A24's Primetime & The Performance of Justice

Benji and Luke discuss Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime, the filmmaker’s first narrative feature film, in which his muse, Chris Hansen, has been gifted with renewed relevance despite his grievance tour. Spoiler: Benji liked Primetime so much he saw it three times.

The conversation begins with an examination of David Osit’s documentary Predators (2025) and Luke Dittrich’s Esquire article “Tonight on Dateline, This Man Will Die”, two absolutely essential pieces of context for understanding Hansen and the legacy of To Catch A Predator.

They then break down Oppenheim’s fever-dream portrait of Hansen's ascending celebrity built on a TV show template of performative justice. Finally, they discuss the film’s connections to post-9/11 America, Robert Pattinson’s brilliant and unsettling performance, and their final thoughts about Oppenheim's first narrative fiction feature.

a podcast connecting social, political, or cultural moments with moments from our favorite movies.

Hosted by Benji Wade and Luke Baumgarten

Recent Episodes

  • Ep. 021

    Primetime:
    The Spectacle of Chris Hansen

  • Ep. 020

    On A String:
    A Conversation With Isabel Hagen

  • Ep. 019

    Tony:
    The Invention of Anthony Bourdain

  • Ep. 018

    Omaha:
    A Conversation With Director Cole Webley

  • Ep. 017

    Mother Mary:
    Art, Trauma, & Collaboration

  • Ep. 016

    Project Hail Mary:
    An Antidote For Cynicism

Subscribe to our newsletter