Adam Sandler – This Had Oscar Buzz

276 – Spanglish

This week, we are talking about one of the biggest THOB titles that we haven’t yet discussed: 2004’s Spanglish. James L. Brooks returned nearly a decade after his Oscar success with As Good As It Gets with this story of two disparate families thrust together: an immigrant single mother and the rich Los Angeles family she works for. With Adam Sandler headlining one year after earning his first bout of buzz for Punch-Drunk Love, this looked to be a chance for the Academy to honor him as a serious performer within the Academy-beloved Brooksian seriocomic glow. But the movie… has some issues!

This episode, we talk about Cloris Leachman’s stellar boozy performance and Téa Leoni’s work tried to wrangle an impossible character. We also discuss Paz Vega as the film’s attempted breakthrough performance to American audiences, Brooks’ Oscar history, and the many mystery middle names in Hollywood.

Topics also include Mitski fans, the film’s cringe-inducing sex scene, and the history of the Tristar logo.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

110 – The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

Netflix and the Academy have had a rapidly evolving relationship in the past several years. This week, we look at the short trajectory from demonstrative shutout for Beasts of No Nation to a potential domination this season with a discussion of their 2017 awards also-ran The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected). The less heralded and less seen of Noah Baumbach’s two films for the streaming giant stars Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, and Elizabeth Marvel as extended siblings coping with their difficult father’s (Dustin Hoffman) waning health – and we kind of adore it.

Launched at the Cannes Film Festival (along with Okja) to boos at the sight of the Netflix logo, the film got lost in the shuffle for both critics and streamer-averse awards voters. Though Netflix would break through major categories that year with Mudbound, the streamer stigma would continue to play out in future seasons. This week, we’re talking about the whole Netflix thing, Noah Baumbach’s long break with Oscar post-The Squid and the Whale, and “Myron/Byron”.

Topics also include Marvel’s underrated performance, the 2017 Best Original Song nominees, and Sigourney Weaver introducing herself as herself.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

058 – Men, Women & Children

A film that uses Pale Blue Dot as a quasi-pickup line and features a couple aligning their sex life with 9/11, Men, Women & Children is likely one of the most maligned films we’ve ever discussed. Directed by Jason Reitman and adapted from the novel by Chad Kultgen, the film stars a large ensemble of familiar faces as several families coping with love, sex, and identity in the age of Pornhub and Ashley Madison. Debuting at TIFF in 2014, the film faced an immediate death of scathing reviews and minimal box office, further diminishing Reitman’s once redhot Oscar profile.

This week, we discuss the film’s dated perspective and lack of nuance in its characterizations that make the film such a misfire, and whether or not we love Reitman only when Diablo Cody’s name is attached. We also take a look at the film’s ensemble of likely future nominees such as Ansel Elgort and Kaitlyn Dever, another 2014 film’s crass Oscar campaign, and Adam Sandler’s closest attempt at an Oscar-chasing role (and another performance that we both consider his best).

Last call for Mailbag questions, listeners! Send us your questions to @Had_Oscar_Buzz or [email protected]!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS