Little Gold Men by Vanity Fair

Rebecca and John are joined by VF's Hillary Busis to share some words of wisdom for Hollywood as we enter the new year. And Hollywood had better take note as they offer priceless unsolicited advice to the powers that be. They also share their predictions for the 10 Best Picture nominees, and discuss who is on the bubble and where there could be some surprises. Finally, Rebecca and John review the biggest losers (The Testament of Ann Lee) and winners (Sirāt) of the recently announced Oscars shortlist. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Rebecca talks with Amanda Seyfried, who has two films coming out over two weeks: she stars as a wealthy woman with secrets in The Housemaid, and as the leader of the Shaker religious movement in the ambitious epic The Testament of Ann Lee. The actress discusses the confidence she needed to have in herself, along with the challenges of learning the intense dance style used in the latter. "The nature of learning those choreographed moves, it's a real bitch," she says. She also talks about the challenges of overnight fame, which she's witnessed with her Housemaid co-star Sydney Sweeney. Plus, she reveals her obsession with taxidermy and her love of crocheting. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Rebecca chats with Jacob Elordi, who plays the creature in Guillermo del Toro’s moving film. He reveals how he prepared for the unique role, his biggest concerns with the hours-long prosthetics process, and why it was, in a way, a religious experience. "I suppose maybe it takes a mask sometimes for people to see the truth of something," he says of his experience. Plus. the Australian actor talks about filming the third season of Euphoria, and reflects on how his career has transformed since the first season of HBO’s hit series. Finally, he reveals why he hates talking about AI -- and would rather be kissing on the beach. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Rebecca and John are joined by their VF colleague Chris Murphy to talk all about the Globes nominations, including the biggest snubs (Wicked: For Good) and surprises (Eva Victor, Emily Blunt). They also discuss the influx of international features and what's going on with the new podcast category. Plus, they debate how the news about Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. might affect the Oscar race. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week, Rebecca and John are joined by VF Senior Editor Hillary Busis to answer a slew of mailbag questions. They highlight some of the more interesting below-the-line races, including cinematography and editing. They also debate if having a popular TV show can help an Oscar contender's chances, and whether "KPop Demon Hunters" has a shot at a Best Picture nod. Finally, they make their December movie picks for films that are worth catching in theaters this month. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices