Over the last decade, Yorgos Lanthimos has gone from a celebrated director of Greek films to one of the most revered cinematic auteurs in the world. With his signature combination of intentionally stilted dialogue, darkly comic analogs to the human experience, bonkers depictions of abstract relationship concepts, and refreshingly frank discussions and depictions of sexuality, … Continue reading The Circle of Life – Kinds of Kindness
If there's one thing that's consistent with the works of Alex Garland over the last decade, it's that much of what we see is open to interpretation. How soon did Ava become fully self-aware and turn the tables in Ex Machina? What really took place beyond the Shimmer in Annihilation? How much of Jessie Buckley's … Continue reading The Snap – Civil War
Martin Scorsese is the greatest living film director on the planet, and possibly the best of all time. I know it, you know it, gestating fetuses know it. He made his bones telling crime stories like Goodfellas, but his ability to take on basically any genre and turn it into gold is what makes his … Continue reading Blood for Oil – Killers of the Flower Moon
There's no strict definition as to what constitutes a supporting performance versus a lead one. It's basically an eye test. A film's studio or production company may submit any number of actors in any number of categories, but when it comes right down to it, the Acting Branch divvies up the nominations however they collectively … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2022 – Supporting Actor
The moment has come at last. After a truncated year of eligibility, way too much hype for remakes, and for some reason a "documentary" about Billie Eilish, it is time to finally announce this year's nominees for the Academy Awards. I was up early (but not bright) at 5am Pacific Time to watch and react … Continue reading WAKE UP! IT’S TIME TO BLITZ! – 94th Academy Award Nominations
We're in the home stretch, folks. In five days, we will know where the Academy stands, and the Oscar nominations will be announced. Before that happens, however, we have one last entry into the Awards Season undercard, the most prestigious ceremony for our friends across the Pond, the BAFTAs. Now obviously, being more Anglo-centric than … Continue reading I Say, Good Show – 75th BAFTA Nominations
It's amazing to me that it's been 12 years since the acclaimed Jane Campion has directed a film. Until now, her most recent work was the well-received but barely seen Bright Star, about poet John Keats. It's been nearly 20 years since her last mainstream film, the underwhelming In the Cut. While her output has … Continue reading The Sheep’s Clothing – The Power of the Dog
It's strange how in certain years, a slate of films can have a degree of connectivity that is rarely intended, but often fascinating. This is one of those years, as a good amount of the prestige fare has dealt with the American Civil Rights movement in one form or another. Two particular films made references … Continue reading The Passion of the Panther – Judas and the Black Messiah
Let's just state the plain and honest truth. 2020 was the shittiest year any of us have experienced. Everything closed, Donald Trump tried to lead an insurrection, and 1 out of every 1,000 Americans died from a virus that could have been mitigated - if not contained - if we had a competent government response … Continue reading The Best (and Worst) of 2020, Way After the Fact
Summer has come and passed... you know the rest. Go wake up Billie Joe Armstrong, already. The autumn air is upon us, more theatres are opening up (except for Regal, which is closing some 350 locations, many of them permanently), and the deluge of online-only content is starting to abate. More films are getting their … Continue reading DownStream – Cruel Summer
I Actually Paid To See This 