{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"176. Materialists (dir. Celine Song)","description":"  In this episode, Alex Heeney digs into Celine Song\u2019s Materialists,&amp;nbsp;a film about Lucy, a&amp;nbsp;matchmaker struggling with her own love triangle. Will Lucy (Dakota Johnson) choose love \u2014 in the form of her poor ex John (Chris Evans) \u2014 or money with eligible bachelor Harry (Pedro Pascal)? And can love and money even co-exist?   With its charming cast, elegant blocking, and standout sound design, Materialists could have been a sharp, class-conscious rom-com.   But for all its promise, it ends up skimming the surface.    You will hear:   What works well in the film, including the visual storytelling and sound design   Where the film struggles, especially with its thin characterization and reluctance to fully engage with class and money   Comparisons with other works, such as Gossip Girl (2007\u20132012) and Patricia Rozema\u2019s Mansfield Park (1999), that tackle similar themes with more depth   Links Mentioned: \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Reel Ruminators: http:\/\/seventh-row.com\/reelruminators \ud83c\udfa5 Guide to One of the Best Films of 2024: seventh-row.com\/guide \ud83d\udcda Kelly Reichardt ebook: http:\/\/reichardtbook.com \ud83d\udca1Lindsay Pugh on&amp;nbsp;Materialists Referenced Episodes: Ep 137: Luca Guadagnino\u2019s Challengers TIFF 2024 Ep 7: Luca Guadagnino\u2019s Queer Ep. 172 and 173: Jane Austen Wrecked My Life \u2014 a film that delivers more fully on the promise of a smart, satisfying modern rom-com. ","author_name":"Seventh Row Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/seventh-row.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/36944110\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/189466855"}