It’s an episode four years in the making…Bob and Matt are back for a special 95th Academy Awards edition of the pod! The most educated, well-spoken, hilarious movie podcasters shine their light on the 2023 Oscars, and one of the two hosts has actually seen some of the movies! The films, the ceremony, the culture. It’s time to discuss it all. Cinema is saved, and you can be too if you tune in to this special, awesome edition of The Podcast Goes To…
E20: The Marvel Cinematic Universe
It's a special New Years’ edition of The Podcast Goes To.... Oscar season is upon us and what better way to celebrate than with Bob's ranking of all 20 MCU Films!? Hey, some of them were nominated for Best Visual Effects, so it counts! Bob has rewatched every Marvel movie in the shared universe and has come "prepared" to discuss his rankings. Plus, a quick What are You Watching and the pair catch up after a six month hiatus.
E19: "Three Coins in the Fountain" (1954) w/Special Guest Adam Seccafico
Someone threw a coin into the podcast fountain and wished for another special guest, and so this week we welcome on Adam from Work to talk about 1954's "Three Coins in the Fountain." This Best Picture nominee is such a mess that the creators didn't even realize that only two coins get thrown into the fountain! Matt is back from his Iceland trip and he is here to tell us all about the movies he watched on the plane ride home. Bob and Adam tell us more about their 48-hour film shoot and retell their disastrous "Incredibles 2" screening experience that involved a dumpling and an unexpected viewing of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom." Adam explains why he is struggling through "Westworld," why he prefers movies to television, and what other movies from 1954 he would have rather been watching instead of this one. All that and more!
E18: "The Mission" (1986) w/Special Guest Zach Haskins
Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, and Liam Neeson star in a movie no one has ever heard of, "The Mission!" What's more, we're joined by a new guest! Zach comes on board to talk about this 1980's Best Picture nominee about priests in the jungle doing battle. There are sword fights and De Niro with a pony tail! And that's just the first twenty minutes. Bob sums up his 48-hour Film Festival experience. Zach plays a game of 'guess the Liam Neeson movie.' The trio argue over the merits of "The Mission." What worked, what didn't, and why was this movie recognized by the Academy Awards? It's a fun filled show, and you don't want to miss it!
E17: "Field of Dreams" (1989) w/Special Guest Keith Brown
It's a (field of) dream come true! Keith joins us for the third time to walk about one of the most famous movies of the 1980's, "Field of Dreams." Keith recounts his experience watching 2001: A Space Odyssey for the first time. Bob drinks out of a giant boot. The trio debate the purpose of "Field of Dreams" and why it resonates with audiences. We talk other movies that take place in corn fields. The team runs through some of the best movies of 1989 and Keith breaks down which ones he saw in theaters, including one in particular that he snuck into three times. Keith tries to guess the five best picture nominees from 1986. All that and More!
E16: "Annie Hall" (1977) w/Special Guest Keith Brown
Join Bob, Keith and Matt in a discussion on the Best Picture winner "Annie Hall," a movie which earned Woody Allen two Academy Awards which he did not show up to receive. The trio talk narrative structure, character development, and symbolism. What is Woody Allen's legacy as a filmmaker and can his work be appreciated despite the issues he has had away from the camera? Find out who thinks "Annie Hall" is a terrible movie and who thinks lose lobsters are a metaphor for love. Plus, what is Keith watching and what famous 80's movie will the group be discussing next week?
E15: "The Departed" (2006)
Bob and Matt break down the best gangster movie of the 21st century, "The Departed." Matt talks about his time working with Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese. Bob gives us a play by play of the 2007 Oscar ceremony. Together, they go beat-by-beat, discussing the movie's strengths and weaknesses and similarities to the Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs." Discussions range from bigotry in Scorsese pictures to wearing shower caps on your feet while setting up dance parties.
E14: "Lilies of the Field" (1963)
Join Matt and Bob in their first romp through the lily fields of the 1960's as they discuss Sidney Poitier's "Lilies of the Field." Matt talks about his new camera lens while Bob shows off his boxy new haircut. Matt gives his review of Solo and Bob wonders if he’s supposed to be confused watching Westworld or if he’s just an idiot. Bob reveals go-to wedding sermons and Matt goes down a rabbit hole trying to find the name of the bear who acted in "Semi-Pro." Also, the team discusses the history of black actors nominated for Academy Awards and the religious themes of "Lilies in the Field." How much would you have to pay Bob to sit in a room and watch every single MLB game for an entire season? Tune in to find out all that and more!
E13: "A Star is Born" (1937) w/Special Guest Keith Brown
University of Rhode Island professor Keith Brown joins Matt and Bob to break down the timeless classic "A Star is Born." Keith breaks down his top ten movies of the last ten years and discusses the novelty of watching a movie on a film projection vs. a digital projection. They talk Rosanne, the dangers of social media, and how current events relate to the themes of the 1937 classic. Plus, what should we expect from the 2018 remake of "A Star is Born" starring Lady Gaga and directed by Bradley Cooper? All that and more!
E12: "Bound for Glory" (1976)
Matt and Bob hitch a ride to the 70's, where they catch a train for the 30's in this Woody Guthrie biopic that might not be true but is sort of true because it's based on his partially fictionalized autobiography? An extensive conversation on cross dissolves quickly devolves into more Richard Dawkins evolution talk. Matt lists his top five movies of the last decade and gives a bad geography lesson. Bob explains how you can fake a time lapse and sings his rendition of "This Land is Your Land." They talk the intro of steadicam and its operation in "Return of the Jedi." All that and (a little) more!
E11: The First Annual Poddies
Join Matt and Bob in celebrating the first ten movies discussed on the show with a special awards ceremony! Bob chows down on some fried chicken as the duo take fan voicemails and reflect on the first ten weeks. Hear members of the Superfan Squad weigh in for the first time on what they hate and love about the show. Listen to Matt and Bob share their most traumatic pee stories. The hosts dish out awards for Worst Picture, Most Napworthy, Most Racist, and more! Plus, which movies should have an Avengers-style crossover event and which characters would survive a royal rumble? It's Angel vs. Amphibian Man in the best episode since Kiss of the Spider Woman! If you haven't caught the show, this is the one you won't want to miss.
E10: "The Bishop's Wife" (1947)
It's Christmas in May on The Podcast Goes To. This week, Bob and Matt talk about the overtly religious and slightly disturbing holiday classic "The Bishop's Wife." Cary Grant plays an angel who gets off on cucking bishops. What exactly is the job description of an angel? Are their any limits to the angel's powers? Is dating a human really what an angel should be doing with his time? We talk 1940's special effects, from self-refilling wine glasses to self-decorating Christmas trees. Plus, a little video game and spoiler-free Avenger talk. Matt dishes on his Weinstein Company experience and previews a special episode celebrating the show's first ten episodes.
E9: "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)
Honor, loyalty, respect. Bob and Matt have none of those things, but this week they travel back to 1998 to discuss these character traits in "Saving Private Ryan." Bob and Matt break down what is considered to be one of the greatest films in cinematic history. They discuss that 27-minute opening scene, the sound design, the cinematography, the directing, and more regarding the production of this classic picture. But don't worry, they still manage to fit in topics ranging from Eminem underwear, South Park pandas, food at sketchy weddings, and Tom Hanks's obsession with typewriters. Plus, the boys pick the best Spielberg decade and play a game of "Guess the Plot of the Tom Sizemore B-Movie." All that and more!
E8: "Good Night, and Good Luck" (2005)
Just when you thought Bob and Matt had escaped the 50's, think again! The Film Gods had one more in store: 2005's 1953 journalism drama, "Good Night, and Good Luck." Bob takes shots at George Clooney, Eminem, and the mass media while Matt tries to understand how a movie so boring could be nominated for so many Oscars. What is the mystery item in Bob's closet? What are some of Matt's old AIM screen names? The duo discuss movie's where a character says the title of the movie, and pick a very exciting movie for next week's show.
E7: "The King and I" (1956)
Bob and Matt talk "The King and I," a movie based on a musical based on a book based on a memoir. They discuss whitewashing in cinema and the true story behind the best picture nominee. They continue their history of Technicolor and pick apart the character traits of Anna and King Mongkut, the story's two protagonists. Plus, Bob talks Cosco and Matt talks books and together they shower HBO's "Westworld" with compliments. The Film Gods deliver a twist ending for next week's movie and so much more!
E6: "An American in Paris" (1951)
Sound! Color! the 50's never felt so right! Matt and Bob talk "An American in Paris," the 1951 Best Picture winner starring the iconic Gene Kelly in a charming (or is it creepy?) role. Bob and Matt plan their sequel podcast, scheduled for release in 2030, and begin discussing the importance of addressing a constantly shifting moral zeitgeist as it relates to the actions of characters in older movies. Bob questions the motives of Kelly's Jerry Mulligan and Matt points out the similarities between this movie and the last two pictures discussed on the show. Bob talks movie theater bathroom break/snack refill strategy and why he avoids using voiceover narration in all of his short films. Matt gives a brief history of Technicolor and lists AFI's Top 5 Musicals of All Time. All that and more!
E5: "7th Heaven" (1927)
Shhh. This week Matt and Bob try not to be too quiet while discussing the 1927 silent film, "7th Heaven." Matt talks about his movie firsts and Bob reveals his trick for tracking which festivals are watching his short films. Bob sings Rihanna and reads some of his favorite quotes from the movie. Matt takes shots at Oprah and struggles to say the word expressionism. Plus, find out what 2016 Oscar-nominated picture was inspired by the ending to "7th Heaven" and learn the dark secret of why the Academy Awards were originally created.
E4: "Roman Holiday" (1953)
Ciao! This week, Matt and Bob take a trip to Rome for the first American movie shot entirely in Italy, "Roman Holiday." How did Dalton Trumbo's script hold up over the years? Did Audrey Hepburn deliver an Oscar-worthy performance? Did Gregory Peck get snubbed? What's the deal with the hairdresser's mustache and how did Irving Radovich fit a camera into a working lighter? Matt has an existential crisis and we find out what movie always makes Bob cry. All that and much more!
E3: "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1985)
This week, Bob and Matt journey out of the 21st century and all the way to 1985 for the Academy's first Best Picture-nominated Indie, "Kiss of the Spider Woman." They discuss the layered symbolism, the graceful performances, and the most elegant pants-crapping scene in the history of cinema. Matt tries explaining to Bob who the spider woman is and Bob reads a film festival rejection letter for his short film “The Cookbook.” Plus, how the movie defined masculinity, power, and love. All that and more!
E2: "Darkest Hour" (2017)
On today's episode, Bob and Matt continue their exploration of the 555 Oscar-nominated pictures with 2017's "Darkest Hour." Did Gary Oldman deserve to take home the award for Best Actor? Do historical inaccuracies undercut the power of a true story? Does a movie need to have strong writing to be considered for Best Picture? How did the cinematography provide insight into the characters and compliment the production design? Plus, Bob tells us all about his Slime Bonus and Matt wonders if his friend Jared really wanted to see the Spongebob Squarepants movie with him in 8th grade.