The Furniture: "Mank", Crusader Against Tackiness

"The Furniture," by Daniel Walber. (Click on images for magnified detail)

Opulence isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes things that are expensive are worse. This is the message of Mank.

Or, rather, a message. But much of the film’s impact does spring from an acknowledgement that it would be cost-prohibitive to replicate the colossal excesses of the real Hearst Castle. Production designer Donald Graham Burt is pretty clear about that in this short video feature about his work. So, rather than trying and failing, they did something different...

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Let's talk about Oscar's screenplay races

by Nathaniel R

"Mank" is about the writing of a legendary screenplay. That should do the trick.

Are there locks in the Screenplay categories? At the moment both races feel almost settled (aside from hugely competitive fifth slots) though the WGA nominations arrive on February 16th which could theoretically disrupt the consensus punditry.

ORIGINAL
In the original race Mank, Minari, Promising Young Woman, and Trial of the Chicago 7 all feel like certainties but are they? That's too many locks prior to the WGA nominations and leaves only one spot open. That hypothetical fifth spot battle has a lot of strong fighters...

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"Mank" leads the Critics Choice Nominations

Mank and Minari led the 26th annual Critics Choice nominations with 12 and 10 nods respectively. The ceremony this year will be held on March 7th on the CW with Taye Diggs hosting (and if you missed the TV nominations, those came out a couple of weeks ago). Since there are so many nominees in each category (it's getting ridiculous in lead acting!) we'll be mostly talking about who was left out. That's the takeaway in each category when you keep expanding the number...

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Team Experience SAG/Globe Reactions Pt 2: Happy Thoughts & Virtual Anticipation

In part one, we polled Team Experience about the darker side of the SAG and Globe nominations this week. For part two we'll lighten up with happy questions.

• Which acting nomination most thrilled you?
• What was your happiest non-acting moment during the nods?
• Despite a rough week for them, which film or performer are you still hopeful about?
• Whose home are you most eager to see in the virtual ceremonies to follow? 

You know what to do! Read their answers and provide your own in the comments... 

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Team Experience SAG/Globe Reactions Pt 1: Dark Thoughts & Unsurprising Surprises

Hey hey. So we polled Team Experience about this week's barrage of honors to see where their heads and hearts were at (though you know some of their loves if you checked out the Team Experience Awards). So let's start with less thrilling questions like ...

• Which SAG or GLOBE nomination left you cringeing or shaking your head?
• Which "surprises" were not actually surprises?
• Any theories about the ___ snub?

Read their answers and supply yours in the comments, please...

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