On May 20, 2024 (yesterday), The Apprentice (Trump biopic starring Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong) director Ali Abbasi spoke his truth about the state of the world and our complacency. It’s important.
Director Ali Abbasi makes the biggest political statement of #Cannes2024 so far during the 8-minute standing ovation for ‘The Apprentice’: ‘There is no nice metaphorical way to deal with the rising wave of fascism.’ pic.twitter.com/BGny0agRUW
— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) May 20, 2024
GLAAD
hosts two award events each year, one in Los Angeles and another in New York City. NYC’s just aired on May 11, 2024, after LA’s earlier. Hulu’s got both events but the LA is worth watching if only to fast forward to President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis‘s amazing frank discussion about the political climate we are in and the importance of our votes in November to save democracy. Really incredible. Just can’t find the clip online, but Hulu’s got the entire broadcast. Lots of other great awards given out including Ron Nyswaner winning for his Fellow Travelers – Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.
The 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (both ceremonies) currently stream no Hulu.
Oppenheimer won the Best Picture Oscar on Sunday night. Could we all just agree the film that wins Oscar’s Best Picture also needs to pass the Bechdel Test? Oppenheimer fails the third point of the test. From the Bechdel website,
1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man
Check out Oppenheimer’s page on the Bechdel website.
Can an all-male or mostly male film win awards? Of course it can. It just shouldn’t be the default. We can do better.
Let’s end the year (Reel Charlie’s annual Best of… list drops on the 31st) with a glorious, mystical, ethereal, powerful, lyrical tribute to Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, and Hal David as Cynthia Erivo sings Alfie. Turn this one up LOUD. A perfect cover of a perfect song. Loved Cynthia in Harriet. Can’t wait to see her in Wicked.
Catch the star-studded PBS spectacular honoring the legendary singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell as she accepts the Library of Congress’s 2023 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song presented by our first African-American and first female Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. What a glorious event listening to so many incredible – mostly female – performers interpret Joni’s catalog including Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper, Angelique Kidjo, Diana Krall, Celisse, Lucius, Ledisi, James Taylor, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Mumford, and Graham Nash. Highlights included,
Both Sides, Now, Annie Lennox
Big Yellow Taxi, Brandi Carlile, Angelique Kidjo, Cyndi Lauper, Annie Lennox, Ledisi and Lucius
Blue, Cyndi Lauper
River, Herbie Hancock and Ledisi
Help Me, Angelique Kidjo
For the Roses, Diana Krall
An amazing evening for a woman who set the course for modern music. 5 out of 5.
My favorite Joni album is 1991’s Night Ride Home. It was the first time Dennis took me to California. We played that CD over and over again. There are of course other more classic Joni records, but for me, it will always be Night Ride Home.
2023 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song: Joni Mitchell currently streams on PBS.
Read more about the evening on PBS.
Find out more about The Library of Congress’s Gershwin Prize.
Discover more of Joni Mitchell on her website.
The eyes have it. First time seeing this poster today. How can I not share it?
Not much for watching the actual Oscars. We opted to screen Women Talking instead. What an absolute joy. Review coming soon. After the movie, I discovered my favorite movie of the year, Everything Everywhere All At Once won both the Best Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role.
Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis won for Everything Everywhere All At Once. My boos.
Then Best Director went to Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
And the Daniels won for Best Writing (Original Screenplay).
Paul Rogers won Best Film Editing for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Wow – our gal Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress!!! for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
And finally Everything Everywhere All At Once won Best Picture!!! Congrats to all.
Sarah Polley won Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) for Women Talking. Just saw the film tonight – amazing!
The Oscar nominations were announced this morning. For the first time in a long time (ever?), my favorite film of the year, Everything Everywhere All at Once (EEAAO) was nominated for eleven awards, the most for any film. Yay!
I have a lot of catching up to do. Aside from EEAAO, I have only seen Elvis and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. I am shocked Nope received zero nominations. That’s just ridiculous. Meanwhile a beautiful moment from EEAAO. They so deserved the noms.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame had a great year of inductees in 2022. I watched first and foremost for The Eurythmics. Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart continue to be one of my favorite bands of all-time. Annie’s solo career blew me away, in particular her first two albums. Check out my favorite albums page on Reel Charlie featuring The Eurythmics album, Savage, and Annie Lennox’s solo album, Diva.
Other memorable moments during the special included Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Allen Grubman.
So thrilleed the definitions of rock are being expanded to include some of my favorite artists. The finale with Dolly, Pat Benetar, Brandi Carlisle, Sheryl Crow, Simon Le Bon, Annie Lennox, Pink, and Rob Halford singing Jolene was crazy good. 4 out of 5 specifically for The Eurythmics and Dolly.
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony currently streams on HBO Max.
The Eurthymics album, Savage (full)
Annie Lennox’s album, Diva (full)
From Lambda Literary,
Every year, Lambda administers a number of cash awards for LGBTQ+ authors in varying stages of their careers. In 2022, we are delighted to offer five of these prizes, including the new J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50. Applications are open through February 15th, 2022.
Awards include:
The Randall Kenan Prize for Black LGBTQ Fiction
Jim Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelists’ Prize
Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers
Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction
*NEW* J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50We will be accepting applications for all prizes until 11:59PM ET (GMT-5) on February 15, 2022. Please read the application requirements thoroughly before applying, as we have updated our process for the current year.
And of course, please do not hesitate to contact us with any queries: awards@lambdaliterary.org
For more information, see Lambda’s detail page for the prizes.
Reel Charlie 