Unspooled

Paul & Amy put on the Ritz with 1974's Mel Brooks monster movie parody Young Frankenstein! They ask what makes this the most beautiful of Brooks' films, praise the colorful supporting cast from Marty Feldman to Teri Garr, and chart the increasingly frenzied performance of star Gene Wilder. Plus: That's where "Walk This Way" came from?   Next week, Paul & Amy continue their Mel Brooks discussion wi...

Paul & Amy sink their teeth into 2014’s vampiric mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows! They learn why so many of the film’s creatures look like Lord Of The Rings characters, come around to Jemaine Clement’s acting style, and ask if this is still director Taika Waititi’s best film. Plus: The origins of that sandwich joke.   Next week, Paul & Amy are watching Young Frankenstein! You can join the c...

This month, we’re re-releasing our discussion of 1931’s Frankenstein to accompany our latest episodes on Evil Dead II and What We Do In The Shadows. Stay tuned for another Franken-film we’ll be covering very soon!    Amy & Paul reanimate 1931's literary creature feature Frankenstein! They learn Boris Karloff's real name, discuss what the film has to say about the human act of creation, and ask why...

Karina Longworth (You Must Remember This) joins Paul & Amy to unveil her top 3 erotic thrillers! They also discuss the problem with the NC-17 rating, coming of age at the height of Madonna's stardom, and why Michael Douglas is the archetypal erotic thriller star. For much more on these topics, listen to Karina's Erotic 90s series, out now on the You Must Remember This feed.   Next week, Paul & Amy...

Paul & Amy chainsaw through 1987’s groovy slapstick horror masterpiece Evil Dead II! They ask if Bruce Campbell’s Ash is a “final girl,” learn why director Sam Raimi owes his career to Stephen King, and discuss why this film still feels anarchic and dangerous. Plus: The origin of the Wilhelm Scream.   Next week, Karina Longworth of You Must Remember This joins us for a Top 3! You can join the conv...

Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, Spider-Man) joins Paul and Amy on the eve of his Bruce-O-Rama tour (and a new Evil Dead movie!) to talk about three of his favorite films, including a demonic horror masterpiece and a widescreen WWII epic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul and Amy get stuck in Martin McDonagh’s 2008 hitman parable In Bruges! They learn about McDonagh’s explosive ascent as a playwright, compare Bruges to other hitman films of the era, and discuss how the contrast between Colin Farrell’s offensive dialogue and redemptive arc messes with the audience’s sympathies. Plus: how do you master eyebrow acting?  Next week, tune in as we watch El Mariachi!...

Amy & Paul arm up for 2014’s revitalizing Keanu Reeves action film John Wick! They ask whether we’re supposed to care about Wick as a character, praise the careful world building of directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, and debate the best fight in the series. Plus: What would you do if someone killed your pet in front of you?   Next week, tune in as we discuss In Bruges! You can join the con...

In this bonus Unspooled, Paul & Amy weigh in on the latest franchise entries following our recent episodes, including discussions of how Jonathan Majors fits into the Creed universe, whether Steven Soderbergh got the tone of the third Magic Mike right, and how Hayden Panettiere fares in her return to Scream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul & Amy look back on their favorite films of 2022 and get ready for the Academy Awards this weekend! They'll discuss each of the Best Picture nominees, share their thoughts on the year in blockbusters and streaming films, and ask the big question - are the movies back? Plus: A high stakes Oscar wager.   Next week, tune in as we discuss Creed! You can join the conversation for this series on Pau...

In honor of Scream VI's release in theaters this weekend, we're re-releasing last year's discussion of the original Scream - tomorrow we'll be back with a brand new episode!   Paul & Amy don't follow the rules for 1996's Wes Craven meta-horror-comedy Scream! They learn Craven's secret to making horror films that resonate, argue that the iconic Ghostface mask works better than a more distinctive lo...

Paul & Amy enjoy a Winky Dinky Dog and watch 1987's audacious sketch satire Hollywood Shuffle! They explore the multifaceted career of star and director Robert Townsend, put the film in context of black cinema in the 80s, and ask why Townsend's critiques of Hollywood are relevant 35 years later. Plus: Eddie Murphy's surprising reaction to the film's Eddie Murphy sketch.   Next week, we look back a...

Will Menaker and Matt Christman of Chapo Trap House join Paul & Amy on this week's crossover Unspooled! Matt shares three films to watch before listening to his new history miniseries Hell On Earth, including a Puritan horror folktale and a medieval breakthrough from a master satirist. Will announces his own upcoming miniseries and highlights three films on rails to help get into "movie mindset."...

Paul & Amy slip a five dollar bill to 2012's male stripper megahit Magic Mike! They discuss why Steven Soderbergh's film is about money as much or more than sex, ask who the franchise's hottest character is, and explore what makes Channing Tatum such a generational talent. Plus: plenty of love for the super-sized follow up, Magic Mike XXL.   Next week, tune in for a Top 3 crossover episode... You...

Smriti Mundhra (Indian Matchmaking, The Romantics) talks to Paul and Amy about her three favorite Hindi-language romantic films, how romance became a blockbuster genre in India, and how she feels about the term ‘Bollywood.’ Watch The Romantics on Netflix, out today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy & Paul open up 2004's decades-spanning romance The Notebook! They praise the effortless chemistry of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, learn how James Garner prepared (or didn't prepare) for his role, and ask why we don't see more pure romances like this. Plus: Did Gosling and McAdams really fall in love on set?   Next week, tune in as we cover Magic Mike! You can join the conversation for this...

Paul & Amy swerve into 2004's Oscar-winning race-in-LA melodrama Crash! They take a close look at how the film's attitudes on race and racism have aged, learn about the incident that happened to director Paul Haggis that inspired the film, and revisit the short-lived Crash TV series. Plus: Should Brokeback Mountain have won Best Picture instead?    Next week, tune in as we cover Magic Mike! You ca...

Amy and Paul react to the 2023 Oscar nominations in a bonus Unspooled. We'll be back on Thursday with Crash! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul & Amy force-project into Rian Johnson's galaxy-brained Star Wars entry The Last Jedi! They dissect the disputes between Mark Hamill and Johnson on the fate of Luke Skywalker, praise the film's illustrations of the nature of heroism, and ask if this is up there with the very best of Star Wars. Plus: The origins of porgs.   Next week, tune in as we cover 2004's Crash! You can join the conversat...

Paul & Amy send a love letter to David Lynch's uncanny 1986 noir Blue Velvet! They learn what Lynch thinks of his "Jimmy Stewart from Mars" image, discuss the film's many connections to The Wizard Of Oz, and ask why we're collectively obsessed with the dark underbelly of everyday life. Plus: What Dennis Hopper role was a 'spiritual sequel' to Frank Booth?   Next week, tune in as we cover The Last...

Amy & Paul peel the layers of Chantal Akerman’s minimalist homebound masterwork Jeanne Dielman! They praise the way Akerman trains her audience to pay attention to tiny details, debate whether the controversial ending was necessary, and ask what the film’s recent ascendancy to the top of Sight & Sound’s greatest films list says about how we live today. Plus: The truth about Tony Orlando and Dawn....

Unspooled will return with new episodes 1/13 - be sure to catch up with "Jeanne Dielman" before we kick off Jeanne-uary, until then enjoy one of our favorite holiday episodes!   Paul & Amy cross the pond for 2003’s Christmas romantic comedy smash Love Actually! They dissect director Richard Curtis’s curious understanding of love, learn the fates of each character in the 2017 sequel short, and watc...

Unspooled will return with new episodes 1/13 - be sure to catch up with "Jeanne Dielman" before we kick off Jeanne-uary, until then enjoy one of our favorite holiday episodes!   Paul & Amy unwrap 1983’s holiday nostalgia trip A Christmas Story! They learn about the life of the film’s inspiration Jean Shepherd, discover how the flagpole scene was shot, and ask if a film like this can still hold the...

Paul & Amy walk across broken glass for 1988's definitive Bruce Willis action film Die Hard! They ask whether Hans Gruber is the true protagonist of the film, learn why Frank Sinatra was originally considered to play John McClane, and explore why this film succeeds where legions of imitators have failed. Plus: we settle the "Christmas movie" debate once and for all.   Next week, tune in as we disc...

Amy & Paul upload their consciousness into 2009’s otherworldly sci-fi spectacle Avatar! They confirm the concept of ‘unobtanium’ wasn’t invented by the film, learn which movie stars were up for the role of Jake Sully, and ask themselves why they feel protective of director James Cameron. Plus: did Cameron really insist the Na’Vi need to have breasts?   Next week, tune in as we discuss Die Hard! Yo...