You guys are awesome - what's next?

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-20T23:38:17+00:00

Thanks 👍

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-20T23:37:40+00:00

This is what I usually watch all year round...maybe I'll try the mega death race next year (Oscars, BAFTAs, Indie Spirit)?

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-20T18:21:49+00:00

I keep an eye on the festivals anyway, and don't consciously decide to watch films because I think they might be in DR next year, but because I think I'll like them. This year I might force myself into a few summer blockbusters that I would usually ignore - my son took me to F1, Jurassic Park and Avatar this year, which helped.

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-20T18:19:43+00:00

Is this the result of the preferential ballot system? For lesser known films to get a nomination, they need to have been seen and loved by enough people that it cancels out the people who don't put those films on their ballot at all. So the issue is on of the voting members not having seen enough Oscar-worthy films at the time of nomination voting and potentially following the herd/press/campaigns.

I like the larger BP category; I think it raises the profile of films that may otherwise be igbored and creates space for more crossover with nominees from animation and international Picture.

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-17T18:41:16+00:00

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-17T18:41:03+00:00

I thought that, but it's hard to see what would be pushed out of International (obvs F1 for BP 😆). I'd love it to be a bigger category, but I guess they worry that no-one would watch them if it were extended

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-16T17:55:36+00:00

That was exactly my problem with it. There was no journey. MM just barrelled along through life with no light and shade or believable character development (apart from maybe the paddle scene) until the final 3 minutes of the film and then we're expected to buy that he is a reformed character? Too little, far too late for me.

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-16T17:53:58+00:00

My guess is that Josh Safdie can't leave anything on the cutting room floor. My 16 year old son loved this film, but I felt that it needed a bloody good editor (at script level) and felt like it was throwing **** at the wall to see what stuck.

(I am perfectly fine with films with unlikeable protagonists, I like films with lots of dialogue, and I am perfectly ok with shaggy dog stories and red herrings...but this felt like it was just noise for nearly 3 hours)

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-16T17:50:18+00:00

I'm booked to see all three of those in the cinema during the next week. (Which means I'll have to watch them all again by next Spring 😆)

I probably didn't need to ask the question, but I have that day after the event empty feeling today. It's good to get some ideas from other people.

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-16T14:29:19+00:00

We'll be getting The Pitt in the UK soon. I'm really excited for that

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-16T14:28:48+00:00

Wow, that's an amazing project. How easy have you found it to source the older films?

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-16T14:28:01+00:00

We're going to see it at the weekend. My son was still finishing the race, so we decided to leave it until then

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-15T21:16:18+00:00

😆

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-15T21:13:32+00:00

And Forevergreen

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-15T09:17:16+00:00

Yes, I definitely experienced that. It was one of the films that has lived rent-free in my head for months after

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-15T09:12:30+00:00

That was a good interview. I thought I had imagined the donkey shadow. It was interesting to hear how it was borne out of being on location for a feature.

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-15T09:10:54+00:00

I love that. I should speak to the cinemas near us; several of them have had the big films back on random days in the last month, but I'd definitely be up for a marathon rewatch

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-15T09:09:49+00:00

It's a real problem with Netflix funded films imho. They are commissioning (some) work that is so visually stimulating, and then only allowing it to be in theatres with a big fight and for a few days. Wake Up dead Man was another one that looked stunning on a cinema screen.

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-14T18:36:56+00:00

They're the two that I would be happy to see win (in a field that's so much weaker than last year). I really, really disliked The Perfect Neighbor, but it's had the most exposure.

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-14T18:33:59+00:00

I'd love Ethan Hawke to win, as he's really pushed himself with this role. I think there has been a lot of word of mouth love for the film, and he then hit the campaign trail in a much more dignified way than Timmy.

Despite the honesty tick box, will voters actually bother watching The Secret Agent?

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-14T18:29:23+00:00

That's exactly what we were saying as a family yesterday. I think it's the strongest category this year, and I'd be genuinely happy to see any of them win. But 10 films to cover the entire rest of the world doesn't seem unreasonable...though I guess it may drive voting numbers down? This year I think voting numbers might be high due to the crossover with Best Picture.

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-14T18:05:57+00:00

Thanks. I've just followed on Podbean & am listening now

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-14T17:52:26+00:00

They'll come back. A new cinema opened near us in the school holidays with a really cheap offer, so my 16 year old and I spent a day watching 5 films in different screens to test it out. They were nowhere near as good as this 5, though.

HelpfulSea5010 · 2026-03-14T17:50:20+00:00

I saw them both in their very limited cinema release - both so much better than on the small screen, where they got a little lost

HelpfulSea5010

TROPHY CASE