Podcasts Steven Benedict

Do the Right Thing was the hottest movie of 1989 and marked Spike Lee as a major director. The years since its release have not diminished its power. The post Do The Right Thing appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece stands as a landmark western, announcing as it did the beginning of the end to the quintessential American genre. The post The Wild Bunch appeared first on Steven Benedict.

The Beatles' contribution to pop music is legion; their songs have penetrated the cultural consciousness. But how has their music fared on the silver screen? The post The Beatles on Film appeared first on Steven Benedict.

What makes a classic film? The plot’s originality, director’s vision, or the star’s magnetism? Paradoxically, any, all, yet none of the above. It's the audience. The post Die Hard appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Released to mixed reviews in 1969, Midnight Cowboy is a landmark film that examines the then toxic topics of male identity, intimacy, sexuality and trauma. The post Midnight Cowboy appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Double Indemnity boasts some pedigree; Billy Wilder directing a script he co-wrote with Raymond Chandler that they adapted from a book by James M. Cain. The post Double Indemnity appeared first on Steven Benedict.

In the Heat of the Night was one of the landmark films of late 60s' Hollywood, presenting head on the racism of the Deep South. The post In the Heat of the Night appeared first on Steven Benedict.

The Coen Brothers won the Palme d'Or at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival with this sardonic look at Hollywood. But is that what it is really about? The post Barton Fink appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Max Steiner's credits include some of the most popular films of all time. And while his influence is still heard today, his mentors echo down from the 19th century. The post Max Steiner appeared first on Steven Benedict.

A surprise hit in 1981, Chariots of Fire was nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Score and Costume Design. Does it still have legs? The post Chariots of Fire appeared first on Steven Benedict.

An examination of life in East Germany under the the terrifying control of the Stasi, The Lives of Others frustrated survivors of the totalitarian regime. The post The Lives of Others appeared first on Steven Benedict.

A landmark of British cinema from 1947, this frightening psychological drama involves a group of English nuns living high in the Himalayas. The post Black Narcissus appeared first on Steven Benedict.

The original Scarface was released in 1932. In 1983, Brian De Palma directed Al Pacino in an update scripted by Oliver Stone. Are 'remakes' always bad? The post Scarface appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Voice-over is often used to seal up the cracks in a story. But used well, it can enhance a story and make sure that it is told in a way that is uniquely cinematic. The post Voice-Over in Film appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Regarded as the greatest gangster picture of them all, the passing years continue to reveal new layers and meanings in Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece. The post The Godfather appeared first on Steven Benedict.

When a great novel is adapted to the screen, due reverence can be ruinous. Did Robert Mulligan's film of Harper Lee's do it justice? The post 23. To Kill a Mockingbird appeared first on Steven Benedict.

With so many faiths being practiced in America, Hollywood knows better than to show people praying. As a result, 'religion' is found in some unexpected places. The post Religion in Film appeared first on Steven Benedict.

When a film breaks with tradition, it is often rejected by audiences. Which may be why Zodiac was not initially recognised as the groundbreaking masterpiece it is. The post Zodiac appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Oscars are awarded to the 'best' of each year, but is excellence the real reason why the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was first established? The post The Oscars appeared first on Steven Benedict.

Rosemary's Baby was controversial before it was made. Inspired by a real-life Satanist, a sinister aura has hung around it ever since its release in 1968. The post Rosemary’s Baby appeared first on Steven Benedict.