The podcast discusses Henry Kissinger's legacy, Ridley Scott's Napoleon movie, and Stuart Seldowitz's Islamophobic harassment campaign. They explore Kissinger's life and controversial reputation, the bombing of Cambodia, reactions to death, and decline of intellectualism. They critique the portrayal of Napoleon in recent movies and Ridley Scott's Napoleon biopic. They also discuss physical ailments of influential leaders, childhood memories, makeup tips, and the disturbing behavior of Stuart Kissinger Seldowitz. Lastly, they touch on halal vendors, Russian restaurants, and casual conversations about falafel and paleo conservatism.
The podcast delves into the complexities of Henry Kissinger's life and discusses his reputation as a war criminal and the impact of his decisions as Secretary of State.
The hosts express their disappointment with the film 'Napoleon', highlighting its lack of clarity, historical inaccuracies, and failure to effectively convey its intended message.
Deep dives
Napoleon and Kissinger: Controversial Figures In History
The movie 'Napoleon' and the life of Henry Kissinger are examined in this podcast episode. The hosts discuss the portrayal of Napoleon as a somewhat pathetic and humorless figure, and explore the historical inaccuracies in the film. They also delve into Kissinger's life, his reputation as a war criminal, and the complex decisions he made as Secretary of State. They reflect on the loss of intellectualism in American public life and the current state of tribalism. Despite differing opinions on these figures, they agree that both Napoleon and Kissinger had significant impacts on history.
Lack of consistency and confusion in the movie's tone and genre
The podcast episode discusses the lack of clarity and consistency in the movie's tone and genre. The hosts mention that the film seems unsure whether it wants to be a historical epic or a bourgeois psycho-drama with elements of dark comedy. They express their disappointment in the movie's inability to effectively convey its intended message and its tendency to drag on and lack excitement. They highlight the film's depiction of Napoleon as a crude and rude character, which they find unflattering and uninteresting.
Historical inaccuracies and missed opportunities in the portrayal of Napoleon
The hosts criticize the film for its historical inaccuracies, especially in the portrayal of Napoleon's military victories and non-military achievements. They mention that the movie focuses too much on his personal relationships and fails to adequately capture the magnitude of his accomplishments and impact on history. They also express their dissatisfaction with the film's anti-war messaging and its implications of pro-British bias. Overall, they express their disappointment with the film's lack of clarity, missed opportunities, and failure to provide a compelling portrayal of Napoleon.