Final 2015 Oscar Predictions
It’s show time! Here are my final 2015 Oscar predictions for all 24 categories: Best Picture American Sniper Birdman Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash Predicted winner: Boyhood Alt: Birdman (Click here for my thoughts on all eight 2015 Best Picture nominees.) ***** Best Director Alejandro G. […]
Ranking the 2015 Best Picture Nominees
It occurred to me the other day that, despite seeing every film nominated for the 2015 Best Picture Oscar, I’ve only formally reviewed one. What?!? And it was a dud of a film—The Theory of Everything. Maybe that speaks to my general indifference toward this crop of nominees; after all, it’s easier and way more […]
My 2015 Indie Spirits Ballot
I’m voting in Film Independent’s Spirit Awards for the first time this year, and it’s been fun to catch up with some titles I might not have otherwise sought out had they not been nominated, like The Guest and Kumiko The Treasure Hunter and this lovely little flick called Selma. Anyway, Film Independent asks us […]
If I Had a 2015 Oscar Ballot
I’m pretty far along when it comes to catching up with every 2015 Oscar nominee. (The foreign-language films are mostly blind spots, but what else is new.) So now is as good a time as any to share my choices for the best in show. It’s been a weird year for me watching the Oscars […]
So, About Those 2015 Oscar Nominations…
What in the name of Dick Poop just happened?!?!?!? It was a wild morning that saw the announcement of the 2015 Oscar nominees, and I just can’t get past Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs’ all-time great mispronunciation of a name. Congratulations to Mr. Turner cinematographer Dick Pope on your Oscar nomination. I’m sorry you’ll live […]
2015 Oscar Predictions: Nominations Eve
I’m not going to say too much up front because this post should speak for itself. I’ll have more to say when we know something tomorrow. Some people are super down about awards this year, but I’m excited! Here goes nothing: Best Picture American Sniper Birdman Boyhood Gone Girl The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation […]
2015 Golden Globes Predictions
When it comes to making 2015 Golden Globes predictions, everyone knows quality shouldn’t come into the picture too much. The Globes are notorious for some decisions—most notably Zsa Zsa Gabor and The Tourist. I’m not sure why we take them seriously other than the fact that it’s a show on primetime, but to be fair, […]
The 20 Best Performances of 2014
It was a great year for acting, and I still haven’t seen some of the year’s most acclaimed performances. If David Oyelowo (Selma), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Beyond the Lights), or anyone else bowls me over the way they have so […]
2015 Golden Globes Nominations Predictions
The ultra-prestigious and never ridiculous Hollywood Foreign Press Association is on the cusp of announcing its nominees for the 2015 Golden Globes. We should take these nominations very seriously, as the many, many dedicated and serious-minded members of this fine organization consider only the artistic merits of each film, performance, and craft achievement in a […]
The 2014 OFCS Nominations
Today, the Online Film Critics Society announced its nominees for its 18th annnual year-end awards. I had the privledge of voting as a member of the OFCS for a second year, and while these wouldn’t necessarily be my choices for best films/performances/craft achievements of 2014, I’m genuinely excited that my colleagues and I have selected […]
2015 Best Supporting Actor and Actress Predictions: Simmons, Arquette, and…
Since my last 2015 Oscar predictions update, Interstellar landed…interestingly. I actually haven’t seen the film yet, so I can’t say too much, but it’s discouraging to see how much Nolan-related baggage—both positive and negative—writers are bringing into their reviews of the guy’s movie. But that’s neither here nor there for the purpose of this post […]
Post-TIFF Best Picture Power Rankings
Now that the fall festivals have come and gone, it’s time to start thinking seriously (and in a guilt-free way) about the 2015 Oscars. Pundits everywhere have been sharing their 2015 Oscar predictions for weeks, sometimes months, and I’m no different (check out my first set of 2015 Oscar predictions, published about a month ago). […]
2015 Oscar Predictions: First Guesses Before Fall Fests
It’s 2015 Oscar predictions time, so let’s dig the prognosticator’s hat out of the attic, dust it off, and take a look at the landscape of the 2015 Oscar race. If I’m being honest, though, I almost didn’t want to get involved with 2015 Oscar predictions at all. Last year’s Oscar season and the nonsense […]
2014 Summer Movie Preview: Part 2
I can’t remember a summer—hell, I can’t remember any period of time—during which a crop of indies was so far and away better/more promising than its blockbuster counterpart. My 10 most-anticipated major Hollywood motion pictures list included no honorable mentions, and if I’m being honest, I’m not extremely excited about a few items I actually […]
