Unspooled

4.4 (4.8K)
Film Reviews
Weekly

Each week actor & comedian Paul Scheer (Black Monday, The League) and film critic Amy Nicholson (LA Times Chief Film Critic ) watch and discuss the best movies out there. From the classics to new releases and every indie film in-between. Along the way, they’ll dissect iconic scenes, spotlight their favorite characters, and decide if these movies still stand the test of time.

6d ago

The Witch

Wouldst thou like to live deliciously? This week, Amy and Paul venture into the woods for Robert Eggers’ 2016 folk horror film The Witch. They explore the film’s painstaking historical accuracy, its unsettling atmosphere, and reveal why Black Phillip was just as terrifying behind the scenes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Oct 22

Fast Five

Fast cars, big heists, and family. This week, Paul and Amy revisit Fast Five, the movie that transformed The Fast and the Furious from a street-racing franchise into an action blockbuster juggernaut. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Oct 15

Spirited Away

Paul and Amy get spirited away with Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved 2001 animated classic! They explore how this magical coming-of-age adventure tackles consumerism, identity, and the power of kindness. Plus, they discuss Miyazaki’s many retirements and why the film continues to resonate with audiences of all ages. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Oct 8

Hereditary (with David Ehrlich)

This week Amy sits down with IndieWire film critic David Ehrlich to talk about Ari Aster's chilling debut, Hereditary. The two recall their unforgettable first screening at Sundance and explore how the film transforms family trauma, grief, and generational guilt into a movie that helped establish A24 as a defining force in modern horror. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Oct 1

Salt (with Ira Madison III)

Amy welcomes Ira Madison III to go undercover with Salt, the 2010 spy thriller that gave Angelina Jolie a chance to go full action hero. They dig into the movie’s wild development, from a Tom Cruise vehicle about “Edwin A. Salt” to Jolie’s gender-swapped Evelyn Salt, and celebrate the practical stunts, shifting loyalties, and increasingly bonkers twists that make the movie such a fun ride. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Sep 24

Almost Famous (with Alan Sepinwall)

With Paul away, Amy hits the road with TV critic and former Rolling Stone writer Alan Sepinwall to revisit Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, the coming-of-age rock movie about a teenage journalist, a very complicated band, and the blurry line between access and honesty. They dig into Crowe’s autobiographical story, the film’s legendary cast, and its many musical highs, while exploring what it means to be a critic when you’re also a fan. Along the way, Amy and Alan debate Lester Bangs’ advice, the power critics have to shape what becomes canon, and why Almost Famous remains one of the great movies about falling in love with music. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Sep 17

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (with Julie Klausner)

While Paul is away, Amy welcomes comedian and writer Julie Klausner to dive into Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Russ Meyer’s gloriously outrageous collision of sex, drugs, rock and roll, and barely contained chaos. Originally conceived as a sequel to Valley of the Dolls, the film evolved into something far stranger, dropping three aspiring stars into a debaucherous version of Los Angeles. Amy and Julie dig into Roger Ebert’s unlikely screenwriting career, Jacqueline Susann’s $10 million lawsuit, and whether there’s anything remotely feminist underneath all that sexploitation. Listen to How Was Your Week with Julie Klausner here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-was-your-week-with-julie-klausner/id424991092 You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Sep 10

Summer Movie Recap 2026

Paul and Amy look back at the wild summer of 2026, a blockbuster season that brought audiences back to theaters and delivered one of the most lucrative summers in over a decade. From The Invite and Jackass Forever to The Odyssey, Minions and Monsters, and Toy Story 5, they dig into a surprisingly diverse group of hits and ask whether the era of chasing movie trends is finally giving way to something simpler: good storytelling. Along the way, they explore the return of the mid-budget movie, the Obsession and Backrooms mania sweeping through pop culture, and the season’s biggest flops. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it at https://www.harpercollins.com/products/joyful-recollections-of-trauma-paul-scheer Check out more of Paul's writing on his Substack https://substack.com/@paulscheer Episodic Art by Kim Troxall: https://www.unspooledart.com/ Learn more about the show at Unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and on Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

See All (476)

Trailer

Preview: What Is Unspooled?

Paul & Amy introduce their new podcast Unspooled, where they watch every movie on the AFI’s Top 100 Films list. Subscribe now - episode 1, “Citizen Kane,” drops May 17th! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amy Nicholson

Host
Paul Scheer

Host
David Ehrlich

Guest
Ira Madison III

Guest
Alan Sepinwall

Guest
Julie Klausner

Guest
David Hughes

Guest
Josh Greenbaum

Guest
David Wain

Guest
BenDavid Grabinski

Guest

4.4

out of 5

4,797 Ratings

Stick to movies

Oct 11

Bob S 45

Amy praising Jalen Brunson for taking less money (156 million) and saying she’s not sure if someone like LeBron would ever do that. LeBron is literally on a minimum contract(4 million a year) right now when he could have got a lot more. Also took less in 2010. Just a hilariously misinformed take.
Nit-pick

Oct 5

900000dawgie

If you mis-pronounce “susussudio” as “susustudio” twice, you don’t get to suggest that everyone is pronouncing “gesture” incorrectly. Paul seems to be the professor to the vaunted film critic.
There is a right way and wrong way to say this word

Sep 10

Young Podawan

(Bio)graphical (pic)ture not (bi)ographical (opic)ture. It’s a nit pick but if you’re a film critic for a major publication your words are your business. I’m not a misogynist, it’s just my opinion Amy is occasionally a drag.
ambitious with good pics but reach exceeds grasp

Aug 21

RUNNINGOUTOFSHRIMP

another show i listened to a lot while starting to become a big movie nerd, that really started turning me off when i realized how shallow it actually is… i remember so clearly where i was driving when amy said david fincher directed black swan and i nearly lost my mind. may be a good intro for some and the hosts occasionally have interesting takes, but à la blank check there’s not much that you couldn’t learn from a quick skim of wikipedia. likewise the general vibe is pleasant enough but too often feels smug and performative… also the “singing” is not cute to me. my favorite memory of conan’s whole podcast is him singing the jack white theme song (and honestly a lot of the hymn singing on spontaneanation was quite lovely). what im saying is put up (ie do some proper singing) or shut up

Each week actor & comedian Paul Scheer (Black Monday, The League) and film critic Amy Nicholson (LA Times Chief Film Critic ) watch and discuss the best movies out there. From the classics to new releases and every indie film in-between. Along the way, they’ll dissect iconic scenes, spotlight their favorite characters, and decide if these movies still stand the test of time.