Oscar Wild

First, Sophia and Nick review Furiosa, George Miller’s latest adrenaline-fueled film and prequel to his previous masterwork, Mad Max: Fury Road. They debate if parallels between the two films work or not, including structure, visual effects, and performances, before predicting how it may do at next year’s Oscars. Then, they travel to La Croisette and discuss some of the biggest films out of this year’s Cannes Film Festival (25:25). With the 12 days of movie premieres and distributor deals wrapped up, they chat about all of the winners, from the Palme d’Or to the Palm Dog, and what they’re most excited to see. Is Anora already on its way to winning an Academy Award? Listen in and let us know what you think of all of the festival news! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Nick and Sophia are excited to share this MEGA episode discussing nearly 50 movies released so far this year. They include everything from pre-Oscars releases like Madame Web and Mean Girls to biopics like Back to Black, and horror flicks like Immaculate and Late Night with the Devil. Then, they recap festival releases (32:44), including those from Sundance, like I Saw the TV Glow and Love Lies Bleeding, SXSW with Babes and The Idea of You, and even last year’s Cannes Film Festival with Robot Dreams and La Chimera. Stay tuned for some of their most anticipated films coming this summer! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

1999 brought audiences a remarkable number of unforgettable films, like: The Matrix, The Virgin Suicides, 10 Things I Hate About You, Eyes Wide Shut, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Magnolia, The Mummy— the list is nearly endless. Some were appreciated by the Academy while some were forgotten, but one movie did impress both voters and viewers alike: American Beauty. Its worldwide success was a surefire path to winning Best Picture, but not every component of the film was so lucky.Sophia and Nick bring back one of their favorite series- with a twist!- by discussing Annette Bening’s performance in this controversial, yet insightful suburban satire. They marvel at her impressive performance before debating how she lost in such a dominating film and deciding if she should have won instead!Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Challengers isn’t just the hottest movie of the year, it’s a game changer when it comes to coming-of-age stories, exciting sports films, and dramas of the love triangle variety. Nick and Sophia are buzzing with excitement, ready to break down Luca Guadagnino’s latest and discuss how he creates another tantalizing universe full of electricity. In this PG-13 edition, they examine beautiful shot and dialogue parallels in every eye-popping scene and question Art, Patrick, and Tashi’s desires throughout their dynamic friendships. Stay for some fun listener questions that have them recasting the film, swapping roles, and sharing recommendations for other films with unlikeable characters. For an explicit, churro-filled version of this episode with 10 minutes of bonus content, subscribe at www.patreon.com/OscarWild at the After Dark tier or higher! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

There's no complete list of 70's paranoia thrillers without The Conversation-- and it almost never came to be! Sophia and Nick dive into Francis Ford Coppola's other 1974 film this week, walking through the film’s pre-Watergate production, key scenes, and quotes, how Room 773 was the original Room 237, and why Harry Caul and Ron Swanson would be friends. At the end, they answer some fun listener questions and mourn the film’s many snubs at the Oscars.Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

There’s neither a dull moment nor a wasted breath in this week’s feature— only a flaw in the iris. Nick and Sophia are excited to share a thorough deep dive into Chinatown, an exemplary film from 1974 brimming with eyes and oranges and water (oh my!). They discuss how the Academy awarded it only one out of its eleven nominations, and even debate if it should’ve won some of The Godfather Part II’s wins instead (1:22:51). Along with its performance at the Oscars, they answer a deluge of creative listener questions that have them reimagining the cast had it been made in 1937 and today, donning the beautiful suits and blouses designed by Anthea Sylbert, and ranking Faye Dunaway’s hottest chemistry with some of her shining co-stars. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Welcome back to Season Five! To start off with a BANG, Sophia and Nick tackle one of cinema’s greatest sequels, The Godfather Part II. Coppola returned to adapt this second film only a few months after The Godfather took home Best Picture, but this time he had demands and drama to deal with. They discuss all of this and more, including a run-through of the movie’s best scenes, their favorite shots and quotes, and how the beautiful crosscutting transforms characters and scenarios to magnify the world established in the first film. Even with 11 nominations, was the movie snubbed? You bet! Listen as they debate those, too. Check out our coverage of The Godfather here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3aa0vS46hXxPClctwjBbse?si=b89ef3d629a644e1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-godfather-at-50/id1502773822?i=1000558255191Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

The long-awaited second installment of Dune is finally here and Nick and Sophia are ready to don their stillsuits back on Arrakis. In reviewing the film, they list some of their favorite shots and scenes, debate whether Denis Villeneuve’s altered world lives up to the book, and tease what’s to come with Dune: Messiah. Of course, the episode isn’t complete without Smash or Pass with some of the Dune Universe’s finest men (49:56).Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

The latest Oscars telecast not only attracted the most viewers since 2020, they brought back the fanfare the biggest night in movies deserves! Sophia and Nick recap the many memorable moments from the night, including emotional speeches, the showstopping “I’m Just Ken” performance and Jonathan Glazer’s compelling acceptance speech. Don’t worry, they break down all the shocking and awkward moments, too, like Al Pacino’s rousing finale: “My eyes see Oppenheimer.”Last but not least, they end the episode and season with a special Oscars Edition of Smash or Pass (1:00:20). Let us know what your favorite moments of the night were! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

It’s almost time to hear “And the Oscar goes to…” which means Nick and Sophia will finally be sharing their Oscar predictions. Will they change before the ceremony? Only time will tell. (Yes.) Even with the beginning of the end of this awards season in sight, they start the episode by sharing their initial reactions to a film that could dominate the 97th Academy Awards: Dune: Part Two. A more in-depth episode on that is coming soon, but first they use their Mentat skills to share their Final Oscar Predictions. As in previous years, they divide all 23 categories into groupings based on degree of difficulty: In the Bag, Toss Up (24:56), and Anybody’s Guess (41:32). They end the episode by mulling over Best Picture and answering some creative listener questions. Enjoy the ceremony on Sunday, March 10th, at 7pm ET/4pm PT! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMore content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

With only a few more guild ceremonies remaining and Oscar voting over, we’ve officially entered the final stretch before the 96th Academy Awards! On today’s episode, Sophia and Nick cover the final four categories in their 2024 Contenders series, including: Adapted Screenplay, Original Screenplay (23:35), Director (37:18), and Picture (55:40). Who do you think should win in each category?Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27More content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

With a new Contenders episode comes great responsibility. Err— Madame Web is on the brain as Nick and Sophia discuss Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and many more in a jam-packed penultimate episode in this series. First, they break down the three feature film categories with International Feature, Documentary Feature (19:03), and Animated Feature (29:20), before diving into the Short Film categories with Live Action (39:45), Animated (46:24), and Documentary (51:31). Many of these nominees are playing in theaters or streaming, so check them out before the Oscars in less than three weeks and let us know which are your favorites! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMore content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

What comes to mind when you think of your favorite performance? Is it Meryl Streep, who leads the way with the most acting nominations of all time? Or is it the scene in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, when Trudi whispers into Rick’s ear, “That was the best acting I’ve ever seen in my whole life”? Or Tammie Brown’s iconic ruveal, “I’m acting”? Whichever it is, consider adding some of the performances discussed on this week’s Contenders episode to your roster. With half of the 20 nominees earning their first Oscar nomination, Sophia and Nick break down Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress (38:02), Actor (1:03:10), and Actress (1:32:14), and share what scene they think should showcase their work at the Oscars ceremony.Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27More content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

In the next batch of categories covered in their Oscar Contenders series, Nick and Sophia celebrate the sleek, eye-popping, and masterful artistry in the remaining below-the-line categories. Tune in to hear about each of the nominees in the following categories including their own write-in votes they wish would have made it in, too: Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design (29:52), Production Design (53:38), and Cinematography (1:15:19). What do you think should win for these awards?Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamichhttps://awardswatch.com/interview-legendary-production-designer-jack-fisk-on-building-a-town-in-osage-county-creating-spaces-for-actors-and-collaborating-with-martin-scorsese-on-killers-of-the-flower-moon/https://awardswatch.com/interview-from-discordant-ensembles-to-condom-capes-poor-things-costume-designer-holly-waddington-talks-about-bella-baxters-sartorial-expedition/https://filmmakermagazine.com/123631-interview-cinematographer-rodrigo-prieto-killers-of-the-flower-moon/More content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

Ever wonder how directors, like this year’s Oscar-nominated Martin Scorsese and Justine Triet, work with their teams to orchestrate such thought-provoking, beautiful films? Sophia and Nick are back with their favorite yearly series to explain that and much, much more. After listing all the nominees in Original Song, Original Score (21:15), Sound (46:49), Film Editing (1:10:20), and Visual Effects (1:33:03), they list fun facts from production, what their write-in votes would be, and who they think should win. Listen along to see what makes this extraordinary crop of nominees shine!Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27More content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

With voter participation at an all-time high from 93 countries, the nominees of the 96th Academy Awards are here! After the announcement on Tuesday, Nick and Sophia took time to celebrate, mourn, and analyze what went down to see how this awards season has shaped up. Listen for their full breakdown and a preview of what's to come before the Oscar winners are announced on March 10th!Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

The time has come for overwhelming excitement, disappointment, and debate with the imminent announcement of the 2024 Oscar Nominations. On this week’s episode, Sophia and Nick share all of their predictions and likely surprises in the 20 feature categories. The BAFTA announcement has definitely shaken things up, but where will The Academy land? Listen for their biggest snubs and hopedictions and then let us know what you think!Find up-to-date nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

New Year, New Slate! Nick and Sophia start off 2024 with a bang by sharing over 100 films coming out this year, and there really is something for everyone. Want to channel your inner Gru with the latest Despicable Me sequel? Did you love Poor Things so much that you can’t wait to see Lanthimos’ next project? Or are you dying to see Anne Hathaway mothering once again?!They start with movies delayed from 2023, upcoming festival releases including Sundance and Berlin, and fun, chaotic features that will have your head spinning. Then, onto IP and franchise films and ones that will be gunning for next year’s Cinematic and Box Office Achievement Award at the Golden Globes (38:46). Lastly, listen for plenty of potential awards players and other films made by Academy favorites (1:03:37).Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

While it’s time to start counting down to THIS year’s Oscars, Sophia and Nick look back on an incredible year in moviegoing. They share why this year was extra special for them before recapping some of their fun Letterboxd Wrapped stats, including Total Watches and Most Watched Actor, Director, and Nanogenre.Instead of listing their top 10 favorites, they dole out multiple superlatives (15:48), from Favorite Breakout Performance and Best Shot to Favorite First-Time Watches and even Most Disappointing Movie. Obviously they had to bring back Hottest Characters, too. Follow along as they discuss many of their favorite films of 2023 and how they made such an indelible mark on the silver screen!Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

We’re another step closer to the 96th Academy Awards! In their annual tradition, Nick and Sophia are joined by Bennett Prosser to decode the recently released Oscar Shortlists and how certain branches may be feeling about a year of outstanding movies. Listen as they share which movies got a huge boost by appearing here and which may be in danger.Follow Bennett on Twitter and Letterboxd @BennettProsserFollow us on Twitter and Instagram @oscarwildpod with more content @ oscarwild.squarespace.comFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich