Split Decision: Elvis

Team Experience has been pairing up to debate the merits of each big awards season movie. Here's episode 11 with Chris James and Glenn Dunks duking it out over Elvis. The series resumes will resume for a few final episodes after the nominations.

CHRIS: Well, well, well, Glenn. We meet again. Excited to talk about Elvis with you. Previously, I was a sourpuss about the cinematic excesses of Babylon. While I have mixed thoughts on Elvis, I think the excesses of this movie are more in service of the film and its titular subject. I went with a few friends to the Chinese Theater in Hollywood to watch it on opening night and had a blast reacting both with and at the movie. As a friend said to me, "maximalism is meant to provoke a response, even laughter." At the very least, Elvis is an enjoyable watch.

It's always good to see a movie for adults become a box office success, especially in the post-pandemic era...

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Weekend Box Office: Repeats and "Missing"

By Ben Miller

Hollywood is becoming exceedingly lazy in getting out new films these days.  Maybe it's the hangover from the pandemic, or maybe economics are finally starting to catch up with studios.  Regardless, Avatar: The Way of Water stayed comfortably at the top box office spot for the sixth week.  James Cameron's film is now the 13th-highest grossing domestic hit and the sixth film (and third Cameron film) to gross $2 billion worldwide.  The only new release of note was Missing, the psuedo-sequel to 2019's Searching.  Budgeted at a reasonable $7 million, it made back its money in one week.  Good reviews (82% on Rotten Tomatoes) could help its legs in the coming weeks...

Weekend Box Office (actuals) Jan 20th-22nd 🔺 = new or expanding /  ★ = Recommended
WIDE (OVER 800 SCREENS)	LIMITED / PLATFORM
THE WAY OF WATER	THE SON
1 ★ AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER $20 (cum. $598.2) 3790 screens	1 🔺★   WOMEN TALKING $380k (cum. $1.1) 153 screens
2 ★ PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH  $11.5 (cum. $126.4) 3,611 screens	2 🔺 THE SON $239k *NEW* 554 screens

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Team Experience Predictions Chart - Round 5 - Final Oscar Predictions

Every other week, we’re going to poll The Film Experience Writers on where the Oscar race stands. This week, all the writers make their final Oscar nomination predictions.

Are you ready for Oscar nominations? Allison Williams and Riz Ahmed are set to announce the nominees for the 95th Academy Awards at 5am PST on Tuesday, January 24th. Nathaniel has already detailed out his predictions, but he’s not the only one with thoughts on this year’s race. The Film Experience writers have all made their final Oscar nomination predictions. 

Who will have the best score? Check out our predictions after the jump…

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Split Decision: "The Banshees of Inisherin"

Team Experience is pairing up to debate the merits of each of the big awards season movies this year. Here’s Abe Friedtanzer & Eric Blume on one of the Oscar frontrunners...

ERIC:  Abe, here we are again with another split decision.  But unlike our discussion about The Whale, which you loved and I didn't, we're swapping sides for The Banshees of Inisherin.  I absolutely loved this film.  I'd go as far as to say it's close to a masterpiece.  It's a piercing and painful meditation on loneliness, a heartbreaking and lyrical stare in the face at death.  Martin McDonagh is tackling The Big Themes with ferocity and honesty, and I was deeply moved.  But let's start with why you didn't care for the film...

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Podcast: Gratitude, Globes, and some Must-Sees

The podcast has been hibernating for so long that you've surely forgotten it exists. But last week Nathaniel and  Nick jumped on a quick phone call to discuss the Globes so the Podcast is...uh... back for a moment. For those who aren't subscribed, we figured we'd share on the blog in case you missed it and feel like listening in on one last "precursor" conversation before the Oscar nominations are announced! 

56 minutes
00:01 Golden Globe reforms, Jerrod Carmichael, and Awards Show hatred
15:00 Wins & Speeches: Ke Huy Quan, Angela Bassett, and Gratitude
37:00 Nick on movies he loves this year including: Donbass, EO, Happening, Till, and Aftersun

You can listen to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify or download the attachment below. 

Globes & Gratitude