The Next Best Picture Podcast

"The Line" had its world premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Festival, where it received solid reviews for its performances from the young ensemble and Ethan Berger's writing and direction as he tells a dark story about college hazing and the consequences it can lead to. The film stars Alex Wolff, Lewis Pullman, Halle Bailey, Austin Abrams, Angus Cloud, Bo Mitchell, Denise Richards, Cheri Oteri, Scoot Mc...

For Episode 413, Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, and I preview the beginning of the 2024 AFI Film Festival running from October 23-28th and go over some other news in the world of awards season including the Critics Choice Award Documentary Nominations. We reveal the winners of last week's poll, asking, "Which Films Are You Most Looking Forward To From The 2024 New York Film Festival?" ask this week's po...

For this week's main podcast review, I am joined by Nadia Dalimonte, Dan Bayer, Ema Sasic & Will Mavity to review and discuss "Smile 2" starring Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula & Ray Nicholson. Coming two years after the success of the 2022 horror film "Smile," director/writer Parker Finn is back to petrify...

"MadS" is an indie horror film unlike any other! Directed by David Moreau, the film follows a teenager, played by Milton Riche, in one single continuous take as he stops off to see his dealer to test a new drug before heading off for a night of partying. The film also stars Lewkowski Yovel, Lucille Guillaume, and Laurie Pavy. Moreau was kind enough to talk with us about the experience of making hi...

"Exhibiting Forgiveness" had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its performances from its cast members, André Holland, Andra Day, John Earl Jelks & Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and debut director Titus Kaphar's sensitive writing and direction which drew upon his own personal experiences with his father. Day, Earl Jelks, and Kaphar were all kind...

For this week's second podcast review, I am joined by Josh Parham & Giovanni Lago to review and discuss the latest film from Ali Abbasi, "The Apprentice," starring Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Maria Baklava & Martin Donovan. After having its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Abbasi's "Rise of Donald Trump" biopic drama sat without distribution, got stuck in legality issues, and ca...

"Rumours" had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its off-beat humor, entertaining ensemble, which includes names like Cate Blanchett, Charles Dance, Alicia Vikander, Denis Ménochet and more, and hazy, dream-like direction that combines multiple genres. Directors/Screenwriters Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson were kind enough to ta...

"Anora" had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Palme d'Or for writer/director Sean Baker and has garnered some of the best reviews of any feature film released this year. Baker and his cast (Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian & Vache Tovmasyan) were kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their experiences ma...

For Episode 412, Alyssa Christian, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, and I discuss the end of the 2024 New York Film Festival (NYFF) and touch upon some other news in the world of awards season. We go over the winners of last week's poll, asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Sebastian Stan Performance?" ask this week's poll question, "Which Films Are You Most Looking Forward To From The 2024 New York Film Festiv...

For this week's main podcast review, I am joined by Nadia Dalimonte & Dan Bayer to review and discuss the latest film from John Crowley, "We Live In Time," starring Academy Award nominees Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. After premiering at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to solid reviews, this non-linear romantic drama from A24 is now playing in limited release and will expa...

"Woman Of The Hour" had its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for Anna Kendrick's direction (making her feature directorial debut) and performance as a woman who finds herself on a dating game show, targeted by a serial killer. Anna and screenwriter Ian MacDonald were kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work on...

"The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power" is the most expensive television show of all time and it shows. It's a massive production with giant battles, set pieces, tons of characters, and every department working at the top of their game to transport audiences to Middle Earth. One of the key people who helped with that level of immersion is composer Bear McCreary,, who has now composed the music...

"The Apprentice" had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong's performances as President Donald Trump and Roy Cohn, respectively. The film almost did not make it to theatrical release but is finally making its way to theaters this weekend from Briarcliff Entertainment. The two critically acclaimed actors were kind...

For this week's main podcast review, I am joined by Dan Bayer, Josh Parham, Cody Dericks & Will Mavity to review and discuss the latest film from Jason Reitman, "Saturday Night," starring Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O'Brien, Emily Fairn, Matt Wood, Lamorne Morris, Kim Matula, Finn Wolfhard, Nicholas Braun, Cooper Hoffman, Andrew Barth Feldman, Kaia Gerber,...

"Blink" had its world premiere at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, where it received solid reviews for telling the inspiring story of a family who journeys around the world before their children lose their vision to a rare genetic disorder to experience the world's beauty while they still. Academy Award-winning director Daniel Roher ("Navalny") and co-director Edmund Stenson were kind enough to s...

For Episode 411, Lauren LaMagna, Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, Giovanni Lago, and I discuss the continuation of the 2024 New York Film Festival (NYFF), go over the 2024 AFI Film Festival lineup, and touch upon some other news in the world of awards season. We go over the winners of last week's poll, asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Saoirse Ronan Performance?" ask this week's poll question, "Which Is You...

For this week's main podcast review, I am joined by Lauren LaMagna, Josh Parham & Tom O'Brien to review and discuss the sequel to the Oscar-winning 2019 film "Joker," Todd Phillips's "Joker: Folie à Deux" starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener & Zazie Beetz. Already igniting a ton of discourse amongst fans, including receiving the lowest CinemaScore in history for a...

"It's What's Inside" had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its twisted party-game concept, ensemble cast, and dark humor. Director and screenwriter Greg Jardin was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his feature directorial debut, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the horror-comedy film, which is...

"Hold Your Breath" had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and marked the feature directorial debut of Karrie Crouse and William Joines. Set in 1930s Oklahoma, the story revolves around a young mother (Sarah Paulson) haunted by the past. She becomes convinced that a mysterious presence in dust storms threatens her family, and she takes extraordinary measures to prote...

"Azrael" had its world premiere at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its concept and Samara Weaving's performance. Director E.L. Katz was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the horror film, which is currently playing in theaters from IFC Films and will be available o...

For this week's second podcast review, I am joined by Josh Parham, Dan Bayer & Brendan Hodges to review and discuss the latest film from legendary Academy Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola, "Megalopolis," starring Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Kathryn Hunter & Dustin Hoffman. Long in development and self-fu...

"Will & Harper" had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it received enthusiastic reviews and went on to screen at TIFF, where it was named first runner-up for the Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award: Documentary. Director Josh Greenbaum was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work on the film, his relationship with Will Ferrell an...

For Episode 410, Sara Clements, Dan Bayer, Tom O'Brien, and I are here to discuss the start of the 2024 New York Film Festival (NYFF) and go over some other news in the world of awards season. We go over the winners of last week's poll, asking, "Which Films Are You Most Looking Forward To From The 2024 New York Film Festival?" ask this week's poll question, "Which Is Your Favorite Saoirse Ronan Pe...

For this week's main podcast review, I am joined by Sara Clements, Dan Bayer, Daniel Howat & Will Mavity to review and discuss the new animated film from Dreamworks Animation, "The Wild Robot" starring Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Catherine O'Hara, Matt Berry & Ving Rhames. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Chris Sanders ("How To Train Your Drag...

"Lee" had its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its performances from the cast and the telling of Lee Miller's extraordinary life as a WWII journalist. Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet and Academy Award-nominee Andrea Riseborough were kind enough to spend some time talking with us about the work on the film as Miller and English...