In the Details: a Celebration of Nuance

I've developed an unhealthy obsession with the Real Housewives, let's face it. But for as much vapid bickering over white wine as there is on any iteration of this show, every once in a while it gets refreshingly real. This week I'm diving into all the micro-moments of RHONY icon Bethenny Frankel's Season 11 meltdown in Miami over LuAnn's caba-razy behavior while in supposed recovery for her alcoholism. Not to be missed is Best Supporting Tinsley, sad old Barbara, the mirrored martini glass, that napkin, and the scooping of the hair. It's melodramatic, it's campy, it's dark and it's absolutely fascinating reality television.

Radio Andy RHONY Live Reading: https://bit.ly/3mXJXE0

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In the Details is back this week/month/year to queen out on Pedro Almodovar's homage to mothers, actresses and the modern melodrama, 1999's "All About My Mother." Joining me this week is the always brilliant Leanne Kubicz to help me dive into the world of Almodovar, his themes and references and of course, his chicas, as well as his nuanced and compassionate representation of trans people and HIV/AIDS. Plus a bevy of references, from Douglas Sirk to All About Eve to some of his previous movies, as well as the most beautiful shade of red you've ever seen, Best Supporting Agrado and a wonderfully unexpected ending.

Follow Leanne: @lianemarieK (Twitter)

Leanne's Origami: @leannekpaper (Instagram)

More of Leanne and her amazing taste in movies!:

http://leannek.substack.com

http://lmkfilmpicks.wordpress.com

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Twitter: @colindrucker

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Just in time for Halloween, I've curated a fantasy movie marathon of some of the more questionable choices in the horror movie aisle of yesteryear's video store. These are not just bad movies (though I don't know if any of them would qualify as good), they're surreal and delirious and sometimes totally fascinating. And they're all available on Youtube! Before we get into it, I spend a few minutes hating on "Halloween KIlls." It's the worst.

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One of the rings of hell is likely a New York City subway station in the 80's. And it probably looks like the 59th Street stop depicted in 1980's super sleazy "Maniac." I can't say I recommend the movie, but the subway scene with the nurse is a terrifying glimpse into a bygone era of the MTA. (Subway station bathrooms!) But first: I have attended "Mass" and I have a gospel to preach.

Maniac scene: https://youtu.be/7I6Mf-UPYv4

"Man on a Train" short movie: https://youtu.be/k0poUY6B7aM

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Twitter: @colindrucker

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I’m kicking off a month of Spooky Nuances with the 1950 film noir classic “In a Lonely Place,” a tense and twisted vehicle for superstars Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame that also features a face journey by actress Jeff Donnell as the suspicious Sylvia, the amazing Hadda Brooks as a lounge singer who gets a Moment, and Martha the no nonsense masseuse. We wrap things up with an unmissable interview Donnell did with Skip E Lowe that features my new favorite Barbara.

Skip E. Lowe interview: https://youtu.be/Wn8f7tVUrVQ

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Twitter: @colindrucker

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After an extended spring break and summer vacation, I'm back this week with some thoughts on Malignant, Bernard Hermann's score for Sisters, the shows Work in Progress and The Other Two, and Sarah Paulson's Linda Tripp, before a necessary celebration of the best 8 and a half minutes you'll see all year, "Brenda Vaccaro is having a good time."

Brenda: https://youtu.be/L-kFa74FovY

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I was quick to write off both "The Undoing" and "The Flight Attendant" only months ago, but after finally bingeing both, I found reasons to appreciate both shows--specifically, some fine actressing from Nicole Kidman, Lily Rabe, Noma Dumezweni, Rosie Perez, Zosia Mamet and most of all, Kaley Cuoco. Expect plenty of spoilers of "The Undoing" and no spoilers of "The Flight Attendant" as I queen out on some prime acting choices and micromoments, before giving some long overdue love to "Enlightened," a show I deeply identify with and greatly appreciate as a sort of companion piece of "The Comeback."

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The much anticipated next chapter of "Cherishing Valerie" is here! This week we're breaking down Val's biggest meltdown, the Season 2 desert monologue. And perhaps it's perfect timing--never more have I identified with a woman in a track suit making beef rollatini and completely losing her shit.

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Awards season has officially begun this year! My fake award show looking back at a years' worth of episodes, plucking out the highlights, then ranking them on a purely emotional basis is back for a third year. The Nuancies are bigger than ever, even if my episode output in 2020 was smaller than ever. We're not just counting down the top five acting choices and micro-moments, but celebrating some hall of fame favorites from years past and honorable mentions that didn't make the list. Plus: musical breaks that can't get their shit together, a melodramatic guest montage, a decidedly strange memorial and the third recipient of the Beatrice Straight Award for Excellence in Nuance is announced! Brace yourselves.

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Few actors can play drunk as convincingly as Eileen Heckart does in 1956's "The Bad Seed." Heckart won the Golden Globe and was nominated for both the Oscar and a Tony in the Broadway production a couple years earlier for her heartbreaking portrayal of Mrs. Daigle, grieving the death of her son and in desperate need to find out what happened to that penmanship medal. This week I'm going practically beat by beat through her two scenes to break down why this is such a pitch perfect performance. Plus we get a little more of the marvelous Nancy Kelly as the profoundly overwhelmed Christine Penmark!

Get in touch with me!

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @colindrucker

Instagram: @colindrucker_