Filmspotting

This year’s Oscar ceremony is bound to get political, but how might Oscar voters send a message with their ballots? Adam and guest host Michael Phillips try to stay above the political fray during their Oscar preview special: who will win, who should win - and who got snubbed. Plus, Massacre Theatre and Michael shares some thoughts on Jordan Peele's GET OUT.0:00-2:08 - Billboard3:33-29:35 - Oscar PicksGlen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, "Falling Slowly"32:23-47:33 - Notes / Massacre Theatre47:33-50:33 - Michael Recommends: "Get Out"55:45-1:24:58 - Oscar Picks, cont.1:24:58-1:30:46 - Close / Outtake 

When the Keanu Reeves revenge tale JOHN WICK opened back in 2014, it made a modest $80 million at the box office. But in the couple years since it has acquired something almost as valuable as money: cult status. That cult fervor was rewarded with a sequel: JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2, with Reeves battling some of the world's deadliest killers. We dig into the Wick phenomenon with reviews of both the original and the new entry, plus thoughts on THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE. 0:00-2:39 - Billboard2:39-36:29 - Sacred Cow: "John Wick"Tinariwen, "Assawt"38:18-47:20 - Notes / Polls47:20-57:10 - Review: "The Lego Batman Movie"Tinariwen, "Sastanaqqam"58:20-1:02:57 - Donations1:02:57-1:23:04 - Review: "John Wick: Chapter 2"1:23:04-1:28:55 - Close / Outtake

With the opening weeks of the new administration marked by political protest, Adam and Josh invite critic Michael Sicinski to share his Top 5 Political Resistance Movies. Plus, they cross off a major shared blind spot – the seminal resistance film THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS (1966) – and discuss the next film in their Luis Bunuel Marathon, TRISTANA.0:00-3:54 - Billboard3:54-39:29 - Top 5: Political Resistance MoviesSouad Massi, "Bima el'taaloul"40:30-52:56 - Notes / Massacre Theatre52:56-1:12:10 - Blindspotting: "The Battle of Algiers"Souad Massi, "Hadari"1:13:08-1:20:19 - Donations1:20:19-1:40:09 - Buñuel #5: "Tristana"1:40:09-1:52:55 - Close / Hot Mics

The short version of Filmspotting's 2017 Movie Preview is easy: it starts with "Last" and ends with "Jedi." For a longer take, listen to this week's show, as Adam and Josh pose their top 5 questions about the new movie year. Plus, a little Oscar talk and Josh's recap of his time at the Sundance Film Festival. 0:00-1:41 - Billboard1:41-30:18 - 2017 Movie PreviewJapandroids, "Near To The Wild Heart Of Life" 31:35-44:59 - Notes / Oscars Nominations44:59-59:24 - Sundance RecapJapandroids, "No Known Drink Or Drug" 1:00:26-1:03:28 - Donations1:03:28-1:46:29 - Buñuel #4: "Diary Of A Chambermaid"1:46:29-1:52:43 - Close / Hot Mics ("Split")

With it's 14 Oscar nominations, the 2017 Best Picture Oscar seems LA LA LAND’s to lose. In the role of spoiler? The critically adored MOONLIGHT, director Barry Jenkins’ poetic and moving coming of age tale set in 1980s Miami. This week on the show, revisit Adam's conversation with Jenkins and Naomie Harris, one of the film’s Oscar-nominated stars. Plus, the December review of LA LA LAND. (And stick around post-credits for some ARRIVAL spoiler talk.)0:00-1:46 - Billboard3:36-26:55 - Interview: Barry Jenkins & Naomie Harris26:55-40:00 - Review: "Moonlight""Another Day of Sun," La La Land42:06-45:00 - Notes45:00-1:10:40 - Review: "La La Land"1:10:40-1:26:40 - Close / Spoiler talk: "Arrival"

For Filmspotting's annual year-end Wrap Party, Adam, Josh and some very special guests set up camp on Chicago's South Side for a live show dedicated to some of the most memorable movie moments of 2016. Michael Phillips, Tasha Robinson and more share their favorite scenes of the year, plus live Massacre Theatre and the winner of the 2016 Golden Brick. 0:00-1:00 - Billboard1:00-16:27 - Intro / Opening Scene16:27-46:34 - Funniest Scene / Music Moment47:10-54:44 - Notes / Massacre Theatre54:44-1:09:43 - Moving Moment1:09:43-1:16:05 - Golden Brick Award1:16:05-1:38:04 - Scene of the Year1:38:04-1:46:54 - Close

The Filmspotting New Year's 'Fix' show has featured some memorable battles over the years (2015's "Wolf of Wall Street" v "American Hustle"; 2016's "Hateful Eight" v "The Revenant"), but the 2017 edition is a friendlier affair, with positive reviews of recent releases from Jim Jarmusch (PATERSON) and Denzel Washington (FENCES). Plus, we revisit of one of the highlights of 2016 - comedian/activist W. Kamau Bell's Top 5 Denzel Washinton Performances. 0:00-2:36 - Billboard2:36-54:22 - "Paterson," Golden Brick Feedback, "Fences""Car Cleveland," John Lurie ("Stranger Than Paradise")56:16-1:28:48 - Top 5: Denzel Washinton Performances1:28:48-1:32:34 - Close

2016 was a tough year. We lost icons like Prince, David Bowie and just days ago Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. And how about that not-divisive-at-all campaign season? So we’re due for a little silver lining. This week, with The Next Picture Show's Scott Tobias and Genevieve Koski, Adam and Josh celebrate the good that 2016 brought us with part two of the Top 10 Films of 2016 countdown.0:00-1:08 - Billboard1:08-1:03:55 - Top 10 of 2016: #5-3"The Middle of the World," Moonlight1:05:27-1:15:22 - Massacre Theatre1:15:22-1:57:47 - Top 10 of 2016: #2-11:57:47-2:00:17 - Close

A lot of usual suspects at the top of the box office charts in 2016: Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Disney and Harry Potter. And a lot of those movies? Not bad actually. But what are the year’s great films? The Next Picture Show's Scott Tobias and Genevieve Koski join Adam and Josh for part one of the Top 10 Films of 2016 Roundtable.0:00-1:17 - Billboard1:17-48:03 - Top 10 of 2016: #10-9"Heptapod B," Arrival48:56-1:51:54 - Top 10 of 2016: #8-61:51:54-1:55:51 - Close

There’s no such thing as a small Star Wars movie, but without a roman numeral anywhere in its title the new ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY promises something different. But does it deliver on that promise? This week, a review of the season's most anticipated movie. Plus - ahead of next week's Top 10 of the year roundtable - Adam and Josh throw an old school year-end blowout, sharing their favorite 2016 performances, documentaries, music and more.0:00-1:11 - Billboard1:11-25:11 - Review "Rogue One""No Woman," Whitney26:34-1:10:48 - 2016 Blowout1:10:48-1:13:27 - Close

It says something about the contemporary movie landscape that the prospect of a new live-action movie musical is as much of a curiosity as the high-profile appearance of a silent film back in 2011. Of course that 2011 silent - THE ARTIST - went on to win a Best Picture Oscar, which may bode well for director Damien Chazelle’s LA LA LAND, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. A review of LA LA LAND, plus Michael Phillips and guest Desiree Garcia (star of Chazelle's "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench") share their Top 5 Movie Musical Numbers.  0:00-1:41 - Billboard1:41-30:18 - Review "La La Land""City of Stars," Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone ("La La Land")31:35-44:59 - Notes / Massacre Theatre44:59-59:24 - Golden Brick Finalists"Cheek to Cheek," Ella Fitzgerald1:00:26-1:03:28 - Donations1:03:28-1:46:29 - Top 5: Musical Numbers1:46:29-1:52:43 - Close

In most teen coming of age movies, it’s usually the boys who do the coming of age. But in THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN, the focus is squarely on the girls. First-time feature director Kelly Fremon Craig’s film has been praised by critics, but mostly ignored by audiences. Adam and Josh share some praise of their own and TCM's Marya E. Gates calls in to share her picks for the Top 5 Teen Girl Movies Directed by Women. Plus: some post-credits ARRIVAL spoiler talk.  0:00-1:23 - Billboard1:23-30:49 - Review "The Edge of Seventeen""Vanity," Mica Levi (Jackie)31:44-45:26 - Notes / Polls45:26-57:01 - Golden Brickspotting"The End," Mica Levi (Jackie)57:59-1:02:30 - Donations1:02:30-1:36:14 - Top 5: Teen Girl Movies Directed By Women1:36:14-1:53:07 - Close / Spoiler Talk: "Arrival"

Movies can entertain us, transport us and move us, but can they heal us? That’s the question Adam, Josh and Michael Phillips wrestled with as they considered titles for their Top 5 Movies that Console and Restore Hope. That Top 5 and more recorded live at Schubas Tavern as part of the first annual Chicago Podcast Festival.0:00-0:55 - Billboard0:55-25:06 - Top 5: Movies That Console and Restore HopeMusic: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, "I'm Still Here"26:38-1:03:09 - Top 5, cont.1:03:09-1:08:58 - Close

With Thanksgiving approaching, Adam and Josh give a shout out to some of the year's best overlooked movies. Along with the shortlist for the 2016 Golden Brick Award (many of which are available to rent or stream), hear replays of Adam's interview with THE WITNESS director James Solomon and July's review of THE FITS.0:00-1;11 - Billboard1:11-28:39 - Review: "The Fits"Music: Glen Phillips, "Grief and Praise"29:42-44:13 - Golden Brick Shortlist44:13-45:36 - Interview: James Solomon1:18:10-1:20:52 - Close

Aliens come to movie screens in a few different ways. Sometimes they come in peace; sometimes they come to destroy; and sometimes… well sometimes they just come. In ARRIVAL, the new sci-fi film from SICARIO director Denis Villeneuve, they do just come - and it’s up to Amy Adams' language specialist to figure out why. On this week's show, Josh and guest host Michael Phillips have a review. Plus, thoughts on Jeff Nichols’ LOVING and Mel Gibson's HACKSAW RIDGE.0:00-1:48 - Billboard1:48-23:43 - Review: "Loving"Charles Bradley, "God Bless America"25:08-39:01 - Notes / Massacre Theatre39:01-51:50 - Review: "Hacksaw Ridge"Charles Bradley, "Changes"53:10-1:08:05 - Review: "Arrival"1:08:05-1:12:10 - Close / Outtake