Reel Confessions: Mike Mitchell

More from Unspooled

1. 

   7 May 2026 · 1 hr 18 min

   The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

   Paul and Amy take the leap with The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the globe-trotting ode to daydreamers caught between routine and risk. They trace the film’s long journey from James Thurber’s short story through decades of stalled adaptations, unpack its blend of fantasy and reality, and explore how its work-versus-life themes resonate in a world shifting from analog to digital. Go to https://surfshark.com/unspooled or use code UNSPOOLED at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul…

2. 

   30 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 29 min

   Jerry Maguire

   Paul and Amy say “show me the money” with Jerry Maguire, Cameron Crowe’s romantic drama that turns a mission statement into a midlife crisis. They trace the film’s long development, Tom Cruise’s defining performance, and the breakout turns from Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr., while unpacking its mix of sports, romance, and soul-searching ambition. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/ https://letterboxd.com/theamynicholson/ Paul’s…

3. 

   23 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 29 min

   The Devil Wears Prada

   Paul and Amy step into the fashion closet with The Devil Wears Prada, revisiting the sharp, stylish comedy that evolved into a definitive story about the cost of ambition. They trace the film’s origins from Lauren Weisberger’s real-life experience, unpack the casting what-ifs, and celebrate Meryl Streep’s iconic, ice-cold turn as Miranda Priestly, from the “cerulean” monologue to the power plays that define the film. Along the way, they explore Andy’s uneasy rise, the shifting dynamics with Emily and Nigel, and why the movie’s unsentimental ending still cuts deep 20 years later. You can join…

4. 

   16 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 16 min

   Total Recall

   Paul and Amy jack into Total Recall, the gonzo sci-fi that turned a memory implant into a full-blown identity crisis. From Arnold Schwarzenegger’s forceful push to bring it to life to Verhoeven's mind-bending twists, they unpack the film’s practical-effects spectacle, its biting satire of power and propaganda, and the question at the center of it all: is any of this real, or just the perfect vacation? You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes!…

5. 

   8 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 14 minNew

   Hereditary (with David Ehrlich)

   This week Amy sits down with IndieWire film critic David Ehrlich to talk about Ari Aster's chilling debut, Hereditary. The two recall their unforgettable first screening at Sundance and explore how the film transforms family trauma, grief, and generational guilt into a movie that helped establish A24 as a defining force in modern horror. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6. 

   1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 10 min

   Salt (with Ira Madison III)

   Amy welcomes Ira Madison III to go undercover with Salt, the 2010 spy thriller that gave Angelina Jolie a chance to go full action hero. They dig into the movie’s wild development, from a Tom Cruise vehicle about “Edwin A. Salt” to Jolie’s gender-swapped Evelyn Salt, and celebrate the practical stunts, shifting loyalties, and increasingly bonkers twists that make the movie such a fun ride. You can join the Unspooled conversation on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6 Follow Paul and Amy on Letterboxd for more of their movie hot takes! https://letterboxd.com/paulscheer/…

7. 

   24 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 22 min

   Almost Famous (with Alan Sepinwall)

   With Paul away, Amy hits the road with TV critic and former Rolling Stone writer Alan Sepinwall to revisit Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, the coming-of-age rock movie about a teenage journalist, a very complicated band, and the blurry line between access and honesty. They dig into Crowe’s autobiographical story, the film’s legendary cast, and its many musical highs, while exploring what it means to be a critic when you’re also a fan. Along the way, Amy and Alan debate Lester Bangs’ advice, the power critics have to shape what becomes canon, and why Almost Famous remains one of the great…

8. 

   17 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 20 min

   Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (with Julie Klausner)

   While Paul is away, Amy welcomes comedian and writer Julie Klausner to dive into Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Russ Meyer’s gloriously outrageous collision of sex, drugs, rock and roll, and barely contained chaos. Originally conceived as a sequel to Valley of the Dolls, the film evolved into something far stranger, dropping three aspiring stars into a debaucherous version of Los Angeles. Amy and Julie dig into Roger Ebert’s unlikely screenwriting career, Jacqueline Susann’s $10 million lawsuit, and whether there’s anything remotely feminist underneath all that sexploitation. Listen to How…

9. 

   10 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min

   Summer Movie Recap 2026

   Paul and Amy look back at the wild summer of 2026, a blockbuster season that brought audiences back to theaters and delivered one of the most lucrative summers in over a decade. From The Invite and Jackass Forever to The Odyssey, Minions and Monsters, and Toy Story 5, they dig into a surprisingly diverse group of hits and ask whether the era of chasing movie trends is finally giving way to something simpler: good storytelling. Along the way, they explore the return of the mid-budget movie, the Obsession and Backrooms mania sweeping through pop culture, and the season’s biggest flops. You can…

10. 

    3 Sep 2026 · 54 min

    Hudson Hawk (with David Hughes)

    Paul and Amy embrace an ambitious failure with Hudson Hawk, the gloriously strange Bruce Willis passion project that went from bar-napkin idea to legendary box-office flop. They dig into the movie’s chaotic production with journalist David Hughes to explore the clashing scripts, candy-bar CIA agents, singing cat burglars, and the impossible balancing act of trying to be both cool and completely ridiculous. Was Hudson Hawk simply a bad movie, or a fascinating movie that never found its right version? Paul and Amy (and David!) make the case for taking another look. Check out The Unmaking of…

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