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

Dec 12, 2024 · 1 hr 20 min
Magnolia
This week Paul & Amy break down Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1999 drama Magnolia. They talk about the sprawling narrative, giving PTA final cut, Tom Cruise’s performance and more. Next week Paul & Amy will break down the 1999 Stanley Kubrick thriller Eyes Wide Shut. You can rent Magnolia on all platforms but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letter
Dec 5, 2024 · 1 hr 17 min
The Big Lebowski
This week Paul & Amy break down the 1998 crime comedy film The Big Lebowski! They talk about the film’s lasting legacy as one of the Coen brothers' best and most beloved movies, Jeff Bridges embodying The Dude, and so much more. Next week Paul & Amy will break down the 1999 Paul Thomas Anderson directed Magnolia. You can rent The Big Lebowski on all platforms but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord a
Nov 21, 2024 · 1 hr 8 min
Gladiator
This week Paul & Amy break down the 2000 action/adventure blockbuster Gladiator starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen & Richard Harris. They talk about reviving the sword & sandals genre, the ever evolving script, how relevant it is to today and more. You can rent Gladiator on all platforms but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul a
Nov 14, 2024 · 1 hr 11 min
Heathers
This week Paul & Amy break down the 1989 dark comedy classic Heathers starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty. They talk about how it subverts the high school comedy genre, how relevant it is today and more. Next week you WILL be entertained as we cover Gladiator! You can rent Heathers on all platforms but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6
Nov 7, 2024 · 1 hr 21 min
RE: Election
This week Paul & Amy are re-releasing their episode on the Alexander Payne film, Election. They praise director Alexander Payne’s brilliant eye for humanist detail, discuss how Matthew Broderick channels his Ferris Bueller image to subversive ends, and posit that America has only become more like high school since the movie’s release. Plus: How Election almost derailed Reese Witherspoon’s career. They'll be back with an all new episode next week about Heathers! You can join the Unspooled conv
Oct 31, 2024 · 1 hr 13 min
Seven
This week Paul & Amy break down the 1995 David Fincher crime thriller Seven starring Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow. They talk about how this movie reinvented the cop movie, how there were 12 drafts of the script, Brad and David's allergy to "the cheese" and more. You can rent Seven on your streaming service of choice but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/Zwty
Oct 24, 2024 · 59 min
2024 Horror Movie Roundup
Paul and Amy are back and discuss all the big horror movies of 2024! They're talking The Substance, Smile 2, Longlegs, Speak No Evil and What's Inside. Plus Alison Foreman tries to sell Paul and Amy on Art the clown of the Terrifier franchise! 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 Joy
Oct 17, 2024 · 1 hr 16 min
Pulp Fiction: 30th Anniversary
For the 30th Anniversary of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, we're re-releasing our episode discussing it back from 2019! Paul and Amy boogie through 1994’s Quentin Tarantino indie breakout Pulp Fiction! They revisit the moment Pulp Fiction won at Cannes, ask what this film did right that so many imitators did wrong, and try to figure out what’s in the briefcase. Next week: We're back with an all new episode discussing this year in horror! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Di
Oct 10, 2024 · 47 min
Folie á Deux: Taxi Driver & Joker
This week Amy is out, and Paul is on his own and briefly breaking down the new Joker: Folie à Deux release and its poor reviews and we see if Paul has changed his opinion on Joker. Then we revisit Paul and Amy’s discussion about Paul Schrader's 'man in the room' film Taxi Driver and the 2019 Joker release. 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/paul
Oct 3, 2024 · 1 hr 20 min
The Jerk
This week Paul and Amy are catching the rhythm as they break down Carl Reiner's slapstick comedy The Jerk, starring Steve Martin. Paul and Amy praise Steve Martin and his style of comedy for always punching up, his physical commitment, and how he looks out for others through his comedies. They discuss Martin's favorite joke in the film, the special trailer sent to theater managers, and how Carl Reiner showed us Steve's heart. Plus, we can thank The Jerk for pizza in a cup. You can rent The Jerk
Sep 26, 2024 · 1 hr 10 min
Office Space
This week Paul and Amy are breaking out their staplers and adding cover letters to their TPS reports. That’s right, they’re breaking down the 1999 dark comedy Office Space, starring Ron Livingston and Jennifer Aniston. Paul and Amy discuss the similarities between Office Space and The Matrix, the origins of Milton, and Amy's Lumbergh Sex Theory. Next week we'll be discussing The Jerk. You can rent Office Space on your platform of choice or stream it on on Hulu but don't forget to check your loca
Sep 19, 2024 · 1 hr 20 min
Batman Returns
This week Paul & Amy break down the 1992 Tim Burton sequel Batman Returns. They talk about how THIS is the Batman movie Tim Burton originally wanted to make, how Danny Devito came up with having black bile, how this movie predicts modern day political figures and more. Next week...Office Space. You can rent or stream Batman Returns on several streaming services but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord
Sep 12, 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
Beetlejuice
This week Paul & Amy break down the 1988 dark fantasy comedy horror film Beetlejuice starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis and Katherine O'Hara. They talk about what a swing it is for Tim Burton's second film, who he originally wanted to play Beetlejuice, how the film depicts death and so much more. Next week...Batman Returns! Beetlejuice is available to rent or stream on multiple platforms but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy!
Sep 5, 2024 · 1 hr 10 min
Shaun of the Dead
This week Paul & Amy break down the 2004 zom-rom-com Shaun of the Dead directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost just in time for it's 20th anniversary theatrical re-release. They discuss how it pays homage to zombie films that came before it, how it introduced British comedy to a wider audience, and so much more. Next week...Beetlejuice! Shaun of the Dead is available to rent or stream on multiple platforms but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopl
Aug 29, 2024 · 1 hr
Deadpool & Wolverine, It Ends With Us, Trap
This week Paul & Amy break down the summer movie box office! They talk about Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reviving Marvel, the Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni drama, M. Night Shyamalan and more! Next week Paul and Amy discuss the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead which is available to rent or stream everywhere but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Am
Aug 22, 2024 · 1 hr 16 min
Armageddon
This week Paul & Amy break down the 1998 Michael Bay action/sci-fi film Armageddon starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. They discuss how the film and Bay goes after the "nerds", the birth of Bayhem, Affleck mocking the film on the DVD commentary, and more. Next week it's the end of summer movie round up where we're talking all things Deadpool & Wolverine, It Ends With Us, Trap and more. Did the summer movie box office bounce back?! Tune in to find out! You can join the Unspooled c
Aug 15, 2024 · 1 hr 13 min
Airplane!
This week Paul & Amy break down the 1980 comedy classic Airplane! They talk about Leslie Nielsen's fart machine, what makes the jokes hold up, and more. Next week we'll be continuing on with our Disaster Movie Summer with the 1998 disaster film Armageddon. You can stream Armageddon on Hulu but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for
Aug 8, 2024 · 58 min
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
This week Paul & Amy break down the 2014 action/sci-fi sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. They discuss how the Planet of the Apes series has endured, Andy Serkis' incredible performance as Caesar, siding with the apes or the humans, and more. Apes together strong. Next week we'll be continuing on with our Disaster Movie Summer with the 1980 comedy Airplane!. You can stream Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on Hulu, Disney+ and Max but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopl
Aug 1, 2024 · 1 hr
This Is The End
This week Paul & Amy break down the 2013 apocalyptic comedy horror film This Is The End. They discuss Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's directorial choices, what makes a good comedy ensemble movie, and who is the MVP of the movie: Danny McBride or Jay Baruchel? Next week we'll be continuing on with our Disaster Movie Summer with the 2014 sci-fi action film Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. You can stream Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on Disney+, Hulu and Max but don't forget to check your local
Jul 25, 2024 · 1 hr 6 min
Edge of Tomorrow
This week Paul & Amy break down the 2014 Sci-Fi action movie Edge of Tomorrow aka Live. Die. Repeat. aka All You Need is Kill. The two discuss Tom Cruise's rise in becoming the action star he is today, how incredible Emily Blunt is, and the film's brilliant combination of video gaming and war movie aesthetics. You can find Amy’s book, Anatomy of an Actor: Tom Cruise here: https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Cruise-Anatomy-Amy-Nicholson/dp/0714868019 And don’t forget to check your local library and the