I first considered using the ending image at the airport because it seemed fitting being the last movie on the list. But I found this one and a toast seemed more appropriate.
Paul & Amy will always have 1942’s Humphrey Bogart WWII romance Casablanca! They learn the trick Bogart used to make himself a magnetic romantic lead, ask each other what their most used Casablanca quote is, and watch an alternate ending as imagined by The Simpsons. Plus: Ben Mankiewicz (TCM, The Plot Thickens) shares why he thinks Casablanca is a greatest-film-of-all-time contender.
I had been saving up some of Paul’s “mustache” photos just for this movie. I hadn’t planned originally to use an image with Katherine Ross but this was for sure the right one to go with.
Paul & Amy make a last stand for 1969’s mythic Western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! They praise the film’s use of montage, discuss how the unusually light tone sets it apart from other Westerns, and contemplate whether Steve McQueen could have played Sundance as well as Robert Redford. Plus: Author Thom Hatch (The Last Outlaws) tells us the stories of the real life Butch and Sundance he wishes made it into the film.
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/butch-cassidy-and-the-sundance-kid/
I first considered using an image from the scene with the mayor at the billboard with UNSPOOLED being spray painted. Then I looked at either the scar sharing scene or something on the Orca deck. Then thought about a gif of Paul and Amy being eaten by the shark (e.g. Quint). But I realized I was overthinking it and did this instead.
Amy & Paul take a bite out of 1975’s blockbuster Spielberg creature feature Jaws! They take a close listen to John Williams’ iconic score, praise the way Spielberg adds emotional stakes to the story, and ask whether Jurassic Park does much of what Jaws does, but better. Plus: Hannah Medd, founder of the American Shark Conservancy, weighs in on whether dolphins are bigger jerks than sharks.
I originally wanted to use an image from the hitchhiking scene, and actually found one that would have worked great. But I stumbled on the cover from the Criterion Collection and it was so charming I couldn’t resist it.
Paul & Amy piggyback onto 1934’s Frank Capra romantic comedy It Happened One Night! They ask if this script fits the “screwball” mold, praise Claudette Colbert for subverting the cliches of the genre, and learn how Clark Gable inspired Bugs Bunny. Plus: which romantic comedies would Unspooled listeners add to the AFI list?
I found the perfect Italian poster to work from. It was a little work to take off the words but so worth it.
Paul & Amy crank through 1936’s mechanical Charlie Chaplin comedy Modern Times! They praise the film’s ever-escalating setpieces, learn why Joseph Goebbels banned it in Germany, and ponder how much the working world has really changed since the 30s. Plus: We hear your recommendations for other silent films to add to the list.
A bit of a challenge on this one to find a way to match a very simplistic illustration style. It was a nice change to what I usually do.
Paul & Amy mosey into 1953’s archetypal western Shane! They learn about star Alan Ladd’s often tragic life, examine how director George Stevens made gun violence feel heightened, and play a referential clip from the X-Men film Logan. Plus: Digging into your thoughts and theories on Blade Runner.
If this one had come up earlier in the run I don’t think it would have turned out as well. No matter how much you know about something you learn more everyday. I’ve definitely gotten better and learned a few tricks to doing these.
Amy & Paul run through 1982’s moody Ridley Scott dystopia Blade Runner! They listen to the infamous original voiceover, learn what inspired Philip K. Dick’s source material, and yes, give their theories on whether Deckard is a replicant. Plus: Screenwriter David Peoples explains which pivotal scene makes the whole film work.
Sometimes the most well known ones are the trickiest. It was difficult to find an image where anyone wasn’t fighting or posed in a tricky, moody way (see: Tennessee Williams). I wasn’t thrilled with how this one turned out, but I think it works well enough. Proportions can be tricky from person to person.
Paul & Amy roll into 1951’s Southern Gothic Tennessee Williams drama A Streetcar Named Desire! They compare the opposite physicality of Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh, analyze the buildup to Brando’s famous scream, and listen to a montage of musical Streetcar references. Plus: Brian Lohmann from the Impro Theater discusses improvising in the style of Tennessee Williams.
Getting to use a photo of Paul with his mustache is always a bonus. The lighting here is so tricky it was hard to make it all fit in, but I did the best I could. I also didn’t care for the original title on this version, so I found one from another poster and recreated it to give it some color and fit the space better.
Amy and Paul cross 1957’s David Lean WWII epic The Bridge On The River Kwai! They explore the career of star Sessue Hayakawa, ask why Lean’s tyrannical methods pop up so often in the AFI 100, and compare the film to author Pierre Boulle’s other famous work “Planet Of The Apes.” Plus: responding to your comments on Goodfellas, and the passing of Fred Willard and Lynn Shelton.
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/the-bridge-on-the-river-kwai/
This one was pretty easy all things considered. It’s a well known poster and it wasn’t hard to find photos that worked with it. Just a matter of getting the shadows similar and the right fonts.
Amy & Paul jump into 1990’s kinetic Scorcese mob epic Goodfellas! They learn some of the wild details about Henry Hill that didn’t make it into the film, discover the origins of the Morrie’s Wigs commercial, and ask if there are too many gangster films on the AFI list. Plus: Chef Evan Funke (The Shape Of Pasta) shares a tomato sauce recipe you can make even in quarantine.
This one was a little tricky for a few reasons. One being the posters were all illustrations of just one woman or they were wide shots of the elaborate sets. After a lot of searching I found this movie advertising poster and then filled in the windows with screen caps while watching the movie.
Paul & Amy gawk at 1916’s D.W. Griffith silent spectacle Intolerance! They praise the eternally cool Mountain Girl, ask if Griffith was the original ‘troll’ director, and marvel at the ambition on display in the oldest film on the AFI list. Plus: Unpacking your thoughts on Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Another stylized illustration that I wasn’t sure would work, but it was too good not to use. I think the illustrations of Paul and Amy’s faces blends nicely but still stand out.
Paul & Amy salute to 1942’s Jimmy Cagney musical extravaganza Yankee Doodle Dandy! They analyze the film as a template for modern musical biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody, break down a bizarre proposal scene, and learn how the real life political views of Jimmy Cagney clashed with his subject George M. Cohan. Plus: listeners offer their thoughts on Cabaret!
I actually made an entirely different one to start one and disliked it so much I started all over. Sometimes you just have to back out. This one is so much better. And it allowed me turn the title on it's side like it is on a lot of posters and I think that looks very nice.
Amy & Paul strut through 1972’s Weimar Berlin-set musical Cabaret! They learn about the many forms this story took before becoming a film, discuss a scene that foreshadows today’s “fake news” era, and ask if Liza Minnelli is too good of a singer to play Sally Bowles. Plus: Adam Pascal, who played the Emcee in the revival of Cabaret, talks about why he finds the character so unnerving.
This one “wrote itself”. It was just a matter of finding a good photo on the bikes and then pics of Amy and Paul that would fit the space. It turned out fun. Paul seems to be enjoying it.
Amy & Paul hit the road for 1969’s counter-cultural tone piece Easy Rider! They learn what Spiro Agnew thought of this film, compare its drug trip moments to the films it inspired, and ask what the controversial ending is really trying to say. Plus: listeners dig deeper into Sullivan’s Travels’ take on poverty.
Sometime's I start down a path on these and I have to stop and try something new cause it just doesn't work. And then other times I get so far into that I have to keep going and come out on the other side. That was this one. But I was thrilled with how it turned out. It's tricky to get photos to a point they actually start to match that very specific illustrator style. I really love this one.
Paul & Amy travel to 1941’s Preston Sturges Hollywood farce Sullivan’s Travels! They learn why the US government made Veronica Lake’s hairstyle illegal, praise the screenplay’s rapid-fire dialogue, and ask if this is actually Sturges’ best film or just his best known. Plus: More thoughts on the amazing career of Sidney Lumet.
I kind of love how Amy looks a little crazy with the knife. Sometimes I want to use Paul or Amy as a certain person on the poster, but it won’t always line up with photos that are available of them. I was happy about the title usage. Those are always fun to make.
Amy & Paul deliberate over 1957’s Sidney Lumet jury-room drama 12 Angry Men! They ask if all-male juries were ever common, compare Lumet’s version to William Friedkin’s remake, and praise the powerful performances in this ever-relevant film, Plus: Jury consultant Marissa Beyers talk about how jury selection has evolved since the 50s.
This was a last second change (for obvious reasons), but with plenty of free time to work on it. There is a more vertical version of this poster but I chose this one so the Amy and Paul images were bigger and easily identifiable. Hitchcock posters are always fun to work on and look through.
Paul & Amy peer into 1957’s voyeuristic Hitchcock thriller Rear Window! They learn how the magnificent set was constructed, marvel at Jimmy Stewart’s portrayal of a man on the moral edge, and discuss why Grace Kelly is not a “Lisa.” Plus: Lane Moore, author of How To Be Alone, talks about how she deals with loneliness and isolation.
This one was tricky since most all the posters I could find were illustrations, and not always the best. But I did find one that was an advertisement for the movie at a theater. So I went with that and took a photo at our local historic cinema, that first opened in 1922 (shout out Kentucky Theatre), and used the poster display there.
Amy & Paul rise up for 1927’s expressionist F.W. Murnau masterwork Sunrise! They learn how Janet Gaynor won the Best Actress Oscar for three films at once, praise the film’s groundbreaking soundtrack, and ask how such a simple story can resonate so strongly. Plus: Animal trainer Laura Bourhenne talks about the challenges of training pigs.
The original poster is just the illustration of the hand figure, so I had to piece something together, which happens often. I found one of the “lobby car” posters to use as a frame, and then replaced the image with another scene that had the characters I needed. Paul’s hair really adds to this one.
Paul & Amy enlist for 1970’s groundbreaking Robert Altman war comedy M*A*S*H! They work to separate the film from the iconic TV show, dissect a controversial scene with Sally Kellerman, and explore how this film was a precursor for 70s comedy to come. Plus: Tom Skerritt (Duke Forrest) explains how Altman made his career.
So I didn't know the next movie was Parasite until the Sound of Music episode came out. But sometimes it works out better when I can't over think things. I didn't feel it would be right to replace any of the characters with two white Americans so I added Paul and Amy into the window next to the kid. The reflection and coloring worked really well and blended it all together. Then it was just adding the white box over the eyes and it was all done. Really loved doing this one.
Paul & Amy latch on to 2019’s Best Picture winning Korean class parable Parasite! They talk about overcoming the “one inch barrier of subtitles,” praise director Bong Joon Ho’s use of lines and vertical camera movement, and learn about Bong’s political awakening and how it inspired the film. Plus: Justin Chang (LA Times, NPR) tells us what the reaction to Parasite was like at Cannes.
I decided to do an album cover for this one… seemed only right. And the original was so fun and had all the elements I wanted. The UNSPOOLED logo repeating pattern on the record’s envelope was a nice little touch.
Amy & Paul yodel through 1965’s blockbuster musical The Sound Of Music! They learn the history of the real Trapp family singers, contemplate Julie Andrews’ post-Sound Of Music career, and ask if the story of the film holds up as well as the songs. Plus: Composer and lyricist Adam Guettel (The Light In The Piazza) talks about his relationship with his grandfather, Richard Rodgers.
The original poster for this one is mostly copy and the tiniest black and white photo of Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine ever. So this one is from a later treatment. I added the key/keychain from the original poster.
Amy & Paul check in to 1960’s Billy Wilder-helmed romantic comedy The Apartment! They learn about the real life murder that inspired this story, ask if there’s an actor like Jack Lemmon working today, and discover what Nikita Khruschev thought of the film. Plus: Revisiting your thoughts on The Wild Bunch!
A couple tricky things with this movie was not highlighting the guns and also most of the images are silouettes. I managed to highlight the movie (and Paul's mustache) without highlighting guns by going for a DVD treatment. I've said it before, but luckily Paul and Amy naturally look good in cowboy hats. That makes it so much easier.
Paul & Amy light up 1969’s rebellious Sam Peckinpah Western The Wild Bunch! They marvel at the stunts the volatile Peckinpah pulled, praise his inventive flashbacks, and debate the film’s use of laughter. Plus: Director S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk) talks about why The Wild Bunch is one of his favorite films.
The dance of the rolls was what I knew I needed to reference for this one… and it really only works with movement. And these are always fun and silly to make.
Amy & Paul dig into 1925’s chilly Charlie Chaplin comedy The Gold Rush! They wonder whether the Tramp smells bad, learn about the tradition of Christmas crackers, and ask if this is the best Chaplin film on the AFI list. Plus: Composer Cliff Retallick talk about what it’s like to compose for silent film screenings.
I knew I wanted to use the bomb drop shot since it’s easily the most iconic shot of the film. Finding a pic of Paul yelling was pretty simple…. Amy not as much. But I made due. I do love the type treatment, which was from the Criterion Collection based on the open credits.
Paul & Amy sap your bodily fluids with 1964’s Cold War satire Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb! They unpack how director Stanley Kubrick manipulated his cast to get the best performances, learn the origin of Strangelove’s voice, and play a Strangelove-inspired song by a classic SoCal punk band. Plus: recapping the Golden Globes!
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/dr-strangelove-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-bomb/
I originally wanted to use the 1978 reissue poster for this episode. (Luke and Leia are prominent on that one.) Then something just clicked into my mind and I thought “Action figures!” I found some great images of the original figures in packaging and the rest fell into place pretty easily. I started by changing the Kenner logo into Unspooled. The episode and AFI number are in the top right corner replacing the toy number. Then I had a photo of Paul from NTSF:SD:SUV:: and the wig and pose was perfect. For Amy I found a photo of her in headphones and that made the most sense for Leia’s buns. Add their Star Wars names to the label and a few tweaks to the figures and it’s one of my favorites!
Amy & Paul make the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs to 1977’s George Lucas space fantasy Star Wars! They learn why Carrie Fisher hated those buns, praise the visionary designs of Ralph McQuarrie, and ask if we can still appreciate it as a single film in a post Star Wars world. Plus: Paul Hirsch, the editor of Star Wars, talks about bringing Lucas’ vision to the final cut.
I was lucky to find this version of the poster that wasn’t just Robert De Niro’s face up-close. Having Cathy Moriarty on the poster was key. Again, any time I can come very close to the type style of the original I’m thrilled.
Paul & Amy go toe-to-toe with 1980’s Martin Scorcese boxing biopic Raging Bull! They learn how De Niro gained so much weight for his role as Jake Lamotta, wonder why there are so many boxing films on the AFI list, and ask if this is Scorcese’s best examination of toxic masculinity. Plus: Cinematographer Michael Chapman talks about bringing the camera into the ring to film the famous fight scenes.
I knew exactly which part of the movie I wanted to highlight for this one. The vest and tie combo is so iconic I wouldn’t have needed the title, but the font is also so iconic I had to use it too. (I am always a sucker for a good font.)
Paul & Amy clear their throat for 1977’s Woody Allen breakthrough “Annie Hall”! They ask how autobiographical the film is, learn who else was considered for that Marshall McLuhan cameo, and decide if the list absolutely needs a Woody Allen film. Plus: Tony Roberts, who plays Rob in the film, talks about his relationship with Woody.
Most posters for this movie were just head shots or two characters in a romantic embrace. Neither was working for me. Luckily I stumbled on this one that also showed the WWII element of the movie but with a male and female character.
Amy & Paul return home to 1946’s post-WWII drama The Best Years Of Our Lives! They praise the natural performance of first-time actor Harold Russell, compare the film’s style to noir movies and Network, and learn how the Hayes code circumscribed the film’s portrayal of veterans. Plus: Comedian Santina Muha talks about why disabled people’s representation is so important.
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/the-best-years-of-our-lives/
I really wanted to use the bench for this one since it is the most iconic part of the movie but to do that I actually had to watch the movies and get screen captures of a scene that would work. Surprisingly hard to find a good still shot of the bench. BONUS: I actually lived in Savannah during the filming of this movie. I don't know how I’m not in the back of a shot riding my bike to class because we were always having to go around or thru something they had set up.
Paul & Amy run through 1994’s satirical American history tour Forrest Gump! They learn the nutty plot of the sequel book Gump & Co, listen to a bit of the Lt. Dan Band, and ask how John Candy would have played the Forrest role. Plus: We take your calls and hear why this film has resonated with so many movie fans.
It’s not always easy to find pics of Paul and Amy NOT smiling or looking pleasant. So even though I think this one turned out really nice, Paul does seem a little TOO ok with being in the Dust Bowl.
Amy & Paul squeeze out 1940’s Dust Bowl-set John Steinbeck adaptation The Grapes Of Wrath! They ask if Henry Fonda’s Tom Joad is more of a character than an icon, explore the film’s impact on music, and learn what attracted the conservative John Ford to this film. Plus: Labor activist Randy Bryce explains why this is one of his all-time favorite films.
For Part II, I wanted to use the same images of Amy and Paul from the Godfather poster, as well as the treatment to the Unspooled title (but with the added golden gradient). It lined up perfect again and it added a consistency I liked. Also I put Amy’s cat in this one as well just for fun.
Paul & Amy say buona sera to 1974’s epic mobster sequel The Godfather Pt. II! They analyze Robert De Niro’s Sicilian, learn which US president loved the film, and ask if this sequel really covers territory not covered by the first film. Plus: Tom Santopietro, author of The Godfather Effect, talk about how the Godfather films have affected the Italian-American community.
I decided to make two posters for this since the poster was so iconic. Also it allowed me the opportunity to use Amy’s real cat on the poster. (Well, her cat’s head on a movie cat’s body.) Paul just got the regular Godfather cat.
Amy & Paul pay tribute to 1972’s mobster epic The Godfather! They praise the film’s incredible rich cinematography, wonder if Michael makes his character turn too quickly, and debate whether this is truly the second greatest American film ever. Plus: Gianni Russo, who plays Carlo Rizzi in the film, shares stories from the set.
The original poster has a very distinct cartoon/caricature style to it that I knew would be hard to recreate and keep them from being lost in the mass of it. Then I stumbled on this illustrated Spanish version that I really loved. It also made it easy to feature Paul and Amy right in the middle and the style blends pretty seamlessly.
Paul & Amy cruise through 1973’s George Lucas coming-of-age comedy American Graffiti! They discover why Lucas decided to make a film inspired by his teenage years, learn about the real Wolfman Jack, and watch the trailer for the bizarre sequel. Plus: Candy Clark, who plays Debbie in the film, talks about creating her character.
I really liked this muted, almost colorized, poster. The face change out was pretty standard. But I was really happy with the font and style of replacing their names. It was really seamless.
Amy & Paul get cookin’ with 1959’s Billy Wilder gender-bending comedy Some Like It Hot! They learn why the film’s final line was controversial, ask if films about cross-dressing still need to be made, and dive into Marilyn Monroe’s troubled history with Hollywood. Plus: Mira Sorvino discusses getting into Marilyn’s head to star in “Norma Jean & Marilyn.”
When I found this poster with the coins I knew this was the one. The hardest part was replicating the font used on the names. I searched but couldn’t find anything even close so I cut out the letters I needed from the other names and pieces them together.
Amy & Paul fight for 1960’s Roman epic Spartacus! They discuss why Spartacus isn’t usually considered part of director Stanley Kubrick’s canon, learn about Kirk Douglas’ heroic efforts to get the film made, and liken the movie to a good casserole. Plus: Thomas Doherty, author of Show Trial, talks about how screenwriter Dalton Trumbo was affected by the Hollywood Blacklist.
I knew I wanted to use Mt. Rushmore to highlight Amy and Paul. It was just a matter of finding the right image which in this case was the DVD cover art. The fantastic title graphic at the bottom was just bonus.
Amy & Paul traverse 1959’s Alfred Hitchcock blockbuster North By Northwest! They discuss what makes Cary Grant’s suit one of the greatest in cinema, ask why so many Hitchcock films feature women betraying men, and draw a line from this film to the Coen Bros. Plus: Daniel Raim, director of “The Man On Lincoln’s Nose,” talks about Hitch’s famed art director Robert Boyle.
Limited images from the movie that include a woman + limited images of Paul and Amy NOT smiling = no one too concerned about Marlon.
Paul & Amy fly the coop to 1954’s Marlon Brando crime drama On The Waterfront! They ask what the film would have been like with Frank Sinatra in the lead, explore the history of “the Method,” and wonder how the ending would change if this were made today. Plus: Paul revisits your thoughts on Lawrence Of Arabia.
I'm one of those people that had somehow never seen this movie. And when that happens I am always nervous I'm gonna accidentally put their faces on a bad guy.
Paul and Amy journey through 1962’s David Lean WWI epic Lawrence Of Arabia! They ask if this can fairly be called a “white savior” film, learn about the many injuries Peter O’Tools endured during the shoot, and compare the film’s structure to Citizen Kane. Plus: A brief look at the controversy around the Joker premiere.
A little less glamorous than some but the fonts match up seamlessly.
Amy & Paul surf through 1976’s Sidney Lumet TV news satire Network! They explore how writer Paddy Chayefsky came up through the TV trenches, listen to modern media figures who took inspiration from Howard Beale, and ask if the film has become too real to work as satire. Plus: Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany talks about what it was like to reprise the Diana Christensen role onstage.
This promo shot was kind of weird but exactly what I needed. A good example of how I pic images alot of the time. For this one I could get Paul to work on the poster perfectly. Then I know it’s the right choice… even if getting Amy to fit is a little more tricky.
Amy & Paul flirt with 1940’s archetypal Katharine Hepburn romantic comedy The Philadelphia Story! They discover the origins of the industry trope of “box office poison,” explore the strange social mores of the 40s, and learn that everyone on set may have been in love with Jimmy Stewart. Plus: Screenwriter Katie Silberman (Set It Off, Isn’t It Romantic) explains why The Philadelphia Story is one of her top romantic comedies ever.
I was really happy with how this one turned out. It’s not always easy to fine serious photos but it worked here. They seem so happy about that falcon!
Amy & Paul fly through 1941’s Humphrey Bogart proto-noir The Maltese Falcon! They ask if this is the ultimate “dad movie,” learn about all of Malta’s unique animals and praise the incredible fonts of 1940’s San Francisco. Plus: Adam Savage (Mythbusters) talks about his obsession with recreating the original Maltese Falcon prop.
Changing the title and one word in the tagline was really all this one needed.
Paul & Amy sing the praises of 1975’s sprawling country opus Nashville! They compare Robert Altman’s loose technique to the perfectionist auteurs of past Unspooled movies, find further parallels to Quentin Tarantino’s latest, and learn what real Nashvillians thought of the film. Plus: Screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury shares her inspiration for the film’s story.
I love this movie. But I couldn’t find a poster I loved. And there were lots of versions, all with cartoon drawings. So I went with this one because of the nice bright yellow. I decided to only change the cartoon part and leave the photos alone, so it looked like Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn were looking over them.
Amy & Paul dig into 1938’s Howard Hawks screwball classic Bringing Up Baby! They ask if Cary Grant was the model for Christopher Reeve’s Superman, learn how Hepburn modulated her performance to get the comic tone just right, and wonder why weddings were so casual in the 30s. Plus: Cary’s daughter Jennifer Grant shares memories of growing up with her father.
It would have been easy to make Paul and Amy into Jules and Vincent with guns pointed, which is the most Pulp Fiction-y thing... but I make a conscious effort to not use guns if at all possible in any of these. SO... I went with the dance scene. The second most Pulp Fiction-y thing. And it worked really well.
Paul and Amy boogie through 1994’s Quentin Tarantino indie breakout Pulp Fiction! They revisit the moment Pulp Fiction won at Cannes, ask what this film did right that so many imitators did wrong, and try to figure out what’s in the briefcase. Plus: Some of the couples you thought should star in a modern “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?”
I knew this movie but had no idea what the poster looked like. So I googled it and was like “That’s weird'“. But the more I looked at it and kept coming back to it I started to love it. The sentence along the top really sold it for me. Again I couldn’t find a font that was close at all so I just built what I needed with existing letters. 70s fonts are crazy.
Amy and Paul drink in 1966’s black relationship comedy Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? They learn about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s status as the Brangelina of their day, ask which member of the ensemble is the meanest, and wonder if George and Martha are truly in love after all. Plus: A new tasting segment, this time with a very rare spirit!
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf/
The original Gone With The Wind poster is one of the most iconic. However it’s not always easy to find the right pics to work with some poses. Which was why for this one I went with one I found on a DVD cover.
Paul & Amy go to war over 1939’s blockbuster Southern epic Gone With The Wind! They praise the chemistry of Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh, watch a trailer for the misbegotten sequel, and ask whether a film this messy deserves to be in the AFI’s Top 10. Plus: Kevin J. Goff, the great grand-nephew of Hattie McDaniel, talks to Amy about her legacy.
I had to find a version for this movie that wasn’t super bleak. DVD covers are always a good alternative and I hadn’t done a mockup like this in awhile. I do think Paul fits in pretty seamlessly.
Paul & Amy take aim at Michael Cimino’s 1978 Vietnam War epic The Deer Hunter! They investigate the film’s controversial use of Russian Roulette, ask whether Robert De Niro’s character is too perfect, and try Unspooled’s first ever film-inspired food tasting segment. Plus: Rutanya Alda, who plays Angela in the film, talks about her journey from Latvia to Hollywood.
For this one I knew I wanted to stick to something typographical. When I started thinking about the movie and looking at images this scene popped up and I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
Amy & Paul don’t fight the power of 1989’s Spike Lee breakthrough Do The Right Thing! They praise the film’s Shakespearean qualities, analyze the infamous reception it received at Cannes, and ask whether this story has a true villain. Plus: The man himself, director and star Lee joins the show to discuss why the film still feels so timely 30 years later.
Snow White got me to thinking about what I could possibly do for this one. So as soon as I finished that one I started this episode not knowing how long until it would come up. Turns out the hardest part was Paul’s beard. This is one of my favorites.
This week Paul & Amy play with 1995’s pioneering CGI adventure Toy Story! They learn about the surprising career of Randy Newman, ask if Sid was really such a bad kid, and debate whether the film was a greater triumph for art or commerce. Plus: Annie Potts, the voice of Bo Peep, tells us how she joined the film, and Josh Cooley shares what it was like to direct Toy Story 4.
The hardest part of this one was the yellow font. I couldn't find that font, or one even close to it, anywhere. So, I used the original names (Hoffman and Voight) and the title and just copy and pasted and then drew new letters as needed. I love that font.
Paul & Amy walk into 1969’s New York hustler drama Midnight Cowboy! They look for meaning in the song “Everybody’s Talkin’,” ask whether Jon Voight’s babyfaced features make him the perfect Joe Buck, and marvel at how modern the film still feels. Plus: More of your picks for horror films that could make the AFI list.
Finding a way to use one of the most well-known movie posters ever, that is also one of the most minimalistic ever was super tricky. Getting it down to the spiral and the font was the first step. Then I created Paul and Amy in “falling” positions and posterized them as much as possibly with out losing their identity. No need to add the movie name at all.
Paul & Amy fall into Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 psychological thriller Vertigo! They learn who created the famous Vertigo zoom, listen to a classic 90s song inspired by Vertigo, and ask if the age gap between Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak works to the film’s credit. Plus: Tony Lee Moral, author of multiple books on Hitchcock, tells us where Vertigo fits into his filmography.
Kind of a tough one... most posters only have Gregory Peck on them. But I do agree this is how I would be smiling if I met Atticus Finch.
Amy & Paul cross-examine 1962’s Southern drama To Kill A Mockingbird! They compare the slice-of-life storytelling to later filmmakers like Richard Linklater, reveal Brock Peters’ on-set nickname, and ask whether the film can be considered separately from the book. Plus: author and professor Wayne Flynt talks about his friendship with Harper Lee in her later years.
This is one of my all time favorite films and I wanted to do it justice. I kept staring at the moth until the idea hit me and I knew the exact photo of Paul I wanted to use. Once the idea came the whole thing was done in 15 minutes.
Paul & Amy dig into 1991’s serial killer thriller The Silence Of The Lambs! They praise the many ways the film puts us in Clarice Starling’s head, discover the inspirations for Hannibal Lecter’s voice, and learn how Buffalo Bill was originally received by LGBT activists. Plus: former detective Paul Holes of the Murder Squad podcast explains what Silence of The Lambs gets right abour criminal profiling.
I really like the original Tootsie poster but it didn’t fit my needs, so I did a deep dive and found this promotional still I really loved. It screams 1982. At first i thought “well Paul gets to be Dorothy but that's no fun for Amy"... but with this photo I knew Amy gets to be Jessica Lange is pink suede high waisted pleated pants so I think she wins this one. (Also this is currently my phone wallpaper.)
Amy and Paul suit up for 1982’s gender-bending Dustin Hoffman comedy Tootsie! They ask whether Michael is really a great actor, praise Bill Murray’s scene-stealing performance, and compare the film to last year’s Best Picture winner. Plus: drag comedian Roz Drezfalez (“Ghosted” podcast) tells us why he loved Tootsie as a kid.
This original poster is the Italian version. I really liked the layout even more than the other, more well known versions that have the illustration smaller with lots of “pirate font”. The international movie posters are usually some of my favorites.
This week Paul & Amy investigate 1974’s sunlit neo-noir Chinatown! They examine the charges against Roman Polanski and discuss how to watch and contextualize his work today, before diving into the film’s recurring water symbolism and Faye Dunaway’s superlative performance. Plus: historian and writer Hadley Meares (Curbed LA) breaks down some of the true Los Angeles history that inspired Chinatown.
The trickiest part of any older poster is that it’s usually an illustration of some kind. Being able to match the style in a convincing way is always a challenge. I love how Paul’s beard turned out in this one.
Amy & Paul excavate 1948’s Humphrey Bogart thriller The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre! They ask if Fred C. Dobbs qualifies as an antihero, look at the wild career of director John Huston, and explore how Treasure inspired everything from Breaking Bad to There Will Be Blood. Plus: film critic extraordinaire Leonard Matin explains how he became a Bogart fan.
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/the-treasure-of-the-sierra-madre/
A super simple poster that says a lot. The image is almost stippled and made to look like a newspaper print. Once you get that look down it falls into place. Luckily found photos of both Amy and Paul looking off into the middle distance perfectly.
This week Paul & Amy investigate 1976’s journalistic thriller All The President’s Men! They learn about the controversy surrounding who wrote the screenplay, appreciate the unshowy direction of Alan Pakula, and ask whether Woodward & Bernstein are a true cinematic ‘odd couple.’ Plus: Liz Hannah, the screenwriter of The Post, tells us whether her film was an intentional prequel to President’s Men.
When I began doing these graphics this was the one movie I had on my radar. I had no idea how I was going to make this one work. Then I found this poster and it made itself. Changing the hair bow into a headset is my favorite part.
Amy & Paul gaze through the looking glass into 1937’s Walt Disney fairy tale Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs! They appreciate Snow’s sense of humor, question the hygiene of squirrels washing dishes, and wonder what Disney would think of the behemoth his company has become. Plus: animation historian J.B. Kaufman explains what made Snow White so groundbreaking, and Kate Littleton, the moderator of the Unspooled Facebook group, tells us why Snow White is one of her favorite films.
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs/
No poster version of City Lights really worked for what I needed. Instead I decided to use an image from the film and still keep the title font as the flavor.
Paul & Amy tumble through 1931’s Charlie Chaplin comedy City Lights! They ask whether the film presaged the structure of modern comedies, compare Chaplin’s style to Buster Keaton, and ask where the line is between genius and megalomaniac. Plus: Chaplin expert Dan Kamin talks about working with Robert Downey Jr. and the early life of Chaplin.
For this episode my first instinct was to use the word UNSPOOLED in place of the iconic (and brilliant) logo but the word didn’t split up in a way that looked right to me and it had to many “curvy” letters. This Italian version I found solved my problem.
Amy & Paul rumble with 1961’s musical Shakespeare riff West Side Story! They compare the film’s colors to modern art, praise the intelligence Rita Moreno brings to Anita, and ask how Elvis would have performed in the lead role. Plus: writer and Stephen Sondheim fan Anthony King (Gutenberg: The Musical) gives us his perspective on where this fits in Sondheim’s career.
As soon as A Night at the Opera came up I knew exactly what scene I wanted to use. My original plan was to have every person in the scene be Amy or Paul… just a room full of them. It quickly became obvious that wasn’t going to work. I really like the “Where’s Waldo”-ness of this version.
This episode Paul & Amy sing the praises of 1935’s Marx Brothers comedy “A Night At The Opera!” They take apart the film’s most famous scene in detail, listen to the “Shallow” of 1935, and debate what modern comedies could make the AFI list now. Plus: Amanda Garrett from the Old Hollywood Films blog talks about the life of Margaret Dumont, and Frank Ferrante tells us what he’s learned as a world-class Groucho Marx impersonator.
This seemed straight forward enough when I began. But getting an image to match the super desaturated, flat color of the other faces was a real challenge. The Amy image in this one is very convincing to me. I was very happy with the finished version even though it doesn’t seem very exciting.
Amy and Paul storm the beaches of 1998’s Steven Spielberg WWII picture Saving Private Ryan! They plunge into the disorientation of the storied opening sequence, look at what the film means to the Greatest Generation, and ask whether Sausage Party could take Private Ryan’s place on the list. Plus: A look at the latest controversy between Spielberg and Netflix.
Another super iconic poster that I knew wouldn’t work for me. My original idea was to use an image from the bus or church scene, but I was never happy with those. When I found this promotional still I knew that was the one. The image on the tv is the “plastics” scene and helped add a little pop of color. One of my favorites.
Amy & Paul scuba-dive into 1967’s generation-gap dramedy The Graduate! They look for thematic connections in early Nichols & May sketches, wonder how such a small scale film became an enormous hit, and ask whether Mrs. Robinson is a fantasy or a fully-formed character. Plus: Katharine Ross (Elaine) joins Amy to praise Mike Nichols’ direction.
A lot of times finding the font can make the graphic. This is a good example. Amy was very happy with having Nurse Ratched hair. Which was a relief to me.
Paul & Amy fly over 1975’s countercultural touchstone One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest! They discuss how the film strays from Ken Kesey’s novel, discover how Milos Forman caught actors in unguarded moments, and ask whether R.P. McMurphy or Nurse Ratched really had the right of their struggle. Plus: Matt Walsh (Veep, Under The Eiffel Tower) tells us about his time working in a psych ward.
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest/
This one was basically already made. The Unspooled logo was already loosely based on the style of the original Sunset Boulevard poster. Maybe my record-setting time for fastest weekly graphic.
Paul & Amy drive down to 1950’s Hollywood house of horrors Sunset Boulevard! They ask if Joe Gillis is a reliable narrator, praise Gloria Swanson’s transformative performance, and wonder if Hollywood really hasn’t changed in 70 years. Plus: Alicia Malone (TCM host and author of “The Female Gaze”) joins us to help place Sunset Boulevard in it’s historical context.
As I started this one I told myself if I could find teenage photos of Paul and/or Amy within a 10 minute Google search I would use this idea. I found Paul’s in about 3 minutes. Then I knew I had to find Amy’s. I think my favorite part of this one though is the change of the theater name to EARWOLF.
Amy & Paul travel deep into the heart of 1971’s Texan coming-of-age story The Last Picture Show! They ask who the film’s true protagonist is, marvel at the murderer’s row of incredible actors, and wonder if this was the key inspiration for the boom of sex comedies to follow. Plus: writer/director Peter Bogdanovich himself joins Amy to discuss The Last Picture Show, and what separates modern films from the classics.
I had no idea how many movie posters involved hats. Luckily both Amy and Paul look great in hats. Also another instance where the font brings it all together.
Amy & Paul saddle up for Clint Eastwood’s revisionist 1992 Western Unforgiven! They ask if Gene Hackman is truly the villain of the piece, put the film in the context of Eastwood’s career, and praise the script’s comic touches. Plus: Screenwriter David Webb Peoples discusses Unforgiven’s origins, and Saul Rubinek (W.W. Beauchamp) tells stories from the set that shed light on Eastwood’s directing style.
No original poster worked for this so I searched for images from the movie and loved the layout and colors of this one. They look so happy to be cowboys.
This episode Paul & Amy ride deep into Texas for The Searchers! They discuss the complicated legacy of John Wayne, place the film in the context of Western history, and look at The Searchers’ influence on directors from Martin Scorsese to George Lucas. Plus: Joely Proudfit speaks to us about American Indian representation in film history, and The Searchers in particular.
The original poster is a highly stylized illustrated group of images. But I found a set of secondary poster with scenes from the movie. Using that for my frame worked great and meant I got to keep the amazing title and bright colors.
Amy & Paul take a trip down South for 1967’s racially charged police thriller “In The Heat Of The Night!” They celebrate the excellent soundtrack, scrutinize how well the film holds up as a procedural, and take a close look at Sidney Poitier’s incredible road to Hollywood. Plus: Two interviews this week, with Pod Save The People’s DeRay Mckesson on the value of art as activism, and Lee Grant, who plays Mrs. Colbert, reflecting on her trailblazing career as an actor and director.
I promised for the holiday episode I would provide snow. I do love how the original mimics a snow globe shape.
Paul & Amy earn their wings with 1946’s Jimmy Stewart holiday fable “It’s A Wonderful Life!” They wonder if Mary is actually a witch, explain why the term “Capra corn” is unfair, and play a very timely SNL parody. Plus: Karolyn Grimes, aka Zuzu Bailey, shares her memories of making the film.
I knew for this one I couldn’t do what I usually do. I found an image from the movie I loved that also was so representative you couldn’t NOT know what movie it was. I considered changing it into a watercolor or something similar, but it wasn’t necessary. Just adding the words in a typewriter font similar to the list on the original poster was all it needed.
This episode Paul & Amy take a close look at Steven Spielberg’s unflinching Holocaust drama “Schindler’s List.” They discuss the filmmaking instincts Spielberg brings to difficult material, praise Ralph Fiennes’ terrifying performance, and discover the crucial role Adam Sandler played in keeping Spielberg’s mood up. Plus: Embeth Davidtz (who plays Helen Hirsch) calls in to talk about the unlikely family formed on set.
Truly one of my favorites. I was so very happy with how well Paul turned out and the expression from Amy seems spot on. My favorite detail on this was changing the name on Amy’s shirt pocket.
Paul & Amy go the distance for Sylvester Stallone’s 1976 pugilistic parable Rocky! They play a stunning clip of Stallone talking to himself, posit that the film’s true villain is Rocky’s self-doubt, and question whether the average person is actually more like Paulie. Plus: Boxer and coach Freddie Roach calls in with his thoughts on Rocky and the time he made Mickey Rourke cry.
The style and fonts of Clockwork Orange is so specific I knew I didn’t even need to use the name of the film for this one. Another of my favorites.
Amy & Paul undergo the Ludovico technique to watch Stanley Kubrick’s dark dystopia A Clockwork Orange! They explain the history of the famous “Singin In The Rain” scene, compare the complicated adaptation to Anthony Burgess’ original novel, and question why Kubrick should be considered a moral authority on anything. Plus: Paul weighs in on the online discussion about the AFI list and “incels.”
This was one of the tougher challenges. I do like how the name blends into the rest of the copy pretty seamlessly.
This episode Paul & Amy travel back to 1982’s love triangle / Holocaust drama Sophie’s Choice! They ask whether Stingo is supposed to be an actual good writer, marvel at the energy of a young Kevin Kline, and break down what makes Meryl Streep’s work in this film so legendary. Plus: dialect coach Samara Bay (Loving, Wonder Woman) talks to Paul about the intricacies of nailing an accent-based performance.
The posters for this movie were all very busy and highly illustrated and I just couldn’t find one I liked. Using this image and then creating a title along the bottom was definitely the best solution.
Amy and Paul filibuster through Frank Capra’s 1939 political fable Mr. Smith Goes To Washington! They learn about Jean Arthur’s initial impressions of Jimmy Stewart, compare Capra’s visual style to Michael Bay, and explore the film’s pop culture legacy in depth. Plus: Jon Lovett of “Pod Save America” and “Lovett Or Leave It” weighs in on the lessons this film can offer today’s politicians.
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/mr-smith-goes-to-washington/
Once I found this original gif this seemed like the only choice. The Paul face couldn’t have been better.
This episode Amy & Paul hail the Marx Brothers’ 1933 madcap comedy Duck Soup! They ask whether this is the first great comedy of the talkie era, parse the different comedic styles of the brothers, and praise Margaret Dumont as the perfect foil. Plus: Conan O’Brien joins the show to talk about why he loves the Marx Bros!
Amy’s image lined up with Katharine Hepburn’s profile so perfectly this one almost took no time at all.
Paul & Amy set sail through 1951’s Katharine Hepburn & Humphrey Bogart adventure The African Queen! They ask whether the central romance is convincing, discuss John Huston’s groundbreaking and arduous location shoot, and reminisce about the Disneyland ride inspired by the film. Plus: Suzanne Holmquist tells about running the actual African Queen as a modern day tourist attraction.
As much as I wanted to use an original Raiders poster I knew Marion wasn’t featured enough for what I needed. Next was the snake scene, but the angles of the faces wouldn’t work. Obvious third choice is the finale. They look like they are having fun though.
This episode Amy and Paul uncover 1981’s rollicking Indiana Jones adventure Raiders Of The Lost Ark! They ask if Indy is actually a good archeologist, find out whether Belloq really ate a fly, and discuss what makes the film’s action sequences so irresistible to kids. Plus: Indiana Jones superfan Guy Klender shares his wealth of Indy knowledge, and talks about his work on the Raiders fan remake.
The poster I used here is actually a fan made wallpaper I found by accident. I try not to use anything but original posters or images from the films but I loved this one so much I couldn’t resist.
Paul & Amy pull off the highway for a short stay at 1960’s proto-slasher masterwork Psycho. They dissect Alfred Hitchcock’s artful use of misdirection, listen to Anthony Perkins’ pre-Psycho pop single, and ask if there was any value in Gun Van Sant’s controversial remake. Plus: Alexandre O. Philippe, the director of “78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene,” discusses one of cinema’s most infamous moments in detail.
I knew all I needed for this episode was to feature the ring. I “erased” all the original writing, found an “elvish” font that is still readable and added the new copy. It was a lot of little detail work to make it look very simple.
Amy & Paul embark on an epic quest through Peter Jackson’s 2001 fantasy adaptation The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring! They praise Elijah Wood’s stellar silent acting, learn which modern dictator hates being compared to Gollum, and debate which if any Harry Potter film could make the list. Plus: Motion capture specialist Brett Ineson talks about making Gollum come to life in Return Of The King.
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring/
Adding back in the water drops to Paul’s face was the trickiest part. It mostly works.
Paul & Amy plunge into the heart of darkness to cover 1979’s Vietnam War fever dream Apocalypse Now. They discover which famous film character screenwriter John Milius inspired, dig into the meaning of the USO show sequence, and are ultimately amazed this film ever came together in the first place. Plus: All of your amazing/terrible Marlon Brando impressions!
Another international poster. I loved the layout and colors of this one as soon as I saw it. And the fonts are so well matched to the style they get lost which is always my goal.
Amy & Paul saddle up and ride through 1952’s archetypal Western, High Noon! They celebrate Katy Jurado’s fierce performance, learn about the ill-advised High Noon sequel, and discover how the film works as an allegory for HUAC-era America. Plus: Henry C. Parke of True West Magazine tells us what makes High Noon stand out in the Western pantheon.
If I had to do this one again I would do it differently. But it is really difficult when you are working with a brown, lumpy alien as the focal point.
Paul & Amy beam up to Steven Spielberg’s heartwarming alien feature, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial! They learn E.T.’s real name, marvel at Spielberg’s uncanny ease directing children, and wonder how well the film holds up with kids today. Plus: Seth Shostak, an astronomer from the SETI Institute, tells us how likely we are to find actual E.T.s on Earth.
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-2/
A good example of a great poster that wouldn’t work for my needs. Trying to find an image for two people from a movie about an isolated, lone individual is tricky.
This episode Paul & Amy cruise through 1976’s terrifying character study Taxi Driver. They ask whether the film is anti-misogynist or simply misogynist, debate whether the ending is real or fake, and discover a surprising source of inspiration for another film on the AFI 100. Plus: actor and writer Curt Neill tells us about his experiences driving for Uber, and how it helped him empathize with Travis Bickle.
Paul sent out a tweet asking for someone to put their images on the Sixth Sense poster. I mocked up this DVD case and just never stopped.
Paul and Amy see dead people in 1999’s supernatural drama The Sixth Sense! They debate how Haley Joel Osment’s performance compares to modern child actors, explain how the famous twist is accomplished through misdirection, and dive deep into the career of Tommy Tammasimo, Plus: Actor and magician Rob Zabrecky explains what it’s like to perform a seance.
This is a great example of how usually on these it’s as much about what I take off the original, as it is what I add onto it. The original was for a showing in 2000 so it had alot of info I didn’t want, including the reviews in the umbrellas, but I really liked this version. I took off more in this one than I added back for sure.
Amy & Paul tap, swing and two-step through 1952’s meta-musical Singin’ In The Rain! They are dazzled by the film’s stylized color, dive into its perspective on honesty in Hollywood, and hear Lena Lamont’s real voice. Plus: dancer & choreographer Sarah Reich drops by the show to talk about the art of tap!
This actually was a computer wallpaper that I found doing a general search. I added the original title and cropped it to the size I needed and it was all done.
Paul & Amy investigate 1944’s murderous noir Double Indemnity! They talk about what lines snuck past the censors, learn about the true story that inspired the film, and ask whether Barbara Stanwyck’s femme fatale is actually telling the truth in her final scenes. Plus: comic & crime fiction writer Ed Brubaker stops by to talk about the contentious relationship between Billy Wilder & Raymond Chandler.
The original posters for All About Eve use a lot of arrows and primary colors, but the images of the cast are all very small. So I took a cast photo and then elements of a poster and made my own version. Really love how it turned out in the end.
Fasten your seatbelts – this week Paul & Amy take on 1950’s showbiz satire All About Eve! They marvel at how well Joseph Mankiewicz understands his female characters, dish on which actors secretly hated each other, and furiously debate whether the title character is actually all that bad. Plus: film critic and historian Karina Longworth (You Must Remember This) talks about Bette Davis and her place in Hollywood history.
There are so so so many King Kong posters. Very few highlight people, which honestly makes sense. I searched for a long time before I finally found this one and did my best to make it work.
This week Amy & Paul unveil 1933’s seminal monster movie King Kong! They ask if this was the first true blockbuster film, discover how the distinctive animal sounds were made, and wonder what Ann sees in Jack Driscoll. Plus: primatologist Kate Gilmore stops by to explain King Kong is not a gorilla!
An infamous episode but an epic poster. The original is the Drew Struzan poster for the 10th anniversary of the film. There is a reason he is the best.
This week Paul & Amy tunnel through Frank Darabont’s prison allegory The Shawshank Redemption! They discuss the use of opera as a 90’s film signifier, learn why Shawshank was constantly played on TNT, and debate whether this is “the Bud Light of movies.” Plus: comedian and podcaster Duncan Trussell stops by to talk about Stephen King adaptations, and how prison films can be a metaphor for transcendence.
Since the original posters for this only focus on Buster Keaton, I knew I needed just a still from the movie showing both him and both of the love interests, the girl and the train. The best option for that was this shot inside the train. Just needed to add a nice pop of color with the frame and title and it was all done.
Amy & Paul plow full steam ahead through Buster Keaton’s silent opus The General! They realize this was the Fast And Furious of 1926, examine the rivalry between Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, and dig into Buster’s incredibly depressing childhood. Plus: An interview with Jeff Tremaine, the director of the Jackass films, on why he’s never messed around with trains.
I make an effort to not show Paul and Amy holding guns if at all possible in these graphics. That becomes hard when you have so many war movies. Finally found the perfect image to start with after a bunch of digging. The dirt smudges on their faces are my favorite thing about this one.
Paul & Amy hunker down to cover 1986’s Vietnam War drama Platoon! They look at director Oliver Stone’s relationship with Martin Scorsese, discover how he film captures the chaos of war, and remember the ill-advised Platoon video game Plus: Amy sits down with the military advisor on Platoon, Dale Dye, to learn how he helped the cast get in the soldier mindset.
A photo where the characters are looking right into the camera doesn’t come along often, so this was a good one to take advantage of.
This week Paul & Amy tear through 1967’s revolutionary “Bonnie And Clyde!” They discuss how the film mixes wildly different tones, adore Faye Dunaway’s style, and learn the secret source of those terrifying gunshot sounds. Plus: An interview with the writer of Bonnie & Clyde, Robert Benton!
Not a lot of choices here. It’s not often two people are on screen in this one. But it was also important to show HAL’s “face”. Perfect placement here for that.
Paul & Amy journey beyond the infinite to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey! They ask what the film has in common with a Rothko painting, marvel at what 2001 got right about the future, and decide whether to join Team Hal. Plus: Discover what other listeners think that ending is all about!
You can’t NOT use the image from the front of the ship right? Leaving the headset on Amy’s image is still very funny to me.
Amy & Paul chart a course through 1998’s epic tragedy Titanic! They marvel at the film’s structure and use of geography, discuss whether the Titanic backlash was deserved, and count how many times Jack & Rose say each other’s names. Plus: Danny Nucci, aka Fabrizio!, shares stories from the set, and what it was like to work with the legendarily intense James Cameron.
Lucky for me Paul has plenty of perfect expressions for every situation. Also, Amy is rocking that hat.
This week Paul & Amy hit the streets for 1971’s The French Connection! They discuss whether Popeye Doyle is actually a hero, what went sideways during that incredible chase scene, and who the real-life inspirations for Doyle & Russo were. Plus: an interview with cop-turned-actor Brian Danker about what French Connection gets right and wrong about police work.
This was my first attempt at creating a gif. But I knew for a movie like this one I needed something with movement.
Put on your best dancing shoes for Swing Time with Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire! Paul & Amy caper through the 1936 film’s strange comic beats, spontaneous choreographed dances and timeless tunes. Plus: an interview with choreographer Kat Burns (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) about Fred & Ginger’s dance numbers, and Andrew Ti and Tawny Newsome from the “Yo Is This Racist?” podcast stop by to discuss “that scene.”
This one sort of just fell into place. Once I found the pic to start with the rest was easy. I decided to add the gold brick and witch’s legs for some color.
Close your eyes, tap your heels together three times, and join Paul & Amy as they discuss 1939’s The Wizard Of Oz! Discover what makes the land of Oz so satisfyingly tactile, how the Tin Man and Cowardly Lion tormented each other on set, and whether this is the most influential film of all time. Plus: Paul & Amy talk to Walter Krueger, who owns one of the world’s biggest collections of Oz memorabilia.
It looks simple but it was really time consuming. I kept all the little people on the original words and added them into the new. I got lost in making this one and love how it turned out. One of my favorites. I actually have it hanging by my desk.
Strap on your death sandals, as Paul & Amy jump into 1959’s Roman epic Ben Hur! They discuss the incredible scope of the film, how Star Wars ripped off the famous chariot race, and how many characters say the word “leper.” Plus: Paul & Amy talk to stunt professional Christopher Leps about his career, and where Ben Hur ranks among the great stunt films.
