Filmspotting - Movie Reviews

Menace-skeptic Adam and Menace-defender Josh revisited "The Phantom Menace" for their 9 From '99 series back in 2019. George Lucas's divisive "Star Wars" prequel is back in theaters for its 25th anniversary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

34 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.” (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) Open (00:00:00-00:02:25) Review: “The Mummy” at 25 (00:02:26-00:34:44) Preview: Chicago Critics Film Fest (00:34:45-00:45:04) Brickspotting: “We Grown Now” (00:45:05-00:48:44) Notes, Massacre Theatre (00:48:45-00:57:40) Wyler #5: “Funny Girl” (00:57:41-01:35:29) Close, New Releases (01:35:30-01:38:16) Notes/Links: Chicago Critics Film Fest https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/ William Wyler Marathon https://www.filmspotting.net/marathons Filmspotting Presents Mother’s Day with “Roman Holiday” at The Music Box https://musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-events/roman-holiday 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

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

37 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.  (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) 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” (01:01:52-01:27:06) Close, New Releases (01:27:07-01:31:40) Notes/Links: Filmspotting Madness https://www.filmspotting.net/madness William Wyler Marathon https://www.filmspotting.net/marathons Filmspotting Presents Mother’s Day with “Roman Holiday” at The Music Box https://musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-events/roman-holiday Chicago Critics Film Fest https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/ 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

95 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 maintaining a lifestyle fueled by cigarettes, pills, one-night stands, and Visine, and still finding time for his adoring 12-year old daughter, Michelle. We learn why the iconic film first transfixed Kirsten, and how she continues to be inspired by Fosse’s ingenious use of dance, documentary, theater, music, and more. Host John Cooper shares his personal ties to the film, calling on his days in New York’s theater scene of the 1970s. And co-host Tabitha Jackson (a.k.a. Wife of Kirsten) does her level best to maintain her professional distance as the conversation unfolds. Listen and subscribe to The Film that Blew My Mind on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

53 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.  (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) 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 / Dune 2 Feedback (00:51:48-01:03:36) ‘50s Madness Finals (01:03:37-01:13:30) Wyler #3: “Mrs. Miniver” (01:13:31-01:54:55) Close, New Releases (01:54:55-01:57:48) Notes/Links: Filmspotting Madness https://www.filmspotting.net/madness William Wyler Marathon https://www.filmspotting.net/marathons Josh at Ebert Interruptus 2024 https://www.colorado.edu/cwa/ Boulder Meetup w/Josh https://www.filmspotting.net/events 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

121 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.     (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) Open (00:00:00-00:03:40) Review: “Road House” at 35 (00:03:41-00:45:54) Review: “Road House” (‘24) (00:45:55-01:01:12) Review (JL): “Godzilla x Kong” (01:01:13-01:05:04) Review (AK): “Ennio” (01:05:05-01:09:04) Next Week / Notes (01:09:05-01:19:36) ‘50s Madness - Final 4 (01:19:37-01:33:20) Close, New Releases, Outtake (01:33:21-01:36:06) Notes/Links: Josh at Ebert Interruptus 2024 4.12 Boulder Meetup Filmspotting Madness -https://www.filmspotting.net/madness -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

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

58 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. (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) 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 - Elite 8 (00:33:21-00:48:28) Wyler #2: “The Best Years of Our Lives” (00:48:29-01:35:33) Close, New Releases (01:35:34-01:39:27) Notes/Links: Filmspotting Madness https://www.filmspotting.net/madness William Wyler Marathon https://www.filmspotting.net/marathons Josh at Ebert Interruptus 2024 https://www.colorado.edu/cwa/ 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

103 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.     (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) 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 Brickspotting: “Frida” (00:59:29-01:02:36) Next Week/Notes (01:02:37-01:07:11) ‘50s Madness - Sweet 16 (01:07:12-01:30:53) Wyler #1: “Dodsworth” (01:30:54-02:10:55) Close, New Releases (02:10:55-02:15:07) Notes/Links: Filmspotting Madness Josh at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Josh at Make Believe Seattle (“Devil’s Backbone”) Josh at Ebert Interruptus 2024 Vulture’s Movies Fantasy League Golden Bricks 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

139 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.  (Timecodes will not be precise with ads; chapters may start early.) 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 Talk: Dune: Part Two (01:18:52-01:42:38) Notes/Links: Filmspotting Madness Josh at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Josh at Make Believe Seattle (“Devil’s Backbone”) Josh at Ebert Interruptus 2024 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

105 mins