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 Reel: Creed III, Magic Mike’s Last Dance and Scream VI
3/17/2023
In this bonus Unspooled, Paul & Amy weigh in on the latest franchise entries following our recent episodes, including discussions of how Jonathan Majors fits into the Creed universe, whether Steven Soderbergh got the tone of the third Magic Mike right, and how Hayden Panettiere fares in her return to Scream.
Duration:00:46:38
Creed
3/16/2023
Amy & Paul go toe to toe with 2015's hit pugilist lega-sequel Creed! They learn how Sylvester Stallone agreed to pass the torch of his most famous franchise to Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, explore Jordan's relationship with Tessa Thompson, and ask if Rocky's final fate in the film was earned. Plus: Some Rocky-inspired thoughts on aging.
Next week, tune in as we discuss John Wick! You can join the conversation for this series on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn...
Duration:01:20:48
Best of 2022 & Oscars Preview
3/9/2023
Paul & Amy look back on their favorite films of 2022 and get ready for the Academy Awards this weekend! They'll discuss each of the Best Picture nominees, share their thoughts on the year in blockbusters and streaming films, and ask the big question - are the movies back? Plus: A high stakes Oscar wager.
Next week, tune in as we discuss Creed! You can join the conversation for this series on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com,...
Duration:01:28:40
Scream (Re-release)
3/8/2023
In honor of Scream VI's release in theaters this weekend, we're re-releasing last year's discussion of the original Scream - tomorrow we'll be back with a brand new episode!
Paul & Amy don't follow the rules for 1996's Wes Craven meta-horror-comedy Scream! They learn Craven's secret to making horror films that resonate, argue that the iconic Ghostface mask works better than a more distinctive look, and unpack the archetype of the "Final Girl." Plus: Henry Winkler and the movie's best...
Duration:01:51:12
Hollywood Shuffle
3/2/2023
Paul & Amy enjoy a Winky Dinky Dog and watch 1987's audacious sketch satire Hollywood Shuffle! They explore the multifaceted career of star and director Robert Townsend, put the film in context of black cinema in the 80s, and ask why Townsend's critiques of Hollywood are relevant 35 years later. Plus: Eddie Murphy's surprising reaction to the film's Eddie Murphy sketch.
Next week, we look back at the films of 2022 and preview the Oscars! You can join the conversation for this series on...
Duration:01:02:49
Top 3: Chapo Trap House
2/23/2023
Will Menaker and Matt Christman of Chapo Trap House join Paul & Amy on this week's crossover Unspooled! Matt shares three films to watch before listening to his new history miniseries Hell On Earth, including a Puritan horror folktale and a medieval breakthrough from a master satirist. Will announces his own upcoming miniseries and highlights three films on rails to help get into "movie mindset." Listen to both shows at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.
Next week, tune in as we discuss...
Duration:00:49:14
Magic Mike & Magic Mike XXL
2/16/2023
Paul & Amy slip a five dollar bill to 2012's male stripper megahit Magic Mike! They discuss why Steven Soderbergh's film is about money as much or more than sex, ask who the franchise's hottest character is, and explore what makes Channing Tatum such a generational talent. Plus: plenty of love for the super-sized follow up, Magic Mike XXL.
Next week, tune in for a Top 3 crossover episode... You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:26:06
Top 3: Hindi Romance Films
2/14/2023
Smriti Mundhra (Indian Matchmaking, The Romantics) talks to Paul and Amy about her three favorite Hindi-language romantic films, how romance became a blockbuster genre in India, and how she feels about the term ‘Bollywood.’ Watch The Romantics on Netflix, out today!
Duration:00:30:13
The Notebook
2/9/2023
Amy & Paul open up 2004's decades-spanning romance The Notebook! They praise the effortless chemistry of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, learn how James Garner prepared (or didn't prepare) for his role, and ask why we don't see more pure romances like this. Plus: Did Gosling and McAdams really fall in love on set?
Next week, tune in as we cover Magic Mike! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast,...
Duration:01:17:10
Crash
2/2/2023
Paul & Amy swerve into 2004's Oscar-winning race-in-LA melodrama Crash! They take a close look at how the film's attitudes on race and racism have aged, learn about the incident that happened to director Paul Haggis that inspired the film, and revisit the short-lived Crash TV series. Plus: Should Brokeback Mountain have won Best Picture instead?
Next week, tune in as we cover Magic Mike! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at...
Duration:01:34:30
Platoon
1/31/2023
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 on Platoon, Dale Dye, to learn how he helped the cast get in the soldier mindset.
What do you think The General is about? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 and let us know. Follow us on Twitter...
Duration:01:24:29
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
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