Awesome Movie Year

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By: Awesome Movie Year

Awesome Movie Year is a podcast co-hosted by film critic Josh Bell and filmmaker and comedian Jason Harris. Each season looks at why a certain year was an awesome movie year. Each episode focuses on a different film from the year being investigated. Produced by David Rosen of the Piecing It Together Podcast for the All Points West Podcast Network

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Barton Fink (1991 Cannes Palme d'Or Winner)
Barton Fink (1991 Cannes Palme d'Or Winner) episode artwork
#4
Today at 4:15 AM

The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1991 features the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner, the Coen brothers’ Barton Fink. Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, Michael Lerner and John Mahoney, Barton Fink also won awards at Cannes for Best Director and Best Actor.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/barton-fink-1991), Vincent Canby in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/21/movies/review-film-barton-fink-a-dark-comedy-from-joel-and-ethan-coen.html), and Rita Kempley in The Washington Post...


Hudson Hawk (1991 Box Office Flop)
Hudson Hawk (1991 Box Office Flop) episode artwork
#3
10/14/2026

The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1991 features the year’s biggest flop, Michael Lehmann’s Hudson Hawk. Directed by Michael Lehmann and starring Bruce Willis, Andie MacDowell, Danny Aiello, Richard E. Grant and Sandra Bernhard, Hudson Hawk is based on a character created by Willis and songwriter Robert Kraft.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/24/movies/review-film-bruce-willis-as-a-hip-cat-burglar.html), Variety (https://variety.com/1990/film/reviews/hudson-hawk-1200428876/), and Hal Hinson in The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/styl...


Boyz n the Hood (1991 First Feature)
Boyz n the Hood (1991 First Feature) episode artwork
#2
10/07/2026

The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1991 features our pick for a notable debut feature, John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood. Written and directed by John Singleton and starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long and Angela Bassett, Boyz n the Hood made Singleton the youngest-ever Best Director Oscar nominee.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/boyz-n-the-hood-1991), Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/12/movies/review-film-a-chance-to-confound-fate.html), and Desson Thomson in The Wa...


Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991 Box Office Champ)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991 Box Office Champ) episode artwork
#1
09/30/2026

The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1991 features the box-office champion, James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Directed and co-written by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick and Joe Morton, Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the second film in the long-running Terminator sci-fi action franchise.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/terminator-2-judgment-day-1991), Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/03/movies/review-film-in-new-terminator-the-forces-of-good-seek-peace-violently.html), and Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/movies/1991/07/12/te...


Better Off Dead (1985 Bonus Episode)
Better Off Dead (1985 Bonus Episode) episode artwork
#16
09/23/2026

This bonus episode for our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features Savage Steve Holland’s Better Off Dead. Written and directed by Savage Steve Holland and starring John Cusack, Diane Franklin, Curtis Armstrong, Amanda Wyss and Aaron Dozier, Better Off Dead is the first of two movies that Holland and Cusack made together in the 1980s.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/11/movies/film-better-off-dead.html), Paul Attanasio in The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1985/10/17/better-off-dead/f8af2b50-e...


1946 Epilogue
1946 Epilogue episode artwork
#15
09/18/2026

In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1946, we talk about alternate movies we considered including in all of our different categories this season, and read suggestions from some listeners about their favorite 1946 movies.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemoviepod.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear

You can find Jason on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/goforjason/

...


The Big Sleep (1946 Audience Choice)
The Big Sleep (1946 Audience Choice) episode artwork
#14
09/16/2026

The finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features our audience choice poll winner, Howard Hawks’ The Big Sleep. Directed by Howard Hawks and starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Martha Vickers, The Big Sleep defeated two other film noir classics in our 1946 audience choice poll.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1946/08/24/archives/the-screen-the-big-sleep-warner-film-in-which-bogart-and-bacall-are.html), James Agee in Time magazine (https://time.com/archive/6866713/cinema-the-new-pictures-aug-26-1946/), and William Brogdon in Variety (https://variety.com/1945/film/reviews/the-big-sleep-1200414694/).

Check ou...


The Beast With Five Fingers (1946 Future Cult Classic)
The Beast With Five Fingers (1946 Future Cult Classic) episode artwork
#13
09/09/2026

The thirteenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features our cult classic pick, horror movie The Beast With Five Fingers. Directed by Robert Florey and starring Robert Alda, Andrea King, Peter Lorre, Victor Francen and J. Carrol Naish, The Beast With Five Fingers is based on the short story by William Fryer Harvey.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1946/12/26/archives/the-screen-in-review-stairway-to-heaven-a-british-production-at.html), Variety (https://variety.com/1945/film/reviews/the-beast-with-five-fingers-1117788929/), and William R. Weaver in the Motion Picture Herald.

<...


Swing Parade of 1946 (1946 Dave's Pick)
Swing Parade of 1946 (1946 Dave's Pick) episode artwork
#12
09/02/2026

The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features our producer David Rosen’s pick, musical comedy Swing Parade of 1946. Directed by Phil Karlson and starring Gale Storm, Phil Regan, Edward Brophy, Mary Treen and the Three Stooges, Swing Parade of 1946 marks one of the Three Stooges’ relatively rare feature-film appearances.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Thalia Bell in Motion Picture Herald, Showmen’s Trade Review, and Wanda Hale in the New York Daily News.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https...


The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946 Best Picture)
The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946 Best Picture) episode artwork
#11
08/26/2026

The eleventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features the Academy Awards Best Picture winner, William Wyler’s The Best Years of Our Lives. Directed by William Wyler and starring Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Harold Russell, Myrna Loy and Teresa Wright, The Best Years of Our Lives won seven competitive Oscars and two honorary Oscars.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times (https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/packages/html/movies/bestpictures/years-re.html), James Agee in The Nation, and Abel Green in Va...


The Southerner (1946 Venice Film Festival Winner)
The Southerner (1946 Venice Film Festival Winner) episode artwork
#10
08/19/2026

The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features the Venice International Film Festival Golden Lion winner, Jean Renoir’s The Southerner. Directed and co-written by Jean Renoir and starring Zachary Scott, Betty Field, J. Carrol Naish, Beulah Bondi and Charles Kemper, The Southerner is the fourth of six movies that Renoir made during his time in Hollywood.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1945/08/27/archives/the-screen-love-letters-drama-in-which-jennifer-jones-stars-comes.html), Wolcott Gibbs in The New Yorker, and Nathan Kahn in Variety (https://va...


The Killers (1946 Jason's Pick)
The Killers (1946 Jason's Pick) episode artwork
#9
08/12/2026

The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features Jason’s personal pick, Robert Siodmak’s The Killers. Directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien and Sam Levene, The Killers is based on the 1927 short story by Ernest Hemingway.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1946/08/29/archives/the-screen.html), James Agee in The Nation, and Variety (https://variety.com/1945/film/reviews/the-killers-2-1200414672/).

Check out more info and the entire archive of past e...


Make Mine Music (1946 Animated Film)
Make Mine Music (1946 Animated Film) episode artwork
#8
08/05/2026

The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features our animation pick, Disney’s Make Mine Music. Directed by Jack Kinney, Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Joshua Meador and Robert Cormack, Make Mine Music is the third of six anthology films that Disney released during a break from producing full-length features.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1946/04/22/archives/the-screen-in-review-make-mine-music-animated-cartoon-by-walt.html), Edwin Schallert in The Los Angeles Times (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-edwin-schallerts/59718454/), and Abel Green in Variety.

Ch...


Beauty and the Beast (1946 Foreign Film)
Beauty and the Beast (1946 Foreign Film) episode artwork
#7
07/29/2026

The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features our foreign film pick, Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast. Written and directed by Jean Cocteau and starring Jean Marais, Josette Day and Marcel AndrĂ©, Beauty and the Beast is the first feature-film adaptation of the classic French fairy tale.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemovieyear.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear

You can find Jason on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at...


Cluny Brown (1946 Josh's Pick)
Cluny Brown (1946 Josh's Pick) episode artwork
#6
07/22/2026

The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features Josh’s personal pick, Ernst Lubitsch’s Cluny Brown. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Jennifer Jones, Charles Boyer, Peter Lawford, Helen Walker and Richard Haydn, Cluny Brown was the last film Lubitsch completed before his death.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from James Agee in The Nation, A.H. Weiler in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1946/06/03/archives/the-screen-clany-brown-new-picture-at-the-rivoli-a-whimsical-film.html), and Variety (https://variety.com/1945/film/reviews/cluny-brown-1117789980/).

Check out more info and the entire archive of p...


Let There Be Light (1946 Documentary)
Let There Be Light (1946 Documentary) episode artwork
#5
07/15/2026

The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features our documentary pick, John Huston’s Let There Be Light. Directed by John Huston and featuring patients from Mason General Hospital, Let There Be Light was commissioned by the U.S. Army but barred from release until 1981.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from James Agee in The Nation, Vincent Canby in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/16/movies/let-there-be-light-john-huston-vs-the-army.html), and Owen Gleiberman in The Boston Phoenix.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past ep...


Brief Encounter (1946 Cannes Award Winner)
Brief Encounter (1946 Cannes Award Winner) episode artwork
#4
07/08/2026

The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features one of the Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix winners, David Lean’s Brief Encounter. Directed and co-written by David Lean and starring Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway, Joyce Carey and Cyril Raymond, Brief Encounter was one of 11 films to tie for the Grand Prix at the first-ever Cannes Film Festival.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1946/08/26/archives/the-screen-in-review.html), Variety, and C.A. Lejeune in The Observer (https://www.th...


Boom in the Moon (1946 Box Office Flop)
Boom in the Moon (1946 Box Office Flop) episode artwork
#3
07/01/2026

The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features the year’s biggest flop, Buster Keaton comedy Boom in the Moon. Directed and co-written by Jaime Salvador and starring Buster Keaton, Ángel Garasa and Virginia Serret, Mexican production Boom in the Moon marked Keaton’s final leading role in a film.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemovieyear.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear

You can find Jason on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Insta...


Crisis (1946 First Feature)
Crisis (1946 First Feature) episode artwork
#2
06/24/2026

The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features our pick for a notable debut feature, Ingmar Bergman’s Crisis. Written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Inga LandgrĂ©, Stig Olin, Marianne Löfgren and Dagny Lind, Crisis is adapted from a Danish radio play by Leck Fischer.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode (https://www.ingmarbergman.se/en/production/crisis) come from Filmson in Aftonbladet, Barbro Alving in Dagens Nyheter, and Georg Svensson in Bonniers LitterÀra Magasin.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episo...


Duel in the Sun (1946 Box Office Champ)
Duel in the Sun (1946 Box Office Champ) episode artwork
#1
06/17/2026

The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1946 features the box-office champion, King Vidor’s Duel in the Sun. Directed by King Vidor and starring Jennifer Jones, Gregory Peck, Joseph Cotten, Lillian Gish and Lionel Barrymore, Duel in the Sun was producer David O. Selznick’s effort to match his success and acclaim with Gone With the Wind.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Bosley Crowther in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1947/05/08/archives/duel-in-the-sun-selznicks-lavish-western-that-stars-jennifer-jones.html), William Brogdon in Variety (https://variety.com/1945/film/reviews/duel-in-the-sun-1117790601/), and Edwin Scha...


Dirty Harry (1971 Bonus Episode)
Dirty Harry (1971 Bonus Episode) episode artwork
#19
06/10/2026

This bonus episode for our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features Don Siegel’s Dirty Harry. Directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, Andrew Robinson and John Vernon, Dirty Harry is the first of five movies featuring Eastwood as San Francisco Police Inspector Harry Callahan.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dirty-harry-1971), Roger Greenspun in The New York Times, and Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at...


Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971 Bonus Episode)
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971 Bonus Episode) episode artwork
#18
06/03/2026

This bonus episode for our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features Mel Stuart’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Directed by Mel Stuart and starring Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum and Jack Albertson, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is based on the novel by Roald Dahl.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-1971), Howard Thompson in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/01/archives/chocolate-factory.html), and Tony Mastroianni in the Cleveland Press.

Check out more info and the entire archive of...


1985 Epilogue
1985 Epilogue episode artwork
#15
05/27/2026

In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1985, we talk about alternate movies we considered including in all of our different categories this season, and read suggestions from some listeners about their favorite 1985 movies.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemovieyear.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear

You can find Jason on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/goforjason/

...


He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword (1985 Audience Choice)
He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword (1985 Audience Choice) episode artwork
#14
05/20/2026

The finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features our audience choice pick, animated toy adaptation He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword. Directed by Ed Friedman, Lou Kachivas, Marsh Lamore, Bill Reed and Gwen Wetzler and starring the voices of John Erwin, Melendy Britt, Alan Oppenheimer and Linda Gary, He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword defeated two other animated movies based on toy lines in our 1985 audience choice poll.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/18/movies...


Gymkata (1985 Future Cult Classic)
Gymkata (1985 Future Cult Classic) episode artwork
#13
05/13/2026

The thirteenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features our cult classic pick, Kurt Thomas action movie Gymkata. Directed by Robert Clouse and starring Kurt Thomas, Tetchie Agbayani, Richard Norton and Buck Kartalian, Gymkata is the first and only film featuring world champion gymnast Kurt Thomas.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert and Laurie Horn in the Miami Herald.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemovieyear.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear<...


The Return of The Living Dead (1985 Dave's Pick)
The Return of The Living Dead (1985 Dave's Pick) episode artwork
#12
05/06/2026

The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features our producer David Rosen’s pick, Dan O’Bannon’s The Return of the Living Dead. Written and directed by Dan O’Bannon and starring Clu Gulager, James Karen, Thom Mathews and Don Calfa, The Return of the Living Dead is the first installment in a long-running horror franchise.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/return-of-the-living-dead-1985), Stephen Holden in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/16/movies/screen-return-of-the-living-dead.html) and Tom Shales in The Wash...


Out Of Africa (1985 Best Picture)
Out Of Africa (1985 Best Picture) episode artwork
#11
04/29/2026

The eleventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features the Academy Awards Best Picture winner, Sydney Pollack’s Out of Africa. Directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer and Michael Kitchen, Out of Africa is based on the life and writings of Karen Blixen.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/out-of-africa-1985), Sheila Benson in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-18-ca-26572-story.html) and Pauline Kael in The New Yorker.

...


Blood Simple (1985 Sundance Film Festival Award Winner)
Blood Simple (1985 Sundance Film Festival Award Winner) episode artwork
#10
04/22/2026

The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Blood Simple. Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya and M. Emmet Walsh, Blood Simple was the Coen brothers’ debut feature.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/blood-simple-1984), Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/12/movies/blood-simple-a-black-comic-romp.html) and Pauline Kael in The New Yorker.

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The Goonies (1985 Jason's Pick)
The Goonies (1985 Jason's Pick) episode artwork
#9
04/15/2026

The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features Jason’s personal pick, Richard Donner’s The Goonies. Directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by Chris Columbus and starring Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen and Ke Huy Quan, The Goonies is based on a story by producer Steven Spielberg.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-goonies-1985), Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/07/movies/screen-the-goonies-written-by-spielberg.html) and Paul Attanasio in The Washington Post (https://www.wash...


The Adventures Of Mark Twain (1985 Animated Film)
The Adventures Of Mark Twain (1985 Animated Film) episode artwork
#8
04/08/2026

The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features our animation pick, Will Vinton’s The Adventures of Mark Twain. Directed by Will Vinton and starring James Whitmore, Michele Mariana, Gary Krug and Chris Ritchie, The Adventures of Mark Twain is the first and only feature film directed by stop-motion animation pioneer Vinton.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Vincent Canby in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/17/movies/screen-adventures-of-mark-twain.html) and Harry McCracken in Cinefantastique.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past ep...


Ran (1985 Foreign Film)
Ran (1985 Foreign Film) episode artwork
#7
04/01/2026

The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features our foreign film pick, Akira Kurosawa’s Ran. Directed and co-written by Akira Kurosawa and starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu and Mieko Harada, Ran is adapted from William Shakespeare’s King Lear.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ran-1985), Paul Attanasio in The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1986/01/24/movies/86669975-df20-49c2-9e7f-f8c7268250df/), and Pauline Kael in The New Yorker.

Check out...


Desperately Seeking Susan (1985 Josh's Pick)
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985 Josh's Pick) episode artwork
#6
03/25/2026

The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features Josh’s personal pick, Susan Seidelman’s Desperately Seeking Susan. Directed by Susan Seidelman from a screenplay by Leora Barish and starring Rosanna Arquette, Aidan Quinn, Madonna, Mark Blum and Laurie Metcalf, Desperately Seeking Susan marked the feature film debut of pop singer Madonna.

The contemporary review quoted in this episode comes from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/desperately-seeking-susan-1985), Kirk Ellis in The Hollywood Reporter (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/desperately-seeking-susan-review-1985-movie-1197797/), and Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times (https://www...


The Statue Of Liberty (1985 Documentary)
The Statue Of Liberty (1985 Documentary) episode artwork
#5
03/18/2026

The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features our documentary pick, Ken Burns’ The Statue of Liberty. Directed by Ken Burns and narrated by historian David McCullough, The Statue of Liberty was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

The contemporary review quoted in this episode comes from John Corry in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/28/arts/the-statue-of-liberty-mixes-old-with-new.html).

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemovieyear.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/aw...


When Father Was Away On Business (1985 Cannes Palme d'Or Winner)
When Father Was Away On Business (1985 Cannes Palme d'Or Winner) episode artwork
#4
03/11/2026

The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner, Emir Kusturica’s When Father Was Away on Business. Directed by Emir Kusturica and starring Moreno De Bartoli, Miki Manojlović, Mirjana Karanović, Mustafa Nadarević and Mira Furlan, When Father Was Away on Business was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/28/movies/film-festival-when-father-was-away.html), Richard Corliss in Time magazine (https://time.com/archive...


Clue (1985 Box Office Flop)
Clue (1985 Box Office Flop) episode artwork
#3
03/04/2026

The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features the year’s biggest flop, Jonathan Lynn’s Clue. Written and directed by Jonathan Lynn and starring Tim Curry, Martin Mull, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Eileen Brennan, Michael McKean and Lesley Ann Warren, Clue is based on the perennially popular board game.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/clue-1985), Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/13/movies/screen-clue-from-game-to-film.html), and Paul Attanasio in The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...


Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985 First Feature)
Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985 First Feature) episode artwork
#2
02/25/2026

The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features our pick for a notable debut feature, Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Diane Salinger and Mark Holton, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure is the first movie featuring Reubens’ long-running Pee-wee Herman character.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Michael Wilmington in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-pee-wee-big-adventure-review-19850809-story.html), Pauline Kael in The New Yorker, and Vincent Canby in The New York Times (https://www.nyti...


Back To The Future (1985 Box Office Champ)
Back To The Future (1985 Box Office Champ) episode artwork
#1
02/18/2026

The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1985 features the box-office champion, Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future. Directed and co-written by Robert Zemeckis and starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson, Back to the Future launched an enduring franchise that includes two sequels.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/back-to-the-future-1985), Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/03/movies/in-future-boy-returns-to-the-past.html), and Sheila Benson in the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.co...


Boyhood (2014 Bonus Episode)
Boyhood (2014 Bonus Episode) episode artwork
02/11/2026

This bonus episode for our season on the awesome movie year of 2014 features Richard Linklater’s Boyhood. Written and directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and Lorelei Linklater, Boyhood was filmed over the course of 12 years.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Manohla Dargis in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/11/movies/movie-review-linklaters-boyhood-is-a-model-of-cinematic-realism.html), Mick LaSalle in the San Francisco Chronicle (https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Boyhood-review-boundaries-of-cinema-pushed-5628295.php), and Marjorie Baumgarten in The Austin Chronicle (https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/2014-07-18/boyhood/).

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1971 Epilogue
1971 Epilogue episode artwork
#17
02/04/2026

In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1971, we talk about alternate movies we considered including in all of our different categories this season, and read suggestions from some listeners about their favorite 1971 movies.

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemovieyear.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear

You can find Jason on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/goforjason/

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Daughters Of Darkness (1971 Audience Choice)
Daughters Of Darkness (1971 Audience Choice) episode artwork
#16
01/28/2026

The finale of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features our audience choice pick, Harry KĂŒmel’s Daughters of Darkness. Directed and co-written by Harry KĂŒmel and starring Delphine Seyrig, Danielle Ouimet, John Karlen and Andrea Rau, Daughters of Darkness prevailed over six other horny lady vampire movies in our audience choice poll.

The contemporary reviews quoted in this episode come from Roger Ebert (https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/daughters-of-darkness-1972), Howard Thompson in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/29/archives/film-artistic-vampires.html), and Variety.

Check out more info and the...