Category: Xpired Categories
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The Top Tens: Female Lead Performances
Every month, our contributors submit lists of ten films or individuals fitting certain topics or themes. Each month, we feature an alphabetical list of films or individuals along with commentary explaining our selections. There will also be an itemized list at the end of each of our individual selections. For our new top ten list,…
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The Top Tens: A Film in Any Other Language…
Every month, our contributors submit lists of ten films fitting certain topics. Each month, we feature an alphabetical list of films along with commentary explaining our selections. There will also be an itemized list at the end of each of our individual selections. How can you build a list of only ten films from such…
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Eyeing the Truth: April 2017
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (HBO Now) Morgan Neville has made a career of documentaries about rock and roll musicians, peaking with his Oscar-winning 20 Feet from Stardom, and while on the surface his new film might seem a little different, it covers a lot of the same territory.…
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Eyeing the Truth: March 2017
Life, Animated (Amazon Prime) Life, Animated, the Oscar-nominated documentary from Roger Ross Williams, is as life-affirming as a documentary gets. It follows Owen Suskind, who at the age of three was diagnosed with autism and who is graduating high school 20 years later when the film begins. Owen spent several years unable to communicate with…
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The Top Tens: Hollywood: The Next Generation
Every month, our contributors submit lists of ten films fitting certain topics. Each month, we feature an alphabetical list of films along with commentary explaining our selections. There will also be an itemized list at the end of each of our individual selections. This month, our contributors are looking at young actors under the age…
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Eyeing the Truth: Feb. 2017
Gleason (Amazon Prime) I do not follow football, and the name Steve Gleason meant nothing to me heading into Gleason. The documentary opens with a short recap of Gleason’s career, including the blocked punt that made him a legend in New Orleans, but football is not what Gleason is about. Instead, it focuses on Gleason’s…
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The Top Tens: Non-Nominated Working Actors
Every month, our contributors submit lists of ten films fitting certain topics. Each month, we feature an alphabetical list of films along with commentary explaining our selections. There will also be an itemized list at the end of each of our individual selections. This month, with the Academy Awards festivities in full swing, we thought…
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Eyeing the Truth: Jan. 2017
Under the Sun (Netflix) Most documentaries try their hardest to hide from the viewer the moments that have had to be contrived so that they can always give the appearance of authenticity; Under the Sun puts those moments front and center. The film, which gives us an inside look at a family living in the…
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The Top Tens: Best Musicals
Every month, our contributors submit lists of ten films fitting certain topics. Each month, we feature an alphabetical list of films along with commentary explaining our selections. There will also be an itemized list at the end of each of our individual selections. There are myriad types of musicals in Hollywood’s history. From the all-singing,…
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89th Oscars: Screener Watch: Dec. 19-25, 2016
The final shipment of 2016 (likely) features two Lionsgate titles. Hacksaw Ridge Oscar Chances: Good: Mel Gibson hasn’t made is apologia yet, but this film has been well received enough to give the Academy an opportunity to welcome him back into the fold. A Best Director nomination may not be in the cards, but Best…
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89th Oscars: Screener Watch: Dec. 5-11, 2016
This week, the A24 four-film package arrived, as did a title from 20th Century Fox. 20th Century Women Oscar Chances: Decent: This is one of those films that is likely to do well in only two categories and then not compete anywhere else. Best Actress is the most likely while Best Supporting Actress is a…
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89th Oscars: Screener Watch: Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2016
This week, eight new films arrived in my mailbox. Three were from Netflix Studios; three were from Focus Features; one was from Cohen Media/Amazon Studios; and the other was from regular Amazon Studios. Here is what arrived. 13th Oscar Chances: Excellent: Ava DuVernay’s Selma scraped by with a small number of nominations, winning Best Original…
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Eyeing the Truth
The Witness (Netflix) By this point, most of us only know the Kitty Genovese story as the briefest of stories in a sociology textbook: a young woman was brutally murdered in Queens while 38 witnesses stood by and did nothing to help her. The Witness, the debut documentary from James D. Solomon, goes back and…
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The Top Tens: Films That Warm Our Hearts
Every month, our contributors submit lists of ten films fitting certain topics. Each month, we feature an alphabetical list of films along with commentary explaining our selections. There will also be an itemized list at the end of each of our individual selections. For our final list of 2016, we have decided to celebrate the…
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89th Oscars: Screener Watch: Nov. 21-27, 2016
This week saw a number of groups sending screeners. The Orchard sent five; Amazon Studios sent five; DreamWorks/Universal sent one; Fox Searchlight sent one; Focus Features sent one; The Weinstein Company sent one; and DreamWorks/20th Century Fox sent one. Christine Oscar Chances: None: While Rebecca Hall has received excellent notices, the Best Actress category is…
