Oscar Wild

The second part of the Contenders Series dives into the audio component of the cinematic experience and features frequent guest and Original Song aficionado, Bennett Prosser. Sophia and Nick are excited to hear about all of his insights into the nominees, including sharing their favorite songs and tracks, write-in votes and who they think should win in Original Song, Original Score (38:04), and Sound (1:06:48). Listen along for lots of unexpected laughs, score and soundtrack recommendations, and Academy Awards banter! #TeamDianeWarren

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Now that this year’s crop of Oscar nominees has been announced, follow along as Nick and Sophia embark on their extensive Contenders series leading up to the 98th Academy Awards in March. They discuss every person nominated for every film in all 24 categories and showcase their talents by sharing astounding facts and details that help create the collaborative artwork onscreen. In this first episode, they look at Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design (33:29), and Production Design (56:19).

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We’re just days away from one of the most exciting announcements that will surely change many lives forever. Sophia and Nick lock in as they announce and defend their final Oscar nomination predictions, so listen to find out who could be on the chopping block and which categories are most likely to surprise. Tune in on January 22nd at 8:30am ET to find out this year’s crop of Oscar nominees!

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Only one more week until Oscar nominations! And to prepare with some last minute prediction changes, Nick and Sophia are back to recap the Golden Globes and share the many guild updates that happened since the Critics Choice Awards. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as they debate Timmy’s Oscar chances, Hamnet’s surprise Picture win, the possibility for The Secret Agent to significantly shake up the race, and so much more!

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Flipping the first few pages on that crisp calendar symbolizes the start of something new (no toxic mom group drama here!), including a fresh start, a much needed detox, and another exciting Criterion Challenge underway. It also means an entirely new slate of films to anticipate, which Sophia and Nick highlight on today’s new episode! They discuss everything from imminent releases, like Send Help and Emerald Fennell’s bold Wuthering Heights adaptation; to blockbuster sequels and adaptations, like Shrek 5, Dune: Part III, and Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey. Curious to learn about what could be potential 2027 Oscar bound...

As the countdown changes to this year’s Oscars, Nick and Sophia look back on another wonderful year of film with plenty of ups and downs. Check out all of their episodes out for a deeper dive into some of their noted watches and mentions on this episode, but everything is fair game as they award numerous hilarious superlatives for performances, scenes, line deliveries, and more! Thank you to everyone for tuning in and especially for submitting questions and content throughout the year. Stay tuned for plenty more in 2026 leading up to the Academy Awards in March!

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Between critics groups and different awards bodies, we can finally glean some much needed information about the Academy’s true love love from this year’s diverse slate of films. How predictable will the list of inaugural Best Casting nominees be? Will Neon be able to successfully nominate all five of the international films in their slate? What were the biggest surprises announced? And most importantly, will Diane Warren earn her 17th (!!!) nomination? Tune in for this and much more as Sophia and Nick debate and analyze all 12 feature film shortlists with frequent guest and Original Song extraordinaire, Bennett Pros...

The first set of big critics prizes, including NYFCC, LAFCA, NBR, and AFI, have arrived along with the Gotham Awards winners and nominations at the Film Independent Spirit Awards and Golden Globes (a mouthful!), all showing a clear consensus and complete rallying behind One Battle After Another. To talk about all of these important awards season updates, Nick and Sophia are excited to welcome back returning guest Bennett Prosser. They discuss all the trends and possibilities with Best Picture contenders, who’s on the bubble, and which films have lost the most steam. With Rose Byrne winning the trifecta an...

It’s been a clock tick since DRAMA.’s Connor and Dylan MacDowell have joined Sophia and Nick on the pod, so what better way to rejoicify than by discussing the movie adaptation of Act II of the thrillifying musical, Wicked. Some may call it hideoteous, but the box office numbers show a very different story.

Elphaba and Glinda’s troubled friendship is further examined in Wicked: For Good, especially under the tyrannical rule of the Wizard and Madame Morrible. Listen as they all share their opinions of the follow-up along with an in-depth discussion of the songs...

Sophia and Nick are excited to chat about some buzzy films that have delighted festival audiences throughout the year and now have had wider releases for more to enjoy. But first, they mention some industry updates, including the Gotham Awards nominations and tribute winners and if these are a barometer for what’s to come. Then, they share their spoiler-free opinions on Bugonia, Frankenstein, Die My Love, and Jay Kelly (streaming on Netflix December 5th) and see what Oscar potential they might have.

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Old Hollywood is full of hot gossip and today, Nick and Sophia are here to spill all of the piping hot tea between Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. Their romance began as a Warner Bros. production on the set of their first collaboration, To Have and Have Not, and continued until Bogart’s passing 13 years later. Listen to this juicy episode to hear all about their secret affair, how Bacall almost lost her contract way before she became a household name, and a discussion of the other three films on which they worked together, including: The Big Sleep, Dark Pa...

Welcome to the first purgatory of awards season: the period after fall festivals have ended and before the first set of major nominations and awards have been announced (except for the Gotham Film Awards nominations which came out last week). Since Sophia and Nick haven’t shared their Oscar predictions on the show since June and collectively they’ve seen most of the remaining 2025 releases, they figured it’s time to share their updated picks on air. Remember, you can always find them including more categories here! Listen to find out how they think Picture, Director, and all Acting catego...

As another Halloween approaches, Sophia and Nick are excited to celebrate Hitchcock-tober once again! This time, they marvel at the outstanding collaboration between the famed director and the costume designer with the most Oscar nominations and wins, Edith Head. Their eleven films together spanned three decades, multiple studios, and the transition from B/W to color. Listen to find out how Head uses different materials and colors to create looks that accentuate an actor’s figure, develop a character’s identity, and provide narrative function, all the while dazzling audience with unforgettable designs. Should she have been nominated for more...

This year’s NYFF may have concluded but Nick and Sophia are back to chat about many of the other films that made up this year’s incredible slate! From documentaries such as Cover-Up, another riveting portrait made by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus, to international dramas, like Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or winning It Was Just an Accident or Oliver Laxe’s divisive and hellish rave, Sirāt, there’s always a vast array of filmmaking styles on display. Listen for more titles, what they think will show up during this year’s Oscar race, and what secret screenin...

The return of pumpkin spice lattes on every corner might be the biggest sign that fall has returned, but for Sophia and Nick, the crisp air and earlier sunsets can only mean one thing: the New York Film Festival is back! They are excited to recap their first week of the festival on this week’s spoiler-free episode, discussing multiple premieres like Amazon MGM’s After the Hunt and Netflix’s A House of Dynamite and Jay Kelly. They also discuss Oscar potential for the many films they opine, including Park Chan-wook’s upcoming release and TIFF International People's Choice A...

The most anticipated release of the year for many has finally arrived! Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest work, One Battle After Another, kept mostly under wraps until recently, is a feat of a true artist and lives up to its many expectations. Nick and Sophia are back to review the film and talk through some of its highlights, including what makes it such a critical release with bold perspectives on current affairs that have plagued generations.

A short discussion with spoilers comes at (34:31) before a run through of many possible Oscar nominations (46:13). They’re excited to see how...

Happy TIFFty! With festival season in full swing, Sophia and Nick are back to share updates about big award winners and plenty of first-hand insights from multiple festivals. Bennett Prosser joins them to discuss Venice, Telluride, and TIFF, especially since they were all together at Toronto’s golden jubilee! Listen as they discuss their experiences and reactions at each festival, which films will most likely sustain Oscar buzz and which may peter out, and what’s to come that may shake all of this up even more.

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The best time of year is quickly approaching and you know what Sophia and Nick are counting down to… Fall festival slates have been (mostly) revealed and with trailers and release dates also being shared, it’s time to figure out which films will become each studio’s big players. Listen as they list a number of films premiering or being shown at Venice, Telluride, Toronto, and New York and debating which may rise to the top before the next Academy Awards. Will Timothee reign “supreme” this time around? It’s surely no “accident” that Neon and Mubi each collected a stac...

Sixty years later and the hills are still very much alive with the sound of music! In fact, Maria helped the Trapp Family (yes, based on a real singing family) live on through her memoir which was adapted into the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and Oscar-winning film widely loved today. Nick and Sophia share the tumultuous history behind what would become a memorable Best Picture winner along with their favorite songs and scenes.

Then, they open up their discussion about the 38th Academy Awards to figure out how Julie Andrews lost Best Actress, which other big players...

From Pedro Pascal stretching his limbs to blue cartoon creatures wreaking havoc in their worlds, movies this summer have provided audiences some much needed relief from the intense heat and some hope for the future of theater releases thanks to multiple healthy box office returns.

Sophia and Nick are back to discuss many of this summer’s biggest releases, including blockbusters like Superman, Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, and F1, summer scares (15:08), and other films including a few future releases they’re excited for (25:42). Listen to find out whether they would Nom or Bomb each movie and if any...

If you’re an action, adventure, or adrenaline junkie, then surely you’ve heard of or seen the insanity that is Mad Max: Fury Road. George Miller ratchets the dial well past its maximum setting in his fourth installment of a saga he hadn’t touched in thirty years. Or so you think…

Kyle Buchanan, pop culture reporter and awards season columnist at the New York Times, captures over 130 perspectives from cast and crew while detailing the film's decades long development and production in his book, “Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road...

Sophia and Nick celebrate five years of the podcast and being halfway through the 2020s by awarding the Oscar Wild Oscars of the Decade So Far! Play along in traditional categories like Supporting and Lead Acting, Director, and Picture, when they also mention some unforgettable telecast moments and other favorite wins.

Then they make up some very fun categories, nominating the biggest snubs, best child performance, forgotten awards magnets, and so much more. It wouldn’t be an unhinged episode without mentioning RuPaul and also…a spin on Smash or Pass! Enjoy and let us know what your...

Even though the midway point of this decade passed when the ball dropped on New Year’s Day (yeah, a chill went down my spine, too), Nick and Sophia spend today’s new episode honoring some of the best films of the 21st Century (so far) after crossing the halfway point of 2025. They chat about the recently released lists from The New York Times and Rolling Stone and debate which may have the best selection.

Check out the lists they discuss below:

New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html

Ro...

After 20 years, the shock of Brokeback Mountain losing Best Picture still stings just as much. Ang Lee’s beautiful and affecting western about finding love in a hopeless place is grounded by expert craftsmanship and nuanced performances. Listen as Sophia and Nick detail their love for the film, share some of their favorite shots and scenes, and thank the movie theater gods for rereleasing it in theaters worldwide.

Despite its remarkable awards run, there’s no forgetting that Crash went home with the big prize instead at the 2006 Academy Awards (42:43). Find out how they’d rank these two mo...

Is it true that “Love don’t cost a thing” or could J.Lo just have been jaded by a materialistic lover? Nick and Sophia ponder this question as they review and react to Celine Song’s latest feature, Materialists, before diving into spoilers at (12:27). If you haven’t seen the movie yet, don’t worry! Skip ahead to the next segment and come back for all of their steamy, love triangle thoughts.

Then they share their very early Oscar predictions in all acting categories, Director, Picture, and for the first time ever, Casting! (29:22) Enjoy their fun banter as th...

This cinematic collaboration may be one of the most beloved, well-known pairings in all of Hollywood history. From the instantly recognizable two- actually three!- notes Sophia and Nick discuss in depth later on to the far off lands you’ll discover in every adventurous theme, there’s no doubt that a Steven Spielberg-John Williams film is much more than the sum of its parts.

After a detailed examination of their tightly bound careers, enjoy a fun review of Jaws to celebrate its 50th anniversary (15:02). They also discussed the film five (!) years ago during their first season, so c...

“I love limes. They’re so great, I love them so much.” [insert your favorite Dakota Johnson quote here] This week’s new episode began as a celebration of Dakota Johnson’s career in preparation for Materialists opening next week, but shifted to showcase the artistic collaborations between her, Luca Guadagnino, and Tilda Swinton. Suspiria highlights the unique talents of each of these artists while expanding the supernatural world Dario Argento created in his 1970’s giallo classic. Listen to hear Nick and Sophia’s thoughts on the film and why they think this was an important step in all of their caree...

Another awards season has begun in the most elegant of fashions with some of cinema’s finest (no small thanks to Jury President Juliette Binoche). Sophia and Nick are excited to recap this 78th rendition of the Cannes Film Festival including the big winners, some highlights and disappointments, and just how this could start to shape the 2026 Oscars. Listen to Sophia’s firsthand experience on the ground to find out what could end up on your Best of 2025 list at the end of the year!

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With another great season comes great responsibility…to craft an entertaining theme that showcases a new crop of Oscar nominees and winners. For season six, Nick and Sophia are excited to announce a series on frequent cinematic collaborators, between directors and actors, cinematographers, costume designers, writers, and more! This inaugural episode features a look into the decades-long working relationship between two of cinema’s most talented artists: Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune.

Listen to find out why they are so widely beloved and remembered as two of the greats, including memorable scenes, shots, and quotes. Both films disc...

A life lost way too soon at 24 years old, James Dean will always be remembered as one of Hollywood’s greatest actors. Add to that feat the fact that he only had leading roles in three films and his potential becomes infinitely more devastating. In honoring him seventy years after his passing, Sophia and Nick look back at two of his films that were also released that same year: Elia Kazan’s triumphant adaptation of John Steinbeck’s epic novel, East of Eden, and Nicholas Ray’s definitive portrait of 1950’s America, Rebel Without a Cause (34:24). Listen as they discuss De...

With summer right around the corner, Nick and Sophia recap 2025 releases thus far to highlight some of their recommendations and analyze the dynamic state of Hollywood. First, they announce some recent Oscar changes and category updates. Then, to celebrate the one year anniversary of Challengers, their first favorite film of 2024, they share a spoiler-free review of Ryan Coogler’s equally sensational and latest film, Sinners (12:01). Stay tuned for their thoughts on other early 2025 releases, including our favorite highlights, Steven Soderbergh’s Black Bag and Andrew Ahn’s The Wedding Banquet, and which coming attractions they’re most excited for (32:24).

Welcome back to Oscar Wild’s sixth season! Sophia and Nick are excited to premiere with a film they both love, one about responsibility and passion and art and rock music: Almost Famous. What do they love about it? In the famous words of Russell Hammond, “To begin with, everything.” In celebrating its 25th anniversary, they review the film and share their favorite scenes, quotes, and characters. Then, they discuss the film’s award season run, including Cameron Crowe’s win at the Oscars.

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And that's a wrap on the 97th Academy Awards and Season 5 of Oscar Wild! Listen as Nick and Sophia recap the exciting ceremony and relive all of the performances, surprises, and WTF moments. They share all of their opinions and fun new stats about the winners, hold out hope for the losers, and congratulate Anora, the new Best Picture winner and reigning 4-win champ!

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Music: "The Greatest Adventure" by Jonathan Adamich

And that’s a wrap on the 97th Academy Awards and Season 5 of Oscar Wild! Listen as Nick and Sophia recap the exciting ceremony and relive all of the performances, surprises, and WTF moments. They share all of their opinions and fun new stats about the winners, hold out hope for the losers, and congratulate Anora, the new Best Picture reigning champ which won four other Oscars!

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Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

After an unexpectedly wild awards season, Sophia and Nick are excited to share their final Oscar predictions. Like in previous years, they break up all 23 categories into three groups: In the Bag, Toss Up (11:38), and Anybody’s Guess (38:51). With more than half of the categories too close to call, they debate every possibility and look forward to a nail-biter of a ceremony!

Tune in this Sunday, March 2nd on ABC or Hulu at 6:30 ET/3:30 PT for the Red Carpet Show and 7pm ET/4pm PT for the ceremony!

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Here’s to the final installment in this year’s Oscar Contenders series, when Nick and Sophia discuss each nominee in the final four above-the-line categories. They share their write-in votes along with some fun facts for: Adapted Screenplay, Original Screenplay (11:08), Director (20:26), and last but not least, Best Picture (26:49). Less than one week until the Oscars ceremony!

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More content including updated predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

If you’re following along in the Contenders series, you’ve heard about some films three, four, or even eight times! Today though, Sophia and Nick discuss a whole new slate of movies save for three. For feature films, they share the significance of International Feature, Documentary Feature (18:13), and Animated Feature (29:35), highlighting their write-in votes and which they think should win. Then for all three Shorts categories- Live Action (39:06), Animated (45:45), and Documentary (52:12)- they mention previous nominees and winners in debating which they want the Academy to vote for.

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In nearing the halfway point of the Contenders series, it’s time to focus on the wonderful performances nominated this year! Listen as Nick and Sophia break down the following categories while also sharing their favorite scenes they hope will be shown during the Oscars telecast: Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress (35:42), Actor (58:49), and Actress (1:23:17). Stay tuned for some fun picks for who their write in votes would be!

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For the final crafts related Contenders episode, Sophia and Nick share all of the fun looks and designs, including practical and digital effects, in building out all of these imaginative, Oscar-nominated worlds. Listen to find out more about your favorite nominees in: Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design (23:32), Production Design (41:57), and Visual Effects (1:03:55).

The Substance BTS video: https://youtu.be/8H64HNvXrqU?si=7RZe7aLY06-h8Q4h

Filmmaker Magazine with Judy Becker: https://filmmakermagazine.com/128283-history-made-concrete-production-designer-judy-becker-on-the-brutalist/

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For their continued discussion of the craft categories, Nick and Sophia look at two of their favorite technical aspects in moviemaking: Cinematography and Film Editing (38:05). Listen as they talk through each nominee and share captivating facts about each production!

Lol Crawley & The Brutalist featurette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80zMHi_bxjM&ab_channel=Variety

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More content including updated predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich