Even though the midway point of this decade passed when the ball dropped on New Year’s Day (yeah, a chill went down my spine, too), Nick and Sophia spend today’s new episode honoring some of the best films of the 21st Century (so far) after crossing the halfway point of 2025. They chat about the recently released lists from The New York Times and Rolling Stone and debate which may have the best selection.

Check out the lists they discuss below:

New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html

Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-movies-of-the-21st-century-1235200512/

If you would like to hear their totally cool discussion of Clueless and celebrate its 30th anniversary, check out www.patreon.com/OscarWild and contribute at the ‘Oscar Wild: After Dark’ tier or higher. We greatly appreciate your support!

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Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

After 20 years, the shock of Brokeback Mountain losing Best Picture still stings just as much. Ang Lee’s beautiful and affecting western about finding love in a hopeless place is grounded by expert craftsmanship and nuanced performances. Listen as Sophia and Nick detail their love for the film, share some of their favorite shots and scenes, and thank the movie theater gods for rereleasing it in theaters worldwide.

Despite its remarkable awards run, there’s no forgetting that Crash went home with the big prize instead at the 2006 Academy Awards (42:43). Find out how they’d rank these two movies on their ballots and if they think history could repeat itself with a similar showdown!

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Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Is it true that “Love don’t cost a thing” or could J.Lo just have been jaded by a materialistic lover? Nick and Sophia ponder this question as they review and react to Celine Song’s latest feature, Materialists, before diving into spoilers at (12:27). If you haven’t seen the movie yet, don’t worry! Skip ahead to the next segment and come back for all of their steamy, love triangle thoughts.

Then they share their very early Oscar predictions in all acting categories, Director, Picture, and for the first time ever, Casting! (29:22) Enjoy their fun banter as they mention a wide range of picks, from buzzy Cannes performances to previous Oscar winners and the ever-present biopic roles. Have fun listening and comment with some Oscar contenders that you hope will have nomination potential!

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Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

This cinematic collaboration may be one of the most beloved, well-known pairings in all of Hollywood history. From the instantly recognizable two- actually three!- notes Sophia and Nick discuss in depth later on to the far off lands you’ll discover in every adventurous theme, there’s no doubt that a Steven Spielberg-John Williams film is much more than the sum of its parts.

After a detailed examination of their tightly bound careers, enjoy a fun review of Jaws to celebrate its 50th anniversary (15:02). They also discussed the film five (!) years ago during their first season, so check out that early episode for some extra takes on the always timely blockbuster that changed movies forever.

Oscar Rewind: 1975’s Best Picture Nominees: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oscar-rewind-the-best-picture-nominees-of-the-1975-oscars/id1502773822?i=1000486602444

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Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

“I love limes. They’re so great, I love them so much.” [insert your favorite Dakota Johnson quote here] This week’s new episode began as a celebration of Dakota Johnson’s career in preparation for Materialists opening next week, but shifted to showcase the artistic collaborations between her, Luca Guadagnino, and Tilda Swinton. Suspiria highlights the unique talents of each of these artists while expanding the supernatural world Dario Argento created in his 1970’s giallo classic. Listen to hear Nick and Sophia’s thoughts on the film and why they think this was an important step in all of their careers.

If you would like to hear the rest of the episode as they continue their discussion about the actors and the unforgettable ending, along with a full review of A Bigger Splash (2015), check out www.patreon.com/OscarWild and contribute at the ‘Oscar Wild: After Dark’ tier or higher. We appreciate your support!

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Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

Another awards season has begun in the most elegant of fashions with some of cinema’s finest (no small thanks to Jury President Juliette Binoche). Sophia and Nick are excited to recap this 78th rendition of the Cannes Film Festival including the big winners, some highlights and disappointments, and just how this could start to shape the 2026 Oscars. Listen to Sophia’s firsthand experience on the ground to find out what could end up on your Best of 2025 list at the end of the year!

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Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

With another great season comes great responsibility…to craft an entertaining theme that showcases a new crop of Oscar nominees and winners. For season six, Nick and Sophia are excited to announce a series on frequent cinematic collaborators, between directors and actors, cinematographers, costume designers, writers, and more! This inaugural episode features a look into the decades-long working relationship between two of cinema’s most talented artists: Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune.

Listen to find out why they are so widely beloved and remembered as two of the greats, including memorable scenes, shots, and quotes. Both films discussed today, Rashomon (10:31) and High and Low (24:45), continue to be studied and appreciated for their resounding themes and timeless messages and surely will be for many years to come.

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Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

A life lost way too soon at 24 years old, James Dean will always be remembered as one of Hollywood’s greatest actors. Add to that feat the fact that he only had leading roles in three films and his potential becomes infinitely more devastating. In honoring him seventy years after his passing, Sophia and Nick look back at two of his films that were also released that same year: Elia Kazan’s triumphant adaptation of John Steinbeck’s epic novel, East of Eden, and Nicholas Ray’s definitive portrait of 1950’s America, Rebel Without a Cause (34:24). Listen as they discuss Dean’s career highlights and how his performances stand out even among many other Oscar nominees (and a winner!) and CinemaScope beauty that transports us back in time.

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Music: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich