The Big Picture · Review · Interview
February 13, 2026/ 120 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Sam Sanders
A Valentine's Day double feature with guest Sam Sanders: Emerald Fennell's 'Wuthering Heights' and Harry Lighton's 'Pillion,' plus Sean's interview with Lighton.
15 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.
‘Wuthering Heights’with Sam Sanders
Emerald Fennell's adaptation, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Gorgeous in flashes but flat and un-erotic. The group's read: Fennell breaks the book to make a Romeo and Juliet she never lands, all edging and no payoff, with both leads miscast.
William Wyler's version with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon. Sean's favorite of the bunch, and in his view the best one made.
Robert Fuest's take, an early Timothy Dalton role.
Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes in his first film role; Sean still hasn't seen it.
Andrea Arnold's, which casts a Black Heathcliff and goes at the novel's race and violence directly.
Luis Buñuel's Mexican transposition of the novel.
Jacques Rivette's version.
‘Pillion’with Sam Sanders
Harry Lighton's debut, Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård, adapted from Adam Mars-Jones's novel 'Box Hill.' The Dom-com everyone here loves: a consent-focused BDSM romance that hits classic rom-com beats and, unlike Wuthering Heights, sticks the landing.
Harry Lighton on ‘Pillion’
The first non-English film he ever watched, and the one that made him want to make movies.
Malick touchpoint for the book's shifting tone; he rewatched it while adapting, then chose to drop voiceover entirely.
Watched for biker iconography, then steered wide to avoid pastiche.
He hadn't seen it until press; the opening needle drop echoes it by accident.
Hlynur Pálmason's film, his last-great pick. He laughed till he gasped for air.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Emerald Fennell's other films Promising Young WomanSaltburn
In the erotic-cinema tangent In the Realm of the SensesThe Blood Spattered Bride
Reference points 12 Years a SlaveMarie AntoinetteMary ReillyJurassic ParkBarbieAnchorman: The Legend of Ron BurgundyFrankenstein
The Baz Luhrmann comparison Romeo + JulietMoulin Rouge!The Great GatsbyElvis
Shot by Linus Sandgren La La LandFirst ManNo Time to DieDon't Look UpBabylonDune: Part Three
Around ‘Pillion’ The Ballad of Buster ScruggsBoogie NightsThe Legend of Tarzan
Lighton's other references The Girl on a MotorcycleCruisingBridget Jones's Diary
In passing Wicked: For Good
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV Heated RivalrySuccessionBig Little LiesThe Little Drummer GirlA Knight of the Seven KingdomsGame of ThronesThe White LotusThe Crown
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