Lights to Low is a filmography podcast, in which we will survey the works—film by film, every week—of some of cinema’s greatest directors, from their first film to their last.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we go Back to the Future for Ready Player One, a film that warns us against the potential evils of technology while utilizing advanced technologies. So, join us in the Stacks and or the Oasis as we search for Easter eggs, 1980s pop culture references, and the reason why anyone would want to move to Columbus, Ohio.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we go full Baby Boomer and talk Vietnam, Nixon, feminism, and many more things Spielberg had consciously avoided until this point in his career.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we talk frobscottle, whizpoppers, phizwizards, and the lamentations of children’s nightmares implanted by a giant. You know, for the kids.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we hop the Berlin Wall and cross the Bridge of Spies as Spielberg goes all Cold War as we discuss more white people doing white things.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we talk all things Lincoln, save for his childhood, early political career, first term as president, his height, his beard, his…well, I guess we talk some things Lincoln.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we talk war and horses but mostly war horses. Cue the owl calls and grab the wire cutters as Spielberg takes us back to World War I, a war apparently rated PG-13 and mostly revolved around equine animal husbandry.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we cross that Belgian border to talk ersatz Indiana Jones with The Adventures of Tintin. It may be animated and rated PG, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get a raging alcoholic, a compulsive kleptomaniac, and guns galore.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we return to Indiana Jones to swap out Nazis for Commies and the Ark of the Covenant for a nuclear bomb and some big-headed aliens. Throw that childhood of yours aside and strap in for 2008 Indy: older, wiser, irradiated.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we talk nationalism, terrorism, and antisemitism as Steven Spielberg enlists Eric Bana and Daniel Craig to solve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Spoiler alert: they don’t find a solution.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we unpack the alien terrorists of War of the Worlds and reflect on Steven Spielberg’s many visions of a post-9/11 world. Is Ray Ferrier a good dad? Are the Beach Boys appropriate bedtime lullabies? What’s with all the holes in the glass? So, join us for the spiritual sequel to the Shawshank Redemption as Morgan Freeman spouts voiceover gilded in dulcet tones and Tim Robbins gets busy dyin’.
On this episode of Lights to Low, join us for a stint in the airport and an introduction to a man without a country as we talk Steven Spielberg’s post-Cold War, post-9/11, Frank Capra-esque, jazz-in-the-background take on what it means to live in The Terminal. Tom Hanks is our guide as we visit all sorts of exotic locales, including Borders, Starbucks, Burger King, and Hugo Boss.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we talk about a guy who does a lot of running and a famous Tom, though Cruise is nowhere to be seen. Keep up with us if you can as we talk divorce Spielberg style, absent and surrogate fathers, and a couple of mice who fell into a bucket of cream. Also, we tell some jokes. Knock Knock.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we Minority Report-it-up with the classic determinism vs. free will debate sprinkled with a touch of authoritarianism vs. individual liberty. Action! Adventure! Science Fiction! Grab your armrest, hold your breath, and take a hit of clarity as we dissect the final chapter in the Cruise Eye cinematic universe.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we discuss the existential crisis of a robot as we dive deep to discuss A.I. Artificial Intelligence. We talk boys and their mothers, the ethical treatment of artificial intelligence, and a Teddy Bear’s most favorite keepsake—a lock of hair. Featuring the voice talent of Chris Rock, Meryl Streep, and Ben Kingsley.
This episode of Lights to Low is FUBAR with Saving Private Ryan. Items on the agenda include conflict, morality, duty, and whether or not a movie can be antiwar and patriotic at the same time. Join us as we hitch a ride with a band of 8 and come across a number of familiar faces in the middle of their own World War II movies, including Ted Danson, Paul Giamatti, Dennis Farina, Nathan Fillion, and Bryan Cranston.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we talk Amistad. There’s a number of items on the agenda, but mostly it’s the main event that’s not quite as important as the movie suggests, as well as the anachronisms and misleading historical context. All told, there are a lot of boring court scenes and a few flourishes of brutal, ambitious filmmaking.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we enter not only a Lost World, but a Lost World: Jurassic Park, and that’s saying something mediocre. Buckle in again, as this time we’re headed to Site B for some field work that’s definitely not just observation. For all you ‘90s fans out there, don’t you worry--this movie’s got the guy from Fargo, the guy from Swingers, and the guy from Independence Day. Also, don’t miss the moment of silence where we bemoan the loss of our beloved Eddie.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we discuss Schindler’s List, exhaustively analyzing the film from both a cinematic and historical perspective. We consider the merits of a Holocaust film that focuses on a German, we speak to the oft-debated Girl in the Red Coat, and we examine the critics and defenders of a film that has received both high praise and sharp derision.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we spare no expense as we talk Jurassic Park. So, tie two female ends of a seat belt together and buckle up for a discussion about all of the exciting bits, including side mirrors, the lack of cup holders, and Chef Alejandro. We also occasionally mention dinosaurs and filmmaking craft.
This week on Lights to Low, we discuss Steven Spielberg’s Hook. We try to reconcile Peter Pan’s love for his wife, his wife’s grandmother, and a six-inch tall fairy. There are insults, food fights, and a sweet game of Pirate Baseball. So, if you can fly, you can fight, and you can crow, join us for a conversation that’s about as sophisticated as Thud Butt.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we talk Steven Spielberg’s Always, a film about a ghost who flies around fighting fires. Does the main character have an abusive relationship with planes? Is the greatest medicinal achievement of our time—and our greatest political system—only slightly better than going to the store? Listen to find out the answer to these burning questions, and more.
This week on Lights to Low, we return to the world of Indiana Jones as we examine Indy’s race to uncover a lost Christian artifact, fight some Nazis, and ride or die in the desert. No, it’s not Raiders of the Lost Ark but instead the near-carbon copy, though still enjoyable Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Is Henry Jones, Sr. a good father? Is Indy a shitty professor? Does Hitler use a pencil? Listen and find out.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we tackle the very Britishness of Empire of the Sun, a movie that takes place in war-torn China. Join us as we talk about P-51s, POW camps, and whether or not Christian Bale peaked at 13.
On this episode of Lights to Low, listen to two white guys talk about another white guy who directed a movie about the female-centered, southern Black experience in the first few decades of the twentieth century. We talk race, misogyny, faith, and Spielberg’s transition from sharks and aliens to historical dramas.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we travel to India for “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Racism, colonialism, and xenophobia? Check. A chiseled Harrison Ford, great set pieces, and a delicious green apple? Double check. Join us as we try to reconcile a good film with bad cultural representation.
This week on Lights to Low, we befriend “E.T the Extra-Terrestrial.” We talk divorce, religion, and the appeal of Reese’s Pieces found on the ground in the middle of the woods. We also invite you to cherish what will surely be one of the final Spielberg Mom discussions.
On this episode, we talk Steven Spielberg's “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” including all varietals of Nazis, whether or not Indiana Jones believes in anything, and the suggestive powers, hidden meanings, and all around symbolism of an apple left on a desk.
On this week’s episode of Lights to Low we talk “1941,” Steven Spielberg’s war “comedy” about an impending Japanese attack on the California coast in the days following Pearl Harbor. We discuss sexism, racism, the military, and whether or not this is even Spielberg’s funniest World War II movie. Join us as our hosts cope with a Spielberg Mom-less episode.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we have some “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” In his fourth film, we’ve got a few Spielberg faces, a couple of Spielberg Moms, and at least one Carl Weathers. Topics on the agenda: Christianity, communication, and whether or not Roy Neary should abandon his family for a mountain of mashed potatoes.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we tackle "Jaws." We talk sharks, scars, and whether or not Quint has a penchant for art. Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women.
On this episode of Lights to Low, we talk Steven Spielberg's sophomore outing, "The Sugarland Express." The agenda includes commentary on celebrity, the media, the police, and, of course, the Spielberg Mom. Also, please do remember to always support your local police and advocate registration of Communists, not firearms.
In the inaugural episode of Lights to Low, we examine Steven Spielberg's 1971 debut effort, the made-for-T.V. movie "Duel." We discuss masculinity, Marxism, the Spielberg Mom, and whether or not a truck should get blowed up real good.
Introducing "Lights to Low," a filmography podcast, in which we will survey the works—film by film, every week—of some of cinema’s greatest directors.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
