OSCAR WEEKEND!!! Who Will Win! Who Should Win! Who Got Snubbed!

Last year I went 8 for 8!! Bragging..I know. However, that will not happen this year, it is just too wide open in many categories. So lets get started with who will...who should...and snubbed

BEST ACTOR

Austin Butler in Elvis
Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisherin
Brendan Fraser in The Whale
Paul Mescal in Aftersun
Bill Nighy in Living

Who Will Win And Should Win

Brendan Fraser

Now I did not like the film as much as others. I felt it was over long , and just depressing, and one note. However Fraser was very good. The only one here who can pull off the upset is Austin Butler I think. However I don't see that happening

Snubbed

Felix Kammerer In All Quiet On The Western Front

It's embarrassing that he did not get a nomination for this stunning performance...in fact he should be the winner. I would replace Mescall.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Brendan Gleeson in The Banshees of Inisherin
Brian Tyree Henry in Causeway
Judd Hirsch in The Fabelmans
Barry Keoghan in The Banshees of Inisherin
Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Will Win And Should Win

Ke Huy Quan

Oscar voters love a comeback story and this sure is one. The only threat is Brendan Gleeson and that will not happen.

Snubbed

Paul Dano

 As Burt Fabelman was sooo terrific, and heartbreaking. I would replace Hirsch with him. Hirsch was in that film for 5 minutes, that's wrong to get a nomination for that.

BEST ACTRESS

Cate Blanchett in Tár
Ana de Armas in Blonde
Andrea Riseborough in To Leslie
Michelle Williams in The Fabelmans
Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Will Win

Michelle Yeoh

It was all Cate Blanchett for Tarr up until a month ago, then momentum of Everything Everywhere steamrolled her, I see Yeoh winning a close one.

Should Win

Ana De Amaras in Blonde

I just think she does not get enough credit turning her self into Marilyn. The walk, the look, the speech; the mannerisms. I think she was great in a just better than okay film. 

Snubbed

Yes I have two

Daisy Edgar-Jones 

In Where The Crawdads Sing, she took on a role from a popular book knowing the pressure and expectations to be Kya from the book, and she pulled it off. Remember she is from London,and still convinced us she is living in the Carolinas.

Aubrey Plaza

In Emily The Criminal she is in every scene...That job interview scene should win her the Oscar. Of all the snubs this may be the biggest.

 I would replace Riseborough and William with these two.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hong Chau in The Whale
Kerry Condon in The Banshees of Inisherin
Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All at Once
Stephanie Hsu in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Will Win/Should Win

Angela Bassett was bad ass wonderful in Wakanda Forever. This is the closest race. It is between Bassett and Curtis. I give Bassett the edge because I think Hsu and Curtis will cancel themselves out.

Snubbed

Yes I have two snubs!!

Janelle Monae in Glass Onion strolled in and stole the movie from under many of the stars in that cast.

Mariana Trevino as Marisol in Otto held her own and then some with Tom Hanks.

I would replace Hsu and Condon with these two.

BEST ANIMATED FILM

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio — Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar and Alex Bulkley
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On — Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan and Paul Mezey
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish — Joel Crawford and Mark Swift
The Sea Beast — Chris Williams and Jed Schlanger
Turning Red — Domee Shi and Lindsey Collins

Will Win

Pinocchio

It is between Pinocchio and Marcel. The voters love Del Toro.

Should Win

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

Well you know what I thought of this film, if you read my top ten of the year..and you really should.

No snubs for this category.

All I can say is..what happened to PIXAR and Disney?

BEST DIRECTOR

The Banshees of Inisherin — Martin McDonagh
Everything Everywhere All at Once — Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
The Fabelmans — Steven Spielberg
Tár — Todd Field
Triangle of Sadness — Ruben Östlund

Will Win And Should Win

Kwan and Scheinert For Everything Everywhere All At Once

I was not a big fan of this film but I can appreciate the job they did keeping track of time jumps and the different time jumps to direct the cast.

Snubbed

Joseph Kosinski

To direct Maverick is a huge challenge. Real sets. Real flying planes. It is crazy he is constantly ignored during award season. I would replace Ostlund for Kosinski

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“Applause” from Tell It Like a Woman; Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
“Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick; Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop
“Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; Lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler
“Naatu Naatu” from RRR; Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose
“This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once; Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne

Will Win

Lift Me Up 

Lift Me Up will edge out Hold my Hand. Lady Gaga had her moment and voters will then go toward Rihanna

Should Win

Hold My Hand

Lady Gaga wrote this song..and the lyrics fit perfectly with the storyline of the film. A perfect song to end Maverick. Gaga knows she will lose..she is not flying in for the show lol.

Snubbed 

Carolina

Where The Crawdads Sing

How can voters ignore this song. It was perfect for this film. Taylor Swift knew the book and wrote this for the movie. Replace Naatu Naatu with this.

NOW.... BEST PICTURE

All Quiet on the Western Front — Malte Grunert, Producer
Avatar: The Way of Water — James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
The Banshees of Inisherin — Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Martin McDonagh, Producers
Elvis — Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler Weiss, Producers
Everything Everywhere All at Once — Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wang, Producers
The Fabelmans — Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner, Producers
Tár — Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert, Producers
Top Gun: Maverick — Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer, Producers
Triangle of Sadness — Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober, Producers
Women Talking — Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Frances McDormand, Producers

Will Win

Everything Everywhere All At Once

This is becoming close to a lock after what we already have seen during award season. The outside chances are The Fablemans and Tar, but, they have no chance at this point.

Should Win

Top gun Maverick

Not only for the fun; exciting; and emotional film it was, but for bringing people back to the theaters.

Snubbed 

Crawdads and Otto should have been nominated. Both, near perfect movies but snobby critics roll their eyes at these films..I would replace the awful Triangle Of Sadness and the long messy Avatar Way Of The Water.

Well There are my Oscar picks, May the odds always be in my favor.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

 

The Shadow Awards for 2022 films have arrived!!!!

Well first, you have to settle down. I know you are excited, the tuxedos and gowns are on. As you know the Shadow Awards are bigger than the Oscars because..well..they are voted on by me. This year I added Music and books!! I KNOW...RIGHT!!!

So grab your popcorn and here we go...lets go for the throat early...

Worst Performance Of The Year Award:

The award goes to...

Julia Roberts in Ticket To Paradise

I do not know what happened here. Julia Roberts was awful in this just okay/awkward film. It was almost like she had no interest. She mailed in her performance, looking bored throughout. It seemed like Clooney, I felt, was pushing her through. It was..just ..bad.

Best Actor Of The Year Award:

The award goes to...

TOM HANKS

I mentioned in my review of Otto, to discuss if Tom Hanks has become the best actor of all time. I think the answer is yes. That's including better than Deniro; Redford; James Stewart; Gable; and Daniel Day-Lewis. He is just better all around.

This year playing Colonel Tom Parker in Elvis he was amazing as well a jerk. Then in Otto as a grumpy man trying to kill himself. Both parts go against his personality, yet you believe him on the big screen every minute.

Favorite Comeback Award

The award goes to

Daniel Radcliffe in Lost City

I just found him hilarious playing a villain in Lost City. His comic timing was spot on. I love the charcuterie board and how proud he was of it, but then it blows everywhere. He was so over the top..he was great.

My Favorite Character Award

The Award goes to

Joey King as Prince in Bullet Train

I am starting to realize, by the last 3 awards, Hanks, Radcliffe, and now King, I was attracted to actors playing against type in 2022. Joey King sure did here. I mean look at her in the picture, so sweet, but she is an assassin!! So good in this film, a film that is kind of an enjoyable mess and it works because of her. Great casting.

Best New Trilogy Award

The Award Goes to 

X...Pearl...Maxxxine is next

I am not a horror fan at all. However Mia Goth has me pulled into this bat shit crazy series, as she so far has played two different characters. Let us not forget Jenna Ortega and Brittany Snow are in X which helps. Ti West screenwriter and director should get some credit lol.

WHY? Just Why?Award.

The Award goes to 

LIGHTYEAR

Soooo much went wrong...so I am just going to leave it there. It won.

Best Actress Award

The award goes to Anya Taylor Joy

A triple threat this year...

Convincing in the mud as Olga Of The Birch Forest in The Northman . Brilliant as always

A small part as Libby Vose in the just okay film Amsterdam. I could watch a movie with just Margot Robbie as Valerie Vose and Joy as Libby Vose and be very happy. When they were together on the screen it was hilarious and pure magic.

Then, of course, playing Margot in the bat shit crazy The Menu. Perfectly cast.

Scariest Movie Award

The award goes to

FALL

Now as for the movie, it worked for awhile, it had a crazy twist at the 3/4 mark. Oddly it never showed us what happened at the end, just the results. Still, with my fear of heights, I felt like I was holding my breath the whole time.

The I Still Don't Get It Award

The Award Goes To 

Everything Everywhere All At Once

I tried. I saw it twice. I still don't get it. I came to the conclusion that it was not meant for me. That is okay I guess.

The Top Three Albums I Listened To Over And Over Again Award. You Should Too...

The Award Goes To....

SARA BAREILLES LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

It's amazing that she sounds even better live. This vinyl covers her past songs. Some wonderful, well written new songs. Plus songs from her musical Waitress. 

HAIM WOMEN IN MUSIC PART THREE

Yes, not released in 2022, but I just noted albums I have been listening to most. I have never heard of Haim before I saw Alana Haim in Licorice Pizza. So I listened to the vinyl. Again and again and again. The music is so different. The sisters are very talented at playing many different instruments themselves.  There are many highlights in this vinyl of these sisters who just rock with strong vocals and heartfelt lyrics...like The Steps; Gasoline and of course Hallelujah.

MIRANDA LAMBERT PALOMINO

As she gets older her writing ages with her. Here on Palomino she writes about traveling and places and people she meets and she takes us along. The finish is the highlight and the best song never released this year. Carousel is just a story of a former circus performer looking back at her past life that no one today knows about. Her lost love. It is so haunting and beautiful you play it over and over.

The Top Three Books Of 2022 Award

The Winners are...

PARIS LIBRARY

Based on a true story of an American Library during World War 2 and the bonds of friendship and bravery within the library., written by Janet Skeslien Charles. 

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

Well you know I loved the movie. The book by Delia Owens is even better. This came out in 2018, but I finally read it this year due to the films release. I am glad I did.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

Finalay is a broke writer who is mistaken for a contract killer and is offered a boat load of money to off someones husband. Its funny, fast paced and a thriller. So good..that there is a part 2 and 3 in print by author Elle Cosimano.

Well the awards are over. Go to your after parties and don't drink and drive please.

'

From the shadows as always thanks for your time....Oscar predictions coming next!!

IN THE SHADOWS TOP TEN FILMS OF 2022....NUMBER 1 !!!!!!

I have come to my number 1 film of 2022 which will not be a surprise. However I will go into why this film was more than just a number 1 film.

Well lets review my top ten films:

10-All Quiet On The Western Front

 9- Glass Onion

 8-Women Talking

 7-Downton Abbey A New Era

 6-Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

 5-The Fabelmans

 4-Emily The Criminal

 3-A Man Called Otto

 2-Where The Crawdads Sing

 1-???????????????????????

And now number one films of years past................

2014 Wild

2015 The Martian

2016 Edge Of Seventeen 

2017 The Big Sick

2018 Green Book

2019 Knives Out

Decade- Brooklyn

2020 News Of The World

2021 Coda

So now the number 1 film of 2022..................

TOP GUN MAVERICK

Since you already have probably seen the trailer, here is 10 minutes of behind the scenes that you may not have seen:

Why?

Lets start outside of the film itself.

Tom Cruise. Lets face it, he is an odd puppy. Socially odd. Yet, somehow he fully understands what entertains the public, and what they want to see. See Top Gun, see MI movies. He was the one that was adamant that this film must be shown on the big screen. This meant that the film sat in the can for 3 years over covid lock downs, and then the slow process of people trusting to enter said theaters. This meant the money people had to wait a long time to get their money back. It was a huge successful gamble.

Then Cruise insisted on minimal green screen and CGI aerial shots. This meant putting the cameras in the planes and the poor supporting cast had to undergo extensive G-force training. To make this look real on the big screen.

So what did this do? Lets face it, it saved the theaters. Theaters were struggling and going into the summer they were deep in debt. And along came Maverick, and this is why Maverick is bigger than just a very good film.... The people returned to the theaters and then returned to see this movie more than once. It was people of all ages which made it different from the dying Marvel films. People enjoyed themselves. Literally clapping in the theaters at the end.

So, Maverick kept the theaters going in the summer. However as the fall came ...it got ugly as Regal filed for bankruptcy. So what does the future hold for theaters. Its a big bad circle, where many good films go right to streaming, and now streaming services are now struggling because it cost money, lots of money, to pay the actors and to make the movie. They are not getting the money back. So what is going to happen? Or what has happened. Hollywood stars are going to start making less, because production is not going to have the money. So what is needed is more Tom Cruises, to insist in their contracts 4 weeks or more in theaters first. That is where their money will be. Will it be too late for theaters? We shall see. All eyes are on the AMC chain.

Well, long winded...now to Maverick...and why it worked..

Well Tom Cruise made it work.

Director Joseph Kosinski made it work.

Jim Cash; Jack Epps jr; and Peter Craig  wrote a wonderful near perfect script. Bringing nostalgia ( like Val Kilmer) to the script. Plus a new modern look, more quick paced with sharp edits.

Casting was just spot on:

-Jennifer Connelly as Penny plays her part perfectly. She does not need Maverick, she is a smart independent business woman. She does not need him...but it would be nice if he stays. So often she is quietly asking questions to test the waters.

-Miles Teller as Rooster. I love how they make him look like Goose with the cheesy mustache

-The antagonist Jon Hamm with that smirk (LOL) as Cyclone; and the underrated Glenn Powell as Hangman.

-Support staff Charles Parnell playing Warlock and Bashir Salahuddin playing Hondo, with their constant whispers trying to help Maverick and keep him going in the right direction.

-The very much underrated Monica Barbaro as Phoenix..who I still think, she is the brains keeping this group of pilots together. Please note, the great decision of putting a female in the movie who does not have to be a love interest.

The script; the action; the comedy; the love story; not trying to be politically correct or incorrect because it did not matter; the tension; the emotional ending; the Lady Ga Ga song at the end...a close to perfect Hollywood film.

And...let us tip our hat here at the end to Bob. Our favorite pilot. Played by Lewis Pullman son of the great actor Bill Pullman. BOB IS AN AMERICAN HERO!!

My number 1 movie for 2022, and most likely yours..Top Gun Maverick.

As always from the shadows thanks for your time.

In The Shadows Top Ten Films Of 2022....Numbers 4-3-2

Getting so close to the end!!! Here I go! Thanks for coming along!!

At number 4.....

EMILY THE CRIMINAL

Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is in debt and she cannot get out of it. So she decides to start running credit card scams for a scamming underground organization.

I saw this in the theater. There is not much of a better feeling than walking out of a movie theater shocked by how good a film was, after not knowing much about it going in.

This film is so tense. Note Emily is not a good person, or, maybe a good person who is doing bad things out of desperation. Yet, we, the viewer, are cheering her on. Which tells you how great Aubrey Plaza is in this performance. She has us feeling for her. 

Also...note, one of the best job interview scenes in film. I felt like standing in the middle of the theater and clapping.

Along with Plaza there is another really good performance by Theo Rossi as Youcef Haddad. What side of the fence is he on?

This film is really good. I believe you can see it on Hulu or Netflix. Do not miss it. You will hold on tighter to your credit cards after watching how it's done lol.

Number 4  for the year 2022....Emily The Criminal.

3

A MAN CALLED OTTO

Otto..spelled O-TT-O (Tom Hanks) is your grumpy neighbor. Who slowly becomes softer after Marisol and her family moves in across the street.

I have to note, I read the book maybe a decade ago, which I liked. Saw the foreign version which I did not like at all. So, I did not have much hope for this film. This worked!!!!!!

The difference maker is Tom Hanks. Are we at the point to recognize Tom Hanks as the best actor ever? Discuss. 

Tom Hanks is spot on perfect, often funny, often cringe worthy. His son Truman Hanks, plays the younger Otto, this is where we learn why Otto is the way he is. My Heart!!!!

Surprisingly, new to our country on the big screen, Mariana Trevino who plays Marisol slips in and almost outshines Hanks. There is a scene, without giving away spoilers, when he knocks on her door and she with tears in her eyes gives him a "What For"..that is just fantastic. She is...just..a find. Credit to director Marc Forster.

Well anyway, coming in at number 3 A Man Called Otto...a must see.

2

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

Abandoned as a little girl, Kya (Daisy Edgar Jones) raised herself in the marshlands of North Carolina. She opens herself up to two young men.. one is kind..the other not so much. When one young man is found dead the town folks believe it was her ( the Marsh Girl) and it was not an accident.

Part love story.

Part mystery.

Part adventure.

Part courtroom drama.

Now I did read the book, and the film does not follow the book precisely. Still the meat of the story is there with only a few changes. The film really does the wonderful book justice. With the twist at the end.

The highlight of the film are four performances:

 -Jones as Kya (by the way British with doing her best Carolina accent); just perfectly cast. She is known in Europe for the short series Normal People, but here yet to really get a juicy part until now and she pulls it off. She says so much without saying a word, heck, she is alone most of the time. She is just fantastic.

-David Strathairn as Tom Milton, a lawyer coming out of retirement to represent Kya. He plays the part so soft and wonderful, I kind of wish he was in the movie more.

J-ojo Regina as young Kya. Wow, she has some heartbreaking scenes which crush the soul and she pulls it off. By the way her first acting gig on the big screen. Just amazing!

-Sterling Macer Jr as Jumpin. He has a small part, but with this small part he owns the screen as Kyas surogat father in a world where black men are treated "less" like Kya is. If I had a complaint, and I understand the time restraints of taking a book and moving it to the big screen, still I wish Jumpin got his due at the end like in the book.

I watched this maybe 5 times ands each time I appreciate it more and spot little clues each time also. Thumbs up to director Olivia Newman who filmed this under tough conditions, in the swamps. Yet, she paid attention to the twists and beauty of the area.

Some say this film is too slow, which tells you a lot about the attention span of movie goers. This film is very good and can be seen I think on Netflix or Hulu.

Number 2 for the year 2022 ..Where The Crawdads Sing.

Now we are down to 1. Come on...you have to know what it is. It's too easy...

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

In The Shadows Top Ten Films Of 2022.....7-6-5

As I give you 7-6-5, this is the area I noticed my list pulls away from snotty/I am smarter than you reviewers. Was I entertained? Did it deliver what the fans and or trailer promised? Or...did I learn something? If I answered yes to any of those questions I usually give the film a thumbs up. So yes..my top ten movies are different from most reviewers...in the shadows. Like you, I am just an average movie goer..

So now on to number 7...how exciting..settle down..

7

DOWNTON ABBEY A NEW ERA

The Crawley family is back!! This time...traveling to the South Of France. While Hollywood has come to Downton.

Why is this in my top ten? It delivers exactly what fans of Downton wanted.

Each character had moments to shine.

The storyline was fun.

It was a beautiful looking film.

You laughed often; and left the theater with tears, you felt something.

It had many wonderful performances..I will highlight a couple:

Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley)..plays the change in his character perfectly. He has to release his pride to give up a little bit of control. However what is up with the tan..lol.

Laura Haddock, as film star Myrna Dawgleish. A newcomer to Downton. She plays the part kinda funny, yet she is a bit sad. She knows with talkies coming her career may be over. She plays the part perfectly. I have to wonder how the other actors in her scenes kept a straight face.

The best performance of them all...and never gets enough credit..Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary. She plays Lady Mary in this new era with class and dignity, and also a bit modern knowing all the weight is on this woman's shoulder to keep Downton running, and to not let everyone see her sweat by adding humor. Dockery is the star of this series for sure.

After the really bad last Downton movie, this is a wonderful comeback. There is never a wasted moment, this film shines.

Number 7 for 2022 ....Downton Abbey A New Era.

6

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON

Marcel is a 1 inch shell who lives with his grandmother in a VRBO house. However when a documentary filmmaker discovers them, and starts interviewing Marcel, well, wonderful things happen.

Without a doubt the sweetest film of the year. 

Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, he was also the screenwriter with help from Jenny Slate (voice of Marcel) and Nick Paley.

Not going to spoil too much here but...

Using stop/go animation, this film is brilliant. This film is for adults, and it is sometimes laugh out loud funny (Like the tick tick tick of the show 60 minutes) for the quick wit. Yes funny, but sometimes sad. Again I will not spoil it. The screenplay is so different from what we have seen before.

Also the voice work is spot on ...Jenny Slate as Marcel and Isabella Rossellini (yes you read that right) as Connie. How did they get Rossellini????!!

Just a wonderful little film coming in at number 6... Marcel The Shell With Shoes On.

5

THE FABELMANS

Post World War 2, in Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman wants to be a filmmaker. He soon discovers, through his camera lens, family secrets that could alter his path and his dreams.

Well you all know this film directed by Steven Spielberg is his story brought to the screen.

This film has a slow burn that worked for me. Many do not like the slow burn, but for me, a person who loves film, it was a joy.

Spielberg is a great director we all know, but he does not get enough credit for his casting. Every single person in this film is perfect in their parts:

-Michelle Williams as Mizi Fabelman, a tough role to handle but she is perfect...but when is she not.

-Paul Dano as Burt Fabelman. How? How? How did he not get an Oscar nomination here as the father? He is being a dad who is being left in the dust. Kind of heartbreaking. Yet he plays him stoic to the end.

-Introducing us to Gabriel LaBelle as Sammy the dreamer. I mean, how does Spielberg find these young newcomers (Rachel Zegler In West Side Story)?! LaBelle plays Sammy(aka Spielberg) spot on. It is a tough part playing a young man in a house which is oddly broken; still chasing his dreams; also lets not forget growing up Jewish in that time period. Not an easy part to play and he is really good.

I am not mentioning Judd Hirsh as Uncle Boris here, I do not get the love. He was in the film for 5 minutes. I do not get it. In fact I think Seth Rogan was better in this film as Uncle Benny, but he is getting no love.

If I had a problem with the film it would be the abrupt ending, which kind of dropped it out of the top 3 for me. Still, coming in at number 5.. The Fabelmans.

So..2-3-4 still too come!!!

From the shadows as always thanks for your time

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2022......10-9-8

Well...so it begins..my top ten films of 2022. 

10

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

The viewer follows a young German Soldier (Paul) and his terrifying experiences during World War 1.

I debated if I wanted this on my top ten, I usually put movies in my top ten that I want to see again. This film, I am okay not seeing this again. It is just a very hard watch. 2 hours and 45 minutes of war violence. Still...this movie..stays with you. It is filled with tension. It delivers what it intends the viewer to feel.

-The film has a wonderful performance by Felix Kammerer as Paul, often acting without saying a word with close ups of his face.

-Director Edward Berger takes the  Remarque novel and puts you right in the middle of war, reminding you of the film Platoon. It is a wake up call, of how violent war is. He also shows you the higher ups in government/army leaders eating wonderful food off fine china, while soldiers are being burned to death. An interesting dichotomy. He really does not hold back.

The film is a hard watch, yet should be seen as a reminder of how harsh war can be or was.

My number 10 film of 2022...All Quiet On The Western Front. 

9

GLASS ONION

Benoit Blanc is back!!! This time he is traveling to Greece for his latest case.

This plot is not as tight as Knives Out. However this film offered many wonderful performances including Ed Norton; Kate Hudson (is Back!); Janelle Monet (Steals the movie); Kathryn Hann; and of course Daniel Craig. They make this work. These actors make this watchable.

Rian Johnson is back in the director chair (and Screenplay) he adds a bit more humor to this 2nd Blanc film, and that humor does not take away from the film. He also throws in many cameos (did you catch Ethan Hawke or did you miss him?).

Well anyway the twist in the middle worked. The ending worked. The film just worked and it was fun.

I was lucky enough to see this at a screening a month before it came out to Netflix, it was so hard to not tell people about it...

My number 9 film of 2022 is..Glass Onion!!

7

WOMEN TALKING

Do Nothing

Stay And Fight

Leave

The three choices these women, in this isolated religious community, have to vote on, as they grapple with abuse and faith.

I did not want to see it. I get tired of going to movies and watching, A=Men are bad and B=Women are better than men making all men idiots and evil. The plot point gets old. However this film oddly had me on the edge of my seat. Smart direction by Sarah Polley. Smartly written by Sarah Polley. 

The wonderful performances by everyone keeps you glued to the story and hoping and praying for them. Highlighted by Rooney Mara as Ona, giving a different kind of performance we usually do not see in her. She is usually playing quirky, here, her character is straight out brave and convincing yet almost quietly in the middle,if that makes sense. There is also a good performance by the only man Ben Whishaw. Ben plays August the note taker. Why the note taker? He is the only one who can read. He wants to put in input on the decision but it is not his place, you can see his care for the women (because of his history), and his love for Ona.

If you are on the fence about this move, please see it. The film stays with you, with the knowledge this decision is being made in the real world all the time outside these communities.

Well there is the start. 10..9..and 8

More to come!!

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.