The Next Best Picture Podcast

Love this podcast. After I watch a movie, I usually come look for their convo. There is a lot of Bayer hate in the reviews here. I really like him. I agree that they could benefit from adding some more diverse voices, or switching up more who is in the convo. I really enjoy when they don’t agree. It makes for the best conversations. Brendan Hodges is always a good dissenting voice from the normal team rotation. I’m not a huge fan of Gio, but to each their own. I’m often amused at how much I often disagree with Matt Neglia, but I really appreciate the way he can keep the convo going and listen to other opinions. It’s my fave post movie podcast bc I don’t really have “movie friends” who love them like I do. So this podcast is one of a few that fill that void for me. I feel like I’m checking in with friends for a great, thoughtful convo about them! And most importantly, they love them like I do!

Review is based on specifically the “Smashing Machine” episode. Too many cooks in the kitchen, no real insightful thoughts, and the one host with vocal fry genuinely made me pause at 38mins and stop listening altogether. Not every voice needs a podcast!

Please please stop saying “unless if….” and “also too….” at the beginning of sentences. A major issue with the pod is the hosts’ lack of eloquence and coherence when it comes to reviewing films. Phrases like “I enjoyed myself,” “I had a good time,” or “I was intrigued” - are excessively abundant and offer little to no insight whatsoever. It plainly seems that their criticism is hampered by the fact that they just don’t want to say anything negative about a movie out of fear of losing access to the industry. Some reviews are so disingenuous (e.g. Materialists, Weapons) - it’s truly baffling to listen to the hosts “intellectually” pretzeling their way into a conclusion about a film that they had already a preconceived notion about. This podcast is really insightful when it comes to keeping up with the major awards races, as the hosts do indeed very closely follow the trends and understand the mechanics happening behind the curtains.

Regardless of the fact that we’re most likely all on the same political aisle, the main host comes off as pompous and seems like no one id like to hang out with IRL. The other contributors are who I come to this very listenable podcast, (you know what I mean?) 🤢🤮