The Oscar Buzz: October 2015

Friday, October 30, 2015

Freaky Friday: "Black Swan" (2010)

Natalie Portman in Black Swan

The season is upon us, and it's time to get in the mood for Halloween. Every Friday in October, The Oscar Buzz will be highlighting the films that The Academy recognized that likely chilled you to your bone. While there have been several genres more prevalent than horror, there's been a fair share that have popped up and proven themselves among the more prestigious competition. What is it about these films that stand out? Are they just scary, or is there something more to their charm? Join in the journey of recognizing the award nominated scares that you may or may not have known about.

Theory Thursday: Zombies are the Worst Horror Monsters

Scene from Zombieland

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way.

Nothing But the Best: "How Green Was My Valley" (1941)

Scene from How Green Was My Valley

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.

Joaquin Phoenix in The Master

Welcome to The Birthday Take, a column dedicated to celebrating Oscar nominees and winners' birthdays by paying tribute to the work that got them noticed. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive retrospective, but more of a highlight of one nominated work that makes them noteworthy. The column will run whenever there is a birthday and will hopefully give a dense exploration of the finest performances and techniques applied to film. So please join me as we blow out the candles and dig into the delicious substance.

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.

The New "Steve Jobs" Movie Bombs at the Box Office

Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs

Every year has their share of movie bombs. In recent months, the likes of Pan have opened to disastrous numbers. While most of the films that fall this fate usually have to do with bad reviews, some good films get sucked in due to less fortunate reasons. This past weekend marked arguably one of the worst box office returns of the year with no less than four new releases being appropriately called a "box office bomb." Of course, these films - Jem and the Holograms, The Last Witch Hunter, Rock the Kasbah - were met with generally bad reviews. However, there's one closely tied to this year's Oscar Buzz that is more surprising than all of these. Director Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs went wide released this week on 2,433 screens. The results weren't pretty.

R.I.P. Maureen O'Hara (1920-2015)

Left to right: Maureen O'Hara and Walter Pidgeon in How Green Was My Valley

On October 24, 2014, actress Maureen O'Hara passed away at the age of 95 from natural causes while in her sleep. The actress was best known for being a fierce and confident redhead who worked alongside such great directors as John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock. Over the years, she starred in films ranging from westerns to holiday movies such as the iconic Miracle on 34th Street. While she doesn't have the most prolific legacy in her later years, she is nonetheless one of the most iconic actresses of the Golden Era of Hollywood - serving as one of the finest performers of her time as well as one of the best Irish actresses in film history.

Scene from Papa's Delicate Condition

Welcome to Best Song, a new weekly column released on Sunday dedicated to chronicling the Best Original Song category over the course of its many decades. The goal is to listen to and critique every song that has ever been nominated in the category as well as find the Best Best Song and the Best Loser. By the end, we'll have a comprehensive list of this music category and will hopefully have a better understanding not only of the evolution, but what it takes to receive a nomination here. It may seem easy now, but wait until the bad years.

Review: "Steve Jobs" is a Flawed Yet Captivating Masterpiece

Left to right: Seth Rogen and Michael Fassbender

Ever since the dawn of celebrity culture, the concept of the larger than life individual has always fascinated us. They seem like infallible life forms sent to Earth to entertain while serving no other use. It has been chronicled throughout film history going back to films like The Great Ziegfeld and The Pride of the Yankees. These are films that tell a story that is often stranger than fiction. To a large demographic, Apple founder Steve Jobs is arguably among the largest of the larger than life celebrity; revolutionizing technology and building himself up from nothing on multiple occasions. With the latest film from director Danny Boyle and writer Aaron Sorkin, the story plays like what happens when Dorothy pulls back the curtain in The Wizard of Oz. We see the fractured life of a charismatic man; creating one of the most artful, fast paced looks into acclaim that has been captured on film this year thanks in large part to Michael Fassbender's brilliant performance.

Scene from Tom Jones

Freaky Friday: "Psycho" (1960)

Janet Leigh in Psycho

L. Ron Hubbard in Going Clear

Last week marked the release of the shortlist for the Best Foreign Film nominees for this year's Oscars. Today marks the latest shortlist, this time for Best Documentary. Featuring an impressive 124 selections (the highest total was 151 nominees in 2013), the list is an eclectic bunch of titles, including a few name grabbing films ranging from the highly successful Amy to the controversial Going Clear and The Look of Silence. The following is a rundown of every nominee on the list, which will be followed by a few opinions on the various titles featured.

Theory Thursday: Bela Lugosi is Overrated

Bela Lugosi in Dracula

Nothing But the Best: "My Fair Lady" (1964)

Scene from My Fair Lady

Chris Rock

Yesterday, there were rumored announcements that Chris Rock would be hosting this year's Oscars ceremony. The speculation didn't take long to lead to actual truth as today it was announced that he would in fact be hosting. While yesterday's piece explored why this is both a good and bad idea, I have decided to dedicate today's piece to commemorating the feud that he raised with actors Sean Penn and Jude Law. The following is a look at that night and the jokes that almost corrupted Rock's chances of hosting again.

Birthday Take: Thomas Newman in "Saving Mr. Banks" (2013)

Scene from Saving Mr. Banks

Chris Rock

It is time once again to begin speculation on who will be hosting the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony. It is a thankless task that is likely not to get as much remembrance as the winners. Earlier this year, there were reports that there might be two hosts. While this hasn't been disproved, the latest front runner is someone that is kind of familiar to Oscar fans. Leading the list of potential Oscar hosts at this moment is comedian Chris Rock, who was announced today as being a serious contender for the honor. It will be interesting, especially since the last time he hosted wasn't exactly free of conflict.

Ranking the Films of Jason Reitman

Jason Reitman

Today is director Jason Reitman's 38th birthday. Over the course of his career, he has done impressive work to step out of his father Ivan Reitman's shadow by creating some of the most compelling and empathetic portraits of American culture of the 21st century. Mixing heart with humor, his work has been well recognized and has garnered him four Oscar nominations, including two Best Picture nominations. In honor of his birthday, the following is a ranking of all six of his films from his impressive debut with Thank You For Smoking to his more recent work with Men, Women & Children. Even if he's floundered a bit, he's still one of the more interesting voices in modern cinema.

Tom Hiddleston in I Saw the Light

It's a pretty good time to be Tom Hiddleston. For starters, he has had an impressive run in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as series favorite villain Loki. He also recently worked with director Guillermo Del Toro for the Gothic romance film Crimson Peak from this past weekend. However, those wanting to bet on him getting an Oscar nomination to cap off 2015 will have to wait, possibly even give up hopes entirely. Director Marc Abraham's Hank Williams biopic has been delayed to 2016. This isn't the only film to get moved around, with the Bradley Cooper chef film Burnt also receiving a not as severe change of plans. If anything, these may serve as a slight change to their Oscar buzz going forward.

Left to right: Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks

There are few actor-director collaborations throughout history that spark enthusiasm and anticipation almost every time out. In the 1940's, the promise of James Stewart and Frank Capra meant a new Americana classic. In the 1970's, the promise of Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese meant a new gritty New York drama. Over the past 15 years, there have been few names as ubiquitous with this anticipation than Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg; the two giants of 80's and 90's cinema that surprisingly compliment each other by creating a blend of action and drama that is unsurpassed. With this past weekend's Bridge of Spies, they marked their fourth collaboration together, and it was pretty great. Have you seen them all? Here's a ranking of the four films from best to worst, including why they work.

Best Song: "The Days of Wine and Roses" (1962)

Scene from Days of Wine and Roses

Scene from West Side Story

Tom Hanks

Over the course of 40 years, director Steven Spielberg has made a career out of chronicling the American way. From the government offices of Lincoln to the beaches of Jaws, he has found new ways to explore patriotism within the country's rich history - often in relation to big, awe-inspiring set pieces. In his latest film Bridge of Spies, he turns in a film that combines his sense for adventure with his maturing sense for drama in what can be described as Mr. Smith Goes to Berlin; a Cold War film in which James Donovan (Tom Hanks) fights for what's right, even as his patriotism turns him into a notorious figure among his fellow citizens. The film is a tale of humanity for the 21st century, turning Communism not into an evil; but a complicated web in which harmless individuals get stuck. Is it bad? Maybe a little. However, this film chooses to ask us why we shouldn't give them the justice they deserve.

Nothing But the Best: "Around the World in Eighty Days" (1956)

Scene from Around the World in Eighty Days

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.

Freaky Friday: "Carrie" (1976)

Scene from Carrie

Left to right: Abraham Attah and Idris Elba

Over the course of the past few months, Netflix has gotten a lot of attention for a potentially groundbreaking strategy. Along with their growing quality content, they were going to take on The Academy Awards for a Best Picture nomination with director Cary Fukunaga's Beasts of No Nation. While it wouldn't be the first direct-to-Netflix movie in the company's history, it was the first to gain buzz, unanimously positive reviews, and riveting talent in newcomer Abraham Attah as a child thrown into becoming a soldier of war. With intense trailers and enough hype to drive you crazy, the film has arrived. It's as intense and dour as you'd expect a film about child soldiers to be. It's just not as interesting as you'd actually hoped.

Theory Thursday: "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence" is Spielberg's Worst Film

Left to right: Haley Joel Osment and Jude Law in A.I.: Artificial Intelligence

Nothing But the Best: "All About Eve" (1950)

Scene from Borat

Scene from Mad Max: Fury Road

There's no denying the unpredictable impact that director George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road has had on the zeitgeist. It's become its own cultural phenomenon with people adopting the lingo and calling Charlize Theron's Furiosa one of the greatest female characters of the year. It's a film made by a mad man and one that is just as entertaining as the notion. However, there's one thing that I could never quite get on board with. For everyone calling this the Best Movie of 2015, I don't think that it transcends to The Academy. While they have added Tom Hardy to their members list, their latest push to make it a Best Picture contender feels a little... off. It's fun, but I have trouble embracing this campaign as anything but wishful thinking.

Johnny Depp Reportedly Doesn't Want to Win an Oscar

Johnny Depp in The Pirates of the Caribbean

By now, you likely have your own opinions on Johnny Depp as an actor. You either buy into his ability to camouflage into character at the drop of the hat, or find that he often chews scenery a little too heavily. For whatever it's worth, he remains an impeccable presence, and one that was destined for a comeback with Black Mass, in which he plays mob boss Whitey Bulger. Some are even questioning if an Oscar nomination for his role is in there near future (I'm not) since it is a return to form. I hate to break it to you prognosticators, but Depp is the latest actor to come public on not caring about having an Oscar. It's not entirely for the reasons you'd think.

Scene from Argo

As you likely know, I love director Paul Thomas Anderson's oeuvre. He has released a lot of the best cinema from over the past 20 years from Boogie Nights to last year's Inherent Vice. One of the perks is the iconic monologues that seem to crop up in every one of his films. It's impossible to think of There Will Be Blood without "I drink your milkshake." It's not the same without The Master arguing about its cult status. Well, if you've ever wondered what these craftily worded monologues sound like set to music, you can thank Colburn Sound Express, who have just released an eight track download that combines them to a varying genres of music.

A few months ago, it was mentioned that director Paul Thomas Anderson was working on a documentary that followed the journey of his frequent collaborator and composer Jonny Greenwood can Junun. It has been making the rounds at various film festivals, which doesn't help since most people cannot attend. However, there's some good news for those who have been waiting for the director's follow-up to last year's Inherent Vice. You can now watch it online. All it requires is signing up for a website (it's legit, I swear).

Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight

It is likely that as Oscar season heats up, you're already marking your calendar of all the big films. Among the obvious selections is director Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight. With a great first trailer, it looks to keep the eccentric director in top shape. With the film planned to also feature the widest 70mm film release in history, it's going to be special this winter. However, there's a new wrinkle to the release plan. If you're going to be seeing The Hateful Eight, there's a good chance that you will be seeing two different versions pop up. You can thank the 70mm release for that.

Scene from My Fair Lady

There's a good chance that if you enjoy reading about Academy Awards news and history, you're just as interested in seeing the films on the big screen. Well, there's good news for those who are fans of the 1964 musical My Fair Lady, directed by George Cuckor and starring Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins. Starting next week and running into November, you can have the opportunity to see the film on the big screen in select theaters with a new, fully restored version.

Best Song: "Moon River" (1961)

Scene from Breakfast at Tiffany's

R.I.P. Gene Allen (1918-2015)

Gene Allen

On October 7, 2015, art director Gene Allen passed away at the age of 97 in Newport Beach, California from natural causes. Among his many achievements, he won Best Art Direction-Set Direction for his work on the 1964 Best Picture winner My Fair Lady, of whom the director George Cuckor was a frequent collaborator of his. He spent 27 years leading the Art Director Guild from 1970-1997 and was president of The President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for three years from 1983-1985. His massive amount of work continues to be loved for film lovers everywhere for his vibrant style and attention to detail. He leaves behind an impressive catalog that is likely to stimulate your mind.

Birthday Take: Guillermo Del Toro in "Pan's Labyrinth" (2006)

Scene from Pan's Labyrinth

Scene from Son of Saul

It's an exciting time of the year again. Yesterday, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) released its shortlist for all 82 of this year's Best Foreign Film contenders from around the world. While I have been meaning to do more coverage of international cinema and have ignored writing up pieces about the various country's submissions, I do think that there's something exciting about seeing what films each country thinks is going to stand a chance. Even if it's likely that the average viewer hasn't heard of most of these, it paints a nice picture of what's to come. The following is a rundown of every entry as well as personal thoughts on the various titles.

Scene from The French Connection

George Clooney

Among the directors that I anticipate every new release the most with, directors Joel and Ethan Coen are at the top. For starters, their track record is very impressive with most of their great work still coming out (though that's not to discredit everything else from the past 30 years). With their last film, Inside Llewyn Davis, they brought another masterpiece to the world in the disguise of a folk singer with a cat. This time around, they give us a loving ode to Hollywood's golden era with an all-star cast in the film Hail Caesar. While it's been awhile since they tackled the moving pictures (1991's Barton Fink), it's nice to see them return with a more slapstick attitude about it. At least, that's what's implied by the first trailer.

Sigourney Weaver in Aliens

Theory Thursday: "Hanna" (2011) is Joe Wright's Best Movie

Saoirse Ronan in Hanna

The Duplass Brothers Are Hoping to Make "Tangerine" Actress First Transgender Oscar Nominee

Scene from Tangerine

As I have stated many times throughout this past year, things are looking to be far more interesting for LGBT culture in the mainstream. As silly as it may sound, the culture has shifted quite impressively in ways that are being impacted in media. The Amazon Prime series Transparent has continually racked up awards and nominations. Likewise, gay marriage is now legal in America, and Caitlin Jenner became a highly influential transgender woman. With a lot of gay-themed movies either out (Stonewall, Freeheld) or coming very soon (Carol, The Danish Girl), it looks to be at least a more noteworthy time. This will also be a very interesting time for another reason. Thanks to new Academy members Mark and Jay Duplass, this is going to be the first year that a transgender actress is campaigning for an Oscar nomination.

Left to right: Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson

Carey Mulligan in Suffragette

It wasn't too long ago that many were considering director Sarah Gavron's Suffragette to be a strong Oscar contender. While the film still remains in the race, there's a certain backlash that came this past week when a photo shoot for Time Out London saw various actresses wear a t-shirt with a controversial slogan claiming that "I'd rather be a rebel than a slave." While it has been defended as being more descriptive of the oppressive nature of women in 1912, there's no denying that those words nowadays don't have the same connotation. But is it all justified? The magazine thinks so, but nobody else does.

A Tribute to the Best Silent Film Scene in History

Buster Keaton in Steamboat Bill Jr.

When it comes to silent films, there are two popular schools of thought. There's the Charles Chaplin way and the Buster Keaton way. As history has proven, Chaplin has withstood the test of time better with a resume of iconic films like Modern Times and The Great Dictator. He is an artist who took the medium into adventurous new directions. However, the Keaton school is more of my favorite for one sole reason: he was just more fun. To witness what Keaton did in any film is to acknowledge a mad man being allowed to endanger himself on screen. There were no stunt doubles. It was all him as he stared danger in the face and hilariously injured himself. It is likely that due to his stories not being the best, he doesn't immediately come to people's minds. However, and I'm serious, there is one moment in which Keaton not only outdid himself, but created one of the greatest silent film scenes in history.

Scene from Never on Sunday

Friday, October 30, 2015

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Monday, October 26, 2015

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Friday, October 23, 2015

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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Monday, October 19, 2015

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Friday, October 16, 2015

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Monday, October 12, 2015

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Friday, October 9, 2015

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Sunday, October 4, 2015