The 83rd Golden Globes - A Quick Review and Takeaways

by Nathaniel R

A very happy ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER team. Photo: AP PHOTO

The 83rd Golden Globe awards have come and gone. Did you have a good night? You probably did if you are a fan of One Battle After Another (and who isn't?). It cleaned up with four Globe awards: Picture (Comedy), Director, Screenplay, and Supporting Actress. My boyfriend hadn't yet seen it so sat down to finally do that about eight hours before the show. I said to myself "just watch with him until Teyana's exit since it's been awhile since you've seen it". Alas, no such luck for the long task list on the fridge. I couldn't tear myself away. I literally kept saying "okay just one more scene" and then the credits were rolling. It is just as riveting and spontaneous-feeling on repeat viewings (despite the absurdly high levels of obviously planned craftsmanship on display) even though you know every thing that's going to happen. The Globes party was a bit more subdued than general given the ubiquity of black gowns, non-aggressive political asides, and 'just grateful to be doing this job' kind of weary-artist acceptance speeches. But the best thing about the night was that everyone felt a bit like winners: Sinners, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, and The Secret Agent, for example, certainly can't complain (or shouldn't) about the results given their key wins and the enthusiasm in the room for those films. More to come once we have more time  but for this quickie post, brief comments on some (most) of the wins...

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Pt 3. International Feature Race: A Dozen Movie Stars!

by Nathaniel R

Internationally famous South Korean superstar Lee Byung-hun in "No Other Choice"

As a final part of our general trivia overview (pt 1 stats & genres / pt 2 directors) of the Best International Feature Film race -- before things narrow down -- we thought we'd look at famous actors gracing the international Oscar race this year. Here are a dozen of the most familiar faces that Academy voters (and you) will recognize from their own history of awardage not to mention previous classics and contenders from this very category. If their new film is nominated, you might see them in their full tux/gown glory on Oscar night.

We'll take these dozen megawatt talents alphabetically...

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One Award After Another

by Cláudio Alves

Jafar Panahi on the set of IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT | © Neon

In the blink of an eye, the awards season goes from a sleepy little non-starter into a breakneck race for gold. In the past few days, various organizations announced their prizes, so it's time to start doing more of these round-ups. Though, if things continue to go the way of these first few groups, you'll soon grow tired of reading One Battle After Another at the top of these things. PTA's critical darling won the top honor at the Gotham Film Awards, from the New York and Atlanta critics, as well as the NBR.

But that wasn't the only story of the past few days. Iranian dissident director Jafar Panahi has, again, been sentenced to prison, banned from travelling or making films. As the It Was Just An Accident auteur has been living outside Iran since his last travel ban was lifted in 2023, the proceedings were conducted in absentia, and Panahi remains free. However, he has said he'll return to Iran to complete his sentence after the season ends. May these awards and encompassing media circus provide a platform for the director to speak up before he is silenced once more…

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Review: "The Secret Agent" is a mischievous masterpiece

by Cláudio Alves

Today, The Secret Agent begins its Oscar-qualifying run, ahead of an awards season it enters full of high hopes. And why not? At Cannes, Kleber Mendonça Filho won the Best Director trophy while Wagner Moura was picked as Best Actor by the Main Competition jury, a set of honors complemented by the FIPRESCI prize, which made it the Croisette's most awarded film. Between critical acclaim and yet more festival hardware, The Secret Agent was announced as Brazil's official submission for the 98th Academy Awards, where it surely hopes to replicate some of I'm Still Here's success from last year. Right now, it's up for two Gotham awards, competing in the categories of Best Original Screenplay and Outstanding Lead Performance. 

All that said, at this time of the year, it's easy to let oneself think about cinema exclusively in these terms. The race for gold is a thrilling diversion, yet it shouldn't distract us from appreciating the art for what it is. Nor should it flatten how we look at film. In The Secret Agent's case, this is especially true as it's a work much greater than any award could hope to be. Pardon the hyperbole, but I'd easily call it a masterpiece, an instant classic even…

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Cannes Winners: Palms from Panahi to "Panda"

by Nathaniel R

Still from "Sentimental Value"

Herewith a list of all the films that won prizes at Cannes. Some of these will come to the US this year. Others will surely be held until 2026 (the whims and vagaries and troubles of distribution). A select few will probably compete for attention at the Oscars in one category (Best International Feature Film) or another (what's this year's Anatomy of a Fall?) 

The winners, what the films are about, and possibilities for Oscar submissions are after the jump... 

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