Tuesday, August 26, 2025

CASTING GRADES (SEASON 33)

 

Jeff Stockton here with this season's edition of Casting Grades. In this segment I will dissect the casting of several films from the season - namely adaptations featuring characters that exist in other formats (or reality). Here we go....



METROID

Jennifer Lawrence as Samus Aran
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: An A-Lister was probably required for his one and J-Law fits the bill across the board.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Gary Oldman as Old Bird
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: His voice lends gravitas to a very strange looking CG character.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Sterling K. Brown as Gray Voice
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B-
Thoughts: His voice doesn't add much without the rest of him to help with the performance
Overall Casting Grade: B-

David Tennant as Ridley
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: He has a decent voice, but maybe not as intimidating as Ridley probably needed
Overall Casting Grade: B

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Pirate Commander
Appearance: N/A
Performance: C+
Thoughts: I don't think he was a great choice here. As an actor, JDM relies on his expressive face a lot - something lost in a voice role.
Overall Casting Grade: C+

Michelle Williams as Mother Brain
Appearance: N/A
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Her voice was perfect here - nailing a tone somewhere between motherly and menacing
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Rose Byrne as Virginia Aran
Appearance: B-
Performance: B
Thoughts: Rose Byrne felt wasted on such a role.
Overall Casting Grade: B-

Patrick Dempsey as Rodney Aran
Appearance: B+
Performance: B- 
Thoughts: He looks the part but is not given a ton to do as performer.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Violet McGraw as Young Samu
Appearance: B-
Performance: B
Thoughts: A little old for how the role is written, but McGraw is very good.
Overall Casting Grade: B


Overall Film Casting Grade: B



NIGHT STALKER

Danny Ramirez as Richard Ramirez
Appearance: A-
Performance: A 
Thoughts: Almost a dead ringer for the real figure and manages to deliver a chilling performance
Overall Casting Grade: A

Michael Pena as Gil Carrillo
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Michael Pena brings life and determination to a dark story
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Michael Chiklis as Frank Salerno
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Chiklis looks enough like the real guy, but most importantly, he works well opposite Pena
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Zoe Kazan as Doreen Lioy
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: She's better looking than the real Doreen, but Kazan manages to capture the mania
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Gabriel Chazarria as Miguel Valles
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Chavarria is chilling as the man who introduces the Night Stalker to violence.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Isabella Gomez as Maria Hernandez
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: A small role, but Gomez does well with it.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Isaac Ordonez as Young Richard Ramirez
Appearance: B-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Probably a little old by release for the role, but he still feels believable as a younger Ramirez
Overall Casting Grade: B

Overall Film Casting Grade: A-




Asher Angel as Jason Scott/Red Ranger
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Angel brings scrappy leadership to the role of Jason
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Millie Bobby Brown as Kimberly Hart/Pink Ranger
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: While the role is a little underwritten, MBB delivers strong work
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Wyatt Oleff as Billy Cranston/Blue Ranger
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: While not as believable in the action, Oleff brings a shaky charisma to the nerdy Billy.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Niles Fitch as Zack Taylor/Black Ranger
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Niles Fitch keeps things pretty close to the original role  - which is not a bad thing.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Minnie Mills as Trini Kwan/Yellow Ranger
Appearance: A
Performance: B
Thoughts: An underwritten role a bit, but she is perfect looking for the role.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Lucy Liu as Rita Repulsa
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Liu seems to be having fun with this one
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Giancarlo Esposito as Zordon
Appearance: B-
Performance: B
Thoughts: Esposito has gravitas, but maybe not the perfect kind for this type of role
Overall Casting Grade: B

Alan Tudyk as Alpha 5
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Tudyk knows how to voice a robot
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Clancy Brown as Goldar
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Few have a stronger, gruffer voice than Brown
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Ethan Cutkowsky as Skull
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: A pretty good match for the character as depicted on the original TV series
Overall Casting Grade: B

Aedin Mincks as Bulk
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Another strong physical match, albeit a little soft-spoken
Overall Casting Grade: B

Jason Isaacs as Lord Zedd
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: A voice cameo, but Isaacs sets the role up for the future
Overall Casting Grade: B

Overall Film Casting Grade: B+



BROADWAY JOE

Jeremy Allen White as Joe Namath
Appearance: A-
Performance: A
Thoughts: A little short, but other than that, JAW gives it his all
Overall Casting Grade: A

John C. Reilly as Bear Bryant
Appearance: B-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Reilly is never not great - although he doesn't always feel legendary as the Bear
Overall Casting Grade: B

John Goodman as Weeb Ewbank
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Goodman always brings the, well, goods.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Kathryn Hahn as Rose Namath
Appearance: B-
Performance: B
Thoughts: She doesn't have a ton to do, but she does help ground young Namath
Overall Casting Grade: B

Bob Odenkirk as Pete Rozelle
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Odenkirk was very good as the unlikable commissioner.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Madelyn Cline as Randi Oakes
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: She certainly looks the part.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Emma Mackey as Deborah Mays
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Mackey doesn't show up until the later parts of the film as Deborah, but she holds her own opposite White's Namath.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Quincy Isaiah as Winston Hill
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Isaiah has the size and some swagger.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Will Patton as Chuck Knox
Appearance: B 
Performance: B
Thoughts: Patton's always reliable
Overall Casting Grade: B

Overall Film Casting Grade: B+




WATCHMEN

Aaron Eckhart as Eddie Blake/Comedian
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Eckhart isn't completely miscast, but is probably a bit too likable.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl
Appearance: C
Performance: C+
Thoughts: JGL didn't feel right here in a lot of ways.
Overall Casting Grade: C

Justin Timberlake as Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias
Appearance: B-
Performance: D-
Thoughts: His appearance wasn't the problem, but his performance was. JT isn't a bad actor, but he was all wrong here.
Overall Casting Grade: D+

Katherine Langford as Laurie Juspeczyk/Silk Spectre
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Langford doesn't get much to do other than look good in the costumes.
Overall Casting Grade: B-

Tony Curran as Roschach
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Curran was able to do more to give a strong performance in Who Watches the Watchmen, but he's still good here.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Matthew Fox as Dr. Manhattan
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Fox is one of the few returning cast members and still brings that nice distant quality that makes a good Manhattan
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Allison Janney as Sally Jupiter/Silk Spectre
Appearance: C-
Performance: C+
Thoughts: Another talent who feels wrong for the role.
Overall Casting Grade: C

Overall Film Casting Grade: C




LUCIFER
Jonny Lee Miller as Lucifer
Appearance: A-
Performance: A
Thoughts: Pretty much perfect casting
Overall Casting Grade: A

Justin Theroux as Michael
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: I liked him as Michael - he brought a kind of childness to the role that was an entertaining contrast to the more worldly Lucifer
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Adeline Rudolph as Mazikeen
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: She gets saddled with a lot of the exposition and thankless scenes, but she's good.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Julia Butters as Elaine
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Finally Butters gets a role that really shows off her strengths
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Vinnie Jones as Amenadiel
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Jones can certainly play angry
Overall Casting Grade: B

Daniel Henney as duma
Appearance: C+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Henney was an interesting choice here for the physical elements he brings. 
Overall Casting Grade: B-

Tom Felton as Remiel
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: It was nice seeing Felton pop up in a big movie again
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Overall Film Casting Grade: B+



THE HAMMER OF THOR: THE FROST WAR

Channing Tatum as Thor
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Still feels slightly off at times, but the script wisely plays into Tatum's physical and dramatic wheelhouse.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Sam Riley as Loki
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Riley gets to do more than just play villain this time around and it was great
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Phoebe Dynevor as Jane Foster
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Dynevor is charming and had great chemistry with Tatum
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Mark Hamill as Odin
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: He left the story pretty quick, but his death scene had gravitas
Overall Casting Grade: B

Sophie Lowe as Lady Sif
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: I like Lowe in this role
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Laurie Davidson as Fandral
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Davidson gives Fandral a fun, theatrical energy
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Denis Menochet as Volstagg
Appearance: A-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Menochet nails Volstagg again
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Sung Kang as Hogun
Appearance: B
Performance: B+ 
Thoughts: He gets some fun action this time around
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Jeanne Tripplehorn as Frigga
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Frigga emerges as a major figure in this one and Tripplehorn delivers
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Caitirona Balfe as Amora
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Amora develops into a major villain playing Asgard and Johtunheim against eachother quite well
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Thomas Ian Griffith as Laufey
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Griffith brings a big imposing physicality that the role benefits from
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Overall Film Casting Grade: B+




SPLENDOUR

Rebecca Hall as Natalie Wood
Appearance: A-
Performance: A
Thoughts: Hall feels perfect here. Right age, right look, right dramatic talent
Overall Casting Grade: A

Ashton Kutcher as Robert Wagner
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: I can't think of a better choice to play Robert Wagner. Both have a certain quality that audiences can find like likable and unlikable at the same time
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Michael Pitt as Christopher Walken
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: I can't think of anyone better. Pitt can play charming and weird at the same time - a Walken expertise.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Wyatt Russell as Dennis Davern
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Not as perfectly cast, but Russell brings a different energy the film needed
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Ron Livingston as Det. Duane Rasure
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Livingston was a clever choice here, helping ground the mystery with his everyman charm
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Overall Film Casting Grade: A-



THE LEGEND OF ZELDA

Noah Schnapp as Link
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: His voice has boyish energy which works for Link
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Florence Pugh as Zelda
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: She's good, but a lot of her acting talents come from her expressive face/body, not her voice
Overall Casting Grade: B

Bryan Cranston as Ganondorf
Appearance: N/A
Performance: A-
Thoughts: This brings Cranston back to his old grounds of voicing Power Rangers villains. He's a fun choice.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Jonathan Pryce as Great Deku Tree
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Pryce's voice works well here
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Wunmi Mosaku as Gerudo Sage Soul
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: Hard to get a gage on this one, but she's not bad
Overall Casting Grade: B

Overall Film Casting Grade: B+



SUPERGIRL: POWER

Chloe Grace Moretz as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Moretz continues to excel as LRF's Supergirl
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Amanda Seyfried as Kara Zor-L/Power Girl
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: She's very good as the older, angrier Power Girl here 
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Alicia Vikander as Constance D'Aramis/Crimson Fox
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Her Crimson Fox (while having dumb powers) was a welcome return for some dramatic flair
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Jon Hamm as Nathaniel Adam/Captain Atom
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Hamm returns with his stoic take on the character
Overall Casting Grade: B

Skyler Gisondo as Morgan Edge
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: He starts to show a new side of the character by the end
Overall Casting Grade: B

Ted Danson as Vincent Edge
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: He has some amazing scenes in this one
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Radha Mitchell as Eliza Danvers
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: She delivers a lot of plot information, but still stands out enough
Overall Casting Grade: B

Simone Ashley as Chandi Gupta/Maya
Appearance: A-
Performance: B
Thoughts: She doesn't get much development but Ashley looks the part for sure
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Lukas Gage as Buddy Baker/Animal Man
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Gage felt perfect for this version of Animal Man despite a smaller role
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Elizabeth Gillies as Leslie Willis/Livewire
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Gillies doesn't need to do much, but she worked well
Overall Casting Grade: B

Overall Film Casting Grade: B+



BASHENGA: THE BLACK PANTHER

Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Bashenga
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Harrison pulled the role off well, both the action and the drama
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Rufus Sewell as Ulysses Klaw
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Sewell brings that classic villain energy he is known for to this one
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Genevieve Nnaji as Bast
Appearance: B
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Not a big role, but an important one. I wish her performance stood out more given the role.
Overall Casting Grade: B-

Overall Film Castin Grade: B+
at No comments:

Monday, August 25, 2025

COMIC BOOK GUY (SEASON 33)

 

Welcome to Comic Book Guy! This season was a swirl of genres, heroes, and mayhem. We got a Watchmen reboot from someone who apparently doesn't like superheroes. Meanwhile, Lucifer belted out bangers from Bowie to Phil Collins, The Hammer of Thor 2 went full mythic elegy, Supergirl: Power gave us the ultimate Kryptonian catfight, and Bashenga took us back to Wakanda’s roots in a tale that felt more historical epic than superhero adventure. Buckle up, true believers. Let’s dive in.




WATCHMEN
Welcome to the alternate universe where Watchmen is adapted by a guy who apparently skimmed the Wikipedia page. Aaron Eckhart and Matthew Fox are the only compelling casting choices in the film, but those are the only clear casting wins in an ensemble featuring Justin Timberlake - yes, Justin Timberlake - as Ozymandias, the smartest man on the planet. The script also inexplicably deletes nearly every major supporting character from the comic, and replaces them with Nathaniel Parker - a bland waste of space. The film leans hard on philosophical mumbling, pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete on anything from the comic that has any kind of tension, excitement, action, intrigue, or relevance. Sure, the squid’s back—but when it lands in a story this inert, it’s more soggy calamari than shocking climax. A slow, self-important mess that fundamentally misunderstands what made Watchmen matter.




LUCIFER
Finally, a comic book musical where the Prince of Hell gets drunk, books Billy Idol, and does karaoke with the heir to Heaven. Lucifer is the gloriously unholy mashup of The Sandman’s mythology, Moulin Rouge’s musical madness, and the kind of dark humor that makes you feel guilty for laughing—then laugh harder. Jonny Lee Miller is perfectly cast, channeling suave sleaze, cosmic exhaustion, and just enough Bowie glam to make you believe the Devil really does know every verse to “Golden Years.” The deep-cut DC roster is blessedly intact (Mazikeen! Elaine Belloc! Duma!) and even Sting and Billy freaking Idol show up for divine (and profane) musical chaos. R-rated, blood-soaked, and Bible-thumpingly brilliant, this is Lucifer as if Garth Ennis rewrote The Book of Revelation during a hangover in South Beach. And honestly? I’d go to church if this guy ran the choir.




THE HAMMER OF THOR: THE FROST WAR
With a title that rhymes like a heavy metal concept album, this chilly follow-up ditches comic book flair for mythic gravitas - and honestly, it's kinda refreshing. Channing Tatum still plays Thor like he's reading stone tablets off a teleprompter, but the brooding tone almost makes his stiffness feel intentional. Director Roar Uthaug leans hard into icy apocalypse vibes, with giant frost beasts, winged Valkyries, and a third-act glacier-top smackdown that feels like The Northman by way of Final Fantasy. It's all very serious, very snowy, and kind of awesome. No capes, no quips, just doom, gloom, and boom.




SUPERGIRL: POWER
Supergirl: Power turns continental destruction into couture carnage, delivering explosive action across Europe with a heel to the throat and a glittering Eiffel Tower backdrop. Chloe Grace Moretz gives Kara the pathos she deserves, but Amanda Seyfried’s Power Girl brings the chaos, sass, and cleavage-powered menace of a superhero without a planet. Ted Danson's Vincent Edge also manages to explain the Infinite Earths theory in a way even your grandma would understand.





BASHENGA: THE BLACK PANTHER
Who knew the origin of Wakanda’s first king would feel more like Lawrence of Arabia than a Marvel comic? Steve McQueen brings out the heavy artillery of prestige cinema here - sweeping landscapes, spiritual gravitas, and the kind of slow-motion war charge that makes you want to stand and salute your screen. Sure, it's a little less “superhero blockbuster” and a little more “National Geographic meets Shakespeare,” but when the final battle hits, it’s like Wakanda discovered IMAX. And hey, bonus points for giving us a Black Panther movie where not a single alien invasion or sky beam shows up.
at No comments:

Sunday, August 24, 2025

The Roundup with Jeff Stockton (Season 33 GRA Edition)

 
For this awards-centric edition of The Roundup, I will go through each category and tell you who I think should win the award, who I think actually will win the award, who I think has no chance to win, who I think may have been snubbed out of a nomination (if anyone) - followed by a brief thought on the category this season.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Who Should Win: The Hammer of Thor: The Frost War
Who Will Win: The Lone Ranger
No Chance: N/A
Snub(s): Night Stalker

Thought(s): This category is a tricky one this season, but I think it will come down to Thor or the Lone Ranger.

BEST SOUNDTRACK
Who Should Win: We Still Know Where You Live
Who Will Win: Broadway Joe
No Chance: Love Is...
Snub(s): Danya

Thought(s): Voters seem to like period pieces in this category, so I think Broadway Joe has a big chance of winning. I think it should go to We Still Know Where You Live though for how well the music captures the tone and vibe of the film - serving it perfectly.

MOST WANTED SEQUEL
Who Should Win: Bashenga: The Black Panther
Who Will Win: Power Rangers
No Chance: The Legend of Zelda
Snub(s): Supergirl: Power

Thought(s): I don't see Zelda win this with its only nomination. Power Rangers, on the other hand, I can see winning - even if it should go to Bashenga. I think Supergirl: Power getting a nomination would have made for a tougher voting.

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
Who Should Win: Splendour
Who Will Win: Broadway Joe
No Chance: The Lone Ranger
Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): Splendour should win, but having a smaller ensemble could hurt its chances here.

BEST STARRING COUPLE
Who Should Win: Ana de Armas & Michael B. Jordan - Before Love Came to Kill Us
Who Will Win: Jacob Elordi & Amber Midthunder - The Lone Ranger
No Chance: Timothee Chalamet & Kaitlyn Dever - Punch Buggy
Snub(s): Chloe Grace Moretz & Amanda Seyfried - Supergirl: Power

Thought(s): This category is one of Lone Ranger's likeliest wins, but it does feature some tough competition.

BEST VILLAIN
Who Should Win: Toby Kebbell - We Still Know Where You Live
Who Will Win: Danny Ramirez - Night Stalker
No Chance: They all have a chance.
Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): This category is STACKED this year. 

BEST ADAPTATION
Who Should Win: Bashenga: The Black Panther
Who Will Win: The Lone Ranger
No Chance: Sniper / Lucifer
Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): An interesting mix of genre pictures in this category this season. I'd bet on Bashenga or Lone Ranger to win though - could go either way.

BEST ORIGINAL STORY
Who Should Win: Splendour
Who Will Win: Broadway Joe
No Chance: Either/Or
Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): Three of the four films here were considered "Must See" by the critics, so they certainly have more chances than Either/Or.
 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Who Should Win: Zoe Kazan - Night Stalker
Who Will Win: Mila Kunis - Rise Again
No Chance: Blythe Danner - Love Is...
Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): I think this race is between Kazan and Kunis. I think Kazan gave the better/more interesting performance, but Kunis has star power working in her favor (which seems to help in categories like this one).

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Who Should Win: Michael Pitt - Splendour
Who Will Win: Michael Pena - Night Stalker
No Chance: Steve Martin - Love Is...
Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): I have a hunch that Pitt and Russell may split Splendour's voters here, which could give Michael Pena the win (I don't think Martin stands much of a chance).

BEST ACTRESS
Who Should Win: Rebecca Hall - Splendour
Who Will Win: Rebecca Hall - Splendour
No Chance: Kaitlyn Dever / Jodie Comer 
Snub(s): N/A

Thought(s): In a weak field this season, this should be Rebecca Hall's award. Nobody else comes close to her performance as Natalie Wood in Splendour. Maybe Midthunder can steal a few votes, but not enough to win.

BEST ACTOR
Who Should Win: Ashton Kutcher - Splendour
Who Will Win: Jeremy Allen White - Broadway Joe
No Chance: Lucas Hedges - Cedar Ridge
Snub(s): Bryan Domani - Either/Or

Thought(s): I was surprised Hedges managed a nomination here, but I guess that's a testament to the lack of strong favorites this season in this category. If I had to bet on who will win, White seems the most popular with voters, but Kutcher deserves the award for giving what could be a career re-defining performance as Robert Wagner in Splendour.

BEST DIRECTOR
Who Should Win: Steve McQueen - Bashenga: The Black Panther
Who Will Win: Brady Corbet - Splendour
No Chance: James Mangold - The Lone Ranger
Snub(s): David O. Russell - Broadway Joe

Thought(s): This feels like Brady Corbet's category this season. The take on that material suits him well, and Splendour feels like a director and cast showcase more than a story showcase.

BEST PICTURE
Who Should Win: Splendour
Who Will Win: Splendour
No Chance: Bashenga: The Black Panther
Snub(s): The Lone Ranger

Thought(s): We have four VERY different films in the category this season, so I'm really just going with my gut here. Splendour feels like the most awards friendly of the four films.
at No comments:

Saturday, August 23, 2025

For Your Consideration with Reuben Schwartz (Season 33)

 

Welcome back to For Your Consideration with Reuben Schwartz! In this post, I will recap the nominations for the latest Golden Reel Awards, the various storylines going into the ceremony and look back to locate its place within LRF's history.

Storylines:

The past is now! The front runners of this ceremony (Splendour, The Night Stalker) certainly paint a vivid picture of this season’s themes: true crime set in 80s California. But really, the main overarching theme is a return to the past. All four Best Picture nominees take place in a bygone era. Even The Lone Ranger, a surprising omission from that category, fits this bill as well. That’s not to say that there weren’t great contemporary stories this season, but the cream of the crop all are looking backwards.

Splendour appears to be in a real power position at the moment, with strong representation across most categories. It should be in the driver’s seat for Best Actress but the actor categories are a little tougher to decide, especially if Wyatt Russell and Michael Pitt take votes from one another. As mentioned above, The Night Stalker appears to be its main form of competition, particularly in a category like Best Actor.

However, sometimes the actual voting can surprise us and no real dominant film emerges. This could be especially true this season where a near-record TWENTY films (⅔ of the releases!) received a nomination. The only season to have more was back in Season 6 when 22 films were nominated. The most awarded film that season, Death Dream, came away with five wins on eight nominations.

If anyone is into superstition or chance or “signs,” keep a third eye out for factoids related to the number three below. It's only appropriate for our 33rd Golden Reel Awards!

Returning Winners:

Rebecca Hall - For her turn as Natalie Wood, Hall holds the title of the sole past GRA winner among this year’s acting and directing nominees. She won Best Supporting Actress for Open Hearts in Season 22.

Returning Nominees:

Lucas Hedges - LRF’s resident Spider-Man has now joined the club of three-time Best Actor nominees. He failed to win for his last two GRA appearances (Letter to Myself, Kansas City).

Steve McQueen - The only director this ceremony to have been nominated once before, his last GRA appearance was in Season 9 for Mandingos.

Steve Martin - While this is the legendary comedian’s first nomination in one of the main four acting categories, he was just a Best Villain nominee last season for his memorable turn in Monopoly. Is Steve Martin suddenly LRF’s hottest star?

Wyatt Russell - Of this year’s batch, Russell has the most nominations without a win. He has been nominated for Best Actor twice (Everything Will Be Alright, The Hippie Preacher) and Best Supporting Actor twice (Doctor Love and Wish You Were Here). He has been on two Best Ensemble-winning casts and could be on a third if Splendour wins that category.

Clive Steinbeck - As for the longest gap between GRA nominations, Steinbeck returns to the Best Original Story category after thirty seasons. He was last nominated for Blood Countess in Season 3.

Newcomers:

Trey Edward Shults and James Mangold - These two directing nominees are both getting nominated for their second LRF films. Mangold, like Steinbeck, is returning from a long absence after his debut (The Wolfman) also way back in Season 3.

Brady Corbet - The last Best Director nominee, meanwhile, is making a splash with his first directed film for the studio. However, it’s not the first time he worked for the studio as he had acting roles early in Seasons 2 and 3.

Jeremy Allen White - After three Best Starring Couple nominations, Jeremy Allen White finally gets his first individual acting nomination. He seemed on the “eve” of a Best Actor nom for Eve of Destruction and now he finally gets his shot.

Danny Ramirez - White’s fellow Best Actor nominee is in a different boat as The Night Stalker was his first LRF role and what a way to start!

Ashton Kutcher - And while we’re at it, the Splendour star is getting his first nomination for his third LRF film. His debut season? You guessed it, Season 3.

Jodie Comer - The “Falling on the Cross” star is getting her first GRA recognition of any kind for her eighth role at the studio.

Michael Pena - This is Pena’s first individual nomination after being a part of three Best Ensemble-nominated casts (Numero Uno, Bunker 17, Twisted Metal).

Amber Midthunder - Also from the Twisted Metal ensemble, Midthunder lands her first individual nomination. There is something poetic about it being for a project by the same writer who gave Midthunder her first acting role at the studio (LRTV’s Nez Perce).

Michael Pitt - A fun fact that I’ve yet to see pointed out: Pitt’s most notable LRF role-to-date was also a reunion with director Brady Corbet, his co-star in Michael Haneke’s English-language Funny Games remake.

Best Supporting Actress - All four nominees for this category (Mawar de Jongh, Blythe Danner, Zoe Kazan, Mila Kunis) are getting their first acting nomination this season. This spans from de Jongh being nommed for her first role and Kunis being nominated for her tenth.

Kaitlyn Dever - The actress holds this ceremony's record for most LRF acting roles before first individual nomination (12).
at No comments:

Thursday, August 21, 2025

SEASON 33 GOLDEN REEL AWARD VOTING

 

The highly competitive nomination phase is over and you, the voters, have decided who will be nominated for the Season 33 Golden Reel Awards. You may now vote to see which nominees will come out victorious at this season's upcoming award ceremony....   












































at No comments:

Monday, August 18, 2025

SEASON 33 GRA NOMINATIONS POLL

 The first step of any awards show is to determine the nominees. The choices will be announced in just about 72 hours, so vote soon.


In each category, please select your top FIVE choices. All of the categories are below, so just keep scrolling and vote.


If you are interested at all in being a critic for Season 35, please fill out this form : https://forms.gle/VzQNTdMRVDxwxX4y6












































at No comments:

PREMIERE MAGAZINE #330

 

at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)