Best Jack Ferdman Podcasts (2024)

1
The Deer Hunter (1978) 1:27:39

8h ago1:27:39

1:27:39

Many great films came out in 1978 ... several because Hollywood began to tell stories of what soldiers experienced both during the Vietnam war that had just ended a few years before, and also how they dealt with coming home. The Deer Hunter was one of those films. Director and screenwriter Michael Cimino created a layered, powerful, and very raw fi…

1
Oliver! (1968) 1:28:52

15d ago1:28:52

1:28:52

First, it was the famous novel by Charles Dickens back in 1838, then it hit the silver screen with many silent and sound ones. Then it hit Broadway with the well-known musical version ... until finally it came back to theatres and won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1968. Oliver! is the fourth musical of the 1960s to win the top prize. Its mixture of…

1
Ep. 53 - Nomadland (2020) 1:15:34

1M ago1:15:34

1:15:34

The year 2020 was a very strange one ... for all of us. The world for all intents and purposes, felt like it was put on pause. COVID-19 was really the only thing on our minds. And because of it, even movie theatres and the film industry as a whole struggled. Filmmakers began making films that were more personal, more meaningful, ones that represent…

1
The Hurt Locker (2009) 1:20:31

2M ago1:20:31

1:20:31

In 2009 the Academy Awards increased the number of films that could be nominated for Best Picture. For over 6 decades there used to be only 5 films selected. However, the Academy decided that more films should be at least acknowledged with being honoured with a nomination. So from here on out, there would be at the very least 5, and at the most 10,…

1
The Broadway Melody (1928/29) 1:08:27

2M ago1:08:27

1:08:27

There have been good, great, and even brilliant Best Picture winners over the past century. Many stay with us forever, and we love watching them over and over and over again. And then, well, there are films like The Broadway Melody. Those who have seen it understand. However, its importance and influence in the history of cinema is undeniable. It w…

1
Midnight Cowboy (1969) 1:19:55

2M ago1:19:55

1:19:55

What an incredible year in cinema! There were so many great films to close out the decade. It was a time when Hollywood turned a new page and began making deeper, darker, and more rich films. And one of those films was this classic starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman ... Midnight Cowboy. This movie rocked a lot of people when it came out with it…

1
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) 1:21:47

3M ago1:21:47

1:21:47

There have only been three films that have swept the "big five" Oscars. And this one, the ONLY so-called horror film to win, is the last to win Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay. The Silence of the Lambs scared us all when we first saw it in the theatres in 1991 ... and we keep coming back for more. We love the story, we are bl…

1
Bonus Episode 6: Oscars 2024 Recap 37:25

4M ago37:25

37:25

Another Oscar broadcast for the history books! Download and listen to Jack's take on the 96th Annual Academy Awards that took place on Sunday, March 10th. Oppenheimer rocked the night with 7 awards including the big prize. Jimmy Kimmel did a great job in his fourth time hosting, but who will come back next year? Jack recaps the night and also gives…

1
Ordinary People (1980) Including 2024 Oscar Predictions 1:21:05

4M ago1:21:05

1:21:05

In 1980, legendary actor Robert Redford made his directorial debut with a film that moved so many and gave us great dramatic performances from Donald Sutherland, newcomer Timothy Hutton, and even comedy sitcom star Mary Tyler Moore. The film is of course the moving Ordinary People. It took home four Oscars, including Best Picture. However, after mo…

1
You Can't Take It With You (1938) 1:05:47

4M ago1:05:47

1:05:47

Many directors fit certain categories of filmmaking ... when you think of films that focus on the little guy overcoming obstacles and beating corporations or banks or the rich ... well, you think of Frank Capra. Capra won three Academy Awards in 5 years and the last win is likely his least-known film for movie fans of today, You Can't Take It With …

1
Unforgiven (1992) 1:14:28

5M ago1:14:28

1:14:28

Westerns are not as popular amongst movie-goers over the past 40 years ... but there is one that changed the way we look at the Wild West. Clint Eastwood gave us Unforgiven. It's a film that turns the Western tropes of the past on its head. It's a wonderfully written, acted, and directed film that blew everyone away. It was nominated for nine Oscar…

1
The French Connection (1971) 1:18:27

5M ago1:18:27

1:18:27

The 1970s were the dawn of a new generation of filmmakers. The era between 1967 and 1979 is known as New Hollywood cinema. Directors and screenwriters began making films with fewer reigns on them and trying new riskier stories, with styles used predominately in European films. The French Connection is a perfect example of how darker and edgier stor…

1
Bonus Episode 5: Oscar Nominations 2024 29:43

5M ago29:43

29:43

Well ... another year has passed and we finally are here.: The announcement of the Academy Award nominations for the best films of 2023. Yes, there weren't many shockers ... but there are always a couple that stir the pot. Fans lose their minds and they complain and complain about their favourite films or performers not getting recognized. The Acad…

1
Mrs. Miniver (1942) 1:14:28

6M ago1:14:28

1:14:28

There were a lot of films that were released after WWII from all different perspectives of what went on during that time. However, during the early 1940s, many films did the same DURING wartime. There were several that were extraordinary. Mrs. Miniver (1942) was one of those special films. Although very much a propaganda-like film released not only…

1
Titanic (1997) 1:20:55

6M ago1:20:55

1:20:55

Well ... season 4 starts off with a bang! One of the BIG Oscar winners of all-time. It's epic in size, and was loved by so many when it came out. Is this romance/disaster film still all as great as it was all those years ago? Was it ever that great? Are the effects by Director James Cameron really just a mirage for a screenplay that isnt that very …

1
An American in Paris (1951) 1:15:47

6M ago1:15:47

1:15:47

Jack loves being a film critic ... analyzing both the good and the bad of everything that is cinema. The Best Picture Oscar winner of 1951, An American in Paris, covers both ends of that spectrum. The music of George Gershwin, the dance sequences, and many of the scenes really project this film forward ... but was all of that enough to deserve the …

1
Schindler's List (1993) 1:20:49

7M ago1:20:49

1:20:49

Sometimes films go above and beyond just being a source of entertainment. Some movies are not just pieces of art put on celluloid for all film lovers to watch, but they are important ... educational, and even a piece of historical reference. Schindler's List is not a documentary, but it feels a lot like one. Steven Spielberg's epic 3+ hour story ab…

1
The Shape of Water (2017) 1:11:54

7M ago1:11:54

1:11:54

There are films that seem strange when you read the plot outline. You think to yourself, why would this be made? Then you find out that the perfect guy for this story is the director, so you think it could work. Well, Guillermo del Toro made this fantasy about a mute woman in 1962 who falls in love with an Amphibian Man. The Shape of Water is a gre…

1
Shakespeare in Love (1998) 1:10:54

8M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

It has been 25 years, but there are still many who believe that the 1998 winner for Best Picture should NOT have been Shakespeare in Love. Jack revisits this controversial winner and tells us how good it is after all these years, and if it deserves the terrible reputation it gets from those who love the Oscars. Which film does he think is the best …

1
Wings (1927/28) 57:01

8M ago57:01

57:01

It all started with this one. The first Best Picture winner was also a silent film ... the only completely non-talkie to ever win the top award. Yes, even The Artist (2011) had some words at the film's end. But more importantly, Wings is a great film, from its direction, its incredible combat sequences, and the beautiful Clara Bow, known by everyon…

1
Bonus Episode 4: Top 20 Jack Nicholson Performances 1:05:42

9M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman Here is another Bonus Episode, and this time it's all about ... JACK!! No, not the host of this show (although he may want you to think it is), but about the one ... the only ... Jack Nicholson!! What a career he has had. 64 films, tons of accolades, and unforgettable roles. As for those roles, which ones were his…

1
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) 1:15:32

9M ago1:15:32

1:15:32

This is one of the great films of the last 50 years. Jack analyzes this film in depth, talking about how it came about, as well as themes of authoritarianism. This movie not only has an incredible screenplay and great direction, but the acting is second to none. The question is, did the Academy get it right by honouring One Flew Over the Cuckoo's N…

1
The Apartment (1960) 1:09:53

9M ago1:09:53

1:09:53

Billy Wilder is one of the greatest directors in cinematic history. Here Jack talks about one of his gems, The Apartment. The screenplay, the direction, the acting, and the cinematography are all remarkable and truly make this film timeless, despite being over 60 years old. Will it be good enough for Jack to give it his top prize as best film of 19…

1
Chicago (2002) 1:07:14

10M ago1:07:14

1:07:14

Well ... it took the Academy a while, but finally, 34 years after the last musical to win Best Picture, the Rob Marshall blockbuster Chicago took home Oscar's biggest prize in 2002. What makes this film special? It all starts with the director's vision. However, the cast, the editing, and of course the incredible songs and score helped make this Br…

1
From Here to Eternity (1953) 1:01:43

10M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

SEVENTY years ago this movie dominated Hollywood and the Academy Awards. It is a drama disguised as a war film. From Here to Eternity is a movie that took home a boatload of Oscars back in 1953. All the performances are incredible and the direction, editing, and cinematography is first rate. But it's the story that really pulls you in. The question…

1
The Artist (2011) 51:32

11M ago51:32

51:32

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences loves to talk and pay respects to actors and films from a bygone era. They had a huge opportunity to do so by honouring The Artist, a film that pays homage to the silent film era. It won Best Picture beating out many greats of 2011. The question is, even though stylistically it was close to perfect, g…

1
Driving Miss Daisy (1989) 59:29

11M ago59:29

59:29

There are films that deserve the Best Picture award and there are films that are just movies that shocked us that they even got nominated ... and then there are films like Driving Miss Daisy. Wow! How could this small, cute, Hallmark-type film, be regarded as the best movie of 1989 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences? Who knows the r…

1
Grand Hotel (1931/32) 47:48

12M ago47:48

47:48

This film started the mega-ensemble cast craze. But Grand Hotel is more than just 5 huge stars, led by the incomparable Greta Garbo It not only won the Oscar for Best Picture of that year over nine decades ago, but it was also cinema's biggest box office draw. The fans loved it, and the Academy honoured it, but how does it hold up all these years l…

1
The Sound of Music (1965) 1:01:22

12M ago1:01:22

1:01:22

It's one of the big years and films in Academy Awards history ... 1965. Jack Ferdman dives into this big year and the legendary film that won the big prize, The Sound of Music. This classic stayed in theatres upon its initial release for almost 4 years!! It was the biggest box office winner of all-time surpassing Gone With the Wind. However, after …

1
Rain Man (1988) 58:28

1y ago58:28

58:28

Well, it's time for film critic, Jack Ferdman, to go back 35 years and dive head-first into the movies that rocked us in 1988. Ok, not every movie was great that year. However, most of us saw and loved the Academy Award winner from that year, Rain Man. Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise definitely moved us with the story of two brothers reuniting after …

1
Marty (1955) 50:13

1y ago50:13

50:13

Who says low-budget smaller films can't win the big one? Well, this film proved all those naysayers wrong! Marty, this tiny engine of a film, with tons of heart, won the Best Picture Oscar way back in 1955. It's a special film that Jack delves into in this episode. It won the big prize back then, but will the great direction, amazing acting, and Os…

1
No Country For Old Men (2007) 54:48

1y ago54:48

54:48

Jack is back!! After a long nine-month hiatus dealing with the highs and lows of life (don't worry, he will share with all of you what happened), Rewatching Oscar returns! And wow ... what a film to return with. One of the best films to win Best Picture in recent memory. No Country For Old Men, the winner of the 2007 Oscar, leaves a mark on all of …

1
Platoon (1986) 1:11:52

2y ago1:11:52

1:11:52

Here is a movie that is so powerful and so devastating to watch that it haunts for days after you see it. Jack has seen this film several times and had to endure another screening so he could share his thoughts with all the cinefiles out there. Platoon is one of the great war films ever made. It is emotional. It is raw. There are many incredible fi…

1
Gentleman's Agreement (1947) 54:02

2y ago54:02

54:02

This film may be 75 years old, but the topic of antisemitism still resonates today. Daryl F. Zanuck brought to the screen a story about a writer who goes undercover as a Jew to find out what it's like to live a life where you are hated for the reason of your religion. Listen to Jack's take on this classic from 1947. Will it win his Rewatch Oscar? I…

1
Bonus Episode 3: Oscars 2022 Recap 36:54

2+ y ago36:54

36:54

WOW! This was one Oscar broadcast for the history books! Download and listen to Jack's take on this crazy night ... otherwise called the 94th Annual Academy Awards that took place on March 27th, 2022. Yes, CODA did win Best Picture, Dune took home 6 Oscars, and The Power of the Dog only took home 1 award out of the 12 it was nominated for. But ever…

1
Rocky (1976) 1:06:15

2+ y ago1:06:15

1:06:15

There are many incredible films that have won the Best Picture Oscar over the 93 years since its inception. However, there are a select few of those winning movies that are truly special. Films that not only stand the test of time but also that have a special place in our hearts. Rocky is one of those films. The 1976 winner has it all: great acting…

1
Crash (2005) 56:55

2+ y ago56:55

56:55

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman Not every movie that is expected to win the Best Picture Academy Award ends up winning. That is obvious. However, there are some that when the film is announced as the winner, it leaves our mouths open in shock. Crash (2005) is one of those films. Was it THAT good? Did it deserve the top prize at the Oscars? Most …

1
Tom Jones (1963) 1:03:58

2+ y ago1:03:58

1:03:58

In this episode, Jack revisits Tom Jones, the Best Picture winner in a year where Hollywood films were not of their highest quality. This bawdy British comedic adventure showcases the talents of Albert Finney as well as the stylistic efforts of director Tony Richardson. Tom Jones is a one-of-a-kind film that doesn't seem to fit into the typical Bes…

1
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) 55:42

2+ y ago55:42

55:42

In this episode, Jack goes all the way back to 1935 where he revisits the Best Picture winner of that year as well as the top box office smash hit, Mutiny on the Bounty. The star power of the three leads is undeniable: Clark Gable, Charles Laughton, and Franchot Tone. The exciting film full of action, drama, and adventure pleased audiences to no en…

1
Chariots of Fire (1981) 1:03:27

2+ y ago1:03:27

1:03:27

In this episode, Jack focuses on the little British Film that took the hearts of so many film fans around the world, Chariots of Fire. The film is about the 1924 Paris Olympics and how two British track and field athletes wanting the same thing are driven to achieve it by two different methods. This film, with its many themes, has belief (both in r…

1
Forrest Gump (1994) 1:10:07

2+ y ago1:10:07

1:10:07

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman In this episode, the first of Season 2, Jack shares with you his take on the mega-blockbuster hit of 1994, Forrest Gump. He has seen it many many times ... so how will that affect his rewatchable rating. The incredible cast, the tight script, the iconic lines, the brilliant soundtrack, and those amazing scenes ...…

1
In the Heat of the Night (1967) 45:15

2+ y ago45:15

45:15

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman In this episode, Jack talks the amazing and moving film whodunnit, that took away the Academy Award for Best Picture for 1967, In the Heat of the Night. He discusses the importance of the film being released during the tumultuous times of mid-1960s America between whites and blacks, as well as the incredible perfo…

1
Spotlight (2015) 49:21

2+ y ago49:21

49:21

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman In this episode, Jack talks about the Best Picture winner from 2015, Spotlight. This movie is important both historically and cinematically, as it dives into the four-person team that headed Spotlight, an in-depth journalistic branch of the Boston Globe who did research uncovering the abuse of children by the Cath…

1
Around the World in 80 Days (1956) 47:27

2+ y ago47:27

47:27

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman Not every Best Picture stands the test of time. In this episode, Jack takes on 1956, and more specifically the film adaptation of the famous Jules Verne classic, Around the World in 80 Days. This film is one that is long, poorly scripted, and mostly a bore ... unlike the producer of the film, Michael Todd, who mad…

1
Million Dollar Baby (2004) 44:38

2+ y ago44:38

44:38

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman In this episode, Jack takes on 2004, and more specifically Million Dollar Baby. His love for Clint Eastwood is definitely evident here as he talks about his style and as both an actor and director of this film and his previous work. He also tackles the controversial ending where it divided a nation politically. Fr…

1
Bonus Episode 2: Top 10 Scariest Movies 39:48

2+ y ago39:48

39:48

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman Just in time for Halloween!! In this second bonus episode of Rewatching Oscar, Jack goes off-script! He checks out all the cemeteries, dungeons, and unlit cobwebbed basements, opens up every casket, and then dusts off each and every VHS, to make sure he hasn't missed any movie that could make his Top Ten Scariest …

1
The Lost Weekend (1945) 55:58

2+ y ago55:58

55:58

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman In this episode, Jack goes in-depth about a very serious and sensitive topic... addiction, and more specifically alcoholism. He delves deep into how important the film The Lost Weekend is (the Best Picture winner of 1945) and how Billy Wilder's style of filmmaking handles this issue that plagued so many Americans …

1
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) 44:00

2+ y ago44:00

44:00

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman In this episode, Jack talks about divorce. No, not his! He focuses on Kramer vs. Kramer, the first film to tackle divorce from the man's perspective. Great performances by Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and deliciously cute Justin Henry, and with amazing direction and a great script, Jack goes even deeper discussin…

1
Rebecca (1940) 35:28

3y ago35:28

35:28

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman Jack analyzes the only Alfred Hitchcock film to win the top prize at the Academy Awards, Rebecca. One of the greatest and most influential directors of all time came to America, lured by legendary producer David O. Selznick, to make this timeless, gothic thriller, which captivated audiences and critics alike back …

1
American Beauty (1999) 37:53

3y ago37:53

37:53

Rewatching Oscar with Jack Ferdman In this episode, Jack focuses on American Beauty and analyzes its voiceover style, themes of the film, and incredible performances. There were tons of great films that year, so where does this great movie place among the other greats of 1999. Does knowing what happens to the main character hurt the film's rewatcha…

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