At the Pictures

Superman, Fantastic Four, and Luca Guadagnino

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:25:41 GMT

Superman soars back into the cultural stratosphere, dominating the box office with earnest optimism. But with Marvel's Fantastic Four waiting in the wings, can the Man of Steel hold his ground? Meanwhile, co-host Dashiell Silva — who has seen nearly everything — finally watches 1978's Superman for the very first time. His verdict? Let’s just say it’s a flight worth taking.

Plus: Julia Roberts returns to the big screen in Luca Guadagnino’s new thriller — we unpack the stylish, simmering trailer and what it tells us about the film to come. Hosted by Benjamin Wilson and Dashiell Silva, and recorded at 1 Warwick in Soho — London’s historic home of cinema.

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Why Superman is a turning point for cinema

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:59:34 GMT

We’re back from our summer break and straight into the season’s most anticipated cinematic event. Fresh from an early screening of Superman, Ben and Dash weigh in on a film that’s already turning heads for its scale and style. But can the film convince superhero-fatigued audiences that it's much more than your average comic book movie? Plus: why the Man of Steel has always been a political figure (and why he still should be), and a glance back at his very first feature film appearance in 1951’s Superman and the Mole Men. Capes on — At the Pictures returns.

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Barbara Loden, Wanda, and Frankenstein

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 11:44:56 GMT

As the BFI mounts a season celebrating the quiet brilliance of Barbara Loden, we revisit Wanda (1970), her singular and haunting feature that slipped between the cracks of American film history. Elena Gorfinkel, curator and author of the new BFI Film Classic on Wanda, joins us to consider Loden’s legacy — and why it’s taken so long for the world to catch up. Plus: as Guillermo del Toro readies his own retelling of Frankenstein, hosts Benjamin Wilson and Dash Silva return to James Whale’s 1931 version — a lean, expressionistic masterpiece that departed sharply from Mary Shelley’s original vision. What was lost in the translation? And what did Whale, a master of stagecraft and shadows, bring to the myth?

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Wicked, Downton Abbey, and the case for comfort viewing

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 08:43:25 GMT

The broomsticks are back. The trailer for "Wicked: For Good" has landed, reuniting Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the second act of Broadway’s glittering megahit. While some critics remain unconvinced, our hosts Benjamin Wilson and Dash Silva beg to differ. Yes, it’s glossy, yes, it’s mainstream, but is that really such a sin? Also: the Earl of Grantham returns. "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" readies its final curtain call with a new film on the way, promising more upstairs-downstairs intrigue and silver tray sophistication. It’s not cinema at its most daring, but is it the televisual equivalent of a roast dinner on a rainy Sunday afternoon? We say: yes, and more please. From emerald cities to English manors, this episode asks whether there’s still a place for the sweeping, the sentimental, and the unapologetically comfortable on screen.

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Romantic comedies, Fantômas, and The Manchurian Candidate

Sat, 24 May 2025 14:23:03 GMT

Are romantic comedies finding their home on the small screen? As Meg Ryan signs on to Too Much, Lena Dunham’s upcoming Netflix series, Benjamin Wilson and Dashiel Silva explore whether the genre is undergoing a long-form revival — and what that shift means for cinema as we know it. Plus: the newly restored 1913 serial Fantômas — all inky shadows and theatrical intrigue — reminds us how early cinema shaped everything from film noir to comic book heroes. And a cold and calculating turn from Angela Lansbury in The Manchurian Candidate. We consider why her performance remains one of the most haunting — and subversive — in film history.

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Introducing: Dorothyland

Thu, 01 May 2025 13:14:43 GMT

This week on At the Pictures, we’re taking a short break for the Bank Holiday — time to enjoy a little sunshine here in Soho. But before we disappear into the weekend, we’re sharing a special preview of a new series: Dorothyland.

Marking 100 years since the release of the original Ben-Hur, the series begins with the story of Ramon Novarro — one of Hollywood’s first great leading men, and a quietly radical figure whose identity defied the norms of his era.

While conversations about diversity in cinema often feel distinctly modern, Dorothyland reveals a forgotten history of queer creatives who helped shape popular culture from the very beginning.

Dorothyland is coming soon. Tune in now for a sneak peek, and we’ll return next week with a fresh edition of At the Pictures.

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Fleischer cartoons back on the big screen and Oscar voting changes

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 16:16:51 GMT

Long before the rise of digital effects and billion-dollar franchises, the surreal cartoon shorts of Fleischer Studios brought Popeye, Betty Boop, and Superman to life with inky charm and urban wit. As the BFI prepares to screen a beautifully restored series, we explore the enduring legacy of Max Fleischer with his granddaughter, Jane Fleischer Reid. Plus: the Oscars is finally requiring voters to watch the films they’re voting on. Artist, illustrator, and resident Oscars obsessive Dash Silva joins a lively conversation about awards-season absurdities and the curious culture of the Academy.

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Mr Bingo and Godzilla

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:43:01 GMT

Where do good ideas really come from—and must they always be new? As Hollywood faces renewed accusations of creative fatigue, we investigate the origins of originality with special guest Mr Bingo, the celebrated artist and provocateur known for turning irreverence into an art form. And while the industry hunts for the next big thing, one icon refuses to go quietly. With nearly forty films under his belt, Godzilla is returning once again. But why does the monster still resonate—and what does his enduring appeal tell us about the power of reinvention?

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Sebastian director Mikko Mäkelä, Four Mothers star James McArdle and director Darren Thornton

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:13:40 GMT

What happens when sex becomes just another side hustle? We speak with writer-director Mikko Mäkelä about Sebastian, a provocative new film exploring the blurred lines of intimacy, desire, and transaction in the digital age. Plus, the director and star of Four Mothers join us to discuss their sharp yet tender comedy about family, obligation, and the unique — sometimes fraught — relationships gay men share with their mothers. All that, and a little cinematic elegance.

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Black Bag, Snow White, and I Know Where I'm Going

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:06:52 GMT

Disney’s "Snow White" was a $250 million gamble and it's off to a shaky start. Benjamin and Karen ask whether the controversy could signal a turning point in the studio’s live-action strategy. Plus: Steven Soderbergh’s "Black Bag" has all the hallmarks of a sleek spy thriller, so why is it struggling to find its audience? And revisiting "I Know Where I’m Going", a British classic that sweeps you away to the windswept Scottish isles—whether you’re ready or not.

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Picnic at Hanging Rock, James Bond, and Apple’s The Studio

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:27:03 GMT

The haunting beauty of “Picnic at Hanging Rock” returns in stunning 4K—what its enigmatic mystery can teach today’s filmmakers. Plus, why the next chapter of James Bond remains elusive nearly four years on. And Apple’s “The Studio”—a sharp Hollywood satire where art and commerce collide.

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Introducing: At the Pictures

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:42:12 GMT

Step inside At the Pictures—a podcast for those who see cinema as an art, not just an industry. Recorded in the heart of Soho, hosts Benjamin Wilson and Karen Krizanovich bring sharp criticism, insider insight, and a touch of old-world glamour to the world of film. From Cannes to Hollywood, Hitchcock to contemporary masters, expect sophisticated conversation, wry wit, and a celebration of cinema at its finest.

Get a sneak peek before the show’s grand debut in February. Press play—your front-row seat awaits.

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