Awesome Movie Year

The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 features the year’s biggest flop, Walter Hill’s Streets of Fire. Directed and co-written by Walter Hill and starring Michael Paré, Amy Madigan, Diane Lane, Rick Moranis, Deborah Van Valkenburgh and Willem Dafoe, Streets of Fire was a box-office failure following Hill’s success with 48 Hrs.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/streets-of-fire-1984), Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/01/movies/screen-streets-of-fire.html), and Gary Arnold in The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1984/06/01/dead-end-streets-of-fire/5431036e-046f-41b8-ba8e-ee12a4183643/).Our guest in this episode is Las Vegas-based filmmaker Albert Pyun, director of more than 50 movies, including The Sword and the Sorcerer, Cyborg and Nemesis, as well as the unofficial Streets of Fire sequel Road to Hell, starring Michael Paré and Deborah Van Valkenburgh. You can find out more about his work, and stream Road to Hell, at https://www.albertpyun.net/Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show.Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @AwesomemoviepodYou can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedyYou can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleedYou can find our producer David Rosen’s Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod.All of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.comSubscribe on Patreon to support the show and get access to exclusive content from Awesome Movie Year, plus fellow podcasts Piecing It Together and All Rice No Beans, and music by David Rosen: https://www.patreon.com/bydavidrosenPlease like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1984 installment featuring the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner, Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas.

The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, John Hughes’ Sixteen Candles. Written and directed by John Hughes and starring Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling, Gedde Watanabe, Haviland Morris and Paul Dooley, Sixteen Candles launched Hughes’ career as a director after his earlier success as a screenwriter.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sixteen-candles-1984), Gary Arnold in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1984/05/05/sixteen-candles-makes-a-lovely-sight/25a2d7f7-3a67-44a4-8848-cac001effbbd/), and Pauline Kael in TheNew Yorker.Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1984 installment featuring the year’s biggest flop, Walter Hill’s Streets of Fire.

The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1984 features the top-grossing film at the box office, Martin Brest’s Beverly Hills Cop. Directed by Martin Brest from a screenplay by Daniel Petrie Jr. and starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox and Steven Berkoff, Beverly Hills Cop grossed $316.4 million worldwide and launched an ongoing franchise.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/beverly-hills-cop-1984), Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://web.archive.org/web/20121003041657/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E05E1D71438F936A35751C1A962948260), and Kirk Ellis in TheHollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/beverly-hills-cop-1984-review-952752).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1984 installment featuring our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, John Hughes’ Sixteen Candles.

NOTE: This episode was originally a timed exclusive over on our producer David Rosen's Patreon. Sign up to one of the tiers for access to more great content from us, Piecing It Together, All Rice No Beans and David Rosen.https://www.patreon.com/posts/waiting-for-year-39564661In this special bonus episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996, we’re talking about Christopher Guest’s influential comedy Waiting for Guffman. Directed and co-written (with Eugene Levy) by Christopher Guest and starring Guest, Levy, Fred Willard, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey and Bob Balaban, Waiting for Guffman premiered at the 1996 Boston Film Festival and was released in theaters in early 1997.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/waiting-for-guffman-1997), Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/1997/02/14/waiting-guffman-3/), and Ruthe Stein in the San Francisco Chronicle (https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Guffman-Plays-Small-Town-for-Big-Laughs-2850414.php).Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show.Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @AwesomemoviepodYou can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedyYou can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleedYou can find our producer David Rosen’s Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod.All of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.comPlease like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for our other 1996 bonus episode featuring the Michael Jordan/Looney Tunes mash-up Space Jam. 

NOTE: This episode was originally a timed exclusive over on our producer David Rosen's Patreon. Sign up to one of the tiers for access to more great content from us, Piecing It Together, All Rice No Beans and David Rosen. https://www.patreon.com/posts/space-jam-movie-39564336In this special bonus episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996, we’re talking about the animated/live-action hybrid comedy Space Jam. Directed by Joe Pytka and starring Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, Bill Murray and the voices of Billy West, Danny DeVito and Dee Bradley Baker, Space Jam was a box-office hit and a merchandising bonanza.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/space-jam-1996), Richard Corliss in Time Magazine (http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,985611,00.html), and Rita Kempley in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/review97/spacejamkemp.htm).Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show.Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @AwesomemoviepodYou can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedyYou can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleedYou can find our producer David Rosen’s Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod.All of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.comPlease like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for our other 1996 bonus episode featuring Christopher Guest’s mockumentary Waiting for Guffman.

In the second of two special Halloween episodes, we’re looking back to 2007, the year we covered in our second season, to talk about Jeremy Saulnier’s debut feature Murder Party. Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier and starring Chris Sharp, Sandy Barnett, Macon Blair, Paul Goldblatt, William Lacey and Stacy Rock, Murder Party debuted at the 2007 Slamdance Film Festival.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Dennis Harvey in Variety (https://variety.com/2007/film/reviews/murder-party-1200510665/), David Lamble in the Bay Area Reporter (https://www.ebar.com/arts_&_culture/movies/227871), and Jay Seaver at eFilmCritic (https://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=15861).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and stay tuned for the premiere of our sixth season, covering the films of 1984, with the number one movie at the box office, Beverly Hills Cop. But first up, we'll be posting our two previously Patreon-only bonus episodes on Space Jam and Waiting For Guffman!

In the first of two special Halloween episodes, we’re looking back to 2007, the year we covered in our second season, to talk about cult classic Trick ’r Treat. Written and directed by Michael Dougherty and starring Dylan Baker, Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Britt McKillip and Quinn Lord, Trick ’r Treat was sent straight to video in place of its planned theatrical release, but has since become a Halloween staple.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Joe Leydon in Variety (https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/trick-r-treat-1200477459/), Zack Handlen in the AV Club (https://film.avclub.com/trick-r-treat-1798207276), and Brad Miska at Bloody Disgusting (https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/110320/trick-r-treat-v-2/). We also quoted Josh’s review from Las Vegas Weekly (https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/film/2009/oct/28/trick-r-treat/).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in next time for our second special Halloween 2007 episode, featuring Jeremy Saulnier’s debut feature Murder Party.

In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1977, 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 sixth season, covering the awesome movie year of 1984, starting with box-office champion Beverly Hills Cop. But first up, keep an eye out for two weeks of bonus episodes!

In the finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977, we’re talking about this season’s audience choice pick, Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Written and directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, Francois Truffaut, Bob Balaban and Teri Garr, Close Encounters of the Third Kind defeated Saturday Night Fever and Smokey and the Bandit in our audience choice poll of iconic 1977 films.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Charles Champlin in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-close-encounters-review-20170831-story.html), Arthur Knight in TheHollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/close-encounters-third-kind-1977-review-947485), and A.D. Murphy in Variety (https://variety.com/1977/film/reviews/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind-1200424081/).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in next time for our 1977 season epilogue.

The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features our future cult classic pick, George Roy Hill’s Slap Shot. Directed by George Roy Hill from a script by Nancy Dowd and starring Paul Newman, Michael Ontkean, Lindsay Crouse, Strother Martin and Jennifer Warren, Slap Shot was a critical and commercial failure upon its release but has since built up a cult following.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Gary Arnold in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1977/04/01/slap-shot-vulgar-rowdy-mixed-up-and-commercial-mischief/ebb68deb-c72e-4639-94ef-ace79822cc0e/), Vincent Canby in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1977/02/26/archives/hot-time-on-ice-newmans-slap-shot.html), and Pauline Kael in the New Yorker.Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring our audience choice winner, Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

The eleventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features our producer David Rosen’s personal pick, comedy anthology The Kentucky Fried Movie. Directed by John Landis and written by the team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, The Kentucky Fried Movie was a pioneering film of the spoof genre that helped launch the careers of its writers and director.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Lawrence Van Gelder in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/11/archives/kentucky-fried-a-yolky-film.html), Variety (https://variety.com/1976/film/reviews/the-kentucky-fried-movie-1200423875/), and Polly Warfield in the Los Angeles Free Press (https://voices.revealdigital.org/?a=d&d=BGJFHJH19770812.1.12&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------------1).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring our future cult classic pick, George Roy Hill’s Slap Shot.

The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features the Best Picture Oscar winner, Woody Allen’s Annie Hall. Directed and co-written (with Marshall Brickman) by Woody Allen and starring Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane and Paul Simon, Annie Hall was nominated for five Oscars and won four, including Best Picture.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/annie-hall-1977), Joseph McBride in Variety (https://variety.com/1977/film/reviews/annie-hall-woody-allen-diane-keaton-1200424062/), and Tim Radford in The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/18/annie-hall-archive-review).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring our producer David Rosen’s personal pick, comedy anthology The Kentucky Fried Movie.

The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features the Golden Globes Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) winner, Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl. Written by Neil Simon, directed by Herbert Ross and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason and Quinn Cummings, The Goodbye Girl won an Oscar for Dreyfuss and four Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy).The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Pauline Kael in The New Yorker, Vincent Canby in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/01/archives/film-goodbye-girl-full-of-wisecracks.html), and Donald McLean in the Bay Area Reporter.Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring the Best Picture Oscar winner, Woody Allen’s Annie Hall.

The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features Jason’s personal pick, Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety. Written and directed by Mel Brooks and starring Brooks, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman and Ron Carey, High Anxiety is a parody of the work of filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/high-anxiety-1978), Vincent Canby in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/26/archives/mel-brooks-in-high-anxiety.html), and Pauline Kael in The New Yorker.Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring the Golden Globes Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) winner, Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl.

The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features one of the year’s most notable foreign films, Werner Herzog’s Stroszek. Written and directed by Werner Herzog and starring Bruno Schleinstein, Eva Mattes, Clemens Scheitz and Clayton Szalpinski, Stroszek has come to be regarded as one of Herzog’s best films.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Vincent Canby in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1977/07/13/archives/film-herzogs-pilgrims-hit-the-us-road.html), People Magazine (https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-stroszek-a-ballad-vol-8-no-13/), and Gary Arnold in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1977/10/01/stroszek-misfit-with-noble-heart/645fe12e-f216-4b40-955f-ac6e2f999e94).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring Jason’s personal pick, Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety.

The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features Josh’s personal pick, Robert Benton’s The Late Show. Written and directed by Robert Benton and starring Art Carney, Lily Tomlin, Bill Macy, Eugene Roche, Joanna Cassidy and John Considine, The Late Show was nominated for several major film awards, including the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-late-show-1977), Pauline Kael in The New Yorker, and Charles Champlin in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37476885/charles-champlin-film-reviewthe-late/). Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring one of the year’s most notable foreign films, Werner Herzog’s Stroszek.

The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features our pick for the year’s most notable documentary, bodybuilding showcase Pumping Iron. Directed by George Butler and Robert Fiore and featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Franco Columbu and Mike Katz, Pumping Iron helped bring bodybuilding into the mainstream as a respected sport.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Richard Eder in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/19/archives/film-muscles-galorebulging-mystique.html), Gene Siskel in the Chicago Tribune, and Pauline Kael in The New YorkerPlease like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring Josh’s personal pick, Robert Benton’s The Late Show.

The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features the Cannes Film Festival award winner 3 Women. Written and directed by Robert Altman and starring Shelley Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Janice Rule and Robert Fortier, 3 Women won the Best Actress award for Shelley Duvall at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/3-women-1977), Vincent Canby in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/11/archives/altmans-3-women-a-moving-film-shelley-duvall-in-memorable-role.html), and Ruth Batchelor in the Los Angeles Free Press (https://voices.revealdigital.org/?a=d&d=BGJFHJH19770429.1.10&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------------1).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring our pick for the year’s most notable documentary, bodybuilding showcase Pumping Iron.

The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features the year’s biggest flop, Martin Scorsese’s New York, New York. Directed by Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Liza Minnelli, Lionel Stander, Barry Primus and Mary Kay Place, New York, New York was a box-office failure and a major disappointment for Scorsese following the success of Taxi Driver.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/new-york-new-york-1977), Vincent Canby in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1977/06/23/archives/film-new-york-in-a-tuneful-era.html), and Pauline Kael in The New Yorker.Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring Robert Altman’s Cannes Film Festival award winner 3 Women.

The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, David Lynch’s Eraserhead. Written and directed by David Lynch and starring Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph, Jeanne Bates and Judith Anna Roberts, Eraserhead was negatively received by critics but eventually built up a cult following and wider cultural recognition.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Variety (https://variety.com/1976/film/reviews/eraserhead-1200424018/), Jack Knoll in Newsweek, and Pauline Kael in TheNew Yorker.Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring the year’s biggest flop, Martin Scorsese’s New York, New York.

The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1977 features the top-grossing film at the box office, George Lucas’ Star Wars. Written and directed by George Lucas and starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew and the voice of James Earl Jones, Star Wars grossed $410 million worldwide in its initial release and became the highest-grossing movie of all time.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/star-wars-1977), A.D. Murphy in Variety (https://variety.com/1977/film/reviews/star-wars-3-1200424073/), and Pauline Kael in The New Yorker (https://web.archive.org/web/20061217122529).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1977 installment featuring our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, David Lynch’s Eraserhead.

In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1996, 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 next time for the premiere of our fifth season, covering the awesome movie year of 1977, starting with box-office champion Star Wars.

In the finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996, we’re talking about this season’s audience choice pick, Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do! Written and directed by Tom Hanks and starring Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry and Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do! beat out Billy Bob Thornton’s Sling Blade and Steve Buscemi’s Trees Lounge in our audience choice poll of 1996 directorial debuts by actors.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/that-thing-you-do-1996), Duane Byrge in TheHollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/thing-you-do-1996-review-934918), and Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/04/movies/a-band-s-beatle-ish-rise-in-hanks-s-directing-debut.html).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in next time for our 1996 season epilogue.

The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features our future cult classic pick, David Cronenberg’s Crash. Written and directed by David Cronenberg (based on J.G. Ballard’s novel) and starring James Spader, Holly Hunter, Deborah Kara Unger, Elias Koteas and Rosanna Arquette, Crash was awarded a Special Jury Prize at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/crash-1997), Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/21/movies/an-orgy-of-bent-fenders-and-bent-love.html), and Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/1997/03/28/crash-8/).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring our audience choice winner, Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do!

The eleventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features our producer David Rosen’s personal pick, Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners. Directed and co-written (with Fran Walsh) by Peter Jackson and starring Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Jeffrey Combs, Peter Dobson, Dee Wallace, Chi McBride and Jim Fyfe, The Frighteners was a box-office disappointment but helped launch Jackson’s career in Hollywood.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-frighteners-1996), Kenneth Turan in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-19-ca-25543-story.html), and Ken Tucker in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/1996/07/26/frighteners/).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring our future cult classic pick, David Cronenberg’s Crash.

The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features the Best Picture Oscar winner, The English Patient. Written and directed by Anthony Minghella (based on the novel by Michael Ondaatje) and starring Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Juliette Binoche and Willem Dafoe, The English Patient was nominated for 12 Oscars and won nine, including Best Picture.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-english-patient-1996), Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/packages/html/movies/bestpictures/english-re.html), and Todd McCarthy in Variety (https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/the-english-patient-1200447716/).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring our producer David Rosen’s personal pick, Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners.

The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features the Grand Jury Prize winner from the Sundance Film Festival, Todd Solondz’s Welcome to the Dollhouse. Written and directed by Todd Solondz and starring Heather Matarazzo, Brendan Sexton III, Eric Mabius, Matthew Faber, Angela Pietropinto and Bill Buell, Welcome to the Dollhouse went on to be nominated for five Independent Spirit Awards, with one win.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/welcome-to-the-dollhouse-1996), Lisa Schwarzbaum in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/1996/05/31/welcome-dollhouse/), and David Ansen in Newsweek (https://www.newsweek.com/agony-adolescence-178568).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring the Best Picture Oscar winner, Anthony Minghella’s The English Patient.

The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features Jason’s personal pick, influential indie comedy Swingers. Written by Jon Favreau, directed by Doug Liman and starring Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Ron Livingston, Patrick Van Horn, Alex Desert and Heather Graham, Swingers was a minor box-office success, but went on to be one of the essential movies of the ’90s indie boom.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/swingers-1996), Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/1996/11/01/swingers-2/), and Michael Wilmington in the Chicago Tribune (https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-10-25-9610250071-story.html).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, Todd Solondz’s Welcome to the Dollhouse.

The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features one of the year’s most notable foreign films, Czech drama Kolya. Directed by Jan Sverak, written by his father Zdenek Sverak and starring Zdenek Sverak, Andrei Chalimon, Libuse Safrankova and Ondrej Vetchy, Kolya won the awards for best foreign language film at the Oscars and the Golden Globes.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/kolya-1997), Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/24/movies/what-a-difference-a-boy-makes.html), and Edward Guthmann in the San Francisco Chronicle (https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/FILM-REVIEW-Charming-Kolya-Has-Magic-Touch-2827806.php).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring Jason’s personal pick, influential indie comedy Swingers.

The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features Josh’s personal pick, John Sayles’ Lone Star. Written and directed by John Sayles and starring Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Joe Morton, Kris Kristofferson, Miriam Colon, Clifton James and Matthew McConaughey, Lone Star premiered at the 1996 South by Southwest film festival and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/lone-star-1996), David Ansen in Newsweek (https://www.newsweek.com/dark-deeds-texas-179468), and Ken Tucker in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/1996/06/21/lone-star-2/).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring one of the year’s most notable foreign films, Oscar-winning Czech film Kolya.

The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features our pick for the year’s most notable documentary, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky’s Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. The second feature collaboration between directors Berlinger and Sinofsky, Paradise Lost premiered at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival before airing on HBO in June 1996.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/paradise-lost-the-child-murders-at-robin-hood-hills-1996), Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/26/movies/film-festival-review-in-the-shadows-of-hell-and-hatred.html), and Peter Stack in the San Francisco Chronicle (https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/FILM-REVIEW-Dark-Side-of-Paradise-Murder-2959351.php).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring Josh’s personal pick, John Sayles’ Lone Star.

The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features the Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, Mike Leigh’s Secrets & Lies. Written and directed by Leigh and starring Brenda Blethyn, Timothy Spall, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Phyllis Logan and Claire Rushbrook, Secrets & Lies debuted at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival and went on to be nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/secrets-and-lies-1996), Desson Thomson in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/secretsandlieshowe.htm), and Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/1996/10/18/secrets-and-lies/).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring our pick for the year’s most notable documentary, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky’s Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills.

The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features the year’s biggest flop, literary adaptation The Island of Dr. Moreau. Directed by John Frankenheimer from a script co-written by original director Richard Stanley and starring David Thewlis, Val Kilmer, Marlon Brando and Fairuza Balk, The Island of Dr. Moreau was beset by production and budget problems and considered one of the worst movies of the year.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Peter Stack in the San Francisco Chronicle (https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/FILM-REVIEW-Brando-s-Beastly-Island-of-Dr-2969817.php), Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/23/movies/brando-plays-a-madman-more-apocalyptically.html), and David Ansen in Newsweek (https://www.newsweek.com/brando-plays-god-177660).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring the Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, Mike Leigh’s Secrets & Lies.

The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket. Directed by Wes Anderson, written by Anderson and Owen Wilson and starring Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Robert Musgrave, Lumi Cavazos and James Caan, Bottle Rocket was an expansion of Anderson’s 1994 short film and also marked the film debut of both Wilson brothers.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bottle-rocket-1996), David Hunter in TheHollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bottle-rocket-review-1996-movie-1086888), and Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/21/movies/film-review-slackers-with-ambition-to-become-desperadoes.html).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring the year’s biggest flop, literary adaptation The Island of Dr. Moreau.

The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1996 features the top-grossing film both worldwide and in North America, Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day. Directed by Emmerich from a script he co-wrote with Dean Devlin and starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin and Vivica A. Fox, Independence Day grossed more than $800 million worldwide and won an Oscar for its visual effects.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/independence-day-1996), Lisa Schwarzbaum in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/1996/07/12/independence-day-5/), and Duane Byrge in TheHollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/independence-day-1996-movie-original-905775).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1996 installment featuring our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket.

In this special bonus episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989, we’re talking about one of the year’s most acclaimed and influential movies, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. Written and directed by Spike Lee and starring Lee, Danny Aiello, Giancarlo Esposito, John Turturro, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Bill Nunn and Rosie Perez, Do the Right Thing premiered at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for two Oscars.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/do-the-right-thing-1989), Desson Thomson in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/dotherightthingrhowe_a0b222.htm), and Peter Travers in Rolling Stone (https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/do-the-right-thing-88272/).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for our fourth season, coming next week!

In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1989, 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 next time for the premiere of our fourth season, covering the awesome movie year of 1996, starting with box-office champion Independence Day. 

In the finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989, we’re talking about this season’s audience choice pick, action sequel Lethal Weapon 2. Written by Jeffrey Boam, directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Patsy Kensit, Joss Ackland and Derrick O’Connor, Lethal Weapon 2 beat out Back to the Future Part II and Ghostbusters II in our audience choice poll of 1989 blockbuster sequels.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/lethal-weapon-2-1989), Caryn James in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/07/movies/review-film-chases-crashes-shootings-more-in-lethal-weapon-2.html), and Michael Wilmington in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-07-ca-3330-story.html).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in next time for our 1989 season epilogue. 

The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features our future cult classic pick, teen skateboarding drama Gleaming the Cube. Written by Michael Tolkin, directed by Graeme Clifford and starring Christian Slater, Steven Bauer, Min Luong and Richard Herd, Gleaming the Cube was a box-office failure but became an influential piece of skater culture.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Richard Harrington in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/gleamingthecubepg13harrington_a0aaa2.htm), Janet Maslin in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/18/movies/review-film-skateboards-vietnamese-and-intrigue.html), and Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-14-ca-22-story.html).

The eleventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features our producer David Rosen’s personal pick, “Weird Al” Yankovic’s UHF. Written by Yankovic and his longtime manager and music video director Jay Levey, directed by Levey and starring Yankovic, Michael Richards, Kevin McCarthy, Victoria Jackson and David Bowe, UHF was a financial and critical failure at the time of its release but went on to become a cult classic.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/uhf-1989), Desson Thomson in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/uhfpg13howe_a0c880.htm), and Michael Wilmington in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-21-ca-4050-story.html).

The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features the Best Picture Oscar winner, Driving Miss Daisy. Written by Alfred Uhry (based on his Pulitzer Prize-winning play), directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy and Dan Aykroyd, Driving Miss Daisy opened in limited release in December 1989 and went on to win four Oscars, including Best Picture.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/driving-miss-daisy-1990), Henry Sheehan in The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/driving-miss-daisy-review-1989-movie-1067241), and Desson Thomson in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/drivingmissdaisypghowe_a0b249.htm). 

The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features the Grand Jury Prize winner from the Sundance Film Festival, Nancy Savoca’s True Love. Directed and co-written (with her husband Richard Guay) by Savoca and starring Ron Eldard, Annabella Sciorra, Aida Turturro and Roger Rignack, True Love premiered at the 1989 Sundance Film Festival and went on to be nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/true-love-1989), Hal Hinson in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/trueloverhinson_a0a959.htm), and Ira Robbins in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/article/1990/04/20/true-love/). 

The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features Jason’s personal pick, romantic comedy classic When Harry Met Sally. Written by Nora Ephron, directed by Rob Reiner and starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby, When Harry Met Sally was a box-office hit and an Oscar nominee for Best Original Screenplay, and has become one of the most influential romantic comedies of all time.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/when-harry-met-sally---1989), Sheila Benson in the LA Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-14-ca-3848-story.html), and Caryn James in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/12/movies/review-film-it-s-harry-loves-sally-in-a-romance-of-new-yorkers-and-neuroses.html). 

The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features one of the year’s most notable foreign films, Pedro Almodovar’s Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!. Directed and co-written by Almodovar and starring Antonio Banderas, Victoria Abril, Loles Leon and Francisco Rabal, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! was the highest-grossing domestic film of the year in Spain and was nominated for 15 Goyas, Spain’s top film award.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tie-me-up-tie-me-down-1990), Johanna Steinmetz in the Chicago Tribune (https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-05-25-9002120756-story.html), and Rita Kempley in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/tiemeuptiemedownnrkempley_a0a013.htm).  

The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features Josh’s personal pick, dark teen comedy Heathers. Written by Daniel Waters, directed by Michael Lehmann and starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Kim Walker and Lisanne Falk, Heathers was a box-office failure but has since gained a reputation as one of the best teen movies of the ’80s.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/heathers-1989), Rita Kempley in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/heathersrkempley_a09fb6.htm), and Jonathan Rosenbaum in the Chicago Reader (https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/heathers/Film?oid=1059011).  

The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features our pick for the year’s most notable documentary, Michael Moore’s Roger & Me. Written and directed by Moore, who also narrates and appears onscreen, Roger & Me premiered at the 1989 Telluride Film Festival and went on to become one of the most influential documentaries ever made.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Hal Hinson in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/rogermerhinson_a0a906.htm), Peter Rainer in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-11-ca-312-story.html), and Dave Kehr in the Chicago Tribune (https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-01-12-9001030984-story.html). 

The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features the year’s biggest flop, Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Directed and co-written by Gilliam and starring John Neville, Sarah Polley and Eric Idle, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen had a troubled production and a truncated release, but went on to critical acclaim and cult success.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-adventures-of-baron-munchausen-1989), Hal Hinson in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/theadventuresofbaronmunchausenpghinson_a0a8f0.htm), and Sheila Benson in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-03-05-ca-566-story.html). 

The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features the Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies and Videotape. Written and directed by Soderbergh and starring James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Laura San Giacomo and Peter Gallagher, Sex, Lies and Videotape debuted at the 1989 Sundance Film Festival and went on to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sex-lies-and-videotape-1989), Desson Howe in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/sexliesandvideotaperhowe_a0b22d.htm), and Caryn James in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/04/movies/review-film-a-dance-of-sex-and-love-through-a-lens-darkly.html).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1989 installment featuring the year’s biggest flop, Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.  

The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything. Written and directed by Cameron Crowe and starring John Cusack, Ione Skye and John Mahoney, Say Anything was Crowe’s first feature film as a director, after having previously written the screenplays for Fast Times at Ridgemont High and The Wild Life.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/say-anything-1989), Caryn James in the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/14/movies/review-film-mismatched-teen-agers-fall-in-love-of-course.html), and Kirk Honeycutt in The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/say-anything-review-1989-movie-994038).Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1989 installment featuring the Cannes Palme d’Or winner, Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies and Videotape.  

The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features the top-grossing film in North America, Tim Burton’s Batman. Directed by Burton from a script by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren and starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl and Michael Gough, Batman was 1989’s number one movie at the North American box office and number two worldwide.The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/batman-1989), Hal Hinson in the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/batmanpg13hinson_a07fb8.htm), and Carrie Rickey in the Philadelphia Inquirer (https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/movies/Batman_takes_good_vs_evil_under_its_wings.html).Visit https://www.awesomemovieyear.com for more info about the show. Make sure to like Awesome Movie Year on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear and follow us on Twitter @Awesomemoviepod You can find Jason online at http://goforjason.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Twitter @JHarrisComedy You can find Josh online at http://joshbellhateseverything.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joshbellhateseverything/ and on Twitter @signalbleed You can find our producer David Rosen’s Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod and the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod. All of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.com Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1989 installment featuring our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything.