Rewatching Oscar

01/15/2025

It has been almost 95 years since the release of this anti-war classic, and Best Picture winner at the 3rd Annual Academy Awards. However, the absolutely brilliant All Quiet on the Western Front still feels as fresh in story, structure, and performances as it did when it was released nearly a century ago. This truly is a special film. Although it still felt like an experimental time in cinema with the advent of sound only a few years earlier, there still were many other wonderful movies that came out at that time that still stand the test of time. What films have you seen from 1929/30? What are your thoughts on All Quiet on the Western Front?

01/13/2025

Well … I am not really that surprised at this announcement. Due to the continued efforts in helping the greater Los Angeles area due to the horrific wildfires, the Oscar nominations are delayed another four days to Thursday, January 23rd. The big date, for now, remains Sunday, March 2nd.

01/10/2025

Episode #69: MY FAIR LADY (1964) is now LIVE!!!

The wonderful songs, the amazing sets, the iconic costumes … and of course Audrey Hepburn. These are the things that people talk about when they remember the 1964 Best Picture winner and box office smash, My Fair Lady. It’s been six decades since its success both commercially and critically. However, does the film still hold up as a true gem of cinema all these years later? There were dozens of great films that were released that same year … some even classics. So in retrospect, was My Fair Lady deserving of the top prize at the Academy Awards?

Listen to film critic Jack Ferdman’s take on My Fair Lady and all the other notable movies from 1964, and find out which one gets honoured with his Rewatch Oscar.

Podcast Episode · Rewatching Oscar · 2025-01-10 · 1h 34m

01/09/2025

After going through and researching all of the films from 1964 over the past couple of weeks, it really surprised me to see how many incredible movies that were released that calendar year. Some amazing dramas, wonderful musicals, great international features, silly comedies, and even several with doomsday storylines were amongst those special films. Below are the five that the Academy decided to choose as the best from 1964, including giving My Fair Lady the top prize at the Oscars. Do you agree with their selections? What were your favourite films from that year?

01/09/2025

The release date of our Rewatching Oscar bonus episode next week will be adjusted slightly due to the change of date for the announcement of the Oscar nominations. However, more importantly, I am first and foremost thinking about the health and safety of all those affected by the horrific wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Please stay safe. My heart goes out to all you on the west coast.

01/03/2025

Writing about an Oscar winner while listening to an Oscar winner. Pretty cool evening at home.

01/02/2025

I finally screened this big contender that will likely be up for several Oscars this year. I really liked everything about Conclave. It had wonderful performances by the entire A-list cast, very an interesting and well-told screenplay, and great direction by Edward Berger. Would I put it amongst my choices for best film of the year? Probably not. However, I still found it a very worthwhile watch … and Ralph Fiennes is incredible as always. 👍🏼
8.0/10

What are your thoughts?

12/31/2024

After watching hundreds of films in 2024 … this is a great way to end year just before going out to ring in 2025 … with my favourite film of all time. I’ve seen it maybe 100 times, but Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) is still as fresh as ever!
Happy New Year to all of you movie fans out there!!! 🎉🥂🍾🎥

12/31/2024

Whether the film is fact or fiction (likely a big bowl of both), it really doesn’t matter. The wild ride on the first night of SNL that director, screenwriter, and producer Jason Reitman takes us through is just loads of fun! Saturday Night may not garner enough of the Academy’s attention to garner any Oscar nominations. However, it’s worth your time … especially if you grew up watching the classic show when it all started way back in 1975. The very funny script, the great performances (especially Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels), the tight direction, and keeping the film in a real(ish) time format, makes Saturday Night a winner. 8.5/10

What are your thoughts?

12/29/2024

What to do on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon? A competitive game of Scrabble with my wife … and then screen yet another Oscar contender. Now that is a

12/27/2024

Episode #68: IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) is now LIVE!!!

This is not only one of the first screwball rom-coms ever made, it’s still regarded as one of the best! It Happened One Night has a great script full of wonderful quick-witted dialogue, amazing performances by both Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, and all put together by the perfect direction of Frank Capra. It is still remains as only one of three films ever to take home the “Big Five” at the Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay). It truly is a special gem of a film.

However, there were also many other great movies that came out in 1934. Looking back, did it deserve the top honour at the Oscars that year? Listen to film critic Jack Ferdman’s take on it Happened One Night and find out if he gives it his Rewatch Oscar for 1934.

Podcast Episode · Rewatching Oscar · 2024-12-27 · 1h 20m

12/26/2024

Even though this Best Picture winner is now ninety years old, it still feels as fresh after all these years. It Happened One Night (1934) won the five main categories at the Academy Awards (only one of three films to ever do so) … and it continues to win our hearts over all with each and every viewing. It remains one of the best screwball comedies of all-time.

What are your thoughts on this classic?

12/25/2024

Wishing everyone who celebrates a very Merry Movie Christmas! From the good, the bad, and the very odd holiday films … just enjoy your time watching your personal faves with the entire family! All the best from Rewatching Oscar! 🎄🍿🎥

And yes, Die Hard IS a Christmas movie. 😜

12/16/2024

Happy 86th Birthday, Liv Ullmann! She is, without a doubt, one of the greatest European actresses to ever grace the silver screen. Her brilliant performances collaborating with legendary director Ingmar Bergman include The Passion of Anna (1969), Cries and Whispers (1972), and Autumn Sonata (1978). However, I will forever think of Ullmann in one of the greatest films of all-time, the powerful and brilliant Persona (1966). She was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar twice, for The Emigrants (1972) and Face to Face (1976). She truly is a living legend.

Which Liv Ullmann films have you seen and love?

12/13/2024

Episode #67: Parasite (2019) is now LIVE!!!

This is one special film! Yes, this is the only film to take home the Best Picture Academy Award that is not in the English language. However, this movie is also one of the great films of the past decade. With an incredible screenplay, brilliant direction, an amazing cast, and thought provoking themes, Parasite is truly a modern day classic.

There were many other great films that came out in 2019. Did Parasite deserve the top honour at the Oscar’s that year? Listen to film critic Jack Ferdman’s take on Parasite and hear if he gives it his Rewatch Oscar for 2019.

Podcast Episode · Rewatching Oscar · 2024-12-13 · 1h 23m

12/11/2024

2019 was another great year for cinema. Parasite became the first foreign language film ever to take home Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It was also only the second film to ever win both the top prize at the Oscars and the Palme D’or at the Cannes Film Festival (Marty was the first back in 1955). Director and Screenwriter B**g Joon-Ho’s brilliant black-comedy/thriller is outstanding on ever level. What is your take on Parasite? Do you think there was a better film in 2019?

12/10/2024

Happy 64th Birthday to eight-time Academy Award nominee, Kenneth Branagh. This multi-talented director, writer, and actor finally won his first Oscar for Best Screenplay for the incredible film Belfast (2021). Known mostly for his performances in screen adaptations of William Shakespeare plays, Branagh versatility working in comedies, mysteries, action adventures, and dramas, has made him one of the best actors of this generation. From Hamlet to Harry Potter, from Dunkirk to Death on the Nile, he never disappoints. He truly is a legend of cinema.

Which Kenneth Branagh films and performances stand out for you?

12/09/2024

Happy 90th Birthday, to a legend! Dame Judi Dench’s career spans almost 70 years with her memorable award winning performances on stage, television, and on screen. She has been nominated for eight Academy Awards (5 for Best Actress and 3 for Best Supporting Actress), winning once for her incredible turn as Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love (1998). She has left an indelible mark on cinema with so many amazing films, including Chocolat (2000), Iris (2001), Belfast (2021), as well as playing “M” in seven 007 James Bond movies. However, my favourite Judi Dench performance is her layered role as Barbara Covett in the incredible Notes on a Scandal (2006). What a remearkable career !

What is your favourite Judi Dench film and performance?