The Next Best Picture Podcast

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Episode 468 - Predicting Gotham, NYFCC, LAFCA, NBR Award Winners, AFI Top 10, CCA & Spirit Award Nominees, "How To Make A Killing" & "Goat" Trailers Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

For Episode 468, Cody Dericks, Nadia Dalimonte and Giovanni Lago join me for a packed week of awards season predictions as December looms around the corner and the precursors for the 98th Academy Awards officially begin. We predict the Gotham Awards, New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC), Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), and National Board of Review (NBR) winners, along with what we believe will place in the AFI Top 10 films of the year. We also attempt to predict the likely nominees for the Critics' Choice Awards (CCA) and the Film Independent Spirit Awards. For this week's poll, in celebration of the release of "Jay Kelly," we ask: "Which Is Your Favorite George Clooney Performance?" We also reveal the winner of last week's poll, in which we asked, "Which Films Will Be Oscar-Nominated For Best International Feature Film At The 98th Academy Awards?" In addition, we share our reactions to the trailers for "How To Make A Killing" and "Goat," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more. Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. Enjoy!

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"Zootopia 2" Nov 29, 2025

Show notes

For this week's main podcast review, Sara Clements, Cody Dericks, Alyssa Christian, Brendan Hodges & Joselyn Safadi join me to discuss the sequel to 2016's Oscar-winning animated film "Zootopia," titled "Zootopia 2," starring the voice talents of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Shakira, Idris Elba, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, Danny Trejo, Alan Tudyk, Nate Torrence, Don Lake, Bonnie Hunt, and Jenny Slate. The story follows the returning officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, who are now "partners" and go undercover to pursue Zootopia's new and mysterious reptilian resident, Gary De'Snake. Nearly a decade after the first film, what did we think of this highly anticipated sequel? Please tune in as we discuss the story, voice acting, themes, animation, dozens of references and jokes for kids and adults, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!

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Interview With "The Thing With Feathers" Star Benedict Cumberbatch Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

"The Thing With Feathers" is a British independent drama film starring Benedict Cumberbatch that is written and directed by Dylan Southern and adapted from the book "Grief Is the Thing with Feathers" by Max Porter. It had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where Cumberbatch's haunting performance as a grief-stricken father was praised. Cumberbatch was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his experience working on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in limited theatrical release from Briarcliff Entertainment. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interviews With "Eternity" Filmmaker David Freyne & Star Da'Vine Joy Randolph Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

"Eternity" had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival where it received positive reviews for its clever premise about a woman who must choose between two men with whom to spend eternity in the afterlife co-written and directed by David Freyne along with the trio of heartwarming an heartbreaking performances from Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, and hilarious supporting work from John Early, Olga Merediz and Academy Award-winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Freyne was kind enough to spend some time talking with Ema Sasic about his experience making the film, while I had the pleasure of speaking with Joy Randolph about her work on the film. Both interviews are available to listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from A24. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Interview With "In Your Dreams" Filmmaker Alex Woo Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

"In Your Dreams" is an American animated adventure-comedy film directed by Alex Woo and co-directed by Erik Benson, from a script by Woo and Benson and a story by Woo, Benson, and Stanley Moore. It tells the story of Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her little brother Elliot (Elias Janssen), who journey into the wildly absurd landscape of their own dreams to ask the Sandman to grant them the perfect family. Produced by Netflix Animation and Kuku Studios, it received generally positive reviews from critics. Director/co-writer Woo was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his 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 Netflix and is up for your consideration for Best Animated Feature at the 98th Academy Awards. Thank you, and enjoy!

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"Rental Family" Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

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 and Nadia Dalimonte join me to review and discuss the latest film from Hikari, "Rental Family," starring Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto. The comedy-drama film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to a warm reception, with praise for Fraser's performance, and Hikari's direction and writing (co-written with Stephen Blahut). What did we think of this sentimental film? Was it too sweet or just the right amount to capture our hearts? Please tune in as we discuss the performances, writing, direction, its awards season prospects, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!

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Interview With "All That's Left Of You" Filmmaker & Star Cherien Dabis Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

"All That's Left Of You" is a drama film produced, written, and directed by Cherien Dabis, who also stars alongside Saleh Bakri, Mohammad Bakri, Adam Bakri, Maria Zreik, Muhammad Abed Elrahman, Sanad Alkabareti, and Salah El Din. It follows a Palestinian family across three generations during the history of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and later screened at the Telluride Film Festival, receiving positive reviews for its storytelling and performances. It has been selected as the Jordanian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Filmmaker and star Dabis 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 is set to open January 9th in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, followed by a Nationwide rollout from Watermelon Pictures and Visibility Films. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Episode 467 - Oscar Eligible Animated, Documentary And International Features, "The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping," "The Moment," "Hoppers" & "The Chronology Of Water" Trailers Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

For Episode 467, Lauren LaMagna, Dan Bayer, Tom O'Brien, and I are here to discuss the Academy's announcement of the eligible films for Best Animated, Documentary, and International Feature Film for the 98th Academy Awards, as well as other recent developments in the awards season race, including the awards status of "Wicked: For Good." For this week's poll, we ask, "Which Films Will Be Oscar-Nominated For Best International Feature Film At The 98th Academy Awards?" We also reveal the winner of last week's poll, for the release of "Rental Family," where we asked, "Which Is Your Favorite Film Starring Brendan Fraser?" We also share our reactions to the trailers for "The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping," "The Moment," "Hoppers," "The Chronology Of Water," "We Bury The Dead," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. Enjoy!

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"Wicked: For Good" Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Josh Parham, Lauren LaMagna & Cody Dericks join me to discuss the sequel to last year's "Wicked," titled "Wicked: For Good," starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. The film adapts the second act of the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which was loosely based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, a reimagining of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and its 1939 film adaptation. Darker and more complex to bring to the big screen, Set in the Land of Oz before and during the events of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," the film explores the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda as they embrace their new identities as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, with more tie-ins to "The Wizard of Oz." Following the success of last year's film, what did we think of this emotional conclusion? Please tune in as we discuss the adaptation choices, Jon M. Chu's direction, the cinematography, the musical numbers, the powerful performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!

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Interview With "Kokuho" Filmmaker Lee Sang-il & Star Ryo Yoshizawa Nov 22, 2025

Show notes

"Kokuho" is a Japanese drama film directed by Lee Sang-il, written by Satoko Okudera, and based on a novel of the same name by Shuichi Yoshida, starring Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Mitsuki Takahata, Shinobu Terajima, Min Tanaka, and Ken Watanabe. It tells the story of a young boy who devotes himself to the traditional theatre of kabuki under the tutelage of a famous actor, aspiring for the same level of greatness someday. The film had its world premiere in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim. It would go on to find commercial success in Japan, even increasing kabuki ticket sales. It has been selected as the Japanese entry for the Best International Feature Film Oscar at the 98th Academy Awards. Filmmaker Lee Sang-il and star Ryo Yoshizawa were 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 set for a limited one-week qualifying release on November 21st in New York from GKIDS. Thank you, and enjoy!

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