Over & Overs: Sugar & Spice (2001)

By Spencer Coile 

Growing up, there was no place more sacred than my local Blockbuster. I remember scouring the walls on a Friday night, searching the aisles to find the right movie to take home that weekend. At times, I knew exactly what I wanted, but there were other times when I walked in clueless and would let the cover art persuade me. I would always rent just one and consume it multiple times throughout the weekend - especially if it was a movie I loved. 

2001 was when, as a 9 year-old, I started taking film seriously. I would rent the “classics” and learn about foreign cinema. However, one night, I noticed a peculiar looking DVD cover in the new movie section - one that featured a collection of high school cheerleaders with hideous doll masks robbing a bank. It looked like careless fun, and I was instantly compelled to rent it. It was then my love for Sugar & Spice was born....

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Soundtracking: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

by Chris Feil

Where to even begin with “Over the Rainbow”? A song that defined one of the most singular legends of the movies. One of the most significant songs in all of cinema in one of the most enduring films, a song that legend tells was almost removed. A song that turns the specific pain of one character into a universal one across generations and vastly different experiences. There is only one “Over the Rainbow” and one The Wizard of Oz, just as there was only one Judy Garland.

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Doc Corner: 'Don't Be Nice'

By Glenn Dunks

Youthful enthusiasm can get you a long way and that is something that Don’t Be Nice has in spades. First-time director Max Powers injects his own vigour and excitement into this story of slam poets in preparation for the national championships (yes, they exist). He does this through captivating editing (he was formerly a documentary editor) and some well-used vignettes, styled after music videos. But ultimately the success of this debut comes down to its subjects - they all have a spark on camera as well as in their words and Powers gives them all the star treatment at some point across Don't Be Nice's zippy 95-minute runtime.

The doc's title comes from the idea that in slam poetry, one mustn’t be nice, but be necessary. Say what you mean and don’t lighten it up for those who don’t want to hear it...

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She Had Oscar Buzz!

Yes, the title is an homage to our friends podcast "This Had Oscar Buzz". Here's a piece from new contributor Elie Chivi that we think you'll love on women who strangely haven't been nominated yet... 

by Elie Chivi

After Kirsten Dunst’s comments last month about the relative lack of awards attention she’s received throughout her career, I couldn’t help but think of the many other never-nominated yet deserving actresses of the past couple of decades. Some actresses can get Oscar nominations for doing the bare minimum (think Frances McDormand in North Country or Catherine Keener in Capote) due to a mix of bandwagoning on to a bigger lead performance or simply because of who they are. 

On the other hand, some of our finest actresses consistently do interesting, complex, or hilarious work yet always come up short on Oscar nomination morning. From the crop of post-90’s era performers, the list below highlights five of the most egregious members of the never-nominated list...

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The New Classics - No Country For Old Men

Michael Cusumano here to take a fresh look at a film that never fails to reward it.

Scene: The Sad, Strange Death of Carson Wells

Moss: What's this guy supposed to be, the ultimate badass?

Wells: No, I wouldn't describe him as that.

Moss: How would you describe him?

Wells: I guess I would say he doesn't have a sense of humor.

But that’s not really accurate, is it? 

Anton Chigurh displays frequent amusement throughout the Coen’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s No Country For Old Men. It simply that the humor exists on a wavelength only he can hear. Shortly after making that assessment quoted above, Woody Harrelson’s Carson Wells will learn just how mistaken he is...

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