Steve Tesich is the first winner choice because of the Academy Award. — Bill Simmons
Quaid is considered through the category’s career-benefit definition but explicitly rejected; Indiana is proposed for the film’s portrait of the state. — Bill Simmons
Peter Yates is the settled choice for a film that strengthens his place among major directors; Bullitt and Breaking Away are described as his enduring signature works. — Bill Simmons
Indiana receives renewed support as the subject of a love letter, and Barbara Barrie is proposed for the performance and long subsequent career. — Bill Simmons
The final recap establishes a three-way split: Peter Yates, Barbara Barrie and the state of Indiana. Tesich’s earlier nomination is not retained as a final choice.
Cycling movies receive agreement, ahead of American Flyers; Quicksilver and other films are considered while discussing a possible cycling month.
Used cars and Daniel Stern are rejected, with Stern’s Home Alone, City Slickers and The Wonder Years period preferred.
Irritable Italians and the 1978 Masi Gran Criterium bicycle receive affirmative selections.
Peter Yates is initially rejected for Bullitt, then reconsidered because of this film’s Oscar success and unknown cast; no settled final answer emerges. — Bill Simmons
Hart Bochner is rejected in favor of Die Hard, with his directing of PCU also praised.
Indiana movies divide opinion between this and Hoosiers, with a tentative preference for Hoosiers. — Bill Simmons
Hard-to-find Blu-rays receive an affirmative nomination, illustrated by the expensive out-of-print Twilight Time release.
Villains named Rod receive an affirmative late Apex nomination.
Ridley Scott for directing is the extra-Oscar choice; the panel compares the 1979 directing nominees and argues Alien belongs among the retrospective five.
The directing nominees are enumerated as Robert Benton for Kramer vs. Kramer, Bob Fosse for All That Jazz, Francis Ford Coppola for Apocalypse Now, Peter Yates for Breaking Away and Édouard Molinaro for La Cage aux Folles; the Best Picture nominees instead include Norma Rae in place of La Cage aux Folles.
