The Big Picture

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

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

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

'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

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

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

Sean chats with Amanda about his trip to the Telluride Film Festival, an annual launchpad for Oscar contenders. He talks about the best films he saw and the scene in Colorado (0:30). Then they discuss what to look forward to for the rest of the movie year (44:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This weekend sees the release of a hugely important movie for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ‘Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.’ Sean breaks down the character’s place in Marvel mythology, the films that influenced the new movie, and whether it all worked with The Ringer’s Daniel Chin (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by the film’s screenwriter, Dave Callaham, to talk about writing blockbusters in the 21st century, the challenges and rewards of the work, and how 'Shang Chi' came together (46:00).Hosts: Sean FennesseyGuests: Daniel Chin and Dave CallahamProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda talk about the buzzy new ‘Spider-Man’ trailer, as well as some hotly anticipated awards-season films, including ‘The Power of the Dog’ and ‘Spencer’ (0:31). Then they dig into the mailbag to answer listener questions about ‘Dune,’ their dream biopics, and the HBO Max experiment so far (30:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Michael Sarnoski, the writer-director of the acclaimed Nicolas Cage drama ‘Pig’ (1:20:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Michael SarnoskiProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean returns from his break and Amanda runs down the major story lines from the world of movies that he missed (0:31). Then, they share their favorite (and not so favorite) movies of the summer (48:30).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices