For Valentine's Week, we book a trip to CASABLANCA – circa 2017 – with Adam graciously welcoming critics-on-the-run Michael Phillips and Katherine Fusco to Café Filmspotting. This is the first drop in a four-week series of archive reviews featuring romantic Best Picture winners leading up to the 2026 Oscars.

For full access to the show archive, Filmspotting Discord, monthly bonus episodes, and more, ⁠consider joining the Filmspotting Family⁠⁠.

For Valentine's Week, we book a trip to CASABLANCA &ndash; circa 2017 &ndash; with Adam graciously welcoming critics-on-the-run Michael Phillips and Katherine Fusco to Caf&eacute; Filmspotting. This is the first drop in a four-week series of archive reviews featuring romantic Best Picture winners leading up to the 2026 Oscars.
For full access to the show archive, Filmspotting Discord, monthly bonus episodes, and more,&nbsp;<a href="https://filmspotting.supportingcast.fm/join?sc_promo=FS20" data-encore-id="textLink" data-slate-node="element" data-slate-inline="true">⁠consider joining the Filmspotting Family⁠⁠</a>.

Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).

New and classic movie reviews and top 5 lists.

Filmspotting

Casablanca Review (Archive)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6753889c-6dfd-4393-81f6-b3ee004aa95d/transcript

This week’s Top 5 explores cinema’s most unreliable narrators, characters who bend, twist, or completely invent the truth. Adam and Josh pair the list with a fresh look at Kurosawa’s RASHOMON, the film that set the template for them all – and a potential 2026 Pantheon inductee. 

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/chapters may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:03:18)

Top 5 Unreliable Narrators (00:03:19-01:05:17)

Filmspotting Family (01:05:18-01:11:08)

Next Week, Notes, Poll (01:11:09-01:18:16)

Pantheon Project: Rashomon (01:18:17-01:56:39)

Credits / New Releases (01:56:40-01:59:51)

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

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This week&rsquo;s Top 5 explores cinema&rsquo;s most unreliable narrators, characters who bend, twist, or completely invent the truth. Adam and Josh pair the list with a fresh look at Kurosawa&rsquo;s RASHOMON, the film that set the template for them all &ndash; and a potential 2026 Pantheon inductee.&nbsp;
This episode is presented by<a href="https://experience.regmovies.com/join-unlimited?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=filmspotting">⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠</a>, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:03:18)
Top 5 Unreliable Narrators (00:03:19-01:05:17)
Filmspotting Family (01:05:18-01:11:08)
Next Week, Notes, Poll (01:11:09-01:18:16)
Pantheon Project: Rashomon (01:18:17-01:56:39)
Credits / New Releases (01:56:40-01:59:51)
Feedback:
-Email us at <a href="mailto:feedback@filmspotting.net">feedback@filmspotting.net</a>⁠⁠
-⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://forms.gle/T7aEzSXEovNDCArV9">Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> and we might answer your question in bonus content.
Support:
-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. <a href="https://filmspottingfamily.com">https://filmspottingfamily.com</a>
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. <a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/shop%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠</a>
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Top 5 Unreliable Narrators and Kurosawa’s Rashomon (#1055)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b8d6ddcd-a96d-4014-b78e-b405001d1ab0/transcript

This week’s Best Picture-winning archive pick takes us back to October 2016 and Adam’s conversation with MOONLIGHT director Barry Jenkins and star Naomie Harris. Then, hear the show's original review from that same episode.

For full access to the show archive, Filmspotting Discord, monthly bonus episodes, and more, ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠⁠.

This week&rsquo;s Best Picture-winning archive pick takes us back to October 2016 and Adam&rsquo;s conversation with MOONLIGHT director Barry Jenkins and star Naomie Harris. Then, hear the show's original review from that same episode.
For full access to the show archive, Filmspotting Discord, monthly bonus episodes, and more, <a href="https://filmspotting.supportingcast.fm/join?sc_promo=FS20" data-encore-id="textLink" data-slate-node="element" data-slate-inline="true">⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠⁠</a>.

First impressions of the Best Picture winner.

Moonlight Review + Barry Jenkins & Naomie Harris Interview [Archive]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e0a892f2-c3f5-456c-9bc2-b4030033ba5d/transcript

Adam and Josh share their Top 5 Catherine O’Hara Characters, revisiting the brilliance and range she brought to every role — from Delia and Cookie to Moira Rose and Mickey. A heartfelt tribute to a performer whose presence defined some of cinema and TV’s most hilarious moments.

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/chapters may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:02:59)

Top 5 Catherine O’Hara Characters (00:02:59-01:08:17)

Filmspotting Family (01:08:18-01:14:18)

Next Week, Notes (01:14:19-01:21:07)

Massacre Theatre (01:21:08-01:29:08)

Credits / New Releases (01:29:08-01:32:37)

Notes/Links:

-O’Hara On the “Wiser Than Me” Podcast
https://lemonadamedia.com/podcast/julia-gets-wise-with-catherine-ohara/

-Catherine O’Hara’s 10 Best Roles | Consequence of Sound
https://consequence.net/list/catherine-ohara-10-best-roles/after-hours/

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠

-⁠⁠⁠⁠Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.
https://filmspottingfamily.com

-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠

Follow:

https://youtube.com/filmspotting

https://instagram.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/filmspotting⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/larsenonfilm⁠

https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm⁠⁠⁠

https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm

⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠

Adam and Josh share their Top 5 Catherine O&rsquo;Hara Characters, revisiting the brilliance and range she brought to every role &mdash; from Delia and Cookie to Moira Rose and Mickey. A heartfelt tribute to a performer whose presence defined some of cinema and TV&rsquo;s most hilarious moments.
This episode is presented by<a href="https://experience.regmovies.com/join-unlimited?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=filmspotting">⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠</a>, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:59)
Top 5 Catherine O&rsquo;Hara Characters (00:02:59-01:08:17)
Filmspotting Family (01:08:18-01:14:18)
Next Week, Notes (01:14:19-01:21:07)
Massacre Theatre (01:21:08-01:29:08)
Credits / New Releases (01:29:08-01:32:37)
Notes/Links:
-O&rsquo;Hara On the &ldquo;Wiser Than Me&rdquo; Podcast <a href="https://lemonadamedia.com/podcast/julia-gets-wise-with-catherine-ohara/">https://lemonadamedia.com/podcast/julia-gets-wise-with-catherine-ohara/</a>
-Catherine O&rsquo;Hara&rsquo;s 10 Best Roles | Consequence of Sound <a href="https://consequence.net/list/catherine-ohara-10-best-roles/after-hours/">https://consequence.net/list/catherine-ohara-10-best-roles/after-hours/</a>
Feedback:
-Email us at <a href="mailto:feedback@filmspotting.net">feedback@filmspotting.net</a>⁠⁠
-⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://forms.gle/T7aEzSXEovNDCArV9">Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> and we might answer your question in bonus content.
Support:
-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access. <a href="https://filmspottingfamily.com">https://filmspottingfamily.com</a>
-T-shirts and more available at the Filmspotting Shop. <a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/shop%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠</a>
Follow:
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Catherine O'Hara: Our Top 5 Characters (#1054)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/38e76f1b-bfef-44a2-b6bd-b3fe004d6590/transcript

Casablanca Review (Archive)

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