R.I.P. Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)

On July 6, 2020 composer Ennio Morricone died at the age of 91 in Rome, Italy. Over the course of 60 years, he has been known as one of the most prolific musicians in history. With over 400 movie scores to his credit, the Oscar-winning composer is considered one of the most influential and important in his field, producing such masterpieces as The Good The Bad and The Ugly. While he never moved to America, his collaborations with various American filmmakers remain unparalleled, managing to bring their voices to life in meaningful and exciting ways. While he's gone, his endless body of work will continue to live on in meaningful and exciting ways.

Nothing But the Best: "Ben-Hur" (1959)

Scene from Ben-Hur

Welcome to the series Nothing But the Best in which I chronicle all of the Academy Award Best Picture winners as they celebrate their anniversaries. Instead of going in chronological order, this series will be presented on each film's anniversary and will feature personal opinions as well as facts regarding its legacy and behind the scenes information. The goal is to create an in depth essay for each film while looking not only how the medium progressed, but how the film is integral to pop culture. In some cases, it will be easy. Others not so much. Without further ado, let's start the show.

Why I Think "Mad Max: Fury Road" is a Western

Scene from Mad Max: Fury Road

There is little doubt that by now, you have seen director George Miller's Mad Maxy: Fury Road, possibly even a few times. You have been overwhelmed by the beauty of each choreographed moment of anarchy. You remain on the edge of your seat as characters lunge from cars into uncertain safety. It's a spectacle made by a mad man. It definitely earns its place among the best films of 2015 and remains a controversial black sheep for the Best Picture race. However, there is one thing that I would like to plead with you that may not be abundantly clear: this film is largely a western. If that sounds a little baffling to you, allow me to explain.

The Directors Project: #37 - Sergio Leone

Scene from Cinema Paradiso

With the many lists and essays written on the subject of film, there has been one thing that The Oscar Buzz has tried to understand: Who is my favorite of the film world? For 10 weeks this summer, I will be exploring this with a countdown of the Top 50 names based on a numerical ranking of ratings from various sources, the following is a list of directors who rank above everyone else. With occasional upsets, this is intended as both a discussion opener as well as a better understanding of me as a film critic and fan. Please enjoy and leave any comments you have regarding the entry's selection.