1994's Unsatisfying Best Actress Race

1994 was our year of the month for June so before the month closes, a couple of more forays into that year. Here's Nathaniel R responding to a reader request during the Supporting Actress Smackdown to discuss the actual leading nominees.

It's an age old question and the answer is (nearly) always the same. 

Q: What happens when all the best stuff in a film year is within genres Oscar doesn't care for?
A: The Academy sticks to their traditional loves even if it means providing history with a weak shortlist that they'll judge harshly!  

Some recent years have suggested that Oscar is loosening up in this regard. The swell of new members might be helping along with the increased visibility of critical passion (the plethora of precursor awards constantly saying "but this is great! won't you please look at it?" seems to have shifted Oscar voters a bit more towards critical passion and away from "Oscar Bait"). But overall they stick to what they love (dramas, message movies, epics, biopics, etcetera). This is especially true of the Acting branch which rarely met a teary face it didn't fall for and continually sticks up its nose at laughing or screaming or unusual faces given their aversion to comic genius, horror films, and auteur experimental or sci-fi/fantasy work. Which brings us to 1994's BEST ACTRESS LIST...

Click to read more ...

Would you rather...?

Time for our intermittent stupid game in which we fantasize about hanging with celebrities. You can see all past roundups here if you want to be confronted with yet more impossible choices as to your celeb-fueled fantasy life options. Ready? Pictures are after the jump to help you decide.

Would you rather

...eat burgers with directors Gregg Araki & Andrew Ahn?
... do your makeup with Janet Jackson?
... tour Russia with Sarah Jessica Parker?
... celebrate Jeremy Jordan's birthday with a slice of Star Wars cake?
... cosplay Wonder Woman with Manila Luzon?
...work out with Cynthia Erivo?
... try Madonna's new skin care line with one of her BFFs Debi Mazar?
... visit an art gallery devoted to cinema with Emmanuelle Devos?
... get Christmas sweater-festive with Juliette Lewis?
... be inspired by the superhero Nightwing in your fitness goals with Vincent Rodriguez?
...help Naomi Watts celebrate her mom's new book launch?

Click to read more ...

Would you rather...?

It's our silly imaginary hang with celebs game. So would you rather

... go for a cookie run with Juliette Lewis?
... take piano lessons with Hailee Steinfeld?
... teach Garrett Dillahunt how to shave?
...paint fake freckles on your face with Busy Philipps?
... watch a Kristin Scott Thomas movie with Kristin Scott Thomas (so meta) from the wings?
... do Avengers cosplay with Mark Ruffalo?
... commune with owls and Kim Cattral?
...bathe in mud with Shailene Woodley?

Pictures after the jump to help you make this CRUCIAL choice.

Click to read more ...

Instagram Battles: Juliette with needles, Jess with Playbill, Gwynnie with "farmgarita"

Would you rather...

...hit a Broadway show with Jessica Chastain?
...have a photo op with the women of Big Little Lies?
...double fist with Armie Hammer?  
...get acupuncture with Juliette Lewis?  
...drink a farmgarita with Gwyneth Paltrow? 
...share a tongue bath and head massage with Luke Evans? 

Pictures after the jump to help you decide. 

Click to read more ...

Would You Rather

Time for a favorite celebrity social media game. Pictures after the jump to help you decide your answer.

Would you rather...

... go to Disneyland with Michelle Dockery?
...snuggle with Bianca Del Rio & Latrice Royale?
...smush faces with Juliette Lewis & Alicia Silverstone? 
...or pay homage to George Takei with Westworld's Leonardo Nam? 

Click to read more ...