The 2019 Oscars, despite having no host, made for entertaining television. Usually, The Oscars isn’t that different each year. The hosts are not very memorable, for the most part. One or a couple of films dominate the show. Musical performances are strong, but again, not very unique in their own right. We get a one or two surprising winners, but usually not a big deal. Then the show ends and many critics emerge over controversial winners and The Academy’s struggle to include diversity among winners. But fear not, 2019 is a new year. The world around us is changing so much, that even an old institution like The Oscars is evolving…kind of. Let’s take a look out some of the key highlights of the night:

Everybody Eats

The Oscars had a different feel to it this year, for once the show wasn’t just one, two, or three films that seemingly took every award home. This year everyone came out swinging, with last night proving 2019 (or the past year) is a very strong year in film. There’s usually a select few among those nominated for best picture that have an edge over the rest of the pack to win, but not this year. There were 7 strong films nominated for best picture, all of which could be heavily argued for to win. Even so, there was still several others that could easily be classified as a snub for getting a nomination. The competition was incredibly strong this year, and the distribution of awards proves that. For example, Green Book won best picture, but only won two other Oscars besides that. Three Oscars is still remarkable, but in many years prior, we’ve seen the best picture film win many more. In fact, other films that didn’t win best picture were right there with Green Book in their overall Oscar winners. Bohemian Rhapsody took home 4, Roma had 3, Black Panther had 3, and a few others won multiple or an Oscar(s) as well. The spectrum of films that succeeded were increible as well, many different themes and genres were present. The 2019 Oscars were refreshing to watch, as many different films had success. As a lover of film, it’s great to see such a strong year in the industry.

Mahershala Ali’s Dominance

Last night, Mahershala Ali won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in Green Book. That marks his second Oscar in three years. This is quite amazing, considering his first Oscar win for his role in Moonlight was the first time a Muslim won an Oscar, not to mention the other barrier of being an African-American actor. Ali has been one of the hottest actors in the world in the past several years. Going from virtually unknown ten years ago, to a household name, for the most part. Though his dominance in film is worthy enough in its own right, he’s also been killing it on television as well. This is just the beginning for Ali, he’s one of the most well-rounded actors in all of Hollywood and demand is skyrocketing for him. Last night was just another reminder to everyone in the film industry to watch out for Mahershala Ali.

Unique Characters Bringing Unique Moments

The 2019 Oscars truly were unique, much because of the unique characters involved. Beginning with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The two starred in the film A Star is Born, which was nominated for best picture. Lots of press has surrounded this film from the beginning. Most of this was due to the two stars entering into new, unproven realms. Bradley Cooper was turned singer in the film, causing many to speculate how good he can actually sing – given today’s technology. Then we had Lady Gaga doing the opposite, going from singer to actress. Last night, they took this flip flopping, if you will, to another level. Beginning with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga performing live at the show. Many assumed that this would be the end of the discussion on whether Cooper could sing, confused as to why they needed to take it this far and now embarrass the man on live television. But you know what, Cooper stepped up. Oh sure, people will say “he’s not really that good” “he wasn’t good enough to perform alongside of a star like Lady Gaga”…whatever. The man did a good job, and he should be applauded for it. Just when you thought seeing Bradley Cooper sing was weird, Lady Gaga won an Oscar! The Oscar was for her work in the original song “shallow” from the film, and she won with a few others from the team. But still, to see her up on that stage giving an Oscar-winning speech, when just moments before Bradley Cooper was up there singing, was just incredible to see. That sequence has to be one of the most unique moments I’ve ever seen in Oscar history. But the two weren’t alone! You want to talk about a unique character, in comes Spike Lee. Spike Lee had lots of hype surrounding him, as he had never won a competitive Oscar before. He was considered to be snubbed for best picture for his film Do the Right Thing a few years back, and he had also received an honorary Oscar before. But his role as a producer and director of the highly touted film BlacKkKlansman had everyone on alert that Spike might actually get one this time. His moment of glory came in the form of winning an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. Three others received the award with him for their writing roles, but everyone knew that this one was Spike’s. He deserved his moment and gave the audience a show in a way only unique guys like Spike can do, enjoy:

The Academy’s Confusion with Diversity

Finally, what’s an Oscars recap without addressing The Academy’s struggle with diversity. Every year, it seems that diverse nominees, teams, and individuals are snubbed from Oscar victories and/or nominations. However, 2019 was different, mostly. Last night, we saw 3 of the 4 awards for acting go to people of color, diversity in film maker awards, the first African-American to win best costume design, gender diversity among winners, Spike Lee getting respect, and the first time a Mexican film has ever won for best foreign film. All of these things were big steps, despite being far too late. The show made sure to emphasize diversity throughout as well. However, there has been issues raised over Green Book winning best picture. Many have issues that this film won out of so many other great ones, including Spike’s BlacKkKlansman. As the basic plot line is American racism being resolved through a white man and African-American man becoming friends. Generally, that plot line shouldn’t be a problem. But it’s also The Academy were talking about here, so taking everything they do with a grain of salt is necessary.

Overall, The 2019 Oscars were unique in many regards, and showed that a new age in the film industry has emerged.

Do you ever get fed up with the norms of society? Do you like to engage in self-reflection often? Are you a curious person by nature?

If some or all of these are true, then Into the Wild is worth the watch. The film is based off of a best-selling book and true story about Christopher McCandless. McCandless came into the spotlight when his body was found in an abandoned school bus out in the wild of Alaska. Natural questions arose about who the man was and why he was there. No signs of foul play were evident, in fact, it seemed as if he was living there. That’s when the story began to unravel and eventually led to a book and film about the young man and his journey.So, what about it?

In 1990, McCandless graduated from Emory University with honors. It seemed as if a bright future was ahead for this smart young man. But McCandless had something else in mind. A few weeks after he graduated, he donated nearly all of his life savings to charity and took off across country in his beloved Datsun, without telling a soul. He eventually lost his sacred car, and resorted to hitchhiking. He made stops in Arizona, California, South Dakota, and more, making friends along the way. But why you ask? Well, it wasn’t just because he wanted to travel. McCandless had become fed up with the norms we face in society and how they can dictate the way we live. Like many young people, he was perplexed why people don’t live to just enjoy life and follow their dreams. He became obsessed with writers like Walden and Thoreau, and this idea of being one with the wild. He wanted to have complete control over his own life, beyond the grips of society. But lots of young people get enamoured in a similar way of thinking, yet they don’t take such drastic measures as McCandless did. Mccandless was different, and much of this is due to his upbringing. From the outside looking in, McCandless had a great childhood. He had parents who provided very well for the family, he had quality education, and he lived in a nice suburban neighborhood. But inside the walls of his home, a different narrative was present. His parents hated each other. They screamed and yelled constantly at each other, but forced themselves to stay together because they had a business together. They lived lives completely dictated by society. They always acted like life was so great, when often it wasn’t, just because they cared deeply about what people thought of them. They pushed McCandless and his sister to live great lives, but according to what they and society deemed to be “great.” They never really took the time to push McCandless to follow his true passions, but rather live a good life in the eyes of society. This ate away at McCandless his whole life, and eventually he snapped. When McCandless took off, he wasn’t just bouncing around for the hell of it, he had a goal: to live in the wild of Alaska.

The film, just like the book, does a phenomenal job of telling his story. When his “story” came out to the public, before the book and film, many criticized McCandless and his actions. They only saw the tip of the iceberg, they didn’t know the whole story, all they saw was a young kid who can’t handle the real world. The film is so great, because it portrays the truth. McCandless wasn’t a scared young kid, in fact he was pretty fearless. While some may question his actions and point to the end result as an argument against him, he should be given respect for following his dreams and not letting anyone dictate his future. He wanted to see for himself what the wild was like, he wanted to walk in Walden’s shoes, live a day in the life of Thoreau. Part of what makes this film so powerful, is seeing the connections he made along the way. In the two years of his journey, he came across a lot of people. Several of which he spent lots of time with. He wasn’t always going from place to place, at times he settled down for periods to work and make money, learn, and prepare for Alaska. It was during these times that he created such strong bonds. But the thing with McCandless, is he was on his own mission. The people he was with would see such potential in him and worry about his journey into Alaska, but he was unphased. It’s true that he overestimated his own abilities and underestimated the harshness of life in the wild of Alaska. But he was just that committed to his dream.

Despite the ending, the story and message given in the film remains powerful. It leaves the viewer with an eagerness to follow their curiosity. It makes you second-guess how you’re living your own life. Am I really following my dreams? Am I just going through the motions in my life? It’s these thought-provoking questions that really resonated with McCandless, and the film has the power to have a similar kind of effect. Obviously not to the point where you as a viewer will just immediately drop everything and takeoff, but it does make you think about things. This film is another display of the power and beauty of films. They have the power to make us laugh, cry, and be in utter shock. They can represent true works of art, stretch our imagination, and tell us a story that makes us question everything in life. Into the Wild is just another example of why film is such an important part of society. The film is storytelling at its finest, and it keeps Christopher McCandless’s memory alive.

Pulp Fiction is one of the best cult films of all time, and to some, the best film ever. As is usual with cult-classics, some will say it’s the best film ever, and others will hate it. Cult movies go beyond what’s normal in film and society. Generally they’re famous for the religious follower base they have, not how they performed in the box office. The director of Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino, is one of the cult kings. His films are highly polarized, generally loved or hated. Pulp Fiction is no different. The movie is unique for many reasons, one of the most obvious reasons being that it doesn’t follow a chronological time scale. The film is all one story, but the timing of scenes bounce all around, requiring the viewer to connect all the dots and come up with the full story, beginning to end. The film is unique like every Tarantino film, mixing up violence, humor, mystery, and much more. Like many of his films, the story itself is so wild that it’s obviously not realistic, but yet he has an ability to convince the viewer that it is. Pulp Fiction is an all-time film, because of its creativity, specifically in the story-telling and the characters that make up the story.Therefore, the following is a ranking of the characters in the movie. It should be noted that disagreements to the rankings and spoilers for the film are expected and present. The criteria used to create this list was, in no particular order: the uniqueness of the character, the overall importance to the story as a whole, and the quality of acting.

1 – Jules Winnfield

Mr. Samuel L. Jackson, acting legend and Tarantino star. Jackson has made his way into almost every Tarantino film, but many will argue this is his best performance. His character has to be the hands-down best, yet there really is no one else who could play Jules besides Jackson. Jackson utilized all of his acting specialties here: he frequently raised his voice in a way that evokes power, anger, and control all at the same time, he was funny, but not by way of jokes but by his reactions, and finally he struggled with an intense, internal discomfort. Watch Jackson in other films, he does this stuff a lot. Anyways, his character was a hitman/security guy for the most powerful crime boss in the city. He screams out this bible verse before he shoots someone, which is referenced and explained by him throughout the film. He’s a religious man, yet a hitman. He is one of the most important characters in the entire movie, and Jackson’s acting was absolutely incredible. Jules maxes out on essentially every criteria mentioned before, therefore, he’s number one.

2 – Vincent Vega

In comes another all-star actor: John Travolta. John Travolta is Vincent Vega, the smooth-talking, partner of Jules Winnfield. Vincent is day, Jules is night. Vincent is chill, Jules is hyper. They go together like PB&J. Vincent is a unique guy, content with his way of living, where his on view on life is all that matters to him. In Pulp Fiction, we see Vincent the dancer, Vincent the drug user, Vincent the killer, Vincent the partner, and Vincent the lifesaver. Travolta does a great job creating a lovable character who is perfectly paired with Jules. His role is just as vital as Jackson’s in the film, so he’s covered there. Additionally, his character is just as unique too. Jules got the nod over Vincent because of acting required for his character versus for Vincent. There are scenes where Travolta shows his range with Vincent, but not as often as Jackson’s character. Despite not getting number one, the acting by Travolta in his role of Vincent was high-quality stuff.  For a peak into why Jules and Vincent are so great together, watch the following scene where they argue over giving a foot massage to the boss’s wife. In typical Tarantino fashion, this comical scene is right before they’re about to kill two guys:

3 – Ringo aka Pumpkin & Yolanda aka Honey Bunny

Okay Okay…everybody just calm down now. Yes, I realize this is two people. And I know…”what about Butch? Mia? Marsellus? These people are barely in the film!” All of you Tarantino buffs and Pulp Fiction aficionados just need to take a deep breath. To address the two character thing, they’re essentially the same character. They act the same, do the same actions, both call each other weird names, they’re basically just one. But why third? Well, this is where the criteria really comes in. There can be a fair argument that Mia and Butch slightly beat them out in regards to quality of acting, but the margin is small. But look at importance to the story and uniqueness! In a typical film, yes, these two wouldn’t be that important. But in a film like this, with no chronological time present, they’re vital! Pumpkin and Honey Bunny are the beginning and end! They tie everything all together, they’re the beginning of our questions and the end of our answers. Yes, Butch is a main character. But in a film like this, Pumpkin and Honey Bunny are the glue that holds it all together. Then there is the uniqueness factor, like c’mon now. How can you not say a quirky couple that calls each other pumpkin and honey bunny and sticks up restaurants isn’t extremely unique? You think they’re so innocent, until they got a revolver dug into someone’s forehead screaming for money. Controversial as the selection may be, Pumpkin and Honey Bunny round out the top three.

Honorable Mention

Since there were so many great characters in this classic, an honorable mention for a few is needed. The honorable mention team is in order as follows:

Butch Coolidge: A vital character in the film, played by star Bruce Willis. Butch is central to the story and the acting was high-quality by Willis. However, the uniqueness factor just wasn’t high enough for top 3, Butch just missed out.

Mia Wallace: The character on the film cover, she must be important. She is, but not as much so as the others and that’s what knocked her down. Mia is the wife of Marsellus, she’s highly talked about and quite the character. Uma Thurman is another Tarantino legend and performed wonderfully in the movie. But her lack of scenes and distinct importance in the story kept her from the top 3.

Marsellus Wallace: The boss himself. Obviously important in this story, but his name is mentioned more than he is seen. The lack of acting and screen time kept him off here. But his core scenes in the film are absolutely WILD, so he had to make honorable mention.

Winston Wolfe aka The Wolf: After all, Pulp Fiction was a Tarantino film right? So you know Harvey Keitel was appearing somewhere, and he did, as “The Wolf.” The Wolf’s time on the screen was short, but impactful. The Wolf saves the day for Vincent and Jules when they had a little accident, if you want to call it that. The man solves problems, that’s all he does. He jumped in here because he measures well in all the criteria used. If Harvey Keitel is in a Tarantino film, you know Tarantino wanted him specifically for the role. If Tarantino thinks he’s an important character, so do I, The Wolf ends our rankings.

Sorry to Lance the Drug Dealer, Jimmie who was played by Tarantino, and Fabienne, you just missed the cut.

Robin Williams was one of the most talented individuals in the world of entertainment. He’s known for being an incredible comedian and actor. In fact, some say he’s “the funniest person of all-time.” Since his passing a few years back, lots has been said about the legacy he has left. Many will remember him for the laughs he brought to them in his work as a comedian and comedy acting roles. However, it was his role in Good Will Hunting that is truly the pinnacle of his career. Good Will Hunting is about a 20 year old boy – Will Hunting – who has lived a troubled life of abuse through foster care, but happens to be a genius. He works as a janitor at MIT and is charged with crime after crime, often misdemeanors. His genius is discovered by a world renowned professor in mathematics, but Will wants no part in working with the professor. It’s not until he is facing jail time that he can either do as the professor says or be taken away. One of the stipulations of this agreement, is Will must see a therapist, and in comes Robin Williams. The film is about the dynamic between the two of them and their own journeys they go on, it’s about love, pain, suffering, connection, and addressing the demons of your past to move forward. The film takes the viewer on a true emotional journey. The acting across the board is spectacular, and it had to be. Matt Damon – who played Will Hunting – made his first true mark in the world of film with this movie. He couldn’t have done a better job portraying the troubled genius, Will Hunting. But as incredible as Matt Damon was, it was Robin Williams who was the true star in this film.

Good Will Hunting is without a doubt the best acting performance of Robin Williams’ career. In fact, it’s one of the best acting performances period. Even so, it’s really saying something that it was his own best performance. The man hand an incredible acting career, and I’m sure people out there would argue for Dead Poets Society, Mrs. Doubtfire, or several others as his own best. Despite how impressive these performances were, nothing tops what he did in Good Will Hunting. So, what about his acting was so good? First, one has to understand the character he was having to portray in the film. Williams played a therapist – Sean –  who is incredibly bright, but in much pain. His character is obviously not living up to his full potential and he’s hurting badly, yet the whole film he’s trying to help Will Hunting with those exact problems. However, it’s where the pain originates from that separates the two. Sean is heart broken, because his wife passed away from cancer not too long ago. The woman meant everything to him, and her battle with cancer and her passing destroyed and weakened him. As a viewer, you could feel this pain to your core. Williams evoked this pain in everything he did in the film, his struggle was real. He displayed raw and real emotion like never before seen, the viewer isn’t watching a film, they’re immersed in a real struggle. Williams was a struggling therapist who just lost his wife, he wasn’t acting. The way he portrayed pain, anguish, and true emotion, makes you wonder now, how much of it really was acting? Williams passed away a few years ago by his own doing, the man was in the worst pain imaginable. Though the movie was made many years before his death, who knows how long he was suffering inside. It’s hard not to watch Good Will Hunting and not think that maybe he wasn’t acting, in a way. Maybe he put on one of the realest and genuine performances of all-time because he was just drawing from his own deep pain. Maybe, maybe not. But there are somethings that one can’t just act out if they’ve never experienced it themselves. I’m no actor, but I know that even some of the greatest actors couldn’t do what Williams did, because they haven’t felt pain like that before.

Few films will take the audience on an emotional journey like Good Will Hunting. Williams’ performance was necessary, because of the power behind the words he was saying. Some of the greatest quotes about love, pain, and our inner-self comes from words uttered by Williams’ character Sean. The film threw out powerful words that required a powerful presence behind them, that was Robin Williams. Scenes throughout the movie go down as some of the greatest in film history. The connection between Will Hunting and Sean is so genuine, and as a viewer you feel that connection scene after scene. However, there is one scene that stands out among them all. A scene that many will argue is the greatest scene in film history, it’s that powerful, and it’s all because of Robin Williams. This scene should be the moment that defines the legacy he leaves with us today. This scene is why we love acting, film, storytelling, emotion, and connection. This scene is why we love and miss Robin Williams.

Enjoy:

https://youtu.be/qM-gZintWDc

When Avatar was released in 2009, it became the highest-grossing film of all-time and signaled the dawn of a new age in cinematography. The film was directed, written, produced, and co-edited by James Cameron: film legend. He started on the film all the way back in 1994, but he waited on the film until the proper technology was available to create his vision. Waiting turned out to be a great decision, as the results were brilliant and groundbreaking. The visual effects seen in the film were like none ever seen at the time. While more recent films have made use of similar technology and visual effects since Avatar’s release, the film still seems to be in a league of its own. The film served as a wake up call to the film industry and world that a new age has started.

A film with such breathtaking visual effects required lots of creative and imaginative thinking. Avatar took place in the mid-22nd century. The basic plotline was that humans were colonizing a moon (Pandora) to mine a valuable mineral. However, the moon is habitable and is lived upon by a local tribe, the Na’vi. Humans have figured a way to transform themselves into these living specimens via technology that allows them to transport their mind into the body of one of these specimens. The story develops as a select group of humans interact with the Na’vi, without them understanding they’re humans. The plot gets interesting when the humans connect more with the Na’vi, while the group they’re with looks to end them and the moon they live on. The creatures, landscapes, and every detail of the world in the film, is spectacular in every regard, feeling as if you’ve entered a entirely new but real world. The realness of every sight is astounding and the mind is constantly dumbfounded by how one could possibly have been so imaginative in every detail. The world you enter is so real and detailed, that it leaves one questioning all facets of ourselves as humans, and the planet, galaxy, and universe we live in. But, how exactly was this new world created?

So much went into the creation of this memorable film. While everything they did and technology they used wasn’t necessarily never before seen, it was the whole combination of everything they used and did that made it amazing. The purpose here is to not go into every single piece of technology and process used in Avatar, but rather to give the reader a general understanding of how this film was created. The film had an uncertain future in its development, as Cameron wouldn’t let anyone derail him from creating the film the way he knew it had to be done. This led to lots of wavering with Fox, as they weren’t sure about funding a film they knew would costs millions and could very well end up a flop. However, Fox was too nervous to let another studio get their hands on Avatar. They eventually committed fully, with a budget of 237 million dollars. However, several estimates suggest the film ended up costing somewhere in the ballpark of 280 million to 310 million, it’s crazy to fathom that, but seems worth it for the highest-grossing film of all-time. Oh yeah, almost forgot…that’s not even mentioning the 150 million that it cost to promote the movie.

Now let’s take a look into some of the details behind how this film was developed. The creation of the Na’vi beings started with Cameron working for two years with renowned designers, sketching and creating via paintings and sculptures. Inspirations for the film and the world of Avatar came from all over the place. Cameron drew upon past films like Tarzan, Hindu culture, a national park in China, and much more to create the world seen in Avatar, from all the living specimens to the landscapes. Production design for the film took several years, with two production designers running two seperate teams. Cameron made use of a reality camera system, that created depth perception with the use of two high-definition cameras in a single camera body. Cameron also made use of a 3D Fusion Camera System, in which 60% of the film ended up being computer generated, whereas the rest was live action. But this “live” action was unique in its own right. Everything the characters did was still done by the actors, but it was digitally transformed so that they looked like the Na’vi people. This was aided by a virtual camera system which shows the actors’ virtual counterparts in their digital surroundings in real time. They also made use of a simulcam, which allowed for them to film shots where CGI interacts with live action. Weta Digital ran visual effects for the film and served as one of the most integral components of the film, at one point having around 900 people working on the film. Some of the innovative features of the visual effects included a new system for lighting massive areas, a motion-capture stage six times bigger than any other used before, and a updated method for capturing facial expressions. The film also required mass amounts of data and digital capabilities, requiring them to develop their own cloud computing system, make use of a 10,000 sq ft server farm, and use two supercomputers that are among the top 200 most powerful supercomputers in the world. So much data and storage was needed, the every minute of Avatar uses 17.28 gigabytes of storage.

This film was so special, because it showed the world what we have the capability to create in our modern world. It took the art of film and story telling to a whole new world. A world which will soon be and is becoming a status quo of sorts. But it was this film that served as a breakthrough moment. It made everyone realize what we’re capable of and truly took the art of film into a realm never before seen. Like many such events, the world around us adapts and makes use, and then we evolve. The boundaries of film were massively extended with Avatar, and it’s amazing to think how far they can extend as we more forward in this digital age.  

Netflix is changing the the world of film as we know it. The point of this piece is not to analyze how Netflix, or any streaming service, is changing the landscape of film. The purpose here, is to look at a relatively new emergence of Netflix Original content, specifically with films. Yes, there is much to be said about Netflix Original series, like Stranger Things, House of Cards, and much more, which have captivated so many. While much analysis can be done in that regard, this site isn’t about TV shows, it’s about films. Netflix has taken the film world by storm as of late, with its release of two highly talked about and praised films: Birdbox and Roma. Birdbox has been the talk of town, as they say. Starring Sandra Bullock, Birdbox presents a post-apocalyptic-type world in which a mysterious force is causing masses of people to commit suicide instantly. The movie is thrilling, horrifying, and highly intriguing all at the same time. While it didn’t rate too well among the critics, it’s certainly is the most talked about films in the past few months. Roma on the other hand, has a different story. It has reviewed quite well, expected to be one of, if the not the best performing film at this years Oscars. Roma is a film that truly represents the artistic nature of films, and the ability of a film to tell an emotional story that the audience can feel to their core. However, this piece isn’t just about these two films, it’s about Netflix Original films as a whole, and the impact they’re having on the world of film.

As mentioned previously, Netflix Original films are relatively new, with the first film, Beasts of No Nation, debuting in October of 2015. Since this first release, Netflix has gone all in on releasing their own films, with a growing number every year. As we know, streaming services have drastically changed the worlds of film and television. But just when industry players thought they had adapted, Netflix started releasing their own content, and it’s not just regular old stuff, it’s good. Not only has Netflix pushed people away from theaters and made them more patient, just waiting for a new film to show up on their site, but now they’re reducing the pain of having to wait. Not every Netflix Original film they’ve made has been great, but they’re now releasing content that’s top-of-class. It’s astonishing that Roma could be the biggest winner from the Oscars, when Netflix released their first film three and a half years ago. Though it’s not like they were some new company with no money, or anything like that, it’s still remarkable that in three years time, they now compete with the best-of-the-best. If Netflix continues this same trajectory, given the decline theaters are already experiencing, who’s to say movie theaters will even be around in ten years time? If Netflix keeps cranking out some of the top films every year, or even most of them, why would there even be a need for theaters? It’s a highly intriguing development to follow, potentially creating an unstoppable force in Netflix and the end of theaters as we know them.

Netflix isn’t just making their films with anyone, they get incredible talent. Sandra Bullock was mentioned earlier for her role in Birdbox, and she is just one of many stars like Adam Sandler, Will Smith, Jack Black, and many more to star in Netflix Original films. But it’s not just actors and actresses, they’ve attracted top directors as well. For example, Alfonso Cuaron, the academy award winning director, directed Roma. But why does it matter if they’re getting top talent? Well, think of the threat this must pose to the top studios. Competition between studios was already fierce enough as is, and now seemingly out of nowhere, there’s another top dog getting the best talent and creating great films. Again, just when everyone in the industry thought they knew how to handle these streaming services, out comes Netflix Original films. It makes one wonder what the future of these studios might be. Will they stay on course? Or will they make real changes to how they operate to compete with Netflix and other streaming services? It should be noted, that Netflix isn’t alone here. Other providers like Hulu and Amazon, have started making their own content as well. It’s clear the industry is shifting, but what’s unclear is how top players will respond. But…let me pump the brakes here. The reader at this point, has been painted a picture of Netflix as this never before seen creator of films, this isn’t quite the case. While they way Netflix has been providing these films and the quick rise to success is unique and important, not all Netflix Original films have been stars. In fact, most have actually been duds. Out of all that they have released in the past few years, only a select few have reviewed well and/or reached mass popularity. I know what you might be thinking, don’t all studios generally have more failures than true successes? Yes, that’s true, but Netflix has really only reached true prominence with their films as of late. The point here, is to take a forward-looking approach. Assume Netflix continues on the path their on, which drastically improved in the past year, what will happen to the film industry? So much can happen and change in the future, we can’t predict what the film industry will be like, we can only guess. But there is a lot to ponder here, in regards to what Netflix has done and is doing. Much of which, has generally gone relatively unnoticed. But in two weeks we have the Oscars, if Roma performs like it’s expected to, I think more will be talking about Netflix Originals and what the future may hold.

Considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, if not the greatest, The Godfather is film that transcends time. But what is it about this film that makes it so great? Well, that’s the tricky part, because with a classic like this, it’s difficult to pinpoint specific aspects that make it so transformational. The following is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but rather to dive deeper into specific areas of the film that made it what it is. With that being said, the following will dive deeper into screenplay and acting, and how these areas contributed to The Godfather being an all-time great.

Screenplay

Screenplay is a fitting starting spot, because an incredible story is the foundation of a great film. The screenplay was adapted based upon Mario Puzo’s book The Godfather. Puzo should be credited as the true mastermind behind the genesis of this film, as his mind created the backbone of the film in his book. However, it was Francis Ford Coppola who took a phenomenal book and created a legendary movie. Coppola, who directed the film, will be discussed in greater detail in a later piece, for his work as director. However, it’s important to note that he and Puzo worked together on creating the screenplay for the movie. “Together” may not be a fitting word, as they wrote separately, but it was the fusion of their writing that created the screenplay. The story itself is so remarkable, because of its ability to encapsulate so many different feelings and emotions in a captivating narrative. This storyline includes lust for power, importance of tradition, family, the powerful force that is love, violence and death, revenge, and of course the mafia. This screenplay is so fantastic and intriguing because it takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of emotions and feelings, with transitions from a quiet, serious scene between loved ones, to a scene of cold-blooded murder. Another unique aspect of this screenplay, is the detail. Every conversation in the film carries weight. There is never a moment when the audience can take a moment to relax and not be focused. It’s part of what makes the film so unique and the story so captivating. Thrilling and captivating, the screenplay for The Godfather is second-to-none. The creation of unique characters with stories and developments of their own is part of what makes this screenplay so great, but it was the acting that brought them to life.

Acting

That acting in The Godfather was just…wow, I mean how else do you describe it. Of course acting is an important part of any film, but it was such an integral part of The Godfather because of how in-depth and precise each character needed to be. The characters in this film were unique and each played a crucial role in the story. Therefore, acting had to be spot on. Of course it was, but that shouldn’t be much of a surprise with a cast including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and many more. While every actor/actress did an incredible job portraying their character, there are two that stick out and rightfully so: Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. Let’s start with Marlon Brando, The Godfather himself. Unsurprisingly, this was a critical role in the movie. The Godfather, Don Vito Corleone, was a strong but quite character. He was feared and loved alike, a man that would help any Italian in need in his community, but also the head of the most powerful crime family in the country. Marlon Brando did an outstanding job of portraying such a character. Even as an audience member, you find yourself loving Don Corleone despite his role as a mafia boss. Brando portrayed a man who was a selfless family man who took his life into his own hands to help his family first and then the community, not a crime boss. But then there is Al Pacino, playing Michael Corleone, the son of Don Corleone. Michael is by far the most interesting character in all of the movie. The development of his character is amazing to watch and brilliantly done by Pacino. Not to be a spoiler, but he goes from an innocent war hero who isn’t in the family business, to the new boss by the end of the movie, so it’s fair to say Mr. Pacino displayed some acting range in this movie. Michael has similarities and differences from his father. Like Don Corleone, he’s a man of few words and very serious, he’s smarter than others(and they know it), and he has a presence that carries power. Brando and Pacino legitimately seemed as if they were father and son in this film, to a degree that’s rarely seen. Yet Michael is still his own man. Unlike his father, he has anger outbursts often, which are done so well by Pacino. You see the anger quietly building up in Michael as he sits there wordless, and then out of nowhere, he explodes with a ferocity that puts fear into all around him. At times, you wonder if Michael has compassion at all. It’s evident Michael is after power for himself and the family, such much so that he lets that be what pushes him forward. From a viewer’s perspective, you don’t have that same kind of love for Michael as you did for Don Corleone. Pacino displays a character that you feel deep down is truly cold-hearted. Brando and Pacino truly were amazing in their roles, and they had to be. But what’s crazy, is they were so good as vital characters that it tends to overshadow the brilliant work done by everyone else on the set. They had to be great and were, but it’s all the other great acting in the film that takes it to another level. The combination of great acting with an amazing story, is a huge reason why The Godfather continues to maintain is legendary status in the world of film.