The Next Best Picture Podcast

For this week's main podcast review, Sara Clements, Josh Parham, Cody Dericks, Brendan Hodges, and Tom O'Brien join me to discuss the latest film from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, "Project Hail Mary" starring Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub. Written by Drew Goddard, based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Andy Weir, the epic sci-fi/comedy film already has a built-in fan base and is a crowdpleaser designed to enthrall, entertain, and emotionally move newcomers. Whether you see it on IMAX or the big screen, there's no denying it's the film event of Q1 2026. What did we think of it, though? Please tune in as we discuss the story, Ryan Gosling's performance, the direction from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the crafts, its awards potential, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!

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"Lumière, Le Cinéma!" (or "Lumière! The Adventure Continues") is a documentary film directed by Thierry Frémaux, director of the Institute Lumière, of the Lumière Film Festival, and of the Cannes Film Festival. Frémaux serves as a curator and guide through a collection of over 100 short films by Auguste and Louis Lumière and their collaborators, showcasing both well-known and rarely seen works. The film explores the origins of cinema and how the Lumière brothers pioneered filmmaking techniques such as framing, staging, and early narrative storytelling. This curated presentation offers both a historical account of the birth of film and a meditation on cinema's ability to capture reality and imagination. The film highlights the enduring legacy of the Lumières and their foundational impact on the art form. Frémaux was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing at MOMA in New York City from Janus Films. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

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"Dead Lover" is a 2025 Canadian comedy film directed, co-written, produced by, and starring Grace Glowicki, co-writer Ben Petrie, Leah Doz, and Lowen Morrow. Inspired by Mary Shelley's 1818 novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," it follows a woman's attempt to resurrect her deceased lover. The film debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in the Midnight category, where it received positive reviews for Glowicki's direction, performance, writing, as well as the makeup, production design, sound, and lighting. Glowicki was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about her work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Cartuna and Dweck Productions. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

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"Two Prosecutors" is a 2025 historical drama film written and directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa, based on the novella of the same name by Georgy Demidov. Starring Aleksandr Kuznetsov and Aleksandr Filippenko, the film follows a young Soviet prosecutor seeking justice for a political prisoner during Joseph Stalin's ongoing Great Purge. The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive reviews and won the festival's François Chalais Prize. Sergei was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters on March 20th from Janus Films. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

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"Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come" is an American comedy-horror film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (aka "Radio Silence"), and written by Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy. It serves as a direct sequel to "Ready or Not" (2019), with Samara Weaving reprising her role as Grace MacCaullay. The film also stars Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood. Set immediately after the events of the first film, it follows Grace as she must protect her estranged sister while being hunted by four rival elite families in a high-stakes ritual to claim a seat of ultimate power. The film premiered at the 2026 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival and received generally positive reviews from critics. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett were both kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will open in theaters from Searchlight Pictures on March 20th. Thank you, and enjoy!

Check out more on NextBestPicture.com

Please subscribe on...

Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free
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