Review: "Soul" Comes Together For a Mesmerizing Experience

Scene from Soul (2020)

What has always made the realm of animation at times superior is the endless possibilities. There are no commitments to the familiar, and yet sometimes it's often more real. Few directors have understood this as well as Pete Docter, who has used the abstract to understand everything from our fears (Monsters Inc.) to cognitive function (Inside Out). With his latest, he has continued to outdo himself in the realm of fantasy, finding a wondrous way to explore the most abstract thing that's fundamental to the human condition. What drives our soul to continue pursuing passions, to live a life that isn't, ahem, "soulless." Using the vibrant background of a jazz musician, the story unfolds into the surreal, introducing high concepts in accessible ways. What makes this all a miracle is how easily everything goes down, finding equal parts entertainment and inspiration in every scene. Whatever Docter is doing continues to work, even if it's a bit raggedy and confusing at times. 

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Black Panther" (2018)

Scene from Black Panther (2018)

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.

Composing Greatness: #9. The Musical or Comedy Scores - "James and the Giant Peach" (1996)

Scene from James and the Giant Peach

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.

Composing Greatness: #8. The Musical or Comedy Scores - "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996)

Scene from The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

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.

Composing Greatness: #4.The Musical or Comedy Scores - "Toy Story" (1995)

Composing Greatness: #1.The Musical or Comedy Scores - "Pocahontas" (1995)

Scene from Pocahontas

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.

Every Best Picture Nominee of the 2010's Ranked: #30-34

Scene from Arrival (2016)

As 2019 reached its end, another decade of cinema had passed. It's amazing to think about how things have evolved since 2010 when the biggest controversies were about recognizing genre movies. Things look different now, especially as genre films like The Shape of Water and Parasite are winning Best Picture and the voting body looks incredibly different with each passing year. With this period in the books, it feels like a good time to celebrate their accomplishments by ranking all 88 titles nominated for Best Picture from worst to best with the goal of seeing which films are more likely to stand the test of time. Join me every Saturday and Sunday as I count them down, five at a time. It's going to be a fun summer looking back on what was, especially as we prepare for the decade ahead and an even more interesting diversity that we haven't even begun to think of.

Every Best Picture Nominee of the 2010's Ranked: #40-44

Scene from The King's Speech (2010)

As 2019 reached its end, another decade of cinema had passed. It's amazing to think about how things have evolved since 2010 when the biggest controversies were about recognizing genre movies. Things look different now, especially as genre films like The Shape of Water and Parasite are winning Best Picture and the voting body looks incredibly different with each passing year. With this period in the books, it feels like a good time to celebrate their accomplishments by ranking all 88 titles nominated for Best Picture from worst to best with the goal of seeing which films are more likely to stand the test of time. Join me every Saturday and Sunday as I count them down, five at a time. It's going to be a fun summer looking back on what was, especially as we prepare for the decade ahead and an even more interesting diversity that we haven't even begun to think of.

Alan Menken is Officially an EGOT!

Alan Menken

There is a lot that's uncertain about the year ahead. Among them is the potential for theaters to open, and whether anything will ever return to normal. It's easy to become skeptical during this time and think that nothing good comes during this time. Well, in a strange turn of events, this past weekend brought with it some great news for longtime Disney fans. Composer Alan Menken has finally achieved the illustrious EGOT status, becoming only the 16th person to achieve this. With his Daytime Emmy win for Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, he comes full circle in a fruitful partnership with Disney that has rewarded him greatly. 

Oscars to Hamilton: You Don't Have the Vote

Scene from Hamilton

If you're anyone who is anyone this past weekend, there's a good chance that you watched Hamilton on Disney+. How could you not? As one of the most revolutionary shows to hit Broadway this century, it is a show that has been shrouded in curiosity since its 2015 launch, and it has formed a deserved cult with its endless memorable song numbers. Though the one thing that has been asked since it was announced as if the live performance would stand any chance of getting a shot at Oscar glory. Well, there's been a bit of a delay. The prognostication may be put to rest as news came out that Hamilton is in fact disqualified from Oscar nominations. 

Should Live Theater Recordings Be Eligible for Oscar Nominations?

Scene from Give 'Em Hell, Harry

For most of us, this weekend will be a special moment. Not only is it the annual celebration of Independence Day, but Disney+ will at long last release a professionally shot version of the musical Hamilton. Most of us have been dying to see the show ever since it hit Broadway in 2015, and now that it's available for streaming, what will it all mean for the future of live theater? Will we be seeing every big show like Dear Evan Hansen and Hadestown making their way onto Netflix or Hulu? Will this be a one-off, or will the future look a lot more accessible to those outside of major city markets? Or, if I'm being honest, the question that I am asking myself is if Hamilton will stand a chance to be an Oscar-winning production?

That's a loaded question given that Hamilton has more in common with Tony and Grammy Awards, fields that recognize stage work. Given that it was originally scheduled for a theatrical release, it does seem like would stand a chance even if there's very little precedent for it getting a nomination. Well, I want to ask for a show of hands. Does anyone know the other Oscar-nominated work that's basically a filmed piece of live theater? Any takers? While Hamilton has an uphill battle to make the cut, it wouldn't be the first to receive this distinct honor. There was one 45 years ago that earned James Whitmore his second Oscar nomination, also steeped in American history. Yes, Give 'Em Hell, Harry remains the only major crossover between stage and screen to receive an Oscar nomination. If anything suggests a potential upset by Hamilton, it's this one.

Legitimate Theater: Newsies (2011)

Newsies

Welcome to Legitimate Theater: a column dedicated to movie-based stage musicals. The goal of this series is to explore those stories that originated in films and eventually worked their way onto Broadway and beyond. By the end of each entry, there will hopefully be a better understanding of this odd but rampant trend in modern entertainment. Are these stories really worth telling through song and dance? How can it even compare to the technical prowess of a camera and seamless editing? Join me on this quest as I explore the highs and lows of this trend on the third Wednesday of every month and hopefully answer what makes this Legitimate Theater.

"Toy Story 3" Remains Just as Emotional 10 Years Later

Between 2000 and 2010, Pixar had done an incredible job of defining the decade of family entertainment with an annual masterpiece. Not only were each of these films special, reflecting different ingenuity in storytelling that gave them an insurmountable presence in the culture, but they were all innovative in different ways with each being an original look into something new and exciting. In that time they did everything from exploring sea life (Finding Nemo) to superheroes (The Incredibles) to outer space (WALL-E). No place was off-limits, and the fact they were having a flawless record, racking up Oscar nominations along the way, it was easy to see Pixar as a legitimate threat. 

How did they choose to celebrate a 10-year track record that remains unmatched? By returning to the world of Toy Story with a third entry that itself was a big risk. As the first unoriginal property since, well, Toy Story 2 in 1999, it was a celebrated return that was also cautious, making many wonders what value there was to returning back to the world of sentient toys who had the power to create this emotional complexity inside us. In that respect, Toy Story 3 may have been their greatest hat trick ever: producing a sequel that not only expanded the franchise but brought with it a tale that's regarded as one of the studio's best, going into darker and more fragile places. In the process, they brought an end to an era, even if it wasn't intentional. It was a farewell of sorts to a great decade and the start of the studio's rockiest period to date. 

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Into the Woods" (2014)

Scene from Into the Woods (2014)

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.

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2019)

Scene from Star Wars: The Last Jedi

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.

Does "Avatar" Resonate at All After 10 Years?

Scene from Avatar (2009)

It all seems like a myth nowadays. How could there be an original story in a major Hollywood production that grossed $2.78 Billion (with a 'B')? In 2009, earning over the 10-digit threshold was a rarity made by enough films that you could count on one hand. In some ways, that is what Avatar represented ultimately at the box office when it premiered on this date 10 years ago. It was a film that promised a new kind of spectacle, where motion-capture and 3D technology could be used to create a world of awe for audiences, creating the new essential for a theatrical experience. Yes, to wade through the majestic world is known as Pandora is to see the capabilities of computer technology to create fascinating landscapes where everything down to the moss growing on a tree feels thought out for hours and days. It was the spectacle that forced audiences to return in droves week after week.

And yet the world it promised would not amount to much. At some point following the film's release, director James Cameron declared that he would only be making Avatar movies for the rest of his career. It is 2019 and amid many deadlines not met the joke has become that these films will never get made. Is it to blame for why the film feels like such an anomaly nowadays? Kind of. The film was released in the wake of Marvel starting their cinematic universe and surging ticket prices made the road to a billion dollars easier (Disney has seven films this year that have achieved that goal this year so far). It could skid by so long on merchandise, popping up on the front page of Disney+ on release day as this weird reminder that the studio that made it (Fox) no longer exists. To complete the irony, Avengers: Endgame became the highest-grossing movie of all time just a few months prior. However, its status as the phenomenon that changed the world has been reduced to a fad, and one not entirely earned. As the joke goes, it's the most popular movie that nobody remembers, and that's a bit of a bummer. 

Review: "Frozen II" Embraces the Unknown Wonders in a Dazzling Sequel

Scene from Frozen II

In 2013, Frozen created one of the most unsuspecting phenomenons of the 21st century. Joining the ranks of such cornerstone blockbusters like Star Wars, Titanic, and The Sound of Music, Disney created their most successful film in 20 years. EVERYONE knows "Let It Go." Elsa merchandise litters every retail store internationally. The studio has created endless spin-offs including the controversial Olaf's Frozen Adventure and the LEGO short Northern Lights.  There was even a Tony-nominated Broadway show. Frozen II isn't even the first sequel that these characters have been in (see Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet). To suggest that their latest outing has been long overdue feels like a bit of a laugh because of how inescapable the franchise has been over the past six years. 

But how do you follow up a phenomenon that everyone knows by heart, complaining about their child watching the film on a constant loop of madness? It's a question that likely explains the long absence of an official sequel. Instead of striking while the iron was hot, Frozen II arrives fully formed in one of the studio's biggest miracles in quite some time. Sure there are constant nods to the original, but this film is far from a retread. In a story that feels richer, darker, and more emotionally complex, Disney has created a film that elevates the franchise to mythic status. It may have an uphill battle in that it isn't Frozen, but it's the next best thing. It's a sequel that uses every minute to enhance the world and prove why these characters deserve to be the international sensations that they are. 

"The Little Mermaid" is Still Moving Along Swimmingly After 30 Years

Scene from The Little Mermaid (1989

It's hard to imagine a time when Disney wasn't seen as the biggest studio on the planet. In an age where their streaming service gained 10 million subscribers in a day and Frozen II looks to dominate the Fall box office, it's almost laughable to think of anything beating it. However, the 1980s were a rough period for Disney with a string of animated movies that failed to capture the magic of their first 30 years, going into darker territory with The Black Cauldron and The Fox and the Hound. However, by the back half of the decade, things were turning around and they were planning to revive a long-dead market that would work out big for them. With the help of The Great Mouse Detective's co-directors John Musker and Ron Clements and Off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors duo Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, The Little Mermaid was marked as a turning point for the studio. In 1989, a mermaid who dreamed of being "Part Of Your World" became an Oscar-winning phenomenon and set the stage for Disney's comeback, creating the template for every contemporary hit in the process. 30 years later, it's still a masterpiece and high point in a catalog full of them.

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Frozen" (2013)

Scene from Frozen (2013)

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.

Pixar Reveals Their "Soul" in First Trailer

Scene from Soul (2020)

It is likely that if you've been to a movie theater or watched sports in the past few months, you'll know that Pixar already has one film to look forward to. Onward looks to be a comedic take on fantasy full of fun hijinks. However, 2020 is looking to be one of those years with not one but two films from the beloved animated studio. Their other film, Soul, finds the filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning Inside Out returning with a film that asks the question "What does it mean to have a soul?" With the first trailer now out, it looks like another promising journey into the metaphysical, finding a way to make abstract concepts into family film gold. It looks like another hit for the studio that keeps reexamining what it means to be human.