The Big Picture

Mailbag Special: Favorite Acting Performances Ever, Lingering Tarantino Thoughts, and the Dark Future of the Movie Business | The Big Picture August 13, 2019

01:19:51

We open the mailbag to answer some of our listeners’ most-pressing questions: What films are we most looking forward to for the rest of the year? Is Adam Driver our best working actor (and is he hot)? What are Sean’s…

The ‘Once Upon A Time … In Hollywood’ Take Cycle, Reviewed | The Big Picture August 9, 2019

01:36:58

We attempt to have a nuanced conversation about the complicated reception to Quentin Tarantino’s new film. (0:00) Then, we break down the latest shakeup in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' leadership, and how it will affect the…

‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse’ vs. ‘Sense and Sensibility.’ Plus: Avi Belkin on ‘Mike Wallace Is Here’ | The Big Picture August 5, 2019

01:55:36

Sean and Amanda finally cave and watch each others’ beloved films after months and months of refusing (1:00). Then, director Avi Belkin joins the show to talk about his motivation for diving into a subject like Mike Wallace (1:13:23).Hosts: Sean…

Making ‘Hobbs and Shaw’ the Action Movie Event of the Summer, With David Leitch | Interview August 2, 2019

00:40:09

‘Hobbs and Shaw’ director David Leitch joins to talk about the challenges of adapting a successful franchise, his work on 'John Wick,' and the state of the action-comedy genre.Host: Sean FennesseyGuest: David Leitch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’ Is Quentin Tarantino’s Most Sentimental Film Yet (SPOILERS) | Exit Survey July 26, 2019

01:12:39

We gather to discuss Quentin Tarantino’s ninth—and allegedly penultimate—film, ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.’ We break down everything from Leonardo DiCaprio grappling with the end of his career in the leading role, to Brad Pitt’s quiet charisma, to…

Top Five Quentin Tarantino Films. Plus: David Crosby, Cameron Crowe, and A.J. Eaton on ‘David Crosby: Remember My Name’ | The Big Picture July 23, 2019

01:48:41

The ‘Cats’ trailer set fire to Twitter, and Marvel extinguished the flames by announcing its next decade of IP dominance—what are we looking forward to most (1:00)? Then, we finally hash it out: We debate the top five Quentin Tarantino…

We’re Debating ‘The Lion King’ in 2019. Why? | Exit Survey July 19, 2019

01:02:18

Disney is in the midst of a nostalgia churn, and the latest installment is a remake of ‘The Lion King,’ the iconic 1994 peak of the Disney golden era. Have we reached a dark place with live-action remakes, and are…

The Theatrical Movie Business Is a Disaster, So ‘The Farewell’ Is a Miracle, With Lulu Wang | Interview July 16, 2019

01:34:28

The slow box office summer continued this weekend as ‘Stuber’ failed to make a real impact in theaters. Is streaming going to put an end to the big-budget action comedy (0:37)? Plus, a long conversation with Lulu Wang about her…

The Making of an Action Star in 2019, Plus: Reviving Action-Comedy and ‘Stuber’ With Director Michael Dowse | Interview July 12, 2019

00:55:06

David Shoemaker joins the show to talk about how action stars are minted in the post–The Rock era of filmmaking, Dave Bautista’s rise to legitimate actor, and who is primed to make the leap from WWE to the big screen…

Are We Headed for a 2020 Oscars Disaster? Plus: How Disney Runs the Movie World, and Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Stearns on ‘The Art of Self-Defense’ I Discussion July 9, 2019

01:07:50

We take an early survey of the alleged frontrunners in the 2020 Oscars—a slim list of movies that are already getting negative buzz—before discussing the live-action remake trend that Disney is employing in its latest effort to dominate the financial…