92nd Oscars Making Glorious History… A Look at Previous Snubs

By HOWARD McQUITTER II

Never achieved before, in the 92 years of the Oscars, that a foreign director won for Best Director and Best Picture”““Parasite”, which is an extraordinary mark not only for the Academy but the world of film; especially for South Korea.

For me, I jumped up-and-down for the winner of those chosen Oscars, South Korean Bong Joon Ho, who won in two other categories; Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature. (Don”™t get me wrong I jumped up-and-down for other winners, too, such as Brat Pitt for supporting actor and Renee Zellweger for best actress). Some of Bong”™s other wonderful films (perhaps lesser known to the average moviegoer but seen by cinephiles) are “Mother” (2010), The Host” (2007), Memories of Murder” (2007), “Snowpiercer” (2013) and “Barking Dogs never Bite” (2000). All are must sees to get a feel from this great director.

The Oscars has a bad trail though when through the years too many cast members, directors and screenplay writers have been snubbed. Why didn”™t Alfred Hitchcock ever win for Best Director?  He”™s the master of  suspense and only his “Rebecca”(1940) won a Oscar for Best Picture. Mr. Hitchcock, nominated 5 times for Best Director, had to settle for the Honorary Irving G.… Read the rest “92nd Oscars Making Glorious History… A Look at Previous Snubs”

March 2020 Movie Corner

By HOWARD McQUITTER II

oldschoolmovies.wordpress.com
howardmcquitter68@gmail.com

“Midnight Family”(2019)
Documentary/Action/Crime
5 of 5 Stars

“Midnight Family” is one of those didactic documentaries that feels much more like a narrative than the usual documentary. If you know nothing  about the film and hear the title you might think it”™s a mob film or one of those  dreamy horror pictures. But instead, the film is about a family in Mexico City  who own an ambulance in Mexico City, a sprawling city of nine million people, where only 45 government ambulances are in operation. A city of nine million with only 45 government ambulances is pathetic to say the least. To add to the horrific shortage of government run ambulances, local families trying to eke out a living by having private ambulances. One of those families is the Ochoas, hard working and determined to go to the rescue of those in need of a hospital, clinic or treatment on the spot. Often times the private ambulances show up at emergencies while the government ambulances show up late or not at all.          

For the Ochoas (as with others, too), day and night (especially the later), the life of ambulance drivers and assistants often take on edgy and dangerous undertakings.… Read the rest “March 2020 Movie Corner”