Welcome to the world of South African sci-fi! 

Director Neil Blomkamp's debut feature, "District 9" -- a splattery, actiony genre film backed by Peter Jackson -- was one of the more obvious beneficiaries of the Oscars expanding the Best Picture race to 10 nominees in 2009. But how does it hold up today?

In this episode, Mike and Brian talk body horror, sci-fi allegories, Sharlto Copley's breakout performance, the art of alien character design and, finally, whether or not this film will earn a spot in their personal top 10s of the year.

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And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

Director Jason Reitman tallied his second Best Picture nomination in a row in 2009, following his first nomination for "Juno" (2007), with the George Clooney Great Recession dramedy "Up in the Air," which earned a total of six Oscar nominations -- one for each of its top-billed stars (including Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick), as well as two more for Best Directing and Best Adapted Screenplay. 

But how does the film hold up 13 years removed from the economic crisis that underscores so much of its anxieties concerning material posessions and best laid plans?

In this episode, Mike and Brian dive deep into how cultural relevance affects how the Academy judges films, they talk about the ways that Reitman plays with romcom and coming-of-age tropes to say something new, discuss if it's possible for a film to be a tragedy if people leave the theater feeling happy and, finally, play keep it or kick it. 

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

And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

What was the best movie of 2008?

The Academy awarded that title to Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire," but in this series finale episode, Mike and Brian recap the year in film to rerank the Best Picture nominees, highlight standout films that didn't garner Oscar attention and choose their personal top-fives.

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And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

Director Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" mopped the floor with 2008, sweeping the Oscars with eight wins and making nearly $380 million worldwide. Not bad for a budget of just $15 million.

In this episode, Mike and Brian discuss the film's diverse cinematography, the power of fairy tales, how and why some movies' reputations change over time and, finally, whether or not "Slumdog" is an easy keep or kick in their top fives of the year.

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

And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.avao

Kate Winslet starred in two Oscar contenders in 2008 (the other opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Sam Mendes's "Revolutionary Road"), but she won Best Actress for her portrayal of an illiterate Nazi in the Best Picture-nominated "The Reader," which grapples with guilt, our relationship to the past and the nature of evil. Yes, it is, as critic Amy Nicholson called it, a "Serious Film" (capital S, capital F). 

In this episode, Mike and Brian discuss the tradition of "Hollocaust movies," talk intellectual vs. emotional engagement and decide whether or not director Stephen Daldry's film will earn a spot in their top fives of the year.

Want to choose an movie for a future episode? BECOME A PATRON.

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

And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off with director Jon Favreau's "Iron Man," starring Robert Downey Jr. Maybe the most fascinating thing about this movie, though, is how, compared to the dozens of MCU films that would come to follow it, this one, with its narrow scope and human stakes, almost feels quaint.

In this episode, Mike and Brian talk character arcs, exciting vs. boring kinds of conflict, the MIlitary-Industrial Complex and what Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne (circa "The Dark Knight") have in common. 

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

And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

Two greats, Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, go head-to-head in writer-director John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt," which took home a loot of Best Actor noms in 2008 but was snubbed for Best Picture.

In this episode, Mike and Brian explore the power of ambiguity, talk dramatic stakes, character depth, what makes a supporting actor turn award-worthy and, finally, whether to keep or kick this title from their top fives of the year.

Want to choose an movie for a future episode? BECOME A PATRON.

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

And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

Sean Penn took home Best Actor gold for his portrayal of Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant's Best Picture-nominated MILK, which earnd eight Oscars overall, winning two (the other for Best Screenplay). But how does this biopic hold up 14 years later?

In this episode, Mike and Brian discuss the importance of learning something from a historical drama, they question when characterization crosses over into idolatry, talk trivia and then decide if this film will be kept or kicked from their top fives of the year.

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

And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

This city deserves a better class of podcast, and we're gonna give it to them!

In this episode, Mike and Brian trade in their hockey pants for body armor to revisit director Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," which made over $1 billion at the box office and just might be the best comic book movie ever made. ... Or is it? 

To answer that question, they explore the ripple effects of heroism, what gives heroes like Bruce Wayne/Batman the right to fight crime, how the ethical questions surrounding the war on terror influenced movies like this and Marvel's "Iron Man," and if visceral "cool" is enough to excuse weak thematic threads.

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

And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

Director Ron Howard's Best Picture-nominated "Frost/Nixon" is about two guys just ... talking. But can two people talking really be that exciting? (As podcasts hosts, we certainly hope so!)

In this episode, Mike and Brian verbal spar about verbal sparring, they do bad Richard Nixon impersonations, explore the line between historical fact and fiction, and decide whether to keep or kick this title from their top fives of 2008.

Want to choose an movie for a future episode? BECOME A PATRON.

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

And for 16 years of Golden Takes, head over to Letterboxd.

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