Oppenheimer (2023) | REVIEW

Cillian Murphy is outstanding as the titular theoretical physicist in Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER — PHOTO: Universal Pictures.

Directed by Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk; Tenet) — Screenplay by Christopher Nolan.

In 1965, famed physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer appeared on a television broadcast, and, on said broadcast, he gave an account of how people reacted and what went through his head during the so-called ‘Trinity Test’ in 1945, when Oppenheimer and a group of physicists had successfully created and detonated the first nuclear weapon. Oppenheimer claimed that a specific line from the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad Gita popped into his head: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” It is a chilling quote that has echoed through generations and had a life of its own. For the twelfth feature film in his oeuvre, the immensely popular auteur filmmaker Christopher Nolan opted to tell J. Robert Oppenheimer’s story. It’s a film about a man full of paradoxes, such as how he became a political figure with strong left-wing disarmament views but was also the man who is known for having willfully created a weapon that once dwarfed all others and forever changed warfare and foreign policy. But it is also a film that gets to the heart of the rot of the American soul in the 20th Century. It is an intimate account of the complicated headspace of a historically significant genius, but it is also a haunting and damning cautionary tale about learning the wrong lessons, naivete, guilt, covetousness, and ripple effects. It is an astoundingly brilliant achievement and much more than your average biopic.

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REVIEW: No Time To Die (2021)

Daniel Craig as James Bond and Ana de Armas as Paloma in Cary Joji Fukunaga’s NO TIME TO DIE — Photo: Nicola Dove / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios / Universal Pictures.

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga — Screenplay by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

When I rewatched Sam Mendes’ SPECTRE the other day, I was reminded of the fact that the previous film in the Bond-franchise was released all the way back in 2015. A lot has happened since then, so much so that you may have even forgotten about all of the behind-the-scenes drama that transpired long before No Time To Die became the first major film to be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After several rounds of rewrites, the shift in director, production, and the pandemic, the fifth and supposedly final film in the Daniel Craig-era of the James Bond-franchise has now finally been released. Thankfully, in spite of the real world drama that threatened to ruin it, this is actually a spy epic that is suitable as a true tribute to Daniel Craig’s bumpy but extraordinary time as the iconic agent. It isn’t the best film in the Craig-era, but it is a very memorable chapter in the franchise.

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91st Academy Awards: Reaction – Special Features #49

What a night. It was a night of some ups and many downs, for me. In this post, I’ll give my initial reaction to the 91st Academy Awards. What bothered me? What was the greatest surprise of the night? Here is what I have to say right now only one or two hours removed from the show.  Continue reading “91st Academy Awards: Reaction – Special Features #49”

Final 91st Academy Awards Predictions: Winners – Special Features #48

It’s time. This awards season has felt really long, and, with how incompetent AMPAS has been in preparation for the big night, Oscars-night seems so mysterious and uncertain. Add to that the fact that there are so many different categories that we don’t really know which film is going to win including Best Picture, and we are left with a show that is probably going to be very interesting. Today, I’m giving my final predictions for the big Oscar night — the Super Bowl for the film community.
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76th Golden Globes Results: Reaction – Special Features #42

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association had not gone gaga for Gaga (or A Star is Born). Glenn Close made the Best Actress-Oscars category into a true battle. Roma performed well. Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody both overperformed, and the film critic community is not happy about it. Let’s talk about all of it. Continue reading “76th Golden Globes Results: Reaction – Special Features #42”

Golden Globes Predictions: Winners – Special Features #41

It’s time to get ready for the first major awards show of 2019 — The Golden Globe Awards. Though not at all as prestigious as the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes ceremony is known all around the globe as the major American precursor to the Oscars. Today, I’ll give out my own predictions for the ceremony which is being held this weekend. Continue reading “Golden Globes Predictions: Winners – Special Features #41”

Golden Globes Predictions: Film Nominations – Special Features #35

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”

REVIEW: Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Theatrical Release Poster — 20th Century Fox

The following is a review of Bohemian Rhapsody — Directed by Bryan Singer.

The best word to describe the reported principal photography process for Bohemian Rhapsody is ‘problematic.’ Production of the film was temporarily stopped due to director Bryan Singer. Bryan Singer was eventually fired before the film was even finished. Hoping to save the film, the studio behind it hired director Dexter Fletcher to complete the film and take it across the finishing line in the best state possible. As it turns out, Bohemian Rhapsody — the film — is not as interesting as the notorious making of the film seems to have been. Continue reading “REVIEW: Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)”

REVIEW: BoJack Horseman – Season Five (2018)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a review of the fifth season of BoJack Horseman — Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg.

Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, Daredevil, GLOW, The Crown, or Stranger Things? — Over the years there have been many Netflix favorites for the streaming audience, but, in my opinion, no Netflix show has managed to be consistently great for as long as BoJack Horseman has. Though I might say The Crown is currently the best live-action Netflix show, I feel confident in saying that BoJack Horseman is the greatest show on the streaming service — and the fifth season is just as excellent as the one that came before it. Continue reading “REVIEW: BoJack Horseman – Season Five (2018)”