Filmspotting

Adam is joined by critic Chris Klimek to discuss Steven Soderbergh's latest, The Christophers . Starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, the film centers on the uneasy power dynamic between a once-celebrated artist and the forger drawn into his orbit. The conversation focuses on McKellen’s bracing late-career performance, Coel’s controlled counterpoint, and Soderbergh and screenwriter...

Is Casablanca the best film of the 1940s? Adam and Josh put it to the test in a head‑to‑head showdown with its fiercest competitor: Citizen Kane. As part of the Filmspotting Pantheon Project — and on the occasion of Kane’s 85th anniversary — the conversation digs into what each film says about America, power, and the promise (or illusion) of individualism. They also trace how the...

A24 may have launched modestly in the early 2010s, but it didn’t take long for the indie distributor to reshape American cinema. To mark the company’s first decade — spanning Spring Breakers and The Bling Ring through Moonlight , Lady Bird , The Florida Project , and more — Adam and Josh convened the debut Filmspotting Draft in August 2022: ten A24 titles each, no shared pi...

Matt and Jordan return with a review of Balls Up, debating if the Peter Farrelly formula still works on the small screen and whether they can actually recommend a movie involving cocaine-addicted crocodiles. Later, Matt revisits Empire Records , Jordan goes back to 1935 with The 39 Steps , and the team plays the first-ever round of "Key Chain." (Ep. #169) (Timecodes/chapters may not be precise wit...

Adam and Josh honor the late Robert Duvall with a Top 5 discussion of the scenes that best capture his range, authority, and restraint. From iconic bravura moments to quieter displays of control and vulnerability, the conversation traces performances that continue to define Duvall’s place in American cinema. Plus, the ’40s Madness bracket narrows to its Final 4 contenders. This episode...

After reviewing The Godfather in 2022 for the film's 50th anniversary, Adam and Josh devoted a bonus show to — arguably — its even greater sequel. For the first time, we're sharing that review in the main Filmspotting feed. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠ . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Not a dream, not a hoax — SVU is back. After an eight-year hiatus and a “miracle leap forward in technology,” Matt Singer returns with new co-host Jordan Hoffman. To christen the new era, they tackle Jonah Hill’s Apple TV original  Outcome , starring Keanu Reeves as the neurotically obsessed movie star (and former heroin addict) Reef Hawk. The duo debates whether the f...

Michael Phillips talks with author Paul Fischer about The Last Kings of Hollywood and the fragile, collaborative moment that brought Coppola, Lucas, and Spielberg together before success hardened into mythology. From near-misses and rivalries to the system they helped build—and later found themselves up against—the conversation asks what was possible then, what was lost, and why none o...

Adam and Josh review The Drama, Kristoffer Borgli’s provocative relationship experiment starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, and split on whether its formal games around perception, narrative, and moral judgment deepen the emotional stakes. They then break down the Elite 8 matchups in ’40s Madness and size up what’s left of the bracket. This episode is presented by ⁠ Regal Unli...

Adam and Josh officially induct two films into the Filmspotting Pantheon, the show’s eclectic movie Hall of Fame, welcoming a pair of foreign‑language classics from two of the show’s most admired filmmakers. They walk through the Pantheon voting process, reflect on this year’s nominees, and explain how the final selections rose to the top. They also announce the lineup for the up...

Originally recorded ten years ago during a conversation sparked by David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows , Adam is joined by Michael Phillips for a Top 5 about standout horror films from the 21st century. The conversation captures a moment tied to a film whose influence remains strong, with a sequel set to begin filming this summer. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus...

After two rounds entirely dominated by top seeds, could the first upset of ’40s Madness be brewing between Bicycle Thieves and Brief Encounter ? Plus — thanks to the Filmspotting Bump™ — does The Best Years of Our Lives have what it takes to go toe‑to‑toe with It’s a Wonderful Life ? Adam and Josh dig into the Sweet 16. This episode is presented by  Regal Unlimit...

With THE DRAMA unfolding this weekend, we’re revisiting 2019’s Top 5 Movies About Marriage — a tour through the cracks and complexities of on‑screen commitments. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠ . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam and Josh review PROJECT HAIL MARY, exploring Ryan Gosling’s blend of humor, melancholy, and middle‑school‑teacher energy. They also discuss the practical effects approach that makes it all work before turning to Round 2 of '40s Madness. This episode is presented by  Regal Unlimited⁠⁠ , the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code F...

Adam and Josh consider the Pantheon credentials of Kelly Reichardt’s MEEK’S CUTOFF, reflecting on its spare frontier world, questions of free will, and place in Reichardt’s larger American project. 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 episo...

With our PROJECT HAIL MARY review coming Friday, we’re revisiting a Filmspotting blast from beyond: 2014’s Top 5 Things From Space (That Came to Destroy Us). B-movies, classic sci-fi, and Arnold Schwarzenegger all make the cut. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family . See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Why does STAND BY ME still resonate 40 years later? Adam and Josh revisit Rob Reiner’s classic, reflecting on its friendships, its wistfulness, and River Phoenix’s unforgettable performance. Plus: a review of Maggie Gyllenhaal’s THE BRIDE and a look at the Round 1 matchups of Filmspotting '40s Madness. Join the Filmspotting Family for the full archive, bonus episodes, ad‑free lis...

Inspired by the upcoming release of PROJECT HAIL MARY, Adam and Josh beam back to October 2015 when they suited up for THE MARTIAN — Ridley Scott’s brainy, big‑hearted sci‑fi rescue mission starring Matt Damon. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you join the Filmspotting Family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam, Josh, and Michael Phillips size up the Oscars with their annual rundown of who will win, who should win, and who was unfairly overlooked — plus the Filmspotting Madness: Best of the 1940s Play‑Ins. This episode is presented by  Regal Unlimited⁠⁠ , the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes/...

This week’s Best Picture-winning archive pick takes us back to May 2018, when Adam and Josh returned to The Shire for a LORD OF THE RINGS reckoning. The original episode (#681) also includes a Top 5 Lord of the Rings Scenes. For full access to the show archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad-free + bonus episodes, and more,  ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠⁠ . See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

This week’s Top 5 explores cinema’s most unreliable narrators, characters who bend, twist, or completely invent the truth. Adam and Josh pair the list with a fresh look at Kurosawa’s RASHOMON, the film that set the template for them all – and a potential 2026 Pantheon inductee.  This episode is presented by ⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠ , the all-you-can-watch movie subscription...

This week’s Best Picture-winning archive pick takes us back to October 2016 and Adam’s conversation with MOONLIGHT director Barry Jenkins and star Naomie Harris. Then, hear the show's original review from that same episode. For full access to the show archive, Filmspotting Discord, monthly bonus episodes, and more, ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠⁠ . See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Adam and Josh share their Top 5 Catherine O’Hara Characters, revisiting the brilliance and range she brought to every role — from Delia and Cookie to Moira Rose and Mickey. A heartfelt tribute to a performer whose presence defined some of cinema and TV’s most hilarious moments. This episode is presented by ⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠ , the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that p...

Oscar‑winning filmmaker Morgan Neville joins Adam to discuss his intimate archival portrait of Paul McCartney’s turbulent and creatively explosive 1970s. Neville reflects on his own documentarian origin story, his lifelong connection to the Beatles and Wings, how he built the film from audio‑only conversations with Paul, and why McCartney’s post‑Beatles decade feels like a sequel to Ge...

In honor of the late Robert Duvall, we share Adam and Josh's March 2021 review of Sidney Lumet's Best Picture-nominated NETWORK, which was part of the show's ⁠7 From '76 series⁠ . For full access to the show archive, Filmspotting Discord, monthly bonus episodes, and more,  ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠⁠ . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.