R.I.P. Anne V. Coates (1925-2018)

Anne V. Coates

On May 8, 2018, film editor Anne V. Coates died at the age of 92 in Los Angeles, California. She was frequently working welling into her later years and received acclaim as one of the few female editors out there. Her work was acclaimed and spanned more than 60 years, including work that would win her an Oscar for Lawrence of Arabia. Her work was versatile and diverse, reflecting how a simple cut could be turned into an art form. Even if her work goes unappreciated to the casual viewer, it's hard to imagine a world without the magic that she brought to a film, helping to shape it into its inevitable final form. Her work will continue to live on, no matter what genre you tend to enjoy.

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. 

My Top 20 Favorite War Movies

Scene from Dunkirk

This past weekend, director Christopher Nolan's latest Dunkirk was released to high acclaim and a debut atop the box office. It is one of the best war films not only of the year, but possibly in the larger canon. This inspired me to try and compile a list of the war films that I feel exemplify the genre as well as create riveting experiences. In all honesty, it was difficult to limit it to 10, and it's just as difficult to land on the 20 that I landed on. Still, these are the films that I think of when exploring the grand and expansive horrors of war and the consequences that they bring to the mainland. For the sake of posterity, I won't include Holocaust movies and focus on the struggles of soldiers and the moral issues that arise in every personal choice. Feel free to share your personal favorites in the comments.

Check Out This Year's Honorary Oscar Winners

Jackie Chan

Every year, there's something just as exciting as the Oscar season itself: the Honorary Oscar winners. While held separately from the actual ceremony, the choice to highlight artists who have made cinema a far more interesting place is itself an event worth checking out. For the Class of 2016, the line-up definitely reflects President Cheryl Boone Isaacs' desire to branch out to have a more diverse representation both in terms of female and nonwhite members. In what is probably the most shocking and exciting name on the list is actor, singer, and stunt performer Jackie Chan - whose impressive career continues to serve as the inspiration for actors who want to make action movies while doing their own stunts. The other names are just as exciting, but Chan's placement on the list definitely reflects a positive change.

Nothing But the Best: "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962)

Scene from Lawrence of Arabia

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.

R.I.P. Omar Sharif (1932-2015)

Omar Sharif in Lawrence of Arabia

Egyptian actor Omar Sharif passed away today at the age of 83 after battling with Alzheimer's Disease, which he only publicly announced in May of this year. Born in Alexandria, Egypt on April 10, 1932, the actor was born to parents who weren't necessarily wealthy, but he admitted that they made enough money. While his heritage is prominent, he was capable of playing roles of various ethnicity thanks to his fluency in French, Greek, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic. While he has an impressive and storied career, his career-defining work may be that of playing Sherif Ali in the Best Picture winner from director David Lean called Lawrence of Arabia. Much like his co-star Peter O'Toole, he brought charisma and energy to the epic and created some of the most iconic characters to travel the desert in film history. It was also only the beginning of a big career.