Oscars give the snub

In what critics are calling major disrespect to filmmakers, Academy Awards officials announced recently that four award categories — cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, film editing and live action short will be presented during the Oscars’ commercial breaks.

The academy has caught flak for a number of other ideas it had this year. It’s forgoing a host for the first time in 30 years, several of the musical acts reportedly may be cut from the telecast and it axed the not-so-popular “popular movie” category it had planned to introduce this year. The awards take place on February 25 this year.

Critics feel the decision discredits the work of people behind the camera and will give less attention to some under-represented voices, especially in the female-dominated category of makeup and hairstyling.

Final Destination reboot

Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, the scribes who penned four of the seven Saw horror movies, have signed on to write the next chapter in the Final Destination film franchise.

“Final Destination reboot in the works with Saw writers (exclusive) Hey! That’s us! @MarcusDunstan,” Melton tweeted.

The first supernatural thriller in New Line’s Final Destination series was released in 2000; starring Devon Sawa, Ali Larter and Seann William Scott, it was about people killed after escaping a plane explosion that one member of the group had a premonition about.

No plot details or casting for the new movie have been announced yet.

Robert Pattinson in a sci-fi mind-bender

Robert Pattinson stars alongside Juliette Binoche in High Life the sci-fi film from the acclaimed French Claire Denis.

“We’re scum. Trash. Refuse that didn’t fit into the system. Until someone had the bright idea of recycling us to serve science,” intones the trailer that has dropped for the latest film starring former Twilight star Robert Pattinson and it looks unnerving. High Life follows father Monte (Pattinson) who cares for his baby daughter on a perilous mission to the outer reaches of the Solar System.

All the more important is the fact that the passengers are the last survivors of said mission. The father and daughter rely on each other to survive as they hurtle towards a black hole.

All the more troubling is the mystery of what happened to the other passengers, who were death row inmates led by an enigmatic doctor (Juliette Binoche) who has a frightening agenda.

The trailer shows off Pattinson as a doting father, which is sure to make his fans swoon.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 16th, 2019