This is the most difficult screenplay so far for me to give an in-depth analysis of. I’m going to come right out and say this script, in particular, and the movie, in general, perplexed me. That is not to say that I didn’t enjoy it or that I didn’t find it compelling or powerful. Just …
Category: Reviews
Best Adapted Screenplay: Sing Sing
I was overjoyed to see Sing Sing get some Oscar love in the form of a couple nominations. I doubt it will win anything, but the fact that it was nominated is a win in and of itself. I am especially happy that one of those nominations was for Best Adapted Screenplay. Sing Sing is …
Adapted Screenplay Nominee: Emilia Pérez
I have been down on Emilia Pérez for a long time. I heard a lot of negative reviews about it before seeing it, but I went into watching it with an open mind. The story of Emilia Pérez as a production is one of missed opportunities. It could have and should have been a great …
Adapted Screenplay Nominee: Conclave
Conclave is my favorite film and my favorite screenplay of the year. Director Edward Berger created a film in such a way as to make something that most people would find mundane into a riveting drama that felt so compelling that it felt like the fate of the world was at stake. That isn’t necessarily …
Adapted Screenplay Nominee: A Complete Unknown
I wrote a blog on this film earlier this year, but this post will focus on the screenplay. As everyone knows, A Complete Unknown is a biopic about Bob Dylan’s early career, how he dealt with rising fame, his tumultuous relationships with Joan Baez and Sylvie Russo, and his struggle to define himself as more …
Anora: Dark Humor Reflective of a Bleak World
I know this film has been out for a while, but I finally got a chance to see it in a theater last weekend. It’s a strong film and is worthy of its Best Picture nomination, but it’s unlikely to be named the Best Picture of the year. As much as I enjoyed it, I …
The Substance: A Substantive and Powerful Film
I finally got to see The Substance over the weekend, and although my feelings are mixed, I came away impressed. This isn’t a perfect film. Of the films that are nominated for Best Picture this year, I would rank it somewhere in the middle of the pack. However, it is a powerful film that, in …
The Brutalist: A Brutal Cinematic Experience
The main thing I want to say about The Brutalist is that I will be pissed off if it wins Best Picture. I have a feeling it will, so I’m going to hold off on doing a full-fledged review of it now. If it wins, it will be included in my Best Picture Blog series. …
A Real Pain: A Journey with Broken People
A Real Pain is one of those movies that feels like a gut punch you want to take over and over again. It’s a beautiful work of art that simmers with drama and emotion. Screenwriter, director, and star Jesse Eisenberg did a masterful job of weaving emotional relationship-building with a story that is as much …
Emilia Pérez – Unintentional Satire
I finally got around to watching Emilia Pérez on Netflix the other night to see what all the fuss was about. I had seen clips of the one song that everyone is deservedly mocking online, and thinking that it was representative of the film, I fully expected to hate it. And I almost did hate it. I …