Filmspotting - Movie Reviews
Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).
Episodes
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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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February 23, 2024 • 92 mins
With the release of the “Dune” sequel just a week away, Adam and Josh revisit “Dune: Part One” and take care of some ‘50s blind spots ahead of Filmspotting Madness—Best of the 1950s.
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Open (00:00:00-00:02:58)
“Dune: Part One” Rewatch (00:02:59-00:35:01)
Next week, notes (00:35:02-00:41:27)
Polls [Best Coens Decade] (00:41:28-00:48:31)
‘50s Madness - Play-Ins (00:4...
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February 16, 2024 • 133 mins
Wim Wenders’s Oscar-nominated “Perfect Days” inspires Adam and Josh to share their Top 5 films set in Tokyo, plus a Golden Brick nod for the coming-of-age film “How To Have Sex” and some “Perfect Days” spoiler talk.
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Open (00:00:00-00:02:16)
Top 5: Tokyo Movies (00:02:17-00:46:01)
Review: “Perfect Days” (00:46:02-01:11:10)
Next Week, Notes (01:11:11-01:16:48)
Massa...
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February 9, 2024 • 133 mins
With “Rear Window” turning 70 this year, Adam and Josh give the double Sacred Cow treatment to a pair of Hitchcock masterpieces from the ‘50s.
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Open (00:00:00-00:01:00)
Sacred Cow: “Rear Window” (00:01:01-00:59:12)
Brickspotting (JL): “Inside The Yellow Cocoon Shell” (00:59:13-01:06:25)
Next Week, Notes, Poll (01:06:26-01:13:05)
Poll Results [Best ‘50s Hitchcock] (...
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February 2, 2024 • 81 mins
Reviews of newly minted Oscar nominees “American Fiction” and “Rustin,” plus Adam’s thoughts on a couple of Sundance standouts.
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Open (00:00:00-00:01:58)
Review: American Fiction (00:01:59-00:28:35)
Next week, Notes (00:28:36-00:32:14)
Sundance ‘24 - Ibelin, A Real Pain (00:32:15-00:46:02)
Massacre Theatre (00:46:03-00:50:13)
Review: “Rustin” (00:50:14-01:05:18)
“Am...
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January 26, 2024 • 92 mins
Dune: Part 2 v Furiosa. Linklater v Soderbergh. Adam and Josh preview the 2024 movie year via ten death-match polls.
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Open (00:00:00-00:04:56)
2024 Movie Preview: Folie à Deux (00:04:57-00:33:27)
2023 Golden Brick Winner (00:33:28-00:40:47)
R.I.P. Tom Wilkinson, Norman Jewison; 2024 Show Preview (00:40:48-00:53:55)
New Poll [‘50s Hitchcock] (00:53:56-00:58:02)
2024 ...
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January 19, 2024 • 102 mins
Adam and Josh head west for the 2023 Wrap Party, sharing their favorite scenes of the year, along with Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune) and Mia Lee Vicino (Letterboxd), with a special appearance by “The Taste of Things” director Tran Ahn Hung.
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Open (00:00:00-00:05:15)
Welcome/Opening Scenes with Hung (00:05:16-00:23:30)
Funniest Scenes with Mia (00:23:31-00:38:03...
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January 12, 2024 • 91 mins
It’s the 2023 movie orphans show, with reviews of late-year releases from Michael Mann (“Ferrari”) and Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), along with thoughts on a pair of new musicals, Paul King’s “Wonka” and Blitz Bazawule's adaptation of the Tony-winning THE COLOR PURPLE.
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Open (00:00:00-00:04:54)
Review: “Ferrari” (00:04:55-00:34:32)
Review: “Maestro” (00:34:33-00:57:14...
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December 22, 2023 • 206 mins
Adam, Josh, and guests Michael Phillips and Marya E. Gates hash out the best of what all agree is among the richest movie years in recent memory.
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Open (00:00:00-00:07:55)
The Films of the Year (00:07:56-01:43:22)
Notes, Best Scores, Polls (01:43:23-01:59:49)
Golden Brick Finalists (01:59:50-02:09:19)
Our Films of the Year (02:09:20-02:42:18)
Outlier Choices (02:42:...
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December 21, 2023 • 13 mins
Enjoy an excerpt from this month's bonus episode where Adam and Josh followed up their Performances of the Year episode with more categories from their Chicago Film Critics Association ballots.
Join the Filmspotting Family
Chicago Film Critics Association Winners
Filmspotting Live in L.A. on Jan. 13
Promos:
Regal Unlimited (use code FILMSPOT23)
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Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net.
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