Mission 250 Filmcast

This week, we watch a thriller that takes place in the 80s with a vagrant body builder and the daughter of a gun runner mob boss. Plus there are mullets and rat tails galore. Love Lies Bleeding (2024), directed by Rose Glass.

This week, we watch a brutally realistic film that depicts the actual events of a person growing up in a favala in Rio. Violence, drugs, and crime dominate life in the poorest parts of the city, and the movie energetically and relentlessly re-tells the story. City of God (2002), directed by Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund.

This week, we watch the fifth Mad Max film. George Miller is nearly 80 years old, and has been developing this post-apocalyptic world for 45 years at this point. This film shifts focus from Max to Furiosa, and while the director is in his twilight years, he is not lacking imagination or energy. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024), directed by George Miller.

This week, we revisit an episode that seems more relevant today than back when we released it in 2019. This film about the Watergate investigations has aged finer still over the past 5 years.. All The President's Men (1976), directed by Alan Pakula.

This week, we we find out whats in the box. David Fincher's second film contains one of the most iconic endings in films. John Doe has the upper-hand. Seven (1995), directed by David Fincher.

This week, we revisit the episode that was not only the first Bonus Episode, but also contains the birth of Timmy. The Rock (1991), directed by Michael Bay. We will be back with new episodes next week!

This week, in preparation for Furiosa, we are reposting the Mad Max episode we did back in 2018. We make some eerily accurate predictions to Furiosa's title and release timeline in the episode, so check it out! Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), directed by George Miller.

This week, we watch the highest rated horror movie on the IMDB top 250. Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill share the screen as two of the best villains in movie history, while Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling plays the role of a lifetime as a determined FBI agent with a storied past. The Silence of the Lambs (1991), directed by Jonathan Demme.

This week, we watch a new low budget horror movie that is taking critics by storm. Utilizing a minimal cast and a single set, this film showcases a halloween late night TV special that takes a turn that can be predicted from the movie title. Late Night with the Devil (2023), directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes.

This week, we watch a film that has what might be considered the best plot twist in movie history. Kevin Spacey leads an ensemble cast where everyone seems to be trying to chew up the scenery harder than the others. The Usual Suspects (1995), directed by Brian Singer.

This week, we watch a movie that takes a uniquely positive spin on the atrocities of the holocaust. Aiming to and arguably achieving the goal of telling a story of unfazed positive outlook on life, this film is somewhat divisive in its decision to potentially lighten the historical events. Life is Beautiful (1996), directed by Roberto Benigni.

This week, we watch Natalie Portman's first film, where she plays the daughter of a slaughtered family who is taken in by a professional hitman who lives next door. This film elevates its B-movie potential with iconic performances by all of the leads. Leon: The Professional (1994), directed by Luc Besson.

This week, we watch Sergio Leones final western film. This film's cinematography and set pieces are among the best we've seen, and its easy to see why so many directors have been influenced by its style. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).

"Point Break" from 1991, directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Denny won the oscars contest, so Denny could pick any film he wanted for us to watch. He picked this one. There's some great action sequences here, and also some of the most laughably bad acting we've seen in the history of this podcast.

This week, we watch a slow burn historical drama, that could also be classified as an art-house horror movie. Based on much researched real events and people, this film is broken into two - the one you see, and the one you hear. The results are astounding and hard to watch. The Zone Of Interest (2023), directed by Jonathan Glazer.

This week, we watch the film that makes Scorsese the oldest director to be nominated for best director at the oscars. This epic (read: long) film takes on the story of the murders of members of the Osage nation a century ago, and the birth of the FBI. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), directed by Martin Scorsese.

We've watched all of the Academy Awards best picture nominated movies from 2023! This week, we have a special episode where we three give our top 10 lists of these mostly great films, and also attempt to predict the winners of the other Oscar categories (which we now know).

This week, we watch the film that has just released and is currently sitting at the #10 best movie of all time. See it on the biggest screen and loudest speakers you can find. Dune: Part 2 (2024), directed by Denis Villeneuve.

This week, we watch a multi-oscar nominated drama about a deadly fall and the trial that ensues. This film stands out as one of the most starkly realistic dramas we have had the pleasure of watching on our mission, and we'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys an unrelentingly heavy story. Anatomy of a Fall (2023), directed by Justine Triet.

This week, we watch a rare comedy that is also scooping up award nominations. Writer / Director / Producer Cord Jefferson nails directorial debut, which balances heavy themes with laugh out loud moments, while leaving the viewer with lots to think about once the credits roll. American Fiction (2023), directed by Cord Jefferson.

This week, we watch a film that is heaven for film geeks. Images pour off the screen like melting candy for the brain. The score is a soundtrack to a dizzying dream. The humor is at once bizarre and dark, yet accessible and upbeat. The actors utilize an amazing script to make something profound and hilarious. It is life affirming, blazingly satirical, completely absurd, and an absolute instant cla...

This week, we watch the newest Japanese Godzilla film that is breaking box office records on top of being nominated for an Oscar for Visual Effects.. See this film on the biggest screen and the loudest speaker system you can. Godzilla Minus One (2023), directed by Takashi Yamazaki.

This week, we watch the newest and likely final Hayao Miyazaki movie. This film was in production for seven years due to a combination of COVID and Miyazaki's slower working pace due to age. It was well worth the effort in our opinions, as he has possibly created the most beautiful movie in his legendary filmography. The Boy and The Heron (2023), directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

This week, we watch the highest rated Studio Ghibli movie on the top 250. This film broke records as well as opened the Western world to Japanese animation in a large way. This film hasn't aged a day, with incredible animation and timeless fantasy storytelling. The amount of creativity that pours our of each frame has to be seen to be believed. Spirited Away (2001), directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

This week, we're diving into a series of bonus episodes, where we go through movies that Denny, John and TC think deserve to be on the top 250. We kick it off with a thiller / character study that possibly contains Jake Gyllenhaal's best work. Add in commentary about the media industry, sociopathy, race, the police, capitalism, LA nightlight, etc., and you've got something that could be considered...