A24 A-to-Z: #7. "Under the Skin" (2014)

Scene from Under the Skin

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.

Coming This June: A24 A-to-Z

I do apologize for being quiet in recent weeks. In all honesty, I have been doing my best to get through the final month of school through rigorous studying. Those who have paid attention noticed that I still produce work a few times a week, but currently find it hard. School and personal matters are keeping me from staying on top of current trends as much as I should - and most of what I do focus on is TV related, which I feel is antithetical to The Oscar Buzz's content (though I do highly recommend The Leftovers). If you want that content, please check it out on Optigrab. For now, I want to announce what will be coming this June. It's a new column, and probably one as ambitious as my Nothing But the Best column was initially. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce to you A24 A-to-Z. As the title suggests, it focuses on A24's rich filmography. But why them? Well, I'll tell you why after the jump.

"Boyhood" and "Birdman" Lead This Year's Gotham Awards Nominations

Left to right: Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke and Lorelai Linklater in Boyhood

Today marked the release of the nominees for the Gotham Independent Film Awards. Much like The Spirit Awards, it sets out to recognize the big talents in independent cinema with awards honoring acting, directing, and breakout achievements. One of the noteworthy reasons that I bring it up is that many of them have already been praised here on The Oscar Buzz. While there's a chance that a few may not make it further into the race, it is a welcomed sign to see so many great films making it in a very impressive year for film. The following is a look at the nominees as well as varying thoughts on the selections as well as back links to various articles.

Review: 'Under the Skin' is a Meditative Journey into this Majestic, Isolated World

Scarlett Johansson

Every now and then a film comes along that is so unnerving and ambiguous that it is impossible not to recognize. With striking visuals and a template of sound that stings the subconscious, art house films have had a rocky track record with getting their points across. With that said, director Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin is one of those bizarre films that will likely crawl into your memory and implant itself. It is a sci-fi film, but only in the broadest sense of the word and does little to explain what is going on. It is a visceral exploration of humanity and isolation in ways that scenes of elaborate dialogues aren't likely to achieve. To a large extent, this is a film that challenges you to meditate and recognize the beauty and connectivity that makes this world so beautiful.