Films for Today

This week's episode further develops last week's contemplations about the tension between making egoistic evaluations and respecting fate through the lens of the once iconic, but now somewhat controversial, 2009 romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer ." Contact Us E: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Having gained something of (rightful) cult following despite mixed reviews upon its release, Dan Fogelman's 2018 dark comedy, Life Itself, is the focus of today's conversation. Contact Us E: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Our recent discussions about enjoying things vicariously through cinema gets taken to something of a logical conclusion in this week's episode as we examine how Martin Scorsese depicts the notorious escapades of former multimillionaire Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street. Contact Us E: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Following last week's discussions about enjoying things vicariously through cinema, this week's episode focuses on what some have called the greatest hangout movie of all time—Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused . Contact us via email at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

In light of recent discussions about the burden of (supposed) human intelligence, this week's episode contemplates the impact of optimisation tactics in the search for love through the lens of Éric Rohmer's 1996 realist romance, A Summer's Tale. Contact us via email at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

As the development of AI continues to accelerate, this week's episode attempts to identify the deeper roots of humanity's proclivity for self-endangerment via automation by reference to James Cameron's iconic sci-fi action film, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. We also briefly discuss: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026) d. Gore Verbinski Bugonia (2025) d. Yorgos Lanthimos  Contact us...

Following recent discussions about the art of articulating feelings and emotions in adult relationships, this week's episode centres on Bradley Cooper's recent dramedy, Is This Thing On?, in contemplating the symbolic qualities of stand-up comedy and divorce. Contact us via email at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Featuring a couple of rather obscure symbols and plot points that films discussed in previous weeks have also used, Ingmar Bergman's 1961 existential drama is at the centre of today's conversation as we contemplate the concept of God's hiddenness. We also briefly discuss: The Exorcist (1973) Contact us via email at contact@jimmybernasconi.com

This week's episode consolidates on recent discussions about the symbolism of house design and ignoring looming psychological baggage by examining such ideas through the lens of Ang Lee's 1997 suburban drama, The Ice Storm. We also briefly discuss: The End of Oak Street (2026) d. David Robert Mitchell Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

After we examined a different Alan Parker film also focused on the soul a few week's ago, this week's episode centres on his 1987 crime thriller, Angel Heart , and carries on last week's discussion on living in ignorance of the darker, yet immediately apparent, aspects of human existence. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Following some recent (rather austere) contemplations on the idea of passing things forward through time, this week's episode takes the conversation into slightly more poetic territory in examining Mike Flanagan's recent profound sci-fi drama, The Life of Chuck . We also briefly discuss: Backrooms (2026) d. Kane Parsons Contact Us: Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Following last week's (unrelated) discussions about the concept of deception and films with identical bookends, this week's episode had to centre on Djibril Diop Mambéty's 1973 Senegalese film, Touki Bouki (also known as Journey of the Hyena ). Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Being a true film for today in many more ways than one, Christopher Nolan's newest box office hit, The Odyssey , is the focus of this week's episode, igniting contemplation about how much the concept of deception underlies the human condition. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

This week's episode is a well-overdue examination of Curry Barker's theatrical debut, Obsession , which reignites discussions from earlier this year about the potentially self-corrupting nature of wanting. We also briefly discuss: Her (2013) d. Spike Jonze Lars and the Real Girl (2007) d. Craig Gillespie Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

In this week's episode, we sit down with the with the founders of the OMNI International AI Film Festival, to discuss all the pressing issues central to current debates concerning AI filmmaking, from intellectual property protection to the democratisation of art-making. We also briefly discuss: A Face Only a Mother Could Love (2026) d. Robert Gaudette Guardians of the Burrow (2026) d. Jodie He...

Following last week's discussions about the elusiveness of certain political ideas, this week's episode contemplates the tension between the experience of socioeconomics versus something more transcendent, through the lens of Alan Parker's 1991 comedy, The Commitments. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Films for Today returns this week with a refreshed discussion about the seemingly thin line between progressivism and conservatism through an examination of Pixar's 2008 dystopian satire, WALL·E . Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Building on recent discussions of authenticity in storytelling and relationships, this week's episode examines Steven Spielberg's depiction of the infamously dishonest American conman Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can . Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

In this week's special episode we are joined by writer-director Sophy Romvari to discuss her new film, Blue Heron, and its explorations of therapy, fiction and personal storytelling. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Following recent conversations about the dangers of the archetypal meek masculine neglecting its shadow, this week's episode introduces the concept of the inner primeval to this conversation in examining Steven Spielberg's 1993 innovative action/adventure classic, Jurassic Park . Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

In consolidating on last week's discussions, specifically those about the colossal consequences of an un-integrated shadow, this week's episode dives deeper into the themes and aesthetics of 1950s science fiction cinema through the lens of Fred M. Wilcox's Forbidden Planet. We also briefly discuss: Dr. Strangelove (1964) d. Stanley Kubrick Akira (1988) Katsuhiro Otomo Contact Us Email:...

In light of the ongoing cultural conversation regarding the crisis of masculinity, this week's episode builds on last week's discussion about 'nice guys' and violence by examining Frank Oz's 1986 dark comedy musical, Little Shop of Horrors . We also briefly discuss: Oppenheimer (2023) d. Christopher Nolan Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Following last week's discussions on the complexities of applied piety, this week's episode contemplates the apparent limits on human grace and forgiveness through the lens of Paddy Considine's 2011 drama, Tyrannosaur. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com

Following last week's contemplations about the inevitably communal aspect of moral life, this week's episode contemplates the inevitable difficulties of piously living for others in its examination of Lars von Trier's 1996 drama, Breaking the Waves. We also briefly discuss: The Sacrifice (1986) d. Andrei Tarkovsky The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) d. Peter Jackso...

Following recent discussions about edgy young men and in light of a recent trend in movies depicting high-strung mothers, this week's episode considers nature, nurture, confusion and chaos through the lens of Lynne Ramsay' adaptation of Lionel Shriver's chilling 2003 novel, We Need to Talk About Kevin. We also briefly discuss: Nitram (2021) d. Justin Kurzel Day of the Beast (1995) d. Á...