Sophia and Nick are excited to celebrate Halloween with their devilish review of The Omen . They share their thoughts on both the recent prequel, The First Omen , and the original classic along with exalting its winning performance at the Academy Awards. (They promise there’s no chanting of “Ave Satani.”) Listen to find out their favorite scenes, performances, and kills before they debate what was snubbed and which one Oscar they’d award the film! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @osc...
Oct 25, 2024•48 min•Season 5Ep. 27
The second half of this year’s New York Film Festival brought other previous festival favorites, like the Sundance hit A Real Pain, featuring Kieran Culkin and writer-director Jesse Eisenberg, and highly-anticipated auteur releases, like Luca Guadagnino’s Queer , Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths , and Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door . Nick and Sophia densely pack this week’s episode with reviews of all of these and more, including chatting Oscar buzz and potential in multiple categories, like Costu...
Oct 18, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 26
Audiences have been flooding Lincoln Center for this year’s exciting 62nd edition of the New York Film Festival and Sophia and Nick are here to highlight its exceptional first week. They begin with reactions to some hits and award winners from Cannes and Telluride, like The Seed of the Sacred Fig , Emilia Pérez , Maria , and Nickel Boys . Then, they showcase a special architect double feature with Megalopolis and The Brutalist , more distant cousins than siblings (28:03). They wrap up by sharing...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 25
“Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? Younger, more beautiful, more perfect.” This simple, yet expansive idea frames the timely new release, The Substance , a hyper-stylized modern fairy tale that heavily satirizes Hollywood and the beauty industry. Nick and Sophia thoroughly break down this wildly thrilling body horror award winner from Cannes, including: Demi Moore’s daring performance, the gruesome prosthetic and makeup effects, the meaning behind its many movie references, a...
Sep 27, 2024•52 min•Season 5Ep. 24
Now that all of the Big Five film festivals (Berlin, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, and Venice) have ended and handed out their awards, it’s time for Sophia and Nick to recap how their premieres will influence the rest of awards season. Listen as they discuss initial reactions from Venice, Telluride (18:31), and TIFF (37:21), and preview some releases coming at the New York Film Festival (46:21). Afterwards, they answer some fun listener questions related to buzzy performances and their chances at c...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 23
Even though the yearly transition from the dog days of summer into sweater weather always feels too abrupt, it also means that there’s an exciting crop of new releases on its way! To talk about over 40 of these movies headed to the big screen and on streaming, Nick and Sophia are joined by Benjamin VanHoose, @People’s Associate Editor, Movies. Listen as they highlight blockbusters and indie films alike being released in September, October (27:34), November (44:42), and December (1:04:50). Are yo...
Sep 13, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Season 5Ep. 22
Sophia and Nick are looking back on 1974 once more, this time to a wonderful comedy double feature: both Oscar nominees and both made by the same director! Here’s to Mel Brooks’ odd couple, the unforgettable Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein (22:09). Listen as they uncover behind the scenes facts and share their favorite quotes and scenes alike. Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn aren’t the only ones seeing double! Do you think either of these classics deserved to win at least one Oscar? Follow ...
Sep 06, 2024•49 min•Season 5Ep. 21
Fall festivals are about to begin which means it’s time for Oscar Wild’s biggest episode of the year! Nick and Sophia are excited to invite back eight extraordinary guests to compete in their fifth Awards Season Fantasy Draft: All-Stars Edition. Part competition, part movie madness, the draft showcases what they believe to be the biggest players throughout the coming awards season, possibly even taking home some Oscar gold come March. Each of their teams select films, cast and crew, and some fun...
Aug 30, 2024•1 hr 45 min•Season 5Ep. 20
The movie at the heart of this week’s episode deeply embodies the passion behind Oscar Wild’s favorite mini-game, Smash or Pass. Men can be unreliable, deceitful, temperamental, or just plain old rude. But at the end of the day, they can also be charming, hot, upstanding, and in endless supply, and I know, my toast is burning. Sophia and Nick rewind to 1937 yet again to further discuss the contentious Oscar race for Best Actress. They previously highlighted Barbara Stanwyck in Stella Dallas on “...
Aug 23, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 19
“Her web connects them all.” Nick and Sophia are back to answer some fun listener questions! Find out about their favorite (and worst) theatrical experiences, which Oscar winners they would form an alliance with on Survivor, awards potential for multiple upcoming releases, how they would reallocate Meryl Streep’s wins, and many more! Comment below with who you’d like to see host this year’s Academy Awards! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpod Follow Nick @sauerkraut27 Follow...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 18
“I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody.” Sophia and Nick are back to discuss another Best Picture-winning classic, On the Waterfront , which is also celebrating its 70th anniversary. Marlon Brando’s career-defining performance earned him his first Oscar and one of eight for the film. Listen as they talk about the film’s other wins and if it was (or could’ve been) snubbed elsewhere, Elia Kazan’s role with testifying to HUAC and the film’s not so subtle hints, and of course their favor...
Aug 09, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 17
Thirty-nine light-years from Earth, crew members aboard the cargo ship Nostromo take one small step onto an unknown planet, leading to an endless number of giant disasters for mankind. So begins the interstellar saga that sends its heroine, Ellen Ripley, to hell and back, with corporate-fueled alien adventures continuing to this day. It’s no wonder Alien remains one of the all-time greatest science fiction films 45 years after Ridley Scott and his innovative and imaginative collaborators birthed...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 5Ep. 16
“I’ve gotta go Julia, we’ve got cows.” Well, there might not be flying cows in this unconventional sequel to the original 1996 disaster movie, but there's enough daredevil tornado wrangling to last a lifetime. Give your best "Yee Haw" and saddle up as Sophia and Nick entertainingly review Twisters side-by-side with Twister . They marvel at Glen Powell's instant charm and Lee Isaac Chung's direction, are intrigued by the 4DX experience, debate if this film will also earn Oscar nominations, and mu...
Jul 26, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 15
Greta Gerwig was right: maybe going back to the beginning after some time really does put everything into perspective. Whether it’s the dawn of time in Barbie or a star-defining role that solidified Ryan Gosling’s fame in The Notebook , there’s no denying that that early spark set Hollywood on fire. And for Rachel McAdams, too, who so effortlessly makes Allie the endearing heart to this romantic tale of love lost yet never forgotten. Nick and Sophia discuss the film’s legacy, the tight grip Nich...
Jul 19, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 14
There’s no drought of horror movies this year, and we’re only getting started! Great news for ghoulish fans of the genre, like Sophia and Nick, who discuss three recent releases that are sure to give you nightmares for weeks…or will they? Listen as they talk through- spoiler-free of course- the prequel A Quiet Place: Day One , Ti West’s trilogy closer, MaXXXine (20:49), and Osgood Perkins’ latest (yes, Anthony Perkins’ son), Longlegs (36:40). From monster to slasher to sci-fi and occult, there’s...
Jul 12, 2024•59 min•Season 5Ep. 13
This episode serves as a perfect example of this season’s theme, They Didn’t Win For That?! Or even better (however you look at it), how ludicrous it was that Donald Sutherland was never nominated, let alone for his challenging performance in Ordinary People . So Nick and Sophia are here to break down the film and get to the bottom of why the Academy never went for his adaptable, understated craftsmanship. At the top, they honor his filmography and list some of his best roles and partnerships. T...
Jul 05, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 12
Trailers for fall and winter movies are slowly appearing, which means it’s time for one of our favorite episodes of the year: sharing our Oscar predictions for the ceremony that is over 8 months away. Listen as Sophia and Nick debate who and what they think could take home the gold this coming awards season in all four acting categories, Director (34:00), and Picture (42:22). Comment with your own predictions and if you agree with our hot takes! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscar...
Jun 28, 2024•51 min•Season 5Ep. 11
“Commonality of experience” brought people back to the cinema in droves to experience Riley’s expanding, pubescent world in Inside Out 2 . There’s no one better nor happier to celebrate Pixar’s continued success than returning guest and friend of the pod, Ryan Lamb. He breaks down the film with Nick and Sophia as they all share their various opinions on how well this worked as a sequel, which emotion they connected with most, and what they look forward to in the next installment (hint: Riley goe...
Jun 21, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 10
It’s time to stick it to the man in this high voltage episode all about Richard Linklater’s School of Rock . Sophia and Nick have loved this classic for over 20 years and they’re here to share all of their favorite scenes and quotes including how this special film has transformed through rewatches over the years. Today’s assignment: answering fun listener questions (including Smash or Pass), talking about the history of the film’s production, and finding out which awards bodies enjoyed this movi...
Jun 14, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Leave it to Richard Linklater, one of our greatest and most meditative filmmakers, to team up with Glen Powell, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars (who also writes!), and create one of the best movies of the summer! Based on a true story, Hit Man embodies as many genres- romcom, thriller, noir- as Powell does personalities as fake hit men: it really needs to be seen to be believed. Listen to Nick and Sophia’s spoiler-free discussion of the film, including a short introduction about their thoughts ...
Jun 07, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 8
First, Sophia and Nick review Furiosa , George Miller’s latest adrenaline-fueled film and prequel to his previous masterwork, Mad Max: Fury Road . They debate if parallels between the two films work or not, including structure, visual effects, and performances, before predicting how it may do at next year’s Oscars. Then, they travel to La Croisette and discuss some of the biggest films out of this year’s Cannes Film Festival (25:25). With the 12 days of movie premieres and distributor deals wrap...
May 31, 2024•52 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Nick and Sophia are excited to share this MEGA episode discussing nearly 50 movies released so far this year. They include everything from pre-Oscars releases like Madame Web and Mean Girls to biopics like Back to Black , and horror flicks like Immaculate and Late Night with the Devil . Then, they recap festival releases (32:44), including those from Sundance, like I Saw the TV Glow and Love Lies Bleeding , SXSW with Babes and The Idea of You , and even last year’s Cannes Film Festival with Robo...
May 24, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 5Ep. 6
1999 brought audiences a remarkable number of unforgettable films, like: The Matrix, The Virgin Suicides, 10 Things I Hate About You, Eyes Wide Shut, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Magnolia, The Mummy — the list is nearly endless. Some were appreciated by the Academy while some were forgotten, but one movie did impress both voters and viewers alike: American Beauty . Its worldwide success was a surefire path to winning Best Picture, but not every component of the film was so lucky. Sophia and Nick bri...
May 17, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Challengers isn’t just the hottest movie of the year, it’s a game changer when it comes to coming-of-age stories, exciting sports films, and dramas of the love triangle variety. Nick and Sophia are buzzing with excitement, ready to break down Luca Guadagnino’s latest and discuss how he creates another tantalizing universe full of electricity. In this PG-13 edition, they examine beautiful shot and dialogue parallels in every eye-popping scene and question Art, Patrick, and Tashi’s desires through...
May 10, 2024•2 hr•Season 5Ep. 4
There's no complete list of 70's paranoia thrillers without The Conversation -- and it almost never came to be! Sophia and Nick dive into Francis Ford Coppola's other 1974 film this week, walking through the film’s pre-Watergate production, key scenes, and quotes, how Room 773 was the original Room 237, and why Harry Caul and Ron Swanson would be friends. At the end, they answer some fun listener questions and mourn the film’s many snubs at the Oscars. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 3
There’s neither a dull moment nor a wasted breath in this week’s feature— only a flaw in the iris. Nick and Sophia are excited to share a thorough deep dive into Chinatown , an exemplary film from 1974 brimming with eyes and oranges and water (oh my!). They discuss how the Academy awarded it only one out of its eleven nominations, and even debate if it should’ve won some of The Godfather Part II ’s wins instead (1:22:51). Along with its performance at the Oscars, they answer a deluge of creative...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 54 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Welcome back to Season Five! To start off with a BANG, Sophia and Nick tackle one of cinema’s greatest sequels, The Godfather Part II . Coppola returned to adapt this second film only a few months after The Godfather took home Best Picture, but this time he had demands and drama to deal with. They discuss all of this and more, including a run-through of the movie’s best scenes, their favorite shots and quotes, and how the beautiful crosscutting transforms characters and scenarios to magnify the ...
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Season 5Ep. 1
The long-awaited second installment of Dune is finally here and Nick and Sophia are ready to don their stillsuits back on Arrakis. In reviewing the film, they list some of their favorite shots and scenes, debate whether Denis Villeneuve’s altered world lives up to the book, and tease what’s to come with Dune: Messiah . Of course, the episode isn’t complete without Smash or Pass with some of the Dune Universe’s finest men (49:56). Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpod Follow N...
Mar 22, 2024•59 min•Season 4Ep. 51
The latest Oscars telecast not only attracted the most viewers since 2020, they brought back the fanfare the biggest night in movies deserves! Sophia and Nick recap the many memorable moments from the night, including emotional speeches, the showstopping “I’m Just Ken” performance and Jonathan Glazer’s compelling acceptance speech. Don’t worry, they break down all the shocking and awkward moments, too, like Al Pacino’s rousing finale: “My eyes see Oppenheimer .” Last but not least, they end the ...
Mar 15, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 4Ep. 50
It’s almost time to hear “And the Oscar goes to…” which means Nick and Sophia will finally be sharing their Oscar predictions. Will they change before the ceremony? Only time will tell. (Yes.) Even with the beginning of the end of this awards season in sight, they start the episode by sharing their initial reactions to a film that could dominate the 97th Academy Awards: Dune: Part Two . A more in-depth episode on that is coming soon, but first they use their Mentat skills to share their Final Os...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 49
