PGA Nominations: Wa Wa Wee Wa! "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" made the list.

The Producers Guild of America has spoken and has named these ten pictures as nominees for its top category.

Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures

• Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Producers: Sacha Baron Cohen, Monica Levinson, Anthony Hines
• Judas and the Black Messiah Producers: Charles D. King, Ryan Coogler, Shaka King
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Producers: Denzel Washington, Todd Black
• Mank Producers: Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth, Douglas Urbanski
• Minari Producer: Christina Oh
• Nomadland Producers: Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey, Chloé Zhao
• One Night In Miami… Producers: Jess Wu Calder & Keith Calder, Jody Klein
• Promising Young Woman Producers: Josey McNamara, Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell
• Sound Of Metal Producers: Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche
• The Trial of the Chicago 7 Producers: Marc Platt, Stuart Besser

This is great news for Judas and the Black Messiah as a late breaking contender as well as Sound of Metal which has had a lot of buzz for Riz Ahmed but less so for other awards categories.  The PGA choices are a tough break for News of the World and The Father. But all is not lost for the latter two hopefuls as Oscar does often change things up a bit. Stats and more PGA nominations after the jump...

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Gay Best Friend: Erich in "Midnight Express"

 a series by Christopher James looking at the 'Gay Best Friend' trope

Norbert Weisser co-stars as Erich in Alan Pakula's 1978 hit "Midnight Express."Our journeys into classic cinema has allowed us to explore the beginnings of the gay best friend trope and coding during the Hayes Code. Once the code was abolished, the late 60s and 70s were able to go wild. While sex, swearing and violence began to populate films, the depiction of gay people stayed relatively the same. Movies were able to actually define characters as LGBTQ+, but they were often villains or would meet a tragic fate. Sympathetic LGBTQ+ characters were tough to come by.

At first glance, the brutal prison drama Midnight Express would not seem like the place to find a nice gay best friend. But Erich (Norbert Weisser) stands out as a light among the considerable darkness. Erich acts as the confidant and guide for our protagonist, Bill Hayes (Brad Davis in a BAFTA & Globe nominated debut), who was sent to this Turkish prison for smuggling hashish from Turkey. His kindness is a wonderful tonic for the grim realities of the Turkish prison. 

However, once Erich acts on his desires, he is immediately removed from the narrative...

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7 time nominated actresses

It's 7 days until Oscar nominations are announced and it's also International Women's Day so let's talk actresses. (Like we need an excuse, but just go with it). 7 women have been Oscar nominated exactly 7 times for their acting ... and these were their 7th (and final to date) nominations:

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Showbiz History: Fargo, La Femme Nikita, Captain Marvel, and more...

7 random things that happened on this day, March 8th, in showbiz history

1935 The Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy musical Naughty Marietta opens in theaters. It will go on the receive two Oscar nominations: Best Picture and Best Sound Recording. This is one of the first really old movies I ever saw in movie theaters as my parents occassionally took us to the local repertory theater (just a five minute drive away). The only memory I have of it is Jeanette MacDonald singing "Sweet Mystery of Life".  When I finally saw Young Frankenstein on cable or DVD many years later (I was very late to that movie) I laughed so hard at Madeline Kahn busting that song out while having sex with the Frankenstein monster. The scene is hilarious even without context, of course, but I had loved the song as a child which made the scene twice as funny. Mel Brooks was 9 years old when Naughty Marietta came out. Maybe his parents also took him to see it? 

1985 Mask, starring Cher, opens in theaters, one of that year's best films...

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Critics Choice Winners

The all virtual Critic's Choice Awards were held tonight. Eternally handsome Taye Diggs hosted direct to camera, which must have been one of the easiest gigs ever. No audience to play to, no flop sweat if jokes failed as thy often do for awards show hosts. Just an obedient laugh track (meant to be ironic or...?) and the camera. 

The Critics Choice voters often agreed with the Golden Globes including Best Picture for Nomadland which led the awards with 4 wins. But they went their own way in Best Comedy where Palm Springs took the prize. Sorry Borat but all was not lost because Best Supporting Actress went to  Maria Bakalova. The winners are after the jump...

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