Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Ever wondered why Tony Soprano's therapist stuck with him? Simon and Mark chat with friend of the show, actor/comedian Ben Bailey Smith, and psychotherapist Sasha Bates about their new podcast ‘Shrink the Box’ where every week Sasha and Ben give listeners the chance to delve into the psyches of their favorite fictional film and tv characters.   Mark reviews Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical...

Cate Blanchett is the star of  ‘Tár’ and is tipped to win big at the awards this year; in this episode you’ll hear Cate talk to Simon about the impact the film has had on her. Mark reviews Damien Chazelle’s latest film ‘Babylon’ - set in the decedent and depraved world of 1920’s Hollywood, ‘Holy Spider’ a Persian-language crime thriller directed by Iranian director Ali Abbasi, ‘More than Ever’ -  ...

Would Empire of Light have happened if Olivia Colman hadn’t said yes to playing Hilary? Director and writer, Sam Mendes CBE, chats to Simon in this week’s episode as the pair unpack his latest release. Mark reviews psychological horror ‘Enys Men’, set in 1973 on an uninhabited island off the Cornish coast; Cate Blanchett’s new film ‘Tár’ - about the life of composer and conductor, Lydia Tár; ‘M3ga...

The daughter of Beatle Paul McCartney, Mary McCartney, joins Ben and Anna to give us a glimpse of what went down in the world-famous Abbey Road Studios. Anna reviews ‘Till’ - the heart-breaking film about the death of Emmett Till in 1960s America, the highly anticipated ‘A Man Called Otto’, the Disney Original documentary ‘If These Walls Could Sing’, and ‘Piggy’- a Spanish French indie thriller. T...

Mark and Simon take a look at the best bits of Kermode and Mayo’s Take this year including highlights from Rowan Atkinson, Jeff Goldblum, Charlotte Rampling – as well as the biggest reviews like Top Gun Maverick, Elvis and Everything Everywhere All At Once. PLUS Simon interviews TOM HANKS and MARIANA TREVINO about the upcoming  comedy-drama ‘A Man Called Otto’. They also reflect on those we have l...

Detective Benoit Blanc is back!! Simon sits down with Daniel Craig, and director Rian Johnson to chat all things ‘Glass Onion: A Knives out Mystery,’ the sequel to ‘Knives Out.’ (2019) Mark reviews ‘The Enforcer’- an American action thriller starring Antonio Banderas who must sacrifice everything to save a young girl from his femme fatale boss (Kate Bosworth), ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ - a gothic horror...

It took three years and cost 250 million dollars to make ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’, and Mark has some strong feelings on the film... Mark also reviews animated Christmas movie ‘The Nutcracker and the Magic Flute’ - which follows Marie as she makes a wish and becomes the same size as her toy nutcracker, ‘The Unofficial Science of Home Alone’ - a one off Sky special with comedians James Acaster and...

What is it like to work with Tom Cruise? The legendary Hollywood producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, pays us a visit to tell all and to speak to Simon about the making of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. Mark reviews ‘Nocebo’ - a new mystery/psychological thriller starring Eva Green and Chai Fonacier, ‘Anonymous Club,’ a documentary that gives an intimate portrayal at the life of beloved singer Courtney Barnett, ‘Th...

Why eating nineteen bowls of noodles helped Gary Oldman get into character for Jackson Lamb – he joins Mark and Simon in the studio, fully in character for ‘Slow Horses season two’. Gary talks filming the new series, as well as the 25th anniversary of ‘Nil by Mouth.’ Mark reviews ‘White Noise’- an apocalyptic black comedy directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver and Don Che...

The monstrous Miss Trunchbull is played by Dame Emma Thompson in the new musical film ‘Matilda the Musical’ - Simon talks to Dame Emma about this extraordinary role, and how Emma’s comprehensive prosthetics started at 5am each day! Mark reviews ‘Bones and All’ - a romantic horror road film by Luca Guadagnino, starring Timothée Chalamet Taylor Russell and Mark Rylance, ‘She Said’ - a biographical d...

Simon speaks to actor Paul Mescal about his new film ‘Aftersun.’ Mark reviews black comedy horror film ‘The Menu,’ starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Holt, and Ralph Fiennes - about a young couple who visit a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant, but the chef has prepared some shocking surprises for his guests, ‘Armageddon Time’ - a personal coming of age story by James Gray - starring...

Ben Bailey Smith speaks to writer/director Sebastián Lelio and actor Florence Pugh about their haunting new film ‘The Wonder.’ Mark reviews the much-anticipated ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ the first four episodes of ‘The Crown’ season five, ‘No Bears’ by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi – about two parallel love stories in which the partners are thwarted by hidden, inevitable obstacles, and ‘A...

Mark and Simon are LIVE from Indigo at the O2 in Greenwich, and are joined by special guests Aimee Lou Wood (to discuss her new film ‘Living’ in which she stars alongside Bill Nighy), the director of ‘Girls’, and more recently ‘Catherine Called Birdy’; Lena Dunham comes to the stage with her husband Luis Felber who wrote the soundtrack to her latest hit film. Mark reviews ‘Living’ - about a man wh...

This week Simon speaks to rising British star Harris Dickinson about his role as a male model in ‘Triangle of Sadness’. Mark reviews new horror film ‘Barbarian’ - starring Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, and Georgina Campbell, Sebastián Lelio’s psychological thriller ‘The Wonder’- where Florence Pugh is sent to watch a girl who miraculously lives healthily without eating, new rom com ‘Bros’ - about n...

This week Simon speaks to the prolific British-Irish playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh about his new irreverent dark comedy ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’. Mark reviews the latest superhero movie ‘Black Adam’ - starring Dwayne Johnson and Piers Brosnan, Park Chan-Wook's new mystery/romance drama ‘Decision to Leave’ - about a detective investigating a man’s death in the mountains,Hulu original...

This week Simon speaks to Emma Mackey about her role as Emily Bronte in ‘Emily’ and the writer and director of the film Francs O’Connor. Mark reviews new adaptation of the popular children's book ‘Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile’- starring Javier Bardem, and Shawn Mendes as the voice of Lyle, Netflix’s new German remake of ‘All Quiet on the Western Front, ‘Emily’ - about one of England’s most talented write...

This week Simon speaks to one of Britian’s finest acting talents Sally Hawkins about her new film ‘The Lost King.’ Mark reviews the culinary smash hit series 'The Bear,’ David O. Russell’s new star-studded drama ‘Amsterdam’, ‘Vengeance’ - starring Ashton Kutcher and B. J. Novak about a podcaster who travels to Texas to investigate the death of woman he briefly dated and ‘The Lost King’- written by...

This week Simon sits down with screen legend Christian Bale to discuss his role in David O. Russell’s latest film ‘Amsterdam.’ Mark reviews Peter Strickland’s culinary black comedy ‘Flux Gourmet’; ‘Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris’ - a 1950’s period film which follows a housekeeper as she embarks on her dream, starring Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert and Jason Isaacs; ‘The Woman King’ starring Viola Da...

This week Simon and Mark are joined in the studio by the extraordinary Charlotte Rampling to discuss her new film ‘Juniper’. Mark reviews the highly anticipated psychological drama ‘Blonde’- a fictionalized take on the life of Marilyn Monroe; Olivia Wilde’s new film ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ - starring Harry Styles, and Florence Pugh; ‘Catherine Called Birdy’ - a coming of age comedy set in Medieval E...

Power, greed, religion and sex: historian Dan Jones brings the drama of medieval history alive through compelling stories, larger-than-life characters and vivid scenes. In the first season, get to know the most dysfunctional family of the Middle Ages – the Plantagenets – and find out how their scandalous betrayals and bloody politics shaped the world we live in today.  A Somethin’ Else & Sony Musi...

This week Simon speaks to the iconic American actress Pam Grier about the 25th anniversary of ‘Jackie Brown’. Mark reviews Disney+ live action ‘Pinocchio’, Brett Morgan’s new documentary about David Bowie - ‘Moonage Daydream’, Quentin Tarantino’s seminal film ‘Jackie Brown’ and romantic comedy ‘Ticket to Paradise’ starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney.  Plus a huge amount of correspondence, Wh...

This episode was recorded before the announcement of the passing of HRH Elizabeth II. This week Simon speaks to the multitalented Poet, Musician, and actor Johnny Flynn about his new film ‘The Score.’ Mark reviews new comedy horror ‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ - about a group of spoilt friends whose party game goes horribly wrong, ‘See How They Run’ - a mystery/crime set in the 1950’s, starring Sam Rock...

Simon and Mark are back from their cruise and joined by very special guest Timothy Spall to discuss his new drama ‘It Snows in Benidorm’. Mark reviews the new drama ‘The Forgiven’ - starring Jessica Chastain, Matt Smith and Ralph Fiennes, ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’ - George Miller’s new fantasy romance starring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, ‘It Snows in Benidorm’, and ‘Blackbird’ - the new...

Simon and Mark are on the final week of their cruise, so this week covers all the highlights from their Take 2 episodes so far, bringing you the best bits (normally reserved for subscribers, ie. The Vanguard) FOR FREE! To subscribe via any platform, visit: https://extratakes.com/ Highlights include: MORE TOM HIDDLESTON One Frame Back: Films About Mythical Sea Creatures MORE ROWAN ATKINSON Mark and...

Join Robbie Collin and Rhianna Dhillon as they stand in while Mark and Simon are on their annual cruise. Rhianna speaks to national treasure Hugh Bonneville about his sinister new role in Baback Anvari’s new crime thriller ‘I Came By’. Robbie reviews ‘Bad Sisters’ Sharon Horgan’s new comedy/thriller, ‘House of the Dragon’ - following the story of the Targaryen civil war 300 years before the events...