The Big Picture · Discussion · Awards
March 12, 2026/ 110 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins fill out their ballots for the 98th Academy Awards, calling a will-win and a should-win in all 24 categories. It comes down to a two-film race between One Battle After Another and Sinners; they land on One Battle for Picture and Sinners for Best Actor, and match on 23 of 24 picks, splitting only on Supporting Actress. First, the new Disclosure Day trailer and what to expect from the telecast.
129 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.
Before the ballotthe Disclosure Day trailer and the show ahead
Sean breaks down the new trailer for Spielberg's next before interviewing him at South by Southwest. Josh O'Connor plays an Edward Snowden-style whistleblower, and Colin Firth appears via bio-virtual tech. Colman Domingo plays the truth-teller, and the film reads as a first-contact story recast for an age of government distrust.
The 1977 reference point for Disclosure Day. Sean traces how Spielberg's take on this material has curdled from optimism toward suspicion of power over the decades since.
The other touchstone Sean sees in the trailer, tied to what's happening to Emily Blunt's character.
Invoked twice: as the JT 'Can't Stop the Feeling' opening-number comp, and as the COVID-era episode Sean once did about optimism. No Trolls content is allowed in Amanda's house.
The final ballot, category by categorywill win · 24 races at the 98th Academy Awards
Also mentioned raised along the way
The five-award sweep club Schindler's ListDances with WolvesThe Last EmperorGandhiGigiThe Defiant Ones
Precedent and comps they cited The DepartedOnce Upon a Time in HollywoodThe IrishmanJojo Rabbit1917ParasiteWickedPoor ThingsAll Quiet on the Western FrontDuneMankIcarus20 Days in MariupolPollockField of DreamsMagnoliaPhantom ThreadGet OutThe Big SickLady BirdThe Shape of WaterThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, MissouriLicorice PizzaHoly Spider
Francine Maisler's 1990s résumé Reality BitesThe Usual SuspectsBad BoysThe People vs. Larry FlyntAs Good as It GetsOut of SightYou've Got Mail
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
Ads Netflix / T-Mobile Home Run DerbyState FarmVolkswagenGoogle AI Professional Certificate
Sports World Baseball Classic