The Film Crusade

Why do we avoid certain films and favor others? Here we make the distinction between some of the biggest Oscar contenders while also projecting the finalists for the Best Picture award.

After the National Board of Review awarded Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air” the Best Picture award, the Oscar bells are ringing. Yet despite what many critics are considering to be the next big thing at the Oscars, “Up in the Air” is not Oscar-worthy. Not in any category. And not even close.

Some Hollywood trends are ending, some are changing, and new successes are threatening to become trends. If there’s anything the 2009 year in film has taught us thus far, it’s that sequels keep making money, 3-D is here to stay, and the African-American market is crucial for big box office numbers.

Ti West’s “The House of the Devil” could have been great. It could have even been epic. And it would have been both if only Ti considered practicing artistic restraint. Do filmmakers like Ti West deserve final cut?

Fifteen years ago on November 5th, one of the most groundbreaking films in the history of documentary filmmaking was released in theaters. Today, “Hoop Dreams” is still considered among the best. The man behind the camera, Peter Gilbert, reveals the hidden back-story behind “Hoop Dreams” in an exclusive interview with Charlie Wachtel.

Pirates beware. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) fired three executive forerunners of its anti-piracy program and, in the matter of a single day, refocused its mission from “anti-piracy” to “content protection.” Their pledge: Target individuals who download movies from Bit Torrents and sue their asses.

Larry Gupnik of “A Serious Man” has a problem. He’s lost his wife, just got kicked out of his own home, and is pathetically passive-aggressive. But saddest of all, NO ONE WANTS TO SEE HIS MOVIE. Here we review the most recent tragic comedy of the Coen Bros. and discuss why Hollywood bigwigs have already eliminated these kinds of films from their slates.

Believe the numbers. Believe the hype. “Paranormal Activity’s” smashing success in its early stages forces Paramount to expand distribution, giving “Saw VI” a run for its money. The result is a paranormal milestone for the horror genre.

An increasingly democratic Oscar’s ballot is not going to deliver any more justice to the system. In fact, if anything it will result in choosing a film for Best Picture that is entirely unworthy of the award.

Mark your calendars because Freddy Krueger is back. In 2010, a new version of the Wes Craven-inspired A Nightmare on Elm Street is scheduled to hit theaters.