Mission 250 Filmcast

This week, we are continuing to watch the remaining Best International Film nominees from this years Oscars. This film was made illegally in Iran, and even with the extreme limitations that entails, this film manages a very tight thriller with well integrated political criticisms. It Was Just an Accident (2025), directed by Jafar Panahi.

This week, we start watching the remaining Best International Film nominees from this years Oscars. This first film is one where we will only say - see it if you are a fan of and / or tolerate every genre of movies. If you do, put it at the top of your queue. Sirat (2025), directed by Oliver Laxe.

This week, we go to the theaters! We ran into some audio issues this week, so apologies for the quality. Use it as a reference point for how typically amazing our podcast sounds (Thanks TC!). Oh yeah, this movie - see it in the theaters! Project Hail Mary (2026), directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

This week, we celebrate TC's victory on this years Oscars competition with a pick direct from the man himself. This film received no Oscar nominations, but did rake in nearly $500 million dollars at the box office. And while John and Denny may have very much disliked it, at least TC did too. Godzilla Vs. Kong (2021), directed by Adam Wingard.

This week, we're finishing up our run of awards season films with the 10th Best Picture nominee we've seen. This film is a very heavy period piece drama, which includes William Shakespeare himself. His friends call him Will. Hamnet (2025), directed by Chloe Zhao.

This week, we find ourselves at the end of awards season! Oscars were last weekend weekend, and we watched every best picture nominee this year. In this episode, we tally our Oscar picks. The winner gets to make the others watch whatever movie they pick. Will Denny defend the title and force John and TC to watch a Nic Cage movie? Tune in to find out!

This week, we find ourselves at the end of awards season! Oscars are this weekend, and we've seen every best picture nominee this year. In this episode, we all rank our top movies from the 10 best picture nominees, and also put in our predictions for the winner of each category. The winner gets to make the others watch whatever movie they pick. Will Denny defend the title and force John and TC to watch a Nic Cage movie? Only time will tell.

This week, we're continuing with awards season films. This film stands out this year for receiving 4 acting nominations, totaling 9 nominations overall. You get what that implies - lots of really good, intense acting by all the actors. Sentimental Value (2025), directed by Joachim Trier.

This week, we're continuing with awards season films. This new creature feature from Guillermo Del Toro has racked up 9 Oscar Nominations. While the production seems to have been well meaning, the Netflix sheen on this story really seems to go against the intent of the writer/director. Frankenstein (2025), directed by Guillermo Del Toro.

This week, we're continuing with awards season films. It is rare that a foreign film gets nominated for anything besides best international film, and this one is in contention for the top prize as well (Best Picture). Leave your expectations behind with this one, and see if it takes you on a journey. The Secret Agent (2025), directed by Kleber Mendonca Filho.

This week, we're continuing with awards season films. The Best Picture Oscar nominees were released last week, so we're going on a path to watch all of them before the ceremonies. This week, we built car! F1: The Movie (2025), directed by Joseph Kosinski.

This week, we're continuing with awards season films. This film received three Golden Globe nominations, was directed by the legendary writer / director of Oldboy, and is about paper and some other stuff. This week is was snubbed at the Oscars. Our reviews were recorded before the snubs. No Other Choice (2025), directed by Park Chan-wook.

This week, we're continuing with awards season films. This film won a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice award for best actor, Timothee Chalamet receiving both. It also just took the record for highest domestic box office for an A24 film. It will certainly be a contender come the Oscars. Marty Supreme (2025), directed by Josh Safdie.

This week, we're in 2026 and right in the middle of awards season. The Golden Globes were last night, the Oscars are coming up, and we're diving into what is shaping up to be one of the best years for movies in a long time.  This year, we're watching the two time Golden Globe nominee, and winner of the Critics Choice Award for best cinematography, Train Dreams (2025), directed by Clint Bentley.

This week, it's the holiday season! What says holidays more than a tentpole sequel on a streaming service? Nothing. Nothing does. This movie is a very fun whodunnit romp that will surely please the part of your family who can stay awake on the couch. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025), directed by Rian Johnson.

This week, we find ourselves in awards season. This film was nominated for the Palm d'Or as well as a Golden Globe for best picture (musical/comedy). It is on Netflix. If you are a fan of film history or consider yourself a movie nerd, this one is a strong recommendation. Nouvelle Vague (2025), directed by Richard Linklater.

This week, we treat ourselves to a visit to the theater. By the box office numbers, we were hardly the only ones to go. Disney is raking it in on this sequel to the 2016 best animated picture winner, and we give it a peak. Zootopia 2 (2025), directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard.

This week, we watch a film that is beyond anything a summary could cover.  A must see, a masterpiece. Schindler's List, directed by Steven Spielberg. 

This week, we're finish up our Lanthimos kick with the film that brought the director to a wide audience. We are divided on this one again, but the visual style and humor are enough to get a recommendation from at least two of us. The Favourite (2018), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

This week, we're continuing our Lanthimos kick with a film that is currently in theaters. We are a bit divided on how this one ended up, but we can say that if your a fan of the director, this one is worth seeing blind. Bugonia (2025), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

This week, we find ourselves in October (when we recorded). And you know what that means? Scary films! The final week brings us to the director who gave us Poor Things. We can't in good conscience recommend watching this movie to any listeners, but if you want to be disturbed and witness some of the obvious filmmaking talent of early Yorgos, you may want to dare. Dogtooth (2009), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

This week, we find ourselves in October. And you know what that means? Scary films! Week three brings us back to the director who gave us Seven and Gone Girl (both on the top 250). More of a thriller/crime procedural, this film nonetheless has at least one of the scariest scenes ever put to film. Zodiac (2007), directed by David Fincher.

This week, we find ourselves in October. And you know what that means? Scary films! Week two brings us back to the director who gave us the old film newly on the top 250, Harakiri (1962). Lots of people consider this horror, but after a viewing, it seems more like a series of fantasy stories with ghosts. Kwaidan (1964), directed by Masaki Kobayashi.

This week, we find ourselves in October. And you know what that means? Scary films! We kick into it with the first film by the writer/director that brought us the excellent Weapons this year. Barbarian (2022), directed by Zach Cregger.

This week, we go to the theaters to see was will most certainly be a frontrunner for best picture of 2025. This film blends action, drama, political commentary, and, most importantly, humor into a unique yet accessible joyride. See this one in the theaters if you can. One Battle After Another (2025), directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

It's September, and to celebrate the fall season, we are doing a month of David Lynch movies. Lynch is criminally under represented in the Top 250, so we wanted to honor the legendary film maker with a run of some of his most acclaimed work. This week, we finish it off with his first film, Eraserhead (1977).

It's September, and to celebrate the fall season, we are doing a month of David Lynch movies. Lynch is criminally under represented in the Top 250, so we wanted to honor the legendary film maker with a run of some of his most acclaimed work. This week, we watch Mulholland Drive (2001).

It's September, and to celebrate the fall season, we are doing a month of David Lynch movies. Lynch is criminally under represented in the Top 250, so we wanted to honor the legendary film maker with a run of some of his most acclaimed work. This week, we watch Lost Highway (1997).

It's September, and to celebrate the fall season, we are doing a month of David Lynch movies. Lynch is criminally under represented in the Top 250, so we wanted to honor the legendary film maker with a run of some of his most acclaimed work. This week, we dive right in with Blue Velvet (1986). Let's go for a ride.

This week, we head to the theater to see the hugely successful horror film that makes the Naruto Run scary again. This film bounces between big scares and laughs like almost nothing else since Evil Dead 2. Don't walk, run (with your arms stretched out behind you) to the theater to catch this one. Weapons (2025), directed by Zach Cregger.

For the fourth movie choice based on the theme of death, we travel to Hawaii to hang with Clooney. This film has some heavy drama, but with Alexander Payne sprinkling in his dry humor and the sights and sounds of Hawaii ever-present, the story keeps from sinking into too dark of a place. The Descendants (2011), directed by Alexander Payne.

For the third movie choice based on the theme of death, we repost an episode where we watch the tale of a man diagnosed with stomach cancer, which causes him to reflect on his seemingly wasted life. Taking its time to establish moods appropriate for the subject matter, this film makes you think about what it means to be alive, and how to get the most out of life with what short time we have. Ikiru (1952), directed by Akira Kurosawa.

This week, we continued with the themed movie selections, with the first series is based on the theme of Death. This second film takes place near our old stomping grounds of Boston, a features a story and performances where you might need to take a walk afterwords to digest and decompress. Manchester by the Sea (2016), directed by Kenneth Lonergan.

This week, we start a new diversion with themed movie selections. The next three weeks, your hosts will be selecting one movie each that fits within the current theme - Death. The first film is an underrated and under seen movie that won big at the Sundance film festival back when it first came out. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon.

This week, we watch the third entry in the film franchise that is 23 years old and introduced fast zombies to the world. This film has been in development since shortly after the second entry in 2007, and it might be the first movie where the edit was influenced by choices made by the trailer team. 28 Years Later (2025), directed by Danny Boyle.

This week, we continue the newer segment where we go back through the IMDB top 250 list since we froze it in 2016 and see what has been added. This film is currently sitting at number 66 on the IMDB list. 12th Fail (2023), directed by Vindu Vinod Chopra.

This week we watch the latest horror film from the Austrialian brothers Danny and Michael Philippou. While its not turning out to be the sensation that their previous film, Talk to Me was, the film is stil very well made, well acted, and very dark. Bring Her Back (2025).

This week, we start a new segment where we go back through the IMDB top 250 list since we froze it in 2016 and see what has been added. This film is currently sitting at number 40 on the IMDB list, and also is rated the #1 best movie of all time currently on Letterboxd. Harakiri (1962), directed by Masaki Kobayashi.

This week, we watch the classic bottle movie where 12 humans with bias come to realize the baggage they bring to their view of the world. This film is understandably so high up on the list because of its message of understanding, as well as its entertaining thriller vibe. 12 Angry Men (1957), directed by Sidney Lumet.

This week, we watch the sixth film (first in over a decade) in the Final Destination franchise. In these films, death chases those who escape it, and can only kill people in a series of more elaborate ways. This film leans heavily into the camp while keeping the over the top gore in potentially the strongest entry in the series. Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025), directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein.  

This week, we watch the classic that changed the film industry forever. Indie attempts to copy the formula defined most of the rest of the 90s, but nothing came close to what this film achieves. This films iconic status has not diminished over the years, and it remains one of the funniest films of all time. Pulp Fiction (1994), directed by Quentin Tarantino.

This week, we follow up with last weeks episode with another Salles film. Releasing nearly three decades earlier, this film's documentary feel shows promise from the director. It is also the first Brazilian film to receive a best actor/actress Oscar nomination. Central Station (1998), directed by Walter Salles.

This week, we watch last years winner of the Best International Film academy award. This film is a passion project from renowned Brazilian director, who spent 7 years making this film, which is a true story about a family he knew when he was a child, and the events that unfolded to that family during the military occupation of Rio De Janeiro in the 70's. I'm Still Here (2024), directed by Walter Salles.

This week, we watch the first original screenplay from writer/director Ryan Coogler in over a decade. After solidifying his reputation with big budget series films (Creed, Black Panther), Coogler returns to original screenplays, and returns to film (IMAX). What results is one of the most wildly entertaining theater going experiences in years. Even if the horror genre generally turns you away, give this one a shot. Sinners (2025), directed by Ryan Coogler.

This week, we move on to Part 3 of the final film of the highest rated trilogy of all time. These films condense Tolkien's novels into accessible blockbusters that don't sacrifice depth. They also continues to have a tremendous impact on the artistry in filmmaking as well as in pop culture. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), directed by Peter Jackson.

This week, we move on to Part 2 of the final film of the highest rated trilogy of all time. These films condense Tolkien's novels into accessible blockbusters that don't sacrifice depth. They also continues to have a tremendous impact on the artistry in filmmaking as well as in pop culture. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), directed by Peter Jackson.

This week, we finish the highest rated trilogy of all time. These films condense Tolkien's novels into accessible blockbusters that don't sacrifice depth. They also continues to have a tremendous impact on the artistry in filmmaking as well as in pop culture. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), directed by Peter Jackson.

This week, we finish with the second film in the highest rated trilogy of all time. These films condense Tolkien's novels into accessible blockbusters that don't sacrifice depth. They also continues to have a tremendous impact on the artistry in filmmaking as well as in pop culture. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), directed by Peter Jackson.

This week, we continue with the second film in the highest rated trilogy of all time. These films condense Tolkien's novels into accessible blockbusters that don't sacrifice depth. They also continues to have a tremendous impact on the artistry in filmmaking as well as in pop culture. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), directed by Peter Jackson.

This week, we move into the second film in the highest rated trilogy of all time. These films condense Tolkien's novels into accessible blockbusters that don't sacrifice depth. They also continues to have a tremendous impact on the artistry in filmmaking as well as in pop culture. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), directed by Peter Jackson.