The Big Picture - The Ringer

Latest Episodes:

The Power of ‘Godzilla Minus One’ and an Awards Season Mega-Mailbag Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

Sean and Amanda react to the surprise box office hit of the weekend, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ (1:00); share preliminary thoughts about ‘Poor Things’ and why it’s seemingly losing steam in the awards races (18:00); and then open up the mailbag to answer your questions on all things Oscar season (32:00). Finally, they update their Best Picture power rankings (1:30:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

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The Top Five Movies of 2023 Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman to share their respective lists of the five best movies released in 2023, including titanic works from master filmmakers, blockbuster hits that captured the zeitgeist, and smaller movies that challenged viewers to consider their artistry deeply.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

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The Aggressive Majesty of ‘May December’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

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

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‘Saltburn’: Iconic or Disastrous? Plus: Alexander Payne! Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

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

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‘Napoleon’ and the Top Five "Great Men" Movies Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

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

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‘The Holdovers’ and ‘The Hunger Games.’ Plus: Eli Roth! Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

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

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The Ridley Scott Hall of Fame. Plus: Errol Morris! Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

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

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‘The Marvels’ Is Here. Is It Too Late for the MCU? Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

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

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‘The Killer’ Is Cold-Blooded Genius. And Something More Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

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

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Best Picture Power Rankings and ‘Priscilla’ With Sofia Coppola! Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

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

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