Year: 2017

Despite a dramatic finish that even Cecil B. DeMille would envy and a capable hosting job by late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, this year’s Oscars broadcast was said to be the third-lowest rated ceremony of the millennium. This naturally prompted advertisers, programmers, pundits, movie goers and a host of others to wonder why. I have my own suspicions for why the ratings were low, and I promise to address them in a postscript at the end of this blog. But many media watchers allegedly in the know speculated that it had more to do with the movies being honored than anything to do with the broadcast itself. In years past, those observers have noted (and somewhat rightly so) that viewers stayed away from some of those previous broadcasts because they hadn’t heard of most of the movies up for nomination, an outcome largely attributable to the underwhelming marketing and distribution efforts behind some of those films. This year, however, some of those same experts are saying that viewers didn’t tune in because the films in question were all “so sad.” Sad? Having seen the films up for best picture, I found that word to be an odd choice ...

Power. The word itself inspires a range of impressions, from intimidation to awe to a tool we can use to manifest a range of envisioned outcomes and conceptions. But what is it really? Movies can help provide us clues. Find out more by reading “Managing Our Personal Power,” my latest article in the Conscious Cinema series of New Consciousness Review magazine, available by clicking here. And, while you’re there, be sure to check out my review of the engaging DVD, “The Wisdom Tree.” ...

Reviews of “A United Kingdom,” “Kedi” and “Arrival” and an Oscar wrap-up are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on The Good Radio Network, available by clicking here ...

With this year’s Academy Awards ceremony behind us, it’s time to take a look at how I did on my predictions for the winners in this annual competition, as first outlined in my previous blog, “Who Will Win This Year’s Oscars?” posted on February 13. And the result? Four out of six correct calls, with two misses. Here are the details: Best Picture Projected Winner: “La La Land”Actual Winner: “Moonlight”Result: Missed call What a surprise! And what an ever bigger surprise with the way the result was announced! Given the track record “La La Land” amassed during awards season, as well as 14 nominations (tying “Titanic” (1997) and “All About Eve” (1950) for the most ever received by a single film), this seemed like a virtual lock. However, support for this film was apparently quietly softening as awards season rolled on, something I sensed but didn’t put much faith in (I should have listened to my intuition!). Needless to say, I can’t say I was disappointed with the result – “Moonlight” was the film that I believed should win, and thankfully it did. Best Actor Projected Winner: Denzel Washington, “Fences”Actual Winner: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”Result: Missed call At ...

With the Academy Awards right around the corner, it’s that time of year for predictions. My previous Blog entry, “Who Will Win This Year’s Oscars?“, examines the top six races in detail. And, to augment that discussion, I’m making a number of radio appearances this week to talk about my predictions from different perspectives. For a thoughtful, detailed look at the nominees, projected winners and other films of the past year, check out Oscar Predictions with Brent Marchant on Self Discovery Radio with host Sara Troy, available by clicking here. To understand how some of the leading contenders examine self-empowerment issues, tune in to Conscious Creation Goes to the Oscars on Smart Women Talk Radio with host Katana Abbott, available by clicking here. For an irreverent, fun-filled take on the Oscars, tune in to the latest edition of The CoffeeCast with host Tom Cheevers, available by clicking here. And, to wrap up this week’s broadcasts, tune in for this month’s Movies with Meaning segment on The Good Radio Network’s Frankiesense & More radio show by clicking here. Listen live on Thursday February 23 at 1 pm ET or check on the podcast on demand thereafter. Happy listening! ...

It’s that time of year again – time for my predictions of the winners at the annual Academy Awards. A few of the major honors appear fairly clear-cut at this point, with others somewhat in doubt. Nevertheless, with that said, here are my picks for who will likely take home statues this year: Best Actor The Field: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”; Ryan Gosling, “La La Land”; Viggo Mortensen, “Captain Fantastic”; Denzel Washington, “Fences”; Andrew Garfield, “Hacksaw Ridge”Who Will Likely Win: This is a toss-up between Casey Affleck and Denzel Washington. At the start of awards season, Affleck was considered a virtually untouchable lock, and he handily took home the Critics Choice and Golden Globe Awards. However, due to a recently surfaced off-screen controversy, his halo may have become somewhat tarnished among awards voters. This has opened the door for Washington, who, somewhat surprisingly, took home the prestigious Screen Actors Guild Award, often a significant harbinger of what transpires at the Oscars. Even though Affleck rebounded from that setback to claim the BAFTA Award, he did not compete against Washington as a nominee in that contest. The SAG Award result, nevertheless, could represent a mid-season momentum shift in Washington’s ...