Next best picture ema sasic a real pain
Our Winner Predictions For The 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards
The winners of the 40th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards (SPIRIT) will be announced on Saturday, February 22nd. Honoring the best in independent film from 2024, several Oscar contenders are competing for wins, including “Anora,” “Nickel Boys,” “A Real Pain,” and “The Substance.” Here are the winner predictions from some members of the Next Best Picture team.
Predictions are provided by: Alyssa Christian, Cody Dericks, Daniel Howat, Ema Sasic, Josh Parham, Lauren LaMagna, Matt Neglia, Nadia Dalimonte, Sara Clements & Tom O’Brien
BEST FEATURE
Anora(ALL)
I Saw the TV Glow
Nickel Boys
Sing Sing
The Substance
BEST FIRST FEATURE
Dìdi(Alyssa, Cody, Daniel, Ema, Josh, Lauren, Matt & Nadia)
In the Summers
Janet Planet (Sara & Tom)
The Piano Lesson
Problemista
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000
Big Boys
Ghostlight (Daniel, Josh & Sara)
Girls Will Be Girls
Jazzy
The People’s Joker(Alyssa, Cody, Ema, Lauren, Matt, Nadia & Tom)
BEST DIRECTOR
Ali Abbasi – The Apprentic
“A REAL PAIN”
THE STORY – Two cousins travel to Poland after their grandmother’s death to see where they came from and conclude up joining a Holocaust tour.
THE CAST – Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg, Will Sharpe & Jennifer Grey
THE TEAM – Jesse Eisenberg (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 90 Minutes
Actor Jesse Eisenberg may best be known for his on-camera work in films appreciate “The Social Network” and “Zombieland,” but he hit the snowy Sundance Film Festival as a first-time director in 2022 with “When You Finish Saving The World.” Despite mixed reviews, the Academy Award-nominee proved he was capable of stepping into the director’s chair and honing his off-screen craft. Two years later, he’s back with “A Real Pain” as writer, director, and actor. Eisenberg takes a more passionate approach with this film, as he follows two cousins who go on a trip together to honor their late grandmother and find some understanding with each other. The result is a tumultuous trip full of laughs, drama, and wonderful performances from Eisenberg and his recent Emmy-winning co-star Kier
By Ema Sasic
Review originally appeared on Next Best Picture
Do you love getting panic attacks about the suffocating responsibilities of motherhood? Then “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” is the movie for you. Films that get into the psyche of mothers on the brink of nervous breakdowns have been done before (“Tully” and “Nightbitch” come to mind), but what Mary Bronstein brings to the big screen is a full-blown attack on the body, a nonstop rollercoaster of anxiety, exhaustion and everything else in between, much like “Uncut Gems” and “Beau is Afraid.” You’ll be sadistically delighted by Rose Byrne’s incredibly stressful performance, unlike anything she’s done before, and know instantly that you never want to watch this movie again (complimentary).
Absolutely nothing seems to be going right in Linda’s (Byrne) life. For starters, her daughter (Delaney Quinn), who is heard screaming regularly but remains largely unseen, has a medical condition that requires a feeding tube. In order to have it removed, her daughter needs to reach a seemingly impossible weight goal, which Linda blames their nagging pediatrician for setting. She also has to deal with a massive hole that has flooded h
Succession star praised for emotional film role
The film has received broadly positive reviews from critics. Tomris Laffly of Harper's Bazaar described it, external as "understated, funny, and gradually heart-swelling", adding: "Expect to hear about this one next award season."
A Real Pain is a "frequently laugh-out-loud funny odd couple road trip movie whose emotional wallop sneaks up and floors you," added the Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney., external
Culkin is praised for a "career-high performance" by Deadline's Damon Wise, external. "Benji is a gift of a role, the kind that makes movie stars, and Eisenberg generously hands it to Culkin on a plate."
There has been some consternation in awards circles, however, that Culkin is campaigning in the supporting actor category, when many consider him the film's lead.
Vanity Fair's Richard Lawson was cooler, external on the film, commenting A Real Pain "is slighter than expected and is thus easily overwhelmed by Culkin’s high shtick".
"Sure, this film has conventional beats," acknowledged Ema Sasic of Next Best Picture, , externa
Our Final 2025 Oscar Winner Predictions
It all comes down to this. This Sunday, March 2nd, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will announce the winners of the 97th Academy Awards. The presentation will air on ABC and, for the first time, it’ll simultaneously stream on Hulu. This awards season has been one of the most unpredictable, contentious, and controversial ones we’ve ever seen. So, who and what will win? The Next Best Picture team is here with their predictions for what’s sure to be a ceremony filled with shocks and surprises, which you can read below or listen to on our most recent episode of the Next Best Picture Podcast.
Predictions provided by: Alyssa Christian, Cody Dericks, Dan Bayer, Daniel Howat, Ema Sasic, Giovanni Lago, Josh Parham, Matt Neglia, Nadia Dalimonte, Sara Clements, Tom O’Brien, & Will Mavity
Best Picture
“Anora” (Alyssa, Cody, Dan, Daniel, Ema, Giovanni, Josh, Matt, Nadia, Tom & Will)
“The Brutalist”
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave” (Sara)
“Dune: Part Two”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Nickel Boys”
“I