
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

Apr 26, 2024 • 1h 3min
Ordinary Angels, Boy Kills World, I.S.S., Challengers & The American Society of Magical Negroes
This week there’s no guest, but lots more witterings from the good doctors to make up for it.
Mark gives his take on a swathe of new films, including ‘Ordinary Angels’, a Hilary Swank-starring emotional drama about a hairdresser who rallies an entire community to help a widowed father get his critically ill youngest daughter a liver transplant; ‘Boy Kills World’, an action thriller about a martial arts expert who goes on a campaign of vengeance after he is rendered deaf-mute by an attack that killed his entire family; ‘I.S.S.’, a science fiction thriller, which sees tensions flare aboard the International Space Station when a worldwide conflict breaks out on earth; and ‘Challengers’, Luca Guadagnino’s latest, which sees Zendaya star as a former-tennis-prodigy-turned-coach who transforms her husband into a world-famous grand slam champion only to become embroiled in a love triangle when he competes against his former best friend – and her former lover.
The big review of the week is ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’, a comedy-drama, which sees a young man join a clandestine group of magical African Americans committed to enhancing the lives of white individuals, satirising the Magical Negro trope.
Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):
09:39 – Orindary Angels
16:42 – Boy Kills World
20:45 – Box Office Top Ten
35:19 – I.S.S.
43:33 – Challengers
50:27 – American Society of Magical Negroes
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.
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Apr 19, 2024 • 1h 4min
The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Highlights and Lowlights so far this year
Ramy Youssef and Emma Stone discuss reading a film script. Denis Villeneuve and Hans Zimmer share insights on their work. There's also a discussion on Bella Baxter's character development and actors Kate Blanchett and Killian Murphy reflecting on lockdown creative process.

Apr 12, 2024 • 1h 1min
Kirsten Dunst & Alex Garland, Civil War, The Teachers’ Lounge, The First Omen & Back to Black
This week, Kirsten Dunst and Alex Garland sit down to chat with Simon about their new film ‘Civil War’, which sees Dunst star as a photojournalist travelling with her team across a dystopian United States, engulfed by a second civil war, in a bid to interview and photograph the president.
Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The Teachers’ Lounge’, a drama in which a teacher decides to step in when one of her students is suspected of theft, finding herself caught between her ideals and the school system in the process; and ‘The First Omen’, which sees a young American nun start to question her own faith when she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy to bring about the birth of evil incarnate in Rome.
The big review of the week is ‘Back to Black’, a musical biopic about singer Amy Winehouse’s tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil inspires her to write and record the groundbreaking album ‘Back to Black’.
Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):
The Teachers’ Lounge – 6:58
Box Office Top Ten – 10:55
The First Omen – 13:16
Kirsten Dunst & Alex Garland Interview – 25:32
Civil War Review – 37:45
Back to Black Review – 46:11
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

Apr 5, 2024 • 59min
Dev Patel, Monkey Man, Evil Does Not Exist, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire & Seize Them!
Dev Patel discusses 'Monkey Man', a film where a young man seeks revenge for his mother's death. Review on 'Evil Does Not Exist' and 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire'. Big review on 'Seize Them!', a comedic Dark Ages adventure.

Mar 29, 2024 • 1h 2min
Ewan McGregor, A Gentleman in Moscow, Mothers’ Instinct & Silver Haze
Ewan McGregor discusses 'A Gentleman in Moscow' miniseries, Mark reviews 'Mothers’ Instinct' & 'Silver Haze'. Topics include Bolshevik Revolution, sisterly bond shattered, nurse's obsession with revenge, cinematic events, and more.

Mar 22, 2024 • 1h 9min
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Immaculate & Late Night with the Devil
No interview this week, but even more witterings from your favourite duo for your trouble.
Mark gives his thoughts on new releases, including ‘Late Night with the Devil’, a found footage horror, which sees a 1977 live television broadcast go horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation’s living rooms; ‘Immaculate’, a Sydney Sweeney-starring horror about an American nun who heads to a convent in Italy only to discover that her new home harbours a sinister secret; and ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’, the latest instalment in the supernatural comedy franchise, which sees Ghostbusters new and old join forces to protect their home against evil forces and save the world from a second ice age.
Plus, Mark and Simon keep us abreast of the cinematic events happening around the country.
Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):
08:38 Late Night with the Devil review
19:25 Box Office Top 10
39:08 Immaculate review
45:56 Laughter Lift
52:01 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire review
01:00:13 What’s On
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

Mar 15, 2024 • 1h 18min
Cate Blanchett, The New Boy, Monster & Drive Away Dolls
This week, the one and only Cate Blanchett joins Mark and Simon for a chat about her drama ‘The New Boy’, which follows a young Aboriginal Australia orphan, who is brought into a Christian monastery, run by a renegade nun, begin to question his faith and loyalty to his heritage.
Mark gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Monster’, a Japanese psychological mystery thriller about a mother who confronts a teacher after noticing disturbing changes in her son’s behaviour; and ‘Drive Away Dolls’, an Ethan Coen-helmed road trip caper about two lesbian friends who get caught up in crime.
Plus, Mark and Simon keep us abreast of the cinematic events happening around the country.
Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):
08:23 Monster review
23:27 Box Office Top 10
37:28 Cate Blanchett interview
52:03 The New Boy review
57:23 Laughter Lift
01:02:48 Drive-Away Dolls review
01:09:23 What’s On
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

Mar 8, 2024 • 1h 21min
Ava DuVernay, Origin, The Inventor & High and Low – John Galliano
This week, acclaimed director Ava DuVernay chats to Simon and Mark about ‘Origin’, her new biographical drama based on the life of the author Isabel Wilkerson who wrote the seminal book ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents’, while coping with personal tragedy.
Mark also offers his thoughts on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The Inventor’, a Stephen Fry-starring animation, which imagines Leonardo da Vinci, as he leaves Italy to join the French court, where he can experiment, study and invent freely; and ‘High and Low – John Galliano’, a documentary charting the triumphs and controversies of the legendary and controversial fashion designer.
Plus, Mark and Simon keep us abreast of the cinematic events happening around the country.
Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):
08:16 High & Low: John Galliano review
20:52 Box Office Top 10
32:52 Ava DuVernay interview
47:29 Origin review
54:55 Laughter Lift
01:03:42 The Inventor review
01:09:09 What’s On
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

Mar 4, 2024 • 1h 10min
Oscars 2024 Best Picture Special
Get insider insights on top Oscar contenders for Best Picture 2024, including exclusive interviews with Cillian Murphy, Greta Gerwig, Emma Stone, Jeffrey Wright, and more. Mark shares his thoughts on films like Oppenheimer, Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Maestro. Dive into the excitement of award season with this podcast!

Mar 1, 2024 • 1h 19min
Denis Villeneuve & Hans Zimmer, Dune: Part Two, Four Daughters & Lisa Frankenstein
This week, acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve and renowned composer Hans Zimmer join Simon for a chat about their hotly-anticipated project, ‘Dune: Part Two’ - the next chapter in their adaptation of Frank Herbert’s legendary sci-fi saga.
Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Four Daughters’, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated documentary, which mixes fact and fiction to tell the story of Olfa Hamrouni, a Tunisian woman whose two eldest daughters were radicalized by Islamic extremists; and ‘Lisa Frankenstein’, a Diablo Cody-penned comedy about a misunderstood teenager and a reanimated Victorian corpse who embark on a murderous – and romantic – journey together.
Plus, Mark and Simon tell us about the exciting cinematic events happening around the country.
Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):
08:39 Four Daughters review
22:19 Box Office Top 10
34:33 Denis Villeneuve and Hans Zimmer interview
49:31 Dune: Part Two review
01:00:13 Laughter Lift
01:02:44 Lisa Frankenstein review
01:08:38 What’s On
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