The Lorehounds

John is joined by Aaron from Lore of the Rings to discuss Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin, the twentieth story in The Silmarillion. They discuss the might of an elvish king, the feat of Morgoth, and the rise of heroic houses of men.

Listen to Aaron's Podcast

Lore of the Rings Podcast

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Deep lore questions, comments and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at [email protected]

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

In the final episode of the Lorehounds 2025 Oscars prep series, David joins Elysia to talk about his own Best Picture nominees Death Race. What follows is a rundown of the 10 nominated movies, what they're about, which are recommended, what other nominations they have, and what nominations they are likely to win.

Along the way, they check in with members of the Lorehounds community, Death Racers, and even their own Moms to get a broader picture of the impact of this year's Academy-anointed top 10.

Join the Lorehounds' ESPN Oscar picks pool 

(pw: Oscars2025)

Links referenced in the ep:

Why (these) architects hate The Brutalist (podcast)

The Guardian on why architects hate The Brutalist (article)

Wicked: how the live singing worked

Inside The Substance's script

Making The Substance

The 97th Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7 pm (on ABC in the US) – where it's airing around the world

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats at DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2025 by category

Oscars 2025 overivew (mini-episode)

Animated Features & Shorts + Oscar campaigning

Original Scores & Songs (Nevermind the Oscars Music)

Documentary Features & Shorts + BAFTAs update

Live-Action Shorts + the Emotion Mixer

International + Adapted & Original Screenplays

Production Design & A/V Tech Awards

Acting & Directing Awards + the stats

Best Picture Nominees Finale (this ep)

Deep dives into 2025 Oscar nominees

The Emilia Pérez controversy

Wicked

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

Alien: Romulus

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Revisit last year's Oscar series

Oscars 2024 Overview

Best Picture Nominees, Acting, Directing, Writing

Animated, International, Documentary, Shorts

"Below the Line" (Tech) Categories

Post-Ceremony Wrap-Up

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Elysia is joined by Paulo from The Oscars Death Race Podcast to break down the Best Lead and Supporting Actor and Actress categories, as well as Directing and Cinematography. Elysia brings the narrative angle, while Paulo brings a deeper look at the stats of Oscar season, and what they might say about who will win.

After that, Elysia wraps up with more input from Lisa on the acting races, and then with the final Oscars 2025 precursors update.

Links referenced in the ep:

The Oscar's Death Race Podcast (Paulo)

Join the Lorehounds' ESPN Oscar picks pool (pw: Oscars2025)

Corridor Crew Better Man VFX video

Inside The Substance's script

Making The Substance

The 97th Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7 pm (on ABC in the US)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats at DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2025 by category

Oscars 2025 overivew (mini-episode)

Animated Features & Shorts + Oscar campaigning

Original Scores & Songs (Nevermind the Oscars Music)

Documentary Features & Shorts + BAFTAs update

Live-Action Shorts + the Emotion Mixer

International + Adapted & Original Screenplays

Production Design & A/V Tech Awards

Acting & Directing Awards (this ep)

Still to come

Best Picture Nominees Finale

Deep dives into 2025 Oscar nominees

The Emilia Pérez controversy

Wicked

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

Alien: Romulus

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Revisit last year's Oscar series

Oscars 2024 Overview

Best Picture Nominees, Acting, Directing, Writing

Animated, International, Documentary, Shorts

"Below the Line" (Tech) Categories

Post-Ceremony Wrap-Up

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Elysia keeps trying to make the term "Blockbuster Awards" happen as she and Logan from the Academy of Death Racers talk about nominees like Dune: Part Two, Alien: Romulus, and Nosferatu in the so-called "below the line" (or "tech") awards: Visual Effects, Production Design, Costuming, Make-Up & Hairstyling, Film Editing, and Sound.

Then, stick around until the end for an update on the latest precursor awards ceremonies, and how they might change the race.

Links referenced in the ep:

Corridor Crew Better Man VFX video

Wētā Better Man VFX playlist

The 97th Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7 pm (on ABC in the US)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats at DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2025 by category

Oscars 2025 overivew (mini-episode)

Animated Features & Shorts + Oscar campaigning

Original Scores & Songs (Nevermind the Oscars Music)

Documentary Features & Shorts + BAFTAs update

Live-Action Shorts + the Emotion Mixer

International + Adapted & Original Screenplays

Production Design & A/V Tech Awards (this episode)

Still to come

Acting & Directing Awards

Best Picture Nominees Finale

Deep dives into 2025 Oscar nominees

The Emilia Pérez controversy

Wicked

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

Alien: Romulus

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Revisit last year's Oscar series

Oscars 2024 Overview

Best Picture Nominees, Acting, Directing, Writing

Animated, International, Documentary, Shorts

"Below the Line" (Tech) Categories

Post-Ceremony Wrap-Up

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

After giving their spoiler-free hot takes on the 4th Captain American movie – Brave New World – and talking through some of the production drama, Jean and Elysia break down the highlights, and also what's missing. Why are so many saying they can't connect with this movie, and why shouldn't we worry about what's next anyway?

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Send emails to: m[email protected]

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Mark from the Academy of Death Racers and Rambling Cinema joins Elysia to talk about what she considers three of the most important Oscar categories: International Films (formerly Films Not in the English Language) and the two writing awards – Adapted and Original Screenplay.

Avoiding spoilers for those who haven't seen the movies, they talk through what makes or breaks these 15 films, which include Best Picture nominees Emilia Pérez, I'm Still Here, Conclave, A Complete Unknown, Nickel Boys, The Brutalist, The Substance, and Anora. (Though Elysia will argue that A Real Pain and Sing Sing should have been Best Picture nominees as well / instead.)

Stick around until after the credits for updates from last night's Independent Spirit Awards, and what that says about the state of the Oscar race.

Links referenced in the ep:

Rambling Cinema (Nottingham, UK)

The Substance screenplay BTS

Coralie Fargeat's Reality+ short

The 97th Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7 pm (on ABC in the US)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats at DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2025 by category

Oscars 2025 overivew (mini-episode)

Animated Features & Shorts + Oscar campaigning

Original Scores & Songs (Nevermind the Oscars Music)

Documentary Features & Shorts + BAFTAs update

Live-Action Shorts + the Emotion Mixer

International + Adapted & Original Screenplays (this ep)

Still to come

Blockbuster (Tech) Awards

Acting & Directing Awards

Best Picture Nominees

Deep dives into 2025 Oscar nominees

The Emilia Pérez controversy

Wicked

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

Alien: Romulus

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Revisit last year's Oscar series

Oscars 2024 Overview

Best Picture Nominees, Acting, Directing, Writing

Animated, International, Documentary, Shorts

"Below the Line" (Tech) Categories

Post-Ceremony Wrap-Up

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

To talk about one of her favorite categories of every Oscar race, this year's five emotional Live-Action Shorts nominees, Elysia brings in Katherine Oktober Matthews, the inventer of a tool called the Emotion Mixer – a framework for breaking down the rich palate of emotional storytelling.

They'll give you the premise of each short and also how it will make you feel, so you can decide which you might want to watch for yourself before the big day – or at least be informed who is in the race for making predictions and rooting for winners!

Links referenced in the ep:

Katherine Oktober Matthews (website)

The Emotion Mixer

The Craft w/ Katherine (Wool-Shift-Dust Spooktober special)

The 97th Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7 pm (on ABC in the US)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats at DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2025 by category

Oscars 2025 overivew (mini-episode)

Animated Features & Shorts + Oscar campaigning

Original Scores & Songs (Nevermind the Oscars Music)

Documentary Features & Shorts + BAFTAs update

Live-Action Shorts + the Emotion Mixer (this episode)

Still to come

Writing & International Awards

Blockbuster (Tech) Awards

Acting & Directing Awards

Best Picture Nominees

Deep dives into 2025 Oscar nominees

The Emilia Pérez controversy

Wicked

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

Alien: Romulus

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Revisit last year's Oscar series

Oscars 2024 Overview

Best Picture Nominees, Acting, Directing, Writing

Animated, International, Documentary, Shorts

"Below the Line" (Tech) Categories

Post-Ceremony Wrap-Up

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Documentary Editor Rebecca June Lane joins Elysia to talk through what makes a good documentary in general, and what in particular makes this year's crop of Documentary Feature and Documentary Short nominees good. You'll walk away with an overview of what exactly is nominated and why, what's likely to win, and which films you might want to add to your own watchlist.

Links referenced in the ep:

Rebecca June Lane's IMDb page

Trailer: Girls Gone Wild: the Untold Story

John Oliver explains the West Bank

Live-Action Short: "I Am Not a Robot"

The 97th Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7 pm (on ABC in the US)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats at DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2025 by category

Oscars 2025 overivew (mini-episode)

Animated Features & Shorts + Oscar campaigning

Original Scores & Songs (Nevermind the Oscars Music)

Documentary Features & Shorts (this episode)

Still to come

Live-Action Shorts + the Emotion Mixer

Writing & International Awards

Blockbuster (Tech) Awards

Acting & Directing Awards

Best Picture Nominees

Deep dives into 2025 Oscar nominees

The Emilia Pérez controversy

Wicked

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

Alien: Romulus

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Revisit last year's Oscar series

Oscars 2024 Overview

Best Picture Nominees, Acting, Directing, Writing

Animated, International, Documentary, Shorts

"Below the Line" (Tech) Categories

Post-Ceremony Wrap-Up

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

David welcomes Mark and Nicole from Nevermind the Music to discuss Questlove's groundbreaking documentary on Saturday Night Live's musical legacy. Together they explore the documentary's stunning opening medley, the show's role as a cultural signal booster, and how SNL revolutionized live music on television.

This preview episode features highlights from their conversation about SNL's most iconic musical moments. For the complete discussion, including deep dives into musical impersonations, legendary performances, and behind-the-scenes production insights, subscribe to Nevermind the Music.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected]

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.

Note: This podcast begins with a spoiler-free review for those who have not yet seen the film.

Marilyn (student and teacher of ritual), Anthony (religious studies professor), David (cinematography aficionado), and Elysia (walking BTS reel) team up to select the next pope – or at least to dive into all the philosophy, politics, and fantastic filmmaking of Conclave, the 8x-Oscar-nominated movie all about that process.

Link referenced in the ep:

Playing the Cristal Baschet (instrument)

Coming next – Documentary Features & Shorts

The 97th Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7 pm (on ABC in the US)

Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats at DeathRaceTracking.com

Oscars 2025 by category

Oscars 2025 overivew (mini-episode)

Animated Features & Shorts + Oscar campaigning

Original Scores & Songs (Nevermind the Oscars Music)

Deep dives into 2025 Oscar nominees

The Emilia Pérez controversy

Wicked

Dune: Part Two

Nosferatu

Alien: Romulus

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Revisit last year's Oscar series

Oscars 2024 Overview

Best Picture Nominees, Acting, Directing, Writing

Animated, International, Documentary, Shorts

"Below the Line" (Tech) Categories

Post-Ceremony Wrap-Up

Contact Us

Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected].

Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates

linktr.ee/thelorehounds

Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.