Berlinale #1: Cillian Murphy in "Small Things Like These"

Elisa Giudici, TFE's frequent festival friend is in Berlin for the 74th annual Berlinale...

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE © Shane O'Connor

by Elisa Giudici

"If you want to get on with life, sometimes you have to ignore things" Billy Furlong's wife remarks to him. It's 1985, and life in the Irish town of New Ross is modest yet dignified, for the most part. It's in the subtleties and the fine line between two worlds that the agony and suffering of Berlinale's opening film unfolds.  

Adapted from Claire Keegan's novel, Tim Mielants' Small Things Like These portrays the story of a "soft-hearted man" named Billy (Cillian Murphy, teased by his wife for his unwavering tendency to aid those in need...

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Ranking ALL of John Williams' Oscar Nominations

by Cláudio Alves

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY earned John Williams his 54th Oscar nomination.

Last week, John Williams celebrated his 92nd birthday, so it seems proper to shine a light on the legendary composer before the month ends. After all, in January, he also became the oldest person ever to secure an Oscar nomination, as he got into the Best Original Score lineup with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It was his 54th honor - he's won five Oscars as well - making him the most nominated living artist and runner-up for most nominated individual ever. That record is still held by Walt Disney, with 59.

In American Film History, there will never be a more iconic and influential composer than John Williams. If you don't believe it, join me as I go through his 54 nominations and offer my ranking…

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The Academy loves power couples

by Cláudio Alves

Though Margot Robbie isn't up for Best Actress, she's nominated in Best Picture with her husband, Tom Ackerley.

It's Valentine's Day, and love is in the air. To commemorate the occasion, let's consider this year's Academy Award nominations through the prism of romance, searching for couples among the contenders. Recognizing lovers together has been an Oscar tradition since the very start, from Lunt and Fontaine's matching Best Actor and Actress nomination in 1931 to last year's Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. Even so, this season feels especially prone to honoring couples. I could find six of them while perusing the list, including in the Best Picture race. Though they're not represented in the star-studded acting categories, they still deserve acclaim and attention…

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Drag Race RuCap: "Welcome to the DollHouse"

For the next few months, Nick Taylor and Cláudio Alves will be following and recapping RuPaul’s Drag Race season sixteen…

At long last, Law Roach makes his Drag Race debut.

CLÁUDIO: Hi Barbie! This week on RuPaul’s Prison Experiment, our host and MTV have figured out how to tap into the frenzy unleashed by Greta Gerwig’s plastic fantasy without the need for something as bothersome as copyright payments or bending the knee to the Mattel Empire. Then again, this episode might be the twins’ fault since they did parade through last year’s finale red carpet with doll doppelgangers. In any case, whether Queen Barbie or Princesses Sugar and Spice are to blame, “Welcome to the Dollhouse” is a fun hour of television. Or, at least, I had fun. What about you, Nicky Doll?

NICK: I had a lot of fun with this episode! As much as it pains me to say this after Ms. Meating has left this televised coil, “Welcome to the Dollhouse” is my favorite episode of the season thus far. . . .

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Review: "The Taste of Things" is a Delicious Indulgence

by Eurocheese

The advice I received going into a screening of Anh Hung Tran’s The Taste of Things was don’t go in hungry. With its wide release coming up on Valentine’s Day, I have to assume it will send couples scrambling to their late-night dinner reservations, prepared to order the entire menu. I heard audible groans of longing from the audience as we watched images of what can best be described as food porn – glowing sequences of fresh ingredients simmering in their juices, guided by chefs obsessed with their craft. If only we could jump through the screen and experience those meals with all of our senses. This is the immersive experience Chocolat wished it could have achieved...

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