Roma 2018
swept the LA and New York film critics' best-film prizes; Amanda calls it the movie critics feel they have to protect and boost, which she thinks puts it in a tricky spot with the Academy.
The Big Picture · Discussion · Interview
The Kevin Hart Fiasco and the Best Performances of 2018 With Wesley Morris | The Oscars Show (Ep. 106)
December 11, 2018/ 83 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean and Amanda break down Kevin Hart stepping down as Oscars host and where Roma, A Star Is Born, and Green Book stand after the critics' awards. Then the New York Times' Wesley Morris joins to run through the year's best performances.
36 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.
The Kevin Hart Fiascoand where the awards race stands after the critics' groups
A Star Is Born 2018
still quiet ahead of the Golden Globes, where 'Shallow' is up for a Grammy and a Globe; floated as this year's version of a movie critics resent but the Academy loves.
Green Book 2018
the other contender Sean floats for that same slot.
The Favourite 2018
expanding into 1,000 theaters the following weekend.
The Best Performances of 2018
Wesley Morris on
Widows 2018
Steve McQueen's heist thriller; Daniel Kaluuya, Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Elizabeth Debicki, and Brian Tyree Henry all get singled out.
Wesley Morris on
Black Panther 2018
Kaluuya's part is called too thin to show what he can really do.
Wesley Morris on
If Beale Street Could Talk 2018
Brian Tyree Henry is on screen for about 12 minutes and, Wesley says, the movie basically stops and revolves around him.
Wesley Morris on
Boy Erased 2018
Lucas Hedges is compelling even when the movie around him doesn't fully land, per Wesley.
Wesley Morris on
Ben Is Back 2018
Hedges and Julia Roberts' scenes together, especially the back half in the car, are the movie's strongest stretch.
Wesley Morris on
Manchester by the Sea 2016
the earlier Hedges performance they use as the yardstick.
Wesley Morris on
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 2017
Hedges as the son, another entry in his run of playing kids dealing with pain the rest of society deems unacceptable.
Wesley Morris on
Lady Bird 2017
called his best part of the bunch; also a highlight for Timothée Chalamet.
Wesley Morris on
Burning 2018
Steven Yeun as the wealthy, unsettling third wheel; Amanda has it high on her year-end list.
Wesley Morris on
Sorry to Bother You 2018
Wesley wrote about Yeun here instead of in Burning, calling him a genuine movie star in this one.
Wesley Morris on
Roma 2018
Yalitza Aparicio's first-ever screen performance as Cleo, plus Marina de Tavira as the mother she works for.
Wesley Morris on
Mission: Impossible - Fallout 2018
Tom Cruise's stunt work as its own kind of acting, plus the accidental chemistry with Henry Cavill.
Wesley Morris on
The Mule 2018
Sean's reason for staying an Eastwood completist, with a small Bradley Cooper role.
Wesley Morris on
Support the Girls 2018
Wesley's favorite performance of the year: Regina Hall, directed by Andrew Bujalski; Haley Lu Richardson also praised.
Wesley Morris on
A Star Is Born 2018
Bradley Cooper's performance and directing debut get the full lightning-round treatment.
Wesley Morris on
Yentl 1983
Barbra Streisand's own directed-and-starring vehicle, raised as the double standard against Cooper.
Wesley Morris on
Argo 2012
the comparison point for a director shooting himself a little too lovingly.
Wesley Morris on
The Town 2010
argued as the better Affleck movie, and the better Affleck performance.
Wesley Morris on
Silver Linings Playbook 2012
part of the David O. Russell run that turned Cooper into an awards actor.
Wesley Morris on
Limitless 2011
the throwaway movie-star vehicle that first won them over on Cooper.
Wesley Morris on
Guardians of the Galaxy 2014
Cooper's Rocket Raccoon voice work, called out for the making-of footage of him fully committing to it.
Wesley Morris on
Wildlife 2018
Bill Camp and Carey Mulligan's scenes together; Paul Dano's directing debut, written with Zoe Kazan.
Wesley Morris on
To All the Boys I've Loved Before 2018
Amanda's shoutout to Lana Condor, alongside Noah Centineo.
Wesley Morris on
Shoplifters 2018
Sakura Ando's performance in the film's back half, Amanda's second pick.
Wesley Morris on
Ocean's Eight 2018
Anne Hathaway playing on her own reputation for trying too hard, Sean's last pick.
Wesley Morris on
Ocean's Twelve 2004
the Julia Roberts self-referential cameo Hathaway's bit is compared to.
Also mentioned raised along the way
In passing The WifeThe Social NetworkThe King's SpeechZero Dark ThirtyAvatarMoonlightLa La LandBeasts of No NationOutlaw King
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV AtlantaTrue Detective
Theater Lobby HeroThe Waverly Gallery