On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) talked Super Bowl trailers (which you can watch here). Then they turned to The Zone of Interest, the last of the best picture nominees they have to review. (If you want to hear their take on every best picture nominee, here’s the lineup in the order we reviewed them, from most recently to least recently: Anatomy of a Fall, The Holdovers, American Fiction, Maestro, Poor Things, Killers of the Flower Moon, Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Past Lives.) Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ for our discussion of the state of film criticism. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
Excellent podcast. I found “The Zone of Interest” very engaging but couldn’t figure out why. Your discussion helped me understand my own reaction to an exceptional Holocaust film. None of the other reviews I’ve read seemed to really understand the film.
My wife and I saw “Zone of Interest” last week, and I’ve been waiting to hear ATMI cover it. For me, it was a very difficult watch while being one of the most impactful movies I’ve seen in a very long time. The holocaust is obviously never an easy subject, and this wasn’t a perfect movie (Sonny, I agree with you about some of the cut-away scenes not really working), but the way this just presented “normal” lives literally in the shadow of one of humanity’s most evil events was … jarring might be a word to start to capture it.
I think my take and reaction to it is most aligns with Peter’s, basically having to fill in gaps with your own thoughts and imagination made this both provocative and powerful. Sadly, I think it is also meant to be lesson about how easy it can be for many of our fellow human beings to participate in, let alone passively allow, things we like to think we’d never do. I’d highly recommend this movie, but just be ready for it.
I also found it interesting how all three of you were a bit speechless at the end of this episode in trying to come up with closing-remarks for the movie. That in itself might say something about the powerful impression it can leave.
Listen, if you guys take the week off when Deadpool 3 comes out I won’t complain. The MCU/DCEU episodes became such a drag for all involved.
This isn’t a complaint, mind you. This is me saying if you planned your summer vacations around then I wouldn’t fault you.
Insightful discussion. Thank you
Seems like the film adaptation of Amis's ZONE OF INTEREST captures its atmosphere in part, but makes Hedwig Hoss much more of a villain than the novel does.
Great review of Zone of Interest. Expect I will appreciate the movie more when I see it.
Re: Deadpool 3, yeah, well they will have to get beyond the basic shtick. Maybe break the 64th wall? ;-)