Review: "The Aeronauts" is a Balloon Ride Worth Taking

Scene from The Aeronauts

Think back for a moment and try to answer this question: when has there been a nonfiction movie about a scientist that was... exciting? While the revelations that one finds through meticulous research can lead to world-changing events, nobody could mistake the story of, say, Marie Curie or Peter Higgs as a film on par with Tom Cruise's latest action flick. Then again, that's where director Tom Harper dares to dream. The Aeronauts is a mixed bag in terms of authenticity, but what he does with a hot air balloon feels revolutionary, presenting a perspective on cinema that hasn't been covered before. Imagine a Jules Verne story brought to life, full of wondrous discoveries and peril from inside the claustrophobic space of a basket. For as much as the film has issues getting things off the ground, it still delivers the goods when it gets there and elevates this goofy premise into one of the best surprises of 2019. It's a biopic worthy of its action beats, and it will have those willing to embrace is tone in a constant state of awe.

Composing Greatness: #5.The Freshman Class of the 2010's - "Gravity" (2013)

Scene from Gravity (2013)

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.

Check This Out: "Gravity" to Get Silent Treatment with New Special Edition Release in 2015

It seems like strange timing, but now is a great time to hop on a rocket ship and go out into the depths of space. With Interstellar taking us to the far regions of the universe, it is easy to forget about the scrappy, simpler blockbuster from last year that won over audiences with nothing more than two actors floating around as space debris hit them. I'm of course talking about director Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity, which went on to sweep the Academy Awards with Best Director, Best Original Score (Steven Price) and a whole lot of technical wins. However, there's some big news coming for those that found the soundtrack to be too distracting. Coming in early 2015, you can officially see what the film would be like if you removed the Price score. It may seem like a very big gimmick, but one that should make for a fascinating alteration of the film.

A Quick Rundown of Films on the Outskirts of the Oscar Race

Bill Murray

The following is a collection of tidbits regarding recently released and upcoming films that I have previously given attention to as having Oscar Buzz. While there are still chances for these films to bounce back and potentially have a fruitful career, it does seem like the tides have shifted for them and may likely lead to a quick drop out of the race. It isn't all bad news, though the optimism is likely not to last. The piece will focus on the films St. Vincent, Fury, Inherent Vice, Serena and The Judge. 

Review: "Gravity" is a Beautiful, Intense and Meditative Ride Through Space

Sandra Bullock

There are few films that get released in any given year that manage to feel like more than another great movie. There's a specific class that reaches above the echelon and joins the class of iconic, groundbreaking films that shape the way that cinema is perceived. Nowadays, it is easy to take it for granted with films like Life of Pi pushing the boundaries of what narrative storytelling and CGI can do when properly blended together. Even harder is to find a film on a large scale with minimalist interaction in wide open spaces that manage to feel simultaneously claustrophobic as well as gut wrenching, full of suspense... and that's just the story. For director Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity, he takes sci-fi to someplace new, and all just right outside the cusp of Earth's atmosphere.