Filmspotting

4.6 (4K)
Film Reviews
Updated Weekly

Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).This show includes AI-generated content.

7h ago

Top 5 Tom Cruise Performances | Archive

With Cruise back in ac-tor mode in Alejandro González Iñárritu's Digger, we're sharing our 2017 consideration of "the last movie star"'s long and storied career. 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.
1d ago

The Low-Budget Gumption of Shudder’s Goody Goody | SVU

For the first show of Scare-tober, Jordan and Matt take a look at the Shudder Original Goody Goody, a low-budget home-birth horror tale from first-time feature director Raymond Creamer. For a seasonally appropriate streaming watch, you could do worse. You could also do better, which is why Matt and Jordan use this week’s “Rec Seg” to suggest a couple of titles inspired by Goody Goody — one which exploits the very real horror of childbirth for laughs, and another which brilliantly captures the horror of being the only one who knows something terrible has happened. Then, listener Matt (no relation to host Matt) writes in asking for an entry-level horror film for his 9-year-old. And Matt hosts another round of Portmanteau-to-Toe for this week’s game Intro (00:00:00–00:04:32) Goody Goody (00:04:33–00:22:03) Rec Seg! (00:22:04–00:36:55) Listener Req Seg! (00:36:56–00:57:18) Game: Portmanteau-to-Toe (00:57:19–01:11:15) New to Streaming / Credits (01:11:16–01:25:08) Show Notes Bazooga jingle by Andy Wilkowske 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/⁠ Matt’s book tour! matt-singer.net 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.
2d ago

Halloween ('78) vs. A Nightmare on Elm Street | Movie Death Match

Chris Klimek convenes a showdown between arguably the two most influential slasher films ever made: John Carpenter's "Halloween" and Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street." One helped define the modern slasher, introducing audiences to the silent, implacable force of Michael Myers and transforming suburban streets into sites of terror. The other revitalized the genre six years later with Freddy Krueger, a wisecracking dream stalker who turned sleep itself into a death sentence. Arguing for "Halloween" is Jason Zinoman (Shock Value, The New York Times), who contends that Carpenter's film remains the genre's most influential and enduring achievement. Defending "Nightmare" is Deirdre Barrett, a Harvard dream researcher, psychologist, and author, who makes the case that Freddy Krueger taps into some of our deepest and most universal fears. Choose your winner at moviedeathmatch.com. (Times will not be precise with ads.)Intro / Meet the Advocates (00:00:00-00:16:41)Rd. 1 – The Movies in Their Time (00:16:42-00:41:49)Rd. 2 – The Movies in Our Time (00:41:50-01:06:16)Rd. 3 – The Movies for All Time (01:06:17-01:37:03)The Verdict / Credits (01:37:05-01:45:23) More From Jason: -‘Halloween’ 1978: The Times Finally Reviews a Horror Classic https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/movies/halloween-1978-review.html -Book: Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143121367 -Instagram @zinomanj More From Deidre: -deirdrebarrett.com http://www.deirdrebarrett.com/ -Book: Pandemic Dreams https://www.amazon.com/dp/0982869533 -Instagram @deirdre_barrett_dreams Follow Chris: -Instagram | Bluesky | X See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
3d ago

The Freshman (1925) with Sean Crosson | Field of Scenes

For the debut episode of their new sport and film podcast, Adam Kempenaar and University of Iowa Journalism and Mass Communication colleague Travis Vogan, PhD, are joined by scholar Seán Crosson, PhD, to discuss Harold Lloyd’s 1925 silent comedy The Freshman. Together, they explore the massive box-office hit’s treatment of masculinity and football, and how the film helped shape the underdog and American Dream narratives that remain central to the genre a century later. Next Episode: –Hoop Dreams with Samantha Noelle Sheppard, PhD, Cornell University Links: –Email the show at fos@filmspotting.net. –Learn more about Seán Crosson –Sport in European Cinema –Sport and Film (2nd Edition) Theme Music: –King of the Corpse Flowers by Oxykitten | Spotify See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5d ago

Mulholland Drive at 25, plus If I Go Will They Miss Me and You Had to Be There | #1083

Two weeks after their Pantheon Project review of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, Adam and Josh take on the director’s 2001 mind-bender, Mulholland Drive, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. For a film with a reputation for being impenetrable, they find it surprisingly rich with clues while retaining all of its singular power. Plus, a Golden Brick nomination for If I Go Will They Miss Me, and thoughts on the new doc You Had To Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution.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 will not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:02:28) Mulholland Drive (00:02:29-0:30:28) Filmspotting Family (0:30:29-00:32:31) Mulholland Drive, cont. (00:32:32-0:58:43) If I Go Will They Miss Me (0:58:44-01:03:44) You Had To Be There (01:03:45-01:13:54) Notes (01:13:55-01:24:52) Massacre Theatre (01:24:53-01:30:51) Credits / New Releases (01:30:52-01:34:58) Notes: -David Lynch Ranked | Adam https://boxd.it/Xk5q6$rM7TfIkSmbYwC11L -David Lynch Ranked | Josh https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm/list/david-lynch-ranked/ -Golden Bricks https://www.filmspotting.net/bricks -New Podcast! Field of Scenes https://www.filmspotting.net/fieldofscenes 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 shows, archive access, and more. http://filmspottingfamily.com -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.
6d ago

Hazard Pay, Pt. 2 — The Weight

There’s a lot to enjoy about The Weight: the tactile 1930s Oregon setting, strong performances from Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, a premise that allows for multiple suspense sequences. But Padraic McKinley’s directorial debut is arguably lacking in thematic heft and visceral grit, particularly when compared to the other film in this pairing. So after considering how The Weight succeeds and struggles on its own terms, we bring William Friedkin’s 1977 cult classic Sorcerer back in to consider how these two films about desperate men given a deadly opportunity differ in their approach to flawed protagonists, bridge-based action scenes, and lone female characters of consequence, and the one plot hole they have in common. Then our returning guest, Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi, offers a Your Next Picture Show recommendation for another 2026 film involving the transportation of dangerous cargo, The Rivals of Amziah King. Please share your thoughts about Sorcerer, The Weight, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Next Pairing: Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime and Alexander Mackendrick’s Sweet Smell of Success 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 NEXTPIC26 for 15% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 30

Avengers: Endgame | Archive

Ahead of December's Doomsday, Avengers: Endgame is back in theaters. Here's Adam and Josh with their original 2019 review—including spoilers. 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.
Sep 29

Netflix’s Unabomber Is the Worst Law & Order Episode Ever Made | SVU

Starring Russell Crowe and an all-grown-up Jacob Tremblay (“Room” “”Wonder”), Netflix’s Unabomber was a promising title on the fall streaming slate. Unfortunately, director Janus Metz’s exploitative biopic about the notorious domestic terrorist (and manifesto author) comes up well short of expectations. But Matt and Jordan use the film as an excuse to recommend a couple of films as alternatives—one, an underseen, decade-old indie about a controversial mid-20th century social scientist; the other a stone-cold classic from the ‘90s. Plus, a listener request for contemporary films that look like the period in which they take place. And a ‘90s crime thriller game hosted by Jordan. Intro / Blumhouse Cheetos (00:00:00–00:07:44) Unabomber (00:07:45–00:32:46) Rec Seg! (00:32:47–00:51:27) Listener Req Seg! (00:51:28–01:06:25) Game: LLLE (01:06:26–01:23:58) New to Streaming / Credits (01:23:59–01:39:02) Show Notes Bazooga jingle by Andy Wilkowske 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/⁠ Matt’s book tour! matt-singer.net For what film should Alison Willmore make her triumphant return to SVU? https://poll.fm/17448084 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.

See All (210)

Adam Kempenaar

Host
Josh Larsen

Host
Jason Zinoman

Guest
Deirdre Barrett

Guest
Roxana Hadadi

Guest
Marya E. Gates

Guest
Matt Singer

Guest
Ethan Hawke

Guest
Rachel Walther

Guest

4.6

out of 5

3,964 Ratings

Take SVU off this feed

Sep 29

Dcdcdc83

I’m sympathetic that people need to make money, but the inclusion of SVU (and my subsequent accidental listening of it) onto the Filmspotting feed has not only made me dumber (because of the lack of insight that one of the hosts had) but also angry in how dismissive and actively not funny one of the hosts was (while clearly being so self satisfied in the most annoying way). It was just so bad it’s forced me to leave this review. Please take them off the feed.
Remove the non film spotting podcasts from feed

Aug 15

Mark from Calif

The recent decision to expand the feed to include non Film Spotting podcasts is frustrating. The other podcasts are third rate or of no interest and are now attempting to be nepo-babied by film spotting - the entire purpose of following a podcast is to avoid sifting through others. So dumb.
SVU Disaster

Aug 11

Erictheblonde

Love Filmspotting. (Even though I disagree with Josh about 50% of the time). 5 Stars. But today I got served up an episode of SVU. Wow. Just terrible. Completely rudderless and devoid of any real point of view. The 1st 1/2 of the episode was ostensibly about Spider-Man, but no one ever really made a point or insightful observation of any kind, except that one of the hosts doesn’t like animated movies. The second half just turned into even more meandering with no real theme of any kind at which point I turned it off. It’s a one-star experience. Skipping all future episodes of that dumpster fire. -2 stars for allowing this on the air.
SVU BROUGHT ME BACK

Jul 8

True Three 6 Fan

Matt and Jordan have fully brought me back into the Filmspotting fold. Their rapport is unmatched each episode is complete with the game and excellent recommendation segments, but most importantly an incredibly entertaining conversation

Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).This show includes AI-generated content.