Kermode & Mayo’s Take

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.

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

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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

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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.

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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

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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. 

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

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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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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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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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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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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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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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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.

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

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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.

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

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.    

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 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. 

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

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.    

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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.

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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 

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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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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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

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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. 

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

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. 

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

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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.

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 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. 

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

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

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

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.

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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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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.  

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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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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).

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, 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.

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

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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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