Tag Archives: Jeffrey Wright

San Diego Loves Sinners

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The San Diego Film Critics Society has announced its picks for the best of 2025.  The winners are listed in bold.

Best Picture
HAMNET
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
MARTY SUPREME
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
SINNERS (WINNER)

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Ryan Coogler, SINNERS (WINNER)
Yorgos Lanthimos, BUGONIA (RUNNER-UP)
Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Chloe Zhao, HAMNET

Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME
Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Joel Edgerton, TRAIN DREAMS (RUNNER-UP)
Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS (WINNER)
Wagner Moura, THE SECRET AGENT

Best Actress
Jessie Buckley, HAMNET (WINNER TIE)
Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU (WINNER TIE)
Renate Reinsve, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Emma Stone, BUGONIA
Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY

Best Supporting Actor
Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Jacob Elordi, FRANKENSTEIN
Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE (WINNER)
Jeffrey Wright, HIGHEST 2 LOWEST

Best Supporting Actress
Odessa A’zion, MARTY SUPREME
Nina Hoss, HEDDA (RUNNER-UP)
Amy Madigan, WEAPONS (WINNER)
Wunmi Mosaku, SINNERS
Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Comedic Performance
Will Arnett, IS THIS THING ON?
Molly Gordon, OH, HI! (RUNNER-UP)
Liam Neeson, THE NAKED GUN
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, ETERNITY (WINNER)
Tim Robinson, FRIENDSHIP

Best Youth Performance (For a performer under the age of 18)
Cary Christopher, WEAPONS (WINNER)
Shannon Mahina Gorman, RENTAL FAMILY
Jacobi Jupe, HAMNET (RUNNER-UP)
Alfie Williams, 28 YEARS LATER
Nina Ye, LEFT-HANDED GIRL

Best Original Screenplay
Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Zack Cregger, WEAPONS
David Koepp, BLACK BAG (RUNNER-UP)
Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (WINNER)
Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Adapted Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, TRAIN DREAMS
JT Mollner, THE LONG WALK
Maggie O’Farrell & Chloe Zhao, HAMNET
Will Tracy, BUGONIA (WINNER)

Best First Feature (Director)
Drew Hancock, COMPANION
Scarlett Johansson, ELEANOR THE GREAT
Ben Leonberg, GOOD BOY
Kristen Stewart, THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER (RUNNER-UP)
Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY (WINNER)

Best Documentary
BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN
BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES (RUNNER-UP)
JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME
ORWELL: 2 + 2 = 5 (WINNER)
PREDATORS

Best Animated Film
ELIO
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (WINNER)
LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN (RUNNER-UP)
PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS
ZOOTOPIA 2

Best Foreign Language Film
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (WINNER)
LEFT-HANDED GIRL
THE SECRET AGENT
SENTIMENTAL VALUE (RUNNER-UP)
SIRAT

Best Editing
Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME (WINNER)
Barry Alexander Brown & Allyson C. Johnson, HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
Affonso Goncalves & Chloe Zhao, HAMNET
Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
Stephen Mirione & Patrick J. Smith, F1: THE MOVIE

Best Cinematography
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
Dan Laustsen, FRANKENSTEIN
Adolpho Veloso, TRAIN DREAMS (WINNER)
Lukasz Zal, HAMNET

Best Production Design
Hannah Bleachler & Monique Champagne, SINNERS (RUNNER-UP TIE)
Cara Brower & Stella Fox, HEDDA
Fiona Crombie & Alice Felton, HAMNET
Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau, FRANKENSTEIN (WINNER)
Kasra Farahani & Jille Azis, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (RUNNER-UP TIE)

Best Visual Effects
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (WINNER)
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (RUNNER-UP TIE)
FRANKENSTEIN (RUNNER-UP TIE)
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
SUPERMAN

Best Costume Design
Alexandra Byrne, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
Ruth E. Carter, SINNERS (RUNNER-UP TIE)
Kate Hawley, FRANKENSTEIN (RUNNER-UP TIE)
Paul Tazewell, WICKED: FOR GOOD (WINNER)
Malgosia Turzanska, HAMNET

Best Sound Design
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
F1: THE MOVIE (RUNNER-UP)
FRANKENSTEIN
SINNERS
WARFARE (WINNER)

Best Use of Music
HEDDA (RUNNER-UP)
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
MARTY SUPREME
SINNERS (WINNER)
SIRAT

Best Stunt Choreography
BALLERINA: FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (WINNER)
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SINNERS (RUNNER-UP)
SUPERMAN

Best Ensemble
BLACK BAG (WINNER)
JAY KELLY
THE LONG WALK
SINNERS (RUNNER-UP)
WEAPONS

Breakthrough Performance
Chase Infiniti: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Special Award for Body of Work
Josh O’Connor: WAKE UP, DEAD MAN, THE MASTERMIND, THE HISTORY SOUND, REBUILDING

Here Are The 2025 Nominations Of The San Diego Film Critics Society

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here are the 2025 nominations of the San Diego Film Critics Society.

Best Picture
HAMNET
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
MARTY SUPREME
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SINNERS

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Yorgos Lanthimos, BUGONIA
Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Chloe Zhao, HAMNET

Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME
Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Joel Edgerton, TRAIN DREAMS
Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS
Wagner Moura, THE SECRET AGENT

Best Actress
Jessie Buckley, HAMNET
Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
Renate Reinsve, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Emma Stone, BUGONIA
Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY

Best Supporting Actor
Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Jacob Elordi, FRANKENSTEIN
Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Jeffrey Wright, HIGHEST 2 LOWEST

Best Supporting Actress
Odessa A’zion, MARTY SUPREME
Nina Hoss, HEDDA
Amy Madigan, WEAPONS
Wunmi Mosaku, SINNERS
Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Comedic Performance
Will Arnett, IS THIS THING ON?
Molly Gordon, OH, HI!
Liam Neeson, THE NAKED GUN
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, ETERNITY
Tim Robinson, FRIENDSHIP

Best Youth Performance (For a performer under the age of 18)
Cary Christopher, WEAPONS
Shannon Mahina Gorman, RENTAL FAMILY
Jacobi Jupe, HAMNET
Alfie Williams, 28 YEARS LATER
Nina Ye, LEFT-HANDED GIRL

Best Original Screenplay
Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Zack Cregger, WEAPONS
David Koepp, BLACK BAG
Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Adapted Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, TRAIN DREAMS
JT Mollner, THE LONG WALK
Maggie O’Farrell & Chloe Zhao, HAMNET
Will Tracy, BUGONIA

Best First Feature (Director)
Drew Hancock, COMPANION
Scarlett Johansson, ELEANOR THE GREAT
Ben Leonberg, GOOD BOY
Kristen Stewart, THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER
Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY

Best Documentary
BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN
BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES
JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME
ORWELL: 2 + 2 = 5
PREDATORS

Best Animated Film
ELIO
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN
PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS
ZOOTOPIA 2

Best Foreign Language Film
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
LEFT-HANDED GIRL
THE SECRET AGENT
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
SIRAT

Best Editing
Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME
Barry Alexander Brown & Allyson C. Johnson, HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
Affonso Goncalves & Chloe Zhao, HAMNET
Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Stephen Mirione & Patrick J. Smith, F1: THE MOVIE

Best Cinematography
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Dan Laustsen, FRANKENSTEIN
Adolpho Veloso, TRAIN DREAMS
Lukasz Zal, HAMNET

Best Production Design
Hannah Bleachler & Monique Champagne, SINNERS
Cara Brower & Stella Fox, HEDDA
Fiona Crombie & Alice Felton, HAMNET
Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau, FRANKENSTEIN
Kasra Farahani & Jille Azis, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

Best Visual Effects
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
FRANKENSTEIN
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
SUPERMAN

Best Costume Design
Alexandra Byrne, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
Ruth E. Carter, SINNERS
Kate Hawley, FRANKENSTEIN
Paul Tazewell, WICKED: FOR GOOD
Malgosia Turzanska, HAMNET

Best Sound Design
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
F1: THE MOVIE
FRANKENSTEIN
SINNERS
WARFARE

Best Use of Music
HEDDA
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
MARTY SUPREME
SINNERS
SIRAT

Best Stunt Choreography
BALLERINA: FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SINNERS
SUPERMAN

Best Ensemble
BLACK BAG
JAY KELLY
THE LONG WALK
SINNERS
WEAPONS

Trailer for HIGHEST 2 LOWEST (2025), starring Denzel Washington!

Posted on by Bradley Crain

Who thinks that a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s HIGH AND LOW, directed by Spike Lee, and starring Denzel Washington, sounds intriguing? I do! The duo’s fifth film will be released on August 15th, 2025.

Check out the trailer for HIGHEST 2 LOWEST:

Presumed Innocent (1990, directed by Alan J. Pakula)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Harrison Ford stars as Rusty Sabich, a smart and ambitious prosecutor who is accused of murdering his former mistress, Carolyn Polhemus (Greta Scacchi).

A lot of people were taken by surprise when Presumed Innocent first came out in 1990.  After a career of always being the hero and the type of person who took his fate into his own hands, Presumed Innocent featured a passive Harrison Ford whose fate was in the hands of his lawyer, Sandy Stern (Raul Julia) and in the prosecutors who are trying to send him to prison.  For most of the movie, the audience doesn’t know if Rusty is innocent and a lot of what Rusty does makes him seem to be guilty.  Just the fact that Harrison Ford was playing someone who would cheat on his wife (played by Bonnie Bedelia, who everyone had last seen sticking up for Bruce Willis in Die Hard) was considered to be shocking at the time.  It says a lot about Ford’s appeal as an actor that he remains sympathetic even though he’s playing a character who does a lot of bad things.  He remains compelling, even though Rusty is forced to spend a good deal of the movie as a passive spectator.  To anyone who underrates Harrison Ford an actor, this is the film to show them.

Presumed Innocent is a murder mystery but it’s also a sad-eyed look at a corrupt judicial system.  Rusty is accused of murder largely due to the whims of fate.  If Raymond Horgan (Brian Dennehy), Rusty’s former patron, had been reelected as district attorney, Rusty would never have been charged.  When the trial moves to the courtroom, the Judge (Paul Winfield) himself is revealed to have been compromised by his own relationship with Carolyn, something that Sandy is willing to use to the defense’s advantage.  John Spencer plays a detective who is willing to hide evidence to protect Rusty.  Joe Grifasi plays a former detective who is motivated less by the evidence in the case and more by a personal grudge against Rusty.  The idea of getting justice for Carolyn is pushed to the side by everyone’s personal drama.  The ending challenges all of our preconceived notions about Rusty and the meaning of guilt and innocence.

Intelligently directed by Alan J. Pakula and featuring an excellent cast, Presumed Innocent is a top-notch legal thriller and also one of Harrison Ford’s best films.

 

Lisa Marie’s Oscar Nomination Predictions

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The Oscar nominations are due to be announced in a few more hours.  I’m still struggling to get caught up with all of the movies that I need to see before I can post my personal Oscar nominations (expect to see them and all of my “best of 2023 lists” at the end of this month) but I have been following the precursor season and I feel confident about predicting what will be nominated in the major categories.

We’ll find out how correct I am in just a few more hours!

Best Picture

American Fiction

Barbie

The Color Purple

The Holdovers

Killers of the Flower Moon

Oppenheimer

Past Lives

Poor Things

The Zone of Interest

Best Director

Greta Gerwig for Barbie

Yorgos Lanthimos for Poor Things

Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer

Alexander Payne for The Holdovers

Martin Scorsese for Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Actor

Bradley Cooper in Maestro

Colman Domingo in Rustin

Paul Giamatti in The Holdover

Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer

Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction

Best Actress

Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon

Sandra Huller in Anatomy of a Fall

Greta Lee in Past Lives

Carey Mulligan in Maestro

Emma Stone in Poor Things

Best Supporting Actor

Willem DaFoe in Poor Things

Robert De Niro in Killers of the Flower Moon

Robert Downey, Jr. in Oppenheimer

Ryan Gosling in Barbie

Dominic Sessa in The Holdovers

Best Supporting Actress

Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer

Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple

Penelope Cruz in Ferrari

Jodie Foster in Nyad

Da’Vine Joy Randolph in The Holdovers

Lisa Marie’s Oscar Predictions For December

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here they are!  These are my final Oscar predictions for 2023.  The critics groups have certainly helped to show us which films are major contenders.  That said, the Guilds are even more important so I can’t wait to see who they nominate and honor in January.

Below are my predictions for December.  Be sure to also check out my predictions for March and April and May and June and July and August and September and October and November!

Best Picture 

American Fiction

Barbie

Godzilla Minus One

The Holdovers

Killers of the Flower Moon

Maestro

Oppenheimer

Past Lives

Poor Things

The Zone of Interest

(Before anyone gives me a hard time about Godzilla Minus One, I always toss in one critically acclaimed long shot so that I can brag — or perhaps even gloat — if it actually happens.  Plus, everyone knows that having Godzilla at the Oscars would be entertainment gold.)

Best Director

Greta Gerwig for Barbie

Yorgos Lanthimos for Poor Things

Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer

Alexander Payne for The Holdovers

Martin Scorsese for Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Actor

Bradley Cooper in Maestro

Colman Domingo in Rustin

Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers

Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer

Jeffrey Wright in American Fiction

Best Actress

Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon

Sandra Huller in Anatomy of a Fall

Greta Lee in Past Lives

Carey Mulligan in Maestro

Emma Stone in Poor Things

Best Supporting Actor

Robert De Niro in Killers of the Flower Moon

Robert Downey, Jr. in Oppenheimer

Ryan Gosling in Barbie

Charles Melton in May/December

Mark Ruffalo in Poor Things

Best Supporting Actress

Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer

Danielle Brooks in The Color Purple

Jodie Foster in Nyad

Rachel McAdams in Are You There God?  It’s Me, Margaret.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph in The Holdovers

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society Honors Oppenheimer!

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society announced their picks for the best of 2023!  The winners are listed in bold.

Best Picture
Barbie
The Killer
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer

Best Actor
Nicolas Cage – Dream Scenario
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction

Best Actress
Annette Bening – Nyad
Emma Stone – Poor Things
Greta Lee – Past Lives
Carey Mulligan – Maestro
Natalie Portman – May December

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling – Barbie
Glenn Howerton – BlackBerry
Charles Melton – May December
Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things

Best Supporting Actress
Jodie Foster – Nyad
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
Rachel McAdams – Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Julianne Moore – May December
Rosamund Pike – Saltburn

Best Director
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Greta Gerwig – Barbie
Yorgos Lanthimos – Poor Things
Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer
Celine Song – Past Lives

Best Original Screenplay
Air
Barbie
Maestro
May December
Past Lives

Best Adapted Screenplay
American Fiction
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Best Cinematography
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Saltburn

Best Film Editing
Air
Barbie
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Best Score
The Killer
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Society of the Snow
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

Best Song
I’m Just Ken – Barbie
What Was I Made For? – Barbie
Road to Freedom – Rustin
Peaches – The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Better Place – Trolls Band Together

Best Documentary
American Symphony
Beyond Utopia
Kokomo City
Little Richard: I Am Everything
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Best Animated Film
The Boy and the Heron
Elemental
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Best International Movie
Anatomy of a Fall
Godzilla Minus One
Society of the Snow
When Evil Lurks
The Zone of Interest

Best Costumes
Barbie
The Color Purple
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Best Art Direction
Asteroid City
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Best Visual Effects
The Creator
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Godzilla Minus One
Oppenheimer
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

Best Action Movie
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Godzilla Minus One
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
John Wick: Chapter 4
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Best Comedy
American Fiction
Barbie
Dumb Money
Joy Ride
No Hard Feelings

Best Horror/Sci-FI Movie
The Creator
Godzilla Minus One
Talk To Me
Thanksgiving
When Evil Lurks

Best Family Film
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Barbie
Elemental
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Best Ensemble
Barbie
The Color Purple
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Saltburn

Breakout Filmmaker
Cord Jefferson – American Fiction
Adele Lim – Joy Ride
Celine Song – Past Lives
Nida Manzoor – Polite Society
Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman – Theater Camp

Best Stunts
John Wick: Chapter 4
The Killer
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Polite Society
Silent Night

Youth In Film (Male)
Milo Machado Graner – Anatomy of a Fall
Jake Ryan – Asteroid City
Christian Convery – Cocaine Bear
Jude Hill – A Haunting in Venice
Chase Dillion – Haunted Mansion

Youth in Film (Female)
Abby Ryder Fortson – Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Elle Graham – Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Ariana Greenblatt – Barbie
Iman Vellani – The Marvels
Violet McGraw – M3GAN

The William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award
Nicolas Cage
Paul Giamatti
Hayao Miyazaki
Julianne Moore
Rodrigo Prieto

Film Review: Rustin (dir by George C. Wolfe)

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

In Netflix’s Rustin, Colman Domingo plays Bayard Rustin.

A Quaker, a pacifist, a leader of the civil rights movement, and a former communist, Bayard Rustin was an early advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr.  Rustin commitment to non-violent protest was a huge influence on King’s own activism and Rustin helped King to organize the Southern Christian Leadership Council.  Rustin was one of King’s closest advisors but he was distrusted by other leaders of the movement because of both his independent nature and the fact that he was a gay man at a time when homophobia was the law of the land.  In fact, Rustin opens with Rustin’s rivals, the NAACP’s Roy Wilkins (Chris Rock) and U.S. Rep. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (Jeffrey Wright), letting King know that it would be in his best interest not to be associated with someone like Bayard Rustin.  Rustin, thinking that King will stand with him, offers to resign from the SCLC and is stunned when King (Aml Ameen) accepts his resignation.

After spending three years in relative obscurity and watching as younger civil rights activists start to reject the non-violence that is at the core of his philosophy, Rustin comes up with the idea that will become the 1963 March on Washington.  Putting aside his hurt feelings, Rustin works with King and several other civil rights leaders to organize the March and, at the same time, he once again finds himself being attacked for being both gay and a former member of the Communist Party.  Even while organizing the march, Rustin pursues a doomed relationship with a deeply closeted clergyman (Johnny Ramey).

It’s an important story but the film itself is sabotaged by both its script and its direction.  The script, which was co-written by Dustin Lance Black, is heavy on exposition and monologues but there’s few moments in which the characters really get to come alive.  Meanwhile, George C. Wolfe’s direction is stagey and stodgy.  Visually, the film has the aesthetic of a well-produced made-for-TV movie.  For all the time that is spent on the planning of the March of Washington, the event itself is recreated in a rushed and rather flat matter.  One could argue that the filmmakers felt that the real event is so iconic that there would no way to really do it justice and perhaps the filmmakers were correct in that.  Still, one can’t help but feel that Wolfe should have at least tried to capture some of the event’s electricity.  The film, to its credit, captures the hard work that went on behind-the-scenes of the civil rights movement but there are very few moments that feel spontaneous or as if they have a spark of life actually being lived in front of the camera.

Fortunately, the film is blessed to feature Colman Domingo in the title role.  Playing a larger-than-life figure, Domingo gives a performance that is big, charismatic, flamboyant, and sensitive.  As played by Domingo, Rustin is a collection of seemingly conflicting traits.  At times, he’s confident to the point of being arrogant but, when he finds himself shunned by the other leaders of the civil rights movement, he reveals the insecurity hiding underneath the surface.  Rustin is hyperactive yet focused, angry yet forgiving, and self-absorbed yet compassionate.  One of the film’s best moments comes when Rustin responds to an innuendo-filled attack on him by throwing himself into planning every detail of the March.  Rustin is surrounded by people telling him that, as a black man and a gay man, he will always be a second-class citizen and an outsider.  Rustin refuses to accept that and Domingo captures the intelligence, wit, and determination that allowed Rustin to continue to fight, against amazing odds, for equality.

The film doesn’t tell us much about Rustin’s life after the March on Washington.  In later years, Rustin, while remaining a socialist, became a strong anti-Communist and was also an outspoken supporter of Israel.  Today’s Left would probably not have much use for the moderate Bayard Rustin and, with his commitment to non-violence, it’s doubtful that Rustin would have much use for many of them.  Despite his prominence in the Civil Rights movement and the importance of his work, Rustin is still not as well-known as he should be.  Perhaps this movie, despite its flaws, will change that.

Los Angeles Honors The Zone of Interest

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), which is one of the bigger critical associations, has announced their picks for the best of 2023!  For best picture, they picked The Zone of Interest, which should boost the film’s chances in the Oscar race.

Here are the winners from Los Angeles:

Best Film
Winner: THE ZONE OF INTEREST
Runner-Up: OPPENHEIMER

Best Foreign Film
Winner: ANATOMY OF A FALL
Runner-Up: TOTEM

Best Director
Winner: Jonathan Glazer – THE ZONE OF INTEREST
Runner-Up: Yorgos Lanthimos – POOR THINGS

Best Documentary Film
Winner: MENUS-PLAISIRS — LES TROISGROS
Runner-Up: THE ETERNAL MEMORY

Best Screenplay
Winner: Andrew Haigh – ALL OF US STRANGERS
Runner-Up: Samy Burch – MAY DECEMBER

Best Leading Performance
Winners: Sandra Hüller – ANATOMY OF A FALL & THE ZONE OF INTEREST & Emma Stone – POOR THINGS
Runners-Up: Andrew Scott – ALL OF US STRANGERS & Jeffrey Wright – AMERICAN FICTION

Best Supporting Performer
Winners: Rachel McAdams – ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET. & Da’Vine Joy Randolph – THE HOLDOVERS
Runners-Up: Lily Gladstone – KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON & Ryan Gosling – BARBIE

Best Animated Film
Winner: THE BOY AND THE HERON
Runner-Up: ROBOT DREAMS

Best Editing
Winner: Laurent Sénéchal – ANATOMY OF A FALL
Runner-Up: Jonathan Alberts – ALL OF US STRANGERS

Best Production Design
Winner: Sarah Greenwood – BARBIE
​Runner-Up: Shona Heath & James Price – POOR THINGS

Best Music/Score
Winner: Mica Levi – THE ZONE OF INTEREST (With special recognition of the contribution of sound designer Johnnie Burn)
Runner-Up: Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt – BARBIE

Best Cinematography
Winner: Robbie Ryan – POOR THINGS
Runner-Up: Rodrigo Prieto – BARBIE & KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON

New Generation
Celine Song – PAST LIVES

Douglas Edwards Experimental Film
Wang Bing – YOUTH (SPRING)

Here Are The 2023 Nominations of the Las Vegas Film Critics Society

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

The Las Vegas Film Critics Society announced their nominations for the best of 2023 on December 8th.  While a lot of the usual suspects make an appearance on the list, there are still a few interesting nominations, like David Fincher’s The Killer for Best Picture and Nicolas Cage for Best Actor in Dream Scenario.

The winners will be announced on December 13th!

Best Picture
Barbie
The Killer
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer

Best Actor
Nicolas Cage – Dream Scenario
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction

Best Actress
Annette Bening – Nyad
Emma Stone – Poor Things
Greta Lee – Past Lives
Carey Mulligan – Maestro
Natalie Portman – May December

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling – Barbie
Glenn Howerton – BlackBerry
Charles Melton – May December
Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things

Best Supporting Actress
Jodie Foster – Nyad
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
Rachel McAdams – Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Julianne Moore – May December
Rosamund Pike – Saltburn

Best Director
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Greta Gerwig – Barbie
Yorgos Lanthimos – Poor Things
Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer
Celine Song – Past Lives

Best Original Screenplay
Air
Barbie
Maestro
May December
Past Lives

Best Adapted Screenplay
American Fiction
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Best Cinematography
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Saltburn

Best Film Editing
Air
Barbie
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Best Score
The Killer
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Society of the Snow
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

Best Song
I’m Just Ken – Barbie
What Was I Made For? – Barbie
Road to Freedom – Rustin
Peaches – The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Better Place – Trolls Band Together

Best Documentary
American Symphony
Beyond Utopia
Kokomo City
Little Richard: I Am Everything
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

Best Animated Film
The Boy and the Heron
Elemental
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Best International Movie
Anatomy of a Fall
Godzilla Minus One
Society of the Snow
When Evil Lurks
The Zone of Interest

Best Costumes
Barbie
The Color Purple
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Best Art Direction
Asteroid City
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things

Best Visual Effects
The Creator
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Godzilla Minus One
Oppenheimer
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

Best Action Movie
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Godzilla Minus One
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
John Wick: Chapter 4
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

Best Comedy
American Fiction
Barbie
Dumb Money
Joy Ride
No Hard Feelings

Best Horror/Sci-FI Movie
The Creator
Godzilla Minus One
Talk To Me
Thanksgiving
When Evil Lurks

Best Family Film
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Barbie
Elemental
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Best Ensemble
Barbie
The Color Purple
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Saltburn

Breakout Filmmaker
Cord Jefferson – American Fiction
Adele Lim – Joy Ride
Celine Song – Past Lives
Nida Manzoor – Polite Society
Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman – Theater Camp

Best Stunts
John Wick: Chapter 4
The Killer
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Polite Society
Silent Night

Youth In Film (Male)
Milo Machado Graner – Anatomy of a Fall
Jake Ryan – Asteroid City
Christian Convery – Cocaine Bear
Jude Hill – A Haunting in Venice
Chase Dillion – Haunted Mansion

Youth in Film (Female)
Abby Ryder Fortson – Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Elle Graham – Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Ariana Greenblatt – Barbie
Iman Vellani – The Marvels
Violet McGraw – M3GAN

The William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award
Nicolas Cage
Paul Giamatti
Hayao Miyazaki
Julianne Moore
Rodrigo Prieto