Topic Of The Day: Matt Damon's Comments On Gay Actors In Hollywood

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another episode of Topic Of The Day. For today's topic, I will delve into some comments made by Matt Damon that have gotten him some flack and I will address my thoughts on those comments before they get way out of hand. Those are comments that he made in an interview with the Guardian about gay actors being closeted.

Now, I thought what Damon said was taken out of context. On the surface, it seems like he was saying that gays should stay closeted just because they should. But what he was trying to convey was that the less people know about an actor, the easier it is to buy an actor as the character. Like with any other person, an actor's sexuality should be a private matter. Something that they can confess in private to family and friends that they trust. This may sound harsh, but it is really none of our business how they live their lives. Whether it'd be who they date, who they marry, who they have kids with, and even where they get their coffee. We know nothing about these actors we admire and like Damon suggests, the less we know about them, the easier it is to believe them as their characters.

Now, I don't think it is a bad thing for an actor to come out publicly because if you are really proud of who you are, then more power to you. But Hollywood is a pretty dodgy place where if you do come out, it'll be difficult to get leading roles unless Hollywood is willing to progress and at least release stories about a male or female gay protagonist. Don't know when that day will happen, though. I hope it does, but we'll see if it ever comes true.

So those are my thoughts on Matt Damon's comments that I figured I'd share before things potentially get out of hand. While his statement could've been worded a little more properly, I will still go and see The Martian when it comes out. But what are your thoughts? Please let me know in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

2009 Film Guy Awards

2009 was a pretty solid year for film. The Oscars were especially an interesting case as we saw the highest-grossing film of all time lose to one of the lowest-grossing winners, The Hurt Locker. That one is still unseen by me. But while I don't hate Avatar, I'm not too saddened it lost. It won the right awards in my opinion. Plenty of the other nominated films, like A Serious Man, An Education, A Single Man, are still unseen by me. But hopefully, that'll change soon. On my ballot, you'll see that some of the nominated films have a much stronger showing, either win or nominated wise. In particular, Up In The Air which for a movie about a guy who goes around the country firing people, has become one of my favorite movies. This is the 2009 Film Guy Awards. Enjoy!

Best Picture:
The Hangover
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Up In The Air*
The White Ribbon
Zombieland

Best Director:
Jacques Audiard, A Prophet
Michael Haneke, The White Ribbon*
Jason Reitman, Up In The Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Marc Webb, (500) Days of Summer

Best Actor:
George Clooney, Up In The Air
Willem Dafoe, Antichrist
Christian Friedel, The White Ribbon
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer*
Tahar Rahim, A Prophet

Best Actress:
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Antichrist
Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Tilda Swinton, Julia*

Best Supporting Actor:
Neils Arestrup, A Prophet
Tom Felton, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover
Leonard Proxauf, The White Ribbon
Christoph WaItz, Inglourious Basterds*

Best Supporting Actress:
Vera Farmiga, Up In The Air
Anna Kendrick, Up In The Air*
Mo'Nique, Precious
Natalie Portman, Brothers
Betty White, The Proposal

Best Adapted Screenplay:
District 9
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Precious
Up In The Air*
Watchmen

Best Original Screenplay:
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
Inglourious Basterds
Up
The White Ribbon*

Best Film Editing:
(500) Days of Summer*
Avatar
Star Trek
Watchmen
Zombieland

Best Cinematography:
Antichrist
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Watchmen
The White Ribbon*

Best Original Score:
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Sherlock Holmes
Up*
Watchmen

Best Costume Design:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Inglourious Basterds
Sherlock Holmes
Watchmen*
The White Ribbon

Best Production Design:
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*
Inglourious Basterds
Watchmen
The White Ribbon

Best Sound:
Avatar
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek
The White Ribbon
Zombieland*

Best Visual Effects:
Avatar*
District 9
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Star Trek
Watchmen

Best Makeup:
District 9
Star Trek*
Zombieland

Best Original Song:
“Stu’s Song” from The Hangover
“Help Yourself” from Up In The Air*
“Up In The Air” from Up In The Air

(subject to change)

Predicting The 2015 Film Guy Awards

Hello, Bloggers, with awards season currently upon us, I figured that, just for fun, I'd predict what my final ballot would look like for my own awards at the end of the year. Here are my predictions for the 2015 Film Guy Awards:

(Note: Some of these haven't been released yet or are released yet unseen by me. But like I said, this is just for fun.)

Best Picture:
Carol
Inside Out*
Mad Max: Fury Road 
The Revenant 
Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Best Director:
J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens 
Danny Boyle, Steve Jobs 
Todd Haynes, Carol*
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, The Revenant 
George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road 

Best Actor:
Matt Damon, The Martian 
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant*
Joel Edgerton, Black Mass
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs 
Jack O'Connell, '71

Best Actress:
Cate Blanchett, Carol 
Brie Larson, Room*
Rooney Mara, Carol 
Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road 
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina 

Best Supporting Actor:
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation 
Tom Hardy, The Revenant 
Nicholas Hoult, Mad Max: Fury Road 
Oscar Isaac, Ex Machina*
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight 

Best Supporting Actress:
Rose Byrne, Spy 
Julianne Nicholson, Black Mass*
Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria 
Tilda Swinton, Trainwreck 
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs 

Best Original Screenplay:
Dope
Ex Machina 
Inside Out*
Spotlight 
Trainwreck 

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Carol
The End of the Tour 
The Martian 
Room
Steve Jobs*

Best Cinematography:
Carol
Ex Machina 
It Follows 
Mad Max: Fury Road 
The Revenant*

Best Film Editing:
Dope
Inside Out 
Mad Max: Fury Road*
The Revenant 
Steve Jobs 

Best Original Score:
Ex Machina 
Inside Out
It Follows*
Mad Max: Fury Road 
Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Best Sound:
Crimson Peak 
The Hateful Eight 
Mad Max: Fury Road*
The Martian
The Revenant 

Best Costume Design:
Carol
Crimson Peak 
Mad Max: Fury Road*
The Revenant 
Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Best Production Design:
Carol
Crimson Peak 
The Hateful Eight 
Mad Max: Fury Road*
Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Best Visual Effects:
Ant-Man 
Avengers: Age of Ultron 
Jurassic World 
Mad Max: Fury Road 
Star Wars: The Force Awakens*

Best Makeup:
Crimson Peak 
Mad Max: Fury Road*
Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Best Original Song:
"Can't Bring Me Down" from Dope 
"See You Again" from Furious 7
"Flashlight" from Pitch Perfect 2*

So those are my predictions as to how my own ballot will potentially play out. Now, we shall wait until February to see whether my predictions are true. Thanks for reading!

Top 10 Best Actresses 30 Or Under Working Today

Hello, Bloggers! Since I recently made my list of the top 10 best actresses working today, it just occurred to me that I didn't have much younger names. So I figured I'd shine a light on actresses that are slowly but surely on their way to being one of the greats. If some of them aren't there already. Just as a heads up, Jennifer Lawrence will not make this list. I like her acting and give her props for what she has already accomplished (1-2 Oscar record by 25, two mega-hit franchises), but there are other actresses that don't seem to get the same kind of props she does. So here is my list of the top 10 best actresses 30 or under working today. (On a side note, I apologize for the lack of diversity.)

10. Elizabeth Olsen: While I found her to be criminally under utilized in both Godzilla and Avengers: Age of Ultron, her debut in Martha Marcy May Marlene proved that she really is something special and she is quite capable of carrying a film. Her filmography may be pretty short, but the more we see of her talent, the better she will get.

9. Emma Watson: I'm sure that after Harry Potter, a lot of us had our worries about how Watson's career would pan out. Thankfully, our worries have been put to rest as she would go on to deliver a portrait of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl (Perks of Being a Wallflower), a hilarious cameo appearance in This Is The End, and deliver an outstanding supporting turn in the Biblical Noah. Next, she will recreate the role or Belle in the upcoming Beauty and the Beast and will hold her own against vets like Ethan Hawke and Tom Hanks in the films Regression and The Circle. 10 points for Gryffindor!

8. Lea Seydoux: Even before her big breakthrough with Blue Is The Warmest Color, she has already been leaving marks whenever she appeared on screen, whether it'd be in Midnight In Paris, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol as the female villain, and even Inglourious Basterds. She may not have gotten the role of Lisbeth Salander, but thanks to her involvement in the upcoming James Bond film and potentially playing the female lead in the X-Men spinoff Gambit, more American audiences should know her name.

7. Carey Mulligan: I have only seen a handful of her work in films like Brothers, Drive, and Shame yet I still think she is someone destined for big things. In Shame, she not only gets to showcase her dramatic chops, but her singing as well while in Drive, she proved she can play the romantic love interest. She's also a charmer on the talk show circuit. So if you give her the right studio property, then audiences will quickly succumb to her charms.

6. Keira Knightley: While Knightley is mostly known for her work in costume dramas, especially the Pirates films, she has certainly shown that she can act outside of a corset. Whether she shows off her singing pipess in Begin Again, totes guns as a bounty hunter in Domino, or plays the determined yet spunky Joan Clarke in The Imitation Game, she always melts into her different characters and genres without having to go through an actual transformation.

5. Anna Kendrick: While Anna Kendrick has made sort of a trademark at playing neurotic deadpan characters, she is always a treat playing that type of character. She is also adept at playing different genres as she has showcased solid comedic timing, her amazing singing voice, and her dramatic talent as well. With an Oscar and a Tony nod already under her belt, one can be sure she'll have some kind of envelope with her name on it in the future.

4. Mia Wasikowska: With a billion-dollar franchise already under her belt with Alice in Wonderland, the success of that films has allowed her to experiment and do smaller films while working with auteur directors in the process like Gus Van Sant, Jim Jarmusch, David Cronenberg, Park Chan-Wook, and pretty soon Guillermo Del Toro with the upcoming Crimson Peak. Not to mention the variety of roles she's nailed ranging from Alice in Wonderland to a scene-stealing vampire, from a wise beyond her years daughter of a lesbian couple to an introverted high school student who experiences a violently sexual awakening. Wonder what's next for this exciting young talent?

3. Emma Stone: While I have expressed my doubts as to whether Stone will go down the way of Alicia Silverstone and slowly fade, her breakout turn in Easy A is still a shining reminder of her stunning talent, especially as a comedienne. There is also her work in Birdman that plays to her strengths as an actress and a comedienne and her earlier work in Zombieland where she got to be a badass zombie killer and her scene-stealing turn in Superbad. With her starring in Damien Chazelle's upcoming musical La La Land and circling Dogtooth director Yorgos Lanthimos' next film where she'll star opposite Kate Winslet and Olivia Colman, she will likely continue to prove me wrong about her becoming a Silverstone.

2. Rooney Mara: All it took was to not only work with David Fincher for a small supporting role in The Social Network, but SLAY the screen in said small role. Since then, she would re-team with Fincher as Lisbeth Salander in the American version of Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and nab an Oscar nod while tackling a variety of films ranging from a Hitchcockian thriller (Side Effects) to a sci-fi dramedy (Her) to a western (Ain't Them Bodies Saints). Next, she'll play Tiger Lily in the upcoming blockbuster Pan and has garnered even more Oscar buzz with Todd Haynes' Carol which won her Best Actress at Cannes for her performance. In the trailers for Carol, she possesses such Audrey Hepburn-esque elegance. Quite a departure from the Goth hacker she has already become famous for playing.

1. Brie Larson: Even before her astonishing leading turn in Short Term 12, I have been a fan of Larson's work. In particular, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World where she proved her ability to sing and disappear into a role, as well as 21 Jump Street where she brought spark to the role of the love interest. Then came Short Term 12 where she demonstrated her ability to carry a film and act dramatic as well as her genuine supporting turn in Trainwreck where she plays the foil to the main character while also becoming her own character. Next up is Room where she has garnered significant awards buzz, the role of Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes opposite Steve Carell, and she will dab into the blockbuster genre as the female lead in Kong: Skull Island. It looks like her star is finally beginning to arise and I could not be a happier man.

So those are who I think are the best actresses 30 or under working today. Whether you agree or disagree, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section and share your own top 10 list as well. Thanks for reading!

2013 Film Guy Awards Updates

Hello, Bloggers, after viewing and experiencing the brilliance that is Stories We Tell, it not only makes a splash on my 2013 ballot, but it wins Best Picture amongst my other five nominees. Because 2013 was a KILLER year for films (still in awe over how great it was), it feeels cruel to narrow it down to just five. Also, I made some changes to my other categories as Place Beyond The Pines has a strong showing in Best Supporting Actor and Actress with Ben Mendelsohn and Eva Mendes, respectively, making an appearance. I also added Sally Hawkins on my Supporting Actress ballot, taking out previous winner Scarlett Johansson for Her. But Johansson is still a Film Guy nominee and possible winner on an upcoming ballot, so no matter. You can see my updated ballot here.

Best Picture:
Blue Is The Warmest Color 
Frozen 
Her
The Place Beyond The Pines 
Short Term 12 
Stories We Tell*

Best Director:
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity*
Spike Jonze, Her
Abdellatif Kechiche, Blue Is The Warmest Color 
Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave 
Sarah Polley, Stories We Tell 

Best Supporting Actor:
Bradley Cooper, Place Beyond The Pines*
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave 
James Franco, Spring Breakers
John Gallagher, Jr., Short Term 12
Ben Mendelsohn, The Place Beyond The Pines 

Best Supporting Actress:
Kaitlyn Dever, Short Term 12*
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine 
Eva Mendes, The Place Beyond The Pines 
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years A Slave 
Lea Seydoux, Blue Is The Warmest Color 

Best Film Editing:
Gravity*
Short Term 12 
Spring Breakers
Stories We Tell 
Wolf of Wall Street 

Indie Review: Stories We Tell (2013)

                                     

                             
            'Stories We Tell' Uses Real-Life To Define The Meaning of Cinema
 
               Just so you guys know, I rarely ever put the words "phenomenal" and "documentary" in the same sentence because I rarely ever watch documentaries. That is until I saw Stories We Tell. 

     Story:
     Stories We Tell is about the director Sarah Polley and how she uses the pursuit of answers about her past and her family through a series of interviews with family and friends as well as old home movies.

      Ups:
    Interestingly, I can't really convey what I loved about it. Partially because I don't want to give too much away and also because I can't figure it out myself. Yet, I loved that. But I'll say that the beauty of it all is the film's simplicity. It was amazing how Sarah Polley used her own family history to demonstrate how the ordinary  tales of our lives may not seem so ordinary. Like for example, we see the interview subjects talk in great detail about Sarah’s mother and the impact she had on their lives with her energy as well as her mystique. We see that through how those around her describe her as well as through the super 8 home movies she is filmed in.

   Downs:
   NIL.

   Consensus:
   Overall, Stories We Tell is a meticulously crafted documentary that leaves me with no words to describe it and shows how the stories we do tell are shown in both words and visuals. It is not just a film or a documentary, but it is also an experience that uses a simplistic family story to tell the story about all of us. This one, my friends, is what true cinema is about: One that has us asking questions and thinking about our own world and the world around us.

   Would I Recommend It?:
   Absolutely! As soon as you are done reading this review, find it and watch it anyway you can.

Grade: A+

Oscar Watch: Truth (2015)

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another episode of  my Oscar Watch where I discuss trailers for upcoming Oscar contenders. For this post, I will delve into the upcoming  Dan Rather biopic Truth starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford.

http://www.slashfilm.com/truth-trailer-rathergate/

Truth is about the last days of news anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes and a report that they broadcasted about George Bush back in 2004 that proved to be highly controversial due to their sources being unverifiable.

Just as a heads up, though, I have a feeling that because we also have Spotlight, another movie about journalists in the conversation, I could see people consistently comparing the two as this awards season progresses. But early word suggests that Truth is the "feel-bad" journalism movie of the year so I wouldn't be surprised if they leaned more towards Spotlight. 

But more on Truth. The first thing that caught my eye about this trailer is perhaps Cate Blanchett. As soon as she entered the screen, it was like "Roar!" She already stuck the claws out and owned the screen. I think she is definitely set for a Best Actress nod, but the question is for which movie? This or Carol? 

I'm a little unsure about the film itself because I'm getting Network vibes. So it might be very been there, done that. But what do you guys think? Do you think it looks like a viable Oscar contender? Please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section and even post whether you think it just looks like a good movie. Thanks for reading!

2014 Film Guy Awards

You guys want to know what the beauty of awards season is? Having a pony that you pull for from the beginning of the race that ends up actually winning and stealing the thunder from the early frontrunner. That is certainly what happened with Birdman as it relievingly beat Boyhood. I say relievingly because as Boyhood was winning all the critics prizes, it was getting overrated. It is not a bad movie. It's perfectly safe and rewatchable, but there were more innovative and exciting films that caught my radar over time. However, as great as Birdman is, it didn't take the top prize. Now originally, I was going to wait until I saw some other films that came put last year like Mommy, A Most Violent Year, and Beyond The Lights, but I got too anxious to post this. After I see those films, I'll potentially update this ballot like with my other ones. Anyways, here is the 2014 Film Guy Awards.

2014:

Best Picture:
Birdman
Gone Girl
Guardians of the Galaxy
The Lego Movie*
Starred Up

Best Director:
Damien Chazelle, Whiplash
David Fincher, Gone Girl
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Birdman
Jennifer Kent, The Babadook
David Mackenzie, Starred Up*

Best Actor:
Brendan Gleeson, Calvary
Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler
Tom Hardy, Locke
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Jack O'Connell, Starred Up*

Best Actress:
Emily Blunt, Edge of Tomorrow
Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Belle
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl*
Jenny Slate, Obvious Child

Best Supporting Actor:
Rupert Friend, Starred Up
Toby Kebbell, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Ben Mendelsohn, Starred Up*
Edward Norton, Birdman
Christoph Paou, Stranger By The Lake


Best Supporting Actress:
Rose Byrne, Neighbors
Carrie Coon, Gone Girl
Emma Stone, Birdman
Tilda Swinton, Snowpiercer*
Naomi Watts, Birdman

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Edge of Tomorrow
Gone Girl*
Guardians of the Galaxy
Inherent Vice
Obvious Child

Best Original Screenplay:
Birdman
Grand Budapest Hotel
The LEGO Movie*
Neighbors
Starred Up

Best Editing:
Birdman
Edge of Tomorrow
Interstellar
Locke
Whiplash*

Best Cinematography:
The Babadook
Birdman*
Ida
Interstellar
Stranger By The Lake

Best Original Score:
Birdman
Gone Girl
Interstellar*
Only Lovers Left Alive
Under The Skin

Best Sound:
American Sniper
Birdman
Interstellar
Stranger By The Lake
Whiplash*

Best Production Design:
Grand Budapest Hotel*
Guardians of the Galaxy
Into The Woods
Only Lovers Left Alive
Snowpiercer

Best Costume Design:
Belle
Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy
Inherent Vice
Snowpiercer*

Best Visual Effects:
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Godzilla
Guardians of the Galaxy*
Interstellar
X-Men: Days of Future Past

Best Makeup:
Grand Budapest Hotel
Guardians of the Galaxy*
Snowpiercer

Best Original Song:
“A Step You Can't Take Back” from Begin Again*
“Lost Stars” from Begin Again
“Like A Fool” from Begin Again
“I Love You All” from Frank
“Everything Is Awesome” from The LEGO Movie

Updated 03/31/16

Oscars 2016: Room Wins People's Choice at Toronto

As I have mentioned before, the Toronto International Film Festival is like an apex for awards season: Some films either enter or leave a hot frontrunner while others stumble out. But one film that went in with pretty solid buzz out of the Telluride Film Festival is the film Room with Brie Larson. But imagine my surprise that Room ended up winning the People's Choice Award at Toronto. The People's Choice Award is often an indicator as to what will be a hot commodity to perhaps a frontrunner in the awards race as films like 12 Years A Slave, The King's Speech, Silver Linings Playbook, and The Imitation Game have taken that prize. They would go on to be nominated and collect at least one trophy if not Best Picture.

Before the winner was announced, I figured it would go to Spotlight since it is already considered a frontrunner by critics or even The Danish Girl due to its topical nature. Spotlight will still maintain its footing, but I think in spite of its timeliness, The Danish Girl is losing its footing due to critics being split down the middle. It'll probably still get nominated but I don't think it is becoming the heavy frontrunner people predicted it would be early on.

But now that Room won the ultimate prize, I think it'll be a stronger contender for Best Picture and especially Best Actress for Brie Larson who now has an easier chance to break through amongst her competition that includes previous winners and Oscar club members Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Lily Tomlin, Saoirse Ronan, and Carey Mulligan. I'll still keep Larson on my predictions, though. When the film gets a limited release on October 16th, then slowly expands, we'll also see if it can build up some audience support. If it does, then couple that with critical support, then we might have ourselves a "little movie that could" a la Boyhood or Slumdog Millionaire. 

What do you guys think? Do you now see this as a potential Oscar threat? Please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

Oscars 2016: September Predictions

Hello, Bloggers, here are my updated Oscar predictions for the month of September. With Venice and Telluride wrapping up and Toronto currently taking place, I figured I'd share my thoughts on what films will get in the top categories as of now. This time, I will delve into who I think will get into the Screenplay categories. Here we go:

Best Picture:
Beasts of No Nation
Brooklyn
Carol
Inside Out
Joy
The Martian
The Revenant
Son of Saul
Spotlight
Steve Jobs

So I have made quite a bit of changes to my lineup. I've replaced The Danish Girl, Suffragette, and Youth with The Martian, Son of Saul, and Spotlight. Black Mass and Spotlight have received pretty positive buzz so far compared to the lukewarm reception The Danish Girl and Suffragette received. In case there is a blockbuster spot, as much as I would love to see it go to Mad Max: Fury Road, I think said spot will go to The Martian because of its more timely release next month and it stars Hollywood golden boy Matt Damon. Lastly, the Holocaust drama Son of Saul has Sony Pictures Classics, who had great success with Foreign Language winner Amour, behind it which could allow lightning to strike twice. Also, like Kate Winslet once said, "You do a film about the Holocaust, you're guaranteed an Oscar!"

Dark Horses: 45 Years, Brooklyn, The Danish Girl, The Hateful Eight, Mad Max: Fury Road, Room, Straight Outta Compton, Suffragette, Youth

Best Director:
Cary Fukunaga, Beasts of No Nation
Todd Haynes, Carol
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, The Revenant
Thomas McCarthy, Spotlight
Laszlo Nemes, Son of Saul

Replaced Tom Hooper and David O. Russell with McCarthy and Nemes. (Seriously, I wouldn't underestimate Son of Saul.)

Dark Horses: Danny Boyle, Steve Jobs, Sarah Gavron, Suffragette, Andrew Haigh, 45 Years, Tom Hooper, The Danish Girl, George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road, David O. Russell, Joy, Ridley Scott, The Martian, Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight

Best Actor:
Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation
Matt Damon, The Martian
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Geza Rohrig, Son of Saul

Replaced Bryan Cranston, Johnny Depp, and Eddie Redmayne with Abraham Attah, Matt Damon, and Geza Rohrig. Before people call me crazy for not predicting Eddie Redmayne, plenty of reviews I have read have me wondering whether Alicia Vikander is the real Danish Girl of the title. To me, that doesn't make him much of a slam dunk. The names that I am predicting seem to be more front and center in their respective films. They are their movies.

Dark Horses: Bryan Cranston, Trumbo, Johnny Depp, Black Mass, Tom Hanks, Bridge of Spies, Ian McKellen, Mr. Holmes, Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Best Actress:
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Brie Larson, Room
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Replaced Julianne Moore, Carey Mulligan, and Alicia Vikander with Larson, Ronan, and Rampling. I still believe that Larson can make it in and if anybody will nab the veteran slot, it might be Charlotte Rampling in case Lily Tomlin's buzz dies down and despite her film being the first to send out screeners, Blythe Danner's film peaks too soon given its summer release. We'll see if the Globes will bite. I was going to say Carey Mulligan is a lock, but given the lukewarm reception the film received thus far, I wouldn't go that far just yet.

Dark Horses: Cate Blanchett, Truth, Emily Blunt, Sicario, Blythe Danner, I'll See You In My Dreams, Julianne Moore, Freeheld, Carey Mulligan, Suffragette, Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road, Lily Tomlin, Grandma

Best Supporting Actor:
Benicio Del Toro. Sicario
Joel Edgerton, Black Mass
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Tom Hardy, The Revenant
Michael Keaton, Spotlight

Replaced Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel with Benicio Del Toro and Joel Edgerton. So far, Benicio Del Toro has gotten positive notices for his work with reviews saying he gives his best work since Traffic. Also, out of all the supporting players in Black Mass, the one that has gotten the most notices is Joel Edgerton. So if Black Mass can maintain its buzz towards nomination day, Edgerton could easily ride its coattails. Also, while I thought Edgerton was the real star of the film, this is where he is likely going in.

Dark Horses: Robert De Niro, Joy, Samuel L. Jackson, The End of the Tour Harvey Keitel, Youth, Seth Rogen, Steve Jobs, Jason Segel, The End Of The Tour

Best Supporting Actress:
Joan Allen, Room
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara, Carol
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Replaced Helena Bonham Carter and Jane Fonda with Joan Allen and Alicia Vikander who I dropped down to Supporting. With all the positive reception Room has gotten for its main actors (Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay), I could picture previous 3-time nominee Joan Allen coattailing them.

Dark Horses: Jessica Chastain, The Martian, Jane Fonda, Youth, Diane Ladd, Joy, Rachel McAdams, Spotlight, Isabella Rossellini, Joy, Rachel Weisz, Youth

Best Original Screenplay:
The Hateful Eight
Inside Out
Joy
Spotlight
Trainwreck

Pixar movies usually have solid luck in this category, which bodes well for Inside Out and if there is any voting branch that is reliable with recognizing comedy, it is the writers which has me slightly optimistic about Trainwreck. 

Dark Horses: Bridge of Spies, Son of Saul, Youth 


Best Adapted Screenplay:
Beasts of No Nation
Carol
The Revenant
Room
Steve Jobs

Dark Horses: 45 Years, Brooklyn, The Danish Girl, The Martian

So those are my current Oscar predictions. Whether you agree or disagree, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section and share your own predictions as well. Thanks for reading!

Review: Black Mass (2015)

                                         

                             
                                'Black Mass' Is Like 'Finefellas'
             
         Despite Black Mass being marketed as the Depp show or his 'comeback vehicle' because he isn't pulling off the Jack Sparrow routine after so many times, it was quite surprising to find out that it is not necessarily his vehicle and you'll find out who the film's secret weapon is.

         Story:
      Black Mass follows the real-life story of notorious criminal Whitey Bulger (Johnny Depp) who has committed countless crimes yet was able to get away with most of them thanks to his connections with the FBI and agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton). But after aligning with the FBI to take down the Italian mafia, Bulger's relationship with Connolly becomes strained once Bulger rises to power.

      Ups:
     I'll start off with the actors. First I'll go into everybody's biggest question mark: Johnny Depp. Is this a return to form for him? Is this some of his best work? Sort of. It was interesting that he still does his traditional makeup routine, yet doesn't play up his quirky Jack Sparrow routine which was kind of a relief. He is very good as the elusive snake-like Bulger, yet interestingly, he is not the real star of the film. That honor goes to Joel Edgerton. Edgerton pulls off the most three-dimensional character in the film as John Connolly as he uses his eyes and bodily expressions to take the audience on his moral compass. Even as Connolly relishes in his connection to th corrupt Whitey that furthers his career, he still shows that he has a heart of gold and slowly realizes the error of his ways. Benedict Cumberbatch has a smaller role as Whitey's senator brother Billy and not only is he really good here, but I would say he is even better than in his Oscar-nominated turn in The Imitation Game. Kevin Bacon is also in this as Connolly's boss Charles McGuire and he once again proves why he is one of Hollywood's most undervalued yet most talented actors. I loved the rest of the cast as well including Corey Stoll, Jesse Plemons, Julianne Nicholson, Dakota Johnson, and even despite his dodgy accent, Peter Sarsgaard.

I also thought the film was shot beautifully by Masanobu Takayanagi. I especially liked the scenes where he incorporated green lighting. That helped give the film an almost eerie feel.

    Downs:
  Despite the film being a tremendous actor's showcase, the rest of the film is...kind of a drag. First off, this movie is a very slow burn. If you are going in, expecting something of high-octane Goodfellas flare like I did, then you will be very disappointed. As a result of the film being a slow burn, it makes the film itself rather adequate and less memorable which is a shame. It is not as adrenaline-pumped as Goodfellas but thankfully it isn't as glacial as a film like Foxcatcher. 

    Consensus:
   Overall, Black Mass isn't the tremendous 'Depp comeback' vehicle it has been touted as, but it is still a slight return to form for its main actor after his vacationing in Pirates/Tim Burton land and it features outstanding acting from the rest of the cast as well. Especially Joel Edgerton who builds a strong case for an Oscar nomination come January.

   Would I Recommend It?:
   Yes, but see it for the actors and don't expect a high-octane mob movie in the vein of Scorsese. But whether you like Depp or have become weary of him recently, I would still suggest seeing it.

Grade: B-

Another Top 10 Best Oscar Acceptance Speeches

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to my first top 10 list in quite a while. Since I always enjoy covering the Oscars as well as reflecting on their history, I figured I'd create another top 10 list for 10 more of some of the best speeches given in history.

10. Philip Seymour Hoffman for Best Actor (2005): Starting off my list is the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman's gracious yet touching speech when he accepted his Oscar for Capote. While he started off thanking those behind the film and such, the best part is the end when he talked about his mom. I'm close with my mom so this speech really struck a chord with me.

9. J.K. Simmons for Best Supporting Actor (2014): In the midst of all the message speeches given that night (i.e., Patricia Arquette about gender equality, Eddie Redmayne about ALS, etc.), Simmons' was the one that stood out for me because his message was more simple: call your parents if you're lucky to have them. Honestly, when I was watching his speech, I thought about calling my mom.

8. Christian Bale for Best Supporting Actor (2010): When Bale went up to accept his Oscar, it was such a relief to finally see his character work finally get recognized by the industry. It is also wonderful that Bale didn't disappoint with his speech. I liked how he acknowledged Dickie Eklund who he portrayed, his family, and I especially loved how he poked fun at himself when he said "I'm not gonna say the F-word. I've done that too many times." Just perfection.

7. Morgan Freeman for Best Supporting Actor (2004): This is perhaps what you would expect from a Morgan Freeman speech: graceful, calm, and earnest. He's short and to the point yet his pithiness becomes quite admirable. Bonus points for that loud standing ovation he received.

6. Ingrid Bergman for Best Supporting Actress (1974): Bergman's speech for her 3rd Oscar for Murder on the Orient Express is a special case. She admits that her Oscar is an honor yet still says that one of her fellow nominees deserved it more in perhaps the most gracious way possible. We have seen plenty of winners acknowledge their fellow nominees, but not in this kind of way and that actually makes me admire this speech even more for it.

5. Marion Cotillard for Best Actress (2007): I remember thinking that Julie Christie had that award sewn up. Of course, that is until Cotillard's name was called to the stage and she accepted her Oscar with endearing glee. My favorite line was the one where she was like "It is true there are some angels in this city." After that, American audiences would become exposed to her
monumental talent. Magnifique!

4. Tilda Swinton for Best Supporting Actress (2007): What a glorious moment in Oscar history! The best actress working today has her name called to the Oscar podium and she kills it in her speech! She thanks those needed and delivers some funny quips like the one about her agent resembling her statue. Just. Awesomeness!

3. Sandra Bullock for Best Actress (2009): While her win itself isn't very popular or immensely well-regarded, you can't deny she made an impressive speech: Opened with funny zinger? Check. Acknowledged her fellow nominees in a charming yet humorous manner? Check. Touching without being too sentimental? Check. To me, it just hits the right place. One of my favorite lines: "Meryl, you know what I think of you and you are SUCH a good kisser."

2. Meryl Streep for Best Actress (2011): While I am not the biggest fan of the win itself, I still get a kick out of watching Streep's speech. Not only was it very self-aware with her acknowledging what half of America was probably feeling about her, but as her speech progressed, it showed us one thing: even legends can get emotional sometimes.

1. Cate Blanchett for Best Actress (2013): She made an appearance on my last list of the top 12 best acceptance speeches and here she is again but at the top of this list! Humorous yet classy acknowledgment of her fellow nominees? Check. Traditional yet simple thanking of those involved in the film? Check. It was also neat of her to acknowledge how her home country is chock full of talent and how women-led films want to be seen by audiences. More bonus points for thanking those who saw Blue Jasmine in theaters because when she did, I was like "Yeah, she thanked me!". Obviously, she wasn't thanking me directly but it was still a fun little moment. One bit of an exemplary speech given by one of our most exemplary actresses.


So that is my list of some more Oscar speeches that I consider to be some of the best. Whether you agree or disagree, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section and I would love to see your own top 10 as well. Thanks for reading!

Topic Of The Day: What Makes A Dark Horse

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another episode of Topic Of The Day. For today's topic, in the spirit of awards season, I will delve into what I consider makes a dark horse candidate. One that becomes a major or potential threat to steal the thunder of the main frontrunner. Let's take a look:

To me, one great indication of a dark horse contender is how it does with the various critics circles. If it beats the frontrunner for the Oscars at certain critics prizes, then if it becomes nominated, it could become a threat to steal the thunder of the supposedly undeniable frontrunner.

One example I'll use is the Best Actress category a few years ago where Cate Blanchett won for Blue Jasmine. As the season began and ended, she was the undeniable frontrunner. Yet she didn't win everything or every critics award under the sun. In fact, some of the people who she lost to or won the Best Actress prizes she didn't, since not every critics group goes by a list of nominees, were hardly in the running. One in particular is Brie Larson who won Best Actress at the Gotham Awards, Austin Film Critics Association, and the Detroit Film Critics Society for Short Term 12. There is also Adele Exarchopoulos who tied with Blanchett for Best Actress at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and won at the International Cinephile Society, Utah Film Critics Association, the Indiana Film Journalists Association, and even Best Film at Cannes for Blue Is The Warmest Color. While I think Blanchett was very deserving for her performance,  if performances like Adele's and Larson's were in the mix, we might've had an actual race in our hands to make things a bit more exciting. No offense to Judi Dench and Meryl Streep, but they could've stayed home that year since they didn't have much of a chance. Dench, in fact, didn't even come to the ceremony.

There is also the Best Actor race last year. Part of the reason it was a Michael Keaton-Eddie Redmayne battle was because some competitors that beat them in various critics circles, like Tom Hardy, Ralph Fiennes, and Jake Gyllenhaal, weren't nominated. In fact, Gyllenhaal hit every precursor and still got nothing. It's as if they wanted to keep it a two-person battle.

So to me, that is what defines a dark horse contender. I would love to hear what you guys think makes a dark horse so feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

Topic Of The Day: Regarding The Johnny Depp Comeback

Hello,Bloggers, welcome to another episode of Topic Of The Day. For today's topic, I will delve into a type of narrative over the course of awards season that audiences and usually voters fall far: the comeback narrative where an actor finally gets back into the good graces of the industry and audiences after falling into obscurity or a string of less than desirable films or performances. That type of narrative is present with Best Actor contender Johnny Depp. Yet I am a little questioned as to why that is. Allow me to explain.

While Johnny Depp has had a string of flops recently (Mortdecai. The Lone Ranger, Dark Shadows, The Rum Diary, Transcendence), that doesn't necessarily mean he was a flop in them. I even thought he was one of the best things about Dark Shadows. While some of his recent characters have been similar and quite zany, he still looks like he enjoys playing those characters. Also, while others that have had a comeback narrative fell off the radar before having a resurgence, Depp never really went anywhere.

One example of somebody who has had a bit of comeback recently is Matthew McConaughey. After Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and a string of supbar rom coms, he disappeared for a short while until 2011 came along with The Lincoln Lawyer and then indies like Magic Mike, Bernie, The Paperboy, Mud, his cameo in The Wolf of Wall Street, TV's True Detective, and of course his Oscar winning turn in Dallas Buyers Club. 

Also John Travolta saw some life brought back to his career after Pulp Fiction and he became a bankable leading man once again after his popularity slowly declined during the 80's. Even Charlize Theron had a bit of a recent resurgence with Young Adult after a string of obscure indie films and supporting/bit roles as after Young Adult, she would star in Prometheus and Snow White and the Huntsman and bring us an already memorable heroine with Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road. 

So while I am glad that Johnny Depp has landed a film that has regained him some respectability with Black Mass, I wouldn't be too quick to label him the comeback story because he never really disappeared anywhere and even when his films are down, he is never out in my opinion.

But what do you guys think? Do you think that Depp's recent Oscar buzz amounts to a comeback narrative or do you really think he needs a comeback? Please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

Oscar Watch: Room #2 (2015)

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another episode of my Oscar Watch where I discuss trailers for upcoming Oscar contenders. For this post, I will delve into the second trailer for one of my most anticipated movies for the rest of the year, Room.

While the first trailer had me intrigued, this latest one has me completely sold and continuously intrigued as I am sensing an ambiguity surrounding Brie Larson's character. She looks like she has a really juicy role in this and I hope that this film can lead to more amazing roles worthy of her talents. Word on her performance is quite positive. Today, I listened to a podcast with Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson from the film site Indiewire and when they were talking about Room and Larson's performance, Thompson said that believes that she will get in. That has my faith in Larson's chances slowly growing.

Also, I loved seeing Joan Allen getting some face time. While it looks like she has a small role, she will likely make the most of it. She is the kind of actress that does more with less and is a very underrated actress at that. With 3 Oscar nods under her belt and no wins, she, along with Glenn Close, has become my new "Moore" (overdue actress that hasn't won). The kid Jacob Tremblay, who plays Jack, also looks like he is doing a fine job and I think it is interesting how they have him as a narrator. So I am still very excited for this and when it finally comes out, hopefully, it lives up to the hype.

So, what are your thoughts on the latest Room trailer? Do you think it looks like a viable Oscar contender and do you think Brie Larson can sneak in the Best Actress category with some tough competition (Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Carey Mulligan, etc.)? Also, do you think this looks like a good film in general? Please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

Oscar Watch: I Smile Back (2015)

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another episode of my Oscar Watch where I discuss trailers for upcoming Oscar contenders. Now, this is one I am not 100% sure is a slam dunk contender. But given that it stars a female comedian going serious, it might be this year's Cake. This film is I Smile Back starring Sarah Silverman.

Now when I first heard about this film and that it starred Sarah Silverman, I was like "Wow, really?!". We have seen plenty of comedians go serious over the years, but I had trouble trying to picture Silverman in a serious role because I mean, whenever I hear her voice, I just laugh. Also, even Jennifer Aniston has dabbled into semi-serious fare in the past before Cake. But before I saw the trailer, I was willing to keep an open mind about Silverman.

But after finally seeing the trailer, I do have faith that Silverman can pull off a dramatic role. Although the film itself feels like a checklist, focusing on what wins awards (alcoholism, maternal struggles, pill addiction, etc.). But much like how Aniston elevated Cake which also felt like a checklist, Silverman could elevate the material she is given.

Given the fact that the film has a smaller distributor, do I think Silverman could go all the way and sneak into the Best Actress? I'd say maybe not, but then again, I didn't think Aniston had a fighting chance until the Globes and SAG Awards announced her as one of their nominees. Also, I Smile Back is getting released on October 23rd which isn't too early or too late.

So what do you guys think? Do you think it looks like a viable Oscar contender and what do you think of Sarah Silverman playing a serious role? Please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

Oscar Watch: Our Brand Is Crisis (2015)

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another episode of my Oscar Watch where I discuss trailers for upcoming Oscar contenders. For this episode, I will delve into a contender that is slightly under my radar, but is still one that I continuously attempt to keep a sharp eye on. That film is Our Brand Is Crisis starring Sandra Bullock.

Our Brand Is Crisis is based on a documentary about U.S. campaign strategists in Bolivia and depicts a consultant named Calamity Jane Brodie, played by Sandra Bullock, who is pulled out of retirement to secure the election of Pedro Gallo played Joaquin de Almeida while pitting against her nemesis Pat Candy, played by Billy Bob Thornton, who works for the opposing campaign.

Before I saw the trailer, I was very intrigued by this. One reason is Sandra Bullock who I am quite a fan of. I think she is a gifted comedienne and a solid actress to boot. But here, she looks like she is playing a role that plays to both her dramatic and comedic strengths. It was also nice seeing Ann Dowd from Compliance get some face time. The film also has Billy Bob Thornton and Scoot McNairy (12 Years A Slave, Gone Girl) so Bullock has a great cast surrounding her. Normally, I am not crazy about films dealing with politics, but I am actually excited about this. Also, the fact that it has the producing team of George Clooney and Grant Heslov behind it doesn't surprise me since they have had plenty of success with political films like Argo (also starring Scoot McNairy) and The Ides of March. I've only seen Argo, but this looks like this is done with such flare.

In terms of its awards prospects, I think Sandra Bullock could be a threat for a 3rd bid given the recent stage of her career as an Oscar club member with her win for The Blind Side and nod for Gravity. I would also bet on a Screenplay nod and maybe some recognition for her supporting cast or even Best Picture given the fact that Oscar royalty George Clooney is behind it. So it has got some pedigree behind it and looks like it could have commercial appeal.

Those are my thoughts on the trailer for Our Brand Is Crisis. Please feel free to write your own thoughts on the trailer and whether you think it looks like an awards contender or whether it just looks like a good movie. Thanks for reading!

Oscars 2016: Venice/Telluride Play By Play

Hello, Bloggers, it looks like it is officially that time of year: Awards season! Both the Telluride and Venice film festivals are taking place and let's take a look at which films and performances have seen their buzz either come to a slight halt or have gotten a major boost.

The Danish Girl: Perhaps the biggest question mark before the reception it received, reviews for The Danish Girl have been more...respectable than anything else. All the critics aren't fully behind it but they do recognize its importance. It's similar to the reception The Imitation Game received. Also, some reviews have said that Alicia Vikander is the MVP. With the prolific year she is having, with the release of this, Man From U.N.C.L.E., Testament of Youth, Burnt, and of course, Ex Machina, it'll be easy for her to land a spot somewhere. Question is, where will she go? Lead or Supporting? I definitely think Eddie Redmayne will be nominated, but I'm not feeling a 2nd consecutive win. I'll wait until Toronto to see if the film's buzz gets a more significant boost.

Steve Jobs: Reception for Steve Jobs has been, so far, incredibly positive with praise going to Aaron Sorkin's script as well as the performances by Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and of course, Fassbender. With the makeup transformation into Steve Jobs as well as potential juicy Sorkin-esque monologues mixed with the positive buzz he has received, he could very well win this thing. That is if The Revenant doesn't peak too late because if DiCaprio comes out strong, then..watch out.

Room: This one I was very happy with. In particular because Brie Larson has emerged as a stronger contender for Best Actress, potentially snagging the bid I still think she was robbed of for Short Term 12. There are also strong notices for child actor Jacob Tremblay. Although I have my fears that because he is a kid, they'll pull that Supporting crap that they often do with child actors in lead roles. Hope not. Larson is a definite contender for Lead though and I can't wait to see this.

Suffragette: While she didn't show up to Telluride due to her pregnancy, the one person involved in Suffragette that has come out the best is Carey Mulligan. Even the reviews that weren't crazy about the film have heaped praise towards Mulligan's work. I don't know how strong of a contender it'll be in other major categories, but at this point, I would say Carey Mulligan is a definite frontrunner for Best Actress. It helps that her film involving gender equality is very timely.

Black Mass: Reviews for this one have been pretty positive. The reviews have especially been kind to Johnny Depp even if there doesn't seem to be this universal mindset of Johnny Depp making a comeback since while he has had his fair share of critical/box office misfires in recent years, he never really disappeared for a while the way Matthew McConaughey did before he made his big comeback. but another actor in Black Mass that reviews have singled out is Joel Edgerton. I'd keep a sharp eye out for him in the Supporting Actor category where he will likely go.

Spotlight: While Thomas McCarthy came out with, what was apparently his worst film, The Cobbler earlier this year, he seems to have come back already in a big way with Spotlight. Praise has not only gone to his direction, but also to the actors. One name that reviews are singling out is Michael Keaton  as Walter Robinson. Very good sign for Keaton who could be holding an I.O.U. after losing for Birdman. So if anybody's going to win for this film, it'll likely be him.

Beasts of No Nation: It looks like Netflix's first Oscar bid is starting to pan out nicely as it has a positive reception, in particular for Idris Elba as the villainous yet unnamed Commandant. Leading child actor Abraham Attah has also gotten strong notices. I do worry that, given the subject matter involving children in war, it'll be difficult to watch for some voters. But they did give Best Picture to 12 Years A Slave and that was quite a challenging piece of cinema.


Carol has also continued its positive buzz, as well as Andrew Haigh's 45 Years starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. Now we wait for Toronto where plenty of unseen contenders (Freeheld, The Martian, Our Brand Is Crisis, I Saw The Light, etc.) will either make their mark or miss because for every Gravity or 12 Years A Slave that makes their splash at Toronto, there's a Judge or Men, Women, and Children that stumbles their way out.

Holiday Blogathon!

Hello, Bloggers, here is my latest Blogathon. While I was thinking of another blogathon to create, I thought of something involving holidays. Even though Labor Day isn't exactly a holiday Holiday involving decorations and such, I figured it seemed fitting to create my blogathon today on Labor Day. Here are the rules for my Holiday Blogathon:

1. Pick the best film to watch on the following holidays: Valentine's Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Also, explain why each film is the best to watch on each holiday.

2. Pick the worst film to watch on each holiday as well. For Halloween, it is more open-ended. It can be something scary, but to the point where you don't want to sleep or a happier film that doesn't get you into the spirit of Halloween. Of course, explain why each film is the worst to watch on each respective holiday.

So the rules are fairly simple. You guys have about a couple weeks to submit your entries. You can either post the links in the comments section or tweet them to me @filmguy619. Have fun!

Top 7 Actors/Actresses I'd Love To See Join The Oscar Club This Year

Hello, Bloggers. As we delve into the Oscar conversation, we tend to seen plenty of names thrown around that have been to the dance before. But I figured I'd share some names that I have been petty fond of that haven't joined the club yet, but I would love to see join this year. I'll start off with the ladies.

1. Emily Blunt: While her film Sicario doesn't seem like awards fodder, I'll be darned if Emily Blunt doesn't deserve to have the label "Academy Award nominee". She's already gotten close with The Devil Wears Prada, The Young Victoria, and Into The Woods. I think it should be time for her name to be announced on that tension-filled Thursday morning.

2. Brie Larson: She has already gotten a positive reception at Telluride thus far for her work in Room and it helps that she is having a banner year with the sleeper hit Trainwreck under her belt. Plus, after missing out on a nod for Short Term 12, she deserves to finally grab herself a place in the Best Actress field.

3. Rachel McAdams: She has had her share of minor misfires this year (Aloha, True Detective, and Southpaw), but Spotlight looks like it'll thankfully be a highlight for her based on its positive reception at Venice. Also, she is a very underrated talent that seems destined to be a big star, yet hardly reaches those heights. She's far from box office poison, yet she doesn't make Bullock numbers. But an Oscar nod would at least be an acknowledgment of her talents.

4. Elizabeth Olsen: Ever since her debut in Martha Marcy May Marlene, Elizabeth Olsen has quickly become a fave of mine. Even if the upcoming musical biopic I Saw The Light, where she plays the wife of country singer Hank Williams, is generic, I'm sure that even if it is flawed, she will be fantastic. She was one of the best things about Avengers: Age of Ultron. 



Now onto the males:

1. Tom Hardy: I felt he was robbed of a nod last year for Locke and he always churns out quality work yet I feel never gets proper recognition. Plus, the guy has got a handful of options to choose from this year: Mad Max: Fury Road, the gangster biopic Legend, and Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu's The Revenant. Take your pick!

2. Idris Elba: Much like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba never really gets proper recognition for his quality performances in film. Thankfully, that looks to change with the upcoming Beasts of No Nation where he plays a ruthless war commandant. If you ask J.K. Simmons, Christoph Waltz, and Javier Bardem, they'll tell you the Supporting Actor category loves a good villain.

3. Joel Edgerton: While Johnny Depp has received strong notices for his work in Black Mass, out of all of his supporting players, the reviews have pointed out Joel Edgerton as the standout. That is quite pleasing to hear. I loved his work in Animal Kingdom and thought he did an amazing job with The Gift this year. A nod for him seems like a gift itself. It also helps that voters love their Aussies as much as their Brits. So, there's hope.

So those are some names that I'd love to see join the club, but I'd love to see what talent you guys would love to see get recognized that hasn't yet. Please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

Oscar Watch: The Danish Girl (2015)

Hello, Bloggers, welcome to another episode of my Oscar Watch where I discuss trailers for upcoming Oscar contenders. For this post, I will delve into the trailer for the much buzzed about The Danish Girl. 

Before the trailer finally came out, I was really anticipating it. But for all the wrong reasons. I was dreading it. Not because it is about a transgendered woman. That doesn't bother me. But I am not a big Tom Hooper fan. I thought his win for The King's Speech was a crime against David Fincher and he did a competent job directing Les Miserables. Eddie Redmayne, I'm not too crazy about either.

So how did I feel after watching the trailer? Well, it feels like deja vu. It looks like a transgendered version of Theory of Everything which oddly enough starred Eddie Redmayne. I've also seen this kind of story before in the film Laurence Anyways directed by Xavier Dolan. That one was very inventive and done with such flare. Probably more flare than this one which looks more dreary. But I'm sure if it gets strong buzz in the festival circuit, then the different awards bodies will eat this movie up since it is very topical and timely with all the publicity surrounding Caitlyn Jenner and the legalization of gay marriage.


I do hope that I am wrong and it does wow me. But I'm still not very optimistic. Maybe my opinions towards the talent involved are clouding my judgment or maybe it really is deja vu and it just looks like a transgendered version of The Theory of Everything. With the LGBT films on the horizon in this year's awards season, I'm still the most pumped for Carol. If this gives me any reason to be at least intrigued, it is Alicia Vikander as the protagonist Einar Wegener's wife Gerda and Matthias Schoenarts who I loved in Rust and Bone. 

So those are my thoughts on the trailer for The Danish Girl. Please feel free to write your own thoughts in the comments section on whether you think it looks like a legitimate awards contender and if it just looks like a good film. Thanks for reading!