Mission 250 Filmcast

This week, we watch another Best Picture nominee from the past year. This film showcases Cate Blanchett's immense talent in the role of a world famous conductor based in Germany. Leave your expectations behind, because this film does many things different than typical character studies. Tar (2022), directed by Todd Field.

This week, we watch the multiple 2023 Oscar nominee, which is an autobiography from the most famous director in the world. Spielberg directs his own script for the first time in over two decades, and gets his first and only writing nomination. Also features the legendary John Williams fantastic penultimate score. The Fabelmans (2022), directed by Steven Spielberg.

This week, we watch the 2023 Oscar nominee for Best International Film from Argentina. This film depicts the historical court case that came after the downfall of those in power during the long run of dictatorships, where the perpetrators of various crimes are tried for accountability. Argentina, 1985 (2022), directed by Santiago Mitre.

This week, we watch the quintessential Boston film. Based on a combination of the infamous gangster Whitey Bulger and the Chinese crime drama Infernal Affairs, Scorsese finally wins his best picture/director award with this movie that is soaked in unmatched violence and terrible Boston accents. The Departed (2006), directed by Martin Scorsese.

This week, we watch the highly enjoyable action packed film RRR. Loosely based on historical figures, this movie has some amazing action sequences and great characters. Not to mention some great music and a spectacular dance battle. RRR (2022). Directed by SS Rajamouli.

This week, we watch the film that tells the true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a man who survived the holocaust. This film brutally portrays the suffering and murder in Warsaw during the nazi occupation, and should be required viewing for everyone of a certain age. The Pianist (2002), directed by Roman Polanski.

This week, we are finishing the "bonus episode" director deep dive. We've watch all of of the playwright turned director Martin McDonagh's movies. We've been looking forward to his newest film for some time, and he doesn't disappoint. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022), directed by Martin McDonagh.

This week, we are continuing the "bonus episode" director deep dive. With the film The Banshees of Inisherin on the horizon, we're going on a kick of the playwright turned director Martin McDonagh's movies. The list may be small, but he is one of the best writer/directors working today. This week, we are doing his second feature length film, Seven Psychopaths (2012), as well as his very first film...

This week, we are continuing the "bonus episode" director deep dive. With the film The Banshees of Inisherin on the horizon, we're going on a kick of the playwright turned director Martin McDonagh's movies. The list may be small, but he is one of the best writer/directors working today. This week, we are doing his first feature length film, In Bruges (2008).

Its 2023! There's nothing that says New Years Day like a film based on looking into the past. Currently, this movie has moved up to #30 on the IMDB Top 250 since we froze the list back in 2016, which speaks to how well this movie holds up over time. Back to the Future (1985), directed by Robert Zemeckis.

We're taking a break for the holidays for travel and family.  We will return in 2023!

This week, we are starting a "bonus episode" director deep dive. With the film The Banshees of Inisherin on the horizon, we're going on a kick of the playwright turned director Martin McDonagh's movies. The list may be small, but he is one of the best writer/directors working today. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), directed by Martin McDonagh.

This week, we're back to the list! One of the most recent entries on top higher end of the top 250, we encourage everyone who hasn't seen this film to do so without reading too much about it. Whiplash (2014), directed by Damien Chazelle.

Happy Halloween everyone! Our October scary movie marathon concludes with prolific writer/director Jorden Peele's third movie (he's been cranking out a successful movie about every 2 years). There's a lot to love in this film, though we're of mixed opinions on the extent to which it comes together as whole. Nope (2022), directed and written by Jordan Peele.

Week three of the October scary movie marathon! This week, we're watching a film that bites heads and bleeds 80's style. Equal parts comedy and horror, with some small town teen drama thrown in, this movie holds up great among other 80's horror classics. The Lost Boys (1987), directed by Joel Schumacher.

Week two of the October scary movie marathon! This week, we're watching the film that took the age old haunted house story and located the house in the middle of suburban American. Scares and/or laughs at around every corner. Poltergeist (1982), directed by Tobe Hooper (and Steven Spielberg).

It's October, and since last years scary movie marathon was so much fun, we're bringing it back! This year, we're kicking off Halloween month with a particularly dark movie. This film impresses not only as horror, but also as a directorial debut, an acting showpiece, and a "tone poem" (TC gets credit for that one). The Witch (2015), directed by Robert Eggers.

This week, we watch the film that allowed Stanley Kubrick full creative control over all his subsequent projects. This film was out of his control, however, and he later tried to disassociate himself from it. Structured as one half war epic and the other half sappy romance, Kirk Douglases chin might not be enough to save this one. Spartacus (1960), directed by Stanley Kubrick.

This week, we watch Ridley Scott's film that nearly swept the 2001 Academy Awards. In addition to some great action sequences, Russel Crow was at the height of his powers, and Jaoquin Pheonix provided us with one of the greatest portrayals of a villain we've seen on the screen. Gladiator (2001), directed by Ridley Scott.

This week, we watch the ground breaking debut feature from Christopher Nolan, who would go on to become one of the biggest directors of a generation. Moving both forwards and backwards in time, this film plays as a noir with a heaping dose of storytelling through editing. Memento (2000), directed by Christopher Nolan.

This week, we watch a modern animated classic. Somehow Wes Anderson was able to take his unique artistic vision to a fully stop-motion animated world, and produce what some of his fans (*points at self*) think of as his masterpiece. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), directed by Wes Anderson.

This week, we watch possibly the best behind the scenes movie documentary ever made. Stunning footage and audio recordings tell this deeply strange tale about the making of one of the all time classic films, Apocalypse now. Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991), directed by Fax Bahr, George Hickenlooper, and Eleanor Coppola.

This week, we watch a film that isn't just about Vietnam - it IS Vietnam, man! Despite nearly killing its main actor and a few crew members, a typhoon destroying sets, and an ever increasing budget, Francis Ford Coppola and crew delivered one of the most indulgent films ever made. Apocalypse Now (1979), directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

This week, we watch a film that isn't just about Vietnam - it IS Vietnam, man! Despite nearly killing its main actor and a few crew members, a typhoon destroying sets, and an ever increasing budget, Francis Ford Coppola and crew delivered one of the most indulgent films ever made. Apocalypse Now (1979), directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

This week, we watch A24's highest grossing movie yet. This film sets out to be all things film at the same time, and does so with such creativity that it ends up amazingly overwhelming. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022), directed by Daniels.