100 – mother!

We have finally arrived at a major milestone – our 100th episode!! To commemorate the occasion, we’re looking back at the notoriously divisive 2017 discourse factory, Darren Aronofsky’s mother!. An environmental allegory of biblical proportions, mother! arrived after a cryptic marketing campaign with few plot details beyond the promise of a horror spectacle and megastar Jennifer Lawrence at the forefront. Loved by some critics and loudly reviled by most audiences, any Oscar hopes or predictions evaporated once we saw what the film actually was.

for our 100th episode, we’re going all in on a film bursting with talking points, from Lawrence and Aronofsky’s romantic relationship (and how that shadowed readings on the film) to Michelle Pfeiffer rude and horny stand-in for Eve. Though Aronofsky was vocal to the press after release about what the film represents, we examine multiple possible threads of interpretation in its madness. We also look at Jennifer Lawrence fatigue among audiences, the history of F Cinemascores, and the goriest swag you’ve ever seen.

And since this is such a milestone episode, we take some time to look back on our favorites from previous episodes. Thank you listeners for joining us on the journey!

Follow Us on Twitter!
@Had_Oscar_Buzz
Joe: @joereid
Chris: @chrisvfeil

009 – Serena

Grab your snake-catchin’ eagle and buckle up for this week’s Oscar misstep: Susanne Bier’s literary adaptation Serena.

Set during the Great Depression, this lumber baron romantic thriller starred Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper and became a question mark lingering over multiple Oscar seasons. After a beleaguered post-production process and its struggles to find a distributor, the film immediately disappeared when it finally arrived in theatres, after both stars had delivered multiple blockbusters and two Oscar successes with David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.

Listen in as we unpack a movie that asks “how much animal symbolism is too much?” and “what would happen if Lady Macbeth and the Monopoly guy fell in love?” The answers: “never enough” and failed Oscar buzz.

Follow Us on Twitter!
@Had_Oscar_Buzz
Joe: @joereid
Chris: @chrisvfeil