The Empire Film Podcast

2012 was the year that was, and this is the Empire Podcast Review Of The Year (that is). So for a slightly anarchic meander around the past 12 months of moviedom - and some spoilers that you'd expect with that (see the 32 minute onwards for the likes of 'Death Of The Year' and so on) - then press play on this here podcast.

The final Empire Podcast of the year brings three directors into the studio, namely Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher), Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed) and Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible). For more podcast fun, be sure to download the second Hobbit Spoiler special, as well as the Review Of The Year special, which is due up on 31st December.

Pretty much all other big name releases are running scared this week, hiding in their metaphorical trolls' caves as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey stomps into cinemas. So with that in mind, this particular Empire Podcast boasts three interviews with stars from said film, namely Andy Serkis (Gollum), Martin Freeman (BIlbo) and Richard Armitage (Thorin), as well as your regular dose of film-related fun and general movie blather.

Eric Idle, then. Member of Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Rutles and The Unseen University, he's been making people chuckle for years and years, be it on stage, TV screen, cinema, record player or in this instance, podcast recording booth. Here you can find out more about his ongoing Spamalot musical (and the court case it's currently embroiled in), his downloadable stage show What About Dick?, what it was like to shoot The Holy Grail and even his involvement in this year's Olympic Closing Ceremony. So for 40 odd minutes of Idle banter - sorry - click play immediately.

In the latest Empire Podcast, Seven Psychopaths' Sam Rockwell and Martin McDonagh talk about the latter's follow-up to In Bruges and the former's love of dancing on screen. Elsewhere, Warp Films' 10th anniversary is celebrated and Sightseers writers and stars Alice Lowe and Steve Oram stop by for a chat. Plus, the team try to work out exactly what it is about The Wolf from Pulp Fiction that makes him worthy of such a reputation...

A interview triple bill for you this week with actor Jake Gyllenhaal (End Of Watch), director Ben Wheatley (Sightseers) and producer Stephen Woolley (Great Expectations) all dropping by to talk a whole load of waffle with the Empire Podcast team. Elsewhere, the Star Wars Episode VII news round-up continues apace, Star Trek Into Darkness gets a synopsis and Susan Boyle biopic casting suggestions are made.

End Of Watch and Silver Linings Playbook are two movies well worth watching this weekend. Want more details than just that? Listen to this very podcast, and details are what you shall have - as well as more Star Wars Episode VII titbits, a discussion of journalism on film and an obligatory mention of Nick's very good friend, The Rock.

Graciously accepting our repeated offers to come round for a cup of tea, Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan (and the man behind The IT Crowd) popped in for a chat in front of some Empire Podcast microphones, and you can listen to the resulting interview in this very podcast. As well as some wise words from the man who came up with a character as bonkers as Father Jack, the Empire Podcast team review a pair of five star releases - namely Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master and Michael Haneke's Amour - as well as a million star one in the form of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2. Why a million stars? Well, you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out..

Appearing on this week's Empire Podcast are Kick-Ass and Wanted creator Mark Millar - and now head honcho of Fox's Marvel properties - and Skyfall writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. As well as those two interviews, there are discussions of actors that will put you off watching a movie entirely and the recent arrival of the trailer for World War Z. For all that and a whole lot more, click play or download or just subscribe to our RSS feed...

A huge piece of movie news arrived this week in the form of Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm for $4 billion and the announcement of Star Wars: Episode VII's release in 2015. Naturally, the first chunk of this week's Empire Podcast discusses this in depth, with the rest filled out by your usual dose of reviews, interviews (including Doctor Who's Matt Smith and Grass Roots' and American Pie's Jason Biggs) and other highly entertain cinematic bits and bobs.