Yesterday we got the Golden Globe nominations, and the list of snubs in favor of poppy bullshit is so large that my gag reflex is only just now recovering. The next stage of Awards Season concerns the major trade guilds and specialty fields. That stage began today with the announcement of the Screen Actors Guild … Continue reading Acting! Genius! – 27th Screen Actors Guild Nominations
Since the Golden Globe nominations came out today, it's only appropriate that I begin this review by invoking Ricky Gervais. In 2006, Gervais appeared in an episode of The Simpsons in which he is also the credited writer, the first time a guest star ever got the honors. One of the most famous lines of … Continue reading Slow Ride, A REALLY Slow Ride – No. 7 Cherry Lane
For the purposes of legal protection, I will say upfront that I can't prove that the 90+ members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association are bribed for their votes at the Golden Globes. It is merely an opinion, mostly presented tongue-in-cheek, based on the history of truly baffling nominations and awards that repeatedly smack of … Continue reading Here’s Some Money, Please Validate Me! – 78th Golden Globe Nominees Announced
Directed by Stephanie Chuat and Veronique Reymond, My Little Sister, Switzerland's entry for the Academy Awards, works with a lot of familiar themes and family melodrama. At times it hints at something poignant, but on the whole it comes up short because of a reactionary lead that can't catch a break. The titular "little sister" … Continue reading Can’t You Find Another Way? – My Little Sister
There are 93 countries and territories that submitted a film for this year's International Feature category. That's a new record, beating last year's record, thanks to three new entrants, including Sudan, which officially throws its proverbial hat into the ring with You Will Die at Twenty, which if nothing else would be the runner-up for … Continue reading Come On, Live a Little – You Will Die at Twenty
Movies about World War I are about as old as cinema itself. In fact, two of the first three films to win the Academy Award for Best Picture used it as a backdrop. It's a conflict that has given us hundreds, if not thousands, of good stories over the years. Hell, just last year 1917 … Continue reading The War at Home – Blizzard of Souls
In 2016, Spotlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture. A captivating look at the sheer grinding work of investigative journalism, the film was rightly lauded for its procedural pace and the almost documentary-style approach taken as the Boston Globe uncovered one of the most pervasive and shocking scandals in modern history. Five years later, … Continue reading Spotlight on Romania – Collective
It's an odd quirk of mine. I love a film with a long title, especially when it's done tongue-in-cheek. It shows that the movie doesn't take itself too seriously, even when dealing with heavy themes or when it's reaching for some prestige. Think Dr. Strangelove; or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the … Continue reading Long Title, Short Substance – Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time
Four years ago, Gianfranco Rosi's documentary, Fire at Sea, was submitted by Italy to compete for what is now called International Feature at the Academy Awards. It didn't get nominated in that category, but it did get a nod for Documentary Feature. History seems to be possibly repeating itself now with his follow-up feature, Notturno … Continue reading Nearly Silent Night – Notturno
Damn, this has been a busy week so far, and it's only Thursday. Awards Season got itself into full swing basically overnight, and already I'm doing my best to keep up. For example, over the last 48 hours I've been trying to get a handle on foreign films in anticipation of the Academy's announcement of … Continue reading Spirit Fingers, Everyone! – 36th Independent Spirit Nominations
I Actually Paid To See This 