2025 Oscar Nominations

Summary

Pop Culture Happy Hour Episode Summary: 2025 Oscar Nominations

Release Date: January 23, 2025

In this engaging episode of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, hosts Stephen Thompson, Linda Holmes, and Glenn Weldon delve into the 2025 Oscar nominations. Skipping over advertisements and other non-content segments, the trio offers a comprehensive analysis of the nominated films and performances, sharing their insights, appreciations, and frustrations with the Academy's choices.

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Introduction to the 2025 Oscar Nominations

Stephen Thompson kicks off the discussion by highlighting the diversity of the nominations, mentioning a mix of favorites, surprises, and notable snubs. He sets the stage for a deep dive into the major categories, emphasizing that while they won't predict winners in this episode, they'll explore the key storylines surrounding the nominees.

"As always, there's an eclectic mix of heavy favorites, left field surprises and the dreaded snubs."
— Linda Holmes [00:28]

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Best Picture

The Best Picture category features a diverse array of films, each bringing unique narratives and themes to the table:

1. "A Complete Unknown"

   • Timothée Chalamet stars as a young Bob Dylan, exploring his rise to fame.

2. "Honora"

   • Directed by Sean Baker, the film centers on a sex worker's marriage to a Russian oligarch, introducing complex familial dynamics.

3. "The Brutalist"

   • Starring Adrien Brody, this film portrays a fictional Jewish Hungarian architect relocating to the U.S. post-World War II.

4. "Conclave"

   • A twisty narrative about the secretive process of replacing a Pope, with Ralph Fiennes leading as the cardinal.

5. "Part 2"

   • Another installment featuring Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, battling the Harkonnens for planetary control.

6. "Emilia Perez"

   • Follows a trans Mexican cartel boss's journey towards a new life, portrayed by Sophia Gascoyne.

7. "Nickel Boys"

   • A poignant tale of two black boys forging a bond at a segregated reform school during the Jim Crow era.

8. "The Substance"

   • Demi Moore plays an aerobics instructor resorting to a black market drug to maintain her spotlight.

9. "Wicked"

   • A prequel to The Wizard of Oz, this musical explores the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West, featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Host Reactions:

Glenn Weldon expresses enthusiasm for the inclusion of "The Substance", noting its departure from traditional Best Picture contenders and celebrating the Academy's shift towards a younger and more diverse voter pool.

"I'm delighted to see the substance here. It is the weirdest Best picture nomination since, you know, last year with Poor Things."
— Glenn Weldon [03:11]

Linda Holmes shares her admiration for Demi Moore and The Brutalist, while also expressing confusion over the exclusion of smaller films like "Challengers".

"I was really glad that [Nickel Boys] made it in. But there are other ones, you know, I know we all hear, I think are fans of Challengers, the Luca Guadagnino movie that did not make it in."
— Linda Holmes [05:03]

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Best Actress in a Leading Role

The nominees for Best Actress showcase a blend of established talents and groundbreaking performances:

1. Cynthia Erivo for "Wicked" as Elphaba.
2. Demi Moore for "The Substance" as an aerobics instructor.
3. Fernanda Torres for "I'm Still Here" as a mother and activist.
4. Mikey Madison for "Honora" as a New York sex worker.
5. Sophia Gascoyne for "Emilia Perez" as the titular trans cartel leader.

Host Insights:

Glenn Weldon applauds Sophia Gascoyne for making history as the first openly trans person nominated in this category, while also highlighting Mikey Madison's standout performance.

"Props to Gascoigne, the first openly trans person of any gender to be nominated for an acting Oscar."
— Glenn Weldon [08:03]

Linda Holmes points out the category's strengths and its inclusivity, though she questions the placement of co-leads like Ariana Grande.

"Ariana Grande has no business in this category. She's a co-lead. That is very sure."
— Linda Holmes [22:15]

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Best Actor in a Leading Role

The Best Actor nominations include a range of powerful performances:

1. Adrien Brody for "The Brutalist" as a visionary Hungarian architect.
2. Colman Domingo for "Sing Sing" as an incarcerated man finding purpose through theater.
3. Ralph Fiennes for "Conclave" as the cardinal overseeing the papal selection.
4. Sebastian Stan for "The Apprentice" as a young Donald Trump.
5. Timothée Chalamet for "A Complete Unknown" as Bob Dylan.

Host Perspectives:

Glenn Weldon praises Adrien Brody's layered performance, emphasizing the humanity he brings to the role.

"It's so human and layered. And there's a scene where we have a point of view shot... such tenderness."
— Glenn Weldon [10:38]

Linda Holmes champions Colman Domingo for his role in "Sing Sing", highlighting the film's unique casting and emotional depth.

"My favorite nominee in this category is Colman Domingo in Sing Sing... I love Colman Domingo and will watch him in literally anything."
— Linda Holmes [11:33]

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Best Supporting Actor

The Best Supporting Actor category features a mix of veteran actors and impactful newcomers:

1. Edward Norton for "A Complete Unknown" as Pete Seeger.
2. Guy Pearce for "The Brutalist" as a wealthy industrialist.
3. Jeremy Strong for "The Apprentice" as Roy Cohn.
4. Kieran Culkin for "A Real Pain" as Benji.
5. Yura Borisova for "Honora" as a Russian henchman.

Discussion Highlights:

Linda Holmes criticizes the nomination of Kieran Culkin in a supporting role, arguing that his performance warranted a lead category due to the film's structure.

"That is very sure. If there have ever been co leads, there are co leads in this movie."
— Linda Holmes [22:15]

Glenn Weldon commends Guy Pearce, acknowledging his career choices while appreciating his performance in this nomination.

"I think if he gets some props here, that's good for him, man."
— Glenn Weldon [18:25]

Stephen Thompson lauds Yura Borisova for his measured and subtle performance, emphasizing the quiet strength he brings to the role.

"He was certainly expected to be. But this is not necessarily the kind of performance that always gets Oscar nominations."
— Stephen Thompson [19:00]

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Best Supporting Actress

The nominees for Best Supporting Actress present a dynamic range of characters:

1. Ariana Grande for "Wicked" as Galinda.
2. Felicity Jones for "The Brutalist" as the architect's wife.
3. Isabella Rossellini for "Conclave" as a strategic nun.
4. Monica Barbaro for "A Complete Unknown" as Joan Baez.
5. Zoe Saldana for "Emilia Perez" as a lawyer aiding a cartel leader.

Hosts' Opinions:

Glenn Weldon appreciates Ariana Grande's unexpected comedic turn, finding her performance more enjoyable than anticipated.

"Ariana Grande had a great comic turn. She surprised me."
— Glenn Weldon [21:24]

Linda Holmes voices her disagreement with nominating Zoe Saldana in this category, advocating for performances like Angenou Ellis in "Nickel Boys".

"Angenou Ellis, who is in Nickel Boys and is wonderful... she's wonderful in it."
— Linda Holmes [23:14]

Stephen Thompson defends Monica Barbaro's portrayal of Joan Baez, praising her ability to infuse depth into what he perceives as an underwritten role.

"I really love this performance and felt like she brought an edge to it that it needed."
— Stephen Thompson [23:30]

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Best Directing

The Best Directing nominations reflect a mixture of seasoned filmmakers and fresh voices:

1. Brady Courbet for "The Brutalist"
2. Coralie Farja for "The Substance"
3. Jacques Odillard for "Emilia Perez"
4. James Mangold for "A Complete Unknown"
5. Sean Baker for "Honora"

Host Evaluations:

Glenn Weldon commends Sean Baker for his consistent output and recognition, marking a significant milestone in his career.

"I'm so happy for Sean Baker. This is the first time he's actually gotten any kind of recognition."
— Glenn Weldon [25:30]

Linda Holmes expresses disappointment over Romel Ross of "Nickel Boys" not receiving a nomination and praises Coralie Farja for her direction in "The Substance".

"I am delighted by the Farja nomination for the Substance... horror directors not commonly nominated for Oscars in present day."
— Linda Holmes [25:34]

Stephen Thompson underscores the importance of Farja's direction in navigating the film's tricky tone and structure, celebrating her striking directorial choices.

"Her direction is so striking. It is such a great film to look at."
— Stephen Thompson [26:21]

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Notable Snubs and Additional Commentary

Throughout the discussion, the hosts touch upon performances and films they believe deserved nominations but were overlooked:

• "Challengers" by Luca Guadagnino did not receive recognition despite its critical acclaim.
• Marianne Jean Baptiste's performance in "Hard Truths" was highlighted as deserving a nomination, with special emphasis on her challenging role.
• Jesse Eisenberg in "A Real Pain" was mentioned as a missed opportunity for a nomination, despite delivering a nuanced performance.

Linda Holmes voices her frustration with category placements, especially concerning Kieran Culkin, arguing that some performances were relegated to supporting roles without merit.

"I'm not gonna say I don't think he should have been nominated, but I don't think he should have been nominated in this category."
— Linda Holmes [16:55]

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Conclusion

In wrapping up the episode, Stephen Thompson and the hosts acknowledge that their discussion is just the beginning of an ongoing conversation about the Oscars. They encourage listeners to share their thoughts and continue the dialogue as the Oscars season progresses toward the ceremony in March.

"This is, of course, just the beginning of our month and a half long discussion of a bunch of these films."
— Stephen Thompson [27:02]

The hosts express gratitude to their subscribers and remind listeners of the benefits of supporting the podcast through Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus, emphasizing an ad-free listening experience.

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This episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour offers listeners a thorough and candid examination of the 2025 Oscar nominations, blending critical analysis with personal reflections. Whether you're a film aficionado or a casual movie-goer, the hosts provide valuable insights into the year's cinematic achievements and the ever-evolving landscape of award recognitions.

Transcript

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[Stephen Thompson]

This year's Oscar nominations are out. And if you liked Amelia Pettis, Honora, Wicked, the Brutalist and a complete unknown, then you're in luck.

[Linda Holmes]

As always, there's an eclectic mix of heavy favorites, left field surprises and the dreaded snubs. And we've got thoughts. I'm Linda Holmes.

[Stephen Thompson]

And I'm Stephen Thompson. Today we are talking about this year's Oscar nominations on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. Here with us is our co host Glenn Weldon. Hey, Glen.

[Glenn Weldon]

Hey, Steven. It's a wonderful night for Oscar, Oscar, Oscar. Who will win?

[Stephen Thompson]

Who will win? Well, we're not going to talk about who will win right now. We're talking about the nominees and we're going to run down a bunch of the major categories here. We cannot not possibly get to every category. And remember, we're gonna bring you our predictions in an episode that'll run closer to March's ceremony. But we did wanna give you a broad sense of this year's major storylines while also lamenting a few decisions we found baffling, like the exclusion of the challengers score, which I'm still so mad about.

[Linda Holmes]

You're getting ahead of me, Steven.

[Stephen Thompson]

We're gonna start with best picture. I'm gonna run him down. A complete unknown. Timothee Chalamet plays a young Bob Dylan. The movie follows his rise. Sean Baker's movie about an enterprising sex worker who marries an immature young man, to say the least. Her new in laws turn out to be Russian oligarchs and they're not happy. The brutalist Adrien Brody plays a fictional Jewish Hungarian architect who relocates to the United States after World War II. Conclave is a fun and twisty look at the secretive process by which a pope is replaced. Ralph Fiennes plays the cardinal leading the process. Part 2. Timothee Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides and must now contend with a group called the Harkonnens who have seized seized control of the planet. Emilia Perez is about a trans Mexican cartel boss who disappears from the criminal underworld and eventually reunites with her family after creating a new life as a woman. Glenn and Linda particularly love this.

[Linda Holmes]

Oh, stop.

[Stephen Thompson]

I'm still here. Set in 1970s Brazil when it was under a military dictatorship, the Film tells the true story of a mother dealing with the disappearance of her politician husband. Nickel Boys. The story of two black boys who form an unshakable bond at a segregated reform school in the Jim Crow South. The substance. Demi Moore plays an aerobics instructor who wants to stay in the spotlight, so she turns to a strange black market drug and wicked. Set before the events of the wizard of Oz, this musical is the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. It stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Gang, what did you think of this very eclectic field? I'm gonna just kick us off by saying I appreciate how few historical dramas, like biopic style historical dramas are in this field. This is an eclectic field which includes the Substance, among others.

[Glenn Weldon]

I'm delighted to see the substance here. It is the weirdest Best picture nomination since, you know, last year with Poor Things. I mean, I'm gonna go into my whole thing about how in years past, it wasn't so long ago that a weird body horror movie like the Substance would never have gotten a Best picture nom. It would have gotten a screenplay nom, because that's usually where they kind of relegate the weird stuff. But, you know, the fact that this is getting such mainstream buzz and, yeah, I'm delighted to see it here, it's probably indicative that the Academy has taken steps to skew its voter pool a little younger and a little bit more diverse because I don't think the staid old white dudes of past years would have let that in.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah, I was delighted, too. I am a big F of Demi Moore. You know, I love a new chapter. I was really hesitant to watch this because I have, like, a Squick issue sometimes, but I really did find it powerful and interesting. There are definitely some things on here that I, you know, was not a fan of. As you said, I am not an Emilia Perez person. I don't get it. And I say that as a person who. Who loves a musical, but not this musical. You know, I think Wicked is a good, splashy movie. I'm happy about that. I certainly really like and admire the Brutalist, even though it's a tough film to watch. I think Conclave is fun.

[Stephen Thompson]

Conclave is a fun movie.

[Linda Holmes]

I think once you accept that this movie is not a super serious Pope.

[Stephen Thompson]

Movie, I'm so glad it's not. That's one of the best things about it.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah, absolutely. But what it is is kind of a, you know, gossipy kind of movie. I think once you get past that, it is a really fun Movie I really liked Nickel Boys. I was very glad that made it in. But there are other ones, you know, I know we all hear, I think are fans of Challengers, the Luca Guadagnino movie that did not make it in. And I was sad about that. A real pain with Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I really liked A Real Pain a lot.

[Linda Holmes]

Like I get that it's not like a radical movie. It's like a. It's a road movie with a couple of people talking mostly. But I loved that film. I thought it was really well done. It makes me a little bit bummed that that didn't get in. And especially Sing Sing, which is one of my favorites of the year. Delighted Colman Domingo got nominated. Little sad the movie did not get nominated in this category.

[Glenn Weldon]

Yeah, to your point, Stephen, this is an eclectic list, but it is in terms of topics. It's pretty standard Oscar best Picture Oscar stuff because they all deal in very different ways at a slant with big heavy socio political themes in different ways. But Challengers didn't a Challengers came out way back in April.

[Linda Holmes]

I think that's the problem.

[Glenn Weldon]

That's the problem. But yet Dune, which came out in March, made it in now maybe. I just think Challengers is the kind of small, intimate, sexy, sweaty movie that just doesn't get Best Picture attention. That's a snub. A good old fashioned snub.

[Stephen Thompson]

I really appreciate, Glenn, you bringing up that even a lot of the movies that feel left field here still have an Oscarsy ness to them. I mean it's interesting. The substance which is such a wild, gnarly, grody movie still is hitting a lot of themes that are playing very well to an Oscars crowd. This is very much a film that underlines its themes. And those themes include like aging and the exploitation of actresses.

[Linda Holmes]

Sure. But they can't have thought that at the time nobody started making this movie being like it's gonna get nominated for best Picture. I just don't believe it.

[Glenn Weldon]

Yeah. One last note about Emilia Perez. That is gonna go down in history as the green book of this year. This is a very ham fisted trans story. Have never met a trans person. This is the film that's going to resonate with you and make you think, you know, trans people. And just to give it its props, it earned 13 nominations. It sets the record for the most nominations for a non English language film for this film to nearly tie the record 14 nominations. That films like Titanic and La La Land and frickin All About Eve. Got that is. Something is way off here.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

All right, well, that's best Picture. Next up, actress in a leading role. I'm going to run down the nominations again. Cynthia Erivo for Wicked. Erivo plays Elphaba in the origin story about the Wicked Witch of the West. Demi Moore for the Substance. Moore plays a TV aerobics instructor who turns to a mysterious black market drug to stay young. Fernanda Torres for I'm Still Here. Torres plays a mother and activist whose life is upturned when her politician husband goes missing during the military dictatorship in Brazil. Mikey Madison for Honora. Madison plays a New York sex worker who marries the son of Russian oligarchs. And Carla. Sophia Gascoyne for Emilia Perez. Gascogne plays the titular Emilia Perez, a trans cartel leader who leaves the criminal underworld to begin a new life. What are Yalls thoughts?

[Glenn Weldon]

I mean, props to Gascoigne, the first openly trans person of any gender to be nominated for an acting Oscar. That's a record. Elliot Page was not yet out as trans when he received his acting nomination for juno back in 2008. That's the distinction here. Good for her. The performance that leaps out at me most here is Mikey Madison's in Anora. I wasn't familiar with her before. I had not seen better things, but, boy, I am familiar with her now. I'm going to be seeking her out.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah, I understand for sure why people like this performance so much. I was again, somewhat mixed on that movie, but I absolutely understand the appreciation for her work. That performance in Honora is mesmerizing. This is one of the categories where there also is a performance I have not seen yet, which is Fernanda Torres. And I'm still here. But I am always glad to see the embrace in major categories of films that are not in English in general. I think that is a good trend. Also, I love Demi Moore. I have loved Demi Moore for a long time and thought she was a good actor. I'm delighted for her. And, you know, Cynthia Erivo probably is nominated here largely for the last 10 minutes of Wicked, which I think is fine. And listen, she did the thing. So, yeah, this is a solid batch. Again, not an Emilia Perez person, but, you know, solid batch of nominations, I think.

[Stephen Thompson]

Right.

[Linda Holmes]

And we should probably mention one of the misses here, Marianne Jean Baptiste, in the Mike Lee film Hard Truths. Glenn, I know you are a big fan of that performance.

[Glenn Weldon]

Yeah. I mean, that character is so difficult to watch and so unpleasant such that it makes the film nearly unwatchable. But Turns out that nearly is all important there. The nearly is all in Baptiste's performance. Because even as you, you would cross a room to get away from this person. If you met her in real life, you are still fascinated by her. And that's all in the Baptiste performance. And it's a shame that that got not noticed today.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

All right, next up, actor in a leading role. We've got Adrien Brody for the Brutalist. Brody plays a visionary Hungarian architect who moves to America to rebuild his life after World War II. Colman Domingo for Sing Sing. Domingo plays an incarcerated man who finds purpose by acting in a theater group. Ralph Fiennes for Conclave. Fiennes plays the cardinal managing the process of finding a new Pope. Sebastian Stan for the Apprentice. Stan plays a young Donald Trump establishing his career in real estate and his relationship with attorney Roy Cohn. And Timothee Chalamet for a complete unknown. You might have heard he plays Bob Dylan. What do y'all think?

[Glenn Weldon]

I mean, I wasn't always, you know, an Adrien Brody guy, but, man, I liked his performance in the Brutalist.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah, I did too.

[Glenn Weldon]

It's so human and layered. And there's a scene where we have a point of view shot. Somebody steps up to him while he's working away at a drafting table, and he just turns to the person and looks at them with such tenderness. And I was like, oh, there's the astronomy right there.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah, I was a fan of this film, too. My favorite nominee in this category is Colman Domingo in Sing Sing, which, as I already mentioned, is a movie I really love. As people know, a bunch of this cast is made up of formerly incarcerated people who were part of this theater group and are playing in the film, essentially versions of themselves. And Colman Domingo was brought in as a. A more traditionally established actor, and the rapport that he had with that cast was wonderful. I'm very fond of this movie for a bunch of reasons, and I love Colman Domingo and will watch him in literally anything.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, anything.

[Linda Holmes]

I feel like this movie had this really slow rollout and kind of got a little bit lost in the shuffle for some people. If it got lost in the shuffle for you, seek it out. It's wonderful. Chalamet, listen evoked Bob Dylan adequately, I think. I was not blown away by the movie, but he took on a very, very difficult part. And once I started to hear a lot of discussion of how much time he spent preparing to do the performances, I was worried that we were gonna be looking at a Bradley Cooper learning to conduct situation. But I did think this paid off much better than that. I hugely respect that he did the singing. Listen, that's a gigantic thing to bite off. And props to him, even if it wasn't my favorite movie.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I definitely don' we should look past how badly it could have gone. And I think that's one thing that's sometimes worth taking into consideration where if this person messes this up, you have ruined the entire movie. And he beyond does not mess it up.

[Linda Holmes]

Safe to say that is the case with a complete unknown.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, and safe to say he doesn't. He acquits himself extremely well. And also to the point where, like when he's brought in to host snl, they also have him as the musical guest. I think that speaks to how much he committed. And I'm glad y'all like this Adrien Brody performance in the Brutalist. It's definitely a very Oscars type, big sweeping performance, but he brings a lot of humanity to that performance. I do think this is a strong field. We should acknowledge a couple of the people who were considered contenders who did not get nominations, including Jesse Eisenberg in the Wonderful A Real Pain. I think he is really, really great in that movie.

[Linda Holmes]

It's the less showy performance, but it's kind of similar to what I giant fan I was of Tom Cruise in Rain Man. And he didn't wind up being the one who got awarded for that. Dustin Hoffman did, which fine, absolutely get it. The Oscars are what they are. But he was sort of holding that movie up in a lot of ways just as much. And in the same way, the Kieran Culkin performance is so, I think, really is fabulous. We'll talk about it more later. But Jesse Eisenberg is doing some really wonderfully nuanced, I think, work here without which the film, the movie could not exist and without which the Culkin performance could not exist.

[Glenn Weldon]

He's the linchpin. He's the structure of the movie. You need him desperately and you need him to not overshadow or even attempt to overshadow, which he doesn't do.

[Stephen Thompson]

And there are those who would say that Sebastian Stan was nominated for the wrong movie. I have not seen the Apprentice, but his work in A Different man has been highly, highly acclaimed. I think there is a world in which people thinking about this nomination might think of it as just Sebastian Stan's year at the movies and he's getting nominated for that. He's been a terrific actor for a long time. I'm very glad to see him nominated. You know I haven't seen the Apprentice yet, so we'll just leave it at that. So we're going to talk about supporting actor, supporting actress and best directing. But first let's take a quick break.

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[Stephen Thompson]

Next up, we're gonna talk about actor in a supporting role. I'm gonna run down the nominations. Edward Norton for a Complete Unknown. Norton plays singer songwriter Pete Seeger. Guy Pierce for the Brutalist. Pierce plays the wealthy and prominent industrialist who enlists Adrien Brody's character to build a lavish community center. Jeremy Strong for the Apprentice. Strong plays lawyer Roy Cohn who develops a relationship with a young Donald Trump. Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain. Culkin plays the adrift Benji who goes on a Holocaust tour of Poland with his cousin and Yura Borisov for Honora. Borisov plays a Russian henchman. Let's talk about this very eclectic field.

[Linda Holmes]

Okay, so the first thing that I want to talk about a little bit is category fraud because I love Kieran Culkin's performance in A Real Pain. But in no way is it a supporting performance. That is a movie with two leads. And it is a real bummer to me that they put him in this category, presumably to avoid having the two leads compete with each other. And then Jesse Eisenberg wasn't nominated anyway. So in some ways it doesn't matter. I understand that the category fraud thing sometimes feels like it is only interesting to industry people and journalists, but in this case, for example, I was talking about Sing Sing earlier. Clarence Macklin, who is one of the guys who plays like a version of himself in Sing Sing. It also helped out with the script and did a lot of work on the film, should have been nominated in this category as a supporting actor, and he's not. And one spot in this thing was taken up by Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain, who is not a supporting actor and Clarence Macklin is. It frustrates me in that way just because I love Kieran Culkin. I'm not gonna say I don't think he should have been nominated, but I don't think he should have been nominated in this category. Borisov is an interesting one because to me, he's asked to hold up the entirety of the compassion anyone shows for anyone else through the entirety of that film, which is a very heavy load. It's not completely clear at the beginning when you first start to see him, how important he is to the way that the film unfolds. I think that's a really difficult role. I was certainly very glad that he was there, and I think he's excellent in it.

[Glenn Weldon]

And Guy Pearce has a long career of doing great, solid work, but he's made some weird choices over the course of his career. I think if he gets some props here, that's good for him, man.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. I really like Guy Pearce's career. Overall. This is not my favorite performance of his. I think it's. This performance is going big in a way that didn't entirely work for me.

[Linda Holmes]

It's a little mustache twirly.

[Glenn Weldon]

It's a great mustache, though.

[Linda Holmes]

But I do think they also get at the point that somebody like this can be very appealing at the beginning of your association with them. And I think he does a good job of sort of showing how that might be the case. It's a big performance.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. Yura Borisoff. I'm so glad he's nominated here. He was certainly expected to be. But this is not necessarily the kind of performance that always gets Oscar nominations. The fact that there is a quietude to the. That he's doing so much acting with small glances, with small acknowledgments, with eyebrows and stuff. This is a really measured, terrific performance, and I'm really glad to see it nominated here. And, you know, we've been talking about this category for a minute. We haven't mentioned Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, even. Linda, I know you're not a big fan of this movie. I like this movie more than you did. And I particularly. We'll get to Monica Barbaro in a second. I really loved Edward Norton in this film. I think he evokes such Pete Seegerness in a way that is crucial. The fact that this movie is not just about Bob Dylan. And it takes a moment to actually be about other musicians who kind of serve as foils for Bob Dylan. And I think Norton, this could have been such a caricature.

[Linda Holmes]

Yes.

[Stephen Thompson]

This could have been such an uninteresting performance. I think he's terrific.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah, I do, too. This is my favorite thing about this film is this performance. I have spent a lot of time in my life listening to Pete Seeger and watching Pete Seeger and saw Pete Seeger perform. It felt almost kind of homey to me to hear, you know, somebody evoking somebody who is so meaningful to me. But I think that as we talked about a little bit with Borisov, although those are very different performances.

[Stephen Thompson]

Very different.

[Linda Holmes]

He brings a lot of the kind of the gentleness to the film and a lot of the kind of emotional complexity, I think.

[Stephen Thompson]

All right, next up, actress in a supporting role, Ariana Grande for Wicked. She plays Galinda, the good witch. Felicity Jones for the Brutalist. Jones plays the wife of a famed architect who reunites with him in America. Isabella Rossellini for Conclave. She plays a strategic nun who works at the Vatican. Monica Barbaro for a Complete Unknown. Barbaro plays singer songwriter Joan Baez as she navigates her relationship with Bob Dylan. And speaking of category fraud, Zoe Saldana for Emilia. Saldana plays a lawyer who helps a Mexican cartel leader find a new identity and life. This was a very crowded field going in. There are any of probably 10 performances could have been credibly nominated here. These are the five we got. What did you think of this field?

[Glenn Weldon]

Well, look, if you're one of those people who's complaining about the presence of Isabella Rossellini on this list. Oh, she's only in it for five minutes. Oh, she only makes a few expressions. I mean, yeah, she denched. She. Judy denched it. She totally Judi Denched. I'm fine with it because there is not much that she's on screen. But it's important that everybody is deathly afraid of this character. And you see why in just her few minutes on screen. It's also Isabella Rossellini. I mean, I'm not complaining about that. Yeah, Ariana Grande had a great comic turn. I think this is a really good pick. I think she was a lot more fun than certainly I was expecting her to be. She surprised a lot of people. She surprised me.

[Linda Holmes]

I again, Ariana Grande has no business in this category. She's a co lead. That is very sure. If there have ever been co leads, there are co leads in this movie.

[Stephen Thompson]

But also Amelia Pettis, I mean, Zoe Saldana in this category is ridiculous.

[Linda Holmes]

I was just gonna say also Zooey Saldana, who is another person who I have really enjoyed the kind of the expansion of her career. Happy for her. Delighted for Ariana Grande. Again, she's a co lead. Perhaps if she had been correctly nominated in lead, you might have gotten a nomination for one of the other really deserving actual supporting performances. Like Angenou Ellis, who is in Nickel Boys and is wonderful. She has one scene in particular where she just has to hold the screen very firmly on her own for a significant period of time. As a character that you don't necessarily know real well before that, she's wonderful in it. I also think it's interesting that the Demi Moore performance, which is real big in the substance, has been, I think, given its due, a little bit more than the Margaret Qualley performance, which is.

[Stephen Thompson]

She's really good.

[Linda Holmes]

Not quite as like big and grody, but it is also, I think, really smart. She is a terrific young actress, if you have not watched Maid on Netflix. She is in. She is fantastic in that.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I'm kind of all over the place on this particular field. I love Felicity Jones. Tend to really love her when she turns up. I wasn't that crazy about this performance in the Brutalist.

[Linda Holmes]

This is a little bit the historical wife.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. To me, this. It's where the movie starts to go off the rails when she shows up, which is not her fault. But at the same time, I think I'm higher on this Monica Barbaro performance than maybe Linda is.

[Linda Holmes]

I mean, to me that's also, figuratively speaking, that's also historical wife. Woman who exists mostly as a reflection of this guy. Which bothers me in this case because Joan Bias is and was at that time a very important performer and writer and figure in folk music in her own Right. And was not mostly a person who stood around looking at Bob Dylan. And that bugged me a little bit, I guess. I don't necessarily think she's bad. It's just not the kind of role that I love.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. And I come back to some of the same stuff we were saying about Timothee Chalamet, though she does a marvelous job doing her own singing here. I think this was maybe a little bit of an underwritten role that she transcended the writing of. I really love this performance and felt like she brought an edge to it that it needed. All right, finally, we are going to talk about the field of best directing. The nominees are Brady Courbet for the Brutalist, Coralie Farja for the Substance, Jacques Odillard for Emilia Perez, James Mangold for A Complete Unknown, and Sean Baker for Anora. This gives you maybe somewhat of a sense of what the frontrunners are for Best Picture, am I right?

[Glenn Weldon]

Yeah. And also good job on all those French pronunciations. Courbet, Fauger, Eau de Jarde. It's a pretty French feel. Monsieur Mangold, Becceur. I am so happy for Sean Baker. This is the first time he's actually gotten any kind of recognition. He's been churning out great work. He got four nominations this year for Honora, so, yeah, good for him. And he's the guy pulling.

[Linda Holmes]

Yeah. To me, sad about Romel Ross, who directed Nickel Boys.

[Stephen Thompson]

Super Nickel Boys. Yeah.

[Linda Holmes]

This is not a category we're covering. But they also didn't nominate the cinematography for Nickel Boys, which I think is bizarre. It's, again, formally a really interesting film. I would have certainly nominated him over. I don't want to keep ragging on Emilia Perez, but that's how I feel. But, you know, there's none of these. I mean, I'm delighted by the Farja nomination for the Substance. Again, horror directors not commonly nominated for Oscars in present day. And that movie, again, is another one where if the directing doesn't work in that film, the whole thing goes to hell. Because it has a very tricky tone. It's trying to do. It has a very tricky structure. It's trying to do. So I'm delighted by. You know, I'm delighted by that nomination.

[Stephen Thompson]

I really am, too. I mean, the film is very flawed, but, I mean, her direction is so striking. It is such a great film to look at. So I'm really, really, really glad that she made this field. This certainly was, obviously, given that there are 10 nominees for best picture, obviously this is going to be a crowded field. There are going to be a bunch of films that could have easily been strong contenders here. I'm a little surprised to see James Mangold in this category over someone like a John M. Chu for Wicked or like Denis Villeneuve for Dune Part 2. Remember, Villeneuve didn't get nominated for best director for Dune Part one either, even though. Talk about a heavy lift.

[Glenn Weldon]

Yeah. And it's surprising. And Mangold is, you know, a journeyman. He's been churning stuff out as well. But yeah, I mean, he's getting his props now. Good for him. But yeah, I did miss Villanova in this particular field.

[Stephen Thompson]

So this is, of course, just the beginning of our month and a half long discussion of a bunch of these films. We want to know what you think about the 2025 Oscar nominations. Find [e-mail] PCHH that brings us to the end of our show. Linda Holmes, Glenn Weldon, thanks so much for being here.

[Linda Holmes]

Thank you, Ben.

[Glenn Weldon]

Thank you.

[Stephen Thompson]

We want to take a moment to thank our Pop Culture Happy Hour plus subscribers. We appreciate you so much for showing your support of npr. If you haven't signed up yet, want to show your support and listen to this show without any sponsor breaks, head over to plus.npr.org happyhour or visit the link in our show notes. This episode was produced by Hafsa Fathoma and Mike Katsif and edited by Jessica Reedy. And hello. Come in provides our theme music. Thank you for listening to Pop Culture Happy Hour from npr. I'm Stephen Thompson and we will see you all tomorrow.

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[Glenn Weldon]

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