The Playlist: Recent Episodes
SBS
The Playlist is an entertainment podcast from SBS Australia, in which host Fiona Williams explores the movies and TV shows that are worth your time, in conversations with show creators.
Series creator and show runner Marc Cherry joins Fiona to talk all things 'Why Women Kill', as we get set for the premiere of season two on SBS and On Demand in January. We talk 'Desperate Housewives', the origins of his love of froth and drama, and he many that ways his late mother continues to inspire him. A must listen for fans of 'Why Women Kill', of great TV writing, and 'The Golden Girls'. Catch season one of 'Why Women Kill' at SBS On Demand.
We're back with a companion to 'La Fortuna', SBS Australia's sweeping 6-part adventure-drama, written and directed by Oscar-winning Chilean-Spanish director, Alejandro Amenábar. The story spans two continents, and stars Stanley Tucci as a treasure hunter with a dubious moral compass, whose actions provoke a high profile international maritime legal case about the right to claim historical artefacts. Alejandro Amenábar joins Fiona to talk about making the switch from film to TV, and bringing La Fortuna to the screen. It's a fascinating companion to the series, which is now streaming in full at SBS On Demand.
We're back with a companion to 'Muhammad Ali', an epic 4-part documentary biography of one of the best-known men of the 20th century. Fiona is joined by Sarah Burns and David McMahon, co-directors, co-producers, and writers of the epic series which screens across SBS this month, and will stream at SBS On Demand. It's a fascinating conversation about how they and co-director Ken Burns approached the task of telling the definitive story of the three-time heavyweight boxing champion who, at the height of his fame, took American life — the racism, the religious biases, the role of celebrities, the role of sports in society — and refashioned it in his own image.
It's the end of an era as we break into Ben's last day at SBS to record his final episode of 'The Playlist'. We're not crying, you're crying. Instead, we're breaking into song as we celebrate movie musicals. Ben's also been watching 'Loki' and does his best to explain the plot (a trouper to the end). Then when we can't avoid the subject of his leaving any longer, Ben reflects back on the shows he's most proud of helping to get on screen, in his role as SBS and SBS Viceland Channel Manager.
French cinema great Julie Delpy joins us on this week's show to talk about her latest film, 'My Zoe'. which offers a unique take on motherhood than we're used to seeing on screen. Then Ben and Fiona convene the Jean Smart Appreciation Society, on the strength of Mare of Easttown and Hacks. Then they share what they've been watching at SBS On Demand.
In this episode we take a walk down the New York City catwalk with Ewan McGregor in Netflix’s series on fashion designer 'Halston', take a trip on 'The Underground Railroad' in Barry Jenkins' adaptation of the 2016 novel for Amazon, and binge on the final season of Aidy Bryant's 'Shrill' on SBS On Demand.
This episode, Fiona and Ben are dissecting a very different Oscars ceremony this year, picking out the highlights and lowlights, evaluating the winners and losers, and asking if the Academy Awards continue to matter? Plus Fiona has an interview with Andra Day, the Oscar-nominated star of 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday'. And Fiona and Ben offer up their SBS On Demand Picks: 'See What You Made Me Do' and a new season of 'The Handmaid's Tale'.
This episode we’re in a technologically designated mood for love, as we discuss a trio of shows imagining the next step in relationships - 'Made For Love' (Stan/HBO Max), along with 'Soulmates' (Amazon Prime/AMC) and 'The One' (Netflix). Fiona also speaks to Harry Macqueen the director of a new melancholy relationship road movie starring Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth - 'Supernova'. And we offer up our SBS On Demand Picks: 'Deadwater Fell' and 'Support the Girls'.
Zack Snyder's fans demanded that his vision be set free from meddling studio execs and the gun-for-hire director who replaced him on 'Justice League', and Warner Bros. listened. Was it worth it? And Fiona and Ben descend down a dark path of exposing institutional corruption, in the Oscar-nominated investigative documentary 'Collective', the second season of true crime series 'Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire', the hit British police procedural 'Line of Duty', and 'Infernal Affairs' among other must-see Hong Kong flicks available on SBS On Demand.
With Oscar nominations around the corner, we take a look at awards season as it hits full swing including the recent Golden Globes, and with Harry and Meghan's royal sit down interview with Oprah capturing the world we look at what the recent trend of celeb exposes says about our fascination with fame. And in What Have You Been Watching we dissect the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe foray into the small screen - in what is very much a celebration of the small screen - in 'Wandavision'.
Today we're joined by the one and only Mads Mikkelsen, who jumps on a Zoom call with Fiona, to talk about his star turn as a day-drinking teacher in Thomas Vinterberg's Another Round. How much is too much when you play drunk on screen? How did the team overcome a personal tragedy to pick up and carry on with the film's production? What does he recall of making 'Unit One' - a 2000s detective series that's just dropped at SBS On Demand, and what does he watch in his downtime? This one's a must-listen to all the Mads Mikkelsen completists out there. Don't miss it.
In our first The Playlist for the year, we take a look at 'Minari' - the story of a Korean migrant family attempting to start afresh in rural Arkansas - which is attracting plenty of awards season buzz - and Fiona speaks with the film’s writer/director Lee Isaac Chung. We also think back on the year that was, and what’s exciting us for the year ahead.
Fiona speaks to Brandon Cronenberg, the writer/director of new sci fi horror flick 'Possessor' starring Andrea Riseborough and Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ben takes a look at the new season of The Crown with Olivia Colman and Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher, as Prince Charles finds his Princess and lives happily ever after (maybe?), and in a very special wedding edition of What Have You Been Watching, Fiona and Ben compare notes on their favourite wedding movies.
Fiona speaks to the stars of Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino’s ('Call Me By Your Name') first foray into television 'We Are Who We Are', we chat about political coverage in the media including the ABC’s flagship current affairs program '4 Corners' which made waves with its recent report "Inside the Canberra Bubble", Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant tell one another big little lies in new drama 'The Undoing' and we offer some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content picks for what to watch on SBS On Demand.
Fiona speaks to director Jeremy Sims about his new Aussie flick 'Rams' with Sam Neill and Michael Caton, a remake of the Icelandic hit, we catch up on 'Leap of Faith', a documentary going behind the making of William Friedkin’s 'The Exorcist', and check out Anya Taylor-Joy as a woman making waves in the male-dominated 1960s chess world in 'The Queen’s Gambit'.
Sacha Baron Cohen and Eddie Redmayne fight for their right to protest in Aaron Sorkin's film of the 1960s true story 'The Trial of the Chicago 7', we get Fiona's reaction to 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm' and discuss upcoming documentary 'AKA Jane Roe' and give the lowdown on the latest season of the Coen Brothers television adaptation 'Fargo'.
For a second year running, Ben is joined (remotely) by John Beohm, to re-enact the spectacle of the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards complete with hazmat suits, hotel phones ringing, Jennifer Aniston putting out garbage fires, Canadian bubbles, and an alpaca.
Our minds are very much on U.S. politics this week, given that Americans will head to the polls for the 2020 presidential election in less than 50 days. We're joined by documentary filmmaker Nanette Burstein, who talks to Fiona about making a landmark biography of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Nothing was off limits during the 35-hours spent interviewing Hillary about her life as a feminist trailblazer and polarising figure in US political life - or when Nanette asked Bill Clinton to open up about confessing all to Hillary about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. You won't want to miss this interview. Elsewhere in this episode, we preview the new season of The Good Fight, Ben has been (re)watching The West Wing, and Fiona has high hopes for Regina King's One Night In Miami.
With 'Hungry Ghosts' now streaming at SBS On Demand, we take a deep dive into the show, with a special guest who offers exclusive insight into the writing process. Vietnamese-Australian writer Jeremy Nguyen joins us from his lockdown abode in Melbourne, to talk us through the experience of drawing upon his own family's experiences, to inform the story.
The horrors of 1950s America become all too real in the new HBO series 'Lovecraft Country', prompting a deep dive into recent HBO dramas 'Perry Mason' and 'Watchmen'; a tribute to Chadwick Boseman in 'Get On Up'; and a look at Netflix health and wellness exposé '(Un)Well' and SBS On Demand's 'Sydney Super Tunnel'.
Fiona gives us the highlights of this year’s curfewed Melbourne International Film Festival - MIFF 68 1/2 - and talks with Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn, the creators of the real life drama 'The Salisbury Poisonings', we talk Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking' and click play on 'Guerrilla' and 'Burning' on SBS On Demand.
A first time filmmaker spooks Emily Mortimer, Robin Nevin and Bella Heathcote in new Australian horror flick 'Relic', Fiona pays tribute to Olivia de Havilland's starring role in 'The Heiress', a community is threatened by an invisible contagion in 'The Salisbury Poisonings', and we press play on '102 Minutes That Changed America' and 'Cold War' on SBS On Demand.
This week, SBS Viceland Channel Manager John Beohm takes us to task with the launch of UK comedy hit 'Taskmaster', Paul Hogan gets meta in 'The Very Excellent Mr Dundee', Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti follow the groundhog in 'Palm Springs', Alexander Hamilton has a cameo in 'John Adams', and we press play on our SBS On Demand picks.
In a very musical episode, Lin-Manuel Miranda breaks with history in the Disney Plus release of his broadway hit 'Hamilton', and Fiona pays tribute to the extraordinary scores of Ennio Morricone (and the flicks you can hear them on SBS On Demand). Fiona and Ben also review brand new sci fi drama series 'War of the Worlds' and give their take on streaming titles 'Disclosure' and 'America to Me'.
This week, Fiona speaks with Rove McManus about his passion for art and hosting Australian first 'Life Drawing Live', Fiona and Ben take a look at two very different films on Vietnam - Spike Lee's 'Da 5 Bloods' and Jakeb Anhvu's 'One Hundred Years of Happiness' - as well as offering some SBS On Demand picks.
This week on The Playlist, Fiona and Ben ask if Australia is really ready for another round of 'Big Brother', we finally make it to a film festival - albeit virtual - with the Sydney Film Festival, we look back at 'Gladiator' and 'Westworld' in What Have We Been Watching and offer up SBS On Demand picks from the 'Sydney Film Festival Selects' collection and preview a new season of 'Filthy Rich and Homeless'.
This week Fiona and Ben recall the documentaries about racial inequality that have had the most impact upon them (13th, Burn Motherfucker, Burn!, I Am Not Your Negro, LA 92). Elsewhere in the episode, they review new releases The Great and Love Life, and they each recommend something from the SBS On Demand catalogue, for everyone still spending extended periods at home.
This week Fiona and Ben uncover series using humour to approach the difficult subject of death and grief including the new Amazon Prime series 'Upload' and returning series 'After Life' and 'Dead to Me', take a look at new releases 'Bad Education' and 'Trying' in What We’ve Been Watching, offer a tribute to Fred Willard and Lynn Shelton and offer up iso-picks 'Election' and 'ZeroZeroZero' on SBS On Demand.
This week on The Playlist, the hit 2018 Irish novel turned iso-phenomenon 'Normal People', Fiona gets physical (from a distance) with 'PE with Kids' online sensation the ‘Body Coach’ himself Joe Wicks, we give 'Alien', 'The Shining' and 'Unorthodox' a spin in What We’ve Been Watching and offer up our iso-picks for SBS On Demand.
In this week's The Playlist, Hugo Weaving speaks about his starring role in the new Australian digital release film 'Hearts and Bones' about the painful legacy of war, and Mindy Kaling embraces her inner teenage girl in 'Never Have I Ever' on Netflix. We also catch up with 'The Last Dance', 'Hollywood' and 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' in What We’ve Been Watching and come up with a couple of SBS On Demand iso-picks.
In another Iso-Playlist, Fiona Zooms across the ditch for a chat with Wellington Paranormal's Karen O'Leary (Officer O'Leary), who is having a very busy lockdown, as the much-memed face of the New Zealand Police Force's Public Service Announcements, in addition to her day job as an early childhood teacher. Elsewhere in the episode: Ben and Fiona review the lively '70s chronicle of the leading lights of the feminist movement (and their foes), Mrs America.
And we're back! After adjusting to working from home, Fiona and Ben decide to swap the pyjamas for work wear (from the waist-up at least), fire up the video call and run through an extended iso edition of What We've Been Watching. They also talk impacts on cinemas and the industry, discuss virus movies & TV and do a round up of Fiona's latest interviews.
We don't know what to do with ourselves when the best picture actually wins the Best Picture Oscar. It's bold new territory for Fiona and Ben as they regroup after an historic 92nd Academy Awards telecast. Join them as they discuss the winners, losers, and importantly, how much of the outcome they predicted.
As the Oscar competition heats up Fiona and Ben make their predictions as to what will win ahead of next week’s awards, Fiona talks to Richard Stanley, director of the new Nicolas Cage sci fi horror flick 'Color Out Of Space', on the popularity of H.P. Lovecraft and his attempts to revisit 'The Island of Doctor Moreau', and they unpack the latest season of Nine's ratings bonanza 'Married At First Sight'.
Ben and Fiona are back to talk 'Little Women', and 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood', both of which have been overlooked in the Best Director category of the Oscars. Fiona then interviews Marielle Heller, director of the latter, about celebrating the legacy of a childhood icon, and about the industry's bias against movies directed by women in awards season ("I guess I can't ignore how blatant this is").
Ben and Fiona return from holidays to spend their first day back at work watching and recapping the 77th Golden Globes ceremony. They analyse the hits and misses of the lengthy broadcast, still agree to disagree about 'Joker', and make a case for SBS to adopt as the network tagline, director Bong Joon-ho's impassioned ode to the subtitle.
As we count down the days remaining in 2019, join Ben, Fiona, and special guest John, as they count down their favourite movies and TV shows the year. They laugh, they disagree, and they realise there's not as much crossover on their lists as they expected (*especially when they make up their own rules about what constitutes the 'best' in a 'best of' list). Fiona is joined by special guest, Celine Sciamma, director of 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire', which is in cinemas on Boxing Day and which also - spoiler - rates pretty highly on Fiona's best of 2019 movies list. Fiona also reviews the full list of Boxing Day releases, as Ben and John reveal what they'll be watching over summer. It's a big episode to cap off a big year. Happy holidays to all and see you again in 2020.
Fiona and Ben are back in The Playlist studio after a break, to review Disney+ and its launch juggernaut The Mandolorian. FIona has been watching Knives Out, and Ben has been previewing Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over. FIona catches up with legendary British actor Timothy Spall, in Australia for the release of Mrs Lowry & Son.
Is Apple's brand new streaming service a game changer? While Fiona takes a well deserved break, SBS Channel Manager Ben Nguyen is joined by SBS Viceland Channel Manager John Beohm to check out the platform and review all the new shows: Jennifer Aniston & Reese Witherspoon in 'Morning Wars' (AKA 'The Morning Show'), Jason Mamoa in 'See', alternate history 'For All Mankind' and millennial literary comedy 'Dickinson'.
'Brittany Runs A Marathon' is a a welcome twist on the 'nottie to hottie' trope in a lot of female-focussed comedies. Star Jillian Bell and the filme's writer-director Paul Downs Colaizzo sit down with Fiona to talk about the marathon of making the film, and watching it take off around the world. (Fiona is flying solo while Ben is away on the French Riviera. He'll be back on deck next ep).
Ron Howard calls into the The Playlist studio from the Rome Film Festival, to talk about his new documentary, 'Pavarotti', about the life and loves of Luciano Pavarotti. Elsewhere he tells Fiona about what he has been watching (in what little time he has to spare whilst making three movies simultaneously), and why, as a director, he feels compelled to make a conscious effort to mix up his movie choices.
Renée Zellweger joins us on this week's show, to talk about how she transformed herself into Hollywood icon Judy Garland, for the film 'Judy'. In her chat with Fiona, Zellweger discusses what she hopes the film will reveal about Garland's legacy, not least the high price she paid for becoming a Movie Star during the dawning Golden Age of Hollywood. In this episode we welcome back special guest host John Beohm (SBS Viceland channel manager) to sit in for Ben (who is away at a TV content market, finding great shows to bring to SBS in the future), and talk about the revelation that is 'Years and Years', a very relatable dystopic family drama that is coming to SBS in November.
In this week's The Playlist, Fiona and Ben discuss Joaquin Phoenix's performance in the controversial new movie 'Joker' and in What We’ve Been Watching we discuss the art of the celebrity interview in 'Between Two Ferns: The Movie' and student politics in 'The Politician'.
In this special edition of The Playlist, SBS Channel Manager Ben Nguyen is joined by guest co-host Viceland Channel Manager John Beohm to dissect the winners and losers from the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.
In this week's The Playlist, we uncover Chinese true lies in Awkwafina flick 'The Farewell', and in What We’ve Been Watching Fiona spaces out about Brad Pitt’s daddy issues in 'Ad Astra' and Ben races to catch a serial rapist with Toni Collette in Netflix’s 'Unbelievable'.
In a new episode of The Playlist, Bill Hader talks to Fiona about tapping into his dark side in the sequel to 'It', and what he has been watching. Elsewhere, Ben and Fiona are loving the short-run comedy drama 'Shrill' on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand, and they tell us what they've been watching.
The Playlist is back to recommend movies and TV shows that are worth your time. This week, Fiona and Ben are engrossed in the gripes of the idly rich media moguls, in the second season of 'Succession'. Just for something completely different, they are also taking in the daily dramas of a wannabe homegrown A-lister who keeps getting mistaken for her twin sister, in the local comedy 'That's Not Me'. Plus, they let us in on what they've been watching.
We're back after a lengthy break, to dissect Quentin Tarantino's handling of the contentious matter of Sharon Tate's fate during the swinging sixties. Is the pre-release outrage justifiable? We'll let you know, in as spoiler-free a way as possible. Elsewhere, we talk about what we've been watching during out hiatus.
Lots to discuss this week, as Booksmart opens around Australia, The Last Man On Earth launches on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand, and Robbie Hood launches to great acclaim. Also, Fiona's been watching a documentary about Alice Guy-Blache, a female filmmaker who needs to be a household name.
It's our 100th episode! Inspired by that magic round number, we're looking at movies you can stream at SBS On Demand, which have achieved the elusive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. We also look at whether Russell Crowe makes a convincing turn as Roger Ailes in the new weekly drama series about the rise and fall of the Fox News founder, 'The Loudest Voice'.
Fiona is joined by longtime listener, first-time co-host, Ben Nguyen, who takes time out from his day job as SBS Channel Manager to join The Playlist. Ben's been watching HBO's 'Chernobyl', and Fiona has been watching and loving Bong Joon-ho's Palme d'Or winning 'Parasite'. Director Bong returns to The Playlist to talk about his darkly funny thriller.
It’s Nick’s last episode this week. Along with tearful farewells, Nick and Fiona discuss what they’ve been watching...
01:37 Fiona's been seeing things at the Sydney Film Festival, including Her Smell, starring Elisabeth Moss.
03:55 Nick did not like Dark Phoenix, the latest X-Men movie.
09:24 Fiona has mixed feelings about the Oscar-nominated Never Look Away, another SFF film.
12:09 Nick re-watched an old favourite: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and has questions about how sexism in movies has evolved.
21:36 Fiona recommends Brazilian film Bacurau.
23:16 We farewell Nick from The Playlist and introduce Fiona’s new co-host, Ben Nguyen.
It's time for another instalment of Michael Apted's ground-breaking '7 Up' documentary series, which has chronicled the lives of a group of Brits from the age of seven to 63. The director of the landmark social experiment about modern living Britain is our special guest on this episode of The Playlist, and he joins Fiona to talk about the impact of this venture upon his own life, and also, what it's like to cop a spray from participant Jackie.
0:44 Is Rocketman, the new Elton John biopic musical, a good movie? Nick and Fiona try to work it out.
10:40 Fiona interviews Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher and star Taron Egerton.
18:45 Nick and Fiona go back to 1980 to discuss whether Paul Schrader's American Gigolo, starring Richard Gere at peak handsomeness, holds up. American Gigoloairs on Sunday, 2 June at 8:30pm on SBS VICELAND and streams afterwards at SBS On Demand.
23:59 Was the Veep finale satisfying? Nick and Fiona discuss what kind of American political satire works in the current climate. Plus Fiona got around to seeing the Charlize Theron romcom Long Shot.
0:35 Guy Ritchie directs Disney’s new live-action remake of Aladdin, starring Will Smith as the genie. Nick wasn’t overly impressed, but Fiona thought it found its feet, eventually. It was always going to be a tough ask to meet the much adored 1992 version starring Robin Williams. Aladdin is in cinemas now.
16:11 Nick’s been watching the finale of Game of Thrones, “the biggest and most important TV show of all time”. How could it possibly have met fans’ sky-high expectations? Nick and Fiona discuss TV finales in general, including from The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Six Feet Under, Seinfeld and The Wire, and why so many of them are so terrible.
23:21 Fiona’s been watching new movie, Wine Country in which a bunch of women friends gather for a 50th birthday in California’s Napa Valley. Starring Amy Poehler (who also directed) and Rachel Dratch, it’s a story about unresolved tensions and the beauty of friendship. Tina Fey, Melissa McCarthy and others make cameo appearances. Wine Country is now showing on Netflix.
0:37 Nick and Fiona talk about Mike Leigh’s new film, Peterloo. It’s about an 1819 pro-democracy workers’ rights rally in Manchester, UK which turned into one of the bloodiest massacres in English history when government forces mowed into and over crowds.
03:16 Fiona interviews acclaimed director Mike Leigh about Peterloo, in cinemas now.
21:26 Pro-wrestling fan and colleague Shelly Peacock (Orvilleland podcast) joins Nick and Fiona to talk about new series, Dark Side of the Ring now streaming at SBS On Demand and coming to SBS VICELAND in June. The show reveals the darker, lesser known stories of 1970s and ’80s pro-wrestling.
35:47 Nick’s been watching The Hustle, a remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, and Long Shot, a romantic comedy starring Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen. Both films are in cinemas now. Fiona’s been absorbed in the world of Eurovision, but found time to re-watch her go-to ’70s disaster film, The Poseidon Adventure.
This episode was recorded on Wednesday, 15 May 2019.
00:39 Nick and Fiona have a [spoiler heavy] conversation about Avengers: Endgame
14:51 Fiona talks to Miranda Tapsell and Gwilym Lee about the Aussie romcom Top End Wedding
26:12 A segment is spent trying to figure out how anyone would find Chris Lilley's Lunatics series funny
00:46 Nick and Fiona talk about Tin Star, which stars Tim Roth as a washed-up English cop who ends up in small-town Canada where the oil company reigns supreme. Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) co-stars
06:26 Fiona interviews Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern about her new film The Chaperone
22:52 We're talkin' game shows! Mastermind, hosted by Jennifer Byrne, and Beat the Internet, hosted by John Robins...
30:08 Fiona recommends Korean film, Burning, in cinemas now, and Nick is loving HBO series, Barry
0:32 Nick and Fiona preview season 3 of The Good Fight, which premieres on Wednesday 17 April at 8:30 pm on SBS
06:58 Ang Lee’s 1997 filmThe Ice Storm is streaming now at SBS On Demand. Nick and Fiona look back on the film set in 1973 Connecticut starring Joan Allen, Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver
15:316 Nick’s been watching the last season of Veep and Fiona’s getting into Schitt’s Creek
A special episode devoted to new true crime documentary series, 'The Case Against Adnan Syed'. Fiona talks to writer/director Amy Berg ('West of Memphis' / 'Deliver Us From Evil') about why she chose to revisit the very high profile case, first explored in the podcast Serial. Amy reflects upon how she won the confidence of key witnesses, to convince them to tell their side of the story for the first time. She also explains how new evidence was uncovered over the course of the series' lengthy production.
0:36 Us, the new horror/comedy movie from writer/director Jordan Peele (Get Out)
15:45 Project Blue Book, a series now on SBS and SBS On Demand, based on real UFO sightings in 1950s America
19:40 Interview with Project Blue Book star, Aidan Gillen
25:55 What Have You Been Watching? Hollow Man, Room 237 and Dumbo
0:36 Destroyer / Great Nicole Kidman performances
6:40 Fiona's interview with Destroyer director Karyn Kusama
21:29 Pagan Peak, a new German series
25:05 What Have You Been Watching? - including The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and Sometimes Always Never
0:37 Hotel Mumbai
4:04 Dev Patel and Anthony Maras
14:36 Australia In Colour
19:05 Captain Marvel
34:23 Leaving Neverland
41:49 Game of Thrones
This episode was recorded on Wednesday, 13 March 2019.
We've got big name guests this week: Fiona talks to controversial director Lars Von Trier about his penchant for putting his foot in his mouth, and what, if anything, he's learned from getting kicked out of the Cannes Film Festival all those years ago. Nick talks to director Bing Liu about his landmark Oscar-nominated documentary, Minding The Gap, which chronicles a friendship between three skaters in the U.S. - and whether there's any hard feelings about losing out to Free Solo.
You're looking for Oscars hot takes? Fiona and Nick offer their thoughts on the 2019 Academy Awards.
On the eve of the 91st Academy Awards, Fiona and Nick pick the winners. Don't fill out your Oscars ballot without listening. (UPDATE: We're happy to report that all categories will now be presented within the ceremony)
Willem Dafoe is our first returning guest, to talk about his Oscar-nominated role as Vincent Van Gogh. And we've been watching Counterpart, Eurovision, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Alita: Battle Angel.
SBS' movies and TV culture podcast turns its attention to a foreign language Oscar hopeful, a celebrity's expose on her former Church, and also the local sequel to 'The Combination'.
SBS' movies and TV culture podcast turns its attention to a foreign language Oscar hopeful, a celebrity's expose on her former Church, and also the local sequel to 'The Combination'.
Hugh Jackman has charm for days in 'The Front Runner' but is the film, about a 30-year-old political scandal, a comment on the current political climate? And what makes a good 'political' movie anyway? Fiona and Nick discuss, and give you some personal recommendations on what to watch at SBS On Demand and in cinemas.
00:27 Green Book - the controversial Oscar-nominated film
10:16 The Typist - the German series
13:19 Sweet Country is coming to SBS
15:10 Won't You Be My Neighbor? - the Mr Rogers documentary
This week Nick and Fiona discuss:
00:35 'Mary Queen of Scot's review
10:18 M. Night Shyamalan interview + review of his film 'Glass'
34:04 'Piercing'
38:55 What You've Been Watching
On this week's podcast:
00:41 Nick and Fiona loved Eighth Grade and The Favourite…
12:27 They discuss the new SBS drama Butterfly, about a family in crisis
15:46 Fiona and Nick watched a lot on their holidays, and share the edited high/lowlights, including Bird Box and The Kominsky Method.
On this week's Playlist podcast: Nick and Dan discuss their new year resolutions for watching TV and movies (00:57), plus they talk with Adam Kay from Mint Pictures about producing slow TV experiences The Indian Pacific, The Kimberley Cruise, and The Ghan (15:37).
On this week's Playlist podcast Fiona and Dan discuss the upcoming 2019 Golden Globe awards (01:00) and then Dan chats with Das Boot star Lizzy Caplan (14:56).
What does it take to produce a slow TV experience? Nick & Dan go behind the scenes with producer Adam Kay. Nick & Dan also discuss their planned new year resolutions to be better viewers in 2019.
Boxing Day is a major movie day in Australia. Fiona and Nick talk you through their pick of the releases. Fiona interviews the director of her favourite film of the year, Cold War. We give you some personal recommendations of movies and TV shows to watch at SBS On Demand over summer.
SBS film & TV editors Fiona Williams and Nick Bhasin run through the must-see viewing of 2018.
This week:
0:43 Nick is excited about Melissa McCarthy and Richard E Grant in Can You Ever Forgive Me?
3:18 Fiona gets a few things off her chest about Mortal Engines.
10:33 Nick was disappointed by Creed II.
15:49 Producer Dan sits down with Keisha Castle-Hughes for an interview about SBS drama On The Ropes.
30:00 Fiona has been watching - and enjoying - the HBO show Succession.
31:40 Nick went back to the ‘90s to watch The Day Today.
This week:
0:51 What makes a documentary memorable? In honour of this month’s The Power of the Documentary Film Festival, Nick and Fiona discuss the feature docs that have made the most impact upon them.
9:42 Documentary filmmaker John Pilger joins us, and talks to Fiona about his body of work, curating The Power of Documentary Film Festival, American politics, and what he’s been watching (sort of).
34:55 Fiona has been watching The Coming Back Out Ball, a documentary coming to cinemas next week.
35:12 Nick was bored by Outlaw King, new to Netflix.
This week:
00:39 Nick and Fiona discuss the revelations within The Facebook Dilemma, about how the social media giant’s deals with our data.
05:51 Emma Thompson is on track for awards season attention with The Children Act. Fiona talks to the great Dame about the role.
26:02 A quick update about SBS shows that are coming soon.
28:52 What we’ve been watching: Fiona didn’t love Stan & Ollie, the Laurel and Hardy biopic. But Nick is enjoying rewatching Breaking Bad.
This week on The SBS Playlist podcast:
1:03 Nick and Fiona are joined by Producer Dan to discuss this week’s passing of comics legend Stan Lee, and they segue into a conversation about ownership and legacy - sparked by the documentary Batman & Bill.
14:42 Nick and Fiona talk about how much they like Robert Redford’s final movie The Old Man and the Gun, and are joined by the film’s director, David Lowery.
36:27 Nick has been watching Widows and thought it was ‘okay’. He fell asleep during Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
46:08 Fiona has been watching Shoplifters, the Palme d’Or winner from Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda. She loved it.
Nick and Fiona this week are joined by Oscar winner Peter Jackson to discuss his new film They Shall Not Grow Old. There's also a passionate discussion about new drama series Waco before Fiona and Nick offer some thoughts on the final Orson Welles film The Other Side of The Wind and the final season of House of Cards.
A discussion of the gripping documentary Fahrenheit 11/9 kicks off this week's podcast before Fiona and Nick go on to discuss sitcom You're The Worst and the autobiographical future Oscar contender Roma. Oh, and Nick saw Bohemian Rhapsody.
Fiona and Nick have a chat with original scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis about her new Halloween film. There's also some discussion of The Haunting of Hill House, Duck Soup, and The 2000s.
Fiona returns back from the Adelaide Film Festival with many thoughts. Plus Nick explores his own thoughts on The Problem with Apu.
The Playlist is looking up at the stars this week. First is an enthusiastic discussion of A Star Is Born, followed by a chat with guest Simon Foster - the program director of the Sci-Fi Film Festival.
Fiona and Nick discuss the Hollywood blockbuster Vemon, discuss American Animals and Forever, plus interview Star Trek: The Next Generation actress Gates McFadden.
Marc Fennell stops by to tell us about his new Feed special, Fiona and Nick discuss new shows Pose and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. And they wrap up their ongoing chat about Counterpart.
Fiona and Nick discuss the 70th annual Prime Time Emmy Awards and then chat with Director Bruce Beresford about his new film Ladies in Black.
Everyone's favourite John Cho joins The Playlist this week to talk about his new film 'Searching'. Also, Fiona and Nick talk all things 'Nude'. Oh, and also more Counterpart talk.
The challenge this week is for Fiona and Nick to discuss the feature documentary Three Identical Strangers without revealing any of its many surprises. Also, Fiona talks with Lynne Ramsay, Nick chats with Ernie Dingo, and then both talk with Producer Dan about Counterpart.
This week Nick and Fiona interview Eddie Izzard and director Ziad Doueri. There's alsmo more discussion of Counterpart season one and a remembrance of Neil Simon.
This week delivers Crazy Rich Asians, more of our weekly Counterpart season one discussion, The Happytime Murders, and Birth of a Nation.
It's a big show with Creel Price stopping by to discuss The Employables, a robust conversation about spy thriller Counterpart, and Nick's questionable interest in the Get Shorty TV series.
Deep State director Rob Connolly joins Fiona and Nick. The pair also discuss the new Spike Lee joint BlacKkKlansman.
Fiona and Nick flash back to discuss 1988's Shame, new UK import game show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and the two discuss Beaches and The English Patient.
Fiona was floored by Spanish film Summer 1993, but Nick doubts his emotions. Nick later goes ga-ga for Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible - Fallout.
Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek from The Breaker Upperers stops by. Also, Nick and Fiona talk about What We Do In The Shadows and its spin-off Wellington Paranormal, Tom Hardy, and Who Is America.
In this special episode, Nick and Fiona talked to The New York Times culture writer Wesley Morris about Nicholas Cage movies, trailer outrage and the difficulty in separating the art from the artist.
Nick and Fiona discuss new releases and try to cut through the hype about Hereditary. They are kind of divided about Ocean's 8, then come back together to recommend SBS documentary The Fourth Estate. Fiona has also been diving into the Sydney Film Festival, and raves about Stanley Kubrick-related doc Filmworker, and Nick has been interrogating his son about what's interesting about the latest Star Wars spinoff, Solo.