“Never Look Away” (Germany) Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Let’s start off by confessing my love for von Donnersmarck’s Academy Award-winning “The Lives of Others”. It is well ensconced in my Top Ten favorite films of all time. It … Continue reading “Never Look Away” (Germany)
A good little crop of films this year. None of them are truly outstanding, but all are intriguing, even if one is a mere seven minutes long, another is a retread (granted, brutally honest) of several previous nominees, and a … Continue reading 2019 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Shorts
This was not a banner year for the animated shorts. You know that’s the case when at the theatrical presentation of the nominees, one of the shorts they add on as filler (also known as the “Highly Commended” group) should … Continue reading 2019 Oscar-Nominated Animated Shorts
Well, I must say…the nominating committees for much of this year’s categories sure have a penchant for the bleak, especially when it comes to kids. Between “Roma” (Foreign Film), “Of Fathers and Sons” (Doc), “Minding the Gap” (Doc), “Black Sheep” … Continue reading 2019 Oscar-Nominated Live Action Shorts
The day the Oscar nominations came out I thought there were some general omissions in the top of the line categories, but nothing outrageous (well, leaving out Olivia Davis or Elizabeth Debicki is kinda ridiculous). But then I got to … Continue reading 2019 Oscar Nominated Documentary Feature Films
“If Beale Street Could Talk” Directed by Barry Jenkins From the opening seconds of Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk”, you know you’re in for something special. The look, the colors, the close-ups, the music(!), and the adoration in … Continue reading “If Beale Street Could Talk”
“Roma” (Mexico) Directed by Alfonso Cuaron When is a point-of-view shot not a point-of-view shot, but still very much a point-of-view shot? When Alfonso Cuaron makes a movie. Huh? Okay…let me explain. A strict POV shot is when the camera … Continue reading “Roma” (Mexico)
“Mary Queen of Scots” Directed by Josie Rourke I really wanted to love this film. It’s a great cast with a screenplay written from a respected piece of historical non-fiction, and shot in the Scottish Highlands, the most beautiful place … Continue reading “Mary Queen of Scots”
“Green Book” Directed by Peter Farrelly It’s been a long time since there’s been an On-the-Road/Buddy picture as satisfying as “Green Book”. It may seem like a populist flick, but don’t make the mistake of thinking this is fluff. Within … Continue reading “Green Book”
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” Written and Directed by Joel & Ethan Coen In my mind, there are two types of Coen Brothers films: the deadly (physically or psychologically violent films where the stakes are sky-high), and the irreverent (the … Continue reading “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
The No Spoiler Critic 