Holiday Podcast Part 1: The Ballot Rush
Thursday, December 24, 2015 at 9:10AM Nathaniel, Nick, Katey, and Joe all return for a two part discussion -- something you can listen to while you're travelling for the holidays, a gift from us to you. This was recorded on December 13th (apologies for the delay) so it predates the Critics Choice nominations and subsequent Star Wars kerfuffle which is why we don't discuss those. But we're here to talk precursors and more. (Part Two will be up tonight)
42:30 minutes
00:01 The Big Short is suddenly a factor. Why?
07:30 Helen Mirren in Trumbo and Woman in Gold
11:00 Sarah Silverman and Best Actress
15:00 Randomness and SAG voters
22:00 Spotlight and the Globes
24:30 Rooney Mara & Alicia Vikander & BFCA
32:00 Best Director & Picture Possibilities
35:00 Original Song Contenders
40:20 Weird Stats plus Hair and Makeup
Further Reading for Context:
SAG Nominations
Globe Nominations
Original Song's 74 Contenders
Oscar Charts
You can listen to the podcast here at the bottom of the post or download from iTunes.
Reader Comments (12)
Just as I was about to get cracking and start my last Christmas errands, you find a way to keep me procrastinating. Damn you, TFE team! (And happy holidays!)
I find the male panel's dislike of Helen Mirren strange. Sure you can be fully against both performances she has in contention this year. But to overall be indifferent to her is baffling. She's not my favorite. But I'm never against casting her in anything unlike half the actresses you guys champion all the time.
I mostly agree on Mirren. It's not that I hate her or anything, but I very often find the does very similar things with all her characters. And, frankly, her work in The Queen was good, but a bit overrated if you ask me. So she's good, but I wouldn't put her in the select group of "acting royalty" most people (and awards bodies) seem to put her, particularly when there's so many actresses in her age range who don't get good opportunities.
I blame the sweep. Helen Mirren swept for The Queen, played a queen on television, followed it up with a stage portrayal of the queen. If you exclude royalty from her filmmography and focus on things like The Cook, The Thief, The Wife and Her Lover; Gosford Park; Cal; The Long Good Friday; Prime Suspect, you have got one formidable actress.
Nick on Branagh: Branagh's in an interesting position. He's been nominated for five oscars, but he has only one oscar nomination per category
Director: Henry V
Leading Actor: Henry V
Supporting Actor: the Marilyn movie
Adapted Screenplay: Hamlet
Live Action Short Film: Swan Song
A best song nomination would make it six in six.
I guess, like me, most SAG members didn't notice that Mirren cupped her hair a lot in "Woman in Gold." I actually thought she was good in the role, though not nearly better than Danner.
Baby Doll is pretty much featured relentlessly throughout Danny Collins! I don't recommend watching the movie if you don't have a high tolerance level for Neil Diamond-styled pastiche, Well, actually, I don't recommend watching the movie at all.
@Arkaan: I forgot that stat! Now I'm really rooting for it!
@Suzanne: I always look forward to your comments, and this one made me laugh. Thanks, and thanks!
I rather enjoy Helen Mirren. I thought she was wonderful in "The Queen." I was delighted by her Globe nomination for "The Hundred Foot Journey" just last year. But she is nearly unwatchable in "Trumbo." Just very bad and awful. And we all have our actresses we simply don't respond to, let's keep that in mind.
If Cotillard's character from THE IMMIGRANT were to meet Ronan's character, she would slap her face and tell her to stop being such a wuss. "You were sponsored by a fucking priest and had a damn boarding house waiting for you. You were never homeless and forced to sell yourself."
Also, as lovely as Ronan is in BROOKLYN, Cotillard was operating on a whole different level in her movie.
By the way, love the podcast. You guys are always so funny.
I listened to this podcast while doing my final bits of wrapping last night. Thanks for entertaining me through my mixed feelings about Christmas! Looking forward to Part 2 when I get a break in the festivities!
Arkaan that stat is amazing and just shows how damn versatile KB is. I now want the song nominated and for him to win the category
Nick - Aww, that is so nice, thank you!
Merry Christmas, everyone!