As the year winds down, the Oscar campaigns are in full swing. Among the most competitive categories is Foreign Language, which has more than 80 films vying for one of the five coveted nomination slots. Sweden's submission, Border (Gräns), may earn one of those spots, with its mix of character study and magical realism, which earned … Continue reading Beauty Within the Beast – Border
As Awards Season heats up, we get hints and clues in fits and spurts about which films might vie for the top prize on Oscar Night. Tonight we have another step towards Hollywood's biggest night, with the announcement of the 20 films vying for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Later this month, this … Continue reading Ooh! Pretty! – Visual Effects Contenders Announced!
I hope you enjoyed my weeklong streak of reviews, and if not, I hope you enjoyed the week off you had from my ramblings. I was on vacation, visiting my family in upstate New York, introducing them to my girlfriend, and meeting my newborn nephew. He was due this week, but he came early on … Continue reading Gaga on Dick – Golden Globe Nominees Announced!
Yorgos Lanthimos has three English-language films to his credit after his breakout in Greece. His first, The Lobster, is one of the best farces I've ever seen and was my favorite film of 2016. Last year he gave us the disturbing horror film, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which polarized audiences nationwide and developed a cult … Continue reading Forsooth! Yon Bitches Doth Be Cray! – The Favourite
Produced, directed, and co-written by Lee Chang-dong, South Korea's entry for the Foreign Language Oscar, Burning, is a clever piece of artistic filmmaking, seamlessly blending elements of romantic comedy with suspense and mystery. Featuring a three-lead cast that play off each other commendably, Lee is able to weave a tantalizing story full of visual metaphor and … Continue reading Let the Sunshine In – Burning
There's a small knickknack in my mother's house that's been there ever since we moved from Delaware to upstate New York in 1996. It's essentially a framed postcard with an inspirational message, like a cross-stitch sampler that hadn't actually been stitched. It says simply, "Home is not a place, it's a feeling." She has another … Continue reading They’ll Steal Your Heart and Your Wallet – Shoplifters
Before we get into the actual plot and artistic elements of Creed II, there are two things I have to point out that bugged me in the film that have no real bearing on the story, but are just betrayals of fact. And also, as this was a good, fun, movie, I want to get the … Continue reading Round 2, Really Round 8, Leans Heavily on Round 4 – Creed II
In 2012, Wreck-It Ralph was my favorite movie of the year. I knew it only had a chance to be nominated for Animated Feature at the Oscars - which it did, losing out to Brave - but it hit very close to home for me. I was in a pretty dark place at the time (lonely, miserable, self-loathing), … Continue reading Disney Uses IP to Address the Meaning of Friendship – Ralph Breaks the Internet
This week, I had the distinct pleasure of watching a charming movie about an unlikely friendship formed across racial lines via the roles of chauffeur and passenger. No, it wasn't Driving Miss Daisy. That was 30 years ago. Also, this film isn't a pandering piece of maudlin dreck (okay, it's not that bad, and it won … Continue reading Drive Your Heart Out, Miss Daisy! – Green Book
I caught a little bit of flack earlier this year (and not just the playful kind from my girlfriend) over my insistence to NOT see Ocean's 8. I stand by my decision, and I still allow for the possibility of seeing it if I am given a compelling reason. Basically, my choice boiled down to three … Continue reading A Women’s Heist Film That Actually Deserves to Exist – Widows
I Actually Paid To See This 