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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Dec 15, 2017 · 41 min
Was 2007 the Best Year for Film? | The Big Picture (Ep. 40)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, and Andy Greenwald go back to 2007 to discuss the most fascinating year for movies in recent memory.
Dec 8, 2017 · 33 min
Sean Baker’s Wondrous ‘The Florida Project’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 39)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with Sean Baker, who was recently awarded Best Director by the New York Film Critics Circle for his latest film, ‘The Florida Project.’ They discuss how Baker tells authentic stories about underrepresented communities, his use of inexperienced actors, and why he prefers making smaller-budget films.
Dec 1, 2017 · 29 min
Errol Morris's Catnip for Conspiracy Theorists | The Big Picture (Ep. 38)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with documentarian Errol Morris to discuss his new Netflix miniseries ‘Wormwood,’ a story of mind control, LSD, the CIA in the 1950s, and murder. They also discuss Morris’s classic works like ‘The Thin Blue Line,’ as well as the day he spent with Donald Trump to discuss the president’s favorite film, 'Citizen Kane.'
Nov 22, 2017 · 28 min
Joe Wright Bounces Back From His Darkest Hour | The Big Picture (Ep. 37)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with director Joe Wright to discuss how he picked himself up after the failure of his 2015 film, ‘Pan,’ to deliver ‘Darkest Hour,’ a Winston Churchill biopic that stars a mesmerizing Gary Oldman. Plus: Wright discusses the changing state of the movie business and why he took the reins on an episode of ‘Black Mirror.’
Nov 17, 2017 · 1 hr 1 min
The Past, Present, and Future of Superhero Movies | The Big Picture (Ep. 35)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey is joined by fellow Ringer staffers and comic book enthusiasts Jason Concepcion and David Shoemaker to discuss the evolution, the current state, and the future of the movie universes of DC and Marvel.
Nov 13, 2017 · 30 min
Greta Gerwig on ‘Lady Bird,’ One of the Year’s Best Movies | The Big Picture (Ep. 34)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with actor, writer, and director Greta Gerwig to discuss her critically acclaimed film ‘Lady Bird.’ Gerwig shares her years-long writing process, how she casts actors, and a defense of Dave Matthews Band.
Nov 10, 2017 · 37 min
Passing Time With Richard Linklater | The Big Picture (Ep. 33)
Richard Linklater to discuss the impact of war in his new film, ‘Last Flag Flying,’ as well as his tendency to creatively revisit his previous films over time, like with ‘Dazed and Confused,' ‘Before Midnight,’ and ‘Boyhood’ (1:00). Linklater also discusses the state of sexual harassment news in Hollywood (28:00).
Nov 3, 2017 · 33 min
How to Make a Marvel Movie Funny With ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Director Taika Waititi | The Big Picture (Ep. 32)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with Taika Waititi about his transition from small indie comedies in New Zealand to Marvel’s big-budget superhero epic ‘Thor: Ragnarok.’
Oct 27, 2017 · 28 min
Ruben Östlund Is Trying to Provoke You | The Big Picture (Ep. 31)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with filmmaker Ruben Östlund about his new film, ‘The Square,’ satirizing the art world, and why he enjoys toying with audiences.
Oct 20, 2017 · 26 min
Todd Haynes on Growing Up and Going ‘Wonderstruck’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 30)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with filmmaker Todd Haynes to discuss his journey of making movies as a child to channeling youth and finding children to star in his latest film, ‘Wonderstruck.’
Oct 16, 2017 · 33 min
Noah Baumbach and Capturing the American Family | The Big Picture (Ep. 29)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with writer-director Noah Baumbach to discuss his new film, ‘The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)’; creating a serious role for Adam Sandler; Netflix purchasing his film; and how he captures the American family.
Oct 11, 2017 · 24 min
Darren Aronofsky on Pushing the Envelope | The Big Picture (Ep. 28)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with filmmaker Darren Aronofsky to discuss his polarizing film, ‘Mother!,’ and the art of putting both his characters and the audience under duress.
Sep 29, 2017 · 27 min
Stephen Frears and the Inner Workings of the Royal Family | The Big Picture (Ep. 27)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins break down their favorite films about the British royal family (1:00) before Sean sits down with acclaimed director Stephen Frears to discuss his new film ‘Victoria and Abdul,’ making films about the royals, and his longevity in the industry (10:00).
Sep 22, 2017 · 32 min
Dissecting 'Mother!,' the Most Controversial Movie of the Year | The Big Picture (Ep. 26)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins, and K. Austin Collins attempt to wrap their heads around Darren Aronofsky’s controversial new film, ‘Mother!’
Sep 15, 2017 · 36 min
Danny Strong and the Recipe for a Classic Biopic | The Big Picture (Ep. 25)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey and executive editor Chris Ryan reveal their favorite biopics and hash out what makes them great (1:00). Then, Sean sits down with writer, actor, and director Danny Strong to discuss his recent J.D. Salinger biopic, ‘Rebel in the Rye,’ and how doubling down on his passion paid off (12:00).
Sep 8, 2017 · 33 min
'It' Director Andy Muschietti on Adapting Stephen King | The Big Picture (Ep. 24)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with Kate Knibbs about Stephen King’s classic horror novel ‘It’ (0:30) before sitting down with Andy Muschietti, who discusses adapting the book for the screen and re-creating the terrifying character Pennywise (6:20).
Sep 1, 2017 · 35 min
Jay Baruchel’s Directorial Debut and Making an Authentic Hockey Movie | The Big Picture (Ep. 23)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with Katie Baker about the best hockey films ever made (0:30) before he sits down with actor and now director Jay Baruchel about making his first film, 'Goon: Last of the Enforcers'; hockey fandom; and filming the perfect hockey fight (6:00).
Aug 18, 2017 · 41 min
Janicza Bravo and Brett Gelman Channel Rejection and Anxiety to Make ‘Lemon’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 22)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with Alison Herman about Janicza Bravo’s approach to uncomfortable comedy and her direction of “Juneteenth,” the instant-classic episode of ‘Atlanta’ (1:00). Then Sean sits down with Bravo and her husband/producing partner, Brett Gelman, to discuss the tumultuous five-year process of getting their film ‘Lemon’ into the world (10:00).
Aug 11, 2017 · 34 min
The Safdie Brothers and ‘Good Time,’ an Instant New York Classic | The Big Picture (Ep. 21)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and K. Austin Collins discuss the Safdie Brothers’ new crime film, ‘Good Time.’ (0:30) Then, Sean sits down with the Josh and Benny Safdie to discuss making a movie starring Robert Pattinson, capturing New York City on-screen, and the frenetic pace of ‘Good Time’ (11:00).
Aug 4, 2017 · 27 min
Taylor Sheridan, 'Wind River,' and How to Write a Killer Movie | The Big Picture (Ep. 20)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan discuss screenwriter Taylor Sheridan’s films ‘Sicario,’ ‘Hell or High Water,’ and his new film, ‘Wind River,’ starring Jeremy Renner (0:40). Then, Sean and Sheridan discuss 'Wind River,' how he depicts raw and realistic scenarios in his movies, and why he decided to get behind the camera (11:00).