The Big Picture

Josh and Benny Safdie, the talented filmmaking duo behind 'Uncut Gems,' delve into the intense journey of creating their renowned film. They discuss Adam Sandler's transformative performance and the film's themes of sports gambling. The brothers share insights on the casting process, especially with real-life athletes, and the challenges of capturing authentic New York life through dynamic dialogue. They also reflect on the risks inherent in filmmaking, likening it to gambling, while highlighting the significance of music in enhancing emotional impact.

It's been 25 years since the last Hollywood adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel about the March sisters. Why did Greta Gerwig want to tackle this piece of classic literature for her 'Lady Bird' follow-up (14:15)? We look at how she refashioned and reimagined certain aspects of the book, how it fits in with previous iterations of the story, and why there's something uniquely urgent about it. Then, Gerwig joins the show to talk about how she conceived the film and executed her vision (1:00:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Greta Gerwig Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tom Hooper's adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash musical hit has finally come to movie theaters and … well … yikes. Sean and Amanda break down the history of Webber's show and its enormous impact on Broadway. Then they take a closer look at the characters, the confounding production design and costumes, and just generally have a meltdown about the absurdity of this enterprise.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Episode IX' is here and, well, it's not all we'd hoped and dreamed it would be. To break down J.J. Abrams's film, the ninth and final installment in the Skywalker saga, Sean is joined by Binge Mode's Mallory Rubin to explore what worked (Rey and Kylo), what didn't (um, a lot), and where the 'Star Wars' machine will go from here (Disney+?).Hosts: Sean FennesseyGuests: Mallory Rubin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryan Curtis stops by to talk about 'Richard Jewell' and 'Bombshell,' two new films about the media, the Kathy Scruggs controversy at the center of Clint Eastwood's latest, and how factual a movie about real people ought to be (1:04). Then, Sean and Amanda break down the just-released Oscars short lists and survey the Best Director race—and the probable absence of women from said race (38:48). Finally, Sean is joined by 'Bombshell' director Jay Roach to discuss his long career in comedy and the making of his new film about the inner workings of Fox News (60:36).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Jay Roach, Bryan Curtis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The grand master of ridiculous action movies is back and he’s teamed up with Netflix. Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to break down every aspect of Michael Bay’s latest, ‘6 Underground’ (0:37). Then, Sean and Amanda analyze the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations and what they could mean for the Oscar race (56:19). Finally, Sean is joined by ‘Richard Jewell’ leading man Paul Walter Hauser to discuss the new Clint Eastwood drama and his long road to Hollywood stardom (67:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Paul Walter Hauser and Chris Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Golden Globe nominations are here, and they're as dumb as ever. But will they matter come Oscars time? Amanda and Sean break down all the nominees and who was left out in the cold (1:08). Then they discuss the Academy Awards chances of Netflix's 'Marriage Story' and 'The Irishman' now that both films have debuted on the service (50:02). Finally, Sean is joined by Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney to talk about his new film, 'Citizen K' (62:30).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Alex Gibney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman join Sean and Amanda to rank their top five movies of 2019, which got off to a slow start but has been flooded with great films over the last two months. The quartet discuss masters of their craft like Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese making late-period career retrospectives, as well as internationally renowned auteurs like Bong Joon-Ho and Claire Denis stunning American audiences.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're less than a week away from the official start of awards season: Golden Globe nominations. Amanda and Sean share their best guesses in the major categories and defend the honor of Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman' (4:00). Then, resident 'Frozen' fan Jason Gallagher joins to break down why the sequel has become the fall season's juggernaut at the box office (41:10). Finally, Sean is joined by director Todd Haynes to talk about his new film, 'Dark Waters,' a chilling legal thriller that isn't always what it seems (66:10).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Todd Haynes, Jason Gallagher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss, debate, and ultimately crown the 10 best films of the decade as they see them.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Chris Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices