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The Playlist Podcast Network
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Home to The Playlist Podcast Network and all its affiliated shows, including The Playlist Podcast, The Discourse, Be Reel, The Fourth Wall, and more. The Playlist is the obsessive's guide to contemporary cinema via film discussion, news, reviews, features, nostalgia, and more.
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‘The Man In My Basement’: Nadia Latif & Willem Dafoe On Their Visceral and Poignant Thriller, Powerful Themes Staying with You, Robert Eggers’ ‘Werewolf’ & More [The Discourse Podcast]
Love stories are rarely clean, and in “All of You,” the mess is the point. The new drama follows Simon and Laura, lifelong friends played by Brett Goldstein and Imogen Poots, as they drift in and out of each other’s lives while a soulmate test promises definitive answers to the question of “the one.” Instead of neat bows and easy catharsis, the film leans into questioning love, heartbreak, longing, and the choices that cut both ways. It arrives on Apple TV+ on September 26 as a romance that challenges more than it comforts, leaving audiences to wrestle with what they believe about love itself.Goldstein, best known for his Emmy-winning turn as Roy Kent on “Ted Lasso,” makes a deliberate rejection of formula here with a deliberate rejection of formula. By refusing to turn the story’s love triangle into a moral shortcut, he forces every character to stand on equal ground. Laura’s husband isn’t a villain but a caring, funny, and decent man, which makes the decision at the film’s core sting much more. Time jumps and fragmented glimpses of Simon and Laura together invite the audience to fill in the missing years with their own experience, blurring the line between fiction and memory.READ MORE: ‘All Of You’ Review: Brett Goldstein & Imogen Poots Heat Up Decade-Spanning Sci-Fi Romance [TIFF]In this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo sits down with Goldstein to discuss building a romance that resists tidy resolution, cutting dialogue in favor of subtext, and finding an improvised final line that changes the ending. He also opens up about his upcoming hard-R rom-com with Jennifer Lopez, new surprises in “Shrinking,” filming the next chapter of “Ted Lasso,” and his dreams of joining the Muppets on screen.
Secrets in the family have a way of festering, and in Alex Winter’s new thriller “Adulthood,” that rot takes the form of a literal body. The film thrusts estranged siblings Megan and Noah, played by Kaya Scodelario and Josh Gad, into a spiral where responsibility can no longer be avoided, and every choice risks compounding into catastrophe. The film arrives on digital on demand platforms on September 23; it is a chaotic blend of dark comedy and moral unease, where adulthood itself feels like the cruelest trap of all.Director Alex Winter, still beloved for cult staples like “Bill & Ted” and “The Lost Boys,” proves here that his filmmaking instincts are as sharp as his screen presence ever was. He keeps the story teetering between farce and tragedy, never letting the characters or the audience escape the consequences of a bad decision. Surrounding Scodelario and Gad are Billie Lourd, Anthony Carrigan, and Winter himself, rounding out an ensemble built to bounce between biting humor and raw tension.On this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo talks with the stars of the film, Josh Gad and Kaya Scodelario, about building sibling chemistry, working with Winter as he evolves from cult icon to confident filmmaker, and unpacking the movie’s central metaphor. Gad also shares updates on his upcoming Chris Farley biopic starring Paul Walter Hauser and the long-gestating “Spaceballs 2,” while Scodelario clears up speculation about a potential return in “Crawl 2.”
The drive to be the best has always carried a cost, but in Justin Tipping’s new film “HIM,” that cost curdles into something nightmarish. Opening September 19 through Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Universal Pictures, the story takes the familiar arc of athletic ambition and twists it into a surreal descent where glory and terror run side by side. As one of the rare entries in the sports horror genre, it pushes the language of both forms into strange, unsettling territory.In the film, Tyriq Withers plays Cam, a rising football star whose career is derailed after a brutal assault leaves him with brain trauma. Salvation seems to arrive when his idol, legendary QB Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), offers to train him at a remote desert compound. But mentorship quickly warps into manipulation, and the pursuit of greatness becomes a sinister crucible threatening to consume him entirely. The ensemble also features Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies, and more.READ MORE: ‘Alien: Earth’: Noah Hawley On Creature Design, Transhumanism & Proving The Show Belongs In The ‘Alien’ Canon [Bingeworthy Podcast]Director Justin Tipping joined The Playlist’s Bingeworthy Podcast to discuss the film, and during the conversation, explained why the script instantly felt like his. “I was an athlete, played all the sports, and my father was a quarterback and like a pole-vaulting champion. I understood the drive and the passion and the agony of defeat and ecstasy of victory and the locker room aspects of it,” he said. “And then the sheer mashup with this horror genre — I cannot point to another comp. The opportunities here were to create a new language and combine languages to create something new.”
On this episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo heads into ‘Chief of War’, Apple TV+’s bruising, beautiful, and epic historical saga told largely in the native Hawaiian language and anchored by Jason Momoa as Ka‘iana. The series reframes Hawai‘i’s unification through a warrior-exile (Momoa) who’s seen the outside world and returns warning that their internal conflict is nothing compared to what’s coming. The Season 1 finale arrives September 19th only on Apple TV+ and also stars Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, Luciane Buchanan, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, and more. The series is a decade-in-the-making passion project for Momoa, which he also directs, writes, and produces. When asked about the film language he brought as a filmmaker, he doesn’t hesitate to admit that he's more comfortable behind the camera. “I’m 100% on the cinematic side of things. As an actor, I’d rather strip away dialogue and tell it with images. Both of my parents were painters. The version of me as a director is completely different than the version of me as an actor.”
On this episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo is joined by writer, director, and showrunner Noah Hawley ("Fargo," "Legion") to discuss his new FX series, "Alien: Earth." The highly anticipated prequel series debuted August 12th and runs through September 23rd, delivering a bold new chapter in the iconic sci-fi horror franchise. Set in a future Earth, the story follows a young woman and a band of tactical hybrid misfits who uncover a terrifying secret after a mysterious spacecraft crash-lands in their corporate territory, forcing them into direct conflict with everyone's favorite killer, acid-blooded alien species and much more. The series stars Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, and Timothy Olyphant.READ MORE: ‘Alien: Earth’ Review: Noah Hawley Matches Ridley Scott’s Classic In A Terrifically Smart, Engaging & Terrifying Sci-Fi Horror SeriesThe show takes place only two years prior to the events of "Alien," and Hawley made doubly sure his series felt instantly familiar to fans of the original. “People have to watch it in the first five minutes and go, this is Alien,” Hawley said. That meant using the actual Nostromo blueprints to design the Maginot ship and opening the series just like Scott’s 1979 film—with the crew waking up, smoking, eating, and overlapping their conversations. “It has to feel authentic,” Hawley stressed.
n this episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo is joined by comedy icons Seth Rogen & Rose Byrne, along with creators Nicholas Stoller & Francesca Delbanco, to discuss Season 2 of "Platonic." The hit Apple TV+ comedy series returned August 6th and runs through October with new episodes that double down on codependency, middle-aged mayhem, and Rogen’s uncanny ability to brutalize delivery robots & bird scooters.The show once again follows Will (Rogen) and Sylvia (Byrne), two long-time friends navigating the messiness of middle age through their unhealthy platonic relationship. Season 2 digs deeper into their toxic but undeniably hilarious bond while still delivering the mix of sharp dialogue and outrageous physical gags that made the first season a hit.
On this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo is joined by Riz Ahmed, Lily James, and director David Mackenzie to talk about ‘Relay’, a paranoid thriller set in New York City that follows a world-class “fixer” (Riz Ahmed) who brokers lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin. He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning and always follows an exacting set of rules. When a new message arrives from a potential client (Lily James) needing his protection to stay alive, the rules quickly start to change. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Willa Fitzgerald, Matthew Maher, and more.For Ahmed, the attraction was as much about who he was working with as the story itself. “The thing that’s always one of the most important things is your director,” he said. “You’re going to be in their hands. You’ve got to kind of vibe with them. So David was a big pull. And then it’s also who else are you going to be doing this with? When I heard it was Lily, I was absolutely thrilled.”
On this episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo heads back into Peacock’s wildest ride, ‘Twisted Metal.’ Season one surprised audiences with its mix of brutal action, absurdist comedy, and unexpected heart. Now, season two takes things even further, upping the stakes with bigger stunts, more elaborate effects, a larger cast, and cosmic weirdness creeping in around the edges. This season finds John Doe (Anthony Mackie) and Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) thrown into a high-stakes tournament run by the unpredictable Calypso (Anthony Carrigan), with returning chaos from Sweet Tooth (Samoa Joe/Will Arnett) and a roster of new eccentric competitors. Joining the podcast for two separate interviews are Michael Jonathan Smith, the series’ showrunner, and actor Anthony Carrigan, who makes his debut as the chaotic wish-granting figure at the center of the tournament.
On this episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo heads back into the burning world of Apple TV+’s ‘Smoke’, a gripping slow-burn crime drama based on the true story of a serial arsonist and the investigator determined to stop him. The series follows arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton), a small-town arson investigator who appears to be a dependable family man. But as the series progresses, a darker truth is revealed - SPOILER ALERT for Episode 2: Dave is secretly setting fires and unraveling psychologically at a dangerous pace. Investigators team up to take Dave down once and for all. The series also stars Greg Kinnear, Jurnee Smollett, Rafe Spall, John Leguizamo, Anna Chlumsky, and more.John Leguizamo joins the podcast to discuss his role on the show. Showrunner Dennis Lehane actually wrote the role of Ezra Esposito, Dave's disgraced former partner, for Leguizamo, which was both flattering and a little eyebrow-raising.
On this episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo is joined by Tony Hale and D’Arcy Carden to talk about “Sketch,” a new family-friendly fantasy comedy-drama from first-time director Seth Worley. The film follows a grieving family whose emotional baggage literally comes to life in the form of magical, terrifying creatures after a child’s sketchbook falls into an enchanted pool.Tony Hale (“Veep,” “Arrested Development”) stars as Taylor Wyatt, a widowed father trying to help his two children navigate loss while also battling monsters made of crayon wax and chalk dust. D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place,” “Barry”) plays Liz, Taylor’s sister and the family’s voice of reason.
On this episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo is joined by Director Chris Weaver and Wrestling Superstar Bianca Belair to talk about “WWE Unreal,” Netflix’s new docu-series that finally takes fans inside the machine behind professional wrestling. For the first time, WWE allows cameras into its most sacred spaces, including the writer’s room, backstage before matches, and the constantly shifting road to WrestleMania, showing the creative chaos and real emotional toll that powers one of the most watched weekly dramas in the world.The series comes from NFL Films (“Quarterback,” “Receiver”), with Chris Weaver serving as director. Weaver didn’t consider himself a die-hard wrestling fan going in, but that distance became part of the creative advantage. “I wasn’t this huge fan dropping in and trying to overdo it, but our other showrunner Erik Powers is an encyclopedic fan,” Weaver said. “It was a good dynamic. I could be the outsider voice, and he could be in the weeds.”
On this episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo is joined by Michael C. Hall and Krysten Ritter, stars of “Dexter: Resurrection” - Paramount+ with Showtime’s gritty revival that continues the twisted journey of serial killer Dexter Morgan - yes, he lives! The new series picks up shortly after the events of “Dexter: New Blood”, with Dexter waking from a coma, presumed dead, and setting out across New York City in search of his estranged son Harrison. He instead finds a smorgasbord of "like-minded" individuals and a mountain of killer trouble. The show also stars Peter Dinklage, David Dastmalchian, Uma Thurman, Neil Patrick Harris, Eric Stonestreet, and Krysten Ritter.
On this episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo is joined by Lee Pace, who returns as Brother Day in season three of "Foundation" — Apple TV+'s sprawling adaptation of Isaac Asimov's legendary sci-fi saga. The show resumed July 11, picking up as empires crumble, timelines splinter, and the Cleon dynasty faces collapse from within. The show stars Lee Pace, Jared Harris, Terrence Mann, Lou Llobell, Cassian Bilton, and Laura Birn.In the new season, Pace's Brother Day finds himself disconnected - emotionally, politically, and spiritually. Stripped of purpose and clarity, he wanders his palace gardens like a burned-out prophet, high on spores and nursing existential dread. According to Pace, that chaos is exactly what drew him back in.
On this episode of Bingeworthy, host Mike DeAngelo is joined by Taron Egerton, the star of "Smoke," a gripping new Apple TV+ series inspired by the real-life crimes of arsonist-turned-investigator John Leonard Orr. Created by Dennis Lehane ("Black Bird"), the series explores the chaos and duality of a man split between duty and destruction.Egerton stars as Dave Gudsen, a small-town arson investigator who appears to be a dependable family man. But as the series progresses, a darker truth is revealed.According to Egerton, one of the biggest acting challenges came in those early episodes, where Dave must suppress his true self. The series also stars Jurnee Smollett, Greg Kinnear, Rafe Spall, John Leguizamo, and more.‘Smoke’ Review: Dennis Lehane’s Latest Apple Collaboration With Taron Egerton Plays Like A B-Side To ‘Black Bird’
There are few comedies more universally beloved or endlessly quotable than "This Is Spinal Tap", the 1984 mockumentary that redefined musical satire. Directed by Rob Reiner, who also appears as fictional documentarian Marty DiBergi, the film follows a hilariously inept British metal band on a disastrous American tour. It's a film so committed to authenticity that real-life rock stars, from Ozzy Osbourne to Sting, famously thought it was real.With the 41st anniversary of "This Is Spinal Tap" around the corner, Reiner joined The Discourse to reflect on the film’s origins, legacy, and long-gestating sequel. “What we did with this film—we tried to be as honest as we could about what really happens on rock and roll tours,” Reiner says. “Every band that we’ve ever run into, every rock star, comes up and says it’s a staple on their tour bus.”READ MORE: ‘Bring Her Back’: Michael & Danny Philippou Discuss Their Horror Evolution, Crying With Sally Hawkins, ‘Street Fighter,’ & ‘Talk 2 Me’ [The Discourse Podcast] That commitment to truth, even in absurdity, is what gives the film its staying power. “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers got lost backstage. Van Halen had the crazy rider. We used it all,” Reiner adds. “That’s why I think it works.”
Beau Willimon, one of the writers on the “Star Wars” series “Andor” joins our The Rogue Ones podcast for a long and in-depth chat about “Star Wars,” the period of unrest, rebellion and revolution that “Andor” is set in and helping create this immense tapestry of beings trying to live their lives, maintain relationships, and survive during the upheaval of wartime. Willimon spoke about his favorite character to write for, Saw Gerrera, the “Star Wars” movie he is co-writing with James Mangold, the possibility of staying longer in the “Star Wars” galaxy on a potential “Andor” spin-off show and more.
Celine Song made waves with her semi-autobiographical debut "Past Lives," a gentle gut-punch of a romance about fate, longing, and the people we could have become. With her follow-up, "Materialists," Song trades whispered regrets for sharp banter, high-end fashion, and the ruthless calculus of the New York City dating scene. But beneath the couture and comedy lies another deep dive into the contradictions of modern love.In this episode of The Discourse, Song discusses the journey from her first film to her second, and how a real-life stint working as a matchmaker in her twenties inspired the biting, beautiful love triangle at the center of "Materialists." “I worked as a matchmaker for six months in my twenties,” Song says. “And that was what really inspired the whole story. I just feel like I learned so much in those six months that I will carry with me for all of my life.”“It really is about what it's like to live and love in New York City,” she continues. “And it's also personal in that, you know, love is one of the great mysteries. It's the thing I’m most fascinated by.”READ MORE: ‘Materialists’ Review: Celine Song Crafts A Soulful Drama About The Romantic Capital Of Being Valued
Screenwriter Dan Gilroy talks about working with his brother Tony Gilroy and 'House Of Cards' writer Beau Willimon on crafting the nuts-and-bolts revolution story of the acclaimed 'Star Wars' series 'Andor.'Gilroy also talks about the possibility of doing more 'Star Wars,' and the upcoming 'Miami Vice' remake he is writing for 'Top Gun: Maverick' director Joseph Kosinski.
David Dastmalchian is having one hell of a year. Whether you know him as Polka-Dot Man from "The Suicide Squad," Piter from "Dune," or Jack Delroy from last year’s sleeper horror hit, "Late Night with the Devil," the actor/writer/comic book creator has made a habit of stealing scenes and bringing unhinged yet human characters to life. And in 2025, that streak continues across a dizzying lineup of passion projects.In this episode of Bingeworthy, David Dastmalchian joins the show to dig into his wide-ranging work, starting with the new Apple TV+ series "Murderbot," where he plays Gorathen, an augmented human struggling with control, jealousy, and a deep need to protect his crew—even when they don’t listen. The show, created by Paul and Chris Weitz and based on the beloved comedic sci-fi book series by Martha Wells, stars Alexander Skarsgård as the titular security unit: a rogue robot just trying to live and watch its stories in peace.
what an AWESOME discussion of the film. I enjoyed it so much! love both of your perspectives.
😅😂