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Unspooled

Paul Scheer & Amy Nicholson | Realm

Each week actor & comedian Paul Scheer (Black Monday, The League) and film critic Amy Nicholson (LA Times Chief Film Critic ) watch and discuss the best movies out there. From the classics to new releases and every indie film in-between. Along the way, they’ll dissect iconic scenes, spotlight their favorite characters, and decide if these movies still stand the test of time.

tv & film film reviews

All Episodes

73:32

Hereditary (with David Ehrlich)

Unspooled ·

2026/10/08

This week Amy sits down with IndieWire film critic David Ehrlich to talk about Ari Aster's chilling debut, Hereditary. The two recall their unforgettable first screening at Sundance and explore how the film transforms family trauma, grief, and generational guilt into a movie that helped establish A24 as a defining force in modern horror. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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67:27

Salt (with Ira Madison III)

Unspooled ·

2026/10/01

Amy welcomes Ira Madison III to go undercover with Salt, the 2010 spy thriller that gave Angelina Jolie a chance to go full action hero. They dig into the movie’s wild development, from a Tom Cruise vehicle about “Edwin A. Salt” to Jolie’s gender-swapped Evelyn Salt, and celebrate the practical stunts, shifting loyalties, and increasingly bonkers twists that make the movie such a fun ride. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord athttps://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul

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81:51

Almost Famous (with Alan Sepinwall)

Unspooled ·

2026/09/24

With Paul away, Amy hits the road with TV critic and former Rolling Stone writer Alan Sepinwall to revisit Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, the coming-of-age rock movie about a teenage journalist, a very complicated band, and the blurry line between access and honesty. They dig into Crowe’s autobiographical story, the film’s legendary cast, and its many musical highs, while exploring what it means to be a critic when you’re also a fan. Along the way, Amy and Alan debate Lester Bangs’ advice, the power

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80:09

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (with Julie Klausner)

Unspooled ·

2026/09/17

While Paul is away, Amy welcomes comedian and writer Julie Klausner to dive into Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Russ Meyer’s gloriously outrageous collision of sex, drugs, rock and roll, and barely contained chaos. Originally conceived as a sequel to Valley of the Dolls, the film evolved into something far stranger, dropping three aspiring stars into a debaucherous version of Los Angeles. Amy and Julie dig into Roger Ebert’s unlikely screenwriting career, Jacqueline Susann’s $10 million lawsuit,

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61:11

Summer Movie Recap 2026

Unspooled ·

2026/09/10

Paul and Amy look back at the wild summer of 2026, a blockbuster season that brought audiences back to theaters and delivered one of the most lucrative summers in over a decade. From The Invite and Jackass Forever to The Odyssey, Minions and Monsters, and Toy Story 5, they dig into a surprisingly diverse group of hits and ask whether the era of chasing movie trends is finally giving way to something simpler: good storytelling. Along the way, they explore the return of the mid-budget movie, the

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53:34

Hudson Hawk (with David Hughes)

Unspooled ·

2026/09/03

Paul and Amy embrace an ambitious failure with Hudson Hawk, the gloriously strange Bruce Willis passion project that went from bar-napkin idea to legendary box-office flop. They dig into the movie’s chaotic production with journalist David Hughes to explore the clashing scripts, candy-bar CIA agents, singing cat burglars, and the impossible balancing act of trying to be both cool and completely ridiculous. Was Hudson Hawk simply a bad movie, or a fascinating movie that never found its right version

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73:12

Interview with the Vampire

Unspooled ·

2026/08/27

Paul and Amy sink their teeth into Interview with the Vampire, the movie project that spent nearly two decades trying to make it to the screen. They trace Anne Rice’s fiercely specific vision, unpack the unexpected pairing of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, and explore how a controversial casting choice became a box-office smash. Along the way, they dig into the film’s lush gothic style, its unmistakable queer subtext, and the complicated relationship at the heart of this very glamorous vampire

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55:27

Reel Confessions: Josh Greenbaum

Unspooled ·

2026/08/20

Director, screenwriter, and producer Josh Greenbaum enters the Reel Confessions booth to spill his movie hot takes (and a few opinions that might get him kicked out of the theater).You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord athttps://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes!https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s book Joyful Recollections of Trauma is out now! Find it

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68:23

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Unspooled ·

2026/08/13

Paul and Amy head down to the Mississippi Delta with O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the Coen Brothers’ Depression-era odyssey that transformed Homer’s epic into a bluegrass-fueled American fable. They unpack George Clooney’s career-defining comedic turn, the film’s groundbreaking digital look, and the skillful way the Coens balance myth, music, and absurdity. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord athttps://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of

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27:30

Reel Confessions: David Wain

Unspooled ·

2026/08/07

David Wain steps into the confession booth to talk cult classics, cinematic blind spots, and the movies that shaped his comedy. Paul and Amy chat with the Wet Hot American Summer creator about his new film Gail Doughtry and the Celebrity Sex Tape, fan-favorite quotes he barely remembers, and the jokes from Role Models that haven't quite stood the test of time.You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord athttps://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of

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70:40

Rerun: Wet Hot American Summer

Unspooled ·

2026/08/06

To celebrate the 25th anniversary theatrical re-release of Wet Hot American Summer, we're revisiting Paul and Amy’s deep dive into the beloved cult comedy. They trace the film’s scrappy journey from The State to Camp Towanda, unpack its stacked cast of future stars, and explore how a box-office flop became one of the most influential comedies of its generation.You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord athttps://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more

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81:37

Drive

Unspooled ·

2026/07/30

Paul and Amy hit the gas with Drive, Nicolas Winding Refn’s hypnotic neo-noir that transformed a would-be studio action movie into one of the defining films of the 2010s. They trace the unlikely collaboration between Refn and Ryan Gosling, unpack the film’s dreamlike blend of pop music, brutal violence, and Los Angeles noir, and revisit the movie’s famously misleading marketing.You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord athttps://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on

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64:06

The Odyssey (with Lucas Matthew Herchenroeder)

Unspooled ·

2026/07/25

Amy drops an emergency Unspooled episode to unpack Christopher Nolan’s epic take on The Odyssey, joined by USC classics professor Lucas Herrenroeder. Together they compare Homer’s original poem with Nolan’s bold reinterpretation, exploring everything from its Bronze Age authenticity and towering Cyclops sequence to the film’s treatment of Circe, the sirens, and the gods themselves. Along the way, they debate what Nolan changes, what he leaves behind, and how his version reframes Odysseus as a flawed

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81:17

An American Tail

Unspooled ·

2026/07/23

Paul and Amy set sail with An American Tail, Don Bluth’s sweeping animated tale of immigration, family, and hope. They trace Bluth’s break from Disney, debate the film's emotional impact, and celebrate how the film’s blend of darkness and optimism helped reshape the future of American animation. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord athttps://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot

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71:07

Superbad

Unspooled ·

2026/07/16

Paul and Amy revisit Superbad, the coming-of-age comedy that turned awkward adolescence into an instant classic. They trace the film’s origins from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s teenage years, celebrate the breakout performances of Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Emma Stone, and explore how Judd Apatow and director Greg Mottola transformed a raunchy teen comedy into a surprisingly heartfelt story about friendship and growing up. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord

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94:11

The Muppet Movie (with BenDavid Grabinski)

Unspooled ·

2026/07/09

While Amy's away, Paul welcomes writer-director BenDavid Grabinski for a Critics’ Choice celebrating The Muppet Movie. Together they revisit Jim Henson’s big-screen breakthrough, exploring how its blend of heartfelt storytelling, meta Hollywood satire, groundbreaking puppetry, and unforgettable songs turned a road trip with a frog into one of cinema’s most magical family films. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord athttps://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on

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71:47

Gremlins

Unspooled ·

2026/07/02

Paul and Amy unwrap Gremlins, Joe Dante’s delightfully chaotic holiday classic that proved cute can turn catastrophic in the blink of an eye. They trace the film’s journey from Chris Columbus’s much darker original script to Spielberg’s Amblin-produced crowd-pleaser, and unpack the inspired decision to keep Gizmo a hero instead of remaining a villain. Along the way, they explore the film’s sharp satire of consumerism, suburbia, and media overload, celebrate its groundbreaking practical effects, and

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83:55

Nope

Unspooled ·

2026/06/25

Paul and Amy continue their alien-movie streak alive with Nope, Jordan Peele’s ambitious sci-fi spectacle. They revisit the Haywood siblings’ quest to capture the impossible on camera, celebrate Keke Palmer’s star-making performance, and unpack the unforgettable menace of Jean Jacket, one of the most original movie monsters in recent memory. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot

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79:51

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Unspooled ·

2026/06/18

Paul and Amy look to the skies with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Steven Spielberg’s awe-inspiring follow-up to Jaws and one of cinema’s most influential visions of alien contact. They unpack the film’s ambitious production, from Spielberg’s growing creative confidence, Douglas Trumbull’s groundbreaking effects work and the casting. Along the way, they explore the movie’s themes of obsession, faith, communication, and government secrecy, and why its sense of wonder still feels so powerful

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75:19

Die Hard 2 (with Jorma Taccone)

Unspooled ·

2026/06/11

With Amy reporting from Cannes, Paul welcomes Jorma Taccone for a Dealer’s Choice episode on Die Hard 2, the explosive sequel that takes John McClane to a snowbound airport under siege. Together they make the case for one of action cinema’s most underrated follow-ups, celebrating Bruce Willis’s swagger, Renny Harlin’s direction, and the sequel’s knack for escalating the stakes without losing sight of character. They also dive into the film's practical effects, memorable villains, and why Die Hard 2

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487 results

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