Today's magic number is 16. Let's talk 2016

by Nathaniel R

It is 16 days until the Oscars. Since you're all being so freakishly quiet, let's talk about something we know you'll have an opinion about: 2016. Oscar was all about Emma Stone in La La Land and Moonlight in general with pockets of support for Arrival and Manchester by the Sea and Fences. And for some reason Oscar decided Mel Gibson was cool again via Hacksaw Ridge. If you could change one thing about the Oscar outcomes of 2016 what would it be? 

I have one other question for you about the Oscars after the jump...

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Best Shot Index: West Side Story (2021)

Thank you to everyone who participated tonight. Next week's film is Romancing The Stone (1984) streaming on HBOMax so we hope you'll join us and pick your own shot. Here were the eight choices from West Side Story (2021) and we're marvelling at the variety and beauty. The film is up for Best Cinematography, Best Picture and more at the Oscars. Click on the image for the article, tweet, or tumblr post...

Ryan on Twitter (thread)

Keisha at Cinema Cities (article)

Cláudio Alves at The Film Experience (article)

Working Stiff at Tumblr (multiple articles)

Intifada on Tumblr (gallery)

Ben Miller at  Ice Cream For Freaks (article)

Steven James on Twitter (capsule)

And finally we love this fascinating choice from Alexander Georgakis on Twitter who writes:

The dissolve from the former Anita to the current one is more than a clever meta moment -- it asks us to consider if over the last sixty years, America has finally become that better time and place Valentina dreams about in “Somewhere”? In some ways, yes; in others, sadly, no.

CDG Award winners: 'Dune' and 'Cruella' to fight it out at the Oscars

by Nathaniel R

Andrew Garfield accepting his prize

The Costume Design Guild Awards were held last night. Teary Andrew Garfield received the Spotlight Award and said costume designers were his favourite to collaborate with. Producers Amy Pascal and Rachel O'Connor where honored as Distinguished Collaborators and Sharen Davis received the Career Achievement Award. The late Anthony Powell was also inducted into the CDG Hall of Fame by Glenn Close in a prerecorded segment. The Costume Designers Guild divvies their annual prizes up into Contemporary, Fantasy, and Period which means that three films get to share honors. This year they went for Coming 2 America, Dune, and Cruella... the latter two are also competing for the Oscar. Winners and comments after the jump... 

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Casting: Austin Butler as Feyd Rautha in 'Dune Part Two'

by Nathaniel R

Twink Wars 2023

In what surely must be a sign that Warner Bros is very happy with Baz Luhrmann's forthcoming Elvis, Austin Butler is now reportedly in talks to play the cunning Feyd Rautha, in their pricey franchise installment Dune Part Two. (Earlier online rumors had suggested Barry Keoghan was in the mix). Dune Part Two is due in theaters in October 2023 so filming starts later this year. Florence Pugh is also joining the sequel...

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Hit Me With Your Best Shot: WEST SIDE STORY (2021)

by Cláudio Alves

A beautiful shot, full of carnality and color!

Re-watching Spielberg's interpretation of the classic musical made me realize that, beyond the mournful tonalities of Rita Moreno's Valentina, the new West Side Story works mainly as a tragedy of two gang leaders, what they symbolize, and the clashing communities they represent. So, logically, my best shot would have to feature Riff and Bernardo while also showcasing the best aspects of the picture's photographic strategy. Hopefully, it'd also hide some of my personal misgivings with it, too – namely, the overabundance of glaring lens flares...

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