Steven Spielberg Episodes

With Hook, Spielberg was beginning a new decade of filmmaking, but this adventure movie that acts as a twist on a classic tale really marks the end of a particular phase in his career. This film was a huge deal at the time, not only because of the well known names of Peter Pan and Hook attached to it, but also because of the actors in those roles: Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. We talk about all of this, the amazing production design, the nostalgia, and even some things that didn’t hold up o...

For this intermission in our Spielberg series, we take a look back at his career thus far, analyzing his career of the 1970s and 1980s overall. Then we discuss the transition point Spielberg is in moving out of the 80s and into the 90s and do a bit of a preview of his mid-career of the 1990s and 2000s. This was a pivotal time in his career! I also share my personal rankings of the films we have covered so far and what I am most looking forward to in the upcoming section of the series. https:...

Spielberg ended his run of 80s movies with the romance-drama-comedy-fantasy Always. If that sounds like a confusing mish-mash of genres, it’s because it kind of is. While the movie is tonally confusing and has a plot that is strangely questionable at best, it is still beautifully shot with a really great performance from Holly Hunter. Also starring Richard Dreyfuss, John Goodman, and Audrey Hepburn in her very last role, this made for a really fun discussion even if we didn’t care too much for t...

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, seemingly the last of a trilogy of adventure collaborations between Steven Spielberg and George Lucas at the time, came in the middle of a bit of a career shift for Spielberg. You can see a bit of that infused into the movie with more emotional themes mixed into the typical Indy action fare. We talk about that, the incredible stunts and effects, and more in our discussion of this search for the Holy Grail. https://www.establishingshotpod.com/ Feedback:...

Empire of the Sun is a forgotten gem in Steven Spielberg’s filmography, which is fitting since its setting is sort of a forgotten perspective on WWII. This is a bit of a hybrid for Spielberg in that it marries his childlike fantastical side with his newfound interest in making more serious, mature movies. This film is full of phenomenal shots typical of Spielberg and introduces us to a young Christian Bale, all while giving us a really interesting story about growing up in the midst of war. ...

In his first attempt at a serious adult drama, Spielberg takes on not just a new type of movie for his career but also an adaption of an award winning novel with a predominantly black cast (unfortunately a tremendous anomaly at the time). This movie has become a bit of a classic but at the time was steeped in controversy. We dig into its inconsistencies, the controversy, the incredible display of acting talent, and more in this episode. https://www.establishingshotpod.com/ Feedback: Emai...

Twilight Zone: The Movie was supposed to be a collaborative passion project for longtime fan of the TV series Steven Spielberg who produced it and directed one of its four segments. But with a tragedy casting a shadow over the production and release, it turned out to be a bit of a regret. We talk about the details of the film, which segments are best, what too much power in Hollywood can lead to, and much more. We also discuss a couple of episodes of Spielberg’s show Amazing Stories that he hims...

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a film in a beloved franchise that actually carries a heavy burden with it for its filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. In this episode I am joined by Elijah Davidson of Brehm Film to delve into the depths of its darkness, the ways that it is still exciting and beautiful in the midst of that, and of course all of the fun behind the scenes tidbits. (No monkey brains or beetle guts were consumed during the making of this podcast.) https://www.es...

This week, Melvin Benson of the Cinematic Doctrine podcast joins us to discuss what Steven Spielberg has called his most personal film: E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. At the height of his powers in the 1980’s, this awe-filled look at an optimistic alien encounter through the eyes of a child captured the hearts of people around the globe. We talk everything from directing children, to the special effects of our alien friend, to why this film is not just for kids but for everyone. https://www.establ...

Indiana Jones is one of the most iconic characters of all time, and it is all due to a combination of the charm of Harrison Ford and the masterful character building of Steven Spielberg as director and George Lucas as storyteller/producer. Not only would Raiders of the Lost Ark become a beloved gem for an entire generation, it would also launch Spielberg’s already successful career into the stratosphere! We dig into the inception of the film, the cast, the production and set pieces, and the unex...

In 1941, the 1979 WWII comedy, we have a prime example of a powerhouse director putting out a complete flop. Steven Spielberg along with writers in Robert Zemecki & Bob Gale and producer John Milius were trying to ride the train of troublemaking comedies that came before them. While the film did fine commercially worldwide, it was not well received by audiences and critics alike. Our discussion delves into why this movie was a failure and what we can learn from that. https://www.establishing...

Spielberg followed up his breakout summer blockbuster Jaws with a sci-fi adventure thriller in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Its success is due to the incredible visual and narrative storytelling alongside the innovative special effects that wowed crowded theaters. We talk all of this and more in our discussion of this strangely optimistic film about UFOs, aliens, and strange people who are obsessed with something they can’t quite understand. https://www.establishingshotpod.com/ Fe...

Jaws marks both the breakout of Steven Spielberg’s illustrious career and the beginning of the summer blockbuster. From crazy production stories to camera work to efficient character building and more, this discussion with guest Daniel Blackaby really encompasses a ton about what makes Spielberg such a great director. We also discuss if the dawn of the summer blockbuster has ultimately been good or bad for cinema (or both). https://www.establishingshotpod.com/ Feedback: Email us at estab...

Spielberg’s first theatrically released feature film, The Sugarland Express, showed many signs of what was to come for the young director. In this episode I discuss the many Spielberg-ian themes, character traits, camera techniques, and knack for scale and adventure that was already evident in this early movie in his filmography. https://www.establishingshotpod.com/ Feedback: Email us at establishingshotpod@gmail.com Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on ou...

Steven Spielberg’s Duel was never supposed to be as successful as it was. As a movie of the week TV feature in 1971, the 24 year old director gained the attention of critics and studios alike with a road thriller that begged to be on the big screen. We discuss this TV movie that launched his career along with briefly talking about his other two TV movies, Something Evil, a low budget, rural horror and Savage, a failed TV pilot episode. https://www.establishingshotpod.com/ Feedback: Email...

Steven Spielberg is one of the most accomplished directors in film history. In this episode, we do an overview of his career focusing on the first two decades of his work as a director. Everything from his childhood, his start as a director, his filmmaking techniques, and the recurring themes in his films are discussed. This episode will give us an establishing shot of Spielberg’s career so that we will know what to look for as we work through his filmography. https://www.establishingshotpod...