The Big Picture - The Ringer

Latest Episodes:

The Clint Eastwood Mt. Rushmore, and the Curious Case of ‘Juror No. 2.’ Plus: ‘Heretic’! Nov 12, 2024

Show notes

Sean is joined by Adam Nayman to discuss the head-scratching rollout of Clint Eastwood’s justice system interrogation, ‘Juror No. 2’ and the movie’s successes, shortcomings, and Eastwood-isms (1:00). Then, Sean briefly discusses the appeal of ‘Heretic’ (55:00) before being joined by the film’s directors, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, to talk about their writing process, Hugh Grant’s lead performance, the state of getting movies made, and more (58:00).

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Adam Nayman, Scott Beck, and Bryan Woods

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Robert Zemeckis Hall of Fame, and ‘Here’ Nov 08, 2024

Show notes

Sean is joined by Ringer editor-at-large and ‘Press Box’ host Bryan Curtis to discuss ‘Here,’ the new wildly experimental movie from Robert Zemeckis chronicling thousands of years of history in one corner of the world (1:00). Then, they build the Zemeckis Hall of Fame, choosing 10 movies from his roller-coaster canon to enshrine (46:00).

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guest: Bryan Curtis

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Presidential Movie Draft, With Griffin Newman and David Sims of 'Blank Check' Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan as well as Griffin Newman and David Sims from the 'Blank Check' podcast to draft their favorite movie presidents.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Chris Ryan, Griffin Newman, and David Sims

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Conclave’ Crackles, and Christopher Nolan’s Helicopter Movie Takes Off Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the latest rumors about Christopher Nolan’s next film (1:00) and wishcast some lost IP remakes for current hot directors (7:00). Then, they discuss one of the most exciting movies at the box office right now, Edward Berger’s ‘Conclave,’ the papal conclave thriller starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci (32:00). They discuss the performances of its leads, how refreshing it is to have a true thriller with twists at the theaters, and the effectiveness of the film’s final twist. Then, Sean is joined by Matt Tyrnauer, director of ‘Carville: Winning Is Everything, Stupid,’ a new documentary about political strategist James Carville (1:17:00).

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Chris Ryan and Matt Tyrnauer

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Venom: The Last Dance’ and 2024’s Comic Book Movie Nightmare. Plus: ‘The Wild Robot’! Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

Sean is joined by Ringer-Verse pals Mallory Rubin and Charles Holmes to discuss a pair of films that have polar opposite energy. They start by assessing the quality of the third entry in the Tom Hardy Venom trilogy, ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ (1:00), before digging into one of the most heartwarming and visually astonishing movies of the year, ‘The Wild Robot’ (45:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Wild Robot’ director Chris Sanders, a stalwart animation creator whose latest film is a visual reinvention of the genre (1:15:00). Recorded after a screening of the film at Vidiots in Los Angeles, the two discuss pushing the visual style forward, animation in 2024, the role of a director in a feature animation project, and more.

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Charles Holmes, Mallory Rubin, and Chris Sanders

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An Everything-but-Movies Mailbag Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

Sean and Amanda field your questions about everything BUT movies (and some movie things). They answer questions about their origin story as friends, fiction and nonfiction book recommendations, death row meals, ‘Industry,’ cocktails, golf, fighting animals, and much more.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Slasher Movie Hall of Fame, With Alex Ross Perry Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

Sean is joined by Alex Ross Perry to discuss his new film ‘Pavements’ and the film festival hamster wheel (1:00). They then analyze the state of the slasher film subgenre (10:00) and the year in horror. Later, they run through the decades to build their slasher movie hall of fame (47:00), assessing the merits of stone-cold classics like ‘Halloween’ and ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ as well as 90s era masterpieces like ‘Scream.’

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guest: Alex Ross Perry

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Anora’ Is Pure Cinema and the Best Picture Race Is Completely Up in the Air Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

Now that ‘Anora’ has hit select theaters, Sean assesses the state of the Best Picture race by running through a long (emphasis on long) list of 26 films that have a chance to be nominated at the Oscars (1:00). Then, Sean and Amanda discuss ‘Anora,’ Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or–winning drama about a whirlwind romance between a sex worker and the son of a Russian oligarch (30:00). Finally, Sean is joined by John Crowley, the director of the new Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh romance ‘We Live in Time’ (1:15:00). They discuss, among other things, the qualities that attracted Crowley to Garfield and Pugh, how he chooses to work in film vs. theater, his long-running project of sincere romantic dramas, and more.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: John Crowley

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Terrifier 3,’ ‘Smile 2,’ and the 10 Best Horror Movies of 2024 Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the biggest film at the box office, ‘Terrifier 3,’ the third installment of the independently made horror clown franchise that has become this year’s biggest box office surprise (1:00). After, they talk about another horror franchise that’s become a reliable sensation for moviegoers, ‘Smile 2’ (23:00); they go over the impressive filmmaking but ultimately choppy story. They then transition to each sharing their top five horror movies of the year so far (1:15:00), including some obvious bellwethers like ‘Longlegs’ and some franchise entries like ‘Alien: Romulus’ and ‘The First Omen.’

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guest: Chris Ryan

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘The Brutalist,’ the Best Movies at the New York Film Festival, and ‘The Apprentice' With Sebastian Stan! Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

Sean shares a recap of the best movies he caught at the 62nd New York Film Festival, including the heavy hitters at this upcoming Oscars, the latest installations from old masters and personal favorites, and the biggest surprises of the festival (1:00). Then, Ringer writer and ‘Press Box’ host Bryan Curtis joins to share the myriad successes and failures of ‘The Apprentice,’ Ali Abbasi’s character portrait of early Donald Trump’s rise to power in the New York real estate world and his complex relationship with lawyer and power broker Roy Cohn (50:00). Then, Sebastian Stan, who portrays Trump in the film, joins (1:30:00) to discuss how he chooses projects, what attracts him to playing characters who transform, and the long journey to getting ‘The Apprentice’ in theaters. They also discuss his work in ‘A Different Man,’ Aaron Schimberg’s new A24 movie about an aspiring young actor who undergoes a procedure to drastically alter his appearance in the hopes of improving his career prospects.

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Bryan Curtis and Sebastian Stan

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices