Oscars 2025 - Anora, The Last Showgirl, Queer - REVIEW

Anyone can watch, members may comment! Join today: tinyurl.com/BT...

[@Buzz0Killington]

Grace, during your conversation about the movie Queer, I think you were circling an idea about straight actors playing gay. Call Me By Your Name, Challengers (to a lesser extent), and Brokeback Mountain are love stories. Chemistry goes a long way in those movies. Queer is about someone grappling with their identity as a gay man. That requires a different understanding than just the concept of falling in love. Also, I’ll continue to stand on the fact that the “let actors act” argument when we talk about who gets what role completely ignores the concept of equity. It’s no coincidence we always are having this conversation in one direction.

[@mariagracielasayas2875]

Who cares if Streaght men play gay people it's called Acting

[@BluePrada]

No. Her breakdown says why this doesn’t work and you get 💩 quality work

[@whitepaint7870]

@@mariagracielasayas2875its a little weird that the most popular gay movies are played by straight actors.

[@Its_Enri]

@@mariagracielasayas2875I love that you completely disregarded the rest of this person’s perfectly articulated point.

[@manantial773]

Great points!

[@davidbenjamin3714]

when will there be a mini review for the substance

[@laserdisc688]

I doubt Grace will watch it. Grace does not do well with horror movies, especially horror movies as graphic as The Substance. The last 10-15 minutes alone would probably make Grace throw up lol

[@Anghooeyrhymeswithjulie]

Grace, you really have to see the Substance, particularly given your comments about Jaime Lee Curtis's campaign to show a realistic image of an older woman. As I am sure you've heard, it really is an arthouse flick but made for action/genre audiences/. it also has a very dry sense of humor about it.

[@ssshar2176]

Musicals have a huge history of Supporting Actress wins. Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago for one. Ariana DeBois for West Side Story. I wouldn’t count Ariana out.

[@Shane-jg6pr]

4 winners of best supporting actress came from musical adaptations this century alone! And it’s not even “the golden age” of the genre… Anne Hathaway - Les Mis Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls Rita Moreno - West Side Story

[@aaronjanlistanco]

It's DeBose not DeBois.. Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls Anne Hathaway in Les Misérables and I still count Ariana DeBose for West Side Story along with Rita Moreno

[@matiasdevaglia4541]

Is Ariana really a supporting actress in "Wicked"? I've heard/read that she has the same screen time as Cynthia Erivo.

[@boybriar]

@@matiasdevaglia4541 And Zoe in Emilia Perez?

[@ssshar2176]

@@matiasdevaglia4541it’s what Universal is campaigning her under. They may technically be co-leads, but this is the story of the wicked witch of the east, so it makes sense to make her supporting.

[@davidlynton9930]

As a gay man I don’t believe that only gay actors should play gay roles. That’s like saying straight roles only being for straights and in that scenario gays would never act. We have been playing straight roles for years and no one cared, yet it’s an uproar when it’s the other way round. Does that mean Jonathan Bailey should not be in wicked ? Of course not.

[@DorkPhoenix66]

But we havent been able to always play straight. Infamously its been a blight on one’s career to be out of the closet and the number of out gay actors that consistently play straight roles can be counted on one hand. So straight playing gay is not an equal comparison to the reverse, especially when an out actor is far less likely to land a straight role from the jump while a straight actor can seize a gay role to show off how progressive and talented they are. Until they bite off more than they can chew and cant stick the landing, as it seems was possibly the case here.

[@jamespader]

don't be dense

[@davidlynton9930]

@ thanks for your insightful contribution

[@kylekrambeck1724]

​@@jamespaderdon't be rude

[@Marcanoregistrada]

I don't think medium is fair for Anora

[@dansuduhast1051]

Review the third act of Arcane season 2 😭 its one of the best shows ive ever seen in my life

[@lead6186]

I'm scared to watch it, people are saying it ruined season 2. Is it good??

[@Lukesek20]

Naah It was messy and incredibly unfocused

[@tenerife_sea]

Yeah idk how I feel about it yet...

[@Andre_APM]

​@@lead6186 They only people who are saying that are delusional haters

[@samgrey2407]

so glad mikey madison is getting her flowers! been following since once upon a time in hollywood and she was one of the best parts of scream 5. she was STELLAR in anora. i'm really rooting for her to win the oscar, sorry grace ;)

[@comicbookwednesdays]

If the academy didn't nominate Adam Sandler for Uncut Gems, there's no way they are going to nominate Pam Anderson even if she gave a Meryl Streep performance.

[@manantial773]

Totally agree.

[@vokasimid5330]

Well said

[@manantial773]

I watched Queer as well, and as a gay man, I would say that it was perfectly cast, a gay man with the looks of Drew Starkey would have treated a gay man with the looks of Daniel Craig (also, 25 years older than him) EXATLY like that. Someone like Leslie Jordan? He wouldn't even had spoken a word to him. I totally agree with you in regards to Craig´s character though, he is unlikable and pathetic, but very, very realistic, Craig gave it all. I loved Anora, I do think it has a structure, the ending is very strong, it makes the movie poignant, Yura Borisov is as good as Mikey Madison.

[@Sanj1n]

I missed the full livestream but I can’t wait to get home and watch the mini reviews. Love the new mini review format ❤

[@sergiovela7686]

Actually there wasn’t an intimacy coordinator for anora 💀 But it is my favorite movie of the year so far, I haven’t watched conclave and the brutalist

[@MaxxRemKing1]

I can't wait to see these three movies!

[@comicbookwednesdays]

I really want to see June Squibb for Thelma and Marianne Jean Baptiste for Hard Truths to be nominated for lead.

[@samuelbennett1138]

Oh Grace I am BEGGING you to watch The Substance.

[@levicrowley4539]

Grace I could not recommend the substance more! If you just cover your eyes for a few scenes, you will be blown away!!

[@alyxcapricorn5654]

i'm a big believe in queer actors should play queer roles, but i'm taking a casting class in film school currently and was interested to learn that casting directors aren't legally allowed to ask actors their sexual identity/orientation. actors can self-identify but with the kit connor and shawn mendes situation, forcing actors to out themselves doesn't seem like the right solution either. so now i don't know!

[@ThorTwinkle]

With Fellow Travelers, the producers and screenwriters wanted to cast queer actors but they knew it would have been slighlty weird to just straight out asked them. So what they did was see who the actors on instagram were following. If it was a lot of queer people than there were high chances that person was queer too lol But it worked! In fact a lot of the actors in the show are queer.

[@vokasimid5330]

I guess thats director's job highlight the nuance of the character to make him very multifaceted and layered

[@luc9388]

I think there are enough openly queer actors working in the space that it doesn’t need to be an “outing” at this point. It’s just about looking beyond the obvious straight male choices when casting.

[@andylindsey]

Of the three movies reviewed here, I'm most interested in The Last Showgirl. It reminds me of The Wrestler, but with an aging showgirl instead of aging Wrestler. The set up and struggle shown from the trailers appear similar to Mickey Rourke's wrestler character.

[@thedashdriver3969]

So sad that I didnt watch Anora when it was showing at Gateway Cineplex three weeks ago. For I was in Japan at that time. Hope Anora would be officially showing here in the Philippines next year

[@ronanlennon1973]

My friend in Tokyo was just complaining that it is not out there until 28 February! Might mean that it will be distributed in the region then

[@thedashdriver3969]

@ronanlennon1973 I was in Japan two weeks ago and visited Toho cinema. Japan really screens Hollywood films very very late

[@ronanlennon1973]

@@thedashdriver3969 my friend has been teaching over there for 25 years (so so old) and said the school schedule is pretty different over there; no x mas holidays really, big holidays around Chinese New Year and cherry blossom time ( more or less Easter, spring festival after all) then just the oddness of international distribution. I seen it (very good , quite sweet really) in the middle of Ireland 3 weeks ago at my local multiplex

[@ricardoramirez8392]

As always these mini reviews were a delight!!! ❤

[@Sounds_And_Vistas]

Hopefully Naomi Scott gets something for Smile 2. She was incredible!!!

[@gcaplan1]

Juror # 2 is a dark horse contender . It’s way better than others listed here . But it did not get a proper release or advertising thanks to conservative bias .

[@ArthurDeaville]

Surprised by the flippancy Grace is giving to Moana 2. It could be one of the highest grossing movies of the year and it’s from Disney and Grace doesn’t think it’s worth a review?!! 😢 Though to be fair Disney definitely waited too last minute to screen to critics…

[@sooshibun]

Grace said on twitter she'll be watching it tomorrow and then she'll do the review afterwards! :D

[@ArthurDeaville]

@ oh thanks for the update!! Happy to hear

[@antoniogarrett1176]

Yes-Grace, Daniel Craig's first gay role was in a movie called-Love is the Devil from 1998 about the life of artist Francis Bacon

[@hibird7304]

But Daniel Craig isn’t gay

[@waterbearer4627]

My favorite acting this year by far was by Willa Fitzgerald for Strange Darling. Her performance was complex, very demanding and she made the twist in the film very effective. Add to that the last sequence of the film was very realistic. A real character actress.

[@samuelmendoza8007]

I haven't seen Queer yet, but I can sadly confirm, as a G in the LGBTQ, that perfectly acceptable-looking gay/bi men can have crushing self-esteem issues all their lives, and on the other hand, conventionally attractive gay/bi men are unnecessarily mean to anyone they think is "beneath them", and it does get worse for older men. So, the movie is just realistic in how sad and nasty the "community" can be, even if it's depressing 😅

[@davidbaes506]

Grace! How good is Omar Apollo in Queer? I know his role is small but I’m a big fan of his music 👉🏻👈🏻

[@EnterpriseGeek]

I'm gay..and i loved straight actors playing gay roles: Tom Hanks, Antonio Bandera, Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sean Penn abd many many more acted fantastic. I was crying in those movies. Please stop with this ridicolous attempt that only real gay men should play gay roles...ITS RIDICOLOUS....its called ACTING for a reason! This identity madness is getting out of control!

[@alexdean9287]

exactly my thoughts

[@yourbestam]

Bro you need to stand up and stop obsessing over these straight men playing gay men, some of them don't like you. You don't have to go so hard for them.

[@scottyblack9883]

Hollywood seemingly keeps gay actors in gay roles though… we don’t see very much of this situation reversed where a gay actor is playing a straight role - which is the problem. Hollywood filmmakers won’t give queer actors straight roles and they continue to give straight actors queer roles so there is just no place in Hollywood for gay actors. it is a problem, whether or not the straight actors do a good job or not

[@ImLyndell]

😅

[@colinneagle4495]

I would be fine with straight actors playing gay roles too if the opportunity for work was equal, but it just isn't even close. You named the stars of 6 of the few queer dramas average American's have heard of and none of them are queer. If the tables were turned, in order to be proportionally equal, queer people would be playing straight cisgender characters 90% of the time, and right now I'd be surprised if out queer actors got even 0.9% of straight cisgender roles. So until Hollywood lets gay actors play straight roles then they can't have straight people playing gay. Either everyone can play everyone ( with actually equal opportunities for out actors to do so) or everyone can stick to their own corners and play characters within their own communities.

[@hjermsted22]

Most of Conan O’Brien’s focus (since leaving his cable talk show) has been on his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and on his production company. His podcast is among the better long form interview shows and has excellent ratings. Recently, episodes from the show have been chopped up and made available on KZbin. Podcast listener numbers are more reliable than Netflix’s numbers.

[@raymondseye]

Saw Wicked over the weekend it was so good and effortless. But I suddenly realized not even Disney has given as any great movie us good as this. This movie is as epic as Sound of Music and or even better I’m ‘afraid. This movie deserves all the awards especially the music score and production numbers.

[@allyoucanhorror262]

I agree! This movie surprised me. It was extremely good, emotional and epic.

[@ivanlupi]

We should wonder then why Guadagnino approved Craig’s performance. He is such a perfectionist that I am sure it is intentional.

[@znamjlaer]

I tried to like Emilia Perez so hard, but unfortunately as a Mexican I found it caricaturish in the way it portrayed Mexican social issues and crime. Borderline offensive.

[@adrianhaynes5315]

I hope Grace watches the films that she votes for this year 😂

[@Uphere-do9zh]

Love a mini review, thanks for this upload!

[@abhishekraj-tm4ok]

jason schwartzmann is a coppola himself like nickolas cage. He would be a cousin of gia coppola

[@summermoore8901]

I like my fairy tales but it’s also important to face reality. I don’t watch a lot of award films. Mostly because for the most part my taste is more mainstream. Even if I don’t want to watch I want good things for the people who works on the movies.

[@sooshibun]

If the world is just, Demi Moore will win everything for her performance in The Substance. Best movie and performance of the year. Best makeup and vfx as well. uwu

[@fbueller]

The first 2/3 of the film were great but then it went off the rails. Demi should be nominated but has no chance of a win.

[@kyleb8655]

THIS 🔥

[@jamespader]

there actually wasn't an intimacy coordinator on set of Anora and that's one of my many problems with the film

[@ekvilist]

actors didn’t want intimacy coordinator, where is the problem? do you want actors to be forced to work with intimacy coordinator?

[@luc9388]

Ew that’s creepy on Sean Bakers fault

[@cirugo7042]

Nice to see Pamela Anderson finally getting a break with a serious role. Don't think sh'es going to get a nomination because the competition for Best Actress is fierce this year.

[@aaronvillagomez3548]

what about THE SUBSTANCE??

[@TheDeckOfficer]

Boop! Great livestream today. I think my three fav films this year for Oscar contenders are Dune Part 2, Wicked, and hopefully, Deadpool and Wolverine. Really looking forward to Nosferatu.trailers look great.

[@christochristo6245]

I thought the Last Showgirl was laughably bad.... unfortunately. loved Anora

[@LEOIAMLEOONYOUTUBE]

I can't get "What is this feeling?" out of my head! Loathing! Unadulterated! Loathing! 💚🩷 😍😭

[@mdrivera8481]

I think I'll reserve my right to complete the opinion when I see the movie myself but Queer apparently being a movie about the lengths you will/would go to as a gay man to not be lonely and casting Daniel Craig of all people is so.... Suspension of disbelief is one thing but unless there's something very wrong with his personality in the film they really want me to buy no one wanted to enter a serious relationship with DANIEL CRAIG?

[@Ray03595]

Oof, rough review of Queer. Even from the trailers I wasnt convinced of Craig and I always question why some straight actors intentionally try to pick up gay roles. It's easy Oscar bait to play gay in "award films", but yea, if you don't understand the material and perspective of a gay man beyond a very surface level you're not going to do a very good job. Guadagnino also needs to look at some of his casting choices too. Seems he intentionally only casts straight actors. Twitter can keep saying it's just acting, and I agree to a certain degree only. Having real life experience can absolutely improve a performance and make it feel more genuine. Anyways, if you want to watch an actual good gay thriller film from this year, check out Femme. Main actor is gay as well.

[@malcolm_tito]

what you said about the white lotus thing about straight acting gay guys is so real lol. even now after the election you'll see them cheering like ur part of their squad is laughable. we call them pick me gays.

[@EMOTIONBIGLIFE]

Pamela for Oscars ❤

[@fbueller]

@@EMOTIONBIGLIFE 💯

[@vokasimid5330]

😎

[@meri5173]

2:44 Grace, I hope you will consider including ‘Interview with the Vampire’! 🙏🙏🙏

[@shekwanda]

I don't think the Murray Barlett comparisson makes sense at all. That's another guy who could be James Bond. He's another hot white guy who would also "just need to comb his hair and pull his pants to a regular height." I mean, you can't start this with Leslie Jordan as an alternate to Craig and suddenly pivot to Murray Barlett 😅 that's a huge 180. I don't think "getting it" was part of the problem here. Agree with everything else you said about the movie.

[@fancyforever4075]

Can anyone tell me where I can watch ANORA online please?

[@dobiemommy5214]

Shockingly, I am interested most in The Last Showgirl and, more shockingly, because of Pamela Anderson !

[@brucewayne7131]

Ah yes, fear of democratic persecution within hollywood

[@Zay-e5p]

Grace I’m so sad you won’t be reviewing Moana 2. I mean it when I say you are my all time favorite Movie reviewer on KZbin. One of my favorite things you do is how the review is broken down. I mean it’s just a quality you don’t see a lot from other reviewers on KZbin. I hope you do a mini review or something because I throughly enjoy your coverage on movies and TV ❤

[@BeyondTheTrailer]

After seeing nice comments like yours, I will review it! My review will go up tomorrow evening.

[@safiullah8463]

Yeah ❤.

[@anacondust]

hi grace! hope you have a happy thanksgiving 🖤

[@SupremacySinema]

People still think Daniel Craig is straight?

[@gobyfish1399]

Julia Fox has gone off the rocker.

[@meg-k-waldren]

54:06 is the exact reason why society is degrading. 54:06 is not sustainable for humanity. Can anyone imagine where the mindset of people will be at in 20 years at the rate of 54:06? "We can't make movies about people and not care about people" - Olivia Munn. Frankly, the type of fandom an individual keeps and condones speaks of the individual.

[@TheMovieTeaser]

Conan is worth 200 million! I think he’s done well enough 😂

[@m.i.n.k.y.m.o.o.]

CONCLAVE coming in clutch! 🔴

[@joaosoeiro3364]

This year is actually a great year for movies and actors… u just dont wanna see them

[@mdrivera8481]

I think the should a straight actor play gay conversation should evolve into the right guy for a role as a priority, because I don't think Jonathan Bailey could've played that role better tbh. My bigger gripe is why give the career boost and possible accolades for gay stories to straight people, I think that aspect is kind of odd. Gay shouldn't be a prerequisite but it certainly would be nice

[@mallory9486]

I’m the same way when it comes to movies, Grace. I need structure!!

[@simplyrecommended]

grace whats your thoughts on johnathan majors ex dropping the case? do you think marvel will reprise his kang character?

[@lucyr7754]

I think it was just a defamation case that was dropped, he was still found guilty of the offence

[@JaiProdz]

He still has multiple other allegations

[@BluePrada]

The ship has sailed.

[@thedashdriver3969]

We dont have Glicked here But we have WICKLAVE that started last Wednesday So I watched Conclave after watching the phenomenal Wicked BEST FILM of 2024 Sadly, Conclave is an underwhelming, boring, unintellectual film With an amateur juvenile story pretending to be profound Doubtful if the film really portrays the Vatican Conclave as it really is. But I still have faith that there would be a future political thriller film that will portray an accurate & moving portrayal of a Vatican Conclave But NOT this Conclave film So disappointing The lowest grade film this awards season

[@chicken_beach]

Please tell me Jamie Lee's weird scene is karaoke :)

[@malcolm_tito]

i cant wait to watch all these movies

[@jessevjames]

My vote is for Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez. I've never seen her so pulled in! ❤

[@MussadiqZainal]

People are sad if I dun wanna be their friend like I'm some sorta famous person who don't give a damn about cheap publicity 😂

[@HeelPower200]

I love Grace's coverage and analyses of 'serious' non-mainstream movies like this. She is just incredibly well read and almost always offers a potent perspective on these types of movies.

[@TheAsuraeva]

Grace is anything but well read 😅. She does have a great knowledge of movie history though

[@yourbestam]

​@@TheAsuraeva ...ok

[@leroygarcia7296]

Grace I love you buttttt Mikey Madison is my pick for the Oscar this year.

[@kyleb8655]

Grace your not viewing or even watching Moana??? 🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@BeyondTheTrailer]

I decided to review it after all.

[@kyleb8655]

@ thank goodness 👍👍

[@NeverDoubtTheWorm]

Oh no I missed the live by like, MINUTES!

[@stevenkralljr987]

I’m sorry, you’re not gonna see the movie. Understandable but I sure don’t wanna hear your opinion of it then

[@oneshadowlove]

Not reviewing Moana 😢wwhatttt

[@terrymcginnis01]

Dune?

[@TheDisruptiveOne]

Queer and the Last Showgirl should be out. No noms. Not good enough. Too much competition this year. Same with Blitz btw. Sorry Ronan.

[@h.hadley569]

When the hell are you going to watch The Substance ?? lol been waiting for your thoughts on that film.

[@jamespader]

probably won't be her cup of tea

[@firebirdrocket]

I do want to see all 3 of these. Dune Part II and The Substance remain my top 2. Emilia Perez is incredibly overrated.

[@randreydrive8111]

please review "i'm still here" 🙏🙏

[@fbueller]

#OscarForPam

[@Zay-e5p]

You are the best Grace! I cannot wait to discuss it in the comments. I have to say I’m nervous about how it’s gonna be quality wise, but I love Moana so I hope they did right by my girl. Also the music not done by Lin Manuel Miranda!? Thank you so much for building a wonderful community and caring for your BTT fam! Also I wanted to reply under your reply but I wanted to show some gratitude for you reading and responding to my comment ❤

[@BluePrada]

Luca flopping, hets being gloriously miscast, God is so good 🥰

[@luc9388]

Luca has an odd fascination with hetero men playing queer

[@lucasfrank8843]

Pleasantly surprised by the lack of token black characters in any of these movies. Bravo, Hollywood!

[@luc9388]

No Black people in Anora

[@lucasfrank8843]

@@luc9388 Good.

[@MichaelBriggs3]

Anora is so mid and overrated. Doesn't deserve any awards.

[@fernandozayas21]

All Men are He and Him and All Women are She and Her Got it 😅

[@mariagracielasayas2875]

All Men are He and Him All Women are She and Her Got it 😂

[@thedashdriver3969]

Conclave is a shallow underwhelming film with amateur storytelling pretending to be profound.

[@anthonyguadagnanoify]

It was actually very sophisticated visually and it's message is very nuanced, working on multiple levels.

[@anthonyguadagnanoify]

Anora won the Palme D'or in Cannes this year. I thought It would be mentionned by Grace from the get go. For this alone it would be a must watch. Emilia Perez also won acting awards for it's 3 leads. Another must watch.