If I Had an Oscar Ballot, 2015 Edition

This had to be the toughest fake Oscar ballot, I’ve ever done. Some of these categories were so tough I literally yelled in anguish at getting rid of people. I mean there were 15 finalists for Cinematography and 7 in Director, which is crazy. Ex Machina is the leader with 9 nominees (including Picture), but my

Special 2015 Film Awards

Alright my 2015 year in review is moving slowly to a close, and to start my final 3 posts on the film year, I decided to hand out some special awards. Tomorrow, you’ll get a brief discussion on my top 10 films and Wednesday, you’ll see a potential Oscar ballot if I had a vote.

Film Review: The Tribe

Last year I remarked that watching Foxcatcher was like having your spirit in a vice grip. I was unsure a movie could top the oppressive nature of that film, but then along came The Tribe, a beautifully rendered film, which proves to be just as corrosive to the soul. Unlike that previous film, this movie beckons you to join its sadistic pleasures, from its alluring long takes to the fact that there are no subtitles for the sign language. Try though you might, you can’t but help lean into the film, even as the sheer bleakness provides no recourse.