Every Best Picture Nominee of the 2010's Ranked: #75-79

Scene from War Horse

As 2019 reached its end, another decade of cinema had passed. It's amazing to think about how things have evolved since 2010 when the biggest controversies were about recognizing genre movies. Things look different now, especially as genre films like The Shape of Water and Parasite are winning Best Picture and the voting body looks incredibly different with each passing year. With this period in the books, it feels like a good time to celebrate their accomplishments by ranking all 88 titles nominated for Best Picture from worst to best with the goal of seeing which films are more likely to stand the test of time. Join me every Saturday and Sunday as I count them down, five at a time. It's going to be a fun summer looking back on what was, especially as we prepare for the decade ahead and an even more interesting diversity that we haven't even begun to think of.

A24 A-to-Z: #59. "The Disaster Artist" (2017)

Scene from The Disaster Artist

vIn 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.

Kevin Hart Announced as Academy Awards Host for 2019

Kevin Hart

With less than a month until 2018 closes its doors, it does seem strange that there hasn't been an Oscar host announced yet. Following a two year run by Jimmy Kimmel, there was a lot of concern over who would take the position. This year has had a lot of interesting themes, including the prediction that Black Panther will become the first superhero film nominated for Best Picture, and that The Academy is in desperate need for more viewers to the point of temporarily announcing a Best Popular Film category that was quickly reviled. So, who do you get that could appeal to those audiences who probably have yet to see this year's big contenders? Yesterday, The Academy announced that comedian Kevin Hart will be hosting. As with every new host, it only feels right of looking forward to what he has to offer by guessing just what he'll bring to the position.

Review: "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" is a Fun and Off-Beat Kaleidoscope of Western Skewering

Scene from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Over the course of a career spanning close to 40 years, co-directors Joel and Ethan Coen have done wonders to not only create captivating westerns, but have reinvented the very idea of Americana in the process. Some of their most successful movies, whether it be Miller's Crossing or the more candid True Grit, have all helped to redefined an essential part of the American mythology. So, what else do they have to say in 2018? With anthology film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, it looks like there's quite a bit actually. Ranging from slapstick to some pitch black drama, The Coen Brothers' take on the west is far more nihilistic these days. It may be among their weaker films, especially with each segment tending to bounce around from tone and style so radically, but it's also further evidence that the old west is still special to them and that they have stories to tell, even if they're not their own.

The First Trailer for "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" Saddles Up Another Wacky Coen Brothers Film

Scene from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

There are few directors who have the unpredictable track record of brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. It seems like every time they release a dark and gritty movie like No Country for Old Men, it's immediately followed by a farcical gem like Burn After Reading. Even their most recent film, Hail Caesar!, is a Hollywood satire that has a subtext about the power of a metaphorical religion within the studio system. So, where do you go from a film that encapsulated every genre possible and turned it into one of their silliest films yet? Well, you go back to the genre that earned you some clout. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs started out as a TV series for Netflix, but comes to audiences now as an anthology film about a cowboy going on wacky adventures. If the first trailer is any sign, it's a different take on the genre than something like True Grit. Much like Hail Caesar!, it's downright farcical.

A24 A-to-Z: #33. "The Adderall Diaries" (2016)

Scene from The Adderall Diaries

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: "The Disaster Artist" is Real Hollywood Movie (And Real Good, Too)

Scene from The Disaster Artist

It's the moment that director James Franco's The Disaster Artist has been building to. As the cast and crew walk in slow motion towards the studio where The Room will be shot, Faith No More's "Epic" begins playing. It's a song that altered the course of metal music with soporific vocals that may seem as disjointed but infectious as what's to come. Even more than that, the title says it all: this is an epic moment in cinema. Once first time director Tommy Wiseau (Franco) takes to the stage, he will become an icon; a proprietor of the acclaimed worst movie ever. It is an epic moment, and one that feels oddly understated at the same time. This is a comedy, but not one meant to mock bad decisions. It is a drama, but not one that revels in pretentious artistry. It's a satire that, like Faith No More, exists in the transparent grey area of pop culture; where descriptors defy logic. The Disaster Artist is swamped with actors who clearly adore the real life Wiseau's work, and their commitment to bringing the odd idiosyncrasies to life makes this one of the best and most perplexing movies of the year. La La Land may have taught artists to dream, but The Disaster Artist opens the door to everyone else.

"The Disaster Artist" Trailer Promises To Tear You Apart... With Laughter!

Scene from The Disaster Artist

It's a fact. Not since Plan 9 From Outer Space has a movie like The Room received unanimous acclaim... for being one of the worst movies ever. It takes a special talent to go above and beyond in the wrong directions, and it's made Tommy Wiseau a mystical figure. But how did it come about? Well, James Franco is adapting and starring in a film version of that story with The Disaster Artist. Much like Plan 9's loving tribute, Ed Wood, there's plenty of hype around the film already, and the first full trailer has dropped with a certain pizzazz that suggests that it's not only a loving tribute, but a very funny look at passionate filmmakers who couldn't quite get the love they thought they deserved.

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.

A24 A-to-Z: #3. "Spring Breakers" (2013)

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.

"Sausage Party" Enters the Oscar Race... For Some Reason

Scene from Sausage Party

This Oscar season is shaping up to be quite the interesting bunch of nominees. Along with the potential heavyweights like La La Land and Jackie, there have already been big showings in the indie cinema landscape with Moonlight. However, there is one film that is wanting to break into the big boys league that you probably didn't even think about. No, it's not something that would qualify as drama, or even come within two Russia-sized countries of the word "prestigious." The movie that wants to shake up this year's Oscar season is the R-Rated animated talking food movie Sausage Party.

Super Delegates: Harvey Milk in "Milk" (2008)

Scene from Milk

Welcome to Super Delegates, a bi-monthly column released on Tuesdays and are done in part to recognize politics on film, specifically in regards to Oscar-nominated works. With this being an election year in the United States, it feels like a good time to revisit film history's vast relationship with politicians of any era and determine what makes them interesting while potentially connecting them to the modern era. The series plans to run until the end of this 2016 election cycle, so stay tuned for every installment and feel free to share your thoughts on films worthy of discussion in the comments section.

There Will Supposedly Be Two Oscar Hosts Next Year

Left to right: James Franco and Anne Hathaway

This morning, The Oscars announced a somewhat big news story. Just as much as trying to determine who will win the categories, it seems to be fun to predict who will host as well. The past few years have been an eclectic bunch of hosts who have gotten it (Neil Patrick Harris), gave it a good try (Seth MacFarlane), and clearly were out to sabotage everyone (Ellen Degeneres). While the host is a thankless job that not too many people will remember in a few years, there are those few that have stood out. In trying to keep with this pattern, The Oscars are doing something that has and hasn't worked in the past decade: they are announcing that there will be not one, but TWO hosts at this year's upcoming ceremony.

Review: "Palo Alto" is a Compelling and Human Look Into Teen Angst

Emma Roberts

Remember back to those high school years when things seemed uncertain. What were the big questions of the day? Were they bogged down with a sense of detachment and aimlessness? In director Gia Coppola's debut Palo Alto, the film explores teen angst not as this grand glorified vision, but as something far more tangible and honest. People drink, curse, and crash cars with unexpected consequences. In a sense, what Coppola has made is a modern day Fast Times at Ridgemont High by way of the introspective nature of her Aunt Sofia. The results are a little raw, but nonetheless interesting.

Review: "Spring Breakers" has Poetic Beauty Partying All Over It

Left to right: Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens,
Ashley Benson, and Rachel Korine

When director Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers opened in limited release, nobody expected it to break specialty box office records like the more acclaimed films The Master or Moonrise Kingdom. However, it was only the start of this film's surprise hit status. Starring three Disney starlets, a crazy performance by James Franco, and directed by the guy whose last film was called Trash Humpers, this doesn't seem like a film that deserved a place in this past weekend's Top 10 box office. However, despite polarizing the youthful demographics, the film has been a critical success. How can a film that is essentially extensive partying with nudity and drugs one of the best films of the year so far?

Can "Spring Breakers" Be Taken Seriously for Nominations?

James Franco

With the 2013 Oscar season firmly behind us, it is time to wade through the releases until we get an actual front runner. Until then, let us speculate on the films that could and will get nominated. As I noted back in December, one of the films gunning for a Best Actor contention was director Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers. Somehow the belief that James Franco's gangster persona was capable of competing with winner Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) seems absurd in hindsight. Also, since the film wasn't released in time for consideration, nothing happened. However, with the release coming on March 22, it is time to raise speculation again. Is Franco capable of winning back the Academy with girls and guns?

Can Franco Win Back the Academy with Bikinis and Guns?

Left to right: Ashley Benson, James Franco, and Vanessa Hudgens

It was announced today on Showbiz 411 that Annapurna Pictures is planning to move the release of director Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers from a 2013 release to the middle of December. This was mostly achieved when a few screenings revealed that James Franco's character was a favorite among viewers. This strategy is of course being done to try and capitalize on a Best Supporting Actor nomination. In a year when Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master and Alan Arkin in Argo stand a chance at being front runners, does Franco stand a chance, especially as a gold-toothed thug in a movie that is notorious for having Disney starlets Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez romping around in bikinis?