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The Big Picture

The Ringer

Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more. Subscribe to Sean's newsletter, Projections, here.


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  • 959 episodes
  • Updated Yesterday

Episodes959

Newest first
  • Aug 9, 2019 · 1 hr 36 min

    The ‘Once Upon A Time ... In Hollywood’ Take Cycle, Reviewed | The Big Picture

    We attempt to have a nuanced conversation about the complicated reception to Quentin Tarantino’s new film. (0:00) Then, we break down the latest shakeup in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' leadership, and how it will affect the Oscars' future (2:00). Plus: Oscar-nominated writer-director Andrea Berloff joins the show to talk about ‘The Kitchen’—her crime drama about 1970s New York, starring Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, and Melissa McCarthy (1:06:34). Hosts: Sean Fennessey

  • Jul 26, 2019 · 1 hr 12 min

    ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’ Is Quentin Tarantino’s Most Sentimental Film Yet (SPOILERS) | Exit Survey

    We gather to discuss Quentin Tarantino’s ninth—and allegedly penultimate—film, ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.’ We break down everything from Leonardo DiCaprio grappling with the end of his career in the leading role, to Brad Pitt’s quiet charisma, to the way historical accuracy competes with fantasy. Hosts: Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins, Chris Ryan

  • Jul 23, 2019 · 1 hr 48 min

    Top Five Quentin Tarantino Films. Plus: David Crosby, Cameron Crowe, and A.J. Eaton on ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name’ | The Big Picture

    The ‘Cats’ trailer set fire to Twitter, and Marvel extinguished the flames by announcing its next decade of IP dominance—what are we looking forward to most (1:00)? Then, we finally hash it out: We debate the top five Quentin Tarantino movies (16:15). Lastly, producer Cameron Crowe, director A.J. Eaton, and titular star David Crosby join the show to discuss ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name,’ the long-in-the-works documentary about Crosby’s legendary life and music career (1:22:45). Host: Sean

  • Jul 19, 2019 · 1 hr 2 min

    We’re Debating ‘The Lion King’ in 2019. Why? | Exit Survey

    Disney is in the midst of a nostalgia churn, and the latest installment is a remake of ‘The Lion King,’ the iconic 1994 peak of the Disney golden era. Have we reached a dark place with live-action remakes, and are there more to come? Plus, does the 2019 all-star cast live up to the original voice performances? Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

  • Jul 16, 2019 · 1 hr 34 min

    The Theatrical Movie Business Is a Disaster, So ‘The Farewell’ Is a Miracle, With Lulu Wang | Interview

    The slow box office summer continued this weekend as ‘Stuber’ failed to make a real impact in theaters. Is streaming going to put an end to the big-budget action comedy (0:37)? Plus, a long conversation with Lulu Wang about her path to becoming a filmmaker, the deeply personal experience of making ‘The Farewell,’ and what wider success means for a Sundance darling (42:30).  Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Lulu Wang

  • Jul 12, 2019 · 55 min

    The Making of an Action Star in 2019, Plus: Reviving Action-Comedy and 'Stuber' With Director Michael Dowse | Interview

    David Shoemaker joins the show to talk about how action stars are minted in the post–The Rock era of filmmaking, Dave Bautista’s rise to legitimate actor, and who is primed to make the leap from WWE to the big screen (0:45). Then, ‘Stuber’ director Michael Dowse comes in to talk about the role of improvisation in his films, working with Bautista and comedian Kumail Nanjiani, and what his future in directing looks like (25:07). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: David Shoemaker, Michael Dowse

  • Jul 9, 2019 · 1 hr 7 min

    Are We Headed for a 2020 Oscars Disaster? Plus: How Disney Runs the Movie World, and Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Stearns on 'The Art of Self-Defense' I Discussion

    We take an early survey of the alleged frontrunners in the 2020 Oscars—a slim list of movies that are already getting negative buzz—before discussing the live-action remake trend that Disney is employing in its latest effort to dominate the financial landscapes of moviemaking (1:00). Then, Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Stearns join the podcast (previously recorded at SXSW) to discuss their partnership in making ‘The Art of Self-Defense’ (54:17). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests:

  • Jul 3, 2019 · 52 min

    Making ‘Midsommar,’ A Deep Dive Into the Movie Freakout of the Year | Interview

    Chris Ryan joins to discuss ‘Midsommar,’ Ari Aster’s shocking Swedish nightmare follow up to his debut horror hit ‘Hereditary’ (1:00). Then, Aster comes by to talk about the challenges of making a horror film set exclusively in the daylight, the pressure of following ‘Hereditary,’ and what he’s doing next (14:47). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan and Ari Aster

  • Jun 25, 2019 · 49 min

    Why Horror Is Bigger Than Ever, Plus: Gary Dauberman on ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ | The Big Picture

    The horror genre spent decades as the lowbrow stepchild of the movie industry, but now it’s the vehicle for exciting young filmmakers like Ari Aster and Jordan Peele. Chris Ryan joins the show to help make sense of how we got here (1:00). Then, Gary Dauberman stops by to discuss his path from writing spec scripts to becoming the director of ‘Annabelle Comes Home’—the latest movie in the 'Conjuring' universe, a series he helped grow (21:31). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan and Gary D

  • Jun 21, 2019 · 52 min

    'Toy Story 4' Is a Masterpiece. Is It in Pixar's Top 5? | The Big Picture

    Despite the threat of sequel fatigue, Pixar has managed to create classics. 'Toy Story 4' is the latest example, a fascinating portrait of identity that doubles as a treatise on trash. Rob Harvilla joins Sean Fennessey to talk about the new film, what it means to kids and parents, and how the studio has persisted for 25 years (1:36). Then, they share their top five Pixar movies (28:43).

  • Jun 18, 2019 · 1 hr 9 min

    Is 2019 the Worst Movie Summer Ever? 'Men in Black: International' Isn't Helping | The Big Picture

    'Men in Black: International' is yet another in a series of disappointing and drab sequels to hit this summer. What went wrong with the alien comedy relaunch? And should young stars like Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson count on shaky franchises to brighten their careers (1:15)? Then, we examine what makes a great summer movie slate, and what—if anything—we can learn from the lineups of the past 10 years (36:40). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

  • Jun 14, 2019 · 1 hr 14 min

    #ReleaseTheSnyderCut, Dylan and Scorsese’s Netflix Deep Fake, and Jim Jarmusch on ‘The Dead Don’t Die’ | The Big Picture

    We dive deep on ‘The Snyder Cut’—the unreleased director’s cut of ‘Justice League’—and the activism surrounding it from DCEU fans, before reviewing the Netflix Bob Dylan mockumentary ‘Rolling Thunder Revue’ (1:00). Then, indie film pioneer Jim Jarmusch joins the show to discuss his new film 'The Dead Don’t Die,' his first foray into the zombie genre (37:55). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Rob Harvilla, Jim Jarmusch

  • Jun 11, 2019 · 1 hr 28 min

    Why 'Dark Phoenix' Flopped and 'Late Night' Works, Plus Joe Talbot on 'The Last Black Man in San Francisco' | The Big Picture

    We go over Mindy Kaling’s feature screenwriting debut, ‘Late Night, before reviewing the box office flop of ‘Dark Phoenix,’ the most recent and final release of this generation of the X-Men franchise (1:00). Then, ‘The Last Black Man in San Francisco’ director Joe Talbot joins to talk about his directorial debut—a picturesque examination of his hometown in the face of rapid gentrification (55:45). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Amanda Dobbins and Joe Talbot

  • Jun 7, 2019 · 53 min

    The Failure of ‘Dark Phoenix' and the End of X-Men Movies ... For Now | Exit Survey

    Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to dive deep on the existing X-Men franchise, a two-decade-long series of movies that have seldom delivered but still grabbed our attention. Then, the two review the newly released “Dark Phoenix” and speculate over the direction Disney will take with X-Men’s intellectual property. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Chris Ryan

  • Jun 4, 2019 · 1 hr 12 min

    A 'Chernobyl' Deep Dive With Creator Craig Mazin and Mallory Rubin | The Big Picture

    Sean is joined by Mallory Rubin to react as fans to HBO’s ‘Chernobyl’—a science-laden docudrama that snuck up as one of the best shows on television this year (1:00). Then showrunner Craig Mazin comes to the studio to talk about making the jump from film to TV and how writing for feature-length comedy prepared him for conveying a real-life tragedy on screen (37:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Mallory Rubin and Craig Mazin

  • May 31, 2019 · 1 hr

    'Rocketman' Sings, but Will It Soar? I Exit Survey

    We give our immediate reactions to ‘Rocketman’—Dexter Fletcher’s Elton John biopic, starring Taron Egerton. How is Egerton’s singing? How does the film handle John’s sexuality in comparison to a film like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody?’ Is “Elton John is good” the first thing Sean and Amanda have ever agreed on? Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins