Entertainment journalist Leigh Livingstone and movie expert Tim Iffland review the newest film releases, plus break down the latest trailers and movie news. Bite-sized, moreish and a little salty – this is Popcorn Podcast with Leigh and Tim.
All in Musical
Make way for our review of Disney’s live-action Moana, with special guest Justin Hill. Justin and Tim go beyond the reef to discuss everything from how significant and beautiful the Polynesian culture is represented to the divisive discourse about this film even existing…
Freelance critic and filmmaker Andrew Fraser joins Popcorn Podcast to talk David Lowrey's Mother Mary. Tim and Andrew interrogate the film at a cellular level, uncovering the many layers behind the two-hander between an artist in crisis and her creative collaborator. Does the film stick the landing as it juggles allegorical messages, healing deep wounds and a ghost story that connects it all? From the identity of a pop star to the films Gothic aesthetic, Tim and Andrew unpack it all.
The King of Pop's long awaited biopic, Michael, has hit the big screen and special guest Connor Dalton joins Tim to dive deep into the films triumphs and tribulations. Tim and Connor discuss if the film succeeds in its attempt to dramatise the meteoritic rise of Michael Jackson, if the transformative performance of Jaafar Jackson is Oscar worthy, and if the online war between critics and fans is balanced or biased. All this and so much more!
Rebel Wilson's Australian musical The Deb is joyous, hilarious and moving – and that's largely thanks to Natalie Abbott and Shane Jacobson. We welcome the Aussie stars to talk about the father-daughter dynamic that quietly anchors the The Deb, what it's like to sing live on a film set, and how grief and connection sit alongside comedy in rural Australia…
From salt mines to silver screens, Baz Luhrmann is back on Popcorn Podcast to reveal how he rebuilt The King without AI, just meticulous restoration and Elvis’ own voice…
Original West End Queen Aimie Atkinson joins Popcorn Podcast to talk Six: The Musical Live!, including filming in front of a live audience, and the emotional power behind Katherine Howard’s unforgettable song...
Wicked: For Good closes the saga with darker magic, emotional depth and two exceptional lead performances. Enjoy our full spoiler-free review…
Heigh Ho! It's our review of Disney's Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. Take a trip through the magical forest as we discuss changes to the story, new musical numbers from hitmakers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and if the adaptation bites off more poisonous apple than it can chew…
Join us for a review of Better Man, the surprising hit of 2024 about superstar Robbie Williams. You may think you know his story, but you've never seen the Angels singer and songwriter quite like this – as a monkey. Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) brings us a musical extravaganza set to Williams' most iconic tunes, and Popcorn Podcast comes undone as we break down what you need to know about this rollercoaster of a movie…
Goodness knows you should tune in to Popcorn Podcast's thrillifying Wicked review, as Leigh and Tim discuss Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's gravity-defying performances, as well as flirty Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), the delightful chaos of Jeff Goldblum and why you need to pay attention to the man behind the curtain (Jon M Chu)…
Jonathan Bailey joins Popcorn Podcast to take us behind the scenes of Jon M Chu's highly anticipated Wicked adaptation. Bailey, of Bridgerton fame, portrays Winkie Prince Fiyero alongside Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba and Ariana Grande's Glinda – he delights with talk of clunky booties, Wizard of Oz Easter eggs and how to dismount a horse in style. Tune in and swoon out…
Leigh and Tim review the hotly anticipated sequel Joker: Folie á Deux, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Does this musical meander or meet the lofty expectations of its Oscar-winning predecessor? Find out in a brand new spoiler-free episode of Popcorn Podcast!
From book to movie to musical and back to movie, The Color Purple has been a cultural cornerstone for 40 years. In a new Popcorn Podcast episode, Leigh and Tim explore the latest cinematic masterpiece, based on the hit Broadway musical, to find out whether Blitz Bazawule's musical movie can stand tall alongside the success of its predecessors. What more can be squeezed from Celie's (Fantasia Barrino) harrowing and inspiring coming-of-age story? Tune in to find out…
Popcorn Podcast chats with the outlandish and hilarious Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson about Dicks: The Musical, A24's first musical feature adapted from the pair's long-running off-OFF-Broadway production F*cking Identical Twins. In this special Popcorn Podcast interview, the comedy-duo share the validation that tickled them pink when Sandra Oh and The Daniels watched Dicks: The Musical, discuss how the film is perverse in a “good way”, revel in how “brave” they were to play straight men as gay men, and we take a deep dive into who the fuck the Sewer Boys are – plus how on earth they hoodwinked icons Nathan Lane and Megan Mullally to be involved. We hope you enjoy this riotously funny Popcorn Podcast episode…
Barbenheimer is finally here with Popcorn Pals and entertainment reporter Justin Hill travelling to Barbieland to discuss Greta Gerwig's Barbie. Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Gerwig's adaptation of the iconic Mattel toy see's Barbie experiencing an existential crisis where she must travel to the human world in order to understand herself and discover her true purpose. But is Barbie the "best movie ever" or is the plastic not so fantastic? Find out as Tim and Justin talk everything from the films marketing campaign, its profound and mature themes, whether Gosling's turn as Ken is Oscar worthy and some of Justin's best and worst interviews over the years. This is an episode you won't want to miss pals, so let's go party!
Popcorn Pals is a Popcorn Podcast with Leigh and Tim spin-off series.
Popcorn Pals interviews Carmen star Melissa Barrera about her powerful new film starring Paul Mescal and Rossy de Palma. In our chat, Barrera shares her connection to the story and what drew her to the project, including her involvement in authentically representing her Mexican heritage, how terrified she was to dance under the guise of Benjamin Millepiede, and her baptism of fire in training with the Sydney Dance Company. Melissa also shares her experiences filming in the Australian outback in the height of Summer and how special the experience was for her to make this piece of art for audiences. All this and so much more in this very special episode of Popcorn Pals.
Popcorn Pals is a Popcorn Podcast with Leigh and Tim spin-off series.
For the inaugural episode of Popcorn Pals, we decided to go under the sea with KT and Oti from For Your Reference podcast to discuss Disney's latest live-action remake, The Little Mermaid. Starring Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy, The Little Mermaid reimagines the 1989 Oscar winning animated classic about a young mermaid Ariel (Bailey) who makes a deal with Ursula the Sea Witch (McCarthy) to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince. There is much to unpack from Bailey's powerful performance, Ursula's posture, a Lin-Manuel Miranda rap and the hits and misses surrounding the story and visuals. Find out what your podcast pals thought in an episode saltier than the sea itself.
Popcorn Pals is a Popcorn Podcast with Leigh and Tim spin-off series.
Popcorn Podcast goes on a fairytale adventure this week to review the long-awaited Disney sequel, Disenchanted. Starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey and Maya Rudolph, Disenchanted finds Giselle (Adams) questioning her happily ever after, inadvertently turning the lives of those in the real world and Andalasia upside down in the process. Listen as Leigh and Tim decree if the movie musical hits the right notes or casts a disastrous spell in a magical new episode. Plus, Disney Pixar's Elemental trailer captivates; James Wan and Jason Blum join forces to terrorise us forever; Bradley Cooper cast in Spielberg's Bullitt remake; and Indiana Jones and the de-ageing adventure…
Join Popcorn Podcast for a fascinating chat with Moonage Daydream director Brett Morgen. The award-winning filmmaker's new cinematic odyssey dives into the mind, heart and spirit of superstar David Bowie in an unconventional biopic befitting the artist's life, legacy and "perfectly imperfect" approach to his work. We hope you enjoy this special bite-sized episode…
Revel in the romance of Cyrano with Popcorn Podcast's review. Director Joe Wright's musical take on the classic tale of longing and loss stars Peter Dinklage as witty, but insecure Cyrano de Bergerac, pining for his lifelong friend Roxanne (Haley Bennett), who is smitten with the brave but hapless Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr). Join Leigh and Tim as they talk beauty, music and the language of unrequited love. Plus, Sean Penn's warzone documentary; surprising Oscars news; and your last chance to win movie tickets to Bergman Island.
