Podcasts Steven Benedict

Heaven's Gate was such a flop, it sank a studio. But in the years since its release, its reputation has been growing. Is it the masterpiece some people claim? The post Heaven’s Gate appeared first on Steven Benedict.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist. Is this film just another trick, or is it really the greatest heist movie ever made? The post The Usual Suspects appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Wes Anderson may share his surname with other directors, but there's no mistaking his films for anybody elses. The post The Grand Budapest Hotel appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Tootsie tackled 1980s' chauvanism by disguising a man as a woman. Hilarious as it was, the tradition can be traced as far back as Homer's Illiad. The post Tootsie appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Is this film about amnesia or is it about déjà vu? Either way, Charlie Kaufman's script which focuses on memory is a true original. The post Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Based on Jim Thompson's grimey story about smalltime criminals, Stephen Frears' film was robbed when it didn't win a single Oscar from its four nominations. The post The Grifters appeared first on Steven Benedict.

The 1960 adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel was already so revered, was Anthony Minghella wise to try a new version? The post The Talented Mr. Ripley appeared first on Steven Benedict.

For a film that requires so many special effects in order to create the feeling of weightlessness, how did Alfonso Cuarón still keep Gravity so grounded? The post Gravity appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Most movies about moviemaking are trite tributes not just to cinema but also the filmmakers. Are there any that go beyond the superficiliaty of the silver screen? The post Movies about Movies appeared first on Steven Benedict.

He has made only 3 feature films, but with each of them being a masterpieces Steve McQueen is now one of the world's leading filmmakers. The post 12 Years a Slave appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Joel and Ethan Coen never make it easy for the characters, sometimes pitting them against forces of nature. But Llewyn Davis is faced with a uniquely historical storm. The post Inside Llewyn Davis appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Gravity was one of last year's biggest hits ($650m). But how much of that is due to critics giving it 98% approval? Is word of mouth more valuable? The post Critics or Crickets appeared first on Steven Benedict.

He may make blockbusters, but Christopher Nolan's tastes lean more to art house cinema. So what are his films really about? The post Christopher Nolan’s Mementos appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Peter Weir: 6 Oscar nominations, no wins. No other living director has been so denied the statuette. Does it matter? The post Peter Weir – Master and Commander appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Lyrical language and elliptical plotting can work in a novel, but don't necessarily make for good films. Does The English Patient succeed? The post The English Patient appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Aaron Sorkin's screenplay for The Social Network is lauded as dazzling. But a screenplay is more than dialogue, and that's what makes Sorkin's work so great. The post The Social Network appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Because it beat Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan to the Best Picture Oscar, a lot of people don't like this romantic-comedy. Is their prejudice justified? The post Shakespeare in Love appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Oliver Stone's JFK was lambasted by both the political left and right for its factual inaccuracies. But since very few can agree on the facts, is it a good movie? The post JFK appeared first on Steven Benedict.

If it was originally called The Man Who Came To Play and took place in a Las Vegas casino, how did the story end up taking place in Vietnam during the war? The post The Deer Hunter appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Originally called The Bride and The Wolf, Moonstruck is as much about irritability, irrationality and mortality as it is about romance. Is that what makes it so good? The post Moonstruck appeared first on Steven Benedict.