Little Gold Men by Vanity Fair

We discuss Richard Lawson’s top 10 list and our own picks for the best films of the year—plus one can’t-miss TV show. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

As the industry shuts down for a holiday break and digs into their piles of screeners, we predict where the season’s buzz is headed—and which films will benefit most from the awards nominations thus far. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Why Octavia Spencer is suddenly in the club but Annette Bening might not be. Plus, there's a new Star Wars movie! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

New critics’ awards and the upcoming Golden Globes give us lots of Oscar buzz to discuss. But first, we address the situation with Casey Affleck, whose best actor campaign doesn’t seem hampered by sexual assault allegations...but should it be? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With a slew of critic’s groups and other groups handing out the first awards of the year, we take a look at what it all means, which titles have emerged on top, and how the box office might make more of a difference than anything else. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

As voting deadlines for various critic’s groups loom, a number of movies have finally revealed themselves, most notably Fences—a slam-dunk Oscar win for Viola Davis, and a possible coronation of Denzel Washington as an actor-turned-director genius. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In the wake of the unexpected conclusion to the presidential election, we debate how Hollywood will react. Plus, updates on the state of the Harry Potter franchise and Manchester by the Sea, and a dispatch from Rebecca Keegan about the Governor’s Awards Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week we check in on new buzz surrounding Fences and the AFI Film Festival, then chalk up the awards chances of Netflix’s ultra-lavish new series The Crown. Finally, we accept the inevitable: Lin-Manuel Miranda is totally going to win an Oscar. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week we catch up on lots of small developments in awards season, from the quixotic campaign for Sausage Party to the release of Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge. We also share Richard’s interview with French actress Isabelle Huppert, star of Elle. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With the news confirmed that Viola Davis will be running as a supporting actress for Fences— the role that won her a lead actress Tony award— we talk about the perennial problem of category fraud, and why women are so much more likely to be considered supporting for roles that are actually leads. Plus we share our interview with Kelly Reichardt, director of Certain Women, and make bold predictions about who will win the best original screenplay Oscar. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Opening in theaters this week, Moonlight features stellar performances from everyone in its cast—but its unique structure makes it particularly challenging in the context of an Oscar campaign. We discuss the film that has us all swooning, and then talk to Moonlight’s director Barry Jenkins, who has a theory that if one of his actors were onscreen longer, he’d have the best supporting actor statue wrapped up already. Panoply Survey: Here at Panoply, we want to get to know you (and your podcast listening habits) a little better. To take the next step, we created a survey that takes just a couple of minutes to complete. If you fill it out, you'll help Panoply to make great podcasts about the things you love. And things you didn't even know you loved. To fill out the survey, just go to megaphone.fm/survey Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Looking at the performances from Emma Stone, Annette Bening, Natalie Portman, and more that have everybody buzzing. Plus a post-mortem on The Birth of a Nation’s box-office failure and some bold predictions about the best supporting actress race. Panoply Survey: Here at Panoply, we want to get to know you (and your podcast listening habits) a little better. To take the next step, we created a survey that takes just a couple of minutes to complete. If you fill it out, you'll help Panoply to make great podcasts about the things you love. And things you didn't even know you loved. To fill out the survey, just go to megaphone.fm/survey Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The star of the indie drama Other People talks about how she's been playing dramatic characters even since her SNL days--whether or not people noticed. Plus discussion of the new HBO drama Westworld and the state of the best supporting actor race. Panoply Survey: Here at Panoply, we want to get to know you (and your podcast listening habits) a little better. To take the next step, we created a survey that takes just a couple of minutes to complete. If you fill it out, you'll help Panoply to make great podcasts about the things you love. And things you didn't even know you loved. To fill out the survey, just go to megaphone.fm/survey Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Fences trailer has us pretty excited, and we’re still asking questions about Birth of a Nation. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Well, the diversity of winners was certainly heartening to see. Mike, Richard, and Joanna assess the awards, and share stories from the party circuit. Plus: Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt’s new trailer! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With TV's big night around the corner, Richard and Joanna handicap the big races. Plus: can La La Land's Toronto momentum last till Oscar night? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Maybe! Richard recounts his adventures in the mountains, where La La Land and Moonlight cast a spell. Plus: an interview with Emmy nominee Judith Light. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A conversation with The Light Between Oceans director Derek Cianfrance, and a discussion about an under-the-radar Oscar hopeful. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The director of The Birth of a Nation was acquitted on rape charges in 2001, but the controversy is just beginning. Plus: are these really the 100 best movies since 2000? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Discussing Logan Lerman, Anya Taylor Joy, and Kate McKinnon's banner year. Plus: could Sausage Party get an Oscar nomination? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

On this week's episode, Mike, Richard, and special co-host Hillary Busis talk about Isabelle Huppert's intense performance in the Oscar-y French film ELLE. Also: a rave for Pete's Dragon and a look at the New York Film Festival lineup. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A discussion of Suicide Squad naturally leads to Woody Allen and his Café Society in this week’s Little Gold Men. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

On this week's episode, we look back at ComicCon, and ahead to the Toronto Film Festival, whose lineup helps clarify what this year's Oscar race might look like. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

On this week’s episode of Vanity Fair’s Little Gold Men podcast, Mike, Richard, and Joanna discuss Stranger Things, the new Netflix series that’s a scary, nostalgic blast. Then we’re joined by our colleague Julie Miller for a ComicCon preview. Plus: Emmys snubs and surprises, a spoiler-y chat about Ghostbusters, and a look at the 1983 best picture Oscar race. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

On this week’s episode of Vanity Fair’s Little Gold Men podcast, Mike, Richard, and our esteemed temporary co-host Joanna Robinson debate the merits of "Ghostbusters" and its legion of “ghostbro” haters. From there, the conversation moves to "Swiss Army Man," a controversial indie movie that Joanna loves, Richard hates, and Mike is ambivalent enough about to play referee. Plus, we offer up some Emmy nominations predictions, and then take a look at the 1985 Oscars, when "Ghostbusters" was nominated for best original song, up against some certified classics. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

As AMPAS addresses its diversity problem by inducting a huge new class of voters, Mike Hogan and Richard Lawson get the inside scoop from L.A. Times reporter Rebecca Keegan - and indulge in a bit of reckless speculation regarding the 2009 race for best actress. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week we have a tale of two summer movies: one, Independence Day: Resurgence, a sequel that nobody asked for and not that many people saw either, and the other, The Lobster, a surprise arthouse hit. Even bigger surprise? We have a lot of affection for both of them. All of that plus a look at Matthew McConaughey’s would-be Oscar bid, Free State of Jones. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Cameron Crowe has had a rough go of it since winning the best original screenplay Oscar for Almost Famous, but Showtime’s Roadies could serve as something of a comeback— maybe. ON this week’s episode Joanna Robinson joins us to talk about her visit to the set of Roadies, and we also take advantage of her Game of Thrones expertise to look back at what the season has brought us, and explain a few things about what the heck the White Walkers are up to, anyway. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week we finally have an awards show to talk about— the Tonys! The Broadway awards were a bigger hit than usual this year, and had the usual expected doses of earnest enthusiasm; we debate whether any of that can actually translate to the movie-star cool of the Oscars. Plus discussion of Meryl Streep’s would-be summer hit Florence Foster Jenkins, a look at the grim state of summer box office, and a surprisingly fervent debate about the best picture of 2003. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week we’re joined by Slate’s Aisha Harris, co-author of The Black Film Canon, a piece that highlights the 50 best films by black directors - many of which you’ve probably never heard of, which is precisely why there needs to be a black film canon in the first place. From there we discuss the upcoming Tony Awards, which are not just about Hamilton, plus some pondering over the new miniseries O.J.: Made in America, which is airing on ABC but also eligible for the Oscars. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With a special guest appearance from Decider.com's Joe Reid, we look back at Oscar history to watch what would happen if, say, you took Kathy Bates's Oscar and gave it to Julia Roberts. Plus an examination of why the Oscars seem so allergic to comedies, even very good ones like The Nice Guys. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

When the Cannes Film Festival awards were announced on Sunday they were met with boos in the press room-- why? Richard Lawson explains what went down, and then three special guests and fashion experts join to discuss the other thing everybody was talking about on the Croisette: the fashion. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Richard phones in from Cannes to fill Katey and Mike in on the highlights of this year's Cannes Film Festival, from the Oscar contenders that are already emerging to the way Leonardo DiCaprio made even a room full of glamorous Cannes attendees starstruck. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With Mike and Richard both en route to the Cannes Film Festival, Katey enlists VF.com’s Hollywood writer, and podcast expert, Joanna Robinson as co-host, as the two discuss the week in Oscar news, the careers of the actors on Game of Thrones, and get into a debate about the 1997 Oscar race. Plus, a guest appearance from Jordan Hoffman, who can tell you everything you really need to know about Cannes, from the French teenagers begging for tickets to the place that serves the best kebabs on the Croisette. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The acclaimed director of A Few Good Men, The Princess Bride, and now Being Charlie weighs in on modern politics— including Ted Cruz’s love of The Princess Bride and what Archie Bunker would think of Donald Trump— as well as what went into making his most personal film. Plus: a discussion of the week’s biggest new release,Captain America: Civil War. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The actor and director of the new indie The Family Fang joins us to talk about the start of his directing career (at the age of 18!) and what you learn about yourself when you direct Christopher Walken. Also discussed: Michael Keaton and Meryl Streep’s next Oscar bids, the new season of Game of Thrones, and a look back at the 2007 Oscar race. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week we're joined by Indiewire's film editor Kate Erbland to run down this year's TriBeCa Film Festival, and we dig into new release The Huntsman: Winter's War, which stars one Oscar winner and therefore can't be ignored. Plus chatter about the Cannes Film Festival lineup and a debate about the most controversial Best Picture win of the last decade. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We’re a quarter of the way through 2016, and are there any good movies out there at all? Yes, says our guest Matt Patches, the senior entertainment editor for Thrillist, who is keeping a running list of the year’s best movies, and is already getting hate mail for it. From there Katey, Richard, and Mike discuss Richard Linklater’s new film Everybody Wants Some, and go back in time to rewrite history and hand Linklater that Oscar he deserves. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week we welcome special guest Franklin Leonard, the founder and CEO of The Blacklist, which is the perennial answer to the question “where are all the good movies?” We ask Franklin about how he and The Blacklist dig up the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood and what’s the good stuff we should look forward to this year. From there we look at the year’s biggest, most prestigious awards: The MTV Movie Awards (OK, maybe not). But there are some surprisingly satisfying nominees this year. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Giving in to what we’ve actually been obsessed with since the Oscars, we dive into The People v. O.J. Simpson, the FX miniseries that has us and much of the country re-obsessed with a 20-year-old trial. From there we look at an accidental trilogy of music biopics arriving at an odd time of year, and then dare to re-arbitrate the 2014 Oscars: if you were in charge that year, who would have won best actor? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Joined by special guest Christine Lahti, who won an Oscar in 1996 for her short film Lieberman in Love, we look back at the ceremony that happened 20 years ago this week, from the bad fashion to Christine’s memorable competition with the likes of Jeff Goldblum. We also discuss this week’s new release Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, catch up on the latest in Oscar buzz, and make our cock-eyed predictions of who would win best supporting actor if the Oscars were held . . . tomorrow. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Oscars may be over, but the seeds of Oscar season are sown well before anybody actually starts campaigning— which is why we’re keeping Little Gold Men going through the “off-season” between now and Labor Day. To kick things off, we’re joined by Decider’s Joe Reid, who is one of those crazy people who has made his 2017 Oscar predictions, and who shares some of them with us. From there we talk about one of the most interesting movies of the spring so far, Jeff Nichols’s Mud, and make some truly insane predictions about what would win best picture if the Oscars were to happen tomorrow. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Oscar night is over, so how did it all happen, and why? Katey and Mike, still in formal wear from the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, join Richard to discuss the awards and the big, big surprise that came at the end of the night. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In this special pre-Oscars episode, we're joined by Vanity Fair's executive director of public relations Beth Kseniak to share stories from inside Vanity Fair's annual Oscar party, from attempted gate-crashers to the good old days when a wall was knocked down every year to make the party happen. From there we dive deep into the complicated math that determines best picture: what is the preferential ballot, and why does it matter? Allow us to explain. Sent from my iPhone Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With Oscar night just days away, we welcome Deadline Hollywood’s awards expert Pete Hammond to talk about the real nitty gritty of the awards race, and how The Revenant seems to have pulled off a late-breaking surge to win the whole thing. Also this week: We did our homework and discuss all of the nominated short films, and dive into the best original song category to answer the question that’s truly on everyone’s minds this season— “Will Lady Gaga win an Oscar? " Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week we’re joined by the New York legend and awards season powerhouse Peggy Siegal, the publicist and hostess behind the New York luncheons, dinners, and cocktail parties that are crucial for anyone who wants to win an Oscar. A woman who sees plays in London with Tom Cruise and gives Leonardo DiCaprio awards season advice at Christmas parties in the Caribbean, Peggy shares her stories from the awards circuit and tells us who will win everything this year. She’s the woman who knows everything, so you should take her predictions as gospel. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Room’s best director nominee Lenny Abrahamson joins us with a dispatch from the thick of awards season, where you have to be in shape to shake all those hands and to survive the buzz that says you’re never getting nominated— having an 8-year-old accomplice definitely helps. We also look at the careers of this year’s nominees and predict who will use their nomination to make the biggest career leap. In other words, get ready to see a lot more of Alicia Vikander and Brie Larson. Finally, we go big before we go home and predict, for the final time, the best actress winner. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Two incredible guests this week: Whoopi Goldberg, a four-time Oscars host, Oscar winner, and presenter at this year’s awards, shares her stories from the stage and her thoughts on Hollywood’s ongoing push for more diversity, at the Oscars and beyond. Then we’re joined by Tom McCarthy, the Oscar-nominated director of best picture contender Spotlight. He discussed how he and his co-writer Josh Singer became journalists themselves to make the movie, and how little he expected the real-world implications the film has had. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In the wake of #OscarsSoWhite and the Academy's bold new rule changes to try to correct the problem, we talk about Hollywood's overall diversity dilemma, with some input from Spike Lee, Don Cheadle, and John Legend. From there we catch up on the biggest news from Sundance, including Nate Parker's record-busting hit The Birth of a Nation, and do our best to predict one more mysterious category, Best Director. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

With the Oscar nominations now behind us, we take a look at the closest best picture race in recent memory, and bring back Decider's Joe Reid to talk about This Had Oscar Buzz, the 2015 class. We also make bold predictions about one of the year's trickiest categories, best supporting actress, where any one of the five nominees could conceivably win. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices