No Way Out 1950
His first starring role, an ER doctor squaring off with Richard Widmark's racist patient. Set the template for the parts Hollywood kept giving him.
The Big Picture · Discussion · Hall of Fame
January 14, 2022/ 85 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean and Amanda remember Sidney Poitier, parse a chaotic week of SAG nominations, and build a 10-film Bradley Cooper Hall of Fame.
29 films across 3 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
Remembering Sidney PoitierIn memoriam, following his death last week
His first starring role, an ER doctor squaring off with Richard Widmark's racist patient. Set the template for the parts Hollywood kept giving him.
One of three films he released this year, playing a teacher in a London school.
The second of the three. The legendary one.
And the third — a whole trio in one year, at his commercial peak.
The Best Actor Oscar win.
Opposite Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Sean rates it highly.
Made early in Sydney Pollack's career too.
His directorial debut, a Western with Harry Belafonte and Ruby Dee.
The one people Sean and Amanda's age actually grew up with, though Sean thinks it undersells the rest of the career.
The SAG Award NominationsThis week's surprises and snubs
Its ensemble got recognized, which Sean reads as evidence it's back in the Best Picture conversation. Amanda wonders if voters just liked the cast list.
Three individual acting nods (Dunst, Cumberbatch, Smit-McPhee) but no ensemble nomination — precedent (Nomadland, Green Book) says that's not conclusive either way.
Javier Bardem's Best Actor nod for playing Desi Arnaz surprised both hosts. No ensemble recognition for the rest of the cast.
Peter Dinklage was the presumed frontrunner Bardem's nomination seems to have bumped.
Bradley Cooper's Supporting Actor nod for an extended cameo is what prompted this episode.
Kristen Stewart, the presumed Best Actress frontrunner, got snubbed entirely.
Blanked except for Ariana DeBose. Rachel Zegler's absence surprised both hosts.
Ensemble nomination only, which the hosts read as its Best Picture spot being confirmed — not really a showcase for anyone's acting.
Ensemble nomination plus a Troy Kotsur nod for the Apple release.
Katrina Balfe and the ensemble got in, but Ciárán Hinds, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan and Jude Hill were all left out — leaves the hosts with no read on where it stands.
The Bradley Cooper Hall of Fame10 films
Comic villainy launched primarily at Vince Vaughn for two hours. In the conversation for great-douchebag-performance history.
Phil Wenneck. Still funny; some of it more uncomfortable now than in 2009.
The proof-of-concept movie — the first time the show believed he could carry a high-concept thriller by himself, Robert De Niro in the back seat notwithstanding.
Chosen over Joker for the tenth spot. Sean's favorite of his films, and a little underrated.
His first Best Actor nomination, running around Philadelphia in a trash bag.
Amanda doesn't love the movie, but he's doing a very committed coked-out performance and got nominated for it.
Rocket Raccoon. Voice acting Amanda calls harder than it looks, even if she can't stand these movies otherwise.
Chris Kyle, and his first Best Picture producer credit — where the Warren Beatty ambitions start to show.
Actor, director, writer, producer, and by Sean's read possibly the pinnacle of the career so far.
Roughly fifteen minutes of screen time that finally pays off years of scene-stealing cameos.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Considered for the Hall of Fame Wet Hot American SummerMy Little EyeBending All the RulesFailure to LaunchThe ComebacksOlder Than AmericaThe RockerThe Midnight Meat TrainYes ManHe's Just Not That Into YouValentine's DayCase 39All About SteveNew York, I Love YouThe A-TeamThe Hangover Part IIThe WordsHit and RunThe Hangover Part IIISerenaAlohaBurntJoy10 Cloverfield LaneWar DogsGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2Avengers: Infinity WarThe MuleAvengers: EndgameJokerNightmare Alley
In passing This Means WarFifty Shades of GreyBridesmaidsHow to Lose a Guy in 10 DaysBring It OnAnt-ManTraining DayNomadlandParasiteGreen BookThe Shape of WaterThe Little ThingsIf Beale Street Could TalkRespectKing RichardPassingThe Tragedy of MacbethDrive My CarDuneDeath on the Nile
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