Sean is joined by Ringer-Verse pals Mallory Rubin and Charles Holmes to discuss a pair of films that have polar opposite energy. They start by assessing the quality of the third entry in the Tom Hardy Venom trilogy, ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ (1:00), before digging into one of the most heartwarming and visually astonishing movies of the year, ‘The Wild Robot’ (45:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Wild Robot’ director Chris Sanders, a stalwart animation creator whose latest film is a visual reinvention of the genre (1:15:00). Recorded after a screening of the film at Vidiots in Los Angeles, the two discuss pushing the visual style forward, animation in 2024, the role of a director in a feature animation project, and more.

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Charles Holmes, Mallory Rubin, and Chris Sanders

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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Sean and Amanda field your questions about everything BUT movies (and some movie things). They answer questions about their origin story as friends, fiction and nonfiction book recommendations, death row meals, ‘Industry,’ cocktails, golf, fighting animals, and much more.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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Sean is joined by Alex Ross Perry to discuss his new film ‘Pavements’ and the film festival hamster wheel (1:00). They then analyze the state of the slasher film subgenre (10:00) and the year in horror. Later, they run through the decades to build their slasher movie hall of fame (47:00), assessing the merits of stone-cold classics like ‘Halloween’ and ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ as well as 90s era masterpieces like ‘Scream.’

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guest: Alex Ross Perry

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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Now that ‘Anora’ has hit select theaters, Sean assesses the state of the Best Picture race by running through a long (emphasis on long) list of 26 films that have a chance to be nominated at the Oscars (1:00). Then, Sean and Amanda discuss ‘Anora,’ Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or–winning drama about a whirlwind romance between a sex worker and the son of a Russian oligarch (30:00). Finally, Sean is joined by John Crowley, the director of the new Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh romance ‘We Live in Time’ (1:15:00). They discuss, among other things, the qualities that attracted Crowley to Garfield and Pugh, how he chooses to work in film vs. theater, his long-running project of sincere romantic dramas, and more.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: John Crowley

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the biggest film at the box office, ‘Terrifier 3,’ the third installment of the independently made horror clown franchise that has become this year’s biggest box office surprise (1:00). After, they talk about another horror franchise that’s become a reliable sensation for moviegoers, ‘Smile 2’ (23:00); they go over the impressive filmmaking but ultimately choppy story. They then transition to each sharing their top five horror movies of the year so far (1:15:00), including some obvious bellwethers like ‘Longlegs’ and some franchise entries like ‘Alien: Romulus’ and ‘The First Omen.’

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guest: Chris Ryan

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

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Sean shares a recap of the best movies he caught at the 62nd New York Film Festival, including the heavy hitters at this upcoming Oscars, the latest installations from old masters and personal favorites, and the biggest surprises of the festival (1:00). Then, Ringer writer and ‘Press Box’ host Bryan Curtis joins to share the myriad successes and failures of ‘The Apprentice,’ Ali Abbasi’s character portrait of early Donald Trump’s rise to power in the New York real estate world and his complex relationship with lawyer and power broker Roy Cohn (50:00). Then, Sebastian Stan, who portrays Trump in the film, joins (1:30:00) to discuss how he chooses projects, what attracts him to playing characters who transform, and the long journey to getting ‘The Apprentice’ in theaters. They also discuss his work in ‘A Different Man,’ Aaron Schimberg’s new A24 movie about an aspiring young actor who undergoes a procedure to drastically alter his appearance in the hopes of improving his career prospects.

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Bryan Curtis and Sebastian Stan

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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Sean is joined by Chris Ryan to break down ‘Saturday Night,’ Jason Reitman’s quasi-historical exploration of the beginnings of 'Saturday Night Live' (10:00). They discuss the disbelief that needs to be suspended, as well as the more or less knockout cast, before launching into their top five “backstage” movies and discussion of why it’s so interesting to pull back the curtain in cinema (44:00). Then, Sean is joined by New York Times pop critic and ‘Popcast’ host Jon Caramanica to review ‘Piece by Piece,’ the Pharrell Williams biopic told through Lego animation (1:07:00). They discuss the format, the content, the interviews, and how effectively it does or doesn’t capture the totemic career of Williams and his lasting impact on pop music.

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Chris Ryan and Jon Caramanica

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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We are drafting again! And Amanda is back! She and Sean are joined by Chris Ryan to pick their faves and foil their pals in a draft of the movies from 1996.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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Sean is joined by Van Lathan to discuss ‘Joker: Folie à Deux,’ the off-putting sequel to Todd Phillips’s 2019 ‘Joker,’ starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga (1:00). They discuss the jukebox musical format’s successes and failures, the filmmaking vs. the experience of watching it, and whether they ultimately liked the movie. Then, they zoom out to discuss the state of moviegoing and movie watching (43:00) and explore whether we’re in a uniquely strange place with the reception of movies and the conversation social media inspires about divisive films and filmmakers. Finally, Sean is joined by director Greg Jardin to discuss his debut feature ‘It’s What’s Inside,’ an all-in-one-night sci-fi thriller with some unexpected twists (spoilers!) and fresh filmmaking choices (1:05:00).

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Van Lathan and Greg Jardin

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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Sean and Amanda do their best to parse through the messiness of Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis,’ starring, among others, Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Aubrey Plaza (1:00). They discuss the circuitous journey Coppola took to finally making the film, the convoluted plot (and at times lack thereof), and the ambition in comparison to the actual execution of the final product. Then, they launch into the Coppola Hall of Fame, selecting 10 movies to enshrine from his uniquely boom-or-bust career, which features legendary movies like ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Apocalypse Now’ alongside historic financial and qualitative bombs (53:00).

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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