Christopher Nolan vs. Everybody Else

Winning an Oscar takes a whole lot more than putting on a great performance – it also takes a great campaign. This week, VF Features Editor Hillary Busis joins Rebecca and John to trace the evolution of the modern Oscar campaign, from the cutthroat tactics of the ‘90s to the multimillion-dollar operations of today. The group also revisits their favorite moments from Oscar campaign history before offering some unsolicited advice to this year’s contenders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Christopher Nolan looking like a lock for a Best Director Oscar nomination, who will claim the other four spots? This week, Vanity Fair Features Editor Hillary Busis joins Rebecca and John to size up the contenders, from Denis Villeneuve and Martin McDonagh to Los Javis and Olivia Wilde. The group also shares their picks for the November movies you won't want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Hollywood’s legacy studios struggle to adapt to a changing industry, independent film distributors are gaining ground. This week, Vanity Fair staff writer Savannah Walsh joins Rebecca and John to look at how A24, NEON, and Mubi became major players in the movie business. They also discuss the next wave of indie companies, including Black Bear and Sumerian Pictures, and debate what their growth means for the future of moviegoing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Little Gold Men inbox is overflowing! This week, Vanity Fair Staff Writer Chris Murphy joins Rebecca and John to answer your questions about The Odyssey's Oscar prospects, the ins and outs of awards campaigning, and Tom Holland's future beyond Spider-Man. Plus, the group shares their predictions for next year’s Sundance lineup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The films generating the most buzz right now aren’t big-budget blockbusters – they’re documentaries. To understand why, Rebecca, John, and VF Features Editor Hillary Busis discuss three provocative new docs: NAZA, an investigation into Israel's war in Gaza; Alex Gibney's four-hour Elon Musk exposé; and Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's mind-bending Elizabeth Holmes documentary, You Can See Everything. They also reflect on how the nonfiction film business has changed and whether the Academy will embrace this year's most talked-about docs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been a whirlwind week in Hollywood, from the Emmys’ move to streaming and major premieres at the New York Film Festival to the newly official Warner Bros.–Paramount merger. Rebecca and John break down what it all means before turning to Digger, Tom Cruise’s first non-action movie in 15 years. VF Features Editor Hillary Busis joins them to unpack Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s critically savaged, box-office-challenged new film and debate whether Cruise’s performance is still strong enough to keep him in the Oscar race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sixteen years after The Social Network introduced moviegoers to the dark side of Facebook’s founding, Aaron Sorkin is taking on the company again—this time as both writer and director—with The Social Reckoning. The film follows whistleblower Frances Haugen (played by Mikey Madison) as she exposes what Facebook knew about its own role in the spread of misinformation and political polarization. Rebecca and John discuss Jeremy Strong’s uncanny transformation into Mark Zuckerberg, debate whether the new film can escape the very long shadow of its predecessor, and ask what makes The Social Network hold up so well. Plus, they share their picks for the October movies you won’t want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fall film festivals are officially behind us, which means it’s time to start making some Oscar predictions we may or may not regret. Vanity Fair Features Editor Hillary Busis joins Rebecca and John to recap the biggest takeaways from TIFF, including La Bola Negra’s big win and whether I Play Rocky can actually go the distance. Then, the group compares their Best Picture prediction lists, revealing plenty of overlap and a few surprising disagreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2026 Emmys happened Monday night, so Little Gold Men is coming to you early this week to break down the biggest wins, losses, and surprises of the evening. Rebecca, Hillary, and Vanity Fair executive editor Maggie Coughlan dig into Widow’s Bay’s massive sweep, celebrate Rhea Seehorn’s long-awaited Emmy win, and consider what this year’s results tell us about the Television Academy’s evolving tastes. They also weigh in on the best (and most baffling) looks of the night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rebecca and John are back from the Colorado mountains and Chris Murphy is fresh off the Lido, so it’s time to take stock of the first two major stops in fall festival season. The group discusses the films that soared, the docs that shocked, and the performances that could be headed all the way to the Oscars. Plus, Rebecca reveals just how far she went to uncover Telluride’s top-secret screening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices