Jennifer Aniston – This Had Oscar Buzz

184 – Rumor Has It

This week, we’re looking at the less fondly remembered half of Shirley MacLaine’s 2005 buzzed grandmothers (after praising In Her Shoes in a previous episode) with Rumor Has It. Starring an immediately post-Friends Jennifer Aniston as a woman who believes her grandmother was the inspiration The Graduate’s Mrs. Robinson, the film assembled a prestigious cast for its conceptual take on movie nostalgia that made for a high-profile holiday release. But the film casts Kevin Costner as the would-be Benjamin Braddock that might become either Aniston’s love interest… or her father. Yeah, you can see why this one ultimately earned its reputation as a reviled misfire.

But the film was also plagued with production woes that saw screenwriter and original director Ted Griffin fired, only to be promptly replaced by Rob Reiner. This episode, we discuss Reiner’s later career of bad and unnoticed movies, Griffin’s career as a noteworthy screenwriter, and frustration around this year’s Oscar telecast.

Topics also include our parents’ viewing habits, Tower Heist, and who is best and least best in the Steel Magnolias ensemble.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

142 – Friends with Money

This episode, we are returning to the career of the great Nicole Holofcener with 2006′s enesemble comedy Friends With Money. The film stars Jennifer Aniston as the housemaid friend to three wealthy women played by Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, and Frances McDormand, and studies class and friendship with the kind of wit and grace that’s made Holofcener’s films so special. But despite strong notices for Aniston’s off-type performance and rising appreciation for Holofcener’s work, the film peaked with a Supporting Actress win for McDormand at the Independent Spirit Awards.

Once again, we praise the Holofcener ouevre and exhalt the Holofcener/Keener partnership. We also look at Cusack’s rare multiple comedy Oscar nominations, Aniston’s love of working with comedic actors like Adam Sandler, and McDormand going off in an Old Navy.

Topics include creative differences between Holofcener and Julianne Moore attempting to make Can You Ever Forgive Me?, films that might have overshadowed her work in their Oscar seasons, and our Holofcener rankings.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

022 – Cake

2014 was a year of mirrored Best Actress hopefuls launched at the Toronto International Film Festival: out of nowhere, Julianne Moore capitalized on a “weak” field and finally won for Still Alice. And then, ultimately snubbed on nomination morning after being recognized by the other big prizes, there was Jennifer Aniston in Cake.

Notorious among Oscar watchers, Cake stars Aniston as a woman dealing with grief and chronic pain, and felt like a dubious candidate from the beginning. Was it the bad reviews, or was it the public’s sometimes cruel consideration of Aniston’s film career, or was it “Anna Kendrick as imaginary friend on a pool inflatable nudging her into suicide” that spelled disaster? Regardless, Aniston’s snub was perhaps the year’s least shocking “most shocking” missed nomination.

This week, we get into 2014′s bench of great, but less Oscar-friendly lead female performances, the mythos of Aniston, and detour into Gaga Five Foot Two.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS