333 – King of the Hill

What this episode covers

Perhaps the only silver lining in 2025 is that we have been given a Steven Soderbergh double dip, with both Presence and Black Bag in theatres. Among Soderbergh’s less discussed films is King of the Hill, a Depression-set drama of a boy living on his own in a St. Louis hotel. The film is a gem that showcases a great performance by a young Jesse Bradford (along with a slew of recognizable stars before they got famous), but even positive reviews upon the film’s release didn’t prevent it from being a box office disappointment. This episode, we talk about Soderbergh’s first attempts to follow up Sex Lies and Videotape and Soderbergh’s varied filmography. Topics also include the 1993 Cannes Film Festival, top prominent top 10 lists the film placed on, and the film’s fractured connection to Robert Redford. Topics also include Gramercy Pictures, this era of childhood movies for adults, and tuberculosis.