A Final Goodbye From The Oscar Buzz

Scene from Modern Times

Back in February, I made the comment that I was going on an extended hiatus. For the first time since 2011, I was not going to be reporting on an Oscar Season, citing burnout and mental health reasons. I promised to return in August to give an update on how I was feeling. I was hoping in all that time that the story would play out differently but, every few weeks, I would return to the same prompt “Do I want to relaunch The Oscar Buzz?” and every single time, without fail, I was not motivated to say anything resembling a yes. 

For as much as I’ve gotten better, where I’ve had happier days and been in better headspaces than I was back then, I find myself unable to work up the motivation. The website that began as a passion project in 2012 has become a bit of a burden, and even the fun columns like Failed Oscar Campaigns and Nothing But the Best have lost their muster. Do I still like what I did? Of course. I love the way it’s introduced me to a great online community. The issue is that for as much as I want to talk to them still, I just don’t feel like I have anything of merit to share on here anymore – at least for the foreseeable future. There is a chance that things COULD change, but as of today, The Oscar Buzz is closing its doors.

The Oscar Buzz is Officially Going on Hiatus

Scene from Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

It is with some sadness that I report something important. Despite The Oscar Buzz being home to a celebration of film history, especially during awards season, I am going on immediate hiatus. This doesn't come without some serious thinking, doing everything to try and make things work out. However, I think that those who have inhabited this website in recent months will notice my inability to keep up, failing to review every potential contender and speculate about recent Golden Globes coverage. Even reliable columns like Nothing But the Best, Failed Oscar Campaigns, and A24 A-to-Z have been dormant more often than not. I have personally tried to keep this website operating, but it is a difficult period for me personally. That is why, as of today, I will be shutting the website down for six months, returning in August to provide an assessment of where everything is. For more information, please read on.

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Vice" (2018)

Scene from Vice (2018)

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.

Review: "Soul" Comes Together For a Mesmerizing Experience

Scene from Soul (2020)

What has always made the realm of animation at times superior is the endless possibilities. There are no commitments to the familiar, and yet sometimes it's often more real. Few directors have understood this as well as Pete Docter, who has used the abstract to understand everything from our fears (Monsters Inc.) to cognitive function (Inside Out). With his latest, he has continued to outdo himself in the realm of fantasy, finding a wondrous way to explore the most abstract thing that's fundamental to the human condition. What drives our soul to continue pursuing passions, to live a life that isn't, ahem, "soulless." Using the vibrant background of a jazz musician, the story unfolds into the surreal, introducing high concepts in accessible ways. What makes this all a miracle is how easily everything goes down, finding equal parts entertainment and inspiration in every scene. Whatever Docter is doing continues to work, even if it's a bit raggedy and confusing at times.