Best in Show: Ringing in Awards Season 2023 with Sean Fennessey
Dec 1, 2023
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Head of Content at The Ringer, Sean Fennessey, joins the podcast. They discuss his favorite films of the year, the encyclopedic knowledge of awards season available on Letterboxd, and his experience watching Sunshine with Drew Barrymore. They also mention the upcoming awards season and their plans to interview movie contenders and insiders.
The New York critic circle challenges expectations of the Oscars and recognizes the current state of movies in awards season.
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is a valuable awards body that understands the entire process of filmmaking and recognizes deserving projects.
'The Taste of Things' is a standout indie film that masterfully balances luxurious food elements with emotional stakes and portrays cooking in a unique way.
Deep dives
The fascination with awards season and the role of the New York critic circle
The podcast episode delves into the excitement surrounding awards season and highlights the New York critic circle as an influential awards body. They discuss how the New York critic circle both recognizes the current state of movies and challenges expectations of the Oscars. The episode also touches on the responsibility of being a member of an awards body and the emotional decision-making process involved in voting.
The significance of the Producers Guild of America (PGA)
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is highlighted as a valuable awards body that represents how Hollywood thinks. Unlike other guilds or critic circles, the PGA is seen as a practical body that knows how to do math and has a deep understanding of the effort and sacrifice that goes into making a film. The podcast emphasizes the importance of the PGA in recognizing deserving projects and understanding the entire process of filmmaking.
The film 'The Taste of Things' and unique storytelling
The film 'The Taste of Things' by Toronto Hong is discussed as an exquisite and surprising cinematic experience. It is described as a period piece about a chef couple and their emotional journey at a critical stage of their lives. The podcast praises the film's portrayal of cooking and the unique way it captures the act of cooking on screen. It is also noted that the film masterfully balances the luxurious food elements with the emotional stakes of the story, making it a standout indie film.
Interstellar is a beloved movie on Letterbox
Interstellar consistently tops the list of most popular movies on Letterbox, with fans selecting it as one of their favorites every year. Whether considering different gender identities or overall, Interstellar remains beloved among viewers. While some may struggle to fully understand the film, others appreciate its themes and director Christopher Nolan's technical prowess.
Leave Her to Heaven and Silence of the Lambs discussed
Leave Her to Heaven, recommended by Martin Scorsese, won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 1946, and features Jean Tierney delivering an outstanding performance. Meanwhile, Silence of the Lambs, the 1992 Best Picture winner, continues to hold up, with Jodie Foster's portrayal of Clarice Starling being especially praised. While the film does contain elements of transphobia, it remains a significant work in cinematic history.
The World According to Garp explores gender and feminism
The World According to Garp, released in 1982, delves into complex themes surrounding gender and feminism. The film features strong performances from Robin Williams, Glenn Close, and John Liskow, with Liskow portraying Roberta Moldou, a trans woman. Unlike many films of its time, The World According to Garp handles the trans character sensitively and with acceptance. The film, written by Steve Tesich, who also wrote Breaking Away, offers thought-provoking commentary on gender roles and societal expectations.
The season two premiere of Best in Show kicks off with a very special guest: Sean Fennessey, Head of Content at The Ringer, co-host of The Big Picture podcast and fellow awards obsessive. Gemma, Mia and Brian interrogate Sean about his favorite films of the year so far, and he talks about finding Letterboxd more useful than Wikipedia (his words!) for the sheer encyclopedic knowledge of awards season available—all thanks to your lists—and the time he watched Sunshine with Drew Barrymore.
Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles and Auckland. Edited by Slim, production manager Sophie Shin, editorial producer Brian Formo. Theme: ‘Hyperlight’ by Letterboxd member Trent Walton (AKA Echo Wolf), artwork by Danny Haas. Best in Show is a TAPEDECK production. Title courtesy of Christopher Guest.
