Your Weekend: A Selective Guide

Movies: In all the posters for “Doolittle” Robert Downey Jr. looks like: WTF am I doing in this picture? TV/Streaming: “Sanditon” was good enough for me to watch the second episode this Sunday on PBS, followed by the premiere of a historical whodunit called “Vienna Blood.” Music: “Frozen” soundtrack is back on the charts alongside “Frozen 2.” Maybe it was the announcement that Idina “Let It Go” Menzel is doing “Funny Girl” on Broadway. Books: I never cared where the crawdads sing…But I care that “Just Mercy” is back on the bestseller list because of the movie: hooray! Sports: I’m planning to watch both NFL playoff games but not as avidly as I’ll be watching Arsenal. Finally: “A lie cannot live.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

by Brendan Lemon | 1/17/20 | Add a Comment |

Three Cheers For “Cheers”

Netflix’s cheerleading documentary is cracking TV. If you haven’t already front-flipped your way through the whole perfect series, do so now. Details.

by Brendan Lemon | 1/16/20 | Add a Comment |

“Funny Girl” Finally Returning To B’way

Hasn’t been revived since the original 1964 production with Streisand. It will return later this year with Idina Menzel, directed by Michael Mayer. So what if Idina is 48 and the role of Fanny Brice begins when Fanny is a teenager. Idina can really “let it go” on the numbers as you’ll here in the clip.

by Brendan Lemon | 1/15/20 | Add a Comment |

Silvio Horta: Remembrances

He died last week, but this creator of “Ugly Betty” deserves to be noticed here — and everywhere else where excellent, pioneering entertainment is cherished.

by Brendan Lemon | 1/14/20 | Add a Comment |

Oscar Noms: Quick Reactions

“Joker” got the most noms (11) but getting most noms is the kiss of death lately for best picture chances: the movie will win Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix but no other major awards…J-Lo (supp actress) and Beyonce (best song) didn’t get noms, which means there will be no super-glam couples walking the red carpet…”Little Women” got 9 noms, but not for its female director, Greta Gerwig. She will have a chance to win adapted screenplay, though…No best actress nom for Awkwafina, so not a great day for Asian representation, alas. Also no Lupita nom in that category, in spite of her many critics’ awards this season…”Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” did not get a best editing nom, but I still think that Tarantino movie is the favorite to win best picture. Can’t say for sure though until DGA and PGA awards in a few weeks…LemonWade’s Oscar expert Rex Okpodu did well with his prediction of the noms: four out of five in most major categories, with 9 for 9 in best picture and 5 for 5 in adapted screenplay.

by Brendan Lemon | 1/13/20 | Add a Comment |

The Myth Of The Artistic Genius

The Paris Review tells us: ‘The Artistic Genius is male because men are most fit to be Artistic Geniuses. The goalposts of greatness are hyper-specific, socially manipulated, and ultimately less interested in the aesthetics of the work produced. And they are seldom scrutinized.”

by Brendan Lemon | 1/13/20 | Add a Comment |

Rex’s Final Oscar-Nom Predictions

Rex Okpodu has issued his choices prior to the nominations being announced tomorrow morning from Los Angeles. Here they are:

Best Picture:

BEST PICTURE

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood The Irishman 1917 JoJo Rabbit Marriage Story Parasite Little Women Joker Knives Out Ford v Ferrari. Alternate: Bombshell

BEST DIRECTOR

Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Sam Mendes – 1917 Martin Scorsese – The Irishman Taika Waititi – JoJo Rabbit Bong Joon-Ho – Parasite Alternate: Todd Phillips – Joker

BEST ACTOR

Adam Driver – Marriage Story Joaquin Phoenix – The Joker Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Taron Egerton – Rocketman Christian Bale – Ford v Ferrari Alternate – Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory

BEST ACTRESS

Renee Zellweger – Judy Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story Lupita Nwong’o – US Cynthia Erivo – Harriet Charlize Theron – Bombshell Alternate: Akwafina – The Farewell

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Tom Hanks – Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Al Pacino – The Irishman Joe Pesci – The Irishman Song Kang-ho – Parasite Alternate – Jamie Foxx – Just Mercy

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Laura Dern – Marriage Story Margot Robbie – Bombshell Jennifer Lopez – Hustlers Scarlett Johansson – JoJo Rabbit Nicole Kidman – Bombshell Alternate — Florence Pugh – Little Women

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino) Marriage Story (Noah Baumbach) 1917 (Krysty Wilson-Cairns, Sam Mendes) Parasite (Bong Joon-ho & Jin Won Han) B Booksmart Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel and Katie Siberman

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Two Popes (Anthony McCarten) The Irishman (Steven Zaillian) Joker (Todd Phillips & Scott Silver) Jojo Rabbit (Taika Waititi) Little Women (Greta Gerwig)

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

Parasite (South Korea) Pain and Glory (Spain) Les Miserables (France) Atlantics (Senegal) Those Who Remained (Hungary)

by Brendan Lemon | 1/12/20 | Add a Comment |

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