Episodes

  • Bonus Episode: Mario Cantone

    Bonus Episode: Mario Cantone
    Apr 26 2024
    In a special bonus episode of Talking Pictures recorded live at the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival in Hollywood, host Ben Mankiewicz interviews actor, comedian, and classic movie lover, Mario Cantone. They discuss Mario’s life before acting, his role in HBO’s “Sex and the City” and the Max series “And Just Like That…,” and Ben challenges Mario to the Super 8 movie questionnaire. Films Mentioned: Sex and the City And Just Like That… Hello Dolly Blazing Saddles Lady Sings the Blues The Lady Gambles Slap Shot Chinatown Network Quiz Show All About Eve Guys and Dolls My Cousin Vinny The Thorn Birds New York, New York Looking For Mr. Goodbar Pollyanna Bambi West Side Story (1961) Cleopatra The Wizard of Oz A Star is Born (1954) The Godfather Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • Bill Hader

    Bill Hader
    Mar 19 2024
    Director, actor, Saturday Night Live veteran, and cinephile Bill Hader joins host Ben Mankiewicz to talk about his heroes (Stanley Kubrick, Joel and Ethan Coen), about writing and directing his HBO show Barry, and if you’re hoping for a few of his expert impressions, you won’t be disappointed. Hader also ventures into his movie-watching past by answering our Super 8 questionnaire. Films Mentioned: Top Gun (1986) Superbad Trainwreck* Inside Out Barry* The Shining 2001: A Space Odyssey* Dr. Strangelove* A Clockwork Orange* The Natural Oliver! Planet of the Apes (1968) Paths of Glory Mars Attacks! Evil Dead Rashomon* Seven Samurai* Ikiru* It’s A Wonderful Life Bad News Bears Shawshank Redemption The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) Barton Fink A Serious Man* Inside Llewyn Davis Intolerable Cruelty Hail, Caesar! Burn After Reading Trouble in Paradise The Apartment Five Graves to Cairo Double Indemnity One, Two, Three Sunset Boulevard Kes To Kill A Mockingbird From Here to Eternity Von Ryan’s Express Dreams (1990) The Last Detail The Great Muppet Caper Midnight Run The Black Hole (1979) *Available on Max as of 3/19 (Availability of titles subject to change) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • Patty Jenkins

    Patty Jenkins
    Mar 12 2024
    Host Ben Mankiewicz visits with director Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, Monster) and her mother (!!) to talk superheroes, female serial killers, and gets her take on being a female director in Hollywood. Patty surprises Ben with stories about her friendship with singer Steve Perry and she talks about that rumored Star Wars script. Plus, an impressive Super 8 for your movie list. Films Mentioned: Wonder Woman* Wonder Woman 1984* Monster Midnight Cowboy The Devil's Advocate Superman (1978)* Reds What Have I Done To Deserve This? I Know Where I’m Going A Matter of Life and Death Moulin Rouge The Red Balloon* Charade Bridge Over the River Kwai The Best Years of Our Lives Doctor Zhivago *Available on Max as of 3/12 (Availability of titles subject to change) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Errol Morris

    Errol Morris
    Mar 5 2024
    Legendary documentarian and filmmaker Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line, The Fog of War, The Pigeon Tunnel) and host Ben Mankiewicz have a charged conversation about interviewing, serial killers, grave robbing and, yes, movies. Morris gives the longest, most original (and most surprising!) answer to our Super 8 question about movie props. Plus, he reveals the movie that changed his life. Films Mentioned: The Fog of War The Thin Blue Line American Dharma The Unknown Known Psycho The Pigeon Tunnel Gates of Heaven Vernon, Florida Conan the Barbarian Creature From The Black Lagoon This Island Earth Tarnished Angels Imitation of Life Les Enfants du Paradis Au Hasard Balthazar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • Damien Chazelle

    Damien Chazelle
    Feb 27 2024
    Director Damien Chazelle ( La La Land, First Man) describes his childhood as a budding filmmaker inspired by Walt Disney, his path to getting his first film made (Whiplash), and how the pandemic impacted casting for his recent epic Babylon. Chazelle surprises – and delights – host Ben Mankiewicz as they discuss his parents’ favorite films and which movies always make him cry. Films Mentioned: La La Land Whiplash Jurassic Park Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench Annie Hall Speed Volcano Lethal Weapon Taken The Last Exorcism Part 2 10 Cloverfield Lane Ouija Paranormal Activity* The Umbrellas of Cherbourg* West Side Story Singin’ in the Rain* The Sound of Music An American in Paris First Man Babylon Peter Pan Full Metal Jacket* Paths of Glory City Lights* Make Way For Tomorrow Black and Tan St. Louis Blues The Emperor Jones* Vertigo La Grande Vadrouille The Red Circle The 400 Blows* The 13th Warrior *Available on Max as of 2/27 (Availability of titles subject to change) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Alexander Payne

    Alexander Payne
    Feb 20 2024
    Director Alexander Payne (Election, Sideways, About Schmidt) talks about the inspiration for his new film The Holdovers, what it’s like working with actors Paul Giamatti and George Clooney, and addresses the rumors of an Election sequel. He also shares the movie forever associated with one of his more awkward teenage dates. Plus, terrific answers to the Super 8! Films Mentioned: Election* Sideways About Schmidt Nebraska The Holdovers  Paper Moon* Citizen Ruth Seconds Something's Gotta Give The Descendants The Passion of Martin Inspector Gadget Citizen Kane* Downsizing Meet The Parents Jurassic Park 3 Pokemon Detective Pikachu Modern Times* Viridiana Seven Samurai* One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Annie Hall Manhattan Taxi Driver A Special Day City Lights* Bicycle Thieves* Ikiru Red Beard* Dersu Uzala The Best Years of Our Lives The Unknown Known Cinema Paradiso Gone With the Wind* Doctor Zhivago Casablanca* The Garden of the Finzi Contini The Two of Us The Wolf of Wall Street Out of the Past The Friends of Eddie Coyle *Available on Max as of 2/20 (Availability of titles subject to change) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • Mel Brooks

    Mel Brooks
    Feb 13 2024
    Host Ben Mankiewicz hangs out with his friend, 97-year-old legend Mel Brooks (The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein) in this often hilarious and sometimes poignant episode. Mel reminisces about Gene Wilder, David Lynch, his wife Anne Bancroft, and best friend Carl Reiner. He also recounts a tremendously funny dinner with Alfred Hitchcock. Mel Brooks has spent a lifetime watching and making movies so you don’t want to miss his answers to our Super 8 questionnaire.   Films Mentioned: Blazing Saddles* Young Frankenstein The Producers High Anxiety Psycho Vertigo The Elephant Man  Eraserhead* Frankenstein (1931)  Casablanca* Swing Time Top Hat Broadway Melody of 1940  Ninotchka The Gods Must Be Crazy  It Happened One Night  Spaceballs* Random Harvest  Alexander’s Ragtime Band  *Available on Max as of 2/13 (Availability of titles subject to change) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • Cord Jefferson

    Cord Jefferson
    Feb 6 2024
    Writer director Cord Jefferson (American Fiction) and host Ben Mankiewicz talk life transitions, bravery, and family for this in-depth conversation. Jefferson charts his path from journalist to TV writer to first-time film director of 2023’s celebrated American Fiction. He shares the movies important to him and gives his take on the ending of Shawshank Redemption. FILMS MENTIONED: American Fiction Saltburn  Promising Young Woman  Sex, Lies, and Videotape Master of None The Good Place Succession* Watchmen* The People vs. Larry Flynt Do The Right Thing Jacob’s Ladder Clueless  Cruel Intentions Dangerous Liaisons Punch-Drunk Love Shawshank Redemption Paths of Glory The Killing Eyes Wide Shut Full Metal Jacket* Pulp Fiction* Young Frankenstein Blazing Saddles* Philadelphia *Available on Max as of 2/6 (Availability of titles subject to change) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min