#6: SHE HUSTLING?

Her, American Hustle, and the Oscars race
• Review of Spike Jonze’s emotive, beautifully shot Her. Is the OS Samantha (originally voiced by Samantha Morton but ultimately played by Scarlett Johansson) an independent self? Or is Samantha just an object on which Theodore Twombly (played by Joaquin Phoenix) pins his wants and needs, however sensitive they may be? Or maybe, these are the wrong questions for film that provokes question after question.(*)
• Review of David O. Russell’s dynamic American Hustle. Discussing the performances of the four major stars (Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence)–who were all nominated in the Oscars top acting categories–as well as Jeremy Renner and Louis C.K. Is it an artful homage to Goodfellas, or is too derivative? Does this film amount to anything more than a super acting showcase? (And if not, does it matter?)
• Taking stock of the movie awards season. Our views on the Oscar nominees. Who got overlooked? (And who deserved to get overlooked!) Who were the surprise add-ins? And do Gravity‘s wins at the DGA and PGA (a tie) mean Alfonso Cuarón’s commercially successful space flick has gained an edge on 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle? More importantly, does the Oscar campaign structure/timing mean that too many films out in theaters before October (such as Fruitvale Station) simply get left out?

(*) There are some audio issues for this episode. Sorry, folks. We’ll get this right next time.

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