Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 3: Gladiator (2000) Released 21 February 2018 For this episode, we watched Gladiator, written by David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen and Oliver Reed. As well as Best Picture, Russell Crowe won for Best Actor and it also won for Visual Effects, Costume Design and Sound Mixing. How Star Wars was Saved in the...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 5: American Beauty (1999) Released 28 March 2018. For this episode, we watched American Beauty, written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes, both making their feature film debuts and both winning Academy Awards. Music was by Thomas Newman (nominated) and cinematography was by Conrad Hall (won). The cast includes Kevin Spacey (winning Best Actor), Annette Bening (nominated), Thora Birch, Alison Janney, Peter Gallagher,...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky and our special guest Tish Potter. Episode 42: Shakespeare in Love (1998) Released 28 August 2019 For this episode, we watched Shakespeare in Love, written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard (won) and directed by John Madden (nominated) and starring Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow (won), Geoffrey Rush (nominated) and Judi Dench (won). As well as the above, it also won for its Art Direction, Costume Design and Score, and it was...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan, Tom Salinsky and special guests Natalie Bochenski and Dan Beeston Episode 77: Titanic (1997) Released 30 December 2020 For this episode, we watched Titanic, written and directed by James Cameron with music by James Horner and cinematography by Russell Carpenter. It starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill and Gloria Stuart. From an amazing 14 Academy Award nominations, it collected eleven,...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 30: The English Patient (1996) Released 20 March 2019 For this episode, we watched The English Patient, written and directed by Anthony Minghella and based on the novel by Michael Ondaatje. It won a staggering nine Academy Awards, including for Minghella as director, and for Juliet Binoche as Best Actress. The film also stars Ralph Fiennes (nominated), Kristin Scott Thomas (nominated), William Dafoe, Naveen Andrews, Colin...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 49: Braveheart (1995) Released 4 December 2019 For this episode, we watched Braveheart, written by Randall Wallace (nominated) and directed by Mel Gibson (won) with music by James Horner (nominated) and cinematography by John Toll (won). It stars Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan and Catherine McCormack. It also won Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Makeup. Gerda Weissmann Klein’s Oscar speech....

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 34: Forrest Gump (1994) Released 8 May 2019 For this episode, we watched Forrest Gump, written by Eric Roth, from the novel by Winston Groom. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, and both won Oscars for their work. The film also picked up awards for Tom Hanks in the leading role, its Editing and its Visual Effects. The cast includes Gary Sinise (nominated), Robin Wright, Mykelti Williamson and Sally Field. The Curious...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky and special guest Julian Simpson Episode 13: Schindler’s List (1993) Released 18 July 2018. For this episode, we watched Schindler’s List, written by Steven Zaillian based on the novel by Thomas Keneally, and directed by Steven Spielberg. It stars Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall and Embeth Davidtz. As well as Best Picture, Schindler’s List won six further Academy Awards including for Spielberg as...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 31: Unforgiven (1996) Released 3 April 2019 For this episode, we watched Unforgiven, written by David Webb Peoples, and directed by Clint Eastwood, who also starred alongside Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won four: Best Director for Eastwood, Best Supporting Actor for Hackman and Best Film Editing, as well as Best Picture. Liza Minelli sings “Ladies Day”...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 11: The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Released 20 June 2018. For this episode, we watched The Silence of the Lambs, written by Ted Tally from the book by Thomas Harris, directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glen and Ted Devine. The Silence of the Lambs won the Academy Award “Big Five” but no other awards, equalling the achievement of Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night (1934) and Milos...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 33: Dances with Wolves (1990) Released 24 April 2019 For this episode, we watched Dances with Wolves, written by Michael Blake (won), from his novel. Kevin Costner starred and won for his directing as well as for Best Picture with Jim Wilson. The film also won for its Score (John Barry), Sound, Editing and Cinematography. Next time we will be discussing Forrest Gump. If you want to watch it before listening to the next...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 68: Driving Miss Daisy (1989) Released 26 August 2020 For this episode, we watched Driving Miss Daisy, written by Alfred Uhry from his play, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Jessica Tandy (won), Morgan Freeman (nominated) and Dan Aykroyd (nominated). It also won for its screenplay and its make-up. Beresford was not even nominated as Best Director – very rare for a Best Picture winner. Kim Basinger sticks up for Do...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 41: Rain Man (1988) Released 14 August 2019 For this episode, we watched Rain Man, written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass (won) and directed by Barry Levinson (won). It starred Dustin Hoffman (won), Tom Cruise and Valeria Golino. It also received nominations for its art direction, cinematography, editing and score. That infamous opening number: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mronRVvdmw The second production number:...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 51: The Last Emperor (1987) Released 1 January 2020 For this episode, we watched The Last Emperor, written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci from the book by Puyi and directed by Bertolucci. The stars were John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole, Ying Ruocheng, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun. It won all nine Oscars for which it was nominated, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Score and Best Adapted Screenplay – but...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 35: Platoon (1986) Released 22 May 2019 For this episode, we watched Platoon, written and directed by Oliver Stone (who was nominated in both capacities and won for his direction), starring Tom Berenger (nominated), Willem Dafoe (nominated) and Charlie Sheen. It also won for its sound and its editing. Marlee Matlin wins Best Actress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y4K_Xc7-JU A Greek Tragedy...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan, Tom Salinsky and special guest Deborah Frances-White Episode 63: Out of Africa (1985) Released 17 June 2020 For this episode, we watched Out of Africa, written by Kurt Luedtke (won) based on the books Out of Africa, Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Story Teller and Silence Will Speak. It was directed by Sydney Pollack (won) with music by John Barry (won) and it stars Robert Redford, Meryl Streep (nominated) and Klaus Maria Brandauer (nominated). It...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 62: Amadeus (1984) Released 3 June 2020 For this episode, we watched Amadeus, written by Peter Shaffer (won), based on his play. It was directed by Milos Forman (won). It starred Tom Hulce (nominated), F Murray Abraham (won), Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice, Simon Callow and Jeffrey Jones. It also won for its Sound, Art Direction, Costume Design and Makeup. Norbert Smith – A Life. https://youtu.be/uD0yDWzX_BM?t=285 Reeve...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 8: Terms of Endearment (1983) Released 9 May 2018. For this episode, we watched Terms of Endearment, written and directed by James L Brooks, based on the book by Larry McMurtry and starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels and John Lithgow. As well as Best Picture, Terms of Endearment was nominated for a further ten Academy Awards and won five, including Best Screenplay and Best Director. The...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 36: Chariots of Fire (1981) Released 5 June 2019 For this episode, we watched Chariots of Fire, written by Colin Welland (won), directed by Hugh Hudson (nominated) and produced by David Puttnam. It starred Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige and Ian Holm (nominated), with music by Vangelis (won) and cinematography by David Watkin. It also won for its costume design. L'Enfant by Vangelis...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky. Episode 46: Ordinary People (1980) Released 23 October 2019 For this episode, we watched Ordinary People, written by Alvin Sargent, from the book by Judith Guest. It was directed by Robert Redford and produced by Ronald L Schwary and the stars were Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won four – Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 21: Kramer vs Kramer (1979) Released 7 November For this episode, we watched Kramer vs Kramer, written by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. It stars Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Justin Henry and Jane Alexander. As well as Best Picture, it also won Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Leading Actor for Hoffman and Best Supporting Actress for Streep. Dustin Hoffman and John...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 61: The Deer Hunter (1978) Released 20 May 2020 For this episode, we watched The Deer Hunter, written Deric Washburn, Michael Cimino, Louis Garfinkle, Quinn K. Redeker and directed by Cimino. It stars Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken. The Academy rained Oscars upon it, awarding Cimino Best Director, Walken Best Supporting Actor, and giving it Best Sound and Best Editing as well...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 18: Annie Hall (1977) recorded live at the London Podcast Festival. Released 26 September 2018. For this episode, we watched Annie Hall, written by Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman and directed by Allen, who also starred alongside Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane and Paul Simon. The film won four Academy Awards including Best Actress for Diane Keaton and Best Screenplay for Allen and Brickman. Star Wars...

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky Episode 72: Rocky (1976) Released 21 October 2020 For this episode, we watched Rocky, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone and directed by John G Avildsen. It also featured Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith. Stallone was nominated for his screenplay and Stallone, Shire, Meredith and Young were all nominated as actors but all it won was Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing. Angel (Every...