The Big Picture · Auction · Interview
July 16, 2021/ 129 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Chris Ryan
Sean, Amanda, and Chris go back to the well: another $1,000 each, five more 2021 movies. Then Morgan Neville on Roadrunner, his documentary about Anthony Bourdain.
A sale of 15 lots across 3 paddles, $2,860 at the hammer.
Top lot: Licorice Pizza, to Paddle 1, $515.
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.
The paddles who spent what
The board this sale, by hammer price
Drafted under its working title, Soggy Bottom. The single highest bid of either auction, run up by Chris as much out of spite as interest. Paul Thomas Anderson's coming-of-age film set in the San Fernando Valley, starring Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim.
Drafted as 'Red, White and Water,' known then only from paparazzi photos. The second-highest bid of either auction, just under Licorice Pizza. Lila Neugebauer's directing debut, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry.
Won over Chris, who stopped at $250. Steven Spielberg's remake of the Bernstein-Sondheim musical, with Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler.
Won a bidding war with Chris that climbed from $100 to $255. Joel Coen's first solo directing effort, adapting Shakespeare with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand.
Opened at a dollar and climbed to $230 mostly to keep it out of Sean's hands. Jon Watts's multiverse sequel.
Outbid Chris by five bucks. Adam McKay's Netflix satire with Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Uncontested. Reinaldo Marcus Green's Venus and Serena Williams biopic starring Will Smith.
His last $179, uncontested. Paul Schrader's poker drama starring Oscar Isaac.
Uncontested. Chloé Zhao's entry into the MCU, with Richard Madden and Angelina Jolie.
Chris bailed at $95. Andrew Dominik's Netflix adaptation of the Joyce Carol Oates novel, with Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe.
Uncontested; she called it a steal on the spot. Jane Campion's first feature since 2009's Bright Star, with Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, and Jesse Plemons.
Drafted as 'Escape From Spider-Head.' Joseph Kosinski's Netflix thriller adapting a George Saunders story, with Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller.
Pitched off a trailer Sean had just seen. Jeymes Samuel's revisionist Black western with Regina King and Jonathan Majors.
Uncontested; nobody else wanted to sit through an explanation of symbiote mythology. Tom Hardy and Woody Harrelson.
An uncontested dollar bid. David Gordon Green's Michael Myers sequel.
Titles link to TMDb where a confident match exists. Unlinked entries are too new to be cataloged or aren't films.
In conversation
Neville's documentary on the late chef and TV host, assembled from an 18-hour playlist of every song Bourdain ever referenced and about 34 interviews, only 18 of which made the final cut.
Also mentioned raised along the way
2021 films raised in passing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsClifford the Big Red DogCandymanDon't Worry DarlingOldAnnetteBenedettaNightmare AlleyThe Many Saints of NewarkThe Eyes of Tammy FayeThe Tender BarKillers of the Flower MoonBabylonDeep WaterElvisAfter YangArmageddon TimeThe Whale
Older films name-checked Miller's CrossingThe LadykillersWimbledonMatch PointBattle of the SexesLincolnIn the HeightsGhostbustersTron: LegacyOnce Upon a Time in HollywoodCitizen KaneGreen BookKilling Them SoftlyDazed and Confused
Named in the Siskel and Ebert interview Die Hard 2AliensSilence of the LambsThe ThingThe Thin Blue LineNorma RaeRoboCopPsycho II
Named in the Morgan Neville interview They'll Love Me When I'm DeadWon't You Be My Neighbor?20 Feet from StardomSummer of Soul
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV Top ChefRoom 104
Podcasts Gene and RogerThe WatchThe RingerverseBinge Mode
Ads Netflix (FIFA World Cup Launch Edition)Boar's HeadWhite Claw