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I always learn so much in my conversations with Canadian cinephile, critic, & author Adam Nayman & this episode - devoted to a quartet of big screen adaptations of Ira Levin's buzzy bestselling novels that captivated a generation of readers - is no exception. Listen in as we take you through his career as a master storyteller of what Stephen King deemed "Swiss watch" worthy plots while exploring the films A KISS BEFORE DYING (1956), ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968), THE STEPFORD WIVES (1975), & THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL (1978).Bio: Adam Nayman is a critic, lecturer, and author based in Toronto. He writes for the Ringer, Criterion, Reverse Shot, the New Yorker, & Sight and Sound, and teaches cinema studies at the University of Toronto. He has written several books on film, including titles on SHOWGIRLS & the movies of the Coen Brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, & David Fincher for Abrams.Originally Posted on Patreon (5/1/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127934077Shop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fi Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive
Sean and Amanda briefly react to some Oscars news, including a rule requiring Academy members to watch the movies and the details surrounding the new Casting and Achievement in Stunt Design award (1:34). Then, for the first time, they play the Summer Movie Preview Game, in which they predict the box office and Metacritic score for every major summer movie release in 2025 (16:27). Later, Sean is joined by Adam Nayman to give a brief “state of the movies” before discussing David Cronenberg's newest body horror film, ‘The Shrouds.' They talk about its complicated and moving portrayal of grief, praise Vincent Cassel for his excellent performance, and create a “Cronenberg starter pack” for those who aren't very familiar with the director's filmography (1:25:06). Finally, Sean is joined by the great David Cronenberg to discuss ‘The Shrouds.' They talk about his decision to cast Cassel in an unusual and challenging role, why he hates shooting on film and would never return, and his long-term creative collaboration with composer Howard Shore (2:06:43). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: David Cronenberg and Adam Nayman Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Welcome to The B-Side! Here we talk about movie directors! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between. Today we talk about two American icons: Joel and Ethan Coen. Our guest is an icon all his own: Stephen Sajdak from the We Hate Movies podcast! We discuss the B-Sides The Hudsucker Proxy, The Man Who Wasn't There, Intolerable Cruelty, and Burn After Reading. There's also time given to their remake The Ladykillers. We make many references to Adam Nayman's well-researched and well-considered book The Coen Brothers This Book Really Ties the Films Together, explore the critical success the filmmakers had with Fargo, and how they filmed The Man Who Wasn't There in color and then printed it to black-and-white film. Other topics include the Coen Brothers' film Hail Caesar! and their childhood fascination with biblical epics like Quo Vadis, their amazing commentary on The Man Who Wasn't There disc, Spielberg's advice to George Clooney on how to become a movie star, or that time Clooney recalled being bewildered that Quentin Tarantino thought the two of them looked alike while they were promoting From Dusk Till Dawn. Finally, Tracy Zooms In comes up (obviously), the new Barry Levinson gangster picture The Alto Knights, and the James Gandolfini holiday picture Surviving Christmas.
Welcome to The B-Side! Here we talk about movie directors! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones that they made in between. Today we talk about two American icons: Joel and Ethan Coen. Our guest is an icon all his own: Stephen Sajdak from the We Hate Movies podcast! We discuss the B-Sides The Hudsucker Proxy, The Man Who Wasn't There, Intolerable Cruelty, and Burn After Reading. There's also time given to their remake The Ladykillers. We make many references to Adam Nayman's well-researched and well-considered book The Coen Brothers This Book Really Ties the Films Together, explore the critical success the filmmakers had with Fargo, and how they filmed The Man Who Wasn't There in color and then printed it to black-and-white film. Other topics include the Coen Brothers' film Hail Caesar! and their childhood fascination with biblical epics like Quo Vadis, their amazing commentary on The Man Who Wasn't There disc, Spielberg's advice to George Clooney on how to become a movie star, or that time Clooney recalled being bewildered that Quentin Tarantino thought the two of them looked alike while they were promoting From Dusk Till Dawn. Finally, Tracy Zooms In comes up (obviously), the new Barry Levinson gangster picture The Alto Knights, and the James Gandolfini holiday picture Surviving Christmas. Be sure to give us a follow on social at @tfsbside.bsky.social.
Hosts Josh and Jamie and special returning guest critic Adam Nayman discuss 90s music video directors making atmospheric horror-procedurals with a double feature of David Fincher's aggressively unpleasant yet perversely watchable urban neo-noir/serial killer thriller SE7EN (1995) starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman and Mark Pellington's depressed, slow-burn supernatural folklore horror drama THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES (2002) starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney. Next week's episode is a patron-exclusive bonus episode on 90s submarine thrillers: THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990) + CRIMSON TIDE (1995), you can get access to that episode (and all past + future bonus episodes) by subscribing to our $5 tier on Patreon: www.patreon.com/sleazoidspodcast Intro // 00:00-11:15 SE7EN // 11:15-1:48:06 MOTHMAN PROPHECIES // 1:48:06-2:37:29 Outro // 2:37:29-2:40:42 BUY ADAM'S DAVID FINCHER BOOK: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/david-fincher-mind-games_9781419753411/ MERCH: www.teepublic.com/stores/sleazoids?ref_id=17667 WEBSITE: www.sleazoidspodcast.com/ Pod Twitter: twitter.com/sleazoidspod Pod Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/SLEAZOIDS/ Josh's Twitter: twitter.com/thejoshl Josh's Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/thejoshl Jamie's Twitter: twitter.com/jamiemilleracas Jamie's Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/jamiemiller
Sean is joined by Adam Nayman for an extensive examination of the themes, production, and style of Brady Corbet's ‘The Brutalist,' one of the most anticipated and audacious movies of the year (1:00). They discuss the idea of a new movie aiming at the canon, Corbet's filmmaking style and the marketing associated with it, the chapterized structure of the storytelling, the performances both at the center and on the edges of the frame, and more. Sean is then joined by Corbet (1:17:00) to discuss the circuitous route to getting the film on the big screen; how he sees a director's job; writing with his partner, Mona Fastvold; working with Adrien Brody; and more. Finally, Brody joins the show to talk about what was so appealing about the 'Brutalist' script, how he accessed the personal themes of the character he plays, the different technological hurdles of shooting in the long-dormant VistaVision format, and more (2:08:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Adam Nayman, Brady Corbet, and Adrien Brody Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Video Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ep. 283: Beatrice Loayza and Adam Nayman Do Their Bests (2024 Edition) Welcome to The Last Thing I Saw, with your host, Nicolas Rapold. Tis season of making lists and checking them twice, and this December, I was pleased to welcome back Beatrice Loayza (of The New York Times and other publications) and Adam Nayman (of The Ringer and elsewhere) to the podcast. Loayza and Nayman share a few outstanding films that stuck with them from 2024, plus an assortment of other high points from their lists, ranging from debut features to crowning works by auteurs in their prime. I won't spoil their choices here, so have a listen and find out. Please support the production of this podcast by signing up at: rapold.substack.com Photo by Steve Snodgrass
Sean is joined by Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman to discuss the ascendance of ‘Wicked' in the awards race and the release of a handful of movies, including ‘Queer,' ‘Kneecap,' and ‘The Order' (1:00). Then, the three each share their top five movies of 2024, a mix of widely seen blockbusters, smaller art-house movies, big swings from emergent auteurs, and more (43:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Toronto-based critic, lecturer, and author Adam Nayman joins us to look back at Billy Bob Thornton's directorial debut and acting showcase Sling Blade. Once considered a high-water mark of 90s American indie cinema success within popular culture and the awards circuit, Thornton's film is now often relegated to 'curio' status; a fascinating time capsule of the mid-90s with very little (if any) cultural purchase among today's cinephiles. We discuss the work of Billy Bob Thornton, the evolution of Sling Blade (from one man show to short film to feature), and suggest some reasons for its breakout success. Then, we discuss the film's fascinating hodgepodge of elements and inspirations, combining the social economy of Southern American Gothic, the moralism of Christian parable, and formal qualities of independent cinema to make something at once distinctive and comfortably inessential. Finally, we ask if movies like Sling Blade can still gain the same level of critical and commercial cachet in today's film environment and what some of this fall's box office hits and awards front-runners might indicate about where we're headed.Follow Adam Nayman on Twitter. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish.
Sean is joined by Adam Nayman to discuss the head-scratching rollout of Clint Eastwood's justice system interrogation, ‘Juror No. 2' and the movie's successes, shortcomings, and Eastwood-isms (1:00). Then, Sean briefly discusses the appeal of ‘Heretic' (55:00) before being joined by the film's directors, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, to talk about their writing process, Hugh Grant's lead performance, the state of getting movies made, and more (58:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Adam Nayman, Scott Beck, and Bryan Woods Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Video Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The author and film critic Adam Nayman returns to Junk Filter to discuss the new Jason Reitman race-against-time comedy thriller Saturday Night about the backstage antics leading up to the first episode of SNL in 1975, a feature film that serves an an ode to its producer Lorne Michaels while trying to spin tension and suspense out of a foregone conclusion. Reitman is back in Oscar Bait mode after having some success with the new Ghostbusters films, but this one, like many of his recent award season efforts, failed to connect with audiences. Adam and I discuss the film's shortcomings, which real life characters it chooses to venerate and which it chooses to attack or demean, and how Reitman, in his supposed recreation of a comedy revolution, actually values the establishment of an institution. Over 30% of all Junk Filter episodes are only available to patrons of the podcast. To support this show directly and to receive access to the entire back catalogue, consider becoming a patron for only $5.00 a month (U.S.) at patreon.com/junkfilter Follow Adam Nayman on Twitter. Saturday Night Live Deserved Better Than Saturday Night, by Adam Nayman for The New Republic, September 30, 2024 Trailer #1 for Saturday Night (Jason Reitman, 2024)
Sean and Amanda are joined by film critic, Ringer contributor, and resident “mean pod guy” Adam Nayman to do a speed recap of his favorite (and least favorite) movies out of the Toronto International Film Festival (1:00). Then, they revive the Big Oscar Bet, in which Sean and Amanda predict the nominees and winners of every major category at the 2025 Oscars (37:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Adam Nayman Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Video Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Film Comment is on the ground at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, which began on September 5 and runs through September 15. This year, as ever, the festival's lineup is full of buzzy titles, including premieres of new films from directors like Luca Guadagnino, Pedro Almodóvar, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Brady Corbet, Dea Kulumbegashvili, and more. For our third Podcast from the home of David Cronenberg, Drake, and the great Tim Hortons, Film Comment editor Devika Girish welcomes critics Adam Nayman and Beatrice Loayza to discuss some of the most anticipated films of this year's festival. Kicking things off, Adam, the noted Torontonian, gives a rundown on the Toronto-based movies at this year's edition (2:59) before the three critics move on to discuss Nicolás Pereda's Lázaro at Night (6:05), Jessica Sarah Rinland's Collective Monologue (12:32), Athina Rachel Tsangari's Harvest (22:09), Joshua Oppenheimer's The End (32:09), and Joseph Kahn's Ick (39:33). Catch up with all of our coverage of TIFF 2024 at filmcomment.com
Today is the beginning of our new series on the best movies of the 2020s with critics, podcasters, and filmmakers. We're joined in Part 1 of this series by critic, author, and professor Adam Nayman. He is one of our favorite critical writers in the film community; a truly sobering and thoughtful thinker. Today Adam has chosen to discuss four significant works and filmmakers--time stamps are below to each (mostly) non-spoiler discussion: Knock at the Cabin (19:00) Crimes of the Future (42:56) Chime (51:20) Coma (01:02:30) You can purchase Adam Nayman's work on Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, and the Coens here You can read Adam Nayman's recent work for The Ringer site and you can find his other publications through his Twitter Become a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon here Letterboxd: The Extra Credits TikTok: The Extra Credits Reddit: r/TheExtraCredits Instagram: @theextracredits Twitter: @theextracredits Send requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com
Sean and Amanda are joined by a deep bench of Ringer colleagues to share their favorite movies of the year. The selections range from heavy hitters like ‘Dune: Part Two' and ‘Challengers' to big swings like ‘Civil War.' And, of course, Glen Powell will feature. To watch episodes of ‘The Big Picture,' head to https://www.youtube.com/@RingerMovies. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, Joanna Robinson, Van Lathan, Charles Holmes, Adam Nayman, Rob Mahoney Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
As summer begins in earnest, we're looking back at a 2022 highlight—Charlotte Wells's staggering debut feature Aftersun—and revisiting one of our most popular episodes ever: a conversation with film critic, author, and educator Adam Nayman. Adam shares special insights from his conversation with Wells about the film, plus the case for cinematic mystery, Paul Mescal crying, analog devices and the technology of memory, good karaoke scenes, fatherhood feelings, and why 2022 stinker The Whale stumbles precisely where Aftersun soars. For more on Aftersun, check out producer Barry Jenkins's conversation with director Wells for the Directors UK podcast, Filmmaker's profile, and Wells's own letter to audiences for A24. The Bright Wall/Dark Room Podcast is co-hosted by Veronica Fitzpatrick and Chad Perman and produced and edited by Eli Sands. Our theme music is composed by Chad. You can find all 130+ issues of Bright Wall/Dark Room, including our most recent, Breaking Point, at brightwalldarkroom.com. Please subscribe, rate, and flatter us with a review, it truly helps the show! This episode is sponsored by Galerie, a new kind of film club. Bright Wall/Dark Room listeners can sign up using this special link to get two months of free access to Galerie's essays, live conversations, and streaming catalogue! This episode originally aired in January 2023.
CW: This episode discusses cinematic sexual violence and racist themes. The film critic and author Adam Nayman returns to the show for a deep dive into Michael Cimino's 1985 pulp crime thriller Year of the Dragon, starring Mickey Rourke, John Lone and introducing the fashion model Ariane Koizumi as the female lead. Year of the Dragon was Cimino's attempt to reassert himself as an important (and commercially viable) American filmmaker after his post-Deer Hunter fall from grace in the wake of the disastrous Heaven's Gate. Rourke plays Captain Stanley White, a highly-decorated Polish-American cop (and Vietnam veteran) transferred to New York's Chinatown precinct who pursues an increasingly unhinged personal war against the young and ambitious new leader of the Triads, Joey Tai (Lone), using an ambitious Asian news reporter to do it, leading to an escalating bloodbath. MGM/UA had to add a disclaimer to the film after the release in the wake of protests and legal threats from the Chinese-American community set off by the rabble-rousing screenplay by Cimino and Oliver Stone (on the precipice of his own directing career) Adam and I discuss Year of the Dragon as a Problematic Fave: an insanely detailed example of screen artifice (including a hyper-realistic fake New York Chinatown built at Dino DeLaurentiis' studio lot in North Carolina that even fooled Stanley Kubrick) with movie star performances and spectacular filmmaking clashing against chaotic emotional (and racist) outbursts and WTF moments that mark this film as a secret highlight of eighties American cinema, influential not only on Kubrick but also Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson and Michael Mann. They don't make ‘em like this anymore! Become a patron of the podcast to access to exclusive episodes every month. Over 30% of Junk Filter episodes are exclusively available to patrons. To support this show directly please subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/junkfilter Follow Adam Nayman on Twitter. Enthusiastic program note for Year of the Dragon from the New Beverly Cinema's blog, by Ariel Schudson, August 2016 Roger Ebert's tv review of Year of the Dragon, August 1985 American Year of the Dragon trailer #2 Japanese Year of the Dragon trailer Italian Year of the Dragon trailer
At long last! Run, don't walk to see American Fiction in theaters now! This is a spoiler-free episode gushing about how much I loved Cord Jefferson's new movie. But first, a recap of a handful of other movies I loved and that I thought were a lot of in 2023 and what I'm looking forward to doing on this show in 2024. References: THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters March 22 It doesn't suck: Showgirls - by Adam Nayman
Ep. 216: Beatrice Loayza and Adam Nayman on May December, Zone of Interest, Knock at the Cabin, Fallen Leaves, and more Welcome to The Last Thing I Saw with your host, Nicolas Rapold! As we approach the end of the year, I bring together a wonderful pair of critics who have appeared together here before: Adam Nayman (The Ringer) and Beatrice Loayza (The New York Times). In the spirit of the season, I asked them about their favorite movies of 2023, from Todd Haynes's May December to M. Night Shyamalan's Knock at the Cabin and Aki Kaurismaki's Fallen Leaves, and we reflect on Jonathan Glazer's confronting The Zone of Interest. Adam and Beatrice also share their favorite first watches from the year. Please support the production of this podcast by signing up at: rapold.substack.com Photo by Steve Snodgrass
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman to share their respective lists of the five best movies released in 2023, including titanic works from master filmmakers, blockbuster hits that captured the zeitgeist, and smaller movies that challenged viewers to consider their artistry deeply. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Kelsi and Trey defend the Emerald Fennell project by exploring her interests, Promising Young Woman, and Saltburn. Her newest feature stars Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Archie Madekew, Alison Oliver, Rosamund Pike, and Carey Mulligan. Become a member of The Extra Credits+ on Patreon here Patreon link: https://patreon.com/TheExtraCredits?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Adam Nayman's Mind Games Send requests, questions, and thoughts to our email: extracreditspod@gmail.com Letterboxd: The Extra Credits Instagram: @theextracredits Twitter: @theextracredits Tik Tok: The Extra Credits
Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the trio's collective favorite movie of 2023, David Fincher's ‘The Killer' (1:00). Then, Adam Nayman joins the show to give his take on ‘The Killer,' the state of American auteur directors in 2023, and where the film fits into Fincher's larger project (48:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The 61st New York Film Festival closed up shop last weekend, which means that it was once again time for Film Comment's Festival Report, our annual live overview of the NYFF that was. FC co-deputy editors Devika Girish and Clinton Krute convened an all-star team of critics—Molly Haskell, Adam Nayman, and Kelli Weston—for a spirited wrap-up discussion about the highlights and lowlights from the NYFF60 lineup. In front of a lively audience, the panel discuss and debate Todd Haynes's May December, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi's Evil Does Not Exist, Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest, Bradley Cooper's Maestro, Bertrand Bonello's The Beast, Sofia Coppola's Priscilla, Thien An Pham's Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, Yorgos Lanthimos's Poor Things, and and many other noteworthy selections. Find all of our coverage of NYFF61 here: https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/category/festivals/nyff/nyff-2023/
Hosts Josh and Jamie and special returning guest Adam Nayman kick off Spooktober 2023 by discussing a double feature of acclaimed, European arthouse horror enigmatically structured around loss, obsession, and predestined convergences: Nicolas Roeg's gothic, surreally impressionistic grieving couple psychological horror film DON'T LOOK NOW (1973) and George Sluizer's more clinical, hypnotic kidnapping procedural thriller THE VANISHING (1988). Next week's episode is a patron-exclusive bonus episode on Roger Corman, Vincent Price and Edgar Allen Poe: HOUSE OF USHER (1961) and THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961), you can get access to that episode (and all past + future bonus episodes) by subscribing to our $5 tier on Patreon: www.patreon.com/sleazoidspodcast Buy Adam's book: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/david-fincher-mind-games_9781419753411/ Intro // 00:00-21:05 DON'T LOOK NOW // 21:05-1:28:50 THE VANISHING //1:28:50-2:38:25 Outro // 2:38:25-2:44:08 MERCH: www.teepublic.com/stores/sleazoids?ref_id=17667 WEBSITE: www.sleazoidspodcast.com/ Pod Twitter: twitter.com/sleazoidspod Pod Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/SLEAZOIDS/ Josh's Twitter: twitter.com/thejoshl Josh's Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/thejoshl Jamie's Twitter: twitter.com/jamiemilleracas Jamie's Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/jamiemiller
In this episode, Steve and I discuss the novel and the film adaptations of "True Grit"--their similarities and differences, and how the Coen version fits their vision of life in a cold, indifferent universe. We mention this article about the film by Stanley Fish, and the book by Adam Nayman, The Coen Brothers: This Book Really Ties the Films Together.
Sean and Amanda are joined by Ringer contributor and film critic Adam Nayman to discuss the highs, lows, and shifting culture of the Toronto International Film Festival (1:00). Then, they share a joint list of the most anticipated movies of 2023 that neither have shown each other until now (23:00), including ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,' ‘Pain Hustlers,' ‘Leave the World Behind,' and more. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Adam Nayman Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We're reporting this week from one of the major film events of the fall: the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 7 to 17. Throughout this year's festival, we'll be on the ground, covering all the highlights (and lowlights) from the lineup with a rotating crew of critics and special guests. For our second podcast dispatch from Toronto, Film Comment Co-Deputy Editor Devika Girish is joined by local critics Adam Nayman (The Ringer, Cinema Scope, and elswhere) and Saffron Maeve (Cinema Scope and elsewhere). They kick things if with a focus on Canadian films, including Atom Egoyan's Seven Veils, Chloé Robichaud's Days of Happiness, and Michael Snow's Standard Time, before expanding their scope to encompass Cord Jefferson's American Fiction, Pedro Almódovar's Strange Way of Life, and Bertrand Bonello's The Beast. Watch this space for more podcasts from TIFF 2023.
We're reporting this week from one of the major film events of the fall: the Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 7 to 17. Throughout this year's festival, we'll be on the ground, covering all the highlights (and lowlights) from the lineup with a rotating crew of critics and special guests. For our second podcast dispatch from Toronto, Film Comment Co-Deputy Editor Devika Girish is joined by critics Adam Nayman (The Ringer, Cinemascope, and elswhere)and Chloe Lizotte (MUBI Notebook and elsewhere) to talk about festival selections Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World, Evil Does Not Exist, Dumb Money, and The Boy and the Heron. Watch this space for more podcasts from TIFF 2023.
Welcome to the 200th episode of the podcast Watch With Jen. It's a milestone I never anticipated reaching when I launched the show in early 2020. Back then, I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested in listening to me talk about the movies I love. I am so grateful for your listenership & support & hope you'll stay tuned in the future as I continue to celebrate cinema with my knowledgeable, passionate guests. Returning to the podcast this week, we have the impressive critic, in-demand lecturer, & insightful author Mr. Adam Nayman, who longtime listeners will remember hearing last summer around this time as he joined me to discuss the life & career of actress Gene Tierney. A contributor to The Ringer, Criterion, CinemaScope, The New Yorker, & more, additionally, our Toronto-based guest has written thoughtful books on SHOWGIRLS, Ben Wheatley, the Coen brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, & David Fincher. Analyzing the life, films, & performances of one of classic cinema's greatest actors & activists, in this roughly 65-minute research-filled conversation, Adam & I share observations about both the most landmark films & overlooked turns in the career of Burt Lancaster, & pay close attention to SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, THE SWIMMER, ATLANTIC CITY, & other favorites as well. Originally Posted on Patreon (8/27/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/88290110 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Logo: KateGabrielle.com
So, why do they call it "the little death"? Will is joined by film critic Adam Nayman to discuss Claire Denis's transgressive masterpiece TROUBLE EVERY DAY (2001) and how it scandalized film culture circa 2001. PLUS: What is it like to teach the history of satire at a university?Follow Adam Nayman on Twitter and find his books here.Michael and Us is a podcast about political cinema and our crumbling world hosted by Will Sloan and Luke Savage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
So, why do they call it "the little death"? Will is joined by film critic Adam Nayman to discuss Claire Denis's transgressive masterpiece TROUBLE EVERY DAY (2001) and how it scandalized film culture circa 2001. PLUS: What is it like to teach the history of satire at a university? Adam Nayman on Twitter - https://twitter.com/brofromanother Adam's books - https://www.abramsbooks.com/contributor/adam-nayman_19289396/
Adam Nayman joins Sean and Amanda to discuss Wes Anderson's career and filmmaking aesthetic before they dig into his latest film, ‘Asteroid City' (1:00). Then, Sean and Amanda rank all 11 of Anderson's feature films (50:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Adam Nayman Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
When Adam Nayman reflects on what makes There Will Be Blood so resonate, it's one of the central questions Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 film asks that serves as a timeless themes in American culture. "What does it look like when you're appetite simply cannot be sated?" Nayman asks. "Your eyes are not bigger than your stomach. You literally need to have everything." On today's show, Nayman, the author of Paul Thomas Anderson: Masterworks joins to break down the film. We discuss how Daniel Plainview reflects the feeling of living through the Bush Administration and War On Terror, why Paul Thomas Anderson uses our oil addiction as a motif in films, and what There Will Be Blood a mirror of a number of American businessmen throughout the country's history. Adam Nayman is a contributing editor for Cinema Scope and writes for The New Yorker, The Ringer, Sight and Sound, Reverse Shot, and Little White Lies. He has written books on the Coen Brothers, Showgirls and the films of Ben Wheatley, and lectures on cinema and journalism at the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University. Read Paul Thomas Anderson: Masterworks Subscribe to our Substack newsletter "The Climate Weekly" As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to our new YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group.
Ari Aster's third feature, the Oedipal nightmare comedy ‘Beau Is Afraid,' is here. Sean discusses the film's virtuosic gifts and alienating approach at length with Adam Nayman (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by Aster to discuss how he made his thrilling new movie (58:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Ari Aster and Adam Nayman Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The movie award season is in full swing and this year's crop of potential Oscar winners includes a healthy and diverse array of films, ranging from psychological studies like Tár to big blockbusters like Avatar: The Way of Water. I sat down with Adam Nayman, a film critic for The Ringer, about the Oscar list. We also discuss, at greater length, one particular nominee which we felt merited a long discussion: The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical account of his youth. Adam's review of the movie can be found here. As Adam notes, the the movie is multi-layered and rewards a deeper examination. It's a portrait of the artist as a youthful cinephile which also makes explicit the family break-up that would haunt Spielberg's work. Surprisingly self-critical, the movie is not, as some have said, a victory lap. Rather, it delves into the psychological price paid by becoming an artist who uses creativity to hide from reality. It also tells the complex story of Jewish assimilation into an American mainstream aided and abetted by Hollywood.Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe. Host: Jeet HeerExecutive Producer: Ludwig HurtadoAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
For our annual fashionably late “Best Of” issue, we're looking at a 2022 highlight: Charlotte Wells's staggering debut feature Aftersun, featuring film critic, author, and educator Adam Nayman. Adam shares special insights from his conversation with Wells about the film, plus the case for cinematic mystery, Paul Mescal crying, analog devices and the technology of memory, good karaoke scenes, fatherhood feelings, and why 2022 stinker The Whale stumbles precisely where Aftersun soars.For more on Aftersun, check out producer Barry Jenkins's conversation with director Wells for the Directors UK podcast, Filmmaker's profile, and Wells's own letter to audiences for A24. The Bright Wall/Dark Room Podcast is co-hosted by Veronica Fitzpatrick and Chad Perman and produced and edited by Eli Sands. Our theme music is composed by Chad.Find all 100+ issues of Bright Wall/Dark Room, including January's paeans to last year's best, at brightwalldarkroom.com. Please subscribe, rate, and flatter us with a review. We're on Twitter @TheBWDRPodcast and @BWDR and you're welcome to show support via our Patreon. We welcome listener feedback and sponsorship inquiries at editors@brightwalldarkroom.com. Happy new year.
Sean and Amanda share their 10 favorite performances of the year (1:00). Then, Adam Nayman joins the show to discuss Alejandro González Iñárritu's new Netflix film ‘Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths' (33:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Adam Nayman Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ep. 151: Adam Nayman and Beatrice Loayza on Eternal Daughter, Genre, Recent Listing Welcome to The Last Thing I Saw. I'm Nicolas Rapold. It's been about a year since I was last joined by critics Adam Nayman and Beatrice Loayza, so it felt like high time to get the band (i.e., the two of them) back together. We discussed some recent viewing which inevitably meant talking about the Greatest poll we had all participated in, as they share some of the criteria behind their ballots. Please support the production of this podcast by signing up at: rapold.substack.com Music: “Tomorrow's Forecast” by The Minarets, courtesy of The Minarets Photo by Steve Snodgrass
It's here—time for year-end lists! Adam Nayman and Chris Ryan join Sean and Amanda to discuss Sight and Sound's Greatest Films of All Time poll before diving into 2022 and sharing their top five movies of the year. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Adam Nayman Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This year marks the 30th anniversary of David Lynch's ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,' and the 25th anniversary of ‘Lost Highway.' To celebrate, Sean and Adam Nayman are diving deep into the unnerving, beautiful, often terrifying dream logic of their Lynchian fascinatination. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Adam Nayman Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After a quiet few weeks, movies are back in theaters in a big way—and none bigger than Gina Prince-Bythewood's warrior epic ‘The Woman King.' Sean and Amanda break down the new Viola Davis vehicle and nine more new releases, including a pair of disturbing horror movies, a David Bowie doc, and, um, ‘Pinocchio' (2:00). Then, Adam Nayman joins Sean to share a report from the Toronto International Film Festival, including word on Steven Spielberg's ‘The Fabelmans,' ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,' and ‘My Policeman' (56:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Adam Nayman Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Once again we've arrived at that special time of year known as festival season. Today we kick off our coverage of one of the fall's major film events, the Toronto International Film Festival. Throughout this year's festival, we'll be on the ground, covering all the highlights (and lowlights) from the lineup with our rotating crew of critics and special guests. As we head into the last weekend of the festival, Film Comment Co-Deputy Editor Devika Girish welcomes critics Adam Nayman (certified Toronto native), Vadim Rizov, and Beatrice Loayza to talk about some standouts, including The Fabelmans, Dry Ground Burning, Women Talking, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Whale, and, um, the Bulgari ad by Paolo Sorrentino that plays before every TIFF screening. Stay tuned for more from Toronto next week.
This week's podcast initially began as a sequel to our episode about Irma Vep from a few weeks ago, in which Adam Nayman and Beatrice Loayza joined us to discuss Olivier Assayas's new HBO series. We had only seen four episodes at the time, and we wanted to reconvene our guests, now that the miniseries has finished its run of eight episodes. But as we dug into the film-within-a-film rabbit holes of Irma Vep, its commentaries on auteurism and autofiction, and how it blurs the lines between reality, narrative, and fantasy, we realized that it echoed the themes of another series everyone has been talking about recently: The Rehearsal, by Nathan Fielder. So this episode brings you a double dose of meta: Irma Vep and The Rehearsal, and the ethics of making movies about oneself, other people, and movie-making itself.
Jena Friedman on combining comedy with journalism in her AMC+ true-crime series, “Indefensible." Also, film critic Adam Nayman talks about one of today's most compelling directors, David Fincher. And Wisconsin native Charles L. Hughes on rapper Bushwick Bill.
Returning to the podcast this week, we have the impressive critic, in-demand lecturer, and insightful author Mr. Adam Nayman, who longtime listeners will remember hearing last summer around this time as he joined me to discuss the life and career of actress Gene Tierney. A contributor to The Ringer, Criterion, CinemaScope, and more, additionally, our Toronto-based guest has written thoughtful books on SHOWGIRLS, Ben Wheatley, the Coen brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson (which will come in handy today), and the recently released David Fincher: Mind Games from the great publisher Abrams.In this fascinating and rich conversation, we take a look at the way that John Huston's previously classified post-World War II documentary LET THERE BE LIGHT, John Frankenheimer's 1962 classic THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, and writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson's 2012 film THE MASTER all deal with elements of mind control and psychotherapy where U.S. veterans are concerned.Note: Although it isn't overly graphic, in an abundance of caution, I checked the Explicit box for this week's episode across your favorite podcast platforms due to our analysis of a certain infamous scene in THE MASTER, so you might not want to listen with young children.Logo: Kate Gabrielle (KateGabrielle.com)Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music ArchiveOriginally Posted on Patreon (7/22/22) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/69440460
Sean invites an all-star cast of Ringer contributors to share their favorite movies of the year. Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Rob Harvilla, Charles Holmes, Van Lathan, Rob Mahoney, Adam Nayman, Joanna Robinson, Mallory Rubin, Chris Ryan Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Baz Luhrmann's latest film, a life-spanning biopic of Elvis Presley, is here, and Sean and Amanda are breaking down this exhaustive, expansive new film (1:00). Then, Adam Nayman joins to discuss the prescient comedy ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story' and their favorite music biopics (24:00). Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guest: Adam Nayman Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
These last two weeks, HBO Max has been serving up catnip for cinephiles with Olivier Assayas's new, mind-bendingly metatextual show, Irma Vep. In 1996, Assayas made a film with the same title, about the attempts of an aging French filmmaker to remake Louis Feuillade's classic silent serial, Les vampires, with Maggie Cheung as the original vamp, Irma Vep. The new series expands on and reimagines that premise with a mise-en-abyme structure: here, a neurotic filmmaker seemingly modeled on Assayas remakes Feuillade's serial for a contemporary, binge-TV audience. Alicia Vikander plays Mira Harberg, an American pop heroine who is cast as Irma Vep among a glossy, transnational crew of actors. In the four episodes available to critics so far, Irma Vep engages with its multiple sources, its medium, and the lives of its creators in increasingly surprising and thought-provoking ways. On this week's podcast, FC editors Devika Girish and Clinton Krute invited critics Adam Nayman and Beatrice Loayza to dig into the series' endless rabbit holes and riffs on the history of serials, cinema, and, well, content.
This week sees the release of ‘Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,' which is directed by one of our favorite filmmakers, Sam Raimi. Adam Nayman talks with Sean about Raimi's expansive career and style, before ranking his 15 features (38:00). Then, Sean is joined by Tom Gormican, the director of ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,' to discuss his Nicolas Cage meta-action vehicle (1:11:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guests: Adam Nayman and Tom Gormican Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We're diving deep into Daniels' multiversal extravaganza ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,' one of the year's most acclaimed and thrilling movies. Sean is joined by Adam Nayman and Joanna Robinson to break down the film, its bold style, and why it's become such a sensation (1:00). Then, they share their favorite, zany, audacious movie swings (39:00). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Adam Nayman and Joanna Robinson Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices