"The Irishman" Trailer Sets Scorsese Up for Oscar Potential

Scene from The Irishman (2019)

There have been few obvious Oscar campaigns quite like director Martin Scorsese's The Irishman. It was so anticipated that a teaser played during the commercials for the actual ceremony. However, this is the first time that audiences will be privy to what lied in one of the most exciting pairings of the year. Not only is it the return of Scorsese with Robert de Niro, but it also features Goodfellas actor Joe Pesci and his first with Al Pacino. It's a dynamite group that could sell the film without a single piece of marketing. Thankfully, the trailer that premiered lived up to the expectations, taking audiences back to the world of Scorsese gangster films for the first time since The Departed in 2006. If nothing else, it looks to be one of the best excuses to subscribe to Netflix yet.

Review: "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" Rewrites Film History with Heartwarming Results

Scene from Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

For most of the 21st century, director Quentin Tarantino has reveled in a certain kind of cynicism. You don't even need to see his films, as the mere presence of his titles (Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, and The Hateful Eight) all feature something confrontational. Even his last film ended with everyone dead. However, there feels like a change of heart with Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, itself a play on the idea of fairytales and happy endings. Yes, he's still the verbose, sadistic filmmaker with a love for the comedic violence, but for the first time in decades, he feels... happy? With this being his presumed penultimate movie, Tarantino goes to the movies and, for nearly three hours, finds a reason to make us care not about the style or glamor that he's packed into so many frames, but of the people who made it possible. It's a story that repurposes careers and forces us to wonder how legacies are shaped, and it makes for one of his most reverent films yet.

A24 A-to-Z:#69. "Eighth Grade" (2018)

Scene from Eighth Grade (2018)

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 years to come.

Todd Phillips Considers "The Joker" (2019) Oscar Worthy, Though Skepticism Remains

Scene from The Joker (2019)

The past few weeks of the summer have produced a lot of reasons to look forward to Oscar season. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood marks a potential return for Tom Hanks, and this weekend's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is a Quentin Tarantino movie (so we'll be talking about it for a while). However, there's one outlier that has made the rounds in recent days... and it is not what you'd expect. Even in a post-Black Panther world, it still seems ridiculous to think that any superhero movie could crack the Oscars again. It's why it seems odd that there is one to not forget this Fall, or at least The Hangover director Todd Phillips will have you believe. The Joker is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and there are talks that the Oscars are not too far behind. It seems like a risky gamble, but maybe what this season needs.

Why "Inglourious Basterds" is Still Quentin Tarantino's Best Film

Scene from Inglourious Basterds

For Quentin Tarantino, the year 2009 was a turning point for his career that at the time seemed unexpected. With the success of Pulp Fiction now 15 years behind him, his three films since were a mix of underappreciated (Jackie Brown) and more stylized (Kill Bill). He still had the knack to entertain audiences, but what exactly was his defining achievements in his career? With Inglourious Basterds, he did something unfathomable. He didn't just dive into genre, this time taking on the World War II action films, he found a way to remind audiences that he was a gifted writer, capable of pushing boundaries that hadn't been seen in over a decade. He had the style, but Inglourious Basterds proved that he was capable of being an auteur, kicking off a decade of repurposing history through cinema to explore some of the most important themes of the 21st century, but with plenty more razzle-dazzle.

Legitimate Theater Bonus: #12. The Lion King (1997)

The Lion King

Welcome to Legitimate Theater: a column dedicated to movie-based stage musicals. The goal of this series is to explore those stories that originated in films and eventually worked their way onto Broadway and beyond. By the end of each entry, there will hopefully be a better understanding of this odd but rampant trend in modern entertainment. Are these stories really worth telling through song and dance? How can it even compare to the technical prowess of a camera and seamless editing? Join me on this quest as I explore the highs and lows of this trend on the third Wednesday of every month and hopefully answer what makes this Legitimate Theater.

The "Jojo Rabbit" Teaser Promises to Satirize Hatred with Promising Results

Scene from Jojo Rabbit

A few years ago, director Taika Waititi broke out internationally with the vampire parody What We Do in the Shadows. The film spawned a TV show and lead to him directing now two Thor movies for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While he has a lot on his plate, there's nothing that sounds more appealing in his career than his next film Jojo Rabbit. For better or worse, it's a film that looks to satirize Nazism by featuring a boy who imagines his best friend is notorious dictator Adolf Hitler. It's already a staggering film by description, and it doesn't take more than brief glimpses into the imagery to find the absurd premise fairly delightful. The trailer, billed as a "satire on hate," is planning on being one of the boldest films of the fall season, and one can't help but wonder if this takes Waititi into the Oscars circles, especially if it's as off-kilter as the minute-long footage.

The First Trailer for "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" Welcomes Tom Hanks with a Good Feeling

Sene from A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

It's that time again. It's the point where Tom Hanks returns to play a noble cultural icon whose intentions are pure of heart. In recent years, this has included Walt Disney (Saving Mr. Banks) and Captain Sullenberger (Sully) among others and reflects what the actor is best at. Hanks is someone who appears genuine in every performance, and once again with Fred Rogers, it appears like he's stuck his name in the ring for Best Actor yet again. Director Marielle Heller's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a biopic on the famous PBS host that is looking to cheer everyone up in the first trailer. While it's not quite as heartwarming as the real thing, it does seem like another time to be reminded of Hanks' gifts for sweetness. 

Composing Greatness: #6. "Titanic" (1997)

Scene from Titanic

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 First Trailer for "Cats" (2019) is Here to Get Stuck in Your Memory

Scene from Cats (2019)

It was seven years ago that director Tom Hooper managed to turn Les Miserables into an Oscar-winning movie. While many complained about the close-ups, the bombastic nature and sheer dedication to such an iconic musical made it one of the boldest films of his career. With that in mind, nothing is likely to compare to Cats, his next musical and the first film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber juggernaut. Considering how divisive his last musical was, it's not going to be easy for audiences to get on board with a film about singing and dancing cats. As the first trailer, dropped with much anticipation and months of build-up, finally arrives it asks the viewer to start expecting something weird and different, much like the stage show itself.

Legitimate Theater: "Carnival!" (1961)

Carnival!

Welcome to Legitimate Theater: a column dedicated to movie-based stage musicals. The goal of this series is to explore those stories that originated in films and eventually worked their way onto Broadway and beyond. By the end of each entry, there will hopefully be a better understanding of this odd but rampant trend in modern entertainment. Are these stories really worth telling through song and dance? How can it even compare to the technical prowess of a camera and seamless editing? Join me on this quest as I explore the highs and lows of this trend on the third Wednesday of every month and hopefully answer what makes this Legitimate Theater.

Review: "Midsommar" is a Promising Yet Frustrating Film

Florence Pugh in Midsommar

Last year saw the directorial debut of Ari Aster with Hereditary. For many, it wasn't just another horror film, but a full-on phenomenon that showed the introduction of a new compelling artist that would take chances and elevate scares and gore into a more thought-provoking look into the human condition. It's hard to deny the impact of the film, which still sends shivers down the spines of anyone who thinks about it. So, how exactly does Aster follow-up a film that resonated as a family drama mixed with some of the most haunting moments of the decade? In a broad sense, Aster has taken his horrors from inside the house he built for his last film and placed them predominantly outside.

Midsommar isn't nearly the wrecking ball that Hereditary was, but that's not from a lack of trying. As much as it feels like Aster is recycling material (symbolic houses, cults, car-related deaths, etc.), it does show an artist continuing to expand his pallet into something even more unnerving and strange. It's a trip to Sweden that goes terribly wrong and finds the travelers facing a series of conflicts that they may not be ready for. Expect there to be some powerful images to grab you by the neck and once again rattle you into submission. However, it's not quite as streamlined or effective this time around, though it's not from a lack of trying. Aster is one of the modern masters of set design in horror, but here's hoping he works more on the story next time.

Composing Greatness: #5. James Horner - "Braveheart" (1995)

Scene from Braveheart

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: #68. "Woman Walks Ahead" (2018)

Scene from Woman Walks Ahead

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 years to come.

R.I.P. Rip Torn (1931-2019)

Rip Torn

On July 9, 2019, an actor of stage and screen Rip Torn passed away at the age of 88 in Lakeview, Connecticut. Among his most noteworthy credits was being a character actor known for his curmudgeon roles in films like Defending Your Life, Men in Black, and Dodgeball. He has also appeared on TV in series like The Larry Sanders Show and was in the original production of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth. He leaves behind an impressive career spanning almost 60 years and so many memorable roles. With so many career highs, he will be missed for making the world of film, TV, and theater a lot more interesting and far less conventional than it was before.

The First "Judy' (2019) Brings Forth a Promising Oscar Contender

Scene from Judy (2019)

Everyone loves a biopic it seems. The desire to take the celebrities of the past and turn them into fodder for new stories is something that has never gone out of style. It's why it seems odd that Judy Garland is just now getting around to the biopic treatment. With a storied career full of tremendous highs and lows, it's hard to not find something to take from her life story (though to be fair, A Star is Born was almost autobiographical anyways). It's what makes the upcoming release of director Rupert Goold's Judy starring Renee Zellweger so compelling. Not only is it a potential return to the Oscar circles for the actress, but it may help to inspire a new generation to fall in love all over again with the singer. If the trailer has anything to say about it, the journey there will be a rip-roaring success.

Here's the List of the 842 New Academy Voting Members for 2019

Lady Gaga in A Star is Born (2018)

While the summer season is just heating up (literally and figuratively), it's also that point where The Academy welcomes in their new class of new voters. Last year saw a record-breaking 928 new invitations to join. While this year's 842 falls just shy of that total, it is by no means a sign that things are slowing down. In fact, things are actually looking better based on the numbers. The laws put into place by former president Cheryl Boone Isaacs to have more diversity is starting to become a reality, with female representation etching closer to 50% and overall diversity becoming more reflective of modern audiences. Who made the cut? You'll have to read on to find out.