Criterion To Finally Release John Sayes' Matewan This October

So every four or five weeks the Criterion Collection unveils a handful of new titles we film fans can look forward to arriving on DVD and Blu-ray in the coming months.

And every month for at least 10 years I've looked and hoped for one title, and every month I've been disappointed. Until yesterday.

Yes, after years of pleading with specialty labels, both on this site and across social media, Criterion announced Thursday it would finally release indie maverick John Sayles' oft-requested 1987 historical coal-mining drama Matewan October 29th.

I've been a fan of Sayles' work since high school and Matewan remains one of his best films, featuring Oscar-nominated cinematography by the great Haskell Wexler and stellar performances by Chris Cooper (in his screen debut), David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell and James Earl Jones.

Criterion's forthcoming Blu-ray will feature a new 4K digital restoration, audio commentary with Sayles and Wexler and a new making-of documentary.

Since the only digital release was a 1999 pan-and-scan DVD, it's really going be like seeing the film for the first time since its Reagan-era theatrical release. Can't wait.

Remembering John Singleton

I was sad to hear of filmmaker John Singleton's passing yesterday at 51, not only the first African-American ever nominated for a Best Director Oscar, but also the youngest person to receive the honor at just 24.

I was 20 when I saw Singleton's powerful 1991 debut Boys N The Hood for the first time as a wide-eyed college kid determined to light the world on fire as either a filmmaker or journalist.

I ultimately chose the latter, and didn't exactly set things ablaze, but John's early triumphs and innate, relatable storytelling abilities were a tremendous inspiration to me throughout the '90s, encouraging me to keep writing & reminding me that anyone with talent could achieve success, no matter their age or skin color.

I screened Boyz N The Hood a few years back for its 25th anniversary and was amazed at not only its lasting relevance but that it was made by a then-23-year-old. It's just a stunning piece of work, one that should not just be required viewing for all young filmmakers but anyone with a story to tell.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Will Close Out Nine-Film Saga This December

Lucasfilm unveiled the first glimpse of its final chapter in the nine-film Skywalker Saga today, dropping the teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker before a packed crowd at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago.

Highlights of the two-minute preview included Lando Calrissian piloting the Millennium Falcon, Leia embracing Rey and the familiar cackle of Emperor Palpatine.

As for whom exactly this "ascending Skywalker" refers to - Rey, Kylo Ren, Leia, Luke, or everyone within the powerful lineage - we'll just have to bide our time guessing the next eight months until Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters Dec. 20.

To view the teaser trailer in its entirety, visit imdb.com or starwars.com.

Oscar: The Morning After

As if Olivia Colman's Best Actress upset over Glenn Close wasn't stunning enough, Peter Farrelly's Green Book did the unthinkable Sunday night in Hollywood, nabbing Best Picture honors over heavy favorites Roma and Black Panther at the 91st Academy Awards, a decision the Los Angeles Times called "the worst Best Picture winner since Crash."

Apparently director Spike Lee didn't think much of the decision either, as he was reported storming up the aisle heading for the exit after the announcement, ala Eddie Murphy, only to be turned back toward the stage where he stopped mid-aisle and stood with his back to the winners. I guess he was a Black Panther fan, since his BlacKkKlansman was an extreme longshot to nab the top honor.

Lee did score his first Oscar earlier in the evening for Klansman's adapted screenplay, where he promptly brushed aside his three fellow collaborators onstage to more or less make the win all about himself. Classy as always, Spike.

To be fair, Green Book had earned Golden Globe and Producers Guild honors for Best Picture, not to mention Mahershala Ali's award-season sweep for Best Supporting Actor. I have yet to see the film, but from what I've gleaned from the trailer, it's an old-fashioned, play-it-safe account of a very turbulent time. A recipe that used to render Oscar gold in decades past, not so much in 2019.

Nice to see Rami Malek win for Bohemian Rhapsody, as well as Regina King for If Beale Street Could Talk. Regina's paid her dues in Hollywood, going all the way back to playing Marla Gibbs' teenage daughter on the popular '80s series 227. A true survivor.

Otherwise a pretty pedestrian, uneventful telecast. But still too long, even without a host.

Oscar Predictions: Can Black Panther Outmuscle Roma?

Below are my picks in the major categories for Sunday's 91st Academy Awards.

Alfonso Cuarón's beloved Roma leads the field with 10 nominations and seems to be the consensus pick for Best Picture. I'm thinking, however, that with Roma assuredly taking Best Foreign Language Film, Black Panther may spring into action and nab the top prize. But I've been wrong before. We shall see Sunday. Enjoy the show.

Picture: Black Panther
Director: Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Actor: Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Actress: Glenn Close, The Wife
Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Supporting Actress: Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Original Screenplay: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, The Favourite
Adapted Screenplay: Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott and Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman

Top 5 Films of 2018

Well the sun is about to set on another year at the movies. Hollywood had another record-breaking year thanks to blockbusters like Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Incredibles 2.

As usual I did my part, catching a couple dozen in the theater and on video, although I didn't see everything I wanted to (If Beale Street Could Talk, Roma, Stan & Ollie and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse). But I was able to piece together some semblance of a Best Of list for the year. Below you'll find my Top 5 films of 2018 (the ones I saw anyway).

1. A Quiet Place: This nearly wordless little thriller from John Krasinski was not only the sleeper hit of 2018 but easily the most enjoyable piece of cinema this year. Just 90 minutes of jolts, gasps and pure delight.

2. Bohemian Rhapsody: Great music, a revealing story and Rami Malek hitting one out of the park as Freddie Mercury kept a smile on my face from start to finish.

3. Isle of Dogs: Wes Anderson's latest was the talented auteur's most ambitious and wildly conceived film to date, with more characters you could wiggle a chew toy at and scratching me right where I itched.

4. A Star is Born: Caught this one after the hype had worn down and you know what: it was actually pretty darn good. Nice performances by Bradley Cooper & Gaga, good music, sad ending. The things Oscar dreams are made of.

5. Juliet, Naked: This adaptation of Nick Hornby's 2009 novel concerning an English couple and their relationship/obsession with an erstwhile American folk singer was an absolute joy to watch unfold onscreen, featuring fine performances by Ethan Hawke, Rose Byrne and even Chris O'Dowd (finally something I liked the guy in).

Rounding Out the Top 10: 6. Black Panther/Avengers: Infinity War 7. Christopher Robin 8. The Favourite 9. Puzzle 10. Leave No Trace

Happy New Year!

Still Believing A Man Can Fly: 40 Years of Superman: The Movie

Ah, Christmastime 1978. I had just turned eight, was a few months into second grade. Star Wars was more than a year and half old but its presence was still everywhere that holiday season, especially in the toy aisles where all those glorious action figures, vehicles and playsets had been trickling in throughout the year. The original Battlestar Galactica was just rounding the corner on its third month of must-watch Sunday-night TV and after months of being told "You Will Believe A Man Can Fly," Superman: The Movie was finally set to soar into theaters worldwide.

Like most kids my age, I'd spent the last few years reading Superman comics (Supes vs. Muhammad Ali, anyone?) and enjoying both the Super Friends on Saturday mornings and old '50s episodes of the Adventures of Superman after school, so the prospect of a big-budget Man of Steel movie, complete with Star Wars-like effects and music, was more than enough to get me to a theater opening weekend.

My mom and I caught it that first Saturday as a matinee at one of the larger, Dolby-equipped theaters in the area and as soon as that goosebump-inducing John Williams score began to play over that thundering opening-credit sequence I was hooked on the last son of Krypton's journey to Earth to fight for truth, justice and the American way.

For the next two and half hours I gleefully watched as Superman rescued Lois Lane from a dangling helicopter, saved a lighting-disabled Air Force One, tussled with a pair of nuclear missiles and reversed the rotation of the earth to cancel out a devastating earthquake. Oh, I believed a man could fly and spent the rest of the weekend proving it around the house, begging my mom for a red cape.

Superman: The Movie opened on December 15, 1978 and nabbed nearly $44 million in its first 18 days of release, a then-record, finishing with a worldwide theatrical take over $300 million, becoming the sixth highest-grossing film of all time. The film garnered three Oscar nominations, winning a Special Achievement Academy Award for Visual Effects.

Its success spawned three sequels in nine years and made a household name of actor Christopher Reeve, a six-foot-four, Julliard-trained talent who would go on to star in dozens of films over the next 15-plus years but would always be remembered as the one, true Man of Steel.

40 years later Superman: The Movie remains the gold standard for superhero films, a glowing testament to the humanity, humor and heart infused by director Richard Donner, stars Reeve, Marot Kidder, Gene Hackman and composer Williams.

I screen it every couple of years and regularly spin the soundtrack on quiet Saturday afternoons. It always takes me back to those magical years of the late '70s/early '80s when anything seemed possible: a galaxy, far, far away, an abandoned alien hiding in your backyard or believing a man can fly.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!