Spellbound (Bonus 2003 Documentary)

Spellbound (Bonus 2003 Documentary)

Author: Awesome Movie Year January 19, 2022 Duration: 58:02

For the third episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 2003 to feature another documentary pick, Jeffrey Blitz’s Spellbound. Directed by Jeffrey Blitz and featuring eight contestants from the 1999 National Spelling Bee, Spellbound premiered at the South by Southwest film festival and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spellbound-2003), Claudia Puig in USA Today (https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2003-05-15-spellbound_x.htm), and Ella Taylor in LA Weekly.

Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for our next retrospective installment covering the awesome movie year of 2007, featuring Josh’s personal pick, Gregg Araki’s Smiley Face.


Ever wonder what makes a particular year in cinema truly stand out? Awesome Movie Year digs into that very question, one remarkable film at a time. Co-hosted by film critic Josh Bell alongside filmmaker and comedian Jason Harris, this podcast picks a single, noteworthy year each season and meticulously explores what made it so special. Rather than broad overviews, every episode zooms in on a different movie from that chosen year, offering a deep dive into its impact, its cultural moment, and its lasting legacy. The conversations blend critical analysis with a genuine love for the medium, thanks to the hosts' complementary backgrounds. Produced by David Rosen of Piecing It Together for the All Points West Podcast Network, the show has a polished yet conversational feel. You’ll hear about blockbusters and hidden gems alike, all through the lens of why they mattered then and why they still resonate. It’s for anyone who loves to look beyond the screen and understand the context that creates a classic. Tune in to Awesome Movie Year for a thoughtful and engaging tour through some of cinema’s most fascinating periods.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 375

Awesome Movie Year
Podcast Episodes
American Beauty (1999 Best Picture Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:17
The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features the Academy Awards Best Picture winner, Sam Mendes’ American Beauty. Directed by Sam Mendes from a script by Alan Ball and starring Kevin Spacey,…
American Movie (1999 Sundance Award Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:23
The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner, Chris Smith’s American Movie. Directed by Chris Smith and featuring Mark Borchardt, American…
Rushmore (1999 Jason’s Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:48
The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features Jason’s personal pick, Wes Anderson’s Rushmore. Directed and co-written (with Owen Wilson) by Wes Anderson and starring Jason Schwartzman, Bill…
The Blair Witch Project (1999 Halloween Bonus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:17
This special Halloween episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez’s found footage horror movie The Blair Witch Project. Written and directed by Myrick and Sanchez a…
Run Lola Run (1999 Foreign Film) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:09
The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features our foreign film pick, Tom Tykwer’s Run Lola Run. Written and directed by Tom Tykwer and starring Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu and Herbert…
Fight Club (1999 Josh’s Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:05
The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features Josh’s personal pick, David Fincher’s Fight Club. Directed by David Fincher from a screenplay by Jim Uhls (based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk)…
Buena Vista Social Club (1999 Documentary) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:42
The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features our documentary pick, Wim Wenders’ Buena Vista Social Club. Directed by Wim Wenders and featuring a group of legendary Cuban musicians, Buena Vis…
Rosetta (1999 Cannes Palme d’Or Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:01
The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner, the Dardenne brothers’ Rosetta. Written and directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne and starring Ém…
Wild Wild West (1999 Box Office Flop) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:47
The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features the year’s biggest flop, Barry Sonnenfeld’s Wild Wild West. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, based on the 1960s TV series The Wild Wild West and sta…
The Virgin Suicides (1999 First Feature) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:50
The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides. Written and directed by Sofia Coppola (based on the novel by Jeffr…