Here Are The Nominations of the San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle!


The winners will be announced on December 16th!

Best Picture

  • “1917”
  • “The Irishman”
  • “Marriage Story”
  • “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
  • “Parasite”

Best Director

  • Noah Baumbach, “Marriage Story”
  • Bong Joon-ho, “Parasite”
  • Sam Mendes,“1917”
  • Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
  • Joe Talbot, “Last Black Man in San Francisco”
  • Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Best Original Screenplay

  • “The Farewell,” Lulu Wang
  • “Knives Out,” Rian Johnson
  • “Marriage Story,” Noah Baumbach
  • “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino
  • “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho

Best Adapted Screenplay

  • “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,”  Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue
  • “Hustlers,” Lorene Scafaria
  • “The Irishman,” Steven Zaillian
  • “Jojo Rabbit,”  Taika Waititi
  • “Little Women,” Greta Gerwig

Best Actor

  • Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
  • Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
  • Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
  • Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
  • Adam Sandler, “Uncut Gems”

Best Actress

  • Awkwafina, “The Farewell”
  • Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
  • Lupita Nyong’o, “Us”
  • Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”
  • Alfre Woodard, “Clemency”

Best Supporting Actor

  • Willem Dafoe, “The Lighthouse”
  • Song Kang-Ho, “Parasite”
  • Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
  • Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
  • Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Best Supporting Actress

  • Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
  • Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”
  • Jennifer Lopez, “Hustlers”
  • Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”
  • Zhao Shuzhen, “The Farewell”

Best Animated Feature

  • “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”
  • “I Lost My Body”
  • “Klaus”
  • “Missing Link”
  • “Toy Story 4”

Best Foreign Language Film

  • “Les Misérables”
  • “Pain and Glory”
  • “Parasite”
  • “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”
  • “Transit”

Best Documentary

  • “American Factory”
  • “Apollo 11”
  • “For Sama”
  • “Maiden”
  • “One Child Nation”

Best Cinematography

  • “1917,”  Roger Deakins
  • “A Hidden Life,” Joerg Widmer
  • “Last Black Man in San Francisco,” Adam Newport-Berra
  • “The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke
  • “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson

Best Production Design

  • “1917,” Dennis Gassner
  • “The Irishman,” Bob Shaw and Regina Graves
  • “Midsommar,” Henrik Svenson
  • “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Barbara Ling
  • “Parasite,” Lee Ha-Jun

Best Film Editing

  • “1917,”  Lee Smith
  • “The Irishman,” Thelma Schoonmaker
  • “Ford v Ferrari,” Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland
  • “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,”  Fred Raskin
  • “Parasite,” Jinmo Yang

Best Original Score

  • “1917,” Thomas Newman
  • “Joker,” Hildur Guonadottir
  • “Last Black Man in San Francisco,” Emile Nommensen
  • “Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat
  • “Marriage Story,” Randy Newman

Special Citation for Independent Cinema

  • “The Cat and the Moon,” Director Alex Wolff
  • “Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles,” Director Max Lewkowicz
  • “One Cut of the Dead,” Director Shin’ichiro Ueda“Socrates,” Director Alexandre Moratto

Here Are The Black Reel Nominations!


Winners will be announced on February 6th!

Outstanding Motion Picture

  • DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
    Eddie Murphy, John Fox & John Davis
  • JUST MERCY (Warner Bros.)
    Asher Goldstein & Gil Netter
  • QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
    Pamela Addy, Andrew Coles, James Frey, Michelle Knudsen, Melina Matsoukas, Lena Waithe & Brad Weston
  • US (Universal Pictures)
    Jordan Peele, Jason Blum, Ian Cooper & Sean McKittrick
  • WAVES (A24)
    Trey Edward Shults, Kevin Turen & James Wilson

Outstanding Actor

  • JIMMIE FAILS
    The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
  • KELVIN HARRISON JR.
    Luce (Neon)
  • KELVIN HARRISON JR.
    Waves (A24)
  • DANIEL KALUUYA
    Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures)
  • EDDIE MURPHY
    Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress

  • CYNTHIA ERIVO
    Harriet (Focus Features)
  • GUGU MBATHA-RAW
    Fast Color (Lionsgate/Codeblack)
  • LUPITA NYONG’O
    Us (Universal Pictures)
  • JODIE TURNER-SMITH
    Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures)
  • ALFRE WOODARD
    Clemency (Neon)

Outstanding Director

  • MATI DIOP
    Atlantics (Netflix)
  • KASI LEMMONS
    Harriet (Focus Features)
  • MELINA MATSOUKAS
    Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures)
  • JULIUS ONAH
    Luce (Neon)
  • JORDAN PEELE
    Us (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actor

  • STERLING K. BROWN
    Waves (A24)
  • ALDIS HODGE
    Clemency (Neon)
  • JAMIE FOXX
    Just Mercy (Warner Bros.)
  • JONATHAN MAJORS
    The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
  • WESLEY SNIPES
    Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress

  • SHAHADI WRIGHT JOSEPH
    Us (Universal Pictures)
  • JANELLE MONAE
    Harriet (Focus Features)
  • DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH
    Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
  • TAYLOR RUSSELL
    Waves (A24)
  • OCTAVIA SPENCER
    Luce (Neon)

Outstanding Screenplay

  • CLEMENCY (Neon)
    Chinonye Chukwu
  • LES MISERABLES (Amazon Studios)
    Ladj Ly, Giordano Gederlini & Alexis Manenti
  • LUCE (Neon)
    J.C. Lee & Julius Onah
  • QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
    Lena Waithe
  • US (Universal Pictures)
    Jordan Peele

Outstanding Documentary Feature

  • THE APOLLO (HBO Documentary)
    Roger Ross Williams, director
  • THE BLACK GODFATHER (Netflix)
    Reginald Hudlin, director
  • KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE (Netflix)
    Rachel Lears, director
  • MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL (Abramorama)
    Stanley Nelson, director
  • TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM (Magnolia Pictures)
    Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, director

Outstanding International Film

  • ATLANTICS (Netflix)
    Senegal
  • THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (Netflix)
    United Kingdom
  • FARMING (Momentum Pictures)
    United Kingdom
  • IN FABRIC (A24)
    United Kingdom
  • LES MISERABLES (Amazon Studios)
    France

Outstanding Ensemble

  • DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
    Lindsay Graham & Mary Vernieu, casting directors
  • THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
    Julia Kim, casting director
  • JUST MERCY (Warner Bros.)
    Carmen Cuba, casting director
  • US (Universal Pictures)
    Terri Taylor, casting director
  • WAVES (A24)
    Avy Kaufman, casting director

Outstanding Voice Performance

  • CHIWETEL EJIOFOR (Scar)
    The Lion King (Disney)
  • DONALD GLOVER (Simba)
    The Lion King (Disney)
  • JAMES EARL JONES (Mufasa)
    The Lion King (Disney)
  • KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY (Ducky)
    Toy Story 4 (Disney)
  • JORDAN PEELE (Bunny)
    Toy Story 4 (Disney)

Outstanding Score

  • DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
    Scott Bomar
  • THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
    Emile Mosseri
  • QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
    Devonte Hynes
  • US (Universal Pictures)
    Michael Abels
  • WAVES (A24)
    Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

Outstanding Original Song

  • “COLLIDE” (QUEEN & SLIM)
    Tiana Major9 & EARTH GANG, performers
  • “DON’T TURN BACK” (THE APOLLO)
    Robert Glasper & Ledisi, performers
  • “GUARDING THE GATES” (QUEEN & SLIM)
    Lauryn Hill, performer
  • “IT’S NOT OVER” (BRIAN BANKS)
    Gizzle & Sam Fisher, performers
  • “SPIRIT” (THE LION KING)
    Beyonce Knowles-Carter, performer

Outstanding Independent Feature – Awarded to the Director & Producers

  • BURNING CANE (ARRAY)
    Phillip Youmans, director
    Ojo Akinlana, Wendell Pierce, Mose Mayer, Isaac Webb, Cassandra Youmans Jakob Johnson & Karen Kaia Livers, producers
  • CLEMENCY (Neon)
    Chinonye Chukwu, director
    Timur Bekbosunov, Julian Cautherley, Bronwyn Cornelius & Peter Wong, producers
  • GUAVA ISLAND (Amazon Studios)
    Hiro Murai, director
    Donald Glover, Carmen Cuba, Jennifer Roth & Fam Udeorji, producers
  • THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
    Joe Talbot, director/producer
    Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh & Khaliah Neal, producers
  • LUCE (Neon)
    Julius Onah, director/producer
    John Baker & Andrew Yang, producers

Outstanding Short Film

  • AMERICA
    Garrett Bradley, director
  • HAIR LOVE (Sony Pictures Releasing)
    Matthew A. Cherry, director
  • IT’S NOT ABOUT JIMMY KEENE
    Caleb Jaffe, director
  • SUICIDE BY SUNLIGHT
    Nikyatu Jusu, director
  • ZAHRA AND THE OIL MAN
    Yucef Mayes, director

Outstanding Independent Documentary

  • 16 BARS
    Sam Bathrick, director
  • NO LYE: AN AMERICAN BEAUTY STORY
    Bayer Mack, director
  • THE REMIX: HIP HOP X FASHION
    Lisa Cortes & Farah Khalid, director

Outstanding Emerging Director 

  • CHINONYE CHUKWU
    Clemency (Neon)
  • NIA DACOSTA
    Little Woods (Neon)
  • MATI DIOP
    Atlantics (Netflix)
  • MELINA MATSOUKAS
    Queen & Slim (Universal)
  • JULIUS ONAH
    Luce (Neon)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male

  • TITUSS BURGESS
    Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix)
  • JIMMIE FAILS
    The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
  • KELVIN HARRISON JR.
    Waves (A24)
  • ALDIS HODGE
    Clemency (Neon)
  • JONATHAN MAJORS
    The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female

  • ABDOU BALDE
    Atlantics (Netflix)
  • SHAHADI WRIGHT JOSEPH
    Us (Universal Pictures)
  • DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH
    Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
  • TAYLOR RUSSELL
    Waves (A24)
  • JODIE TURNER-SMITH
    Queen & Slim (Universal)

Outstanding First Screenplay

  • ATLANTICS (Netflix)
    Mati Diop & Olivier Demangel
  • THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (Netflix)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
  • BURNING CANE (ARRAY)
    Phillip Youmans
  • CLEMENCY (Neon)
    Chinoye Chukwu
  • QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
    Lena Waithe

Outstanding Cinematography

  • HARRIET (Focus Features)
    John Toll
  • THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
    Adam Newport-Berra
  • QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
    Tad Radcliffe
  • US (Universal Pictures)
    Mike Gioulakis
  • WAVES (A24)
    Drew Daniels

Outstanding Costume Design

  • DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
    Ruth E. Carter
  • HARRIET (Focus Features)
    Paul Tazewell
  • HUSTLERS (STX Entertainment)
    Mitchell Travers
  • QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
    Shiona Turini
  • US (Universal Pictures)
    Kym Barrett

Outstanding Production Design

  • DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
    Clay A. Griffith
  • HARRIET (Focus Features)
    Warren Alan Young
  • THE LION KING (Disney)
    James Chinlund
  • QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
    Karen Murphy
  • US (Universal Pictures)
    Ruth De Jong

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society Honors Once Upon A Time In Hollywood!


Here are the winners in Vegas!

Best Picture
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Director
Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Actor
Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems

Best Actress
Renée Zellweger – Judy

Best Supporting Actor
Willem Dafoe – The Lighthouse

Best Supporting Actress
Margot Robbie – Bombshell

Best Original Screenplay
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Two Popes

Best Cinematography
1917

Best Film Editing
Ford v Ferrari

Best Score
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Song
Stand Up – Harriet

Best Documentary
Apollo 11

Best Animated Film
Missing Link

Best Foreign Film
Parasite

Best Costume Design
Dolemite is My Name

Best Ensemble
Knives Out

Breakout Filmmaker
Olivia Wilde – Booksmart

Best Male Youth Performance (Under 21)
Noah Jupe – Honey Boy

Best Female Youth Performance (Under 21)
Julia Butters – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Art Direction
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Visual Effects
Avengers: Endgame

Best Action Film
Ford v Ferrari

Best Comedy
Dolemite is My Name

Best Horror/Sci-Fi
Midsommar

Best Family Film
Fighting With My Family

William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award 2019
Ruth E. Carter

Here Are The Nominations Of The Vancouver Film Critics!


The winners will be announced on December 16th!

BEST PICTURE
The Irishman
Marriage Story
Parasite

BEST ACTOR
Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

BEST ACTRESS
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Lupita Nyong’o, Us
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers
Florence Pugh, Little Women

BEST DIRECTOR
Bong Joon-ho, Parasite
Sam Mendes, 1917
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman

BEST SCREENPLAY
Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story
Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won, Parasite
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Farewell
Pain and Glory
Parasite

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Apollo 11
For Sama
Honeyland

Here Are The Nominationos of The Phoenix Film Critics Circle!


The winners will be announced on December 14th!

BEST PICTURE

  • 1917
  • THE IRISHMAN
  • JOJO RABBIT
  • MARRIAGE STORY
  • PARASITE
  • PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE

BEST COMEDY FILM

  • BOOKSMART
  • DOLEMITE IS MY NAME
  • JOJO RABBIT
  • KNIVES OUT
  • ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD

BEST SCIENCE FICTION FILM

  • AD ASTRA
  • ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL
  • AVENGERS: END GAME
  • CAPTAIN MARVEL
  • HIGH LIFE
  • TERMINATOR: DARK FATE

BEST HORROR FILM

  • DOCTOR SLEEP
  • THE LIGHTHOUSE
  • MIDSOMMAR
  • US
  • TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID

BEST ANIMATED FILM

  • FROZEN 2
  • HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD
  • I LOST MY BODY
  • MISSING LINK
  • TOY STORY 4

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

  • ATLANTICS
  • THE FAREWELL
  • MONOS
  • PARASITE
  • PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE

BEST DOCUMENTARY

  • AMERICAN FACTORY
  • APOLLO 11
  • HAIL SATAN?
  • HONEYLAND
  • ONE CHILD NATION

BEST ACTOR

  • ROBERT DENIRO, THE IRISHMAN
  • LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
  • ADAM DRIVER, MARRIAGE STORY
  • EDDIE MURPHY, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME
  • JOAQUIN PHOENIX, JOKER

BEST ACTRESS

  • AWKWAFINA, THE FAREWELL
  • SCARLETT JOHANSSON, MARRIAGE STORY
  • LUPITA NYONG’O, US
  • SAOIRSE RONAN, LITTLE WOMEN
  • RENE ZELLWEGER, JUDY

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

  • WILLEM DAFOE, THE LIGHTHOUSE
  • TOM HANKS, A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
  • SONG KANG-HO, PARASITE
  • JOE PESCI, THE IRISHMAN
  • BRAD PITT, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

  • JENNIFER LOPEZ, HUSTLERS
  • LAURA DERN, MARRIAGE STORY
  • ANNETTE BENING, THE REPORT
  • THOMASIN MCKENZIE, JOJO RABBIT
  • ZHAO SHUZHEN, THE FAREWELL
  • MARGOT ROBBIE, BOMBSHELL

BEST DIRECTOR

  • BONG JOON-HO, PARASITE
  • SAM MENDES, 1917
  • MARTIN SCORSESE, THE IRISHMAN
  • QUENTIN TARANTINO – ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
  • TAIKA WAITITI – JOJO RABBIT

BEST SCREENPLAY

  • NOAH BAUMBACH, MARRIAGE STORY
  • RIAN JOHNSON, KNIVES OUT
  • BONG JOON-HO AND HAN JIN-WON, PARASITE
  • QUENTIN TARANTINO, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
  • TAIKA WAITITI, JOJO RABBIT

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

  • ROGER DEAKINS, 1917
  • JÖRG WIDMER, A HIDDEN LIFE
  • RODRIGO PRIETO, THE IRISHMAN
  • JARIN BLASCHKE, THE LIGHTHOUSE
  • ROBERT RICHARDSON, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
  • KYUNG-PYO HONG, PARASITE
  • CLAIRE MATHON, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE

BEST SCORE

  • THOMAS NEWMAN, 1917
  • ALEXANDRE DESPLAT, LITTLE WOMEN
  • MICHAEL ABELS, US
  • HILDUR GUÐNADÓTTIR, JOKER

Here Are The Chicago Film Critics Association Nominations of 2019!


The winners will be announced on December 14th!

BEST PICTURE
The Irishman
Little Women
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Parasite

BEST DIRECTOR
Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story
Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
Greta Gerwig, Little Women
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

BEST ACTRESS
Awkwafina, The Farewell
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Elisabeth Moss, Her Smell
Lupita Nyong’o, Us
Renée Zellweger, Judy

BEST ACTOR
Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
Robert De Niro, The Irishman
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cho Yeo Jeong, Parasite
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Shuzhen Zhao, The Farewell

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Shia Labeouf, Honey Boy
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster
Hustlers by Lorene Scafaria
The Irishman by Steven Zaillian
Jojo Rabbit by Taika Waititi
Little Women by Greta Gerwig

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Farewell by Lulu Wang
Knives Out by Rian Johnson
Marriage Story by Noah Baumbach
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino
Parasite by Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Farewell
Pain and Glory
Parasite
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Transit

BEST DOCUMENTARY
American Factory
Apollo 11
For Sama
Hail Satan?
Honeyland

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Frozen 2
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost My Body
Missing Link
Toy Story 4

BEST EDITING
1917
The Irishman
Little Women
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Uncut Gems

BEST USE OF VISUAL EFFECTS
1917
Ad Astra
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
Midsommar

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Dolemite is My Name
Little Women
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Rocketman

BEST ART DIRECTION
1917
Knives Out
Little Women
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Parasite

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
1917 – Thomas Newman
Little Women – Alexandre Desplat
Marriage Story – Randy Newman
Uncut Gems – Daniel Lopatin
Us – Michael Abels

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
1917 – Roger Deakins
The Lighthouse – Jarin Blaschke
Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood – Robert Richardson
Parasite – Hong Kyung Pyo
Portrait of a Lady on Fire – Claire Mathon

MOST PROMISING PERFORMER
Julia Butters, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood
Roman Griffin Davis, Jojo Rabbit
Julia Fox, Uncut Gems
Aisling Franciosi, The Nightingale
Taylor Russell, Waves

MILOS STEHLIK AWARD FOR BREAKTHROUGH FILMMAKER
Mati Diop, Atlantics
Alma Har’el, Honey Boy
Joe Talbot, The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Lulu Wang, The Farewell
Olivia Wilde, Booksmart

Run Lola Run


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Run Lola Run has been on my film bucket list since I had hair.  It was one of those films that you heard about from the cooler people you knew.  It was the movie that the cool girls who babysat you when you were little talked about.  It was pure Gen-X and I always looked up to that generation.  I’m not an X-er, but they were damn cool.  Lola embodies that generation.  She’s so self-secure and tough and cool and hip and if you don’t like her- Whatever!

Yes, Gen-X women had a go F-yourself streak that if you didn’t like them, piss off.  I was the beginning of the Millennial/Y generation who I guess got into avocado sandwiches or whatever they say about us.  X was the generation that knew they were getting passed over because there was a bigger generation coming and the boomers did not want to get out of the way, but X embraced the suck of it all.

It is really sucky that Lola is in love with Manni who is a really mediocre criminal.  Manni also loses things; such as, a bag of 100,000 Marks (60,000 USD) that belongs to a gangster. Oopsy!  He is like the Anti-Lola: whiny, dumb, insecure, and unlike Lola -NO screaming telekinesis powers AT ALL! Yes, when she screams, it destroys or moves objects. Honestly, I couldn’t figure out why she liked Manni so much – FFS she has superpowers.

When Manni tells Lola that he lost the gangster’s money and says that he will rob a grocery store if she doesn’t get to him in twenty minutes, Lola literally RUNS into action. Yes, there is A LOT of running in this film.  She runs in hallways, on sidewalks, on streets, away from cops, and accidentally towards cops.  As she runs past people, we get a glimpse of the extras’ lives in THIS timeline and boy are these extras a bunch of cretins.

Timeline?! WHAT?! Yes, this movie is ALL about time travel.  Lola needs to get the day right or she or her boyfriend or David Duchovny will die. I’m assuming Duchovny too because he was a 1990s GOD! She time trips three times to get it, to get it, to get it right child. I was going to reference some 1998 songs, but I looked them up and The Thong Song just sounds sad.

The movie blends light surrealism with action and really believable performances.  You have this guttural feeling that this is a woman on her own, fighting her own fight, and you better get out of her way. Also, she’s the only person in the film who is pure-hearted.  Her dad is a philandering banker asshat, her boyfriend is a milquetoast, and the people she bumps into show glimpses of their sinful lives.  Lola is literally running around evil.  She has great running form too; I ran track in high school and she’s got talent.

I hope she wins and saves her loser boyfriend.

Merry Christmas!!!

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Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jon M. Chu make some magic in the In the Heights trailer


Lin-Manuel Miranda brings his Hamilton magic to Washington Heights, New York. Under the direction of Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M. Chu, In the Heights looks to be a sweet summer film. Just look at this cast:

Anthony Ramos (She’s Gotta Have it)
Melissa Barrera (Starz’ Vida)
Marc Anthony (No introduction needed)
Jimmy Smits (Come on, should I even try?)
Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent, Wild Things)
Dascha Polanco (The Irishman, Orange is the New Black)
Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, One Day at a Time)
Corey Hawkins (Kong: Skull Island, Straight Outta Compton)

Of course, having directed both Step Up 2: The Streets and Step Up 3D, Chu looks like he makes easy work of handling the dance numbers and musical arrangements. You couldn’t ask for a better pairing between him and Miranda.

The film is an adaptation of the Tony Award Winning Best Musical  by Miranda, based off of Quiara Alegria Hudes’ novel. If this works out, here’s hoping we get a theatrical version of Hamilton as well.

Enjoy.