Cinema and Popcorn

CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS The organization that tries too often to be an Oscar predictor rather than a critics group that really goes for their very favorites, but I must say I am quite pleased with their choices this year - I believe they show here the general consensus from critics. With Everything Everywhere All At Once winning here, beating some big favorites (and much more "made for Oscar taste" contenders) it takes the lead in the Oscar race. What a joy it is to see a small production with an early release going this far in the awards season! A note about a couple of speeches: Brendan Fraser 's acceptance speech earned him an instant Oscar nomination (moving, personal, inspiring!) and it generate even more goodwill towards him, which might lead to an actual Oscar win some months from now; and Cate Blanchett who had some negative words and made fun of prizes saying it is for competition purposes (and not for the recognition of quality)... is she too confortable t...

2022 has ended beautifully in cinematic terms: I believe it is one of the strongest years for movies in almost a decade. It was a though list to put on and it took me a couple of days to decide the last 3-2 spots. Still movies I loved a lot like Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery , Happening/L'Événement , After Yang , The Banshees of Inisherin , Alcarràs or Top Gun: Maverick were left out - don't miss the Cinema & Popcorn Awards next week, where I will spread the wealth between those I consider to be the best cinematic achievements of 2022. So, here are my Best Movies of 2022, my personal TOP 10: Please note this is a list based on my personal taste only. A special mention to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery , which made me have a lot of fun the first time I watched it - I think I will end-up loving the movie even more than I love it right now. Some movies age like fine wine in your mind and I feel it is gonna be case. 

The first precursor awards have hit the Oscar race and there are as many good surprises as some shocking/unexpected picks, like every year. On this post we will just present the awards noms/wins, only with a brief analisys about each one of them. Have a look: NEW YORK FILM CRITICS CIRCLE (NYFCC) The NYFCC Awards are the oldest critics prize and maybe the most prestigious one in the US and worldwide, so winning here can give a big Oscar boost to any contender. Although the NYFCC Award are quite inconsistent in terms of translation to the Oscar nominations morning, winning here puts everyone on the map. So, it was quite surprising seeing Rajamouli winning Best Director here for RRR - but it started a "trend" at critics prizes for sure. I think Keke Palmer's win is quite an inspiring and out-of-the-box pick, but I don't think it will translate to real Oscar chances, unlike all the other acting winners here. TÁR also got a big boost - it sure is a tailor-made movie for ...

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER The second installment can't quite match the high bars estabilished by its predecessor. The narrative is not as engaging and the absence of the charismatic Chadwick Boseman (RIP) is deeply felt by the audience. The movie explores the geopolitic position of Wakanda after the "discovery" of vibranium while it also deals with the surge of a new (underwater) kingdom that threats to disrupt the fragile balance of the Wakanda kingdom. Nonetheless, Wakanda Forever feels like the best movie Ryan Coogler could ever directed after the tragic death of its lead actor Boseman - it works as a cinematic vehicle that explores grief and how people experience it differently. The production design and costume design works are incredible and so are the visual effects and cinematography, but the movie's major highlight is Angela Bassett who totally sells this installment thanks to her performance as Queen Ramonda. It's a powerhouse performance as the gr...