Best International Film: Chile, Netherlands, Spain

by Cláudio Alves

I'm pleased to bring you the annual grouped reviews of the less high profile submissions for Best International Film Oscar. Many major contenders have already been reviewed (check the end of this article for links), but others remain unexamined. With 93 titles to consider, that's bound to happen. So as we wait for December 21st, when the Academy announces its 15-wide shortlist for this particular race, let's take a look at some of those submissions, starting with three previous champions from the category's history.

Chile won once before, while the Netherlands has three Oscars, and Spain counts four previous victories. This year, they submitted a portrait of colonialism, a drama about war's hell, and a dark comedy starring an Oscar-winning international star… 

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International Oscar Race Pt 3 - The Movie Stars

by Nathaniel R

We fight to keep our title each year as 'the site that gives you the most when it comes to Oscar's Best International Feature Film race.' Nevertheless, even if we aren't that anymore with all the corporate sites and the indies now covering the race, at least we were influential in popularizing the coverage! 

Speaking of popular. How many of the films have stars that movie-fans will recognize? Let's look at the international stars with fanbases outside their home countries, curiously it's light on familiar actresses this year but the men make up for that...

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Review: "Being the Ricardos"

By Ben Miller

Writer/director Aaron Sorkin is no stranger to historical drama and Being the Ricardos adds to the list.  With a deft ensemble and a dynamite lead performance from Nicole Kidman, the film will be an enjoyable time for fans of I Love Lucy and Sorkin fans alike.  Fair warning though: If Sorkin isn't your cup of tea, this film can be hard to swallow.

Lucille Ball (Kidman) is at the height of her powers. Alongside her husband and co-star Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem), their sitcom I Love Lucy is the most popular show on television.  But in 1953, Senator Joseph McCarthy was on the hunt for Communists within the United States.  Word gets out among the CBS executives that Ball was interviewed by his committee. Ball and Arnaz begin to question the viability of the show if this information became public...

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Goya Nominations: "The Good Boss" sets a record and Javier Bardem vies for a 7th win.

by Nathaniel R

Spain's Oscar submission, The Good Boss, starring Javier Bardem has set an all time record, securing a huge 20 nominations (!) at the 36th annual Goya Awards including 75% of the nominees in the Best Supporting Actor category. Pedro Almodóvar's new feature Parallel Mothers, which also has Oscar dreams, was in a distant third place with 8 nominations at Spain's own Oscars-like event.

All the nominations, the two you can see in the US this month, and a little commentary after the jump...

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Yes No Maybe So: "Being the Ricardos"

by Nathaniel R

the stars at a table read

The teaser is out for Amazon's Being the Ricardo, which is not a biopic in the common sense but a behind-the-scenes drama about one week in the making of the I Love Lucy show and the volatile Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball marriage/working relationship. At least that's what we've heard about it. The trailer on the other hand, suggests something more like a glimpse of Lucille Ball's ego and fight to stay on top in the (then) new medium of television.

Let's discuss after the jump...

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