Every Best Picture Nominee of the 2010's Ranked: #25-29

Scene from Roma (2018)

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.

"Parasite" Revolutionized How We See Best Picture Winners

Bong Joon-ho

Back in 2009 when I was discovering who I was as a cinephile, there were a handful of movies I was recommended. My friend Dorian, more a fan of eastern cinema like J-Horror and Studio Ghibli, joined me on a quest to watch all of these films, discovering some of the finest voices of contemporary cinema. Among those films was The Host, itself already promising given our love for monster movies. While I had expected there to be rabid chaos letting loose, I hadn't expected there to be so much personality and humor, creating a social commentary within this realm that I hadn't fathomed would have anything memorable to say besides giving the audience a thrill. Maybe it was because I was young, but the way it enhanced story only proved to me that international cinema had this capability of connecting to me, even if I couldn't tell you a single thing about South Korea. In that way, I was a changed man.

Along with the great Park Chan-Wook (The Vengeance Trilogy), the decade to follow was an incredible time to watch The Host's director Bong Joon-ho emerge as this larger-than-life personality, helping to bring attention to the incredible Korean Wave of cinema still going on. There was something special about Joon-ho, who constantly returned to the conversation with these abstract genre thrillers like Snowpiercer and Okja: films that sought to connect Korean ideology with western interests. With Parasite, he found a way to create the ultimate universal tale in a story of the economic struggles of the working class as they fight for a little luxury. It was known not only by critics but also by its unprecedented box office run. This wasn't just another South Korean import. It was a $167 million success story that went even further. By winning Best Picture at the Oscars, Joon-ho did the unthinkable in elevating himself from connecting with the weirdos who love international cinema, to just being plain accepted for making an undeniable masterpiece that has a lot to say both in text and in success about the future of film.

Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Roma" (2018)

Scene from Roma (2018)

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.

Netflix Announces a Bold Theatrical Release Schedule for 10 Films

Scene from The Irishman (2019)

This past week has been an exceptional time to be a streaming service. If you managed to manage to make it through the weekend without seeing an ad for Disney+'s The Mandalorian, you're one of few. Even Netflix has gotten their fair share of news, announcing a Breaking Bad movie called El Camino and, in more important Oscar news, a lot of information about what to expect this Fall season. Yes, there are the obvious suspects with The Irishman and Marriage Story leading potential races, but more importantly, they have announced their own release strategy, their biggest single season of theatrical programming yet. With an announcement of 10 theatrical releases, it looks like the streaming service is starting to make their transition to conventional Oscar player, which could make this one of the most exciting seasons yet.

An Overview of the 91st Annual Academy Awards Ceremony

Spike Lee

If one viewed Twitter seconds after The 91st Academy Awards announced its Best Picture winner, one would believe that this was the worst year ever. How could a film like Green Book beat more culturally relevant films like BlacKkKlansman or Roma? In some ways, it can be viewed as the perfect metaphor for a year of constant controversy where Academy President John Bailey tried (and failed) to introduce a Best Popular Film category, cut out several music acts, and go forward with no hosts. No matter what, this year was threatening to be different and many wondered just how well that turned out. Those who stopped at Green Book's Best Picture win, much like the other controversial missteps, didn't recognize how great this year was in small ways. It's a year where diversity was recognized, which shows that even if you view Green Book as a regressive winner, there has been inevitable change since the Oscars So White controversy of three years ago. This may have not been the most beloved Academy Award year, but it's far from the contrived mess people wanted it to be.

Here's the Official List of This Year's Academy Award Winners!

The cast and crew of Green Book

Well, the moment has come and gone. The 91st Academy Awards ceremony brought with it many highs and lows, but most importantly were the winners. With Green Book taking the top prize, it was a year full of diverse nominees that were fascinating and reflective of the growing body of voters. Before Oscar recap coverage begins, it only feels right to get to the heart of this Oscar season and answer the question: who won? The following is a rundown of every winner in the 24 categories. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments and look forward to more coverage coming in the day and week to come.

Here's My Final Predictions for This Year's Academy Awards!

Scene from Black Panther

This is it! Tomorrow marks the day that everyone has been waiting for. After months of speculation, it's time for The Academy Awards ceremony to present to us the winners. It's an exciting time, and one has to wonder who is going to take home the gold. As is tradition, it's time to end the pre-Oscar coverage with my own predictions. I'll admit that 2018's line-up is a bit difficult to call, as it has been a wildly unpredictable year. While I feel less certain than normal about my picks winning, I can only hope that this year is a lot more exciting than it has gotten credit for. So, what are my picks? Read on and feel free to share your picks in the comments.

An Optimistic Viewpoint of This Oscar Season

Scene from The Favourite

Ladies and gentlemen, we are less than a week away from the beloved Oscar Sunday. For many, it's one of the greatest nights to celebrate all things film. With that said, the past few months have been mired in controversy for reasons ranging from "Why is Bohemian Rhapsody so popular?" to "Present All 24." It's been a rough year for those who like the tried and true formula. However, in an attempt to make the final days of prognostication fun, I thought that I would try and open this week by looking at the positive. For as much as this year feels like a series of unfortunate events, it has produced one of the most exciting Oscar races in years. Even days out, there's so much that's left unclear, and that will make everything all the more exciting.

The Academy to Not Broadcast Four Categories for First Time Ever

Scene from Cold War

The Academy Awards is officially less than two weeks away. However, it's still a year where every week brings some big news. Where most years would be content to just let audiences prognosticate who will win, it seems like The Academy has made it a challenge to slowly present controversial new rulings that fill the cinephiles more with dread than anticipation. So, what is in store this time around? Those predicting that categories would forgo being presented during the broadcast have finally been proven right to be skeptical as the Academy's increasingly incompetent president John Bailey has listed four categories that will appear in the broadcast, though not when you think they will. Yes, things are starting to evolve and change in ways more concrete, and none of it is particularly welcomed.

Ranking the Best Picture Nominees of 2018

Love it or hate it, there's a certain honor that comes with being nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. In any given year, only a fraction of the hundreds of films released over the course of 52 weeks makes it to the big night. While most years have produced very interesting results, this year has been defined by divisive picks that range from hit-and-miss (BlacKkKlansman) to downright frustrating (Bohemian Rhapsody). Of the many films released in 2018, these are the eight that have been deemed worthy of continuing for the award. The following is my ranking of these films as well as how I feel about their place in the rankings. This isn't a prediction so much of what will win, but maybe what would've won had I decided. Join in and feel free to leave your own rankings in the comments.

A Look Back at my Final Oscar Nominations Predictions: How'd I Do?

Scene from BlacKkKlansman

This past Tuesday marked the announcement for this year's Oscar nominations. If you're like me, it was quite a wonderful day full of surprises both great and awful. While there will be plenty of prognostication to come, there is a certain thing that is true: my predictions are now dated. I previously posted how my predictions from August 2018 are now even more of a joke. So, before we get too far into the final stretch of Oscar season, it's time to look at the last grasp to guess the wildness of this year's nominees, or lack thereof. How did I do? Join me in looking back and laughing at what I got wrong and how things actually turned out.

A Look Back at My Pre-Season Oscar Nominations: How'd I Do?

Christian Bale in Vice

This past Tuesday marked one of the best days of the year. It was when the Oscar nominations were announced. If you're like me, it's one of the most exciting days of the year when things finally get cleared up and suddenly everything begins to make sense. However, it's also a chance when I get to look back and ask myself: how good of a prognosticator am I really? I usually post a line-up pre-Oscar season, or late August. I want to see if the buzz around films can sustain as the narratives are finally shaped into what they will be come. So, how did I do this year? In a period where everything is unpredictable, it's a tad hard to call my line-ups a success. The following is a list of the actual nominees followed by what actually made the category. Trust me, it's pretty embarrassing and reflective of something more in tune with what a "classical" Oscar year might have looked like. 

AMC and Regal Theaters Refuse to Play "Roma" Amid Several Oscar Nominations

Scene from Roma

If you've read the Oscar nominations that were announced on Tuesday, then there's a good chance that you've had plenty to celebrate. For Netflix in particular, there's plenty to enjoy as they not only get their first Best Picture nominee, but has the most nominees of any film (they also have a sizable total for The Ballad of Buster Scruggs). Considering that Amazon Studios and Hulu also have considerable nominations, it's a sign of the times that The Academy is finally recognizing streaming services as the quality distributor of entertainment that they are. But, there's an issue for anyone who wants to see Roma on the big screen. The nominations may have done plenty to raise its profile, but thanks to the ongoing conflict between Netflix and theatrical distribution, you may have to try extra hard to see it anywhere besides your home.

Here's the List for the 2019 Academy Award Nominations!

Scene from Roma

This morning is the moment that a lot of people have been waiting for. After months of trying to guess what will make the cut, The Academy has officially shared their picks for this years Oscar nominees. It's been a heated year where crowd favorites (Black Panther) have fought with prestige (The Favourite) in hopes of being taken seriously. Still, it was a great year for film and the results are, like every year, a curious bunch. The following is a rundown of every Oscar nominee for this year's ceremony. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section and tell me what you're happiest and most annoyed by from this year's line-up.

Here's My Predictions for the Oscar Nominations

Scene from Green Book

With tomorrow marking the Oscar nominations announcement (click here for more info), it only feels right to take this moment for one last shot at some fun. As many have done before, the Oscar nomination predictions is a beloved past time, and one that's often more fun than the results. As I have done every year here on The Oscar Buzz, I will be breaking down the Top 5 categories in hopes of getting a perfect score. There hasn't been too many years where I've gotten that honor, often being off by two or three in each category, but I still have fun nonetheless. The following are my predictions for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. Feel free to share your predictions in the comments.

Review: "Roma" Finds Cuaron Getting Personal in a Beautiful, Nostalgic Way

Scene from Roma

In 2013, director Alfonso Cuaron created what is considered one of the most groundbreaking technical achievements of the decade with the Oscar-winning Gravity. It wasn't just a film, but an experience that needed to be seen on the big screen and, in a very rare instance, warranted a 3D treatment. He is one of the most essential directors of the moment, managing to convey human emotion while testing the limits of what a camera can film. It's why there's something to be said for the power of Roma: a film that is almost entirely antithetical to Gravity from its length (Roma is approximately 45 minutes longer) to its personal portrait of a woman whose life is undervalued by those around her. It's by no means a thrill ride, but instead a meditative journey into Mexico City in the 1970's as Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) goes about her days as a maid and an unexpected mother. It may be among Cuaron's least flashy plots in his entire career, but that only helps the film to be rich with subtle detail, feeling like a personal love letter to his own childhood with a perspective not often caught on film.

Here's My Pre-Season Oscars Predictions

Scene from Roma

With the start of September, it only feels right to enjoy the final naive days of Oscar season by playing the game every prognosticator loves to do: predict. Speaking as many films haven't so much as appeared on the radar yet, these columns are always ridiculous and antiquated, mostly going based off of what's popular in September. With that said, why not take chances and try to make bold predictions, of which might come true? The following is my attempt to predict the six top categories, including all four of the acting fields. What will make the final cut? Come back in a few months when I'll compare these to whatever makes the cut. I assure you that it may end up being a worthwhile laugh after a busy, hard fought season of more unpredictable achievements.