O.C.C.: Oscar Category Completist

One of the big changes for the 2021 Oscars will be the consolidation of Sound Editing and Sound Mixing into one Sound award. Award-winning sound professional Tim Muirhead, host of the Tonebenders podcast, rejoins to O.C.C. to talk to Jake about the reason for the change and how the pandemic is impacting sound work, as well as reminisce about some of the best Sound category Oscar moments over the years. (No Mark Wahlberg clips to be found!) Theme song is Inevitable Hope by RKVC. 

The Academy has uploaded the first batch of Best Picture screeners for the 2021 Oscars, providing an excuse to revisit the very best film of 2020 so far, Never Rarely Sometimes Always from filmmaker Eliza Hittman. Jake is joined by filmmaker Adam Lippe to discuss this sad but powerful story of friendship, choice and beauracracy and whether Focus Features can successfully elevate this early March limited release into the Best Picture category. Spoilers throughout. Theme song is Inevitable Hope by RKVC.

Prepare for the awards with a look back at the careers of the leading candidates expected to factor into next Oscar season through the O.C.C.'s "Summer Completing Series". Jake's rejoined by film fan Alex McClure to break down the works of David Fincher, a visual master with an eclectic range. Spoilers throughout. 

Aliens 3 - 6:46

Se7en - 11:29

The Game - 17:11

Fight Club - 23:54

Panic Room - 30:42

Zodiac - 34:18

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 42:14

The Social Network - 47:48

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - 53:12

Gone Girl - 58:18

Theme song is Inevitable Hope by RKVC.

Christopher Nolan's masterpiece, Inception, turns 10 years old today, but the conversation around the Best Picture nominee has veered negative in the age of Twitter. Jake is joined by Tim and Dana from On Second Watch podcast to consider the validity of the film's criticisms and defend the integrity of the penultimate "puzzle" film. Spoilers throughout, especially the last 30 minutes. 

Jake recaps the Animated Short programs from the virtual edition of 2020 Annecy International Film festival, sharing history and Oscar context around the festival, some honorable mentions and his top 5 favorite entries this year. Theme song is Inevitable Hope by RKVC.

Jake runs through the multiple changes announced by Academy's Board of Governor's, most notably the shifting of the 2021 ceremony from February 28 back to April 25 (0:30). Additional changes include increased opportunities for the voting body to stream eligible films throughout the year (12:12), expanding the Best Picture category to 10 movies (13:54) and announcing a task force with the Producer's Guild of America to announce diversity and inclusion standards for the film industry. Theme song is Inevitable Hope by RKVC. (14:52)

Jake is joined by Zoheb Ali from the Midnight Double Feature podcast to break down likely the first serious Best Picture contender for 2021: Spike Lee's new movie "Da 5 Bloods". Spoilers throughout. Theme song is Inevitable Hope by RKVC.

Following reports the Academy is looking at bringing back a host for next year's Oscar ceremony, Jake is joined by comedian and filmmaker Jason Harris from the Awesome Movie Year podcast to run down their top picks for next year's hosts in the first unofficial O.C.C. Oscar Host Draft. Theme song is Inevitable Hope by RKVC.

Jake's not dropping $25 to watch Scoob!, but the Warner Animation Group release provides an opportunity to check in on a top-heavy Best Animated Featured category 1/3 of the way through the year.

3:20 - Shaun of the Sheep: Farmageddon 

5:58 - Onward

9:51 - Trolls: World Tour

13:23 - The Willoughby's

15:24 - Remaining 2020 scheduled releases

Theme song is Inevitable Hope by RKVC.

In a lighter time of year for Oscar films, prepare for the awards with a look back at the careers of the leading candidates expected to factor into next Oscar season through the O.C.C.'s "Summer Completing Series" starting with The French Dispatch director Wes Anderson. Jake's joined by Wes-head Tony Candela to run through the filmography of the auteur with the uniquely whimsical style that can border on self-parody, but that is as identifiable and trailblazing as any the past 30 years:

Bottle Rocket 15:00

Rushmore 19:30

The Royal Tenenbaums 23:15

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zizzou 28:15

The Darjeeling Limited 32:00

Fantastic Mr. Fox 33:40

Moonrise Kingdom 36:40

Grand Budapest Hotel 39:20

Isle of Dogs 42:29

Theme song is Inevitable Hope by RKVC.