2023 Oscar season kicks off with our hot takes on contenders — and Will Smith’s ‘Emancipation’

For the first episode of our new season of the ‘The Awardist,’ Entertainment Weekly executive editor and ‘Awardist’ podcast host Gerrad Hall is joined by executive editor Clarissa Cruz, and they welcome back to the EW family Dave Karger, who joins the ‘Awardist’ team as awards correspondent/columnist. The three dive into the fall festival circuit and break down which movies emerged as contenders, plus which movies that debuted earlier in the year are fighting for a spot. Plus, we discuss Harry Styles’ quick entry and exit from the awards race, and question why ‘Emancipation’ starring Will Smith is even being released this year. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices