The Awardist

EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with their special guest, EW critic Leah Greenblatt—dive deep into the race for Best International Feature, a bracket that, pound for pound, may be better than the Best Picture one. We also discuss the finer points of interviewing Kristen Stewart. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with their special guest, EW critic Leah Greenblatt—discuss the Best Actor race as we head into the final weeks of Oscar campaigning. Triumphant at the SAG Awards, Will Smith may have this one in the bag. (We think so.) At least whoever wins will get their full, glorious moment during the telecast, unlike those nominated in the eight categories that, for the first time ever, will distributed during the pre-show. We've got some thoughts about this. Then, we present our interviews with Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis, who elevate 'King Richard' into something complex: a portrait of a marriage with a shared vision, but also a bit of friction. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EW editor Jason Lamphier and EW writer Maureen Lee Lenker discuss Grammy winner Brandi Carlile’s five nominations this year, celebrate the thrilling highs (and high notes) of her soaring ballad “Right on Time,” and chat with the singer-songwriter about whether she thinks she can take home some of the biggest trophies of the night. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with their special guest, EW writer Maureen Lee Lenker—dive deep into Aaron Sorkin’s 'Being the Ricardos': how it expands upon our understanding of Lucille Ball, as well as the ‘50s TV word in which she operated. We also discuss the wide-ranging career of Nicole Kidman, who, from ‘To Die For’ and ‘Moulin Rouge!” to her current triumph, has often been underestimated. She’s our special guest, and speaks about her preparation for the role, as well as what she watched during the lockdown. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with their special guest, EW writer Maureen Lee Lenker—explore the many facets of Kenneth Branagh's 'Belfast': the performances, the black-and-white cinematography, how it functions as a memoir, and, of course, its Oscar chances. Then, listen to our interviews with Jamie Dornan (yes, we also talk about his instantly classic musical number in 'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar') and the legendary Ciarán Hinds, Oscar-nominated for the first time in his career. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf revisit the Best Supporting Actress race. Now that the field has clarified and we have our five Oscar nominees, who has the advantage? Will Kirsten Dunst, finally nominated for the first time in her career, eclipse her competition? Or are other campaigns surging? Then, listen to our interview with Ariana DeBose, whose electrifying performance in ‘West Side Story’ has earned her a nomination. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest episode, EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with special guests Gerrad Hall and Joey Nolfi—respond to Tuesday morning's Oscar nominations. Snubs! Surprises! Even more snubs! We sift through the rubble and salvage what we can of the ‘House of Gucci’ campaign. Then, listen to our fun and casual chat with Kirsten Dunst, an interview that goes deep into her acting process and experiences on ‘The Power of The Dog.’ (Yes, she has a Benedict story.) For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf track all the latest developments as the Oscar race heats up, including announcements from several prominent guilds: DGA, PGA, WGA and BAFTA. They also offer some final predictions on the eve of Oscar nominations. Then, listen to our exclusive interviews with Dakota Johnson and Penélope Cruz, both coming off roles that showcased them better than ever. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf make the case for their under-the-radar favorites: the performances that, for whatever reason, aren't quite in the awards conversation as prominently as they should be. (Who are they? You'll just have to listen to find out!) Then, listen to our exclusive interviews with Oscar Isaac and Jodie Comer, two stars who turned in career-high work in 2021. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf touch on recent developments in the race: the rise of Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s contemplative Japanese drama ‘Drive My Car,’ a worthy winner of multiple year-end critics awards; and the still-evolving status of the Best Supporting Actor race. Kodi Smit-McPhee (‘The Power of the Dog’) is the front-runner, but beyond him, the field is wide. Then, we feature our interview with Jon Bernthal, best known for tough guys in “The Punisher’ and ‘Sicario,’ but expanding his range in a big way as part of the sensitive cast of ‘King Richard.’ For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest episode, EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf break down the SAG nominees, a pivotal precursor for the Oscars: The snubs (Spencer’s Kristen Stewart), surprises (Bradley Cooper! Ben Affleck!) and biggest takeaways from the guild that makes up the biggest voting branch in the Academy. Our hosts also discuss movie style: Nightmare Alley is a feast of design, from its lush interiors and golden-hued cinematography to its costumes, hair and prop work. We chat about these so-called “craft categories,” saluting the work that often goes unmentioned, even though it’s the first noticed. Then, listen to our exclusive interview with Cate Blanchett, two-time Oscar winner and very much in the race again for her SAG-nominated turn in Nightmare Alley. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Music editor Alex Suskind and digital writer Marcus Jones talk about what it means to be a Grammy Artist™, predict the Best R&B Album and Song winners, and chat with 13-time nominee H.E.R. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf turn to the Best Supporting Actress race: Who has the most heat going into the busiest part of awards season? Is it King Richard’s Aunjanue Ellis? Belfast’s Caitríona Balfe? Then, listen to our exclusive interview with Ruth Negga, an Oscar nominee for 2016’s Loving and now very much in contention for Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut, Passing. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Music editor Alex Suskind and critic at large Leah Greenblatt run down the big nominations (and big controversies) of the 2022 Grammy Awards, the highs and lows of ceremonies past, and chat with three-time nominee St. Vincent. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf dive into the Best Director race, a wide-open contest between Hollywood veterans and indie upstarts alike: Will it be Jane Campion, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Spielberg or someone else entirely? Netflix has also financed some admirable directorial debuts this year, including behind-the-camera work from actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Hall and today's interview, the incredible Halle Berry. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices