Theory Thursday: "The Elephant Man" is David Lynch's Best Movie

Scene from The Elephant Man

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. 

Check This Out: "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" Gets a Nationwide Re-Release in Honor of 40th Anniversary

Scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

There's no denying that Steven Spielberg pretty much owns the big screen experience. Over the course of his career, he has brought so many dazzling images that are rendered to be seen in theaters, triumphantly stimulating audiences with innovative techniques. What if I were to tell you that there is a way to see one of his biggest hits on the big screen this weekend? That's right. His first foray into alien culture with Close Encounters of the Third Kind is playing in theaters nationwide for the next week to commemorate the film's 40th anniversary. If it's been awhile or you've never seen it on the big screen, there's more than enough reason to check it out and have some fun with one of the best alien movies ever.

A24 A-to-Z: #10. "The Rover" (2014)

Scene from The Rover

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.

Review: "Good Time" is a Powerful and Unnerving Journey Into Moral Chaos

Robert Pattinson

The opening scene of directors Benny and Josh Safdie is a quiet one. With a close-up of mentally challenged man Nick (Benny Safdie), he is being seen by a therapist who is trying to get him to open up. Nick is at first reluctant, but soon learns to shed a tear. As breakthrough is made, a force comes running through the door. It's his brother Connie (Robert Pattinson), who doesn't believe in therapy and believes that Nick is wasting his time. Connie believes that he knows what is right, and that scene transitions into the swirling chaos that is Good Time: a title made ironic in that no character actually has a happy ending. What it does however show is a brilliant character study of how one man's arrogance can find itself clashing with his love in damaging ways over the course of one night, ruining lives when he set out to make his better. It's a powerful film, and one that should officially erase any astigmatism that you have about Pattinson's work in the Twilight franchise. Those who see it won't forget it, as it intensely attacks the soul with contradictory themes and even more stimulating visuals. It may not be the flashiest film of 2017, but it can't help being one of the most intense.

Composing Greatness: #17. John Williams - "Yes, Giorgio" (1982)

Scene from Yes, Giorgio

Welcome to Composing Greatness: a column dedicated to exploring the work of film composers. This will specifically focus on the films that earned them Oscar nominations while exploring what makes it so special. This will be broken down into a look at the overall style, interesting moments within the composition, and what made the score worth nominating in the first place. This will also include various subcategories where I will rank the themes of each film along with any time that the composer actually wins. This is a column meant to explore a side of film that doesn't get enough credit while hopefully introducing audiences to an enriched view of more prolific composers' work. This will only cover scores/songs that are compiled in an easily accessible format (so no extended scores will be considered). Join me every Sunday as I cover these talents that if you don't know by name, you recognize by sound.

The Runner-Ups: Mark Duplass in "Blue Jay" (2016)

Mark Duplass in Blue Jay

Every Oscar season, there are a handful of actors who get tagged with the "snubbed" moniker. While it is always unfortunate to see our favorites not honored with at very least a nomination, there's another trend that goes largely unnoticed: those who never even got that far. The Runner-Ups is a column meant to honor the greats in cinema who put in phenomenal work without getting the credit that they deserved from The Academy. Join me every other Saturday as I honor those who never received any love. This list will hopefully come to cover both the acting community, and the many crew members who put the production together.

Why "The King of Comedy" Made Us Reevaluate Jerry Lewis as an Actor

Scene from The King of Comedy

It's a premise that movies have done to death. The idea of making a comedian play a "serious role," or against type, has the potential to reach surreal levels that reflects the pain underneath their comedy. Actors like Jim Carrey and Robin Williams would get plenty of credit for it later on. However, there were few whose performances are on par with Jerry Lewis' role in director Martin Scorsese's 1982 satire The King of Comedy. Lewis may have been playing a comedian as the Johnny Carson-esque Jerry Langford, but he's the film's dramatic core, of which separates audiences from the deranged Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro), who tries to get on his show. Over the course of the film, Lewis gives a performance that doesn't only play against type, but shows a complicated side to the clownish actor that may say a lot about him, but mostly proves that he was capable of more than slapstick.

Composing Greatness: #16. John Williams - "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)

Scene from E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial

Welcome to Composing Greatness: a column dedicated to exploring the work of film composers. This will specifically focus on the films that earned them Oscar nominations while exploring what makes it so special. This will be broken down into a look at the overall style, interesting moments within the composition, and what made the score worth nominating in the first place. This will also include various subcategories where I will rank the themes of each film along with any time that the composer actually wins. This is a column meant to explore a side of film that doesn't get enough credit while hopefully introducing audiences to an enriched view of more prolific composers' work. This will only cover scores/songs that are compiled in an easily accessible format (so no extended scores will be considered). Join me every Sunday as I cover these talents that if you don't know by name, you recognize by sound.

A24 A-to-Z: #9. "Obvious Child" (2014)

Scene from Obvious Child

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 Runner-Ups: Channing Tatum in "Foxcatcher" (2014)

Channing Tatum in Foxcatcher

Every Oscar season, there are a handful of actors who get tagged with the "snubbed" moniker. While it is always unfortunate to see our favorites not honored with at very least a nomination, there's another trend that goes largely unnoticed: those who never even got that far. The Runner-Ups is a column meant to honor the greats in cinema who put in phenomenal work without getting the credit that they deserved from The Academy. Join me every other Saturday as I honor those who never received any love. This list will hopefully come to cover both the acting community, and the many crew members who put the production together.

Birthday Take: Steve Carell in "Foxcatcher" (2014)

Scene from Foxcatcher

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.

An Appreciation of Soderberg's 'Last' Movie "Side Effects"

Scene from Side Effects

It is likely that if you watch movie trailers, then you'll remember the Logan Lucky one. How could you not? It's the return of the great Steven Soderbergh, finally directing more movies after a brief hiatus that lead to two TV series; one he worked closely on (The Knick) and one he mostly produced (The Girlfriend Experience). Still as the credits rolled, it played through his most memorable hits: Ocean's 11, Ocean's 12, Ocean's 13, and Magic Mike. Not a bad line-up. Still, for a filmmaker who seems to never sleep, it seems odd that nobody talks about his last film: 2013's Side Effects. It may not have a moment as eye popping as Magic Mike's gyrating torsos, but it does have a lot that is underrated and overlooked. With Logan Lucky coming out on Friday, I felt the need to look back on the film he made before saying goodbye, at least for then. 

The First Trailer for "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" is Here, and it's On Fire

Scene from The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Among the greatest film of 2017 was Giorgos Lanthimos' The Lobster. It was a movie that took a perverse look at love and found its way to a surprise box office success and Oscar nomination. How does one follow up that success? The Killing of a Sacred Deer is another movie shrouded in prestige and promise, teaming up with several familiar faces from his previous film. Having been nominated for the Plame d'Or at Cannes, it is one of those films that must be watched out for. To say the least, the first trailer has arrived, and it's rather unnerving as it features one of the most haunting covers of a pop song from any trailer this year. Also, it asks a lot of questions (such as "What's going on?") while answering others (such as "Why you should go see it.") It looks incredible, and may continue Lanthimos' hot streak.

R.I.P. Joseph Bologna (1934-2017)

Joseph Bologna

On August 13, 2017, actor and writer Joseph Bologna died in Duarte, California at the age of 82 from pancreatic cancer. He has had a lengthy career starring in movies and TV for over 40 years. Among his most recognized work is My Favorite Year: a comedy that parodied the real life shenanigans of Errol Flynn. He also wrote the script, which earned him an Oscar nomination. Beyond that, he remained active wherever he could, finding interesting projects to keep him busy. No matter what he did, he brought his own personal spin to things, and cinema was always better for it. He will be missed but never forgotten.

"Molly's Game" Welcomes Aaron Sorkin to the World of Directing

Jessica Chastain

Over the past few years, Jessica Chastain has had an interesting career in the wake of Zero Dark Thirty. In some ways, it still feels like she's chasing the success of that performance by playing tough-as-nails women. While it can be argued that she's very good at them, roles like A Most Violent Year and Miss Sloane haven't exactly gotten her Oscar nominations. Still, every new film promises something new and exciting, especially in the wake of her recent comments at Cannes where she decried the poor choices of female roles out there. With Molly's Game, she returns to the tough-as-nails formula with the directorial debut of acclaimed writer Aaron Sorkin. While the writer is known for busy scripts, let's just hope that whatever this movie is is a little bit more focused than what the trailer provides, even Chastain having a promising and seductive role.

"The Meyerowitz Stories" Trailer Promises a Serious Adam Sandler Performance... *sigh* Again

Scene from The Meyerowitz Stories

If there's one general agreement, it's that Adam Sandler's glory days as a bankable actor are behind him, at least on the big screen. His work with Netflix has produced an odd range of comedies that have varying degrees of reviews. Still, nobody would mistake what he does for Oscar caliber material. Considering that Netflix is a company that wants to get in on the awards racket, it makes sense then that their latest film, director Noah Baumbach's The Meyerowitz Story at least has an appetizing supporting cast, featuring Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, and Emma Thompson. The first trailer has dropped, and... it's time to talk about his bizarre relationship with prestige movie season yet again. 

Composing Greatness: #15. John Williams - "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981)

Scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark

Welcome to Composing Greatness: a column dedicated to exploring the work of film composers. This will specifically focus on the films that earned them Oscar nominations while exploring what makes it so special. This will be broken down into a look at the overall style, interesting moments within the composition, and what made the score worth nominating in the first place. This will also include various subcategories where I will rank the themes of each film along with any time that the composer actually wins. This is a column meant to explore a side of film that doesn't get enough credit while hopefully introducing audiences to an enriched view of more prolific composers' work. This will only cover scores/songs that are compiled in an easily accessible format (so no extended scores will be considered). Join me every Sunday as I cover these talents that if you don't know by name, you recognize by sound.

The Runner-Ups: Elisabeth Moss in "Queen of Earth" (2015)

Scene from Queen of Earth

Every Oscar season, there are a handful of actors who get tagged with the "snubbed" moniker. While it is always unfortunate to see our favorites not honored with at very least a nomination, there's another trend that goes largely unnoticed: those who never even got that far. The Runner-Ups is a column meant to honor the greats in cinema who put in phenomenal work without getting the credit that they deserved from The Academy. Join me every other Saturday as I honor those who never received any love. This list will hopefully come to cover both the acting community, and the many crew members who put the production together.

A24 A-to-Z: 8. "Locke" (2014)

Scene from Locke

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.

"Groundhog Day" Cinematographer John Bailey is Officially the New Academy President

John Bailey

As most likely know, this past Oscar season marked one interesting change. After four years, President Cheryl Boone Isaacs would be stepping down. This left plenty of options available as to who would lead The Academy going forward. Considering the struggles of diversity regarding youth, gender, and race; it was a conflict that definitely seemed challenging. However, the answer came after a vote on Tuesday night. While many predicted Laura Dern (who has become more active in Academy-related events), the answer was someone a bit more obscure. Ladies and gentlemen, the new President of the American Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is... John Bailey!

Theory Thursday: "Cosmopolis" (2012) is Underrated

Scene from Cosmopolis

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. 

Review: "Detroit" is a Great Film That Is As Uncomfortable As It Is Insightful

Scene from Detroit

When someone thinks of a war film, they think of the classical sense of a World War II scene in which two armies fight each other in gruesome fashion. It has the power to create powerful imagery and question the very nature of violence. However, there is another type of war film this summer that looks a little different: director Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit. Set in 1967, it follows a riot that took place in the city when overcrowding and police brutality slammed rudely against each other. It's a war not of countries, but of opposing views in American society. In some ways, it makes the events that follow more uncomfortable. It's also more powerful because, unlike something like Dunkirk, there is something about Detroit that still feels contemporary even 50 years after its story.

R.I.P. Glen Campbell (1936-2017)

Glen Campbell

On August 8, 2017, singer Glen Campbell died at the age of 81 in Nashville, Tennessee from complications regarding Alzheimer's Disease. He was best known for writing country music, specifically the chart topping hits like "Wichita Lineman," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," and his most popular hit "Rhinestone Cowboy." Over the course of a career spanning over 50 years, he hosted several variety shows that helped to raise awareness of up and coming stars in the country music field. He also received two Oscar nominations for his music, including the theme song for True Grit and his final recording "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" from his documentary Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me. He leaves behind an impressive body of work that'll get you toe-tapping and singing along in no time. He was a true artist with an even more impressive career that included 70 albums, selling 45 million copies, and 80 different songs on a Billboard Chart.

Birthday Take: Michael Shannon in "Nocturnal Animals" (2016)

Scene from Nocturnal Animals

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.

A Look at "Atomic Blonde" and the Ongoing Need for a Best Stunt Performer Category

Scene from Atomic Blonde

Today marks Charlize Theron's 42nd birthday. Like all celebrities, it is fun to spend this day commemorating their great achievements in pop culture. After all, who could forget the scene stealing work in Mad Max: Fury Road, or the snarky brilliance of Young Adult? To say the least, Theron has been busy trying to start up an amazing comeback that'll likely define her as one of the most interesting, if not best, actresses of her generation. However, there is another topic that I would love to discuss regarding her recent work: Atomic Blonde. If you've seen it, you know how great her performance in the movie is. It also serves to raise the question: When will there be a Best Stunt Performer category at the Oscars?

Composing Greatness: #14. John Williams - "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back" (1980)

Scene from Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Welcome to Composing Greatness: a column dedicated to exploring the work of film composers. This will specifically focus on the films that earned them Oscar nominations while exploring what makes it so special. This will be broken down into a look at the overall style, interesting moments within the composition, and what made the score worth nominating in the first place. This will also include various subcategories where I will rank the themes of each film along with any time that the composer actually wins. This is a column meant to explore a side of film that doesn't get enough credit while hopefully introducing audiences to an enriched view of more prolific composers' work. This will only cover scores/songs that are compiled in an easily accessible format (so no extended scores will be considered). Join me every Sunday as I cover these talents that if you don't know by name, you recognize by sound.

A Quick Rundown of Trailers for Potential Oscar Season Front Runners

Scene from Suburbicon

Once again, I apologize for being a little quieter than normal on this blog. While I have been doing regular coverage, I haven't quite given attention to the plethora of great and promising trailers that came out in the wake of the upcoming Oscar season. This is why I have decided to do a round-up of 14 trailers that, if nothing else, look to have some form of promise whether it be in acting, writing, or any technical field. It's likely that a few of these will be duds, but trying to guess who the surprise victors are always fun. The following trailers show promise and, if nothing else, show just how intriguing the next few months will be.

The Runner-Ups: The Writing of "Pete's Dragon" (2016)

Every Oscar season, there are a handful of actors who get tagged with the "snubbed" moniker. While it is always unfortunate to see our favorites not honored with at very least a nomination, there's another trend that goes largely unnoticed: those who never even got that far. The Runner-Ups is a column meant to honor the greats in cinema who put in phenomenal work without getting the credit that they deserved from The Academy. Join me every other Saturday as I honor those who never received any love. This list will hopefully come to cover both the acting community, and the many crew members who put the production together.

Theory Thursday: "Pacific Rim" is Overrated

Scene from Pacific Rim

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. 

R.I.P. Sam Shepard (1943-2017)

On July 27, 2017, actor and playwright Sam Shepard died at the age of 73 in Midway, Kentucky from complications involving amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was a person best known for his impressive craft as a writer, winning a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and being hailed in 2009 by New York Magazine as "the greatest American playwright of his generation." His career onstage has surpassed his career on film, which included memorable turns in films like Days of Heaven, and The Right Stuff: the latter of which earned him an Oscar nomination. With a career spanning over half a century, Shepard leaves behind an impressive body of work, and one that inspires actors and writers on stage and screen to give their all for their craft and make art that really matters.