Kermode and Mayo's Film Review · BBC Radio 5 Live

Sigourney Weaver, Tilda Swinton, Those Who Wish Me Dead and Oxygen

·1 hr 46 min·5 clips

Sigourney Weaver explains why J.D. Salinger's literary agent fiercely protected his desire to disappear from the public eye.

This episode of Kermode and Mayo's Film Review features hosts Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo discussing listener correspondence and upcoming film releases. The duo humorously address a BBC Two TV show poster that eerily resembles them, sparking a debate on potential copyright infringement. They read an email from Mayo's son defending the intentionally generic zombie sounds in Minecraft as artistically appropriate for the game's blocky aesthetic. Another listener, Adele, reveals the expensive recording process behind those sounds, involving a $2,500 microphone and items like a spiral didgeridoo and colleagues gargling milk. The hosts debate whether costly equipment justifies the "cheap" sound effects, with Kermode remaining unconvinced. Listener Jim in Derby mocks a statue of Irish unionist Sir Edward Carson for resembling a pop star and criticizes Kermode's pronunciation of "Sony." John in Dublin shares photos of a bizarre rotating sculpture in Germany featuring a colorful bird embracing a female figure. Stephen Fortune humorously illustrates why Kermode's family finds him annoying, using a seafood restaurant bit about "queenies." The correspondence segment also includes a detailed correction on the difference between a typeface and a font from Bruce Fielding. An insightful email highlights how review aggregator sites are skewed by malicious one-star ratings targeting films with diverse casts or female leads. Kermode argues these platforms are flawed because they amplify bigoted trolls rather than representative opinions. Listener Laura Feesey shares her unique "glass of wine" film rating system, based on whether a movie emotionally compels her to have a drink afterward. Noah Keat's personal top five films include classics like "A Matter of Life and Death" and "Memento," prompting Kermode to praise their enduring impact. John McGovern defends the realism of spontaneous pub singing in Irish films, citing a personal experience in Belfast. The tone is conversational and witty, filled with inside jokes and playful bickering between the hosts. It blends film criticism with audience interaction, creating a community-focused and entertaining dynamic. Film enthusiasts who enjoy behind-the-scenes anecdotes and critical discussions about cinema culture would love this episode. Listeners seeking only straightforward film reviews might skip the extensive correspondence segments.

As heard by us

Sharp, chatty film criticism that admires the craft while questioning the film's emotional chill.

An unsettling poster gag opens the episode before it settles into the familiar Kermode-and-Mayo back-and-forth and a discussion of My Salinger Year, a coming-of-age drama set in 1990s New York.

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Why you'd press play

For listeners who like film chat that starts with a poster and ends with a frank verdict.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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