The Big Picture

After a victory at the Directors Guild of America Awards, Sam Mendes's '1917' seems poised for dominance on Oscar night. How did the most exciting race in years become so predictable so quickly? And if there are surprises on February 9, what will they be? Sean, Amanda, and Chris Ryan debate whether a '1917' Best Picture win would signal a return to unimaginative Academy tradition (1:17). Then they break down the weekend's box office winners and losers, including Guy Ritchie's tasteless but entertaining crime romp 'The Gentlemen' (22:32).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Chris Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've touched down in Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival and we're ready to watch some movies. Sean and Amanda break down what it means to be a Sundance movie, the evolving state of the festival, and a few of the films they've already seen, including a Taylor Swift documentary and a hair-centric horror movie from the director of 'Dear White People' (1:00). Then, they share their lists of the movies they're most excited to see, from documentaries with grave international consequences to a drama based on a "stripper saga" Twitter thread (19:12). Finally, Sean is joined by Randy Newman to discuss his Oscar-nominated work in 'Marriage Story' and 'Toy Story 4,' his showdown at the Academy Awards with his cousin Thomas Newman, and his long career as a songwriter, composer, and bastion of wit and wisdom (41:55).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Randy Newman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a busy weekend for guild awards ceremonies, we have a new front-runner, '1917,' which scored a big win at the Producers Guild Awards. But 'Parasite' nabbed a surprise victory for Best Cast at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, setting up an intriguing showdown. Sean and Amanda break down the new narrative for Best Picture as we head into the Oscars home stretch (0:57). Then, we're joined by Shea Serrano, who shares the best and most important things about the weekend's box office champ, 'Bad Boys for Life' (20:59). And finally, Sean and Amanda dig into the mailbag to answer all your questions about the past, present, and future of the Academy Awards (36:52).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Shea Serrano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new movie year is upon us, and just like that we have our first disaster: 'Dolittle.' Sean and Amanda break down the Robert Downey Jr.–talking animals fiasco (0:55). Then they wash out the bad taste in their mouth by discussing the movies they're most excited for this year, among them long-awaited new projects from Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, the latest in the MCU, a new 'Dune' adaptation, and much more (15:30).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Mendes's extraordinary World War I drama, designed and shot to look as if it is unfolding in one seamless take, has crashed the Oscars party and dominated at the box office in its first week of wide release. Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the movie's technical feats, storytelling troubles, and Academy chances next month (1:04). Then, the trio discuss the work of '1917' cinematographer Roger Deakins and select the 10 essential films from his brilliant career—which damn sure wasn't easy (44:00).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Chris Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda break down all the surprises and snubs (RIP, 'Uncut Gems') among a complicated collection of Oscar nominations, including the overwhelming support for 'Joker,' 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood,' and 'The Irishman' (1:43). Then they discuss whether the Academy has a persistent problem with diversity, snubs for long-rumored nominees like Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé, and a solution for the Oscar telecast's lingering issues (21:30).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the 2020 Oscar nominations set to be announced Monday morning, we run down a list of 15 categories and attempt to predict which films, filmmakers, actors, and craftspeople will be nominated (0:45). Then, Sean sits down with writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton to discuss his film ‘Just Mercy,’ working with Michael B. Jordan, and his cohort of collaborators in the film community (1:07:12).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Destin Daniel Cretton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda recap a night in which '1917' won big, taking home both Best Motion Picture—Drama and Best Director. What does this mean, if anything, for the coming Oscar races and masters like Quentin Tarantino ('Once Upon a Time .... in Hollywood') and Martin Scorsese ('The Irishman')? Plus: Does Joaquin Phoenix's win for Best Actor—Drama for 'Joker' hurt Adam Driver's chances to win Best Actor for 'Marriage Story' at the Academy Awards?Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The new year is here, and with it the most fraught awards show of the season. Ricky Gervais returns to host and Sean and Amanda return to make some (probably wrong) predictions. They look at every big race, including the complicated showdowns of Best Director and Best Drama.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean and Amanda close out the year by breaking down the tepid reception and complicated franchise future of 'Star Wars' in the aftermath of 'The Rise of Skywalker' (1:10). Then, they look at former president Barack Obama's picks for his favorite movies of the year and the Christmas season box office winners (34:47). Finally, they debate whether 2019, which has featured so many exciting movies, is the very best the decade has had to offer. Amanda presents the case for three other candidates, and Sean decides (51:05).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices