61 episodes
Academy Vs Audience Claire Bolton, Dan Gibbins, and Erin Weir
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- TV & Film
Ever since 1928, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has handed out trophies to what it considered the best in film. Sometimes they were absolutely right, sometimes they were entirely wrong, sometimes they were so, so basic. But in all that time, audiences have had their own opinions, sometimes better, sometimes much worse. And sometimes, when the stars align or the fates allow, they even agree. Academy Vs Audience is a deep dive into Oscar history, revisiting film history from the 1920s to the 2020s; from the Studio Era to the age of the IP Franchise; from the age of the silent film to the age of the novelty silent film. Claire, Erin, and Dan take on each year’s Best Picture according to the Academy, and the Box Office Champ selected by audience dollars*. It’s a fascinating look at enduring classics and a descent into madness, because History Is Always Terrible and audiences make questionable choices.(*Based on revenue earned during its initial run, and the year said run began in. No re-releases. Lots of movies become audience favourites years after their initial release, you are not special, Billy Jack.)
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1979: Kramer V Kramer: Dawn of Just Us
It's 1979, nearing the end of the era of serious dramas for adults ruling the box office, and Dustin Hoffman's divorce and custody drama becomes one of our more unlikely joint champions. Erin, Claire, and Dan dig into Ted Kramer's attempts to juggle two lives: raising his son alone after his wife Joanna disappears into the night, and a career that doesn't care for him having other priorities. Will Ted and Billy find a new rhythm? What happens when Joanna comes back? How obvious is it that this was written by a man? Is the real villain, once again, capitalism? Join us to find out.
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1978: The Grease Hunter (feat. Kevin Weir)
It's 1978 and the tonal gulf between Oscar winner and people's champ has, if anything, widened, as has the gap in host reactions. The Academy goes for Michael Cimino's home-from-Vietnam story The Deer Hunter, which has some stellar performances but also very strange and off-putting pacing, and an iconic, definitive scene that maybe does more harm than good. Meanwhile, audiences flocked to see John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the 50s nostalgia musical Grease, filled with songs and bad life choices, and which maybe gets more criticism for its ending than it warrants. Erin, Claire, and returning guest Kevin are here for it all, Dan... has a different take, and an explanation as to how Deer Hunter contributed to the Birth of Oscar Season and the Death of New Hollywood. Who's right? Listen and decide!
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1977: Hall Wars (w/ Munsi Parker-Munroe)
In 1977, a long time ago, you might say Academy and Audience's tastes were far, far away. Claire, Erin, Dan, and returning guest Munsi Parker-Munroe strap in to take on one Woody Allen in his seminal hit, Annie Hall, asking how well it's aged and how challenging it is to deal with the Woody Allen of it all. That accomplished, it's time for our first dip into the Skywalker Saga, as George Lucas changes the film landscape forever with the pure-strain monomyth action of Star Wars. Is Annie Hall worth engaging with a problematic creator? How much did Lucas get right out of the gate? Find out with us!
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Oscars 2024: Year in Review (w/ Olav Rokne)
The Oscars have happened, Award Season is done for now, and we take a look at the ten candidates for Best Picture of 2023, with returning guest Oscar enthusiast, and greatest living fan of Zardoz, Olav Rokne. Dan and Olav saw all ten, as is their wont, Erin's seen six, and Claire's here for the vibes as we speed through reviews of nine great movies and also Maestro. What were their strengths? Their failings? Should modern audiences regrow and attention span or is three and a half hours too long to feel horrified? We discuss, you listen, good times are had.
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1976: Yo, Rocky!
It's 1976, and audiences and the Academy are united in loving one man: Rocky Balboa. A nine film franchise spanning six decades has a small and simple beginning as a struggling young Sylvester Stallone writes himself into stardom as a simple palooka trying to prove to the world and himself that he can go the distance with heavyweight champ Apollo Creed. Erin, Claire, and Dan dig into Rocky's journey from nothing to stardom, where the Rockys went from here and what it tells us, which scene has NOT aged well, and the birth of the training montage (and what all other montages got wrong). Put all that together? Baby, you got a stew going (RIP Carl Weathers)! Listen in!
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1975: One Flew Over the SHARK! SHARK! RUN!
It's 1995, and we have cuckoos and sharks coming your way! The Oscar went to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, second film ever to achieve the Oscar Grand Slam, as Jack Nicholson's anti-hero McMurphy squared off with Louise Fletcher's icily villainous Nurse Ratched. It's hailed by a classic, but how does it hold up? And what do other versions of the story do better? But the audience pic is the birth of the blockbuster, Steven Spielberg's classic, Jaws. Claire, Erin, and Dan dig into both, and ask who we feel more sympathy for: controlling nurses or giant sharks? Grab your floaties and find out!
Find all of our episodes and the rest of Writing Therapy Productions' various entertainments at www.writingtherapyproductions.com