By Matt Neglia 

For this week's review, I am joined by two guests this week: JD Duran from the InSession Film Podcast and  J Don Birnam from SplashReport.com. Together, the three of us review Steven Spielberg's latest film "Ready Player One." 

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Liam Heffernan​

Imelda Staunton is an English actress who has amassed quite a career in films such as the "Harry Potter" series as Dolres Umbridge, "Vera Drake" for which she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Leading Actress and on stage where she has won four Oliver Awards. With her latest work in the British independent film "Finding Your Feet," Imelda was kind enough to chat with us about her work on the Next Best Picture Podcast.

Be sure to listen to our chat down below. Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox.

​By Josh Williams 

​Netflix has catapulted themselves into the mainstream over the past several years with an immense amount of success, releasing and producing some of the most exciting television shows in recent memory. Of course, their truck doesn't stop there, Netflix also produces another massive amount of feature films and documentaries as well. But as Netflix continues their reign there has been some speculation over their credibility as a studio. Much like Amazon and Hulu, Netflix has moved away from simply being a "streaming service." They serve and release films as their own, they purchase films at festivals, despite walking away empty-handed at this past Sundance. They truly have become a full-blown movie studio. 

By Matt Neglia & Will Mavity

A new addition we will be bringing to the podcast (For our Patreon subscribers) in the off season as we prepare for the upcoming awards season is a sort of "book club" which we will be calling Next Best Adaptation. We are asking you from now until April 7th to head over to the poll page and vote on the source material you want us to read and discuss on the podcast (Some are sequels to other films, or based on shorts or in one case, a television mini series) as we anticipate the adaptation which will be coming later in the year. We will be selecting the Top 3 Books and we will be reading that book and releasing our podcast review on it every other month. Should a film based on a short or any other form other than a book land in the top 3, we shall review that as well. Regardless, three books shall be read and discussed by Next Best Adaptation on the leadup to the 2018 Awards Season.

Any and all feedback is appreciated and we urge you to cast a vote and check out the contenders below. Happy reading!

By Jacey Aldredge 

“Isle Of Dogs” is a dog lover’s dream come true. So many canines, all in one place... granted, that one place happens to be a Japanese garbage-dump called Trash Island, but I digress. After a countrywide decree forces all the dogs into exile on the island, 12-year-old Atari sets off to retrieve his furry pal Spots from the desecrated dump. Along the way, he is joined by a scrappy pack of mongrels to discover not only his canine friend but the future of his entire home. Following the Academy Award-nominated “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” Director Wes Anderson’s sophomore stop-action effort had its limited release on Friday, March 23rd along with scores of positive reviews (i.e. a current 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and in celebration of this, we’re taking a look back at the most beloved cinematic canines in history.

By Matt Neglia

For Episode 83, myself & Will Mavity are joined for the first time in a long time by this week's guest...Kristen Lopez from the podcast Citizen Dame. Together, we talk about Steven Spielberg's thoughts on Netflix, recent allegations against Academy President John Bailey, the trailer for "Under The Silver Lake" and this week's weekly poll.

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Matt Neglia

For this week's review, I am joined by Jacey Aldredge & Jessica Peña and together the three of us review the new thriller from Steven Soderbergh (Shot exclusively on the iPhone) titled "Unsane" starring Claire Foy.

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Matt Neglia 

​Tristan Oliver has been the cinematographer on many acclaimed stop-motion animated films such as "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were Rabbit," "Fantastic Mr. Fox" and now "Isle Of Dogs." Tristan was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his day to talk to us about his work on Wes Anderson's latest film on the Next Best Picture Podcast.

Be sure to listen to our chat down below. Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox.

​By Josh Williams

Last week, the latest trailer for Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War” was released. As with most Marvel movie trailers we as fans love to dissect all the small details within them, rewatching the trailers time and time again to ensure we catch every small aspect included. While "Infinity War" has a lot to offer within its latest trailer the number one thing we’ve been continuously asking ourselves is: who is going to die? While “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” did a fantastic job at killing off a supporting character, Marvel has kind of strayed from ridding themselves of any major characters within their universe which they have drawn criticism for (Looking at you "Captain America: Civil War").

While it’s mostly due to contractual obligations and such, they still could elevate their films to a different emotional level if they were to kill off some important figures.

So with that said, here are some characters who we think could possibly be killed in “Avengers: Infinity War."

By Matt Neglia

For Episode 82, myself, Will Mavity & DeAnn Chiazzese give our reactions to many new trailers including "Sorry To Bother You," "Eighth Grade" and more! We also discuss the weekly poll as it pertains to "Isle Of Dogs" and various other topics!
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Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Matt Neglia

For this week's review, I am joined by Jacey Aldredge & Daniel Howat and together the three of us review the 2018 video game adaptation of "Tomb Raider" aptly titled "Tomb Raider" starring Alicia Vikander.

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Will Mavity

This is an interview with Julius and Alston Ramsay is practically a "Indie Filmmaking How To Guide." Get an in-pepth look at how "The Walking Dead" director and the former speechwriter for General Petreaus and the Secretary of Defense created a low budget thriller called "Midnighters," using inventive techniques for effects work, set design, noir cinematography and more.

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Matt Neglia

Next Best Picture has decided to start doing "historical" podcast film reviews for movies that pre-date the creation of the site for you, our dear fans. These are reviews which are voted on by you (Our current poll is ongoing for the next review which will take place in April) and we're hoping to release them every month and expand in the future. Part of that expansion is contingent on your support which is why these podcasts in particular are going to be exclusive to our Patreon members. We have released a preview for you all to listen to but to receive the full review, you will have to head over to our Patreon page and subscribe.

Myself, DeAnn Chiazzese and Josh Williams reviewed Wes Anderson's 2009 film "Fantastic Mr. Fox" in anticipation of his upcoming stop-motion film "Isle Of Dogs." Click below to check it out.
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Thank you and please feel free to subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM & CastBox.

By Matt Neglia

I am the last person who should be doing a list of top anything related to music. I struggle all the time with viewing music objectively and when asked to rank my Top 20 favorite film scores which were not nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score, I panicked. How do I rank one over the other? What constitutes one being better than the other? Is it based on how many times I've listened to it? If so, then do I go by the combined number of plays per each track on the album? So many questions. No real answers. So, I thought it would be easier to place all 20 in a randomizer (And cheat with ties on top of that!) to give to you the film scores which I hold dear to my heart and I personally believe deserved more awards recognition from the Academy.

​Click below and feast your ears upon some cinematic musical greatness!

By Jessica Peña

​As “Annihilation” pushes its way across half its production budget at the US box office and expands to Netflix internationally, there’s still time left to marvel at how a piece of science fiction film can deliver and ask a greater question about ourselves: What is it about “Annihilation” that keeps us talking? Why has it become this engrossing topic of discussion among moviegoers? Alex Garland’s second feature film is an intrepid voyage of the unknown, ultimately challenging the audience to not look away from its cerebral mastery. One could say the film is straight up psychological acid. It has a tantalizing effect that begs to ask us about ourselves. Films like this are one in a million and it makes an even bigger impact when it is resourceful of metaphysical ambiguity.

By Matt Neglia

For Episode 81, it is the unofficial beginning of Season 3 on the Next Best Picture Podcast as we return back to our regular format now that the Oscars are officially behind us. Myself, Will Mavity, DeAnn Chiazzese and Josh Williams introduce a new member of NBP in Jacey Aldredge, discuss the weekly poll as it pertains to "Tomb Raider" and give our reactions to trailers for "Christopher Robin," "The Grinch" and "Mary Poppins Returns."
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Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Jacey Aldredge 

​It never fails. Every year, as I’m excitedly preparing to cast my ballots for the slew of award shows strutting down Autumn’s runway, one of my friends begins to yodel the complaint of many during this time: “they better just focus on the movies this year, and not on Washington.” It’s easy logic to follow— awards shows, whether SAG, Golden Globes, the Emmys, or the Oscars, are meant to celebrate a medium of entertainment and subsequently, not political justice... right?

​Let’s explore this idea a little bit further.

By Matt Neglia

For this week's review, I am joined by DeAnn Chiazzese and together we review the latest film from Ava DuVernay, Disney's "A Wrinkle In Time" starring Oprah Winfrey, Storm Reid, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and Chris Pine.

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

​By Paul Hardister
​
We are now a few days removed from the 90th Oscars. Hangovers dissipated. Trophies found new homes. Yet even before the Oscar stage got struck, inevitable think pieces predictably came out of the woodwork attacking the show. The Oscars celebrate not only the year’s achievement in film but some of the greatest moments in Oscar history. So I’d like to take a moment to defend the show and offer some ideas to potentially attract new audiences and bring back old ones.

​By Daniel Howat

​The 90th Academy Awards are officially finished, with “The Shape Of Water” finally taking home the big prize. Of course, it’s never too early to look forward to next year’s contenders! Okay, maybe it is too early, but stick with me anyway. Let’s look ahead to some potentially great films from 2018 that might be in contention at the 91st Academy Awards.

Click below to see the films we think have the most Oscar potential as we move through 2018.

By Matt Neglia

For Episode 80, it is one of the most special episodes we have ever done. Not only do we recap the 90th Academy Awards hosted once again by Jimmy Kimmel but there is also an announcement at the end which means a great deal to all of us here at Next Best Picture. Filled with debate, happiness, complaints and laughs, this is our full recap of the 2018 Oscars with Michael Schwartz, Will Mavity, DeAnn Chiazzese & Daniel Howat.

Be sure to listen to our initial reactions beforehand which DeAnn, myself and Michael recorded last night immediately following the show here (It's only 15 minutes).
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Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Ryan C. Showers

​It’s been said and done. The outcomes of the two most competitive Oscar races have their resolutions: “The Shape Of Water” has won Best Picture and “Get Out” won Best Original Screenplay.

The two nail-biting categories were riddled with films splitting the major precursors or the frontrunners missing key ingredients that a movie typically needs to win Best Picture. Predicting these two categories was rough, especially Best Picture. Each of the three films, “The Shape Of Water,” “Get Out,” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” had credible reasons why one ought to have predicted it over the others. And each had strikes against them. Whichever way you turned, there wasn’t a solid answer. A stat was going down, and some new precedent was being set this year. Our job as predictors became figuring out which film to throw a dart at with our eyes closed.

By Matt Neglia

We were so excited by the 90th Academy Awards that myself, Michael Schwartz & DeAnn Chiazzese could not wait until tomorrow night to tell you our thoughts on the evening. Episode 80 will still go on as planned where we will go into greater detail on the evening but here are our instant reactions right after the ending to the Oscars.

Thank you and please feel free to subscribe on either ​SoundCloud, Tunein, GooglePlay, iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, CastBox or you can have a listen down below.

By Matt Neglia

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) have handed out their awards representing the best in film for 2017, otherwise known as the Oscars!

Click below to see the winners.

By Matt Neglia

You've read my final Oscar predictions on the Best Picture/Director, acting, screenplay, other best film, audio, visual categories for the 90th Academy Awards. Now, let's have some fun before the show begins and talk about our wishful thinking picks, our alternative picks, our NO GUTS NO GLORY picks! Let's go out on a limb and state the impossible on the smallest chance that it might actually happen tonight!!

​Click below to see my no guts no glory picks for tonight's Oscars and comment to leave yours!