The Next Best Picture Podcast

"Inside Out 2" premiered earlier last summer to enormous success for Disney Pixar as the long-awaited animated sequel to 2015's "Inside Out" went on to gross over $1.699 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time in the process. The film has been nominated for the Critics Choice and Golden Globe for Best Animated Film and is shortlisted for Best Original Score at the 97th Academy Awards. Screenwriters Meg LeFauve, Dave Holstein, & Composer Andrea Datzman were all 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 available to stream on Disney+ and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards in all eligible categories, including Best Animated Feature. 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

"Better Man" had its world premiere at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its elaborately staged and choreographed musical sequences from director Michael Gracey ("The Greatest Showman") and the raw honesty with which global pop star Robbie Williams allowed his story to be told (all the while being portrayed on-screen by a CGI monkey nonetheless). Gracey and Williams were both kind enough to spend some time speaking with Daniel Howat and Dan Bayer, respectively, 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 Paramount Pictures and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards in all eligible categories, including Best Visual Effects. 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 425, Nadia Dalimonte, Daniel Howat, Alyssa Christian & Tom O'Brien join me to offer our condolences and resources to those in Los Angeles impacted by the recent fires that have broken out over the past week. We also react to the Golden Globe winners' impact on the Oscar race and the SAG, DGA, ADG, and MPSE nominations. We also reveal the winner of last week's poll, asking, "Which 2025 Movie Are You Looking Forward To The Most?" and ask this week's poll question, "Which Five Films Will Be Nominated For Best International Feature Film At The 97th Academy Awards?" We also answer your fan-submitted questions and give our reactions to the trailers for "Companion," "Bring Them Down," and more. 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

"Nosferatu" has long been a passion project for Writer/Director Robert Eggers for many years. That dream has now become a reality with one of 2024's most impeccably crafted films, which has scared up over $100 million at the box office and has become the most commercially successful film of Eggers's career. The team at Next Best Picture was lucky enough to get some time with a few of the film's extraordinarily talented crew members as Oscar nomination voting continues. First, we have Dan Bayer's interview with Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Jarin Blaschke; then we have Giovanni Lago's interview with Costume Designer Linda Muir, followed by Dan Bayer's interview with the Hair & Makeup Team consisting of Hair Designer Suzanne Stokes-Munton, Makeup Designer Traci Loader and Academy Award-nominated Special Makeup Effects Designer David White, and then we conclude with Giovanni Lago's interview with Production Designer Craig Lathrop. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Focus Features and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards in all eligible categories. 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 this week's main podcast review, I am joined by Ema Sasic, Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, Will Mavity & Tom O'Brien to review and discuss the latest film from Michael Gracey, "Better Man" starring Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Damon Herriman, Raechelle Banno, Alison Steadman & Kate Mulvany. A musical biopic about English poster Robbie Williams, the audacious, R-rated film portrays him on screen through its entire runtime as a CGI monkey with many musical numbers incorporating Robbie's most famous songs. What did we think of the story, the visual effects, the musical sequences, and the motion-capture performance of Davies combined with Williams's voiceover? 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

"Civil War" was released last spring to a positive yet somewhat polarizing reception from critics and audiences as its story drew some controversy while the technical crafts were lauded with praise. The film grossed over $126.2 million worldwide, becoming A24's second-highest-grossing film to date, and has been nominated for the American Cinema Editors Awards and won the British Independent Film Craft Awards for Best Sound and Effects. And now, the film's visual effects have been shortlisted by the Academy's visual effects branch for the 97th Academy Awards. Visual Effects Supervisor David Simpson, Visual Effects On Set Supervisor/Compositing Supervisor Chris Zeh, and CG Supervisor Freddy Salazar were all 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 available to rent or own from A24 and is up for your consideration in all eligible categories at this year's Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects. 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

"Hard Truths" had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received enthusiastic reviews for Mike Leigh's direction, writing, and performances from Marianne Jean-Baptiste (who has won Best Actress prizes this awards season from the NYFCC, LAFCA, and NSFC becoming the first Black woman to win all three) and Michele Austin. Director/Writer Mike Leigh, along with Jean-Baptiste and Austin, were all kind enough to spend some time talking 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 Bleecker Street and is up for your consideration in all eligible categories at the 97th Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. 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

"Santosh" had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes International Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, where it received positive reviews for its story, direction, and lead performance from Shahana Goswami as a 28-year-old widow who takes her late husband's job as a police officer and has to investigate the case of a young girl's murder. The film has been selected as the UK's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. Director/Writer Sandhya Suri was kind enough to spend some time talking 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 limited release from Metrograph Pictures and is up for your consideration in all eligible categories at the 97th Academy Awards, including Best International Feature Film. 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

"The Last Showgirl" had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for Pamela Anderson's lead performance, which has earned her Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe, and Gotham Award nominations. Anderson and Director Gia Coppola were both kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to or watch below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is set to open in theaters on January 10th from Roadside Attractions and is up for your consideration in all eligible categories at the 97th Academy Awards, including Best Actress. 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

"Dune: Part Two" was one of 2024's biggest films critically, financially, and now, awards-wise, as it's on a similar run as the first film was in 2021 through early 2022. "Dune" went on to receive 10 Oscar nominations and six wins: Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects. The second film impressively ups the scale, delivering one of the grandest big-screen achievements audiences have experienced in their lifetimes, and we're proud to have many members of the crew here to dive back into the sands of Arrakis with us as Oscar voting gets underway for the 97th Academy Awards. First, we have my interview with Academy Award-nominated Director, Co-Writer and Producer Denis Villeneuve, followed by Brendan Hodges's conversation with Academy Award-winning Cinematographer Greig Fraser, then we have Giovanni Lago's interview with Academy Award-winning Costume Designer Jacqueline West, then we have Dan Bayer's interview with Academy Award-winning Production Designer Patrice Vermette and Set Decorator Shane Vieau, followed by my interviews with Academy Award-winning Film Editor Joe Walker, Academy-Award winning sound team consisting of Supervising Sound Editor & Sound Designer Richard King, and Re-Recording Mixers Ron Bartlett and Doug Hemphill, and then we end on my conversation with Academy Award-winning Visual Effects Supervisor Paul Lambert. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to rent digitally from Warner Bros. Pictures or stream on HBO Max and is up for your consideration for this year's Academy Awards in all eligible categories. 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