Fresh Fork

  The almost annual TOP 35 Actors and Actresses Under 35 Working Today is out, with me considering the performers' performances of 2016 also. We have a few changes since last year's list, with   Greta Gerwig   toping the list thanks to her last 3 great performances in   Mistress America ,   Maggie's Plan   and the Oscar buzzy acting turn in   20th Century Women .   Scarlett Johansson   comes second with her latest distinguished performance being in 2014 ( Under the Skin ), but she managed to be at the spotligh this year thanks to her fine turns in critically acclaimed movies:   Hail, Caesar! ,   Captain America: Civil War ,   The Jungle Book   (voice) and   Sing  (voice).   Emily Blunt   adds another great performance to her resume in The Girl on the Train and she comes third, while   Elle Fanning 's turning into one of the finest actresses and she's getting to play more adult and complex parts lik...

W ICKED While some odd cinematography choices and some caricature approach to supporting characters might prevent  Wicked  to achieve true cinematic greatness, there's no way to deny it has the heart in the right place and everything works thanks to that crucial detail. Sustained by a great Cynthia Erivo as the ostracized Elphaba and a splendid Ariana Grande (whose comedic timing and bright charisma earn her the title of "best in show") and fabulous musical numbers done flawlessly, Wicked is way more than just an eye-popping musical. "Defying Gravity" or the party dance scene will tear your heart apart, while "Popular" and Glinda's "toss toss" moments will put a smile on your face - in fact,  Wicked  is a complete cinematic experience that deftly balances the respect for the source stage material with the cinematic liberties - thanks to the assured directing vision of John M. Chu, who clearly loves the story he's telling on-screen. Na...

The Academy Awards nominations were announced January 22, 2025 - with some films to stand-out in terms of number of nominations!  Emilia Pérez  is the most nominated film (13 nods), followed by The Brutalist and Wicked (10 nominations each). Some unexpected snubs include Denis Villeneuve ( Dune: Part II ) and Edward Berger ( Conclave ) for Best Director, Marianne Jean-Baptiste ( Hard Truths ) in Best Actress, Clarence Maclin ( Sing Sing ) in Best Supporting Actor or  Challengers  in Best Original Score, but there are some pleasant surprises like  I'm Still Here  ( Ainda Estou Aqui ) in Best Picture and  A Complete Unknown  in Best Director (James Mangold). Here's the full list: BEST PICTURE “Anora” “The Brutalist” “A Complete Unknown” “Conclave” “Dune: Part Two” “Emilia Pérez” “I’m Still Here” “Nickel Boys” “The Substance” “Wicked” BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist” Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown” Colman Domingo, “S...