Parasite 2019
Bong Joon-ho's seventh feature, and possibly his best: a poor family cons their way into a wealthy household's employ. Won the Palme d'Or, then posted the best per-screen average of the year on a three-theater opening.
The Big Picture · Discussion
'Parasite' Is the Movie of the Year—Will the Oscars Agree? | The Oscars Show
October 15, 2019/ 55 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean and Amanda bring in the Ringer's Donnie Kwok to dig into Parasite's limited-release opening, then run stock up/stock down on Joker and a couple of ugly trailers, remember Robert Forster, and preview the Best International Feature race.
26 films across 4 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.
Parasitewith the Ringer's Donnie Kwok
The Host 2006
Donnie's pick for what to watch before Parasite: Bong's monster movie, broader and more comedic, but built on the same class satire.
Memories of Murder 2003
Bong's breakout in Korea, and Song Kang-ho's second film with him. Donnie rewatched it the night before taping.
Snowpiercer 2013
The Chris Evans one: genre wrapped around class and capitalism, a through-line in all of Bong's films.
Okja 2017
"Cute Spielbergian movie and then some other things happen," per Amanda.
Stock Up, Stock Down
Joker 2019
Stock up: $7 million shy of $200 million after 11 days, whatever the critical consensus.
Dolittle 2020
Stock down: a crew member's Reddit thread alleges one of the all-time production fiascos.
Jungle Cruise 2020
Stock down: the new trailer plays like Pirates of the Caribbean 7, not the Disneyland ride.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil 2019
Gets its own review later in the week.
Knives Out 2019
Amanda's already bought a stack of advance tickets, solo.
Jackie Brown 1997
Robert Forster's best-known role, as Max Cherry. Tarantino pulled him out of actor obscurity for it.
Medium Cool 1969
Haskell Wexler's film gave Forster his start. Sean's tribute recommendation.
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie 2019
Forster's last on-screen role, which premiered the same weekend he died.
The Big Race: Best International Feature Film
Parasite 2019
South Korea's submission. "If it's not nominated, we riot."
Pain and Glory 2019
Pedro Almodóvar's autofictional latest. The only other film with comparable buzz outside the Academy.
Les Misérables 2019
France's submission over Portrait of a Lady on Fire, not the musical.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire 2019
Passed over by France for Les Misérables, flagged as a controversial call once the race heats up.
Atlantics 2019
Senegal's submission, a Netflix acquisition and one of the year's best-reviewed films. Unseen by either host at taping.
Weathering With You 2019
Japan's submission, from the director of Your Name. Animated films are newly eligible in this category.
Honeyland 2019
North Macedonia's first-ever Oscar contender in any category: a documentary about a beekeeper, also from Neon.
Beanpole 2019
Russia's submission.
Monos 2019
Colombia's submission: child soldiers take an American hostage, shot close and violent. Sean's dad watched it and liked it.
On the Docket This Week
The Laundromat 2019
Hits Netflix Friday.
Jojo Rabbit 2019
Taika Waititi's, opening Friday.
Zombieland: Double Tap 2019
Amanda's talking to director Ruben Fleischer.
The Lighthouse 2019
Sean's been waiting months to talk about this one. A filmmaker interview follows its opening.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Other Korean New Wave and class-cinema comparisons OldboyThe HandmaidenBurningOnce Upon a Time in HollywoodRomaAmour
This year's other haves-vs-have-nots films UsDownton AbbeyQueen & Slim
Neon's prior Oscar campaign I, Tonya
Limited releases that rolled out differently Late NightBooksmart
Disney hits mentioned in passing Sleeping BeautyAladdinThe Lion KingAvengers: EndgameToy Story 4
Best International/Foreign Language Film history Your NameThe Lives of OthersNever Look AwayShopliftersThe SquareA Fantastic WomanToni ErdmannThe SalesmanMustangSon of SaulWild TalesIda
Best original screenplay contenders named Marriage StoryThe Farewell
In passing Fighting with My Family
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
Podcasts The Road Taken With CT and Bayo