Tonight in Hollywood, and across the globe, it's all about "Parasite." “Parasite” by the Korean director Bong Joon-Ho, netted four Academy Awards on Sunday, winning in the Best Film, Best Director (Bong Joon-ho), Best Foreign Film and Best Screenplay categories. What a winning streak! Joon-Ho made history, too, in the process. This is the first time that a non-English-language film won for Best Film at the Academy
Is Covid19, a.k.a. novel coronavirus, going to spell the death of the Cannes Festival this year? I say, I sure hope not. And, I really don't think so. But the signs, they're worrisome. According to the powers-that-be, France is currently in what is known as Phase Two. That's when a virus has entered the country and efforts are underway at containing it. Sibeth Ndiaye, President Macron's spokesperson, has hinted that a French coronavirus
Before Weinstein and before Epstein and a myriad lesser-known sexual predators, there was Roger Ailes. The story of the CEO of Fox News and others like him, much discussed in the last few years as illustrations of how the ugly and mighty fall is now brilliantly illustrated in “Bombshell.” Jay Roach gives us the tremendously entertaining story of a watershed moment at Fox, predating the #Metoo movement, portraying the stance of a number
“Color Out of Space” is director Richard Stanley’s first feature film since his attempt at adapting “The Island of Dr. Moreau” back in 1996. Stanley was fired from that cursed production and replaced with John Frankenheimer. That firing would put a dark cloud over Richard Stanley’s career, reputation, and self-image, presumably, for quite some time.
Now here he is
Santa Barbara International Film Festival is up against Sundance this year, so the demands for top independent films are especially heightened this season, as are the demands on stars like Brad Pitt (bestowed an honor in California) to choose one or the other.
As always, there are unexpected gems, including a rather offbeat comedy from South America I was able to see (review below)
In the last decade twin sisters Jen and Sylvia Soska have doggedly pursued film ventures in the horror genre. Armed with ingenuity, a DYI ethos and a pledge to frighten honest, hard-working people, the Soskas have acted in, directed, screenwritten and produced movies that would give Lloyd Kaufman and Eli Roth a run for their money.
The Soskas have directed such films as “Dead Hooker
“Church & State” examines the remarkable true story of an inexperienced gay activist who, in partnership with a Salt Lake City law firm and members of the local LGBTQ community, successfully ended Utah's ban on gay marriage.
Mark Lawrence, a middle-aged gay man, led the charge for gay marriage equality in Utah. He’s a bit of an acquired taste (he’s so off-putting to some that it made him