Steven Spielberg does 2001: A Space Odyssey on The Rewatchables
Just an incredible podcast/video episode.
The Rewatchables is a great podcast to begin with. Great idea, great execution. Especially if you grew up in the GenX era of 80s and 90s film. Or if you enjoy Bill Simmons’ GenX style of social criticism. And definitely if both things apply. If you’ve never seen it, give it a shot with a movie you love. The rotating movie nerds that Bill has as co-hosts—Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin, Van Lathan, etc.— are all great compliments and really interesting in their commentary.
Seemingly against all odds, Spielberg fits right in with the spirit of the show. He’s insightful but humorous, self-deprecating in a candid way, and totally endearing as someone who obviously just loves making and watching movies. He’s not just unphased by the crazy cagtegories Simmmons and Fennessey throw at him, but has really good answers for most of them. And he’s almost 80! It’s obvious that he genuinely is in awe of 2001 in particular and Kubrick in general, and also an absolute obsessive about moviemaking.
Spielberg just has something interesting to say throughout, even when the question sounds dumb. About seeing 2001 in theater in 1968. About personal interactions with Kubrick. About the details of filming space models prior to digital moviemaking. About casting big names for a movie like 2001. About providing backstory and finality in movies vs. leaving it up to interpretation. About the difference between his creative process and Kubrick’s. And like two dozen other things.
If Simmons has a flaw as a podcast host, it’s that he can hog airtime and step on directions his co-hosts and guest want to go. But with Speilberg, he’s way more deferential, but still not afraid to jump in with a wisecrack. It works really well. It’s not quite as rollicking as a normal episode, but it’s definitely more balanced, in a good way.
The show basically never hits well if you haven’t seen the movie they are discussing. This episode might be an exception, but I doubt it. So go watch 2001: A Space Odyssey before you listen/watch to the podcast if you’ve never seen it.
Spielberg has promised to come back to the show to do Jaws with them sometime in the future. That has the potential to be better than this, but I doubt it. Here, Speilberg really comes off as a fan, and that makes him a natural fit for the show, which is essentially just movie nerds talking about movies they are fans of. With Jaws it will certainly be interesting, but I suspect he will be too close to it, for better and worse, which will somewhat blow up the magic.