Interview: ‘Marty Supreme’ Casting Director Jennifer Venditti on Finding 1950s Faces and the Magic of Collaborating with Josh Safdie
For casting director, Jennifer Venditti, finding the right face is everything. After beginning her career in the fashion world, where she worked with brands like... Read More
Sophia Ciminello
Sophia is a lifelong film enthusiast who considers herself a scholar of Best Actress winners, the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, and 1970s cinema. She hosts and produces the podcast "Oscar Wild," where she celebrates her love of cinema with retrospectives, deep dives on all 23 Oscar categories, and interviews with directors and creatives. She thanks her mother for her love of Old Hollywood and her father for letting her stay up late to watch the Oscars when she was in preschool. Her favorite Best Picture winners are All About Eve and Ordinary People. You can follow her on Twitter @sophia_cim.
Interview: Cinematographer Łukasz Żal on Creating Death’s Point of View and the Magical Realism of ‘Hamnet’
When I learned that Łukasz Żal was the cinematographer for Chloé Zhao’s latest film, Hamnet, I was immediately intrigued. Known for his striking black-and-white photography... Read More
‘Marty Supreme’ Review: It’s One Paddle After Another For Timothée Chalamet in Josh Safdie’s Instant New York Classic [A-]
It’s 1952 in New York City, and Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) is stuck on the Lower East Side, fitting a customer for shoes. Being promoted... Read More
All that lives must die,/Passing through nature to eternity.” -Hamlet Act One, Scene 2 Early in Chloé Zhao’s staggering Shakespearean fairytale, Hamnet, Agnes (Jessie Buckley) asks... Read More
Interview: Renate Reinsve on Collaborating with Joachim Trier to Create a Family Portrait in ‘Sentimental Value’
Joachim Trier’s latest film, Sentimental Value, begins with the feeling of a fairy tale, as a narrator recalls a time when our protagonist, Nora Borg... Read More
‘Wicked: For Good’ Review: Jon M. Chu Fails to Cast a Spell with Bloated Fan Service-Filled Finale [C-]
Last autumn, Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of “Wicked,” the long-celebrated stage musical based on Gregory Maguire’s novel, became a global phenomenon. Grossing over $750 million... Read More
AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 313 – Original Song and Score Oscar Predictions, Best Picture/Director Temperature Check
On episode 313 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello is joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade, Associate TV Editor Karen... Read More
Interview: Celine Song on Creating a Victorian Romance in 2025 and Knowing Dakota Johnson was Her Working Girl in ‘Materialists’
In Mike Nichols’ sharp romantic comedy Working Girl, Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) is the perfect blend of aspirational and relatable, a New York woman. When... Read More
‘Sentimental Value’ Review: Joachim Trier Constructs a Searing, Tender Family Drama [A]
Growing up in an old house means getting used to its little idiosyncrasies, just as you would with any other family member. It’s the one... Read More
Interview: ‘One Battle After Another’ Production Designer Florencia Martin Breaks Down Sensei’s Apartment, Reagan’s Mansion, the Christmas Adventurers’ HQ and More
When I last spoke to production designer Florencia Martin, she had just finished working on Damien Chazelle’s wild 1920s-set Hollywood ride, Babylon. During our conversation,... Read More
FINAL 2026 Oscar Predictions: SUPPORTING ACTOR 
‘The Bride!’ Review: Maggie Gyllenhaal Goes For Baroque in Messy, Misguided Post-Modern Monster Movie [D] 
‘Sinners’ Dominates Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Dorian Awards; Rose Byrne, Amy Madigan Win Acting Prizes 
FINAL 2026 Oscar Predictions: ANIMATED SHORT, DOCUMENTARY SHORT, LIVE ACTION SHORT