Oscars Preview 2025

·1 hr 10 min·5 clips

Will the oddball musical comedy about a transgender gangster winning Best Picture cause half the world to riot?

Ryan and Bev Ellis, hosts of 'Have You Ever Seen', dedicate their 647th episode to previewing the upcoming Oscars ceremony. They open with a sponsor read for Spark Plug Coffee before diving into the awards. The hosts note the lack of star power among nominees, contrasting it with past years like 2019. They discuss controversies, particularly around 'Emilia Perez', including director Jacques Odiar's comments and Mexican audience reactions. The episode systematically reviews all ten Best Picture nominees: 'Anora', 'The Brutalist', 'A Complete Unknown', 'Conclave', 'Dune Part 2', 'Emilia Perez', 'I'm Still Here', 'Nickel Boys', 'The Substance', and 'Wicked'. For each film, they provide Rotten Tomatoes scores, producer details, nomination counts, and personal critiques. Ryan favors 'Conclave', while Bev praises 'The Substance' for its bold vision. They then analyze the Best Director category, predicting a win for Sean Baker ('Anora') but rooting for Coralie Fargeat ('The Substance'). The acting categories are examined, with predictions for Demi Moore (Best Actress), Adrian Brody or Ralph Fiennes (Best Actor), Kieran Culkin (Supporting Actor), and Zoe Saldana (Supporting Actress). Writing categories are covered, with 'Conclave' favored for Adapted Screenplay and 'Anora' for Original. Technical categories like Editing, Visual Effects, and Sound are briefly discussed, with 'Dune Part 2' expected to win several. The hosts also touch on Animated Feature (rooting for 'Flow'), International Feature, and shorts. They conclude with personal favorite films of 2024, such as 'Nosferatu' and 'September 5'. Throughout, the tone is conversational and opinionated, blending humor with critical analysis.

As heard by us

Oscar-night chatter that keeps one eye on the clock and the other on The Substance.

Have You Ever Seen makes its Oscars preview feel like a practical Oscar-night companion, starting from the plain problem that the ceremony runs long and a little caffeine may help.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For Oscars Sunday, you get caffeine talk, nomination banter, and The Substance in the mix.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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