Challengers

Lead vs. Supporting Conundrums: 2024 Edition

January 13, 2025

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Respect. (CREDIT: Golden Globes/Screenshot)

You may have noticed that trophies are being handed out more than usual lately. You may have also noticed that the organizations that deliver those awards may be making questionable categorization decisions.

Around this time of year, I like to assess the situation and offer my own take on certain dilemmas, in particular whether a certain movie performance was a Lead or Supporting role. To be fair to the Oscars and other awards ceremonies, these decisions are subjective and not always clear. Reasonable people can disagree on these matters. But I’m not one to have my enthusiasm dampened my ambiguity!

Ergo, here is a selection of performances from 2024 getting awards attention and whether I think they should be considered Lead or Supporting.

(There are still a few movies in the awards conversation that I haven’t seen yet, so I may update my thoughts if I feel compelled to.)

The Challenges of Ungentlemanly Tennis

April 29, 2024

jmunney Cinema, Movie Reviews Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Babs Olusanmokun, Cary Elwes, Challengers, Danny Sapani, Eiza González, Freddie Fox, Guy Ritchie, Henrique Zaga, Henry Cavill, Henry Golding, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Josh O'Connor, Luca Guadagnino, Mike Faist, Rory Kinnear, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Til Schweiger, Zendaya Leave a comment

Ungentlemanly Warfare, huh, what is it good for? CREDIT: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/Lionsgate

Starring: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Running Time: 131 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: April 26, 2024 (Theaters)

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

Starring: Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Henry Golding, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusanmokun, Cary Elwes, Til Schweiger, Henrique Zaga, Rory Kinnear, Danny Sapani, Freddie Fox

Director: Guy Ritchie

Running Time: 120 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: April 19, 2024 (Theaters)

Entertainment To-Do List: Week of 4/26/24

April 26, 2024

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Daaaaaa Bates (CREDIT: PBS/Screenshot)

Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.

Movies
–Boy Kills World (Theaters)
–Challengers (Theaters) – I’ve enjoyed “S&M” in the trailer.

TV
-White House Correspondents’ Dinner (April 27 on C-SPAN) – Colin Jost hosts.
–The Real Story of Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office (April 28 on PBS)
–Jeopardy! Masters Season 2 Premiere (May 1 on ABC)

Music
-Justice, Hyperdrama
-Pet Shop Boys, Nonetheless
-St. Vincent, All Born Screaming

jmunney’s Top Cinematic Choices for April 2024

April 1, 2024

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Messin’ with Sasquatches (CREDIT: Bleecker Street/Screenshot)

They keep making new movies, and some of them are even worth watching. Here’s what’s at the top of the slate for April 2024:

Civil War: I don’t want a Second Civil War to happen in the United States! But I’m happy to watch a fictional version on the big screen. Alex Garland writes and directs.

Civil War breaks out in theaters on April 12.