We embarked on a journey to find the very best Best Picture, and by all accounts we succeeded. But picking just one film as the very best does not do our quest justice-- so we've nominated four films in all of the categories that you know and love from the Oscars ceremony, plus a few extra nominations that might surprise you!
Check out the video version here: https://youtu.be/g0UMbPiYRsw?si=S-lpdOJqtO7uAOEC
Hey! We recorded another episode to cap off The Quest for the Bestest. But don't worry your little head! We've got more coming down the pipeline!
Check out the video version here: https://youtu.be/0BvoE_see0I?si=lx1Pt1ZsbXPrTT_z
So there are 95 Best Picture Winners, right? That's what they tell you. But it's WRONG! At the very first Academy Awards they gave two films the top award of the year. F.W. Murnau's late silent film Sunrise was awarded Unique and Artistic picture, but in the nearly century since it has been retconned out of the Best Picture cannon! Well we're here to solve that omission!
Top Gun might've been nominated for the most recent Best Picture award, but back at the very first presentation of Academy Awards ever, it won! As our last regular episode of The Quest for the Bestest, we thought it only fitting to review the first Best Picture winner ever. So our adventure, our journey, our Quest comes to a end... BUT FEAR NOT! We've got more planned and the Quest format will not be going anywhere. Thanks for tuning in for all these years! You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/DMvhKfV7YfQ
It is a tale as old as time: young upstart do-gooder is transformed by the true nature of power into a corrupt and horrible dictator! But how does post-war Hollywood tackle the issue of good governance? Can it walk the walk as much as it talks the talk? You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/OObXSisUe38
FREEDOM! I don't think there needs to be any more description for Mel Gibson's Braveheart. But we needed a whole hour and 25 minutes to talk about it. So take that how you will. You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/DLj-4pvaYcc
We've thrown some punches during the occasional Quest episode, but nothing quite as dirty as what happens to ol' Maggie "mo cuishle" in Clint Eastwood's boxing drama Million Dollar Baby. But did the film impress us? Do we think it deserves a top spot on our list? You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/w8qZRf8GCtI
Join our procession of history way back to 1933! That's basically what the word cavalcade means, in case you didn't know. But will this film shine after all these years or has history condemned it to the dustbin? You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/tEDVpcJ3zYU
My mama always to me Quest is like a box of chocolates. You never know what those 4 boys will have to say. So what are you waiting for? You've heard of this movie. Click play and see what we have to say!
You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/f5KONBIg38g
Saddle up and grab your printing press because the Back Lot Boys are going to take you on a trip through the end of the American west! It's time for everyone's favorite (and not totally problematic) Best Picture Western, Cimarron! Will we find anything of note to talk about this nearly century old movie? Or should it fade away like the frontier days of old! You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/DPnIj-prCSo
Have you ever had one too many drinks, late at night, and then awoken the next morn to a terrible pain? Now imagine that pain follows you for an entire weekend. Welcome to the world of Don Birnam! Us Back Lot Boys are so very different from him... right? Well anyway, we're talking about Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend from right at the end of WW2. It's a wild ride so take a sip and buckle up! You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/vxMfl8PeVr0
We've got ourselves a new winner!!! And just like we predicted, The Daniel's Everything Everywhere All at Once took home the grand prize at the 95th Academy Awards. But none of that matters. What truly matters is the placement our 4 experts give the film against all of the other Best Picture Winners. This one's got a pretty good chance... You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/BDFBq9NvwW8
Fly high with the Back Lot Boys as we finish out 10th and final nominee for Best Picture in the calendar year 2023!! We're strapping in and talking about Top Gun: Maverick! Will we be forced to eject due to unnecessary political discourse or will our SAM-countermeasures be enough to ward off any smoke in the air? Find out now on the Quest for the Bestest!
You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/QbMBWYy0v0M
From Awards season darling to underperforming across the board due to lack of marketing and availability, Women Talking is one of 2023's awards enigmas. We take a look at the filmmaking, performances, themes and awards potential here in our Best Picture ranking show, preparing for this year's Academy Awards.
You can watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/0ht6CDQc36Y
Y'know, there's nothing really quite like the joy of making movies. Take it from us, we've literally all made real movies, and look how happy we are. But Steven Spielberg has attempted to capture that magic upon a celluloid medium... and it's an autobiography, of course! But what does that mean for our score? And the chances of it winning Best Picture? Find out as we discuss The Fabelmans!
You can watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/6GCHoGpUAwg
We like movies that say things. Not just things like "I'm sorry, Dave," but real, meaty, meaningful things. So does Triangle of Sadness have anything to say? Or is it just an idea-vomit from Ruben Östlund? We endeavor to find out this time on The Quest for the Bestest.
Pour yourself a cold pint, kick your feet up, and bring that donkey inside if your sad, it's time to talk about The Banshees of Inisherin. Martin McDonagh's tale of Irish stubbornness and foiled friendship seems to be shaping up as a spoiler for EEAAO's Best Picture chances. Is the Academy's top prize just a pole's length away, or are Farrell, Gleeson and company pure fecked?
Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/IwHS3luUQ1E
He's one of the legends of the world of entertainment... a pioneer in his field... with a style like no one else... I'm talking about Baz Luhr--- Wait I got that one wrong. It's actually Elvis Presley! And ol' Baz just made the picture about him. And we're talking about that picture. Yup. That's the episode.
You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/gi3LMDm5_xo
Folks, you know and love Lydia Tár, and now-- finally, Todd Fields has put to film what is a quite excellent piece of cinema, although it ultimately pales in comparison to the work of our favorite esteemed composer.
This review has one of the best spoiler moments exactly halfway through. Don't read any comments until you get there.
Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/hAbqBawakCE
Journey with us to Pandora, to immerse ourselves in a world of fantasy and family! James Cameron's massive blockbuster hit was picked by The Academy-- so who says popular movies don't get nominated!! But we've got to dive deeper than the Mariana trench to figure out the most important question: does it deserve to win the highest award?
Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/-n8QAqQab58
