The Big Picture · Discussion · Review · Interview
October 16, 2026/ 163 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
A long dig into Fielder and Oppenheim's Elizabeth Holmes documentary, then Judd Apatow on his two new comedy docs and a career in comedy.
31 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.
The newsthe Narnia trailer, Zendaya, and a crowded weekend
Greta Gerwig's adaptation, story moved 50 years forward to post-war England with a Stairway to Heaven rock-opera vibe. Split on the video-game-ish CGI worlds; the real-England footage looks good. Theaters Feb 12, Super Bowl weekend.
Gerwig's last trailer drew the same 'what the fuck is this,' then played once you saw it big.
The 2000s trilogy shot in real places and still not well made; proof that natural locations don't automatically fix it.
The stripped-down Garland mode they'd welcome, slotted between Elden Ring and his new Zendaya A24 sci-fi.
Shyamalan/Nicholas Sparks movie marketed as Valentine's, actually out Feb 5.
In full awards-screener frenzy; Neil Young called it the greatest film ever made. Sean wonders if the backlash-to-the-backlash is coming.
In a limited number of theaters, worth the biggest screen; they'll cover it properly when it hits Netflix.
Palme d'Or winner, early best-picture tip, now in three LA theaters with Neon seemingly shifting energy elsewhere.
Ken Russell restoration out this weekend; saved for the annual horror episode.
Out this weekend, covered Monday.
New adaptation out this weekend, covered next week.
Noah Segan directing John Turturro.
Chris Rock's movie, covered later this month.
‘You Can See Everything’spoilers throughout the second half
Fielder and Oppenheim's Elizabeth Holmes documentary. Opens verite in the family's rented Del Mar house in the 34 days before prison, then at the halfway mark jumps two years and pulls in Amanda Seyfried to recreate Holmes. A movie about language, truth, and whether Holmes is a con, a misunderstood mind, or another woman ensnared by a domineering man. Both call it the movie of the year; Seyfried's work, both acting and not acting, is the awards question.
In conversation
Three years following Bamford; started as a one-woman-show idea, became a doc about comedy and mental health through deaths in her family and the Altadena fires.
All-archival portrait of Norm Macdonald, no talking heads; the theory being you can't crack him, only arrange what he put into the world. Ends on the Largo set two years before his death.
Harold Ramis walked teenage Apatow through filmmaking while prepping it.
The Lonely Island's send-up of the fluff-piece pop doc; the opposite of what Apatow chases.
Rewatched for the 4K prep; hadn't seen it since release, laughed the whole way, everyone had the eye of the tiger.
Also rewatched for 4K; going back feels like time travel, which is why he avoids it.
Same process as the docs: sitting with Pete Davidson asking how he got here and what healing would take.
Neil Berkeley's Gilbert Gottfried doc; Apatow called him to make the Bamford film.
Two-part Shandling doc; made with real observations from life, some of which held up.
Carlin got darker on stage while getting lighter in life; the America montage they feared was too political.
His new film, co-written with Glenn Powell, about a country star in freefall. Shoot-the-script-then-toss-it method, new to Powell.
Also mentioned raised along the way
News, in passing The Lord of the RingsResident EvilV/H/SArtificialThe Social Reckoning
Around ‘You Can See Everything’ The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon ValleyThe MasterMean GirlsThe Housemaid
Apatow mentioned May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett BrothersGeorge Harrison: Living in the Material WorldNo Direction Home
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV The DropoutThe RehearsalCurb Your EnthusiasmLady DynamiteThe Larry Sanders ShowThe Ben Stiller ShowRoseanneSaturday Night LiveNight CourtMind Over MurderDateline
Video games Elden Ring
Books Bad Blood