Next Best Picture Podcast

"Plainclothes" is an independent romantic thriller drama film directed by Carmen Emmi and starring Russell Tovey, Tom Blyth, Maria Dizzia, Christian Cooke, Gabe Fazio, Amy Forsyth, and John Bedford Lloyd. It premiered earlier this year at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its performances, '90s aesthetic, and direction from Emmi. It went on to win the Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast. Emmi, Tovey, and Blyth were all kind enough to spend time speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from Magnolia Pictures on September 19th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And b

"A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" is the latest film from Kogonada, a romantic fantasy starring Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, Kevin Kline, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, that tells the story of a pair of strangers (Robbie and Farrell) and the unimaginable journey that ties them together. Kogonada was kind enough to spend time speaking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from Sony Pictures Releasing on September 19th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL EPISODE. Please check out the full podcast episode on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture The 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held last night! Daniel Howat and Giovanni Lago initially joined me to recap the show on Sunday night, but unfortunately, we forgot to hit record. As a result, Giovanni Lago and I were joined by Amy Kim for the first time on the show as a guest to review the winners for our second recording last night. We expected "Adolescence" and "The Studio" to dominate the evening. Still, it was a real nail-biter between "Severance" and "The Pitt" to find out which one would take Outstanding Drama Series. What did we think of the winners, the show's presentation, and Nate Bargatze's hosting? Please tune in to find out as we discuss these points, the speeches, shocking wins, and more in our reactions podcast. This will be our last Next Best Series Podcast episode for now. We don't know when we will return

"Lost In The Jungle" is a documentary film about four siblings who survived 40 days in the Colombian jungle after a plane crash, directed by Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, and Juan Camilo Cruz. It premiered at the Telluride Film Festival to positive reviews and is now available to stream online. Chai Vasarhelyi and Camilo Cruz were kind enough during the Telluride Film Festival to spend time speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestP

For Episode 457, Ema Sasic, Dan Bayer, Giovanni Lago and I are back from the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival to deliver our super-sized recap of all the films we saw and what impact they will have on the Oscar race, including this year's People's Choice Award Winners (You can also listen to our previous podcasts recapping the Venice and Telluride Film Festivals). We reveal the winner of last week's poll, where we asked "Which Film Do You Think Is Going To Win The 2025 TIFF People's Choice Award?" For this week's poll, we're asking, "Which Films Are You Most Excited To See From The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival?" We also share our reactions to the trailers for "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," "Christy," "Song Sung Blue," "Nouvelle Vague," answer your fan-submitted questions, and more! Thank you all for listening, supporting, subscribing, and voting. Enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs

For this week's main podcast review, Dan Bayer and Giovanni Lago join me to review and discuss "The Long Walk," starring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill. It is an adaptation of Stephen King's 1979 novel of the same name, written by "Strange Darling" filmmaker JT Mollner and directed by "The Hunger Games" filmmaker Francis Lawrence. What did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the themes, direction, performances, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as

"Twinless" is an American indie black comedy psychological drama film written, directed, co-produced, and co-starring James Sweeney alongside Dylan O'Brien. It had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, where it received critical acclaim for its direction, writing, and performances and won the Audience Award. Sweeney and O'Brien were kind enough to spend time speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, now playing in theaters from Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patr

"The Threesome" is an American romantic comedy drama film starring Zoey Deutch, Jonah Hauer-King, and Ruby Cruz, directed by Chad Hartigan, and written by Ethan Ogilby. The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, where it received positive reviews for its screenplay, three main performances, humor, and nuance in such a precarious situation. Deutch, Hauer-King, and Cruz were all kind enough to spend time speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, now playing in theaters from Vertical. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://ww

"The Baltimorons" is an independent American comedy film directed by Jay Duplass, who co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Strassner. Strassner, Liz Larsen, and Olivia Luccardi star in the movie. It premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival and received positive reviews for its writing, chemistry between Strassner and Larsen, and Duplass's understated but effective direction, making this a heartfelt holiday comedy. Duplass, Strassner, and Larsen were all kind enough to spend time speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, now playing in theaters from Independent Film Company. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And b

The Next Best Series Podcast is back with Megan Lachinski, Giovanni Lago, Nadia Dalimonte, Daniel Howat, and Alyssa Christian for Episode 55, where they discuss the latest television shows and, more importantly, reveal their final winner predictions for the 77th Annual Emmy Primetime Awards on Sunday, September 14th. The Creative Arts Emmy Award winners have already been announced, and this conversation was recorded a few days ago, before they took place, so excuse us if some of the content discussed is no longer relevant. We hope you enjoy us arguing over who we think will win in the writing, directing, acting, and series categories. Will Apple dominate with "The Studio" and "Severance?" Or will HBO Max come up from behind with "Hacks" and "The Pitt?" What will "The Penguin" walk away with? Is "Adolescence" also going to steamroll the evening? Please tune in and find out. We'll return with a reaction episode to the winners after the ceremony! Until then, thank you, as always, for listening. We hope you enjoy

The 2025 Venice Film Festival has concluded. While most of us are in Toronto at the moment, Cody Dericks and Josh Parham took some time after they got home from Venice to discuss the international film festival. World premieres discussed include "Bugonia," "Jay Kelly," "Frankenstein," "The Testament of Ann Lee," "A House of Dynamite," "The Voice of Hind Rajab," "No Other Choice," "The Smashing Machine," and Golden Lion winner "Father Mother Sister Brother," along with many more! We hope you enjoy this recap. Thank you! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon

For this week's main podcast review, Josh Parham, Giovanni Lago, Daniel Howat, Brendan Hodges, and Tom O'Brien join me to review and discuss the latest Spike Lee joint, "Highest 2 Lowest," starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera & ASAP Rocky. It is an English-language remake and reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 Japanese film High and Low, itself based on the 1959 novel King's Ransom by Ed McBain. It marks the first collaboration between Lee and Washington since "Inside Man" in 2006. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival to positive reviews, but what did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the direction, themes, performances, music, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

"Splitsville" is a comedy film directed by Michael Angelo Covino, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Kyle Marvin. The pair previously worked together on "The Climb," but this time around, they also looped in stars Dakota Johnson (who also serves as the film's producer), Adria Arjona, Nicholas Braun, David Castañeda, O-T Fagbenle, Charlie Gillespie, and Simon Webster to tell the story of two couples whose friendship erupts into conflict when the husband of the divorcing couple sleeps with the wife of the open marriage couple. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to lots of laughs and positive reviews. Johnson, Arjona, Covino, and Marvin were all kind enough to spend time speaking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from NEON and will expand nationwide on September 5th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://

The 2025 Telluride Film Festival has concluded. Unfortunately, Will Mavity had to leave early, and J Don Birnam wasn't staying with us this year, so it was just Daniel Howat and me as we take you through all of the movies we saw over the Labor Day weekend. From world premieres such as "Hamnet," "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere," "Ballad Of A Small Player," "Tuner," and "Hamlet," to Sundance and Cannes favorites such as "It Was Just An Accident," "Sentimental Value," "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You," "The Secret Agent," "All That's Left Of You," "Urchin," to Venice crossovers such as "La Grazia," "Jay Kelly," "Bugonia," "Frankenstein," to hidden gems like "The Cycle Of Love" we've got you covered. We hope you enjoy our quick recap. Thank you! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/chan

"Love, Brooklyn" is an American independent drama film, directed by Rachael Abigail Holder in her directorial debut, from a screenplay by Paul Zimmerman. It stars André Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, Roy Wood Jr., Cassandra Freeman, and Cadence Reese, and tells the story of three Brooklynites who navigate love, loss, career, and friendship. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. Holder was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about her work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in limited release from Greenwich Entertainment and will expand nationwide on September 5th. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtu

For this week's main podcast review, Giovanni Lago, Joselyn Safadi, and guest Jonathan Fujii join me to review and discuss the latest film from Darren Aronofsky, "Caught Stealing" starring Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D'Onofrio, Griffin Dunne, Benito A Martínez Ocasio, Action Bronson & Carol Kane. A lighter (by Aronofsky's standards) and fun effort from Aronofsky, from a screenplay written by Charlie Huston, and is based on Huston's book of the same name. What did we think of this fun crime thriller? Please tune in as we discuss the direction, themes, performances, mixture of drama and comedy, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

"The Toxic Avenger" is a 2023 American superhero black comedy splatter film written and directed by Macon Blair. It is the fifth installment, a reboot of the "The Toxic Avenger" film series, and a remake of the 1984 film. The film stars Peter Dinklage as the title character, alongside Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Julia Davis, Jonny Coyne, Elijah Wood, and Kevin Bacon. It premiered as the opening film of Fantastic Fest on September 21, 2023, and received positive reviews for its tone, makeup, homages to the original, and Peter Dinklage's performance. Blair was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released in theaters on August 28th from Cineverse and Iconic Events Releasing. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify -

"The Roses" is a satirical black comedy film directed by Jay Roach from a screenplay by Tony McNamara that is based on the 1981 novel "The War of the Roses" by Warren Adler, and a remake of the 1989 Danny DeVito film starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. The new film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, and Kate McKinnon, delivering highly comedic performances backed by the sharp wit of McNamara's screenplay. Roach was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Searchlight Pictures. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help supp

"Your Friends & Neighbors" is an American dark comedy crime drama television series from Jonathan Tropper for Apple TV+, starring Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Mark Tallman, Hoon Lee, Lena Hall, and Aimee Carrero. The series, released earlier this spring, received positive reviews. It has been renewed for a second season and is nominated for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music, composed by Dominic Lewis and Hamilton Leithauser. Munn and Peet were both kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work and experiences on the drama series, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the series, which is now available to watch in full on Apple TV+. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw An

THIS IS A PREVIEW PODCAST. NOT THE FULL REVIEW. Please check out the full podcast review on our Patreon Page by subscribing over at - https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture For this week's second podcast review, Sara Clements, Dan Bayer, and guest Rendy Jones join me to review and discuss the animated global phenomenon, "Kpop Demon Hunters," starring Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong & Lee Byung-hun. The story follows a K-pop girl group, Huntr/x, who lead double lives as demon hunters; they face off against a rival boy band, the Saja Boys, whose members are secretly demons. The film has earned universal critical acclaim, with praise for its animation, visual style, voice acting, writing, and music. It has since become Netflix's most popular film of all time. The soundtrack album has also seen considerable success, reaching number one and top ten positions on multiple music and streaming charts. What did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the s