Best Josh Sweeney Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 467 - Oscar Eligible Animated, Documentary And International Features, "The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping," "The Moment," "Hoppers" & "The Chronology Of Water" Trailers 2:22:03

Play Pause

1h ago2:22:03

2:22:03

For Episode 467, Lauren LaMagna, Dan Bayer, Tom O'Brien, and I are here to discuss the Academy's announcement of the eligible films for Best Animated, Documentary, and International Feature Film for the 98th Academy Awards, as well as other recent developments in the awards season race, including the awards status of "Wicked: For Good." For this we…

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"Wicked: For Good" 3:15:22

1d ago3:15:22

3:15:22

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Josh Parham, Lauren LaMagna & Cody Dericks join me to discuss the sequel to last year's "Wicked," titled "Wicked: For Good," starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. The film adapts the second act of the 2003 stage musical …

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Interview With "Kokuho" Filmmaker Lee Sang-il & Star Ryo Yoshizawa 14:31

2d ago14:31

14:31

"Kokuho" is a Japanese drama film directed by Lee Sang-il, written by Satoko Okudera, and based on a novel of the same name by Shuichi Yoshida, starring Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Mitsuki Takahata, Shinobu Terajima, Min Tanaka, and Ken Watanabe. It tells the story of a young boy who devotes himself to the traditional theatre of kabuki under th…

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A Behind The Scenes Look At "Train Dreams" 44:36

2d ago44:36

44:36

"Train Dreams" had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and later screened at the Toronto and AFI Film Festivals. It received positive reviews for its adaptation of the 2011 novella of the same name, Clint Bentley's direction, Joel Edgerton's leading performance, its cinematography, and its score by Bryce Dessner. Members of the ca…

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"Train Dreams" 26:27

2d ago26:27

26:27

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's third podcast review, Dan Bayer, Megan Lachinski, and Will Mavity join me to review and discuss the latest film from Clint Bentley, "Train Dreams," starring Joe…

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Can the Supreme Court keep its secrets? With Jodi Kantor of the New York Times 39:38

3d ago39:38

39:38

New York Times investigative reporter Jodi Kantor joins Mixed Signals to explain how she’s revealed the secrets of internal deliberations behind the ceremony and black robes of the US Supreme Court. Max and Ben ask whether the court is actually leaking more, how newer justices are reshaping its public face, and what Kantor has learned about the cul…

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Interview With "Cutting Through Rocks" Filmmakers Mohammadreza Eyni & Sara Khaki 37:03

4d ago37:03

37:03

"Cutting Through Rocks" is a documentary film directed by Mohammadreza Eyni and Sara Khaki in their feature debut. It follows the story of the first Iranian woman elected as a councilwoman in a rural, poor village. The film had its world premiere in the World Documentary Competition section of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received posi…

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Interview With "Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk" Filmmaker Sepideh Farsi 34:01

4d ago34:01

34:01

"Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk" is a documentary film directed by Sepideh Farsi, depicting life in Gaza during the ongoing Israeli military campaign, captured through Farsi's video calls with a young Palestinian photojournalist living there named Fatima Hassouna. The documentary had its world premiere at the ACID parallel section of the 2025 …

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"Nuremberg" 22:13

1h ago22:13

22:13

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's second podcast review, Giovanni Lago, Alyssa Christian, and Tom O'Brien join me to review and discuss the latest film from James Vanderbilt, "Nuremberg," starri…

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Interviews With "Rental Family" Filmmaker Hikari & Star Akira Emoto 20:50

6d ago20:50

20:50

"Rental Family" is a comedy-drama film directed by Hikari, who co-wrote the script with Stephen Blahut, starring Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its direction, writing, and heartwarming per…

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Episode 466 - Final 2025 Awards Season Contenders, "Wuthering Heights," "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" & "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" Trailers 2:14:05

7d ago2:14:05

2:14:05

For Episode 466, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, and I are here to discuss the awards prospects for the final films that need to screen and release before the end of the year to qualify for the 98th Academy Awards. We leave no stone unturned as we discuss the reactions and expectations for "Hamnet," "Marty Supreme," "Avatar: Fire And Ash," "Wicked: For Goo…

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"The Running Man" 1:14:10

8d ago1:14:10

1:14:10

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Giovanni Lago & Amy Kim join me to discuss the latest film from Edgar Wright, "The Running Man," starring Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Colman Domingo, and Josh Brolin. It is the second adaptation of the 1982 novel by Ste…

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Interview With "Rebuilding" Star Josh O'Connor & Filmmaker Max Walker-Silverman 17:01

9d ago17:01

17:01

"Rebuilding" is an American independent drama film written and directed by Max Walker-Silverman, starring Josh O'Connor, Lily LaTorre, Meghann Fahy, Kali Reis, and Amy Madigan. The film follows a cowboy named Dusty (O'Connor), who ends up in a FEMA camp after a wildfire destroys his ranch, and he finds community with others who have lost their home…

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Interview With "Arco" Filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu And Producer Natalie Portman 20:02

9d ago20:02

20:02

"Arco" is a French animated science fantasy film written and directed by Ugo Bienvenu and produced by Natalie Portman. It stars Swann Arlaud, Alma Jodorowsky, Margot Ringard Oldra, Oscar Tresanini, Vincent Macaigne, Louis Garrel, William Lebghil, and Oxmo Puccino in the French version, with Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Flea, Natalie Portman, Mark…

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"Sentimental Value" 21:28

2h ago21:28

21:28

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's third podcast review, Ema Sasic, Josh Parham, and Giovanni Lago join me to review and discuss the latest film from Joachim Trier, "Sentimental Value," starring …

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Derek Thompson on why everything is becoming television, and whether democracy can survive it 51:01

10d ago51:01

51:01

Is television the final form of all media? Derek Thompson, the co-author of Abundance, podcaster, and Atlantic writer joins Mixed Signals to explain what he sees as the forces behind what Ben and Max keep observing: The way in which podcasts and other forms of journalism appear to be getting their largest audience in an endless, passive feed of vid…

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Interviews With "Nouvelle Vague" Director Richard Linklater & Stars Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch & Aubry Dullin 21:06

10d ago21:06

21:06

"Nouvelle Vague" is a black and white comedy-drama film directed by Richard Linklater starring Guillaume Marbeck as Jean-Luc Godard, Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg, and Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo. It follows the shooting of "Breathless," one of the first feature films of the Nouvelle Vague era of French cinema, in 1959. The film had its world p…

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Interview With "Sirāt" Filmmaker Óliver Laxe 29:25

10d ago29:25

29:25

"Sirāt" is a drama film directed by Óliver Laxe, co-written by Santiago Fillol and Laxe. It follows Luis (Sergi López), a father in search of his missing daughter in the deserts of southern Morocco. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. It's since been selected as the …

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"Die My Love" 26:09

11d ago26:09

26:09

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's second podcast review, Ema Sasic, Dan Bayer, and Nadia Dalimonte join me to review and discuss the latest film from Lynne Ramsay, "Die My Love," starring Jennif…

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Interview With "Left- Handed Girl" Filmmaker Shih-Ching Tsou 27:23

12d ago27:23

27:23

"Left-Handed Girl" is an international indie drama written, directed, and produced by Shih-Ching Tsou, starring Janel Tsai, Shih-Yuan Ma, Nina Ye, Brando Huang, Akio Chen, and Xin-Yan Chao. Multi Academy Award-winner Sean Baker served as co-writer, producer, and editor. The film had its world premiere at the Critics' Week section of the 2025 Cannes…

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Interview With "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" Director Ruben Fleischer 18:58

12d ago18:58

18:58

"Now You See Me: Now You Don't" is an American heist film directed by Ruben Fleischer from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie, the writing duo of Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, and Seth Grahame-Smith, based on a story by Eric Warren Singer and Lesslie. The film is the sequel to "Now You See Me 2" (2016) and the third installment in the "Now You See Me"…

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Interview With "Come See Me In The Good Light" Filmmaker Ryan White 27:47

13d ago27:47

27:47

"Come See Me In The Good Light" is a documentary film directed by Ryan White, following poet/activist Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley as they navigate an examination of love and mortality after Gibson is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. This tearjerking film on love and loss had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it …

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Episode 465 - Awards Season Preview, "The Testament Of Ann Lee," "Michael," "Five Nights At Freddy's 2," "100 Nights Of Hero" & "Rosemead" Trailers 2:09:22

14d ago2:09:22

2:09:22

For Episode 465, Megan Lachinski, Cody Dericks, Daniel Howat, Tom O'Brien, and I are here to preview what's to come over the next several weeks for the 2025-2026 awards season as more nominations roll in from groups such as the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA). For this week's poll, we're revisiting …

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"Christy" 1:40:28

15d ago1:40:28

1:40:28

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Josh Parham, Joselyn Safadi, Dan Bayer & Daniel Howat join me to discuss the latest film from David Michôd, "Christy," starring Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, and Katy O'Brian. Based on former professional boxer Christy Martin, the film chronicles Martin's rise to becoming America's mo…

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Interview With "Belén" Filmmaker & Star Dolores Fonzi 22:47

16d ago22:47

22:47

"Belén" is an Argentine historical legal drama film directed by and starring Dolores Fonzi from a screenplay she co-wrote with Laura Paredes, Agustina San Martín, and Nicolás Britos. It is based on the non-fiction book Somos Belén by Ana Correa, which follows a lawyer's quest for justice when her client is falsely imprisoned for committing an illeg…

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Interview With "Nuremberg" Star Rami Malek & Filmmaker James Vanderbilt 16:28

17d ago16:28

16:28

"Nuremberg" is an American historical drama film written, co-produced, and directed by James Vanderbilt. It is based on the 2013 book "The Nazi and the Psychiatrist" by Jack El-Hai and tells the story of a psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek), who is challenged with determining if Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) is fit to stand trial at the Nur…

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Interview With "Tinsman Road" Filmmaker Robbie Banfitch 24:37

17d ago24:37

24:37

"Tinsman Road" is a found-footage horror thriller directed by Robbie Banfitch, who also stars in the film. Set in the backwoods of New Jersey, the film follows a young man as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of his sister and returns to his family's secluded home. The film employs slow-burn dread, utilizing quiet, naturalistic pacing to…

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GQ Editor Will Welch on masculinity, celebrities, and staying cool as he ages 44:26

17d ago44:26

44:26

Will Welch is the global editorial director of GQ, and has been the editor-in-chief of its US operation since 2019. On this week’s Mixed Signals, Welch talks to Ben and Max about how the magazine plans to address men amid the prominence of the manosphere, the value in covering niche subcultures, and how the parties thrown by the magazine operate as…

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"Nouvelle Vague" 23:12

4h ago23:12

23:12

For this week's third podcast review, Sara Clements, Dan Bayer, and Aaron Isenstein join me to review and discuss the latest film from Richard Linklater (and his second this year), "Nouvelle Vague," starring Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, and Aubry Dullin. Marbeck plays Jean-Luc Godard as he shoots his feature debut film, "Breathless," one of the …

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Interviews With "Christy" Stars Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster & Filmmaker David Michôd 34:06

17d ago34:06

34:06

"Christy" is an American biographical sports drama film about the former professional boxer Christy Martin, played by Sydney Sweeney (she also served as one of the film's producers), directed by David Michôd and co-starring Ben Foster. The film chronicles Martin's rise to becoming America's most well-known female boxer in the 1990s, and later her h…

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"It Was Just An Accident" 26:49

18d ago26:49

26:49

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's second podcast review, Josh Parham, Megan Lachinski, Dan Bayer, and Giovanni Lago join me to review and discuss the latest film from master Iranian filmmaker Ja…

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Interview With "Die My Love" Star Jennifer Lawrence & Filmmaker Lynne Ramsay 13:04

18d ago13:04

13:04

"Die My Love" is the latest film from acclaimed filmmaker Lynne Ramsay, written by Ramsay, Enda Walsh, and Alice Birch, based on the 2012 novel "Die, My Love" by Ariana Harwicz. It follows Grace (Jennifer Lawrence), a young mother who develops postpartum depression and, alongside her partner Jackson (Robert Pattinson), enters psychosis. The film ha…

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A Behind The Scenes Look At "Frankenstein" 1:14:23

19d ago1:14:23

1:14:23

"Frankenstein" had its world premiere at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival and later screened at the Telluride and Toronto International Film Festivals. It received positive reviews for its direction and adaptation by Guillermo del Toro of Mary Shelley's beloved, iconic novel, as well as incredible craftsmanship from all areas of producti…

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Interview With "Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain" Filmmakers Maïlys Vallade & Liane-Cho Han 22:16

20d ago22:16

22:16

"Little Amélie or the Character of Rain" is an animated feature directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han. Produced by Maybe Movies and Ikki Films, it adapts Amélie Nothomb's acclaimed novel "The Character of Rain." The film premiered in the Special Screenings section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and received positive reviews for its animati…

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Episode 464 - The Gotham Film Award Nominations, "Scream 7," "Dead Man's Wire," "Little Amélie," "Sirāt" & "Fackham Hall" Trailers 2:16:55

21d ago2:16:55

2:16:55

For Episode 464, Josh Parham, Giovanni Lago, and I are here to recap the 2025 Gotham Film Award Nominations. For this week's poll, as "Predator: Badlands" is set for a wide release and "Sentimental Value" is scheduled for a limited release in theaters this weekend, we're asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Film Starring Elle Fanning?" We also reveal th…

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"Bugonia" 1:33:39

22d ago1:33:39

1:33:39

For this week's main podcast review, Ema Sasic, Will Mavity, and guest Ben Langford join me to discuss the latest film from Yorgos Lanthimos, "Bugonia," starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone. With a screenplay by Will Tracy, the film is an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film "Sav…

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Interview With "Hallow Road" Director Babak Anvari 20:18

23d ago20:18

20:18

"Hallow Road" a psychological thriller film directed by Babak Anvari and written by William Gillies. It stars Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys as a couple who receive a distressing late-night call from their teenage daughter (Megan McDonnell) after she accidentally hits a pedestrian. Jumping in their car, they race to get there before anyone else stu…

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Interviews With "Hedda" Stars Nina Hoss, Tom Bateman, Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir & The Casting Directors 1:12:44

23d ago1:12:44

1:12:44

"Hedda" is a dramatic adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" written and directed by Nia DaCosta, starring Tessa Thompson in the title role, with Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, Nicholas Pinnock, and Nina Hoss in supporting roles. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews for its performances, DaCosta's …

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Ken Burns on the future of PBS, the new age of media, and why documentaries will outlast TikTok 44:03

24d ago44:03

44:03

Ken Burns has been telling the story of America through his entire career with genre-defining documentaries on the Civil War, the Vietnam War, and now the American Revolution. This week, Ben and Max bring on the renowned documentarian to talk about his latest series, the parallels he sees between America’s founding moment and today’s media environm…

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"Crimson Peak" 30:24

24d ago30:24

30:24

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture With the recent release of "Frankenstein" and the arrival of Halloween, the Next Best Picture team decided to revisit director Guillermo del Toro's 2015 gothic romance film "Cr…

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Interviews With "Bugonia" Stars Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Director Yorgos Lanthimos & Screenwriter Will Tracy 33:36

24d ago33:36

33:36

"Bugonia" is an absurdist black comedy film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos from a screenplay by Will Tracy that adapts the 2003 South Korean film "Save the Green Planet!" by Jang Joon-hwan. The film follows two young men who kidnap a powerful CEO, suspecting that she is secretly an alien who wants to destroy Earth. The film stars Emma Stone, Jesse Pl…

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Interviews With "Ballad Of A Small Player" Stars Colin Farrell, Fala Chen & Director Edward Berger 21:38

26d ago21:38

21:38

"Ballad Of A Small Player" is a British psychological thriller directed by Edward Berger and written by Rowan Joffé, adapted from Lawrence Osborne's 2014 novel of the same name. The film stars Academy Award-nominee Colin Farrell as Lord Doyle, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau, where he spends his nights playing baccarat. As his debts spira…

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Episode 463 - AFI Fest Recap & The "Crime 101" Trailer 2:10:20

26d ago2:10:20

2:10:20

For Episode 463, Megan Lachinski, Dan Bayer, Alyssa Christian, Tom O'Brien, and I are here to recap the 2025 AFI Fest in Los Angeles, including the world premiere of "Song Sung Blue" and "The SpongeBob Movie: Search For Squarepants," how films such as "Jay Kelly," "The Testament Of Ann Lee" and "Train Dreams" played on a rewatch. For this week's po…

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Interview With "Dracula" Filmmaker Radu Jude 29:52

27d ago29:52

29:52

"Dracula" is a Romanian satirical comedy-drama film written and directed by Radu Jude. The film title is inspired by the Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker, "Dracula." Set in contemporary Transylvania, it explores the legend of Dracula through Romanian lenses while examining modern dystopia through the timeless allure of vampire lore, …

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Interview With "How To Shoot A Ghost" Director Charlie Kaufman & Writer Eva H.D. 22:46

29d ago22:46

22:46

After Charlie Kaufman utilized one of Eva H.D.'s poems in his 2020 feature "I'm Thinking of Ending Things," the pair hit it off. While Eva had never worked in film before, Kaufman had likewise never directed another writer's work before. Nevertheless, the pair were kindred spirits, and set off to continue working together, and made their first shor…

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"Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" 1:30:32

29d ago1:30:32

1:30:32

For this week's main podcast review, Ema Sasic, Katie Johnson, and Tom O'Brien join me to discuss the latest film from Scott Cooper, "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere," starring Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Stephen Graham, Odessa Young, Gaby Hoffmann, Marc Maron & David Krumholtz. Written and directed by Scott Cooper a…

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Interview With "A House Of Dynamite" Editor Kirk Baxter & Supervising Sound Editor/Re-Recording Mixer Paul N.J. Ottosson 34:12

1M ago34:12

34:12

"A House Of Dynamite" is an American apocalyptic political thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Noah Oppenheim. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee, and Jason Clarke playing members of the…

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The inside story of Sydney Sweeney's 'Great Jeans' — and why American Eagle ignored crisis comms 42:26

1M ago42:26

42:26

American Eagle’s summer campaign with Sydney Sweeney blew up in ways no one could’ve imagined – but chief marketing officer, Craig Brommers, knew they were going to hit a cultural nerve. This week, Ben and Max bring on the AE CMO to give us an inside look into the “Great Jeans” campaign, what he made of the controversy that surrounded it, and how D…

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Interview With "Shelby Oaks" Filmmaker Chris Stuckmann 19:25

1M ago19:25

19:25

"Shelby Oaks" is a supernatural horror mystery film produced, written, and directed by former YouTuber turned filmmaker Chris Stuckmann in his feature directorial debut, with Mike Flanagan as an executive producer. It stars Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Keith David, Sarah Durn, Robin Bartlett, and Michael Beach. Expanding upon an online fou…

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Interview With "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" Filmmaker Scott Cooper 23:29

1M ago23:29

23:29

"Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" is a biographical musical drama film starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen. Written and directed by Scott Cooper and based on the 2023 book "Deliver Me from Nowhere" by Warren Zanes, it chronicles Springsteen's personal and professional struggles during the conception of his 1982 album Nebraska. The…