Filmspotting - Movie Reviews
Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).
Episodes
June 7, 2024 • 82 mins
With the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy back in theaters, we share Adam and Josh’s 2018 reappraisal of Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning films, including their picks for the Top 5 "Rings" Scenes.
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Opening (00:00:00-00:01:06)
Sacred Cow Review: “Lord of the Rings” Trilogy (00:01:07-00:37:51)
Top 5: “Lord of the Rings” Scenes (00:37:52-01:19:45)
Notes/Links:
Top 5 Lord of th...
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May 31, 2024 • 131 mins
Michael Phillips joins Adam to review “Furiosa,” director George Miller’s latest entry in the Mad Max saga starring Anya-Taylor Joy and Chris Hemsworth. Plus, a revisit of 2022’s Top 5 Movies for Graduates.
(Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.)
Opening (00:00:00-00:02:20)
Review: “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (00:02:20-00:33:15)
Next Week, Notes (00:33:16-00:41:15)
Polls, Feedback (00:41:15-00:51:38)
Top ...
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May 24, 2024 • 80 mins
After earning raves at Sundance and SXSW, Jane Schoenbrun’s haunting and insightful new film has made it to theaters. Adam and Josh have a review and hand out their William Wyler Marathon Awards.
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Open (00:00:00-00:02:18)
Review: “I Saw the TV Glow” (00:02:19-00:26:29)
Next Week, Notes (00:26:30-00:31:24)
Massacre Theatre (00:31:25-00:39:20)
Wyler Marathon Awards (...
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May 22, 2024 • 35 mins
With "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" coming to theaters this weekend, we share Adam and Josh's May 2015 review of "Mad Max: Fury Road."
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May 17, 2024 • 107 mins
The latest “Planet of the Apes” entry isn’t without fresh ideas, but Adam and Josh still miss Andy Serkis’s Caesar. They’ve got praise, though, for Ethan Hawke’s inventive Flannery O’Connor biopic, "Wildcat," and they’re joined by Michael Phillips for a post-screening conversation about 1953’s “Roman Holiday.”
(Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.)
Open (00:00:00-00:01:57)
Review: “Kingdom of the Pla...
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May 10, 2024 • 77 mins
Adam and Josh catch up with Luca Guadagnino’s exhilarating pro-tennis-set “Challengers,” plus thoughts on Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in David Leitch’s “The Fall Guy.”
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Open (00:00:00-00:01:48)
Review: “Challengers” (00:01:49-00:43:25)
Review (JL): “The Fall Guy” (00:43:26-00:47:47)
Next Week, Notes, Polls (00:47:48-00:57:39)
Listener Feedback (00:57:40-01:06:01)
...
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May 8, 2024 • 30 mins
With the fourth film in the series - "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" - coming to theaters this weekend, we dig into the archives for this 2014 conversation about number two in the series, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes."
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May 3, 2024 • 103 mins
30 films, 14 matchups. Adam and Josh discuss the most intriguing titles coming to theaters between May and Labor Day. Plus, a review of the wildly inventive and hilarious “The People’s Joker.”
(Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.)
Open (00:00:00-00:01:43)
Summer Movie Preview (00:01:44-00:40:30)
Brickspotting: “The People’s Joker” (00:40:31-00:51:40)
Notes, Polls (00:51:41-01:02:15)
Summer Movie Previe...
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May 1, 2024 • 34 mins
Menace-skeptic Adam and Menace-defender Josh revisited "The Phantom Menace" for their 9 From '99 series back in 2019. George Lucas's divisive "Star Wars" prequel is back in theaters for its 25th anniversary.
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April 26, 2024 • 102 mins
Back in ’99, Josh was a fan of “The Mummy.” Film snob Adam skipped it. With the movie back in theaters for its 25th anniversary, they give it a fresh look. Plus, Barbra Streisand in her film debut “Funny Girl” and a Golden Brick nod for the Chicago-set “We Grown Now.”
(Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.)
Open (00:00:00-00:02:25)
Review: “The Mummy” at 25 (00:02:26-00:34:44)
Preview: Chicago Critics Fi...
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April 24, 2024 • 37 mins
Adam and Josh's 2019 conversation about Ridley Scott's "Alien," which is being re-released on April 26 ("Alien Day") for its 45 anniversary.
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April 19, 2024 • 95 mins
Is Alex Garland’s new film a warning or mere provocation? Adam and Josh discuss. Plus, the William Wyler Marathon continues with the 1959 biblical epic “Ben-Hur” and we crown a ‘50s Madness Champ.
(Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.)
Open (00:00:00-00:02:19)
Review: “Civil War” (00:01:58-00:34:16)
Next Week / Notes (00:34:17-00:42:28)
‘50s Madness Champ (00:42:29-01:01:51)
Wyler #4: “Ben-Hur” (01:01:...
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April 12, 2024 • 53 mins
Director and legendary cinematographer Kirsten Johnson is known for nonfiction work that is inventive, artful, expressive, and maximal. The same can be said of the film that blew her mind -- Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz. The semi-autobiographical film brings us Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider), a peripatetic creative force working simultaneously to mount a major Broadway production and complete post-production on a feature film, all while ma...
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April 5, 2024 • 121 mins
With Alex Garland’s “Civil War” on the horizon, Adam and Josh take another look at the writer/director’s prescient AI thriller “Ex Machina.” Plus, a spirited debate over 1942’s “Mrs. Miniver” and a finals matchup in Filmspotting Madness—Best of the ‘50s.
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Open (00:00:00-00:02:19)
Review: “Ex Machina” (00:02:20-00:51:47)
R.I.P. Louis Gossett Jr, M. Emmett Walsh / Du...
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March 29, 2024 • 99 mins
With the release of a new “Road House” starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Adam and Josh debate the merits of the ‘89 original (there are many merits!), along with recommendations of “Godzilla x Kong” and the doc “Ennio” about composer Ennio Morricone. Plus, the Final 4 round of Filmspotting Madness—Best of the '50s.
(Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.)
Open (00:00:00-00:03:40)
Review: “Road House” at 35 (0...
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March 25, 2024 • 58 mins
With "Godzilla x Kong" coming to theaters this weekend, we go to the archives for this 2021 conversation (inspired by "Godzilla v Kong") which has Adam and Josh pitting the two classic monster movies against each other.
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March 22, 2024 • 103 mins
Adam and Josh praise Rose Glass’s nasty new noir “Love Lies Bleeding” and are knocked out by 1946’s “The Best Years of Our Lives,” William Wyler’s incisive and moving Best Picture winner. Plus, the Elite 8 of ‘50s Filmspotting Madness.
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Open (00:00:00-00:04:01)
Review: “Love Lies Bleeding” (00:04:02-00:28:20)
Next Week / Notes (00:28:21-00:33:20)
‘50s Madness - Elit...
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March 15, 2024 • 139 mins
For its 20th anniversary, Adam and Josh take a deep dive into the intricate world of 2004’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Plus the first film in the William Wyler Marathon and the Sweet 16 round of ‘50s Filmspotting Madness.
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Open / Oscars (00:00:00-00:06:47)
Sacred Cow: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” at 20 (00:06:48-00:59:28)
Golden Brickspo...
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March 8, 2024 • 105 mins
There is much to discuss about Part Two of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” adaptation, including a deep dive on “worm juice” in spoiler talk. Plus, Rd. 2 matchups in ‘50s Madness.
(Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.)
Open (00:00:00-00:02:10)
Review: Dune: Part Two (00:02:10-00:43:00)
Next Week/Notes (00:43:01-00:54:48)
‘50s Madness - Rd. 2 (00:54:49-01:16:07)
Close, New Releases (01:16:08-01:18:52)
Spoiler...
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March 1, 2024 • 110 mins
Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune) drops by the Filmspotting Mojo Dojo Casa studio to talk Oscar picks and Round 1 of Filmspotting Madness—Best of the 1950s.
(Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.)
Open (00:00:00-00:04:25)
Oscar Picks: Supporting Actress/Actor (00:04:26-00:27:16)
Oscar Picks: Actor/Actress (00:27:17-00:54:21)
Oscar Picks: Director/Picture (00:54:22-01:12:09)
Next Week / Notes (01:12:09-0...
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