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We're reviewing Hamnet, the 2025 historical drama directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. The film is based on Maggie O'Farrell's bestselling novel and tells the story of William Shakespeare's family — specifically his wife Agnes and their 11-year-old son Hamnet, whose death from plague in 1596 is widely believed to have inspired the creation of Hamlet.

It's a film about grief, marriage, and what it costs to make art while the people around you are suffering. Buckley won the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance here, and it's the kind of role that stays with you long after the credits roll.

We break down everything — the performances, Chloé Zhao's direction, the emotional gut-punch of the third act, and whether the film lives up to the enormous awards season buzz it generated. Does Hamnet earn its reputation as one of the best films of 2025? We get into it.

New episodes drop every Wednesday for all listeners. Subscribe to get early access every Monday.

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We sit down to review The Secret Agent (O Agente Secreto), the Brazilian political thriller that earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and had Wagner Moura — best known for playing Pablo Escobar in Narcos — winning awards on the international circuit for his performance.

Set in 1977 in Recife, Brazil, the film follows a tech expert with a shadowy past who returns to his hometown hoping to find refuge, only to discover the corruption there runs too deep to hide from. It's a slow-burn, character-driven thriller that draws comparisons to films like The Conversation, and it clocks in at a hefty two hours and 41 minutes — so is it worth your time?

We break down the plot, the performances, the stunning period filmmaking, and what makes this one so hard to pin down. We also dig into the ambiguity baked into the story — the loose ends, the unanswered questions, and whether a second viewing might be necessary to fully appreciate what director Kleber Mendonça Filho is doing. Plus, Mike has some strong opinions about whether a foreign film should have been in the Best Picture race at all.

It's currently streaming on Hulu, so if you've got a free night and nothing to watch, this one might be exactly what you're looking for.

New episodes every week at ohbpodcast.com. Watch the video version on YouTube @ohbrotherpodcast and follow us on Instagram @ohbpodcast.

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We're breaking down the 98th Academy Awards — every major winner, the biggest upsets, and the snubs that had everyone talking. From Best Picture to the moments that had Hollywood buzzing, we're sharing our unfiltered takes on the biggest night in film. Whether you watched every minute or just want the highlights, this is your complete Oscars 2026 recap.

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Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value swept awards season with a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 19-minute standing ovation at Cannes — but does it live up to the hype? This week we dig into this intimate Norwegian drama about estrangement, art, and the complicated love between fathers and daughters. Starring Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, and Elle Fanning, it's the kind of film that lingers long after the credits roll. We break down what works, what doesn't, and why this might be one of the best films of 2025.

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Dan calls Mike from the car for another edition of Cruisin' — the Oh Brother limited series where the brothers hash out whatever Hollywood can't stop talking about. This time: the internet spirals over Jim Carrey's appearance at the César Awards (was that really him?), the deeply uncomfortable moment at the BAFTAs involving Tourette's campaigner John Davidson, and the SNL sketch that followed that had a lot of people asking "too soon… or too far?"

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In this exclusive episode, we interview Oscar-nominated VFX Supervisor Michael Ralla about his groundbreaking work on Sinners.

Michael takes us behind the scenes of one of this year’s most talked-about films, breaking down the visual effects process, the creative challenges of bringing Sinners to life, and what it means to earn an Academy Award nomination. From early concept development to final render, we explore how the film’s most jaw-dropping sequences were crafted.

We also discuss:

• The most technically demanding scenes in Sinners
• Collaborating with directors and production teams
• The evolving role of VFX in modern cinema
• Awards season pressure and Oscar night anticipation
• Advice for aspiring visual effects artists

If you love filmmaking, behind-the-scenes movie insights, or awards season coverage, this is a must-listen episode.

Subscribe for more exclusive interviews, movie reviews, and deep dives into the biggest films of the year.

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In this episode of the podcast, we dive deep into Train Dreams, the long-awaited adaptation of the acclaimed novella by Denis Johnson. Set against the rugged backdrop of the early 20th-century American West, this haunting and intimate story follows a solitary laborer navigating love, loss, and the sweeping changes of a transforming nation.

We break down the film’s performances, direction, cinematography, and how faithfully it captures the quiet emotional power of Johnson’s original work. Does Train Dreams live up to its literary roots? And how does it stand on its own as a cinematic experience?

🎧 Topics include:

• Performances and character depth
• Themes of isolation, grief, and the American frontier
• Final verdict and rating

If you enjoy in-depth movie reviews, literary adaptations, and thoughtful film discussion, this episode is for you.

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Join us as we dive into One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti. In this episode, we break down the film’s most intense action sequences, discuss standout performances, and share our thoughts on Benicio del Toro’s smaller but memorable role. From epic battles to surprising moments, we give you a full review and our honest take on what makes this movie worth watching.

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