The New Yorker Radio Hour: Richard Brody Presents the 2025 Brody Awards

Hosted by David Remnick, and featuring critics Alexandra Schwartz and Richard Brody, this episode of "The New Yorker Radio Hour" delves into the cinematic landscape of the past year, culminating in the presentation of the exclusive Brody Awards.

Introduction to the Brody Awards

David Remnick opens the episode by introducing the Brody Awards, highlighting their distinction from the more widely recognized Academy Awards. He remarks, “The Brodies are far more exclusive and more coveted than the Oscars, of course, though they don't have the little statue guy to go with it” (00:46). Richard Brody confirms that the tradition has been ongoing for seven or eight years, with Alexandra Schwartz noting, “We’re getting close to a decade. It’s true” (01:27).

Oscar Predictions and the Contenders

The conversation begins with a discussion about potential Oscar favorites. Alexandra Schwartz emphasizes the film Brutalist, praising director Brady Courbet for maintaining creative control. She states, “He does not wish to, you know, compromise his filmmaking ideals to make a movie that might be more palatable to studios or to audiences for once” (02:21).

Richard Brody expresses skepticism about some Oscar nominations, particularly criticizing Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola. He notes, “Megalopolis has been reviewed for its publicity rather than for what’s actually on screen” (03:06).

Brody Awards Presentation

Best Actor

The nominees for Best Actor include Adam Driver (Megalopolis), Ethan Harisi (Nickel Boys), James Matteo (The Featherweight), Glen Powell (Hitman), and Jason Schwartzman (Between the Temples). Richard Brody announces Adam Driver as the winner, lauding him as “the actor of his generation” and commending his performance in Megalopolis (04:26). He remarks, “he brings a real, like, physicality, a real command to this role and takes this $120 million and essentially puts it on his back with the sheer force of his personality” (04:30).

Best Actress

The Best Actress category features Joanna Arno (That Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed), Maria Dizia (Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point), Leia Drucker (Last Summer), Carlo Sophia Gascon (Emilia Perez), and Carol Kane (Between the Temples). Maria D'Azia is declared the winner for her role in Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point. Brody praises her performance, stating, “That’s the way it’s always been and always will be... if not chaos, an insurrection” (09:07).

Best Director

Nominees for Best Director include Zia Anger (My First Film), Francis Ford Coppola (Megalopolis), Rommel Ross (Nickel Boys), Paul Schrader (O Canada), and Tyler Taormina (Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point). Rommel Ross takes the award for his innovative direction in Nickel Boys. Brody elaborates on the film’s unique perspective, explaining, “all the dramatic sequences are filmed from the point of view of one of its main characters” which “makes it seem to some viewers... somewhat unorthodox” (12:02).

Best Picture

The Best Picture nominees are Between the Temples, Blitz, Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point, The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed, Nickel Boys, Amelia, Paris, A Complete Unknown, Psy, Anora, The Brutalist Conclave, Dune Part Two, and I’m Still Here. Nickel Boys is awarded Best Picture, with Brody asserting, “Nickel Boys was really head and shoulders above the competition. It’s a film that I think will... mark the year in history” (16:13). Alexandra Schwartz echoes this sentiment, adding, “I love Nickel Boys. I think it’s a terrific movie and I wish more people had seen it” (16:21).

Discussion on Notable Films and Oscar Implications

Alexandra Schwartz brings attention to Anora, describing it as “insanely a Cinderella” story, though she doubts it will receive Oscar recognition. Brody concurs, criticizing the film's depth: “It’s a film about a sex worker that has very little to say about her life as a sex worker” (15:10).

The conversation also touches on Adrien Brody’s Oscar chances amidst controversy over AI-assisted accent enhancements in his performance. Schwartz points out that the use of generative AI has sparked debate about the authenticity of performances, questioning whether it impacts Oscar eligibility (05:17). Brody refers to this as “the brutalist versus the cutalist” (06:03), illustrating the industry's divide on AI's role in acting.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

As the discussion wraps up, Remnick and Schwartz reflect on the broader implications of the Brody Awards versus the Oscars, emphasizing the former’s focus on artistic integrity and innovation. Brody asserts the importance of films like Nickel Boys in shaping cinematic history, while Schwartz advocates for broader recognition of critically acclaimed works despite lack of mainstream awards.

David Remnick concludes the episode by noting the recognition of New Yorker-produced documentary shorts for Academy Awards, celebrating the synergy between WNYC Studios and The New Yorker in fostering high-quality cinematic content (17:01).

Notable Quotes

• David Remnick: “The Brodies are far more exclusive and more coveted than the Oscars, of course, though they don't have the little statue guy to go with it.” (00:46)

• Richard Brody: “Adam Driver is the actor of his generation. He's almost like John Wayne or Cary Grant.” (04:30)

• Alexandra Schwartz: “I think Demi Moore is in a special category. I think she is essentially sort of like the Joan Crawford of her generation.” (09:07)

• Richard Brody: “Nickel Boys was really head and shoulders above the competition. It’s a film that I think will... mark the year in history.” (16:13)

Final Remarks

Listeners can access Richard Brody's film critiques on The Front Row and Alexandra Schwartz's writings through The New Yorker's platform. The episode underscores the significance of niche awards like the Brody Awards in recognizing and celebrating cinematic excellence beyond mainstream accolades.

For more insightful conversations and award discussions, tune into future episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour.

Timestamp Reference:

• 00:46: Introduction of the episode by David Remnick
• 01:27: Alexandra Schwartz on the longevity of the Brody Awards
• 02:21: Discussion on Brady Courbet and Brutalist
• 03:06: Richard Brody's critique of Megalopolis
• 03:52: Richard Brody on Dune Part Two
• 04:26: Announcement of Best Actor winner
• 09:07: Richard Brody on Maria D'Azia’s win and Demi Moore’s nomination
• 12:02: Richard Brody on Best Director nominee Rommel Ross
• 15:10: Discussion on The Brutalist Conclave and Honora
• 16:13: Announcement of Best Picture winner
• 17:01: Conclusion and mention of documentary short nominations