Failed Oscar Campaigns: "The Sixth Sense" (1999)

Scene from The Sixth Sense

As awards seasons pick up, so do the campaigns to make your film have the best chances at the Best Picture race. However, like a drunken stupor, sometimes these efforts come off as trying too hard and leave behind a trailer of ridiculous flamboyance. Join me on every other Saturday for a highlight of the failed campaigns that make this season as much about prestige as it does about train wrecks. Come for the Harvey Weinstein comments and stay for the history. It's going to be a fun time as I explore cinema's rich history of attempting to matter.

The Runner-Ups: Bruce Willis in "Twelve Monkeys" (1995)

Bruce Willis in Twelve Monkeys

Every Oscar season, there are a handful of actors who get tagged with the "snubbed" moniker. While it is always unfortunate to see our favorites not honored with at very least a nomination, there's another trend that goes largely unnoticed: those who never even got that far. The Runner-Ups is a column meant to honor the greats in cinema who put in phenomenal work without getting the credit that they deserved from The Academy. Join me every Saturday as I honor those who never received any love. This list will hopefully come to cover both the acting community, and the many crew members who put the production together.

Review: "Looper" shows a promising future

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

The following review for Looper was originally published on CinemaBeach last Friday. The website covers mostly independent movies, but also occasionally covers movies with an indie mindset (i.e. Rian Johnson's latest). I am a regular critic there and post on a weekly basis. Please feel free to check out the website, where you can see more of my reviews. Not covered in this review is my opinions on if this film can earn a Best Picture nomination. Short response: it is good, but I don't think it's going to get nominated in fields outside of technical.

Can "Looper" Bring Some Sci-Fi Presence to the Best Picture Category?

Left to right: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis

UPDATE: I have posted a review for Looper here.

Now that the Oscar Buzz is entering its third week, we finally see the release of the much anticipated time travel film Looper. The film has been hyped as being one of the greatest in the genre. However, there's nothing more appealing than Gordon-Levitt continuing a winning streak this year by holding his own against seasoned veteran Bruce Willis. Even if the film delivers when it opens nationwide tomorrow and turns Johnson into the household name he deserves, will this science fiction film stand a chance at getting any momentum when it comes time for an Oscar?

Here are Reasons Why "Moonrise Kingdom" Deserves a Best Picture Nomination

Left to right: Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman

Is director Wes Anderson ready for a Best Director nomination? I'd like to think yes. With Moonrise Kingdom, he has taken the story of puppy love, transplanted it at summer camp, and turned it into one of the most endearing, heartfelt, and most of all original movies of the year. The leads Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman may have little experience at acting, but it doesn't show as they go through this light, breezy trip set to a retro soundtrack and features almost all of your favorite action actors in scout uniforms. How can this movie not be nominated for Best Picture?