By Emily-Rose Toohey
The Big Picture is a podcast operating as part of The Ringer network, a sports and pop culture website founded by Bill Simmons.
Since its launch in 2016, the site has expanded and grown and more and more podcasts have been created.
While The Ringer first came to attention for its sports commentary, it has widened its reach with entertainment.
The Prestige TV Podcast, Ringer Dish, The Watch, and The Rewatchables comprise some of these podcast ventures, and these are not just limited to movie talk.
They include the hosts discussing television and the current happenings in celebrity culture.
However, this review will focus on The Big Picture – a pure movie discussion pod.
The Big Picture sees its hosts, Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins, discuss the best in past and present film.
This includes reviews, awards show reactions, rankings, and lists.
While this may not sound exceptionally thrilling when it’s written so plainly, the show is in fact incredibly entertaining.
Sean and Amanda’s commentary is both insightful and interesting, and it keeps listeners engaged – especially when there are friendly disagreements.
It’s a podcast designed for the enjoyment of film enthusiasts, but both casual and hard-core movie goers are able to gain insights from the hosts who have an extensive knowledge of the industry and its history.
You’ll find yourself learning about different filmmakers, gaining film suggestions, and becoming invested (if you weren’t already) in the highs, lows, and dramatics of awards season.
In a world of a plethora of Hollywood productions being released every year and an overwhelming selection of films available on streaming services, it’s useful to have some clarity and recommendations.
The Big Picture provides this.
While the podcast as a whole may only cater to a specialised audience, it’s well worth a listen.
The Big Picture is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.
