My Monthly Dig: “Purple Rain” by Prince & the Revolution
40 years ago today, Prince won his only Oscar. It was presenter Michael Douglas who summed up the category’s criteria, saying that the film score should contain at least five original songs. Kathleen Turner then further clarified that the songs … Continue reading My Monthly Dig: “Purple Rain” by Prince & the Revolution
THIS IS 40: Of Revelries Mellowed Over Time
Whenever we’d gather for Sheena’s birthday, her 2010 celebration comes to mind. Those were more carefree times, obviously, when any wholesome beverage mixed with booze already constituted a cocktail and our lungs still had the threshold for cigarette smoke mixed … Continue reading THIS IS 40: Of Revelries Mellowed Over Time
“The Electric State” Short Circuits
Even before Simon Stålanhag’s The Electric State made it to shelves, it was already destined for the screen. Somehow, however, this $320-million Netflix spectacle deviates from the book’s dark, dystopic commentary on America’s collapse. Guess it’s inevitable, with Anthony and … Continue reading “The Electric State” Short Circuits
Mock-Empowerment: A Review of Halima Reijn’s “Babygirl”
Harris Dickinson has undoubtedly mastered onscreen sleaze. To expound would entail spoiling both Where the Crawdads Sing and Triangle of Sadness. Point is, he’s nailed the archetype, as he once again scores a devious role. Much as he’s not yet … Continue reading Mock-Empowerment: A Review of Halima Reijn’s “Babygirl”
“Mickey 17” Misunderstands Itself
It pays to remember that sci-fi is Bong Joon-Ho’s forte, even with Parasite still in our collective memory. In fact, it was The Host which first earned the South Korean filmmaker global attention in 2006. That, in turn, paved the … Continue reading “Mickey 17” Misunderstands Itself
“MAYHEM” in the way only Lady Gaga can pull
For one thing, it’s already technically a Grammy winner, with “Die With A Smile” earning her Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Bruno Mars last February. That’s already one box ticked, as far as accolades are concerned, but that wasn’t the … Continue reading “MAYHEM” in the way only Lady Gaga can pull
Angelina Jolie Keeps “Maria” On-Key
Maria Callas was 53 when she died in Paris. It was a sad end to the opera legend, whose career never fell short of mystery and intrigue. Even before then, she was already destined to become a myth. Yet, outside … Continue reading Angelina Jolie Keeps “Maria” On-Key
Escape From Near-Parody: A Review of Ali Abbasi’s “The Apprentice”
Oh, you bet Donald Trump hated this movie. Not long after its release, he lashed out in his socials, calling the film a “cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job” and the people behind it “scum”. Of course, he still … Continue reading Escape From Near-Parody: A Review of Ali Abbasi’s “The Apprentice”
“Sing Sing”: A Prison Drama with Soul Soul
Without reading the synopsis, some might assume it’s a musical. It’s a valid assumption, seeing how it opens with Colman Domingo hamming it up with a monologue, dressed like royalty and bathed in lights. As the curtain closes, though, we … Continue reading “Sing Sing”: A Prison Drama with Soul Soul
“Nosferatu”: A Nifty Take Nine Years in the Making
It missed the original’s centennial by two years, which is curious, given how development took almost a decade. Some might say Robert Eggers missed a shot at a timely release. Then again, it probably wasn’t his point. Maybe, he really … Continue reading “Nosferatu”: A Nifty Take Nine Years in the Making
Built to Endure: A Review of Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist”
It’s not that movie epics ever disappeared. It’s just that, since the turn of the century, only The Lord of the Rings franchise made a mark at more than three hours per installment. Compare that to say, 1965, when The … Continue reading Built to Endure: A Review of Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist”
Anora’s Ascendance and Other 97th Oscar Highlights
I was almost going to miss the live streaming of this year’s Academy Awards, but thanks to certain sudden adjustments, I was able to stay at home for the entirety of the show. Fortunately, the Disney+ streaming didn’t encounter difficulties … Continue reading Anora’s Ascendance and Other 97th Oscar Highlights
Picks for the 97th Oscars
It’s been said that awards are losing their luster, if not their significance altogether. The consensus has to do with the results reflecting that of a biased elite, rather than the general public. For me, it’s just a matter of … Continue reading Picks for the 97th Oscars
From Acclaim to Atrocity: The Curious Trajectory of “Emilia Pérez”
The praise was never universal from the get-go, notwithstanding the initial accolades and the fact it’s now the most Oscar-nominated non-English film in history. For one, it angered the trans community, the very group it wanted to champion, by depicting … Continue reading From Acclaim to Atrocity: The Curious Trajectory of “Emilia Pérez”
“A Complete Unknown”: Not Completely A Fresh Dylan Story, But Still Works
When it comes to commonly-tackled subjects, there’s always the question of what sets one apart. There was never a shortage of Bob Dylan films. In fact, they’ve been churning out documentaries since the start of his fabled career. The earliest … Continue reading “A Complete Unknown”: Not Completely A Fresh Dylan Story, But Still Works
THIS IS 40: Belated Bliss
I wasn’t sure my social battery could still sustain such a gathering. All I knew was there were people I wanted to see again. I spent the actual birthday weeks ago with immediate family and the remaining hours with Carla, … Continue reading THIS IS 40: Belated Bliss
“The Monkey” Sustains Perkins’ Scare Streak
Come to think of it, Osgood Perkins II has always been low-key horror royalty. His father, Anthony Perkins, is forever etched in memory as Norman Bates from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). In fact, Oz’s first role was in the 1983 … Continue reading “The Monkey” Sustains Perkins’ Scare Streak
Mundane Mortality in “The Room Next Door”
At 75, Pedro Almodóvar just keeps outdoing himself, and to think he already managed to film Parallel Mothers at the thick of COVID-19. In late 2024, he released his first book, a short story anthology entitled “The Last Dream”. The … Continue reading Mundane Mortality in “The Room Next Door”
Captain America: Brave New World, Ambivalent New Lead
Avengers: End Game already made it clear that Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) was due to take over. It even took the entirety of 2021’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to provide further build-up. That’s where we met Joaquin Torres … Continue reading Captain America: Brave New World, Ambivalent New Lead
The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow”: A Redemptive Finale-Of-Sorts
Hell seemingly froze over when The Weeknd took the stage that night. Last we checked, he was done with The Grammys, after 2020’s After Hours failed to score a single nod. That prompted the Ethiopian-born Canadian to never again submit … Continue reading The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow”: A Redemptive Finale-Of-Sorts
Planet Chuckie 