Who deserves Emmy nominations from The Pitt?

by Cláudio Alves

THE PITT | © Max

Have you been Pitt-pilled? I have fallen in love with the Max original series about a single extended shift at a Pittsburgh ER that spans fifteen hours of near-real-time storytelling. It's old-fashioned and not especially high-concept, a bit preachy but balanced with feeling, interspersed character studies within a professional setting that leans on bloody melodrama without ever toppling away from medical and labor realities. A critical and popular hit, the series is well poised to dominate the next Emmy Awards, prompting many questions about what honors it'll get and, perhaps more interestingly, what it deserves. When it comes to the cast, these matters are particularly tough since the show relies so heavily on its actors' ensemble dynamics, from The Pitt's main doctors to patients who only show up for a couple of episodes.

Following Nathaniel's example with The White Lotus, I propose a vote to see what the readership thinks. But, of course, I need to add some commentary of my own…

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Now Available to Rent: "Paddington in Peru" and "Novocaine"

by Nathaniel R

Herewith belated reflections on a couple of titles from the first quarter that are now rentable. We meant to cover them at the time of theatrical release but we had writers block then. Oopsie. If you've seen them, do sound off.

NOVOCAINE
When I showed up at the critics screening of this action comedy, an old journalist acquaintance of mine said to me "I haven't seen you in forever! This is what brought you back out?" I may have been being called out for jumping off the hamster wheel of the tenuous writer's life but, also, it's a valid question...

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Cannes 2025: Ducournau returns and Spike Lee plays Out of Competition

by Cláudio Alves

HIGHEST 2 LOWEST will bring Denzel Washington to Cannes for the first time since 1993.

Thierry Frémaux and company have announced the 78th Cannes Film Festival lineup, with many familiar faces returning to the Main Competition. Former Palme d'Or victors Julia Ducournau and the Dardenne brothers are back in the race, while Golden Bear champion Carla Simón will present her first feature since Alcarràs took Berlin by storm. Speaking of the German fest, Richard Linklater just directed Andrew Scott to an award there and will now bow his Nouvelle Vague at the Croisette. Juliette Binoche will preside over the jury to decide these filmmakers' fates, but we're still awaiting updates regarding the other jurors.

Our own Elisa Giudici will be on the ground covering the fest for The Film Experience as she's been doing for the past few years. I'll try to offer another edition of Cannes at Home for those battling cinephile FOMO. In any case, here's the full Main Competition slate Elisa will be considering in a month's time…

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"Captain America: Brave New World" Or, When Will Marvel Turn Things Around?

by Nathaniel R

Benjamin Franklin famously quipped "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." We might add "...and new installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe" to that shortlist. Especially since Captain America Brave New World arrives for digital rental/purchase on tax day itself, Tuesday April 15th next week. Unfortunately the new film is taxing and not to die for. On Valentine's Weekend when the film opened, I was in Pittsburgh (long story). I never regret seeing movies but I most definitely regretted splurging for an uber to get to a suburban multiplex because it happened to be opening weekend. For this, really? What was the rush? 

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Drag Race RuCap: "How's Your Headliner?"

No, your eyes don't deceive you. It seems the Love-Toot feud is over. Everybody say love!

NICK TAYLOR: Mama. This was ass. It’s not just that my beloved girl went home right before the finale when she definitely won the lip sync, though that would be enough to sour the episode even if it’d been better. But the sheer number of moving parts to this maxi challenge that aren’t adequately showcased and the bizarre judging make the episode’s criteria hard to evaluate and the queen’s talents minimally showcased. I have no quibbles with the episode’s winner or the final four we’ve arrived at, yet I’m surprised how much this elimination stunted my invested in seeing who crosses the finish line. I’d argue there’s a clear top 2 of our finishing quartet, yet, for the life of me, I can’t tell who’s facing off against Onya for the crown. Am I getting ahead of myself? Almost certainly, but god, I have such sour grapes about the whole thing. Are you in better spirits than I am, hun?

CLÁUDIO ALVES: Glad to know I’m not alone in my grumpiness this week. While I agree that the right girl won and loved the runway lewks across the board, almost everything else about the episode fell short…

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