Welcome to another Now & Ben! This little nugget of bonus interview goodness features Carey Mulligan and Tim Key—stars of the new wholesome folk musical The Ballad of Wallis Island—in cinemas now.

Ben sits down with them to talk about this British gem of a film that’s got Richard Curtis cooing. Plus behind the scenes goss on everything from corpsing on camera to sliding into dms.

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Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you.

It's a 20th anniversary special for this ‘ere podcast—yes, we have been in your ears via download since 2005. That’s two whole decades ago. Whew. To celebrate we’ve got a bumper correspondence special for you with lots of lovely stuff from you loyal listeners—including some who have valiantly put up with us for the entire duration. Alongside our usual box office top 10, we’ll be rolling back the clock to see what was in the charts this time two decades ago, and there will be reminiscences aplenty. Reviews aplenty too: First up, 'Ballerina', the latest instalment in the world of John Wick, this time with a twist--or should we say a pirouette? Plus, a double whammy of new horror releases: 'Clown In A Cornfield' adds another creepy clown to the conematic cannon of coulrophobia, and 'Dangerous Animals' is asks 'hmmm what would Jaws be like with an added serial killer?". Check out the Good Doctor's top takes on the lot.

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Ballerina review: 10:32

Box Office Top Ten: 18:01

Clown in a Cornfield review: 37:39

Dangerous Animals review: 53:14

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you.

It’s time for another of those very special episodes where we all get to say “hello” to one of our very favourite friends of the show in the actual flesh (or whatever the audio equivalent of that is...). You guessed it, our guest this week is the one and only Jason Isaacs. He drops in for a chat with both Simon and Mark about ‘The Salt Path’—a seriously inspirational film that sees him walk the South West Coast Path in a journey of massive resilience and self-discovery alongside Gillian Anderson. They play the real-life couple Moth and Raynor Winn, who walked the path after losing their home and livelihood, and wrote the bestselling memoir on which the film is based. It’s a seriously meaty chat and Jason is on top form—you don’t want to miss it.

Mark reviews it too, plus two more big releases this week. We’ve got ‘Karate Kid: Legends’, the high-kicking and wholesome latest in the Kung Fu franchise, starring Jackie Chan—and ‘The Ritual’--an exorcism horror with a demon-ousting Priest played by... Al Pacino??? This one sounds like Kermode catnip, so listen in and say your prayers for a rant or a redemption. Simon is back this week too, so expect bumper banter from the Good Doctors.

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Karate Kid: Legends: 08:06

Jason Isaacs Interview: 30:18

The Salt Path Review: 48:20

The Ritual Review: 58:35

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you.

The wait is over for the actioniest and Tom Cruiseiest of all Tom Cruise action movies – ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’. And we’ve got action director (and producer and writer) extraordinaire Chris McQuarrie—who is behind this and the last four Missions—in the guest spot for you this week. Our super sub Ben Bailey Smith chats to him about the much-anticipated new movie, its jaw-dropping stunts, and his longstanding creative partnership with Tom Cruise. Simon is on his holibobs this week and we bet he’s gutted to be missing this one! Plus we find out what Mark makes of this epic conclusion to the 29-year Mission: Impossible series.

It’s a proper blockbuster week with reviews of two more big cinema releases too. Firstly, Disney’s live action ‘Lilo and Sitch’, which sees everyone’s favourite fuzzy blue genetic experiment accompanied by a cast of IRL actors including Hannah Waddingham as an alien and Maia Kealoha as Lilo. Secondly and more achingly-arty-quirkily, it’s Wes Anderson’s latest ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, starring Benicio del Toro, Scarlett Johansson, Mia Threapleton, Bill Murray, Tom Hanks—and indeed Uncle Tom Cobley and all. Plus all the usual top bantz from Mark and Ben, and from your stellar correspondence.

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Lilo and Stitch: 07:32

Box Office Top Ten: 12:59

Chris McQuarrie Interview: 26:10

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning Review: 40:29

The Phoenician Scheme: 55:24

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]

And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

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Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you.

Reviews this week of French feelgood hit ‘The Marching Band’ (En Fanfare)--where a conductor in need of a bone-marrow transplant discovers a long-lost brother and undertakes an unexpected musical journey. Think Brassed Off, but more French. Also we have the edge-of-your-car-seat thriller ‘Hallow Road’ starring Rosamund Pike, and the usual run down of the Box Office Top 10 and all your erudite/hilarious/chin-strokey correspondence on those.

The Good Doctors will also be talking ‘The Last Of Us’ series 2—and that’s because our very special guest this week is its showrunner Craig Mazin. In a bumper conversation that extends into Take 2 for Vanguardistas, he and Simon talk about the groundbreaking video-game adaptation series and his journey to creating it. Covering everything from storytelling secrets to the show’s brilliant needle drops, via revenge, grief and creativity, this one really goes places—don't miss it.

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

En Fanfare (The Marching Band) Review: 08:15

Craig Mazin Interview: 26:03

The Last of Us S2 Review: 45:28

Hallow Road Review: 58:36

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]

And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

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Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you.

It’s a bumper review week in Take 1, and first up is the new underwater doc from everyone’s favourite near-centenarian national treasure, ‘Ocean with David Attenborough’. Mark reviews this big-screen voyage for the naturalist, and sticking with the seaside theme we’ve also got a review of Nic Cage’s bonkers beach-set latest, ‘The Surfer’. In it, Cage plays a man who revisits the beach of his childhood to surf with his son, but finds himself locked in a conflict with the locals that escalates to surreal heights.

Plus, ‘The Wedding Banquet’—Andrew Ahn’s remake of Ang Lee’s 1993 romcom, in which two queer couples get mixed up in an unlikely marriage in pursuit of Green Cards and fertility treatment. And finally, ‘The Uninvited’—a Hollywood industry satire featuring two screen stars of the moment, Walton Goggins and Pedro Pascal—alongside Rufus Sewell, Lois Smith, Elizabeth Reaser and more. And in place of a guest this week the Good Doctors will be answering even more of your top correspondence than usual, so don’t miss it.

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Ocean with David Attenborough review: 08:23

The Uninvited review: 37:58

Laughter Lift: 43:38

The Surfer review: 49:13

The Wedding Banquet review: 59:26

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey

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To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]

And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

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Introducing The Shootaround: New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun from Good Game with Sarah Spain.

Follow the show: Good Game with Sarah Spain

We’re 8 days out from the 2025 WNBA season and whether you're getting into the W for the first time this year or you've been watching since the beginning, we've got you covered with team-by-team previews leading up to opening night. Everything you need to know -- all the stars, stakes, stats and stories, all the history, lore, gossip and more. Today’s episode features the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun, franchises that are entering this year with… uh… VERY different vibes.

• Fan of the Liberty or Sun? Send us thoughts, predictions or grievances at [email protected] 

• The 2025 WNBA rule book is here

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you.

The 50th anniversary re-release of ‘Slade in Flame’ is making Mark very happy this week, and he’ll be reviewing this “Citizen Kane of rock movies” at the top of the show to celebrate. Starring the real-life Black Country glam rockers as the fictional band Flame, it follows their rapid rise and fall via record company clashes that reveal the darker side of the music industry. Plus, new (and new-ish) releases ‘Thunderbolts*’, the Marvel anti-hero ensemble starring Florence Pugh, and ‘Sinners’—Ryan Coogler’s 1930s southern gothic tale of two twin brothers coming face to face with evil when they return to their Mississippi hometown in search of a new start. It came out while we were on our holibobs, so we’re catching up this week with a full review and some top takes from those of you who have seen it already.

‘Another Simple Favor’ is out this week too—and we’ve got director Paul Feig, also known for ‘Bridesmaids’, ‘Spy’ and, yes, the all-female Ghostbusters remake—on the show to talk Simon through it. A follow-up to the 2018 hit ‘A Simple Favor’, it sees Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick reprise their roles in a genre-mashing comedy-mystery-crime-thriller, this time on the isle of Capri. Feig talks power dressing, breaking his no-sequels rule, and how that Blue Origin all-female space flight could definitely be straight out of one of his movies. Mark reviews it too—and we also hear plenty from you wonderful wittertainees, including your takes on Mark’s ‘Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith’ review. Enjoy!

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Slade in Flame review: 11:34

Sinners review: 27:49

Paul Feig Interview: 36:44

Another Simple Favor review: 50:05

Laughter Lift: 57:20

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Introducing Making Kat’s Magic Helmet from Throttle Therapy with Katherine Legge.

Follow the show: Throttle Therapy with Katherine Legge

On this episode of Throttle Therapy, Andy Amendola, Founder of Red Racer Books, and Board-Certified Art Therapist and Illustrator, Ashleigh Mower, join the podcast to talk about their collaboration on Katherine’s debut children’s book, Kat’s Magic Helmet. They discuss the stories that inspired the book, and how Katherine assembled her dream team to make it a reality. In Kat’s Magic Helmet, readers meet 9-year-old Kat: shy, unsure, and the only girl at the karting track. But when she receives a shiny helmet and her very own go-kart, something changes. Behind the wheel, Kat discovers courage—and realizes the magic was never in the helmet. It was in her all along. Kat's Magic Helmet is available now from Red Racer Books and Amazon. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you.

It’s time for the Take team to take stock of our first quarter, so this week we’re looking back over the first three or so months and putting our affairs in order: deciding whether to tighten our belts or loosen the purse strings, cut some salaries or dish out a few tasty bonuses. We’re bringing you a Quintessential First Quarter Recap of all the best bits from the year so far—including interviews with Ashley Walters & Erin Doherty, Jesse Eisenberg & Kieran Culkin and Brady Corbet—and a chance to hear moments from Mark’s best reviews like the previously Vanguardista-only ‘Santosh’.

And there’s still plenty of brand new stuff for you in today’s take too. Our guest is David Oyelowo, who you’ll hear in conversation with Simon about his new Apple TV+ series ‘Government Cheese’. In this surreal 60s-set California comedy-drama, David plays Hampton Chambers, a father and former burglar trying to go straight after his release from prison and make his fortune in a crazy world.

By popular demand, Mark and Simon will also be reviewing The Studio—the Hollywood film industry satire starring Seth Rogen as a spineless executive trying to make serious cinema and serious money... and possibly failing to do either. Plus we’ll be ‘treating’ you to the Laughter Lift as usual (you thought you’d managed to avoid that this week didn’t 

you? Oh no, the hilarity never stops.)

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Quarter 1 highlights: 05:46

David Oyelowo Interview: 31:07

The Studio Review: 49:10

Laughter Lift: 01:04:33

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]

And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

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