The Big Picture · Discussion
April 14, 2023/ 91 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Bobby Wagner
A movie swap with a soft espionage thread: Amanda's pick, Bobby's, and the classic Bobby had never seen. They work through all three in release order.
3 films across 3 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
'Casablanca' — Bobby finally watchesAmanda's pick for Bobby; the Ur Hollywood movie
Bobby's first watch after years of being needled about it. A tight 100 minutes that still doesn't drag: Bogart and Bergman, Claude Rains as Renault, a mostly international cast of real European exiles, and a Max Steiner score built around 'As Time Goes By' after he couldn't get it cut. Won Best Picture, Director (Michael Curtiz), and Screenplay; came in tied at No. 63 on the 2022 Sight and Sound poll.
'The In-Laws' — Amanda's pickFalk and Arkin, 1979
Arthur Hiller's comedy, written by Andrew Bergman, recently added to the Criterion Collection. A Long Island dentist (Alan Arkin) meets his daughter's future father-in-law (Peter Falk), a supposed CIA operative, and gets dragged into a spy caper. The 'serpentine!' tarmac run and the firing-squad scene are the standouts; Ed Begley Jr., James Hong, and David Paymer fill out the cast.
'Spy Kids' — Bobby's pickRobert Rodriguez, 2001
The first movie Bobby remembers seeing in theaters. Rodriguez wrote, directed, shot, and scored it: a $35M film that made nearly $150M, with Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino as retired-spy parents and Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara as the kids who rescue them. Alan Cumming and Tony Shalhoub play the villains, plus Danny Trejo (the seed of Machete), Cheech Marin, and a George Clooney cameo. Sean calls it 'Oppenheimer for kids.'
Also mentioned raised along the way
In the 'Casablanca' conversation The Maltese FalconWhen Harry Met Sally...Citizen KaneThe Wizard of OzGood Will HuntingGaslightNotoriousThe Third ManGoodfellasPassage to MarseilleCaptain BloodThe Adventures of Robin HoodKing KongGone with the WindBarbieAnt-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaHome Alone
In the 'In-Laws' conversation The InterviewBlazing SaddlesThe FreshmanLove StoryTop Gun: Maverick
In the 'Spy Kids' conversation El MariachiDesperadoFrom Dusk Till DawnThe FacultyKill Bill: Vol. 1Sin CityPlanet TerrorThe IncrediblesOppenheimerAlita: Battle AngelAustin Powers: International Man of MysteryRoad HouseJosie and the PussycatsMacheteTroop Beverly HillsSingin' in the RainHigh School Musical 3: Senior Year
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV ColumboPoker FaceBetter Call SaulThe Price Is RightH.R. PufnstufTeletubbiesEl Rey Network
Ads BandsplainBoar's HeadFanDuelNOS EnergyNetflix / FIFA World CupCarvana