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 10 Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2024. Plus: Tarantino’s Pivot, Scorsese’s Sinatra, and Spielberg’s UFOs.
Sean and Amanda discuss the news that Quentin Tarantino has shelved what was previously reported as his 10th and final film, ‘The Movie Critic’ (1:00). Then, they react to some development news for Martin Scorsese’s and Steven Spielberg’s next projects (12:00), and discuss the most anticipated movie of this upcoming summer (29:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 19
1 hr 26 min
The 1999 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite and are joined by several special guests for a mega-draft of the best movies of 1999. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan, and Rob Mahoney Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 16
2 hr 33 min
‘Civil War’ With Alex Garland! Plus: The 10 Most Anticipated Movies Out of CinemaCon.
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to run through the 10 most anticipated movies from this week’s CinemaCon, which Sean attended (1:00). Then, they have a long—and, at times, combative—discussion about Alex Garland’s big-budget A24 release, ‘Civil War’ (44:00), delving into the film’s politics (or lack thereof), point of view, cinematic style, and more. Finally, Sean is joined by Garland to answer questions regarding some of those very things and where he sees this in the arc of his career, as well as discuss whether he will take a step back from filmmaking (1:50:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Alex Garland Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 12
2 hr 36 min
‘Dune: Part Two’ and the 10 Best Movies of the Year … So Far
Sean and Amanda revisit Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Part Two’ and assess whether the fervor for it holds up (1:00). Then, they share their 10 favorite movies of the year so far (25:00), including ‘Immaculate,’ ‘La Chimera,’ ‘The First Omen,’ and others. Sean is then joined by the director of ‘The First Omen,’ Arkasha Stevenson, to discuss the subversive nature of a her legacy sequel, how she got it made, and the career that led her here (1:15:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Arkasha Stevenson Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 9
1 hr 43 min
‘Monkey Man’ Is Here! Plus, the Top Five 21st Century Directorial Debuts.
Sean and Amanda dig into the successes and shortcomings of this week’s biggest release at the box office: Dev Patel’s directorial debut, ‘Monkey Man’ (1:00). They discuss, among other things, the unique action put to screen and the movie’s rumored behind-the-scenes studio management. Then—after casually losing their sanity for 15 minutes in the middle of the podcast—they discuss the best directorial debuts of the 21st century (42:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 5
1 hr 16 min
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ and the Steve Martin Hall of Fame
Sean and Amanda break down a pair of big franchise releases—‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ and ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ (1:00). They then share their thoughts on the new Steve Martin documentary ‘Steve!’ (30:00) and build the Steve Martin Hall of Fame (49:00). Finally, Sean is joined by the director of said documentary, Morgan Neville, to discuss picking a subject, building rapport with that subject, and how he chooses projects (1:40:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Morgan Neville Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 2
2 hr 9 min
The ‘Babylon’ Watch-Along
In a hundred years, when you and I are both long gone, anytime someone listens to this podcast, you will be alive again. Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda as they discuss Damien Chazelle’s 'Babylon.' (The movie is now available on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+, so you can stream along with 'The Big Picture.') Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 26
3 hr 13 min
‘Road House’ and the Top 10 Junk Fight Movies. Plus: Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Immaculate’!
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to briefly discuss ‘Immaculate,’ the new Sydney Sweeney nun horror movie, before digging into Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Road House’ remake (1:00). Then, Sean and Chris explore a new niche subgenre they’ve invented: junk fights (32:00). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Immaculate’ director Michael Mohan to discuss working in the genre, working with Sweeney, and how he hopes to build on this film going forward (1:08:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan and Michael Mohan Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 22
1 hr 43 min
The 1977 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the best movies of 1977—the year of Chris’s birth and a compelling year for many of our most iconic directors. John Cassavetes on TV sucking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePptcNqXRJA Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Chris Ryan Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 19
1 hr 46 min
‘Love Lies Bleeding’ and the 21st Century Noir Movie Canon
Sean and Amanda discuss a recent run of positive 2025 movie news (1:00) before digging into Rose Glass’s second feature, ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ (20:00). They take stock of Kristen Stewart’s unique movie star presence, discuss Glass’s genre command and audacious screenwriting, and praise Katy O’Brian’s wonderfully physical and emotional performance. Then, they run down a list of films they’re calling the 21st Century Noir Movie Canon (36:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Glass to discuss the production of ‘Love Lies Bleeding,’ working with a star like Stewart, why she set the film in America, how Ed Harris became involved in the project, and more (53:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Rose Glass Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 15
1 hr 27 min
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