By Ryan C. Showers 

Nearly every year, this decade has had a crowded field of Best Actress contenders, where worthy performances were elbowed out of the Oscar lineup due to a high degree of competition. As each year passed, roles for women kept getting better and better, until this year, where the field read as noticeably thin. In fact, many pundits have found themselves scrambling to fill the final spots in their predictions because it seemed like the best choices all had some definitive weakness.

By Matt Neglia 

For this week's second podcast review, myself, Casey Lee Clark, Dan Bayer & guest Candice Frederick discuss Trey Edward Shults' third film "Waves." With an emotionally powerful ensemble, a unique narrative structure and technical craftsmanship operating on a level beyond his previous two films, "Waves" marks a huge leap forward for Trey Edward Shults. What does the NBP Team think though? We decided to discuss full SPOILERS for this review so we could get specific with the themes around the film's story and what happens to its characters. If you have not seen the film yet and do not wish to be spoiled, please come back and listen once you've seen the film. Thanks.

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 Rebecca Daniel 

It’s been six months since “Rocketman” flew into theaters impressing both critics and audiences alike. The fantastical account of Elton John’s life shows viewers that the musical biopic is alive and thriving. It was Taron Egerton’s performance in particular that really caught people’s attention. His impressive vocals, stage presence, and overall star power make it feel like we are watching Elton John’s life unfold before our very eyes. Immediately after viewing the film, I knew that I had seen something special in his performance. The “Rocketman” scene alone is one of the most memorable sequences of the year showcasing Elton John at the depths of depression struggling to cope with the world around him. Yet, he turns it all around when the neon glow of the stage lights beckon him to perform. Egerton gives the scene a level of emotional gravitas that is wrapped up in vulnerability and pain, but quickly soars to new heights when the show demands. It’s not just the musical numbers that make his performance stand out, but the transformative journey Egerton brings us on from Reginald Dwight to Elton John.

By Matt Neglia 

​Next Best Picture has partnered with Allied Global Marketing and Lionsgate to give away free passes to see Rian Johnson's "Knives Out" in New York City on Wednesday, November 20th 2019 a few days before its actual release in theaters on November 27th 2019.

​Click below for a chance to get passes while supplies last.

​By Danilo Castro 

​As the decade comes to a close, we’re compelled to look back at its stellar biopics. It seemed as though films based on true stories were released every other week, and save for a few bombs, these films did justice to their real-life counterparts. They also gave us some of the most indelible scenes and performances in recent memory. 

We’ve already done a list of the Top 10 Actors Playing Other Actors, but to commemorate our recent fan vote, we’ve decided to keep the biopic coverage going and list out the fan selections for the 10 Best Biopics of the Decade.

By Matt Neglia 

For Episode 168, myself, Bianca Garner, Dan Bayer, Casey Lee Clark, Josh Parham, Lauren LaMagna & Tom O'Brien preview the 2019 Independent Spirit Award Nominations, discuss the latest news surrounding SAG, the Golden Globes and other aspects of awards season, go over the polls, give reactions to the trailers for "The Way Back," "Seberg" and "The Death And Life Of John F. Donovan," plus we 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, myself, Bianca Garner, Daniel Howat & Danilo Castro head to the race track to discuss the new film from director James Mangold, "Ford v Ferrari" starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon. Based on a true story, with high production value and every department firing on all cylinders to deliver us some popcorn entertainment that also moves us, it's undoubtedly one of the year's best films. Find out why we  think so in this week's main 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 Matt Neglia 

In what is truly one of 2019's most emotionally impactful cinematic experiences, writer/director Trey Edward Shults has outdone himself with his third feature film "Waves." Marking his second collaboration with star Kelvin Harrison Jr. ("Luce"), the two were kind enough to chat with me separately about the year they are both having, the making of "Waves," how the film has been received so far during its festival run and more! Take a listen and be sure to check out "Waves" now playing in limited release from A24.

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 Bianca Garner ​​

This week sees the UK release of a film known as “Le Mans ‘66,” the film features Christian Bale and Matt Damon as Ken Miles and Caroll Shelby and follows their mission to build the Ford GT40, a new racing car which could beat Ferrari during the 24-hour Le Mans race of 1966. If this plot sounds strangely familiar to “Ford v Ferrari” then that’s because “Le Mans ‘66” is the exact same film but with a different name for European audiences. With the world so open to communication via social media networks such as Twitter, it seems odd to me that the studio would make the decision to rename the film for the audience across the pond, and I suspect that I’m not the only one who’s been left slightly puzzled.

By Ryan C. Showers 
​
It’s difficult for a film to grow a high profile without a coordinated effort to build a name for itself. Going to film festivals is an easy way for a movie aiming for awards season to gain great prestige and notoriety, but there are always a few stragglers who bypass the festival opportunities, or films that are simply not ready to be screened so early in the season. The best way for a non-festival late release to find success at the Oscars is by making a big splash upon release. I would argue that leaving an impression on one cohort of the Academy, in particular, is key to Oscar success for films that skip the festival circuit: the acting branch. The two examples of this that jump to mind are “American Hustle” and “Vice,” both released late in December of their respective years without festival exposure. The former received four acting nominations (one in each category) and the latter was awarded three. There were nominations across the board for “American Hustle” and “Vice,” but actors were the beating hearts of these films and the indisputable aspect that people who disliked the two could appreciate.

By Casey Lee Clark 

We open on voiceover narration; a couple reading what they have written about one another. What I love about Nicole: her bravery as a performer, her playfulness as a mother, her little quirks that may be annoying but that you love anyway, her competitiveness. What I love about Charlie: his brilliance as a director, his love for the mundaneness of fatherhood, his effortless style, his competitiveness. We come to reality to see these are exercises with a couples counselor facilitated to mediate the couple in their impending separation and divorce. What follows is a complex and moving tale that looks at the struggle between breaking up as a couple but staying together as a family, and all the pain and drama that come along with that. This is Noah Baumbach’s latest film “Marriage Story.”

By Tom O'Brien 

The first shot fired on November 1: The debut of AppleTV+. It introduced four new streaming series, with the promise of many more as the week's progress. Accessible in about 100 countries, Apple streaming launches with a worldwide reach that will likely dwarf even the mighty Disney+, which has finally flipped the switch on its streaming service.

​According to the Financial Times, AppleTV+ has poured more than $6 billion into original programming for the service, and their plan appears to be rolling out new shows gradually, effectively ensuring that there will be a steady stream of products to keep subscribers happy. On paper, the rollout of only four series, all remarkably different, appeared to be a wise one so that the public can more easily evaluate the quality of their shows.

But are they any good? And more importantly, should you subscribe? I watched the first three episodes of each series and based on viewing those, I have a few thoughts on all four.

By Matt Neglia 

We're all heading for the grave. The infinite darkness that we all fear, hoping there will be something else instead. Another life? Possibly the afterlife? No matter how we live our lives, one way or another, we're going. As I continue to get older, the finality of death is something that I've continued to obsess over from a psychological standpoint, as I seek to understand how everyone approaches it. We deal with grief in our unique ways and I believe our own death carries its own foreboding grief that we all eventually need to come to terms with. Martin Scorsese's latest film "The Irishman" is a reckoning for its lead character, Frank Sheeran, as we watch him live a life of crime, loyalty, and betrayal. By the time he comes to the end of that life, he is filled with regret despite his own survival through the cold and vicious world of organized crime.  Scorsese's storytelling, through the final act of "The Irishman" and his haunting final shot, has lingered with me long after I saw it at its world premiere at this year's New York Film Festival. You've probably read my written review of the film and you've also probably heard our podcast review, but now I want to hone in on the thing that I think makes this particular gangster film, not just a great film in Scorsese's filmography but a great film for all time that could resonate strongly enough to win Best Picture.

By Cody Dericks 

​As a huge horror fan, I consider Mike Flanagan to be the most exciting director working in the genre today. He has delivered a level of consistency across the past decade that is undeniably impressive, firmly establishing a style and visual language all his own. Aside from the aesthetic qualities of his filmmaking, he has proven to be extremely adept at crafting scary stories that serve as metaphors for some of the horrors we face in the real world. The most apparent of these is his penchant for exploring the lingering effects of trauma, especially stemming from a difficult childhood. It’s a theme that can be found in many of his works, and as such, the horror elements of his films and TV shows can often be considered symbols for the trauma caused by addiction, PTSD, and mental illness. As I explore his works that tackle these themes, please note that a full spoiler warning is in effect.

By Matt Neglia 

For this week's second podcast review, myself, Casey Lee Clark, Ryan C. Showers​, Cody Dericks & Tom O'Brien talk about Martin Scorsese's latest film "The Irishman," reuniting him with Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and for the first time ever, working with Al Pacino. A Netflix film with a production budget of over $150 million, heavily involved CGI, a sprawling story that takes place over several decades, packed with heavy themes and meta-commentary, Scorsese's late career gangster film has been hailed as a modern masterpiece. What does the NBP team think about it though? Kick back and a take a listen as we chat about Scorsese's near three and a half hour epic.

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 

With the Makeup & Hairstyling Guild announcing their nominees today and with the Critics Choice Documentary Awards taking place yesterday, now is a good time to let you all in on the important dates you need to know this awards season as far as the precursors are concerned. As mentioned before, this is a shortened season with the Oscars being moved to early February and we do not know what effect that will have on the rest of the season. It's promising to be an exciting sprint to the finish line, so take a look below at all of the dates and mark your calendars!

By Will Mavity & Daniel Howat 

One of the year's biggest technical marvels, is the year's biggest film made by Marvel. "Avengers: Endgame" is the highest grossing film of all time and a culmination not just for the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also for everyone behind the scenes who have worked tirelessly to bring this chapter to its stunning conclusion. Two people heavily involved with the making of the film were kind enough to lend their time to talk about their involvement in "Avengers: Endgame." First up we have Daniel Howat interviewing composer Alan Silvestri, followed by Will Mavity's interview with Visual Effects Supervisor Dan DeLeeuw. Tune in to hear from both of them what their experience was like making the year's biggest film, the lasting impact of their work on the MCU 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 Ryan C. Showers 
​
The way the Academy votes for Best Picture has dominated the awards season pundit discourse since the 2015 and, more prominently, 2016 Best Picture races. When the Academy expanded the Best Picture lineup from five to ten nominees, it implemented a preferential ballot, where voters rank the Best Picture nominees from their favorite to least favorite, and a process goes underway to find a “consensus” movie ranked highly enough by all the voters on their ballots. The Academy has since reversed course, allowing a range between five to ten possible Best Picture nominees from 2011 through the present day. The pundit community didn't think about the preferential ballot back then in the same way we do now. “The Hurt Locker,” “The King’s Speech,” “The Artist,” “Argo,” “12 Years a Slave,” and “Birdman” would have probably won just as easily if not more easily had the Academy voted with a plural ballot, where whichever film receives the most votes would be the winner.

By Matt Neglia 

The Makeup & Hair Stylists Guild nominations have been announced, representing the best in the field for 2019. The winners will be announced January 11th 2020.

​Click below to see this year's nominees.

By Matt Neglia

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) have announces their winners for the best in Documentary films for 2019 at the fourth annual Critics' Choice Documentary Awards (CCDA) this evening.

Click below to see the winners.