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Oscar 2021 Nominations Make History

Two women have been nominated for best director at this years Oscars. I don’t understand why more women haven’t been nominated over the years.

Not only have there been nominations for women in this years Oscars but there has been more people of colour nominated as well, and about bloody time.

Emerald Fennell who is nominated for best director at the 2021 Oscars for Promising Young Woman

Promising Young Woman

Promising Young Woman is a black comedy thriller that is stunning to watch. I was lucky to see it at Mt Vic Flicks a while ago now.

The film was written, produced and directed by Emerald Fennell who has been the show runner for Killing Eve (another one of my favourite shows). Promising Young Woman was Emerald Fennell’s directoral debut.

Promising Young Woman received the best original screenplay at the Critics’ Choice Awards, has been nominated at the Golden Globes for Best Screenplay, Best Film and Best Director.

Carey Mulligan who plays Cassie Thomas seeks revenge for her best friends rape at medical school. Mulligan plays the strategic Cassie so well that you are in the world of revenge and you want to help Cassie get justice too. I did find it sad that both Cassie and her best mate lost their lives to a horrible tragedy with the sexual assault and rape. You find out that her friend who was raped killed herself and Cassie has been seeking revenge for her bestie ever since. Both girls were at the top of their class and could have been amazing doctors and who knows, cure a disease we have been trying to rid the world of. I do understand the anger and upset but I am saddened that something like this ruins lives and makes people drop out of school, change direction and not live the life they deserve or have been working towards. It is also sad that it shows yet again that men and boys get protected and the women and girls doubted and not taken seriously when they take incidents like this to higher channels to get resolved and of course have the boys or men charged and answer for their crimes. After seeing this movie with a girlfriend of mine I remarked that it is horrible to think that these talented girls let the boys win by taking their dreams. I know being raped and assaulted is horrible and I do agree that the men responsible needed to pay and be probably punished but losing your life to one horrible incindet is horrible too. If you have seen the film let me know your thoughts.

Nomadland

Nomadland is a 2020 American drama film written, edited, and directed by Chloé Zhao. It stars Frances McDormand as a woman who leaves home to travel around the American West. It also features David Strathairn in a supporting role, as well as real-life nomads Linda May, Swankie, and Bob Wells, as fictionalized versions of themselves. The film is based on the 2017 non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder.”

Chloé Zhao is nominated for Best Director for Nomadland

Frances McDormand and Peter Spears optioned the film rights to the book in 2017. McDormand saw After seeing Chloé Zhao’s film The Rider at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and wanted Zhao to direct the

The nominations for the 2021 Oscars are….. drum roll please……

Best Picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Director
Thomas Vinterburg, Another Round
Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
David Fincher, Mank
Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand, Nomadland
Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins, The Father
Gary Oldman, Mank
Steven Yeun, Minari

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman, The Father
Amanda Seyfried, Mank
Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Leslie Odom Jr., One Night in Miami
Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
LaKeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Adapted Screenplay
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Peter Baynham, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jena Friedman, Anthony Hines, Lee Kern, Dan Mazer, Erica Rivinoja & Dan Swimer)
The Father (Christopher Hampton & Florian Zeller)
Nomadland (Chloé Zhao)
One Night in Miami (Kemp Powers)
The White Tiger (Ramin Bahrani)

Best Original Screenplay
Judas and the Black Messiah (Will Berson, Shaka King, Keith Lucas & Kenny Lucas)
Minari (Lee Isaac Chung)
Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell)
Sound of Metal (Derek Cianfrance, Abraham Marder & Darius Marder)
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Aaron Sorkin)

Best Costume Design
Emma
Mank
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mulan
Pinocchio

Best Original Score
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul

Best Animated Short Film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You
Opera
Yes-People

Best Live-Action Short Film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers
White Eye

Best Documentary Feature
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher
Time

Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha

Best International Feature Film
Denmark, Another Round
Hong Kong, Better Days
Romania, Collective
Tunisia, The Man Who Sold His Skin
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Quo Vadis, Aida?

Best Sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Sound of Metal
Soul

Best Production Design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
News of the World
Tenet

Best Film Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet

Best Animated Feature Film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul
Wolfwalkers

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Pinocchio

Best Original Song
“Husavik” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
“Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah
“lo Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)
“Speak Now” from One Night in Miami
“Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7

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It is so great to see more women getting nominated. Have you seen any of these films? If so what are your thoughts?




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Categories
Family

TV Shows I’ve Been Watching

Television is great escapism and a fantastic distraction from your every day. Also as a busy mum having some fun being immersed in a fun new world that is just my escape is wonderful.

Are you into binge-watching TV? If you are a fan of Netflix or Hulu, you would know that they have all episodes available at

I love watching a few episodes of my favourite shows when the kids are at school and hubby is at work. This quiet time means that I can finally do my own thing and enjoy my own shows. Currently due to watching them all, I am now in waiting mode for the next season, however, this will most likely be next year before this happens.

Below is a list of shows I have loved and of course binge watched due to the fact that it was so good, and I had to find out what will happen next. I hope that they all have new seasons so that we can enjoy more fun from these great shows and creators.

Don’t worry NO SPOILERS SWEETIE

Dead to Me

I was on Instagram and saw Alyssa Milano’s post about Christina Applegate’s new show, “Dead to Me”. I like Christina’s previous work so thought why not give the new show a go.  (Yes I follow Alyssa Milano and no she’s not following me.)

Alyssa was right Dead to Me is fantastic and so addictive. I watched it in record time as I was keen to find out what happens.

So what is Dead to Me About?

“A hotheaded widow searching for the hit-and-run driver who mowed down her husband befriends an eccentric optimist who isn’t quite what she seems.” Netflix

Christina Applegate plays Jen Harding who is a real estate agent. Her husband was killed in a hit and run accident and she is grieving his loss.

Harding (Applegate) attends a grief group run by the church to help her deal with her feelings. While there she meets Judy Hale who is played by Linda Cardellini. Hale appears to be a very nice and endearing woman who is grieving too until you learn about her dark secret. (I won’t spoil it for you, but it is a HUGE AND BIG SECRET!!!)

Jen doesn’t deal well with touchy feeling and woo woo stuff to make her feel good. She is all about saying FUCK and listening to loud rock/heavy metal music to deal with her feelings and grief. A glass of wine and a few joints are also in the mix as she is having a hard time working, dealing with her two kids, and the aftermath of losing her husband suddenly to a hit and run.

Anytime she sees a car that looks like it could be the one that hit her hubby she stops, takes pictures and writes down the number plate, and of course, reports it to the local police. The police that are tasked with her husband’s case have nothing to go on, so are finding it hard to impossible to track down who it could have been that killed her husband.

During Jen’s search she uncovers information about her husband that is upsetting and troubling, she then questions the marriage before the accident and herself.

The show is a drama but also a dark comedy as there are some moments that are hilarious and you will find yourself laughing out loud.

According to Wikipedia, “On June 3, 2019, Netflix renewed the series for a second season”

Yippeeee more Dead to Me to come soon.

If you haven’t seen this show, download it today and binge watch it when you have some time for you.

 

Good Girls

Good Girls stars Christina Hendricks from Mad Men and she is a mother to four kids who discovers that her husband has invested badly and they don’t have any money, oh and not to mention that he has been cheating on her with a young thing from his car dealership.

Her sister and bestie are also struggling financially and to help everyone they all decide to rob the supermarket that Hendricks sister works at. All three of them end up with more money than they bargained on and this, in turn, leads to a visit by a gang who wants their money back.

Due to spending some of this money, they find creative ways to try and pay it back, and during this period get sucked into doing more and more for this gang. The three friends end up money laundering for the gang.

Beth who is played by Hendricks realises that she is good at crime and actually loves it. It is different from being a stay at home mum, exciting, challenging and interesting, and of course dangerous and scary.

There have been two series of Good Girls and as I was new to it binge watched them.

The show is a drama and at times a comedy. I am sure you will love it as much as I do and now hanging for the next instalment for all the characters.

Who plays who:

  • Christina Hendricks – Beth Boland
  • Retta – Ruby Hill (best friend to Beth and Annie)
  • Mae Whitman – Annie Marks (Beth’s sister)

Good news, according to Variety Good Girls has been renewed for Season 3! Happy days, and now to wait until the new shows are out.

 

Catch 22

Catch 22 is based on the novel written by Joseph Heller.

“The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. It mainly follows the life of Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air ForcesB-25 bombardier. Most of the events in the book occur while the fictional 256th Squadron is based on the island of Pianosa, in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Italy. The novel looks into the experiences of Yossarian and the other airmen in the camp, who attempt to maintain their sanity while fulfilling their service requirements so that they may return home.” Wikipedia.

Yossarian who is played by Christoper Abbott is keen to get out of flying his missions as he believes that the next one might be his last. Every time he gets close to the end of his missions, the number of missions get raised. Yes, he thought he was close to done and then has to do more!

Yossarian or otherwise known as Yo Yo tries to see if he can be classified as crazy to get out of missions but then finds out due to the Catch 22 issue this is not possible.

The show is a comedy-drama about World War II and the life of the bombers and the reality of the missions they were involved with.  After watching this series it is a wonder that anyone survived being a bomber in the war. It would have been so stressful, scary and if you didn’t get hit by enemy fire you would be super lucky.

During the show, many of the characters die and the impact it has on Yo Yo and the other men of the squadron.

Hugh Laurie and George Clooney are in the show too and they play interesting characters.   Clooney is one of the producers of the series.

I’m not sure there will be any more of Catch 22, but if there isn’t another season this one is a must see.

Daniel David Stewart who plays Milo is a fabulous wheeler and dealer and I’m sure this happened a lot during the war. Lewis Pullman who plays Major Major is great too, and the play on his name is so funny.

If you haven’t seen this series yet, download it now and you will love it as much as I do.

 

Killing Eve

Killing Eve is a spy thriller that is based on the Codename Villanelle novella series by Luke Jennings.

“Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a desk-bound British intelligence officer, begins to track down talented psychopathic assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer), while both women become obsessed with each other.”

The show is based in the UK and the relationship between Polastri and Villanelle and it is interesting to see how the relationship develop.

Killing Eve has just recently finished its third season. Hopefully, there will be a fourth season.

I love Villanelle’s playfulness and her comedy with Eve, although she is a killer there are times that are very funny.

Villanelle also has killer style in fashion…yes I used killer to describe her style, even the Sydney Morning Herald wrote about how Villanelle is a style icon.

Watch it now to get up to speed on all three seasons. I’m really hoping there is more to come.

Barry

Barry is a dark comedy about a hitman who is sent to LA to kill someone but ends up joining a theatre group and wanting to become an actor.

The theatre group is run by Gene Cousineau which is played by Henry Winkler. Winkler is superb as Gene guiding his acting students in the right way to do scenes, rehearse and audition for parts. He is larger than life character that makes you laugh out loud.

Barry is played by Bill Hader who co-created the series with Alec Berg. Hader plays Barry Birkman who is searching for more meaning rather than being a hitman and being at the beck and call of others. He would like to simplify his life and be normal like everyone else.

Barry is constantly dealing with a gang that draws him into killing people, his manager that sets up the hits and his newfound friendships with the other actors and a new relationship with Sally Reed who is played by Sarah Goldberg.

It is very funny and an interesting twist of events for a career-changing hitman. If you haven’t seen this show yet, I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I do.

 

I hope this gives you a few choices for what to watch now that Game of Thrones (GoT) has ended.

I’ve left out a few others that I have been watching but will write on those later.

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