Paul & Amy take aim at Michael Cimino's 1978 Vietnam War epic The Deer Hunter! They investigate the film's controversial use of Russian Roulette, ask whether Robert De Niro's character is too perfect, and try Unspooled's first ever film-inspired food tasting segment. Plus: Rutanya Alda, who plays Angela in the film, talks about her journey from Latvia to Hollywood.For Gone With The Wind week, fill in the blank: "Frankly my dead, I don't give a ___." Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim TroxallThis episode is brought to you by Betterhelp (www.betterhelp.com/unspooled). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy & Paul don't fight the power of 1989's Spike Lee breakthrough Do The Right Thing! They praise the film's Shakespearean qualities, analyze the infamous reception it received at Cannes, and ask whether this story has a true villain. Plus: The man himself, director and star Lee joins the show to discuss why the film still feels so timely 30 years later. What do you think The Deer Hunter is about? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim TroxallThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (www.betterhelp.com/unspooled code: UNSPOOLED), Ooni (www.ooni.com code: UNSPOOLED), and CNN - The Movies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Paul & Amy play with 1995's pioneering CGI adventure Toy Story! They learn about the surprising career of Randy Newman, ask if Sid was really such a bad kid, and debate whether the film was a greater triumph for art or commerce. Plus: Annie Potts, the voice of Bo Peep, tells us how she joined the film, and Josh Cooley shares what it was like to direct Toy Story 4.What Pixar film would you put on the AFI list? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer, and join us next week for Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim TroxallThis episode is brought to you by Good One: A Podcast About Jokes, I Hate Talking About Myself Podcast, Betterhelp (www.betterhelp.com/unspooled), Sonos (www.sonos.com), and Turo (www.turo.com code: UNSPOOLED25). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul & Amy walk into 1969's New York hustler drama Midnight Cowboy! They look for meaning in the song "Everybody's Talkin'," ask whether Jon Voight's babyfaced features make him the perfect Joe Buck, and marvel at how modern the film still feels. Plus: More of your picks for horror films that could make the AFI list.For Toy Story week, help us come up with new catchphrases for Woody! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your best one. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim TroxallThis episode is brought to you by Aladdin the Musical (www.aladdinthemusical.com), Betterhelp (www.betterhelp.com/unspooled), Sonos (www.sonos.com), and Turo (www.turo.com code: UNSPOOLED25). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What horror films should be added to the AFI's signature list? Do films like The Sixth Sense or Psycho count as horror? Paul and Amy debate these questions live from the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, with special guests Sam Zimmerman from Shudder and Phil Nobile Jr. from Fangoria! They ask whether fast zombies are superior to slow zombies, discuss when meta-horror films become too meta, and wonder whether a horror film needs to be a little bit trashy.Next week we return to the list with 1969's Midnight Cowboy! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim TroxallThis episode is brought to you by Ooni Wood Fired Oven Pizza (www.ooni.com code: UNSPOOLED), Betterhelp (www.betterhelp.com/unspooled), and Turo (www.turo.com code: UNSPOOLED25). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

50 films down, 50 to go! But first, Paul and Amy celebrate making it halfway through the AFI list on this special episode. They discuss their favorite performances from the films so far, break down a controversial DVD/Blu-Ray packaging campaign, read pitches for AFI movie mashups from listeners, and unveil their newly-ordered Top 50 list.Next week, we're releasing our live episode from the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, where we'll be debating what horror films should be on the AFI list. Come see us there this Saturday! Tickets and more info at overlookfilmfest.com. Or call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824, and tell us the horror film you would pick. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul & Amy fall into Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 psychological thriller Vertigo! They learn who created the famous Vertigo zoom, listen to a classic 90s song inspired by Vertigo, and ask if the age gap between Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak works to the film's credit. Plus: Tony Lee Moral, author of multiple books on Hitchcock, tells us where Vertigo fits into his filmography. Next week is our 50th movie special - tell us which films we've covered so far surprised you or stuck with you, or offer us your 30 second elevator pitch for an AFI movie mashup! Just call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy & Paul cross-examine 1962's Southern drama To Kill A Mockingbird! They compare the slice-of-life storytelling to later filmmakers like Richard Linklater, reveal Brock Peters' on-set nickname, and ask whether the film can be considered separately from the book. Plus: author and professor Wayne Flynt talks about his friendship with Harper Lee in her later years. For Vertigo week, what other disorders could be the title of a Hitchcock film? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul & Amy dig into 1991's serial killer thriller The Silence Of The Lambs! They praise the many ways the film puts us in Clarice Starling's head, discover the inspirations for Hannibal Lecter's voice, and learn how Buffalo Bill was originally received by LGBT activists. Plus: former detective Paul Holes of the Murder Squad podcast explains what Silence of The Lambs gets right abour criminal profiling.Who should play Atticus FInch in a modern adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy and Paul suit up for 1982's gender-bending Dustin Hoffman comedy Tootsie! They ask whether Michael is really a great actor, praise Bill Murray's scene-stealing performance, and compare the film to last year's Best Picture winner. Plus: drag comedian Roz Drezfalez ("Ghosted" podcast) tells us why he loved Tootsie as a kid. For Silence Of The Lambs week, help us create a menu for Hannibal Lecter's next meal! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 in your best Hannibal impression.Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com [unspooledpod.com] and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices