logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
2h 15m

The 2025 Dumpuary Extravaganza. Plus: St...

The Ringer
About this episode

Sean and Amanda are joined by Yasi Salek to discuss ‘Better Man,’ the bizarro Robbie Williams biopic in which he is rendered as a CGI chimpanzee (1:00) and ‘One of Them Days,’ the Keke Palmer and SZA action comedy produced by Issa Rae and directed by Lawrence Lamont (29:00). Then, Yasi departs and Sean and Amanda explore ‘Back In Action,’ the spy-action-comedy starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx that jumped up to number one on Netflix (53:00). Next, Chris Ryan joins to weigh in on ‘Wolf Man,’ ‘Flight’ Risk,' and ‘Presence,’ a trio of movies of wildly different quality from three accomplished directors (1:06:00). Finally, Sean is joined by Steven Soderbergh to discuss his 35th feature film ‘Presence,’ a tense thriller experimenting with point-of-view and form (1:40:00).


Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins

Guests: Yasi Salek, Chris Ryan, and Steven Soderbergh

Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner

Video Producer: Jack Sanders

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

Up next
Aug 22
4. ‘Michael Clayton’ and ‘Chop Shop’ | Mission Accomplished
As America falls into a recession, two movies about New York hustlers capture the quiet desperation needed to survive in a country running on empty. Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Devon Baroldi Mixing and Mastering: Sco ... Show More
44m 58s
Aug 19
3: ‘Anchorman’ and ‘Zodiac’ | Mission Accomplished
As Americans pine for a kinder, gentler nation, two wildly entertaining (and wildly different) films about life in 1970s California poke holes in our country’s past. Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Devon Baroldi Mixing a ... Show More
50m 19s
Aug 15
2. ‘25th Hour’ and ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ | Mission Accomplished
In the wake of 9/11 and America’s new war on terror, two films capture the chaos of a country caught between open rage and simmering paranoia. Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Devon Baroldi, Brian Raftery, and Vikram Patel Sound Design: Devon Baroldi Mixing and Mastering: Scott Som ... Show More
48m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2020
‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood’ Live From Sundance With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan
Live from the Sundance Film Festival, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and his stunt doubles Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan are a gang of has-beens trying to keep the magic alive in the Golden Age of Hollywood when they rewatch 2020 Best Picture nominee ‘Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood, ... Show More
1h 22m
Dec 2024
‘The Agency’ Series Premiere: Michael Fassbender Is Back on Our TVs, and We’re Better for It
Joanna Robinson and Rob Mahoney become CIA agents/spies to recap the two-episode premiere of ‘The Agency,’ the Showtime-produced Paramount+ series starring Michael Fassbender. They start by talking about whom the show is for, the stacked cast, and director Joe Wright’s career as ... Show More
47m 39s
Apr 2025
‘Minority Report’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan are charged with taping a podcast before rewatching Steven Spielberg’s 2002 sci-fi thriller ‘Minority Report,’ starring Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, and Samantha Morton. Podcast Manager: Craig Horlbeck Video Producers: Ronak Nai ... Show More
1h 50m
Oct 2024
#639 ft. Naomi Scott, Anna Kendrick
Spooky season is upon us, folks, and this week's Empire Podcast is even more of a horror show than usual, as Chris Hewitt talks to Naomi Scott about her fabulous performance in Parker Finn's scary sequel, Smile 2, [23:26 - 37:26 approx] and the team — Chris, James Dyer, Ben Travi ... Show More
1h 45m
Dec 2023
Best in Show: Inside the Actor’s Studio with Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott and Jeffrey Wright
This special episode features multiple interviews with award-winning actors: first up, London editor Ella Kemp speaks with Oscar nominee and Letterboxd pal Paul Mescal about All of Us Strangers, his wider reflections on awards season and his “shady” Letterboxd account. Meanwhile ... Show More
1h 5m
Nov 2024
#643 ft. Denzel Washington, Zoe Saldaña, Sean Baker
Blimey, our guest cup continues to overflow, folks. This week's Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt sit down with Gladiator II star, and all-round legend, Denzel Washington, to talk about reuniting with Ridley Scott, and to clarify Denzel's recent hint that he might be winding down ... Show More
1h 54m
Mar 2024
Oscars 2024 Best Picture Special
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 a ... Show More
1h 9m
Jul 2024
‘Presumed Innocent’ Episode 7 With Bill Simmons. Plus, an Interview With Director Greg Yaitanes.
Bill Simmons joins Jo and Rob as they take the stand to recap the seventh episode of ‘Presumed Innocent.’ They open by discussing whether the show will ultimately change the ending from the book-turned-film, the surprising news that Apple renewed it for a second season, and some ... Show More
1h 14m
Mar 2023
#554 — Damien Chazelle & Justin Hurwitz, Christopher Landon, Michael B. Jordan
This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees another onslaught of incredible guests, as Ian Freer chats with Babylon's director-composer duo of Damien Chazelle and Justin Hurwitz about their working relationship and long friendship, and Chris Hewitt talks scary VHS covers with ... Show More
1h 46m
Apr 2017
Black Sails S:4 | Jessica Parker Kennedy Guests on XXXVIII E:10 | AfterBuzz TV AfterShow
AFTERBUZZ TV -- Black Sails edition, is a weekly "after show" for fans of Starz's Black Sails. In this episode hosts Lauren Salaun and Nadine Delle Pella breaks down episode 10 with Jessica Parker Kennedy. Black Sails is an American dramatic adventure television series set on New ... Show More
54m 4s