“The Greatest Beer Run Ever” Film Review: Patriotism in Peril

The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022) is an action comedy-drama film from director Peter Farrelly. It stars Zac Efron as John “Chickie” Donohue, a listless young man in the 1970’s who decides to travel to Vietnam to deliver beer to his friends fighting in the war. It premiered to mixed-negative reviews at TIFF earlier this month and released on Friday on the Apple streaming service. Can this be the next Green Book, or is Farrelly’s run as an awards filmmaker over?

“Blonde” Film Review: Everything Everywhere All in Three Hours

Blonde (2022) is a fictional biopic drama film written and directed by Andrew Dominik, based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates. It stars Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe as we follow her from her childhood through her rise to fame, her turbulent relationships, and her eventual downward spiral. The film debuted at the Venice International Film Festival ahead of its release on Netflix on September 28th (with an NC-17 rating). What has made this film so controversial among critics and audiences alike?

“Don’t Worry Darling” Film Review: Alice in Wonderland

Don’t Worry Darling (2022) is a psychological-thriller drama film from director Olivia Wilde. It stars Florence Pugh as an unhappy housewife in an idyllic 50’s suburban neighborhood who begins to suspect that her husband (Harry Styles) is hiding a dark secret from her. The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival ahead of its theatrical release on September 26th. Why has this created such a wild social media buzz?

“The Woman King” Film Review: History in Perspective

The Woman King (2022) is a historical epic action biopic directed by Gina Prince-Blythewood and written by Dana Stevens. It stars Viola Davis as the general of the Dahomey nation, an all-female warrior tribe in 1820s West Africa. The film debuted at TIFF to positive reviews ahead of its September 16th release. Is it a successful retelling of a historical tale most Americans are unfamiliar with?

2023 Oscar Predictions (Post-Festival Edition)

Now that the vast majority of awards hopefuls have been screened at the fall festivals, it’s time for my first official predictions of the season! What films and actors will be vying for nominations and wins this year? What major narratives will take shape? Let’s discuss!

2022 Toronto International Film Festival Overview

The 2022 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, aka TIFF, recently closed its doors on yet another strong slate of films! What awards hopefuls boosted their chances at Oscar success? Which presumed heavy-hitters bit the dust? Who won the prestigious People’s Choice Award? Let’s talk movies!

Foreign Film Fridays: “Decision to Leave” (South Korea, 2022)

Decision to Leave (2022) is a South Korean mystery-drama film from legendary filmmaker Park Chan-wook. It stars Park Hae-il as a police detective who begins to fall in love with a young widow (Tang Wei) whom he suspects is responsible for her late husband’s death. The film debuted at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it won Best Director, and it is South Korea’s entry for Best International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards. Can this make it all the way to the Oscars?

Best Picture Power Rankings: September 2022 Edition

Welcome back to another monthly edition of the Best Picture Power Rankings, in which we examine the state of the Oscar race and which films are in contention for the big prize! The big fall film festivals like Venice, TIFF and Telluride are now behind us, which means we have a ton of new information on which films will be big players! What do I think is getting nominated? Which films have fallen out of favor? Let’s discuss!

2022 Venice Film Festival Overview

The 79th annual Venice Film Festival has closed its doors after yet another strong year of films! What took home the prestigious top prize, the Golden Lion? Who won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and Actress? Who got snubbed for awards consideration? Let’s dive in!

2022 Fall Film Festivals: Week 1 Recap

September marks the unofficial start to awards season, as the major fall film fests have begun opening their doors for films to begin their campaigns for the Oscars! What is the early word out of Venice and Telluride? What do we have to look forward to from Toronto and New York? Let’s look at the early action so far!