Matilda (1996): The Heartwarming Family Favourite Or The Greatest Government Psy Op/Unpunished Crime Ever Recorded In Cinematic History?!

Ben and Rob return to childhood (and possibly psychological warfare) with Matilda, the 1996 family classic directed by and starring Danny DeVito. Featuring Mara Wilson, Pam Ferris, Embeth Davidtz and DeVito himself, Matilda blends Roald Dahl’s dark whimsy with a surprisingly chaotic energy, serving up a story of genius, neglect, and just a hint of revenge.

Do our hosts have wildly different reactions to this so-called “kids’ film,” and does it hold up as the classic many remember? How does Danny DeVito balance warmth and menace both in front of and behind the camera, and why does his version of the story feel so deliciously unhinged? Is Matilda secretly much darker than anyone admits and could it, in fact, be the story of one of the greatest uncaught crimes in cinema history?

Who are the Miss Honeys and Miss Trunchbulls in our own lives, and what does that say about how we see the world growing up? And finally, what does Matilda really mean beyond the chocolate cake, the chokey, and the telekinesis?

CONSUUUME to find out all this and much, much more!

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