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
The actual Oscar Blitz is off for a few more days, but that doesn't mean my fingers get a night off. We're but a week from the Academy Awards, and in most years, we'd already have all the information needed to make an educated guess at the results. That's sort of the case this year, … Continue reading Projecting the Winners – 2024 Awards Season Undercard
I want you all to know that I love each and every one of you who takes the time to read this blog and watch the videos I make, especially during the Blitz. It is very often the busiest time of the year for me, and 2024 is no exception. To put things in perspective, … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Best Actress (VIDEO)
The Oscar Blitz is always an adventure. No matter how much I watch in a given year, there's always some category that throws me a curve and makes the prospect of completion that much more uncertain. I anticipate every year that there will be some movies I'll miss, but I can make them up via … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Animated Feature
For the last several years, there's been an odd association when it comes to the screenwriting categories at the Academy Awards. The perception has been that Original Screenplay is more prestigious than Adapted, because turning previously created work (oftentimes done by someone else) into your own is somehow considered an easier task. This is one … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Original Screenplay
The art of editing is a tricky one. I know because I did it for a living for close to a decade. As great as a writer or director can be, if a film is not properly paced, delivering satisfying images in a timely and appropriately dramatic manner, the story will seem tedious and boring. … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Film Editing
We're almost done, everyone. The Academy Awards are less than two weeks away, and tonight begins the final full week of Blitz coverage! I can feel the softness of my pillow as we speak, yearning for the day when I will rest my head upon it, knowing I have no obligations the following day. Hell, … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Documentary Short
Let's face facts, folks. The first two months of this year have been grim from a movie standpoint. January and February typically aren't bastions of quality, mind you, but usually there's something to latch onto as a genuine hit, perhaps even a surprising one. To say that this has not been the case in 2024 … Continue reading This Film is Not Yet Watchable – March 2024
The Coen Brothers are among the greatest auteurs in cinema. Their blunt, tragicomic style is second to none in the industry, and while their movies don't always work, they are always intriguing, exploring the underbelly of society in fun and unique ways that are genuinely human. They can be a bit self-serving at times (just … Continue reading A Cock and Bull Story – Drive-Away Dolls
I Actually Paid To See This 