The Big Picture

We react to what we feared might happen all Oscars season—a ‘Green Book’ Best Picture victory—by weighing the power of the old Academy vs. the new Academy. Plus, reactions to Spike Lee's long-awaited Oscar win, Alfonso Cuarón’s coronation, and Olivia Colman's shocking Glenn Close in Best Actress.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean sits down with ‘Masked Man’ host David Shoemaker to discuss the evolution of pro wrestling on the big screen (0:31). Then Stephen Merchant joins to talk about his relationship to wrestling, working with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and turning Florence Pugh into a believable professional wrestler (21:28).Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Stephen Merchant, David ShoemakerWrestling film recommendations:The Big Show OffNight and the CityThe Foul King Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A host of Ringer staffers join Sean and Amanda to break down the narratives that have emerged in the lead-up to the 2019 Oscars. Why does Netflix want an Oscar so badly? What happened to our beloved ‘A Star Is Born'? Plus, we make the case for each Best Picture nominee, do our best to see into the future and predict next year’s Oscars, and more.To see this podcast in video form, go to The Ringer’s YouTube page!Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Mallory Rubin, Jason Concepcion, Chris Ryan, Alison Herman, Micah Peters, Kate Halliwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Academy has flip-flopped again, saying they would reinstate the four categories they cut from the telecast just last week. Is that the right decision, an indication of a true crisis, or both (0:39)? Plus, an exhaustive breakdown of every Oscars category, including who will (and should) win (36:30).Hosts: Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Micah Peters and Rob Harvilla join the show to make the case for why ‘Black Panther’ transcends the Marvel Cinematic Universe and should be taken more seriously as a Best Picture nominee (1:00). Then Ruth E. Carter, the film’s costume designer, joins to detail the unique demands of designing for a comic book movie, her work with Spike Lee, and her path from Broadway to Hollywood (21:38).Host: Sean FennesseyGuests: Ruth E. Carter, Rob Harvilla, Micah Peters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We sift through what’s real and what’s just British after the BAFTAs this weekend, and whether or not the ‘A Star Is Born’ media blitz is helping or hurting its stock at the Oscars. Then we wonder what might happen if the Oscars telecast is as much of a disaster as it’s shaping up to be. Finally, Sean sits down with Nicholas Britell—the composer of the ‘If Beale Street Could Talk,’ ‘Moonlight,’ and ‘Succession’ soundtracks—to talk about the process of conceiving a score and working with a director to execute their vision.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Nicholas Britell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With today’s Netflix release of Steven Soderbergh’s newest film, ‘High Flying Bird,’ we sit down to list and discuss the top five movies he’s made in a prolific career.Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuest: Chris Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We take stock of a Best Documentary Oscars race that doesn’t include ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ and ‘Three Identical Strangers’—two of the most commercially successful documentaries of the year (0:40). Then ‘Free Solo’ directors Jimmy Chin and E. Chai Vasarhelyi join the show to talk about the challenges of filming a climber in a life-or-death situation (18:22).Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda DobbinsGuests: Jimmy Chin and E. Chai Vasarhelyi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We spend an inordinate amount of time talking about ‘The Wife,’ Glenn Close’s latest film that will likely net her her first Best Actress win at the Oscars (1:09). Then we assess the stock of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ ‘A Star Is Born,’ and ‘Roma’ after the Directors Guild Awards (40:30). Finally, Sean sits down with ‘BlacKkKlansman’ editor Barry Alexander Brown to discuss working with Spike Lee and the role of an editor in the filmmaking process (59:15).Hosts: Sean Fennessey, Amanda DobbinsGuest: Barry Alexander Brown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Gilroy joins the show to talk his Netflix-backed horror-thriller art-world satire, directing Jake Gyllenhaal, and the commercialization of creativity.Host: Sean FennesseyGuest: Dan Gilroy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices