By Will Mavity 
​
Two-time Academy Award winner Alexandre Desplat is no stranger to Wes Anderson films. Since their first time working together on "Fantastic Mr. Fox" (2009), the in-demand composer has worked with Anderson on each of his movies since receiving two Oscar nominations in the process and one win for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014). "The French Dispatch" is their fifth collaboration together and sees Desplat in the hunt once again for another nomination on a Wes Anderson film after previously receiving a nomination this year from the Golden Globes and now being shortlisted at both the BAFTAs and Academy Awards. Desplat was kind enough to return to the podcast (he previously spoke with us about his second Oscar-winning work on "The Shape of Water") and discuss his work on Anderson's latest, which you can listen to down below. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Daniel Howat 

In a year filled with Marvel films, one of the most successful and beloved was Destin Daniel Cretton's "Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings." The film introduced audiences to Xu Shang-Chi (played by Simu Liu), the first Asian superhero, his relationships with his best friend Katy (played by Awkwafina), his father Xu Wenwu (played by Tony Leung in his first Hollywood film), and a whole new mythology in the MCU. The film was painstakingly brought to life by its visual effects team, who are shortlisted this year for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. We were lucky enough to get a chance to speak with VFX Supervisor Christopher Townsend, Additional VFX Supervisor Joe Farrell, WETA Digital VFX Supervisor Sean Walker, and SFX Supervisor Dan Oliver, who all went into detail about their various roles and contributions to the film. We hope you enjoy our conversation down below.

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Daniel Howat 

"The Eyes Of Tammy Faye" had its world premiere at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, where it quickly garnered awards season buzz for Jessica Chastain's transformational performance as the titular character. Part of what makes that transformation work, as well as it does, is the makeup and hair work being done on Chastain and Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker. Makeup department head Linda Dowds and hair department head Stephanie Ingram were kind enough to talk with us about their work on both actors, which you can listen to down below! Enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Will Mavity 

It's been over twenty years since the original "Matrix" won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects at the 1999 Academy Awards. While the two sequels, "Reloaded" and "Revolutions," did not go on to receive nominations, "The Matrix Resurrections" finds itself shortlisted for Best Visual Effects once again. Recently nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Visual Effects and receiving two nominations from the Visual Effects Society, enough time may have passed for voters to want to return to Lana Wachowski's world. DNEG visual effects supervisor Huw J Evans was kind enough to talk with us about the work he and his team completed for the film, which you can listen to down below. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Daniel Howat 

"King Richard" had its world premiere at last year's Telluride Film Festival, where it immediately struck up awards buzz for Will Smith's lead performance, the Beyoncé closing credits song "Be Alive," and other elements such as writing and editing, to help establish it as a contender in the Oscar race for Best Picture. Pamela Martin's editing has helped the film's success by keeping the 145-minute runtime moving and engaging, whether an audience member saw it in a theater or at home on HBO Max. She was kind enough to talk with us about her work, including the tennis matches, the closing montage which weaves in real-life footage of the Williams Sisters and their father, and more! Please take a listen down below and enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Will Mavity 

Janus Billeskov Jansen has been the go-to editor in the Danish film industry, working with directors such as Thomas Vinterberg ("Another Round"), Nicolas Winding Refn ("Pusher II"), and Bille August ("Pelle The Conquerer"), but also working on acclaimed documentaries such as "The Act Of Killing" and "Strong Island." His most recent effort was on the 2021 Danish submission for Best International Feature, "Flee" (which is also contending for Best Documentary and Best Animated Feature Film). With NEON's acclaimed documentary releasing in more theaters this past week and continuing to expand, we wanted to revisit just what made this film so special, and through Jansen's work, we get a taste of that. Please take a listen down below and check here if theaters are currently showing the film in your area.

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Daniel Howat 

Nia DaCosta's "Candyman" was released in the summer of 2021 to strong reviews for her direction, her handling of the film's themes, and the score by composer Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe. Robert was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his haunting work on the film, which has been shortlisted for Best Original Score at this year's Academy Awards. If nominated, it would be one of the very rare times a horror movie has had its score nominated for an Oscar. You can take a listen to the discussion down below. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

Academy Award-winner Javier Bardem had a tremendous 2021, starring in one of the biggest blockbusters of the year with "Dune," playing Desi Arnaz in Aaron Sorkin's "Being The Ricardos," which he recently received a SAG Nomination for Best Actor from his peers and playing the lead in the Spanish submission for Best International Feature Film, "The Good Boss." Javier was kind enough to spend some time with us discussing all three roles, including his musical work as entertainer, Desi Arnaz, the differences between Spanish and American productions, where things are at regarding his role as Stilgar in the upcoming "Dune: Part Two," and more! We hope you enjoy our conversation, which you can listen to down below.

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Will Mavity 
​
Pedro Almodóvar's "Parallel Mothers" had its world premiere at last year's Venice Film Festival, where it won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for the film's star, Academy Award-winner Penélope Cruz. She has since gone on to win other Best Actress prizes from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the National Society Of Film Critics. This is Cruz's seventh film with Almodóvar, and it's clear there's an inherent trust in their working relationship. Cruz was kind enough to spend some moments talking with us about her work on the film, her relationship with Almodóvar, her thoughts on her character, Janice, and what she plans to do next. Be sure to take a listen down below and enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia & Will Mavity 

"The Harder They Fall" is a Black revisionist Western which has lit the world on fire and put Hollywood on notice with its all talented Black cast, genre-defying elements, and hip-hop-influenced soundtrack. Writer, director, and composer Jeymes Samuel was kind enough to chat with me about his inspiration for the project, how he chose to approach it compared to his music endeavors, and how his film is looking to reclaim the genre from Hollywood's long history of not giving Black voices their due. On top of that, Costume Designer Antoinette Messam spoke with Will Mavity about her work on the film, which seemed to blend the historic and the modern to present something vibrant and fresh for today's audience. We hope you enjoy it!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Daniel Howat 

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's directorial debut, "Summer Of Soul," had its world premiere at last year's Sundance Film Festival, where it went on to win the Grand Jury and Audience prizes for Best Documentary. The accolades did not stop there. The film has garnered more wins than any other documentary film in the awards race this year, including a record-breaking six wins from the Critics Choice Awards, including Best Documentary Feature, Best Director, and Best Editing for Joshua L. Pearson. Thompson and Pearson were both kind enough to take some time to talk with us about the film, working with the mammoth amount of footage they had from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, their reaction to the film's success, and more. Please take a listen down below and enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Dan Bayer & Will Mavity 

"In The Heights" may have come out earlier in the year and got knocked down due to its poor box office performance. Still, the film received positive reviews, eventually found an audience on HBO Max, and has recently given its star Anthony Ramos a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. We conducted several interviews about the film with its director Jon M. Chu (by Dan Bayer) & the sound team Lewis Goldstein and John Marquis (by Will Mavity). We hope you enjoy this look inside at what it took to bring the life and sounds of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning show to the screen.

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Will Mavity 
​
Anyone who has seen Joel Coen's adaptation of William Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Macbeth" knows what a scrumptious feast it is for the eyes and ears. The film had its world premiere at last year's New York Film Festival, and now, audiences can stream it on AppleTV+ to take in its meticulous design and powerhouse performance, led by Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. Two previous Coen Brothers collaborators, composer Carter Burwell and production designer Stefan Decant were kind enough to spend time talking with us about their work on the film, their relationship with the Coens, especially Joel, their cinematic influences for this highly particular film, and more! Be sure to take a listen down below and enjoy this look into the making of one of the best films of 2021.

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia, Will Mavity & Daniel Howat 

Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" is a high artistic achievement not just for 2021 but in the annals of cinematic history. It was a massive undertaking to adapt Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi novel for the big-screen (and this is only the first half of the story), but it paid off with solid box office results, tons of awards season buzz, critical acclaim & the announcement from Warner Bros. that "Dune Part Two" has officially been greenlit. Shortly following the news of this announcement, I had the pleasure of speaking with Villeneuve about his latest film. At the same time, my colleagues Will Mavity and Daniel Howat conducted interviews with two of the film's awards season contenders, makeup designer Donald Mowat and visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert respectively. We hope you enjoy these three conversations taking you deeper into the world of "Dune," which is now available to rent and own at home on 4K UHD. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia & Nicole Ackman 

"Tick, Tick...Boom!" had its world premiere at this year's AFI Film Festival and was shortly available to stream on Netflix afterward. It has since gone on to receive Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations for Best Picture and Best Actor for Andrew Garfield. We compiled a few interviews together, taking you deep into Lin-Manuel Miranda's feature directorial debut about the life of Jonathan Larson. First up is my interview with the film's star, Andrew Garfield, followed by Nicole Ackman's interview with the film's editors, Myron Kerstein & Andrew Weisblum, and then we end things with my interview with the film's screenwriter, Steven Levenson. We hope you enjoy each of these conversations about one of the year's best films.

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Daniel Howat 

Academy Award-winner Halle Berry's feature directorial debut "Bruised" debuted at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and was later picked up by Netflix and re-surfaced a year later with a premiere at the 2021 AFI Film Festival. The film is now streaming on Netflix and has received a tremendous response for Berry's lead performance in the film. Demanding both physically and emotionally, Berry gives it her all, resulting in some of the best work of her career. She was kind enough to spend a few minutes talking with us about the role of Jackie Justice, her work on the film, and much more! We hope you'll give it a listen down below. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

​By Will Mavity 
​
Wes Anderson's "The French Dispatch" was meant to premiere at last year's Cannes Film Festival but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It finally premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival, then made its way to the Telluride and New York Film Festivals before coming to theaters, and is now available to watch at home on digital and Blu Ray. The film is a visual feast which isn't surprising considering cinematographer Robert Yeoman has been Anderson's secret weapon in his filmography going back to "Bottle Rocket" in 1996. Yeoman was previously nominated for an Oscar for his previous collaboration with Anderson on "The Grand Budapest Hotel," and their latest offering might even be better! Yeoman was kind enough to take time out of shooting their upcoming film "Asteroid City" to talk about his work on the film, working in black-and-white, his friendship with Anderson, and much more! We hope you enjoy this look into one of the most visually splendid-looking films of the year.

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Daniel Howat 

Disney Pixar's latest film "Luca" has been nominated for both a Critics Choice and a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature and is now listed as one of the films eligible for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. One of the reasons why the film has resonated with so many people is through Dan Romer's soaring, gentle and beautiful score. Dan was kind enough to spend some time talking with us at the beginning of the month (before the Academy unjustly left him off the shortlist for Best Original Score) about his work on the film, which you can listen to down below. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Will Mavity 

"Jockey" premiered nearly a year ago at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and gave character actor Clifton Collins Jr. a leading showcase role worthy of his talents. The directorial debut from Clint Bentley tells the story of an aging jockey who is aiming for one final shot at glory while balancing his personal life. The film is now playing in limited release and has been nominated for three Film Independent Spirit Awards, including Best First Feature and Best Actor for Collins Jr. Clifton was kind enough to sit down with us to talk about his work on the film (which he also shares credit as a producer) which you can listen to down below. Be sure to check out the film as it expands to your area and enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Daniel Howat 

Costume Designer Mark Bridges has been working with director Paul Thomas Anderson since the beginning of his career with "Hard Eight" and on every single one of his films since earning an Oscar nomination for "Inherent Vice" and a win in 2017 for "Phantom Thread." Their latest collaboration was for "Licorice Pizza," which faithfully re-created the style and fashion of the San Fernando Valley in 1973. Mark was kind enough to spend time on the show again talking with us about his work, his friendship with Paul Thomas Anderson, and much more! Take a listen down below and be sure to check out the film now playing in wide release. Enjoy!

​Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

"The Tender Bar" is the latest film by George Clooney, which tells the simple but inspiring story of  J.R. Moehringer (whose memoir the film is based on), who dealt with struggles related to his absent father and class. Production Designer Kalina Ivanov was responsible for not only crafting period sets during the pandemic but environments that would subliminally inform the audience about the characters, the journey J.R. was going on, and take us through multiple decades. She was kind enough to speak with me about her work on the film, which you can listen to down below. Be sure to check out the film, now playing in theaters and arriving on Prime Video on January 7th, 2022. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia, Will Mavity & Daniel Howat

Guillermo del Toro's "Nightmare Alley" is his follow-up film to his Best Picture-winning "The Shape Of Water," and it's one of the most technically astounding films of 2021. I, Will Mavity, and Daniel Howat were given the opportunity to conduct several interviews with the creative talent behind the scenes to provide you with this in-depth look at the film. First up, we have my interviews with cinematographer Dan Laustsen and costume designer Luis Sequeira, followed by Will Mavity's interview with the makeup and hairstylists, Jo-Ann MacNeil & Cilona Furey, then my interviews with editor Cam McLauchlin and composer Nathan Johnson, followed by Daniel Howat's interview with producer J Miles Dale and finally ending everything with my interview with production designer Tamara Deverell. There's a lot of information and hidden details to uncover so, please take a listen down below and enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Ema Sasic 

"The Novice" quietly had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this past June, where it won the Best U.S. Narrative Feature Film prize. It was later picked up for distribution by IFC Films and has now garnered five Film Independent Spirit Award nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress for the incredibly committed Isabelle Fuhrman. The film's director and writer, Lauren Hadaway, was kind enough to spend some time with us talking about her feature directorial debut. Take a listen down below and be sure to check out one of the year's most intense films now playing in limited release and available to rent on VOD. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

"Swan Song" (not to be confused with the indie film starring Udo Kier released earlier this year) is the first narrative feature from Oscar-winning director Benjamin Cleary (Best Live Action Short for "Stutterer") and also the first leading role for the film's star, 2-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali. The film is a thinking person's sci-fi with an emotional core allowing for some deep questions on mortality. Benjamin was kind enough to sit with me after the film's world premiere at the AFI Film Festival and discuss his ideas behind the film, the collaborations with the actors and craft departments, what he has coming up next, and more! Be sure to check out the film now streaming on Apple TV+ and enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.

By Matt Neglia 

"Being The Ricardos" is the third feature film directed by Academy Award-winning writer Aaron Sorkin after "Molly's Game" and "The Trial Of The Chicago 7." The film has garnered praise for its performances from Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, who both received Golden Globe nominations for their work recently, while Sorkin received Critics Choice and Golden Globe nominations for his screenplay. Despite this, the film and Sorkin have faced scrutiny over the casting of Kidman and particularly Bardem as the iconic duo of Lucile Ball and Desi Arnaz. Making his second appearance on the show two years in a row, Sorkin addressed this criticism again, spoke about his initial ideas behind the project, what he's learned as a director, working with the actors, and more. Please take a listen down below and enjoy!

Thank you so much for listening. The Next Best Picture Podcast is proud to be a part of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. You can subscribe to us on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Tunein, Player FM, 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, you enjoy what you hear and want to hear more, please help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and you'll receive some exclusive podcast content.