The Empire Film Podcast

Happy New Year, listeners! 2021 has been a right old bangily-banger of a year, and no mistake, but it's also been a cracking year, cinematically speaking. And in this bumper-sized end of the year round-up edition, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis talk about the filmic highs and lows of the year that was. And, apart from one fairly sizeable section between 01:13:07.500 and 01:32:24.545, it's relatively spoiler-free, and culminates in the now traditional rundown of Team Empire's Top 20 films of the year. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll hurl swearwords at your podcast device of choice as the team don't mention that one film you love. Enjoy! And, on behalf of the podteam, have a great 2022!

Merry Christmas, listeners! Here, on this most festive of days, is the second part of our bumper-sized Christmas podcast that totally isn't a regular podcast, no sir. In this edition, you'll have Sophie Butcher (making her pod interview debut!) talking to the brilliant French director Julia Docournau about Titane, and Chris Hewitt having a natter with Adam McKay about his new movie, Don't Look Up. You'll also have an extended reviews section, in which Chris, Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis, and James Dyer get to grips with both of those movies as well as The King's Man and The Matrix Resurrections. In case you're trying to avoid even the most vague description of the plot of The Matrix Resurrections, that largely spoiler-free review begins at 24:56.745 and ends at 41:04.510. It's a long 'un. And with that, that's the last of our regular pods for 2021. We'll be back on Jan 7, folks. In the meantime, we'd like to wish you all a happy holiday season, and a wonderful 2022. Thanks for all your support this year, you bangily-bangers!

Ho-ho-ho, folks! The Empire Podcas team may be on a Christmas break, but that hasn't stopped the elves in our workshop from bringing you a couple of last blasts of podcast goodness just (about) in time for the big day. This week's absolutely-not-official-no-sir episode of the Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis don virtual terrible jumpers for a bumper edition of festive film-related fun. First, they answer a bunch of listener questions about Christmas movies, then they discuss a ton of movie news. And, surprisingly, there's much to talk about, including trailers galore and the box office of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and its implications for the future of film. Also, in this first part of a two-part episode, Chris sits down on Zoom with The King's Man stars, Rhys Ifans and Tom Hollander, and talk turns to a low yellow cloud that could spell doom for all. What could it be? Listen, and find out. Part 2 will be along presently. We promise. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas, you bangily-bangers! In this, the last regular episode of the Empire Podcast for 2021 (don't worry, though, there's a Christmas special to come next week, and the Review Of The Year on the 29th), Chris Hewitt enters the Matrix and sits down on Zoom with Neo and Trinity themselves, Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, ahead of the release of The Matrix Resurrections next week. The only spoilers here are thematic ones, but if you're antsy, the interview starts at 00:27:47.104, and ends at 00:46:01.513. Chris also has a chat with Paolo Sorrentino, the Italian director of the simply beautiful The Hand Of God, which is on Netflix now. How's that for a pair of Christmas crackers? Then, in the virtual podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis, and James Dyer as they talk about what's in store for the epic live show that will mark Episode 500 (tickets on sale now for our February 5th extravaganza at kingsplace.co.uk), discuss the best Christmas parties on film, that time Chris and James watched Spanish porn together, talk about a whole bunch of trailers including Everything Everywhere All At Once and the new Fantastic Beasts, and review The Tender Bar, The Lost Daughter, Swan Song, and a little movie called Spider-Man: No Way Home. We appreciate that some people will be wary of spoilers, and believe us, this is a spoiler-free review, talking more about how the movie made us feel. But again, if you're antsy, or spidery, then the review begins at 01:26:50.531, and ends at 01:44:03.835... And that's that. Enjoy!

This week's Empire Podcast is the penultimate episode of the year, but we've brought you some cracking early Christmas presents. First up, the legendary Steven Spielberg returns to the pod to tell Chris Hewitt all about why he's remade West Side Story, and his experiences working with Peter Falk and John Cassavetes. He also sheds some light on an Indiana Jones line that has been somewhat co-opted by the pod over the years. Then, Beth Webb has a lovely chat with Noomi Rapace about her new movie, Lamb, taking in Spotify and Hamlet along the way. And, last but not least, James White Zooms with Andrew Garfield to talk about life, the universe, the apocalypse, and Garfield's new movie, Mainstream, which is available now on digital formats. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis, and James Dyer for an episode in which an old semi-favourite makes a very unplanned return; a listener question about the greatest deployment of 'Merry Christmas!' in the movies is considered; the week's movie news is discussed; and West Side Story, Being The Ricardos, and Wrath Of Man are reviewed. It's a Christmas stocking fair heaving with goodness. Don't wait for Christmas Day -- open it now! Enjoy.

Mike Leigh's Naked may be almost 30 years old, but it remains as fresh, impactful, and timely as ever. Join your host, Chris Hewitt, for this very special oral history of the film, which has been re-released on remastered 4K Blu-ray by the BFI. Featuring excerpts from interviews with Leigh, cast members David Thewlis, Lesley Sharp, and Peter Wight, and crew members Dick Pope, Lindy Hemming, Christine Blundell, and Andrew Dickson, it's a celebration of one of Leigh's finest films, and one of the best British movies of the modern era. Enjoy.

This week's Empire Podcast sees a triple whammy of guests as Chris Hewitt natters away with three of Britain's finest actors. First, there's Hannah John-Kamen, who talks about being cold on set of her new film Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City, her aptitude for fantasy, and singing with Steven Spielberg. Next up is Riz Ahmed, star of the touching sci-fi drama Encounter, who talks about that movie and whether or not he's moved to Los Angeles. And then Chris sits down in person with Benedict Cumberbatch, star of the new Jane Campion film, The Power Of The Dog. Together, they talk about Love Hearts, what Cumberbatch learned from Campion, and what we can expect from a Sam Raimi Doctor Strange film. (Chris had a faulty microphone cable on this one, which explains why he ducks in and out from time to time.) Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara, Ben Travis, and Katie Smith-Wong to discuss great family collaborations, talk about the week's movie news, from Nicolas Cage playing Dracula to a heartfelt tribute to the great Stephen Sondheim, and review The Power Of The Dog, Encounter, C'mon C'mon, Boxing Day, Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City, and Silent Night. They also discuss the movie-themed Christmas gifts they've got their eyes on, and Chris talks about the epic and ambitious plans for the 500th episode of the podcast, which will be recorded live in London on February 5th. Enjoy!

Almost thirty years after JFK blazed a trail and called into question the facts surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, Oliver Stone is returning to the subject with a new documentary. JFK Revisited: Through The Looking Glass is out in cinemas today (November 26) in the UK and is, perhaps, Stone's final word on the subject of the Kennedy assassination, presenting his theory about what happened on that fateful day, augmented and enhanced by new information and declassified documents. In this in-depth interview, Chris Hewitt catches up with Stone over Zoom for a long chat about the director's fascination with JFK (both subject and man), and an examination of what the success of the 1991 movie meant for Stone's career. They also talk about the famous Mr. X sequence from the original movie. Whether you believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone or not, this is a fascinating interview and an insight into Stone's creative and thinking processes. JFK Revisited: Through The Looking Glass is also available from November 29 on digital platforms, including altitude.film Enjoy.

Another bumper-sized Empire Podcast this week, as Chris Hewitt has a fun and also impassioned chat with the great John Leguizamo, star of the new Disney animation Encanto. They talk about how Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a rap especially for Leguizamo, about Latinx representation in movies, and that thing Benny Blanco From The Bronx did in Carlito's Way. (Spoilers for that film lurk within, so be careful!) Then Ben Travis has a natter about House Of Gucci, The Last Duel, Kylo Ren and more with the wonderful Adam Driver, and we round off a trio of interviews with Chris talking Eternals spoilers with that film's director, Chloe Zhao. Right at the end of the episode, so you can skip it if you wish to remain spoiler-free. Then, in the podbooth, Chris is joined by Helen O'Hara and James Dyer to discuss whether the MCU has jumped the shark, talk about the week's movie news (or lack thereof, given that it's Thanksgiving and Hollywood has clocked off), imagine what David Attenborough would make of Jurassic World: Dominion, and review House Of Gucci, Encanto, Pirates, and Bruised. Oh, and they also talk Christmas tree etiquette, because the most wonderful time of the year is upon us. So sit back, grab your baubles, and enjoy.

It's a very musical episode on the Empire Podcast this week. First up, Ben Travis geeks out over Disney musicals with the great Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the songs for the new animated musical Encanto, which debuts next Wednesday (November 24). Then Chris Hewitt sits down with Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld, stars of the new Disney+ MCU show Hawkeye (which also makes its bow -- heh, bow -- next Wednesday), and simply has to ask them about Rogers: The Musical. And other stuff as well. Then, when Chris gets into the podbooth with Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Beth Webb, they've all got music on the brain, building inexorably to a rendition of a beloved animated show's theme tune. But that's not all -- the podteam also discuss the week's movie news (including the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer, and the Disney+ Day reveals), and review Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Petite Maman, Drive My Car, and King Richard. And in the listener question section they tackle an enquiry about the worst movie merchandise they've ever received, leading to a very unexpected cameo. Enjoy.