An Open Letter from The Oscar Buzz

Scene from Unforgiven

As loyal readers will notice, I made some serious errors over the past month. In my last open letter, I mentioned all of these big plans for what I was going to do in May. Well, how many of them came to fruition? Almost zero percent. I want to personally apologize for doing this. I personally felt like I had set up a schedule that would work within my system. However, there was another issue. I fell ill from stress and things became increasingly difficult as I moved closer towards graduating from college. That's why Legitimate Theater and Composing Greatness didn't return. It's why A24 A-to-Z is still a bit behind. Save for the occasional review, I have been letting you down, and I want to apologize for that. The good news is that I have graduated from college. I now have more time to apply myself to this blog. So, what do I have to offer? It's a bit of a rehash, but I hope you enjoy this reminder.

R.I.P. Doris Day (1922-2019)

Doris Day

On May 13, 2019, actress and singer Doris Day passed away at the age of 97 in Carmel Valley Village, California. Over the course of an extensive career, she recorded over 650 songs and starred in such iconic movies as Pillow Talk and Calamity Jane. While she only received one Oscar for acting, many of her biggest hits would win Best Original Song awards, including "Que Sera Sera" (from The Man Who Knew Too Much) and "Secret Love" (from Calamity Jane). She leaves behind a massive body of work both on screen and in various recordings, including several major awards distinctions that have yet to be met. With almost a century of talent to her name, she leaves behind a career that's hard to ignore and work that shows just how talented she always was.

A24 A-to-Z: #65. "First Reformed" (2018)

Scene from First Reformed

In case you didn't know, A24 is one of the great purveyors of modern cinema. Since 2013, the studio has found a way to innovate independent cinema by turning each release into an event. As a result, A24 A-to-Z will be an ongoing series that looks at every release from the studio by analyzing its production history, release, criticisms, and any awards attention that it might've received. Join me on a quest to explore the modern heroes of cinema by exploring every hit and miss that comes with that magnificent logo. They may not all be great, but they more than make A24 what it is and what it will hopefully continue to be for years to come.

R.I.P. John Singleton (1968-2019)

John Singleton

On April 28, 2019, director and producer John Singleton passed away at the age of 51 in Los Angeles, California. As a resident of Los Angeles for most of his life, his films reflected the interests of urban cultures and lead to many iconic films such as Poetic Justice and Higher Learning. Among his greatest achievements was his work on his directorial debut Boyz n the Hood, which saw him at 24 earn a Best Director Oscar nomination. This helped to make him the youngest person nominated for the category as well as the first African American nominated in the category. He leaves behind an inspiring body of work, if just because of his passion for promoting black stories and creating a society that welcomes sharing authentic stories regardless of what the studios think. His ability to form a lasting career is itself an incredible achievement and makes him a unique talent within the industry. He leaves behind a massive body of work that is inimitable and influential front to back.