Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 324: Singin' in the Rain

Released 26 November 2025

For this episode, we watched the 1952 MGM musical Singin' in the Rain, directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly who also starred alongside Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds and Jean Hagen. Arthur Freed produced and wrote most of the songs alongside composer Nacio Herb Brown. Slightly overshadowed at the time by the enormous commercial and critical success of An American in Paris the year before, this movie is now widely regarded as the absolute pinnacle of the golden age of Hollywood musicals. And who are we to disagree?

• Tom's new podcast: https://podfollow.com/all-british-comedy-explained
• Jess's storytelling theatre show: https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/16-postcodes-jhby
• Lip Sync Battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPCJIB1f7jk

BEST PICK – the book is available now from all the usual places.

• From the publisher https://tinyurl.com/best-pick-book-rowman
• UK Amazon https://amzn.to/3zFNATI
• US Amazon https://www.amzn.com/1538163101
• UK bookstore https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781538163108
• US bookstore https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-pick-john-dorney/1139956434
• Audio book https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Best-Pick-Audiobook/B09SBMX1V4

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky.

You can also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month, but please be aware that future releases will continue to be sporadic.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 323: 2001 A Space Odyssey

Released 29 October 2025

For this episode, we watched Stanley Kubrick's iconic science fiction masterpiece 2001 A Space Odyssey, written by Kubrick and Arthur C Clarke and starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester and the voice of Douglas Rain. It was nominated for four Oscars and won one for its special effects, the only Academy Award which Kubrick ever won. It ranks sixth on the 2022 Sight & Sound critics list and it tops the directors list.

• Tom's new podcast: https://podfollow.com/all-british-comedy-explained
• Jess's amazing storytelling show: https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/16-postcodes-jhby

BEST PICK – the book is available now from all the usual places.

• From the publisher https://tinyurl.com/best-pick-book-rowman
• UK Amazon https://amzn.to/3zFNATI
• US Amazon https://www.amzn.com/1538163101
• UK bookstore https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781538163108
• US bookstore https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-pick-john-dorney/1139956434
• Audio book https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Best-Pick-Audiobook/B09SBMX1V4

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky.

You can also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month, but please be aware that future releases will continue to be sporadic.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 315: Jeanne Dielman

Released 12 February 2025

For this episode, we watched the 1975 film Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, written and directed by Chantal Akerman and starring Delphine Seyrig. As well as holding a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film unexpectedly topped the 2022 Sight & Sound poll of the greatest movies ever made. We take the opportunity to explore what this poll is, how it has changed over seventy years, and what films we would have put on our lists, had we been asked.

• https://princecharlescinema.com/savethepcc/
• Sight and Sound Top Tens https://bestpickpod.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/The-Sight-and-Sound-Survey-top-tens-1.pdf
• https://thefilmstage.com/watch-a-behind-the-scenes-documentary-on-the-making-of-jeanne-dielman
• https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/q-a-with-chantal-akerman-jeanne-dielman-three-decades-later/
• John Cage's 4'33" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTEFKFiXSx4

BEST PICK – the book is available now from all the usual places, and the paperback is out on 18 February.

• From the publisher https://tinyurl.com/best-pick-book-rowman
• UK Amazon https://amzn.to/3zFNATI
• US Amazon https://www.amzn.com/1538163101
• UK bookstore https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781538163108
• US bookstore https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-pick-john-dorney/1139956434
• Audio book https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Best-Pick-Audiobook/B09SBMX1V4

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky.

You can also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month, but please be aware that future releases will continue to be sporadic.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan, Tom Salinsky and special guest Phill Jupitus

Episode 73: The Godfather Part II (1976)

Released 4 November 2020

For this episode, we watched The Godfather, Part II, written by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel by Puzo and it was directed by Coppola with music by Carmine Coppola. It starred Al Pacino, Robert de Niro, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Michael V Gazzo, John Cazale and Lee Strasberg. Five of the cast were nominated for acting Oscars, with de Niro winning. It also won for its screenplay, art direction, score, and Coppola for Best Director.

• Documentary Now! https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B07T44PHY9/ref=atv_dp_season_select_s2
• https://www.instagram.com/phillipjupitus5276

Next time we will be discussing Moonlight. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

Alex Frith, Alex Wilson, Andrew Straw, Ann Blake, Anna Barker, Anna Coombs, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Anna Jackson, Anna Joerschke, Anna Smith, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Blanaid O'Regan, Brad Morrison, Caroline Moyes Matheou, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Claire Carr, Claire Creighton, Daina Aspin, Darren Williams, Dave Kloc, David Hanneford, Drew Milloy, Elis Bebb, Elizabeth Lodi, Elizabeth McCollum, Eloise Lowe, Elspeth Reay, Emmet Jackson, Esther de Lange, Flora, Helen Cousins, Helle Rasmussen, Henry Bushell, Ian C Lau, James Murray, Jane Coulson, Jess McGinn, Jo B, Joanne Hayden, Johanna Commins, Jonquil Coy, Joy Wilkinson, Juan Ageitos, Judi Cox, Julie Dirksen, Kate Butler, Kath, Katy Espie, Kelli Prime, Kellie Penfold, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Laura Lundy, Lawson Howling, Lisa Gillespie, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Michael Thomas, Michael Walker, Michael Wilson, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, nötnflötn, Nick Hetherington, Olivia, Peter, Rachel Foster, Richard Ewart, Robert Kidwell, Robert Orzalli, Rohan Newton, Ruth, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Sian Thomas, Simon Ash, Simon James, Sladjana Ivanis, Tim Gowen, Tom Stockton, Zarah Daniel.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 72: Rocky (1976)

Released 21 October 2020

For this episode, we watched Rocky, written by and starring Sylvester Stallone and directed by John G Avildsen. It also featured Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers and Burgess Meredith. Stallone was nominated for his screenplay and Stallone, Shire, Meredith and Young were all nominated as actors but all it won was Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing.

• Angel (Every Boxer's Girlfriend) https://youtu.be/x_iGcnTm3Z8

Next time we will be discussing The Godfather, Part II. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

Alex Frith, Alex Wilson, Andrew Straw, Ann Blake, Anna Barker, Anna Coombs, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Anna Jackson, Anna Joerschke, Anna Smith, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Blanaid O'Regan, Brad Morrison, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Claire Carr, Claire Creighton, Daina Aspin, Darren Williams, Dave Kloc, David Hanneford, Della, Drew Milloy, Elis Bebb, Elizabeth Lodi, Elizabeth McCollum, Eloise Lowe, Elspeth Reay, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Esther de Lange, Flora, Helen Cousins, Helle Rasmussen, Henry Bushell, Ian C Lau, James Murray, Jane Coulson, Jess McGinn, Jo B, Joanne Hayden, Johanna Commins, Jonquil Coy, Joy Wilkinson, Juan Ageitos, Judi Cox, Julie Dirksen, Kate Butler, Kath, Katy Espie, Kelli Prime, Kellie Penfold, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Laura Lundy, Lawson Howling, Lisa Gillespie, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Michael Thomas, Michael Walker, Michael Wilson, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Nick Hetherington, nötnflötn, Olivia, Peter, Rachel Foster, Richard Ewart, Robert Kidwell, Robert Orzalli, Rohan Newton, Ruth, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Sian Thomas, Simon Ash, Simon James, Sladjana Ivanis, Tim Gowen, Tom Stockton, Veryan Croggon, Zarah Daniel.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan, Tom Salinsky and special guest Garrett Millerick

Episode 71.5: The Films of Stanley Kubrick

Released 14 October 2020

For this episode, we watched the films of Stanley Kubrick (or at least most of us watched most of them). Kubrick directed 13 feature films between 1953 and 1999 which between them were nominated for 27 Oscars, winning nine. Kubrick himself was nominated 14 times and won once (Best Special Effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey).

• Sunflower: Live in London https://800pgr.lnk.to/MillerickWE
• https://twitter.com/millerickcomedy
• Radiohead support group. https://youtu.be/Zkvhszm_ae4
• Stanley Kubrick's Boxes https://vimeo.com/322890808

Next time we will be discussing Rocky. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

Alex Frith, Alex Wilson, Andrew Straw, Ann Blake, Anna Barker, Anna Coombs, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Anna Jackson, Anna Joerschke, Anna Smith, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Blanaid O'Regan, Brad Morrison, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Claire Carr, Claire Creighton, Daina Aspin, Darren Williams, Dave Kloc, David Hanneford, Della, Drew Milloy, Elis Bebb, Elizabeth Lodi, Elizabeth McCollum, Eloise Lowe, Elspeth Reay, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Esther de Lange, Flora, Helen Cousins, Helle Rasmussen, Henry Bushell, Ian C Lau, James Murray, Jane Coulson, Jess McGinn, Jo B, Joanne Hayden, Johanna Commins, Jonquil Coy, Joy Wilkinson, Juan Ageitos, Judi Cox, Julie Dirksen, Kate Butler, Kath, Katy Espie, Kelli Prime, Kellie Penfold, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Laura Lundy, Lawson Howling, Lisa Gillespie, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Michael Thomas, Michael Walker, Michael Wilson, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Nick Hetherington, nötnflötn, Olivia, Peter, Rachel Foster, Richard Ewart, Robert Kidwell, Robert Orzalli, Rohan Newton, Ruth, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Sian Thomas, Simon Ash, Simon James, Sladjana Ivanis, Tim Gowen, Tom Stockton, Veryan Croggon, Zarah Daniel.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 71: My Fair Lady (1964)

Released 7 October 2020

For this episode, we watched My Fair Lady, the movie adaptation of the Lerner and Lowe musical, itself based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. It won eight Oscars from twelve nominations, including Best Actor for Rex Harrison, Best Director for George Cukor and Best Adaptation Score for Andre Previn. Leading lady Audrey Hepburn was not nominated.

• Thurl Ravenscroft "Ghosting" as Stewpot in South Pacific https://youtu.be/Ljm9CDRAhMQ
• Jim Cummings on "Be Prepared" https://youtu.be/Wmrdn9eFTK8?t=169
• Tom Holland "Lip Sync Battle" https://youtu.be/jPCJIB1f7jk
• Perils of live singing. https://youtu.be/1ikqU6G6Xgs
• Audrey Hepburn's own singing. https://youtu.be/5KGMA-ghPUA

Next time we will be discussing Rocky. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

Alex Frith, Alex Wilson, Andrew Straw, Ann Blake, Anna Barker, Anna Coombs, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Anna Jackson, Anna Joerschke, Anna Smith, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Blanaid O'Regan, Brad Morrison, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Claire Carr, Claire Creighton, Daina Aspin, Darren Williams, Dave Kloc, David Hanneford, Della, Drew Milloy, Elis Bebb, Elizabeth Lodi, Elizabeth McCollum, Eloise Lowe, Elspeth Reay, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Esther de Lange, Flora, Helen Cousins, Helle Rasmussen, Henry Bushell, Ian C Lau, James Murray, Jane Coulson, Jess McGinn, Jo B, Joanne Hayden, Johanna Commins, Jonquil Coy, Joy Wilkinson, Juan Ageitos, Judi Cox, Julie Dirksen, Kate Butler, Kath, Katy Espie, Kelli Prime, Kellie Penfold, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Laura Lundy, Lawson Howling, Lisa Gillespie, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Michael Thomas, Michael Walker, Michael Wilson, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Nick Hetherington, nötnflötn, Olivia, Peter, Rachel Foster, Richard Ewart, Robert Kidwell, Robert Orzalli, Rohan Newton, Ruth, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Sian Thomas, Simon Ash, Simon James, Sladjana Ivanis, Tim Gowen, Tom Stockton, Veryan Croggon, Zarah Daniel.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan, Tom Salinsky and special guest Felicity Ward

Episode 70: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Released 23 September 2020

For this episode, we watched The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson from the book by JRR Tolkein. It was directed by Jackson and starred Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan, Viggo Mortensen, Andy Serkis and many others. It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won every single one, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Score and Best Song.

• https://www.felicityward.com
• How Did This Get Made? https://www.earwolf.com/episode/the-room-directors-edition/

Next time we will be discussing My Fair Lady. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, but it is not currently available for streaming.

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

Alex Frith, Alex Wilson, Andrew Straw, Ann Blake, Anna Barker, Anna Coombs, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Anna Jackson, Anna Joerschke, Anna Smith, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Blanaid O'Regan, Brad Morrison, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Claire Carr, Claire Creighton, Daina Aspin, Darren Williams, Dave Kloc, David Hanneford, Della, Drew Milloy, Elis Bebb, Elizabeth Lodi, Elizabeth McCollum , Eloise Lowe, Elspeth Reay, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Esther de Lange, Flora, Helen Cousins, Helle Rasmussen, Henry Bushell, Ian C Lau, James Murray, Jane Coulson, Jess McGinn, Jo B, Joanne Hayden, Johanna Commins, Jonquil Coy, Joy Wilkinson, Juan Ageitos, Judi Cox, Julie Dirksen, Kate Butler, Kath , Katy Espie, Kelli Prime, Kellie Penfold, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Laura Lundy, Lawson Howling, Lisa Gillespie, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshøj, Petersen, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Michael Thomas, Michael Walker, Michael Wilson, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Nick Hetherington, nötnflötn, Olivia, Peter , Rachel Foster, Richard Ewart, Robert Kidwell, Robert Orzalli, Rohan Newton, Ruth, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Sian Thomas, Simon Ash, Simon James, Sladjana Ivanis, Tim Gowen, Tom Stockton, Veryan Croggon, Zarah Daniel.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 69: Wings (1928)

Released 9 September 2020

For this episode, we watched Wings, written by John Monk Saunders, Hope Loring, Louis D Lighton, Julian Johnson; directed by William A Wellman and starring Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen, Gary Cooper. As well as Best Picture, Wings also won for its Engineering Effects.

Next time we will be discussing The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

• Dickson Edison Experimental Film https://youtu.be/SwIcRSvQ_TY

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Jonquil Coy, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Nick Hetherington, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Ann Blake, Veryan Croggon, Tim Gowen, Richard Ewart, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Helle Rasmussen, Robert Orzalli, Olivia, Peter , Katy Espie, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Anna Joerschke, Ben Squires, Dave Kloc, Claire Creighton, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Michael Thomas, Della, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Annmarie Gray, Kelli Prime, Alex Frith, Lisa Gillespie, Alex Wilson, Anne Dellamaria, Michael Wilson, Simon James, Eloise Lowe, Rohan Newton, Jess McGinn, Elis Bebb, Judi Cox, Julie Dirksen, Anna Smith, Darren Williams, Catherine Murphy, Sian Thomas, Lucinda Baron von Parker, David Hanneford, Emmet Jackson, Emma Colvill, Eamonn Clarke, Anna Jackson, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Elspeth Reay, Daina Aspin, Laura Lundy, Stuart Shepherd, Juan Ageitos, Sladjana Ivanis, Helen Cousins, Simon Ash, Kath , Johanna Commins, Flora, Drew Milloy, Jo B, Claire Carr, Anna Barker, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Ruth, Henry Bushell, Zarah Daniel, Rachel Foster, nötnflötn, Elizabeth McCollum , Andrew Straw, Robert Kidwell, Blanaid O'Regan, Anna Coombs, Jane Coulson , Esther de Lange, Tom Stockton, Elizabeth Lodi, Ian C Lau.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 68: Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Released 26 August 2020

For this episode, we watched Driving Miss Daisy, written by Alfred Uhry from his play, directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Jessica Tandy (won), Morgan Freeman (nominated) and Dan Aykroyd (nominated). It also won for its screenplay and its make-up. Beresford was not even nominated as Best Director – very rare for a Best Picture winner.

• Kim Basinger sticks up for Do the Right Thing. https://youtu.be/vbePj-sKV8w?t=367
• Newness on Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80172958
• https://www.wbshop.com/products/looney-tunes-speechless-print-honoring-mel-blanc-1
• https://www.indiewire.com/2019/06/do-the-right-thing-spike-lee-30-anniversary-1202154208/

Next time we will be discussing Wings. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Jonquil Coy, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Nick Hetherington, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Ann Blake, Veryan Croggon, Tim Gowen, Richard Ewart, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Helle Rasmussen, Robert Orzalli, Olivia, Peter , Katy Espie, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Anna Joerschke, Ben Squires, Dave Kloc, Claire Creighton, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Annmarie Gray, Kelli Prime, Alex Frith, Lisa Gillespie, Alex Wilson, Anne Dellamaria, Michael Wilson, Simon James, Eloise Lowe, Judi Cox, Julie Dirksen, Michael Thomas, Della, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Rohan Newton, Jess McGinn, Elis Bebb, Anna Smith, Darren Williams, Catherine Murphy, Sian Thomas, Lucinda Baron von Parker, David Hanneford, Stuart Shepherd, Emmet Jackson, Emma Colvill, Eamonn Clarke, Anna Jackson, Martin Korshoj Petersen, Daina Aspin, Laura Lundy, Juan Ageitos, Sladjana Ivanis, Helen Cousins, Simon Ash, Kath , Johanna Commins, Flora, Drew Milloy, Jo B, Claire Carr, Elspeth Reay, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Ruth, Henry Bushell, Zarah Daniel.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 67: Gentleman's Agreement (1947)

Released 12 August 2020

For this episode, we watched Gentleman's Agreement, written by Moss Hart (nominated) from the novel by Laura Z Hobson and directed by Elia Kazan (won) and starring Gregory Peck (nominated), Dorothy McGuire (nominated), John Garfield, Anne Revere (nominated) and Celeste Holm (won). Those wins were the only categories in which it triumphed, although it was also nominated for its editing.

• http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/2019/10/21/six-degrees-of-song-of-the-south-episode-1-disneys-most-controversial-film
• Joker – Honest Trailer. https://youtu.be/0fOCZS0J3qM
• https://www.waterstones.com/book/why-im-no-longer-talking-to-white-people-about-race/reni-eddo-lodge/9781408870587
• Soul Man https://youtu.be/z2zMrjBLwn8
• Black Like Me https://youtu.be/l_LeJfn_qW0

Next time we will be discussing Driving Miss Daisy. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Jonquil Coy, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Nick Hetherington, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Ann Blake, Veryan Croggon, Tim Gowen, Richard Ewart, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Helle Rasmussen, Robert Orzalli, Olivia, Peter, Katy Espie, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Anna Joerschke, Ben Squires, Dave Kloc, Claire Creighton, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Annmarie Gray, Kelli Prime, Alex Frith, Lisa Gillespie, Alex Wilson, Anne Dellamaria, Michael Wilson, Simon James, Eloise Lowe, Judi Cox, Julie Dirksen, Michael Thomas, Della, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Rohan Newton, Jess McGinn, Elis Bebb, Anna Smith, Darren Williams, Catherine Murphy, Sian Thomas, Lucinda Baron von Parker, David Hanneford, Stuart Shepherd, Emmet Jackson, Emma Colvill, Eamonn Clarke, Anna Jackson, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Daina Aspin, Laura Lundy, Juan Ageitos, Sladjana Ivanis, Helen Cousins, Simon Ash, Kath, Johanna Commins, Flora, Drew Milloy, Jo B, Claire Carr, Elspeth Reay, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Ruth, Henry Bushell, Zarah Daniel.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 66: Going My Way (1944)

Released 29 July 2020

For this episode, we watched Going My Way, written Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald and Risë Stevens. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won seven including Best Director for McCarey and Best Actor for Crosby.

• Captain Planet Saves Belfast https://youtu.be/a9tg4NZbyhY
• https://play.acast.com/s/hollywoodcrimescene/episode146-bingcrosby
• The Priests https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03HhnaJAOY8
• A Canterbury Tale prologue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rFWlT5gdgw

Next time we will be discussing Gentleman's Agreement If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Jonquil Coy, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Nick Hetherington, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Ann Blake, Veryan Croggon, Tim Gowen, Richard Ewart, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Helle Rasmussen, Robert Orzalli, Olivia, Peter, Katy Espie, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Anna Joerschke, Ben Squires, Dave Kloc, Claire Creighton, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Annmarie Gray, Kelli Prime, Alex Frith, Lisa Gillespie, Alex Wilson, Anne Dellamaria, Michael Wilson, Simon James, Eloise Lowe, Judi Cox, Julie Dirksen, Michael Thomas, Della, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Rohan Newton, Jess McGinn, Elis Bebb, Anna Smith, Darren Williams, Catherine Murphy, Sian Thomas, Lucinda Baron von Parker, David Hanneford, Stuart Shepherd, Emmet Jackson, Emma Colvill, Eamonn Clarke, Anna Jackson, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Daina Aspin, Laura Lundy, Juan Ageitos, Sladjana Ivanis, Helen Cousins, Simon Ash, Kath, Johanna Commins, Flora, Drew Milloy, Jo B, Claire Carr, Elspeth Reay, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Ruth, Henry Bushell, Zarah Daniel.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 64: Tom Jones (1963)

Released 15 July 2020

For this episode, we watched Tom Jones, written John Osbourne, based on the novel by Henry Fielding. It was directed by Tony Richardson and it stars Albert Finney, Susannah York, Hugh Griffith, Edith Evans and Joan Greenwood. It was nominated in ten categories and it won four awards: Best Director, Best Score, Best Adapted Screenplay and, of course, Best Picture.

• Sammy Davis Jr has the wrong envelope. https://youtu.be/mmmi9ksOtt4
• The List of Adrian Messenger. https://youtu.be/AhfLxzzH0yc

Next time we will be discussing Going My Way. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Jonquil Coy, Nick Hetherington, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Ann Blake, Veryan Croggon, Anna Joerschke, Ben Squires, Claire Creighton, Dave Kloc, Helle Rasmussen, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Katy Espie, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Olivia, Peter , Robert Orzalli, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Alex Frith, Alex Wilson, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Eloise Lowe, Judi Cox, Kelli Prime, Lisa Gillespie, Michael Wilson, Richard Ewart, Simon James, Tim Gowen, Anna Jackson, Anna Smith, Catherine Murphy, Darren Williams, David Hanneford, Eamonn Clarke, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Sian Thomas, Stuart Shepherd, Julie Dirksen, Cindy, Claire Carr, Daina Aspin, Drew Milloy, Elis Bebb, Flora, Helen Cousins, Jess McGinn, Jo B, Johanna Commins, Juan Ageitos, Kath , Laura Lundy, Rohan Newton, Simon Ash, Sladjana Ivanis, Catherine Jewkes, Charlotte, Henry Bushell, Ruth, Della, Matheus Mocelin Carvalho, Zarah Daniel.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 314: Oscar nominations 2025

Released 23 January 2025.

For this episode, we quickly reviewed the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards which were announced by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott.

• Donate today to help victims of the LA fires. https://mutualaidla.org
• The Substance Behind the Scenes https://youtu.be/8H64HNvXrqU
• Guilty Feminist interview with Shiori Ito and Megumi Inman https://pod.fo/e/2a1532

BEST PICK – the book is out now from all the usual places, including…

• From the publisher https://tinyurl.com/best-pick-book-rowman
• UK Amazon https://amzn.to/3zFNATI
• US Amazon https://www.amzn.com/1538163101
• UK bookstore https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781538163108
• US bookstore https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-pick-john-dorney/1139956434
• Audio book https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Best-Pick-Audiobook/B09SBMX1V4

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group or find us on BlueSky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 64: The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

Released 1 July 2020

For this episode, we watched The Life of Emile Zola, written by Norman Reilly Raine, Heinz Herald and Geza Herczeg (won), directed by William Dieterle (nominated) and starring Paul Muni (nominated), Gloria Holden, Gale Sondergaard and Joseph Schildkraut (won). It was also nominated for its art direction, score, sound and assistant director.

• That Ain't Jean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T413rxpceA (body double Mary Rees, voice artist Paula Winslowe)
• When They See Us on Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80200549

Next time we will be discussing Tom Jones. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Andreas Marquart Frellesen, Jonquil Coy, Ann Blake, Lee Ingleby, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Anna Joerschke, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Claire Creighton, Dave Kloc, Eloise Lowe, Helle Rasmussen, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Katy Espie, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Lisa Gillespie, Michael Wilson, Nick Hetherington, Olivia, Peter , Robert Orzalli, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Anna Jackson, Anna Smith, Catherine Murphy, Darren Williams, David Hanneford, Eamonn Clarke, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Judi Cox, Kath , Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshoj Petersen, Sian Thomas, Stuart Shepherd.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan, Tom Salinsky and special guest Deborah Frances-White

Episode 63: Out of Africa (1985)

Released 17 June 2020

For this episode, we watched Out of Africa, written by Kurt Luedtke (won) based on the books Out of Africa, Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Story Teller and Silence Will Speak. It was directed by Sydney Pollack (won) with music by John Barry (won) and it stars Robert Redford, Meryl Streep (nominated) and Klaus Maria Brandauer (nominated). It also won for its Cinematography, Art Direction and Sound.

• Here's to the Losers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp2nAxYiUb4
• Margaret Avery's ad https://www.altfg.com/film/margaret-avery-the-color-purple/
• Clarence Page on The Color Purple https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-03-30-8601230650-story.html

Next time we will be discussing The Life of Emile Zola. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Andreas Marquart Frellesen, Jonquil Coy, Ann Blake, Lee Ingleby, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Anna Joerschke, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Claire Creighton, Dave Kloc, Eloise Lowe, Helle Rasmussen, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Katy Espie, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Lisa Gillespie, Michael Wilson, Nick Hetherington, Olivia, Peter , Robert Orzalli, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Anna Jackson, Anna Smith, Catherine Murphy, Darren Williams, David Hanneford, Eamonn Clarke, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Judi Cox, Kath , Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshoj Petersen, Sian Thomas, Stuart Shepherd.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 62: Amadeus (1984)

Released 3 June 2020

For this episode, we watched Amadeus, written by Peter Shaffer (won), based on his play. It was directed by Milos Forman (won). It starred Tom Hulce (nominated), F Murray Abraham (won), Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice, Simon Callow and Jeffrey Jones. It also won for its Sound, Art Direction, Costume Design and Makeup.

• Norbert Smith – A Life. https://youtu.be/uD0yDWzX_BM?t=285
• Reeve on Brando. https://youtu.be/QDeJcN45F7E
• Grumpy Guardian article. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/22/amadeus-reel-history

Next time we will be discussing Out of Africa. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Andreas Marquart Frellesen, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Jonquil Coy, Ann Blake, Lee Ingleby, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Alex Frith, Anna Joerschke, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Claire Creighton, Dave Kloc, Eloise Lowe, Helle Rasmussen, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Katy Espie, Keaton Ellis, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Lisa Gillespie, Michael Wilson, Nick Hetherington, Olivia, Peter , Robert Orzalli, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Simon James, Julie Dirksen, Anna Jackson, Anna Smith, Catherine Murphy, Cindy, Claire Carr, Daina Aspin, Darren Williams, David Hanneford, Drew Milloy, Eamonn Clarke, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Helen Cousins, Jo B, Johanna Commins, Juan Ageitos, Judi Cox, Kath , Laura Lundy, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Sian Thomas, Simon Ash, Sladjana Ivanis, Stuart Shepherd.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 61: The Deer Hunter (1978)

Released 20 May 2020

For this episode, we watched The Deer Hunter, written Deric Washburn, Michael Cimino, Louis Garfinkle, Quinn K. Redeker and directed by Cimino. It stars Robert De Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken. The Academy rained Oscars upon it, awarding Cimino Best Director, Walken Best Supporting Actor, and giving it Best Sound and Best Editing as well as Best Picture. There were also nominations for de Niro and Streep as well as for the cinematography and screenplay.

• Oscar's Only Human https://youtu.be/fyZkOHcjyak
• Lois Lane (Leslie Ann Warren) shoots Clark Kent https://youtu.be/d37I2Z-Dpmc?t=403

Next time we will be discussing Amadeus. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA), but note that the director's cut is far more widely available than the Oscar-winning theatrical cut.

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Nick Hetherington, Jonquil Coy, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Lee Ingleby, Ann Blake, Michael Walker, Veryan Croggon, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Annmarie Gray, Helle Rasmussen, Robert Orzalli, Alex Frith, Olivia, Kelli Prime, Peter, Keaton Ellis, Katy Espie, Joy Wilkinson, Lisa Gillespie, Kate Butler, Simon James, Eloise Lowe, Anna Joerschke, Ben Squires, Alex Wilson, Anne Dellamaria, Dave Kloc, Michael Wilson, Claire Creighton, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Julie Dirksen, Anna Smith, Darren Williams, Catherine Murphy, Sian Thomas, Daina Aspin, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Cindy, Stuart Shepherd, Emmet Jackson, Juan Ageitos, Laura Lundy, David Hanneford, Judi Cox, Emma Colvill, Simon Ash, Helen Cousins, Sladjana Ivanis, Eamonn Clarke, Johanna Commins, Kath, Flora, Anna Jackson, Drew Milloy, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Jo B, Claire Carr.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan, Tom Salinsky and special guest Tish Potter

Episode 60.5: Citizen Kane (1941)

Released 13 May 2020

For this episode, we watched Citizen Kane, written by Herman J Mankiewicz and Orson Welles, directed by Welles and starring Welles, Joseph Cotton, Dorothy Comingore, Everett Sloane, Ray Collins, George Coulouris, Agnes Moorehead. It did not win Best Picture (the only Academy Award it won was for its screenplay) but how could we overlook it? We're joined by friend of the pod Tish Potter who hasn't seen it before.

• https://www.tishpotter.co.uk
• The War of the Worlds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs0K4ApWl4g
• https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/war-worlds
• https://slate.com/culture/2013/10/orson-welles-war-of-the-worlds-panic-myth-the-infamous-radio-broadcast-did-not-cause-a-nationwide-hysteria.html
• Pterosaurs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QyRksgacik

Next time we will be discussing The Deer Hunter. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Nick Hetherington, Jonquil Coy, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Lee Ingleby, Ann Blake, Michael Walker, Veryan Croggon, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Annmarie Gray, Helle Rasmussen, Robert Orzalli, Alex Frith, Olivia, Kelli Prime, Peter, Keaton Ellis, Katy Espie, Joy Wilkinson, Lisa Gillespie, Kate Butler, Simon James, Eloise Lowe, Anna Joerschke, Ben Squires, Alex Wilson, Anne Dellamaria, Dave Kloc, Michael Wilson, Claire Creighton, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Julie Dirksen, Anna Smith, Darren Williams, Catherine Murphy, Sian Thomas, Daina Aspin, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Cindy, Stuart Shepherd, Emmet Jackson, Juan Ageitos, Laura Lundy, David Hanneford, Judi Cox, Emma Colvill, Simon Ash, Helen Cousins, Sladjana Ivanis, Eamonn Clarke, Johanna Commins, Kath, Flora, Anna Jackson, Drew Milloy, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Jo B, Claire Carr.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 60: How Green Was My Valley (1941)

Released 6 May 2020

For this episode, we watched How Green Was My Valley, written by Philip Dunne, from the novel by Richard Llewellyn and directed by John Ford who won his third Best Director Oscar for it. It starred Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Donald Crisp (won Best Supporting Actor), Roddy McDowall and Sara Allgood (nominated). It also won Best Black-and-White Cinematography and Best Black-and-White Art Direction and it was nominated for its screenplay, its editing, its score and its sound.

• Faye Dunaway's post-Oscar breakfast. https://tinyurl.com/bpdunaway

Next time we will be discussing The Deer Hunter. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Andreas Marquart Frellesen, Jonquil Coy, Ann Blake, Lee Ingleby, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Anna Joerschke, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Claire Creighton, Dave Kloc, Eloise Lowe, Helle Rasmussen, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Katy Espie, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Lisa Gillespie, Michael Wilson, Nick Hetherington, Olivia, Peter , Robert Orzalli, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Anna Jackson, Anna Smith, Catherine Murphy, Darren Williams, David Hanneford, Eamonn Clarke, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Judi Cox, Kath , Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshoj Petersen, Sian Thomas, Stuart Shepherd.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 59: Oliver! (1968)

Released 22 April 2020

For this episode, we watched Oliver! the movie version of the Lionel Bart stage musical directed by Carol Reed, based on Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. The screenplay was by Vernon Harris and it won five Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Musical Adaptation Score, Best Art Direction and Best Sound. Ron Moody (Fagin) and Jack Wild (Dodger) were both nominated but neither of them won.

• Be Kind Rewind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5ly_iAmEOE

Next time we will be discussing How Green Was My Valley. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Andreas Marquart Frellesen, Anna Elizabeth Rawles, Jonquil Coy, Ann Blake, Lee Ingleby, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Alex Frith, Anna Joerschke, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Claire Creighton, Dave Kloc, Eloise Lowe, Helle Rasmussen, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Katy Espie, Keaton Ellis, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Lisa Gillespie, Michael Wilson, Nick Hetherington, Olivia, Peter , Robert Orzalli, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Simon James, Julie Dirksen, Anna Jackson, Anna Smith, Catherine Murphy, Cindy, Claire Carr, Daina Aspin, Darren Williams, David Hanneford, Drew Milloy, Eamonn Clarke, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Helen Cousins, Jo B, Johanna Commins, Juan Ageitos, Judi Cox, Kath , Laura Lundy, Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshøj Petersen, Sian Thomas, Simon Ash, Sladjana Ivanis, Stuart Shepherd.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky with special guest Kobi Omenaka

Episode 58: Green Book (2018)

Released 8 April 2020

For this episode, we watched Green Book, written by Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie and Peter Farrelly and directed by Farrelly. It stars Vigo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali who won Best Supporting Actor. Apart from Best Picture, its only other Academy Award was for the screenplay, but it was also nominated for its editing and Mortensen for Best Actor.

• White Savior. https://youtu.be/T_RTnuJvg6U
• Flixwatcher podcast. https://podfollow.com/flixwatcher
• https://twitter.com/kobestarr

Next time we will be discussing Oliver!. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month. Thanks go to all of the following lovely people who have already done that.

James Murray, Andreas Marquart Frellesen, Jonquil Coy, Ann Blake, Lee Ingleby, Michael Walker, Ms Rebecca K O'Dwyer, Anna Joerschke, Anne Dellamaria, Annmarie Gray, Ben Squires, Claire Creighton, Dave Kloc, Eloise Lowe, Helle Rasmussen, Joy Wilkinson, Kate Butler, Katy Espie, Kirsten Marie Oeveraas, Lisa Gillespie, Michael Wilson, Nick Hetherington, Olivia, Peter , Robert Orzalli, Sally Grant, Sam Elliott, Anna Jackson, Anna Smith, Catherine Murphy, Darren Williams, David Hanneford, Eamonn Clarke, Emma Colvill, Emmet Jackson, Judi Cox, Kath , Lucinda Baron von Parker, Martin Korshoj Petersen, Sian Thomas, Stuart Shepherd.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 57: The Apartment (1960)

Released 25 March 2020

For this episode, we watched The Apartment, written by Billy Wilder and IAL Diamond (won), directed by Wilder (won) and starring Jack Lemmon (nominated), Shirley MacLaine (nominated), Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen (nominated) and David Lewis. It also won for its editing and art decoration and was nominated for its cinematography and its sound.

Thanks to the Curzon Victoria and our guests Deborah Frances-White, Ned Sedgwick, Gina Decio and Callum Baker who also took the photos you can see on Facebook.

We are now on Patreon. If you would like to contribute to this podcast and get some nifty rewards, just click here. https://www.patreon.com/bestpickpod

Next time we will be discussing Green Book. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 56: Cavalcade (1933)

Released 11 March 2020

For this episode, we watched Cavalcade, adapted from the Noel Coward play by Reginald Berkeley and directed by Frank Lloyd (won). It starred Diana Wynyard (nominated), Clive Brook, Una O'Connor, Herbert Mundin and it was also nominated for its Art Direction.

• https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/the-9-rules-every-wile-e-coyote-and-road-runner-cartoon-had-to-follow-are-wonderfully-pedantic-10088784.html

Next time we will be discussing The Apartment. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 231: Mulholland Drive (REDUX)

First released 19 October 2022. Rereleased 17 January 2025 in tribute to David Lynch.

We lost David Lynch this week at the age of 78. In tribute to this giant of American cinema, we are rerunning this episode in which we looked at his 2001 slice of LA Gothic Mulholland Drive.

Donate today to help victims of the LA fires. https://mutualaidla.org

For this episode, we watched the 2001 David Lynch film Mulholland Drive, starring Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux, Robert Forster and Ann Miller. This film began life as a TV pilot and was eventually repurposed by Lynch as a one-off feature film. It was suggested by Patreon supporter Joel Aarons, made it on to our shortlist and came top of our Patreon poll, by a narrow margin.

• https://crooked.com/podcast/bros-dont-prefer-blonde-w-isabella-rossellini/
• Brand New Cherry Flavor https://youtu.be/wOzM3c33TVg
• Mel Gibson interview https://youtu.be/PdYjnIDfi9Q
• David Lynch's sitcom https://youtu.be/YdfTQ29sca8
• Mulholland Drive explained https://youtu.be/VvgRLTP3U5Y

BEST PICK – the book is out now from all the usual places, including…

• From the publisher https://tinyurl.com/best-pick-book-rowman
• UK Amazon https://amzn.to/3zFNATI
• US Amazon https://www.amzn.com/1538163101
• UK bookstore https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781538163108
• US bookstore https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-pick-john-dorney/1139956434
• Audio book https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Best-Pick-Audiobook/B09SBMX1V4

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group or find us on BlueSky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 55: Argo (2012)

Released 26 February 2020

For this episode, we watched Argo, written by Chris Terrio, directed by Ben Affleck and starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Tate Donovan. As well as Best Picture, it won Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing. It was nominated in four other categories including Best Supporting Actor for Arkin.

• David Kelly in Fawlty Towers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDXa5rE7624

Next time we will be discussing Cavalcade. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or you can download it via iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 54: All the King's Men (1949)

Released 12 February 2020

For this episode, we watched All the King's Men, written, produced and directed by Robert Rossen, based on the novel by Robert Penn Warren. Rossen was nominated in all three capacities. Star Broderick Crawford won Best Actor, Mercedes McCambridge won Best Supporting Actress and John Ireland was nominated as Best Supporting Actor. The film was also nominated for its editing.

• https://slate.com/podcasts/trumpcast

Next time we will be discussing Argo. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 53.5: Oscar Winners 2020

Released 10 February 2020

For this episode, we blearily report back on all of the results, triumphs, disappointments and gossips from the 92nd Academy Awards.

• New Audible series: https://tinyurl.com/bpaudible
• Absurd Person Singular: http://londonclassictheatre.co.uk/2020/01/07/absurd-person-singular/

Next time we will be discussing All the King's Men. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan, Tom Salinsky and our special guest Sarah Bennetto

Episode 53: The Shape of Water (2017)

Released 29 January 2020

For this episode, we watched The Shape of Water, written by Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor (nominated) and directed by Del Toro (won). It starred Sally Hawkins (nominated), Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins (nominated), Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer (nominated) with music by Alexandre Desplat (won) and cinematography by Dan Lausten (nominated). It also won for its production design (Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau, Jeff Melvin). In total it was nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, one less than the all-time record.

• https://twitter.com/sarahbennetto

Next time we will be discussing All the King's Men. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 52: Hamlet (1948)

Released 15 January 2020

For this episode, we watched Hamlet, based on the play by William Shakespeare, directed by Lawrence Olivier (nominated), and starring Olivier (won), Basil Sydney, Eileen Herlie, Norman Wooland, Felix Aylmer, Terence Morgan and Jean Simmons (nominated). It also won for its art direction and costume design and it was nominated for its score and Olivier was nominated as director.

• http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/2019/10/21/six-degrees-of-song-of-the-south-episode-1-disneys-most-controversial-film

Next time we will be discussing The Shape of Water. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 51.5: Oscar Nominations 2020

Released 14 January 2020

For this episode we discussed the nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards which were announced at on 13 January 2020 at 05:30 PT by Issa Rae and John Cho.

• Ma'am short film. https://twitter.com/MaamFilm

Next time we will be discussing Hamlet. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 51: The Last Emperor (1987)

Released 1 January 2020

For this episode, we watched The Last Emperor, written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci from the book by Puyi and directed by Bertolucci. The stars were John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole, Ying Ruocheng, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun. It won all nine Oscars for which it was nominated, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Score and Best Adapted Screenplay – but none of its cast received nominations.

Next time we will be discussing Hamlet. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan, Tom Salinsky and special guest quizmaster Thom Tuck

Episode 50.5: Christmas Quiz 2019

Released 25 December 2019

For this episode, writer, actor and comedian Thom Tuck joins us with a quiz he has set, testing us on what we have said over the last twelve months' worth of episodes. Feel free to play along at home but be warned – it's not easy.

• https://twitter.com/turlygod

Next time we will be discussing The Last Emperor. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (USA). It is not currently available on iTunes (UK).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 50: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Released 18 December 2019

For this episode, we watched One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, written by Bo Goldman and Lawrence Hauben, from the play by Ken Kesey and Dale Wasserman. It was directed by Milos Forman and starred Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Brad Dourif, William Redfield. It is one of three films to win the "big five" – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor and Actress – and like the other two it won only those five. However, it was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Dourif), Best Cinematography (Haskell Wexler, Bill Butler), Best Film Editing (Richard Chew, Lynzee Klingman, Sheldon Kahn) and Best Original Score (Jack Nitzsche).

• Steven Spielberg doesn't get nominated https://vimeo.com/374388195
• Elizabeth Taylor closes the show https://youtu.be/PdVn98_fXsg

Next time we will be discussing The Last Emperor. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (USA). It is not currently available on iTunes (UK).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 49: Braveheart (1995)

Released 4 December 2019

For this episode, we watched Braveheart, written by Randall Wallace (nominated) and directed by Mel Gibson (won) with music by James Horner (nominated) and cinematography by John Toll (won). It stars Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan and Catherine McCormack. It also won Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Makeup.

• Gerda Weissmann Klein's Oscar speech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zn-fPM4KS0
• Gordy trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSTZl1bENrc

Next time we will be discussing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky

Episode 96: Oppenheimer

Released 18 December 2024

For this episode, we watched the 2023 Best Picture winner Oppenheimer written and directed by Christopher Nolan, based on American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin. The cast includes Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh and Josh Hartnett, with acting Oscars for Murphy and Downey, contributing to its total of seven awards. We also discuss Barbenheimer, dream sequels and Sylvia Simms.

• No CGI is really just invisible CGI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ttG90raCNo

BEST PICK – the book is out now from all the usual places, including…

• From the publisher https://tinyurl.com/best-pick-book-rowman
• UK Amazon https://amzn.to/3zFNATI
• US Amazon https://www.amzn.com/1538163101
• UK bookstore https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781538163108
• US bookstore https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-pick-john-dorney/1139956434
• Audio book https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Best-Pick-Audiobook/B09SBMX1V4

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group.

You can also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

If you enjoy this podcast and you'd like to help us to continue to make it, you can now support us on Patreon for as little as £2.50 per month, but please be aware that future releases will continue to be sporadic.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 48: The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

Released 20 November 2019

For this episode, we watched The Greatest Show on Earth, written by Fredric M. Frank, Theodore St. John, Frank Cavett, Barré Lyndon and directed and produced by Cecil B DeMille. The stars were Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, James Stewart and Dorothy Lamour and it won only Best Picture and Best Story.

• Betty Hutton's acrobatics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIhrGSxslzQ

Next time we will be discussing Braveheart. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 47: Gigi (1958) - with special guest Kiri Pritchard-McLean

Released 6 November 2019

For this episode, we watched Gigi, written by Alan Jay Lerner (won) with music by Frederick Loewe and Andre Previn (won) from the book by Colette. It was directed by Vincente Minelli (won) and produced by Arthur Freed. The stars were Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold. It also won for its Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing and Best Original Song.

• http://www.kiripritchardmclean.co.uk
• https://twitter.com/killnofillpod

Next time we will be discussing The Greatest Show on Earth. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD (it is not available on Blu-ray) on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 46: Ordinary People (1980)

Released 23 October 2019

For this episode, we watched Ordinary People, written by Alvin Sargent, from the book by Judith Guest. It was directed by Robert Redford and produced by Ronald L Schwary and the stars were Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won four – Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Timothy Hutton as well as Best Picture. We also explore the story of Michael Cimino's epic failure Heaven's Gate.

• https://www.earwolf.com/episode/jazz-singer-live/
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Final-Cut-Making-Heavens-Artists/dp/1557043744

Next time we will be discussing Gigi. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (USA). It is not currently available on iTunes (UK).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 45.5: Alfred Hitchcock

Released 16 October 2019

For this episode, we discussed the life and work of Alfred Hitchcock, which we didn't have time to do in any detail at our live show.

Next time we will be discussing Ordinary People. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA). It is not currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 45: Rebecca (1940)

Released 9 October 2019

For this episode, we watched Rebecca, written by Robert E. Sherwood, Joan Harrison, Philip MacDonald and Michael Hogan, based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier. It was directed by Alfred Hitchcock (nominated) with music from Franz Waxman (nominated) and cinematography by George Barnes (won). The stars were Joan Fontaine (nominated), Laurence Olivier (nominated), Judith Anderson (nominated) and George Sanders. It was nominated for a further four awards.

• Vivien Leigh's "rubbish" screen test https://youtu.be/2qU_JnSp7qw

Next time we will be discussing Ordinary People. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA). It is not currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 44: Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Released 25 September 2019

For this episode, we watched Midnight Cowboy, written by Waldo Salt (won) from the novel by James Leo Herlihy and directed by John Schlesinger (won), with music by John Barry and cinematography by Adam Holender. It starred Jon Voight (nominated), Dustin Hoffman (nominated) and Sylvia Miles (nominated). It was also nominated for its editing.

• Threads, trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgT4Y30DkaA
• You Must Remember This. http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/youmustrememberthispodcastblog/2015/5/26/charles-mansons-hollywood-part-1-what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-the-manson-murders

Next time we will be discussing Rebecca at our third live show. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com.

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 43: The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Released 11 September 2019

For this episode, we watched The Best Years of Our Lives, written by Robert E Sherwood (won) based on the novella Glory for Me by MacKinlay Kantor. It was directed by William Wyler (won) and starred Myrna Loy, Frederic March (won), Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright and Harold Russell (won). It also won for its Editing, Music and was nominated for its Sound Recording.

• The Oracle of Bacon https://oracleofbacon.org
• Puttin' on the Ritz https://vimeo.com/6971656
• Put the Blame on Mame https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnBmbsDan5s
• Dana Andrews in Zero Hour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWI3JZvvbI4

Next time we will be discussing Midnight Cowboy. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

Our third-ever live show is on 15 September at King's Place at 12:00pm. We'll be watching, assessing and taking your questions and comments on Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca. Tickets are on sale now.

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky and our special guest Tish Potter.

Episode 42: Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Released 28 August 2019

For this episode, we watched Shakespeare in Love, written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard (won) and directed by John Madden (nominated) and starring Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow (won), Geoffrey Rush (nominated) and Judi Dench (won).

As well as the above, it also won for its Art Direction, Costume Design and Score, and it was nominated in a further four categories.

• Atomic Shakespeare https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijUr6p8xSBM
• Norbert Smith https://youtu.be/uD0yDWzX_BM?t=259
• Tish Potter in World's End at The King's Head https://tinyurl.com/worldsendplay

Next time we will be discussing The Best Years of Our Lives. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

Our third-ever live show is on 15 September at King's Place at 12:00pm. We'll be watching, assessing and taking your questions and comments on Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca. Tickets are on sale now.

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 41: Rain Man (1988)

Released 14 August 2019

For this episode, we watched Rain Man, written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass (won) and directed by Barry Levinson (won). It starred Dustin Hoffman (won), Tom Cruise and Valeria Golino. It also received nominations for its art direction, cinematography, editing and score.

• That infamous opening number: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mronRVvdmw
• The second production number: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAQ9Taunh7w
• Who's on First from The Abbott and Costello Show S01E24: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRRaXV-fg

Next time we will be discussing Shakespeare in Love. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

Our third-ever live show is on 15 September at King's Place at 12:00pm. We'll be watching, assessing and taking your questions and comments on Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca. Tickets are on sale now.

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 40: The Artist (2011)

Released 31 July 2019

For this episode, we watched The Artist, written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius with music by Ludovic Bource and starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo. From ten nominations, it managed five awards, for Hazanavicius as director, for Dujardin, for its costumes and its score as well as Best Picture.

• Paperman https://youtu.be/Z4dIgUgYCxQ
• Harold Lloyd remakes Safety Last with sound https://youtu.be/3nVzewhsmM0
• Begin the Beguine https://youtu.be/nZPndC-F5SE?t=57

Next time we will be discussing Rain Man. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

Our third-ever live show is on 15 September at King's Place at 12:00pm. We'll be watching, assessing and taking your questions and comments on Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca. Tickets are on sale now.

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Tom's new book is out now wherever books are sold.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Dwarf-Discovering-TV-1988-1993/dp/1399034944

 https://www.waterstones.com/book/red-dwarf-discovering-the-tv-series/tom-salinsky/9781399034944

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 39: The French Connection (1971)

Released 17 July 2019

For this episode, we watched The French Connection, written by Ernest Tidyman (won) from the novel by Robin Moore and directed by William Friedkin (won). It starred Gene Hackman (won Best Actor), Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider (nominated Best Supporting Actor), Tony Lo Bianco and Marcel Bozzuffi with music by Don Ellis, cinematography by Owen Rolzman (nominated) and editing by Gerald B Greenberg (won). It was also nominated for its Sound.

Next time we will be discussing The Artist. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 38: Chicago (2002)

Released 3 July 2019

For this episode, we watched Chicago, written by Bill Condon, from the musical play by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb, and the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. It was directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall and starred Renée Zellweger (nominated), Catherine Zeta-Jones (won), Richard Gere, John C Reilly (nominated) and Queen Latifah (nominated). It also won for its Art Direction, Costume Design, Editing and Sound. Kander and Ebb's new song "I Move On" was nominated but lost to "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile.

• If The Wizard of Oz was way worse at foreshadowing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rFKJMcXrBk
• Busby Berkeley – Remember My Forgotten Man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnSZi5MIHMc&t=11s
• Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth – The Shorty George https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUhhKELUxB0#action=share
• Gene Kelly – Alter Ego dance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr7-qi7JRtc

Next time we will be discussing The French Connection. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.

Best Pick with John Dorney, Jessica Regan and Tom Salinsky.

Episode 37: The Lost Weekend (1945)

Released 19 June 2019.

For this episode, we watched The Lost Weekend, written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder, directed by Wilder and starring Ray Milland and Jane Wyman. The film won Oscars for its screenplay (adapted from the novel by Charles Jackson), Best Director for Wilder and Best Actor for Milland. It also won the Grand Prix at Cannes.

• How The Fonz became. https://www.cracked.com/article_20576_5-classic-pop-culture-moments-actors-made-up-fly.html

Next time we will be discussing Chicago. If you want to watch it before listening to the next episode you can buy the DVD or Blu-Ray on Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.com, or you can download it via iTunes (UK) or iTunes (USA).

To send in your questions, comments, thoughts and ideas, you can join our Facebook group, Tweet us on @bestpickpod or email us on bestpickpod@gmail.com. You can also Tweet us individually, @MrJohnDorney, @ItsJessRegan or @TomSalinsky.

You should also visit our new website at https://bestpickpod.com and sign up to our mailing list to get notified as soon as a new episode is released. Just follow this link: http://eepurl.com/dbHO3n.