June 19, 2019

This week Paul & Amy play with 1995’s pioneering CGI adventure Toy Story! They learn about the surprising career of Randy Newman, ask if Sid was really such a bad kid, and debate whether the film was a greater triumph for art or commerce. Plus: Annie Potts, the voice of Bo Peep, tells us how she joined the film, and Josh Cooley shares what it was like to direct Toy Story 4.

What Pixar film would you put on the AFI list? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer, and join us next week for Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Good One: A Podcast About Jokes, I Hate Talking About Myself Podcast, Betterhelp (www.betterhelp.com/unspooled), Sonos (www.sonos.com), and Turo (www.turo.com code: UNSPOOLED25).

June 13, 2019

Paul & Amy walk into 1969’s New York hustler drama Midnight Cowboy! They look for meaning in the song “Everybody’s Talkin’,” ask whether Jon Voight’s babyfaced features make him the perfect Joe Buck, and marvel at how modern the film still feels. Plus: More of your picks for horror films that could make the AFI list.

For Toy Story week, help us come up with new catchphrases for Woody! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your best one. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Aladdin the Musical (www.aladdinthemusical.com), Betterhelp (www.betterhelp.com/unspooled), Sonos (www.sonos.com), and Turo (www.turo.com code: UNSPOOLED25).

June 6, 2019

What horror films should be added to the AFI’s signature list? Do films like The Sixth Sense or Psycho count as horror? Paul and Amy debate these questions live from the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, with special guests Sam Zimmerman from Shudder and Phil Nobile Jr. from Fangoria! They ask whether fast zombies are superior to slow zombies, discuss when meta-horror films become too meta, and wonder whether a horror film needs to be a little bit trashy.

Next week we return to the list with 1969’s Midnight Cowboy! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Ooni Wood Fired Oven Pizza (www.ooni.com code: UNSPOOLED), Betterhelp (www.betterhelp.com/unspooled), and Turo (www.turo.com code: UNSPOOLED25).

May 30, 2019

50 films down, 50 to go! But first, Paul and Amy celebrate making it halfway through the AFI list on this special episode. They discuss their favorite performances from the films so far, break down a controversial DVD/Blu-Ray packaging campaign, read pitches for AFI movie mashups from listeners, and unveil their newly-ordered Top 50 list.

Next week, we’re releasing our live episode from the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, where we’ll be debating what horror films should be on the AFI list. Come see us there this Saturday! Tickets and more info at overlookfilmfest.com. Or call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824, and tell us the horror film you would pick. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

May 22, 2019

Paul & Amy fall into Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 psychological thriller Vertigo! They learn who created the famous Vertigo zoom, listen to a classic 90s song inspired by Vertigo, and ask if the age gap between Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak works to the film’s credit. Plus: Tony Lee Moral, author of multiple books on Hitchcock, tells us where Vertigo fits into his filmography.

Next week is our 50th movie special – tell us which films we’ve covered so far surprised you or stuck with you, or offer us your 30 second elevator pitch for an AFI movie mashup! Just call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Turo (www.turo.com code: UNSPOOLED).

May 15, 2019

Amy & Paul cross-examine 1962’s Southern drama To Kill A Mockingbird! They compare the slice-of-life storytelling to later filmmakers like Richard Linklater, reveal Brock Peters’ on-set nickname, and ask whether the film can be considered separately from the book. Plus: author and professor Wayne Flynt talks about his friendship with Harper Lee in her later years.

For Vertigo week, what other disorders could be the title of a Hitchcock film? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Turo (www.turo.com code: UNSPOOLED) and Ooni Wood Fired Pizza Oven (www.ooni.com code: UNSPOOLED).

May 8, 2019

Paul & Amy dig into 1991’s serial killer thriller The Silence Of The Lambs! They praise the many ways the film puts us in Clarice Starling’s head, discover the inspirations for Hannibal Lecter’s voice, and learn how Buffalo Bill was originally received by LGBT activists. Plus: former detective Paul Holes of the Murder Squad podcast explains what Silence of The Lambs gets right abour criminal profiling.

Who should play Atticus FInch in a modern adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

May 1, 2019

Amy and Paul suit up for 1982’s gender-bending Dustin Hoffman comedy Tootsie! They ask whether Michael is really a great actor, praise Bill Murray’s scene-stealing performance, and compare the film to last year’s Best Picture winner. Plus: drag comedian Roz Drezfalez (“Ghosted” podcast) tells us why he loved Tootsie as a kid.

For Silence Of The Lambs week, help us create a menu for Hannibal Lecter’s next meal! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 in your best Hannibal impression.Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com [unspooledpod.com] and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Ooni Koda (www.ooni.com code: UNSPOOLED) and Black Tux (www.blacktux.com code: UNSPOOLED).

April 24, 2019

This week Paul & Amy investigate 1974’s sunlit neo-noir Chinatown! They examine the charges against Roman Polanski and discuss how to watch and contextualize his work today, before diving into the film’s recurring water symbolism and Faye Dunaway’s superlative performance. Plus: historian and writer Hadley Meares (Curbed LA) breaks down some of the true Los Angeles history that inspired Chinatown.

What would your alternate title for Tootsie be? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Vrbo, Fracture (www.fractureme.com/UNSPOOLED), and Stitch Fix (www.stitchfix.com/UNSPOOLED).

April 17, 2019

Amy & Paul excavate 1948’s Humphrey Bogart thriller The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre! They ask if Fred C. Dobbs qualifies as an antihero, look at the wild career of director John Huston, and explore how Treasure inspired everything from Breaking Bad to There Will Be Blood. Plus: film critic extraordinaire Leonard Matin explains how he became a Bogart fan.

For Chinatown week, complete the famous line “Forget it Jake, it’s ___” with the town of your choice! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer.Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Vrbo.

April 10, 2019

This week Paul & Amy investigate 1976’s journalistic thriller All The President’s Men! They learn about the controversy surrounding who wrote the screenplay, appreciate the unshowy direction of Alan Pakula, and ask whether Woodward & Bernstein are a true cinematic ‘odd couple.’ Plus: Liz Hannah, the screenwriter of The Post, tells us whether her film was an intentional prequel to President’s Men.

What do you think the Treasure Of The Sierra Madre is? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Vrbo, Black Tux (www.blacktux.com code: UNSPOOLED), and Fracture (www.fractureme.com/UNSPOOLED).

April 4, 2019

Amy & Paul gaze through the looking glass into 1937’s Walt Disney fairy tale Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs! They appreciate Snow’s sense of humor, question the hygiene of squirrels washing dishes, and wonder what Disney would think of the behemoth his company has become. Plus: animation historian J.B. Kaufman explains what made Snow White so groundbreaking, and Kate Littleton, the moderator of the Unspooled Facebook group, tells us why Snow White is one of her favorite films.

Next week is All The President’s Men – who would you cast as Robert Mueller in a future movie about Russiagate? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Vrbo app and Zoom podcast.

March 27, 2019

Paul & Amy tumble through 1931’s Charlie Chaplin comedy City Lights! They ask whether the film presaged the structure of modern comedies, compare Chaplin’s style to Buster Keaton, and ask where the line is between genius and megalomaniac. Plus: Chaplin expert Dan Kamin talks about working with Robert Downey Jr. and the early life of Chaplin.

For Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs week, call  the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your pick for a new dwarf! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by Caavo (www.caavo.com), Fracture (www.fractureme.com/UNSPOOLED), and Stitch Fix (www.stitchfix.com/UNSPOOLED).

March 21, 2019

Amy & Paul rumble with 1961’s musical Shakespeare riff West Side Story! They compare the film’s colors to modern art, praise the intelligence Rita Moreno brings to Anita, and ask how Elvis would have performed in the lead role. Plus: writer and Stephen Sondheim fan Anthony King (Gutenberg: The Musical) gives us his perspective on where this fits in Sondheim’s career.

If you haven’t seen City Lights before, what do you think it’s about? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your answer! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com [unspooledpod.com], and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by The Human Algorithm Podcast, Mubi.com (www.mubi.com/unspooled), Caavo (www.caavo.com code: UNSPOOLED), and Black Tux (www.blacktux.com code: UNSPOOLED).

March 13, 2019

This week Paul & Amy sing the praises of 1935’s Marx Brothers comedy “A Night At The Opera!” They take apart the film’s most famous scene in detail, listen to the “Shallow” of 1935, and debate what modern comedies could make the AFI list now. Plus: Amanda Garrett from the Old Hollywood Films blog talks about the life of Margaret Dumont, and Frank Ferrante tells us what he’s learned as a world-class Groucho Marx impersonator.

Next week, help us make a musical montage by calling the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 and singing a little bit of West Side Story’s “America”! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Photo credit: Kim Troxall

This episode is brought to you by The Human Algorithm Podcast, Linkedin (www.linkedin.com/UNSPOOLED), and Fracture (www.fractureme.com/UNSPOOLED).