Composing Greatness: #2. Thomas Newman - "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994)

Scene from The Shawshank Redemption

Welcome to Composing Greatness: a column dedicated to exploring the work of film composers. This will specifically focus on the films that earned them Oscar nominations while exploring what makes it so special. This will be broken down into a look at the overall style, interesting moments within the composition, and what made the score worth nominating in the first place. This will also include various subcategories where I will rank the themes of each film along with any time that the composer actually wins. This is a column meant to explore a side of film that doesn't get enough credit while hopefully introducing audiences to an enriched view of more prolific composers' work. This will only cover scores/songs that are compiled in an easily accessible format (so no extended scores will be considered). Join me every Sunday as I cover these talents that if you don't know by name, you recognize by sound.

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. 

10 Best Picture Nominees That Bombed at the Box Office

Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs

It is likely that by this point you are aware that director Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs bombed at the box office. It is even possible that people are already calling an end times scenario for the prestige picture that features some of the best acting and writing of the year (I think so, anyways). However, if you're wanting to go that route, I want to warn you that this isn't the first film, nor is it likely the last, to be a great film that bombs. In fact, there's been several films that have "bombed" through out The Academy Awards history. The following is a look at 10 different films that made it to Best Picture despite not turning a profit. A lot of them are likely to be more surprising than you'd think.

A Look Back at "Forrest Gump" and its Controversial Best Picture Win Over "Pulp Fiction"

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump

In honor of Forrest Gump's 20th anniversary, I have decided to run something special. I have decided to personally explore the Best Picture category of 1994 as well as my personal thoughts within the nominees. Despite becoming an iconic film with countless catchphrases, a restaurant chain, and a rock band, it seems like Robert Zemeckis' technologically groundbreaking film has received flack for pandering to baby boomers through an intellectually stunted character by rewriting American history. I won't go into politics, but it does challenge how I view the film, especially as it was an iconic piece of my childhood. Instead, I will choose to focus on the "controversy" that surrounds it. Did it deserve to beat Pulp Fiction?