The Big Picture · Review · Discussion · Interview
December 13, 2019/ 101 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins bring in Chris Ryan for Michael Bay's Netflix debut '6 Underground': the vulgar-auteur case for it, the sheer excess of it, and whether it only works on the biggest screen you own. Then the SAG nominations and the Oscar race, and Sean's interview with Paul Walter Hauser on 'Richard Jewell.'
16 films across 3 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
‘6 Underground’with Chris Ryan
Bay's Netflix debut: a billionaire (Ryan Reynolds) fakes six operatives' deaths to run an off-books vigilante squad against warlords and dictators. The hosts call it vulgar-auteurism at full unfiltered volume: a 17-minute Florence car chase, an explosion every few seconds, reportedly $150M (they guess closer to $300M). It's morally bankrupt and incoherent, and thrilling anyway; Ryan Reynolds is essentially playing Deadpool as Bruce Wayne, with Melanie Laurent the standout.
The SAG nominationsreading the Oscar race
The surprise: an ensemble nod plus Theron, Robbie, and Kidman. Amanda kicks herself for letting the Golden Globes talk her off it.
Got the ensemble nomination, only the second foreign-language film to do so after Life Is Beautiful. They read it as locked for a Best Picture nod.
Back in the race on the actors' love of transformation; Scarlett Johansson double-nominated, here and for Marriage Story.
No ensemble nod, but Driver, Johansson, and Dern all landed individually; Laura Dern looks like the supporting-actress winner.
Ensemble nominee, assumed to do well.
Shut out of ensemble; a Christmas release and period-adaptation fatigue working against it, with Ronan missing in lead actress.
No ensemble nod, but going by Shape of Water and Green Book, that hasn't stopped recent Best Picture winners.
Christian Bale back in the mix; actors love him even playing an elevated version of himself.
No nods for Pryce or Hopkins, a bad sign for the Telluride sleeper.
Left out; Sean was always dubious of its reach in the big race.
Paul Walter Hauser on ‘Richard Jewell’
Clint Eastwood cast him off a photo printed beside the real Jewell; Hauser turned down a more lucrative limited series for a verbal offer. On grounding the performance for one- or two-take Clint and softening Jewell's cartoonishly strong accent.
The role that put him on the map; he improvised the 'shouldn't even be saying his name, Derek' line.
Part of the comic-character run that got Eastwood's attention.
One of the last great things, he says, and he praises his Spike Lee co-star Jonathan Majors.
Another one of the last great things: Shia LaBeouf writing himself a new lease on his career.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Michael Bay's filmography Bad BoysThe RockArmageddonPearl HarborBad Boys IITransformersTransformers: Revenge of the FallenTransformers: Dark of the Moon13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of BenghaziPain & Gain
In the mix The Dirty DozenOcean's ElevenJohn WickThe Dark KnightPokémon Detective PikachuDeadpoolDeadpool 2Mississippi GrindPrince of Persia: The Sands of TimeFast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & ShawInglourious BasterdsBeginnersA SeparationBohemian RhapsodyBrightApocalypse NowThe Da Vinci CodeBlack Hawk DownG.I. Joe: RetaliationThe IrishmanThe Shape of WaterGreen BookLife Is Beautiful
In the Hauser interview A Few Good MenRudyVirginiaThe AppearingMilkGood TimeJackiePlanes, Trains and AutomobilesRookie of the YearThe Batman
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaBonesKingdomThe Night ShiftChernobylSaturday Night Live
Network promo Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker