Thank the Academy

In this episode we discuss Francis Ford Coppola’s salacious and violent Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Winona Ryder’s involvement in the production, the tremendous production value, and Oscar winning makeup and costuming. We also take a close look at Al Pacino’s life and career, his start in the theater, breakthrough as Michael Corleone, and his Oscar win for Best Lead Actor in Scent of a Woman.

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In this episode we discuss the sixty-fifth Best Picture winner, Unforgiven, the 65th Academy Awards night celebrating women in film, Billy Crystal’s fourth time as host, and the lack of great films in 1992. We also discuss Clint Eastwood’s career, the themes behind Unforgiven, and why it won Best Picture.

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In this episode we discuss Disney’s resurgence and the making of Beauty and the Beast, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s contributions to the film, its many Academy Award nominations, and its enduring legacy of success. We also look back through Jodie Foster’s career, her big breaks in Scorsese films, her struggles with fame and celebrity, and her two Academy Award wins for The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs.

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In this episode we discuss the sixty-fourth Best Picture winner, The Silence of the Lambs, its feat of winning the “Big Five” Academy Awards, Jodie Foster’s and Anthony Hopkins’ stirring performances in the film, and Billy Crystal’s continued success as the host of the Oscars’ Ceremony!

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In this episode we discuss Martin Scorsese’s gangster epic, Goodfellas. We talk about why it stands above the rest of the gangster genre, the book Wiseguy and author Nicholas Pileggi, Ray Liotta’s involvement in the film, and the positive critical response upon its release. We also discuss the life and career of EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg, her start in stand-up comedy, many of her iconic roles, and the film Ghost, for which she won her Academy Award.

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In this episode we discuss the sixty-third Best Picture winner, Dances with Wolves, Kevin Costner’s first time producing, directing, and acting in the same film, the continued success of Billy Crystal’s hosting of the Oscar ceremony, the cultural impact of Dances with Wolves, and the good that was done for Native American and Indigenous communities because of the film. 

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In this episode we discuss the Oscar-nominated Civil War film Glory: what inspired the making of the film, the involvement of Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, and why the Academy might have overlooked it as a nominee for Best Picture. We also learn about Academy Award winner Denzel Washington's career: how he got his start, how his family and home life contributes to his success, and his many iconic roles throughout the years!

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In this episode we discuss the sixty-second Best Picture winner, Driving Miss Daisy, how it was the safest choice for race-related films from 1989, Morgan Freeman’s breakout, Jessica Tandy’s first Oscar Award, and Billy Crystal’s exciting debut as host of the ceremony!

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In this episode we discuss the 1988 classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Steven Spielberg’s involvement in the film, the innovation that went into mixing live action and animation, and the great success of the film that spurred Disney into its 90’s Renaissance. We also learn about renowned makeup artist Ve Neill, her many iconic characters, her partnership with Tim Burton, and her first Academy Award win for Beetlejuice. 

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In this episode we discuss the sixty-first Best Picture winner, Rain Man, the notorious opening number starring Rob Lowe and Snow White, the historic financial success of Rain Man, Dustin Hoffman’s performance as Raymond, and the critique and positive outcomes of his portrayal of someone with autism in the late 1980s.

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