Wes Anderson Tells a Winding Story in "The French Dispatch" Trailer

Scene from The French Dispatch

Over his past few films, it feels like director Wes Anderson has perfected the art of getting your hopes up for the next Oscar season. Who could forget how The Grand Budapest Hotel released its first trailer on the heels of the 2015 Academy Awards, or how Isle of Dogs made 2018 feel like it would be a better year for animation? Well, it looks like he's outdone himself by dropping a trailer within the week following this year's ceremony. Just as everyone is wrapping up their thoughts on Parasite's historic win, Anderson is here to remind you that cinema is an evolving art form and that soon there will be a new class to talk about. With The French Dispatch, he adds his name to the 2020 prognostication early, making one excited to see his latest crowded fare look like another masterpiece that's going to dominate the conversation.

Review: "The Lighthouse" is a Discomforting Hallucination of Pure Joy

Scene from The Lighthouse (2019)

In the world of Robert Eggers, the idea of isolation is a horrifying reality. His debut The Witch followed a family outcasted to the edge of town, forced to deal helplessly with the demons that lay in the forest. It was a horrifying film, exploring the struggles of faith as personal demons ate every character whole. The same can be said for The Lighthouse, with two men watching a lighthouse and doing everything to stay sane on an abandoned island. Unlike The Witch, The Lighthouse falls more into the realm of a dark comedy, becoming more disturbing in its humor as each bottle of liquor goes down, eventually splashing over their chins as they dance recklessly. They can't escape the island until the storm passes, but how long will that be? A day, a week, a month? It's a tale of survival that finds Eggers once again diving into the muck of humanity to find something equally repulsive and amazing. With a career-best performance by Robert Pattinson, the film is a haunted sea shanty that will drive everyone nuts - and that's only half of the fun. 

A24 A-to-Z: #56. "The Florida Project" (2017)

Scene from The Florida Project

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.

The First "Vox Lux" Trailer Has Natalie Portman Embracing Pop God Weirdness

Natalie Portman in Vox Lux

This Fall seems to be the perfect time for movies featuring complicated female performers. With A Star is Born dominating the box office and almost assuring Lady Gaga some Oscar glory, it's interesting to note that it's not the only film about singers coming out in the next few months. There is of course the indie film Her Smell, which takes on a more grotesque and disturbing take. Then there's director Brady Corbet's Vox Lux, which finds Oscar winner Natalie Portman returning to the race with a film that's been getting press for its intense portrayal of a celebrity going through a crisis. With the first trailer now upon us, the look into Portman's performance is here and it's a surreal, damaged image that is magnetic. Basically, it's the dark horse that this season could use.

The First Trailer for "At Eternity's Gate" Draws Willem Dafoe Back into the Oscar Race

Willem Dafoe in At Eternity's Gate

Following last week's Telluride and Venice Film Festivals, there's a lot to already look forward to in regards to awards season. With many already staking their claim, it's interesting to see what changes are likely to still come. Among those is a film from director Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) starring Willem Dafoe as iconic artist Vincent Van Gogh. With many at the festivals already hailing it as a career-best performance, it looks like it will be what is needed to finally earn the legendary actor an Oscar. If nothing else, the trailer looks to capture the artistry of a man who redefined how we look at art with a performance that is just as staggering to look at as the gorgeous scenery. 

Review: "The Florida Project" is As Annoying As it is Charming

Scene from The Florida Project

Deep in the heart of Florida lies Disney World. It's a place full of wonder and excitement. In a typical story, many people wouldn't even recognize the scenery that they drive by to get there. For director Sean Baker's The Florida Project, he decides to take a detour and explore the lives of people who live at a nearby motel. Unlike the House of Mouse, these people find joy in the simple things, such as spitting on cars and begging for free ice cream. These are the lower class dreamers who can't afford Disney World. Their journey is one full of humor and tragedy, and Baker's neo-realist approach to the story produces one of the most uncomfortable movies of the year with loathsome characters that undermine emotional stakes and create a movie that has plenty to say, but doesn't address it very well.

R.I.P. Hector Babenco (1946-2016)

Hector Babenco

On July 13, 2016, director Hector Babenco died at the age of 70 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. With a career spanning over 40 years, he leaves behind an impressive body of work that includes the Oscar-nominated films Kiss of the Spider-Woman and Ironweed. After getting his start in Latin American cinema, he would go on to work with actors like William Hurt, John Lithgow, Raul Julia, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Tom Berenger, Daryl Hannah, Aidan Quinn and Kathy Bates. While he doesn't have the most memorable resume, his films explored love and identity in strange and interesting places. With a career that continued until his death, he was passionate and capable of making great things.

Nothing But the Best: "Platoon" (1986)

Scene from Platoon

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.

Nothing But the Best: "The English Patient" (1996)

Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient

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.

Will "The Fault in Our Stars" Bring Cancer Back to the Best Picture Race?

Left to right: Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort

One of the biggest surprises of summer 2014 is the news that director Josh Boone's The Fault in Our Stars may end up being Shailene Woodley's better young adult adaptation instead of the presumed Divergent.  Reviews leading up to its release this Friday have almost been universally acclaimed with many calling it the best love story in years. With that said, is the Academy above nominating a film about sick young people? Oscar season may not fully kick off until the Fall, but its summer time and anything could be eligible. It's just a matter of changing up the trends.

Can "Out of the Furnace" Sneak into the Oscar Conversation?

Christian Bale

Back in 2009, director Scott Cooper made it onto the scene with the highly acclaimed Crazy Heart. Earning Jeff Bridges his first Oscar (Best Actor), it told the story of a down-on-his-luck country singer who was in the autumn years. It connected with audiences and helped to make the compositions of T. Bone Burnett popular again. If there was any flaw to the debut, it was that it may have been light on the darker elements and even if Bridges was a powerhouse performer, the rest of the story wasn't as strong without him. With his follow-up, Cooper looks to be going darker with Out of the Furnace with a higher caliber cast and plenty of darker, dramatic themes. But is it enough to get him recognized by the Academy again?