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
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Episodes959

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Jan 21, 2019 · 31 min
M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Glass’ Is a Twist On Superhero Box Office Power | Exit Survey (Ep. 119)
We react to ‘Glass,’ veteran director M. Night Shyamalan’s final installation in an almost-two-decade-long trilogy that includes ‘Unbreakable’ and ‘Split.’ Where does the movie, which stars a cast of James McAvoy, Samuel L. Jackson, and Bruce Willis, fit into a catalogue that includes home runs like ‘The Sixth Sense’ and lows like ‘The Happening?’ Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Justin Charity
Jan 18, 2019 · 58 min
A Fyre Festival Documentary Arms Race, and Bing Liu on Creating ‘Minding the Gap’ | Interview (Ep. 118)
Rob Harvilla calls in to make sense of the release of two Fyre Festival documentaries in the same week by Netflix and Hulu. Then, ‘Minding the Gap’ director Bing Liu talks about navigating the complicated and personal themes in his documentary. Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Bing Liu, Rob Harvilla
Jan 15, 2019 · 48 min
What Does 'Best Picture' Even Mean? | The Oscars Show (Ep. 117)
This week, we explore how the various guild awards can tell us who is in the best position to bring home Oscars (0:53). Then, we try and digest the deluge of ‘Green Book’ controversies (25:21). Finally, we try and place our finger on an answer to the existential question hanging over our show: What does 'Best Picture' even mean (32:42)? Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Links: This Is the Most Wide-Open Best Picture Race in Years, Sean Fennessey Green Book Director Used to Flash Hi
Jan 11, 2019 · 1 hr 15 min
Top Five L.A. Movies, Plus Karyn Kusama on ‘Destroyer’ | Interview (Ep. 116)
Chris Ryan joins the show to break down the latest news that the Oscars will be hosted by committee and share his top five Los Angeles films. Then, director Karyn Kusama joins the show to discuss ‘Destroyer’—her second movie with a distinct take on L.A. Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Karyn Kusama, Chris Ryan
Jan 7, 2019 · 57 min
Instant Reactions to a Truly Ludicrous Golden Globes | The Oscars Show (Ep. 115)
We unpack a shocking night as the Golden Globes crown ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ Rami Malek, Glenn Close, and ‘Green Book’ — and ‘A Star Is Born’ comes away with only one award. What does it mean going forward for Oscars front-runners Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, and more? Hosts: Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins
Jan 4, 2019 · 34 min
Adam McKay on ‘Vice,’ Power, Comedy, and Criticism | Interview (Ep. 114)
‘Vice’ writer-director Adam McKay joins the show to talk about his relationship to the politics of Dick Cheney, learning to take criticism from his days in comedy, and whether ‘The Big Short’ and ‘Vice’ are a better indication of his future than ‘Step Brothers’ and ‘Anchorman.’ Host: Sean Fennessey
Jan 2, 2019 · 1 hr 27 min
Our Golden Globes Predictions, Plus ‘Cold War’ Director Pawel Pawlikowski | The Oscars Show (Ep. 113)
We share our ballot picks for all 14 movie categories ahead of Sunday’s Golden Globes and preview whether ‘A Star Is Born’ is the juggernaut we think it is (0:50). Then Sean sits down with ‘Cold War’ writer-director Pawel Pawlikowski to discuss how he crafted a detailed, memory-driven film about characters modeled after his parents (54:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Dec 27, 2018 · 1 hr 7 min
The ‘Vice’ Backlash and the Oprah Bounce | The Oscars Show (Ep. 112)
We examine and dissect the backlash against Adam McKay’s ‘Vice,’ starring Christian Bale as Dick Cheney (0:55). Then we touch on ’Black Panther,' ‘Mary Poppins Returns,’ and ‘Cold War’ in Stock Up/Stock Down (32:53), before closing out with a Best Picture race odds breakdown (59:43). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Dec 21, 2018 · 40 min
‘Aquaman’: The Weird, Sort of Good (?) Future of Comic Book Movies | Exit Survey (Ep. 111)
Sean Fennessey and David Shoemaker take a trip into the cinematically gorgeous — but ultimately average — world of the latest DC Universe release, 'Aquaman.'
Dec 19, 2018 · 36 min
It’s Time for ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ Fever | Exit Survey (Ep. 110)
Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins, and Juliet Litman discuss ‘Mary Poppins Returns,’ the sequel to the classic Disney film, starring Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Dec 18, 2018 · 1 hr
‘Roma,’ ‘The Mule,’ and the Mailbag | The Oscars Show (Ep. 109)
The debate over how to watch ‘Roma’ is starting to obscure actual conversations about ‘Roma’ (1:15), and ‘The Mule’ doesn’t quite make the Oscars cut (9:15). Plus, a mailbag full of questions about ‘A Star Is Born,’ up-and-coming actors, and the future of Netflix’s influence on theaters (13:19). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Dec 14, 2018 · 34 min
‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’: One of the Best Superhero Movies Ever | Exit Survey (Ep. 108)
Sean Fennessey and Micah Peters recap the surprising highs of the latest installment of the ‘Spider-Man’ universe — an animated film that's also a major achievement in the genre.
Dec 13, 2018 · 43 min
Barry Jenkins on ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and Life After ‘Moonlight’ | Interview (Ep. 107)
Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins returns to 'The Big Picture' to discuss his life and work since ‘Moonlight’ won Best Picture at the Oscars and the unique challenge of recreating 1970s Harlem for his adaptation of James Baldwin’s ‘If Beale Street Could Talk.’ Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Barry Jenkins
Dec 11, 2018 · 1 hr 23 min
The Kevin Hart Fiasco and the Best Performances of 2018 With Wesley Morris | The Oscars Show (Ep. 106)
Kevin Hart is out as host of the Academy Awards after a bungled non-apology tour. What happens next (0:50)? Plus: What the Los Angeles Film Critics Association awards mean for ‘Roma,’ ‘A Star Is Born,’ and the Best Picture race (11:45), and a conversation about the best acting performances of the year with The New York Times’ Wesley Morris (19:30). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Wesley Morris
Dec 7, 2018 · 1 hr 18 min
The Top 10 Films of the Year | Discussion (Ep. 105)
We break down which movies made the final cut for our top 10 lists this year — including everything from ‘Black Panther’ and ‘A Star Is Born’ to ‘Burning,’ ‘Support the Girls,’ ‘Minding the Gap,’ and more. Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman
Dec 6, 2018 · 53 min
The Golden Globes Nominations: Surprises and Snubs | The Oscars Show (Ep. 104)
Reacting to the Golden Globes nominations, including surprising love for ‘Vice,’ chaos in the category definitions, pleasant surprises and alarming snubs, and why we love Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg as hosts. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Nov 29, 2018 · 40 min
John Krasinski on ‘A Quiet Place’ and the Question of a Sequel | Interview (Ep. 103)
Actor, writer, and director John Krasinski joins the show to talk about how he became not just the star, but also the writer-director of the box office smash ‘A Quiet Place,’ how he evolved after ‘The Office,’ and where he’s going next.
Nov 27, 2018 · 59 min
Do the Oscars Need 'Star' Power—and 'Black Panther'—to Thrive? | The Oscars Show (Ep. 102)
Can 'Black Panther' and 'A Star Is Born' power through an onslaught of smaller, highly regarded films like 'Roma,' and 'The Favourite'? (0:57); stock up/stock down for 'Green Book' and 'Widows' (22:00); and a close look at an unusually competitive Best Actress race (34:45). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
Nov 21, 2018 · 41 min
Steven Caple Jr. on ‘Creed II,’ the Rocky Franchise, and Making a Great Sports Movie | Interview (Ep. 101)
‘Creed II’ director Steven Caple Jr. joins the show to talk about Sylvester Stallone’s influence on his filmmaking and the 'Creed' franchise as well as the unique challenges of the 'Rocky' legacy. Host: Sean Fennessey
Nov 19, 2018 · 33 min
Steve McQueen on ‘Widows’ and Reinventing the Heist Movie | Interview (Ep. 100)
Academy Award–winning director Steve McQueen stops by to discuss his new film, the Viola Davis–starring heist drama ‘Widows.’ Host: Sean Fennessey