REVIEW: Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a review of Da 5 Bloods — A Spike Lee Joint.

Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods is a war film about the lasting effects of the Vietnam War on four African-American war veterans — Eddie (played by Norm Lewis), Otis (played by Clarke Peters), Melvin (played by Isiah Whitlock, Jr.), and Paul (played by Delroy Lindo) — collectively known as the ‘Bloods.’ Now, decades after the war has ended, the Bloods have returned to Vietnam to retrieve what they left behind in the jungle. They claim to only be back to retrieve the body of their squad leader, Stormin’ Norman (played by Chadwick Boseman), but they also want to find the precious gold bars that they had to leave behind when they were young men. Continue reading “REVIEW: Da 5 Bloods (2020)”

Best of the 2010s: Top Ten Biographical Pictures

Sometimes biopics — or biographical pictures — get a bad rap. Some people think of them merely as Wikipedia entries on the big screen, others think they just exist for studios to promote during awards season — people like to say that biopics are Oscar-bait. But today I want to showcase my ten favorite biographical pictures of the 2010s. I’ll also preface this list by saying that I reserve the right to change this list for the remainder of 2019 in case something new is good enough to make it onto this list. Continue reading “Best of the 2010s: Top Ten Biographical Pictures”

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.
Continue reading “Final 91st Academy Awards Predictions: Winners – Special Features #48”

Golden Globes Film Nominations: Reaction – Special Features #36

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”

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: BLACKKKLANSMAN (2018)

blackkklansmanpostr
Theatrical Release Poster – Focus Features

The following is a review of BlacKkKlansman — Directed by Spike Lee.

Director Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman is based on the memoir of Ron Stallworth, the first African-American officer and detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department, and the film tells the story of how Ron (played by John David Washington) and his partner Detective Flip Zimmermann (played by Adam Driver) infiltrated the ranks of the Ku Klux Klan.  Continue reading “REVIEW: BLACKKKLANSMAN (2018)”

91st Academy Awards Predictions: August Update – Special Features #30

The Oscar season is about to kick into a higher gear with the major end of the year festivals coming our way very soon. So, before we get to hear what major film critics think about Damien Chazelle, Barry Jenkins, and Alfonso Cuarón’s new films, I here provide you with the current update of my Oscar predictions. Continue reading “91st Academy Awards Predictions: August Update – Special Features #30”