Halfway Mark Links

A Must Read
• Tom & Lorenzo "One Iconic Costume" a fascinating funny and poignant piece on Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz

More Links
• Paper terrific piece on the new generation of queer comedy: Matt Rogers, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Alex English, Cole Escola, and many more. 
• Cartoon Brew despite Academy efforts toward gender parity the animation and visual fx industries are still struggling with inclusion of women. (Only 1 in 8 people invited to join the visual effects Academy branch are women this year.)

More after the jump including Hamilton, Netflix hit 365 Days, best of the first haf of the year and more...

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June Wraps

In June we lost Joel Schumacher & Sir Ian Holm but the month wasn't all bad. The weather was beautiful, we got a new Spike Lee joint, and we survived another month of this very bad no good worst and quite movie-bereft year. Here are a dozen highlights from the month that was...

• Da 5 Bloods reviewed
• 200 Oldest Living Screen Stars a mega list. Appreciate 'em while they're here
• Spain's Mistake when they passed over Talk to Her
• King of Staten Island reviewed
• His & Hers Oscars - the 8 times both Supporting statues went to the same movie
• Janet Leigh in Psycho let's get her out of the shower
• The Furniture: Safe social distancing with Todd Haynes & Julianne Moore
• Viola's First Breakthrough before Doubt, a triple
• Disclosure Trans Lives on Screen reviewed
• Curio: Movie Loving Masks if it can't be fashion, make it film!

most discussed
• Ten Best Picture Nominees again!
• Smackdown 2002 those merry murderesses of Chicago...and an even merrier panel

Next Up...
Tomorrow we're turning the blog over to lyricis Tom Mizer (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) for a special guest blog movie-musical loving day. Then we're on to The Smackdown of 1957 so watch Peyton Place and Witness for a Prosecution won'cha?

Also in July
We'll celebrate Yul Brynner's Centennial, do a retrospective of the 1991 film year, and at the end of the month the 1991 Smackdown + the Emmy nominations hit.

May. It's a Wrap

Another shut-in month is coming to a close in this dread COVID-19 season. We're trying to keep you entertained without new movies in theaters. Here are a dozen key posts from the month that was in case u missed 'em.

• Down With Love - Costume designer Daniel Orlandi shares his memories of working on this one of a kind romantic comedy and 60s riff
• Nightmare Alley - The fine original demands rediscovery. The remake might be interesting
• How to Build a Girl -Beanie Feldstein's star vehicle reviewed
• Over & Overs: Anatomy of a Murder - this courtroom drama so rewatchable?
• The New Classics: Two Days One Night -sublimely truthful Marion Cotillard
• Hot Emmy Contest -Lead Actress in a TV Miniseries? Super competitive!
• Loretta vs Roz - Two friends vied for Best Actress 1947
• 5 Things I Learned from Bob Mackie - Costume Designer Daniel Orlandi shares career advice for young movie professionals
• Introducing Kathleen Turner -On one of the all time great film debuts

Most Discussed

• Smackdown 1947 - Gentleman's Agreement vs Crossfire. Celeste vs. Gloria
• Smackdown 1981 Maureen Stapleton (Reds) has unexpected competition!
• Did Hepburn deserve four Oscars? And if so for which films? 
• Who Will be Next to the Triple Crown - Eddie? Hugh? Laurie? Denzel?
• Ryan Murphy's Hollywood Unintentionally our three part / three author rundown divvied up neatly into Mixed / Con / Pro in that order.

COMING IN JUNE
New films Shirley and King of Staten Island, The 2002 Supporting Actress Smackdown (Chicago, The Hours) revisit, Paul Thomas Anderson's 50th Birthday, the quarter century anniversary of Todd Haynes's [safe], and maybe a little Ray Harryhausen for his centennial. Any other requests? 

April. It's a Wrap

While April was late to arrive, given that March lasted 4 years as we all adjusted to the new world over, it was over in a flash. In case you missed any herewith a baker's dozen to highlight this past month on The Film Experience. We're working hard behind the scenes to make May truly extra so please support us with clicks, shares, follows, and subscriptions.

Most Popular / Discussed
• April Foolish Predictions - Best Picture contenders?
• Frances vs Sophie revisiting the grandiose Best Actress Battle of 1982
• Pedro's Quarantine Almodóvar reminisces about meeeting Madonna
• Emmy Predictions in all the major categories
• Oscar Rule Changes streaming + sound + international film
• Sondheim's 90s Birthday - Meryl Streep, Raúl Esparza, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sutton Foster and other divas toasted the GOAT. Moving moments galore
• The Smackdown Returns 1981 is up next!
• 5 Reasons the Oscars Won't be Cancelled we're hopeful

More Highlights
• Doc Corner Tiger King - a disturbing mess 
• In defense of The Artist - not a typical or bland Oscar choice
• Shirley Knight (RIP) the fine character actress has passed away
• Dune (2020) our first few glimpses of Denis Villeneuve's adaptation
• Choose Your Quarantine House -the cinephile edition of the meme

Coming in May
We'll discuss the Netflix series Hollywood, have not one but TWO Supporting Actress Smackdowns (1981 and 1947), review the new films Liberté, How to Build a Girl, celebrate movie pets, and more. 

March. It's a Wrap

March was approximately a decade long but it has finally ended its interminable reign. Will April be as endless? Only the novel coronavirus knows. Here are a dozen blog highlights from the month that was...

March Highlights
• What if Sondheim's "Company" were a movie - Lynn ponders casting possibilites
• Top 100 Documentaries of the Decade - Glenn sees (and ranks) everything.
• The moment I fell for Kristen Stewart - Claudio looks at The Runaways (2010) for its 10th
• Lady in a Cage (1964) -Nathaniel gets in the elevator with Olivia de Havilland
• Never Rarely Sometimes Always -Murtada talks to director Eliza Hittman
• RIP Max Von Sydow -Nathaniel says farewell to a great
• Cate as Blue Jasmine - Murtada dives deep with special guests
• Deneuve in Repulsion - Jason minds the crack
• Emma and Cactus Flower - the podcast has returned
• Toshiro Mifune - a centennial celebration (the actual 100th is tomorrow - two more pieces coming)

Most Discussed
• Oscar Category Fraud Eric looks at the (screen percentage) numbers
• Not the Iron Lady - Claudio asks what should have been Meryl's Third?
• Daniel Day Lewis - the best three-time winner?