Best Picture Power Rankings and the Super-Sincerity of ‘Sentimental Value,’ With Joachim Trier! Plus: Regretting ‘Regretting You.’

Key Takeaways

Warner Brothers Discovery sale nears, with Paramount, Comcast, and Netflix as primary bidders.
Industry consolidation from the sale raises concerns about job losses and reduced film diversity.
The Colleen Hoover adaptation 'Regretting You' received a baffling critical reception from hosts.
Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value' explores complex family dynamics and grief, winning the Grand Prix at Cannes.
The hosts updated their Oscar power rankings, debating contenders across several categories.
Trier discusses integrating personal experiences into 'Sentimental Value's' character development and production.

Initial bids for Warner Brothers Discovery were due before Thanksgiving from Paramount, Comcast, and Netflix.
Proposed scenarios include a combined purchase by Paramount/Skydance or a split sale where Comcast acquires HBO and Netflix buys the film studio.
Hosts expressed concern that a Netflix acquisition could negatively impact HBO and theatrical releases, potentially affecting physical media production.
The current year's success for Warner Brothers, attributed to focusing on key properties and filmmakers, might be replaced by an algorithmically driven content model.

The Colleen Hoover adaptation 'Regretting You,' starring Allison Williams and Dave Franco, was described as baffling by the hosts.
Critiques focused on the film's narrative structure, which used betrayal and withheld information, as well as inconsistent dialogue and character motivations.
Incongruous early 2000s references appeared in a 2022 setting, and casting choices did not align with the dramatic tone.
The interactions between Allison Williams and McKenna Grace were highlighted as the strongest part of the film.

Recurring themes in Colleen Hoover's work include car crashes, domestic violence, and teen pregnancy, with upcoming adaptations also hinting at similar plots.
Adaptations are compared to Nicholas Sparks films, often focusing on single, divorced mothers with romantic drama and life-altering events.
The film 'Regretting You' features a parallel teen romance and significant AMC product placement, with Mason Thames's character working at AMC.

Joachim Trier's film 'Sentimental Value,' starring Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgaard, was released after significant buzz from the Cannes Film Festival.
One host found the film emotionally impactful and praised performances, while the other struggled to connect with characters and its depiction of depression.
The film explores complex family relationships and grief through a montage-driven, literary style, focusing on misunderstandings and division.
It won the Grand Prix at Cannes, signaling its significance in the cinematic landscape.

The film explores a complex father-daughter dynamic between Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård) and Nora (Renate Reinsve).
Gustav, a filmmaker, grapples with ego, nostalgia, and regret, which hosts found particularly compelling and reflective of honest family dynamics.
One host personally connected to the themes of inherited traits and the parent-child dynamic, initially expecting Renate Reinsve's character to be more central.
El Fanning portrays an American movie star, sincerely depicted within an unsparing view of the Hollywood industry.

Hosts discussed potential Oscar nominations for Stellan Skarsgaard, Benicio Del Toro, and Sean Penn.
They debated the inclusion of Jacob Alordi for 'Frankenstein' and Paul Mescal for 'Hamnet,' noting Alordi's rising profile and strong audience response to 'Frankenstein.'
Their current top films include 'One Battle' at number one, 'Hamnet' at two, and 'Sinners' at three.
'Marty Supreme' received praise for its powerful impact and energetic marketing campaign, with Timothée Chalamet's performance specifically highlighted.

Trier describes 'Sentimental Value' as a 'love letter to cinema,' clarifying that Stellan Skarsgard's character, Gustav Borg, is not intentionally autobiographical despite mirroring his own family situation.
Despite increased Hollywood exposure after 'The Worst Person in the World's' success, Trier emphasized creating something new and specific, not driven by external expectations.
He detailed his filmmaking journey, contrasting early Hollywood experiences with his return to Norway to make films like 'Oslo, August 31st'.
Trier expressed admiration for Paul Thomas Anderson's ability to connect camera movement and mise-en-scène to a personal voice.

Trier connects artistic expression, particularly film and theater, to understanding character identity and family dynamics, noting its centrality for some characters' communication.
He discussed his personal background, influenced by artist family members, and early filmmaking experiences from childhood through skateboarding.
Trier reflected on a perceived transition from a youthful 'punk rock' ethic, focused on autonomy and rebellion, to a more empathetic approach in later life, emphasizing DIY and collective experience.

Trier detailed the serendipitous discovery of a house near his own for filming 'Sentimental Value,' owned by a musician from the band De Lilos, and the subsequent agreement to shoot there.
A replica house was constructed on a studio set to depict different historical periods, evoking emotional reactions from the homeowner and his brother.
The film's soundtrack features a diverse mix of genres including classical, gospel, and dirges, selected based on personal taste and thematic coherence.
Trier identified his favorite part of filmmaking as the intense, in-the-moment collaboration with actors on set.