The Envelope

On this episode, we discuss the sixty-seventh Best Picture Winner: “FORREST GUMP.”

"Forrest Gump" is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom.  The story depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump, a slow-witted but kind-hearted man from Alabama who witnesses and unwittingly influences several defining historical events in the 20th century United States. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film stars Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, Sally Field as Mrs. Gump, Robin Wright as Jenny Curran, Mykelti Williamson as Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue, Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan Taylor and Haley Joel Osment as Forrest Gump, Jr.

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 sixty-sixth Best Picture Winner: “SCHINDLER’S LIST.”

"Schindler's List" is based on the 1982 non-fiction novel "Schindler's Ark" by Australian novelist Thomas Keneally. The film follows businessman Oskar Schindler who arrives in Krakow, Poland in 1939 ready to make his fortune from World War II, which has just started. After joining the Nazi party primarily for political expediency, he staffs his factory with Jewish workers for similarly pragmatic reasons. When the SS begins exterminating Jews in the Krakow ghetto, Schindler arranges to have his workers protected to keep his factory in operation, but soon realizes that in so doing, he is also saving innocent lives.  Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, Ben Kingsley as Itzhak Stern, Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth, Caroline Goodall as Emilie Schindler, and Jonathan Sagall as Poldek Pfefferberg.

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 sixty-fifth Best Picture Winner: “UNFORGIVEN.”

Disgusted by Sheriff "Little Bill" Daggett's decree that several horses make up for a cowhand slashing a prostitutes's face, Big Whiskey prostitutes, led by the fierce Strawberry Alice, take justice into their own hands and put a $1,000 bounty on the lives of the perpetrators. Notorious outlaw-turned-hog farmer William Munny is sought out by neophyte gunslinger "the Schofield Kid" to go with him to Big Whiskey and collect the bounty. While Munny insists, "I ain't like that no more," he needs the bounty money for his children, and the two men convince Munny's clean-living comrade Ned Logan to join them in righting the wrong done by Sheriff "Little Bill" Daggett.  Directed by Clint Eastwood, “Unforgiven” stars Clint Eastwood as Bill Munny, Gene Hackman as Little Bill Daggett, Morgan Freeman as Ned Logan, Jaimz Woolvett as The 'Schofield Kid', Frances Fisher as Strawberry Alice, and Richard Harris as English Bob.

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 sixty-fourth Best Picture Winner: “SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.”

"The Silence of the Lambs" follows Clarice Starling, a top student at the FBI's training academy whose shrewd analyses of serial killers lands her a special assignment: the FBI is investigating a vicious murderer nicknamed Buffalo Bill, who kills young women and then removes the skin from their bodies. F.B.I. Special Agent Jack Crawford tasks Clarice with interviewing Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into this case and that Starling may be just the bait to draw him out.  Directed by Jonathan Demme, the film stars Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, Scott Glenn as Jack Crawford, Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and Ted Levine as Jame Gumb (aka Buffalo Bill).

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 sixty-third Best Picture Winner: “DANCES WITH WOLVES.”

"Dances With Wolves" follows Civil War soldier Lieutenant John Dunbar who develops a relationship with a local Sioux tribe. Attracted by the simplicity of their lifestyle, he chooses to leave his former life behind to join them. However, it's not long before tragedy strikes when Union soldiers arrive with their eyes on the Sioux tribe's land.  Directed by Kevin Costner, the film stars Kevin Costner as Lieutenant Dunbar, Mary McDonnell as Stands With A Fist, Graham Greene as Kicking Bird, Rodney A. Grant as Wind In His Hair, and Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman as Ten Bears

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 sixty-second Best Picture Winner: “DRIVING MISS DAISY.”

"Driving Miss Daisy" follows Daisy Werthan, an elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta, who is determined to maintain her independence. However, when she crashes her car, her son, Boolie, arranges for her to have a chauffeur, an African-American driver named Hoke Colburn. Daisy and Hoke's relationship gets off to a rocky start, but they gradually form a close friendship over the years, one that transcends racial prejudices and social conventions. Directed by Bruce Beresford, the film stars Jessica Tandy as Daisy Werthan, Morgan Freeman as Hoke Colburn, Dan Aykroyd as Boolie Werthan and Patti LuPone as Florine Werthan.

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 sixty-first Best Picture Winner: “RAIN MAN.”

"Rain Man" follows car dealer Charlie Babbitt, who, after learning that his estranged father has died, returns home to Cincinnati where he discovers that he has an autistic older brother named Raymond and that his father's $3 million fortune is being left to the mental institution in which Raymond lives. Motivated by his father's money, Charlie checks Raymond out of the facility in order to return with him to Los Angeles. The brothers' cross-country trip ends up changing both their lives.  Directed by Barry Levinson, the film stars Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbitt, Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt, Valeria Golino as Susanna, and Bonnie Hunt as Sally Dibbs.

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 sixtieth Best Picture Winner: “THE LAST EMPEROR.”

"The Last Emperor" is the sweeping account of the life of Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, and his tumultuous reign. After being captured by the Red Army as a war criminal in 1950, Pu Yi recalls his childhood from prison. He remembers his lavish youth in the Forbidden City, where he was afforded every luxury but unfortunately sheltered from the outside world and complex political situation surrounding him. As revolution sweeps through China, the world Pu Yi knew is dramatically upended. Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, the film stars John Lone as Pu Yi (as an adult), Joan Chen as Wan Jung, Victor Wong as Chen Pao Shen, and Peter O'Toole as Reginald 'R. J.' Johnston.

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 fifty-ninth Best Picture Winner: “PLATOON.” 

"Platoon" follows Chris Taylor who leaves his university studies to enlist in combat duty in Vietnam in 1967. Once he's on the ground in the middle of battle, his idealism fades. Infighting in his unit between Staff Sergeant Barnes, who believes nearby villagers are harboring Viet Cong soldiers, and Sergeant Elias, who has a more sympathetic view of the locals, ends up pitting the soldiers against each other as well as against the enemy. Directed by Oliver Stone, the film stars Charlie Sheen as Chris Taylor, Tom Berenger as Staff Sgt. Barnes, Willem Dafoe as Sgt. Elias, Keith David as King, Forest Whitaker as Big Harold, Kevin Dillon as Bunny, John C. McGinley as Sgt. O'Neill, Johnny Depp as Lerner, and Tony Todd as Warren. 

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 fifty-eighth Best Picture Winner: “OUT OF AFRICA.”

"Out of Africa" is based loosely on the autobiographical book "Out of Africa" written by Isak Dinesen (the pseudonym of Danish author Karen Blixen), which was published in 1937, with additional material from Dinesen's book "Shadows on the Grass" and other sources. The story covers the following:  Initially set on being a dairy farmer, the aristocratic Karen Blixen travels to Africa to join her husband, Bror, who instead spends their money on a coffee plantation. After discovering Bror is unfaithful, Karen develops feelings for hunter Denys, but realizes he prefers a simplistic lifestyle compared to her upper class background. The two continue on until a series of events force Karen to choose between her love and personal growth. Directed by Sydney Pollack, the film stars Meryl Streep as Karen, Robert Redford as Denys, and Klaus Maria Brandauer as Bror.

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.