By Tom O'Brien ​

Thank God for documentaries. In a summer when few narrative features have clicked with art-house audiences (with only "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" and "The Farewell" really breaking through), it was a steady stream of top-notch documentaries that kept the lights on in many of the nation's limited-release movie theaters.

In 2018, five different documentaries ("RBG," "Free Solo," "Three Identical Strangers," "They Shall Not Grow Old" and "Won't You Be My Neighbor?") each grossed over $10 million in the U.S., an almost unheard-of achievement. Although no non-fiction film this year has reached that mark yet, the crop of 2019 documentaries have proven to be of very high quality, thus setting the table for what promises to be an extremely competitive race for this year's Best Feature Documentary Oscar. Several favorites are already playing in theaters, while many more, which have screened at film festivals, are awaiting release. Let's take a look at 10 that we have seen already that should not be forgotten come Oscar voting time.

By Michael Schwartz 

The Next Best Theatre team is back to review and reflect on a show that means a great deal to some of us: "Fiddler On The Roof." In this episode we discuss the original 1964 Broadway production, the 1971 film adaptation and more! Joining me for this podcast episode is Nicole Ackman, Dan Bayer & Cody Dericks.

This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Theatre Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

For Episode 161, Josh Parham, Casey Lee Clark, Lauren LaMagna, Tom O'Brien​​​ & myself discuss the reaction to the world premiere of Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" at the 57th New York Film Festival, the controversy surrounding the release of "Joker" and the trailer for "Uncut Gems." We also go over the polls, answer your fan questions and more!

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

For this week's main podcast review, Lauren LaMagna & I take a look at the Renée Zellweger comeback vehicle of 2019: her larger than life performance as Judy Garland in "Judy." What do we think of Renée? The film itself? Judy Garland and her legacy? Find out all of this and more below in our podcast review. 

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Josh Parham 

Dedicated Oscar watchers always make the best effort they can to see every possible contender there is before the ceremony. For many of us, we try to hunt down all the titles that have even the slightest bit of buzz so we can be as knowledgeable as we can throughout the award season. For myself, this mindset is no different. However, there is one area that I take particular interest in: the submissions for Best International Feature (formerly known as Foreign Language Film).

By Danilo Castro 

Few Hollywood stars burned as bright as Judy Garland. She was a star from the moment she stepped on screen in 1936, and she continued to dazzle audiences with her singing and acting for decades. Her talents enabled her to become a musical mainstay, while occasional forays into drama proved that she could dominate a scene with little more than her presence. It’s no wonder she is referred to as the “World’s Greatest Entertainer.”

Garland is the focus of the new film “Judy,” where she is played by Oscar nominee Renee Zellweger. To commemorate the film’s release, we’ve decided to chart a path down the Yellow brick road, and rank Garland’s 10 Best Screen Performances. 

By Matt Neglia 

For this week's second podcast review, Nicole Ackman, Dan Bayer, Tom O'Brien​ and myself review the film event of the fall: the "Downton Abbey" movie, starring Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Imelda Staunton, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael and more! Based on the popular television series, the film review is a first for the podcast and brought up a lot of interesting talking points regarding the nature of sequels from different mediums, how television is changing and whether or not you need to have in-depth knowledge from the series to enjoy this particular movie. Click below to hear our thoughts.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 
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As promised, we are here with a 9th episode of the Next Best Series Podcast to talk about the Emmys. The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards were handed out this week and as always, there were brilliant moments of television, some heartbreaking losses and some unforgettable surprises. Here to talk about the show with me is Ryan C. Showers and for the first time ever as a guest on the podcast, Amanda Spears. Tune in below to hear our thoughts.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Will Mavity 

With James Gray’s interstellar sci-fi film "Ad Astra" receiving positive reviews as it opens in theaters this past weekend, there is, as always, the question of Oscar potential. While it is a default to say “The Academy” doesn’t go for sci-fi, that is not entirely true. Certainly, AMPAS are more predisposed to lean towards a period piece in Best Picture than it is a sci-fi, but across all 24 categories, especially in the below the line categories, sci-fi is better represented than one might expect. While it would be excessive to attempt to list “every sci-fi film ever nominated for ANY Oscar,” it is feasible to look at every movie about space travel ever nominated for an Oscar.

I have been liberal in my definition of space travel (IE is the film primarily set on one planet, but the protagonists had to travel through space to reach the planet, that would count). I will not include films set in “cyberspace” (“Ready Player One”) or films involving encounters with aliens who were merely hidden on earth (“The Abyss”). There needs to be some degree of actual travel through space in the film in order to qualify here. Films that are not sci-fi (“First Man” & “Apollo 13”) count, since they involve space travel, even if the space travel is not fictional. Finally, I will not be counting “special achievement” Oscars, but only competitive ones.

With all that said, here are the biggest takeaways.

By Tom O'Brien 

The least surprising part of Sunday night's presentation of the 71st Emmy Awards was that it was filled with surprises.​

Not so much on the drama series side. As expected, the final season of "Game of Thrones" marched off with the Emmy for Best Drama Series, and Peter Dinklage remains the only "Game of Thrones" actor to win an Emmy for the series after claiming his fourth statue for drama Best Supporting Actor (setting a record for the category). Four "Game of Thrones" actresses were nominated for Best Supporting Actress and, predictably the votes were split, allowing "Ozark's" Julia Garner to take home the big prize. Despite not winning awards for writing, directing or any other acting wins, "Game Of Thrones" still reigned supreme one last time.

By Matt Neglia 

​The winners for the 71st Emmy Awards have been announced.

Click below to see the winners and be on the lookout for our upcoming podcast discussing the winners and the show in more detail.

By Matt Neglia 

For Episode 160, Bianca Garner, Ryan C. Showers, Nicole Ackman, Casey Lee Clark, Dan Bayer & myself discuss our first in-depth thoughts on the below the line Oscar categories, our final predictions for "The Irishman" before its premiere at NYFF this week, "Jojo Rabbit" winning the TIFF Audience Award and what it means for the race, the polls, the trailers for "Clemency" and "Dark Waters" and we answer your fan questions!

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

For this week's main podcast review, I am joined by Danilo Castro and guest filmmaker Oniffe White. Together, the three of us travel deep into space with James Gray's epic yet intimate "Ad Astra" starring Brad Pitt. What do we think of the film's story? Its technical work? The supporting characters? Tune in below to find out as we discuss the film with a spoiler section at the end.
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Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify,Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us onPatreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Nicole Ackman ​

With the “Downton Abbey” movie being released this weekend, it’s a good time to revisit where we left the beloved characters at the end of the sixth season of the television show. “Downton Abbey” followed the Crawley family and their servants for over a decade, through marriages, deaths, and scandals. We watched the Crawley family, led by parents Robert and Cora with three daughters -- Mary, Edith, and Sybil -- as they navigated the dawning of a new era and tried to discover what their place as English nobility was in a modern world.

By Matt Neglia 

For this week's second podcast review, Casey Lee Clark, Dan Bayer & Ryan C. Showers and myself review the crime film that has everyone talking, Lorene Scafaria's "Hustlers" starring Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Lizzo and more! More than just "Goodfellas with strippers," the Next Best Picture team breaks down our expectations heading into the film, the film's characterization, its performances, use of music, depiction of events, reception to the film and more. Click below to hear our thoughts.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Ryan C. Showers ​

The schedule outlined in a typical awards season has produced a contradictory pattern: if you want to win, especially Best Picture, your film must be widely seen, yet it can’t be released too early as to be fresh in voters minds or become subject to controversies or a “frontrunner” status. In my mind, October would be the ideal time to fit this characterization. Think about “The Departed.” But even prime October releases from last year, “A Star is Born” and “First Man,” despite the unique qualities and success and failures of each film, were stilted by the time the Academy Awards came around. There is an incentive for the Oscar-contending films to grow a profile with moderate buzz at film festivals in September and October and then hit theaters in November and December. It seems to what worked for the success stories. Some recent examples are “The Shape of Water,” “Roma,” “The Favourite,” and “Green Book.”

By Bianca Garner ​

Fred Durst’s film “The Fanatic” is an absolute dud of a movie; it’s a poorly written, poorly shot and poorly acted film. The film earned just $3,153 from 52 theaters in the U.S. on its opening day, making it a US box-office failure. However, the film’s biggest crime is the depiction of autism and reinforcing negative stereotypes of those who have an autistic spectrum condition. In his review for RogertEbert.com, Brian Tallerico describes how “The Fanatic hates fans. It hates actors. It hates tourists, shop owners, and servants. It really, really hates autistic people.” It is a film that presents us with an autistic individual who becomes progressively more mentally unhinged and violent as the narrative unfolds.

By Matt Neglia 

As announced yesterday on Episode 159 of the podcast, the 2015 NBP Film Community Award Winners, representing the best in film for 2015 and voted on by YOU, the fans of Next Best Picture, were announced. The full list of winners can be read below.

This was a fun experience for the entire team at NBP during the off-season and we hope you enjoyed it as well with our Patreon podcast retrospective reviews and written content. We will be back next year for 2014 and hope to keep this going year after year. If you have any feedback, please let us know. In the meantime, click below to see your winners!

By Matt Neglia 

For Episode 159, Michael Schwartz, Casey Lee Clark, Josh Parham, Tom O'Brien & myself discuss the second half of TIFF (hours before the audience award winner was announced to be "Jojo Rabbit," so forgive the poor predicting on our part there). We also announce the winners of the 2015 NBP Film Community Awards, discuss the trailers for "Radioactive," "Midway," the end of MoviePass, the polls, answer your fan questions and more!

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

For this week's main podcast review, Kt Schaefer, Josh Parham, Dan Bayer, Daniel Howat and myself look at the film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel "The Goldfinch," directed by "Brooklyn" filmmaker John Crowley and shot by Academy Award winner (it feels so great to say that) Roger Deakins. With that level of prestige and a cast that features Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman, Jeffrey Wright and a few others, this has to have Oscar buzz right? Not so fast. Find out our full thoughts in this week's review.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. And if you're feeling generous and you enjoy what you hear and want more, please help to support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Will Mavity

Almost every Oscar season, we can count on at least a few films that offer pundits near-endless opportunities for haggling over whether or no a film constitutes an “Original Screenplay” or an “Adapted Screenplay” as defined by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

AMPAS offers a loose definition of what constitutes an adapted screenplay. And it is a definition that often differs with the definitions of other writing awards, such as the WGA, the USC Scripter, and BAFTA. Years ago, the Best Original Screenplay category was named “ Best Story and Screenplay - Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced,” which would of course by extension mean that Adapted nominees were based on material that was in fact previously published or produced. Additionally, it left the door open for Screenwriters to argue (like "Spotlight") that though the film was based on extensive research into real-life facts, it was technically still an “Original Screenplay.” The specific title for Best Adapted Screenplay was previously “Based on Material from Another Medium.”

By Matt Neglia 

For this month's first Patreon Throwback review on the Next Best Picture Podcast, I am joined by Nicole Ackman, Dan Bayer, and Patreon contributor Ian Bulaclac. Together, the four of us travel back to 2015 one more time as a lead-in to "Ad Astra" to talk about another space movie starring a mjor Hollywood movie star "The Martian." Considered to be one of legendary director Ridley Scott's best films, with a charismatic performance from Matt Damon and a wonderfully entertaining script by Drew Goddard, this epic space movie captivated audiences in 2015, but does it still hold up now? Tune in to find out what we all think.
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This is a preview of the podcast, the full version of which is only available to those who subscribe to us on Patreon. For the small price of $1 a month, you can receive this review along with other exclusive podcast content, so be sure to subscribe here.
​
Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Daniel Howat ​

With potential contenders “Jojo Rabbit” and “The Laundromat” getting decidedly mixed reviews out of Telluride and TIFF, are their Oscar hopes dead and buried? It may not be so simple. Reviews may be a strong indication of how well a film will last in awards season, while many films have overcome a tepid reception to score some Oscar attention. Let’s take a look at the recent history of mixed reviews at the Academy Awards.

By Matt Neglia 
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The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will be held later this month on September 22nd with the Creative Arts Emmy Awards being handed out shortly before that on the 14th. Michael Schwartz, Tom O'Brien and myself felt it was appropriate to get our predictions in now before everything began. Will "Game Of Thrones" get a rich send-off after its record-setting 32 nominations for the final and divisive season? Or will there be a surprise? It's the Emmys, so surprises are part of the norm. Click below to hear our final predictions.

Thank you so much for listening. You can subscribe to the Next Best Picture Podcast on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, PlayerFM, Acast & Castbox or you can listen down below. Please take a moment to review us on Apple Podcasts here. ​​

By Dan Bayer 

My last day at the festival! I cannot believe it’s here. I am up early but am feeling good. Today is full of big movies, and it begins with two of the biggest: Taika Waititi’s "Jojo Rabbit" and Rian Johnson’s "Knives Out," back to back. I am nervous that I will not make it to "Knives Out," which screens second, as I have heard a lot of people stare their intention to go, but thankfully both films are being shown in two theaters at the same time, so hopefully, there won’t be an issue.