The latest #BackRowThoughts takes a look at three more animated films from the last couple months!
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Autumn-ation, Part 2 actuallypaid.com/2025/12/03/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Autumn-ation, Part 2 actuallypaid.com/2025/12/03/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Animation Autumn-ation, Part 2
Awards Season is firmly underway, and we’re getting ever so close to the main event. The Independent Spirit Awards announced their nominees this morning, and the Golden Globes will reveal the…
actuallypaid.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:07 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts takes a look at three more animated films from the last couple months!
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Autumn-ation, Part 2 actuallypaid.com/2025/12/03/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Autumn-ation, Part 2 actuallypaid.com/2025/12/03/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts continues the quest to be an animation completist with entries that had theatrical runs this fall!
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Autumn-ation, Part 1 actuallypaid.com/2025/11/23/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Autumn-ation, Part 1 actuallypaid.com/2025/11/23/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Animation Autumn-ation, Part 1
If you tuned in to the blog today hoping to see my review of Wicked for Good, all I can say is… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!*deep inhale*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! All jokes aside, I wi…
actuallypaid.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:17 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts continues the quest to be an animation completist with entries that had theatrical runs this fall!
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Autumn-ation, Part 1 actuallypaid.com/2025/11/23/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Autumn-ation, Part 1 actuallypaid.com/2025/11/23/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts column deals with two naked attempts to score acting Oscars that, I'm sorry, I just didn't care for.
Back Row Thoughts - Please Give Me an Oscar I Don't Deserve actuallypaid.com/2025/01/08/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Please Give Me an Oscar I Don't Deserve actuallypaid.com/2025/01/08/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Please Give Me an Oscar I Don’t Deserve
I make no secret that I am not a fan of what I refer to as “Best Actor/Actress Showcase” films, movies that only exist to spotlight a particular performer, usually one who has been cele…
actuallypaid.com
January 9, 2025 at 6:08 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts column deals with two naked attempts to score acting Oscars that, I'm sorry, I just didn't care for.
Back Row Thoughts - Please Give Me an Oscar I Don't Deserve actuallypaid.com/2025/01/08/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Please Give Me an Oscar I Don't Deserve actuallypaid.com/2025/01/08/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts column looks at four animated films I took in over a single day as part of my birthday celebrations!
Back Row Thoughts - Wheel of Four Toons actuallypaid.com/2025/08/17/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Wheel of Four Toons actuallypaid.com/2025/08/17/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Wheel of Four Toons
Tomorrow is my birthday, so this weekend I decided I would celebrate a little bit by returning to the multiplex. Despite my financial woes, it is still my goal to stay as far ahead of the potential…
actuallypaid.com
August 18, 2025 at 7:26 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts column looks at four animated films I took in over a single day as part of my birthday celebrations!
Back Row Thoughts - Wheel of Four Toons actuallypaid.com/2025/08/17/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Wheel of Four Toons actuallypaid.com/2025/08/17/b...
The latest edition of #BackRowThoughts looks at three documentaries viewed over the last 18 months that are now competing for the Oscar!
Back Row Thoughts - Late Doc Appointments actuallypaid.com/2025/11/21/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Late Doc Appointments actuallypaid.com/2025/11/21/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Late Doc Appointments
Over the course of a given year, I wind up providing coverage for a number of film festivals for my friends at No Rest for the Weekend. This includes the Brooklyn Film Festival, Tribeca, Slamdance,…
actuallypaid.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:26 AM
The latest edition of #BackRowThoughts looks at three documentaries viewed over the last 18 months that are now competing for the Oscar!
Back Row Thoughts - Late Doc Appointments actuallypaid.com/2025/11/21/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Late Doc Appointments actuallypaid.com/2025/11/21/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts looks at three early animated entries that all deal with gods and monsters!
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Mythologization actuallypaid.com/2025/04/14/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Mythologization actuallypaid.com/2025/04/14/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Animation Mythologization
It’s the middle of April, so why in God’s name am I already doing batch reviews of animated films? Well, there are a few reasons. First is that I’m already super stoked for next y…
actuallypaid.com
April 15, 2025 at 7:24 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts looks at three early animated entries that all deal with gods and monsters!
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Mythologization actuallypaid.com/2025/04/14/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Mythologization actuallypaid.com/2025/04/14/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts takes a look at three more hopefuls for #AnimatedFeature!
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Circulation actuallypaid.com/2025/01/06/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Circulation actuallypaid.com/2025/01/06/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Animation Circulation
We’re less than two weeks from Oscar nominations, and I’m doing my level best to clear out as many possible contenders as I can. I’m more than halfway through the Documentary Feat…
actuallypaid.com
January 7, 2025 at 6:52 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts takes a look at three more hopefuls for #AnimatedFeature!
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Circulation actuallypaid.com/2025/01/06/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Animation Circulation actuallypaid.com/2025/01/06/b...
The Latest #BackRowThoughts column looks at three anime (or anime-inspired) films that may or may not compete for the Animated Feature Oscar next year!
Back Row Thoughts - Ani-Maybe? actuallypaid.com/2025/09/13/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Ani-Maybe? actuallypaid.com/2025/09/13/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Ani-Maybe?
The annual quest to complete the Animated Feature category before it starts is a goal I’ve come painfully close to achieving for years now. Every time that I’ve attempted the feat, I…
actuallypaid.com
September 14, 2025 at 5:10 AM
The Latest #BackRowThoughts column looks at three anime (or anime-inspired) films that may or may not compete for the Animated Feature Oscar next year!
Back Row Thoughts - Ani-Maybe? actuallypaid.com/2025/09/13/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Ani-Maybe? actuallypaid.com/2025/09/13/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts looks at the final four films on the #DocumentaryFeature shortlist, and at long last clears out my 2024 review backlog!
Back Row Thoughts - The True Warriors actuallypaid.com/2025/02/16/b...
Back Row Thoughts - The True Warriors actuallypaid.com/2025/02/16/b...
Back Row Thoughts – The True Warriors
Believe it or not, folks, this is the end of my backlog! At long last, every feature I saw for the 2024 canon will get its proper review, and I can move on to 2025 stuff (I already have four new re…
actuallypaid.com
February 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts looks at the final four films on the #DocumentaryFeature shortlist, and at long last clears out my 2024 review backlog!
Back Row Thoughts - The True Warriors actuallypaid.com/2025/02/16/b...
Back Row Thoughts - The True Warriors actuallypaid.com/2025/02/16/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts column finishes our tour of eight films on the International Feature shortlist!
Back Row Thoughts - Jet-Setting, Part Two actuallypaid.com/2025/01/28/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Jet-Setting, Part Two actuallypaid.com/2025/01/28/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Jet-Setting, Part Two
The Oscar Blitz begins proper in 24 hours, people. The annual marathon labor of love is just a day away! I’m so excited I can’t sleep! I’m also running myself ragged and begging f…
actuallypaid.com
January 29, 2025 at 6:49 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts column finishes our tour of eight films on the International Feature shortlist!
Back Row Thoughts - Jet-Setting, Part Two actuallypaid.com/2025/01/28/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Jet-Setting, Part Two actuallypaid.com/2025/01/28/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts column looks at the four remaining films to review for this year's #Oscar Blitz!
Back Row Thoughts - A Compressed Blitz actuallypaid.com/2025/02/01/b...
Back Row Thoughts - A Compressed Blitz actuallypaid.com/2025/02/01/b...
Back Row Thoughts – A Compressed Blitz
It’s been just over a week since the Oscar nominations were announced, and the annual Blitz is already in progress. The timeline is extremely tight this year, with only five and a half weeks …
actuallypaid.com
February 2, 2025 at 7:41 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts column looks at the four remaining films to review for this year's #Oscar Blitz!
Back Row Thoughts - A Compressed Blitz actuallypaid.com/2025/02/01/b...
Back Row Thoughts - A Compressed Blitz actuallypaid.com/2025/02/01/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts looks at four more films from the #DocumentaryFeature shortlist!
Back Row Thoughts - The True Killers actuallypaid.com/2025/02/08/b...
Back Row Thoughts - The True Killers actuallypaid.com/2025/02/08/b...
Back Row Thoughts – The True Killers
A few weeks ago, I began my crash course through this year’s Documentary Feature shortlist. I make it my mission every year to see all 15 semifinalists, preferably before Oscar nominations ar…
actuallypaid.com
February 9, 2025 at 7:35 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts looks at four more films from the #DocumentaryFeature shortlist!
Back Row Thoughts - The True Killers actuallypaid.com/2025/02/08/b...
Back Row Thoughts - The True Killers actuallypaid.com/2025/02/08/b...
With Oscar nominations delayed, the latest #BackRowThoughts gives me a chance to look at three International submissions that sadly didn't make the cut.
Back Row Thoughts - The End of the Festivities actuallypaid.com/2025/01/13/b...
Back Row Thoughts - The End of the Festivities actuallypaid.com/2025/01/13/b...
Back Row Thoughts – The End of the Festivities
Well, folks. I have good news and bad news. The bad news, as was announced today, is that the Oscar Blitz will be somewhat delayed this year. The Academy decided today to postpone the reveal of the…
actuallypaid.com
January 14, 2025 at 7:36 AM
With Oscar nominations delayed, the latest #BackRowThoughts gives me a chance to look at three International submissions that sadly didn't make the cut.
Back Row Thoughts - The End of the Festivities actuallypaid.com/2025/01/13/b...
Back Row Thoughts - The End of the Festivities actuallypaid.com/2025/01/13/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts column looks at four films that made the Academy shortlist for International Feature!
Back Row Thoughts - Jet-Setting, Part One actuallypaid.com/2025/01/27/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Jet-Setting, Part One actuallypaid.com/2025/01/27/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Jet-Setting, Part One
The countdown to the 97th Academy Awards is officially underway, and in 48 hours, I’ll begin the Oscar Blitz in earnest with the first category breakdown. However, there’s still one maj…
actuallypaid.com
January 28, 2025 at 4:45 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts column looks at four films that made the Academy shortlist for International Feature!
Back Row Thoughts - Jet-Setting, Part One actuallypaid.com/2025/01/27/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Jet-Setting, Part One actuallypaid.com/2025/01/27/b...
The latest #BackRowThoughts looks at three more International Feature submissions that didn't make the December shortlist, all of which mess with time in some way!
Back Row Thoughts - Back and Forth actuallypaid.com/2025/01/20/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Back and Forth actuallypaid.com/2025/01/20/b...
Back Row Thoughts – Back and Forth
With just a few days to go until Oscar nominations come out, the great clearing of the backlog continues. I’ve watched a LOT of movies over the last month, trying to be as thorough in the lea…
actuallypaid.com
January 21, 2025 at 9:22 AM
The latest #BackRowThoughts looks at three more International Feature submissions that didn't make the December shortlist, all of which mess with time in some way!
Back Row Thoughts - Back and Forth actuallypaid.com/2025/01/20/b...
Back Row Thoughts - Back and Forth actuallypaid.com/2025/01/20/b...