Ranking the Films of Bob Fosse

Scene from All That Jazz

There have been few in the world of Broadway who has matched the massive talent (and ego) of Bob Fosse. While he's best known for reinventing theater, he also left behind an impressive filmography that saw him reinvent both the movie musical and typical drama by adding social commentary that was biting and manic. With the TV series Fosse/Verdon coming tomorrow to highlight his illustrious life, it only feels right to look back on such an odd career. The following is a ranking of his five features (and one live show) that he directed and often choreographed to better fit his vision. There hasn't been a choreographer (or director for that matter) like Fosse, and his work speaks for itself. So get out your jazz hands and dance along.

An Open Letter from The Oscar Buzz

Scene from Marty

Hello, one and all. It's been a while since I last spoke on here. As per usual, I take the month following The Academy Awards ceremony off in order to pursue other projects and think about other things, including what's to come for the next 11 months of coverage. The good news is that I have more of the same planned. While I'll admit that the blog has been whittle down to its core essentials in recent years, it's with all hope that I still cover the important things when I can. So, what do I have in store for the immediate future? You can read on and find out what I'll be doing before the season starts picking up again.

R.I.P. Neil Simon (1927-2018)

Neil Simon

On August 26, 2018, playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon died at the age of 91 in New York City, New York. Over the course of his storied career, he has become the most nominated writer for combined Tony and Oscar nominations. It's for good reason, as his work on stage has included such iconic hits as The Odd Couple and Sweet Charity. He has released a few dozen plays and just as many movies (some based on the plays) and became known for his penchant sympathetic humor that pitted the average man into odd situations. Along with being the only living playwright to have a New York theater named after him, he has had a legacy that is unmatched just in terms of output and laughs. He will be missed for everything that he contributed to the world of theater and film.

Birthday Take: Bob Fosse in "All That Jazz" (1979)

Scene from All That Jazz

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.

Nothing But the Best: "Chicago" (2002)

Scene from Chicago

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.