Sam Sanders, a talented podcaster known for Vibe Check and The Sam Sanders Show, joins the discussion on Nicole Kidman's fascinating career. They explore her unique ability to portray rich, miserable characters, dissect the implications of Hollywood's beauty standards and aging, and critique the representation of wealth and race in film. The hosts also share imaginative casting ideas and discuss the cultural impact of celebrity relationships, all while keeping the conversation light and engaging.
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Nicole Kidman's Diverse Career
Nicole Kidman's career is marked by a surprising work ethic and varied roles.
From blockbusters to indie films, she consistently takes on diverse projects.
insights INSIGHT
Kidman's Portrayal of Privilege
Nicole Kidman embodies the conflicting ideas of wealth, whiteness, and privilege.
Her recent roles often feature rich, white women facing challenges to their power.
insights INSIGHT
Aging in Hollywood
Actresses over 50 can leverage their age and experience for fascinating roles.
Kidman uses public interest in older women with younger men to her advantage.
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The Human Stain chronicles the downfall of Coleman Silk, an esteemed classics professor at Athena College in New England. Silk is accused of racism after using the word 'spook' in class, referring to two absent students who are black. Despite his innocence, the accusation leads to his resignation, the death of his wife, and his estrangement from his children. The novel reveals that Silk has been passing as a white Jewish man his entire adult life, hiding his true African-American identity. His life further unravels as he begins an affair with Faunia Farley, a younger janitor, which is exposed and adds to the public scandal. The story is narrated by Nathan Zuckerman, who delves into Silk's past and the complexities of his identity, exploring themes of truth, falsehood, and the limits of human understanding[1][3][4].
Little, Big
or, The Fairies' Parliament
John Crowley
The novel tells the story of Smoky Barnable, a young man who travels from the City (New York) to Edgewood to marry Daily Alice Drinkwater. Edgewood, a house designed and built by John Drinkwater, serves as a gateway between the human world and the realm of Faerie. The story spans multiple generations of the Drinkwater family, delving into their unique connections with fairies, magical abilities, and the complex, interconnected nature of their world. The narrative is rich in allegory and symbolism, exploring themes of family, love, and the blurring of reality and fantasy[1][4][5].
The hours
Jaime Zulaika Goicoechea
Michael Cunningham
The perfect couple
Elin Hilderbrand
The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand is set in Nantucket during the peak of wedding season. The story revolves around the Otis-Winbury wedding, which is disrupted by the discovery of the maid of honor's body in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony. Chief of Police Ed Kapenash leads the investigation, interviewing the bride, groom, and other members of the wedding party, revealing a web of secrets and complex relationships. The novel flashes back to multiple timelines, exposing affairs, family dynamics, and the intricate connections between the characters. Despite the tragic event, the book maintains a breezy tone characteristic of Hilderbrand's beach reads, while also delivering a clever whodunit[2][3][4].
Being the Ricardos
Being the Ricardos
Nicole Kidman
The Paperboy
Pete Dexter
Eyes wide shut
Eyes wide shut
Martin Brand
To Die For
Joyce Maynard
Cold Mountain
100 Poems
Burton Watson
Dead Calm
Dead Calm
Charles Williams
Days of thunder
Days of thunder
Michael Hartmann
Far and away
Far and away
Sonja Massie
Certain Women
Certain Women
Erskine Caldwell
I could talk about Nicole Kidman for hours. Very few Hollywood actors have had careers this varied, this delightful, this weird — oh, and she’s also been married to Tom Cruise. She manages to be both chronically underestimated and overrated, and she’s recently found herself in a slew of roles where she embodies a slew of different rich white ladies, each miserable in their own specific ways. For this episode, I’m joined by the great Sam Sanders to talk about our own Kidman Syllabi and answer your questions about her most recent roles, (not) aging onscreen, and what makes her such an effective miserable rich person.
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