

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

9 snips
Oct 12, 2021 • 2h 8min
The 1998 Movie Draft: A Time for Betrayal
We are drafting again! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in another hotly contested draft over a delightful time in recent movie history: 1998 (23:43). Then, actor Fran Kranz sits down with Sean to discuss his impressive and powerful directorial debut, ‘Mass’ (1:24:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Chris Ryan and Fran Kranz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 snips
Oct 8, 2021 • 1h 51min
No Time to Die’ and Top Five James Bond Movies
James Bond is back! After a nearly two-year delay, ‘No Time to Die’ finally arrives in theaters around the world. To celebrate, Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to talk about the new film, Daniel Craig’s legacy as 007, and their top five favorite Bond films (47:00). Then, Sean welcomes ‘No Time to Die’ director Cary Joji Fukunaga to talk about becoming the first American to take on Bond and the unique challenges of shepherding a massive franchise film (1:22:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Chris Ryan and Cary Joji FukunagaProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 5, 2021 • 1h 43min
‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ and Top 5 Comic Book Movie Sequels
Eddie Brock and his alien symbiote pal are back in 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage,' a sequel to the surprise mega-hit from 2018. To break down the new 'Venom' movie and our favorite comic book movie sequels, Sean is joined by Van Lathan and Charles Holmes, aka The Midnight Boys (0:30). Then, Sean talks to 'Let There Be Carnage' director Andy Serkis, the acclaimed performance capture artist behind Gollum in the 'Lord of the Rings' films and a filmmaker in his own right (1:14:05).Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, and Andy SerkisProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

34 snips
Oct 1, 2021 • 1h 57min
Top Five ‘Sopranos’ Episodes and ‘The Many Saints of Newark’ With David Chase
This weekend sees the release in theaters and streaming on HBO Max of ‘The Many Saints of Newark,’ a film prequel to David Chase’s medium-altering TV series. Justin Sayles, The Ringer’s resident Sopranosologist, joins the show to discuss the movie and his deep dive on every single episode in show history, including his top five picks (35:30). Then, ‘Sopranos’ creator and ‘Many Saints’ cowriter and producer Chase joins Sean to talk about the movie, his relationship to the show now, and a lot more (1:17:39).Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Justin Sayles and David ChaseProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 28, 2021 • 1h 25min
A 400th Episode "Ask Us Anything" Mailbag Extravaganza
It’s the 400th episode! To celebrate, Sean and Amanda are opening up the mailbag to answer just about anything you wanted to know, in the world of movies and beyond. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 24, 2021 • 1h 30min
The 2021 Movie Star Ranking: 35 Under 35. Plus, the Catastrophe of 'Dear Evan Hansen.'
It's back! We revisit our controversial list of young stars 18 months later and determine what we got right, what we got wrong, and where movie stardom is going in 2021. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 21, 2021 • 1h 25min
Top-Five Actor Transformations, ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye,’ and the Horrifying Future of Award Shows
It’s late September, and that can only mean one thing: We now begin that deathless march to the center of the hellscape better known as Awards Season. But will anyone care? Sean and Amanda discuss the lay of the land after Telluride and TIFF, including the reception of 'Belfast,' 'Dune,' and 'Dear Evan Hansen' (1:00). Then, they talk about 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye,' a Jessica Chastain showcase and possible Oscar contender, before picking their top-five favorite actor transformations (42:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 17, 2021 • 1h 31min
Top 5 Clint Eastwood Movies and ‘Cry Macho’
'Cry Macho,' the 44th film directed by 91-year-old Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood, arrives in theaters and is now available on HBO Max. Adam Nayman and Chris Ryan join Sean to talk about the expansive, six-decade career of one of the signature filmmakers and movie stars of all time. They analyze 'Cry Macho,' his on-screen persona, his complicated political presence, and his relationship to genre, and, finally, they share their five favorite Eastwood films.Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Chris Ryan and Adam NaymanProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 14, 2021 • 1h 32min
The 2004 Movie Draft
We asked, you decided: After a public vote, we're drafting from the year 2004. Who were we? What were we doing? And what movies were we seeing? Join Sean, Amanda, and Chris as they explore a time of anchormen, eternal sunshine, and sequels galore.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Chris RyanProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 10, 2021 • 1h 9min
The Prestige Dirtbag Movie: A Celebration
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to break down the new Paul Schrader film ‘The Card Counter,’ explore Schrader’s seminal works, and define one of their favorite movie subgenres: the Prestige Dirtbag Movie. What is it and why do they love them (0:30)? Then, Sean and Chris review James Wan’s ‘Malignant’ before discussing the state of horror movies in 2021 (59:00).Host: Sean FennesseyGuest: Chris RyanProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices