The last year has been a trying one if you're a fan of blockbuster films with great effects. We're approaching a nadir for CGI overuse, from Marvel shitting out one terrible movie after another (with the exception of tonight's sole MCU nominee) that are basically just shot on green screens now, to science fiction shlock … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Visual Effects (VIDEO)
When I first started learning about media and communications, it was so I could work on my high school's public access broadcasts of football and basketball games. It was like, the one advanced thing we had going in this semi-rural community. All of our home games in the three major sports had full-on productions where … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Cinematography
Last year we had legitimate suspense in three of the four acting categories. Only Ke Huy Quan's victory for Best Supporting Actor was a sure thing. This year, as I've mentioned before, is very much not the case. Supporting Actor is all but a lock for Robert Downey Jr., and being extremely generous we can … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Supporting Actress
More than any other category in the Academy Awards, this is the one I always feel least qualified to analyze. This is because I know fuck all about the practicalities of the craft. I have had makeup put on me before, including by professional HMU artists. But I am so basic my pH level is … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Makeup & Hairstyling
As previously mentioned, in two years' time the Oscars will be back up to 24 categories, as the Academy will introduce an award for Best Casting. I very much look forward to this new aspect of my annual obsession. But I have to admit, it's felt odd for the last few years to only have … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Sound
As we come ever so much nearer to closing the book on 2023 cinema, it is time to return to the realm of documentaries. I've already covered the Documentary Feature category on the Oscar Blitz, including my admission of defeat in my annual quest to clear the shortlist, having come up one short. I did … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Witness to Truth, Part Two
As I write this, there are less than 48 hours until the voting deadline for the Independent Spirit Awards, and I have... seven more films to watch so that I can make as informed a choice as possible. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, eh? I feel like I'm back in high school writing … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – The Spirit Stragglers, Part Two
We're at the end of our first full week of Blitz coverage, and I have earned myself a nap and a night off. As such, the plan goes that every week I will include a video breakdown of one of the categories. You can see the draw of those special fields in the Hub post … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Adapted Screenplay (VIDEO)
Before we get to tonight's breakdown, we actually have some fresh Oscars news to report. The Academy surprised the press today by announcing a new category! Starting two years from now, with the 98th annual ceremony, we will have an award for Casting! This is very intriguing, as there's been an official Casting Directors Branch … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Documentary Feature
Last year, the Best Actor category was one of the most exciting for the Oscars. You had a legitimate three-way race between Colin Farrell, Austin Butler, and eventual winner Brendan Fraser. You also got a bit of a reprieve from the coronation ceremony for Everything Everywhere All at Once - assuming you wanted one - … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Best Actor
I Actually Paid To See This 