Film | The Movie Rat

Favorite Film Discoveries: 2021

Introduction

This is an idea I first saw on Rupert Pupkin Speaks wherein he lists his favorite “new-to-me” titles of the prior year. My viewings were a little more plentiful in 2021, but I still neglected to post a list of discoveries. However, I can construct a list now due to my tracking activity on my Letterboxd. I didn’t see films from as wide a range of years this year that stood out, but there were still some interesting discoveries.

Cameron’s Closet (1988)

This was an Amazon Prime discovery and was genuinely the most surprising discovery of the year. Not only hadn’t I heard of it but it’s rather impressive. The bones of this horror story were strong enough such that I sought out the novel afterwards.

Boarding School (2018)

Boarding schools are places rife with horrific possibilities on film. Finding new or interesting takes on the trope can prove a challenge, in 2021 I discovered not one but two well worth seeking out. This one dealing with misfits, an odd couple, and a boy obsessed by the image of his deceased grandmother.

Boy Missing (Secuestro) (2016)

This particular boarding school tale hails from Mexico and is unafraid of mixing social commentary and class amidst its unsettling and uncanny occurrences.

I Remember You (Ég man þig)(2017)

A small Icelandic town bears many mysteries waiting to be unearthed in this moody and atmospheric psychological horror tale.

Faust (Lekce Faust) (1994)

This Jan Švankmajer film was one that took me a while to see. His rendition of Goethe’s classic tale was well worth the wait and as iconoclastic as one would expect from as unique a filmmaker as Švankmajer.

Cowards Bend the Knee (2004)

If you’ve followed my blog through the years know that I am very fond of the work of Guy Maddin. Such that whenever I get to see one of his works it’s likely to be a new favorite. And whenever I happen to see a work of his that’s new to me it’s likely to become a favorite.

I Am Not a Serial Killer (2016)

A local murder spree along with struggles with mental illness paint a far more intricate portrait than the title would have you believe, featuring two standout performances by Christopher Lloyd and Max Records.

Véronica (2017)

For a film using the Ouija board trope, this one does that most of it scares with a great deal of finesse and focusing on characters.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

For some reason this Taika Waititi film was one it took me a while to see. However, when I did it was well worth it. Another funny and heartfelt Kiwi film in his repertoire.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Yes, this was another one that managed to be a blind spot of mine for years. There was never an explicit reason this was one I hadn’t seen, just hadn’t gotten around to it yet. Now, I’ve seen it multiple times including one big screen viewing.

2025 BAM Award Nominations

Posted on February 3 by bernardovillela

Last year I purposely delayed my BAM Award nominations to keep in step with Oscars. Those nominations being delayed due to the devastating wildfires allowed me to deliberate further and, frankly, be a little lazier. This year the delay was all my own as I have been acclimating to life following a liver transplant.

Best Picture

28 Years Later

Bring Her Back

Hamnet

I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)

Nickel Boys

One Battle After Another

Relay

Sinners

Weapons

Young Hearts

Most Overlooked Picture

Bring Them Down

Freaky Tales

Relay

The Surfer

Young Hearts

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson One Battle After Another

Danny Boyle 28 Years Later

Ryan Coogler Sinners

Zach Cregger Weapons

Walter Salles I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)

Best Editing

Tony Cranstoun The Surfer

Geoff Lamb Bring Her Back

Jon Harris 28 Years Later

Andy Jurgensen One Battle After Another

Michael P. Shawver Sinners

Best Foreign Language Film

Not Awarded

Best Actress

Jessie Buckley Hamnet

Jodie Comer 28 Years Later

Sally Hawkins Bring Her Back

Fernanda Montenegro Vitória

Fernanda Torres I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)

Best Actor

Tom Basden The Ballad of Wallis Island

Leonardo DiCaprio One Battle After Another

Michael B. Jordan Sinners

John Lithgow The Rule of Jenny Pen

Josh O’Connor Wake Up Dead Man

Best Supporting Actress

Glenn Close Wake Up Dead Man

Ariana Grande Wicked For Good

Amy Madigan Weapons

Mia Sara The Life of Chuck

Teyana Taylor One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actor

Miles Caton Sinners

Ralph Fiennes 28 Years Later

Benicio Del Toro One Battle After Another

Tim Key The Ballad of Wallis Island

Delroy Lindo Sinners

Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Leading Role

Julia Butters Freakier Friday

Bodhi Rae Breathnach Hamnet

Ana Sophia Heger She Rides Shotgun

Madeleine McGraw The Black Phone 2

Sora Wong Bring Her Back

Helena Zengel The Legend of Ochi

Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Leading Role

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth Everything’s Going to be Great

Isaac Amendoim Chico Bento e a Goiabeira Maraviosa

Billy Barratt Bring Her Back

Christian Convery The Monkey

Lou Goosens Young Hearts

Alfie Williams 28 Years Later

Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Supporting Role

Trinity Jo-Li Bliss Avatar: Fire and Ash

Anna Julia Dias Chico Bento e a Goiabeira Maraviosa

Olivia Lynes Hamnet

Violet McGraw The Life of Chuck

Audrina Miranda Jurassic World: Rebirth

Lorena de Oliveira Chico Bento e a Goiabeira Maraviosa

Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Supporting Role

Benjamin Chivers Fountain of Youth

Jacobi Jupe Hamnet

Miguel Mora Black Phone 2

Benjamin Pajak The Life of Chuck

Jonah Wren Phillips Bring Her Back

Marius De Saeger Young Hearts

Best Cast

28 Years Later

Bring Her Back

One Battle After Another

Hamnet

Sinners

Best Youth Ensemble

Chico Bento e a Goiabera Maraviosa

Hamnet

Bring Her Back

Young Hearts

The Legend of Ochi

Weapons

Best Cinematography

Autumn Durald Arkapaw Sinners

Michael Bauman One Battle After Another

Jomo Fray Nickel Boys

Radek Ladczuk The Surfer

Stephen Soderbergh Presence

Best Art Direction

Dan Clay, Ewa Galak, Carsom McColl, and Gareth Pugh 28 Years Later

Vanessa Cerne, Michael Bell, and Max Nadilo Bring Her Back

Florencia Martin, Alex Max Cahn, Albert Cisneros, and May Mitchell One Battle After Another

Hannah Beachler, Jonathan Cappel, Timotheus Davis, and Jesse Rosenthal Sinners

Rick Heinrichs, Jim Barr, Dean Clegg, Kate Suzanne Hunter, Chloe Kletsa, Hugh McClelland and Quinn Robinson Wake Up Dead Man

Best Original Screenplay

Ryan Coogler Sinners

Zach Cregger Weapons

Alex Garland 28 Years Later

Rian Johnson Wake Up Deadman

Phillipou Brothers Bring Her Back

Best Adapted Screenplay

Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell Hamnet

Murilo Hauser, Heitor Lorega, Marcelo Rubens Paiva I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)

RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes, Colson Whitehead Nickel Boys

Paul Thomas Anderson, Thomas Pynchon One Battle After Another

JT Mollner, Stephen King The Long Walk

Best Costume Design

Leticia Barbieri Chico Bento e a Goiabera Maraviosa

Ruth E. Carter Sinners

Carson McColl, Gareth Pugh 28 Years Later

Deborah L. Scott Avatar: Fire and Ash

Malgosia Turzanksa Hamnet

Best Visual Effects

28 Years Later

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Bring Her Back

The Legend of Ochi

Sinners

Best Sound Editing and Mixing

Bring Her Back

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Weapons

Best Hair and Makeup

28 Years Later

Bring Her Back

The Toxic Avenger

Hamnet

Sinners

Best Score

Ludwig Goränsson Sinners

The Newton Brothers The Life of Chuck

Francois Tétaz The Surfer

Cornel Wilczek Bring Her Back

Young Fathers 28 Years Later

Best Song

“Steve’s Lava Chicken” Jack Black A Minecraft Movie

“Morning Evening” Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan The Ballad of Wallis Island

“I Lied to You” Miles Caton Sinners

“Joy” The Pocket Queen The Life of Chuck

“Happy Together” Susanna Hoffs & Rufus Wainwright The Roses

Best Soundtrack

The Ballad of Wallis Island

Caught Stealing

Heads of State

I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)

Sinners

Best Documentary

Not Awarded

Robert Downey, Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award

TBA

Ingmar Bergman Lifetime Achievement Award

TBA

Neutron Star Award

TBA

Special Jury Awards

TBA

Film Discoveries: 2020

Posted on December 28 by bernardovillela

Introduction

This is an idea I first saw on Rupert Pupkin Speaks wherein he lists his favorite “new-to-me” titles of the prior year. My viewings were down in general in 2020 overall (rewatching sitcoms and watching sports when they resumed in ghostly stadiums got me through it) but there were things worth noting, even things that were not brand new. Some are rather short and can be viewed in their entirety below. There are few selections that come from varied eras to be found.

During the pandemic years, and a little after that, I neglected to post these. I did one for 2023 and will now make up for the years I missed.

The Prince and the Pauper (1920)

This was an offering from Grapevine Video, as one of the oldest adaptations of a story I’ve seen many versions of this one was a must-see especially considering it was directed by Alexander Korda before he emigrated to Hollywood.

Witches (1990)

This was a film that somehow slipped through the cracks during my childhood. I’d heard of it off and on and eventually it became a title I could not longer avoid. And it proved to be an entertaining and unhinged eighties oddity.

Dawson City: Frozen Time (2016)

I wrote about this film for the 2020 O Canada Blogathon. If you like what you read there Kino Lorber has made the full documentary available on their YouTube channel.

September (1990)

This was a title I picked up as part of Twilight Time’s clearance sale following their announcement that they were ceasing operations. Woody Allen‘s dramatic works are often overlooked and this was one of the ones I had yet to see. When he worked with Mia Farrow the works were a notch better, when there were other regulars like Dianne Weist involved they got even better.

Paganini Horror (1989)

I’d not heard of Paganini Horror before it was released by Severin Films. But the combination of the iconic violinist and composer and giallo was too good to pass up, and the score alone makes this film worth watching.

Mini-Review: Broken (2012)

Posted on September 12 by bernardovillela

This is a review that was originally posted in a Mini-Review Round-Up. As of this writing Broken can be streamed on Tubi, Pluto, and Plex.

This is a film that, aside from being the opening selection during Critics’ Week at Cannes and winning the Grand Prix at the Odessa Film Festival, was also nominated for nine British Independent Film Awards, A European Film Award and two awards at the London Film Festival; so it made a bit of hay that made me intrigued to see it.

I am glad to say that after all that hullabaloo I was not let down in the least, quite the opposite; Broken is the first great new film of the year that I’ve had the pleasure of watching. It’s an intricately told and layered tale that with many narrative threads, characters crossing paths, that could get trite, but is instead invigorating and riveting.

There are frames within the film and excellent persistent use of cross-cutting that acutely accesses the proper emotional tenor that is sought, which finds the commonality in these characters so frequently at odds. In certain ways, it’s like an externalized version of We Need to Talk About Kevin, in terms of the way it’s cut together and how the actors have to truly use the edit to great affect.

It’s what I like to term a “collision course narrative,” which is a tale wherein there’s a suspenseful foreboding to the meeting of certain events that you feel, and it’s perhaps the best example of such I’ve seen. It’s also a film that starts strong and never really lets go.

Watch Broken, it is an absolutely exquisite piece of cinema.

2024 BAM Award Nominations

Posted on January 24, 2025 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

2023 BAM Award Nominations

Posted on January 24, 2024 by bernardovillela

It’s that time of year again, following yesterday’s Oscar Nomination announcement I announce my own personal BAM Awards. Being an academy of one only things I see can qualify and some titles are eligible for the BAMs a year after being eligible for the Oscars, due to what the wide release date is. To see what was eligible for this year’s BAMs please reference my list on Letterboxd.

The winners will be announced in March and each category will have an accompanying writeup. As is usually the case the nomination process was painstaking and was longer and more difficult than the writeup process should be. Enjoy those who made the year in moviegoing most worthwhile.

Best Picture

Anatomy of a Fall

Barbie

Close

Godzilla Minus One

The Holdovers

Huesera

Killers of the Flower Moon

Oppenheimer

Softie

When Evil Lurks

Best Foreign Film

Anatomy of a Fall

Close

Gozilla Minus One

Softie

When Evil Lurks

Most Overlooked Picture

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Next Goal Wins

Silent Night

What Happens Later

You Hurt My Feelings

Best Director

Lukas Dhont Close

Greta Gerwig Barbie

Martin Scorsese Killers of the Flower Moon

Justine Triet Anatomy of a Fall

Takashi Yamazaki Godzilla Minus One

Best Actress

Margot Robbie Barbie

Jane Fonda Moving On

Meg Ryan What Happens Later

Lily Gladstone Killers of the Flower Moon

Sandra Hüller Anatomy of a Fall

Best Actor

Dave Bautista A Knock at the Cabin

Leonardo DiCaprio Killers of the Flower Moon

Paul Giamatti The Holdovers

Barry Keoghan Saltburn

Cillian Murphy Oppenheimer

Best Supporting Actress

Emily Blunt Oppenheimer

America Ferrera Barbie

Da’vine Joy Randolph The Holdovers

Lily Tomlin Moving On

Michaela Watkins You Hurt My Feelings

Best Supporting Actor

Robert De Niro Killers of the Flower Moon

Robert Downey, Jr. Oppenheimer

Ryan Gosling Barbie

Matthew Lillard Five Nights at Freddy’s

Jimmy Tatro Theater Camp

Best Cast

Margot Robbie, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Sharon Rooney, Ana Cruz Kayne, Ritu Arya, Dua Lipa, Nicola Coughlan, Emerald Fennell, Ryan Gosling, Simu Li, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuit Gatwa, Scott Evans, John Cena, Michael Cera, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Rhea Perlman, Helen Mirren, and Will Ferrell Barbie

Keri Russell, Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ray Liotta, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Brooklynn Prince, Christian Convery, Margo Martindale, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kristoffer Hivju, Hannah Hoekstra, Ayoola Smart, Aaron Holliday, J.B. Moore, Leo Hannah, Kahyun Kim, Scott Seis, Matthew Rhys, Shanel Connellan, and Conor Lambert Cocaine Bear

Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Skeet Ulrich, Roger Jackson, Dermot Mulroney, Jack Champion, Josh Segarra, Lianna Liberato, Devyn Nekoda, Hayden Panettiere, Toby Revolori, and Samara Weaving Scream VI

Cilliam Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey, Jr., Aldren Ehrenreich, Scott Grimes, Jason Clarke, Kurt Koehler, Tony Goldwyn, John Gowans, Macon Blair, James D’Arcy, Kenneth Branagh, Harry Groener, Ted King, Tim DeKay, Steven Houska, Tom Conti, David Krumholtz, Petrie Willink, Matthia Scweighöfer, Josh Hartnett, Alex Wolff, Josh Zukerman, Rory Keane, Michael Angarano, Dylan Arnold, Emma Dumon, Florence Pugh, Matthew Modine, David Dastmalchian, Matt Damon, Dane DeHaan, Josh Peck, Jack Quaid, Bennie Safdie, Gustad Skarsgård, Devon Bostick, Rami Malek, Olivia Trilby, Casey Affleck, Harrison Gilbertson, Gary Oldman, Hap Lawrence, Et al. Oppenheimer

Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion, Jason Isbell, William Belleau Louis Cancelmi, Scott Shepherd, Everett Walker, Talee Redcorn, Yancey Red Corn, Tatanka Means, Tommy Schultz, Sturgill Simpson, Ty Mitchell, Elden Hensen, Et al. Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Leading Role

Kristen Cui Knock at the Cabin

Nell Fisher Evil Dead Rise

McKenna Grace Crater

Calah Lane Wonka

Violet McGraw M3gan

Madeleine Yula Voyles The Creator

Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Leading Role

Billy Barratt Crater

Eden Dambrine Close

Milo Machado Graner Anatomy of a Fall

Woody Norman Cobweb

Manny Magnus World’s Best

Aliocha Reinert Softie

Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Supporting Role

Farrah Mackenzie Leave the World Behind

Brooklynn Prince Cocaine Bear

Piper Rubio Five Nights at Freddy’s

Gabrielle Echols Evil Dead Rise

Ariana Greenblatt Barbie

Briella Guiza There’s Something Wrong with the Children

Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Supporting Role

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth All Fun and Games

Morgan Davies Evil Dead Rise

Gustav De Waele Close

Jude Hill A Haunting in Venice

Woody Norman The Last Voyage of the Demeter

Emilio Vodanovich When Evil Lurks

Best Youth Ensemble

Bailee Bonick, Kyndra Sanchez, Donovan Colan, Vivienne Sachs, Alan Kim, Alexander Bello, Luke Islam, Jack Sobolewski, Dean Scott Vazquez, Quinn Titcomb, Madisen Marie Llora Theater Camp

Isaiah Russell-Bailey, McKenna Grace, Barratt, Orson Hong, Thomas Boyce, Hero Hunter, Carson Minniear, Brady Noon Crater

Gabrielle Echols, Nell Fisher, Morgan Davies, Tai Wano Evil Dead Rise

Winslow Fegley, Deric McCabe, Clara Stack, Ayden Elijah, Imogen Cohen, Anthony Joo, Cihang Ma, Madilyn Kellam, Camila Rodriguez, Liyou Abere The Naughty Nine

Best Documentary

Not awarded.

Best Original Screenplay

Lukas Dhont, Angelo Tijssens Close

Emerald Fennell Saltburn

Demián Rugna When Evil Lurks

Samuel Theis, Gaëlle Macé Softie

Justine Triet, Arthur Harari Anatomy of a Fall

Best Adapted Screenplay

Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach Barbie

Kirk Lynn, Meg Ryan, Steven Dietz What Happens Later

Christopher Nolan, Kai Bird, Martin Sherwin Oppenheimer

Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese, David Grann Killers of the Flower Moon

M. Night Shyamalan, Steve Desmond, Paul Tremblay Knock at the Cabin

Best Score

Ludwig Göransson Oppenheimer

Mark Mothersbaugh Cocaine Bear

Daniel Pemberton Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Robbie Robertson Killers of the Flower Moon

John Williams Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Best Editing

Kristoffer Borgli Dream Scenario

Alain Dessauvage Close

Jack Price It Lives Inside

Lauret Sénéchal Anatomy of a Fall

Thelma Schoonmaker Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Sound Editing/Mixing

Erik Aadahl, Malte Bieler The Creator

Emma Bortignon Talk to Me

Nominees to be Determined Godzilla Minus One

Wei Hi, Nick Interlandi, Mark P. Stoeckinger, Roland N. Thai Silent Night

Richard King, Randy Torres Oppenheimer

Best Cinematography

Steve Annis Inside

Sharon Meir Silent Night

Hoyte van Hoytema Oppenheimer

Rodrigo Prieto Killers of the Flower Moon

Robert Richardson The Equalizer 3

Linus Sandgren Saltburn

Best Art Direction

Toby Britton, Gavin Fitch, Nic Pallace Wonka

Andrew Max Cahn, Dan Clegg, Clara Gomez del Moral Barbie

Andreas Olshausen, Chris Shriver, Régis Marduel, Et al. John Wick: Chapter 4

Nominees to be Determined. Godzilla Minus One

Best Costume Design

Jacqueline Durran Barbie

Lindy Hemming Wonka

Joanna Johnston Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Jeffrey Kurland Haunted Mansion

Jacquelin West Killers of the Flower Moon

Best Hair and Makeup

Sally Alcott, Robb Crafer, David Darby, Carmel Jackson, Alex Lawton, John Nolan Wonka

Ozzy Alvarez, Malinalli Contreras Saw X

Rita Balla, Svetlana Gutic, Dominic Hailstone, Daniel Losco Infinity Pool

Colin Penman, Indiana Allemang, Tori Binns, Jenna Howel, Shaun Hunter, Steve Newburn Dream Scenario

Leonardo Signoretti, Aldo Signoretti, Arianna Palmucci, Federico Martellacci, Shaun Smith, Brian Wade, Schott Wheeler Ferrari

Best Visual Effects

The Creator

Cocaine Bear

Godzilla Minus One

The Last Voyage of the Demeter

Oppenheimer

Best Soundtrack

Blue Beetle

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Saltburn

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

John Wick: Chapter 4

Best Original Song

“World’s Best” Utkarsh Ambudkar & Manny Magnus World’s Best

“Peaches” Jack Black Super Mario Brothers

“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People) Osage Nation members Killers of the Flower Moon

“A Hatful of Dreams” Timothée Chalamet & the cast of Wonka

“I’m Just Ken” Ryan Gosling Barbie

Robert Downey, Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award

To be announced.

Ingmar Bergman Lifetime Achievement Award

To be announced.

Neutron Star Award

To be announced.

Special Jury Awards

To be announced.

Short Film Saturday: The Birth of the Goalie of the 2001 F.A. Cup Final

Posted on May 21, 2016 by bernardovillela

Mike Leigh’s improvisational filmmaking style did not come to him out of thin air. It was developed and one way in which he did is through short films. This one movies and tells a simple story quickly and economically. Here is Open Culture’s take:

The short, which consists of ten vignettes spanning a half-dozen years, is about a couple deciding whether or not to have a baby. The nameless bloke repeatedly asks his reluctant partner, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a kid?” At the end of the movie, he’s kicking the ball around with his young son. The end. It is almost as if Leigh wanted to see how little backstory and character psychology he could get away with.

Summer Reading Classic Film Book Challenge: They Still Call Me Junior by Frank Coghlan, Jr.

Posted on August 31, 2015 by bernardovillela

In 2009 Frank Coghlan, better known by his screen name Junior Coghlan, died. At that time I wrote an In Memoriam for him on the Site That Shall Not Be Named. Owing to the fact that I was looking for new material, and obits tend to be topical, I never re-published it here on The Movie Rat.

It seems appropriate to do so now as it makes a perfect jumping off point for discussing this book:

Frank Coghlan Jr., who was a child actor in the silent film era passed away quietly last month of natural causes at the ripe old age of 93. He was the kid who brought the phrase “Shazam!” into the American consciousness and played Captain Marvel later on in a serial, the pre-transformation Captain Marvel.

He started at the age of three appearing in a Western serial called Daredevil Jack. He was typically credited as Junior Coghlan and left his mark indelibly in this chapter play Bruce Goldstein, Director of Repertory Programming at New York’s world famous Film Forum lauds it “It’s considered by many aficionados as the best cliffhanger serial of all time,” and continues saying “What a great fantasy for kids: a kid who turns into a superhero.”

Leonard Maltin puts Coghlan’s place in history further in perspective by saying “If you went to the movies in those days, you couldn’t help but know him, even though he was never a major star,” which, of course, places his importance in as much as he made up the tapestry of cinema when films and movie stars whether A-List or not where a part of American culture and something everyone was well versed in.

In 1925 legendary director/producer Cecil B. DeMille signed him to a five-year deal on the strength of his publicity stills. Another small yet important role he had was as the young James Cagney in Public Enemy.

Yet it is Captain Marvel and “Shazam!” for which he is most remembered. For many who toil and seek a serious dramatic career a singular, ubiquitous role, one to which they are always associated can be a burden and later on even a regret and something they seek to forget. Coghlan frequented conventions and seminars in his later years and was always pleased when people recognized him or came to see him. So appreciative was that according to Leonard Maltin he even personalized his license plate to read “Shazam.”

Some people in entertainment don’t realize their good fortune and look a gift horse in the mouth. Frank Coghlan, Jr. was not one of those people and now left with only memories of classic film moments it is we, the film fans, who didn’t know how lucky we were.

I cannot say for certain how many of his films I had seen at that point. The Adventures of Captain Marvel was definitely one of them. While in my limited experience I can’t say I agree about it being the very best serial, it is a superlative one. I was impelled to write that obit based on the one the New York Times wrote for him. It was touching to me that he still held that experience dear rather than feeling embittered that he was still identified by that work no matter where life took him.

Since then I have seen quite a few more Coghlan films, and may see more yet. Some of these include titles from when he really was a kid, as he was in his twenties when he made The Adventures of Captain Marvel. I liked him as a performer, and still with that obit in mind I was curious to read his biography.

Like many books and films do it languished on my Amazon Wish List for years. Due to this blogathon, I returned to Amazon resorted the used offers and found a cheap one.

Even more so than with prior reviews in this blogathon I do not want to spoil the surprises in store in this book. There are 76 chapters, most of them quite short, wherein Junior regales you with stories in what sounds simply like him speaking (as promised in the introduction by William C. Cline). He tells tales from sets, his home life, of other stars, of friendships, transitioning to sound, secrets of the silents, how he continued to work around films, Navy life, family life, other work, and more.

Ultimately, this book, published when he was 74, reinforced that warm and fuzzy feeling that I got reading about how fond he was of his most famous work. Not that he sugarcoats things, or doesn’t relate some sadness, but none of it was a horror story and lamenting the Hollywood system.

Now, while Junior did know Jackie Cooper and Mickey Rooney, in young actor terms he was a generation older so maybe not being pre-pubescent during the Depression and not in a big studio helped, but he still made it OK and recognizes it. Like Ingrid Bergman whom I just wrote, about he freelanced after a five-year deal and in the studio era that’s unusual.

There is much to like here, and much to learn, as with any autobiography, or work on film, you won’t agree with 100% of the opinions espoused but it is an interesting, fact-filled journey with a handy, lengthy filmography that should help you track down titles.

It’s very enjoyable overall and worth looking for if interested.

Summer Reading Classic Film Book Challenge: Images: My Life in Film by Ingmar Bergman

Posted on August 6, 2015 by bernardovillela

Introduction

This is my latest post (third overall) for the Summer Reading Classic Film Book Challenge hosted by Out of the Past. This book fits in as a biographical/filmographic account, as Bergman speaks of the films he made from 1946 to around 1986.

Bergman and Me

In my second post in this series I chronicled my history with the films of Bergman. With that in mind I was very glad that this is the autobiographical Bergman account I chose to read first rather than The Magic Lantern. When making that decision it was based solely on the fact that Images was published at a later date and therefore would include a few more works.

As it turned out, that was a good thought on a few accounts. One of which was the fact that with further hindsight, and reviewing of his own work, Bergman was able to have more distance between the present day (of when this was written) and production. Therefore, his mind changed for the better, for worse, or he had more clarity on why certain things worked or didn’t work. Furthermore, there were citations from The Magic Lantern used as jumping off points. This may be tiresome for one who read that book but was helpful here.

Clearly the most illuminating to me were the excerpts of texts from his workbooks where he’s literally dissecting his own process from abstract notes you can either clearly see how the film developed, or are let marveling at the genius that he was able to to take something rather obfuscated and turn it into concrete emotion and a visual reality that exudes the intended visceral reactions and ideas.

The very formation of this account is one that’s fascinating. It started with what was going to be another interview book like Bergman on Bergman with interviews conducted by Lasse Bergström, Bergström then deleted his questions and Bergman edited the text. The filmography section, which was crucial in the days before the IMDb, and handy because of the plot synopses they at times contained, was compiled by Bertil Wredlund.

The film is also very interestingly organized as the films are grouped not chronologically so much as thematically. The sections within are:

Dreams and Dreamers

(Wild Strawberries, Winter Light, Hour of the Wolf, Persona, Face to Face, The Touch, Cries and Whispers, and The Silence)

This section ends with Bergman talking about why he went into self-imposed exile amidst tax evasion allegations that were eventually deemed meritless, then it transitions back to the beginning with-

First Movies

(Torment, Crisis, It Rains on Our Love, A Ship Bound for India, Music in Darkness a.k.a. Night is My Future, Port of Call, The Devil’s Wanton a.k.a Prison, and Thirst)

This section starts with him in the script department of Svensk Filmindustri then writing scripts and finally directing. It also interestingly discusses his stint as script supervisor (“script girl” as it was frequently called back then), for the first screenplay he wrote. He humorously admits to not being good at it, it’s an important job, and parenthetically, I wasn’t very good at it myself.

Jests Jesters

(The Magician, The Rite, Sawdust and Tinsel, The Serpent’s Egg, From the Life of Marionettes, Scenes From a Marriage, and After the Rehearsal)

In this section Bergman not only discusses his years out of Sweden but also ties that in with the themes of jesters and traveling entertainers, and puppets which were omnipresent in his work but prevalent in these films

Miscreance Credence

(The Seventh Seal, Through a Glass Darkly, The Virgin Spring, and Winter Light)

In this section the discussion at times runs together because of the religious themes that connect them all.

Other Films

(To Joy, This Can’t Happen Here, Summer Interlude, Waiting Women, Summer with Monika, Shame, The Passion of Anna, Brink of Life, and Autumn Sonata)

While the title of this section is a bit uninspired it does talk of actors in general segues to the discussion on Autumn Sonata, which I will dedicate excruciating detail to in an upcoming blogathon.

Farces Frolics

(some commentary on Waiting Women, A Lesson in Love, Smiles of a Summer Night, The Devil’s Eye, The Magic Flute, and Fanny and Alexander)

Herein he discusses his struggles with comedy in general and his repeated ventures (yes, there were a few) into the genre. In addition to that there is discussion on how Fanny and Alexander in many ways was born of the influence of both E.T.A. Hoffman and Dickens.

Anecdotal Awe

Note: If you want to go into the book knowing as little as possible bypass this section.

Sure there are wide-ranging insights into his process, life, development, and art in general, but for me (as I’m sure is the case with many of us) the greatest thing is the little insights. Things I never knew that aren’t earth-shattering but intriguing, or opinions he has on his work that you don’t share, and those you do.

Some examples of this are: Fanny and Alexander started with different names in his notes, and that he likes the TV version better (as do I). He detested The Devil’s Eye, and working on it; I didn’t like it either and that kind of thing has a tendency to show (like with John Carpenter and Christine). He claims he shouldn’t have included the interviews in the The Passion of Anna.

It is curious that the mention of the The Magic Flute being produced in the Swedish language, and not German, is non-existent. Though reading the whole book, and the section between the lines there are some inferences one can make about this choice.

Also included are insights into his extensive theatre work, which is fascinating as it helps us understand his day-to-day schedule for many years and also see diferences era and country create. There’s also a mind-blowing explanation of a brief stint in TV commercials (news to me), discussion of his lifelong relationships with the opera, and his work therein; radio (also news to me), and influences including Swedish novelist Hjalmar Bergman (no relation). As with any good work on film it made me want to watch and see more.

A Word on Formatting

If interested in reading this book I would advise seeking out a copy in print, even if you’re not a purist. The copy I read on Kindle had some spacing issues, typos in inserting diacritical marks, and captions awkwardly separated from photos. Maybe some of the display issues would be less of a concern if I read it on an iPad or laptop but some of the mistakes would still be there. Having just made a number of these corrections myself in my own books (Plug!) I have a heightened sensitivity to such issues.

Conclusion

If you are interested in Bergman, or the craft of filmmaking, I would definitely recommend this book. However, I recommend it with a grain of salt, if you’ve not seen any of these Bergman movies you will likely have them spoiled. However, keep in mind there are a few I have not seen due to a lack of availability and that made me more interested in it. So, check this out!