The Big Picture: The 2025 Alternative Oscars, a.k.a. the 5th Annual Big Picks!

Release Date: February 25, 2025

In this engaging episode of The Big Picture, hosts Sean Fennessy and Amanda Dobbins delve deep into the 2025 awards season, dissecting recent accolades, predicting Oscar outcomes, and presenting their unique take on the Alternative Oscars. The conversation is lively, filled with insightful analyses, humorous banter, and a rotating cast of Ringer colleagues contributing to the discussion.

1. Recap of Recent Awards Shows

SAG Awards Insights

The episode begins with a thorough discussion of the recent SAG Awards, highlighting unexpected outcomes and their potential impact on the Oscar race.

• Best Ensemble Award: Sean remarks, “Best ensemble went to Conclave. This is not the most predictive award” (06:25). Amanda contemplates its significance, noting the preferential ballot system may influence its Oscar potential differently this year.

• Timothee Chalamet’s SAG Win: Amanda shares excitement over Chalamet finally winning an award, despite initial skepticism about his speech (13:15). Sean praises his direct approach, stating, “He is striving for greatness and that’s what I want” (15:19).

• Demi Moore’s Victory: The hosts discuss Demi Moore’s win and her prepared speech, contrasting it with the more spontaneous speeches typically seen at award shows. Amanda appreciates the polished delivery, while Sean reflects on the trend of well-written speeches in this era (22:57).

BAFTA and Other Guild Awards

Sean references BAFTA’s Best British Film win for Conclave and discusses other guild awards like Cinematographers Guild and Critics Choice, pondering their influence on the Oscars (27:34).

2. Amazon’s Acquisition of James Bond Creative Control

A significant portion of the conversation centers on Amazon’s acquisition of creative control over the James Bond franchise, igniting discussions on corporate influence in iconic film series.

• Sean expresses mixed feelings, “At least a third of the movies don't work at all” (38:52), reflecting skepticism about Amazon maintaining the franchise’s legacy.

• Amanda debates the implications, questioning whether Amazon can retain the creative integrity that Barbara Broccoli defended over decades (38:25).

The duo concludes that while Amazon’s takeover may dilute the franchise’s specialness, there’s a sliver of hope that Amazon will find a passionate steward to uphold the Bond legacy.

3. The Alternative Oscars: Big Picks

Transitioning from mainstream awards, Sean and Amanda introduce their 5th Annual Big Picks, a whimsical take on recognizing films and performances overlooked by the traditional Academy Awards.

Award Categories and Highlights

1. Best First Feature

   • Nominees:
     • Dee Dee – Directed by Sean Wong
     • First Omen – Directed by Arkasha Stevenson
     • Good One – Directed by India Donaldson
     • How to Have Sex – Directed by Molly Manning Walker
     • The Piano Lesson – Directed by Malcolm Washington
   • Winner: Dee Dee – Amanda states, “I think it’s my winner, too” (51:14).

2. Best Cameo

   • Nominees:
     • Matt Damon in Drive Away Dolls
     • Kid Cudi in Trap
     • Jesse Plemons in Civil War
     • Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel in Wicked
     • Jennifer Garner in Mean Girls: The Musical
   • Winner: Kid Cudi – “Kid Cudi was hilarious” (59:56)

3. Best Stunt Action Sequence

   • Nominees:
     • Adam vs. Lazarus
     • The Beekeeper
     • High Rise Raid from Civil War
     • The War Rig from Furiosa
     • Movie Theater from Twisters
   • Winner: The War Rig – Recognizing its exhilarating execution (72:00).

4. Best Ending

   • Nominees:
     • Juror Number Two
     • Other dramatic conclusions
   • Winner: Juror Number Two – Celebrated for its emotional depth (75:17).

5. Best Casting

   • Nominees:
     • Snack Shack
     • Last Stop at Yuma County
     • Blink Twice
   • Winner: Snack Shack – Praised for its cohesive ensemble (68:07).

6. Best Screenplay

   • Nominees:
     • Challengers – Justin Karitzkas
     • Hard Truths – Mike Lee
     • Hitman – Richard Linklater and Glen Powell
     • Ghost Light – Kelly O'Sullivan
     • A Different Man – Aaron Shinberg
   • Winner: Hitman – Recognizing its intricate storytelling (78:50).

7. Best Supporting Actor

   • Nominees:
     • Clarence Macklin in Sing Sing
     • Jesse Plemons in Civil War
     • Others including Marin Baptiste and Aubrey Plaza
   • Winner: Clarence Macklin – Acknowledged for his standout performance (83:47).

8. Best Director

   • Nominees:
     • Mike Cheslick for Hundreds of Beavers
     • Robert Eggers for Nosferatu
     • Luca Guadagnino for Challengers
     • Pascal Plant for Red Rooms
     • Helena Rain for Baby Girls
   • Winner: Helena Rain for Baby Girls – Celebrated for her visionary direction (92:24).

9. Best Picture

   • Nominees:
     • Challengers
     • Hard Truths
     • The Beast
     • A Different Man
     • Sing Sing
   • Winner: Challengers – Viewed as a transformative piece in the year’s cinema (97:15).

4. Notable Quotes and Moments

Throughout the episode, Sean and Amanda share memorable quotes that encapsulate their perspectives:

• Sean on Diverse Award Recognition: “How do you think Siskel would have handled a call-in episode? Because that's basically what's going on here” (106:43).

• Amanda on Emotional Connection in Film: “It's a very real movie... it's a very complex, deep, but also very simple, like 90-minute character study” (90:30).

• Sean's Reflection on Alternative Awards: “We are just doing our version of it. Might get a little silly” (107:07).

5. Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes

As the episode wraps up, Sean and Amanda tease their upcoming live YouTube session where they will predict the Academy Awards, inviting listeners to join them for real-time discussions and aftermath analyses of the Oscar telecast.

• Amanda Expresses Anticipation: “Looking forward to that episode. Should be a lot of fun” (105:02).

• Sean Encourages Live Interaction: “You can send questions... We are catered by whatever’s in the fridge here at Spotify” (105:59).

The hosts close with light-hearted banter about their favorite moments, listener interactions, and the intricate balance of maintaining a professional yet entertaining discourse on film and awards.

Conclusion

In "The 2025 Alternative Oscars," Sean Fennessy and Amanda Dobbins offer a refreshing and humorous take on the awards season, celebrating films and performances that often slip under the mainstream radar. Their Big Picks serve not only as a fun alternative but also as a platform to highlight diverse and deserving talents within the film industry. This episode is a must-listen for movie enthusiasts looking to explore beyond the conventional accolades and appreciate the broader spectrum of cinematic excellence.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Sean Fennessy: “Best ensemble went to Conclave. This is not the most predictive award” (06:25)
2. Amanda Dobbins: “I think it’s my winner, too” (51:14)
3. Amanda Dobbins: “Kid Cudi was hilarious” (59:56)
4. Sean Fennessy: “He is striving for greatness and that’s what I want” (15:19)
5. Amanda Dobbins: “Looking forward to that episode. Should be a lot of fun” (105:02)
6. Sean Fennessy: “We are just doing our version of it. Might get a little silly” (107:07)

Note: Timestamps are indicative and correspond to key moments in the transcript.