Schindler's List (1993) Movie Review | One of the Greatest Movies Ever Made, But Is It For Everyone?

What if one of the most acclaimed films in cinematic history is also one of the hardest movies to truly experience? This time on What If I Don't Like It?, writer and filmmaker Joey Paul Calhoun (@followthevoid) watches Schindler’s List for the first time and joins me to figure out whether Spielberg’s powerful Holocaust drama truly deserves its reputation as one of the greatest films ever made. If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to follow Joey Paul Calhoun online: 🎬 YouTube: @followthevoid 🎥 TikTok: @v0idech0 📸 Instagram: @the_vi0dech0 Joey Paul Calhoun is a writer and filmmaker whose work explores storytelling across film and media, and you can find updates on his latest projects across all of his social channels! We talk about the responsibility of telling real history through film, the challenge of adapting unimaginable events, and what happens when a movie becomes more than entertainment. Then we explore why Schindler’s List has remained such an important piece of cinema, Spielberg’s surprising choice for the film’s hero, and how the movie finds humanity and hope in one of history’s darkest moments. Along the way we discuss: • Why Schindler’s List is more than just a “difficult” movie • Spielberg’s surprising choice for the film’s hero • The complicated legacy of Oskar Schindler • The challenge of portraying real historical trauma • How the film balances horror, humanity, and hope • The responsibility filmmakers have when telling true stories • Whether Schindler’s List deserves its status as a modern masterpiece Was Joey moved by one of cinema’s most celebrated historical dramas? Watch and find out. Subscribe for more episodes of What If I Don't Like It?, hosted by Kt Baldassaro, the podcast that explores the movies people think they won't enjoy, and the surprises waiting for them when they finally press play! 🎧 Listen on here or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Follow Kt @MovieRuntime 🎬 TikTok: @movieruntime 📸 Instagram: @movieruntime 🎞️ Letterboxd: @MovieRuntime Movies Mentioned in This Episode: Alien (1979) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Come and See (1985) Platoon (1986) The Lost Boys (1987) Hook (1991) Jurassic Park (1993) Schindler's List (1993) The Pianist (2002) Downfall (2004) Ratatouille (2007) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008) The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009) A Serbian Film (2010) Interstellar (2014) Deadpool (2016) Dunkirk (2017) 1917 (2019) Soul (2020) Eternals (2021) Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) Pearl (2022) Top Gun: Maverick (2022) Twisters (2024) Obsession (2025) Disclosure Day (2026) Project Hail Mary (2026) Independent films mentioned: Art of Descent Who Are We? Aizo #SchindlersList #StevenSpielberg #MoviePodcast #FilmDiscussion #FilmHistory