R.I.P. John Morris (1926-2018)

John Morris

On January 25, 2018, composer John Morris died at the age of 91 in Red Hook, New York. over the course of his career, he has produced some of the most iconic scores ranging from films by Mel Brooks such as The Producers and Blazing Saddles; to more mature work like The Elephant Man. Even if he wasn't a household name, he managed to create some of the most empathetic and effective music in comedy and drama, and leaves behind an impressive body of work. Who could forget the melodies of a Brooks film? A lot of the credit is owed to Morris, who foudn a way to make melodies funny and catchy. With an impressive career spanning 30 years, he leaves behind an impressive body of work that will leave film fans happy and dancing, no matter how much they try to resist.

Review: "Darkest Hour" is a Showcase for Gary Oldman's Acting, Not Much Else

Gary Oldman

In times of struggle, a leader is the most important thing to have. But what makes a good leader? Is it someone who can provide easy answers, or is it someone who takes the tough decisions that could lead to permanent fixes? In director Joe Wright's Darkest Hour, he explores this subject in relation to England in the midst of World War II during a time when the foe was among the most notorious dictators in history and the threat of bombs were constantly over their heads. It's a taught drama, but at the center is a compelling performance by Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, the aging statesman who comes to shape the war's outcome in one definitive decision. Ironically, it's his first and one that will likely make or break his role as Prime Minister. It's a gripping drama, and one that finds that the best answers aren't always the easiest. 

Composing Greatness: #31. "Nixon" (1995)

Scene from Nixon

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: #25. "Dark Places" (2015)

Scene from Dark Places

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.

Ranking the Most Nominated Oscar Films of the Past 10 Years

Scene from The Shape of Water

With this week presenting the Oscar nominations, it only seems right to continually nitpick every category to determine just how good this year is (in my opinion, it's a very good one). However, there is one piece of trivia that's likely to go unnoticed: the films with the most nominations. While it's a big deal in any given year, does anyone remember what that film was even 10 years ago? It's what inspired me to rank the last 10 years of films that lead the year with the most nominations. Ironically, it's a bit uneven as there were many ties in a given year. However, it's also 13 films - the number of nominations that The Shape of Water received this year. It's interesting to look back at the films that dominated, even if they didn't win much. The following is my ranking of the past 10 years, which has produced a lot of interesting results.

Theory Thursday: My Issues With the Best Animated Film Oscar Category

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. 

Casey Affleck Bows Out of Oscar Presenter Duties

Casey Affleck

It's a tradition almost as old as The Academy Awards. Every year the acting categories play a cute game in which the Best Actor winner of the previous year awards the Best Actress category of that year (and vice versa). There's been one controversy however present in an era defined by the Me Too and Time's Up movement: what are they going to do about Casey Affleck, last year's Best Actor winner for Manchester By the Sea. He has become a figure of notoriety thanks to his sexual harassment lawsuit that almost cost him the Oscar. Many wanted him to vetoed out of the role. However, today marks a different turn: Affleck himself is stepping down, breaking an Oscar tradition. It may be an expected move amid controversy, but it still is quite an odd development.

My Problem with The Oscars Nomination Presentation

Left to right; Andy Serkis and Tiffany Haddish

There's a lot of exciting things to talk about regarding The Oscars this week. For one, I believe that it's one of the strongest years in recent memory. As much as I am looking forward to discussing this year's class of nominees, I felt the need to discuss one thing: I really didn't like the Oscar nomination announcement. It's usually an event lacking spectacle, but this year was marked by one unfortunate obstacle: the presenters. While they're more than worthy of the acclaim that they have gotten elsewhere, it seems like what this year's presentation lacked was a preparation. It showed, and it created something a bit condescending and awful, especially as The Academy wanted to be taken seriously with all of the nominees. It's not the worst thing to happen to The Oscars in recent years, but it's still a bad start to the final stretch of this Oscar season.

Oscar Predictions vs. Nominations: How Did I Do?

Scene from Dunkirk

This morning marked the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations. Like most years, it wasn't without its surprises. Like most people, I decided to make predictions for what would make the cut. It wasn't my best year, but there's a lot that I got right. So, let's look at how well I did at making my predictions in all of the major categories and determine whether or not I did a good job.

Check Out the Official List for the 2018 Oscar Nominations

Today was one of the biggest moments in every cinephile's year. This morning, hosts Tiffany Haddish and Andy Serkis presented the nominees for this year's Academy Awards. As with every year, it was full of surprises - good and bad - that will go on to be discussed in detail. With The Shape of Water and Dunkirk leading the nominations, this was an incredibly packed year full of interesting choices. The following is a rundown of those names. Come back throughout the week for further Oscar coverage, including pieces related to surprises, achievements, and how I'd personally rank the Best Picture category. Until then, here are the nominees for this year's Academy Awards.

A Quick Guide to Where to Watch the 2018 Oscar Nomination Announcement

As most film fans will know, tomorrow is the official announcement of this year's Oscar nominations. For those who would like to watch the broadcast live, you can tune into your local network at 5:22 A.M. for the first half of the announcement, which will include a mix of digital platforms and live presentation at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The second half will be presented at 5:38 A.M. and will feature the major categories including acting, directing, and of course Best Picture. Check local listings for further information. Otherwise, get your final predictions in (here's mine) and prepare for a fun morning of discovering the nominees and discussing the good and bad. It wouldn't be an Oscar season without it. 

Here's My Predictions for the 2018 Oscar Nominations

Scene from The Shape of Water

The moment is almost here. Tomorrow morning, The Academy will announce the nominees for this year's ceremony. It has been a rich year full of a diverse mix of movies, and the trail to this moment has been full of rocky surprises. While tomorrow answers the question about who made the cut, it will open other questions, such as who will win. It's a question that's not quite as fun, but a lot more fun to speculate about. The following is my personal predictions for what will make the cut in the major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, and the four acting fields. It's been difficult to whittle it down, but here's hoping that I get plenty right. Feel free to leave your predictions in the comments, and come back tomorrow morning for full coverage of the awards after they're announced!

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Manchester By the Sea" (2016)

Scene from Manchester By the Sea

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.

R.I.P. Dorothy Malone (1925-2018)

Dorothy Malone

On January 19, 2018, actress Dorothy Malone passed away at the age of 92 in Dallas, Texas. As one of the final living actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood, she was known for her work in films such as Written on the Wind, for which she would win an Oscar. Even beyond that, she would receive acclaim for her work on the TV series as the lead on Peyton Place, for  which she was continually involved with over the decades. With a career spanning almost 50 years, sh has managed to turn in a lot of compelling and versatile roles over the years, including a supporting role in The Big Sleep. While she may not be the most recognizable name, she definitely produced an underrated body of work worthy of more respect. It's an impressive body of work, which will entertain generations to come.

A Ranking of the Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg Collaborations (Updated)

Left to right: Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks

Note: Updated with a ranking for The Post, originally published 10/19/15


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.

Review: "The Post" Romanticizes the Value of Journalism to Its Full Potential

Scene from The Post

In 2017, the term "fake news" defined a crisis of journalistic integrity. Regardless of its actual merit, it lead to a rising concern of who could be trusted within the media. After all, these are the people telling millions of people the important events as they happen. With director Steven Spielberg's The Post, it's the heart of the conversation at The Washington Post prepares to publish the infamous Pentagon Papers. It's a film that asks the question as to who could be trusted to deliver the news, and the importance of reporting the stories honestly. It may be at times a conventional and polished look at the world of journalism, but its most triumphant moments are defined by hard work and the knowledge that truth prevailed. It's a message that seems as timely now as it did 45 years ago, making The Post into an even more prescient period piece.

A24 A-to-Z: #24. "The End of the Tour" (2015)

Scene from The End of the Tour

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: "Phantom Thread" Speaks Volumes in Anderson's Most Restrained Movie

Scene from Phantom Thread

Director Paul Thomas Anderson's latest Phantom Thread marks his first collaboration in a decade with acclaimed actor Daniel Day-Lewis. When they were last together, they produced an Oscar-winning performance with one of the actor's most iconic roles. He was manic, unpredictable, and created one of 21st century cinema's greatest antagonists. Time has passed, and the duo reunite for a film of a different beast. Instead of seeing Lewis play a man mad with power, he ends his career with one succumbed to co-dependence. It's a film restrained even by Anderson's lofty ambitions, and it creates one of the most compelling romances of the year. While there's no scene in which Lewis throws a bowling pin, the emotional scars feel richer and more compelling. It's a great film, and a touching way for Lewis to end his career on a very high note.

Composing Greatness: #30. John Williams - "Sabrina" (1995)

Scene from Sabrina

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.

R.I.P. Terence Marsh (1931-2018)

Terence Marsh

On January 9, 2018, production designer Terence Marsh passed away at the age of 86 in Pacific Palisades, California. In a career that spanned over 50 years, he created some of the most iconic and beautiful looks to various films ranging from Doctor Zhivago to The Shawshank Redemption. In that time, he helped to shape the look of epics and period pieces with some of the most distinctive looks imaginable. He leaves behind an impressive body of work that has likely captured the audiences' imagination, creating looks that define eras in ways that lead to two Oscar wins and an additional two nominations. He may not be a household name, but there's a good chance that you know his work. It's impressive work that deserves more credit and respect, as he helped to shape the world of film into his great image. 

Here's the Winners of this Year's Golden Globes

Scene from Lady Bird

Yesterday marked one of the first big stops in this year's awards season. The Golden Globes were a moment where actresses spoke out in solidarity as part of the new Time's Up movement, and the winners seemed to be just as politically charged. With many harrowing speeches, the night was full of a rare energy, and it wasn't without some controversy in Best Picture (Drama) winner and top winner of the night, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The following is a look at the movie winners of the night, including some thoughts on how they may shake up the Oscar race, or what they have to say about things going forward. It was an interesting night, and it was in part thanks to these surprises.

A24 A-to-Z: #23."Amy" (2015)

Scene from Amy

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.

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Lincoln" (2012)

Scene from Lincoln

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.