Just like the Documentary branch of the Academy seems to have a seething vendetta against films that engage with mass audiences, so to do the Foreign Language voters seem to have an innate bias against one particular country. South Korea has been submitting off and on in this category since 1962, with 30 films put … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2019 – Foreign Language
As a writer who aspires one day to hear his name called by the Academy, I take special interest in the Screenplay categories. I prefer Original to Adapted, because if there's one thing Hollywood needs more than ever these days, it's original ideas. But the adaptation process is also fascinating in its own way, because … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2019 – Adapted Screenplay
The Academy tends to favor period pieces with this award, and there's no shortage of options this year. Two films fall under the traditional "European Royalty" subgenre that has seen many a winner, as well as a Western anthology with several different creative outfits. There's also a motif from 75 years ago, and a fantasy … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2019 – Costume Design
This year marks a return to form in the Sound categories. Almost every year there ends up being four films nominated in both fields, along with one outlier. Sometimes you get a 3/2 split, but that's a bit of a rarity. Last year had it's own bit of uncommon happenstance with the two categories having … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2019 – Sound Editing
It's time! It's finally time! Time to debate and debase the thinking of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, because the nominees for the 91st Oscars have arrived! Will I have to scramble to see multiple films I missed over the course of 2018? Will it just be a casual trip to the … Continue reading 3, 2, 1, BLITZ! – 91st Academy Award Nominees Announced!
Now that the Golden Globes are out of the way, and Awards Season is in full swing, it's time for the rest of the minor ceremonies to announce their nominees. We've already had the Independent Spirit and SAG nods for a while, but in the last few days we've also accumulated announcements from the Writers … Continue reading Let the Undercard Bouts Begin! – Guild and BAFTA Nominees Announced
As I've made abundantly clear on this blog, I am not a fan of the Golden Globe Awards or the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, due to the methods they use, substituting bribery for critical thought, and acting as a marketing tool for films no one gets to see before the nominees are announced. That said, … Continue reading Let’s All Get Drunk and Clap – 76th Golden Globe Awards Results
For the first time ever, the Academy has revealed the shortlists for nine different categories all at the same time. Typically, this process is doled out over a few weeks to give each category a moment in the spotlight, but for our purposes, it's way more convenient. As ever, I will link to whatever reviews … Continue reading Short and Sweet: 91st Academy Awards Shortlists Announced!
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!
Today is Veterans' Day (or Remembrance/Armistice Day if you're not in the U.S.), otherwise known as 11/11 (make a wish!). And you may think it's waaaaaaay too early for coverage of next year's Academy Awards. And you would be right. But I don't care. It's never too early to get started on the Blitz! If … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2019 – First Submissions Announced!
I Actually Paid To See This 