In Memoriam

George Michael (25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016)

I know it's quite late, but it didn't feel right letting this death go by without penning it in.

I always liked Michael. His voice was unique, really soothing, and his songs were great. You could dance to them, and you could cry to them. He was a really great artist.

He passed away a month ago today at age 53. What an unexpected loss.

RIP

The 89th Academy Awards - The Nominations

The nominations for this year's Oscars were just announced. The ceremony will take place on February 26, at 8 pm, on ABC, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

La La Land garnered 14 nominations, tying the record set by Titanic and All About Eve. Arrival and Moonlight each got 8 nominations, while 6 apiece went to Hacksaw Ridge, Lion, and Manchester by the Sea. The latter, an Amazon Studios production, marks the first time a streaming service's film landed a Best Picture Oscar nomination.

Seven out of the available 20 performances went to non-white actors, all but ensuring a ceremony free of controversy regarding racial discrimination.

Oh, and Meryl Streep earned her 20th Oscar nomination, extending her record as the most nominated performer in the history of the Academy.

Here are this year's contenders:

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Best Achievement in Directing

Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Luke Davies, Lion
Eric Heisserer, Arrival
Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Moonlight
Allison Schroeder, Theodore Melfi, Hidden Figures
August Wilson, Fences

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthymis Filippou, The Lobster
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Mike Mills, 20th Century Women
Taylor Sheridan, Hell or High Water

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My Life as a Zucchini (Ma vie de Courgette)
The Red Turtle (La tortue rouge)
Zootopia

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Tanna
A Man Called Ove (En man som heter Ove)
The Salesman (Forushande)
Toni Erdmann
Land of Mine (Under sandet)

Best Documentary, Feature

13th
Fire at Sea (Fuocoammare)
I Am Not Your Negro
Life, Animated
O.J.: Made in America

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Nicholas Britell, Moonlight
Justin Hurwitz, La La Land
Mica Levi, Jackie
Thomas Newman, Passengers
Dustin O'Halloran, Lion

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

"Audition (The Fools Who Dream)," La La Land, Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul
"Can't Stop the Feeling," Trolls, Justin Timberlake, Max Martin, Shellback
"City of Stars," La La Land, Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul
"The Empty Chair," Jim: The James Foley Story, J. Ralph, Sting
"How Far I'll Go," Moana, Lin-Manuel Miranda

Best Achievement in Editing

Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Moonlight

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Arrival
La La Land
Lion
Moonlight
Silence

Best Achievement in Production Design

Arrival
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Hail, Caesar!
La La Land
Passengers

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

13 Hours
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Rogue One

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Arrival
Deepwater Horizon
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Sully

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Deepwater Horizon
Doctor Strange
The Jungle Book
Kubo and the Two Strings
Rogue One

Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling

A Man Called Ove (En man som heter Ove)
Star Trek Beyond
Suicide Squad

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Allied
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Florence Foster Jenkins
Jackie
La La Land

Best Short Film, Live Action

Ennemis intérieurs
La femme et le TGV
Mindenki
Silent Nights
Timecode

Best Documentary, Short Subject

4.1 Miles
Extremis
Joe's Violin
Watani: My Homeland
The White Helmets

Best Short Film, Animated

Blind Vaysha
Borrowed Time
Pear Cider and Cigarettes
Pearl
Piper

The 74th Golden Globes Ceremony

Yes, I know, the ceremony was 3 whole days ago, but I was super busy finishing up putting together my 2016 coffee table photo book, and only now do I have the time to take a breath!

Anyway, I thought the ceremony was really nice. Funny, touching, and fast paced, perhaps even too much so, given how many speeches were cut short... including the one for one of the top two prizes of the night (Best Comedy or Musical)!!!!

Here are a few random thoughts about it:

• Jimmy Fallon did a nice job with his opening monologue, but then practically disappeared. It felt like he played it really safe, like he didn't want to offend anyone in the industry. He really only went after O.J. Simpson, who is the easiest target there is.
• I noticed that over-tanning is unfortunately still fashionable in Hollywood, with both Ryan Reynolds and Thandie Newton falling victims to it.
• Aaron Taylor-Johnson's win for Nocturnal Animals was the night's first surprise, but to me hearing his lovely accent was even more so!
• I was super happy that Sarah Paulson won for her portrayal of Marcia Clark in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. She had previously won an Emmy for the same role, so a Golden Globe is the perfect bookend.
• The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story also won for the Best Limited Series, and the coolest part was hearing the woman on stage thank "her wife" with total nonchalance.
• I don't watch Black-ish, but I think Tracee Ellis Ross' win was great for diversity, even though she beat my beloved Julia Louis-Dreyfus...
• Hugh Laurie's win for The Night Manager was another surprise, but from what followed later on it's clear that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association really LOVED the show, since all its actors won in their categories (though the show itself didn't).
• Super happy for Viola Davis' win as well. Is this the year she takes home the Oscar as well?
• Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn's bit on stage was one for the ages. I was doubled over. It was followed soon after by another very funny skit, with Kristen Wiig and Steve Carell. I can't believe they were able to keep a straight face!!
• One of the producers of Zootopia, again with total nonchalance, thanked "his husband of 28 years!!"
• Ryan Gosling's speech was nice and touching, especially for his late brother-in-law.
• Can't wait to see how La La Land does at the Oscars next month, given the clean sweep it did at the Globes. It won a record 7 statuettes for Film, Actor, Actress, Director, Screenplay, Score, and Song (though the last two would have been a minimum given that this is a musical, wouldn't it?).
• Was there a hotter couple of presenters than Chris Hemsworth and Gal Gadot? No. There wasn't.
• When it was time to award the Best TV Show Drama, I obviously was rooting for Game of Thrones, but when I heard Westworld I realized they'd have split the vote, and The Crown (given the topic and the foreign pedigree) would be a shoo-in. It was. I really should watch it. I'm sure I'd love it.
• Viola Davis' introduction of Meryl Streep for her Honorary Award was lovely and obviously Meryl delivered the best speech of the night. She said everything that needed to be said, with the right amount of emphasis and verve. She's magnificent. A real national treasure.
• As much as I'm glad for what it meant for diversity, I was totally bummed when Atlanta won Best TV Show Comedy and Best Actor, because I really wanted Jeffrey Tambor and Transparent to win, or Veep. Oh well.
• Loved how Matt Damon took one last chance to needle the HFPA about putting his dramatic role in the dramatic The Martian in the Comedy categories last year, just so they could make them both win.
• I'm not sure why, but I find it really cool that Casey Affleck is being recognized for his talent (in spite of what looked like all of his efforts). I think Ben Affleck is really talented too, even though his work can be really uneven, so I find it cool that talent runs in the family.
• Loved how awestruck Isabelle Huppert was when she won Best Lead Actress Drama for Elle. It's really nice when foreign films and the people who make them are recognized at such high levels (even though these aren't the Oscars of course...).
• Finally, I can't wait to see Moonlight. It must be a great movie and I'm glad it won Best Drama, especially because of the story it tells and the African-American pedigree (and the fact that it's such a small, independently made movie).

Ok, that's it, sorry it took so long to get this out. Hope you enjoyed the ceremony as much as I did.

2017 Golden Globe Awards - The Winners

Here are the winners of this year's Golden Globes. My comments on the ceremony will follow tomorrow!

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Moonlight

Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Lion
Manchester by the Sea

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

La La Land

20th Century Women
Deadpool
Florence Foster Jenkins
Sing Street

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Joel Edgerton, Loving
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Amy Adams, Arrival
Jessica Chastain, Miss Sloane
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Colin Farrell, The Lobster
Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins
Jonah Hill, War Dogs
Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Emma Stone, La La Land

Annette Bening, 20th Century Women
Lily Collins, Rules Don't Apply
Hailee Steinfeld, The Edge of Seventeen
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Simon Helberg, Florence Foster Jenkins
Dev Patel, Lion

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Viola Davis, Fences

Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Best Director - Motion Picture

Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

Best Original Screenplay - Motion Picture

Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Taylor Sheridan, Hell or High Water
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Justin Hurwitz, La La Land

Jóhann Jóhannsson, Arrival
Hans Zimmer , Pharrell Williams , Benjamin Wallfisch, Hidden Figures
Dustin O'Halloran , Volker Bertelmann, Lion
Nicholas Britell, Moonlight

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

"City of Stars", La La Land

"Gold", Gold
"How Far I'll Go", Moana
"Faith", Sing
"Can't Stop the Feeling", Trolls

Best Motion Picture - Animated

Zootopia

Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My Life as a Zucchini (Ma vie de Courgette)
Sing

Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language

Elle

Divines
Neruda
The Salesman (Forushande)
Toni Erdmann

Best Television Series - Drama

The Crown

Game of Thrones
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Westworld

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Atlanta

Black-ish
Mozart in the Jungle
Transparent
Veep

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

American Crime
The Dresser
The Night Manager
The Night Of

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Billy Bob Thornton, Goliath

Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama

Claire Foy, The Crown

Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Keri Russell, The Americans
Winona Ryder, Stranger Things
Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Donald Glover, Atlanta

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Nick Nolte, Graves
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish

Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Sarah Jessica Parker, Divorce
Issa Rae, Insecure
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager

Riz Ahmed, The Night Of
Bryan Cranston, All the Way
John Turturro, The Night Of
Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Riley Keough, The Girlfriend Experience
Charlotte Rampling, London Spy
Kerry Washington, Confirmation

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager

Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
John Lithgow, The Crown
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
John Travolta, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Olivia Colman, The Night Manager

Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Chrissy Metz, This Is Us
Mandy Moore, This Is Us
Thandie Newton, Westworld

2017 Screen Actors Guild Awards - The Nominees

The ceremony will take place on January 29, 2017.

Here are the nominees:

MOVIES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams, Arrival
Emily Blunt, The Girl on the Train
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Captain Fantastic
Fences
Hidden Figures
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble

Captain America: Civil War
Doctor Strange
Hacksaw Ridge
Jason Bourne
Nocturnal Animals

TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

Riz Ahmed, The Night Of
Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Bryan Cranston, All the Way
John Turturro, The Night Of
Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in Television Movie or Miniseries

Bryce Dallas Howard, Black Mirror
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Kerry Washington, Confirmation

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
William H. Macy, Shameless
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actress in a Comedy Series

Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
Jane Fonda, Grace and Frankie
Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
John Lithgow, The Crown
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things
Claire Foy, The Crown
Thandie Newton, Westworld
Winona Ryder, Stranger Things
Robin Wright, House of Cards

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

The Crown
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Stranger Things
Westworld

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory
black-ish
Modern Family
Orange is the New Black
Veep

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series

Game of Thrones
Marvel's Daredevil
Marvel's Luke Cage
The Walking Dead
Westworld

53RD ANNUAL SAG LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Lily Tomlin

2017 Golden Globe Awards - The Nominees

Announced fresh this morning in Los Angeles, California, here are the nominations for the 74th Golden Globe Awards, which will take place on January 8, 2017, hosted by Jimmy Fallon.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

20th Century Women
Deadpool
Florence Foster Jenkins
La La Land
Sing Street

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Joel Edgerton, Loving
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Amy Adams, Arrival
Jessica Chastain, Miss Sloane
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Colin Farrell, The Lobster
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins
Jonah Hill, War Dogs
Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Annette Bening, 20th Century Women
Lily Collins, Rules Don't Apply
Hailee Steinfeld, The Edge of Seventeen
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Simon Helberg, Florence Foster Jenkins
Dev Patel, Lion
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Best Director - Motion Picture

Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

Best Original Screenplay - Motion Picture

Taylor Sheridan, Hell or High Water
Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

"Gold", Gold
"City of Stars", La La Land
"How Far I'll Go", Moana
"Faith", Sing
"Can't Stop the Feeling", Trolls

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Jóhann Jóhannsson, Arrival
Hans Zimmer , Pharrell Williams , Benjamin Wallfisch, Hidden Figures
Justin Hurwitz, La La Land
Dustin O'Halloran , Volker Bertelmann, Lion
Nicholas Britell, Moonlight

Best Motion Picture - Animated

Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My Life as a Zucchini (Ma vie de Courgette)
Sing
Zootopia

Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language

Divines
Elle
Neruda
The Salesman (Forushande)
Toni Erdmann

Best Television Series - Drama

The Crown
Game of Thrones
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Westworld

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Atlanta
Black-ish
Mozart in the Jungle
Transparent
Veep

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

American Crime
American Crime Story
The Dresser
The Night Manager
The Night Of

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Billy Bob Thornton, Goliath

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama

Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Claire Foy, The Crown
Keri Russell, The Americans
Winona Ryder, Stranger Things
Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Donald Glover, Atlanta
Nick Nolte, Graves
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy

Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Sarah Jessica Parker, Divorce
Issa Rae, Insecure
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Riz Ahmed, The Night Of
Bryan Cranston, All the Way
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
John Turturro, The Night Of
Courtney B. Vance, American Crime Story

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Riley Keough, The Girlfriend Experience
Sarah Paulson, American Crime Story
Charlotte Rampling, London Spy
Kerry Washington, Confirmation

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Sterling K. Brown, American Crime Story
Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
John Lithgow, The Crown
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
John Travolta, American Crime Story

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Olivia Colman, The Night Manager
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Chrissy Metz, This Is Us
Mandy Moore, This Is Us
Thandie Newton, Westworld

Spectre

The Gist: Smarting from the recent direct attack on the MI6 headquarters, the British government has appointed C to oversee a globally unified field of intelligence gathering. C plans to dismiss the 00 program altogether and rein MI6 under his control. That's when Bond, following a lead from his beloved late M, decides to find out who is behind the highly secretive organization Spectre and what its ultimate objective is.

Spectre marks Daniel Craig's least successful stint yet in the famed secret agent's garb. As is often the case, a lot is going on in a 007 movie, and when the goings on stretch the fabric of belief too much, things start to turn sour.

The script is likely the main culprit. We all know Bond is super smart and resourceful, and in Craig's hands he's also athletic and tough as nails, but there are limits to what a person can achieve in the face of overwhelming odds.

Christoph Waltz, while quite delightful in the shoes of the bad guy, comes across as too much of a caricature to be memorable.

The Bottom Line: Overall, the main complaint I'd lobby at this chapter in the Bond franchise is that it's rather boring, in spite of all that's happening. Given how the movies' plots are rather intertwined, if you're a fan and likely to be back the next time around, then don't skip Spectre, but if you're just curious, then I'd suggest you go with either Casino Royale or Skyfall, both far superior and still featuring Craig, the best Bond ever in my book.

Grade: 6

Take Me to the River

The Gist: After traveling to Nebraska for a family reunion with his mom and dad, a young teenager finds himself the unwitting suspect of abuse.

Take Me to the River is Matt Sobel's feature debut and what a promising director (and writer) he turns out to be!

The movie is quite slow building, and you're left wondering whether there is anything more to it, but then the tension starts building, grips you, and doesn't relent.

The best thing about it are certainly the different layers that keep being added on top of one another.

Fresh faced Logan Miller is a relative newcomer and firmly establishes himself as a very promising actor. He's joined by Robin Weigert, Richard Schiff, and Josh Hamilton, all among my favorite actors and all doing an excellent job.

The Bottom Line: Take Me to the River comes highly recommended. The grade isn't higher simply because the slow build does drag a bit at times, but just give it time and you'll be happy you did.

Grade: 7

American Horror Story: Roanoke

I'm happy to report a great return to form for American Horror Story in its sixth season after the big stumble I felt it took with season 5, primarily because of the poor choice of replacing a stellar lead actress like Jessica Lange with an unproven and average one like Lady Gaga.

Gaga does appear in American Horror Story: Roanoke but she was wisely given a smaller role that actually takes full advantage of her dramatic flare without placing the entire show on her shoulders.

Mind you that Roanoke might actually be the scariest installment yet. While the horror of the show's title features widely in every season, it can take on different flavors depending on the specific tale being told, going from gory (Murder House) to disgusting (Asylum), to unsettling (Freak Show), to disturbing (Coven), to occasionally risible (Hotel).

Roanoke's terrors are of the primal variety, the fear you have when it's dark and you're alone in a strange place and you hear an unsettling noise and your imagination starts going wild while dabbling in dark thoughts.

Kathy Bates finally gets her chance to chew the scenery like only she can. Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, Lily Rabe, Adina Porter, André Holland, and Cuba Gooding Jr. all do a very good job.

The way the show starts out can be a bit confusing, with some timeline shifting and some uncertainty about who is who, but stick with it and you'll be rewarded greatly.

Grade - Season 6: 9

The Hateful Eight

The Gist: A severe snow storm in Wyoming's already harsh winter, forces a bounty hunter to seek refuge with his prized prisoner in a remote outpost. The place is teeming with several seemingly wicked individuals. Trust is a hard-to-find commodity.

Full disclosure, I'm not a Quentin Tarantino fan. His work is always original and rather unique, but it often feels pretentious and out of reach. I'm a movie lover but I clearly lack the breadth of knowledge necessary to paste together all the different homages and references he portends to imbed in his work.

As a result, some of his work I like (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Inglorious Basterds), and some I loathe (Kill Bill: Vol. 1 was atrocious; I found it so awful that I never even went to see Vol. 2, which for me is unusual).

Anyway, The Hateful Eight is one of his best as far as I'm concerned. It is well written, photographed beautifully, and expertly directed.

The eight from the title (Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Bruce Dern) are all perfectly cast. Jackson and Russell especially are great, and Leigh is so good she was rightfully nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

The movie, to Tarantino's delight, actually won Ennio Morricone his first Best Score Oscar outright (he has an Honorary one also) after 5 previous nominations!

The Bottom Line: The Hateful Eight is not for the squeamish because of the high level of violence and gore, but that's to be expected in a Tarantino film. If those don't concern you, you'll find humor, drama, wit, and suspense galore, enough that you won't even mind the long runtime (167 minutes!).

Grade: 8