The Next Best Picture Podcast "A House Of Dynamite"
Oct 23, 2025
The hosts dive into Kathryn Bigelow's gripping new film featuring a tense narrative about a nuclear missile threat. They discuss the film's Rashomon-inspired structure and its impact on audience tension. Initial reactions from the Venice premiere spark debate about narrative momentum. The team critiques the film's unresolved ending, suggesting it needed a grounding moment with ordinary citizens. Overall, they analyze performances and the screenplay’s realism, exploring the film's relevance in today's political climate.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Timely Nuclear Thriller Premise
- Kathryn Bigelow and Noah Oppenheim made a timely political thriller about a single unidentified nuclear missile striking the U.S..
- The film aims to provoke discussion about nuclear weapons and governmental preparedness rather than show explosions.
Venice Reaction: Strong Start, Weaker Repeats
- Josh Parham recalls being captivated by the film's first act at Venice before recognizing its three-act reset structure.
- He felt tension diminished in acts two and three but still found thematic value about decision-makers being disconnected from frontline information.
NYFF Take: Ensemble Underused, Ending Fails
- Giovanni Lago recounts initial excitement and strong first-act tension, then growing disappointment as the film became repetitive and underused its ensemble.
- He called the third act cowardly and criticized the ending as unresolved and emotionally empty.