Features
The Oscar-winning Boston Movie
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 10:17 am · February 26th, 2011
Filed in: Daily
PAGE TO SCREEN: “Shutter Island” by Dennis Lehane
Posted by Guy Lodge · 1:20 pm · July 9th, 2009
Deep into Dennis Lehane’s 2003 novel noir “Shutter Island,” there’s a wonderfully telling exchange between the two central characters. Reflecting on the gothic heights to which their situation has spiralled, one observes, “It’s all a bit Grand Guignol, don’t you think?” His partner’s reply: “I don’t know what the fuck that means.” Ostensibly a nod […]
Filed in: Page to Screen
The new millennium Oscars?
Posted by John Foote · 9:53 am · January 18th, 2009
Looking back over the previous Oscar winners for Best Picture since 2000, the start of a new century (and a new millennium), I find myself wondering sometimes what the hell the Academy was thinking. It’s no secret I disagree with the Academy a lot, but I can also admit that when they get it right, […]
Filed in: Daily
Kevin Bacon makes the rounds
Posted by Kristopher Tapley · 9:08 am · January 9th, 2009
As “Frost/Nixon” continues to pop up as a formidable guild contender this awards season, I must say, despite my personal appreciation for the effective drama, I’m a little surprised. It isn’t the expert craftsmanship of “Slumdog Millionaire” or the creative explosion of “Synecdoche, New York,” obviously, but it is a solid, well-constructed piece of work […]
Filed in: Daily
Sean Penn on course for Oscar #2, and he deserves it
Posted by John Foote · 7:36 am · December 14th, 2008
With two of the major critics awards won, actor Sean Penn seems to be headed for his second Academy Award for Best Actor for his brilliant work in “Milk.” Penn’s work through the 1980s and 1990s defined him as one of the greatest actors of his generation (if not the best) and certainly on the […]
Remembering cinema’s Bush years
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:20 pm · November 3rd, 2008
As the world prepares to bid farewell to George W. Bush following tomorrow’s election, I came across an apt article in the new edition of Sight and Sound, in which critic Michael Atkinson evaluates how the Bush presidency affected American film, and how the period might be interpreted by future film historians. As always with […]
Filed in: Daily
Is Dennis Lehane the new Jane Austen?
Posted by Guy Lodge · 5:28 am · June 17th, 2008
Okay, perhaps not. Maybe more like the new Elmore Leonard. But the quintessential Boston writer is clearly Hollywood’s favourite author du jour. After the adaptations of “Mystic River” and “Gone Baby Gone” reignited the careers of Clint Eastwood and Ben Affleck, respectively, it seems the studios are snapping up his titles faster than he can write them. I hardly need to […]
Filed in: Daily
Sean Penn might be the greatest living actor
Posted by John Foote · 6:29 am · May 7th, 2008
After writing my piece on the recent Best Actor winners and non-winners I was rather shocked at the number of comments on Sean Penn’s astounding performance in “Mystic River,” a performance I believe to rank with the best of Brando, Duvall, Nicholson and De Niro. I love debate, I love to talk film, and best […]
Filed in: Daily
Best actor contenders join an eclectic list of recent winners
Posted by John Foote · 7:16 am · May 6th, 2008
Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Frank Langella seem to be the names bandied about for Oscar consideration this year, which would place them in some impressive company of nominees and winners these last 20 years. Of course, that said, there have also been some bizarre choices for the Best Actor award, which has often […]
Filed in: Daily
Clint Eastwood — anything he does grabs Oscar’s attention
Posted by John Foote · 8:13 am · May 5th, 2008
Let me begin with something very personal, something I prefer not to do in this column. Movies have not mattered much this past week, as my wife of 18 years, the love of my life was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. This Thursday we journey to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto to allow the finest […]
Filed in: Daily
Actors winning Best Director — always deserved?
Posted by John Foote · 6:51 am · May 1st, 2008
Of course not. Quite often the Academy gets behind an actor for the simple reason they pulled of the film without screwing too much up. How else can one explain Mel Gibson’s win for “Braveheart” but failure to be nominated for his masterpiece “The Passion of the Christ” and “Apocalypto,” easily two of the finest […]
Filed in: Daily
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