038 – Shopgirl (with Pamela Ribon)

2005′s Shopgirl looked like a safe Oscar bet on paper – a whimsical, lighthearted romance with Claire Danes taking her ascendancy into lead roles and Steve Martin capitalizing on an Oscar shutout narrative that began in the 80s with All of Me. But its Oscar chances died once the film arrived in the May-December shadow of Lost in Translation and left our love story expectations unfulfilled. This week, Ralph Breaks The Internet and Moana screenwriter Pamela Ribon joins us to talk about this film about a sad seller of gloves who doesn’t know how special she is and the men who love her. Shopgirl is sadly an example of aughts era romances that sacrifices its female protagonist’s sense of self to the arc of her male counterpoints, and all of the chaste shots of ladies backs to portray sex onscreen. This episode we also discuss Shopgirl’s laughable representation of parking in Los Angeles,  the perfect Jason Schwartzman burn, and one early Oscar memory of a comedy performance that deserved a nomination. Follow Us on Twitter! @Had_Oscar_Buzz Joe: @joereid Chris: @chrisvfeil Pamela: @pamelaribon