A Round-Up of My Reviews for Oscar-Nominated Movies

With today being Friday, it would be a good enough reason to look forward to the weekend. However, most people are also looking forward to this Sunday for one reason. After a lot of speculation, the Academy Awards ceremony is finally upon us! Considering that you've likely seen all the movies and have your own thoughts, it's time to start finalizing predictions and placing bets. While I will be sharing my predictions tomorrow, I decided to dedicate this entry as a little primer, or a reminder, for those wanting to know my thoughts on the Oscar-nominated movies. This is mostly a place for me to share links from both The Oscar Buzz and Optigrab, where I wrote about the more pop culture-centered movies. Enjoy and good luck with your balloting. 

Review: "Roman J. Israel, Esq." is a Nuanced Morality Tale That Could Use a Little Something More

Denzel Washington in Roman J. Israel, Esq.

The city of Los Angeles has a certain reputation in cinema. As the documentary Los Angeles Plays Itself has suggested, it's a place where seedy crime goes to flourish nihilistic action films or even apocalyptic narratives. So, for director Dan Gilroy to strip these elements down to human dramas is almost revelatory. In his follow-up to the Oscar-nominated Nightcrawler, he has created a Los Angeles that's full of lawyers conflicted with their own personal drives. At the center is Roman J. Israel, Esq. (Denzel Washington): a man whose reputation is as curious as the name he introduces himself as. It's a hurdle of sorts, and one that holds him back from being the type of leader he wishes to be. In this story, Gilroy creates a west coast mythology of corruption not of the city, but of the self, and it's a slow and calculating journey with plenty of wit and power behind every detail.

Check Out the Official List for the 2018 Oscar Nominations

Today was one of the biggest moments in every cinephile's year. This morning, hosts Tiffany Haddish and Andy Serkis presented the nominees for this year's Academy Awards. As with every year, it was full of surprises - good and bad - that will go on to be discussed in detail. With The Shape of Water and Dunkirk leading the nominations, this was an incredibly packed year full of interesting choices. The following is a rundown of those names. Come back throughout the week for further Oscar coverage, including pieces related to surprises, achievements, and how I'd personally rank the Best Picture category. Until then, here are the nominees for this year's Academy Awards.

The First "Roman J. Israel, Esq." Trailer is an Enema of Sunshine

Denzel Washington

There are few actors with a towering and intimidating excellence as that of Denzel Washington. Over his career, he has turned in so many charismatic performances that it's almost too easy to attach Oscar buzz to any of his latest projects. In the case of director Dan Gilroy's Roman J. Israel, Esq., he looks to be pulling one of his most elaborate roles in years by donning an afro, glasses, and a lot of weight. Is it more than stunt casting? Well, the first trailer for the film would suggest that it's actually going to be a pretty entertaining trip to the movies. If nothing else, it's further proof that Washington can sell anything, and this is definitely a very strong start to a late entry in the Oscar race.