The Next Best Picture Podcast

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/NextBestPictureWith its two Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature Film, Alyssa Christian, Dan Bayer, Daniel Howat, and I have come together to deliver a proper review for Gints Zilbalodis's animated feature film "Flow." Rendered on the free and open-source software Blender and containing no dialogue, the Latvian film has captivated audiences since its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. What did we think of it all these months later, especially considering it's now in the hunt to win the Oscar following wins from the 37th European Film Awards, New York Film Critics Circle, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, National Board of Review, and the 82nd Golden Globe Awards. Please tune in as we discuss the story, animation, music, themes, awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for all your support, and enjoy!Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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 428, I am joined by Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, and Giovanni Lago to deliver our winner predictions for the Critics Choice, PGA, and DGA awards this week. But there's also much to discuss regarding "Emilia Pérez" and the fallout of the numerous controversies surrounding its Oscar-nominated star, Karla Sofía Gascón. We also reveal the winner of last week's poll, asking, "Which Film Do You Think Will Be The Next Best Picture Oscar Winner?" and ask this week's poll question, "Which Films Are You Most Looking Forward To From The 2025 Sundance Film Festival? Which Films Are You Most Looking Forward To From The 2025 Sundance Film Festival?" We also answer your fan-submitted questions and give our reactions to the trailers for "The Wedding Banquet," "Magazine Dreams," "Riff Raff," and more. My apologies. The 2024 NBP Film Community Awards Nominations will be announced tomorrow on the website as I did not have time to gather them for this show. As always, thank you so very much for listening, supporting, and subscribing. Enjoy!Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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, Giovanni Lago, Dan Bayer, and I, along with guests Lexi Lane and Reyna Cervantes, are here to discuss and review the feature directorial debut from Drew Hancock, "Companion," starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén & Rupert Friend. A sci-fi romantic thriller with themes of dependency on relationships and technology, the twisted film is enjoyed best with a romantic partner or if you're just looking for a good time at the movies. What did we think of it, though? Please tune in as we discuss these topics, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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

"You're Cordially Invited" is the new romantic comedy from acclaimed comedy director Nicholas Stoller starring Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell, about a bride and her father discovering their dream wedding venue has been double booked for another bride and her wedding-planner sister. Stoller 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 available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Thank you, and enjoy!Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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

"Companion" is a romantic, horror sci-fi-thriller starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid that follows a weekend getaway among friends at a remote cabin, which unravels into chaos after a revelation that one of the guests is a companion robot. The film has received positive reviews and functions as the perfect date movie for audiences. Quiad and Thatcher 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 will open in theaters from Warner Bros. Pictures on January 31st. Thank you, and enjoy!Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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

"Inheritance" just opened in theaters recently and marks Neil Burger's first time shooting a film on the iPhone. Burger wanted to try making a film with an experimental style with no rehearsals, makeup, or camera checks beforehand, which could benefit the globe-trotting paranoia thriller. Burger and one of the film's stars, Rhys Ifans, were both kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work 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 IFC Films. Thank you, and enjoy!Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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 427, while Matt Neglia is away at Sundance, Daniel Howat hosts this week's episode featuring Lauren LaMagna and Will Mavity as they discuss the 2025 Oscar nominations, the fallout of the announcement from last week and what it means for the Best Picture race. They also discuss the SXSW & Berlinale lineups, reveal the winner of last week's poll, asking, "Which Oscar Nomination For The 97th Academy Awards Made You The Happiest?" and ask this week's poll question, "Which Film Do You Think Will Be The Next Best Picture Oscar Winner?" They also answer your fan-submitted questions and give their reactions to the trailers for "Opus," "Drop," and "Hell Of A Summer." Also, please be sure to vote on this year's NBP Film Community Awards Nominations here (voting is open until February 1st). As always, thank you so very much for listening, supporting, and subscribing. Enjoy!Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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, Giovanni Lago, Dan Bayer, and Brendan Hodges come together in my absence while I'm at Sundance to review and discuss the latest film from Steven Soderbergh, "Presence" starring Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Eddy Maday & West Mulholland. After premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, the first-person perspective ghost story has finally been released in early 2025 to positive reviews for its direction, cinematography, and performances. What did the Next Best Picture team think of it, though? Please tune in as we discuss these topics, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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/NextBestPictureRachel Sennott & Bowen Yang were up bright and early yesterday morning to announce the 97th annual Academy Awards nominations. As usual, there were many surprises, shocking omissions, and lots of high emotions from the Next Best Picture Team (Check out our full live reactions video to the nominations on our Patreon here and the edited version on our YouTube page here). Because Ema Sasic and I are at Sundance, we hopped on the microphone the next day after having a night's sleep to sit with the nominations and give our thoughts on where we feel the Oscar race now stands. What did we think? Please tune in below to find out and enjoy! Thank you!Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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 426, Alyssa Christian, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, Daniel Howat & Giovanni Lago join me for one of our most anticipated episodes every year: Our final Oscar nominations predictions episode!! This year, we may have gone overboard as we dove deep, as we always do, into each category with as much detail, analysis, and curiosity as possible, trying to correctly predict what will be announced on the morning of January 23rd. It's a long one, our longest ever in fact, but we hope you enjoy it. We also reveal the winner of last week's poll, asking, "Which Fives Films Will Be Nominated For Best International Feature Film At The 97th Academy Awards?" and ask this week's poll question, "What Ten Films Will Be Nominated For Best Picture At The 97th Academy Awards?" We also directly and in-directly answer your fan-submitted questions and give our reactions to the trailer for "The Ballad Of Wallis Island," which will be having its world premiere at Sundance (Cody, myself, and Ema Sasic will be attending in person later this week) and more. Strap in folks and enjoy the long ride. As always, thank you so very much for listening, supporting, and subscribing. We'll see you again later this week when the Oscar nominations for the 97th Academy Awards are announced.Check out more on NextBestPicture.comPlease subscribe on...Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jTYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOwAnd 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