Richard Brody Presents the 2026 Brody Awards
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What are the Brody Awards and why are they significant?
This is The New Yorker Radio Hour, a co-production of WNYC Studios and The New Yorker.
I'm David Remnick, and you're listening to The New Yorker Radio Hour. Now, this program doesn't have many rituals, but here's one that we observe every year, the Brody Awards. When Oscars night is around the corner, I sit down with two of our illustrious critics to discuss the year in movies. The ones that didn't get enough credit, according to them, or maybe the ones that got a little too much. And maybe not to mention the films that you should see and you might have missed so far. I'm joined by New Yorker staff writer and co-host of our podcast, Critics at Large, Alexandra Schwartz. Alex, how are you? Hello. And one of the New Yorker's film critics, Richard Brody.
How has the Academy changed its approach to nominations?
Hello, David. Hello, Alex. When we've done this in the past, Richard, your picks for the year's best movies usually, let's just say they wildly differ from what we usually see from the Academy. But this year... I don't know what's happening. Either you've gotten more conservative or somehow the Academy has finally caught up to you. What's going on here?
Yeah, I think that the Academy has gotten better and the movies have gotten better. On the one hand, ever since the Oscar So White campaign that was launched in, I think, 2015 by April Rain, the Academy has responded by greatly increasing its membership, diversifying its membership, internationalizing its membership, and the result is, by and large, better nominations.
And also the Academy told...
What films received too much or too little credit this year?
Everybody that they've got to actually watch the movies. They have to watch all five films in each category.
And no student does all the homework. That means that they have to press play and watch to the end, but they can eat their dinner while they're... Unless their eyeballs are being monitored. Why would they do that? To be able to vote on the film.
The joy of participation.
That's it? It's like soccer?
Well, or probably more to the point, this is why things like Oscar campaigns actually have traction.
Who are the nominees for Best Actor and what are their standout performances?
Because if you need a shortcut or if pressure works on you, then okay. You know who you're going to vote for. You may not have to see everything in contention. I would imagine. I'm crushed. I, of course, am not a member of the Academy myself.
I'm crushed to hear this.
And Richard, there's a new category this year, casting.
A very good category, although I think it's a slight misnomer. I think that actually what it really means is best ensemble cast. On the other hand, I'm very happy that casting directors are in fact being named and honored. But by and large, this is something that's been missing for many years. Why was it missing, and why did somebody suddenly have this revelation to do it? Well, I think that, first of all, there are many movies which are dominated not by one or two main roles, but by an ensemble. And those ensembles are put together by a very skilled person.
What makes Tessa Thompson's performance in Hedda noteworthy?
There are many people whose work goes into making films who deserve to be acknowledged.
Now, according to a new deal with YouTube, in a few years, the Oscars are going to be streamed online... by YouTube and not by ABC. Is that going to affect things at all, you think, Alex?
I mean, I think it's probably for the best. This just reflects the reality of how most people consume television or big programming. I'm a cord cutter. I cut my cord so long ago, I don't even remember what it was. So I think they're meeting the people where they are.
Exactly, especially younger people where they are and people around the world where they are. Because the Oscars are an international event, but American broadcast television is not.
Now, let's get to our awards now, the hell with the Academy. Let's get to the Brodies. These are the awards we've all been waiting for. Alex Schwartz is here with the official Brody envelopes.
How did the new casting category impact the awards this year?
Let me see those envelopes. Russell, Russell, Russell. I believe you. Now, to be clear, these nominations and awards aren't chosen by any august voting body. It's just all one person, Richard Brody. So we're going to start, Alex, with Best Actor.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What are the Brody Awards and why are they significant?
0:02–0:50
2
How has the Academy changed its approach to nominations?
0:50–1:32
3
What films received too much or too little credit this year?
1:32–1:59
4
Who are the nominees for Best Actor and what are their standout performances?
1:59–2:52
5
What makes Tessa Thompson's performance in Hedda noteworthy?
2:52–3:45
6
How did the new casting category impact the awards this year?
3:45–4:58
7
What are the nominees for Best Picture and who is likely to win?
4:58–5:31
8
What are the major themes and critiques presented in the winning films?
5:31–16:01
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