R.I.P. Sean Connery (1930-2020)

Sean Connery

On October 31, 2020, actor Sean Connery passed away at the age of 90. Over a storied career that saw him move from bodybuilding to sports and later acting, he proved to be one of the most successful Scottish actors in history. Among his most noteworthy accomplishments was originating the role of James Bond, launching one of the most successful film franchises in history. He also starred in films like The Man Who Would Be King as well as won an Oscar for his role in The Untouchable. It was a career of continual highs that always brought out the most charismatic turns, and his work more than speaks for itself. He will be missed for everything he has gave the world, and it's better off for having him if just for a short time.

Check This Out: Billie Eilish Sings the Latest Bond Song "No Time to Die"

There's going to be a lot of reason to talk about James Bond in 2020. It isn't just that this is the latest film in one of Britain's most popular franchises. It's also the 25th film and one that features the current Bond (Daniel Craig) stepping down after playing the role since Casino Royale in 2006. For the first time in almost 15 years, there are so many things up in the air for where things will go. However, there is one thing that will never go out of style: the Bond song. Just as Bond is expected to drive fancy cars and play with nifty gadgets, audiences have been expecting a new and definitive addition to the sonic canon of 007. This time around is one of the stranger choices with Billie Eilish taking on the role with the titular song for No Time to Die. If it's not the perfect kick-off for the Best Original Song contenders for next year, then nothing is.

Composing Greatness: #10. Thomas Newman - "Skyfall" (2012)

Scene from Skyfall

Welcome to Composing Greatness: a column dedicated to exploring the work of film composers. This will specifically focus on the films that earned them Oscar nominations while exploring what makes it so special. This will be broken down into a look at the overall style, interesting moments within the composition, and what made the score worth nominating in the first place. This will also include various subcategories where I will rank the themes of each film along with any time that the composer actually wins. This is a column meant to explore a side of film that doesn't get enough credit while hopefully introducing audiences to an enriched view of more prolific composers' work. This will only cover scores/songs that are compiled in an easily accessible format (so no extended scores will be considered). Join me every Sunday as I cover these talents that if you don't know by name, you recognize by sound.

R.I.P. Lewis Gilbert (1920-2018)

Lewis Gilbert

On February 23, 2018, director Lewis Gilbert died at the age of 97 in Monaco. Over a career spanning 60 years, he has continued to reinvent himself and work on exciting projects ranging from the film Alfie to three of the James Bond franchise's most successful and iconic films. He leaves behind a filmography that is unmatched in its diversity, capturing an excitement for what the medium can bring to entertainment. Even in his later years, he would produce memorable films like Educating Rita. Still, no matter what he would become known for, he brought a personality to his work that made him one of the most celebrated British directors of his generation. 

Best Song: "The Writing's On the Wall" (2015)

Welcome to Best Song, a new weekly column released on Sunday dedicated to chronicling the Best Original Song category over the course of its many decades. The goal is to listen to and critique every song that has ever been nominated in the category as well as find the Best Best Song and the Best Loser. By the end, we'll have a comprehensive list of this music category and will hopefully have a better understanding not only of the evolution, but what it takes to receive a nomination here. It may seem easy now, but wait until the bad years.

Best Song: "Skyfall" (2012)

Scene from Skyfall

Welcome to Best Song, a new weekly column released on Sunday dedicated to chronicling the Best Original Song category over the course of its many decades. The goal is to listen to and critique every song that has ever been nominated in the category as well as find the Best Best Song and the Best Loser. By the end, we'll have a comprehensive list of this music category and will hopefully have a better understanding not only of the evolution, but what it takes to receive a nomination here. It may seem easy now, but wait until the bad years.

R.I.P. George Martin (1926-2016)

George Martin

On March 8, 2016, George Martin died in his sleep at the age of 90 in Wiltshire, England. While he had a prolific career working behind the scenes in music, he is easily best remembered for his work with The Beatles - of whom he was a frequent collaborator. At one point he was so popular that he was considered to be "The Fifth Beatle" thanks to his occasional input on how to orchestrate songs, such as adding an orchestra to "Yesterday." Beyond this, he helped to compose music for dozens of performers as well as composed the theme songs for several James Bond films. His work is likely so popular that you have already heard it once today on the radio. His work continues to live on, even if the status of how much involvement he had with crafting the hits seems to be suspected by his collaborators.

R.I.P. Ken Adam (1921-2016)

Ken Adam

On March 10, 2016, production designer Ken Adam died at the age of 95 in London, England. Over the course of his career, and specifically between the 1960's and 1980's, he was known for designing some of the most iconic set pieces for the early James Bond films as well as additional work for Stanley Kubrick on the films Dr. Strangelove and Barry Lyndon, the latter of which he won his first of two Oscars for. He leaves behind an impressive, inimitable body of work that lasted for over 40 years and continues to serve as some of the most iconic imagery in sci-fi and action film history.

The Top 10 Worst Moments of This Year's Oscars

Sam Smith

While 2016's Oscars ceremony may end up going down as one of the best in recent years, it isn't like it was without any faults. Like most years, you have to take the good with the bad, and this year featured some noteworthy standouts. The following is a rundown of the 10 moments form the ceremony that were a little cringe-worthy and maybe will be the butt of jokes for when people think back on this year's Oscars. Is Sam Smith solely to blame for it, especially after he said that it was the worst night of his life? Not exactly, but his dozens of red flags definitely don't help either. He's just one problem in a series of problems.

Best Song: "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" (1981)

Scene from Arthur

Welcome to Best Song, a new weekly column released on Sunday dedicated to chronicling the Best Original Song category over the course of its many decades. The goal is to listen to and critique every song that has ever been nominated in the category as well as find the Best Best Song and the Best Loser. By the end, we'll have a comprehensive list of this music category and will hopefully have a better understanding not only of the evolution, but what it takes to receive a nomination here. It may seem easy now, but wait until the bad years.

Best Song: "You Light Up My Life" (1977)

Welcome to Best Song, a new weekly column released on Sunday dedicated to chronicling the Best Original Song category over the course of its many decades. The goal is to listen to and critique every song that has ever been nominated in the category as well as find the Best Best Song and the Best Loser. By the end, we'll have a comprehensive list of this music category and will hopefully have a better understanding not only of the evolution, but what it takes to receive a nomination here. It may seem easy now, but wait until the bad years.

Theory Thursday: We Need to Revamp the Best Original Score Category

Scene from Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

The Full Length Trailer for "Spectre" is Bond Doing Bond in Bondly Ways

Daniel Craig

One of the many big movies of the Fall is likely to be the latest film in the James Bond series. Following the critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated Skyfall, director Sam Mendes returns to deliver Spectre. As one can expect, there will likely be more of the familiar espionage and fast cars to keep fans of the British spy series entertained. Today marks the release of the first full trailer, which co-stars Daniel Craig and Christoph Waltz and sees the hero going on his 24th adventure. In predictable fashion, it looks just about as good as the recent Bond movies get.

Birthday Take: Adele in "Skyfall" (2012)

Daniel Craig in Skyfall

Welcome to The Birthday Take, a column dedicated to celebrating Oscar nominees and winners' birthdays by paying tribute to the work that got them noticed. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive retrospective, but more of a highlight of one nominated work that makes them noteworthy. The column will run whenever there is a birthday and will hopefully give a dense exploration of the finest performances and techniques applied to film. So please join me as we blow out the candles and dig into the delicious substance.

Dear Academy: Enough with the James Bond Love!

Daniel Craig in Skyfall

When I wrote about Adele's Skyfall theme a few months ago, I predicted that it would be the extent to the film's Oscar chances.  Then things began to pick up and suddenly it feels like James Bond will be integral to this year's ceremonies. With five nominations, Skyfall is making out to be one of the most renowned Bond films that the Academy has ever dealt with. However, it feels like the love doesn't stop there. With the franchise celebrating 50 years, it feels like this quite possibly could be the year when Bond infiltrates the Oscars in a bad, bad way.

Can Adele's Theme for "Skyfall" Finally Get James Bond a Best Original Song Award?

It has been quite a year for the James Bond franchise. Starting with the Olympics Opening Ceremony in London, England, the British spy has jumped out of an airplane with Queen Elizabeth II and is now set to release a new movie starring Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, and Judi Dench and is directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty). With Skyfall opening on November 9, fans have eagerly been awaiting the release of the traditional movie theme. This time, it is from multiple Grammy-winning artist Adele. The song recently hit the internet. Does it stand a chance of winning Best Original Song?