14th Mar2023

14th Dorian Film Awards (Film)

by timbaros
DoriansFull_goldGALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics has named A24’s fantastical and affecting family relationship drama Everything Everywhere All at Once 2022’s Film of the Year—and then some—in its 14th Dorian Film Awards. Everything creative duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert co-won both director and best screenplay honors, star Michelle Yeoh seized best performance, Ke Huy Quan edged out two of his costars for supporting performance, while the time-and-reality-warping box office champ also nabbed LGBTQ Film and Visually Striking Film wins.
No need to feel sad for Quan’s Everything cast mate Stephanie Hsu—the group of over 400 entertainment critics, journalists and media icons named the breakout actress Rising Star of the Year.
GALECA’s Dorian Award voters chose writer-director Charlotte Wells’ father-daughter tearjerker Aftersun as best Unsung Film, a category meant for “an exceptional movie worthy of greater attention.” A24’s roll didn’t stop there—the studio’s stop-motion charmer Marcel the Shell with Shoes On walked off with Animated Film, and its cheeky horror prequel Pearl, headlining co-writer Mia Goth as an ax-wielding wannabe in 1918 Texas, scored (the not always complementary) Campiest Flick honors.
Two Dorians went to All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, director Laura Poitras’ searing Neon tragidoc involving famed photographer—and recovering Oxy-Contin addict—Nan Goldin. The film, taking both best documentary and LGBTQ documentary, follows the bisexual Goldin in her mission to shame members of the Sackler family pharma dynasty for willfully helping fuel America’s opioid crisis.
Non-English Language Film of the Year: RRR, the rollicking, spectacular—and song-filled—historical adventure about two passionate South Indian rebels determined to push British colonials from their homeland in the 1920s.
 
As for the group’s special accolades, Yeoh—currently seen in the re-release of the movie that made her an international star, 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon—was GALECA’s latest pick for Wilde Artist of the Year. The honor, named in homage to Oscar Wilde, goes to a “truly groundbreaking force in film, theater and/or television.” Previous recipients include such entertainment firebrands as Pedro Almodóvar, Todd Haynes, Kate McKinnon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ryan Murphy, Dolly Parton, Jordan Peele and Joey Soloway.
 
The big-hearted, ebullient nonbinary actor-singer Janelle Monáe, costar of last year’s popular big-screen lark Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (for which they received a Dorian nomination), was named LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer. Past Trailblazers (either film or TV) include director Isabel Sandoval, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Almodóvar.
The group will announce the recipient of its Timeless Star career achievement honor at a later date.
In a special vote in their film ballots, GALECA’s members were asked to name an LGBTQ-themed theatrical release of 2022 that they felt deserved more attention (streaming platform releases such as Hulu’s Fire Island and Netflix’s Do Revenge were not considered but will be eligible for the next Dorian TV Awards). The group’s 10 Best Unsung LGBTQ Film Films of 2022, in alphabetical order: Anais in Love, Benediction, Close, Firebird, Girl Picture, Great Freedom, Peter von Kant, Please Baby Please, Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies and We’re All Going to the World’s Fair.
“Pushing through a pandemic, plus frightening attacks on not just America’s democracy but its citizens of color and anyone who isn’t straight—we’ve all had to deal with a lot lately,” said GALECA Executive Director John Griffiths. “But how great is that the movies are back, from big, exciting blockbuster to personal and quirky stories that hit home for all types of cinema fans? No matter what’s going on in the mind of a certain Florida governor and his ilk, the best movies, and TV too, will only continue to reflect what’s going on in the real world—and parallel ones too. Looking at our nominees and winners, you can let out a nice, deep breath.”  
GALECA: THE SOCIETY OF LGBTQ ENTERTAINMENT CRITICS
14TH DORIAN FILM AWARDS WINNERS LIST
Film of the Year
Aftersun (A24)
The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
* Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
The Fabelmans (Universal)
Tár (Focus Features)
LGBTQ Film of the Year
Benediction (Roadside Attractions)
Bros (Universal)
* Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
The Inspection (A24)
Tár (Focus Features)
Director of the Year
Todd Field, Tár (Focus Features)
* Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
Sarah Polley, Women Talking (United Artists)
Charlotte Wells, Aftersun (A24)
Screenplay of the Year
Todd Field, Tár (Focus Features)
* Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
Sarah Polley, Women Talking (United Artists)
Charlotte Wells, Aftersun (A24)
Non-English Language Film of the Year
All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix, Amusement Park)
Close (A24)
Decision to Leave (Mubi, CJ Entertainment) 
EO (Sideshow, Janus Films)
* RRR (DVV Entertainment, Variance Films)
 
Unsung Film of the Year
To an exceptional movie worthy of greater attention
* Aftersun (A24)
After Yang (A24)
Benediction (Roadside Attractions)
The Eternal Daughter (A24)
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (Searchlight)
The Menu (Searchlight)
Emily the Criminal (Vertical/Roadside Attractions)
Film Performance of the Year
Cate Blanchett, Tár (Focus Features)
Austin Butler, Elvis (Warner Bros.)
Viola Davis, The Woman King (Sony)
Danielle Deadwyler, Till (United Artists)
Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
Brendan Fraser, The Whale (A24)
Mia Goth, Pearl (A24)
Paul Mescal, Aftersun (A24)
Jeremy Pope, The Inspection (A24)
* Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
Supporting Film Performance of the Year
Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney, Marvel)
Hong Chau, The Whale (A24)
Jaime Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
Dolly De Leon, Triangle of Sadness (Neon)
Nina Hoss, Tár (Focus Features)
Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight)
Janelle Monáe, Glass Onion: Knives Out (Netflix)
Keke Palmer, Nope (Universal)
* Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
Documentary of the Year
* All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Neon)
Fire of Love (Neon, National Geographic)
Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios)
Moonage Daydream (Neon)
Navalny (Warner Bros.)
LGBTQ Documentary of the Year
* All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Neon)
Framing Agnes (Kino Lorber)
Moonage Daydream (Neon)
Nelly & Nadine (Wolfe Releasing)
Sirens (Oscilloscope)
Animated Film of the Year
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Netflix)
* Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (A24)
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (DreamWorks, Universal)
Turning Red (Disney, Pixar)
Wendell & Wild (Netflix)
Film Music of the Year
Babylon – score by Justin Hurvitz (Paramount)
Elvis – score and music production by Elliott Wheeler; the music of Elvis Presley; various artists (Warner Bros.)
RRR – score by M.M. Keeravani (DVV Entertainment, Variance Films)
* Tár – score and curation by Hildur Guðnadóttir (Focus Features)
Women Talking – score by Hildur Guðnadóttir (United Artists)
Visually Striking Film of the Year
Avatar: The Way of Water (20th Century) 
Babylon (Paramount) 
* Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24)
Nope (Universal) 
RRR (DVV Entertainment, Variance Films)
 
Campiest Flick of the Year
Babylon (Paramount)
Bodies Bodies Bodies (A24)
Elvis (Warner Bros.)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix) 
* Pearl (A24)
RRR (DVV Entertainment, Variance Films)
 
Rising Star Award
Austin Butler
Frankie Corio
* Stephanie Hsu
Gabriel LaBelle
Jenna Ortega
Jeremy Pope
 
Wilde Artist Award
To a truly groundbreaking force in film, theater and/or television
Cate Blanchett
Billy Eichner
Janelle Monáe
Keke Palmer
* Michelle Yeoh
GALECA LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer Award 
* Janelle Monáe
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05th Mar2023

London Film Critics Circle Award Winners (Film)

by timbaros

image001.jpgTár and The Banshees of Inisherin top the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards

Michelle Yeoh is presented with the critics’ top prize, The Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film, as Cate Blanchett takes Actress of the Year and the cast of The Banshees of nisherin sweep three other acting categories.

The provocative culture-war drama Tár was a big winner at the 43rd annual London Critics’ Circle Film Awards, taking three major awards at a star-studded ceremony at The May Fair Hotel on Sunday night. Todd Field’s film was crowned Film of the Year, while Field and Cate Blanchett were named Director and Actress of the Year. This is the third time Blanchett has won this award, after Elizabeth in 1998 and Blue Jasmine in 2013.

Meanwhile, Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy The Banshees of Inisherin left the ceremony with five prizes, including The Attenborough Award for British/Irish Film of the Year, Screenwriter of the Year, Actor of the Year for Colin Farrell, and both Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress for Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon. Another Irish title, The Quiet Girl, won Foreign-Language Film of the Year in a tie win alongside Park Chan-wook’s noir thriller Decision to Leave. Laura Poitras’ pointed Nan Goldin film All the Beauty and the Bloodshed was named Documentary of the Year.

The ceremony was capped with the presentation of The Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film to cinematic icon Michelle Yeoh, who was accompanied by her Everything Everywhere All at Once costar Ke Huy Quan. Danny Boyle presented the honour at the end of the night.

Also in attendance were Florence Pugh and Bill Nighy, who were named British/Irish Actress and Actor for their body of work in 2022. Pugh was reunited at the event with her The Wondercostars Tom Burke and Kíla Lord Cassidy. There was also a reunion for Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio, who played father and daughter in Aftersun. Corio won the Young British/Irish Performer award for her role, while Paul was on hand to accept writer-director Charlotte Wells’ Philip French Award for Breakthrough British/Irish Filmmaker. The Technical Achievement Award went to Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio for animation and was collected by Gregory Mann, who voiced the title character. British/Irish Short Film of the Year was Keeran Anwar Blessie’s A Fox in the Night.

The awards are given by the 200-member Film Section of the Critics’ Circle, the UK’s longest-standing and most prestigious critics’ organisation. The May Fair Hotel, part of Edwardian Hotels London, is the main sponsor of the event for the 13th year running. Awards sponsors were The House of Koko, the new private members club which is part of the iconic London music venue; leading film, television and online media school MetFilm; and creative-industry accountants Nyman Libson Paul. New sponsors this year included premium non-alcoholic sparkling wine Wild Idol; Gattertop Drinks Co; Black Crowned Gin; large-format printing specialists Wahooti; chauffer service Excel Executive; and live production company JWP.tv, which livestreamed the ceremony on the Critics’ Circle YouTube channel @CriticsCircleFilmSection.
FILM OF THE YEAR
Tár

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR (tie)
Decision to Leave
The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin)

DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

The Attenborough Award:
BRITISH/IRISH FILM OF THE YEAR
The Banshees of Inisherin

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR sponsored by The House of Koko
Todd Field – Tár

SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Martin McDonagh – The Banshees of Inisherin

ACTRESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Nyman Libson Paul
Cate Blanchett – Tár
ACTOR OF THE YEAR sponsored by The House of Koko
Colin Farrell – The Banshees of Inisherin

SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin

SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Barry Keoghan – The Banshees of Inisherin

BRITISH/IRISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR for body of work
Florence Pugh – Don’t Worry Darling, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Wonder

BRITISH/IRISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR for body of work
Bill Nighy – Living

The Philip French Award:
BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH/IRISH FILMMAKER sponsored by MetFilm
Charlotte Wells – Aftersun

YOUNG BRITISH/IRISH PERFORMER
Frankie Corio – Aftersun

BRITISH/IRISH SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR
A Fox in the Night – dir Keeran Anwar Blessie

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio – Guillermo del Toro and Brian Leif Hansen, animation

DILYS POWELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FILM
Michelle Yeoh

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25th Feb2023

2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards: The Winners (Film)

by timbaros

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

The EE BAFTA Film Awards, hosted by Richard E. Grant and Alison Hammond, took place on Sunday 19 February and were broadcast on BBC One & BBC iPlayer in the UK and around the world. Below are the winners:

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER AFTERSUN
EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER AFTERSUN
EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award DOCUMENTARY NAVALNY
EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award DOCUMENTARY NAVALNY

 

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award ANIMATED FILM GUILLERMO DEL TOROS PINOCCHIO

ANIMATED FILM – GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award DIRECTOR ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

DIRECTOR – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN 

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award LEADING ACTRESS CATE BLANCHETT

LEADING ACTRESS – CATE BLANCHETT

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award LEADING ACTOR AUSTIN BUTLER

LEADING ACTOR – AUSTIN BUTLER

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award SUPPORTING ACTRESS KERRY CONDON

SUPPORTING ACTRESS – KERRY CONDON

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award SUPPORTING ACTOR BARRY KEOGHAN

SUPPORTING ACTOR – BARRY KEOGHAN

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award ORIGINAL SCORE ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

ORIGINAL SCORE – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award CASTING ELVIS

CASTING – ELVIS

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award CINEMATOGRAPHY ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

CINEMATOGRAPHY – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award EDITING EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

EDITING – EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award PRODUCTION DESIGN BABYLON

PRODUCTION DESIGN – BABYLON

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award COSTUME DESIGN ELVIS

COSTUME DESIGN – ELVIS 

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award MAKE UP HAIR ELVIS

MAKE UP & HAIR – ELVIS 

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award SOUND ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

SOUND – ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS AVATAR THE WAY OF WATER

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS – AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER 

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION THE BOY THE MOLE THE FOX AND THE HORSE

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION – THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award BRITISH SHORT FILM AN IRISH GOODBYE

BRITISH SHORT FILM – AN IRISH GOODBYE

EE BAFTA Film 2023 BEST FILM Award EE RISING STAR EMMA MACKEY

EE RISING STAR – EMMA MACKEY

 

 

 

 

 

 

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15th Feb2023

Women Talking (Film)

by timbaros

Image 15-02-2023 at 16.58‘Women Talking is so unique that we can declare we’ve not seen anything like it in a very long time.

It’s got an amazing female cast (Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand, Judith Ivey), with one male (Ben Whishaw ably holding his own) in this film that’s basically an all female production (the Director and Writer is Sarah Polley, McDormand is one of the producers). The action never strays far from where the women are ‘talking,’ and debating, their move, or not, to leave the compound where they (Mennonites – set in as recent as 2010) live to escape the abuse they have suffered at the hands of the men (the men are never seen but their presence is eerily felt). The women are all dressed in similar garb, it’s getting dark outside, and they are all upstairs in a barn on their compound. You could call this film a debate movie – a few of the woman want to stay and a few want to go. Watching it you never know how it’s going to end – the debate is that good, and it never gets boring. Foy is particularly memorable in scenes where she clutches her young daughter, knowing from that moment their lives will never be the same again. August (Whishaw) is tasked to take the minutes, the debate is led by Ona (Mara), Salome (Foy), and Mariche (Buckley), and ultimately a decision has to made. ‘Women Talking’ is more than just women talking – it’s taut, suspenseful, and will get you talking too. 
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15th Feb2023

The Whale (Film)

by timbaros
httpscdn.sanity.ioimagesxq1bjtf4productione7cc08bbd5c97e4a3557e0bc6b7be0a216c98e2e-2808x2109Brendan Fraser is receiving praise and awards for his performance in this film where he plays an extremely obese and dying college professor. It’s a performance, and a film, that completely looks and feels manufactured. 

Adapted for the big screen from a 2012 play by Samuel D. Hunter (the film looks like a play), ‘The Whale’, directed by Darren Aronosky, is directed with too much precision that it becomes both sloppy and misguided and completely fails in its message. Housebound Charlie (Fraser – wearing a fat suit) conducts his college courses on zoom so his obese and grotesque body (600 pounds) is not seen by his students. He can barely get around his apartment; he uses a wheelchair to go from room to room. He has a carer who comes in to help him out (a very good Hong Chau) but is she caring for him out of obligation or love? You see, she is the sister of Charlie’s deceased lover Alan.

More ridiculous conflict is introduced as his daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink) from a previous relationship with Mary (Samantha Morton) re-appears into his life whom he’s trying reconcile with before his ultimate demise. And to top it off he continues to receive visits from an evangelical Mormon (Ty Simpkins) who has other motives that are not very clear. 

The music swells during the ‘dramatic‘ moments as Aronofsky plays with your emotions, and not very effectively. And we all know what’s going to happen to The Whale. Fraser tries his hardest to ‘act’ (including donning a fat suit and using a prosthetic for a shower scene) but it’s a performance, and a film, that’s unworthy of its alcolades. You’ll finish the movie shaking your head at having your emotions falsely played with and a deep resentment that this film is not as good as it should’ve been. Fraser was in the audience at the screening we saw the film at, and he received a 20 minute standing ovation. We’d like to think it was for this comeback, and not necessarily for his performance in this film, or for the film itself.

FABUK saw this film at the 2022 London Film Festival
 
‘The Whale’ is currently playing in UK cinemas
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11th Feb2023

The Fabelmans (Film)

by timbaros
This is perhaps the film Director Steven Spielberg always wanted to make, and he enlisted Tony Award Winner Tony Kushner (Angels in America) to help write this movie that is basically an ode to Spielbergs childhood.
Gabrielle LaBelle is fantastic as Sammy –  the ‘young Spielberg’ who, after taken by his parents to see a screening of Cecil B. DeMille’s ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, gets the filmmaking bug. Using his fathers camera (Paul Dano), and with the support and love of his mother Mitzi (a very good Michelle Williams, Oscar-nominated for this role), Sammy films everything. But Sammy sometimes films too much, and sees things through the camera that should’ve always been kept in the closet with the rest of the family secrets. Meanwhile Mitzi is not the most stable mother on the block, especially after the family moves to another state. And with the death of her mom, and with rumours swirling about Mitzi and a male friend of the family, Sammy perhaps has captured too much and does not want to face the truth about his family. But we all know how Spielbergs life turned out, and we can only assume this is how Sammy’s life will turn out, especially after a chance meeting with legendary film director John Ford.
Up for 8 Oscars, deservedly so, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, ’The Fabelmans’ is an endearing film but it could’ve been so much more. It drags a bit in the middle (the film is 150 minutes – quite long for a drama), and was practically shut out of the top BAFTA nominations. It won the Golden Globe for Best Picture and Best Director, and Judd Hirsch, who plays the grandfather, was just nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, so this proved Hollywood loves this sort of film, and they love showering their own with awards. You will love this film too, if you are able to sit through the whole thing.
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21st Jan2023

BAFTA Nominations 2023 (Film)

by timbaros

aftersun-2022-paul-mescal-seaThe German war film All Quiet on the Western Front has emerged as the frontrunner after the announcement of this year’s BAFTA nominations. Its tally of 14 nominations is the most for any film since The King’s Speech in 2011.

The Banshees of Inisherin and Everything Everywhere All at Once both have 10 nominations, with Elvis on nine and Tár on five.

Charlotte Wells’ directorial debut Aftersun, which was backed by the BFI Film Fund awarding National Lottery money, has picked up four nominations, including for outstanding British film, Wells for outstanding debut and Paul Mescal for best actor. Other films with four nominations are The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick, The Whale and Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.

Best film

All Quiet on the Western Front – Malte Grunert
The Banshees of Inisherin – Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Martin McDonagh
Elvis – Gail Berman, Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Patrick McCormick, Schuyler Weiss
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang
Tár – Todd Field, Scott Lambert, Alexandra Milchan

Outstanding British film

Aftersun – Charlotte Wells, producer(s) tbc
The Banshees of Inisherin – Martin McDonagh, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin
Brian and Charles – Jim Archer, Rupert Majendie, David Earl, Chris Hayward
Empire of Light – Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande – Sophie Hyde, Debbie Gray, Adrian Politowski, Katy Brand
Living – Oliver Hermanus, Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Kazuo Ishiguro
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical – Matthew Warchus, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn, Luke Kelly, Dennis Kelly
See How They Run – Tom George, Gina Carter, Damian Jones, Mark Chappell
The Swimmers – Sally El Hosaini, producer(s) tbc, Jack Thorne
The Wonder – Sebastián Lelio, Ed Guiney, Juliette Howell, Andrew Lowe, Tessa Ross, Alice Birch, Emma Donoghue

Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer

Aftersun – Charlotte Wells (writer/director)
Blue Jean – Georgia Oakley (writer/director), Hélène Sifre (producer)
Electric Malady – Marie Lidén (director)
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande – Katy Brand (writer)
Rebellion – Maia Kenworthy (director)

Film not in the English language

All Quiet on the Western Front – Edward Berger, Malte Grunert
Argentina, 1985 – Santiago Mitre, producer(s) tbc
Corsage – Marie Kreutzer
Decision to Leave – Park Chan-wook, Ko Dae-seok
The Quiet Girl – Colm Bairéad, Cleona Ní Chrualaoí

Documentary

All That Breathes – Shaunak Sen, Teddy Leifer, Aman Mann
All The Beauty and the Bloodshed – Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov, John Lyons
Fire of Love – Sara Dosa, Shane Boris, Ina Fichman
Moonage Daydream – Brett Morgan
Navalny – Daniel Roher, Diane Becker, Shane Boris, Melanie Miller, Odessa Rae

Animated film

Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio – Guillermo Del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar, Alex Bulkley
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – Dean Fleisher Camp, Andrew Goldman, Elisabeth Holm, Caroline Kaplan, Paul Mezey
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Joel Crawford, Mark Swift
Turning Red – Domee Shi, Lindsey Collins

Director

All Quiet on the Western Front – Edward Berger
The Banshees of Inisherin – Martin McDonagh
Decision to Leave – Park Chan-Wook
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Tár – Todd Field
The Woman King – Gina Prince-Bythewood

Original screenplay

The Banshees of Inisherin – Martin McDonagh
Everything Everywhere All At Once – Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
The Fabelmans – Tony Kushner, Steven Spielberg
Tár – Todd Field
Triangle of Sadness – Ruben Östlund

Adapted screenplay

All Quiet on the Western Front – Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, Ian Stokell
Living – Kazuo Ishiguro
The Quiet Girl – Colm Bairéad
She Said – Rebecca Lenkiewicz
The Whale – Samuel D. Hunter

Leading actress

Cate Blanchett – Tár
Viola Davis – The Woman King
Danielle Deadwyler – Till
Ana De Armas – Blonde
Emma Thompson – Good Luck To You, Leo Grande
Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Leading actor

Austin Butler – Elvis
Colin Farrell – The Banshees Of Inisherin
Brendan Fraser – The Whale
Daryl McCormack – Good Luck To You, Leo Grande
Paul Mescal – Aftersun
Bill Nighy – Living

Supporting actress

Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hong Chau – The Whale
Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin
Dolly De Leon – Triangle of Sadness
Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All At Once
Carey Mulligan – She Said

Supporting actor

Brendan Gleeson – The Banshees Of Inisherin
Barry Keoghan – The Banshees Of Inisherin
Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Eddie Redmayne – The Good Nurse
Albrecht Schuch – All Quiet on the Western Front
Micheal Ward – Empire of Light

Original score

All Quiet on the Western Front – Volker Bertelmann
Babylon – Justin Hurwitz
The Banshees of Inisherin – Carter Burwell
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Son Lux
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio – Alexandre Desplat

Casting

Aftersun – Lucy Pardee
All Quiet on the Western Front – Simone Bär
Elvis – Nikki Barrett, Denise Chamian
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Sarah Halley Finn
Triangle of Sadness – Pauline Hansson

Cinematography

All Quiet on the Western Front – James Friend
The Batman – Greig Fraser
Elvis – Mandy Walker
Empire of Light – Roger Deakins
Top Gun: Maverick – Claudio Miranda

Editing

All Quiet on the Western Front – Sven Budelmann
The Banshees of Inisherin – Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
Elvis – Jonathan Redmond, Matt Villa
Everything Everywhere All at Once – Paul Rogers
Top Gun: Maverick – Eddie Hamilton

Production design

All Quiet on the Western Front – Christian M. Goldbreck, Ernestine Hipper
Babylon – Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino
The Batman – James Chinlund, Lee Sandales
Elvis – Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy, Bev Dunn
Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio – Curt Enderle, Guy Davis

Costume design

All Quiet on the Western Front – Lisy Christl
Amsterdam – J.R. Hawbaker, Albert Wolsky
Babylon – Mary Zophres
Elvis – Catherine Martin
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris – Jenny Beavan

Make Up and Hair

All Quiet on the Western Front – Heike Merker
The Batman – Naomi Donne, Mike Marino, Zoe Tahir
Elvis – Jason Baird, Mark Coulier, Louise Coulston, Shane Thomas
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical – Naomi Donne, Barrie Gower, Sharon Martin
The Whale – Anne Marie Bradley, Judy Chin, Adrien Morot

Sound

All Quiet on the Western Front – Lars Ginzsel, Frank Kruse, Viktor Prášil, Markus Stemler
Avatar: The Way of Water – Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Julian Howarth, Gary Summers, Gwendoyln Yates Whittle
Elvis – Michael Keller, David Lee, Andy Nelson, Wayne Pashley
Tár – Deb Adair, Stephen Griffiths, Andy Shelley, Steve Single, Roland Winke
Top Gun: Maverick – Chris Burdon, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Mark Taylor, Mark Weingarten

Special visual effects

All Quiet on the Western Front – Markus Frank, Kamil Jafar, Viktor Müller, Frank Petzoid
Avatar: The Way of Water – Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon
The Batman – Russell Earl, Dan Lemmon, Anders Langlands, Dominic Tuohy
Everything Everywhere All At Once – Benjamin Brewer, Ethan Feldbau, Jonathan Kombrinck, Zak Stoltz
Top Gun: Maverick – Seth Hill, Scott R. Fisher, Bryan Litson, Ryan Tudhope

British short animation

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – Peter Baynton, Charlie Mackesy, Cara Speller, Hannah Minghella
Middle Watch – John Stevenson, Aiesha Penwarden, Giles Healy
Your Mountain Is Waiting – Hannah Jacobs, Zoe Muslim, Harriet Gillian

British short film

The Ballad of Olive Morris – Alex Kayode-Kay
Bazigaga Jo – Ingabire Moys, Stephanie Charmail
Bus Girl – Jessica Henwick, Louise Palmkvist Hansen
A Drifting Up – Jacob Lee
An Irish Goodbye – Tom Berkeley, Ross White

EE Rising Star Award

Aimee Lou Wood
Daryl McCormack
Emma Mackey
Naomi Ackie
Sheila Atim

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21st Jan2023

Babylon (Film)

by timbaros
Image 21-01-2023 at 13.45-1Be aware that this film is over three hours long. But at a local screening of the film last month, I didn’t go to the bathroom once, didn’t get bored once, and didn’t look at my watch once (though after two hours I did get a glimpse of the watch of the person in the row below me). ‘Babylon’ is not a boring film. From beginning to end it will hold your attention with the story about the debauchery and desperation of wannabe actors in Hollywood in the 1920’s.
Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie) and Manny Torres (Diego Calva) are hungry to be famous, with Nellie having the looks (and curves) to get ahead, quicker and easier, while Manny has the brains to get ahead.
The opening shots in the film introduce both their characters in a large mansion on the outskirts of Hollywood where anything and everything is happening: people dancing, coupling, intertwined with each other, drugs, half dressed and some not dressed at all, drinking, one large elephant – it’s a bacchanalia of excess. It’s a lot to take in and immediately hooks you into the film.
Nellie and Manny have two very different journeys on their paths. Nellie, who was spotted at the party, is plucked to star in a film, and nails it, while at the same time meets washed up actor Jack Lord (a fabulous Brad Pitt who seems to find roles that match his looks and skills – he is getting better and better with age). Nellie soon has her dreams come true and is chosen and contracted to star in a string of films.
Meanwhile, Manny carries a torch for Nellie, and she knows that, but his fantasy to be with her never really comes to fruition. While Nellie makes all the wrong decisions in her career, and meets all the wrong people to boot, and at the same time Jack’s career seems to be fading, while Manny starts  becoming disillusioned with it all. Such is life in Hollywood, the ups and the downs and the downs.
Damien Chazelle, who brought us ‘La La Land’ in 2018, copies it’s formula in this film that, as mentioned above, is never dull and never boring. And while it’s not the best of films, it is definitely entertaining, and isn’t that what Hollywood is all about?
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21st Jan2023

Jack (Film)

by timbaros
41351373-9a66-4dc8-aa04-b3c9140caa77Jack is not the name of the main character in this movie, his name is Charlie (played by a boyish Luke Rollason). Charlies has named his penis Jack, so this film is all about that. And Jack pretty much runs Charlies life. Jack is the brains of the operation, he and Charlie have been friends from birth, obviously. When Charlie meets Barbie Le Fleur (Angela SantAlbano), a very pretty Canadian transfer student, Jack will do everything in his power to guide Charlie in his quest to enchant his dream girl. With the help of an odd group of friends; Charlie will use his brain to get the girl of his dreams, and Jack will not take no for an answer. 
Jack is exactly like an episode of The In-betweeners but stretched out to 90 minutes, and doesnt quite match the expectations you want it to. But its cute and funny, and while some of the jokes misfire horrendously, its light and entertaining, and the actors give it their most with what they have been given to work with, which is not much.  
Director Pelayo De Lario has the thankless task of being the voice of Jack. 
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21st Jan2023

Elvis (Film)

by timbaros

rev-1-ELVIS-0074r_High_Res_JPEGA description of the new film ‘Elvis’ can be summed up in two words – it’s fantastic, and Austin Butlers performance can be described as mesmerising. 
Butler becomes Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmanns newly-released film on the trials and tribulations in the life of the king of rock who died at the young age of 42 in 1977.

Told through the eyes of Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks in a performance that is a bit distracting from the main larger than life character) who micro-managed every bit of Presley’s career, right down to not allowing him to travel internationally (Parker emigrated illegally to the United States at the age of 20.) But while the film begins and ends with Parker, it’s really all about Austin – I mean Presley.

It’s really hard to distinguish Austin from Presley because Austin looks like, sounds like, and acts like Presley, it’s actually like Presley himself is starring in his own movie. And the scenes of Elvis on stage in Las Vegas will send chills down your spine as Austin nails down all of Elvis’s movements, right down to his swivelling hips (which was too racy for American television at that time that he was filmed above the waist).

We get to see Elvis’s close relationship with his mother Gladys(Helen Thomson), and his father (a one-note performance by Richard Roxburgh), to when he went into the army where in a television moment he got his hair cut, to meeting 16-year old Priscilla (Olivia DeJonge) – whom he went on to marry in 1967. Then we are treated to his Las Vegas years which are the highlight of the film where you’ll get goosebumps watching Butler swivel on stage – it’s almost too much for the heart to take.

Luhrmann throws us for a loop in his direction as one might be expecting a Moulon Rouge fantasy style musical but ‘Elvis’ is pure biographical and it’s showcase is Butler. While Hanks has star billing but might be playing a bit too over the top , Butlers performance is just about perfect – and literally a star is born where he is a shoo-in come awards season. 
And while the film is not 100% perfect, it’s a great tribute to Elvis.
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14th Jan2023

Tar (Film)

by timbaros
Image 14-01-2023 at 09.42Cate Blanchett is brilliant as conductor Lydia Tar (and just this week she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for this role), but at 158 minutes it’s a long slog to get from beginning to end. 
Lydia is in a same sex relationship with a member of her Berlin orchestra – Sharon (Nina Hoss), and Lydia has total control of all the musicians and the staff, she makes all the hiring and firing decisions and can elevate anyone who she feels has earned it (and perhaps  one that she might take a liking to). When Olga (Cellist Sophie Kauer, very very good in her first film role) joins the orchestra, it is a bit obvious to the everyone (and especially to Sharon) that Lydia is interested in Olga in reasons that are not professional, and has members of the orchestra raising their eyebrows. Things get worse for Lydia when a former member of the orchestra commits suicide and leaves a note with serious allegations against Lydia that risks her reputation, professional and personal life. 
Blanchett is absolutely brilliant in her role, one of the best performances of her career (she already has two Oscars under her belt), and is a shoo-in for the Best Actress Oscar. But Tar the film is very slow, the first 70 minutes don’t amount to much, but after this the film kicks into high gear and the plot, and drama ramp up.      
Director and Writer Todd Field brings us a great story that needed a bit tidying up, but it is a very good film and deserves all the kudos it has been nominated for, with Blanchett in center stage, in more ways than one. 
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14th Jan2023

Empire of Light (Film)

by timbaros
Image 14-01-2023 at 09.41Beautifully directed and shot (at an old cinema in Margate, UK), Mendes’ film is a tribute to cinema and the art deco buildings that used to house them. 
 
Colman plays middle to late aged Hillary as the cinema manager, while Ward (Top Boy, Small Axe), plays Stephen – a new employee at the cinema who Hillary takes under her wing. Hillary doesn’t have much in her life, just her job, and is engaged in a clandestine sexual romance with the owner of the cinema (a very good Colin Firth). But there is something about Stephen that Hillary finds alluring and attractive, and Stephen feels the same about her, somehow. Soon enough they fall into each others arms and have relations in the empty room that is on top of the cinema. But Stephen is only there short-term, he’s got big plans for his future, and a girl his age waiting in the background to be his girlfriend, and a mother who encourages him to leave the small town for bigger things.
Even though ‘Empire of Light’ will take your breathe away for its stunning oceanfront backdrop, the romance between Hillary and Stephen, which is the crux of the film, is not quite believable. Hillary is too dowdy and plain and we don’t quite believe that Stephen would fall into her arms when he can have the pick of any of the women in town. Mendes (American Beauty, 1917), should’ve chosen a more believable female star in this role (Kate Winslet would’ve been perfect), but nevertheless we are left with a stunning film with a plot that is just not believable.
FAB UK saw ‘Empire of Light’ at the London Film Festival.
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01st Aug2022

DC League of Super-Pets – Film

by timbaros

dc-super-pets-header-mobile-newDwayne Johnson stars as the voice of Krypto the Super-Dog in Warner Bros. Pictures’ animated action adventure feature film “DC League of Super-Pets,” from director Jared Stern.

The film also stars the voices of Kevin Hart (the “Jumanji” and “Secret Life of Pets” films), Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live,” the “Magic School Bus Rides Again” films, “Ferdinand”), John Krasinski (the “Quiet Place” films, “Free Guy”), Vanessa Bayer (“Saturday Night Live,” “Office Christmas Party,” “Trainwreck”), Natasha Lyonne (“Show Dogs,” “Ballmastrz 9009”), Diego Luna (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Maya and the Three”), Marc Maron (“Joker,” “GLOW”), Thomas Middleditch (“Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie”), Ben Schwartz (“Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Duck Tales”), and Keanu Reeves (the “Matrix” and “John Wick” films).

In “DC League of Super-Pets,” Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime in Metropolis side by side. When Superman and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped, Krypto must convince a rag-tag shelter pack—Ace the hound, PB the potbellied pig, Merton the turtle and Chip the squirrel—to master their own newfound powers and help him rescue the superheroes.

Stern, a veteran writer/consultant on the “LEGO®” movies, makes his animated feature film directorial debut, directing from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator John Whittington, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film is produced by Patricia Hicks, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Jared Stern. The executive producers are John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, Nicholas Stoller, Allison Abbate, Chris Leahy, Sharon Taylor and Courtenay Valenti.

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31st Jul2022

Thor: Love and Thunder – Film

by timbaros
Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel Studios' THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER

Released: Thursday 7 July

Synopsis: Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder” finds the God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a quest for inner peace. But Thor’s retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late. Directed by Taika Waititi (“Thor: Ragnarok,” “Jojo Rabbit”) and produced by Kevin Feige and Brad Winderbaum. Bale deserves an Oscar for his performance.

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson 
Director: Taika Waititi

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