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Elysia wraps up the CinemaHounds pre-Oscars prep series with special guest Paulo from the Oscar's Death Race Podcast and a deep dive into the acting categories: Best Actress, Best Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. Who's nominated, who should have been nominated, and who will win?
And then they conclude with a look at this year's brand new category: Casting. What is it, why is it here, and who will take home the first statue?
Join us on the Lorehounds Discord (see link.tree below) to discuss all this and more in the #awards-season channel – plus a live chat while the ceremony is airing!
And send your hot takes about the ceremony to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com to be included in the wrap-up discussion!
Note: All film discussion in this episode is spoiler-free.
Check out the Oscars Death Race Podcast w/ Paulo!
The nominees:
Best Actress (00:16:37)
- Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare – Hamnet (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
- Rose Byrne as Linda – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (HBO Max, our coverage [subscribers])
- Kate Hudson as Clare Lavinia – Song Sung Blue (Peacock)
- Renate Reinsve as Nora Borg – Sentimental Value(to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
- Emma Stone as Michelle Fuller – Bugonia (Peacock)
Best Actor (01:05:52)
- Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mauser – Marty Supreme (to rent)
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
- Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart – Blue Moon (Netflix)
- Michael B. Jordan as Elijah "Smoke" Moore / Elias "Stack" Moore – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
- Wagner Moura as Armando Solimões / Marcelo Alves / Fernando Solimões – The Secret Agent (Hulu)
Best Supporting Actor (01:40:53)
- Stellan Skarsgård as Gustav Borg – Sentimental Value (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
- Benicio del Toro as Sergio St. Carlos – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
- Sean Penn as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
- Delroy Lindo as Delta Slim – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
- Jacob Elordi as the Creature – Frankenstein (Netflix, our coverage)
Best Supporting Actress (01:58:26)
- Teyana Taylor as Perfidia Beverly Hills – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
- Wunmi Mosaku as Annie – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as Agnes Borg Pettersen – Sentimental Value (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
- Elle Fanning as Rachel Kemp – Sentimental Value (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
- Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys – Weapons (HBO Max, our coverage)
Best Casting (02:14:46)
- Francine Maisler – Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage)
- Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3)
- Nina Gold – Hamnet (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
- Jennifer Venditti – Marty Supreme (to rent)
- Gabriel Domingues – The Secret Agent (Hulu)
Other performances discussed:
- Mikey Madison in Anora (2024, Oscar win, Hulu [US] / Skyshowtime [EU]) & The Social Reckoning (2026, releases Oct 9)
- Jessie Buckley in The Bride! (2026, in theaters), The Lost Daughter (2021, Oscar nom, Netflix), Wicked Little Letters (2024, Hulu / etc.), Men (2022, Prime / etc.), Dolittle (2020, Prime), Fargo S4 (TV, 2020, Hulu [US], Netflix [EU]), & Chernobyl (TV, 2019, HBO)
- Co-writer/editor Ronald Bronstein of Marty Supreme (to rent) – Rose Byrne in Bridesmaids (2011, Starz) & Insidious (2010, HBO Max)
- Kate Hudson in Almost Famous (2000, Oscar nom, HBO Max ) – the true Song Sung Blue story in Song Sung Blue (2008, doc, YouTube)
- Renate Reinsve in The Worst Person in the World (2021, Tubi / etc.); w/ Sebastian Stan in A Different Man (2024, HBO Max) & Fjord (2026, to premiere at Cannes); w/ Lily Rose Depp & Hoyeon in The Governesses (release TBD); & in Backrooms (2026, in theaters May 29)
- Emma Stone in Birdman (2015, Oscar nom, Hulu / Disney+), La La Land (2017, Oscar win, Prime [US] / Netflix [EU]), in Lanthimos films The Favourite (2019, Oscar nom, Disney+ [EU] / HBO [EU] / to rent) & Poor Things (2024, Oscar win, BP Oscar nom, Disney+ [EU] / to rent)
- Chase Infiniti in One Battle After Another (HBO Max, our coverage: pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3) – Amanda Seyfried & Lewis Pullman in The Testament of Ann Lee (to rent) – Cynthia Erivo & Ariane Grande in Wicked: For Good (to rent, our coverage)
- Adrien Brody in The Brutalist (2024, Oscar win, HBO Max [US] / Skyshowtime [EU]) & The Pianist (2002, Oscar win, Prime / etc.)
- Timothée Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name (2018, Oscar nom, HBO Max), A Complete Unknown (2024, Oscar nom & BP nom, Disney+), & Dune: Part Three (2026, in theaters Dec 18) – Tom Cruise in Digger (2026, in theaters Oct 2)
- Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic (1997, Disney+ / etc.), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013, Oscar nom, Paramount+ / etc.), The Aviator (2004, Oscar nom, Tubi / etc.), The Revenant (2015, Oscar win, Hulu / Disney+), Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019, Oscar nom, YouTube / etc.), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023, Apple TV), What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993, Oscar nom, Paramount+ / etc.), & Blood Diamond (2006, Oscar nom, Paramount+ [US] / Prime [EU])
- Ethan Hawke in Training Day (2001, Oscar nom, Starz [US], Prime [EU]), Before Sunrise (1995, writing Oscar nom, Prime [EU] / to rent), Before Sunset (2004, writing Oscar nom, to rent), Boyhood (2014, Oscar nom, AMC+ / etc.)
- Michael B. Jordan in Black Panther & Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2018 & 2022, Disney+, our coverage) – Nicholas Cage in Adaptation (2002, Oscar nom, to rent) – Robert Aramayo as John Davidson in I Swear (2026, in theaters Apr 24 [US] / Netflix [UK])
- Fernanda Torres in I’m Still Here (2024, Oscar nom, Netflix [US] / Prime [NL]) – Fernanda Montenegro in Central Station (1998, Oscar nom, to rent) – Brazilian film The Blue Trail (to rent) – Wagner Moura in Narcos S1&2 (TV, 2015-2016, Netflix) & Civil War (2024, Prime, our coverage)
- Joel Edgerton in Train Dreams (Netflix) – Jesse Plemmons in Bugonia (Peacock) – Lee Byung-hun in No Other Choice (to rent) – Dylan O’Brien in Twinless (Hulu / to rent) – Ryo Yoshizawa in Kokuho (in theaters) – Jackson Yee in Resurrection (to rent, Elysia’s review)
- Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain (2024, Oscar win, Disney+)
- Stellan Skarsgård in Andor (TV, 2022 & 2025, Disney+)
- Benicio del Toro in Traffic (2000, Oscar nom, to rent) & 21 Grams (2003, Oscar nom, to rent) – Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking (1995, Oscar nom, Tubi / etc.), Sweet & Lowdown (1999, Oscar nom, Tubi / etc.), I Am Sam (2001, Oscar nom, YouTube), Mystic River (2003, Oscar win, Netflix [EU] / to rent), Milk (2008, Oscar win, to rent)
- Delroy Lindo in Da 5 Bloods (2020, infamous snub, Netflix)
- Oscar Isaac in Frankenstein (Netflix, our coverage) – Jacob Elordi in Wuthering Heights (2026, in theaters)
- Adam Sandler in Jay Kelly (Netflix) – Miles Caton & Jack O’Connell in Sinners (HBO Max, our coverage) – Paul Mescal in Hamnet (to rent, our coverage [subscribers])
- Zoe Saldaña in Emilia Pérez (2024, Oscar win, Netflix, our coverage)
- Amy Madigan in Twice in a Lifetime (1985, Oscar nom, to rent)
- Odessa A’zion in Marty Supreme (to rent)
- Lynn Stalmaster: the only Casting Director to have received an Academy Award to date, for 395 films, from the ‘70s/’80s Superman films through Weekend at Bernie’s and beyond
- Casting category shortlist (misses): Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, Sirāt, Weapons, Wicked: For Good
- Paulo’s favorite nominated film this year: Kokuho
The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world
Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats via DeathRaceTracking.com
Oscars 2026 coverage
Nominations + Best Picture preview
Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts
Production Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair
Cinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound
Adapted & Original Screenplay, Director
Lead & Supporting Actor & Actress, Casting (this episode)
Ceremony reactions + Best Picture rankings
Deep dives into 2026 Oscar nominees
One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3
Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”
For subscribers:
Hamnet – WhachaWachin (with spoilers)
Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Arco)
Additional awards coverage
Revisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notes
Contact Us
Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.
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Oscars Death Race Podcast
podcasts.apple.comJessie Buckley
imdb.comHamnet
letterboxd.comour coverage
patreon.comRose Byrne
imdb.comIf I Had Legs I’d Kick You
letterboxd.comour coverage
patreon.comKate Hudson
imdb.comSong Sung Blue
letterboxd.comRenate Reinsve
imdb.comSentimental Value
letterboxd.comEmma Stone
imdb.comBugonia
letterboxd.comTimothée Chalamet
imdb.comMarty Supreme
letterboxd.comLeonardo DiCaprio
imdb.comOne Battle After Another
letterboxd.compt. 1
thelorehounds.compt. 2
thelorehounds.compt. 3
thelorehounds.comEthan Hawke
imdb.comBlue Moon
letterboxd.comMichael B. Jordan
imdb.comSinners
letterboxd.comour coverage
thelorehounds.comWagner Moura
imdb.comThe Secret Agent
letterboxd.comStellan Skarsgård
imdb.comBenicio del Toro
imdb.comSean Penn
imdb.comDelroy Lindo
imdb.comJacob Elordi
imdb.comFrankenstein
letterboxd.comour coverage
thelorehounds.comTeyana Taylor
imdb.comWunmi Mosaku
imdb.comInga Ibsdotter Lilleaas
imdb.comElle Fanning
imdb.comAmy Madigan
imdb.comWeapons
letterboxd.comour coverage
thelorehounds.comFrancine Maisler
imdb.comCassandra Kulukundis
imdb.comNina Gold
imdb.comJennifer Venditti
imdb.comGabriel Domingues
imdb.comAnora
letterboxd.comThe Social Reckoning
letterboxd.comThe Bride!
letterboxd.comThe Lost Daughter
letterboxd.comWicked Little Letters
letterboxd.comMen
letterboxd.comDolittle
letterboxd.comFargo S4
imdb.comChernobyl
imdb.comBridesmaids
letterboxd.comInsidious
letterboxd.comAlmost Famous
letterboxd.comSong Sung Blue
letterboxd.comThe Worst Person in the World
letterboxd.comA Different Man
letterboxd.comFjord
letterboxd.comThe Governesses
letterboxd.comBackrooms
letterboxd.comBirdman
letterboxd.comLa La Land
letterboxd.comThe Favourite
letterboxd.comPoor Things
letterboxd.comThe Testament of Ann Lee
letterboxd.comWicked: For Good
letterboxd.comour coverage
thelorehounds.comThe Brutalist
letterboxd.comThe Pianist
letterboxd.comCall Me By Your Name
letterboxd.comA Complete Unknown
letterboxd.comDune: Part Three
letterboxd.comDigger
letterboxd.comTitanic
letterboxd.comThe Wolf of Wall Street
letterboxd.comThe Aviator
letterboxd.comThe Revenant
letterboxd.comOnce Upon a Time…in Hollywood
letterboxd.comKillers of the Flower Moon
letterboxd.comWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape
letterboxd.comBlood Diamond
letterboxd.comTraining Day
letterboxd.comBefore Sunrise
letterboxd.comBefore Sunset
letterboxd.comBoyhood
letterboxd.comBlack Panther
letterboxd.comBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever
letterboxd.comour coverage
thelorehounds.comAdaptation
letterboxd.comI Swear
letterboxd.comI’m Still Here
letterboxd.comCentral Station
letterboxd.comThe Blue Trail
letterboxd.comNarcos
imdb.comCivil War
letterboxd.comour coverage
thelorehounds.comTrain Dreams
letterboxd.comNo Other Choice
letterboxd.comTwinless
letterboxd.comKokuho
letterboxd.comResurrection
letterboxd.comElysia’s review
contrazoompod.comA Real Pain
letterboxd.comAndor
imdb.comTraffic
letterboxd.com21 Grams
letterboxd.comDead Man Walking
letterboxd.comSweet & Lowdown
letterboxd.comI Am Sam
letterboxd.comMystic River
letterboxd.comMilk
letterboxd.comDa 5 Bloods
letterboxd.comWuthering Heights
letterboxd.comJay Kelly
letterboxd.comEmilia Pérez
letterboxd.comour coverage
thelorehounds.comTwice in a Lifetime
letterboxd.com395 films
imdb.comWeekend at Bernie’s
letterboxd.comSirāt
letterboxd.comwhere it's aired around the world
oscars.orgOscarsDeathRace.com
oscarsdeathrace.comDeathRaceTracking.com
deathracetracking.comNominations + Best Picture preview
thelorehounds.comLive-Action, Animated, & Documentary Shorts
thelorehounds.comProduction Design, Costumes, Makeup & Hair
thelorehounds.comInternational Features
thelorehounds.comDocumentary Features
thelorehounds.comAnimated Features
thelorehounds.comScore & Original Song
thelorehounds.comCinematography, VFX, Editing, Sound
thelorehounds.comAdapted & Original Screenplay, Director
thelorehounds.comShorts
thelorehounds.comBAFTA shorts
thelorehounds.comBAFTA features
thelorehounds.comIndependent Spirit Awards
thelorehounds.comlinks in these show notes
thelorehounds.comlinktr.ee/thelorehounds
linktr.eehttps://redcircle.com/brands
redcircle.comhttps://redcircle.com/privacy
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