Julia Stiles – This Had Oscar Buzz

280 – State and Main

Forgotten cinema, you ask? This week, we’re coming to you with 2000’s State and Main, a Hollywood satire and ensemble comedy from lauded playwright David Mamet. A farce about a film production wreaking havoc on small town America, the film featured a very Mametian cast of Alec Baldwin and William H. Macy along with of-the-moment stars on the rise like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Julia Stiles. An ensemble win from the National Board of Review helped coast the film through the season, but it managed little other award mentions despite strong reviews.

This episode, we talk about David Mamet’s high (but waning) regard in the American theatre in contrast to his more under-the-radar film reputation. We also talk about PSH’s late-90s breakthrough years, SJP’s reign over the Globes for Sex and the City, and WHM’s surprising lack of an Oscar nomination since Fargo.

Topics also include “so that happened” as a punchline, Fine Line Features, and NBR giving Best Picture to Quills.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

175 – Hustlers

This is an episode about control. We’ve tallied up the votes for our Listeners’ Choice episode and in a landslide victory, 2019′s Hustlers emerged quite victorious. One of our favorite films of 2019, the film (based on Jessica Pressler’s expose in The Cut) stars Constance Wu and Jennifer Lopez as two exotic dancers who team up to drug and rob their wealthy Wall Street customers in the wake of the financial crisis. A highly fictionalized adaptation, the film is a nonstop ride of entertaining moments, all given an empathic treatment by writer/director Lorene Scafaria. Though we have much to say for the film’s many merits, its awards hopes hinged on a career-best Lopez in Supporting Actress, who ran the gauntlet of being nominated at every major precursor only to miss out on an Oscar nomination.

This episode, we discuss how the film’s subject matter was met with unfair indifference despite Scafaria’s thoughtful approach and the film’s surprise $100M box office success. We also dive into its stellar performances outside of Lopez, Scafaria’s directorial career, Lopez’s career from critical praise to romcom star, the film’s deftly handled morality, and “so wait a minute actresses.”

Topics also include Lopez’s notorious 1998 interview with Movieline, the film’s perfect use of pop music, and “we love you, Gary!”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

001 – Mona Lisa Smile

Our first episode of This Had Oscar Buzz is about 2003’s Mona Lisa Smile, director Mike Newell’s Wellesley College period melodrama, starring Julia Roberts and all of the It Girls of the early Aughts. Come for the art history lesson, stay for the dashed awards hopes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS