Marriage Story 2019
Nominated for Best Feature, but its Robert Altman Award for Best Ensemble knocks Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson out of the Best Actor and Best Actress races.
The Big Picture · Discussion · Hall of Fame · Interview
The Tom Hanks Hall of Fame. Plus: The Snubs and Surprises of the Independent Spirit Award Nominations. | The Big Picture
November 22, 2019/ 107 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
Sean and Amanda pick through the Independent Spirit Award nominations, build a 10-film Tom Hanks Hall of Fame, and Sean talks with Marielle Heller about making 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.'
33 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.
The Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Snubs and Surprises
The Farewell 2019
The only Best Feature nominee here with a real shot at Best Picture.
Uncut Gems 2019
Loaded with nominations; they wonder if it just runs the table on this show.
A Hidden Life 2019
Terrence Malick's new film, oddly quiet in the awards conversation so far.
Clemency 2019
Alfre Woodard nominated for Best Female Lead; its late-December release may cap its Oscar chances.
Honey Boy 2019
Shia LaBeouf and Noah Jupe both up for Best Supporting Actor; more press could help this one.
The Lighthouse 2019
The 'A24 merch bro' favorite, and a real feat of cinematography beyond that reputation.
Give Me Liberty 2019
The one nobody's seen: a Music Box release that barely played theaters after Tribeca and Berlin.
Diane 2019
Kent Jones and Mary Kay Place's film, discussed on the show earlier this year.
Luce 2019
Julius Onah's film, with acting nominations for its cast.
The Climb 2019
Described in its own logline as two friends cycling through France; Sony Pictures Classics has it for a March release.
Waves 2019
The surprise snub: one nomination, for Taylor Russell, despite loud fans like Bill Simmons.
Midsommar 2019
Zero nominations, no Florence Pugh; they wonder if it got too mainstream, or just too memed, to read as a Spirits movie.
Harriet 2019
Zero nominations despite being a real box-office hit.
High Flying Bird 2019
One nomination, for Tarell Alvin McCraney's script.
Her Smell 2019
The snub that stings most: an independently made Elisabeth Moss vehicle from Alex Ross Perry that seems built for this show.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco 2019
One nomination, for Jonathan Majors in supporting.
Hustlers 2019
Lorene Scafaria nominated for Best Director even though the film missed Best Feature; Jennifer Lopez also picked up a nomination.
The Tom Hanks Hall of Famethe final 10, cut down from a shortlist of 42
Big 1988
The breakthrough. The piano scene alone earns it a spot, and it landed him his first Oscar nomination.
A League of Their Own 1992
Close to a perfect movie, and technically a supporting turn - Geena Davis is the lead. 'There's no crying in baseball' does a lot of work.
Sleepless in Seattle 1993
Outlasted 'You've Got Mail' for the one Hanks-Ryan slot on the list.
Philadelphia 1993
His first Best Actor Oscar, and a rare register for him: quiet, frail, unHanksian.
Forrest Gump 1994
Debated over how the film handles its title character, but kept for the sweep of it.
Apollo 13 1995
Called the most essential Hanks performance - the mold that set for the back half of his career.
Toy Story 1995
Set Pixar's whole run in motion. No argument from either host.
That Thing You Do! 1996
His own writing-directing credit, kept partly for how much he clearly loves the material.
Cast Away 2000
Nearly cut in the last round; survived because dropping it meant admitting he hadn't made a Hall of Fame film since.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 2019
Kept over 'Saving Private Ryan' in the final cut, on the strength of the Daniel Tiger puppet scene alone.
In Conversation With Marielle Heller
Marielle Heller on
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 2019
Her third feature, built as one long episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, complete with practical miniatures instead of CG.
Marielle Heller on
Can You Ever Forgive Me? 2018
Finished nearly a year before its Telluride premiere; she was still wrapping it when this script arrived.
Marielle Heller on
The Diary of a Teenage Girl 2015
Her first feature, which started as a play she wrote and starred in before she'd ever directed anything.
Marielle Heller on
Won't You Be My Neighbor 2018
The Mister Rogers documentary she cites as proof he couldn't work as a narrative protagonist - too self-aware, no arc to play.
Marielle Heller on
Vice 2018
The last great thing she'd seen, watched on the flight in. She likes how bold it is, especially the mid-movie credits gag.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Cited in the Spirits conversation SuspiriaIf Beale Street Could TalkThe WifeGet OutLittle Women
Weighed for the Hall of Fame, then cut Bachelor PartySplashThe Money PitPunchlineThe 'BurbsTurner & HoochJoe Versus the VolcanoThe Bonfire of the VanitiesYou've Got MailToy Story 2The Green MileSaving Private RyanRoad to PerditionCatch Me If You CanThe LadykillersThe TerminalThe Polar ExpressThe Da Vinci CodeCharlie Wilson's WarAngels & DemonsToy Story 3Larry CrowneExtremely Loud & Incredibly CloseCloud AtlasCaptain PhillipsSaving Mr. BanksBridge of SpiesA Hologram for the KingSullyInfernoThe CircleThe PostToy Story 4
In passing My Big Fat Greek WeddingVertigoFunny PeopleThe MartianAvengers: EndgameSkyfallCherryKnives Out
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV The MandalorianHome ImprovementI Love DickThe Graham Norton ShowDaniel Tiger's Neighborhood
SNL sketches David S. Pumpkins
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