It's been a long time since we've had one of those crystallizing film score moments. You know what I'm talking about. Something like Star Wars or Back to the Future or Jaws. When's the last time you've heard a score cue and immediately knew what movie it was from? I think for me it would … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Original Score
I say this a lot, but it's absolutely true. I am in awe of people who do the things I can't. Some of these folks have innate talent that gets applied perfectly to a trade or activity. Others choose something and passionately apply themselves to it until they're the absolute best. I love these people, … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Cinematography
This year marks a milestone for the Academy's youngest category. The Oscar for Animated Feature will be handed out for the 20th time next month, which is sort of hard to believe. Animated Short films have been receiving recognition from the Academy since the 1930s, but it took until the turn of the 21st Century … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Animated Feature
The task is complete. After a few more days and three more viewings, I have finished all the feature length films that have gotten at least one Oscar nomination this year. All that remains are the Shorts, which will be released theatrically and online this coming Friday, April 2. Each of our final three films … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Blitz Catch-Up, Part 3
The distinction between a lead actor and a supporting actor is a precise art. It takes a careful examination of things like line count, screen time, overall importance to the plot, and many other criteria that are parsed with surgical precision to-- Nah, I'm just kidding. It's basically made up. The entire process by which … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Supporting Actor
If you've ever met me in person or seen me on YouTube, you'd probably agree that I'm not exactly a looker. As the popular slang goes, I'm a solid 5, maybe a 6, and a 7 on my absolute best days, but I am definitely not "Hollywood pretty." I'm overweight, I've got a chubby face, … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Makeup & Hairstyling
As a writer, the Screenplay categories are among my favorites. They're also the only categories where I even have a calculable chance of ever getting nominated myself. Currently, those chances stand at 0.000000873%. It's the three that's most important. Last year it was 0.000000871%. Things are starting to look up for me, I can feel … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Original Screenplay
A few years ago, in a futile attempt to be seen as more relevant to the demographics that never found it relevant in the first place, the Academy floated a lot of changes that were framed as addition by subtraction. The two most famous of those extremely ill-advised proposals was the introduction of a "Best … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Sound
Welcome one and all to the annual Oscar Blitz! At long last, after a year of lockdowns and two months of logistical delays, we finally can begin the countdown to the biggest night in cinema. Now, you may be asking why I call this the Blitz when the articles are called "Oscar Gold." You're probably … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Documentary Feature
The official Blitz starts tomorrow with a breakdown of the Documentary Feature category. However, we still have a few more movies to watch to actually be able to complete coverage. A couple days ago I posted Part 1 of this nine film mini-marathon, and now it's time for Part 2. Three more films to take … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Blitz Catch-Up, Part 2
I Actually Paid To See This 