

Filmspotting
Adam Kempenaar & Josh Larsen
Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 10, 2025 • 1h 50min
Top 5 Actor-Director Duos We’d Like To See, The Smashing Machine Review (#1035)
Inspired by Leonardo DiCaprio’s long-hoped-for recent collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson, Adam and Josh share the Top 5 Actor-Director Duos They’d Like To See. Plus, Adam’s review of Benny Safdie’s THE SMASHING MACHINE, and listeners share their 5 Years/5 Movies picks.
This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits.
(Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:03:06)
Top 5 Actor-Director Duos We’d Like To See (00:03:07-00:58:08)
Filmspotting Family (00:58:09-01:06:28)
The Smashing Machine (01:06:29-01:17:06)
Next Week / Notes (01:17:07-01:23:58)
Polls (01:23:59-01:31:17)
5 Years/5 Movies Feedback (01:31:18-01:41:48)
Credits / New Releases (01:41:49-01:46:12)
Links:
-Redford’s Best
https://poll.fm/16120054
-Refocus Film Festival
https://refocusfilmfestival.org/
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.
http://filmspottingfamily.com
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop
Follow:
https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting
https://facebook.com/filmspotting
https://twitter.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm
https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm
https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 8, 2025 • 47min
From the Archive: All the President's Men (7 From '76)
Next week on the show, Adam and Josh will honor the passing of Robert Redford with their Top 5 Redford Movies. A title that is sure to make the cut is Best Picture nominee ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, which was part of 2021's 7 From '76–Best Year Ever series. It was also notably the first film in the Filmspotting Pantheon to receive the Sacred Cow treatment.
Access to the Filmspotting Archive is just one of the benefits of joining the Filmspotting Family. Family members also get monthly bonus episodes, a weekly newsletter, early and ad-free episodes, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 3, 2025 • 1h 28min
One Battle After Another Review, Predators (#1034)
Paul Thomas Anderson is back in a big way with ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Adam and Josh have a review. Plus, Adam’s thoughts on PREDATORS, a new documentary about the troubling legacy of the reality series “To Catch A Predator.”
This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits.
(Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:46)
One Battle After Another (00:02:46-00:48:36)
Filmspotting Family (00:48:37-00:55:06)
Predators (00:55:07-01:04:20)
Next Week / Notes (01:04:21-01:11:58)
Massacre Theatre (01:11:59-01:18:33)
Credits / New Releases (01:18:34-01:23:26)
Links:
-TCM Guest Programmer: Paul Thomas Anderson
https://www.tcm.com/articles/Programming%20Article/022042/guest-programmer-paul-thomas-anderson
-PTA Decades Poll
https://poll.fm/16057462
-Refocus Film Festival
https://refocusfilmfestival.org/
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.
http://filmspottingfamily.com
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop
Follow:
https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting
https://facebook.com/filmspotting
https://twitter.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm
https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm
https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 1, 2025 • 43min
From the Archive: Inception
With Leonardo DiCaprio back on the big screen in PTA's ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, we're sharing Adam and Josh's 2020 conversation about INCEPTION, the actor's blockbuster collaboration with Christopher Nolan.
This 10th anniversary review was part of the Nolan Oeuvre-view, a chronological revisit of the director's filmography. Access to those conversations and much more is available to members of the Filmspotting Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 22min
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Review, PTA Decades (#1033)
Adam and Josh review the latest from Columbus and After Yang director Kogonada, A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, and force themselves to pick their favorite PTA decade. Plus, listeners on the best ‘60s musical.
This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits.
(Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:14)
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (00:02:15-00:44:16)
Filmspotting Family (00:44:17-00:50:32)
Next Week / Notes (00:50:33-01:00:23)
Polls (01:00:24-01:14:06)
Credits / New Releases (01:14:07-01:18:43)
Links:
-Refocus Film Festival
https://refocusfilmfestival.org/
-PTA Decades Poll
https://poll.fm/16057462
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.
http://filmspottingfamily.com
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop
Follow:
https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting
https://facebook.com/filmspotting
https://twitter.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm
https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm
https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 24, 2025 • 43min
From the Archive: Magnolia
With PTA's ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER coming to theaters this weekend, we're sharing Adam and Josh's 9 From '99 review of the director's operatic third film, MAGNOLIA.
For full access to the Filmspotting Archive, which goes back to 2005, become a member of the Filmspotting Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 2025 • 2h 4min
5 Years / 5 Movies, Spinal Tap II, The History of Sound, RIP Robert Redford (#1032)
A Top 5 worthy of Rob Gordon and crew. You get five movies, but they must be from a consecutive five-year period. Plus, Adam reviews SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES, Josh recommends THE HISTORY OF SOUND, and Michael Phillips comes aboard to talk about the late Robert Redford and report on this year’s Venice Film Festival.
This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits.
(Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:04:13)
5 Years / 5 Movies (00:04:15-00:57:28)
Filmspotting Family (00:57:29-01:01:15)
Spinal Tap II / The History of Sound (01:01:16-01:16:34)
Notes (01:16:35-01:20:32)
Massacre Theatre (01:20:33-01:27:29)
Robert Redford / Venice Film Festival (01:27:30-01:54:33)
Credits / New Releases (01:54:34-01:58:28)
Links:
-Vulture’s Movies Fantasy League (“Filmspotters”)
https://moviegame.vulture.com/
-Steven Soderbergh’s B&W cut of “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
https://extension765.com/blogs/soderblog/raiders
-Filmspotting Poll: 1960s Musicals
https://poll.fm/15976522
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.
http://filmspottingfamily.com
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop
Follow:
https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting
https://facebook.com/filmspotting
https://twitter.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm
https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm
https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 1min
From the Archive: Almost Famous
Cameron Crowe's ALMOST FAMOUS turns 25 this fall, so we dig into the archive for a 2018 Sacred Cow (or should we say Golden God?) review of Cameron Crowe's autobiographical film with bonus insights from Uproxx rock critic Steven Hyden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 2025 • 1h 36min
GoodFellas Review, Lurker, The Roses (#1031)
Adam and Josh enter the Pantheon for a welcome revisit of Martin Scorsese’s 1990 masterpiece GOODFELLAS, which turns 35 this month. Plus, Josh shares thoughts on Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in THE ROSES and nominates the sinister new indie LURKER for the Golden Brick.
This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits.
(Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:08)
GoodFellas (35th Anniv.) (00:02:09-00:57:17)
Filmspotting Family (00:57:18-01:03:19)
Lurker, The Roses (01:03:20-01:09:16)
Notes (01:09:17-01:17:16)
Polls (01:17:17-01:27:59)
Credits / New Releases (01:28:00-01:31:24)
Links:
-Vulture's Movies Fantasy League ("Filmspotters")
https://moviegame.vulture.com/
-“Towards a True Children’s Cinema: On My Neighbor Totoro”
https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2017/03/13/towards-a-true-childrens-cinema-on-my-neighbor-totoro/
-Filmspotting Poll: 1960s Musicals
https://poll.fm/15976522
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.
http://filmspottingfamily.com
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop
Follow:
https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting
https://facebook.com/filmspotting
https://twitter.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm
https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm
https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 5, 2025 • 1h 4min
Columbus with Kogonada, Pather Panchali with Dana Stevens at Filmspotting Fest (#1030)
To celebrate 20 years of the show, we hosted Filmspotting Fest in March – six films over three days at two of Chicago’s iconic cinemas. This episode features two standout post-screening conversations: director Kogonada reflects on his Golden Brick-winning debut COLUMBUS, and Slate film critic Dana Stevens joins Josh to discuss Satyajit Ray’s indelible PATHER PANCHALI.
This episode is presented by Regal Unlimited, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits.
(Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:01:47)
Columbus with Kogonada (00:01:48-00:28:21)
Notes (00:28:22-00:29:31)
Pather Panchali with Dana Stevens (00:29:32-00:56:49)
Credits / New Releases (00:56:50-01:00:16)
Links:
-Filmspotting Fest
https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest
-"Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the 20th Century"
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Camera-Man/Dana-Stevens/9781501134203
-Filmspotting Poll: Pixar or Ghibli
https://poll.fm/15908981
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.
http://filmspottingfamily.com
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop
Follow:
https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting
https://facebook.com/filmspotting
https://twitter.com/filmspotting
https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm
https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm
https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices