Wassail Wassail Wassail! Christmas is almost upon us, and we’ve got a gift of a guest for you this week: Barry Jenkins, AKA Mr. Moonlight. He chats to Simon about ‘Mufasa’, the origin story for Simba’s father and the long-awaited prequel to 2016’s live action animation Lion King. When a flood washes the cub-Mufasa away from his homeland and parents, he finds himself an outsider in an altogether new territory—where he stumbles across young lion Taka and begins a life-changing new journey to becoming the King of the Pride Lands we all know and love. Simon asks the Oscar winning indie director how he ended up helming this huge Disney musical, and what he’s learned from the four-year journey to its release.

We’ll hear Mark’s take on ‘Mufasa’ too, along with reviews of two more animation releases this week. We’ve got ‘Sonic 3’, where the speedy blue hedgehog and friends face new adversary Shadow—and Aardman’s Christmas gift to us all, the new Wallace & Gromit adventure ‘Vengeance Most Fowl’. The nation’s favourite plasticine pair are up against their old glove-headed adversary Feathers McGraw in this noirish stop-motion treat. You can hear Mark and Simon in conversation with co-directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham in last week’s episode, recorded live at our Christmas Spectacular.

Plus one more review of ‘Alien Onstage’—a gloriously oddball documentary about a group of Dorset bus drivers creating a theatrical version of the 1979 sci-fi film classic. We absolutely promise this is the wholesome if slightly madcap holiday viewing you didn’t know you needed—but you really, really do.

Top correspondence from you all as usual—including this year’s bespoke Christmas wassail number – don’t miss it!

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Review: Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – 08:13

Review:  Alien on Stage – 58:09

Review: Sonic The Hedgehog 3 – 52:59

Interview: Barry Jenkins – 26:10

And normally this is just for the Vanguardistas, but as we’re feeling festive – here are 50 Christmas TV films of the holidays for everyone:

WATCHLIST: FREE FESTIVE FIFTY

1. Easter Parade – December 23, 9.25am BBC TWO

2. Meet Me in St Louis – December 23, 11.05am BBC TWO

3. Coco – December 23, 3.15pm BBC ONE

4. Ghostbusters (1984) – December 23, 4.50pm BBC ONE

5. Chicken Run – December 24, 10am BBC ONE

6. Close Encounters of the Third Kind – December 24, 11.25am CHANNEL 4

7. A Christmas Carol (1984) – December 24, 2.10pm CHANNEL 4

8. White Christmas – December 24, 2.15pm BBC TWO

9. Moana – December 24, 2.20pm BBC ONE

10. It's a Wonderful Life – December 24, 2.30pm ITV

11. The Snowman - Christmas Eve – 3pm CHANNEL 4

12. Shrek – December 24, 3.55pm BBC ONE

13. Home Alone – December 24, 6.05pm CHANNEL 4

14. Beetlejuice – December 24, 10.45pm BBC TWO

15. The Rocky Horror Picture Show – December 25, 00.15am BBC TWO

16. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – December 25, 6.10pm BBC ONE

17. Toy Story 3 – December 25, 11.20am BBC ONE

18. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – December 25, 3.10pm ITV

19. North by Northwest – December 25, 5.05pm BBC TWO

20. On Her Majesty's Secret Service – December 26, 9.25am ITV

For the remaining films on the list, go to 33:10 in Take 2 and listen for Mark's pick and reaction as well!

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Introducing Toothless from Magical Rewind.

Follow the show: Magical Rewind

Some people go straight to heaven, others need more time to earn their wings. Will and Sabrina are watching “Toothless” starring Kirstie Alley, Dale Midkiff and Ross Mallinger.  This film premiered in 1997 as part of The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Presenting a new feature on the Take Channel. 

ANORA has been one of the most talked-about films of 2024 so we sent supersub BEN BAILEY SMITH to speak to director Sean Baker. 

In this interview you can hear Ben talk to Sean about how he judges his own work, his love of Chihuahuas, that home invasion scene, little Orphan Annie, and of course Ben asked him about the Take That needledrop.

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Our Christmas Spectacular, recorded live at London’s Prince Edward Theatre is now available in your ears! On our festive guestlist this week we have Wallce & Gromit creator Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, who co-direct the famous plasticine pair’s latest adventure Vengeance Most Fowl. They talk us through what happened when Aardman went noir for this festive film treat, share stop motion secrets, and tell us why it was the right time to bring back dastardly glove-headed supervillain Feathers McGraw. Check out our socials for photos of the real A-Listers on the bill though—actual Wallace and actual Gromit, who also joined us onstage. They were a little shy on the mic... but you can watch them in Vengeance Most Fowl on BBC 1 and iPlayer on Christmas Day at 6:10pm, and on Netflix outside of the UK from 3rd January.

Plus a flying visit from someone we’re always happy to being saying hello to—Jason Isaacs himself!

If you were one of our fabulous, talented and exceptionally good-looking live audience members then we’ve got some backstage extras in this episode for you too. London cinema tour guide extraordinaire Nigel Smith gives Simon and Mark the lowdown on our venue the Prince Edward’s history as a Cinerama. Plus a bonus backstage review of ‘The Bibi Files’—Alexis Bloom’s documentary expose on Benajamin Netanyahu and the corruptions scandals surrounding his government.

Hear Mark’s take on ‘Queer’—Luca Guadagnino’s much-anticipated adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel, starring Daniel Craig as the autobiographical lead William Lee. And—from one former Bond to another—he also reviews ‘From Roger Moore With Love’, a charming celebration of the eyebrow-arching national treasure. You listeners bust out your film-buff smarts too, as two of our live audience take to the stage for a game of ‘(Simon and) Markstermind’...

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Bibi Files Review: 08:32

Queer Review: 24:04

From Roger Moore with Love Review: 39:26

Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham Interview: 48:16

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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The ‘Rumours’ are true... screen superstar Cate Blanchett and director Guy Maddin are joining Simon this week to give us the gossip on their surreal new satire—once they’ve finished fangirling over the music of Sparks, that is. Following decades of avant garde work that’s made him one of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers, ‘Rumours’ is the biggest movie to date from the Winnipeg weirdo—its star-studded cast featuring Charles Dance and Alicia Vikander alongside Blanchett. Set at a G7 summit called to address an ‘unnamed-crisis’, it follows the hapless world leaders as they are beleaguered by bronze-age bog bodies come to life in some sort of apocalypse situation. There’s also a giant brain. It’s as odd as it sounds.

Mark reviews this bizarre object of a film, along with ‘Merchant Ivory’, a documentary deep dive on the filmmakers responsible for all those most quintessentially British of period dramas from ‘Room With A View’ to ‘The Remains of the Day’—and ‘Nightbitch’, Marielle Heller’s dark comedy where Amy Adams plays a new mother at her wits end who transforms into a dog.

The Christmas Spectacular is almost upon us! Mark and Simon will be live onstage at London’s Prince Edward theatre this Sunday 8th December. We’re all sold out now, and you can find the event info here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

Merchant Ivory Review: 06:09

Cate Blanchett and Guy Maddin Interview: 25:53

Rumours Review: 40:18

Nightbitch Review: 56:11

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Two divine guests this week as Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci join Simon to discuss ‘Conclave’, the papal political thriller from ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ director Edward Berger. Set in the Vatican’s pontific conclave, where cardinals are sequestered during the selection of the new Pope, the film follows the taut power struggle as these men of the cloth vie for the Catholic Church’s top job. The pair talk faith and doubt, Isabella Rossellini, and whether those robes can possibly be comfortable??? We find out whether Mark thought the film was a spiritual experience, or should be atoning for cinema sins...

As well as Conclave we’ve got reviews this week of ‘Moana 2’, sequel to the 2016 Disney smash where this time the Polynesian not-a-princess must journey to the lost land of Motufetū to lift a curse from her island community—and ‘Your Monster’, the comedy-horror-musical mash-up that sees dumped and depressed actress Laura unexpectedly reunited with the childhood monster from under her bed.

Plus your stellar correspondence adds more names to the overly-polite Brits abroad league table, and we’ve got more on Galdiator II space monkeys too.

Our Christmas Spectacular with Mark and Simon live onstage at London’s Prince Edward theatre is now sold out! Event info here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for our ad-free Vanguardistas):

Moana 2 Review: 06:35

Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci Interview: 24:08

Conclave Review: 41:16

Your Monster Review: 53:36

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Thomasin McKenzie is this week’s guest—star of Edgar Wright’s ‘Last Night in Soho’, Mark’s film of the year 2018 ‘Leave No Trace’—and now ‘Joy’, a new Netflix drama about the development of IVF treatment at Oldham hospital in the 1970s. Written by Jack Thorne, the film’s medical miracle story is focalised through McKenzie’s character Jean Purdy—a talented embryologist whose work was key to the team’s breakthrough discovery, but whose name was left out of the history books. She chats to Simon about putting Jean back in the picture in this latest in a line of meaty and challenging roles for the young actor.

Reviews this week of ‘Blink’, a poignant documentary following a family determined to travel the world and create precious visual memories for their three children, who are losing their sight—and Amrou Al-Kadhi's debut drag queen drama ‘Layla’, which follows the story of the titular performer (Bilal Hasna) as they discover their confidence and creativity whilst navigating their queer Arab identity. Plus the much-anticipated stage-to-screen musical ‘Wicked’. The Wizard of Oz prequel stars Cynthia Erivo as green-skinned misfit Elphaba, and Ariana Grande as glam girl Galinda, both still witches-to-be as they forge an unlikely and rocky friendship at university. We find out if Mark thinks it’s going to be ‘Pop-u-lar'...

Plus top quality correspondence from you and typical witterings from the Good Doctors as per.

Our Christmas Spectacular with Mark and Simon live onstage at London’s Prince Edward theatre is now sold out! Event info here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for our ad-free Vanguardistas):

Blink Review: 09:30

Thomasin McKenzie Interview: 30:18

Layla Review: ~47:49

Wicked Review: ~57:00

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

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‘Gladiator II’ director and legendary one-man blockbuster factory Ridley Scott is our guest this week. He joins Simon to discuss the long-awaited sequel to 2000’s modern classic, in which this time Paul Mescal plays Lucius, the long-exiled son of Russell Crowe’s Maximus. He finds himself back in Rome as a prisoner from his now-conquered adopted homeland, and must outfight and outwit his opponents and captors whilst guarding the secret of his ancestry. Simon talks to Ridley about swords, sandals, CGI and how he knew Paul Mescal would make a great Roman.

We find out what Mark makes of the high-octane epic– do its mega action sequences jump the (Coliseum-swimming) shark? Plus we’ve got two more reviews of ‘The Last Dance’, a punchy drama set amidst the Hong Kong funeral business from director Anselm Chan—and ‘Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point’, a kooky indie holiday comedy with an ensemble cast including Matilda Fleming, Michael Cera and Francesca Scorsese. Spoiler alert – if a catastrophic weather event happened at Miller’s Point, Mark wouldn’t mourn its disappearance.

More top takes from the Good Doctors. To our LTLs and newbies alike: strength and honour!

Catch Mark and Simon live at our Christmas Spectacular – final tickets available here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):

The Last Dance Review: 09:48

Sir Ridley Scott Interview: 28:23

Gladiator II Review: 44:19

Christmas Eve In Miller’s Point Review: 58:00

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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Simon goes on a leafy adventure with Hugh Bonneville to talk ‘Paddington In Peru’, the latest addition to the most kind and polite of all cinematic universes—and for those of us who need cheering up this week, their conversation is just the tonic. The film sees Britain’s favourite bear journey back to his native land with the Brown family on a quest to visit Aunt Lucy. Pass the marmalade sandwiches.

Plus, Mark reviews ‘Blitz’, Steve McQueen’s wartime drama starring Saoirse Ronan as a mother attempting to navigate a bombarded London with her young son; Andrea Arnold’s free-spirited social realist drama ‘Bird’ starring Barry Keoghan; and, as we enter the Christmas Corridor, ‘Red One’ in which the North Pole’s head of Security (played by Dwayne Johnson) teams up with an infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) to save a kidnapped Santa Claus.

Another week of top takes from Mark & Simon!

A few extra tickets for our Live Christmas Spectacular have dropped – snap them up here before they go: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (for Vanguardistas, who also listen ad-free):

Bird review: 08:25

Blitz Review: 13:53

Hugh Bonneville Interview: 28:59

Paddington In Peru Review: 45:35

Red One Review: 56:32

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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This week, Simon is joined by the one and only Billy Crystal to talk all about his starring role in the Apple TV+ psychological thriller series ‘Before’, which sees a child psychiatrist who, having tragically lost his wife to suicide, encounters a troubled young boy who seems to have a haunting connection to his past.

Their conversation is intelligent, insightful and so long that we had to put some of it in Take 2. Truly, one for the K&M ages!

Meanwhile, Mark reviews ‘Small Things Like These’, a period drama that sees Cillian Murphy play a devoted father who uncovers disturbing secrets at the local convent, which leads him to discover shocking truths about his own past; ‘Heretic’, a Hugh Grant-starring horror about two mormon missionaries who attempt to convert a seemingly normal man, only to find themselves fighting for their lives in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse; and ‘Anora’, the Palme D’Or-winning latest from Sean Baker, which sees a young sex worker impulsively marry the son of an oligarch, only to have her fairytale threatened when the news reaches his family.

Another stellar week at the Take.

We’ll have what Simon’s having!

Plus, get your tickets to our Live Christmas Spectacular here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Small Things Like These Review: 08:53

Billy Crystal Interview: 26:26

Heretic Review: 42:23

Anora Review: 53:24

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]

And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

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This week, Simon and Mark interrupt Ben Wheatley’s breakfast (sadly not Wheaties) to about his new comedy horror miniseries ‘Generation Z’, which sees an army truck crash outside a care home, infecting the residents and leaving four teenage friends to deal with the deadly consequences.

Mark also weighs in on the show, as well as giving his take on ‘Emilia Pérez’, Jacques Audiard’s musical-comedy, which looks set to be an Awards contender, and sees a Mexican lawyer offered an unusual job to help a notorious cartel boss retire and transition into living as a woman; ‘The Room Next Door’, Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar’s full-length English-language debut following Tilda Swinton as a dying journalist trying to reconnect with her best friend; and ‘Venom: The Last Dance’, the third instalment in the Tom Hardy-starring superhero franchise, which sees Eddie Brock and the symbiote Venom go on the run when they are hunted by both of their worlds.

Another tasty week of cinematic nourishment at The Take!

Plus, get your tickets to our Live Christmas Spectacular here: https://www.fane.co.uk/kermode-and-mayo

Timecodes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are also ad-free!):

Emilia Pérez Review: 08:31

Ben Wheatley Interview: 29:42

Generation Z Review: 44:58

The Room Next Door Review: 50:50

Venom: The Last Dance Review: 56:47

You can contact the show by emailing [email protected] or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo

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A Sony Music Entertainment production.

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To advertise on this show contact: [email protected]

And to find out more about Sony’s new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices