Best Picture This

Mike and Brian celebrate their 100th episode by kicking off a brand new miniseries -- this time on the films of 2007! 

First up: the momentum- and mood-forward "Michael Clayton," a Best Picture-nominated corporate thriller starring George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton. 

In this centennial episode, Mike and Brian discuss the Oscars' ongoing evolution, screenplays that challenge the viewer to keep up with them, George Clooney's particular brand of controlled cool, and whether or not "Michael Clayton" is a legitimate contender for their top fives of 2007.

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

What was the best movie of 2006?

The Academy awarded that title to director Martin Scorsese's "The Departed," but in this series finale episode, Mike and Brian shake things up. They recap the year that was, rank the nominees for Best Picture, kick the ones that don't belong and discuss their personal top fives. 

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

Released in between "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," "The Prestige" stands out as a bold, personal choice for director Christopher Nolan.

In this episode, Mike and Brian talk about Nolan's obsession with obsession, magic as a standin for cinema, the all-consuming power of creativity and if Nolan's film about magic and magicians deserves a place in the top five of 2006.

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

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

Is "The Departed" Martin Scorsese's best movie? 

It's the only one of his films that has won Best Picture at the Oscars, and the only one for which he's won for Best Directing. So it's gotta be his best! ... Right?

In this episode, Mike and Brian put on bad Bostonian accents to talk identity, machismo, pulpy genre, love triangles, self-seriousness as humor, corruption, organized religion, over-the-top performances and rats ... oh, so many rats. Then they decide if "The Departed" really does belong in the top five of 2006, or if the Academy (gasp!) got it wrong.

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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.

Director Clint Eastwood released two films in 2006, both about a pivotal battle in World War II -- except, one movie ("Flags of Our Fathers") was told from the American perspective, while the other ("Letters from Iwo Jima") explored the Japanese experience.

In this episode, Mike and Brian discuss what analyzing the two movies through the scope of the multi-film project brings to the experience, which packs a more powerful punch and, what telling a story from a foreign perspective adds to the narrative. Then they decide whether or not to include either title in their top five of the year.

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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.

Director Alfonso Cuaron's "Children of Men," starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine, is full of stunning action sequences shot entirely in long takes.

But is the movie more than visual spectacle?

In this episode, Mike and Brian talk technical achievements in cinematography, biblical and prog rock allusions, and trivia, before deciding if this film belongs in the top five of 2006.

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

Nominated for Best Picture and winner of Best Screenplay of 2006, "Little Miss Sunshine," directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, was a surprise smash hit, both critically and commercially.

But has its charm worn off in the 16 years since its release?

In this episode, Mike and Brian talk screenwriting "tricks," the power of an ensemble cast and what qualities give a comedy "weight," before deciding whether or not this film belongs in the top five 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.

Is "Pan's Labyrinth" director Guillermo del Toro's best movie?

In the years since its release in 2006, the Academy has embraced this director, awarding him Best Picture for "The Shape of Water" (2017) and nominating his "Nightmare Alley" in 2021. Although "Pan's" was only recognized with awards for its visuals (cinematography, art, makeup), the beauty here goes deeper than surface level.

In this episode, Mike and Brian discuss the movie's relationship with storytelling as a force for both creation and destruction, talk horror, trivia, then decide if the film belongs in the top five 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.

Director Alejandro González Iñárritu's Best Picture-nominated "Babel," starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Rinko Kikuchi and others, explores cultural divides through several converging narratives.  In this episode, Mike and Brian hone in on how Inarritu uses the power of misery to connect his characters, they dig into the movie's deeper meanings, talk trvia, and then decide if the film belongs in the top five of the year.

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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.

In this episode, Mike and Brian argue over whether or not that risk paid off; they talk expectations vs. reality, as well as the role marketing plays in molding a movie's identity. Then, they decide if "Click" belongs in the top five of 2006.

www.bestpicturethis.com

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.