Veteran Actor Bridged Civil Rights Era

Actor Louis Gossett Jr. has passed at 87. He was the first black actor to win a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for An Officer and a Gentleman. He also won an Emmy Award as a lead actor for the groundbreaking miniseries Roots. He began acting during the civil rights era appearing in many TV shows like The Rockford Files, Bonanza, and The Partridge Family and major films like the Iron Eagle films, Enemy Mine, and The Deep. He had recent roles on the miniseries Watchmen and the film musical The Color Purple. He has a number of forthcoming projects including the fantasy IF. I had the pleasure of meeting him a few years ago at the MidAtlantic Nostalgia Comvention. He told me he had studied martial arts before filming An Officer and a Gentleman. He was really nice, a true gentleman.

TV Horror and LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL

From brothers Cameron and Colin Cairnes comes this clever horror film that takes a familiar setting and twists it into the unexpected.

It is 1971, and ‘Night Owls’ is a late night show hosted by recently widowed Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian finally gets a lead role) who is desperate for a ratings boost versus The Tonight Show.  Delroy’s guests for a special Halloween show include a medium, a professional skeptic, and a parapsychologist whose patient, a teenaged girl named Lilly, is the survivor of a devil worshipping cult. Lilly’s disarmingly polite demeanor belies a hidden friend, Mr. Wriggles, who is waiting to be unleashed, and when he is, things take a decided turn for the worse in ways no one is prepared for.    

The narrative follows ‘newly discovered’ videotape (like The Blair Witch Project) of an infamous, ‘Night Owls’ broadcast.  As it builds ominous tension and menace, there is a strong dose of the paranormal which forces the audience to question what is real or imagined.  Bizarre events occur, and you get the feeling something very bad, even apocalyptic is about to happen.

The show verges on Jerry Springer parody, and its use of videotape recalls The Ring.  In fact there are bits that may recall films such as The Exorcist, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and even Network with a touch of David Cronenberg.   The wardrobe recreates the period as do commercial title cards (AI generated unfortunately).  The film sets up a wild climax, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing nor adequately connect all the dots including Delroy’s ties to a secret society and the loss of his wife. Still, it is a winner and a promising sign of things to come from these talented brothers.  

**** of ***** stars

 

Frampton Comes Alive Again!

 Linda and I saw a great concert by rock veteran Peter Frampton who strummed and   jammed his guitars like he picks his teeth with them. He was amazing and played well over two hours nonstop and he is almost 74!! He sat the whole time but his fingers were unstoppable and articulate. He jammed and had wonderful rapport with the audience. I only knew him from probably the greatest live album of all time.  He folded hit songs among lesser known tunes, but they all were engaging. 

96th Academy Awards

The Oscars ceremony was on time and well paced with Jimmy Kimmel as emcee. The Memoriam segment wasn't the best, but Ryan Gosling and Billie Eilish were impressive singing Barbie songs. There was a strong voting surge from The Zone of Interest and Poor Things so my picks were off- I was 16 of 23 categories. The tightest contest saw Emma Stone win over Lily Gladstone. It was touching to see Steven Spielberg award Christopher Nolan Best Director; it felt like a changing of the guard. It's very very late, and another year of films await.

2024 Oscar Predictions for 2023 Films

 

The tsunami of Oppenheimer may sweep most of the categories, maybe eight total while most other worthy films may only get a single Oscar.  Yet some great films (Air, Saltburn, and All of Us Strangers) never received a single nomination. I have seen all the nominated Best Pictures and many of the other categories but not short subjects. So I will give my best guesses and a couple bold picks based on my gut.  There are always surprises among the winners. I hope you enjoy the show Sunday evening because it celebrates movies!

Picture- Oppenheimer

Director- Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer

Actress- In my heart Lily Gladstone for Killers of the Flower Moon as its only win over a very deserving Emma Stone repeat for Poor Things

Actor- Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer

Supporting Actress- Da’Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers

Supporting Actor- Robert Downey Jr. gets his due for Oppenheimer

Adapted Screenplay- American Fiction deserves it over the popular Oppenheimer

Original Screenplay- Anatomy of a Fall seems to have it over worthy The Holdovers and Past Lives

Cinematography- Oppenheimer

Costume Design- Barbie over neck and neck Poor Things

Film Editing- Oppenheimer

Makeup and Hairstyling- Maestro over Poor Things

Production Design- Poor Things by a hair over Barbie

Score- Oppenheimer

Song- “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie

Sound- Oppenheimer

Visual Effects-Godzilla Minus One over The Creator, both films excelling on modest budgets

Animated Feature- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Documentary Feature- 20 Days in Mariupol

International Film- The Zone of Interest is a lock

Animated Short- Letter to a Pig over charging War Is Over!

Documentary Short- The ABC’s of Book Banning

Live Action Short- The Wonderful Story  of Henry Sugar

DUNE: PART TWO-A Richer, Deeper Mythology

A direct sequel to the original film, Dune: Part Two is ambitious storytelling that succeeds on all levels as a sci-fi allegory that boasts an incredible cast and stellar production values across the board.

Schemed by the Emperor and executed by the Harkonnen led by the Baron and his two lethal nephews, the last surviving bloodline of House Atreides, Paul (Timothée Chalamet), and his mother (Rebecca Ferguson) flee and find refuge with the Fremen on Planet Arrakis where the coveted ‘spice’ is mined.  Learning the ways of the Fremen through Chani (Zendaya) and Stilgar (Javier Bardem) and attempting mastery of the powerful sandworms, Paul undergoes a transformation that leads some to believe he is a messiah. War appears inevitable, and as threatening forces approach, can he galvanize an army to save the Fremen and exact revenge for his family?

Director/cowriter Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) has successfully accomplished the formidable task of adapting the complex Dune mythology with its myriad of subplots and characters to a remarkably coherent, follow-up film (that may still require repeated viewings) while always keeping Paul’s narrative front and center.  The film also features excellent action scenes (particularly a concluding hand-to-hand battle) and hardware/tech that feels real and authentic.  It’s a fully realized universe enhanced with exceptional special effects and magnificent cinematography highlighting awesome visuals (especially on IMAX screens). 

With the promise of completing the Dune saga (with Dune Messiah), this film brings major plot points to a conclusion while setting up a grand conclusion.  It is an impressive chapter much in the way The Empire Strikes Back was for the Star Wars franchise.  These films may not appeal to all, but those who are drawn to the ethos of this sprawling epic will find it irresistible and still fulfilling.

***** of ***** stars (a must for Dune and Chalamet fans)