Episode 4 — If I’m Winning, I’m Still Losing Edition

According to Aesop, familiarity breeds contempt, but that doesn’t always hold true. In the case of filmmakers, actors, and other creators with long, well-established careers, familiarity can help us isolate their particular talents and interests. Sometimes, though, Aesop’s right, and seeing too much of someone’s work makes us respect it less. This week, we discuss what the long careers of Danny Elfman, Robert De Niro, and many others have taught us about their work. In a second segment, Scott Tobias and Noel Murray report in from the Toronto International Film Festival via Skype, laying out the best films coming to America soon, and the best films they’ve seen that are still looking for distribution. Our game segment this week is Famous Last Words, in which panelists struggle to identify a film character from the last lines they speak before dying. Finally, Nathan Rabin and Keith Phipps square off in our competitive recommendation segment, 30 Seconds To Sell.