Unspooled
Each week actor & comedian Paul Scheer (Black Friday, The League) and film critic Amy Nicholson (New York Times, Washington Post) break down the greatest films of all time. From the classics, to new releases and every indie film in-between. Along the way, they’ll dissect iconic scenes, spotlight their favorite characters, and talk to some of the actors and directors who worked on these classics. Join Paul and Amy every Thursday as they “Unspool” a new film and decide if it still stands the test of time.
Episodes
This week Paul & Amy break down the 2004 zom-rom-com Shaun of the Dead directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost just in time for it's 20th anniversary theatrical re-release. They discuss how it pays homage to zombie films that came before it, how it introduced British comedy to a wider audience, and so much more.
Next week...Beetlejuice! Shaun of the Dead is available to rent or stream on multiple platforms b...
This week Paul & Amy break down the summer movie box office! They talk about Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman reviving Marvel, the Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni drama, M. Night Shyamalan and more!
Next week Paul and Amy discuss the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead which is available to rent or stream everywhere but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy!
This week Paul & Amy break down the 1998 Michael Bay action/sci-fi film Armageddon starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. They discuss how the film and Bay goes after the "nerds", the birth of Bayhem, Affleck mocking the film on the DVD commentary, and more.
Next week it's the end of summer movie round up where we're talking all things Deadpool & Wolverine, It Ends With Us, Trap and more. Did the summer movie box office ...
This week Paul & Amy break down the 1980 comedy classic Airplane! They talk about Leslie Nielsen's fart machine, what makes the jokes hold up, and more.
Next week we'll be continuing on with our Disaster Movie Summer with the 1998 disaster film Armageddon. You can stream Armageddon on Hulu but don't forget to check your local library or apps like Hoopla and Kanopy!
You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https:...
This week Paul & Amy break down the 2014 action/sci-fi sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. They discuss how the Planet of the Apes series has endured, Andy Serkis' incredible performance as Caesar, siding with the apes or the humans, and more. Apes together strong.
Next week we'll be continuing on with our Disaster Movie Summer with the 1980 comedy Airplane!. You can stream Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on Hulu, Disney+ and Max ...
This week Paul & Amy break down the 2013 apocalyptic comedy horror film This Is The End. They discuss Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's directorial choices, what makes a good comedy ensemble movie, and who is the MVP of the movie: Danny McBride or Jay Baruchel?
Next week we'll be continuing on with our Disaster Movie Summer with the 2014 sci-fi action film Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. You can stream Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ...
This week Paul & Amy break down the 2014 Sci-Fi action movie Edge of Tomorrow aka Live. Die. Repeat. aka All You Need is Kill. The two discuss Tom Cruise's rise in becoming the action star he is today, how incredible Emily Blunt is, and the film's brilliant combination of video gaming and war movie aesthetics.
You can find Amy’s book, Anatomy of an Actor: Tom Cruise here: https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Cruise-Anatomy-Amy-Nicholson/dp/0...
This week, Paul & Amy are breaking down the 1996 weather disaster movie Twister, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton (not Pullman). The two chat about the link between Godzilla and Twister, this being the first movie to come out on DVD, and how dangerous it was to be on the set of this film. Plus: Paul and Amy break down the original Van Halen songs made for the Twister soundtrack.
Next week we'll be continuing on with our Disaste...
Paul & Amy are baking the biggest cake in the world for Godzilla and congratulating him for finally winning an Academy Award after seven decades. The two praise the film for balancing “popcorn movie” energy while locking you into an emotional personal story. Paul marvels at the film only having 35 visual effects artists, and how director Takashi Yamazaki in an Ocean’s 11 style assembled his team, highlighting their specialties. Plu...
This week, Paul & Amy are breaking down the 1996 Will Smith disaster vehicle Independence Day. The two dig into what makes a great “popcorn movie,” why this movie still works, and this particular era of Jeff Goldblum box office "gold." Plus, Paul gives us a bonus breakdown of the 2016 sequel Independence Day: Resurgence.
You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6
This week, Paul and Amy dig into the 2024 release Dune: Part Two, starring Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler and Zendaya. Paul reveals his disappointment with the movie while Amy stands up for the brilliance of the storytelling, and then the two dig into why Frank Herbert wrote Dune as a reaction to Lawrence of Arabia. Plus, Amy reveals questions omitted from her NYT interview with Dune director Denis Villeneuve about the Dune movie...
This week Paul & Amy are kicking off the summer movie season by rounding up all the releases you're dying to hear about. We're talking about the good, the bad, and the indie. Paul proclaims Bad Boys: Ride or Die should have been called something else while wondering if Challengers was sexy enough, and Amy is not on board with this year's Garfield movie. Then, the two dive into a few indie movies like The People’s Joker, Late Night ...
This week, Amy welcomes Sean Fennessey (Head of Content, The Ringer & The Big Picture Podcast) to discuss the 1957 film Sweet Smell of Success starring Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster. The two discuss the power of J.J. Hunsecker's journalism and the "ick" of the Sidney Falco PR machine in the film and how it parallels modern-day anxiety in today's entertainment industry. Plus, we learn the origins of the word Frenemy and this film's...
This week, Amy welcomes back comedian Jamie Loftus (Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) Podcast) to break down the 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Amy reveals this was the first art house movie she ever saw in the theater, and the two discuss how this movie parallels Mad Max: Fury Road and Furiosa, and of course, they talk about the Thong Dress and the problem with Bob.
Amy & Paul race through 2015’s post-apocalyptic action masterwork Mad Max: Fury Road! They learn why director George Miller brought on feminist playwright Eve Ensler as an advisor, praise the film’s playful and careful worldbuilding, and ask whether Miller comes from the ‘tyrant’ school of directing. Plus: Witness young dating show contestant Tom Hardy!
You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg...
This week Paul & Amy are breaking down the 1979 film Mad Max directed by George Miller. The two discuss this modern-day silent film, all the dangers and injuries that happened on set and how this untamed film is a necessary watch. We’re not a bad podcast, we’re sick! Meow!
You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6
Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! ht...
This week, Paul and Amy are delving into nostalgia as they analyze the 1985 film The Goonies. They discuss the collaboration between Richard Donner and Steven Spielberg and the film's frenetic energy, and wonder what Martha Plimpton was doing with that crab! Bonus: Paul reveals The Goonies' connection to Back To The Future!
Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is on presale now! Out in stores on 5/20/24. Find it at https://ww...
This week Paul & Amy are breaking down the 1976 Brian De Palma film Carrie, starring Sissy Spacek. The two dig into the Stephen King of it all, bad moms, and the trauma of menstruation, and to Amy’s dismay Paul reveals that he does NOT love this film.
Next week, Paul and Amy will take a look at the 80's kids classic, The Goonies! Check out this week's spotlight episode from the Unspooled archives, Psycho, here: https://www.earwolf....
This week Paul and Amy are breaking down the 1991 Kathryn Bigelow film Point Break, starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. The two dig into this elevated action movie and discuss how Kathryn Bigelow helped launch Keanu Reeves into action stardom. Then, Paul asks if this movie is shaped around the “Female Gaze," and Amy fills us all in about the stunts in this movie and which Red Hot Chili Peppers member didn't take the stunt tra...
This week, to celebrate the release of Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, Paul and Amy break down the 2018 film Call Me By Your Name, starring Timothée Chalamet (sorry, no Zendaya in this one). The two talk about the beauty of the film's title, Guadagnino’s obsessive messiness, and the delicate CGI’ing of a certain actor's nether region. Plus, this movie has us all nostalgic over our first loves and our first heartbreaks.
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