The Envelope

Ladies & Gentlemen. Welcome to “The Envelope” Podcast. For the last time. Here on The Envelope, we have discussed & reviewed every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. We began with the very first Best Picture Winner “Wings” and over the past 93 episodes (plus a few Special Episodes), we have watched, analyzed and debated every Best Picture Winner in order, all the way up to the latest winner “Nomadland.” What an amazing way to view the progression of film through the decades. We genuinely hope you enjoyed following along with us! Our podcasts will remain on iTunes and our website for future enjoyment. So please catch up on any episodes you might have missed! This week we’re bringing you our FINAL EPISODE where we rank our Top Ten Favorite Academy Award Best Picture Winners.

On this episode, we discuss the ninety-third Best Picture Winner: “NOMADLAND” "Nomadland" is based on the 2017 nonfiction book "Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century" by Jessica Bruder. The film follows Fern, a woman in her sixties who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad. The film is a poetic character study on the forgotten and downtrodden that captures the restlessness left in the wake of the Great Recession. Directed by Chloé Zhao, the film stars Frances McDormand as Fern and David Strathairn as Dave. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the ninety-second Best Picture Winner: “PARASITE” "Parasite" is a South Korean black comedy thriller that follows a poor family who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family and infiltrate their household by posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals. Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. Directed by Bong Joon Ho, the film stars Kang-ho Song as Ki Taek, Sun-kyun Lee as Dong Ik, Yeo-jeong Cho as Yeon Kyo, Woo-sik Choi as Ki Woo and So-dam Park as Ki Jung. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

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On this episode, we discuss the ninety-first Best Picture Winner: “GREEN BOOK” "Green Book" is a biographical comedy-drama written by Peter Farrelly, Brian Hayes Currie and Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga's son, Nick Vallelonga, based on interviews with his father and Shirley, as well as letters his father wrote to his mother. Dr. Don Shirley is a world-class African-American pianist, who is about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South in 1962. In need of a driver and protection, Shirley recruits Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, a tough-talking bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx. Despite their differences, the two men soon develop an unexpected bond while confronting racism and danger in an era of segregation. Directed by Peter Farrelly, the film stars Viggo Mortensen as Tony Lip, Mahershala Ali as Dr. Donald Shirley, Linda Cardellini as Dolores and Sebastian Maniscalco as Johnny Venere. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the ninetieth Best Picture Winner: “THE SHAPE OF WATER” "The Shape of Water" is a romantic fantasy film that follows Elisa, a mute, isolated woman who works as a cleaning lady in a hidden, high-security government laboratory in 1962 Baltimore. Her life changes forever when she discovers the lab's classified secret: a mysterious, scaled creature from South America that lives in a water tank. As Elisa develops a unique bond with her new friend, she soon learns that its fate and very survival lies in the hands of a hostile government agent and a marine biologist. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the film stars Sally Hawkins as Elisa Esposito, Michael Shannon as Richard Strickland, Richard Jenkins as Giles, Octavia Spencer as Zelda Fuller, Michael Stuhlbarg as Dr. Robert Hoffstetler and Doug Jones as Amphibian Man. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-ninth Best Picture Winner: “MOONLIGHT” "Moonlight" is a coming-of-age drama based on Tarell Alvin McCraney's unpublished semi-autobiographical play "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue." The film presents three stages in the life of Chiron, a young black man growing up in Miami. The film explores the difficulties he faces with his sexuality and identity, including the physical and emotional abuse he endures growing up. His epic journey to manhood is also guided by the kindness, support and love of the community that helps raise him. Directed by Barry Jenkins, the film stars Mahershala Ali as Juan, Janelle Monáe as Teresa, Naomie Harris as Paula, Alex R. Hibbert as Little (Chiron in the first segment), Ashton Sanders as Chiron (in the second segment), and Trevante Rhodes as Black (Chiron in the third segment). Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-eighth Best Picture Winner: “SPOTLIGHT” "Spotlight" follows The Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team, the oldest continuously operating newspaper investigative journalist unit in the United States, and its investigation into cases of widespread and systemic child sex abuse in the Boston area by numerous Roman Catholic priests. In 2001, editor Marty Baron of The Boston Globe assigns a team of journalists to investigate allegations against John Geoghan, an unfrocked priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys. Led by editor Walter "Robby" Robinson, reporters Michael Rezendes, Matt Carroll and Sacha Pfeiffer interview victims and try to unseal sensitive documents. The reporters make it their mission to provide proof of a cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church. Directed by Tom McCarthy, the film stars Michael Keaton as Walter 'Robby' Robinson, Mark Ruffalo as Mike Rezendes, Rachel McAdams as Sacha Pfeiffer, Liev Schreiber as Marty Baron, John Slattery as Ben Bradlee Jr., Stanley Tucci as Mitchell Garabedian and Billy Crudup as Eric Macleish. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-seventh Best Picture Winner: “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” follows former cinema superhero Riggan Thomson as he mounts an ambitious Broadway production that he hopes will breathe new life into his stagnant career. It's risky, but he hopes that his creative gamble will prove that he's a real artist and not just a washed-up movie star. As opening night approaches, a castmate is injured, forcing Riggan to hire an actor who is guaranteed to shake things up. Meanwhile, Riggan must deal with his girlfriend, daughter and ex-wife. Directed Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film stars Michael Keaton as Riggan Thomson, Emma Stone as Sam, Zach Galifianakis as Jake, Naomi Watts as Lesley and Edward Norton as Mike. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-sixth Best Picture Winner: “12 YEARS A SLAVE.” "12 Years a Slave" is a biographical period-drama adaptation of the 1853 slave memoir "Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northup. In the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner, Edwin Epps, he also finds unexpected kindness from another, as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity. Then in the 12th year of the disheartening ordeal, a chance meeting with an abolitionist from Canada changes Solomon's life forever. Directed by Steve McQueen, the film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup, Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps, Sarah Paulson as Mistress Epps, Lupita Nyong'o as Patsey, Paul Dano as Tibeats, Benedict Cumberbatch as Ford and Brad Pitt as Bass. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-fifth Best Picture Winner: “ARGO.” "Argo" is a historical drama thriller based on the 1999 book by U.S. Central Intelligence Agency operative Tony Mendez, titled "The Master of Disguise," and the 2007 Wired article by Joshuah Bearman, titled "The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran". The film deals with the "Canadian Caper", in which Mendez led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran, under the guise of filming a science fiction film during the 1979–1981 Iran hostage crisis. On Nov. 4, 1979, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, taking 66 American hostages. Amid the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge with the Canadian ambassador. Knowing that it's just a matter of time before the refugees are found and likely executed, the U.S. government calls on extractor Tony Mendez to rescue them. Mendez's plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and train the refugees to act as his "film" crew. Directed by Ben Affleck, the film stars Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez, Bryan Cranston as Jack O'Donnell, Alan Arkin as Lester Siegel, John Goodman as John Chambers, Victor Garber as Ken Taylor, Clea DuVall as Cora Lijek and Kyle Chandler as Hamilton Jordan Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-fourth Best Picture Winner: “THE ARTIST.” "The Artist" is a French comedy-drama film in the style of a black-and-white silent film. The story takes place in Hollywood, between 1927 and 1932, and focuses on the relationship between a rising young actress and an older silent film star as silent cinema falls out of fashion and is replaced by the "talkies". Actor George Valentin is a bona fide matinee idol with many adoring fans. While working on his latest film, George finds himself falling in love with an ingenue named Peppy Miller and, what's more, it seems Peppy feels the same way. However, the growing popularity of sound in movies separates the potential lovers, as George's career begins to fade while Peppy's star rises. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the film stars Jean Dujardin as George Valentin, Bérénice Bejo as Peppy Miller, John Goodman as Al Zimmer, James Cromwell as Clifton and Penelope Ann Miller as Doris. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-third Best Picture Winner: “THE KING’S SPEECH.” "The King's Speech" is a British historical drama that follows King George VI who, to cope with a stammer, sees Lionel Logue, an Australian speech and language therapist. The men become friends as they work together, and after his brother abdicates the throne, the new king relies on Logue to help him make his first wartime radio broadcast upon Britain's declaration of war on Germany in 1939. Directed by Tom Hooper, the film stars Colin Firth as King George VI, Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth, Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue and Guy Pearce as King Edward VIII. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-second Best Picture Winner: “THE HURT LOCKER.” "The Hurt Locker" follows an Iraq War Explosive Ordnance Disposal team who are targeted by insurgents and shows their psychological reactions to the stress of combat. Following the death of their well-respected Staff Sergeant, Sergeant JT Stanborn and Specialist Owen Eldridge find their Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit saddled with a very different team leader, Staff Sergeant William James. James is an inveterate risk-taker who seems to thrive on war, but there's no denying his gift for defusing bombs. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the film stars Jeremy Renner as Staff Sergeant William James, Anthony Mackie as Sergeant JT Sanborn, Ralph Fiennes as Contractor Team Leader, David Morse as Colonel Reed, Evangeline Lilly as Connie James and Guy Pearce as Sergeant Matt Thompson Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eighty-first Best Picture Winner: “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE.” "Slumdog Millionaire" is a British drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel "Q & A" written by Indian author Vikas Swarup. The story follows 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. As a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Jamal surprises everyone by being able to answer every question correctly. Accused of cheating, Jamal recounts his life story to the police, illustrating how he is able to answer each question correctly. Part of a stable of young thieves after their mother dies, Jamal and his brother, Salim, survive on the streets of Mumbai. Salim finds the life of crime agreeable, but Jamal scrapes by with small jobs until landing a spot on the game show. Directed by Danny Boyle, the film stars Dev Patel as Jamal Malik, Freida Pinto as Latika, Anil Kapoor as Prem Kumar and Irrfan Khan as the Police Inspector. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the eightieth Best Picture Winner: “NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.” "No Country for Old Men" is neo-Western crime thriller film based on Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel of the same name. While out hunting, Llewelyn Moss finds the grisly aftermath of a drug deal. Though he knows better, he cannot resist the cash left behind and takes it with him. The hunter becomes the hunted when a merciless killer named Anton Chigurh picks up his trail. Also looking for Moss is Sheriff Bell, an aging lawman who reflects on a changing world as he tries to find and protect Moss. Directed by Ethan & Joel Coen, the film stars Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss, Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh, Tommy Lee Jones as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, Kelly Macdonald as Carla Jean Moss, Woody Harrelson as Carson Wells, and Stephen Root as Man who hires Wells. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the seventy-ninth Best Picture Winner: “THE DEPARTED.” "The Departed is a crime thriller remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs" and is also loosely based on the real-life Boston Winter Hill Gang; the character Colin Sullivan is based on the corrupt FBI agent John Connolly, while the character Frank Costello is based on Irish-American gangster Whitey Bulger. In the film, South Boston cop Billy Costigan goes under cover to infiltrate the organization of Irish Mob boss Francis "Frank" Costello. At the same time that Costigan is gaining the mobster's trust, Costello has planted career criminal Colin Sullivan as a mole within the Massachusetts State Police. When both sides realize the situation, Sullivan and Costigan each attempt to discover the other's identity before they are found out. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy Costigan, Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan, Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello, Mark Wahlberg as Dignam, Martin Sheen as Queenan, Ray Winstone as Mr. French, Vera Farmiga as Madolyn, Anthony Anderson as Brown, and Alec Baldwin as Ellerby. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the seventy-eighth Best Picture Winner: “CRASH.” "Crash" is a crime drama that interweaves several connected stories about race, class, family and gender in Los Angeles in the aftermath of 9/11. Characters include a district attorney and his casually prejudiced wife, dating police detectives Graham and Ria, a victimized Middle Eastern store owner, and a wealthy African-American couple humiliated by a racist traffic cop. Directed by Paul Haggis, the ensemble cast stars Sandra Bullock as Jean, Brendan Fraser as D.A. Rick, Terrence Howard as Cameron, Thandie Newton as Christine, Matt Dillon as Officer Ryan, Ryan Phillippe as Officer Hanson, Don Cheadle as Detective Graham, Jennifer Esposito as Detective Ria, Michael Peña as Daniel, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges as Anthony, Tony Danza as Fred, Keith David as Lt. Dixon, Loretta Devine as Shaniqua, Daniel Dae Kim as Park, and Shaun Toub as Farhad. Here on The Envelope, we discuss & review every Best Picture Winner in the Academy Awards History. You can reach anyone here at TheEnvelopePodcast.com – Just go there to email us, check our bios, and keep up with the latest episode.

On this episode, we discuss the 93rd Academy Awards Ceremony and the Winners!

On this episode, we discuss the 2021 Oscar Nominations. We tell you who WILL win and who SHOULD win in every category at this year's Academy Awards!