The Big Picture

Sean and Amanda review the Hunger Games movie and Alexander Payne's latest feature. Eli Roth joins the podcast to discuss his movie 'Thanksgiving' and his interests within the horror genre. They talk about the state of modern IP horror and Roth's future plans.

Filmmaker Errol Morris joins the hosts to talk about his new John le Carré documentary, his interviewing style, choosing subjects, the overlap between documentary and drama filmmaking, exploring the blurred line between interrogation and interview, and the tension between truth and deceit in storytelling.

Joanna Robinson and Kristoffer Borgli join Sean and Amanda to discuss the successes and failures of 'The Marvels' and the challenges Marvel is currently facing. They also explore character motivations and thematic elements in the Marvel universe. Later, Kristoffer Borgli talks about his career, making films in the US vs Europe, and working with Nic Cage.

Film critic Adam Nayman joins the hosts of 'The Big Picture' podcast to discuss David Fincher's 'The Killer', American auteur directors in 2023, and the film's place in Fincher's larger project. They analyze the movie's cinematic manipulation, discuss David Fincher's eating habits and opening sequence, and explore the emotional elements, disguises, and satire in the film.

Lead actor Jacob Elordi, lead actress Cailee Spaeny, and director Sofia Coppola discuss the film 'Priscilla', including its performances, set design, and place in Coppola's film canon. They also talk about the Best Picture Oscars race and share their predictions. Later, Coppola joins to talk about her adaptation of Priscilla Presley's memoir, the process of recreating famous figures, and her filmmaking approach.

Chris Ryan, acclaimed film critic and host of The Watch podcast, joins Sean and Amanda to draft the work of acclaimed director David Fincher. They discuss Fincher's unique style, iconic movies, and ability to explore the darker side of human sensibility. They also reflect on their first experiences with Fincher's films, his perfectionism, and the influence of his work. The chapter covers the draft order, eligibility of Thriller movies for awards, and specific scenes from Fincher's movies. The hosts engage in playful banter about their movie picks and discuss the convenience of using the Command Z function. They also touch upon the lack of recognition for Fincher's work by the Academy and brainstorm future podcast episode ideas.

Chris Evans and Emily Blunt discuss the horror adaptation 'Five Nights at Freddy's' and the movie 'Pain Hustlers' about the opioid crisis. They explore the connection between the game and horror movies, the success of poorly reviewed films, and potential roles for Blunt. They also touch on Oscar nominations, casting choices, and random topics like hangers and the New York Jets.

Guest Alex Ross Perry joins the hosts to open the mailbag and talk about horror films, the impact of the WGA strike, physical media decline, and more.

Griffin Newman and David Sims of 'Blank Check' join the hosts to draft their favorite lawyer movies. They discuss personal connections to law, underrated films like 'The Firm', comparing filmmakers Sidney Pollock and Allen Pakula, and the portrayal of Atticus Finch. They also analyze movies like 'JFK' and 'A Time to Kill', discuss actors in lawyer movies, and share their favorite movie lawyers and characters including 'Donovan' as the ultimate idealistic movie lawyer.

A discussion about Scorsese's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' adaptation and its themes. Exploration of the performances of DiCaprio, De Niro, and Gladstone. Analysis of Scorsese's recurring themes and late period. Discussion on the film's chances at the Oscars.