This week a bifurcated podcast. In the first half Nick, Joe, and Nathaniel continue their discussion of Elle. Then Katey joins us to talk about the recent surge of critics awards.
Index (42 minutes) 00:01 A little more on Elle, Huppert, and provocateur auteurs 13:00 Bleed For This, The Fighter, Hidden Figures 19:20 Katey joins us & Nick goes to New Zealand 23:00 Critic prizes, Critics Choice Nomination, NBR, the lack of transparency, and Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge 40:00 A bit on Hell or High Water
You can listen to the podcast here at the bottom of the post or download from iTunes. Continue the conversations in the comments. On the next podcast: Manchester by the Sea and Reader Questions Answered!
Here's Tim to continue our mini Kirk Douglas fest. The actor turns 100 this Friday.
And now, a little change of pace. I don't think the cinephile lives who'd argue that Kirk Douglas's performance in the 1954 sci-fi adventure 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is his best, or anywhere particularly near his best. It is, however, quite possibly his most fun, as is to be expected from a star turn as the meathead sailor hero in a live-action Disney film.
Douglas gets first-billing in the movie, though he's probably not the first thing you'd think about if you looked back over the film in your mind...
Autostraddle "How to Dress like Cate Blanchett's Oceans 8 Character Who is Definitely Queer, Right?" Comics Alliance Pixar's Coco gets concept art and a voice cast - Gael García Bernal! Sydney Morning Herald Australia's own version of the Oscars goes big for Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge with 9 wins from its 13 nominations. The New Yorker "the fate of cinephilia in the age of streaming"
Awards Daily interviews the production design team on Loving EW Ryan Reynolds as Entertainer of the Year Boy Culture Hunky Van Williams, discovered by Liz Taylor of people, who came to fame on TV's The Green Hornet has died at 82. His last movie role was as homage to his friend and co-star Bruce Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) The Wrap Madonna raises $7 million for Malawi with a little help from Sean Penn who she offers to marry again THR Harsh words for Amazon with the cancellation of Good Girls Revolt
The World Has Lost Its Mind Twitter protesters of the lack of gender equality in the Australian film industry dressed as sausages at the AACTAS. "End the Sausage Party!"... they were not talking about the animated movie. Daily Beast Sofia Vergara sued by her own embryos Time has released their Person of the Year stuff. I shan't type his name anymore ever (vomiting ∞). Beyoncé was apparently runner up. So that makes the second strong woman he who shall not be named has grossly defeated in this awful no good terrible when will it end year (except for at the movies. So many good movies)
List-Making. Tis the Season Vulture David Edelstein's top 16 includes 20th Century Women and The Fits Vanity Fair Richard Lawsom's top 10 includes Jackie, The Lobster, and Fire at Sea Time Stephanie Zacharek's top 10 includes The Shallows, Loving, and Paterson
And we'll end with David Ehrlich's annual Top 25 Video Countdown. It's always a pleasure to watch this even if you don't agree on the films or their ranking though this year is a far more worthy selection than last year's!
...sort through childhood photos with Baz Luhrmann or Sutton Foster? ... stand naked for Standing Rock with Josh Brolin? ... determine your own story with unapologetic Amy Schumer? ... or take a nap on Kiki's lap like Elle Fanning?
Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...
Full disclosure: I am in the middle of finals hell, wherein I have to write roughly 45 pages and grade exactly 48 exams before I can finally collapse at home for the holidays. So this episode is an especially selfish choice on my part. Since it's been a rocky year, I thought the best choice would be to post the entire episode, so that we could come together over a warm Christmas computer and spend the holidays with Judy.
The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 15 The Songwriters: Various, arrangement by Mel Torme The Cast: Judy Garland, Mel Torme, Liza Minnelli, directed by Dean Whitmore
The Story: Call me a sap (and I am), but I cannot watch Judy Garland sing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" while she and her children watch fake snow fall out of a studio set window. In a season that seems to demand yearly special televised events, The Judy Garland Christmas Show ranks as one of the most special Like every episode of The Judy Garland Show, there are some nasty rumors that have risen to the level of legend: that Judy and Mel were fighting, which caused her to flub his name and two song lyrics, that Judy refused to rehearse, that she was high, etc. But somehow the backstage antipathy doesn't diminish the near-camp joy of Judy and co. sitting around a mid-century fireplace singing the songs that she made famous. Much of it has to do with her kids: as the Luft siblings and Liza make appearances, their improvised bits may be stagey, but their affection for their mother is real. Gaffes, bad jokes, and creepy Santa dancers notwithstanding, The Judy Garland Christmas Show remains a classic staple of holiday television.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 7:54PM 
This week a bifurcated podcast. In the first half Nick, Joe, and Nathaniel continue their discussion of Elle. Then Katey joins us to talk about the recent surge of critics awards. 
