Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Cinema in One Take
TV & Film

Cinema in One Take

Emma Jones and Kaleem Aftab

Cinema in One Take is a weekly look at international film and world cinema by film experts Kaleem Aftab and Emma Jones. This podcast brings you sharp, engaging discussions on the latest movie news, with a global focus.

Play
Open in
  • 27 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 24 min
  • English

Episodes 27

NewestOldestLongest
All7Unplayed7In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • #24
    April 23 · 32 min

    'Michael': Critics Hate It. Fans Love It — And We Get Why

    Critics hate it. Fans seem set to love it. Michael, the biopic of Michael Jackson, has been met with some of the harshest reviews in recent memory, but it could still become one of the biggest musical biopics ever made. In this episode of Cinema in One Take, Emma Jones and Kaleem Aftab are joined by journalist and critic Patrick Heidmann, to ask a simple question: if the reviews are so negative… why did they enjoy watching it? From tightly controlled press access to the film’s controversial omissions, they explore the gap between critics and audiences, and examine whether unconscious bias plays a role in the reception of films about Black artists, especially one who reshaped global pop culture. Sign up for our weekly updates: cinemainonetake.substack.com Follow us: @aftabamon @emmapjones1 @patrickheidmann

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • #23
    April 18 · 22 min

    Cinemas Have an Ads Problem — And Will Cannes Have a Star Problem?

    Are cinemas putting audiences off before the film even begins? This week on Cinema in One Take, Emma Jones and Kaleem Aftab respond to Sony’s Tom Rothman, who has urged cinemas to shorten the bloated pre-show of ads and trailers before films start, and ask whether the pre-cinema experience itself is part of the problem of getting audiences in? Then it’s to Cannes 2026, where the line up for other sidebars, Director's Fortnight and Critic's Week have been unveiled: can world cinema stars really replace Hollywood at this year's festival, and what does a less “sellable” lineup mean for film buzz and journalists on the ground? Especially when CinemaCon in the USA is generating headlines from Spielberg's Disclosure Day, Nolan's The Odyssey and Toy Story 5 - films that might have been at the festival. Plus, a lively debate over Christan Petzold's Miroirs No. 3, and Sundance winner The New West, also known as East of Wall, a striking docu-fiction set on an American horse ranch. Connected to that story - watch the trailer for Riley Keough and Gina Gammell's War Pony Our Substack on Cannes 2026 not chasing studio spectacle is here Sign up for our weekly updates: cinemainonetake.substack.com Follow us: @aftabamon @emmapjones1

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • #22
    April 10 · 32 min

    Cannes 2026: Less Hollywood, More War — What’s Changed?

    The Cannes Film Festival 2026 line-up is here, and it feels like something is shifting. Fewer Hollywood titles, a surge in war stories, and a Competition shaped by global auteurs, with Japanese and Spanish films featuring prominently this year. Emma Jones and Kaleem Aftab unpack the key themes, including a growing global crossover between Europe and Asia, both in casting and direction, and a notable contingent of emerging female directors in Competition. Plus early Palme d’Or contenders, and what this year’s selection says about where cinema is heading. From Almodóvar to Zvyagintsev, this your guide to films at Cannes. Full line-up: Festival de Cannes official website Sign up for weekly updates: cinemainonetake.substack.com Follow us: @aftabamon @emmapjones1

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • #21
    April 4 · 29 min

    Amélie at 25: Do We Still Believe in Movie Magic? ( Plus AI Actors & 'The Drama')

    On this week’s Cinema in One Take, Emma Jones and Kaleem Aftab explore what audiences really want from cinema — from AI-generated performances to timeless movie magic. They begin with the rise of AI in film, from the failure (for now) of virtual influencer Tilly Norwood to the ethics of recreating Val Kilmer on screen, and ask whether audiences are ready for artificial stars. Then, as French classic Amélie returns to cinemas for its 25th anniversary, they debate whether its romantic vision of Paris would still resonate today — or if modern audiences want something more real. Plus, Kaleem's deep dive into The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, and whether spoilers and controversy are shaping how films are marketed. And finally, Emma reports from the British Film Institute on a centenary celebration dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, exploring how her legacy is being re-evaluated. A lively, unfiltered conversation on AI in film, classic cinema, film controversy, and Hollywood history — all in one take. Join us next on April 9 for immediate reaction to the Cannes 2026 line up announcement! Tilly Norwood music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7V2Biy3omw Kaleem's The Drama review in print is here Sign up for weekly updates: cinemainonetake.substack.com Follow us: @aftabamon @emmapjones1

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • #20
    March 28 · 24 min

    The Drama about the Drama and and the Cost of Visibility

    A film very few people have seen is already causing outrage. On this week’s Cinema in One Take, Emma Jones and Kaleem Aftab dive into the backlash surrounding The Drama after a leaked plot twist set the internet off. Is the twist genuinely in poor taste, and has it also provided exactly the kind of controversy modern film marketing thrives on? They also discuss the darker side of visibility, as actor Barry Keoghan opens up about the effects of online abuse about his appearance. Plus: are series festivals like Series Mania and Canneseries actually worth it — or is television best left on the sofa? And in what they’ve been watching: Orwell 2+2=5 and the North Macedonian coming-of-age gem, DJ Ahmet. Find us on Instagram/Facebook: @aftabamon @emmapjones1 Subscribe for free or weekly updates and written articles: https://cinemainonetake.substack.com/

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • #19
    March 23 · 22 min

    Project Hail Mary’s $140m Stellar Opening: Are Original Blockbusters Back?

    Ryan Gosling heads into space (with exceptional knitwear) in Project Hail Mary — a rare original sci-fi that’s already shaping up to be one of 2026’s biggest hits. Film experts Emma Jones and Kaleem Aftab ask whether Hollywood might finally be rediscovering its appetite for risk. Is this a genuine shift away from franchise dominance — or just a one-off? And they look beyond Hollywood to the global box office, from India’s record-breaking Dhurandhar: The Revenge to China’s post–Ne Zha 2 landscape, and why South Korea continues to set the cultural pace. Follow Kaleem and Emma on Instagram: @aftabamon @emmapjones1 Follow Cinema in One Take on Substack

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
  • #18
    March 17 · 23 min

    Oscars 2026: Michael B. Jordan’s moment, PTA’s long-awaited win… and burgers at In-N-Out

    In this Oscar special episode of Cinema in One Take, Emma Jones joins from Los Angeles hours after the ceremony while Kaleem Aftab watches from across the Atlantic — and together they unpack one of the more intriguing Academy Awards in recent years. From Paul Thomas Anderson finally winning Best Picture and Best Director for One Battle After Another to the electrifying reaction when Michael B. Jordan took home Best Actor for Sinners, the pair discuss the biggest wins, the surprise moments and the speeches that really landed. Emma reports back from a packed Hollywood viewing party near the site of the very first Oscars, where cheers for Sinners revealed the difference between what audiences love and what the Academy ultimately rewards. They also talk about the night’s standout speeches — including Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s historic cinematography win, Jessie Buckley’s emotional Best Actress moment, and the political undercurrents surrounding the documentary winner Mr. Nobody Against Putin. Plus: Korean cinema’s growing global influence, why the International Feature category remains one of the Oscars’ strongest line-ups — and the most important Hollywood tradition of the night… Michael B. Jordan celebrating at an In-N-Out Burger.

    • Transcript
    • Chapters
Showing 21–27 of 27 episodes