sweetcookieface

I just saw Phantom Thread yesterday, and it was much weirder, darker and funnier than I thought it would be. The movie was filled with scathing exchanges like the one in that clip.

I saw all the Best Supporting Actress performances, and thought Allison was fantastic in I Tonya, but after rewatching Ladybird, I'm even more struck by the subtle, moving, and very REAL performance Laurie Metcalf gave. Was hoping she'd pull an upset, but can't begrudge Allison her win.

Anita! Rita! I love how jazzed the audience is. And I can't believe she's in her 80s. Still such a beautiful, elegant, commanding presence.

LOVE the Lupita/Kumail presenter combo! Smart, charming, effortless, gorgeous. Didn't think it was possible, but somehow Lupita's glasses make her even more striking.

You're not alone - Vulture had a whole piece about distinguishing between all the young, dark-haired, high-cheekboned guys in the movie. :) I also heard something similar in a podcast before I saw the movie - I think knowing about it beforehand helped!

Glad to see some Dunkirk love. The sound really made it a tense, immersive experience, especially given how spare the dialogue was!

Not sure how many of you watched the red carpet (or saw pics online), but I'm curious who you'd rank among your best dressed. So far, my list includes Greta Gerwig, Zendaya, Lupita, Allison Janney, and Paz Vega.

I've seen all but Darkest Hour (which I'm honestly not that interested in). My favorite was Call Me By Your Name, with Get Out a close second. I'd be ok with a Shape of Water win as well. I think this is a pretty good year for film (no obvious stinkers among the BP nominations, and a few great films that got shut out). Three Billboards is probably my least favorite of the ones I've seen, so I"m hoping for an upset.

I ended up clicking on the first page of this thread (from 2014) and was tickled to see a lot of discussion about Amy Adams. I was just thinking about her because I just rewatched American Hustle and was reminded of how good she is. I think her performance was easily the best, most compelling one in the film (it's laughable that she was overshadowed by JLaw when it came to awards talk). Not only that, it's such a different role for her - I don't think I've ever seen her play a sexy, devious, morally questionable character. That made me realize how versatile an actress she is. If anything, I think she's known for playing sweet, ingenue characters, like in Catch Me If You Can, Enchanted, Junebug, and Doubt (I haven't seen some of these, so maybe I'm off). But she can also play chilly (e.g., Nocturnal Animals), a little tough (The Fighter), smart and down to earth (Arrival), and, as noted above, sexy (American Hustle). I've never considered her one of my favorite actors, but when I stop and think about her career, I have to acknowledge how good she is. Her performances tend to be understated, so I don't think of her as having star power per se, but I think she's in it for the long haul.

I'll echo the Daniel Radcliffe love. He just seems like such a grounded, sweet, funny guy. I also think he's a terrific actor. When HP ended, some questioned whether he'd be able to successfully transition into adult roles, especially since he doesn't have traditional leading man looks and wasn't considered the strongest actor of the HP kids. But I've found him really compelling in every role I've seen him, including as a romantic lead (e.g., in What If). I also think his knack for picking unusual projects (Horns, Young Doctor's Notebook, Swiss Army Man) will serve him well. I find his post-HP career far more interesting than Emma Watson's, even if she's had more mainstream success. After binge-watching a number of movies this weekend, I have a few more actors to add to my list of up-and-comers: Robert Pattinson isn't exactly an up-and-comer, but I think his role in Good Time really drove home just how talented he is. If he continues to choose challenging, transformative roles like that, I think he has a long career ahead of him. Bel Powley was absolutely fantastic in Diary of a Teenage Girl. I haven't seen her in anything else, and she doesn't necessarily conform to your typical Hollywood starlet look, but I can see her taking on interesting, dramatic roles - maybe carving out a Maggie Gyllenhaal-like career? And finally, I found myself googling Kelvin Harrison, Jr. after seeing him in It Comes at Night. I thought it was a breakthrough performance, (Apparently he was in Mudbound too, but he didn't stand out for me there.) It looks like he has some interesting projects line up, including Monster, which is set to come out in 2018 and has been getting some buzz.

Having finally seen Good Time, I'm really surprised Robert Pattinson didn't get more Oscar buzz. (I know some Oscar prognosticators mentioned him as a possible nomination, but only as a super-long shot.) Do you think it's that the film was just too small? That the Academy has difficulty seeing Patterson as a serious actor? It was the type of intense, transformative performance you'd think would capture their attention. On a separate note, did anyone here really like Darkest Hour? That, along with Phantom Thread, is the only BP nominee I haven't seen. I honestly have zero interest in Darkest Hour, but may make an effort to watch it before the Oscars just for the sake of completeness. I do have some interest in Phantom Thread, but I feel like I need to be in the mood for it since it strikes me as slow.

MsBlueJay, I totally agree with you - was surprised Anthony was on the top (it looked so crafty to me) and Fabio's was one of my favorites! I thought the top 3 would be between Stanley (who I also would have picked as the winner), Fabio, Ken and Merline. I far prefer Kimberly to Joshua (both personality and design-wise), but I'll admit I find the latter's bitchiness entertaining. And, as much as I can't stand his aesthetic, at least it adds a... unique... viewpoint. As others have noted, Ru and JTF were both great judges - I kind of wish they had put them on different episodes since so many of the guest judges are sub-par. Also, can I just say how excited I am by the sheer number of black and brown contestants this season? It's such a rare sight on these types of reality TV shows, including Project Runway (although last season was awesomely diverse). So, who do folks think is likely to win at this point? My money's on Fabio or Stanley. Fabio's one of my favorite contestants of all time (I thought he was robbed his season), so I would be thrilled if he emerged victorious.

Now that season 3 is over, Vulture updated its ranking of CEG's musical numbers. I'm surprised by a lot of the choices (especially the high placement of some of the S3 songs), but of course, these lists are always subjective. It did get me wondering about other people's rankings. Off the top of my head, my top 10 would look something like this (not in any particular order... although my favorite is probably between the first two): Math of Love Triangles A Diagnosis JAP Battle After Everything I've Done for You (Paula's version) Feeling Kinda Naughty Tapped That Ass We'll Never Have Problems Again Ping Pong Girl End of the Movie Let's Generalize About Men Curious what others' peoples favorites are. Vox has a list as well with a totally different ranking. I SO wanted to go to this, but tickets sold out in a day! Bummer.

Well, now that Season 3's over, I guess this is where I can register my disappointment? I agree with a lot of the points made in this Slate review of season 3, especially about the bloated cast and the sidelining of Josh and other key characters in favor of the endless "will they"/"won't they" Rebecca/Nathaniel drama. I was also disappointed in the quantity and quality of the songs, although there were some good ones sprinkled throughout ("My Diagnosis" might even make my Top 5 across seasons). But when I think of the season, it just feels like a long string of so-so episodes, although it started out relatively strong. In fact, I think episodes 4 through 6 is one of the best stretches the show has had (Ep 4 is quite possibly my favorite episode of the show ever!). But while I rewatch tons of Season 1 eps and a fair number of Season 2, there are just a handful of Season 3 eps that I see myself returning to. I still love the show, though, and will be heartbroken if it doesn't get renewed!

Since we're in award season, I'll note that I think Timothee Chalamet and Daniel Kaluuya have really bright futures. CMBYN was the first thing I ever saw Timothee in, and I was just so blown away - it was a true breakthrough performance and my easily my favorite performance of the year. (I thought he was good in Ladybird too - not mindblowing, but the role didn't lend itself to that.) I honestly can't remember the last time I came across a young actor I was this excited about. And this was obviously a breakout year for Daniel as well, although I've been following his career for years - from Skins to Black Mirror to Sicario to Get Out. I love that he's getting so much recognition because I've always enjoyed him as an actor. Aside from being great actors, Timothee and Daniel are so incredibly endearing, enthusiastic and thoughtful - I've officially become obsessed with them (both individually and as a duo) after watching this. Also, I know he's had his ups and downs, but I'm really digging this phase of Colin Farrell's career (Lobster, Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Beguiled, etc.). I can see him having a long, successful career, in part because he's so versatile. While I appreciate that he's taken on quirkier, darker fare in recent years, I almost wish he'd do something with a bit more romance and sensuality because his reading of this Modern Love podcast completely seduced me. For whatever reason, I've always really liked Keira Knightley. I thought she had charisma to spare in her breakout role in Bend it Like Beckham, and I've found her compelling in a wide range of roles, from strong-willed aristocrat (Atonement) to cold, manipulative antagonist (Never Let Me Go) to slightly introverted indie artist (Begin Again). Despite her almost otherworldly beauty, there's something I find very down to earth about her. By contrast, I can't stand her doppelganger Natalie Portman, as either an actress or person.

Ms Blue Jay - Thanks for sharing your take. I agree with a lot of what you wrote. You also remind me how incredible the actress who played Georgina in Get Out was. I knew it was a long shot, but I wish she would have gotten some awards traction. I saw All the Money in the World this weekend. (Almost saw The Disaster Artist, too, but was too lazy to go out in the cold.) Aside from the Kevin Spacey drama, I actually didn't know much about the movie going into it (just saw it because it was the best of the options playing at my neighborhood theater).I thought it was pretty good - not among the best movies I saw this year, but a solid thriller. I was, however, pretty blown away by Christopher Plummer's performance. When he started getting awards buzz, I heard some people speculate that it might be just to send a message (sort of a slap in the face to Kevin Spacey). However, having now seen the movie, I can say it was a really great performance. His character was so cold and haughty, but still very believable; I was transfixed every moment he was on screen. I can't even remotely imagine Kevin Spacey in the role; I suspect it would have been a much more cartoonish, mustache-twirling performance. Anyway, Christopher Plummer has shot up on my list of Best Supporting Actor contenders (although Michael Stuhlbarg is probably my favorite, both for his performance in CMBYN and his less heralded - but equally wonderful - performance in Shape of Water).

I've given up on trying to make sense of any of the law-related plots on this show. I'm a lawyer with a similar background as Rebecca (went to a top law school and went on to work in Big Law in NY). If I remember correctly, she was 26 or 27 when the show started, so assuming she went straight through to law school after college, she would have been at most a third or fourth year associate at the start of the series (and possibly just a second year). It's incredibly rare to be promoted to Partner that early in one's career (I'd say seventh to tenth year is more common). But even if I buy that she was some wunderkind who made Partner years ahead of schedule, she wouldn't have been making mid six figures leading up to that. Starting salaries at the top NY law firms were only recently raised to 180K, so at most Rebecca would have been making in the 200s a couple of years in. But I accept that the show isn't striving for realism in how it depicts the legal profession. For what it's worth, I could definitely relate to the misery/anxiety Rebecca felt at her old law firm, so that's one thing they got right!

NUGuy514 - Thanks for elaborating on your reaction to CMBYN. I'm tempted to read the book. Reading through the THR predictions, I"m reminded of how much I enjoyed War for the Planet of the Apes. It's considered a "Long Shot" for Best Picture (frontrunner for visual effects), but if there were any justice, I think it would be a contender.

NUGuy514 - thanks for sharing your thoughts. I've always loved Entertainment Weekly's annual feature where they ask a handful of Academy members (a mix of writers, actors, directors, etc.) to anonymously share who they're voting for, and your take reminds me of that. :) A couple of reactions: I'd be curious to hear more about that - maybe in the CMBYN thread if you're so inclined? Yeah, I, Tonya is the most recent film I saw and I was very pleasantly surprised. It feels a bit wrong to describe a film like that as "fun," but it really captured my attention. I had some mild misgivings about some aspects of the film (e.g., treatment of race), but I admit it wasn't until I read some thoughtful think pieces that I really began to think about the film more critically (not just issues with race, but domestic violence, etc.). The stuff with the parents - which felt very Big Fat Greek Wedding to me (i.e., lots of caricatures and unoriginal immigrant jokes) - is what kept me from loving this movie when I first saw it a few months ago. That said, it's grown on me with time, although I still wouldn't put it in the same category as a number of other films I've seen this year.

For those of you who've seen a number of the likely Oscar contenders, I'm curious which ones you liked best, which ones left you underwhelmed, etc? I've been on a bit of movie-watching binge, so have seen most of the lead contenders: Dunkirk, Call Me By Your Name, Shape of Water, Three Billboards, Lady Bird, Get Out, Mudbound, Big Sick, I Tonya... maybe more. The Post is probably the biggest contender I have yet to see, but there's also Darkest Hour, Phantom Thread, The Disaster Artist, and The Florida Project. (I don't really have any interest in seeing Darkest Hour, but am hoping to see the others in the next couple of months.) My favorite film - the one that I felt most emotionally invested in and that stayed with me for weeks - is Call Me By Your Name. Just a visually beautiful, emotionally rich film. A notch below that for me are probably Get Out, Shape of Water, and Dunkirk. I enjoyed Lady Bird, but felt slightly underwhelmed by it (maybe the 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes led to unrealistically high expectations). And I was also disappointed by Mudbound, but I saw it on a dark TV screen when I was half asleep, so I feel like I should revisit it. How do others feel? It really does seem like there's no real consensus this year.

Is it just me or was this an uncharacteristically bad episode? I felt like the tone was off (even Rebecca's acting/comedic timing, which is usually brilliant), and a lot of the humor (Josh's infected zit, Paula's annoying dad, even the sexting) felt like cheap sitcom jokes. I still enjoyed it, of course, but it felt a bit underwhelming, particularly after a brilliant three-episode stretch (I still have "A Diagnosis" stuck in my head and the Swimfan episode might be my favorite to date). "My First Penis" was the highlight for me, but I already saw that a couple of days ago, so... Ugh, can't believe we have to wait another month for new episodes! (it was bad enough we had to wait two weeks for this one!)

It's funny, I don't consider Devon one of my favorites, but when I saw him in the Bottom 3, I realized how much I wanted him to stay. I didn't even care that much for his performance tonight, but I think he has an undeniable voice and at least the potential to deliver a great performance, whereas Ashland and Shi'Ann leave me totally cold. (Plus, as soon as I saw the bottom 3, I had a sinking the feeling that the two black contestants would be eliminated, so I"m glad be proven wrong about that.) I don't remember anything about Ashland's performance, which is how I consistently feel about her. And for all the hate Shi'Ann (or, to be more precise, her voice) gets on this board, I've never really been bothered by her until tonight. From the very beginning, where she was singing in a register that seemed way too low for her, to the end, when she added a Mariah embellishment that seemed completely out of place in the song, that was pretty awful. She seems really sweet though and I think she could do really well with training. To me, the competition seems to be narrowing into a few tiers: Frontrunners: Chloe, Addison (with an edge to Chloe) Dark Horses: Noah, Brooke Long Shots: Devon, Keisha, Red, Adam

Well, damn! :( As Carson called the contestants back to safety one by one, I kept expecting (and hoping) Red would be left standing. Then, he was named safe and I assumed Ashleigh would be left standing. Then she was named safe and Shi'Ann seemed like the obvious choice. And when the Bottom 2 was announced, I thought it was a foregone conclusion Adam would be sent home. Sigh. I thought Janice was one of the more interesting contestants left, but I have to admit her performance of Chandelier was a bit of a mess (and I thought it had the potential to be a knockout when they announced the song choice). So I get it, but I'm still annoyed. Yeah, I actually thought Janice would be the last one standing on Team Miley!

Just saw this movie this afternoon, and thought it lived up to all the hype. Definitely one of the best movies I've seen in a while. The chemistry between the two leads was incredible. Armie Hammer was great, but I was really blown away by Timothee Chalamet (this is the first thing I've seen him in). In some ways, I thought he had the trickier role - his Elio was more introverted and restrained to Hammer's more extroverted, charismatic Oliver - but he was so expressive. I thought he conveyed so much even through body language - not just his eyes, but even the way he moved his gangly body. I also loved that the relationship had a sort of natural rhythm to it - it progressed in fits and starts... Elio's studied indifference in the beginning of the film, then a kiss, then a period of awkward avoidance, then a little more... The love scenes were also realistically choreographed (plenty of fumbling, not shot in an overly sexualized/titillating way, etc.). And, of course, there's the heartbreaking ending, which felt very true to life. I really appreciated the film's avoidance of the usual tropes. I read somewhere that the filmmaker could have gotten a bigger budget if he added an antagonist to "up the stakes," but he refused. I also liked that Elio's relationship with his girlfriend wasn't played for laughs or filled with angst. One thing I may have missed: During the scene where Elio and Oliver are circling the monument, Oliver comments on how Elio knows about everything, and Elio replies something to the effect of "Not about the things that matter." That's supposed to be what tips Oliver off about Elio's feelings towards him. I was a little surprised because Elio's comment seemed so subtle and ambiguous; if I were in Oliver's place, I'm not sure I would have interpreted that as a come on, especially given Elio's previous "rejections" (e.g., later in the film, Oliver comments on the time he tried to massage Elio's shoulders, and how Elio acted like he was molesting him). Was there more to the confession that I missed? ETA: There were also two things I wondered about during the father's big speech at the end: 1. Did you come away from the monologue thinking the father may have been gay or bi, and was lamenting his failure to explore that side of him, or did you take as a more general expression of regret? 2. Did you get the sense that the father knew all along - or at least for some time - that Elio and Oliver were involved, or did it only become apparent upon seeing Elio's heartbreak after Oliver left? I initially thought the latter, but Oliver wasn't surprised to hear that the father knew; he mentioned on the phone that he always treated him like a son-in-law. Maybe the parents even arranged for Elio to spend those last couple of days with Oliver out of town because they knew how precious the time was for them? (That's probably a stretch, especially since the mother was the one who suggested it, and it's not clear she knew they were involved at that point.) Anyway, great movie. Even though I'm a 40-year old cis woman, the feelings of nostalgia and loss this movie evoked really resonated with me. I wish I had received - and taken - Michael Stuhlbarg's advice when I was a kid!

Curious to hear others' thoughts on the latest clusterf-ck by Yorgos Lanthimos. :) I'm a big fan of Lanthimos' work (specifically, Dogtooth and The Lobster). I almost didn't see this one because I thought it might be too disturbing, but I'm glad I did. I was completely tense - and transfixed - throughout the film. It had a lot of the same characteristics as his other films (elements of black comedy; characters delivering their lines in a slightly stilted, robotic manner), but this one almost felt like a horror movie. The score really helped ramp up the tension. I thought the acting was all superb, but the real revelation was Barry Keoghan as creepy teen Martin. (For those of you saw Dunkirk, he also played George, the kid on the boat.) Did anyone have any thoughts as to why the wife never got sick? And what did you take away from the very last scene? (I felt like I might have been missing something.)