Editing The Academy
Two friends get together to discuss the best picture nominees of each year starting in 1969. We discuss each nominated film in detail breaking down the technical aspects, character development, acting, story presentation, etc. But, we also chat about how they hit us...our emotional reactions. We try hard to let our modern filters fade and put ourselves in the mind frame of the year of release, but we’ll admit...it’s hard. So join us as we dive deep in these films and discuss whether academy made the correct choice that year. Feel free to join in the discussIO and agree or disagree, we only ask that you do so respectfully. Oh, and yeah...major spoilers for each film.
Episodes
Episodes
Jan 19, 2026
Jan 19, 2026
9 min
MAJOR SPOILERS!
Keeping with their more current film reviews, Darryl and Laura tackle The Roses, a reinterpretation of the 1989 film The War Of The Roses starting Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas and Danny Devito.
This version, staring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman changes a few key components for a more modern audience. Listen in and see if you agree with their honest interpretation of this 2025 film.
Jan 12, 2026
Jan 12, 2026
1hr 33 sec
Darryl and Laura continue their best picture discussions breaking up the films into two parts. Welcome to part 1 of 2011.
The first group of films are:
127 Hours, Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, and The Kids Are Alright
Which Movies Move On?
The other nominated films for 2011 that they will discuss in part 2 are:
The Kings Speech (winner) The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit, and Winters Bone.
Enjoy
Jan 5, 2026
Jan 5, 2026
1hr 9 min
Part 2!
We continue our new voyage into breaking up the nominees into two parts.
The films this time are
Inglorious Basterds, Prescious, A Serious Man, UP and Up In The Air
The previous films for 2010 were Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, and The Hurt Locker. The Hurt Locker was the winner for the year.
Jan 5, 2026
Jan 5, 2026
1hr 28 sec
The Academy expands the best picture nominee category to 10. While debate rages on the WHY of it, well we just have to adapt. Rather than have a super long episode Darryl and Laura discuss the first five, alphabetically at least. The movies are:
Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker. Part 2 Inglorous Bastards, Prescious, A Serious Man, Up , and Up In The Air.
Jan 2, 2026
Jan 2, 2026
14 min
Laura and Darryl begin a new adventure discussing slightly more contemporary films.
Their introductory effort is discussing Guillermo del Toro's version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
And fun times were had by all.
Dec 22, 2025
Dec 22, 2025
16 min
First off, apologies this one gets cut off, but you really don't miss anything, we were basically done and wrapping up.
Lauras does a bit of a deep dive into her favorite movie of all time and it's a really good conversation. The thing about this film that folks tend to forget is...how truly amazing it really is. We've all seen, most of us multiple times and it's easy to dismiss it cause we have all seen it. But, truly, watch it again with a critical eye and you will remember how amazing it really is.
Enjoy.
Dec 8, 2025
Dec 8, 2025
22 min
Darryl talks about what makes him love a movie, in detail, with a list of things and everything.
Fortunately Laura loved the movie as well, cause that would have been super awkward if she hated it.
Listen in as they talk about Darryl's favorite movie of all time.
Dec 1, 2025
Dec 1, 2025
1hr 52 sec
A kinda lackluster year for the best picture nominees. A
The Films:
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Front/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire