Category Archives: Comment

Diversity in the top Academy Awards: a look at the numbers

Posted on March 4, 2018 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In the discussion about diversity in the top prizes of the Academy Awards, it’s worth noting that the Oscar for best director has gone to a white American male only five times in the 16 … Continue reading →

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BAFTA Film Awards: my predictions and favourites

Posted on February 18, 2018 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – My hopes are with Guillermo del Toro’s dazzling “The Shape of Water” (pictured) at tonight’s 71st British Academy Film Awards although such is the high calibre of most of the nominees that it would be … Continue reading →

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Do film critics matter any more?

Posted on July 13, 2017 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – When everyone is a critic, who needs critics? It’s a question asked more and more in the movie industry as the ranks of mainstream critics dwindle and the tide of those with something to say online … Continue reading →

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Twenty of the best films of the century so far

Posted on June 19, 2017 by admin

  By Ray Bennett LONDON – The New York Times critics have named their choices of the best movies of the 21st century so far. They include titles such as “I’m Not There”, “L’Enfant” and “The 40-Year Old Virgin” but … Continue reading →

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A subjective list of movie scores that I like very much

Posted on June 5, 2017 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – “A good music score,” two-time Academy Award winner Randy Newman told me, “cannot turn a bad movie into a good movie but it can raise its IQ by a couple of notches.” My friends at … Continue reading →

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As he turns 80, ten Jack Nicholson films you should see

Posted on April 22, 2017 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Three-time Academy Award-winner Jack Nicholson, who turns 80 today, hasn’t had a leading role in a film since Rob Reiner’s ‘The Bucket List with Morgan Freeman’ in 2007 but his classic pictures remain treasures. They … Continue reading →

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Notes ahead of the 2017 Academy Awards

Posted on February 26, 2017 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Repeat screenings of the Academy Awards nominees serve to reinforce original impressions so while I doubt that it will win, my choice for best picture remains Denis Villeneuve’s profound sci-fi picture “Arrival” (pictured). Kenneth Lonergan’s … Continue reading →

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My Top 10 Movie picks for 2016

Posted on December 31, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett In a year that has featured many fine films with splendid performances by women, the movie I enjoyed the most was Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” starring Amy Adams (pictured). In my review from the Toronto International Film Festival, … Continue reading →

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Six things we learned from the 88th Academy Awards

Posted on February 29, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – There were not many surprises at the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday but we did discover a few things about Oscar, predictions, balloting, marketing, music, and sentimental choices. 1/ Hollywood will always protect the brand.

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Academy Awards diversity: a look at the numbers

Posted on January 29, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In the discussion about diversity in the top prizes of the Academy Awards, the depth of the problem for the Academy is clear as in the 14 awards from 2001 to last year, on the AMPAS … Continue reading →

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