Artist Tribute: Regina Hall in the Scary Movie Franchise

by Nick Taylor

We are ringing in the opening weekend for Paul Thomas Anderson’s new American epic One Battle After Another by celebrating a legend. While early reviews suggest an impressive performance likely to be overshadowed by the bigger challenges of her co-stars, I’m simply excited to see her kill it again on the big screen. Anything for this actress to keep building the goodwill necessary to one day swan across Oscar’s stage and receive the adulation she obviously deserves. I am, of course, talking about Regina Hall, one of the funniest people working in the pictures. With this year being the 25th anniversary of the very first Scary Movie (yes I know it was released in July, hush), we take this day to honor Hall’s superlative turns as Brenda Meeks across the first four films in the franchise . . . 

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Oscar Predix: Which actresses will receive their first Oscar nomination this coming season?

by Nathaniel R

Rose Byrne, Ayo Edebiri, and Renata Reinsve

We're almost done with the first round predictions for the Oscar charts. Today, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress and the question most prominent on our minds is which women will have "Oscar Nominee" after their names forever more? It's hard to tell this far out but we have some inkling of the possibilities...

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Humor at the Oscars: Where Was It?

by Eric Blume

ABC/Art Streiber

My Oscar assignment for the site was to do a review of the show's hosts (Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, and Regina Hall) and cover the evening's best jokes.  But the next day, it's difficult-come-impossible to do such a thing, because there really was little to no humor in the show! In fact, the evening drove into such an abyss of darkness that it was actually full-on depressing.  What can one say about a program that is meant to honor the highest artistic achievements of the craft, when there is no attention given to art, achievement, or craft?

I will do my best to quickly execute my given assignment nonetheless. There were jokes in there somewhere...

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Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes are hosting the Oscars

by Nathaniel R

We'd already heard that the Academy was eyeing a "three-act" structure for the March 27th ceremony and now we know who is starring in those "acts". Fine actress Regina Hall, and two hilarious TV comediennes Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. We'd hoped for Maya Rudolph or Kristen Wiig since they're always deeply hilarious when presenting Oscars but we like this trio. The past couple of years have proven that we really do need hosts for some kind of party throughline and the Academy could have chosen (and have chosen) much worse! 

What'cha think? 

Sundance: 'Master' is a fine horror debut

by Matt St Clair

Mariama Diallo’s feature debut Master is a horror film about the anxieties of being a Black woman in a predominantly white space. Diallo stresses such perturbations by blending paranormal elements with real-world institutional prejudice and the all-too-petrifying feeling of being an outsider. Although certain story elements outweigh others, Master thrives on its slow-burn execution and sheer demonstration of danger lingering around every corner...

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