The Academy Awards are only a week away, and today we’re discussing the Oscar nominees for Original Song. My guests — Chris Molanphy (chart analyst and podcast host), Louis Weeks (score composer), and Tom Peyton (song writer) — offer an assessment of these nominees that encompasses both the technical and the meta.

The 2023 Nominees for Original Song:

•"The Fire Inside" from "Flamin' Hot" 

•"I'm Just Ken" from "Barbie" 

•"It Never Went Away" from "American Symphony" 

•"Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)" from "Killers of the Flower Moon" 

•"What Was I Made For?" from "Barbie"

Our tour through the technical categories continues with a discussion of the Oscar nominees for Original Score. My guests — Louis Weeks (score composer), Chris Molanphy (chart analyst/pop critic), and Jennie Armon (executive producer/music supervisor) — offer a multi-layered set of insights.

The 2023 Nominees for Original Score:

•"American Fiction" 

•"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" 

•"Killers of the Flower Moon"

•"Oppenheimer"

•"Poor Things"

The Oscar nominees for Film Editing compose an interesting slate of films this year, and editors Christopher Angel and Amy Duddleston return to share their insights. For those following along at home, you may be amused to know that they disagree on the merits of at least one of these movies, but they both reinforced my opinion about the one nominee I’ve elsewhere suggested was overrated. What drama! Join us for a listen.

The 2023 Nominees for Film Editing:

•"Anatomy of a Fall"

•"The Holdovers"

•"Killers of the Flower Moon"

•"Oppenheimer"

•"Poor Things"

Our Academy Awards series continues with a discussion of the Oscar nominees for Makeup and Hairstyling. Joining me today are Angela Nogaro (Makeup) and Yvonne Depatis-Kupka (Hair), discussing not only the nominated films but - once again - questions about the selection process and who is considered part of the team. Why is there only one name on the team for “Oppenheimer”? We offer some thoughts.

The 2023 Nominees for Makeup and Hairstyling:

•"Golda"

•"Maestro"

•"Oppenheimer"

•"Poor Things"

•"Society of the Snow"

Film professionals discussing the nominees in their area of expertise: that’s Below the Line at the Oscars. Today, we’re talking about Cinematography, and my returning guests — Patrick Cady and David Tuttman — are directors of photography with stories to share. 

The 2023 Nominees for Cinematography: 

•"El Conde"

•"Killers of the Flower Moon"

•"Maestro"

•"Oppenheimer"

•"Poor Things"

Costume Designers Helen Huang And Allison Choi Braun return to offer their insights on this year’s Oscar nominees for Costume Design. We mark our halfway point through the Academy Awards season with another great conversation, discussing not only the five nominated films but also how the craft of costume design is such an integral aspect of the filmmaking collaboration.

The 2023 Nominees for Costume Design:

• "Barbie"

•"Killers of the Flower Moon" 

•"Napoleon" 

•"Oppenheimer" 

•"Poor Things" 

It’s difficult to sell 12 episodes of Oscars coverage, but if you appreciate the work done by crew, you’re going to appreciate this season, where film professionals discuss the nominees in the category of their expertise. Today’s animated conversation about the nominees for Animated Feature benefits from returning guests, Kent Seki and Camille Leganza. Have YOU seen Oscar nominee “Robot Dreams”? It's the rare case of a nominated film that I didn't get to see, so no spoilers about that one.

The 2023 Nominees for Animated Feature Film:

•“The Boy and the Heron“ 

•"Elemental"

•"Nimona" 

•"Robot Dreams"

•"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" 

We’re continuing our deep dive discussions about the Oscar nominees in the technical categories, and today, Production Designer Bob Shaw and Set Decorator Regina Graves - Oscar nominees themselves - offer their insights about the five nominees for Production Design.

The 2023 Nominees for Production Design:

•"Barbie" 

•"Killers of the Flower Moon"

•"Napoleon" 

•"Oppenheimer"

•"Poor Things" 

It’s non-stop conversations about the Oscar nominees in the technical categories from now until the Academy Awards, and I hope you'll follow us for the full season. Today, Kent Seki and Chris Batty return to discuss the nominees for Visual Effects. This year, it looks like any of these nominees could deservedly take the prize. Join us for insights about the surprising group of contenders in this rapidly evolving field.

The 2023 Nominees for Visual Effects:

• "The Creator"

• "Godzilla Minus One"

• "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”

• “Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One"

• "Napoleon"

Below the Line continues our Fifth Annual Oscar Series with a discussion of the nominees for achievement in Directing, and I’m joined by a returning panel of fellow below-the-liners: Katie Carroll, Bill Hardy, Roger Mendoza and Shaun O’Banion. It’s the first year we’ve discussed the directors nominated for the Academy Award, but it’s in lieu of our traditional conversation focused on the Directors Guild of America nominees (the DGA crowns their winners next weekend, Feb 10th). Same panel, same topic, but a slightly different focus; the episode runs long, but I hope you’ll enjoy it.

The 2023 Nominees for Directing:

•"Anatomy of a Fall" 

•"Killers of the Flower Moon" 

•"Oppenheimer" 

•"Poor Things" 

•"The Zone of Interest"