The Big Picture

Some filmmakers interpret the past. Some capture the present. Spike Lee does both, and he sees the future. There has never been a more urgent moment for the director’s work: In this episode, we spotlight a 2019 conversation with Wesley Morris about 'Do the Right Thing' (9:53), interview Lee's longtime composer Terence Blanchard (35:32), and revisit a conversation with Lee's editor Barry Alexander Brown (65:01). Plus: Sean shares his top five (OK, top six) favorite Spike Lee movies.

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Wesley Morris, Terence Blanchard, and Barry Alexander Brown

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The launch of HBO Max means a new entrant in the streaming TV wars. But the big winners might be movie fans. HBO Max's catalog is one of the deepest we've seen. Sean picks a few favorites to start (1:15). Then he's joined by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering to discuss their new film, 'On the Record,' which can be found on the service (30:24).

Host: Sean Fennessey

Guests: Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering

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The new Netflix film 'The Lovebirds' falls into a classic bucket: the all-in-one-day movie. Sean and Amanda talk about what works (and what doesn't) in the Kumail Nanjiani–Issa Rae comedy. Then, they share their top-five all-in-one-day movies. All killer, no filler.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

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After years of lobbying Warner Bros., the fans are getting what they want: the Zack Snyder cut of 'Justice League,' exclusively on HBO Max in 2021. What does that mean? Is that a bad thing? Does it confirm our fears about toxic fandom? Sean and Amanda examine the news and then dive into the mailbag to answer listener questions about which movie made them obsessed; how to watch the essentials in film history; and what to expect from the movie business in 2021, 2022, and beyond.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

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An extraordinary burden has been placed upon 'Tenet.' With a still-unchanged July 17 release date, the Warner Bros. production could be the movie to reopen movie theaters and kick-start Hollywood again. But is it too soon? Many in the industry believe the date will stick and topple a series of dominoes that will affect the movie industry for months and years to come. Sean and Amanda look at the 'Tenet' conundrum from all angles.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

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No one challenges the expectations of movie stardom more than Tom Hardy. His latest film—the scatological, phantasmagoric, late-life biopic 'Capone'—features one of his most visceral performances yet. Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to review the new Josh Trank–directed film and build a shrine to Hardy's fascinating, frequently bizarre collection of performances.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

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We needed a bigger boat to select the finest movies set on the great ocean blue, so Chris Ryan returns to aid Sean and Amanda. They each choose their top five films, talk about why they love the sea, and what scares them most about it. This conversation got out of hand.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Chris Ryan

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It's been nearly two months since movie theaters closed and Hollywood was forced to pivot. Sean and Amanda dig into the VOD crates as well as the streaming services to recommend 10 movies to watch from the comfort of your home, including the best that Netflix, HBO, and Shudder have to offer right now (1:45). Then, Sean is joined by stunt performer turned director Sam Hargrave to talk about his rise from fight coordination on MCU movies to helming his explosive action thriller, 'Extraction' (58:17).

Host: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guest: Sam Hargrave

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Here's the case as it stands: We put the vote to you, the jurors, and you wanted to hear our closing arguments on the best courtroom dramas in movie history. Amanda and Sean, the only litigators this side of the Mississippi who can handle the truth, dig into one of film's most indefatigable genres. They talk through picks from the 1940s all the way through the 1990s, and explore why the courtroom drama has vanished from the movie landscape.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

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With a double hit of noisy movie-business news, Sean and Amanda dive into the mailbag to answer all your questions about the movie theater chain vs. Universal fight over windowing and 'Trolls World Tour' and the ramifications of the Academy's decision to allow streaming films to compete for Oscars at next year's ceremony. Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy pod.

Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

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