My (Way-too-Early) 2019 Oscars Predictions

This past Wednesday marked the start of Venice Film Festival, traditionally the first stop on the festival circuit for the “serious” Oscar contenders. Already the first few heavy-hitters for awards season have debuted, from First Man to A Star is Born, with many more to come. But before these films hit theaters this fall and winter, how about some hot takes and early predictions for the Academy Award winners and nominees, a solid six months before the big night?

“Spotlight” Script Analysis: How to Synthesize Drama

2015’s Spotlight, the biopic about the Boston Globe reporters who uncovered the sexual abuse cover-up of the Catholic Church in the early 2000’s, was a critical smash-hit, earning the Academy Award for Best Picture among other top honors. It was co-written by Josh Singer and director Tom McCarthy, who also took home the Best Original Screenplay award for their efforts. And their script is a doozy, a 140-page behemoth with several dozen characters and a comprehensive plot that makes no attempts to dumb down the action. How did they manage to create such an entertaining and successful story without sacrificing accuracy?

“Revenge” Film Review

With a lack of good options in theaters this time of year, and in preparation for a busy awards season, I recently decided to do some catching up on VOD for earlier 2018 titles I missed. One of these was Revenge, from director Coralie Fargeat, starring model Matilda Lutz as a woman seeking *cough* revenge after her rape and attempted murder. A variety of factors kept me from seeking this one out in theaters the first time around. Generic title, uninteresting setup, no-name filmmaker and actors, no major promotion or hype. But man, I’m glad I eventually got around to it, because what a doozy this film is!

“The Miseducation of Cameron Post” Film Review

The Miseducation of Cameron Post was written and directed by Desiree Akhavan based on the coming-of-age novel by Emily M. Danforth. It starts Chloe Grace Moretz as title character Cameron, a gay teenager who is sent to conversion therapy camp by her ultra-religious aunt. The film made waves at Sundance earlier this year, taking home the coveted U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. Is it worthy of such a prestigious honor?

Foreign Film Fridays: “Incendies” (Canada, 2010)

Welcome back to Foreign Film Fridays, where I highlight some of the best non-English-language films of the past decade or so! Today we have another French-language film, this time from our neighbors to the north, and a filmmaker who has since broken into the American mainstream: Denis Villeneuve. Before he was wowing audiences with box office hits like Sicario, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049, Villeneuve was a darling of the French Canadian film circuit as a writer-director. His 2010 adaptation of a Wajdi Mouawad play, Incendies, is a gripping mystery-thriller about two fraternal twins, Jeanne and Simon, who return to their Middle Eastern homeland following their mother’s death to uncover her dark past.

“Call Me By Your Name” Script Analysis: Time, Love, and Identity

If you’ve followed my blog in the past, you’ll know that Call Me By Your Name was my favorite film of 2017. Beautifully directed by Luca Guadagnino and spearheaded by stars Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer, it owes much of its success to the phenomenal script by James Ivory, who deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The story, adapted from a novel by André Aciman, had plenty of challenges to overcome in order to make a compelling and watchable film. How does Ivory approach these hurdles and avoid clichés or melodrama to craft something so beautiful? Let’s dig deeper and find out!

Foreign Film Fridays: “A Separation” (Iran, 2011)

A Separation was written and directed by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi. It tells the story of a middle-income family who separate from one another (shocker!), and all the social and religious complications that ensue. The film is among the most acclaimed Iranian films ever made, nabbing the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film AND a nomination for Best Original Screenplay, a rarity for a foreign film. So what better foreign film to study for a screenwriting blog?

“BlacKkKlansman” Review & Analysis

BlacKkKlansman is the latest Spike Lee joint, starring John David Washington (son of Denzel), Adam Driver (son of Han Solo), and Topher Grace (son of Red Forman) among others. It tells the true story of a black police detective, Ron Stallworth, as he infiltrates the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan by posing as a white supremacist. It has been hailed as one of Lee’s best films since his breakout Do the Right Thing in 1989. Does it live up to such lofty expectations? *SPOILERS AHEAD!*

Foreign Film Fridays: “The Hunt” (Denmark, 2012)

Welcome back to my new Foreign Films series, where I try to introduce people to some of the best non-English language films of the recent past! Today’s case study is The Hunt, a 2012 Danish film from writer-director Thomas Vinterberg, starring Mads Mikkelsen of Casino Royale Bond villain fame. The story follows Lucas, a mild-mannered kindergarten teacher falsely accused of raping a young girl, as the tight-knit community turns on him and makes his life a living hell.

Breaking Down the Academy Awards Ceremony Changes

This morning, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences announced several key changes to the Oscar broadcast moving forward. How will they affect the ceremony, and should this be cause for concern about the long-term health of the brand?