The animated selection of 2016 Oscar nominated shorts is one strange group of five. As a rule, you can usually count on one beautifully made film, one from Disney, and three that are very good, but just “off” enough to … Continue reading 2016 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Animation
“Theeb” (Jordan) Directed by Naji Abu Nowar “Theeb”, Jordan’s Oscar-nominated entry for the Best Foreign Language Film award, is an often exciting, yet ultimately unsatisfying, coming of age thriller set during the Ottoman occupation of Jordan in World War I. … Continue reading “Theeb” (Jordan)
I love me some good short films! Must be my ADHD (then again, I sat through all 245 minutes of Mariano Llinas’ “Extraordinary Stories” some years back and loved every second, so…). This year’s batch of Live Action nominees is … Continue reading 2016 Oscar Nominated Shorts: Live Action
“Hail, Caesar” Directed (and written and produced) by Joel & Ethan Coen The Coen Bros. have established their predilection to write and produce many different types and genres of films. And, as you might already know, they have been wildly … Continue reading “Hail, Caesar”
“Beasts of No Nation” Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga I have great confusion over this film…and I think that’s probably the point. Revolving around the craziness that is civil war in a small “unnamed African country” (as the publicity states), … Continue reading “Beasts of No Nation”
“99 Homes” Directed by Ramin Bahrani This is the film that reminds you “watch-ability” and “likability” are two very different things. Of course, you could say that about everything that features Michael Shannon. It possesses a utilitarian, and occasionally excellent, … Continue reading “99 Homes”
“Legend” Directed by Brian Helgeland It’s not often a soundtrack ruins a film for me. And it’s almost unicorn-like when that composer is someone I love as much as Carter Burwell…. “Legend” is a fascinating film on so many levels! … Continue reading “Legend”
“Anomalisa” Directed by Duke Johnson & Charlie Kaufman Bizarre Mr. Charlie Kaufman. He just can’t let go of the puppets representing the awkwardness that is human interaction and relationship. But, whereas, in “Malkovich”, the puppets were a literal means of … Continue reading “Anomalisa”
This is going to be one strange awards show. Knowing, as I do, that most voters wait until the last minute, there is absolutely no way the #OscarSoWhite campaign is not going to have an affect on the voting. My … Continue reading 2016 SAG Awards Predictions
Now, I KNOW you didn’t watch any of these…and why would you? Well, I did. And, frankly, what the hell was the nominating committee thinking?! Seriously, who thought these nominated performances were the best of the best? Did this year … Continue reading SAG Awards Viewing Guide: Part 4 – TV Movie or Miniseries
The No Spoiler Critic 