Everything Is Content - Are The Oscars A Sham? With Fred Asquith

Episode Date: March 20, 2026

Hello EICritics! This week on the podcast we have a special guest! Fred Asquith is here to help us bring to you this Oscars special.You may know Fred from his videos with his darling wife, he's a Yorkshire man in London, making some of the funniest videos on the web, as well as being a movie critic, you can follow him @fredasquith & @fredasquithonfilm.We talk about that Timothée Chalamet faux pas, find out a little Oscars trivia, and discuss what we made of this years awards, the nominees, winners and of course, the outfits.Thank you so much to Cue Podcasts for the edit.We hope you enjoy the episode, and always please do share with your friends and leave us a rating or review on your podcast player app!O, R, B xxThe Oscars feel silly in an era of endless crisis. But film still mattersOscars Viewership Slides 9%, Its First Drop Since 2021The Oscars are rigged and there's a formula to win Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm Beth. I'm Ruchera. I'm Anoni. And I'm Fred. And this is Everything Is Content, the Pop Culture Podcast, that dissects the biggest discourse from the week. We cover everything from viral Instagram posts to reality TV and celebrity drama. With the red carpet rolled out to guide you to the stuff you don't want to miss.

This week on the podcast, you may have noticed we have a special guest. Brett is here to help us bring to you this Oscar special from Best Dressed to Is the Oscars a Scam. and what we made of this year's noms and winners. You might know Fred from his videos with his darling wife, which I am personally very addicted to and have quite a power of social relationship with you. He's a Yorkshire man in London making some of the funniest videos on the wide web, if I may say. And he's also a movie critic. You can find him at Fred Asquith and at Fred Asquith on film.

And you can find us at Everything Is Content Pod and make sure you hit follow on your podcast playouts so you never miss an episode. So our special fourth guest Something we do every week is we ask, what have you been loving from the world of pop culture? Yeah, so I've got one pop culture thing and one non-pop culture thing

because you said once you did a biscuit. I did actually get cancelled for that cookie, though, do you remember? Well, you did a bit, yeah. Yeah, because it was from Costa. It was a problematic cookie. Okay, so I'll do the pop culture thing. So I've been loving Harry Stiles' weird accent. Have you noticed his weird accent?

I've seen people talking about this. What is the accent? I mean, so he talks a bit like a bit Australian, but then he'll go back to Yorkshire. Where's he from? He's from like Sheffield or something? And it's a mix of Yorkshire and Australian. It's fascinating.

It's the Britain-L-A accent. Yeah. Is it? I think it is. There's a few other people that have had it over the years and they come back and people really rib them for it. They go, you've lost your roots. Is it like Millie Bobby Brown?

Yes, although Millie Bob Brown's a bit more like almost straight American. Yes, she just either is American. But then sometimes she'll slip. into like an English accent. Yeah, it's so strange. Queen's English though, I think, right? Yeah. So Harry Starr's obviously been everywhere, right?

Clips everywhere for the last week or so. I cannot engage with him without... I'm like, why are we all just not talking about the accent? It's the only thing we should be talking about. It's like the wildest thing. But I'm a bit of an accent guy. I like doing impressions and stuff. You are very good.

I didn't actually realise that you were from Yorkshire until I went on your film thing, like not that long ago. I just thought you really were. I thought you were egging up your darling accent. Right. But I didn't know. See, that's interesting because a lot of people make that assumption, and I'm always like, okay, yeah, so do you think I'm like a posh accent and I'm doing it more?

Is that so that's what you thought? That's kind of what I thought, but maybe that's just the same posh. So I was like, oh, whatever. Yeah, I don't know what it is about it. It just comes out on me. I think it just fits. I just do that accent for those sketches. I think it works.

It's more like self-deprecating, I think, to do that accent. Yeah. You said you're an accent guy. Can you do the Harry Style's new accent for us? It's a little bit like that and Do you guys hear with us? I'm trying to like wrestle with it. It's really hard to get my teeth around.

I do it on my own in my office, like trying to master it. It's impossible. That's so fast. It's a chameleian accent. What is your pop culture? Oh, sorry. What is your big? I don't think you want to know my non-pop culture.

Oh, we do. No, I do. We do. Okay, fine. My non-pop culture love of the week is the electric vehicle charging point at Morrison's. Let me explain. I've recently bought an electric car. I live on a cul-de-sac.

There's very few parking spots on the cul-de-sac. So if you take your car out of that parking spot to go charge your car, goodbye. You're parking off the street for the next three weeks, right? I recently found I drive to the gym, right? Because it's quite far away. And there's an electric vehicle charging point at the Morrisons that I park in, which means I don't need to leave my parking spot on the cul-de-sac to charge the car. So now I have the parking spot forever.

This is amazing. This has changed my life. I spoke about it for the next like three days. I'm still thinking I'm still talking about it. It's going to be mine actually. It's quite annoying. Yeah. It's making me think,

did you see the cliff of the guy who drove in and parked in every single spot his local supermarket before he decided. It's gone viral everywhere recently. So he went and parked in every different spot in his local supermarket to try and find the best spot. And then people are commented like, oh my God, I've parted there before. I completely agree. That is the best one.

Yeah. Well, I do that as well. When I drive to the gym, I've tried to find what. the best spot for best access to the gym and like, yeah, I've tried three or four different spots. Now I'm in the EV spot. I'm not good enough driver. I've got, I park in the same spot every time. My boyfriend just pointed this out. He was like, if you can't park in this, you've got a second favourite, but you've got a favourite. That's so cute. If it's not, if it's not easy to park in, I will go home. I can't drive. I can't drive either, actually.

What, you haven't got your licence at all. I haven't got my license. I don't even have a professional. I did say one of my New Year's resolutions was to learn to drive by the middle of this year. So it's going well. I haven't had a lesson yet. Okay, great. Yeah. You don't need to drive in London. It's the classic thing in it. Just having a baby soon, so we just bought a car. I know. I wanted to say congratulations. That is so exciting. Thanks. We're buzzing. It's soon. It's very, very soon. I shouldn't even be here. Oh, no. Isn't it's true now? I thought I saw a text on you. It's coming right now. On you going to few calls?

Should we do a really brief history of the Oscars? Because I feel like it's such a big part of the cultural furniture and I actually don't really know where it came from. Yes, I actually came across a fun fact. Did you know it was officially named the Academy Award of Merit, the statue's nickname is often attributed to the Academy librarian Margaret Herrick, who reportedly remarked that the trophy resembled her uncle Oscar. Although the Academy didn't formally adopt the name until 1939, it has entered the popular lexicon,

and by 1934, when columnist Sidney Slosky used it to describe Catherine Hepburn's first best actress win. Didn't she never go and collect any of her awards, Catherine Hatburn? She won like four times. And, okay, in the early days they didn't do a ceremony, but she never went. She won quite a few, and I don't think she ever turned up. No way. I can't.

She did a Sean Penn before Sean Penn. Oh, yes. Sean Penn didn't turn up on Sunday. I want to talk about that. Is that because he wasn't allowed to smoke? He went to Ukraine instead. He was in Ukraine. Oh, yeah, meeting Zelensky.

And he gave Zelensky a previous Oscar of his. Did you remember that? No. He has an Oscar for Milk and an Oscar for Mystic River, and he gave Zelensky one of them and specified which one it was, which I was quite funny. He was like, oh yeah, I gave him my milk Oscar. Because he was like, he's a true hero or something. Fine.

He needs the award, yeah. Another fun fact, it started in 1929 as a brief private dinner at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where winners were already known in advance. Over the decade, the event has obviously become a global media spectacle, introducing the sealed envelope system in 1941, obviously doesn't always work, to ensure secretly and making its television debut in 1953. So obviously there have been so many iconic moments from the Oscars throughout the years. Fred, we're turning to you as our correspondent.

What has been your favourite moment? It doesn't have to be from this year, but from any Oscars in history gone by. So favourite opening monologue was Hugh Chapman's musical opening monologue. He did a musical montage of all the best picture nominees at the start of the show. And I loved it because, like, I think the Oscars hosting gig is a really difficult gig, right? Like, all the hosting gigs are. Like, we know with the BAFTAs, it's difficult as well. And he did something different.

It was really authentic to him, and you could feel the passion. And I thought it was genuinely worked in a way that not all opening monologues work. Like, even Conan is like an experienced guy. Yeah. This one was a bit like hot and cold. So, yeah, I loved that opening monologue. Favorite moment, Will Smith Slaps, got a bit. Yeah.

You saw mine, but everyone's is the favorite. Oh, can we discuss? Because I, I've not watched it, apart from when I accidentally watched it the morning after, I woke up, thought, this is insane. I can't physically bring myself to see that slap. It's seared in memories, though. I feel like I watch it all the time in my mind. In my mind.

I can remember exactly where I was. Like, I remember where I was in my flat. I remember going to sit on a chair to like talk about it. And we were messaging about it. It feels both like yesterday, but it was, what, four years ago now. Yes. And I have a sort of take, which is that I don't think it happens without lockdown. So it was the Oscars right after COVID.

I just feel like everything was so bottled up and frustration. And so was Will Smith. He's only human. And so I think that came out in that way. I think it was just like, oh, it was just a weird time. I feel like it was as a result of that time. And I loved the discourse after of like how much of a set up was it. Obviously not at all.

Yeah, people in the audience were sort of looking as though like, are we meant to laugh? Oh, he's and then. They do do bits like that sometimes, aren't they? Yeah. Yeah. The sound of that slap, though, that would be like, oh. Do you think it got more people to watch the Oscars? Because how many people, how much, have you watched them every year?

Like, when did you start watching them? Yeah, I've maybe missed years where I didn't have a Sky subscription. Sometimes it was on Sky. Now it's on TV. But I've watched every year that I could. But yeah, I think in the US, I think the Oscars gets like between 10 and 20 million. I can't think exactly what it is. But it used to get a lot, lot more.

Yeah, I feel like it was like 1997, like kind of cable TV was just, people maybe had like 20 to 60 channels, like 53, million people would watch it. And now the competition, of course, every year, less and less or fewer and fewer people do watch it. So if they get another slap in there, I will start watching it. But maybe I guess you just know that everything's going to be clipped up so you don't need

to watch the whole thing. I know, it's the clips on YouTube. But then the Oscars are moving to YouTube. So that's probably trying to mitigate the clip issue. Do you think that that means that everyone will be able to do an Adrian Brody five minute? Because surely then the parameters, they won't have to play the music to get people off stage. Yeah. Did you

see that, did you watch that bit with the The K-pop Demon Hunter's speech. No, what happened? So rude. It was so rude. What happened? I think there was four people accepted the award for,

was it best animated or was it best song? It was one of those two, and there was four people. One person spoke for the four, but then there was clearly another one who was sort of like the leader of the group as well, came and said, and I'd like to thank,

darkness, microphone goes down, put to a wide shot, and they just stood there and the whole crowd are going, no, no, no. Humiliating, horrible. It's really embarrassing. They have to finish it backstage,

and you go, but that is, it's people's one moment. And if you do let Adrian Brody talk for six or seven years. Yeah, I feel like they seem to have a time limit of like three minutes, two minutes, three minutes. I'd be happy with like a generous like seven, eight minute time. And that would allow the Adrian Brody to talk too long. But I think like you're saying, it's the biggest moment in their whole life. We're not watching the show for like a pre-produced comedy VT.

We're watching the show for people like displaying like raw emotion, elation, crying, things like that. And I think those are the clippable moments. I don't know why they cut those bits. And also the longer people talk, the madder the shit they'll say. So if you want interesting stuff,

give them a mic for 10 minutes. Yeah. But this is like, so I used to work at weddings when I was younger and when the speeches are good, you're like, I can listen to this for like 20 minutes. But invariably, it is often the people with the really bad speeches

that they're lasting for like 15 minutes. Yeah, you're right. So you say that. and then someone will get up and it is, it can be bad vibes. Everyone goes out for a poo and a sick. Yeah. Pooh? It's a long ceremony.

You could have a poo in the television and Broadway speech. I feel like those dresses. I just feel like no one's drinking. The men are probably pooing at the Oscars. Do they not get a meal? They got a little snack box. Everyone was calling it the Azemps snack box. Yeah, from Conan, which had kind of like maybe a bottle of water and a granola bar.

Because you want more than that, don't you? I can't believe it's not a dinner. That's why they rushed her in and out afterwards. I bring a pact. I've got into buying fruit shoots, you know, little tiny fruit shoots. Because I'm like, sometimes you go to like, do you say you went to the bride premiere? Yeah. Yeah.

And they don't give you enough fucking luggage. No, I know. So I'm like, I pack fruit shoots in my like jacket pockets because you can't tell because they're so tiny. And I also put a little grenade bar in this slot. So I'd be doing that at the Oscars. Men are lucky that there is that sort of. The slots. There's not as many slots in.

I'm trying to think we'll get onto the outfits in a minute. But where are you fit in a slot? in especially, I'm thinking Gwyneth Paltrow's naked dress, she can have a fruit shirt. We'd have to be... Can you imagine? She'd be the one slot she's got. She could be wearing sort of like a reverse shewi. And suck it.

Shoot, shoot on the back. I'm a bit confused how that works. Sort of like you'd have like a camel pack with like a tube running up. Oh, wow. Yeah, that's... Interesting. She was front row as well. But also on Premiers, I didn't realize this, but my friend who's a journalist who's

gone to Premier's few years, she would turn up to Premier and her really nice outfit, have a tote bag. And in the tote bag, she had flat shoes, a jumper and like, snacks. Right. Because they take your stuff and they take a picture anyway. So I was like, oh,

because Trier and I worked the bride together and you really wanted to get a drink and we'd queued for ages and they were like, okay, the bar's shut now and you just got that one can of water. Yeah. And you're sat there for ages. I ate both of our popcorn,

so I was so thirsty. By the way, were you at the Cine World for the bride premiere? Was it a view? Oh, maybe for you. I don't know because... I think it was Cine World. Yeah.

Because one can of water, but then the, um, some cinemas, they don't even have the little drinks holder. And then at Cine World, the drinks holder is too big for the kind of water, so you can't even like, I put it on the floor, the amount of times he gets kicked over,

and I'm just sat there. I love to be behind the veil of these glitzy events. I know, it is fascinating. It's such a privileged issue, isn't it? You're just in the cinema and black tie. Yeah, the amount of times I'll put, like, my velvet jacket on my bow tie, take the picture, it's like, yeah, at a premiere,

and you sit down, and you're like, yeah, I wish I'd brought a bag. I know. Of, like, just a normal coat. But the dress I'd worn as well was this laced. It was, like, really beautiful black, the dress, but it was criss-cross, and the leather seat, Every time I moved, my whole back was going, off the back of the seat.

And I took it off and I looked like a piece of roast beef because all the strings had like dug into my back. And I was like, you actually, this is not a dress. You're supposed to sit down in for like two hours. Yeah, honestly. I was like, okay, never again. And I was on Thongwatch when we were taking pictures as well. Yeah, my knickers kept sticking out the top.

I'm sure you've been on, you're on Thongwatch because you and darling wife. That's a different thing. It's just seen when you've got like kind of VPN when you go to. VPL. VPL. Not VPN. Sorry. When your

visible pants, can you see my panty line? Is a nipple gone out? Oh, you mean so is my darling wife asking me about Yes.

Thong watch? Actually, she's never asked me about that. That's interesting. Maybe she's got a different Thong watcher. Sometimes when I actually, I grew up with two sisters,

I feel like I'm good with the whole outfit advice thing. I think I'm all right with it. I don't have fashion sense, but anyway. But I think there's an element of distrust when she asked me about her outfit. I think she thinks that I don't really know

what she's asking me to look for. So maybe she doesn't think I'll spot the VPN. The VPN of it at all. Should we discuss the VPNs on the red carpet? I think it's a perfect segue. I want to know what everyone's favourite looks. And listeners, we will get into proper film chat soon because that is why Fred's here.

But I have to know what everyone's favourite, Fred will start with you. What was your favourite look looks? Okay, so as established, I don't have much fashion sense. So I just have, I more have two observations. One, Pedro Pascal's big white flower. Yeah. Did you see that? Yeah, yeah.

That was the one outfit. I generally wouldn't notice someone's outfit, but that was the one where I was like, what's he doing there? So is that good? Was that nice? You tell me, was it good? What do you think?

I don't mind what anyone wears, really. But was it nice from a fashion time? I didn't see his outfit because I just noticed he didn't have a mustache. That's what I was going to say, did the flower distract you because that's what all I saw. No, yeah, I did feel like he looked older. He had an older neck than I remember. I think he shaved,

and I think the clean shaven made him look older than usual. Maybe, did he have a bit of stubble covering up the neck? I think usually. I think he'd gone completely quite shiny. People were saying that he woke up from his, no, Leo, DiCaprio woke up from his mustache check to me and said, who do you think gave you the moustache?

It's exactly the same. He looked quite good with it, Leo. Oh, Leo looks amazing. It did suit him. I saw a tweet that was like, Leo read the room, was like, right, I'm going to get hot for morale. Oh, it's worked. But back to your note, I didn't like the flower. Right, yeah.

It was a no for me. Well, I just think men have it so hard. There's this account which I can never remember the name of where this guy is so funny. critiques the looks. And I don't really, I disagree with him because I assume he must be right. Shabazz? Is that, isn't it? And he goes, I like it. I'm not sure. And I never know what he's going to say, but whatever he says, I must be right. Yeah, right. Because men's, you really don't have that many options. It's either like a really nice fitting suit or you sort of jazz it up and some of the broochers he was loving, some of them, he was really hating.

Like a good guy one I thought was Michael B. Jordan's like a button-up thing. It almost looks papal, you know? Yes. Like a little bit like religiously. But it was obviously not. But anyway, yeah, it was really nice. And then the other one I was going to mention was, did you see Anna Wintour? Yes. So that always fascinates me. As somebody who doesn't know what to look for with clothes, it fascinates me when someone

who's so high up in the fashion industry puts an outfit on, especially when it's like something that you would say isn't like a traditional red carpet outfit. It wasn't that crazy. She had like a boxy dress on sort of thing, right? So I'm always like, does she always have to wear something that's even just a little bit outlandish because she's Anna Wintour or does she think, no, this is fire and no one else knows what they're talking about? Or is, what, what's the deal when you're Anna Wintor to pick what to wear? Do you know what I mean? I think she has a really strong sense of style because

what's so interesting about Anna Wintow is often you wouldn't actually think necessarily what she's wearing is very fashionable, but she's really stylish. And if you go back, her style is like evolved as she's gotten older. And it's always very like Anna Wintor's specific outfit. So what would be an Anna Wintow identity, would you say? She loves, like. like kind of a cinch and wets, like, a top with a little, like, boxy jacket over the top. And she always has her sunglasses on. Do you think she'd like this? Moomoo.

No, she wouldn't like this. Enormous orange champagne wearing? She'd also hate why gone. I would be, what's the faces. I'd be Andy and Devil's Friday. Maybe she, the thing is I do think she's Miranda Priestley. So maybe she wouldn't be as much of a bit. Obviously, there was that bit with her and Anne Hathaway, which I'm sure everyone saw.

Yeah. Not Anne Hathaway. Yeah, it was An Hathaway. Yeah. Do you not see Anna Wintels on stage with Anne Hathaway? and then they have this little back and forth and then Anna Wintel goes go on then Emily or something

and they do a little devil wears pot a bit Oh she's funny there! Yeah, she played along. It was quite good that she did it because obviously the double worse part is very unfavourable towards her And then the next one's coming out. Okay, so mine, my top one was Tiana Taylor. Oh my God, yeah.

So good and then I also... Her vanity fair? No, her Oscars. Her Oscars, yeah. Kind of this like black and white patterned, really long gown gorgeous and then I had Barbie Ferreira

did you see her I didn't see her saw her on the vanity fair and kind of navy electric blue this like

really vibrant blue and like no one wears colour everyone was in like a lot of white a lot of black super boring liked her

the person from sentimental value Renet Renette yeah let's all try oh Renata reminds for red dress

yes that like amazing vibrant red I thought was so cool I love that everyone was hating that everyone was

like oh it's so boring I loved the way it was like a big slit and then it kind of went out, it almost looked like a flag or a red carpet the way it fell. She's so tall. I didn't really so tall. Did you see her on the red carpet?

So tall. Because they're only photographed by themselves. I have no concept of who's tall, who's not. I just imagine everyone is six foot when they're an actor, but they're not. Yeah, they're not. They're really small. Ethan Hawke, a bit tall than I expected. Ethan Hawke.

I always thought it was like five for five. Yeah, I think even when Amelia de Maldenberg was interviewing him, I think she says to him, like, you're really tall. I didn't think you're going to be this tall. He hasn't got tall energy. No, you have tall. But, like, I didn't know that Beth and me were at the same height. I saw that Beth was, like, five inches taller.

I often think you are in the six feet. Now, you're sat down, I picture you at all exactly the same height. I think we are roughly the same height. You are right? A bank average five foot five or something. Oh, no, I'm five foot three. We saw Fred today and we luckily, on the street, I went, I'm going to wave at this tall man and hope.

I think it's him. Yeah, right. It was. Yeah, thanks God. He is as tall as advertised. You are Fred, aren't you? Yeah. It's like that BBC interview where that guy's like,

huh? And he's the bodyguard. Do you remember about the driver? It's so funny, yeah. Anyway, we won't get. I'll get sidetracks and viral videos at the second. Did you have any favoured dresses? I had one and it was, Demi Moore, I think she's on the carpet wearing like most of a peacock.

And I just thought she looks really fun. She just sort of stepped into a peacock. I think it's Gucci, the name of the peacock. And she just looked good. Maleficent vibes, I think. Yeah, I quite like that because, again, it was sort of monochrome, but it wasn't boring. Not that there were that many really boring ones, but the most exciting ones were for Fantasy Fair. Yeah, I think all of the best, my favourite ones are Vanity Fair.

I'll let you take it away. Go and reveal. Okay, well, I loved Mahala's outfit. Her from industry, obviously, she was wearing a long-sleeved blue, completely see-to, kind of mesh dress. She just said absolutely stunning. I also love pink pantheris.

Did you see what she was wearing? I didn't see her. Massive hat and sort of like black dress with white bits on it, and she kind of looked like a silhouette. She looked gorgeous. And then I'm going to surprise you all because I really is really into Kim Kardashian's gold.

Oh, stop it. Be serious for a second. So I, we haven't spoken about this on the podcast, but the new collection for Gucci was getting quite a lot of heat. Demna's trying to be like the new Tom Ford for Gucci. That's what everyone said. Obviously Demna previously designed for Balanchiaga. This collection, like went down the catwalk.

Everyone was kind of slating it. Some people were loving it. Kim Kardashian went and she's wearing one of these dresses. It's a high neck, long sleeve gold dress. She kind of looks a bit like an Oscar. And she had blue contacts in. Her hair's kind of a bit messy. She's got really heavy eye makeup on.

And I thought, do you know what? That's quite fun. You've undone your whole amazing list with that. I just, because it kind of felt like she was leaning into. The whole catwalk, that Gucci catwalk, was kind of about, like, being a bit of a mess, being a bit of an after party. I'd never seen her look that disheveled. And I think that's actually quite chic. The blue contacts really reminds me of, you know, that iconic Miley Cyrus meme?

Where she looks like she's just like, like she's staring with her green eyes and they are penetrating everything. Like a husky. I'll show you after. Like blue eyes are really scary. Yeah. Put contacts in them. I felt spooked to seeing those pictures. Sorry, no offense.

Blue-eyed. Listeners and friends. I love your blue eyes and only though Yeah, thank you. I'm staring at friends eyes now in case we've ever found it. Yeah, I'm like a grey, green. You look blue, you look very blue. Oh, yeah, they are green.

That's Miley Cyrus there. No, that's the meme, generally. Bluey green. Murky, I've got sort of Shrek Swampwater. Shrek, swam. And then quickly, just extremely hot. Jessica Alba, you must have seen. Oh, I didn't see.

I didn't see her. I wish she still get an invite. She is unreal. That's such a good. Didn't she have a nephew company? Yeah, actually, yeah. Oh, I think she's got a divorce, maybe. And of course, then you get the invite.

Get the invite, I should get divorced. But that is why, like, obviously, divorce hot. There was something about that at one point. Divorce energy. Big divorce energy. Not about getting invited to the office. BDA. On to the nominations and winners.

In case you have lived under a rock for the past week, best picture was won by one battle after another. Best actress was Jessie Buckley for Hamnet. Best actor Michael B. Jordan in Sinners. Best supporting actress Amy Madigan for weapons. Best supporting actor was Sean Penn for one battle after another again. And best director was Paul. Thomas Anderson for one battle after another. I slept through the awards. Did you, did you?

I was asleep. I was asleep as well. Luckily, was, Fred, were you asleep? No. Someone was not asleep on the job. You actually did watch the entire thing and also were a kind of live ITV correspondent on the couch with, well, I'll let you tell the story to because you were there. No, please. So I was going to stay up and watch the awards. I would stay up every year to watch the awards. and then a couple of weeks before I got contacted by ITV to potentially be on it. So I was on this live panel, sorry, I should say, with, yeah, Samson K.O., who was an actor from F1, and then L. Ossaly Wood, who's like an up-and-coming critic, she works with BAFTA a lot. And then Jonathan Ross was hosting.

Watching some footage back from that, I feel like I've, like, AI generated, like, my fantasy or something. I'm like, I don't really, I don't, it was all a bit of a blur because it was through the night. So I was up until 4 a.m., naked, went to bed. and like, I don't know, and drinking through it a little bit as well. So yeah, it's all a bit of blur. Anyway, I had a really good time. And what was the question? I really was just, I think we should discuss those.

Was there anything of the ones I've read and also the other awards where you felt very strongly, no, I wouldn't have done that or that was not the right call or anything you were like, fantastic. I'm really happy that one battle after another won the major awards. It was my favourite film of last year. And I felt like it was an instant classic from a director that I've loved a lot of. of his films. How did you guys feel about it? Oh, I loved. I absolutely loved. And I think I only just realized this year that Paul Thomas Anderson has never had an Oscar for any of his amazing films previously. What on earth? And it happens too much for big directors. So,

like David Finch doesn't have an Oscar. Alfred Hitchcock never won an Oscar. Awesome Wells never won a directing Oscar. He won a co-screenwriting Oscar once. David Lynch never won an Oscar. So this can happen too often. So I'm, Ryan Cougler will 100%. I mean, he just got a screenplay Oscar, so he's already got one. But he'll win a best director. He's in his 30s, I think, or maybe early 40s. I just feel like there's a cycle to this. And it is annoying the idea that it's someone's time and then it'll be your time later. I don't really like that. But I do think not only was it Paul Thomas Anderson and one back left of his time, but the film was also worth it. It doesn't feel like a tokenistic gesture. I think it was also extremely good.

So I was really happy. It was by far. I tried to watch all of the, I'm two and a half short. So I haven't seen the secret agent, which I really want to see. And I have watched half of sentimental value. I didn't finish it on time. And I just couldn't be bothered to watch the F1 film. Is that really bad? I know, skip it. I mean, it made a lot of money.

I don't think it needs. I've seen F1, yeah. What did you think of F1? I was at that premiere. So I watch F1 a little bit. And my biggest problem with F1, I felt like it wasn't good for F1 fans. Oh, interesting. Yeah.

And I felt like it was not representative of the sport in terms of like what would, not what would actually happen because it's a movie, but you know what I mean, like within the realms of like what you expect. You guys all saw Top Gun Maverick, I assume. Did you? I... Come on.

I have. You didn't see Maverick? No, I have. I have. I liked it. You guys didn't see Moverick. It was busy that day, I think. Yeah.

That was the same cinema. I know. My dad was obsessed. My dad actually put the first top gun on the other day when I was at home and I'd never seen it. But he was saying like every line so I couldn't watch it because he was like, this bit's going to be really funny because later on in the film.

And I was like, What's the point of us watching this? Right, director's commentary essentially. Yeah. Yeah, well, anyway, it's the same director as TopGumavric, which saved cinema, strapped IMAX cameras to fighter jets, and was one of the most electric movie experiences I've ever had. And then they applied that same approach to F1,

strapping cameras to cars and stuff. I just didn't get the same feeling of exhilaration. I didn't feel like it translated. And I also felt like the plot was really paint by numbers. It was like Brad Pitt, old dude, back from the... retirement and like what's you going to do and like I just like I just found it really fucking boring it was like two hours 30 minutes was it Oscar worthy no I mean unless the technical categories like it wouldn't best sound right fine I mean the cars allow it I don't sometimes with the technical categories

I don't really know if the voters know enough to be voting yeah I mean I don't really know yeah it is interesting the length thing because when a film is long and it's really good you're so pleased like I was loving one battle off to another and that was the thing I was like I could have watched it for another hour. Yeah. Whereas there are other movies that you watch, like, Frankenstein, which personally I really didn't think was great. And I almost gave up and I was like, I have to watch this.

I need to watch one of these best pitch films. And I was like, that could have been easily an hour and a half shorter. 100%. It's just about the pacing, like, which is why it's good one battle one best editing. Pace in a movie of that length to feel fast was amazing. But it's the same in any length of content. Like you can listen to a podcast that's 30 minutes that feels forever because it's boring as shit.

You guys have done so many. No, I'll podcast for number half now. They're always at least. Yeah, right, right. You have the opposite. You've got the one battle podcast. Should we talk about that kind of idea of the tokenistic, who you want to win, their time will come?

And Timi C, Timothy Shalameh, because there is this idea that he will be the Leonardo DiCaprio of this generation of real talents in film that he will not get his dues. People did hope that for Monti Supreme he would. He didn't. He's also insulted every ballet dancer in the world. He's kind of had a little bit of a lull.

I mean, he's just released the trailer for June 3. I think he's thriving, but he's taken a bit of a battering in public. Have you guys talked about this on the pod yet? No. The thingy. Okay, fine. I want to hear your guys take first. Can you guys give a take on the...

Should we say what he said? Okay, so word for word said, I don't want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it's like, hey, keep this thing alive, even though nobody cares about this thing anymore, or respect to the ballet and opera people out there. And he said that during a conversation with fellow interstellar, co-star Matthew McConaughey, and I think he's been skewered. He's been, you know, spit-roasted by the internet and ballet and opera.

I'm going to put my chest out there and say, I didn't think what he said was that bad. I mean, it's true. You know, these are struggling art forms. We've spoken about it before. What did you guys think? He's actually put ballet back on the map. Everyone is doing ballet stuff now.

Like, it's getting actually so much traction. And I get the impulse to want to go, you're so uncultured to say that. But actually, the truth is, most people haven't gone to a ballet. Most people don't go to the opera. I actually have a cousin who's a ballet dancer and my nun I was an opera singer, so...

It is a dying art form. And I think the way he said it, which is like kind of it's unsalvageable was maybe what put people's backs up. But the truth is most people day to day, if you spoke to them in the privacy of their own home and you said to them like, what carries them all away, ballet, opera or film,

everyone's going to be like film. I think it maybe was slightly placed, not amazingly. But I think the funniest thing is, I do think people are going to start going now. to ballet and opera of the back of this. So maybe they need to say thanks to me. Yeah, we really weren't as offended as a lot of people. I think he just rubs people up the wrong way

in that he is really talented, not afraid to speak to his own, like when he said, I want to be one of the greats. I can understand why that would rile you a little bit, but he's not wrong. And I think it's defensiveness of an art form he could see you going the same way.

So that's the EIC take, Fred. EIC take done. All right, great. I feel I'm in safe space now. This is good. Because I basically agree generally with what you're saying. I feel like, if he's that much in the public eye, I would speak very carefully about other art forms, right? Because you want to support art in general.

So he definitely made a misstep talking about other art forms in any denigrating fashion. I think the point he was making was badly put, but actually valid, right? Yeah. The financial structure of the cinema industry is set up on the fact that the average person, quote-unquote, someone who wouldn't consider themselves a cinema fan, will go to the cinema maybe twice a year. That's what funds the whole system. And the thing with producing a movie, it takes 100 million, 50 million, 100 million to fund a movie.

So you need that turnover of audience. His point was that the average person doesn't go to a ballet or opera, maybe in a decade. I've actually never been to one. He used the word alive or make it alive. To keep it alive. Keep it alive. I think his point was that it's not ever evolving or current

in the way that cinema needs to be in order to be continually funded, which I think is fair, but it was very badly put. And then aside from that, I got annoyed by the reaction because, first of all, it doesn't actually matter what Timothy Chalemar thinks about ballet or opera. Do you know what I mean? Even though he is Timothy Chalemar and he shouldn't be saying it. I totally agree. It doesn't really matter. Who cares?

And then on top of that, I actually don't even need to like my stars. I don't really care. I do care if someone supports something like politically that I have really strongly disagree with. But this is not that. This is just someone saying something like a bit dumb. It's like just like a normal dumb take. But everyone reacted as if the star's responsibility is to be representative of like a median point of view

and to be said in a median PR sort of way. I don't think that's what we should expect from stars. And then so I was watching the Oscars and there was four jokes about the ballet thing. And Timmy's there in the front row nominated for a really good performance. And I got that sort of like feeling of he is just a dude and he will be feeling really probably quite depressed right now, like strongly depressed.

Like, we've all had comments that we weren't happy with people picking on something that we've said, that we maybe missaid. And on our kind of smaller scale, it can be really, like, oppressive sometimes. I think Timmy shalliaman might be really mentally struggling. And considering it wasn't something hurtful to anyone, it was just a silly comment. I just wish that we would dial it back. That's my take.

It was so inflated, the response. It really felt like everyone was clutch. their pearls. Because I was away, I was out of the country, I was just, like, tuning in to the Guardian every few days. And I was like, this story keeps going. Everyone keeps talking about, you know, Doja Cat's response to it. And then this person's response. And I was like, do people really care? Yeah. It's so bizarre. I'd love a survey of how many people went to Ballet and Opera. But that, that, again, would be like a combative, like, told you so approach. It doesn't even need to be that. It just needs to be like, hey, just said something silly. Did you see Doja Cat's response to her

response. I saw that there was something about response to a response. I dare not click on it. So she basically the next day was like, actually I don't care. I've literally never been for ballet and opera. I just chimed in because I felt outraged and I realized. And that is what I think a lot of people felt. It's like I should feel cross about this because it feels like what you're saying is that ballet and opera are shit. And yeah, I do think he phrased it really badly. But the funny thing is he has said this like four times in the past. And he said it in slightly different iterations. That was the nail in the coffin, I think.

So I think this is probably why he said it, and he really thinks it's obviously like a bit he has, and I think he must have got the tone wrong or like, where did it wrong me? Because in the past, I think people have laughed. It's just this time Matthew McConaughey was about like, oh, God, what are you saying? Honestly, like, on that point, the amount of fucking shit takes that I've said since I was 18, he's been in the public eye since he was 18. And I say them over and over again, the stuff I've already said on this podcast, I've said four times already in the last week.

It's just like, yeah, he said it a few. times before. He's had a point of view on cinema and like it's not something you maybe wholly agree with but like do you have to demonise him, you know? I think you're right. It's sad. What I was thinking, we did an episode about how Olivia Dean's got this hate train and there's this phrase that's been coined which is when you get womaned, which is when the internet just randomly turns on you. And I think it's quite interesting with this Timmy Chalameh thing because you don't normally see this happening to men. It's quite a common thing with a woman where they'll say something in an interview and we can get onto the Jesse Buckley cats of it all. But maybe this is sticking out

because I can't think of many men. I mean, think of the things that the men have done. Yeah, the ones that were even in that room. Yeah. Actually, that's a good point about the, do you call it, the woman? Being woman. Yeah, it's a good point, and it doesn't happen to guys as often. Listening to your last episode you were talking about Louis Theroux, right?

There was an article on Louis Theroux, and how that's probably, it's probably not going to be a seismic issue for him. With something like this Timothy Shalameh thing, sometimes I think their image is set up perfectly to be taken down. And it just depends whether that thing comes a lot. long to take them down. So, for example, I think Leo DiCaprio is at a point where if one thing happened, he could have a lot of vitriol against him, because people have seen him at the wedding of Jeff Bezos, for example. He's known maybe to be a bit of a hypocrite about his environmentalist stuff. Timothy Salome was at like a point where he was ready to be taken down because we'd seen him so much promoting Mighty Supreme, so much with his chest and so cockily, I guess. And that thing just

happened to come along and the interview came out, but the clip only went viral like a week or two later. And Louis Threws at that point. Sometimes you get this sense that there's like an undercurrent of narrative that hasn't come to the surface because there hasn't been the right bit of content. I agree. And the content comes and then it happens. And so Tim and shall be back and it annoys me that people just love to be definitive about things. Like this is done. It's over. He's got he's going to have like some redemption arc and all these people who are slagging him off are going to be saying he should win for. for something in like 10 years time and look how Varry's come.

It's all in your head. You made up this narrative. You brought him down. You're bringing him back up. Ultimately, he's just, just leave him alone. I think Barry Kiowen's got the same thing going on. Right.

Like, the amount of vitriol I see when he's just posted a picture of his terrible haircut for Beatles is like he's personally offended your mom or something. It's so crazy. And I do think his biggest crime is that he allegedly cheated on Sabrina Carpenter. But that's none of my business. It's none of anyone's business. And, like,

I have seen people get really nice. in the comments about him. And I think there's this perception of, because he's not the traditional Hollywood heartthrob looking guy, he should be so grateful that he's there. And I think people turn so quickly. Yeah. And something I did want to talk about is the Oscars

in like this kind of, you know, allegation of being like anti-young actors. And I did some research. And apparently in the Oscars history books, only six people who were 30 or below 30 have ever won an Oscar, which is really crazy. And the five of them are women. Yeah, yeah.

Do you think there is something in, the claim that it is much harder to be a young person to get your flowers with that award body. Yes, I think it's much harder to be a young guy and get your flowers, but I think it's like a reverse sexist thing. Mikey Madison last year. Yes, exactly. Mikey Madison and also Emma Stone got a young Oscar. Jennifer Lawrence got an Oscar at 22. What I mean by reverse sexism is I think that people like to like have the young female starlet image and they're happy to award that because that's It's almost like a trope of Hollywood, like these young, like, oh, they're beautiful and blah, blah, blah. It's almost like pigeonholing a female actor when they have done a role that they're deemed to be awards worthy early on in their career, whereas a guy, for some reason, has to almost like earn their stripes more.

And I think that that comes from the idea that a guy is seen to be bratti when they're younger, whereas a girl is seen to be more of like an object. You know what I mean? It's almost like there's denigration of both. and for different reasons that one gets awarded and one doesn't. So Timothy Chalemey is considered immature, and the youngest male actor to win for full actor was Adrian Brody, and he was 29, which was an extremely mature role. It's a Holocaust movie.

And yeah, and Marty Supreme is an extremely immature role. Last year he got nominated for playing Bob Dylan at a very early stage in his career. I think that there's a perception of young men that is like a brattiness that they don't want to award. until they've earned an element of maturity, which is exactly what Leo did. He had to go into the snow and get Shag by a Bear

to get his Oscar, you know. It is, I do wonder if there is that sort of misogyny against women. It's like, we'll award you an Oscar now and you're 22 because that's kind of your peak. And you're not really... Yeah, exactly. You've got nowhere else to go now because you're going to be 23 and we'll have to kick you off.

Which is why I was really excited that Amy Madigan won. I mean, the supporting actress category was stacked. There was no one that I would have thought, you've snuck in. And it was really exciting. I think it was lovely Tiana Taylor was so excited for her. But I think there is something in, we understand there will be an arc for male actors and it will, you know, they will earn their stripes. With older actresses, I think less so. I think they're more of the furniture.

Yeah, you have, you're right, you have an inverse thing. Because often, I guess, as well, with older actors, and we've heard them talk about this, is the roles do start to disappear. You have less work. Men get older and older and older and you can be in your 90s and, you know, be the starring role and that doesn't always go that way. I wanted to ask you quickly because we haven't asked, what did you think of Marty Supreme and do you think it should? of won awards because it was one of my favorites. Yeah, right. So did you like it as well? Loved it. Yeah. So I loved it too. And I think it's such a shame that like for the moment, the image of that movie has been clouded by the Timothy Chalemay thing and because it's so similar to the persona in the

movie. But yeah, I loved it. I loved it. And I loved that he promoted it so hard. And I hope he doesn't feel like that was a regret because I think we want people to go to cinemas. He promoted essentially an art house movie made over 200 million worldwide. which is more than one battle after another, which was a much bigger film with the biggest, well, more legacy star. So I think well done. And yeah, I thought it was brilliant. I loved it.

I really want to watch it again. Actually, it was so good. And I loved what you said a minute ago. You're saying, I don't need my celebrities. I don't even need to like them. Like, they don't need to have whatever moral standing. And such an interesting thing that's come out of the discourse post the Oscars is people taking an issue with some of the films,

like one battle after another, because they don't like the central characters or the things that they represent. And there seems to be an interesting perception in the way that people watch cinema now, it's like, actually, I want to see moral guidance within my characters. Have you seen any of this reaction? I have, yeah. With the Mighty Supreme thing, especially, yeah.

And yeah, I disagree with that. I think the perspective of the filmmaking is important. The best example is you can have a film about racism that's not racist, but that film would have to include racist characters in order to have the perspective on racism. So, like, Marty Supreme is like a dickhead, but I think the perspective on the movie is like,

not like a redemption, but a maturing of that dickhead into realizing that there's bigger things in life and he gets his kid at the end of the film. Even if that wasn't the case, I don't think the movie is mean-spirited. I don't think the movie is like objectively saying that Marty is making moral decisions.

I think it's just more an exploration of determination and drive in a similar way to Whiplash the drumming movie. Yeah. It's like, you know, do I agree with what he's doing and he breaks up with his girlfriend and like blah, blah, blah. No, I don't agree. But what is film, if not like, exploring like, breadth of human? emotion and I don't think we can do that within the confines of like morality all the time.

I think and what people seemed to come out of it, people who didn't like it, seem to come out of it sort of thinking, you can't act like that, you know, you're not reward for that. That man suffers non-stop for the entirety. He is in the, he's basically a prisoner of his own ambition and it's fantastically entertaining to watch, but not one point in that film do you think, God, he's having a really lovely time with this. He is absolutely sweating and miserable. Oh my God. He just makes bad. My anxiety throughout that film. It's so stressful. It's so stressful. But I love unlikable characters. I love people that make really bad decisions. I think it's so fascinating. And every story really just has to be like, what could a life

look like? That's all anyone's ever really showing you, isn't it? Yeah. Ambition is a good point. Like, this guy isn't winning all the way through. If anything, he's just getting knocked down and down and down and down. And it's nice to see someone really striving for something. I think that's the story. It's not a story of like privilege, I don't think. And also everyone is saying and it is kind of funny, but it is mean that this is the most Marty Supreme thing that could have ever happened to Tiffany Talaire. It's just he lost on every.

Yeah, it was like a flip of last year, the substance. Do you remember that movie? And how Demi Moore had a substance moment because Mikey Madison beat her for Best Actress. This year is the Marty Supreme moment because he sat there. At the end of Marty Supreme he gets beaten by the world-class ping-pong player

and you got Michael B. Jordan up there looking so good with his Oscar. He is Marty sat in the crowd. Gosh. He's like, give me a rematch. Recount, let's do it again. One thing I do find particularly interesting with the Oscars is this kind of like looming issue with its relevancy, right? This year it drew 17.9 million viewers from, according to official figures from Nielsen.

That is a 9% drop from the year before. You mentioned it before Beth, but about a decade ago, I think 30, 40 million people were tuning in for this. So that is a massive drop. And, you know, the ratings stopped this four years rise with the Oscars. people were just not as interested. People are reviewing it less. I was wondering, do you think that there is a relevancy problem? Or do you think it's what we mentioned before that people are negotiating, absorbing it, consuming it in different ways and social media is the primary way? Or do you think people just don't care? Yeah, I think it's more the first thing. Well, not so much a relevancy

problem, sorry, was your first point. I think it's more like a presentation problem, which has the impact of making it feel irrelevant. So the equivalence of the Oscars are the Grammys and the Tonys, right. The Grammys have a really good show. I actually think the Brits this year was quite a fun show as well. I think the problem with the Oscars is, Beth, you mentioned it came from, I actually didn't know. It came from like a dinner. Did you say? Yeah. They took a little kind of 15 minute off screen. Which is really interesting because I think you can feel the ancestry of that in the Oscars still. It's almost like there's a pretense to it. Like there's a stuffiness to it that it's like baked into the history of the Oscars that you can feel and they haven't been able to shake and make it feel like a fun celebration of moving.

I think that's what holds it back because I love the Oscars. I watch it because I love movies. But I watch the Brits and I don't really like many of the artists. I don't really know a lot of them. But I watch it because it's a fun show. I don't necessarily think the Oscars have to go full Brits,

round tables, drinks and like people clearly like off their tits. I don't think how they have to do that. But I do think they need to like strip back and reframe as like a celebration of movies, probably less bow ties. I'm not a producer so I don't really know but I do think there's a presentation issue because music and film should be equivalence

but they're presented differently at their national awards I think you even feel it when you see the celebrities going to the vanity fair it's like everyone goes oh my God we can go have fun now it's like why are we not see it's almost like you want to see what the vanity fair energy is for the whole Oscars it's like you have to go through the Oscars to get to this thing

which seems like more fun how much do you tie the Oscars to like the truth of the best films like do you really use that as you're guiding like North Star and how you know what's good. What I loved about this year is, on my perspective, I feel like the awards are awarded well this year. But no, I don't use it as my North Star for every year. And I feel like it's silly too,

just because it's all subjective and like it's fine to, like we were talking before, it's really fine to like Wutheran Heights or dislike Wethyn Heights, like the bride, dislike the bride, whatever. It doesn't really matter. It's more just about the celebration. I think sometimes like saying something definitive about the arts is just not, it's like a misnomer or whatever you call it.

What do you call it? Yeah. Yeah. That's what I read. I like the pageantry. And I think it acknowledges its own problems or people acknowledge it. Like, Oscar's so white. The fact that you will get, you know, it's a surprise when an international film is nominated for best film.

And of course, it won't win. It recognizes its own shortcomings. It was a piece by Justin Chang for The New Yorker. I mean, it's a few pieces actually on the Oscars. But this was about the tone of the Oscars being quite doom and gloom. I know it was very funny, but Conan made a lot of jokes sort of bringing the outside in of this is an industry, not in crisis, but AI is here. The money's not there. I think there was a little bit of a sense of these are not,

these are kind of the last glory days, things are in decline, but in a quite a jokey way. Whereas I do like the glitz, the glamour, and this idea of like this unstoppable force in the culture being cinema. Yeah, I don't think the film industry is going anywhere as a whole. I just think, like, AI is going to be insidiously getting in, you know, that's a whole separate issue. But on the glitz and glamour, I think, like you're saying about the Vanity Fair at party,

you've got Jacob Alleroy here, you've got Timothy Chalemot, Tiana Taylor, you've got all the most exciting young stars and you're putting them in this like stuffy box. And yeah, it should be more fun. It should be a party. And Golden Globes is funner to watch than the Oscars, I think, for a reason. I think in terms of, in terms of the Oscars being an all-star, I think what it is an all-star for is like cultural relevance of every year. And I think that is like of equal interest or importance.

So if Sinners had one this year, it would have been worthy in a lot of ways. It's not about saying whether it's best, though that's what the title of the award is, like sinners culturally has been so impactful and important this year for movies. When you look back at certain years where maybe you think the wrong film won, what does it say about where the culture of the industry was at that point? That still makes it an interesting and worthwhile pursuit, I think. Yeah, it's interesting.

I agree. I really agree with the winners and everything that happened this year, but also for the first time in ages, I feel like we went through period, but everyone was very worried about cinema. I feel like cinema is so back. My mum was texting me like, I took a picture of all the films. She'd gone and taken a picture at the cinema,

gone home, text it to me and gone, should I watch any of these? And I said, yes, and I told her which one to watch. And she said, I don't think I like that. I'm going to go get pizza. So that was fine. But I feel like, everyone is at the cinema. All of these films that have won these big awards,

Sinners, one battle after another, Marty Spree, everyone is going to see them. And that's what I found really exciting, I guess, about this time is there have been Oscars in the past. Or maybe I just wasn't as tuned in when I was like, I'm never going to watch whatever that film is. And this time it did. feel like every film was very watchable, was being seen anyway.

And I feel a lot less concerned about the future of cinema than we did. We were quite doom and gloom about it. And it feels that everyone's kind of come out swinging. I feel like Sin is sort of kicked. I mean, it came out last April, so it really kicked off this. I think that set the tone. That was such a big hit. And then we had bangor after bang after bang.

I was in the cinema for so many of these best film nominations, which has not been the case for several years. We've got very lucky. I do think Sin is because it was a horror as well really helped because you have to see that in the cinema. For some reason I went by myself and I remember just jumping out my skin. I love cinema by myself. Me too. We all do quite a lot because we have to see it so often. It'll be like a 2pm screenings.

Yeah, right. It's a solo activity that you can do with other people versus a group activity. We're sitting quietly in a room. Do you think it's so interesting because looking at what kind of picture wins the Oscars, I feel like this year had quite a lot blockbusters and then also horror being in there with weapons and then sinners as well. That is often a genre that gets quite discounted from the Oscars. Sci-fi horror,

international films also not very good representation. But this year it feels like a slight kind of change with that which I think is promising and optimistic

and optimistic I guess for the Oscars maybe slightly, slowly changing a bit of its ways. Usually, you know, you have the historical dramas, the IP based on, you know,

old texts and things like that, the Oscar bait. Maybe things are slightly changing, I don't know. Yeah, like I feel like in another era, like Hamnet probably would have won. Yeah.

You know what I mean? Totally. Like the period, drama of like really thought-provoking and a crazy sad ending. On international film, I think, is getting more of a look in since Parasite 1 in 2019. I think the secret agent and sentimental value were not overlooked in the best picture category, even though it ended up being a two-horse race. And yes, I agree on the commercial aspect too.

I think the Oscars are at their best when they award commercial and critical success. So like Titanic 1998, I think it was, Gladiator 2000, Return of the King, 2003. and I think this year, to be honest, that was probably represented by sinners this year, which actually didn't win, but I think the show itself represented a commercial and critical point of view. Whereas you're right, sometimes you get those years. I mean, I loved Nora last year, but it was a critical success, but commercially underseen. And I think that's what the Oscars should be. The previous year was really good for that as well, Oppenheimer and Barbie year.

I think it's important to be representative, and it goes back to that point about making the show feel relevant and urgent for people to watch is that I think you have to combine the two, 50-50. I wanted to ask you quickly, because we briefly before you mentioned that you loved Wuthering Heights and us three were quite nays to sayers and I wanted to know how you dealt with because it happened to me with the bride

where I loved it and the criticism was really bad. What do you do when you go in and love a film and then the critical reception is awful or the inverse? Does that ever kind of stress you out or wrong foot you? It's interesting actually. So you say you go to screeners a lot, right? the early screeners. And I've been really enjoying that process of being able to see films without having any

pre-packaged opinion. And I didn't realize growing up, like, how much that influences your point of view. Even if it's the whole, I had too high expectations, I had too low expectations, that kind of thing. Going in completely cold to movies is like, it's a real privilege. And I think that has allowed me to have the perspective of it actually doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Yeah.

Unless you are literally watching like Melania, like Trump propaganda. then fine. I think there is, in my opinion, an objective view on that. You loved it, right? Loved it. It's like so good. Incredible achievement. But if you're just talking about just pure subjective movies, it's okay to love it and it's okay to hate it to the point where I even, I have a full disclaimer on my podcast where I'm like, movie criticism is subjective and my opinion is just subjective as yours, blah, blah, blah, it goes on for a full paragraph because I'm like, at the end of the day, it really doesn't

fucking matter. Like, we're all just like swirling around on this fucking rock in an infinite universe. It really does not matter what anyone thinks. So yeah, I quite like Wither and Heights. Goodbye. I felt empowered by that speech. Thanks. I think I like it now. Just kidding. So this year's has been full of highs and lows. But what are some of the star moments from the Oscars for you, Fred? Favorite moment by far was Autumn Durald-Arquipaw winning Best Cinematography. First female winner of Best Cinematography. And there's only been four female nominees ever. So crazy. And they're all pretty recent as well. So yeah, a huge moment. And I, I said on the live broadcast as well, I think it's important to note that although there was

clearly a glass ceiling for women in that category, that it's not a tokenistic win. Because I think there was some, I feel like sometimes the discourse sort of centres around that being like, oh, well, you know, we finally give it to a woman. Like, well done. Like, it was, it was very, very, very well deserved. And I think that was my pick from before the award ceremony. And not only that, but then she put a really good button on the moment and on the achievement in her speech without being too

sort of explicit about it. I think she got all the women to stand up in the room. I thought it was really powerful. And alongside the Michael B. Jordan win, I felt like Sinners didn't win Best Picture but kind of won the night, like won the hearts of the night. Because I think those two wins were like the most emotional hits.

Yeah, so you're right. I think Sinners has won this year's Oscars, you know, making history already with the record-breaking 16 nominations. is just such a success story. Totally. And it's one across the board. And like you said,

it's probably the most, is it the most watch that made the most money? Oh, between it in one battle, yeah. I think in the best picture, yeah, I think you're right.

F1 really made a stinking amount of money. I just was like, I'm not going to watch that. There's a whole other world out there of cinema goers and good luck to him. I kind of just like, I was just like, it's not on the list for me.

No, I tried to watch it and my body sort of rejected it, just said, don't do this. You don't need to do this. She brought the ticket and then she left. I, This is kind of going off piece a bit. But what got you?

What was the film that got you into film? I remember going around to my uncle's house when I was younger. He's always been massively into film. And he was, actually, I remember seeing him for the first time do a cameo in a movie. He used to do like those extra work. And he's in the back of a scene in Gladiator. And so like, yeah, he's just like a guy just in the tent somewhere. Yeah.

That number 11. Yeah. And so I was pretty young at that point. I was like six or seven. And I remember. being, I couldn't sleep one night and I went down to the lounge. My mom and dad are watching Gladiator,

really excited that her brother was in the movie. And so I wasn't watching the movie, but I was like hugging my dad over his shoulder hearing Gladiator in the background. And I remember thinking, oh, this sounds really adult and I can't wait to watch this. And I still have gladiator.

It's in our top five ever. So probably Gladiator, yeah. That's such a good story. Oh, thanks. Did you study film? Yes. You did, yeah. Yeah, I did.

York Uni, yeah. film and TV production. It always sounds a bit wanky, but it was actually quite good. I was just shit. And did your, because your Fred Asquith and film came after Fred, well, were you already doing that before?

No, yeah, no, it was just, that came after. Fred Asquith was the original. Yeah. And that was like the comedy stuff. And then that allowed you to open up the door to the film. Yeah, I just wanted to have an outlet for film. I was like, I posted a couple of film things on Fred Asquith

and just completely died of death. And I was like, well, at least I'll make it die a death somewhere else. Like I want it. to be out there, I just don't want to care that it's died. So I'll put it on another platform, put it another profile, yeah. And people like it on the other one. Now it's doing all right. I was not died at all.

That's doing all right, yeah, yeah. But initially, it was slow. And would you want to go into film? Would you write, would you be an actor? Actually, I don't know about actor. I guess I would, I guess I would want to try. But then again, I feel like the stuff I do with my darling wife is like, is, I feel much more relaxed.

And I think TikTok has allowed, like, I'm like an introvert, really. allowed introverts to be like extroverted in their own private space. And so maybe not. But I have written films. I've written a short film as well. I've won a couple of awards last year for a short film that I wrote. Do you know what, actually awards, even as it came out of my mouth. I feel bad that I didn't know that.

It's like, they're more like competitions, right? The short film competitions around and you get, I got chosen as the best short film screenplay for two of them last year. Congratulations. Thank you. And I tried to get it made. No one wants to make it. Oh.

That is what it is. That's a tough old industry, isn't it? I know, I know, but maybe one day. Can we know what, are we allowed to know what's about? Yeah, it's called deathbed, and it's about a guy who goes to meet his father-in-law for the first time on his deathbed, and his father-in-law chooses to divulge to him that he's led a life of serial murder. That sounds amazing. Sorry, is it funny, or is it serious?

It's a comedy. It's like a black comedy. I love that. That sounds so good. And so he's engaged to be married. married to his daughter. It's a proof of concept for a feature film which I've also written, that he then goes on like a investigative journey to like work out, was he actually a murderer? Where are the clues? Is my fiancé also a murderer? Is this a family thing? Should I go to this

wedding and get married or am I marrying into like the Manson family essentially? And you're obviously writing this from your lived experience of darling. Exactly. And she is a murderer, yeah. So fucked it. But whatever. Yeah, you might be lying. Who knows? And he might be, ruin this guy's might. He might just be going nuts. Yeah. That's the whole thing. Or he just really wanted to fuck them

and let him about to die. If I was about to die, the things I would do. Oh yeah, you throw a grenade, why not? Yeah, 100%. I'd definitely do a bit of that. What would you say? Like, I feel like on your deathbed you can just say anything.

I've buried money in the woods and just everyone has a nice day out. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, just go, I would probably just keep, like, pretending to die because I'd love to hear people saying things. Because I really want my dream. It's so narcissistic, but I'd love to go to my own funeral. because I feel like no one's ever as nice about you as they are at your funeral.

So if you sort of like pretend to be going, they might be like, oh my God, but I loved her so much. And then you just start. Doing the beep with your mouth. Yeah. You're like the frog and track, but it's just like something about to life. Yeah. Everyone's nice at your funeral because you're not fucking there, you're having on.

Like that's why. She's finally quiet. You ever have you ever been to a funeral as someone who was clearly a dickhead? Not yet. I happen. All the time. How many funer are you going to? No, I haven't.

I actually haven't. You haven't. You haven't. You haven't. don't you? I always thought the idea we're going to a funeral of a dicket

and everyone talks so nice about and I'm like, yeah, but it's because they're not here. We all know, we all know they're a dickhead. Yeah, yeah.

I quite like a funeral and I think when you all get together saying I had blue margarita at my grandma's funeral it was lovely. It was lovely day. I've not been to funeral where we haven't accidentally got the giggles

when you're like about to cry and then you start of like it's like a shock thing so you start laughing and it always happens to me. You laugh in funerals at the... I just, it's happened to me. I think it was with my sister

and we weren't, the whole situation is so, like, unbelievable. So you just start kind of like, that's funny, I think, proof of concept. This is fantastic. Yeah. I think it sounds great. Are we allowed to keep it in?

Is that a secret? Yeah, no, keep it in. I need to market. Investors. I might as I say, maybe our listeners can help make it. Yeah, do it. Oh, my God. Imagine if Timmy plays the guy.

Oh, Timmy, if you're listening, I supported you. Oh, my God, who's your dream cast? Oh, so we thought, like, for the old guy, do you remember Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine? He's the older dude. Oh, yeah. Did he passed? Oh, yeah, he's dead.

Oh, but he's like, he's like the vibe. He's the vibe. I don't have to break the news. We'll dig him up. Imagine if she broke the news to him. Yeah, right. What? No, he's not replying to my emails. In the Immemorial, that's why I don't like to watch the immemorial in the os because it was really moving.

But there were a few that I forgot, Val Kilmer, I went, oh, no. What I found awkward, though, is they clap, but only for some of them. So the big hitters get claps. Robert Redford, big, big clap, and then it'll be kind of screenplay, you know, really important people, beloved, but obviously, no one's not getting claps. And I thought you shouldn't allow cheers. and claps. It's popularity. That's awkward. It's a bit icky. I was watching it and it was an extended immemorial this year because there was so many big hitters

that had died. There was Diane Keaton, Rob Reiner, Robert Redford and Val Kilmer and then we're doing sort of pieces for them right. But I felt the same. I was like, maybe we should standardise this and make it so that in memoriam is always 10 minutes and you just show the people. Zipping through. Otherwise you get like a feeling of preferential treatment. But then I'm like, okay, well, if Spielberg died, you would want to do 10 minutes on him. But then, is that fair? I don't really know. This is really showing how much you don't respect the dead because earlier you thought all the living people should do really long speeches.

But the dead people aren't allowed. Zero for the dead. You got nothing to say. Yeah. No, maybe it should be just silent the way through and then everyone claps at the end. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Because that is awkward.

I mean, I find that anyway, even at any kind of event, you know, when people talk and the more famous people comes on to talk and everyone claps. And then, oh, yeah, I say that. It shouldn't be such a popularity contest, the Oscars. I feel that with introductions as well. And I had that on Sunday night at TV, because it's always like, to be honest, people cheered a lot for Ellen, Samson. But then it's like Fred Asquith,

and then Jonathan Ross came right after me, and you get the loan, and you get the wave, you know what I mean? Like, can we just do it all three, all four of us at the same time? We get it when it's off three, and I get the everyone's bath, and then you guys come out. So awkward silence for me. It's not a couple of them, but it's just me. I didn't get a tomato last time.

People have their own stuff at me. Thank you so much for listening this week. Before we go, just checking you've listened to our latest Everything in Conversation episode where we ask if jealousy is normal in friendships. If you enjoy listening to us, then please do leave us a review or rating. And don't forget to follow Fred 2 at Fred Asquith and Fred Asquith on film. And while we have you, please also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at Everything is Content Pod. So in a minute we're going to say to you next week and then we're all going to say bye.

We kind of sing it. Okay. See you next week. Bye! Sorry, seamless. Thank you very much.