The Next Best Picture Podcast

"Severance" is one of the most beloved and popular series in the world right now. After waiting for the second season for nearly three years, it was finally released to positive reviews and an enthusiastic response from fans earlier this year. One of the brightest spots of this season was the character of Gemma Scout/Ms. Casey, played by Dichen Lachman. Lachman was given a showcase in "Chikhai Bardo," episode seven of the second season, as Gemma and Mark's backstory was fleshed out, allowing Lachman to delve deeper into the character. Lachman was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about her work on the show, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream in full on Apple TV+. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Thunderbolts*" marks a potentially major turning point within the MCU as it brings a group of anti-heroes together to face a new threat and forces them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. The marketing has been called out for its A24 style, with particular early positive reactions directed towards the cast and director Jake Schreier's more grounded approach to the filmmaking. Schreier and the film's Oscar-nominated composers, Ryan Lott, Rafiq Bhatia, and Ian Chang (otherwise known as "Son Lux"), were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is opening in theaters on May 2nd from Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Episode 439, I am joined by Katie Johnson, Lauren LaMagna, and Will Mavity to discuss the announcement of the new rules for the Academy Awards and the additions to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. We also reveal the winner of last week's poll for the release of "The Accountant 2" asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Ben Affleck performance?" and ask this week's poll question for the release of "Thunderbolts*" asking "What Is Your Favorite Movie About A Ragtag Group Of Misfits?" We also react to the trailers for "Predator: Badlands," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "Heads Of State," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we will see you all next week. Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Joselyn Safadi, Giovanni Lago, Megan Lachinski, Will Mavity, and I are reviewing and discussing the latest film from Gavin O'Connor, "The Accountant 2," starring Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniella Pineda & J. K. Simmons. It's been nine years since the release of "The Accountant," and the film has garnered quite a following since then. Now, the creative forces behind that film are finally back to give us a more entertaining sequel that leans on the brother relationship between Chris and Braxton, allowing Affleck and Bernthal to charm audiences and simultaneously kick human traffickers' asses. What did we think of the story, performances, humor, and action? Please tune in as we touch upon these points and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Magic Farm" had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and later went on to screen at the Berlin International Film Festival. Set against the backdrop of an impending health crisis, it tells the story of a film crew who lands in South America to profile a musician but discover they have arrived in the wrong country. Director/Writer/Star Amalia Ulman and actors Chloë Sevigny, Alex Wolff, and Joe Apollonio were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in New York theaters from MUBI and will expand to additional cities starting May 2nd. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Accountant 2" had its world premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its deviation from the first film, choosing to highlight the budding relationship between Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal's characters, while still packing in some action and laughs. Director Gavin O'Connor, who has worked with Affleck previously on the first film and "The Way Back," was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work and experience making the sequel, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Amazon MGM Studios. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Four Seasons" is a new American comedy miniseries written by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield for Netflix. It is an adaptation of the 1981 film of the same name, starring Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, and Will Forte. Creators and writers Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield were kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the show, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream in full on Netflix. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Superboys of Malegaon" had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its story, ensemble, charm and odes to classic films and filmmaking. Inspired by the 2008 documentary "Supermen of Malegaon," it is based on the life of Nasir Shaikh and other amateur filmmakers in the small town of Malegao as they band together to make a film for their town. Stars Adarsh Gourav, Vineet Kumar Singh, Shashank Arora, Director Reema Kagti, Producer Zoya Akthar, Writer Varun Grover and subject Nasir Shaikh were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Prime Video. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"April" had its world premiere at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, where it received positive reviews and won the Special Jury Prize. Filmmaker Déa Kulumbegashvili ("Beginning") takes us into rural Georgia as we follow an obstetrician who aids patients seeking abortions despite legal prohibition and must defend her values and actions when she is accused of negligence and subject to investigation. Kulumbegashvili was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about her work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released in theaters by Metrograph Pictures on April 24th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Étoile" is the newest show from the brilliant creative minds of Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"). Set within the world of elite ballet, two world-renowned ballet companies in New York City and Paris swap their most talented stars in an attempt to save their institutions. Stars Luke Kirby, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and the Palladinos were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the debut season, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on April 24th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Dune: Prophecy" focuses on the early beginnings of the Bene Gesserit — a formidable order wielding immense social, religious, and political influence over Frank Herbert's "Dune" universe. The sci-fi series serves as a prequel to Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" and "Dune: Part Two," set roughly 10,000 years before the events of those films. Showrunner, writer, and executive producer, Alison Schapker, was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about her work on the first season, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream on HBO Max. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Andor" Season 2 is one of the most brilliant and best television shows of 2025. Closing out what began in Season One and adding a whole new layer of appreciation for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" while providing the best characters and story the franchise has ever seen, the new season has already garnered significant critical acclaim. One praised element of the first season was the score by Academy Award-nominee Nicholas Britell. For season 2, showrunner Tony Gilroy brought on Emmy Award-winner Brandon Roberts to continue the story of Cassian Andor through his music compositions for the show. Roberts was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work on the second season, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is scheduled to premiere on April 22nd, with three episodes released weekly until May 13th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Episode 438, I am joined by Dan Bayer, Katie Johnson, Cody Dericks, and Tom O'Brien to discuss the 2025 Cannes Film Festival sidebar sections (Directors' Fortnight, Critics' Week, and ACID) and the 2025 Tribeca Festival lineup announcement. We also reveal the winner of last week's poll asking, "Which Film From The 2025 Cannes Film Festival Are You Most Looking Forward To Seeing?" and ask this week's poll question for the release of "The Accountant 2," asking "Which Is Your Favorite Ben Affleck performance?" We also react to the trailers for "Another Simple Favor," "The Life Of Chuck," "The Roses," and "Him," answer your fan-submitted questions and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we will see you all next week. Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Sara Clements, Josh Parham, Giovanni Lago, Joselyn Safadi, and I are reviewing and discussing the latest film from Ryan Coogler, "Sinners," starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo. A blending of different genres forms a singular vision from not only one of the best Black filmmakers working today but one of the best filmmakers working today, period. What Coogler has created has given us many different talking points, from the electrifying music to the performances, shot-for-IMAX cinematography, and themes of the story dealing with assimilation, appropriation, and striving for freedom, literal and metaphorical. Tune in as we touch upon these points and more, including its Oscar potential in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Legend Of Ochi" had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and received positive reviews for its visuals, performances, use of puppetry, animatronics, matte painting, and fantasy story of found family and connection. Feature debut filmmaker Isaiah Saxon and stars Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, and Emily Watson were all kind enough to speak with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in limited release from A24 and will expand to more theaters on April 25th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Ugly Stepsister" had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in the midnight section, where it received positive reviews for its style, performances, and body horror retelling of the fairy tale Cinderella from the point of view of Elvira (the ugly stepsister) who competes against her beautiful stepsister in a bloody battle for beauty. Debut filmmaker Emilie Blichfeldt and stars Lea Myren and Thea Sofie Loch Næss were all kind enough to speak with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters on April 18th from IFC Films. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Diplomat" is one of Netflix's hottest shows as its first season garnered star Keri Russell award nominations from the Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globes, and Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The second season premiered to critical acclaim once again and has so far received more Critics' Choice, Golden Globe, and SAG Award nominations than the first season. It's clear the Emmy Awards are next as the show looks to gain more than just Russell this year. Among them is director Alex Graves, who directed more than half of the second season. Graves was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his experience directing the second season, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream on Netflix. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Grand Tour" had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Director award for Miguel Gomes. The film follows a man in 1918, Rangoon, who abandons his fiancée on the day they are to be married. He flees in a state of melancholy, contemplating her condition. Determined to be married, his fiancée follows his trail. Gomes was kind enough to speak with us about his work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be available to stream on MUBI on April 18th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Government Cheese" is the newest comedy series from Apple TV+, which just had its first four-episode premiere today. Starring and executive produced by David Oyelowo, the series follows the Chambers family, an African American family living in the San Fernando Valley in 1968, and the chaos that arises after burglar-turned-inventor Hampton Chambers returns from prison. Oyelowo and series co-creator/writer Aeysha Carr were both kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their experience making the series, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to stream on Apple TV+. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Ahn's remake of "The Wedding Banquet" had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its performances from its delightful cast, sharp writing, and sensitive direction. A remake of the 1993 film, it tells the familiar story, but this time primarily from the women's perspective, thus updating the film for modern times. Cast members Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, and Joan Chen were all kind enough to spend some time talking with Ema Sasic about their experience working on the film, while Cody Dericks spoke separately with Ahn, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from Bleecker Street on April 18th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Shrouds" had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it received mixed reviews but has steadily been growing in appreciation (as all David Cronenberg films do) as it screened at more film festivals, including TIFF and NYFF Film Festivals. The film is Cronenberg's most personal to date as it deals with the grief he went through following the passing of his beloved wife of nearly 40 years. Cronenberg was kind enough to speak with us at the New York Film Festival about his work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in NY & LA theaters on April 18th before expanding nationwide from Janus Films & Sideshow on April 25th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Sinners" is the newest film by director Ryan Coogler, and it's quite unlike anything else you'll likely see this year. It is a Deep Jim Crow South-era gangster film that turns into a vampire action horror film with its soul infused with blues music. It stars a wonderful cast led by a fantastic dual performance from Michael B. Jordan. Cast members Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, Li Jun Li, and Delroy Lindo were all kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their experience working on the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from Warner Bros. Pictures on April 18th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Warfare" is the newest film by director Alex Garland, who co-directed it with Iraq war veteran Ray Mendoza. It's a re-enactment of an encounter Mendoza and his platoon experienced on November 19th, 2006, in the wake of the Battle of Ramadi, as they use memories from Navy SEAL team Alpha One to reconstruct the event in real-time as it happened for one of their fellow soldiers who has no memory of what took place that day. The film stars an incredible cast of promising up-and-coming talent, and two of them, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Kit Connor were kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their experience working on the film, which you can watch or listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from A24. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Episode 437, I am joined by Nadia Dalimonte, Katie Johnson, and Megan Lachinski to discuss the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and the long overdue announcement of the Best Stunt Design Oscar. We also reveal the winner of last week's pollfor the release of "Warfare," asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Project Alex Garland Has Written And/Or Directed?" and ask this week's poll question for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, "Which Film From The 2025 Cannes Film Festival Are You Most Looking Forward To Seeing?" We also react to the trailers for "The Phoenician Scheme," "Havoc," and "The Kingdom," answer your fan-submitted questions and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we will see you all next week. Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Josh Parham, Alyssa Christian, Daniel Howat, and I are reviewing and discussing "The Amateur," starring Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, and Laurence Fishburne. Based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell, which was previously adapted into a Canadian film that same year, the film tells the story of a CIA decoder who goes rogue on a global mission for justice after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack when his superiors refuse to act, using nothing but his intellect. What did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the story, performances, thrills, potential for a sequel, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's second podcast review, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, Brendan Hodges, Daniel Howat, and I are reviewing and discussing the latest film from Alex Garland and co-directed alongside Iran war veteran Ray Mendoza, "Warfare," starring D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Charles Melton, Joseph Quinn, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Michael Gandolfini, Noah Centineo, Finn Bennett & Taylor John Smith. Taking place in real-time, abandoning typical war genre storytelling conventions and stitched together from the memory of those who lived it, the A24 war film is providing audiences with an immersive experience that is unlike anything else out there. What did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss its politics, craftsmanship, performances, awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture Our 2009 retrospective is continuing with one of the best films of the year, one which greatly benefitted from the Academy expanding the Best Picture field to ten nominees: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen's "A Serious Man," starring Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick, Aaron Wolff, Amy Landecker, Simon Helberg & Adam Arkin. Mixing the personal with the existential and philosophical, the seriously funny Jewish film about one man going through a series of trials and tribulations, all while searching for the meaning behind it all, is regarded as one of the Coen Bros. best films. What do we think of it? Join Lauren LaMagna, Dan Bayer, Tom O'Brien, guest Charlie Bright, and me as we discuss our thoughts on the writing, its themes, characters, performances, best gags, craftsmanship, its awards season run, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. We appreciate your support and hope you enjoy our review! Thank you! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Sacramento" had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, receiving strong reviews for its acting, writing, and direction from Michael Angarano. The independent film is very personal for the television and film actor as it also stars his wife, Maya Erksine, and tells a story about two friends who take an impromptu road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento, something that really happened between Angarano and co-writer Chris Smith. Angarano was kind enough to speak with me about his work on the film (for a second time because our first recording was unusable), which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters on April 11th from Vertical. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"One To One: John & Yoko" had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and went on to screen at the Telluride and Sundance Film Festivals, receiving strong reviews for its audio mastering of the concert footage and recording tapes featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Co-directed by Kevin Macdonald and Sam Rice-Edwards, the follows the couple of years Lennon and Ono spent in their Greenwich Village apartment while also tracing developments in American politics like the presidency of Richard Nixon and opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War, culminating in their "One to One" benefit concert for the children at Willowbrook. Macdonald was kind enough to speak with me about his work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open exclusively in IMAX theaters on April 11th, before expanding to more markets from Magnolia Pictures. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Amateur" is a new American vigilante action spy thriller film directed by James Hawes ("One Life" & "Slow Horses") and written by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell which was previously adapted into a Canadian film that same year. It stars Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, and Laurence Fishburne. Hawes was kind enough to speak with me about his work on the film, which you can listen to or watch below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters everywhere from 20th Century Studios on April 11th. Please be aware there are SPOILERS in this conversation. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale Of A Writer Who Decided To Write About A Serial Killer" had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, where it received positive reviews for its twisted, darkly comedic story and performances from Steve Buscemi, John Magaro and Britt Lower. Director and writer Tolga Karaçelik was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in NY theaters from Brainstorm Media and will expand to more markets, and be available on VOD on April 11th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Episode 436, I am joined by Daniel Howat and Katie Johnson to discuss what we think will be announced this week for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and recap what was announced at CinemaCon this week. We also reveal the winner of last week's poll, asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Film From Q1 2025?" and pose this week's poll question for the release of "Warfare" asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Project Alex Garland Has Written And/Or Directed?" We also react to the trailers for "Tron: Ares," "M3GAN 2.0," "Bring Her Back," "Fountain Of Youth," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we will see you all next week. Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Giovanni Lago, and I are reviewing and discussing "A Minecraft Movie" starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers & Sebastian Hansen. Adapted from the immensely popular 2011 video game Minecraft by Mojang Studios, the film is directed by Academy Award-nominee Jared Hess and celebrates the power of creativity. What did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the performances, visuals, story and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Friend" had its world premiere at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its performances from Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and the Great Dane Bing, and the writing and direction from filmmakers Scott McGehee & David Siegel that made audiences laugh and cry. Based on the 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez, the film tells the story of a New York City writer who reluctantly inherits a Great Dane named Apollo from her dearly departed friend but soon comes to realize it may be the best thing that's ever happened for her in order to move on from her grief. McGehee & Siegel were both kind enough to speak with me about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Bleecker Street. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Freaky Tales" had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its homage to 80's genre films and Oakland, California, with a game cast who were all tuned in to filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's distinct vision for the anthology film. Starring Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis, Normani Kordei Hamilton, Dominque Thorne, Ben Mendelsohn, Ji-young Yoo, Jack Champion, Angus Cloud & Kier Gilchrist, the film depicts four interconnected stories taking place at real locations and during real historical events in 1987 Oakland, California. Boden and Fleck were both kind enough to speak with me about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Lionsgate. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL EPISODE. Please check out the full podcast episode on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture After making its return in the last episode discussing the Emmy contenders that received Critics Choice, Golden Globe, and SAG nominations, the Next Best Series Podcast is back to discuss the hit new shows contending for Emmy nominations that didn't receive any of those previous precursors. Ema Sasic, Nadia Dalimonte, Giovanni Lago, and Tom O'Brien all join me to discuss shows such as "The Pitt," "The Studio," "Adolescence," "Severance," "The White Lotus" and more! Please tune in as we examine which ones might receive Emmy nominations and review our first nomination predictions for the season! We'll be back with another new episode in two weeks. Thank you for your continued support. We hope you enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Gazer" had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its homage to film-noir, guerrilla-style independent filmmaking, and lead performance from Ariella Mastroianni. Director/Writer/Producer/Editor Ryan J. Sloan (making his feature directorial debut with this film) and Mastroianni, who also co-wrote and produced alongside Sloan were both kind enough to spend some time speaking with me about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from Metrograph Pictures on Friday, April 4th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Hell Of A Summer" had its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Festival in the Midnight Madness section, where it received positive reviews for its homage to slasher films, the mixture of comedy and horror, and performances from its young cast of up and coming actors. Directors, writers, producers, stars, and friends Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk, along with star Fred Hechinger, were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with me about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from NEON on Friday, April 4th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Eric LaRue" had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, where it received positive reviews for its performances and direction from Academy Award-nominated actor Michael Shannon (making his feature directorial debut) as he brought Brett Neveu's play of the same name to the screen. Shannon was kind enough to spend some time speaking with me about his work on the film, while Dan Bayer spoke with two of the film's stars, Judy Greer and Alexander Skarsgård, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from Magnolia Pictures on Friday, April 4th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Julie Keeps Quiet" had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Critics' Week section, where it won the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution and SACD Award. Leonardo Van Dijl (in his directorial debut), along with his co-writer Ruth Becquart, tells a quiet story of abuse in the world of tennis. It received positive reviews and was chosen as the Belgian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. Van Dijl was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in limited release from Paradiso Films. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Episode 435, I am joined by Josh Parham and Katie Johnson to discuss our favorite movies from Q1 of 2025. We also talk about other various pieces of news this week within the film industry, reveal the winner of last week's poll, asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Movie To Feature A Unicorn?" and pose this week's poll question asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Film From Q1 2025?" We also react to the trailers for "One Battle After Another," "Final Destination: Bloodlines," answer your fan-submitted questions and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we will see you all next week. Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Joselyn Safadi, and I are reviewing and discussing the feature directorial debut of Alex Scharfman, "Death Of A Unicorn," starring Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Richard E. Grant & Anthony Carrigan. The film takes a highly unique concept and attempts to blend comedy with creature thrills and a heartfelt drama between a father and daughter. It had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, where it received mixed reviews, but what did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the writing, humor, visual effects, unicorn kills, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Audrey's Children" had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, where it received positive reviews for its depiction of healthcare pioneer and Ronald McDonald House Charities co-founder Dr. Audrey Evans (played by Natalie Dormer), who served as Chief of Pediatric Oncology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Director Ami Canaan Mann was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about her work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Penguin Lessons" had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it received positive reviews for its heartwarming true story adapted from Tom Michell's 2016 memoir and Steve Coogan's charming performance. Director Peter Cattaneo and Coogan were both kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Sony Pictures Classics. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture Our 2009 retrospective continues with one of the most controversial Best Picture nominees in recent memory. A film that was immensely successful upon its theatrical release but has lowered in estimation over the years. We're talking about John Lee Hancock's true story sports biopic about football player Michael Oher, "The Blind Side," starring Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Jae Head, Lily Collins, and Kathy Bates. The movie was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning Best Actress for its star Sandra Bullock, but should it have taken the perspective of Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family instead of Oher? Join Ema Sasic, Lauren LaMagna, Alyssa Christian, Dan Bayer, and me as we discuss our thoughts on the story, its reputation, the performances, its awards season run, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. We appreciate your support and hope you enjoy our discussion! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Death Of A Unicorn" had its world premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its horror/comedy/fantasy premise from feature debut director Alex Scharfman and hilarious performances from Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni & Richard E. Grant. Poulter and Scharfman were kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from A24 on Friday, March 28th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Ballad Of Wallis Island" had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its heartwarming story written by its two leads, Tom Basden and Tim Key, lovable performances and music. Co-starring Academy Award-nominee Carey Mulligan, the independent UK film later screened at the SXSW Film Festival, which is where this interview took place. Director James Griffiths, Basen, and Key were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us during the festival about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is in select theaters this Friday and will be showing everywhere on April 18th from Focus Features. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Assessment" had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it received positive reviews for its sci-fi drama concept and performances from Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander & Himesh Patel. The film, set in a futuristic society destroyed by climate change, tells the story of a successful young couple who must face heavy scrutiny from a female assessor over the course of seven days to observe, evaluate, and determine if they are worthy of having a child. Olsen and Vikander were both kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters, from Magnolia Pictures. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Episode 434, I am joined by Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, Tom O'Brien, and Will Mavity to discuss the announcement of the date for the 98th Academy Awards with Conan O'Brien returning to host, the recent Warner Bros. release date changes, Tom Cruise receiving the BFI Fellowship Award, and more. We reveal the winner of last week's poll, asking, "Which 2025 Oscar Contender Are You Most Looking Forward To Seeing?" and pose this week's poll question for the release of "Death Of A Unicorn" asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Movie To Feature A Unicorn?" We also react to the trailers for "Materialists," "Together," "The Ugly Stepsister," "Happy Gilmore 2," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we will see you all next week. Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For this week's main podcast review, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, and I are joined by guest Megan Lachinski for the first time to review and discuss the latest Disney live-action remake, "Snow White," starring Rachel Zegler, Andrew Burnap, Gal Gadot, Ansu Kabia, Patrick Page, Andrew Barth Feldman, Tituss Burgess, Martin Klebba, Jason Kravits, George Salazar, Jeremy Swift & Andy Grotelueschen. Directed by Marc Webb, with new music from Pasek and Paul, the film has received mixed reviews and generated much controversy. What did we think of it, though? Please tune in as we discuss the acting, adaptation, songs, visual effects, awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices