The Awards Watch Podcast

Awards Watch
  • 3.7 (74)
  • Film Interviews

Podcasts from Awards Watch with reviews, interviews, predictions and more

  1. 4d ago

    Director Watch Podcast Ep. 179: 'Southland Tales' (Richard Kelly, 2006) with Special Guest Dan Mecca

    On episode 179 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by film critic, podcaster Dan Mecca to discuss the next film in their Richard Kelly series, Southland Tales (2006). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this Awards Watch 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. Over the course of the existence of Director Watch, our co-hosts have seen directors have to follow up their massive early successes and dive head first into a passion project that makes or breaks them. For the most part, they've covered successes but with Richard Kelly's second film, Southland Tales, they explore a maligned, misunderstood testament of America in the Bush era that was vilified at the time of release, only to become a statement of the messed up world that has taken hold over the course of the 21st century; a real cult classic. Ryan, Jay, and Dan break down their thoughts on Kelly's second feature while also explore their thoughts on the time period, how the movie is as much about their own views on the world and a collection of scenes that connect via vibes and political shock and awe; it's a wild ride they go on here. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 1h54m. The guys will be back next week to conclude their series on the films of Richard Kelly with a review of his next film, The Box. 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).

  2. 5d ago

    Ep. 367: Late Fall Festival Roundup (Mill Valley, Middleburg, AFI); 'Cliff Booth' Sneak, the Phenomenon of 'You Can See Everything'

    On episode 367 of The Awards Watch Podcast, Co-Executive Editor Sophia Ciminello is joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson and Co-Executive Editor Ryan McQuade to wrap up the fall film festival season and much more.  First, Erik and Ryan recap their experiences at the Mill Valley Film Festival and the Middleburg Film Festival, where Tenzing, Elsinore, and The Debut took home audience awards. Then, the trio chats about their time at the AFI FEST Film Festival, where Quentin Tarantino unveiled the first 17 minutes of The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.   Next, it's time to talk about the phenomenon that is Lance Oppenheim and Nathan Fielder's You Can See Everything, as it continues to hit box office milestones and stake its claim in the awards conversation. Warning: this conversation has full UNREDACTED spoilers. The movie's stock is up, and Sophia, Ryan, and Erik share some other contenders with rising and falling stock after festival season, including The Debut, Fjord, Wildwood, and more.  You can listen to The Awards Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube, and more. This podcast runs 1hr4m. We will be back soon with a brand new episode. Until then, let's get into it. Music: "Modern Fashion" from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

  3. Oct 25

    Director Watch Podcast Ep. 178: 'Donnie Darko' (Richard Kelly, 2001)

    On episode 178 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter are joined by Awards Watch Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson to discuss the first film in their Richard Kelly series, Donnie Darko (2001). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this Awards Watch 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 massive pivot from the elegant filmmaking of Edward Yang, the boys travel back to the early 2000s to cover a director whose filmography is small, but has an impact on cinema that has left them curious enough to want to explore why Richard Kelly has only made three films in his career. Given the first film in this series, Donnie Darko was a cultural moment of the early millennium that tapped into the darkness of a generation still trying to figure themselves out post-9/11 and in a world that doesn't fully understand who they are. Kelly's haunting screenplay is a vital examination of the heartbreak and horror found within the suburbs, with a supernatural element that makes for one of the most fascinating debut feature films ever discuss on the show. Ryan, Jay, and Erik break down their thoughts on this 2001 classic, the ramifications of the ending, the time travel element, the loss of innocence within a close society, that bunny outfit, leaving your date in a movie theater to burn someone's house down, the insane cast attached to the project, and so much more.  You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 1h56m. The guys will be back later next week to continue their series on the films of Richard Kelly with a review of his next film, Southland Tales. 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).

  4. Oct 20

    Director Watch Podcast Ep, 177: 'Yi Yi' (Edward Yang, 2000)

    On episode 177 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter discuss the final film in their Edward Yang series, Yi Yi (2000). 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 his final masterpiece of not only this series but of his career, Yang delivered his last cinematic investigation, insight into his country, this time from the perspective of people his own age, centering the narrative around a middle class family struggling to accept the world and roles they have in society, school, work, and in their home. In doing so, Yang gives us his most vital film, about the regrets of the past meeting the reality of the moment that result in heartbreak and silence in the future, done in such an elegant, beautiful fashion. Ryan and Jay discuss their thoughts on the film, Yang's overall statement within the film, his career being cut short by illness, and the themes of the film that resonated and are shined a light on throughout the director's filmography. They also give their ranks of the films they reviewed in the series and preview the next series they will be covering, 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. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 1h20m. The guys will be back later next week to begin their series on the films of Richard Kelly with a review of his first film, Donnie Darko. 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).

  5. Oct 12

    Ep. 366: Recapping NYFF64, Reviewing 'The Social Reckoning' and Updated Acting Oscar Predictions

    On episode 366 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade, Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson and Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello break down their highlights from the 2026 New York Film Festival, thoughts on Aaron Sorkin's latest, The Social Reckoning, and discuss their thoughts on the rising and falling contenders for the four major acting categories for this year's Oscars as they hit the final stage of the film festival season. 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 on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 1h57m. We will be back two weeks with recap the AFI Film Festival and the 2026 regional film festivals. Till then, let's get into it. Music: "Modern Fashion" from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

  6. Oct 9

    Director Watch Podcast Ep. 176: 'Mahjong' (Edward Yang, 1996)

    On episode 176 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter discuss the next film in their Edward Yang series, Mahjong (1996). Welcome back to Director Watch! On this Awards Watch 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 his second modern satire of the mid 1990s, Edward Yang looked inward again at the youth of his homeland, mirroring the violent, aimless nature of young men much like his masterpiece A Brighter Summer Day. Instead of being located in a small city, he sets Mahjong in the heart of a downtown Taipei, where every interaction comes with a dollar and personal price to it that can't be quantified, resulting in a riveting drama about a group of young men, and the women they know, trying to make enough money to escape the world they live in and the fate destined for them if they continue down their dangerous paths. Ryan and Jay break down their thoughts on the film, how Yang is an observer more than a commenter about his world and the characters that live in it, the power dynamics at play involving the young men in the film and those who are old than them, the outside, western cultured forces at play in the film, as well as the guys pitching some cool business ideas, and a few fun stories from their time at Telluride. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 2h. The guys will be back later next week to conclude their series on the films of Edward Yang with a review of his final film, Yi Yi. 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).

  7. Oct 6

    Ep. 365: Reviewing Alejandro González Iñárritu's 'Digger'

    On episode 365 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by AwardsWatch Associate TV Editor Karen Peterson to review the latest film from director Alejandro González Iñárritu, Digger. 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 on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 1h26m. We will be back next week with a recap of the 64th New York Film Festival and a review of the latest film from Aaron Sorkin, The Social Reckoning. Till then, let's get into it. Music: "Modern Fashion" from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

  8. Oct 4

    Director Watch Podcast Ep. 175: 'A Confucian Confusion' (Edward Yang, 1994)

    On episode 175 of the Director Watch Podcast, co-hosts Ryan McQuade and Jay Ledbetter discuss the next film in their Edward Yang series, A Confucian Confusion (1994). 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 making one of his grand masterpieces, Yang stripped everything back down and created a contemporary commentary about the generational mobility of the future 20-30 year olds of his country. In exploring the intersecting lives of his characters, Yang humorously dives into how the decision they make now will affect their future, and set them up for either lives of happiness or eternal regret, and in doing this, Yang creates a testament to the time and a look to the future of his country. Ryan and Jay discuss their thoughts on the film, how funny the film is to them, the strongest characters in the film being the female characters and the worst characters being the male ones, and how his familiar structure as a storyteller shines in a modern comedy like this. You can listen to the Director Watch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. You can also listen on the AW YouTube page. This podcast runs 1h20m. The guys will be back later this week to continue their series on the films of Edward Yang with a review of his film, Mahjong (1996). 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).

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