***This is a SPOILER FREE episode***

In what is arguably the biggest movie of 2017, Mike, Mike, and Oscar give you a 2 episode discussion of all things Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

We had so much fun with our Star Wars talk, that we split the episode into two parts. This is Part One, and THIS ENTIRE EPISODE IS SPOILER FREE. Part 2 coming later this week, will be the Spoiler Version.

STAR WARS Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Non-Spoiler Review:

Production Profile - 4:50

Film Specs - 16:36

Expectations & Teaser Review - 22:49

Production Values Video/Effects- 27:32

Production Values Audio - 32:16

Performances - 35:25

Final Non-Spoiler Thoughts - 42:00

Stay Tuned for a spoiler filled review and mega deep dive in our next episode.

As I said, we had way too much to say about Rian Johnson’s recent installment in the Star Wars Saga, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. We begin with a Production Profile that showcases a miniature profile on Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, who has a fascinating backstory where she did a whole lot of work with a guy whose name rhymes with “-eelberg.” Then we bring you up to date with the Star Wars story behind the saga, including the hiring & firing of hotshot directors, the untimely death of a legendary actress (RIP Carrie Fisher), and we catch you up to post-Rogue One and Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

We round out the profile with some nuggets from the film’s production and then Mike #1 whips through the specs on the movie’s release, it’s monstrous weekend box office, and critical reception in contrast to its perplexing audience score. Since this has become one of the most polarizing films of this or any year, we foreshadow the arc of our upcoming spoiler filled next episode. Basically we’re one (two?) giant tease(s). Sorry (we’re not sorry).

The Mikes dive into all of the eye candy in the film. We discuss why we’re all gonna be fooled by the robots when they take over the planet. We also highlight the gasp-worthy visual effects that caused one of us to yell out in a dead silent IMAX theater. Then we finish the spoiler free episode with our review of the acting performances including a major comeback by the great Luke Skywalker himself.

Consider this to be the “just the facts” podcast, whereas the follow up will be more opinion based. Stay tuned for our upcoming spoiler-full podcast. You don’t wanna miss that one.

Please subscribe to us on iTunes, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, and Stitcher. Review, Like, message, and have at us (that’s what HE said). We are at your command, and know that we love hearing from you. If you loved Star Wars, if you hated it, if you’re mixed, tell us all about it in an email or tweet or seven. We’ll happily read your stuff on the air when possible as we’ve done in previous episodes. Slowly but surely, we’re building a list of episodes for your convenience. Listen to us in real time or on demand. Go back and bone up on all the movies you’ve seen or missed out on and might want to watch. Do take a break from reality and watch movies with us.

May the force be with you.

***75% NO SPOILERS / 25% SPOILERS***

This episode, like all our Oscar Sprint Profile episodes will, does have a breakdown of roughly 75/25 in terms of content that is spoiler free/spoiler-filled. We will discuss spoilers after the greatest spoiler warning jingle mankind has ever heard. We do not spoil The Room, if that’s possible, but we do chronicle the real history of both films.

Non Spoiler Section for The Disaster Artist

Oscar Sprint Information - :51 seconds in

Production Profile of The Disaster Artist - 3:48

Money, Awards, Acclaim, Premise, + Expectations - 23:35

Production Values - 29:10

Performance Breakdowns - 35:17

Best/Worst & Oscar Reel Scenes - 43:50

Spoiler Section Warning Interlude (your ears will never be the same) - 47:29

Spoiler Section

More Info on Tommy Wiseau & The Room - 48:47

Story Analysis & Grades: 58:03

Final Thoughts - 1:13:55

The episode covers James Franco’s The Disaster Artist in all its bizarre glory. This deep dive is the first in a series of Oscar Sprint Profiles (OSPs), where we will give you the full MMO review treatment on each of the major contenders for this year’s Academy Awards. We plan to cover the nominees in the Best Picture, Director, Acting, and Writing categories, and we’ll do it with clear non-spoiler and spoiler sections in the pod. So watch the movies before or after your listening experience with us. We hope these formats are more user friendly in a very On Demand sort of way as we’ve come a long long way from our 47 hour long debut episode.

Each OSP will open with a Production Profile, breaking down all of the highlights on what you oughta know about the source material and story inception, all the strange tales and juicy gossip surrounding the film’s promotion, critical reception, award consideration, the film’s subject, and of course, all the news fit and unfit to print about the film’s stars. We’ll review the movie’s best production values, performances, best/worst & Oscar reel scenes in the non-spoiler section. Then, for those of you who’ve already seen the movie or don’t mind a spoiler or 10, us Mikes will finish with our trademark half baked style of debate on the story’s overall composition during our Spoiler Section.

Mike #1 outdoes himself with the composition of his spoiler warning jingle about 2/3rds into the pod. Also Mike is in the groove of his life during our production profile on this wonderful nonsense. Then we banter like old school shock jockin radio show fools. IMHO, this was some of our best work to date. So we hope you enjoy. We’re having an absolute blast recording these episodes, and we hope it shows.

Please help us spread the word about our little podcast. These are early days. So if you can click here or there to help us on social media, review and like us where possible, we do greatly appreciate any help you can give. Follow us on Soundcloud, Stitcher, Instagram, and Twitter. Please subscribe to us on iTunes and feel free to contact us on facebook, etc… We’re loving all the feedback thus far. Take a breather from real life because as we say, it can suck at times. Do watch movies with us.

***75% NO SPOILERS / 25% SPOILERS***

This episode, like all our Oscar Sprint Profile episodes will, does have a breakdown of roughly 75/25 in terms of content that is spoiler free/spoiler-filled. We will discuss spoilers after the greatest spoiler warning jingle mankind has ever heard. We do not spoil The Room, if that’s possible, but we do chronicle the real history of both films.

Non Spoiler Section for The Disaster Artist

Oscar Sprint Information - :51 seconds in

Production Profile of The Disaster Artist - 3:48

Money, Awards, Acclaim, Premise, + Expectations - 23:35

Production Values - 29:10

Performance Breakdowns - 35:17

Best/Worst & Oscar Reel Scenes - 43:50

Spoiler Section Warning Interlude (your ears will never be the same) - 47:29

Spoiler Section

More Info on Tommy Wiseau & The Room - 48:47

Story Analysis & Grades: 58:03

Final Thoughts - 1:13:55

The episode covers James Franco’s The Disaster Artist in all its bizarre glory. This deep dive is the first in a series of Oscar Sprint Profiles (OSPs), where we will give you the full MMO review treatment on each of the major contenders for this year’s Academy Awards. We plan to cover the nominees in the Best Picture, Director, Acting, and Writing categories, and we’ll do it with clear non-spoiler and spoiler sections in the pod. So watch the movies before or after your listening experience with us. We hope these formats are more user friendly in a very On Demand sort of way as we’ve come a long long way from our 47 hour long debut episode.

Each OSP will open with a Production Profile, breaking down all of the highlights on what you oughta know about the source material and story inception, all the strange tales and juicy gossip surrounding the film’s promotion, critical reception, award consideration, the film’s subject, and of course, all the news fit and unfit to print about the film’s stars. We’ll review the movie’s best production values, performances, best/worst & Oscar reel scenes in the non-spoiler section. Then, for those of you who’ve already seen the movie or don’t mind a spoiler or 10, us Mikes will finish with our trademark half baked style of debate on the story’s overall composition during our Spoiler Section.

Mike #1 outdoes himself with the composition of his spoiler warning jingle about 2/3rds into the pod. Also Mike is in the groove of his life during our production profile on this wonderful nonsense. Then we banter like old school shock jockin radio show fools. IMHO, this was some of our best work to date. So we hope you enjoy. We’re having an absolute blast recording these episodes, and we hope it shows.

Please help us spread the word about our little podcast. These are early days. So if you can click here or there to help us on social media, review and like us where possible, we do greatly appreciate any help you can give. Follow us on Soundcloud, Stitcher, Instagram, and Twitter. Please subscribe to us on iTunes and feel free to contact us on facebook, etc… We’re loving all the feedback thus far. Take a breather from real life because as we say, it can suck at times. Do watch movies with us.

***SPOILER FREE***

Social Media Shout Outs - 2:19

The Goals of our Oscar Sprint, AKA our Award Season coverage - 3:53

TV Noms at the Golden Globes - 6:07

Film Noms at the Golden Globes - 9:36

Coming Soon, AKA more info on the Oscar Sprint - 49:18

As promised, our second episode this week reacts to the announcement of the Golden Globe nominations. Us Mikes bookend the show with explanations of what you can expect from our coverage of the Award Season, AKA our Oscar Sprint. We then do a quick survey of the Globe TV nominations before we deep dive into each of the Film Categories.

We tout how great our reaction show is about to be, and then we choose not to react to the Best Original Song category. So we’re walking contradictions per usual, but we will reveal our singing voices throughout this episode. Again, we are strange men. The Best Screenplay category is loaded, and we break down how the Globes are actually more competitive than the Oscars and what that’s gonna mean come Academy vote time.

The Best Supporting categories debut some of our stats on recent parallels from the Globes to the Oscars, we keep hope alive for our favorite snubs, and we look back at the early award season faves coming back with a vengeance at these Globes.

Best Foreign Film is a category with some stark contrast between Oscar & Globe. We explain. We also talk about Netflix Documentaries we’re crazy about these days for some reason. The Best Animated Film category is a shit sandwich only we can describe in its fullest glory.

The Best Actor categories showcase a youngster vs the best in the business on one side, and another super snub on the other. Then damn, those Best Actress categories are loaded with great performances. We mention a bunch of snubs, share our gut feelings for who the favorites might be, and debate how difficult it’s gonna be to break through in these categories at the Oscars.

We have a major problem with the Best Picture - Comedy or Musical top 5, we compare Oscar and Globe recent histories, and we give you an analysis of the Globes, Critics Choice, and AFI top 10s for Best Picture.

We conclude our Globes analysis with some theories on the year at large, Also Mike thinks he can sing, and then we give you some more detailed information about the Oscar Sprint episodes to come. Join us for all the Award Season coverage you desire. Take a breather from all the news and the fake news depressing us all. Look forward to our Disaster Artist and Star Wars pods. A lot of great content is coming your way.

Contact us on social media. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud, and Stitcher. Please subscribe to and review us on iTunes. We greatly appreciate all your support during these early days. Thanks for listening.

***SPOILER FREE***

Social Media Shout Outs - 2:19

The Goals of our Oscar Sprint, AKA our Award Season coverage - 3:53

TV Noms at the Golden Globes - 6:07

Film Noms at the Golden Globes - 9:36

Coming Soon, AKA more info on the Oscar Sprint - 49:18

As promised, our second episode this week reacts to the announcement of the Golden Globe nominations. Us Mikes bookend the show with explanations of what you can expect from our coverage of the Award Season, AKA our Oscar Sprint. We then do a quick survey of the Globe TV nominations before we deep dive into each of the Film Categories.

We tout how great our reaction show is about to be, and then we choose not to react to the Best Original Song category. So we’re walking contradictions per usual, but we will reveal our singing voices throughout this episode. Again, we are strange men. The Best Screenplay category is loaded, and we break down how the Globes are actually more competitive than the Oscars and what that’s gonna mean come Academy vote time.

The Best Supporting categories debut some of our stats on recent parallels from the Globes to the Oscars, we keep hope alive for our favorite snubs, and we look back at the early award season faves coming back with a vengeance at these Globes.

Best Foreign Film is a category with some stark contrast between Oscar & Globe. We explain. We also talk about Netflix Documentaries we’re crazy about these days for some reason. The Best Animated Film category is a shit sandwich only we can describe in its fullest glory.

The Best Actor categories showcase a youngster vs the best in the business on one side, and another super snub on the other. Then damn, those Best Actress categories are loaded with great performances. We mention a bunch of snubs, share our gut feelings for who the favorites might be, and debate how difficult it’s gonna be to break through in these categories at the Oscars.

We have a major problem with the Best Picture - Comedy or Musical top 5, we compare Oscar and Globe recent histories, and we give you an analysis of the Globes, Critics Choice, and AFI top 10s for Best Picture.

We conclude our Globes analysis with some theories on the year at large, Also Mike thinks he can sing, and then we give you some more detailed information about the Oscar Sprint episodes to come. Join us for all the Award Season coverage you desire. Take a breather from all the news and the fake news depressing us all. Look forward to our Disaster Artist and Star Wars pods. A lot of great content is coming your way.

Contact us on social media. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud, and Stitcher. Please subscribe to and review us on iTunes. We greatly appreciate all your support during these early days. Thanks for listening.

Hollywood Hot Takes No. 2. All your Hollywood news and awards show previews/reviews!

Tarantino’s Star Trek Movie? - 3:19

Is All The Money in the World doomed? - 12:26

Bryan Singer fired from the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic - 21:15

The future of the Halloween franchise - 26:40

John Oliver’s interview with Dustin Hoffman - 31:01

The shake-up at DCEU Studios - 40:23

Disney trying to buy Fox Marvel? - 50:50

Twin Peaks: The Return is a movie now? - 56:04

Early Award Season Update

NY, LA, Critics Choice, and AFI’s Top 10 - 1:01:50

Our second Hollywood Hot Takes episode will catch you up on all biggest movie news and update you on the early Awards Season. We enjoyed your response to our first Hot Takes episode, and we’re happy to deliver the first of two news and award season updates to prime you for our upcoming Oscar Sprint. This episode closes with our reactions to how the critics have spoken on their ballots from both coasts and via the Critics Choice Movie Awards. (Stay tuned as our second podcast of the week will cover the Golden Globes nominations.)

The Mikes of Oscar begin, as usual, deep in outer space. Quentin Tarantino has pitched J.J. Abrams an idea for the next Star Trek movie, and this alliance has fast tracked it into full thrusted pre-production. We are giddy, perhaps even Gittes - ugh, that joke looks even worse on paper; and we chat about Tarantino’s career, the Star Trek franchise, and the impact a foul mouthed Spock might have on the industry.

Ridley Scott’s upcoming film, All the Money in the World stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, and the esteemed, NOT Kevin Spacey. So we discuss the bizarre new marketing campaign that features Christopher Plummer, how the film was late for Critics Choice consideration, and Mike #1 delves into movie history for examples of how Hollywood has pulled the old switcheroo.

Covering more headlines, we discuss the firing of Bryan Singer from the upcoming Queen & Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. We analyze the team behind the new Michael Myers slasher film in the Halloween franchise. Then we dive into viral videos, as we have a serious chat about how HBO’s Last Week Tonight host, John Oliver crushed Dustin Hoffman in a recent interview. We cover the recent shake-up at DC Comics and Warner Bros, and then we discuss how Disney and Marvel Studios are trying to own the entire business as they try to acquire Fox properties. Also, Twin Peaks has been lauded as a great movie. We rage about this.

In closing, we recap the Award Season after the critics of LA and NY have chosen their year’s best. We include the recent nominations of the Critics Choice Awards, and discuss the AFI’s top 10 list for the year. Hopefully, this update primes you for the Golden Globes announcement, and we will cover those new nominations sooner than later in the week.

As always, please help us spread the word about our podcast. Do please subscribe to and review us on iTunes, follow and comment on Soundcloud and Stitcher, and do mix it up with us on social media’s Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for a whole lotta new content coming your way soon. Reality sucks. Watch movies with us.

Hollywood Hot Takes No. 2. All your Hollywood news and awards show previews/reviews!

Tarantino’s Star Trek Movie? - 3:19

Is All The Money in the World doomed? - 12:26

Bryan Singer fired from the Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic - 21:15

The future of the Halloween franchise - 26:40

John Oliver’s interview with Dustin Hoffman - 31:01

The shake-up at DCEU Studios - 40:23

Disney trying to buy Fox Marvel? - 50:50

Twin Peaks: The Return is a movie now? - 56:04

Early Award Season Update

NY, LA, Critics Choice, and AFI’s Top 10 - 1:01:50

Our second Hollywood Hot Takes episode will catch you up on all biggest movie news and update you on the early Awards Season. We enjoyed your response to our first Hot Takes episode, and we’re happy to deliver the first of two news and award season updates to prime you for our upcoming Oscar Sprint. This episode closes with our reactions to how the critics have spoken on their ballots from both coasts and via the Critics Choice Movie Awards. (Stay tuned as our second podcast of the week will cover the Golden Globes nominations.)

The Mikes of Oscar begin, as usual, deep in outer space. Quentin Tarantino has pitched J.J. Abrams an idea for the next Star Trek movie, and this alliance has fast tracked it into full thrusted pre-production. We are giddy, perhaps even Gittes - ugh, that joke looks even worse on paper; and we chat about Tarantino’s career, the Star Trek franchise, and the impact a foul mouthed Spock might have on the industry.

Ridley Scott’s upcoming film, All the Money in the World stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, and the esteemed, NOT Kevin Spacey. So we discuss the bizarre new marketing campaign that features Christopher Plummer, how the film was late for Critics Choice consideration, and Mike #1 delves into movie history for examples of how Hollywood has pulled the old switcheroo.

Covering more headlines, we discuss the firing of Bryan Singer from the upcoming Queen & Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. We analyze the team behind the new Michael Myers slasher film in the Halloween franchise. Then we dive into viral videos, as we have a serious chat about how HBO’s Last Week Tonight host, John Oliver crushed Dustin Hoffman in a recent interview. We cover the recent shake-up at DC Comics and Warner Bros, and then we discuss how Disney and Marvel Studios are trying to own the entire business as they try to acquire Fox properties. Also, Twin Peaks has been lauded as a great movie. We rage about this.

In closing, we recap the Award Season after the critics of LA and NY have chosen their year’s best. We include the recent nominations of the Critics Choice Awards, and discuss the AFI’s top 10 list for the year. Hopefully, this update primes you for the Golden Globes announcement, and we will cover those new nominations sooner than later in the week.

As always, please help us spread the word about our podcast. Do please subscribe to and review us on iTunes, follow and comment on Soundcloud and Stitcher, and do mix it up with us on social media’s Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for a whole lotta new content coming your way soon. Reality sucks. Watch movies with us.

Part 2 of the 1974 Best Actor Retrospective

***This Episode Has a Spoiler Section at the End***

We do reveal some broad strokes about the arcs of The Godfather Part II, and we are full spoilers for Harry & Tonto. But we try to pick our spots when we do spoilers, and we feel it’s appropriate here. You’ll be glad to avoid H&T. Trust us!

1974 Year in Review - Check Out Part 1!

Jack Nicholson in Chinatown - Check Out Part 1!

Dustin Hoffman in Lenny - Check Out Part 1!

Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express - 1:15

Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II - 25:18

Art Carney in Harry & Tonto - 50:02

Re-Rank / AKA Perfecting Perfection - 1:17:12

After covering Jack Nicholson in Chinatown and Dustin Hoffman in Lenny during Part 1 (Episode 12, which you REALLY should listen to before clicking Play here), we continue our retrospective of the 1974 shocker of a Best Actor race with reviews of Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express, Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II, and Art Carney in Harry & Tonto.

We recklessly give away all the secrets of the Finney household during our bio/filmography of their treasured son Albert. Mike #1 sings like a vegas showman (Editor’s note: perfectly and on key), and this is just the beginning of our strangeness. Sean Connery impressions, French & Scottish accents, fart noises, an argument about ‘what is a pun,’ sneering at the mention of books, prophecies regarding future films, and we demand a new category at this year’s Oscars. All of this happens in like 5 minutes. So we’re back to normal!!! We got through the heavy stuff in the last episode, and now ...we... are... back!!!

Al Pacino’s bio/filmography draws some fun parallels to other recently chronicled MMO subjects, we prove how if a wall is built, it’s Pacino’s fault, and Pacino & DeNiro impressions fly from our mouths. Then Mike #1 lays down the gauntlet that we can’t add anything to the Godfather Saga, but the Mikes totally fake you out and come to the rescue with big picture analysis that will change the course of your life and the lives of your children and your children’s children, not to mention the fate of your investment portfolio. “This is the business we have chosen,” and you are welcome.

And then it happens. The moment we’ve all been waiting for. The much anticipated, much yelled-about, Harry and Tonto recap.

Also Mike gets Mike #1 into a full frothe over our next review of Art Carney in Harry & Tonto. You don’t want to miss this master debating as we whack each other off our soapboxes. Wait, that didn’t come out right. (Or did it?) Annnnyway, we go off on a tangential review of Last Action Hero chuck full of Arnold impressions. Then the battle begins. Also Mike does his best to advocate for the devil as Mike #1’s face reddens, the great cats versus dogs debate is settled once and for all, and we recontextualize all of 1970s film and the late life crisis film genre for your listening pleasure. You don’t wanna miss this one.

We clear the battlefield with some kooky jokes during our Re-Rank segment, we have pompously entitled “Perfecting Perfection.” We re-rank the category and all the male performances on the year in this, perhaps the most outrageous upset in Oscar history.

Thanks for listening. Please subscribe to us on iTunes, follow us on Soundcloud, Twitter, and Instagram, and have some fun interacting with us on social media. We’ll happily share some of your stuff on the pod when we can.

We have some great stuff planned for our Oscar season coverage. It’s coming down the pike with 12/11’s Golden Globe announcements. Do stay tuned, and please, help us spread the word about our podcast. We’re having a blast recording these episodes. Hell, we’re having fun just planning out the next few months of Oscar coverage because… Reality sucks, watch movies with us. We’re Mike, Mike, & Oscar.

Part 2 of the 1974 Best Actor Retrospective

***This Episode Has a Spoiler Section at the End***

We do reveal some broad strokes about the arcs of The Godfather Part II, and we are full spoilers for Harry & Tonto. But we try to pick our spots when we do spoilers, and we feel it’s appropriate here. You’ll be glad to avoid H&T. Trust us!

1974 Year in Review - Check Out Part 1!

Jack Nicholson in Chinatown - Check Out Part 1!

Dustin Hoffman in Lenny - Check Out Part 1!

Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express - 1:15

Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II - 25:18

Art Carney in Harry & Tonto - 50:02

Re-Rank / AKA Perfecting Perfection - 1:17:12

After covering Jack Nicholson in Chinatown and Dustin Hoffman in Lenny during Part 1 (Episode 12, which you REALLY should listen to before clicking Play here), we continue our retrospective of the 1974 shocker of a Best Actor race with reviews of Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express, Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II, and Art Carney in Harry & Tonto.

We recklessly give away all the secrets of the Finney household during our bio/filmography of their treasured son Albert. Mike #1 sings like a vegas showman (Editor’s note: perfectly and on key), and this is just the beginning of our strangeness. Sean Connery impressions, French & Scottish accents, fart noises, an argument about ‘what is a pun,’ sneering at the mention of books, prophecies regarding future films, and we demand a new category at this year’s Oscars. All of this happens in like 5 minutes. So we’re back to normal!!! We got through the heavy stuff in the last episode, and now ...we... are... back!!!

Al Pacino’s bio/filmography draws some fun parallels to other recently chronicled MMO subjects, we prove how if a wall is built, it’s Pacino’s fault, and Pacino & DeNiro impressions fly from our mouths. Then Mike #1 lays down the gauntlet that we can’t add anything to the Godfather Saga, but the Mikes totally fake you out and come to the rescue with big picture analysis that will change the course of your life and the lives of your children and your children’s children, not to mention the fate of your investment portfolio. “This is the business we have chosen,” and you are welcome.

And then it happens. The moment we’ve all been waiting for. The much anticipated, much yelled-about, Harry and Tonto recap.

Also Mike gets Mike #1 into a full frothe over our next review of Art Carney in Harry & Tonto. You don’t want to miss this master debating as we whack each other off our soapboxes. Wait, that didn’t come out right. (Or did it?) Annnnyway, we go off on a tangential review of Last Action Hero chuck full of Arnold impressions. Then the battle begins. Also Mike does his best to advocate for the devil as Mike #1’s face reddens, the great cats versus dogs debate is settled once and for all, and we recontextualize all of 1970s film and the late life crisis film genre for your listening pleasure. You don’t wanna miss this one.

We clear the battlefield with some kooky jokes during our Re-Rank segment, we have pompously entitled “Perfecting Perfection.” We re-rank the category and all the male performances on the year in this, perhaps the most outrageous upset in Oscar history.

Thanks for listening. Please subscribe to us on iTunes, follow us on Soundcloud, Twitter, and Instagram, and have some fun interacting with us on social media. We’ll happily share some of your stuff on the pod when we can.

We have some great stuff planned for our Oscar season coverage. It’s coming down the pike with 12/11’s Golden Globe announcements. Do stay tuned, and please, help us spread the word about our podcast. We’re having a blast recording these episodes. Hell, we’re having fun just planning out the next few months of Oscar coverage because… Reality sucks, watch movies with us. We’re Mike, Mike, & Oscar.

***This is a Spoiler Free Episode***

1974 Year in Review - 3:45

Jack Nicholson in Chinatown - 15:31

Dustin Hoffman in Lenny - 39:36

Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express - Coming Soon in Part 2!

Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II - Coming Soon in Part 2!

Art Carney in Harry & Tonto - Coming Soon in Part 2!

Re-Rank / AKA Perfecting Perfection - Coming Soon in Part 2!

Before we immerse ourselves into the upcoming award season, The Mikes launch into a study of one of the crazier upsets in the history of the Academy. Art Carney defeated Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Albert Finney, and none other than Al Pacino in the 1974 Best Actor category. We lead the podcast with some teaser theories on the how and why people may have voted for an old white former TV celeb, and then we talk about Art Carney. (!!!...c’mon, now that’s a joke!... anybody?... No?...too soon. It’s too soon.)

Jack Nicholson’s eyebrow raising biography might be the best pure story in this entire retrospective. Mike #1 somehow keeps the premise of Chinatown under 30 minutes. We also say words like neo-noir, femme fatale, and mise en scene. So we sound smart for once and gosh darnit, learn you good.

Dustin Hoffman’s bio/filmography spans both coasts and even takes a stop in North Dakota before Simon & Garfunkle ever score one of his performances. Also Mike does reveal his shameless gap in movie watching history, and we take a substantive look at why this film is such a hot mess.

Stay tuned for Part Two where we compare the old and new Murder on the Orient Express, discussing Albert Finney’s Inspector Clouseau, or is it Poirot? Despite our reservations, we do throw some takes that are hot into the lexicon of Godfather film appreciation. Then we take off the gloves and debate the winning performance of Art Carney in Harry & Tonto. It’s cats vs dogs. It’s TV vs film. It’s Mike vs Mike.

Help us spread the word about our show. A few clicks can go a long way to telling the world about this new irreverent podcast of ours. Do subscribe, follow, like, and review us if you have a few more seconds to help us out, and as always, feel free to send us your feedback. We love hearing from you. Thanks for listening.