Tag: Oscars

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Wicked

John Stark

Wicked- An Adaptation That Does More Than Defy Gravity Quick Take: I’m this far behind. I’m just now at the point where I can review Wicked, which I put a review out for easily over a month ago on my YouTube channel. Universal made a point of getting me a screener for this, and I was delighted. I did not make the journey to the cinema for this, as that time of year was just far too busy. Then, here comes the screener for my consideration, and I’m delighted. I was never worried about Ariana Grande. I think Cynthia Erivo … Continue reading Wicked

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Quiz Show: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

Quiz Show: 30th Anniversary- Robert Redford’s Best Picture Nominee Is Still Fantastic Quick Take: As I am doing these anniversary releases, I’m realizing just how excellent some years were. 1994 brought us definitive classics like The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, and Forrest Gump, but also adored auteur efforts like Leon: The Professional and The Crow, and blockbuster smashes like The Lion King and True Lies. But, Quiz Show deserves to be remembered as well. The absolutely excellent historical drama unpacks the real story of 21, one of the original TV Game Shows, and how the producers rigged the results, and … Continue reading Quiz Show: 30th Anniversary

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Do The Right Thing: 35th Anniversary

John Stark

Do The Right Thing: 35th Anniversary- The Original Spike Lee Joint Quick Take: While not Spike Lee’s directorial debut, it does feel like his arrival. Lee fans will always remember what came before, but this was lee making his typical statement and socially conscious movie and getting Oscar recognition. Many feel this is still his best work, and they are justified in feeling that. it is hard to watch this movie today, and think of how violence plagues us just like this today. the emotional resonance of this film, and a real life event like George Flloyd’s murder cannot be … Continue reading Do The Right Thing: 35th Anniversary

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American Beauty- 25th Anniversary

John Stark

25 years ago, Sam Mendes took a screenplay from Alan Ball, and directed a simple film about peeling off the shine of suburbia. This went on to win a bunch of Oscars, including Best Picture, forever cementing itself in film history. But in the 25 years since, it has suffered from the passage of time. Some feel like it feels just too 1999. is this really middle class suburbia? Do mom and dad actually earn enough for this lifestyle? Is this just a modern Lolita, or a response to the reflective teen nightmare that was Columbine? Is this an early … Continue reading American Beauty- 25th Anniversary

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The Teachers Lounge

John Stark

I almost don’t want to do this. We get so few international films described each year that I really don’t want to bite the hand that feeds. But, I also want the industry to keep making audio description for international titles, so i have to talk about it, but I can’t actually lie and say this is good audio description. it is a conundrum. Luckily, this is a terrific film, and you should see it anyway. It’s always amazing to get that experience of perspective from another country, and another culture. how do things there work? What is their day … Continue reading The Teachers Lounge

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Schindler’s List

John Stark

Not that the internet needs one more review of Schindler’s List. Let’s be honest and say that all these years later, and this is as engrained in the finality of cinema as Citizen Kane, The Wizard of oz, or Casablanca. 30 more years could pass, and nothing will change in regard to Steven Spielberg’s historic accomplishment. I somehow missed the official 30th anniversary of this film last year, and was reminded of it earlier this year when The Zone Of Interest caused many to reference this classic. It had been years since I saw this, and what I saw was … Continue reading Schindler’s List

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20 Days In Mariupol

John Stark

This years winner for Best Documentary Feature was the right choice. In an increasingly uncertain world, the documentary branch has now had the opportunity two years in a row to bestow honors on documentaries that aim to bring focus to Russia’s extermination of Ukraine, first through a feature about Putin’s greatest opposition, who has since died in a Russian prison from “sudden death syndrome”, and now through 20 Days In Mariupol, which has a few journalists capturing the beginning of Russia’s strike on Ukraine. I couldn’t imagine voting for anything else, and there were some terrific documentaries. It is harrowing … Continue reading 20 Days In Mariupol

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Nei Nei and Wai Po

John Stark

I just want the world to know, that as a blind film critic, I take on this years Oscar nominees as presented to me. Disney Plus currently has this nominee for Best Documentary Short, and much like they’ve been doing with all their other Oscar hopefuls, they said “hey, you know those blind people? yeah, fuck em. Fuck em hard, the Mickey Mouse way.” I totally sat through this film which is entirely in another language, so i could write a review that pointed out that yet again, Disney Plus has put out another Oscar film without audio description.Bobby Wine: … Continue reading Nei Nei and Wai Po

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The Last Repair Shop

John Stark

Oscar nominated for Best Documentary Short, The Last Repair Shop is now on Disney plus, but without audio description (at least when I watched it upon release). I don’t care this time. It’s my party and I’ll do what I want. While there are other exceptional documentary shorts this year, I am in love with this one that focuses on a small group of instrument repair workers who try to make sure the Los Angeles public schools have access to workable instruments. Not only is this a love story of sorts to these people who work in a back room … Continue reading The Last Repair Shop

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Napoleon

John Stark

Two years ago, Ridley Scott released the underrated The Last Duel, which went on to be largely ignored coming out of the pandemic, but still has its fans. I was recently putting together material for my Best Of 2023 lists for this year, and I noticed that my 2021 Award for Best Director went to Ridley Scott for The Last Duel. So, when i say Napoleon is not his best, please understand this is a man who is a very undervalued titan in this industry. Ridley Scott, who has never won an Oscar, is back again this year with Napoleon, … Continue reading Napoleon

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Bobi Wine: The People’s President

John Stark

This Oscar nominated documentary is just one of many documentaries that Disney Plus seems to not want to bother with audio description. It’s like they have this huge National Geographic wing, but they are afraid to add audio description to most of it. I already reviewed The mission, which was a failed Oscar bait earlier this year, and it lacked audio description. This film, from what I can tell, deserves to be where it is. it just can’t get my vote in terms of accessibility. We all have our causes, and I’m here to discuss film and advocate for accessibility, … Continue reading Bobi Wine: The People’s President

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The After

John Stark

With a title this generic, you can be forgiven for not knowing what The After is. However, it means you aren’t paying attention to the list of Oscar nominees, because this one is nominated for Best Short, and it feels like we are really starting to use this category as a sleeper way for people to easily get accolades. This is on Netflix, with audio description, and it has David Oyelowo as the lead. It’s in contention with another Netflix backed short film, The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar, which is directed by Wes Anderson and stars Oscar nominees like … Continue reading The After

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The Color Purple

John Stark

You must be adventurous, as I did not specify which version this review would be for. Is this the multi-Oscar nominated 80’s classic directed by Steven Spielberg that helped push forward the acting career of Oprah Winfrey, as well as help Whoopi Goldberg be taken seriously as a dramatic actress? or, is this a review of the 2023 musical adaptation brought to life with songs from the Broadway award winning musical that only managed one Oscar nomination for Danielle Brooks? Why can’t it be both? In fact, this is kind of a review of both films. The Colors Purples, or … Continue reading The Color Purple

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Killers Of The Flower Moon

John Stark

No matter what words I have for this film, it already has won a barrage of trophies, and is a Best Picture nominee this year, among its many other nominations. Of course, it is directed by Martin Scorsese, who earned his 10th Best Director nomination, becoming the most lauded living director.It’s part of the reason streaming services like Apple and Netflix give him massive budgets for films that likely will never make that back. The profile his films hit, and the status he gives to them during awards season is almost this intangible quality you can’t put a price on. … Continue reading Killers Of The Flower Moon

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Terms Of endearment

John Stark

Continuing on my journey of watching Oscar films for the first time, a period I’ve come to call my shame period, I found Terms of Endearment. I found it without audio description, which is problematic, since this is a Best Picture winner. I’m of the belief that any Best Picture winner or film added to the National Film Registry should be required to have audio description. These are all cornerstones of cinema, even if in some cases we like films that didn’t win, or aren’t in the registry yet more. My thoughts on this include the fact that I didn’t … Continue reading Terms Of endearment