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Unspooled

Paul Scheer & Amy Nicholson | Realm

Each week actor & comedian Paul Scheer (Black Monday, The League) and film critic Amy Nicholson (LA Times Chief Film Critic ) watch and discuss the best movies out there. From the classics to new releases and every indie film in-between. Along the way, they’ll dissect iconic scenes, spotlight their favorite characters, and decide if these movies still stand the test of time.

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  • 462 episodes
  • Updated Thursday

Episodes462

Newest first
  • Jul 23, 2020 · 1 hr 29 min

    Wrapping Up the AFI 100

    It's the end of Season 1...welcome to the AFI Thunderdome! Amy and Paul discover which movies from the AFI 100 surprised and stuck with Unspooled listeners the most, reveal their top 10 and bottom 10 films from the list (along with Producer Josh and Engineer Devon) and make some hard decisions regarding which films deserve to stay in the 100, and which should get cut. Stick around until the end for a big announcement about Season 2, which begins August 20th.   Go to unspooledpod.com to see Pau

  • Jul 15, 2020 · 1 hr 53 min

    Casablanca

    Paul & Amy will always have 1942's Humphrey Bogart WWII romance Casablanca! They learn the trick Bogart used to make himself a magnetic romantic lead, ask each other what their most used Casablanca quote is, and watch an alternate ending as imagined by The Simpsons. Plus: Ben Mankiewicz (TCM, The Plot Thickens) shares why he thinks Casablanca is a greatest-film-of-all-time contender.   Join us next week as we say goodbye to the AFI list and tell you what we have in store for Season 2. In the m

  • Jul 9, 2020 · 1 hr 37 min

    Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

    Paul & Amy make a last stand for 1969’s mythic Western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! They praise the film’s use of montage, discuss how the unusually light tone sets it apart from other Westerns, and contemplate whether Steve McQueen could have played Sundance as well as Robert Redford. Plus: Author Thom Hatch (The Last Outlaws) tells us the stories of the real life Butch and Sundance he wishes made it into the film. You can join the conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.g

  • Jul 1, 2020 · 1 hr 55 min

    Jaws

    Amy & Paul take a bite out of 1975's blockbuster Spielberg creature feature Jaws! They take a close listen to John Williams' iconic score, praise the way Spielberg adds emotional stakes to the story, and ask whether Jurassic Park does much of what Jaws does, but better. Plus: Hannah Medd, founder of the American Shark Conservancy, weighs in on whether dolphins are bigger jerks than sharks.   Which AFI character do you think deserves their own thematic film festival, along the lines of Sundance

  • Jun 25, 2020 · 1 hr 38 min

    It Happened One Night

    Paul & Amy piggyback onto 1934's Frank Capra romantic comedy It Happened One Night! They ask if this script fits the "screwball" mold, praise Claudette Colbert for subverting the cliches of the genre, and learn how Clark Gable inspired Bugs Bunny. Plus: which romantic comedies would Unspooled listeners add to the AFI list?   Help make a campaign ad for (or against) the mayor in Jaws! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more i

  • Jun 18, 2020 · 1 hr 25 min

    Modern Times

    Paul & Amy crank through 1936's mechanical Charlie Chaplin comedy Modern Times! They praise the film's ever-escalating setpieces, learn why Joseph Goebbels banned it in Germany, and ponder how much the working world has really changed since the 30s. Plus: We hear your recommendations for other silent films to add to the list.   For It Happened One Night week, what other romantic comedies do you want to see on the AFI list? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer. Fol

  • Jun 11, 2020 · 1 hr 30 min

    Shane

    Paul & Amy mosey into 1953's archetypal western Shane! They learn about star Alan Ladd's often tragic life, examine how director George Stevens made gun violence feel heightened, and play a referential clip from the X-Men film Logan. Plus: Digging into your thoughts and theories on Blade Runner.   For Modern Times week, what silent film do you think needs to be on the AFI list? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at

  • Jun 4, 2020 · 2 hr 7 min

    Blade Runner

    Amy & Paul run through 1982's moody Ridley Scott dystopia Blade Runner! They listen to the infamous original voiceover, learn what inspired Philip K. Dick's source material, and yes, give their theories on whether Deckard is a replicant. Plus: Screenwriter David Peoples explains which pivotal scene makes the whole film work.   Give us a more iconic cowboy name than "Shane"! Call it in to the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpo

  • May 28, 2020 · 1 hr 56 min

    A Streetcar Named Desire

    Paul & Amy roll into 1951's Southern Gothic Tennessee Williams drama A Streetcar Named Desire! They compare the opposite physicality of Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh, analyze the buildup to Brando's famous scream, and listen to a montage of musical Streetcar references. Plus: Brian Lohmann from the Impro Theater discusses improvising in the style of Tennessee Williams.   For Blade Runner week, give us your rendition of the "tears in rain” speech! Call it in to the Unspooled voicemail line at

  • May 21, 2020 · 1 hr 34 min

    The Bridge On The River Kwai

    Amy and Paul cross 1957's David Lean WWII epic The Bridge On The River Kwai! They explore the career of star Sessue Hayakawa, ask why Lean's tyrannical methods pop up so often in the AFI 100, and compare the film to author Pierre Boulle's other famous work "Planet Of The Apes." Plus: responding to your comments on Goodfellas, and the passing of Fred Willard and Lynn Shelton.   For Streetcar Named Desire week, scream your post-quarantine desires a la "Stella!" Call it in to the Unspooled voicem

  • May 14, 2020 · 1 hr 28 min

    Spool Party: House Party

    Amy & Paul raise the roof for 1990's Kid N' Play comedy smash House Party! They, listen to the film's all-timer rap battle, look at how the Simpsons was influenced by hip-hop culture, and talk to the film's writer and director Reginald Hudlin, and star Christopher "Kid" Reid. (This episode originally aired live on YouTube as part of Unspooled's "Spool Party" series.)   Next week get ready for the 1957 war epic "The Bridge On The River Kwai"! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at un

  • May 7, 2020 · 2 hr 17 min

    Goodfellas

    Amy & Paul jump into 1990's kinetic Scorcese mob epic Goodfellas! They learn some of the wild details about Henry Hill that didn't make it into the film, discover the origins of the Morrie's Wigs commercial, and ask if there are too many gangster films on the AFI list. Plus: Chef Evan Funke (The Shape Of Pasta) shares a tomato sauce recipe you can make even in quarantine.   Next week tune in for our Spool Party episode about Kid N Play's House Party! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more i

  • Apr 30, 2020 · 1 hr 33 min

    Intolerance

    Paul & Amy gawk at 1916's D.W. Griffith silent spectacle Intolerance! They praise the eternally cool Mountain Girl, ask if Griffith was the original 'troll' director, and marvel at the ambition on display in the oldest film on the AFI list. Plus: Unpacking your thoughts on Yankee Doodle Dandy.   If you could kick just one film off the AFI list, which would it be? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.c

  • Apr 23, 2020 · 1 hr 42 min

    Yankee Doodle Dandy

    Paul & Amy salute to 1942's Jimmy Cagney musical extravaganza Yankee Doodle Dandy! They analyze the film as a template for modern musical biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody, break down a bizarre proposal scene, and learn how the real life political views of Jimmy Cagney clashed with his subject George M. Cohan. Plus: listeners offer their thoughts on Cabaret!   For Intolerance week, what movie set do you think could inspire a great mall! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your

  • Apr 16, 2020 · 1 hr 47 min

    Cabaret

    Amy & Paul strut through 1972's Weimar Berlin-set musical Cabaret! They learn about the many forms this story took before becoming a film, discuss a scene that foreshadows today's "fake news" era, and ask if Liza Minnelli is too good of a singer to play Sally Bowles. Plus: Adam Pascal, who played the Emcee in the revival of Cabaret, talks about why he finds the character so unnerving.   Who's a tough guy actor you suspect is actually a great dancer? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666

  • Apr 9, 2020 · 1 hr 42 min

    Easy Rider

    Amy & Paul hit the road for 1969's counter-cultural tone piece Easy Rider! They learn what Spiro Agnew thought of this film, compare its drug trip moments to the films it inspired, and ask what the controversial ending is really trying to say. Plus: listeners dig deeper into Sullivan's Travels' take on poverty.   For Cabaret week, sing us a bit of "Wilkommen"! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your contribution. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpo

  • Apr 2, 2020 · 1 hr 45 min

    Sullivan's Travels

    Paul & Amy travel to 1941's Preston Sturges Hollywood farce Sullivan's Travels! They learn why the US government made Veronica Lake's hairstyle illegal, praise the screenplay's rapid-fire dialogue, and ask if this is actually Sturges' best film or just his best known. Plus: More thoughts on the amazing career of Sidney Lumet.   For Easy Rider week, who would you want to go on a motorcycle road trip with? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @

  • Mar 26, 2020 · 1 hr 50 min

    12 Angry Men

    Amy & Paul deliberate over 1957's Sidney Lumet jury-room drama 12 Angry Men! They ask if all-male juries were ever common, compare Lumet's version to William Friedkin's remake, and praise the powerful performances in this ever-relevant film, Plus: Jury consultant Marissa Beyers talk about how jury selection has evolved since the 50s.   For Sullivan's Travels week, who's a movie director you think could learn something on the road? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your ans

  • Mar 19, 2020 · 1 hr 41 min

    Rear Window

    Paul & Amy peer into 1957's voyeuristic Hitchcock thriller Rear Window! They learn how the magnificent set was constructed, marvel at Jimmy Stewart's portrayal of a man on the moral edge, and discuss why Grace Kelly is not a "Lisa." Plus: Lane Moore, author of How To Be Alone, talks about how she deals with loneliness and isolation.   Next week we are (actually) talking about 12 Angry Men - help defend a criminal character you think deserved a fairer trial! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at