Almost There: Jean Gabin in "Grand Illusion"

by Cláudio Alves

The Almost There series continues its exploration of the Criterion Channel's May programming. It's time to shine a light on Jean Gabin, currently celebrated in a 10-film collection named "France's Everyman". From 1936's The Lower Depths to 1963's Any Number Can Win, this tenfold serves as a sample of the Gallic actor's extensive career, dramatic prowess, and on-screen persona. Gruff and disaffected, with a cynic's soul and a mischievous twinkle in the eye, Gabin came to embody the French working classes in a myriad of roles from romantic heroes through charismatic scoundrels. Even before the Nouvelle Vague rocked the foundations of France's film industry, the actor had already become something bigger than life. Gabin turned from man into symbol, the personification of his nation's cinema. No wonder he never found a home in Hollywood despite a 1940s detour. Maybe he was just too French! 

Still, American audiences embraced Gabin's movies. In 1938, Jean Renoir's Grand Illusion made Oscar history and brought the actor close to a nomination…

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April Foolish Pt 5 - Who will be our new 'Best Actor'?

by Nathaniel R

Hmmmm. Could Hugh Jackman pick up another Tony and the Oscar in the next 10 months?

Which actor will pull an Andrew Garfield this year and get the internet excited about his work with renewed passion? Which actor will pull a Benedict Cumberbatch and become the year's critical darling only to lose the statue? Which actor will pull a Will Smith and be the slam dunk winner due to a well liked performance and his entire career beforehand? We can't possibly know yet but we can speculate about it. So let's do that.

Internet Passions? My crystal ball says either Austin Butler (Elvis), Colin Farrell (Banshees of Inisherin), or Brendan Fraser (The Whale)

Critical Darling? Hmmm. Adam Driver (White Noise), Viggo Mortensen (Crimes of the Future), or Colman Domingo (Rustin)

"It's Time" Career Win Possibilities? Hugh Jackman (The Son), Colin Farrell or Brendan Gleeson (Banshees of Inisherin), Adam Driver (White Noise)

OKAY DRUMROLL PLEASE... AND THE PREDICTIVE 5 ARE... 

Oscar Charts *ALL NEW*
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Academy bans Will Smith for 10 years

by Nathaniel R

Two weeks too late the Academy has essentially asked Will Smith to leave the building. The only appropriate time to do that would have been immediately post-slap, if you ask us. But after letting him stay and deliver a tearful speech in which he apologized as well as blamed the devil, and giving him a standing ovation, they don't really have much of a moral high ground to do so now. But they had to say something... 

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Oscar Trivia: Who has had the most consecutive acting nominations?

by Nathaniel R

Given that this year brought us only one repeat acting nominee from last season (Olivia Colman, from The Father to The Lost Daughter)  we thought it would be a fun detour to look back at thespians that Oscar was obsessed with for a relatively intense stretch of time. Which of the 20 actors nominated this year will be back again next year and start a run towards this rarefied list?Care to make a guess? Maybe it'll be Olivia Colman a third consecutive time. We could see it if Empire of Light opens in time.

Now, it's pretty easy to return again and again at The Emmys given that one series can last for several years (and the TV Academy falls out of love slowly), but for the Oscars, where it's new projects and characters every year, it's very dificult to hold interest for years on end...

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Oscar Volley: A deep dive into Best Actor

Team Experience is discussing the various Oscar categories. Here's Cláudio Alves, Michael Cusumano, and Elisa Giudici to discuss Best Actor.

ELISA GIUDICI: Last year, we thought this Oscar was locked by Chadwick Boseman's intense performance. Yet we were surprised by the outcome, with Anthony Hopkins winning the golden statuette. The Academy was so confident about Boseman’s victory they moved the Best Actor category after Best Picture, the traditional one that closes the ceremony… only to stare at an empty stage, because the winner Anthony Hopkins was at home, sleeping. In 2022, Will Smith is the frontrunner in the Best Actor category. The odds are clearly in his favor…

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