Every Best Picture Nominee of the 2010's Ranked: #80-88

Scene from Bohemian Rhapsody

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.

R.I.P. Max von Sydow (1929-2020)

Max von Sydow

On March 8, 2020, actor Max von Sydow passed away at the age of 90 in Provence, France. Over the course of 60 years, he was known as a pillar of international cinema, rising to fame in The Seventh Seal, which was the first of 11 collaborations with director Ingmar Bergman. Later on, he would make a splash in American films ranging from traditional dramas (Hannah and Her Sisters) to horror (The Exorcist) and even blockbusters (Star Wars: The Force Awakens). He was known for having over 100 film credits, delivering powerhouse performances in each. Along with work in TV, stage, and video games, his charisma lasted up until his passing which even then he was busy working on another project. His massive output will continue to live on as a testament to what one can achieve as an actor when doing everything to make a role better. 

In Defense of "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" (2011)

Thomas Horn

When it comes to cinema related to September 11, 2001, there's one very common complaint: director Stephen Daldry's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is the worst. Not the worst in the sense that it gets the facts wrong or develops its own conspiracy. It's the worst because it is manipulative to a fault. True, the story of a child who is sort of nagging trying to maneuver New York following his father's death does reek a little of over-sentimentalizing. However, I want to bring a different argument to the table. It's one that I'm sure won't win over everyone but is essentially why I have trouble calling it out as garbage. It may not be the best 9/11 movie, but it's one that I feel connects with me for a deeper and more personal reason.

Birthday Take: Scott Rudin in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" (2011)

Thomas Horn in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

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.