Cate is camp and crazy-good in "The Man Who Cried"

by Nathaniel R

I'm pleased to share that I have returned for a second appearance on Murtada's fun podcast "Sundays with Cate" in which he's surveying Cate Blanchett's whole career (not chronologically) with various guests. This week's topic is the strange Sally Potter misfire The Man Who Cried (2001), a pre World War II drama about dancing Russians, singing Jews, and operatic Italians in Paris. I requested this one because I remembered being absolutely bewitched by one closeup in particular when the film was in theaters. But the film had become so entirely forgotten (even by me) that I could barely remember anything of the context. The film stars Johnny Depp and Cristina Ricci (both having just co-starred in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow) placing it forever in a very specific place in Hollywood time. Give us a listen! 

Showbiz History: Silent superstars, "Just Married", and Sal Mineo in Oil

7 random things that happened on this day, January 10th, in showbiz history

1927 Fritz Lang's sci-fi classic Metropolis has its world premiere in Berlin. It will become legendary and for good reason... though, truth be told, we tired of it for many years due to overexposure (there are so many great silent films but it seems like Metropolis and Birth of a Nation are the only ones the world knows). Our favourite, of infinite progeny and homages, is still Madonna's "Express Yourself" video from 1989.

1936 Silent film superstars Mary Pickford (44) and Douglas Fairbanks (53), who invented the "Hollywood Power Couple" finalize their divorce after 15 years of marriage (though they'd be separated for three years already)...

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National Society of Film Critics choose "Nomadland"

by Nathaniel R

After LAFCA and the NYFCC, the NSFC completes what is essentially the holy trinity of American critics prizes for films. For the latter half of the 20th century these were the three that would get all the press. In the past two decades their influence has not waivered, exactly, but has become less visible. With 30 critics groups now voicing their opinions each year (the bulk of which formed after the year 2000) it's more important for films and performances to have a plurality of voices... unending FYC campaign noise. While LAFCA, NYFCC, and NSFC don't differ a lot this year they all chose separate films for their top prize, LAFCA went with Steve McQueen's collection of five telefilms Small Axe, NYFCC went with First Cow, and the NSFC chose Nomadland (which has been the most dominant with regional prizes...

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The 25 Oldest Nominees of All Time in Best Supporting Actress

by Nathaniel R

Since Claudio was just discussing Ellen Burstyn's estimable Oscar history and the fact that she'd become the oldest acting nominee of all time (in any of the four categories) if the Academy picks her for Pieces of a Woman, we figured it was time for an Oscar list. (Cue talkback: when isn't it time for an Oscar list, Nathaniel?)

Which older women has Oscar gazed at fondly in the Supporting Actress category? Supporting (for both men and women) typically skews older than Lead since Hollywood prefers midtwenties to mid fortysomethings for protagonists. Herewith the women who broke through the wall of ingenues, girlfriends, wives, and mothers, to score Oscar nominations in Best Supporting Actress category later in life... 

25 OLDEST NOMINEES IN BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 

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Showbiz History: "Excuse me," Steve Martin. And Jim Brown as a film star

6 random things that happened on this day, January 9th, in showbiz history

1931 crime drama Little Caesar hits movie theaters making an unlikely star out of Edward G Robinson. It helped create the gangster drama and it's also of interest to queer movie fans since there's been debate for years about the titular character's sexuality. 

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