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The Cinephile Hissy Fit Tackles the Auteur Backlash

Image by Jason McDonald for Netflix

During the recent Oscar season, the hosts of the Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast sponsored and supported by the Ruminations Radio Network, noticed the confrontational and negative attitudes film fans on Twitter/X were positing about actor/director Bradley Cooper. Apparently, Maestro gave many #FilmTwitter minions awards bait vibe and questioned Cooper’s genuineness during his awards campaign activities for the Netflix drama. Their claim of auteur backlash: He’s trying to hard.

The cover photo of the Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast

For their 152nd episode, two discerning film critics, two try-hard dads, and two directorial teachers, Will Johnson and Don Shanahan, step out for the first of two special editorial episodes about topics relating to the state of cinema. On this show, our two guys talk about auteur backlash happening to supposedly maniacal directors and filmmakers who are said to be trying too hard to win awards. Will and Don look at what that “auteur backlash” notion means and where such effort is appropriate and where it is, on the other hand, missing in this day and age. Come for the shared challenge and stay for the mutual love and respect for the fun movies encapsulate. Enjoy our podcast!

Cinephile Hissy Fits is a Film Obsessive media podcast, brought to you by the Ruminations Radio Network. Please visit, rate, review and subscribe. If you enjoyed this show, we have more where that came from, with interesting hosts, and wonderful guests. All available on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere you find your favorite shows. Follow the show on Twitter at @CinephileFit and on Facebook. Also, find both Will Johnson and Don Shanahan on Letterboxd as the accumulate their viewings and build their ranks and lists.

Thank you so much for your captive audience and social media participation! Enjoy our new podcast episode!

Written by Don Shanahan

DON SHANAHAN is a Chicago-based Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic writing here on Film Obsessive as the Editor-in-Chief and Content Supervisor for the film department. He also writes for his own website, Every Movie Has a Lesson. Don is one of the hosts of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast on the Ruminations Radio Network and sponsored by Film Obsessive. As a school teacher by day, Don writes his movie reviews with life lessons in mind, from the serious to the farcical. He is a proud director and one of the founders of the Chicago Indie Critics and a voting member of the nationally-recognized Critics Choice Association, Online Film Critics Society, North American Film Critics Association, International Film Society Critics Association, Internet Film Critics Society, Online Film and TV Association, and the Celebrity Movie Awards.

AuteurBradley CooperCinephile Hissy FitCinephile Hissy Fit podcastDon ShanahanMaestroWill Johnson

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