Cinema: A to B
Most film podcasts tell you what to watch. Cinema: A to B is more interested in why a film works or why it doesn't. Alec Mallmann and Ben Starkey spent years working inside Hollywood before deciding the most useful thing they could do with that experience was talk honestly about cinema. Each episode breaks down the craft — cinematography, editing, performance — with the kind of insight you only get from people who've worked behind the curtain. No film degree required, minimal jargon, no scores out of ten. New releases and revisited classics, covered biweekly. Expect spoilers. Listener requests encouraged.
Episodes
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.
Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com
YouTube Channel - http...
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 Hollywood continues to learn the wrong les...
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 - https://www.cinemaatob.com
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 the film was ahead of its time.
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.cinemaatob.com
YouTube Channel - https://www...
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.youtube.com/@cinemaatob
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 Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlik...
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 Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com
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
Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.co...
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 to B Merch - https://www.bonfire.c...
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 - https://www.cinemaatob.com
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 Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com
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 films and the Star Wars comparisons ...
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/@cinemaatob
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 the film.
Official Site - https://www...
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.com/@cinemaatob
For the fourth entry in A Season of Sci-Fi the guys break down the 2019 James Gray film starring Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones. Join the conversation as Alec and Ben discuss both why the film didn't find an audience and why is deserves another look six years later.
Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.com
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaatob
Cinema: A to B Merch - https://www.bonfire....
For entry number three in A Season of Sci-Fi Alec and Ben backtrack five years before E.T. to 1977 with Spielberg's definitive entry in the UFO genre with Close Encounters of the Third Kind starring Richard Dreyfuss, Francois Truffaut, Teri Garr and Melinda Dillon. The guys discuss the merits of the film along with the evolution of the UAP phenomena over the past 48 years.
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
Official Site - https:/...
The second entry in A Season of Sci-Fi arrives with a conversation on Steven Spielberg's 1982 alien adventure film E.T. starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace and Robert MacNaughton. The guys discuss how it differs from Close Encounters of the Third Kind and how unique Spielberg truly is in the pantheon of great film directors.
Image by Robert Karkowski from Pixabay
Official Site - https://www.cinemaatob.c...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Emergency Intercom is a comedy podcast by Enya Umanzor and Drew Phillips. There is no emergency, but there is an intense need for attention, so maybe listen up… You don’t want to know what happens if you don’t. (we will be violent)
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.