Filmspotting

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 wi...

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.

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Adam and Josh catch up with the summer's surprise hit Obsession, the “monkey’s paw” update from YouTube creator turned first-time feature-director Curry Barker. Then, it’s John Carney’s Power Ballad, with Paul Rudd as a down-on-his-luck wedding singer who has a chance encounter with a former boy band star played by Nick Jonas. Plus, poll results and listener feedback on Rudd's best supporting roles.

Intro (00:00:00-00:01:57)

Obsession (00:01:58-00:41:33)

Filmspotting Family (00:41:34-00:47:17)

Notes / New Poll (00:47:18-00:55:42)

Poll Results: Paul Rudd (00:55:43-01:01:34)

Power Ballad (01:01:35-01:22:38)

Credits...

From amps cranked up to eleven, to the sweet, soulful harmonies of a dynamic rhythm and blues revival, Adam and Josh count down their Top 5 (Fictional) Movie Bands.

Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠.

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Matt and Jordan review Netflix's massive true crime tabloid horror hit, The Crash, a direct-to-streaming look at the tragic Mackenzie Sherilla case. Jordan walks away feeling like he needs a shower for his soul, while Matt thanks his lucky stars that social media didn't exist when he was a youngster.

For Rec Seg, Matt challenges the "drek" of the true crime genre by recommending an Oscar-nominated Netflix doc and Jordan counters with a 2018 indie drama that offers a nuanced take on the endless scroll.

Listener requests yield recommendations for a 1945 "hardcore British" romance and 2012 Sundance...

Adam and Josh continue Filmspotting’s Dissident Cinema Marathon with Akira Kurosawa’s 1946 drama No Regrets for Our Youth. Released in the immediate aftermath of WWII, the film stands out as a blatantly political entry in Kurosawa's catalog — and notably, his only film featuring a sole female protagonist.

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Adam and Josh step into the uncanny world of eerie, empty spaces to ask whether 2026 is the year of liminal horror. First up: YouTube curiosity turned box office phenom Backrooms. Then, Exit 8, an inspired video game adaptation from Japan that’s equal parts Groundhog Day and The Shining. 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 reflect the raw transcript audio tracks and may vary slightly with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:01:55)

Backro...

From the manic, diaper-stealing chaos of the American Southwest, to the timeless charm of a classic fairy tale, Adam and Josh count down their Top 5 Films of 1987.

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.

Matt and Jordan review Prime Video’s Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War, a straight-to-streaming title they are branding "movie Toferky." For Rec Seg, the duo finds comfort in the Paramount Plus vaults, with Jordan revisiting the Tom Clancy masterpiece that started it all, and Matt countering with a series sequel featuring Harrison Ford's bookworm Boy Scout desk-jockey.

Then, a personalized recommendation request from listener Patrick sparks a highly volatile intra-pod war. While Jordan goes with a ‘70s screwball classic, Matt goes full "Muppet Radical" with his recommendation for a late-period Muppet movie over the Jim Henson...

In anticipation of Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg’s two most beloved alien films face off in the inaugural Filmspotting Movie Death Match. Representing Close Encounters of the Third Kind is Dr. Margaret A. Weitekamp, Chair of Space History at the National Air and Space Museum. Making the case for E.T. the Extra‑Terrestrial is longtime critic and author Jen Chaney. Host Chris Klimek presides.

Which film better captures Spielberg’s vision of alien contact — and his ideas about the nuclear family? Vote at ⁠moviedeathmatch.com⁠.

Movie Death Match is a new Filmspotting podcast that determines wh...

Sis! With conversations of how we show up for our sisters running the news cycle, we thought we would share a nice throwback this week. Dr. Dom and Terri are thrilled to welcome Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, the force and founder of Therapy for Black Girls and author of Sisterhood Heals to discuss unique dynamics in Black sisterhood. Dr. Dom, Terri, and Dr. Joy share the importance of finding your tribe, cultivating real relationships, and address the prickly parts of growing and growing apart in friendships. 

Dr. Joy is a leading voice on mental health and emotional w...

Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi joins Adam to break down the first theatrical Star Wars feature in eight years, The Mandalorian and Grogu. They discuss whether its wall-to-wall action reveals true character, how the helmet creates a literal performance straitjacket, and if the film works for anyone walking into the theater without three seasons of television homework. Then, they pivot to a very different kind of crew in Boots Riley’s politically uncompromising sophomore feature I Love Boosters.

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...

From the suffocating tension of open-ocean survival and alcohol-fueled marital warfare, to the isolated terrors of demonic cabins and haunted bedrooms, Adam and Josh break down their Top 5 Single Location Movies.

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.

Matt and Jordan punch their tickets to an alternate reality to review Ladies First, the new Netflix comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike. They break down the film's (mostly good!) relentless barrage of gags, its terrifyingly plausible marketing pitches, and whether it successfully navigates the edgy tightrope of workplace comedy.

But before they talk Ladies First, they have to talk about leaving the couch. Matt recounts his mind-bending, leaf-in-the-face trip to the Las Vegas Sphere watching The Wizard of Oz, while Jordan counters with an equally dramatic story about his allergy-inflicted screening ofThe Mandalorian and...

Adam sits down with legendary actor Tony Leung (In the Mood for Love, Chungking Express) to discuss his brilliant career and his new starring role in Ildiko Enyedi’s Silent Friend. Then Adam and Josh share their thoughts on the meditative multi-era drama itself, followed by reviews of Alberto Vasquez’s Spanish animated feature Decorado and Olivier Assayas's The Wizard of the Kremlin, which features Jude Law's terrifyingly charismatic portrayal of Vladimir Putin. 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 FILMS...

From the timeless, unadorned perfection of early cinematic icons to the textured, battle-tested tactical gear of modern blockbusters, Adam and Josh (and some special guests) share their Top 5 Superhero Costumes and explore what makes a costume truly legendary.

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.

In the first installment of a semi-regular series, Matt and Jordan take a break from reviewing a single film in order to interrogate an entire streaming platform: the industry juggernaut, Netflix. They dissect it across five crucial categories—library size, playback interface, reliability, originals, and price. The goal? Nothing less than determining the greatest service of all time.

Then for Rec Seg, Jordan attempts to track down a forgotten, star-studded 2020 musical drama buried deep in the Netflix sub-basement, while Matt stakes a claim for Adam Sandler's finest 2020s streaming achievement. Plus, they answer a listener ma...

15 years after its release, Adam and Josh return to the 1950s Waco of Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. They discuss Malick’s bold attempt to voice the divine, mapping the books of Job and Genesis onto his narrative, and his attempt to reconcile the beauty of creation with the reality of suffering. Plus, details about Filmspotting Fest II: 68 Weeks Later, and a new poll that attempts to gauge listeners' enthusiasm for the upcoming Mandalorian and Grogu.

This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Us...

Adam and Josh review Sophy Romvari’s debut feature Blue Heron, a semi-autobiographical "memory piece" that follows a Hungarian immigrant family on Vancouver Island in the late 1990s. They discuss Romvari’s distinct "observational elegance," the film’s striking meta-elements, and how it stacks up against other recent memory-focused masterworks like Aftersun. Plus, a look at why this is already a frontrunner for the 2026 Golden Brick.

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From the outlaw poetry of Badlands to the cosmic spirituality of The Tree of Life, this week's Archive episode has Adam and Josh counting down the five most indelible moments from one of cinema's most elusive auteurs. Expect plenty of hushed voiceovers and magic-hour cinematography.

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.

This week, Matt and Jordan flip for the conch to discuss the BBC’s new four-part adaptation of The Lord of the Flies, now streaming on Netflix. The duo dives deep into Jack Thorne’s "cinematic" take on the classic novel, debating the effectiveness of its character-focused structure and its haunting visual palette.

For Rec Seg!, they've got Flies-inspired recommendations that range from the whimsical to the harrowing, and in response to listener emails, a deep-cut horror recommendation and an experimental short (that may just scratch that jam-band itch). Plus, Matt faces his fears as Producer Sam takes...

Adam and Josh continue Filmspotting’s Dissident Cinema Marathon with its second entry, Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City. Made in the immediate aftermath of Nazi occupation and against the backdrop of a country still in crisis, the film merges neorealist observation with the tension and structure of a spy thriller. The conversation explores how the movie captures resistance not as myth but as lived experience, examining its radical immediacy and why the film stands as a blueprint for what revolutionary cinema could become.

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Meryl Streep is back as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2, and what better way to pay tribute to the best to ever do it than with a Top 5 devoted exclusively to her? Adam and Josh attempt to narrow down five decades of legendary work into a handful of essential scenes, ranging from Streep’s emotional precision in Sophie's Choice and Kramer vs. Kramer to her charming looseness in Adaptation. Plus, the long-awaited return of 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...

Adam and Josh discuss how The Devil Wears Prada 2 softens Miranda Priestly’s edges and why, despite mealy‑mouthed social commentary, the legacy sequel mostly works as comfort viewing. Along the way, they make the case that Meryl Streep is still the movie’s true luxury item. Plus: is it time for a Fitspotting spinoff? 

Links

-Andy’s Best Dress 

-Chanel's Haute Couture Spring 2020 Collection

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As the 2019 edition of Madness – Best of the 2000s wrapped up, Adam and Josh took a break from the heavy hitters to highlight the gems that didn't make the 64-film bracket, including underseen comedies from Jack Black and Seann William Scott, an ambitious "docu-fantasia" from Guy Maddin, and even some deeper cuts from A-list directors like Ridley Scott and Robert Zemeckis.

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.

Matt and Jordan see if Netflix’s massive rom-com hit People We Meet on Vacation (starring "generational talent" Emily Bader) lives up to its 50-million-stream hype. Does the film successfully invert the When Harry Met Sally formula, or is it just a beautiful travelogue hampered by a "charisma vacuum"?

Later, Jordan recommends an under-seen 2023 indie mafia drama, and Matt invites us to fall in love with a 1963 French New Wave short. Plus, a pair of listener-requested recommendations inspired by 1975's The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. 

Finally, Producer Sam challenges Jordan’s 3-0 winning streak...

First up in Filmspotting’s Dissident Cinema Marathon, Adam and Josh discuss Charlie Chaplin’s 1940 satire The Great Dictator. They explore how comedy becomes a weapon against fascism, the film’s surprising prescience and moral clarity, and the risks Chaplin took by calling out authoritarian power before much of the world was willing to do so.

Links:

-Filmspotting Marathons

https://www.filmspotting.net/marathons

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspottin...

Adam and Josh draft their way through the summer movie slate, weighing everything from major studio events like The Odyssey and Disclosure Day to director-driven wild cards such as Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Power Ballad. Also, the Filmspotting '40s Madness champion and plans for Madness '27 (and beyond).

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 (00:00:00-00:03:39)

Summer Preview – Pt. 1 (0...

Adam and Josh discuss Mother Mary, the new film from David Lowery starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel. Part ghost story, part concert film, part chamber drama, the film traces the fraught creative and emotional bond between a pop star and her longtime collaborator as questions of art and control blur together.

The conversation explores the film’s woozy dream-logic filmmaking and the moments where its ideas feel most arresting — and most difficult to reconcile.

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus conten...

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.

This week on Filmspotting: SVU, Matt and Jordan 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 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...

Adam is joined by critic Chris Klimek to discuss Steven Soderbergh's latest, The Christophers. 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 conte...

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 a...

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.

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...

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.

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." (Ep. #169)

(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:<...

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...

After reviewing The Godfather in 2022 for the film's 50th anniversary, Adam and Josh devoted a bonus show to — arguably — its even greater sequel. For the first time, we're sharing that review in the main Filmspotting feed.

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.

Not a dream, not a hoax — SVU is back. After an eight-year hiatus and a “miracle leap forward in technology,” Matt Singer returns with new co-host Jordan Hoffman. To christen the new era, they tackle Jonah Hill’s Apple TV original Outcome, starring Keanu Reeves as the neurotically obsessed movie star (and former heroin addict) Reef Hawk. The duo debates whether the film is a fascinating failure — or just a “transcendentally bad” piece of garbage. Plus, Jordan takes us on the grossest space-related tangent in podcast history, Matt provides some radical streaming honesty, including a recommendation for Netflix’s new Pizza Movie...

Michael Phillips talks with author Paul Fischer about The Last Kings of Hollywood and the fragile, collaborative moment that brought Coppola, Lucas, and Spielberg together before success hardened into mythology. From near-misses and rivalries to the system they helped build—and later found themselves up against—the conversation asks what was possible then, what was lost, and why none of it happens without people pushing one 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...