Hollywood Weirdo: A Nicolas Cage Top Ten

by Cláudio Alves

A new Nicolas Cage movie is in cinemas, a blessing to the actor's fans and all those who've ever dreamed of this Hollywood weirdo playing Count Dracula. Renfield comes at a time in his career when the industry seems ready to recognize him as something more than a meme, finding value in the thespian's oddities past the point of self-parody. This happens after many years when it felt like Cage was only ever mentioned in jest, the butt of a bad joke, a meme to make the internet laugh. And so, it tastes a bit like justice. At least, it does to longtime admirers that never entirely bought into a negative narrative that stems partly from the supposition that exaggeration and what's beyond realism don't belong in the box labeled 'good acting.'

In celebration, allow me to give in to the homosexual prerogative to make lists and present you with my top ten best Nicolas Cage performances. As with recent lists for Angela Bassett and Gwyneth Paltrow, this will only include big screen work, and the movies will remain unranked. However, I decided to add a unique twist to this Nic Cage lovefest...

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Critics Prizes, Round 6

by Nathaniel R

We had quite a lull of no new awards during the holidays but it's started up again so it's time to update the scorecard. Though sometimes we see a galling conformity in Best Picture prizes this year groups have been a smidgeon (a tiny smidgeon) more 'spread the wealth' adventurous with a total of 13 films winning at least 1 top prize from 30 groups announcing thus far.  That's a much wider spread of favourites than we're seeing in the depressingly conformist read of the other "top" categories...

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Year in Review: Best Screen Animals from Shark to "Pig"

by Team Experience

Animals didn't always have an easy go of it in 2021 movies. Consider Jonathan Larson's elusive super-neglected cat in tick, tick... BOOM!, wondering if its box would ever again be cleaned. Or, worse, those dalmations in Cruella demoted from loving titular characters to growling weapons. And it's best not to think too long on the fate of either bunny we meet in The Power of the Dog. 

But the following animals were luckier (for the most part) winning enough screen time and giving off enough personality to become an essential part of their movies, so let's talk about them...

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Regional Critics Round 4: "The Green Knight" joins the 'Best Film' fray

by Nathaniel R

Previously in the overcrowded circus that is precursor awards, we've had three wins for Power of the Dog (Philadelphia, NY Online, and Boston Online), three for Japan's Drive My Car (NYFCC, LAFCA, and Boston). two wins for Licorice Pizza (Atlanta and NBR), and one each for Cyrano (Detroit), Dune (Sunset Circle), The Lost Daughter (Gothams) and Belfast (DC). 

We got only one "new" Best Picture winner (The Green Knight!) from the latest batch of six critips groups: Chicago, Portland, St Louis, Las Vegas, Southeastern Film Critics, Las Vegas, and the Women Film Critics Circle. You can see the selections from all of those groups after the jump...

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What did you see this week?

Been back to the movie theaters yet? We've been going regularly again (huzzah!) but this week we skipped the new releases and took in a special one-night screening of The Graduate (1967) for the Movies with MZS at IFC Center. Next month he's showing Body Heat (1981) which is so perfect (you know we're fans) so if you're in NYC and you've never seen it now is your chance to see Kathleen Turner's jaw-dropping debut on the big screen.

Anyway. Here is the chart. What did you see this past week/weekend?

Weekend Box Office July 16th-18th 🔺 = new or expanding / ★ = recommended
WIDE RELEASE	PLATFORM TITLES
Black Widow	Pig

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