Judd Apatow: Five Best Moments From His Legendary Filmography

Knocked Up Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow has a gift. He has a true eye for talent. Apatow can spot up-and-coming stars and underutilized talent better than anyone in the film industry. Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Steve Carrell, Linda Cardellini, and Amy Schumer are a few names that come to mind. Now, it’s time to add Pete Davidson to the list with The King of Staten Island.

Between writing, producing, and directing, Apatow’s filmography is beyond impressive because it includes some of the most important comedies of the 21st century. Apatow helped shaped influential films such as The 40-Year-Old-Virgin, Anchorman, Knocked Up, Superbad, Step Brothers, and Bridesmaids. That’s a hall of fame run for just one man.

With his return to directing non-documentaries, I broke down my favorite moments from Apatow’s films. This was an impossible task so I only went with what popped into my head right away. I know I missed a lot of important scenes so (please) forgive me. I also only used scenes from movies so that disqualified television shows like Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared.

Judd Apatow: Five Best Moments From His Legendary Filmography

“Josh Birnbaum, Step On The Scale, Son!” – Heavyweights

Imagine having Heavyweights as your first screenwriting credit for a feature film? Apatow came out swinging with Heavyweights, the story of a fat camp that’s taken over by a fitness junkie, Tony Perkis (Ben Stiller). There’s a real argument to be made that Heavyweights is my favorite Ben Stiller performance. It’s without a doubt his most underrated, but Tony Perkis is one of the greatest villains in a family movie ever. He’s so evil and conniving and expertly parodies the larger than life fitness guru. On Rotten Tomatoes, it’s has a score of 29% on the Tomatometer, but 77% with audiences. In this round of critics vs. the audience, the audience clearly wins. There are so many one-liners from this film, but I’ll go with Josh Birnbaum stepping on the scale. And remember, muscle weighs more than fat!

Family Health Clinic – The 40-Year-Old Virgin

https://youtu.be/eeA0aH11Smg

It’s hard to believe that Apatow’s first trip to the director’s chair in a feature film was for The 40-Year-Old-Virgin. Do I think it’s the funniest Apatow movie? No, but it’s pretty damn hilarious. However, in 2004-2005, Apatow helped turn Steve Carell into a household name. Between Anchorman and The 40-Year-Old-Virgin, Apatow showcased Carrell’s leading-man potential. Between those two movies, Carell debuted as Michael Scott on The Office, and the rest is history. Carrell’s awkward, confused, and somewhat charming portrayal of Andy helped The 40-Year-Old-Virgin become a comedic classic. I wanted to put the egg salad sandwich scene, but I couldn’t have people think I’m the 40-year-old-virgin in real life so I’ll go with sex-ed for a 40-year-old.

These Eyes Are Crying/Blood Brothers – Superbad

This is my pick for the reigning, defending, and undisputed champion of the world. Superbad is not only my favorite Apatow film but my favorite comedy of all time. The entire sequence from Seth getting hit by the car to leaving the party after the brawl is absolutely perfect. Superbad is probably the most quotable comedy of all time. Go to any party and if someone is singing, drop “you’re Jimmy’s brother, the singer” and you’ll get a reaction. Always remember that these eyes are crying.

First Dinner Scene, Step Brothers

Your honor, objection to “Superbad is probably the most quotable comedy of all time. The real answer is Step Brothers.” Step Brothers is not as good as Superbad, but it’s so ridiculousness in nature that it’s hilarious to watch Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in their element. Most people will point to the nutsack on the drumset or the final song as their favorite scene, but this four-minute dinner makes me laugh the hardest. It’s so passive-aggressive and cringeworthy. I say, “I like it,” the way Dale does all the time. My brother and I hug like Brendan and Robert whenever we see each other. I remember my first beer.

Red’s House, Pineapple Express

If you’re looking to play a comedic asshole down the road, study Danny McBride’s character, Red. From his physical comedy to his sarcastic tone, McBride rules in this scene. Pineapple Express had no business becoming this funny. A weed movie combined with an action movie should not work on paper, but Apatow, Rogen, and Evan Goldberg turned it into a cult classic. I mean James Franco received a best acting nomination at the Golden Globes for this performance, which is almost unfathomable. Here’s to the cross joint.

What is your favorite moment from a Judd Apatow movie? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

2020 Golden Globes Predictions: What Films And Shows Will Receive Nominations?

Awards season is about to kick into high gear this Monday morning when the nominations for the 77th Golden Globes are announced. The Globes are the most enjoyable and entertaining awards show because the biggest film and television stars are under one roof and drink like there’s no tomorrow. It’s my dream to attend a Globes afterparty (hit me up if you have an in).

That being said, it’s been a strong year in television thanks to hits like Fleabag, Succession, Barry, When They See Us, and Chernobyl. The year in film started off slowly but after the release of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, it’s really taken off with critically acclaimed films like Parasite, The Irishman, and Joker. With the Oscars in February, the Globes are a critical event for many actors and films that have Academy Award aspirations.

When predicting nominations, there are a few things to keep in mind.

  1. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) loves to spotlight new shows and talent.
  2. The HFPA LOVE stars. If there’s an A-list star in a movie or television show, whether it’s good or bad, there’s a solid chance they’re getting a nomination in order to guarantee their attendance.
  3. The Golden Globes don’t predict Oscar winners, but it’s a good barometer. For example, Rami Malek, Olivia Colman, Mahershala Ali, Regina King, Alfonso Cuaron, and Green Book all won Golden Globes before going on to win the Oscars in the same categories.

Here are my Golden Globes nomination predictions.

Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson, Azhy Robertson, and Adam Driver in Marriage Story / Netflix

FILM

BEST MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA

The Irishman
Marriage Story
Little Women
Joker
1917

BEST MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL or COMEDY

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Jojo Rabbit
Rocketman
Knives Out
Cats

BEST ACTOR – DRAMA

Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Robert De Niro, The Irishman
Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems
Paul Walter Hauser, Richard Jewell

BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA

Renee Zellweger, Judy
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Lupita Nyong’o, Us

BEST ACTOR – COMEDY/MUSICAL

Eddie Murphy, Dolemite Is My Name
Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Taron Egerton, Rocketman
Daniel Craig, Knives Out
Himesh Patel, Yesterday

BEST ACTRESS – COMEDY/MUSICAL

Awkwafina, The Farewell
Beanie Feldstein, Booksmart
Kaitlyn Dever, Booksmart
Constance Wu, Hustlers
Ana de Armas, Knives Out

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Shia LaBeouf, Honey Boy

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers
Margot Robbie, Bombshell
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Zhao Shuzhen, The Farewell

BEST DIRECTOR

Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
Sam Mendes, 1917
Greta Gerwig, Little Women

BEST SCREENPLAY

Marriage Story
The Irishman
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Little Women
Parasite

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“Spirit,” Beyoncé, The Lion King
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” Elton John, Rocketman
“Beautiful Ghosts,” Taylor Swift and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats
“Glasgow,” Mary Steenburgen, Wild Rose
“Into the Unknown,” Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Frozen II

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Alexandre Desplat, Little Women
Hildur Guðnadóttir, Joker
Randy Newman, “Marriage Story”
Thomas Newman, 1917
John Williams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Parasite
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Atlantics
Les Misérables
Pain and Glory

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Toy Story 4
Frozen II
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Abominable
Weathering with You

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Fleabag / Amazon

TELEVISION

BEST TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA

Succession
The Crown
The Morning Show
Game of Thrones
Big Little Lies

BEST TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL or COMEDY

Fleabag
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Barry
Russian Doll
Schitt’s Creek

BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES or MOVIE

When They See Us
Chernobyl
Unbelievable
El Camino
Fosse/Verdon

LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

Billy Porter, Pose
Jeremy Strong, Succession
Brian Cox, Succession
Tobias Menzies, The Crown
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones

LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION COMEDY

Bill Hader, Barry
Ben Platt, The Politician
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Paul Rudd, Living with Yourself
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek

LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION COMEDY

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Hailee Steinfeld, Dickinson
Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
Kirsten Dunst, On Becoming a God in Central Florida

LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM

Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
Jared Harris, Chernobyl
Aaron Paul, El Camino
Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon
Mahershala Ali, True Detective

LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM

Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
Merritt Wever, Unbelievable
Helen Mirren, Catherine the Great
Joey King, The Act
Kathryn Hahn, Mrs. Fletcher

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TELEVISION FILM

Andrew Scott, Fleabag
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Stellan Skarsgard, Chernobyl
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TELEVISION FILM

Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies
Toni Collette, Unbelievable
Patricia Arquette, The Act
Laura Dern, Big Little Lies
Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown

Check back for predictions in January and follow me on Twitter for more analysis

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: Predicting Its Oscar Chances

Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood

It may have taken seven months, but the film community has its first serious Oscar contender with Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Tarantino’s tribute to the end of the Golden Age in Hollywood has been rumored to be in the Oscar race ever since the film was announced two years ago. Once Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and the prolific ensemble cast were officially announced, the Best Picture hype began to build.

*This article will contain light spoilers.*

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood revolves around the friendship between an aging actor, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), and his stuntman, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), in 1969 Los Angeles. The film industry is changing and Dalton and Booth both struggle to adapt to the new times. While this is going on, the major subplot of the film involves Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), Dalton’s next-door neighbor, and the Manson family and their interactions leading up August 9, 1969, when members of the Manson family murdered Tate and her guests at Tate’s house.

All of Tarantinos’ films include his signature style of extended dialogue sequences, large ensembles, and brutal depictions of violence. Those elements were on full display in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, this film will go down as Tarantino’s most nostalgic and tender film to date. This film is a love letter to the Golden Age of Hollywood. From recreating Hollywood Blvd to the music, clothing, and stars, Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is as accurate a description of 1969 LA as you’ll ever see on film.

Due to Tarantino’s reputation and a star-studded cast which included DiCaprio, Pitt, and Robbie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood debuted to $40.3 million at the box office, marking the largest opening of the director’s career. The film has also been well-received from critics with an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Now, attention will turn to the 2020 Oscars. The question is not if Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be nominated for Oscars, but how many Oscar nominations will it receive? Let’s break it down by category.

Best Picture – Yes

There is nothing that the Academy loves more than a film about Hollywood. A film that showcases Hollywood and all it has to offer is a lock for nominations. Add in the fact that it’s a Tarantino film and has “movie stars” in every sense of the word means Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be in the running for multiple Oscars. For example, take La La Land as another film that highlights Los Angeles. Damien Chazelle’s musical received a record-tying fourteen nominations, winning six categories. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood may not receive that many nominations, but Best Picture is just the first of many nominations.

Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio – Yes

In his first film since his Oscar-winning performance in The Revenant, DiCaprio is at his best once again in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The way DiCaprio is able to channel an aging star with such intimacy and care is amazing to witness. It’s a sentimental and loving side of DiCaprio we haven’t seen in years. Add Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to his long list of excellent performances.

Best Supporting Actor for Brad Pitt – Yes

Pitt did not have as much screen time or lines as DiCaprio so Sony is most likely going to position Pitt as a supporting actor. That being said, Pitt and DiCaprio have tremendous chemistry. Pitt’s cool, no-nonsense persona blended perfectly with Dalton’s egotistical and conceited mannerisms. Essentially, Pitt was his Rusty character in the Ocean Eleven series. Keep in mind that Pitt is going to push for Best Actor for his performance in Ad Astra, which comes out in September. Could Pitt be a double nominee come Oscar night?

Brad Pitt oscars

Best Supporting Actress for Margot Robbie – No

This is tricky. I thought Robbie did a solid job with the material she was given. Robbie depicted Sharon Tate as this beautiful, star-in-the-making who was married to one of the hottest directors in Hollywood, Roman Polanski. We know what happens to Tate in real life so it’s hard to watch her onscreen and not think ahead to her encounter with the Manson family. Robbie also does not have many lines. My gut says she won’t receive a nomination, but if Once Upon a Time in Hollywood dominates major categories in award shows prior to the Oscars, I won’t be surprised if the momentum leads to a nomination for Robbie.

Best Director And Best Orginal Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino – Yes

If I had to say which category Tarantino has a better shot in receiving an Oscar nomination, Best Orginal Screenplay over Best Director is the better bet. Tarantino received screenplay nominations for Inglourious Basterds, Pulp Fiction, and Django Unchained, winning for the last two in that list. On the flip side, Tarantino has been nominated twice for Best Director: Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained. Tarantino’s revisionist history in the final act may rub some voters the wrong way, but it shouldn’t stop him from receiving a nomination for screenplay. This should also lead to a directing nomination as well because as I’ve previously stated, this is a softer, more contained version of Tarantino in his homage to 1969 Hollywood. Voters will reward his nostalgic vision.

Other Categories Where Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Will Receive Nominations

  • Cinematography
  • Production Design
  • Film Editing
  • Costume Design

If these predictions turn out to be true, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will receive at least nine Oscar nominations, which would be a career-high for a Tarantino film. It’s not out of the question that the film will receive less than nine or more than nine nominations. However, don’t expect this film to ride off into the Hollywood sunset. Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will be a major player in the Oscar race.

Five Greatest Opening Scenes In Films Of The 21st Century

Christoph Waltz

In simplest terms, stories have three components: beginning, middle, and end. The great stories captivate the audience with each scene and transition smoothly into the next act. However, the opening scene is crucial. This is where you have to convince the audience to stay around and pay attention. Opening scenes set the stage for what’s to come. Opening scenes explain the tone of the film and provide the basic blueprint as to where the story is going. Since the turn of the century, there have been a few standout opening scenes in films. Here are the five greatest opening scenes of 21st century films.

Inglourious Basterds – The Jew Hunter

https://youtu.be/Ig0815OI9Lg

No one on Planet Earth writes dialogue like Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino’s scenes are usually long, dialogue-driven conversations that are compelling, clever, and most of all, suspenseful. Tarantino’s unique style was put on full display in the opening scene of Inglourious Basterds.

In the scene, Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) interrogates French dairy farmer Perrier LaPadite (Denis Mènochet) for housing a Jewish family, who are hiding under the floorboards. Landa has LaPadite in the palm of his hand the entire time. Landa knows that LaPadite is hiding something, but he elects to draw the conversation out and acts like a friend who will help another friend. The suspense and tension build with each sentence from Landa. LaPaditie is courageous for conversing Landa, but he stands no chance. Landa stalks his prey the entire scene and pounces at the end, massacring all but one of the family members. The scene established Landa as one of Tarantino’s best characters ever.

La La Land – Another Day In The Sun

A musical about two struggling artists in Los Angeles? Does that capture your attention? Without Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and Damien Chazelle attached to La La Land, I’m not sure if I would have gone out of my way to see this film. Thankfully, I did and left the theater full of raw emotion and inspiration.

The opening scene perfectly captures Los Angeles. The bumper to bumper traffic, the influx of struggling actors and artists looking for a break, and an over-the-top and theatrical dance number represents the dreams of so many in the city of angels. Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz’s opening number, “Another Day of Sun,” soars and jumpstarts La La Land to one of the best musicals of 21st century film.

The Social Network – You’re Breaking Up With Me?

Speaking of great screenwriters, when it comes to fast dialogue and complicated monologues, it’s hard to find a writer better than Aaron Sorkin. In the opening scene of The Social Network, Erica Albright breaks up with Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard University in 2003. In this seven-minute scene, the audience learns so much about the two characters in such a short time. Mark is witty, brash, and smug, but he’s a motivated genius who will eventually become one of the most powerful people in the world thanks to Facebook. However, at the end of the day, all he wants to do is impress Erica, but Erica sees right through his bullshit and that’s something that deeply effected Mark and motivated him throughout the rest of the film. Mark becomes both the hero and the villain in The Social Network and it all starts with a conversation in a pub.

Baby Driver – Opening Chase

Baby Driver is a fun film. It’s fast action sequences, a killer soundtrack, and lovable protagonist make this the perfect summer blockbuster. Director Edgar Wright didn’t reinvent the wheel by starting the film with a heist. However, Wright added a new interpretation as to how a heist thriller can open. Heists usually end in gunfire and violence. Baby Driver has both of those elements, and yet it’s so upbeat and uplifting that the violence takes a back seat to its joyfulness. The editing of this scene is superb along with the introduction of the lovable Baby (Ansel Elgort).

The Dark Knight – Bank Robbery / Joker Reveal

https://twitter.com/screenplayed/status/1152629514649907200?s=20

I believe my tweet says it all.

Let’s be honest. I’m only writing this article so I can geek out over The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is the greatest comic book film of all time and it all starts out with the opening bank robbery scene. The Dark Knight was Nolan’s version of Heat with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. It’s hard to find a director better with large set pieces and action sequences than Nolan. The suspense builds throughout the entire scene and climaxes with the reveal of the Joker (Heath Ledger). For my money, Ledger’s Joker is the best acting performance of the 21st century and top 10 of the last 50 years. There’s great acting, and then there’s Ledger. Enough said.

Honorable mention: Bank robbery in The Town, opening montage in No Country for Old Men, bank robberies in Hell or High Water, opening credits in Watchmen.

What’s your favorite opening scene of 21st century films? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.