For many years, the BAFTA for Best Film and the Oscar for Best Picture did not match. In fact, it was largely common in the ‘80s and ‘90s, with the exception of a few years when the awards groups agreed on titles such as “Gandhi”, “The Last Emperor”, “Schindler’s List” and “The English Patient”. They […]
It’s time for my official 2022 Oscars Predictions in All 23 categories — including the eight that unfortunately won’t be awarded live in real-time during the telecast: Best Picture: “King Richard” Best Actor: Will Smith, “King Richard” Best Actress: Kristen Stewart, “Spencer” Best Supporting Actor: Troy Kotsur, “CODA” Best Supporting Actress: Ariana DeBose, “West Side […]
When I became a film critic in 2006 and started following the box office, I knew of Sandra Bullock through the “Speed” and “Miss Congeniality” films, some rom-coms and Best Picture Oscar winner “Crash”. But her career momentum was slowing down a bit. “The Lake House”, Bullock’s ’06 reunion with Keanu Reeves, only earned $52.3 […]
Jared Leto completely transforms himself into the characters he plays on screen. Prior to 2013, the “30 Second to Mars” performer was best known for his acting roles in “Fight Club”, “American Psycho”, “Requiem for a Dream”, “Panic Room” and “Alexander”. Following a break from acting, Leto returned in ’13 with the role of a […]
The five nominees for the Critics Choice Award for Best Animated Feature are the same five up for the Academy Award. The Critics Choice winner will be announced on March 13th and the Oscar winner will be named on March 27th. I’ve had the chance to interview makers of all five nominees for Animation Scoop. […]
This time three years ago, Tyler Perry was gearing-up to release what he thought was his final Madea movie ever, “A Madea Family Funeral”. It opened to a $27 million weekend from March 1-3, 2019 and grossed $73 million total in North America — a very respectable big screen sendoff for the iconic character. But […]
On February 25th, the Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films presentation will be back in theaters nationwide thanks to SHORTS TV. The combined length of the five nominees is 93 minutes — one of the longest combined runtimes EVER for this group. The craftsmanship on display is exceptional. I’ve had the chance to interview the directors […]
Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast” earned seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Song (“Down to Joy” by Van Morrison). Many expected it would also receive some acting love, but not like this. Critics Choice nominees Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe were snubbed in favor of older cast members Ciaran Hinds and Judi […]
The Academy Awards nominations are a week away, on Tuesday February 8th. Studios with films that received theatrical releases are likely gearing-up to put them on as many screens as possible so moviegoers can see them while the nominations are on their mind. It’s a trend as old as time (though we’re not going back […]
I’ve screened all eight episodes of the new Hulu limited series “Pam & Tommy”, starring a mostly unrecognizable Lily James as Pamela Anderson and an equally all-in Sebastian Stan as Tommy Lee. The show focuses on the ‘90s sex tape scandal that took the world by storm: how it was conceived, how it was stolen, […]