It's time to begin making my formal and official Oscar predictions. In this fourth post, we start to get the beginning three of "The Big 8" Oscar categories. Here, we look at the writing and directing awards for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Let's do this and pick some winners! I've said it all season. Stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool.
Read MoreSince "Fifty Shades of Grey" has splashed onto the scene as box office juggernaut, grossing over $81 million and counting, I knew this film would and could attract more than one "guest critic." Women are coming out of the Pinterest and beach-read woodwork by the box-wine-load to see this flick. I put the all-call out on Facebook have picked up some sinners and winners. I've got two takers so far. Mr. Shanahan will see you now...
Read MoreI'm a busy guy and I can't see everything every weekend, but I have good friends who can fill in the gaps. Since "Fifty Shades of Grey" has splashed onto the scene as box office juggernaut, grossing over $81 millon and counting, I knew this film would and could attract more than one "guest critic." Women are coming out of the Pinterest and beach-read woodwork by the box-wine-load to see this flick. I put the all-call out on Facebook have picked up some sinners and winners. Mr. Shanahan will see you now...
Read MoreIt's time to begin making my formal and official Oscar predictions. In this third post, we look at the minor film categories that include animation, documentary, and shorts. Let's do this!
Read MoreIt's time to begin making my formal and official Oscar predictions. In this second post, we look at the musical and sound categories that include original score, original song, sound editing, and sound mixing. Let's do this!
Read MoreIt's time to begin making my formal and official Oscar predictions. In this first post, we look at the visual and artistic technical categories that include cinematography, production design, costumes, makeup/hairstyling, editing, and visual effects. Let's do this!
Read MoreThe Oscar nominations for the 87th Academy Awards were announced this morning. Directors J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuaron mapped out the little categories and then actor Chris Pine and Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs drops some bombs this morning. As always, there are plenty of surprises and plenty of snubs. Through it all, the frontrunners have already emerged and this race is taking shape, so much so that I could probably name the eventual winners already today.
Read MoreWith the 87th Academy Award nominations being announced tomorrow morning, I'm cutting it close with my predictions of who and what names will hear their named called. I've been following the full awards season over on my Awards Tracker page, where I've been following the trends and reading the tea leaves. Using that data and a batch of hunches, here are my savvy predictions for tomorrow's nominations in the eleven major categories.
Read MoreMore and more each year, the Golden Globes have become more an a popularity contest than a true precursor to the Academy Awards. What you're watching on TV is a party thrown by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in an effort to be loved and share some love. To its credit, the awards show still garners legitimate attention and ratings. The winners do get a pretty positive rub and the marketers gain a few more "Winner of..." graphics to put in the newspapers next to their films. Let's take a look at the film categories and pick some winners.
Read MoreGetting into the numbers, I reviewed twenty four-star films and twelve five-star gems. That means my final "10 Best" list are all champs with two that had to be bumped to lead the next ten. From there, my four-star reviews were ranked from 12-20 and then honorable mention. In keeping with the hook of my website, each of my "10 Best" are presented with their best life lesson and linked full reviews. Enjoy!
Read MoreIt has to be said every year, but the slowest season of the box office year are the months of January and February. It's a dumping grounds for studios in slow months of cold weather and foot traffic at the multiplexes. These are movies that aren't good enough for awards qualification and the holiday audiences of December or for the chipper personality of spring. It's cold, slow, and drop off from awards frenzy.
Read MoreDuring the shift from December to January, I enjoy retracing what I reviewed and enjoyed from the previous year, but the trailers and previews for next year's films are starting to make an impact. I can't help but look ahead. Every year, I wrote an "Most Anticipated List." 2015 looks wildly loaded with must-see films. Let's make a new list for a new year. Here are my 15 most anticipated films of this new year. Enjoy!
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