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
Apr 25, 2023 • 1h 47min
The 1990s Summer Blockbuster Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the summer blockbusters of the ’90s.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Chris RyanProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 21, 2023 • 1h 34min
‘Beau Is Afraid’: The Most Audacious and Polarizing Movie of the Year, With Ari Aster!
Ari Aster’s third feature, the Oedipal nightmare comedy ‘Beau Is Afraid,’ is here. Sean discusses the film’s virtuosic gifts and alienating approach at length with Adam Nayman (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Aster to discuss how he made his thrilling new movie (58:00).Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Ari Aster and Adam NaymanProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 18, 2023 • 1h 35min
The 10 Best Horror Movies So Far This Year. Plus: ‘Renfield,’ ‘The Pope’s Exorcist,’ and ‘Evil Dead Rise.’
Horror is booming—Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to talk about four big releases, the best movies in the genre they’ve seen so far, and what defines this era in scares (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Daniel Goldhaber, the director and cowriter of ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline,’ and Ariela Barer, the star and cowriter of the film (1:05:00).Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Chris Ryan, Daniel Goldhaber, and Ariela BarerProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 14, 2023 • 1h 32min
Movie Swap: ‘Casablanca’ vs. ‘The In-Laws’ vs. ‘Spy Kids’
It’s time to swap, which means it’s time for our producer, Bobby, to finally watch ‘Casablanca’! Sean and Amanda pitch a pair of beloved spy classics—the 1942 Best Picture winner and 1979’s madcap comedy ‘The In-Laws’—while Bobby shares with them the millennial family romp ‘Spy Kids.’Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 11, 2023 • 1h 34min
The Two Best Movies of 2023 So Far, and 10 More We Missed. Plus: Michelle Williams and Kelly Reichardt!
Sean and Amanda discuss ‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ and Kelly Reichardt’s ‘Showing Up’ (1:00) before checking in on several 2023 releases they missed on the show this year. Then, Sean is joined by Michelle Williams and Reichardt to discuss their fourth collaboration, ‘Showing Up’ (1:07:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Michelle Williams and Kelly ReichardtProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 7, 2023 • 1h 36min
The Magic of ‘Air’ and the Return of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon
At long last! Sean and Amanda dive deep on Ben Affleck’s ‘Air,’ the story of how Michael Jordan signed to Nike and the men who made it happen (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Sam Jones to discuss his new documentary, ‘Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed’ (58:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Bobby WagnerGuest: Sam Jones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 5, 2023 • 1h 8min
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Is Here! Is Our Video Game Movie Future?
Ben Lindbergh and Charles Holmes join Sean to talk about one of the most anticipated films of the year: 'Mario'! They discuss the new film (1:00) and how video games have been the most valuable IP in Hollywood (36:00).Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Charles Holmes and Ben LindberghProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 31, 2023 • 1h 25min
‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Is … Good. But Are Movies Just Brands Now?
Sean and Amanda dig into the surprisingly fun new ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ adaptation from the filmmakers who brought us ‘Game Night,’ before discussing a new sort of IP boom in Hollywood (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by A.V. Rockwell to discuss her debut feature, ‘A Thousand and One’ (58:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Bobby WagnerGuest: A.V. Rockwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 28, 2023 • 1h 25min
The 2008 Movie Draft
We are drafting again! Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan reunite for a draft of the movies from 2008.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Chris RyanProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 24, 2023 • 1h 51min
The Keanu Reeves Hall of Fame and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’
To celebrate the fourth installment of the 'John Wick' franchise, Sean and Amanda build Keanu Reeves’s hall of fame (9:00) before breaking down the new action epic (55:30). Then, Sean is joined by the director of ‘JW4,’ Chad Stahelski, to discuss how they pulled off the film’s breathtaking action (1:17:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Chad StahelskiProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
