The early rounds of Awards Season are well underway, with the ultimate prize being the Oscars. If you've read this blog with any regularity, you know that the competition for International Feature is almost always intense and difficult to track, as there's no formal requirement that the submitted films ever screen in the United States. … Continue reading DownStream – First Foreign Forays
Last year had a lot of moments that were not pleasant for me, not the least of which was turning 40. I don't like feeling that my youth is now officially behind me and that, at best, I'm at the halfway point of my life. I haven't accomplished nearly all that I wanted to by … Continue reading Tell Me I’m Pretty – Corsage
Today's the semi-big day! We've reached the last major milestone before the nominations for the 95th Academy Awards are revealed. With one month to go, the official shortlists have been released for 10 specialty categories. For all intents and purposes, the pre-Blitz has begun, and it's time to plan viewing strategies for the next few … Continue reading A Little Short – 95th Academy Awards Shortlists Announced!
Well, everyone, mission accomplished. With the successful viewing of Austria's Oscar submission, Great Freedom, which opened in American cinemas this weekend, I have finally achieved a goal I've been trying to manage for several years. With this final entry in 2021's canon, I have watched the entirety of the Academy's 15-film shortlist for International Feature! … Continue reading The Brokeback Redemption, er, I Mean, Shawshank Mountain – Great Freedom
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!
Relationship drama is about as basic as it gets when it comes to cinematic storytelling. After more than a century of film, it's not whether the story's been told before, but how one goes about telling it. Austria's submission to the Academy, What We Wanted, begins with an interesting spin on the prospect, but unfortunately … Continue reading Insert “Vienna Sausage” Joke Here – What We Wanted
I Actually Paid To See This 