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WARNING: Major spoilers about all the Oscar nominated films are discussed.

In this episode the Film Pigeons crew offers their opinions on all the Oscar nominated films.  In addition, we rank this years films and offer up our Top 5 Oscar nominated films of the past five years.

SHOW CONTENTS

Oscar Reviews - 3:31 Top 5 Oscar Films of the Past 5 Years - 2:28:25

SHOW LINKS

E-mail us at filmpigeons@gmail.com

Music this week is from Lucy Dacus

Introduction - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - Lucy Dacus - I Don't Want to be Funny

Download this episode HERE.

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Film Pigeons Episode 178: Perfect Sense, Parallels

On this episode of the Film Pigeons podcast we continue our trek through the letter P with reviews of two more films.  First, does the soft sci-fi, "Oh my God, we're losing all our senses," Ewan Mcgregor vehicle Perfect Sense make, indeed, perfect sense?  And, does the excellence of failed TV pilot turned full length film Parallels make us imagine an alternate universe where those types of films compete for Oscars?  Can our podcasters somehow pay close enough attention to those two films to win our trivia contest?  Find out in this episode.

SHOW CONTENTS

Perfect Sense - 23:36 Parallels - 48:44

SHOW LINKS

E-mail the show at filmpigeons@gmail.com

Music this week is from Cloud Cult

Introduction - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - To the Great Unknown

Download this episode HERE.

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Film Pigeons Episode 177: The Perfect Storm, Panic Room, Top 4 Visual Effects Films of the 90s

On this episode a Perfect Storm is brewing as we concoct a brilliant scheme for getting our podcasts to be timely again - destroy the hard drive containing all episodes from O to P, and review two films that are almost 20 years old.  Wait, the latter is what we normally do here at the Film Pigeons podcast!  

Anyways, in this episode we review bad weather drama The Perfect Storm and the David Fincher thriller Panic Room.  We also reveal our Top 4 Visual Effects scenes from 1990s films.

SHOW CONTENTS

The Perfect Storm -  12:06 Panic Room - 34:32 Top 4 Visual Effects Films of the 90s - 55:58

Download this episode HERE.

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Film Pigeons Episode 176: The Orphanage, Once Upon a Time in the West, Top 4 Foreign Language Films

On this episode we review horror/thriller The Orphanage.  We also review the Sergio Leone classic Once Upon a Time in the West. Then we get as multicultural as a Hometown Buffet spread when we do our reveal of our Top 4 Foreign Language Films from a specific country.

SHOW CONTENTS

The Orphanage - 18:29 Once Upon a Time in the West - 35:56 Top 4 Foreign Films - 1:15:09

E-mail the show at filmpigeons@gmail.com

Music this week is from Shipping News.

Introduction - Grapes - I dunno Closing - Haunted on Foot

Download this episode by saving as HERE

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Film Pigeons Episode 175: Oslo, August 31, October Sky, Top 4 Grown Kid Actors

This week we review foreign drug drama Oslo, August 31.  We also review Joe Johnston's coal mining, family drama October Sky.  We also reveal our Top 4 Grown up Kid Actors.   SHOW CONTENTS Oslo, August 31 - 13:54 October Sky - 1:04:07 Top 4 Grown up Kid Actors - 1:36:22 SHOW LINKS Email the show at filmpigeons@gmail.com Music this week is from The Front Bottoms Introduction - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - Looking like you Just Woke Up Oslo, August 31 October Sky

Download this episode HERE

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On this episode we review one of the towering classics of cinema - Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront.  We also review Odd Thomas, the Dean Koontz adaptation directed by Stephen Sommers.  Last, we put on our Hollywood executive hats pitch our proposed sequels to both films.   Odd Thomas - 25:14 On the Waterfront - 58:47 Music this week is from Young Man Opening - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - It's Alright SHOW LINKS Email us at filmpigeons@gmail.com Odd Thomas On the Waterfront

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Film Pigeons Episode 173: Outrage, Out of the Past, Top 4 Guns on the Cover

On this episode we kick off the letter 'O' in our continual quest to alphabetically explore the cinematic landscape.  To get things going we review the noir classic Out of the Past and the Japanese mob movie Outrage. Then, in honor of Jason being easily swayed by heavily armed movie characters, we reveal our Top 4 Guns on the Cover - the top movies that prominently feature guns on their DVD covers.   SHOW CONTENTS Outrage - 10:21 Out of the Past - 27:55 Top 4 Guns on the Cover - 51:49 SHOW LINKS E-mail us at filmpigeons@gmail.com Music this week is from Wild Yaks Introduction - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - Golden Sphere of Light The Signal The World's End Out of the Past Outrage

Download this episode HERE

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Film Pigeons Episode 172: North Face, Wrapping up the Ms

On this episode we go attack the high altitudes of North Face with high attitudes of...film stuff - and a review of German alpine thriller, North Face. We also mark the end of our trek through the letter N with our wrap up featuring our best choices, worst choices and five we should have watched.   SHOW CONTENTS North Face - 9:31 Wrapping up the Ns - 36:31 SHOW LINKS E-mail us at filmpigeons@gmail.com Music is from Track a Tiger Introduction - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - One Foot in the Ocean

Download this episode

HERE

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Film Pigeons Episode 171: Nine Lives, Night Moves

On this episode we continue our trek through the letter n by reviewing two more films.  First up is the hyperlinked drama Nine Lives.  We follow this up with Kelly Reicherdt's dam busting "thriller" Night Moves. We also debut a new feature titled Castaway in which we challenge each other to recast our films in strange ways.  SHOW CONTENTS Nine Lives - 16:20 Night Moves - 47:36 SHOW LINKS

E-mail the show at filmpigeons@gmail.com Music this week is from Bear Colony Introduction - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - We Do Know Harm 1 Nine Lives Night Moves The Way Back Draft Day

Download this episode HERE.

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Hi! I just found your blog and I'm really excited to check out your podcasts. I just have one question (seeing as you guys are quite the film aficionados) Do you know any good movies with a kind of central theme of overcoming themselves or stereotypes (basically something about overcoming a boundary)?? Thanks! :)

So many to recommend.  My personal favorite movie of all time incorporates that theme.  Rushmore - It’s about a kid from the poor part of town who overachieves in an attempt to find himself.  Others

My Left FootSlumdog Millionaire12 Years a SlaveThe Station AgentBlack Narcissus (not sure if it meets the criteria exactly but I’m trying to include some female protagonists)The Red ShoesMalcolm XThe Band’s Visit (about crossing the cultural divide between two contentious countries)

Documentaries are especially filled with these types of stories.  Here’s a few off the top of my head.

Mad Hot BallroomThe InterruptersStreet Fight (excellent documentary about an outcast politician running for mayor)Hoop DreamsAmerican MovieMan on Wire

Hope that helps

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Film Pigeons Episode 170: National Lampoon’s European Vacation, A Night at the Opera

On this episode we review two classic film comedies.  First up is National Lampoon's European Vacation.  We follow this up with a review of the Marx Brothers classic A Night at the Opera.  We also do a rousing round of film trivia. SHOW CONTENTS National Lampoon's European Vacation - 49:20 A Night at the Opera - 1:20:55 SHOW LINKS e-mail the show at filmpigeons@gmail.com Music this week is from A Great Big Pile of Leaves Opening - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - Pet Mouse

Download this episode by saving as HERE.

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Film Pigeons Episode 169: Night Train to Munich, The Naked Prey, Top 4 Nazi Films

On this episode we are strictly European as we review British film Night Train to Munich.  The Eurocentric vibe continues as we review outback, horror chase film The Naked Prey (because if Euros were to hunt prey they'd probably do it in the nude).  We also reveal our Top 4 Nazi Films in honor of Night Train. SHOW CONTENTS Night Train to Munich - 5:27 The Naked Prey - 35:18 Top 4 Nazi Films - 1:09:53 SHOW LINKS Music is from Panoramic and True Introduction - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - Product On Night Train to Munich The Naked Prey

Download this episode

HERE

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We take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to bring you the 2015 Oscar special.  

Jason and Andrew watched all 8 best picture nominees and quickly encapsulate what films they think should emerge victorious from today's Oscar ceremony.

Music this week is from Everything is Made in China

Opening - Grapes - I dunno Closing - Echoes American Sniper Birdman Boyhood Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash

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Film Pigeons Episode 168 - 2015 Oscar Special

We take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to bring you the 2015 Oscar special.  

Jason and Andrew watched all 8 best picture nominees and quickly encapsulate what films they think should emerge victorious from today's Oscar ceremony.

Music this week is from Everything is Made in China

Opening - Grapes - I dunno Closing - Echoes American Sniper Birdman Boyhood Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash

Download this episode HERE.

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Film Pigeons Episode 167: The Natural, Night and the City

On this episode we continue our journey through the letter 'n' by reviewing two more films.  First, we review Barry Levinson's baseball classic The Natural.  Next, we continue our assault on Jules Dassin's filmography as we review his stylish crime drama Night and the City.  We also pitch our proposed sequels to both films.  SHOW CONTENTS The Natural - 25:06 Night and the City - 1:01:50 SHOW LINKS

E-mail the show at filmpigeons@gmail.com Music this week is from 764-Hero. Opening - Grapes - I Dunno Closing - Skylines

Download this episode by saving as HERE.

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Amazon Pilot Season - The Man in the High Castle

Synopsis: Based on Philip K. Dick's award-winning novel, and executive produced by Ridley Scott (Blade Runner), The Man in the High Castle explores what it would be like if the Allied Powers had lost WWII, and Japan and Germany ruled the United States. Starring Rufus Sewell (John Adams), Luke Kleintank (Pretty Little Liars) and Alexa Davalos (Mob City).

This is definitely one of the more interesting new pilots from Amazon this year.  It has the (admittedly hit or miss) creative heft of Ridley Scott and an intriguing premise where America lost World War II and is now divided among German and Japanese interests.

The true attraction of Man in the High Castle will be in its visual dreams.  The show has mostly top notch visual effects design and excels at creating a vibrant (if you can ever call Nazism vibrant) universe filled with interesting references to occupied America.  It honestly feels like any of these background elements (the state police roaming the streets, the occupation of the West Coast by Japan and the fear of a Goebbels or Himmler) could be fleshed out into its own subset of episodes.

The plot so far has a fish out of water/spy story element that could lead to some interesting places in the future.  Finally, the acting, while not Showtime or HBO worthy, is solid across the board.  All elements put together The Man in the High Castle is definitely a show that should get a chance.  If it can avoid falling into genre traps we've seen a million times before and really explores and exploits its unique atmosphere it can be a brilliant piece of work.