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.