

The Big Picture
The Ringer
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more, featuring a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons.
Episodes
Mentioned books

4 snips
Feb 26, 2024 • 1h 44min
Final Best Picture Power Rankings and How Oscar Voting Really Works
The podcast covers the SAG Awards, Netflix's impact, Best Picture power rankings, and an explanation of the Oscar voting process.

Feb 23, 2024 • 1h 10min
‘Drive-Away Dolls’ and Book Club No. 1—Francis Ford Coppola, ‘Apocalypse Now,’ and ‘The Path to Paradise’
Join Sean, Amanda, and Adam Nayman as they discuss 'Drive-Away Dolls' by Ethan Coen, then dive into 'The Path to Paradise' book club featuring Francis Ford Coppola's legacy and upcoming project 'Megalopolis'. Explore Coppola's cinematic journey, relationships, and filmmaker styles in this entertaining and insightful podcast.

Feb 16, 2024 • 1h 34min
‘The Beekeeper,’ ‘Madame Web,’ and a Dumpuary Extravaganza
The podcast discusses the box office success of 'The Beekeeper' and the disappointment of 'Madame Web'. They also cover other Dumpuary movies, including J.Lo's 'This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story'.

11 snips
Feb 13, 2024 • 1h 50min
The Best Super Bowl Trailers, ‘Bob Marley: One Love,’ ‘The Taste of Things,’ and Top Five Food Movies
Tran Anh Hung and Juliette Binoche, director and star of 'The Taste of Things', join the podcast to discuss the challenges of making a cooking-centered movie and portraying the authenticity of love. Super Bowl trailers and the disappointment of the Bob Marley movie are also discussed.

16 snips
Feb 9, 2024 • 2h 16min
The 1991 Movie Draft. Plus: Wim Wenders!
Wim Wenders, master filmmaker, joins the podcast to discuss his new film, 'Perfect Days', his career in movies, and his return to a film set in Japan. The hosts also conduct a draft of the best movies of 1991 and reminisce about the impact of films released that year, including their love for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the portrayal of an abusive husband in 'Sleeping with the Enemy'. They touch on the legacy of selected movies, cultural representation in films, and their personal movie picks.

Feb 7, 2024 • 1h 52min
‘Argylle’ and the Death of the Winking Action Movie
Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell talk about the unsuccessful elements of 'Argylle', a meta spy thriller. They also discuss the decline of "wink action" movies. Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Arcel join to talk about 'The Promised Land' and the differences between making movies in Hollywood and internationally.

Feb 2, 2024 • 1h 27min
Physical Media Strikes Back With Tim Simons
Actor and physical media enthusiast Tim Simons joins Sean to discuss the growing trend and value of physical media, the importance of preserving and appreciating movies on physical media, the role of writers and editors in film, exploring movies old and new, and the significance of physical media in today's digital age.

25 snips
Jan 30, 2024 • 1h 35min
The Philip Seymour Hoffman Hall of Fame
In this podcast, the hosts pay tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman, highlighting his career and impact on the film industry. They analyze his versatility, explore his standout performances, and discuss his unique physicality as an actor. They also discuss his roles in movies like Magnolia and the Mission Impossible franchise, and touch on the tragic twist in 'A Most Wanted Man'. Overall, the podcast celebrates Hoffman's talents and categorizes his films as greens or yellows.

10 snips
Jan 26, 2024 • 2h 1min
The ‘Barbie’ Freak-Out, Oscar Nominations Mailbag, and ‘The Zone of Interest’
The hosts discuss controversial Oscar nominations and disappointments, the predictability of the Oscars, and their predictions for the best actress category. They also explore the blind spots of the Academy Awards, debate the best debuts and breakthrough performances in film, and discuss potential nominees for the Oscars. Additionally, they admire Sophia Coppola and discuss various films and documentaries they have seen, including a horror movie and a documentary about a young boy's life. Lastly, they delve into a scene from a film that explores the director's intention of making it a reminder of the current world's shift towards a fascistic approach and the ignorance of death and toxicity.

7 snips
Jan 23, 2024 • 1h 10min
2024 Oscar Nominations: Snubs, Surprises, and WTFs
The hosts discuss the lack of surprises and the snubs in the 2024 Oscar nominations. They mention disappointment over Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie's snubs and discuss the strong nominations for 'Oppenheimer'. They also touch on the power of music in cinema and the speculation surrounding Dominic Sessa's nomination prospects. The hosts express their opinions on the supporting actress category nominations and joke about Tom Cruise's email habits.