The Next Best Picture Podcast

For this week's main podcast review, Katie Johnson, Josh Parham, Giovanni Lago, and Daniel Howat join me to review and discuss "Michael" starring Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Juliano Valdi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, Jessica Sula, Mike Myers, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and with direct involvement from the Jackson estate, the film tells the life story of mega-music superstar Michael Jackson... up to a point. The music biopic covers his involvement with the Jackson 5 in the 1960s and 1970s, up to the "Bad" tour in the 1980s, while ignoring the controversies that plagued his later years. The decision has divided critics and audiences, sparking a ton of discourse about the role of critics, Michael Jackson himself, and the music biopic subgenre in Hollywood. Well, what did we think of it? Please tune in as we discuss the story, the acting, the direction, the musical performances, its awards season chances, and more in our SPOILER-FILLED review. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!

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"Apex" is a 2026 survival action thriller film directed by Baltasar Kormákur, written by Jeremy Robbins, and starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana. It tells the story of a rock climber in the wild who is hunted by a hunter as she struggles to survive. Feature debut screenwriter Robbins was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Netflix. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Please subscribe on...

Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

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"Omaha" is a 2025 American drama film directed by Cole Webley and written by Robert Machoian. The film stars John Magaro as a father who takes his two children on a cross-country trip after a family tragedy. The independent film had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, where it received positive reviews for Magaro's performance. Magaro was kind enough to be our second fully produced in-studio interview and spent a while talking with us about his career (including "Past Lives," "Not Fade Away," "The Bride!" "My Soul To Take," "First Cow," "Unbroken," "September 5," and more), experience making the film, his views on acting, the industry, and more, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from Greenwich Entertainment. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

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"Mother Mary" is a psychological drama-thriller film written and directed by David Lowery. It stars Anne Hathaway as the iconic pop star, Mother Mary, who reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer (played by Michaela Coel) on the eve of her comeback performance as long-buried wounds between the two rise to the surface and a more sinister presence emerges. The film also stars Hunter Schafer, FKA Twigs, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé-Brown, Sian Clifford, and Alba Baptista. Lowery was kind enough to spend some time speaking with me, while promoting the film in between screenings, about his work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, now playing in limited release from A24 and expanding nationwide on April 24th. Thank you, and enjoy!

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Please subscribe on...

Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

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"Fuze" is a 2025 British crime thriller heist film directed by David Mackenzie and written by Ben Hopkins, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Sam Worthington. Set in London, there is a citywide evacuation when an unexploded World War II bomb is unearthed at a busy construction site. Amid the escalating tension and chaos, a daring criminal operation is set in motion -- one that uses the evacuation as a cover for a meticulously planned bank heist. As authorities race against time to contain the crisis, alliances blur, and moral boundaries are crossed. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received positive reviews for its action, tension, twists, and muscular direction. Taylor-Johnson, Worthington, and Mackenzie were all kind enough to spend some time talking with us about their work and experiences making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released in theaters on April 24th from Roadside Attractions and Saban Films. Thank you, and enjoy!

Check out more on NextBestPicture.com

Please subscribe on...

Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw

And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free
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