April Foolish Predictions #9: Supporting Actress

by Nathaniel R

Oscar predictions in the supporting categories are notoriously difficult to do this far in advance. That's largely due to the lack of information, since most pre-publicity for movies focuses on leading roles rather than ensemble players. With a dearth of early information, the Supporting Actress chart was agonizing to make but fun, too, since it foretells a year full of actressing wonders. There's sure to be at least a handful of brilliant performances to come and some that we haven't even imagined yet. Whether or not the future brilliance piques the interest of voters is another matter entirely. 

After gazing at the foggy crystal ball, we opted for a lineup that's entirely free of previous winners and mostly newbies at that. Let us know what your hunches are, too, won'cha?

See also: Prediction Index chart

Soundtracking: Take This Waltz

by Chris Feil

Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz gets its name from Leonard Cohen’s indelible song, announcing itself immediately as musically astute. The film is a nuanced look at love and personhood, following Michelle Williams’ Margot through her affectionately dull marriage and flirtatious dalliance with a handsome neighbor. Cohen’s track arrives towards the film’s close, a swirling punctuation point on the film’s observations on love and sex as escape before reality (and mounting baggage) sets in. It’s the film’s largest stylistic flourish, but its richest musical insights lie elsewhere.

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What's on your cinematic mind?

It's an open thread. Do tell! 

If you need a prompt, here's one: what's the most recent time a movie popped into your head for no apparent reason that you could explain? For me it was Gosford Park (2001) early this morning. Maybe it's because Downton Abbey is coming to the big screen? Who knows. Regardless, I think it's a sign that I'm supposed to watch it again because this isn't the first time that Robert Altman movie has been all like 'Nathaniel, you barely remember this film you loved so much. Come visit.' 

Beauty Break: Notre Dame

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Game of Thrones "Winterfell" (S08E01)

Eric & Ben will be covering the television event of the summer for us, the finale of Game of Thrones - Editor

BEN: Alright Eric, first thing's first: who do you watch with? I'm watching with my two brothers. One understands everything, but doesn't watch it religiously, while the other has never seen a minute. I'll also say that we watched while slightly impaired.  

ERIC: I'll watch the whole season with my husband, who is a complete sci-fi/fantasy nerd (he even liked Krull)...and quite frankly, without him, I don't know what I'd do.  I'm always saying "who's that again?" when one of the minor characters comes on.  The premiere seems like it's just an establishing episode?  Not tons of actual drama, but they have a lot of stories to unify, and I think they met that very challenging task smartly, did you...?

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