Mission 250 Podcast

Part 2!

This week, we dive into the highest rated trilogy of all time. These films condense Tolkien's novels into accessible blockbusters that don't sacrifice depth. They also continues to have a tremendous impact on the artistry in filmmaking as well as in pop culture. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), directed by Peter Jackson.

This week, we dive into the highest rated trilogy of all time. These films condense Tolkien's novels into accessible blockbusters that don't sacrifice depth. They also continues to have a tremendous impact on the artistry in filmmaking as well in pop culture. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), directed by Peter Jackson

This week, we watch the Academy Award nominated official submission from Germany, that is actually an Iranian made film that was filmed entirely in secret and made it necessary for the director and many of the people who worked on the film to flee Iran. It is a very unique film in the way it was made, it shows some shocking real footage of the 2022 protests in Iran, and is worth a watch for the subject matter alone. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024), directed by Mohammad Rasoulof.

This week, we watch a dumpster fire of a film that Netflix managed to buy its way to a nearly record setting number of Oscar nominations. This film is not just poorly made in every respect, it also exploits every topic it decides to shove into its fractured story. This is the opposite of the film we need these days. Emilia Perez (2024), directed Jacques Audiard.

This week, we watch one of the films nominated Best International Films Academy Award. This film is best if you watch without knowing anything about it at all, so we'll just say this - Watch it, but only if you can tolerate every genre of movie that exists. If you don't tolerate some genres, then you may have a bad time. The Girl with the Needle (2024), directed Magnus von Horn.

This week, we watch the film that won the the Palm D'or at this years Cannes Film Festival and is also up for 6 Oscars. This film split our opinions, but we could all agree that Mikey Madison is understandably a favorite for the Best Actress award. Anora (2024), directed Sean Baker

This week, we dive into Oscar season! The Oscar nominations are out, and we first dive into a film that received 8 nominations. This beautiful film is certainly a strong contender for production design. Conclave (2024), directed Edward Berger.

This week, we watch the gothic horror / fantasy that was for some reason correctly released on Christmas day. Eggers fourth film is also currently his highest grossing (and climbing), and it might be due to the fact that it is his most beautiful and straightforward. Nosferatu (2024), directed Robert Eggers.

This week, we jump back a bit to a movie we skipped initially to make sure it was discussed at an appropriate time of year. And since its 2025 (happy new year!), lets kick it off by watching Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed fall in love in Bedford Falls. It's a Wonderful Life (1946), directed by Frank Capra.

This week, we break into the top 10 best movies of all time. A three hour long western that oozes style, has the best dirty face closeups you will ever see, has some of the worst ADR in film, and also maybe the best score of all time. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966), directed by Sergio Leone.