Review: How "Knives Out" Reinvents the Whodunit is a Clear Success

Scene from Knives Out

The world of Agatha Christie is alive and well in director Rian Johnson's Knives Out. This murder mystery is an original story that pays tribute to the whodunit's of yesteryear while applying a glossy coat of 21st-century idealism over it. With the introduction of detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) out to solve the murder of Harlan Thrombley (Christopher Plummer), the story goes about the journey that makes for one of the most enjoyable films of 2019. On its surface, it's a familiar story where everyone's a suspect and the comedy thrives when people have their own grudges being yelled from across rooms in a form of defense. Their egos will never be put in check, however, so who will go so far as to reveal themselves in this mess? The answer is only part of the reason that this film succeeds as more than a Christie pastiche. It's the story of a modern society coming to terms with its own changing tides, and that elevates the film's relevance to something more than mystery fodder.

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.

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.

Composing Greatness: #4. Oscars 2018 Edition - "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"

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.

It's the One Year Anniversary of The Oscar Buzz!

Left to right: Luke Kirby and Michelle Williams in Take This Waltz

Ladies and gentlemen... we have done the unthinkable. The Oscar Buzz has managed to turn a year old! It is hard to imagine that what started off as a spring board to talk about The Master quickly evolved into a discussion forum for all things Academy Awards. The comments have been great and I proud of the cohorts I made, notably my Films with Friends cohort Mike (of Mike's Reviews). Hopefully this blog will continue to grow and cover more content with this Oscar season just starting to take off. But how do you celebrate a birthday?

Review: "Looper" shows a promising future

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

The following review for Looper was originally published on CinemaBeach last Friday. The website covers mostly independent movies, but also occasionally covers movies with an indie mindset (i.e. Rian Johnson's latest). I am a regular critic there and post on a weekly basis. Please feel free to check out the website, where you can see more of my reviews. Not covered in this review is my opinions on if this film can earn a Best Picture nomination. Short response: it is good, but I don't think it's going to get nominated in fields outside of technical.

Can "Looper" Bring Some Sci-Fi Presence to the Best Picture Category?

Left to right: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis

UPDATE: I have posted a review for Looper here.

Now that the Oscar Buzz is entering its third week, we finally see the release of the much anticipated time travel film Looper. The film has been hyped as being one of the greatest in the genre. However, there's nothing more appealing than Gordon-Levitt continuing a winning streak this year by holding his own against seasoned veteran Bruce Willis. Even if the film delivers when it opens nationwide tomorrow and turns Johnson into the household name he deserves, will this science fiction film stand a chance at getting any momentum when it comes time for an Oscar?