We've reached the final stage of the pre-Blitz with today's announcement of 10 shortlists for specialty categories for next year's Oscars. And as always, there are some truly baffling decisions made by the individual branches to go along with the more logical ones. From here on out it's nothing but hunting and viewing as I … Continue reading Your Dis is on My List – 94th Academy Award Shortlists!
South Korean media has become exceedingly popular the world over in recent years, thanks in large part to brilliant films like Parasite and extremely catchy TV dramas like Squid Game. These works gain mass appeal in part because they use big budget Hollywood-style production values to tell deeply human, grounded stories. Fans of Korean cinema … Continue reading The Enemy of My Enemy – Escape From Mogadishu
Italy has been the most successful nation when it comes to the Oscar for International Feature in all its forms. The country has 14 wins from 31 nominations. Only France has more nods (40), but they have two fewer wins (12), so the Italians have the upper hand. Their last win came eight years ago … Continue reading Dramtis Personae – The Hand of God
We're but a few days away from the Academy releasing its shortlists, including the final 15 vying for International Feature. As mentioned in Part 1 of this roundup, I was able to purchase access to 14 of the worldwide submissions via a virtual cinema option through the California Film Institute, which is still available until … Continue reading DownStream – Around the World, Part 2
After the absolutely infuriating tragedy that was Eternals, the Marvel Cinematic Universe desperately needs a palate cleanser, if not a full-on reversal to redeem itself. Hope was on the horizon with a new Spider-Man movie fast approaching, one that would also feature Doctor Strange. Tom Holland is widely considered to be the greatest version of … Continue reading Into the Villain-Verse – Spider-Man: No Way Home
I can't remember the last time I felt so... conflicted, about a movie. I wholeheartedly believe that Steven Spielberg's remake of West Side Story should not exist. It should not have been made. It is an insult to one of the true classics of cinema history, and commits the blasphemous sin of remaking a previous … Continue reading Can Several Wrongs Make a Right? – West Side Story
I had a feeling when I saw the trailer for this movie that it would hit all the right nostalgia notes. Like A Christmas Story for kids born in the 80s, it seemed to be that rare film that would actually be a justified update to a modern classic for the holidays, transferring that same … Continue reading The Perfect Gift – 8-Bit Christmas
Come on, how could I not preface the Independent Spirit Awards with a reference to quite possibly the greatest independent film of all time? The moment has come at last, and Awards Season is truly and officially underway with the first major announcement of nominees. Yes, technically the Golden Globe nods came out first with … Continue reading I’m 37?! – 37th Independent Spirit Nominees Announced
Denmark is the defending champion when it comes to the Oscar for International Feature, and their follow-up entry may pull off a bit of Academy history once the nominations come out. The unique and captivating Flee is not only submitted as a foreign film, but it is also up for Documentary Feature AND Animated Feature, … Continue reading Safe Haven in Animation – Flee
Through a combination of luck, increased distribution, and me just being an obsessive, I've been able to get an amazing head start on the International Feature category for next year's Oscars. Often the hardest category to finish, thanks to Academy rules that do not mandate domestic screening, this year I've been able to track down … Continue reading DownStream – Around the World, Part 1
I Actually Paid To See This 