The only reason to allow general audiences to become Academy members is if they’re actually willing to watch 100+ movies a year so they can truly decide what the best movies are from a long list, and if they’re willing to vote seriously in every category, even ones like short films. If an average person doesn’t know what cinematography vs. film…[Read more]

Actor Sid Haig passed away. https://www.thewrap.com/sid-haig-actor-in-house-of-1000-corpses-and-jackie-brown-dies-at-80/

Actor Sid Haig passed away. https://www.thewrap.com/sid-haig-actor-in-house-of-1000-corpses-and-jackie-brown-dies-at-80/

Israel has submitted Incitement as its entry. https://deadline.com/2019/09/israel-incitement-oscar-race-ophir-award-1202742272/

Well, I think the Downton Abbey fans, loyal as they are, were going to show up no matter what the critics said.

India has been added to the list.

Movies released on Friday, September 20:
Ad Astra—B-
Downton Abbey—A
Rambo: Last Blood—B

Venezuela has submitted Being Impossible as its entry. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-venezuela-picks-being-impossible-international-feature-film-category-1241594

I hope both Dick Van Dyke and Christopher Plummer get to present the award to her together at the end of the ceremony. That would be quite the sight on television.

Actress and TV host Suzanne Whang passed away. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/suzanne-whang-dead-house-hunters-host-was-57-1241408

Here are some more submissions:

In its very first time competing in this category, Ghana has submitted Azali. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghana-selects-azali-2020-oscars-1241298

Albania has submitted The Delegation.…[Read more]

At least the French were smart enough NOT to have Roman Polanski’s latest film be a semifinalist.

September 20:

Wide Release Films:
Ad Astra—81%
Downton Abbey—85%
Rambo: Last Blood—31%

Limited Release Films:
Always In Season—85%
American Dreamer—56%
Auggie—83%
Between Two Ferns: The Movie—73%
Bloodline—56%
Corporate Animals—32%
Loro—81%
Midnight Traveler—100%
Running With The Devil—25%
3 From Hell—36%
Tokyo Ghoul S—60%
Villains< …[Read more]

Country music journalist Chuck Dauphin passed away. https://variety.com/2019/music/obituaries-people-news/chuck-dauphin-dead-dies-nashville-country-journalist-1203341689/

Agent Jack Gilardi passed away. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/six-decade-icm-agent-jack-gilardi-dies-at-88-1241166

Agent Jack Gilardi passed away. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/six-decade-icm-agent-jack-gilardi-dies-at-88-1241166

The Philippines has been added to the list, and so has Greece, whose submission is When Tomatoes Met Wagner. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/greek-oscar-submission-is-documentary-tomatoes-met-wagner-1240970

Sea Wall/A Life will be the latest play to be recorded for preservation by Audible. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/196959/sea-walla-life-starring-jake-gyllenhaal-tom-sturridge-to-be-recorded-by-audible/

Complete casting has been announced for the 2019-2020 national tour of A Bronx Tale, which will kick off on October 22 at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut. http://www.playbill.com/article/cast-complete-for-national-tour-of-a-bronx-tale

The Hip Hop Nutcracker (which is exactly what it sounds like) will embark on a 30-city tour this holiday season, beginning on November 7 at San Diego’s Civic Theatre. http://www.playbill.com/article/the-hip-hop-nutcracker-will-return-to-the-road-this-holiday-season