HollywoodCiak

Film 2423 - Hellraiser

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:28:00 +0000

Intro: Yegor and I watched a lot of "Dragula" together and this franchise is referenced a lot in the show, so we decided to watch the original movie together.

Film 2423: "Hellraiser" (1987), Clive Barker
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor
Thoughts: I did enjoy it, but as it's often the case when you watch a film that came out almost 40 years ago, you can tell it's that old. I don't mean in in a bad way, I actually quite enjoyed some of the practical special effects, they're extremely creative and showcase the craftmenship that is behind this art. This said, some of them are leff effective.
To me, the story is a bit scattered and not always cohesive in tone and pace. There's a lot of S&M references when the world of hell is summoned, but it kind of goes nowhere? For a film that is called "Hellraiser", I was definitely expecting a bit more of the titular character and less of the second wife's sexual adventures. Also I find Ashley Laurence's performance as the daughter to be a little too over the top for my liking, but that's just me.
All in all, not my favourite horror movie but the idea behind the story feels fresh and I see why this movie is considered a cult classic.
Cast: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith, Doug Bradley.
Box Office: $30 million
Worth a watch?: It has an iconic appeal to it and, if you like horror movies, it's definitely worth givining it a go. Not my favourite, but I don't regret watching it.
Awards: /
Key word: Cube.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2422 - Frankenstein

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:19:00 +0000

Intro: When it came out on Netflix, everybody was talking about it and the reviews were good, so I was curious to give this movie a try.

Film 2422: "Frankenstein" (2025), Guillermo del Toro
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor
Thoughts: Much ado about nothing? It's not bad, but I'm not sure where all the fuss is coming from, to be honest.
Maybe my expectations were too high, as usual, but I was genuinely expecting something way more epic from this film. Mainly I didn't like how much green screen was used and how evident it was. I don't expect the production to move to Antarctica to shoot the scene in the icy water, but I was surprised by how fake the whole environment felt and looked, considering this movie cost $120 million to produce.
And I'll be even more honest here: is Jacob Elordi's performance so memorable that it deserves all the accolades it's getting? I'm not sure. Is it a bad performance? Absolutely not, but an Oscar nomination for it? Uhm.
All in all, "Frankenstein" is an entertaining enough movie. The costumes are breathtaking and we get the chance to see Mia Goth play two roles (one of which with... eyebrows!), but to be completely honest I didn't care much for Victor Frankenstein's story, and while watching the movie I kept thinking how much I would have preferred to be watching "Young Frankenstein" instead.
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, David Bradley, Charles Dance, Ralph Ineson, Christoph Waltz.
Box Office: $480,678
Worth a watch?: Considering the amount of awards and public discussion this movie has earned and generated, it's not a bad idea to give it a go and check what all the fuss is about (especially considering the Oscars are next weekend and "Frankenstein" is definitely going to win at least one or two of the technical categories). Personally, though, it's a movie I wouldn't rewatch.
Awards: Nominated for 9 Oscars (best Picture, Supporting Actor for Elordi, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Score, and Sound). 3 BAFTA wins (Best Production Design, Costumes, and Makeup and Hair) over 8 nominations (Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Elordi, Cinematography, Score, Sound, and Visual Effects). 5 Golden Globe nominations (Best Motion Picture – Drama, Actor for Isaac, Supporting Actor for Elordi, Director, and Score). 3 nominations at the Actor Awards (Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Elordi), Cast in a Motion Picture, and Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture).
Key word: Syphilis.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2421 - Ocean's Eight

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:58:00 +0000

Intro: One (late) morning we were all at home, looking for something to watch together while having breakfast. Netflix's catalogue suggested this one.

Film 2421: "Ocean's Eight" (2018), Gary Ross
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor, Gigi
Thoughts: I think "Ocean's Eight" is a fun watch. I love the cast, the story is engaging, and the heist is elaborate enough to be entertaining and a real spectacle.
The chemistry between all the protagonists is great, the fashion is on point, and this movie positions itself perfectly within the "Ocean's" franchise as a solid reboot for the series and sequel in general.
More on-screen banter between Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett in the future would be greatly appreciated by yours truly.
Film 1647 - Ocean's Eight
Film 1800 - Ocean's 8
Film 2421 - Ocean's Eight
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Richard Armitage, James Corden, Dakota Fanning.
Box Office: $297.8 million
Worth a watch?: A fun watch, "Ocean's Eight" delivers both easy entertainment and amazing cast chemistry between all the talented actresses. It should have been even more successful than it ended up being.
Awards: /
Key word: Necklace.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2420 - Shelby Oaks

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:52:00 +0000

Intro: I didn't want to see this movie and only agreed because I thought it was a different film... and I only realized it once the show started.

Film 2420: "Shelby Oaks" (2024), Chris Stuckmann
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: The movie equivalent of a scam. One of the worst movies I've watched this year.
It's trying to channel "The Blair Witch Project" so hard that it's annoying to watch the story unfold. It's cliché after cliché and adds nothing to the horror genre.
Cast: Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Keith David, Sarah Durn, Derek Mears, Emily Bennett, Charlie Talbert, Robin Bartlett, Michael Beach.
Box Office: $6.6 million
Worth a watch?: I really didn't like it. Forgettable — personally, I wouldn't waste my time.
Awards: /
Key word: Broken glass.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2419 - Sinister

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:14:00 +0000

Intro: I remember watching it ages ago and liking it, so I thought it could be a good idea to give it another go with Kate for our new weekly cinema appointment in the living room.

Film 2419: "Sinister" (2012), Scott Derrickson
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Kate
Thoughts: I remembered it being… scarier?
I'm not sure if it's because more than 10 years have passed or maybe I simply remembered it differently, but yeah, I was a bit surprised to realize that "Sinister" isn't as scary as I was expecting it to be. And not as good either.
I mean, it does its job as a horror movie, and a few of the jump scares are effective, but yeah, I think I had higher expectations than I should have, and this kind of affected the whole vibe of the movie for me.
Film 1016 - Sinister
Film 2419 - Sinister
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Fred Thompson, James Ransone, Clare Foley, Michael Hall D'Addario, Vincent D'Onofrio.
Box Office: $87.7 million
Worth a watch?: Horror movie fans should enjoy this film from Scott Derrickson, who’s also the same guy who wrote and directed "The Black Phone" 1 and 2, "Doctor Strange", and "The Exorcism of Emily Rose". It has its good moments, and Ethan Hawke is always a great protagonist.
Awards: /
Key word: House.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2417 - Black Phone 2

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:11:00 +0000

Intro: Once I refreshed my memory on the first film, it was time to go and catch the second one at the movies.

Film 2417: "Black Phone 2" (2025), Scott Derrickson
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor, Niamh
Thoughts: “The Black Phone” — or how to ruin a franchise. I think this is one of the biggest disappointments of 2025, definitely one of the worst films I've watched this year. I was so excited that a sequel to the original "The Black Phone" was coming out, as I loved the first movie. But after seeing what they did with the story and how they decided to continue it, the only question I had in my mind was: “Why?” It's not because this film is so different from the first one — that wouldn't have bothered me too much, although it did because of how bad it was. It's mainly because this is such a departure from the original that it doesn’t even feel like they belong to the same franchise. The cinematography is bad, the whole look is glossy (which doesn't really make sense for a horror movie?), and most of it seems to have been filmed in front of a green screen, whereas The Black Phone felt grounded in reality, even though it belonged to the supernatural horror genre. This one… feels like a fever dream of its own. I know "Black Phone 2" got decent reviews, but it really didn't work for me. Bad.
Film 2117 - The Black Phone
Film 2416 - The Black Phone
Film 2417 - Black Phone 2
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, Demián Bichir, Ethan Hawke.
Box Office: $132 million
Worth a watch?: If you liked the first one… you won’t like this one. At least I didn’t. I wish I hadn’t seen it — it really ruined this franchise for me.
Awards: /
Key word: Bad dreams.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2416 - The Black Phone

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:42:00 +0000

Intro: Kate and I are rediscovering watching movies together at home, like we used to back in the day when we lived together in DCU. Only this time, we have a projector to make things feel more cinematic.

Film 2416: "The Black Phone" (2021), Scott Derrickson
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor, Kate
Thoughts: I remember watching this in theaters and not knowing what to expect. I ended up really liking the movie, so it was only a matter of time before I rewatched it, especially with the second one coming out.
To no one’s surprise, I enjoyed this second watch as well. I remembered enough of the movie to know what to expect; still, it didn’t ruin the experience for me. I still think it’s a great addition to the supernatural horror genre, and Ethan Hawke is an amazing baddie, especially considering he acts with a mask on for almost the entire film.
One thing I really appreciate about "The Black Phone" is how grounded in reality it feels, even though the supernatural element of the story is so prominent.
Great movie.
Film 2117 - The Black Phone
Film 2416 - The Black Phone
Film 2417 - Black Phone 2
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, Ethan Hawke.
Box Office: $161.4 million
Worth a watch?: If you’re a fan of supernatural horror movies, this one should be on your watch list. A sequel recently came out, which is even more reason to check this film out.
Awards: /
Key word: 23317.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2415 - Weapons

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:26:00 +0000

Intro: An evening at home with some nice food and a great movie.

Film 2415: "Weapons" (2025), Zach Cregger
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor, Gigi, Seamus
Thoughts: Unexpectedly, my favourite movie of 2025 — so it was just a matter of time before I rewatched it.
This second time around, I enjoyed "Weapons" even more because I was able to pay attention to details I hadn’t noticed the first time I saw it in cinemas. It also felt less episodic this time; knowing the plot beforehand made the whole experience more cohesive, even though it’s split into different parts from the various characters' points of view.
Needless to say, apart from being a great horror movie, the standout of "Weapons" is Amy Madigan's performance. Back in the summer, not many people anticipated that her Gladys could become a vehicle for her second Oscar nomination, yet it happened. She even won at the Critics' Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actress, which was amazing to see — finally, some well-deserved recognition for her and for the horror genre in general. Unfortunately, missing out at the Golden Globes — where she lost to Teyana Taylor for "One Battle After Another" — and not receiving that BAFTA nomination were good indications that her chances of actually winning the Oscar gradually decreased, shifting from being a serious contender to simply being happy to be nominated and recognised.
Which is sad, because not only would her win have been a fantastic moment, but it also kind of repeats what happened last year with the "Anora" vs. "The Substance" situation: Demi Moore's performance was overlooked, and the Academy chose to reward a younger actress, once again reinforcing the young vs. older trope (which is, ironically, the core theme of "The Substance") and the general lack of support for the (body) horror genre when it comes to major acting awards. And don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with Mikey Madison's performance in "Anora"; I just feel like she could have had another opportunity to win an Oscar later in her career. Not to mention that the cultural impact "The Substance" had over the past couple of years is undeniable, and seeing Moore’s performance recognised would have been the cherry on top.
Going back to "Weapons," I think this movie is great and an impressive horror achievement. It was a smash hit at the box office, it’s still culturally relevant to this day, and overall, it’s simply an extremely well-made film.
P.S. As a testament to how much I liked this movie, I’m including the portrait of Aunt Gladys that I drew a month or so ago and posted on my The Moustache Designer Instagram account (feel free to give it a follow if you’d like: @the_moustached_designer).
Film 2399 - Weapons
Film 2415 - Weapons

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Cast: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Toby Huss, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan.
Box Office: $270 million
Worth a watch?: My favourite movie of 2025. So yeah, go and watch it.
Awards: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Amy Madigan) at the Oscars 2026. 2 nominations at the Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress (Madigan) and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. Madigan is also nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role at this year's Actor Awards.
Key word: Stick.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2414 - Scream

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:37:00 +0000

Intro: And now, finally back from all my travels, the first thing I do is head to the Stella Cinema in Rathmines, Dublin, to watch one of the most iconic horror movies of all time. And yes, you guessed it, this was around Halloween last year.

Film 2414: "Scream" (1996), Wes Craven
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Rachel, Niamh, Sórcha
Thoughts: There's something about watching this movie in an actual theater that made me love it even more. To be fair, apart from being extremely pricey, the Stella Cinema is truly an amazing place to watch a movie: it's cozy, spacious, and painfully beautiful. So that definitely adds to the overall experience.
In general, I'm obviously a big fan of this first outing and of the "Scream" franchise as a whole, considering I’ve watched all of the movies at least once (and I'm definitely going to see the new "Scream 7," which is coming out on February 27). So it comes as no surprise when I say that this one is a cult classic I could watch over and over again.
Film 1123 - Scream
Film 2057 - Scream
Film 2184 - Scream
Film 2414 - Scream
Film 1249 - Scream 3
Film 326 - Scream 4
Film 2091 - Scream
Film 2178 - Scream
Film 2179 - Scream VI
Cast: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Liev Schreiber, Drew Barrymore.
Box Office: $173 million
Worth a watch?: Iconic original film of the "Scream" franchise — if you're a fan of slasher horror movies, this one should definitely be on your list if you haven't seen it already.
Awards: Nominated for 2 MTV Movie + TV Awards for Best Movie and Best Female Performance (Neve Campbell), it won the former.
Key word: Phone call.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2413 - Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:01:00 +0000

Intro: After Corfu, I spent 2 weeks between Barcelona and Bologna. Before leaving again, though, I went to the movies to watch the end of this saga.

Film 2413: "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" (2025), Simon Curtis
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I was a bit scared, I'll be honest. I liked the first movie, but the second one, although well made and not bad, wasn't as good as I had hoped. So I was a bit nervous about this one, considering the original TV show ended 10 years ago (and I'm not sure how many people were actually waiting for a third "Downton Abbey" movie).
Contrary to my expectations, "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" is actually much better than I anticipated. You definitely feel the absence of Maggie Smith, but the movie does a great job of honoring her and her character. And for the rest, it's exactly how it should be: a longer episode of "Downton Abbey," but make it a movie and, on top of that, make it the last installment of the whole franchise.
It's sad to think that it's really time to say goodbye, but "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" is an endearing final chapter and a great way to say farewell.
Film 1829 - Downton Abbey
Film 2106 - Downton Abbey: A New Era
Film 2413 - Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth McGovern, Penelope Wilton, Laura Carmichael, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Michael Fox, Robert James-Collier, Phyllis Logan, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Dominic West, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy, Harry Hadden-Paton, Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola.
Box Office: $103.1 million
Worth a watch?: If you're not a fan, there's no real point in watching it, to be honest. But for those who love the Crawleys and appreciate the work of Julian Fellowes, this is definitely a movie to watch.
Awards: /
Key word: Divorce.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2412 - The Conjuring: Last Rites

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:06:00 +0000

Intro: Not your classic Valentine's Day movie, yet a perfect depiction of my current love life.

Film 2412: "The Conjuring: Last Rites" (2025), Michael Chaves
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: Honestly? Not the best outing of the franchise.
I'm a huge fan of the "The Conjuring" saga and all its spin-offs, but it’s been a while since they released a truly good film. This isn’t terrible by any means, but like its predecessor, it isn’t great either. I’ll still go see any new installments they decide to produce — which seems likely, considering this was supposed to be the final chapter of the saga and yet became the highest-grossing at the box office — but I do think the series could use a breather.
That said, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are, as always, perfect as Lorraine and Ed Warren, and they carry the entire movie. I was hoping the story would be a bit scarier or more unsettling. By now, the Conjuring films seem to lean more into conventional horror tropes and jump scares rather than creating their own distinct world or continuing to build upon it. While watching it, at times "The Conjuring: Last Rites" reminded me of "The Exorcist" at times.
Film 578 - L'evocazione - The Conjuring
Film 1179 - L'evocazione - The Conjuring
Film 1190 - The Conjuring - Il caso Enfield
Film 1450 - The Conjuring 2
Film 2029 - The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
Film 2412 - The Conjuring: Last Rites
Film 804 - Annabelle
Film 1157 - Annabelle
Film 1405 - Annabelle: Creation
Film 1657 - Annabelle: Creation
Film 1782 - Annabelle Comes Home
Film 1673 - The Nun
Film 2216 - The Nun II
Film 1774 - The Curse of La Llorona
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy.
Box Office: $499.2 million
Worth a watch?: Not the strongest of the four films available, yet there’s something comforting about seeing Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson step back into the roles of the Warrens once again. If you’re a fan of this saga or the horror genre in general, "The Conjuring: Last Rites" is still a solid option for an evening of chills.
Awards: /
Key word: Mirror.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2411 - A Deadly American Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 16:50:00 +0000

Intro: Third documentary in a row, last movie we watched in Corfu, Greece.

Film 2411: "A Deadly American Marriage" (2025), Jessica Burgess, Jenny Popplewell
Watched: From my laptop
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: Another terrifying true story, but this documentary isn't as effective as the previous one we watched. Not a bad movie by any means, yet I didn't find it as compelling or as well told as the previous documentaries we watched. The story is less sensational, in the sense that the facts presented are closer to what you would expect from a typical true crime case. It's obviously a heartbreaking story, and it's devastating to witness what happened to this poor man and his family, but A "Deadly American Marriage" didn't quite glue me to my chair, if that makes sense.
Cast: Jason Corbett, Sarah Corbett Lynch, Jack Corbett Lynch, Molly Martens Corbett, Tom Martens.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: For those who appreciate true crime stories, I'm not a big fan of this genre. I don't find pleasure in witnessing other people's suffering or in the slightly voyeuristic component of this kind of piece of media.
Awards: /
Key word: Au pair.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2410 - Abducted in Plain Sight

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 15:58:00 +0000

Intro: Debbi arrives to Corfu and the first thing we do at dinner the next day? We watch another documentary on Netflix because why not?

Film 2410: "Abducted in Plain Sight" (2017), Skye Borgman
Watched: From my laptop
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: This story is crazy and the fact that it's real is even crazier. I'm not sure how is Jan Broberg still in touch with her parents after all they did. And it isn't just speculations or 'he said, she said' scenario: the two parents are featured in this film and they corroborate, admit and describe the facts narrated here. It's insane.
I don't want to give too much away about this story, so I'm just going to say that a poor 12-year-old girl gets kidnapped TWICE by her neighbor, the parents know about it, they both have a sexual relationship with the kidnapper - who also abuses the girl, while the parents suspect it but chose not to believe the girl - and all they do is questioning if they were too naïve about it. And if you think I'm giving too much away... Watch this documentary and check how much I left out from the story.
Cast: Jan Broberg, Mary Ann Broberg, Bob Broberg, Karen Campbell, Susan Broberg.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: From Skye Borgman, the same director of "Unknown Number: The High School Catfish", this documentary covers a story that is so insane, it almost feels impossible. And yet it happened back in the 70s, it is true and you better believe aliens are involved too. Entertaining for sure, but extremely unsettling and disturbing.
Awards: /
Key word: The mission.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2409 - Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 19:35:00 +0000

Intro: After the time jump to go through movie that are more relevant to this year's awards race, it's time to go back to where I left off. This is the second movie Niamh and I watched in Corfu, Greece.

Film 2409: "Unknown Number: The High School Catfish" (2025), Skye Borgman
Watched: From my laptop
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: Like most reality TV shows and documentaries produced by streaming platforms nowadays, "Unknown Number: The High School Catfish" is a documentary that feels more like fiction because of how it’s edited and how the story is told. There’s a plot twist after another, in a crescendo of tension and chaos that culminates in the reveal of what’s actually happening behind the scenes. In this case, who was behind the horrifying text messages that the teenage girl Lauryn Licari was receiving.
I almost struggle to consider this a documentary, considering how overly produced it seems: when you watch it, it almost feels like you’re watching a mockumentary (like the previous Netflix hit "American Vandal"). It almost feels fictional for how absurd the story is and how glossy and visually clean it looks. It’s so strange.
Overall, though, I found it very compelling. The story is insane, and it’s even more unsettling to think that this happened for real, and that the person who stalked and harassed a teenager, along with her boyfriend and friends, actually decided to take part in this film. I understand that this person was trying to give her version of the facts, but considering who they are in relation to Lauryn, it’s almost absurd to me that the production gave them a platform. Far from me to censor anybody, but what this person did is disgusting and horrifying, and part of me doesn’t think they deserved the screen time they got thanks to this production.
"Unknown Number: The High School Catfish" is definitely an entertaining piece of media, but there’s a voyeuristic component and exploitation that don’t sit well with me. The story is as shocking as it is sad, and seeing a young girl having to go through all of this and, in the end, still being able to feel compassion for the person who put her through hell… As a viewer, it’s quite hard to watch.
Cast: Lauryn Licari, Owen McKenny, Shawn Licari, Kendra Licari.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: Definitely a crazy ride; it all boils down to who the stalker and abuser is. If you’re up for real stories like this one, then go for it. Otherwise, it’s better to find something else to watch.
Awards: /
Key word: Messages.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2435 - The Housemaid

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:49:00 +0000

Intro: I wasn't planning to watch it, to be honest, but when everybody started talking about it in a favorable manner, I kinda got curious.

Film 2435: "The Housemaid" (2025), Paul Feig
Watched: From my computer
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I didn’t read the book, so this was definitely an unexpected, crazy ride for me.
I don’t think "The Housemaid" is necessarily a good movie, but it’s definitely an entertaining one. Amanda Seyfried is great in it and perfectly fits her role. Sydney Sweeney, Brandon Sklenar, and Michele Morrone are also there.
I think, in general, the movie is too long (131 minutes), and some parts could have been cut without really damaging the end result. Especially towards the end—and after all the flashbacks showing how we got there—the repetitiveness starts to show, and you really want the story to end. Once the teeth, hair, and cuts twists are put into place, it starts to feel like there’s more shock value than actual narrative, so things get a bit too crazy.
Overall, though, "The Housemaid" is better than you might expect, in the sense that for as crazy as it is, you still end up having a good enough time. Or maybe my expectations were just too low.
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins.
Box Office: $329.6 million (to date)
Worth a watch?: An unexpected box-office hit, "The Housemaid" is far from a masterpiece, yet it delivers some entertaining moments. If you enjoy thrillers with wild plot twists, this movie will definitely be enjoyable.
Awards: /
Key word: Hair roots.
Trailer
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Bengi

BAFTAs 2026: Nominees & Winners

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:45:00 +0000

79th British Academy Film Awards

Best Film

“Hamnet” — Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes
“Marty Supreme” — Timothée Chalamet, Anthony Katagas, Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
“One Battle After Another” — Adam Somner, Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson
“Sentimental Value” — Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar
“Sinners” — Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ryan Coogler

Director
“Bugonia,” Yorgos Lanthimos
“Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao
“Marty Supreme,” Josh Safdie
“One Battle After Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson
“Sentimental Value,” Joachim Trier
“Sinners,” Ryan Coogler

Leading Actress
Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”
Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue”
Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another”
Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”
Emma Stone, “Bugonia”

Leading Actor

Robert Aramayo, “I Swear”
Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another”
Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon”
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”
Jesse Plemons, “Bugonia”

Supporting Actress

Odessa A’zion, “Marty Supreme”
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value”
Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners”
Carey Mulligan, “The Ballad of Wallis Island”
Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”
Emily Watson, “Hamnet”

Supporting Actor
Benicio del Toro, “One Battle After Another”
Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein”
Paul Mescal, “Hamnet”
Peter Mullan, “I Swear”
Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”
Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value”

Outstanding British Film

“28 Years Later” — Danny Boyle, Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, Bernard Bellew, Alex Garland
“The Ballad of Wallis Island” — James Griffiths, Rupert Majendie, Tom Basden, Tim Key
“Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” — Michael Morris, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jo Wallett, Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer, Abi Morgan
“Die My Love” — Lynne Ramsay, Martin Scorsese, Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi, Andrea Calderwood, Enda Walsh, Alice Birch
“H Is for Hawk” — Philippa Lowthorpe, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Emma Donoghue
“Hamnet” — Chloé Zhao, Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Speilberg, Sam Mendes, Maggie O’Farrell
“I Swear” — Kirk Jones, Georgia Bayliff, Piers Tempest
“Mr. Burton” — Marc Evans, Ed Talfan, Josh Hyams, Hannah Thomas, Trevor Matthews, Tom Bullough
“Pillion” — Harry Lighton, Emma Norton, Lee Groombridge, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe
“Steve” — Tim Mielants, Alan Moloney, Cillian Murphy, Max Porter

Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer

“The Ceremony” — Jack King (Director, Writer), Hollie Bryan (Producer), Lucy Meer (Producer)
“My Father’s Shadow” — Akinola Davies Jr. (Director), Wale Davies (Writer)
“Pillion” — Harry Lighton (Director, Writer)
“A Want in Her” — Myrid Carten (Director)
“Wasteman” — Cal McMau (Director), Hunter Andrews (Writer), Eoin Doran (Writer)

Adapted Screenplay

“The Ballad of Wallis Island,” Tom Basden and Tim Key
“Bugonia,” Will Tracy
“Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell
“One Battle After Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson
“Pillion,” Harry Lighton

Original Screenplay

“I Swear,” Kirk Jones
“Marty Supreme,” Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
“The Secret Agent,” Kleber Mendonça Filho
“Sentimental Value,” Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier
“Sinners,” Ryan Coogler

Children’s & Family Film

“Arco” — Ugo Bienvenu, Félix De Givry, Sophie Mas, Natalie Portman
“Boong” — Lakshmipriya Devi, Ritesh Sidhwani
“Lilo & Stitch” — Dean Fleischer Camp, Jonathan Eirich
“Zootropolis 2” — Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino

Film Not In The English Language

“It Was Just an Accident” — Jafar Panahi, Philippe Martin
“The Secret Agent” — Kleber Mendonça Filho, Emilie Lesclaux
“Sentimental Value” — Joachim Trier, Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar
“Sirât” — Oliver Laxe, Domingo Corral
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” — Kaouther Ben Hania, Nadim Cheikhrouha

Costume Design

“Frankenstein,” Kate Hawley
“Hamnet,” Malgosia Turzanska
“Marty Supreme,” Miyako Bellizzi
“Sinners,” Ruth E. Carter
“Wicked: For Good,” Paul Tazewell

Special Visual Effects

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” — Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon
“F1” — Ryan Tudhope, Keith Alfred Dawson, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington
“Frankenstein” — Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell
“How to Train Your Dragon” — Christian Mänz, Francois Lambert, Glen McIntosh, Terry Palmer
“The Lost Bus” — Charlie Noble, Brandon K. McLaughlin, David Zaretti

Documentary
“2,000 Meters to Andriivka” — Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, Raney Aronson-Rath
“Apocalypse in the Tropics” — Petra Costa, Alessandra Orofino
“Cover-Up” — Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus, Olivia Streisand, Yoni Golijev
“Mr. Nobody Against Putin” — David Borenstein, Helle Faber, Radovan Síbrt, Alžběta Karásková
“The Perfect Neighbor” — Geeta Gandbhir, Alisa Payne, Nikon Kwantu, Sam Bisbee

Animated Film

“Elio” — Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina, Mary Alice Drumm
“Little Amélie” — Mailys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, Nidia Santiago, Edwina Liard, Claire Le Combe, Henri Magalon
“Zootropolis 2” — Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino

Casting
“I Swear,” Lauren Evans
“Marty Supreme,” Jennifer Venditti
“One Battle After Another,” Cassandra Kulukundis
“Sentimental Value,” Yngvill Kolset Haga and Avy Kaufman
“Sinners,” Francine Maisler

Cinematography

“Frankenstein,” Dan Laustsen
“Marty Supreme,” Darius Khondji
“One Battle After Another,” Michael Bauman
“Sinners,” Autumn Durald Arkapaw
“Train Dreams,” Adolpho Veloso

Editing
“F1,” Stephen Mirrione
“A House of Dynamite,” Kirk Baxter
“Marty Supreme,” Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
“One Battle After Another,” Andy Jurgensen
“Sinners,” Michael P. Shawver

Make Up & Hair

“Frankenstein” — Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Mike Hill, Megan Many
“Hamnet” — Nicole Stafford
“Marty Supreme” — Kyra Panchenko, Kay Georgiou, Mike Fontaine
“Sinners” — Siân Richards, Shunika Terry, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine
“Wicked: For Good” — Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, Mark Coulier, Sarah Nuth

Original Score

“Bugonia,” Jerskin Fendrix
“Frankenstein,” Alexandre Desplat
“Hamnet,” Max Richter
“One Battle After Another,” Jonny Greenwood
“Sinners,” Ludwig Göransson

Production Design

“Frankenstein,” Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
“Hamnet,” Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton
“Marty Supreme,” Jack Fisk and Adam Willis
“One Battle After Another,” Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino
“Sinners,” Hannah Beachler and Monique Champagne

Sound
“F1” — Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta
“Frankenstein” — Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitallie, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoem
“One Battle Afte Another” — Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor
“Sinners” — Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco
“Warfare” — Mitch Low, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner, Glenn Freemantle

British Short Animation

“Cardboard” — J.P. Vine, Michaela Manas Malina
“Solstice” — Luke Angus
“Two Black Boys in Paradise” — Baz Sells, Dean Atta, Ben Jackson

British Short Film

“Magid/Zafar” — Luis Hindman, Sufiyaan Salam, Aidan Robert Brooks
“Nostalgie” — Kathryn Ferguson, Stacey Gregg, Marc Robinson, Kath Mattock
“Terence” — Edem Kelman, Noah Reich
“This Is Endometriosis” — Georgie Wileman, Matt Houghton, Harriette Wright
“Welcome Home Freckles” — Huiju Park, Nathan Hendren

EE Rising Star Award (voted for by the public)
Robert Aramayo
Miles Caton
Chase Infiniti
Archie Madekwe
Posy Sterling

#HollywoodCiak
Bengi

Film 2434 - KPop Demon Hunters

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:32:00 +0000

Intro: I'm in my movie era once again and lately I've been trying to catch up with all the films that I missed during last year or saved "for later" and never went back to. So here we are, giving this franchise another chance after its disappointing latest entries. But I was looking for somthing fun and easy and I thought this one could be a good candidate.

Film 2434: "KPop Demon Hunters" (2025), Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans
Watched: From my computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I found it really entertaining and well made, although I didn't necessarily fall in love with it. I didn't find it as exceptional as the various media channels portrayed it to be. Again, it's a great movie; it's just that I was expecting something mind-blowing and, as per usual, my expectations were set too high by what I read before watching the movie myself. The music is catchy, with "Golden" and "Soda Pop" being the two standout songs for me.
Overall, "KPop Demon Hunters" is a great watch and a visual spectacle, and I can see why so many people resonated with it. I'd say I'm just not part of the frenzy surrounding this movie (or K-pop music in general). Still, I'd definitely give it another watch.
P.S. Interestingly enough, there was no nomination at this year's BAFTA Awards. I find it interesting that this film isn't nominated in the Animated Movie category. The BAFTAs don't have a song category, so no snub there.
Cast: Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, Lee Byung-hun.
Box Office: $24.7 million
Worth a watch?: It will probably win at the Oscars in both categories where this movie is nominated. I haven't seen many of the animated movies this year—actually, this might be the only one I've watched so far—and I'm happy for it to win, to be honest. It's great fun, the music is good, and it's a visual spectacle. If you're a fan of K-pop music, "Demon Hunters" should be on your to-watch list.
Awards: Nominated for 2 Oscars for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song ("Golden"). Nominated for 3 Golden Globes for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, it won Best Motion Picture – Animated and Best Original Song ("Golden"). 5 Grammy Awards nomination for Song of the Year, Best Song Written for Visual Media, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Remixed Recording (all for "Golden"), and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
Key word: Golden Honmoon.
Trailer
#HollywoodCiak
Bengi

Film 2433 - Hamnet

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:46:00 +0000

Film 2433: "Hamnet" (2025), Chloé Zhao
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: If "Shakespeare in Love" were a bit more similar to this one, maybe it would have received less backlash when winning all those Oscars...
Controversy aside, "Hamnet" really surprised me. I wasn’t sure I’d have enjoyed it — it’s a period drama about Shakespeare and the making of Hamlet, so not necessarily my go-to story. And yet, I really liked it.
It’s definitely not an easy watch. It’s a sad story about the struggle of a family; it revolves around grief and loss. But it’s so beautifully made — its connection to nature, death, and those powers that go beyond the human experience is ever-present — and the performances are so powerful that it all stays with you even after the movie has ended. It is, indeed, an experience, and I think Chloé Zhao’s sensibility and vision for this story really make it a unique piece of art.
On top of all of this, Jessie Buckley gives the performance of a lifetime. She’s magnetic and charismatic and almost carries the whole movie herself. It’s honestly a revelation. She’s so connected to her emotions, and she’s able to portray them in such a way that is exhilarating to watch and heartbreaking at the same time. If this performance doesn’t win her the Oscar, I don’t know what will. Paul Mescal is also great here, and it’s a bit disappointing to see him left out of the Supporting Actor category, even though he didn’t really have a shot at winning.
Possibly the biggest surprise of "Hamnet" is Jacobi Jupe, a kid actor who can hold his own in a room full of talented grown-ups. His performance is amazing and, although difficult for a younger actor, he should have been more recognized for his portrayal of Hamnet Shakespeare.
Overall, this is one of the best movies nominated at the Oscars that I’ve seen so far. I do think that the first part is a bit slow and can drag at times, yet once the story gets you to the city — once you’re in that theater — you’re hooked. That last scene, when Agnes (Buckley) reaches forward to hold the actor’s hand (Noah Jupe), is so powerful and meaningful that it was impossible for me to hold back my tears. If only for that scene, "Hamnet" is a great movie.
Cast: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Jacobi Jupe, Noah Jupe, Joe Alwyn.
Box Office: $22 million
Worth a watch?: Not an easy watch and probably not everyone’s cup of tea. If you like beautifully shot dramas and/or if you’re a fan of the Oscars, this is a must-watch. And Jessie Buckley’s performance is one for the ages.
Awards: Nominated for 8 Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Actress (Jessie Buckley), Adapted Screenplay, Casting, Costume Design, Production Design, and Original Score. Nominated for 11 BAFTAs for Best Film, Director, Actress in a Leading Role (Buckley), Actor in a Supporting Role (Paul Mescal), Actress in a Supporting Role (Emily Watson), Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, Production Design, Makeup and Hair, Original Score, and Outstanding British Film. Nominated for 6 Golden Globes (Best Director, Supporting Actor for Mescal, Screenplay, and Original Score), it won for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (Buckley). 3 nominations at the Actor Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Buckley), and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Mescal).
Key word: London.
Trailer
#HollywoodCiak
Bengi

Film 2432 - Sentimental Value

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:06:00 +0000

Film 2432: "Sentimental Value" (2025), Joachim Trier
Watched: At the mnovies
Language: Norwegian, English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: One of my favourite movies from last year (even though I only watched it a couple of weeks ago), "Sentimental Value" continues the collaboration between Joachim Trier and Renate Reinsve after "The Worst Person in the World" came out in 2021.
I’m usually skeptical of movies that come out months before to overwhelming reviews, because that kind of hype tends to compromise the way I perceive both the film and the story. I inevitably start building expectations about where the screenplay will go and how great the cinematic experience is supposed to be — and I usually end up extremely disappointed. This time around, I wasn’t.
After a rough end to 2025, I think I needed a story that would value emotions over stunts, a quieter tone over chaotic storytelling, and, overall, something more intimate. In a way, I feel like I was destined to like "Sentimental Value" at this particular moment in my life. I especially resonated with the character of Nora (Reinsve): her complicated past resurfacing, her strained relationship with her father, the anxiety, the sadness. She’s obviously an extreme example of what depression — and what happens to you — can lead to, but especially right now, it was easy for me to see a little bit of myself in her.
Additionally, "Sentimental Value" has a strong aesthetic identity that deeply contributes to the film’s overall feeling. The house itself becomes one of the characters, and the story carefully explores its history, the people who lived in it, and how it looked in the past compared to the present. It’s fascinating and extremely well done, enhanced by a sort of documentary-like approach that I personally appreciate (the past, whether real or fictional, has always fascinated me).
Overall, I think this is a beautifully made film and a powerful story. The way it unfolds feels like a quiet storm, slowly building toward an ending that genuinely moved me. Renate Reinsve once again proves what an incredible lead she is. The entire cast is excellent, with performances that are mostly restrained yet deeply affecting. They stay with you long after the credits roll and you start walking back home. I particularly enjoyed Elle Fanning’s performance — an actress I’ve only truly discovered recently through The Great. Her work here feels tender, sincere, and emotionally honest, and I was genuinely impressed (even though I didn’t expect she might have a shot at an Oscar nomination).
Cast: Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Anders Danielsen Lie, Elle Fanning.
Box Office: $22 million
Worth a watch?: A great movie that opens with a powerful first scene, placing the audience in an uncomfortable position and immediately setting the tone for everything that follows. "Sentimental Value" is a quiet storm: it initially feels like the depiction of a delicate and intimate story, yet it eventually unleashes emotions and family trauma (and drama), a wave of feelings that hits you in ways you don’t quite anticipate. Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård are formidable — the latter definitely winning his first Oscar — and a true pleasure to watch on screen. I realize this isn’t a film for every audience, but it’s undeniably an intense and deeply emotional journey.
Awards: Nominated for 9 Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Actress (Renate Reinsve), Supporting Actress (for both Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning), Supporting Actor (Stellan Skarsgård), Original Screenplay, Editing, International Feature Film. The film won 1 Golden Globe (Skarsgård for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture) over 7 nominations (Best Motion Picture – Drama, Motion Picture – Non-English Language, Director, Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Screenplay, and Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture). In competition at Cannes 2025, it won the Grand Prix award.
Key word: Script.
Trailer
#HollywoodCiak
Bengi

Oscars 2026: Nominees & Winners

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:26:00 +0000

98th Academy Awards

Best Picture
Bugonia (Focus Features); Ed Guiney & Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone and Lars Knudsen, Producers
F1 (Apple); Chad Oman, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer, Producers
Frankenstein (Netflix); Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Scott Stuber, Producers
Hamnet (Focus Features); Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes, Producers
Marty Supreme (A24); Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Anthony Katagas and Timothée Chalamet, Producers
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.); Adam Somner, Sara Murphy and Paul Thomas Anderson, Producers
The Secret Agent (Neon); Emilie Lesclaux, Producer
Sentimental Value (Neon); Maria Ekerhovd and Andrea Berentsen Ottmar, Producers
Sinners (Warner Bros.); Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Ryan Coogler, Producers
Train Dreams (Netflix); Marissa McMahon, Teddy Schwarzman, Will Janowitz, Ashley Schlaifer and Michael Heimler, Producers

Best Director
Hamnet (Focus Features), Chloé Zhao
Marty Supreme (A24), Josh Safdie
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.), Paul Thomas Anderson
Sentimental Value (Neon), Joachim Trier
Sinners (Warner Bros.), Ryan Coogler

Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme (A24)
Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Ethan Hawke in Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)
Michael B. Jordan in Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Wagner Moura in The Secret Agent (Neon)

Best Actress
Jessie Buckley in Hamnet (Focus Features)
Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)
Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue (Focus Features)
Renate Reinsve in Sentimental Value (Neon)
Emma Stone in Bugonia (Focus Features)

Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro in One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein (Netflix)
Delroy Lindo in Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Sean Penn in One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Stellan Skarsgård in Sentimental Value (Neon)

Best Supporting Actress
Elle Fanning in Sentimental Value (Neon)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas in Sentimental Value (Neon)
Amy Madigan in Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Wunmi Mosaku in Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Teyana Taylor in One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

Best Adapted Screenplay
Bugonia (Focus Features); Screenplay by Will Tracy
Frankenstein (Netflix); Written for the Screen by Guillermo del Toro
Hamnet (Focus Features); Screenplay by Chloé Zhao & Maggie O’Farrell
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.); Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
Train Dreams (Netflix); Screenplay by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar

Best Original Screenplay
Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics); Written by Robert Kaplow
It Was Just an Accident (Neon); Written by Jafar Panahi; Script collaborators Nader Saïvar, Shadmehr Rastin, Mehdi Mahmoudian
Marty Supreme (A24); Written by Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie
Sentimental Value (Neon); Written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
Sinners (Warner Bros.); Written by Ryan Coogler

Best Animated Feature
Arco (Neon); Ugo Bienvenu, Félix de Givry, Sophie Mas and Natalie Portman
Elio (Walt Disney); Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina and Mary Alice Drumm
KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix); Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans and Michelle L.M. Wong
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (GKIDS); Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, Nidia Santiago and Henri Magalon
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney); Jared Bush, Byron Howard and Yvett Merino

Best International Feature
Brazil, The Secret Agent
France, It Was Just an Accident
Norway, Sentimental Value
Spain, Sirât
Tunisia, The Voice of Hind Rajab

Best Documentary Feature
The Alabama Solution (HBO Documentary Films); Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman
Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple); Ryan White, Jessica Hargrave, Tig Notaro and Stef Willen
Cutting Through Rocks; Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni
Mr. Nobody Against Putin (PINK); Nominees to be determined
The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix); Geeta Gandbhir, Alisa Payne, Nikon Kwantu and Sam Bisbee

Best Animated Short
Butterfly (Sacrebleu Productions); Florence Miailhe and Ron Dyens
Forevergreen; Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears
The Girl Who Cried Pearls (National Film Board of Canada); Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski
Retirement Plan; John Kelly and Andrew Freedman
The Three Sisters (Polydont Films/Rymanco Ventures); Konstantin Bronzit

Best Casting
Hamnet (Focus Features); Nina Gold
Marty Supreme (A24); Jennifer Venditti
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.); Cassandra Kulukundis
The Secret Agent (Neon); Gabriel Domingues
Sinners (Warner Bros.); Francine Maisler

Best Cinematography
Frankenstein (Netflix), Dan Laustsen
Marty Supreme (A24), Darius Khondji
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.), Michael Bauman
Sinners (Warner Bros.), Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Train Dreams (Netflix), Adolpho Veloso

Best Costume Design
Avatar: Fire and Ash (Walt Disney); Deborah L. Scott
Frankenstein (Netflix); Kate Hawley
Hamnet (Focus Features); Malgosia Turzanska
Marty Supreme (A24); Miyako Bellizzi
Sinners (Warner Bros.); Ruth E. Carter

Best Documentary Short
All the Empty Rooms (Netflix); Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones
Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (HBO); Craig Renaud and Juan Arredondo
Children No More: “Were and Are Gone” (Sky); Hilla Medalia and Sheila Nevins
The Devil Is Busy (HBO); Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir
Perfectly a Strangeness (Second Sight Pictures); Alison McAlpine

Best Film Editing
F1 (Apple); Stephen Mirrione
Marty Supreme (A24); Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.); Andy Jurgensen
Sentimental Value (Neon); Olivier Bugge Coutté
Sinners (Warner Bros.); Michael P. Shawver

Best Live-Action Short
Butcher’s Stain (Tel Aviv University Steve Tisch School of Film and Television); Meyer Levinson-Blount and Oron Caspi
A Friend of Dorothy; Lee Knight and James Dean
Jane Austen’s Period Drama; Julia Aks and Steve Pinder
The Singers (Netflix); Sam A. Davis and Jack Piatt
Two People Exchanging Saliva (Canal+/The New Yorker); Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Frankenstein (Netflix); Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey
Kokuho (GKIDS); Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino and Tadashi Nishimatsu
Sinners (Warner Bros.); Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine and Shunika Terry
The Smashing Machine (A24); Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin and Bjoern Rehbein
The Ugly Stepsister (Independent Film Company/Shudder); Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg

Best Original Score
Bugonia (Focus Features); Jerskin Fendrix
Frankenstein (Netflix); Alexandre Desplat
Hamnet (Focus Features); Max Richter
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.); Jonny Greenwood
Sinners (Warner Bros.); Ludwig Goransson

Best Original Song
“Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless (MasterClass/Greenwich Entertainment); Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix); Music and Lyric by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seon and Teddy Park
“I Lied to You” from Sinners (Warner Bros.); Music and Lyric by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Goransson
“Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi! (Viva Verdi!); Music and Lyric by Nicholas Pike
“Train Dreams” from Train Dreams (Netflix); Music by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner, Lyric by Nick Cave

Best Production Design
Frankenstein (Netflix); Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
Hamnet (Focus Features); Production Design: Fiona Crombie; Set Decoration: Alice Felton
Marty Supreme (A24); Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.); Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino
Sinners (Warner Bros.); Production Design: Hannah Beachler; Set Decoration: Monique Champagne

Best Sound
F1 (Apple) Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta
Frankenstein (Netflix) Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke and Brad Zoern
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.); José Antonio García, Christopher Scarabosio and Tony Villaflor
Sinners (Warner Bros.); Chris Welcker, Benjamin A. Burtt, Felipe Pacheco, Brandon Proctor and Steve Boeddeker
Sirāt (Neon); Amanda Vil

Best Visual Effects
Avatar: Fire and Ash (Walt Disney); Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
F1 (Apple); Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington and Keith Dawson
Jurassic World Rebirth (Universal); David Vickery, Stephen Aplin, Charmaine Chan and Neil Corbould
The Lost Bus (Apple); Charlie Noble, David Zaretti, Russell Bowen and Brandon K. McLaughlin
Sinners (Warner Bros.) Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter and Donnie Dean

#HollywoodCiak
Bengi

2026 Oscars Nominations Announcement: Live Telecast

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:32:00 +0000

98th Oscars Nominations

Oscar-nominated actor Danielle Brooks and actor Lewis Pullman will announce the 98th Oscars nominations in all 24 Academy Award® categories in a live presentation from the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, on Thursday, January 22!

Who are you rooting for?

#HollywoodCiak
Bengi

Film 2431 - Jurassic World: Rebirth

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:20:00 +0000

Film 2431: "Jurassic World: Rebirth" (2025), Gareth Edwards
Watched: From my computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: Is it a masterpiece? Surely not. Is it a reboot/sequel that we needed to see? Absolutely not. Is it better than the last outing of the franchise? Well, yes. But is that enough to justify “Jurassic World: Rebirth”’s existence beyond the usual corporate cash grab? Nah.
I’ll be honest: my expectations were so low that I didn’t actually mind watching this movie. That said, not minding it doesn’t mean it’s good. I hated how artificial everything feels (green screen), especially when compared to the original film, which has a tangible, “real” vibe that adds dimension and grounds the story in reality. The cast also feels completely wasted. Scarlett Johansson is a two-time Oscar nominee; Mahershala Ali is a two-time Oscar winner… and this is how their talent is used? They’re given almost nothing to do. Emotionally, there’s just one vaguely “deeper” moment they share on the boat, where they briefly allude to their past and what happened to them. And that’s it — that’s all we get from this duo. The rest is dino fights, sample collecting, and jungle survival. As for the other characters, there isn’t much to say either. The storyline involving the family on the other boat, in particular, felt fairly random.
Additionally, I didn’t particularly like this new mixed-dinosaurs idea: I don’t think it was utilized in a smart or cool way by the story, and the Distortus rex creature is too visually similar to the Alien monster. Honestly, I don’t need crazier dinosaurs — I need a good screenplay.
That said, it’s still nice to see Jonathan Bailey in another big production, and he’s hot as ever here (he actually reminds me of Stephen from the current season of “The Traitors” UK). So… yay for the gay cause?
Film 953 - Jurassic Park
Film 955 - Il mondo perduto - Jurassic Park
Film 957 - Jurassic Park III
Film 961 - Jurassic World
Film 965 - Jurassic World
Film 1079 - Jurassic World
Film 1361 - Jurassic World
Film 1668 - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Film 2115 - Jurassic World Dominion
Film 2430 - Jurassic World: Rebirth
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ed Skrein.
Box Office: $869.1 million
Worth a watch?: Not as bad as the last one, but definitely not the best entry in the franchise. I honestly think "Jurassic Park" needs a rest. To quote Regina George: "Stop trying to make fetch happen".
Awards: /
Key word: Blood samples.
Trailer
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Bengi

Razzie Awards 2026: Nominees & Winners

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:19:00 +0000

46th Golden Raspberry Awards

Worst Picture
“The Electric State”
“Hurry Up Tomorrow”
“Snow White” (2025)
“Star Trek: Section 31”
“War of the Worlds” (2025)

Worst Actor

Dave Bautista / “In the Lost Lands”
Ice Cube / “War of the Worlds”
Scott Eastwood / “Alarum”
Jared Leto / “Tron: Ares”
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye / “Hurry Up Tomorrow”

Worst Actress
Ariana DeBose / “Love Hurts”
Milla Jovovich / “In the Lost Lands”
Natalie Portman / “Fountain of Youth”
Rebel Wilson / “Bride Hard”
Michelle Yeoh / “Star Trek: Section 31”

Worst Remake/Rip-Off/Sequel
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2025)
“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2”
“Smurfs” (2025)
“Snow White” (2025)
“War of the Worlds” (2025)

Worst Supporting Actress

Anna Chlumsky / “Bride Hard”
Ema Horvath / “The Strangers: Chapter 2”
Scarlet Rose Stallone / “Gunslingers”
Kacey Rohl / “Star Trek: Section 31”
Isis Valverde / “Alarum”

Worst Supporting Actor

All Seven Artificial Dwarfs / “Snow White” (2025)
Nicolas Cage / “Gunslingers”
Stephen Dorff / “Bride Hard”
Greg Kinnear / “Off the Grid”
Sylvester Stallone / “Alarum”

Worst Screen Combo

All Seven Dwarfs / “Snow White” (2025)
James Corden & Rihanna / “Smurfs” (2025)
Ice Cube & His Zoom Camera / “War of the Worlds” (2025)
Robert DeNiro & Robert DeNiro (as Frank & Vito) / “The Alto Knights”
The Weeknd & His Colossal Ego / “Hurry Up Tomorrow”

Worst Director

Rich Lee / “War of the Worlds” (2025)
Olatunde Osunsanmi / “Star Trek: Section 31”
The Russo Brothers / “The Electric State”
Trey Edward Shults / “Hurry Up Tomorrow”
Marc Webb / “Snow White” (2025)

Worst Screenplay

“The Electric State” / Screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Adapted from the illustrated novel by Simon Stalenhag.
“Hurry Up Tomorrow” / Screenplay by Trey Edward Shults, Abel Tesfaye, Reza Fahim
“Snow White” (2025) / Screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson and a bunch of others too numerous to mention. Drawing from the original fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
“Star Trek: Section 31” / Screenplay by Craig Sweeny with original story concept developed by Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt
“War of the Worlds” (2025) / Screen Story and Screenplay by Kenny Golde and screenplay by Marc Hyman, adapting (or destroying) the classic novel by H.G. Wells.

Razzie Redeemer Award
Kate Hudson / Song Sung Blue

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Bengi

Film 2430 - Wake Up Dead Man

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:54:00 +0000

Intro: I had to start watching this movie three times before I could finish it — not because of a lack of intention, clearly, but because we chose to start watching it while in Dingle, Co. Kerry, during the New Year’s celebrations. And I don’t think it was a smart idea to give it a go after a long day of travelling, a long day of drinking, or in the company of friends (Niamh, Rachel, and Eimear) you’d just gone partying with.
So, when I got back home in the new year, I finally gave it a proper go (while on the new treadmill I bought so I don’t have to go for my weekly run in the rain).

Film 2430: "Wake Up Dead Man" (2025), Rian Johnson
Watched: From my computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I'm still a big fan of the first "Knives Out" and, as fun as it is to have more than one movie in this series, neither of the sequels has lived up to the initial hype — this one especially. Or, to put it differently, after the second movie came out and revealed itself to be a bit of a 'meh', I think people weren’t too curious about the third outing of the franchise.
To be fair, "Wake Up Dead Man" is better than "Glass Onion", in my opinion. The killer is still quite obvious, but at least it isn’t revealed as blatantly by the plot as it is in the second film. I hoped the big reveal of who committed the murder would at least be the kind of plot twist these types of movies should deliver and, in the end, it was — so kudos for that.
Still, I have to admit that a) stories revolving around religion, cults, and/or faith don’t necessarily appeal to me, and b) I wish Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) had been more at the centre of the story, rather than feeling like a supporting character simply linking the Knives Out series together.
Overall, although quite intricate, the story is entertaining, the mystery is an actual mystery, and the cast is full of A-listers delivering solid performances. Josh O’Connor proves once again that he’s a great lead, although it feels strange seeing him play a priest opposite the original hot priest from "Fleabag" (Andrew Scott).
Film 1844 - Knives Out
Film 2010 - Knives Out
Film 2152 - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Film 2429 - Wake Up Dead Man
Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church.
Box Office: $2.5 million
Worth a watch?: If you enjoyed the previous two movies in this franchise, this will be a nice addition and definitely one to watch. Overall, it’s better than the previous one, but not as surprising or entertaining as the original "Knives Out". Still, good fun.
Awards: /
Key word: Damascus.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2429 - Marty Supreme

noreply@blogger.com (HollywoodCiak) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:36:00 +0000

Intro: I had really high expectations for this one, considering the stellar reviews, crazy marketing campaign, Oscar buzz and yeah, its protagonist.

Film 2429: "Marty Supreme" (2025), Josh Safdie
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I didn’t realize this movie shares its director with “Uncut Gems,” one of the most stressful movies I’ve ever watched. And “Marty Supreme” isn’t a walk in the park either.
I can’t really say that I loved it, to be honest, but I liked it enough for a number of reasons. It’s not my kind of movie: it’s so loud and fast-paced, and at times so intense and stressful, that I couldn’t fully enjoy it. This experience wasn’t as extreme as the “Uncut Gems” one, but it still affected (or tainted) my overall perception of the movie. That said, I did appreciate Timothée Chalamet’s performance — which I think could win him his first Oscar — and I love that Fran Drescher is finally back to acting. Overall, though, the standout performance for me was Odessa A’zion’s: she’s extremely talented, and her time in this movie proves it. I also appreciated the set pieces; I think the overall vibe and atmosphere were well built and convincingly recreated. Some really interesting music choices are included as well and, although not historically accurate, they really work.
Overall, I didn’t like it as much as I would have loved to, but I don’t regret committing to this two-and-a-half-hour movie.
P.S. The conceiving scene at the beginning reminded me of the movie “Look Who’s Talking”.
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, Sandra Bernhard, Fred Hechinger, Fran Drescher.
Box Office: $79.5 million (so far)
Worth a watch?: If you’re a fan of Timothée, Josh Safdie’s filmmaking style, or the yearly award-season race in general, this movie is hard to miss. I was hoping for a more traditional biopic-style execution and less narrative craziness, but it’s as entertaining as it is stressful at times. It’s also a bit odd to see Timothée and Gwyneth Paltrow in sex scenes — but it is what it is.
Awards: Nominated for 3 Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Screenplay, it won Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Timothée Chalamet). 3 nominations at the upcoming 2026 Actor Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Chalamet), Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Odessa A'zion).
Key word: Table tennis.
Trailer
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Bengi