Nathaniel's Top Ten of 2017

by Nathaniel R

Better late than never. If you've been wondering why your TFE host has been so in and out of the proceedings this season, let's just say life has proved significantly challenging offline: the end of a decade-plus relationship, homelessness (not the dramatic kind but the sleeping on friend's couches kind), a long bout with the flu, a new side gig, etcetera). So this list carries a bit of melancholy with it as 2017 was one of the hardest years of my life. (If you also had a rough year: I feel you. Hugs in solidarity). Due to all of this I didn't see as many films as is my preference and couldn't rewatch the key films I usually would have before "voting".

But in the end you have to move forward.  Time changes everything... and time changes all top ten lists also! Some of these placements that you scratch your head about now, you'll either understand in ten years time OR I'll join you in scratching my head about them with a "what was I thinking?" blush. Top ten lists are but time capsules.

People change for better and worse. Circumstances shift dramatically or perception does. The movies of 2017 helped me understand all this, many of them zeroed in on definitive months in someone's life, others hopping around in time, and still more juxtaposing the past with the present...

Click to read more ...

The Smackdown is Coming. Meet the Panelists

It's almost time for another Smackdown. As is the brief tradition, we'll be looking at this year's nominees for Supporting Actress in our February edition (just as we did last year). We'll be talking Octavia Spencer, Laurie Metcalf, Lesley Manville, Mary J Blige, and Allison Janney. The Smackdown and its companion podcast will arrive this coming Monday, February 26th.

It's time to meet the panelists. Please welcome...

FIRST TIME PANELISTS

Andrew Carden
Andrew Carden is a contributing writer at GoldDerby and writes about all things Oscar on his blog, The Awards Connection. When he's not on Twitter, lamenting Thelma Ritter's 0-for-6 record in Best Supporting Actress, Andrew works in Massachusetts politics.

His #1 of 2017: Mudbound
[Andrew on Twitter]

Candice Frederick
Candice Frederick is a freelance TV/film critic living in New York City. She has written for Vice, The Daily Beast, The Mary Sue, /Film and others. You can find more of her work here.

Her #1 of 2017: Wonder Woman
[Candice on Twitter]

Erica Mann
Erica is a writer and film critic based in New York. Creator of The NYC Film Chick blog in 2012, she has covered film festivals such as Tribeca, New York Film Festival, and TIFF. When she is not working, tweeting, or fighting the patriarchy, she freelances as a film coordinator and producer.

Her #1 of 2017: Mudbound
[Erica on Twitter]

RETURNING PANELISTS

Though we never repeat an exact panel, we do like to welcome voices back. The following two men have done smackdowns before (the 2016 fivesome and the 1995 brilliance, respectively) so we're welcoming them back.

Chris Feil
Chris Feil lives in Columbus, Ohio and is a contributor to The Film Experience. You can easily beetlejuice him into your conversations by talking about soundtracks (shameless plug for his weekly column Soundtracking), RuPaul's Drag Race (further shameless plug for his recaps), and WALL•E. He is remembering to notice the collateral beauty around him. Chris has also written for Paste and Decider.

His #1 of 2017: Lady Bird
[Chris on Twitter]

Kevin O'Keeffe
Kevin O'Keeffe is a writer, editor, and RuPaul's Drag Race herstorian. Currently, he writes about that show, as well as other film and TV, for the LGBTQ+ magazine INTO. He's still mad Tiffany Haddish wasn't nominated this year.

His #1 of 2017: Call Me By Your Name
[Kevin on Twitter]

... and your host

Nathaniel R ... but you know me already.

The Smackdown will be up on Monday. And if you'd like to get started early on your viewing for future smackdowns we're doing 1970 and 1994 sometime in the spring after a wee Post-Oscar break. Stay tuned!

Moving Day

by Nathaniel R

Frances Ha

For those wondering why I've been so quiet during Oscar month, please bear with me a little while longer. After much chaos in my offline life and a painful end to a long relationship (...but let's not get into that), it's moving day. Or days.

It occurred to me today that movies skip over this physically exhausting and emotionally taxing work in seconds usually. Where's the magical montage that transports me from No-Longer-Home to New Place in like 10-30 whimsical but melancholy seconds? Because this real time continuous-shot business is no fun. Even Lav Diaz would think this running time indulgent.

But back to boxes and chaos. Here's to fresh starts.

Save the date(s) - We're in the home stretch

With January wrapped up, we're in the final month of Oscar mania. Here are major events and/or awards nights to keep your eye on for the next month plus.

FEBRUARY

2 A Fantastic Woman (Chile's Oscar nominee) opens in limited release
2 CAS Cinema Audio Society final voting opens (Closes Feb 14th)
3 DGA Directors Guild of America Awards
3 Annie Awards (Honoring the year's animated films)
5 Oscar Nominees Luncheon...

Click to read more ...

January. That's a Wrap

Here are a baker's dozen highlights from this month that didn't quite fly by (this winter has been brutal) in case you missed any of them! Remember to vote daily for your choices in the Oscar charts. Now it's on February/early March when we can finally put this cinematic year in this history books.

most discussed
• FYC Allison Janney Seán loves her work in I Tonya
• Oscar Shut-Outs Team Experience grieves for fine work unrecognized
• SAG notes on the ceremony
• Worst Best Picture Snubs a dozen movies for the all time lists

other must-reads
• Roots and Wings Murtada's memory is stirred by Greta Gerwig's Globe win
• Blueprint Jorge's column reads up on the Original Screenplay nominees
• Soundtracking Chris Feil listens in on the Original Song nominees
• The Shape of Water's Design Daniel looks at the aqueous fantasies of del Toro's Oscar frontrunner
• Jamie Bell Interview Nathaniel talks to the Film Stars leading man about working with the Bening and his Old Hollywood dream project
• Team Experience Awards Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name lead the crop
• 50 Beloved Movies That Got Zero Oscar Love time alters the fates of some movies!
• The editing of Baby Driver Tim's tribute to this Oscar nominated craft
• 22 black dresses the Globes red carpet was serious but not unglamorous

Coming in February:
The Supporting Actress Smackdown of 2017, Nathaniel's "Film Bitch Awards", Chile's A Fantastic Woman, Fifty Shades trilogy wrap-up, Marvel's Black Panther, various guild prizes, Aardman's Early Man, probably some Olympic detours, a 75th birthday celebration of Mike Leigh, and more.