Unspooled

Amy & Paul reconcile their duality with 2010's Darren Aronofsky ballet thriller Black Swan! They dissect Natalie Portman's full-bodied transformative performance, praise the subtly stunning visual effects, and float three theories for what really happens at the film's end. Plus: What does a swan really sound like?   Next week, tune in as we cover the original Avatar! You can join the conversation...

In this bonus Unspooled, Paul & Amy react to Sight & Sound magazine's newest once-a-decade poll of the 100 greatest films of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul and Amy carpool to Mexico with Ridley Scott’s 1991 fugitive road trip Thelma and Louise! They discuss how much input stars Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon had in the production, ask if the movie’s portrayal of men is cartoonish, and reveal the alternate ending that left audiences furious. Plus: can you imagine this film without Brad Pitt?   Next week, tune in as we cover Black Swan! You can jo...

Paul and Amy get waylaid by John Hughes’ 1987 road trip comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles! They discuss the true story the movie is based on, address the hot streak that John Hughes was on at the time (11 films in five years!), and analyze Hughes’ unmatched ability to capture the full range of John Candy. Plus: was Elton John supposed to write a song for this movie?   Next week, tune in as we...

Paul and Amy receive their license to kill with 2006’s intense James Bond reinvention Casino Royale! They discuss the online controversy surrounding the first blonde Bond, contemplate a Daniel Craig-shaped popsicle, and compare Martin Campbell’s work launching both the Brosnan and Craig eras of Bond. Plus: how to make a Vesper Martini!   Next week, tune in as we discuss Planes, Trains, and Automob...

Paul and Amy go for the gold with 1964’s James Bond adventure Goldfinger! They ask how Gert Fröbe’s near-flawless voice dubbing was pulled off, reveal how JFK’s affinity for Bond gave the filmmakers unprecedented access to Fort Knox, and praise director Guy Hamilton’s choice to emphasize creativity over realism. Plus: Who would you save, Bond or the Beatles?   Next week, our spy series continues w...

Paul and Amy dare to press play on Hideo Nakata’s 1998 J-horror phenomenon Ringu! They discuss the role that journalism and investigation plays in the story, compare the lead characters of the original and the American remake, and compare Ringu with last week’s film, Halloween. Plus: Would you want to know if you had seven days left to live?   Next week, tune in as we continue Season 4 with Goldfi...

Paul & Amy stalk John Carpenter’s genre-defining 1978 slasher Halloween! They discuss this independent film’s thrifty production, draw connections between the movie and the politics of the late 70s, and recognize the massive contribution Debra Hill brought to the film. Plus: How is Halloween like a grilled cheese sandwich?   Next week, our horror series continues with Ringu! You can join the conve...

Paul and Amy are possessed by Karyn Kusama and Diablo Cody’s 2009 horror comedy, Jennifer’s Body! They analyze the marketing strategy that led to the film’s initial flop, discuss female friendship and infatuation, and applaud the fact that this film is finally getting the love it deserves in a post MeToo world. Plus: what is a succubus, anyway?   Next week, our horror series continues with Hallowe...

Paul and Amy open the box that is Clive Barker’s 1987 supernatural horror film Hellraiser! They break down the movie’s portrayal of gender roles, propose that horror films are often heightened versions of fairytales, and discuss why it’s especially terrifying when the victims in a horror story have agency. Plus: We tally your votes for the newest additions to the API list!   Next week, our horror...

Paul and Amy bear it all for Ari Aster’s 2019 folk horror film Midsommar! They applaud the work of the entirely Swedish background cast, discuss the film’s accurate portrayal of grief, and reminisce about eating macaroni with ketchup while studying abroad in Sweden. Plus: A few thoughts on star Florence Pugh’s latest, Don’t Worry Darling.    Next week, our horror series continues with Hellraiser!...

In a bonus Unspooled this week, Amy & Paul chat about some of the best films they saw this summer, including a sci-fi spectacle, a maximalist rock star biopic and an unexpected Mel Brooks remake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul & Amy close the book on another year of Unspooled by deciding which films from the last season they're going to send to space! They debate the merits of Paul Verhoeven's twin masterpieces, weigh a heartfelt case to catapult the Jackass films into orbit, and add their first superhero film to the list. Plus: Producers Josh & Devon weigh in with their pleas for the films that can't be left behin...

Amy & Paul want to watch the world burn in 2008’s Christopher Nolan helmed Caped Crusader tale The Dark Knight! They discuss the parallels between this film and Nolan's beloved Heat, investigate how Harvey Dent's journey makes even more sense now than in 2008, ask whether Heath Ledger was actually having fun inhabiting The Joker. Plus: Remember Angel Heart?   Next week, tune in for our Season 3 fi...

Paul & Amy know the action is the juice in 1995’s Michael Mann cop vs. criminal showdown Heat! They learn how the “World War III” shootout sequence was created, ask if Amy Brenneman’s character is really in love with Robert De Niro’s Neil, and discuss Mann’s intense commitment to getting the details of his opus just right. Plus: Is there a divide between movie critics and movie fans?   Next week,...

Paul & Amy are gunning for 1949’s James Cagney gangster epic White Heat! They discuss the film’s influence on artists from Denzel to Madonna, praise the undersung career of director Raoul Walsh, and explore why the complex psychology of Cagney’s character Cody Jarrett was so unprecedented. Plus: Did the mob really put a hit out on Cagney during filming?   Next week, our Villains series continues w...

Scott Aukerman and Shaun Diston (from the "Scott Hasn't Seen" podcast on Comedy Bang Bang World) join Paul & Amy to talk about their favorite movies they came to late, including a hugely influential documentary, a slice of small-town life, and a couple of the most famous films of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy & Paul ride along with 2001’s Denzel Washington crooked cop potboiler Training Day! They praise Ethan Hawke’s brilliant, unshowy work, unpack Alonzo’s complicated plan, and discuss how Washington’s intensity and control elevate the material. Plus: How do you pronounce Denzel?   Next week, our Villains series continues with White Heat! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspoo...

Amy & Paul lean on the everlasting arms of 1955’s expressionist Southern Gothic The Night of the Hunter! They explore the film’s nightmarish imagery, speculate about the complicated writing process, and swap stories of Robert Mitchum’s eccentric reputation. Plus: Who did it better—the Reverend Harry Powell or Radio Raheem?   Next week, our Villains series continues with Training Day! You can join...

Paul & Amy can’t be ignored when discussing 1987’s hair-raising erotic thriller Fatal Attraction! They praise how casting an age-appropriate partner for Michael Douglas changed the power dynamic of their relationship, wonder if the different ‘stages’ of Glenn Close’s Alex ever truly cohere, and ask how director Adrian Lyne intended audiences to react to these characters. Plus: Was the attack in St...

Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary (from The Video Archives Podcast) join Paul & Amy for an unprecedented Unspooled crossover episode! The quartet cross swords with 1973's swashbuckling Alexandre Dumas adaptation The Three Musketeers, and its 1974 sequel, The Four Musketeers. They praise the star-studded cast (especially Oliver Reed and Faye Dunaway), admire director Richard Lester's comic approach...

Paul & Amy fight a new kind of war with 1997’s science fiction action film, Starship Troopers. They dissect the movie’s initially negative reception, show some love for Jake Busey, and consider the underappreciated high-wire act of cinematic satire. Plus: how close did Matt Damon really come to starring in Verhoeven’s film?   Next week, our Heroes series continues with two very special guests and...

Patton Oswalt and Meredith Salenger (hosts of the "Did You Get My Text?" podcast) each tell Paul & Amy three of their favorite romantic films, including a masterful French musical, a high-octane action comedy, and a star-studded showbiz satire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy & Paul get the future under control with 1987’s Paul Verhoeven dystopian action film RoboCop! They discover how Verhoeven satirized corporate America despite being completely new to American culture, analyze his technique of making violence comical by exaggerating it, and praise Peter Weller for finding the humanity inside the robot suit. Plus: a look back at James Caan’s career.   Next week,...

Paul & Amy sink their teeth into 1998’s vampiric superhero splatterfest Blade! They discuss how the film was found in the edit, dig deep into Wesley Snipes’ versatility as an actor, and examine the earliest attempts at establishing a Marvel cinematic universe. Plus: how LL Cool J almost played the iconic Daywalker.   Next week, our Heroes series continues with RoboCop! You can join the conversatio...