In this episode, Christina talks with actor Gustaf Skarsgård, who is powerful in the historical crime drama To Cook a Bear (Hulu/Disney+), based on the bestselling novel by Mikael Niemi. They discuss embodying the Pastor, a fascinating, paradoxical character inspired by the real Lars Levi Laestadius, a man caught between faith, science, and survival in 1850s Sweden. The story weaves together themes of polarization, racism, class, and belief within a haunting detective mystery set against the sta...
Oct 20, 2025•28 min
We’re diving into the state of the awards season race! Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch.com joins us to break down the latest contenders and predictions. Then, a discussion on Rebecca Miller’s Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV+), a new five-part docuseries about the legendary filmmaker himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15, 2025•1 hr 23 min
From One Battle After Another, Jay Kelly, Hamnet, and Weapons, to Sentimental Value and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and more, filmmakers this year can’t seem to escape one theme: parents. Guilt, loss, and legacy are everywhere on screen this year. Are directors today reckoning with themselves as parents rather than with their own parents? We dive into all of it — and more. Christina is joined by film critic J. Don Birnam (@awards_predix) to unpack one of 2025’s defining cinematic trends — parenti...
Oct 08, 2025•50 min
We’re pulling back the curtain on one of modern horror’s most unforgettable new icons: Aunt Gladys from Zach Cregger’s smash hit Weapons . Christina is joined by makeup department head Leo Satkovich and special makeup effects designer Jason Collins, the brilliant team behind her terrifying transformation. They explore how Aunt Gladys was brought to life: from drawing inspiration in Cindy Sherman’s photography and John Waters’ Pink Flamingos to perfecting the haunting look worn and played to perf...
Oct 04, 2025•42 min
In this episode, Christina is joined by rising star Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, recently named one of Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch, to talk about her role as Agnes in Joachim Trier’s Oscar-contending drama Sentimental Value . The film, also starring Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, and Elle Fanning, explores family, identity, and the complicated bond between two sisters and their father. Inga shares what it was like working with Trier and Skarsgård, the intensity of filming a pivotal emotional sc...
Sep 30, 2025•17 min
A Modern Masterpiece! Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch.com to dive into Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another , starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, Chase Infiniti, and Benicio Del Toro. Edge-of-your-seat, urgent, and timely, Anderson’s bold filmmaking delivers a cinematic experience like no other. Join us for a deep dive into one of the year’s most anticipated films. Spoilers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...
Sep 26, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value is the talk of the season, and Christina sits down with the acclaimed Norwegian director to dig into it. Featuring Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle Fanning, the film has already won the Grand Prix at Cannes, charmed audiences on the festival circuit, and is quickly becoming an Oscar favorite. Christina and Trier dive into its rich themes — family roles, complicated relationships, and the deeply personal ideas at its heart. Lea...
Sep 23, 2025•28 min
Hollywood turns its spotlight on television’s biggest night this Sunday — the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards! Christina is joined by Tyler Doster, TV Editor at AwardsWatch.com , to predict the major categories and discuss potential surprises and upsets. From The Pitt and Severance to The Studio and Adolescence , which shows and stars will walk away with Emmy gold? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 10, 2025•45 min
All new Pop Culture Confidential: Telluride Dispatch! What a festival! Together with each of the incredible AwardsWatch.com team, we dive into the biggest conversations at Telluride — from Hamnet , Jay Kelly , Bugonia , If I Had Legs I’d Kick You , to the Springsteen biopic 🎸 and much more! We explore the themes running through this year’s line-up — fathers and daughters, regret, redemption, motherhood, and the power of art — plus highlight standout performances from Jessie Buckley, Renate Rein...
Sep 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min
This week, Christina welcomes Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a deep dive into Bruce Springsteen on film — including a look ahead at Deliver Me From Nowhere , the highly anticipated biopic starring Jeremy Allen White. From the Malick-inspired Nebraska to iconic soundtrack moments, we explore Springsteen’s cinematic inspirations and how his music continues to live on the big screen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 25, 2025•54 min
In this episode, we dive into the phenomenon of Weapons , filmmaker Zach Cregger’s latest hit. From the success of Barbarian to this ambitious follow-up, Cregger has quickly become one of the most exciting names in horror. I’m joined by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) to break down our reactions to Weapons — the scares, the themes, the filmmaking, and the cinematic influences and nods to PTA, Lynch, Tarantino, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 21, 2025•48 min
Christina welcomes back one of the sharpest voices in film — Sean Fennessey of The Big Picture — for a wide ranging conversation on the year in movies so far and what’s next. From Weapons and the horror/genre boom to box office shocks, Nolan fever, political storytelling, their Telluride predictions — and plenty more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 06, 2025•59 min
Author and critic John Bleasdale joins Christina to discuss his excellent new book, Darkness Visible: The Cinema of Jonathan Glazer —a deep dive into the work of the visionary director behind Sexy Beast , Birth , Under the Skin , and The Zone of Interest . They also break down the exciting 2025 Venice Film Festival line-up, featuring Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt starring Julia Roberts, Kathryn Bigelow’s latest, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein , and much more. Learn more about your ad choic...
Aug 01, 2025•1 hr 28 min
The industry was rocked by the news that CBS is cancelling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and ending the franchise entirely in 2026. While CBS claims it’s purely a financial decision, speculation is swirling — including questions about political pressure. Christina is joined by AwardsWatch’s Ryan McQuade to unpack Colbert’s exit — and whether this marks the beginning of the end for traditional late night as we know it. They also discuss Emmy nomination surprises as well as the latest lineup ...
Jul 22, 2025•1 hr 30 min
As Emmy nominations approach, we’re revisiting one of our standout conversations of the year! Actor Taylor Dearden delivers a powerful performance as Dr. Mel King in The Pitt , the gripping medical drama now streaming on HBO Max. In this encore episode, Taylor joins Christina to talk about filming the intense series, medical boot camp, how her ADHD shaped her performance, working with Noah Wyle, and much more. Don’t miss this interview with one of the season’s most talked-about breakout stars! L...
Jul 10, 2025•30 min
From film news to fresh reviews — it’s a packed week on the show. We’re diving into some of the biggest releases of the summer, including 28 Years Later , Jurassic World: Rebirth , F1 , The Materialists , and Eddington . Plus, we break down Nolan’s The Odyssey teaser, the latest on the Social Network sequel, and Denis Villeneuve taking on 007 . With special guest Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr 32 min
We’re thrilled to welcome actor Alexej Manvelov to the show. His standout portrayal of Akram in Netflix’s hit Dept. Q has made the character one of this season’s most acclaimed and beloved. In Scott Frank’s adaptation of the bestselling novels, Manvelov plays Akram, a former Syrian police officer and refugee who joins Edinburgh’s cold-case unit alongside Detective Carl Mørck (Matthew Goode). His subtle, magnetic performance has made Akram both a fan favorite and a critical standout. Manvelov sha...
Jun 23, 2025•39 min
Summer may not be the official spooky season, but it’s long been a surprisingly perfect time for horro r. From the 1975 release of Jaws —which turns 50 this year!—to Poltergeist , Friday the 13th , and A24’s Hereditary and Midsommar , horror has thrived under the summer sun. Now, summer 2025 is shaping up to be another standout season for the genre, with titles like 28 Years Later , M3GAN 2.0 , I Know What You Did Last Summer , Together , Weapons , and more. Film enthusiast and theatre technicia...
Jun 19, 2025•41 min
On this episode, Christina is joined by writer and critic Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for the fun (and difficult!) exercise of ranking their favorite films of the decade so far, from 2020 through 2024. Tune in for passionate picks, tough calls, unexpected choices, a few controversial rankings, and plenty of love for the movies that have defined these first five years! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 34 min
Creator of Andor and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tony Gilroy ( Michael Clayton , The Bourne films) joins Christina for a wide-ranging conversation about the groundbreaking Star Wars prequel series — a show that’s as politically urgent as it is thrilling. With the second and final season now complete, they look back at the creative journey. They explore the big themes at the heart of Andor : found family, sacrifice, fascism, moral ambiguity, and the question of why good people do bad things. Plus: ...
Jun 05, 2025•38 min
Joining Christina is film critic and writer Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch as they wrap up the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. From what it was like covering this year’s festival, to the Palme d’Or winners, major Neon and MUBI acquisitions, standout titles from Joachim Trier and Spike Lee, The Secret Agent , The History of Sound , and more—this episode dives into all the unforgettable moments that made this edition one for the books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 7 min
In this special dispatch from the Croisette, Christina is joined by the brilliant and effortlessly cool Stellan Skarsgård, starring in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value —a strong Palme d’Or contender at this year’s festival. Skarsgård plays Gustav, a once-renowned director who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter by casting her in his comeback film. They discuss Sentimental Value , the state of cinema and the world, why Skarsgård often chooses Norwegian films over Swedish ones, the imp...
May 21, 2025•14 min
Christina is joined by critic and author John Bleasdale (The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick) for a new dispatch from the Croisette. They dive into some of the most talked-about titles at the festival, including The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson, Pillion starring Alexander Skarsgård, and two films directed by actors: Kristen Stewart’s The Chronology of Water and Harris Dickinson’s Urchin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 19, 2025•38 min
🎬 Dispatch 3 from Cannes 2025 Christina is joined once again by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a new dispatch from the Croisette. They dive into some of the festival’s buzziest titles so far, including Ari Aster’s Eddington , The Plague , Sound of Falling . Plus, thoughts on the latest Mission: Impossible. In other news: Pop Culture Confidential which was selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 90 Pop Culture Podcasts on the web. https://podcast.feedspot.com/pop_culture_podcasts/ Learn more abou...
May 17, 2025•31 min
🎬 Dispatch 2 from Cannes 2025! Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a dispatch from the Croisette. They break down Christopher McQuarrie’s Q&A—featuring a surprise appearance by Tom Cruise—Neon’s impressive Cannes track record and this year’s contenders, and Robert De Niro’s politically charged moment at the festival. Please note: This episode was recorded on location in Cannes, so the audio is a bit more "festival field mix" than studio :) Learn more about your ad choices....
May 14, 2025•27 min
Christina’s first dispatch from Cannes 2025! Highlights from the Opening Press Conference with Juliette Binoche, Jeremy Strong & more—on festival expectations, Trump’s tariffs, and the new red carpet dress rules. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13, 2025•6 min
Sharing a special episode! Christina joined the AwardsWatch podcast for the 78th Cannes Film Festival Preview . On episode 287 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello, and special guest Christina Birro of Pop Culture Confidential to preview the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, which they will all be attending for the next two weeks. They talk about what it is like going to the festival, the film’s in and ou...
May 10, 2025•57 min
We’re just days away from the 78th Cannes Film Festival, and one of the most anticipated moments is the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning on May 14 at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt in this eighth installment of the legendary action franchise, joined by director Christopher McQuarrie and an all-star cast. In this episode, we’re joined by Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch to break down why this premiere is such a major event — not just for Cannes, but fo...
May 09, 2025•56 min
On the show this week: the exceptionally talented Barbie Ferreira, best known for her breakout role as Kat Hernandez on HBO’s Euphoria . Christina talks with Barbie about her wonderful new film Bob Trevino Likes It , where she plays Lily, a young woman grappling with the pain of a self-centered, absent father. After forming an unexpected bond with a stranger online who shares her dad’s name, Lily finds a path toward healing and self-acceptance. The film is inspired by director and writer Tracie ...
May 02, 2025•30 min
This week, Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade, Executive Editor of AwardsWatch, to dive into Sinners —Ryan Coogler’s ambitious, multilayered, and visually stunning new film. They also break down the latest Oscar rule changes and announcements, and discuss what they could mean for the upcoming awards season. Plus, in honor of Michael B. Jordan’s phenomenal dual performance as twins in Sinners , they share their favorite on-screen twins played by the same actor. Learn more about your ad choices. ...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 21 min
