Bella Baxter's Best Looks: A "Poor Things" Top Ten

by Cláudio Alves

The last time an Emma Stone movie won the Best Costume Design Oscar, I ranked her character's many looks. So, it seems appropriate to do the same this year. Once, there was Cruella, but now, one has Poor Things' Bella Baxter to consider. 

Breaking the trend of repeat winners and legendary designers finally getting their due, Holly Waddington is a relative newcomer to the costume design big leagues, even though she has worked with names like Sandy Powell and Jacqueline Durran during her tenure in Angels Costume House. Training her craft in that famed establishment, the designer specialized in period costuming, though she's hardly a stickler for historical accuracy. Bored by exact recreation, the artist prefers to play with anachronism, making her a perfect fit for Yorgos Lanthimos' cinema. Indeed, she met the director through Tony McNamara after she costumes The Great's pilot, another take on period regality with a wacky twist…

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Let John Mulaney Host!

by Cláudio Alves

Reactions vary among Oscar watchers, but I'm tired of Jimmy Kimmel. Comedy is subjective, but I've never warmed up to the late night host as an Academy Awards fixture. His humor comes with a taste of perceived superiority as if he's above the movies honored at the ceremony. To be fair, that's common across award shows everywhere, but we caught a glimpse of something better earlier this season. On January 9th, John Mulaney hosted the Governors Awards, killing it like nobody's business while exuding a sincere love for the medium. He even showed up at the Oscars to ramble about Field of Dreams in the night's best bit. Hopefully, AMPAS saw those appearances as auditions because the Oscars sorely need someone like John Mulaney to take on hosting duties…

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The Oscars aren't so local anymore...Maybe?

by Cláudio Alves

THE ZONE OF INTEREST is the first non-English-language film to win the Best Sound Oscar.
Many consider the Oscars to be the highest honor any filmmaker can achieve. However, as an American institution, they've favored Hollywood fare over world cinema. In other words, for all their aspirations, AMPAS is fairly provincial in taste and the composition of their voting body. Strides are made every year to change that, but it'll take a long time before the Academy Awards shake off the "local" allegations. That said, when the voters expand their horizons, one should celebrate it. This year, they certainly looked past Anglophone American-centric cinema, honoring five different non-English-language features…

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Lily Gladstone is Still a Winner

by Ginny O'Keefe

Lily Gladstone at the Oscars . Screenshot from ABC

The Oscar hangover is in full effect as I write this on Monday afternoon. Endless thoughts and reflections from the night before keep circling the drain of my movie brain in a never-ending swirl. Thoughts on Cillian Murphy’s humility, Ryan Gosling’s unwavering commitment to the bit, Johnathan Glazer’s courageous words, and even John Cena’s nudity. But one giant thought seems to spin around in my mind the loudest; the thought of Lily. 

Like many this year, I had huge hopes for Lily Gladstone when it came to awards season. Back in May, when Killers of the Flower Moon had its premiere at the Cannes Film festival, it had received a formidable 9-minute standing ovation. And as the festival camera did its traditional audience coverage during the rolling credits to showcase the film’s stars, it was the lingering shot of Gladstone wiping away tears while sporting a glowing smile that had me absolutely certain of one thing; this is her year...

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Which acting nominee will be back again quickly?

by Nathaniel R

It's become something of a tradition here at TFE to guess which just-celebrated actor will be back soonest for another Oscar season. Last year at this time you (collectively) guessed that Cate Blanchett (29%), Michelle Williams (15%), Paul Mescal (15%) and Barry Keoghan (9%) would be the quickest to return. Nobody returned immediately but of those four only Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) seemed like a real possibility this time around.  But his film and even his performance were divisive so that happens. 

Time to vote again, which of the 20 stars recently celebrated will be back shortly? Make your case in the comments section.

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