Box Office Flop or Blockbuster 2020? - Bombshell

More the question is the miniseries The Loudest Voice better than movie Bombshell? Also is it a Box Office Flop or Blockbuster?

Coming months after The Loudest Voice aired on Showtime, Bombshell is screening in Australia this weekend for some limited previews.

It opened in the US a wee bit before Christmas so again Australia is getting a film with a fair bit of Australian home grown talent involved, late.

Disappointing when two of the three main roles in the film are played by well liked Australian leads. They are also leading the way with SAG, BAFTA and Critics Choice Movie Awards nominees.

Anyone to the questions above, better than The Loudest Voice, no, The Loudest Voice over seven episodes was allowed more time with the subject, therefore exploring the vile Aisles over a longer time frame. The film lacks history of Fox News rise to number one cable news network. Theron, Robbie and Kidman are all incredible, however Naomi Watts as Gretchen Carlson in the Showtime series was also outstanding.



Is it a blockbuster or flop at the box office? Sadly it's a massive flop, only generating over 28 million thus far at the US box office, this has to be disappointing.

Sadly Americans clearly are over Fox News bashing. Even though the station deserves all the criticism it gets, it seems people are turned off by the way the women are treated in the film and reliving the vile ways of Roger Aisles and Bill O'Reilly. Both who got significant pay outs after they were fired by the Murdoch's. So it was a bittersweet win for the women.

The cast in the film is extremely impressive, Margot Robbie is really outstanding, Theron looked exactly like Megyn Kelly, not only looking like her, but sounding identical to her.

I enjoyed the film (despite knowing how it would all play out) whilst enjoying all the wonderful women slay against Roger. Also the big question, who played Roger better Russell Crowe (recent Golden Globe winner) or John Lithgow? To me it was Russell Crowe hands down.

Sadly Bombshell suffers from bad timing, if The Loudest Voice wasn't such a recent TV smash, then maybe this would be bigger.

Still a good film, an important film, so men, women out there, if you see poor behaviour at work, report it, speak out, don't let powerful evil men (or sometimes ladies, generally men though, do better guys) get away with it.

3 Stars.

#SUMMER-BINGE-FEST - The Gloaming

The Gloaming is the third (and final) new series this summer period which landed on Stan on 1 January 2020.

The eight-part drama is set in the beautiful Tasmania, it literally looks a million bucks.

Starring a number of familiar faces, Emma Booth as Molly McGee, Ewen Leslie as Alex O’Connell, Aaron Pedersen as Inspector Lewis Grimshaw and Martin Henderson as Gareth McAveney.

I must say I much preferred this over the Stan drama The Commons. Unfortunately The Commons failed to connect with me, however now I am back at work, I have found some other streamers have actually enjoyed the series.

Briefly the plot, centres around troubled police woman Molly McGee, who leads an investigation into the murder of an unidentified woman. Molly has to team up with Alex O'Connell, a man she hasn't spoken to in 20 years. They discover that the murder has links to a cold case from the past.

It's slightly gothic, it's a long form murder/thriller mystery and it's local.

The Gloaming is already not everyone's cup of tea (I have spoken to) however I thought it was a decent effort from Stan.

Stan have one more release this summer which is actually heading to the cinemas as well. For a limited time, True History of the Kelly Gang will appear at some select cinemas ahead of landing on Stan Australia Day.

It's been a big summer for Stan, honestly a well programmed season. I hope for more originals throughout the year as Stan really needs to shine up against the latest Disney and Apple + streaming services.

You can check out The Gloaming below which I can now say I have binged my way through all eight beautifully shot episodes.

2020 BAFTA Nominations | Predictions

My predictions in bold and red (as usual, if you are a regular reader):


Best film

1917

The Irishman

Joker

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Parasite


Outstanding British film

1917

Bait

For Sama

Rocketman

Sorry We Missed You

The Two Popes


Film not in the English language

The Farewell

For Sama

Pain and Glory

Parasite

Portrait of a Lady on Fire


Animated film

Frozen 2

Klaus

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Toy Story 4



Director

1917 - Sam Mendes

The Irishman - Martin Scorsese

Joker - Todd Phillips

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood - Quentin Tarantino

Parasite - Bong Joon-ho



Original screenplay

Booksmart - Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Katie Silberman

Knives Out - Rian Johnson

Marriage Story - Noah Baumbach

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood - Quentin Tarantino

Parasite - Han Jin Won, Bong Joon-ho


Adapted screenplay

The Irishman - Steven Zaillian

Jojo Rabbit - Taika Waititi

Joker - Todd Phillips, Scott Silver

Little Women - Greta Gerwig

The Two Popes - Anthony McCarten



Leading actress

Jessie Buckley - Wild Rose

Scarlett Johansson - Marriage Story

Saoirse Ronan - Little Women

Charlize Theron - Bombshell

Renee Zellweger - Judy



Leading actor

Leonard DiCaprio - Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Adam Driver - Marriage Story

Taron Egerton - Rocketman

Joaquin Phoenix - Joker

Jonathan Pryce - The Two Popes



Supporting actress

Laura Dern - Marriage Story

Scarlett Johansson - Jojo Rabbit

Florence Pugh - Little Women

Margot Robbie - Bombshell

Margot Robbie - Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood


Supporting actor

Tom Hanks - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Anthony Hopkins - The Two Popes

Al Pacino - The Irishman

Joe Pesci - The Irishman

Brad Pitt - Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood



EE Rising star award

Awkwafina

Kaitlyn Dever

Kelvin Harrison Jr

Jack Lowden

Michael Ward


Full ABC news story, HERE

Summer Lists (you may have missed)

From my music blog Flashing off the Record, here is some of the best music from the previous year. More music lists to come, so keep checking back at Flashing off the Record.

First up though, my Hottest 100 votes for 2019, see the Warm Tuna's for 2019 HERE. That however comes with a big spoiler alert :)

Part One - The 200 BEST Songs of 2019 {200-101}

Part Two - The 200 BEST Songs of 2019 {100-1}

Australian Artist Singles of 2019 

Box Office Flop or Blockbuster 2020? - Jojo Rabbit

The question for JoJo Rabbit, is it a Box Office Flop or Blockbuster in 2020? It's hard to tell is the easy answer.

It was a strange choice for a Boxing Day release and honestly not my first choice to see this movie going season. That said, I was pleasantly surprised.

Young Roman Griffin Davis as Johannes "Jojo Rabbit" Betzler is outstanding, as is Scarlett Johansson as Rosie Betzler. Taika Waititi along with directing the picture also stars as Adolf Hitler, yes Adolf.



The trailer doesn't give away the film actually has friendship at the centre of the film. The movie is actually beautiful in parts.

I got a bit emotional yes, so this film succeeded with me, forget hate embrace understanding and love. A good message for 2020 right.

When will the world take Taika Waititi's message on board? 2020 has commenced and it's not that great that far. So it's entertaining films like this, we need right now. Like pop music, good films like this allow us a distraction, an escape from everyday reality.

Taika Waititi has slayed of late, first Boy then the brilliant Hunt for the Wilderpoeple, the third Thor film, not to mention the upcoming fourth Thor film, Thor: Love and Thunder.

Waititi is on top of his game right now, Jojo Rabbit gets a solid 3 Stars.

#SUMMER-BINGE-FEST - Orange is the New Black, Season Seven (final)

Returning for the post Christmas/2020 leg of Summer is my TV series, #SUMMER-BINGE-FEST. Last year I smashed through some Jessica Jones, Jack Ryan, Bloom, House of Cards and even some Mystery Road. I did also smash through the sixth season of Orange is the New Black. This summer it's time for the final seventh season.



If you are not up to date, well get up to date, it's the seventh and final time around for the women in and outside of Litchfield prison.

Released on July 26, 2019 my mums birthday, I usually leave OITNB until end of year forced leave. Between Wentworth and starting (two episodes in) the Turkish version of Wentworth The Yard on Netflix, one can only handle so much women's prison drama.

Wentworth season seven was outstanding, so after having my mind blown there, it was time for a break from ladies prison dramas.

Orange is the New Black this year concludes with its 91st episode, following seven seasons commencing in 2013. Netflix farewells one of its first ever Netflix Original titles.

With House of Cards gone, OITNB was the last OG Netflix standing, it's also one of the most watched Netflix series since the streaming service launched.

The streaming service always holds viewership figures close to its chest, so how many people have enjoyed this show is really anyone's guess.

So as I write this I am up to episode ten (yes it's been a busy summer season of streaming for me) it's been an interesting ride thus far. With a number of the inmates on the outside, it's made for a more interesting round of origin stories and stories from the outside.

Will I miss this show? Yes, the characters are real, diverse and this years focus on ICE has given it a real spin on America in 2020.

So Orange is the New Black, this is my last post featuring you (unless something major happens between episode ten and the series finale.

More #SUMMER-BINGE-FEST coming soon with the new STAN title, The Gloaming.

I'm also hoping to get off to the movies today, however if you feel like some online shopping today and require a new t-shirt, grab THIS. All profits from the sale of this t-shirt will be donated direct to the Rural Fire Service RFS.

Box Office Flop or Blockbuster 2020? - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

In 2020 I will be asking, Box Office Flop or Blockbuster 2020? For Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker it's an easy one, Box Office Blockbuster.

Now I was late on the Star Wars bandwagon this year, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the conclusion of the Skywalker saga.


Look, I have loved Star Wars since a child, Return of the Jedi was always my favourite of the three original films. I am not sure my favourite film of the latest trilogy however this film does a nice job of tying up all the loose ends.

Rey, Finn and Ben Solo's love triangle was one of the interesting elements of this film, however I also found myself laughing out loud to C-3P0.

It was a fun way to start New Years Eve seeing this big blockbuster, I am not sure if like in the past I would see it again at the cinema, however it really is the best option at the box office right now. However The Gentlemen is now open, which I was lucky enough to see a little while back.

On Star Wars I did go into this film a little biased after the excellent series The Mandalorian, which as per my review, I strongly urge you to watch.

So Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is 100% worth the price of admission, the film looks amazing, it's huge battle scenes, some familiar faces returning, it's massive.

I was a big fan of this conclusion to the saga, along with The Mandalorian Disney is on a roll. Go see this now, it's this or Jumanji right?

4 Stars.