To quote one of the best punchlines of the night, the 95th Academy Awards went “off without a hitch. Or at least this time, without Hitch.” Will Smith sat this one out, tweeting: “I guess I’ll watch this year from home.” Jimmy Kimmell nailed the hosting duties, offering relevant and often biting jokes and commentary, with an opening monologue that took jabs at Nicole … Read More Oscars Watch: 95th Academy Awards
SHORT #15 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“HOW DO YOU MEASURE A YEAR?”MARCH 11, 2023GOOGLE DRIVE DAY 47 OF 48 Best Documentary Short FilmJay Rosenblatt Jay Rosenblatt is back at the Oscars for the second year with another Documentary Short about his life. “How Do You Measure A Year?” is home video footage of Jay’s daughter, Ella, who he records once … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #15] “How Do You Measure A Year?” (One Nomination)
SHORT #14 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“HAULOUT”MARCH 11, 2023YOUTUBE DAY 47 OF 48 Best Documentary Short FilmEvgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev There’s nothing like the imagery in “Haulout.” One day, the ocean shoreline is bare, only the marine biologist and his ramshackle wooden hut. He sleeps and awakes the following day to 100,000 walruses stumbling over one another, trying to … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #14] “Haulout” (One Nomination)
SHORT #13 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“STRANGER AT THE GATE”MARCH 11, 2023YOUTUBE DAY 47 OF 48 Best Documentary Short FilmJoshua Seftel and Conall Jones “Stranger At The Gate” takes an honest and terrifying look at not only what war can do to a person who fights in it but also the power of simple acts and how they can save … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #13] “Stranger At The Gate” (One Nomination)
The journey through the world of 2022 cinema is finally complete, with the 95th Academy Awards airing a day from now. Unlike many of the past few, there’s been an aura of inclusion and celebration this awards season. I hope we get to continue those good vibes at the Oscars. I see “Everything Everywhere All At Once” winning a lot. We will all be … Read More Oscars Watch: 95th Academy Awards Predictions
FILM #39 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE”MARCH 9, 2023SHOWTIME DAY 45 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wang Best Achievement in DirectingDirected by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleMichelle Yeoh Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting RoleKe … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [39] “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (Eleven Nominations)
FILM #38 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“RRR”MARCH 6, 2023ZEE5 DAY 42 OF 48 Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures(Original Song)“NAATU NAATU”Music by M.M. KeeravaaniLyrics by ChandrabosePerformed By Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava I don’t connect with films from India and the Bollywood subsection. Because of that, I tend to avoid those films altogether. Not technically a Bollywood film … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [38] “RRR” (One Nomination)
FILM #37 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“LIVING”MARCH 5, 2023STREAMING DAY 41 OF 48 Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleBill Nighy Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)Written by Kazuo IshiguroBased on “Ikiru” by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, and Hideo Oguni In “Living,” a retelling of Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru,” Bill Nighy plays a county bureaucrat diagnosed with a terminal illness that … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [37] “Living” (Two Nominations)
SHORT #12 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“The ELEPHANT WHISPERERS”MARCH 4, 2023NETLFIX DAY 40 OF 48 Best Documentary Short FilmKartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga Animal documentaries have a habit of bringing awareness that most animals are much more intelligent than we give them credit. “The Elephant Whisperers” does this with the South Indian elephants, showing a young elephant’s capacity for affection … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #12] “The Elephant Whisperers” (One Nomination)
SHORT #11 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“The Martha Mitchell Effect”MARCH 4, 2023NETLFIX DAY 40 OF 48 Best Documentary Short FilmAnne Alvergue and Beth Levison Martha Mitchell, the wife of John Mitchell, the United States Attorney General under President Richard Nixon, was a character. Her larger-than-life smile and boisterous attitude put a spotlight on her in any room in front of … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #11] “The Martha Mitchell Effect” (One Nomination)
FILM #36 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Argentina 1985”MARCH 4, 2023PRIME VIDEO DAY 40 OF 48 Best INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILMArgentina Including this year, Ricardo Darín has been in the last four Argentinian films nominated for Academy Awards. “Son of the Bride,” “The Secret in Their Eyes” (which won the Oscar), and “Wild Tales” were the previous three. In “Argentina 1985,” he … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [36] “Argentina 1985” (One Nomination)
FILM #35 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“THE WHALE”MARCH 2, 2023STREAMING DAY 38 OF 48 Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleBrendan Fraser Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting RoleHong Chau Best Achievement in Makeup and HairstylingMakeup & Hairsyling by Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Annemarie Bradley This year’s awards season has a theme of honoring legacies. … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [35] “The Whale” (Three Nominations)
FILM #34 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“TOP GUN: MAVERICK”MARCH 2, 2023PARAMOUNT+ DAY 38 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrieStory by Peter Craig and Justin MarksBased on Characters by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [34] “Top Gun: Maverick” (Six Nominations)
FILM #33 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“BABYLON”MARCH 1, 2023PARAMOUNT+ DAY 37 OF 48 Best Achievement in Costume DesignCostume Design by Mary Zophres Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures(Original Score)Composed by Justin Hurwitz Best Achievement in Production DesignProduction Design by Florencia MartinSet Decoration by Anthony Carlino Old Hollywood is on full display in Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon.” Margot Robbie, Brad … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [33] “Babylon” (Three Nominations)
SHORT #10 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“MY YEAR OF DICKS“FEBRUARY 28, 2023THE ANIMATION SHOWCASE DAY 36 OF 48 Best Animated Short FilmSara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon The animated short “My Year Of Dicks” is precisely what it sounds like, a girl in high school ventures through different relationships trying to lose her virginity. Some topics covered in the film include … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #10] “My Year of Dicks” (One Nomination)
FILM #32 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“The Banshees of Inisherin”FEBRUARY 28, 2023HBO MAX DAY 36 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Martin McDonagh Best Achievement in DirectingDirected by Martin McDonagh Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleColin Farrell Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting RoleBrendan Gleeson Best Performance … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [32] “The Banshees of Inisherin” (Nine Nominations)
FILM #31 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“EMPIRE OF LIGHT“FEBRUARY 27, 2023HBO MAX DAY 35 OF 48 Best Achievement in CinematographyCinematography by Roger Deakins Sam Mendes and Roger Deakins team together again to bring something much different than they’ve ever done before. “Empire Of Light” tells a more personable story about a group of people working at a cinema in England … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [31] “Empire Of Light” (One Nomination)
FILM #30 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Avatar: The Way Of Water”FEBRUARY 26, 2023Regal Edwards Valencia Stadium 12 DAY 34 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by James Cameron and Jon Landau Best Achievement in Production DesignProduction Design by Dylan Cole and Ben ProcterSet Decoration by Vanessa Cole Best SoundSound Design by Julian Howarth, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Dick Bernstein, … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [30] “Avatar: The Way Of Water” (Four Nominations)
FILM #29 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Puss In Boots: The Last Wish”FEBRUARY 25, 20234K ULTRA HD DAY 33 OF 48 Best ANIMATED FEATURE FILMJoel Crawford and Mark Swift The titular Zorro-like animated character Puss in Boots is back in “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish.” First introduced in “Shrek 2” (2004), the feline voiced by Antonio Banderas finds himself staring … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [29] “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” (One Nomination)
FILM #28 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On”FEBRUARY 25, 20234K ULTRA HD DAY 33 OF 48 Best ANIMATED FEATURE FILMProduced by Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan and Paul Mezey No other film of 2022 put me through more emotions than “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On,” at least not one that I … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [28] “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” (One Nomination)
FILM #22 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“THE BATMAN”FEBRUARY 25, 2023HBO MAX DAY 33 OF 48 Best Achievement in Makeup and HairstylingMakeup & Hairsyling by Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike Fontaine Best SoundSound Design by Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray and Andy Nelson Best Achievement in Visual EffectsVisual Effects by Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [27] “The Batman” (Three Nominations)
FILM #26 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“THE FABELMANS”FEBRUARY 24, 20234K ULTRA HD DAY 32 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner Best Achievement in DirectingDirected by Steven Spielberg Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleMichelle Williams Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting RoleJudd Hirsch Best Writing … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [26] “The Fabelmans” (Seven Nominations)
FILM #25 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“TRIANGLE OF SADNESS”FEBRUARY 23, 2023AMAZON RENTAL DAY 31 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober Best Achievement in DirectingDirected by Ruben Östlund Best Writing (ORIGINAL Screenplay)Screenplay by Ruben Östlund Ruben Östlund has much to say with his dark comedy, “Triangle Of Sadness.” He stabs at the wealthy … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [25] “Triangle Of Sadness” (Three Nominations)
FILM #24 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“ELVIS”FEBRUARY 22, 2023HBO MAX DAY 30 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler Weiss Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleAustin Butler Best Achievement in CinematographyCinematography by Mandy Walker Best Achievement in Costume DesignCostume Design by Catherine Martin Best Achievement … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [24] “Elvis” (Eight Nominations)
SHORT #9 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It”FEBRUARY 21, 2023YOUTUBE DAY 29 OF 48 Best Animated Short FilmLachlan Pendragon Lachlan Pendragon went above and beyond with his short film, “An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It.” What appears to be a … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #9] “An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It” (One Nomination)
SHORT #8 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“ICE MERCHANTS”FEBRUARY 21, 2023YOUTUBE DAY 29 OF 48 Best Animated Short FilmJoão Gonzalez and Bruno Caetano “Ice Merchants,” a short animated film with no dialogue, caught me off guard and had me feeling more in 14 minutes than some features can make me feel in 90. The animation style resembles colored pencils on construction … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #8] “Ice Merchants” (One Nomination)
FILM #23 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“TELL IT LIKE A WOMAN”FEBRUARY 21, 2023AMAZON RENTAL DAY 29 OF 48 Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures(Original Song)“APPLAUSE”Music and Lyric by Diane WarrenPerformed By Sofia Carson Diane Warren is a force of nature. No matter how unseen a film is, if she writes a song for it, chances are it will … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [23] “Tell It Like A Woman” (One Nomination)
FILM #22 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER”FEBRUARY 18, 2023DISNEY+ DAY 26 OF 48 Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting RoleAngela Bassett Best Achievement in Costume DesignCostume Design by Ruth E. Carter Best Achievement in Makeup and HairstylingMakeup & Hairsyling by Camille Friend and Joel Harlow Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures(Original Song)“LIFT ME … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [22] “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (Five Nominations)
SHORT #7 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“An Irish Goodbye”FEBRUARY 18, 2023LAEMMLE NOHO 7 DAY 26 OF 48 Best Live Action Short FilmTom Berkeley and Ross White Connection, understanding, and self-discovery are at the heart of this Northern Ireland short “An Irish Goodbye.” Seamus O’Hara (of “Game of Thrones” and “The Northman”) plays Turlough, an Irishman returning home after his mother … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #7] “An Irish Goodbye” (One Nomination)
SHORT #6 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“The Red Suitcase”FEBRUARY 18, 2023LAEMMLE NOHO 7 DAY 26 OF 48 Best Live Action Short FilmCyrus Neshvad There’s a tension in the 18 minutes of “The Red Suitcase” that Hollywood wishes they could produce in any of their feature films. Nawelle Evad plays a 16-year-old Iranian girl who waits at an empty airport baggage … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #6] “The Red Suitcase” (One Nomination)
SHORT #5 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Le Pupille”FEBRUARY 18, 2023LAEMMLE NOHO 7 DAY 26 OF 48 Best Live Action Short FilmAlice Rohrwacher and Alfonso Cuarón “Le Pupille” (or “The Pupils”) is a fun little Italian film about a Catholic orphanage filled with girls and run by nuns. Inspired by a letter written during Christmas, the film depicts a troubled wealthy … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #5] “Le Pupille” (One Nomination)
SHORT #4 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Night Ride”FEBRUARY 18, 2023LAEMMLE NOHO 7 DAY 26 OF 48 Best Live Action Short FilmEirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen An unattended tram and a woman waiting in the cold are all “Night Ride” needs to set up this comical short film, with moments of genuine inclusivity. Ebba doesn’t want to wait outside at … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #4] “Night Ride” (One Nomination)
SHORT #3 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“IVALU”FEBRUARY 18, 2023LAEMMLE NOHO 7 DAY 26 OF 48 Best Live Action Short FilmAnders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan At face value, “Ivalu” is a short film about a young girl searching for her older sister in their regular haunts, sweeping Greenlandic landscapes dominating the screen. Their father seems indifferent to the whole situation, as … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #3] “Ivalu” (One Nomination)
FILM #21 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“All Quiet On The Western Front”FEBRUARY 17, 2023NETFLIX DAY 25 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by Malte Grunert Best Achievement in CinematographyCinematography by James Friend Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)Written by Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian StokellBased on Novel by Erich Maria Remarque Best INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILMGermany Best Achievement in Music … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [21] “All Quiet On The Western Front” (Nine Nominations)
FILM #20 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”FEBRUARY 17, 2023NETFLIX DAY 25 OF 48 Best ANIMATED FEATURE FILMGuillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar and Alex Bulkley While some directors take an existing property and merely regurgitate another iteration not far from the first, Guillermo del Toro has taken the well-treaded tale of “Pinocchio” and turned it into … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [20] “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (One Nomination)
FILM #19 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“TÁR”FEBRUARY 16, 20234K ULTRA HD DAY 24 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert Best Achievement in DirectingDirected by Todd Field Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleCate Blanchett Best Writing (ORIGINAL Screenplay)Screenplay by Todd Field Best Achievement in CinematographyCinematography by Florian Hoffmeister … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [19] “TÁR” (Six Nominations)
FILM #18 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”FEBRUARY 16, 2023BLU-RAY DAY 24 OF 48 Best Achievement in Costume DesignCostume Design by Jenny Beavan Let’s give credit where credit is due. “Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris” is not a particularly good film. Its story is rather saccharine, and the performances are nothing to tout. However, the film garnered … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [18] “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” (One Nomination)
FILM #17 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“THE SEA BEAST”FEBRUARY 16, 2023NETFLIX DAY 24 OF 48 Best ANIMATED FEATURE FILMChris Williams and Jed Schlanger Filled with a talented voice cast including Karl Urban and Jared Harris, “The Sea Beast” looks at a world where pirates are hunters of sea creatures. Harris voices Captain Crow, the epitome of a pirate whose adventures … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [17] “The Sea Beast” (One Nomination)
FILM #16 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“NAVALNY”FEBRUARY 15, 2023HBO MAX DAY 23 OF 48 Best DOCUMENTARY FEATUREProduced by Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller and Shane Boris The political documentary “Navalny” plays out like an espionage thriller. What director Daniel Roher and his team capture on film is nothing short of history-making. Alexei Navalny is a Russian political … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [16] “Navalny” (One Nomination)
FILM #15 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”FEBRUARY 15, 2023NETFLIX DAY 23 OF 48 Best Achievement in CinematographyCinematography by Darius Khondji Even without his go-to cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, behind the camera, director Alejandro G. Iñárritu still finds his film “Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths” nominated for Best Cinematography. And although this … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [15] “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths” (One Nomination)
FILM #14 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“TURNING RED”FEBRUARY 14, 2023DISNEY+ DAY 22 OF 48 Best ANIMATED FEATURE FILMDomee Shi and Lindsey Collins Another year, another Pixar Animation film gets nominated for an Academy Award. “Turning Red” is about a young girl who finds that her emotions turn her into a red panda and follows the recent theme of Disney movies … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [14] “Turning Red” (One Nomination)
FILM #13 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“BLONDE”FEBRUARY 13, 2023NETFLIX DAY 21 OF 48 Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleAna de Armas Had Joyce Carol Oates’s novel and Andrew Dominik’s adaptation not been so controversial, I’m curious if the criticism of “Blonde,” and subsequentially, Ana de Armas, would have been less harsh. Dominik’s work is often under scrutiny, … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [13] “Blonde” (One Nomination)
FILM #12 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“CAUSEWAY”FEBRUARY 11, 2023APPLE TV+ DAY 19 OF 48 Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting RoleBrian Tyree Henry There’s a gravity to Brian Tyree Henry’s performance in “Causeway.” Despite the film being about Jennifer Lawrence’s character struggling to assimilate into everyday life after being blown up in Afghanistan, Henry’s character, James, brings just … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [12] “Causeway” (One Nomination)
SHORT #2 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”FEBRUARY 11, 2023APPLE TV+ DAY 19 OF 48 Best Animated Short FilmCharlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud With sweet messages and a breathtakingly beautiful animation style, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” is based on the 2019 children’s novel of the same name. A … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #2] “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” (One Nomination)
FILM #11 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”FEBRUARY 11, 2023NETFLIX DAY 19 OF 48 Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)Written by Rian JohnsonBased on Characters by Rian Johnson Rian Johnson knows how to write mystery, and thank God he’s willing to go back to the well with his detective character Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig. Both of … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [11] “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (One Nomination)
FILM #10 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“ALL THAT BREATHES”FEBRUARY 11, 2023HBO MAX DAY 19 OF 48 Best DOCUMENTARY FEATUREProduced by Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann and Teddy Leifer Premiering at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, “All That Breathes” follows two brothers in New Delhi dedicating their lives to saving birds falling from the polluted sky, specifically the black kite. The documentary … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [10] “All That Breathes” (One Nomination)
FILM #9 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“EO“FEBRUARY 9, 2023STREAMING DAY 17 OF 48 Best INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILMPoland Much like Steven Spielberg’s “War Horse,” where you follow a horse from different owner to different owner, “EO” follows the adventures of a donkey. EO starts as a circus donkey with his handler Kasandra, who genuinely loves him. He eventually ends up at … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [9] “EO” (One Nomination)
FILM #8 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“WOMEN TALKING”FEBRUARY 8, 2023SCREENER DAY 16 OF 48 Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEARProduced by Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Frances McDormand, Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)Screenplay by Sarah Polley “Women Talking” is the most remarkable film about Mennonite women debating in a barn ever made. That sounds like a joke, but Sarah Polley truly … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [8] “Women Talking” (Two Nominations)
SHORT #1 OF 15 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“THE FLYING SAILOR”FEBRUARY 8, 2023YOUTUBE DAY 16 OF 48 Best Animated Short FilmAmanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby Based on an actual account of a sailor in 1917 being blown over a mile into the sky after two boats exploded, “The Flying Sailor” shows a life flashing in front of a man’s eyes. With a … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #1] “The Flying Sailor” (One Nomination)
FILM #7 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“AFTERSUN”FEBRUARY 5, 2023SCREENER DAY 13 OF 48 Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RolePaul Mescal Tell me the last film you saw representing single fathers. Tell me the last one you saw depicting depression. Somehow, “Aftersun” broaches both topics with a unique, subdued touch. I wish “Aftersun” had come with a disclaimer. … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [7] “Aftersun” (One Nomination)
FILM #6 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“FIRE OF LOVE”FEBRUARY 5, 2023DISNEY+ DAY 13 OF 48 Best DOCUMENTARY FEATUREProduced by Sara Dosa, Shane Boris and Ina Fichman “Fire of Love” is astounding. Katia and Maurice Krafft were one of the only volcanologist couples. They traveled the world, documenting all the volcanoes they visited, attempting to use their studies to build a … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [6] “Fire Of Love” (One Nomination)
FILM #5 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“THE QUIET GIRL“FEBRUARY 4, 2023STREAMING DAY 12 OF 48 Best INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILMIreland In one household, nine-year-old Cait is a nuisance. Her bratty sister teases her, and her much-too-stressed pregnant tends to have a constantly crying baby and, on occasion, can be found crying herself. The drunkard, cheating father is rarely around. In another … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [5] “The Quiet Girl” (One Nomination)
FILM #4 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“CLOSE“FEBRUARY 3, 2023AMC BURBANK 16 DAY 11 OF 48 Best INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILMBelgium “Close” made me wonder what life would be like in a vacuum. What would it be like if everyone could be authentic with no outside interference? As the film begins, you get a glimpse of what that would be like for … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [4] “Close” (One Nomination)
FILM #3 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“TO LESLIE”FEBRUARY 2, 2023FILM INDEPENDENT SCREENER DAY 10 OF 48 Best Actress in a Leading RoleAndrea Riseborough Leslie (Andrea Riseborough) is a train wreck. She’s an alcoholic who has pushed everything good out of her life. Her son barely knows her, and her friends are now enemies. The fact that she won the lottery … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [3] “To Leslie” (One Nomination)
FILM #2 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“A HOUSE MADE OF SPLINTERS”FEBRUARY 1, 2023BBC IPLAYER DAY 9 OF 48 Best DOCUMENTARY FEATUREProduced by Simon Lereng Wilmont and Monica Hellström In “A House Made of Splinters,” which takes place in eastern Ukraine (Lysychansk), there’s no talk about the war, at least not the one with bombs and gunfire. Violence and addiction inside … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [2] “A House Made of Splinters” (One Nomination)
FILM #1 OF 39 95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE“ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED”JANUARY 31, 2023FILM INDEPENDENT SCREENER DAY 8 OF 48 Best DOCUMENTARY FEATUREProduced by Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin and Yoni Golijov You couldn’t write a character better than Nan Goldin. She’s a larger-than-life personality that has lived extraordinarily. She’s an activist and an artist, a rebel … Read More 2023 Oscars Challenge: [1] “All The Beauty and the Bloodshed” (One Nomination)
Janet Yang, Riz Ahmed, and Allison Williams all took to the stage this morning to announce the nominees for the 95th Academy Awards. The big takeaways were that the Academy’s love for “Everything Everywhere All At Once” far exceeded our wildest dreams, earning the most nominations of any film with eleven. “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “The Banshees of Inishirin” received nine … Read More Oscars Watch: 95th Academy Awards Nominees
Tomorrow morning, the Academy will announce the nominees for the 95th Academy Awards. Spoiler alert, there will be snubs. There always is. So mentally prepare yourself now. The guilds and critics, general audiences, and film industry professionals never align one hundred percent. That’s why guessing who will get nominated is fun, and surprises are usually enjoyable. This year, I see “The Banshess of Inisherin” … Read More Oscars Watch: 95th Academy Awards Nominee Predictions
“Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood” (Netflix) “The Bad Guys” (Universal Pictures) “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” (20th Century Studios) “Charlotte” (Good Deed Entertainment) “DC League of Super-Pets” (Warner Bros.) “Drifting Home” (GKids) “Eternal Spring” (Lofty Sky Distribution) “Goodbye, Don Glees!” (GKIDS) “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (Netflix) “Inu-Oh” (GKids) “Lamya’s Poem” (Phoenicia Pictures) “Lightyear” (Pixar) “Little Nicholas, Happy as Can Be” (Buffalo 8) “Luck” … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 27 Animated Features Shortlisted for 95th Academy Awards
“All Quiet on the Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “The Batman” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” “Jurassic World Dominion” “Nope” “Thirteen Lives” “Top Gun: Maverick” Per the Academy’s press release: 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 95th Academy Awards. The Visual Effects Branch … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 10 Feature Films Shortlisted for Best Visual Effects at 95th Academy Awards
“All Quiet on the Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “Babylon” “The Batman” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Elvis” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” “Moonage Daydream” “Top Gun: Maverick” Per the Academy’s press release: 10 films will advance in the Sound category for the 95th Academy Awards. All eligible members of the Sound Branch vote to determine the shortlist and … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 10 Feature Films Shortlisted for Best Sound at 95th Academy Awards
“All in Favor” “Almost Home” “An Irish Goodbye” “Ivalu” “Le Pupille” “The Lone Wolf” “Nakam” “Night Ride” “Plastic Killer” “The Red Suitcase” “The Right Words” “Sideral” “The Treatment” “Tula” “Warsha” Per the Academy’s press release: 15 films will advance in the Live Action Short Film category for the 95th Academy Awards. 200 films qualified in the category. Members of the Short Films and Feature … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 15 Live Action Short Film Shortlisted for 95th Academy Awards
“Black Slide” “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” “The Debutante” “The Flying Sailor” “The Garbage Man” “Ice Merchants” “It’s Nice in Here” “More Than I Want to Remember” “My Year of Dicks” “New Moon” “An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It” “Passenger” “Save Ralph” “Sierra” “Steakhouse” Per the Academy’s press release: 15 films will … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 15 Animated Short Films Shortlisted for 95th Academy Awards
“Time” from “Amsterdam”Performed by GIVĒONMusic and Lyrics by Drake, GIVĒON and Daniel Pemberton “Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)” from “Avatar: The Way of Water”Performed by The WeekndMusic and Lyrics by The Weeknd, Swedish House Mafia and Simon Franglen “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”Performed by RihannaMusic and Lyrics by Ludwig Göransson, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, and Tems “This Is A Life” … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 15 Original Songs Shortlisted for 95th Academy Awards
“All Quiet on the Western Front” — Volker Bertelmann “Avatar: The Way of Water” — Simon Franglen “Babylon” — Justin Hurwitz “The Banshees of Inisherin” — Carter Burwell “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” — Ludwig Göransson “Devotion” — Chanda Dancy “Don’t Worry Darling” — John Powell “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — Son Lux “The Fabelmans” — John Williams “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 15 Original Scores Shortlisted for 95th Academy Awards
“All Quiet on the Western Front” “Amsterdam” “Babylon” “The Batman” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Blonde” “Crimes of the Future” “Elvis” “Emancipation” “The Whale” Per the Academy’s press release: 10 films will advance in the Makeup and Hairstyling category for the 95th Academy Awards. All members of the Academy’s Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch will be invited to view excerpts and interviews with the artists … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 10 Feature Films Shortlisted for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at 95th Academy Awards
Argentina — “Argentina, 1985” Austria — “Corsage” Belgium — “Close” Cambodia — “Return to Seoul” Denmark — “Holy Spider” France — “Saint Omer” Germany — “All Quiet on the Western Front” India — “Last Film Show” Ireland — “The Quiet Girl” Mexico — “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths” Morocco — “The Blue Caftan” Pakistan — “Joyland” Poland — “EO” South Korea … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 15 International Feature Films Shortlisted for 95th Academy Awards
“American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton” “Anastasia” “Angola Do You Hear Us? Voices from a Plantation Prison” “As Far as They Can Run” “The Elephant Whisperers” “The Flagmakers” “Happiness Is £4 Million” “Haulout” “Holding Moses” “How Do You Measure a Year?” “The Martha Mitchell Effect” “Nuisance Bear” “Shut Up and Paint” “Stranger at the Gate” “38 at the Garden” Per the Academy’s press … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 15 Documentary Short Films Shortlisted for 95th Academy Awards
“All That Breathes” “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” “Bad Axe” “Children of the Mist” “Descendant” “Fire of Love” “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song” “Hidden Letters” “A House Made of Splinters” “The Janes” “Last Flight Home” “Moonage Daydream” “Navalny” “Retrograde” “The Territory” Per the Academy’s press release: 15 films will advance in the Documentary Feature Film category for the 95th Academy Awards. … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 15 Documentary Feature Films Shortlisted for 95th Academy Awards
Next week, the shortlists for several Oscar categories will be announced, among them the International Feature category. So, I dove into the 93 films submitted and sorted out a few that have the best chance of landing a nomination. A few movies have been winning awards all over the place, a few have some big-time actors and directors lifting them, and a few of … Read More Oscars Shortlist: 93 Countries and 93 Films in contention for Best International Feature at 95th Academy Awards
