Cinema: A to B

Alec and Ben finally sit down and unpack the lone season (so far) of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew streaming on Disney+ and starring Jude Law. The guys converse on its storytelling, characters, and place within the Star Wars universe. They highlight its refreshing approach, character development, and potential directions for future seasons. Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - h...

Alec and Ben analyze the 2025 remake of The Running Man starring Glen Powell, Josh Brolin and Colman Domingo. The guys explore its themes, execution, and how it compares to the original 1986 Schwarzenegger film. They discuss the film's visual style, casting, tonal choices, and box office performance, offering insights into what worked and what didn't. Image by carloyuen from Pixabay Official Site...

Alec and Ben analyze the recent He-Man movie, Masters of the Universe, exploring its strengths, weaknesses, and the broader context of IP-driven filmmaking. They discuss nostalgia, storytelling tropes, and the challenges of rebooting classic franchises. Image by Felix Mittermeier from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Merch - h...

Is Terrence Malick's 2011 film The Tree of Life an absolute masterpiece or pretentious and confusing? The guys rewatched it and still don't agree. Alec and Ben explore the film's spiritual themes, cinematography, and personal significance along with a deep dive into the symbolism, narrative structure, and the director's unique approach to filmmaking. Image by whitfieldink from Pixabay Official Sit...

It's a listener request episode as Alec and Ben discuss John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance starring James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles and Lee Marvin. The conversation tackles the film's themes, black and white cinematography, performances and its surprising connection to one of the biggest films of 2008. Image by Marcia Benson from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com Y...

SPOILER ALERT. Alec and Ben dig into Christopher Nolan's long-awaited adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway. The guys break down the film's practical-effects-driven approach to its monster sequences, the constraints Nolan placed on the score, and how the film's aspect ratio choices shape the theatrical experience. Ben makes his case for where the film lands in No...

Alec and Ben talk shop on the 2004 film 'Friday Night Lights' starring Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Lucas Black and Tim McGraw. The guys delve into its themes, performances, and the cultural significance of high school football in Texas. They also discuss the filmmaking style of writer-director Peter Berg and the real-life stories behind the characters. Alec praises the film's soundtrack by Exp...

A spoiler filled analysis of Amazon Prime's second season of Fallout, exploring its narrative, character development, production quality, and connections to the original game. The guys discuss the show's evolving storylines, visual style, and potential future seasons but mostly wax eloquent on the incredible talent of Walton Goggins. Image by LoggaWiggler from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.c...

It's back to a loaded year in cinema (2015) with another look at Sicario directed by Denis Villeneuve, written by Taylor Sheridan and lensed by the great Roger Deakins. Join Alec and Ben as they explore the film's direction, moral ambiguity, complex characters and memorable performances from Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro. Image by lilla79 from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.ci...

SPOILER ALERT. A deep dive into the Andy Weir novel adaptation Project Hail Mary directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and starring Ryan Gosling, Sandra Huller and James Ortiz. Alec explains where the book and the film differ. Ben discusses why he feels the film is doing well at the box office. The guys evaluate the film's performances, the value of practical visual effects, and why Hollywo...

A spoiler filled critique and conversation on the third entry in the Tron franchise directed by Joachim Rønning and starring Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Jeff Bridges, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith and Gillian Anderson. Alec and Ben discuss their own expectations for the film and compare it unfairly or not against the widely celebrated sequel Tron: Legacy. Photo by Łukasz Martenka Official Site - http...

Is City of God the best film of 2002 (2003 US release)? Alec and Ben make their case following a rewatch of the brutal and brilliant Brazilian film written by Bráulio Mantovani and Paulo Lins, directed by Kátia Lund and Fernando Meirelles and starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Seu Jorge and Alice Braga. The guys break down the cinematography, performances and why th...

A spoiler filled analysis and conversation on the Oscar nominated Train Dreams written and directed by Clint Bentley from the Denis Johnson novella and starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones and William H. Macy. Join Alec and Ben as they explore the film's themes, cinematography, standout performances and emotional impact. Image by Igor Makarevich from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaato...

Spoiler Warning. A candid critique of the third entry in James Cameron's Avatar series, focusing on the narrative shortcomings, visual spectacle, and character development across Avatar: Fire and Ash starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Oona Chaplin. Image by hartono subagio from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.y...

A look back at the iconic Robin Williams performance as the titular character Mrs. Doubtfire. Directed by Chris Columbus and also starring Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan. Alec and Ben explore Williams' comedic brilliance, emotional depth, and the film's cultural impact. They share personal stories, analyze the film's themes, and reflect on Williams' legacy as a performer. Cover art by Testet95 Cre...

A SPOILER filled discussion on Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Teyana Taylor. The guys discuss and critique the film's premise, messaging, performances and cinematography. The episode wraps up with a conversation on the slate best picture nominees for the 98th Academy Awards. Image by Donna B. McNicol from Pixabay Official...

A Season of Sci-Fi concludes with an analysis and discussion of Denis Villeneuve's 2016 film Arrival starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. Alec discusses where he ranks the film among Villeneuve's filmography. Ben critiques the film's unique cinematography. The guys talk through how the script tricks viewers expecting a linear narrative. Image by Zaimhel Syakir from Pixabay Offici...

A Season of Sci-Fi entry 12 is a look back at Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 starring Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas. Join Alec and Ben as they discuss why the film is a worthy follow-up to the iconic Ridley Scott directed Blade Runner. Image by Roger Jeffreys from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A...

A Season of Sci-Fi episode 11 features a lesser known James Cameron picture with the 1989 deep sea action film The Abyss starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michael Biehn. The guys discuss the dangerous and difficult filming conditions, stunning VFX, narrative critiques and finally touch on a film that they don't really agree on. Image by Tabby Cat from Pixabay Official Site - http...

A rewatch and discussion on the first two landmark films in the Alien franchise from legendary directors Sir Ridley Scott and James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver. Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.com/store/cinema-a-to-b/  

The ninth entry in A Season of Sci-Fi lands with a sprawling discussion and celebration of George Lucas's iconic trilogy of Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as well as many of the related properties that followed. Join Alec and Ben for a tangent filled conversation on the science fiction world that inspired a generation of fans and filmmakers alike. Official Si...

Entry eight in A Season of Sci-Fi is a conversation on the second Star Trek feature film Wrath of Khan directed by Nicholas Meyer and starring William Shatner, Ricardo Montalban, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Kirstie Alley and Bibi Besch. Join Alec and Ben as they discuss where arguably the best Trek film has aged well and where it frankly hasn't. The conversation tangents across multiple Trek f...

Entry seven of A Season of Sci-Fi is Luc Besson's 1997 film The Fifth Element starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm and Chris Tucker. Join the guys for a laughter filled discussion on a beloved late 90s romp. Cover art by Norio Nakayama   Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/...

It's A Season of Sci-Fi entry six and another Steven Spielberg picture with the 2001 adventure-drama A.I. Artificial Intelligence starring Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law and Frances O'Connor. The guys marvel at a film well ahead of its time. Ben makes his case on why this is likely Osment's best performance to date. Alec dispels a misconception regarding the late Stanley Kubrick's involvement with th...

A Season of Sci-Fi entry five takes another look at the groundbreaking alien action film District 9 from writer-director Neil Blomkamp and starring Sharlto Copley. Alec and Ben discuss why the film has aged so well and how its raw grounded nature makes it a landmark entry in the genre. Image by vantomen from Pixabay Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.c...