97th Academy Awards

Broadcast Date: 3rd March 2025 - Australia

Hello everyone. After being postponed twice by the LA fires, the 2025 nominations for the 97th Academy Awards are finally here. Conan O'Brien will host this year's ceremony. Leading up the categories this year is the international film from France, Emilia Pérez.

Best Visual Effects

Alien: Romulus - Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin, and Shane Mahan

Better Man - Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, and Peter Stubbs

Dune: Part Two - Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, and Rodney Burke

Wicked - Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk, and Paul Corbould

Best Film Editing

Anora - Sean Baker

The Brutalist - Dávid Jancsó

Conclave - Nick Emerson

Emilia Pérez - Juliette Welfling

Wicked - Myron Kerstein

Best Costume Design

A Complete Unknown - Arienne Phillips

Conclave - Lisy Christl

Gladiator II - Janty Yates and Dave Crossman

Nosferatu - Linda Muir

Wicked - Paul Tazewell

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

A Different Man - Mike Marino, David Presto, and Crystal Jurado

Emilia Pérez - Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier, and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini

Nosferatu - David White, Traci Loader, and Suzanne Stokes-Munton

The Substance - Pierre-Oliver Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarseli

Wicked - Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, and Sarah Nuth

Best Cinematography

The Brutalist - Lol Crawley

Dune: Part Two - Greig Fraser

Emilia Pérez - Paul Guilhaune

Maria - Ed Lachman

Nosferatu - Jarin Blaschke

Best Production Design

The Brutalist - Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Patricia Cuccia

Conclave - Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Cynthia Sleiter

Dune: Part Two - Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau

Nosferatu - Production Design: Craig Lathrop; Set Decoration: Beatrice Brentnerová

Wicked - Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Best Sound

A Complete Unknown - Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey, and David Giammarco

Dune: Part Two - Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill

Emilia Pérez - Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz, and Niels Barletta

Wicked - Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson, and John Marquis

The Wild Robot - Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo, and Leff Lefferts

Best Original Song

"El Mal" from Emilia Pérez - Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; Lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard

"The Journey" from The Six Triple Eight - Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren

"Like a Bird" from Sing Sing - Music and Lyrics by Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada

"Mi Camino" from Emilia Pérez - Music and Lyrics by Clément Ducol and Camille

"Never Too Late" from Elton John: Never Too Late - Music and Lyrics by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, and Bernie Taupin

Best Original Score

The Brutalist - Daniel Blumberg

Conclave - Volker Bertelmann

Emilia Pérez - Clément Ducol and Camille;

Wicked - John Powell and Stephen Schwartz

The Wild Robot - Kris Bowers

Best Animated Short Film

Beautiful Men - Nicolas Keppens and Brecht Van Eslande

In the Shadow of the Cypress - Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi

Magic Candles - Daisuke Nishio and Takashi Washio

Wander to Wonder - Nina Gantz and Stienette Bosklopper

Yuck! - Loic Espuche and Juliette Marquet

Best Live-Action Short Film

A Lien - Sam & David Cutler-Kreutz

Anuja - Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai

I'm Not a Robot - Victoria Warmerdam and Trent

The Last Ranger - Cindy Lee and Darwin Shaw

The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent - Nebojša Slijepčević and Danijel Pek

Best Documentary Short Film

Death by Numbers - Kim A. Snyder and Janique L. Robillard

I Am Ready, Warden - Smriti Mundhra and Maya Gnyp

Incident - Bill Morrison and Jamie Kalven

Instruments of a Beating Heart - Ema Ryan Yamazaki and Eric Nyari

The Only Girl in the Orchestra - Molly O'Brien and Lisa Remington

Best Documentary Feature Film

Black Box Diaries - Shiori Itō, Eric Nayari, and Hanna Aqvilin

No Other Land - Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham

Porcelain War - Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev, Aniela Sidorska, and Paula DuPré Pesmen

Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat - Johan Grimonprez, Daan Milius, and Rémi Grelley

Sugarcane - Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie, and Kellen Quinn

Best International Feature Film

Emilia Pérez (France) - Directed by Jacques Audiard

Flow (Latvia) - Directed by Gints Zilbalodis

The Girl with the Needle (Denmark) in Danish - Directed by Magnus von Horn

I'm Still Here (Brazil) in Portuguese - Directed by Walter Salles

The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany) in Persian - Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof

Best Animated Feature Film

Flow - Gints Zilbalodis, Ron Dyens, Matiss Kaza, and Gregory Zalcman

Inside Out 2 - Kelsey Mann and Mark Nielsen

Memoir of a Snail - Adam Elliot and Liz Kearney

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham, and Richard Beek

The Wild Robot - Chris Sanders and Jeff Hermann

Best Adapted Screenplay

A Complete Unknown - James Mangold and Jay Cocks; based on the book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald

Conclave - Peter Straughan; based on the novel by Robert Harris

Emilia Pérez - Jacques Audiard; in collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius, and Nicolas Livecchi; based on the opera libretto by Jacques Audiard

Nickel Boys - RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes; based on the novel The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Sing Sing - Screenplay by Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley; story by Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" Whitfield; based on the book The Sing Sing Follies by John H. Richardson

Best Original Screenplay

Anora - Sean Baker

The Brutalist - Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold

A Real Pain - Jesse Eisenberg

September 5 - Moritz Binder and Tim Fehlbaum; co-written by Alex David

The Substance - Coralie Fargeat

Best Supporting Actress

Monica Barbaro - A Complete Unknown as Joan Baez

Ariana Grande - Wicked as Galinda "Glinda" Upland

Felicity Jones - The Brutalist as Erzsébet Tóth

Isabella Rossellini - Conclave as Sister Agnes

Zoe Saldana - Emilia Pérez as Rita Mora Castro

Best Supporting Actor

Yuri Borisov - Anora as Igor

Kieran Culkin - A Real Pain as Benji Kaplan

Edward Norton - A Complete Unknown as Pete Seeger

Guy Pearce - The Brutalist as Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.

Jeremy Strong - The Apprentice as Roy Cohn

Best Actress

Cynthia Erivo - Wicked as Elphaba Thropp

Karla Sofia Gascón - Emilia Pérez as Emilia Pérez/Juan "Manitas" Del Monte

Mikey Madison - Anora as Anora "Ani" Mikheeva

Demi Moore - The Substance as Elisabeth Sparkle

Fernanda Torres - I'm Still Here as Eunice Paiva

Best Actor

Adrien Brody - The Brutalist as László Tóth

Timothée Chalamet - A Complete Unknown as Bob Dylan

Colman Domingo - Sing Sing as John "Divine G" Whitfield

Ralph Fiennes - Conclave as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence

Sebastian Stan - The Apprentice as Donald Trump

Best Director

Sean Baker - Anora

Brady Corbet - The Brutalist

James Mangold - A Complete Unknown

Jacques Audiard - Emilia Pérez

Coralie Fargeat - The Substance

Best Picture

Anora - Alex Cocos, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker, producers

The Brutalist - Nick Gordon, D.J. Gugenheim, Andrew Lauren, Trevor Matthews and Brian Young, producers

A Complete Unknown - Fred Berger, James Mangold, and Alex Heineman, producers

Conclave - Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, and Michael A. Jackman, producers

Dune: Part Two - Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Denis Villeneuve, producers

Emilia Pérez - Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux, Valérie Schermann, and Anthony Vaccarello, producers

I'm Still Here - Maria Carlota Bruno, Martine De Clermont-Tonnerre, and Rodrigo Teixeira, producers

Nickel Boys - Joslyn Barnes, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and David Levine, producers

The Substance - Tim Bevan, Coralie Fargeat, and Eric Fellner, producers

Wicked - Marc Platt, producer

Honorary Awards

Quincy Jones

Juliet Taylor

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

Richard Curtis

Make sure you let me know who the winners are. My predictions for the winners of the following categories are

Best Visual Effects - Dune: Part Two

Best Production Design - Dune: Part Two

Best Costume Design - Wicked

Best Cinematography - Dune: Part Two

Best Animated Feature for The Wild Robot

Best Actor - Timothée Chalamet for A Complete Unknown

Best Director - James Mangold for A Complete Unknown

Best Picture - Wicked

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In Memory of David Lynch (1946-2025)

David Lynch (1946-2025)

The acclaimed film director David Lynch has died. He was 78 years old. His family announced his death on his Facebook account. He suffered from emphysema from years of smoking when he announced his diagnosis in 2024. Known for his dark, unsettling and surrealistic vision, Lynch was responsible for movies such as "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive" and is the co-creator of the landmark television series "Twin Peaks". Lynch's opulent, unsettling, and unfathomable works, packed with dream sequences and quirky visuals, have positioned him as a master of surrealism and one of the most original filmmakers of his time.

A native of Missoula, Montana, Lynch began his career in painting before turning to short film in the 1960s. In 1977, Lynch made his name with "Eraserhead", his first full-length movie, a chilling, darkly humorous work that became an unsettling staple of the midnight cinema circuit. His unconventional and uncompromising style quickly attracted the attention of Hollywood and the international film industry.

It was then that Mel Brooks appointed Lynch to write and direct "The Elephant Man", a strange and poignant biopic about a hideously deformed sideshow freak who is thrust into the limelight and becomes a national celebrity in Victorian England. The movie received eight Oscar nominations, including Lynch's first for Best Director. Unfortunately, he failed to achieve the same success with his 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert's expansive sci-fi novel "Dune". It was a massive box-office bomb, produced on a $40 million budget over an excruciating three-year shoot. In later years, the film would receive a cult following. After that debacle, Lynch bounced back with two movies that defined his signature style, including the provocative neo-noir mystery thriller "Blue Velvet" and the sexy, violent road movie "Wild at Heart".

In 1990, Lynch and Mark Frost launched the supernatural murder-mystery series "Twin Peaks", breaking new ground for things not shown on television. The show lasted two seasons, spawning the film prequel "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me". Twenty-five years later, the show was returned for a limited third season, thanks to the enduring affection of a dedicated fanbase. Later in his career, he helmed more films such as "Lost Highway", "The Straight Story", "Mulholland Drive", and "Inland Empire". In 2022, Lynch made a cameo appearance as another legendary director, John Ford, in Steven Spielberg's autobiographical movie "The Fablemans". In 2019, after being nominated four times, Lynch received an Honorary Award Oscar for lifetime achievement.

The whole world is going to miss his style.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Release Date: 26th December 2024 - Australia

Production Companies

Paramount Pictures (presents)

Sega Sammy Group (in association with)

Original Film

Blur Studio

Marza Animation Planet

Sega (based on the video game from)

Distribution

Paramount Pictures Australia

Genre: Family/Action/

Adventure/Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 110 minutes

Budget: $122,000,000

Box Office Gross: $340,168,401 (Worldwide - figure subject to change)

Plot Summary

Sonic, Tails and Knuckles

are up against a mysterious

new enemy with powers

beyond anything they

have ever faced known as

Shadow the Hedgehog.

Outmatched in every way,

the trio must seek an

unlikely alliance with

Dr. Robotnik to stop

Shadow and protect the

planet, but the risks

increase when Robotnik

reunites with his long-

lost grandfather, Gerald

Robotnik, who appears

to have his agenda for

Shadow.

Cast

Ben Schwartz - Sonic the Hedgehog (Voice)

Jim Carrey - Ivo Robotnik/Gerald Robotnik

Keanu Reeves - Shadow the Hedgehog (Voice)

Idris Elba - Knuckles the

Echidna (Voice)

Colleen O'Shaughnessey -

Miles "Tails" Prower (Voice)

James Marsden - Tom

Wachowski

Tika Sumpter - Maddie Wachowski

Natasha Rothwell - Rachel

Adam Pally - Wade

Shemar Moore - Randall

Lee Majoub - Agent Stone

Krysten Ritter - Director Rockwell

Alyla Browne - Maria

Tom Butler - Commander Walters

Jorma Taccone - Kyle

Lancebottom

Sofia Pernas - Gabriella

Cristo Fernández - Pablo/Juan

James Wolk - Young Walters

Brett Tutor - Prison Guard

Richard Sutton - G.U.N. HQ Security Guard

Will Austin - G.U.N. Heli Pilot

Bola Okun - Military Man

Reggie Banigo - Rockwell's Assistant

Barry Calvert - 70s G.U.N. Soldier

Brendan Murphy - Robotnik

Proxy

Toru Nakahara - Japanese

News Reporter

Crew

Executive Producer/Director - Jeff Fowler

Story/Screenplay - Pat Casey

and Josh Miller

Screenplay - John Whittington

Executive Producers - Tommy Gormley, Tim Miller, Haruki Satomi and Shuji Utsumi

Producers - Neal H. Moritz,

Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara

and Hitoshi Okuno

Co-Producers - Tyson

Hesse, Dmitri M. Johnson,

Andrew Riach, Nicole Monter,

Dan Jevons and Matt Gustafson

Co-Producer/Second Unit Director/Visual Effects Supervisor - Ged Wright

Casting Directors - Sophie Holland, Janelle Scuderi and Tricia Wood

Production Designer - Luke Freeborn

Artistic Consultant - Jim Carrey

Sonic Character Supervisor:

Sega - Takashi Iizuka

Supervising Art Director - Tom Still

Senior Art Directors - Su Whitaker

and Joe Howard

Art Directors - Claire Fleming,

Sarah Ginn and Laura Miller

Construction Manager - Ray Barrett

Set Decorator - Anna-Lynch Robinson

Costume Designer - Eleanor Baker

Costume FX Designer - Pierre Bohanna

Prosthetics Makeup Designer - Mark Coulier

Digital Makeup Designer - Bill Corso

Director of Photography - Brandon Trost

Supervising Location Manager -

Christian McWilliams

Second Unit Director - Peter Lyons Collister

Stunt Coordinator - Eunice Huthart

Fight Choreographer - Mike Lambert

Special Effects Coordinator - Sarah Pearce

Special Effects Supervisor - Hayley J. Williams

Visual Effects Supervisor: Lola VFX -

Edson Williams

Visual Effects Producer - Paul V. Molles

Senior Animation Supervisor - Clement Yip

Editor - Al LeVine

Supervising Sound Editors/Sound Designers -

Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn

Sound Designer - Darren Maynard

Production Sound Mixer - Paul Munro

Re-Recording Mixers - Ron Bartlett and

Anna Behlmer

Music - Tom Holkenborg

Review

It is the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. What better way to cap off this year other than the fireworks is by watching SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3? Let me tell you, each movie of the franchise improves as the speedy blue hedgehog always wins the race. SONIC 3 builds on the success of its predecessors, reducing the excess baggage and concentrating more on the well-known Sega characters. For example, the human characters (minus two Robotniks) have less screen time, the pacing is much tighter, and the pop-cultural references are minimal. Not to mention, there are no useless subplots like the wedding in Sonic 2.

Added to the inclusion in the film series is Sonic's rival, Shadow, whose dark past propels the plot forward and has already appeared in the mid-credits scene of the second instalment. The introduction of this character deepens the film as an emotional rollercoaster as it examines themes of grief, vengeance, and redemption. Interestingly, the movie's director, Jeff Fowler, had previously worked on the animations for the 2005 platformer Shadow the Hedgehog, so he returns to his connections with Sega's gun-toting villainous hedgehog.

Unlike the earlier Sonic movies, which were family-friendly romps, SONIC 3 takes a darker tone, upping the stakes for Sonic and his friends. Whereas the first two instalments borrowed the elements from the classic Mega Drive games, SONIC 3 owes much to the Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure 2. What makes SONIC 3 a more deliberate video game adaptation than its predecessors is the distinct duality it establishes between Sonic and Shadow. The film never ceases to amaze me with its awe-inspiring visuals and dynamic action scenes, culminating in a climax reminiscent of the battle scenes in Dragon Ball Z. The humour is well-balanced, with sufficient laughs for children and moments for adults. There are even Easter eggs and references to the games in the film that fans can recognise.

As always, Ben Schwartz shines as Sonic's voice, lending his boundless enthusiasm and charm to the blue hedgehog. Idris Elba and Colleen O'Shaughnessey deliver great performances as Knuckles and Tails individually contribute to the trio's chemistry. Keanu Reeves was an inspired choice to play Shadow. No one could expect the legendary action star to play someone as dark and brooding with a tragic backstory and a thirst for revenge (similar to the titular character he portrayed in the John Wick series). That said, Reeves did an incredible job of his performance by bringing edginess to the character that perfectly captures his dark nature.

Remember what I said in my Sonic 2 review that Jim Carrey is considering retirement after he finishes playing Dr. Robotnik in the second instalment. He's back for the third time as Carrey pulls double duty in a dual role. Not only does the legendary comedian portray the wacky mad scientist, but Carrey also gets to play his even more sinister grandfather. While he outdoes himself as two generations of Eggman, he hasn't lost the quirkiness we've come to anticipate from Jim Carrey.

While a significant step up from the first two instalments, SONIC 3 is the best entry in the movie franchise and one of the better video game film adaptations. It has a compelling story, striking performances, and stunning visuals that audiences of all ages will enjoy. For those who have watched its predecessors, now is your chance to go and see the third outing.

Also, there are two post-credit scenes at the end of the film that fans should keep an eye out for, which could hint at the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 4 in 2027. I can't wait to see the impending sequel when it'll be as good as the third instalment.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

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