Outlaw King 2018
Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce, directed by David McKenzie, picking up roughly where Braveheart leaves off. Amanda calls it a perfectly acceptable Friday-night battle movie; neither thinks it's a real Oscar contender.
The Big Picture · Discussion
‘Outlaw King’ Is Netflix’s Foray Into Prestige. Did It Work? | The Oscars Show (Ep. 97)
November 13, 2018/ 49 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean and Amanda size up Netflix's prestige push through Outlaw King, Buster Scruggs, and Roma's theatrical test run, then move to The Front Runner, Green Book, Widows, and The Favorite.
10 films across 4 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.
Netflix's Prestige PushOutlaw King, Buster Scruggs, and the theatrical test run
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs 2018
Six Coen brothers segments stitched together, released the same week as Outlaw King. Despite the pedigree of No Country for Old Men and True Grit, it isn't getting nearly the same awards buzz.
Roma 2018
Alfonso Cuarón's film gets Netflix's first real theatrical run (New York, LA, and Mexico City) after Alamo Drafthouse balked at a longer window. Sean and Amanda saw it in theaters and think it's the strongest of Netflix's three awards plays.
22 July 2018
Paul Greengrass's dramatization of the 2011 Norway attacks. Despite his Oscar history with United 93 and Captain Phillips, it wasn't well received.
Bird Box 2018
Sandra Bullock, directed by Susanne Bier, still to come this December. Sean guesses it'll land closer to Bright than to actual awards fare.
Stock Down: The Front Runner
The Front Runner 2018
Jason Reitman's Gary Hart movie, with Hugh Jackman playing the scandal-felled 1988 presidential candidate. Its Election Day release stunt backfired, and Sean and Amanda think its nuance is a bad fit for the current political mood.
The Buzzword: Crowd-PleaserGreen Book as this week's example
Green Book 2018
Peter Farrelly's Deep South road movie with Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. Both hosts were won over despite themselves and expect Best Picture and acting nominations.
Best Supporting Actress: Widows and The Favorite
Widows 2018
Steve McQueen's heist film, led by Viola Davis. Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo are the two Sean and Amanda would actually nominate out of a crowded cast.
Bad Times at the El Royale 2018
Erivo's other 2018 role, a Motown-style singer in a thriller that didn't land, though it's another physical showcase for her.
The Favorite 2018
Yorgos Lanthimos's palace comedy. Olivia Colman is running lead, which leaves Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone splitting supporting-actress attention. Sean bets Stone edges out Weisz.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Netflix and Oscar-season touchstones Beasts of No NationBraveheartHell or High WaterUnited 93Captain PhillipsSet It UpTo All the Boys I've Loved BeforeThe Kissing BoothNo Country for Old MenTrue GritThe Man Who Wasn't ThereThe IrishmanBrightTully
Filmography namedrops There's Something About MaryKingpinHidden FiguresLittle Miss SunshineDriving Miss Daisy12 Years a SlaveShameHungerFencesGirlfightThe LobsterThe Killing of a Sacred DeerThe Constant GardenerThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Also in the supporting actress conversation If Beale Street Could TalkViceBoy ErasedCrazy Rich AsiansMary Queen of ScotsBlack Panther
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV Game of ThronesThe Night ManagerTrue Detective30 Rock
Podcasts Villains (Ringer podcast trailer)
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