So, it’s been two years ago to the day that we got this happy Adam at the Cannes film festival for the BlacKkKlansman premiere.
Spike Lee managed to create a movie that was tastefully funny, still relevant and shocking. If you haven’t already seen it, what are you waiting for?! Think I may even watch it tonight!
Anyway, this also got me thinking about what we have missed out on this week. This should have been the Cannes Film Festival week and we should have been getting the premiere of Adam’s new film Annette. A musical of all things and one which is sung from start to finish. I have been waiting with baited breath to see this film. Like I’ve said before, as much as I like a good musical, I like a musical that is scripted and interspersed with songs. I don’t generally like musicals that are completely sung as a narrative. Adam is not a professional singer but he can hold a tune. It’s going to be really interesting and raw. I’m either going to love it or hate it, and I am so hoping that I love it!!
Adam has had 5 movies premiere at the last 4 festivals. In 2016 it was Paterson. A quirky Jim Jarmusch movie.
That same year, I actually won tickets to see this film at the Picturehouse Central in London with Adam doing a Q+A afterwards. It was an amazing evening and that very Q+A is on the DVD release!
2017 saw The Meyerowitz Stories released. Adam did not attend this one.
He made up for it in 2018 with not one, but two movies. BlacKkKlansman and The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Adam was there and attended the red carpets for both films.
In 2019 he was there for another Jim Jarmusch film, The Dead Don’t Die.
Not the greatest zombie movie ever made, but another quirky Jim Jarmusch film.
So, this year we are left hanging. With the cancellation of the Cannes Film Festival because of the world shut down, we have no idea when Annette will actually be released. I just hope it will be worth the wait.
I have just watched BlacKkKlansman again and I still rate this as one of the best films of the last decade.
I will always remember watching it for the first time at the cinema. The film takes a serious subject that is still relevant today, and shows it in a way that makes it thought provoking, but in a humorous, not in a bad taste way. It has an amazing cast and acting that got Adam Driver his first Oscar nomination for supporting actor.
BUT…..
The thing I remember most about that screening was the ending. 4 minutes of some of the most powerful film I have ever watched. It shocked the audience into complete silence. The credits rolled and not a word was spoken as people left the cinema. It was actually quite spooky and I can honestly say that watching that last 4 minutes of film again, still brings me to tears.
So yesterday saw the official Oscar nominations announced. I am a little excited AGAIN! BlacKkKlansman has got 6 nominations!
However, it has lots of competition. Some of it good, some of it great and some of it there, simply because of the mood of the Oscars over the last few years. I won’t say anymore about that because whatever I say will be taken the wrong way and I can’t be hassled with the backlash.
Anyway, I will be doing my best to see all of the ‘Best Picture’ nominations before the ceremony on the 24th February. I haven’t been doing particularly well with that over the last few weeks as life has just been getting in the way. Today I’ve woken up with a streaming cold and hacking cough and I ache all over! which means I probably won’t be making it to the cinema on my three days off this week either!
So far I’ve seen 4 of the 8 nominated movies and as with the BAFTA nominations, I will just be listing the ones I have an interest in.
Best Picture Black Panther BlacKkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Green Book Roma A Star is Born Vice
Of course, BlacKkKlansman is totally getting my support for this one. It has already lost to ‘Roma’ at the Golden Globes and that is one I still have to watch. Might even do it today. BlacKkKlansman is just inspirational, heartbreaking and infuriating and so well done that in my opinion, deserves a BIG win.
Black Panther was an inspired movie and a credit to the Marvel family and it ‘should’ have been up for a ‘Visual Effects’ award….. but a Best Picture award? Mmmm, seriously? Fabulous casting however, and can’t wait to see what they do with the next one. I found the story-line to be quite weak and in some places, the visuals a little over powering. (Please do not chew my head off! That is simply my opinion.)
Bohemian Rhapsody is a wonderful film, and I can see Rami walking away with the Oscar for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury but the film as a whole just doesn’t quite cut it for me next to BlacKkKlansman.
Green Book is a ‘surprising’ favourite. I saw this at a secret screening a while ago, a few weeks before it went on general release. With no idea what we were going to be watching, the whole audience did a collective ‘WTF’ when the title came on screen before everyone dived onto their phones to IMDB what we were about to watch. It may have taken a little time getting into it, but it was certainly worth sticking with and I will quite happily watch it again.
The rest I need to catch up on, but I am sick to death of the ‘Star Is Born’ soundtrack playing on the radio whenever I get into my car, and it is now putting me off seeing it!!
Actor in a Leading Role Christian Bale – Vice Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born Willen Dafoe – At Eternity’s Gate Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody Viggo Mortensen – Green Book
My money is on Rami Malek! But there is strong competition in Christian Bale and Viggo Mortensen.
Actor in a Supporting Role Mahershala Ali – Green Book Adam Driver – BlacKkKlansman Sam Elliot – A Star is Born Richard E. Grant – Can You Ever Forgive Me? Sam Rockwell – Vice
Mahershala Ali won the Golden Globe for this one but I really want to see Adam Driver snatch the Oscar for this one this year. Unfortunately, as a first time Academy nominee, with some well loved and established actors in the lineup, I think I may be disappointed this year.
Directing BlacKkKlansman – Spike Lee Cold War – Pawel Pawlikowski The favourite – Yorgos Lanthimos Roma – Alfonso Cuaron Vice – Adam McKay
I have only seen BlacKkKlansman in this category. Alfonsi Cuaron won the Golden Globe but I really hope Spike gets this one!
Adapted Screenplay The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – Joel and Ethan Coen BlacKkKlansman – Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott and Spike Lee Can You Ever Forgive Me? – Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty If Beale Street Could Talk – Barry Jenkins A Star Is Born – Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper and Will Fetters
It HAS to be BlacKkKlansman. The story is so outrageously unbelievable but so totally relevant to this day, which is highlighted at the end of the film. Spike and the team have done a wonderful job of portraying the subject matter with just the right amount of humour, which makes, what could be heavy going, a lot easier to stomach, right up until they punch you in the gut with the last few minutes!!
Animated Feature Incredibles 2 Isle of Dogs Mirai Ralph Breaks the Internet Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Spiderman-Man: Into the Spider-Verse all the way. I can’t see how Isle of Dogs is STILL getting any acclaim. Hopefully this will be the last we see of it.
Original Score Black Panther BlacKkKlansman If Beale Street Could Talk Isle of Dogs Mary Poppins Returns
If BlacKkKlansman loses to Isle of Dogs, I will never watch the Oscars again!! (Well I will, but my faith will be totally smashed)
Film Editing BlacKkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Green Book Vice
Of course, there are no prizes for guessing my prediction. It’s BlacKkKlansman all the way or nothing.
Call me biased, because I obviously am, BUT, BlacKkKlansman is an amazing film. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s now available on DVD and streaming services. Go see it.
Now that is done, I am going to go and die on my sofa for the afternoon. Streaming eyes, hacking cough, aching all over, getting worse by the hour. Think sleep may be eluding me tonight too.
Today saw the announcement of the BAFTA nominations. So now we have 4 weeks of waiting to see who wins. I need to catch up on some of the nominations to be able to give my full opinion and predictions, so the next few weeks will be used to catch up as much as possible. Some of the films are still in the cinema and one is actually on Netflix.
With the exception of 2018, I have kept a record of my cinema visits and movie watching since 2014 when we got our Unlimited Cineworld Cards. I gave up last year due to Uni work as there was just no time to watch movies or go to the cinema as much as I would like and I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be keeping up with it all. The best year so far has been 2015 with 64 trips to the cinema and 378 movies watched! I will be doing my best to beat that this year now that Uni is all but over, and so far I’ve watched 9 movies and been to the cinema twice. Two of the BAFTA nominated movies are being shown at our local cinema this weekend so I think some catching up is in order on my day off. As it stands, there is still only one film I really want to see win something and that is BlacKkKlansman which is actually nominated for 5 BAFTAS.
The following is a list of the categories and nominations that I have an interest in. Starting with Best film.
BlacKkKlansman The Favourite Green Book Roma A Star Is Born
No points for guessing which one I want to win! I have seen Green Book, which is good, but I think BlacKkKlansman is a far superior film with much more of an impact on it’s subject matter.
It’s out on DVD. If you haven’t already seen it, I highly recommend it!!
Next is Outstanding British film.
Beast Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite McQueen Stan & Ollie You Were Never Really Here
I suspect this will be going to Bohemian Rhapsody, although I can’t legitimately give an opinion as I haven’t seen any of the others yet. I hope to see The Favourite this weekend.
Next is Best Animation.
Incredibles 2 Isle of Dogs Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
I’m not a huge animation fan, but I have seen the films in this category. I can’t believe that Isle of Dogs is STILL getting acclaim. It’s an absolute monstrosity of a film!! Incredibles 2 was good but imho, wasn’t a patch on the original. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was brilliant! Therefore, this one gets my vote.
The Best Director category is as follows…
BlacKkKlansman – Spike Lee Cold War – Pawel Pawlikowski The Favourite – Yorgos Lanthimos Roma – Alfonso Cuaron A Star Is Born – Bradley Cooper
Again, I want Spike Lee to win this one for BlacKkKlansman although Alfonso Cuaron won this category at the Golden Globes, so watch this space.
I’m looking forward to this category, Best Adapted Screenplay.
BlacKkKlansman – Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, Charlie Wachtel, Kevin Willmott. Can You Ever Forgive Me? – Nicole Holofcener, Jef Whitty Fist Man – Josh Singer If Beale Street Could Talk – Barry Jenkins A Star Is Born – Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters, Eric Roth
Again, it HAS to be BlacKkKlansman. It is a truly unbelievable story. I still find myself in shock that this actually happened and the writers have done an incredible job of writing it with the right amount of humour and gravitas to the subject matter without making it heavy going.
The Best Actor category is going to one person, and that is Rami Malek.
Bradley Cooper – A Star I Born Christian Bale – Vice Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody Steve Coogan – Stand & Ollie Viggo Mortensen – Green Book
Next we have Best Supporting Actor.
Adam Driver – BlacKkKlansman Mahershala Ali – Green Book Richard E Grant – Can You Ever Forgive Me? Sam Rockwell – Vice Timothee Chalamet – Beautiful Boy
I have the same dilemma with this category that I had with the same category at the Golden Globes. I desperately want to see Adam Driver win! Although I also want to see Timothee Chalamet win, but with the competition in the category, it’s anyone’s win although, Mahershala Ali won the Golden Globe.
Next is Best Original Music
BlacKkKlansman If Beale Street Could Talk Isle of Dogs Mary Poppins Returns A Star is Born
No real comment, except to say that I want BlacKkKlansman to win, obviously!
The trickiest category in my books is Best Special Visual Effects.
Avengers: Infinity War Black Panther Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald First Man Ready Player One
I can honestly say, I have seen all of these films! I can also honestly say that I really don’t know which way this one is going to go. They were all visually stunning. If I had to hedge a bet, I would go for Fantastic Beasts…. and Ready Player One!
And finally… EE Rising Star Award (voted for by the public)
Barry Keoghan Cynthia Erivo Jessie Buckley Lakeith Stanfield Letitia Wright
I have a sneeky feeling that this one will be going to Letitia Wright.
Right, let’s make this quick, I’ve got to get to work.
So the Golden Globes were last night but being in the UK meant that I had to wait until this morning to find out the winners.
To say I’m a little disappointed, and a tad surprised as some of the winners is an understatement.
Let’s start with the biggest disappointment. Not a single win for BlacKkKlansman!! Not a single one.
Directors Bradley Cooper and Spike Lee were both overlooked by Alfonso Cuaron who won for Roma.
Both Adam Driver and Timothee Chalamet were beaten by Mahershala Ali for Green Book, which is a good film, but better than BlacKkKlansman? I don’t think so.
As I suspected, Rami Malek won best actor and Bohemian Rhapsody won best motion picture – drama.
Anyway, onto the BAFTAs and OSCARS. There’s still hope for BlacKkKlansman.
Think I’d better checkout this ‘Roma’. See what all the fuss is about.
Here it is, awards season has started. There are a multitude of awards over the next few months, but the important ones for me are, The Golden Globes, The Baftas and the Academy Awards or Oscars.
The Golden Globes are actually tomorrow evening in the US but, as usual, there are no UK TV channels airing them, so I will have to make do with news reports and Youtube clips over the following days.
There are some good films in the nominations but the ones I am most interested in are as follows….
Best Motion Picture – Drama Black Panther BlacKkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody If Beale Street Could Talk A Star Is Born
As much as I would love to see BlacKkKlansman walk away with the top award, it is up against some big movies, although it does have the ‘artsy’ edge that the voters like, so who knows?
Best Director Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born Alfonso Cuaron, Roma Peter Farrelly, Green Book Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman Adam McKay, Vice
In my eyes, the winner of this one will be Spike Lee. He’s done an amazing job telling an unbelievably true story and gives it just the right amount of humour before slapping you in the face with a gob smacking ending.
Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate Lucas Hedges, Boy Erased Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody John David Washington, BlacKkKlansman
John David Washington, son of Denzel Washington, is a chip off the old block, and I have no doubt we will be seeing a lot more of him in the future, however, I suspect Rami Malek will be walking away with this one after his stunning performance as Freddie Mercury.
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Mahershala Ali, Green Book Timothee Chalamet, Beautiful Boy Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman Richard E Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me? Sam Rockwell, Vice
This one is tearing me part. I am split between Adam Driver in BlacKkKlansman and Timothee Chalamet in Beautiful Boy. Both gave outstanding performances in two films based on true stories. However, Mahershala Ali is also fabulous in Green Book!! Then there are two outstanding actors left in the nominations in Richard E Grant and Sam Rockwell and I haven’t seen their movies yet so I can’t comment on the performances. This one could literally go to anyone!! Although I am still rooting for Adam Driver…….. and Timothee Chalamet!
After the Globes come the BAFTAs and the Oscars. This is where things get a bit confusing. Follow carefully.
Jan 7th – The Nominations voting for the OSCARS begins Jan 9th – The BAFTA nominations are announced Jan 10th The BAFTA final voting opens Jan 14th – The OSCARS nominations voting closes Jan 22nd – The OSCARS nominations are announced Feb 8th – BAFTA voting closes Feb 10th – BAFTA awards ceremony Feb 12th – OSCARS final voting opens Feb 19th – OSCARS final voting closes Feb – 24th – OSCARS awards ceremony
So as you can see, with the BAFTA awards right before the final voting for the OSCARS, the BAFTAs can have a bit of an effect on the outcome of voting for the Oscars.
So we’re coming to the end of another year and what a year it’s been. My university course has been the driving force for the entire year, taking up all my free time and my sanity with family life taking a bit of a back seat. Any chance of getting out and having some fun has been grabbed with both hands.
Anyway, the academic writing and exams has now finished and I’m relieved to say I’ve passed it all. Now I just have to complete my placements and get all my skills documents and portfolio signed off before confirmation of an overall pass (hopefully) at the beginning of March. I can now breath a little bit as the pressure has been taken off of home life and I can finally get back to the things I love to do.
Speaking of which…….
 Awards season is just about upon us and I am happy to announce that my man, Adam Driver, has already been nominated for one!!
The 2019 Golden Globes nominees have just been announced and BlacKkKlansman has received 4 nominations for Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
As a Best Movie nominee, it has some strong competition with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘A Star Is Born’ also having nominations.
Best Actor nominee, John David Washington, who is the lead in ‘BlacKkKlansman’ and was brilliant, is unfortunately being outshone this year by Rami Malek who has received the nomination for his stunning portrayal of Freddie Mercury in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.Â
I am torn between two actors for the Best Supporting Actor nominations. Adam Driver has been nominated for his role in BlacKkKlansman and he totally deserves it (not biased in any way, but he was brilliant!)…..BUT….. Timothee Chalamet has been nominated for his role in ‘Beautiful Boy’, which I haven’t seen yet but I have read the book and after seeing his breakthrough performance in ‘Call Me By Your Name’ last year, I suspect he is going to be tough competition this year, although both of them are up against Sam Rockwell, Richard E. Grant and Mahershala Ali.
Finally, Spike Lee is up for Best Director for his wonderfully dark humoured take on BlacKkKlansman.
This is just the start. I hope to see this film get a lot more attention and acclaim over the next few months. Watch this space.
I finally got to see BlacKkKlansman yesterday and I was not disappointed.
There’s always a huge sigh of relief after seeing one of Adam’s new films.
I can’t imagine giving him a bad review.
In this case however, he’s getting a rave review.
John David Washington is definitely a chip off the old block.
Denzel’s son delivers a wonderful performance as Ron Stallworth.
The film is brilliant.
Spike Lee has managed to take an unbelievable story and turned it into a pretty hard hitting film with all the social and political relevance of it’s day back in the 70’s and rammed home the fact that it is all still sadly relevant today.
Spike has managed to take, what is sometimes uncomfortable viewing, and turned it into a serious look at the issues involved and spattered it with just the right amount of humour.
You have to admit, Black man infiltrates Ku Klux Klan, is an unbelievable film pitch right?
Just when you think the film has finished, Spike delivers an ending that leaves the audience completely shocked into silence.
Another Spike Lee masterpiece.
Am I smelling Oscars?
Yes, yes I am.
This film has the potential to get nominations for best film, director, adapted screenplay, costume design, makeup, actor and supporting actor.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
I’m in the middle of annual leave.
The aim was to complete a presentation, which I have done.
I now have to actually present it on Tuesday morning.
The plan from there was to start the next presentation and take a look at 2 essays.
Well…… I tried….. I really did.
It’s just not happening.
I looked at the next presentation all day yesterday and I just can’t wrap my head around it right this second.
So!
I have decided to actually have a couple of days off.
Fully off.
No University work.
I’m going to clear my head and take a fresh look at it on Sunday.
Today was payday.
Not that it lasted very long.
I’ve paid bills, stashed money into savings pots and covered the direct debits for the month.
Now it’s time for a breather.
I have a bit of a shop to do and when Ian has finished work for the day, we’re heading over to MK to watch BlacKkKlansman and go out for dinner.
The butterflies have started already.
It always happens when I’m going to see one of Adam’s new films.
He looks particularly lush in this one from the photo’s I’ve seen so far.
If the film is a disappointment I may just cry.
Although it’s a Spike Lee film and the trailers and clips I’ve seen so far are very promising.
It’s also an incredible story!
Don’t know how I will stomach Adam in Klan robes but knowing he’s playing a character who’s undercover will help.
I’m also getting an Oscars vibe with this one. We’ll see.
I will endeavour to write a spoiler free review later.
Anyway, tomorrow we’re off to Coventry.
We haven’t been there since we left over 20 years ago!
The reason for the visit is so that Dharma can finally meet one of her online friends.
Don’t panic!
She face times her regularly and they chat at all hours.
We will be with her when she meets her friend and her Mother and when we are all suitably introduced, we’ll be letting them loose in Coventry centre for a few hours while me and Ian go for some lunch and have a nosey around the place.
Should be a nice day.
Then it will be back to Uni work on Sunday.
But for now, I’m just looking forward to today.
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