Best Performances of 2025, Wake Up Dead Man and Hamnet Reviews (#1043)

Hot on the heels of submitting their Chicago Film Critics Association ballots, Adam and Josh share their favorite performances of the year, plus some thoughts on Rian Johnson’s WAKE UP DEAD MAN and Chloe Zhao’s HAMNET.

This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits.

(Timecodes and chapter starts may not be precise with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:03:26)

Performances of ‘25: Supporting (00:03:27-00:31:15)

Filmspotting Family (00:31:16-00:35:40)

Performances of ‘25: Lead (00:35:41-01:09:03)

Wake Up Dead Man (01:09:04-01:17:51)

Hamnet (01:17:52-01:29:11)

Brickspotting (Boys Go to Jupiter, If I Had Legs…) (01:29:12-01:35:41)

Notes / Massacre Theatre (01:35:42-01:46:19)

Polls (01:46:20-01:54:07)

Credits / New Releases (01:54:08-01:57:17)

Links:

-Chicago Film Critics Association

https://chicagofilmcritics.org/

-Poll: Film of the Year

https://poll.fm/16367252

-“Black Actresses Are Carrying One Battle After Another” | Vulture

https://www.vulture.com/article/black-actresses-are-carrying-one-battle-after-another.html

-”Wagner Moura's moment is now.” | L.A. Times

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-12-03/wagner-moura-brazil-secret-agent-kleber-mendonca-filho

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