Archives for : Susan Kamyab Stephens
Based on the bestselling series of children’s books by Deborah Diesen, “The Pout-Pout Fish” is a heartwarming, animated underwater adventure that is sure to turn anyone’s frown upside down.
The film stars Nick Offerman, Nina Oyama, and “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks. Offerman voices Mr. Fish, who always carries a pout on his face because he has been taught to avoid strangers all his life, isolating himself from the world. Suddenly, his quiet, loneliness is interrupted by a sea dragon named Pip. He accidentally destroys her home and reluctantly agrees to help her find a wish-granting fish named Shimmer, who might be able to help her create a new home for her soon-to-be very large family. However, Pip and Mr. Fish need to find her before Benji, a cuddle fish, does first and uses up her one wish for his own purposes. Read full review here.
Rating: B
“The Pout-Pout Fish” opens in theaters March 20, 2026.
This year’s Oscars ceremony will be hosted by Conan O’Brien for the second year in a row.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
The awards will be televised live on ABC and streamed live on Hulu beginning at 7 p.m., ET.
Best Picture
- “Bugonia”
- “F1”
- “Frankenstein”
- “Hamnet”
- “Marty Supreme”
- “One Battle After Another”
- “The Secret Agent”
- “Sentimental Value”
- “Sinners”
- “Train Dreams”
Will Win: Sinners
Could Win: One Battle After Another
Want to Win: Sinners
Best Supporting Actress
- Elle Fanning, “Sentimental Value”
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value”
- Amy Madigan, “Weapons”
- Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners”
- Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”
Will Win: Amy Madigan
Could Win: Teyana Taylor
Want to Win: Amy Madigan, Teyana Taylor, or Wunmi Mosaku
Best Actor
- Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”
- Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another”
- Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon”
- Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”
- Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”
Will Win: Michael B. Jordan
Could Win: Timothee Chalamet
Want to Win: Michael B. Jordan or Timothee Chalamet
Best Actress
- Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”
- Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
- Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue”
- Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”
- Emma Stone, “Bugonia”
Will Win: Jessie Buckley
Could Win: Rose Byrne
Want to Win: Rose Byrne
Best Supporting Actor
- Benicio Del Toro, “One Battle After Another”
- Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein”
- Delroy Lindo, “Sinners”
- Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”
- Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value”
Will Win: Delroy Lindo
Could Win: Sean Penn or Stellan Skarsgard
Want to Win: Delroy Lindo or Stellan Skarsgard
Best Director
- Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet”
- Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”
- Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
- Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value”
- Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”
Will Win: Paul Thomas Anderson
Could Win: Ryan Coogler
Want to Win: Ryan Coogler
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
- “Frankenstein”
- “Kokuho”
- “Sinners”
- “The Smashing Machine”
- “The Ugly Stepsister”
Will Win: Frankenstein
Could Win: Sinners
Want to Win: Frankenstein
Best Original Score
- “Bugonia” — Jerskin Fendrix
- “Frankenstein” — Alexandre Desplat
- “Hamnet” — Max Richter
- “One Battle After Another” — Jonny Greenwood
- “Sinners” — Ludwig Göransson
Will Win: Sinners
Could Win: Frankenstein
Want to Win: Sinners
Best Live Action Short Film
- “Butcher’s Stain”
- “Jane Austen’s Period Drama”
- “A Friend of Dorothy”
- “The Singers”
- “Two People Exchanging Saliva”
Will Win: Two People Exchanging Saliva
Could Win: A Friend of Dorothy
Want to Win: A Friend of Dorothy
Best Adapted Screenplay
- “Bugonia” — Will Tracy
- “Frankenstein” — Guillermo Del Toro
- “Hamnet” — Maggie O’Farrell and Chloé Zhao
- “One Battle After Another” — Paul Thomas Anderson
- “Train Dreams” — Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Will Win: One Battle After Another
Could Win: No Contest
Want to Win: One Battle After Another
Best Original Screenplay
- “Blue Moon” — Robert Kaplow
- “It Was Just an Accident” — Jafar Panahi
- “Marty Supreme” — Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
- “Sentimental Value” — Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt
- “Sinners” – Ryan Coogler
Will Win: Sinners
Could Win: No Contest
Want to Win: Sinners
Best Animated Short Film
- “Butterfly”
- “Forevergreen”
- “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”
- “Retirement Plan”
- “The Three Sisters”
Will Win: Butterfly
Could Win: Forveregreen
Want to Win: Butterfly
Best Casting
- “Hamnet” — Nina Gold
- “Marty Supreme” — Jennifer Venditti
- “One Battle After Another” — Cassandra Kulukundis
- “The Secret Agent” — Gabriel Domingues
- “Sinners” — Francine Maisler
Will Win: Sinners
Could Win: One Battle After Another
Want to Win: Sinners
Best Original Song
- “Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless”
- “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters”
- “I Lied to You” from “Sinners”
- “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from “Viva Verdi!”
- “Train Dreams” from “Train Dreams”
Will Win: Golden
Could Win: I Lied to You
Want to Win: Golden
Best Documentary Feature Film
- “The Alabama Solution”
- “Come See Me in the Good Light”
- “Cutting Through Rocks”
- “Mr. Nobody Against Putin”
- “The Perfect Neighbor”
Will Win: The Perfect Neighbor
Could Win: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Want to Win: The Perfect Neighbor
Best Documentary Short Film
- “All the Empty Rooms”
- “Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud”
- “Children No More: ‘Were and Are Gone'”
- “The Devil is Busy”
- “Perfectly a Strangeness”
Will Win: All the Empty Rooms
Could Win: Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
Want to Win: All the Empty Rooms
Best International Feature Film
- Brazil, “The Secret Agent”
- France, “It Was Just an Accident”
- Norway, “Sentimental Value”
- Spain, “Sirât”
- Tunisia, “The Voice of Hind Rajab”
Will Win: The Secret Agent
Could Win: Sentimental Value
Want to Win: The Secret Agent or It Was Just an Accident
Best Animated Feature Film
- “Arco”
- “Elio”
- “KPop Demon Hunters”
- “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
- “Zootopia 2”
Will Win: KPop Demon Hunters
Could Win: Zootopia 2
Want to Win: KPop Demon Hunters
Best Production Design
- “Frankenstein”
- “Hamnet”
- “Marty Supreme”
- “One Battle After Another”
- “Sinners”
Will Win: Frankenstein
Could Win: Hamnet
Want to Win: Frankenstein
Best Film Editing
- “F1” — Stephen Mirrione
- “Marty Supreme” — Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
- “One Battle After Another” — Andy Jurgensen
- “Sentimental Value” — Olivier Bugge Coutté
- “Sinners” — Michael P. Shawver
Will Win: One Battle After Another
Could Win: F1
Want to Win: F1 or Sinners
Best Sound
- “F1”
- “Frankenstein”
- “One Battle After Another”
- “Sinners”
- “Sirât”
Will Win: F1
Could Win: Sinners
Want to Win: F1
Best Visual Effects
- “Avatar: Fire and Ash”
- “F1”
- “Jurassic World Rebirth”
- “The Lost Bus”
- “Sinners”
Will Win: Avatar: Fire and Ash
Could Win: No contest
Want to Win: Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best Cinematography
- “Frankenstein”
- “Marty Supreme”
- “One Battle After Another”
- “Sinners”
- “Train Dreams”
Will Win: Sinners
Could Win: Train Dreams
Want to Win: Sinners
Best Costume Design
- “Avatar: Fire and Ash” — Deborah L. Scott
- “Frankenstein” — Kate Hawley
- “Hamnet” — Malgosia Turzanska
- “Marty Supreme” — Miyako Bellizzi
- “Sinners” — Ruth E. Carter
Will Win: Frankenstein
Could Win: Hamnet
Want to Win: Frankenstein
Project Hail Mary is the second film adaptation of a book by Andy Weir and is directed by the hilarious dynamic duo, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Their comedy is prevalent throughout the film, but the whopping two hour and 36-minute runtime needs more than humor to keep audiences engaged.
Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a science teacher who has woken up alone on a spaceship light-years away from earth with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As he slowly starts to remember his mission, he learns he must stop a mysterious substance from killing the sun and save Earth from extinction. Thankfully, an unexpected friendship with an alien life form leads to a touching bond that just might be the key to saving the world. Read full review here.
Rating: B-
“Project Hail Mary” opens in theaters March 20, 2026.
It has been 8 years since the release of “I Can Only Imagine”, the story of Bart Millard, a young musician who came from an abusive childhood and went on to become the lead singer of the hit band MercyMe. But is this sequel another musical hit?
“I Can Only Imagine 2” picks up long after the death of Bart’s father, with whom he had reconciled after years of trauma. His band MercyMe is hot off the heels of their breakout success from their record-breaking song and are currently living the dream. But Bart’s world stumbles when he discovers his son, Sam, has a life-threatening illness. His obsession to consistently monitor Sam negatively weighs on him and his family. When newcomer Tim Timmons joins the band on their biggest tour, yet he forms an immediate and uplifting bond with Sam. Tim’s faith in Sam and his fresh outlook on life inspires Bart to regain the relationship with his son he had always hoped for with his own father. Read full review here.
Rating: C
“I Can Only Imagine 2” opens in theaters February 27, 2026.
“A man claiming to be from the future takes the patrons of an iconic Los Angeles diner hostage in search of unlikely recruits in a quest to save the world.” Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell stars in the new sci-fi comedy, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”. I had the opportunity to speak with Rockwell about the film and his iconic Oscar speech.
“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” opens in theaters February 13, 2026.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Kevin James returns to the romantic comedy scene in Solo Mio, a light-hearted, charming tale surrounded by the scenic backdrop of Italy.
James stars as Matt Taylor, a man who finds himself at a loss when his fiancée leaves him at the alter in Rome. With their honeymoon already planned and paid for, he moves forward with the trip and tries his best to take pleasure in the all-inclusive honeymoon package. Thankfully, two, fairly odd, couples taking part in the package notice Matt is single. They take him under their wings and Matt quickly forms an unlikely friendship with the couples as a fifth wheel. However, five becomes six when Gia, the owner of a small coffee shop, takes an interest in Matt. Read full review here.
Solo Mio opens in theaters February 6, 2026.
Rating: B-
“Poppy wants to explore the world and Alex prefers to stay home with a good book, but somehow they are the very best of friends. They live far apart, but for a decade they have spent one week of summer vacation together.”
Based on the Best-Selling novel by Emily Henry, “People We Meet on Vacation” is the first best film of 2026. The movie is a nostalgic, enchanting, and comforting romantic comedy.
I had the opportunity to sit down with the stars (Emily Bader & Tom Blyth), author (Emily Henry), and director (Brett Haley) in New Orleans (one of the primary filming locations) to discuss, when they knew what they wanted out of life, what kinds of questions they ask to get to know someone, and more!
“People We Meet on Vacation” premieres on Netflix January 9, 2026.
10. Sorry, Baby- “Sorry, Baby” begins with the audience knowing something bad happened to Agnes (earnestly played by filmmaker Eva Victor). As the story unfolds, it is as if we are flies on a wall, witnessing one of the most aching and profoundly authentic depictions of the aftermath of sexual assault. “Sorry, Baby” is a compelling and honest dark comedy about significant trauma.
9. Twinless- This movie is about two grieving men, who bond in a support group for those who have lost their twins. They form a brotherly friendship, but it is soon revealed that all is not what it seems. That sounds more eerie than it needs to be. However, you never know where this story is headed. “Twinless” is a smart screenplay with the right balance of dark humor, and features Dylan O’ Brien’s best performance to date. This story cleverly explores the pain of grief and loneliness.
8. KPop Demon Hunters- The best animated feature of the year is also one of the best films of the year (with one of the best soundtracks of the year)! “KPop Demon Hunters” is a visually and musically captivating, creative tale about friendship, self-acceptance, and overcoming shame. The film features incredible voice acting (and singing) with a stunning representation of the Korean culture. Believe the hype with this one!
7. The Ugly Stepsister- It’s a twisted take on the classic Cinderella story I didn’t know I needed. “The Ugly Stepsister” is a comedic, body horror about the “physical perfection” pressured on young women looking for a husband. While the film can be gruesome at times, it is an unforgettable watch that brings a whole new and unexpected meaning to “happily ever after”.
6. Eternity- Set in an afterlife where souls have one week to decide where to spend eternity. Joan is faced with the impossible choice between the man she spent her life with or her first love, who died young in war and has waited 67 years for her to arrive. This is a charming, original, and surprisingly moving romantic comedy with a thought-provoking message about what “eternal love” truly means.
5. F1- What I expected to be a loud, long, and hallow joy ride, turned into a swift, exhilarating, and gripping race! “F1” brings excitement and heart with some ’90s nostalgia to this true cinematic experience. Fantastic casting all around, including an incredible breakthrough performance by Damson Idris.
4. Sinners- I was pleasantly surprised to discover “Sinners” was a bluesy, bloody horror. This film goes beyond a typical “vampire movie”. Ryan Coogler masterfully layers his frightening story with interracial conflicts, cultural history, a powerful soundtrack, and riveting thrills. Michael B. Jordan gives TWO award-worthy performances along with the seamless ensemble cast.
3. Weapons- I can see why there was a bidding war over the “Weapons” spec script. I can’t remember the last time I was truly scared while watching a scary movie in theaters. I had a sense of panic and struggled to fall asleep that night. Zach Cregger is known for his wild horror, “The Barbarian”, but this time around, Cregger elevates his storytelling with a unique and sharp-witted screenplay. The film is wisely crafted with effective jump scares and an appropriate amount comic relief.
2. Materialists- It’s a refreshing spin on the rom-com genre. Lucy is an ambitious young New York City matchmaker, who finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex. The plot raises a lot of questions about dating in the modern world today. Primarily, what is it that you are not willing to compromise. It is deep and there is an ongoing discussion about the “math” of dating and how it can become a business transaction. How much does “love” truly factor in the equation? “Materialists” is an authentic perspective on dating, brilliantly told through Celine Song’s detail and insightful mind.
1. Superman- In the current state of superhero movie fatigue, it is rare that one could still blow me away. James Gunn has revitalized the genre, especially for DC, and given us a Superman (with a sense of humor) we can truly look up to. He has resuscitated the tired story and given life to this tale with a contemporary take told by a stellar cast, including a scene stealing dog. This Superman leads with kindness, so much so that in the heat of battle he will stop to save a squirrel. His desire to be accepted by society, while still staying true to his innate virtue, pulls at your heart and inspires hope.
The Rest of the Best:
11. Jay Kelly
12. Together
13. Predator: Badlands
14. My Dead Friend Zoe
15. One Battle After Another
16. Dead Man’s Wire
17. It Was Just an Accident
18. The Perfect Neighbor
19. Baltimorons
20. Bob Trevino Likes It
Top 5 Worst Film of 2024
5. Wolf Man – Shockingly boring and pointless.
4. The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Waste of a perfectly good cast, AGAIN! But oh, the CGI on that baby is unforgiveable.
3. Anemone – Nepotism at its worst. Can’t believe Daniel Day-Lewis came out of retirement for this one.
2. Black Phone 2 – A sequel was clearly not necessary, but this movie was just an insult to the incredible original film. I’m still so disappointed.
1. Ella McCay – What in the world was this movie? Was the script not finished? Did the editor’s quit midway through? I’m not sure what happened here, but it was bad. VERY bad.
Trevor’s Top 10
10. Twinless
9. F1
8. Weapons
7. Eternity
6. Predator: Badlands
5. Black Bag
4. Materialists
3. Sinners
2. The Long Walk
1. Superman
The award-winning Broadway show, Wicked returns for the second half of its whimsical musical, Wicked: For Good.
In Part 2, the now demonized Elphaba known as the Wicked Witch of the West has been exiled from Oz and is desperately fighting for the freedom of silenced animals and trying to expose the lies of The Wizard. While Glinda has been appointed as “The Good Witch” and a comfort to Oz, she is internally struggling, missing Elphaba, her best friend and being part of a charade to villainize her. Now unfortunately, Wicked: For Good fails to defy gravity like Wicked Part One, the first film, BUT as whole, the essential parts of the story are wonderful. There’s a beautiful message about friendship, love, acceptance, and being cautious of false heroes.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande soar once again. It is their chemistry and passion on-screen and off-screen that moves audiences and makes these films a success. Read full review here.
Rating: B