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And the Runner-Up Is

A Woman Robbed: Julianne Moore and Reese Witherspoon

·24 min·2 clips
Why did Oscar winners Julianne Moore and Reese Witherspoon give their best performances in films the Academy ignored?
The episode begins with host Kevin Jacobsen introducing the theme of actresses overlooked for Oscar nominations despite being winners. He explains the episode is a double feature focusing on Julianne Moore and Reese Witherspoon, selected from a patron poll. Guest Maddie Lucas, a film critic, joins to discuss these performances. They first explore the broader Oscar trend where winners often don't win for their best work, citing Julianne Moore's win for 'Still Alice' as an example of 'dues paying.' The conversation critiques the Academy's present-tense focus and tendency to overlook comedic or smaller-scale films. The analysis then shifts to Julianne Moore's performance in Todd Haynes' 1995 film 'Safe.' Jacobsen provides context on Moore's career breakthrough and the film's plot about a housewife developing an environmental illness. Lucas compares the film to David Lynch's work, noting Moore's physical and vocal transformation. They discuss specific scenes, like the birthday party seizure, highlighting the film's themes of suburban ennui and health anxiety. The episode also touches on Reese Witherspoon's performance in 'Election,' though less detailed in the transcript. Throughout, they reflect on Oscar flaws, including exploitation narratives and the difficulty of objective voting. The episode ends with a Patreon promotion for the full series.

As heard by us

A sharp, uneasy look at Julianne Moore's overlooked Safe performance and the terror of being dismissed.

And the Runner-Up Is turns its A Woman Robbed bonus-series frame toward Julianne Moore's near-miss for Safe, looking at Carol White as a lead performance that was passed over before Moore's eventual Oscar win.

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Why you'd press play

Press play when Julianne Moore in Safe sounds like your ideal Oscar what-if.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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