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Archives for : March2023

Quick Review: “Air” is a Slam Dunk!

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I am so happy to say, not only is this movie a slam dunk, but it’s one of the best films of the year so far. I know it’s early to say that, but this one is going to stick with audiences all year long.

“Air” is directed by Ben Affleck, who also stars in the film, alongside Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker and Chris Messina. The film is about a sports marketing executive, played by Damon, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball: Michael Jordan. The film’s premise is simple and concise, but also, effective and moving thanks to outstanding performances by its all-star cast.

A big part of the reason why “Air” soars is because of the film’s authenticity. Ben Affleck wanted to do this story right, so he met with Michael Jordan and made sure he approved of the facts and what they would be portraying. Jordan’s only request was that Viola Davis play his mom. And who can blame him? She’s fantastic. Ben Affleck continues to prove himself as a skilled director with his brilliant focus and passion for storytelling.

The film is a witty crowd-pleaser that moves quick. It’s hilarious and has a great message about following your instincts and taking risks. “Air” is an inspiring true story everyone should see.

Rating: A+

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Movie Review: “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”

This week I review DC’s “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”. The film stars Zachary Levi as a young teen who can transform to an adult superhero. The first film was hit, but is this sequel a miss? Watch my full review to find out!

“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” is currently playing in theaters.

Rating: D+

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Predicting the Winners: 95th Academy Awards

Best Picture

  • All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix) Malte Grunert, Producer
  • Avatar: The Way of Water (20th Century Studios) James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
  • The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight Pictures) Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Martin McDonagh, Producers
  • Elvis (Warner Bros) Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler Weiss, Producers
  • Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24) Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wang, Producers
  • The Fabelmans (Universal Pictures) Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner, Producers
  • Tár (Focus Features) Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert, Producers
  • Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount Pictures) Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer, Producers
  • Triangle of Sadness (NEON) Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober, Producers
  • Women Talking (United Artists Releasing/Orion Pictures) Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Frances McDormand, Producers

Will Win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Could Win: “The Fabelmans”

Want to Win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once” or “Top Gun”

Actor in a Leading Role

  • Austin Butler in Elvis
  • Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisherin
  • Brendan Fraser in The Whale
  • Paul Mescal in Aftersun
  • Bill Nighy in Living

Will Win: Brendan Fraser

Could Win: Austin Butler

Want to Win: Brendan Fraser

Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Brendan Gleeson in The Banshees of Inisherin
  • Brian Tyree Henry in Causeway
  • Judd Hirsch in The Fabelmans
  • Barry Keoghan in The Banshees of Inisherin
  • Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Will Win: Ke Huy Quan

Could Win: Barry Keoghan

Want to Win: Key Huy Quan

Actress in a Leading Role

  • Cate Blanchett in Tár
  • Ana de Armas in Blonde
  • Andrea Riseborough in To Leslie
  • Michelle Williams in The Fabelmans
  • Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Will Win: Michelle Yeoh

Could Win: Cate Blanchett

Want to Win: Michelle Yeoh

Actress in a Supporting Role

  • Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
  • Hong Chau in The Whale
  • Kerry Condon in The Banshees of Inisherin
  • Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All at Once
  • Stephanie Hsu in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Will Win: Angela Bassett

Could Win: Jamie Lee Curtis

Want to Win: Hong Chau or Angela Bassett or Jamie Lee Curtis

Animated Feature Film

  • Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio –Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar and Alex Bulkley
  • Marcel the Shell With Shoes On –Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan and Paul Mezey
  • Puss in Boots: The Last Wish –Joel Crawford and Mark Swift
  • The Sea Beast –Chris Williams and Jed Schlanger
  • Turning Red –Domee Shi and Lindsey Collins

Will Win: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”

Could Win: No Contest

Want to Win: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”

Cinematography

  • All Quiet on the Western Front –James Friend
  • Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths –Darius Khondji
  • Elvis –Mandy Walker
  • Empire of Light –Roger Deakins
  • Tár –Florian Hoffmeister

Will Win: “All Quiet on the Western Front”

Could Win: “Elvis”

Want to Win: “All Quiet on the Western Front”

Costume Design

  • Babylon –Mary Zophres
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever –Ruth Carter
  • Elvis –Catherine Martin
  • Everything Everywhere All at Once –Shirley Kurata
  • Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris –Jenny Beavan

Will Win: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Could Win: “Elvis”

Want to Win: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Directing

  • Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight Pictures)
  • Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
  • Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans (Universal Pictures)
  • Todd Field, Tár (Focus Features)
  • Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness (NEON)

Will Win: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

Could Win: Steven Spielberg

Want to Win: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

Documentary Feature Film

  • All That Breathes –Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann and Teddy Leifer
  • All the Beauty and the Bloodshed –Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin and Yoni Golijov
  • Fire of Love –Sara Dosa, Shane Boris and Ina Fichman
  • A House Made of Splinters –Simon Lereng Wilmont and Monica Hellström
  • Navalny –Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller and Shane Boris

Will Win: “Navalny”

Could Win: “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”

Want to Win: “Fire of Love”

Documentary Short Film

  • The Elephant Whisperers –Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga
  • Haulout –Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev
  • How Do You Measure a Year? –Jay Rosenblatt
  • The Martha Mitchell Effect –Anne Alvergue and Beth Levison
  • Stranger at the Gate –Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones

Will Win: “The Elephant Whisperers”

Could Win: “Stranger at the Gate”

Want to Win: “The Elephant Whisperers” or “Stranger at the Gate”

Film Editing

  • The Banshees of Inisherin –Mikkel E.G. Nielsen
  • Elvis –Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond
  • Everything Everywhere All at Once –Paul Rogers
  • Tár –Monika Willi
  • Top Gun: Maverick –Eddie Hamilton

Will Win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Could Win: “Top Gun: Maverick”

Want to Win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

International Feature Film

  • All Quiet on the Western Front –Germany
  • Argentina, 1985 –Argentina
  • Close –Belgium
  • EO –Poland
  • The Quiet Girl –Ireland

Will Win: “All Quiet on the Western Front”

Could Win: No Contest

Want to Win: “RRR” should be nominated

Makeup and Hairstyling

  • All Quiet on the Western Front –Heike Merker and Linda Eisenhamerová
  • The Batman –Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike Fontaine
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever –Camille Friend and Joel Harlow
  • Elvis –Mark Coulier, Jason Baird and Aldo Signoretti
  • The Whale –Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Anne Marie Bradley

Will Win: “The Whale”

Could Win: “Elvis”

Want to Win: “The Whale”

Music (Original Score)

  • All Quiet on the Western Front –Volker Bertelmann
  • Babylon –Justin Hurwitz
  • The Banshees of Inisherin –Carter Burwell
  • Everything Everywhere All at Once –Son Lux
  • The Fabelmans –John Williams

Will Win: “Babylon”

Could Win: “The Fabelmans”

Want to Win: “Babylon”

Music (Original Song)

  • “Applause” from Tell It like a Woman –Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
  • “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick –Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop
  • “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever –Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; Lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler
  • “Naatu Naatu” from RRR –Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose
  • “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once –Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne

Will Win: “Naatu Naatu”

Could Win: No Contest

Want to Win: “Naatu Naatu”

Production Design

  • All Quiet on the Western Front –Production Design: Christian M. Goldbeck; Set Decoration: Ernestine Hipper
  • Avatar: The Way of Water –Production Design: Dylan Cole and Ben Procter; Set Decoration: Vanessa Cole
  • Babylon –Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino
  • Elvis –Production Design: Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy; Set Decoration: Bev Dunn
  • The Fabelmans –Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara

Will Win: “Babylon”

Could Win: “All Quiet on the Western Front”

Want to Win: “Babylon”

Animated Short Film

  • The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse –Charlie Mackesy and Matthew Freud
  • The Flying Sailor –Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby
  • Ice Merchants –João Gonzalez and Bruno Caetano
  • My Year of Dicks –Sara Gunnarsdóttir and Pamela Ribon
  • An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It –Lachlan Pendragon

Will Win: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”

Could Win: “Ice Merchants”

Want to Win: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”

Live Action Short Film

  • An Irish Goodbye –Tom Berkeley and Ross White
  • Ivalu –Anders Walter and Rebecca Pruzan
  • Le Pupille –Alice Rohrwacher and Alfonso Cuarón
  • Night Ride –Eirik Tveiten and Gaute Lid Larssen
  • The Red Suitcase – Cyrus Neshvad

Will Win: The Red Suitcase

Could Win: “An Irish Goodbye” or “Le Pupille”

Want to Win: “The Red Suitcase

Sound

  • All Quiet on the Western Front –Viktor Prášil, Frank Kruse, Markus Stemler, Lars Ginzel and Stefan Korte
  • Avatar: The Way of Water –Julian Howarth, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Dick Bernstein, Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers and Michael Hedges
  • The Batman –Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray and Andy Nelson
  • Elvis –David Lee, Wayne Pashley, Andy Nelson and Michael Keller
  • Top Gun: Maverick –Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor

Will Win: “Top Gun: Maverick”

Could Win: “All Quiet on the Western Front”

Want to Win: “Top Gun: Maverick”

Visual Effects

  • All Quiet on the Western Front –Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus Frank and Kamil Jafar
  • Avatar: The Way of Water –Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
  • The Batman –Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever –Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R. Christopher White and Dan Sudick
  • Top Gun: Maverick –Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson and Scott R. Fisher

Will Win: “Avatar: The Way of Water”

Could Win: “Top Gun: Maverick”

Want to Win: “Avatar: The Way of Water”

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

  • All Quiet on the Western Front –Screenplay by Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian Stokell
  • Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery –Written by Rian Johnson
  • Living –Written by Kazuo Ishiguro
  • Top Gun: Maverick –Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks
  • Women Talking –Screenplay by Sarah Polley

Will Win: “Women Talking”

Could Win: “Top Gun: Maverick”

Want to Win: “Women Talking”

Writing (Original Screenplay)

  • The Banshees of Inisherin –Written by Martin McDonagh
  • Everything Everywhere All at Once –Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert
  • The Fabelmans –Written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner
  • Tár –Written by Todd Field
  • Triangle of Sadness –Written by Ruben Östlund

Will Win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Could Win: “The Banshees of Inisherin”

Want to Win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”

THE OSCARS SET TO AIR LIVE, MARCH 12, ON ABC

Movie Review: “Creed III”

Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed in CREED III A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film Photo credit: Eli Ade © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved CREED is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This week I review Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut, “Creed III”. The film follows Adonis 3 years after his retirement from fighting. He has a seemingly perfect life until his past comes back to haunt him. Was this movie a knockout or bust? Find out in the video below!

“Creed III” opens March 3, 2023.

Rating: B+

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