Annette Bening remains one of our most beloved actresses without an Oscar, and one of the most notorious (assumed) second place finalists after losing to Hilary Swank twice. This week, we’re looking at her turn as a mentally ill poet and mother in 2006′s Running With Scissors, adapted from the famously outrageous memoir by Augusten Burroughs. Bening received a Golden Globe nomination, but a stacked Best Actress year combined with the film’s poor reception with critics and audiences left her work as an afterthought come nomination morning.
The film was big screen debut of none other than television legend Ryan Murphy. This episode, we unpack the Murphy ethos, from his impact on the television landscape to the mixed reception to some of his work. We also discuss the film’s off-balance mix of comedy and tragedy, Gwyneth Paltrow in Bo Derek braids, and Bening as one of the most iconic smokers in cinema.
Topics also include the age of scrutinized memoirists, an oceanside testimonial from Murphy ex Bill Condon, and the uncanny valley of butt hands.
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