The Next Reel Film Podcast

Can a comedic film set during the Holocaust work? Does Benigni pull off the hat trick everyone thought he did back in 1998? Why is it hard to make a film that’s a fable? Tune in to this week’s show to get answers to these questions and more!

Show Notes

By 1998’s awards season, Miramax’s marketing machine was cranking away at its hardest, and some would argue hit a point that was offensive. In the 1999 Oscar ceremony, not only did their film Shakespeare in Love usurp the odds-on favorite of Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture as well as Gwyneth Paltrow’s Best Actress award over several other arguably stronger performances, but their film Life Is Beautiful won for Best Actor, Best Score, and Best Foreign Language Film, not to mention the fact that it was one of the very small club of foreign films earning a nomination for Best Picture. Roberto Benigni’s chair-jumping and over-the-top pronouncement of his love for everybody was fun to watch, but in the end, was Life Is Beautiful all that and a bag of chips? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Foreign Language Films Nominated for Best Picture series with Benigni’s 1997 film Life Is Beautiful.

We talk about the passage of time and how that’s affected our feelings about this film, even if it’s hard to argue that it’s the worst film ever made as some do. We debate Benigni as director, screenwriter, and actor and try to figure out just how much is too much, and why the film often feels more like a chance for him to showboat than a solid story. We talk about the nature of telling a comedic story during horrible circumstances like the Holocaust and what it takes to make it really work right. We also talk about the nature of fables and debate the nature of this being a fable when pushed through Benigni’s prism. We look at the cast and some of the scenes they’re in that work really well. We touch on the music and how beautiful it is. And we chat about the awards circuit for this film with lots of opinions about its nominations and wins. (Central Station absolutely should’ve been receiving the accolades.)

It’s a divisive film that doesn’t hold up as well when revisiting 20+ years later, but it still makes for a delicious conversation. Check it out, make up your own mind, then tune in to this week’s show! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

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Creators and Guests

Host
Andy Nelson
With over 25 years of experience in film, television, and commercial production, Andy has cultivated an enduring passion for storytelling in all its forms. His enthusiasm for the craft began in his youth when he and his friends started making their own movies in grade school. After studying film at the University of Colorado Boulder, Andy wrote, directed, and produced several short films while also producing indie features like Netherbeast Incorporated and Ambush at Dark Canyon. Andy has been on the production team for award-winning documentaries such as The Imposter and The Joe Show, as well as TV shows like Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Dentists and Nat Geo’s Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers. Over a decade ago, he started podcasting with Pete and immediately embraced the medium. Now, as a partner at TruStory FM, Andy looks forward to more storytelling through their wide variety of shows. Throughout his career, Andy has passed on his knowledge by teaching young minds the crafts of screenwriting, producing, editing, and podcasting. Outside of work, Andy is a family man who enjoys a good martini, a cold beer, a nice cup o’ joe. And always, of course, a great movie.
Host
Pete Wright
#Movies, #ADHD, & #Podcasting • Co-founder @trustory.fm🎥 The Next Reel Family of #Film Podcasts @thenextreel.com🎙️ Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast @takecontroladhd.com📖 Co-author of Unapologetically ADHD • https://unapologeticallyadhdbook.com

What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

A show about movies and how they connect.
We love movies. We’ve been talking about them, one movie a week, since 2011. It’s a lot of movies, that’s true, but we’re passionate about origins and performance, directors and actors, themes and genres, and so much more. So join the community, and let’s hear about your favorite movies, too.
When the movie ends, our conversation begins.