The Big Picture · Review · Hall of Fame · Interview
December 14, 2021/ 91 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins review Adam McKay's climate satire 'Don't Look Up,' build a 10-film Leonardo DiCaprio hall of fame for his 30th year in movies, then McKay joins to talk about making the film and previews HBO's 'Winning Time.'
12 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.
Don't Look Up
Adam McKay's satire about an extinction-level comet, a thin metaphor for the climate crisis. Both hosts think it half-works: funny in the Jonah Hill and Cate Blanchett/Tyler Perry morning-show scenes, closer to docudrama elsewhere. DiCaprio plays Dr. Randall Mindy, an anxious astronomer, against his usual leading-man type, though Amanda notes he still 'gets his network moment.'
The Leonardo DiCaprio Hall of Famehis 30th feature film, 30 years into his career: 10 films chosen chronologically from a 30-movie filmography
His first Oscar nomination, as Arnie, Johnny Depp's developmentally disabled younger brother. In on the strength of the nomination and the performance; neither host has rewatched it since.
Baz Luhrmann's teen-heartthrob breakout. In with no debate. Amanda threatened to quit the podcast if it didn't make the cut, and credits it with priming a teen audience for 'Titanic' the following year.
Jack Dawson. In, no discussion needed.
Spielberg's con artist Frank Abagnale Jr., one of the last times DiCaprio convincingly plays a teenager before moving into grizzled leading-man roles.
William Costigan. Called undeniable, no debate: one of his truly great performances.
Sean fights hardest for this one, calling it one of the greatest movies of the last 15 years and one of the most damaged psychological portraits he's seen.
Christopher Nolan's dream-heist blockbuster. In without argument. Solidified him as a box-office draw working with major auteurs.
Jordan Belfort. No discussion needed. Sean calls it DiCaprio at the top of his powers.
Tarantino's Rick Dalton, and the trailer meltdown scene both hosts expect to headline his eventual Lifetime Achievement reel.
Calvin Candie, one of the more villainous figures on screen in the last 20 years. Wins the last spot over 'The Aviator': he wasn't even Oscar-nominated for it; Christoph Waltz won instead.
Adam McKay on Don't Look Up
McKay traces the idea to a comment from journalist David Sirota: 'it's like the comet is coming towards Earth and no one cares.' He rewrote DiCaprio's climate-crisis speech 15 times, and says the comet-mining subplot he invented as satire turned out to already be real: NASA has a program for it.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Weighed for the Leo Hall of Fame, then cut Critters 3Poison IvyThis Boy's LifeThe Basketball DiariesThe Quick and the DeadTotal EclipseMarvin's RoomThe Man in the Iron MaskCelebrityThe BeachDon's PlumGangs of New YorkThe AviatorBlood DiamondBody of LiesRevolutionary RoadJ. EdgarThe Great GatsbyThe Revenant
In passing IdiocracyWest Side StoryViceThe Big ShortAnchorman: The Legend of Ron BurgundyStep BrothersDr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombNetworkFight ClubNo Sudden MoveThe Last DuelStillwaterSleepless in SeattleKillers of the Flower Moon
Adam McKay's recent favorites A Brighter Summer DayYi YiDinerTin MenNashville
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV SuccessionAnd Just Like ThatSquid GameWinning TimeGrowing PainsThe Bureau
Games FIFA World Cup Launch Edition
Ads Juice WRLD: Into the AbyssBoar's Head Friar's Turkey Breast