Movie with Abe: The Matrix Resurrections

“The Matrix Resurrections” is a sequel that comes years after its original entries, and one that's very self-referential but decently engaging. It's now playing in theaters and on HBO Max. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: West Side Story

I was thrilled to be able to participate in a video review with fellow critic Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi for Cinema Daily US as part of the site's Above the Line vs Below the Line series. Check out our discussion of the film “West Side Story,” which is now playing in theaters, below:

Movie with Abe: Licorice Pizza

“Licorice Pizza” is one of my favorite movies of the year and a must-see. It's out in limited markets now and coming to all theaters on December 25th. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Oscar Shortlist Predictions

Tomorrow, ten shortlists for the Academy Awards will be revealed. I’ve always enjoyed this announcement, especially since it gives me an idea of the films that I need to track down and start screening ahead of nominations. Fortunately, there’s plenty of time this year, with more than six weeks until nominations are unveiled. I haven’t made official predictions in the past, but here are my bets for the finalists in seven categories. I won’t attempt any guesses for the three shorts races, which I hope to get to know much more intimately once these lists are out there.

Documentary
Ailey
Ascension
Attica
Becoming Cousteau
Enemies of the State
The First Wave
Flee
Homeroom
In the Same Breath
Julia
Not Going Quietly
Procession
The Rescue
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
The Velvet Underground

International Feature
Memoria (Colombia)
Flee (Denmark)
Compartment No. 6 (Finland)
Titane (France)
Brighton 4th (Georgia)
I’m Your Man (Germany)
Lamb (Iceland)
A Hero (Iran)
The Hand of God (Italy)
Drive My Car (Japan)
Hive (Kosovo)
Prayers for the Stolen (Mexico)
The Worst Person in the World (Norway)
Leave No Traces (Poland)
Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (Romania)

Makeup and Hairstyling
Being the Ricardos
Cruella
Dune
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
House of Gucci
Last Night in Soho
Nightmare Alley
Respect
Spencer
The Suicide Squad

Original Score
Being the Ricardos
Benedetta
Don’t Look Up
Dune
Encanto
The French Dispatch
King Richard
The Last Duel
Last Night in Soho
Nightmare Alley
No Time to Die
Parallel Mothers
The Power of the Dog
Spencer
The Tragedy of Macbeth

Original Song
So May We Start (Annette)
Down to Joy (Belfast)
A Million Miles Away (Belle)
Right Where I Belong (Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road)
Beyond the Shore (CODA)
Every Letter (Cyrano)
Dos Oruguitas (Encanto)
Breathe (The First Wave)
Home All Summer (In the Heights)
Be Alive (King Richard)
No Time to Die (No Time to Die)
Believe (The Rescue)
Here I Am (Singing My Way Home) (Respect)
The Harder They Fall (They Harder They Fall)
Keep the Beat (Vivo)

Sound
Belfast
Cyrano
Dune
Encanto
In the Heights
The Matrix Resurrections
No Time to Die
Respect
tick, tick…BOOM!
West Side Story

Visual Effects
Black Widow
Cruella
Dune
Eternals
Free Guy
The Matrix Resurrections
Nightmare Alley
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Spider-Man: No Way Home
The Tomorrow War

Movie with Abe: House of Gucci

Lady Gaga headlines Ridley Scott's over-the-top portrait of a dynasty, “House of Gucci,” which is playing in theaters. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Swan Song

Mahershala Ali stars in “Swan Song,” the second film with that title this year. It's a solid choice, now playing in theaters and on Apple TV+. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!

New to Theaters: Nightmare Alley, President, The Tender Bar, Cyrano, The Lost Daughter
New to Theaters and Digital: The Novice
New to Theaters and Apple TV+: Swan Song
New to DVD: The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Undine, The Auschwitz Report, The Card Counter, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Holler, The Last Duel
New to Netflix: The Hand of God, Fast Color, Darkest Hour

Movie with Abe: Don't Look Up

Adam McKay's latest satire “Don't Loop Up” is entertaining but ultimately swings a bit too wide for my tastes. It's now playing in theaters and coming to Netflix on December 24th. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Nightmare Alley

Guillermo Del Toro returns with his latest film, “Nightmare Alley,” opening in theaters this Friday. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: tick, tick...BOOM!

One of this year's best musicals is “tick, tick...BOOM!,” from director Lin-Manuel Miranda and starring Andrew Garfield, now streaming on Netflix. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: France

Léa Seydoux stars in “France,” a critique of the media and the staging of stories now playing in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: National Champions

“National Champions,” which is now playing in theaters, has a strong message that it struggles to convey. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Interview with Abe: The Real Charlie Chaplin

It was both delightful and informative to get to speak with directors Peter Middleton and James Spinney for Cinema Daily US about their new documentary “The Real Charlie Chaplin,” which is now streaming on Showtime. Watch our conversation in full below!

Interview with Abe: Janty Yates

With awards season in full swing, I got to speak with Oscar-winning costume designer Janty Yates for Cinema Daily US about her work on “The Last Duel,” as well as another high-profile film this year, “House of Gucci,” and her many collaborations with director Ridley Scott. Watch our conversation in full below!

Golden Globe Predictions

After considerable reporting last year on the problematic makeup of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the enthusiasm heaped upon programs that paid for expensive European trips, the Golden Globes have fallen out of favor with most this year. Just as I don’t necessarily give any one organization – even the Academy Awards – any adoration, I still enjoy making predictions for their nominations, especially since I’ve been doing so consistently for more than fifteen years.

Because the group hasn’t been prominently featured or in good graces, they’re going ahead without official category placements, which means that some shows or movies might be ineligible, while others, including “Being the Ricardos” and “Respect,” could easily be classified as drama or comedy. Without much to go on, here are my guesses for what will be announced this coming Monday morning. More once the list is officially unveiled! TV picks are here.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos)
Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog)
Joaquin Phoenix (C’mon C’mon)
Will Smith (King Richard)
Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye)
Olivia Colman (The Lost Daughter)
Lady Gaga (House of Gucci)
Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos)
Kristen Stewart (Spencer)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
Leonardo DiCaprio (Don’t Look Up)
Peter Dinklage (Cyrano)
Adam Driver (Annette)
Andrew Garfield (Tick Tick Boom)
Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
Leslie Grace (In the Heights)
Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza)
Jennifer Hudson (Respect)
Emma Stone (Cruella)
Rachel Zegler (West Side Story)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Ben Affleck (The Tender Bar)
Jamie Dornan (Belfast)
Troy Kotsur (CODA)
Jared Leto (House of Gucci)
J.K. Simmons (Being the Ricardos)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Caitriona Balfe (Belfast)
Ariana DeBose (West Side Story)
Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog)
Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard)
Ruth Negga (Passing)

Best Animated Film
Belle
Encanto
Luca
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Raya and the Last Dragon

Best Foreign Film
Benedetta
Drive My Car
A Hero
I’m Your Man
The Worst Person in the World

Best Original Score
Dune
House of Gucci
Last Night in Soho
The Power of the Dog
Spencer

Best Original Song
Down to Joy (Belfast)
Every Letter (Cyrano)
Colombia, Mi Encanto (Encanto)
Be Alive (King Richard)
No Time to Die (No Time to Die)

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Being the Ricardos
Belfast
The Lost Daughter
The Power of the Dog
Tick Tick Boom

Best Director – Motion Picture
Aaron Sorkin (Being the Ricardos)
Kenneth Branagh (Belfast)
Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (Tick Tick Boom)
Steven Spielberg (West Side Story)

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Being the Ricardos
Belfast
CODA
King Richard
The Power of the Dog

Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical
Cyrano
The French Dispatch
Licorice Pizza
Tick Tick Boom
West Side Story

Movie with Abe: Dune

I was very impressed with Denis Villeneuve's new take on “Dune,” which I had the chance to see recently with star Oscar Isaac there to discuss the film after. Look for it as a major technical awards contender this season, and likely in the major categories too. I reviewed the film for ShockYa - head over there to read my review.

Weekend Movie Recommendations with Abe

Every Friday, I'll be uploading a Minute with Abe: Weekend Movie Recommendations Edition, surveying new releases on DVD, and on streaming services. Check it out, and subscribe to the movieswithabe channel!

New to Theaters: Being the Ricardos, France, Don’t Look Up, National Champions
New to Digital: India Sweets and Spices
New to VOD: The End of Us
New to DVD: Werewolves Within, Dear Evan Hansen, One Night in Miami
New to Amazon Prime Video: Encounter
New to Hulu: Swan Song

Movie with Abe: Being the Ricardos

Nicole Kidman is Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem is Desi Arnaz in Aaron Sorkin's “I Love Lucy,” opening in theaters tomorrow and coming to Amazon Prime Video on December 21st. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Movie with Abe: Benedetta

Paul Verhoeven directs an extremely engaging and powerful story of a lesbian nun in Renaissance Italy, “Benedetta,” which is now playing in theaters. I reviewed the film for CinemaDailyUS.com - head over there to read my review.

Interviews with Abe: Silent Night

I had the pleasure of speaking with a very talented young actor, Roman Griffin Davis, and his director, Camille Griffin, who also happens to be his mother, for Cinema Daily US about their new film “Silent Night,” which I saw at TIFF and is now playing in theaters and on AMC+. Watch our conversations in full below, and read my review of the film!