Composing Greatness: #4.The Musical or Comedy Scores - "Toy Story" (1995)

Every Best Picture Nominee of the 2010's Ranked: #45-49

Scene from The Tree of Life

As 2019 reached its end, another decade of cinema had passed. It's amazing to think about how things have evolved since 2010 when the biggest controversies were about recognizing genre movies. Things look different now, especially as genre films like The Shape of Water and Parasite are winning Best Picture and the voting body looks incredibly different with each passing year. With this period in the books, it feels like a good time to celebrate their accomplishments by ranking all 88 titles nominated for Best Picture from worst to best with the goal of seeing which films are more likely to stand the test of time. Join me every Saturday and Sunday as I count them down, five at a time. It's going to be a fun summer looking back on what was, especially as we prepare for the decade ahead and an even more interesting diversity that we haven't even begun to think of.

Every Best Picture Nominee of the 2010's Ranked: #65-69

Scene from American Sniper

As 2019 reached its end, another decade of cinema had passed. It's amazing to think about how things have evolved since 2010 when the biggest controversies were about recognizing genre movies. Things look different now, especially as genre films like The Shape of Water and Parasite are winning Best Picture and the voting body looks incredibly different with each passing year. With this period in the books, it feels like a good time to celebrate their accomplishments by ranking all 88 titles nominated for Best Picture from worst to best with the goal of seeing which films are more likely to stand the test of time. Join me every Saturday and Sunday as I count them down, five at a time. It's going to be a fun summer looking back on what was, especially as we prepare for the decade ahead and an even more interesting diversity that we haven't even begun to think of.

"Toy Story 3" Remains Just as Emotional 10 Years Later

Between 2000 and 2010, Pixar had done an incredible job of defining the decade of family entertainment with an annual masterpiece. Not only were each of these films special, reflecting different ingenuity in storytelling that gave them an insurmountable presence in the culture, but they were all innovative in different ways with each being an original look into something new and exciting. In that time they did everything from exploring sea life (Finding Nemo) to superheroes (The Incredibles) to outer space (WALL-E). No place was off-limits, and the fact they were having a flawless record, racking up Oscar nominations along the way, it was easy to see Pixar as a legitimate threat. 

How did they choose to celebrate a 10-year track record that remains unmatched? By returning to the world of Toy Story with a third entry that itself was a big risk. As the first unoriginal property since, well, Toy Story 2 in 1999, it was a celebrated return that was also cautious, making many wonders what value there was to returning back to the world of sentient toys who had the power to create this emotional complexity inside us. In that respect, Toy Story 3 may have been their greatest hat trick ever: producing a sequel that not only expanded the franchise but brought with it a tale that's regarded as one of the studio's best, going into darker and more fragile places. In the process, they brought an end to an era, even if it wasn't intentional. It was a farewell of sorts to a great decade and the start of the studio's rockiest period to date. 

R.I.P. Adam Schlesinger (1967-2020)

Adam Schlesinger

On April 1, 2020, musician Adam Schlesinger passed away at the age of 52 in Poughkeepsie, New York after complications with the coronavirus. Over a storied career spanning 25 years, he created some of the most memorable tunes no matter what medium. In film he received an Oscar nomination for the titular song from That Thing You Do. He also was a founding member of the band Fountains of Wayne and wrote music for the musical TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. It's impossible to summarize everything that he left behind, but it's likely that if you've so much as turned on a radio or TV, you've heard his work. His legacy will live on with some of the catchiest music that helped to make other people better.

Check This Out: Tom Hanks Announced the Opening Date of The Academy Museum

For those who watch The Oscars with due diligence, there is likely one thing that feels like a punchline at this point: The Academy Museum. It was announced eight years ago during the ceremony as a place to house movie props and give guests immersive experiences to enhance the value of film. It's been pushed back for roughly two years now, but according to an announcement at the 92nd Academy Awards, the wait is almost over. In fact, it's going to happen within the year. What does that all entail? Listen to Tom Hanks girl the rundown of how things are likely to go after the jump.

Review: "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" Gives Its Audience a Nice, Warm Hug

Scene from A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Over the past few years, it has been argued that public access TV icon Fred Rogers was a radical. Despite being a homely man known for his kindness and sweaters, he presented complex ideas to a young audience that others may consider too mature or even inappropriate. These themes included war, death, and divorce among others and presented a discourse that helped to prove that what the world needed wasn't to shield children from problems but help them understand and accept their emotions in healthy ways. It was the stem of an idea that inspired director Marielle Heller to tackle the power of Rogers' words in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, cast impeccably with the nicest man in Hollywood himself, Tom Hanks, playing a man perceived to have no reason to despise. The results get to the heart of why audiences love Mr. Rogers, but it's nothing revelatory. It's a decent film that shows the power of understanding with warmth, but it lacks anything regarding any further depth of character that could make it a satisfying character piece.

Check This Out: The Academy Holds Its 11th Annual Governors Awards

Wes Studi

This past weekend, the 11th annual Governors Awards took place to honor the best of Hollywood. The four recipients this year included Wes Studi, Geena Davis, David Lynch, and Lina Wertmuller. Along with these four were a series of presenters paying tribute to their many accomplishments within the industry. While most of us were unable to be in the room, the fine folks at The Academy's YouTube page were able to compile the various speeches for everyone to see. Below are the highlights from the show, including all presenters and recipients giving memorable speeches calling for progress in the industry. Watch and enjoy it.

The First Trailer for "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" Welcomes Tom Hanks with a Good Feeling

Sene from A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

It's that time again. It's the point where Tom Hanks returns to play a noble cultural icon whose intentions are pure of heart. In recent years, this has included Walt Disney (Saving Mr. Banks) and Captain Sullenberger (Sully) among others and reflects what the actor is best at. Hanks is someone who appears genuine in every performance, and once again with Fred Rogers, it appears like he's stuck his name in the ring for Best Actor yet again. Director Marielle Heller's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a biopic on the famous PBS host that is looking to cheer everyone up in the first trailer. While it's not quite as heartwarming as the real thing, it does seem like another time to be reminded of Hanks' gifts for sweetness. 

Composing Greatness: #4. James Horner - "Apollo 13" (1995)

Scene from Apollo 13

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.

Review: "Toy Story 4" Finds Great Reasons to Exist

Scene from Toy Story 4

In spite of being one of the most beloved family franchises for 24 years, Toy Story 4 has been put in an interesting position. It's the first to be met with strong skepticism. Why does there need to be another entry when Toy Story 3 wrapped everything up in a critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning, billion-dollar grossing bow? It's a fair assessment, especially as Pixar has made plenty of sequels that audiences don't love that much over the past nine years. However, that's arguably the greatest piece of marketing that this film could have ever wished for. The latest film, which also features breath-taking animation, is all about the sense of reaching that point when all hope seems lost; when your use has been used up. In spite of being a film that feels inessential, it's actually one of the best fourth entries in a franchise since Mad Max: Fury Road as well as evidence that there's so much more to explore in the talking toys genre than we ever thought there could be.

Composing Greatness: #11. Thomas Newman - "Saving Mr. Banks" (2013)

Scene from Saving Mr. Banks

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: #5. Thomas Newman - "Road to Perdition" (2002)

Scene from The Road to Perdition

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: #39. John Williams - "Catch Me If You Can" (2002)

Scene from Catch Me If You Can

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: #34. John Williams - "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)

Scene from Saving Private Ryan

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.

A Ranking of the Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg Collaborations (Updated)

Left to right: Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks

Note: Updated with a ranking for The Post, originally published 10/19/15


There are few actor-director collaborations throughout history that spark enthusiasm and anticipation almost every time out. In the 1940's, the promise of James Stewart and Frank Capra meant a new Americana classic. In the 1970's, the promise of Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese meant a new gritty New York drama. Over the past 15 years, there have been few names as ubiquitous with this anticipation than Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg; the two giants of 80's and 90's cinema that surprisingly compliment each other by creating a blend of action and drama that is unsurpassed. With this past weekend's Bridge of Spies, they marked their fourth collaboration together, and it was pretty great. Have you seen them all? Here's a ranking of the four films from best to worst, including why they work.

Review: "The Post" Romanticizes the Value of Journalism to Its Full Potential

Scene from The Post

In 2017, the term "fake news" defined a crisis of journalistic integrity. Regardless of its actual merit, it lead to a rising concern of who could be trusted within the media. After all, these are the people telling millions of people the important events as they happen. With director Steven Spielberg's The Post, it's the heart of the conversation at The Washington Post prepares to publish the infamous Pentagon Papers. It's a film that asks the question as to who could be trusted to deliver the news, and the importance of reporting the stories honestly. It may be at times a conventional and polished look at the world of journalism, but its most triumphant moments are defined by hard work and the knowledge that truth prevailed. It's a message that seems as timely now as it did 45 years ago, making The Post into an even more prescient period piece.

The First Trailer of "The Post" Shows Spielberg Digging Into a Seriously Promising Story

Scene from The Post

With less than two months to go, it's becoming harder to find new movies to add to the Oscar race. Of course, that is director Steven Spielberg's specialty. While he debuted a trailer for next summer's Ready Player One back at Comic Con, many have wondered what his prestige movie of 2017 would look like. The Post is lead by Oscar-winners Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, and at least promised to shake up one of the most unformed awards seasons in years. With the first trailer officially out, Spielberg is back in drama mode, and it looks like he's going to be taking audiences to the familiar serious ground of his last Hanks collaboration, Bridge of Spies, and there's plenty to like so far.

R.I.P. Jonathan Demme (1944-2017)

Jonathan Demme

On April 26, 2017, director Jonathan Demme passed away a the age of 73 in Manhattan, New York from complications involving esophageal cancer and heart disease. Over the course of a career spanning over 45 years, he created one of the most diverse bodies of work that ranged from studio comedies to prestige thrillers to iconic concert documentaries. He leaves behind such great movies as The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Stop Making Sense, and Rachel Getting Married. No matter how varied his career became, he still managed to influence with his unique style of close-ups and his ability to find tension in otherwise conventional scenes. His work was as influential as it was unpredictable, and that's just some of the reasons that he'll be missed greatly.

Review: "The Circle" Finds the Horror in Wanting to Feel Connected

Tom Hanks

The idea of technology disconnecting society is a theme common among modern sci-fi films. It has become more apparent as society has become reliant on phone updates and the belief that any moment of life could go viral. For The Circle, it is baked into the mentality while reflecting the constraints that the proposed convenience has on everyone. The movie asks the tough questions not by exploring how technology is evil, but by how desperation for convenience can undermine humanity. It's an interesting move, and one that turns the conventional thriller into a more interesting parable for the digital era.