Last week, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced the Golden Globe nominees. Filmmakers vote for the Oscars, international critics vote for the Globes. What makes the Globe more interesting than the Oscars? They happen first. So, let's look at some of the nominees: Best Motion Picture - Drama I've seen and liked four of … Continue reading And the Golden Globe nominees are…
Category: Awards
My best top 10 films of 2020
I usually start the year with a survey of my best movie-going experiences - considering projection, sound, audience enthusiasm, and, of course, the quality of the movie. But I had very few chances to go to the movies in 2020. So, this year I'm offering the best new movies I've seen while sitting in front … Continue reading My best top 10 films of 2020
Watching the Oscars at the Roxie Theater
I think I enjoyed the Oscars last night more than any other time in my life. And that's not only because of the big surprise happy ending. I was part of an enthusiastic crowd at the Roxie, cheering, groaning, and applauding. And we were very well entertained during the commercial breaks. This wasn't the first … Continue reading Watching the Oscars at the Roxie Theater
Independent Spirit: The other, hipper Oscars
The Independent Spirit Awards positions itself as the hipper, cooler Oscars. It's not on a major TV network, so the people on stage can say words generally bleeped out. What these awards shun is big-budget movies. Nothing from Marvel, here. More importantly, it celebrates diversity. For instance, The top prize, Best Feature, went to The … Continue reading Independent Spirit: The other, hipper Oscars
Quick thoughts on the Oscars
Green Book? That's the official best film of 2018? It's not bad. I gave it a B+, which means it's a very good film, but not an exceptional one. But I gave a solid A to three of the Best Picture candidates: BlacKkKlandman, A Star is Born, and Roma…especially Roma, easily the best film of … Continue reading Quick thoughts on the Oscars
That lousy movie won?! A little bit of Oscar trivia…and some opinions
In a few days, Roma will (hopefully) win the Best Picture Oscar. So, I thought it would be fun to look at the history of the most coveted award in cinema history - even if it really doesn't mean much. Not too long ago, I realized that I'd seen all but five of the current 90 … Continue reading That lousy movie won?! A little bit of Oscar trivia…and some opinions
My Thoughts on the Oscar Nominations
The Motion Picture Academy announced the Oscar nominations Tuesday morning. I'm not making any guesses, but here are my thoughts: Best Picture Roma is unquestionably the best film I saw that opened in 2018, but I doubt it will win. Alfonso Cuarón's look back at his childhood home is only the 10th foreign-language film to get … Continue reading My Thoughts on the Oscar Nominations
My 15 Best Moviegoing Experiences of 2018
I went to the movies quite a bit in 2018, and it was often a wonderful experience. I attended six (I think) Bay Area film festivals, numerous special presentations, and just plain really good movies. In May, I flew to Rochester, New York for the Nitrate Picture Show. For four days of screenings and museum … Continue reading My 15 Best Moviegoing Experiences of 2018
San Francisco Film Critics Circle 2018 Awards
The San Francisco Film Critics Circle - an organization to which I do not belong - announced Sunday its 2018 awards. Here they are, with my commentary in purple. Not all of these films have yet played in Bay Area theaters outside of festivals, but they all will play before December 31. Best Picture Roma … Continue reading San Francisco Film Critics Circle 2018 Awards
The Oscars: The Best Movies Actually Won
I don't recall an Oscar show where the Academy and I agreed in almost every category. My only disappointment was Roger Deakins' win for Best cinematography. Deakins is an excellent artist, but I was pushing for Rachel Morrison for Mudbound. A confession: I didn't watch the awards show. My wife and I had tickets to … Continue reading The Oscars: The Best Movies Actually Won
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