Smackdown '65: Nuns, Child Abusers, Tragic Pawns

Our Oscar-vintage series continues with a look back at the women of The Sound of Music (Peggy Wood, Eleanor Wood, and Julie Andrews), A Patch of Blue (Shelley Winters), Othello (Maggie Smith, Joyce Redman), and Inside Daisy Clover (Ruth Gordon and Natalie Wood). To discuss those four films as well as topics like "blackface," movie stars pretending to be other movie stars, dubbing in musicals, and the rewatchable joy of The Sound Of Music, TFE's Nathaniel R and Baby Clyde are joined by the actor Spencer Garrett (Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood), and writers Kayleigh Donaldson (Pajiba, The Hollywood Read), Kevin Jacobsen (And the Runner Up Is..., Gold Derby), and Terence Johnson (LeNoirAuteur.net, Vampyr Resistance Corps). 

Smackdown 1965

54 - Nomadland, The Nest, and Virtual Festivals

Murtada and Nathaniel talk the hottest festival title, Chloe Zhao's Nomadland starring Frances McDormand, plus virtual screening pros and cons, Ivory Coast's Oscar submission Night of the Kings, and the new Jude Law and Carrie Coon drama, The Nest. 

The Nest and Nomadland

Smackdown '38: You can't take it with you, Jezebel

Our Oscar-obsessed time machine takes us back to post Depression / pre World War II Hollywood when You Can't Take It With You beat Jezebel to the Best Picture prize. To discuss those two films as well as The Great Waltz, Of Human Hearts, and Merrily We Live, and the Best Supporting Actress race, TFE's Nathaniel R and Cláudio Alves are joined by the actors Steven Weber (Wings, Jeffrey) and Britney Young (GLOW) and Vanity Fair's Joanna Robinson. Topics include: screwball comedy, jukebox musicals, and Hollywood's obsession with the Antebellum South. 

Smackdown 38 - You Can't Waltz, Jezebel

Smackdown '05: Brokeback Mountain, Junebug, and more...

Travel back with us to 2005 as we discuss the first nominations for Amy Adams, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz. Who deserved to win? To discuss this cinematic vintage, which included Brokeback Mountain, North Country and Capote, Nathaniel welcomes the actress Kerry O'Malley (Snowpiercer, Boardwalk Empire) along with Cinematheque of Tangier's Ali Benzekri, Los Angeles Times' Justin Chang, and Awards Daily's Joey Moser.

Smackdown 2005

51 - Emmy Nominations and No Oscars Worry

Surprise. It's a regular episode of the Podcast again in this summer of intense Smackdowning. Murtada and Nathaniel talk Emmy nominations, 2020 cinema (what there is of it of course) and whether or not there will be an Oscar ceremony next year.

Emmy Reactions and Oscar Race?

Smackdown '91: TOWANDA!!!!

On this "Supporting Actress Smackdown" edition of the podcast, Nathaniel welcomes award winning actors Nikki M James (The Book of Mormon, The Good Fight), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon, Hamilton), and Nick Westrate (Casa Valentina, Turn: Washington's Spies) as well as Vanity Fair's deputy editor Katey Rich, and New York Magazine's Mark Harris. We're talking the films of 1991 including two auteurist pictures, Terry Gilliam's The Fisher King and Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear and three tales of the south, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Prince of Tides, and Rambling Rose.  And of courses the actresses that starred in them: Mercedes Ruehl, Juliette Lewis, Jessica Tandy, Kate Nelligan, and Diane Ladd. 

Smackdown 1991

Smackdown '57: Sayonara, Peyton Place, Witness for the Prosecution

On this "Smackdown" edition of the podcast we talk 1957 and the anti-miscenegation movie Sayonara, soap opera smash Peyton Place, gritty NYC night on the town drama The Bachelor Party (with pre-Mortician Addams, Carolyn Jones), and the all-star whodunnit Witness for the Prosecution (with post Bride of Frankenstein Elsa Lanchester). For the panel Nathaniel welcomes filmmaker Q Allan Brocka (Boy Culture, Rick & Steve), video essayist Izzy ("Be Kind Rewind"), film critics Kimberly Pierce and Kenji Fujishima, and archivist/filmmaker Brett Wood (Kino Lorber). 

Smackdown 57

Ep 48 - Smackdown '02: The Hours, Adaptation, Chicago, About Schmidt

On this "Smackdown" edition of the podcast Nathaniel welcomes comedian/actors Joel Kim Booster (Shrill) and Matt Rogers (Gayme Show), as well as journalist/editor Jazz Tangcay (Variety), and critic Emily VanDerWerff (Vox). We discuss the film year of 2002 but especially the razzle-dazzle 'em joys of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah in Chicago, super-depressed Julianne Moore (and other actresses) in The Hours, Kathy Bates shaking up Alexander Payne's About Schmidt, and the peculiar magic of Meryl in the Charlie Kaufman/Spike Jonze whatsit Adaptation. 

Smackdown 2002 - Chicago... and all that jazz

47 - Smackdown '47: Gloria Grahame in Crossfire, preachy Gentleman's Agreement, and more!

On this "Smackdown" edition of the podcast  -that it's episode '47 featuring the year 1947 is accidental! -- Nathaniel welcomes actors Dana Delany (The Code, China Beach) and Patrick Vaill (Oklahoma), as well as lyricist Thomas Mizer (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) and culture critic Angelica Jade Bastién. We discuss the film year of 1947 but especially anti-semitic dramas Crossfire and Gentleman's Agreement (which competed for Best Picture), the Hitchcock courtroom thriller The Paradine Case, and the farm comedy The Egg and I. 

The 1947 Smackdown

46 - Smackdown '81: Reds, Ragtime, On Golden Pond

On this special "Supporting Actress Smackdown" edition of the podcast Nathaniel welcomes actors Sean Maguire (The Magicians) and Donna Lynne Champlin (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) as well as Eric Blume, Amir Soltani, and Boyd Van Hoeij to discuss (and okay argue) about films and performances of 1981 from Only When I Laugh, Absence of Malice, Reds, Ragtime, and On Golden Pond. 

The 1981 Smackdown

45 - Stuck at home with "Cactus Flower" and "Emma"

Murtada and Nathaniel are both self-quarantined in NYC but meet over Skype to talk Emma (2020) and Cactus Flower (1969) and share the odd feeling of being stuck inside for days on end. 

Cactus Flower, Emma, Quarantine

44 - 92nd Oscars, Season Finale!

Hollywood High Holy Night has come and gone. Murtada, Nick, and Nathaniel talk it out from favourite speeches to reaction shots to Parasite's big win and what we hope it means for the future. 

Podcast Season Finale - the 92nd Oscars

43 - Making lists and waiting for the big night

Murtada is away at Sundance so Nick and Nathaniel do some navel-gazing about making list and naming "Bests" and talk about the Best Picture race and other Oscary topics as the season approaches its finale. 

Top 100s, Oscar Feelings and "Best" Pictures

42 - Oscar Nomination Morning Madness

Nathaniel and Murtada react, rant, and rave about various nominations 

Oscar Nom Rants-n-Ravs

41 - Little Women (and a bit of Globes talk)

Greta Gerwig has another hit on her hands. Murtada, Nathaniel and special guest Kim Rogers discuss. 

Little Women

40 - Precursor Madness Part 1

Nathaniel and Murtada welcome back long lost co-host Nick Davis to discuss the first wave of critics prizes and the Globe and SAG nominations and what it all means. 

Precursor Madness December

39 - A Beautiful Day in Oscar's Neighborhood

New movies including A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and the Best Cinematography category. 

A Beautiful Day for Podcasting

38 - Ford v Ferrari, Honey Boy, Marriage Story

Three new movies discussed. Plus: Best Costume Design contenders. 

Ford v Ferrari and more

37 - JoJo Rabbit and Oscar's Screenplay Competitions

Nathaniel and Murtada have mixed feelings on Taiki Waititi's "anti-hate" satire and also discuss Best Original and Best Adapated Screenplay Oscar hopefuls. 

JoJo Rabbit

36 - The Irishman, Terminator Dark Fate, and Best Supporting Actor

We're back. We go long on The Irishman because the movies go long. Plus Harriet, another Terminator, and lots of Oscar talk. 

The Irishman