Stephen Sondheim’s contributions to musical theater were so immense and influential that when he died last fall at 91, it was not uncommon to see him compared to Shakespeare. Sondheim hasn’t always translated so well to the big screen, but from "West Side Story" in '61 to "West Side Story" in '21 - and everything in between - there are still more than enough examples of his genius for Adam and Josh and guest Michael Phillips to compile their Top 5 Sondheim Screen Moments. (With Sondhead Michael using a particularly liberal interpretation of “screen.”) Plus, reactions to the Oscar noms and a very special musical edition of Massacre Theatre. 
0:00 - Billboard
1:16 - Top 5 Sondheim Screen Moments
Madonna, “Sooner or Later”
39:41 - Oscar Nominations
49:59 - Next Week / Notes
1:03:34 - Massacre Theatre
1:11:48 - Top 5 Sondheim, cont
1:45:21 - Outro / Outtake
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#860: Top 5 Sondheim Screen Moments

Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).

TV & Film

Film Reviews

Film History

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. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) 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 the Rings Scenes https://www.filmspotting.net/top-5-lists-archive/2018/5/17/cykldv958gtt0gl54zm2bfw4xoia3d “The People’s Joker” Screening in Spring Green, WI https://www.slowpokelounge.com/events/peoples-joker Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net. Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support us: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and complete archive access. http://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts (and more) on sale at the Filmspotting Shop. https://filmspotting.net/shop Contact us: https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting https://twitter.com/filmspotting https://facebook.com/filmspotting https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm https://twitter.com/larsenonfilm https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Archive: Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Top 5 LOTR Scenes

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 5: Movies for Graduates (00:51:39-02:03:34) Notes/Links: “The People’s Joker” Screening in Spring Green, WI https://www.slowpokelounge.com/events/peoples-joker Thomas McAvoy’s Top 200 List https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eQyY8O_L0GruDo3ytvBLpfBgm7iGDylQ/view Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net. Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support us: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and complete archive access. http://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts (and more) on sale at the Filmspotting Shop. https://filmspotting.net/shop Contact us: https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting https://twitter.com/filmspotting https://facebook.com/filmspotting https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm https://twitter.com/larsenonfilm https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#969: Furiosa with Michael Phillips, Top 5 Movies for Graduates

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.  (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) 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 (00:39:21-01:16:16) Notes/Links: Mitchell Beaupre on “I Saw the TV Glow” https://letterboxd.com/mitchell/film/i-saw-the-tv-glow/ William Wyler Marathon https://www.filmspotting.net/marathons Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net. Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support us: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and complete archive access. http://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts (and more) on sale at the Filmspotting Shop. https://filmspotting.net/shop Contact us: https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting https://twitter.com/filmspotting https://facebook.com/filmspotting https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm https://twitter.com/larsenonfilm https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#968: I Saw the TV Glow, Wyler Marathon Awards

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."   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Archive: "Mad Max: Fury Road"

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 Planet of the Apes” (00:01:58-00:24:54) Review: “Wildcat” (00:24:55-00:37:24) Chi Critics Film Fest Notes (00:37:25-00:41:24) Next Week, Notes, Polls (00:41:25-00:54:04) Wyler #6: “Roman Holiday” w/Michael Phillips (00:54:05-01:38:47) Notes/Links: William Wyler Marathon https://www.filmspotting.net/marathons Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net. Ask Us Anything and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support us: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and complete archive access. http://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts (and more) on sale at the Filmspotting Shop. https://filmspotting.net/shop Contact us: https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting @filmspotting on Threads https://twitter.com/filmspotting https://facebook.com/filmspotting https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm @larsenonfilm on Threads https://twitter.com/larsenonfilm https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#860: Top 5 Sondheim Screen Moments

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