Filmspotting

Latest Episodes:

Blue Heron: A Lyrical Debut — and an Early Golden Brick Contender May 14, 2026

Show notes

Adam and Josh review Sophy Romvari’s debut feature Blue Heron, a semi-autobiographical "memory piece" that follows a Hungarian immigrant family on Vancouver Island in the late 1990s. They discuss Romvari’s distinct "observational elegance," the film’s striking meta-elements, and how it stacks up against other recent memory-focused masterworks like Aftersun. Plus, a look at why this is already a frontrunner for the 2026 Golden Brick.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top 5 Terrence Malick Scenes | Archive May 13, 2026

Show notes

From the outlaw poetry of Badlands to the cosmic spirituality of The Tree of Life, this week's Archive episode has Adam and Josh counting down the five most indelible moments from one of cinema's most elusive auteurs. Expect plenty of hushed voiceovers and magic-hour cinematography.

Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lord of the Flies: The BBC Brings Art to Netflix | SVU May 12, 2026

Show notes

This week, Matt and Jordan flip for the conch to discuss the BBC’s new four-part adaptation of The Lord of the Flies, now streaming on Netflix. The duo dives deep into Jack Thorne’s "cinematic" take on the classic novel, debating the effectiveness of its character-focused structure and its haunting visual palette.

For Rec Seg!, they've got Flies-inspired recommendations that range from the whimsical to the harrowing, and in response to listener emails, a deep-cut horror recommendation and an experimental short (that may just scratch that jam-band itch). Plus, Matt faces his fears as Producer Sam takes over as "Dungeon Master" for this week's game, The Streaming Limited, testing the hosts’ knowledge of literary-inspired miniseries. (Ep. #172)

(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:02:50)

Lord of the Flies (00:02:51-00:35:19)

Rec Seg! (00:35:20-00:55:40)

Personalized Recs: Deep Cut Horror, Jam Band Scores (00:55:41-01:13:13)

Game: The Streaming Limited (01:13:14-01:35:42)

New to Streaming / Credits (01:35:43-01:49:17)

Notes:

Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive

⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠⁠

Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October. Pre-Order now!

⁠⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠⁠

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com⁠⁠

Follow:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/mattsinger.bsky.social⁠⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rome, Open City: The Blueprint for Revolutionary Cinema | Dissident Cinema May 11, 2026

Show notes

Adam and Josh continue Filmspotting’s Dissident Cinema Marathon with its second entry, Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City. Made in the immediate aftermath of Nazi occupation and against the backdrop of a country still in crisis, the film merges neorealist observation with the tension and structure of a spy thriller. The conversation explores how the movie captures resistance not as myth but as lived experience, examining its radical immediacy and why the film stands as a blueprint for what revolutionary cinema could become.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top 5 Meryl Streep Scenes | #1063 May 08, 2026

Show notes

Meryl Streep is back as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2, and what better way to pay tribute to the best to ever do it than with a Top 5 devoted exclusively to her? Adam and Josh attempt to narrow down five decades of legendary work into a handful of essential scenes, ranging from Streep’s emotional precision in Sophie's Choice and Kramer vs. Kramer to her charming looseness in Adaptation. Plus, the long-awaited return of Massacre Theatre.

This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.

(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:03:16)

Top 5 Streep Scenes – Pt. 1 (00:03:17-00:32:19)

Filmspotting Family (00:32:20-00:37:48)

Top 5 Streep Scenes – Pt. 2 (00:37:49-01:25:21)

Next Week / Notes (01:25:22-01:38:17)

Massacre Theatre (01:38:17-01:41:20)

Credits / New Releases (01:41:21-01:44:05)

Links:

-Chicago Critics Film Festival

https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/

-Filmspotting Fest

https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest

-Filmspotting Madness

https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.
https://filmspottingfamily.com

-Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠

Follow:

-Watch Filmspotting on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/filmspotting

-Adam/Filmspotting:

Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky

-Josh/LarsenOnFilm:

Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Devil Wears Prada 2: With a Defanged Miranda, What's Left? May 07, 2026

Show notes

Adam and Josh discuss how The Devil Wears Prada 2 softens Miranda Priestly’s edges and why, despite mealy‑mouthed social commentary, the legacy sequel mostly works as comfort viewing. Along the way, they make the case that Meryl Streep is still the movie’s true luxury item. Plus: is it time for a Fitspotting spinoff?

Links

-Andy’s Best Dress

-Chanel's Haute Couture Spring 2020 Collection

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Top 5 Overlooked Movies of the 2000s | Archive May 06, 2026

Show notes

As the 2019 edition of Madness – Best of the 2000s wrapped up, Adam and Josh took a break from the heavy hitters to highlight the gems that didn't make the 64-film bracket, including underseen comedies from Jack Black and Seann William Scott, an ambitious "docu-fantasia" from Guy Maddin, and even some deeper cuts from A-list directors like Ridley Scott and Robert Zemeckis.

Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People We Meet on Vacation: Rom-Coms Have a New Star | SVU May 05, 2026

Show notes

Matt and Jordan see if Netflix’s massive rom-com hit People We Meet on Vacation (starring "generational talent" Emily Bader) lives up to its 50-million-stream hype. Does the film successfully invert the When Harry Met Sally formula, or is it just a beautiful travelogue hampered by a "charisma vacuum"?

Later, Jordan recommends an under-seen 2023 indie mafia drama, and Matt invites us to fall in love with a 1963 French New Wave short. Plus, a pair of listener-requested recommendations inspired by 1975's The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

Finally, Producer Sam challenges Jordan’s 3-0 winning streak in a high-stakes game of "Full Service." (Ep. #171)

(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:03:45)

People We Meet On Vacation (00:03:46-00:27:02)

Rec Seg! (00:27:03-00:47:50)

Personalized Recommendations Inspired By 1974's The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (00:47:51-01:03:14)

Game: Full Service (01:03:15-01:20:51)

New to Streaming / Credits (01:20:52-01:33:48)

Notes:

Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive

⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠⁠

Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October. Pre-Order now!

⁠⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠⁠

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com⁠⁠

Follow:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/mattsinger.bsky.social⁠⁠

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Great Dictator: Chaplin’s Act of Artistic Nobility | Dissident Cinema May 04, 2026

Show notes

First up in Filmspotting’s Dissident Cinema Marathon, Adam and Josh discuss Charlie Chaplin’s 1940 satire The Great Dictator. They explore how comedy becomes a weapon against fascism, the film’s surprising prescience and moral clarity, and the risks Chaplin took by calling out authoritarian power before much of the world was willing to do so.

Links:

-Filmspotting Marathons

https://www.filmspotting.net/marathons

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.
https://filmspottingfamily.com

-Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠

Follow:

-Watch Filmspotting on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/filmspotting

-Adam/Filmspotting:

Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky

-Josh/LarsenOnFilm:

Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer Movie Preview 2026 and ’40s Madness Champion | #1062 May 01, 2026

Show notes

Adam and Josh draft their way through the summer movie slate, weighing everything from major studio events like The Odyssey and Disclosure Day to director-driven wild cards such as Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Power Ballad. Also, the Filmspotting '40s Madness champion and plans for Madness '27 (and beyond).

This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.

(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:03:39)

Summer Preview – Pt. 1 (00:03:40-00:21:11)

Filmspotting Family (00:21:12-00:26:56)

Summer Preview – Pt. 2 (00:26:57-00:52:43)

Poll / Notes (00:52:44-01:01:47)

'40s Madness: Champion (01:01:48-01:24:58)

Credits / New Releases (01:24:59-01:30:29)

Links:

-Chicago Critics Film Festival

https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/

-Summer Movie Draft Results