Interview: Ryan White on "Good Night Oppy" and recording Angela Bassett

by Nathaniel R

Director Ryan White and his new film "Good Night Oppy"

In October I had the pleasure of introducing director Ryan White to a warmly receptive audience at the 10th annual Middleburg Film Festival. They'd just screened his buzzy documentary Good Night Oppy and there was lots of love in the room. That's been a through line with the film wherever it's shown. The space exploration documentary has since received glowing notices and several awards including five wins at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards. The charming doc about two sister robots on Mars, "Opportunity" and "Spirit", who wildly surpassed initial expectations, also represents a change of pace for the director. He's always had range. His previous lauded projects have included films as varied as the Oscar finalist short Coded (2021) about the gay golden age illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, the Emmy-nominated political doc The Case Against 8 (2014), the Emmy nominated unsolved crime doc-series The Keepers (2017), and profile docs like Ask Dr Ruth (2019) and Serena (2016). 

When we first met Good Night Oppy had not yet reached Amazon Prime but it was headed there for the Thanksgiving holiday. A feast it would likely be to families that gave it a try. I was delighted to catch up with White to talk about the film again now that it's available to a wide audience...

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Doc Corner: Robert, Downey, 'Sr.'

By Glenn Dunks

Sometimes movie stars use their power for good. How else to describe Netflix—home of Lindsay Lohan in Falling for Christmas and the fittingly titled Ryan Gosling vehicle The Grey Man—releasing a black and white documentary about an underground cinema pioneer known best for absurdist satires and stoner comedies of the ‘60s and ‘70s. In this case, we surely have to give gratitude to Robert Downey Jr. It’s hard to believe Sr. would be there on millions of people’s TV if it weren’t for him.

Thankfully, not so content to just let his name sell the picture and be done with it, Sr. is a probing, funny exploration of art and the people who make it, and the impression that both can leave on those around them.

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"Close" gains Oscar momentum

by Nathaniel R

A few nights back I had the pleasure to attend a screening and reception for Close, Belgium's Oscar submission hosting by legendary indie producer Christine Vachon. Vachon joked that when people mistook her for the producer of Close, since she was hosting the event, she didn't actually want to correct them. "I wish I had produced this!" 

The film, which is stronger overall and certainly less divisive than Dhont's debut, the trans drama Girl (2018), has been a major hit on the festival circuit. It's about the intimate friendship between two 13 year-old boys. We first meet them in summertime bliss but a return to school, followed by stares and mild teasing from other kids, makes them self-conscious about their friendship. Not everyone loves the film but those that do really spark to its observational strength, patience and naturalism, and the potency of its emotional throughline despite coming at the drama sideways with very little audience hand-holding. I myself was jolted back to memories of that age...

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National Film Registry Inductees for 2022 / How to vote on 2023's List

by Nathaniel R

CARRIE (1976)

It's that time of year when this becomes THE LIST EXPERIENCE. The Library of Congress has revealed the titles that have been added to the National Film Registry denoting films that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." We wish it were any time other than December each year given all the other lists and that this one literally never has anything to do with the film year in process / wrapping up. But it is what it is. It's feast or famine and everyone is alway determined to keep December so tight that noone can breathe or pay attention to anything they're feasting on for more than two minutes!

Here is th 2022 list in chronological order as always...

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Critics Choice. Nominations for Everything Everywhere and for Everyone!

by Nathaniel R

The Critics Choice Award Nominations have been announced for the 2022 film and television year with Everything Everywhere All At Once (14 nods), The Fabelmans (11 nods), and Babylon (10 nods) leading the pack. (They said "long movies only!"). I have yet to meet any critics who were totally wild for Babylon though I do know one industry person that is. The CCA have not heard our moans and groans that if you nominate everything, nominations aren't that special or exciting. They've taken their mode of choosing one more than the Oscars or SAG or Guilds do in their categories (to help them with their predictions... sigh) and applied it even to the now ten wide field of Oscar's Best Picture race by choosing 11 titles. (double sigh).

Here are the nominations...

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