The 62nd New York Film Festival Recap: Week One

Audiences have been flooding Lincoln Center for this year’s exciting 62nd edition of the New York Film Festival and Sophia and Nick are here to highlight its exceptional first week. They begin with reactions to some hits and award winners from Cannes and Telluride, like The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Emilia Pérez, Maria, and Nickel Boys. Then, they showcase a special architect double feature with Megalopolis and The Brutalist, more distant cousins than siblings (28:03). They wrap up by sharing some memorable #NYFF62 moments, superlatives for favorite shots and quotes from anything they’ve seen, and what one Oscar they would award! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comMegalopolis clips: https://youtu.be/tNybhMsO5ew?si=A6rVuGogNC4P34Mh

“Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? Younger, more beautiful, more perfect.” This simple, yet expansive idea frames the timely new release, The Substance, a hyper-stylized modern fairy tale that heavily satirizes Hollywood and the beauty industry. Nick and Sophia thoroughly break down this wildly thrilling body horror award winner from Cannes, including: Demi Moore’s daring performance, the gruesome prosthetic and makeup effects, the meaning behind its many movie references, and its continued awards potential. If you haven’t seen the film yet (we definitely recommend finding a packed screening), there’s a spoiler warning mid-episode (22:54) in case you decide to revisit later. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

Now that all of the Big Five film festivals (Berlin, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, and Venice) have ended and handed out their awards, it’s time for Sophia and Nick to recap how their premieres will influence the rest of awards season. Listen as they discuss initial reactions from Venice, Telluride (18:31), and TIFF (37:21), and preview some releases coming at the New York Film Festival (46:21). Afterwards, they answer some fun listener questions related to buzzy performances and their chances at competing on Survivor, older films that would pair well with recent releases, and some category specific possibilities, like in Screenplay or Picture. If you’re curious about what audiences think of Anora, Conclave, Saturday Night, The End, Nightbitch, The Brutalist, Maria, Hard Truths, or The Last Showgirl (with Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis), or want to learn more about these movies, then this is the episode for you! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27More content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Even though the yearly transition from the dog days of summer into sweater weather always feels too abrupt, it also means that there’s an exciting crop of new releases on its way! To talk about over 40 of these movies headed to the big screen and on streaming, Nick and Sophia are joined by Benjamin VanHoose, @People’s Associate Editor, Movies. Listen as they highlight blockbusters and indie films alike being released in September, October (27:34), November (44:42), and December (1:04:50). Are you a fan of horror? Then The Substance, Heretic, or Nosferatu might be for you. Looking for a family night at the theater? Check out showtimes for The Wild Robot, Transformers One, Moana 2, or Mufasa: The Lion King. Let us know what your most anticipated movie of the fall is! Follow Benjamin at https://people.com/author/benjamin-vanhoose/ or on Instagram @benjamin_vanhoose and Twitter @BenVanHooseFollow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Sophia and Nick are looking back on 1974 once more, this time to a wonderful comedy double feature: both Oscar nominees and both made by the same director! Here’s to Mel Brooks’ odd couple, the unforgettable Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein (22:09). Listen as they uncover behind the scenes facts and share their favorite quotes and scenes alike. Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn aren’t the only ones seeing double! Do you think either of these classics deserved to win at least one Oscar?Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.com

Fall festivals are about to begin which means it’s time for Oscar Wild’s biggest episode of the year! Nick and Sophia are excited to invite back eight extraordinary guests to compete in their fifth Awards Season Fantasy Draft: All-Stars Edition. Part competition, part movie madness, the draft showcases what they believe to be the biggest players throughout the coming awards season, possibly even taking home some Oscar gold come March. Each of their teams select films, cast and crew, and some fun creative picks that could earn them the most points via critics prizes, multiple guilds, and the biggest award ceremonies. Tune in for a lively, hilarious, enlightening, and all together unforgettable insider look at the year’s biggest movies! Which team do you think will take home the win: Team Berger Kings or Team New Rochelle Bi-Coastal Champions?Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpod including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comFollow Erik Anderson @awards_watchFollow Cody Dericks @codymonster91Follow Chelsea Eichholz @chels725Follow Joyce Eng @joyceeng61Follow Kevin Jacobsen @Kevin_Jacobsen & @OscarRunnerUpFollow Ryan McQuade @ryanmcquade77Follow Bennett Prosser @BennettProsserFollow Morgan Roberts @msmlroberts & @femalegazethefilmclubFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

The movie at the heart of this week’s episode deeply embodies the passion behind Oscar Wild’s favorite mini-game, Smash or Pass. Men can be unreliable, deceitful, temperamental, or just plain old rude. But at the end of the day, they can also be charming, hot, upstanding, and in endless supply, and I know, my toast is burning.Sophia and Nick rewind to 1937 yet again to further discuss the contentious Oscar race for Best Actress. They previously highlighted Barbara Stanwyck in Stella Dallas on “Stanwyck September” last year along with Janet Gaynor in A Star Is Born on “Always Remember Us This Way”with guests Connor and Dylan MacDowell. Listen to hear them break down Irene Dunne’s Oscar nominated performance in The Awful Truth before critiquing Luise Rainer’s poorly aged win for The Good Earth and providing an extensive conversation on their favorite acting category (25:57). Would they have awarded their one Oscar to Irene Dunne or does Luise get to keep her statuette?Who would you have awarded Best Actress this year?Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan AdamichMore content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comListen to Sophia’s guest appearance on “And The Runner-Up Is” with friend of the pod Kevin Jacobsen as they discuss the 1937 Best Actress race in even more detail: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/and-the-runner-up-is/id1358031226?i=1000543593068

“Her web connects them all.” Nick and Sophia are back to answer some fun listener questions! Find out about their favorite (and worst) theatrical experiences, which Oscar winners they would form an alliance with on Survivor, awards potential for multiple upcoming releases, how they would reallocate Meryl Streep’s wins, and many more! Comment below with who you’d like to see host this year’s Academy Awards! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

“I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody.” Sophia and Nick are back to discuss another Best Picture-winning classic, On the Waterfront, which is also celebrating its 70th anniversary. Marlon Brando’s career-defining performance earned him his first Oscar and one of eight for the film. Listen as they talk about the film’s other wins and if it was (or could’ve been) snubbed elsewhere, Elia Kazan’s role with testifying to HUAC and the film’s not so subtle hints, and of course their favorite scenes, quotes, and performances. Did the Academy get it right? Which one Oscar would they award the film? Find out and comment with your thoughts! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Thirty-nine light-years from Earth, crew members aboard the cargo ship Nostromo take one small step onto an unknown planet, leading to an endless number of giant disasters for mankind. So begins the interstellar saga that sends its heroine, Ellen Ripley, to hell and back, with corporate-fueled alien adventures continuing to this day. It’s no wonder Alien remains one of the all-time greatest science fiction films 45 years after Ridley Scott and his innovative and imaginative collaborators birthed such chilling beauty. Listen as Nick and Sophia unearth some far out production facts while providing a deep discussion on Alien and Aliens (55:39). Find out which film each of them prefers, what their favorite and scariest scenes are, and, of course, which one Oscar they would award for each film! Make sure to see these two classics before Alien: Romulus is released on August 16th.Oral history of Power Loader EW article: https://ew.com/comic-con/2016/07/18/aliens-anniversary-oral-history/Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich