The calendar has finally turned over, and of course, because we just can't have nice things, the universe decided to take Betty White out at the last fucking minute. But anyway, the official book has closed on 2021, a year where we almost, kinda, sort of got back to something resembling normal, only for the … Continue reading The Best (and Worst) of 2021
Tag: Octavia Spencer
This Movie Will Give You Crabs – Thunder Force
The superhero parody is nothing new. Pretty much ever since comic books hit the mainstream there's been a subset of the genre that pokes fun at the concepts and tropes. For every Superman there's a Deadpool, for every Batman a Kick-Ass. Now, writer/director Ben Falcone, in his fifth collaboration with his wife Melissa McCarthy, brings … Continue reading This Movie Will Give You Crabs – Thunder Force
DownStream – Halloweenies
If you've followed this blog since its inception, and even if you haven't, you might well be aware that I have a personal rule regarding cinematic remakes. With very few exceptions, the basic line is, "fuck those cynical cash grab pieces of shit." However, there are times when even I'll violate my longstanding procedure, and … Continue reading DownStream – Halloweenies
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – Onward
Since the premiere of Toy Story some 25 years ago, Pixar films have fallen into three distinct groups. At the top are the movies that simply blow us away, introducing wondrous new ideas and themes to complement the ever-evolving animation technology. These are the all-time greats like WALL-E, Up, The Incredibles, and Inside Out. On the opposite end of the … Continue reading He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – Onward
We’ve Got Spirit (Awards), Yes We Do! – 35th Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced!
The "unofficial" phase is finally over. We are now firmly and officially into Awards Season! The next three months of hardware, hand-wringing, and haranguing kicked off this morning with the announcement of the nominees for the 35th Annual Independent Spirit Awards, which were presented by Zazie Beetz and Natasha Lyonne. There's a lot of love … Continue reading We’ve Got Spirit (Awards), Yes We Do! – 35th Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced!
The 2nd Annual Oscs – Celebrating the Best (and Worst) of 2019 so far!
The Year of Our Ford 2019 is halfway complete, and so far the tally for me is 48 movies, one off the pace I had set by this point last year. Unlike last year, however, 2019 has been a decided step back in terms of cinema quality. There aren't too many great films, and most … Continue reading The 2nd Annual Oscs – Celebrating the Best (and Worst) of 2019 so far!
Better Not Bring Yo Kids! – Ma
Ten points if you get the reference in the headline (the points mean nothing). Anyway, Octavia Spencer is one of the best character actresses out there, and it's a shame that she's almost always shunted to the side into a supporting role, usually that of "sassy black friend." She's earned an Oscar for her efforts, … Continue reading Better Not Bring Yo Kids! – Ma
Oscar Gold 2018 – Best Supporting Actress
There's a lot of interesting history associated with this award. Most famously, Hattie McDaniel's win for her role in Gone with the Wind made her the first black performer to take home an Oscar. We've also seen youth get rewarded, as both Tatum O'Neal and Anna Paquin won as children. And of course, we'll always have … Continue reading Oscar Gold 2018 – Best Supporting Actress
The Blitz is On! 90th Oscar Nominations Revealed!
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!