Mission 250 Filmcast

This week, we watch the classic Bergman movie that is Stanley Kubrick's second favorite film of all time. An isolated, accomplished older man reflects on his life choices as he nears death. The story unravels slowly and tells a simple tale, but one that we can all relate to. Wild Strawberries (1957), directed by Ingmar Bergman.

This week, we watch the first silent movie on the list - Starring the legendary Buster Keaton. Based on the true Civil War story, this film is almost entirely a series of chases on trains. The General, directed by Buster Keaton.

This week, we watch the story of the man who suffered from an extremely unfortunate disease that made his appearance monstrous. This film focuses on the time during his life where he met Doctor Treves, played by Hannibal Lecter himself, Sir Anthony Hopkins. The Elephant Man (1980), directed by David Lynch.

This week, we watch the Rocky inspired sports drama, where Nick Nolte drunkenly rambles his way to an oscar nomination, and Tom Hardy muscles are doing their demo reel for The Dark Knight Rises. This film is not so much for the fans of the UFC, but for fans of family drama and The National. Warrior (2011), directed by Gavin O'Connor.

This week, we watch Episode VII, a fantastic entry to the Star Wars saga, where Darth Vader is now a moody teenager, R2D2 is round, and everyone is still making fun of the Millennium Falcon for some reason. We're also glad to see the portly X-Wing fighter makes it this time around. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), directed by J.J. Abrams.

This week, we watch the modified story of actual trials that took place in Nuremberg, Germany, after the end of World War II. This film brings up the topic of where to place the guilt for war crimes, and how far down the blame should. Spencer Tracy comes up with some ideas. Judgement at Nuremberg (1961), directed by Stanley Kramer.

This week, we watch the "true" story of Jordan Belfort, the a-hole stock broker that took advantage of hundreds of people for millions of dollars, living it up the entire time, and only had to do two years in prison as a penalty. This movie is hilarious, but also glorifies stealing, drugs, and generally being a terrible person. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), directed by Martin Scorsese.

This week, we watch the best picture winning film that tells a version of the story of John Nash, the real life Nobel Prize winning mathematician who struggled with schizophrenia. The film takes some liberties to make his story palatable to movie goers, but contains mostly accurate information on what is shown. A Beautiful Mind (2001), directed by Ron Howard.

This week, we watch the film that popularized the Guy Fawkes mask and gave birth to the symbol of the hacking organization, Anonymous. This film melds noir, science-fiction, fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and super-hero genres together in a bloody tale of power and fear. V for Vendetta (2005), directed by James McTeigue.

This week, we watch the film that was rated as the #1 best movie of all time by 358 of the biggest directors in the world (including Scorsese, Tarantino, Coppola, and many others). This film takes on the seemingly not so interesting topic of every day life, and uses its deliberate pacing (slow) to add weight to its topics in a way that we rarely see on the screen. Tokyo Story (1953), directed by Y...

This week, we watch the incredibly dark film that put the director of Arrival, Sicario, and Blade Runner 2049 on the map. Stellar acting by the lead characters draw you into the story that wouldn't be believable otherwise, and the intense realism of the gun violence in the film won't be easily forgotten. Incendies (2010), directed by Denis Villeneuve.

100 Episodes!  Top 5 favorite and Bottom 3 least favorite, personal picks from Denny, John, and TC.  Also, special movie category awards (best movie dog, best action scene, best movie beverage, best asshole protagonist, and lots more).

This week, we watch Clint Eastwood point his gun shaped hand at some thugs to protect his neighbors. What was suppose to be his acting send off (only to come back to acting a few years later), he brings his classic snarl and anger to the role of Walt Kowalski. Gran Torino (2008), directed by Clint Eastwood.

This week, we watch Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski get his rug pissed on. This film has one of the most diehard fanbases out of any on this list, and we are proud to share in their obsession. The Big Lebowski (1998), directed by the Coen Brothers.

This week, we watch the best picture winning film that made a huge positive shift in the public opinion towards Vietnam Veterans in the US. This film takes something that didn't occur once in the written history of the Vietnam war (Russian roulette), center's itself around it, and makes a grand, metaphorical statement about the random violence of war. The Deer Hunter (1978), directed by Michael Ci...

This week, we watch the film that takes the displays heroin use from an honest, hilarious, and brutal perspective. Trainspotting (1996), directed by Danny Boyle.

This week, we watch the Message

This week, we watch the snowy, bloody, accent-heavy crime film set in rural Minnesota. This movie is equal parts hilarious and terrifying, and is frequently both at the same time. Is this one of the Coen brothers best films? Oh yah, you betcha. Fargo (1996), directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.

This week, we watch Alfred Hitchcock's first Hollywood film, one that would go on to win Best Picture.  This dramatic mystery is full of twists, and showcases acting and cinematography that stands the test of time. Rebecca, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

This week, we watch the classic Alfred Hitchcock adaptation of the stage play about organizing and attempting the murder of a cheating wife. Great acting and fun plot twists keep this film entertaining throughout, which is a feat, given that the film takes place almost entirely in just one room. And we hope you like dialogue. Dial M For Murder, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

This week, we watch the longest film of all!  The highest grossing movie of all time (adjusted for inflation) is ripe with questionable content, with the racism being the worst offender.  This might always be considered a classic, but should it be? Gone With The Wind (1939), directed by Victor Fleming.

This week, we watch the film that is basically a love letter to Paul Newman.  Ole' blue eyes is front and center for this classic film about a chain gang's daily life, and their antics of rubbing each other's bellies and eating piles of eggs. Cool Hand Luke (1967), directed by Stuart Rosenberg.

This week, we watch the computer animated film who's moral center is that being close minded and unknowledgeable about something can lead to fear and violence, and how being open minded and attempting to learn is the best path to understanding and becoming a good person.  Or that its OK for unsupervised kids to feed dangerous creatures food, and only good things will happen if you close your eyes...

This week, we are watching the Pixar film that first brought us deep into the ocean. When a clown fish's only child gets taken away by scuba divers, he must make a journey across the ocean to get him back. Finding Nemo (2003), directed by Andrew Stanton.

This week, we watch the movie that scared the crap out of 1999; the film that you've accidentally spoiled at least once; the picture that, up until last year, was the highest grossing horror movie of all time. The Sixth Sense (1999), directed by M. Night Shyamalan.