Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Southpaw" (2015)

Jake Gyllenhaal in Southpaw

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.

A Look at the Shortlists for Best Hair and Make-Up, Best Original Song, and Best Picture

Will Smith in Concussion

With The Academy starting to get their final ballots ready, it seems like a great time to see what has made the final cut on its various lists. So far, there has been exploration into the Best Foreign films and Best Documentary. Today, there's an exploration of three major lists: Best Hair and Make-Up; Best Original Song, as well as Best Picture. The following is a look at both of the categories including some additional commentary. While Best Hair and Make-Up has been whittled down to a very interesting seven titles, Best Picture looks to be more lofty with a lengthy 305 titles (even then, a decline in overall total from last year's 325). Check out more after the jump.

Harvey Weinstein is Disappointed With This Oscar Season

Harvey Weinstein

If you're someone who follows Oscars culture annually, there's certain names that you have on your Rolodex. There is, of course, Meryl Streep, David O. Russell, and Steven Spielberg. Among the producers that will usually be good for a news piece or two, there's Harvey Weinstein of The Weinstein Company and former head of Miramax. At The Oscar Buzz, he is someone of constant reference, especially in the Failed Oscar Campaigns column; of which he's been the subject of using bizarre tactics for Oscar nominations. However, the man who helped to give the world films like Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love has come forward in a recent op-ed piece regarding his personal thoughts on Oscar season. Apparently, he's not happy with how things have turned out.

Weinsten Refuses to Give Up on "Southpaw," Does Awards Push Rerelease

Jake Gyllenhaal in Southpaw

Oh, Jake Gyllenhaal. Much like Leonardo DiCaprio, he has become a prime target for "overdue-Oscar" consideration. Following last year's excellent Nightcrawler, he returned this summer with the boxing drama from director Antoine Fuqua called Southpaw. The results were less than stellar, as those thriving to get Gyllenhaal into the Oscar conversation were immediately dismissed when the film, despite decent box office, failed to keep the hype alive. Between his other 2015 films (Everest and Demolition), it doesn't look to be a great year for him. That is, unless Harvey Weinstein saved a big surprise for the campaign this upcoming weekend with its planned rerelease.

James Horner Secretly Composed "The Magnificent Seven" Remake Just Before His Death

Scene from The Magnificent Seven (1960)

It will be a month ago tomorrow since the passing of legendary Oscar-winning composer James Horner. It also seems fitting then that this week also marks the release of one of his final scores for director Antoine Fuqua's Southpaw. While many are likely already discussing Jake Gyllenhaal's Oscar chances (Harvey Weinstein sure is), there's a new conversation that has arisen today regarding the future of Horner. While Southpaw may be one of his last completed scores, Horner has a few more tricks up his sleeve that may surprise you regarding Fuqua's next movie.

A Look at New Trailers From Potential Oscar Nominees

Matt Damon in The Martian

Before I dive in, I want to personally apologize for this unexplained absence over the past week. This was caused largely due to personal and health problems that made writing and keeping up with Oscar-worthy news a little difficult. As of this moment, I should be in good enough of a condition to return to sharing my personal opinions and keeping you up to date on the latest happenings. First up, a look at the many trailers that premiered over the past week for films that we may be hearing about a lot over this Oscars season. Speaking as we're starting to enter the season when all of the trailers premiere (see: Suffragette and Bridge of Spies). While this round-up may not have nearly as many hits, we may be looking at a very interesting season ahead.