In Defense of Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart

It may seem ridiculous to say, but this is a big week for Kristen Stewart. General audiences are likely confused by these sentiments because honestly, what has she done? There's a popular stipulation that she cannot act due to her momentary time with the Twilight franchise. Yes, those films have become punching bags. However, today marks her 25th birthday and tomorrow is the limited release in America of her latest film The Clouds of Sils Maria. While it may be too late to win back those who consider her nothing but a lip biter, I want to suggest that she isn't the boring actress that you think she is. She is actually secretly interesting.

Final Thoughts on This Year's Oscar Season

With that, we say goodbye to another Oscar season. While there has been plenty of wrap-up for this year's program, I have chosen to bring this season to a close with a summary of my thoughts not only on the winners in general, but of the season as a whole. Much like every year, there's a few highs and lows that make awards season so memorable. How did this year stack up to every other one? Well, frankly it wasn't my favorite despite the consistent media conflicts with race and the odd race between Boyhood and Birdman which saw the former only receive one win total. It wasn't the worst year, but considering its options, it did fine enough. Click the jump to read more.

A Rundown of This Year's Oscar Winners

It is sad to say, but this year's Academy Awards are officially behind us. Before we get started on predicting next year's big happenings, it's time to start on recapping the show in its entirety, including the highs and lows of the event. But before we get to the great stuff, how about we take some time briefly to recognize the winners. How well did you do? When all is said and done, I did very well considering all of my think pieces and various theories that pondered why Birdman was going to walk away the winner. The following is a rundown of my votes in each category paired side-by-side with the actual winner. Please feel free to share your results in the comments.

My Final Predictions for This Year's Academy Awards

Ladies and gentlemen, the moment is upon us. The Oscars is only a day away and it is time to place the final bets. While I have kept busy prognosticating and keeping track of who is likely to win, the races are a little more complicated than initially meets the eye. The Best Picture race couldn't be more complicated as it battles between Boyhood and Birdman. Still, it is great to see two very personal passion projects duking it out for top honor. While I will leave you to determine your own voting from the nominations, the following is a list of who I will be voting for in my final Oscar predictions for the year. Feel free to share yours in the comment section.

A Theory on Why Julianne Moore Will Win Best Actress

Julianne Moore

With the Oscars closing in, it's time to finalize the votes for who is likely going to win the top prizes. While I have already discussed the three pronged Best Picture race (Selma, Birdman, Boyhood), but now it is time to get into the other big categories. Over the next few days, I will be sharing quick pieces on who is likely to win in each of the major categories as well as any discussion of a potential upset. Coming up is a piece on why Julianne Moore (Still Alice) is pretty much going to walk away with the Best Actress trophy on Oscar night.

A Discussion on the Oscars and The Norbit Effect

Eddie Redmayne in Jupiter Ascending

For those unaware, there is a common conspiracy trend known as "The Norbit Effect." In 2007, actor Eddie Murphy was posed to win Best Supporting Actor for his excellent turn in Dreamgirls. It was considered a comeback and proof that the actor wasn't just some hack. However, he released what is widely regarded as his worst film around the time that Oscar voters were turning in their ballots called Norbit. As history shows, Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine won this category. However, with Norbit in wide release on Oscar Night, many suspect that it was the cause of Murphy's loss. After this weekend, does any of the main front runners stand any chance of falling to this trap?

A Look at this Year's Surprising Academy Award Nominations

Scene from Boyhood

After months of prognostication and other awards shows, the Academy Awards have finally announced all of their contenders for this year's ceremony. For the first time ever, there were two installments in which all 24 categories were presented to the press. In traditional fashion, there were plenty of surprises that made my hopes seem greatly miscalculated. Without further ado, here's the nominees as well as personal thoughts on each major category.

My Final Predictions for the Academy Award Nominations

Ladies and gentlemen, the day is upon us. Tomorrow morning at 5:30 AM, the Academy Awards will be announced. Who will make the final cut? It has been a very interesting year in regards to front runners with a mixed variety of results. In fact, it was very painstaking to try and whittle these down to a respectable few. I don't claim to be right, but I do hope that there's some surprises (and then some) in this year's race. The following is rundown of my final picks in 10 categories including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Predictions for the Oscars' Potential Best Actress Category

Julianne Moore in Still Alice

With the Oscar nominations only one week away, now seems like a good time to take into account the various categories and share personal thoughts on what stands a chance and what will likely not make the cut. The following is a rundown of the performers who I feel will most likely make it to the final five in the Best Actress race and who may be considered a potential threat for the category. Let me state that this isn't a prediction of who will win, simply who will get the nomination.

Predictions for the Oscars' Potential Best Supporting Actress Category

Patricia Arquette in Boyhood

With the Oscar nominations only one week away, now seems like a good time to take into account the various categories and share personal thoughts on what stands a chance and what will likely not make the cut. The following is a rundown of the performers who I feel will most likely make it to the final five in the Best Supporting Actress race and who may be considered a potential threat for the category. Let me state that this isn't a prediction of who will win, simply who will get the nomination.

A Rundown of This Year's Golden Globe Nominations

Joaquin Phoenix in Inherent Vice

Following the release of the SAG Award nominations yesterday, today marks the release of the Golden Globe Award Nominations. As with every year, this is one of the most interesting/baffling award as it recognizes the best with a few films that shouldn't even be there. Thankfully, this year isn't an exception and while there isn't that many, they pop up here and there to remind you why you love this drunken cousin of an award is special. Who made the cut? Who didn't? Check out the nominations after the jump.

A Look at this Year's Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards Nominations

Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything

Awards season continues to roll along. After the Gotham Awards last week, the big ones are starting to roll out. While tomorrow brings the much hailed Golden Globe nominations, today brings the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nominations. What films made the cut in this year's race? For those putting money on Birdman, it may be shaping up to be your season. For those betting on Selma, you'll be disappointed with this year's nominees. After the jump, check out the films that made this year's cut as well as a few thoughts on the nominees and potential winners.

Check Out the First Trailer for "Still Alice"

Julianne Moore

I have already given my review for the amazing new film Still Alice. The film is a highly effective and powerful drama that will likely get Julianne Moore that Best Actress statue at the Oscars. While I don't plan to rehash my sentiments at length here, I want to simply share the news that there has finally been the release of a trailer for the film about a woman with early Alzheimer's disease. It is powerful and thankfully, the trailer does an excellent job depicting what you can expect to get, which is a very overwhelming amount of emotions.

Review: "Still Alice" is a Heartbreaking Masterpiece on the Fragility of the Mind

Left to right: Kristen Stewart and Julianne Moore

There's nothing trickier to depict in cinema than neurological disorders. It is by nature not a very cinematic problem as mental problems are almost always invisible to those around the suffering victim. While extroverted diseases can be compelling, they're often brought into question on authenticity. With co-directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland's Still Alice,  they manage to do something profoundly simple: create a heart-wrenching drama about a young woman (Julianne Moore) suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. We know how the story ends, yet the ride along the way is a fascinating look into something so tragic that everyone around is deemed helpless at a point. In lesser words, it is a masterpiece of a neurological character study.

"Birdman" Surprises Everyone By Beating "Boyhood" for Best Picture at the Gotham Awards

Michael Keaton

There were more than a few surprises that came out of tonight's Gotham Awards. Hosted by Uma Thurman, the show gave out awards to the best of independent cinema. While many were expecting Boyhood to come away with all of the top prizes, the film didn't do so well. Instead, a lot of surprising moments came and Boyhood only came away with one win. Following the jump is a list of all of the nominations as well as a few thoughts on the overall winners.