Filmspotting

A long-time defender of the Star Wars prequels, Josh has rarely been given a platform on the show to actually do the work of defending them. That changes this week as he and Adam revisit THE PHANTOM MENACE, the final film in the 9 From '99 series. Plus, Adam and Josh award "The Plastic Bags," their favorite performances, scenes and surprises from the series. 0:00 - Billboard 1:12 - Review: "Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace" John Williams, "Duel of Fates" 34:41 - Next Week/Notes 47:58 - 9 From '99 Awards 1:28:22 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Costume dramas, biopics, elite directors and their passion projects: the prestige movie season is upon us. But if Greta Gerwig's new LITTLE WOMEN adaptation and Marielle Heller's Fred Rogers biopic A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD could be considered Oscar bait, they are also among the best films of the year according to Adam and Josh. And they've got praise to spare for Rian Johnson's star-studded – and politically potent – whodunit KNIVES OUT. 0:00 - Billboard 0:57 - Review: "Little Women" Haim, "Hallelujah" 27:51 - Next Week/Notes 35:06 - Best of '19 Poll / Massacre Theatre 46:06 - Reviews: "Knives Out," "A Beautiful Day..." 1:15:55 - Outro / Outtake Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam and Josh talk through the shortlist for this year's Golden Brick award, plus conversations with the creators behind two Brick nominees: Joe Talbot and Jimmie Fails ("The Last Black Man in San Francisco") and Riley Stearns ("The Art of Self Defense"). 0:00 - Billboard 1:09 - Interview: Joe Talbot and Jimmie Fails ("Last Black Man...") Anna of the North, "Thank Me Later" 33:40 - 2019 Golden Brick Nominees 50:06 - Interview: Riley Stearns ("Art of Self-Defense") 1:16:36 - Outro  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Noah Baumbach has grown up. The director's last movie about divorce - 2005's The Squid and the Whale - took the perspective of the kids. For his latest - the acclaimed Marriage Story - Baumbach explores the bitter remains of a once loving partnership. Adam and Josh debate whether the film plays favorites, but praise the performances from leads Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson and an ensemble featuring memorable turns from Alan Alda, Laura Dern, Julie Hagerty, and Ray Liotta. Plus, the wisdom we can glean from the Top 5 Movies About Marriage. 0:00 - Billboard 1:12 - Review: "Marriage Story" Chanele McGuinness, "Powerless" 31:33 - Next Week/Notes 35:27 - Polls [Hanks / 9 From '99 Performances] 46:15 - Top 5: Movies About Marriage 1:30:18 - Outro  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Thomas Anderson followed up his breakout hit "Boogie Nights" with 1999’s MAGNOLIA, a 3+-hour ensemble film featuring a treatise on coincidence and frogs falling from the sky. It was nominated for three Oscars, but in the 20 years since, it has earned a reputation in some quarters as messy, melodramatic and overlong (an opinion that PTA himself appears to share). This week on the show, Adam and Josh are much more forgiving of Anderson's ambitious third film when they revisit it for its 20th anniversary, part of the 9 From '99 series. Also on the show, a review of Taika Waititi's JOJO RABBIT and Adam's thoughts on David Michôd's THE KING and THE REPORT with Adam Driver. Plus, the Contemporary Chinese Cinema Marathon Awards. 0:00 - Billboard 1:08 - 9 From '99 Review: "Magnolia" Aimee Mann, "Save Me" 42:19 - Next Week/Notes 48:21 - Massacre Theatre 54:42 - Adam on "The Report" 59:52 - Review: "Jojo Rabbit" 1:08:19 - Adam recommends "The King" 1:13:20 - Chinese Cinema Marathon Awards 1:36:26 - Outro    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices