FOLLOWING FILMS

Winning an Academy Award for Best Picture is a major achievement, but not all winners are equally deserving. Some films become instant classics, while others are later scrutinized for their shortcomings. One of the most controversial wins in Oscar history was Forrest Gump’s victory in 1994. While the film is beloved by many, almost everyone in my family, its triumph over Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption has led to ongoing debate. In this piece, we’ll explore why Forrest Gump is the worst film to win Best Picture, from its simplistic storytelling to its regressive themes and the superior films it defeated. Perhaps the biggest issue with Forrest Gump’s win is the films it triumphed over. Pulp Fiction, directed by Quentin Tarantino, revolutionized modern cinema with its nonlinear storytelling, razor-sharp dialogue, and bold direction. The film remains one of the most influential and celebrated movies of all time. Similarly, The Shawshank Redemption has achieved legendary status a...

2018 Directed by Mark C. Smith A film about two silent lemurs in hot air balloons is not only one of 2018’s finest animated shorts but one of finest films of the year. I cannot understate the beauty of Smith's TWO BALLOONS, along with its aesthetic the simplicity of its narrative, it's stunning. This 9 minute short strikes a rare emotional honesty that is sadly lacking in most feature-length films, let alone in an animated short. The detail displayed in the stop-motion animation and charming score from Peter Broderick make this simple story utterly re-watchable.    While comparisons will undoubtedly be drawn to Wes Anderson, Smith’s exploration of humanity through these air-born primates shares more DNA with the films of Hal Ashby. It could be that I spent the morning re-watching SHAMPOO and THE LAST DETAIL but Smith seems more concerned with his films emotional resonance than its quirky details. It would be nearly impossible to spoil the film by describing th...

In this episode, Dave takes a look at the Academy Award winner for Best Picture last year, Birdman.  Britt discusses why she will probably never watch it again.  Then, Dave discusses the film in terms of the main character's obvious psychosis.  Enjoy! Listen! Show Notes Fangirl Fixation: 0:03:50 Psychosis:0:19:40 Birdman: 0:36:31 Rate and Review on iTunes! Visit our website!

In BIRDMAN, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s black comedy, Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) hopes that by spearheading an ambitious new Broadway play he will, among other things, revive his moribund career. In many ways, it is a deeply foolhardy move – but the former cinema superhero has high hopes that this creative gambit will legitimize him as an artist and prove to everyone – and himself – that he is not just a Hollywood has-been. With the play’s opening night looming, Riggan’s lead actor is injured by a freak accident during rehearsals and needs to be replaced quickly. At the suggestion of lead actress Lesley (Naomi Watts) and the urging of his best friend and producer Jake (Zach Galifianakis), Riggan reluctantly hires Mike Shiner (Edward Norton) – a loose cannon who is guaranteed to sell tickets and get the play a rave review. As he preps for the stage debut, he must deal with his girlfriend and co-star Laura (Andrea Riseborough), his fresh-from-rehab daughter and personal assistant S...