Welcome to the 4th annual Scriptophile Film Awards, where I go over the best films, performances, and more of the year and pick the best in every category! As per the Oscars’ new eligibility rules, we’re counting all the films released last year plus those through February of the current year for today’s awards. Will I pick your favorites? Who will take home the biggest prize of the evening? Join me and find out!
Another year of film is behind us! It was another strange one, hot off the heels of 2020’s ravaged pandemic landscape with theaters still struggling to reopen in the U.S. However, we did get some quality movies, so what were my ten favorite films released in the last year?
Don’t Look Up (2021) is a satirical comedy film from writer-director Adam McKay. It stars an absurd ensemble of A-list stars in the farcical story of two low-level astronomers who embark on a worldwide media tour to try and warn people that a deadly asteroid is on a collision course with the Earth. The film has generated intense speculation and polarized critical reviews ahead of its Netflix release on Christmas Eve. Is this another hit (no pun intended) for McKay?
Continue reading “‘Don’t Look Up’ Film Review: Overstating the Obvious”
Licorice Pizza (2021) is a coming-of-age period comedy-drama from acclaimed writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson. It stars Cooper Hoffman as Gary Valentine, a teen child actor who pines after a woman many years his elder (Alana Haim). The film has slowly been rolling out across the country for the past month, generating high praise (and intense controversy) along the way. What has so many people foaming at the mouth about PTA’s latest, for reasons good and bad?
Continue reading “‘Licorice Pizza’ Film Review: My Bloody Valentine”
The Matrix Resurrections (2021) is a sci-fi action film from writer-director Lana Wachowski and the fourth film in the Matrix franchise. The film follows Thomas Anderson, a San Francisco-based video game designer who begins to suspect that his imaginations of an alternate universe might not be so imaginary after all. The film is a pseudo-reboot of the franchise telling a fresh story with similar characters. Is it a worthy addition to the already-iconic franchise?
Continue reading “‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Film Review: Into the Metaverse”
It’s been a busy holiday season this year, with tons of new releases dropping all at once as we approach the end of 2021! I didn’t have time to write full reviews for each of these new releases, so enjoy my abbreviated thoughts on Nightmare Alley, Being the Ricardos, The Hand of God and Swan Song!
The Novice (2021) is an American drama-thriller film from debut writer-director Lauren Hadaway. It stars Isabelle Fuhrman as a college freshman who joins the school rowing team with ambitions to reach the top of the varsity squad. The film debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the prize for Best U.S. Narrative Feature Film, ahead of its theatrical and VOD release on December 17. What has critics raving about this little indie?
Continue reading “‘The Novice’ Film Review: Portrait of a Lady on Water”
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) is a superhero action film and the third installment in the MCU Spidey franchise. It stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker, who enlists the help of Doctor Strange to turn back time so that nobody ever knew he was Spider-Man – but instead he accidentally merges multiple dimensions and brings old Spidey foes into his world. This was one of the most highly-anticipated films of the year and seems poised to be the highest-grossing movies of 2021. Is it worth the hype?
**SPOILERS AHEAD!!!**
Continue reading “‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Film Review: Nostalgia Overload”
West Side Story (2021) is a musical drama film from legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, based on the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name. It stars Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, Mike Faist, Rita Moreno and more in the story of the Jets and the Sharks, two competing gangs in central New York City, and the young man and woman from different groups who fall in love despite the conflict. The film has generated intense awards buzz, despite a prior adaptation already winning Best Picture in 1961 (among ten total Oscar wins). Will this follow in the footsteps of the original and find awards success?
Continue reading “‘West Side Story’ Film Review: Rumble in the Rubble”
Welcome back to the Best Picture Power Rankings, where we look at how films are jostling for position in the Oscar race! We heard from our first precursors earlier this month, giving us our clearest picture yet of what the category will look like. Which films impressed at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards? What got snubbed? Let’s dive in and find out!
Continue reading “Best Picture Power Rankings: December 2021 Edition”
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