It's somewhat appropriate that I'm handling this category tonight. Part of the focus is on set design, and today I started on set with my latest job, mostly watching the technicians and builders put the set together so we can start shooting tomorrow. It's what we call "synergy," folks. Anyway, as I am not a … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Production Design
It's been a long time since we've had one of those crystallizing film score moments. You know what I'm talking about. Something like Star Wars or Back to the Future or Jaws. When's the last time you've heard a score cue and immediately knew what movie it was from? I think for me it would … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Original Score
I say this a lot, but it's absolutely true. I am in awe of people who do the things I can't. Some of these folks have innate talent that gets applied perfectly to a trade or activity. Others choose something and passionately apply themselves to it until they're the absolute best. I love these people, … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Cinematography
A few years ago, in a futile attempt to be seen as more relevant to the demographics that never found it relevant in the first place, the Academy floated a lot of changes that were framed as addition by subtraction. The two most famous of those extremely ill-advised proposals was the introduction of a "Best … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2021 – Sound
It's here. It's time. We've made it at last. After the most tumultuous year in cinema history, we finally arrive at Nomination Day. Twenty-three categories have been filled with hopefuls vying for the top prize in the film industry, and the annual Blitz is officially on! It's not lost on me that it's been exactly … Continue reading Time For the Delayed Blitz! – 93rd Academy Award Nominations!
In the 30+ years of Paul Greengrass' directorial career, he's basically done two types of movies - action films (particularly the Jason Bourne series) and 21st century geopolitical intrigue (United 93, Green Zone, etc). Now, with his latest film, News of the World, he's beginning a third motif - Tom Hanks rescue films. It started … Continue reading This Just In… A Passable Western – News of the World
Okay folks, this is it. The undercard has been officially filled out. Over the last 24 hours we've gotten the final film nominations for the Producers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, and the British Academy! These three ceremonies, which will take place over the next month, represent the last batch of major … Continue reading … And the Rest! – Nominations for PGA, DGA, and BAFTA Awards!
I swear to God one day I'll get better at budgeting my time. Lost in the shuffle of the last week of foraging for documentaries and foreign submissions, as well as mainstream fare potentially vying for the Oscars, I forgot that Tuesday was the unveiling of the nominations for the Writers Guild of America. The … Continue reading Write it Down Before You Forget – Writers Guild Nominations
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!
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
I Actually Paid To See This 