No Time to Die 2021
The James Bond film's second delay kicks off the discussion, the clearest sign the release calendar is collapsing; the Broccolis move it to 2021 to protect it from a crowded November.
The Big Picture · Discussion · Interview
'Dune' and James Bond Are Delayed. Here Are 10 Ways to Save the 2021 Oscars.
October 6, 2020/ 133 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean and Amanda pitch ten fixes for a pandemic-scrambled 2021 Oscars, then Alex Ross Perry on trying to make movies when the money and the theaters have gone.
33 films across 2 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
Ten Ways to Save the 2021 OscarsSean and Amanda pitch reforms
Dune 2021
Sean announces its delay mid-recording as breaking news, proof the December slate is emptying out.
Wonder Woman 1984 2020
One of the last mainstream tentpoles still nominally on the 2020 calendar.
Tenet 2020
The one Warner Bros. forced into theaters; the studios' test case for pushing through.
Minari 2020
A24's Steven Yeun drama, the case study for building an Oscar campaign for a small film without theaters or a marketing budget.
On the Rocks 2020
Sofia Coppola's new one, out October 23 on Apple TV+; the show plans to celebrate it.
The Witches 2020
Zemeckis's $100M Roald Dahl adaptation dropping straight to HBO Max, cited as early evidence the theatrical window is collapsing.
Greenland 2020
The Gerard Butler disaster film that skipped theaters for PVOD and then HBO Max.
Extraction 2020
Named as a Best Stunt contender under the proposed new category.
Bad Boys for Life 2020
Also floated as a Best Stunt candidate in a thin year for big action.
A Star Is Born 2018
Sean's rare example of a Best Original Song that actually served the movie, arguing to scrap the category otherwise.
Alex Ross Perry on the Collapsethe writer-director on quarantine, financing, and his horror season
Alex Ross Perry on
Her Smell 2018
Perry's Elizabeth Moss film, his benchmark for the sub-$10M movie he says he couldn't finance now.
Alex Ross Perry on
Listen Up Philip 2014
The kind of micro-budget, actor-dependent film he built a career on and now can't cast.
Alex Ross Perry on
Mank 2020
Perry's shorthand for Netflix's strategy: one prestige Fincher film beats five Devil All the Times.
Alex Ross Perry on
The Devil All the Time 2020
The rare risky indie Netflix picked up between shooting and release, an outlier in an otherwise safe slate.
Alex Ross Perry on
The Irishman 2019
Cited as proof Netflix functions like '90s Touchstone, needing only five aces a year.
Alex Ross Perry on
Manchester by the Sea 2016
The Amazon acquisition that worked, picked up finished rather than financed by them.
Alex Ross Perry on
Wonderstruck 2017
Todd Haynes's Amazon-era misfire, the auteur bet Amazon didn't repeat.
Alex Ross Perry on
Marie Antoinette 2006
Sofia Coppola's $40M swing, invoked to point out how quietly her new film landed by comparison.
Alex Ross Perry on
Fade to Black 1980
Perry's top horror-season recommendation, on Shudder; a proto-Scream character study he calls an instant four-star movie.
Alex Ross Perry on
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum 2018
A recent Korean found-footage film shot in a real haunted site; fun, not quite [REC].
Alex Ross Perry on
Hell House LLC 2015
The found-footage trilogy Chris Ryan also pushed on Sean; Perry calls the first the best of the three.
Alex Ross Perry on
Host 2020
The Shudder Zoom-séance horror film, Perry's example of the format working for quick thrills.
Alex Ross Perry on
Criss Cross 1949
A Robert Siodmak noir Perry names an all-timer; its masked heist he suspects Nolan has cribbed for years.
Alex Ross Perry on
The Killers 1946
The Siodmak noir he'd already seen; the trigger for a deeper dive.
Alex Ross Perry on
The Spiral Staircase 1946
A twisted, psychological Siodmak he tracked down on a Kino DVD via Netflix's disc service.
Alex Ross Perry on
The Getting of Wisdom 1977
The highlight of a Bruce Beresford run on Criterion's Australian series; an oddball coming-of-age film.
Alex Ross Perry on
The Thing 1982
Carpenter's version, half of an upcoming 35mm drive-in double feature in the Poconos.
Alex Ross Perry on
The Thing from Another World 1951
The '50s original, the other half of the drive-in double bill.
Alex Ross Perry on
A Tale of Two Sisters 2003
The Korean horror film that set off the Gonjiam viewing.
Also mentioned raised along the way
The stalled 2020 slate SoulFree GuyComing 2 AmericaDeath on the NileHubie HalloweenBorat Subsequent MoviefilmTotally Under ControlRunSound of MetalNomadlandOne Night in Miami
Last year's crop, for contrast ParasiteJokerJojo RabbitOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood
Also delayed out of the race The French DispatchWest Side Story
In passing Trolls World TourScoob!Lady BirdPrivate BenjaminThe BeguiledInherent ViceLast Flag FlyingRushmoreSearchingUnfriendedUnfriended: Dark WebHer AlibiDriving Miss DaisyBreaker MorantCasablancaTaxi DriverBreaking AwayChariots of FireThe Asphalt JungleThe Maltese Falcon[REC]
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV Schitt's CreekSuccessionThe Last DanceThe Third DayThe Plot Against AmericaTiger KingThe Comey RuleO.J.: Made in AmericaSmall AxeLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitThe CrownSNL at HomeLove in the Time of COVID
Ads Boar's HeadFanDuelNetflix FIFA World CupCarvanaSam's Club