‘Verity’ Is Trash. But Is It Good Trash? Plus: ‘Digger’ Flopped and Warner Bros. Is No More.

The Big Picture hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins tackle four major entertainment industry stories in this 98-minute episode. They open with a brief discussion of 'Digger's' box office failure, then pivot to the significant news that Mike DeLuca and Pam Abdy are departing their leadership roles at Skydance (formerly Warner Bros.-Paramount), spending substantial time analyzing their tenure's successes and failures and what this means for the studio's future. A shorter segment covers the greenlight of 'Sicario 3' with returning stars Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, and Josh Brolin, but notably without directors Denis Villeneuve or Stefano Sollima. The episode's centerpiece is an extended discussion of 'Verity,' the Colleen Hoover erotic thriller adaptation starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. The hosts examine why the source material creates inherent problems for the film adaptation, debate the current state of the erotic thriller genre and what audiences actually want from it, and discuss whether Dakota Johnson has become a problematic casting choice. They include a spoiler warning at the 1:02:07 mark for those who haven't seen 'Verity,' and conclude with a brief look ahead to the October film slate. The episode is sponsored by State Farm. Throughout, the hosts appear to offer critical analysis rather than simple plot recaps, examining industry trends, casting decisions, and genre conventions. The structure moves from news items to deeper critical discussion, with the 'Verity' segment dominating the latter half of the episode.

Verdict: A substantive, well-structured episode that delivers on its promises with sharp critical analysis of both a major adaptation and significant industry news, though the extended length and single-sponsor format suggest some padding.

TV & Film rubric

• Critical insight 4/5 20%

  Hosts move beyond plot summary to analyze why source material fails adaptation, examine genre conventions, and debate casting trends; substantive critical framing evident from description.

• Behind-the-scenes knowledge 3/5 20%

  Discussion of studio leadership changes, director departures from 'Sicario 3,' and industry implications shows some insider perspective, though no guest interviews or exclusive access mentioned.

• Entertainment 3/5 15%

  Two experienced hosts discussing current events and debating film quality suggests engaging conversation, though tone and humor level cannot be fully assessed from notes alone.

• Substance 4/5 15%

  Covers multiple substantial topics including studio leadership analysis, adaptation criticism, and genre discussion; 98 minutes with detailed segment breakdowns suggests dense content rather than filler.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  Title promises 'Verity' trash assessment plus industry news; episode delivers exactly that with 'Verity' analysis, DeLuca/Abdy departure coverage, and 'Digger' box office discussion.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  Nearly two hours covering four topics with extended 'Verity' section; reasonable pacing evident but length suggests some segments may have padding or tangents.

How we score TV & Film

Worth it if you care about film criticism, Hollywood industry shifts, or want informed debate about Colleen Hoover adaptations and the erotic thriller genre.

Content flags

• Ad-heavy Single sponsor read for State Farm in a 98-minute episode is standard, not excessive, but noted for completeness.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.