The Big Picture - The Ringer

Latest Episodes:

Emergency Mailbag: The Oscars Are Streaming and Hollywood Is Fighting Over Trolls | The Big Picture Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

With a double hit of noisy movie-business news, Sean and Amanda dive into the mailbag to answer all your questions about the movie theater chain vs. Universal fight over windowing and 'Trolls World Tour' and the ramifications of the Academy's decision to allow streaming films to compete for Oscars at next year's ceremony. Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy pod.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

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Beastie Boys Made a Movie. We Made a Beastie Boys Podcast. | The Big Picture Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

That's right, Mike D and Ad-Rock have teamed up with Spike Jonze to make a movie chronicling the history of one of the most important bands of all time: Beastie Boys. Chris Ryan joins the show to talk about the group's history and rank their top-five songs. Then Sean interviews Mike D and Ad-Rock about the film, what late band member Adam Yauch would have thought about the movie, and their favorite fruits during quarantine. Waxin' and milkin'!

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz, Michael "Mike D" Diamond, and Chris Ryan

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Top 10 Original Netflix Movies | The Big Picture Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

During quarantine, Netflix has risen high above its competitors, with a soaring stock price and a captive audience. Sean and Amanda dig into the relatively brief but surprisingly vast history of Netflix Original Films to create a Hall of Fame lineup (0:59). Then, Sean is joined by writer-director Alex Garland ('Ex Machina') to talk about his FX series ‘Devs’ (73:02).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Alex Garland

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The Curious Case of 'Molly's Game' and Netflix | The Big Picture Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

There's no more powerful curator than Netflix, as capable of launching a new phenomenon as reviving an old favorite. Sean and Amanda look at how 'Molly's Game' became a Netflix phenom more than two years after its release (2:24). Then, Sean is joined by director Greg Barker and actor Wagner Moura to discuss their new Netflix original film, 'Sergio' (72:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Wagner Moura and Greg Barker

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Top 10 Horny Quarantine Erotic Thrillers | The Big Picture Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

All across the country, millions of Americans are bunkered down in their homes. Some of those people are alone. Some are cocooned with their partners. Some are surrounded by their screaming children. And they all have one thing in common: These people are trapped and they … are … horny. So today we will provide, if not tender loving care, then the next best thing: Joined by our pal Wesley Morris from 'The New York Times,' we present the 10 best erotic thrillers.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Wesley Morris

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Movie Apocalypse: 'Trolls World Tour' Is the Most Important Film of 2020 | The Big Picture Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

The 'Trolls' sequel wouldn't normally be a topic of serious interrogation on the show, but with new theatrical releases on hold, 'Trolls World Tour' has become a fascinating test case for the future of movies. After what appears to be a successful rollout straight to streaming video on demand, Sean and Amanda break down the industry implications of the film's release (0:57). Then, Rob Harvilla joins to talk about parenting with movies during quarantine, the particular frustrations of the 'Trolls' universe, and why this is one of the most important films ever made about rock criticism (14:29).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Rob Harvilla

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Criterion Channel Is a Streaming Miracle. Here are 25 Movies You Should Watch Now | The Big Picture Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

The Criterion Channel streaming service is celebrating its one-year anniversary this week and it has been a shelter in a storm for movie lovers during quarantine. To celebrate, we've asked 15 friends of The Big Picture—writers, filmmakers, and critics—to explain why the Channel is so crucial and suggest one must-watch from its massive and essential library. (And maybe a few runners-up, too.) Then, Sean is joined by Criterion programmer Penelope Bartlett to break down how the movies find their way to the service.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Ari Aster, Penelope Bartlett, Erin Lee Carr, Amanda Dobbins (and Amanda's dad), Sam Esmail, Liz Hannah, Barry Jenkins, Miranda July, Adam Nayman, Amy Nicholson, Alex Ross Perry, Peyton Reed, Chris Ryan, Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie

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Movie Swap: 'Aliens' vs. 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' | The Big Picture Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

Hollywood has officially canceled summer movie season, so we're going back to old favorites and exposing each other to new experiences. For their latest movie swap, Sean chooses James Cameron's epic sci-fi actioner 'Aliens,' while Amanda selects Richard Curtis's aggressively charming rom-com 'Four Weddings and a Funeral.' Will they love the picks? Hate them? Will they come to understand each other more deeply as humans?

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

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100 Years of Genius: The Toshiro Mifune Hall of Fame | The Big Picture Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

The Japanese superstar would have turned 100 years old this week, so for our 250th episode, Mifune's centenary is as good a time as we're ever going to get to celebrate his extraordinary career as a film actor. Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to walk through Mifune's life and work, including his iconic collaborations with director Akira Kurosawa, and analyze his mind-blowing physical and emotional power. They choose the actor's 10 essential performances and recommend the best hidden gems in his filmography.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey

Guest: Chris Ryan

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Screw It, We're Giving Out 2021 Oscars Right Now | The Big Picture Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

New movie releases have slowed to a crawl, but we do have a quarter of a year's worth to judge. Sean and Amanda have scanned the results and decided to hand out some premature Academy Awards to spotlight the very best we've seen so far. Then, they do a little guesswork, peruse the year ahead, and make some blind guesses on the 2021 winners for the big six Oscar categories.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

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