Tag: Oscar
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Whiplash (*****) dashes your hopes
Whiplash – 2014 Writer and Director Damien Chazelle Starring J.K. Simmons, Miles Teller, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser If you are looking for the inspirational story of the year, this is not it. If you are looking to see a movie about justice, it is not this film. Whiplash is almost unidentifiable in nature, in that the…
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Birdman (***1/2): Who is this guy?
Birdman – 2014 Director Alejandro González Iñárritu Starring Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Lindsay Duncan Screenplay Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo It’s during the second balcony scene with Mike and Sam (Norton and Stone) that one begins to realize how riveting Birdman has become. It’s not that the script is all that wonderful,…
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Dallas Buyers Club (***) fights a bad guy too easy to criticize
Dallas Buyers Club – 2013 Director Jean-Marc Vallée Starring Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner, Griffin Dunne, Dennis O’Hare, Steve Zahn, Dallas Roberts, Kevin Rankin Screenplay by Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack One of the unwritten rules of movie awards is weight loss or transformations of a dramatic nature leads to Golden Statues. This formula worked twice for…
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Corner Gas, Episode 37: Mail Fraud
The Writers – Brent Butt & Kevin White Director – Jeff Beesley A brief synopsis – Emma gets Brent’s old computer, changing Oscar’s whole world. Karen tries to corner Davis into bringing more than napkins to the annual picnic. Brent takes a vacation, which confuses Lacey. The best line – Wanda (to Oscar): How are we ever gonna…
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Django Unchained: If Samuel L. Jackson doesn’t win an Oscar, there is no justice
Django Unchained – 2012 Written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Don Johnson, Walton Goggins, James Remar, Michael Parks, Dennis Christopher There is a scene that resonates deeply. On the way into Candyland, Jamie Foxx’s freed slave, Django, rides along a group of men in chains.…
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Corner Gas, Episode 31: Harvest Dance
The Writers – Brent Butt and Mark Farrell Director – David Storey A brief synopsis – Hank has a girlfriend named Heather. Problem is, it looks like she may be from Woolerton (spit). Lacey is perplexed that no one invited her to the annual Harvest Dance. Brent and Oscar try to avoid having to eat Emma’s jelly salad.…
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Corner Gas, Episode 25: American in Saskatchewan
The Writers – Mark Farrell and Paul Mather Director – David Storey A brief synopsis – A strangely Canadian looking citizen of the U.S. finds his way in Dog River by mistake. An ATM is placed in the Insurance / Liquor store. Karen attempts to learn French. Davis and Fitzy have their doubts about the machine, but…
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Corner Gas, Episode 17: Whataphobia
The Writers – Brent Butt and Mark Farrell Director – David Storey A brief synopsis – A surprise birthday for Lacey brings the revelation that she has Globaphobia. Wanda finds that she just may have no phobias. Oscar and Emma get into a dispute over cooking after they both run afoul of the local mini golf. Karen helps…
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Corner Gas, Episode 16: The Smell of Freedom
The Writers – Kevin White and Paul Maher Director – Robert De Lint A brief synopsis – A bad joke by Brent reveals that Davis has no sense of smell. He soon regains it with Oscar’s help. The world of smell opens up to Davis, including the rancid smell of Karen’s perfume. Brent is then brought up to…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 