It's been a hell of a ride, folks. Between wildfires, delayed nominations, the myriad controversies surrounding the leading candidate, and the recent tragic passing of Gene Hackman that won't make the In Memoriam montage because there's not enough time to recut the whole thing, this has been one of the most tumultuous run-ups to the … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Best Picture (VIDEO)
The Supporting categories have been in an odd sort of flux for the past few years, mostly because we seem to be unclear on what "supporting" actually means. In theory and literal title, this is an award for a performance in a supporting role. They supplement the leading characters and complement the story without taking … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Supporting Actress
I miss acting. Like many people, I once harbored dreams of being a movie star, but I also knew that I'd never be a leading man. That was the realm of beautiful people like Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and for some reason in the 70s and 80s, Gary Busey. That was never going to be … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Best Actor
For as long as I can remember, I've always loved a good story. Whether it was a bedtime story my mom made up, a book, or even a piece of well-written news copy, I am enchanted by a tale told well. I didn't really know how to express myself when I was younger, as I … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Original Screenplay (VIDEO)
Usually, the Best Director contest is an easy one to parse and predict. Essentially, all we're asking is who had the best cinematic eye, who did the best job getting great performances out of their cast, and most importantly, who best executed the creative vision of the overall film? I normally get a bit of … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Best Director
One of the most common rebuttals to film criticism is for the people being critiqued to haughtily write off those giving their opinion by saying they should just do it themselves. This has gone on for years, but it's resurfaced in recent days thanks to the blowback against Emilia Pérez, particularly its regressive and stereotypical … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Cinematography
Yesterday I covered the Film Editing competition, the category I am likely most qualified to judge on a professional and objective level. Tonight, we do a complete 180 and go to one of those that I have basically no expertise in, Production Design. This is always a duel prize, awarded to the titular designer, who's … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Production Design
When it comes to the Academy Awards, my judging criteria can vary wildly depending on my level of knowledge or expertise. For example, as a writer - both amateur and professional - I know exactly what appeals to me in a screenplay, namely clever dialogue and a consistent, coherent story. I haven't acted in any … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Film Editing
There are some years where the Academy Awards are just downright boring when it comes to the so-called "major" categories. Best Picture, Best Director, the two Screenplay fields, and all four Acting contests are susceptible to this disappointment. During the very low era during and immediately following the COVID pandemic, we saw this far too … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Supporting Actor (VIDEO)
I always like to include some fun trivia and facts about certain categories when I do the Oscar Blitz. It's not just a run-of-the-mill opinion piece, there's got to be some flavor. I mean, we have nearly a century of history to draw from, so there's always something interesting to discuss. Take tonight's category, Original … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2025 – Original Score
I Actually Paid To See This 