Despite, just last night, the Gotham Awards naming Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” the best film of the year, the National Board of Review has decided that, no, the best film of 2019 is actually Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman.” If you ask me, a much more valid choice than Baumbach’s movie.
Read more‘Black Widow’ First Trailer: Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh Kickoff MCU Phase Four
“Black Widow,” starring Scarlett Johansson as the titular heroine, wrapped shooting earlier this year, with Ned Benson (“The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby“) rewriting the screenplay. The film is directed by Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland (“Berlin Syndrome,” “Somersault“) and is said to be a prequel about the titular character’s days as a Russian spy before joining “The Avengers.”
Read moreWoody Allen's Blacklisted ‘A Rainy Day in New York' Leaks Online ...
Only a few days after celebrating his 84th birthday, not to mention settling his lawsuit with Amazon, Woody Allen’s blacklisted “A Rainy Day in New York” has leaked online in illegal piracy downloading sites.
Read more‘Parasite' Named Best Picture by Atlanta Film Critics Circle
Here comes the first major critics’ group announcement of 2019. The New York Film Critics Circle (Dec. 4th) and National Board of Review are also supposed to announce their winners this week. With all that being said, Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” has been named Best Picture by the Atalanta Film Critics Circle (AFCC). Bong’s film will be reaping plenty of top prizes in the weeks and months to come. Also unsurprising, Adam Driver (“Marriage Story”) winning Best Actor, Renee Zellweger (“Judy”) winning Best Actress, Laura Dern (“Marriage Story”) winning Supporting Actress and Brad Pitt (“Once Upon A Time in Hollywood”) winning Supporting Actor.
Read more‘Midnight Family': The Year's Best Documentary
I can’t recommend this movie highly enough. It will be an eye-opener for the lucky few who get a chance to see it in limited release. “Midnight Family” is one of those exceptional few, a documentary that ends up being more thrilling than any Hollywood blockbuster. It makes you forget you are even watching non-fiction filmmaking - the camera so fluid and the editing so precise.
Read moreMartin Scorsese Forbids You to Watch ‘The Irishman' on a Phone, But “An iPad, a Big iPad, Maybe" Is Fine
The fascination with the 3 and a half-hour “The Irishman” now streaming at your own leisure on Netflix is the fact that many will now watch Scorsese’s magnum opus is variously different ways; with multiple breaks, on their tablets, on their TVs, split into a few days etc. Of course, the best way to watch the movie is on the big screen and uninterrupted, alas, now that the film is streaming I would think most have given up on that idea .. And though director Martin Scorsese wishes the world would have been able to see his film in the theaters, he knows that his movie will be seen in numerous ways. He just has one request — don’t watch it on your phone.
Read more‘Just Mercy’: Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx in Oscar-Bait Legal Drama [Trailer]
Destin Daniel Cretton’s 2013 debut “Short Term 12” signaled the arrival of a young new directing talent. What it also did was introduce us to major acting talents as well, such as Brie Larson and Lakeith Stanfield.
Read moreAnnie Awards Nominees Include ‘Toy Story 4,' ‘Frozen 2' and ‘I Lost My Body'
The 47th Annual Annie Awards nominations were announced. The prestigious Annies are the golden standard for animation and have been called the “Oscars for animation” more times than I can remember, but it’s an apt description for this very important voting body, which has been celebration toon filmmaking since 1972.
Read more‘Curb Your Enthusiasm' Season 10 Set to Premiere January 2020 on HBO
Surprise, surprise! 20 years since its debut, Larry David is still working on his landmark HBO comedy, “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Two years after the disappointing, but decent enough, ninth season, HBO has finally revealed the first teaser for season 10.
Read moreBox-Office: ‘Frozen II' Continues Its Massive Success; ‘Knives Out' Scores Big With $41 Million Debut
The box office crown belongs to Disney again this week as “Frozen 2” fought off a challenge from Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” to remain in the top spot.
Read more‘Portrait of A Lady on Fire': Celine Sciamma's Cannes Triumph Dismantles the Male Gaze [Review]
Sexual self-discovery is at the rendez-vous in Celine Sciamma’s “Portrait of A Lady on Fire,” a sumptuously made 121 minute triumph which simmers with slow-burn until it breaks your heart ten-fold. It is, as we speak, the leading contender to win the Palme D’or next weekend in what has been a Cannes filled with good movies, but not great ones.
Read moreJohn Waters Names His Top Ten Films of 2019
I can never get enough of director John Waters — just the sheer fact that he is responsible for making “Pink Flamingos,” one of the most tasteless movies ever created, ranks him way up in my books.
Read more‘Queen and Slim': A Road Movie That Goes Absolutely Nowhere [Review]
“Queen & Slim” is about a serious subject, but the execution doesn’t reflect that. Its intended purpose to provoke is hampered by an all-too-obvious and stretched out narrative. Of course, the issues of social justice it tackles will no doubt have writers trying to dissect its frames but trying is not succeeding and this road movie fall flat.
Read moreThe 10 Best 2019 TV Shows
When making a list of the best television of 2019, one has to now make the mandatory comparisons to “cinema” and what has, misguidedly, become a sort of consensus from the “connoisseurs” — that TV, once dubbed the “idiot tube” is now at the same level of quality as movies. I too was once convinced of this, especially in the era of “Breaking Bad,” which was such a phenomenon that it quickly became the example that people would give as to why TV is on-par with cinematic quality. ‘Bad’ aired its final season in 2013 and, ever since then, we’ve had a few shows attempt to dethrone its title as king of the aughts (“Game of Thrones,” “The Leftovers” “Twin Peaks: The Return”) but, dutifully, skepticism started reigning over me — maybe ‘Bad’ was as good as it got, for now.
Read moreMati Diop Discusses Immigration, And Michael Mann’s Influence Over ‘Atlantics’ [Interview]
The socio-political and supernatural blend in Mati Diop’s Cannes-winning “Atlantics,” a bewitching film from the French-Senegalese writer-director whom, after a successful jaunt in acting and directing short films, returns to her native Senegal for her feature-length debut. It’s also the first film directed by a black woman to compete in Cannes’ main competition, where it was awarded the Grand Prix prize.
Read more‘Little Joe': An Allegory to Our Prozac Nation Falls Flat [Review]
Director Jessica Hausner's "Little Joe," is meant to be a metaphorical indictment of antidepressants and how America’s obsession with these popular “mood stabilizers.”
Read moreSight & Sound Names ‘The Souvenir' the Best Film of 2019
I abide by Sight & Sound's newly unveiled list of the best films of 2019.
Read moreOscars: These Are Our 20 Best Picture Contenders
In what is turning out to be one of the most stacked Oscars races this decade and following our EIC Jordan Ruimy’s rundown of the runners and riders for best picture, let’s take a closer look.
Read moreHappy Thanksgiving ...
I have to say this loud and clear: I am thankful for all the readers of this site and their unconditionally continued support for my writing. Your loyalty has not gone unnoticed and is incredibly appreciated. The best is yet to come… And so, from our hearts to your homes, may your Thanksgiving celebration bring joy and abundance. Happy Thanksgiving from me and mine to you and yours!
‘The Irishman' is Now Available to Stream on Netflix
I guess it goes without saying that you have a duty, as a cinephile, to watch Martin Scorsese’s sprawling, ambitious and gloriously cinematic “The Irishman.” Not only is it the best movie of the year, but it’s also one worthy of the movie time-capsule. There’s absolutely no reason for you to miss this movie, even with a 3 and a half hour runtime. It flies by at breakneck speed and features two of the very best performances of the year.
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In the Academy’s 97-year history, no documentary has ever been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar? Fielder’s doc is being tipped as potentially making history — but is it even non-fiction?