The Oscar Buzz: John Williams

Showing posts with label John Williams. Show all posts

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Composing Greatness: #3.The Musical or Comedy Scores - "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.

Composing Greatness: #49. John Williams - "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (2019)

Scene from Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Welcome to a very special edition of Composing Greatness. In this limited series, I will be looking at the five scores nominated for this year's Best Original Score category. To avoid favoritism, the list will be done in alphabetical order of composers and feature the same guidelines as the original series. This is meant to explore the music behind the great films of 2019, and provide insight into what makes each of them special and whether or not they deserved to be nominated at all. Join me all week as I listen to the music, leave some thoughts, and hopefully sway you to check out these wonderful, wonderful scores.

R.I.P. Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)

Kobe Bryant

On January 26, 2020, NBA champion Kobe Bryant passed away at the age of 41 in Calabasas, California in a helicopter crash along with his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers. Over the course of his career, he became the all-time scorer for The Lakers over the course of 20 years. He is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history with five championships and has become ubiquitous with excellence as an athlete. With a poem detailing his retirement called "Dear Basketball," he became a rare sports start to also win an Oscar, proving that he was capable of doing anything. What he leaves behind is a seismic shift in how everyone not only sees the sport but how athletes from every generation since sees the game. He was a legend in his own time, and his work more than speaks for itself.

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2019)

Scene from Star Wars: The Last Jedi

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.

Check This Out: "Schindler's List" to Receive Theatrical Re-release Starting Dec. 7

Scene from Schindler's List

While December is usually a busy time for those wanting to catch up on every potential Oscar-nominee, there's another reason to go the movies. Starting this Friday, director Steven Spielberg's Holocaust drama Schindler's List will be released in theaters to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its release. For those who haven't seen it or are looking for a reason to see it on the big screen, now is your chance. The film is set to have a limited engagement in theaters nationwide, and it's sure to bring quite a turnout. The film won seven Oscars in 1994, including one for Best Picture and marked Spielberg's first as director. It's a harrowing drama that redefined what a Holocaust drama could look and feel like, finding empathy where it often wasn't found. It's a powerful film and well worth checking out. Check your local listings for showtimes.

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Composing Greatness: #48. John Williams - "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2017)

Scene from Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Welcome to a very special edition of Composing Greatness. In this limited series, I will be looking at the five scores nominated for this year's Best Original Score category. To avoid favoritism, the list will be done in alphabetical order of composers and feature the same guidelines as the original series. This is meant to explore the music behind the great films of 2017, and provide insight into what makes each of them special and whether or not they deserved to be nominated at all. Join me all week as I listen to the music, leave some thoughts, and hopefully sway you to check out these wonderful, wonderful scores.