The AwardsWatch Podcast

On episode 338 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by AwardsWatch Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello, and AwardsWatch contributors Dan Bayer, Jay Ledbetter and Josh Parham, to go back 50 years and take a look at the 49th Academy Awards, covering the films of 1976. In this retrospective, the AW team returns from their two week break after the end of the 2025-2026 Oscar season to take a trip back 50 years to one of the most interesting ceremonies of all time; one similar to the one they just covered in more ways than one. A big, crowd pleasing film about an underdog boxer stole the heart of the Academy and audiences around the world, while the politically charged, socially relevant films walked away with the most awards on Oscar night, but missed out on the top two prizes. It was an epic battle between Rocky,All the President's Men, and Network, with Bound for Glory, Taxi Driver, Seven Beauties, Face to Face, Carrie, Marathon Man, and more honored by the Academy, with films like The Ritz, Grey Gardens, Mikey and Nicky, The Omen, The Bad News Bears, and more making up the films talked about on this show as films that could replace or be celebrated in this retrospective; highlighting a wide range of memorable titles released in 1976 that the team admire in one way or another.  In their in-depth discussion, the AW team talked about the film year of 1976, briefly discuss Rocky as a Best Picture winner, how that win speaks to the legacy of their win and the franchise, do an extensive conversation over the below the line categories and nominees for the year, and then the new version of the AW Shoulda Woulda Coulda game, where instead of individual replacements, they must decide as a group who the nominees and winners should be in the top eight categories. The rules of the game state they can only replace two of the nominees that year from each category, except in Best Picture, where the group could replace up to three films to make up the final set of five nominated films. Like past retrospective episodes, it was a fascinating, fun conversation including spirited debates, alliances, vote swinging, celebrating various movies, performances that aren't normally talked about and more that we all hope you enjoy. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 2h30m. We will be back next week for a review of the latest film A24, The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. Till then, let's get into it. Music: "Modern Fashion" from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

On episode 146 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by AwardsWatch Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello to discuss the latest film in their Powell and Pressburger series, The Red Shoes (1948). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to break down, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. In their most popular, acclaimed film of their career, Powell and Pressburger take a look into the competitive, obsessive world of ballet and the personal scarifies it takes to make real art. With The Red Shoes, they created another lasting masterpiece, one with a trio of incredible performances, expert dialogue, a twisted ending, and one of the greatest sequences in film history involving the titular film's ballet. Ryan, Jay, and Sophia break down their admiration for the film, the price it takes Victoria Page to become the best dancer in the world, the jealousy of Boris Lermontov, the naiveté of Julian Craster, how the duo behind the camera were able to pull off that miraculous sequence, the food, the clothing, the mixture of location shooting and sets, the process it took to preserve this film via the Criterion Collection and Martin Scorsese, and one of the biggest, longest weekly recommendations in the history of Director Watch. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 2h55m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger with a review of their next film, The Tales of Hoffmann. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

On episode 145 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by Editor-In-Chief of InSession Film Dave Giannini to discuss the latest film in their Powell and Pressburger series, Black Narcissus (1947). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to break down, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. In taking a darker turn with their latest film, Powell and Pressburger explore the role of temptation, guilt has on the mind when dealing with religion in Black Narcissus. A film that is about a group of nuns coming to a small village to spread their word of god only to be internally turned upside down by the human impulses being challenged by their beliefs in god and their mission, thus leading to one of the hottest, most complex films the duo ever created. Ryan, Jay, and Dave break down their thoughts on the film, the religious conversations the film is having, how gorgeous the film is, how sexy David Farrar is as Mr. Dean, the use of color photography in the film, and a silly summer movie bet between the two co-hosts that is from a galaxy far, far away.  You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 2h06m. The guys will be back later this week to continue their series on the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger with a review of their next film, The Red Shoes. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it.  Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

On episode 144 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by film critic Jesse Nussman to discuss the latest film in their Powell and Pressburger series, A Matter of Life and Death (1946). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to break down, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. In the start of a run of episodes that will feature the guys talking about Powell and Pressburger's signature masterpieces, the Archers take a look at the power of love in the face of death and how having love can mean more than anything on this planet or in the afterlife. In a beautiful blend of black and white photography and technicolor, Powell and Pressburger delivered a cinematic statement that as long as a you have true love, nothing else matters and it's stronger than logic, reason, or whatever else you want to throw at someone when they are under the spell of love; matters of the heart mean more than matters of the brain, thus is a necessity of life. Ryan, Jay, and Jesse break down their thoughts on the film, the power of love, various iconic shots within the film, map painting, and a special Nussman surprise at the end of the episode. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 2h02m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger with a review of their next film, Black Narcissus. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it.  Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

On episode 337 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello and AwardsWatch contributor Josh Parham break down their reactions to the winners at the 98th Academy Awards and our newest Best Picture winner, One Battle After Another. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 1h46m. We will be back in two weeks with an Oscar retrospective for the 49th Academy Awards, covering the films of 1976. Till then, let's get into it. Music: "Modern Fashion" from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

On episode 143 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter discuss the latest film in their Powell and Pressburger series, I Know Where I'm Going (1945). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to break down, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. After their expansive wartime epic, Powell and Pressburger went to Ireland to tell a love story that is more than just about finding someone to spend the rest of your life with but more so about finding who you are before you make the biggest decision of your life. Shot on and off location, I Know Where I'm Going takes the time to dive deep in these two protagonist's heads, examining their stations in life, the pasts or futures that haunt them, leading to being in each other's arms in the end that feels poetic. Ryan and Jay break down their feelings on the film, how time and love have changed them, the beautiful shots found in the film, how the directors were able to convey everything on screen when some of the actors weren't there, and how this romantic fable feels also like a ghost story at times.  You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 2h05m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger with a review of their next film, A Matter of Life and Death. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it.  Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

On episode 336 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by AwardsWatch Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello, and AwardsWatch contributor Mark Johnson to give out their final Oscar winner predictions for the 98th Academy Awards. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 3h12m. We will be back next week to give our reactions to the winners for the 98th Academy Awards. Till then, let's get into it. Music: "Modern Fashion" from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

Since its first season premiered last January, The Pitt has been on a steep climb to being the best drama on television. Acting as a true ensemble show, every character gets their moment, however small it may feel in the moment. A sprawling cast that characterizes nurses, doctors, security guards, clerks, and patients seems unwieldy to handle, but Emmy winner Pitt actor Shawn Hatosy chose to direct an episode on top of being a guest star in the series.  Hatosy plays Dr. Jack Abbot, a night-shift attending that – we found out this season – also doubles as a field medic during the day. To hear Hatosy say it, this is Abbot's way of managing himself and his emotions, perhaps taking the suggestion of a therapist and twisting it to do something he enjoys and keeps his adrenaline pumping. Hatosy stepped into the director's chair for the ninth episode of the second season, "3:00 P.M." Though Hatosy doesn't have as much screen time as the regular ensemble, he makes his own impact with this episode, as "3:00 P.M." travels through the emergency department struggling with technology woes due to a potential cyberattack, Mel's sister showing up with her own ailment, a young boy who has blown off two of his fingers, and a cancer patient at wit's end.  Hatosy gets to show his commitment to camera choreography and blocking during the episode, the camera fluidly moving throughout, fast enough for the audience to suffer whiplash as the patients pour in and the day gets more difficult. As an actor (and former director on Animal Kingdom) on the show, he was already familiar with the planning that would be needed to get every part precise. The episode is tightly constructed and introduces the beginning of the end of the day, moving quickly but never rushed, every minute moving quicker than the last. The episode ends by introducing a major disaster that could influence the rest of the season: a waterpark slide has collapsed, and we all know where any potential patients will be going.  I spoke to Hatosy about getting the camera and blocking just right, setting up new relationships on the show, his preparation for directing "3:00 P.M." and how he's affected by the online community that loves him. 

On episode 142 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by film critic Bilge Ebiri discuss the latest film in their Powell and Pressburger series, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema's greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you've got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. The latest film in the boy's P&P series is a showcase of when filmmakers don't go for propaganda, and instead try to tell a version of their own truth. During WWII, the filmmaking duo did films for audience's tailor-made to provoke the political agenda of their country. For The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, they take a look inward at their own countrymen and system and how destructive is has been on the war as much as the enemies they are fighting across Europe, even making our protagonists best friend a German character, causing uproar about the inclusion of someone for whom the world was morally against. In doing this, they created one of their defining masterpieces where their thesis lies in someone who has given their whole life to fighting for their country, all for their wisdom and talent to be washed away as a new generation rises up, a brilliant work. Ryan, Jay, and Bilge break down their thoughts on the film, laserdisc physical media, the idea on romance at the heart of our main trio, showing no violence in a war picture, the films ending, and much more. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 2h33m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger with a review of their next film, I Know Where I'm Going. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let's get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

On episode 335 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by AwardsWatch Editor-In Chief Erik Anderson and AwardsWatch contributor Josh Parham to discuss The Actor Award and 2026 PGA Award winners, and what these wins mean going into the final days of Oscar voting. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 1h17m. We will be back next week to give out our final winner predictions for the 98th Academy Awards. Till then, let's get into it. Music: "Modern Fashion" from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).