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983 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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The ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ Watch-Along!
3 december 2025 · 3 uur 19 min
Sean, Amanda, and Chris visit Pandora and join the Na’vi to watch James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ in anticipation of his upcoming sequel, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash.’ Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The Robert Redford Hall of Fame
28 november 2025 · 2 uur 34 min
Sean and Amanda are joined by Tracy Letts to cover the monumental work of legendary actor Robert Redford. They celebrate the star’s illustrious career, share their personal relationship to his work, and build his Hall of Fame. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Tracy Letts
Producer: Jack Sanders
Research: Brantley Palmer
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 3 - '25th Hour’
26 november 2025 · 51 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Spike Lee’s ‘25th Hour,’ one of the most present tense films ever made. They discuss its fascinating legacy as a somewhat under-discussed masterpiece, explain why Lee’s stylistic choices are deeply moving, and identify the impressive fricative tension in all of the movie’s ideas. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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Best Picture Power Rankings and the Super-Sincerity of ‘Sentimental Value,’ With Joachim Trier! Plus: Regretting ‘Regretting You.’
24 november 2025 · 2 uur 7 min
Sean and Amanda begin the show by discussing the imminent sale of Warner Brothers Discovery, consider the potential implications of a merger with one of Paramount, Comcast, or Netflix, and debate which scenario is the most likely outcome (1:22). Then, they cover the new Colleen Hoover adaptation ‘Regretting You’ starring Allison Williams and Dave Franco, which they found absolutely baffling (17:28). Next, they have an extensive conversation around Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value,’ starring Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard, where they explore why some people are connecting to the film so strongly, while for others it doesn't seem to resonate (47:15). Finally, Trier joins the show to explain how much of himself is actually mapped onto Skarsgard’s character, how being a good listener and observant of the world around you translates to strong characterization, and the story of shooting in a house that was down the street he grew up on (1:33:54). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Joachim Trier
Producer: Jack Sanders
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‘Wicked: For Good’ Is No Good. But ‘Train Dreams’ Is.
21 november 2025 · 2 uur 11 min
Sean and Amanda are joined by Juliet Litman and return to the (not so) wonderful world of Oz to cover John M. Chu’s ‘Wicked: For Good,’ starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Before diving in, they react to new movie trailers for Charli XCX’s ‘The Moment’ (1:02) and ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ (10:54). Then, they discuss ‘Wicked: For Good,’ which they found deeply frustrating due to its bizarre story choices and one-dimensional characters (18:22). They hypothesize its potential box office, compare this year’s press tour to last year’s, and weigh its Academy Award chances (1:07:44). Next, Sean and Amanda briefly examine Clint Bentley’s ‘Train Dreams,’ starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, a deeply earnest and sincere portrayal of grief with some beautiful digital photography and an amazing collection of character actors (1:22:55). Finally, Bentley joins the show to discuss his new film and explains why he initially thought the original material was unadaptable, how he put a lot of intent behind capturing the logging scenes in the movie, and shares his feelings on the current state of independent film (1:34:28). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Clint Bentley and Juliet Litman
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 4 - 'Inglourious Basterds’
19 november 2025 · 45 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Inglourious Basterds,’ which made for one of the greatest movie-going experiences of the century. They talk through why this was the official Tarantino pick over ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,’ praise Christoph Waltz for his generational performance, and explore the film’s legacy at great length. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producers: Jack Sanders, Charlie Finan, John Richter, Kevin Cureghian, Victoria Valencia, and Ryan Todd
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The Top Five Ethan Hawke Movies and a Double Shot of Richard Linklater, With Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater!
17 november 2025 · 1 uur 49 min
On today’s action-packed show, Sean and Amanda dive deep into the two newest films from one of their favorite filmmakers, Richard Linklater. Before diving in, they react to a handful of movie news headlines, including Tom Cruise’s honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards, the new teaser trailer for the live-action ‘Moana’ film, and Georgia Oakley’s upcoming remake of ‘Sense and Sensibility,’ starring Daisy Edgar-Jones (1:14). Then, they discuss ‘Nouvelle Vague’ (16:06) and ‘Blue Moon’ (28:11) and explain why they found the former to be an interesting exercise and the latter to be one of the best movies of 2025. Later, they break down what makes Ethan Hawke such a great actor and rank their five favorite performances of his career (46:07). Finally, Sean is joined by Hawke and Linklater to explain why 'Blue Moon' was the perfect project for a collaborative reunion, explore how they have evolved as filmmakers and performers over their illustrious careers, and discuss why they feel optimistic about the current state of moviegoing and the challenges both the industry and society face (56:29). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The Juiceless Fall Movie Season, ‘The Running Man,’ and ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’
14 november 2025 · 2 uur 8 min
Sean and Amanda are joined by Van Lathan to cover two new releases that they collectively had mixed feelings about. Before diving in, though, they theorize about why the fall movie slate has been such a huge disappointment both commercially and critically and what it represents for the industry at large going forward (0:34). Then, they break down Edgar Wright’s new action film, ‘The Running Man,’ starring Glen Powell, which they found deeply messy but also full of impressively staged action scenes (28:01). Next, they unpack the new magician legacy sequel ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don't,’ starring Jesse Eisenberg and Dave Franco. They explain their personal relationship with the original films and why Rosamund Pike was born to play an evil diamond heiress villain, and they hypothesize about what its potential box office chances are (59:23). Finally, Edgar Wright joins Sean to discuss the evolving landscape of studio filmmaking, how he constructs an elaborate action set piece, and the amazing story about how Powell was cast for the lead part (1:15:55). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Edgar Wright and Van Lathan
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 5 - 'Lady Bird’
12 november 2025 · 1 uur 3 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Greta Gerwig’s ‘Lady Bird,’ one of the greatest coming-of-age films ever made. They explain why this is the most defining millennial movie of all time, unpack its quintessential portrayal of a complicated mother-daughter dynamic, and sort through the difficult decision to choose this as the official Gerwig selection over ‘Little Women’ and ‘Frances Ha.’ Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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‘Predator: Badlands’ and the 'Predator' Movie Rankings
10 november 2025 · 1 uur 19 min
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to avenge their Yautja brethren on planet Genna and cover Dan Trachtenberg’s ‘Predator: Badlands,’ starring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Before diving in though, they briefly cover a handful of movie news headlines, including the reporting that Ryan Reynolds is remaking the 1970s crime film ‘Thunderbolt and Lightfoot’ for Amazon MGM (2:35). Next, they unpack the new 'Predator' legacy sequel and make the case for why it wouldn’t work without Fanning’s performance, explain why Trachtenberg has a clear eye for titillating action set piece filmmaking, and discuss its big box office success and wonder what it represents at large (7:39). Then, they rank every film in the 'Predator' franchise (43:38). Lees meer
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producers: Jack Sanders and Bex Donnelly
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Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ and the Best Frankenstein Movies. Plus: Jennifer Lawrence Is Ablaze in ‘Die My Love.’
7 november 2025 · 1 uur 24 min
Sean and Amanda are joined by Rob Mahoney to cover a pair of new releases, but before diving in, they react to two new movie trailers for ‘Michael’ and ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ and the news that a ‘Miss Piggy’ movie from Cole Escola, Jennifer Lawrence, and Emma Stone is in development (0:53). Then, they unpack Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein,’ starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi. They talk through the divisive reception to the film thus far, explain why the second half of the film is much stronger than the first, and hypothesize what its awards chances are (9:26). Finally, they cover Lynne Ramsay’s new psychological thriller, ‘Die My Love,’ starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, which they all thoroughly enjoyed and view as Lawrence’s best performance of her career (57:53). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Rob Mahoney
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 6 - 'Mulholland Drive’
5 november 2025 · 51 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss David Lynch’s ‘Mulholland Drive,’ one of the greatest surrealist films ever made. They celebrate Naomi Watts’s incredible breakthrough performance, reflect on all the different conspiracy theories and unique readings of the film, and commend its ability to blend Americana, European surrealism, classic Hollywood glamour, and sinister outsider art, all at once. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 1989 Movie Draft
3 november 2025 · 2 uur 3 min
We’re drafting again! Before diving into the draft, Sean, Amanda, and Chris react to two recent pieces of news with Disney reportedly turning down Steven Soderbergh’s ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ (1:05), and Taylor Sheridan leaving Paramount (9:25). Then, they discuss who they were in 1989 (17:33) and draft the best movies from that year (29:44). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Jack Sanders
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Best Picture Power Rankings, ‘Bugonia,’ and the New Paranoid Thriller, With Yorgos Lanthimos!
31 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 33 min
Sean and Amanda kick off the show with a brand-new version of their Best Picture Power Rankings (1:43). Then, they cover Yorgos Lanthimos’s new movie, ‘Bugonia,’ starring Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone. They explain why this is their preferred “flavor” of Lanthimos, crown it as a new type of paranoid thriller, and praise Plemons's and Stone’s incredibly sincere and sympathetic performances (21:31). Later, Lanthimos joins Sean to talk through the difficulties and benefits of shooting the film with a large format in VistaVision, what interests him and intrigues him as a storyteller, and why he has anxiety about the future regarding our inability to communicate with one another (1:01:49). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Yorgos Lanthimos
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 7 - 'In The Mood for Love’
29 oktober 2025 · 47 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Wong Kar-wai’s ‘In the Mood for Love,’ the signature romance film of the century. They talk about why the film is one of the most influential movies ever made, highlight its incredibly beautiful composition and framing, and discuss why the feeling of not getting what you want is more resonant than ever. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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‘A House of Dynamite’ Is Ready to Explode
27 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 43 min
Sean and Amanda start the show by covering the major box office success of ‘Chainsaw Man,’ reacting to the news that Cinemark is opening myriad new 70 mm IMAX screens across the country, and discussing what it represents for the future of moviegoing (2:00). Then, they deep dive into Kathryn Bigelow’s new film, ‘A House of Dynamite,’ starring Rebecca Ferguson. They unpack their very complicated feelings by highlighting what they found successful, including a titillating first act and some strong performances, and they address its major flaws, most notably a wild third act that features a deeply unsuccessful performance from Idris Elba (12:59). Finally, Adam Nayman joins the show to discuss Kelly Reichardt’s new film, ‘The Mastermind,’ starring Josh O’Connor as an outcast loner (1:07:46). They talk about Reichardt’s ability to identify this type of character and give credit to her and O’Connor for crafting such a wonderful performance. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Adam Nayman
Producer: Jack Sanders
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‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ and the ‘Music Biopic’ Mount Rushmore
24 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 50 min
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan and Yasi Salek to head over to 'State Trooper' town and cover Scott Cooper’s ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,’ starring Jeremy Allen White. They unanimously agree that the movie is overwhelmingly unsuccessful, then dive into why it lacks dramatic stakes (1:42). Later, they hypothesize its box office potential and Academy Awards chances (36:20) before having a conversation about music biopics at large, where they share their personal favorites, as well as ones they hope to never see made (44:00). Finally, Sean and Amanda briefly cover Mary Bronstein’s new film ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ (1:00:48), before Bronstein herself joins the show. She walks through the long and arduous process of getting the movie made, speaks on why she needed to make this movie and the urgency behind her message, and shares insight on her deeply personal connection to the material (1:07:46). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Yasi Salek, and Mary Bronstein
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 8 - ‘Parasite’
22 oktober 2025 · 50 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite,’ which features one of the greatest movie endings of all time. They celebrate its nuanced portrayal of what systems do to people; highlight the small, formal decisions that elevate the movie’s ideas; and remember its iconic Best Picture win that changed the trajectory of the Academy Awards. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack SandersUnlock an extra $250 at linkedin.com/thebigpicture
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The 10 Best Horror Movies of 2025 and ‘Black Phone 2’
21 oktober 2025 · 2 uur
On today’s show Chris Ryan joins Sean to unpack the year 2025 in horror movies. But first, they hit a handful of movie news headlines, including rumors of a new trailer coming out in December for Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ Michael Mann’s recent comments about the production of ‘Heat II,’ and Eva Victor being cast in Tony Gilroy’s ‘Behemoth!’ (2:02). They then cover Scott Derrickson’s sequel, ‘The Black Phone 2’ (starring Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames), which they both found quite disappointing (10:32). Next, they reflect on the current state of horror as a genre and explore why they feel it's in a weird place right now (26:07). Later, Chris and Sean share their favorites of the year (36:16) before Alex Ross Perry joins the show to discuss his contribution to V/H/S/Halloween. Perry talks us through his thought process and points out why finding what he personally finds scary is the most important part (1:02:50). Finally, they have an extensive conversation surrounding horror anthologies, where they identify what defines a good horror anthology and share their personal favorites (1:22:58). Lees meer
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan and Alex Ross Perry
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The “Should I See It in a Movie Theater?” Test: ‘Tron: Ares,’ ‘Roofman,’ and ‘After the Hunt.’ Plus, the Magic of ‘Mr. Scorsese.’
17 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 44 min
Sean and Amanda begin the show by honoring the legendary actor Diane Keaton, who passed away at 79 last Saturday (3:19). Then, following a disappointing box office performance from a handful of new weekend releases, they have an extensive conversation around what audiences want from movies at the movie theater (9:54). They form a rubric from their main takeaways and apply it to ‘Tron: Ares’ (14:53), ‘Roofman’ (29:47), and ‘After the Hunt’ (0:00). Finally, they briefly cover Rebecca Miller’s new documentary miniseries, ‘Mr. Scorsese,’ a thorough exploration of Martin Scorsese’s fascinating and iconic career (46:54). They then have Miller herself on to talk through the incredible journey and process from start to finish (1:14:18). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Rebecca Miller
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 9 - 'Mad Max: Fury Road’
15 oktober 2025 · 48 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss George Miller’s ‘Mad Max: Fury Road,’ one of the greatest action movies of all time. They explain why it almost feels like a silent film despite its incredibly loud sound, celebrate Charlize Theron’s phenomenal performance and highlight it as the signature performance of her career, and reflect on George Miller’s legacy at large. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The Daniel Day-Lewis Hall of Fame
10 oktober 2025 · 2 uur 9 min
Sean and Amanda are joined by David Sims of the Blank Check podcast to commemorate the incredible career of Daniel Day-Lewis. They begin the show by debating whether or not 2025 has been a good year for movies, and they forecast what the fall slate will look like (2:34). Then, they discuss Day-Lewis’s return to acting with ‘Anemone,’ directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis (14:14). Finally, they work through the entire career and filmography of the legendary actor (20:28) and build his Hall of Fame (39:28). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: David Sims
Producer: Jack Sanders and Belle Roman
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The New York City Movie Draft, With Griffin Newman and David Sims!
7 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 46 min
Live from New York, it’s 'Saturday Night'! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan, plus Griffin Newman and David Sims of the Blank Check podcast, to draft their favorite New York City movies of all time. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan, Griffin Newman, and David Sims
Producers: Jack Sanders, Elizabeth Fierman, Helen Eichner, Charlie Finan, and Mike Wargon
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‘One Battle After Another’: A Second Opinion With Van Lathan
5 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 12 min
On a very special bonus episode of the podcast, Van Lathan joins the show and gets the chance to share his perspective on the box office debate for ‘One Battle After Another’, share his overall thoughts on the film, and comment on its portrayal and depiction of Black women. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Van Lathan
Producer: Jack Sanders
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Best Picture Power Rankings and The Rock’s Oscar Bid in ‘The Smashing Machine,’ with Benny Safdie!
3 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 42 min
Sean and Amanda get in the ring with Van Lathan to go multiple rounds on Benny Safdie’s new film, ‘The Smashing Machine,’ starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt. They work through their mixed feelings by recognizing the phenomenal performance from the Rock, which makes it worth the price of admission alone, and their disappointment and frustration toward Emily Blunt’s incredibly one-note character (1:49). Then, Sean and Amanda create their new Best Picture power rankings following the fall film festival season (36:18). Finally, director Benny Safdie joins Sean to discuss his new film and explore his deeply intimate experience making the movie, why the Rock was perfect for the part of Mark Kerr, and the challenges of shooting a combat sports film (54:13). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Benny Safdie and Van Lathan
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 10 - 'Marie Antoinette’
1 oktober 2025 · 41 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Sofia Coppola’s ‘Marie Antoinette,’ one of the greatest blank checks this century, starring Kirsten Dunst. They explain why this was the official Sofia Coppola selection for the list, especially over ‘Lost in Translation’; highlight the specific decision to not include Antoinette’s infamous beheading; and discuss why this is a quintessential Kirsten Dunst performance. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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One Mailbag After Another, and the Updated PTA Movie Rankings
30 september 2025 · 2 uur 22 min
Sean and Amanda have an action-packed episode today following the release of Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another.' They begin the show by reacting to the film’s opening weekend box office performance and astounding initial critical acclaim (0:57). Then, they open up the mailbag to answer all of your questions about Paul Thomas Anderson and his new movie (13:03). Next, our mean pod guy, Adam Nayman, the author of 'Paul Thomas Anderson: Masterworks,' joins the show (but isn’t very mean). He celebrates one of the most expressive action sequences ever put to film, explains why Benicio Del Toro gives an MVP-level performance, and highlights the strong influences from one of Anderson’s favorite filmmakers, Jonathan Demme (1:14:01). Finally, Andy Greenwald comes on to finally tell his side of the story with regards to the time he and Amanda saw ‘The Master’ together, and shares his brief thoughts on the film (1:53:37). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Adam Nayman and Andy Greenwald
Producer: Jack Sanders
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‘One Battle After Another’ Is a Modern Masterpiece, With Leonardo DiCaprio and Paul Thomas Anderson!
26 september 2025 · 2 uur 20 min
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to break down their most anticipated movie of the year: Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another,’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio. They dive deep into spoilers right from the jump, make the case for it being the movie of the decade, and highlight why it’s the culmination of Anderson’s career (2:25). Then, they talk through how the film has been marketed to audiences, hypothesize about its box office potential, and consider its chances at the Academy Awards (1:31:15). Finally, Anderson and DiCaprio join the show to explain why now was the right time for their first professional collaboration, how you know you’re getting what you want with a movie on this type of scale, and how aging affects your politics and self (1:47:35). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Paul Thomas Anderson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Chris Ryan
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 11 - 'The Wolf of Wall Street’
24 september 2025 · 47 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio, a manic, exhilarating, wretched celebration of the worst people on earth set loose on an unwitting society. They explain why this was the official selection from Scorsese’s filmography, crown this as the greatest performance of DiCaprio’s entire career, and explore the infamous discourse revolving around whether or not the movie glorified its nefarious behavior. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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We Almost Missed These 10 Movies. Should You?
23 september 2025 · 1 uur 39 min
On today’s show, Sean and Amanda talk through 10 movies that have come out over the past few months that they haven’t covered on the show yet. But before diving into the slate, they react to the death of Hollywood icon Robert Redford (1:46), discuss the first trailer for ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ (4:23), and hypothesize why recent history suggests that September is a box office dumpster fire (17:50). Then, they rattle through a handful of different recent releases and share their thoughts on ‘Him,’ ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,’ ‘The Long Walk,’ and more (28:10). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The Physical Media High Council Awards
19 september 2025 · 2 uur 3 min
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan, Tracy Letts, and Tim Simons for a very special episode dedicated to all things physical media. They talk through the current state of collecting, and showcase a handful of titles they personally own. Lees meer
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Chris Ryan, Tracy Letts, and Tim Simons
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 12 - 'The Royal Tenenbaums’
17 september 2025 · 45 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Wes Anderson’s ‘The Royal Tenenbaums,’ one of the greatest father-figure movies of all time (starring Gene Hackman, giving one of the best father-figure performances of all time). They explain why they made the difficult decision to make this the official Wes Anderson selection for the list, discuss why there is nothing among his filmography that quite matches this unique energy, and wonder whether this is the best collection of needle drop moments from any Anderson movie ever made. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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Is ‘Weapons’ a Classic? And an Oscar Contender? Plus: The Best Movies at TIFF!
16 september 2025 · 1 uur 38 min
Adam Nayman joins the show to recap his experience at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. He breaks down the fanatical scene at the traveling Criterion Closet, explores his mixed feelings about the lineup at large, and shares his personal favorites from the festival (1:19). Then, Chris Ryan joins the show to share his thoughts on Zach Cregger’s horror hit ‘Weapons.’ They talk through the discourse surrounding the movie about whether or not it’s “about anything,” celebrate Amy Madigan’s wonderful performance as Aunt Gladys, and wonder whether it has a legitimate chance to receive some Academy Award nominations (45:13). Finally, they cover the newest legacy sequel from the 'Conjuring' franchise, ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites,’ starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. They highlight its shockingly impressive performance at the box office but explain why they found the film to be largely unsuccessful (1:21:09). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The Paul Thomas Anderson Movie Character Draft
12 september 2025 · 1 uur 53 min
For the first time ever, Sean, Amanda, and Chris are doing a movie character draft! Today, they draft their favorite characters from Paul Thomas Anderson’s filmography. But before diving in, they react to a handful of news headlines, including the speculation that David Ellison and Paramount plan on making a strong bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, new information regarding key details about Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Social Network II’, and the recent awards buzz surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s performance in the upcoming boxing film ‘Christy’ (1:38). Then, they talk through their personal relationships to Anderson’s work (25:15), introduce the new categories (41:19), and finally draft their characters (49:27). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Chris Ryan
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The Robert Altman Hall of Fame
9 september 2025 · 2 uur 5 min
Sean and Amanda celebrate legendary filmmaker Robert Altman, who would have turned 100 this year, by breaking down his illustrious career. But first, they cover the awards distributed at the Venice Film Festival and recap Amanda’s legendary weekend, which included seeing Oasis perform live and watching Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, ‘One Battle After Another’ (1:20). Then, they construct Altman’s shrine and build his Hall of Fame (14:39). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Is a N.Y. Movie State of Mind, With Spike Lee!
5 september 2025 · 1 uur 42 min
Sean and Amanda start the show by reacting to a handful of recent movie trailers, including Emerald Fennell’s ‘Wuthering Heights’—starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi—and Nia DaCosta’s ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ (3:33). Then, they unpack Spike Lee’s newest film ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky. They explore its very high highs and occasional low lows, Washington’s fascinating performance style, and what makes this film so different compared to the rest of Lee’s filmography (17:09). Next, they cover Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Caught Stealing,’ starring Austin Butler and Zoë Kravitz; they both found it quite disappointing, to the point that they even discussed whether or not Austin Butler is a “leading man” (39:54). Finally, Sean is joined by the legendary filmmaker Spike Lee to talk about his new movie. Lee reflects on the first time he visited Akira Kurosawa’s work and touches on what Kurosawa means to both himself and cinema at large, talks through Denzel Washington's brilliant improvisations in this film and explains why he is—in Lee's opinion—the greatest actor of all time, and explores what is missing from Hollywood and the filmmaking industry right now (1:07:01). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Spike Lee
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The Best Movies at Telluride and Venice, and the 10 Most Anticipated Fall Films
3 september 2025 · 2 uur 23 min
Sean and Amanda are back from vacation! Today, they discuss the biggest films out of the Telluride and Venice film festivals before sharing the yet-to-be-released movies they’re most excited for this fall (0:47). Then, Sean is joined by director Alex Russell to discuss his new film, ‘Lurker’, starring Théodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe. Russell explains how he was able to direct the project despite his very limited experience, what he was looking for when casting his two leads, and what type of project he might be interested in doing next (1:41:32). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Alex Russell
Producers: Jon Jones, Sasha Ashall, and Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 13 - 'Get Out’
1 september 2025 · 43 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ starring Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams, the funniest, most astute critique of a so-called post-racial America. They share why they chose this to be their signature horror film of the list, how its release was a culture-shifting event that changed the face of horror, and wonder what the reception of the film would have been if the infamous alternative ending of the film was used. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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6. ‘The Hurt Locker’ and ‘Iron Man’ | Mission Accomplished
29 augustus 2025 · 46 min
As Hollywood and America look toward a brighter future, two war films explore the long-term impacts of the Bush years on soldiers and civilians alike. Lees meer
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Devon Baroldi
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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5. ‘No Country for Old Men’ and ‘W.’ | Mission Accomplished
26 augustus 2025 · 48 min
A pair of tough Texas dramas reckon with the bleakness of the Bush years—resulting in two of the most unpredictable films of the early 2000s. Lees meer
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Devon Baroldi
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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4. ‘Michael Clayton’ and ‘Chop Shop’ | Mission Accomplished
22 augustus 2025 · 45 min
As America falls into a recession, two movies about New York hustlers capture the quiet desperation needed to survive in a country running on empty. Lees meer
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Devon Baroldi
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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3: ‘Anchorman’ and ‘Zodiac’ | Mission Accomplished
19 augustus 2025 · 50 min
As Americans pine for a kinder, gentler nation, two wildly entertaining (and wildly different) films about life in 1970s California poke holes in our country’s past. Lees meer
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Devon Baroldi
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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2. ‘25th Hour’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ | Mission Accomplished
15 augustus 2025 · 49 min
In the wake of 9/11 and America’s new war on terror, two films capture the chaos of a country caught between open rage and simmering paranoia. Lees meer
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Devon Baroldi
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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1. ‘Bring It On’ and ‘Donnie Darko’ | Mission Accomplished
12 augustus 2025 · 45 min
The Big Picture Live Show in NYC: Tickets go on sale today, August 12, at 2 p.m. ET at 92ny.org! Lees meer
As a new millennium gets underway, two beloved high school films—one full of pep, the other drenched in dread—reflect America’s sudden shift from post-Y2K cheer to post-9/11 confusion.
Host: Brian Raftery
Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design: Devon Baroldi
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville
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‘Weapons’ Is Why We Go to the Movies, With Zach Cregger!
8 augustus 2025 · 1 uur 29 min
'Weapons' is finally here, and Sean gets back in the void for a deep dive on one of his most anticipated films of the year. But before diving in, he and Amanda are joined by Brian Raftery to discuss his narrative series, Mission Accomplished, that will run on the feed throughout the rest of August (2:02). The limited series examines the making of 12 great 2000s movies and chronicles how Hollywood and America changed during the Bush years. Next, before covering ‘Weapons,’ Sean uses another recent horror release—‘Together,’ starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie—as a comparison point to explore the current state of horror (14:19). Then, Sean shares five things he loved about Zach Cregger’s ‘Weapons,’ starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, and makes a syllabus for the movie, one of his favorites of the year (24:33). Finally, Sean is joined by Cregger to unpack his sophomore horror feature film and share how the significant increase in resources impacted his process, how his life and career changed following the success of ‘Barbarian,’ and why he knew he was up to the task of directing this incredibly ambitious project (46:41). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guests: Zach Cregger and Brian Raftery
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The Summer Movie Mailbag
5 augustus 2025 · 1 uur 56 min
Sean and Amanda open up the mailbag to cover all things related to summer movies! They discuss their favorite summer films they love to watch throughout the season, choose which homemade cocktail they’d pair with some summer rewatchables, share a list of movies they recommend checking out in preparation for this fall’s exciting slate, and much more. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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‘Happy Gilmore 2,’ ‘The Naked Gun,’ and the 21st-Century Comedy Movie Crisis
1 augustus 2025 · 1 uur 14 min
Sean and Amanda are joined by The Ringer’s Craig Horlbeck to discuss all things 21st-century comedy. Before diving in though, they cover a handful of movie news headlines, including Celine Song being attached to a remake of ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’; rumors that Jeremy Strong, Mikey Madison, and Jeremy Allen White are the top choices for ‘The Social Network Part II’; and Bradley Cooper’s film ‘Is This Thing On?’ being announced to close the New York Film Festival (1:44). Then, they cover Netflix’s ‘Happy Gilmore 2,’ starring Adam Sandler, which they all had wildly different reviews of, varying from apocalyptically bad to incredibly fascinating (14:59). Finally, they talk about ‘The Naked Gun,’ starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, and use it as a springboard to have a conversation on why there are so few theatrical comedies being made and whether we’ll get more going forward (38:06). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Craig Horlbeck
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 1990s Horror Movie Canon and ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’ Plus: The ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Revolution.
30 juli 2025 · 1 uur 31 min
Sean and Amanda start the show by briefly reacting to the box office performance of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and wondering whether or not superhero movies will ever return to the levels of the MCU golden days (1:39). Then, they bring in Andy Greenwald to discuss Netflix’s newest animated success, ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ which they were initially skeptical of but eventually became charmed by, and they hypothesize what makes a big cultural hit in 2025 (4:46). Next, Sean and Amanda unpack the new slasher legacy sequel ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer,’ starring Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders, which they found incredibly condescending. They talk through why they found the script, performances, and kill sequences to be deeply unsuccessful (38:28). Finally, they reflect on what many consider to be the weakest decade of the horror genre and create their 1990s Horror Movie Canon (1:04:59). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Guest: Andy Greenwald
Producer: Jack Sanders
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The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 14 - ‘Moneyball’
28 juli 2025 · 37 min
Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today they discuss one of the greatest sports movies of all time: Bennett Miller's ‘Moneyball’—starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. They explore the film’s very curious production history with director Steven Soderbergh, share why they think this was the best performance of Pitt’s career, and examine what the movie’s legacy is considering Miller’s lack of work following its release. Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Is Here. Plus: Our Fall Film Festival Preview.
25 juli 2025 · 1 uur 19 min
Sean and Amanda react to a long list of fall film festival lineup announcements; highlight their main takeaways from Venice, Toronto, and Telluride; and create their way-too-early top 25 Best Picture contenders list (2:16). Then, they unpack the newest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps,’ starring Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, which they found incredibly disappointing (23:23). They dive deep into spoilers, explain why they found a majority of the stars to be deeply miscast, and talk through what they think the MCU will look like going forward (40:23). Lees meer
Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Producer: Jack Sanders
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