Oscar Volleys: The Eye Candy Trifecta

Taking a break from the so-called “above the line” races, Nathaniel R and Cláudio Alves discuss the eye candy Oscar categories – Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design...

DUNE: PART TWO | © Warner Bros.

NATHANIEL: Hi, Cláudio. So this year, for time reasons, the pre-nomination Oscar Volleys are not covering every category and I'm feeling guilty about it. In the 21st century all 20+ Oscar categories have arguably more devout fanbases than ever thanks to the ease of catering to niche interests that the internet, streaming, and social media have all brought.  Yet the 'Below the Line' categories are somehow incongruously more disrespected than ever. Consider that the Oscars are now the ONLY major awards show (that's not an exaggeration) that doesn't pretend that craftsmen and artisans are less crucial to making art than actors and directors. Consider that time and again we get these horrid articles from the media about how to fix the Oscars that invariably suggest that they should be more like their less popular counterparts (Tonys, Grammys, Emmys, Globes, etcetera) and ditch the "crafts" or have them on another night altogether without the fanfare. This suggestion has made me redhot with anger from the very first time I heard it and the anger has never dissipated…

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Oscar Volley: Venice and Cannes loom over Best Director

Here's Nathaniel R and Elisa Giudici on the Best Director race...

ANORA, Sean Baker | © NEON

NATHANIEL: Elisa, my far away friend, I miss attending festivals with you. One of the greatest joys of film festivals, as opposed to normal moviegoing / movie coverage, is that it's a departure. It's both more intimate (you're choosing a bunch of films to watch alone even if you're discussing them later with strangers and friends) and more expansive: generally speaking you see films from all over the world (if you're doing it right) and it's more auteur-focused. The latter brings us to today's volley topic: BEST DIRECTOR...

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Farewell (for now) to "Somebody Somewhere," the best TV show you weren't watching

by Lynn Lee

And now a break from our regularly scheduled awards season programming for a shout-out to a small, exquisite, severely under-sung TV series that just concluded its three-season run.  The HBO dramedy Somebody Somewhere ended like it began – with no fanfare but with a lot of love, both from those who made it and from the few of us who were watching it.  For the rest of you, it may be just the show you need to shore up your faith in humanity – something that feels like it’s in short supply these days...

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Oscar Volley: Best Supporting Actor suffers from "Succession" nostalgia

...after a brief holiday break, the Oscar Volleys continue with Elisa Giudici and Abe Friedtanzer on Best Supporting Actor...

Denzel Washington in GLADIATOR II | © Paramount Pictures

ELISA: This year’s Oscar race seems wide open for surprises, which, after years of things being more or less decided in advance, is pretty exciting, right? Unfortunately, due to local release schedules, I haven’t seen a few of the candidates, but I wouldn’t bet on anyone being "locked" exactly.

Take Denzel Washington, for example. He’s been widely praised for his performance in Gladiator II—arguably the only part of the film that everyone agrees is of high quality. It’s the classic, showy, theatrical role that could easily land an actor like Washington yet another nomination, especially given the respect and fame he commands...

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Review: "Nosferatu" is the perfect present for the cinephile in your life

by Cláudio Alves

A belated Merry Christmas to you all, and Happy Holidays too. What better way to celebrate than with cinema? After all, the year of 2024 is coming to a close with an array of new releases, as varied as they are curious. For Kidmaniacs, Babygirl is upon us, with the actress's best performance since Birth. The Fire Inside is a crowd-pleasing sports drama of unusual elegance, while A Complete Unknown is essential viewing for those who want to keep up to date with the awards season. Better Man brings some monkey business to the festive box office, while Vermiglio delivers a post-war poem on the changing seasons. 

However, if you're like me, a horror hound at heart, the week's most enticing release must surely be Robert Eggers' Nosferatu, an old-fashioned Gothic romance with a nasty streak a mile wide…

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