The Big Picture
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, featuring a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons.
The Aggressive Majesty of ‘May December’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’
Sean and Amanda are joined by Wesley Morris to unpack their feelings about Todd Haynes's ‘May December.’ They discuss the complicated nature of the performances, hypothesize its potential for awards season, and much more (1:19). Later, they talk about their shared love for the newest concert film, ‘Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,’ and highlight their appreciation for its impressive technical feats (55:13). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Wesley Morris Producers: Jack Sanders and Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 1
1 hr 50 min
‘Saltburn’: Iconic or Disastrous? Plus: Alexander Payne!
Sean and Amanda briefly share thoughts on Disney’s ‘Wish’ (1:00), before digging deep into Emerald Fennell’s ‘Saltburn,’ including its cast, its spotty plot, its relation to Fennell’s first feature, and more (5:00). Then, they share their top five “big swing” movies (1:07:00). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Holdovers’ director Alexander Payne to discuss reuniting with Paul Giamatti, casting an actor in their first role, the filmmaking style of the movie, and more (1:20:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Alexander Payne Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 27
1 hr 44 min
‘Napoleon’ and the Top Five "Great Men" Movies
Sean, Amanda, and Chris explore the high highs of Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’—in particular the battle scenes—while trying to sort through their feelings on why the movie doesn’t come together as a whole quite how they hoped it would (1:00). Then, they try to place ‘Napoleon’ in the historical context of “great men” movies and share their top five in the genre (40:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 22
1 hr 26 min
‘The Holdovers’ and ‘The Hunger Games.’ Plus: Eli Roth!
Sean and Amanda review two divergent releases from this past weekend—a continuation of the Hunger Games intellectual property, ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ (1:00), and Alexander Payne's latest feature, ‘The Holdovers’ (30:00). Then, Sean is joined by writer, director, and actor Eli Roth (1:07:00) to talk about ‘Thanksgiving,’ his feature-length follow-up to the fictional trailer of the same name, which first appeared in the 2007 film ‘Grindhouse.’ Sean and Eli discuss Roth’s particular interests within the horror genre, the state of modern IP horror, and what he’s interested in doing next. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Eli Roth Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 20
1 hr 52 min
The Ridley Scott Hall of Fame. Plus: Errol Morris!
With Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’ hitting theaters, Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to build the Ridley Hall of Fame, selecting his 10 films most worthy of preservation (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by filmmaker Errol Morris to talk about his new John le Carré documentary, ‘The Pigeon Tunnel,’ Morris’s interviewing style, how he chooses subjects, the overlap between documentary and drama filmmaking, and more (1:27:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Errol Morris Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 17
2 hr
‘The Marvels’ Is Here. Is It Too Late for the MCU?
Sean and Amanda are joined by The Ringer’s Joanna Robinson to discuss the successes and failures of ‘The Marvels’ and what it portends for Marvel’s hopes to pull out of their relative recent tailspin (1:00). Then, Sean talks with ‘Dream Scenario’ writer and director Kristoffer Borgli about how he get his career kick-started, making films in the United States vs. Europe, and working with Nic Cage (1:15:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Joanna Robinson and Kristoffer Borgli Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 14
1 hr 52 min
‘The Killer’ Is Cold-Blooded Genius. And Something More
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the trio’s collective favorite movie of 2023, David Fincher’s ‘The Killer’ (1:00). Then, Adam Nayman joins the show to give his take on ‘The Killer,’ the state of American auteur directors in 2023, and where the film fits into Fincher’s larger project (48:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 9
1 hr 30 min
Best Picture Power Rankings and ‘Priscilla’ With Sofia Coppola!
Sean and Amanda review Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’ (1:00), including the performances of its leads, Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny, its set and costume design, where it slots in with her film canon, and more. Then, they take stock of the Best Picture Oscars race (47:00) and share the 10 movies they think are most likely to be nominated (1:02:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Coppola to talk about what she saw in Priscilla Presley’s memoir that made her want to adapt it, the process of recreating extremely famous figures, and the scale and scope that she likes to make her movies at (1:09:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Sofia Coppola Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 7
1 hr 37 min
The David Fincher Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the work of acclaimed director David Fincher. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 3
1 hr 40 min
Did ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Just Save Movies? Plus: The Emily Blunt Movie Star Playbook.
Sean and Amanda discuss the somewhat surprising dominant movie at the box office, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s,’ a horror adaptation of a popular video game series (1:00). Then, they review ‘Pain Hustlers,’ the David Yates–directed drama about the opioid crisis starring Chris Evans and Emily Blunt (27:00), before running through Blunt’s career to this point and laying out her “movie star playbook” (36:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 31
1 hr 32 min
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