
Unspooled
Each week actor & comedian Paul Scheer (Black Monday, The League) and film critic Amy Nicholson (LA Times Chief Film Critic ) watch and discuss the best movies out there. From the classics to new releases and every indie film in-between. Along the way, they’ll dissect iconic scenes, spotlight their favorite characters, and decide if these movies still stand the test of time.
Latest episodes

Sep 23, 2022 • 51min
Bonus: Summer Movie Wrapup
In a bonus Unspooled this week, Amy & Paul chat about some of the best films they saw this summer, including a sci-fi spectacle, a maximalist rock star biopic and an unexpected Mel Brooks remake.
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Sep 22, 2022 • 1h 40min
Season 3 Finale
Paul & Amy close the book on another year of Unspooled by deciding which films from the last season they're going to send to space! They debate the merits of Paul Verhoeven's twin masterpieces, weigh a heartfelt case to catapult the Jackass films into orbit, and add their first superhero film to the list. Plus: Producers Josh & Devon weigh in with their pleas for the films that can't be left behind. Next week, tune in as we kick off Season 4 with Midsommar and a new horror series! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast, and on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. You can also listen to our Stitcher Premium game show Screen Test right now at https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test and apply to be a contestant at unspooledpod@gmail.com!
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Sep 15, 2022 • 2h 2min
The Dark Knight
Amy & Paul want to watch the world burn in 2008’s Christopher Nolan helmed Caped Crusader tale The Dark Knight! They discuss the parallels between this film and Nolan's beloved Heat, investigate how Harvey Dent's journey makes even more sense now than in 2008, ask whether Heath Ledger was actually having fun inhabiting The Joker. Plus: Remember Angel Heart? Next week, tune in for our Season 3 finale! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast, and on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. You can also listen to our Stitcher Premium game show Screen Test right now at https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test and apply to be a contestant at unspooledpod@gmail.com!
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Sep 8, 2022 • 2h 8min
Heat
Paul & Amy know the action is the juice in 1995’s Michael Mann cop vs. criminal showdown Heat! They learn how the “World War III” shootout sequence was created, ask if Amy Brenneman’s character is really in love with Robert De Niro’s Neil, and discuss Mann’s intense commitment to getting the details of his opus just right. Plus: Is there a divide between movie critics and movie fans? Next week, our Villains series concludes with The Dark Knight! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast, and on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. You can also listen to our Stitcher Premium game show Screen Test right now at https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test and apply to be a contestant at unspooledpod@gmail.com!
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Sep 1, 2022 • 1h 23min
White Heat
Paul & Amy are gunning for 1949’s James Cagney gangster epic White Heat! They discuss the film’s influence on artists from Denzel to Madonna, praise the undersung career of director Raoul Walsh, and explore why the complex psychology of Cagney’s character Cody Jarrett was so unprecedented. Plus: Did the mob really put a hit out on Cagney during filming? Next week, our Villains series continues with Heat! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast, and on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. You can also listen to our Stitcher Premium game show Screen Test right now at https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-testand apply to be a contestant at unspooledpod@gmail.com!
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Aug 26, 2022 • 1h 13min
Top 3: Scott Aukerman & Shaun Diston
Scott Aukerman and Shaun Diston (from the "Scott Hasn't Seen" podcast on Comedy Bang Bang World) join Paul & Amy to talk about their favorite movies they came to late, including a hugely influential documentary, a slice of small-town life, and a couple of the most famous films of all time.
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Aug 25, 2022 • 1h 45min
Training Day
Amy & Paul ride along with 2001’s Denzel Washington crooked cop potboiler Training Day! They praise Ethan Hawke’s brilliant, unshowy work, unpack Alonzo’s complicated plan, and discuss how Washington’s intensity and control elevate the material. Plus: How do you pronounce Denzel? Next week, our Villains series continues with White Heat! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast, and on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. You can also listen to our Stitcher Premium game show Screen Test right now at https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test and apply to be a contestant at unspooledpod@gmail.com!
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Aug 18, 2022 • 1h 39min
The Night of the Hunter
Amy & Paul lean on the everlasting arms of 1955’s expressionist Southern Gothic The Night of the Hunter! They explore the film’s nightmarish imagery, speculate about the complicated writing process, and swap stories of Robert Mitchum’s eccentric reputation. Plus: Who did it better—the Reverend Harry Powell or Radio Raheem? Next week, our Villains series continues with Training Day! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast, and on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. You can also listen to our Stitcher Premium game show Screen Test right now at https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test and apply to be a contestant at unspooledpod@gmail.com!
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Aug 11, 2022 • 1h 58min
Fatal Attraction
Paul & Amy can’t be ignored when discussing 1987’s hair-raising erotic thriller Fatal Attraction! They praise how casting an age-appropriate partner for Michael Douglas changed the power dynamic of their relationship, wonder if the different ‘stages’ of Glenn Close’s Alex ever truly cohere, and ask how director Adrian Lyne intended audiences to react to these characters. Plus: Was the attack in Starship Troopers a false flag all along? Next week, our Villains series continues with Night Of The Hunter! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast, and on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. You can also listen to our Stitcher Premium game show Screen Test right now at https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test and apply to be a contestant at unspooledpod@gmail.com!
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Aug 4, 2022 • 2h 14min
The Three Musketeers & The Four Musketeers (with Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary)
Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary (from The Video Archives Podcast) join Paul & Amy for an unprecedented Unspooled crossover episode! The quartet cross swords with 1973's swashbuckling Alexandre Dumas adaptation The Three Musketeers, and its 1974 sequel, The Four Musketeers. They praise the star-studded cast (especially Oliver Reed and Faye Dunaway), admire director Richard Lester's comic approach that nonetheless sticks faithfully to the novel's plot, and break down what makes a great cinematic sword fight. Plus: Is 3 Musketeers a good candy bar? Next week, our Heroes & Villains series definitively transitions to Villains with Fatal Attraction! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast, and on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. You can also listen to our Stitcher Premium game show Screen Test right now at https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test and apply to be a contestant at unspooledpod@gmail.com!
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