Theory Thursday: "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (2005) is Overrated

Scene from Mr. & Mrs. Smith

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. 

Why I Hate the "Oscars So White" Campaign

It's the happiest time of the year for fans of movie award shows. For better or worse, the Academy Awards are perceived as the pinnacle of cinema in any given year. In fact, there's very little to argue against this, considering that when someone "bad" happens, the internet gets into a frenzy over a few poor judgment calls. While this is a warranted comment on a society desiring further equal representation in their pop culture media, it is also a little uninformed. With the slogan "Oscars so white" popping up on Twitter, there's concern that 2014's nominees is the least diverse in 20 years. This is true, but please stop acting like this is a new outrage.

Review: "Unbroken" is Good at War, Not on Inspiration

More than any other film genre, the Oscars have had a love affair with war films. Starting in 1927 with first Best Picture winner Wings, there have been 20 winners based on historical wars including the Vietnam War and more popularly World War II. It is a genre that seems tailored for the award, especially with its mixture of common men becoming something greater and the inevitable cinema that comes with horrific war scenes. At best, they're inspirational journeys with subliminal patriotism. Why am I bringing this up? Because it does honestly feel like director Angelina Jolie read the handbook on Oscar bait with her admirable yet flawed war film Unbroken, which strives for hope but is stuck in conventions.

A Look at the Middling Early Reviews for "Unbroken"

Jack O'Connell

For a lot of Oscar pundits, director Angelina Jolie's Unbroken has long been considered the potential front runner. The most notable reason for this is its prime Christmas Day release sided alongside the fact that we have seen almost everything else, and nothing has really stood out. While The Spirit Awards likely give some insight into the potential nominees, there hasn't been one that is as blatant as last year's 12 Years a Slave. These are all valid reasons for thinking that this will be the one to beat, notably because the trailer is rather astounding. However, reports have come back and the film doesn't look as confident as it once did. Some people like it, but those expecting a masterpiece may be left disappointed.

The Second "Unbroken" Trailer Gives Us a Look at Lot of Potential Greatness

Jack O'Connell

Among the many films coming out this Christmas, there isn't a single one with as much Oscar buzz as director Angelina Jolie's Unbroken. While this isn't her first directorial effort (In the Land of Blood and Honey), it looks like her sophomore effort has a lot more going for it. It feels focused and takes a rather interesting angle on a familiar subject. With the second trailer recently released, the film feels more confident than ever to be one to look out for. It may feature a lot of familiar footage, but it introduces new scenes and a whole lot of reasons to care about the film.

A Look at the Recipients of This Year's Governors Awards

Left to right: Angelina Jolie, Angela Lansbury, and Steve Martin

This past Sunday, the Academy held their annual Governor's Awards to honor individuals who have done a great deal of work towards cinema. Over the many years, the list of recipients have ranged in overall quality and much like Steve Martin this year, some haven't even received a nomination in their career. While it is a shame that the honorary awards are not recognized at the Academy Awards ceremony like the other awards, it is nice to see them getting their moment to shine. Most of the highlights have been posted on the Oscars' Youtube page for your casual viewing. To honor the four recipients, I have compiled a look at each of the attendees history with the Academy Awards and share some personal thoughts as well.