“The Death of Stalin” Directed by Armando Iannucci When you think of hyphenate writer-directors with intensely personal styles a lot of names come to mind. But there are some whose style is SO specific that, apart from a miss or … Continue reading “The Death of Stalin”
“Black Panther” Directed by Ryan Coogler So here’s a question? Why did it take a hundred years of Hollywood to give the world not just an African hero, but a view of an African civilization as advanced, strong, and utopian … Continue reading “Black Panther”
“Red Sparrow” Directed by Francis Lawrence I want you to close your eyes and go way back in to the furthest recesses of your mind, to a time when a young, phenomenal actor was magnetic in a film about the … Continue reading “Red Sparrow”
“The Insult” Directed by Ziad Doueiri So, I’m not alone in believing that the world is going to crap, yes? For the past few weeks it’s become more and more apparent that the prevailing feeling surrounding us is one of … Continue reading “The Insult” – Lebanon (Best Foreign FIlm Oscar Nominee)
This was, overall, one of the weakest crop of docs to be nominated in many, many years. This does not diminish the craft and effort put in to them. It simply means that none of them reach the level … Continue reading 2018 Oscar Nominated Documentary Feature Films
An interesting crop of short docs this year. Not nearly as devastating and life-devaluing as last year (with the notable exception “Joe’s Violin”). And, not for nothing, all uniquely American films. Nonetheless, very affecting, moving and…ultimately hopeful. Four focus on … Continue reading 2018 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Docs
The world of mankind is totally screwed…and screwed up. And in case you don’t think so, just go see the nominated live action shorts. Even the comedy portrays a world where up is down and down is up. <sigh> It’s … Continue reading 2018 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Live Action
“The Square” (Sweden) Directed by Ruben Östlund So Ruben Östlund‘s last film, “Force Majeur” (an Oscar nominee in 2015) was long on film presence and purpose, but short on story and magnetism. “The Square”, alas, goes WAY overboard in trying … Continue reading “The Square” – Sweden (Best Foreign Film Oscar Nominee)
“On Body and Soul” (Hungary) Directed by Ildikó Enyedi Having already seen three fantastic Hungarian films this year (“1945“, “Budapest Noir“ and “Aurora Borealis“ – all reviewed here), one of which I thought was maybe the best film all year, … Continue reading “On Body and Soul” – Hungary (Best Foreign Film Oscar Nominee)
Chicken or the egg…or, rather, does the Animated Shorts nominating committee have terrible taste, or did they simply choose the best from a weak bunch? The best of the five nominees chosen in this year’s category wouldn’t have made the … Continue reading 2018 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Animated
The No Spoiler Critic 