Nick and Sophia are excited to celebrate the great Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and a master director of such recognizable animation. They, along with guest super-fan Ryan McQuade, begin by sharing their love for his imaginative, timeless films and their complicated feelings about his final, upcoming film, The Boy and the Heron .Then, they wax poetic about Miyazaki’s most endearing yet emotional movie, My Neighbor Totoro , explaining why its titular, cozy character became the ...
Aug 04, 2023•1 hr 48 min•Season 4Ep. 18
July 21, 2023, is a date that will go down in cinematic history as one of the most successful and satisfying double bills ever that also inspired a cultural phenomenon like no other. Upon release, the only important decision became: Barbie then Oppenheimer or Oppenheimer then Barbie ? After Sophia and Nick discuss what they think is the correct order, listen to their explosive deep dive on these beautiful existentialist films by filmmaking favorites Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig. Choose whi...
Jul 28, 2023•1 hr 59 min•Season 4Ep. 17
There’s no denying George Cukor loved his leading ladies and was determined to let them shine. The proof? All three women were nominated- two won!- for the films Nick and Sophia talk about on this director retrospective episode. The Philadelphia Story touts a statuesque Katharine Hepburn vying for the hearts of multiple men (aspirational hot girl summer energy). Gaslight finds Ingrid Bergman terrorized by her husband’s insidious behavior, explaining the origin of the word “gaslighting” (29:52). ...
Jul 21, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 16
“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.” So said the man who not only holds multiple Oscar records (most total nominations and awards for a person & most nominations and awards for a person in a single year), but also founded one of Hollywood’s most beloved- and now largest- studios: Walt Disney. In celebrating 100 Years of Disney, Sophia and Nick invite back Mickey Mouse connoisseur Ryan Lamb for a fun movie draft filled with animated classics, iconic characte...
Jul 14, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 4Ep. 15
For a director that is still creating memorable gems, it is even more impressive to look back 30 years to 1993 when Steven Spielberg released two iconic films earning 10 Academy Awards! Jurassic Park wasn't his first fantastical adventure, but it sure did change the way we look at dinosaurs. Nick and Sophia marvel at its connection to The Exorcist , the fun it has with mixing genres, and all of the film's innovations before talking about his Best Picture and Best Director winning film, Schindler...
Jul 07, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 4Ep. 14
"Shut up and deal."It feels so aligned that one of the Oscar's most nominated screenwriters would share a zodiac sign- and a birthday!- with Oscar Wild hosts Sophia and Nick, so they wanted to dedicate an episode to two of his award-winning films. First is Sabrina , with a decadent Audrey Hepburn showcasing what would become a lifelong collaboration with Givenchy. They share their favorite moments, address the many elephants in the room, and spill some BTS drama. Then they discuss the five-time ...
Jun 30, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 13
The first two movie releases of the summer may have already premiered at festivals earlier this year, but now everyone will be able to experience why both of these will have you rushing to leave the theater to call your loved ones. First, in Asteroid City , Wes Anderson’s 11th and latest film, a grieving father finds his life turned upside down when he meets a group of eccentric visitors- played by a meteor-sized A-list cast- in the titular town. Then, in Past Lives , two childhood friends exami...
Jun 23, 2023•47 min•Season 4Ep. 12
It feels like déjà vu hyping Killers of the Flower Moon yet again despite being more than 8 months from the 2024 Oscars. But there are also so many other anticipated films that Sophia and Nick can't wait to discuss, including The Color Purple , an adaptation of the Tony-winning musical, and Bradley Cooper's long-awaited Leonard Bernstein biopic, Maestro . Listen for all of their nomination predictions in Supporting Actor and Actress and find out if Lily Gladstone should run in lead or supporting...
Jun 16, 2023•56 min•Season 4Ep. 11
With a new month comes another punny way to celebrate one of our favorite Best Actress winners, Jane Fonda! In They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? , her first Oscar nomination and a film that still holds a Best Picture record today, she competes in a timeless, yet horrific Depression-era dance marathon. Then, in Coming Home , she befriends an old high school colleague, Luke, while volunteering at a veterans’ hospital and her husband is off serving in Vietnam (28:22). Listen to Nick and Sophia dive in...
Jun 09, 2023•51 min•Season 4Ep. 10
The glamorous 76th Festival de Cannes might have ended this past weekend but Sophia and Nick are so excited to talk about the festival experience and the films in this year’s selection. After explaining how this fest differs from others around the world, they discuss the official winners, flops, and other notable films (15:01). Then, Nick talks about his five favorite movies, if and where you’ll be able to see them later this year, and how the Palme d’Or winner may factor into Oscar predictions ...
Jun 02, 2023•57 min•Season 4Ep. 9
To end their May Dunaway retrospective, Nick and Sophia marvel at Faye’s turn in some Oscar-nominated and winning thrillers and how she shares the spotlight with some dazzling blonde co-stars. In The Thomas Crown Affair , Faye plays the investigator who tries to outsmart Steve McQueen's titular heist mastermind. Then, as the architect's wife alongside a whopping A-list cast in an epic '70s disaster movie, The Towering Inferno , she manages chaos 135 floors up while navigating guests to safety (1...
May 26, 2023•41 min•Season 4Ep. 8
This After Dark preview takes a drastic turn from the previous May Dunaway episode, featuring two riotous performances that Faye delivers with non-stop camp. First, it's one of her most iconic roles as the Oscar-winning Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest . Those pesky wire hangers are only the tip of the iceberg of memorable moments from a movie very loosely adapted from her daughter Christina's autobiography. Then, Faye becomes the Wicked Witch of the Carnival as Madame Selena in Supergirl (12:50)...
May 19, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Call. Me. Mother! Nick and Sophia dedicate this episode to all the mothers out there by celebrating the diverse collection of moms in these two notable films. In Mildred Pierce , Joan Crawford's titular and Oscar-winning performance embraces film noir to show the lengths a motivated and hardworking mother will go to please her daughter. Then, in All About My Mother , Pedro Almodóvar's first film to win an Academy Award, a bereaved mother finds herself intertwined with the complex lives of a grou...
May 12, 2023•51 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In honor of one of the most glamorous, natural, and scandalous Oscar winners of all time, it’s time to dedicate the month of May to Ms. Faye Dunaway! Sophia and Nick begin by lauding her first leading role that also earned her her first Oscar nomination in Bonnie and Clyde . Then, they debate whether Faye should have earned more than a sole Golden Globe nomination for Puzzle of a Downfall Child (23:49). Lastly, they share some fun Faye stories, including this run-in at the Arclight . What’s your...
May 05, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 5
For the first Release Round-Up of the season, Sophia and Nick chat about new releases they've seen in theaters and on streaming, including some of their favorite movies- and flops- that came out during awards season (17:09). Then, they review horror king Ari Aster's latest and most divisive film yet, 'Beau Is Afraid.' They mention their favorite scenes and performances and question what this panic-ridden odyssey is all about (23:52). Stay tuned as they mention other popular releases on the big s...
Apr 28, 2023•48 min•Season 4Ep. 4
For the first Oscar Rewind of the season, Nick and Sophia take you back to the 46th Academy Awards to celebrate the nominees and winners from 1973 (yes, the Year of the Streaker). They start by recapping the Best Picture winner, The Sting , which reunited the winning team of Robert Redford, Paul Newman, and George Roy Hill from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (8:52).After discussing the film, why it fared so well at the Oscars, and some of their favorite scenes and performances, they share th...
Apr 21, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Join Sophia and Nick as they celebrate the bold and illustrious career of Academy Award winner Viola Davis and her recent EGOT achievement. They look at each of her Oscar nominations, including her win in Supporting Actress for ‘Fences,’ to see how her stage work influenced her performances on screen.Then they review her latest film where she plays Michael Jordan’s mother in Ben Affleck’s ‘Air.’ (23:46) Find out some of their favorite scenes, performances, and fun facts, like how Michael insiste...
Apr 14, 2023•40 min•Season 4Ep. 2
For their season premiere, Nick and Sophia take you back 80 years across the rim of Africa to celebrate the dazzling beauty of Casablanca . Venture with them as they reminisce about Paris, debate the implications of Ilsa and Rick’s undying romance, answer listener questions about the film’s performance at the Oscars and who they’d cast in a modern-day remake, and share their favorite scenes and quotes from this Hollywood classic! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @oscarwildpod with more content...
Apr 07, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 1
The fans have spoken, the Academy has spoken, and everyone is thrilled with the now Academy Award-winning star, Jamie Lee Curtis (well, she IS all of us). In covering some of her previously celebrated works, Nick and Sophia delve into what made the chameleonic and proud nepo baby such a household name before she brought home the gold. First comes 'True Lies,' for which she transforms from content housewife into badass spy. If you would like to listen to the rest of the episode, where they discus...
Mar 31, 2023•35 min•Season 3Ep. 52
Bennett Prosser joins Sophia and Nick for their season finale to discuss everything that went down at the 95th Oscars! From seeing so many gorgeous white and silver looks everywhere on the champagne carpet to half of this year's Best Picture nominees getting blanked all at once and the many heartfelt speeches in between, listen to find out what they thought about this year's telecast. Also, stay tuned for a final tally of the Awards Season Fantasy Draft and a teaser for the Season 4 premiere! Fo...
Mar 17, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 51
We are days away from the 95th Academy Awards and it's finally time for our last episode before the Big Night! Here to share all of her insight with Nick and Sophia is returning guest and Gold Derby Senior Editor, Joyce Eng. They break down the 23 categories into three groups. First is 'In The Bag,' which includes the most predictable winners of the night, from Visual Effects to International Feature. Then in Toss Up, things get a bit dicier with categories like Adapted Screenplay, Original Scor...
Mar 10, 2023•1 hr 42 min•Season 3Ep. 50
For the final (!) episode in their Oscar Contenders series, Sophia and Nick are joined by friend of the pod and master pundit of AwardsWatch, Erik Anderson, to break down the last four above-the-line Oscar categories. They navigate the trenches of Adapted Screenplay before traveling the symphonic multiverses in Original Screenplay (23:35), which correlate exactly with the nominees in Best Director (44:24). Last but not least comes Best Picture, where they share their emotional journeys through t...
Mar 08, 2023•1 hr 35 min•Season 3Ep. 49
On today's Contenders episode you'll find some wonderful nominees that range from having fun character names, like Jamie Lee Curtis as Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything Everywhere All at Once , to being true supporting scene stealers with less than 10 minutes of screen time, like Judd Hirsch as Uncle Boris in The Fabelmans . Special guest and acting connoisseur Kevin Jacobsen joins Nick and Sophia for an in-depth conversation about Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress (55:42). Hear ...
Mar 04, 2023•1 hr 49 min•Season 3Ep. 48
You’ll have to travel from the desolate Cliffs of Inisherin to the hallowed halls of Juilliard to find the magnificent nominees discussed on this week’s Contenders episode. Sophia and Nick are joined by the insightful and charming Cameron Scheetz to break down both lead acting categories. Listen as they navigate the contentious showdowns of the five first-time nominees in Best Actor (6:14) and the bold and complex performances in Best Actress (48:49). Don't miss as they share what they would cho...
Mar 02, 2023•1 hr 44 min•Season 3Ep. 47
The 15 nominees Sophia and Nick discuss in this week’s episode may range from only 7 to 39 minutes, but they exude an endless amount of imagination with ideas that are larger than life and worthy of being seen on the big screen. Listen along as they share their reactions and break down the three short films categories, including: Animated, Live Action (10:45), and Documentary (21:15). Check out the short films in theaters here: https://shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/ Follow us on Twitter and Instagram...
Feb 24, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 46
Less than one month remains until the Oscars so Nick and Sophia are back to discuss three more exciting categories. Like always, they share their write-in votes and which film they think should win for: International Feature, Documentary Feature (19:40), and Animated Feature (31:02). Check out a selection of the nominated short films available online (listed here including our predictions by category) or wait to see them in a theater near you starting this weekend! Follow us on Twitter and Insta...
Feb 17, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 45
You heard Sophia and Nick talk about him and his nomination on the first Contenders episode, but now hear from Frank Petzold himself, the Visual Effects Supervisor from “All Quiet on the Western Front”! He elaborates on how collaborative and rewarding the shoot was, which elements helped contribute to the naturalism of the film while still showcasing the actors, and even shares one of his biggest VFX inspirations and dream projects. “All Quiet on the Western Front” is available to watch on Netfl...
Feb 14, 2023•18 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Nick and Sophia are back with another Oscar Contenders episode, this time wrapping up the technical categories. From turning a Soviet era airfield into a WWI war zone in ‘ All Quiet on the Western Front ’ to the many lenses, wigs, and costumes that styled the King of Rock and Roll in ‘Elvis,’ they discuss all of the fascinating details that bring these nominated films to life. Also listen to find out which movies they would write-in and who they think should win for: Makeup and Hairstyling, Cost...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 34 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Now that the nominations for the 95th Academy Awards have been announced, it's time to kick off the Oscar Contenders series! Sophia and Nick go through each category, discussing every nominee including their previous wins, facts from production, and fascinating details that showcase the craftwork. They also share their write-in votes and who they think should win for the following categories: Original Song, Original Score (18:30), Sound (36:33), Film Editing (56:05), and Visual Effects (1:16:09)...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Season 3Ep. 42
The official countdown of 44 days until the Oscars begins after Girls’ co-stars Allison Williams and Academy Award winner Riz Ahmed recently announced this year’s nominees! Bennett Prosser joins Nick and Sophia to break down the big winners, surprises, and misses from the announcement. 16 first-time acting nominees! Two Best Picture nominees for which their entire top cast are nominated! Find out what they’re wild for and how they think this season may shake out before they answer some fun liste...
Jan 27, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 41
