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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Aug 17, 2018 · 32 min
How ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Director Jon M. Chu Earned His Spot | The Big Picture (Ep. 80)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ director Jon M. Chu to talk about his development as a director and how his personal experience as a Chinese American inspired him to make this movie.
Aug 9, 2018 · 49 min
We Actually Fixed the Oscars | The Big Picture (Ep. 79)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, and Amanda Dobbins discuss the recent announcement about upcoming changes to the Academy Awards and debate how to usher the ceremony into the new era.
Jul 27, 2018 · 43 min
Making ‘Mission: Impossible’ the Best Movie Franchise, With Christopher McQuarrie | The Big Picture (Ep. 78)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with ‘Mission: Impossible — Fallout’ director Christopher McQuarrie to talk about his creative collaboration with Tom Cruise, the challenges and rewards of coming back for a second ‘Mission: Impossible’ film, and his personal reckoning with his role as a filmmaker post-‘The Usual Suspects.’
Jul 20, 2018 · 31 min
Bo Burnham’s ‘Eighth Grade’ Captures the Experience of Middle School and Right Now | The Big Picture (Ep. 77)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with comedian and first-time filmmaker Bo Burnham and actress Elsie Fisher to discuss ‘Eighth Grade,’ their perceptive film about the cringeworthy experience of middle school.
Jul 13, 2018 · 20 min
What Inspires Gus Van Sant? | The Big Picture (Ep. 76)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with acclaimed filmmaker Gus Van Sant about his lasting legacy in film, reteaming with Joaquin Phoenix on 'Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot,' the role his late friend Robin Williams played in the film, and where to go when you’ve accomplished so much.
Jul 9, 2018 · 41 min
Boots Riley’s ‘Sorry to Bother You’ Is a Cinematic Acid Trip | The Big Picture (Ep. 75)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with first-time filmmaker and longtime musician Boots Riley about the challenging transition from making music with his group The Coup to making his first feature-length film, the experimental social comedy ‘Sorry to Bother You,’ on his own.
Jul 6, 2018 · 29 min
'Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Goes Big, With Peyton Reed | The Big Picture (Ep. 74)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey speaks with filmmaker Peyton Reed about returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to make an Ant-Man sequel and the challenges of merging his story with the aftermath of 'Avengers: Infinity War.'
Jun 29, 2018 · 40 min
Why ‘Sicario’ Needed a Sequel, With Stefano Sollima | The Big Picture (Ep. 73)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan discuss the unlikely 'Sicario' franchise and its approach to violence and morality along the U.S.-Mexico border with ‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado’ director Stefano Sollima.
Jun 22, 2018 · 19 min
Do You Love Scary Dinosaurs? J.A. Bayona’s 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' Has Scary Dinosaurs | The Big Picture (Ep. 72)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with filmmaker J.A. Bayona about his new film, 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,' and what it’s like creating a terrifying new dinosaur and diving into a major franchise.
Jun 15, 2018 · 31 min
‘Incredibles 2’ and Brad Bird’s Super-Powered Return to Pixar | The Big Picture (Ep. 71)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with Pixar original Brad Bird about returning to his animation roots with ‘Incredibles 2’ after making live-action movies like ‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’ and ‘Tomorrowland.'
Jun 13, 2018 · 33 min
Morgan Neville’s Mister Rogers Documentary Reminds Us to Be a Good Neighbor | The Big Picture (Ep. 70)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with the Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville about his new film, ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor,’ about one of the world’s foremost champions of kindness and decency, Mister Rogers.
Jun 8, 2018 · 25 min
Hereditary’ Is the Most Disturbing Horror Movie in Years, With Ari Aster | The Big Picture (Ep. 69)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with filmmaker Ari Aster to discuss his first full-length feature, ‘Hereditary,’ and the process of crafting a deeply disturbing experience for moviegoers.
Jun 1, 2018 · 30 min
Truth, Fiction, and a Hollywood Heist Movie, With Bart Layton | The Big Picture (Ep. 68)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with writer-director Bart Layton about his path from unconventional documentaries to his ambitious new docufiction heist movie, ‘American Animals.'
May 25, 2018 · 38 min
'Solo: A Star Wars Story’: Instant Analysis | The Big Picture (Ep. 67)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and David Shoemaker convene for an instant-reaction breakdown of the latest 'Star Wars' spin-off movie, ‘Solo,’ to discuss whether Alden Ehrenreich lives up to Harrison Ford’s legacy, how the story’s timelines fit together, and whether the movie actually works.
May 21, 2018 · 30 min
Making ‘First Reformed,’ the Best Movie of the Year So Far, With Paul Schrader | The Big Picture (Ep. 66)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with legendary filmmaker Paul Schrader to discuss his powerful new film, ‘First Reformed,’ starring Ethan Hawke; his patient style of filmmaking, and his major career achievements, such as cocreating ‘Taxi Driver,’ ‘Raging Bull,’ and ‘The Last Temptation of Christ.’
May 18, 2018 · 42 min
Emergency ‘Deadpool 2’ Debate | The Big Picture (Ep. 65)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and Andrew Gruttadaro digest the latest blockbuster superhero movie, ‘Deadpool 2,’ by unpacking what worked and what didn’t among the numerous meta jokes and pop culture references. They discuss the long-anticipated arrival of Josh Brolin’s "Cable," why Deadpool is so popular, and where the character and the franchise goes from here.SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains serious spoilers for the movie. Be warned!
May 14, 2018 · 29 min
Making the Melissa McCarthy Machine, With Ben Falcone | The Big Picture (Ep. 64)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with comedic filmmaker Ben Falcone about ‘Life of the Party’—his new movie starring his wife, Melissa McCarthy—and what it’s like to creatively collaborate with his life partner.
May 10, 2018 · 30 min
Jason Reitman Is Not Here to Make a Blockbuster | The Big Picture (Ep. 63)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with filmmaker Jason Reitman about his early box office success with movies like ‘Juno’ and ‘Up in the Air,’ the complicated nature of making movies that are not meant to be blockbusters in 2018, and his new and terrifying film about parenting, ‘Tully,’ starring Charlize Theron.
Apr 27, 2018 · 1 hr 6 min
Emergency ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Breakdown I The Big Picture (Ep. 62)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and David Shoemaker take an exhaustive trip through the galaxy to break down the plot twists, character deaths, and paths forward for the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the action-packed, plot-heavy ‘Avengers: Infinity War.’ SPOILER ALERT: The second half of this episode contains serious spoilers for the movie. Be warned!
Apr 23, 2018 · 38 min
William Friedkin Meets a Real-Life ‘Exorcist’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 61)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with legendary filmmaker Willam Friedkin, who’s responsible for films such as 'The French Connection,' 'The Exorcist,' 'Sorcerer,' and 'To Live and Die in L.A.' Friedkin discusses his distinguished career in film and why, at 82, he decided to create a new documentary about a real-life exorcism called 'The Devil and Father Amorth.'