The Big Picture
The Ringer
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review the movies you need to see. Plus: Top 5s, Movie Drafts, Oscars analysis, and more, featuring a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues like Chris Ryan, Van Lathan, and Bill Simmons.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 10, 2022 • 1h 20min
Ask Sean Anything Mailbag: ‘Avatar 2,’ 10 Exciting Under-40 Directors, and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ at the Oscars
Let’s dig into the mailbag! Sean answers your questions about the year in movies so far, film book recommendations, what a producer actually does, and a lot more.Host: Sean FennesseyProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 6, 2022 • 1h 15min
‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Is Here!
It’s one of the year’s most anticipated movies, the first MCU entry of 2022, and the first movie in almost 10 years from the great Sam Raimi. Joanna Robinson and Chris join Sean for a non-spoiler conversation, followed by a spoiler-filled breakdown of the new ‘Doctor Strange’ film.Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Joanna Robinson and Chris RyanProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 3, 2022 • 1h 37min
‘Spider-Man,’ ‘The Evil Dead,’ and the Sam Raimi Rankings
This week sees the release of ‘Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’ which is directed by one of our favorite filmmakers, Sam Raimi. Adam Nayman talks with Sean about Raimi's expansive career and style, before ranking his 15 features (38:00). Then, Sean is joined by Tom Gormican, the director of ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,’ to discuss his Nicolas Cage meta-action vehicle (1:11:00).Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Adam Nayman and Tom GormicanProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 29, 2022 • 1h 8min
‘Nightmare Alley’ and Our Favorite Films Noir, With Patton Oswalt!
Of all the movies we saw in 2021, the one we keep returning to is Guillermo del Toro’s modern noir about a mysterious carnival worker. To dig deep into the movie and how its themes connect to our time, Sean is joined by comedian, actor, and certified movie freak Patton Oswalt. Patton shares his deep knowledge of film noir, his favorites in the genre, and where ‘Nightmare Alley’ fits in its history.Host: Sean FennesseyGuest: Patton OswaltProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 26, 2022 • 1h 40min
The Nicolas Cage Hall of Fame and ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’
It’s Nic Cage season! To celebrate, Van Lathan and Rob Mahoney join Sean to talk about the new meta-action-comedy ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ (1:00) before building a shrine to Cage in the form of his Hall of Fame (35:00).Hosts: Sean FennesseyGuests: Van Lathan and Rob MahoneyProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 22, 2022 • 1h 28min
‘The Northman,’ and the Top 5 Revenge Movies With Robert Eggers!
The breathtaking new action-adventure epic from Robert Eggers, the director of ‘The Witch’ and ‘The Lighthouse,’ is here. Chris Ryan joins to dive into this Viking epic (1:00) before Eggers talks with Sean about the making of the film (56:00).Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Chris Ryan and Robert EggersProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 18, 2022 • 1h 39min
The 2003 Movie Draft
Mallory Rubin, a meticulous drafter known for fiery defenses, opens with bold selections. Joanna Robinson, film critic with sharp taste, champions theatrical and emotional picks. Chris Ryan, aka CR, brings idiosyncratic, culture-savvy choices. They spar over 2003 favorites across categories like blockbusters, comedies, action and Oscars, trading passionate takes and surprising inclusions.
Apr 14, 2022 • 1h 26min
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and Top Five Most Audacious Movies
We’re diving deep into Daniels’ multiversal extravaganza ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ one of the year’s most acclaimed and thrilling movies. Sean is joined by Adam Nayman and Joanna Robinson to break down the film, its bold style, and why it’s become such a sensation (1:00). Then, they share their favorite, zany, audacious movie swings (39:00).Host: Sean FennesseyGuest: Adam Nayman and Joanna RobinsonProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 11, 2022 • 1h 14min
Top Five Action Movie Scenes and the Madness of Michael Bay’s ‘Ambulance’
Michael Bay is back on the big screen with 'Ambulance,' a thrilling, nonstop cornucopia of explosions, car chases, shoot-outs, bank robberies, and emergency bullet-removal surgeries. Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to talk about Bay (1:00) and our favorite action movie sequences of all time (38:30).Host: Sean FennesseyGuest: Chris RyanProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 7, 2022 • 1h 13min
Movie Swap: ‘Fargo’ vs. ‘The English Patient’
It’s time for another movie swap! It’s a 1996 showdown as Sean sends Amanda the Coen Brothers’ thriller ‘Fargo’ and Amanda returns volley with Anthony Minghella’s Best Picture winner, ‘The English Patient.’ They talk 1996 movies, the year’s Academy Awards, and how these two modern classics hold up.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsProducer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
