After 10 Years, "Babel" is Still a Compassionate Universal Tale

Scene from Babel

It was 10 years ago that cinema experienced the shot heard round the world. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Babel had the hefty mission of combining four stories that spanned the globe while showing how they all connected. With the stories ranging from a shooting accident to a babysitter travelling to Mexico with American children, the film managed to creatively convey the passion and understanding that the world should be more accepting of. It was a film that showed the capabilities of Inarritu at their fullest, and he hasn't been able to capture the magic as effectively since. 

Review: "The Martian" is an Awe-Inspiring Ride Through Space

Matt Damon in The Martian

For most of the 20th century, there was something alluring about looking towards the skies and imagining the possibilities of travelling to other planets. It was a big draw for several decades and, thanks to NASA, has lead to a lot of impressive advancements for humankind. To some extent, the magic in the real world has died down in the past decade and is often saved for sci-fi and fantasy, leaving some to wonder if those ambitions to think beyond the stars would ever be as popular as they once were. Thanks largely to director Ridley Scott's The Martian - the first major film endorsed by NASA since 1995's Apollo 13 - one can only have faith that maybe, just maybe, the future of space travel will continue to allure audiences and bring the nation together over a common goal. It's not only what this feel good film's propaganda tendencies wants you to believe, it's what you get in between awe-inspiring cinematography and a brilliant performance by Matt Damon.

The "American Hustle" Trailer is a Great Throwback Full of Wit and Snazzy Outfits

Left to right: Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale

All it took was a few hours for my recent post on upcoming Oscar contenders to look a little... lacking. While the films I selected for the piece were perfectly acceptable and still merit consideration, there is little doubt that today's release of the trailer for director David O. Russell's American Hustle could have easily replaced any of them. Of course, that would have made me writing an entire piece on the first trailer a tad redundant and based on my Fruitvale Station review, the praise that I'm about to heap on it to be a little hypocritical. Still, the trailer premiered on ABC's Good Morning America, it sent a frenzy into the air. At very least, it means that 2013's collection of nominees will have a retro, political vibe going on.