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.

Why "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" Continues to Endure 80 Years Later

Scene from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

It isn't often that a film can be seen as groundbreaking to the point that it changes an entire medium forever. Yet that is exactly what happened when Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released on December 21, 1937. There had been animated shorts before, but what creator Walt Disney presupposed was that it could be used to elevate the story telling format to something grander, and he did so by tackling The Brothers Grimm fairytale of a woman lost in the forest. With sweeping shots of the titular dwarfs singing "Heigh-Ho" as they returned from work, Disney innovated an art form that many would imitate, but few would capture with as much critical and cultural success. Snow White was the first animated movie, and it has managed to remain just as memorable and iconic now as it did then, thanks to breathtaking animation and a catch little box of songs.

"Moana" Tops the Box Office While Beatty Covers the Bottom

Scene from Moana

It is likely that if you had family, you spent a part of this past Thanksgiving weekend seeing Disney's latest film Moana. If you didn't, you should. It's one of the most fun films of the year. Along with anticipation comes box office glory. It shouldn't be a surprise that the South Pacific princess movie debuted at number one while earning $81.1 million in North American box office alone. It also makes it the second highest grossing film to play on Thanksgiving weekend, coming a little over $10 million shy of fellow Disney film Frozen. Since Moana opened on Wednesday, it actually has quite a few oddball records to account for, including helping to solidify Disney as possessing 90% of the top 10 slots for the best three-day and five-day openings. Also after the jump, a quick look at another Oscar contender who performed very poorly this past weekend.

After 65 Years, "Alice in Wonderland" Remains Disney's Best Animated Film

On this date in 1951, Disney released one of its most fantastical, whimsical films: Alice in Wonderland. At the time, it was deemed a failure due to low box office and some frankly "psychedelic" visuals. Yet it's impossible to not note the power that it holds as the definitive adaptation of Lewis Carroll's seminal works about a young girl named Alice as she traveled down the rabbit hole. It was far from the first adaptation by decades, yet there's a lot that has solidified it as the quintessential take. It is in part the music that launched the "unbirthday" trend, and classic characters like the Cheshire Cat, whom remain some of Disney's key iconography. Still, the one opinion that isn't often held - but should be - is that Alice in Wonderland is something more. In the first century of Disney's existence, it is without a doubt the best animated film that they've released.

My 10 Favorite Double Digit Oscar Nominees

Chris Rock

Ladies and gentlemen, we are officially getting close to one of the biggest days in every Oscar season: the nominations! That's right. In 10 days, we will be informed on every nominee for this year's festivities. While I intend to make a predictions list, I am choosing to celebrate the last 10 days of uncertainty by paying tribute to a different kind of double digits. That's right, I'm going to pay tribute to the nominees and winners of Academy Award history who have earned 10 or more moments of recognition. While it was hard to whittle down the list (sorry Edith Head fans), these are the ones that I like the most and feel are more than deserving of their legacies. This category will look at everyone beyond acting that has been nominated, so expect a nice and diverse crowd.

Will Disney's Remakes Ever Be Serious Oscar Contenders?

Scene from The Jungle Book

In 1939, Walt Disney won an Honorary Oscar for his work on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. With an astounding 22 wins within his lifetime (and 4 within a single evening), it was the perfect sign that Disney Studios was here to stay. Over the years, they have cornered the market on box office and acclaim simultaneously, creating some of the most iconic works in animated film history. Even if it took until 1991 for them to receive a Best Picture nomination with Beauty and the Beast, the studio has maintained an enviable consistency. With today's release of the first trailer for director Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book, it feels like a good time to argue one thing: will their recent adaptations of old classics hold any prestige in the years to follow? 

Check This Out: Walt Disney Wins Four Oscars in One Night

Walt Disney

For billions of people spanning close to a century, there have been few names as recognizable worldwide as that of Walt Disney. The animation pioneer helped to launch one of the most successful family film studios and in the process earned a whopping 22 Oscar wins as well as four Honorary Oscars. He was also key in helping to create a land of enchantment, nicknamed "The Happiest Place on Earth" by creating the theme park Disneyland. Today, it marks its 60th anniversary since its opening day. This feels like as good a time as any to look back on the namesake's work by looking at the night in which Disney won four literal back-to-back Oscars.

Review: "Saving Mr. Banks" is a Delightful Treat for Fans of Old School Disney

Emma Thompson

There is a novelty of films that take place behind the scenes of beloved films. In a sense, they serve less as an analysis of the creators, but more as reasons to just watch the original films. The purposes get lost and almost feel like pointless fan service. In a sense, a film about beloved Disney film Mary Poppins is bound to be full of in-jokes and kitschy moments for the several who have fallen in love with the Julie Andrews character. Even if director John Lee Hancock can never expect to outshine the charm of the iconic musical, Saving Mr. Banks at least manages to give his behind the scenes story plenty of purpose.

A Look at "Saving Mr. Banks" and Why it Will Be a Front Runner

Tom Hanks

For those that have been reading The Oscar Buzz in the past few months, I have claimed from time to time to have a vague theory as to how director John Lee Hancock's Saving Mr. Banks is going to sweep the ceremony, provided that patterns hold up. While I am excited to be disproved by the recent buzz around 12 Years a Slave, I still believe that the film has the potential to be one of the big films. It is not based off of any quality mark, but just a look at recent trajectory based on the past few years of Best Picture winners. While I doubt that it will win, here is an elaborate theory as to why I believe that we're looking at one of the biggest contenders and don't even realize it yet.