Film Review: Ad Astra

Occasional fits of brilliance keep us wondering what could have been

Brad Pitt, seen here not actually podcasting, but starring in James Gray’s Ad Astra.

At the top of many published lists of anticipated films for 2019 was James Gray’s Ad Astra, starring Brad Pitt as an astronaut sent out into space to solve a mystery involving his father (Tommy Lee Jones), who had been a legendary astronaut himself before disappearing years ago while commanding a mission to the outer reaches of the solar system. Coming from respected director James Gray with a stellar cast and crew, many were dismayed when the movie was delayed, supposedly to work on “visual effects.” Is this the case, or were the more nefarious “studio notes” in play?

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Film Feature: Carrie and Chris Pick the 2019 Oscars

Film critics Carrie and Chris on who will – and who should – win the 91st Academy Awards

The 91st Academy Awards air this Sunday, February 24th, on ABC at 5:00 pm PST (with the requisite pre-show fashion assessments starting hours before). As they did last year, Spinning Platters film critics Carrie Kahn and Chris Piper share their predictions – and hopes – for the major categories.  Guild awards – often harbingers of Oscars to come – have been all over the map this year, so there may actually be some genuine surprises. Tune in on Sunday to see how things play out, and to find out if we correctly read the minds of Academy voters.

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