Filmspotting

4.8 (26)
Film Reviews
Updated Weekly

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

1 hr ago

In The Hand of Dante: Pussycats and Purple Prose | SVU

Matt and Jordan check out Julian Schnabel’s In The Hand of Dante, a rare midsummer Netflix prestige picture with a stacked cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Al Pacino, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Jason Momoa, and Martin Scorsese as a bearded medieval sage. Despite the talent and the reliably gorgeous cinematography, Schnabel’s film might be the worst thing Matt and Jordan have had to endure through the show’s first twelve episodes. Also on the show, some Dante-inspired streaming recommendations and streaming recs for a listener who shares little in common (movie-wise) with his spouse. And the debut of “What’s In A Name,” a new movie trivia game. (#012) Intro, In The Hand of Dante (00:00:00–00:34:55) Rec Seg: Dante-Inspired Streaming Recommendations (00:34:56–00:50:32) Listener Request Recommendations (00:50:33–01:06:44) Trivia: What’s In A Name (01:06:45–01:22:34) New to Streaming / Credits (01:22:35–01:31:14) Show Notes Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive⁠ https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠ The Starlog Podcast hosted by Jordan ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwWNy9zLV0k⁠ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th):⁠ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠ Follow the Show:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1hr 32min
4 days ago

Toy Story 5 and The Death of Robin Hood, plus Rose of Nevada | #1070

Is Toy Story 5 an inspired reorienting of the venerable Pixar franchise, or a tired rehash? Adam and Josh offer differing takes. Plus, Adam reviews Michael Sarnoski's bleak but intriguing The Death of Robin Hood, Josh recommends Mark Jenkin’s Rose of Nevada, an avant-garde ghost story set in a UK fishing village, and an "evil genius" ‘90s blockbuster poll question. This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:05:44) Toy Story 5 (00:05:45-00:37:28) Filmspotting Family (00:37:29-00:43:14) Polls (00:43:15-00:57:35) The Death of Robin Hood (00:57:36-01:22:25) Rose of Nevada (00:57:36-01:22:25) Credits / Releases (01:22:26-01:25:35) Links: -Filmspotting Fest II: June 27-28, 2026⁠ ⁠ ⁠https://www.filmspottingfest.com⁠ -Movie Death Match Podcast: Close Encounters vs. E.T.⁠ ⁠ ⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/episodes⁠ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠-⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more.⁠ ⁠ ⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/filmspotting⁠ -Adam/Filmspotting: ⁠Letterboxd⁠ |⁠ Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky⁠ -Josh/LarsenOnFilm: ⁠Letterboxd⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1hr 28min
6 days ago

Top 5 Toy Story Scenes with Griffin Newman | Archive

When the fourth Toy Story installment came to theaters in the summer of 2019, Adam invited the Blank Check podcast's Griffin Newman to join him for the Top 5 Toy Story Scenes. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

57 min
23 June

Office Romance: Generic Title, Real Juice | SVU

Matt and Jordan review Netflix’s generically titled but surprisingly witty Office Romance. Co-written by and starring Brett Goldstein alongside JLo, the workplace rom-com rises just above the streaming giant’s usual output by delivering actual jokes, real talent, and a surprising level of NSFW content. Plus, some deep-cut streaming recommendations, this week’s streaming releases, and a new game courtesy of Matt called “Portmanteau to Toe.” (Ep. #177) Intro, Office Romance (00:00:00–00:29:37) Streaming Recommendations (00:29:38–00:43:53) Personalized Recs (00:43:54–01:00:33) Game: Portmanteau To Toe (01:00:34–01:15:41) New to Streaming / Credits (01:15:42–01:26:30) Show Notes Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1hr 27min
19 June

Disclosure Day: Can Spielberg Make Us Believe Again? | #1069

Adam and Josh review Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, praising star Emily Blunt and the impeccably staged action while questioning whether Spielberg and screenwriter David Koepp’s spiritual sequel to Close Encounters of the Third Kind captures the same sense of wonder. Then, Adam (finally) reviews the hit live-action/CGI hybrid The Sheep Detectives, plus Massacre Theatre. This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off. (Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:01:50) Disclosure Day (00:01:51-00:45:09) Filmspotting Family (00:45:10-00:51:34) The Sheep Detectives (00:51:35-00:57:35) Notes (00:57:36-00:59:40) Massacre Theatre (00:59:41-01:03:32) Credits / Releases (01:03:33-01:05:53) Links: -Filmspotting Fest II: June 27-28, 2026⁠ ⁠ ⁠https://www.filmspottingfest.com⁠ -Movie Death Match Podcast: Close Encounters vs. E.T.⁠ ⁠ ⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/episodes⁠ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠-⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more.⁠ ⁠ ⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow: -Watch Filmspotting on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/filmspotting⁠ -Adam/Filmspotting: ⁠Letterboxd⁠ |⁠ Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky⁠ -Josh/LarsenOnFilm: ⁠Letterboxd⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ |⁠ Facebook⁠ | ⁠Bluesky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1hr 8min
17 June

Power Ranking Spielberg Decades | Archive

In 2020, Adam and Josh used the 45th anniversary of Jaws to Power Rank the Spielberg Decades — from the Close Encounters ’70s to the Lincoln 2010s. With the release of Disclosure Day, the question now is whether it’s already time to do it again and include the 2020s. Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

35 min
16 June

HBO’s Miss You Love You Belongs On Stage | SVU

Matt and Jordan review HBO’s Sundance acquisition Miss You Love You. And while Jordan finds it to be a handsome, moving, and well-acted "filmed play", Matt finds too modest and predictable. For Rec Seg, Matt revisits the grueling, ice-cold dread of corporate culture with a 2019 workplace thriller, while Jordan counters with a classic 1982 Sidney Lumet thriller packed with more twists, turns -- and smooches! Finally, Jordan takes the reins as Dungeon Master for a game called On a Wing and a Prayer. Chapters / Timecodes (Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00–00:7:27) Miss You Love You (00:7:28–00:26:54) Rec Seg!: (00:26:55–00:43:49) Personalized Recs (00:43:50–01:04:34) Game: On a Wing and a Prayer (01:04:35–01:23:04) Wrap-Up & Credits (01:23:05–01:35:02) Show Notes Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Matt's appearances on our sister podcast, The Next Picture Show, discussing Shogun Assassin and The Mandalorian and Grogu. https://www.filmspotting.net/nextpictureshow Pre-Order Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" (Coming October 6th): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Feedback: Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com Follow Matt on Blue Sky: @mattsinger.bsky.social Follow Jordan on Blue Sky: @jhoffman.bsky.social Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1hr 35min
15 June

Z: Costa-Gavras’s Jolting Anti-Fascist Thriller | Dissident Cinema

Adam and Josh reach a definitive milestone in Filmspotting’s Dissident Cinema Marathon with Costa-Gavras’s Oscar-winning 1969 masterpiece, Z. A thinly veiled account of a political assassination and subsequent government cover-up in Greece, the film stands as a foundational text for the modern paranoid thriller. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

43 min

See All (143)

Adam Kempenaar

Host
Josh Larsen

Host
Roxana Hadadi

Guest
Tony Chiu Wai Leung

Guest

4.8

out of 5

26 Ratings

Best film podcast

20/10/2016

Jess V. K

Simply the best film review podcast I've listened to.
Film heaven!

30/08/2014

Sillynicknamethingy

This and Kermode & Mayo are the two best film podcasts out there, but whereas Kermode & Mayo restrict themselves to current releases, Filmspotting's playing field is the entire film history. Invaluable if you want to broaden your film knowledge and discover overlooked treasures. The older episodes are sheer gold too, especially the ones with Matty Ballgame.
Simply the best film podcast out there!

12/03/2009

amy_hall

I'm a huge film buff and I've been listening to Filmspotting for about a year and a half. Adam and Matty do a fantastic job of discussing both new release and classic films. I've seen many films based on their recommendations and I've even gone back and downloaded all of their previous podcasts with former co-host Sam van Hallgren. If you love movies as much as me, you need to be listening to Filmspotting!