‘Happiest Season’ Film Review: Happy Holi-gays!

Happiest Season (2020) is a romantic-comedy Christmas film from writer-director Clea DuVall. It stars Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as a young couple visiting the latter’s family for the holidays – despite the fact that she hasn’t yet come out to her parents as gay. Dan Levy, Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie and Mary Steenburgen co-star. Is this a successful “Holi-gay”, or does it fall into the same trappings as other Hallmark-esque holiday flicks?

‘Hillbilly Elegy’ Film Review: Complex Themes, Simplistic Execution

Hillbilly Elegy (2020) is a family drama from director Ron Howard, starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close. Based on an autobiography, it tells the story of a poor Appalachian family and the boy who managed to escape his circumstances and make a name for himself. Despite its A-list cast and crew, it was lambasted by critics ahead of its Netflix release. Can it overcome initial poor reception to perform well at the Oscars?

Best Picture Power Rankings: November 2020 Edition

We’re now a month deeper into awards season, and films continue to jockey for position in the 2021 Oscars most prestigious category of the night. Who will snag that Best Picture nomination at the 93rd Academy Awards? Who will win the night? Let’s see how some of the major films’ chances have shifted in the past few weeks!

Director Series #3: Denis Villeneuve

Welcome back to my brand-new Director Series column, in which I examine a well-respected filmmaker’s filmography and determine how their storytelling style has evolved over the years! Today we shed a single tear for for the delay of Dune to 2021, and in honor of our fallen hero we’re taking a look at the man who dominated the 2010’s and can seemingly do no wrong: Denis Villeneuve! How did this French-Canadian auteur rise to such prominence in the U.S.? From what humble beginnings did such a tour de force emerge? Let’s take a trip back in time and look at his body of work!

How Do U.S. Elections Impact the Academy Awards?

The 2020 United States Presidential Election is now (more or less) behind us as we head deeper into awards season. While there isn’t a direct correlation between the President’s political affiliation and the subsequent Best Picture Oscar winner, there are some trends we can point to. What kinds of films win the big award in years that a Democrat takes office? What about a Republican? Let’s see what we can discover from year to year!

‘The Queen’s Gambit’ Miniseries Review: The Flawed Genius Done Right

The Queen’s Gambit (2020) is a new Netflix miniseries from writer-director Scott Frank. Based on a 1983 novel, it stars Anya Taylor-Joy as fictional chess prodigy Beth Harmon, who rises from her tragic orphan past to become one of the best chess players in the world. The film has been praised for its accuracy (employing the legendary Garry Kasparov as a chess consultant) and its strong heroine character. Is this one to remember, or just another forgettable Netflix offering?