Filmspotting: Streaming Video Unit (SVU)

Matt and Jordan punch their tickets to an alternate reality to review Ladies First, the new Netflix comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike. They break down the film's (mostly good!) relentless barrage of gags, its terrifyingly plausible marketing pitches, and whether it successfully navigates the edgy tightrope of workplace comedy.
But before they talk Ladies First, they have to talk about leaving the couch. Matt recounts his mind-bending, leaf-in-the-face trip to the Las Vegas Sphere watching The Wizard of Oz, while Jordan counters with an equally dramatic story about his allergy-inflicted screening ofThe Mandalorian and Grogu at his local AMC.
For Rec Seg!, the multiversal madness continues as the duo pairs Ladies First with Jet Li martial arts mayhem and surrealist cinema from Fellini. Plus, a listener writes in looking for a sleek, under-the-radar romantic thriller, prompting two very different caper recommendations. Finally, Producer Sam takes over the board as "Dungeon Master" to premier a brand-new, slow-teasing visual trivia game called Strip Poster. (Ep. #173)
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro, Wizard of Oz at Sphere, The Mandalorian & Grogu (00:00:00–00:15:05)
Ladies First (00:15:06–00:35:26)
Rec Seg! (00:35:27–00:50:23)
Personalized Recs (00:50:24–01:02:16)
Game (01:02:17–01:16:36)
New to Streaming / Credits (01:16:37–01:29:00)
Notes:
Matt on “The Wizard of Oz” at Sphere
https://screencrush.com/wizard-of-oz-sphere-review/
Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive
⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠⁠
Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere on October 6th. Pre-Order now! ⁠⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠⁠
The Flop House Podcast: “The One”
https://www.flophousepodcast.com/2025/11/episode-467-the-one-with-michael-shanks/
Feedback: -Email us at [email protected]⁠⁠
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first installment of a semi-regular series, Matt and Jordan take a break from reviewing a single film in order to interrogate an entire streaming platform: the industry juggernaut, Netflix. They dissect it across five crucial categories—library size, playback interface, reliability, originals, and price. The goal? Nothing less than determining the greatest service of all time.

Then for Rec Seg, Jordan attempts to track down a forgotten, star-studded 2020 musical drama buried deep in the Netflix sub-basement, while Matt stakes a claim for Adam Sandler's finest 2020s streaming achievement. Plus, they answer a listener mailbag question with two exceptional, music-centric recommendations currently streaming on Mubi.
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:23)
The State of Streaming: Netflix (00:02:24-00:43:09)
Rec Seg! (00:43:09-00:57:30)
Personalized Recs: Music Movies on MUBI (00:57:31-01:08:25)
Game: Netflix Capacitor (01:08:26-01:16:13)
New to Streaming / Credits (01:16:14-01:23:09)
Notes:
Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive
⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠⁠
Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October. Pre-Order now!
⁠⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠⁠
Jordan at Foreign Policy Magazine
https://foreignpolicy.com/author/jordan-hoffman/
Matt at ScreenCrush
https://screencrush.com/author/mattsinger/
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Matt and Jordan flip for the conch to discuss the BBC’s new four-part adaptation of The Lord of the Flies, now streaming on Netflix. The duo dives deep into Jack Thorne’s "cinematic" take on the classic novel, debating the effectiveness of its character-focused structure and its haunting visual palette.
For Rec Seg!, they've got Flies-inspired recommendations that range from the whimsical to the harrowing, and in response to listener emails, a deep-cut horror recommendation and an experimental short (that may just scratch that jam-band itch). Plus, Matt faces his fears as Producer Sam takes over as "Dungeon Master" for this week's game, The Streaming Limited, testing the hosts’ knowledge of literary-inspired miniseries. (Ep. #172)
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:50)
Lord of the Flies (00:02:51-00:35:19)
Rec Seg! (00:35:20-00:55:40)
Personalized Recs: Deep Cut Horror, Jam Band Scores (00:55:41-01:13:13)
Game: The Streaming Limited (01:13:14-01:35:42)
New to Streaming / Credits (01:35:43-01:49:17)
Notes:
Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive
⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠⁠
Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October. Pre-Order now!
⁠⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠⁠
Feedback:
-Email us at [email protected]⁠⁠
Follow:
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⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/mattsinger.bsky.social⁠⁠
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt and Jordan see if Netflix’s massive rom-com hit People We Meet on Vacation (starring "generational talent" Emily Bader) lives up to its 50-million-stream hype. Does the film successfully invert the When Harry Met Sally formula, or is it just a beautiful travelogue hampered by a "charisma vacuum"?
Later, Jordan recommends an under-seen 2023 indie mafia drama, and Matt invites us to fall in love with a 1963 French New Wave short. Plus, a pair of listener-requested recommendations inspired by 1975's The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Finally, Producer Sam challenges Jordan’s 3-0 winning streak in a high-stakes game of "Full Service." (Ep. #171)
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:03:45)
People We Meet On Vacation (00:03:46-00:27:02)
Rec Seg! (00:27:03-00:47:50)
Personalized Recommendations Inspired By 1974's The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (00:47:51-01:03:14)
Game: Full Service (01:03:15-01:20:51)
New to Streaming / Credits (01:20:52-01:33:48)
Notes:
Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive
⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠⁠
Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October. Pre-Order now!
⁠⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠⁠
Feedback:
-Email us at [email protected]⁠⁠
Follow:
⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/mattsinger.bsky.social⁠⁠
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Filmspotting: SVU, Matt and Jordan tackle the new Netflix action-thriller Apex, starring Charlize Theron and Taryn Egerton. Inspired by Matt Damon’s recent comments on "the Netflix note," the duo investigates whether this Australia-set survival story is better than the average streaming title or another victim of Netflix's "house style" that caters to people doing the dishes.
Plus, Jordan uncovers a bizarre cinematic trend involving beef jerky, Matt pays homage to the "undisputed queen of Netflix action," and the guys launch their first-ever Personalized Recommendation segment to help a listener find some deep-cut noirs. The episode wraps with a high-stakes, all-Charlize edition of "Letterboxd-ing," where producer Sam attempts to break his losing streak. (Ep. #170)
(Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:00)
Apex (00:02:01-00:27:10)
Rec Seg! (00:27:11-00:39:35)
Radical Streaming Honesty (00:39:36-00:53:33)
Personalize Recommendations: Deep Cut Noir (00:53:34-01:03:58)
Game: Letterboxd-ing (01:03:59-01:22:40)
New to Streaming / Credits (01:22:41-01:31:03)
Notes:
Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive
https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/
Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/
Feedback:
-Email us at [email protected]⁠⁠
Follow:
https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/
https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu
https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/
https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/
https://bsky.app/profile/mattsinger.bsky.social
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.