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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
  • Mar 26, 2019 · 1 hr 46 min

    Top Five Movies of 1999, Plus David Modigliani on ‘Running With Beto’ | Discussion

    Now 20 years removed, we convene to discuss and share our top five movies from 1999—the year many believe was the greatest year of movies ever (1:00). Then, a conversation with ‘Running With Beto’ director David Modigliani from SXSW (1:08:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Amanda Dobbins, Chris Ryan, and David Modigliani

  • Mar 22, 2019 · 58 min

    A Deep Reading of Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’ (Feat. SPOILERS) | Exit Survey

    We react to ‘Us,’ Jordan Peele’s much-anticipated follow-up to the social thriller ‘Get Out.’ We give a spoiler-laden explanation of the ending, analyze Peele leveling up as a filmmaker, and parse some of the cultural (but largely personal) themes that peek through in the film. (Disclaimer: there are spoilers in this podcast.) Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

  • Mar 19, 2019 · 30 min

    Jordan Peele on ‘Us’ | Interview

    Oscar-winning director and writer Jordan Peele joins the show—the day after the premiere of his new film ‘Us’ at SXSW—to discuss following up ‘Get Out,’ working with stars like Lupita Nyong’o, Elisabeth Moss, and Winston Duke, and tackling complex themes within the horror genre. Hosts: Sean Fennessey Guest: Jordan Peele

  • Mar 15, 2019 · 45 min

    Ben Affleck | Career Arc

    With ‘Triple Frontier’ now streaming on Netflix, we launch the first episode in a series of career retrospectives on Hollywood’s biggest stars. From ‘Good Will Hunting’ to ‘Gone Girl,’ ‘Armageddon’ to ‘The Town,’ ‘Justice League’ to the "Jenny From the Block" video, we identify Affleck’s breakthrough moments and peak performances before breaking down his latest movie. Hosts: Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins, Rob Harvilla

  • Mar 12, 2019 · 1 hr 27 min

    ‘Us’ and the Best Movies at SXSW, Plus Sebastián Lelio on ‘Gloria Bell’ | The Big Picture

    Sean, Chris, and Amanda convene to talk about their favorite movies from the SXSW Film Festival—including Jordan Peele’s much-anticipated directorial follow-up to ‘Get Out’ (1:05). Then, Sean sits down with ‘Gloria Bell’ director Sebastián Lelio to discuss working with Julianne Moore and John Turturro and the calculus behind remaking one of your own films (55:30). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Sebastián Lelio

  • Mar 8, 2019 · 1 hr 4 min

    ‘Captain Marvel’ Is a ’90s Nostalgia Play. Did It Work? | Exit Survey

    Brie Larson stars as ‘Captain Marvel’ in the latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its first stand-alone female superhero movie. We react to what it means for the forthcoming ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and how directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck incorporated elements of the 1990s into the Marvel machine. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

  • Mar 5, 2019 · 57 min

    ‘Leaving Neverland,’ Spielberg’s Oscar Battle with Netflix, and the Best Movies of 2019 So Far | The Big Picture

    Steven Spielberg is waging war against Netflix—what does this mean for the Academy Awards (0:57)? Then, Rob Harvilla joins the show to discuss ‘Leaving Neverland,’ the new Michael Jackson documentary on HBO, and its potential ramifications for the future of writing about music (18:08). Finally, Sean and Amanda share the best movies they’ve seen so far in this year and preview some of ones they’re anticipating most in March (40:15). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Rob Harvill

  • Feb 22, 2019 · 54 min

    Pro Wrestling Goes to the Movies, Plus Stephen Merchant on ‘Fighting With My Family’ | Interview (Ep. 130)

    Sean sits down with ‘Masked Man’ host David Shoemaker to discuss the evolution of pro wrestling on the big screen (0:31). Then Stephen Merchant joins to talk about his relationship to wrestling, working with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and turning Florence Pugh into a believable professional wrestler (21:28). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Stephen Merchant, David Shoemaker Wrestling film recommendations: The Big Show Off Night and the City The Foul King

  • Feb 20, 2019 · 1 hr 9 min

    The 2019 Oscar Narratives, Explained | The Oscars Show (Ep. 129)

    A host of Ringer staffers join Sean and Amanda to break down the narratives that have emerged in the lead-up to the 2019 Oscars. Why does Netflix want an Oscar so badly? What happened to our beloved ‘A Star Is Born'? Plus, we make the case for each Best Picture nominee, do our best to see into the future and predict next year’s Oscars, and more. To see this podcast in video form, go to The Ringer’s YouTube page! Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Mallory Rubin, Jason Conce

  • Feb 19, 2019 · 1 hr 27 min

    The 2019 Oscars: Final Ballot Predictions | The Oscars Show (Ep. 128)

    The Academy has flip-flopped again, saying they would reinstate the four categories they cut from the telecast just last week. Is that the right decision, an indication of a true crisis, or both (0:39)? Plus, an exhaustive breakdown of every Oscars category, including who will (and should) win (36:30). Hosts: Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins

  • Feb 15, 2019 · 51 min

    The Case for a ‘Black Panther’ Best Picture Win, Plus a Conversation With Nominee Ruth E. Carter | The Oscars Show (Ep. 127)

    Micah Peters and Rob Harvilla join the show to make the case for why ‘Black Panther’ transcends the Marvel Cinematic Universe and should be taken more seriously as a Best Picture nominee (1:00). Then Ruth E. Carter, the film’s costume designer, joins to detail the unique demands of designing for a comic book movie, her work with Spike Lee, and her path from Broadway to Hollywood (21:38). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Ruth E. Carter, Rob Harvilla, Micah Peters

  • Feb 12, 2019 · 1 hr 32 min

    The Oscars Are Removing Four Categories From the Telecast. Why? Plus a Conversation With Nominee Nicholas Britell | The Oscars Show (Ep. 126)

    We sift through what’s real and what’s just British after the BAFTAs this weekend, and whether or not the ‘A Star Is Born’ media blitz is helping or hurting its stock at the Oscars. Then we wonder what might happen if the Oscars telecast is as much of a disaster as it’s shaping up to be. Finally, Sean sits down with Nicholas Britell—the composer of the ‘If Beale Street Could Talk,’ ‘Moonlight,’ and ‘Succession’ soundtracks—to talk about the process of conceiving a score and working with a direct

  • Feb 8, 2019 · 53 min

    The Top Five Steven Soderbergh Films | Discussion (Ep. 125)

    With today’s Netflix release of Steven Soderbergh’s newest film, ‘High Flying Bird,’ we sit down to list and discuss the top five movies he’s made in a prolific career. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan

  • Feb 7, 2019 · 45 min

    The Most Unpredictable Oscar Race, Plus the Directors of ‘Free Solo’ | Interview (Ep. 124)

    We take stock of a Best Documentary Oscars race that doesn’t include ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ and ‘Three Identical Strangers’—two of the most commercially successful documentaries of the year (0:40). Then ‘Free Solo’ directors Jimmy Chin and E. Chai Vasarhelyi join the show to talk about the challenges of filming a climber in a life-or-death situation (18:22). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Jimmy Chin and E. Chai Vasarhelyi

  • Feb 5, 2019 · 1 hr 32 min

    'The Wife'-a-Palooza, Plus Barry Alexander Brown on Editing ‘BlacKkKlansman’ | The Oscars Show (Ep. 123)

    We spend an inordinate amount of time talking about ‘The Wife,’ Glenn Close’s latest film that will likely net her her first Best Actress win at the Oscars (1:09). Then we assess the stock of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ ‘A Star Is Born,’ and ‘Roma’ after the Directors Guild Awards (40:30). Finally, Sean sits down with ‘BlacKkKlansman’ editor Barry Alexander Brown to discuss working with Spike Lee and the role of an editor in the filmmaking process (59:15). Hosts: Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins Gue

  • Jan 30, 2019 · 57 min

    Are the Oscars in a State of Crisis? | The Oscars Show (Ep. 121)

    This week we break down a big win for ‘Black Panther’ at the SAG Awards and whether it will improve its Best Picture chances (2:20). Then Sean shares his Academy Award nomination frustrations, and we examine how the telecast could be headed for disaster (16:00). Finally, we take a long look at the Best Director race, ‘Roma,’ and Netflix’s standing in the Oscar conversation (45:26). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins How Does Netflix Make Money? | Ringer PhD

  • Jan 22, 2019 · 46 min

    Oscar Nominations: What We Know and What We Don’t | The Big Picture (Ep. 120)

    Our instant reactions to the 2019 Oscar nominations pose as many questions as answers: Is 'Roma' the new favorite? Is ‘A Star Is Born’ doomed? And why couldn’t the Academy get it together for Ethan Hawke? Then we turn to the never-ending 'Green Book' saga in Stock Up/Stock Down and examine the Best Picture betting odds as they stand on January 22. Hosts: Amanda Dobbins, Chris Ryan