Review: "Jersey Boys" is a Mildly Fun and Upbeat Dose of Nostalgic Doo Wop

Left to right: Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen,
John Lloyd Young, and Michael Lomenda

There was a point sometime in the past 15 years when Clint Eastwood lost his bite. Basically, the man who made misanthropic epic westerns like High Plains Drifter and Unforgiven was moving on into a new phase of his career: AARP filmmaking. Despite its pejorative connotation, Eastwood has become a master at making films geared almost specifically to people in his age bracket. With limited exceptions, all of his films have in some way been harmless nostalgia flicks geared at making elderly people feel good about their contributions to society. With Gran Torino being his most iconic example of this, he continues to dominate the AARP filmmaking genre with his latest film Jersey Boys: an adaptation of a Broadway smash "musical" about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Does the elderly director do the group proud?

The Directors Project: #45 - Guillermo Del Toro

Scene from Cinema Paradiso

With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.

The Directors Project: #46 - Sidney Lumet

Scene from Cinema Paradiso

With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.

The Directors Project: #47 - Billy Wilder

Scene from Cinema Paradiso

With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.

The Directors Project: #48 - Jean-Luc Godard

Scene from Cinema Paradiso

With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.

The Directors Project: #49 - William Friedkin

Scene from Cinema Paradiso

With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.

Here is Why We Need to Stop Labeling Meryl Streep as "The Greatest Actress"

Meryl Streep in Out of Africa

With yesterday marking actress Meryl Streep's 65th birthday, it left a chance to explore a tough subject that I have insinuated several times. It is a tough subject to approach because what I say, I don't mean as a flat-out insult. On majority of lists, she always ranks as one of the best living actresses with every film she releases being hailed as another great performance. While she has made some masterpieces, the idea of hailing her as this other worldly being makes no sense and her legacy feels unwarranted, or over  hyped. It should be applauded that she is 65 and still producing work that people care about, but to the level that she receives, it makes no sense.

The Directors Project: #50 - Hal Ashby

Scene from Cinema Paradiso

With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.

The Directors Project: The Final Primer

Liza Minelli in Cabaret

Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the end of the wait. That's right. On Monday, June 23, we will officially be underway with The Directors Project. It is an exciting ordeal that I am proud to have worked on. For those that need a rundown, or even a primer, this post will serve as a reminder of all of the bells and whistles that will be going into the piece as well as some last minute revelations that need to be spoken of. There won't be too much information here that anyone that has been reading all of the updates on The Directors Project doesn't know. If that's the case, see you on Monday. For everyone else, read on.

For Your Consideration: Introducing Wes Anderson's Dead Animal Trilogy

Left to right: Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman in Moonrise Kingdom

For many, director Wes Anderson's filmography has grown distinctly of a singular piece. His twee, almost to the point of parody, technique of turning the world into a children's book has made him one of the most excitingly distinct voices in modern cinema. His vision has become so distinct that it is possible to believe that it is all one vision. It is in this regards that I pitch to you The Dead Animal Trilogy. It may seem like a far fetched concept, but if you stick with me, I will show you why this may be been his ulterior motives all along.

The "Dear White People" Teaser Trailer is Ready for You to Reevaluate "Gremlins" and Tyler Perry

When I attended my first Sundance this past January, there was one film that stood out. It was a film that grabbed my attention and refused to let go. Mixing satire with humor and profound depth, director Justin Simien's debut Dear White People came out as a poignant, important film. As a result, I have been eagerly awaiting any potential news of the film's eventual distribution and release. Even if the film isn't likely to win an Oscar (though I wish I could be proven wrong), it not only shown the emergence of a talented new cinematic voice, but spoke to race relations in America in ways that have clarity. The incessant comparisons to Do the Right Thing are applicable. With the premiere of the teaser trailer, I now begin the more optimistic phase of my support as I eagerly await the October 17 release date.

My Top 10 Favorite Best Animated Feature Nominees

Ratatouille

This past weekend, How to Train Your Dragon 2 opened in theaters, and I was very ecstatic about it. I still consider it to be something of a masterpiece that will hopefully find more legs as its box office history continues. With the expectations of it topping next year's Academy Awards, it got me thinking: what are my favorite Best Animated Feature nominees? In the category's brief, 13 year existence, it has celebrated the growth of a style that used to be a lot cruder. However, it has also shown the progression effectively, especially as computer technology has trumped traditional technique and has taken some films into new artistic zones. 

Megan Ellison on "The Master"

Yesterday on Twitter, Annapurna founder Megan Ellison took to her account to mention several things. Among them, the producer of such Best Picture nominees as Her, True Grit, American Hustle, and Zero Dark Thirty made a reference to one of the young studio's most widely talked about films (and the inspiration for The Oscar Buzz). In the post (above), she talks about The Master and her real intentions for making it. As anyone who has seen the film will likely attest, this comment is one of the most heartwarming examples of craft winning over commerce (the film made a little under twice its budget at the box office). 

While this is arguably "not news," it is a comment that greatly warms my heart to hear and small proof that Ellison is one of the most interestingly challenging producers in Hollywood right now. Though you probably could tell for someone who also funded Spring Breakers and Killing Them Softly. Even if you have opposition to some of these titles, her work is audacious in ways that The Weinstein Company used to be. Anyways, I just used this as an excuse to reference The Master and this awesome little post.

Review: "How to Train Your Dragon 2" is a Perfect Cinematic Thrill Ride that Challenges the Medium

It has been almost a year (22 months to be exact) since an animated film last left me with an exhilaration and excitement. It has been awhile since a film has made me feel the joys and potential of what animation could be. This isn't to discredit the good films since (Wreck-It Ralph, The Wind Rises), but since ParaNorman, animation has been rather dour. No film has really impressed me and taken me on a whimsical journey. That is, until director Dean DeBlois released How to Train Your Dragon 2: the second film in a proposed trilogy based on the books by Cressida Cowell. Within the first five minutes, he reminds you the limitless potential of CGI animation with intricate scenery, wondrous flight sequences, and the breathtaking score from returning composer John Powell. It is a perfect family film exploring legacy and the impact of loyalty.

The "Birdman" Trailer Debuts a Potential Comeback for Michael Keaton and Superhero Movies

Michael Keaton

This morning came a surprise to the movie community. It was a moment that many consider to be the potential return of Michael Keaton. It involved fighting Edward Norton in his underwear and a whole lot of confusing imagery. However, there is one thing for sure. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Birdman has struck a chord. Playing over an altered version of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," the trailer plays as a highlights reel for one of the strangest superhero films of the year. Then again, the idea of Inarritu doing a superhero film was equally unexpected. However, it does raise some questions, notably if the two time Oscar-nominated director can make caped crusaders a viable option when it comes to Oscar nominations.

Will "The Boxtrolls" Continue Laika Studio's Best Animated Film Nomination Streak?

Continuing with the third piece on films in the Best Animated Film category for this week is a look at the trailer for Laika Studios' latest The Boxtrolls. Readers will undoubtedly remember my admiration for ParaNorman and the studio's impressive stop motion techniques. In fact, I eagerly await whatever their next move is. While this isn't the first trailer to pop up for the film, it is the first to give a strong grasp as to what the film will be about. In true form, it looks equal parts innovative as it does entertaining, pushing boundaries of animation into new and interesting places.

The Trailer for "The Penguins of Madagascar" Looks Like a Fun, Creative Ride

As stated last week, this year's animation race is going to be interesting. With this weekend's How to Train Your Dragon 2 (review coming next week), the race is already looking to be interesting. Besides The LEGO Movie, this year looks to be a nice antidote to the lackluster output of 2013. It does seem futile to discuss any category locks at this point, but what about the outliers? What films are going to be on the fringes of discussion and may make the cut? With today's release of the trailer for The Penguins of Madagascar, the discussion opens back up. Can a spin-off film from the acclaimed franchise Madagascar actually stand a chance at a nomination?

The Directors Project: An Update on Progress

Peter O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia

I am proud to announce that after some tumultuous effort, I have finalized the selection for the Top 50. Unfortunately, this is predominantly based on point values and made it especially difficult for a lot of filmmakers to even come close to making the cut. With this said, people who have two or fewer films did not make the cut. Even in my attempt for diversity, I ran into complications and favorites that I presumed would make it (Steve McQueen being notable) missed. With all of this said, The Directors Project is still moving forward, but with one new installment being added.

To Celebrate 20 Years, "Forrest Gump" Will Return to Theaters This September

Tom Hanks

In general, a lot of great things can be said about 1994 in terms of movies. Consider what came out: Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show, The Three Colors: Red, The Shawshank Redemption, and plenty more. It was an amazing year for movies and very few years since has captured the zeitgeist in quite the same way. However, among all of these films is director Robert Zemeckis' Forrest Gump, which celebrates its anniversary a month from tomorrow. To many, including myself, it was an important film to my childhood because it influenced what we said and watched. Its iconography are moments of endearment for me and with Tom Hanks being one of the most likable actors still working, it is easy to see why Forrest Gump is till being talked about.

A Look at "The LEGO Movie" and Its Oscar Chances

They year 2013 was a rather haphazard year for animated films. Not a whole lot worth remembering came out and what did (The Wind Rises) was ignored. At very least, this year looks to be a slight improvement with a whole crop of promising films, including next week's How to Train Your Dragon 2. Even then, there has already been one strong possible contender for the race. One that came from the raptors singing "Everything is Awesome." Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller's The LEGO Movie has swept the world by storm as one of the year's early favorites. The only question now is if the Academy will go for it.

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.

Is the Success of "Foxcatcher" at Cannes Going to Help Its Oscar Chances?

Left to right: Channing Tatum and Steve Carell

It seems to be a running gag in Hollywood right now of highly anticipated films getting pushed back. Most recently, Andy and Lana Wachowski's Jupiter Ascending was moved back to 2015 within months of release. However, the real champion of the "Pushed Back Channing Tatum Films" list (and there has been a handful) appears to be Foxcatcher. After it was held back last year, my expectations were lowered significantly. While I enjoyed quoting the attached trailer (which has since been removed), there was little to grab me. However, after last month's Cannes Film Festival, things are looking up for the the latest film from director Bennett Miller. It actually may stand a chance as a serious Oscar contender.