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themovieblogonline · 8 months ago

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All of the Winners From the 2024 Oscars

After a year of phenomenal and innovative filmmaking, the 2024 Oscars winners are finally here to tell us what we already know: it was a great year for cinema. But it’s not all about personal opinions regarding what makes a great film. It’s about hardworking behind-the-scenes teams, talented cast members, and passion for the medium. The Academy Awards highlight some of the most talented folks, and we finally have our winners! So, let’s dig into the 2024 Oscar winners list and see who took home the gold from the 96th Academy Awards hosted by Jimmy Kimmel! The 2024 Oscars Nominees Who Won Big Most Awards Season followers had big predictions for Oppenheimer and for good reasons. The movie earned 13 nominations, including in the biggest categories. Close behind in nominations were Poor Things, Killers of the Flower Moon, and then Barbie trailing behind. Unsurprisingly, most of the films earned well-deserved awards, with Poor Things and Oppenheimer winning multiple awards each. The Zone of Interest was another big winner from the night, taking home two wins. There were no crazy surprises with any of the wins. Some races were too close to call before the night began, but Cillian Murphy for Best Actor and Emma Stone for Best Actress were exciting to see live. Still, Lily Gladstone's win would have been history-making, and it would have been lovely to see her on the stage. Highlights From The Academy Awards Ceremony The 2024 Oscar winners are the highlight of the night, but the ceremony is another big reason that fans gather to watch. This year's ceremony had no shortage of exciting moments, great speeches, and beautiful performances. The ceremony brought back an old trend of past winners presenting the awards in the acting categories. It helped put a spotlight on incredible roles while also bringing some of our favorite previous winners out, including Christoph Waltz, Nicholas Cage, Jessica Lange, Jennifer Lawrence, and more. One of the most anticipated events of the evening was Ryan Gosling’s performance of “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie. The star did not disappoint, bringing dozens of Kens on stage and getting everybody out of their seat. Another highlight of the ceremony was the inclusion of Messi, the newest canine star, on the red carpet. Messi was a key performer in Anatomy of a Fall and would have won the award for Best Boy if there had been one. He was brought back for the end of the ceremony, where host Jimmy Kimmel continued his trend of making fun of Matt Damon at every opportunity by having Messi pee on Damon's star on the Walk of Fame. The Full List of 2024 Oscars Winners Best Picture American Fiction Anatomy of a Fall Barbie The Holdovers Killers of the Flower Moon Maestro Oppenheimer - WINNER Past Lives Poor Things The Zone of Interest Best Directing Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall) Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon) Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer) - WINNER Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things) Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest) Best Actor in a Leading Role Bradley Cooper (Maestro) Colman Domingo (Rustin) Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers) Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) - WINNER Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) Best Actress in a Leading Role Annette Bening (Nyad) Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon) Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall) Carey Mulligan (Maestro) Emma Stone (Poor Things) Best Actor in a Supporting Role Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction) Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon) Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer) - WINNER Ryan Gosling (Barbie) Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things) Best Actress in a Supporting Role Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer) Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) America Ferrera (Barbie) Jodie Foster (Nyad) Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) - WINNER Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) American Fiction - WINNER Barbie Oppenheimer Poor Things The Zone of Interest Best Writing (Original Screenplay) Anatomy of a Fall - WINNER The Holdovers Maestro May December Past Lives Best Animated Feature The Boy and the Heron - WINNER Elemental Nimona Robot Dreams Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Best Documentary Feature Film Bobi Wine: The People’s President The Eternal Memory Four Daughters To Kill a Tiger 20 Days in Mariupol - WINNER Best International Feature Film Io Capitano (Italy) Perfect Days (Japan) Society of the Snow (Spain) The Teacher’s Lounge (Germany) The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom) - WINNER Best Animated Short Film Letters to a Pig Ninety-Five Senses Our Uniform Pachyderme War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko - WINNER Best Live-Action Short Film The After Invincible Knight of Fortune Red, White and Blue The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar - WINNER Best Documentary Short Film The ABCs of Book Banning The Barber of Little Rock Island in Between The Last Repair Shop - WINNER Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó Best Cinematography El Conde Killers of the Flower Moon Maestro Oppenheimer - WINNER Poor Things Best Costume Design Barbie Killers of the Flower Moon Napoleon Oppenheimer Poor Things - WINNER Best Makeup and Hairstyling Golda Maestro Oppenheimer Poor Things - WINNER Society of the Snow Best Original Song “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot (Music and Lyric by Diane Warren) “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie (Music and Lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt) “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony (Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson) “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon (Music and Lyric by Scott George) “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie (Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell) - WINNER Best Original Score American Fiction Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Killers of the Flower Moon Oppenheimer - WINNER Poor Things Best Production Design Barbie Killers of the Flower Moon Napoleon Oppenheimer Poor Things - WINNER Best Film Editing Anatomy of a Fall The Holdovers Killers of the Flower Moon Oppenheimer - WINNER Poor Things Best Sound The Creator Maestro Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One Oppenheimer The Zone of Interest - WINNER Best Visual Effects The Creator Godzilla: Minus One - WINNER Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One Napoleon The Big Winners of the 2024 Oscars Did your predictions come true? And did your favorite films take home the gold from the 2024 Oscars winners list? Let us know your thoughts on the winners, the ceremony as a whole, and if there were any films that you still wish had made it to the show!

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tyarichtofen · 2 years ago

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thank you for the tag ghestie ! <3

Share your wallpaper : I change it every two days because i’m undecided. BUT. i fucking love Opus Eponymous so much

The last song you listened to : Every man gets his wish by Lana Del Rey

Currently reading : 22/11/63 by Stephen King and every ghost fic that i can reach

Last movie : El Camino, but meh not my fav part of the BrBa universe imo

Craving : Copia’s thighs.

How tall are you : 154 cm, i believe 5’1 (?)

Piercings : none, i’m not a fan of them on me, but i get they’re really cool

Tattoos : none atm BUT i have sooo many ideas, i want to get a Berserk tattoo on my chest (the cursed mark, just like Casca basically), the Rammstein logo (did you know that i love rammstein ? i could die for them, i love rammstein.), the cursed M on Majin Vegeta’s forehead on my arm or hand still don’t know tbh AND i want something related to my dog, Aiden, that died 3 years ago, actually ! my baby would have been 16 years old today :)

Glasses? Contacts? : Glasses cuz i damaged my eyes reading too much fics on my phone, so now i have to wear some to read 💀💀

Last drink : Water

Last show : The BlackList (last season came out yesterday in France and gkejgkemek i love this show sm, highly recommend fr)

Last thing you ate: crepes

Favorite colour: beige or anything that’s brown shaded

Curent obsession: Ghost ! (in case this wasn’t obvious)

Unrelated obsession: pastry, i actually have pastry studies in my school 🤠

Any pets: one cat and one dog, but i’d love to have more cats, preferably one or two :)

Do you have a crush on anyone: the list might be long but meh, here we go; Copia, Secondo, Terzo, Richtofen, Christoph Waltz, Hans Landa (i prefer not to explain myself), Saul Goodman (IK I SHOULDNT BUT HES BBYGIRL)

Favourite fictional character: Copia, he’s my comfort character <3

The last place you travelled to: Montreal ! it was such a fun trip, i loved it

Get to Know Me Tag

Thank you for tagging me @crooked-hourglass 🤍🤍

Share your wallpaper: My lockscreen is my son and step daughter and my home screen is Copia in all his glory.

The last song you listened to: If You Have Ghosts-Ghost

Currently reading: Nothing really, besides all you lovely fanfic authors.

Last movie: I don’t really watch movies, but does Supernatural count?

Craving: I don’t crave much, but I am a sucker for chips and pickles.

What are you wearing right now: Ghost tee (Demon Copia) and shorts.

How tall are you: 5’2

Piercings: 8 ear, septum, nostril, and tongue.

Tattoos: Two big rose tattoos on my right arm; a grucifix, hourglass, lotus, feather and semicolon on my left arm. A bear hugging itself with “love yourself” on it on the back of my calf, and my son’s name on my collarbone.

Glasses? Contacts?: Both. I have horrible vision.

Last drink: Water.

Last show: Supernatural.

Last thing you ate: Leftover steak bites.

Favorite color: Dark blue and dark green.

Current obsession: Ghost.

Unrelated obsession: Markiplier (for the last 11 years).

Any pets: 1 pupper.

Do you have a crush on anyone: My nerdy husband.

Favorite fictional character: Dean Winchester.

The last place you traveled to: Destin, about two years ago.

Tagging some peeps (no pressure! Sorry if you got tagged already!): @daredvssy @copicrossing @copias-girl @historian-crown @belissmatopolina

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fandomtransmandom · 4 years ago

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Grandpa figured out how to meme and I made a thing

#bill hader #thirsty for haderade #fan fiction #ao3 fanfic #fan fiction writers #fan fic writing #fan fiction author #writing problems #if y'all think I post a lot of fics you should see the frankly unhealthy amount of time I spend daydreaming about them #meme #i tried #at least i think im funny #minors dni #snl #saturday night live #fred armisen #christoph waltz #Regine is such a mood tbh #i too wish to be needlessly aroused while smoking in public

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fa-nfiction · 8 years ago

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The Wolf, chapter 1

“Emily. Emily. Ssssshhhh. Relax. Emily! Look at me. Calm down. Emily. Relax.”

He was crouched down in front of me, while I was sitting on the bed in the hotel room. My body was shaking, and my breath was heaving. Tears were streaming down my face, and I seemingly couldn’t stop them. I hadn’t had time to feel anything while we escaped, and now my emotions came roaring back with a vengeance.

“Emily. Calm. Down.” He took my hands in his own, but I still couldn’t stop.

“Breathe, Emily. Please.” From somewhere behind the tears, my eyes met with his, and finally, his words started to make sense. I tried to breathe in, but hiccoughed with the crying.

“Again. Eeeeasy.” His deep voice reassured me, as he rubbed my hands with his thumbs. The slight touch and the quiet voice helped. Finally, I was able to breathe in and breathe out without crying.

“There we go, darling.” He squeezed my hands as my crying subsided completely. I was still shaking, but now, I felt like I could manage. Even though his calling me “darling” made me feel strange, as always.

“Wh-who did that?”

He let go of my hands while his face hardened. He stood up and looked at me, as I sat on the bed, cried out and shaking from the whole ordeal.

“Get some sleep, Emily.”

“Please, tell me. Please.” I begged him, the despair still present in my voice. Running through the hallways below ground level had made me sweat through my clothes. Now, I was freezing.

He didn’t respond to my begging but instead, went though the room and stood at the table at the far end. He took the cell phone from his pocket and began to make a call. I could barely make out the words he spoke from my distressed state.

“Yes. Yes, it’s me. No, nothing happened. I have the waitress from the Avenue here … Emily. No, she’s not hurt, either. Yes. Yeah. Will you pack a suitcase and have it brought in the morning? Thank you, Eric. Relax, I’m fine. We’ll talk later. Bye.”

He hung up and made another call, which I could understand better. He was ordering room service from the hotel reception. As he was done, he went to me again.

“Put this on. You’re freezing, Emily.” He took off his coat and wrapped it around my shoulders. The sudden proximity as he pulled it close around me made me hold my breath. As always, his presence made me slightly nervous. It had been like that always, ever since I met him. I recalled that day vividly. The other waitresses had been on edge, because he was coming by that day. He had a reputation - he was a harsh boss, never hesitant when it came to firing people, and with a very strict way of running his business. There was no room for mistakes, and everybody knew that. If it hadn’t been for my desperate financial situation, I wouldn’t have applied for the job. But here I was, and I hadn’t been fired yet. As I tried to calm myself, shaking on the hotel bed, I wondered if this was the time to quit. The strange events of tonight had scared the hell out of me.

( ... )

“You have to be very thorough with the cleaning. The boss is coming by today, he hates it if things aren’t cleaned properly.” Janine said as she showed me exactly how to polish the glass. It was my first day at “the Avenue” - a café-slash-restaurant-slash-bar just like the thirty others from the chain that was spread across New York - and I was wondering exactly how I got here. I had a degree from university, god damn it. And here I am, taking instructions in how to clean a fucking glass. Behind a fucking bar. My life is a joke.

“Are you listening? Honestly, Emily, are you taking this seriously at all?” Janine scolded. I nodded and tried to smile, but my daydreaming of some better place was getting the better of me.

“Sorry. I get easily distracted. But I think I got it.”

“I hope so. He will fire you if he isn’t pleased. He’s a great boss-” She paused and feigned a smile although her face was filled with contempt. “- he just likes things a certain way.”

“I’m sure I got it. Thanks.”

“I hope so. Now, as I said before, the café opens at 10 o’clock and the restaurant opens at 4 PM. After 9 PM, it’s the bar. Your shifts will vary, and you’ll get to try all of it. If we’re keeping you, that is-” She babbled on, and I was trying to listen carefully. I don’t belong here, damn it.

She had left The Avenue a couple of hours later. By then, I had accepted that it was some sort of test. I had never been waitressing before or even handled customers at a store, but this was it. I was alone in the bar, except for the chef in the back and a cleaning lady that was cleaning mr. Waltz’ office at the moment. That was his name, apparently. He was of somewhat foreign origin - German? Austrian? I couldn’t remember what Janine had told me, and I didn’t care either. I was going to fail this, I was sure. Janine had been successful in riling me up, and my nerves were on edge. There were no customers at the moment, but I was busying myself cleaning the glasses just like she’d instructed me to. As I polished a margarita glass thoroughly, I squeezed it too hard, and it slipped through my fingers. I had no time to catch it, and it fell to the ground, shattering all over the floor. FUCK. This was it. My one chance of making some money, and I blew it. FUCK. I was angry enough to almost start crying, but I managed to calm myself.

Fuck it. I went through the back of the bar and to the kitchen. If I was going to get fired, at least I needed a free meal.

“Hey. Kane?” Is he really called Kane? What a fucked up name. The blond chef looked out the door and noticed me before smiling hurriedly.

“Hi. Emily, was it Emily? What can I do you for?” He winked cheekily and I suppressed the urge to roll back my eyes.

“Can I have a plate of … uh, whatever you’re doing? There aren’t any guests and-” And I’m about to get fired anyway, so I’m gonna make the most of it.

“Spaghetti napolitana. Sure. Lemme grab a plate, hold on a sec.” Thankfully, he didn’t attempt to flirt again. Not that I had a problem with it, I just had enough on my plate as it was. Being fired and all.

“Thanks. Looks delish.” I smiled at him as I took the plate and sat down in the back area. If there were any customers, I would be able to hear the doorbell from here. Not that it mattered, anyway. I was a goner, and it had to be some very important customers if they were going to interrupt my meal.

As Kane finished up, he went to the table and stood there, relaxing. The meal was delicious, and I paid him my compliments and small talked. The doorbell rang, and he looked at me. “Fuck it”, I mouthed at him and smiled as I took another mouthful. It didn’t take more than a couple of seconds until someone walked in the door behind me and Kane turned a whiter shade than a ghost. His eyes widened, and he straightened up and went back to the kitchen. I turned to see what had made him react like that. For a second, I succumbed to the same instincts that had made Kane scuttle and leave. It was him. The boss. There was not a trace of doubt in my mind. The way he was dressed, the way he held himself, the arrogant way in which he looked at me, as if I was a piece of mess that someone had forgotten at his precious restaurant. I gulped down the mouthful of pasta and wondered if I should stand? Sit? Leave? Until I remembered. I was definitely fired. He didn’t pose a threat. There was nothing that could make this day worse than it already was. As I connected these dots in my mind, I relaxed a lot more, and I went to have another scoop of food.

Apparently, that confused the hell out of the boss. His eyebrows raised and he looked like this was the most peculiar thing that had ever happened to him. He turned to look at his security guy, who in turn just shrugged his shoulders.

“Miss … Emily?” The boss spoke. His voice was deep and smooth, and with a very distinct German accent, even in the shortest of sentences. I nodded and leaned back while I put down my fork and spoon.

“That’s me.” I looked up at him. I could see what people were on about. He had a certain thing about him - somewhat domineering, somewhat arrogant, somewhat … something else that I couldn’t put my finger on. But I was fired, and it didn’t matter.

“I’m just about to leave. It was nice meeting you, Mr. … uh, Waltz.”

He looked even more bewildered than before.

“Excuse me?” “I’m guessing than I’m fired. So, it was nice meeting you. I’ll just grab my stuff and leave.” I arose from the table and brushed my clothes off.

He chuckled, the confusion more present than ever. I sensed that Kane was standing still in the kitchen, and I wondered why.

“I’m sorry, Miss, but why - I’m at a loss here - what do you mean?”

“It’s no problem, really. Janine told me how things are done here. And I dropped a glass.” I put on my coat and zipped it closed.

“You … dropped a glass?” He looked like I was speaking Russian to him. His face was one giant question mark.

“It shattered on the floor out in the bar. Didn’t you notice when you came in?” I flinged my purse on my shoulder. All set and ready to go.

He moved a bit closer, and I could, once again, see why people were so fearful of him. His movements were slow, calculated, and in control. One didn’t see things like that every day. Imagine having a boss that moves like that. I’d be terrified all of the time.

“I’m … I’m not following?” He held out his arms as if to catch an explanation from mid-air.

“It’s nothing. Janine told me you have some very specific standards. And I’m totally cool with that, I really am! It’s cool. Everyone should have standards. But I dropped a glass, and I’m pretty sure that’s reason enough to fire me.”

“Says … who?” He looked to his security guy again, as if he had the answer.

“It’s cool, really. It is! I’ll just be on my way. Have a nice life and all that.”

“Have a nice … life?” He replied. I couldn’t think of a time when I had ever seen someone this confused.

“Yeah. I’ll just - leave, if that’s-” Back to the living off noodles and ketchup. Back to begging food from friends. As I walked past him, my head held high, I was stopped by his touch on my arm.

“Miss Emily. Wait.” I turned to look at him. He wasn’t a whole lot taller than me, and I caught his eyes easily. He had a certain charisma about him. In another world, in another life maybe, he would have been kind of handsome. Kind of attractive. Maybe even someone I would turn my head at. And that’s saying something.

“Why-” He looked like he was choosing his words carefully. “Why on Earth would I fire someone for breaking a glass?”

Now it was my time to be confused.

“Would you … not?”

He burst out laughing. He spread out his arms as if to make his laughter reach wider. The security guy laughed slightly, controlled, as if on cue. I, however, understood nothing.

“Of course I wouldn’t. Did you think I was going to? And on your first day, at that?” The boss kept on chuckling, and I had no idea what to do or how to reply.

“But … Janine, she said-”

His chuckle changed back to the hearty laugh from before.

“Ah, Janine. Janine. She never fails to scare my new employees. I’ve gotta hand it to her. She’s something, she really is.” His chuckle wore off, and his face turned serious all of a sudden.

“Unless - you don’t want to work here, miss?” He questioned me, his grimace cool and serious enough to make the hairs on my neck stand up. My demeanor changed completely.

“Oh! I do. Of course I do. I just - I thought that-”

His smile returned. It was kind of handsome. “Welcome to our family, miss Emily.” He stretched out his hand to greet me. Baffled, I took his hand.

( ... )

Desperately, I tugged at the lapels of his cashmere coat to wrap it closer around me. The shock and the cold had gotten the better of me, and I wanted nothing more than to be home. In my own bed. I never wanted to return to the Avenue. Not that I could, anyway, the place had probably been eradicated by the explosion, and I didn’t have a workplace anymore. I knew that he could arrange something else, and that he wouldn’t hesitate in doing so. After all, I was one of his best employees. But this wasn’t normal. This was something else. This was dangerous. I wanted to call a cab and get the hell away from here, but my phone was in my purse. Which was gone, along with the restaurant.

“C-c-c-can I please call a cab, Sir?” I stuttered as I shook with the cold.

He was sitting in a large arm chair across the room, plotting something into his phone.

“Sorry, what?”

“A c-c-c-cab. I … I want to get home.” Somehow, the words I spoke made me freeze even more. The thought alone of leaving the hotel room was making me cold. Or well, colder.

He put down the phone and went to stand by the bed. Hesitantly, he sat down beside me.

His movements were awkward as he put an arm around my shoulder and rubbed my upper arm slightly. But hey, after all, having to rescue an employee from an exploding restaurant was probably not something one did every day, I thought.

“I would very much like you to stay here, Emily. I don’t think it’s safe out there. Not tonight.”

I felt a lump in my throat and wanted to cry again.

“Why won’t you tell me what happened? Who did this? Why?” My tears and sobs came out along with the words, and he rubbed my arm some more as if to make them disappear.

“I’ll tell you some other time. But you need to relax, and you need to trust me. Can you do that? Emily, look at me.”

My eyes had fallen to my lap, but I looked at him when he asked me to. His eyes were solemn, caring, like the ones of a father trying to comfort his child.

“I don’t know who did this. I really don’t.” He squeezed me slightly.

“But I don’t think it’s safe for you to be alone out there. If you stay with me, you’re safe. Ah-ah-” I had looked away from his eyes, and I promptly looked back at them at his command.

“Do you trust me in this?”

I nodded, although I wasn’t sure. I felt like I could trust him. It was the circumstances surrounding him that I couldn’t trust.

“You’re still shaking.” He said, matter-of-factly.

“I c-c-can’t seem to get w-w-warm again.” I shook and pulled some more at the lapels. My feet felt like stones. I could hardly even wriggle my toes because of the cold.

“Mein Gott, you really are freezing.” He exclaimed. “We’ll have to get you warm. Get under covers.”

Exhausted, I did as he said, and kept the coat around my shoulders. It felt like if I let it go, I was surely going to die of hypothermia. He seemingly didn’t mind and tugged the covers around me. I shook with shock and weariness, and I hated myself for ever having put myself in this situation. For ever having accepted this job.

“Feel better?” He asked. My eyes had already closed, although I was nowhere near warm yet.

“It’s called ‘feeling better’. We say ‘feeling better’ here in the US.”

“So snarky.” He chuckled silently before putting a hand on my shoulder. “Will you be able to sleep like that?”

“Maybe.” I was trying not to shake but my feet and legs felt like chunks of ice. “Still cold. I’m drenched. I should get naked under here. Might help.”

I heard him chuckle slightly while I drifted off in spite of the cold.

( ... )

“Hello? Anyone home?” I heard his characteristic greeting from behind the bar area and went out to greet him back. It was a slow Monday night, and I had been alone at work for a long time now. The last guest had went two hours ago, and although we were closed, I was now busying myself with cleaning the glasses and rearranging the bottles. Unlike a lot of my coworkers, I was neither afraid of him nor the way that he wanted things to be. And like that, I had already been employed for several months. To say that I was proud would be an understatement. Yet, I still wanted to do things much the same way that he did. I could tell it was appreciated.

“Over here, mr. Waltz.” I waved at him and he raised his head in return, a great smile on his face. As always, he was impeccably dressed. Black button-down shirt, black trousers and a beige woolen coat. Although he was my boss and also a lot older than me, I couldn’t help but appreciate the way he looked. The fact that he was always kind to me - or well, kinder than he was toward my colleagues - also made it easy to work here.

“Evening, darling. How are you?” He asked as he put his briefcase on the counter and sat on one of the stools. His eyes were fixated on the iPhone in his hand, as always. He never seemed to relax, but that’s business life for you, I guess.

“I’m well, thanks. And you, Sir?”

He didn’t reply at first, but furrowed his brows at something on the phone. After a couple of seconds, he looked up and smiled, hurriedly.

“Very well, thank you, miss Emily. Oh-” The phone rang silently in his hand and he made a gesture to excuse himself. “-have to take this. Moment.” He spoke the last word in German. Thankfully, I had worked enough time here to understand him.

With a wave of his hand, he excused himself and went past me to the kitchen. It didn’t take more than half a minute before I heard him come back to the counter.

“We need to leave. Now. Follow me.” He said. The urgency in his eyes told me I had no choice.

( ... )

“Emily. Emily! Wake up! Emily, darling, open your eyes. Wake up!”

I felt him grabbing my upper arms and pulling me out of the roaring inferno that I was caught in. I could see nothing but fire, feel nothing but fire, as the flames licked along my limbs, searing my flesh and burning me up as they consumed me. I screamed long and hard as the pain subsided, because I knew that death has come. I didn’t want to die. I hated my life, yes, but I didn’t want to die. Not yet. The thing that confused me the most was that I heard his voice from the darkness that had already replaced the fire. Had he died too?

“Emily. Sssscchhh.” His voice was deep and soothing, and his arms rocked me back and forth in the darkness. I felt coolness creeping up my limbs and I welcomed it, even though I feared this … heaven or hell or whatever death was.

“Open your eyes.” My eyes already are open?

“Open your eyes, Emily.” Oh. They aren’t.

Slowly, steadily, I began to watch contours forming in the dark. There was a desk and a chair, a bedside table, a lamp, my covers thrown on the floor, and … him. I was in his arms. He was rocking me back and forth, like a baby.

“You had a bad dream. You screamed so loud, I think the entire hotel heard you.” He said as he subsided the rocking motion. The hotel. The sleeping. I’m not dead.

“Oh my God …” The relief washed over me, and I began to cry. He wrapped his arms closer and began comforting me again.

“I thought I had died.” I sniffled in between sobs. My head was pressed against his chest as he stroked my cheek with one hand and held me steady with the other.

“You didn’t. We got out. … we got out.” I sensed that the final sentence was mostly spoken to himself. I remembered tonight’s events and what had made me have nightmares in the first place. Why shouldn’t he feel the same way?

“We got out.” I sat up in the bed and discarded the coat I had fallen asleep in. Moving back from him, I could see the contours of his face. He had that same small smile as always, and yet, something about him had changed. He looked saddened, and it felt as though the explosion wasn’t the reason.

“Thank you, mr. Waltz. For waking me up. For … saving me. And all that.”

He laid his hand on top of my own while he smiled. It was a strange, sweet gesture, and yet, I didn’t mind.

He didn’t reply until a moment later when I had gotten under covers again. My eyes had already closed shut as I heard him speak.

“Christoph. You can call me Christoph.”

#christoph waltz fanfiction #the wolf #christoph waltz fan fiction

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brittanythescrivener · 6 years ago

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Love Like White Lightning - Inglourious Basterds - Chapter One

1947

Inside the brick red clapboard-clad colonial located at 44 Fair Street, Nantucket, Hans Landa nervously paced the floor of his study. He stopped to stare out the window and realized that the sun had already set, and that meant he’d spent the better part of eight hours waiting for his telephone to ring.

His stomach had twisted into knots, and he was jittery despite not being able to bring himself to drink even a single cup of coffee since early that morning. Hans Landa was normally as unflappable as they came, but the events of the past several days had virtually turned his life upside down.

Hans let out a defeated sigh as his gaze fell onto the black telephone sitting idly on the desk in front of him. He fought the urge to hurl the phone through the window and turned his attention to the garden just outside.

Harvest was in full swing, and he had found himself with a bounty of fruits and vegetables that he had cultivated with his own two hands. Hans was quite proud of what he’d done—only just the year before, he somehow managed to kill every single plant in the garden. Since his arrival on the island almost two years before, gardening had become one of his favorite ways to unwind. He had been a bit of a recluse from the moment he set foot on American soil. Hans was painfully self-conscious about the offensive scar on his forehead, and everywhere he went, he was met with judging stares. He locked himself away in his house, read books, and drank alone for months until he realized he needed to get his life together and make lemonade with lemons so to speak.

Hans joined many of the social clubs on the island and soon found himself surrounded with friends who shared his interests in literature, languages, and gourmet dining. He had somehow made all of them believe that he was an innocent victim, having had the swastika carved into his face by a group of young men upon his arrival in the States.

It was at a meeting of the local literary club that Hans was introduced to a young writer named Charlotte Redman. She was an auburn-haired beauty with creamy, freckled skin and soft brown eyes. She spoke with a slow, Southern lilt that always seemed to put him at ease. She was nearly twenty years his junior, but it came as no surprise when nine months later, he realized he was entirely smitten. He asked for her hand in marriage not long later. At nearly fifty, Hans was ecstatic that he had finally found someone to share his life with.

He was supposed to marry Charlotte at the Old South Church that late summer day, joined by nearly one hundred of their closest family, friends, and colleagues.

The telephone jingled loudly, jolting Hans back into the present. He immediately grabbed the receiver and barked out an impatient greeting.

“Mr. Landa, this is Sergeant Morris.” Morris spoke with a heavy Boston accent, something Hans often struggled with. “We went out to Miss Redman’s house and found everything to be in order.”

“Everything can’t be in order! She is missing, gone, nowhere to be found! I haven’t seen her in two days.”

“Her roommate says she packed a suitcase and left in her car on Thursday morning. Didn’t say where she was going.”

“That can’t be true! We are supposed to be married in one hour!” Hans spat.

“Listen, Mr. Landa, maybe she got cold feet, you know?”

Hans raked a hand through his hair. He dropped into the overstuffed chair behind his desk and slumped back. “So that’s it? She’s gone, but you have no idea where she went?”

“Sorry,” the Sergeant said.

“Thank you,” Hans said before dropping the phone back onto the cradle.

He knew why she might have gone, but he had no idea where.

...

One thousand miles southwest of Nantucket, Charlotte Redman crossed the border into Tennessee behind the wheel of her 1946 Chevy Fleetmaster.

Chapter Two

#inglorious basterds #Inglourious Basterds #Colonel Hans Landa #col hans landa #hans landa #original character #love like white lightning #fan fiction #fanfic #christoph waltz

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gaiamakesitshin · 3 years ago

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Movie No Time To Die thoughts:

I loved the movie. So touching, great action, heartbreaking and warming. Daniel Craig is magnificent!

If in the next movie Paloma and Nomi are not back I will explode💥. 💣🤯

Christopher Waltz: I go crazy for him. He has a way of portraying villains that is out of this world!

In my mind and in fan-fiction Mathilde Bond grows up and becomes an Agent of Spectre! She bites like hell! 😲 and also she takes that trait from her father! She will carry on his legacy😀. Madelaine will never forget her so hot lover <3 🤤😍

#no time to die movie #ana de armas #lashana lynch #fanfiction #007

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starwarsnonsense · 5 years ago

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Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2020

Now I’ve got my embarrassingly late ‘Best of 2019′ list out of the way, I can finally proceed to the list that’s probably more exciting - my most anticipated films of 2020!

This list excludes films that have already been screened at festivals (otherwise, stuff like Saint Maud would be here). It’s also somewhat analogous to groping about for a light switch in the dark - these lists very rarely accurately predict my ultimate favourites for the year, so it’s more of a fun speculative exercise. Hopefully this puts some intriguing-looking films on your radar for the year ahead!

1. Dune (dir. Denis Villeneuve)

Plot: The story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people.

Why be excited? The reasons to be excited about Dune should be pretty self-evident - it’s directed by one of the greatest filmmakers working today (Villeneuve’s Incendies and Blade Runner 2049 are all-timers for me), and is based on one of the best science-fiction novels ever written. The cast - Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling, and more - is absolutely stacked with talent. There’s every reason to believe that this will be something special, and I couldn’t be more pleased that Villeneuve is the man responsible for filling that Star Wars-shaped hole in the December release schedule.

2. Annette (dir. Leos Carax)

Plot: A stand-up comedian (Adam Driver), and his opera singer wife (Marion Cotillard), have a two-year-old daughter with a surprising gift.

Why be excited? You may not have heard of him, but Leos Carax is one of the most exciting directors working - he only makes around one film a decade, but the films he does make tend to be very special. I’ve only seen one film of his - Lovers on the Bridge - but that was filled with such ecstatic romance and wondrous visuals that it made me tremendously excited for Annette. Annette is a top-to-bottom musical with songs by American duo Sparks (if you know them for anything, it will be ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us’), and said songs will be delivered by Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. It goes without saying that both actors are extremely talented performers with great voices (see Driver in Marriage Story and Cotillard in Nine for evidence), and I’m looking forward to seeing how they demonstrate their talents here.

3. Last Night in Solo (dir. Edgar Wright)

Plot: A young girl (Thomasin McKenzie), passionate in fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer (Anya Taylor-Joy). But 1960s London is not what it seems, and time seems to fall apart with shady consequences.

Why be excited? I’m not the biggest Edgar Wright fan, but I admire him greatly and the premise of Last Night in Soho is like cat-nip to me. Speaking to Empire, Wright explained the story as follows: “I’m taking a premise whereby you have a character who, in a sort of abstract way, gets to travel in time. And the reality of the decade is maybe not what she imagines. It has an element of ‘be careful what you wish for’.” I’m a sucker for a good, old-fashioned high concept, especially when said films play with genre and really challenge the viewer. The two female leads - Thomasin McKenzie (JoJo Rabbit, Leave No Trace) and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, Emma) - are among the very best young actors working today, and the supporting cast features absolute legends such as Diana Rigg and Terence Stamp. Whether it’s successful or not, this film feels like a genuinely original prospect and I’m eager to see how it turns out.

4. The Green Knight (dir. David Lowery)

Plot: A fantasy re-telling of the medieval tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Why be excited? There has been a sad lack of films based on mythology in recent years - or, to be more accurate, there has been a sad lack of films that attempt to honour what the myths were actually trying to convey. The stunning trailer for Green Knight promises a film that genuinely engages with its source material, and is just as interested in the psychological truths of the tale as the spectacle of its fantastical scenarios. Dev Patel is an extremely talented actor coming off another great movie in The Personal History of David Copperfield, and the supporting cast (Alicia Vikander!) appear to be fully committed to their parts. I’m excited to see a true myth on the big screen again, and David Lowery (A Ghost Story, The Old Man & The Gun) can be trusted to give an old tale a new sense of vitality.

5. The French Dispatch (dir. Wes Anderson)

Plot: The staff of a European publication decides to publish a memorial edition highlighting the three best stories from the last decade: an artist sentenced to life imprisonment, student riots, and a kidnapping resolved by a chef.

Why be excited? It’s a Wes Anderson movie! Of course I’m excited! In all seriousness, the trailer was all I needed to get hyped about this. It’s clearly Anderson’s quintessential style, but it also shows flashes of some very bold and striking compositions (yes, I’m thinking of Chalamet on the back of that motorcycle) that you wouldn’t necessarily think of in relation to him. I’m intrigued by the prospect of there being stories nested within a story, which feels like the perfect choice for the structure of a film about a newspaper. The cast features all of Anderson’s old favourites (Swinton! Murray! McDormand!), as well as some exciting new additions (Timothée Chalamet, Elisabeth Moss, Christoph Waltz, among others) that feel so well-suited to his style it’s surprising they haven’t worked together before. Bring on all those immaculately composed shots and exquisite colour palettes.

6. Tenet (dir. Christopher Nolan)

Plot: Unknown. The project is described as an action epic revolving around international espionage.

Why be excited? I hate to sound repetitive, but ... it’s a Christopher Nolan movie. That alone is enough to be hyped about this. Details of the plot are vague for now, but the teaser suggests the sort of intelligent, high-concept film-making we’ve come to expect from Nolan. John David Washington - who impressed in BlacKkKlansman - is a great choice for the lead, and I also love that Tenet will feature Robert Pattinson and Elizabeth Debicki (among my favourite actors) in prominent roles. There’s not much else to say given how little we know about this, but suffice to say I’ll be there on day one!

7. Wonder Woman 1984 (dir. Patty Jenkins)

Plot: Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) comes into conflict with the Soviet Union during the Cold War in the 1980s and finds a formidable foe by the name of the Cheetah (Kristen Wiig).

Why be excited? The original Wonder Woman was an absolute delight, and I couldn’t be more pleased that Patty Jenkins is back to continue Diana’s story. The decision to pick up with Diana in the 1980s is most intriguing (and paves the way for all kinds of exciting choices when it comes to the music and the fashions), especially since it looks like the film is actually going to explore the implications of being an immortal being in a mortal world.

8. Raya and the Last Dragon (dir. Paul Briggs and Dean Wellins)

Plot: A lone warrior from the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra teams up with a crew of misfits in her quest to find the Last Dragon and bring light and unity back to their world.

Why be excited? The animation scene in 2020 looks kind of ... blah at the moment, with the notable exception of Raya and the Last Dragon. The setting was described by the film’s producer as "a reimagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization that venerated the mythical dragons for their power and their wisdom”, and that alone is enough to fire up my imagination. Off the back of Moana and the Frozen films (which I all unabashedly love), I trust Disney Animation to instil this with plenty of colour and verve.

9. I’m Thinking of Ending Things (dir. Charlie Kaufman)

Plot: An unexpected detour turns a couple’s road trip into a terrifying journey through their fragile psyches.

Why be excited? Directed by Charlie Kaufman (writer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), I’m Thinking of Ending Things is based on a prize-winning novel. However, despite the pedigree the main reason I’m looking forward to this is Jessie Buckley. Buckley gave a star-making performance in Beast a few years ago, and has since proven herself an actor of immense talent and skill (see Wild Rose for proof of what a powerhouse she is). I’m excited to see her career continue to go from strength to strength, and I’m Thinking of Ending Things seems poised to be a great showcase for her.

10. The Last Duel (dir. Ridley Scott)

Plot: King Charles VI declares that Knight Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) settle his dispute with his squire (Adam Driver) by challenging him to a duel.

Why be excited? Ridley Scott is a bit of a mixed bag for me, and has never come close to reaching the heights of Alien and Blade Runner with his recent work. Nonetheless, against my better judgement I can’t help but be excited by the prospect of a medieval epic with Scott at the helm. The acting talent attached to The Last Duel is top-notch, and I’m particularly fond of Jodie Comer (of Killing Eve fame) and Adam Driver (do you really need me to say more?). There’s a very real danger of the highly sensitive plot (the ‘dispute’ at the heart of the story concerns an accusation of rape, the truth of which is to be determined with a duel) being mishandled by Scott, but the involvement of screenwriter Nicole Holofcener gives me some hope. This could turn out to be a misfire, but my hope is that it will, at the very least, be interesting.

#dune #annette #last night in soho #green knight #the french dispatch #timothee chalamet #Adam driver #jessie buckley #the last duel #i'm thinking of ending things #raya and the last dragon #wonder woman 1984 #tenet #films #2020 in film #cinema

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justsomeoneunordinary · 4 years ago

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what type of house do you live in?

sesil, is that you? i'm pretty sure it's you, i just saw you being online. i could be wrong, but only you are nuts enough to spam ask me on anon...

anyway, i'm gonna answer all the asks you sent in one go:

47. what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc)

flat, and a rather big one - 3 and a half rooms. (it's my mum's tho, i def wouldn't have the money for it.)

10. how would you describe your style?

uhm... baggy? dark definitely, sometimes punk when i feel like it but rarely full-on punk, my shirts all must be large, a little bit boho in summer cause i like tunics when it's hot, geeky for sure with all my merch... idk. very mixed but dark and large is my usual go-to

14. if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why?

honestly, i'm a big scandinavia fan. first of all, it's much colder there hell yeah, and secondly, their politics, life generally for literally everyone is just so much better. sure not perfect, bc nowhere it is, but damn fucking good. probably iceland or finland - those are my personal faves.

however i am 1, too lazy to learn another completely different language (and i def don't wanna be one of those "everyone speaks english anyway nowadays, so why should i learn the language" ignorant asses) and 2, i actually still like switzerland too much to actually leave, even tho the mentality here sometimes puts me in full rage.

33. favorite actor? & 34. favorite actress?

hm... i actually don't have that? sometimes i admire certain actors in certain roles specifically but that doesn't make them my favorite. absolutely loved sir anthony hopkins as hannibal lecter (ok, i'm a big fan of him anyway, he does an awesome job in acting), also love christopher waltz as landa in inglorious basterds, am generally a big fan of uma thurman, fell in love with teyonah parris as monica rambeau... idk. i just sometimes notice a role that's damn well done but that rarely makes me a fan of the actor, cause often times when i see them in a different role it just doesn't really click anymore...

35. who is your celebrity crush?

haven't had that since i was 17 or so, so definitely no one.

36. favorite movie?

i always find it difficult to pin one favorite down but if i think abt which film i watched the most it must be either the mummy (1999) or pulp fiction :)

send me asks!

#thanks for sending ♡#anon #may answers

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phantomofthepairofdice · 4 years ago

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The Rosscars 2020

Wow. It’s that time of year again, only this time it’s different because it’s on a blog that no one will read! (hold for applause) Welcome to the first annual online publication for the Rosscars (hold for applause while the reader acknowledges how positively droll it is that I combined my name with “Oscars”). Who can forget such indelible Rosscar memories like when Steven Soderbergh surprised us all and won Best Director for Out of Sight or Bill Irwin’s beautiful speech upon winning Best Supporting Actor for Rachel Getting Married?! The Rosscars mean something different to everyone, but we all know that they mean quality choices made by a committee of one schmuck. This year’s Rosscars are bizarre because in an effort to be more like the Academy guidelines, film’s nominated have been released between January 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021. As usual, theatrical windows be damned, streamers are welcome. Of course, I have my gripes. I like categorizing movies by release year – specifically, when they become available to the plain old public like yours truly – not at festivals, limited runs in NYC and LA. Well, the Oscars are still weeks away and I feel like everybody wants to forget about last year and move onto this one that we’re already three months into - So here are my awards for the films, performers, and craftspeople that stood out in a pretty exceptional year for movies even though distribution was stranger than ever.

**A few caveats and guidelines to Rosscar newcomers (which I imagine is just a formality since we all know the Rosscars so well)**

The rules and categories are a little different around here. First, not every category is honored directly. That’s for a few reasons, chiefly that I don’t feel qualified to reward the technical categories properly – I suppose I should say that I feel less qualified to do so than the “above the line” categories. In keeping with the Academy standard, there are five nominees in each category, except for Best Picture, Best Non-Fiction/Documentary Feature, and Best Ensemble Cast which allow up to ten. Every category, save those three, will have the possibility of honorable mentions, because I want to highlight some things that just barely missed the cut. The narrowing down of a lot of these categories was awfully tough.

Nominees are listed alphabetically, and the winners are in bold and italics.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that I couldn’t see everything (this isn’t a job and it’s still $20 to rent The Father, y’all) and that these are just the opinions of one (self-described) “bozo on the internet.” If you’re a reader and have different picks, feel free to share!

Special Commendations for some things that I want to recognize: • Ludwig Goransson for his Tenet score which is an absolute banger • The costumes of Emma. (Alexandra Byrne), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Ann Roth), and Small Axe (Jaqueline Durran, Sinéad Kidao, and Lisa Duncan) all struck me as exceptional • Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross with their scores for both Soul and Mank. Crazy that Pixar is working with the guy who made “Closer” • The cinematography of Da 5 Bloods (Newton Thomas Sigel), First Cow (Christopher Blauvelt), Beanpole (Kseniya Sereda), and A White, White Day (Maria von Hausswolff)

The Rosscars red carpet was, as usual, a bizarre affair. People filed into the theater and it seemed like the only encounters were awkward ones. Vin Diesel showed up in character as Bloodshot, Aaron Sorkin started getting really verbose about what a lovely night it was, and it became clear that most of the celebrities in attendance didn’t read their invitations closely enough to realize that this was not, in fact, the Academy Awards.

Everyone’s seated, and the show is under way. After a medley about the nominees this year by Common and Seth McFarlane that was more corny but clever than it was funny, the first official category is here, and the presenter is none other than... Ross!

Best Supporting Actor:

1. Chadwick Boseman for Da 5 Bloods

2. Matthew Macfadyen for The Assistant

3. Jesse Plemmons for Judas and the Black Messiah

4. Paul Raci for Sound of Metal

5. Glynn Turman for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Honorable Mentions:

• Lucas Hedges for Let Them All Talk

• Orion Lee for First Cow

• Bill Murray for On the Rocks

Best Supporting Actress:

1. Vanessa Bayer for Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

2. Candice Bergen for Let Them All Talk

3. Gina Rodriguez for Kajillionaire

4. Amanda Seyfried for Mank

5. Yuon Yuh-jung for Minari

Honorable Mentions:

• Jane Adams for She Dies Tomorrow

• Charin Alvarez for Saint Frances

• Talia Ryder for Never Rarely Sometimes Always

• Debra Winger for Kajillionaire

Everyone loves a montage. The audience gets comfortable in their seats as the video screens start to show a montage of some of the most famous moments from Hollywood’s most magical movies. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers waltz, gliding across a dance floor like two hovering angels. There’s a clip of Leo declaring himself king of the world in Titanic, the flying bicycles in ET, Bogart stares longingly into Bacall’s eyes, and then there’s some scene where Tom Cruise rides a motorcycle from 2010′s Knight and Day. The audience all seems confused how that last one got in there. The John Williams music swells as little Kevin McAllister screams when puts on aftershave. We see clips of Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver, Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia embrace Harrison Ford’s Han Solo, Bruce Lee smoothly declares that boards don’t hit back and... wait... was that a clip from Michel Gondry’s Green Hornet with Seth Rogen? And that’s a clip from What Happens in Vegas... Bad Teacher... Vanilla Sky... Shrek 2... Any Given Sunday... Everyone is flummoxed. The last clip fades out and a sole editing credit appears: Cameron Diaz. The lights come up and there’s some applause, but mostly confused murmurs.

The ceremony has had a bit of a misstep, but nothing it can’t recover from, especially as the next category is announced over the PA, and it looks like the presenter is... Ross!

Best Ensemble Cast:

1. Bacurau

2. Da 5 Bloods

3. Kajillionaire

4. Let Them All Talk

5. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

6. Minari

7. Nomadland

8. Pieces of a Woman

9. Small Axe

Best Original Screenplay:

1. Danny Bilson and Paul Dameo & Spike Lee and Kevin Wilmott for Da 5 Bloods

2. Lee Isaac Chung for Minari

3. Brandon Cronenberg for Possessor

4. Sean Durkin for The Nest

5. Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles for Bacurau

Honorable Mentions – a very difficult task to weed this down to five.

• Shaka King and Will Berson for Judas and the Black Messiah, from a story by Kenny and Keith Lucas

• Steve McQueen, Alastair Siddons, and Courttia Newland for Small Axe

• Kelly O'Sullivan for Saint Frances

• Thomas Vinterberg and Tobias Lindholm for Another Round

Best Actor:

1. Ben Affleck for The Way Back

2. Chadwick Boseman for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

3. Delroy Lindo for Da 5 Bloods

4. John Magaro for First Cow

5. Mads Mikkelsen for Another Round

Honorable Mentions:

• Riz Ahmed for Sound of Metal

• John Boyega for Small Axe

• Daniel Kaluuya for Judas and the Black Messiah

• Hugh Jackman for Bad Education

• Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson for A White, White Day

We have a break in the action and it looks like Darius Rucker has showed up to perform what he would have nominated for Best Original Song. The crowd is absolutely furious as he starts playing a song that apparently was in Trial of the Chicago Seven. An ocean of sonorous boos and curses overtakes the the once docile crowd. The Rock just ripped his chair from out of the ground. Jane Lynch somehow smuggled in a civil war era flintlock pistol that she’s now pointing at the stage! Suddenly, the crowd unifies around what started as a confident chant of one lone audience member - John C Reilly. It’s growing... Ja Ja Ding Dong, Ja Ja Ding Dong, Ja Ja Ding Dong - it’s like the macabre circus performers from Tod Browning’s Freaks, but instead of chanting “Gooble Gobble” they’re clearly pining for Darius to change his tune to the silly and delightful jam from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Darius, scared for his life, leaves the stage, but here come Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams to deliver the goods. Busy Philips and Michelle Williams burst into tears. Tom Hanks nods in approval. A segment saved by brave artists placating a toxic group of fans... we’ve just witnessed a live version of the Snyder Cut, folks.

Jack Nicholson seems completely unfazed, giving a thumbs up to the camera and blowing a kiss to the next presenter. Coming to the stage is... Ross... again...

Best Actress:

1. Jessie Buckley for i’m thinking of ending things

2. Carrie Coon for The Nest

3. Han Ye-ri for Minari

4. Sidney Flanagan for Never Rarely Sometimes Always

5. Vasilisa Perelygina for Beanpole

Honorable Mentions – these cuts were especially painful

• Haley Bennet for Swallow

• Morfydd Clark for Saint Maud

• Frances McDormand for Nomadland

• Christin Milioti for Palm Springs

• Geraldine Viswanathan for Bad Education

Best Adapted Screenplay:

1. Charlie Kaufman for i'm thinking of ending things from Iain Reed's novel

2. Sarah Gubbins for Shirley from Susan Scarf Merrell's novel

3. Kelly Reichardt and John Raymond for First Cow

4. Simon Rich for American Pickle from his short story "Sell Out"

5. Mike Makowsky for Bad Education from Robert Kolker's "The Bad Superintendent"

Best Non-Fiction/Documentary Feature:

1. Boys State

2. Collective

3. David Byrne’s American Utopia

4. Dick Johnson is Dead

5. Feels Good Man

6. In & Of Itself

7. The Painter and the Thief

8. Time

Jimmy Fallon has come out on stage to do a bit about the pandemic and watching movies at home. People are just absolutely not having it. He tries not to laugh at his own jokes while doing what I guess is technically a pretty good impression of Dr. Fauci interviewing James Corden as Martin Scorsese (the less said of this impression, the better) on what is or isn’t cinema. The bit doesn’t track and Fallon is absolutely tanking. The producers cut away from the stage to spare the viewers at home from this monstrosity. We see crowd shots of Millie Bobby Brown shaking her head in dismay, Colin Firth is simultaneously grimacing and trying to stave off laughter, Cynthia Erivo is texting, and director Tom Hooper is taking notes for his next film. Corden yells, “Carpool Karaoke! Remember?!” Ron Howard has fainted. This thing is almost completely off the rails.

Coming back to the stage is the next presenter, a clearly embarrassed... Ross! He’s in a total flop sweat, but stumbles his way through a joke about how Fallon should try co-hosting the Oscars with James Franco sometime. There are scant chuckles throughout a crowd that mostly just wants to see who won and go home.

Best Director:

1. Christopher Nolan for Tenet

2. Spike Lee for Da 5 Bloods

3. Steve McQueen for Small Axe

4. Kelly Reichardt for First Cow

5. Chloé Zhao for Nomadland

Honorable Mentions:

• Kitty Green for The Assistant

• Eliza Hittman for Never Rarely Sometimes Always

• Charlie Kaufman for i'm thinking of ending things

• Thomas Vinterberg for Another Round

Best Picture

1. Bacurau

2. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

3. Da 5 Bloods

4. First Cow

5. i'm thinking of ending things

6. Judas and the Black Messiah

7. Never Rarely Sometimes Always

8. Nomadland

9. Small Axe

10. Tenet

Accepting the award for best picture is none other than Eve, the cow actor who played the titular First Cow! The audience is enamored with how graceful she looks in her cow gown, and her speech, though indecipherable, is likely simple, observational, and deeply profound for those who speak cow.

Wow, what a ceremony! Hearts were broken, property was damaged, dreams were fulfilled... blood was shed? Damn it, Meryl Streep came in and mugged Charlie Kaufman before absconding with the trophy. Oddly, she’s a previous winner, so the attack isn’t out of need for hardware. People are reading through articles about production on Adaptation for potential motives. Streep made time for a photo opportunity, but remains at large.

I could go on ad infinitum about all of these nominees and winners themselves and why they did or didn’t make the cut, but that’d be better served in a different piece. For now, my thoughts on most of these can be found on the Best of 2020 write-up and over on my Letterboxd. And, as always, these awards can be revoked and redistributed at will, so don’t get too cozy with that statue, Danny Bilson!

On behalf of the RAOGL (Rosscars Association of One Guy at a Laptop), thanks for reading, and stay tuned as we’re establishing a tip line for anyone has seen Ms. Streep or her stolen valor Rosscar. We’ll see you next year. Keep watching movies, and keep arbitrarily quantifying them in terms of subjective quality!

#awards #movies #film #Rosscars

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themovieblogonline · 8 months ago

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All of the Winners From the 2024 Oscars

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movienotesbyzawmer · 5 years ago

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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

I mostly like Quentin Tarantino's movies, but when I saw this in the theater I considered it one of his worst. But I still liked some stuff about it. I liked the thick atmosphere of late-sixties Los Angeles, and I liked Leonardo DiCaprio's character's arc & his performance, and I liked some of the playful touches, even though some of them feel indulgent. "Indulgence" is a big concern when it comes to evaluating QT's movies. Sometimes his indulgences are charming and sometimes not so much. I'm kind of hoping a second viewing will make me like this movie a bit more. Okay, here goes…

Vintage Columbia logo. That kind of thing always works well on me.

First five minutes or so are cinematic in a familiar way, not much to note. But at about 0:06:15 there's a jarring little interruption where a narrator tells us LD just lied. The only moment of narration at all.

Then Al Pacino is reflecting on some of the movies he's been watching, and we see some clips. They look kind of vintage, but also kind of Tarantino-y. Like, that scene where LD torches Nazis doesn't actually look like it could be from the 60s.

"Bounty Law! Starring Rick Dalton!" Then a cut to a dorky TV musical sketch. Kind of funny. Not subtle. I love that announcer voice that says "Bounty Law!"

One thing that often works well in QT movies is when he has an actor deliver, and savor delivering, a weighty minute or so of dialogue that really sets up a situation. Think Christopher Walken's monologue in Pulp Fiction or the first scene with Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds. This AP conversation where he talks to LD about where to take his career is like a mini version of one of those but doesn't last as long.

0:15:10 - First really nice period shot of LA. Very nice to look at.

I think the intended audience for this movie knows details about the Manson murders that most moviegoers don't actually know. For example, the ominous close-up of the sign for Cielo Drive. I don't think it's a mistake; I think he's knowingly alienating some viewers so he can give a better experience to those who do know about them. So I can't imagine recommending this movie without also strongly suggesting studying the Manson murders first.

Brad Pitt speeds down a boulevard in West Hollywood, a filming location which has been very lovingly decorated in the style of the period. The production design of this movie was rightly heralded.

Sequence with BP in his trailer making dinner for himself and his dog. Vivid; at one point they cut to a closeup of a pinup poster. Doesn't seem to be a reason for that except for "I'm Quentin Tarantino and I do whatever I feel like". Indulgent, is what I'm saying.

Also indulgent is this minute we're spending watching Roman Polanski drive to this party at the Playboy mansion.

I don't remember noticing this before, but that's Damian Lewis playing Steve McQueen and that's kind of perfect.

Scene where Kurt Russell is telling LD that BP has a creepy vibe and killed his wife, then we cut abruptly to apparently a scene of BP having a mundane argument with his wife maybe… okay, leaves the audience wanting more info, but maybe in kind of an irritating way.

Now this scene with Bruce Lee holding forth. Bruce Lee probably didn't generally speak in arrogant, bullying Quentin Tarantino monologues. Entertaining scene though.

But the left-me-wanting conversation from the previous scene helps this scene with Bruce Lee be more tense. Also the not-ringing-true snottiness of Bruce Lee makes it funny how that fight goes down.

0:52:30 - Okay, LD is in costume as a bad guy on a show, and he's got the long hippy hair that was spoken of in the AP scene. Just saying, I like that it was described and now we're seeing what I'd pictured.

And now this memorable conversation between LD and the little girl actress. The kid acts so grown up. This could have failed because of course no eight year old talks like this girl. But this scene is awesome. And without movies by QT, there aren't scenes like this.

Now Margot Robbie. We've seen her in a few scenes so far as Sharon Tate, but she's only been depicted as a dancing starlet bopping around town. For those of us that know she's a Manson victim, it works in a certain way. But does it work otherwise?

Okay, this is a peculiar part of the movie, it's pretty fun but kind of insider-y. LD is talking about being in the running for Steve McQueen's role in The Great Escape, and they edit in some outstanding CGI scenes of LD in the actual movie of The Great Escape. Playful, but just a weird bit of color…

…but then here's this next scene where MR, playing Sharon Tate, happens upon a cinema playing a movie she's in, and after a leisurely-paced interaction with the cinema workers, she goes in and watches the movie. Unlike the CGI trickery demonstrated in the last scene with LD, we watch actual Sharon Tate on screen. MR is visibly delighted to see "herself", and to hear the audience reacting to her performance. It all works, maybe more in spite of than because of QT's ever-present choice-broadcasting (which is also why we get a good look at MR's feet in this scene).

This is followed immediately by the sequence of the TV show LD is shooting. More playful indulgence. We see the scene edited as it probably would have been edited in 1969, but shot with modern cinematography, and interrupted by LD calling for his line, then backing up and redoing some of the scene. Can it be justified beyond just the undeniable fact that it's pretty interesting? Maybe that's enough. Maybe I'm being a snob, but also, what, was I not supposed to acknowledge it at least?

Stuff now starting with BP picking up Margaret Qualley's dirty hippy flirty cultist character. Before she even has any lines, the screen is practically bulging from the force of MQ's personality. It's entertaining.

1:28:30 - More of the TV show. We get to see LD's character be a good actor, and impress the director and the kid actor, which touches him, it's nice.

It's an hour and 38 minutes into the movie, and now we're to the scene on Spahn's Movie Ranch. I'm already thinking that by now we should be deeper into some kind of story than we are, and now this scene that I remember vividly. Not totally in a bad way, but for all the good things about it, it is stretched way out. Suspense is built up, skillfully, but without the kind of payoff we'd probably like. I mean, it's like a horror movie, with the rat squirming in the trap and the tense music and the "HE MAY BE TIRED" line from Dakota Fanning, but then it's back to not being a horror movie….

…in fact, it's on to this charismatic-tough-guy scene that feels Pulp-Fiction-y. Our MINDS are BLOWN that he hit the guy so hard and made the cultists so mad, it's a fantasy come to life, but just in a movie!!! This stuff is long, but not THAT boring, but maybe it could have been a little less boring, plus more relevant to later events.

LD and BP are now watching an episode of a show he'd done. Way more violent than TV shows probably were in 1969. They like watching his little "heavy" role and chuckling about it.

Then a SIX MONTHS LATER card, and some narration for the first time since that little jokey bit in the beginning. Also jokey is the fact that this new section is narrated, VERY narrated, and is the fact that Kurt Russell is the narrator also jokey?

2:02:50 - "…going back to Missouri." LD's character is from Missouri? With that accent? Is this also an in-joke?

The aforementioned narration persists for a long time. Seems gratuitous. QT was clearly like "We'll do the first two hours of the picture without a narrator, and then suddenly there will be a whole bunch of stupid narration hahahahahahaha! No one else would do that!!! That's reason enough for me to do it!!!!"

Finale is going on now with the Manson cultist killer people approaching the house. If you know what really happened, you're freaking out. But if you know what really happened and you already know how this movie changes that story… it's entertaining. What I'm saying is that it's funny this second time through, without the worry about seeing what really transpired.

"And you were on a horsie!" "Nah something dumber than that" Hahaha BP is super funny in this scene.

Dang, the dog just mutilates Tex, and it's funny!

He violences that woman very very very much, it's nuts, kind of funny but so disturbing.

LD flamethrowers that girl in the pool. She's in the pool. But still dies from being on fire. /shrug

We never did get the whole story about BP killing his wife.

The last scene, MR talks to LD, inviting him up for a friendly drink with her friends. It ends with us thinking how nice it would be if she and her friends hadn't been the victims of a cruel slaughter just moments earlier. That's not a bad way to end a movie. But it's a long movie, and I'll say this again: indulgent. You might not feel that in on the jokes, and even if you do, you might not have as much time for them as this movie requires.

#once upon a time in hollywood

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movieexpert1978 · 5 years ago

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bored what's up?

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marcmyworks · 5 years ago

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Quentin Tarantino is one of the best directors of both the 20th and 21st Century, which started with his first wide release film in 1992. He has just recently released his 9th (or 10th depending on your point of view) film, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood to rave reviews. As one of my favourite directors, I have decided to list rank each of his films. I want to first state that I love everything this man puts out, just some more than others. Lets begin.

*Spoilers below*

10. The Hateful Eight (2015)

The Hateful Eight is the least successful in Tarantino’s repertoire and I don’t mean financially. This film just seems to have little to no likeability, and before you say it, I do understand that each character is ‘hateful’ but at times it seems quite forced.

Though well written and acted, it feels that the shocking moments are put in there simply to shock rather than provide any interest. We have the story of eight characters trapped in a cabin during a snowstorm, the film is Western themed, there is a revenge plot as well a bounty hunter. I really do not think this is a bad film in any regard, and it even feels like the sister film to Reservoir Dogs, but in terms of style and content it feels like a mishmash of things the audience has seen before from the Director, like his greatest hits, rather than a new and original story.

9. Death Proof (2007)

A lot of critics, and even Tarantino himself, have put this as the lowest ranking of his films on their list, I disagree. This may not be the most fleshed out story, but it is one of the most fun. I am ranking the unrated version of the film, as the theatrical version was cut down from its 113 minutes to 87 minutes to be incorporated as the Grindhouse double feature (with Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror). The shorter version is the one critics saw and I don’t believe it does the full film justice.

Death Proof is inspired by Grindhouse revenge films such as I Spit on Your Grave and include a multitude of young starlets and even re-launched the career of actor Kurt Russell. Overall the film is quite good though there are instances where it is quite obvious that a man wrote the female dialogue, which in the Me-Too age isn’t as acceptable. An example of this can be read here, where this character speaks about her father:

“Look, he’s totally harmless and cute as a bug's ear! But you know, when he's got a bunch of half-naked poontang walking the floor of his lake house, he just likes to pay us a visit and make sure we got everything we need.”

8. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Tarantino’s first full length film is the smallest scale of his career as most of it takes place in one room. Though the scale is small, the dialogue and action are immense, the characters fleshed out and, in most ways, stands the test of time. The film was well received by audiences and made more than twice its meager budget, but at times it is quite obvious this was shot by a new director still formulating his style. Tim Roth (as Mr. Orange) is excellent as the newest member of the gang and his relationship with Harvey Keitel (Mr. White) is one of the strongest bromances in cinema history.

7. Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood (2019)

Though advertised as an accurate biographical account of the Manson Murders in 1960s Hollywood, this film is actually more fictional, less about these murders and more a love letter to the actors of that time. The story is centred around director Roman Polanski and wife Sharon Tate’s fictional neighbour, actor Rick Dalton and his stunt man Cliff Booth (based screen legends Steve McQueen and Burt Reynolds and the latter’s stunt-double Hal Needham). The film explores how the two are struggling to adapt to the ever-changing Hollywood, paralleling with the growth of the Manson family who are interested with the Tate/Polanski household. Though a long film, it does quite well at showcasing the struggles of actors in Hollywood, the indulgence of the rich and the rise of a fanatic cult.

6. Jackie Brown (1997)

In the 1990s Tarantino was one of the biggest Directors around, he had won an Oscar for his writing and audiences were anxiously awaiting his third film. After acquiring the film rights to Elmore Leonard’s novel ‘Rum Punch’, Tarantino started writing Jackie Brown with the intent on giving the script to another director; however, Leonard loved the script so much Tarantino decided to direct himself.

Jackie Brown takes inspiration from Blaxploitation films like Coffy and Foxy Brown, though with a slower pace and using much less action. Pam Grier, star of both the aforementioned films, was Tarantino’s only choice for the lead role and to this day he is amazed that she was not nominated for an Oscar. The film is a slow burn compared to Tarantino’s previous two movies and does have its issues with pacing and story consistency but does contain more humour.

5. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)

The Kill Bill films are two of the coolest of Tarantino’s career; from the opening Klingon proverb, to the Pussy Wagon to the schlocky gore, this film was every film geek’s dream. Tarantino promised Uma Thurman that her birthday present would be the lead in his next film and a year after promising her this he delivered her the script. Originally conceived as one long epic film, it was split into two by production as it was felt the first half of the film had a different tone to the second. Producers also wanted to ensure it was a box office success and a four-hour film in the modern age was too much of a gamble. The first Kill Bill provides the groundwork for what is rarely seen in Hollywood, an even better sequel.

4. Django Unchained (2012)

Django is similar to the original film from 1966 in name only, as this version focuses on pre-American Civil War racism, slavery and the liberation a slave named Django. The film feels more like an homage to one of the biggest budget exploitation film of all time, Mandingo. It's a very simple story of a man who is trying to save his wife and along the way befriends a bounty hunter who aids him in his quest, but it is effective as it is a criticism of racism that still continues in the United States. Jamie Foxx does an excellent job portraying the titular character with Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson wonderfully playing the supporting roles.

3. Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)

I will say there is a large debate in the fan community whether the Kill Bill films should be ranked together as one film (as Tarantino states they should be), or whether they are two separate entities of a franchise as well which one is the better of the two. Upon first watching the films I was a bit disappointed Volume 2 did not have the same amount of camp violence as the first, as this film feels to be more a Spaghetti Western revenge film rather than a Samurai thriller. However, upon the re-watching the film multiple times it is quite obvious through the dialogue, storytelling and excellent cinematography that this is the superior film and is a contender for the top spot of Tarantino’s filmography.

2. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Inglorious Basterds is one of the films that not only has incredible star power but also has amazing gravitas. The film made Irish actor Michael Fassbender and German actor Christoph Waltz popular with American audiences with the latter’s excellent performance winning him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The Basterds, a team of Jewish mercenary’s who capture, interrogate and kill Nazis and are played by a group of talents including Brad Pitt, Eli Roth and B.J. Novak. They are up against the evil Hans Landa (Waltz) also known as “The Jew Hunter”, a Nazi Colonel who is employed to ensure security for a film event being attended by Adolf Hitler. The film itself is a tribute to American war propaganda films from the 1940s, and though one of his most brutal, is truly one of Tarantino’s best writing efforts.

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)

I know this is the obvious choice, but with good reason. Pulp Fiction is the first film anyone thinks of when they think Tarantino. Made up of seemingly random story vignettes and inspired by pulp magazines, Tarantino devised to make a film made up of simple short stories that only later the viewer could see were actually intertwined. Tarantino proved he could make interesting films on a smaller scale with his critically acclaimed film Reservoir Dogs and was able to bring in major stars such as Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, the latter of whom would star in or have roles in most of his pictures. The film was a box-office success and won several awards including the Academy Award for best writing. Though Tarantino has had many excellent films in his career, Pulp Fiction will always be the most iconic and original.

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auntynationalsblog · 5 years ago

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5 Netflix Films for the Week, set before the 21st c.

How’s quarantine going? Yeah, same here. But it’s Monday after all, and you still have over 150 hours to kill if you’re dealing with this quarantine via a week-by-week approach. I can help you kill around 8%, 12 of those hours. Here are five must-watch films set before the twenty-first century. Don’t watch them all at once, that’s lame.

No spoilers.

5. The Revenant (1823)

Main Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy

“Revenge is in the Creator's hands.”

Many of you will know of this film as the one which finally gave LDC his first Oscar, for Best Actor, at the 88th Academy Awards. Unfortunately, you would have stopped at that information and not bothered to watch the film. Released in 2015, the film is based on a novel of the same name. The definition of ‘Revenant’ is “a person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead.” The story-line does not deviate from the title, as an American frontiersman named Hugh Glass is engulfed in a bear attack and is left for dead by his hunting crew. But he survives. And he’s fucking pissed. The novel is called The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge, and yeah, the film is pretty vengeful too. Interestingly, even though Hugh Glass was indeed a real person, and it is mostly believed that the film and novel are based on a story, there exist no writings from the man himself to verify the description of his story. His story was first published in a Philadelphia literary journal known as The Port Folio. Some say that it is no more than a legendary tale. Nevertheless, a brilliant film, don’t miss out.

4. Before Sunrise (1994)

Only Cast (LOL): Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy

“If there's any kind of magic in this world…it must be in the attempt of understanding someone.”

If you’re a fan of love stories/romantic films, and if you haven’t come across the Before Trilogy, I don’t know what kind of love stories you watch. Why is this film unique? In technical terms, it’s minimalist. In simple words, there’s no real plot. There’s no action or drama or horror. These two just walk and talk. Then they talk some more while walking, and when they’ve nothing to talk about, they just walk quietly. So why watch the film? For starters, it’s very peaceful and relaxing, unlike The Revenant, which is fucking intense. Secondly, the conversations in the film constitute some of the best dialogue-exchanges in the history of cinema. Their characters are very carefully crafted, as their varying perspectives on living and loving bring out some deep AF points throughout the film. It is a slow film no doubt, but I promise you that the blandness is worth it, and the ending is too nice. Don’t get bored, give the film some time and thank me later.

3. Django Unchained (1858)

Main Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, and Leonardo DiCaprio

“Sold! To the man with the exceptional beard and his unexceptional nigga!”

Django Unchained is Tarantino’s highest-grossing film ever, for good reason. Although it has been criticized for historical inaccuracies, violence, and unprecedented high use of the N-word, Tarantino delivered one of the most dramatic and entertaining films from the era of plantation slavery. While the image above portrays Foxx, a slave, and LDC, a rich plantation owner, the highlight of the film was the German dentist-turned-bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz, played by Christoph Waltz. Waltz’s performance is impeccable, only matched by his portrayal of Standartenführer Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds (also directed by Tarantino). While the film starts off with Dr. Schultz hunting for his bounties, it eventually goes on to become a rescue mission, where Django and Schultz look for the former’s estranged wife, Broomhilda von Shaft. TW; extreme cursing and racism. But the film is a work of art. In fact, Jamie Foxx has revealed that LDC was pretty uncomfortable on the set, as his character had to use extremely racial slurs. But boy, he pulled off that role brilliantly.

2. Zodiac (1969 - 1980s)

Main Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr.

“I wanna report a double murder. If you go one mile east on Columbus Parkway, to a public park, you'll find kids in a brown car. They were shot with a 9mm Luger. I also killed those kids last year. Goodbye.”

What happens when Iron Man, Hulk and Mysterio gang-up against one of America’s most notorious serial-killers? For now, I can only tell you that it was a pretty uneven contest. Based on a true story, this film depicts the useless San Francisco Police Department’s hunt for the Zodiac Killer, led by Dave Toschi (Ruffalo), and aided by political cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal) and crime reporter Paul Avery (Downey). In case you’re wondering if they’re fictional characters, they’re not. They became pretty famous while the Zodiac Killer was running havoc, and have multiple articles and Wikipedia pages dedicated to all three of them. The Zodiac Killer remains unidentified by the way, and the cases are still officially open. Why watch the film then? Because the mysteriousness of it will blow your mind. Note that the film is directed by David Fincher, the same guy who directed Seven, Fight Club, Gone Girl and Mindhunter, among many other murder mysteries and thrillers. Don’t be surprised if you spend the rest of the day investigating the case yourself, happens to the best of us.

Consolation Prize: The Irishman (1950s - 1970s)

Main (legendary) Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci

“I work hard for them when I ain't stealing from them.”

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking how can a film with a cast of three actors who redefined cinema in the late twentieth century earn only a consolation prize on this list? The truth is, that such crime/mafia/gangster films, no matter how legendary the cast is, only appeal to a particular audience. A lot of film buffs who truly appreciate cinema and actors are simply not enticed by this genre, which is okay. Nevertheless, this film, which spans over 200 minutes, is one of Martin Scorsese’s best works, along with other mob movies like Goodfellas and The Departed. Based on a true story, it follows the adventures of ordinary truck driver-turned-assassin Frank ‘Irishman’ Sheeran (De Niro), who gets mixed up in some extraordinary business with mobster Russell Bufalino (Pesci), his Pennsylvania crime family and American labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). The punchline of the film is “I heard you paint houses” - a mob code implying: I heard you murder people for money, the paint being the symbol of the blood that splatters when bullets are riddled into the target. Typical Scorsese, mesmerizing direction. The punchline is also the name of the novel the film is based on, in case you love reading about organized crime.

1. Dallas Buyers Club (1985)

Main Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner and Jared Leto

“Sometimes, I feel I'm fighting for a life that I just ain't got the time to live. I want it all to mean something.”

On the day of the 86th Academy Awards, Facebook and Twitter erupted in outrage. LDC had not been awarded the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street, also known as The Film You Must Never Watch With Your Family. I merely asked every hot-tempered schmucks who posted that LDC had been snubbed, “Have you watched Dallas Buyers Club?” Either the answer was no, or the answer never came. The point being, Dallas Buyers Club is one of the best films ever made. Based on the true story of Ron Woodroof, a once homophobic, junkie cowboy diagnosed with AIDS, co-starring Jared Leto (who won best supporting actor) as Rayon, a fictional trans-woman with HIV, this film tells us an extraordinary tale of friendship, hope and empathy. When Ron discovers that the Federal Drug Administration has been systematically banning cheap drugs that can improve the condition of existing HIV-AIDS patients, he opens a ‘buyers club’, that enabled sick people to make drug purchases at lower prices. Things get more interesting with the role of Dr. Eve Saks, an AIDS doctor, who recognizes the villainous role of the state, but wants to remain within the ambit of the law. Ron’s character development might be the highlight of the film, as he transforms from a selfish, homophobic asshole to a dying man waging war against the American government, fighting for the healthcare of the underprivileged. Very few equally magnificent films have come out post Dallas Buyers Club. Don’t miss out.

So that’s it folks. Make good use of your quarantine by immersing yourself in good quality cinema. I’ll come up with some more suggestions on films and TV shows soon enough. Till then, Netflix and Don’t Chill.

#netflix

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alj4890 · 5 years ago

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None But You

(Thomas Hunt x oc*Amanda) in a regency era romance as requested by @pixieferry Choices: Red Carpet Diaries fan fiction.

Masterlist

A/N: I'm afraid the story is only getting longer, this chapter especially. My apologies. I'm trying to stop. This ball scene of Lady Westford's got away from me. I can only blame myself. On the bright side two characters from Choices: Desire and Decorum make a cameo for a brief moment.

@graceful-popcorn @krsnlove @alleksa16 @hopelessromantic1352 @pixieferry @emceesynonymroll @buzz-bee-buzz @hopefulmoonobject @cora-nova @rainbowsinthestorm

Summary: It is the evening of Lady Amanda’s first ball of the London Season. She encounters old friends and wins over those closest to Lord Thomas. The viscount continues to deny his growing feelings for the lady while his friends both tease and plan.

Chapter 3

"I understand that Lord Hunt escorted you to the opera the other evening." Lady Clara Mills and Ms. Annabelle Parsons smiled at Amanda's blush. "He is considered a matrimonial prize among the eligible ladies."

"Oh?" Amanda handed her empty glass to a passing servant and leaned closer to her friends. "What else have you heard?"

Ms. Parsons lowered her voice. "I have heard that he is not frequenting the local hells like he used to." Her dark eyes rested on Amanda and she smiled. "Perhaps they do not hold the allure that they once did."

Amanda flicked her fan open and attempted to cool her heated cheeks. "Or perhaps he does not wish to waste his fortune gambling."

Lady Clara laughed and looped her arm through Amanda's. "Come now. After all our adventures in Bath, do you not think we deserve to hear what has happened with that particular gentleman.

Ms. Parsons' eyes twinkled with mischief. "I am not above resorting to blackmail."

Amanda's smile appeared. "At Almacks he offered to escort Aunt Lucy and I to the opera."

"Oh the fortune I could have made if I had possessed that information. No one could believe he set foot in that matchmaking arena." Annabelle shook her head in mock sadness.

"Hush Annabelle." Clara whispered when a few gentlemen walked by. Once they were out of earshot she giggled and demanded to hear the rest. "Did anything else occur? What about the night of the opera? Were any promises made?"

"No." Amanda's brow puckered. "I do not think he is looking for a wife."

Annabelle said with a sly look. "What man is?"

The three laughed quietly. Clara looked up and her smile grew when she saw the subject of their conversation walking in. "Are you certain the viscount is uninterested?"

"I am fairly certain. He seemed rather cold with his parting." Amanda explained as she looked over at him talking to Lord Summers and another gentleman. Her eyes shined when she noticed a laughing pair of blue eyes looking their way. "Millie!"

Lady Millicient Rawlings joined their group and pressed her cheek to each. "Oh thank heavens you are all here! I thought I would be forced to go through another season on my own."

Annabelle and Clara shared a glance. "Actually, you two will have to suffer without us."

"What?! Why? You would leave us to fend for ourselves amongst the wolves?" Millie exclaimed.

"We are returning to Edgewater to prepare for my wedding." Clara explained. Her happiness was nearly bubbling over. "My prince is returning in two months and we will hold the ceremony at the estate's chapel. You will come, won't you?"

"Of course we will." Amanda promised.

"Though we will miss you dreadfully." Millie added. "Promise to return to London if you find you do not have much to do."

Clara laughed. "We swear."

The two parted from Millie and Amanda as they had another party to attend. Millie linked her arm with Amanda's. "And then there were two."

She laughed and nodded toward some of the gentlemen. "Who has caught your eye this season?"

Millie blew a frustrated breath. "None. If I have to overhear how my dowry makes me more attractive, I shall take what Father has settled on me and move to another country. Perhaps Italy. My cousin says it is lovely there."

"I had a gentleman call who could only speak about Snowfield. Do they all do that? Is this what I am to expect to happen during my London season?" Amanda asked warily.

Millie shrugged. "Some of the suitors are like that. Then there are those who pretend to compliment you yet are staring at what you can bring them. There are a few who are hopeless romantics, writing sonnets of how the moonlight causes a halo to form about your head, thus rendering the viewer incoherent."

Amanda snorted and quickly covered the action with her fan. "Millie! Did someone write that about you?"

"I might injure myself if I reproduce the groan I gave when Sir Peter did that very thing the other day." Millie replied, smiling at Amanda's struggle to not laugh.

"You do not offer me much encouragement with our choices." Amanda said in the midst of giggling.

"We do have other sets of gentleman to admire. We have the rakes and then the Rakes." Millie stressed the last.

"Oh." Amanda's hazel eyes scanned the crowd and landed on Thomas. She felt heat creep up her face when she found his own dark brown eyes straight at her. He inclined his head in acknowledgement, which she reciprocated.

"Lord Hunt is most assuredly a Rake." Millie decided.

"How can you tell?" Amanda asked.

"He doesn't have to do anything to gain a lady's attention. He never boasts of his conquests yet we all know he must have many. He shuns the matchmaking mothers and they still adore him! It is both vexing and tempting to associate with this type of gentleman." Millie let out a soft sigh as she observed the other gentlemen Thomas stood with.

Amanda cut her eyes to her. "You sound as if you have had your own Rake to deal with."

Millie blushed and nervously twisted the dark blonde curl draping her shoulder. "Indeed. I am well acquainted with this type of gentleman."

_____________________

"I could scarcely believe it when Ryan told me. Did you truly brave the trenches at Almacks for one lady?" Sir Christopher Winters asked.

"It is not what you think." Thomas muttered, turning

"He's giving the rest of us a bad reputation. Now all the ladies expect us to tow the line and court them." Ryan explained.

"I am not courting Lady Amanda. I had a free moment here and there and--"

"And chose to spend it with her." Ryan reminded him. Thomas became silent with the realization that he had no leg to stand on in this argument.

"Well, I for one would like to meet this lady. After all Summers has shared, I think she might be quite amusing." Chris turned his head and searched about. "Which lady is she?"

Thomas glowered at his two closest friends as his temper reached its boiling point. "She is more than simply amusing. Do not bother her with your idiocy." He stormed off and left them grinning.

"I told him the other day that he could not resist paying Lady Amanda compliments or being by her side." Ryan explained.

Chris chuckled. "That explains why he has remained with us so long and been completely miserable." He continued to observe the ladies in the room, trying to guess which one caught Hunt's fancy.

"I will introduce you." Ryan began to navigate through the crowd. "Damn." He muttered. "Of all people who could latch on to her, why did it have to be that one?"

"Who?" Chris demanded. "I say Summers, point out who you are talking about. After my tour on the continent, I am unable to recall anyone."

"There. The dark headed lady in purple is Lady Amanda Bridgerton. The lighter colored one glaring at me is Lady Millicient Rawlings. Beware of that serpent. Her bite is equal to her venom. My wounds still smart." He mumbled.

"Ah, yes. The lovely Lady Millie. Buck up, man. She will not attack at this ball. Now hurry and introduce me. I promised Father, I would meet him at the club later." Chris pushed Ryan on.

"Ladies." Ryan bowed to them both. "What a delight it is to see such perfect examples of feminine beauty."

Amanda smiled warmly and held her hand out. Millie stuck her nose in the air, only giving the minimal acknowledgement one must to a marquis.

Ryan grinned at the two opposites before him. "Lady Amanda, allow me to present Sir Christopher Winters. Chris, this is Lady Amanda Bridgerton of Snowfield Abbey."

The young man's smile was infectious in his excitment. "Lady Amanda, I have looked forward to this meeting. I have heard much about you." He pressed a kiss to her hand and then focused on her companion. "Lady Millie, how are you this evening?"

"Quite well, thank you sir." Millie responded in a friendly manner.

"Excellent!" They heard the musicians tuning their instruments. Chris smiled and requested a dance from each. They handed him their cards and he wrote his name with a waltz for each. "Thank you ladies. Now if you will excuse me a moment, I promised my mother I would ask after Lady Mardson's father." He bowed and threaded his way through the crowd.

Lord Summers remained with the two causing Millie's temper to nearly snap. She glared at him and flicked her fan open, using it vigorously. He smiled at her inability to hide her annoyance and asked Amanda for a dance. She handed him her card and he wrote his name down for the first one. He then stood there waiting.

Millie realized the slur directed at her when he did not ask her for her dance card. She snapped her fan shut with a loud click and whispered to Amanda she was going to the retiring room. With a final glare at the man, she turned and left.

The music started and Ryan led her to the floor. After a complete turn around the floor, he asked her about the opera. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

"I did, thank you." Amanda answered. "I must also express my gratitude for taking such excellent care of my aunt. That was terribly kind of you to escort her home."

"No trouble at all I assure you." He smiled and noticed Thomas on the sidelines, watching them closely. Actually, it seemed the lady in Ryan's arms was the one his gaze was focused on. "I understand this is your first season."

"Oh dear. Is it that obvious?" Amanda teased.

He chuckled. "Not at all. I believe Lord Hunt mentioned hearing that your debut was delayed."

Amanda blinked in surprise. Lord Thomas had not only found out about her reasons for holding off on coming to London, he had talked to another about her? "That is correct. My parents and uncle passed away within three years."

"My apologies for your loss." Ryan said softly. He quickly searched for a less depressing topic. "Other than reading, what other interests do you possess?"

Amanda's frown eased at his change of subject. "I have a great many. Walking, riding, music...listening not playing. I'm afriad I am quite dreadful."

Ryan let out a surprised laugh that drew attention toward them. "Lady Amanda, you are the first person I have ever danced with that actually admitted they were not talented. How many recitals I have suffered through from ladies lying about their accomplishments." He shuddered causing her to laugh. "On behalf of gentlemen everywhere, I thank you for not making us long to cut our ears off."

"My pleasure, sir." She said between giggles.

"Now then, what else do you enjoy?" He asked with genuine interest.

"Well, I am interested in attending The British Museum's exhibit of Elgin Marbles." She said with a smile. "I have heard that many of the statues are extraordinary."

"They truly are. I admit that when I saw them, I imagined what it must have looked when they stood in The Parthenon." Ryan glanced up again and searched for Thomas. He saw him retrieving some punch and cornered by some matron and her charge.

"Have you ever been to Greece?" Amanda inquired.

"No. Sadly, I haven't. I almost journeyed there when I was traveling the Continent. But, I found myself longing for home and booked the first passage I could to return to our shores." His smile was a tad boyish. "Sounds silly for a grown man to do so, does it not?"

Her answering smile gentled. "Not at all. It sounds honest."

Ryan took her hand and bowed over it when the song ended. "Lady Amanda, it was truly a pleasure that I hope to find repeated in the future." He smiled warmly as she expressed that she looked forward to it.

After returning her to Millie, he walked toward the card room and encountered Thomas. "Up for a hand of whist?" Ryan asked.

"No." Was the terse reply. Thomas scanned the room. "How was your dance?"

"Capital. She is quite graceful. Winters will be dancing with her at some point. I'm sure her card will be filled before long." Ryan grinned at his friend's moody silence. "Well Hunt, cards or are you going to dance?"

Thomas softly cursed before walking away from his chuckling friend. He stuck to the shadows to avoid some of the more pushy matchmaking mothers. He had been cornered by four conniving ladies and their daughters that made him long for a place to hide.

His eyes touched on each lady that wore purple until he saw the one he was searching for. He paused and leaned against the wall, observing as young and old asked her for a dance. His frown formed when he realized a healthy number of rakes were a part of the mix. Without another thought, he approached her side.

Her smile brightened he noticed, a bit placated when that happened. "May I?" He asked, holding his hand out.

She handed him her card. He smiled softly when he saw the supper waltz and last waltz were both avaiable. He quickly wrote his name on the two spots. Propriety's rule that only allowed a gentleman two dances with a lady suddenly irritated him. It left too many spaces available for morally questionable members of the ton to take advantage of an innocent. He bowed his head to her when he returned her dance card.

She opened it and felt her heart race. Two waltzes! "Thank you, my lord. I look forward to our dance."

His frown eased. "It is I who should be thanking you." Their attention was turned when one of the rake's approached for his dance. Thomas watched her perform the steps of the cotillion. Her expression remained pleasant as her partner spoke each time they met.

She in turn would say something that caused the rake to smile and laugh.

"Your frown is quite fierce. No wonder so few ladies dance with you."

Thomas rolled his eyes. "Don't you have some chit to dance with?"

"Not at the moment." Chris replied in a chipper manner. My next dance is with Lady Millie followed by one with Lady Amanda. You should secure some dances yourself before they are taken."

"I have." Thomas admitted.

"Oh?" Chris followed his gaze and grinned the grin that most ladies swore could make them swoon. "I hope they were with a lady who's company you prefer."

"It is." Thomas frowned even more when he realized what he admitted. "Not in that manner." He muttered.

"Are you not tired of the denials yet?" Ryan asked as he approached. "She is a very amiable girl. Marvelous sense of humor. I wouldn't mind getting to know her better, myself."

Thomas turned abruptly on him. "What?!"

"Oh come now. You, yourself said that she was worthy of friendship. Perhaps she shall become my friend also. Who knows? In due course, I might come to see her in a different light." Ryan smiled innocently as Thomas began to turn nearly puce in color.

He sputtered for a moment before leaving them. Chris stared wide eyed at his retreat. "I say! Is it wise to goad him to that extent?"

"That could very well be the problem, young Winters. He has never been pushed to the point of having to make a definite decision on a lady. If what I think is happening is truly occuring, then I intend to see Hunt trussed like a goose and set before the altar with Lady Amanda at his side."

Chris smiled and held his hand out. The two friends shook with plans forming in their minds. "That is my intention too." He walked away to dance with Millie.

_______________________

As the evening progressed, Amanda and Millie found an alcove to escape and compare views of the gentlemen they had danced with. They each grimaced at having Lord Comery as a partner. The man had stomped on their toes throughout most of the dance.

"Why must men who can not dance have to step with such enthusiasm?" Amanda muttered as she rubbed her slippered foot.

"I believe the man must have rocks in his shoe. No one's foot should be that heavy." Millie let out a soft groan as another gentleman approached. "And now I have the pleasure of Sir Peter's creative genius."

The young man bowed low before them. "At last, my lady. I stand humbly before your ethereal presence to be granted an angelic touch from your gloved hand."

Amanda started coughing to hide her laughter and waved off the couple's concern. "Bit of dust. Forgive me."

Millie covered her mouth to conceal her own laugh. "We will see you in the dining room." She managed to say with a straight face.

Amanda stood up and smoothed her gown. She began to to make her way toward the floor, intending to be more visible for Thomas to find her.

"My lady." His fingers grasped her arm. She turned and smiled softly.

"My lord."

He guided her back to the dance floor and took her in his arms. Amanda could feel the heat of his hand through the thin silk of her dress. Their eyes locked as he led her in the waltz. After a few, tense, silent moments; he spoke. "Are you enjoying Lady Westford's ball?"

"I am. It is how I always imagined a London ball would be." Her lips curved. "Are you having a pleasant evening?"

His serious expression eased. "I suppose I am."

"I can tell. I do not think there is another gentleman in attendance who displays such joy being here." She teased.

A rare smile appeared, his first of the evening, causing those that witnessed it to whisper. "What am I to do with you, my lady?" He murmured. They continued the dance with opinions and smiles. He bowed when the dance ended and offered his arm. When she placed her hand on it he covered it with his.

"I take it this many people is what is deemed as a crush." She observed as they were stuck once again in the middle of a large crowd.

"It will be this way at each ball. Hostesses do tend to invite everyone within England's borders." He looked down at her and his lips curved. "Then they move up into the Outer Hebrides." His smile grew at her laugh.

___________________

They sat down and were soon joined by Lord Ryan, Lady Millie (who ignored the marquis), and unfortunately the poetic Sir Peter. Lord Comery also asked to join their group, much to no one's pleasure.

Talk turned to upcoming picnics and balls. A house party that was being organized by Lady Millie's parents in three week's time was greatly discussed. Lord Ryan observed Thomas and Amanda closely while an idea sparked.

"I believe an outing of some sort should be planned for our newly arrived lady. The British Museum and then on to Gunter's for refreshments and ices I think is what we should do." He suggested.

Millie forgot her irritation and smiled at Ryan. "That is a wonderful idea, Lord Summers! Oh do say you wish to go, Amanda!"

"Of couse I do." Amanda replied. "I do not want anyone to go to any trouble, though."

With a flick of his wrist, Lord Summers waved her concern away. "Going out for enjoyment, trouble? I think not. Pick the day ladies and Lord Thomas and I shall come by in the carriage for you."

"To see Lady Millie stand next to renderings of the gods themselves, the muses would surely be overflowing with poetry. I must be there to see such beauty next to the marbles of old." Sir Peter grabbed Millie's hand and placed it over his heart. "Swear to me that I may go!"

Ryan narrowed his eyes at the pair. "Good Lord, man. Get a hold of yourself." He reached over and helped her free her hand from the overly dramatic gentleman.

Lord Comery began to shake his head. "I'm afraid Lady Amanda will not be taking part of this outing. I would be more than happy to drive her in my barouche to meet the rest of the party at Gunter's, though only for tea. No ice, I think."

"I beg your pardon." Amanda said in shock.

Thomas' temper was barely holding on by a thread at the earl's nerve. "I do not see where you have the right to deny her."

The earl sighed as if dealing with troublesome children. "My dear lady, there will be statues there of the male form. It is not appropriate for eyes such as yours."

Amanda's cheeks darkened as her temper rose. "Sir, I am familiar with the classic artistic styles. I have studied both the sculptures in books along with the myths and legends they depict. I am no mere girl fresh from the schoolroom."

Millie nodded in approval while she too glared at the man. Sir Peter cocked his head to the side in wonder. "I understand sir if you do not wish to see such art, but why deny the lady an ice?"

Lord Comery coughed uncomfortably and took a sip of wine. "I am quite certain once Lady Amanda thinks on it some more she will agree with both my reasons for not attending and for not partaking of Gunter's sweets."

They all looked at her when she gasped. "Excuse me." Amanda placed her napkin on the table. "Please. Don't get up." She paused when Thomas stood up.

"I will escort you." He murmured. She shook her head, yet he held fast to her arm and led her out of the dining room.

"You are no gentleman." Millie hissed at Lord Comery. She threw her napkin in his face and rose from her chair. "Sir Peter. Lord Summers. Let us leave and finish planning the outing for Lady Amanda." She took both men's arms and pulled them with her.

"I still don't understand." Sir Peter whispered.

Millie smiled at him, her regard toward his silly poetry softening at his innocent heart. "That is because you are a true gentleman."

___________________

"My lord, please do not trouble yourself." Amanda said as she took his handkerchief. She and Thomas stood together outside along the path that led to a sunken garden. "I am simply being foolish in letting Lord Comery's remarks affect me."

He took his handkerchief from her and gently wiped her tears. "He is an imbecile." He placed a finger under her chin so he could look in her eyes. "You have been much sought after this evening."

She chuckled and shook her head as tears fell. "I believe my inheirtance played a larger part in that than my looks." Amanda placed her hand over his that wiped her tears. "You are most kind to try to reassure me, but I am no fool. Please do not think I am fishing for compliments from you, Lord Thomas. I know what is in style and I shall never match it. I am fine with this. I must have gotten swept away with the excitment of the ball and forgot..." She swallowed uneasily. "I must have forgotten."

He stilled and allowed his eyes to drift over her features before returning to her own hazel eyes. "I am not a fool either. Nor am I the type of man who utters compliments because it is something I think someone wishes to hear." He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing a stray tear away. "When a real man looks upon you, your inheritance does not even cross his mind."

Her lips parted in surprise at his words. His dark gaze focused on them before he dropped his hand. He stepped away from her and his expression became guarded. "Shall we return to the ballroom?"

She nodded and placed her hand on his arm to stop him. "Thank you." She whispered.

He took her hand in both of his and pressed a tender kiss to her knuckles. "My pleasure."

#choices red carpet diaries #1800s au #choices thomas hunt #thomas hunt x oc #thomas hunt x amanda #choices chris winters #choices ryan summers #choices desire and decorum

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