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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Jul 21, 2017 · 38 min
Jenny Slate, Gillian Robespierre, and Elisabeth Holm on ‘Landline’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 19)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins discuss Gillian Robespierre’s ‘Obvious Child’ (0:10) and her new film, ‘Landline.’ Then Sean is joined by Robespierre, Jenny Slate, and Elisabeth Holm to discuss growing up in the ’90s, the sacrifices of independent filmmaking, and collaborating on their second project together (10:00).
Jul 14, 2017 · 50 min
Matt Reeves Puts Humanity in ‘The Planet of the Apes’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 18)
The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan discuss the successes and failures of filmmakers who have recently overseen big-budget franchises, such as Matt Reeves’s ‘Planet of the Apes’ series, Michael Bay’s ‘Transformers’ series, and Christopher Nolan’s sustained run (1:05). Later, Sean sits down with Matt Reeves to discuss the intricate filmmaking process of ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ and what to expect from his next movie, ‘The Batman’ (13:30).
Jul 6, 2017 · 48 min
David Lowery’s Strange and Beautiful ‘A Ghost Story’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 17)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey and Vanity Fair film critic Richard Lawson discuss filmmaker David Lowery’s latest, ‘A Ghost Story,’ an unconventional film with an unconventional debut at Sundance (1:00). Later, Sean chats with Lowery about the making of the movie and why he no longer watches his movies or reads his reviews (9:30).
Jun 16, 2017 · 52 min
Female-Powered Comedy With ‘Rough Night’ Creators Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs | The Big Picture (Ep. 16)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey and staff writer Lindsay Zoladz discuss the dearth of female filmmakers in the R-rated comedy space (2:00) before Sean chats with the ‘Rough Night’ writing and directing team of Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs about meeting at the UCB Theatre, developing ‘Broad City,’ and making a studio comedy starring big names like Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, and Zoë Kravitz (17:00).
Jun 8, 2017 · 44 min
Modern Horror and ‘It Comes at Night’ Director Trey Edward Shults | The Big Picture (Ep. 15)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey and film critic K. Austin Collins discuss the emergence of modern horror films like ‘The Witch’ and the increasing emphasis on tone over standard horror tropes (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Trey Edward Shults, who explains how working through his own darkness led to making his latest film, ‘It Comes At Night’ (15:50).
Jun 1, 2017 · 45 min
Amy Schumer’s Career Arc, and ‘Snatched’ Director Jonathan Levine | The Big Picture (Ep. 14)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey discusses comedic storytelling and Amy Schumer’s career arc, from stand-up comedian to movie star, with Jason Zinoman of The New York Times (0:50). Then Sean is joined by filmmaker Jonathan Levine (‘The Wackness,’ ‘50/50’) to discuss collaborating with Schumer on his new comedy, ‘Snatched’, his own career arc, finding his path, and dealing with bad reviews (14:20).
May 15, 2017 · 41 min
Doug Liman on ‘The Wall’ and Making Movies His Way | The Big Picture (Ep. 13)
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May 11, 2017 · 29 min
Guy Ritchie and the Challenges of Making ‘King Arthur’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 12)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey and executive editor Chris Ryan explore the career arc of renowned director Guy Ritchie (0:30) before sitting down with Ritchie (10:00) to discuss the challenges of making his new film, King Arthur, and his personal philosophies surrounding fear, results, and self-confidence.
Apr 28, 2017 · 44 min
‘Sleight’ Director J.D. Dillard | The Big Picture (Ep. 11)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with first-time director J.D. Dillard to discuss how he went from dropping out of school to being on the set of The Force Awakens with J.J. Abrams to debuting his first film, Sleight, at Sundance. Dillard also talks about helming the long-rumored reboot of The Fly.
Apr 21, 2017 · 30 min
'Free Fire’ Director Ben Wheatley | The Big Picture (Ep. 10)
Ringer Editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with director Ben Wheatley to discuss his latest film, Free Fire (0:10), getting sought out by star actors and directors like Armie Hammer and Martin Scorsese (6:40), and striking a balance between entertaining and traumatizing an audience (14:40).
Apr 13, 2017 · 35 min
‘The Lost City of Z’ Director James Gray | The Big Picture (Ep. 9)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with acclaimed director James Gray to discuss the high stakes of filming his new movie, The Lost City of Z, in the jungle, the near-impossible task of making a classic film, and why he isn’t interested in making a television series.
Apr 7, 2017 · 46 min
Jake Johnson and Joe Swanberg on Their New Film ‘Win It All’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 8)
The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Sean Fennessey sit down with actor Jake Johnson and director Joe Swanberg to discuss their new gambling film Win It All, why they wanted to make a movie for Netflix, and what it’s like teaming up for multiple projects.
Mar 31, 2017 · 33 min
‘The Discovery’ Director Charlie McDowell | The Big Picture (Ep. 7)
The Ringer's Editor-in-Chief Sean Fennessey sits down with director Charlie McDowell to discuss his new film The Discovery (1:55), casting Robert Redford (12:58), being one of Netflix's first major features (21:05) and how to pull off an ending with a twist (18:45).
Mar 9, 2017 · 38 min
Interview With 'Get Out' Director Jordan Peele | The Big Picture (Ep. 6)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with writer-director Jordan Peele (of 'Key & Peele' fame) to discuss his new hit film, 'Get Out,' how and why he made it, and its overwhelmingly positive reception. Peele also talks about ideas for alternate scenes and endings as well as his reasoning behind some of the movie's most pivotal moments.
Feb 17, 2017 · 31 min
'A Cure for Wellness' Director Gore Verbinski on Making Something Outside the Box and the Future of the Industry | The Big Picture (Ep. 5)
Gore Verbinski has been directing movies for two decades now, including The Ring, Rango, The Lone Ranger, and the first three Pirates of the Caribbean features. His latest picture, A Cure for Wellness, breaks away from big-budget Hollywood features with a lesser-known cast and unique premise. On the latest Channel 33 episode, he spoke with Sean Fennessey about the joy in making something different and the future of the industry.
Feb 9, 2017 · 32 min
Barry Jenkins on Crafting the Sincerity of ‘Moonlight’ | The Big Picture (Ep. 4)
Barry Jenkins’s Moonlight is one of the heavyweights in this year’s Academy Awards race, racking up eight nominations. The film was the first movie for Jenkins in eight years, and provided particular challenges due to limited funding and time. One way he overcame those obstacles and made his movie unique was by casting non-actors alongside actors, something he discussed with Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey.
Feb 3, 2017 · 56 min
Interview With ‘O.J.: Made in America’ Director Ezra Edelman | The Big Picture (Ep. 3)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with filmmaker Ezra Edelman to discuss the making of O.J.: Made in America, his epic eight-hour Oscar-nominated documentary examining O.J. Simpson’s rise and fall through the lens of race, place, celebrity, and time.
Jan 19, 2017 · 38 min
Interview With ‘20th Century Women’ Director Mike Mills | The Big Picture (Ep. 2)
Mike Mills’s past two films — Beginners and 20th Century Women — have both been semi-autobiographical. Beginners focuses on Mills’s father, who came out at age 75 shortly before his death, while 20th Century Women is based on Mills’s mother as a way to look at the 1970s. On Channel 33, Sean Fennessey talked to Mills about his experience making the films, and how he blends his own childhood with his art.
Jan 13, 2017 · 41 min
Interview With 'Hidden Figures' Director Ted Melfi | The Big Picture (Ep. 1)
The Ringer's Sean Fennessey sits down with Ted Melfi to discuss the success of his latest film, Hidden Figures (1:10), and how it came about (3:19), as well as the difficulties of making an entertaining movie about math (8:00). Melfi also shares what it's like working with Taraji P. Henson (18:27) and Kevin Costner (21:15), getting Pharrell to score his movie (29:20), and how he feels about the "Hidden Fences" mishap (38:45).