What If Awards Season Began And Lisa Totally Missed It? Here Are The Gotham Nominations!

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

As proof of how busy I’ve been over the past few days, just consider this: On October 20th, awards season kicked off and I totally missed it!

That’s right. On October 20th, the nominations for the 2016 Gotham Awards were announced. The Gothams honor independent films and they actually have some pretty strict guidelines regarding what they consider to be independent. So, a lot of this year’s potential Oscar nominees are not eligible for the Gotham Awards.

That said, over the past few years, the Gothams have slowly emerged as a somewhat helpful precursor. While getting a Gotham nomination does not guarantee any film an Oscar nomination, it certainly doesn’t hurt. That may especially be true this year as 2016 has, for the most part, not been the great cinematic year that 2015 was. With no real favorites having yet to emerge, every precursor counts.

So, with that in mind and just a few days late, here are the Gotham nominations!

Best Feature

Certain Women
Kelly Reichardt, director; Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani, producers (IFC Films)

Everybody Wants Some!!
Richard Linklater, director; Megan Ellison, Ginger Sledge, Richard Linklater, producers (Paramount Pictures)

Manchester by the Sea
Kenneth Lonergan, director; Kimberly Steward, Matt Damon, Chris Moore, Lauren Beck, Kevin J. Walsh, producers (Amazon Studios)

Moonlight
Barry Jenkins, director; Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, producers (A24)

Paterson
Jim Jarmusch, director; Joshua Astrachan, Carter Logan, producers (Amazon Studios)

Best Documentary

Cameraperson
Kirsten Johnson, director; Marilyn Ness, producer (Janus Films)

I Am Not Your Negro
Raoul Peck, director; Rémi Grellety, Raoul Peck, Hébert Peck, producers (Magnolia Pictures)

O.J.: Made in America
Ezra Edelman, director; Caroline Waterlow, Ezra Edelman, Tamara Rosenberg, Nina Krstic, Deirdre Fenton, Erin Leyden, producers (ESPN Films)

Tower
Keith Maitland, director; Keith Maitland, Megan Gilbride, Susan Thomson, producers (Kino Lorber, Independent Lens)

Weiner
Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg, directors and producers (Sundance Selects and Showtime Documentary Films)

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award

Robert Eggers for The Witch (A24)

Anna Rose Holmer for The Fits (Oscilloscope Laboratories)

Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert for Swiss Army Man (A24)

Trey Edward Shults for Krisha (A24)

Richard Tanne for Southside with You (Roadside Attractions and Miramax)

Best Screenplay

Hell or High Water, Taylor Sheridan (CBS Films)

Love & Friendship, Whit Stillman (Amazon Studios)

Manchester by the Sea, Kenneth Lonergan (Amazon Studios)

Moonlight, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; Screenplay by Barry Jenkins (A24)

Paterson, Jim Jarmusch (Amazon Studios)

Best Actor*

Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea (Amazon Studios)

Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water (CBS Films)

Adam Driver in Paterson (Amazon Studios)

Joel Edgerton in Loving (Focus Features)

Craig Robinson in Morris from America (A24)

Best Actress*

Kate Beckinsale in Love & Friendship (Amazon Studios)

Annette Bening in 20th Century Women (A24)

Isabelle Huppert in Elle (Sony Pictures Classics)

Ruth Negga in Loving (Focus Features)

Natalie Portman in Jackie (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Breakthrough Actor*

Lily Gladstone in Certain Women (IFC Films)

Lucas Hedges in Manchester by the Sea (Amazon Studios)

Royalty Hightower in The Fits (Oscilloscope Laboratories)

Sasha Lane in American Honey (A24)

Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch (A24)

* The 2016 Best Actor/Best Actress and Breakthrough Actor nominating panels also voted to award a special Gotham Jury Award for ensemble performance to Moonlight, “in which actors at all levels of experience give outstanding performances that speak eloquently to one another both within and across each chapter of the story.” The awards will go to actors Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, and Ashton Sanders.

(AWARDS SEASON HAS BEGUN!!!)

6 Trailers For 6 Films From Ted V. Mikels

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Our latest October edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse Trailers is dedicated to the memory of filmmaker Ted V. Mikels.

The Astro-Zombies (1968)

The Corpse Grinders (1971)

Dimension in Fear (1998)

The Cauldron: Baptism of Blood (2004)

Demon Haunt (2008)

Paranormal Extremes: Text Messages From the Dead (2015)

Ted V. Mikels (1929–2016)

Four Shots From Horror History: La Bruja, Cult of the Cobra, Dementia, The She Creature

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

This October, I’m going to be doing something a little bit different with my contribution to 4 Shots From 4 Films. I’m going to be taking a little chronological tour of the history of horror cinema, moving from decade to decade.

Today, we continue to look at the 1950s.

Four Shots From Four Films

La Bruja (1954, dir by Chano Urueta)

Cult of the Cobra (1955, dir by Francis D. Lyon)

Dementia (1955, dir by John Parker)

The She Creature (1956, dir by Edward L. Cahn)

6 Scary Trailers For October 2nd

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Well, it’s October! It’s horror month! It’s a freaking horrorthon!

And that means that it’s time for the return of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film trailers! And yes, it’s a horror edition!

Let’s see what trailers we have this week:

The House On Haunted Hill (1959)

The House On Haunted Hill (1999)

Return to House On Haunted Hill (2007)

The Haunting (1963)

The Haunting (1999)

The Others (2001)

What do you think, Halloween Possum?

(Picture Taken By The Dazzling Erin Nicole)

Listen Close; You’ll never get it out of your head #Earworm

Posted on August 28, 2016 by paddiesthoughts

earworn

Writer and Director: Tara Price

Stars: Ernest Thomas

Production: Dirigo Entertainment

Have you ever woken up one morning with a song stuck in your head, just bouncing around, like you can never get it out?

Yeah?….Well, this is not the song you want to wake up to tomorrow!

In Tara Price’s new short film Earworm, that is what it is all about. What can you take? The relentless, unending things on (in) your mind can take everything out of you.

Preview:

For a short film (Thomas) gives everything, literally, everything. And Tara knows how to write, direct and tell the story she wants!

After watching the trailer, I went to bed with my earholes tightly closed!

If you would like to see a trailer for Earworm movie you can here!

Shark Exorcist: Movie Trailer and thoughts. #SharkExorcist

Posted on June 27, 2016 by paddiesthoughts

I just found about this movie today and my first thought was “Why hasn’t somebody thought of this before?!?” And then went, “Whoever thought of it, why!?!”

But, yes, this is an actual movie coming out straight to DVD / Blu-ray, and I can’t wait to get to watch it! My love of cheesy, bad, b-rated horror movies and all!

Premise:

A Nun summons Satan to inhabit the body of a Great White shark; which, in turn … well, a priest, an exorcism…who knows, who cares! A Shark Exorcism!

Who is behind it?

This is a WildEye Releasing movie. Who have had a couple of fun movies like “Walking Dead in the West” and “Killersaurus”

Who is in it?

Angela Kerecz: “Dumb and Dumber to” “Hot Tub Time Machine 2”

Bobby Kerecz: “Hot Tub Time Machine 2”

See a pattern?…any way, I digress.

I have not seen the movie yet; but the poster looks great!

shark exorsist movie poster

And if you want to see the trailer, and you really do…you can here!

Shark Exorcist will be on DVD / Blu-ray June 28th and I may or may not be already standing in line, with a Crucifix around my neck!

RIP, Anton Yelchin

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hi, everyone. You’re going to have to excuse me if I’m not as articulate as usual in this post but right now, I am in a state of shock. A few minutes ago, I took a look at twitter and I saw that Anton Yelchin was trending.

I joked to myself for a minute about how, whenever a celebrity is trending on twitter, it usually turns out to be something bad. I clicked Anton’s name and the first tweet that came up read: ‘Star Trek’ actor Anton Yelchin dies in car crash at age 27.’

I’m still trying to catch my breath.

Just last month, I saw The Green Room and I spent the whole movie thinking about what a truly great actor Anton Yelchin had become. I know that almost everyone knows Anton primarily for playing Chekov in the Star Trek films but my favorite Anton Yelchin performance remains his sensitive and often heart-breaking work in Like Crazy. That’s also my favorite of the films in which he appeared.

I’m sorry. I’m so stunned right now that I barely know what to say. Right now, I’m struggling to get my mind around the end of both a life and a career that held so much promise. 27 years old is too young for anyone to die, regardless of whether he’s an actor you like or just the neighbor two houses down.

Here are links to a few of the Anton Yelchin films that we have reviewed here on TSL. Some of the films are better than others but all were improved by Yelchin’s presence:

Though I haven’t written reviews of either of them (yet), I would also recommend Yelchin’s work in both The Green Room and Alpha Dog. In particular, his poignant performance in Alpha Dog was underrated.

My heart goes out to Anton Yelchin’s friends, family, and fans.

I’m going to watch Like Crazy later and cry.

6 Trailers Full Of Laughter And Somewhat Good Cheer

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Well, it’s Sunday again and that mean that it’s time for another edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film trailers!

Usually, on Sunday, I share trailers that feature a lot of violence. That’s just the nature of grindhouse trailers. But, today, I’m not in the mood for violence, even if it is deliberately over-the-top grindhouse violence.

That’s why these 6 trailers are all for comedic films. They are full of the promise of laughter and good cheer. Well, somewhat good cheer. There really aren’t that many truly cheerful grindhouse trailers.

Laughter, of course, is not the solution to the world’s problems. But, at the very least, it can make it easier to live from day to day.

Even the grindhouse understands that!

1. Beach Ball (1965)

2. The Groove Tube (1974)

3. The Chicken Chronicles (1977)

4. The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)

Our own Gary Loggins reviewed this film last year!

5. The Beach Girls (1982)

I reviewed this one last year as well.

6. Young Doctors In Love (1982)

The Fabulous Forties: In Conclusion

Posted on June 11, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Having just finished reviewing all the films in Mill Creek’s Fabulous Forties box set, I thought I would conclude things by listing all of the films that can be found in the set. They are listed below, from best to worst, in descending order. Since most of these films are in the public domain, they can be found on either YouTube or the Internet Archive!

Enjoy!

6 Action-Filled Trailers For Memorial Day Weekend!

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Well, it’s Memorial Day weekend! As some of you may remember, I ran into some trouble last weekend when I got my dates mixed up and I was forced to post a hastily compiled, somewhat random edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film Trailers!

Fortunately, I’ve got my dates correct this weekend!

Anyway, without further ado, here are 6 action-filled trailers for Memorial Day!

Inglorious Bastards (1978)

No, not the Quentin Tarantino Oscar winner! This is the film that gave its name to Tarantino’s later work. The 1978 version of Inglorious Bastards was directed by Enzo G. Castellari and stars Bo Svenson and Fred Williamson.

From Hell To Victory (1979)

This World War II film was directed by Umberto Lenzi and features a surprisingly impressive cast for a Lenzi epic. (Surprisingly, for a Lenzi film of this period, it does not appear that Mel Ferrer is anywhere to be found in From Hell To Victory.)

The Last Hunter (1980)

This is actually one of the best Italian war films ever made. It was directed by Antonio Margheriti (who was given a shout out in Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds) and stars David Warbeck, Tony King, John Steiner, and Mia Farrow’s sister, Tisa. Tisa also starred in Lucio Fulci’s Zombi 2.

Tiger Joe (1982)

Margheriti followed up The Last Hunter with Tiger Joe. Also returning (though in different roles from The Last Hunter): David Warbeck and Tony King. The female lead was played by Annie Belle, who is probably best remembered for her co-starring role in Ruggero Deodato’s The House On The Edge of the Park.

Tornado (1983)

Tiger Joe was enough of a success that Margheriti made one more Vietnam-set film, Tornado.

Last Platoon (1988)

I’ve never seen this movie but the title was probably meant to fool audiences into thinking that it was a sequel to Oliver Stone’s Platoon. I will say that, having watched the trailer, it’s interesting to see Donald Pleasence playing an American army officer. This Italian film was directed by Ignazio Dolce.