Oscar Buzzkills

This week, Mari and Jeff chat oysters, Tony Awards predictions, Mari's crazy GoT binge, how box office earnings shouldn't indicate movie success & how cult followings could be the new average fanbase. They also breakdown the 2012 film Argo, directed by and starring our favorite (ha) Ben A-flick. Did they like the movie? Are they still not sure? Are this movie and Top Chef just American propaganda? Did Mari FINALLY watch Wine Country? Listen to find out!

Mari and Jeff talk about 12 Years a Slave on this week's episode, the 2013 film and Oscar Best Picture winner. They chat about the individual performances, if the movie needed to be as graphic as it was, Steve McQueen, the role of religion in the film, and then they shut up and give perspective from black critics on the film. (Plus they reveal the story behind this podcast's intro AND Mari embarrasses herself talking about Timothee Chalamet yet again!)

Happy Belated Mother's Day from two happy moms! Mari and Jeff tackle the 2014 film and Oscar Best Picture winner Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) this week on the pod. They talk about the destruction of fame, single shot filming, scenes that moved them and they have an epiphany about the crazy ending of this movie. Plus, Jeff tried to convince Mari to stop recommending movies she hasn't seen.

The journey through Oscar Best Picture winners continues, as Jeff and Mari take on the 2015 film and 2016 Oscar winner Spotlight. This movie has everything: journalistic expose, Catholic Church scandal, wide pan shots of phones and a star-studded cast full of daddies. Mari and Jeff end with a brief chat on the 2019 Tony nominations.

Mari and Jeff continue their quest through the Oscar Best Picture winners with Berry Jenkin's Moonlight, plus updates on Avengers Endgame and Game of Thrones. They debrief the best movie of 2017 and how impactful it was on MANY levels for the country and for Hollywood - dude, Mari and Jeff can't stop talking about how great this movie is.

Mari and Jeff are BACK whether you missed them or not! This episode starts the beginning of their Oscar Buzzkills journey through every Oscar Best Picture winner and they kick it off with the 2018 winner, Shape of Water directed by Guillermo del Toro. They take a deep dive into this beautiful movie, it's characters, metaphors and themes - won't you dive in with them?

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. OSCARS EPISODE. No host no problem!? Mari and Jeff give you all their thoughts on the biggest night in Hollywood – Tina/Amy/Maya saving everything, the weird but perfect presenter pairings, Barbara Streisand and Spike Lee’s friendship, how physically uncomfortable Mari was during Shallow, all the things Green Book ruined, and all the predictable and surprising wins. They also plan Albert Nobbs 2: Electric Bugaloo for Glenn Close to finally take home the Oscar. Plus Jeff accuses Mari of not supporting women. They wrap up the episode chatting about the Illuminati-esque Oscar after parties and the Independent Spirit Award winners. And that wraps up the award show season! Oscar Buzzkills will take a month hiatus and return with some new, exciting movie content! #continuity

Fresh off the Oscars, Mari and Jeff jump right in and do NOT talk about this Oscars (YET… stay tuned for next week’s episode). Instead, Jeff shares a story about a shitty date, Mari and Jeff get pissed about Jussie Smollett and then they gab about the best Oscar speeches of all time! We’re talking Halle Berry, Charlie Chaplin, Tom Hanks, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sally Field, the works. Who would Mari and Jeff thank in an Oscar speech? They round out the episode discussing their favorite movies that WEREN’T nominated for Oscars this year. And don’t forget – Jeff does not have a cold and he really did forget his wallet.

(Apologies ahead of time… a gigantic snow plow was going ham outside Mari’s apartment and you can hear it a bit in the background of this episode…)

HEY ALL YOU PEOPLE. For the 10th episode of Oscar Buzzkills (WOOP WOOP), Mari and Jeff chat about what they’re watching on TV right now (plugs for You, Pen15 and The Other Two). They also break down the BAFTAs (including a beat drop featuring Letitia Wright) and the Grammys. They get confused about Grammy eligibility timeframes and get riled up about their favorite music genres – plus Mari is really ready to hop of this Shallow train… To wrap things up, Mari and Jeff FINALLY watched Green Book. And they talk about how it’s “fine.” The hot mess that is going to be the 61st Oscars are less than a week away, ladies and gents!!

This week, Mari and Jeff talk about what fights they want to break out at the Oscars. They also vent about the circle jerk of Hollywood: the Oscars luncheon. Most importantly, they dissect the film festival industry and the roles that Sundance, Cannes and Toronto play in the awards season. (Send support/funds to convince Mari and Jeff to go to the Toronto Film Festival this September!) They wrap up the episode with a discussion on The Wife and Glenn Close's predicted-to-win performance. Will this be the first movie of the season that Mari doesn't love?! And is Jeff a whale?!?