Filmspotting

Adam Kempenaar & Josh Larsen

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

  1. Marty Supreme Review, Avatar: Fire & Ash, Dead Man’s Wire, Voice of Hind Rajab (#1047)

    6D AGO

    Marty Supreme Review, Avatar: Fire & Ash, Dead Man’s Wire, Voice of Hind Rajab (#1047)

    Back from the New Year’s break, Adam and Josh go long on the majesty - and some of the shortcomings - of Josh Safdie’s MARTY SUPREME. Plus, Josh is positive on the new AVATAR, and Adam recommends Gus Van Sant’s DEAD MAN’S WIRE and Kaouther Ben Hania’s THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB.  This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:04:33) Marty Supreme (00:04:34-00:50:40) Filmspotting Family (00:50:41-00:56:50) Avatar: Fire & Ash (00:56:51-01:04:53) Dead Man’s Wire (01:04:54-01:15:38) Next Week / Notes (01:15:39-01:21:38) Poll: 2026 Most Anticipated (01:21:39-01:29:26) The Voice of Hind Rajab (01:29:27-01:37:34) Credits / New Releases (01:37:35-01:40:30) Links: -DGA’s Director’s Cut Podcast w/Josh Safdie https://www.dga.org/events/2026/february2026/martysupreme_qna_1225 -Walter Chaw’s 0-star review of Avatar: Fire & Ash https://filmfreakcentral.net/2025/12/avatar-fire-and-ash-2025/ -Pop Culture Happy Hour on Avatar: Fire & Ash https://www.npr.org/2025/12/19/nx-s1-5648236/avatar-fire-and-ash-is-one-battle-after-another 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://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm⁠  https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠⁠  https://www.facebook.com/larsenonfilm ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 45m
  2. Take Shelter with Matt Singer, Lone Star with Michael Phillips

    JAN 2

    Take Shelter with Matt Singer, Lone Star with Michael Phillips

    For the first show of the New Year, we’re sharing a couple of previously unaired live conversations: Adam with Matt Singer about Jeff Nichols’s TAKE SHELTER, recorded at Filmspotting Fest; and Adam with Michael Phillips about John Sayles’s 1996 western noir LONE STAR at the City of Chicago’s Siskel & Ebert at 50 celebration. This episode is presented by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Regal Unlimited⁠⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:01:55) Take Shelter at Filmspotting Fest (00:01:56-00:26:45) Next Week / Notes (00:26:46-00:29:33) Lone Star at Siskel & Ebert at 50 (00:29:34-01:04:25) Credits / New Releases (01:04:26-01:05:44) Links: -Filmspotting Fest ⁠​​https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest⁠ -Siskel & Ebert at 50 https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/provdrs/chicago_film_office/news/2025/october/siskel_ebert.html 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://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠  ⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠⁠⁠  https://www.facebook.com/larsenonfilm ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 9m
  3. Top 10 Films of 2025 (Pt. 2) with Alison Willmore and Michael Phillips

    12/23/2025

    Top 10 Films of 2025 (Pt. 2) with Alison Willmore and Michael Phillips

    For the second part of their Top 10 Films of 2025 conversation with Michael Phillips and Vulture critic Alison Willmore, the roundtable gets to the films that made at least two and, in one case, all four of their individual lists. Plus, thoughts on Rob Reiner’s passing, and film-of-the-year picks from Aisha Harris, Scott Tobias, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robinson, Marya E. Gates, David Chen, Chris Klimek, and Aaron Neuwirth.  This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.)Intro (00:00:00-00:00:45) Rob Reiner / Notes (00:00:46-00:11:18) Poll Results: Film of 2025 (00:11:19-00:17:26) Two-Listers (00:17:26-00:48:55) Three-Listers (00:48:56-01:30:01) #1 Films of 2025 (01:30:02-01:53:52) More ‘Outlier’ Picks (01:53:53-01:58:42) Credits / New Releases (01:48:43-01:03:50) Links: -Rob Reiner Was Good | Matt Zoller Seitz https://www.vulture.com/article/rob-reiner-was-good.html -Filmspotting's 2025 Top 10 Picks https://www.filmspotting.net/top-5-lists-archive/1044-top-10-films-of-2025 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. ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://filmspottingfamily.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠⁠  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm⁠  ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 8m
  4. Top 10 Films of 2025 (Pt. 1) with Michael Phillips and Alison Willmore

    12/19/2025

    Top 10 Films of 2025 (Pt. 1) with Michael Phillips and Alison Willmore

    Adam and Josh’s Top 10 Films of 2025 conversation with Michael Phillips and Vulture critic Alison Willmore went so long that it had to be split into two parts. In this offering, the roundtable shares their "outlier" choices, and we hear film of the year picks from Matt Singer⁠, Amy Nicholson⁠, Roxana Hadadi⁠, Mitchell Beaupre⁠, and more. Plus, the finalists for the 2025 Golden Brick Award⁠. This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:06:16) The Year in Movies (00:06:17-00:25:06) 'Outest' Outliers (00:25:07-01:00:22) 'Expected' Outliers (01:00:23-01:53:52) More Top 10s / Brick Finalists (01:53:53-02:21:55) Links: Ted Gioia On the Future's Demand for Human Curators ⁠https://youtu.be/OF8kBtVNJXI?si=dF0akmcpGBJlvf4F&t=1750⁠  -"Derek Cianfrance’s Midlife Crisis" | Roxana Hadadi ⁠https://www.vulture.com/article/roofman-director-derek-cianfrance-interview.html⁠ -Poll: 2025 Golden Brick ⁠⁠https://poll.fm/16408482⁠ -Filmspotting's Top 10s ⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/top10lists⁠ 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. ⁠⁠⁠http://filmspottingfamily.com⁠⁠⁠ -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. ⁠⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠  https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm  ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 26m
  5. Best Performances of 2025, Wake Up Dead Man and Hamnet Reviews

    12/12/2025

    Best Performances of 2025, Wake Up Dead Man and Hamnet Reviews

    Hot on the heels of submitting their Chicago Film Critics Association ballots, Adam and Josh share their favorite performances of the year, plus some thoughts on Rian Johnson’s WAKE UP DEAD MAN and Chloe Zhao’s HAMNET. This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:03:26) Performances of ‘25: Supporting (00:03:27-00:31:15) Filmspotting Family (00:31:16-00:35:40) Performances of ‘25: Lead (00:35:41-01:09:03) Wake Up Dead Man (01:09:04-01:17:51) Hamnet (01:17:52-01:29:11) Brickspotting (Boys Go to Jupiter, If I Had Legs…) (01:29:12-01:35:41) Notes / Massacre Theatre (01:35:42-01:46:19) Polls (01:46:20-01:54:07) Credits / New Releases (01:54:08-01:57:17) Links: -Chicago Film Critics Association https://chicagofilmcritics.org/ -Poll: Film of the Year https://poll.fm/16367252 -“Black Actresses Are Carrying One Battle After Another” | Vulture https://www.vulture.com/article/black-actresses-are-carrying-one-battle-after-another.html -”Wagner Moura's moment is now.” | L.A. Times https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-12-03/wagner-moura-brazil-secret-agent-kleber-mendonca-filho 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. ⁠⁠⁠http://filmspottingfamily.com⁠⁠⁠ -T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. ⁠⁠https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠  https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm  ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 3m
4.6
out of 5
3,933 Ratings

About

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

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