The post The 2026 Academy Award Nominees Links first appeared on .
]]>It was a great year for film and we saw most (though not all) of the nominated films. So here are the nominees with links to our reviews. Perfect for filling out that Oscar ballot!
Best picture
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Director
Original Song
Original Score
Animated Film (didn’t get to see these)
International Film
Documentary Feature (yeah, we missed these.)
Casting
Best Sound
Cinematography
Original Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
Live Action Short Film (this link takes you to a round of up of all of them)
Animated Short Film (this link takes you to a round of up of all of them)
Documentary Short Film (this link takes you to a round of up of all of them)
Visual Effects
Production Design
Film Editing
Makeup and Hairstyling
Costume Design
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]]>The post Sirāt first appeared on .
]]>The world is at war. We never really know why or what exactly is going on, but there is an army out there that must be avoided. So Luis and son, along with the people in the other vehicles are in it together, taking the back roads as they head south to the location of the next rave. The other travelers are a decidedly motley crew – tattooed, missing limbs, total characters – and all played by non-actors. And they gradually accept Luis and Esteban into their “family” as they drive through some very hostile landscapes.
The title of the film refers to the Islamic concept of a bridge that links hell and heaven. “I like this idea that to get to Paradise, sometimes you have to go through hell,” says the film’s director Laxe. “This is the essence of the movie — that heaven and hell are not these closed or separate rooms; you have to go through one to get to the other, something Luis experiences on his own journey.” And what a journey, both physically and spiritually. I won’t reveal all the trials he faces, but just say it is hellish.
The culture of the rave is integral to the story. The group Luis tags along with are living from rave to rave, going with the flow and the beat, but even they are cognizant that their world may be gone, though being cut off from the rest of the humanity as they are out in the desert leaves open all kinds of dystopian possibilities. Sirāt is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and though its ending doesn’t tie everything up in a nice bow, it is an experience I won’t soon forget.
The film is still in theaters.
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]]>The post The Voice of Hind Rajab first appeared on .
]]>Nisreen (Clara Khoury) is about to leave for the evening, but is pulled back into action when she hears the pleas of the little girl and it is clear that Omar doesn’t have the skills to keep her calm. He is desperate to help and keeps hounding his boss Mahdi (Amer Hlehel) to do more. But Mahdi knows that there are protocols that take time, even when it is as desperate a situation as they are in. At one point he motions to a poster on the wall with the names of the Red Crescent paramedics he’s lost, saying he doesn’t want to add another. But as the time ticks by, Omar becomes more and more frustrated and angry at his inability to send someone to save the desperate child.
The film uses the original phone recordings of the voices of both the older girl Layan and Hind. Like Omar and the others, the distance from the violence adds to your emotional connection to this little girl’s pleas. As Omar says again and again, it’s only 8 minutes away from the ambulances. But the red tape involved in coordinating between the Palestinians and the Israelis means it takes hours, and the war is not pausing for anyone.
While this tragedy was unfolding, the Red Crescent decided to post the audio and photos of Hind online in social media, hoping that it would make the world see what was happening. Omar didn’t think the plight of one little girl would wake them to the horrors that Gaza is facing. And he was right, but this film stands as a testament to the brave men and women who keep heading out to save their fellow citizens despite the vile world in which they find themselves. It is heartbreaking and maddening and exceedingly well done. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it should be seen.
The film is available on all your favorite streaming platforms.
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]]>The post Academy Award Nominees – Animated and Documentary Shorts first appeared on .
]]>Animated Short Nominees:
Butterfly (Florence Miailhe and Ron Dyens) – Just in time for the Olympics, Butterfly features beautiful, hand-painted animation to tell the true story of Jewish swimming champion Alfred Nakache, a Holocaust survivor who competed for France in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany. Truthfully, I had never heard of the guy. But his story is important and timely on so many levels. The Academy often rewards Holocaust-themed films, so Butterfly has a strong shot.
Forevergreen (Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears) – This socially and environmentally-profound short weaves art and technology to showcase a stunning animated tale about an orphaned bear cub that finds a home and comfort in the limbs of a big compassionate evergreen tree. One day the cub gets careless and accidentally starts a fire, putting the tree in jeopardy. The story is ultimately one of rebirth and regrowth.
Retirement Plan (John Kelly and Andrew Freedman) – This is probably the most ‘relatable’ short for the masses, particularly anyone who is retired or yearns for retirement or constantly thinks about all the things we can finally do when retired! The vibe does shift, however, from “When I retire, I will…” to the limitations or evolutions that come with retirement and aging. The film has some shockingly funny moments, as well as some sad, bittersweet and moving ones.
The Three Sisters (Konstantin Bronzit) – This paper-cutout-style film feels like a comic strip come to life. It’s about three sisters who live next to each other on an isolated island and vie for the affections of a male neighbor. It’s cute and light, which means it probably won’t win.
The Girl Who Cried Pearls (Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski) – I think this one is my favorite, in a hauntingly beautiful sort of way. The stop-motion animation is incredibly detailed and the story unfolds in a surprising way. It’s about a poor boy who falls in love with a sad girl who secretly cries pearls at night. The boy collects and sells the pearls to survive (and thrive), but he is conflicted since he hates to see the girl in pain. It’s a fable that explores a bevy of themes around love, greed and loneliness.
Documentary Short Nominees:
All the Empty Rooms (Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones) – I reviewed this one a few months’ back for chickflix and deemed it a devastating but important watch that pays homage to all the children killed in school shootings since Columbine. CBS News Correspondent Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp sensitively showcase the childhood rooms of several children whose lives were abruptly cut short. Rooms frozen in time. It’s a strong contender but so is…
Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (Craig Renaud and Juan Arredondo) – It would be especially meaningful to give the Oscar to this documentary short about a documentary filmmaker who died sharing the stories of people caught in war. Renaut was the first American journalist killed while covering the war in Ukraine. The short does not shy away from showing the brutality of his death. I remember hearing about Renaud but did not realize the extent to which he had embedded himself in many other conflicts over the years. More people should know his name.
Children No More: “Were and Are Gone” (Hilla Medalia and Sheila Nevins) – Children No More is an observational documentary that shines a light on a group of Israeli demonstrators who held silent vigils in Tel Aviv to protest the killing of innocent children and families in Gaza. Not surprisingly, the group faced tremendous backlash amid the horrific and ongoing (at the time) hostage situation.
The Devil Is Busy (Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir) – This one features a day in the life at a healthcare clinic in Atlanta where protesters gather daily to confront women seeking to exercise their reproductive rights. The film follows the clinic’s head of security as she strives to ensure patients are cared for and protected from arrival to departure.
Perfectly a Strangeness (Alison McAlpine) – This film is the most experimental of the bunch in format, story and “characters.” There is no narration. You just watch and listen as three donkeys make their way through the desert to an observatory. I’m sure there’s more to this ‘donkumentary’ than that, but you’d have to ask the film’s leads, Palomo, Ruperto, and Palaye.
Many of the shorts are discoverable through a quick google or YouTube search. But to get the full-on experience, you can catch them in the theater. Roadside Attractions is distributing The 98th Oscar® Nominated Shorts, presented by acclaimed filmmaker Taika Waititi, exclusively in theaters on February 20.
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]]>The post Academy Award Nominees – Live Action Shorts first appeared on .
]]>Butcher’s Stain is an Israeli student film. Its central character is Palestinian butcher Samir (Omar Sameer) who works in an Israeli market. He’s good at his job, but in the aftermath of the October 7th massacre tensions are high and he is accused of ripping down a poster of the hostages that is hanging in the employees’ break room. He seems like a good guy and claims he did not do it, but an “eyewitness” has ratted him out to the boss, even if the details are a bit vague. It’s a very well told story about how trust can be destroyed by actions beyond our control, and a person can be lumped in with bad actors they have nothings to do with other than their group identity. But the question hangs over almost the whole 26 minutes: Did he do it? Directed by Meyer Levinson-Blount.
A Friend of Dorothy is the sweet film. There is always one film in this bunch that is sure to pull on the heart strings. Dorothy (Miriam Margolyes) is an elderly woman who lives alone. One day JJ (Alistair Nwachukwu), a teenager from her neighborhood, accidentally kicks his football into her yard and their meeting blossoms into a true friendship. She takes an immediate interest in him and encourages him to follow his heart when it comes to becoming an actor. It helps that she has a vast library of scripts for him to explore. The film is bookended by JJ at the reading of her will, where he and her grossly entitled brat of a grandson are the only beneficiaries. The film is directed by Lee Knight.
Jane Austen’s Period Drama is a hilarious sendup of the genre. It begins in the bucolic countryside where Miss Estrogenia Talbot and her suitor Mr. Dickley are taking a stroll and he’s about to pop the question. But suddenly, he notices blood on her dress and as he must do, he takes her in his strong arms and dashes back to the mansion and on to summon the doctor! Is she hurt or dying? No. She’s just having her period, but can she really tell Mr. Dickley such a thing!? While he is gone to fetch the doctor, her sisters Labinia and Vagianna try to talk her out of telling him the scandalous truth. But headstrong Estrogenia is undeterred. And what follows is every 18th century gentleman’s nightmare. To say that he hasn’t a clue of what menstruation is would be an understatement. Great comedy and sadly still relevant! Written and directed by Julia Aks and Steve Pinder.
The Singers is a modern day adaptation of 19th-century Russian writer Ivan Turgenev’s short story. It takes place in a shadowy dive bar where a group of working-class men challenge each other to a singing contest. No one expects what is to come from the motley crew. But there are some great voices and performances, if very little in the way of story. Directed by Sam A. Davis,
Two People Exchanging Saliva is a delightfully bizarre black and white gem and would be my top choice for the Yorgos Lanthimos prize. In an alternate dystopian universe, young Malaise (Luàna Bajrami) works in the high end clothing department of a beautiful Parisian store. In her world, you pay for things by getting slapped in the face. Also in this world kissing is punishable by death. There is an older sale clerk who tries to keep Malaise in her place, claiming all the best customers for herself, but when Angine (Zar Amir Ebrahimi), a wealthy woman comes to the shop and the other sales clerk is not readily available, Malaise steps in and the two women become close, much to the other sales clerks chagrin. But will their relationship go too far, as the other sales clerk is hoping? This is by far the most creative of the bunch and I hope this writing/directing due are working on their first feature together. It’s right up my alley. Writer/Directors Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh.
So which one should win? And which one will win? All of them are extremely well done. Butcher’s Stain is a very timely subject. A Friend of Dorothy will get a lot of love since it’s the sweetest of the bunch and has some well known actors in it. The Singers is from Netflix, so it will have a lot of money behind a campaign for it. Jane Austen’s Period Drama might be too much for the male Academy voters. And Two People Exchanging Saliva could be too weird for many. If history is any indicator, A Friend of Dorothy will take home the statue since sweet usually wins. If I were choosing, I’d go for the more complex and strange Two People Exchanging Saliva.
And I’m once again pleading with the theater owners out there to start putting shorts in the theaters before features — where they belong!
(note: Many of the shorts are discoverable through a quick google or YouTube search. But to get the full-on experience, you can catch them in the theater. Roadside Attractions is distributing The 98th Oscar® Nominated Shorts, presented by acclaimed filmmaker Taika Waititi, exclusively in theaters on February 20. Also, be sure to check out Mainstream Chick’s quick takes on the Animated and Documentary Short nominees!)
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]]>The post “Wuthering Heights” first appeared on .
]]>Another factor to consider: your relationship with filmmaker Emerald Fennell. Her films can be shocking and divisive. I was a big fan of Promising Young Woman (2020) but did not like Saltburn (2023). I suspect if you liked the gothic moodiness of the latter, you’ll be more inclined to like “Wuthering Heights.” Fennell directed and wrote the screenplay for the adaptation, deemed an “original interpretation” of the 1847 novel by Emily Brontë. If you’ve read the book, you pretty much know what you’re in for. (Since I haven’t read the book, I took an English prof to the screening to provide a more educated analysis!)
The supporting cast (all very good) includes Hong Chau as Cathy’s trusted yet not so trustworthy servant/caregiver Nelly; Shazad Latif as Cathy’s naive husband Edgar; Alison Oliver as Edgar’s even more naive younger sister Isabella; and Martin Clunes as Cathy’s abusive father, Mr. Earnshaw, who brought a young Heathcliff to his remote estate to serve as his whipping boy and a playmate for Cathy. As the years pass and their passion grows, Heathcliff will do literally anything for Cathy, and ultimately, their forbidden love devolves into madness. Love hurts. Happy Valentine’s Day!
“Wuthering Heights” opens in theaters on February 13.
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]]>The post The Life of Chuck first appeared on .
]]>The film is based on a 2020 short story by Stephen King and features Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Benjamin Pajak and Cody Flanagan as Chuck through the years; narration from Nick Offerman; and a stellar ensemble cast that also includes Mark Hamill as Chuck’s grandfather, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gill Gillan as a pair of exes drawn back together by the collapse of civilization, and Annalise Basso as a young woman who shares an impromptu dance with Chuck in a six-minute scene that is pure joy to watch.
The Life of Chuck won the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival. It skews more arty than mainstream but offers a poignant slice of humanity that we all could use a bit more of right about now.
The Life of Chuck is streaming on Hulu and available to rent on several digital platforms.
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]]>The post Song Sung Blue first appeared on .
]]>Whenever I see a movie based on a true story, I can’t help but wonder what’s “real” versus “reel.” Fortunately, the director of the original documentary has shared it on YouTube for all to see before or after the feature film. There’s definitely some creative license taken to advance the narrative and flesh out the supporting roles, but for the most part, Song Sung Blue stays true to the heart of the story of Mike and Claire Sardina, their blended family, their struggles and their success.
Now I’m off to create a Neil Diamond playlist on my music streaming services, starting with “Soolaimon.” If you see the movie you’ll understand why.
Song Sung Blue is in theaters now.
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]]>The post Marty Supreme first appeared on .
]]>Marty is a young man with big dreams. He’s also someone who hasn’t met an obstacle he doesn’t think he can find a way around. And he’s not settling for the life he’s been born into. He works at his Uncle’s shoe store and is expected to take it over. But what he wants more than anything is to be a big, famous sports star. And he is a VERY good ping pong player. Good enough to win some big championships and sending him to even bigger ones. At one in Paris, he meets Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), a fading Hollywood star, and charms his way into her bed, also meeting Milton (Kevin O’Leary, “Shark Tank”) her rich pen manufacturer CEO husband who he hopes he can talk into financing his trip to the biggest tournament of all in Japan.
Marty has a trick up his sleeve for every situation. He doesn’t let any opportunity to make some money pass him by. And it costs a lot to get to Japan, where he hopes to beat his nemesis. Whether it’s ransoming a mobster’s dog, or taking advantage of some arrogant young ping-pong players in a bowling alley, or stealing a necklace from his mistress, he’ll risk anything, and say anything to get what he wants.
Then there’s Rachel (Odessa A’Zion), his friend since childhood and his real love, who’s married, but that doesn’t stop them from having sex and getting her pregnant, leading to a lot of other troubles.
Director Josh Safdie who directed the equally frenetic and fabulous Uncut Gems with his brother Benny, knows how to keep the adrenaline pounding. Marty is the Energizer Bunny of characters. Impulsive. Arrogant. Charismatic. Chalamet is definitely going to be on a lot of Top 5 lists for his performance, as is the film. It’s funny. It makes watching ping-pong heart stopping. The cast is filled with big names in “blink your eyes and you miss it” roles. And even at 150 minutes, it never lags. I highly recommend this one!!!
Opening Christmas Day.
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]]>The post The Plague first appeared on .
]]>Ben (Everett Blunck) is a shy kid who arrives after the beginning of camp, so he’s somewhat on the outside watching what the other boys are doing, and hoping to fit in. He goes along with the crowd and shuns Eli at first, making his way into the group headed by Jake (Kayo Martin) who is extremely intimidating for a little guy. But later Ben sees Eli eating lunch in the locker room and decides to make friends. And when he’s found out, that sets him up to become one of the bullied.
The film at times has a very Lord of the Flies vibe with all the other boys following Jake’s cruel lead. They are all just one step out of childhood and grappling with what it means to be men, with very different images in their heads. And as the tension between Ben and Jake escalates it is really very creepy and quite scary. Joel Edgerton (who is also a producer on the film) plays the coach who has zero control and is pretty much absent from the boys’ lives, leaving them to find their own equilibrium.
The three main boys are amazingly well cast. Charismatic Kayo Martin (Jake) was found on Instagram “skateboarding around Manhattan, pranking people, and cooking at restaurants.” His performance is shockingly authentic. This is also Kenny Rasmussen’s (Eli) first film outing, and he gives his role some serious depth. Everett Blunck has been acting since he was nine, and as the center of the story he does an excellent job of conveying Ben’s adolescent uncertainty and the moral quandary that Jake forces him into.
The Plague is shot using a lot of horror film sounds and staging, ramping up the psychological unease that eventually plays out in the only way it can. It is a very auspicious debut for Charlie Polinger and these young actors, and a memorable, if possibly triggering, drama that will probably land it on a lot of lists this awards season.
In limited theatrical release December 24, 2025, expanding nationwide on January 2, 2026.
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