! They praise the movie's light touch with then-controversial social issues like interracial marriage, compare the film to early mainstream gay comedies like The Birdcage, and listen to a posthumous letter star Katharine Hepburn wrote to Spencer Tracy. Plus: Every sitcom with an episode title inspired by this film. This is the fifth episode in our Kinspooled series on “effed up f...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 45 min
Amy & Paul move back in with 2001's Wes Anderson family reunion piece The Royal Tenenbaums! They ask if Anderson is sneakily a great director of actors, posit that Ben Stiller is the true heart of the movie, and discuss whether the female Tenenbaums are well served by their storylines. Plus: Which other legendary actor was considered to play Royal Tenenbaum? This is the fourth episode in our Kinspooled series on “effed up families”; next week’s film is Guess Who's Coming To Dinner! Learn mor...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 39 min
Paul & Amy use their second sight on 1997's Creole family tragedy Eve's Bayou! They learn why director Kasi Lemmons cut a mute observer character from the film, compare the story to To Kill A Mockingbird, and praise the film's slippery relationship with truth and memory. Plus: A look at On Our Own, the Smollett family sitcom. This is the third episode in our Kinspooled series on “effed up families”; next week’s film is The Royal Tenenbaums! Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com follo...
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 37 min
Amy & Paul visit 1953's Japanese generational drama Tokyo Story! They discuss the unique, still-life-inspired style of director Yasujiro Ozu, learn how the film became regarded as a masterwork by future generations of directors, and ask if the children of the central characters are actually villainous or just human. Plus: Which novelty single was huge in America when Tokyo Story was in theaters? This is the second episode in our Kinspooled series on “effed up families”; next week’s film is E...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 14 min
Paul & Amy raise up 1987’s Coen Brothers kidnapping caper Raising Arizona! They track the secret references to other Coen projects, learn why they thought of a baby as an “emotional squib,” and ask why Hi and Ed are so lovable despite committing an awful crime. Plus: discovering Nic Cage’s thoughts on babies. Next week’s film is Tokyo Story! You can join the conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Check out Paul's Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Paul’s book ...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 20 min
Amy & Paul burst out of 1982's Antarctic John Carpenter sci-fi feature The Thing! They learn how the incredible special effects were literally dreamt up, praise Wilford Brimley's everyman appeal, and ask what relevance this story of paranoia and mistrust has in modern-day life. Plus: An excerpt from The Thing: The Musical. This is the final episode of our “Unghouled” horror miniseries; next week we kick off a series on "effed up families" with Raising Arizona! Learn more about the show at un...
Nov 05, 2020•1 hr 44 min
Paul & Amy sink their teeth into 1973's visionary vampire film Ganja & Hess! They learn how director Bill Gunn used the success of films like Blacula to get funding for his more experimental work, examine the parallels the film draws between Christianity and vampirism, and explore the role race plays in Gunn's vision. Plus: a look at how the critical reaction at the time shaped the film's legacy. This is the fourth episode of our “Unghouled” horror miniseries; next week’s film and the wi...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 31 min
Amy & Paul tear into 1968's seminal zombie horror Night Of The Living Dead! They learn about director George Romero's history making political advertisements, praise the way Romero makes you care about the characters he's killing off, and analyze how casting a black lead actor in Duane Jones changed the tenor and meaning of the film. Plus: Weighing in on the eternal question, can zombies run? This is the third episode of our “Unghouled” horror miniseries; next week’s film is Night Of The Liv...
Oct 22, 2020•1 hr 46 min
Amy & Paul reanimate 1931's literary creature feature Frankenstein! They learn Boris Karloff's real name, discuss what the film has to say about the human act of creation, and ask why "burgermaster" is no longer a public title. Plus: A quick look at the follow-up "Bride Of Frankenstein." This is the first episode of our "Unghouled" horror miniseries; next week's film is The Babadook! Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com , follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, ...
Oct 08, 2020•1 hr 29 min
Paul & Amy party with 1993's throwback high school ensemble comedy Dazed And Confused! They watch Matthew McConaughey's dazzling audition tape, learn the studio's original plan for the soundtrack, and ask if director Richard Linklater prioritizes the male POV in his films. Plus: We try to determine which high school film we've covered is most spaceship-worthy. This is the final episode of our “Back To School” miniseries; next week we kick off a new series about horror films with 1931's Frank...
Oct 01, 2020•1 hr 50 min
Amy & Paul say aloha to 1982's high school romp Fast Times At Ridgemont High! They learn about the real life inspiration for Spicoli from Sean Penn, take a close look at the film's unique treatment of teen sex, and wonder just what a trout dog is. Plus: director Amy Heckerling explains how she worked around the studio system to bring her vision to the film. This is the sixth episode of our “Back To School” miniseries; next week’s film is the winner of the fan vote for this series, Dazed And ...
Sep 24, 2020•1 hr 52 min
Paul & Amy pour one out for 1975's comic high school drama Cooley High! They learn how the film scored a soundtrack of wall-to-wall Motown hits, analyze the film's take on teenage hijinks, and praise Michael Schultz as one of the great underrated directors. Plus: Glynn Turman ("Preach") talks about the impact Cooley High had on his career. This is the fifth episode of our "Back To School" miniseries; next week’s film is Fast Times At Ridgemont High! Learn more about the show at unspooledpod....
Sep 17, 2020•1 hr 46 min
Amy & Paul are torn apart by 1955's landmark teen drama Rebel Without A Cause! They celebrate the instantly iconic performance of James Dean, learn about the wild backstory of director Nicholas Ray, and take a close look at the seismic generational shifts of the era. Plus: reflections on the recent passing of Chadwick Boseman. This is the fourth episode of our "Back To School" miniseries; next week’s film is Cooley High! Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com , follow us on Twitter @u...
Sep 10, 2020•1 hr 45 min
Paul & Amy raise hell for 1959's French New Wave adolescent drama The 400 Blows! They learn how François Truffaut went from a Hitchcock-worshipping critic to a director himself, discuss how he then became a major influence on directors like Steven Spielberg, and praise the value of creative limitations in creating truly fresh works of art. Plus: a scene from the unforgettable Sesame Street adaptation. This is the third episode of our "Back To School" miniseries; next week’s film is Rebel Wit...
Sep 03, 2020•1 hr 19 min
Amy & Paul stand for 1988's rousing math class drama Stand And Deliver! They ask if this is the first major 'indie' film, learn how Edward James Olmos crafted his commanding performance as Jaime Escalante, and investigate whether the real students depicted cheated on their exam. Plus: Lou Diamond Phillips explains how he got cast as Angel, and why poker requires top-notch math skills. This is the second episode of our "Back To School" miniseries; next week’s film is The 400 Blows! Learn more...
Aug 27, 2020•1 hr 40 min
Paul & Amy are obsessed with 2004's teenage clique comedy Mean Girls! They approach the film as a work of anthropology, praise Amanda Seyfried's perfectly dumb performance, and ask how this pre-social media movie became so heavily GIF'd. Plus: Mark Waters talks about how it feels to have directed a modern sleepover classic. This is the first episode of our first miniseries of Season 2, Back To School; next week’s film is Stand And Deliver! Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com , foll...
Aug 20, 2020•1 hr 38 min
Get ready for Unspooled: The New 100, beginning August 20th! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24, 2020•4 min
It's the end of Season 1...welcome to the AFI Thunderdome! Amy and Paul discover which movies from the AFI 100 surprised and stuck with Unspooled listeners the most, reveal their top 10 and bottom 10 films from the list (along with Producer Josh and Engineer Devon) and make some hard decisions regarding which films deserve to stay in the 100, and which should get cut. Stick around until the end for a big announcement about Season 2, which begins August 20th. Go to unspooledpod.com to see Paul &a...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 30 min
Paul & Amy will always have 1942's Humphrey Bogart WWII romance Casablanca! They learn the trick Bogart used to make himself a magnetic romantic lead, ask each other what their most used Casablanca quote is, and watch an alternate ending as imagined by The Simpsons. Plus: Ben Mankiewicz (TCM, The Plot Thickens) shares why he thinks Casablanca is a greatest-film-of-all-time contender. Join us next week as we say goodbye to the AFI list and tell you what we have in store for Season 2. In the m...
Jul 15, 2020•1 hr 54 min
Paul & Amy make a last stand for 1969’s mythic Western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! They praise the film’s use of montage, discuss how the unusually light tone sets it apart from other Westerns, and contemplate whether Steve McQueen could have played Sundance as well as Robert Redford. Plus: Author Thom Hatch (The Last Outlaws) tells us the stories of the real life Butch and Sundance he wishes made it into the film. You can join the conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg...
Jul 09, 2020•1 hr 37 min
Amy & Paul take a bite out of 1975's blockbuster Spielberg creature feature Jaws! They take a close listen to John Williams' iconic score, praise the way Spielberg adds emotional stakes to the story, and ask whether Jurassic Park does much of what Jaws does, but better. Plus: Hannah Medd, founder of the American Shark Conservancy, weighs in on whether dolphins are bigger jerks than sharks. Which AFI character do you think deserves their own thematic film festival, along the lines of Sundance...
Jul 01, 2020•1 hr 56 min
Paul & Amy piggyback onto 1934's Frank Capra romantic comedy It Happened One Night! They ask if this script fits the "screwball" mold, praise Claudette Colbert for subverting the cliches of the genre, and learn how Clark Gable inspired Bugs Bunny. Plus: which romantic comedies would Unspooled listeners add to the AFI list? Help make a campaign ad for (or against) the mayor in Jaws! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more i...
Jun 25, 2020•1 hr 38 min
Paul & Amy crank through 1936's mechanical Charlie Chaplin comedy Modern Times! They praise the film's ever-escalating setpieces, learn why Joseph Goebbels banned it in Germany, and ponder how much the working world has really changed since the 30s. Plus: We hear your recommendations for other silent films to add to the list. For It Happened One Night week, what other romantic comedies do you want to see on the AFI list? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer. Fol...
Jun 18, 2020•1 hr 26 min
Paul & Amy mosey into 1953's archetypal western Shane! They learn about star Alan Ladd's often tragic life, examine how director George Stevens made gun violence feel heightened, and play a referential clip from the X-Men film Logan. Plus: Digging into your thoughts and theories on Blade Runner. For Modern Times week, what silent film do you think needs to be on the AFI list? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at...
Jun 11, 2020•1 hr 30 min
Amy & Paul run through 1982's moody Ridley Scott dystopia Blade Runner! They listen to the infamous original voiceover, learn what inspired Philip K. Dick's source material, and yes, give their theories on whether Deckard is a replicant. Plus: Screenwriter David Peoples explains which pivotal scene makes the whole film work. Give us a more iconic cowboy name than "Shane"! Call it in to the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpo...
Jun 04, 2020•2 hr 7 min
Paul & Amy roll into 1951's Southern Gothic Tennessee Williams drama A Streetcar Named Desire! They compare the opposite physicality of Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh, analyze the buildup to Brando's famous scream, and listen to a montage of musical Streetcar references. Plus: Brian Lohmann from the Impro Theater discusses improvising in the style of Tennessee Williams. For Blade Runner week, give us your rendition of the "tears in rain” speech! Call it in to the Unspooled voicemail line at ...
May 28, 2020•1 hr 57 min
Amy and Paul cross 1957's David Lean WWII epic The Bridge On The River Kwai! They explore the career of star Sessue Hayakawa, ask why Lean's tyrannical methods pop up so often in the AFI 100, and compare the film to author Pierre Boulle's other famous work "Planet Of The Apes." Plus: responding to your comments on Goodfellas, and the passing of Fred Willard and Lynn Shelton. For Streetcar Named Desire week, scream your post-quarantine desires a la "Stella!" Call it in to the Unspooled voicemail ...
May 21, 2020•1 hr 34 min
Amy & Paul raise the roof for 1990's Kid N' Play comedy smash House Party! They, listen to the film's all-timer rap battle, look at how the Simpsons was influenced by hip-hop culture, and talk to the film's writer and director Reginald Hudlin, and star Christopher "Kid" Reid. (This episode originally aired live on YouTube as part of Unspooled's "Spool Party" series.) Next week get ready for the 1957 war epic "The Bridge On The River Kwai"! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at un...
May 14, 2020•1 hr 29 min
