OscarWatch Podcast

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Oliver! (1968) Feb 02, 2017

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A musical that is sooo musical that another musical didn't win Best Picture for 34 years! Now, whether or not that's a good thing is up for debate, but Oliver! sure provokes some conversation on this week's episode. Hosts Alex and Steve approach it from two very different histories and chat about all things Dickensian, from the 'hey, that kid isn't actually singing', to the eternal bastardy that is Oliver Reed and finally, are these songs memorable? Because one of them has never heard any of them before. Also, 1968 was a great year for movies and we debate the relative merits of the Best Picture nominees when there are certainly more well known (and well regarded) films to have come out ::cough 2001 cough :: So grab your bowl and come on up, there's plenty more here for everyone! Thanks for listening. Drop us a line at oscarwatchpodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Social Media (@oscarwatchpod). If you'd be so kind, like, subscribe and leave a review on iTunes. It really does help! Next week, our first animated Best Picture winner 'spirits' us 'away' to a fantastic place...

Watch The Oscars: The 89th Academy Award Nominations Jan 27, 2017

Show notes

Flying solo, Steve manages to keep himself together whilst discussing the ins and outs of this year's crop of Academy Award nominees, from the record tying number of minority actors and actresses to the Mel Gibson redemption story. This year's got a lot to talk about it. And yes, there's a very big fish in the pond and if history has shown anything, those big fish often win. But let's discount what a little moonlight can do for your well-being. Mostly, though, he's just wondering where the hell Sing Street is? I mean, seriously. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@oscarwatchpod) and be sure to drop a line at oscarwatchpodcast@gmail.com. Find and like and review on iTunes. We return to our regularly scheduled program next week (and hopefully Alex is there, too!).

La Strada (1956) Jan 19, 2017

Show notes

Join Alex and Steve on their adventure down The Road - Fellini's La Strada, which was actually released in 1954, but which won Best Foreign Language Film in 1956. The guys bring it back to film school for a lovely discussion on the Italian Neorealist movement of the Post-War era and how Fellini is slowly starting to break away from that, the simple grace of the film's main actress and the bizarre way Fellini used to shoot his movies. Steve wrestles with his emotions and much like any character on the road, comes out different when all is said and done. Oh, and we figure out just how much 10,000 Lira is in today's dollars (hint: it's not a lot!) Thanks for listening. Drop us a line at oscarwatchpodcast@gmail.com, and find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@oscarwatchpod)

The Artist (2011) Jan 12, 2017

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The Artist may be silent, but we most certainly are not! Join Alex, Steve and guest host Matt Neglia of @nextbestpicture as we discuss the most egregious example of Hollywood celebrating itself, 2011's The Artist. We find it bears a striking similarity to this year's big Best Picture front-runner! Sure, we'll admit that the film is technically pretty great but there's not a lot there, is there? And while 2011 was a dog of a year, what better films could you find to say, Drive their way into your hearts? All that, plus an update on Alex's ever worsening medical conditions! Drop us a line at oscarwatchpodcast@gmail.com. Find us on iTunes and be sure to leave a review. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@oscarwatchpod). Next week, we go from the silent to the foreign as we take a walk down a long and lonely Street...

The Sting (1973) Jan 05, 2017

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Remember Butch & Sundance? It's kind of like that, what with Newman, Redford and director George Roy Hill getting the band back together for 1973's The Sting. Our first movie of the new year is a charming, delightful and ultimately hollow heist movie whose influence can be seen on every con-man film made since then. Ocean, meet Hooker. Hosts Steve and Alex discuss why this film, over a far more memorable one, may have taken the top prize, the timeless cool of both its stars and how 1973 was a fantastic year in film. Plus, once again, Alex gets really excited about Day of the Dolphin. All that and more in this week's episode. Like and subscribe on iTunes. Drop us a line at oscarwatchpodcast@gmail.com, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@oscarwatchpod). And happy new year! We'll be seeing you.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Dec 22, 2016

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Here at last, we come to the end of our fellowship with the final entry into Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King. The only one of the three to win best picture! Join Alex, Steve and returning guest Justin Clark for this Extended Edition of Oscarwatch as we discuss the ridiculous, emotionally charged highs of this entry, the many endings (and how you're all wrong for not liking them), ugly crying, Steve's admiration for the oddly loyal Orcs in the film and just how ridiculous Legolas can be. All that and more on this week's episode! Like and subscribe on iTunes. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@oscarwatchpod). And with that, we close out 2016. Happy holidays and a very happy New Year to all of our listeners. See you in 2017!

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) Dec 15, 2016

Show notes

This week, hosts Alex and Steve are taking the Hobbits to Isengard for the second chapter in our Lord of the Rings retrospective with The Two Towers (2002). Joining us for this middle part is film and game critic Justin Clark, a learned and wise sage - who actually doesn't like the books. But don't worry, he gives a great reason why. The three get together to discuss how Andy Serkis was really, really robbed at the Oscars, where this one ranks among the Extended Editions and how friggin awesome the Battle for Helm's Deep remains to this day. All that and a sobering talk of the timelessness of these films. Join us, won't you? Send us an email to oscarwatchpodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe and review on iTunes, and be sure to find us on all the social media, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@oscarwatchpod). Join us next week as we come to the end of our fellowship...

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Dec 08, 2016

Show notes

This week, hosts Alex and Steve volunteer to take the ring to Mordor. But a quest like this requires a few extra swords and axes. Helping to carry this burden is friend to the podcast Matt Thomsen, Dungeon Master extraordinaire to help guide us through Peter Jackson's 2001 epic adventure! The three of us wonder how in the hell this movie not only got made but was as successful as it was, its continuing relevance in this, or any age, and just why the hell didn't the characters give the ring to the Eagles? All that and more. So, if you're eavesdropping, you may just get swept along on the greatest adventure of all time. This also marks the first episode of our 'Contender' series; films that were nominated for Best Picture but did not win, that maybe really should have. Off the top of your head, what movie did win that year? Find us on iTunes and Google Play. Subscribe and write a review, it really does help put the word out about our little podcast. Drop us a line at oscarwatchpodcast@gmail.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@oscarwatchpod). Next week, we learn what news from the Mark...

Terms of Endearment (1983) Dec 01, 2016

Show notes

The MacLaine train keeps a rolling with Terms of Endearment (1983), the movie about the lifetime between a mother and daughter. So naturally, two guys have a long chat with one another and mansplain a thing or two. Like why you shouldn't date, let alone marry, a guy named Flap - seriously, why is that hard? And whether a film should have a character you actually like and we wonder if our wives will feel the same way about our daughters when they're all grown up. Oh, and did you know there was a sequel? Don't worry, Steve fell on that grenade for you! But is it the Best Picture? 1983 was a hell of a year. Let's see what else came out then. Drop us a line at oscarwatchpodcast@gmail.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@oscarwatchpod) and be sure to subscribe and review on iTunes, it really helps get the word out. Next week, we begin our holiday countdown with a bunch of guys, some jewelry and a very long hike in the woods...

The Apartment (1960) Nov 24, 2016

Show notes

Man, the rents in the city were far more manageable back then! Not that Jack Lemmon, budding internet 'Nice Guy' ever got to stay in his own place, what with his adult-oriented AirBnB operation. If you liked Mad Men but wish it had less social commentary, with weaker female characters and no real subtlety to its message, then congratulations - how did you find us? The Apartment is a classic, for sure, but like many of the films from previous eras, there is a lot to be taken aback by. Enjoyable? Maybe. Is Jack Lemmon great? Yes. One cannot escape this 'Trump Grime' that coats the entire film in a slimy film of social ick. Want to drop us a line? Write an email to oscarwatchpodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe and rate us on iTunes, it really does help get the word out about this little show. Look for us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@oscarwatchpod) Next week, the Shirley MacLaine train keeps a rolling...

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