It's that time of the year - Nick and Katy try and watch all the movies they can (and this year mostly succeeded) and then discuss them on their annual Oscar podcast/kafe. This is a transcript of their conversation, which has been edited for the website.
The Balcony is now open!
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Nominees:
James Mangold and Jay Cocks, A Complete Unknown
Peter Straughan, Conclave
Jacques Audiard (in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius, and Nicolas Livecchi), Emilia Pérez
RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes, Nickel Boys
Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" Whitfield, Sing Sing
NICK: All these movies very much deserve their nominations. I enjoyed watching every one of them – some of them didn’t sound terribly appealing when I read the synopsis, but when I saw the movie, they were magnificent. “A Complete Unknown,” I loved it, great performances, really a great snapshot of how Bob Dylan’s life was at that time. “Conclave,” best acting you could hope for. “Emilia Pérez” was the most original, unique piece. “Nickel Boys” was heartfelt and heartbreaking. I was completely glued to “Sing Sing,” it was fantastic. All of that said, I’d be happy for any of them to win.
KATY: I think any one of these could win. Every single one of these deserves this award. Not enough people saw “Sing Sing,” and I wasn’t totally satisfied with the story “A Complete Unknown” told. “Emilia Pérez” was unique, but kind of lost me mid-way. For me, this award is between the incredible “Nickel Boys,’ which not enough people saw, and “Conclave.”
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Conclave WILL WIN: Emilia Pérez
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Nickel Boys WILL WIN: Conclave
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Nominees:
Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, The Brutalist
Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain
Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum, and Alex David, September 5
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
NICK: I was blown away by “September 5.” It reminded me of the movie “Network,” it was so well edited, the tension and anxiety felt real. I wasn’t expecting so much from it, and it was a magnificent achievement. “A Real Pain” is not my sort of subject matter, but it’s all about Monsieur Culkin really. I loved “The Brutalist,” but it is rather long. I absolutely loved the first hour of “The Substance.” “Anora’ surely must win this category, it was so unique. I love been taken into new worlds and that’s what “Anora” did.
KATY: We are in agreement here. I didn’t love “The Substance,” it was a good half movie, not a good whole movie. I thought “The Brutalist” was too long and the story meandered. Both “Anora” and “A Real Pain” were written and directed by young, talented people – Sean Baker and Jesse Eisenberg - however, I thought “Anora” had more substance (pun intended).
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Anora WILL WIN: Anora
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Anora WILL WIN: Anora
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
The Nominees:
I'm Still Here – Brazil
The Girl with the Needle – Denmark
Emilia Pérez – France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig – Germany
Flow - Latvia
NICK: “The Girl with the Needle” was distressing and harrowing, but the acting is so good. It has that thing that only the Scandinavians seem able to do – to make a depressing movie magnificent. I am surprised “Flow,” an animated movie, made it into this category, but I loved it, particularly the cat! “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” is possibly my personal favourite of the year. It was just the most incredible vision and showed what really happened during a political uproar in Iran. I was blown away by that movie. “Emilia Pérez” was completely unique, loved it. It seems such a shame that the movie was halted due to controversy. “I’m Still Here” could well win. A lot of the movies this year appear to be about conflict and tension. I think that reflects the state of the world we live in now.
KATY: I am vacillating a little in this category. “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” was the last movie I saw this Oscar season. It was filmed in secrecy, because you could not make a movie like this in Iran. The film really stuck with me. I did not love “Emilia” as much as Nick did. I thought it was good, and an interesting premise, but don’t understand why there was some singing and then none. I really loved “I’m Still Here” and how the lead actress was rightfully recognized by the Golden Globes. Foreign film or not, it was one of the best movies of the year.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: The Seed of the Sacred Fig WILL WIN: Emilia Pérez (tough choice between this and “I’m Still Here”!)
Katy: SHOULD WIN: The Seed of the Sacred Fig WILL WIN: I'm Still Here
ANIMATED FILM
The Nominees:
Flow – Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža
Inside Out 2– Kelsey Mann, Mark Nielsen
Memoir of a Snail - Adam Elliot
The Wild Robot – Chris Sanders, Jeff Hermann
Wallace & Gromit - Vengeance Most Fowl – Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham, Richard Beek
KATY: I don’t know how “Wallace & Gromit” keep getting nominated. “Inside Out 2” was good, but not amazing. I didn’t see “Memoir of a Snail.” “Flow,” a movie with no words, was beyond visually stunning, it was beautiful. “The Wild Robot” moved me so deeply, I had to take some time away from my family to collect myself.
NICK: I love “Wallace & Gromit,” it’s so British and it won the BAFTA. The story was good but nothing new. I found “Flow” to be so poetic, with no dialogue. I was completely taken by that movie. I preferred the movie “WALL E” to the “Wild Robot” to be honest.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Flow WILL WIN: The Wild Robot
Katy: SHOULD WIN: The Wild Robot WILL WIN: The Wild Robot
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Nominees
The Brutalist - Lol Crawley
Dune: Part Two - Greig Fraser
Emilia Pérez - Paul Guilhaume
Maria - Ed Lachman
Nosferatu - Jarin Blaschke
NICK: This category is about the look of the movie, the cameras, the lighting, the way it all comes together on screen. ”Nosferatu” has been re-made so many times. I loved the one from the 70s and I love that it was nominated in 2025. “Emilia Pérez” looked great, the colour was extraordinary. “Dune 2” has a super-super high budget, and it looked it, which doesn’t downplay their achievement. I loved “The Brutalist.” I loved the idea of a 3.5 movie about a Brutalist architect who is very flawed but unbelievably talented. I thought it was a fascinating story and Adrien Brody was sublime.
KATY: Even though I didn’t love “Emilia Pérez”, I loved the colour and the look of it all. I could actually SMELL some of the scenes, you know what I mean?
Nick: SHOULD WIN: The Brutalist WILL WIN: The Brutalist
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Emilia Pérez WILL WIN: The Brutalist
ACTRESS IN A SUPPPORTING ROLE
The Nominees:
Monica Barbaro - A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande – Wicked
Felicity Jones- The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
Zoe Saldana - Emilia Pérez
KATY: There are two sure things for this year’s Oscars and Zoe Saldana (“Emilia Pérez”) is one of them. She deserves it, so I have no issue with her winning. The one person I would have liked to have seen some action on was Felicity Jones in “The Brutalist.” It didn’t seem like she campaigned, or the studio put her forth, but she was fantastic. Ariana Grande is adorable in “Wicked,” but it’s not an Oscar performance. Monica Barbaro was good as Joan Baez in “A Complete Unknown,” but again, not an Oscar performance in my opinion. And I don’t even know why Isabella Rossellini was nominated for “Conclave.” She had like 6 lines.
NICK: I liked Monica Barbaro in a “A Complete Unknown.” Felicity Jones is good in everything she is in, including “The Theory of Everything,” which came out ten years ago now! I don’t disagree with you on Isabella Rossellini, I wished she had won for “Blue Velvet.” “Wicked” was the only film I couldn’t make it all the way though, so I can’t say much for or against Ariana. I thought Zoe Saldana was divine, original, perfect, surprising…of course she should win for “Emilia Pérez.”
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Zoe Saldana WILL WIN: Zoe Saldana
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Zoe Saldana WILL WIN: Zoe Saldana
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
The Nominees:
Yura Borisov – Anora
Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain
Edward Norton - A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce - The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong - The Apprentice
NICK: Every single actor in this category deserves to be there. I particularly loved Yura Borisov in “Anora.” It was such a quirky role. I loved Jeremy Strong in “The Apprentice.” He is good in everything he does, including “Succession.” It’s Kieran’s year though. I loved him in “Succession,” but I do feel he’s continuing to play an exaggerated version of himself. That said, his timing, his intonation, his body language is as good as you’re going to get, and he’s going to get the Oscar this weekend.
KATY: This is the other sure thing of the night: Kieran Culkin is going to win. I liked “A Real Pain” better than Nick did, and don’t agree that Roman Roy and Benji Kaplan are so alike. I think Roman was very flawed and Benji was sort of pathetic. Yura Borisov was incredible in “Anora,” I hope to see him in something else. Edward Norton was the moral compass of “A Complete Unknown” and so great. Guy Pearce was terrific in “The Brutalist.” But for me, Jeremy Strong in “The Apprentice” was beyond compare. It's such a bummer he won’t win. What would Logan say?!
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Jeremy Strong WILL WIN: Kieran Culkin
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Jeremy Strong WILL WIN: Kieran Culkin
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
The Nominees:
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
Karla Sofia Gascon - Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison – Anora
Demi Moore - The Substance
Fernanda Torres - I'm Still Here
NICK: I agree with most of the choices here. I am so happy Fernanda Torres was nominated for “I’m Still Here,” and her nomination alone is a triumph. I can’t say much about “Wicked,” Cynthia was great for what she needed to do. I think Karla Sofia Gascon could have won for “Emilia Pérez.” She was extraordinary in the movie, and what a part to get! You don’t often see such unbelievable roles for transgendered people. Mikey Madison, I loved her “Anora.”. She was the greatest thing about the movie. And how great for Demi Moore that she’s finally winning some awards after having been good in so many movies. I thought she was quite a revelation in “The Substance” because it was a hard role to have taken on.
KATY: At one point, each of these women were the frontrunner for this award, but right now it comes down to Mikey vs. Demi. I think Mikey Madison’s performance in “Anora” was a revelation. She carried the entire film, and I can’t say enough about how amazing she was in it. She was so much better than Demi Moore was in “The Substance.” I didn’t care for the movie, and while Demi was good, she wasn’t Best Actress good.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Demi Moore WILL WIN: Mikey Madison
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Mikey Madison WILL WIN: Demi Moore
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
NOMINEES
Adrien Brody - The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet - A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo - Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
Sebastian Stan - The Apprentice
KATY: Timothée Chalamet’s win at the SAG Awards put a little fire under me – gave me a glimmer of hope that he could kind of win!
Colman Domingo was great in “Sing Sing,” but he won’t win. Ralph Fiennes was great in “Conclave,” but that was more of an ensemble movie. Sebastian Stan is great in everything and was so good (and evil) as Donald Trump in “The Apprentice.” All that said, it’s a race to Ocar between Timmy and Adrien. I thought Timothée really inhabited Bob Dylan in such an authentic way. Sadly, I feel like Academy voters didn’t go for him because he’s young, and like Leo, he will eventually win an Oscar for a movie that’s not that great. If Adrien wins, there’s no denying he deserved it. He was outstanding.
NICK: This year has the most deserving actors in every category. Ralph Fiennes was so subtle and intellectual in “Conclave,” I’d be thrilled to see him win. I liked Sebastian in “The Apprentice.” Colman Domingo in “Sing Sing” was one of the great surprises of the year to me. Timothée Chalamet is good in everything he has been in. He was great in “A Complete Unknown,” his body language and mannerisms were perfect. Then there’s Adrien Brody, who is one of the greatest actors of his generation. Adrien can convey a lot of emotion in his face without doing much. That, to me, is an extraordinary ability.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Adrien Brody WILL WIN: Adrien Brody
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Timothée Chalamet WILL WIN: Adrien Brody
DIRECTING
The Nominees:
ANORA - Sean Baker
THE BRUTALIST - Brady Corbet
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN - James Mangold
EMILIA PÉREZ - Jacques Audiard
THE SUBSTANCE - Coralie Fargeat
NICK: As we keep discussing – it was an interesting year. “Anora” was crazy, mad, unique, full of energy. “The Brutalist” was beautiful and unexpected. “A Complete Unknown,” gave us a fantastic portrayal of one of the greatest songwriters of our generation. “Emilia Pérez” is far too crazy an idea to have even existed, but it did. “The Substance” is a modern-day Hollywood idea, showing us that beauty and youth are valuable currency until they’re not. “Anora” has a beautifully outrageous script. However, “The Brutalist” is pretty flawless. It should have maybe been a little shorter, but what an incredible achievement.
KATY: I do not think “The Brutalist” moved along at a pace that kept my interest – which is the job of the Director. It felt slow, and I think the movie would have been just as effective had it been shorter. I think Sean Baker is going to win for “Anora”. I think it’s a play by the Academy to show they’re hip and can honour a director like Sean. I got no problem with that. I loved “Anora.”
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez WILL WIN: Brady Corbet for The Brutalist
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Walter Salles for I'm Still Here* WILL WIN: Sean Baker for Anora
*katy is cheating
BEST PICTURE
The Nominees:
ANORA - Alex Coco, Samantha Quan and Sean Baker, Producers
THE BRUTALIST - Trevor Matthews, Andrew Lauren, D.J. Gugenheim, Andrew Morrison, Nick Gordon & Brian Young, Producers
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN - Fred Berger, James Mangold and Alex Heineman, Producers
CONCLAVE - Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell and Michael A. Jackman, Producers
DUNE: PART TWO - Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe and Denis Villeneuve, Producers
EMILIA PÉREZ - Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard, Producers
I'M STILL HERE - Walter Salles, Rodrigo Teixeira, Maria Carlota, Fernandes Bruno & Martine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Producers
NICKEL BOYS - Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Joslyn Barnes, Producers
THE SUBSTANCE - Tim Bevan, Coralie Fargeat, Eric Fellner, Producers
WICKED - Marc Platt, Producer
NICK: These are ALL good movies. I do believe “Emilia Perez” could have won, but it’s not going to now. “The Substance” won’t win. “Wicked” won’t win. “I’m Still Here” will win something, but not Best Picture. “Dune 2” is a great looking Hollywood movie. “Nickel Boys” is great. “The Brutalist” is a big Hollywood classic… but for me, it is going to come down to “Anora” or “Conclave.”
KATY: “Wicked” was fine, not a Best Picture. “The Substance” wasn’t a great movie, especially the icky second half. “Nickel Boys” probably didn’t have the budget to push it to a win, but boy, was it good. “Emilia Perez” was a frontrunner at one point, but it’s not anymore. I expected nothing from “Conclave,” and it took me by surprise. I learned so much from the movie! “A Complete Unknown” is good, but not a Best Picture. “The Brutalist” is an epic, much like last year’s “Oppenheimer,” but I thought “Oppenheimer” was a better film. Is “Anora” the best movie of the year? I am not sure. It was original, had fantastic performances, and as Nick mentioned, took me to a world I’d never have gotten a peek at otherwise. I keep coming back to “I’m Still Here,” which checked more boxes for me.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Conclave WILL WIN: Anora
Katy: SHOULD WIN: I'm Still Here WILL WIN: Anora
THE 97TH ACADEMY AWARDS will air live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Members of the VIP Community can listen to the entire audio version on the Member section of duranduran.com.
