TWO THUMBS UP

Obsessed’s Nick Schager Wins Film Critic of the Year

Our unmissable chief critic is being hailed for his top-of-class reviews.

The Daily Beast’s Obsessed’s chief critic, Nick Schager, has been named film critic of the year in the LA Press Club National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards.

He was singled out for his reviews of Oscars Best Picture contender Train Dreams, the headline-making Blake Lively romance drama It Ends With Us, and last year’s award-season favorite The Brutalist.

In their citation for Schager’s honor, the Press Club wrote, “With his review of The Brutalist, Schager deftly touches upon the enormity of Brady Corbet’s massive tale of art, vision, nationalism, betrayal.” He beat out critics from the Los Angeles Times, Hollywood Reporter, and Ampersand for the honor.

Schager was the first writer hired when The Daily Beast’s Obsessed launched in 2022, and had been one of the Beast’s most in-demand freelance reviewers before that. Before joining Obsessed, Schager’s work appeared in Variety, Esquire, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and Vulture.

This week, you’ll be able to read his takes on the Prime Video series Fallout, adapted from the popular video game; the new James L. Brooks film Ella McCay; and the sensational Chinese film Resurrection, which he calls a “tour de force you have to see on the big screen.”

Additionally, Tim Teeman won the prize for Online Journalist of the Year, tied to his work covering culture and theater for The Daily Beast. In its citation, the Press Club wrote, “Teeman provides excellent exposition and criticism of entertainment and politics ranging from Broadway shows to celebrities.” Teeman was a runner up in several categories, including Theater/Performing Arts Critic, Humor Writing, Obituary/Theater and Other Arts Personalities for his tribute to the late musical theater star and activist Gavin Creel.

The Daily Beast’s Obsessed was also a runner-up in the organization’s biggest category, Best Entertainment Website, and The Last Laugh podcast host Matt Wilstein was a runner up in his interview category for the episode “Why Borat Director Stopped Speaking to Sacha Baron Cohen and Larry David.”

Kevin FallonSenior Editor, Obsessed

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