I've got this wonderful tingly feeling all over my body. Oh wait, no, that's hives. Anyway, I'm stuck in my room all weekend, so I might as well make the most of it with some batch reviews. A few days ago, the Academy released its shortlists for half the categories at next year's Oscars, including … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Visa Denied, Part 1
We come to it at long last. Tomorrow the Academy will announce the shortlists in multiple categories, including International Feature. I've done my best to be as comprehensive as possible in watching and analyzing everything I could find, but I didn't accomplish all I wanted to. There were several private screenings that I got invites … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – The Gamblers
Get your minds out of the gutter right this instant! And then put them back in, because obviously I chose that headline for the sake of a lame sex joke. If you've been following along with any regularity to this point, it's honestly a wonder I didn't make such a gag before now. Anyhoo, we're … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – A Foreign Threesome
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
We've already had one highly creative documentary for 2020 dealing with the aging process and dementia, in the form of the wonderful Dick Johnson is Dead. It was kind, heartfelt, and led by an absolutely charming central figure. It helped me deal with the grief and stress that I've been processing over the last year … Continue reading Espion-Age – The Mole Agent
A year ago today, Parasite shocked the world by winning the Academy Award for Best Picture. For a lot of film lovers out there, that was the last pleasant memory before the world went to Hell. Today, in the slimmest sign of a return to normalcy, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced … Continue reading The First Cuts – 93rd Oscars Shortlists Announced!
Year in and year out, this is the hardest category to track down. That's because of the eligibility cycle and rules that govern this category, which differ from the rest of the field. Right off the bat, there's no requirement that the films be publicly screened in the United States. Eligible films must be in … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2018 – Foreign Language
This is my absolute favorite time of year. I've loved the Academy Awards since I was a child, and it's one of my bucket list dreams to just be nominated, or even get to attend. Today, for me, is like the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, when Santa Claus arrives to end the … Continue reading The Blitz is On! 90th Oscar Nominations Revealed!
I Actually Paid To See This 