Author Archives: Kip

20 After 20: 2004

20. The Terminal (dir. Steven Spielberg)Maybe it’s a little naïve. Maybe it’s a little (Capra) corny. But in an era where immigrants of all backgrounds and statuses are demonized, this is a pleasantly compassionate dramedy about people just trying to … Continue reading

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Oscar Re-Do 2014

BEST PICTURE American Sniper Birdman Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash Should have won: Selma   Not even nominated: Interstellar  Whether it was a bad campaign, a late release, or simply willful ignorance, Selma … Continue reading

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My Dream Oscar Ballot 2025

BEST PICTURE Anora The Brutalist Conclave A Different Man Dune: Part Two Evil Does Not Exist Hit Man I Saw the TV Glow The People’s Joker Sing Sing BEST DIRECTING Sean Baker, Anora Brady Corbet, The Brutalist Radu Jude, Do … Continue reading

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Oscar Guide 2025

BEST PICTURE Anora The Brutalist A Complete Unknown Conclave Dune: Part Two Emilia Pérez I’m Still Here Nickel Boys The Substance Wicked Will win: Anora Could win: Conclave Should win: The Brutalist Should have been nominated: Sing Sing BEST DIRECTING … Continue reading

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The Best Film Performances of 2024

Ensemble in a DramaSing SingWhile Colman Domingo and Clarence Macklin have rightly gotten the praise for standing out in this ensemble, the whole cast – most of whom are formerly incarcerated amateurs – are astonishing and authentic. If it weren’t … Continue reading

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The Best and Worst Movies of 2024

Let’s start with the most obvious thing about this list: Only one is from a traditional Hollywood studio. That’s how bad the product got in 2024, with most big-name directors’ projects punted to 2025 or later. The best films once … Continue reading

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The Best TV Performances of 2024

ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES Only Murders in the BuildingThe show more than doubled its main cast. Not only did producers bring in Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy and Eva Longoria as actors playing our trio in a movie about the … Continue reading

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The Best TV Shows of 2024, Part 2

BEST COMEDY SPECIAL Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All (Netflix)There was essentially no difference between this special and the show I saw at the Majestic Theatre in 2023. But it didn’t matter. This was another strong hour from the most unapologetically … Continue reading

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The Best Shows of 2024, Part 1

For the first time in more than a decade, I didn’t watch enough TV to do a full top 10, plus favorite comedy specials and honorable mentions. Due to some changing life circumstances, there just wasn’t enough time to keep … Continue reading

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Final Oscar Picks 2025

BEST PICTUREAnoraThe BrutalistA Complete Unknown Conclave A Different Man Dune: Part TwoEmilia Pérez Nickel BoysSing SingWicked Dark Horse: A Real Pain Long Shot: The Substance Total Shock: Juror #2 The skinny: I know eight of these are correct, but two … Continue reading

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