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The Sundance Film Festival 2021
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, film festivals have grappled with the same questions facing many businesses and non-profits. Chiefly, how do they keep the money pouring in? We’ve seen many film studios largely switch to streaming platforms, allowing consumers unlimited access to their curated library of content for a monthly fee. Film festivals…
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Scream Unto the Lord
When’s the last time your body demanded movement? If you’ve watched Ari Aster’s Hereditary at any point in the recent past, perhaps you’ll have an answer. There’s a moment in the modern horror classic that demands movement from the viewer, be it internal or external. Alex Wolff’s Peter Graham is racing down a dark country…
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Oscars 2020 — Who Should Win (Part Two)
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Oscars 2020 — Who Should Win? (Part One)
Here we go again. The Oscar nominations were announced on January 13 and everything felt familiar. Most of the nominees were deserving, but some of them weren’t. A handful of notable snubs caused Film Twitter to explode, specifically Adam Sandler for Uncut Gems, Greta Gerwig for Little Women, and Awkwafina for The Farewell. Awkwafina’s snub…
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For Our Consideration: Best Writing, Directing, and Score
The 92nd Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 9. Earlier this month, the nominations were announced. We’re running through some of the categories to acknowledge a few of our favorite unrecognized film works of 2019. Best Director — Greta Gerwig (Little Women) Admittedly this one is a bit obvious. It…
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For Our Consideration: Best Picture
The 92nd Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 9. Earlier this month, the nominations were announced. We’re running through some of the categories to acknowledge a few of our favorite unrecognized film works of 2019. Best Picture — Uncut Gems This site (and this reviewer) has a passionate love for…
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For Our Consideration: Best Acting
The 92nd Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 9. Earlier this month, the nominations were announced. We’re running through some of the categories to acknowledge a few of our favorite unrecognized film works of 2019. Best Supporting Actor — Jonathan Majors (The Last Black Man in San Francisco) Joe Talbot’s…
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Film Composer Spotlight: Thomas Newman
As iconic as the opening musical blasts of every Star Wars film are, the 20th Century Fox fanfare that (until recently) precedes it is arguably just as iconic. The composer of that tune was the inadvertent patriarch film music’s first and only dynasty: Alfred Newman. The Newman name can be spotted everywhere in the Music…
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Traverse City Film Festival 2019: Top Films
After a leave of absence of reviews from last year’s Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF) even though I was there, I return with short reviews of the most impressive films that I saw this year. I have only reviewed films that are scheduled for distribution now or later this year. So rather than write about…
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Film Composer Spotlight: John Williams
If one wishes to compose music for film, one cannot necessarily hope to get famous doing so. One cannot expect to have his or her music played regularly or have their name be recognizable to anyone outside of the world of film. Film music is designed to stay in the background. Unseen. Unconsciously heard. Safe…
