Filmspotting

For the second part of their Top 10 Films of 2025 conversation with Michael Phillips and Vulture critic Alison Willmore, the roundtable gets to the films that made at least two and, in one case, all four of their individual lists. Plus, thoughts on Rob Reiner’s passing, and film-of-the-year picks from Aisha Harris, Scott Tobias, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robinson, Marya E. Gates, David Chen, Chris Klimek, and Aaron Neuwirth.  This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.)Intro (00:00:00-00:00:45) Rob Reiner / Notes (00:00:46-00:11:18) Poll Results: Film of 2025 (00:11:19-00:17:26) Two-Listers (00:17:26-00:48:55) Three-Listers (00:48:56-01:30:01) #1 Films of 2025 (01:30:02-01:53:52) More ‘Outlier’ Picks (01:53:53-01:58:42) Credits / New Releases (01:48:43-01:03:50) Links: -Rob Reiner Was Good | Matt Zoller Seitz https://www.vulture.com/article/rob-reiner-was-good.html -Filmspotting's 2025 Top 10 Picks https://www.filmspotting.net/top-5-lists-archive/1044-top-10-films-of-2025 Feedback: -Email us at ⁠⁠⁠feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠⁠. -⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://filmspottingfamily.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠⁠  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm⁠  ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam and Josh’s Top 10 Films of 2025 conversation with Michael Phillips and Vulture critic Alison Willmore went so long that it had to be split into two parts. In this offering, the roundtable shares their "outlier" choices, and we hear film of the year picks from Matt Singer⁠, Amy Nicholson⁠, Roxana Hadadi⁠, Mitchell Beaupre⁠, and more. Plus, the finalists for the 2025 Golden Brick Award⁠. This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:06:16) The Year in Movies (00:06:17-00:25:06) 'Outest' Outliers (00:25:07-01:00:22) 'Expected' Outliers (01:00:23-01:53:52) More Top 10s / Brick Finalists (01:53:53-02:21:55) Links: Ted Gioia On the Future's Demand for Human Curators ⁠https://youtu.be/OF8kBtVNJXI?si=dF0akmcpGBJlvf4F&t=1750⁠  -"Derek Cianfrance’s Midlife Crisis" | Roxana Hadadi ⁠https://www.vulture.com/article/roofman-director-derek-cianfrance-interview.html⁠ -Poll: 2025 Golden Brick ⁠⁠https://poll.fm/16408482⁠ -Filmspotting's Top 10s ⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/top10lists⁠ Feedback: -Email us at ⁠⁠⁠feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠⁠. -⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. ⁠⁠⁠http://filmspottingfamily.com⁠⁠⁠ -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. ⁠⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠  https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm  ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Something for the holidays special from the Filmspotting Archive: Adam and Josh's ⁠9 From '99⁠ review of Stanley Kubrick's EYES WIDE SHUT. For full access to the archive going back to 2005, plus monthly bonus shows, a weekly newsletter, access to the Filmspotting Discord, and more, join the ⁠⁠Filmspotting Family⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hot on the heels of submitting their Chicago Film Critics Association ballots, Adam and Josh share their favorite performances of the year, plus some thoughts on Rian Johnson’s WAKE UP DEAD MAN and Chloe Zhao’s HAMNET. This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:03:26) Performances of ‘25: Supporting (00:03:27-00:31:15) Filmspotting Family (00:31:16-00:35:40) Performances of ‘25: Lead (00:35:41-01:09:03) Wake Up Dead Man (01:09:04-01:17:51) Hamnet (01:17:52-01:29:11) Brickspotting (Boys Go to Jupiter, If I Had Legs…) (01:29:12-01:35:41) Notes / Massacre Theatre (01:35:42-01:46:19) Polls (01:46:20-01:54:07) Credits / New Releases (01:54:08-01:57:17) Links: -Chicago Film Critics Association https://chicagofilmcritics.org/ -Poll: Film of the Year https://poll.fm/16367252 -“Black Actresses Are Carrying One Battle After Another” | Vulture https://www.vulture.com/article/black-actresses-are-carrying-one-battle-after-another.html -”Wagner Moura's moment is now.” | L.A. Times https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-12-03/wagner-moura-brazil-secret-agent-kleber-mendonca-filho Feedback: -Email us at ⁠⁠⁠feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠⁠. -⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. ⁠⁠⁠http://filmspottingfamily.com⁠⁠⁠ -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. ⁠⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠  https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm  ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this week's archive drop, we're sharing Adam and Josh's 2019 review of Rian Johnson's KNIVES OUT. The third film in the series, WAKE UP DEAD MAN, is currently in theaters and comes to Netflix on Dec. 12. For full access to the archive going back to 2005, plus monthly bonus shows, a weekly newsletter, access to the Filmspotting Discord, and more, join the Filmspotting Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in October, Michael Phillips joined Adam at Iowa City’s Refocus Film Festival for a live recording of the Top 5 Movies Adapted From Iowa Writers. The town is home to the University of Iowa’s famed Writers’ Workshop, so picks were not confined to "Field of Dreams" and "The Music Man" (but those get shout-outs, too). This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:03:59) Top 5 Iowa Writer Adaptations (04:00-00:35:37) Next Week / Notes (00:35:38-00:38:45) Top 5, continued (00:38:46-01:02:46) Credits / New Releases (01:02:47-01:05:34) Links: -Poll: ‘25 Scene Stealers https://poll.fm/16310945 -London Meetup w/Josh on Dec. 11 https://forms.gle/rUcgUKicTddzwFBs5 Feedback: -Email us at ⁠⁠⁠feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠⁠. -⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. ⁠⁠⁠http://filmspottingfamily.com⁠⁠⁠ -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. ⁠⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠  https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm  ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For November's Filmspotting Family bonus episode, Adam, Josh, and Producer Sam fielded a wide variety of questions from listeners, including how Josh ended up in Scotland, how Adam ended up (back) in Iowa, and the very second, circa 2005, when Sam knew that Filmspotting was something bigger than he and Adam imagined it would be. Monthly bonus episodes are just one of the benefits of becoming a Filmspotting Family member, along with early and ad-free episodes, a weekly newsletter, access to the Filmspotting Discord, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josh (a fan of last year’s "Wicked") and Adam (not a fan) review the sequel and try to get to the bottom of why it fails where the stage musical (mostly) succeeds. Plus, raves for Clint Bentley’s TRAIN DREAMS, and the Golden Brick longlist. This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:25) Wicked: For Good (00:02:26-00:43:23) Filmspotting Family (00:43:24-00:48:08) Train Dreams (00:48:09-01:19:08) Golden Brick Longlist (01:19:09-01:41:16) Next Week / Notes (01:41:17-01:46:33) Polls (01:46:34-02:00:55) Credits / New Releases (02:00:56-02:04:01) Links: -Filmspotting Golden Bricks https://www.filmspotting.net/bricks -Poll: '25 Scene Stealers https://poll.fm/16310945 -Fear Not! (50% Off + Free Shipping; code CONFSHIP, select Media Mail) https://wipfandstock.com/9781666738520/fear-not/ -London Meetup w/Josh on Dec. 11 https://forms.gle/rUcgUKicTddzwFBs5 Feedback: -Email us at ⁠⁠⁠feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠⁠. -⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. ⁠⁠⁠http://filmspottingfamily.com⁠⁠⁠ -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. ⁠⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠  https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm  ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Director Edgar Wright’s latest, THE RUNNING MAN, is an update of the Schwarzenegger-starring ‘87 sci-fi action film (and the ‘82 Stephen King novella). Josh finds just enough to recommend it, but Adam has a hard time finding the Wright in it all. And Michael Phillips joins Adam for a review of Richard Linklater’s Paris ‘59-set NOUVELLE VAGUE, with both agreeing that the director’s making-of-”Breathless” is “charming as hell.” Plus Massacre Theatre and more. This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:04:23) The Running Man (00:04:24-00:39:08) Filmspotting Family (00:39:09-00:43:04) Nouvelle Vague with Michael Phillips (00:43:05-01:22:10) Next Week / Notes (01:22:11-01:33:20) Massacre Theatre (01:33:21-01:44:21) Credits / New Releases (01:44:22-01:47:45) Links: -Poll: Actor/Director Duos Since 2000 https://poll.fm/16260111 -Siskel & Ebert at 50: Lone Star with Adam and Michael https://luma.com/pwlqid75 -Fear Not! (50% Off + Free Shipping; code CONFSHIP, select Media Mail) https://wipfandstock.com/9781666738520/fear-not/ -London Meetup w/Josh on Dec. 11 https://forms.gle/rUcgUKicTddzwFBs5 RSVP:  Feedback: -Email us at ⁠⁠⁠feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠⁠. -⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. ⁠⁠⁠http://filmspottingfamily.com⁠⁠⁠ -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. ⁠⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠  https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm  ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hosts reflect on a decade of podcasting while celebrating a milestone. They delve into the themes of decay and aimlessness in Peter Bogdanovich's classic. The nuanced portrayal of sexuality and marital failure sparks engaging discussions. Emotional arcs and moments of compassion highlight characters amid a dying town. They draw parallels between the film's setting and modern Rust Belt realities. Trivia games and insights on filmmaking add a playful touch to the celebrations.