My favorite books of 2024! This year, I read 85 books, from classics, to non-fiction, to anything Stephen King. This was also my first year reading chapter books with my kids, and it’s been an absolute joy discovering Roald Dahl, Wizard of Oz, and more with them. Here we go!

THE NEXT BEST PICTURE PODCAST - A BTS Look At #TheBrutalist By @nextbestpicture.bsky.social @dancindan.bsky.social @brendanhodges.bsky.social @mavericksmovies.bsky.social @howatdk.bsky.social & Giovanni Lago #NBPpodcast #AdrienBrody #FelicityJones #GuyPearce #FYC nextbestpicture.com/the-next-bes...

2025 is gonna be another banger year with movies from: Guillermo del Toro Kathryn Bigelow Paul Thomas Anderson Ryan Coogler Bong Joon-ho Celine Song Spike Lee Josh Safdie Benny Safdie Lynne Ramsey Ari Aster Park Chan-Wook Edgar Wright Kelly Reichardt Darren Aronofsky Chloe Zhao

Surprises & Omissions From The 30th Critics Choice Award Nominations By @howatdk.bsky.social #CCA #CriticsChoiceAwards #CriticsChoice #Wicked #Conclave #HardTruths #EmiliaPerez #AwardsSeason #Oscars #FYC #AcademyAwards #AwardsSeason #Movies #Film #FilmSky nextbestpicture.com/surprises-om...

Surprises, Misses, And More From The 82nd #GoldenGlobeAward Nominations By @howatdk.bsky.social #GoldenGlobes2025 #GoldenGlobes #GoldenGlobe #GoldenGlobesNominations #GoldenGlobeAwards #FYC #TheSubstance #TheApprentice #AllWeImagineAsLight #Awards #FilmSky nextbestpicture.com/surprises-mi...

My breakdown of this week’s awards! Why the AFI list feels solidly like our Best Picture lineup, why SING SING is back, and why WICKED should feel good about a nomination…but not a Picture win. Give it a read:

James Mangold’s confident direction makes A COMPLETE UNKNOWN sing. Every musical moment is filled with such authenticity, it feels like you’re there witnessing history. An arresting biopic that captures a culture shift. It’s a defining performance for Chalamet. Outstanding.

MOANA 2 is a cheap knockoff of the original. It tries to copy the beats of the first film, losing any authenticity or originality along the way. Poor music, bland animation. It’s fine at best, but a disappointingly mediocre entry into the Disney canon.

THE NEXT BEST PICTURE PODCAST - Interview With #HundredsOfBeavers Director/Writer/Editor Mike Cheslik By @howatdk.bsky.social #NBPpodcast #StreamEvergreen #PodcastAndChill #Podcasting #PodcastShow #AwardsSeason #FYC #VOD #IndieFilm #Filmmaking #FilmSky nextbestpicture.com/the-next-bes...

I spoke with Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch about sorting through the myth to find the real Bob Marley. Give our conversation a listen:

Made a dream come true by interviewing ALAN MENKEN, the legendary composer behind Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid and more. I spoke with him and Glenn Slater about their new songs from Netflix’s SPELLBOUND. The music is excellent! Give the interview a listen:

THE NEXT BEST PICTURE PODCAST - #Wicked w/ @emasasic.bsky.social @dancindan.bsky.social @laurenlamango.bsky.social @howatdk.bsky.social @veganmoviesnob.bsky.social #NBPpodcast #StreamEvergreen #WickedMovie #CynthiaErivo #ArianaGrande #JonathanBailey #FilmSky nextbestpicture.com/the-next-bes...

BETTER MAN doesn’t eschew the biopic cliches we know and loathe, but it’s got a bold energy that just makes it work. Robbie Williams tells his own brash, arrogant story, but with a simple enough twist to stick the landing. Worked well for me, even as a total newbie to Williams.

BLITZ worked for me in fits and starts. Lots of compelling moments, but they’re lost among a non-linear narrative without much of a punch. Still, McQueen has an eye for beautiful snapshots of life that help this time period come alive. Good, yearning for great.

No Best Actress lineup should be complete this year without Fernanda Torres. Her stunning performance in I’M STILL HERE holds the entire film together. She’s understated in the best way, capturing the joy of her family and pain of loss.

#WickedMovie is a marvelous crowdpleaser, deepening the world of the show, bringing it to life with all the spectacle it deserves. Cynthia & Ariana’s chemistry makes the film. They’re a perfect pair. It’s long, but WICKED is a magical, moving musical that does not disappoint.

Every year I save all the FYC (For Your Consideration) ads from each studio in a gallery at the link below. This year's gallery already has a bunch. You can check them out at the link below: nextbestpicture.com/category/fyc/

THE NEXT BEST PICTURE PODCAST - Interviews With #UltramanRising Directors, Composer & Visual Effects Supervisor By @howatdk.bsky.social #NBPpodcast #StreamEvergreen #PodcastAndChill #PodcastShow #Oscars #FYC #Awards #Animation #Netflix #Ultraman #FilmSky nextbestpicture.com/the-next-bes...

A few weeks ago, I spent some time getting a behind-the-scenes look at ULTRAMAN: RISING. Check out my conversations with directors Shannon Tindle & John Aoshima, composer Scot Stafford, and VFX supervisor Hayden Jones!

I guess we’re here now!