
Kermode & Mayo’s Take
The new home of Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo. They’re back, and it’s bigger, and better and larger-er and more-er.
Film reviews, TV reviews, and all your conversation around movie and non-movie related stuff. Plus a whole bunch of recommendations to watch in cinemas, on all streaming services and on physical media.
As well as the film and TV reviews, Mark and Simon will be talking about anything and everything. Punctuation, Thunderbirds, obscure German pop music, fax machines, subtitles, MRI scans, magic, school assemblies, Scandinavia, and don’t forget the dad jokes.
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Latest episodes

Jun 4, 2024 • 35min
SHRINK THE INBOX
Ben and Nemone answer your questions and explore your suggestions. They talk about whether they have any friends who are spies and explore some brilliant female led comedies you've either missed or forgotten.
We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com
NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here
Michael, Office (USA. Season 1)
Chandler, Friends (selected episodes)
Sydney, The Bear (season 2)
Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2).
Alex and Bradley, The Morning Show (Season 1)
Tasha, Orange is the New Black (season 2)
CREDITS
We used a clip from Girls, Series 6.
Starring (in the clip we used):
Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath
Adam Driver as Adam Sackler.
Created by: Lena Dunham. Written by Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow.
Directed by: Jesse Peretz
Produced by: Home Box Office.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.
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May 30, 2024 • 1h 3min
Benedict Cumberbatch, Eric, The Beast & Sting
This week, Take fave Benedict Cumberbatch tells Simon all about his psychological miniseries ‘Eric’, which sees him play troubled puppeteer Vincent, who clings to his missing son’s drawings of a blue monster puppet named Eric, convinced that if he can get Eric on TV then his son will come home.
Mark also gives his take on the show, as well as reviewing ‘Sting’, which sees a 12-year-old's pet spider rapidly transform into a giant flesh-eating monster, forcing the young girl to fight for her family’s survival.
This week’s big review is ‘The Beast’, a science fiction romantic drama loosely based on Henry James’ novella ‘The Beast in the Jungle’, which imagines a near future in which artificial intelligence is in control of everyone’s lives and human emotions are perceived as a threat. Lea Seydoux and ‘Gorgeous George’ Mackay star.
Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):
08:14 – Sting Review
12:03– Box Office Top Ten
24:44 – Benedict Cumberbatch Interview
39:15 – Eric Review
45:42 – What's On June
49:06 – The Beast Review
You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo
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A Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts
To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 28, 2024 • 49min
LARRY DAVID: Curb star who falls out with everyone in SHRINK THE BOX
He’s grumpy, belligerent, stubborn, filterless and has to win every single argument. We ask how Larry David has any friends left and why he is so concerned with manners, yet is rude to virtually everyone he meets. Plus, Ben and Nemone look at why some people find Curb Your Enthusiasm excruciating whilst others just can’t get enough of the hit show.
We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com
NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here
Michael, Office (USA. Season 1)
Chandler, Friends (selected episodes)
Sydney, The Bear (season 2)
Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2).
Alex and Bradley, The Morning Show (Season 1)
CREDITS
We used clips from Season 7 of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Episodes 1,4,5,7,10.
Starring (in the clips we used):
Larry David as Larry David,
Jeff Garlin as Jeff Greene
Cheryl Hines as Cheryl David
Susie Essman as Susie Greene
Jason Alexander as Jason Alexander
Bob Einstein as Marty Funkhouser
Catherine O'Hara as Bam Bam
Anita Barone, as Denise
Peter Mackenzie as Man in Shorts
Paul Webster as Larry's Friend Jim
Created and written by: Larry David. Directed by Larry Charles, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Bryan Gordon, Jeff Schaffer and Andy Ackerman,
Produced by: Linda Balaban, associate producer
Alec Berg, executive producer
Larry Charles, executive producer
Larry David, executive producer (showrunner) / executive producer
Jeff Garlin, executive producer
Tim Gibbons, executive producer
David Mandel, executive producer
Megan Murphy, co-producer
Erin O'Malley, executive producer
Gavin Polone, executive producer
Jeff Schaffer, executive producer (showrunner)
Laura Streicher, producer
Produced by HBO and Production Partners.
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 23, 2024 • 1h 4min
George Miller, Furiosa, In Flames & The Garfield Movie
Director George Miller, famed for the 'Mad Max' franchise, discusses the highly anticipated 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga', revealing the character's intense backstory and evolution. He shares insights into the film's creative process amidst a post-apocalyptic setting. The conversation also touches on 'In Flames', a poignant supernatural drama, and the challenges faced by its protagonists. Additionally, they explore the new 'Garfield Movie', highlighting its unique approach and voice cast while diving into the tale of a lasagna-loving cat embroiled in a heist.

May 21, 2024 • 51min
TOMMY SHELBY: We Peek Behind the Blinders in SHRINK THE BOX
Gang dynamics, whether you can escape a criminal heritage and the physiological cause and effect of PTSD. Plus, race rigging, opium smoking and casual violence - all in a day's work for The Peaky Blinders.
Here’s the article Ben mentioned by his sister Zadie Smith: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1399593/My-father-the-accidental-hero.html
We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com
NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 7)
Michael, Office (USA. Season 1)
Chandler, Friends (selected episodes)
Sydney, The Bear (season 2)
Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2).
CREDITS
We used clips from Season 1 of Peaky Blinders.
Starring:
Cillian Murphy (Tommy Shelby), Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby), Sophie Rundle (Ada Shelby) Helen McCrory (Polly Gray) and Samuel Edward Cook (Danny Whizz-bang).
Created by: D Steven Knight Written by D Steven Knight, Toby Finlay and Stephen Russell.
Directed by: Otto Bathurst and Tom Harper.
Produced by: Caryn Mandabach Productions, Tiger Aspect Productions and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 16, 2024 • 58min
Vicky McClure, If, Two Tickets to Greece & Hoard
This week, Vicky McClure chats to Simon about her new limited series ‘Insomnia’, which sees a mother approaching her fortieth birthday forced to grapple with her traumatic past after she develops insomnia.
Mark gives his thoughts on various new releases, including ‘Two Tickets to Greece’, a French comedy-drama starring Laure Calamy (of ‘Call My Agent’ fame) which follows two childhood friends who cross paths after many years and finally decide to take their dream vacation to Greece; and ‘Hoard’, a social realist psychodrama, which sees a teenager living in a foster home encouraged by a previous resident to revisit her childhood memories of her mother who used to be a hoarder.
The big review of the week is 'If’, John Krasinski’s latest, which sees a 12-year-old girl, who can see everyone’s imaginary friends, embark on a magical journey to reconnect the forgotten so-called IFs with the now-adult kids who dreamt them up.
Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):
07:00 – Two Tickets For Greece Review
11:49 – Box Office Top Ten
21:40 – Vicky McClure Interview
35:36 – Hoard Review
42:40 – IF Review
You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo
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A Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts
To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 14, 2024 • 48min
CERSEI LANNISTER’s Power Behind the Throne: SHRINK THE BOX
As Cersei says: ‘power is power’ and she’s got it in spades. We investigate how she becomes a master manipulator, and we take an honest objective look at her over-familiar relations with her brother Jaime.
We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com
NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here
Tommy Shelby, Peaky Blinders (Season 1)
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 7)
Michael, Office (USA. Season 1)
Chandler, Friends (selected episodes)
Sydney, The Bear (season 2)
CREDITS
We used clips from Season 1 and 2 of Game of Thrones.
Starring: Sean Bean as Ned Stark, Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark, Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister and Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
Based on: "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin
Created by: David Benioff and DB Weiss
Written by: David Benioff, George R.R. Martin, Dave Hill, Bryan Cogman, Ethan J. Antonucci, Gursimran Sandhu, Vanessa Taylor and Jane Espenson.
(S1&2) Directed by: David Nutter, Alan Taylor, Daniel Minahan, Alik Sakharov, Brian Kirk, Timothy Van Patten, Nei Marshall, David Petrarca and Tom McCarthy.
Produced by: Home Box Office (HBO), Television 360, Grok! Studio, (Grok! Television), Generator Entertainment and Bighead Littlehead.
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 10, 2024 • 1h 2min
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and John Krasinski, Made in England, La Chimera & Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
This week, Simon’s fave John Krasinski, along with Ms Fleabag herself, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, are on the show to discuss their new film ‘If’, which sees a 12-year-old girl who can see everyone’s imaginary friends, embark on a magical journey to reconnect the forgotten so-called IFs with the now-adult kids who dreamt them up. Mark will be reviewing the film next week.
The good doctor Kermode gives his diagnosis on various new releases, including ‘Made in England’, a documentary in which legendary auteur Martin Scorsese reflects on the legacy and lasting influence of the equally legendary British filmmaking duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger; and ‘La Chimera’, Alice Rohrwacher’s latest about a British archaeologist who becomes embroiled in an international network of stolen Etruscan artifacts in the 1980s – its star Josh O’Connor was on the show to talk about last week. If you haven’t already his chat with Simon is an absolute must-listen!
The big review of the week is ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’, the fourth instalment of the ‘Planet of the Apes’ reboot franchise, which sees a young ape, many years after the reign of Caesar, embark on a journey that will lead him to question everything’s he’s been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):
06:34 – Made In England Review
11:47 – Box Office Top Ten
25:18 – John Krasinski and Phoebe Waller-Bridge Interview
41:23 – La Chimera Review
47:36 – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review
You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo
EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take 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 advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 7, 2024 • 51min
FRASIER CRANE: Inside the mind of the Seattle psychiatrist on this week’s SHRINK THE BOX
Where does Frasier’s snobbery originate from? Why does he revert to his ‘child state’ when around his father? And... the hidden story behind Frasier being a Freudian analyst and Niles (his brother) being a Jungian analyst.
Plus, Ben and Nemone’s minds are blown when they realise a crazy coincidence with Frasier and Tony Soprano.
We want to hear from you!!! Please drop the team an email with your questions and theories (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com
NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here
Cersei, Game of Thrones (Season 1)
Tommy Shelby, Peaky Blinders (Season 1)
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 7)
Sydney, The Bear (Season 2)
Michael, Office (USA. Season 1)
CREDITS
We used clips from Season 1 of Frasier
Starring: Kelsey Grammar as Dr Fraiser Crane, David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane, John Mahoney as Martin Crane, Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle and Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon.
Created and written by: David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee and Brad Hall.
Directed by: James Burrows, David Lee, Andy Ackerman and Rick Beren.
Produced by: Grub Street Productions, Paramount Network Television, Paramount Television (in association with) Grammnet Productions and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 3, 2024 • 1h 8min
Josh O’Connor, La Chimera, Love Lies Bleeding, The Idea of You & The Fall Guy
Man of the moment, Josh O’Connor, discusses his leading role in 'La Chimera', a period fantasy drama. Mark reviews 'Love Lies Bleeding' and 'The Idea of You'. The big review is 'The Fall Guy' starring Ryan Gosling. Topics include romance, action, and cinematic praise for films.