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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28 episodes
weekly
Avg 1 hr 11 min
English

Episodes 28

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May 19 · 44 min
Reel Confessions: Lauren Lapkus
Lauren Lapkus steps into the confession booth to talk comfort rewatches, movie blind spots, and the films that changed her mind. Paul and Amy dig into her love for Big, 13 Going on 30, Tommy Boy, and Hocus Pocus, the strange experience of watching kids’ movies on an endless loop, and how her Newcomers podcast pushed her to finally embrace genres she’d avoided for years. Along the way, Lauren plays an unhinged “F***/Marry/Kill” , defends the magic of communal theatergoing, praises Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson, and offers repentance to The Lord of the Rings after years of unfair dismissal. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14 · 58 min
Summer Movie Preview 2026
Paul and Amy kick off the 2026 summer movie season with a whirlwind preview of the films they’re most excited (and nervous) to see, from Supergirl, Tom Holland’s grounded new Spider-Man, and Spielberg’s mysterious Disclosure Day to Jackass: Best & Last, A24’s Backrooms, Olivia Wilde’s The Invite, and Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters. Along the way, they debate sequel overload (Toy Story 5, Scary Movie 6), spotlight oddball indies and comedies like Coyote vs. Acme and Fuck Toys, and share thoughts on everything from live-action Moana to Nolan’s The Odyssey. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 7 · 1 hr 18 min
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Paul and Amy take the leap with The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the globe-trotting ode to daydreamers caught between routine and risk. They trace the film’s long journey from James Thurber’s short story through decades of stalled adaptations, unpack its blend of fantasy and reality, and explore how its work-versus-life themes resonate in a world shifting from analog to digital. Go to https://surfshark.com/unspooled or use code UNSPOOLED at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 30 · 1 hr 29 min
Jerry Maguire
Paul and Amy say “show me the money” with Jerry Maguire, Cameron Crowe’s romantic drama that turns a mission statement into a midlife crisis. They trace the film’s long development, Tom Cruise’s defining performance, and the breakout turns from Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr., while unpacking its mix of sports, romance, and soul-searching ambition. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 23 · 1 hr 28 min
The Devil Wears Prada
Paul and Amy step into the fashion closet with The Devil Wears Prada, revisiting the sharp, stylish comedy that evolved into a definitive story about the cost of ambition. They trace the film’s origins from Lauren Weisberger’s real-life experience, unpack the casting what-ifs, and celebrate Meryl Streep’s iconic, ice-cold turn as Miranda Priestly, from the “cerulean” monologue to the power plays that define the film. Along the way, they explore Andy’s uneasy rise, the shifting dynamics with Emily and Nigel, and why the movie’s unsentimental ending still cuts deep 20 years later. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 21 · 52 min
Reel Confessions: Mike Mitchell
Doughboys' Mike Mitchell steps into the confession booth with Paul and Amy to spill his hottest movie takes, from a chaotic game if “F***/Marry/Kill” of the 2005 Best Director lineup to chatting about his new comedy Napa Boys. They debate “big dumb” hits vs. prestige flops, his Star Wars burnout, and why he’ll never rewatch The Zone of Interest. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 16 · 1 hr 15 min
Total Recall
Paul and Amy jack into Total Recall, the gonzo sci-fi that turned a memory implant into a full-blown identity crisis. From Arnold Schwarzenegger’s forceful push to bring it to life to Verhoeven's mind-bending twists, they unpack the film’s practical-effects spectacle, its biting satire of power and propaganda, and the question at the center of it all: is any of this real, or just the perfect vacation? You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
April 9 · 1 hr 32 min
The Truman Show
Paul and Amy step inside The Truman Show, the high-concept classic that turned reality into a cage and a spectacle. They revisit Peter Weir’s deft balancing act of satire and sincerity, and how Jim Carrey’s career-shifting performance grounds the film’s big ideas in something deeply human. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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