The 2020 Oscar Nominations Are Here

So, the Oscar nominations are here. I’m not trying to sound too cool, but I don’t really care. I barely pay attention the awards in the groups that I vote for, and as usual, the Academy Awards don’t share my particular taste. For the most part, the nominees are safe and expected and what they are.

The 2019 Seattle Film Critics Society Award Winners

As 2019 winds to a close, before we look at what’s next, it’s a time for reflection. In movie terms, that means glancing back over the past year and taking stock of the films we saw. I’m fortunate enough to be a member of a couple groups of film critics, and one, the Seattle Film Critics Society, just revealed the results of the 2019 SFCS Awards.

The 2019 Seattle Film Critics Society Award Nominees

It’s that time of year again. The calendar is running out, the holidays loom on the horizon, and every turns to the past year to reflect and examine. And for film critics, that means looking over the movie offerings and evaluating the haul. I’m fortunate enough to belong to multiple groups of like-minded film nerds, and one of them, the Seattle Film Critics Society just announced our nominations for our end-of-year awards.

The Latest 'Parasite' Trailer Sings Bong Joon-Ho's Praises

When people toss around the word “masterpiece,” I usually tune out, especially when it comes to new movies—that’s a term that, to truly apply, I feel needs sit and simmer and have some perspective and distance. That said, when I hear it applied to a Bong Joon-ho movie, while I have to see it for myself, it gets me all revved up because the South Korean filmmaker is a non-stop hit machine. As you might imagine, I’m rather excited for his latest, Parasite, which has been collecting rave reviews, is almost here, and dropped this new trailer.

'Parasite' Trailer: Bong Joon-Ho Returns With A Dark, Funny Tale Of Class Conflict

Any time Bong Joon-ho makes a movie, it tops the list of things I need to see like right this damn minute. That’s just a fact. Since it debuted at Cannes earlier this year, folks have hailed his latest, Parasite, as one of the best of the year, which I find entirely plausible. We don’t know much about it, nor have we seen a ton of footage, but distributor NEON just dropped a new U.S. trailer and, also not a shock, it looks great and dark and weird in that particular way Bong does so well. Watch it below.

Watch The First Trailer For Bong Joon-Ho's 'Parasite'

UPDATED: Now there's a new poster, too!

ORIGINAL POST: Over the course of his career, South Korean director Bong Joon-ho has rarely made two movies that are even remotely the same. He’s done black comedy (Barking Dogs Never Bite), crime thrillers (Mother, Memories of Murder), and a post-apocalyptic actioner (Snowpiercer). Even his two creature features, The Host and Okja, couldn’t be more different in tone, style, and aesthetics. Now he’s back with another new film that looks nothing like anything he’s ever done. Check out the first trailer for Parasite.

This Is Not A Drill: Bong Joon-Ho's 'Parasite' Has Started Filming!

I repeat, this is not a drill. Hot off of Okja last year, Korean hit factory Bong Joon-ho has reportedly started filming his follow-up, Parasite, which, according to the news, doesn’t involve any actual parasites. It will be released next year and marks the Snowpiercer director’s return to filming entirely in his native tongue for the first time since Mother in 2009.

'Okja' (2017) Movie Review

Outside of the fact that he makes great movies, my favorite thing about Bong Joon-ho is that you never know to expect from one project to the next. The South Korean director has turned out the greatest modern creature feature with The Host, which is still so much more than just that. His resume also includes murder mysteries (Mother, Memories of Murder), post-apocalyptic sci-fi set entirely on a moving train (Snowpiercer), and even black comedy (Barking Dogs Never Bite). Bong’s latest, Okja, fits into his larger body of work by being both utterly fantastic and unlike anything he’s done before, despite the presence of a fantastic beast.

'Okja' Trailer: Meet The Most Adorable Super Pig

Any Bong Joon-ho movie is worth getting excited about. But when it’s about a little girl trying to rescue her best friend, a best friend that just happens to be a giant pig monster, it has my full attention. The Korean auteur’s latest premieres at Cannes tomorrow, and Netflix dropped a wonderful new trailer for Okja.

Gawk At Jake Gyllenhaal's Snazzy Mustache In Bong Joon-Ho's 'Okja,' Plus Plot Details

Snowpiercer mastermind Bong Joon-ho making a giant monster movie is automatically an event worth celebrating. His The Host is one of the greatest modern creature features, so his upcoming Okja is high up on my list of “oh hell yeah” movies. And if that’s not enough to stoke the fires, hopefully this photo of Jake Gyllenhaal and his delightful mustache will do the trick. (There are also a few other photos and a long, detailed plot synopsis, which are all great, but I’d watch any movie for this particular Gyllenhaal steez alone.)

'Okja' Trailer: Meet Bong Joon-Ho's Netflix Creature Feature

All South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho does is kick out the jams, cinematically speaking that is. And you better believe the idea of The Host director telling the tender story about a young girl and her best friend, a giant genetically altered pig monster, has my full and undivided attention. Netflix just dropped the first trailer for Okja.

Bong Joon-Ho's Netflix Creature Feature 'Okja' Digs Up New Plot And Character Details

South Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho is the mastermind behind one of the greatest modern creature features, The Host. So when we heard he’s returning to monster movie territory with the upcoming Okja, we were understandably stoked. Then he put together an incredible international cast along the same lines as Snowpiercer, and we started drooling. Now some new details have slithered out, and we may or may not have started dancing around the office with glee.

Bong Joon-Ho's Monster Movie 'Okja' Is Putting Together The Best Cast

Any time Bong Joon-ho makes a movie, it’s well worth getting your panties in a bunch over. The guy is a goddamned hit factory—Snowpiercer, Mother, The Host. But when he makes a monster movie, one with an insanely great cast, that’s the kind of thing that gets you dancing around the room in giddy anticipation.