Dana and Tom with Betsy and Trent (co-hosts and creators of Never Seen It podcast) discuss Promising Young Woman (2020) for its 5th Anniversary: written and directed by Emerald Fennell, cinematography by Benjamin Kracun, music by Anthony Willis, editing by Frederick Thoraval, starring Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, and Jennifer Coolidge.
Plot Summary: Promising Young Woman is a darkly clever thriller written and directed by Emerald Fennell. The film stars Carey Mulligan as Cassie Thomas, a woman whose life was derailed after a tragedy involving her best friend, Nina. By day, Cassie works in a coffee shop and seems aimless. But at night, she secretly confronts men who try to take advantage of women who appear drunk—forcing them to face their actions.
When Cassie reconnects with an old classmate, Ryan (Bo Burnham), she begins to hope for a normal life again. However, as she seeks justice for Nina, Cassie’s plan takes a shocking and emotional turn.
Guest:
Betsy and Trent
- Never Seen It podcast (@neverseenit_pod on Twitter and Letterboxd, @neverseenitpod1 on IG, @neverseenit on TikTok, patreon.com/neverseenitpod
- Previously on the 2024 Post Oscars Reaction Show, All the President's Men (1976) Revisit
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for Promising Young Woman
02:38 Welcome Back Betsy and Trent
06:03 Initial Thoughts on Promising Young Woman
09:34 After 5 Years, Do We Still Feel the Same About PYW?
15:29 Picking Through the Ending
20:48 Top Revenge Fantasy Movies
25:40 What is the Legal Case at the End of the Film?
40:14 Plot Summary for Promising Young Woman
41:02 What is Promising Young Woman About?
51:56 Did You Know?
59:43 First Break
01:02:13 What's Happening with Betsy and Trent?
01:10:36 The Cinema Legacy Poll Rankings - #2-1
01:30:03 Thank You to Everyone
01:31:06 Best Performance(s)
01:43:35 Best Scene(s)
02:00:24 Second Break
02:01:04 In Memoriam
02:09:40 Best/Funniest Lines
02:12:48 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
02:22:00 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
02:28:03 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
02:37:53 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
02:47:30 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
02:55:21 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
02:56:55 Remaining Questions for Promising Young Woman
03:03:23 Thank You to Betsy and Trent, Remaining Thoughts
03:09:37 Credits
You can also find this episode in full video on YouTube.
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/promising-young-woman-2020-ft-betsy-and-trent
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
Promising Young Woman, film analysis, feminism, revenge, cultural impact, movie review, character study, legal implications, societal issues, Emerald Fennell, Hitchcock, movie awards, Oscar season, film access, local theaters, top movie rankings, The Godfather, first-time experiences, director breakdown, best picture winners, community engagement, best performances, best scenes, violence, control, relationships, humor, legacy, impact, originality, classicness, rewatchability, film analysis
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