Filmspotting

4.6 (3.9K)
FILM REVIEWS
UPDATED WEEKLY

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

12H AGO

Top 5 Movie Summers | Archive

The transition from spring to summer has long meant more than just a change in the weather; it marks the arrival of the definitive movie‑going season. In May 2022, Adam and Josh looked back at the most significant stretches of cinematic history for their Top 5 Movie Summers, ranked by the strength of their legendary slates, their cultural impact, and that unmistakable feeling of a sweltering July afternoon at the multiplex. 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.

50 min
1D AGO

Apex and The Netflix House Style | SVU

This week on Filmspotting SVU, Matt Singer and Jordan Hoffman tackle the new Netflix action-thriller Apex, starring Charlize Theron and Taryn Egerton. Inspired by Matt Damon’s recent comments on "the Netflix note," the duo investigates whether this Australia-set survival story is better than the average streaming title or another victim of a Netflix's "house style" that caters to people doing the dishes. Plus, Jordan uncovers a bizarre cinematic trend involving beef jerky, Matt pays homage to the "undisputed queen of Netflix action," and the guys launch their first-ever Personalized Recommendation segment to help a listener find some deep-cut Noirs. The episode wraps with a high-stakes, all-Charlize edition of "Letterboxd-ing," where producer Sam attempts to break his losing streak. (Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:00) Apex (00:02:01-00:27:10) Rec Seg! (00:27:11-00:39:35) Radical Streaming Honesty (00:39:36-00:53:33) Personalize Recommendations: Deep Cut Noir (00:53:34-01:03:58) Game: Letterboxd-ing (01:03:59-01:22:40) New to Streaming / Credits (01:22:41-01:31:03) Notes: Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com⁠⁠ Follow: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/ https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/ https://bsky.app/profile/mattsinger.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 31m
2D AGO

Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers

Adam is joined by critic Chris Klimek to discuss The Christophers, the latest film from Steven Soderbergh. Starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, the film centers on the uneasy power dynamic between a once-celebrated artist and the forger drawn into his orbit. The conversation focuses on McKellen’s bracing late-career performance, Coel’s controlled counterpoint, and Soderbergh and screenwriter Ed Solomon’s refusal to resolve the film’s ideas into sentiment. Links: Follow Chris: Instagram | Bluesky | X Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠ -⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.https://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠ Follow: https://youtube.com/filmspotting https://instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/larsenonfilm⁠ https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠⁠ https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

38 min
2D AGO

Introducing: Laugh With Me Podcast | Tiger King Joe Exotic (Network Drop)

Host Jeremy Odem is BACK with a brand new episode of the chart topping, world wide sensation, Laugh with Me Podcast! This week, Jeremy welcomes the Tiger King, Joe Exotic! Joe Exotic calls into Laugh with Me from the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas where Joe is serving a 21 year sentence. Joseph Allen Maldonado, is known professionally as "Joe Exotic" and "The Tiger King". Exotic is an established American media personality, businessman, former Chief of Police, magician, musical, model, actor, minister, politician, and world-renowned animal expert. Nominated for Emmy Awards in 2020 in America and four awards in Britain, Joe Exotic also won the Social Media Superstar Award in 2021. Find out more about Joe Exotic on his website joeexoticofficial.com In this episode: -Update on Joe's Pardon attempts -Tiger King on Netflix -Does Joe know he's a pop culture icon? -Movie offers? -Music career update -Find love in Prison -Thoughts on Doc Antle's prison sentence -AND SO MUCH MORE Podcast: Apple Podcast : Laugh With Me Follow us on our socials: X @LaughwithmePod & @JOfromNebraska Instagram @laughwithmepodcast TikTok @JeremyOdem0 YouTube 'Laugh with Me Podcast' Facebook 'Laugh with Me Podcast' Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/LAUGHWITHME See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31 min
5D AGO

Citizen Kane vs. Casablanca and '40s Madness Final | #1061

Is Casablanca the best film of the 1940s? Adam and Josh put it to the test in a head‑to‑head showdown with its fiercest competitor: Citizen Kane. As part of the Filmspotting Pantheon Project — and on the occasion of Kane’s 85th anniversary — the conversation digs into what each film says about America, power, and the promise (or illusion) of individualism. They also trace how the ’40s Madness bracket led to this championship matchup. Intro (00:00:00-00:01:53) Kane vs. Casablanca (00:01:54-00:46:28) Filmspotting Family (00:46:29-00:50:57) Notes / Filmspotting Fest On Sale (00:50:58-00:59:42) '40s Madness: Final (00:59:43-01:10:06) Credits / New Releases (01:10:07-01:13:17) Links: -Filmspotting Pantheon https://www.filmspotting.net/pantheon -Filmspotting Fest https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest -Social Media Asst. Role https://www.filmspotting.net/social -Filmspotting Madness https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠ -⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.https://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠ Follow: https://youtube.com/filmspotting https://instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/larsenonfilm⁠ https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠⁠ https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 16m
APR 22

A24 Draft | Archive

A24 may have launched modestly in the early 2010s, but it didn’t take long for the indie distributor to reshape American cinema. To mark the company’s first decade — spanning Spring Breakers and The Bling Ring through Moonlight, Lady Bird, The Florida Project, and more — Adam and Josh convened the debut Filmspotting Draft in August 2022: ten A24 titles each, no shared picks, no trades, no fighting. 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.

1h 12m
APR 21

Balls Up: The High Stakes of Low-Brow Comedy | SVU

Matt and Jordan return with a review of Balls Up, debating if the Peter Farrelly formula still works on the small screen and whether they can actually recommend a movie involving cocaine-addicted crocodiles. Later, Matt revisits Empire Records, Jordan goes back to 1935 with The 39 Steps, and the team plays the first-ever round of "Key Chain." (Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:58) Balls Up (00:02:59-00:34:13) Rec Seg + Radical Streaming Honesty (00:34:14-01:11:40) Game: Key Chain (01:11:41-01:29:18) New to Streaming / Credits (01:29:19-01:37:28) Notes: Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/ Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/ The Reddit thread that explains how the poster for Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie ripped off Marty Supreme (and how this all related to the Balls Out poster): https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/comments/1qk7av1/marketing_for_nirvanna_the_band_the_show_the/ Feedback: -Email us at matt@filmspottingSVU.com⁠⁠ Follow: https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/ https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/ https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/ https://bsky.app/profile/mattsinger.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1h 38m
APR 17

Top 5 Robert Duvall Scenes and '40s Madness Final 4 | #1060

Adam and Josh honor the late Robert Duvall with a Top 5 discussion of the scenes that best capture his range, authority, and restraint. From iconic bravura moments to quieter displays of control and vulnerability, the conversation traces performances that continue to define Duvall’s place in American cinema. Plus, the ’40s Madness bracket narrows to its Final 4 contenders. 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 (00:00:00-00:01:48) Top 5 Robert Duvall Scenes (00:01:49-01:21:05) Filmspotting Family (01:21:06-01:30:10) Notes / Filmspotting Fest Announcement (01:30:11-01:47:45) '40s Madness: Final 4 (01:47:46-02:00:12) Credits / New Releases (02:00:12-02:02:30) Links: -Sidney Lumet watches Network https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3zsLMUHhLo -Filmspotting Fest https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest -Filmspotting Madness https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠ -⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content. Support: -Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.https://filmspottingfamily.com -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠ Follow: https://youtube.com/filmspotting https://instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/larsenonfilm⁠ https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠⁠ https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2h 5m

See All (111)

Adam Kempenaar

Host
Josh Larsen

Host
Joe Exotic

Guest
Sam Van Hallgren

Guest
Paul Fischer

Guest

4.6

out of 5

3,945 Ratings

Long time listener— remains essential

Apr 19

G-2101

No other cultural criticism podcast does as good a job and provoking my interest and uncovering insights. The two hosts deal with the pluses and minuses of all stripes of movies with frankness and clarity. They consistently move the topics to keep things fresh and snappy. I’ve missed v few episodes since the beginning times and consider this show essential listening.
SVU is just like Filmspotting…

6d ago

eanderso

…if Adam and Josh were suddenly 15 again and there was an undetected gas leak in the house.
Outstanding movie podcast

Apr 18

JBCMIA

Every week hosts Josh and Adam bring more than an hour of insightful and Amusing film commentary. A current movie is reviewed, a top five list is given of movies which are outstanding on a related team director or actor, And there are other recurring themes such as massacre theater in which the host act out a scene (which I can never remember). There are two fantastic reasons to watch the show. One, it tells you which of the current movies are worth seeing, without ever spoiling the movie. To it gives you many old movies which are worth seeing on streaming outlets allowing you to fill in gaps in your film history. It’s a great podcast and I highly recommend it
One of my favorites!

Jan 17

RAStacy

15 year listener, still rarely miss an episode. A&J make film criticism accessible while never dumbing it down! Keep up the great work!