It's an absolutely packed episode a week away from the Oscars. We're playing some catch-up with nominees and we've got one monster of a new release. Here's what we have for you:

THE BRIDE! That exclamation point says it all. Writer-director Maggie Gyllenhaal's wild and bold update of "The Bride of Frankenstein" mixes tones and genres in a way that's dividing critics (including us). Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale co-star. In theaters.
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB. The last of the five nominees in the best international feature category for us to discuss here. Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania mixes the real-life audio of a 5-year-old Palestinian trapped in a car in Gaza with actors playing the emergency operators on the other end of the line. We don't agree on this film, either, but it has moved many audiences deeply. Available for online rental.
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR. Nominated for best documentary feature, this Netflix film is composed entirely of deputies' body cam footage of a neighborhood where a deadly shooting ripped the multicultural community apart. We think this is the front-runner for the Academy Award, if only because it's probably the one most people saw (plus, it's great). Streaming now.
MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN. Russian school teacher Pavel Talankin bravely documents Putin's propagandist efforts to indoctrinate young minds at the start of the Ukraine invasion. You come to really care about him and the kids in his care, particularly the teens who are facing an uncertain future. This is also up for the best documentary feature Oscar. Available for online rental.
MOVIE NEWS LIVE! Another busy week between early reactions to "The Bride!", HBO Max and Paramount + merging into one streaming platform, Daryl Hannah's op-ed about how she's portrayed in Ryan Murphy's "Love Story," the "Little House on the Prairie" reboot, and Catherine O'Hara's posthumous Actor Award. Join us here on Fridays at Noon Pacific.

Thanks for being here! Make sure to join us Tuesday at Noon Pacific for our Oscar predictions livestream with Glenn Whipp from the LA Times: https://youtube.com/live/PTrb9bx-d4E?feature=share