Frontrunners and Challengers

Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, and Jeremy Jentzen discuss the current Oscar race as shaped by the pundits and bloggers (there is no THERE there yet). I think Tom Cruise is still in play, but Scott and Jeremy disagree. We talk about The Social Reckoning, Artificial, and what the Best Picture race looks like. Lots of spicy gossip too.

Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, and Jeremy Jentzen discuss the Digger reception. Mixed, divisive- what does that mean for Oscar? Can identity-driven stories be enough? The Odyssey remains the strong frontrunner that, so far, no film has matched or challenged. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth trailer drops, and boy does it look good. Then we try to suss out who took Digger out of their predictions after the screening. What happened to the Social Reckoning? The Invite remains one of the best of the year.

For the Emmy Sidebar: the absolutely terrible Netflix show, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.

Sasha Stone, Jeremy Jentzen, and Scott Kernen address the bizarre controversy on X involving us and others who used to work at Awards Daily. Then we talk about the film festivals and how they’ve changed the races. Who are the frontrunners in each category?

Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, and Jeremy Jentzen catch up on everything that happened at the Telluride Film Festival and the Best Actor shakeup - John Malkovich drops out of play in Israel, the Digger trailer drops, but will Andrew Scott just win the whole thing anyway?

Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, and Jeremy Jentzen talk about Mark Ruffalo and the lies Hollywood tells itself about censorship and freedom of speech. We also talk Telluride! Scott is leaving on a jet plane and will be covering the festival every day. We go through the lineup and talk the Oscars from here.

Sasha Stone, Jeremy Jentzen, and Scott Kernen discuss the death and impact of the great Dolly Parton. We talk about the “big twist” in Digger (but we don’t give it away). We also answer questions from readers.

Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, and Jeremy Jentzen discuss whether or not The Invite will land in the major categories. We also talk about ideal Oscar pairings for presenting awards, wading into the JK Rowling debate, and what happened at the most recent Oscar meeting.

Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, and Jeremy Jentzen talk about the Best Picture race and whether this is Tom Cruise's year or Matt Damon's. Does Tom Cruise getting an Honorary Oscar hurt his chances? How do the new voters vote? Also talking Bucking Fastard and the Fall film festivals.

Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, and Jeremy Jentzen discuss the Oscars and whether Obsession can crack not just Best Picture but the other categories. The Odyssey seems like the film to beat, but do people really like the movie? Will Cancel Culture ever end?

Sasha Stone, Scott Kernen, and Jeremy Jentzen discuss the HFPA’s $150 million lawsuit against Penske Corp. in an attempt to take back the Golden Globes. Can they break up the unethical Penske monopoly on the trades and the Globes? Also Behemoth! Starring Pedro Pascal. We talk Best Actor and Best Actress. We talk The Odyssey. We talk Ryan Gosling and his chances for Project Hail Mary.

And we read from Joseph Kahn’s brilliant piece in the Hollywood Reporter: Bring Back the Hollywood A*****e.