Hollywood

Every year, my selections, based solely on what I feel should win, not “will” win fall short of victory. 2025 was an empyrean film year, in Hollywood and Foreign; and all nominees are worthy of their respective nominations. Having seen all the films, several times, my choices are: BEST PICTURE: MARTY SUPREME BEST DIRECTOR:  PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON  “ONE BATTLE AFTER …

Stunningly styled, sensationally scripted, an air-tight plot reminiscent of films of legacy, movies like “Bullitt”, “French Connection”; actors at their peak, in absolute, believable control of their characters. A compelling film, satisfyingly perfect, based on Don Winslow’s novella directed and written by Bart Layton and Don Winslow,  performed by: Chris Hemsworth as  polished, nonviolent jewel thief  “Mike Davis”, Halle Berry, …

No longer do you have to wait! Streaming devices feature films nominated for Academy Awards; yes, at times you must pay “theatre prices” but never denies the tranquility of your favored couch. Here are a few features on Amazon Prime and Netflix. ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: 13 Academy Award nominations; a crowd esteemed, but not mine (Sean Penn is worth …

Director Emerald Fennell’s (“Saltburn”) fecundity lies in her darkest, imaginative, iconoclastic psyche; within minutes Emily Bronte’s  (1818-1848) novel slips into obscurity, overshadowed by Fennell’s castration of  one of literature’s most turbulent, obsessive love stories written when Emily was twenty-seven; imbued with a bleak, wet landscape reminiscent of her home in the Yorkshire Moors of Northern England; dying of tuberculosis at …

Of the well over 200 “Dracula” films this “Dracula” by director Luc Besson touches the romantic core of the doomed Count, destined to live for eternity ferreting the reincarnation of his slain wife “Elisabeta”; like this year’s “Frankenstein”, “Dracula” is gorgeously, Gothically gory, seductively sensual, religiously rebellious and a total triumph. Starring Caleb Landry Jones (lacking the charisma of Frank …

It has been interminably long since “filmers” have met a more compelling protagonist in the guise of “Linda Liddle”: gifted in mathematical wizardry, drolly comical, comfortable in her nerdiness and friendship with her bird, confident that a “Vice Presidency” awaits when her boss dies, she’s earned and deserves the promotion after years of diligence; alas, upon his death,  she’s denied …

Director Rebecca Zlotowski pairs with actors Jodi Foster and Daniel Auteuil in a slightly fuzzy, somewhat compelling film with superb, saucy acting and a vacillating premise, which eventually proves worthy of watching. Foster’s fluency in French blends with life in Paris as psychiatrist “Dr. Lilian Steiner”, investigating the death of one of her patient’s, “Paula”(Virginie Efira)  from a supposed suicide. …

Director Mona Fastvold in tandem with actor Amanda Seyfried have created a fascinating historical film about the rise of Shakerism and its frenetic, kinetic physicality; the body and its prowess commands god’s presence, commendation, massive approval of their edicts; Seyfried is outstanding in her interpretation of Ann Lee (one of eight children) born in 1736-1784 Manchester, United Kingdom. Her voice …

Director Gus Van Sant’s (“Good Will Hunting”, “Milk”) latest trophy movie is shockingly, provocatively realistic, mimicking the actual 1977 debacle, featuring the kidnapping of business magnet Richard Hall by disgruntled, depressed victim Tony Kiritsis, in Indianapolis.   Actors Dacre Montgomery (Richard Hall) and Bill Skarsgard (Tony Kiritsis) are splendidly magnificent in their roles: Richard, with a shotgun strapped to his neck, …

Spending a luxurious ten days in Arizona, I stumbled upon this psychological, thrilling series starring Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy. It does not fall into the iconic realms of “Foyle’s War”, “Morse” or “Endeavor” but with sensational, compelling performances fills the hours with mesmerizing titillation, shocking, mangled, surprises and the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1949). Created by Kevin Williamson, …