

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

Feb 28, 2020 • 1h 24min
The Monster Movie Hall of Fame and 'The Invisible Man' | The Big Picture
To celebrate the release of 'The Invisible Man,' Leigh Whannell's clever reimagining of the classic Universal monster movie, Adam Nayman joins the show to help construct a shrine to the greatest creatures, ghouls, aliens, oversized apes, and ineffable spirits in film history (1:03). Then, Whannell joins Sean to talk about the making of his new movie, casting Elisabeth Moss as the protagonist of the story, and the unlikely inspirations he channeled (47:30).Hosts: Sean FennesseyGuest: Adam Nayman and Leigh Whannell
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Feb 25, 2020 • 1h 7min
Top Five Movie Soundtrack Needle Drops. Plus: Robbie Robertson | The Big Picture
The art of placing music in a movie is harder than it looks. 'Ringer' staff writer Rob Harvilla joins Sean to explore the rules of a great needle drop and the pitfalls of an obvious one, before sharing their five favorite music movie moments (0:42). Then, Sean sits down with The Band cofounder Robbie Robertson to discuss his collaborations with Martin Scorsese, the relationship between movies and music, and 'Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band' a new documentary about his life and musical career (39:25).Hosts: Sean FennesseyGuest: Rob Harvilla and Robbie Robertson
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Feb 21, 2020 • 2h 2min
Introducing the Movie Director Game, With Sam Esmail | The Big Picture
Movies have the February blues, so we enlisted a friend of the show to liven things up. 'Mr. Robot' creator and movie fanatic Sam Esmail joins Sean and Amanda and comes bearing a new game to play that reveals a lot about their favorite directors, personal taste, and how they view the long arc of film. Their sprawling conversations covers more than 80 years of movie history.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Sam Esmail
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Feb 18, 2020 • 1h 39min
Welcome to Dumpuary: Breaking Down a Bad Movie Buffet | The Big Picture
The Oscars are a distant memory, but we are still trapped in February, a typically scary time for movie lovers. Sean and Amanda explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 2020 Dumpuary movie slate so far this season, including 'Sonic the Hedgehog,' 'Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey,' 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before P.S. I Still Love You,' and 'Fantasy Island' (1:11). Then Sean is joined by Oscar-winning screenwriters and directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash to talk about 'Downhill,' their American remake of the Swedish film 'Force Majeure,' and working with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell (68:54).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
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Feb 12, 2020 • 1h 38min
Have the Academy Awards Changed for Good? A Post-'Parasite' Oscars Mailbag | The Big Picture
Still awash in the 'Parasite' afterglow, we drill down on some of the lingering questions from the 92nd Oscars submitted by you, the listeners (1:17). Has 'Parasite' undone the wrongs that the Academy inflicted on Alfonso Cuarón’s ‘Roma’? What happened to ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’ and what are Quentin Tarantino’s future Oscar prospects? Which films are emerging as early contenders to be discussed for next year’s Oscars? Then, writer-director Céline Sciamma joins to discuss her wonderful film ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire,’ which goes wide in the United States on Valentine’s Day (56:38).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Céline Sciamma
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Feb 10, 2020 • 1h 5min
The 2020 Oscars: Holy S***, ‘Parasite’ Won! | The Big Picture
In a shocking and exhilarating finale to the 92nd Academy Awards, ‘Parasite’ and Bong Joon-ho won Best Picture, capping off an amazing Cinderella run to the top. Sean and Amanda gather their emotions to recap a strange and often dull ceremony that was highlighted by some extraordinary bursts of greatness. They break down all the awards and the best presenters, speeches, and moments from the show. They also try to understand why there were so many damn musical performances.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
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Feb 7, 2020 • 1h 8min
Predicting the 2020 Oscars | The Big Picture
In our final show before the 92nd Oscars, we run down every category and predict what we think will win each award. Will it be a historic night for 'Parasite' and Bong Joon-ho, a sweep for '1917' and Sam Mendes, or a night full of curveballs we don't see coming? We also discuss whether the feeling of inevitability surrounding the acting categories has decreased excitement for the show overall.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
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Feb 5, 2020 • 1h 45min
Our Alternative Academy Awards | The Oscars Show
Now that we know how this weekend’s Oscar ceremony is lining up, we’re ready to share some ideas of our own. Wesley Morris joins Sean and Amanda for the first annual Big Picture Oscars to create some new awards for the telecast and find new nominees in the six big categories.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Wesley Morris
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Feb 3, 2020 • 1h 12min
The Idiot's Guide to Winning Best Picture. Plus: We Make the Case for 'Parasite.' | The Oscars Show
'1917' has run roughshod over the preliminary awards shows, dominating at the BAFTAs over the weekend. Does a WGAs win for 'Parasite' create any daylight for the South Korean sensation? Amanda and Sean break down the film's chances with a deep dive into the preferential balloting system that the Academy uses to determine its Best Picture winner (2:15). Then, they make the case for 'Parasite' as the right pick for the prize, celebrating its writing, production design, performances, direction, and so much more (37:02).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins
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Jan 31, 2020 • 1h 18min
The Five Most Important Movies at Sundance | The Big Picture
We have returned from Sundance and we have seen the movies. Some of them, at least. Sean and Amanda break down the Sundance movie archetypes and share their favorites from the festival (1:02). Then, they discuss what's been purchased in the market, and how streaming services are trying to improve their track record of Sundance acquisitions. They also explore the festival's biggest disaster (35:25). Finally, Sean is joined by writer-director Eliza Hittman to talk about her terrific third feature, 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always,' which premiered in Park City last week (54:09).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Eliza Hittman
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