Open Thread

What's on your cinematic mind? Do tell in the comments on this (potentially lazy) Saturday. 

Comments

[James from Ames]

Will you ever get back to your Michelle Pfeiffer series? I was interested in your take on the huge misfire that was A Thousand Acres. One of my favorite books; an absolute snooze of a film. (Colin Firth does a Texas twang that’s supposed to be Iowa, for starters.)

[Marcos]

After watching Michael Stuhlbarg's work in The Shape of Water I had sort of a revelation. I thought of the other films I had seen him in and what he looks like and I came to a conclusion. In the same way as I said that Olivia Spencer is the black Thelma Ritter, I now tell you that Michel Stuhlbarg is the new Claude Rains!

And, Nat, I will beg you once more to complete the additional acting categories in your Film Bitch Awards!

[Jaragon]

" Black Panther" is all well and do but when are we getting the Latino super hero movie? Or just any sort of quality Latino film? And no I don't meant one of these Hollywood liberal meaculpa movies

[Manuel]

I am in awe of how good Altered Carbon is. Just W O W

[Brevity]

So we're in the middle of Oscar campaign season, and I'm wondering why no one has thought to rent out three adjacent billboards in Hollywood to question the popularity of Three Billboards. For those that saw the film and have problems with it, this seems like such a low-tech and effective way to draw attention.

Given the opportunity, what would your three billboards say?

[BD]

I can’t decide if I preferred Darkest Hour or The Post...

[Mike in Canada]

So, obviously the finest performance in the best actress belongs to Saoirse Ronan. I ain’t frontin’.

And 3B is far from my favorite Frances McDormand performance. It’s just about as obvious part as you could write for her, and would have been more interesting with many actresses in the part. She’s good though.

But the mere idea that she looks likely to land a second Oscar, with clearly no awards hunger, for a part so completely different from her first Oscar performance - one of my all-time favorites- is baffling, inspiring and not a little exciting.

[/3rtful]

We submitted questions for you to answer. You haven't done so yet.

[Arghavan]

Johann johannson passed away😭, RIP . He was my favorite composer after siccario and arrival

[Clement_Paris]

My god Clint Eastwood's last movie is a terrible piece of religious, chauvinistic trash, glorifying war and terribly acted, written and directed, with some of the worst dialogues ever......

That's what's on my cinematic mind since yesterday and i really need to take it out !

[adri]

I keep thinking of the actors in The Shape of Water.

It seemed to me that they had such generosity towards their director. They saw where he wanted to go, and they made it happen, using their array of technical skills, intelligence, and empathy. (How this group isn't the SAG best ensemble, I can't understand).

There's such an underlying kindness and sweetness in their performances, that they are giving a gift to a director they respect and care for.

It reminded me of working for one of my early bosses, who was brilliant, original, modest and kind. Everyone worked at their best to be worthy of his trust. He had a positive influence on his sphere of influence for decades.

I'm musing on this, thinking about the current debates about whether the cruel auteur is necessary to create art.

[Suzanne]

I saw A Matter of Life and Death by Powell and Pressburger yesterday. It was great.

Did you all know Michael Powell cast his two beautiful golden cocker spaniels in four of his films? As a cocker lover, I adore this.

[Edward L.]

adri: Your former boss sounds wonderful.

Arghavan: That's terrible news about Jóhann Jóhannsson.

[Jakey]

Mike, who else do you see as a good Mildred? I was just thinking to myself the other day that the movie only works because of the acting, and I couldn't imagine anyone else but Frances.

Adri, that's really beautiful. I saw Octavia Spencer interviewed by Melissa McCarthy on Jimmy Kimmel Live. It was before I had seen the film, but Octavia was absolutely beaming as she talked about the story and del Toro.

So I *finally* saw Get Out and I regret not seeing it in the theater. I have now seen every nominee for Best Original Screenplay and I'm not sure who to root for, but I haven't read the actual screenplays yet. But thank you to this site for all its coverage of the Best Ensemble problem at the SAG awards. Betty Gabriel was AMAZING.

[thevoid99]

I would like to see a Latino superhero but John Leguizamo sort of created one in Latin Dad! He's my hero, he's my villain.... he's.... Latin, Latin, Latin, Latin, Latin Dad! Ah!!!! AH!!!!!

[chofer]

I've been looking for an article here about representation of LGBT sex in films.

I've been thinking lately what you think of that pannig out in CMBYN and how Moonlight deny it and how both were IN with Oscars while Carol was snubbed... because Haynes opted to go graphic with it?

I think it bears some discussion. God's Own Country is a little bolder, btw. It is like a film Ken Loach would have made in the 70s if HE were gay.

L'imconnu du lac and BPM don't shy away, also. BPM was snubbed. See a patern here?

La vie de Adele... Are frenchmen more honest about same sex depiction? What dom you think?

[Mike in Canada]

Jakey: 3 Billboards seems written so clearly with Frances in mind, that I find it plays to some of the more overused skills in her set and doesn't ask much of her. If you only watched Friends with Money and Olive Kitteredge, you'd think this was all she could do.

With a different actress, I think it would seem like a less obvious performance, and certainly less obvious casting. Julianne Moore, Holly Hunter and Michelle Pfeiffer come to mind as actresses who can do steel, but would be bringing something in from outside the script.

[Jaragon]

John Gavin whose real name was Juan Vincent Apablasa. Not much an actor but he was blessed with a face made for the movie stardom and co-starred with Lana Turner, Doris Day, Sophia Loren, Lawrence Olivier and of course Janet Leigh in "Psycho"

[Raul]

Johann Johannsson died suddenly. I was looking forward to more gorgeous and interesting scores from him. He would have been a very deserving winner for The Theory of Everything.

[Rian]

RIP REG E. CATHEY

[Jack for Streep]

Kim Cattrall responded to SJP has made me desperately want to know more.

[Tom]

Thinking about the smackdown recently and thought about the tag along nominations. The kind where everybody overly loves the movie and a performance that is... merely ok gets swept up in the nomination love. This happens most in supporting actress category. However, I was surprised some women didn't get a nomination like Jane Merrow in Lion in Winter and Frances Fisher in Unforgiven. Is there an actress who you were surprised didn't get a nomination but was clearly a coaster? And on the flip side is there a perceived coaster nomination that you think would have been a worthy winner/did win?

[George P]

Saw BASMATI BLUES in the theater today and I really enjoyed it. Nice to have another original musical in theaters!

[Rebecca]

@jaragon - I would love to see a Latino superhero.

RIP Reg E. Cathey and Johann Johannsson.

I've still been processing "Phantom Thread", but Paul F. Tompkins comedic takes on it are hilarious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0qzcAkmACQ

[Owl]

Watched Loving Vincent on the big screen after seeing it on one of those long intercontinental flights. I appreciated it better on the big screen and noticed how the rendering of the characters change slightly on some scenes. I am guessing that since each frame was hand-painted, the team of illustrators and artists (100 of them!) may differ slightly somewhat even if the rendering were all in the style and spirit of Van Gogh. Much better to watch this film a second time to appreciate the small details one can miss during the first viewing.

[Claran]

@mikeincanada:

"3 Billboards seems written so clearly with Frances in mind, that I find it plays to some of the more overused skills in her set and doesn't ask much of her skills" - Yes I sooooo agreed w u & yet pple r falling head over heel for it & saying this is her bravest performance & she shld totally win!!! She's just playing an extension of her personality, channeling an extreme version of the angry, fuck-care attitude that she so well known for...I wld tink that is hardly a stretch for her.

"With a different actress, I think it would seem like a less obvious performance, and certainly less obvious casting.....but would be bringing something in from outside the script" - I agreed tt ano less obvious choice actress might bring a lit something diff to the table, & maybe makes Mildred more empathetic & less annoying.....or maybe that is exactly what McDonagh wants

[Jimmy]

90th anniversary this year.....will they do the bleacher thing again with all the past winners, especially love Claude Jarman, Jr....he showed up both times. I hope they do it again - loved this. But....please.....Sally, Cher, Diane, Julie Christie, Joanne, sissy, Barbra, must show up!

[stjeans]

I saw "Movie star don't died in Liverpool" and for the life of me I can not understand the lack of recognition for either The Bening or Jamie Bell; Amazing performances & chemistry

[Dorian]

Also since it wasn't mentioned here, RIP John Mahoney. Brilliant actor who will best be remembered for playing Frasier's dad, but he was far more than that. Tony winner, Steppenwolff member, Army veteran, medical journalist, BRITISH!, and ubiquitous character actor in numerous films over the years. I personally remember him vividly as Annette's boss in "The American President." I'm sure most will cite him for "Say Anything," but I haven't seen that film yet. So sad that he was alone in hospice. RIP. :-(

[Troy H.]

Annette Bening
Laura Linney
Cynthia Nixon
Julia Roberts

I think any one of them could have taken on "Mildred" in Three Billboards with some level of great success, especially given a much superior script with which to work.

I just watched The Cloverfield Paradox and found it to be a stupid, derivative piece of trash. That cast -- and the audience -- deserved a whole lot better.

[Mike in Canada]

Troy: Julia Roberts is an amazing choice.

[Troy H.]

Mike in Canada, I definitely feel that Roberts would have been able to capture not only those steely moments but also would have brought a much-needed vulnerability to those quieter instances where the seems of Mildred's act show.