The AwardsWatch Podcast

Podcasts from AwardsWatch on the Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes, SAG and more.

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 136 - 'Rules Don't Apply' (Warren Beatty, 2016) 01/22/2026

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 136 - 'Rules Don't Apply' (Warren Beatty, 2016) On episode 136 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by AwardsWatch contributor Trace Sauveur to discuss the final film in their Warren Beatty series, Rules Don't Apply (2016). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. In a Howard Hughes like move, for close to two decades, the world got used to see Warren Beatty more as the arm candy for his wife at award shows and less so as a direct. But in the mid-2010s, Beatty finally got back to the director chair to make his long-awaited dream project, a film about the famous Hughes. It was a box office, critical disaster of epic proportions, but in the time of its release, and in the process of going over his directorial achievements, it’s a bittersweet ending (potentially) to one of the most curious figures in Hollywood history, with the film becoming a meta commentary on where the world and Beatty see himself; it’s really the films only redeeming quality. Ryan, Jay, and Trace break down the film, their thoughts on it, how Beatty mirrors Hughes later years, how it almost continues the story after the events of The Aviator, cream jeans, the cinemas in the greater Georgia area, the 2016 Oscar fiasco, whose fault it really was, some justice for Alden Ehrenreich, and a mention or two about Rob Lowe singing with Snow White at the Oscars (yes, it really happened). Plus, the guys give out their rankings of the Beatty series and preview their next movie series starting next week. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 2h08m. The guys will be back next week to begin their series on the films of Chantal Akerman with a review of her first film, Je Tu Il Elle (1974). You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39843390

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 329 - 98th Oscar Nominations Reactions: For Good 01/22/2026

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 328 - Reviewing '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' with Special Guest Christina Jeurling Birro 01/19/2026

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 327 - Final Oscar Nomination Predictions for the 98th Academy Awards 01/19/2026

Director Watch Ep. 135 - 'Bulworth' (Warren Beatty, 1998) 01/16/2026

Director Watch Ep. 135 - 'Bulworth' (Warren Beatty, 1998) On episode 135 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by Pop Culture Confidential host Christina Jeurling Birro to discuss the next film in their Warren Beatty series, Bulworth (1998). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. The year was 1998, and politics were on the mind, as in the same year as his old friend Elaine May was working with Mike Nichols on Primary Colors, Beatty was making his own political commentary; one that was sure to be one of the more controversial films within the director’s filmography. As Beatty grew tired and frustrated by the Democratic party, and feeling they had turned their back on their values and the people who voted for them, he made Bulworth, a satire about a politician that orders a hit on himself and as he is chasing his own death, he starts to unleash, telling the world what is really going on in Washington D.C., all the while being embraced by the black community, and rapping his message out. Sound crazy enough for you? Well that is just a fraction of what is going on in a film that thinks very highly of itself. Ryan, Jay, and Christina break down their thoughts on the film, if it has aged well, if it was an effective satire for the time, how Beatty can’t help but get the girl in the end, why everyone was trying to make the great satire of the time, why many fail, and why Bamboozle did what this movie is trying to do, but better. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 1h58m. The guys will be back next week to conclude their series on the films of Warren Beatty with a review of his last film, Rules Don’t Apply. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39760880

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 326 - Recapping The Golden Globes and Last Week's Guild Nominations 01/12/2026

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 134 - 'Dick Tracy' (Warren Beatty, 1990) 01/09/2026

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 134 - 'Dick Tracy' (Warren Beatty, 1990) On episode 134 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson and Izzy of Be Kind Rewind to discuss the next film in their Warren Beatty series, Dick Tracy (1990). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. It took Beatty nine years to return to the director’s chair after winning his Oscar for Reds, but when he did, he made a flashy, bold, audacious crime caper straight from the beloved comic book of the same name. Donning the iconic yellow trench coat, Beatty brought the world of Dick Tracy to life with music, vibrant colors, insane make-up design, and memorable supporting characters (an all-time Al Pacino), but in making the film, Beatty connected with the titular police detective grew larger than life, as he completed his mission he set out since 1975 to make. Finally getting the rights, he was able to shoot for the fences with this one, and make an entertaining picture that still holds up to today. Ryan, Jay, Erik, and Izzy break down their thoughts on the film, Beatty’s relationship with his co-star Madonna, how wild Pacino gets within the film, if Beatty is right for the part of Dick Tracy, the production design, the recurring videos Beatty releases to keep the film rights, and if they like the original songs in the film from the legendary Steven Sondheim. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h16m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Warren Beatty with a review of his next film, Bulworth. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39679895

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 325 - Predictions for SAG, DGA and PGA Nominations and Golden Globe Winners 01/07/2026

Director Watch Episode 133 - 'Reds' (Warren Beatty, 1981) 01/03/2026

Director Watch Episode 133 - 'Reds' (Warren Beatty, 1981) On episode 133 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello discuss the next film in their Warren Beatty series, Reds (1981). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision-making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. After a successful directorial debut, Beatty pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table to make the passion project he wanted to make for the entire 1970s. In making Reds, he told the story of the life and career of John Reed, the journalist and writer who chronicled the October Revolution in Russia, and creative and passionate relationship with activist Louise Bryant. By making this epic, he showcased a sense of command of the camera in the midst of rewrites and on set fights with his leading lady and girlfriend of the time, the late Diane Keaton. With this, he created his masterpiece, resulting in an Oscar for Best Director and cementing his case for auteur status. Ryan, Jay, and Sophia break down their thoughts on the film, if Beatty is good in this film, if this is Keaton’s best performance, the legend that is Jack Nicholson, the rewrites by Elaine May, and which steamy quote about Beatty’s love life will Jay read before talking about one of the defining epics of the 1980s. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 2h57m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Warren Beatty with a review of his next film, Dick Tracy. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39599615

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 324 – Our Favorite Films of 2025 Part 2 12/30/2025

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 324 – Our Favorite Films of 2025 Part 2 On episode 324 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by AwardsWatch Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello, AwardsWatch contributors Jay Ledbetter, Josh Parham, Griffin Schiller, Cody Dericks, and Trace Sauveur to discuss their favorite films of 2025 in part two of the AW end of the year show. As we are about to begin an exciting new year of cinema in 2026, we say goodbye to 2025 with our AW team’s favorite films of the year. Instead of having everyone on one call together, the show is split up into two episodes this year, each covering a selection of the nine films the team loved the most. On this second installment of the end of the year show, the movies discussed were The Mastermind (Trace), Weapons (Cody, Griffin), Marty Supreme (Jay), and One Battle After Another (Ryan, Sophia, Josh). In each segment, each person talks about why they selected the film as their favorite of the year, as well as an in-depth discussion over the film. At the end, the team gave honorable mentions for other films that they loved that included Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, It Was Just an Accident, The Testament of Ann Lee, If I Had Legs Id Kick You, Twinless, Black Bag, Die My Love, No Other Choice, Sound of Falling, Hedda, and many more. Please enjoy this wonderful part two episode to wrap up 2025. Thank you all for reading everything on the website as well as listening to the show this past year. Have a Happy New Year and see you in 2026. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen to it on our AwardsWatch YouTube page. This podcast runs 3h34m. We will be back next week to breakdown the winners of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, and preview the 2026 Golden Globes. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: “Modern Fashion” from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), , , , , “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39570865

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 323 - Our Favorite Films of 2025 Part 1 12/30/2025

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 322 - Predicting the Critics Choice Awards Winners 12/26/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 132 - 'Heaven Can Wait' (Warren Beatty, 1978) 12/26/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 132 - 'Heaven Can Wait' (Warren Beatty, 1978) On episode 132 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter discuss the first film in their Warren Beatty series, Heaven Can Wait (1978). Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, the boys attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. One of the biggest movie stars on the planet from the 1970s was Warren Beatty, who was known not only for being the ultimate ladies’ man, but an actor with extreme taste, charisma that rivals very few on screen, and was friends with just about everyone (even though he was a pain in the ass to work with). By the end of Hollywood’s greatest decade, Beatty, alongside the help of acclaimed writer Elaine May, stepped back from in front of the camera and into the director’s chair to tackle his first film as an auteur filmmaker, Heaven Can Wait, a remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan from 1941, based on the Harry Segal play. By doing this, Beatty created a smash hit comedy that reigns supreme as the definitive adaptation of Segal’s play, even if it also has some problems within the third act. Ryan and Jay break down their thoughts on the film, thoughts on Beatty, the flaws of this material, why the film’s central romance doesn’t work, the comedic genius that is Charles Grodin, and Jay reveals something about Beatty that will set up a very interesting theory the boys will be exploring over the next few weeks about Beatty the movie star turned director. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h04m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Warren Beatty with a review of his next film, Reds. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39538225

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 131 - 'High Life' (Claire Denis, 2019) 12/22/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 131 - 'High Life' (Claire Denis, 2019) Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 131 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by AwardsWatch Associate TV Editor Karen Peterson to discuss the final film in their Claire Denis series, High Life (2019) In the final look into the cinematic world of Claire Denis, we see the guys, alongside Karen, give into what is widely known as the director's most celebrated modern film, about a futuristic, sci-fi film that examines the flaws and humanity of those who have harmed or destroyed other human beings. Set on a spaceship travelling to the ends of our galaxy, carrying a group of dangerous group criminals being experimented on by a crazed, horned up doctor, Denis examines if these humans who have committed the most heinous crime should be treated like decent members of society, and what it is life to care for life at the end of the space and time; it’s simple beautiful as well as complexly unique in terms of style and story, essentially Denis at her best. Ryan, Jay, and Karen break down their thoughts on the film, Robert Pattinson’s performance, if these characters deserve a second chance, “the box” scenes, what this film says about being a parent, as well as the boys’ rankings of Denis’ filmography and a preview of their newest series. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h03m. The guys will be back later this week to begin their series on the films of Warren Beatty with a review of his first film, Heaven Can Wait. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39508785

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 321 - Reviewing 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' 12/22/2025

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 320 - The Oscar Shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards 12/16/2025

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 320 - The Oscar Shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards Oscar pre-season is in full swing and nothing says that more than the annual , which expand to 12 categories this year, adding Casting and Cinematography. On episode 320 of the AwardsWatch podcast, Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson is joined by Executive Editor Ryan McQuade and Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello break down the morning's shortlist announcement, discussing what surprised, what was snubbed and how it impacts the Oscar races overall. 12 categories for the 98th Academy Awards were announced this morning: Animated Short Film, Casting, Cinematography, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, International Feature Film, Live Action Short Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Sound and Visual Effects. Leading the way with eight mentions apiece were Sinners and Wicked: For Good. Both films made the cut in the exact same categories: Casting, Cinematography, Makeup and Hairstyling, Score, two in Song, Sound and Visual Effects. Frankenstein came in with six: Casting, Cinematography, Makeup, Score, Sound and Visual Effects. Up next, with five mentions apiece were F1 and One Battle After Another but possibly one of the day's biggest surprises was the huge showing for Spain's Oscar entry and Cannes Grand Prize winner Sirāt. Also earning five spots on the shortlist, it showed up in International Feature, Sound and Score as was relatively easy to predict, but also in Casting and Cinematography. The Academy added two new shortlists this year. Well, one new one and one returning after several decades. The much-anticipated new Casting category that debuts this season brought contenders like The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value and Weapons but shockingly didn't have room for Wake Up Dead Man, the third in the Knives Out trilogy packed with a hearty ensemble. Cinematography is back on the menu after a 46-year absence with finalists that included the major players like Sinners, One Battle After Another and Hamnet but also Ballad of a Small Player, Die My Love, Nouvelle Vague and Song Sung Blue to the table. We focus a good deal of time on these new categories but also look to how sound and film editing are often in sync, if this means Wicked: For Good is back, if Hamnet might be in trouble, what the hell is Veni Verdi and much more. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 1h1m. We will be back in next week for a review of the last big film of the year, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: “Modern Fashion” from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39432600

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 319 - Oscars Retrospective of the 93rd Academy Awards 12/15/2025

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 319 - Oscars Retrospective of the 93rd Academy Awards On episode 319 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by AwardsWatch contributors Dan Bayer, Mark Johnson, and Josh Parham to go back five years and take a look at the 93rd Academy Awards, covering the films of 2020. On this retrospective, the AW team take one last trip to the past for the year to talk about the pandemic year of cinema that saw one of the worst Oscar telecasts of all time. Baffling decision after another, the night ended on a sour note instead of one of celebration for Nomadland winning the top prize and Chloé Zhao becoming the second female director to win Best Director. Still, even with the ceremony being so divisive, the year presented plenty of films the team wanted to highlight and discuss over the course of changing the Academy’s nominations, with films such as The Nest, Tenet, Miss Juneteenth, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Clemency, Dick Johnson is Dead, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, The Father, Sound of Metal, Minari, Judas and the Black Messiah, and more. In their in-depth discussion, the AW team talked about the film year of 2020, briefly discuss talk about Nomadland as a Best Picture winner, how this year is full of celebrities that are problematic or “cancelled” and how that speaks to the legacy of their nominates and or wins, do an extensive conversation over the below the line categories and nominees for the year, and then the new version of the AW Shoulda Woulda Coulda game, where instead of individual replacements, they must decide as a group who the nominees and winners should be in the top eight categories. The rules of the game state they can only replace two of the nominees that year from each category, except in Best Picture, where the group could replace up to four films to make up the final set of eight nominated films. Like past retrospective episodes, it was a fascinating, fun conversation including spirited debates, alliances, vote swinging, celebrating various movies, performances that aren’t normally talked about and more that we all hope you enjoy. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h41m. We will be back in next week for a review of the last big film of the year, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: “Modern Fashion” from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39414635

Interview: Rian Johnson on How Faith and Humanity Make Peace Within His Latest Mystery 'Wake Up Dead Man' 12/11/2025

Interview: Rian Johnson on How Faith and Humanity Make Peace Within His Latest Mystery 'Wake Up Dead Man' No one is having as much fun making films as Rian Johnson. Over the course of the last twenty years, Johnson has delivered some of the most original, bold, entertaining films, dazzling audiences with noir mysteries, a sci-fi action thriller, and a journey to a galaxy far far away. But in his latest three pictures, Johnson has crafted his own IP, creating a new cinematic detective series with the help of one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Daniel Craig. The director, alongside his famed actor and a crew of regular collaborators over the course of his career, delivered the smash hits Knives Out in 2019 and Glass Onion in 2022, whodunit mysteries following the cases of Detective Benoit Blanc. Known for the hilarious tone, massive ensemble casts, and immaculate third act resolutions, the first two entries of the franchise were widely acclaimed by audiences and critics, leading to Johnson landing two Oscar nominations for his screenplays. With the third entry in the Knives Out franchise, the director (in his own words) takes us “back to church” with a mystery centered around Reverend Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor), a new priest who is framed for the murder of an another priest from a small parish in upstate New York. In trying to clear his name, Blanc hears of the case and is willing to assist Father Jud in clearing his name and getting the heart of who committed this horrible crime. In my out of the Toronto International Film Festival, I raved about the film, calling it “the best entry in the Knives Out franchise to date” and also stating “Johnson and company pull out all the stops to create a dark, tense, comical, sharply-written mystery that sticks the landing.” It’s an entry that is not only darker, but seems more personal than ever for Johnson, as Wake Up Dead Man dabbles in ideas of faith, wickedness, revenge, spitefulness, how dangerous our world is, and how we need forgiveness more than ever if we are to heel as a species. In my recent, extensive, spoiler-filled discussion with the writer-director, we spoke about Johnson’s approach to this entry, when he knew he was going to enter the world of the gothic mystery, and working with Craig on their third film together. We also spoke about collaborating with the new cast, the social, political, religious themes found at the center of the film, as well as his film and literary inspirations for Wake Up Dead Man, as well his thoughts on modern cinema, the importance of celebrating cinema, and if he could get a director to confess their secrets to him, who would he select and why. It’s a more serious conversation than the last time Johnson and I spoke when was coming out, but that’s a prime example of not just the tonal versatility found within the Knives Out, but also within the person its creator. Insightful, lively, introspectively honest, Rian Johnson is a real original and there aren’t many left in Hollywood who are like him. Music: /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39374315

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 130 - 'Let the Sunshine In' (Claire Denis, 2017) 12/11/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 130 - 'Let the Sunshine In' (Claire Denis, 2017) Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 130 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys discuss the next film in their Claire Denis series, Let the Sunshine In (2017). Over the last couple of years, Denis has had a bit of a renaissance with her contemporary work, exploring complex stories with female characters at the forefront, mostly portrayed by the incredible Juliette Binoche. In their first collaboration together, the duo takes us on a journey of a woman who is uncertain in the male relationships she’s in, but knows that she wants more than ever to not be alone, forcing herself into situations that aren’t healthy. By doing this, they show how heartbreaking it can be to grow old alone without someone to share a life with. Ryan and Jay break down their thoughts on the film, how grateful they are in the relationships they are in, how lonely it must be to grow old without a partner, Binoche’s performance, and a couple of fun tangents as well. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 1h55m. The guys will be back next week to conclude their series on the films of Claire Denis with a review of her film, High Life. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39372980

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 129 - 'White Material' (Claire Denis, 2008) 12/06/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 129 - 'White Material' (Claire Denis, 2008) Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 129 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys discuss the next film in their Claire Denis series, White Material (2009). Within the latest film of the Denis series, she heads back to Africa to explore a family drama set in the background of an unstable, unknown country, but as the film plays out, seems to be more interested in what is in the background rather than the characters that are focused on within the film. Instead of making a “white savior” movie, Denis is using this film as a honest, reflective look at her own place within this world as a white woman, commenting on the violent world that surrounds these white characters, and mirrors her own childhood. While it’s not her best film, it’s her most personal, and a bold piece of filmmaking that isn’t looking for a pat on the back, but rather exposing the flaws within power dynamics in a part of the world we will never be able to fix or understand. Ryan and Jay break down their thoughts on the film, Denis’ relationship to the source material, the violence in the background of the film, the lingering questions about the open ending, as well as plenty of fun tangents post-Thanksgiving for the boys, highlight some of their favorite films they’ve been catching up with lately. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 1h57m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Claire Denis with a review of her film, Let the Sunshine In. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39308245

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 318 - The First Week of Awards Season with Critics Choice, Spirit Awards Nominations; NYFF, NBR, Gotham Winners 12/05/2025

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 317 - Oscars Retrospective of the 68th Academy Awards 12/01/2025

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 317 - Oscars Retrospective of the 68th Academy Awards On episode 317 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson alongside AwardsWatch contributors Dan Bayer and Josh Parham to go back 30 years and take a look at the 68th Academy Awards, covering the films of 1995. On this retrospective, the AW team take a trip to 1995, where actor Mel Gibson rode off the with multiple Oscars, winning Best Picture for his war epic, Braveheart. While a hit within its own right, it was a bit of a shocking win considering many believed that Apollo 13 was going to take home Oscar’s top prize. It’s a massive upset that would have ripple effects over the course of Academy history that would have make up wins not just for Ron Howard, but for other nominees in this Oscar field. 1995 is a stacked, incredible year of cinema that the gang tries to reflect a little better than what the Academy nominated with films like Heat, Showgirls, Get Shorty, Clueless, Seven, Before Sunset, Friday, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and more getting either mentions, nominations, or wins in the big top eight categories.Maybe one of them wins Best Picture, maybe they don’t, you’ll have to listen and try not to fall down a flight of stairs to find out. In their in-depth discussion, the AW team talked about the film year of 1995, briefly discuss talk about Braveheart as a Best Picture winner, do an extensive conversation over the below the line categories and nominees for the year, and then the new version of the AW Shoulda Woulda Coulda game, where instead of individual replacements, they must decide as a group who the nominees and winners should be in the top eight categories. The rules of the game state they can only replace two of the nominees that year from each category, except in Best Picture, where the group could replace up to three films to make up the final set of five nominated films. Like past retrospective episodes, it was a fascinating, fun conversation including spirited debates, alliances, vote swinging, celebrating various movies, performances that aren’t normally talked about and more that we all hope you enjoy. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h47m. We will be back in next week for another retrospective over the 83rd Academy Awards, covering the films of 2010. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: “Modern Fashion” from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39223735

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 128 - '35 Shots of Rum' (Claire Denis, 2008) 11/28/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 128 - '35 Shots of Rum' (Claire Denis, 2008) Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision-making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 128 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys discuss the next film in their Claire Denis series, 35 Shots of Rum (2008). Sometimes when you are planning a series, you don’t think about the connections between the directors and their films, so this week is a happy surprise as Denis’ 35 Shots of Rum is inspired by Yasujirō Ozu's film Late Spring, a film they covered earlier this year. Following a father-daughter relationship that is challenged by the arrival of a younger man who wants to date the daughter, Denis uses Ozu’s masterpiece to reflect the racial, societal changes within France and Japan, as well as the differences between the two co-dependent family members, and the need for both to move on with their lives, no matter how heartbreaking it is. Ryan and Jay breakdown their thoughts on the film, its relationship to Ozu, how each film is different, as well as random thoughts on films from this year, Thanksgiving food, Jay’s recent family vacation, and the pull quote that broke the internet this past week. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 1h50m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Claire Denis with a review of her film, White Material. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39199615

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 316 - Reviewing 'Wicked: For Good' 11/24/2025

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 315 - 'Wicked: For Good,' 'Marty Supreme' and the Oscar Acting Categories 11/21/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 127 - 'Beau Travail' (Claire Denis, 1999) 11/20/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 127 - 'Beau Travail' (Claire Denis, 1999) Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 127 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys are joined by AwardsWatch Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson discuss the next film in their Claire Denis series, Beau Travail (1999). Jumping ten years into Denis’ filmography, the boys hit the film of the series with Beau Travail, a film that follows the story of a section of French Foreign Legion soldiers training in the desert of Djibouti. What can seem like a macho, male dominate setting it quickly, slowly shown to be a memory piece about longing, desire, regret, attention, and more as she centers the film on a Adjudant-Chef Galoup and his evolutionary yet repressive time within the group. In doing this, Denis created a defining piece of filmmaking that cemented her legacy in cinema, giving us one of the greatest films of all time. Ryan, Jay, and Erik break down the film, its themes of sexual repression, how things that are super straight and masculine can be something else entirely, the ending featuring "The Rhythm of the Night," and an update on where Madonna was at in 1999. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 2h07m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Claire Denis with a review of her film, 35 Shots of Rum. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39112850

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 314 - Reviewing 'The Running Man' (2025) 11/17/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 126 - 'Chocolat' (Claire Denis, 1988) 11/13/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 126 - 'Chocolat' (Claire Denis, 1988) Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 126 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys discuss the first film in their Claire Denis series, Chocolat (1988). One of the most singular, influential filmmaker of modern independent, French cinema is the subject of the boy’s new series, Claire Denis. Known for making immersive, emotional films about repression and love, Denis’ first film explores her childhood through the lens of a young girl who sees her country, France, imposing their will onto the people of Africa, at the same time her Mother’s starts a longing, flirtatious relationship with the family’s household servant. It’s a stunning debut, instantly setting the bar high for the series and Denis’ career. Ryan and Jay break down their thoughts on the film, the idea of who this film is being shown through, Denis’ personal connection to the story, the central romance, their cultural, racial ties at the center of the film’s conflict, and a story about Ryan’s recent trip to the theater that you’ll want to hear. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 1h29m. The guys will be back next week to continue their series on the films of Claire Denis with a review of her film, Beau Travail. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/39022415

AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 313 - Original Song and Score Oscar Predictions, Best Picture/Director Temperature Check 11/10/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 125 - 'The Book of Eli' (The Hughes Brothers, 2010) 11/07/2025

Director Watch Podcast Ep. 125 - 'The Book of Eli' (The Hughes Brothers, 2010) Welcome to Director Watch! On this AwardsWatch podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter attempt to breakdown, analyze, and ultimately, get inside the mind of some of cinema’s greatest auteurs. In doing so, they will look at their filmographies, explore what drives them artistically and what makes their decision making process so fascinating. Add in a few silly tangents and a fun game at the end of the episode and you’ve got yourself a podcast we truly hope you love. On episode 125 of the Director Watch Podcast, the boys discuss the final film in their Hughes Brothers series, The Book of Ell (2010). In their final collaboration as an artist pair, the Hughes Brothers take a dive into the end of the world, action genre where a man is roaming from town to town, searching for the haven of humanities last chance for hope within a broken country, where water is a privilege and knowledge is a weapon. In a making a film about the hunt for the last bible on Earth, the brothers tackle the rotten core of our humanity when faced up against each other, and the lust for power something as simple as a book can bring out of people. This plus it’s just a cool idea for an action movie where Denzel Washington is being the best movie star on the planet and Gary Oldman is doing his villain thing that he does so well. But the real question with The Book of Eli is, why isn’t it an all timer, why does it look the way it does, and why was this the last film the Hughes Brothers made together? Ryan and Jay breakdown all these questions, as well as look at the careers of Washington, Oldman, and Mila Kunis, what they learned from this series, what the Hughes Brothers are doing now, give their series rankings for the sibling duo, and preview their next director series. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 2h22m. The guys will be back next week to begin their new series on the films of Claire Denis with a review of her film, Chocolate. You can rent it via iTunes and Amazon Prime rental in preparation for the next episode of Director Watch. Till then, let’s get into it. Music: MUSICALIFE, from Pond5 (intro) and “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro). /episode/index/show/awardswatchpodcasts/id/38953615

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