The Envelope

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-fifth Best Picture Winner: “ARGO.”

"Argo" is a historical drama thriller based on the 1999 book by U.S. Central Intelligence Agency operative Tony Mendez, titled "The Master of Disguise," and the 2007 Wired article by Joshuah Bearman, titled "The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran". The film deals with the "Canadian Caper", in which Mendez led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran, under the guise of filming a science fiction film during the 1979–1981 Iran hostage crisis. On Nov. 4, 1979, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, taking 66 American hostages. Amid the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge with the Canadian ambassador. Knowing that it's just a matter of time before the refugees are found and likely executed, the U.S. government calls on extractor Tony Mendez to rescue them. Mendez's plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and train the refugees to act as his "film" crew. Directed by Ben Affleck, the film stars Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez, Bryan Cranston as Jack O'Donnell, Alan Arkin as Lester Siegel, John Goodman as John Chambers, Victor Garber as Ken Taylor, Clea DuVall as Cora Lijek and Kyle Chandler as Hamilton Jordan

Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. 

You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-fourth Best Picture Winner: “THE ARTIST.”

"The Artist" is a French comedy-drama film in the style of a black-and-white silent film. The story takes place in Hollywood, between 1927 and 1932, and focuses on the relationship between a rising young actress and an older silent film star as silent cinema falls out of fashion and is replaced by the "talkies". Actor George Valentin is a bona fide matinee idol with many adoring fans. While working on his latest film, George finds himself falling in love with an ingenue named Peppy Miller and, what's more, it seems Peppy feels the same way. However, the growing popularity of sound in movies separates the potential lovers, as George's career begins to fade while Peppy's star rises.  Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the film stars Jean Dujardin as George Valentin, Bérénice Bejo as Peppy Miller, John Goodman as Al Zimmer, James Cromwell as Clifton and Penelope Ann Miller as Doris.

Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. 

You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-third Best Picture Winner: “THE KING’S SPEECH.”

"The King's Speech" is a British historical drama that follows King George VI who, to cope with a stammer, sees Lionel Logue, an Australian speech and language therapist. The men become friends as they work together, and after his brother abdicates the throne, the new king relies on Logue to help him make his first wartime radio broadcast upon Britain's declaration of war on Germany in 1939.  Directed by Tom Hooper, the film stars Colin Firth as King George VI, Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth, Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue and Guy Pearce as King Edward VIII.

Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. 

You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-second Best Picture Winner: “THE HURT LOCKER.”

"The Hurt Locker" follows an Iraq War Explosive Ordnance Disposal team who are targeted by insurgents and shows their psychological reactions to the stress of combat.  Following the death of their well-respected Staff Sergeant, Sergeant JT Stanborn and Specialist Owen Eldridge find their Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit saddled with a very different team leader, Staff Sergeant William James.  James is an inveterate risk-taker who seems to thrive on war, but there's no denying his gift for defusing bombs. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the film stars Jeremy Renner as Staff Sergeant William James, Anthony Mackie as Sergeant JT Sanborn, Ralph Fiennes as Contractor Team Leader, David Morse as Colonel Reed, Evangeline Lilly as Connie James and Guy Pearce as Sergeant Matt Thompson

Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. 

You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-first Best Picture Winner: “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE.”

"Slumdog Millionaire" is a British drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel "Q & A" written by Indian author Vikas Swarup.  The story follows 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. As a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Jamal surprises everyone by being able to answer every question correctly. Accused of cheating, Jamal recounts his life story to the police, illustrating how he is able to answer each question correctly. Part of a stable of young thieves after their mother dies, Jamal and his brother, Salim, survive on the streets of Mumbai. Salim finds the life of crime agreeable, but Jamal scrapes by with small jobs until landing a spot on the game show. Directed by Danny Boyle, the film stars Dev Patel as Jamal Malik, Freida Pinto as Latika, Anil Kapoor as Prem Kumar and Irrfan Khan as the Police Inspector.

Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. 

You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eightieth Best Picture Winner: “NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.”

"No Country for Old Men" is neo-Western crime thriller film based on Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel of the same name. While out hunting, Llewelyn Moss finds the grisly aftermath of a drug deal. Though he knows better, he cannot resist the cash left behind and takes it with him. The hunter becomes the hunted when a merciless killer named Anton Chigurh picks up his trail. Also looking for Moss is Sheriff Bell, an aging lawman who reflects on a changing world as he tries to find and protect Moss. Directed by Ethan & Joel Coen, the film stars Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss, Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh, Tommy Lee Jones as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, Kelly Macdonald as Carla Jean Moss, Woody Harrelson as Carson Wells, and Stephen Root as Man who hires Wells.

Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. 

You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the seventy-ninth Best Picture Winner: “THE DEPARTED.”

"The Departed is a crime thriller remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs" and is also loosely based on the real-life Boston Winter Hill Gang; the character Colin Sullivan is based on the corrupt FBI agent John Connolly, while the character Frank Costello is based on Irish-American gangster Whitey Bulger.  In the film, South Boston cop Billy Costigan goes under cover to infiltrate the organization of Irish Mob boss Francis "Frank" Costello. At the same time that Costigan is gaining the mobster's trust, Costello has planted career criminal Colin Sullivan as a mole within the Massachusetts State Police. When both sides realize the situation, Sullivan and Costigan each attempt to discover the other's identity before they are found out.  Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy Costigan, Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan, Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello, Mark Wahlberg as Dignam, Martin Sheen as Queenan, Ray Winstone as Mr. French, Vera Farmiga as Madolyn, Anthony Anderson as Brown, and Alec Baldwin as Ellerby.

Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. 

You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the seventy-eighth Best Picture Winner: “CRASH.”

"Crash" is a crime drama that interweaves several connected stories about race, class, family and gender in Los Angeles in the aftermath of 9/11. Characters include a district attorney and his casually prejudiced wife, dating police detectives Graham and Ria, a victimized Middle Eastern store owner, and a wealthy African-American couple humiliated by a racist traffic cop.  Directed by Paul Haggis, the ensemble cast stars Sandra Bullock as Jean, Brendan Fraser as D.A. Rick, Terrence Howard as Cameron, Thandie Newton as Christine, Matt Dillon as Officer Ryan, Ryan Phillippe as Officer Hanson, Don Cheadle as Detective Graham, Jennifer Esposito as Detective Ria, Michael Peña as Daniel, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges as Anthony, Tony Danza as Fred, Keith David as Lt. Dixon, Loretta Devine as Shaniqua, Daniel Dae Kim as Park, and Shaun Toub as Farhad.

Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. 

You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the 93rd Academy Awards Ceremony and the Winners!

On this episode, we discuss the 2021 Oscar Nominations.

We tell you who WILL win and who SHOULD win in every category at this year's Academy Awards!