Here's the List of the 842 New Academy Voting Members for 2019

Lady Gaga in A Star is Born (2018)

While the summer season is just heating up (literally and figuratively), it's also that point where The Academy welcomes in their new class of new voters. Last year saw a record-breaking 928 new invitations to join. While this year's 842 falls just shy of that total, it is by no means a sign that things are slowing down. In fact, things are actually looking better based on the numbers. The laws put into place by former president Cheryl Boone Isaacs to have more diversity is starting to become a reality, with female representation etching closer to 50% and overall diversity becoming more reflective of modern audiences. Who made the cut? You'll have to read on to find out.

Review: "First Man" is an Intense Ride to the Moon

Ryan Gosling in First Man

There is a power that director Damien Chazelle brings to the opening scene of his Neil Armstrong biopic First Man. Before the audience has had a chance to become acquainted with the world, he is already thrusting them out of it. Armstrong, played by Ryan Gosling, is pushing the limits of plane travel, throwing himself almost out of Earth's orbit. It is a claustrophobic moment, and one that features a strong intensity as Armstrong is left to wonder how he will survive. Will he even make it back to Earth? While the audience should know the answer, it's all perfectly unclear in the moment, capturing an early stage of space travel that is primitive and dangerous. There are no barriers. In just this opening scene, Chazelle has redefined the NASA film as a story about safety risks, all while pushing in on Armstrong's face - forcing the perspective to be the same as his, floating inside a man-made machine. It's the technique that makes First Man at times a powerful example of Chazelle's transition to big studio director. However, it also symbolizes the distance that Chazelle has at times from his supporting cast, who never get as much effort placed into them as Armstrong. It's not a terrible thing, but it keeps the film from feeling spectacular.