Filmspotting - Movie Reviews
635 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 3.6K ratingsAdam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).
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Episodes
#819: Oscars Homework (Pieces of a Woman / U.S. vs Billie Holiday / My Octopus Teacher)
March 26, 2021 05:00 - 1 hourAdam and Josh skipped the harrowing PIECES OF A WOMAN last fall in the lead-up to end-of-year awards, but with star Vanessa Kirby nabbing an Oscar nomination last week, they couldn't put it off any longer. (At least one of them couldn't, anyway.) They did both play biopic bingo with the U.S. VS BILLIE HOLIDAY, a film which largely fails its talented star Andra Day, who also received a nomination. Plus thoughts on the Oscar-nominated docs MY OCTOPUS TEACHER and THE MOLE AGENT. 0:00 - Billboard...
#818: Network (7 From '76) / Oscar Nominations / Laura ('40s Noir #3)
March 19, 2021 05:00 - 1 hourA primal scream from the post-Watergate American malaise, NETWORK is a movie entirely of its time that manages to speak directly to ours. Adam and Josh continue their 7 From '76—Best Year Ever series with Sidney Lumet's Best Picture nominee, debating the effectiveness of Paddy Chayefksy's bracing, if occasionally overwritten, script and praising the extraordinary cast (which received five Oscar noms). Plus, Otto Preminger's LAURA, the third film in the '40s Noir Marathon; and Filmspotting Mad...
#817: Top 5 Movie Meals / WandaVision / The Truffle Hunters
March 12, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourInspired by the visually striking - and slyly funny - new documentary THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS, Adam and Josh consider the greatest meals they've ever seen on screen. Plus, Josh's thoughts on Marvel's recently-concluded WANDAVISION and the Sweet 16 round of Filmspotting Madness—Best of the '80s. 0:00 - Billboard 1:22 - "The Truffle Hunters" 7:23 - Top 5: Movie Meals 37:47 - Josh reviews: "WandaVision" 42:42 - Next Week / Notes 52:12 - Filmspotting Madness Sweet 16 1:10:27 - Top 5, cont. 1:32:41 - ...
#816: Taxi Driver (7 From '76) / This Gun for Hire ('40s Noir #2)
March 05, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourSet post-Vietnam in a Big Apple at its filthiest, Martin Scorsese's Best Picture-nominated TAXI DRIVER is very much of its time, but the film's troubled anti-hero, "God's lonely man" Travis Bickle, is a figure we've become all too used to—on social media, at political rallies, or storming the U.S. Capitol. Adam and Josh continue the 7 From '76—Best Year Ever series with a 45th-anniversary review. Plus, Rd. 2 of Filmspotting Madness and the second film in the '40s Noir Marathon, THIS GUN FOR H...
#815: Top 5 Anthony Hopkins Performances / The Father / Madness Rd. 1
February 26, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourA five-time Oscar nominee, Anthony Hopkins has played a Pope, a psychopath and the most loyal of butlers. He's also killed vampires, fought a bear and banished the God of Thunder from Asgard. In fact, there's little Hopkins hasn't done over his six decades of movie acting—and he's done it all with a rare combination of delicate subtlety and volcanic power. This week, Adam and Josh share their Top 5 Hopkins Performances, along with a review of THE FATHER, which features another career-best tur...
#814: The Silence of the Lambs (30th Ann.) / Madness Play-Ins
February 19, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourBased on Thomas Harris's grisly 1988 bestseller, Jonathan Demme's THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS was, on its February 1991 release, an immediate critical and box office success. It ran for eight months and went on to be nominated for seven Oscars, winning five—for Demme, Hopkins, Foster, screenwriter Ted Tally, and Best Picture. This week on the show, Adam and Josh dig into the technical sophistication - and the humanist touch - that Demme and company bring to the lurid material. Plus, Filmspotting...
#813: Judas and the Black Messiah / The Letter ('40s Noir #1)
February 12, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourThe new Fred Hampton biopic JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH gives as much time to the FBI informant (Lakeith Stanfield) who infiltrates his Black Panthers as it does to Hampton himself (Daniel Kaluuya). Adam and Josh debate the effectiveness of that decision, which recalls atypical biopics like “Amadeus,” “Hamilton” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Plus the first film in the six-part '40s Noir Marathon, William Wyler’s THE LETTER, with Bette Davis as a conniving murderer; and Josh anoints the new re...
#812: All The President's Men (7 From '76) / Malcolm & Marie
February 05, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourIt doesn't take the investigative powers of a Woodward or Bernstein to pick up on the giddiness that Adam and Josh bring to their review of ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, the first film in the 7 From '76—Best Year Ever series. Long a favorite of both hosts - and an early entry in the Filmspotting Pantheon - they revel in the opportunity to praise the film's unmatched acting ensemble and exquisite, if subtle, craft. Their good mood carries over to their review of the divisive MALCOLM & MARIE (new to...
#811: 2021 Movie Preview
January 29, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourAs goes Bond, so goes the rest of the movie year. With Bond 25 "No Time To Die" recently moving to October - along with several other high-profile spring '21 releases - the new movie year is getting off to a disappointing start. But with lots of holdovers from 2020 - "Dune"! "Maverick"! "Ghostbusters"! - and some very promising new titles on the horizon, it is, at the very least, an exciting year to contemplate. Adam and Josh preview 2021 with their Top 5 Movie Questions of the Year — and lay...
#810: Best Scenes of 2020 / Golden Brick Award
January 22, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourIt goes without saying that the best movies also have their share of great movie moments, so this year’s Wrap Party allows Adam and Josh to share more thoughts about some of their favorite 2020 films. But it also gives them a chance to celebrate memorable moments in movies that didn’t crack their Top 10s - like “Promising Young Woman,” “Da 5 Bloods,” “On The Rocks” and “Borat Subsequent Movie Film.” Plus the winner of the 2020 Golden Brick Award. Welcome to the party. “Silly Games” sing-a-lon...
#809: News of the World / Wonder Woman 1984
January 15, 2021 06:00 - 1 hourFor the first proper show of the new year, the Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips joins Josh for reviews of a couple of late-2020 releases: the Tom Hanks western NEWS OF THE WORLD and Patty Jenkins' WONDER WOMAN 1984. While Josh and Michael agree that neither film quite fulfills its potential, they both prove to be great fodder for debate. 0:00 - Billboard 1:27 - Review: "News of the World" 34:28 - Next Week/Notes 44:01 - Review: "Wonder Woman 1984" 54:40 - Outro Learn more about your ad cho...
#808: (Pt. 2) Top 10 Films of 2020
January 01, 2021 06:00 - 2 hoursAny other year that gave us new films from Kelly Reichardt and David Fincher, Sofia Coppola and Charlie Kaufman, two from Spike Lee and five from Steve McQueen, would have been considered a great one. Alas, 2020 will forever be remembered as The Worst Year Ever—that also happened to be a great year for some of our best filmmakers. The Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips and Tasha Robinson from Polygon and The Next Picture Show podcast re-join Adam and Josh for the second half of their conversa...
#807: (Pt. 1) Top 10 Films of 2020
December 25, 2020 06:00 - 1 hourTrue to the year that kept us apart, the Filmspotting Top 10 roundtable did not meet in its usual configuration in 2020. However, the Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips and Next Picture Show's Tasha Robinson do make an appearance sharing their 10-6 picks before Zoom-ing into the ether with promises to return next week offering their #1 picks. In a part one heavy on docs, Adam and Josh also make room for films from veteran filmmakers such as Charlie Kaufman and David Fincher, as well as newcom...
#806: Best Performances (and More) of 2020
December 18, 2020 06:00 - 1 hourWith the deadline looming for Adam and Josh to submit their ballots for the 2020 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, they turned their homework into this week's show, sharing their favorite performances of the year - including Carrie Coon's delicious turn in Sean Durkin's "The Nest" and the final film performance from Chadwick Boseman ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom") - along with picks for best editing, cinematography and more. 0:00 - Billboard 1:14 - Best Supp. / Editing / Cinematography 47...
#805: Top 5 Frances McDormand Performances / Nomadland
December 11, 2020 06:00 - 1 hourNo two Frances McDormand performances are alike, but they're all rooted in the actor's no-nonsense directness and fierce intelligence. From scene-stealing supporting turns to Oscar-winning lead performances, McDormand has been doing memorable - and frequently iconic - work since the '80s. With her latest performance - in Chloé Zhao's ("The Rider") soon to be released NOMADLAND - earning her yet more acclaim, Adam and Josh devote this week's show to a career-spanning consideration with their T...
#804: Mank / Ma Rainey's Black Bottom / Sound of Metal
December 04, 2020 06:00 - 1 hourDavid Fincher's big-screen exploration of Hollywood's "Golden Age" will, unfortunately, be a small-screen experience for most (it comes to Netflix this weekend), but Adam and Josh agree that MANK, his biopic about "Citizen Kane" scribe Herman Mankiewicz, still offers lots of pleasures, including Oldman's title performance and a stacked supporting cast. Another top-notch ensemble can be found in George C. Wolfe's adaptation of August Wilson's MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM, with an electrifying fina...
#803: 2020 Golden Brick Nominees / The Nest
November 27, 2020 06:00 - 1 hourPrevious winners of the Filmspotting Golden Brick Award - Sean Baker's "Tangerine," Bing Liu's "Minding the Gap," Anna Rose Holmer's "The Fits" - didn't just tell compelling stories; they told stories in vivid and surprising ways. It's what Adam and Josh have come to look for in a Brick nominee and it's a quality that all eleven of this year's nominees display—in ways as various as their styles and genres: a time-bending documentary, a retro sci-fi flick, a pair of intricately directed and ti...
#802: Stranger Than Paradise / Wolfwalkers / 8 From '84 Awards
November 20, 2020 06:00 - 1 hourThis year's 8 From '84 series - the sequel to last year's 9 From '99 - gave Adam and Josh a chance to revisit some nostalgic favorites ("Ghostbusters," "This is Spinal Tap," "Beverly Hills Cop"), fill in some blind spots (Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America," Coppola's "The Cotton Club") and complete a director's filmography (David Lynch's "Dune," check). This week, they wrap up the series with the film that launched the career of indie auteur Jim Jarmusch, STRANGER THAN PARADISE, and share ...
#802: Stranger Than Paradise (8 From '84) / Wolfwalkers / 8 From '84 Awards
November 20, 2020 06:00 - 1 hourThis year's 8 From '84 series - the sequel to last year's 9 From '99 - gave Adam and Josh a chance to revisit some nostalgic favorites ("Ghostbusters," "This is Spinal Tap," "Beverly Hills Cop"), fill in some blind spots (Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America," Coppola's "The Cotton Club") and complete a director's filmography (David Lynch's "Dune," check). This week, they wrap up the series with the film that launched the career of indie auteur Jim Jarmusch, STRANGER THAN PARADISE, and share ...
#801: Dune (8 From '84) / Twin Peaks Pilot (30th Anniv.)
November 13, 2020 06:00 - 1 hourDavid Lynch's '84 adaptation of Frank Herbert's DUNE ended the director's flirtation with mainstream Hollywood, but it remains a singular - and still Lynchian - vision. (And oh so spice-y.) Six years later, Lynch achieved cult legend status with the massively popular network TV series TWIN PEAKS. The movie-length pilot episode celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Thanks to ArmorLock for supporting Filmspotting. Go to Getarmorlock.com to learn more and purchase yours. 0:00 - Billboard 1:...
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#800: Fall Movie Preview / Daughters of the Dust (Overlooked Auteurs)
November 06, 2020 06:00 - 1 hourThe remaining months of the year won't have the same volume of buzzy festival pictures, star-studded Oscar bait or holiday blockbusters, but that doesn't mean there isn't lots to look forward to—if you know where to look. This week, Adam and Josh have their Top 5 Questions About the Fall(ish) Movie Season. Plus, the final film in the Overlooked Auteurs Marathon, Julie Dash's DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST, along with the Marathon-ending awards. 0:00 - Billboard 1:13 - Fall Movie Preview Andrew Bird, "...
#799: Top 5 High-Concept Horror / Bad Hair / The Wolf Of Snow Hollow
October 30, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourJustin Simien, director of 2014's "Dear White People," has followed up that campus-set comedy with another, much bloodier, satire: BAD HAIR (currently streaming on Hulu). The film - about image and ambition in late '80s L.A. - features a homicidal weave with a mind of its own, making it a great example of a high-concept plot. Josh shares his Top 5 High Concept-Horror Movies and Adam - going high-concept himself - shares the five high-concept horror movies he most wants to see. Listeners come ...
#798: On the Rocks / Borat 2 / Seven Beauties (Overlooked Auteurs)
October 23, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourIs there such a thing as too much Bill Murray? Seems like heresy to suggest such a thing, but it's a question Josh dares to ask during the review of Sofia Coppola's latest, ON THE ROCKS—a film Adam sees as a spiritual sequel to her Oscar-nominated breakout film, "Lost in Translation." Along with that, thoughts on the new BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM and the Sundance-winning doc TIME; plus, a split take on Lina Wertmüller's provocative 1975 film SEVEN BEAUTIES, part of the Overlooked Auteurs Mar...
#797: American Utopia / Trial of the Chicago 7 / Chicago Film Fest Preview
October 16, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourWith the pandemic forcing this year's Chicago International Film Festival (Oct. 14-25) to go almost all virtual, Adam and Josh's CIFF Preview will be a helpful guide to the fest wherever you happen to be. (More details about the fest lineup and how to purchase tickets here.) Also this week, reviews of David Byrne's AMERICAN UTOPIA, Aaron Sorkin's THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 and Cooper Raiff's SHITHOUSE. Plus, Josh watched HUBIE HALLOWEEN so you don't have to. 0:00 - Billboard 1:30 - Top 5: Chi...
#796: Top 5 Mozart Moments in Movies / Amadeus (8 From '84)
October 09, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourYou need music that's transcendent, soaring, or touched by God? Mozart is your man. This week, Adam and Josh share their Top 5 Mozart Movie Moments, featuring memorable deployments of the composer's music in films directed by Terrence Malick, Barry Jenkins, Ridley Scott and others. Plus, an 8 From '84 review of the Best Picture-winning AMADEUS, and Massacre Theatre goes to the opera house. 0:00 - Billboard 1:12 - Top 5: Mozart Movie Moments Andrew Wilkowske, "Deh, vieni alla finestra" ("Don G...
#795: Dick Johnson Is Dead / Wanda (Overlooked Auteurs #4)
October 02, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourWhen veteran documentary cinematographer Kirsten Johnson transitioned to directing with 2016's "Cameraperson," which was assembled from hundreds of hours of b-roll footage Johnson had shot over the years, it was unclear what a follow-up from her would look like. What we got - the new DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD - is a project both harrowing and whimsical: Johnson inviting her beloved father, showing early signs of dementia and failing health, to stage (and re-stage) his own death. Adam and Josh agre...
#794: Top 5 Landscapes as Characters w/Gregory Crewdson / Kajillionaire
September 25, 2020 05:00 - 2 hoursGregory Crewdson's large-scale, cinematic photos have been compared to the work of filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch. His latest exhibition - "An Eclipse of Moths" - is currently on display in L.A. Inspired by Crewdson's work, Adam and Josh - along with Crewdson himself - share their Top 5 Landscapes as Characters. Plus, thoughts on Miranda July's latest, KAJILLIONAIRE. 0:00 - Billboard 1:16 - Top 5: Landscapes as Characters The Flaming Lips, "At the Movies on Quaaludes" 51:...
#793: The Nest / Antebellum / Jeanne Dielman (Overlooked Auteurs #3)
September 18, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourWhen the tense marriage drama THE NEST debuted earlier this year at Sundance, there was understandable excitement about the return of director Sean Durkin, who hadn't directed a feature since 2011's "Martha Marcy May Marlene" (a Filmspotting Golden Brick nominee). Durkin doesn't disappoint in his return, giving his movie a pervasive sense of unsettling dread—but the real fireworks belong to stars Carrie Coon and Jude Law. In addition to that review, Josh recommends the divisive new horror thr...
#792: Top 5 Ennio Morricone Scores / Once Upon a Time in America (8 From '84)
September 11, 2020 05:00 - 2 hoursWhen Ennio Morricone passed away back in July at 91, Adam and Josh were quick to commit to a Top 5 Scores from the master film composer. From his early iconic work on Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns to Oscar-nominated collaborations with Terrence Malick, Brian De Palma and Quentin Tarantino, Morricone's best work reflects the astonishing breadth - and wild inventiveness - of his talent. Adam and Josh pair their Morricone Top 5 with 1984's ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, Leone's epic gangster t...
#791: Tenet / I'm Thinking of Ending Things / Feels Good Man
September 04, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourChristopher Nolan's TENET. The film that inspired our recent Nolan Oeuvre-view - the film that the entire movie theater industry has been resting its hopes on - was bound to disappoint some. Unfortunately, some of those disappointed moviegoers include Adam and Josh, who both found Nolan's film to be more style than substance. But there is considerable style, and its clever, if perplexing, time inversion plot offers a fascinating counter-point to Nolan's breakthrough "Memento." They also get a...
#790: Personal History of David Copperfield / Daisies (Overlooked Auteurs #2)
August 28, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourAdam and Josh have no disagreement about the charismatic powers of THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD star Dev Patel—but they do butt heads over the effectiveness of director Armando Iannucci's farcical and fast-paced take on the Dickens novel. That review, plus the second film in the Overlooked Auteurs Marathon: Czech New Wave pioneer Vera Chytilová's DAISIES, which has Adam and Josh competing to find the perfect way to describe the irreverent antics of the film's Marie I and II (Grou...
#789: Barbara Kopple / Ida Lupino + Maya Deren (Overlooked Auteurs #1)
August 21, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour"That's what I love doing more than anything: really getting to know people and let them tell their story." That's legendary documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple from her interview with Adam on this week's show. Kopple's latest doc - DESERT ONE - opens in limited release this weekend. Kopple talks about how she came to make a film about the failed 1980 mission to rescue American hostages in Iran—and humors Adam by letting him ask her questions about one of his favorite docs, 1977 Oscar-winner...
#788: She Dies Tomorrow / Boys State
August 14, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourWhile the world waits for the release of blockbusters like "Tenet" and "Mulan," smaller films continue to appear on the regular and on a variety of platforms. This week, Adam and Josh recommend a few of them: Amy Seimetz's SHE DIES TOMORROW, Beyoncé's BLACK IS KING, Kris Rey's I USED TO GO HERE and the Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winner BOYS STATE. 0:00 - Billboard 1:05 - Review: "She Dies Tomorrow" 29:22 - "She Dies Tomorrow" Spoilers Beyoncé, "BLACK PARADE" 37:48 - Next Week/Notes 49:33 - Mas...
#787: Dunkirk (Nolan #8) / Nolan Awards
July 31, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourBack in 2017, Christopher Nolan's DUNKIRK made both Adam and Josh's Top 10 of the year. (It was Josh's #1.) For this revisit - the final film in their Nolan "Oeuvre-view" - they praise the film's masterful technique and the way it offers a distillation of the director's obsessions—with time, professionalism, guilt and redemption. Plus, their Nolan Awards - "The Polaroids" - with Adam and Josh naming their favorite performances, scenes and 'Nolan moments' from the retrospective including their...
#786: Kelly Reichardt / First Cow
July 24, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourKelly Reichardt's FIRST COW opened in limited release in March—and less than two weeks later the COVID-19 pandemic shut theaters down. The film, which Adam and Josh both named the #1 movie of the year back in June, finally arrived on demand earlier this month. In their conversation with Reichardt, Adam and Josh ask the director about her relationship with nature (she's "not a camper") and about her choice to shoot in a 4:3 aspect ratio ("the most flattering ratio for closeups"). 0:00 - Billbo...
#785: Interstellar (Nolan #7) / Palm Springs / Relic
July 17, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourIn Christopher Nolan's INTERSTELLAR, Matthew McConaughey's Cooper battles the forces of quantum physics (and regular old physics) to save humanity. In the new existential romantic comedy PALM SPRINGS, Andy Samberg and Chritin Milioti have to navigate some quantum physics themselves (the Groundhog Day variety)—to save themselves and find some meaning in existence. Reviews of both films, plus Josh's recommendation of the new horror film RELIC. 0:00 - Billboard 1:07 - Nolan #7: "Interstellar" Th...
#784: Hamilton / The Old Guard / The Cotton Club (8 From '84)
July 10, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourThe biggest movie event of the summer isn't even a movie, but the debut - 18 months ahead of schedule - of Broadway phenomenon HAMILTON on Disney+. This week, Adam and Josh - both of whom saw the production on stage - talk about the groundbreaking musical's transition to the small screen. Plus, Adam recommends the new-to-Netflix THE OLD GUARD from director Gina Prince-Bythewood and an 8 From '84 review of Francis Ford Coppola's THE COTTON CLUB. 0:00 - Billboard 1:02 - Review: "Hamilton" 28:59...
#783: Top 5 Films of 2020 (So Far) / Inception (Nolan #6)
July 03, 2020 05:00 - 2 hoursIt's been an unusual year for movies – and for everything else – but there was great stuff to see if you knew where to look. This week, Adam and Josh share their Top 5 Films of 2020 (So Far), along with a 10th anniversary, split-take revisit of INCEPTION, the sixth film in the Christopher Nolan "Oeuvre-view." ("Adam, I love you," says Josh at one point, "but you have no idea what you're talking about.") 0:00 - Billboard 1:04 - Top 5 Films of 2020 So Far Phoebe Bridgers, "ICU" 47:35 - Listener...
#782: Jaws (45th Anniversary) / Power Ranking Spielberg
June 19, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourA blowhard anti-science mayor ignoring the threat of a murderous invisible menace because it threatens the economy? What could JAWS possibly have to offer us 45 years later? Adam and Josh give the Spielberg classic the Sacred Cow treatment. And they consider the director's nearly half-century of movie-making by Power Ranking the five decades of Spielberg's output. 0:00 - Billboard 1:04 - Review: "Jaws" at 45 Wyatt Waddell, "Fight" 41:29 - AK on "The King of Staten Island" 46:29 - Next Week / ...
Introducing Truth vs Hollywood
June 12, 2020 17:00 - 13 minutesIntroducing the newest Audioboom original podcast, Truth vs Hollywood. Join Film lovers David Chen and Joanna Robinson as they do a deep dive into well known films and discuss how similar they are to the actual story. Truth vs Hollywood premieres 6/12. Subscribe to Truth vs Hollywood on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#781: Da 5 Bloods / Top 5 Spike Lee Shots
June 12, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourWhile it's true that there's never a bad time for a new Spike Lee Joint, right now just happens to be an especially good time to be getting a new film from a master director who has spent the last three-and-a-half decades challenging us to consider the ways that racism defines American life. New to Netflix this weekend, Lee's DA 5 BLOODS doesn't disappoint. Adam and Josh debate the effectiveness of a key performance, and some of Lee's - always bold - aesthetic choices, but they agree that it'...
#780: Top 5 Movies That Educated Us About Racism
June 05, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourWhen a Minneapolis police officer killed unarmed black man George Floyd last week, protests broke out across the U.S. On this week's show, Adam and Josh – and Filmspotting listeners – reflect on how the movies helped them come to terms with the ways that racism shapes American life. 0:00 - Billboard 1:12 - Top 5: Movies That Educated Us About Racism John Boyega, "We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd" 34:57 - Next Week/Notes 44:03 - Top 5, cont. 1:08:46 - Outro LIN...
#779: The Prestige (Nolan #5) / Vast of Night / Painter and the Thief
May 29, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourMade between "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," Christopher Nolan's THE PRESTIGE was only a modest success back in 2006, but the twisty feuding magicians drama is, for some, one of the director's very best. In their spoiler-filled review, Adam and Josh agree that, if it's not his best, it's arguably the most Nolan movie. Plus, "Brickspotting" recommendations for the new VAST OF NIGHT and THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF. 0:00 - Billboard 1:06 - Nolan "Oeuvre-view" #5: "The Prestige" Melenas, "3 ...
#778: Top 5 Trip Series Scenes / Trip to Greece
May 22, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourWith Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon taking their fourth and final trip abroad with the new TRIP TO GREECE, Adam and Josh consider the series' most memorable reflections on mortality, family obligations, career insecurity—oh yeah, and all those hilarious impressions. Plus, thoughts on the late Lynn Shelton. 0:00 - Billboard 1:02 - Top 5: Trip Series Scenes Brett Shady, "Let Your Burden Be" 26:37 - RIP Lynn Shelton 36:01 - Next Week / Notes 43:46 - Polls 58:00 - Review: "The Trip to Greece" 1:06:3...
#777: The Dark Knight Trilogy (Nolan #4)
May 15, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourAfter scoring $2B and change at the box office and near-universal praise from audiences and critics, the only black mark on Christopher Nolan's DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY is its dubious influence on the superhero movies that followed in its wake. For the fourth installment of the Nolan "Oeuvre-view," Adam and Josh revisit the trilogy, starting with a 15th anniversary consideration of "Batman Begins." Plus, Massacre Theatre and a new Golden Brick nominee: Lara Gallagher's "Clementine." 0:00 - Billboa...
#776: Ghostbusters v Gremlins (8 From '84) / Bette Davis #4 - Now, Voyager
May 08, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourBack in '84, GHOSTBUSTERS was a bigger hit than GREMLINS (#2 and #4 at the box office, respectively), and it's got the more memorable cast—and quotes ("dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!"); but is it the more interesting film? Adam and Josh agree that Joe Dante's darkly funny creature feature works as a clever satire of consumerism and American exceptionalism, disagreeing only over the movie's aesthetic, which Adam at one point refers to as "rinky dink." (Josh is having none of it....
#775: Top 5 Moviegoing Experiences
May 01, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourWith movie theaters shuttered and many of us housebound, Adam and Josh look back over a lifetime of going to the movies with their Top 5 Moviegoing Experiences—from big screen introductions to Han and Indy to formative encounters with the works of Spike Lee, Tarantino and the Coen Brothers. Listeners, too, contribute their own favorite moviegoing memories. 0:00 - Billboard 1:00 - Top 5: Moviegoing Experiences The Drifters, "Saturday Night at the Movies" 46:17 - Next Week/Notes 52:34 - Massacr...
#774: Insomnia (Nolan #3) / Blow the Man Down / True History of the Kelly Gang
April 24, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourExpectations were high back in 2002 for Christopher Nolan's INSOMNIA, the follow-up to his mind-bending breakthrough "Memento." But despite solid reviews and decent box office, the film has been largely forgotten by Nolan fans—including Adam and Josh. They revisit the director's third feature this week as part of their Nolan Oeuvre-view, finding a film with lots of familiar Nolan touches—and a somewhat divisive lead performance by Al Pacino. Plus, reviews of three new films: Justin Kurzel's T...
#774: Nolan #3 - Insomnia / Blow the Man Down / True History of the Kelly Gang
April 24, 2020 05:00 - 1 hourExpectations were high back in 2002 for Christopher Nolan's INSOMNIA, the follow-up to his mind-bending breakthrough "Memento." But despite solid reviews and decent box office, the film has been largely forgotten by Nolan fans—including Adam and Josh. They revisit the director's third feature this week as part of their Nolan Oeuvre-view, finding a film with lots of familiar Nolan touches—and a somewhat divisive lead performance by Al Pacino. Plus, reviews of three new films: Justin Kurzel's T...