Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Omar is only Barack Obama's favourite fictional character of all time. And perhaps ours too? We find out why we're on the side of the gun-toting, duster-coat wearing stick-up badass who robs drug dealers for a living. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Wire to avoid spoilers. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email shrinkthebox@somethinelse.com If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan. Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/ For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/shrink Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon speaks to Hollywood royalty Michael Douglas about the return of Ant-Man - Michael recommends the best way to watch his new film... Mark reviews drama ‘Nostalgia’ about a man named Felice who returns to his hometown, Naples, after a 40-year absence; ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’ - the feature adaptation of the animated short, Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate) is a 1-inch-tall shell that lives with his grandmother; ‘The Son’ starring Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern and Vanessa Kirby which tells the tragic story of a deeply troubled teenager who tries to navigate moving in with his father, and ‘Ant- Man and the Wasp: Quantumamia’ which sees Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfeiffer, and  Michael Doulas reprise their role in the Marvel franchise. Time Codes (relevant only when you are part of the Vanguard): 11:34 Marcel the Shell With Shoes On Review 18:43 Box Office Top 10 29:59 Michael Douglas 43:55 Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania Review 52:06 Laughter Lift 01:01:43 Nostalgia Review 01:05:57 What’s On 01:07:46 The Son Review EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The often enigmatic chess genius that is Beth Harmon - is the Queen of this week’s episode. Ben and Sasha explore why Beth feels so compelled to clean up after parties - and how her controlled prowess at the chessboard, becomes utter chaos away from it. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email shrinkthebox@somethinelse.com Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Queen’s Gambit to avoid spoilers. If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan. Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/. For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We learn about the making of ‘Till’, and what Danielle thinks about the Awards. Mark reviews ‘Women Talking’ - a harrowing American drama about a religious isolated community starring Jessie Buckley, Rooney Mara and Claire Foy, ‘Epic Tails’ - which tells the story of a super smart mouse named Pattie and her feline friend Sam, who embark on an exciting adventure through ancient Greece. ‘Blue Jean’- Georgia Oakley’s standout feature film about a closeted PE teacher in the 1980s who must lead a double life in order to keep her job, and Channing Tatum takes to the stage once again in ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ - which sees Mike Lane go to London for one last hoorah with a wealthy socialite (Salma Hayek). Time Codes (relevant only when you are part of the Vanguard): 11:44 Epic Tales Review 15:57 Box Office Top 10 32:21 Danielle Deadwyler and Barbara Broccoli Interview 48:43 Magic Mike’s Last Dance 54:31 Laughter Lift 58:22 Women Talking 01:08:39 What’s On 01:10:27 Blue Jean EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.    Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts   To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sliding on their gloves, and stepping into their Hazmat suits, Ben and Sasha distil one of TV’s most infamous characters: The mighty Heisenburg. On this week’s Shrink the Box we uncover why Walter White is often in his underpants, how he taps into his ‘shadow side’ and we explore if the ‘Revenge of the Nerd’ is really a thing. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of Breaking Bad to avoid spoilers. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email shrinkthebox@somethinelse.com If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan. Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/. For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Telegraph critic Robbie Collin stands in for Simon this week as he’s unwell. Mark reviews ‘EO,’ Jerzy Skolimowski’s harrowing new film about a donkey that encounters happiness and sorrow along his journey through life, ‘Knock at the Cabin’ - M Night Shyamalan’s apocalyptic film – which tells the story of a same sex couple who are held hostage and asked to make an unthinkable choice, from the Shrek family ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,’ starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Florence Pugh, and ‘The Whale’ - adapted from stage to screen, the film tells the sad tale of a reclusive and obese man named Charlie who wishes to reconnect with his estranged daughter. You can also hear Simon’s interview with The Whale actor, Brendan Fraser, and director, Darren Aronofsky, with more from them both in Take 2. Mark and Robbie go through this week’s Top 10 and your correspondence. Time Codes (relevant only when you are part of the Vanguard): 10:55 EO Review 18:00 Box Office Top 10 36:20 Darren Aronofsky and Brendan Fraser 48:29 The Whale Review 57:44 Laughter Lift 01:00:28 Knock at the Cabin Review 01:07:43 What’s On 01:09:09 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.    Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts   To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unravelling the complex (and surprisingly endearing) layers of the OG mobster: Mr Tony Soprano, all roads lead to New Jersey on the first episode of Shrink the Box! We find out why talking to a therapist is a ‘whackable’ offence, how falling in love with your shrink is not THAT uncommon and why his mother, Livia Soprano could be the real villain of the show. Don’t forget to check out Season 1 of The Sopranos to avoid spoilers. Do you have a character suggestion for us? Get in touch! Please email shrinkthebox@somethinelse.com If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode: For the UK, call SAMARITANS on 116 123 samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan. Internationally: https://www.befrienders.org/. For UK help via talking therapies contact your GP or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy bacp.co.uk Shrink The Box is a Somethin’ Else Production with Sony Music Entertainment. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wondered why Tony Soprano's therapist stuck with him? Simon and Mark chat with friend of the show, actor/comedian Ben Bailey Smith, and psychotherapist Sasha Bates about their new podcast ‘Shrink the Box’ where every week Sasha and Ben give listeners the chance to delve into the psyches of their favorite fictional film and tv characters.   Mark reviews Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical coming of age drama ‘The Fablemans’, ‘Plane’ stars Gerrard Butler who finds himself in even more danger after he is forced to land a commercial plane on an island in the Philippines, ‘Unwelcome’ a new horror film about a couple who are gifted a house in rural Ireland that isn’t what it seems, and ‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’ - the new Oscar nominated documentary directed by Laura Poitras which explores the life of artist Nan Goldin and her takedown of the Sackler family. Time Codes (relevant only when you are part of the Vanguard): 13:51 All The Beauty and The Bloodshed Review 18:54 Box Office Top 10 33:16 Shrink The Box with Ben Bailey Smith and Sasha Bates 48:54 The Fabelmans Review 58:35 Laughter Lift 01:02:42 Plane Review 01:09:37 Unwelcome Review EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.    Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts   To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cate Blanchett is the star of  ‘Tár’ and is tipped to win big at the awards this year; in this episode you’ll hear Cate talk to Simon about the impact the film has had on her. Mark reviews Damien Chazelle’s latest film ‘Babylon’ - set in the decedent and depraved world of 1920’s Hollywood, ‘Holy Spider’ a Persian-language crime thriller directed by Iranian director Ali Abbasi, ‘More than Ever’ -  a heartfelt drama starring Vicky Krieps and Gaspard Ulliel in the penultimate film before his death, and ‘Alice Darling’ - directed by Mary Nighy, and starring Anna Kendrick - the film tells the story of a young woman who is pushed to the brink by her psychologically abusive boyfriend.    Time Codes (relevant only when you are part of the Vanguard):   09:55 Alice, Darling Review  18:44 Box Office Top 10  35:12 Cate Blanchett interview  51:58 Laughter Lift   53:55 Holy Spider Review   58:23 More Than Ever Review  01:02:04 What’s On  01:03:45 Babylon Review     EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!  You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.    Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts   To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Would Empire of Light have happened if Olivia Colman hadn’t said yes to playing Hilary? Director and writer, Sam Mendes CBE, chats to Simon in this week’s episode as the pair unpack his latest release. Mark reviews psychological horror ‘Enys Men’, set in 1973 on an uninhabited island off the Cornish coast; Cate Blanchett’s new film ‘Tár’ - about the life of composer and conductor, Lydia Tár; ‘M3gan’ - about a robotics engineer at a toy company, who builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own, as well as Olivia Colman and Sam Mendes’ latest ‘Empire of Light’. Time Codes (relevant only when you are part of the Vanguard): 10:24 Enys Men Review 20:45 Box Office Top 10 31:29 Sam Mendes Interview 46:40 Empire of Light Review 54:05 Laughter Lift 59:42 M3GAN Review 01:04:49 What’s On 01:06:05 Tár Review EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.    Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts   To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices