The Nominees Ethel Barrymore, The Paradine Case – Yes, it’s weird Barrymore is the only nominee of this very amazing film. Hitchcock’s visual ideas are probably as much to do with her impact as her own acting choices, and I wish she had a scene with Ann Todd at some point during the trial given…
1981 Supporting Actress Smackdown
I’ve always loved playing alongside the Smackdown. I’m incredibly excited for the busy schedule that’s been announced for this summer, shooting for six films of the next few months. I’m even happier that Film Experience helmer Nathaniel Rogers has allowed me to write a weekly companion piece for every year of the month, focusing on…
2019 Ballot, List Version
* – original nominee that subsequent became a runner-up^ – runner-up that was originally a nominee^^ – runner-up that was a nominee and then became a runner-up again” – film seen after original ballot was posted Picture Atlantics, dir. Mati Diop The Cave, dir. Feras Fayyad Black Mother, dir. Khalik Allah End of the Century,…
February 2020 Viewing Log
Bombshell (19, C): Impactful on its own terms, but omits too much context to actually say anything meaningful. Sloppily made to boot. 2/2/2020 I think Robbie’s actually pretty good with some of the film’s darkest scenes. Charlize is fine, if somewhat inhibited by the vocal imitation and the prosthetics. In that Monster way, she kinda…
January 2020 Viewing Log
My 100th post! Got sonething fun coming down the pipe, but that’s no excuse for not keeping up regular maintenance. Anyways, here you go. Rojo (19, B+): Communicates so much through spooky precision of form and mood, even as how much “happens” is elliptically unclear. 1/3/2020 Greener Grass (19, B): Satire of suburban identity crisis…
Corpus Christi (19, B-/B)
Corpus Christi, as you may have heard, is based on the true story of a young Polish man sent off to a work camp/halfway house designated by the youth detention center he’d been living in for the past few years. Rather than doing that, Daniel (Bartosz Bielenia) pretends to be a priest in order to…
December 2019 Viewing Log
The Wise Kids (12, B): So generous towards its characters and their complexities you forgive some lag in the filmmaking. 12/2/19 Henry Gamble’s Birthday (15, B+): Expands its canvas of characters and questions, a little thornier but just as empathetic. 12/2/19 I’d call Princess Cyd my favorite of Cone’s films, which has two genius performance…
November 2019 Viewing Log
Lights Out (16, D): Has its scares, engaging (so blunt!) depression allegory, but keeps souring its rules and its messaging is hideous. 11/2/19 It doesn’t help that so many films of late have tread this ground with more nuance and filmmaking bonafides, but even on its own terms it’s sensationalist and crude. Nostalghia (83, A):…
October 2019 Viewing Log
Note: Any film with a parenthesis around it indicates it was something I got to see at this year’s Chicago Film Festival, which was super awesome. Any film with an asterisk indicates a different grade from when I originally saw it. Mr. Turner (14, A-): Firmly situated not just in time and place, but in…
September 2019 Viewing Log
The Dark Crystal (82, B+): Jaw dropping worldbuilding and visual effects. Not all story aspects are equally interesting but damn does it work. 9/1/19 Eyes Wide Shut (99, A): Dizzying, hypnotic energy, seductive and repellent all at once. So rich in mood and atmosphere even as it observes its protagonist with bored pity. 9/1/19 The…
It's Just Like The Movies 