Tag Archives: Oscar Winners

Actors, Movie Reviews, Movies

I Finally Watched ‘In the Heat of the Night’

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Sidney Poitier passed earlier this year at the age of 94 and that spurred me into finally getting around to watching In the Heat of the Night, a film so game-changing it still resonates to this day. I knew the film was a murder mystery. I did not realize that it was set in the deep South with Sidney Poitier’s Virgil Tibbs, a brilliant homicide detective from Philadelphia, having to solve a murder surrounded by bigoted cops and townsfolk who stare at him just for walking into a room.

The movie was striking in so many ways. To see a film in 1967 starring a dignified Black man, composed by legendary musician and producer, Quincy Jones, and highlighting an empowering story that confronts racism in the way that it did, and for that film to win Best Picture! It’s incredible.

As I watched the film I found myself absolutely enthralled by how poignant it still feels to this day. With so much unnecessary police brutality against African-American men and women, this movie, I feel, would still win Best Picture now in 2022. And then again, maybe I’m wrong.

All in all, I see why it’s considered a classic and a must-watch. It was phenomenal from start to finish.

I thank you for reading and I hope you have a fantastic day.

Actors, Movie Reviews, Movies

‘The Father’: Yeah, Anthony Hopkins Deserved the Oscar

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I’ve seen two more Oscar-winning films this past week so I thought I’d share my reviews of them. Enjoy!

The Imitation Game

The True Story of The Imitation Game | Time

A couple of days ago I decided to watch The Imitation Game, a biographical film about mathematical genius Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his collaboration with MI6 during World War II which led to his creation of what is technically the world’s first computer. Unsurprisingly, Cumberbatch, who earned his first Oscar nomination for the role, did an incredible job. Despite having my reservations about this film, it turned out to be far better than I would’ve imagined.

What made it more compelling as a story was the non-explicit yet the truthful depiction of Turing as a homosexual during a time when being gay resulted in a prison sentence. The constant thru line of his true self being alluded to yet hidden away provided more meaning to the film’s title, The Imitation Game, and added an extra layer of depth the movie surely needed.

Keira Knightley also did a tremendous job in the film, garnering a deserved Oscar nomination for her role as Turing’s best friend.

All in all, the film wasn’t the best biographical film I’ve seen (that still belongs to Malcolm X which Denzel Washington should’ve won Best Actor for, by the way) but it was a good one. I’ll give it 91 out of 100 and 4 out of 5 stars.

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Entertainment, Movie Reviews, Movies, Romance

I’ve Finally Seen ‘Titanic’ and Now My Head Hurts

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Before I begin this review let me tell you that yes, I know the gist of Titanic. SPOILERS AHEAD! I knew that the film was practically the greatest love story ever told and I knew that Jack (Leonardo Dicaprio) dies. And yet despite knowing these things because the movie is one of most iconic films ever made I still found myself swept along this very tragic cruise ride.

Titanic Movie Facts | POPSUGAR Entertainment

The first hour and thirty minutes are rather typical, albeit a little magical, as we meet the protagonists of the story, Jack and Rose, as well as the film’s primary antagonist, Cal. Jack and Rose meet, among unexpectedly stressful circumstances, and instantly tension between the two blossoms. Rose is Cal’s fiancé but like all great love stories this is not the man she wants to be with. Instead she is quite literally swept off her feet by baby-faced Dicaprio whose good looks and infectious charm win her over easily. Like I said before, the first half of the film goes along pretty expectedly. It was the second half that made this film an undoubted Best Picture winner.

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Movie Reviews, Movies

Movie Review Flashback: ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’: Another David Lean Masterpiece!

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Wow, wow, wow. I’ve watched three David Lean movies: Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and now The Bridge on the River Kwai. Each film has been utterly stunning, both visually and narratively. Doctor Zhivago was a bit slower but a crack at the more romantic side of things. Lawrence of Arabia swept me away for three hours and fifty-eight minutes with its mesmerizing performance by Peter O’ Toole and David Lean’s incredible directing which brought the beauty of the desert in ways I didn’t conceive imaginable on the big screen. And once again David Lean does not stray from highlighting the beauty of his movie’s regional settings with The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Set in the sweltering jungles of Burma and filmed in Sri Lanka, the movie immerses you in its seemingly unlivable conditions. The white soldiers with their tanned brown skins and bare-chested bodies gleaming in a thin slick of sweat and their hair matted against their heads make you feel their incredible discomfort. The giant bats swarming overhead is something that I actually hope I can see with my own eyes one day but in the context of the film is utterly terrifying.

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Cartoons, Marvel, Movie Reviews, Movies, Superhero

I Can’t Stop Talking About ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’

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Lately I’ve been very into Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse again since it started coming on FX and since I’ve seen it three times in the past two weeks or so I figured I might as well revisit this post which perfectly sums up my adoration of this movie which has now become my favorite animated film of all time! Enjoy.

The trick to Into the Spider-Verse isn’t the story, the story is actually rather basic, nor is it the music (which is pretty great by the way.) There’s something else to this film that has me going back for more and that is the absolutely stunning animation.

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The movie melds at least a half dozen genres in one movie and it is mind-blowing. From being uncannily realistic looking at times to appearing like a strip right out of a comic book and even having the cartoony look of a Looney Tunes cartoon mixed with manga animation plus some truly psychedelic visuals can leave one’s brain scrambled in sheer awe. Continue reading I Can’t Stop Talking About ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ →

Movie Reviews, Movies

I’ve Finally Seen ‘My Fair Lady’!

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I love musicals. Musicals can be so cheery, depressing, lovely, magical, oh they can bring out all of my emotions and now I’ve watched another iconic musical; My Fair Lady.

I finally watched My Fair Lady, another one of the few musicals that has garnered a Best picture, and there were things that I really liked about the film, mainly Rex Harrison’s Oscar-winning performance as Professor Henry Higgins who I thought was hilarious. He was unlike any character I’ve seen in any other movie and he’s the most memorable thing about the film undoubtedly. If anything, I’m glad I watched the movie for him alone.

Scene Stealer: The Ascot Gavotte, My Fair Lady - flickfeast

I also really appreciated the costume designs. The flamboyance and elaborate styles of the English elite was utterly enthralling, specifically the scene where Higgins takes Eliza Dolittle to the races. Wow, were those dresses worn by all of those fancy ladies utterly breathtaking.

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