Last Notes on 2002 (a Film Bitch Awards Flashback)

by Nathaniel R

We've had more difficulty letting the latest Smackdown go than usual but then 2002 was a fun fun year to discuss and podcast about.  There were so many more films we could have spoken about.

As an added bonus, since people are always asking about the old Film Bitch Awards that are no longer available online, we thought we'd share a couple of page from the 2002 honors for fun / discussion. (We've thought about compiling a "first ten years" book via GoFundMe or something - would you buy one?).

Click to read more ...

Sir Ian Holm (1931-2020)

by Nathaniel R

If you haven't yet heard, beloved actor Sir Ian Holm (Chariots of Fire, From Hell, Ratatouille) passed away on Friday at the age of 88. He started working professionally as an actor in his twenties in the 1950s and he didn't stop working until just a handful of years ago with two final appearances in Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy. In his long career he won the Tony (The Homecoming), the Olivier (King Lear) and the BAFTA twice (Boros Gun and Chariots of Fire) though Oscar, sadly, kept missing the chance to honor him.

After the jump 10 roles that hold special meaning for this particular moviegoer...

Click to read more ...

Celebrating Father's Day: Tracy Letts in "Lady Bird"

In honor of Father’s Day, Lynn Lee pays tribute to one of her favorite on-screen fathers.  

At first glance, it may seem counter-intuitive to celebrate Lady Bird on Father’s Day instead of Mother’s Day.  The loving but fraught relationship between Saoirse Ronan’s Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson and her mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf, who should have won the Oscar) is, after all, the emotional center of the film.  Yet amid the sturm und drang of their clashes and reconciliations, the quiet, soothing presence of Lady Bird’s father, Larry, leaves an equally lasting imprint.  It’s an especially remarkable feat when one considers how few movies devote significant attention to father-daughter relationships unless the mother is dead or there are abuse, neglect, or communication issues.  Think about it.

Lady Bird is the exception that proves the rule...

Click to read more ...

1957: Ruby Dee in "Edge of the City"

Before the next Smackdown, Nick Taylor will be visiting some "alternates" to the Supporting Actress Ballot.

There are two noteworthy bits of trivia about Edge of the City. First: This marks the third of five films where Ruby Dee plays Sidney Poitier's wife, as well as the first of these films to focus on her character and their marriage in any real detail. Second: Edge of the City is the directorial debut of Martin Ritt, whose most famous films include Hud (which netted him his only Best Director nomination), Sounder, and The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, all of which were highly regarded by critics and Academy members alike. Ritt was a skilled actor’s director, able to craft naturalistic, cinematic performances from his ensembles while paying equal attention to the vastly different tones, milieus, and sociopolitical landscapes of each film. How could I resist the siren call of the first feature from a director this versatile and engaging, and with a cast this endlessly watchable? 

Click to read more ...

Watch "Miss Juneteenth"

Happy Juneteenth, everyone! You may recall that before the world shut down film festivals existed and at Sundance back in January the indie film Miss Juneteeth had its premiere. The mother daughter drama about a former beauty queen and an upcoming 'Miss Juneteenth' pageant has been a major critical success for first time feature filmmaker Channing Godfrey Peoples. 

Here's what Murtada had to say about its lead actress Nicole Beharie (Shame, Sleepy Hollow)...

Beharie commands the screen with a naturally quiet disposition and the film flows to her rhythm. Sometimes slowing down completely as Turquoise halts to take on another day and challenge and Beharie shows us that with small reticent gestures. It’s the kind of performance - and film - that you need to let seep into you, settle in and wash away leaving you nourished with palpable emotions. 

You can read Murtada's full Sundance review here. Miss Juneteenth is now available digitally and on demand and you can support your local indie theater while watching it.