The Movies You Should Watch (and how to watch them)

After expressing my movie passion, I get asked quite a bit to "make me a list" of movies. So I figured I'd try to compile one here so you can easily find a movie when you need to scratch that itch. My favorite movies from the 21st Century that you may have missed in no particular order except for how to stream them:


Eighth Grade - Prime
First Reformed - Prime
Leave No Trace - Prime
The Big Sick - Prime
Pride - Prime
Short Term 12 - Prime
Bernie - Prime
Moonrise Kingdom - Prime
Lovely, Still - Prime
Battle in Seattle - Prime
Why We Fight - Prime
Happy Endings - Prime/Hulu
Saved! - Prime

If Beale Street Could Talk - Hulu
Sorry to Bother You - Hulu
Me and You and Everyone We Know - Hulu
Imagine Me & You - Hulu
Touching the Void - Hulu

Roma - Netflix
Mudbound - Netflix
The Breadwinner - Netflix
Lion - Netflix
Beasts of No Nation - Netflix
Boyhood - Netflix
Undefeated - Netflix
Mother and Child - Netflix
City of God - Netflix

Won't You Be My Neighbor? - HBOGo
The Danish Girl - HBOGo
Blindspotting -  MaxGo
Call Me By Your Name - Starz
The Astronaut Farmer - Starz
Millions - Starz
Bandits - Starz

Captain Fantastic - IMBDtv
Chef - VUDU/Tubi
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - fubo
For the Bible Tells Me So - Hoopla
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill - VUDU/Tubi/Dove
Rize - VUDU/Tubi
Heaven - Hoopla

Countdown to Oscar Night: Grand Finale!

Best Picture
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star Is Born
Vice

If you've been reading my blog (or have spoken to me about such things over the past month or so), you know that I am pretty underwhelmed with this year's crop of nominees. Only 2 were in my top 10 of 2018. The rest weren't necessarily bad films (except Bohemian Rhapsody) just overshadowed by the superior films that got left off. For reference, here is my top 10 of 2018 presented alphabetically:

BlacKkKlansman
Blindspotting
Eighth Grade
First Reformed
If Beale Street Could Talk
Leave No Trace
Roma
Sorry to Bother You
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Won't You Be My Neighbor

With this in mind, I am going to write up my Countdown finale a little differently this year. Here is why all 8 nominees WILL win tonight (and an example in Best Picture history that echoes my logic):

Black Panther will win because it is most representative of 2018. It was the highest grossing film at the box office and garnered near-universal critical acclaim. It makes a statement about our world while providing an entertaining superhero romp. When people think about 2018 fifty years from now this is the film that will spring to mind. (See Titanic, Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur)

BlacKkKlansman will win as an ultimate declaration that the Academy is done with #OscarSoWhite. The left-leaning group of voters is deeply frustrated with their image and history of non-diversity so this year they will put an end to it and give the award to one of Hollywood's most prolific black directors. It doesn't hurt that this movie is also one of Spike Lee's most accessible, easy to watch, and least controversial films. (See The Hurt Locker but replace "black" with women)

Bohemian Rhapsody will win because the voters are idiots. The late-baby-boomers, early-genXers that make up the voting block got all nostalgic for the Queen music and Rami Malek's fake teeth and were blind to the fact that the movie is pretty garbage. This may sound silly, but it is exactly what happened at the Golden Globes. (See The Greatest Show on Earth, Around the World in 80 Days)

The Favourite will win because it says so in the title. It was the confusing critical darling that has become "cool" to list as your favorite of the year. Don't forget the voters are smarter than you. "You have probably never even heard of Yorgos Lanthimos. We nominated him for best screenplay two years ago for The Lobster." (See The King's Speech, The English Patient)

Green Book will win because it helps voter feel better about their whiteness. That sounds harsh, I know, but the more I think about it this film, it just reeks of "white savior" complex. I really dug it and it tells a moving story, I'm just not sure it's the story we need at this point in our country's progress with race-relations. (See 12 Years a Slave, Driving Miss Daisy)

Roma will win because it's the actual best film of the nominees.....hahahhahahahhaha. It is actually the odds-on favorite, but I'll believe it when they say the name (and then have Jimmy Kimmel double check to see if the envelope was right). It just has too many strikes against it. Many voters despise the "Netflix" model and see it as an attack on the traditional theater experience. Only 10 foreign language films have ever been nominated for Best Picture and NONE of them have won. (See Nothing like it.... I guess you could say Slumdog Millionaire because it was the last time that my favorite of the nominees actually won)

A Star Is Born will win because the other awards don't have as much influence as most people think. Star was the favorite heading into awards season and dropped off the map after getting shut out at the Golden Globes. Still, there isn't actually much overlap between the voters and this movie is really quite good. It also hits all of the normal Oscar notes of rags-to-riches story, art solving everything, and love/loss.  (See The Artist, Chicago, Rocky)

Vice will win because the voters are fed up with the politics of the United States and want to give the biggest middle finger to those on the "right" that they can possibly muster. I'm sure they just ate it up when Christian Bale thanked Satan for his inspiration. (See Platoon, In the Heat of the Night)

So there you have it, why all 8 nominees will win tonight.

My Ballot
Roma
BlacKkKlansman
A Star Is Born
Green Book
Black Panther
The Favourite
Vice
Bohemian Rhapsody

My Pick to Win
I've changed my mind 4 times in the past 24 hours....   Let's make history here goes:  Roma

Shamefully Snubbed
Blindspotting


Until next year....  thanks for reading!

Countdown to Oscar Night: Acting

Best Actress
Yalitza Aparicio - Roma
Glenn Close - The Wife
Olivia Colman - The Favourite
Lady Gaga - A Star Is Born
Melissa McCarthy - Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Maybe the Oscars should have more "lifetime achievement"-style awards so that they didn't waste entire awards seasons like this. Everybody knows that Glenn Close is getting this award. Too bad it's for the worst movie nominated for any award this year. It would be so exciting to see the other ladies vying for the awards as each of them gave performances of a lifetime. Especially Gaga...

My Ballot
Lady Gaga - A Star Is Born
Yalitza Aparicio - Roma
Melissa McCarthy - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Olivia Colman - The Favourite
Glenn Close - The Wife

My Pick to Win
Glenn Close - The Wife

Shamefully Snubbed 
Elsie Fisher - Eighth Grade


Best Actor
Christian Bale - Vice
Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born
Willem Dafoe - At Eternity's Gate
Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen - Green Book

The more I think about Rami Malek's performance the more I am puzzled by the love for it and the entire Queen movie as a whole. Are we really giving Lifetime-channel movie awards now? Lead actors who gave better performances this year of the top of my head: Ethan Hawke, Lakeith Stanfield, Joaquin Phoenix, John David Washington, Daveed Diggs, Ben Foster, John Cho, Sunny Suljic, Ryan Gosling, and Chadwick Boseman. Let's move on to "supporting", maybe I can find something to cheer about...

My Ballot
Christian Bale - Vice
Willem Dafoe - At Eternity's Gate
Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born
Viggo Mortensen - Green Book
Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody

My Pick to Win
Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody...... uggggghhhh....

Shamefully Snubbed
Ethan Hawke - First Reformed  (2nd biggest snub of the night after Mr. Rogers)


Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams - Vice
Marina de Tavira - Roma
Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone - The Favourite
Rachel Weisz - The Favourite

This is certainly the biggest lock of the night that I'm actually happy about. Too bad the rest of the nominees are a bit underwhelming.

My Ballot
Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone - The Favourite
Rachel Weisz - The Favourite
Marina de Tavira - Roma
Amy Adams - Vice

My Pick to Win
Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk

Shamefully Snubbed
Margot Robbie - Mary Queen of Scots


Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali - Green Book
Adam Driver - BlacKkKlansman
Sam Elliott - A Star Is Born
Richard E. Grant - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Rockwell - Vice

I'm typing this while I'm watching the Spirit Awards and I think that is why I'm so frustrated. If Beale Street Could Talk just won Best Feature and it isn't even nominated tomorrow. Richard E. Grant won this award and he doesn't stand a chance against the pseudo-political posturing of the Academy.... 

My Ballot
Richard E. Grant - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Elliott - A Star Is Born
Mahershala Ali - Green Book
Adam Driver - BlacKkKlansman
Sam Rockwell - Vice

My Pick to Win
Mahershala Ali - Green Book

Shamefully Snubbed
Armie Hammer - Sorry to Bother You

Countdown to Oscar Night: Bonus! Spirit Awards

The Oscars have been doing better lately, but this year returns to the old status quo that is: If you want to actually find the best movies of 2018 you look at the Spirit Awards. Four of the Best Feature nominees are in my top 10 of the year. Though there is a bit of crossover, you won't find Bohemian Rhapsody mentioned this afternoon, and you may see many of my snubs from the main blog. Tune in this afternoon (2/23) at 5pm on IFC. I'm going to show each category with my ballot (best to worst) and then put a space if I haven't seen a movie. Here you go:

Best International Film
Roma
The Favourite

Burning
Happy as Lazzaro
Shoplifters

Best Documentary
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Minding the Gap
Hale County, This Morning This Evening
Fathers and Sons

On Her Shoulders
Shirkers

Best Supporting Male
Richard E. Grant - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Raul Castillo - We the Animals
Josh Hamilton - Eighth Grade
Adam Driver - BlacKkKlansman

John David Washington - Monsters and Men

Best Supporting Female
Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk
Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie - Leave No Trace
J. Smith Cameron - Nancy

Kayli Carter - Private Life
Tyne Daly - A Bread Factory

Best Male Lead
Ethan Hawke - First Reformed
Daveed Diggs - Blindspotting
John Cho - Searching
Joaquin Phoenix - You Were Never Really Here

Christian Malheiros - Socrates

Best Female Lead
Elsie Fisher - Eighth Grade
Toni Collette - Hereditary
Glenn Close - The Wife

Regina Hall - Support the Girls
Helena Howard - Madeline's Madeline
Carey Mulligan - Wildlife

Best Cinematography
We the Animals

Madeline's Madeline
Mandy
Suspiria
Wildlife

Best Editing
mid90s
The Tale
We the Animals
American Animals
You Were Never Really Here

Best First Screenplay
Eighth Grade
The Tale
Nancy

Blame
Thoroughbreds

Best Screenplay
Sorry to Bother You
First Reformed
Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Colette
Private Life

Best Director
Barry Jenkins - If Beale Street Could Talk
Paul Schrader - First Reformed
Debra Granik - Leave No Trace
Lynne Ramsey - You Were Never Really Here

Tamara Jenkins - Private Life

Best First Feature
Sorry to Bother You
We the Animals
The Tale
Hereditary

Wildlife

Best Feature
If Beale Street Could Talk
Leave No Trace
First Reformed
Sorry to Bother You
You Were Never Really Here

Countdown to Oscar Night: Writing!

Best Original Screenplay
Green Book
The Favourite
First Reformed
Roma
Vice

I absolutely love seeing First Reformed here (even though Ethan Hawke didn't get a nomination for the performance of a lifetime), but the snubs still overshadow the nominees. Bo Burnham won the Writers Guild award over these films for Eighth Grade and Boots Riley wrote one of the most original and unique screenplays in decades for Sorry to Bother You. Not including either of these on the list (especially considering that Green Book, Roma, and Vice hardly broke any new screenwriting ground) is simply a travesty. The Favourite is a shoo-in for this one because it'll allow the Academy voters to feel "edgy" for a half second...

My Ballot
First Reformed
Roma
The Favourite
Green Book
Vice

My Pick to Win
The Favourite

Shamefully Snubbed
Eighth Grade


Best Adapted Screenplay
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
BlacKkKlansman
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
If Beale Street Could Talk
A Star Is Born

As opposed to the previous category, I can't really say much bad about these picks. I had to really dig to find a "snub". I'll be rooting hard for Beale Street to win something outside of its all-but-guaranteed supporting actress trophy, but I think this is the category where the voters decide to think with their politics. Too bad they'll be missing out on the brilliant work done by Barry Jenkins translating the words of James Baldwin to celluloid.

My Ballot
If Beale Street Could Talk
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
BlacKkKlansman
A Star Is Born

My Pick to Win
BlacKkKlansman

Shamefully Snubbed
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse

Countdown to Oscar Night: Building Films

Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron - Roma
Yorgos Lanthimos - The Favourite
Spike Lee - BlacKkKlansman
Adam McKay - Vice
Pawil Pawlikowski - Cold War

One of the clearest "two horse" races for Sunday. For me, this category shows the shift between the old Academy (Cuaron, Pawlikowski) and the new (Lanthimos, Lee). Historically the award would go to either the best picture winner or an "old guard" Hollywood stalwart whose "time had come". Recently though, voters have been using this prize to award fearlessness, originality, and to exemplify diversity (since 2007 only 1 white American has won this award). I'd say this is a coin flip between Cuaron and Spike Lee.

My Ballot
Alfonso Cuaron - Roma
Spike Lee - BlacKkKlansman
Adam McKay - Vice
Yorgos Lanthimos - The Favourite

My Pick to Win
Alfonso Cuaron - Roma

Shamefully Snubbed
Barry Jenkins - If Beale Street Could Talk


Best Editing
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Vice

I think I'm going to have real Bohemian Rhapsody fatigue before this weekend is over... It's editing is downright awful. Green Book and The Favourite were fine, but nothing in the editing room was new, different, or masterful. Much like The Big Short, Adam McKay's Vice is completely fearless in its editing. While a bit clunkier than the former, the VP-docucomedy certainly gets many of its laughs from its jump cuts and innovative storytelling. Standing a bit out from the rest, Spike Lee's joint is brilliantly edited. The real-life images intercut throughout the movie anchor the viewer and cement the film's impact and immediacy. Many critics have felt that this tactic was a cheap ploy to cheat emotion into a movie, but I think time will eliminate this critique.

My Ballot
BlacKkKlansman
Vice
The Favourite
Green Book
Bohemian Rhapsody

My Pick to Win
BlacKkKlansman

Shamefully Snubbed
Sorry to Bother You


Best Cinematography
Cold War
The Favourite
Never Look Away
Roma
A Star Is Born

Screw this category.... I am sure that the two foreign films are beautiful, they just aren't available. In a year chock full of beautiful films that deserve recognition did we really need three foreign films (really four) nominated in this category? Beale St., Sorry to Bother You, First Reformed, Isle of Dogs, First Man, You Were Never Really Here, heck, even Hale County, This Morning This Evening...  Maybe I'll feel differently after getting around to seeing the two films that haven't opened in North Carolina yet...  maybe not.

My Ballot
Roma
A Star Is Born
The Favourite

My Pick to Win
Roma

Shamefully Snubbed
If Beale Street Could Talk

Countdown to Oscar Night: Music

Best Original Song
"When a Cowboy Trades his Spurs for Wings" - The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
"All the Stars" - Black Panther
"The Place Where Lost Things Go" - Mary Poppins Returns
"I'll Fight" - RBG
"Shallow" - A Star Is Born

This is certainly one of the easiest picks of the night. This award has had Lady Gaga written on it since before the movie came out. Ho hum... I was pretty disappointed that they chose to ignore Dolly Parton's brilliant work in Dumplin and all of the cutting-edge hip-hop from Blindspotting and Spider-Verse. Other than "Shallow" the songs are pretty vanilla.

My Ballot
"Shallow" - A Star Is Born
"I'll Fight" - RBG
"When a Cowboy Trades his Spurs for Wings" - The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
"The Place Where Lost Things Go" - Mary Poppins Returns
"All the Stars" - Black Panther

My Pick to Win
"Shallow" - A Star Is Born

Shamefully Snubbed
"Girl in the Movies" - Dumplin


Best Original Score
BlacKkKlansman
Black Panther
If Beale Street Could Talk
Isle of Dogs
Mary Poppins Returns

Three of these films (Black Panther, Beale St., Isle of Dogs) put the ORIGINAL in original score. Each of them not only perfectly convey the feel of their movie, but also do it in ways that sound new and exciting. BlacKkKlansman's score is just plain forgettable. Mary Poppins' is far from original and instead relies on, quite literally, hitting the right nostalgia notes. Of the three above, all would be worthy of an award, but Beale St.'s hauntingly beautiful music is a neck above the rest. It echoes the themes of beauty in all places that make it probably the best original score in a decade.

My Ballot
If Beale Street Could Talk
Isle of Dogs
Black Panther
Mary Poppins Returns
BlacKkKlansman

My Pick to Win
If Beale Street Could Talk

Shamefully Snubbed
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse


Best Sound Mixing
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
Roma
A Star Is Born

I don't think I've said this yet, and I'm sure I will say it again during my countdown, but Bohemian Rhapsody is simply a bad movie. It didn't deserve any nomination, let alone five... There is nothing original about any aspect of its filmmaking except that it is the first movie about Queen. First Man was technically brilliant but I don't really remember the sound standing out much. I also am not really sure why Roma or Black Panther fit in this category. The only possible option for the combination of sound and screen in a seamless, inventive way is Mr. Cooper's pet project. Either A Star Is Born wins best sound mixing or the voters don't understand the category.

My Ballot
A Star Is Born
First Man
Roma
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody

My Pick to Win
A Star Is Born

Shamefully Snubbed
Sorry to Bother You

Countdown to Oscar Night: The Art of Filmmaking

Best Production Design
Black Panther
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Roma

This is another category that begs the question: "What are voters looking for?" All of the nominees are works of art, but are the members looking for note-perfect attention to detail (Roma, The Favourite), colorful, nostalgic-fueled fantasy (Mary Poppins), or fantasy world building (Black Panther). Many are predicting that Black Panther goes home empty-handed after racking up the nominations, but I think this is its best chance to take home a well-deserved trophy.

My Ballot
Black Panther
Roma
Mary Poppins Returns
The Favourite
First Man

My Pick to Win
Black Panther

Shamefully Snubbed
Sorry to Bother You


Best Costume Design
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Black Panther
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Queen of Scots

I sound like a broken record, but this is yet another tough to predict category. It's usually the best bet to go with "most colorful" which means this is a two way race between Black Panther and Mary Poppins. I think nostalgia will win the day with this one though.

My Ballot
Mary Queen of Scots
Black Panther
Mary Poppins Returns
The Favourite
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

My Pick to Win
Mary Poppins Returns

Shamefully Snubbed
Crazy Rich Asians


Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Border
Mary Queen of Scots
Vice

I really wish this was split into two categories: Transformative makeup (think Charlize Theron in Monster, Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club, and, the Academy's favorite, old man makeup) and Artistic makeup (think period dramas or sci-fi artistry). Both Mary Queen of Scots and Vice deserve makeup artist recommendation, but the reason is not remotely similar. Both Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth are flawlessly sculpted and look like works of art. On the other hand, Christian Bale looks like Dick Cheney, which is not exactly an artistic visage but impressive nonetheless. Looking at the past few years, this is pretty clearly Vice's trophy.

My Ballot
Mary Queen of Scots
Vice

My Pick to Win
Vice

Shamefully Snubbed
Aquaman

Countdown to Oscar Night: Special Effects

Best Visual Effects
Avengers: Infinity War
Christopher Robin
First Man
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story

Once again, this is one of the toughest categories to handicap. Recently the trend has been for the Academy to go with the movie with the most effects rather than the most impressive effects. This is also tough because none of the films nominated really break any new ground visually. I'm going with the most popular movie, but Ready Player One (the most effects) or First Man (the most artisitic of the bunch) wouldn't surprise me.

My Ballot
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Avengers: Infinity War
First Man
Christopher Robin

My Pick to Win
Avengers: Infinity War

Shamefully Snubbed
Sorry to Bother You


Best Sound Editing
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place
Roma

This year's Academy Awards presentation has been marred by losing hosts, adding (and then retracting) new categories, and finally announcing (and then retracting) that other categories would be awarded during commercial breaks. The sound categories are a perfect emblem of the disconnect that the producers of the show have with its audience (me). Instead of using these categories to highlight artistic achievement in film by giving examples of the craft or explaining the process, they usually joke about how no one cares and quickly play the winner off stage. Imagine how interesting it would be if the viewers were treated to an analysis of the sounds of the plane in Roma, the waterfall in Black Panther, the Gemini rockets in First Man, and the waterfall cutting through A Quiet Place. Alas, they will probably screw it up...

My Ballot
A Quiet Place
First Man
Roma
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody

My Pick to Win
First Man

Shamefully Snubbed
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Countdown to Oscar Night: Docs, Foreign, Animated

Best Documentary 
Free Solo
Hale County, This Morning This Evening
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers and Sons
RBG

What can I say? My take on this category is going to be forever marred by the fact that the best documentary in a decade was snubbed. RBG has the most interesting subject (so it will probably win), but doesn't really do much more than tell the story. Of Fathers and Sons probably takes the most risks (with its filmmaker embedded with ISIS fighters), but it is certainly the most tedious. Hale County is certainly the most original. It is poetic and beautiful, but is also the most inaccessible to the average viewer. Minding the Gap is beloved by critics and is probably the best of this bunch, which means it has no chance. Free Solo is my favorite of the nominated films and probably the only one I would actively recommend to others. Still, this will be forever remembered as the year the Academy snubbed Mr. Fred Rogers...

My Ballot
Free Solo
Minding the Gap
RBG
Hale County, This Morning This Evening
Of Fathers and Sons

My Pick to Win
RBG

Shamefully Snubbed
Won't You be My Neighbor?


Best Foreign Film
Capernaum
Cold War
Never Look Away
Roma
Shoplifters

Once again, this category is stricken by complete inaccessibility. I have seen Roma. The only thing interesting about this award is that if Cold War pulls off the upset it certainly spells bad news for Roma's best picture chances.

My Ballot
Roma

My Pick to Win
Roma


Best Animated Film
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

I've already written a blog about Spider-Man. Isle of Dogs is a stop-motion masterpiece that begs to be seen. Incredibles 2 is pretty overrated, Ralph is pretty underrated, and Mirai is simply impossible to see unless you find a solid bootleg and can speak Japanese.

My Ballot
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Isle of Dogs
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Incredibles 2

My Pick to Win
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Shamefully Snubbed
Teen Titans Go to the Movies

Countdown to Oscar Night: The Shorts

I freely admit that I am not quite as excited for this year's installment of "Countdown to Oscar Night". Maybe I'm getting old. Maybe I'm upset with the Academy's insistence on fixing the things that are right about their show (number of awards, speeches, and length of the show) and leaving the things that are wrong about their show (too many "popular" movies nominated because of $$ and ratings?). Or maybe it's just that this year's crop of nominees has to be the most underwhelming in years and completely shut out some of the most inventive and original works of 2018. Who knows? Soldiering on...

For the first time since I have been seeking them out I was able to watch every nominee in 2/3 of the short film categories. The Live Action shorts are still nearly impossible to track down so I'll tackle them first:

Live Action Short
Detainment
Fauve
Marguerite
Mother
Skin

I don't know anything about any of these except that Detainment was in the news for pretty horrific reasons that I wish I hadn't read about (google at your own risk). With that in mind, I don't really have any personal opinion so I will just pick the expert's favorite to win:

My Pick to Win:
Marguerite


Documentary Short
Black Sheep (available on youtube here)
Endgame (available on Netflix)
Lifeboat (available on youtube here)
A Night at the Garden (available on vimeo here)
Period. End of Sentence  (available on Netflix)

Documentaries are always tough to judge critically because often the subject outshines the film-making. For some reason, the "short" format transcends this trend and allows for closer appreciation of the work of the folks behind the camera. This is especially evident in Lifeboat and Endgame. Both subjects (Mediterranean immigrant boat rescue and end-of-life care respectfully) are worthy of their due attention, but the documentarians' deft skill is evident as the viewer is guided through these strange and heartbreaking worlds. Both films educate without patronizing and leave the viewer moved to action and yearning to learn more. Period is fine. It's subjects take center stage and they deserve a more fleshed out portrayal. Black Sheep is the critical favorite to win and is certainly the most cinematic, but just seems trite to me. One guys story told through reenactment with no impact or real stakes beyond what is personal to him. A Night at the Garden is a piece that feels more like an interesting History Channel segment than a film.

My Ballot:
Endgame
Lifeboat
Period. End of Sentence
Black Sheep
A Night at the Garden

My Pick to Win:
Black Sheep


Animated Short
Animal Behavior (available on youtube here)
Bao
Late Afternoon
One Small Step (available on youtube here)
Weekends

I was lucky enough to catch all ten of the shortlisted animated shorts one sleepy morning during Christmas break. A couple (including the best one) are still available on youtube above. Weekends is actually the critical darling but I just did not get it. Maybe because I don't connect with the subject (a kid being shuttled between divorced parents), but I just felt that it was incoherent and a jumbled mess. Animal Behavior is also getting plenty of love, but not from me. I really dug Pixar's Bao when I saw it in the theater, but it lost a bit on repeat viewings for me and is maybe a bit too saccharin (even for Pixar). That leaves me with my two favorites. Both of these films are about love and loss between a parent and a child and both left me completely wrecked. I don't want to spoil either so I strongly urge you to seek them out. You can watch my favorite at the link above. Do it!

My Ballot:
One Small Step
Late Afternoon
Bao
Animal Behavior
Weekends

My Pick to Win:
Bao

Shamefully Snubbed:
Lost & Found (How on Earth did this not get nominated???  Watch it here, but be warned it is crushingly beautiful)

Best of '18: Eighth Grade

But it's like, being yourself is, like, not changing yourself to impress someone else.

I know I am a bit late to the party, but Bo Burnham was my favorite discovery of 2018. I caught this movie pretty early in the summer on the back of its critical acclaim and for most of the year it was my favorite film. It led me into Burnham's standup and viral videos and what I found was new, fearless, hilarious, and downright brilliant.

Eighth Grade is about the trials and tribulations of Kayla, an introverted (but not really) awkward teen who is on the verge of that most strange of transitions from innocence to high school. It is note-for-note perfect in its translation of the reality of this stage while still maintaining the artfulness of the cinematic craft. This would be a daunting task for an experienced filmmaker, but this is Burnham's first film as both writer and director. If you take into account his obvious maleness and his private school, two parent upbringing, it is astounding that this 28-year-old artistic phenom pulled this off. It is a downright shame that Eighth Grade, its young star (Elsie Fisher), and its first time director won't be getting their just accolades on Oscar night. Once again, the Spirit awards get it right while mainstream Hollywood is stuck awarding mediocre biopics...

Best of '18: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

I never thought I'd be able to do any of this stuff. But I can. Anyone can wear the mask. You can wear the mask. If you didn't know that before, I hope you do now. Cuz I'm Spider-Man. And I'm not the only one. Not by a long shot.

Immediately after leaving the theater all manner of hyperbole flew through my head: "Greatest Superhero origin story", "Greatest Spider-Man movie", "Greatest Animated Super-hero movie", "Greatest Marvel Movie", maybe even.... dare I say.... "Greatest Comic Book Movie"?  I don't know... maybe?  For know, I will leave those statements to ferment for a bit and let time tell. What I am comfortable saying right now though is that this movie is proudly, passionately, and purposefully unafraid. It isn't afraid of screwing up the continuity of the MCU. It isn't afraid of breaking the rules of movie-making. Most of all, it isn't afraid of being labelled a comic. book. movie.

For decades, we have been inching closer to this realization without ever quite getting there. The early comic book franchises (Batman, Superman, X-Men) just felt like it was enough to make a movie using comic book characters. As much as I liked these movies (some of them at least) they always just felt like the filmmakers were trying to emulate other movies rather than truly translate the feel of the comic art form. The MCU movies made a giant leap by actually telling comic stories and not being afraid to use true-to-source costumes and characterization, but their adaptations still pale a bit to the books they translate. Into the Spider-verse completes this journey by just plain getting it all right. This film is more comic than movie, more heart than head, and more graphically beautiful than CG impressive. Top all of this off with the origin story of Miles Morales, perhaps the most universally relatable (age, race, attitude) superhero to grace the screen to this point, and you have an absolute gem of a movie... I mean comic....

Best of '18: Won't You Be My Neighbor?

"What would Fred Rogers do"? It's not a question that you can answer. The most important question is, "What are you going to do?"

So many things to write about here..... Do I write about how the Oscars mean so much to me and this movie's lack of a nomination was the biggest snub of the 21st century? Do I write about how I had to change my contacts after this movie because I cried so much? Do I write about how Mr. Rogers is the greatest role model of the modern age? Do I write about how much I value my upbringing without cable television and how my family measured time in segments of PBS programming (1 hour=Sesame St., 30mins=Mr. Rogers, 15mins=Neighborhood of Make-Believe)? Do I write about how as Mr. Rogers said, "love is the root of everything - all learning, all parenting, all relationships..."? I think I'll just cede my space to the most powerful moment in this film:
From the time you were very little, you've had people who have smiled you into smiling, people who have talked you into talking, sung you into singing, loved you into loving. So, on this extra special day, let's take some time to think of those extra special people. Some of them may be right here, some may be far away. Some may even be in heaven. No matter where they are, deep down you know they've always wanted what was best for you. They've always cared about you beyond measure and have encouraged you to be true to the best within you. Let's just take a minute of silence to think about those people now.


The images that come to my mind are many: parents, teachers, friends, coworkers, students, family members, parishioners, and strangers that showed you love for as little as a few seconds. Now, as the quote says above, "What are you going to do?" Mr. Rogers doesn't simply want you to think about those people. If he did, he wouldn't ask you to silently reflect for a literal minute. He wants you to be inspired by how they made you feel. Mr. Rogers wants us to live every moment, in all that we do, carefully and consciously to be that person, to be that force for love for someone else.

Best of '18: Roma

We are alone. No matter what they tell you, we women are always alone.

Major movie studios should be shaking in their boots... Netflix (and other streamers) are coming for them. For the second year in a row, Netflix has produced and marketed one of the best films of the year (for 2017 it was Mudbound by the way). Sure, it would've been nice to have seen this with an audience on the big screen, but more likely I would've been alone on a Tuesday afternoon. Not to mention taking a family of four to see a movie would pay your Netflix bill for three months. Still, just because movies are more accessible doesn't mean you shouldn't be meticulous with your choices. It pains me to see folks falling all over themselves for run-of-the-mill meme generators like Bird Box when movies like this are out there on the same platform.

With Roma Alfonso Cuaron deconstructs many of the elements that have made his films so groundbreaking (Gravity, Children of Men) and gets to the essence of central human emotion. He ditches even technicolor as he literally returns to his roots to tell a story based on his childhood that is able to capture true love, heartache, loss, and family. Roma never feels like a movie so much as it is an invitation into the life of this very specific native housemaid. I see this film as a jumping off point if you are hungering for more challenging movies. There are no car chases, superheroes, or jump scares here, just true empathy and loving cinema.

Best of '18: Blindspotting

The difference between me and you is... I ain't no killer. I ain't no killer.

Daveed Diggs is living his best life. Born in Oakland to an African American father and Jewish mother, he was recruited and went to Brown University where he broke the schools record for 110m hurdles and earned a BA in Theater. He performed for a few years in experimental theater until he was discovered by Lin-Manuel Miranda and debuted the roles of Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in "Hamilton" (for which he won a Tony and a Grammy). After a handful of other credits, he returned to Oakland to write and star in "Blindspotting" with his friend Rafael Casal.

Diggs' determination and talent aren't the only thing that makes this film brilliant. He tells the story of a young man of color who is trying to come back from a stint in prison in a world of gentrification, racism, and violence. "Blindspotting" delicately, hilariously, and effectively deals with these tough and timely issues. This is the most criminally underseen movie of 2018 (and, as of this writing, my favorite). 

Best of '18: If Beale Street Could Talk

Remember, love is what brought you here. And if you’ve trusted love this far, don’t panic now. Trust it all the way.

I admit it.... I wasn't on board with "Moonlight". I liked it, it was beautiful, but it fell prey to that curse so many movies stumbled into during my life: winning an Oscar over my favorite film of the year. Don't get me wrong, the movie is visually stunning, but I just felt that Barry Jenkins writing did not live up to the moving storyline and artistic presentation.

 "Beale St." solves that problem by starting with source material from James Baldwin. Jenkins visual style meshes perfectly with Baldwin's poetic prose. From start to finish, this films sits ups straighter and holds its head higher than other movies. This will be the first of a handful of entries to my "best of" that tackles race-related issues, but "Beale St." is so much more than that. This isn't a beautiful black film, a moving political statement, or even a masterful period piece. "If Beale Street Could Talk" is a beautiful, moving, masterpiece. It transcends the labels that we put on films. I cannot stress how gorgeous this film is. I wanted to feel the sunshine coming into the windows of the loft, I yearned to embrace the characters during their times of struggle, and I hungered to share in the love that fueled this little family. The next best thing I can do to satiate myself is to love as much as I can, in all the ways that I can, all the people that I can.

....It Begins.... My Oscar Ballot

Academy members have their Oscar nominations ballots in hand so maybe they'll click on a random blogspot and I can convince them of a few crazy picks. I have plenty more films to see, but if I were filling out a nomination sheet for 2018, this is how it would look:

Best Picture: Blindspotting
Best Actor: Ethan Hawke, First Reformed
Best Actress: Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade
Best Supporting Actor: Armie Hammer, Sorry to Bother You
Best Supporting Actress: Thomasin McKenzie, Leave No Trace
Best Animated Feature: Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Cinematography: Roma
Best Costume Design: Mary Poppins Returns
Best Director: Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade
Best Documentary Feature: Won't You Be My Neighbor
Best Film Editing: Sorry to Bother You
Best Foreign Language Film: Roma
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Aquaman
Best Original Score: First Man
Best Original Song: "Not a Game", Blindspotting
Best Production Design: Sorry to Bother You
Best Sound Editing: Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Sound Mixing: Blindspotting
Best Visual Effects: Ready Player One
Best Adapted Screenplay: BlacKkKlansman
Best Original Screenplay: Eighth Grade
Best Animated Short: One Small Step

I'll try to get some "Best of '18" reviews up soon!