Best Picture This

Once ranked the 13th best movie of all time by the AFI, director David Lean's "The Bridge on the River Kwai" won seven of its eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, in 1957.

In this bonus episode, Mike and Brian discuss the effect that the "classic" label has on how we consume older movies, talk cultural representation in post-WWII film and argue about how length (another 3-hour movie?!) contributes to a film's perceived greatness.

www.bestpicturethis.com

Thanks to Joey from Palm Coast, Florida, for putting this movie on our schedule! Want to curate a future episode of your own? BECOME A PATRON.

Agree or disagree with our takes? EMAIL [email protected]

And for 15 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

The 2003 retrospective series kicks off with director Peter Weir's 10-time Oscar nominee "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," starring Russell Crowe.

Mike and Brian break down the movie's best moments, deliver Golden Takes, argue about the value of beetle-handling on film and decide whether to keep or kick this Academy Award winner (cinematograpy, sound mixing) from the year's top 5.

www.bestpicturethis.com

TWITTER: https://tinyurl.com/jkfucw8f
FACEBOOK: https://tinyurl.com/58caezcd

Want to curate a future episode of the show? BECOME A PATRON.

Agree or disagree with our takes? EMAIL [email protected]

And for 15 years of Golden Takes, join the conversation over on Letterboxd.

Made on a shoestring budget, the debut feature from director/writer/actor Zach Braff connected with audiences in a profound way in 2004. But do its concerns ring as loudly almost two decades later?

In this bonus episode, Mike and Brian take a fresh look at "Garden State," costarring Natalie Portman, whose character is often cited as a founding example of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl archetype. They dive into the film's best moments, talk youthful longing, trivia and the place of Braff's movie among the best of '04.

www.bestpicturethis.com

Thanks to Matt from St. Petersburg, Florida, for putting this movie on our schedule! Want to curate a future episode of your own? BECOME A PATRON.

Agree or disagree with our takes? EMAIL [email protected]

And for 15 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

What was the best movie of 2002?

In this miniseries finale episode, Mike and Brian recap the year that was, rank the Academy's picks for Best Picture, kick the ones that don't belong and discuss their personal top 5s. Plus, trivia, Golden Takes and a tribute to Dermot Mulroney.

www.bestpicturethis.com

Want to curate a future episode? BECOME A PATRON.

Agree or disagree with our takes? EMAIL [email protected]

And for 15 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

After making two ensemble-casted epics about disease and downward spirals ("Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia"), director Paul Thomas Anderson turned left. The result: a colorful, cosmic romance starring Adam Sandler and Emily Watson, one which he describes as a story about "finding your music."

In this episode, Mike and Brian explore PTA's career and bold stylistic choices, discuss how well those choices work and question whether "Punch-Drunk Love" should've gotten more Oscar love.

www.bestpicturethis.com

Want to curate a future episode? BECOME A PATRON.

Agree or disagree with our takes? EMAIL [email protected]

And for 15 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

What makes a masterpiece?

Mike is joined in studio this episode by special guest co-host Joey Santos (Ask Flagler), to break down director Martin Scorsese's 2002 American immigration-revenge-crime-history (phew) epic, "Gangs of New York," starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio, which earned a whopping 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing and Best Actor. 

Plus, you'll never guess who Scorsese initially wanted to play Bill the Butcher. 

www.bestpicturethis.com

TWITTER: https://tinyurl.com/jkfucw8f
FACEBOOK: https://tinyurl.com/58caezcd

Want to curate a future episode of the show? BECOME A PATRON.

Agree or disagree with our takes? EMAIL [email protected]

And for 15 years of Golden Takes, join the conversation over on Letterboxd.

Is horror the perfect genre for sneaking deep, adult themes into movies that feel light and popcorn-y?

In this bonus episode, Mike and Brian revisit David Cronenberg's 1986 body horror classic, "The Fly," which was chosen by patron Chris from Tampa. They dive into the film's best moments, explore what (aside from the Oscar-winning make up) makes the movie so memorable, and talk trivia, What Might Have Been and more!

www.bestpicturethis.com

Want to curate a future episode? BECOME A PATRON.

Agree or disagree with our takes? EMAIL [email protected]

And for 15 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

The Oscars love Holocaust movies — so what does that tell us about how we consume historical dramas?

Is it possible to separate the art from the artist?

And how does violence/obscenity in movies dull — or sharpen — our life experience?

Mike and Brian's conversation veers into unexpected places this episode, in exploring director Roman Polanski's "The Pianist," starring Adrien Brody, which earned Polanski a Best Director award and was nominated for Best Picture at the 2002 Academy Awards.

As always: trivia, best moments, Keep It or Kick It and more.

www.bestpicturethis.com

PATREON: https://tinyurl.com/r4thbbxz

TWITTER: https://tinyurl.com/jkfucw8f
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Email: [email protected]

Do musicals have the power to spark intellectual revelations?

Is that even their aim?

Mike and Brian wrestle with the genre by exploring the impact of director Rob Marshall's debut, "Chicago," which won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 2002 and stars Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones and John C. Reilly. They discuss the Oscar winner's best moments, talk trivia and decide whether to keep or kick the film from the year's top 5.

www.bestpicturethis.com

PATREON: https://tinyurl.com/r4thbbxz

TWITTER: https://tinyurl.com/jkfucw8f
FACEBOOK: https://tinyurl.com/58caezcd

Email: [email protected]

Director Sam Raimi, who launched his career with low-budget splatter horror films, brings a sense of campy enthusiasm to 2002's "Spider-Man," starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. But does that style elevate or cheapen the film's comic book aesthetic?

In this bonus episode, Mike and Brian dive into the movie's best moments, talk trivia and debate the place of this pre-MCU blockbuster among the Oscar/Best Picture nominees of the year.

www.bestpicturethis.com

PATREON: https://tinyurl.com/r4thbbxz

TWITTER: https://tinyurl.com/jkfucw8f
FACEBOOK: https://tinyurl.com/58caezcd

Email: [email protected]