R.I.P. Martin Landau (1928-2017)

Martin Landau

On July 15, 2017, actor Martin Landau died at the age of 89 in Los Angeles, California. He is an actor whose career spanned 60 years and featured great work both in film and TV. On the small screen, he received a Golden Globe for his performance in Mission: Impossible as Rollin Hand. On the big screen, his career was even more expansive and featured roles that varied from a supporting role in North by Northwest and Cleopatra to Oscar nominations for Crimes and Misdemeanors and Ed Wood (the latter of which he won for). No matter where he went, he brought a charisma that reflected his graceful acting style, of which he also taught in the Actors Studio (of which he was the head of the Hollywood branch until his passing). He left behind an impressive body of work, and one that is unmatched by anyone.

Birthday Take: Martin Landau in "Ed Wood" (1994)

Martin Landau in Ed Wood

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.

A Look at 20 of Rick Baker's Noteworthy Achievements in Film

Center: Rick Baker as Dino the Gorilla in Kentucky Fried Movie

Yesterday marked the announcement of legendary makeup artist Rick Baker's retirement from film. While there's a chance you are likely wondering who he is, there's a strong chance that you have seen his work in some of the most iconic films of the past 40 years. With seven Academy Award wins (and 12 nominations total), he is one of the most recognized artists in Oscars history. While he has done great work in blockbusters, he's also integral in revolutionizing and even creating an identity for various actors' careers, including Eddie Murphy. For those who still don't know who he is, here is a brief look at 20 times you have seen his work without realizing it.

The Directors Project: #9 - Tim Burton

Scene from Cinema Paradiso

With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.