Oscar Nomination Reactions with Louis Virtel

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It – Episode: Oscar Nomination Reactions with Louis Virtel

Introduction

In the January 23, 2025 episode of All Of It, hosted by Alison Stewart and produced by WNYC, the discussion centers around the announcement of the nominations for the 97th Annual Academy Awards. The episode features Louis Fertel, co-host of the culture podcast Keep It, who brings his expertise and enthusiasm for the Oscars to the conversation. The hosts delve into the surprises, snubs, and historic moments surrounding the nominations, providing listeners with in-depth analysis and diverse perspectives.

Overview of Oscar Nominations

The episode kicks off with a brief introduction by David Fuerst, standing in for Alison Stewart, who summarizes the morning’s Oscar nominations. He highlights significant achievements and groundbreaking moments, such as Carla Sophia Gascon becoming the first openly trans actor nominated in an acting category and the body horror film The Substance securing a Best Picture nomination—only the seventh horror film ever to achieve this honor.

Best Picture Category

The nominees for Best Picture include:

• Honora the Brutalist
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• Dune Part 2
• Emilia Perez
• I'm Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Wicked

Louis Fertel expresses particular excitement about unexpected nominees:

“I am so thrilled to see both Nickel Boys and I'm Still Here. I really did not expect to see I'm Still Here go anywhere beyond international film. So that to me is the, the, as I said, endorphin boost I really took from today.” [04:37]

He commends Fernanda Torres for her phenomenal performance in I'm Still Here, noting her historical nomination:

“She became the first Brazilian actress to be nominated for best actress since her own mother, Fernanda Montenegro, was nominated for Central Station in 1998.” [04:37]

Best Actress Category

The nominees for Best Actress are:

• Cynthia Erivo (Wicked)
• Carla Sophia Gascon (Emilia Perez)
• Emilia Perez (I'm Still Here)
• Mikey Madison (Honora)
• Demi Moore (The Substance)
• Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here)

Alison Stewart voices her excitement over "The Apprentice" and anticipates Jeremy Strong's fashion choices at the Oscars:

“I think the movie really gets to, you know, whatever Trump dumps on. It was who he was at one point in his life. And the movie really gets at that.” [05:11]

Louis Fertel highlights the groundbreaking nature of Carla Sophia Gascon’s nomination:

“It's her first time being nominated in this category, and it's a historic moment.” [14:30]

He also discusses the fairness of the competition this year, noting that all five actress nominees are from films nominated for Best Picture—the first time this has happened in 47 years:

“This means voters will have seen all the movies and... it's only fair to vote based on the merits of the performance.” [13:09]

Best Supporting Actress Category

The nominees for Best Supporting Actress include:

• Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
• Ariana Grande (Wicked)
• Felicity Jones (The Brutalist)
• Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)
• Zoe Saldana (Emilia Perez)

Louis Fertel discusses potential snubs and praises certain performances:

“Danielle Deadweiler in Piano Lesson, which I thought was a mostly fabulous adaptation... she was in five movies this year. So I look forward to more from her.” [24:25]

He also points out Zora Bozanov in Honora as a surprising strong contender:

“Yura Borisov in Honora. That is a very surprising winning performance.” [25:16]

Best Actor in a Leading Role

The nominees for Best Actor are:

• Adrien Brody (The Brutalist)
• Timothee Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)
• Colman Domingo (Sing Sing Conclave)
• Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)

Louis Fertel praises Adrien Brody’s performance despite minor controversies regarding his accent:

“Adrien Brody has won an acting Oscar before, and I think people are surprised to see that he's not only in the conversation again, but a booming presence in the conversation again.” [19:48]

He also highlights Timothee Chalamet as a rising star:

“He is the second multi best actor nominee, the second youngest best actor nominee who's been nominated twice since James Dean.” [18:50]

Best Supporting Actor Category

The nominees for Best Supporting Actor are:

• Guy Pearce (The Brutalist)
• Yora Bozanov (Anora)
• Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)
• Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown)
• Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)

Louis Fertel expresses concerns about category placement, particularly regarding Kieran Culkin:

“It's a two-hander movie. It's about the Jesse Eisenberg character and it's about the Kieran Culkin character. They go on this that he shouldn't.” [28:04]

He suggests that Culkin’s significant role merits a Best Actor nomination instead:

“The entire movie is about figuring that character out and also why we feel a certain way about that character.” [28:12]

Listener Reactions

The episode features multiple listener calls expressing diverse opinions:

• Peter from Williamstown endorses Emilia Perez as the best film of the year, praising its boldness and audacity. [11:25]

• Margo from Manhattan, an 81-year-old retired teacher, appreciates films that offer diverse perspectives and mentions Emilia Perez, Conclave, A Complete Unknown, I'm Still Here, and Flo as her favorites. [11:47]

• Victoria from Mexico criticizes Emilia Perez for misrepresenting Mexican realities, feeling it portrays an inaccurate European artifact rather than authentic Mexican experiences. [22:01]

Notable Discussions and Insights

1. Historical Significance:

   • Carla Sophia Gascon’s nomination marks a milestone for transgender representation in acting categories.
   • All five Best Actress nominees being from Best Picture-nominated films is unprecedented in 47 years.

2. Controversial Nominations:

   • The Substance’s inclusion as a Best Picture nominee is historic for the horror genre.
   • Debate over Kieran Culkin’s placement in the Best Supporting Actor category instead of Best Actor.

3. Impact of Streaming on Nominations:

   • Louis Fertel draws parallels to Roma’s surprise nominations despite being a Netflix film, suggesting streaming platforms can influence Oscar nominations by broadening movie accessibility.

4. Cultural Representation:

   • Listener feedback highlights diverse perspectives on films like Emilia Perez, emphasizing the importance of authentic cultural representation in cinema.

5. Performance Highlights:

   • Fernanda Torres and Zora Bozanov receive acclaim for their standout performances in their respective films.

Conclusions

Louis Fertel wraps up the episode by emphasizing the importance of the Oscars in fostering conversations about art and cinema:

“It crystallizes a conversation we're all having about the importance of art... it's another opinion to add to a conversation we're already having.” [28:55]

He defends the Oscars against criticisms of being merely commercial events, likening their significance to other major televised events like the Super Bowl.

Final Thoughts

The episode concludes with Louis discussing his upcoming roles writing for Jimmy Kimmel Live and attending the Oscars alongside Guillermo Rodriguez. The hosts express gratitude to Louis for his insightful contributions and encourage listeners to engage with the ongoing Oscar conversations through WNYC’s platforms.

Notable Quotes

• Louis Fertel on Carla Sophia Gascon’s nomination:

  “She became the first Brazilian actress to be nominated for best actress since her own mother, Fernanda Montenegro, was nominated for Central Station in 1998.” [04:37]

• Alison Stewart on The Apprentice:

  “It really gets at that. And what you do with that is an example of your character.” [05:11]

• Louis Fertel on the significance of all Best Actress nominees being from Best Picture-nominated films:

  “That means voters will have seen all the movies and... it's only fair to vote based on the merits of the performance.” [13:09]

• Victoria from Mexico on Emilia Perez:

  “It has nothing... you've seen Roma, you've seen Bardo. This film has nothing.” [22:01]

• Louis Fertel defending the Oscars:

  “I really think it crystallizes a conversation we're all having about the importance of art.” [28:55]

Conclusion

This episode of All Of It provides a comprehensive and engaging analysis of the Oscar nominations, enriched by expert commentary from Louis Fertel and diverse listener perspectives. It highlights the evolving landscape of cinema, representation, and the critical conversations sparked by the Academy Awards.

Transcript

[Alison Stewart]

All of it is supported by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the Name youe Price Tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates Price and coverage match Limited by state law not available in all states. Listener Supported.

[David Fuerst]

It'S all of it on wnyc. I'm David Fuerst in for Alison Stewart. This morning the nominations for the 97th Annual Academy Awards were announced. There were genuine surprises, a few snubs and some history making moments. The film Emilia Perez leads the pack with 13 nominations including Carla Sophia Gascon. She became became the first openly trans actor ever nominated in an acting category. And the body horror film, the Substance became only the seventh horror film to ever be nominated for best picture. It was one of many surprises in the best picture category. And of course all of this is happening in the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles and questions about how the Oscars will handle that tragic still unfolding event. Joining us to discuss all of the snubs, surprises and more is Louis Fertel. He is the co host of the culture podcast Keep it and a genuine Oscars expert and fan. Louis, thanks for joining us.

[Louis Fertel]

It seems so positive when you put it that way. It's really a disease I have, but I'm happy to exercise some demons with you. Sure.

[David Fuerst]

Share that with us today. Yes. And listeners, we would like to hear from you. What was your favorite movie of 2024? What was your favorite performance? What do you think of the Oscar nominations? We are taking your reactions and opinions. You can text or call 212-433-9692. That's 212-433-WNYC. And finally, Alison Stewart has spoken to many of these nominees over the last few months. To listen to some of those conversations you could head to our Instagram at All of it nyc. There's a link in the bio or you can check out the story highlights. Louis, once again, thank you so much for joining us. You are based in Los Angeles. Did you watch the livestream live at 5:30am Your time or did you peek at the list when you got up?

[Louis Fertel]

Oh no, I get up at 5:30 or pardon me, I get up at like 5:18 and I sit up in bed and then I brace myself for what will be the endorphin boost of my day that early and watch the nominations live. Brilliantly delivered by Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott.

[David Fuerst]

Of course, the context for the Oscars will be very different this year in the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles. How do you hope that the Oscars addresses this still unfolding tragedy?

[Louis Fertel]

Well, I mean, I think the Oscars actually have a pretty good history of addressing ongoing tragedy. I have all the faith in the world in Conan O'Brien, who I think is one of the funniest people who ever lived and also among not just late night hosts, but comics in general. Just a real sense of conscience about whatever he does. So I look forward to it being both touching and appropriate and extremely, extremely funny.

[David Fuerst]

And Louis, you're in Los Angeles. How are you doing?

[Louis Fertel]

Thank you for asking. I'm great. I'm right in the heart of West Hollywood by more coffee locations than I thought humanly possible. So I think I'm doing well. Thank you.

[David Fuerst]

Okay, well, let's start. Let's get right into it. Let's start with best picture. The nominees are Honora the Brutalist, A Complete Unknown Conclave, Dune Part 2, Emilia Perez, I'm still Here. Nickel Boys, the Substance Wicked. What are your thoughts?

[Louis Fertel]

I am so thrilled to see both Nickel Boys and I'm Still Here. Get in. I think those are the two of the bigger surprises with this rollout. Fernanda Torres, who was nominated for best actress and who won the Golden Globe is phenomenal. She is the first Brazilian actress to be nominated for best actress since her own mother, Fernanda Montenegro was nominated for Central station in 1998. She's also in I'm Still Here playing the same character at an advanced age. This is a terrific movie. I really did not expect to see it go anywhere beyond international film. So that to me is the, the, as I said, endorphin boost I really took from today.

[David Fuerst]

That was the one. OK. You can join this conversation. 212-433-9692. That's 212-433. WNYC we're talking about. Let us know your favorite films of 2024. Talk about these Oscar nominations. We are joined by a major Oscars fan right now. All of it host Alison Stewart now on the phone. Welcome.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, you know, it's my day off. It's the Oscar.

[David Fuerst]

What are you doing?

[Alison Stewart]

It's your day off.

[David Fuerst]

I'm a big fan.

[Louis Fertel]

I'm a big fan.

[David Fuerst]

So what did you make of the nominations this morning?

[Alison Stewart]

I was so excited to see the Apprentice. Get some love. Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan. You know, I think the movie really got to, you know, whatever Trump dumps on. It was who he was at one point in his Life. And the movie really gets at that. And what you do with that is an example of your character, whether you like what he did with it, what you didn't like what he did with it. It is such a good movie. So it's excited to see that. Get some love. And I want to see what Jeremy Strong will wear to the Oscars. To be honest.

[Louis Fertel]

Louis, I also am a fan of that movie. If people haven't seen the Apprentice, which is about, you know, this sort of Trump origin story, I'm shocked to say you get kind of a low key performance as Trump, which I've never seen a version of that as an impersonation before. So see it for that reason. Just the novelty of seeing a kind of contemplative Donald Trump, you know, I'll hold for audience laughter. And then Jeremy Strong, who has long said that Al Pacino is like an a hero of his, actually is following in his footsteps because Al Pacino once played the the frightening Roy Cohn in Angels in America in the 2000s, the Mike Nichols directed triumph.

[David Fuerst]

Well, if we could keep you around for a minute or so, Allison, that would be great. I know it's your day off, but one film that seemed to gain a lot of traction during the award is Emilia Perez, the original musical about a cartel leader who wants help transitioning into a woman. It's a controversial movie, but it leads with 13 Oscar nominations. Alison, your thoughts?

[Alison Stewart]

I'm so glad Soy Zelzana got nominated. I know that was a little bit of, I don't know how you feel about controversy about what category actor should and shouldn't be in, but I'm glad she got nominated for that. And her, her singing and dancing in that is unbelievable. Especially the song she sings in the red Suit. What was that called?

[Louis Fertel]

It's nominated, actually. Yes, it's fabulous. And also, I normally love the best supporting actress category to be extremely competitive, but Zoe is just far and away, I think, the best performer in that category. Not only is it a musical performance, it's like stunningly dramatic. You just. She's commanding. At every single mom I do, there is a moment where I pause and think, is this the lead performance in this movie? And I feel like Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain is a similar issue. But at the same time, once they're nominated, I think it's only fair to vote based on the merits of the performance. And I hope she wins.

[David Fuerst]

We should also talk about Wicked, the movie adaptation of the hit Broadway Musical picked up 10 nominations this morning. Lewis, let's start with you. How did this movie kind of walk the line of commercial and critical success?

[Louis Fertel]

Well, I think it was a movie that was sort of up in the year before it came out. People thought it couldn't possibly live up to the legend of the musical. The, you know, it's obviously still on Broadway, and, you know, it brought in two people who were not really known for. Like, Ariana Grande is a pop star, but she's not known for acting in any blockbuster movies. And Cynthia Erivo I think people think of. Even though we obviously know her from the Color Purple and she was nominated for Harriet, we don't think of her as sort of a just a mainstream musical like Good Time Celebrity. And yet people really like attached to both of them specifically. And of course, their press tour, I think only endeared them to people even further.

[David Fuerst]

And Alison, the Best Picture race seems pretty wide open this year. Can I get you to do some betting? What movie do you think is going to win?

[Alison Stewart]

Well, can I tell you something? I'm really upset that Baby Girl wasn't nominated, that it got. It got nothing. And it made me think, like, they just don't care about Gen X women and their sexuality and their fantasy. And I just thought it was such an interesting film. I thought Nicole Kidman was really good in that. So I'm just, you know, gonna call Lisa Loeb and kick back some shots with her and go on our lives as Gen X women because, you know, Hollywood doesn't care about us.

[Louis Fertel]

Oh, I'm right there with you. I'll be on the phone with Liz Farrer myself. And secondly, I want to say about Nicole Kidman in that movie, I would say actually that the movie ultimately is somewhat in line with what I would say is a traditional affair movie. It reminds me of Unfaithful. It reminds me of the great movie Damage with Juliette Binoche and Jeremy Irons. But Nicole Kidman is so a in that movie. The intrigue she brings to the depths of her sexuality is just something we don't really see in a mainstream movie. I mean, it's so. She's one of the most audacious actresses we have, and yet she's also one of the most popular. So I'm always so impressed with her and so excited to see what she'll do next.

[David Fuerst]

All right, I'm gonna get off the.

[Alison Stewart]

Line so listeners can call in. I'm gonna. I'm gonna jump.

[David Fuerst]

Absolutely. But, Alison, can you shout out our Instagram right now to check out some of the segments that you've done.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, they've been great. We have got on our Instagram, we've got everything from Romel Roth, an interview I did with him, Jesse Eisenberg for best doc. Black's Box Diaries is there. I spoke to Ed Norton. Go to llofitwnyc and check it out.

[David Fuerst]

Okay. Alison Stewart joining us here on all of it. Thanks so much for calling in.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks.

[David Fuerst]

And we're here with Louis Virtel. We're talking about the Oscar nominations. And let's take some of your phone calls. Let's hear from Peter calling in from Williamstown. Welcome, Massachusetts. Massachusetts, that's right. Yes. I thought that indisputably amelia Perez was the best film of the year. Very bold, audacious, daring. And I'm so pleased that it got 13 nominations. I think it deserves it. Okay, Peter, thank you so much for joining with that. And let's also hear from, oh, let's see here we have someone saying, let's see what you have to say in response to this. Deadpool and Wolf should have been nominated for at least best effects and best soundtrack.

[Louis Fertel]

Effects that I can speak to as a movie. I am glad that it gave the song like a Prayer to people who are under 20 years old otherwise. And you know what, actually, maybe it deserves the Nobel for that, but otherwise I don't think of it in regards to the asterisk. Conversation.

[David Fuerst]

All right, we have another conversation, another caller asking about Amelia Perez. Margo calling from Manhattan. Welcome.

[Margo]

Well, hello there. You know, I go to movies not to just be entertained, but to experience the lives of people that are either unknown to me or not with characteristics not like my own. And a movie that makes me really think, you know, I'm an 81 year old retired teacher, so I always think when I urge my students to see these movies. And I certainly feel that Emilia Perez was the best movie of the year. But I also liked Conclave and of course, being at my age a complete unknown took me back to an era very long ago, but was so significant in my life. I also really enjoyed I'm Still Here and Flo. Those were some of the others.

[David Fuerst]

Thank you so much for sharing. And if you would like to join the conversation, 212-433-9692. That's 212-433-WNYC. And I want to talk about one of the conversation, one of the categories that was a bit up in the air, Louis, Best actress. So let's, let's go down the list of nominees here. Cynthia Erivo, Wicked Carla Sofia Gascon Emilia Perez, Mikey Madison Honora, Demi Moore, the Substance, and Fernanda Torres. I'm still here. Your thoughts?

[Louis Fertel]

Well, first of all, this is the first time in literally 47 years since Diane Keaton won for Annie hall that all five actress nominees are in movies that are nominated for best picture, which doesn't seem that important like in the abstract. But what it means is voters will have seen all the movies and sometimes I feel like an actress will be nominated for a movie that doesn't get any other nominations and she may be fantastic in it, but still doesn't have a chance because people are. Most people have seen another movie, have rallied behind another movie entirely. And here, now that all five are in the best picture category, we can assume we're getting the fairest fight. And that, to me, is really exciting. Demi Moore in this movie gives a very bracing performance. I think the direction of the substance is unforgettable. Not only is it a horror movie, but it's just a jarringly feminist movie that gets in your face. And I love how unsubtle it is. It has the depth of a fairy tale, but also the strengths of a fairy tale. You know, the visual sturman brang you associated with the grimmest of fairy tales.

[David Fuerst]

We kind of mentioned this briefly earlier, but history was made in this category, right, Carla, Sophia Gascon became the first openly trans actress nominated for best Actress. What do you make of this moment?

[Louis Fertel]

Well, she's fabulous in the movie. And I want to say, not only is she fabulous, the thing about Emilia Perez that people aren't talking about is not only is it an audacious movie, you never once have an idea where it's going. And it, I think, stays on the rails as it makes all these crazy choices through musical territory, extremely dramatic territory. I think where Carlos Sofia Gascon is maybe disadvantaged in this category is that Zoe Saldana, who is the front runner in the supporting actors category, is sort of the lead of this movie. And therefore, Carla can almost be considered a supporting character, whereas she's up against other actresses who are definitively the leads of their movie.

[David Fuerst]

Well, we're gonna get to the next category, best actor in a leading role coming up next. We're listening to all of it here on wnyc. Our guest is Louis Fertell, co host of the podcast Keep it and major big time Oscars fan. We're taking your calls. 212-433-9692. That's 212-433W. Continue the conversation next here on all of WNYC.

[Alison Stewart]

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[Louis Fertel]

On Radiolab A weird little forest where photons go to die.

[Alison Stewart]

We follow a mystery into a space.

[Louis Fertel]

I mean, it's as dark as anywhere.

[David Fuerst]

You can get on the planet where creatures shapeshift.

[Louis Fertel]

You really feel like you're looking through them into an abyss.

[Alison Stewart]

Things behave strangely.

[Louis Fertel]

It's like, good Lord. I mean, that's just nuts.

[Alison Stewart]

And darkness rules.

[Louis Fertel]

Yeah, you feel like it's asking you something.

[Alison Stewart]

Listen to the Darkest dark on Radiolabs. Wherever you get podcasts.

[David Fuerst]

This is all of it on WNYC. This morning, the nominations for the 97th annual Academy Awards were announced. We're talking about the nominations with Lewis Fertel, co host of the podcast Keep It. And we're also taking your calls. 212-433-9692 and Louis, let's talk about the best actor category. Best actor in a Leading role. The nominees are Adrien Brody for the Brutalist. Timothee Chalamet, a Complete Unknown. Colman Domingo, Sing Sing Ralph Fine Conclave. And Sebastian Stan, the Apprentice. What do you think about this category? And you know, the Academy historically does not like to give best actor to a young, but some might think that this could be Timothee Chalamet's year. He played Bob Dylan in A Complete.

[Louis Fertel]

Unknown and he is the second multi best actor nominee, the second youngest best actor nominee who's been nominated twice since James Dean. So that makes him quite accomplished.

[David Fuerst]

Wow.

[Louis Fertel]

James Dean died when he was like 24. So this is, I think, maybe the best of the acting categories for me. First of all, Coma Domingo, always a welcome presence in this category. I thought he was very underrated in last year's Rustin where he played the activist Bayard Rustin, also nominated. So this is his second year in a row. I think this is Adrien Brody's To Lose. The Brutalist is an epic movie in scale and in length. It's a three and a half hour movie. But I think the most epic thing about it is his performance. There's some controversy, controversy that the AI has refined some of the Hungarian accent he delivered in the movie. But I think that's something people will sweep aside when it comes to voting because he is so staggering and watchable and emotional in this movie.

[David Fuerst]

He.

[Louis Fertel]

He is the best part of the movie for me.

[David Fuerst]

AI is. Is a, you know, could be a deal breaker for some people, though, thinking that, oh, they just use trickery to. To make all of this great acting. You're saying all it does is. All it does is tweak some of the accent. It doesn't suddenly make bad acting into great acting.

[Louis Fertel]

I've not seen a rollout of exactly what they used AI for in the movie. I don't. I don't know if we ever will. But the fact of the matter is, Adrian Brody has won an acting Oscar before. And I think people are surprised to see that he's not only in the conversation again, but a booming presence in the conversation again. And I think ultimately we'll welcome that.

[David Fuerst]

We have a question for you. Someone saying how does streaming affect choices of nominations? How does Emilia Perez get nominated via Netflix?

[Louis Fertel]

I mean, I think it's telling, generally speaking, I think all the time about the movie Roma from a few years ago, which was on Netflix and scored a surprise. Yolitsa Aparicio was nominated for best actress in that movie. But the surprise nomination that year was Marina D. Tavira in the supporting categories. And I think that is because of streaming. So I feel like if there's going to be a surprise nomination in the acting fields, streaming may be the kick these movies need to get in the conversation.

[David Fuerst]

Another text saying Denis Villeneuve deserves some love, as does Dune Part two. Quote, I'm appalled.

[Louis Fertel]

Well, Denis Villeneuve will forever remain a God to me. Based on the movie arrival from 2016, which if you're an Oscars fan at all, you have probably written poem after poem about how Amy Adams deserved to be in that lineup for best actress. Also annette Benning in 20th century Women lost out that year. But I remain staggered by the achievement of such a high concept sci fi film that was also so emotional. The depths of what Denis Villeneuve can do, the vision he has and the fact that he made Dune a watchable thing. I mean we had the David lynch dune from the 80s, which, you know, I love many things about David lynch, but that, that version of Dune is not one of them. I think we thought this was a book that was forever unadaptable. So that alone is a herculean feat.

[David Fuerst]

And we're getting a lot of different takes on the movie. Emilia Perez. Let's hear from Victoria in Mexico. Welcome to all of it.

[Victoria]

Thank you very much. I love your station. I'm calling from Mexico where our take perhaps on Emilia Perez is very, very different. I love the acting, I think that's really great. But it's as if Jaco Dial just googled Mexico and put on the worst statistics about our country, as in how many people have disappeared, the most painful ones for us, and then made a movie which is a completely European artifact. I mean, you've seen Roma, you've seen Bardo. This film has nothing.

[David Fuerst]

There's some argument that the film is not connected to the reality of life in Mexico. Very unhappy with how the country is portrayed in this film, which if you.

[Louis Fertel]

Spent any time following the Oscars conversation online, this is not an obscure argument. This is like, I would say I, I hear it every single day and louder and louder as the days progress. You're right. I think I am most personally impressed with the performances in this movie. The degree of the emotional connections between these characters who otherwise seem like disparate entities. But I mean it is a, it has a, what I would call a harsh view of, of drug cartels and, and perhaps even life in the country. So that is a, a well received argument and I, I think almost an obvious one to make. I think anybody watching the movie would.

[David Fuerst]

Think about that and Louis, I want to get to some more of these categories here. We gotta get to an actress in a supporting role. The nominees are Monica Barbaro for a Complete Unknown. Ariana Grande, Wicked Felicity Jones, the Brutalist, Isabella Rossellini, Conclave. And Zoe Saldana, Emilia Perez.

[Louis Fertel]

Well, Isabella Rossellini is nominated for a very small role in Conclave. She basically has one moment where she kind of pops out to a object to what's happening in the movie among these cardinals. It is interesting though, because 50 years ago, literally, her mother, Isabella Rossellini, or sorry, her mother, Ingrid Bergman, won an Oscar for a very small part in Murder on the Orient Express, in which when she went to the dais, she literally apologized to her co nominee Valentina Cortez. And so it's sort of funny that this is happening again. It's another small part.

[David Fuerst]

Well, maybe Isabella's practicing her apology right now in case.

[Louis Fertel]

It's perhaps. Perhaps. It's interesting that when I think of snubs this year, three main. One come. Three main ones come to mind. And two are in the best supporting actress category. Danielle Deadweiler in Piano Lesson, which I thought was a mostly fabulous adaptation of the August Wilson play. I think the supernatural components work better on a stage. But Danielle Deadweiler is one of our best actresses. She didn't get a nomination for playing Emmett Till's mother in the movie till a couple years two years ago, and she was in five movies this year. So I look forward to more from her. And Angenue Ellis Taylor, who was once nominated for playing the mother of Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard, didn't get a nomination for Nickel Boys this year. And I thought that was another intensely emotional performance, the heart of that movie ultimately, too. I'm really sad not to see those two performances here.

[David Fuerst]

Phil from the Bronx texting in, wants to talk about the Brutalist. The film, Phil says, masterfully captures the immigrant experience layered across countries, eras and religious contexts through the universal struggles of assimilation and the enduring feeling of being the other. It portrays the complexities of striving for acceptance, whether as an artist, intellect, or simply as a human, a human being navigating the American dream. Your thoughts on that comment and the Brutalist?

[Louis Fertel]

Well, I think some of the credit for that also goes to the presence, the foreboding presence of Guy Pearce in this movie. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor playing this guy who hires the Adrien Brody character to build this wild, strange estate of his and his sort of fickleness and moodiness and sort of underlying bubbling under scariness, I think is tied into what this, that listener just talked about. It's a really frightening performance. And in fact there are a couple plot points in this movie that are deeply controversial and extremely strange that I'm still thinking about. One involves Guy Pearce's character. I will not spoil it, but it ties into exactly what your listener was just talking about.

[David Fuerst]

Well, since we're kind of getting into the supporting actor category, let's talk about that category you mentioned. Guy Pearce for the Brutalist. Also Yora Bozanov for Anora, Kieran Culkin, a real pain. Edward Norton, a complete unknown. And Jeremy Strong, the Apprentice. Any things that you really want to hit on there. Any snubs?

[Louis Fertel]

Snubs I'm not sure about. Yura Borisov in Honora. That is a very surprising winning performance. It's a character that kind of comes out of nowhere. You don't think he's going to be centralized in the movie by the end. I always love a nomination like that. It means the actor has really won us over. That said, in that movie I am most obsessed with the character she was married to at the beginning who turns out to be a complete ass. That I think was a kind of a snub. But also it didn't get any traction in the awards season. Mark Adelstane, I believe is his name, who played Vanya. Such a funny performance. Such a funny performance. But otherwise I think this is Kieran Culkin's to lose. I was pleased with Edward Norton in the Complete Unknown as Pete Seeger. I thought he did the role well. I don't know that that would be nomination. It didn't scream to me necessary nomination for me. But especially when you look at his other nominations which are so fabulous. I think his work in Birdman is one of the most underrated. Two thousand and tens nominations.

[David Fuerst]

You mentioned Kieran Culkin. There has been some talk of category fraud. You mentioned it earlier with a few other things. But when it comes to the best supporting actor category, why is Kieran Culkin being accused of category fraud?

[Louis Fertel]

Well, it's. I mean this is a two hander movie. It's about the Jesse Eisenberg character and it's about the Kieran Culkin character. They go on this that he shouldn't.

[David Fuerst]

Be supporting, he should be in the best actor category.

[Louis Fertel]

Correct? Correct. Because. Well, I think the argument is that even though the Jesse Eisenberg character is central to the story, the whole story is about the Kieran Culkin character and how he's this agitating and yet sort of endearing presence. And so the entire movie is about figuring that character out and also why we feel a certain way about that character. So not only does he have a big part, it's a. The parts of the movie that he's not in are still about him.

[David Fuerst]

They're still about him. Is there any major takeaway? You were up at 5:30 in the morning your time watching this. What's the main takeaway for you from this whole Oscars experience, this list of nominations?

[Louis Fertel]

Well, I mean, all I can say is it's always exciting. I mean, it bothers me when people dismiss the Oscars wholesale. Not just because I'm an obsessive fan of them. I wrote for the last two ceremonies, but I really think it crystallizes a conversation we're all having about the importance of art. And, you know, whether or not you agree with the nominations, it's another opinion to add to a conversation we're already having. So it just gives us another way to do my favorite thing, which is fight about movies when people disagree with us.

[David Fuerst]

It's really interesting that that bugs you when people say, I don't care about the Oscars. It's too. This is all just there to serve the commercial purposes of the industry and to get some more publicity. And that's all this is about.

[Louis Fertel]

I mean, like, I guess I never hear the same argument about the super bowl, that it's a big corporate thing, you know, that and. And is meaningless or whatever. People still gather around the TV and literally scream for the commercials. No, I mean, again, it's. I'm not saying there isn't a corporate part of why the Oscars exist, but I do think it's a fun way to centralize all of our feelings about these incredible movies. Or not so incredible movies as the case may be.

[David Fuerst]

And we're. And we're just about to wrap up, but I gotta ask you, are you writing for the ceremony?

[Louis Fertel]

No, I did the last two. You did the last two SAG awards this year. So if you don't like the SAG Awards, please do not tell me.

[David Fuerst]

No, tell me. So you're writing. What are you doing?

[Louis Fertel]

I'll be writing presenter speeches, et cetera.

[David Fuerst]

Wow. Extremely cool. Well, I'm imagining you're still gonna be writing for the Oscars whether they're reading what you're writing or not, and you're gonna be writing all about it. Thank you so much for joining us today, talking about the nominations for the 97th annual Academy Awards. They were announced this morning. Louis Fertel is co host of the culture podcast Keep it and a big time Oscars expert and fan. Thank you so much for joining us. And what are you gonna be doing, by the way, when the Oscars are on?

[Louis Fertel]

Oh, well, I am also a writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live and Guillermo Rodriguez will be on the red carpet interviewing people and I will be there with him.

[David Fuerst]

Wow. Very cool. Louis, thanks so much for joining us.

[Louis Fertel]

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

[G]

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