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
Every year I make it a personal mission to not just see all of the eventual Oscar nominees in each category, but wherever possible, to clear the entire shortlist of semifinalists. This began several years ago with my first attempt to view all 15 films vying for Documentary Feature, and the goal has remained ever … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Witness to Truth, Part One
The first major mile marker for next year's Oscars has finally been crossed. Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released their shortlists in 10 of the 23 categories. Participating branches and members have been viewing submissions, attending bake-offs, and voting for the past few weeks, and now the semifinalists have been revealed. … Continue reading Moving On to the Pre-Blitz – 96th Academy Awards Shortlists
As you may know, I have a particular set of issues when it comes to the Oscars every year. Sometimes it's who gets nominated. Sometimes it's the naked corporate fealty to Disney. Sometimes it's the exercise in utter cringe that the ceremony itself has become. Sometimes it's all of the above. But I keep following … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2023 – Documentary Feature
Well folks, we made it. After nearly two months of searching, planning, and running all over creation, we've once again reached the end of the Documentary Feature shortlist. This year was harder than most, as a lot of non-fiction films flew completely under the radar. Only a few got full-on theatrical releases, while the vast … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts: Doc’s Orders – Part 4
We're about 48 hours away from Oscar nominations, just enough time to squeeze in one more "Back Row Thoughts" column tackling this year's Documentary Feature shortlist (here are Part 1 and Part 2 if you want/need to catch up). Of the 15 films up for the prize, this set of reviews will bring us up … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Doc’s Orders, Part 3
We're in the thick of it this Awards Season, with the Oscar Blitz fast approaching. The Academy announces its nominations in just over a week, the major guilds have already released their lists (with the Writers Guild of America curiously waiting until a day after AMPAS), the BAFTA nods are coming later this week, and … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Doc’s Orders, Part 2
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!
The purpose of any documentary film - regardless of subject matter - is the search for truth. It's the entire point of nonfiction storytelling, to deal in facts, to educate, to highlight elements of our world that deserve to be seen and appreciated, even if we don't agree with the overall point being made. That's … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2022 – Documentary Feature
Man, it's been a while, hasn't it? I covered the vast majority of the Academy's shortlist for Documentary Feature nearly two months ago. And even after that, I watched two of the three remaining films within a couple of days. There was just one left, which OF COURSE also got nominated, and I couldn't watch … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – I’ve Got a Little List, Part 4
I Actually Paid To See This 