Next Best Picture Podcast

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Joselyn Safadi, and I are reviewing and discussing the feature directorial debut of Alex Scharfman, "Death Of A Unicorn," starring Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Richard E. Grant & Anthony Carrigan. The film takes a highly unique concept and attempts to blend comedy with creature thrills and a heartfelt drama between a father and daughter. It had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival, where it received mixed reviews, but what did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the writing, humor, visual effects, unicorn kills, 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

"Audrey's Children" had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, where it received positive reviews for its depiction of healthcare pioneer and Ronald McDonald House Charities co-founder Dr. Audrey Evans (played by Natalie Dormer), who served as Chief of Pediatric Oncology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Director Ami Canaan Mann was kind enough to spend some time speaking 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 theaters. 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 Penguin Lessons" had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it received positive reviews for its heartwarming true story adapted from Tom Michell's 2016 memoir and Steve Coogan's charming performance. Director Peter Cattaneo and Coogan 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 is now playing in theaters from Sony Pictures Classics. 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

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/NextBestPictureOur 2009 retrospective continues with one of the most controversial Best Picture nominees in recent memory. A film that was immensely successful upon its theatrical release but has lowered in estimation over the years. We're talking about John Lee Hancock's true story sports biopic about football player Michael Oher, "The Blind Side," starring Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Jae Head, Lily Collins, and Kathy Bates. The movie was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning Best Actress for its star Sandra Bullock, but should it have taken the perspective of Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family instead of Oher? Join Ema Sasic, Lauren LaMagna, Alyssa Christian, Dan Bayer, and me as we discuss our thoughts on the story, its reputation, the performances, its awards season run, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. We appreciate your support and hope you enjoy our discussion!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

"Death Of A Unicorn" had its world premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its horror/comedy/fantasy premise from feature debut director Alex Scharfman and hilarious performances from Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni & Richard E. Grant. Poulter and Scharfman were 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 A24 on Friday, March 28th. 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 Ballad Of Wallis Island" had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its heartwarming story written by its two leads, Tom Basden and Tim Key, lovable performances and music. Co-starring Academy Award-nominee Carey Mulligan, the independent UK film later screened at the SXSW Film Festival, which is where this interview took place. Director James Griffiths, Basen, and Key were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us during the festival about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is in select theaters this Friday and will be showing everywhere on April 18th from Focus Features. 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 Assessment" had its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it received positive reviews for its sci-fi drama concept and performances from Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander & Himesh Patel. The film, set in a futuristic society destroyed by climate change, tells the story of a successful young couple who must face heavy scrutiny from a female assessor over the course of seven days to observe, evaluate, and determine if they are worthy of having a child. Olsen and Vikander 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 is now playing in theaters, from Magnolia Pictures. 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 434, I am joined by Dan Bayer, Cody Dericks, Tom O'Brien, and Will Mavity to discuss the announcement of the date for the 98th Academy Awards with Conan O'Brien returning to host, the recent Warner Bros. release date changes, Tom Cruise receiving the BFI Fellowship Award, and more. We reveal the winner of last week's poll, asking, "Which 2025 Oscar Contender Are You Most Looking Forward To Seeing?" and pose this week's poll question for the release of "Death Of A Unicorn" asking, "Which Is Your Favorite Movie To Feature A Unicorn?" We also react to the trailers for "Materialists," "Together," "The Ugly Stepsister," "Happy Gilmore 2," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, and subscribing. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we will see you all next week.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, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, and I are joined by guest Megan Lachinski for the first time to review and discuss the latest Disney live-action remake, "Snow White," starring Rachel Zegler, Andrew Burnap, Gal Gadot, Ansu Kabia, Patrick Page, Andrew Barth Feldman, Tituss Burgess, Martin Klebba, Jason Kravits, George Salazar, Jeremy Swift & Andy Grotelueschen. Directed by Marc Webb, with new music from Pasek and Paul, the film has received mixed reviews and generated much controversy. What did we think of it, though? Please tune in as we discuss the acting, adaptation, songs, visual effects, 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

"Ash" had its world premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for the performances from Eiza González and Aaron Paul, director Flying Lotus's score and use of sound and the gruesome creature effects. González, Paul, and Flying Lotus were all kind enough to spend some time speaking with us during SXSW 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 RLJE Films and Shudder. 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