The Big Picture - The Ringer

Latest Episodes:

It’s ‘Saturday Night’! Plus: The Top Five Backstage Movies and ‘Piece by Piece.’ Oct 11, 2024

Show notes

Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to break down ‘Saturday Night,’ Jason Reitman’s quasi-historical exploration of the beginnings of 'Saturday Night Live' (10:00). They discuss the disbelief that needs to be suspended, as well as the more or less knockout cast, before launching into their top five “backstage” movies and discussion of why it’s so interesting to pull back the curtain in cinema (44:00). Then, Sean is joined by New York Times pop critic and ‘Popcast’ host Jon Caramanica to review ‘Piece by Piece,’ the Pharrell Williams biopic told through Lego animation (1:07:00). They discuss the format, the content, the interviews, and how effectively it does or doesn’t capture the totemic career of Williams and his lasting impact on pop music.

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Chris Ryan and Jon Caramanica

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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The 1996 Movie Draft Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

We are drafting again! And Amanda is back! She and Sean are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 1996.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Hates You. Will You Return the Favor? Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

Sean is joined by Van Lathan to discuss ‘Joker: Folie à Deux,’ the off-putting sequel to Todd Phillips’s 2019 ‘Joker,’ starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga (1:00). They discuss the jukebox musical format’s successes and failures, the filmmaking vs. the experience of watching it, and whether they ultimately liked the movie. Then, they zoom out to discuss the state of moviegoing and movie watching (43:00) and explore whether we’re in a uniquely strange place with the reception of movies and the conversation social media inspires about divisive films and filmmakers. Finally, Sean is joined by director Greg Jardin to discuss his debut feature ‘It’s What’s Inside,’ an all-in-one-night sci-fi thriller with some unexpected twists (spoilers!) and fresh filmmaking choices (1:05:00).

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Van Lathan and Greg Jardin

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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The Francis Ford Coppola Hall of Fame and ‘Megalopolis’ Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

Sean and Amanda do their best to parse through the messiness of Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis,’ starring, among others, Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Aubrey Plaza (1:00). They discuss the circuitous journey Coppola took to finally making the film, the convoluted plot (and at times lack thereof), and the ambition in comparison to the actual execution of the final product. Then, they launch into the Coppola Hall of Fame, selecting 10 movies to enshrine from his uniquely boom-or-bust career, which features legendary movies like ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Apocalypse Now’ alongside historic financial and qualitative bombs (53:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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‘Wolfs’ Is a Clooney and Pitt Reunion. Is It Anything Else? Plus: Five Movies You Need to See This Month. Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

Sean and Amanda react to some news around the movie world (1:00), before discussing ‘Wolfs,’ the reunion of Brad Pitt and George Clooney in a movie about two lone wolf “fixers” who get assigned to the same job (13:00). They discuss whether the movie is interesting beyond the charisma of its leads and get into the up-and-down CV of Apple Films through 2024 (30:00). Then, they discuss four more movies either available or soon to be available at home or in theaters: ‘The Wild Robot,’ ‘Will & Harper,’ ‘His Three Daughters,’ and ‘Transformers One’ (39:00). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Transformers One’ director Josh Cooley to discuss his role as director in the process of making an animated movie, his rise through Pixar, his love for Transformers, and what he’s looking to do next (59:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Josh Cooley

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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We’re Addicted to ‘The Substance.’ Plus, the Body Horror Hall of Fame! Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

Sean and Amanda react to some news about the Golden Globes being … a lot like they’ve always been (1:00). Then, they discuss Coralie Fargeat’s new body horror film ‘The Substance,’ starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley (13:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Fargeat to discuss the first body horror movies she ever watched, the production process for making such a gross film, how she sees the themes of the movie, and more (1:12:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Coralie Fargeat

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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The Brad Pitt and George Clooney Movie Draft Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan and Zach Baron to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan and Zach Baron

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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The Return of the Big Oscar Bet and the Best Movies at the Toronto International Film Festival Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

Sean and Amanda are joined by film critic, Ringer contributor, and resident “mean pod guy” Adam Nayman to do a speed recap of his favorite (and least favorite) movies out of the Toronto International Film Festival (1:00). Then, they revive the Big Oscar Bet, in which Sean and Amanda predict the nominees and winners of every major category at the 2025 Oscars (37:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Adam Nayman

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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‘Speak No Evil’ and the Top Five “Get Me the F--- Out of Here” Movies, With James McAvoy! Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss ‘Speak No Evil,’ James Watkins’s reimagination of the 2022 Danish psychological horror film (1:00). Then, they discuss other movies that inspire the sensation of needing to get the f--- out of danger and share their top five in the subgenre (1:06:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Watkins and ‘Speak No Evil’ star James McAvoy to discuss why they wanted to remake the film, tapping into darker parts of the human psyche, and the physicality that goes into creating a thriller like this (1:40:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Chris Ryan, James McAvoy, and James Watkins

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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The Top 10 Garbage Revenge Movies and ‘Rebel Ridge,’ With Jeremy Saulnier! Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to review some news items out of the fall film festival circuit (1:00) before discussing one of their favorite genre movies of 2024, Jeremy Saulnier’s revenge thriller ‘Rebel Ridge’ (17:00). They discuss their delight at having Saulnier back in the director’s chair and Aaron Pierre’s breakout performance, before minting a new subgenre: Garbage Revenge, a.k.a. Trash Justice (49:00). Then, Sean is joined by Saulnier to discuss the production of the movie, what type of writer he is, how exacting type of filmmaking, and what he hopes to do next (1:22:00).

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Chris Ryan and Jeremy Saulnier

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

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