Unspooled
Earwolf
Listen up, film fans! Actor & comedian Paul Scheer and film critic Amy Nicholson want your advice as they make the ultimate list of the greatest movies of all time. In Season 1, they watched every one of the AFI’s Top 100 films...and decided they could kick off half. Now, they're filling in the gaps by investigating wildly diverse areas of film through miniseries on topics like horror movies, documentaries and romantic comedies, with help from listeners' picks. Along the way, they’ll dissect iconic scenes, spotlight their favorite characters, and talk to some of the actors and directors who worked on these classics. And when Unspooled has built their own list of the best movies on earth, they'll blast them into space to be immortalized for eternity. Seriously.
Location:
United States
Networks:
Earwolf
Description:
Listen up, film fans! Actor & comedian Paul Scheer and film critic Amy Nicholson want your advice as they make the ultimate list of the greatest movies of all time. In Season 1, they watched every one of the AFI’s Top 100 films...and decided they could kick off half. Now, they're filling in the gaps by investigating wildly diverse areas of film through miniseries on topics like horror movies, documentaries and romantic comedies, with help from listeners' picks. Along the way, they’ll dissect iconic scenes, spotlight their favorite characters, and talk to some of the actors and directors who worked on these classics. And when Unspooled has built their own list of the best movies on earth, they'll blast them into space to be immortalized for eternity. Seriously.
Language:
English
Episodes
Bonus: 2023 Oscar Nominations
1/27/2023
Amy and Paul react to the 2023 Oscar nominations in a bonus Unspooled. We'll be back on Thursday with Crash!
Duration:00:18:30
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
1/26/2023
Paul & Amy force-project into Rian Johnson's galaxy-brained Star Wars entry The Last Jedi! They dissect the disputes between Mark Hamill and Johnson on the fate of Luke Skywalker, praise the film's illustrations of the nature of heroism, and ask if this is up there with the very best of Star Wars. Plus: The origins of porgs.
Next week, tune in as we cover 2004's Crash! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:17:32
Blue Velvet
1/19/2023
Paul & Amy send a love letter to David Lynch's uncanny 1986 noir Blue Velvet! They learn what Lynch thinks of his "Jimmy Stewart from Mars" image, discuss the film's many connections to The Wizard Of Oz, and ask why we're collectively obsessed with the dark underbelly of everyday life. Plus: What Dennis Hopper role was a 'spiritual sequel' to Frank Booth?
Next week, tune in as we cover The Last Jedi! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:23:02
Platoon
1/17/2023
Paul appeared on Armchair Expert this week, so we're re-releasing this Season 1 episode on Platoon which he discussed with Dax! Listen to Armchair Expert, then we'll be back on Thursday with a brand new episode.
Paul & Amy hunker down to cover 1986's Vietnam War drama Platoon! They look at director Oliver Stone's relationship with Martin Scorsese, discover how he film captures the chaos of war, and remember the ill-advised Platoon video game Plus: Amy sits down with the military advisor...
Duration:01:24:29
Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
1/12/2023
Amy & Paul peel the layers of Chantal Akerman’s minimalist homebound masterwork Jeanne Dielman! They praise the way Akerman trains her audience to pay attention to tiny details, debate whether the controversial ending was necessary, and ask what the film’s recent ascendancy to the top of Sight & Sound’s greatest films list says about how we live today. Plus: The truth about Tony Orlando and Dawn.
Next week, tune in as we discuss Blue Velvet! You can join the conversation for this series...
Duration:01:20:13
Love Actually (re-release)
1/5/2023
Unspooled will return with new episodes 1/13 - be sure to catch up with "Jeanne Dielman" before we kick off Jeanne-uary, until then enjoy one of our favorite holiday episodes!
Paul & Amy cross the pond for 2003’s Christmas romantic comedy smash Love Actually! They dissect director Richard Curtis’s curious understanding of love, learn the fates of each character in the 2017 sequel short, and watch deleted scenes that would have introduced even more plots into the film. Plus: Lindy West...
Duration:02:49:24
A Christmas Story (re-release)
12/29/2022
Unspooled will return with new episodes 1/13 - be sure to catch up with "Jeanne Dielman" before we kick off Jeanne-uary, until then enjoy one of our favorite holiday episodes!
Paul & Amy unwrap 1983’s holiday nostalgia trip A Christmas Story! They learn about the life of the film’s inspiration Jean Shepherd, discover how the flagpole scene was shot, and ask if a film like this can still hold the attention of kids today. Plus: Michael Dowse, director of “8-Bit Christmas,” tells us about...
Duration:01:13:09
Die Hard
12/22/2022
Paul & Amy walk across broken glass for 1988's definitive Bruce Willis action film Die Hard! They ask whether Hans Gruber is the true protagonist of the film, learn why Frank Sinatra was originally considered to play John McClane, and explore why this film succeeds where legions of imitators have failed. Plus: we settle the "Christmas movie" debate once and for all.
Next week, tune in as we discuss Die Hard! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:24:15
Avatar
12/15/2022
Amy & Paul upload their consciousness into 2009’s otherworldly sci-fi spectacle Avatar! They confirm the concept of ‘unobtanium’ wasn’t invented by the film, learn which movie stars were up for the role of Jake Sully, and ask themselves why they feel protective of director James Cameron. Plus: did Cameron really insist the Na’Vi need to have breasts?
Next week, tune in as we discuss Die Hard! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:26:26
Black Swan
12/8/2022
Amy & Paul reconcile their duality with 2010's Darren Aronofsky ballet thriller Black Swan! They dissect Natalie Portman's full-bodied transformative performance, praise the subtly stunning visual effects, and float three theories for what really happens at the film's end. Plus: What does a swan really sound like?
Next week, tune in as we cover the original Avatar! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:29:30
Bonus: The 2022 Sight & Sound 100
12/7/2022
In this bonus Unspooled, Paul & Amy react to Sight & Sound magazine's newest once-a-decade poll of the 100 greatest films of all time.
Duration:00:25:31
Thelma and Louise
12/1/2022
Paul and Amy carpool to Mexico with Ridley Scott’s 1991 fugitive road trip Thelma and Louise! They discuss how much input stars Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon had in the production, ask if the movie’s portrayal of men is cartoonish, and reveal the alternate ending that left audiences furious. Plus: can you imagine this film without Brad Pitt?
Next week, tune in as we cover Black Swan! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:39:21
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
11/24/2022
Paul and Amy get waylaid by John Hughes’ 1987 road trip comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles! They discuss the true story the movie is based on, address the hot streak that John Hughes was on at the time (11 films in five years!), and analyze Hughes’ unmatched ability to capture the full range of John Candy. Plus: was Elton John supposed to write a song for this movie?
Next week, tune in as we get back on the road for Thelma and Louise! You can join the conversation for this series on...
Duration:01:23:50
Casino Royale
11/17/2022
Paul and Amy receive their license to kill with 2006’s intense James Bond reinvention Casino Royale! They discuss the online controversy surrounding the first blonde Bond, contemplate a Daniel Craig-shaped popsicle, and compare Martin Campbell’s work launching both the Brosnan and Craig eras of Bond. Plus: how to make a Vesper Martini!
Next week, tune in as we discuss Planes, Trains, and Automobiles! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:20:49
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
11/10/2022
Paul and Amy get groovy, baby with Jay Roach’s 1997 spy spoof Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery! They discover the origin story of Powers’ grotesque teeth, praise the film’s effective set and costume design, and discuss how the movie is stranger and more specific than a simple Bond parody. Plus: Did Mike Myers steal his Dr. Evil character?
Next week, our spy series continues with Casino Royale! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group...
Duration:01:18:29
Goldfinger
11/3/2022
Paul and Amy go for the gold with 1964’s James Bond adventure Goldfinger! They ask how Gert Fröbe’s near-flawless voice dubbing was pulled off, reveal how JFK’s affinity for Bond gave the filmmakers unprecedented access to Fort Knox, and praise director Guy Hamilton’s choice to emphasize creativity over realism. Plus: Who would you save, Bond or the Beatles?
Next week, our spy series continues with Austin Powers! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook...
Duration:01:19:55
Ringu
10/27/2022
Paul and Amy dare to press play on Hideo Nakata’s 1998 J-horror phenomenon Ringu! They discuss the role that journalism and investigation plays in the story, compare the lead characters of the original and the American remake, and compare Ringu with last week’s film, Halloween. Plus: Would you want to know if you had seven days left to live?
Next week, tune in as we continue Season 4 with Goldfinger and a new spy series! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled...
Duration:01:18:26
Halloween
10/20/2022
Paul & Amy stalk John Carpenter’s genre-defining 1978 slasher Halloween! They discuss this independent film’s thrifty production, draw connections between the movie and the politics of the late 70s, and recognize the massive contribution Debra Hill brought to the film. Plus: How is Halloween like a grilled cheese sandwich?
Next week, our horror series continues with Ringu! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:39:36
Jennifer's Body
10/13/2022
Paul and Amy are possessed by Karyn Kusama and Diablo Cody’s 2009 horror comedy, Jennifer’s Body! They analyze the marketing strategy that led to the film’s initial flop, discuss female friendship and infatuation, and applaud the fact that this film is finally getting the love it deserves in a post MeToo world. Plus: what is a succubus, anyway?
Next week, our horror series continues with Halloween! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:02:07:26
Hellraiser
10/6/2022
Paul and Amy open the box that is Clive Barker’s 1987 supernatural horror film Hellraiser! They break down the movie’s portrayal of gender roles, propose that horror films are often heightened versions of fairytales, and discuss why it’s especially terrifying when the victims in a horror story have agency. Plus: We tally your votes for the newest additions to the API list!
Next week, our horror series continues with Jennifer’s Body! You can join the conversation for this series on the...
Duration:01:40:45