Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly in a scene from Jacques Audiard’s The Sisters Brothers
“Smartly self-reflexive.”
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The Sisters Brothers — Review
2018
Cold War — Review
Tomasz Kot and Joanna Kulig in a scene from Paweł Pawlikowski’s Cold War
“Even when we find ourselves reaching for a little more to finish the story’s far-reaching ends, [director Paweł] Pawlikowski’s artistry stands firm with unmistakable command.”
Thunder Road — Review
Jim Cummings in a scene from his film, Thunder Road
“A daring excursion made by a talented artist always looking for the next big challenge to take on.”
A Private War — Review
Rosamund Pike in a scene from Matthew Heineman’s A Private War
“[Rosamund] Pike’s portrayal of celebrated war journalist Marie Colvin is a towering accomplishment.”
Christopher Robin — Review
Ewan McGregor returns to the Hundred Acre Wood in a scene from Marc Forster’s Christopher Robin
“What’s the value of espousing the creative joy that can be found in sitting back and relaxing if the movie that contains those messages feels so insipid on the whole?”
The Wife — Review
Glenn Close in a scene from Björn Runge’s The Wife
“There’s no spontaneity of human emotion, no feeling that anything that’s happening here is how real people would react when trudging through decades worth of regrets and illusions.”
BLOG: 2019 Oscar Nomination Predictions
by Ken Bakely
Another year, another awards season. And this one has been particularly chaotic: from upset wins to wide arrays of controversies, it’s impossible to tell exactly who or what is in the lead for many of the big prizes in this year’s Oscar race. But tomorrow, the nominees will be announced and we’ll know who our finalists are. As with every year, I’ve compiled some predictions for the top categories. They’re ranked by my estimated likelihood of nomination. Listed are my predicted five (or ten for Best Picture), plus one possible contender that could upset (or two for Best Picture).
Without further ado, let’s get started.
UPDATE (January 23): Like last year, I have added my accuracy score and initial thoughts on the final nominees to each category. Continue reading
Upgrade — Review
Logan Marshall-Green in a scene from Leigh Whannell’s Upgrade
“Upgrade’s multiple components combine into robust results.”
Bird Box — Review
Sandra Bullock in a scene from Susanne Bier’s Bird Box
“A forgettable project that tries to contain a story that isn’t all that well-developed to begin with.”
The Year in Review – 2018
by Ken Bakely
You can’t say that 2018 was a particularly relaxing year. But looking at the year’s pop culture, it was certainly one that showed how better representation can wield positive results that have clear social value and make a strong mark on the cultural discussion, as movies like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians proved. Female directors and/or directors of color were at the helm for many of 2018’s most acclaimed features: from films as varied from If Beale Street Could Talk to Sorry to Bother You, and Shirkers to Madeline’s Madeline, this year took big steps in employing a wide diversity of voices and perspectives in filmmaking. Certainly more work is needed on this front, but it will be exciting to see what more progress can be made in the years to come. As Hollywood Reporter writer Rebecca Sun pointed out, diversity isn’t a passing trend or buzzword: it’s a reality that has simply been ignored for too long. And even though this year has dealt its share of dismaying setbacks for all the leaps forward made, I thought I would use this post as an opportunity to celebrate what has been accomplished on film, and what gives me hope for a brighter future.
