Filmspotting

Ahead of December's Doomsday, Avengers: Endgame is back in theaters. Here's Adam and Josh with their original 2019 review—including spoilers.
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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
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
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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.
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Film critic and author Marya E. Gates joins Michael to explore perhaps the simplest, most influential direction ever given to an actor: "Be natural."

The phrase is associated with pioneering filmmaker Alice Guy-Blaché, who posted the reminder in her New Jersey studio more than a century ago. As one of cinema's earliest storytellers, Guy-Blaché helped establish film as a distinct art form, separate from the theatrical traditions that shaped many of its first performers.

From Guy-Blaché's silent shorts to the work of Greta Garbo, Janet Gaynor, John Garfield, Nicolas Cage, and Lupita Nyong'o, Michael and Marya examine what "natural" acting really means, and why some of the most truthful screen performances can also be the most stylized.
Links:
-"Cinema Her Way" | Marya E. Gates
https://maryaegates.com/cinemaherway/

-Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché | VOD
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/be-natural-the-untold-story-of-alice-guy-blache
-There is one Murnau, Borzage, and Fox Box available on Amazon… for $1,336.

Join the conversation by emailing movieracket@filmspotting.net.
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Adam and Josh welcome Filmspotting SVU co-host Matt Singer for the Top 5 Comedy Boom Movies. Singer’s new book, “Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever” documents the Frat Pack era of studio comedies that dominated the box office from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s—and gave a generation a lifetime’s worth of movie quotes. Plus, reviews of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil and the new Scottish indie The Incomer.
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 (00:00:00-00:02:17)
Top 5 Comedy Boom Movies (00:02:18-1:01:58)
Filmspotting Family (1:01:59-01:05:34)
Top 5, cont. (01:05:35-01:38:31)
Polls (01:38:32-01:52:09)
Resident Evil (01:52:10-02:23:50)
The Incomer (02:23:51-02:27:36)
Credits / New Releases (02:27:37-02:32:25)
Notes:
Matt Singer’s “Funny Business"
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/
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