We discuss NBR, AFI, IDA, Indie Spirits, Saturns + the Seattle Critics, going category by category starting with Best Picture to discuss the rest of this week's many Oscar Race Checkpoints.

The Big Best Picture Conversation - 1:44

- We discuss the Best Picture category in light of how this week’s NBR & AFI confirmed strong starts for Wicked, Sing Sing & several other films. On the flipside, we doubt the Gladiator and Dune sequels. Then we breakdown what the Indie Spirit Feature, First Feature, and Cassavettes categories tell us about the year in film at large.

Best International Feature - 18:43

- The Girl with the Needle and The Seed of the Sacred Fig are on the rise. Plus, we further discuss whether or not All We Imagine As Light can sustain momentum towards a Picture nom.

Best Director & Jon M. Chu’s good week - 22:10

The Best Screenplays & the Hard Truths bit lives anew - 25:11

Lead Acting Category Questions including Mikey & Coleman hopes - 28:51

Supporting Categories leads to talk on Kieran’s strength and Elle’s surprise win - 35:59

Some early tech talk on Cinematography & Editing + More on the Docs with IDA - 43:19

Animated Feature: Flow’s surge + reviews of That Christmas & Spellbound - 47:09

A Quick Thing on the Saturn Awards + a review of Fly Me To The Moon - 50:05

A Quick Thing on the Seattle Critics Society - 55:41

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:

The Order - 57:03

The Hustler & The Color of Money - 58:09

The Great Lillian Hall - 1:00:04

A Woman Under The Influence - 1:01:51

OUTRO - Send us your thoughts via social media. A reminder that we’re now on Blue Sky. Please rate and review us. Also, please make sure to stay ready for upcoming Oscar Race Checkpoints on the upcoming Golden Globes and Critics Choice Noms + the Oscar Shortlists and then get ready for some fun guests for Oscar Bets and Nosferatu. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar