Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ and the Best Frankenstein Movies. Plus: Jennifer Lawrence Is Ablaze in ‘Die My Love.’

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

• The discussion on Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ reveals a divisive reception, with the hosts finding the second half focusing on the creature significantly stronger than the first half centered on Victor Frankenstein, and noting the film's visual style is often criticized as flat or reliant on subpar CGI despite its large budget.  Copied to clipboard!
• The hosts reacted to trailers for the Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael,' which they found visually unappealing and potentially problematic due to ongoing legal issues surrounding the film's narrative scope, and 'The Testament of Ann Lee,' which they praised for its trailer and the performance of Amanda Seifred.  Copied to clipboard!
• News broke that a 'Miss Piggy' movie is in development, written by Cole Escola and set to be produced by Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone, with Lawrence describing Stone as the 'Muppet Stork' of the trio.  Copied to clipboard!
• The film 'Die My Love' by Lynne Ramsay, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, is highly praised as an audacious, visceral, and potentially career-best performance for Lawrence, effectively capturing the dissociative and terrifying experience of postpartum life.  Copied to clipboard!
• The enduring legacy of 'Frankenstein' is highlighted by its influence across genres, from classic horror and Hammer films to comedies like 'Young Frankenstein' and modern interpretations like 'Poor Things' and 'Reanimator'.  Copied to clipboard!

Segments Expand All Collapse All

Nordstrom Ad Read

Copied to clipboard!

(00:00:01)

• Key Takeaway: Nordstrom is promoting cold weather apparel and a Clear the Rack sale with extra discounts.
• Summary: Nordstrom is advertising cold weather must-haves, including styles under $100 from brands like UGG and Skims. They offer free shipping and returns. Nordstrom Rack is currently holding a Clear the Rack sale offering an extra 25% off clearance items through Tuesday.

Episode Introduction and News Setup

Copied to clipboard!

(00:01:00)

• Key Takeaway: The hosts introduce the main topics: Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ and Lynne Ramsay’s ‘Die My Love,’ alongside initial news items.
• Summary: Hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins welcome guest Rob Mahoney to discuss Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ and Lynne Ramsay’s ‘Die My Love.’ Before the main features, they plan to cover news about trailers for ‘Michael’ and ‘The Testament of Ann Lee,’ and a developing ‘Miss Piggy’ movie.

Reaction to ‘Michael’ Trailer

Copied to clipboard!

(00:01:43)

• Key Takeaway: The trailer for Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’ was perceived as low-rent, featuring Miles Teller as an attorney and raising concerns about handling controversy.
• Summary: The trailer for the Michael Jackson musical biopic ‘Michael’ was met with negative reactions, with one host noting Miles Teller’s wig as a point of contention. The film is scheduled for an April 2026 release, having been pushed back due to legal issues concerning the Jackson estate that reportedly forced a rewrite of the third act. The hosts noted that the film’s delay likely contributed to a poor October box office performance.

‘Testament of Ann Lee’ Trailer Reaction

Copied to clipboard!

(00:07:06)

• Key Takeaway: The trailer for Mona Fastvold’s ‘The Testament of Ann Lee,’ starring Amanda Seifred, was well-received for its mysterious tone and percussive sound design.
• Summary: The trailer for ‘The Testament of Ann Lee,’ a film about the founder of the Shaker movement, was praised for its assembly and use of blacksmith steel sounds. Amanda Seifred’s performance is highly anticipated, and the film is expected to be a fascinating, though perhaps not perfect, entry into the awards race. The hosts appreciated the trailer’s mysterious nature, which preserved the viewing experience.

Miss Piggy Movie Development

Copied to clipboard!

(00:08:14)

• Key Takeaway: A ‘Miss Piggy’ movie written by Cole Escola, produced by Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone, is confirmed to be in development.
• Summary: Jennifer Lawrence confirmed on a late-night show that the idea for the ‘Miss Piggy’ movie sparked during COVID lockdown, potentially involving themes of cancellation. Emma Stone is described as the ‘shark’ and business person of the producing trio, while Lawrence is also a producer. The news was thrilling for Muppets fans, with the Louvre robbery password (‘Louvre’) briefly mentioned as unrelated news missed by one host.

Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Analysis

Copied to clipboard!

(00:10:17)

• Key Takeaway: Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein,’ starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, is viewed as a personal, visually lavish but thematically facile adaptation that favors the creature’s perspective.
• Summary: The film is Del Toro’s 13th, based on Mary Shelley’s novel, and features a large ensemble cast including Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz. The hosts found the first half, focusing on Victor Frankenstein (Isaac), too long and overly explicit in its themes, contrasting with the more involving second half centered on the creature (Elordi). Visual critiques focused on the CGI looking weak for a $120 million production, though the costuming, particularly Elizabeth’s red motifs, was praised.

Creature Design and Characterization

Copied to clipboard!

(00:31:30)

• Key Takeaway: Jacob Elordi’s creature design is a lean, sutured figure, and the film heavily shifts blame onto Victor, making the monster wholly sympathetic, which some argue drains the story’s inherent tension.
• Summary: The creature design by Mike Hill is distinct from previous iterations, resembling a lean, powerful, sutured figure similar to Dr. Manhattan. Elordi’s performance relies heavily on silent cinema expressiveness, learning language via David Bradley’s kindly blind man. The interpretation makes Victor the sole architect of tragedy, leading to a second half focused on the creature’s revenge and a final theme of forgiveness, which one host felt was too simple.

Jacob Elordi Theater Sighting

Copied to clipboard!

(00:43:38)

• Key Takeaway: One host encountered Jacob Elordi watching his own film, ‘Frankenstein,’ at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, noting his polite demeanor and admiration for Oscar Isaac’s performance.
• Summary: The host saw Elordi sitting near them during a Wednesday matinee showing of ‘Frankenstein’ at the Chinese Theatre IMAX. Elordi appeared to be enjoying Oscar Isaac’s performance, laughing at key moments. This sighting humanized the process for the host, especially considering Elordi’s known interest in photography and documenting the film’s world.

‘Frankenstein’ Awards Chances

Copied to clipboard!

(00:46:44)

• Key Takeaway: Despite narrative critiques, ‘Frankenstein’ is positioned to secure multiple nominations, particularly in below-the-line categories, driven by affection for Del Toro and Jacob Elordi’s performance.
• Summary: The film is expected to perform well in technical categories like Production Design, Makeup, and Costume Design due to the visible effort. Jacob Elordi has a strong following and could contend for Best Supporting Actor, though the category is competitive. The hosts predict the film could earn six to eight nominations overall, leveraging audience goodwill and Elordi’s rising profile.

Frankenstein’s Thematic Arc

Copied to clipboard!

(00:52:26)

• Key Takeaway: Guillermo del Toro’s recent films show a clear arc investigating daddy issues and post-war implications, contrasting with his earlier blockbuster success like ‘Pacific Rim’.
• Summary: Projects waited on for a long time can sometimes feel labored, and del Toro’s recent filmography shows through-lines connecting ‘Nightmare Alley’ to ‘Pinocchio’ and the current film. ‘Pacific Rim’ is viewed as his successful attempt at a general crowd-pleasing blockbuster, lacking the weight of artistry associated with a ‘Frankenstein’ adaptation. The speaker longs for del Toro to adapt H.P. Lovecraft’s ‘At the Mountains of Madness’.

Best Frankenstein Movie Iterations

Copied to clipboard!

(00:54:22)

• Key Takeaway: The original James Whale ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ remain the most consistently cited and effective adaptations, while Hammer films’ best entry is ‘The Curse of Frankenstein’.
• Summary: The original 1931 film and its sequel are still taught globally for their atmosphere and effectiveness, even for young viewers. Hammer films’ ‘The Curse of Frankenstein’ is cited as their best, and Paul Morrissey’s ‘Flesh for Frankenstein’ is recommended for its depraved approach. The core of successful ‘Frankenstein’ adaptations is allowing the monster and Victor to fully embrace their weirdness.

Frankenstein’s Cultural Influence

Copied to clipboard!

(00:57:26)

• Key Takeaway: ‘Frankenstein’ is highly influential in cinema, serving as a direct inspiration for films ranging from ‘Edward Scissorhands’ and ‘RoboCop’ to comedies like ‘Young Frankenstein’ and ‘Frankenhooker’.
• Summary: The story is ripe for comedy, exemplified by ‘Young Frankenstein’ and ‘Frankenhooker,’ which deals with a revived prostitute. Films like ‘The Spirit of the Beehive’ and ‘Poor Things’ are also considered riffs on the core story. The ‘X-Files’ episode ‘Post Modern Prometheus’ is highlighted as a legendary, funny, black-and-white riff on the Whale film.

Analyzing ‘Die My Love’

Copied to clipboard!

(00:59:14)

• Key Takeaway: ‘Die My Love’ is an audacious, impressionistic film about the terrifying and dissociative experience of postpartum life, resonating deeply with those who have experienced it.
• Summary: The film, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, focuses on experience rather than literal narrative, depicting the relationship of a couple moving to Montana as they become parents. Amanda Dobbins found it one of her favorite films of the year because it accurately captured the weird, isolating feelings of being 11 months postpartum. Rob Mahoney loved the visceral effectiveness of turning primal feelings into an overwhelming cinematic experience, despite wanting to throw up.

Lawrence’s Performance and Film Structure

Copied to clipboard!

(01:07:40)

• Key Takeaway: Jennifer Lawrence delivers an electrifying, feral performance in ‘Die My Love,’ but the film’s shift toward a more literal, solvable narrative structure slightly diminishes its impact.
• Summary: The film is compared to literary works like ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ and ‘The Bell Jar’ due to its focus on female alienation and mania, making it hard to translate cinematically. The hosts felt the movie was strongest when remaining impressionistic, and the hospitalization sequence grounded the experience too neatly. Lawrence’s performance is described as astounding, demanding full attention, and is considered one of the best of the year.

Best Actress Race Speculation

Copied to clipboard!

(01:19:19)

• Key Takeaway: While Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in ‘Die My Love’ is considered career-best, the supporting roles from mothers in other films, like Rose Byrne and Jesse Buckley, are predicted to lead the Best Actress nominations.
• Summary: The discussion briefly pivots to potential Best Actress nominees, noting the prevalence of ‘mom’ roles this year, including Jesse Buckley, Rose Byrne, and Cynthia Erivo. Lawrence’s performance is deemed too small or unconventional for a nomination despite its quality, with voters likely favoring Emma Stone in ‘Begonia’ or the other maternal roles. The segment concludes with a humorous reflection on male filmmakers creating psychological dramas versus the real-life complexities of creation.