Welcome to Inventory: a monthly column in which we take a moment to look back at the past few weeks and highlight articles that I have written that may be worth a second glance. From the archives of Optigrab, The Oscar Buzz, and CinemaBeach, the following is what I feel to be the Top 10 articles that I have written in any given month and feel the need to highlight. Also covered will be any known details on what will be coming up in the month ahead. So without further ado, let's take inventory and see what I have to say.
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| Joaquin Phoenix |
Article: Optigrab Crosses 1,000 Articles!
Source: Optigrab
Comments: This is the blog that afforded me a lot of opportunities, including writing for websites, getting noticed by New York Times, and going to Sundance. For that, I am grateful to have had this experience and hope to make the next 1,000 count.
Source: Optigrab
Comments: As a fan of "Lost at Sea" and the "Scott Pilgrim" series, I have eagerly been awaiting the latest book from Bryan Lee O'Malley. To say the least, he delivers yet another fascinating and engrossing story of maturing into a responsible adult.
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| Left to right: Marc Maron and Phil Hendrie |
Source: Optigrab
Comments: In a strange reversal, Maron has been having a phenomenal season and with "Radio Cowboy," it makes the episode that it was born to make with a loving homage to a dying breed. It is comical, tragic, and features a great supporting role by Phil Hendrie.
Source: Optigrab
Comments: I came late to the party, but I found myself heavily intrigued and invested in this Adult Swim series as it evolved into a strange, wonderful cousin to Futurama. Yes, it is crass and not always the best animation, but it is so weird and ambitious that I don't care.
Article: R.I.P. The Auteurcast:: 2011-2014
Source: Optigrab
Comments: This past month was quite a celebration of many things, but unfortunately it also marked the end of a beloved podcast called The Auteurcast. If you haven't checked it out, please do yourself a favor and pay tribute by downloading a few.
Comments: This past month was quite a celebration of many things, but unfortunately it also marked the end of a beloved podcast called The Auteurcast. If you haven't checked it out, please do yourself a favor and pay tribute by downloading a few.
Source: Readwave
Comments: In terms of anniversaries of the past month, it is strange how little fanfare there was for this Zach Braff directorial debut that used to be highly acclaimed. My assumption is that it may have become dated, but it was an important film in the direction to which cinema went.
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| Left to right: Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane |
Source: The Oscar Buzz
Comments: It is the film that everyone has been talking about and it lives up to all of the hype. Boyhood has all of the charm and ingenuity that is necessary to make this one of the most interesting films of 2014.
Article: Review:: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the Most Impressive, Ambitious Blockbuster of the Summer
Source: The Oscar Buzz
Comments: In a year full of great, technically challenging blockbusters, this sequel to a reboot is probably my favorite with its high intensity mix of violence, social commentary, and neo-western elements. There's so much to admire about it that it is impossible to really go into too much detail here.
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| Dwayne Johnson |
Source: Optigrab
Comments: This past Independence Day, I decided to look at the drought of recent movies that have attempted to encapsulate what it means to be American. However, after some thought, I looked at how Pain & Gain has taken up the mantle in such a subversive way.
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| Left to right: Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert |
Source: The Oscar Buzz
Comments: It is impossible to be a film critic without having an opinion and/or reverence on Roger Ebert. This documentary on his life is a loving tribute to how he embraced film as well as a zeal for life.
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| Scarlett Johannson |
Source: Optigrab
Comments: In a surprise move, this visceral exploration of just how ridiculous sci-fi can go became one of the most enjoyable films of the summer. It may not make a lot of sense, but it's an art project disguised as high art in fascinating ways.
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| Left to right: Breckin Meyer and Sean William Scott |
Source: Optigrab
Comments: When Sex Tape came out, there was only one film in my mind: Road Trip. Basically, I believe that the latest comedy is just a rip off of an older concept and won't do as well because of how far technology has come since then.
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| Left to right: Chris Gere and Aya Cash |
Source: Optigrab
Comments: Pairing up with Married, FX released two shows dealing with cynical characters and an unflattering depiction of sex. Of the two, I have slowly become intrigued by what You're the Worst is offering and it has only gotten better.
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| Weird Al Yankovic |
Source: Optigrab
Comments: In a two week experiment, I decided to check out all of Weird Al's albums to see if there was some genius behind the parodies. To say the least, this is his greatest album with some of the best work that he has ever done.
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| Andy Serkis |
Source: The Oscar Buzz
Comments: 2014 is a particularly great year for summer blockbusters, so why can't these films get into the Best Picture race? Here is a look at why they should be considered.
What to Expect in August 2014
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| Sofia Coppola |
A continuation of the Top 20 in The Directors Project as well as a wrap-up piece
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| Mackenzie Davis |
A TV Retrospective on the AMC freshman series Halt and Catch Fire
A TV Retrospective on the second season of IFC series Maron
A Channel Surfing on the new FX series Partners
A Channel Surfing column on the new IFC series Garfunkel and Oates
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| Clive Owen |
A look back at summer 2014
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