Tag Archives: The Boy and the Heron

Oscars Winners 2024 — Predictions and Afterthought

Posted on March 11, 2024 | Leave a comment

I’ve accurately predicted 14 out of 23 categories, which comes out to about 60%. It’s not my lowest success rate over the past three years on Gold Derby, but it’s not my best either. I had a feeling I should have stuck with the winners of the precursor awards, but the Academy has a reputation for making unexpected choices sometimes. Overall, I’m quite content with the outcome. I really thought Lily would win Best Actress, but I also believe Emma was very much deserving of the recognition.

As for Best Original Song, I was particularly confident about “I’m Just Ken” because I feel that the Academy might go for something unexpected this year just to make noise. LOL

Wow, Poor Things overperformed! I was convinced Maestro had the makeup and hairstyling category locked down. Tough break, Bradley!

The Boy and the Heron taking the win is just fantastic news! I was on the edge of my seat, especially considering the strong campaign for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Seeing Hayao Miyazaki come out on top is truly gratifying.

A big round of applause for Godzilla Minus One as well! What a tremendous victory for Japan! Perfect Days should’ve won, tbh, but to each his own. 


Here are the the winners:

Best Picture – Oppenheimer

Best Director
Christopher Nolan — Oppenheimer

Best Actor
Cillian Murphy — Oppenheimer

Best Actress
Emma Stone — Poor Things
(I predicted Lily Gladstone for Killers of the Flower Moon)

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr. — Oppenheimer

Best Supporting Actress
Da’Vine Joy Randolph — The Holdovers

Best Adapted Screenplay
American Fiction
(I predicted Oppenheimer to get this)

Best Original Screenplay
Anatomy of a Fall
(I predicted The Holdovers to win this one)

Best Visual Effects
Godzilla Minus One

Best Costume Design
Poor Things
(I had Barbie here)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Poor Things
(I predicted Maestro here)

Best Cinematography
Oppenheimer

Best Production Design
Poor Things

Best Sound
The Zone of Interest

Best Film Editing
Oppenheimer

Best Original Score
Oppenheimer

Best Original Song
“What Was I Made For” — Barbie
(Tsk. I should have stuck with Billie here. I predicted I’m Just Ken to pull an upset instead)

Best Animated Short Film
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko
(I predicted Letter to a Pig)

Best Live-Action Short Film
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

Best Documentary Short Film
The Last Repair Shop
(I predicted The ABCs of Book Banning)

Best Documentary Feature Film
20 Days in Mariupol

Best International Feature Film
The Zone of Interest

Best Animated Feature Film
The Boy and the Heron

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Review: The Boy and The Heron (2023)

Posted on March 4, 2024 | Leave a comment

Nominated for Best Animated Feature.

The Boy and the Heron tells the story of a boy named Mahito (voiced by Soma Santoki), who, upon discovering an abandoned tower in his new town, ventures into a magical realm accompanied by a talking gray heron. Mahito, full of longing for his mother, travels to a realm where life and death coexist.

Watching my very first Hayao Miyazaki’s work on the big screen, I cannot help but be enchanted yet again by its meticulous animation. Each scene is a visual spectacle, transporting viewers into a world where everything feels like a new experience, even though the film is very reminiscent of the many Ghibli films from the director that we’ve come to love.

What I really appreciate about Miyazaki’s storytelling is that it is always thought-provoking and contemplative. The pacing of the film was initially slow, and its narrative seems confusing at times, but I think this ambiguity is precisely what makes it a great film because it invites its viewers to dig deeper, prompting exploration of the film’s underlying themes.

After watching the film, I was asking myself, “What did I just watch? But after a few days, while still thinking about what to write for my review, I figured that each viewer’s understanding—or rather, my understanding—is uniquely my own.

The Boy and the Heron is a captivating journey of masterful storytelling with top-notch animation that breathes life into each frame, evoking a poignant resonance that defies easy categorization because it engages its audience on a personal level based on personal experience and perspectives.

It is a testament to the power of Miyazaki’s storytelling. Whether it leaves you yearning for something undefined or sparks a newfound understanding, one thing is certain: Miyazaki’s masterwork is an experience that transcends the boundaries of cinema, leaving an indelible mark on those who dare to venture into its world.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Produced by: Toshio Suzuki
Starring: Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Aimyon, Yoshino Kimura, Shonei Hino, Ko Shibasaki, Takuya Kimura

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Hayao miyazaki’s the boy and the heron opens nov 29 in ph theaters!

Posted on November 15, 2023 | Leave a comment

It’s finally here! “The Boy and the Heron,” the newest film by Hayao Miyazaki, will debut in Philippine theaters on November 29 released by Encore Films Philippines via Warner Bros. Pictures.

Dubbed a “big fantastical film,” it centers on a boy named Mahito (voiced by Soma Santoki) who, upon discovering an abandoned tower in his new town, ventures into a magical realm accompanied by a talking grey heron. Mahito, full of longing for his mother, travels to a realm where life and death coexist.

This film is written and directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, with Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki producing.

I will be in Tokyo on the 29th but I’d definitely watch immediately after my return! Can’t wait!

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