This week Paul & Amy take a close look at Steven Spielberg’s unflinching Holocaust drama “Schindler’s List.” They discuss the filmmaking instincts Spielberg brings to difficult material, praise Ralph Fiennes’ terrifying performance, and discover the crucial role Adam Sandler played in keeping Spielberg’s mood up. Plus: Embeth Davidtz (who plays Helen Hirsch) calls in to talk about the unlikely family formed on set.

Next week, call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your favorite memories of watching It’s A Wonderful Life. 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 Palm (www.palm.com) and Try My Fit Jeans (www.myfitjeans.com code: UNSPOOLED).

Paul & Amy go the distance for Sylvester Stallone’s 1976 pugilistic parable Rocky! They play a stunning clip of Stallone talking to himself, posit that the film’s true villain is Rocky’s self-doubt, and question whether the average person is actually more like Paulie. Plus: Boxer and coach Freddie Roach calls in with his thoughts on Rocky and the time he made Mickey Rourke cry.

Next week we’re talking about Schindler’s list, and we want to know what you think of modern black and white films! Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your thoughts. 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 Try My Fit Jeans (www.myfitjeans.com code: UNSPOOLED) and Omaha Steaks (www.omahasteaks.com code: UNSPOOLED).

Amy & Paul undergo the Ludovico technique to watch Stanley Kubrick’s dark dystopia A Clockwork Orange! They explain the history of the famous “Singin In The Rain” scene, compare the complicated adaptation to Anthony Burgess’ original novel, and question why Kubrick should be considered a moral authority on anything. Plus: Paul weighs in on the online discussion about the AFI list and “incels.”

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank discussion of rape and rape scenes.

For Rocky week, tell us about how you first encountered the Rocky franchise! 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.

This week Paul & Amy travel back to 1982’s love triangle / Holocaust drama Sophie’s Choice! They ask whether Stingo is supposed to be an actual good writer, marvel at the energy of a young Kevin Kline, and break down what makes Meryl Streep’s work in this film so legendary. Plus: dialect coach Samara Bay (Loving, Wonder Woman) talks to Paul about the intricacies of nailing an accent-based performance.

Help us introduce next week’s episode on A Clockwork Orange in your own Nadsat-style language! Just call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your intro. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts.

This episode is brought to you by Screen Dive.

Amy and Paul filibuster through Frank Capra’s 1939 political fable Mr. Smith Goes To Washington! They learn about Jean Arthur’s initial impressions of Jimmy Stewart, compare Capra’s visual style to Michael Bay, and explore the film’s pop culture legacy in depth. Plus: Jon Lovett of “Pod Save America” and “Lovett Or Leave It” weighs in on the lessons this film can offer today’s politicians.

Next week is Sophie’s Choice and we’re asking you to make a terrible choice; would you cut Spielberg or Scorsese from the AFI list? 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.

This episode is brought to you by Linkedin (www.linkedin.com/UNSPOOLED).

In this week’s special episode, Paul & Amy are answering all of your questions, submitted by Unspooled’s Facebook group!  They reminisce about the origin story of the podcast, explain which documentaries they would add to the AFI 100, and tell each other their favorite movie snacks. Finally, they celebrate the first 25 episodes by unveiling their official ranking of every movie covered on Unspooled so far.

Next week’s movie is “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington,” so call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 with your best campaign speech for Jimmy Stewart (in a Jimmy Stewart voice!) Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts.

This week Amy & Paul hail the Marx Brothers’ 1933 madcap comedy Duck Soup! They ask whether this is the first great comedy of the talkie era, parse the different comedic styles of the brothers, and praise Margaret Dumont as the perfect foil. Plus: Conan O’Brien joins the show to talk about why he loves the Marx Bros!

Don’t forget to tune in to next week’s special episode, where we answer all our listeners’ burning questions and officially rank the first 25 films. Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts.

This episode is brought to you by Screen Dive and Audible.

Paul & Amy set sail through 1951’s Katharine Hepburn & Humphrey Bogart adventure The African Queen! They ask whether the central romance is convincing, discuss John Huston’s groundbreaking and arduous location shoot, and reminisce about the Disneyland ride inspired by the film. Plus: Suzanne Holmquist tells about running the actual African Queen as a modern day tourist attraction. 

For Duck Soup week, call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 to sing part of the Freedonia national anthem (link below)! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts.

This episode is brought to you by Robinhood (unspooled.robinhood.com) and Linkedin (www.linkedin.com/UNSPOOLED).

Paul & Amy pull off the highway for a short stay at 1960’s proto-slasher masterwork Psycho.

Amy & Paul embark on an epic quest through Peter Jackson’s 2001 fantasy adaptation The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring!

Paul & Amy plunge into the heart of darkness to cover 1979’s Vietnam War fever dream Apocalypse Now. They discover which famous film character screenwriter John Milius inspired, dig into the meaning of the USO show sequence, and are ultimately amazed this film ever came together in the first place. Plus: All of your amazing/terrible Marlon Brando impressions!

What character would you be in The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring? Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 and let us know! 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 week, Amy & Paul saddle up and ride through 1952’s archetypal Western, High Noon!

Paul & Amy beam up to Steven Spielberg’s heartwarming alien feature, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial! They learn E.T.’s real name, marvel at Spielberg’s uncanny ease directing children, and wonder how well the film holds up with kids today. Plus: Seth Shostak, an astronomer from the SETI Institute, tells us how likely we are to find actual E.T.s on Earth. 

Next week: the western showdown classic, High Noon. If you’ve never seen it, or can’t quite remember it, give us your guess about the plot, and bonus points will be awarded for your best cowboy impression. Call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 and tell us what you think! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts.

This episode is brought to you by Stitch Fix (www.stitchfix.com/UNSPOOLED).

This week Paul & Amy cruise through 1976’s terrifying character study Taxi Driver. They ask whether the film is anti-misogynist or simply misogynist, debate whether the ending is real or fake, and discover a surprising source of inspiration for another film on the AFI 100. Plus: actor and writer Curt Neill tells us about his experiences driving for Uber, and how it helped him empathize with Travis Bickle.

If E.T. didn’t stand for extra-terrestrial…what would it stand for? Next week is E.T. week, so call the Unspooled voicemail line at 747-666-5824 and tell us what you think! Follow us on Twitter @Unspooled, get more info at unspooledpod.com, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts.

Paul and Amy see dead people in 1999’s supernatural drama The Sixth Sense!