Episode 125: Oscars countdown with 2012's Silver Linings Playbook and 2023's Maestro

It's Mother's Day - a happy day for some, a difficult one for others for any number of reasons. In 50/50 and Lady Bird, Joseph Gordon-Levitt's 'Adam' and Saoirse Ronan's 'Christine/Lady Bird' confront the conflicted relationships with their mothers, Anjelica Huston and Laurie Metcalf, respectively. This one's dedicated to mothers and all mother figures out there. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!

Celebrate International Dance Day with two films turning 40 years old - 1984's Breakin' and 1984's Footloose. Does 'Special K' look like Three's Company's Joyce DeWitt? Who's the internationally-known action star who makes an early appearance as a breakdancing extra? Does the talented, charismatic Kevin still bring home the bacon for the new generation? All this and more. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, listener shout-outs, and behind-the-scenes fun facts!

If 'tough guy' actor Robert Mitchum's cellmate hid $10,000 he stole for his family and was executed, would Mitchum go after his widow and kids for the cash? Would he become an informant for the authorities against his associates for a lighter prison sentence for his own criminal activity? For the answers to these burning questions about the terror/suspense film Night of the Hunter (1955) and the crime thriller/gangster picture The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), give episode 136 a download! Plus, poll results, behind-the-scenes fun facts, interactive trivia, listener shout-outs!

Previous guest DJ Nik returns for a look at Miss Potter and Goodbye, Christopher Robin, two biopics of the authors of classic children's story characters. You'll feel the nostalgia for Peter Rabbit and Pooh Bear as you hear about these portrayals of Beatrix Potter and A.A. Milne, the impact of their families on their creations, and Margot Robbie's British accent. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!

Tom Hanks wins the Oscar-winning smackdown in this episode that explores his "goofball comedy" era of the 80s and his "actor with a capital A" era of the 90s through Splash and Forrest Gump, respectively! Behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs, nary a box of chocolates.

Actress Amy Steel shows both 'Jason Voorhees' and 'Buffy St. John' what she's made of as the 'Final Girl' in two 80s-era slasher flicks, while TV personality and broadcaster Dana Hersey of The Movie Loft gets his overdue thanks. Plus, behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!

The 2014 Alejandro González Iñárritu-directed Best Picture winner turns 10! Return guest Chris of the Just Go Watch Podcast joins me for a look back at the Michael Keaton headliner that melds together haughty actors, fractured relationships, washed-up superhero movie stars, ambiguous endings, and that most tragic of Shakespeare's plays, Macbeth. And Chris does not hold back with his thoughts on Eddie Redmayne's winning Best Actor that year, either. Plus, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!

Director Yorgos Lanthimos and 2-time Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone bring out the most eccentric in each other in these two films. With Academy Award nods for Best Picture (as producer) and Best Director for both, Lanthimos is a creative force that defies description. And with Oscar nods (and one win) for both films, Emma Stone is willing to play it to the hilt no matter what it takes. Behind-the-scenes fun facts, poll results, interactive trivia, and listener shout-outs!

The 96th annual Academy Awards are doled out tonight, so here is part 2 of a two-parter where return guests Brendan and Zak - former high school film students of mine, now college grads and film entrepreneurs in their own right - join me for the second consecutive year to discuss the nominees - specifically, the four acting categories, Director, Original Score, Original Song, Costume Design, Hairstyling and Makeup, Animated Feature, and International Feature Film!

Released ahead of schedule to get the jump on the 96th annual Academy Awards in three days, return guests Brendan and Zak - former high school film students of mine, now college grads and film entrepreneurs in their own right - join me for the second consecutive year to discuss the nominees. Part 1 of 2: Best Picture (Part 2 of 2 coming soon!)