Failed Oscar Campaigns: "Black Panther" (2018)

Scene from Black Panther (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.

Composing Greatness: #17. The Freshman Class of the 2010's - "Black Panther" (2018)

Scene from Black Panther (2018)

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: #2. Oscars 2019 Edition - "Black Panther"

Scene from Black Panther

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 2018, 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.

Review: "Black Panther" Creates Exciting New Potential for Superheroes

Scene from Black Panther

While comic books movies have taken audiences to the far reaches of space, into the depths of the ocean, and into the most fantastical of fantasies, Black Panther has managed to find something groundbreaking within the confines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe narrative. It isn't just that it's the first black superhero to headline his own movie, or that he does so without having to navigate a white world. Its very embodiment of Afro-Futurism is something that even a decade ago would've seemed risky for Hollywood. In 2018 however, it has shamelessly come forward and told a story that is exciting both in action and in story. Director Ryan Coogler isn't just obsessed with making a film look cool, but also gives it a cultural depth that would place it alongside touchstones like A Raisin in the Sun. For all of its great moments, the film feels different because it feels important; not just in the sense of world building, but in the future of superhero cinema. There hasn't been a movie like Black Panther before, and hopefully there will be a bunch coming very soon.

The First "Creed" Trailer Proves There's Still Some Steam in the "Rocky" Franchise

Michael B. Jordan

Two years ago, director Ryan Coogler released the rather impressive debut film Fruitvale Station. It's day in the life depiction of a man just trying to do right may have been simple, but packed a punch thanks to its dramatic third act. With racially charged films starting to crop up everywhere, it definitely has built its own little and deserved following. With his first film since then, he looks to update the Rocky franchise not by giving Sylvester Stallone another go in the ring, but to focus on the son of his original opponent in Creed. The first trailer shows that it may be better than the novelty premise will have you believe.

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: "Fruitvale Station" is an Amazing Look at a Simple Life

Michael B. Jordan

As I have stated before, July was an abysmal month for quality movies. While films Blue Jasmine sneaked into the mix with amazing success, this was a limited release that seemed more predicated on an established director. Still, when Sundance's Grand Jury Prize winner Fruitvale Station finally came out, it almost seemed inevitable that it would get Oscar buzz. Partially because of current events, but also simply because it was a compelling character study. Is this story successful in bringing a flawed individual's life to the big screen, or is it overly sentimental for pointless reasons?

Is "Fruitvale Station" This Year's First Serious Best Picture Nominee?

Left to right: Ariana Neal and Michael B. Jordan

After months of speculation and asking the question "Is this going to get nominated?," we have finally come across the first that very well may do just that. Director Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station has become one of the most talked about films of the year largely thanks to a successful run at Sundance back in January in which it won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award in the Drama category. Since, it has only gotten more and more acclaim as it finally reaches a limited release this week. While it seems likely to get a nomination, does this film have what it takes to the Best Picture statue?