Few filmmakers achieve the level of notoriety and legendary status of Sam Peckinpah. He didn’t just direct movies — he detonated them. And while he never received any love from the Oscars, that was never his goal. Unflinching, uncompromising, and unrelenting, Peckinpah existed to turn on-screen violence into an art form… often in slow motion. Join us as we break down the bruised beauty of his short but lasting filmography — and pay homage to the man whose balletic violence and broken heroes changed the language of film forever.
Films Mentioned
*Recommended
(P) Peckinpah directed
*The Ballad of Cable Hogue (P)
Airport
Noon Wine (P)
**The Wild Bunch (P)
*Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (P)
**Straw Dogs (P)
*The Getaway (P)
*Convoy (P)
The Other Side of the Wind
*The Deadly Companions (P)
*How Green Was My Valley
*The Quiet Man
McLintock
*Ride the High Country (P)
*Lawrence of Arabia
*The Music Man
*To Kill a Mockingbird
*The Longest Day
*Major Dundee (P)
*Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
*Midnight Cowboy
A Clockwork Orange
*The French Connection
*Fiddler on the Roof
*The Last Picture Show
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Junior Bonner (P)
The Last Straighter
Smokey and the Bandit
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (P)
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
*The Godfather
The Killer Elite (P)
*Cross of Iron (P)
*Inglorious Basterds
*Saving Private Ryan
The Osterman Weekend (P)
Straw Dogs (2011)
The Killer Elite (2011)
The Getaway (1994)
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1:17:47
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1:17:47
1971 - No Poor Bastard Ever Won an Oscar Dying for His Country
Hey Oscar fans, welcome to the 1971 Oscars for the films of 1970. The title of the episode refers to the opening line of this year’s Best Picture Winner — Patton — a movie driven by one of the most powerful performances in film history. In fact, George C. Scott’s portrayal of General George S. Patton was so acclaimed that despite telling the Academy not to vote for him and that he wouldn’t show up to the Oscars; wouldn’t accept the award; and thought the entire concept of actors competing for awards was a stupid ‘meat parade’ — he still won for Best Actor! Yep, this was a strange year full of strange movies, bizarre choices and enough ‘WTF?’ to make you wonder if George C. Scott had the right idea! As always, thanks for listening!
Movies Mentioned
(*Recommended)
Love Story
Airport
*M*A*S*H
*Patton
*Woodstock
*Little Big Man
*Tora! Tora! Tora!
*Ryan’s Daughter
Catch-22
The Owl and the Pussycat
*The Haunting (1963)
*Citizen Kane
*Five Easy Pieces
*The Ballad of Cable Hogue
*The Great White Hope
*The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
*Joe
*Rocky
*The Karate Kid
Lovers and Other Strangers
The Landlord
Women in Love
Fellini’s Satyricon
*Planet of the Apes
*The Country Girl
*Miracle on 34th Street
*Diary of a Mad Housewife
*Barry Lyndon
*Easy Rider
*I Never Sang For My Father
*Hud
*Being There
*Ninotchka
*The Hustler
*The Getaway
*The Godfather
*Hobson’s Choice
*Pollyanna
*The Hours
*Lawrence of Arabia
*Bridge on the River Kwai
*Doctor Zhivago
*A Raisin in the Sun
*My Night At Maud’s
*Wanda
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1:25:37
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1:25:37
Bonus: Was 1986 the Greatest Year in Movie History?
Hello Oscar lovers, we are back with a very special bonus episode that celebrates the fabulous films from the year 1986. In fact, “Tex” and Mark think there were so many great films released that year, that we could have an ALTERNATE OSCARS where we nominate and select completely different movies and performances and still have an amazing Oscar show. And to prove it — that’s exactly what we did!
So enjoy (and play along) with our ‘Alternate 1987 Oscars’ for the non-nominated films of 1986 — one of the greatest years in movie history! As always, thanks for listening!
FILMS MENTIONED
(* Highly Recommended)
(The Room)
*Wizard of Oz
*Gone With the Wind
*Stagecoach
*Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
*Ninotchka
*The Matrix
*Fight Club
*The Sixth Sense
*Being John Malkovich
*Magnolia
The Talented Mr. Ripley
*The Green Mile
*Toy Story 2
*Platoon
*Children of a Lesser God
*The Mission
*A Room With a View
*Hannah & Her Sisters
*The Color of Money
*Top Gun
*Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
*Hoosiers
*Aliens
*Blue Velvet
*Peggy Sue Got Married
*Heartburn
*The Mosquito Coast
*Stand By Me
*Alien
Jaws 2
*Jaws
*Raging Bull
*Rocky 3
*Mulholland Drive
*The Hustler
*The Fly
*Labyrinth
*Little Shop of Horrors
*A Few Good Men
*The Breakfast Club
*The Verdict
*Manhunter
*Lucas
*Carnal Knowledge
*Witness
Hot Shots Part Deux
The Morning After
Crimes of the Heart
*Something Wild
Sid and Nancy
9 1/2 Weeks
*Working Girl
Nothing in Common
*Highlander
*Ruthless People
About Last Night
*Crocodile Dundee
*Silkwood
Iron Eagle
At Close Range
Absolute Beginners
*The Dark Knight
*Nickel Boys
*Round Midnight
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57:50
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57:50
At the Oscars, No-one Can Hear You Scream
Oscars fans, movie fans and especially horror movie fans — you are in for a treat. Just in time for Halloween, we’ve got a special bonus episode exploring the complicated history of horror movies and the Oscars!
Well, for some people it’s not complicated — the Oscars seem to HATE horror films. But is that true? And what even IS a horror film? We’ll answer those questions and more by looking at objective horror films that were nominated, or won (it’s not a long list); look at some horror movies that should/could have been nominated — and explore some movies that were nominated that may have been secret horror films.
Plus we’ve got some hidden gems for you to watch this spooky season! As always, thanks for listening!
Horror Films Mentioned
(* Recommended)
*Crash (1996)
*Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th Pt.V
*Halloween
*Don’t Go in the House
Don’t Go in the Woods
*Don’t Look in the Basement
*Don’t Go Near the Park
*Don’t Torture a Duckling
*Frankenstein (2025)
Manos: The Hands of Fate
Snuff
Boogeyman 2
*The Blair Witch Project
*Psycho
*Night of the Living Dead
*The Birds
*Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer
*Dracula
*Wolfman
*Frankenstein
*The Mummy
*Creature From the Black Lagoon
Eraserhead
*The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
*Child’s Play
*Candyman
Barbarian
*Midsommar
*The Lighthouse
*Frozen (2010)
*Fight Club
*No Country For Old Men
*Nightcrawler
*A Clockwork Orange
*Requiem for a Dream
*Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The Hound of the Baskervilles
*Thirteen (2003)
*The Exorcist
*Jaws
*The Silence of the Lambs
*The Sixth Sense
*The Green Mile
*The Shawshank Redemption
*The Black Swan
*Room
*Get Out
The Shape of Water
The Substance
*M (1931 & 1951)
*Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931)
*Freaks (1932)
*King Kong (1933)
*Cat People (1942 & 1982)
*Isle of the Dead
*Suspicion
*Strangers on a Train
*Shadow of a Doubt
*Rear Window
*The Birds
*Rosemary’s Baby
Apartment 7A
*Dawn of the Dead
*Land of the Dead
*The Omen (1976)
*Alien
*Aliens
*Alien 3
Prometheus
Sasquatch
Halloween 3
*The Shining
*American Werewolf in London
*The Thing
*Poltergeist
*Misery
*Stand By Me
*Scream
*The Others
*Zodiac
*Se7en
*Ex-Machina
*Hereditary
*Rebecca
*Gaslight
*The Towering Inferno
*Deliverance
*Wrong Turn
*The Hills Have Eyes
*Carrie
*No Country For Old Men
*The Hitcher
*Parasite
*Don’t Breathe
*It Follows
*2001 A Space Odyssey
*The Body Snatcher
*Invasion of the Body Snatchers
*The Seventh Victim
*The Old Dark House
*I Walked With a Zombie
*Ghost Ship (2002)
*Bride of Frankenstein
*Obsession
*Dressed To Kill
*Body Double
*Blow Out
Sisters
Raising Cane
*Funny Games
*Benny’s Video
*The Piano Teacher
*Knife in the Water
*Repulsion
*The Tenant
*The Fearless Vampire Killers
*Nope
*What Lies Beneath
Innocent Blood
Hour of the Wolf
*The Virgin Spring
*Last House on the Last
*The Bay
*Antichrist
*mother!
*Panic Room
*Near Dark
*Dracula (Francis Ford Copolla)
*Dementia 13
*Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
*Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
*Frailty
*Skeleton Key
*Triangle
*Sightseers
*The Invitation
*Saint Maud
*Oculus
*Hush
*Wait Until Dark
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1:21:15
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1:21:15
1987 - The First Casualty of Oscars is Innocence!
Welcome to the 1987 Oscars for the films of 1986 — arguably one of the greatest years for movies…ever! Nearly every category is stacked with worthy entries, but as always, there are a few Oscar oddities, snubs and things to make you go ‘Hmm.’ Mostly, this Oscars has everything — from a born writer/filmmaker spinning his most harrowing wartime experiences into Oscar gold; to a deaf newbie beating out a string of 80’s acting legends; to an aging legend finally getting their Oscar due.
In a year when nearly all the top talent in Hollywood was creating art — it helps you appreciate how movies can tell diverse, complex stories with the power to stay with you forever. Oh, and you’ll also hear Bruce's behind the scenes stories about working on Hollywood Squares and Sidney Lumet's 'The Morning After!' As always, thanks for listening!
FILMS REFERENCED
(* Recommended)
*Top Gun
*Crocodile Dundee
**Platoon
Karate Kid 2
*Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home
*Back to School
**Aliens
**Alien
The Golden Child
**Ruthless People
**Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
*Something Wild
*Down & Out in Beverly Hills
**Mosquito Coast
**The Color of Money
**Hoosiers
*Salvador
*Peggy Sue Got Married
*In the Name of the Rose
*Foul Play
*Seems Like Old Times
*A Room With a View
**Children of a Lesser God
**The Mission
*Hannah and her Sisters
*Caged
**The Deer Hunter
**Apocalypse Now
Gandhi
Chariots of Fire
Empire of the Sun
*She’s Gotta Have It
**Stand By Me
**Blue Velvet
**‘Round Midnight
*Born on the Fourth of July
**JFK
The Doctor
Wrestling Ernest Hemmingway
Dance With Me
**The Hustler
*Mona Lisa
**Who Framed Roger Rabbit
*Hud
**Cool Hand Luke
*Absence of Malice
**The Verdict
Heartburn
Sid & Nancy
Jaws 4: The Revenge
Poltergeist 2
Crimes of the Heart
The Morning After
*Carrie
*Monsters Ball
Catwoman
*My Beautiful Launderette
At Close Range
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Ever watched the Academy Awards and thought, What were they thinking? You’re not alone. Join legendary comedian and writer of over 25 Oscar telecasts, Bruce Vilanch, and screenwriter/film nerd Adam “Tex” Davis (Just Friends) as they dive into Oscar history, unpacking the flubs, snubs, and surprises from Hollywood’s biggest night. From behind-the-scenes stories of A-list stars to insider insights on how the nominations and winners are really chosen, Bruce and Tex break down each Oscar ceremony year by year to reveal what the Academy got right—and what they didn’t. If you’ve ever questioned why your favorite movie or actor got overlooked, this podcast is for you. The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?
Did you know that two of the Top 100 American Films of All-Time came out the same year but weren’t even nominated for an Academy Award? Or that the film often cited as the ‘Greatest Film of All Time’ didn’t win the Oscar in its year? Or that Cuba Gooding Jr. has the same number of acting Oscars as Al Pacino?
Look, stuff happens. But if you’ve ever watched or read about the Academy Awards, you’ve probably been left scratching your head over which movies and performers won – and how many beloved films weren’t even considered.
Why do so many Best Picture winners become some of the least remembered movies? How is it that legendary directors like Stanley Kubrick never won an Oscar? And why do great actors miss out on their best performances, only to win later for less impressive work?
Sure, the Oscars aren’t sports – there’s no scoreboard to show the winners. But with so many Academy members voting, you’d think they’d get it right. Spoiler alert: They often don’t.
On The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, Bruce Vilanch and Adam “Tex” Davis take a deep dive into Oscar history, looking back at the biggest mistakes, controversies, and snubs. From Shakespeare in Love beating Saving Private Ryan to Dances with Wolves winning over Goodfellas, we’ll examine where the Academy went wrong.
Along the way, you’ll hear incredible behind-the-scenes stories and never-before-told moments from Hollywood’s biggest night. We’re re-examining each Oscar ceremony, year-by-year, award-by-award, to see what the Academy got right, what they missed, and how we would “fix” the Oscars.
Whether you’re a dedicated movie buff or just a casual fan, this is the podcast for you. Join us for The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, where we break down the flubs, snubs, and forgotten gems of Oscar history.