The Oscar Blitz is an annual tradition I look forward to with much anticipation and excitement. However, when the ceremony is over, there's only one thing I want to do - turn my brain OFF. Usually I do that through a well-earned good night's sleep. But since I had work the next day, and because … Continue reading Dummy Bear – Imaginary
There's a rich vein of content that can be derived from the harsh realities of our economic system. The stereotype of the "American Dream" feels ever more unattainable in the 21st Century as prices go up, the wealth gap widens, and government forces are easily bribed into taking no action. My late mother and I … Continue reading The Fine Print – American Dreamer
It's finally time! The categories have been broken down, the votes have been cast, and all the idiotic questions about who someone is wearing have been asked. It's time to get down to brass tacks and hand out the gold. It's the 96th Academy Awards! We're mere minutes away from the beginning of the ceremony, … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Live Diary
The fundamental flaw with Dreamworks' Kung Fu Panda 4 is spelled out in the first few minutes. As Po, the Dragon Warrior (Jack Black, still enthusiastic in his voice work for the most part) arrives for a very special ceremony - the opening of a new noodle shop run by his dads, Mr. Ping (James … Continue reading Come On, Chameleon! – Kung Fu Panda 4
We've made it to the end, folks! As Green Day once sang, there is nothing left to analyze. All 23 categories have been covered, some here on the blog, others in video form. All that's left to do is figure out who will actually win this thing come Sunday. As I do every year, here … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Who Will Win? (VIDEO)
I'm not the best at promotion or social media. I concede that I just got too old to keep up. Also, being an introvert, what little I do get across takes a bit of psyching myself up. You have no idea how many times I went back and forth on starting a YouTube channel before … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – A Show of Our Own (VIDEO)
We made it, everyone! Twenty-three categories up, 23 down! It's the final award of the ceremony, the greatest of the Academy Awards, the highest honor in all of cinema - Best Picture! After weeks of analysis, it's time to tackle the big one. Ten nominees go into Sunday night hoping to hear their name called, … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Best Picture (VIDEO)
Every year when I do the Oscar Blitz, there are inevitably a few movies that I didn't see before the nominations were announced. Most of the time these are documentaries or foreign entries that haven't gotten a domestic release or that only had a minimal theatrical run earlier in the year. On occasion there's a … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – The Shortest Blitz Ever
A large part of what made Denis Villeneuve's 2021 Dune remake so special was its sense of scale. Through its amazing use of cinematography, editing, and inspired visual effects (done for about half the budget of your average Marvel movie), the film truly gave viewers a sense of what the world of Arrakis could be … Continue reading Welcome to the World – Dune: Part Two
Awards Season is almost over, and as such, I've got to wrap up all my old business from 2023. This includes the two films I had to watch after the Oscar nominations came out, as well as the final four publicly released films that got nods at the Independent Spirit Awards. It was incredible binging … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – The Spirit Stragglers, Part Four
I Actually Paid To See This 