A spoiler free review of French Exit, a Michelle Pfeiffer Best Actress discussion, Disney Pixar’s new strategy for Soul, trailer thoughts on Mank, News of the World, & Promising Young Woman, and then we analyze an Academy rule change that could give studios more marketing options.

What is This Episode? - Top of Show

NONSPOILER REVIEW OF THE FRENCH EXIT:

Initial Thoughts - 2:30

Michelle Pfeiffer MUST Be Nominated - 4:26

Script Thoughts/Screenplay Chances - 12:05

Sony’s Awards Slate - 14:34

Will a Narrative Matter? - 17:36

Why Is This Special? - 19:00

SOUL GOING TO DISNEY+ - 22:01

CONTENDER TRAILER REVIEWS:

Mank Trailer(s) 1 - 28:47

(And AlsoMike’s Foreboding Warning…)

News of the World Trailer 1 - 39:39

Promising Young woman Trailer 2 - 44:17

DRIVE-IN THEATERS MAKE MOVIES ELIGIBLE - 50:31

(“I THINK YOU ARE A MONSTER, IS MY THESIS STATEMENT.”)

AlsoMike’s Predictions On The Importance of Drive-Ins - 55:55

The Sundance Conundrum - 57:41

Your Homework/PLEASE LEAVE US 5*’S - 1:01:44

What Else Is Next From MMO/Words of Wisdom - 1:02:21

We ring in the end of the 58th New York Film Festival with a spoiler free review of French Exit, their closing night film, and perhaps, one of Michelle Pfeiffer’s best performances. So we break down the film’s early Oscars profile and discuss the Lead Actress category to open the show.

Then we continue with a more typical episode of Oscar Race Checkpoint as we breakdown why Disney Pixar chose to release Soul on their streaming service for Christmas instead of PVOD, and we react to the first critical reviews of this Animated Feature favorite.

It wouldn’t be an early season O.R.C. without some Trailer Thoughts. So analyze the first looks at Mank and News of the World before speculating about what Focus Features might do after they’ve released their second trailer for Promising Young Woman.

Finally, AlsoMike delivers a paranoid rant about his co-host as we continue to discuss how the Academy should put out an Oscars in a pandemic and what the new rule about Drive-In Theaters does for our speculation about studio slates this winter.

As always, we want to know what you think about Best Actress, Animated Feature, or anything we spoke about in this O.R.C. We’re at MMandOscar on Twitter, and we are on Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, and Gmail. You can subscribe / rate / review / like / share / & hear us on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Google Play, Tune In, Spotify, and just about wherever you might listen. We’re Mike, Mike, & Oscar, and we’re making awards season year round, without the stuffiness. Thanks for clicking play.