"Arrival" to Return to Theaters This Weekend With Bonus Footage

Scene from Arrival

Now that the Oscar nominations are out, it's time for everyone to catch up on the titles that they've missed. In most cases, this includes many of the films that are still in theaters or are in the interim of making it to home video. If you're one of those who wishes to catch up on director Denis Villeneuve's Arrival, which earned eight nominations including Best Picture, you're in luck. This weekend marks the typical rerelease of an Oscar front runner. The only difference this time is that those patient enough to make it through the end credits will get a little something extra special.

Review: "Arrival" is a Smart and Timely Film About More Than Aliens

Scene from Arrival

It is difficult to watch director Denis Villeneuve's latest Arrival and not think about the real world. This is in part because of the film's theatrical release being a few days after the 2016 American presidential election; itself a motive that feels intentional the further along the film goes. With the results leading to controversy and outrage, there's questions as to whether the world can truly come together and understand differences. This is a central piece to Arrival: a film that contradicts the alien invasion story by focusing on a more intellectual debate. Unlike this past summer's Independence Day: Resurgence, Arrival wants to better humanity. It is the perfect film for the moment as well as further proof that Villeneuve is one of modern cinema's most challenging, engaging mainstream voices. 

Nothing But the Best: "The Hurt Locker" (2009)

Scene from The Hurt Locker

Welcome to the series Nothing But the Best in which I chronicle all of the Academy Award Best Picture winners as they celebrate their anniversaries. Instead of going in chronological order, this series will be presented on each film's anniversary and will feature personal opinions as well as facts regarding its legacy and behind the scenes information. The goal is to create an in depth essay for each film while looking not only how the medium progressed, but how the film is integral to pop culture. In some cases, it will be easy. Others not so much. Without further ado, let's start the show.

Review: "The Immigrant" is the Best Looking Film of 2014 So Far

Left to right: Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix

Before this review goes any further. Before a critique of the acting, story, pacing, or deeper themes, there is one thing that needs to be expressed: This is the greatest looking film of 2014.  Cinematographer Darius Khondji's work excels at turning the 1920's New York into something that feels fully authentic and rich with melancholic beauty. Along with a solid wardrobe from Patricia Norris, there is so much to admire about this film's design. Even the framing of shots excellently convey multiple concepts at once, leaving a poetic aura around the film and causing meditation and nostalgia to seep into this tale of an American Dream that goes a little awry. The film's look remains unsurpassed and deserves any and all acclaim that it is eligible for. With that said, The Immigrant has a lot of other admirable features to its credit, too.

Review: "American Hustle" is a Great Looking Yet Empty Con

Left to right: Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner,
Christian Bale, and Jennifer Lawrence

Originally published at CinemaBeach.

The theme of director David O. Russell’s latest film American Hustle can be summed up in the hilariously awful comb-over sported by Christian Bale. The entire film isn’t about revealing vulnerability, but projecting confidence no matter what. As conman Irving Rosenfield, Bale embodies these ethics simply by not caring about his lunatic wife (Jennifer Lawrence) and selling fake art with his new girlfriend (Amy Adams). From the clothing to the emotions, it is a world of trickery on every level that looks good, but the core can be a little disturbing.

The "American Hustle" Trailer is a Great Throwback Full of Wit and Snazzy Outfits

Left to right: Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale

All it took was a few hours for my recent post on upcoming Oscar contenders to look a little... lacking. While the films I selected for the piece were perfectly acceptable and still merit consideration, there is little doubt that today's release of the trailer for director David O. Russell's American Hustle could have easily replaced any of them. Of course, that would have made me writing an entire piece on the first trailer a tad redundant and based on my Fruitvale Station review, the praise that I'm about to heap on it to be a little hypocritical. Still, the trailer premiered on ABC's Good Morning America, it sent a frenzy into the air. At very least, it means that 2013's collection of nominees will have a retro, political vibe going on.