Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don’t already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you’ll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you’re already a Vanguardista, we salute you.

In this week’s Take we’re travelling back into the past and looking to the future with VR. Yes, we made Simon put on a VR headset thingy—and yes, we did laugh at him whilst he wandered blindly around the room thinking he was in 19th century Germany. That’s because he was experiencing ‘Trailblazer’, a VR experience telling the forgotten story of Bertha Benz, the woman behind the wheel of the world’s first automobile in the first road trip ever taken. Simon chats to the voice of Trailblazer, Star-Wars star Daisy Ridely and creator Eloise Singer. They talk about history’s forgotten women, Daisy’s forgotten BAFTA (surprise!), and whether we’ll all be swapping cinema tickets for VR goggles in the future...

Plus reviews this week of ‘Twiggy’, Sadie Frost’s doc about the titular teenage model sensation and 60s icon; ‘One Of Them Days’—a comedy caper starring Keke Palmer and SZA as two broke best friends trying to raise a month’s rent after losing it to a deadbeat boyfriend—and Bong Joon Ho’s big follow-up to ‘Parasite’, ‘Mickey 17’. Starring Robert Pattinson as an ‘expendable’ worker in a barren ice colony, Director Bong’s latest sci-fi flick sees protagonist Mickey ‘reprinted’ over and over again each time he dies—until a duplicate begins to cause trouble. Find out if Mark thinks you should be heading to the cinema on the double!

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Twiggy Review: 10:24

Daisy Ridley & Eloise Singer Interview: 25:19

One of Them Days Review: 43:28

Laughter Lift: 47:31

Mickey 17 Review: 52:37

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Begbie himself, and surely a frontrunner for British cinema’s scariest man (on screen only, we might add), is our guest this week—it’s Robert Carlyle. This time he’s playing staunchly moral councilor Sam Hagen in new Netflix drama ‘Toxic Town’. Penned by Jack Thorne (of course), and with a cracking cast of Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, Rory Kinnear and more alongside Carlyle, it tells the true story of the Corby poisonings. Following the closure of the town’s steelworks, mismanagement of toxic waste begins to affect the health of local mothers and their babies—who are dismissed by the council and must fight for justice. Robert unpacks his character, and gives us the screen zinger of the year that had us reaching for the birdsong button...

Mark reviews ‘Toxic Town’, as well as Indian feelgood flick ‘Superboys of Malegaon’. The Hindi language film follows a gang of amateur filmmakers whose shoestring budget spoofs of their favourite Bollywood hits become a cult phenomenon. Plus, Gia Coppola’s ‘The Last Showgirl’--the story of a Las Vegas dancer’s fading glamour, starring Pamela Anderson in a critically acclaimed comeback performance.

All the usual box office madness and top takes from our emergency mailers too. Don’t miss it!

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Superboys of Malegaon Review: 09:24

Toxic Town Review: 44:10

Robert Carlyle Interview: 30:19

Laughter Lift: 49:30

The Last Showgirl Review: 55:53

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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We’ve got a bona fide icon for you in today’s Now & Ben—a movie star of four decades known for tackling tough female characters in films like ‘Boyz n the Hood’, ‘Malcolm X’, ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It?’ and ‘Black Panther’. She is the one and only Angela Bassett.

This time, she plays US president Evelyn Mitchell in ‘Zero Day’, the new Netflix thriller series in which America is struck by a cyber attack. Managing the crisis, Bassett’s president re-enlists beloved ex-President Geroge Mullen (Robert De Niro) to help still the public panic and discover the mysterious perpetrators.

Angela talks to Ben about the role and her longstanding talent for playing powerful women onscreen—including Michelle Obama in ‘The Simpsons’, of course. She tells Ben about the real women who have inspired her, plus we get the lowdown on working with De Niro—and fans of Kathryn Bigelow’s undersung millennium tech thriller ‘Strange Days’, listen up: we’ve got a treat for you...

Listen out for more of Ben’s conversations with cinema’s most exciting creative talents dropping into the feed every ‘Now and Ben’.

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Welcome to another show jam-packed with top takes from Simon & Mark—which are still eliciting your ‘quiet affirmative noises’...

Reviews this week of The Monkey—a splattery and slanted dark comedy horror about a murderous wind-up toy from Longlegs director Osgood Perkins, and I’m Still Here—the Brazilian drama about ‘the disappeared’ under the military dictatorship in the 1970s that has taken the Oscar nominations by storm. Plus September Says, an unsettling drama of sisterly bonds, and a little bit of Captain America: Brave New World, since we were foiled by the screening schedule last week.

This week’s guest is 90s New Black Realist cinema’s MVP—that’s Mario Van Peebles. Possibly our smoothest, coolest guest evs, he directed 90s classics New Jack City, Panther, Posse—and now Outlaw Posse. With it, he’s pushing the frontier in more ways than one, bringing us a classic western without the whitewashing as he follows a gang of black cowboys who have rejected the unjust laws of their time to become outlaws. He talks to Simon about Black Westerns, ‘Black Rodeo’—the BFI season celebrating the genre that launched earlier this month—and being part of an indie filmmaking dynasty with his father Melvin and son Mandela.

Your verdicts from our inbox on all the big releases too—keep them coming!

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

September Says Review: 08:46

Captain America: Brave New World Review: 19:24

Mario Van Peebles Interview: 27:02

I’m Still Here Review: 46:11

Laughter lift: 52:53

The Monkey Review: 55:22

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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We hope this week’s podcast will earn your ‘quiet affirmative noises’--whatever they might sound like...??? Listeners to last week’s show may remember one correspondent’s story of a film eliciting this mysterious and elusive sound—and you’ve kindly sent in some examples to clear up this crucial matter for us. Mmhmm.

Grown-up Aussie animation ‘Memoir of a Snail’ is first on Mark’s review slate this week--starring Sarah Snook and with a voice cast including Nick Cave and Jacki Weaver, the crafted stop-motion story follows the melancholic life of a reclusive, snail collecting misfit in 1970s Canberra. On a lighter note, to solve all your lovers’ tiffs about what genre to go for this Valentine’s Day movie night, a review of the romcom-slasher hybrid ‘Heart Eyes’. And last but certainly not least—’Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy’, fourth instalment of the British romcom institution starring Renée Zellweger in which Bridget gets back to dating for the first time after the death of Mark (Colin Firth).

Our guests this week are Stephen Graham and Malchi Kirby—who star in the Steven Knight-penned Victorian boxing drama ‘A Thousand Blows’, out next week. In it, a bulked-up Graham plays Henry ‘Sugar’ Goodson—the fearsome East End boxer and adversary of Kirby’s Hezekiah Moscow. Hezekiah arrives in 1800s London from Jamaica, hoping to fulfil his dream of becoming a lion tamer at the zoo—but finds himself at the heart of the city’s criminal underworld, orchestrated by Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), ‘Queen’ of the all-female crime gang The Forty Elephants. Simon chats to the stars about getting into the ring together in this gritty drama based on real historical figures, getting ripped, Jamaican heritage and more.

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Memoir of a Snail Review: 09:54

Stephen Graham & Malachi Kirby Interview: 26:19

Heart Eyes Review: 41:37

Laughter lift: 47:37

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy Review: 52:44

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Awards season spinning your head? The Good Doctors have got you covered...

Welcome to our awards special, where we’ll be giving you the lowdown on all the big players in this years awards nominations, all in one super-Take from Simon & Mark.

We’ve brought together reviews of the titles everyone’s talking about—like Emilia Pérez, The Brutalist, Nosferatu and more—and interviews with the filmmaking & acting talents behind them. Sean Baker, James Mangold, Robert Eggers, RaMell Ross, Ralph Fiennes & Stanley Tucci... we’ve got a list of names longer than a yawn-inducing acceptance speech.

From the bottom of our hearts, thanks to our agent, our mums, God, and you loyal Wittertainees. Now go forth and impress your pals at the Oscars watch-party.

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Dogman heads up Mark’s review slate this week--an anarchic animation based on Captain Underpants creator Dav Pilkey’s graphic novel series, where a lifesaving operation sees a police dog and his cop handler become one crime-busting half-canine hero. Plus, The Seed of the Sacred Fig—a courageous political drama about Iran’s authoritarian government from exiled Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof. And last but not least, September 5--the tense newsroom drama starring Peter Sarsgaard, who is our guest this week...

Peter sits down with Simon to discuss the Oscar-nominated drama, based on the true events of the 1972 Munich massacre, the first act of terrorism to be broadcast live on television. During the Munich Olympics of that year, the Palestinian militant group Black September infiltrated the athletes village, killing two Israeli athletes and taking nine more hostage. Taking place entirely within the newsroom, the film follows the efforts of the ABC sports broadcasting team, led by producer Roone Arledge (Sarsgaard), to cover the story as it unfolds in real time—and navigate the many practical and moral issues this entails. Sarsgaard tells Simon all about the unique production—plus working with his wife Maggie Gyllenhaal on The Bride!, and why he’s given up correcting people when they think he’s a Skarsgård.

It’s a great week for cinema—get the Good Doctors’ takes here, and don’t forget to send them yours!

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Dog Man Review: 04:38

Peter Sarsgaard Interview: 25:44

September 5 Review: 42:01

Laughter lift: 53:11

Seed of the Sacred Fig Review: 54:34

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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In today’s Now & Ben drop, Ben sits down with Chris Sanders—director of the Oscar-nominated animation ‘The Wild Robot’. With a stellar career behind the drawing board that’s taken him from Disney to DreamWorks, he’s the man behind ‘How To Train Your Dragon’, ‘The Croods’ and ‘Lilo and Stich’—so Ben had plenty to quiz him on.

‘The Wild Robot’ takes us on an unexpected adventure through nature with Roz, a human assistance robot who finds herself shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. Uninhabited, that is, by humans—but she soon discovers a host of animal companions, including an orphaned gosling who needs her help. Becoming the adopted mother of this strange creature is a challenge that her programming hasn’t prepared her for.

Ben & Chris chat about the film’s beautiful blend of hand-drawn and CG animation, why movie robots can teach us so much about being human, and what it’s like to be beloved to a generation of Disney kids as the voice of Stitch.

Listen out for more of Ben’s conversations with cinema’s most exciting creative talents dropping into the feed every ‘Now and Ben’…

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Brady Corbet, the now-Oscar-nominated director of ‘The Brutalist’, sits down with Simon for an interview this week. His much lauded and lengthy fictional biopic follows the life of László Tóth, a Hungarian architect who arrives in late-1940s America having survived the Holocaust, and finds his life changed once again when he picks up a commission from a wealthy industrialist. Brady chats to Simon about all those awards nominations, the empathy generating machine that is Adrien Brody, and the future of AI in the movie business.

Reviews this week of ‘Companion’, a smart sci-fi horror about a holiday weekend gone awry for a couple who seem a little uncanny—and ‘Saturday Night’, Jason Reitman’s 70s-set tale of the origins of America’s now legendary Saturday Night Live comedy show. Plus ‘Hard Truths’, Mike Leigh’s family drama following Marianne Jean-Baptiste's scathing Pansy, an emotionally volatile woman grieving her mother and navigating wounded relationships with her sister, husband and son.

Check out last week’s show to hear Simon’s interview with Marianne and Mike, who some of you may have noticed was feeling a tad grumpy at the beginning of the interview...

Top takes from you too on what’s been on your screens this week, and of course, Mark’s Prime Ministerial quiff.

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Hard Truths Review: 09:40

Brady Corbet Interview: 26:27

Saturday Night Review: 45:52

Laughter lift: 51:53

Companion Review: 54:29

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Coming hot off the podcast press, we’ve got Mark’s review of ‘Flight Risk’ - under embargo until now.

The Mel Gibson directed thriller sees a US Marshal escort a government witness via plane across the Alaskan wilderness to testify against a mob boss in Manhattan. Mark Wahlberg’s pilot is in charge of their safe passage, but things get turbulent when it turns out not everyone is who they seem to be.

Don’t miss Mark’s verdict in this embargo special...

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‘The Brutalist’ is the epic structure on the horizon of this week’s movie releases; Mark reviews this fictional biopic of Hungarian architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Holocaust survivor who arrives in America as an immigrant in 1947. Bauhaus trained and revered in his home country, László finds himself anonymous in a sometimes hostile USA—but gets a commission from a wealthy industrialist (Guy Pearce) that looks like the break he needs.

Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’ hits cinemas too this week—a ghost story in a troubled family home, shot from the perspective of the ghost. Plus don’t miss our ‘Flight Risk’ Embargo Special, coming up this 

evening after 11pm, when the review embargo on the film lifts.

Our guests this week are one of Britain’s best-known filmmakers, and one of its most revered dramatic actors: Mike Leigh and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Their new film ‘Hard Truths’ hits UK cinemas next week. It follows the day-to-day life of Jean-Baptiste's Pansy, an explosively angry and depressed woman grieving her mother, whose barbed judgements of strangers and family alike can be searingly funny. Pansy seems to long for connection in her ailing relationships with her husband, son and sister, but is prone to pushing others away and further isolating herself. Simon sits down with the creative duo to talk about building this complex character, Leigh’s unusual working methods, and more.

We’ll also take a moment this week to remember David Lynch, who we lost on 15th January, aged 78. One of the true greats of cinema, his singular surreal vision has inspired millions across his five-decade career. From Eraserhead and Blue Velvet to Twin Peaks, we hear from you about what his groundbreaking work meant.

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Presence Review: 10:44

Mike Leigh & Marianne Jean Baptiste Interview: 28:57

Laughter lift: 41:51

The Brutalist Review: 42:32

Remembering David Lynch: 55:21

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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The big movie release this week is ‘A Complete Unknown’, but our guest is actually pretty famous... James Mangold, director of the much-anticipated Bob Dylan biopic and Hollywood hits from ‘Walk The Line’ to ‘Le Mans 66’, joins Simon for a chat. They talk about putting Dylan’s iconic and mysterious life onscreen, Timothée Chalamet’s awards-tipped performance as the young songwriting legend—and accidentally creating the Jonny Cash cinematic universe.

Picking up a teenage Dylan—then still Bobby Zimmermann—as he hitchhikes to New York, the film follows his discovery as a once-in-a-generation musical talent and a defining voice of the 60s. Through rough relationships with fellow musicians like Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro)—and himself—we watch Dylan’s rise to fame, culminating in his hellraising ‘electric’ performance at the 1965 Newport folk festival.

Is Mark shouting ‘Judas!’ or rocking along? Hear his review of the film, along with ‘Wolf Man’— the latest screen outing for the classic horror monster with a modern twist by ‘Invisible Man’ director Leigh Whannell. We’ve got Mark’s verdict on Robert Zemeckis’ new drama too, which reunites ‘Forrest Gump’ stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in the story of one piece of land throughout time. It’s called ‘Here’, but it might make you wish you weren’t...

More excellent listener takes too on what you’ve been watching this week. We love hearing from you, so if you’re thinking of writing in, Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright...

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Here Review: 04:29

James Mangold Interview: 29:06

A Complete Unknown Review: 43:50

Laughter lift: 57:48

Wolf Man Review: 59:05

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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In this latest bonus nugget of ‘Now and Ben’ goodness, our sometime super sub Ben Bailey Smith chats to legendary film & TV writer Stephen Knight. He’s penned some of the most exciting scripts to hit our screens over the last three decades, from ‘Dirty Pretty Things’ and ‘Locke’ to ‘SAS Rogue Heroes’ and, of course, ‘Peaky Blinders’.

Most recently he’s written ‘Maria’—a biopic of opera singer Maria Callas in her last days as she tries to rediscover her voice in time for her swan song. Following 2021’s ‘Spencer’, it’s Knight’s second collaboration with director Pablo Larraín.

Ben sits down with Steven for an in-depth chat about the exceptional career that’s seen him become one of Britain’s most prolific and best-known TV & film writers. They talk humble beginnings in British TV comedy with Jasper Carrott, and his journey from the backstreets of Birmingham and the small screen to the bright lights of Hollywood. Ben even gets a cheeky bit of gossip about the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie…

Listen out for more of Ben’s conversations with cinema’s most exciting creative talents dropping into the feed every ‘Now and Ben’…

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Our guests this week were ‘A Real Pain’...just joking, Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin were actually really nice...

They sit down with Simon to discuss the comedy-drama, directed, written, produced by and starring Eisenberg alongside Culkin. They play two mismatched cousins David and Benji on a tour of Poland, the ancestral home of their late-grandmother, where they hope to reconnect with their Jewish roots—and each other. With Benji lacking in a social filer (as, delightfully, is Kieran Culkin is in real life—just ask Simon!) their trip isn’t as straightforward as the uptight David planned.

Hear what Mark thought of the film, plus reviews of ‘Maria’—Pablo Larraín’s biopic of legendary opera singer Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie), reflecting on her public and private life in its last days in 1970s Paris—and ‘Babygirl’, the psychosexual thriller starring Nicole Kidman as a high-powered but privately dissatisfied CEO embroiled in an affair with Harris Dickinson’s much younger intern at her firm.

Not forgetting your takes on ‘Nosferatu’, ‘We Live In Time’ and more from our bursting postbag of correspondence. Keep it coming!

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Maria Review: 05:39

Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg: 27:31

A Real Pain Review: 44:07

Laughter lift: 50:00

Babygirl Review: 54:17

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Happy New Year from Mark, Simon, The Redactor and the rest of us on the Take Team!

We’re kicking off 2025 with a top-drawer guest—’Nosferatu’ director Robert Eggers. He tells Simon about his new remake of the1922 silent classic, originally by German expressionist director F.W. Murnau, in which Bill Skarsgård’s vampire nobleman terrorises a town in pursuit of Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen, the object of his desires. They chat about his longtime fascination with the story, creating a monster for a modern vampire movie, and a sprinkling of the occult...

Will Nosferatu meet Mark’s high standards for horror? Find out if he thinks it has bite—or whether it’s just a little bloodless? More reviews too of ‘‘We Live in Time’, the time slip rom-com starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh that crashes its lovers into each other’s lives (literally)—and ‘Nickel Boys’, a formally innovative new drama charting the friendship of two young inmates at a sinister reform school in Jim Crow era Florida. Listen back to last week’s episode to hear Simon’s interview with its director, RaMell Ross.

Plus another chance to hear the best of our guests from the year behind us, and the best of Mark’s reviews from the drooling raves to the Kermodean rants for the ages. Looking at you ‘Megalopolis’....

Review: Nickel Boys – 03:03

Review: We Live In Time – 49:39

Best of the guests: 09:51

Best of the reviews: 54:14

Interview: Robert Eggers – 23:19

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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It’s Boxing Day, but we’ve got more than just leftovers in today’s show—we're just as stuffed full of gourmet goodies as we hope you are right now...

A fresh new guest interview this week with RaMell Ross, director of the awards-tipped ‘Nickel Boys’. Based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, it follows the growing friendship between two boys in racially segregated 1960s Florida, Ellwood and Turner, who find themselves unwillingly enrolled in an abusive reform school. Simon sits down with RaMell to talk about his innovative filmmaking approach—and we think you’ll be hearing plenty more from him in the future...

Reviews of ‘Better Man’, the Robbie Wiliams biopic from ‘Greatest Showman’ director Michael Gracey that chronicles the pop superstar’s infamous monkeying around by making him an actual chimp; ‘The Order’, the 80s-set thriller starring Jude Law as a neo-Nazi-hunting FBI agent; and ‘How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’, the Thai comedy-drama in which broke university dropout M cozies up to his ailing grandmother in the hope of inheriting her massive fortune.

Plus Mark’s top 5 films of the year—and bottom 5 cinematic stinkers too. 

Merry Christmas one and all—wishing you much festive film-watching...

Review: How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies – 08:20

Interview: RaMell Ross – 17:15

Review: The Order – 33:09

Review: Better Man – 40:06

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Wassail Wassail Wassail! Christmas is almost upon us, and we’ve got a gift of a guest for you this week: Barry Jenkins, AKA Mr. Moonlight. He chats to Simon about ‘Mufasa’, the origin story for Simba’s father and the long-awaited prequel to 2016’s live action animation Lion King. When a flood washes the cub-Mufasa away from his homeland and parents, he finds himself an outsider in an altogether new territory—where he stumbles across young lion Taka and begins a life-changing new journey to becoming the King of the Pride Lands we all know and love. Simon asks the Oscar winning indie director how he ended up helming this huge Disney musical, and what he’s learned from the four-year journey to its release.

We’ll hear Mark’s take on ‘Mufasa’ too, along with reviews of two more animation releases this week. We’ve got ‘Sonic 3’, where the speedy blue hedgehog and friends face new adversary Shadow—and Aardman’s Christmas gift to us all, the new Wallace & Gromit adventure ‘Vengeance Most Fowl’. The nation’s favourite plasticine pair are up against their old glove-headed adversary Feathers McGraw in this noirish stop-motion treat. You can hear Mark and Simon in conversation with co-directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham in last week’s episode, recorded live at our Christmas Spectacular.

Plus one more review of ‘Alien Onstage’—a gloriously oddball documentary about a group of Dorset bus drivers creating a theatrical version of the 1979 sci-fi film classic. We absolutely promise this is the wholesome if slightly madcap holiday viewing you didn’t know you needed—but you really, really do.

Top correspondence from you all as usual—including this year’s bespoke Christmas wassail number – don’t miss it!

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Review: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – 08:13

Review:  Alien on Stage – 58:09

Review: Sonic The Hedgehog 3 – 52:59

Interview: Barry Jenkins – 26:10

And normally this is just for the Vanguardistas, but as we’re feeling festive – here are 50 Christmas TV films of the holidays for everyone:

WATCHLIST: FREE FESTIVE FIFTY

1. Easter Parade – December 23, 9.25am BBC TWO

2. Meet Me in St Louis – December 23, 11.05am BBC TWO

3. Coco – December 23, 3.15pm BBC ONE

4. Ghostbusters (1984) – December 23, 4.50pm BBC ONE

5. Chicken Run – December 24, 10am BBC ONE

6. Close Encounters of the Third Kind – December 24, 11.25am CHANNEL 4

7. A Christmas Carol (1984) – December 24, 2.10pm CHANNEL 4

8. White Christmas – December 24, 2.15pm BBC TWO

9. Moana – December 24, 2.20pm BBC ONE

10. It's a Wonderful Life – December 24, 2.30pm ITV

11. The Snowman - Christmas Eve – 3pm CHANNEL 4

12. Shrek – December 24, 3.55pm BBC ONE

13. Home Alone – December 24, 6.05pm CHANNEL 4

14. Beetlejuice – December 24, 10.45pm BBC TWO

15. The Rocky Horror Picture Show – December 25, 00.15am BBC TWO

16. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – December 25, 6.10pm BBC ONE

17. Toy Story 3 – December 25, 11.20am BBC ONE

18. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – December 25, 3.10pm ITV

19. North by Northwest – December 25, 5.05pm BBC TWO

20. On Her Majesty's Secret Service – December 26, 9.25am ITV

For the remaining films on the list, go to 33:10 in Take 2 and listen for Mark's pick and reaction as well!

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Presenting a new feature on the Take Channel. 

ANORA has been one of the most talked-about films of 2024 so we sent supersub BEN BAILEY SMITH to speak to director Sean Baker. 

In this interview you can hear Ben talk to Sean about how he judges his own work, his love of Chihuahuas, that home invasion scene, little Orphan Annie, and of course Ben asked him about the Take That needledrop.

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Our Christmas Spectacular, recorded live at London’s Prince Edward Theatre is now available in your ears! On our festive guestlist this week we have Wallce & Gromit creator Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, who co-direct the famous plasticine pair’s latest adventure Vengeance Most Fowl. They talk us through what happened when Aardman went noir for this festive film treat, share stop motion secrets, and tell us why it was the right time to bring back dastardly glove-headed supervillain Feathers McGraw. Check out our socials for photos of the real A-Listers on the bill though—actual Wallace and actual Gromit, who also joined us onstage. They were a little shy on the mic... but you can watch them in Vengeance Most Fowl on BBC 1 and iPlayer on Christmas Day at 6:10pm, and on Netflix outside of the UK from 3rd January.

Plus a flying visit from someone we’re always happy to being saying hello to—Jason Isaacs himself!

If you were one of our fabulous, talented and exceptionally good-looking live audience members then we’ve got some backstage extras in this episode for you too. London cinema tour guide extraordinaire Nigel Smith gives Simon and Mark the lowdown on our venue the Prince Edward’s history as a Cinerama. Plus a bonus backstage review of ‘The Bibi Files’—Alexis Bloom’s documentary expose on Benajamin Netanyahu and the corruptions scandals surrounding his government.

Hear Mark’s take on ‘Queer’—Luca Guadagnino’s much-anticipated adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel, starring Daniel Craig as the autobiographical lead William Lee. And—from one former Bond to another—he also reviews ‘From Roger Moore With Love’, a charming celebration of the eyebrow-arching national treasure. You listeners bust out your film-buff smarts too, as two of our live audience take to the stage for a game of ‘(Simon and) Markstermind’...

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Bibi Files Review: 08:32

Queer Review: 24:04

From Roger Moore with Love Review: 39:26

Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham Interview: 48:16

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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The ‘Rumours’ are true... screen superstar Cate Blanchett and director Guy Maddin are joining Simon this week to give us the gossip on their surreal new satire—once they’ve finished fangirling over the music of Sparks, that is. Following decades of avant garde work that’s made him one of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers, ‘Rumours’ is the biggest movie to date from the Winnipeg weirdo—its star-studded cast featuring Charles Dance and Alicia Vikander alongside Blanchett. Set at a G7 summit called to address an ‘unnamed-crisis’, it follows the hapless world leaders as they are beleaguered by bronze-age bog bodies come to life in some sort of apocalypse situation. There’s also a giant brain. It’s as odd as it sounds.

Mark reviews this bizarre object of a film, along with ‘Merchant Ivory’, a documentary deep dive on the filmmakers responsible for all those most quintessentially British of period dramas from ‘Room With A View’ to ‘The Remains of the Day’—and ‘Nightbitch’, Marielle Heller’s dark comedy where Amy Adams plays a new mother at her wits end who transforms into a dog.

The Christmas Spectacular is almost upon us! Mark and Simon will be live onstage at London’s Prince Edward theatre this Sunday 8th December. We’re all sold out now, and you can find the event info here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Merchant Ivory Review: 06:09

Cate Blanchett and Guy Maddin Interview: 25:53

Rumours Review: 40:18

Nightbitch Review: 56:11

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Two divine guests this week as Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci join Simon to discuss ‘Conclave’, the papal political thriller from ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ director Edward Berger. Set in the Vatican’s pontific conclave, where cardinals are sequestered during the selection of the new Pope, the film follows the taut power struggle as these men of the cloth vie for the Catholic Church’s top job. The pair talk faith and doubt, Isabella Rossellini, and whether those robes can possibly be comfortable??? We find out whether Mark thought the film was a spiritual experience, or should be atoning for cinema sins...

As well as Conclave we’ve got reviews this week of ‘Moana 2’, sequel to the 2016 Disney smash where this time the Polynesian not-a-princess must journey to the lost land of Motufetū to lift a curse from her island community—and ‘Your Monster’, the comedy-horror-musical mash-up that sees dumped and depressed actress Laura unexpectedly reunited with the childhood monster from under her bed.

Plus your stellar correspondence adds more names to the overly-polite Brits abroad league table, and we’ve got more on Galdiator II space monkeys too.

Our Christmas Spectacular with Mark and Simon live onstage at London’s Prince Edward theatre is now sold out! Event info here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for our ad-free Vanguardistas):

Moana 2 Review: 06:35

Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci Interview: 24:08

Conclave Review: 41:16

Your Monster Review: 53:36

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Thomasin McKenzie is this week’s guest—star of Edgar Wright’s ‘Last Night in Soho’, Mark’s film of the year 2018 ‘Leave No Trace’—and now ‘Joy’, a new Netflix drama about the development of IVF treatment at Oldham hospital in the 1970s. Written by Jack Thorne, the film’s medical miracle story is focalised through McKenzie’s character Jean Purdy—a talented embryologist whose work was key to the team’s breakthrough discovery, but whose name was left out of the history books. She chats to Simon about putting Jean back in the picture in this latest in a line of meaty and challenging roles for the young actor.

Reviews this week of ‘Blink’, a poignant documentary following a family determined to travel the world and create precious visual memories for their three children, who are losing their sight—and Amrou Al-Kadhi's debut drag queen drama ‘Layla’, which follows the story of the titular performer (Bilal Hasna) as they discover their confidence and creativity whilst navigating their queer Arab identity. Plus the much-anticipated stage-to-screen musical ‘Wicked’. The Wizard of Oz prequel stars Cynthia Erivo as green-skinned misfit Elphaba, and Ariana Grande as glam girl Galinda, both still witches-to-be as they forge an unlikely and rocky friendship at university. We find out if Mark thinks it’s going to be ‘Pop-u-lar'...

Plus top quality correspondence from you and typical witterings from the Good Doctors as per.

Our Christmas Spectacular with Mark and Simon live onstage at London’s Prince Edward theatre is now sold out! Event info here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for our ad-free Vanguardistas):

Blink Review: 09:30

Thomasin McKenzie Interview: 30:18

Layla Review: ~47:49

Wicked Review: ~57:00

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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‘Gladiator II’ director and legendary one-man blockbuster factory Ridley Scott is our guest this week. He joins Simon to discuss the long-awaited sequel to 2000’s modern classic, in which this time Paul Mescal plays Lucius, the long-exiled son of Russell Crowe’s Maximus. He finds himself back in Rome as a prisoner from his now-conquered adopted homeland, and must outfight and outwit his opponents and captors whilst guarding the secret of his ancestry. Simon talks to Ridley about swords, sandals, CGI and how he knew Paul Mescal would make a great Roman.

We find out what Mark makes of the high-octane epic– do its mega action sequences jump the (Coliseum-swimming) shark? Plus we’ve got two more reviews of ‘The Last Dance’, a punchy drama set amidst the Hong Kong funeral business from director Anselm Chan—and ‘Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point’, a kooky indie holiday comedy with an ensemble cast including Matilda Fleming, Michael Cera and Francesca Scorsese. Spoiler alert – if a catastrophic weather event happened at Miller’s Point, Mark wouldn’t mourn its disappearance.

More top takes from the Good Doctors. To our LTLs and newbies alike: strength and honour!

Catch Mark and Simon live at our Christmas Spectacular – final tickets available here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

The Last Dance Review: 09:48

Sir Ridley Scott Interview: 28:23

Gladiator II Review: 44:19

Christmas Eve In Miller’s Point Review: 58:00

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Simon goes on a leafy adventure with Hugh Bonneville to talk ‘Paddington In Peru’, the latest addition to the most kind and polite of all cinematic universes—and for those of us who need cheering up this week, their conversation is just the tonic. The film sees Britain’s favourite bear journey back to his native land with the Brown family on a quest to visit Aunt Lucy. Pass the marmalade sandwiches.

Plus, Mark reviews ‘Blitz’, Steve McQueen’s wartime drama starring Saoirse Ronan as a mother attempting to navigate a bombarded London with her young son; Andrea Arnold’s free-spirited social realist drama ‘Bird’ starring Barry Keoghan; and, as we enter the Christmas Corridor, ‘Red One’ in which the North Pole’s head of Security (played by Dwayne Johnson) teams up with an infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) to save a kidnapped Santa Claus.

Another week of top takes from Mark & Simon!

A few extra tickets for our Live Christmas Spectacular have dropped – snap them up here before they go: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas, who also listen ad-free):

Bird review: 08:25

Blitz Review: 13:53

Hugh Bonneville Interview: 28:59

Paddington In Peru Review: 45:35

Red One Review: 56:32

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, Simon is joined by the one and only Billy Crystal to talk all about his starring role in the Apple TV+ psychological thriller series ‘Before’, which sees a child psychiatrist who, having tragically lost his wife to suicide, encounters a troubled young boy who seems to have a haunting connection to his past.

Their conversation is intelligent, insightful and so long that we had to put some of it in Take 2. Truly, one for the K&M ages!

Meanwhile, Mark reviews ‘Small Things Like These’, a period drama that sees Cillian Murphy play a devoted father who uncovers disturbing secrets at the local convent, which leads him to discover shocking truths about his own past; ‘Heretic’, a Hugh Grant-starring horror about two mormon missionaries who attempt to convert a seemingly normal man, only to find themselves fighting for their lives in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse; and ‘Anora’, the Palme D’Or-winning latest from Sean Baker, which sees a young sex worker impulsively marry the son of an oligarch, only to have her fairytale threatened when the news reaches his family.

Another stellar week at the Take.

We’ll have what Simon’s having!

Plus, get your tickets to our Live Christmas Spectacular here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Small Things Like These Review: 08:53

Billy Crystal Interview: 26:26

Heretic Review: 42:23

Anora Review: 53:24

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, Simon and Mark interrupt Ben Wheatley’s breakfast (sadly not Wheaties) to about his new comedy horror miniseries ‘Generation Z’, which sees an army truck crash outside a care home, infecting the residents and leaving four teenage friends to deal with the deadly consequences.

Mark also weighs in on the show, as well as giving his take on ‘Emilia Pérez’, Jacques Audiard’s musical-comedy, which looks set to be an Awards contender, and sees a Mexican lawyer offered an unusual job to help a notorious cartel boss retire and transition into living as a woman; ‘The Room Next Door’, Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar’s full-length English-language debut following Tilda Swinton as a dying journalist trying to reconnect with her best friend; and ‘Venom: The Last Dance’, the third instalment in the Tom Hardy-starring superhero franchise, which sees Eddie Brock and the symbiote Venom go on the run when they are hunted by both of their worlds.

Another tasty week of cinematic nourishment at The Take!

Plus, get your tickets to our Live Christmas Spectacular here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Emilia Pérez Review: 08:31

Ben Wheatley Interview: 29:42

Generation Z Review: 44:58

The Room Next Door Review: 50:50

Venom: The Last Dance Review: 56:47

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, Mark is joined by Ben Bailey Smith to give you the lowdown on the week’s cinematic releases.

Ben chats to Naomi Scott about her tour-de-force performance in ‘Smile 2’, the second outing for the smash-hit horror-thriller franchise.

It’s a big week for Mark as two of his favourite interests converge – reviewing films and Donald Trump – in ‘The Apprentice’, the Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong-starring story of how a young Donald Trump started his real-estate business in 1970s and ‘80s New York with the helping hand of his infamous lawyer Roy Cohn.

He also gives his take on ‘The Wild Robot’, a starry animated sci-fi survival film, which sees a robot shipwrecked on a deserted island and forced to adapt to its new surroundings, developing a parental bond with an orphaned gosling in the process.

Strap in for some stellar takes!

Plus, get your tickets to our Live Christmas Spectacular here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

The Wild Robot Review: 07:21

Naomi Scott Interview: 24:35

Smile 2 Review: 39:49

The Apprentice Review: 52:02

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week’s guest is everyone’s favourite foul-mouthed politico-cum-Time Lord. That’s right, Peter Capaldi is on the show to tell Simon all about Season 2 of his time-bending, psychological thriller show ‘The Devil’s Hour’.

Mark reviews ‘Transformers One’, an animated sci-fi action film based on the Hasbro toy line, which explores the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cyberton forever; ‘Salem’s Lot’, the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s classic supernatural horror novel, which sees an author return to his childhood home in search for some inspiration for his next book, only to discover that people are mysteriously turning into blood-sucking vampires; and ‘Timestalker’, a historical sci-fi romantic comedy in which a hapless woman falls for the wrong guy, dies a grim death and is reincarnated a century later. As she experiences romantic misfortune through different eras of history, she seeks to avoid repeat mistakes and finally break the cycle.

What will be Mark’s film of the week? Listen and see!

Plus, get tickets to our Live Christmas Spectacular here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

And vote for us for Best Co-Host Team at the prestigious Signal Awards here. Let’s win this thing!:  https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2024/shows/craft/best-co-host-team-pop-culture-podcasts

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Transformers One Review: 06:21

Peter Capaldi Interview: 27:55

Salem’s Lot Review: 45:20

Timestalker Review: 54:08

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Mark and Simon think you'll love Origins with Cush Jumbo. In this podcast, Cush meets some of the stars of stage and screen, and so they're giving you a little taster of what you can expect to hear.

Here's an exert from Cush's episode with David Schwimmer, a master of comedy, who we all feel we know insideout as Ross Geller. He appeared in 236 episodes of Friends, runs his own theatre company (for the last 36 years!), is a dad and also a great friend of Cush's. They discuss his early jobs before Friends, and a serious role he had to turn down decades ago, that might have changed everything.

If you enjoy this teaser, head over to https://pod.link/1761431583 and follow the show so you don't miss an episode.

A Sony Music Entertainment production

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This week’s guests are Take fave Joaquin Phoenix and writer-director Todd Phillips, who tell Simon all about ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, their musical thriller follow-up to the 2019 smash hit ‘Joker’, which sees failed comedian Arthur Fleck meeting the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital.

Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as offering his thoughts on various new releases, including ‘Harder Than the Rock’, a documentary exploring the overlooked impact and influence of the UK’s first reggae band, Cimarons, as they persevere against all odds and follow their dream of playing to live audiences one last time; and ‘A Different Man’, a black comedy psychological thriller, which sees an aspiring actor undergo a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance, only for this new dream face to turn into a nightmare when he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost. An interesting companion piece with ‘The Substance’, we reckon.

Another brilliant session with the Good Doctors.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Harder Than The Rock Review: 08:05

Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips Interview: 32:11

Joker: Folie À Deux Review: 48:13

A Different Man Review: 58:39

We're doing a LIVE show: Kermode and Mayo's Christmas Movie Spectacular - December 8th at 2.30pm at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. Tickets are selling fast at www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

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This week’s guests are Saoirse Ronan and Paapa Essiedu, who are on the show to tell Simon all about their addiction recovery drama ‘The Outrun’, which sees Ronan star as a young woman fresh out of rehab, as she returns home to the wild Orkney Islands after more than a decade away. The pair discuss everything from their characters’ chemistry to Stephen Graham’s influence on Ronan’s performance – and there’s even more in Take 2!

Mark also weighs in on the film, as well as giving his take on various new releases, including ‘My Old Ass’, which sees a girl’s 18-birthday magic mushroom trip bring her face-to-face with her wise-cracking 39-year-old self.

And brace yourself for one of Mark’s finest hours of criticism with his take on Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited ‘Megalopolis’. You’ll be replaying this one, that’s for sure.

Another great week at the Take!

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

My Old Ass Review – 10:19

Saoirse Ronan and Paapa Essiedu Interview – 32:58

The Outrun Review – 46:47

Megalopolis Review – 56:52

We're doing a LIVE show: Kermode and Mayo's Christmas Movie Spectacular - December 8th at 2.30pm at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. Tickets are selling fast at www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're excited to announce the xmas show, click here for an exclusive chance to secure your tickets:

www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

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This week’s guest is Kathryn Hahn, who talks to Simon about her starring role in ‘WandaVision’ spinoff ‘Agatha All Along’, a dark comedy superhero miniseries, which follows witch Agatha Harkness, as she recruits some unlikely allies on her quest to regain her former powers.

Mark gives his thoughts on the show, as well as reviewing various new releases: ‘The Goldman Case’, a French-language courtroom drama based on the real-life trial of left-wing revolutionary Pierre Goldman, who was accused of several armed robberies and the death of two chemists; “Girls Will Be Girls’, an Indo-French coming-of-age drama and Sundance hit, which follows 16-year-old Mira as she discovers desire and romance, only to have her rebellious sexual awakening disrupted by her mother, who never got to come of age herself; and ‘The Substance’, the much-talked about Demi Moore-starring body horror, which sees an aging aerobics star, who, after being fired on her 50th birthday, takes an experimental substance that promises to transform her into a ‘better’ version of herself – with horrifying consequences. Mark’s gonna have a field day with this one, we’re sure!

Enjoy!

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

The Goldman Case Review – 08:49

Kathryn Hahn Interview – 28:38

Agatha All Along Review– 43:51

Girls Will Be Girls Review – 51:23

The Substance Evil – 56:39

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts

To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

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For the last episode of this season, team STB gets real with those pesky inner monologues (as promised in the Carrie: Sex and the City episode). Plus, what's the connection between 80s comedy-thriller Lovejoy and The Matrix? We explore actors who have come back from obscurity with aplomb.  

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts. 

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 

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This week’s guest is the one and only Sir Ian McKellen, who is on the show to very eloquently tell Simon all about his starring role in ‘The Critic’, a period thriller in which a powerful – and pompous – London theatre critic lures a struggling actress into a blackmail scheme that has deadly consequences.

Mark also weighs in on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Lee’, a Kate Winslet-starring biopic of photographer Elizabeth ‘Lee’ Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II; ‘Speak No Evil’, a psychological thriller with James McAvoy, which sees an American family’s dream holiday turn into a living nightmare when they spend a weekend at a British family’s idyllic country estate; and ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’, the long-awaited sequel to Tim Burton’s beloved 1988 comedy horror classic, which sees the mischievous poltergeist Beetlejuice return for more supernatural chaos, as a new family stumbles upon his bizarre afterlife realm.

By all accounts, a stellar week!

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Lee Review – 06:00

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – 22:37

Sir Ian McKellen Interview – 29:11

The Critic Review – 43:41

Speak No Evil – 54:56

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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In our final character episode of this season, we put Carrie from Sex and the City on the couch. Nemone looks at why Sex and the City hasn’t aged well, and Ben talks about diversity in the privileged, white world of the show. We get into Carrie’s shopping habit, low self-esteem, and why everyone in the show is SO obsessed with relationships, even though the women really have no need for them. We also get a primer on the Bechdel test, and how you can tell if a show is sexist without knowing it. And if you want to check out more on the patriarchy and diversity, have a listen to our episodes on Sydney from The Bear.

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

Find how to view the shows we’ve talked about here.

CREDITS

We used clips from episodes of Sex and the City. It’s available to watch on NOWTV/SKY.

Starring:

Sarah Jessica Parker – Carrie Bradshaw

Cynthia Nixon – Miranda Hobbs

Kim Cattrall – Samatha Jones

Kristin Davis – Charlotte York

Created by:

Darren Star

Candace Bushnell

Directed by:

Susan Seidalman

Nicole Holofcener

Alison Maclean

Michael Fields

Darren Star

Produced by:

Darren Star

Michael Patrick King

John P. Melfi

Jenny Bicks

Sarah Jessica Parker

Cindy Chupack

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

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We have a fantastic selection of new releases and nostalgia for you this week. First of all, we look at Meryl Streep’s best films and put it to you to pick one. The final result was almost too tight to call - around 52/48%, if that number sounds terribly familiar...

We also look at brand new releases Starve Acre and Robot Dreams, as well as looking forward to next week, when we’ll review Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Of course we didn’t forget! Starve Acre is a chilling tale of British folk horror at its finest, while Robot Dreams is a touching animation which anyone in the world could watch and still understand – just one of those things animation does.

Finally, we get to the bottom of why all these Spiderman releases have happened in the same year, as well as Mark looking at the “best” deaths in cinema history – if you can call them that.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Meryl Streep World Cup – 06:36

Starve Acre Review – 10:51

Spiderman: Homecoming Review – 19:34

Robot Dreams Review – 34:46

Meryl Streep Cup Final – 42:36

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Ben and Nemone put Jackson Lamb from Slow Horses on the couch. Gary Oldman’s version of Mick Herron’s character has become household name, and you can see why. A man with many layers, a million secrets, and a lightning rod for other’s emotions – perhaps he is the perfect Freudian analyst. Nemone gives us a crash course in transference and counter-transference, looks at why people mask and create false selves, and what drives people into a career where they hide their true selves from everyone, including themselves.

This is the PERFECT watching companion to Season 4 of Slow Horses, coming 4th September on AppleTV+!

And if you want to look at false selves, then listen back to our episode on The Morning Show’s Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City (selected episodes)

CREDITS

We used clips from Season 1 of Slow Horses. It’s available to watch on AppleTV+.

Starring:

Gary Oldman - Jackson Lamb

Jack Lowden - River Cartwright

Kristin Scott Thomas - Diana Taverner

Saskia Reeves - Catherine Standish

Rosalind Eleazar - Louisa Guy

Christopher Chung - Roddy Ho

Created by:

Mick Herron

Will Smith

Directed by:

James Hawes

Jeremy Lovering

Saul Metzstein

Produced by:

Iain Canning

Hakan Kousetta

Jamie Laurenson

Gail Mutrux et al.

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

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This week we put all the heavyweights from cinema’s best year – 1984 – into the ring, and see who comes out victorious. Think Terminator, Dune, Stop Making Sense, Beverly Hills Cop – I mean, there’s nowhere near enough space to list them all. But who will win...?

Mark also gives his take on the re-release of Amazing Spiderman 2, with future Oscar-winner Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield in the lead roles now. Mark explains why we’re getting so many of these films back in cinema, too, for those wondering... We hear his thoughts on the new Netflix big hitter, KAOS, featuring Jeff Goldblum, everyone’s favourite piano-playing god. Plus, we review Paradise is Burning, a touching Swedish comedy drama that follows young Laura and her two sisters who, without their mother there, run amok until a call threatens to put them in foster care and undo the unique life they’ve built for themselves.

Mark has some big decisions to make. Film of the week, plus film of the year (alright, 40 years ago, but still...)

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

World Cup of 1984 Qualifying – 7:46

Amazing Spiderman 2 Review – 11:27

Paradise is Burning Review – 29:11

KAOS Review – 38:20

World Cup of 1984 Final – 49:18

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Ben and Nemone put Raymond Holt on the couch. We look at how this trailblazing policeman (the first black, gay police captain in the force) stands out from the rest of the precinct. We learn how family dynamics inform behaviour and what it takes to be a great leader. Nemone looks at a diagnosis of ASD or Asperger’s Syndrome for the captain, and Ben gives a heartwarming tribute to the great actor who played him, André Braugher.

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Jackson Lamb, Slow Horses (Season 1)

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City (selected episodes)

CREDITS

We used clips from episodes of Brooklyn 99. It’s available to watch on Netflix.

Starring:

Andy Samberg - Jacob "Jake" Peralta

Stephanie Beatriz - Rosa Diaz

Terry Crews - Terrence "Terry" JeffordsMelissa Fumero - Amy Santiago

Joe Lo Truglio - Charles Boyle

Chelsea Peretti - Regina "Gina" Linetti

Andre Braugher - Raymond Holt

Dirk Blocker as Michael Hitchcock and Joel McKinnon Miller as Norm Scully

Created by:

Dan Goor

Michael Schur

Directed by:

Craig Zisk

Julie Ann Robinson

Troy Miller

Dean Holland

Jason Ensler

Produced by:

Dan Goor

Michael Schur

David Miner

Phil Lord Christopher Miller (both; pilot)

Luke Del Tredici

David Phillips

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

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This week Mark is joined by another Take fave Ben Bailey Smith to talk all things cinema.

Mark also gives his take on a swathe of new releases, including ‘Kneecap’, a comedy-drama based on true events that sees fate bring together a Belfast teacher and two self-confessed down-and-outs – the real musicians playing themselves – to form a hip-hop trio that rises to global fame; ‘Between the Temples’, which sees a cantor in a crisis of faith have his world turned upside town when his grade school music teacher reenters his life as his new adult bat mitzvah student; and ‘Blink Twice’, a psychological thriller and actress Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut, which sees two cocktail waitresses invited on a dream vacation to a tech billionaire’s private island, only for strange events to leave them questioning their reality.

A great week in new releases! What will be Mark’s pick of the week?

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Kneecap Review – 05:20

Box Office Top Ten – 13:52

Close to You Review – 26:30

Between The Temples Review – 35:20

Blink Twice Review – 41:00

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Ben and Nemone put Moira Rose on the couch and take a deep dive into her narcissistic tendencies, and what effect that has on the rest of the Schitts. Nemone explains how narcissism is not as easy to spot as its widespread use would have you believe. We also discuss the collection of wigs that Moira keeps in her closet and why they are transitional objects. And if you’re interested in hearing more on narcissism, then check out our episode on Game of Thrones’ Cersei Lannister.

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99 (selected episodes)

Jackson Lamb, Slow Horses (Season 1)

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City (selected episodes)

CREDITS

We used clips from episodes of Schitt’s Creek. It’s available to watch on Netflix.

Starring:

Eugene Levy - Johnny Rose

Catherine O'Hara - Moira Rose

Daniel Levy - David Rose

Annie Murphy - Alexis Rose

Created by:

Daniel Levy

Eugene Levy

Directed by:

Jerry Ciccoritti

Paul Fox

Produced by:

Eugene Levy

Dan Levy

Fred Levy

Andrew Barnsley

Ben Feigin

Kevin White

David West Read

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

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This week we have an extra special treat, as Take fave Sanjeev Bhaskar joins Mark in the host’s seat to deliver a funny and insightful episode.

Mark reviews various new releases, including ‘Only the River Flows’, a Chinese neo-noir crime thriller, which sees an ambitious police detective attempt to solve a series of murders from a disused cinema; ‘Swan Song’, an immersive documentary following The National Ballet of Canada as it mounts a legacy-defining new production of Swan Lake; and ‘Alien: Romulus’, a new addition to the sci-fi horror franchise, which sees space colonisers come face-to-face with the most terrifying life-form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station.

Will Mark like it, love it, hate it? Listen to find out!

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Only The River Flows Review – 06:46

Box Office Top Ten – 13:14

Swan Song Review – 35:53

Alien: Romulus – 45:33

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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If characters in ‘trapped’ dramas escape, is that the end of the show? Ben and Nemone explore The Handmaid’s Tale and Severance as examples. Plus, Ben reacts to a listener’s ‘constructive’ feedback and Nemone explores Polyvagal Theory to explain why we might react in the way we do from childhood trauma.

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99 (selected episodes)

Jackson Lamb, Slow Horses (Season 1)

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City (selected episodes)

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices.

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We have a VERY special guest this week. The legendary thrill-maker M Night Shyamalan comes on to talk all things Exorcist, family and his process behind his new release, Trap, starring Josh Hartnett. This was a great chat, so there’s even more in our premium episode. Plus, we review Caligula’s re-issue and get into some more results from our World Cups of Tom Hanks and 1984. Meryl Streep to come next week... also a special guest appearance from The Redactor. We also review the cracking Sky Peals, a head-twister in which a gas station attendant starts to believe he’s descended from an alien race. 

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

Caligula Review – 12:03 

M Night Shyamalan interview – 26:07 

Sky Peals Review – 44:32 

Rebel Moon Part II: The Scargiver Review – 50:19 

World Cup of 1984 Results – 57:53 

Tom Hanks World Cup Results 1:00:35 

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.    

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Ben and Nemone discuss The Wire’s ‘Bubbles’ aka Reginald Collins. An informant and heroin user, a man with a fragile support network who finds himself stranded while trying to forge closer bonds with those around him. Nemone tells Ben how unconditional love is the hardest thing to give an addict, and the key to helping them start their journey to sobriety. Plus we hear wisdom from Gabor Maté. Our episode on the Queen’s Gambit has great insights into addiction if you’re looking for even more on this subject.  

We talked about AA, Al Anon and Samaritans in the show. Here are links: 

AA: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/ 

Al Anon: https://al-anonuk.org.uk/ 

Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/ 

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here  

Moira Rose, Schitt's Creek (Season 1) 

Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99 (selected episodes)  

Jackson Lamb, Slow Horses (Season 1) 

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City (selected episodes) 

CREDITS 

We used clips from Seasons 1 of The Wire. It’s available to watch on NOWTV. 

Starring: 

Dominic West - Jimmy McNulty 

Idris Elba - Stringer Bell 

Lawrence Gilliard Jr. - D’Angelo Barskdale 

Wood Harris - Avon Barksdale 

Deirdre Lovejoy - Rhonda Pearlman 

Wendell Pierce - Detective Bunk 

Lance Reddick - Cpt. Cedric Daniels 

Andre Royo – Reginald Collins, aka Bubbles 

Sonja Sohn - Kima Greggs 

Created by: 

David Simon 

Directed by: 

Clark Johnson 

Peter Medak 

Clement Virgo 

Ed Bianchi 

Gloria Muzo 

Produced by: 

Karen L. Thorson 

Ed Burns 

Joe Chappelle 

George Pelecanos 

Eric Overmyer 

David Simon 

Robert F. Colesberry 

Nina Kostroff Noble 

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

A Sony Music Entertainment production. 

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts. 

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices. 

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It’s a bumper week for reviews, with Mark giving his thoughts on a raft of releases, including ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’, Frank Cottrell-Boyce's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel about a young boy swept overboard and stranded on a desert island with a mysterious stranger; ‘My Neighbour Totoro’, the classic Japanese animation about two sisters who move to the country to be near their ailing mother only to find themselves in an adventure with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby; and Sam Raimi’s much-loved Spider-Man trilogy, which is back in cinemas this summer.  

Simon reveals the results of the World Cup of Tom Hanks, along with the 1984 draw. Will Mark be able to predict the winners?  

Plus, a special gift for all you Take devotees; Mark sits down to rewatch one of his absolute favourites, ‘Sex and the City 2’. You’re welcome! Mwahahaha! 

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

Kensuke's Kingdom Review – 7:10 

World Cup of Tom Hanks Draw – 18:02 

My Neighbour Totoro Review – 27:03 

Spider-Man Trilogy Review – 35:58  

Sex and the City 2 Review – 47:21 

World Cup of 1984 Draw – 59:36 

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.    

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts   

To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Nemone discuss Helen McCrory’s iconic Poly Shelby from Peaky Blinders. She’s a devout Catholic, but up to her neck in the murky world of bootlegging and murder. Nemone gets into the thorny question of how she might match those up, and reveals how each of us has a ‘silent observer’ inside. We also dive into the history of women’s rights in 1920s England. Look out for some killer lines from our Polly, too. If you like this, you’ll love our look at Cersei Lannister and how to lead violent men using more than physical force, and the toll that takes.

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins, The Wire (Season 1)

Moira Rose, Schitt's Creek (Season 1)

Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99 (selected episodes)

Jackson Lamb, Slow Horses (Season 1)

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City (selected episodes)

CREDITS

We used clips from Seasons 1&2 of Peaky Blinders. It’s available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Starring:

Tommy Shelby - Cillian Murphy

Polly Gray - Helen McCrory

Arthur Shelby - Paul Anderson

Ada Shelby - Sophie Rundle

Finn Shelby - Harry Kirton

Lizzie Shelby - Natasha O'Keeffe

Linda Shelby - Kate Phillips

Created by:

Steven Knight

Directed by:

Otto Bathurst

Tom Harper

Colm McCarthy

Produced by:

Katie Swinden

Laurie Borg

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s guest is novelist and screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who tells Simon all about ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom’, his adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, which sees a boy become stranded on a desert island after being swept overboard during a storm on a sailing trip with his family. The conversation is so good that we’ve got more in Take 2! Mark will be reviewing the film next week.  

The Good Doctor Kermode gives his thoughts on various new releases, including ‘The Echo’, a Mexican-German docufiction film, which blends detached observation with incisive commentary to capture the rhythms of life in the traditional Mexican village of El Echo; ‘About Dry Grasses’, a Turkish-language drama about a disillusioned teacher in a remote village who, facing allegations of sexual misconduct, meets a colleague who may help make sense of the challenges at hand; and ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’, which sees Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman don their superhero costumes and join forces for another Marvel outing in which Wolverine, recovering from his injuries, crosses paths with the loudmouth Deadpool, reluctantly teaming up to defeat a common enemy.  

Expect some A+ witterings from Simon and Mark, who bravely and boldly ask: how can we be more ‘Brat’ this summer? 

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.    

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To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Nemone discuss Tasha Jefferson, aka Taystee, from Orange is the New Black. We get fascinating insights into child states and how difficult they are to escape; attachment theory and why prison can be a better alternative to living in the outside world. Expect to laugh and cry while reliving one of the early bingeable series on Netflix. And if you’re interested in looking further into issues of adoption and racism, check out our episode on The Queen’s Gambit, from Season 1. 

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here  

Polly, Peaky Blinders (seasons 1&2) 

Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins, The Wire (Season 1) 

Moira Rose, Schitt's Creek (Season 1) 

Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99 (selected episodes)  

Jackson Lamb, Slow Horses (Season 1) 

Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City (selected episodes) 

CREDITS 

We used clips from Season 1 of Orange is the New Black. It’s available to watch on Netflix. 

Starring: 

Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman 

Laura Prepon as Alex Vause,  

Michael Harney as Sam Healy 

Michelle Hurst as Miss Claudette Pelage 

Kate Mulgrew as Galina "Red" Reznikov 

Jason Biggs as Larry Bloom 

Uzo Aduba as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren 

Danielle Brooks as Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson 

Natasha Lyonne as Nicky Nichols 

Taryn Manning as Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett 

Selenis Leyva as Gloria Mendoza 

Adrienne C. Moore as Cynthia "Black Cindy" Hayes 

Dascha Polanco as Dayanara "Daya" Diaz 

Created by: 

Jenji Kohan 

Directed by: 

Michael Trim 

Andrew McCarthy 

Uta Briesewitz 

Jodie Foster 

Matthew Penn 

Produced by: 

Jenji Kohan 

Sara Hess 

Tara Herrmann 

Lisa Vinnecour 

Neri Kyle Tannenbaum 

Mark A. Burley 

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

A Sony Music Entertainment production. 

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts. 

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices. 

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Another guestless week but that just means more musings, fun and general nonsense from your favourite Good Doctors.

Mark gives his thoughts on various new releases, including ‘Blur: To The End’, a documentary depicting the comeback of the classic Britpop band; ‘Thelma’, a June Squibb-starring comedy about a 93-year-old who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, prompting her to set out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her; ‘Chuck Chuck Baby’, an emotionally charged musical drama in which a chicken factory worker sees her dreary life interrupted when her schoolgirl crush arrives back in town; and ‘Twisters’, a sequel to the 1996 Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton-starring disaster film, which sees a retired tornado-chaser and meteorologist persuaded to return to Oklahoma to work with a new team and new technologies.

A packed-out week of new movies and takes for your listening pleasure!

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

11:44 - Blur: To The End Review 

16:48 - BO10 

28:58 - Thelma Review 

36:26 - Chuck Chuck Baby Review 

44:52 - Twisters Review 

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.    

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Ben and Nemone put Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon’s The Morning Show characters, Alex and Bradley, on the couch. We ask how a person creates a false self at work, what makes Bradley break the mould and find out how Alex could ever have respect for her male boss in the middle of a #MeToo scandal. Stay tuned for more on false selves in our upcoming episodes on Jackson Lamb and Polly Shelby too!

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Tasha, Orange is the New Black (season 2)

Polly, Peaky Blinders (seasons 1&2)

Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins, The Wire (Season 1)

Moira Rose, Schitt's Creek (Season 1)

Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99 (selected episodes)

Jackson Lamb, Slow Horses (Season 1)

CREDITS

We used clips from Season 1 of The Morning Show. It’s available to watch on AppleTV+.

Starring:

Jennifer Aniston as Alexandra "Alex" Levy

Reese Witherspoon as Bradley Jackson

Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison

Mark Duplass as Charlie "Chip" Black

Néstor Carbonell as Yanko Flores

Karen Pittman as Mia Jordan

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Hannah Shoenfeld

Bel Powley as Claire Conway

Desean Terry as Daniel Henderson

Jack Davenport as Jason Craig

Steve Carell as Mitch Kessler

Created by:

Jay Carson

Directed by:

David Frankel

Lynn Shelton

Roxann Dawson

Tucker Gates

Produced by:

Jennifer Aniston

Reese Witherspoon

Kerry Ehrin

Michael Ellenberg

Mimi Leder

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

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No guest this week, but that just means more from your favourite professional witterers – and a whole load of reviews!

Mark gives his thoughts on various new releases including ‘Fly Me to the Moon’, a romantic comedy-drama starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, which sees sparks fly between a marketing executive and a NASA official as he makes preparations for the Apollo 11 moon landing; ‘Hundreds of Beavers’, a zany slapstick comedy in which a drunken applejack salesman must go from zero to hero to become North America’s greatest fur trapper by defeating, you guessed it, hundreds of beavers; and ‘Longlegs’, a serial killer horror in which Nicolas Cage plays the eponymous homicidal maniac.

Mark also gives his take on ‘Despicable Me 4’, the fourth instalment of the animated comedy franchise, replete with his beloved minions, which, this time, sees Gru, having just welcomed a new member to the family, have his peaceful existence threatened when criminal mastermind Maxime Le Mal escapes from prison and vows revenge against him.

A chocka-block week, indeed!

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

08:19 – Hundreds Of Beavers Review

11:56 – Box Office Top Ten

29:33 – Fly Me To The Moon Review

37:30 – Longlegs Review

48:44 – Despicable Me 4 Review

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Nemone answer your questions and explore your suggestions. They talk about whether they have any friends who are spies and explore some brilliant female led comedies you've either missed or forgotten.  

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here  

Michael, Office (USA. Season 1) 

Chandler, Friends (selected episodes) 

Sydney, The Bear (season 2) 

Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2). 

Alex and Bradley, The Morning Show (Season 1)  

Tasha, Orange is the New Black (season 2) 

CREDITS 

We used a clip from Girls, Series 6.  

Starring (in the clip we used):  

Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath 

Adam Driver as Adam Sackler.  

Created by: Lena Dunham. Written by Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow.  

Directed by: Jesse Peretz 

Produced by: Home Box Office.  

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts. 

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices. 

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This week’s guest is director Ti West, who is on the show to tell Mark all about ‘Maxxxine’, the hotly-anticipated third instalment of his cult horror trilogy made in collaboration with its star Mia Goth, which sees the action taken to the adult film scene in seedy 1980s Hollywood. With Mark and Ti geeking out over all things horror, the chat is just too good to cut it down, so head to Take 2 for more!

Mark also gives his thoughts on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Blue Lock The Movie – Episode Nagi’, a feature-length extrapolation of the popular manga and anime set in a football training academy, which explores the origin story of football prodigy Seishiro Nagi.

The big review of the week is ‘Kill’, an Indian action-thriller, which sees a pair of commandos face an army of invading bandits on a train trip to New Delhi.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

07:50 – Blue Lock The Movie – Episode Nagi Review

14:06 - Box Office Top Ten

28:29 – Ti West interview

40:21 - Kinds of Kindness Review

50:39 - Kill Review

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Ben and Nemone put Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones on the couch. Tyrion doesn’t conform to society’s norms. How does he use that to his advantage? He’s booksmart, cunning and the most open-minded man in Westeros. This ‘half-man’ is, in fact, three times as impressive as any of his peers. We look into difference, diversity and skulduggery in this latest episode. Don’t miss it! 

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Alex and Bradley, The Morning Show (Season 1)

Tasha, Orange is the New Black (season 2)

Polly, Peaky Blinders (seasons 1&2)

Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins, The Wire (Season 1)

Moira Rose, Schitt's Creek (Season 1)

Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99 (selected episodes) 

CREDITS

We used clips from Season 1 of Game of Thrones. It’s available to watch on NOWTV.

Starring:

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister

Sean Bean as Eddard Stark

Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister

Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen

Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont

Aidan Gillen as Petyr Baelish

Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen

Kit Harington as Jon Snow

Created by:

George R.R. Martin (based on novels by)

David Benioff (adapted for screen by)

D.B. Weiss (adapted for screen by)

Directed by:

Mark Mylod

Alan Taylor

David Benioff

D.B. Weiss

et al.

Produced by:

Christopher Newman

Mark Huffam

Greg Spence

Lisa McAtackney

Duncan Muggoch

For HBO 

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

A Sony Music Entertainment production. 

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This week’s guests are the red-hot actor and director duo, Jesse Plemons and Yorgos Lanthimos. They’re on to talk about their film ‘Kinds of Kindness’, which is released on 28th June, among tons of other things. It’s one you won’t want to miss. 

Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1’. This is Kevin Costner’s epic Western drama, which shows people drawn to the new west during the Civil War (the original one, not the Alex Garland one). Currently, the film is planned to have a whopping three sequels. 

The big review of the week is ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’, the next instalment in Simon’s favourite movie series. This one takes us back to the origins of the saga, showing the moment that earth fell quiet. Did it make Mark and Simon hoot and holler with praise? Find out in the show. 

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

07:28 - Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 Review 

16:08 - Box Office Top Ten 

27:46 - Jesse Plemons and Yorgos Lanthimos interview 

43:00 Kinds of Kindness Review 

50:17 A Quiet Place: Day One Review 

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.    

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To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Nemone put sous-chef Sydney Adamu from The Bear into therapy. She helps whip the team at the restaurant into shape, she’s nurturing but anxious and riddled with self-doubt, not to mention a person of colour with the highest of ambitions in a profession dominated by white men. Mouthwatering, no? 

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here  

Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2). 

Alex and Bradley, The Morning Show (Season 1)  

Tasha, Orange is the New Black (season 2) 

Polly, Peaky Blinders (seasons 1&2) 

Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins, The Wire (Season 1) 

Moira Rose, Schitt's Creek (Season 1) 

Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99 (selected episodes)  

CREDITS 

We used clips from season 2 of The Bear, available on Disney+.  

Starring 

Jeremy Allen White as Carmen Berzatto 

Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richard Jerimovich 

Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu 

Lionel Boyce as Marcus 

Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina 

Edwin Lee Gibson as Ebraheim 

Corey Hendrix as Gary Woods 

Richard Esteras as Manny 

Jose M. Cervantes as Angel 

Abby Elliott as Natalie Berzatto 

Created by: Christopher Storer 

Written by: Karen Joseph Adcock, Joanna Calo, Rene Gube, Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Alex O'Keefe, Catherine Schetina, Christopher Storer 

Directed by: Alan Myerson, Peter Bonerz, James Burrows, Kevin S. Bright  

Produced by: FX/Hulu/Disney+ 

We would love to hear your theories: shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts. 

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 

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This week’s guests are documentarian Asif Kapadia and videographer Joe Sabia, the co-directors of ‘Federer: Twelve Final Days’, an intimate look at the tennis legend as he approaches his retirement.  

Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Something in the Water’, a thriller which sees five girlfriends, reunited for a destination wedding, get stranded in open water, finding themselves in a fight for their lives against circling sharks and the elements; and ‘The Exorcism’, a horror that sees Russell Crowe play a troubled actor who begins to exhibit disruptive behaviour while shooting a horror film, causing his estranged daughter to wonder: is he slipping back into past addictions or is there something more sinister at play?  

The big review of the week is 'The Bikeriders’, Jeff Nichol’s long-awaited, star-studded crime drama about a Midwestern motorcycle club’s evolution from a gathering place for local outsiders to a sinister gang. 

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

05:44 – Green Border Review

11:54 – Box Office Top Ten

26:54 – Asif Kapadia Review

39:10 – Federer Twelve Final Days Review

42:49 – The Exorcism Review

51:20 – The Bikeriders Review

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.    

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To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Nemone put Chandler from Friends on the famous Central Perk couch to talk about his phobia of commitment, his attachment patterns and how he feels about mum AND dad putting on a black dress and trying to seduce one of your best friends. Expect doses of sarcasm, celebrity cameos and Janice’s laughter peppered throughout.

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Sydney, The Bear (season 2)

Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2).

Alex and Bradley, The Morning Show (Season 1)

Tasha, Orange is the New Black (season 2)

Polly, Peaky Blinders (seasons 1&2)

Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins, The Wire (Season 1)

CREDITS

We used clips from all seasons of Friends, available on Netflix.

Starring

Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing

David Schwimmer as Ross Geller

Courtney Cox as Monica Geller

Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green

Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay

Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani

Created by: David Crane and Marta Kauffman

Written by: Ted Cohen and Andrew Reich, David Crane, Marta Kauffman, Scott Silveri, Shana Goldberg-Meehan et al.

Directed by: Alan Myerson, Peter Bonerz, James Burrows, Kevin S. Bright

Produced by: Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions and Warner Bros. Television

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices.

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This week’s guest is writer-director Jeff Nichols, who is on the show to tell Simon all about his long-awaited, star-studded crime drama ‘The Bikeriders’, which stars Simon’s fave Austin Butler, and tells a fictional story inspired by the 1967 photo-book of the same name, which depicts the  lives of the Outlaws MC, a motorcycle club founded in McCook, Illinois.

Mark will give his thoughts on the film when it comes out next week.

He also reviews ‘Freud’s Last Session’, an Anthony Hopkins-starring drama based on the play of the same name, which sees the legendary psychoanalyst invite iconic author C.S. Lewis to debate the existence of God; and ‘Arcadian’, a post-apocalyptic action horror, which sees Nicolas Cage play a father living with his twin teenage sons as they fight to survive in a remote farmhouse at the end of the end of the world.

The big review of the week is ‘Inside Out 2’, the follow-up to the now-classic children’s movie, which sees Riley, now a teenager, encountering new, difficult emotions like Anxiety.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

07:07 – Freud’s Last Session

12:24 – Box Office Top Ten

25:58 – Jeff Nichols Interview

41:26 – Arcadian Review

47:31 – Inside Out 2 Review

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Nemone stroll into The Office (USA). They consider the differences between Michael Scott and David Brent, explore ego and ask why some people think they’re funny (when they’re just not).

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Chandler, Friends (selected episodes) 

Sydney, The Bear (season 2) 

Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2). 

Alex and Bradley, The Morning Show (Season 1)  

Tasha, Orange is the New Black (season 2) 

Polly, Peaky Blinders (seasons 1&2) 

CREDITS 

We used clips from The Office USA, series 1 on Netflix.  

Starring 

Steve Carell as Michael Scott,  

Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute 

John Krasinski as Jim Halpert 

Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly 

Created by: Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.  

Written by: reg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Mindy Kaling, B.J Novak,  

Directed by: Ken Kwapis, Ken Whittingham, Greg Daniels. 

Produced by: Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille Productions and NBC Universal.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts. 

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices. 

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This week’s guest is one of America’s most beloved auteurs, and arguably the most laid-back director working today, Richard Linklater, who is on the show to tell Simon all about his latest black romantic comedy ‘Hit Man’, which sees a professor moonlighting as a hitman descend into dangerous, dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services.

Mark also gives his thoughts on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’, Viggo Mortensen’s directorial debut which sees a Franco Canadian woman and a Danish immigrant fall in love in 1860s San Francisco only to be separated by the American Civil War.

The big review of the week is ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’, the fourth instalment of the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence buddy cop action series, which sees the duo’s late police captain get linked to drug cartels, prompting them to embark on a dangerous mission to clear his name.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

06:36 – The Dead Don’t Hurt Review

12:20 – Box Office Top Ten

23:15 – Richard Linklater Interview

38:55 – Hit Man Review

46:35 – Bad Boys: Ride or Die Review

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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Ben and Nemone answer your questions and explore your suggestions. They talk about whether they have any friends who are spies and explore some brilliant female led comedies you've either missed or forgotten.

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Michael, Office (USA. Season 1)

Chandler, Friends (selected episodes)

Sydney, The Bear (season 2)

Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2).

Alex and Bradley, The Morning Show (Season 1)

Tasha, Orange is the New Black (season 2)

CREDITS

We used a clip from Girls, Series 6.

Starring (in the clip we used):

Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath

Adam Driver as Adam Sackler.

Created by: Lena Dunham. Written by Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow.

Directed by: Jesse Peretz

Produced by: Home Box Office.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts.

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Take fave Benedict Cumberbatch tells Simon all about his psychological miniseries ‘Eric’, which sees him play troubled puppeteer Vincent, who clings to his missing son’s drawings of a blue monster puppet named Eric, convinced that if he can get Eric on TV then his son will come home.  

Mark also gives his take on the show, as well as reviewing ‘Sting’, which sees a 12-year-old's pet spider rapidly transform into a giant flesh-eating monster, forcing the young girl to fight for her family’s survival.  

This week’s big review is ‘The Beast’, a science fiction romantic drama loosely based on Henry James’ novella ‘The Beast in the Jungle’, which imagines a near future in which artificial intelligence is in control of everyone’s lives and human emotions are perceived as a threat. Lea Seydoux and ‘Gorgeous George’ Mackay star.  

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

08:14 – Sting Review 

12:03– Box Office Top Ten 

24:44 – Benedict Cumberbatch Interview 

39:15 – Eric Review 

45:42 – What's On June 

49:06 – The Beast Review 

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.    

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To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He’s grumpy, belligerent, stubborn, filterless and has to win every single argument. We ask how Larry David has any friends left and why he is so concerned with manners, yet is rude to virtually everyone he meets. Plus, Ben and Nemone look at why some people find Curb Your Enthusiasm excruciating whilst others just can’t get enough of the hit show.  

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com 

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Michael, Office (USA. Season 1) 

Chandler, Friends (selected episodes) 

Sydney, The Bear (season 2) 

Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2). 

Alex and Bradley, The Morning Show (Season 1)  

CREDITS 

We used clips from Season 7 of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Episodes 1,4,5,7,10.   

Starring (in the clips we used):  

Larry David as Larry David,  

Jeff Garlin as Jeff Greene 

Cheryl Hines as Cheryl David 

Susie Essman as Susie Greene 

Jason Alexander as Jason Alexander 

Bob Einstein as Marty Funkhouser 

Catherine O'Hara as Bam Bam 

Anita Barone, as Denise 

Peter Mackenzie as Man in Shorts 

Paul Webster as Larry's Friend Jim 

Created and written by: Larry David. Directed by Larry Charles, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Bryan Gordon, Jeff Schaffer and Andy Ackerman, 

Produced by: Linda Balaban, associate producer 

Alec Berg, executive producer 

Larry Charles, executive producer 

Larry David, executive producer (showrunner) / executive producer 

Jeff Garlin, executive producer 

Tim Gibbons, executive producer 

David Mandel, executive producer 

Megan Murphy, co-producer 

Erin O'Malley, executive producer 

Gavin Polone, executive producer 

Jeff Schaffer, executive producer (showrunner) 

Laura Streicher, producer 

Produced by HBO and Production Partners.  

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts. 

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices. 

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This week, director George Miller sits down with Simon to chat all things ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’, the origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her encounter and team-up with Mad Max.

Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘In Flames’, a Pakastani-Canadian supernatural drama, which sees a mother and daughter’s precarious existence ripped apart after the death of the family patriarch.

The big review of the week is ‘The Garfield Movie’, which sees Chris Patt voice the iconic, Monday-hating, lasagna-loving cat, who finds himself unexpectedly reunited with his long-lost father, a scruffy street cat who draws him into a high-stakes heist.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

08:18 – In Flames Review

12:04 – Box Office Top Ten

24:48 – George Miller Interview

39:29 - Furiosa Review

51:25 – The Garfield Movie Review

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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Gang dynamics, whether you can escape a criminal heritage and the physiological cause and effect of PTSD. Plus, race rigging, opium smoking and casual violence - all in a day's work for The Peaky Blinders.

Here’s the article Ben mentioned by his sister Zadie Smith: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1399593/My-father-the-accidental-hero.html

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 7)

Michael, Office (USA. Season 1)

Chandler, Friends (selected episodes)

Sydney, The Bear (season 2)

Tyrion, Game of Thrones (seasons 1&2).

CREDITS

We used clips from Season 1 of Peaky Blinders.

Starring:

Cillian Murphy (Tommy Shelby), Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby), Sophie Rundle (Ada Shelby) Helen McCrory (Polly Gray) and Samuel Edward Cook (Danny Whizz-bang).

Created by: D Steven Knight Written by D Steven Knight, Toby Finlay and Stephen Russell.

Directed by: Otto Bathurst and Tom Harper.

Produced by: Caryn Mandabach Productions, Tiger Aspect Productions and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

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This week, Vicky McClure chats to Simon about her new limited series ‘Insomnia’, which sees a mother approaching her fortieth birthday forced to grapple with her traumatic past after she develops insomnia.  

Mark gives his thoughts on various new releases, including ‘Two Tickets to Greece’, a French comedy-drama starring Laure Calamy (of ‘Call My Agent’ fame) which follows two childhood friends who cross paths after many years and finally decide to take their dream vacation to Greece; and ‘Hoard’, a social realist psychodrama, which sees a teenager living in a foster home encouraged by a previous resident to revisit her childhood memories of her mother who used to be a hoarder.  

The big review of the week is 'If’, John Krasinski’s latest, which sees a 12-year-old girl, who can see everyone’s imaginary friends, embark on a magical journey to reconnect the forgotten so-called IFs with the now-adult kids who dreamt them up. 

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

07:00 – Two Tickets For Greece Review 

11:49 – Box Office Top Ten 

21:40 – Vicky McClure Interview 

35:36 – Hoard Review 

42:40 – IF Review 

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.    

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As Cersei says: ‘power is power’ and she’s got it in spades. We investigate how she becomes a master manipulator, and we take an honest objective look at her over-familiar relations with her brother Jaime. 

We want to hear about any theories we might have missed, what you’ve thought of the show so far and your character suggestions. Please drop the team an email (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here 

Tommy Shelby, Peaky Blinders (Season 1)

Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 7)

Michael, Office (USA. Season 1)

Chandler, Friends (selected episodes)

Sydney, The Bear (season 2)

CREDITS

We used clips from Season 1 and 2 of Game of Thrones. 

Starring: Sean Bean as Ned Stark, Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark, Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister and Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister

Based on: "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin

Created by: David Benioff and DB Weiss

Written by: David Benioff, George R.R. Martin, Dave Hill, Bryan Cogman, Ethan J. Antonucci, Gursimran Sandhu, Vanessa Taylor and Jane Espenson. 

(S1&2) Directed by: David Nutter, Alan Taylor, Daniel Minahan, Alik Sakharov, Brian Kirk, Timothy Van Patten, Nei Marshall, David Petrarca and Tom McCarthy.

Produced by: Home Box Office (HBO), Television 360, Grok! Studio, (Grok! Television), Generator Entertainment and Bighead Littlehead.

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This week, Simon’s fave John Krasinski, along with Ms Fleabag herself, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, are on the show to discuss their new film ‘If’, which sees a 12-year-old girl who can see everyone’s imaginary friends, embark on a magical journey to reconnect the forgotten so-called IFs with the now-adult kids who dreamt them up. Mark will be reviewing the film next week.

The good doctor Kermode gives his diagnosis on various new releases, including ‘Made in England’, a documentary in which legendary auteur Martin Scorsese reflects on the legacy and lasting influence of the equally legendary British filmmaking duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger; and ‘La Chimera’, Alice Rohrwacher’s latest about a British archaeologist who becomes embroiled in an international network of stolen Etruscan artifacts in the 1980s – its star Josh O’Connor was on the show to talk about last week. If you haven’t already his chat with Simon is an absolute must-listen!

The big review of the week is ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’, the fourth instalment of the ‘Planet of the Apes’ reboot franchise, which sees a young ape, many years after the reign of Caesar, embark on a journey that will lead him to question everything’s he’s been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

06:34 – Made In England Review

11:47 – Box Office Top Ten

25:18 – John Krasinski and Phoebe Waller-Bridge Interview

41:23 – La Chimera Review

47:36 – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Where does Frasier’s snobbery originate from? Why does he revert to his ‘child state’ when around his father? And... the hidden story behind Frasier being a Freudian analyst and Niles (his brother) being a Jungian analyst.

Plus, Ben and Nemone’s minds are blown when they realise a crazy coincidence with Frasier and Tony Soprano.

We want to hear from you!!! Please drop the team an email with your questions and theories (which may be part of the show): shrinkthebox@sonymusic.com

NEXT CLIENTS ON THE COUCH. Find out how to view here

Cersei, Game of Thrones (Season 1)

Tommy Shelby, Peaky Blinders (Season 1)

Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 7)

Sydney, The Bear (Season 2)

Michael, Office (USA. Season 1)

CREDITS

We used clips from Season 1 of Frasier

Starring: Kelsey Grammar as Dr Fraiser Crane, David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane, John Mahoney as Martin Crane, Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle and Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon.

Created and written by: David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee and Brad Hall.

Directed by: James Burrows, David Lee, Andy Ackerman and Rick Beren.

Produced by: Grub Street Productions, Paramount Network Television, Paramount Television (in association with) Grammnet Productions and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

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This week, man of the moment Josh O’Connor is in the studio to chat to Simon about his leading role in ‘La Chimera’, Italian auteur Alice Rohrwacher’s period fantasy drama about a British archaeologist who becomes involved in an international network of stolen Etruscan artifacts during the 1980s.

Mark gives his take on various new releases including ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, the latest offering from Kermode fave Rose Glass, which sees Kristen Stewart play a reclusive gym manager who falls for an ambitious bodybuilder only for the pair to become embroiled in the former’s violent criminal family; and ‘The Idea of You’, an Anne Hathaway-starring romcom that sees a 40-year-old single mum begin an unexpected romance with the 24-year-old leader singer of the biggest boy band on the planet.

The big review of the week is 'The Fall Guy’, a Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt-starring action comedy, which sees a battle-scarred stuntman spring back into action when the star of a big studio movie suddenly and mysteriously disappears.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

06:20 – Love Lies Bleeding Review

12:36 – Box Office Top Ten

25:02 – Josh O’Connor Interview

42:24 – The Idea of You

48:46 – What's On May

55:23 – The Fall Guy

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week there’s no guest, but lots more witterings from the good doctors to make up for it.  

Mark gives his take on a swathe of new films, including ‘Ordinary Angels’, a Hilary Swank-starring emotional drama about a hairdresser who rallies an entire community to help a widowed father get his critically ill youngest daughter a liver transplant; ‘Boy Kills World’, an action thriller about a martial arts expert who goes on a campaign of vengeance after he is rendered deaf-mute by an attack that killed his entire family; ‘I.S.S.’, a science fiction thriller, which sees tensions flare aboard the International Space Station when a worldwide conflict breaks out on earth; and ‘Challengers’, Luca Guadagnino’s latest, which sees Zendaya star as a former-tennis-prodigy-turned-coach who transforms her husband into a world-famous grand slam champion only to become embroiled in a love triangle when he competes against his former best friend – and her former lover.  

The big review of the week is ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’, a comedy-drama, which sees a young man join a clandestine group of magical African Americans committed to enhancing the lives of white individuals, satirising the Magical Negro trope.  

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

09:39 – Orindary Angels

16:42 – Boy Kills World

20:45 – Box Office Top Ten

35:19 – I.S.S.

43:33 – Challengers

50:27 – American Society of Magical Negroes

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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This week Simon and Mark are away so instead we have a clip episode for your viewing pleasure featuring interviews with the likes of Ramy Youssef and Emma Stone, Denis Villeneuve and Hans Zimmer; and reviews of everything from ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ to Madame Web.

Enjoy listening to some of the best The Take has had to offer these past few months!

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

2:08 The Holdovers (Alexander Payne, Universal)

4:57  Scala!!! (Jane Giles, Ali Catterall, BFI)

8:35 Zone of Interest (Jonathan Glazer, A24)

12:19 All of us strangers (Andrew Haigh, Disney)

15:42 Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos, Disney)

21:19 Ramy Youssef and Emma Stone

25:21 Denis Villeneuve and Hans Zimmer

31:02 Cate Blanchett

35:12 Cillian Murphy

42:13 Kung Fu Panda (Mike Mitchell, Universal)

45:42 Godzilla x Kong The New Empire ( Adam Wingard, Warner Bros)

47:11 Madame Web (SJ Clarkson, Columbia Pictures)

50:49 Driveaway Dolls (Ethan Coen, Universal)

53:59 Ghostbusters Frozen Empire (Gil Kenan, Columbia)

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, Kirsten Dunst and Alex Garland sit down to chat with Simon about their new film ‘Civil War’, which sees Dunst star as a photojournalist travelling with her team across a dystopian United States, engulfed by a second civil war, in a bid to interview and photograph the president.

Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The Teachers’ Lounge’, a drama in which a teacher decides to step in when one of her students is suspected of theft, finding herself caught between her ideals and the school system in the process; and ‘The First Omen’, which sees a young American nun start to question her own faith when she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy to bring about the birth of evil incarnate in Rome.

The big review of the week is ‘Back to Black’, a musical biopic about singer Amy Winehouse’s tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil inspires her to write and record the groundbreaking album ‘Back to Black’.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

The Teachers’ Lounge – 6:58

Box Office Top Ten – 10:55

The First Omen – 13:16

Kirsten Dunst & Alex Garland Interview – 25:32

Civil War Review – 37:45

Back to Black Review – 46:11

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, the lovely Dev Patel is on the show to chat all things ‘Monkey Man’, his (co) writing and directorial debut, which sees a young man hunt down the group of corrupt leaders responsible for his mother’s death.

Mark also gives his thoughts on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Evil Does Not Exist’, an enigmatic eco-parable, which sees a Tokyo company buy up land near a pristine lake in a bid to turn it into a glamping site; and ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’, a Rebecca Hall-starring follow-up to the 2021 monster film, which sees Godzilla and the almighty Kong face a colossal threat hidden deep within the planet that challenges their very existence and the survival of the human race.

The big review of the week is ‘Seize Them!’, a Dark Ages-set comedy romp, which sees a queen, played by Aimee Lou Wood, forced to endure hardship and danger as she embarks on a voyage to win back her throne.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Evil Does Not Exist – 7:05

Box Office Top Ten – 12:45

Godzilla x Kong – 16:54

Dev Patel Interview – 25:49

Monkey Man Review – 40:17

Seize Them! Review – 47:43

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, Obi Wan Kenobi himself, aka Ewan McGregor, sits down with Simon to discuss his new miniseries ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’, which sees a Russian aristocrat spared from death and placed under house arrest while the Bolshevik Revolution plays out before him.

Mark also gives his take on the series, as well as reviewing ‘Mothers’ Instinct’, a Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway-starring thriller about a pair of rich suburban housewives, whose sisterly bond is unraveled after a tragic accident shatters their seemingly picture-perfect lives; and ‘Silver Haze’, a British drama about a young nurse, who is unable to build any meaningful relationship thanks to her obsession with getting revenge for a traumatic event that happened 15 years prior, until she falls in love with one of her patients.

Plus, Mark and Simon keep us up to date on the cinematic events happening around the country.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

07:14 Mother’s Instinct Review

14:21 Box Office Top 10

30:55 Interview with Ewan McGregor

42:05 A Gentleman in Moscow Review

48:22 Silver Haze Review

52:24 What’s On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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No interview this week, but even more witterings from your favourite duo for your trouble.

Mark gives his thoughts on new releases, including ‘Late Night with the Devil’, a found footage horror, which sees a 1977 live television broadcast go horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation’s living rooms; ‘Immaculate’, a Sydney Sweeney-starring horror about an American nun who heads to a convent in Italy only to discover that her new home harbours a sinister secret; and ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’, the latest instalment in the supernatural comedy franchise, which sees Ghostbusters new and old join forces to protect their home against evil forces and save the world from a second ice age.

Plus, Mark and Simon keep us abreast of the cinematic events happening around the country.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

08:38 Late Night with the Devil review

19:25 Box Office Top 10

39:08 Immaculate review

45:56 Laughter Lift

52:01 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire review

01:00:13 What’s On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, the one and only Cate Blanchett joins Mark and Simon for a chat about her drama ‘The New Boy’, which follows a young Aboriginal Australia orphan, who is brought into a Christian monastery, run by a renegade nun, begin to question his faith and loyalty to his heritage.

Mark gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Monster’, a Japanese psychological mystery thriller about a mother who confronts a teacher after noticing disturbing changes in her son’s behaviour; and ‘Drive Away Dolls’, an Ethan Coen-helmed road trip caper about two lesbian friends who get caught up in crime.

Plus, Mark and Simon keep us abreast of the cinematic events happening around the country.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

08:23 Monster review

23:27 Box Office Top 10

37:28 Cate Blanchett interview

52:03 The New Boy review

57:23 Laughter Lift

01:02:48 Drive-Away Dolls review

01:09:23 What’s On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, acclaimed director Ava DuVernay chats to Simon and Mark about ‘Origin’, her new biographical drama based on the life of the author Isabel Wilkerson who wrote the seminal book ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents’, while coping with personal tragedy.

Mark also offers his thoughts on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The Inventor’, a Stephen Fry-starring animation, which imagines Leonardo da Vinci, as he leaves Italy to join the French court, where he can experiment, study and invent freely; and ‘High and Low – John Galliano’, a documentary charting the triumphs and controversies of the legendary and controversial fashion designer.

Plus, Mark and Simon keep us abreast of the cinematic events happening around the country.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

08:16 High & Low: John Galliano review

20:52 Box Office Top 10

32:52 Ava DuVernay interview

47:29 Origin review

54:55 Laughter Lift

01:03:42 The Inventor review

01:09:09 What’s On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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With the 2024 Academy Awards taking place on Sunday, the most trusted voices in film Mark and Simon are here to guide you through the 10 films in the running for Best Picture.  

Featuring highlights from interviews with directors Greta Gerwig, Celine Song and Jonathan Glazer, and actors Cillian Murphy (an exclusive unheard part of his chat with the pair), Emma Stone, and Jeffrey Wright. Plus Mark’s thoughts on all of the films involved.  

Timecodes for the Vanguard:  

02:36 Cillian Murphy interview (exclusive unheard part of interview) 

06:39 Oppenheimer review 

09:06 Greta Gerwig interview 

12:19 Barbie review 

15:35 Killers of the Flower Moon review 

20:07 Emma Stone and Ramy Youssef interview 

23:14 Poor Things review 

25:35 The Holdovers review 

32:54 Jonathan Glazer interview 

36:02 The Zone of Interest review 

39:16 Maestro review 

44:42 Jeffrey Wright interview 

47:22 American Fiction review 

50:20 Anatomy of a Fall review 

55:07 Celine Song interview 

58:53 Past Lives review 

A Sony Music Entertainment production.    

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts   

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This week, acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve and renowned composer Hans Zimmer join Simon for a chat about their hotly-anticipated project, ‘Dune: Part Two’ - the next chapter in their adaptation of Frank Herbert’s legendary sci-fi saga. 

Mark also gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Four Daughters’, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated documentary, which mixes fact and fiction to tell the story of Olfa Hamrouni, a Tunisian woman whose two eldest daughters were radicalized by Islamic extremists; and ‘Lisa Frankenstein’, a Diablo Cody-penned comedy about a misunderstood teenager and a reanimated Victorian corpse who embark on a murderous – and romantic – journey together.  

Plus, Mark and Simon tell us about the exciting cinematic events happening around the country.   

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

08:39 Four Daughters review 

22:19 Box Office Top 10  

34:33 Denis Villeneuve and Hans Zimmer interview 

49:31 Dune: Part Two review 

01:00:13 Laughter Lift  

01:02:44 Lisa Frankenstein review  

01:08:38 What’s On  

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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This week, director Jonathan Glazer talks to Simon about his Bafta award-winning and Oscar-nominated historical drama ‘The Zone of Interest, which follows the commandant of Auschwitz and his wife, as they strive to build a dream life for their family in a house next to the camp.

Meanwhile, Mark gives his take on an array of new releases, including ‘Perfect Days’, Wim Wenders’ latest offering, which follows a toilet cleaner in Tokyo, who finds joy in the mundane, but beautiful, details of everyday life; ‘Madame Web’, Dakota Johnson’s first superhero outing, which sees her play a New York City paramedic who starts to show signs of clairvoyance and must protect three young women from a mysterious adversary who wants them dead; ‘Shoshana’, Michael Winterbottom’s biographical thriller about the tragic, real life love story between Shoshana Borochov and Tom Wilkin, set against the British Mandate in Palestine; and ‘Wicked Little Lies’, a star-studded British black comedy about a real life scandal that saw residents of a quaint Sussex town receive letters filled with obscenities and hilarious profanity.

Plus, Mark and Simon tell us about your own cinematic events happening around the country.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

12:29 Perfect Days review

23:46 Box Office Top 10

29:48 Madame Web review

37:00 Jonathan Glazer interview

53:43 Shoshana review

01:03:49 What’s On

01:04:47 Wicked Little Letters review

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Happy Valentine’s! Sit back and enjoy our latest episode – a gift to all film lovers. This week, director Michael Winterbottom talks to Simon about his new biographical thriller ‘Shoshana’, which follows the tragic real life love story between Shoshana Borochov and Tom Wilkin, set against the British Mandate in Palestine.

Mark will be reviewing ‘Shoshana’ next week, but, in the meantime, gives his take on various other new releases, including ‘Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son’, a documentary in which filmmaker Lorna Tucker returns to her former haunts and speaks to current and former homeless people about why, 25 years on, record numbers of people are still reduced to living on Britain’s streets; ‘Bob Marley: One Love’, a biopic exploring the life and struggles of the legendary reggae musician and activist; and ‘The Taste of Things’, a romantic drama which follows the relationship between a cook, played by Juliette Binoche, and the gourmet she works for - an apt cinematic treat for this Valentine’s week.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

08:05 Somone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son review

19:59 Box Office Top 10

37:26 Michael Winterbottom interview

52:42 Bob Marley: One Love review

01:00:11 Laughter Lift

01:04:48 The Taste of Things review

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This week, Steve McQueen and his wife, historian, filmmaker and producer Bianca Stigter, are in the studio to chat with Simon about ‘Occupied City’, their four-hour documentary about the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam from 1940-45, which is based on Stigter’s book on the subject.

Mark gives his thoughts on the film, along with reviewing ‘Your Fat Friend’, a documentary that charts the rise of writer and activist Aubrey Gordon from anonymous blogger to NYTimes best-selling author and podcaster, whose goal is to shift the way we see fat people in the world and the fat on our own bodies; and ‘The Iron Claw’, the Zac Efron-starring true story of the Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.

Plus, we find out about the exciting cinematic events happening around the UK.

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

08:44 Your Fat Friend review

19:00 Box Office Top 10

34:00 Steve McQueen and Bianca Stigter interview

49:32 Occupied City review

59:03 Laughter Lift

01:01:49 The Iron Claw review

01:08:00 What’s On

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It’s a bumper week for (lauded) guests! Simon chats to Jeffrey Wright about his Oscar-nominated role in ‘American Fiction’, which tells the story of a Black novelist, frustrated with the establishment that profits from Black entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes, who uses a pen name to write an outlandish Black book of his own, only to find himself at the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain; and both Simon and Mark talk to Cillian Murphy about his Oscar-nominated turn as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s eponymous biopic.  

Mark gives his thoughts on ‘American Fiction’, along with reviewing Jonathan Glazer’s historical drama ‘The Zone of Interest’, which follows the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, as they strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp; and ‘Argylle’, a star-studded spy action-comedy about a reclusive author who writes best-selling espionage novels about a secret agent on a mission to unravel a global spy syndicate only to find that the plots of her books are starting to mirror the covert actions of a real-life spy organisation.  

A very glitzy week for you! 

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

08:15 The Zone of Interest review 

22:13 Box Office Top 10 

31:29 Jeffrey Wright interview 

45:47 American Fiction review 

53:41 Laughter Lift 

55:44 Cillian Murphy interview 

01:07:52 Argylle review 

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  

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This week, Simon sits down for a thoughtful and moving chat with director Andrew Haigh about his new Bafta-nominated drama ‘All of Us Strangers’, which sees Andrew Scott play a lonely screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home, where his parents appear to be living, just as they were on the day they died 30 years ago.

Mark also gives his take on the film, as well reviewing ‘Baghead’, a horror in which a young woman discovers the pub she’s inherited is home to a 400-year-old she-devil; and ‘The Color Purple’, the second adaptation of Alice Walker’s classic novel, which tells the story of Celie, an African American woman living in the American South during the early 1900s.

Plus, it’s awards season! The duo give their thoughts on who was – and wasn’t, ahem - nominated at this year’s Oscars.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

10:55 Baghead review

23:24 Box Office Top 10

35:44 Andrew Haigh interview

50:54 All of Us Strangers review

57:10 Laughter Lift

59:18 The Color Purple review

01:06:16 What’s On

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This week, the one and only Daniel Kaluuya is in the studio and ready to chat with Mark and Simon about his dystopian directorial debut – co-directed with his longtime friend and collaborator Kibwe Tavares - ‘The Kitchen’, which sees a funeral-service worker looking for a way out of the chaotic housing block of the title.  

Mark also offers up his critical perspective on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The End Where We Start From’, a Jodie Comer-starring drama about a woman trying to find her way home with her newborn as an environmental crisis submerges London in floodwaters; and ‘The Holdovers’, Alexander Payne’s latest, which sees Paul Giamatti play a curmudgeonly teacher at a New England school, who remains on campus during Christmas break to babysit a handful of students only to form an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker and the school’s head cook.  

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!): 

09:50 The End We Start From review 

21:13 Box Office Top 10 

38:28 Daniel Kaluuya interview 

57:32 The Kitchen review 

01:00:32 The Laughter Lift  

01:03:15 The Holdovers review 

01:09:43 What’s On

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OK, now we are really back! Mark and Simon are firmly back in their seats and ready to shepherd you through a new year in cinema.

This week, Simon sits down with Emma Stone and Ramy Youssef to discuss their roles in Yorgos Lanthimos’ wild new science fantasy black comedy ‘Poor Things’, which tells the story of a young woman in Victorian London, who, after being crudely resurrected by a scientist following her suicide, runs off with a debauched lawyer to embark on an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation.

Mark also offers his thoughts on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The Disappearance of Shere Hite’, a documentary narrated by Dakota Johnson, which follows the life of American-born German sex educator and feminist Shere Hite; and the George Clooney-helmed ‘The Boys in the Boat’, a biographical sports drama about the University of Washington rowing team that represented the United States at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

08:39 The Disappearance Of Shere Hite review

17:44 Box Office Top 10

33:41 Interview with Emma Stone and Ramy Youssef

49:43 Poor Things review

58:21 Laughter Lift

01:02:37 The Boys in the Boat revew

01:08:53 What’s On

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We’re back! Well kind of. This week, Robbie Collin and Rhianna Dhillon are filling in for Mark and Simon, who are still recovering from their completely raucous New Year celebrations.

Rhianna chats to director James Hawes about his new war drama ‘One Life’, which sees both Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn star as humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who is known for his role in rescuing Jewish children during the Holocaust.

Robbie gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘Night Swim’, a horror about a haunted swimming pool – yes, you read that right, a haunted swimming pool; and ‘Good Grief’, the directorial debut of Dan Levy of Schitt’s Creek fame, which follows an artist who takes his two best friends on a trip to Paris after the death of his famous writer husband.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

03:07 Night Swim review

15:52 Box Office Top 10

35:01 James Hawes interview

50:04 One Life review

54:58 Laughter Lift

59:29 Good Grief review

01:07:18 What’s On

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This week sees Mark review ‘Raging Grace’, a social issue drama-come-gothic horror about a Filipino single mother working in a sinister British family mansion; ‘Priscilla’, Sofia Coppola’s adaptation of Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir about her complicated relationship with music icon Elvis Presley; and ‘Scala!!!’, a documentary telling the riotous story of the famed London cinema, which inspired a generation during Britain’s turbulent Thatcher years.

Plus, Mark talks us through his best and worst films of 2023. You’re welcome!

Time Codes (relevant only when you are part of the Vanguard):

10:36 Raging Grace review

21:16 Priscilla review

31:30 Scala!!! review

41:32 Mark’s Top 5 and Bottom 5 Films of 2023

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It’s Christmas! This week, Simon chats to Zack Snyder about his new space opera ‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire’, which sees an ex-soldier search for allies to help defend her home when it is threatened by the cruel ruling Imperium.

Mark gives his take on the film, as well as reviewing ‘The Boy and the Heron’, the long-awaited and apparently final film from legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, which follows a 12-year-old boy, who, after speaking to a talking heron, journeys into another world to search for his mother, who he believed to be dead; and ‘Ferrari’, Michael Mann’s 30-years-in-the-making passion project, a biographical sports drama about  Enzo Ferrari, who founded the iconic Italian car company.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free):

11:35 The Boy and the Heron Review

20:08 Box Office Top Ten

31:53 Zack Snyder Interview

49:00 Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire Review

57:36 Laughter Lift

01:05:14 Ferrari Review

01:13:00 What’s On

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This week sees Mark and Simon chat to director, writer and producer Taika Waititi and American Samoan footballer Jaiyah Saelua about ‘Next Goal Wins’, a sports comedy-drama based on the documentary of the same name, which chronicles the national team of American Samoa as they try to recover from the indignity of the worst loss in international football history and attempt to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Mark also offers up his thoughts on the film, along with reviewing ‘What Happens Later’, a romantic comedy that marks Meg Ryan’s second outing as director, and sees her star alongside David Duchovny as ex-lovers that get snowed-in at a regional airport; ‘The Three Musketeers: Milady’, an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel, which sees D’Artagnan embark on a frantic quest to save the woman he loves, joining forces with the mysterious Milady de Winter in the process; and ‘Godzilla Minus One’, a Japanese-language addition to the Godzilla franchise, which sees a post war Japan faced with a new crisis in the form of a giant monster, baptised in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

08:32 What Happens Later Review

17:41 Box Office Top Ten

28:20 Taika Waititi and Jaiyah Saelua Interview

44:21 Next Goal Wins Review

49:45 Laughter Lift

56:01 The Three Musketeers: Milady Review

59:34 Godzilla Minus One Review

01:08:18 What’s On

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Simon sits down with director and screenwriter Paul King and screenwriter Simon Farnaby to discuss their new Timothée Chalamet-starring Christmas blockbuster, ‘Wonka’, which is a prequel to the Roald Dahl children’s classic ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.

Mark gives his take on the film, along with reviewing ‘Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain’, the Saturday Night Live trio’s first comedy feature about a three childhood friends who realise they don’t like their life trajectory and so set off to find the treasure that is rumoured to be buried in a nearby mountain; and ‘Leave the World Behind’, Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail’s star-studded psychological thriller – and adaptation of the novel of the same – which sees a family’s Long Island vacation interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a mysterious blackout.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

09:44 Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain Review

18:45 Box Office Top Ten

35:05 Simon Farnaby and Paul King Interview

51:05 Wonka Review

01:00:19 Laughter Lift

01:04:05 Leave the World Behind Review

01:13:38 What’s On

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It’s another bumper week for guests: Simon and Mark chat to their fave “gorgeous George” Mackay about his new psychosexual noir ‘Femme’, which sees a man who is targeted in a horrific homophobic attack seek revenge on one of his attackers, played by Mackay. They also say hello to Jason Isaacs, who is here in the studio to chew the fat and discuss his turn as Hollywood legend Cary Grant in the ITV miniseries ‘Archie’.

Mark gives his thoughts on both, along with reviewing ‘Eileen’, an adaptation of Ottessa Moshfegh’s best-selling, psychological-thriller novel about a shy young woman working at a prison when a captivating, glamorous counsellor, played by Anne Hathaway, and helps her access new facets of her personality, but may be drawing her into something more dangerous - Hathaway described it as ‘Carol’ meets ‘Reservoir Dogs’.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

06:54 Eileen review

15:55 Box Office Top Ten

27:36 Jasson Isaacs interview

51:24 Laughter Lift

54:41 George MacKay interview

01:11:49 Femme review

01:15:35 What’s On

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Strap in for a bumper week of interviews: Simon sits down for an entertaining chat with Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby to discuss their turns in Ridley Scott’s new epic, ‘Napoleon’, which looks at the military commander’s origins and ruthless climb to emperor through the prism of his volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine; and both Simon and Mark talk to Jodie Whittaker about her new Australian-set series ‘One Night’, which follows three friends whose friendship was destroyed by a traumatic event 20 years prior.

Mark gives his thoughts on both, along with reviewing Joanna Hogg’s latest offering, ‘The Eternal Daughter’, a gothic mystery drama, which stars long-time collaborator Tilda Swinton in a double role, playing both a middle-aged filmmaker and her elderly mother who are guests at a mysterious hotel.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

06:26 The Eternal Daughter review

16:37 Box Office Top Ten

29:45 Jodie Whittaker interview

46:36 One Night review

51:26 Laughter Lift

54:44 Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby interview

01:09:58 Napoleon review

01:19:25 What’s On

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Simon meets director Todd Haynes to discuss his thorny, new offering ‘May December’, which stars the powerhouse duo of Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, and tells the story of a seemingly perfect married couple’s marriage buckling under the pressure when an actress arrives to do research for a film about their notorious tabloid romance twenty years prior.

Mark also weighs in on the film, along with giving his thoughts on ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’, the latest instalment of the dystopian kids franchise, which sees Rachel Zegler star as a defiant female tribute from the impoverished District 12; ‘The Marvels’, the second instalment for Brie Larson’s titular superhero Captain, which sees Carol Danvers get her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe; and ‘Saltburn’, Emerald Fennell’s class-skewering psychological thriller, which she was on the show to talk about last week.

Plus, Mark and Simon take us through the Box Office Top 10 and the film events worth catching in this week’s What’s On.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

09:53 Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Review

21:55 Box Office Top Ten

30:37 The Marvels Review

35:43 Todd Haynes Interview

56:26 Laughter Lift

01:00:15 Salburn Review

01:11:44 What's On

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Simon sits down with actor-writer-director Emerald Fennell to discuss her new, star-studded, class-skewering, psychological thriller ‘Saltburn’, which sees an Oxford scholarship student drawn into the world of a charming aristocrat when he invites him to his family’s sprawling country estate.  

Mark reviews ‘The Automat’, a Mel Brooks-fronted documentary centered on the vending machine popularised in the 20th Century that offered fresh cooked meals in a commissary-style eatery; ‘Anatomy of a Fall’, the Palme d’Or winning crime thriller about the trial of a woman accused of murdering her husband in their remote chalet in the French Alps; ‘Dream Scenario’, a surreal comedy about a hapless family man, played by Nicolas Cage, who finds his life upended when millions of strangers start seeing him in their dreams.  

Plus, Mark and Simon take us through the Box Office Top 10 and the film events worth catching in this week’s What’s On.  

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!): 

09:15 The Automat Review 

20:48 Box Office Top Ten  

36:56 Emerald Fennell Interview 

52:35 Laughter Lift 

55:18 Anatomy of a Fall Review 

01:03:38 Dream Scenario Review 

01:12:06 What's On 

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo 

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This week, Simon sits down with the brilliant and always-interesting Gabriel Byrne for a philosophical chat about his turn as the legendary Irish playwright Samuel Beckett in ‘Dance First’, James Marsh’s experimental biographical drama. Their conversation is so good, there’s more of it in Take 2!

Mark also gives his thoughts on the film, as well as reviewing ‘How To Have Sex’, cinematographer-turned director Molly Manning Walker's Cannes-winning feature debut about  a group of teen girls’ rite-of-passage first holiday to Malia; ‘Bottoms’, the Young Hollywood-packed second feature from director Emma Seligman, which follows two unpopular queer high school students as they start a fight club in a bid to have sex before graduation; and ‘The Killer’, David Fincher’s latest offering starring Michael Fassbender as a – you guessed it – contract killer with a growing conscience.

Plus, Mark and Simon take us through the Box Office Top 10 and the film events worth catching in this week’s What’s On.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

11:12 How To Have Sex Review

21:24 Box Office Top Ten

32:55 Gabriel Byrne Interview

46:50 Dance First Review

52:09 Laughter Lift

57:52 Bottoms Review

01:04:27 The Killer Review

01:11:46 What's On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, certified film royalty is in the studio! Mark and Simon sit down with Martin Scorsese’s legendary film editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, who is here to discuss restoring her late husband director Michael Powell’s equally legendary body of work as part of the iconic filmmaking duo Powell and Pressburger. She also talks about her own work with Scorsese. A must listen!

Mark reviews the restoration of the Powell and Pressburger classic ‘Peeping Tom’, a psychological horror about a filmmaker who murders women and records their dying moments; ‘Typist Artist Pirate King’, director Carol Morley’s warm and sympathetic fictionalised portrait of the late “avant-garde and misunderstood” artist Audrey Amiss; ‘Cat Person’, a darkly comic psychological thriller about a college student who goes on an awkward date with an older man who may be a murderer, based on Kristen Roupenian’s viral New Yorker short story of the same name; and ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s, a supernatural horror inspired by the indie video game of the same name, which sees a troubled security guard menaced by creepy, animatronic, funhouse animals.

Plus, the duo takes us through the Box Office Top 10 and the film events worth catching in this week’s What’s On.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

10:38 Typist Artist Pirate King Review

22:27 Box Office Top Ten

35:45 Thelma Schoonmaker Interview

53:32 Laughter Lift

58:06 Cat Person Review

01:04:56 Five Nights At Freddy’s Review

01:10:17 What's On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Tristan Redman is a journalist who doesn’t believe in ghosts. But weird things happened in his teenage bedroom – weirder than normal. When, years later, he discovers subsequent occupants of his family home were haunted by the ghost of a faceless woman, he’s curious. Because by a strange coincidence, it just so happens that the house Tristan grew up in is right next door to a murder scene - where his wife’s great grandmother was killed by two gunshots to the face. Could there be a connection? Tristan decides to investigate and soon finds himself where no son-in-law should ever be: delving deep into his wife’s family history, asking questions no one wants answered. Wondery and Pineapple Street Studios present Ghost Story — a seven-part podcast series about family secrets, overwhelming coincidences and the things that come back to haunt us.

Follow Ghost Story on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Listen everywhere on October 23rd or you can binge ad-free on Wondery Plus starting the same day. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts

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Simon may be back in the studio, but this week Mark steps into the interviewer’s chair. He sits down with legendary documentarian Errol Morris to discuss his new film about the storied life and career of the equally legendary spy novelist, John le Carré.

Mark also gives his take on ‘Foe’, a psychological sci-fi starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal as a married couple conscripted into an off-planet settlement program; and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, Martin Scorsese’s epic Western crime drama set in 1920s Oklahoma, which centres on the serial murder of members of the oil-rich Osage Nation, a string of brutal crimes that came to be known as the Reign of Terror.

Plus our favourite duo takes us through the Box Office Top 10 and the film events worth catching in this week’s What’s On.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

11:19 Foe Review

20:53 Box Office Top Ten

36:20 Errol Morris Interview

48:56 The Pigeon Tunnel Review

54:17 Laughter Lift

58:54 Killers of the Flower Moon Review

01:08:48 What's On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, Mark hosts the show alongside Take fave Ben Bailey-Smith. Ben sits down with one of Hollywood’s finest actresses Laura Linney to discuss her sentimental comedy-drama ‘The Miracle Club’, which follows a group of Dublin women in 1960’s Ireland as they embark on a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Mark offers his own thoughts on the film, while also giving his take on ‘Blackberry’, a Glenn Howerton-starring biographical drama about the rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone; ‘Silver Dollar Road’, Raoul Peck’s latest documentary about a Black family’s decades-long legal fight to maintain ownership of their coastal property in North Carolina; and ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, a Mike Flanagan-helmed Netflix horror miniseries loosely based on the Edgar Allan Poe short story of the same name.

Mark and Ben also take us through the Box Office Top 10 and the film events worth catching in this week’s What’s On.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

09:37 Silver Dollar Road Review

18:12 Box Office Top Ten

20:17 Blackberry Mini Review

34:49 Laura Linney Interview

49:12 The Miracle Club Review

55:23 Laughter Lift

01:04:34 Fall Of the House of Usher Review

01:09:47 What's On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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This week, Simon sits down with director Gareth Edwards to talk about his new AI-centred sci-fi action thriller epic, ‘The Creator’. Mark reviewed this last week.

Other films Mark gives his takes on include ‘The Exorcist: Believer’, the sixth instalment of the horror franchise, which sees Hollywood icon Ellen Burstyn reprise her role from the original film; ‘The Burial’, a Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones-helmed legal drama about a lawyer who helps a funeral home-owner save his family business from a corporate behemoth; and ‘The Great Escaper’, which sees a World War 2 veteran, played by Michael Caine, escape from his care home to attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in France.

Our dynamic duo also takes us through the Box Office Top 10 and the film events worth catching in this week’s What’s On.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

09:59 The Great Escaper Review

20:59 Box Office Top Ten

30:50 Gareth Edwards Interview

49:00 The Burial Review

52:59 Laughter Lift

56:53 The Exorcist: Believer Review

01:06:06 What's On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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This week’s episode sees Simon interview director Craig Gillespie, to discuss his film 'Dumb Money’, which is based on the true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning GameStop(!) into the world's hottest company. Mark reviewed this in full last week.

Other films Mark reviews include ‘The Creator’ - set against the backdrop of a war between humans and robots with AI, a former soldier finds a secret weapon, which turns out to be a robot in the form of a child. Plus ‘Saw X’, where John is back; he travels to Mexico for a risky, experimental medical procedure in the hopes of a miracle cure for cancer... only to discover the entire operation is a scam.

Obviously they also cover the Box Office Top 10, plus it’s a bumper episode for What’s On.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

09:46 The Creator Review

20:19 Box Office Top Ten

38:15 Craig Gillespie Interview

58:04 Laughter Lift

01:03:08 Saw X Review

01:11:25 What's On

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts

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The smash-hit interview podcast Out To Lunch is out now, with a sparkly new host on dining duty: the much loved British actor, comedian and writer Ade Edmondson.

Ade takes guests such as Chrissie Hynde, Reece Shearsmith, Tony Visconti, Daisy Haggard and Ed Byrne to a top restaurant whilst you get to hear the witty and wonderous conversation. It’s like you’re sat at the table next to us.

After breaking into the comedy circuit in the 1980s, Edmondson starred in countless British films and TV shows, including seminal comedy The Young Ones and alongside his wife, Jennifer Saunders as part of the legendary Comic Strip Presents. Ade’s more recent projects include Rain Dogs with Daisy May Cooper, Back to Life with Daisy Haggard and as Captain Peavey in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Having won Celebrity MasterChef and 'star baker' in The Great Sports Relief Bake Off, Ade will leave the cooking to the professionals...

A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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More Mark, more Simon, more mindless natter – and some movie reviews for good measure!

This week’s episode sees Simon sit down with director and Take diehard Alice Troughton, who’s in the studio to discuss her film debut ‘The Lesson’, a mystery-thriller about an aspiring young writer who accepts a tutoring position at the estate of his literary idol only to become ensnared in a web of family secrets.

Mark also offers his thoughts on the film, along with reviewing ‘Dumb Money’, Craig Gillespie’s star-studded dramatisation of the David-and-Goliath, real events, which saw a group of savvy Redditors game the stock market, making a mall video game store the world’s hottest company in the process; and ‘Expend4bles’, the fourth instalment of the Stallone and Statham-helmed franchise, which sees the team assigned to stop a terrorist organisation smuggling nuclear warheads that will ignite a conflict between Russia and the US. High-octane indeed.

The Box Office Top 10 and What’s On are covered as usual.

Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):

11:36 Dumb Money Review

22:38 Box Office Top Ten

35:29 Alice Troughton Interview

52:11 The Lesson Review

58:44 Laughter Lift

01:00:17 What's On

01:05:00 Expend4bles Review

You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts

To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

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