Hosted by Jimmy Bernasconi (‘Sacred Cinema’, ABC Radio), ‘Films for Today’ explores how the art of cinema can help us understand the social, cultural and political issues that currently trouble us. Each week, Jimmy selects a seminal film and contemplates its profound insights into the most pressing challenges of our time. For questions or enquiries about the show, you can reach Jimmy at contact@jimmybernasconi.com or on Instagram by searching ‘filmsfortoday’.
Being a true film for today in many more ways than one, Christopher Nolan's newest box office hit, The Odyssey , is the focus of this week's episode, igniting contemplation about how much the concept of deception underlies the human condition. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
This week's episode is a well-overdue examination of Curry Barker's theatrical debut, Obsession , which reignites discussions from earlier this year about the potentially self-corrupting nature of wanting. We also briefly discuss: Her (2013) d. Spike Jonze Lars and the Real Girl (2007) d. Craig Gillespie Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
In this week's episode, we sit down with the with the founders of the OMNI International AI Film Festival, to discuss all the pressing issues central to current debates concerning AI filmmaking, from intellectual property protection to the democratisation of art-making. We also briefly discuss: A Face Only a Mother Could Love (2026) d. Robert Gaudette Guardians of the Burrow (2026) d. Jodie Heenan Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Following last week's discussions about the elusiveness of certain political ideas, this week's episode contemplates the tension between the experience of socioeconomics versus something more transcendent, through the lens of Alan Parker's 1991 comedy, The Commitments. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Films for Today returns this week with a refreshed discussion about the seemingly thin line between progressivism and conservatism through an examination of Pixar's 2008 dystopian satire, WALL·E . Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Building on recent discussions of authenticity in storytelling and relationships, this week's episode examines Steven Spielberg's depiction of the infamously dishonest American conman Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can . Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
In this week's special episode we are joined by writer-director Sophy Romvari to discuss her new film, Blue Heron, and its explorations of therapy, fiction and personal storytelling. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Following recent conversations about the dangers of the archetypal meek masculine neglecting its shadow, this week's episode introduces the concept of the inner primeval to this conversation in examining Steven Spielberg's 1993 innovative action/adventure classic, Jurassic Park . Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
In consolidating on last week's discussions, specifically those about the colossal consequences of an un-integrated shadow, this week's episode dives deeper into the themes and aesthetics of 1950s science fiction cinema through the lens of Fred M. Wilcox's Forbidden Planet. We also briefly discuss: Dr. Strangelove (1964) d. Stanley Kubrick Akira (1988) Katsuhiro Otomo Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
In light of the ongoing cultural conversation regarding the crisis of masculinity, this week's episode builds on last week's discussion about 'nice guys' and violence by examining Frank Oz's 1986 dark comedy musical, Little Shop of Horrors . We also briefly discuss: Oppenheimer (2023) d. Christopher Nolan Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Following last week's discussions on the complexities of applied piety, this week's episode contemplates the apparent limits on human grace and forgiveness through the lens of Paddy Considine's 2011 drama, Tyrannosaur. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Following last week's contemplations about the inevitably communal aspect of moral life, this week's episode contemplates the inevitable difficulties of piously living for others in its examination of Lars von Trier's 1996 drama, Breaking the Waves. We also briefly discuss: The Sacrifice (1986) d. Andrei Tarkovsky The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) d. Peter Jackson Project Hail Mary (2026) d. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Following recent discussions about edgy young men and in light of a recent trend in movies depicting high-strung mothers, this week's episode considers nature, nurture, confusion and chaos through the lens of Lynne Ramsay' adaptation of Lionel Shriver's chilling 2003 novel, We Need to Talk About Kevin. We also briefly discuss: Nitram (2021) d. Justin Kurzel Day of the Beast (1995) d. Álex de la Iglesia Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Following recent discussions about the precariousness of elaborate abstract human thought, this week's episode examines the hypocrisies that seem inherent to human governance in John Carpenter's 1981 cult classic, Escape from New York. We also briefly discuss: Mad Max (Various) d. George Miller Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Following recent discussions about the pursuit of attachments and idols, this week's episode centres on Harold Ramis' iconic 1993 comedy, Groundhog Day , to contrast the various iterative strategies that pose as means to achieve our ultimate desires. We also briefly discuss: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2025) d. Gore Verbinski Contact Us E: contact@jimmybernasconi.com
Following recent discussions about accumulating wisdom, particularly through the consumption of art and cinema, this week's episode centres on David Robert Mitchell's 2018 dark comedy, Under the Silver Lake, to simulate the experience of pursuing answers to immeasurably complex mysteries. Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/?hl=en
Following recent conversations about the difference between thoughts and deeper intuition, this week's episode contemplates the profoundly dangerous aspect of overthinking through the lens of The End of the Tour , James Ponsoldt's psychological drama about the acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace. We also briefly discuss: Köln 75 (2025) d. Ido Fluk The Mosquito Coast (1986) d. Peter Weir Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/?hl=en
Following recent conversations about the trickiness of listening to one's conscience and the appeal of the alien and in a oppressively absurd world, this week's episode examines the competing sources of motivation depicted in Richard Kelly's 2001 cult classic, Donnie Darko. We also briefly discuss: The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) d. Joel and Ethan Coen Contact Us: Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/?hl=en
Following recent conversations about the disposability of material attachments and the generative aspect of consciousness, this week's episode examines the nature of the self and identity through the lens of Terry Gilliam's underrated masterpiece from 1991, The Fisher King. We also briefly discuss: On the Waterfront (1954) d. Elia Kazan
In this week's episode, we are joined by special guest Bhenn Tonks to contemplate the relationship between the observer and the observed in examining William Greaves’ 1968 experimental triumph, Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One ." Contact Us Email: contact@jimmybernasconi.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsfortoday/?hl=en
