I like to keep things simple. It's not that I can't do complicated stuff, it's just that I choose not to, at least in my free time. My actual work is detailed and heavily complex at times, and thankfully I love it, because it makes it so I barely notice just how hard it can … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Makeup and Hairstyling (VIDEO)
I hadn't intended to use the preamble for these category breakdowns as a pretense for personal anecdotes, but sometimes it just works out that way. The annual Oscar Blitz always has a lot of ground to cover, and as I go on, I find myself getting into certain grooves where I'm just able to type … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Adapted Screenplay
For years now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been attempting to find ways to improve their annual awards ceremony to draw in more viewers. They've tried adding pandering categories, removing categories from the telecast, emphasizing musical numbers (even for songs that aren't nominated), expanding the Best Picture field to 10 films, … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – International Feature
I am not a stylish man. Never have been, never will be. For my entire life, my wardrobe choices have been about comfort first and foremost, with adulthood allowing for a mix of fandom and snark through my t-shirt collection (which I recently halved by donating a bunch to Goodwill that I don't wear anymore). … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Costume Design
I may have mentioned this before, but when I worked as an editor, especially my time at ESPN, there were a few areas where I was, shall we say, less than expert. One was color correction, adjusting various hues and lights in a shot to make them look as natural as possible. It was a … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Sound
For as long as I can remember, I've always loved a good story. Whether it was a bedtime story my mom made up, a book, or even a piece of well-written news copy, I am enchanted by a tale told well. I didn't really know how to express myself when I was younger, as I … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Original Screenplay (VIDEO)
Usually, the Best Director contest is an easy one to parse and predict. Essentially, all we're asking is who had the best cinematic eye, who did the best job getting great performances out of their cast, and most importantly, who best executed the creative vision of the overall film? I normally get a bit of … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Best Director
One of the most common rebuttals to film criticism is for the people being critiqued to haughtily write off those giving their opinion by saying they should just do it themselves. This has gone on for years, but it's resurfaced in recent days thanks to the blowback against Emilia Pérez, particularly its regressive and stereotypical … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Cinematography
Yesterday I covered the Film Editing competition, the category I am likely most qualified to judge on a professional and objective level. Tonight, we do a complete 180 and go to one of those that I have basically no expertise in, Production Design. This is always a duel prize, awarded to the titular designer, who's … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Production Design
When it comes to the Academy Awards, my judging criteria can vary wildly depending on my level of knowledge or expertise. For example, as a writer - both amateur and professional - I know exactly what appeals to me in a screenplay, namely clever dialogue and a consistent, coherent story. I haven't acted in any … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Film Editing
I Actually Paid To See This 