Twenty Performances, or Oscar, How Did We Grow Apart So?

Sure, that banner above would work much better on Sunday, but that’s the day I’m committed to demonstrating how good I am at counting backwards. For the foreseeable future, this annual indulgence needs to land a few days earlier. What follows is my best approximation of how I might fill out a nominating ballot issued for the acting branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had it landed in my hands. All the usual caveats apply, mostly the admission that there are problematic gaps in my personal viewing so the exclusion of certain names may reflect my … Continue reading Twenty Performances, or Oscar, How Did We Grow Apart So?

Spectrum Check

The first I had up at Spectrum Culture this week was a review of a new film starring Linda Cardellini. I’m particularly proud that I managed to avoid invoking Freaks and Geeks, which seems to be cited in every other review I’ve seen of the film. It certainly says something about the lingering brilliance of Paul Feig’s high school series that it remains the main touchstone for Cardellini despite the fact that she’s been a part of some notable films and spent several seasons as a central cast member of E.R., many of those years coinciding with the time that … Continue reading Spectrum Check

Spectrum Check

I was all over the place at Spectrum Culture this week. First of all, I had a piece in the music section, reviewing something that was definitely outside of my usual range. The super-secret DVD backstory of this review is that I wrote it while flat in my back while suffering with an ailment that really needs not be elaborated upon. You should appreciate my discretion, believe me. I also reviewed the new film from director Ti West, which I actually made a point of requesting months in advance. For one thing, I have a marital obligation to get horror … Continue reading Spectrum Check