24 January 2020

Catching Up with Jason Shawhan at this point...

Hey, readers (both of you). So, I'm currently sitting in Los Angeles at a friend's place trying to get my mind in order, and I've realized that I should collect some more stuff that I've written here so that I can increase some degree of awareness for what all I write... So here it is.


Celine Dion.
Here are two pieces I wrote about La Celine's Courage tour. The first is a preview of the show/thinkpiece about the artist and her legacy. The second is a review of the actual show itself.

A review of COLOR OUT OF SPACE.

The 2019 Jim Ridley Film Poll, which I helped organize and collate (and ended up puking up bile in the upstairs men's room at a beloved arthouse from anxiety). Note: The Apocrypha, which is the 18,000 words submitted that didn't make it into the final version, will be published on this website in a week or so.

03 January 2020

Catching up with Jason Shawhan...

A few other things what I've done recently.



A review of the legendary VELVET GOLDMINE.

DANIEL ISN'T REAL, my favorite film of 2019.

SATANTANGO!

A conversation about CATS. I go there.

02 January 2020

The Very Best of 2019.








SUPERLATIVES of 2019



FILM


1 DANIEL ISN’T REAL
For some an exorcism. For others, a reconciliation.

2 LA FLOR Episode II: “Watch Out”/IN FABRIC/LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT 3D
Visual, narrative, and sensory pleasure, unbound. Nostalgia cannot truly be bought.

3 SYNONYMS
This is not me trying to be contrarian, but everyone who loved Uncut Gems (a film I liked a lot but that requires emergency Xanax and that I could never imagine watching a second time- though I would love an Idina Menzel spinoff) really needs to see this. Tom Mercier is the performance of the year.

4 DIANE/THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES/THE WILD PEAR TREE
The ache of time.

5 IN MY ROOM/The SARA LEE Sketch
Y’all might not know this, but one of my favorite subgenres of cinema are films that start out with a simple hook and end up forcing the viewer to confront the absolute moral truth of who they are. These do that.

6 THE LIGHTHOUSE/PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Queer desire in hermetically sealed crucibles in the midst of the primordial sea. Power and class and the cruel vicissitudes of the exterior world. But beyond all these things, the near-unbearable drama of when to share, when to hide.

7 LITTLE WOMEN/NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE
Women proving the timelessness of women’s work; evolutions that reinforce, but never betray.

8 THE DEAD CENTER/KNIFE+HEART/KNIVES OUT/ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD/ONE CUT OF THE DEAD/TRANSIT
The pleasure of genre aspirations with deeply subverted executions.

9 ATLANTICS/LIGHT FROM LIGHT/STARFISH
Subtle touches on the surface of the hippocampus.

10 HER SMELL/THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO/PAIN AND GLORY
Long-term research experiments on the resilience of the self.



ACTRESS

Ana DE ARMAS, KNIVES OUT
AWKWAFINA, THE FAREWELL
Sofia BOUTELLA, CLIMAX
Virginia GARDNER, STARFISH
Adele HAENEL, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Marin IRELAND, LIGHT FROM LIGHT
Elisabeth MOSS, HER SMELL
Lupita NYONG’O, LITTLE MONSTERS/US
Mary Kay PLACE, DIANE
Florence PUGH, MIDSOMMAR
Charlize THERON, LONG SHOT



ACTOR

Antonio BANDERAS, PAIN AND GLORY
Shane CARRUTH, THE DEAD CENTER
Daniel CRAIG, KNIVES OUT
Taron EGERTON, ROCKETMAN
Jimmie FAILS, THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
Bill HADER, IT: CHAPTER TWO
Tom MERCIER, SYNONYMS
Eddie MURPHY, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME
Miles ROBBINS, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Franz ROGOWSKI, TRANSIT



SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Toni COLLETTE, KNIVES OUT
Laura DERN, MARRIAGE STORY
Sasha LANE, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Jennifer LOPEZ, HUSTLERS
Billie LOURD, BOOKSMART
Mary Stuart MASTERSON, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Idina MENZEL, UNCUT GEMS
Fatma MOHAMED, IN FABRIC
Elisabeth MOSS, US
Anna PAQUIN, THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES
Florence PUGH, LITTLE WOMEN
Margaret QUALLEY, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
Taylor RUSSELL, WAVES
ZHAO Shuzhen, THE FAREWELL



SUPPORTING ACTOR

Alan ALDA, MARRIAGE STORY
Willem DAFOE, THE LIGHTHOUSE
Asier EXTEANDIA, PAIN AND GLORY
Kevin HART, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL
Martin LAWRENCE, THE BEACH BUM
Kyle McLACHLAN, GIANT LITTLE ONES
Alessandro NIVOLA, THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE
Al PACINO, THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES
Brad PITT, ONCE UPONA TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
James RANSONE, IT: CHAPTER TWO
Franz ROGOWSKI, A HIDDEN LIFE
Patrick SCHWARZENEGGER, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Kiddy SMILE, CLIMAX
Archie YATES, JOJO RABBIT



ENSEMBLE

CLIMAX
DIANE
THE FAREWELL
HER SMELL
KNIVES OUT
MARRIAGE STORY


DIRECTOR

Ari ASTER, MIDSOMMAR
BI Gan, LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT 3D
Claire DENIS, HIGH LIFE
Mati DIOP, ATLANTICS
Robert EGGERS, THE LIGHTHOUSE
Mike FLANAGAN, DOCTOR SLEEP
Dexter FLETCHER, ROCKETMAN
Greta GERWIG, LITTLE WOMEN
Yann GONZALEZ, KNIFE + HEART
Rian JOHNSON, KNIVES OUT
Kent JONES, DIANE
Nadav LAPID, SYNONYMS
Adam Egypt MORTIMER, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Gaspar NOE, CLIMAX
Jordan PEELE, US
Celine SCIAMMA, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Martin SCORSESE, THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES
Peter STRICKLAND, IN FABRIC


SCREENPLAY:

Ari ASTER, MIDSOMMAR
BONG Joon-ho/JIN Won-han, PARASITE
Guy BUSICK/Ryan MURPHY, READY OR NOT
Brian DeLEEUW/Adam Egypt MORTIMER, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Max EGGERS/Robert EGGERS, THE LIGHTHOUSE
Mike FLANAGAN, DOCTOR SLEEP
Greta GERWIG, LITTLE WOMEN
Rian JOHNSON, KNIVES OUT
Kent JONES, DIANE
Ulrich KOHLER, IN MY ROOM
Haim LAPID/Nadav LAPID, SYNONYMS
Jordan PEELE, US
Alex Ross PERRY, HER SMELL
Steven ZAILLIAN, THE IRISHMAN: I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES


DOCUMENTARY

AMAZING GRACE
APOLLO 11
HAIL, SATAN?
HORROR NOIRE
MEMORY: THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN
SCREAM, QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
VARDA PAR AGNES


FOREIGN LANGUAGE/POLYGLOT FILM

ATLANTICS
DIAMANTINO
LA FLOR
HAGAZUSSA
KNIFE + HEART
LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT 3D
LUZ
PARASITE
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
RETROSPEKT
SYNONYMS
THE WILD PEAR TREE


ANIMATED FILM

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD
I LOST MY BODY
MISSING LINK
TEEN TITANS GO! VS TEEN TITANS
TOY STORY 4



CINEMATOGRAPHY

Alberto BAÑARES, STARFISH
Simon BEAUFILS, KNIFE + HEART
Jarin BLASCHKE, THE LIGHTHOUSE
Yves CAPE, ZOMBI CHILD
David CHIZALLET/DONG Jing-song/YAO Hung-i, LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT 3D
Paul FALTZ, LUZ
Radek LADCZUK, THE NIGHTINGALE
Yorick LE SAUX, HIGH LIFE/LITTLE WOMEN
Claire MATHON, ATLANTICS/PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Maksymilian MILCZARCZYK, ANTRUM
Adam NEWPORT-BERRA, THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
Roman OSIN, SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK
Pawel POGORZELSKI, MIDSOMMAR
Tat RADCLIFFE, QUEEN AND SLIM
Leonardo SIMÕES, VITALINA VARELA
Mike TESTIN, BLISS
Gökhan TIRYAKI, THE WILD PEAR TREE
Lyle VINCENT, DANIEL ISN’T REAL
Ari WEGNER, IN FABRIC
Sean Price WILLIAMS, HER SMELL


EDITING

Denis BEDLOW/Gaspar NOE, CLIMAX
FEKETE Matyas, IN FABRIC
Robert GREENE, HER SMELL
Alexander HAMMER/Nia IMANI/Julian KLINCEWICZ/Andrew MORROW, HOMECOMING
Todd Douglas MILLER, APOLLO 11


RESTORATION

BABYLON
A BIGGER SPLASH
CRUISING
THE FATE OF LEE KHAN
HARD TICKET TO HAWAII
THE JUNIPER TREE
NIGHT KILLER
OPERA
PAGANINI HORROR
PERFECT BLUE
REVENGE OF THE CREATURE 3D
SÁTÁNTANGÓ
THE SHINING
VICE SQUAD


ORIGINAL SCORE

CAVERN OF ANTI-MATTER, IN FABRIC
m83, KNIFE + HEART
Matt MORTON, APOLLO 11
Trent REZNOR/Atticus ROSS, WAVES


COSTUME DESIGN

Kym BARRETT, US
Niharika BHASIN/Praveen RAJA, PETTA
Cypress COOK/Fatima IMAGINARIO, DIAMANTINO
April NAPIER, BOOKSMART
Leticia PALACIOS, STARFISH
uncredited, LA FLOR

PRODUCTION DESIGN

John COLLINS, NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE
Cypress COOK/Bruno DUARTE, DIAMANTINO
David CRANK, KNIVES OUT
Ruth DE JONG, US
Sidney DuBOIS/Damien RONDEAU, KNIFE + HEART
Dana DUMANN, HAGAZUSSA
Fernanda GUERRERO, STARFISH
Melanie JONES, THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA
Barbara LING, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
Paki SMITH, IN FABRIC
Henrik SVENSSON, MIDSOMMAR


UNDISTRIBUTED FILM

ARROWS OF OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE
CLIMATE OF THE HUNTER
LIBERTE
MAD?
MANGOSHAKE
RETROSPEKT
ROT
SCREAM, QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
SIBYL


Album:

1 FKA twigs/MAGDALENE
2 Carly Rae Jepsen/Dedicated
3 Mansionair
4 Tyler The Creator/IGOR
5 Celine Dion/Courage
6 Orville Peck/Pony
7 Lizzo/Cuz I Love You
8 Tan/Two by Tan
9 Frances Barber/Musik
10 m83/Knife + Heart




SONG

1 Ciara – Thinking ‘bout You
2 Lizzo & Missy Elliott – Tempo
3 Carly Rae Jepsen – Want You In My Room
4 Celine Dion – Lying Down
5 Inner City – Til We Meet Again 2019 (Inner City vs Carl Craig)
6 Paul Kennedy – Nobody’s Fool
7 Elle Fanning – Wildflowers
8 Mansionair – Alibi
9 Frances Barber and Pet Shop Boys – Ich bin Musik
10 S U R V I V E – Starcourt
11 Normani – Motivation
12 Billie Eilish – bad guy (Barry Harris Remix)
13 The Knocks – No Requests
14 Kevin McHale – Help Me Now
15 Bleachers – I Miss The Last Days of Disco
16 Aly and AJ – Church
17 Estiva – Trip
18 Bananarama – Tonight
19 Dido – Give You Up (Niko The Kid Remix)
20 Sofee – Thursday Night



TV

1 Los Espookys
2 Now Apocalypse
3 John Mulaney and The Sack Lunch Bunch
4 The Other Two/What We Do In the Shadows
5 Pose
6 Watchmen
7 I Think You Should Leave/Sherman’s Showcase
8 Russian Doll
9 A Black Lady Sketch Show
10 Fosse/Verdon
11 The Righteous Gemstones
12 Wellington Paranormal
13 The Mandalorian
14 The Terror
15 American Horror Story: 1984
16 My Favorite Shapes
17 Good Omens
18 Stranger Things
19 Too Old To Die Young
20 The Orville/Star Trek: Discovery


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE ON TV

Sandra BERNHARD/”Sometimes It Snows in April” - Pose
Bradley COOPER/Lady GAGA/”The Shallow” - The 2019 Academy Awards
Drop It Low (for Jesus)” - Sherman’s Showcase
Billie EILISH/”bad guy” - Saturday Night Live
Grandma’s Got a Boyfriend” - John Mulaney and The Sack Lunch Bunch
Plain Plate of Noodles” - John Mulaney and The Sack Lunch Bunch
MJ RODRIGUEZ & George SALAZAR/”Suddenly Seymour” - The Late Late Show with James Corden
Thursday Night” - Sherman’s Showcase


Podcasts (in alphabetical order)

Attack of the Queerwolf
Bad Gays
Bait
Homophilia
How Did This Get Made?
Keep It
Linoleum Knife
Nightmare University
Pure Cinema
Shock Waves
Tales from Beyond The Pale
The Underculture




DISAPPOINTMENTS LIST (NOTE: NOT WORST FILMS, JUST DISAPPOINTMENTS)

1 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
2 Joker
3 Les Miserables
4 I’m Just Fucking With You
5 The Dead Don’t Die