Out of Oscar

Hollywood loves movies about themselves, or do they...?

(p.s. sorry for the choppy audio at times, I guess Ed Wood snuck into this episode in more ways than one.)

Andrew's Twitter: @AwardsConnect | Website: theawardsconnection.com

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod | Letterboxd: @jameskuno | Website: allaboutoscar.net

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

Should Sally Hawkins have received her first Oscar nomination for Mike Leigh's 2008 dramedy? And could she have bested Kate Winslet to the top prize?

Cristof's Twitter: @JudgeRoySnyder | Letterboxd: @ChristofN | Sporcle: sporcle.com/user/MrWhiplash/

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod | Letterboxd: @jameskuno 

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

If the Academy awarded Oscars for titles alone, Sex, Lies and Videotape would take the cake. And if the Best Actress category respected indies, so would the perennially underrated Andie MacDowell. Also, stay tuned for the Pfeiffer v. Tandy discourse. 

Will's Twitter: @_AlmostOriginal | Letterboxd: @steele98

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod | Letterboxd: @jameskuno 

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

If the Academy was ever a stickler for quantity over quality, 1963 would be their poster child. 

The wonderful Fritz joins for this discussion that covers Martin Ritt's cynical anti-hero western Hud (5:12). We also chat about the category's mammoth-sized films, America America (23:40), Cleopatra (42:50) and How the West Was Won (1:06:40), with the short and sweet Lilies of the Field (1:16:43) a nice break. Then, it's time for Best Picture victor Tom Jones (1:25:26). Listen to that segment for a perspective you don't often hear...

Fritz's Twitter: @FritzandOscars | YouTube: Fritz and the Oscars (please subscribe, and watch his 63 Actress series for more Hud content)

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod | Letterboxd: @jameskuno

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

What ever happened to 1994’s Best Actress? Join Riley and myself for this in-depth look into the race, the nominees, and the contenders that missed out because the Academy were all out of Oscars. See chapters below for easier navigation…

Riley’s Twitter: @rileyj_quinn | Letterboxd: @rj1994

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod | Letterboxd: @jameskuno

Jessica Lange in Blue Sky (3:50)

Jodie Foster in Nell (21:20)

Miranda Richardson in Tom & Viv (31:44)

Winona Ryder in Little Women (44:18)

Susan Sarandon in The Client (52:25)

Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction (1:02:30)

Jennifer Jason Leigh in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1:09:10)

Meryl Streep in The River Wild (1:16:27)

Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies (1:25:44)

Meg Ryan in When a Man Loves a Woman (1:28:34)

Sigourney Weaver in Death and the Maiden (1:31:35)

Kathleen Turner in Serial Mom (1:34:40)

Irène Jacob in Three Colors: Red (1:37:26)

Bonus Actresses (1:39:42)

Ranking the Academy’s Five + Personal Lineups (1:46:52)

A David Lynch discussion always warrants starting at the end and working forward. Take a drive with us down Mulholland Drive… Spoilers incoming! Watch out for the roadblocks aka the 2001 Best Picture nominees.

For an in-depth analysis of everything Mulholland Drive, check out Brian’s 20th Anniversary episode over at Film at Fifty. Also check out our recap of the 44th Academy Awards while you’re there ;)

Brian’s Twitter: @mrbrianrowe

Brian’s Podcast: @FilmAtFifty

Brian’s YouTube Channel: youtube.com/c/BrianRoweVideo/videos

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod | Letterboxd: @jameskuno

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

Never a better day to chat Fassbinder. Schygulla missed out on the Oscar for the likes of Field, Fonda, Clayburgh, Mason and Midler. Should she have been nominated alongside that group?

Eoin's Twitter: @eoindaily | Letterboxd: @eoindaly2k14

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod | Letterboxd: @jameskuno

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

We naturally gave Pam Grier her flowers, though Julie Christie in Afterglow did take over the chat. 

Sam's Twitter: @SamTheParasite

Sam's Pod: @TODGTpodcast (And the Oscar Doesn't Go To)

Sam's Letterboxd: @sammeltzer

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

James' Letterboxd: @jameskuno

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

The L.A. Times called Blue Velvet's director nomination the "only spice on an expected Oscar bill." Now imagine what it could have done in Best Picture. A quintet thankfully saved by the likes of Hannah and Her Sisters and A Room with a View. 

Ronaldo's Twitter @rsantana2024 | Letterboxd @r_santana2024

James' Twitter | @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

Gordon from The Lone Acting Nominees Podcast @loneactingnoms jumps on for a chat about early Jonathan Demme by way of Melvin and Howard; one of our personal favourites, Ordinary People, plus the stack of 1980's Best Picture nominees that comfortably appease Academy taste. 

Gordon's Twitter | @markwahlbird | @loneactingnoms

Gordon's Podcast (check out the Magnificent Obsession episode we recorded) | the-lone-acting-nominees.simplecast.com/episodes

James' Twitter | @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

2003 works better as a trio. On this week's episode, Valentina @VStarcovich and I chat about the Miramax powerhouse that missed Best Picture (for fair reason), Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain. Then it's on to our clean sweeper, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (26:50). And it's only right to save the best for last, the desert of this line-up, Sofia Coppola's beautiful Lost in Translation (36:33), a discussion that might lead you to just another rewatch. 

Valentina's Twitter | @VStarcovich

James' Twitter | @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

Writer for thefilmexperience.net and his own site icecream4freaks.com Ben Miller joins this fortnight for a wealthy and exciting chat on 1977 film. First, it's time to discuss our unexpected outlier from Best Picture and Ben's personal favourite of that year, Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1:39). We also made room for the Academy's mix of sci-fi, romcoms and melodramas, starting at the Best Picture winner Annie Hall (24:53) and making our way through The Goodbye Girl (32:10), Julia (43:30), Star Wars (55:31), and The Turning Point (1:03:01). Then, it's time to revise Oscar history.... (1:15:20).

Ben's Twitter | @NebIsBen

Support Ben's writing over at thefilmexperience.net & icecream4freaks.com

James' Twitters | @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

Intro Song: "Awards" by Alexi Action

Sophia, from the Oscar Wild podcast was gracious enough to join me for a fantastically fun and fascinating conversation on all things Daniel Day-Lewis including his 1988 epic, The Unbearable Lightness of Being (06:24). Spoilers: he's doing an accent. Don't pass up the trivia either to hear how this super-fan scored (25:50). We also couldn't pass up the chance to discuss the lukewarm Best Picture selection of the same year which all things considering made for great discussion... The Accidental Tourist (34:50) Dangerous Liaisons (50:25) Mississippi Burning (1:00:24) Rain Man (1:06:44) Working Girl (1:14:58)

Sophia on Twitter | @OscarWildPod | @sophia_cim

James on Twitter | @outofoscarpod | @jimmykunovski

We wish we were more indiscreet (haha) about our mediocre reaction to 1958's Best Picture quintet and this Cary Grant/Ingrid Bergman affair.

Zita's Twitter: @Zita_Short 

Zita's Pod: @300Passions (The 300 Passions Podcast) 

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

This is the most a guest and myself have discussed a single year so far. They Shoot Horses is one of the better feel-bad movies of the 1960s. Sam & I absolutely love this film, even if it scarred me back in the day. Stick around to the end for some musings on Best Actress too!

Sam's Twitter: @SamTheParasite

Sam's Pod: @TODGTpodcast (And the Oscar Doesn't Go To)

Sam's Letterboxd: @sammeltzer

James' Twitter: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

The Talented Mr. Ripley might just count 1999 as period cinema. A year that isn't necessarily reflected well by its Best Picture choices. What did Eoin and I think of this luscious summer adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's boundless novel, and Anthony Minghella's big Oscar follow-up that wasn't?

Eoin's Twitter: @eoindaily | Letterboxd: @eoindaly2k14

James' Twitter(s): @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

James' Website: allaboutoscar.net

How we'd adore the Academy if they'd settled for a running surrealistic joke as a Best Picture nominee. We talk Buñuel, (one of) the strongest ensembles, and Whit Stillman's Metropolitan, plus the evergreen crop of 1972 Best Picture. 

James' Twitters: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

James' Website: allaboutoscar.net

Andrew's Twitter: @andrewjtfraser 

Andrew's Website: andrew-fraser.net

Letterboxd list for context: letterboxd.com/jameskuno/list/the-best-picture-nominations-that-werent/

In our second instalment of "countries who often submit the wrong film for Oscar consideration" Valentina and I tackled Céline Sciamma's sublime Portrait of a Lady on Fire. En plus, we made plenty of time to discuss the shortcomings of France's submission process, the international feature nominees of 2019 (g'day Parasite), what an eventual showdown between Parasite and Portrait would have looked like, and a lengthy, healthy discussion on our favourite international feature prize winners. This movie-length episode was such a blast. Enjoy!

Valentina's Twitter | @VStarcovich 

James' Twitter | @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

I'm always looking out for the day that I turn into an Almodóvar stan, and though today was not that day, I still learned a fair deal about Valentina's love for the Spanish auteur (and High Heels). On this week's episode I was joined by @VStarcovich to break down the heated and contentious Talk to Her, an Oscar favourite in original screenplay that was snubbed by Spain's committee. An all too familiar experience for Almodóvar. We also made room to chat about who the next Almodóvar leading woman could be, and Parallel Mothers, with a Rossy de Palma name drop as good as her cameo in the latter.

Valentina's Twitter | @VStarcovich

James' Twitter | @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod

It was such a joy to chat with Oscar YouTuber and pollster @FritzandOscars for this Nicole Kidman and 1995 Best Actress themed discussion. Kidman's omission ranks high, perhaps next to JLo in Hustlers, for most famous acting snubs, so it was a given that I'd get on board sooner or later. Together we fawned over Kidman's turn while slightly shrugged at To Die For's oddity. After answering some great questions about the race, Kidman and Meg Ryan, we moved onto bulky chatter over the fantastic '95 nominees. I'll always campaign that as one of the strongest years.

Fritz's Twitter: @FritzandOscars | YouTube: Fritz and the Oscars (go subscribe)

James' Twitters: @jimmykunovski | @outofoscarpod | allaboutoscar.net

If only Eoin Daly and I loved 2015's Oscar season as much as we adore Todd Haynes’ sublime Carol. An Oscar favourite *outside* the all-important Best Picture and Best Director ballots, we’re both in the agreement that Carol would have shaken up the race. Listen to find out how we revised 2015’s Best Picture lineup and modified the six categories that Carol was nominated, and unjustly lost in. Also listen for notes on category fraud, the Academy’s longevity, and of course, all things Carol, a favourite film that we are both endlessly passionate about.

Eoin’s Twitter: @eoindaily | Letterboxd @eoindaly2k14

James’ Twitters: @all_about_oscar | @outofoscarpod

This conversation facilitates Inside Llewyn Davis’ hardcore admirers, dislikers and middle of the pilers. Joining myself were the wonderful Nick and Sophia from @OscarWildPod. Together we discussed the nooks, crannies, symbols and (cat) of this stunningly subversive film. To say nothing of our lead, Oscar Isaac. Then, we righted some wrongs as “Academy members” when we looked at the 2013 Best Picture race, where Inside Llewyn Davis was left off the nomination ballot, despite a fair run through the season. One, or three, or five nominees may have got the chop.

Oscar Wild can be found wherever you listen to your podcasts. | @OscarWildPod | @sophia_cim | @sauerkraut27

James’ Socials: @all_about_oscar | @outofoscarpod | allaboutoscar.net

Who better to have as a guest than Sam Meltzer as we delve into Annette Bening's transcendent turn in Mike Mill's 20th Century Women, a personal favourite from the past decade. But first we took some time to discuss the shortcomings of Amy Adams' central performance in Arrival, while also revelling in our own personal 2016 Best Actress line-ups. The discourse over Huppert vs. Stone thickens.

Sam's Twitters: @SamTheParasite

Sam's Pod: @TODGTpodcast

James' Twitter: @all_about_oscar

James' Pod: @outofoscarpod

What would I subtitle this episode? 1998's non-Best Picture nominees, or, how I learned to stop pitting Shakespeare in Love against Saving Private Ryan and love the other films from that year? Kubrick would be ashamed... On this week's episode, I was joined by the wonderful Ben Miller to discuss three runner-ups to that year's Best Picture lineup, including Gods and Monsters (01:08), Out of Sight (23:41) & The Truman Show (42:48). We also mentioned our personal choices for Best Picture (1:08:45). 

Ben brought his passion for that Clooney-JLo classic, I went on about my mate Truman, and we both loved Brendan Fraser and Ian McKellen in that divinely titled James Whale biopic. So, forget that year's infatuation with Queen Elizabeth and World War 2 for an hour and a bit, as we delve into three other perfectly deserving '98 films. 

Ben's Twitter: @NebIsBen

Ben's website: icecream4freaks.com

James’ Twitters: @all_about_oscar @outofoscarpod 

James’ website: allaboutoscar.net

On the first ever episode, I am joined by fellow Aussie Andrew Fraser to discuss how Jennifer Lopez in “Hustlers” fits into the 2019 Best Supporting Actress race. We discuss JLo’s Ramona, reasons around the snub and our supporting actress lineups. We also tried not to diss Kathy Bates in "Richard Jewell", and naturally made time to praise the women from Parasite.

Andrew’s Twitter: @andrewjtfraser

James’ Twitters: @all_about_oscar @outofoscarpod

James’ website: allaboutoscar.net