Easton Ellis and I tend to align with the same jam of thoughts when it comes to the hysterical, over-the-top, attempt by Hollywood to force inclusivity in movies down our throats instead of letting progress takes its form, shape into an organic, effortless movement, which is, by all means, what was happening before #OscarsSoWhite showed up and then the #TimesUp movement was used as an agenda in the industry as well. Don’t get me wrong, the African-American cinematic movement happening currently is invigorating and excitingly fresh, ditto the amount of great female directors we have had emerge the past few years, but, at the end of the day, a good movie is a good movie is a good movie, as they say.
Read moreSpike Lee Scores His First Oscar Nomination Ever for Best Director
Spike Lee's “Do The Right Thing” was the most powerful cinematic experience I ever had in my lifetime. In fact, it still is socially relevant and shocking to this day. His take on race relations in America is as scathing as its ever been.
Read morePeter Farelly's ‘Green Book‘ Slammed As ‘White Savior Film'
This past week's controversy, which had "Green Book" star Viggo Mortensen daring to utter the 'n-word' at a post-screening Q&A, slightly tainted director Peter Farelly's chances at winning a Best Picture Oscar, something which I've predicted might happen ever since I saw the film in September.
Read moreOscars: Can Steve McQueen's ‘Widows' Get Nominated For Best Picture?
At the moment, it is very hard to predict whether "Widows" will garner a Best Picture nomination, all of this despite its 86 metacritic score and 92% RT score.
If director Steve McQueen's film is not nominated for Best Picture, it won't be because it's an action film, a genre the Academy tends to ignore much like sci-fi. No, "Widows" is not an "action" movie; It's an arty-cool, distancing film that is more about build-up than tany actual heist. McQueen's film has none of the high-tension, octane-driven action that the trailer hinted at, it plays more like a snail-paced, character-driven drama than anything else. There are socio-political overtones throughout the film as well, something the Academy seems to be hungry for ever since #OscarsSoWhite ridiculed them back in 2014.
Read moreDirector Steve McQueen Says Some Positive “Widows" Reviews Are Sexist and Racist; He's Right.
Steve McQueen's “Widows” begins with the wondrously set-up image of Viola Davis and Liam Neeson in bed together and passionately kissing. Some of the audience I saw the film with actually gasped at the scene. Was it because Davis is an African-American woman and Liam Neeson is pure Irish white? Quite possibly. The reaction was telling; it showcased how some people are still in total denial that an interracial couple can have a passionate on-screen romance.
Read moreBest Picture: It's 'Star is Born' vs 'Green Book'
With the AFI screening of Mimi Leder's underwhelming RBG biopic "On the Basis of Sex" upon us, we don't have that many players left to screen as far as this year's Oscar race goes. All that's left is the Dick Cheney biopic "Vice," Clint Eastwood's "The Mule," and Josie Rourke's "Mary Queen of Scots" starring Saoirse Ronan, the latter of which is said to be a non-starter.
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The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.