Adam is joined by critic Chris Klimek to discuss The Christophers, the latest film from Steven Soderbergh. Starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, the film centers on the uneasy power dynamic between a once-celebrated artist and the forger drawn into his orbit. The conversation focuses on McKellen’s bracing late-career performance, Coel’s controlled counterpoint, and Soderbergh and screenwriter Ed Solomon’s refusal to resolve the film’s ideas into sentiment.

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Adam is joined by critic Chris Klimek to discuss The Christophers, the latest film from Steven Soderbergh. Starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, the film centers on the uneasy power dynamic between a once-celebrated artist and the forger drawn into his orbit. The conversation focuses on McKellen&rsquo;s bracing late-career performance, Coel&rsquo;s controlled counterpoint, and Soderbergh and screenwriter Ed Solomon&rsquo;s refusal to resolve the film&rsquo;s ideas into sentiment.
Links:
Follow Chris: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/snakeoilck">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/ctklimek.bsky.social/">Bluesky</a> | <a href="https://x.com/ctklimek">X</a>
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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

Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2f84e18b-a2bb-4fd8-963c-b438015d58b6/transcript

Is Casablanca the best film of the 1940s? Adam and Josh put it to the test in a head‑to‑head showdown with its fiercest competitor: Citizen Kane. As part of the Filmspotting Pantheon Project — and on the occasion of Kane’s 85th anniversary — the conversation digs into what each film says about America, power, and the promise (or illusion) of individualism. They also trace how the ’40s Madness bracket led to this championship matchup.

Intro (00:00:00-00:01:53)

Kane vs. Casablanca (00:01:54-00:46:28)

Filmspotting Family (00:46:29-00:50:57)

Notes / Filmspotting Fest On Sale (00:50:58-00:59:42)

'40s Madness: Final (00:59:43-01:10:06)

Credits / New Releases (01:10:07-01:13:17)

Links:

-Filmspotting Pantheon

https://www.filmspotting.net/pantheon

-Filmspotting Fest

https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest

-Social Media Asst. Role

https://www.filmspotting.net/social

-Filmspotting Madness

https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/

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

Is Casablanca the best film of the 1940s? Adam and Josh put it to the test in a head‑to‑head showdown with its fiercest competitor: Citizen Kane. As part of the Filmspotting Pantheon Project &mdash; and on the occasion of Kane&rsquo;s 85th anniversary &mdash; the conversation digs into what each film says about America, power, and the promise (or illusion) of individualism. They also trace how the &rsquo;40s Madness bracket led to this championship matchup.
Intro (00:00:00-00:01:53)
Kane vs. Casablanca (00:01:54-00:46:28)
Filmspotting Family (00:46:29-00:50:57)
Notes / Filmspotting Fest On Sale (00:50:58-00:59:42)
'40s Madness: Final (00:59:43-01:10:06)
Credits / New Releases (01:10:07-01:13:17)
Links:
-Filmspotting Pantheon
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/pantheon">https://www.filmspotting.net/pantheon</a>
-Filmspotting Fest
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest">https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest</a>
-Social Media Asst. Role
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/social">https://www.filmspotting.net/social</a>
-Filmspotting Madness
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/">https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/</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>
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Citizen Kane vs. Casablanca and '40s Madness Final | #1061

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/eca848b8-2e0a-4de1-99b0-b435012f50c0/transcript

A24 may have launched modestly in the early 2010s, but it didn’t take long for the indie distributor to reshape American cinema. To mark the company’s first decade — spanning Spring Breakers and The Bling Ring through Moonlight, Lady Bird, The Florida Project, and more — Adam and Josh convened the debut Filmspotting Draft in August 2022: ten A24 titles each, no shared picks, no trades, no fighting.

Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you ⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠.

A24 may have launched modestly in the early 2010s, but it didn&rsquo;t take long for the indie distributor to reshape American cinema. To mark the company&rsquo;s first decade &mdash; spanning Spring Breakers and The Bling Ring through Moonlight, Lady Bird, The Florida Project, and more &mdash; Adam and Josh convened the debut Filmspotting Draft in August 2022: ten A24 titles each, no shared picks, no trades, no fighting.
Unlock the full archive, Filmspotting Discord, ad‑free + bonus episodes, and more when you <a href="https://filmspotting.supportingcast.fm/" data-encore-id="textLink" data-slate-node="element" data-slate-inline="true">⁠join the Filmspotting Family⁠</a>.

A24 Draft | Archive

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/464394a0-9408-4dd0-a67e-b43301319df7/transcript

Matt and Jordan return with a review of Balls Up, debating if the Peter Farrelly formula still works on the small screen and whether they can actually recommend a movie involving cocaine-addicted crocodiles. Later, Matt revisits Empire Records, Jordan goes back to 1935 with The 39 Steps, and the team plays the first-ever round of "Key Chain."

(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:02:58)

Balls Up (00:02:59-00:34:13)

Rec Seg + Radical Streaming Honesty (00:34:14-01:11:40)

Game: Key Chain (01:11:41-01:29:18)

New to Streaming / Credits (01:29:19-01:37:28)

Notes:

Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive

https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/

Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/

The Reddit thread that explains how the poster for Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie ripped off Marty Supreme (and how this all related to the Balls Out poster):

https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/comments/1qk7av1/marketing_for_nirvanna_the_band_the_show_the/

Feedback:

-Email us at matt@filmspottingSVU.com⁠⁠

Follow:

https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/

https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu

https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/

https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/

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

Matt and Jordan return with a review of Balls Up, debating if the Peter Farrelly formula still works on the small screen and whether they can actually recommend a movie involving cocaine-addicted crocodiles. Later, Matt revisits Empire Records, Jordan goes back to 1935 with The 39 Steps, and the team plays the first-ever round of "Key Chain."
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:58)
Balls Up (00:02:59-00:34:13)
Rec Seg + Radical Streaming Honesty (00:34:14-01:11:40)
<p data-encore-id="text" data-slate-node="element" data-slate-fragment="JTVCJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMnBhcmFncmFwaCUyMiUyQyUyMmNoaWxkcmVuJTIyJTNBJTVCJTdCJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMlJhZGljYWwlMjBTdHJlYW1pbmclMjBIb25lc3R5JTIwKDAwJTNBNDQlM0EwMy0wMSUzQTE0JTNBMDEpJTIyJTdEJTVEJTdEJTJDJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMnBhcmFncmFwaCUyMiUyQyUyMmNoaWxkcmVuJTIyJTNBJTVCJTdCJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMkdhbWUlM0ElMjBMZXR0ZXJib3hkaW5nJTIwKDAxJTNBMTQlM0EwMi0wMSUzQTI4JTNBNTYpJTIyJTdEJTVEJTdEJTVE">Game: Key Chain (01:11:41-01:29:18)
New to Streaming / Credits (01:29:19-01:37:28)
Notes:
Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive
<a href="https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/">https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/</a>
Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October
<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/">https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/</a>
The Reddit thread that explains how the poster for Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie ripped off Marty Supreme (and how this all related to the Balls Out poster):
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/comments/1qk7av1/marketing_for_nirvanna_the_band_the_show_the/">https://www.reddit.com/r/blankies/comments/1qk7av1/marketing_for_nirvanna_the_band_the_show_the/</a>
Feedback:
-Email us at matt@filmspottingSVU.com⁠⁠
Follow:
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<a href="https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/">https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/</a>
<a href="https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/">https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/</a>
<a href="https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">https://bsky.app/profile/mattsinger.bsky.social</a>

"Chekhov’s Vampire Fish," Stream-of-Consciousness Satire, and Hitchcockian Throwbacks

Balls Up: The High Stakes of Low-Brow Comedy | SVU

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f33542f9-6875-4773-8538-b43300304d65/transcript

Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers

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