R.I.P. John Morris (1926-2018)

John Morris

On January 25, 2018, composer John Morris died at the age of 91 in Red Hook, New York. over the course of his career, he has produced some of the most iconic scores ranging from films by Mel Brooks such as The Producers and Blazing Saddles; to more mature work like The Elephant Man. Even if he wasn't a household name, he managed to create some of the most empathetic and effective music in comedy and drama, and leaves behind an impressive body of work. Who could forget the melodies of a Brooks film? A lot of the credit is owed to Morris, who foudn a way to make melodies funny and catchy. With an impressive career spanning 30 years, he leaves behind an impressive body of work that will leave film fans happy and dancing, no matter how much they try to resist.

R.I.P. Terence Marsh (1931-2018)

Terence Marsh

On January 9, 2018, production designer Terence Marsh passed away at the age of 86 in Pacific Palisades, California. In a career that spanned over 50 years, he created some of the most iconic and beautiful looks to various films ranging from Doctor Zhivago to The Shawshank Redemption. In that time, he helped to shape the look of epics and period pieces with some of the most distinctive looks imaginable. He leaves behind an impressive body of work that has likely captured the audiences' imagination, creating looks that define eras in ways that lead to two Oscar wins and an additional two nominations. He may not be a household name, but there's a good chance that you know his work. It's impressive work that deserves more credit and respect, as he helped to shape the world of film into his great image. 

Best Song: 50 Songs That Should've Been Nominated

Scene from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Welcome to Best Song, a new weekly column released on Sunday dedicated to chronicling the Best Original Song category over the course of its many decades. The goal is to listen to and critique every song that has ever been nominated in the category as well as find the Best Best Song and the Best Loser. By the end, we'll have a comprehensive list of this music category and will hopefully have a better understanding not only of the evolution, but what it takes to receive a nomination here. It may seem easy now, but wait until the bad years.

R.I.P. Gene Wilder (1933-2016)

Gene Wilder

On August 29, 2016, actor and director Gene Wilder died of Alzheimer's Disease in Stamford, Connecticut at the age of 83. Over the course of his career, he is best known for his comedic roles in films such as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and three collaborations with Mel Brooks (two of which received him Oscar nominations). With a lengthy and impressive career, he was a funny man who complimented his co-stars while also being able to make characters with an understated nuttiness. With several iconic films to his credit and activism in cancer research through Gilda's Club, he was a passionate man who made the most of his career by making people laugh and love. His talents loom large over pop culture, and his presence will be greatly missed.

Birthday Take: Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein" (1974)

Gene Wilder

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.