Acclaimed screenwriter-director Adam McKay (The Big Short) is set to receive the Writers Guild of America West’s 2019 Paul Selvin Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in writing for his audacious and subversively comedic film Vice, an unconventional, behind-the-scenes look at former Vice President Dick Cheney’s stealthy rise from Congressional intern to the most powerful man on the planet.
The WGAW’s special award is given for a script which “best embodies the spirit of the constitutional and civil rights and liberties that are indispensable to the survival of free writers everywhere.” McKay will be honored at the WGAW’s 2019 Writers Guild Awards L.A. show on Sunday, February 17.
“Vice is that unique accomplishment of an exhaustively researched screenplay that wrestles with serious, complex questions of freedom and democracy, but never loses sight of the humanity (or lack thereof) of its characters. It is an inspiring piece of work, and the Paul Selvin Committee and the WGAW Board of Directors are thrilled to give Adam McKay this award,” said WGAW President David A. Goodman.
“I am thrilled to receive this tremendous honor on behalf of our film, Vice. Paul Selvin dedicated his life to shining a light on how essential constitutional rights and a free speech are to democratic societies. I hope we lived up to his spirit by making a film that depicts how misinformation, unchecked power and the erosion of civil liberties can lead to devastating and deadly consequences,” remarked Selvin Award honoree McKay.
Earning a 2019 WGA Original Screenplay nomination, McKay’s script covers half a century, challenging audiences as it mixes genres, breaks the fourth wall, includes a mock ending, and features a rogue’s gallery of acutely observed political figures who have regularly appeared in our nation’s collective news feed over the years: Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carrell), Colin Powell (Tyler Perry), Condoleezza Rice (LisaGay Hamilton), Scooter Libby (Justin Kirk), and more.
An Annapurna Pictures release, Vice has garnered multiple accolades so far this awards season, including earning eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for McKay. The film also received six Golden Globes nominations, including Best Screenplay and Director for McKay, and Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), and earned a Golden Globe for Christian Bale, as well as two Critics’ Choices Awards for his lead performance (Best Actor and Best Actor in a Comedy), among the film’s nine BFCA noms; six BAFTA nominations (including Best Original Screenplay for McKay); a DGA nom for McKay (Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures); and a PGA nom (Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures).
Writers Guild Awards and Oscar-winning screenwriter-director-producer McKay first made his name in the comedy world as a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade. In 1995, McKay and actor Will Ferrell started on the same day at NBC’s hit late-night comedy sketch series Saturday Night Live, where McKay served as a writer on the show for six years, ultimately rising to Head Writer. During his time on SNL, McKay won a 2010 Writers Guild Award for Comedy/Variety Series, as well as earned two WGA noms for the series in 2001 and 2002, in addition to an Emmy nom (2001, Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program).
McKay and Ferrell’s time at SNL led to successful collaborations that established their unique style, starting with the modern comedy classic Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004, Written by Ferrell & McKay) followed by the hit Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006, Written by Ferrell & McKay), both directed by McKay. Since forming the Gary Sanchez production company in 2006, McKay has continued to deliver a string of hit movies he has written (often with Ferrell) and directed, including Step Brothers (2008, Screenplay by Ferrell & McKay, Story by Ferrell & McKay & John C. Reilly), The Other Guys (2010, Written by McKay & Chris Henchy) and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013, Written by Ferrell & McKay). He has also produced numerous comedies, including The Campaign (2012, which he shared story credit on), Get Hard (2015, for which he shared story credit), Daddy’s Home (2015) and Daddy’s Home 2 (2017), as well as indie films such as Welcome to Me (2015).
In 2015, McKay and Charles Randolph adapted Michael Lewis’s New York Times best-selling book, The Big Short, to create a smart, dense satire which dissected the financial crisis of 2007-2008. McKay and Randolph won Academy, Writers Guild, BAFTA, and USC Scripter Awards for their adapted screenplay, and the acclaimed film received Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture. McKay also earned Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations for Best Director, and the picture earned a 2016 Producers Guild Award for Best Picture.
McKay’s additional screenwriting credits include co-writing 2015’s box-office superhero hit Ant-Man (Screenplay by Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish and Adam McKay & Paul Rudd, Story by Wright & Cornish). In 2017, McKay executive produced and directed the pilot for HBO’s Succession, and served as executive producer on the Hulu series I Love You, America.
Writing for television, McKay has earned three consecutive Emmy noms for his work on Drunk History (Outstanding Variety Sketch Series) in 2015, 2016, and 2017, as well as a 2009 Emmy nom for his work on You’re Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush (Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special).
His upcoming feature film projects include Bad Blood, starring Jennifer Lawrence as Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the controversial blood-test company Theranos, as well as Irredeemable, a Boom! Comics comic book adaptation.
Named after the late Paul Selvin, general counsel to the Guild for 25 years, the WGAW’s special achievement award is given each year to a WGA member(s) whose script best embodies the spirit of the constitutional and civil rights and liberties that are indispensable to the survival of free writers everywhere and to which Selvin devoted his professional life. Previous Selvin recipients include Tony Kushner, Margaret Nagle, Dustin Lance Black, Eric Roth, Alex Gibney, Tate Taylor, John McNamara, Susannah Grant, and most recently Liz Hannah and Josh Singer.

Movie
Review of “Good Bad Ugly”

Director: Adhik Ravichandran
Starring: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Das, Trisha, Simran
Genre: Action / Crime Drama
Rating: 4.5/5
“Good Bad Ugly” centers on Red Dragon (Ajith Kumar), a notorious gangster who chooses to surrender himself in the hopes of turning over a new leaf and reuniting with his estranged son. However, when unforeseen threats emerge, Red Dragon is forced to step back into the dangerous underworld to protect the only family he has left.
“Good Bad Ugly” plays to the strengths of Ajith Kumar, delivering a fan-pleasing portrayal of both his vintage villainy and his matured emotional depth. Ajith’s powerful screen presence, coupled with his iconic voice, shines against Arjun Das’s brooding and intense new-age antagonist, creating an electric old-school versus new-school dynamic. The nostalgic return of Simran is a clever nod to longtime fans, bringing heart and familiarity. Trisha brings a strong, grounded performance as the moral compass in Red Dragon’s life, helping move the emotional threads of the story. The film smartly balances action, comedy, and sentimental fan-service moments.
While the film delivers on fan expectations, its narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing and deeper character development for its supporting cast. Some plot conveniences and an overreliance on nostalgia may limit broader audience appeal beyond the fanbase. Certain dramatic beats felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional resonance to fully land.
The ambition to blend high-octane action with heavy emotional stakes sometimes leads to tonal inconsistencies. At moments, the shift from gritty underworld drama to lighter fan moments feels abrupt. Additionally, though Ajith Kumar’s effort to showcase his dancing skills is commendable and welcomed by fans, it slightly disrupts the otherwise darker tone the film establishes.
“Good Bad Ugly” is a tribute to Ajith Kumar’s enduring legacy, offering vintage thrills while teasing new dimensions to his craft. It’s a solid entertainer that successfully taps into fan nostalgia while hinting at an exciting evolution for AK. While not without its flaws, the film’s heart, energy, and performances make it a must-watch for fans and a compelling action-drama for broader audiences.
Streaming
Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies

In these uncertain times, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned horror movie. Unfortunately, Presence is not an old-fashioned horror movie. Yet, as I discovered, this is a good thing!
When I heard about the premise of this movie, I was intrigued. The stylishly subtle trailer was, appropriately, haunting. And was that Lucy Liu? A haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost? As a seasoned horror movie buff, I was all in!
Like the majority of people I missed the films brief theatrical release. Luckily I was able to catch it on streaming. Visually the film is easy to enjoy from your own home, as it’s rather cosy looking. I never thought I’d be describing a horror movie as ‘cosy’ looking but it’s true! This is not a James Wan type creepy, dusty, decrepit house harbouring a haunting. No, this is a 100 year old jewel toned, oak finished colonial style home.
Despite this the story follows the beats we are all familiar with: troubled family of four move into a new house. The big deviation from the trope is we, the audience, are seeing events unfold from the POV of the ghost or presence.
Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) chose to film the entire piece using a small (14mm) hand-held digital camera. Soderbergh himself acted as the ‘presence’ following the actors around. From the audiences perspective it is like watching the family through a barrier or pane of glass. Cleverly, windows and mirrors are hugely prominent and integral throughout.
The presence mainly follows and tries to interact with the daughter of the family, Chloe (Callina Liang), who has recently suffered the trauma of her best friend dying suddenly. Through Soderbergh’s experimental filming, we feel the dysphoria and frustration the ‘ghost’ is feeling at trying to affect the world around it, particularly during the anxiety-inducing final scene!
However, in what could be yet another mismarketing of a film, the trailer promised to be the ‘scariest movie you will see this year’ and ‘terrifying’; instead, they delivered this subversive, character-driven, family drama. If you are expecting jump scares and dramatic music stings, this is not your movie. I could understand if someone was disappointed that the only seemingly scary thing is the mother’s and son’s relationship, right up until the gut-punch of the final scene.
Presence is definitely a slow burn, tension building until the final scene, and the unveiling of the ‘presence’ giving us a new understanding of the whole story. The ending is disturbing and stays with you as you re-analyse earlier scenes.
My one complaint is that the character Ryan (West Mulholland) with his Chesney Hawkes hair, perhaps needed more subtlety. The rest of the cast was completely solid and believable as a family with so many unspoken issues.
I wouldn’t recommend this film for everybody but maybe be as so bold to say it’s a horror movie for people that don’t like horror movies. It’s well-lit and cerebral with realistically flawed characters.
Presence is available to stream.
Three and a half stars.
Streaming
Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Historical
Runtime: Each episode runs approximately 20-30 minutes
Director: Lin Hun (also the Creator)
Studio: Samsara Animation Studio
Main Voice Actors (Chinese Cast):Liu Zhi Shi as Wen Ren Yu Xuan Zhou Qi as Shen Nong Fang Yuan as Xuan
Overview
Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a breathtaking Chinese anime (donghua) that merges traditional Chinese ink-painting aesthetics with high-intensity martial arts action. Created and directed by Lin Hun, this series delivers a spellbinding visual experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, mainstream Japanese anime. Produced by Samsara Animation Studio, the anime is a labor of love, known for its hand-drawn animation and meticulous detail.
Set in a mythological world where elemental beasts roam free, the series follows the Five Elemental Envoys tasked with protecting humanity. The story focuses on Wen Ren Yu Xuan, the Fire Envoy, whose actions set off a chain of events threatening the delicate balance between humans and beasts. The tale is steeped in Chinese folklore and myth, weaving a complex narrative of duty, power, and sacrifice.
Without question, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is one of the most visually stunning animated series in recent memory. The blend of traditional Chinese ink wash painting with modern dynamic action scenes is masterful. Every frame looks like a moving scroll painting, with fluid character movements and kinetic fight choreography that puts many mainstream series to shame.
The characters are deeply tied to traditional archetypes found in Chinese legends but are fleshed out with emotional depth and conflict. Voice acting by Liu Zhi Shi, Zhou Qi, and Fang Yuan brings authenticity and gravitas to their respective roles. The dialogue is steeped in poetic language, enhancing the mythic feel of the story.
The soundtrack complements the epic visuals with traditional Chinese instrumentation mixed with modern elements. The sound design heightens the impact of every battle and emotional moment.
Rating: 9/10
Fog Hill of the Five Elements earns a 9 out of 10 for its groundbreaking animation style, deep mythological storytelling, and heart-pounding action. The only downside is its limited number of episodes and slow release schedule, which leaves fans craving more.
Pros
- Unparalleled hand-drawn animation
- Unique art direction inspired by traditional Chinese painting
- Rich mythological lore
- Epic fight choreography
Cons
- Sparse episode release
- Story pacing can be uneven at times
Final Verdict 9/10
If you’re an anime enthusiast or a fan of animation artistry, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a must-watch. Its fusion of stunning visuals, martial arts action, and mythological storytelling makes it one of the standout titles in modern animation. Whether you’re into Japanese anime or Chinese donghua, this series deserves a spot on your watchlist.