Does the Academy have a plan B? I’m not sure. After the Kevin Hart fiasco, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences now find themselves without the host that they had originally selected. Some are suggesting that they should have no host this year, but I don’t like that idea — there has to be a host at the Oscars. So, let’s help the Academy out. Here are my top ten Oscar host suggestions. Continue reading “Next Oscar Host – Special Features #37”
The following is a review of Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle — Directed by Andy Serkis.
I feel so bad for Andy Serkis. Back in 2014, Andy Serkis, who, in spite of some secondary or assistant positions on other films, had never directed a film before, was hired to direct Warner Bros.’ CGI-heavy version of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Though the studio had been in talks with prominent directors since 2012, it was Serkis who was eventually chosen to bring this film to audiences around the world. Continue reading “REVIEW: Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018)”
The film nominations for the 2019 Golden Globe Awards have been announced. As always there are surprises, and, of course, there are some snubs that really hurt. In Special Features #36, I present you with the complete film nominations list as well as five reaction sections to the film nominations. In short: Oh, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, I am so angry with you today. Continue reading “Golden Globes Film Nominations: Reaction – Special Features #36”
It’s beginning to look a lot like, well, awards season. Some critics groups have already announced their winners, while other groups are still waiting for their brief moment in the spotlight. As the wait for the BAFTAs and Oscars goes on, the first major televised awards show is about to announce the films, shows, and performers who they have nominated for their coveted awards. So, today, I am going to try to predict the nominees for each and every film category for the upcoming Golden Globe Awards. Continue reading “Golden Globes Predictions: Film Nominations – Special Features #35”
A long time ago, on a movie-related podcast, a question was posited to the hosts: When is the last time your favorite movie of the year won Best Picture at the Oscars? As I was listening to the podcast, it took me a little while to figure my first answer out, but whenever I thought of a film, I realized that I only agreed with the selected winner of the nominated films — but it wasn’t really my favorite film of the year. So, today, I want to do my own four-pronged test, for the purpose of finding out just how much I agree with the Academy. Continue reading “Best Picture Alignment Test – Special Features #34”
I, like many other gamers, have now spent weeks playing Red Dead Redemption 2 — Rockstar Games’ latest video game masterpiece that you can lose yourself in. While I was playing the game, I thought of many different films, some of which the game includes visual homages to. So, today I want to highlight some films that you should check out if you loved, liked, or even just had fun with Red Dead Redemption 2. Continue reading “If you like Red Dead Redemption 2, then watch these films – Special Features #33”
The following is a review of The House That Jack Built — Directed by Lars Von Trier.
I have in a previous review described Lars Von Trier, the controversial Danish auteur, as a ‘true auteur mad man,’ and I’ve thought of him as the devil on Danish director Jørgen Leth’s shoulder guiding his every move in the fascinating documentary The Five Obstructions. He has been accused of sexual harassment, some people think he is a misogynist, and he has made a fool of himself by joking about his own identity, Naziism, and Israel. I’m not sure he cares whether or not you like him, and I’m sure he’d say that he’s perfectly happy knowing that his films divide audiences.
Continue reading “REVIEW: The House That Jack Built (2018)”
The following is a review of A Star is Born — Directed by Bradley Cooper.
There is a scene towards the end of the film, where Sam Elliott’s character gives a speech about twelve notes, an octave, and the same story being told over and over again. This feels like first-time director Bradley Cooper’s attempt to justify remaking the A Star is Born story for the third time — the industry is cyclical and only the artists can make new attempts unique.
Continue reading “REVIEW: A Star is Born (2018)”
The following is a review of Widows — Directed by Steve McQueen.
Based on Linda La Plante’s 1980s crime drama of the same name, Widows is only the fourth feature film from Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and BFI Fellowship-winning film director Steve McQueen, who has now teamed up with crime writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl & Sharp Objects). After having made films about Irish history, sex addiction, and the American history of slavery, McQueen’s latest film tackles themes such as class, politics, and gender via an audience-pleasing genre. Continue reading “REVIEW: Widows (2018)”
The following is a review of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald — Directed by David Yates.
Everybody wants to rule the world. Everybody wants to be Marvel Studios or Lucasfilm. It is perfectly natural to want to make many Harry Potter spin-off films, but it is a bit much to want to make five films about Newt Scamander. But that isn’t all Fantastic Beasts is. Because this film makes it very clear that the Fantastic Beasts-brand is used as an all-encompassing title for every prequel spin-off dream Warner Bros. and J. K. Rowling, who is now writing the scripts for these films without basing it on a book of hers, could be interested in. Continue reading “REVIEW: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)”
I'm Jeffrey Rex 