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Sony Pictures Classics co-presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard have been the white whale of IndieWire’s “Screen Talk” podcast for years. Finally, they joined us for an engaging chat about the specialty label’s robust slate of films this year — and about Oscar campaigning and developments in the business.
Together, Barker and Bernard have reigned over the theatrical specialty universe for decades, believing in the theatrical model all along. And it seems to be roaring back, with a three-hour documentary at number two at the box office, and a foreign-language “Godzilla” movie at number one. Black Bear’s indie “Wicker” is in the top 10 and, earlier this fall, Sony Pictures Classics’ Sundance indie “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” starring Oscar hopeful John Turturro, was in the top 10.
In this week’s podcast, Barker and Bernard talk about films including Pedro Almodóvar’s “Bitter Christmas”; Florian Zeller’s critically divisive but audience-appreciated “Bunker”; and the UK’s international Oscar entry from Iran, “Rehearsals for a Revolution,” which is also vying for Best Documentary Feature. They’re also backing the animated “Iron Boy” this year, plus Sundance winner “Bedford Park.” They also tease “Violette,” their latest acquisition, and the new film from “Amélie” director Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
Elsewhere on the podcast, we also mourn the unexpected passing of Chilean filmmaker Sebastian Lélio, dissect Letterboxd’s sales to The New York Times, and the dismissal of James Gunn and Peter Safran from DC Studios.
Plus, co-hosts Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio strongly encourage audiences to see Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson’s excellent indie “Mouse” as it expands nationwide this weekend. Sophie Okonedo is hugely deserving of best supporting actress accolades, but the film needs critics to continue advocating for it.
Listen to the podcast below or on your preferred podcast platform.
English (US) ·