Cinema and Popcorn

Genre: Romance; Comedy Directed by: Jon M. Chu Written by:  Peter Chiarelli and   Adele Lim, b ased on  " Crazy Rich Asians "  by Kevin Kwan Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding,  Gemma Chan,  Awkwafina,  Nico Santos,  Lisa Lu,  Ken Jeong and   Michelle Yeoh In Theaters: August 15, 2018 (USA) The box-office hit of the moment, Crazy Rich Asians might well be named The Comedy of 2018 Summer and one of the most daring films in the last couple of decades since it is a major Hollywood production which features an all-Asian cast.   And guess what? Somehow it feels like a fresh take on a classic plot-line that feels so unique due to the energy, visual splendor em A-level acting between Constance Wu and Michelle Yeoh. In fact, about Constance Wu, she delivers what can be considered a star-making performance... After an acclaimed turn in Fresh Off the Boat TV series, Crazy Rich Asians might turn her the most significant Asian leading lady after Gong Li and M

BEST DIRECTOR What an year for Best Director. If last year's nominees shortlist was purely composed by auteurs, 2018/2019 promises to be quite similar... Well, it would be if you still consider Damien Chazelle an auteur given the big-sized production of First Man (budget of $70M), but we all know he still is the young talented director behind Whiplash and La La Land - and given how great First Man looks both on paper and in the trailer, Chazelle will be one of the top contenders, for sure. Oh the irony: once again it seems Chazelle might be fighting agains   Barry Jenkins who brings If Beale Street Could Talk this year... It won't be easy to match the brilliance of the Best Picture-winner Moonlight for sure, but the source material of Beale Street (a James Baldwin's novel) is beautiful and strong and Jenkins proved he can put lightning in a bottle... so it is impossible to ignore his Oscar potential. Sometimes the AMPAS decides to recognize one unexpected box-of

Most people (including me) went nuts when they heard about "The Blockbuster Oscar", when the AMPAS announced an Academy Award for Popular Film. While there are no real details about here are some suggestions: 7 new categories the AMPAS should think about creating (or bring back in case of one category). This list includes the way I think "Most Popular Film" category should work: PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD "The Blockbuster Oscar" can be more like the People's Choice Award of Toronto International Film Festival than a way to honour producers who have already earned a lot of money at the box-office. My personal opinion, the AMPAS should release a list of semi-finalist and allow the creation of a online voting platform for popular voting... OR they can go all the way to TIFF voting process:  " attendees are invited to "vote" for the film by leaving their ticket stubs in voting boxes outside the theater after the show. However, to e

It's nice to have Alfonso Cuarón back to smaller-sized productions. Looks personal and extremely beautiful.

One word:   "Beautifully-amazing!"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY A Quiet Place is that unexpected hit that no one was really paying attention until it was released... and it's explores a sometimes monocordic cinematic genre in a truly original way and both critics and audiences loved it - the AMPAS goes for small productions turned into worldwide successes in this category. As for Backseat, Peterloo and Roma , we haven't seen the movies yet, I know, but both Mike Leigh and Cuarón got some AMPAS love in the screenplay categories in a near past, so I just will take them very seriously. Adam McKay writing won him a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar back in 2016 for The Big Short (2015), so he shouldn't be ignored too. My biggest doubt is Isle of Dogs : it is the best screenplay of the year, so far, and Wes Anderson is one of the most celebrated auteurs working today (with 3 Best Original Screenplay nominations), but sometimes it seems AMPAS members feel relutant about going for animated features in this categor

SCARLETT INGRID JOHANSSON , born November 22nd, 1984 (33 years old) - she gained widespread recognition in late 90's and she became an indie muse in the early 2000's. Now she's considered one of the best actresses of her generation and, thanks to her appearances as Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow in Marvel Cinematic Universe, she's also one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. So... Just like I mentioned in a previous poster, let's celebrate 10 years of MCU and the massive worldwide success of Avengers: Infinity War by having a look at its main cast members careers and major acting achievements. The second "victim" is Scarlett Johansson, long-time friend of Chris Evans (our previous study subject). Here's a small study on Scarlett Johansson's rich career in 5 cinematic moments: THE HORSE WHISPERER (1998) Robert Redford described her "13 going on 30" by the time The Horse Whisperer was released, but I guess

CHRISTOPHER ROBERT EVANS , born June 13th, 1981 (37 years old) - he rose to fame thanks to his role of Steve Rogers / Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it happens he started acting since the early 2000's. So... Just like I mentioned in a previous poster, let's celebrate 10 years of MCU and the massive worldwide success of Avengers: Infinity War by having a look at its main cast members careers and major acting achievements, starting with Captain himself. Here's a small study on Chris Evans career in 5 movies: NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE (2001)   Remember those dark cinematic times when Scary Movie movies were released and there was an horrific trend about brainless teen comedies? Well, Chris Evans belongs to that era too, since he starred Not Another Teen Movie , as the lead Jack Wyler "The Popular Jock". With some shades of American Pie and "already seen" jokes, Not Another Teen Movie is no a prestige movie for sure,

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Unlike Best Supporting Actress' race, Best Supporting Actor looks much less obvious. From Oscar-winning figures to a big couple of actors who seem to be overdue for a first Academy Award nomination, Supporting Actor is unpredictable at this point of pre-awards season. Russell Crowe seems to have an acting vehicle with enough potential for a career comeback as a religious father who doesn't accept his son's homossexuality in Boy Erased (a movie that is said to be an acting gem!). Then, there is Adam Driver , best known from the newest Star Wars movies and from his collaborations with Noah Baumbach and for his amazing performance in 2016's Patterson - this year he seems to be contending for a supporting part in Spike Lee 's critically acclaimed comedy BlacKkKlansman and while he's not the movie's standout, he's very good and he might benefit from the movie's Oscar buzz for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Scree