Adam and Josh discuss Charlie Chaplin’s 1940 satire The Great Dictator, the first film in Filmspotting’s Dissident Cinema Marathon. They explore how comedy becomes a weapon against authoritarian power, the film’s surprising prescience and moral clarity, and the risks Chaplin took by calling out authoritarian power before much of the world was willing to do so.

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Adam and Josh discuss Charlie Chaplin&rsquo;s 1940 satire The Great Dictator, the first film in Filmspotting&rsquo;s Dissident Cinema Marathon. They explore how comedy becomes a weapon against authoritarian power, the film&rsquo;s surprising prescience and moral clarity, and the risks Chaplin took by calling out authoritarian power before much of the world was willing to do so.
Links:
-Filmspotting Fest
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest">https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest</a>
Feedback:
-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠
-⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://forms.gle/T7aEzSXEovNDCArV9">Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> and we might answer your question in bonus content.
Support:
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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

The Great Dictator: Chaplin’s Act of Artistic Nobility

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f05956f5-6b69-4261-a773-b43f00f67241/transcript

Adam and Josh draft their way through the summer movie slate, weighing everything from major studio events like The Odyssey and Disclosure Day to director-driven wild cards such as Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Power Ballad. Also, the Filmspotting '40s Madness champion and plans for Madness '27 (and beyond).

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 (00:00:00-00:03:39)

Summer Preview – Pt. 1 (00:03:40-00:21:11)

Filmspotting Family (00:21:12-00:26:56)

Summer Preview – Pt. 2 (00:26:57-00:52:43)

Poll / Notes (00:52:44-01:01:47)

'40s Madness: Champion (01:01:48-01:24:58)

Credits / New Releases (01:24:59-01:30:29)

Links:

-Chicago Critics Film Festival

https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/

-Summer Movie Draft Results

https://www.filmspotting.net/lists

-Filmspotting Fest

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

-Filmspotting Madness

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

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

-Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more.
https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠

Follow:

-Watch Filmspotting on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/filmspotting

-Adam/Filmspotting:

Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky

-Josh/LarsenOnFilm:

Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky

Adam and Josh draft their way through the summer movie slate, weighing everything from major studio events like The Odyssey and Disclosure Day to director-driven wild cards such as Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Power Ballad. Also, the Filmspotting '40s Madness champion and plans for Madness '27 (and beyond).
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 (00:00:00-00:03:39)
Summer Preview &ndash; Pt. 1 (00:03:40-00:21:11)
Filmspotting Family (00:21:12-00:26:56)
Summer Preview &ndash; Pt. 2 (00:26:57-00:52:43)
Poll / Notes (00:52:44-01:01:47)
'40s Madness: Champion (01:01:48-01:24:58)
Credits / New Releases (01:24:59-01:30:29)
Links:
-Chicago Critics Film Festival
<a href="https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/">https://www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com/</a>
-Summer Movie Draft Results
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/lists">https://www.filmspotting.net/lists</a>
-Filmspotting Fest
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest">https://www.filmspotting.net/filmspotting-fest</a>
-Filmspotting Madness
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/">https://www.filmspotting.net/madness/</a>
Feedback:
-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠
-⁠⁠⁠⁠<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>
-Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more. <a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/shop%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠</a>
Follow:
-Watch Filmspotting on YouTube:
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-Adam/Filmspotting:
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-Josh/LarsenOnFilm:
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Summer Movie Preview 2026 and ’40s Madness Champion | #1062

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/85d2147b-2dbe-4558-ac42-b43c01255fbb/transcript

Adam and Josh discuss Mother Mary, the new film from David Lowery starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel. Part ghost story, part concert film, part chamber drama, the film traces the fraught creative and emotional bond between a pop star and her longtime collaborator as questions of art and control blur together.

The conversation explores the film’s woozy dream-logic filmmaking and the moments where its ideas feel most arresting — and most difficult to reconcile.

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 discuss Mother Mary, the new film from David Lowery starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel. Part ghost story, part concert film, part chamber drama, the film traces the fraught creative and emotional bond between a pop star and her longtime collaborator as questions of art and control blur together.
The conversation explores the film&rsquo;s woozy dream-logic filmmaking and the moments where its ideas feel most arresting &mdash; and most difficult to reconcile.
Feedback:
-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠
-⁠⁠⁠⁠<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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⁠⁠<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social⁠⁠</a>

Actually, this is a ghost story. And a love story, too.

Mother Mary: More Than Religio-Goth Gestures? 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/351d10c4-ce0a-44e3-8286-b43c0045719f/transcript

The transition from spring to summer has long meant more than just a change in the weather; it marks the arrival of the definitive movie‑going season. In May 2022, Adam and Josh looked back at the most significant stretches of cinematic history for their Top 5 Movie Summers, ranked by the strength of their legendary slates, their cultural impact, and that unmistakable feeling of a sweltering July afternoon at the multiplex.

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

The transition from spring to summer has long meant more than just a change in the weather; it marks the arrival of the definitive movie‑going season. In May 2022, Adam and Josh looked back at the most significant stretches of cinematic history for their Top 5 Movie Summers, ranked by the strength of their legendary slates, their cultural impact, and that unmistakable feeling of a sweltering July afternoon at the multiplex.
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>.

From the birth of the blockbuster to the golden age of the sequel.

Top 5 Movie Summers | Archive

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f92ee998-fdc7-47cd-81eb-b43a0182b185/transcript

The Great Dictator: Chaplin’s Act of Artistic Nobility

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