Filmspotting - Movie Reviews
635 episodes - English - Latest episode: 23 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
New Argentine Cinema #1 - Extraordinary Stories
August 16, 2017 21:00 - 26 minutesAdam and Josh kick off their New Argentine Cinema Marathon with Mariano Llinas's epic and intricately plotted 2008 film that's as much about storytelling as it is an achievement in storytelling itself. At over four hours and featuring dozens of characters, Llinas maintains incredible control over his unwieldy beast of a movie. This episode is presented by MUBI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
FS Revisited: Reservoir Dogs / Top 5 Films of 1992
August 11, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourWhen RESERVOIR DOGS came out 25 years ago, Adam and Josh were movie geek teenagers. They were bound by their DNA to love it. But Does Quentin Tarantino’s debut still hold up? In this 2015 episode of the show, they reacquaint themselves with Mr. Blonde, Mr. Pink and the rest of the gang for a Sacred Cow review of DOGS, plus share their Top 5 Films of 1992. 0:00-1:32 - Billboard 1:32-40:58 - Sacred Cow: "Reservoir Dogs" Sandy Rogers, "Fool for Love" 41:47-1:17:42 - Top 5: Films of 1992 1:17:42-...
#644: Detroit / Top 5 Films of 1967
August 04, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourIn "The Hurt Locker" and "Zero Dark Thirty," Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow explored the complexities of post-9/11 warfare. For her latest - DETROIT - she stays stateside but finds herself in another war zone. Looking back five decades to the summer of 1967, Bigelow's film documents the racial tensions and police violence that exploded into the Detroit riots. A review of DETROIT, plus news on a new Filmspotting Marathon and Adam and Josh share their Top 5 films of the landmark film ye...
#643: Valerian / Top 5 Alien Worlds
July 28, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourYou might be able to figure out your tolerance for the new VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS by the title alone. Got a soft spot for Flash Gordon and hallucinogenic drugs? This one might be for you. Directed by Luc Besson, the ambitious French filmmaker behind "The Fifth Element" and 2014's "Lucy," VALERIAN is the most expensive film ever made in France. The good news: the money is up there on the screen for all to see (for better and for worse). Don't know about hallucinogenic drug...
#642: Dunkirk / Top 5 Films of 2017 (So Far) / War For The Planet of the Apes
July 21, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourChristopher Nolan films are many things, but they are rarely straightforward (or short). So DUNKIRK - based on the legendary WWII rescue effort - comes as something of a surprise. Clocking in at a tidy hour 49 minutes, Nolan's latest is a lean, (sort of) old-fashioned war picture. Still vibrating from Hans Zimmer's score, Adam and Josh share their post-screening thoughts on the film and - live from a small town Wisconsin bookstore - reveal their Top 5 Films of 2017 (So Far). Plus, Josh's take...
#641: Spider-Man: Homecoming / Baby Driver / A Ghost Story
July 14, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourSpidey’s back. Again. After suffering through a disappointing reboot in 2012 (and its 2014 sequel), the webslinger returns - this time under the guidance of Tony Stark. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING finds Peter Parker in his natural habitat: high school - mostly to its benefit. Adam and Josh offer their review, plus some contrarian thoughts on Edgar Wright's BABY DRIVER and raves for David Lowery’s Sundance hit A GHOST STORY. 0:00-4:30 - Billboard / Donations 4:30-31:17 - Review: "A Ghost Story" Joh...
#640: The Beguiled / Top 5 Sofia Coppola Scenes
June 30, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourAlmost 15 years after its release, "Lost in Translation" remains Sofia Coppola’s best-known and best-loved film. But with the four films she's made since then, she's compiled one of the most distinctive filmographies of the 21st century. THE BEGUILED is a very Coppola remake of the 1971 Don Siegel/Clint Eastwood collaboration set during the Civil War at a Virginia girls' school. It stars Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning, Colin Farrell and Coppola regular Kirsten Dunst, and it won Coppola the Best ...
Kumail Nanjiani ("The Big Sick")
June 23, 2017 05:00 - 47 minutesKumail Nanjiani may be a familiar face to fans of HBO’s "Silicon Valley" or "Portlandia," but the very funny and surprisingly moving THE BIG SICK should make him a familiar face to many more. The film - co-written with Nanjiani's wife Emily V. Gordon - tells the story of their unusual courtship, which, along with family tensions and cultural differences, also included a life-threatening illness that struck Gordon while the two were dating. Nanjiani talks about the art of co-writing a screenp...
Ana Lily Amirpour ("The Bad Batch")
June 21, 2017 07:00 - 33 minutesAna Lily Amirpour got lots of attention for her 2014 Iran-set vampire movie "A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night." She's back this year with "The Bad Batch," a Sergio Leone-inspired western with cannibals and a double-amputee for a protagonist (Suki Waterhouse). The new movie features a cast that includes Jim Carrey, Keanu Reeves and Jason Momoa. Adam and Amirpour talk the relativity of badness, the consequences of seeing inappropriate movies at an early age and their favorite Keanu performances...
#639: It Comes At Night / Top 5 Movies About Grief
June 16, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourWriter/director Trey Edward Shults knocked a lot of us out last year with his indie debut KRISHA. This year, he comes to the multiplex with IT COMES AT NIGHT, an unnerving - and unconventional - horror film that has impressed critics and frustrated some audiences. Shults’ film is as much about loss as it is about scares, so along with a review of his film, Adam and guest host Michael Phillips share their Top 5 Movies About Grief. Plus thoughts on the late Glenne Headley and Adam's recommendat...
#638: Wonder Woman / Top 5 Movie Religious Experiences / Trey Shults
June 09, 2017 07:00 - 2 hoursAs the first superhero movie directed by and starring a woman, WONDER WOMAN went into its opening weekend with more baggage than its male-centric peers. It came out of the weekend with critical raves and record box office - and at least one member of the Larsen household practicing Diana-inspired high-kicks. On this week's show, Adam and Josh - bound by the Lasso of Hestia - share their takes, then confess their Top 5 Movie Religious Experiences. Plus, Adam's conversation with "Krisha" direct...
#637: War Machine / Top 5 Movie Military Leaders
June 02, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourInspired by Gen. Stanley McChrystal's dramatic fall from grace in 2010 following an unflattering Rolling Stone profile, the new WAR MACHINE from Netflix puts a scowling Brad Pitt in McChrystal's boots for its Afghanistan-set satire. Despite an impressive ensemble cast, Adam and Josh agree that the film has a challenging time finding the right tone. But they also agree that a trio of actors best known for iconic work in the '80s make the most of their screen time. That review, plus the Top 5 M...
#636: Top 5 Films of 1984 / The Terminator
May 26, 2017 05:00 - 1 hour1984 was a banner year for crane kicks, mogwais and bustin' ghosts, but it also saw the debut of Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800, better known as THE TERMINATOR. Adam and Josh give James Cameron's seminal sci-fi thriller the Sacred Cow treatment, resulting in a surprisingly heated review. Plus, the Top 5 Films of 1984. 0:00-1:35 - Billboard 2:21-35:28 - Sacred Cow: "The Terminator" The Ramones, "Too Tough To Die" 37:07-55:28 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 55:28-1:01:43 - Listener Feedback Kenny Lo...
#635: Alien: Covenant / Top 5 Alien Attacks
May 19, 2017 07:00 - 1 hourAnticipation was high back in 2012 when director Ridley Scott returned to the "Alien" franchise with “Prometheus.” Despite a somewhat mixed response from audiences and critics, the 79-year-old Scott finds himself back aboard a doomed spacecraft with ALIEN: COVENANT. The return of the xenomorphs to the big screen is also the inspiration for this week’s Top 5: Alien Attacks. 0:00-2:28 - Billboard 2:28-33:12 - Review: "Alien: Covenant" Deep Purple, "Space Truckin'" 36:29-59:17 - Notes 59:17-1:...
#634: Top 5 Jonathan Demme Moments / Something Wild
May 12, 2017 06:00 - 1 hourWhen the great Jonathan Demme passed away in April, he left behind one of the most acclaimed and diverse filmographies in American cinema. Demme will always be remembered for the Oscar-winning "Silence of the Lambs," but his 1986 cult road trip comedy SOMETHING WILD may be an even better representative of what made him so special. This week, Adam and Josh catch up with that Demme blindspot and – with a little help from some friends – share their Top 5 Jonathan Demme Moments. 0:00-4:42 - ...
Varda Marathon #6: The Beaches of Agnes / "The Cleos"
May 11, 2017 05:00 - 39 minutesAdam and Josh wrap up their Agnes Varda Marathon with a conversation about the director's cinema- and life-affirming 2008 memoir THE BEACHES OF AGNES, followed by "The Cleos" - their awards for the series' best performances, scenes, picture and more. 0:00-17:23 - Review: "The Beaches of Agnes" 17:23-38:07 - The Cleos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#633: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 / Summer Movie Preview
May 05, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourSummer used to have a monopoly on superheroes, fast cars and stuff you bring your kids to, but "Beauty and the Beast," "Fate of the Furious" and "Logan" have already come and made their millions. So what do we have to look forward to when we need to escape the heat? Well, first up, it's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2. Adam and Josh review the James Gunn-directed sequel, and preview their most anticipated movies of the season with their Top 5 Summer Movie Questions. 0:00-2:01 - Billboard 2:01-...
#632: Top 5 Movie Expeditions (We'd Sign Up For) / The Lost City of Z
April 28, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourThe movies have taken us on great adventures over the years, both real and imagined: through the deepest jungle, across perilous oceans, to distant planets - and beyond. But which of those cinematic adventures would you actually participate in if given the chance? This week, the Top 5 Movie Expeditions Adam and Josh would sign up for, along with their review of James Gray’s new movie adventure THE LOST CITY OF Z. Plus, Steve Prokopy drops by to preview the Chicago Critics Film Festival. 0:00-...
Varda Marathon #5: The Gleaners and I
April 27, 2017 03:00 - 22 minutesFrench New Wave pioneer Agnes Varda has long displayed a curiosity about people who live on society's fringes. In her 2000 doc "The Gleaners and I," the director focuses her camera on communities (and some memorably eccentric individuals) that belong to the French tradition of gathering up what's left behind after a harvest. Documenting the various gleaners, pickers and dumpster-divers becomes a meditation on the creative process itself as Varda becomes a subject of her own film. On Filmspott...
#631: The Fate of the Furious / Top 5 Fast & Furious Moments
April 21, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourJust how big a deal is the "Furious" franchise? The 8th film in the street-racing saga managed to break an opening weekend box office record previously held by "The Force Awakens." So yeah: it’s big. So big, we're devoting the whole show to Alpha Dom and his ever-expanding crew. The Next Picture Show's Tasha Robinson and Genevieve Koski join Adam for a review of THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS, plus a replay of Adam and Josh's Top 5 Fast & Furious Moments from 2015. 0:00-1:43 - Billboard 1:43-33:25 ...
#630: Rushmore / FS Madness Champ / Charlie Siskel (American Anarchist) Interview
April 14, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourWes Anderson’s RUSHMORE was a minor indie hit during its initial run starting in late 1998, but it marked the arrival of a significant new directing talent, and established a brilliant new stage of Bill Murray’s career. Adam and Josh – who joins the show from Ebert Interruptus in Boulder, CO - give Anderson's film the Sacred Cow treatment and unveil your 2017 Filmspotting Madness champion. Also, Adam's interview with Charlie Siskel, co-director the Oscar-nominated "Finding Vivian Maier" and d...
#629: The Discovery / FS Madness Final / Varda #4 - Vagabond
April 06, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourIn 2014, first-time writer/director Charlie McDowell made a big impression (on Adam, anyway) with THE ONE I LOVE, a movie about a troubled marriage with surreal, Charlie Kaufman-esque flourishes. McDowell’s follow up - THE DISCOVERY, which stars Rooney Mara, Jason Segel and Robert Redford, also has a provocative sci-fi premise, this one about the consequences of scientists proving the existence of an afterlife. The film debuted to some acclaim this January at Sundance and is now being distrib...
#628 with Michael Phillips: Casablanca / FS Madness Final Four
March 30, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourCASABLANCA is one of the most enduring and beloved films of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Three-quarters of a century after its 1942 release, its famous lines, songs and faces have retained their power. But what does the film itself have to offer 21st-century audiences? (Spoiler: quite a lot actually.) In honor of its 75th anniversary, Adam, guest host Michael Phillips and film professor Katharine Fusco revisit the WWII-era classic with a Sacred Cow review. Plus, Michael mocks and then kinda sorta ...
#627: Top 5 Kristen Stewart Scenes / FS Madness / Varda #3 - One Sings, The Other Doesn't
March 23, 2017 05:00 - 1 hourKristen Stewart went from child actress to reticent star of the hugely successful TWILIGHT series to… well, we’ll see. But with strong work in a couple of notable indies and European films recently, her cult of fans is expanding. With Stewart's latest Oliver Assayas collaboration (PERSONAL SHOPPER) now in limited release, Adam and Josh devote this week’s Top 5 to a few of the actress's best moments on screen, plus a conversation with director Stephen Cone about his powerful response to "Shopp...
#626 with Danny Boyle: Top 5 Boyle Characters / FS Madness / Varda #2 - The Creatures
March 16, 2017 05:00 - 2 hoursTRAINSPOTTING wasn't a huge hit in its day, but the 1996 film made an impression on a generation of young film fans thanks to its visual flair, memorable soundtrack and quartet of talented stars. That quartet - lead by Ewan McGregor - is making a surprise comeback 20 years later with the release of T2 TRAINSPOTTING. Also back: director Danny Boyle. This week on the show, Boyle sits down with Adam to talk about how he approached the sequel, and contributes his own Top 5 Danny Boyle Characters....
#625: Logan / Filmspotting Madness / Varda #1 - La Pointe Courte
March 09, 2017 06:00 - 1 hourThe tale of the once-great gunslinger forced out of retirement for one more job is a familiar one, but not one we’ve seen adopted by the superhero genre – until now. Marvel’s LOGAN is one part “Shane,” one part “Unforgiven," and if last weekend’s box office is any indication, we may see more like it. Adam and Josh share their mixed review, plus Round 1 results from Filmspotting Madness and the first film in the Agnes Varda Marathon - 1955's LA POINTE COURTE. 0:00-2:12 - Billboard 3:54-27:59 -...
#624: Get Out / Filmspotting Madness / Top 5 Pantheon Contenders
March 02, 2017 06:00 - 2 hoursWho needs to be told how great The Godfather is? Or Citizen Kane? Or, um... Midnight Run? That was the logic back in the early days of the show - in 2005 - when Adam and original co-host/current producer/Midnight Run-lover Sam established the Filmspotting Pantheon: an eccentric mix of movie greats and personal favorites. For the show’s 12th anniversary, Adam and Josh dust off the Pantheon for Filmspotting Madness - a month-long tournament that will leave only one film reigning supreme. That, ...
Buñuel #6 - That Obscure Object of Desire / Buñuel Awards
March 01, 2017 18:00 - 26 minutesLuis Bunuel's puckish sensibility did not fail him in his old age. For the director's final film - 1977's THAT OBSCURE OBJECT OF DESIRE (made when he was 80) - Bunuel famously cast two actresses in the same role. The conceit allows him to explore some of his favorite themes - obsession, repression, desire, hypocrisy. It's also one of his funniest films. Adam and Josh have that review and wrap-up the marathon with 'Those Obscure Objects of Desire' - the Bunuel Marathon Awards. It's Catherine D...
#623: 2017 Oscar Picks with Michael Phillips
February 24, 2017 06:00 - 1 hourThis year’s Oscar ceremony is bound to get political, but how might Oscar voters send a message with their ballots? Adam and guest host Michael Phillips try to stay above the political fray during their Oscar preview special: who will win, who should win - and who got snubbed. Plus, Massacre Theatre and Michael shares some thoughts on Jordan Peele's GET OUT. 0:00-2:08 - Billboard3:33-29:35 - Oscar PicksGlen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, "Falling Slowly"32:23-47:33 - Notes / Massacre Theatre47:...
#622: John Wick / John Wick: Chapter 2 / Lego Batman Movie
February 17, 2017 06:00 - 1 hourWhen the Keanu Reeves revenge tale JOHN WICK opened back in 2014, it made a modest $80 million at the box office. But in the couple years since it has acquired something almost as valuable as money: cult status. That cult fervor was rewarded with a sequel: JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2, with Reeves battling some of the world's deadliest killers. We dig into the Wick phenomenon with reviews of both the original and the new entry, plus thoughts on THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE. 0:00-2:39 - Billboard 2:39-36:29...
#621: Top 5 Political Resistance Movies / The Battle of Algiers / Buñuel #5 - Tristana
February 10, 2017 06:00 - 1 hourWith the opening weeks of the new administration marked by political protest, Adam and Josh invite critic Michael Sicinski to share his Top 5 Political Resistance Movies. Plus, they cross off a major shared blind spot – the seminal resistance film THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS (1966) – and discuss the next film in their Luis Bunuel Marathon, TRISTANA. 0:00-3:54 - Billboard 3:54-39:29 - Top 5: Political Resistance Movies Souad Massi, "Bima el'taaloul" 40:30-52:56 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 52:56-1:12:...
#620: 2017 Movie Preview / Oscar Talk / Buñuel #4 - Diary of a Chambermaid
February 03, 2017 06:00 - 2 hoursThe short version of Filmspotting's 2017 Movie Preview is easy: it starts with "Last" and ends with "Jedi." For a longer take, listen to this week's show, as Adam and Josh pose their top 5 questions about the new movie year. Plus, a little Oscar talk and Josh's recap of his time at the Sundance Film Festival. 0:00-1:41 - Billboard 1:41-30:18 - 2017 Movie Preview Japandroids, "Near To The Wild Heart Of Life" 31:35-44:59 - Notes / Oscars Nominations 44:59-59:24 - Sundance Recap Japandroids, "...
FS Revisited: Barry Jenkins & Naomie Harris / La La Land
January 27, 2017 07:00 - 1 hourWith it's 14 Oscar nominations, the 2017 Best Picture Oscar seems LA LA LAND’s to lose. In the role of spoiler? The critically adored MOONLIGHT, director Barry Jenkins’ poetic and moving coming of age tale set in 1980s Miami. This week on the show, revisit Adam's conversation with Jenkins and Naomie Harris, one of the film’s Oscar-nominated stars. Plus, the December review of LA LA LAND. (And stick around post-credits for some ARRIVAL spoiler talk.) 0:00-1:46 - Billboard 3:36-26:55 - Intervie...
#619: 2016 Wrap Party Live (Scenes of the Year)
January 20, 2017 06:00 - 1 hourFor Filmspotting's annual year-end Wrap Party, Adam, Josh and some very special guests set up camp on Chicago's South Side for a live show dedicated to some of the most memorable movie moments of 2016. Michael Phillips, Tasha Robinson and more share their favorite scenes of the year, plus live Massacre Theatre and the winner of the 2016 Golden Brick. 0:00-1:00 - Billboard 1:00-16:27 - Intro / Opening Scene 16:27-46:34 - Funniest Scene / Music Moment 47:10-54:44 - Notes / Massacre Theatre 54:...
#618: Paterson / Fences / Top 5 Denzel Performances (Revisited)
January 06, 2017 06:00 - 1 hourThe Filmspotting New Year's 'Fix' show has featured some memorable battles over the years (2015's "Wolf of Wall Street" v "American Hustle"; 2016's "Hateful Eight" v "The Revenant"), but the 2017 edition is a friendlier affair, with positive reviews of recent releases from Jim Jarmusch (PATERSON) and Denzel Washington (FENCES). Plus, we revisit of one of the highlights of 2016 - comedian/activist W. Kamau Bell's Top 5 Denzel Washinton Performances. 0:00-2:36 - Billboard 2:36-54:22 - "Paterso...
#617: Top 10 Films of 2016 (Pt. 2)
December 30, 2016 06:00 - 2 hours2016 was a tough year. We lost icons like Prince, David Bowie and just days ago Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. And how about that not-divisive-at-all campaign season? So we’re due for a little silver lining. This week, with The Next Picture Show's Scott Tobias and Genevieve Koski, Adam and Josh celebrate the good that 2016 brought us with part two of the Top 10 Films of 2016 countdown. 0:00-1:08 - Billboard 1:08-1:03:55 - Top 10 of 2016: #5-3 "The Middle of the World," Moonlight 1:05:27-1...
#616: Top 10 Films of 2016 (Pt. 1)
December 23, 2016 06:00 - 2 hoursA lot of usual suspects at the top of the box office charts in 2016: Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Disney and Harry Potter. And a lot of those movies? Not bad actually. But what are the year’s great films? The Next Picture Show's Scott Tobias and Genevieve Koski join Adam and Josh for part one of the Top 10 Films of 2016 Roundtable. 0:00-1:17 - Billboard 1:17-48:03 - Top 10 of 2016: #10-9 "Heptapod B," Arrival 48:56-1:51:54 - Top 10 of 2016: #8-6 1:51:54-1:55:51 - Close Learn more about your ad c...
#615: Rogue One / 2016's Best Performances and More
December 16, 2016 06:00 - 1 hourThere’s no such thing as a small Star Wars movie, but without a roman numeral anywhere in its title the new ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY promises something different. But does it deliver on that promise? This week, a review of the season's most anticipated movie. Plus - ahead of next week's Top 10 of the year roundtable - Adam and Josh throw an old school year-end blowout, sharing their favorite 2016 performances, documentaries, music and more. 0:00-1:11 - Billboard 1:11-25:11 - Review "Rogue...
#614: La La Land / Top 5 Musical Numbers / Golden Brick Finalists
December 09, 2016 06:00 - 1 hourIt says something about the contemporary movie landscape that the prospect of a new live-action movie musical is as much of a curiosity as the high-profile appearance of a silent film back in 2011. Of course that 2011 silent - THE ARTIST - went on to win a Best Picture Oscar, which may bode well for director Damien Chazelle’s LA LA LAND, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. A review of LA LA LAND, plus Michael Phillips and guest Desiree Garcia (star of Chazelle's "Guy and Madeline on a Park ...
#613: The Edge of Seventeen / Top 5 Teen Girl Movies Directed By Women with Marya E. Gates
December 02, 2016 06:00 - 1 hourIn most teen coming of age movies, it’s usually the boys who do the coming of age. But in THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN, the focus is squarely on the girls. First-time feature director Kelly Fremon Craig’s film has been praised by critics, but mostly ignored by audiences. Adam and Josh share some praise of their own and TCM's Marya E. Gates calls in to share her picks for the Top 5 Teen Girl Movies Directed by Women. Plus: some post-credits ARRIVAL spoiler talk. 0:00-1:23 - Billboard 1:23-30:49 - R...
#612: Top 5 Movies That Console and Restore Hope / Live at Chicago Podcast Festival
November 23, 2016 19:00 - 1 hourMovies can entertain us, transport us and move us, but can they heal us? That’s the question Adam, Josh and Michael Phillips wrestled with as they considered titles for their Top 5 Movies that Console and Restore Hope. That Top 5 and more recorded live at Schubas Tavern as part of the first annual Chicago Podcast Festival. 0:00-0:55 - Billboard 0:55-25:06 - Top 5: Movies That Console and Restore Hope Music: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, "I'm Still Here" 26:38-1:03:09 - Top 5, cont. 1:03:09-1:...
2016 Golden Brick Preview Special
November 18, 2016 06:00 - 1 hourWith Thanksgiving approaching, Adam and Josh give a shout out to some of the year's best overlooked movies. Along with the shortlist for the 2016 Golden Brick Award (many of which are available to rent or stream), hear replays of Adam's interview with THE WITNESS director James Solomon and July's review of THE FITS. 0:00-1;11 - Billboard 1:11-28:39 - Review: "The Fits" Music: Glen Phillips, "Grief and Praise" 29:42-44:13 - Golden Brick Shortlist 44:13-45:36 - Interview: James Solomon 1:18:10-...
#611: Loving / Arrival / Hacksaw Ridge
November 11, 2016 06:00 - 1 hourAliens come to movie screens in a few different ways. Sometimes they come in peace; sometimes they come to destroy; and sometimes… well sometimes they just come. In ARRIVAL, the new sci-fi film from SICARIO director Denis Villeneuve, they do just come - and it’s up to Amy Adams' language specialist to figure out why. On this week's show, Josh and guest host Michael Phillips have a review. Plus, thoughts on Jeff Nichols’ LOVING and Mel Gibson's HACKSAW RIDGE. 0:00-1:48 - Billboard 1:48-23:43 -...
#610: Barry Jenkins and Naomie Harris (Moonlight) / Doctor Strange / Tower / Bunuel Marathon #3
November 04, 2016 05:00 - 1 hourDirector Barry Jenkins and playwright Tarell McCraney grew up in the same neighborhood in 1980s-era Miami. MOONLIGHT, based on an autobiographical story by McCraney, brought Jenkins back to his roots. And that return to his home turf has paid off: MOONLIGHT has been the toast of the festival circuit all this fall. This week, Adam's interview with Jenkins and actress Naomie Harris. Plus, quick reviews of two more new releases - Marvel's DOCTOR STRANGE and TOWER, a newly minted Golden Brick nom...
#609: Top 5 Childhood Movie Scares with Ti West / A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
October 28, 2016 05:00 - 1 hourThe clown under the bed. The shadow on the other side of the shower curtain. The elevator filled with blood. Scary movies make an impression - and never more so than when you’re a kid. This week on the show, Adam and Josh tap into their own earliest fears for this week’s Top 5: Childhood Movie Scares with special guest Ti West ("House of the Devil" "In a Valley of Violence"). Plus, a Sacred Cow review of 1984’s NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. 0:00-1:08 - Billboard 1:08-28:50 - Sacred Cow: "Nightmare...
#608: Kelly Reichardt (Certain Women) / CIFF Roundup / Buñuel Marathon #2
October 21, 2016 05:00 - 1 hourFor certain film lovers, a new Kelly Reichardt film is an event. Spare and deliberately paced movies like WENDY AND LUCY and MEEK’S CUTOFF are treasured for their detail and observation - and for their focus on the lives of women. Reichardt’s latest - CERTAIN WOMEN - continues in that tradition, with a trio of loosely connected stories starring Laura Dern, Michelle Williams and Kristen Stewart. This week, a review of WOMEN, plus Adam's interview with Reichardt and the third film in the Luis B...
#607: Conversation with Steve James
October 14, 2016 05:00 - 1 hourBack in June, IDA and Chicago's Kartemquin Films invited Adam to host a career-spanning conversation with documentary filmmaker Steve James ("Hoop Dreams," "The Interrupters"). This excerpt from that talk covers James' early life growing up in Hampton, VA, and his films STEVIE (2002) and AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR (2008), plus the James-produced PBS series about immigration THE NEW AMERICANS (2004). 0:00-1:11 - Billboard 1:11-25:24 - Interview: Steve James Shovels & Rope, "The Last Hawk" 26:22...
#606: The Birth of a Nation / Chicago Film Festival Preview
October 07, 2016 05:00 - 1 hourDirector Nate Parker came out of Sundance in January with an award-winning debut film and talk of being an Oscar front-runner. Things got more complicated over the summer when revelations about Parker’s past turned attention away from the film and onto him. Parker’s film THE BIRTH OF A NATION, about Nat Turner’s 1831 slave rebellion, opens this weekend. Adam and Josh have a review. Plus, their most anticipated titles playing this year's Chicago International Film Festival (Oct 13-27). 0:00-1:...
#605: Top 5 Denzel Performances with W. Kamau Bell / The Magnificent Seven / Buñuel Marathon #1
September 30, 2016 07:00 - 1 hourDenzel Washington has been nominated for an Oscar in every decade since the ‘80s. He’s been a consistently bankable star for just about that long, too. And yet, do we still take Denzel for granted? With Washington’s THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN remake currently in theaters, special guest W. Kamau Bell joins Adam and Josh to look back on the actor’s career with the Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances. Plus, the first pair of films in the latest Filmspotting Marathon, devoted to the career of the Spa...
#604: Top 5 Oliver Stone Scenes w/ Matt Zoller Seitz / Born on the Fourth of July
September 23, 2016 06:00 - 1 hourIn the 1980s and '90s, Oliver Stone was one of the most vital and high-profile directors working in Hollywood. Platoon, JFK, Natural Born Killers and more collected awards - or controversy - but were never ignored. It’s been a while since Stone has demanded that kind of attention, but a new book about Stone by critic Matt Zoller Seitz aims to revive his reputation. This week, Seitz shares his Top 5 Oliver Stone Scenes. Plus, Adam and Josh give Stone’s '89 Oscar-winner BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JU...