tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37970944730425528462024-03-12T23:19:32.123-04:00Jonny's Daily Movie ReviewA blog designed to rate movies on a 10-star scale with in-depth reviews of each film.Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.comBlogger1647125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-39139863264011198882023-03-12T18:00:00.007-04:002023-03-13T00:04:58.207-04:00Oscar Predictions 2023<p><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2023<br /></b><br />I have viewed every nominee with the exception of Close,
How Do You Measure a Year, An Irish Goodbye, and The Red Suitcase.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Picture<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. The Fabelmans</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. The Banshees of Inisherin</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Everything Everywhere All at Once</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. All Quiet on the Western Front</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Elvis</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
6. Tár</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
7. Avatar: The Way of Water</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
8. Top Gun: Maverick</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
9. Triangle of Sadness</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
10. Women Talking</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: The Whale</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Everything Everywhere All At Once</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Director<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Steven Spielberg (The Fabelmans)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All at
Once)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Martin McDonough (The Banshees of Inisherin)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Todd Field (Tár)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sadness)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: James Cameron (Avatar: The Way of Water)</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Martin McDonough</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Actor<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Brendan Fraser (The Whale)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Austin Butler (Elvis)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Bill Nighy (Living)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Paul Mescal (Aftersun)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Felix Kammerer (All Quiet on the Western Front)</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Austin Butler</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Actress<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Ana de Armas (Blonde)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Cate Blanchett (Tár)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Viola Davis (The Woman King)</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Michelle Yeoh</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Supporting Actor<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Judd Hirsch (The Fabelmans)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Paul Dano (The Fabelmans)</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win: </b>Ke Huy Quan</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Supporting Actress <br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Hong Chau (The Whale)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Sadie Sink (The Whale)</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Angela Bassett</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Original Screenplay<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. The Banshees of Inisherin</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Everything Everywhere All at Once</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Tár</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. The Fabelmans</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Triangle of Sadness</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Aftersun</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>
Will Win: </b>The Banshees of Inisherin</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Adapted Screenplay<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. All Quiet on the Western Front</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Living</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Women Talking</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Top Gun: Maverick</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win: </b>Women Talking</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Animated Feature Film<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. The Sea Beast</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Turning Red</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On </span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best International Feature Film<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. The Quiet Girl (Ireland)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Argentina 1985 (Argentina)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. EO (Poland)</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win:</b> All Quiet on the Western Front</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Documentary Feature Film<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Navalny</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Fire of Love</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. A House Made of Splinters</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. All That Breathes</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Navalny</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Documentary Short Subject<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Haulout</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Stranger at the Gate</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. The Elephant Whisperers</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. The Martha Mitchell Effect</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>
Will Win: </b>Stranger at the Gate</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Live Action Short Film<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Ivalu</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Night Ride</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Le Pupille</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Le Pupille</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Animated Short Film<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Ice Merchants</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake and I Think I Believe It</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. My Year of Dicks</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. The Flying Sailor</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win:</b> The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Cinematography<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Bardo, False Chronicles of a Handful of Truths (Darius Khondji)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Elvis (Mandy Walker)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. All Quiet on the Western Front (James Friend)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Tár (Florian Hoffmeister)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Empire of Light (Roger Deakins)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Babylon</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win: </b>All Quiet on the Western Front</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Film Editing<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Everything Everywhere All at Once</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Elvis</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Top Gun: Maverick</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Tár</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. The Banshees of Inisherin</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: All Quiet on the Western Front</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Everything Everywhere All at Once</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Original Score<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Justin Hurwitz (Babylon)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Carter Burwell (The Banshees of Inisherin)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Volker Bertelmann (All Quiet on the Western Front)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Son Lux (Everything Everywhere All at Once)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. John Williams (The Fabelmans)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Alexandre Desplat (Guillermo del Toro's Pinnochio)</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Justin Hurwitz</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Original Song<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Naatu Naatu (from RRR)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Lift Me Up (from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Hold My Hand (from Top Gun: Maverick)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. This Is A Life (from Everything Everywhere All at Once)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Applause (from Tell It Like a Woman)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Ciao Papa (from Guillermo del Toro's Pinnochio)</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win: </b>Naatu Naatu</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Sound<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Elvis</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. All Quiet on the Western Front</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Top Gun: Maverick</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Avatar: The Way of Water</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. The Batman</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Nope</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win: </b>Top Gun: Maverick</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Visual Effects<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Avatar: The Way of Water</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Top Gun: Maverick</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. All Quiet on the Western Front</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. The Batman</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Nope</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Avatar: The Way of Water</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Production Design<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Avatar: The Way of Water</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Elvis</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Babylon</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. The Fabelmans</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. All Quiet on the Western Front</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
Snubbed: Empire of Light</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Elvis</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Makeup and Hairstyling<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. The Whale</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. The Batman</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Elvis</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. All Quiet on the Western Front</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><b>
Will Win:</b> The Whale</span><br />
<br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">
Best Costume Design<br /></b><span style="color: #fcff01;">
1. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
2. Elvis</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
3. Babylon</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
4. Everything Everywhere All at Once</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">
5. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever</span><br /><span style="color: red;"><b>
Will Win:</b> Elvis</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-20919926622869752752022-03-27T00:12:00.003-04:002023-03-11T20:43:56.290-05:00Oscar Predictions 2022<p><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2022</b></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>Disclaimer: These are my personal rankings of the films in each category, not my prediction of who I believe The Academy will choose. I have viewed every nominee with the exception of Ala Kachuu - Take and Run, The Dress, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, and Writing with Fire.</span><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>Best Picture<br /></b></span></span><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>1. Belfast<br /></span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">2. CODA</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>3. West Side Story</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>4. The Power of the Dog</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>5. King Richard</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>6. Dune</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>7. Nightmare Alley</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>8. Licorice Pizza</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>9. Drive My Car</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><span>10. Don't Look Up</span></span></span></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Director</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Kenneth Branagh (Belfast)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">2. Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Steven Spielberg (West Side Story)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Paul Thomas Anderson (Licorice Pizza)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Actor</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;">1. Will Smith (King Richard)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">2. Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">3. Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">4. Andrew Garfield (tick, tick...BOOM!)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Actress</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Jessica Chastain (Eyes of Tammy Faye)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Kristen Steward (Spencer)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Penelope Cruz (Parallel Mothers)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Supporting Actor</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Troy Kotsur (CODA)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Ciaran Hinds (Belfast)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. J.K. Simmons (Being the Ricardos)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Supporting Actress</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Ariana Debose (West Side Story)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Judi Dench (Belfast)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">3. Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">4. Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Original Screenplay</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Belfast</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Licorice Pizza</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. King Richard</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. The Worst Person in the World</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Don't Look Up</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Adapted Screenplay</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. CODA</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. The Power of the Dog</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. The Lost Daughter</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Drive My Car</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Dune</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Animated Feature Film</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Encanto</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Raya and the Last Dragon</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Luca</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Flee</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. The Mitchells vs. the Machines</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best International Feature Film</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Drive My Car</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. The Worst Person in the World</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">3. Flee</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">4. The Hand of God</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Documentary Feature</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Attica</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Ascension</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">3. Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Flee</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Documentary Short Subject</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Audible</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Lead Me Home</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">3. The Queen of Basketball</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. When We Were Bullies</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. Three Songs for Benazir</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Live Action Short Film</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. On My Mind</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Please Hold</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">3. The Long Goodbye</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Animated Short Film</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Robin Robin</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Bestia</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Boxballet</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">4. The Windshield Wiper</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Affairs of the Art</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Original Score</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Dune (Hans Zimmer)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. The Power of the Dog (Jonny Greenwood)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Parallel Mothers (Alberto Iglesias)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Encanto (Germaine Franco)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Don't Look Up (Nicholas Britell)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Original Song</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. No Time to Die (from No Time to Die)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Dos Oruguitas (from Encanto)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Be Alive (from King Richard)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Down to Joy (from Belfast)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Somehow You Do (from Four Good Days)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Sound</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. West Side Story</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. No Time to Die</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">3. Dune</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Belfast</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. The Power of the Dog</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Production Design</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. West Side Story</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. The Tragedy of Macbeth</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Nightmare Alley</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. The Power of the Dog</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">5. Dune</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Cinematography</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. The Power of the Dog</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. West Side Story</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">3. Dune</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Nightmare Alley</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. The Tragedy of Macbeth</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Makeup and Hairstyling</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. The Eyes of Tammy Faye</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. House of Gucci</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Coming 2 America</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Cruella</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Dune</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Costume Design</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Cruella</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. West Side Story</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Nightmare Alley</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Dune</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Cyrano</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Film Editing</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. King Richard</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. The Power of the Dog</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">3. Dune</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. tick, tick...BOOM!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Don't Look Up</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Best Visual Effects</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Dune</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Spider-Man: No Way Home</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Free Guy</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. No Time to Die</span></span></div><p></p>Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-68084336814231716232021-04-25T19:19:00.022-04:002021-04-25T23:15:51.508-04:00OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2021<p><span><span style="color: #fcff01;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="color: #fcff01;">OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2021</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">Disclaimer: These are my personal rankings of the films in each category, not my prediction of who I believe The Academy will choose. I have viewed all 54 Oscar-nominated films this year.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Picture</b><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. The Trial of the Chicago 7</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Mank</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Promising Young Woman</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Sound of Metal</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. The Father</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span>6. Nomadland ***will win***</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">7. Minari</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">8. Judas and the Black Messiah</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Director</b><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Chloe Zhao (Nomadland)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. David Fincher (Mank)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Lee Isaac Chung (Minari)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Thomas Vinterberg (Another Round)</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Actor<br /></b></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">1. Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #04ff00;">2. Anthony Hopkins (The Father)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal)</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">4. Gary Oldman (Mank)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. Steven Yeun (Minari)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><br /><b>Best Actress<br /></b></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">1. Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">2. Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">3. Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom)<br /></span><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;">4. Frances McDormand (Nomadland)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holliday)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>Best Supporting Actor<br /></b></span><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;">1. Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">2. Sacha Baren Cohen (The Trial of the Chicago 7)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">3. Paul Raci (Sound of Metal)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">4. Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night in Miami)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. LaKeith Stanfield (Judas and the Black Messiah)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b><br />Best Supporting Actress<br /></b></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">1. Glenn Close (Hillbilly Elegy)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">2. Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">3. Amanda Seyfried (Mank)<br /></span><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: arial;">4. Youn Yun-jung (Minari) </span><span style="font-family: arial;">***</span><span style="font-family: arial;">will win</span><span style="font-family: arial;">***<br /></span></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. Olivia Colman (The Father)</span></span></p><p><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>Best Original Screenplay<br /></b></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">1. The Trial of the Chicago 7<br /></span><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;">2. Promising Young Woman<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">3. Sound of Metal<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">4. Judas and the Black Messiah<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. Minari </span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">***</span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">will win</span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">***</span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><br /><b>Best Adapted Screenplay<br /></b></span></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">1. Nomadland<br /></span><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;">2. The Father<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">3. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">4. The White Tiger<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. One Night in Miami</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;"><b>Best Animated Feature Film</b><br />1. Onward<br />2. Wolfwalkers<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">3. Over the Moon<br /></span><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: arial;">4. Soul </span><span style="font-family: arial;">***</span><span style="font-family: arial;">will win</span><span style="font-family: arial;">***</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">5. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best International Feature Film</b><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Better Days</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. The Man Who Sold His Skin</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;">3. Another Round ***will win***<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Quo Vadis, Aida?</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Collective</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Documentary Feature</b><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span>1. My Octopus Teacher</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Time</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. The Mole Agent</span><br style="color: black;" />4. Crip Camp</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Collective</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Documentary Short Subject</b><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span>1. Colette</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Do Not Split</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Hunger Ward</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. A Concerto is a Conversation</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. A Love Song for Latasha</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Live Action Short Film</b><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Feeling Through</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span>2. Two Distant Strangers ***will win***</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. White Eye</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. The Present</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. The Letter Room</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Animated Short Film</b><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span>1. If Anything Happens I Love You</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Burrow</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Opera</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Yes-People</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Genius Loci</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Original Score</b><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Mank (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross)</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span>2. Soul (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) ***will win***</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. News of the World (James Newton Howard)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Minari (Emile Mosseri)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Da 5 Bloods (Terence Blanchard)</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Original Song</b><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Speak Now (from One Night in Miami)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Hear My Voice (from The Trial of the Chicago 7)</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Husavik (from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga)</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">4. Io Si (from The Life Ahead)<br /></span><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: arial;">5. Fight For You (from Judas and the Black Messiah)<br /></span><i style="color: #fcff01; font-family: arial;">*ROCKET TO THE MOON (FROM OVER THE MOON) DESERVES TO WIN THIS CATEGORY BUT WAS NOT NOMINATED</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Sound</b><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Sound of Metal<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Greyhound</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. News of the World</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Mank</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Soul</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Production Design</b><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span>1. Mank</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. News of the World</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Tenet</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. The Father</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Cinematography</b><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Nomadland</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span>2. Mank</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. The Trial of the Chicago 7</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Judas and the Black Messiah</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. News of the World</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Makeup and Hairstyling</b><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. Pinocchio</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;">2. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom ***will win***<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Hillbilly Elegy</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Emma</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Mank</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Costume Design</b><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom<br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. Mank</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Emma</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Mulan</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Pinocchio</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Film Editing</b><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">1. The Trial of the Chicago 7</span><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span>2. Sound of Metal</span><br /></span><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. The Father</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. Nomadland</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Promising Young Woman</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #fcff01;">Best Visual Effects</b><br /><span style="color: #04ff00;">1. Tenet</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">2. The One and Only Ivan</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">3. Love and Monsters</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">4. The Midnight Sky</span><br /><span style="color: #fcff01;">5. Mulan</span></span></span></p>Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-84605328136602852462020-02-09T18:36:00.006-05:002021-04-25T18:31:41.389-04:00OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2020<span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="color: yellow;">OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2020</b><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: yellow; font-family: arial;"><br />Disclaimer: These are the films that I personally believe should win in each category, not my prediction of who I believe The Academy will choose. Also, I did not see a large number of the Oscar nominees this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">Best Picture – </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: 1917, 2nd Pick: Joker</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Best Director –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Sam Mendes, 2nd Pick: Quentin Tarantino (will win)</span><br style="color: black;" /><b style="color: yellow;">Best Actor –</b><span style="color: #04ff00;"> 1st Pick: Joaquin Phoenix, </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: Leonardo DiCaprio</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Best Actress –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: #04ff00;">1st Pick: Renee Zellweger</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Best Supporting Actor –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: #04ff00;">1st Pick: Brad Pitt, </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: Joe Pesci</span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: yellow;"><br /><b>Best Supporting Actress –</b> </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #04ff00;">1st Pick: Laura Dern</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">Cinematography –</span><span style="color: #04ff00; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span><span style="color: #04ff00;">1st Pick: 1917, </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: The Irishman</span></span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Film Editing –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: The Irishman, 2nd Pick: Joker</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Original Screenplay –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood, 2nd Pick: 1917</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Adapted Screenplay – </b><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Joker, 2nd Pick: The Irishman</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Production Design –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: #04ff00;">1st Pick: Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood,</span><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: 1917</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Costume Design – </b><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood, 2nd Pick: The Irishman</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Makeup and Hairstyling –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Joker, 2nd Pick: 1917</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Best Animated Feature –</b><span style="color: red;"> 1st Pick: Klaus, </span><span style="color: #04ff00;">2nd Pick: Toy Story 4 (will win)</span><span style="color: yellow;"> BUT FROZEN 2 SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AND WON</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: yellow;"><b>International Feature –</b> </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #04ff00;">1st Pick: Parasite</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">Best Original Score – </span><span style="color: red;">1st</span><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">Pick: John Williams (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), 2nd Pick: Thomas Newman (1917)</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Best Original Song –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: </span><span style="color: red;">Into the Unknown (Frozen 2)</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Visual Effects –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, 2nd Pick: Avengers: Endgame (will win)</span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: yellow;"><br /><b>Sound Editing –</b> </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: red;">1st Pick: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, 2nd Pick: 1917 (will win)</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Sound Mixing – </b><span style="color: #04ff00;">1st Pick: 1917,</span><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: Joker</span></span></span></div>
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Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-11915578021822981822019-02-24T16:57:00.000-05:002019-02-24T23:30:22.659-05:00OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2019<b style="color: yellow; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2019</b><br />
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Disclaimer: These are the films that I personally believe should win in each
category, not my prediction of who I believe The Academy will choose.
Also, I did not see Border, Cold War, Hale County This Morning, This
Evening, Mary Queen of Scots, Mirai, Never Look Away, or Of Fathers and Sons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">
Best Picture – </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Roma, 2nd Pick: A Star Is Born (but Green Book will win if Roma doesn't)</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">Best Director –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">1st Pick: Alfonso Cuaron, </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: Spike Lee</span><br style="color: black;" /><b style="color: yellow;">Best Actor –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Bradley Cooper, </span><span style="color: lime;">2nd Pick: Rami Malek (will win)</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Best Actress –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Glenn Close, 2nd Pick, Lady Gaga</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Best Supporting Actor –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span></span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1st Pick: Mahershala Ali, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2nd Pick: Richard E. Grant</span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>
Best Supporting Actress –</b> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1st Pick: Rachel Weisz, 2nd Pick: Emma Stone </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(but Regina King will win)</span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">Cinematography – </span><span style="color: lime;">1st Pick: Roma,</span><span style="color: red;"> 2nd Pick: A Star Is Born</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Film Editing –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">1st Pick: Bohemian Rhapsody, </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: Green Book</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Original Screenplay –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">1st Pick: Green Book, </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: Roma</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Adapted Screenplay – </b><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: A Star Is Born, 2nd Pick: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs </span><span style="color: lime;">(but BlacKkKlansman will win)</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Production Design –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: First Man, 2nd Pick: The Favourite </span><span style="color: lime;">(but Black Panther will win)</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Costume Design – </b><span style="color: lime;">1st Pick: Black Panther, </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: The Favourite</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Makeup and Hairstyling –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">1st Pick: Vice, </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: Mary Queen of Scots</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Best Animated Feature –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">1st Pick: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: Incredibles 2</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Best Animated Short –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">1st Pick: Bao</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Documentary Feature –</b> </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1st Pick: Free Solo, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2nd Pick: RBG</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Foreign Language Film –</b> </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1st Pick: Roma, </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2nd Pick: Cold War</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">Best Original Score – </span><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: Alexandre Desplat (Isle of Dogs), 2nd Pick: Marc Shaiman (Mary Poppins Returns)</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Best Original Song –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span><span style="color: lime;">1st Pick: Shallow (A Star Is Born), </span><span style="color: red;">2nd Pick: The Place Where Lost Things Go (Mary Poppins Returns)</span><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Visual Effects –</b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1st Pick: Ready Player One, </span><span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2nd Pick: First Man (will win)</span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b>
Sound Editing –</b> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1st Pick: A Quiet Place, 2nd Pick: First Man</span><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><b style="color: yellow;">
Sound Mixing – </b><span style="color: red;">1st Pick: A Star Is Born, 2nd Pick: First Man</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: cyan;">Movie Reviews for 2019 Oscar Nominees</span></b><span style="color: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/at-eternitys-gate-3-stars-out-of-10.html">At Eternity's Gate</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2018/06/avengers-infinity-war-9-stars-out-of-10.html">Avengers: Infinity War</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs-9-stars.html">The Ballad of Buster Scruggs</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/01/black-panther-2018-10-stars-out-of-10_8.html">Black Panther</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2018/12/blackkklansman-8-stars-out-of-10.html">BlacKkKlansman</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/bohemian-rhapsody-9-stars-out-of-10.html">Bohemian Rhapsody</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/can-you-ever-forgive-me-8-stars-out-of.html">Can You Ever Forgive Me?</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2018/10/christopher-robin-2018-8-stars-out-of-10.html">Christopher Robin</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-favourite-2018-4-stars-out-of-10.html">The Favourite</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2018/12/first-man-2018-8-stars-out-of-10.html">First Man</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/01/first-reformed-2-stars-out-of-10.html">First Reformed</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/01/if-beale-street-could-talk-7-stars-out.html">If Beale Street Could Talk</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/01/isle-of-dogs-9-stars-out-of-10.html">Isle of Dogs</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-quiet-place-9-stars-out-of-10.html">A Quiet Place</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/roma-2018-10-stars-out-of-10.html">Roma</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/01/solo-star-wars-story-8-stars-out-of-10.html">Solo: A Star Wars Story</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/spider-man-into-spider-verse-10-stars.html">Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/01/vice-6-stars-out-of-10.html">Vice</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://jonnysdailymoviereview.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-wife-2017-10-stars-out-of-10.html">The Wife</a></span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-87963327392667358192019-02-23T14:07:00.000-05:002019-02-23T14:09:37.834-05:00The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - 9 stars out of 10<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - 9 stars out of 10</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"The Balled of Buster Scruggs” is an anthology Western
with every bit of wit and dark humor that you expect from the Cohen Brothers. Is it one of those rare movies that I finished
and wanted to immediately start watching again.
Each vignette is completely memorable in its own way, which provides a
diverse viewing experience that feels cohesive because of its unified tone and setting. It has been trendy to rank the vignettes so I
will do the same:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1. All Gold Canyon<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2. The Gal Who Got Rattled<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Meal Ticket<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>5. The Mortal Remains<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>6. Near Algodones</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Honestly, a ranking probably isn’t fair because
they are all so good. As a whole, the
collection of stories work well together but I would have much preferred to see
the order adjusted so that the film ended with All Gold Canyon or The Gal Who
Got Rattled. After five poignant
conclusions, the ending of the final vignet seems rather anticlimactic, though
I can’t fault the Coen Brothers for choosing to end the film with one of their
original stories instead of one of the two that was based on someone else’s
work. I love the incorporation of traditional songs into Carter Burwell score (particularly "Mother Machree"). The violence is a bit graphic but it fits with the Western setting. I found this to be one of the more
entertaining films of 2018 and I’m glad that it was acknowledged with Oscar
nominations for Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, and Original Song. Hopefully this will encourage Netflix to
continue producing content that is worthy of the Awards circuit. “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” might seem a
little highbrow for some but I feel that it is accessible to most audiences. Each story lasts about 15 minutes and you’re
on to the next one if it didn’t appeal to you.
Anyone with a subscription to Netflix is missing out if they don’t give
this one a shot!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwZ2_kT0m2Zr6zwZo5vObxoqZ5vNBSJqhMgV8Mp0WfzD0vguaf0b8WRPjWsOPBwURe_4CB_an15Ava6nebsbUELzRU4FDqfgzlRVskeef9SnbtjEH9u3EXNBy6rciA6rHYobKIzvMZr9P/s1600/The+Ballad+of+Buster+Scruggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwZ2_kT0m2Zr6zwZo5vObxoqZ5vNBSJqhMgV8Mp0WfzD0vguaf0b8WRPjWsOPBwURe_4CB_an15Ava6nebsbUELzRU4FDqfgzlRVskeef9SnbtjEH9u3EXNBy6rciA6rHYobKIzvMZr9P/s400/The+Ballad+of+Buster+Scruggs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: This film is highly entertaining even if you aren't a fan of Westerns]</span></span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-60786484853786248072019-02-22T15:51:00.000-05:002019-02-22T16:01:00.385-05:00Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - 10 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - 10 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I approached “Spider-Man: In the Spider-Verse” with much
skepticism.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It seemed too soon considering
how busy Spidey has been in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And is there even room for an animated
Spider-Man film in an oversaturated superhero market?</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wrote this film off until it won the Golden
Globe for Best Animated Feature and my curiosity was piqued.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was no way that it could be better than
“Incredibles 2” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” right?</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I am now a believer.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Into the Spider-Verse” is unquestionably the
best animated film of 2018 and I would argue that it is the greatest Spider-Man
movie ever made.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The film is a 3-dimensional
comic book, combining realistic computer animated characters with speech
bubbles and split screens that resemble a comic book page.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The film utilizes quick cuts along the lines
of “The Big Short,” though we can’t refer to this as “film editing” because it
is animated.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has a completely unique
visual style that sets it apart from every other film. </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aside from the unforgettable visual
presentation, the story is well-conceived and profound in its use of parallel
universes.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The parallel universe concept
allowed the writers to create an Avengers-like crew comprised of Spider-Mans
(Spider-Men?) including Miles Morales, Peter Parker, a less refined Peter
Parker, Spider-Woman, Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker, and my favorite: Peter
Porker/Spider-Ham.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is genius. This could often be viewed as a gimmick but it fits perfectly in the context of Kingpin's evil plan. </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was especially amazed at the texture variation and physical depth between multiple characters in a single shot. They were each rendered differently depending on which universe they were from.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> T</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he film has the perfect balance of comedy,
drama, and action.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only problem is
that Sony probably cannot ever match this film.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is doubtful that they could conceive a better story and mimicking the
style of this one would be just as disappointing as trying do something inferior.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is a cutting
edge animated film that may change the way that studios approach superhero
films. It is a great reminder that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: This has to be the first time that a film has
created a superhero team out of several iterations of a single superhero and it
is incredible]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-30542181284279364842019-02-21T21:38:00.002-05:002019-02-21T21:38:38.025-05:00At Eternity's Gate - 3 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At Eternity's Gate - 3 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“At Eternity’s Gate” didn’t resonate with me.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I suppose that it is appropriate to take an
artsy approach to the final years of Vincent Van Gogh’s life but it left me craving
a clear narrative.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This film is more
about painting a picture than telling a story.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A series of one-on-one conversations reveal Van Gogh’s perspective of
the world.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">These are sandwiched between
extended POV sequences of him walking through various landscapes.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It just reads as a very boring 110 minutes.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The main draw of the film should be Willem
Dafoe’s Oscar-nominated performance but this was the biggest letdown of
all.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He is a consistently great actor
and this comes with a very high expectation.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">When you throw in an Oscar nomination that bumped out Timothée Chalamet for
“Beautiful Boy,” the expectation rises even higher!</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It was amazing to watch Dafoe recreate Van
Gogh’s masterpieces but his acting was just average.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I much prefer last year’s animated “Loving
Vincent” to this film and feel that it better captures the essence of Van Gogh’s
life.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“At Eternity’s Gate” will probably
fall into obscurity after Dafoe misses out on the Oscar and that’s okay.</span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though I love his artistic style, I
would never have a desire to watch this one again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ4CspVrIjms2oobdqCn0ZIQVigrAvEF7uhvgE2sFIkjO9RoQGPdKylM9WRAxyiLdg-aBWrc_duH_qK7dU205OXyXs5g77bn3vOSxn_fH-dx2atIR1Nrlj88ZkUt-bbC9lptubdaeufj0/s1600/At+Eternity%2527s+Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ4CspVrIjms2oobdqCn0ZIQVigrAvEF7uhvgE2sFIkjO9RoQGPdKylM9WRAxyiLdg-aBWrc_duH_qK7dU205OXyXs5g77bn3vOSxn_fH-dx2atIR1Nrlj88ZkUt-bbC9lptubdaeufj0/s400/At+Eternity%2527s+Gate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: If only the entire film could be as captivating as every sequence in which Dafoe paints]</span></div>
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Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-21278903956219440492019-02-20T21:33:00.000-05:002019-02-20T21:33:44.343-05:00Can You Ever Forgive Me? - 8 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can You Ever Forgive Me? - 8 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Can You Ever Forgive Me?” is a completely unique film
that follows a writer forges letters written by famous writers in order to make
ends meet. The story is fascinating and
the fact that it is a true story is an added bonus! And yet, the most impressive part of the film
is that it defies our expectation of a Melissa McCarthy film. She has made a career off of shock-value
humor and silly characters (even earning her an Oscar nomination for
“Bridesmaids”). However, McCarthy transforms herself into a bitter,
unhappy writer that is truly unrecognizable in comparison with the rest of her
body of work. Her performance is very
good but it is this contrast that will leave an impression for anyone that has
seen her in any other film. This could
be a turning point in her career as she has successfully proven herself as a
serious performer, particularly with her emotional monologue toward the
end. She is complimented by fellow Oscar
nominee Richard E. Grant. Their
love-hate relationship has great chemistry and helps to make each of their
characters multi-dimensional. The
screenplay adds just enough comedy to keep this crime caper from becoming too
serious. “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
probably won’t bring home any Oscars but hopefully the nominations are enough
to put it on film fans’ radars for years to come.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83BmkWEmmiIKQM3P70XbwnQUo46cQaRi_u-DVrPi_B_wLP2yBUReoYmKiWM_UfppwFFrw5j5nYapOSL8NZ2Rg0dbKoqLW0wMCRZzbW_GFh9ddrEn_6xilimHhzNybVBhDPaB2Fl8F4Enh/s1600/Can+You+Ever+Forgive+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83BmkWEmmiIKQM3P70XbwnQUo46cQaRi_u-DVrPi_B_wLP2yBUReoYmKiWM_UfppwFFrw5j5nYapOSL8NZ2Rg0dbKoqLW0wMCRZzbW_GFh9ddrEn_6xilimHhzNybVBhDPaB2Fl8F4Enh/s400/Can+You+Ever+Forgive+Me.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: This film is a great combination of lightheartedness and intensity, particularly this scene which will make your heart pound]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-48705854781925488202019-02-19T19:02:00.002-05:002019-02-19T19:02:28.651-05:00Bohemian Rhapsody - 9 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bohemian Rhapsody - 9 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am thrilled with “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a film that properly
honors my favorite rock band of all time.
The film has been criticized for historical inaccuracies and watering
down some of the R-rated escapades of the band but everybody needs to cool
their jets. It was meant to be a tribute, not an expose, and if it’s good
enough for Brian May and Roger Taylor then it’s good enough for me. Remi Malek’s Oscar-worthy performance as
Freddie Mercury is stunning. Every
movement and line of dialogue carefully considers the way that Freddie would
have done it. The place where I’m torn
is the singing. The Live Aid concert
sequence is epic in proportion and the integration of Queen’s music into every
scene makes it a strong contender for the Best Sound Mixing Oscar. There’s just one problem – the voice that we
are hearing is a combination of Malek, Mercury, and another singer. I find it disingenuous any time that an actor
lip-syncs because there are enough great singers out there that they should
have to, but I’m torn in this particular situation. Freddie had such a unique voice that it would
have been impossible to find an actor with the correct ethnicity, flamboyancy,
and a voice that could even come close to mimicking Freddie. When combined with the fact that Malek would
have been lip-syncing to his own voice during these sequences anyways, I would
have been more upset if the vocals didn’t sound like Mercury than I am that
they incorporated his original vocals into the final product. Even though this film is about the band, it
is clearly focused on Freddie as the rest of the band members receive virtually
no character development or depth. But
these actors deliver where it counts, and that is in the many musical sequences
that occur in arena, recording studios, and at home. Gwilym Lee is a literal clone of Brian May as
he shreds the famous guitar solos, Ben Hardy has the most depth as drummer
Roger Taylor, and Joe Mazzello is mild-manner like the real-life John Deacon on
bass. To me, the true standout of the
film is Lucy Boynton. She stole the
scene every time that she was onscreen and I probably would have given her a
spot in this year’s fairly weak Best Supporting Actress category. I'm happy that it received an oscar nomination for Best Film Editing. There are so many musical sequences that they could easily get boring but each one is filmed with its own unique energy that keeps the film moving as we learn the history behind many of Queen's greatest hits. There have been many complaints that the only
way to explore Freddie’s exploits is with an R-rating but I greatly appreciated
the tastefulness used in telling his story.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” takes a few historical liberties with the band’s
story but it drives the main point home: Freddie Mercury was a visionary who
died too young but made an impact on the musical world that will never be
forgotten.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: These actors emulate their characters so perfectly that you'll think that you are watching archival footage of the actual band]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-71661746602682169852019-02-18T21:35:00.002-05:002019-02-18T21:36:41.516-05:00The Favourite (2018) - 4 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Favourite (2018) - 4 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>"The Favourite” irked me. This historical film
portrays Queen Anne’s intimate relationship with two women with plenty of graphic
content but there’s a problem… it is a very slim chance that this is actually
true.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I understand taking a historical
liberty here and there for dramatic effect, but it is an issue to center your
entire plot around a likely historical inaccuracy and pretend that it is fact.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At its core, this is a story about two
influential women taking advantage of their friendship with the queen in order
to control Britain.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a fascinating
tale of female empowerment but it gets completely muddied by Deborah Davis’ concoction
of a love triangle.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She conveniently
left out any mention of Queen Anne’s close relationship with her husband, not
even showing him as a character at any point in the film.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m actually pretty surprised that a woman
wrote this screenplay. The presentation of the story is disrespectful to
women from start to finish and the entire film was predicated on shock-value
dialogue. Davis was passing out crude language like it’s candy.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite the shortcomings of the script,
Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone all put on masterful
performances.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each one brings depth and
emotion to their character and it’s no surprise that they all received Oscar
nominations.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was also deserving of
Oscar nominations for Production Design and Costume Design, but its nominations
for Picture, Director, Screenplay, Cinematography, and Editing should have been
split amongst the many superior films.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Overall, Yorgos Lanthimos’ direction didn’t impress me.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I liked the Tarantino-esque chapter stylization
but it didn’t add much to the storytelling.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best part of the movie was probably the score, which was a clever series
of Baroque classics to transport us to the 1700’s.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my opinion, the content of “The Favourite”
makes it unwatchable.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope that it is
somehow shut out at the Oscars so that it doesn’t receive any validation for
its crude content.</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can’t think of a
circumstance when I would ever want to watch this celebration of shock, even
with its impressive acting and interesting “The grass is always greener on the
other side” message.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOCfs1tECbrP1hNpZp_LnMCZeloTt_z9b7mnH3IHZJNMNi85AQfiwHsTgrZQmOvTmg_TDRxixLEOhMWtw9K4X6spzEa56nUWIYBrTB4tQgaGB1qZAvZI79hcwUvwIy8FZdweIJSEkndSl/s1600/The+Favourite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOCfs1tECbrP1hNpZp_LnMCZeloTt_z9b7mnH3IHZJNMNi85AQfiwHsTgrZQmOvTmg_TDRxixLEOhMWtw9K4X6spzEa56nUWIYBrTB4tQgaGB1qZAvZI79hcwUvwIy8FZdweIJSEkndSl/s400/The+Favourite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: Acting, costuming and set designs were great, but it was like putting lipstick on a pig when you consider the horrible screenplay and frustrating historical inaccuracy]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-32759620827248701252019-02-06T20:47:00.002-05:002019-02-06T20:47:47.541-05:00Roma (2018) - 10 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Roma (2018) - 10 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Roma” is more than another Oscar contender. It is a piece of artwork in motion. The film is a continuous series of examples
demonstrating how energy can be brought to the mundane through cinematic
artistry. We often praise a film for incorporating an impressive tracking
shot into the story (“Atonement,” “Touch of Evil”), but Alfonso Cuarón delivers
dozens of them. The film is three-dimensional, not in the sense that we
wear glasses but in the sense that we find ourselves surrounded by the film
thanks to the filming techniques. The scene where Yalitza Aparicio turns
off the lights and the camera circles around the entire room, the delivery room
scene where the action moves from the foreground to the background and back
several times while the camera remains stationary, the scene where the camera
moves up and down the beach, into the water, and back to the beach again - these
are all examples of how we move with the characters or sit with them as we see
the scenes develop from their perspective. And all of these scenes last
several minutes without a single camera cut. I knew that I was in for a
treat when the opening credits of the film rolled overtop of a tracking shot
that continues into the opening scene for several minutes. The simple “waves” of water flowing in and
out of the picture seem like an unnecessary over-complication for a title
sequence and yet, they perfectly foreshadow the film’s climax. It seems
like Cuarón intentionally chose the most challenging film techniques just to
see if he could do them. And he ended up mastering them. The camera panning is like a
well-choreographed dance and the film will most likely win the Oscar for Best
Cinematography. The film was shot in
sequence and on location, adding to the realism of the story. Cuarón built this story around his memories
growing up in Mexico City and it was literally filmed across the street from Cuarón’s
childhood home. The setting’s basis in
reality makes it beautifully vivid and an obvious Oscar nomination for
Production Design.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If there was an award for “Best Background Ensemble,” this
cast would certainly win. With Cuarón‘s long shots, we are constantly
seeing secondary and extra characters in the background doing exactly the right
thing when the camera reaches them. This promotes the organic feel of the
film, as if the camera wasn’t even there and everybody acted out the entire
scene in three dimensions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
most surprising Oscar nominees for any film this year is Yalitza Aparicio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her performance is filled with subtle emotion
instead of the bold, impassioned monologues that typically earn
nominations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aparicio was cast without
formal training or experience in acting, which helps to establish the timidity
necessary for her character. It gives her an authenticity that comes out
most in the beach scene where in reality, like her character, she cannot swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is pretty rare for a foreign film to earn
an acting nomination and this performance is much different than the few instances
where one has. Marina de Tavira’s nomination was equally as surprising,
though her character had some strong emotional moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost everything in this film is
perfection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all could have done without the
unapologetic, extensive male nudity while demonstrating martial arts. The
scene itself is crucial to setting up the events of the film and the group
martial arts scene, but it would have been equally effective (though admittedly
less memorable) if he had been wearing underwear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Roma” reminds me of films like “Boyhood” in
that you aren’t really going to stream this one a few times a year for
entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is more like an event
in which you sit down and absorb the film. It can be intimidating for
audiences because a 2+ hour, black and white, foreign film with subtitles
requires a large amount of concentration, even if the dialogue is very simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, it is worth your time to take in this
visual masterpiece from Alfonso Cuarón.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can isolate hundreds of 5-second clips from this film that read as individual
works of art. They so beautifully capture the joys and tragedies of life
and when you string them all together, the experience is surreal.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRu-gfRwwW3SPtrVibwvQJdB9wm9IVzQcBSlJ_mN5GTi0G7GQdEP5Q-Ye_yqfvcsHn8GV2ZAytX7V878UdTPXzUjZGNFGfxxm_Oj-1DMbzgEOcmfQoIc0f0knB6AQG7p6Tgggcx1JMqxi/s1600/Roma.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRu-gfRwwW3SPtrVibwvQJdB9wm9IVzQcBSlJ_mN5GTi0G7GQdEP5Q-Ye_yqfvcsHn8GV2ZAytX7V878UdTPXzUjZGNFGfxxm_Oj-1DMbzgEOcmfQoIc0f0knB6AQG7p6Tgggcx1JMqxi/s400/Roma.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: They said that "Roma" was meant to be seen in the theater and not at home on Netflix. But sometimes, you can have your cake and eat it, too!]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-15575768319599315282019-02-02T21:05:00.000-05:002019-02-02T21:05:51.985-05:00Visions (2015) - 8 stars out of 10<b style="color: #76a5af; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Visions (2015) - 8 stars out of 10</b><br />
<b style="color: #76a5af; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a world where most horror films follow a certain
equation, “Visions” reverses the equation in a way that I have never seen
before. This direct-to-video is quite impressive and deserves a
theatrical run. The film follows a pregnant mother who is haunted by a
tragedy from her past. Sounds pretty standard, but the delivery is
magnificent. The setting is interesting, tucked away in the mountains for
a feeling of isolation but at a vineyard that has neighbors close enough that
the main couple frequently interacts with others. The mystery develops at
a pace that keeps us interested but gives us time to question where the visions
come from, what they mean, and how the house factors into them. There are
a few big clues throughout the film that could give it away but the script
withholds one important piece of information that renders the clues
useless. This provides us with that great “A-ha!” moment at the
end. The way that every single clue lines up in the final sequence is
sophisticated beyond most horror films. This amazing story is accompanied
by strong performances that bring it to life, particularly Isla Fisher in the
lead role. Her character feels real but her distress over her past makes
us question if her visions are real. She is joined by Anson Mount as her
sympathetic husband and Joanna Cassidy as the token
in-tune-with-the-supernatural-world character. I was particularly
impressed with Gillian Jacobs and her impassioned role. Jim Parsons and
Eva Longoria are there to add big names to the cast list but they don’t do
much. Overall, it’s easy to disregard “Visions” at first glance since it
never appeared in US theaters. However, don’t pass on this film just
because you’ve never heard of it! Once you give it a chance, you will
find that its sophisticated concept and execution aspire beyond most big-budget
horror films. This is a must-see!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAVZhunrsKUUgaSS-hN5kO-2TJ-iFOkE5vzymObNndZBUdRnpRfNG2hYI9UP8PwHMKy4RlZFXfQ5WMnG7jGwuq8rgtDAV6tHtTwR-2Pxdv5KbGrooYn0E8PSjCWzPjTHLuozj7xurlU0E/s1600/Visions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="874" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAVZhunrsKUUgaSS-hN5kO-2TJ-iFOkE5vzymObNndZBUdRnpRfNG2hYI9UP8PwHMKy4RlZFXfQ5WMnG7jGwuq8rgtDAV6tHtTwR-2Pxdv5KbGrooYn0E8PSjCWzPjTHLuozj7xurlU0E/s400/Visions.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: Isla Fisher brings intensity to this well-written story]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-66026862591390230562019-02-01T07:08:00.002-05:002019-02-01T07:08:32.923-05:00The Wife (2017) - 10 stars out of 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Wife (2017) - 10 stars out of 10</b><br /><br />"And
the Academy Award Goes To...” At first,
I was annoyed at the prospect of Glenn Close winning this year’s Best Actress
Oscar over Lady Gaga. “A Star Is Born” was an amazing film with Gaga
commanding the screen and it seemed like Close would receive the Oscar merely
because it was “her turn.” And then I saw “The Wife.” This is one
of the best films of 2018 and I don’t know how it has been neglected on the
awards circuit. Glenn Close drives this film with her powerful performance,
bringing both timidity and boldness to her character. It has an amazing
pace that builds to that moment when she will reach her boiling point. And just when we think that we have her
figured out, her character develops another layer in the final scene. It is truly an Oscar-worthy achievement.
While she has been celebrated for this powerful portrayal, where is the acclaim
for Jonathan Pryce’s extraordinary performance? He has barely been
acknowledged and yet, part of what makes this film so strong is the chemistry
between these leads. His character
strengthens Close’s character, not to mention that he effectively earns our
sympathy and disdain. There was
certainly room for him in the Supporting Actor category. The casting of Annie Starke was wonderful as
she perfectly embodied a young Glenn Close and her quality of acting helped to
strengthen our attachment to Close with every flashback. I also loved the use of Christian Slater’s
character to gently push the buttons of the others. He is outside of the main conflict and yet,
he is the key element that pushes each character over the edge. This amazing character development makes me believe
that the screenplay was deserving of an Oscar nomination. Outside of the excessive profanity (which was
not always necessary for the characters to express their frustrations) and that
awkward opening scene, this story develops perfectly. I was particularly impressed with its ability
to mask the twist until a few subtle insinuations that provide that
jaw-dropping realization. Again, there
was definitely room for this film in the Adapted Screenplay category. I watched “The Wife” out of skepticism for
Glenn Close’s potential Oscar win but in the end, my skepticism shifted toward
the awards shows and their lack of recognition for this incredible film. This is one films that is not to be missed
this awards season.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18JvL_J8xQPHzhiC07VTdqaZ1LoIk2AvXyac3eKiF2J36N8lRSYVZKI5SiKETRfenvRc0F4FFYLDwVmvfebAmdyAfi73RjmqPgFBUtmcE2sNx1FlKwVyPWH5G374g-Lzf7t6qvBPtMrS8/s1600/The+Wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18JvL_J8xQPHzhiC07VTdqaZ1LoIk2AvXyac3eKiF2J36N8lRSYVZKI5SiKETRfenvRc0F4FFYLDwVmvfebAmdyAfi73RjmqPgFBUtmcE2sNx1FlKwVyPWH5G374g-Lzf7t6qvBPtMrS8/s400/The+Wife.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Pictured: Every moment of this film is carefully constructed to eventually push each character to their limit]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-8249744072269807872019-01-30T21:42:00.000-05:002019-01-30T21:43:11.854-05:00Vice - 6 stars out of 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Vice - 6 stars out of 10</b><br /><br />"Vice” is kind of a mess. It had the potential to
be a witty political satire but the end result is a confusing, cumbersome story
that doesn’t quite know when to end. Director
Adam McKay tries to replicate the unique, quick-cutting style of “The Big
Short” but this one lacks the charm of Margot Robbie randomly appearing and
explaining confusing banking concepts.
When creating a stylized film, it’s go big or go home and he just didn’t
go big enough. There aren’t enough goofy
moments throughout the film, making these quick cuts come off as non sequitur instead
of the norm. I will say that Alfred Molina’s waiter cameo was a very
clever way to present information and the false credit sequence was
hilarious. But those felt like the exception within this dry, fairly cold
story. There is also the issue of seeing
this after Oscar nominations were released.
It is one thing to walk into a satirical film without much expectation. It is very different to walk into a satirical
film that has 8 Oscar nominations.
Unfortunately, there are more-deserving films that were robbed of
nominations for Picture, Director, Editing, Screenplay, and even some of the
Acting categories. Sam Rockwell and
Steve Carell provide over the top caricatures of George W. Bush and Donald
Rumsfeld. They are cartoonish in nature
and were hilarious every time that they appeared onscreen. But when you contrast their exaggerated
energy with Christian Bale’s exaggeration of Dick Cheney’s monotone, Bale comes
off as boring. This is the antithesis of
what this film was aiming for! And two
hours is a long time to watch a story centered around a boring performance. That being said, Cheney was well-written as a
masterminded villain and it doesn’t take away from Bale’s dedication of putting
on 40 lbs in order to properly embody the character. His resemblance is uncanny and the film will likely win the
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar for his transformation. Like Rockwell and Bale, Amy Adams earned an
Oscar nomination. Her performance as
Lynne Cheney is good but there is no moment that screams “Oscar nomination!” I look at all of these acting nominations and
expect this to be one of the best films ever but it just doesn’t feel that
way. I read an interesting article that
pointed out that, aside from Bale’s transformation, none of the actors really
look like their real life characters so the film feels like a 2-hour SNL skit. I wanted to love “Vice” but honestly, I hope
that it doesn’t win any Oscars (outside of the well-deserved Makeup award) so that people won’t feel pressured to sit
through it. Now, a movie centered around
Sam Rockwell’s Bush impersonation… that is something that I could get behind.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOH3P_xhuGnr6KDcFKQKrd1CYsdEABcQYTM3JQ1VStNoZBcizWdijf0XrtX0kmwlYzpTPuKMu4eLeZBTL-mcaND1cOPgGyZB3fIPDMmHX5B5Z9ZQ-QYaGMA9zLFXBsmjBlgqpvwx_H_cs/s1600/Vice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOH3P_xhuGnr6KDcFKQKrd1CYsdEABcQYTM3JQ1VStNoZBcizWdijf0XrtX0kmwlYzpTPuKMu4eLeZBTL-mcaND1cOPgGyZB3fIPDMmHX5B5Z9ZQ-QYaGMA9zLFXBsmjBlgqpvwx_H_cs/s400/Vice.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: T<span style="font-size: 11pt;">he
main flaw of this film is Bale’s placement amongst high-energy characters, who
continually detract from his performance]</span></span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-12014231126452886622019-01-29T16:52:00.001-05:002019-01-29T16:52:28.847-05:00First Reformed - 2 stars out of 10<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First Reformed - 2 stars out of 10</b><br /><br />To
be blunt, “First Reformed” wasn’t very good.
There is a large disconnect between this film’s high Rotten Tomatoes
rating and what I watched on my screen last night. This slow-moving character study had a lot of
aspects that could have made it great and they all fell flat. First, everything in the film is
underplayed. The film opens with the
main character keeping a journal but this seemingly important plot device isn’t
even mentioned in the last twenty minutes of the film. There is also a severe lack of emotion for
something as devastating as a minister whose faith is slipping away and a
pregnant woman dealing with the suicide of a loved on. Ethan Hawke should have given an
unforgettable, emotional performance. He
has received critical acclaim and I love just about every role that he’s ever
played, but his acting was two-dimensional.
Some of his character’s ideas change throughout the film but I don’t
feel that he embodied the change. Amanda
Seyfried may have been trying to portray a numb, frail person but it comes off
as if she isn’t even trying to act. There
is also the screenplay that takes an interesting concept and portrays it in the
least interesting way possible. I have
never seen cancer portrayed in such an inconsequential fashion. It seems that “First Reformed” is this year’s
Oscar tribute for lifetime achievement and not this particular screenplay. Paul Schrader has been involved in many
important films throughout the years and it is illogical that this is his work
that is most deserving of a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination. It is unfathomable that this film beat out “Eighth
Grade” for the nomination. The only part
of this film that I enjoyed was the surreal floating scene, which didn’t even
fit in with the rest of the film. I don’t
know what the critics are thinking but “First Reformed” is one of the least
impressive films that I have seen in the past year.<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCWovdJgWbEttAjJ3Z8PT61cXkuBwW7XtXpQTW1Nz0e6VCIiz1bKZ_fh7tD_gbsAv7sTFxsbIGLnZ4rAsqpqDS0BHYdzGmvI2ffUJRgAygIIDYtRgOppt5xxjEHOvPx81TIUTHdxK8dMf/s1600/First+Reformed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCWovdJgWbEttAjJ3Z8PT61cXkuBwW7XtXpQTW1Nz0e6VCIiz1bKZ_fh7tD_gbsAv7sTFxsbIGLnZ4rAsqpqDS0BHYdzGmvI2ffUJRgAygIIDYtRgOppt5xxjEHOvPx81TIUTHdxK8dMf/s400/First+Reformed.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Pictured: Actually me for the entire duration of the movie]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-3381273277406305592019-01-27T08:56:00.004-05:002019-01-27T08:56:54.691-05:00Solo: A Star Wars Story - 8 stars out of 10<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Solo: A Star Wars Story - 8 stars out of 10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Solo:
A Star Wars Story” deserves more love than it has received. By any other
standard, the film tells a fascinating story with impressive cinematography and
amazing visual effects. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the Star
Wars standard requires an important blend of innovation and nostalgia, and this
one falls short.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like many other Star
Wars fans, I am guilty of skipping this one in the theater and waiting until it
was available on Netflix.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its release
didn’t feel like an “event” and that is a direct result of Disney’s
overconfidence in how often they could get Star Wars fans out to the theater.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s crazy that a film could bring in nearly
$400 million and be considered a box office failure but again, that is the Star
Wars standard.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the film is quite
good, it is a step below its big sister, “Rogue One,” and probably the weakest
of the franchise (excluding the Hayden Christensen trilogy). Where “Rogue
One” feels like a chapter of the trilogies, this feels like a bonus feature.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It suffers from a single fundamental flaw -
Harrison Ford is the only person that can play Han Solo.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There isn’t anything wrong with Alden
Ehrenreich’s acting but we will never believe that he will someday become the
Han Solo that we all know and love.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Donald
Glover as Lando Calrissian is much more believable.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He captures the spirit of the character in a
way that makes it easy to see a kinship with Billy Dee Williams.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story introduces some interesting new
characters that help to shape Han Solo.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Qi’ra, played by Emilia Clarke, is the standout character of the story
as she helps us to understand Han’s mistrust and cynicism toward women.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She benefits from proper character development
that isn’t dependent on our knowledge from other films.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also loved Woody Harrelson as Beckett, who
helps us to understand Han’s rogue personality later in the series.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harrelson seemed too mainstream to fit into a
Star Wars film but his character’s ambiguous good guy/bad guy persona worked
perfect for his acting.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had some
issues with John Powell’s scoring of the film.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was a little too obvious with the musical cues in the significant
moments like when Chewie sits copilot for the first time. Those of us that love
Star Wars will get those moments with a subtle musical nod of the main theme,
not a sudden fanfare.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing that the
film really gets right is its elaboration on beloved aspects of the Star Wars
universe.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We finally get the answers to
many important questions: How did Han and Chewie end up together?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where did the Millennium Falcon come from?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why is it significant that the Falcon
completed the infamous Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs (and did it
actually)?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What’s the story behind Han
and Lando’s unique “frenemy” vibe?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And
there’s even a reference to “Black Spire,” the upcoming story location for
Disney Parks’ Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Solo”
has the backstory, Star Wars Easter eggs, and Oscar-nominated Visual Effects
that we expected.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It delivers on the
promise of being a “space Western” by incorporating elements like a “train”
robbery, close-up gun holster grabs in a shootout, and sweeping panoramic
shots.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It introduces us to new
characters like Qi’ra and Beckett while paying homage to old friends like
Chewie and Lando.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main issue with “Solo”
is… Han Solo.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By any other name, this
film would be lauded for its storytelling and visual achievements.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, this film just couldn’t live
up to the name of Han Solo.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRj5TrEwIQFBJ-PJEJO54RmDVF1q-5_8EuibyS3BJv7tblFhzjpwj94HVuOMcHhc_7IVayfuN6dyPX-Ul-Nj05x7RhGRZEoFfYwFieANOVVc-XyDZJU6nh7hzr4chIcvDl7R2J_OOWZBy/s1600/Solo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRj5TrEwIQFBJ-PJEJO54RmDVF1q-5_8EuibyS3BJv7tblFhzjpwj94HVuOMcHhc_7IVayfuN6dyPX-Ul-Nj05x7RhGRZEoFfYwFieANOVVc-XyDZJU6nh7hzr4chIcvDl7R2J_OOWZBy/s400/Solo.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">[Pictured: Even if Ehrenreich isn't a believable Han Solo, this is still pretty awesome]</span></span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-48131623011459595632019-01-26T15:22:00.000-05:002019-01-26T15:22:03.374-05:00If Beale Street Could Talk - 7 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If Beale Street Could Talk - 7 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My expectations for “If Beale Street Could Talk” were too
high. The Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and award season hype
had me expecting a mind-blowing film but I felt pretty indifferent in the end.
It reminds me of “Loving” from a few years back. With both films, I had
an expectation of an emotionally-charged racial story that would have me fired
up but the end result was “very good” but not great. That isn’t to say
that I wasn’t fascinated by this classic story from James Baldwin. This
adaptation utilizes a nonlinear timeline to maintain the mystery of why Fonny
is in prison and whether he is guilty. It also helps us to form bonds
with the characters by allowing Director Barry Jenkins to decide when to reveal
different events in each character’s life. Introducing Fonny when he is
stealing woodworking materials might not make him very likable but introducing
him within the context of his relationship with Tish paints him in a positive
light. This makes us more understanding of his negative actions as we’ve
already seen how the trials of his life have shaped him. Kiki Layne and
Stephan James give strong performances in the lead role while Regina King gives
a very good performance as the mother, but I’m not sure that it is worth all of
the hype. A nomination in the Best Supporting categories comes with a
certain expectation - the actor will have one extremely emotive moment that
sticks with you (think Anne Hathaway in “Les Mis”). This is the same
issue that I had with Mahershala Ali’s win for “Moonlight.” He had a nice
performance but there was no “wow” moment. I was very surprised to see
Marina de Tavira with a nomination for “Roma” but even she had that
heartbreaking moment when her husband leaves. King plays her character
very well but I was still waiting for here “wow” moment when the credits began
to roll. If I were going to choose a supporting performance that stood
out, it would be Teyonah Parris as Ernestine. I believe that she was only
in one scene but her spunky attitude left a big impression. One of the
film’s most perplexing Oscar nominations is for Best Original Score. As a
musician, I am very attuned to the memorable themes woven throughout a score
and the music that enhances our emotions throughout a film. Nicholas
Britell provided neither. This score is a plodding, repetitive dirge with
an occasional jazz dissonance. I can’t imagine that anybody could sing
“The Theme from Beale Street” if I asked and I blame the score for preventing
me from forming the truly empathetic bonds that should come so naturally in
this story. “If Beale Street Could Talk” has an interesting story and
good acting but I am one of the few that is not surprised by its lack of Oscar
nominations.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Pictured: "Beale Street" offers a powerful story but doesn't quite live up to the hype]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-80328849080109363242019-01-22T08:11:00.001-05:002019-01-22T08:11:40.933-05:00Eighth Grade - 9 stars out of 10<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Eighth Grade - 9 stars out of 10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Eighth
Grade” is hilarious because it is so completely accurate. Director Bo
Burnham must be in touch with his inner adolescent because every stereotyped
kid and every overdramatic teenage tragedy is spot on. The film is one
long pop culture reference and even though this causes it to be instantly
dated, the struggles of Kayla are forever relevant. It needs to be this
way in order to properly capture this snapshot of adolescence in our current
technological age. The screenplay is really well-written, incorporating
“umms” and “likes” into the dialogue of its teenage characters. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is so much awkwardness intentionally
injected into every scene. The themes of peer pressure, anxiety, and sexting
are accurate and effective as they explore the social issues of a generation
that spends more time staring at a screen than looking up. As a teacher,
this film is an important reminder to adults about how fragile preteens can be
and that their sensitivity is important, no matter how silly the situation
looks to us. 15-year-old Elsie Fischer is magnificent as Kayla. She
really gets to the heart of the character as she awkwardly interacts with her
peers but shows confidence in her internet videos. You would totally
believe that this was her personal video diary.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Subtleties like the way that she carries herself in the pool scene make
her acting multidimensional. One of the best-written characters is
Kayla’s dad. He is hilarious because he perfectly embodies every
characteristic of a real-life embarrassing dad. Josh Hamilton balances
his goofiness with a beautifully tender moment toward the end. His
chemistry with Fischer feels like they are family. While the film could
be very valuable to eighth graders with its important messages about self-worth
and being yourself, the content goes beyond anything that I would ever let my
middle schooler watch. There was some controversy over the MPAA’s
decision to give it an R-rating but I believe it to be the correct
rating. There are definitely things that could have been cut to make it
more appropriate for teens without losing the film’s grit and message.
“Eighth Grade” is a hilarious look back at those awkward middle school
years. I found myself laughing out loud because the characters and
situations are so accurate but at its core, it captures the essence of how scary
the world looks through the eyes of an adolescent. I highly recommend the
film, even if you won’t be able to enjoy it with your teens.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">[Pictured: The awkwardness that permeates this film is palpable]</span></span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-3382281672065804632019-01-20T10:20:00.005-05:002019-01-20T10:20:56.822-05:00Beautiful Boy (2018) - 7 stars out of 10<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Beautiful Boy (2018) - 7 stars out of 10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Beautiful
Boy” is a raw, challenging look at drug addiction. This is the true story
of teenager Nic Sheff, whose casual drug use quickly led to a constant need for
something stronger. He begins his story as a likable kid with hopes and
dreams but it doesn’t take long for his life to spiral out of control.
Timothée Chamalet puts forth an impressive performance as he portrays the many
different phases of Nic’s addiction. By the end of the film, it is hard
to believe that the pathetic, broken young man is the same person that had so
much life in his eyes at the beginning. His critical acclaim and awards
nominations have been well-earned. Steve Carell gives the most emotional
performance of his life in the role of Nic’s father, David. The film is
particularly difficult to watch as a father because the story is told from his
perspective. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a painful amount
of empathy that will make you pray that you never have to see your own child
suffer like this. Carell sheds his typical funny man persona and
demonstrates the devastating effects of a person’s drug addiction on their
loved ones. For fans of “The Office,” it was a cruel joke to cast Carell
with Amy Ryan (Michael Scott and Holly), only to reveal that they are divorced
and only appear in one scene together. The content of the film reminds me
of “Requiem for a Dream.” It is difficult to stomach in its
straightforward approach to what drug use looks like and it’s negative effects
on both the human body and psyche. The story explores rehab, halfway
houses, relapse, and how difficult it is to maintain sobriety when your body
desires drugs so badly.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The content is
extreme and should only be approached in the proper mental state.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would make any person question the risk
vs. reward of drugs and, like “Requiem,” this is a good film to share with a
young person who is battling with peer pressure. “Beautiful Boy” offers
strong acting performances and a well-written script but the most important
part of this film lies in its thesis: drug addiction begins with a single use
and once it grabs hold of you, it will destroy you and every person that you
care about.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">[Pictured: The high stakes emotions bring the dangers of drugs to the forefront of the film]</span></span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-26675961561428267452019-01-14T21:28:00.002-05:002019-01-14T21:28:42.831-05:00Won't You Be My Neighbor - 10 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Won't You Be My Neighbor - 10 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Won’t You Be My Neighbor” is the feel-good tribute that
Fred Rogers deserves. This documentary comes at a time when our society
needs it the most. On the surface, it tells the story of an aspiring
Presbyterian minister who became a beloved children’s television host but deep
down, this is an exploration of the ideals that can get our society back on
track. We are a world searching for answers but Mr. Rogers has been giving
us the keys to a better world all along: Love and accept everyone, put education
first, and teach morality to our children. Documentarians often choose a
subject matter and put their own flashy spin on it.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often times, the subject is less important
than the way that it is told.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is
not the case for Morgan Neville, who steps to the side and allows this story to
speak for itself. The film captures the selflessness of Fred Rogers,
whose main motivation for getting into television was to fix the way that children’s
programming addresses its audience. He decided that children need someone
to remind them that they are special and that they need to treat others with
respect. It’s as if he predicted our modern downfall of family life where
children learn their morality from the media instead of their parents. “Mr.
Rogers’ Neighborhood” doesn’t seem too innovative because we are so familiar
with it but it’s amazing to see how he created this concept from nothing.
His songs, puppeteering, and Neighborhood of Make-Believe reached kids in a way
that they’d never been reached. He slowed down the action and allowed
kids to think as they learned. His role eventually grew beyond the show
as he became a paternal figure that everybody looked to during national
tragedies.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He helped children to
understand divorce, segregation, and even the assassination of Bobby
Kennedy. One of his most famous moments came when he testified in a
Senate hearing to secure funding for PBS, which Neville plays in its entirety
and will likely have you in tears. The format of the episodes is quite
smart as he would introduce a major theme in his home and then further explore
that theme through the Make-Believe characters. Rogers’ life becomes
three-dimensional through interviews with his family and friends including his
wife Joanne, sons John and Jim, Mr. McFeely, Officer Clement, Yo-Yo Ma, and
musician Joe Negri. It has some more intimate moments like a discussion
of how Rogers was homebound during middle school due to illness and bullying for
his weight, and how this forced him to use his imagination with his toys.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, archival footage of Fred explaining
that he has an easier time telling people that he cares while acting Daniel
Tiger. Fittingly, the documentary is woven together with animations of
Daniel Tiger representing Rogers. I found it very interesting to hear Fred’s
family express that Fred originally saw himself as Daniel but became more like
King Friday XIII as he grew frustrated with society. I could have done
without the segment about people speculating whether Rogers was gay and whether
he ruined a generation by telling children that they are special. I
appreciate that this was included to set the record straight about who Rogers
truly was but it felt out of place in this heartwarming tribute about our
beloved mentor. Mr. Rogers touched the majority of our lives in one way
or another and it’s hard to believe that a documentary could help us to have a
deeper appreciation for who he was and everything that he did for
children. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” is a must-see this awards season and
will gain the recognition that it deserves with an Oscar win for Best
Documentary.</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has my vote!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EEwT7YN0xCiFLkWehR9F9Sj7ACasoCn7nqxnYLiGmrm80X0QX4-405QduegbTtzHbW5_d4aILkV1B1hdTo7v09EkVjEHsF5oil_QcY7sA7U2CrlIOiMxksRIS1ab0zrO1ecVkKdRwC3P/s1600/Won%2527t+You+Be+My+Neighbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EEwT7YN0xCiFLkWehR9F9Sj7ACasoCn7nqxnYLiGmrm80X0QX4-405QduegbTtzHbW5_d4aILkV1B1hdTo7v09EkVjEHsF5oil_QcY7sA7U2CrlIOiMxksRIS1ab0zrO1ecVkKdRwC3P/s400/Won%2527t+You+Be+My+Neighbor.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Pictured: Mr. Rogers broke down racial barriers with this subtle segment on his show]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-57228439376234650002019-01-13T22:04:00.001-05:002019-01-13T22:04:42.258-05:00Isle of Dogs - 9 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Isle of Dogs - 9 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Isle of Dogs” may be the most Wes Anderson film that Wes
Anderson has ever created. Whether you love his work or hate it, you have
to admit that this heavily stylized film is unlike anything that you’ve ever
seen. So many films lack a stylistic identity but an Anderson film can be
identified from any 15 seconds of footage. His head-on shots give the
film a personal feel, as if the characters are speaking directly to us.
Their dialogue is equally colloquial as the characters set aside formality and
speak their minds. Alexandre Desplat matches Anderson’s style with a
whimsical score. I love the incorporation of Prokofiev’s “Troika” into
the musical landscape. The score is crucial to blending the edgy story
with the stop-motion medium. The PG-13 rating reflects some mild
profanity and violence, hopefully deterring parents from thinking that this is
a family film. As per usual, Anderson assembled an ensemble cast to bring
these characters to life. The impressive list includes Bryan Cranston, Ed
Norton, Liev Schreiber, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Frances McDormand, Bob
Balaban, and even Yoko Ono as herself. The diversity of vocal tones helps
to inject personality into each dog. There has been a debate on whether
this film is racial stereotyping or a tribute to Asian culture. I agree
with the latter and believe that the setting is perfect for this story and any
less inclusion of Asian culture would have been an injustice. “Isle of Dogs”
is another fun, quirky addition to the film repertoire from Wes Anderson.
Don’t let the stop-motion medium fool you - this film has all of the
sophistication of an art house film.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNBFzC_gJAXbwesdx19G3vP5lQ_0jY1_FkYUMQEjrt-DEANKDTcEGEW96vE4mJvsY9gK4X0d3v92rmjq0j60l3vZ0roXN8z5Z1SzRBxr_5d2UNO4Txfn2E5EFI0DBvZ-nqU76cQzff7w9/s1600/Isle+of+Dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="660" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNBFzC_gJAXbwesdx19G3vP5lQ_0jY1_FkYUMQEjrt-DEANKDTcEGEW96vE4mJvsY9gK4X0d3v92rmjq0j60l3vZ0roXN8z5Z1SzRBxr_5d2UNO4Txfn2E5EFI0DBvZ-nqU76cQzff7w9/s400/Isle+of+Dogs.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f6b26b; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">[Pictured: Wes Anderson's signature style is evident in every frame of this film]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-76699406700265181242019-01-10T17:00:00.003-05:002019-01-10T17:00:41.176-05:00It Follows - 8 stars out of 10<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It Follows - 8 stars out of 10</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It
Follows” is a surprisingly good horror film.
</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The premise seems a bit silly, centering around a curse that is passed
from person to person by having an “adult” encounter.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The supernatural entity then slowly follows
you until it either kills you or is passed on to someone new by the same means.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The synopsis is a headscratcher until you
watch it and understand its symbolism.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
you’re catching on, the film can be an allegory for several different things
including AIDS and STDs.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is pretty
genius to incorporate this into a horror film since the lifelong consequences
of these diseases are scarier than any slasher film.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most clever part of the film is that you
can’t get rid of “It” – once “It” catches someone, “It” starts working “Its”
way back down the line until “It” gets to you.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can buy yourself some time but it will eventually catch up to you,
similarly to how you cannot escape the physical and emotional toll of these
diseases.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hesitated to watch this film
because I knew that there would be a lot of adult content but director David
Robert Mitchell focuses on the consequences of the action instead of the action
itself.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That being said, the content is
too extreme for kids or teens and the R-rating should be observed.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The acting is quite good for such a young
cast, particularly Maika Monroe and Daniel Zovatto whose characters really
popped off of the screen.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most
impressive part of the film is its portrayal of the entity.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It catches you off guard because it takes
different forms, sometimes normal and sometimes frightening (and particularly gross
at times).</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps the scariest thing
about the entity is its slow speed.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
enhances the sense of dread that you can get away but you will have to run and
be alert for the rest of your life.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I appreciate
the amount of restraint shown throughout the film, first making us wonder if
the entity is really capable of much and then magnifying the fear factor each
time that the characters encounter it.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
is one of the few times that I’ll ever say that I would love to see a
sequel.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many layers of this
story that could be unwrapped if the main character started going down the line
to discover the origin of the curse.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then again, maybe we should learn from “The Ring” series and remember
that the unknown is always scarier than what we know.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“It Follows” is an original concept that
stands out in a genre that often suffers from repeating the same story over and
over again.</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is important to be aware
of the premise and the content that comes with it but the story at the heart of
this film is fascinating and perfectly executed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEyXAYtyJFfyxKQz4ghKDkobe7Y_CzaGqMcqwSBQ3A7MruXsTE3sPNaOhLLB_wirCX9_12iA5X3Anec_PEgTfA1zFB3pHrJ_lzWN18CNC9n0uKCPCjlz0s8eFxm3Gv6Y5hIVr1RbRG9bs/s1600/It+Follows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEyXAYtyJFfyxKQz4ghKDkobe7Y_CzaGqMcqwSBQ3A7MruXsTE3sPNaOhLLB_wirCX9_12iA5X3Anec_PEgTfA1zFB3pHrJ_lzWN18CNC9n0uKCPCjlz0s8eFxm3Gv6Y5hIVr1RbRG9bs/s400/It+Follows.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Pictured: The entity moves so slowly that it is unnerving]</span></span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-7425318700568059832019-01-08T20:33:00.001-05:002019-01-08T20:33:04.327-05:00Black Panther (2018) - 10 stars out of 10<b><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black Panther (2018) - 10 stars out of 10</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Black Panther” is more than just another Marvel movie. It hits all of the right notes in different categories from production design and special effects to acting and a topical social commentary. It has also been praised for its diverse cast but I hope that people see that this is a bonus and not the main reason that it should be celebrated. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its high and low points in regards to acting and storytelling, though most maintain that classic superhero film feel. The layering of this story is more akin to a critically acclaimed drama told through the lens of superheroes. I also found it refreshing to have a standalone film, compared to every other recent Marvel film that necessitates a strong presence of Stark Industries to strengthen its story. I understand that this is what has made the MCU unlike anything that the film industry has ever seen but it’s been a long time since we saw a superhero film that stands completely on its own legs. And that is why I believe that this is the first superhero film to have a legitimate shot at some Oscars outside of special effects - it is a complete package. Writer/Director Ryan Coogler has crafted a script that perfectly fits into a superhero universe while drawing parallels to the modern headlines of refugees, building a wall around your borders, and countries keeping to themselves instead of helping those who are in need. Coogler’s political stance is very clear and he uses the film as an allegory to shine a light on his concerns, much like George Orwell before him. The cast that brings this story to life is a “Who’s Who” of Hollywood’s biggest stars. You know that you’re doing well when Forrest Whitaker and Daniel Kaluuya are around sixth and seven on the cast list! Chadwick Boseman drives the entire film with his conflicted character who does not know how to be both a good person and a good king. Michael B. Jordan put knots in my stomach every time that he appeared because I empathized with his circumstances but hate his actions. His intensity helps the dichotomy of the film since his L.A. personality doesn’t feel like it belongs in Wakanda, which is exactly the point. He makes an amazing villain. Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira make amazing warriors in these empowered roles and Martin Freeman brings some important comic. Perhaps the most underrated performance comes from Andy Serkis. He steps beyond the curtain of motion capture to show that his live acting can be just as chilling and intense without the help of computer graphics. Speaking of computer graphics, this film is a visual masterpiece. The technological/woodsy world of Wakanda is vivid and feels like it could exist in a hidden corner of our world and the cinematography supersedes what you’d expect from an action film. The soundtrack perfectly compliments the story’s dual African and superhero roots and the sound editing captures every sound from fantasy flying ships to the simplicity of a museum. “Black Panther” is the complete package and sets a new expectation of what a superhero film should be.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBlJuKzojG1Zbwek3awhFUHC4woMefagmlDPPI6kAhsLM7NQFWSM102OW0ye6NkU9xSD2R8ONeo8rzvAd9gnFOk4VpyFyiACxj-GBBlhIurUwvyciN-4RWyxt6a46HWec4GX3sLjvU_vp/s1600/Black+Panther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBlJuKzojG1Zbwek3awhFUHC4woMefagmlDPPI6kAhsLM7NQFWSM102OW0ye6NkU9xSD2R8ONeo8rzvAd9gnFOk4VpyFyiACxj-GBBlhIurUwvyciN-4RWyxt6a46HWec4GX3sLjvU_vp/s400/Black+Panther.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Pictured: The incredible hero/villain combo of Boseman and Jordan is one of many amazing aspects of this film]</span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3797094473042552846.post-16722293582972024032018-12-31T15:54:00.002-05:002018-12-31T15:54:25.570-05:00First Man (2018) - 8 stars out of 10<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First Man (2018) - 8 stars out of 10</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
the surface, “First Man” appears to be a film about the Apollo 11 Moon landing
but it digs much deeper than that. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
biopic tells the story of Neil Armstrong, a man whose failures and personal losses
shaped him into the perfect candidate to man the first mission to the Moon.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film begins with Armstrong’s
days as a NASA test pilot before detailing his training in the Gemini program and
the life-threatening dangers faced by these astronauts.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Consequently, only about 20 minutes of the
140-minute film is spent on the actually Apollo 11 mission but Armstrong’s
journey is important to understanding the success of the mission.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will state the obvious first: this film
will make a strong showing at the Oscars in the technical categories.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Moon landing sequence is so vivid that
you will think that it is authentic footage of the events.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is one of the most artistic moments that
you will see in any film this season.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
sound in the action sequences builds tension, pairing perfectly with the GCI
and practical effects to transport us to the Moon alongside the characters.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I honestly lost my awareness that this was a
film and not a documentary throughout the film.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite its incredible effects and cinematography, I still prefer “Apollo
13” for its superior storytelling and acting.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main issue with “First Man” is that you walk into it expecting a space
adventure but it is actually a character-driven drama that happens to cross
paths with the space race.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film
moves very slow and the nature of Ryan Gosling’s character hinders him from
giving the emotional lead performance that can drive a film’s energy.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Claire Foy has a solid shot at the Best
Supporting Actress Oscar with her two impassioned scenes but the rest of the
cast is a bit bland.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other end of
the spectrum, the soundtrack is perfection as it captures both the loneliness
of the characters and the mystery of space.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Justin Hurwitz realizes the necessity for musical simplicity in a film
like this to keep the music from overshadowing the subtlety of the characters.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Within this framework, he incorporates unique
sounds like the theremin and creates memorable musical moments like the whimsical
“Docking Waltz.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oddly enough, the score
may be too similar to last year’s winner (the otherworldly “The Shape of Water”)
to secure an Oscar win, but I’m sure that it will be nominated.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the most confusing (and controversial) aspects of the film is the purposeful omission of the astronauts planting the American flag on the Moon. Whether the decision was politically motivated or not, it counteracts the story's patriotic theme and its emphasis on NASA's urgency for the United States to win the space race. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, I was a bit disappointed by “First
Man” because I had an expectation of watching a space adventure; still, director
Damien Chazelle has done an amazing job of realizing this historic event fully
in context and making us feel like we’ve traveled to the Moon with Neil
Armstrong.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPNxXY9S3RKrVKyCYY5Xz7-Sl-e5c3oBXQ5CqCxzKiyi2FKsQxYzcziQH4N_J56y8hkgOsvIRljnXfELRXVPxWqHdQymO7rP5TCedx0Az8PI8Aq7HUfrGtoBMTwp3-KonfsTgf42JvmXu/s1600/First+Man.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="835" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPNxXY9S3RKrVKyCYY5Xz7-Sl-e5c3oBXQ5CqCxzKiyi2FKsQxYzcziQH4N_J56y8hkgOsvIRljnXfELRXVPxWqHdQymO7rP5TCedx0Az8PI8Aq7HUfrGtoBMTwp3-KonfsTgf42JvmXu/s400/First+Man.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">[Pictured: The imagery of the Moon landing sequence instantly become iconic]</span></span></div>
Jonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14974615815979453700noreply@blogger.com0