2024 BAM Award Nominations

Posted on by bernardovillela

In keeping to my pattern of previous years, I have kept in step with the Oscars (announcing nominations one day later). The delays in the announcement have, of course, been understandable due to the devastating wildfires across Los Angeles County. If you’re looking for a way to aid in the recovery effort, here’s just a small list of resources. Every little bit helps.

With no graceful way to segue, so on to some notes then nominations.

Please note that some films from last Awards’ Season are included due to their nationwide release date.

As always they were difficult to decide upon. Best Score always proves most difficult with such diversity of style and disparate aims of music. If you use Apple music you can listen to all the scores that were in serious contention in my playlist where I listened to them repeatedly.

Categories marked Not Awarded are ones I wanted to include but they didn’t have enough contenders.

As usual I will provide further insight when I announce the winners.

Without further ado the nominations…

Best Picture

American Fiction

Dìdi

Dune: Part Two

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

I Saw the TV Glow

Longlegs

Nosferatu

Problemista

The Substance

The Wait (La Espera)

Best Foreign Language Film

Not awarded.

Most Overlooked Picture

Drive-Away Dolls

Problemista

Rumours

The Wait (La Espera)

We Grown Now

Best Director

Robert Eggers Nosferatu

Coralie Fargeat The Substance

Cord Jefferson American Fiction

Julio Torres Problemista

Denis Villeneuve Dune: Part Two

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Cynthia Erivo Wicked

Lily-Rose Depp Nosferatu

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Tuesday

Demi Moore The Substance

Emma Stone Poor Things

Tilda Swinton Problemista

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Timothée Chalamet A Complete Unknown

Victor Clavijo The Wait (La Espera)

Ralph Fiennes Conclave

Hugh Grant Heretic

Nicholas Hoult Nosferatu

Justice Smith I Saw the TV Glow

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Sônia Braga The First Omen

Michelle Buteau Babes

Joan Chen Dìdi

Ariana Grande Wicked

Isabella Rossellini Conclave

Alicia Witt Longlegs

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Sterling K. Brown American Fiction

Nicolas Cage Longlegs

Willem Dafoe Nosferatu

Dennis Quaid The Substance

Mark Ruffalo Poor Things

Christopher Walken Dune: Part Two

Best Performance by a Young Female Actor in a Leading Role

Pyper Braun Imaginary

Cailey Fleming IF

Ariella Glaser White Bird

Beatrice Schneider The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Mia SwamiNathan Sight

Alisha Weir Abigail

Best Performance by a Young Male Actor in a Leading Role 

Luke David Blumm Lost on a Mountain in Maine

Federico Ielapi Cabrini

Homer Janson Nutcrackers

Izaac Wang Dìdi

Orlando Schwerdt White Bird

Rupert Turnbull Daddy’s Head

Best Performance by a Young Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Madsyn Barnes We Grown Now

Valeria Lamm The Hole in the Fence (El hoyo en la cerca)

Alix West Lefler Speak No Evil

Mahaela Park Dìdi

Molly Belle Wright The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Best Performance by a Young Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Bryce Gheisar White Bird

Maxwell Jenkins Arcadian

Griffin Wallace Henkel Lost on a Mountain in Maine

Mason D Nelligan The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Moisés Ruiz The Wait (La Espera)

Ben Wang Sight

Best Cast

Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, Brían F. O’Byrne, Sergio Catellito, Carlos Diehz, Lucian Msamati, Jacek Koman, Rony Kramer, Valerio Da Silva, Joseph Mydell, Vincenzo Failla, Garrick Hagon, Merab Ninidze, Mahdav Sharma Conclave

Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, etc.  Megalopolis

Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skargård, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, and Simon McBurney Nosferatu

Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Aaron Teoh, Shaun Prendergast Wicked

Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Johann Karthaus, Luis Noah Witte, Nele Ahrensmeier, Lilli Falk, Anastazja Drobniak, Cecylia Pekala, and Max Beck The Zone of Interest

Best Youth Ensemble

Kynlee Heiman, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez, Wyatt Dewar, Matthew Lamb, Owen Mathison, Ewan Matthis-Wood, Essek Moore, Laurelei Olivia Mote, Mason D Nelligan, and Isla Verot The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Valeria Lamm, Lucciano Kurti, Yuba Ortega, Santiago Barajas, Eric David Walker, Giovanni Conconi, Adolfo Osorio, etc. The Hole in the Fence (El hoyo en la cerca)

Mason Thames, Rafael Alejandro, and Ramon Reed Incoming

Blake Cameron James, RJ Lewis, Gian Knight Ramirez, Madsyn Barnes, and Giovani Chambers We Grown Now

Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Bryce Gheisar, Selma Keymakci, Jordan Cramond, Jem Matthews,and Mia Kadlecova White Bird

Best Documentary

Not Awarded

Best Original Screenplay

Francis Ford Coppola Megalopolis

Coralie Fargeat The Substance

JT Mollner Strange Darling

Jane Schoenbrun I Saw the TV Glow

Julio Torres Problemista

Best Adapted Screenplay

Robert Eggers, Patrick Galeen, Bram Stoker Nosferatu

Cord Jefferson, Percival Everett American Fiction

Peter Straughan, Robert Harris Conclave

Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts, Frank Herbert Dune: Part Two

James Watkins, Christian Tafdrup, Mads Tafdrup Speak No Evil

Best Original Score

Volker Bertelmann Conclave

Robin Carolan Nosferatu

Raffertie The Substance

Robert Ouyang Rusli Problemista

Hans Zimmer Dune: Part Two

Best Editing

Jérôme Eltabet, Coralie Fargeat, Valentin Féron The Substance

Nick Emerson Conclave

Louise Ford Nosferatu

Sofi Marshall I Saw the TV Glow

Joe Walker Dune: Part Two

Best Sound Editing/Mixing

Brian Berger, Lawrence He, Jessica Tresidder, et al. Arcadian

James Ashton, Laure Montagnol, Jessica Meir et al. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Dave Whitehead, Chris Terhune, Jeff Sawyer, Matt Stutter, Michael Babcock, Lee Gilmore, et al. Dune: Part Two

Michael Fentum, Anna-Agata Denzenova, Samir Foco, Mariusz Glabinski, Steve Little et al. Nosferatu

Martín Hernández, Charles Maynes, John Nathans, Alejandro Quevedo, Roland N. Thai et al. Terrifier 3

Best Cinematography

Jarin Blaschke Nosferatu

Stéphane Fontaine Conclave

Greig Fraser Dune: Part Two

Robbie Ryan Poor Things

Miguel Ángel Mora, Raúl Lavado Verdú The Wait (La Espera)

Best Art Direction

Craig Lathrop Nosferatu

Beth Mickle, Bradley Rubin Megalopolis

Stanislas Reydellet The Substance

Danny Vermette Longlegs

Patrice Vermette Dune: Part Two

Best Costume Design

Jenny Beavan Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Milena Canonero Megalopolis

Linda Muir, David Schwed Nosferatu

Paul Tazewell Wicked

Jaqueline West Dune: Part Two

Best Hair and Makeup

A Different Man

Longlegs

Nosferatu

The Substance

Wicked

Best Visual Effects

Alien: Romulus

Dune: Part Two

Megalopolis

Poor Things

Wicked

Best Soundtrack

Deadpool & Wolverine

Drive-Away Dolls

My Spy: The Eternal City

Red One

Y2K

Best Song

“Huele a Fraude” OHYUNG & STEFA* Problemista

“Harper and Will Go West” Kristin Wiig Harper & Will

“Song to Woody” Timothée Chalamet A Complete Unknown

“Kaawaa Kaawaa” Sachway Sachdev, Sudir Yaduvanshi, Sanj V Kill

“I Was Made For Lovin’ You” YUNGBLUD The Fall Guy

Robert Downey, Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award

TBA

Ingmar Bergman Lifetime Achievement Award

TBA

Neutron Star Award

TBA

Special Jury Awards

TBA

TCM Remembers 2024

Posted on by bernardovillela

There are certain cinematic traditions that have made closing out these past few difficult years easier, more cathartic. One of which is TCM’s annual remembrance montage which is longer and more inclusive than what the Oscars can offer. It’s a good chance to remember, reflect, and give thanks for the gifts these artists have bestowed upon us.

Short Film Saturday: Christmas Comes But Once a Year (1936)

Posted on by bernardovillela

For Short Film Saturday for most of the past year and a half, I have revisited the animated shorts that were presented in snippets by the King of Cartoons on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. On this blog I’ve presented these shorts in their entirety and will soon post a recap page. Aside from his acting work, showcasing these cartoons is another way in which Paul Reubens, through his character Pee-Wee Herman, left behind a lasting legacy. I hope you’ve enjoyed the retrospective.

Short Film Saturday: Bobby Bumps Shorts

Posted on by bernardovillela

There are plenty of series of shorts, both animated and live-action, you can discover in the silent era. One I was unfamiliar with until recently was the Bobby Bumps series by Bray Productions from 1915-1925. I came across them by accident on the Internet Archive. While inspired by R.F. Outcault’s Buster Brown there is also a bit of hand-of-the-animator didacticism which was present in a few animated silent shorts. Enjoy!

This is just what’s available at the Internet Archive. There are others on YouTube and elsewhere online. For a full list of titles go to the Wikipedia page.

Mini-Review: Big Shot

Posted on by bernardovillela

This is a reposted review originally included in a Round-Up Post. Big Shot is available to stream on ESPN+.

Growing up in New York, but being a New York Ranger fan I was only vaguely aware of the fiasco that was John Spano’s scam to try and purchase the New York Islanders. However, after being fully informed of all that went on here I can say that no team or its fans (no matter how big an arch-rival) deserves to go through this, especially when you consider that the league was at least partly to blame. 

Actor-turned-director Kevin Connolly would’ve already scored in my book by not only giving appropriate background on what the Islanders were very early in their existence, but also how they declined, and that he had seen the best and worst of times. However, where the film transcends that is that he actually got to sit down with the man himself and not only faced him in as respectful a fashion as you could ask for, but allowed him to tell his story about how this all happened, and explain (to the extent possible) what he was thinking when things went down. 

It’s the kind of story that could only be true and it’s a truly brilliantly rendered account of it quite-nearly blow-by-blow with many of the most concerned parties involved.

Review: The Wait (La Espera) (2023)

Posted on by bernardovillela

In the waning years of Francoist Spain, deep in the Andalusian countryside, Eladio (Víctor Clavijo) takes a job as the groundskeeper of a hunting estate owned by the power Don Francisco (Pedro Casablanc).  Eladio convinces his wife, Marcia (Ruth Díaz), to live there claiming they’ll only be there are short time saving up money. She grudgingly agrees despite her concerns about the affects it’ll have on them and their son, Floren (Moisés Ruiz). Three years pass, and things go from bad to worse to even worse thereafter. That’s the setup of The Wait (La Espera), an elegant folk horror film, which is crafted by F. Javier Gutiérrez who sure-handedly writes, directs and edits the film.

The film has a methodical, brooding pace. Its tension is buoyed by the dulcet droning score composed by Zeltia Montes. Having gone into this screening fairly blind the events set up hit faster and harder than expected making it a relentless experience that kept me riveted.

A great portion of the film is played without dialogue and hinges on the performance of Víctor Clavijo who delivers a true tour-de-force. His character is put through the wringer and vacillates between wanting to give up and finding something else to fight for. He plays those extremes and notes in the middle with virtuosity, making him an identifiable and relatable character whatever you think his faults may be. 

The Wait (La Espera) is an outstanding film that contains payoff after gut-punching payoff. Set-pieces that are testaments to the fact that execution can be more important than unpredictability. It assuredly takes you deeper into maddening world whose rules communicate themselves visually rather than with pedantic exposition and still creates a coherent, harrowing vision. 

In a year of outstanding horror films The Wait (La Espera) vaults itself near the top, alongside more renowned titles such as Longlegs and Immaculate if not atop the list outright. This is a film worth putting on your radar. 

It arrives on VOD and for digital purchase on 10/4/2024.

61 Days of Halloween: The Reef

Posted on by bernardovillela

It’s a shark attack movie.

Not to disparage it in the synopsis section but that’s what it is. It’s one in the Open Water mold and while the performances are good a very believable the film takes the concept of slow burn a bit too far such that it burns out. It becomes completely and totally uninteresting and after a while downright boring. There’s only so much of people treading water, or even swimming, that you can take before it becomes mind-numbing shark or no shark. The score does nothing to heighten the tension and there’s really no drama to the whole affair. I will grant that it’s more realistic than most of the goofy shark movies as of late and more interesting but it still doesn’t make it good.

4/10

61 Days of Halloween: Dream Home (2010)

Posted on by bernardovillela

A woman will do anything to get her dream home.

This is almost like two different movies entirely. I get how they connect but while I appreciate the bit of time traveling done by the narrative in the beginning, and the subtext at the end in the nice simple button, but I really just could not get into this one. The film goes out of its way to explain why this means so much to her and thus we identify but it all seems so superficial. It is rather suspenseful, the kills are great but it ends up feeling a bit vacuous. It almost would’ve been better if the film tried its hand at subtext more and didn’t get so cutesy with the whodunit. Instead, we eventually get all the pieces, put them in place and say “So what?” Sometimes I’d rather be confused and intrigued at times than lucid and unimpressed.

5/10