The Awardist podcast: How does a Best Picture winner (or loser) become a classic?
Winning the Oscar for Best Picture is one of the most prestigious honors a film can receive — but it’s no guarantee that the movie will stand the test of time. (Any Crash fans in the house?) And in hindsight, some of the films now considered all-time greats either didn’t win Best Picture or weren’t nominated at all, such as Citizen Kane (which lost to How Green Was My Valley), Singin’ in the Rain (which was only nominated for score and supporting actress), and Vertigo (only nominated for art direction and sound).
Of course, many Best Picture winners have endured as classic films, such as Casablanca, The Godfather, Gone With the Wind, and Schindler’s List.
As we hurtle toward the coronation of a new Best Picture at the 91st Academy Awards (Feb. 24), a new episode of EW’s The Awardist podcast is here to examine what it takes for a Best Picture winner — or loser — to become a bona fide classic. And who better to take part in the discussion than Ben Mankiewicz, primetime host at Turner Classic Movies? He joins EW digital director and The Awardist host Shana Naomi Krochmal and EW senior writer and Awardist columnist Piya Sinha-Roy to look back — and forward — at how to join the cinematic pantheon.
The Awardist podcast is part of EW’s comprehensive awards coverage, online and in the magazine. This week, we’re also breaking down the big winners from the BAFTA Awards, the ASC Awards, and the Grammys, as well as chatting with Pawel Pawlikowski, the director of the Oscar-nominated drama Cold War. And of course, it wouldn’t be awards season without some bold takes, including from Mr. Mankiewicz.
Listen to the full discussion below, or on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
