
Filmspotting
byFilmspotting
TVFilm
Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).
Episodes(40 episodes)

Tom Cruise Draft (Bonus Excerpt)
October's Filmspotting Family bonus episode was a Tom Cruise Movie Draft with Adam and Josh, Producer Sam, and listener Zach Cook. For the full draft and other benefits like the weekly newsletter, access to the Filmspotting Discord, and more, join the Filmspotting Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published: Nov 6, 2025Duration: 21:50

E1037 - Back to the Future Review (40th Anniv.), Deliver Me From Nowhere, Blue Moon, A House of Dynamite
With BACK TO THE FUTURE back in theaters for its 40th anniversary, Adam and Josh take the opportunity to give it Sacred Cow consideration. Plus, reviews of the Bruce Springsteen biopic DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, Richard Linklater’s BLUE MOON, and Kathryn Bigelow’s nuclear thriller A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE. 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 (00:00:00-00:00:56) Back to the Future at 40 (00:00:57-00:46:31) Filmspotting Family (00...
Published: Oct 31, 2025Duration: 2:03:22

Night of the Living Dead (1968) Review (Archive)
Just in time for Halloween, this week's archive episode is Adam and Josh's 2017 Sacred Cow review of George A. Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, a Top 10 Horror Movie of All Time for both. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published: Oct 22, 2025Duration: 38:54

E1036 - Top 5 Robert Redford Movies, Chicago Int'l Film Fest Preview, Diane Keaton
When Robert Redford died last month at 89, he left behind a formidable legacy as an actor, director, and co-founder of the Sundance Film Festival. To honor his passing, Adam and Josh share their Top 5 Redford Movies. Plus, thoughts on the late Diane Keaton, Adam’s preview of the 61st annual Chicago International Film Festival, and 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. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro / RIP Diane Keaton (00:00:00-00:07:51) Top 5 Robert Re...
Published: Oct 17, 2025Duration: 1:52:37

E1035 - Top 5 Actor-Director Duos We’d Like To See, The Smashing Machine Review
Inspired by Leonardo DiCaprio’s long-hoped-for recent collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson, Adam and Josh share the Top 5 Actor-Director Duos They’d Like To See. Plus, Adam’s review of Benny Safdie’s THE SMASHING MACHINE, and listeners share their 5 Years/5 Movies picks. 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 (00:00:00-00:03:06) Top 5 Actor-Director Duos We’d Like To See (00:03:07-00:58:08) Filmspotting Family (00:58:09-01:06:28) The Smashing Mach...
Published: Oct 10, 2025Duration: 1:47:00

All the President's Men (Archive)
Next week on the show, Adam and Josh will honor the passing of Robert Redford with their Top 5 Redford Movies. A title that is sure to make the cut is Best Picture nominee ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, which was part of 2021's 7 From '76–Best Year Ever series. It was also notably the first film in the Filmspotting Pantheon to receive the Sacred Cow treatment. Access to the Filmspotting Archive is just one of the benefits of joining the Filmspotting Family. Family members also get monthly bonus episodes, a weekly newsletter, early and ad-free episodes, and more....
Published: Oct 8, 2025Duration: 45:58

E1034 - One Battle After Another Review, Predators
Paul Thomas Anderson is back in a big way with ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. Adam and Josh have a review. Plus, Adam’s thoughts on PREDATORS, a new documentary about the troubling legacy of the reality series “To Catch A Predator.” 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 (00:00:00-00:02:46) One Battle After Another (00:02:46-00:48:36) Filmspotting Family (00:48:37-00:55:06) Predators (00:55:07-01:04:20) Next Week / Notes (01:04...
Published: Oct 3, 2025Duration: 1:25:10

Inception (Archive)
With Leonardo DiCaprio back on the big screen in PTA's ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, we're sharing Adam and Josh's 2020 conversation about INCEPTION, the actor's blockbuster collaboration with Christopher Nolan. This 10th anniversary review was part of the Nolan Oeuvre-view, a chronological revisit of the director's filmography. Access to those conversations and much more is available to members of the Filmspotting Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published: Oct 1, 2025Duration: 43:01

E1033 - A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Review, PTA Decades
Adam and Josh review the latest from Columbus and After Yang director Kogonada, A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, and force themselves to pick their favorite PTA decade. Plus, listeners on the best ‘60s musical. 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 (00:00:00-00:02:14) A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (00:02:15-00:44:16) Filmspotting Family (00:44:17-00:50:32) Next Week / Notes (00:50:33-01:00:23) Polls (01:00:24-01:14:06) Credits / New Releases...
Published: Sep 26, 2025Duration: 1:19:31

Magnolia (Archive)
With PTA's ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER coming to theaters this weekend, we're sharing Adam and Josh's 9 From '99 review of the director's operatic third film, MAGNOLIA. For full access to the Filmspotting Archive, which goes back to 2005, become a member of the Filmspotting Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published: Sep 24, 2025Duration: 41:10

E1032 - 5 Years / 5 Movies, Spinal Tap II, The History of Sound, RIP Robert Redford
A Top 5 worthy of Rob Gordon and crew. You get five movies, but they must be from a consecutive five-year period. Plus, Adam reviews SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES, Josh recommends THE HISTORY OF SOUND, and Michael Phillips comes aboard to talk about the late Robert Redford and report on this year’s Venice Film Festival. 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 (00:00:00-00:04:13) 5 Years / 5 Movies (00:04:15-00:57...
Published: Sep 19, 2025Duration: 2:00:24

Almost Famous (Archive)
Cameron Crowe's ALMOST FAMOUS turns 25 this fall, so we dig into the archive for a 2018 Sacred Cow (or should we say Golden God?) review of Cameron Crowe's autobiographical film with bonus insights from Uproxx rock critic Steven Hyden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published: Sep 17, 2025Duration: 59:11

E1031 - GoodFellas Review, Lurker, The Roses
Adam and Josh enter the Pantheon for a welcome revisit of Martin Scorsese’s 1990 masterpiece GOODFELLAS, which turns 35 this month. Plus, Josh shares thoughts on Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in THE ROSES and nominates the sinister new indie LURKER for the Golden Brick. 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 (00:00:00-00:02:08) GoodFellas (35th Anniv.) (00:02:09-00:57:17) Filmspotting Family (00:57:18-01:03:19) Lurker, The Roses (01:03:20-01:09:16) No...
Published: Sep 12, 2025Duration: 1:32:12

E1030 - Columbus with Kogonada, Pather Panchali with Dana Stevens at Filmspotting Fest
To celebrate 20 years of the show, we hosted Filmspotting Fest in March – six films over three days at two of Chicago’s iconic cinemas. This episode features two standout post-screening conversations: director Kogonada reflects on his Golden Brick-winning debut COLUMBUS, and Slate film critic Dana Stevens joins Josh to discuss Satyajit Ray’s indelible PATHER PANCHALI. 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 (00:00:00-00:01:47) Columbus with Kogonada (00:01:48-00:28:21...
Published: Sep 5, 2025Duration: 1:01:05

The Breakfast Club (Archive)
The definitive '80s high school movie is 40 and back in theaters. Adam and Josh gave it the Sacred Cow treatment back in 2015 for its 30th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published: Sep 3, 2025Duration: 47:32

E1029 - Highest 2 Lowest Review, Jaws Review, Weapons Feedback
For their fifth collaboration, HIGHEST 2 LOWEST, Spike Lee and Denzel Washington reimagine Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 masterpiece “High and Low.” Adam and Josh review the film coming to Apple TV+ Sept. 5. Plus, spoiler feedback for Zach Cregger’s WEAPONS, Massacre Theatre, and revisiting the show’s 2020 Sacred Cow review of JAWS. 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 (00:00:00-00:01:59) Highest 2 Lowest (00:02:00-00:47:59) 20th Anniversary Messages (00:48:00-00:54:43) Weapons...
Published: Aug 29, 2025Duration: 2:25:47

Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances with W. Kamau Bell (Archive)
With a review of the new Spike Lee/Denzel Washington collaboration HIGHEST 2 LOWEST coming Friday, we're sharing 2016's Top 5 Denzel Washington Performances with guest W. Kamau Bell ("United Shades of America", "We Need to Talk About Cosby", the "Denzel Washington Is The Greatest Actor of All Time Period" podcast). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published: Aug 27, 2025Duration: 36:59

E1028 - Dog Day Afternoon at 50, Ne Zha II Review
For its 50th anniversary, Adam and Josh revisit Sidney Lumet’s Best Picture-nominated (and Filmspotting Pantheon enshrined) DOG DAY AFTERNOON. Plus, Josh recommends the Chinese animated phenomenon NE ZHA II, and a new Deeply Flawed Filmspotting Poll pits two giants of animation against each other. 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 (00:00:00-00:02:12) Dog Day Afternoon at 50 (00:02:13-00:57:55) Filmspotting Family (00:57:56-01:02:42) Review (JL): Ne Zha II (0...
Published: Aug 22, 2025Duration: 1:52:47

Top 5 21st Century Comedies (Archive)
With THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN back in theaters for its 20th anniversary, we're sharing a Top 5 from 2016: 21st Century Comedies. Judd Apatow's 2005 comedy fares pretty well on one of the lists. Access to the complete Filmspotting archive – over 1,000 episodes spanning 20 years – is just one benefit of joining the Filmspotting Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Published: Aug 20, 2025Duration: 55:01

E1027 - Weapons Review and It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley
Adam and Josh go long on Zach Cregger’s provocative horror mystery WEAPONS, and Adam recommends the new doc IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY. 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. (Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:01:25) Review: Weapons (00:01:26-00:43:20) 20th Anniversary Messages (00:43:21-00:50:15) Review (AK): It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (00:50:16-00:59:43) Next Week / Notes (00:59:44-01:07:04) Massacre Theatre (01:07:05-01:12:53) Cr...
Published: Aug 15, 2025Duration: 1:19:01