Failed Oscar Campaigns: "American Sniper" (2014)

Scene from American Sniper

As awards seasons pick up, so do the campaigns to make your film have the best chances at the Best Picture race. However, like a drunken stupor, sometimes these efforts come off as trying too hard and leave behind a trailer of ridiculous flamboyance. Join me on every other Saturday for a highlight of the failed campaigns that make this season as much about prestige as it does about train wrecks. Come for the Harvey Weinstein comments and stay for the history. It's going to be a fun time as I explore cinema's rich history of attempting to matter.

A24 A-to-Z: #26 "Mississippi Grind" (2015)

Scene from Mississippi Grind

In case you didn't know, A24 is one of the great purveyors of modern cinema. Since 2013, the studio has found a way to innovate independent cinema by turning each release into an event. As a result, A24 A-to-Z will be an ongoing series that looks at every release from the studio by analyzing its production history, release, criticisms, and any awards attention that it might've received. Join me on a quest to explore the modern heroes of cinema by exploring every hit and miss that comes with that magnificent logo. They may not all be great, but they more than make A24 what it is and what it will hopefully continue to be for ears to come.

Theory Thursday: "Foxcatcher" is the Best Sports Film Since 2011

Scene from Foxcatcher

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

"American Sniper" is Now the Highest Domestic Grossing War Movie of All Time

Bradley Cooper

It is the film that is sweeping the nation. Causing all sorts of controversy, director Clint Eastwood's latest American Sniper has garnered a lot of attention for its depiction of the military. With a few Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor for Bradley Cooper, it is a quality film with plenty to say. However, among its many achievements, it has somehow become a box office juggernaut and has broken a lot of records. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the highest domestic grossing war movie of all time.

Review: "American Sniper" is a Quintessential Tale of War's Everlasting Effects

Bradley Cooper

One of the most taboo subjects in mainstream film is also one that has shaped the past decade of American culture: the September 11 Attacks. It has created an uncertainty that still resides in the culture and placed a lot of question around identity and patriotism in the modern era. While war films are nothing new, there seems to be a timid cry for modern film makers to approach contemporary affairs on film. With director Clint Eastwood's controversial American Sniper, he doesn't so much make a film about war, but reminds us what's so appealing and tragic about the cinematic interpretation. With a gut wrenching performance by Bradley Cooper, he has not only created one of his strongest movies, but a quintessential film about the trauma of war the likes of which haven't been seen and popularly dissected since The Deer Hunter in 1978.

The Release of "Foxcatcher" Gets Moved Back to 2014

Steve Carell

It has been quite a week for pushing back expectations on potential Oscar nominees. Earlier we wrote about how The Wolf of Wall Street, which remains the biggest blow. Not to be outdone, director Bennett Miller's latest film, Foxcatcher, has taken suit. In an ironic fashion, the news was delivered mere hours after the debut of the first trailer, which is a haunting look at one of my wildcard nominee selections.