FIDM 27th Art of Motion Picture Costume Design!

Every year around the time of the Academy Awards, FIDM, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, has a museum on 919 S. Grand Ave. in Los Angeles with costumes.  It opened on February 5th and finishes on April 12th.  The first costume was a pink dress from Phantom Thread (2017).  The first room contains the “Out of This World” section covering worlds of fantasy and science fiction.  In the center of the room is the work of Ruth E. Carter with a circular platform for the costumes Black Panther.  In the center was the white dress of Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), to her left is purple robes of Zuri (Forest Whitaker), and to her left is the red Dora Milaje uniform of Okoye (Danai Gurira).  Facing the other side is the ceremonial outfit of Shuri (Letitia Wright).  I’ve seen these costumes since the D23 Expo in 2017, but they were out of context since I didn’t see the movie.  Then, again at the El Capitan Theatre for the Black Panther movie, but it was great to see the details of the costume.  To the right is the costumes of Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Mera (Amber Heard) designed by Kym Barrett.  She is known for the costumes of The Matrix (1999).  What impressed me is not only were the costumes reflective of the comic books, but also the detail unnoticed on screen, the scales on Aquaman’s boots!  

The costumes of Black Panther, FIDM, photo by the author.

To the left of the Black Panther display were the costumes of Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), and Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey) from A Wrinkle in Time.  They were designed by Paco Delgado and stand as my favorites of the exhibition even though I saw them earlier on display at the El Capitan Theatre.  There is of course a difference seeing them in a room and then seeing the costumes up close.  I could see the bubbles, like packing material, in Mrs. Which’s dress which made me think she represented the element of Air.  The aqua blue material in Mrs. Whatsit’s dress which made me think of the element of Water.  The dress of Mrs. Who seemed almost like a volcano with a red stripe down the center of the dress and multicolored puffy fringes like smoke so she might represent the Fire element.  Next to A Wrinkle in Time were the costumes from Avengers: Infinity War including the Black Panther habit worn by Chadwick Boseman.  Then, there was the costumes of Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Thor (Chris Hemsworth).  These costumes were designed by Judianna Makovsky and were mostly dark in color; red, dark blue, and black.  At the end of the room were the costumes from A House with A Clock in Its Walls, I didn’t see that film so it was slightly out of context for me.    

Next to the Aquaman costumes were the clothing from the characters of A Quiet Place.  This was a nice contrast to the outlandish superhero outfits.  The normal clothing didn’t attract attention, but I still love that movie.  

The Royal Daulton Music Hall dress of Mary Poppins, photo by the author.

Past them is the costumes of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald designed by Colleen Atwood.  Featured were the costumes of Dumbledore (Jude Law) and black jacket of Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).  Next to the magical costumes was the sci fi costumes of Solo: A Star Wars Story.  The most impressive one was the yellow shirt and black jacket of Lando Calrissian played by Donald Glover.  I still haven’t seen the film.  The next room had a large displays of costume designs from all of the films.  It also had a display of accessories from the different movies and the costumes of Crazy Rich Asians, which was strangely their casual wear, not their formal clothes.  Also, the dresses from Ocean’s Eight and A Simple Favor.  The following room features American Life on one side and some international costumes.  There was the dresses of Ruth Bader Ginsberg from On the Basis of Sex played by Felicity Jones, the costumes of BlacKkKlansman, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, If Beale Street Could Talk, and First Man.  I was impressed by the RBG dresses because I didn’t expect that film here.  The featured outfit is Freddie Mercury’s kingly robes from Bohemian Rhapsody.  On the right is the costumes from Mary Poppins Returns designed by Sandy Powell.  They had the red and blue coats of Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) with the lamplighter outfit of Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda).   This is contrasted by the formal pink dress of Mary Poppins and the blue-green of Jack’s outfit in The Royal Doulton Music Hall sequence.  

The astronaut space suit from First Man, photo by the author.

Next to them was the costumes of  The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.  I loved these costumes because they are fantastic.  I’ve seen the dresses of Clara (Mackenzie Foy) and Sugar Plum (Keira Knightley) at the El Capitan, but this also had the Nutcracker soldier, Philip (Jayde Fowora-Knight) and also Hawthorne (Eugenio Derbez) and Shiver (Richard E. Grant).  Of course, these are Disney films, but I like the bold color palettes and connect the fantasy in the first room to this one.  Next to them is Freddie Mercury outfits worn by Rami Malek.  At the end of the room tying into the music performers were two costumes worn by Lady Gaga playing Ally and another worn by Bradley Cooper (Jack) in A Star is Born.  The centerpiece of the last room is the astronaut space suit worn by Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) in First Man.  This was impressive since you can see the attention to accuracy with all of the steps for the backpack listed, but this piece is said on the FIDM page to only be on display for the first week.  To the left side is the costumes from The Favourite also designed by Sandy Powell.  There were three dresses of Abigail (Emma Stone), also a costume that looks like a riding outfit of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), and a costume of Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz). On the right side of the room were costumes of Mary Queen of Scots designed by Alexandra Byrne.  These seemed more formal and extravagant than the costumes of The Favourite.  Next to those dresses were the clothing of Colette and  costumes of Outlaw King including the royal robes of the Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick and his earlier chainmail armor.  Lastly, there were the costumes from The Girl in the Spider’s Web, including the outfits of Lisbeth Salander (Claire Foy) who also has a costume with the First Man display. It is an experience to see these costumes up close.  One of these films will pick up the Best Costume Academy Award!  I hope everyone has a chance to go down to FIDM before April 12th!   

#FIDMMuseum, #BlackPanther, #AWrinkleinTime, #FirstMan 

Happy Birthday John Williams!

Happy Birthday John Williams!, He has provided some iconic scores!  Williams first film composition was for Daddy-O (1958) about a hapless driver caught up in crime and music. Williams started in television with the Western, Wagon Train (1958-1964).  Next, Time Tunnel and Lost in Space (1965-1968), then Time Tunnel (1966-1967), and Land of the Giants (1968-1970), created by Irwin Allen.  He received his first Academy Award nomination for the Valley of the Dolls based on the Jacqueline Susann novel.  Also for his score for the musical, Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969).  Williams won his first Academy Award for the musical Fiddler on the Roof (1971).  He worked again with Irwin Allen on the films, The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and The Towering Inferno (1974).  Williams began his collaboration with Steven Spielberg with The Sugarland Express (1974) and then an iconic, relentless score with the blockbuster Jaws (1975) winning him the Academy Award. He of course is known as the composer of Star Wars starting with the first film in 1977 and yet another Academy Award.  Then, Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) with Spielberg.  One of the best superhero scores was with director Richard Donner with Superman (1978).  He worked on the next Star Wars film with The Empire Strikes Back (1980).  Then, brought the pulp adventure to Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).  

John Williams composed the score for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) which gave him another Academy Award and then the third Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi (1983).  He followed up with the second Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).  He scored two episodes of Spielberg’s Amazing Stories.  Also, he wrote the dramatic score for Empire of the Sun (1987).  Before wrapping up the trilogy with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).  There was some fun with his score to Home Alone (1990).  Then, nostalgia and magic with Hook (1991).  One of his most impressive years was 1993 with the iconic score for Jurassic Park and then the heartbreaking drama of Schindler’s List.  He won the Academy Award for the later film. Williams brought an epic scope to the battlefields of Saving Private Ryan (1998) before returning with the prequel, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).  Another battlefield was the Revolutionary War of The Patriot (2000).  Then, Williams wrote another iconic score with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). He scored the second prequel, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), and then returned to Hogwarts with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).  Williams finished the prequels with Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).  He is currently scoring Episode IX of Star Wars. Happy Birthday John Williams!    

#JohnWilliams, #FiddlerontheRoof, #Jaws, #StarWars

Heroes in Crisis #5 Review!

The cover by Ryan Sook features the death of Jason Todd in “A Death in the Family” (1988) storyline that had readers decide his fate.  The traumatic events shown on the covers is what led to the Sanctuary refuge.  It begins with Booster Gold’s confession.  He speaks about an alternate timeline Batman, seen in the current Batman title, killed.  This left a smudge on his visor that stays with him.  Then, we get a two page spread of Booster Gold and Blue Beetle watching television in a run down apartment.  “Blood in the Way” is produced by Tom King and Clay Mann.  They try to come up with a plan, but are better friends than planners.  Commander Steel’s confession, he admits that he was died many times and was brought back to be used before dying again.  Batman descends in light down the Batcave steps to talk to Batgirl about analyzing Booster Gold’s robot Skeets to find him.  He mentions Superman and Wonder Woman are going to make a statement.  

We get Clark struggling with the fear about the superheroes with the situation.  Lois tries to console him, but he still works.  Then, we get the confession of Solstice, a superheroine who appeared in Teen Titans and finally her super identity in Wonder Girl #1 (2011).  She tries to transform back to her human form as Kiran Singh from her cosmic black shape, but fails.  Batgirl has taken Skeeter to a playground and explains that Batman tried to pull Booster Gold’s location from it.  We get Batgirl’s secret weapon to get the information… a splash page of Harley Quinn with her hammer!  The plan, The Flash is a blur in his lab, Booster Gold crashes through a window, and Flash knocks him down.  Booster Gold unleashes his blasts that drops the Flash.   Next, we get the confession of The Protector, he was the replacement of Robin in the New Teen Titans drug issues, and he admits that he took drugs, all of them.  Superman holds with press conference with Wonder Woman summarizing the incident and that they are looking for Booster Gold and Harley Quinn.  Superman’s monologue continues, I’m not certain why Wonder Woman is there, if she doesn’t speak.  

We get Blue Devil at a funeral They are busy while Superman continues with his speech analyzing the Flash.  Booster notes that he memorized everything about the heroes including their birthdays.  He notes that the time police use a subject’s RNA and check it against the birthday.  This shifts to superheroes, Adam Strange and Mr. Terrific, which is somehow jarring with the street level reality of the series so far.  Batgirl and Harley Quinn race across the rooftops while Batgirl reminds her not to kill Booster Gold.  Again, there is a shift with a splash page of the fantasy themed Shining Knight, now Ystina, from Grant Morrison’s Seven Soldiers: Shining Knight #1 (2005).  There is a number of characters; Atom, a closeup of Swamp Thing, then Zatanna, Starfire, and Aquaman.  It looks like all of these characters are fantastic and may not tie into the theme of recovering superheroes, still it opens up the series to cover the wider DC universe.  We get a mysterious rose washed up to the shore of a city river and a shadow appears.  Are we getting closer to revealing the mystery?  Booster Gold’s revelation of the Flash changes everything.  Then, we get the confession of Harley Quinn and her abuse by the Joker.  The confessions give insight to characters, but not much with the other characters.   

Three Pieces of Peach Pie out of Five! 

#HeroesinCrisis, #BloodintheWay, #CommanderSteel, #BoosterGold, #BlueBeetle

Star Wars: Resistance, “The First Order Occupation”, Review!

Some flapping creatures fly over the sea followed by a TIE fighter headed to the Colossus Base.  Synara argues with a droid, it sounds like the gate droid in Return of the Jedi (1983), who informs her that the station is on a lock down from the First Order.  Kaz walking with Neeku and Tam stops to watch a passing TIE fighter.  Neeku asks if Kaz is excited about the First Order presence.  Stormtroopers pass them.  An alien merchant is without his identification and falls.  Kaz runs over to them and the stormtroopers suspect he is the spy!  They ask Kaz his name and Neeku fills in the information.  The alien brings them his card and Kaz slips away with the others.  Tam maintains that they are just doing their job.  A sympathizer!  Captain Doza speaks with a hologram of Commander Pyre.  Doza doubts the occupation by the stormtroopers.  

STAR WARS: RESISTANCE -- “The First Order Occupation” -- Disney/Lucasfilm. 

Kaz tells Yeager about wanting to contact the Resistance.  Yeager takes him to aside to say not to make any contact.  Neeku has brought stormtroopers that question Kaz about pirate’s placing a spy on the station.  They are looking for Synara.  One stormtrooper gets a message and takes the other troopers, he says Kaz has to stay in the hangarKaz sneaks to see Synara when a crate falls on him.  He follows her with BB-8.  She contacts Kragan via hologram to take her out.  An alien is taken away by stormtroopers for breaking curfew.  Stormtroopers question others.  Kaz defends Synara’s actions.  I get that Kaz has a crush on Synara, but this relationship doesn’t make sense, there is no chemistry between either of them.  He sneaks around the base at night and walks up to Synara and she hits him.  He tries to warn her about the stormtroopers.  Kaz sneaks Synara in a crate with a welding helmet.  He has BB-8 open a security door.  An alarm goes off and stormtroopers rush over.  

She enters a shuttle as Kaz and BB-8 run from the stormtroopers.  They are cornered in a row of crates.  The stormtroopers are knocked out by Synara.  The shuttle takes off.  Kaz takes her to see Neeku.  He takes them to the turbo lift to reach escape pods that launch underwater.  Neeku sets off a steam pipe and runs with the stormtroopers following.  Kaz sends BB-8 to help him.  BB-8 sets off some smoke and the stormtroopers chase after him.  There are two stormtroopers and both are need to chase after one suspect?  Kaz helps Synara into the escape pod.  Kaz’s klutziness is not endearing, just a running joke.  He runs off as the stormtroopers reach the escape pod.  The escape pod passes a sea creature while Synara sends the signal to Kragan.  Kaz returns to the hangar and talks to Tam.  A screaming Neeku enters and collapses.  The escape pod breaches the surface and Synara sees the blinding light of a pirate ship and climbs a rope to see Kragan.  Of course with Synara gone, the spy suspicion will be on Kaz, not a brilliant move!  This is an ok episode, more about the pirates than the conflict with the First Order. 

Three Lightsabers out of Five! 

#StarWarsResistance, #TheFirstOrderOccupation, #Synara, #BB8

I Am the Night, “Phenomenon of Interference”, Review!

We are now drawn into the world of Fauna Hodel as she enters the dangerous world of Los Angeles, 1965.  This episode is also directed by Patty Jenkins with Sam Sheridan’s script.  A taxi cab pulls up to a house, Fauna heads over to the house of her cousin, Tina (Shonique Shandai), and Big Momma (Ebony Jo-Ann).  Tina takes Fauna to the city on the bus.  Jay brings  his photos to Peter with his bruised face.  He mentions the lead on Dr. George Hodel.  His story on him ruined his career and ended with a mistrial.  Tamar, Fauna’s mother, was sent to a convent. Peter refuses to keep him on the case.  Tina and Fauna sees police officers threaten a black woman who tried to board the bus and a passenger who tried to help her.  We can see the racial tensions that will explode in the Watts Riots.  Fauna and Tina approaches the house of George Hodel.  It has an almost pyramid structure on the front.  She rings the doorbell.  No response.  Fauna calls into the house, but there’s nothing, Tina wants them to leave and takes her away.  This of course a hint at the reclusiveness nature of her grandfather, but also a warning?  

I AM THE NIGHT -- “Phenomenon of Interference” -- INDIA EASLEY -- Clay Enos/TNT. 

At a party, Fauna is with Tina, she meets Terrence (Justin Cornwell), and a party goer, Nero (Astro), hassles Fauna.  Terrence calls Fauna over to sit by him.  She says she’s looking for her father.  Night, after the party, Fauna walks with Tina and the others.  The mysterious man in the car is following her.  Jay returns to his hotel and takes a drunk woman, Lilly, in the hall to his apartment.  Jay lets her sleep on the couch.  He takes out his files trying to find Tamar Hodel.  Lilly wakes up and sees that Jay is obsessed with the case.  Jay hopes to find Tamar’s daughter.  She calls him a loser and wants cab fare.  Lilly blames her drug use on Jay.  Morning, Big Momma greets Fauna and says her mother loves her.  Big Momma answers the phone and it is Nero who tries to talk to Fauna, but Big Momma knows he’s trouble. Jay goes to the offices of Peter who explains the body in the morgue, Janice was working the streets, and his photo was scooped.  He wants Jay to follow up on the story.  Fauna tries to call Hodel again.  She says she is looking for her mother.  Corinna says her mother is deceased.  Fauna is persistent about going to her house and Corinna tells her to knock three times and then again.  

Jay heads to a bar, he asks his contact about Brody Styles.  He is told that Brody gives fake confessions for the police.  Fauna walks to the house and knocks.  The door opens and it is Corinna Hodel (Connie Nielsen) in a robe looking worried.  I’m getting a Norma Desmond-vibe.  Corinna mentions that she is an art collector.  This is an interesting part for Connie Nielsen.  She was of course in Gladiator (2000), a cult leader in the drama The Following (2014), and of course in Patty Jenkin’s Wonder Woman (2017) as Hippolyta.  As she makes some lemonade, Fauna goes to see pictures in a hall, possibly one of her father!  Corinna says Tamar was 6 when she met her and destroyed the family’s reputation.  At a restaurant, Jay meets with asking his former Marine friend, Eddie, about Brody, he gives Jay a place to check out, Chez Cher La Femme.  Fauna gets a ride from Corinna and Jay sees her in the car over the wall.  He follows them.  On the car ride, Corinna explains that Dr. Hodel was one of the “greatest minds of the 20th century.”  They reach a country club and Jay pulls away as a man leaves his car.  Jay gets a call for the lead to the other case.  We get some hints about George Hodel.  

I AM THE NIGHT -- “Phenomenon of Interference” -- INDIA EASLEY, CONNIE NIELSEN -- Clay Enos/TNT. 

At the country club restaurant, Corinna informs her that her grandfather specializes in STDs and about the proper dining utensils.  She takes Fauna to the art galleries beneath the restaurant.  She hears her name whispered by a mysterious man in the level above.  Fauna sees the stalker man in the gallery.  Jay follows a woman to see Wendy Sandowski (Mickey O’Hagan).  He asks her about Janice Brewster.  He shows her a picture of Brody Styles.  There is a knock at the door from some angry men.  Wendy says Janice met someone who was “nice and smart.”  Jay ignores the woman’s offer of drugs.  He wakes up with the woman complaining about losing her baby to a convent.  Fauna sees the plaque with George Hodel’s name, there are surreal paintings on the walls.  Fauna hides from the man, George Hodel, and then she sees him asking, “Do you have a favorite?”  The same man she saw at the bus stop.  He was following her and sent the man in the hat to watch her?  Fauna sees Corinna in a black shawl.  Jay runs in, but Corinna and Fauna have left.  I think the criss-cross of characters is interesting.  Frustrated to see that he has lost them, Jay punches out a security guard.  Corinna tells Fauna that she is not mixed race and her father is a French ballet dancer.  Fauna says she’s a liar since the father was on the birth certificate.  Fauna boards a bus and the man in the hat sits in front of her.  The threads of the mystery are tightening.  There are b&w photos at the end of Big Momma and others so we know that these are real people.    

Four Cameras out of Five! 

#IAmtheNight, #ShoniqueShandai, #EbonyJoAnn, #JustinCornwell

Dark Delicacies Relocation Fundraiser!

The best part of Dark Delicacies which was located in Burbank is Del and Sue, the owners, who are always there to talk to you.  Del has acting in some horror movies and a writer for several books; the horror anthologies, Dark Delicacies (2007), Dark Delicacies II: Fear (2007), and Dark Delicacies III: Haunted (2009).  He also the co-writer for The Book of Lists: Horror (2009), Vampires Don’t Sleep Alone (2014), and the anthology Midian Unmade: Tales of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed (2015).  One of the best parts of the store is seeing the signed items and looking through the book shelves to find interesting books on film, artwork, and others, a treasure hunt for book lovers.  There are gothic clothes, a shelf of signed CDs, jewelry, it is brightly lit, but full of dark items.  

Dark Delicacies store front, photo by the author.

The night of the sale, there was a young boy whose parents wondered if he was scared, nope, it was like a candy store, he looked in wonder at all of the supernatural, sci fi, and fantasy collectibles.  I’ve been to a few signings there and everyone is welcome.  Dark Delicacies opened in 1994 and has been a staple for fans and professionals. Director Guillermero del Toro tweeted his support for the fundraiser on January 20th, “Horror lovers - help Dark Delicacies!”   I was looking around the store and the best part is to find new and unusual items.  I saw a tank with the head of the Amphibian Man from The Shape of Water (2017).  I saw many items signed by Doug Jones who played many creatures from del Toro films.  

Amphibian Man in tank, one of the incredible auction items, photo by the author.

You can check the Dark Delicacies website to order them or the items from the relocation fundraiser.  There were signed posters from IT (2017), Walking Dead, and Pan’s Labyrinth.  Artwork, original and prints, film posters, and scripts.  I picked up an Aquaman script signed by David Leslie Johnson.  The fundraiser had five figures of horror; The Shape, Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees, Pinhead, and Leatherface, all there to take pics with fans!  Del hosted the auction, there were the posters, artwork, including the Dark Delicacies poster signed by Ray Bradbury and Forry Akerman.  The auction was very fun, a few items were picked up attending fans and online bidders, and I tried to last as long as I could, but was tired from the long day.  I hope everyone gets the chance to see Dark Delicacies which has a few upcoming signings.  

#DarkDelicacies, #DelHowison, #GuillermodelToro, #DougJones 

A Tribute to Julie Adams

We have lost Julie Adams on Sunday morning at the age of 92.  She started in films with Red, Hot and Blue (1949).  Then, had a lead role as Polly Medford in the western The Dalton Gang (1949).  She starred opposite James Stewart in another Western, Bend of the River (1952) directed by Anthony Mann.  Rock Hudson portrayed John Wesley Hardin with Adams in the 1953 Western, The Lawless Breed.  It was in 1954 that Julie Adams appeared in an iconic role as Kay Lawrence, in The Creature from the Black Lagoon.  She also co-starred with Donald O’Connor in the comedy Francis Joins the WACS (1954).  Next, she was in the comedy, The Private War of Major Benson (1955) with Charlton Heston. In 1962, Adams appeared as Dr. Monica Powers in the sci fi film, The Underwater City.  She played several parts in Perry Mason (1963-1965).  Adams starred with Elvis Presley in Tickle Me (1965).  

Julie Adams, at The Hollywood Collector's Show, 2003, photo by the author.

She was in a 1967 episode of the spin-off spy series, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.  She played Martha Howard the wife of the professor in The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971-1972).  In 1972, Adams was in “The Miracle at Camafeo” episode of the Night Gallery.  Adams starred with John Wayne in the crime drama McQ (1974).  She also appeared as Dr. Laura Scott in the horror thriller Psychic Killer (1975).  Adams was in the “Life and Death” (1978) episode of The Incredible Hulk.  She had the recurring part as Eve Simpson in Murder, She Wrote (1987-1993).  Adams had a cameo part in a 1999 episode of the sci fi time travel show Sliders.  She played Amelia in “A Tale of Two Cities” episode of Lost.  Julie Adams wrote about her film career in her book, Lucky Southern Star: Reflections From the Black Lagoon (2011).  She meet her many fans at conventions and also many other events.  Creature from the Black Lagoon inspired Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water (2017) where he had the creature romancing the girl.  I can still Kay Lawrence swimming in the Black Lagoon while the Gill Man looks on.   

#JulieAdams, #CreaturefromtheBlackLagoon, #BendintheRiver, #LuckySouthernStar

The Hollywood Show: February 2019!

William Shatner meets with fans, Hollywood Show, photo by the author. 

It was a rainy day in Los Angeles, fairly heavy and also rare, but I had a great time at the Hollywood Show rain or shine.  The show held at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel which is a great chance to meet some celebrities.  I went to the show last year, July 28th, so you can catch up on the article there.  It continues today, Super Bowl Sunday?, has a show for Las Vegas, and in Chicago, March 22nd to the 24th.  I saw on the Facebook page a video of the room so I knew the show was open.  The first thing I noticed was a very long line that extended out into the hotel lobby.  This was the photo op line.  Inside, it was crowded, not to the point where I had difficulty moving down the lanes, except at a few popular areas.  On the left corner was all Star Trek, both sides of the lane!  Nichelle Nichols, her Farewell Tour Final Appearance!, and I was able to say hi to her.  Down the lane was Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, and Brent Spiner, I had the chance to wish him a happy birthday, he had no plans for his birthday so had a great show and his table was busy.  Next to him was Jonathan Frakes, Denise Crosby, and John de Lancie.  Almost a full Next Generation crew!  William Shatner was also there, but at another table for line management.  

James Remar still fights like a Warrior, Hollywood Show, photo by the author. 

One of the side tables near the right side was the actors from The Warriors (1979).  Michael Beck (who played Swan) was there, he now sports a beard, but looks ready to take on the Baseball Furies.  Next to him was Deborah  Van Valkenburgh, she was Mercy in the film, and also played Jackie Rush in the comedy Too Close For Comfort.  Then, there was James Remar, he was Ajax in The Warriors, but also Cephalo in The Shannara Chronicles television series, and currently Gambi in Black Lightning!  It was great to talk to all of these actors.  I also saw Richard Dean Anderson, he had a line forming and several assistants at his table, very popular so I hope he returns.  Also at the show was Harry Hamlin.  He was of course Aaron Echolls in Veronica Mars (2004-2006), Michael Kuzak in L.A. Law (1986-1991), and also Perseus in Clash of the Titans (1981).  Hamlin told me about filming the throwing of Medusa’s head at the end of the movie.  It weighed 30 pounds and his right arm was worn from throwing so he switched to his left arm which is in the movie!  I also saw Parker Stevenson and expect an interview soon!  Lastly, I saw Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, whose had roles in Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), and recently the Man in the High Castle series, but he had a great part as Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat (1995).  “Finish him!”  It was a memorable experience to attend the Hollywood Show.  

#HollywoodShow, #MichaelBeck, #DeborahVanValkenburgh, #JamesRemar, #RichardDeanAnderson, #HarryHamlin, #ParkerStevenson, #CaryHiroyukiTagawa 

Joshua Movie Awards: Part 2!

We are covering some of the best in films and you are instrumental in determining the winners!  The point is considering all of the films and not just focusing on genre movies.  Again, I haven’t seen all of the films, but considered awards, critics, and reviews.  Envelopes please. 

Supporting Actor 

Mahershala Ali (Green Book) 

Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther) 

Timothee Chalamet (Beautiful Boy)

Brian Tyree Henry (If Beale Street Could Talk) 

Sam Elliott (A Star is Born) 

Mahershala Ali is the front runner for this category, a critical favorite, Timothee Chalamet was left out, so there are only two Academy Award nominees.  I also see a strong critical push for Brian Tyree Henry.  I think Michael B. Jordan was slighted with his snub.  

Best Documentary

Betsy West, Julie Cohen (RBG) 

Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?) 

Alexandria Bomach (On Her Shoulders) 

Peter Jackson (They Shall Not Grow Old)  

Jason Hehir (Andre the Giant)

This category is really because of the snub for Won’t You Be My Neighbor?  The Academy got one right.  I thought Peter Jackson’s WWI documentary is worth nominating.  I was really looking for a strong entry and remembered I saw a great documentary on HBO, Andre the Giant, really not just his wrestling and movie career, but Andre as a person.  

Best Foreign Film 

Burning (South Korea) 

Cold War (Poland) 

Roma (Mexico)

Shoplifters (Japan) 

Never Look Away (Germany)

Another category where not everyone has seen the films.  The strongest looks to be Roma since it is available on Netflix.  Four Oscar nominees here.  I also saw Burning had high critical regard.  

Best Animated Film 

Incredibles 2, Brad Bird

Ralph Breaks the Internet, Rich Moore, Phil Johnston  

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman  

Mirai, Mamoru Hosoda 

Isle of Dogs, Wes Anderson 

The Oscars are spot on here, five nominations, also reflective of the animation industry’s Annie Awards with no nom for Mirai instead it’s Aardman Animations’ Early Man, Mirai is nommed there under Best Animated Independent Feature.  Which one do you think is the most deserving?  

Best Cinematography 

Rachel Morrison (Black Panther) 

Caleb Deschanel (Never Look Away)

Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)

Robbie Ryan (The Favourite) 

Matthew Libatique (A Star is Born) 

This category is probably why I thought to bring up these awards.  There are four nominations from the Oscars.  Rachel Morrison for Black Panther, she is a brilliant cinematographer, but left out of the awards.    

Agree? Disagree?  Any nominees left out?   Your votes are pivotal.  Enter them at the comments below, thanks! 

#JoshuaMovieAwards, #WontYouBeMyNeighbor, #TheIncredibles2, #RachelMorrison

Introducing the Joshua Movie Awards!

So, there is some disappointment with the 2018 movie awards, some masterpieces are recognized, but others fall by the way side.  There is always politics involved and biases against popular movies.  What if there were awards that truly recognized the best in film?  Also, what if you could be a part of it?  Answer is here, I call it the Joshua Movie Awards or JMA, my friends call it the Joshies.  There is a Josh Award for UK science.  No real reason why it is called Joshua Awards, but they have to be called something.  This is the best in film.  The categories are based on the Academy Awards in part and I’ve taken into consideration all of the awards, nominations, and critics’ opinions.  There are five nominees for each category.  Side note: I haven’t seen all of these films of course.  I’ll reserve my opinion until we get the winners.  Also note, there are very few comments so your vote is pivotal.  Let’s break it down: 

Best Picture 

Roma

Black Panther 

On The Basis of Sex 

A Quiet Place 

BlackkKlansman 

Three of the films here are up for the Oscar, I think the snubs are for On The Basis of Sex which is not just a biographical movie or law film, but one that has meaning to anyone who wants to understand how society changes.  A Quiet Place, this one doesn’t seem to have award consideration, most likely because it might fall into the horror category, I would say thriller, but it is a serious work that is really about family.  

Best Director 

Alfonso Cuaron (Roma) 

Ryan Coogler (Black Panther)

Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman)

Mimi Leder (On the Basis of Sex) 

Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born) 

Two Oscar contenders, I think Ryan Coogler was snubbed, I can see the superhero bias, but again I think this film transcends that genre, it is meaningful, a change that is not just affected cinema, but also culture.  On the Basis of Sex, of all of the female directors, I think Mimi Leder deserves consideration.  The movie has great focus on Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s life, it is powerful.  A Star is Born, Bradley Cooper was left out, maybe because it was his first film.  

Best Actor 

Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)

Willem Dafoe (At Eternity’s Gate)

John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman) 

Ethan Hawke (First Reformed) 

Christian Bale (Vice) 

Again, three Oscar nominees, not a bad average, but I think there should be recognition for John David Washington, the lead for BlacKkKlansman, and Ethan Hawke had a strong performance for First Reformed.  

Best Actress 

Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place) 

Yalitza Apaicio (Roma) 

Felicity Jones (On the Basis of Sex)

Toni Collete (Hereditary) 

Lady Gaga (A Star is Born) 

Two nominations at the Oscars, shame.  There is one actress that was slighted Toni Collete for Hereditary, probably because again it might be seen as a horror movie.  I think a snub was Emily Blunt, her performance is intense and fully realized in A Quiet Place.  Lastly, I think Felicity Jones is a great lead in On the Basis of Sex. 

Supporting Actress

Amy Adams (Vice) 

Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) 

Marina De Tavira (Roma) 

Emma Stone (The Favourite) 

Letitia Wright (Black Panther) 

Four Oscar nominees, great!, but there was one left out, the female characters in Black Panther were strong, I think the standout is Letitia Wright who almost stole the show.  

These are the first five categories, there will be more.  This is considering the finest films not just genre films.  I like Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther, but didn’t put him in Best Actor.  If you’ve seen one film, three, or all of them, you are qualified to vote.  This is opinion based so it should be what you think should win.  The winners will be announced when all of the nominations are rolled out and looking at the votes.  Thanks for participating if you vote!  

#JoshuaMovieAwards, #BlackPanther, #Vice, #Roma.