The Big Picture · Discussion · Interview

Ten Ways to Save the 2021 Academy Awards Mailbag Special

March 12, 2021/ 89 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins

Sean and Amanda work through the Critics' Choice, DGA, and BAFTA nominations, predict the ten Best Picture nominees days out from the real announcement, and name who they'd add if they ran the Academy. Then a mailbag on ratings, format fixes, and a five-song Oscars medley, before Anthony and Joe Russo join to talk about Cherry.

44 films across 6 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.

Precursor Season: Critics' Choice, DGA, and BAFTANomadland's sweep continues, and BAFTA's new jury system produces a curiously all-white Best Film lineup

Nomadland 2020

Wins Best Picture, Director, adapted screenplay, and cinematography at the Critics' Choice Awards; the hosts call it the clear front-runner heading into Oscar noms.

Minari 2020

DGA nominee for Lee Isaac Chung; the hosts call it a lock.

Promising Young Woman 2020

DGA nominee for Emerald Fennell and a BAFTA Best Film nominee.

Mank 2020

DGA nominee for David Fincher; recognized by nearly every artisan guild despite lukewarm person-to-person enthusiasm.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 2020

DGA nominee for Aaron Sorkin and a BAFTA Best Film nominee.

The Father 2020

BAFTA Best Film nominee.

The Mauritanian 2021

BAFTA Best Film nominee.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 2020

Absent from BAFTA's all-white Best Film list despite the diversity elsewhere on the ballot.

Da 5 Bloods 2020

Also shut out of BAFTA Best Film; Denzel Washington was eligible as a producer and still went unrecognized by BAFTA.

One Night in Miami 2020

The third Black-led Best Picture contender left off BAFTA's Best Film list.

Predicting the Best Picture Tenworking from the PGA's ten nominees, four days before the real Oscar noms

Nomadland 2020

"Number one with a bullet": an easy lock.

Minari 2020

Lock.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 2020

Lock.

Mank 2020

Lock, though Sean flags actors as the one guild not fully embracing it.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 2020

Lock.

Promising Young Woman 2020

Predicted in; its low rental price doesn't drop until the Tuesday after Oscar noms, which the hosts think will drive a fresh wave of discourse.

Sound of Metal 2019

Predicted in on the strength of Riz Ahmed's performance, despite neither host loving the film outright.

One Night in Miami 2020

Predicted in.

Judas and the Black Messiah 2021

Sean's hopeful pick for the ninth or tenth slot, comparing its late-season surge to Phantom Thread's.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm 2020

The other contender for that last slot; Amanda doubts both Borat and Judas get in together.

News of the World 2020

Discussed as a possible dark horse the PGA didn't nominate.

Soul 2020

The PGA snub the hosts find baffling for a well-liked, critically strong Pixar film.

Under-the-Radar Picks: Who They'd Like to See NominatedBest Director, lead and supporting acting, and screenplay wishlists

Da 5 Bloods 2020

Delroy Lindo's Best Actor snub is the one both hosts expect to generate the most outrage Monday morning.

Another Round 2020

Sean's Best Actor pick for Mads Mikkelsen, who he calls at least plausible given the film's other recognition.

The Father 2020

Anthony Hopkins would win Best Actor outright in a year without Chadwick Boseman, per Sean.

Malcolm & Marie 2021

Amanda's Best Actress curveball for Zendaya, though she's fine with the film missing given Zendaya's career ahead of her.

French Exit 2020

Amanda's hunch for a surprise Michelle Pfeiffer Best Actress nomination, despite the film not working for her overall.

Judas and the Black Messiah 2021

Dominique Fishback for Best Supporting Actress, and Sean's pick for original screenplay off its WGA nomination.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm 2020

Amanda's adapted screenplay pick, also boosted by a WGA nomination.

Mailbag: Ratings, Rewrites, and What-Ifslistener questions on the postponed 2020 movies that might've been Best Picture contenders, and a stat-padding Avatar re-release

Avatar 2009

Prompted by news of its China re-release chasing Avengers: Endgame's box-office record; Sean dismisses it as "stat padding."

West Side Story 2021

Named as a postponed 2020 release that could've been in the Best Picture conversation.

The French Dispatch 2021

Same list.

In the Heights 2021

Sean's pick for the postponed film most likely to have been "in the conversation in a big way."

Dune 2021

Amanda raises it as an open question: event movie or something with awards weight.

Mailbag: Amanda's Five-Song Oscars Medleya listener asks for five musical numbers pulled from film history, performed by contemporary artists

Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

Source of "Moon River"; Amanda's dream performer is Frank Ocean.

Meet Me in St. Louis 1944

Source of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"; Amanda picks Sturgill Simpson to sing it.

Skyfall 2012

Amanda wants Adele back for the title song, at full volume.

Wayne's World 1992

The Lemonheads' cover of "Mrs. Robinson," which Amanda would stage with Simon & Garfunkel visibly annoyed nearby.

Anthony and Joe Russo on Cherry

Anthony and Joe Russo on

Cherry 2021

Adapted from Nico Walker's semi-autobiographical novel, negotiated over prison phone calls with the incarcerated author. Stars Tom Holland, cast during the Captain America: Civil War audition process. The Russos structure the film in visually distinct chapters (romance, military training, war, addiction, incarceration), aimed at a Gen Z audience they see as processing images differently than prior generations.