That scene from "Unfaithful"

by Cláudio Alves

Oscar voters aren't the greatest fans of erotic thrillers. Despite that, there are some times when a cinematic achievement is so undeniable that AMPAS' usual prejudices are thrown out the window. One good example is Adrian Lyne's Fatal Attraction, a cultural phenomenon that, in 1987, managed to nab six Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Actress. Years later, another of Lyne's erotic reveries would be honored with an important nod, though this time it was just in the Best Actress category. The picture was 2002's Unfaithful and the actress was Diane Lane delivering one of the most magnificent performances of her career. Her work as Connie Sumner is a masterclass in sexual discovery and abandonment, guilt, and desire.

If for nothing else, Lane earned the nomination for a scene in the middle of the movie, when her adulterous character is returning home by train, after her first tryst with Olivier Martinez's sexy bookdealer…

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Ryan Murphy's "Hollywood" (Episode 1)

by Eric Blume

Our hero, the dreamer, hoping to be picked

We’ll be covering the latest Ryan Murphy show Hollywood for you, now streaming on Netflix. Instead of a retread of the plot each episode (because, who cares?) we thought we’d treat you to a succinct look at the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of it all each week.  And, because the show features a lot of beautiful eye candy, include the 'Not So Ugly' as a digestif.  Let’s take a look at Episode One…

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Great Scenes Galore

The Film Bitch Awards are nearly wrapped with the "Best Scenes" page finished (only cameo/limited performances remain). Check the new page out for the choices for Best Kiss, Best Sex Scene, Best Credit Sequence, Best Openings, Best Endings and more. Do you share the love of these particular moments from Gloria Bell, Little Women, MidSommar, Knives Out, Pain and Glory, Parasite, Us and more? The medals will be announced soon. 

1999 with Nick: Best Cinematography Falls on "Cedars"

This week, in advance of the Oscars, Nick Davis is looking back at the Academy races of 20 years ago, spotlighting movies he’d never seen and what they teach us about those categories, then and now...

Spotlight Movie: Snow Falling on Cedars

Today's case study from the 72nd Academy Awards is a less auspicious instance than yesterday's of a movie sneaking onto Oscar's ballot with just one nomination. I'd also call it an example of good filmmaking that, in context, arguably constitutes bad filmmaking, or at least disappointing and misguided filmmaking. Cinematographer Robert Richardson is not the exclusive or even the primary defendant in the case I’m going to make. He was probably executing to the best of his ability the mandates of a director and a producing team intent on the picturesque. Still, I’m not sure we needed to reward him for following such dubious orders. And now, as so often in this movie, we flash back...

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Today's birthday suit: Hugh Dancy

Happy 44th to Hugh Dancy today. He's currently onscreens as charming lothario trouble in Late Night (2019). Remember when ginger mom & son Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne had a Dancy sandwich, twelve years back? Good times...

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