Cinema of Meaning

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two.

In Part 5 of our Gangster Cinema Series we move into the 2010s to discuss Martin Scorsese's The Irishman.

Welcome back to our series on Gangster Cinema through the decades, in which we discuss 5 different gangster movies from 5 different decades in order to get a better understanding of the deeper meanings and evolution of the genre; continuing today in the 2000s with Ridley Scott's American Gangster.

In Part 3 of the Gangster Series we move into the 90s to discuss Martin Scorsese's iconic masterpiece Goodfellas

In Part 2 of the Gangster Series we move from the sobering 70s into the neon-lit 80s and follow Al Pacino into yet another iconic gangster movie: Brian DePalma's Scarface.

We are excited to announce our new series on Gangster Cinema through the decades. Over the course of 5 episodes, we will discuss 5 different gangster movies from 5 different decades, in order to get a better understanding of the deeper meanings and evolution of the genre; starting in the 1970s with Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather.

In this special 3-part series titled Cinema of Nuclear Dread, we explore cinema’s relation to the atomic bomb, and all the implications it represents, concluding today with an in-depth discussion of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.

In this special 3-part series titled Cinema of Nuclear Dread, which we are hosting in honor of the release of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, we explore cinema’s relation to the atomic bomb, and all the implications it represents. Continuing today with how the fear of and trauma from the nuclear bomb gave birth to the complicated and continuously evolving movie monster Godzilla.

In this special 3-part series titled Cinema of Nuclear Dread, which we are hosting in honor of the upcoming release of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, we explore cinema’s relation to the atomic bomb, and all the implications it represents. Beginning today with the politics of the atomic bomb and the complicated philosophy of nuclear deterrence, in Stanley Kubrick’s classic satire Dr Strangelove or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb.

Before Indiana Jones' final adventure, we revisit his previous final adventure and discuss the early wave of legacy sequels, the conflicted enjoyment found in treasure-hunting movies, and the evolution of the adventure genre, in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

We discuss facing the fear of existence, the often overlooked quality of language, and our relation to time, in Denis Villeneuve's Arrival.

We discuss the nobility of servitude, the loss of collective identity, and Wes Anderson’s unique storytelling, in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

We discuss the surprisingly fun absurdism of Ari Aster’s Beau is Afraid, and dive into its deeper themes of anxiety, childhood, and parental relations.

We discuss filmmaking that feels timeless, the enigma of Daniel Plainview’s character, and the erosion of religion and social dynamics in the wake of rising capitalism, in Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood.

We try to untangle the absurdist storytelling of Yorgos Lanthimos, the real meaning of justice, and the deeper metaphorical layers of his 2017 film The Killing of a Sacred Deer.

We discuss the solemn new direction of the Western mythos, the unhealed wounds in US history, and dealing with grief, in Taylor Sheridan’s Wind River.

We revisit David Fincher’s billionaire origin story The Social Network, discuss whether or not its romanticizing Zuckerberg’s rise to success, and how its surrounding myths about Silicon Valley, technological progress, and genius entrepreneurs have evolved since the movie’s release.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the marvelization of storytelling, the qualities of a perfect B movie, and the successes and shortcomings of translating one of the most influential gaming concepts to cinema, in John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein’s Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss one of the most enigmatic films of the 21st century: Lee Chang-dong’s Burning. A complex tale of morality, Freudian dynamics, and socio-political conflicts.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss capturing the sublime grandeur of the cosmos, how different philosophies can lead to the same virtues and vices, and the relation between existentialism and the sun, in Danny Boyle’s Sunshine.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss how stories evolve throughout franchises, how a formula can stay fresh across decades and the cost of fame in Matt Bettinelli and OlpinTyler Gillett's Scream 6.

With new A.I. technologies on the rise, Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden revisit Spike Jonze’s Her to discuss the extent of its prescience, the effects of technological progress on human culture, and the true nature of consciousness.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss how movies can go from being dismissed to being hailed as masterpieces, the dynamics of (dis)trust, and the non-existence of the soul, in John Carpenter’s The Thing.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the mythologization of outlaws and the American West, and the slow and painful road of disillusionment, in Andrew Dominic’s melancholic western The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the reality of eating disorders, the conflict between intent and outcome, and the effects of trauma on ourselves and our relations, in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden revisit Martin Scorsese’s psychological thriller Shutter Island, discuss how rewarding it is on rewatch knowing the story’s full context, break down the many layers of its moral conflict, and pick apart all the little details we missed the first time around.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss competing philosophies about the line between humanity and nature, the inevitability of subjectivity in documentary filmmaking, and the search for ecstatic truth, in Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the mysterious origins of passion, the struggle between responsibility and freedom, and coming to terms with one’s past, in Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical tale The Fabelmans.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the intricate and tragic downfall of a flawed character, the tension between art and artist, and constructing a grounded nightmare wherein nothing is quite what it seems, in Todd Field’s Tár.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the implications of confronting one’s mortality, the existential purpose of kindness, and how even the tiniest, most remote places can still form a stage for grand human drama, in Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden explore cinema as memory, and discuss the complex emotions that arise when trying to put together the fragmented pieces of one’s past, in Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery; and examine its puzzling structure, its controversial ending, and what it has to say about billionaires and other questionable cultural figures.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the Sight and Sound #1 movie of all time; the groundbreaking and voyeuristic portrait of a lonely woman trapped in a monotonous life of routine: Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles.Get ad-free episodes a week early and access to a monthly bonus episode on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaning (Signing up using our link supports the podcast).Become part of the Cinema of Meaning community by supporting us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on YouTube:Thomas Flight: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThomasFlightLike Stories of Old: https://youtube.com/c/LikeStoriesofOldCinema of Meaning: https://www.youtube.com/@cinemaofmeaningCheck us out on Nebula:Thomas Flight: https://nebula.tv/thomasflightLike Stories of Old: https://nebula.tv/lsooCinema of Meaning: https://nebula.tv/cinemaofmeaningFollow us:Cinema of Meaning: https://twitter.com/CinemaofMeaningTom van der Linden https://twitter.com/Tom_LSOOThomas Flight https://twitter.com/thomasflight See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the conflicted relation to art; the value and harm of critics, and the importance of passion, in Mark Mylod’s The Menu.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the deconstruction of individualism, the tension between dreams and responsibility, and the timeless legacy of Frank Capra’s surprisingly prescient classic It’s a Wonderful Life.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the anatomy of great adventure stories, humanity’s strange relation to nature, and the power of emotional storytelling, in James Cameron’s Avatar.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the complex dynamics between money, gender and class, the art of satire, and the question of what really happens when a social hierarchy collapses, in Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness.

Can you tell a monster? Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the meticulous craft of the murder mystery story, the consequences of police brutality, and the aesthetics of evil, in Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the implications of Wakanda entering the world stage and upsetting the global status quo, Marvel’s reluctance to really dig into revolutionary and post-colonial politics, and the struggle to continue the Black Panther story after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the harm that happens when principles turn into empty facades, how they nevertheless can become entrenched in existing power dynamics, and to what extent individuals can stand up to them, in Masaki Kobayashi’s Harakiri.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the gender dynamics of stranger danger, social commentary in horror movies, and the nature of predatory men, in Zach Cregger’s Barbarian.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss questions of fate and evil in the Coen Brothers’ surprisingly existentialist western No Country for Old Men.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss grief, relationship struggles, and the differences between individualistic and collectivist cultures, in Ari Aster’s Midsommar.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the beauty of low-budget, independent filmmaking, the intricacies of time travel, and how to navigate and appreciate challenging films, in Shane Carruth’s Primer.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss different notions of heroic masculinity, the conflicting excitement of stylized violence, and enjoying movies with ideas you don’t agree with, in Zack Snyder’s 300.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the fever dream that is Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, and examine how it created such a distinctive atmosphere, how it used a passive protagonist to offer a unique perspective, and how it invoked absurdity to navigate complicated issues of war and evil.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the 1942 classic Casablanca and examine both its specific meanings as a war story coming out in wartime, as well as its general meanings as a timeless story of heartbreak, apathy and reengagement.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the ever expanding cosmology of the Alien series, the struggle for existential answers, and the savage act of creation, in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the power of perspective in storytelling, the real meaning of faith, and the lost art of setups and payoffs, in M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss Jordan Peele's Nope and where the director goes with his third film.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the pros and cons of citizens’ juries, how prejudice affects judgment, and how to conduct oneself in the face of fundamental uncertainty, in Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the purpose of deconstructive storytelling, why stories are so different from reality, and the struggle to truly break free from convention, in Spike Jonze’s Adaptation.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the surprising and subversive power of atmosphere-based filmmaking, the purpose of changing history through fiction, and the anatomy of a successful bromance, in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the role and purpose of suffering in the quest for greatness, the challenge of thematic clarity, and cultural differences regarding the real meaning of success, in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the art of contained sci-fi storytelling, humanity’s relation to deep time, and the challenges of reaching back into history, in Richard Schenkman’s The Man From Earth.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the tropes of the romantic comedy, the dynamics of attraction, and the differences between love stories and real-life relationships, in Marc Webb’s 500 Days of Summer.

In this special episode, Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss a variety of experimental documentaries; and classify them into distinct categories to explore what they are, why they are worth watching, and what the best ways are to engage with them.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss “Spielbergian” filmmaking, how to position ourselves against the inevitability of progress, and the deeper implications of our inability to ‘control’ nature, in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss guilt, purgatory, and redemption in Martin McDonagh's dark comedy "In Bruges.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss RRR; the Indian blockbuster that is taking the world by storm, and examine how it tells a universally appealing story in a unique way, how it portrays the power of friendship, and how historic tales of heroism and liberation relate to present day politics.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the struggle with envy, the search for absolute beauty, and the passion for art, in Milos Forman’s Amadeus.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the return of sincere storytelling, the societal value of 'mavericks', and the complicated relation between fictional heroic narratives and real-world militarism, in Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the multiverse as a metaphor for being online, how science confronts our ego, and how to respond to nihilism in The Daniel's Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss stoic philosophy, the allure of charisma, and the dynamics of hero worshipping, in the Paul Newman classic Cool Hand Luke.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss naturalistic filmmaking, finding meaning at 30, and carrying the weight of modernity in Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss moral absolutism, knightly virtues and religious conflict in the director’s cut of Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss communication barriers, grief, and acceptance in Ryûsuke Hamaguchi's Drive My Car.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the power of myth, revenge tales, and the challenges of relating to history, in Robert Eggers' The Northman.

Thomas and Tom discuss Lovecraftian horror, isolation and the dark tale of... Thomas and Tom; two men who go mad together in a phallic shaped building, in Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the challenges of depicting the incomprehensible, the problem of identity in an ever-transforming world, and our tendency for self-sabotage and self-destruction, in Alex Garland’s Annihilation.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the strange comfort of murder mysteries, the link between puzzles and existentialism, and the humanity that arises in shared conflict, in David Fincher’s Zodiac.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the continuation of the Matrix saga, the struggles and power of the individual artist in a bigger system and facing trauma in Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix: Resurrections.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the storytelling challenges of inverting time, questions of choice and determinism, and the deeper thematic layers of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the psychology of immortality, the implications of anthropomorphizing the cosmos and moralizing existential matters, and humanity’s place in the universe in Chloe Zhao’s Eternals.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the expectations of genre, the struggle between success and authenticity, and the importance of passion and real connections in Michael Sarnoski’s Pig.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss subjectivism, self-delusion, and the struggle for justice in a world of inequal power dynamics, in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss the changing meaning of the Batman character, the effectiveness and limitations of vigilante stories, and the implications of radicalized villains in a time where actual conspiracy theories are causing increasing harm, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman.

Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden discuss political metaphors, grandiosity, and dark heroic journeys, in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune.

A new podcast from video essayists Thomas Flight and Tom van der Linden is coming soon.