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PODCAST

Awesome Movie Year

Awesome Movie Year

Awesome Movie Year is a podcast co-hosted by film critic Josh Bell and filmmaker and comedian Jason Harris. Each season looks at why a certain year was an awesome movie year. Each episode focuses on a different film from the year being investigated. Produced by David Rosen of the Piecing It Together Podcast for the All Points West Podcast Network

tv & film film history

All Episodes

01:08:23

Heaven’s Gate (1980 Box Office Flop)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/04/06

The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features the year’s biggest flop, Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate. Written and directed by Michael Cimino and starring Kris Kristofferson, Isabelle Huppert, Christopher Walken, Sam Waterston and Jeff Bridges, Heaven’s Gate is one of the most notorious flops of all time.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/heavens-gate-1981), Vincent Canby in The New York Times

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53:55

Caddyshack (1980 First Feature)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/03/30

The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, Harold Ramis’ Caddyshack. Directed and co-written by Harold Ramis and starring Michael O’Keefe, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Chevy Chase and Bill Murray, Caddyshack helped launch Ramis’ career as one of Hollywood’s most successful comedy writers and directors.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/caddyshack-1980),

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01:01:21

9 to 5 (1980 Box Office Champ)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/03/23

The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1980 features the second-highest-grossing film at the box office, 9 to 5. Directed and co-written (with Patricia Resnick) by Colin Higgins and starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, Dabney Coleman and Elizabeth Wilson, 9 to 5 grossed $103.3 million and was nominated for an Oscar for its theme song.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/nine-to-five-1980), Kevin

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51:39

You Only Live Twice (1967 Bonus Episode)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/03/16

This special bonus episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1967 features the James Bond film You Only Live Twice. Directed by Lewis Gilbert from a screenplay by Roald Dahl (based on the Ian Fleming novel) and starring Sean Connery, Tetsurō Tamba, Akiko Wakabayashi, Mie Hama, Karin Dor and Donald Pleasence, You Only Live Twice was the fifth and final film in Connery’s original run as James Bond.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert

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01:16:34

The Shawshank Redemption (Bonus 1994 Audience Choice)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/03/09

For the tenth episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 1994, the winning year in our audience choice poll, for Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption. Written and directed by Frank Darabont (based on the novella by Stephen King) and starring Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler and Clancy Brown, The Shawshank Redemption was nominated for seven Oscars and is often regarded as one of the greatest movies ever

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01:00:01

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (Bonus 1999 Future...

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/03/02

For the ninth episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 to feature another future cult classic, Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Forest Whitaker, John Tormey, Isaach de Bankolé, Henry Silva, Camille Winbush and Tricia Vessey, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai was a minor hit that has become one of Jarmusch’s most acclaimed films.The contemporary reviews quoted in

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01:00:01

The Crow (Bonus 1994 Dave’s Pick)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/02/23

For the eighth episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 1994 to feature Dave’s personal pick, Alex Proyas’ The Crow. Directed by Alex Proyas, based on the comic book by James O’Barr and starring Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Rochelle Davis and Michael Wincott, The Crow was marred by tragedy after Brandon Lee’s on-set death, but went on to become a box-office hit and launch a franchise.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come

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01:07:43

The Cotton Club (Bonus 1984 Box Office Flop)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/02/16

For the seventh episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 to feature another major box-office flop, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Cotton Club. Directed and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Gregory Hines, Lonette McKee and Bob Hoskins, The Cotton Club was part of a string of commercial failures for Coppola.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert

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01:17:37

Bonnie and Clyde (Bonus 1967 Jason’s Pick)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/02/09

For the sixth episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 1967 to feature another of Jason’s personal picks, Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde. Directed by Arthur Penn from a screenplay by David Newman and Robert Benton and starring Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman, Michael J. Pollard and Estelle Parsons, Bonnie and Clyde was nominated for 10 Oscars and won two.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Bosley

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59:54

Cinema Paradiso (Bonus 1989 Foreign Film)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/02/02

For the fifth episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 to feature another foreign film pick, Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso. Written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and starring Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Marco Leonardi, Agnese Nano, Salvatore Cascio and Leopoldo Trieste, Cinema Paradiso won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert

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51:59

Smiley Face (Bonus 2007 Josh’s Pick)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/01/26

For the fourth episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 2007 to feature another of Josh’s personal picks, Gregg Araki’s Smiley Face. Directed by Gregg Araki from a screenplay by Dylan Haggerty and starring Anna Faris, Danny Masterson, John Krasinski, Adam Brody and Roscoe Lee Browne, Smiley Face premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received a very limited theatrical release.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come

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58:02

Spellbound (Bonus 2003 Documentary)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/01/19

For the third episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 2003 to feature another documentary pick, Jeffrey Blitz’s Spellbound. Directed by Jeffrey Blitz and featuring eight contestants from the 1999 National Spelling Bee, Spellbound premiered at the South by Southwest film festival and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert

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58:09

Hard Eight (Bonus 1996 First Feature)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/01/12

For the second episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 to feature another notable filmmaking debut, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Hard Eight. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson, Hard Eight was based on Anderson’s 1993 short film Cigarettes & Coffee.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert

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01:01:33

Smokey and the Bandit (Bonus 1977 Box Office Champ)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2022/01/05

For the first episode of our special retrospective season, we’re looking back to our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 to feature the second-highest-grossing film at the box office, Hal Needham’s Smokey and the Bandit. Directed and co-written by Hal Needham and starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason and Jerry Reed, Smokey and the Bandit grossed $126 million and spawned multiple sequels.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Ron Pennington in The Hollywood

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01:06:09

Love Actually (2003 Holiday Bonus)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2021/12/29

In the second of two special holiday episodes for this year, we’re looking back to our season on the films of 2003, to talk about Christmas romantic comedy Love Actually. Written and directed by Richard Curtis and starring Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Keira Knightley and an extensive ensemble cast, Love Actually has become a perennial holiday favorite and an influential romantic comedy.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert

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01:11:57

The Matrix (1999 Bonus Episode)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2021/12/22

This special bonus episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features the Wachowskis’ The Matrix. Written and directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski and starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving, The Matrix was one of the highest-grossing movies of 1999 and has become one of the most influential sci-fi and action movies of all time.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-matrix-1999),

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49:15

Elf (2003 Holiday Bonus)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2021/12/15

In the first of two special holiday episodes for this year, we’re looking back to our season on the films of 2003, to talk about Christmas classic Elf. Directed by Jon Favreau from a screenplay by David Berenbaum and starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart and Ed Asner, Elf has become a perennial holiday favorite on TV, in theaters and on streaming services.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert

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34:00

1999 Epilogue

Awesome Movie Year ·

2021/12/10

In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1999, we talk about alternate movies we considered including in all of our different categories this season, and read suggestions from some listeners about which movies they hoped we would cover.Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in soon for the premiere of our tenth season, a special bonus season featuring selections from all the years we’ve covered in the past, starting with 1977 box-office

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01:00:32

Election (1999 Audience Choice)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2021/12/08

The finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features our audience choice pick, Alexander Payne’s Election. Directed and co-written by Alexander Payne (adapted from the novel by Tom Perrotta) and starring Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein and Jessica Campbell, Election prevailed over 11 other movies in our audience choice teen movie tournament.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/election-1999), Lisa

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53:16

The Boondock Saints (1999 Future Cult Classic)

Awesome Movie Year ·

2021/12/01

The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1999 features our future cult classic pick, Troy Duffy’s The Boondock Saints. Written and directed by Troy Duffy and starring Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Willem Dafoe and David Della Rocco, The Boondock Saints was barely released in theaters but built a cult following on home video.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Robert Koehler in Variety

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