

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

17 snips
Oct 3, 2023 • 2h 5min
The Martin Scorsese Hall of Fame
Reflecting on Martin Scorsese's career and unique filmmaking style, they discuss the impact of his movies on their understanding of movies and life. They explore his departure from his usual style in films like 'Silence' and 'The Irishman'. They delve into his early works and the profound impact of one particular movie on the film industry. They analyze 'Raging Bull' and 'The King of Comedy', praising the virtuosic filmmaking and incredible acting performances. They also discuss his films 'Goodfellas', 'Casino', and 'The Irishman', diving into themes of organized crime and corruption. The hosts debate Martin Scorsese's works and rank his films, expressing uncertainty about ranking 'The Irishman'.

Sep 29, 2023 • 1h 35min
The 21st Century Sci-Fi Canon, ‘The Creator,’ and ‘No One Will Save You’
They discuss 'No One Will Save You' and 'The Creator' as well as their favorite sci-fi films. They explore the connection between sci-fi and the real world, analyze 'Rogue One' and 'The Creator', examine unique robot behavior in a movie, and discuss storytelling choices and casting challenges. They also talk about their love for sci-fi, push visual boundaries in the genre, and examine the impact of 'Looper'.

6 snips
Sep 26, 2023 • 1h 44min
‘Stop Making Sense’ and the Top 5 Concert Films
Sean and Amanda briefly discuss the news that the Writers Guild of America has a tentative agreement with the AMPTP to end their strike (1:00), before bringing on The Ringer's Rob Harvilla to discuss A24's re-release of Jonathan Demme's Talking Heads concert film 'Stop Making Sense' (7:00). Then, the three rank their five favorite concert films (44:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Rob HarvillaSenior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 22, 2023 • 1h 25min
The Top 10 Garbage Cash Movies and ‘Dumb Money’
The hosts review 'Dumb Money,' a movie based on the Wall Street GameStop short. They also list the 10 most apt entrants into the 'garbage cash' genre. Topics include the portrayal of wealth and finance in movies, the challenges of recreating real-life events, and the correlation between owner spending and player performance.

Sep 19, 2023 • 1h 26min
‘A Haunting in Venice’ and the Top 5 Haunted House Movies
Speakers discuss haunted house movies, including 'A Haunting in Venice'. They also explore topics like historical figures, comparing albums, cities and glamour, and beliefs in the supernatural. 'The Money Pit' and 'The Beyond' are analyzed, along with 'Hereditary'. They touch on motherhood and recommend haunted house movies like 'Lake Mungo' and 'The Changeling'.

Sep 15, 2023 • 1h 31min
The 20 Most Intriguing Movies of the Fall and the Best of the Toronto International Film Festival
Adam Nayman, Ringer contributor and film critic, joins the hosts to discuss the shifting culture of the Toronto International Film Festival. They also share their most anticipated movies of 2023, including 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour' and 'Pain Hustlers'. They discuss Netflix, Amazon, and Apple's release strategy for awards season and the potential impact on the Oscar race.

16 snips
Sep 12, 2023 • 1h 50min
The Denzel Washington Draft
Guests Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, and Van Lathan join hosts Sean and Amanda for a draft of the best Denzel Washington movies. They discuss Denzel's rise to fame, his impact on black culture, and their favorite films from his career. The speakers also share personal train travel anecdotes and debate movie genres while drafting their picks. They touch on interracial romance on screen and discuss films like 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'Pelham 1, 2, 3'. The chapter concludes by highlighting Denzel's range and the diverse roles he has taken on in his filmography.

Sep 8, 2023 • 1h 44min
600th Episode Mega Mailbag Extravaganza
In this mega mailbag extravaganza, the hosts reflect on reaching their 600th episode, discuss comfort movies, the changing landscape of independent filmmaking, and their choices for a hypothetical dinner party. They also talk about favorite on-screen couples, expressing honest opinions, movie set time travel, Martin Scorsese, and fictional bars and restaurants.

7 snips
Sep 6, 2023 • 1h 40min
10 Way-Too-Early Oscar Predictions and the Best Movies at Telluride and Venice
David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Michael Mann, Yorgos Lanthimos, Bradley Cooper, Ryusuke Hamaguchi discuss movies at Telluride and Venice Film Festivals, their Oscar predictions, and their experiences at the festivals. Topics include favorite films, upcoming movies, film premieres, genre films, early Oscar predictions, and notable attendees at the festivals.

Aug 31, 2023 • 1h 38min
The 2006 Movie Draft
Chris Ryan joins Sean and Amanda for a movie draft of the best films from 2006. They discuss nostalgic movie picks, movie theater etiquette, reflections on 'The Devil Wears Prada' influence, creative choices in filmmaking, Nancy Meyers films, Sam Shepard plays, various movie recommendations, indie movies, actors, and podcasts. The conversation includes banter about driving experiences, favorite movies, and future plans.


