Let’s Second Guess The Academy: Best Picture 1993

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Occasionally, I like to do a little thing that I call “Let’s second guess the Academy.” This is when we look at the films that have won Academy Awards in the past and we ask ourselves, “Should that film have won?”

For this latest edition of Let’s Second Guess the Academy, let’s take a look at 1993. The 1993 Academy Awards were dominated by Schindler’s List. Steven Spielberg’s powerful Holocaust drama won both best picture and best director. It remains the film by which all other Holocaust dramas are judged.

But did Schindler’s List deserve to win? Or would you have preferred to see one of the other four nominees win the title of Best Picture of 1993? Let us know by voting below!

Now, here comes the fun part. Let’s say that Spielberg never got around to directing Schindler’s List. And maybe The Piano never played in the states and The Fugitive bombed at the box office. Let’s say that none of the five best picture nominees had been eligible to be nominated in 1993. Which five films would you have nominated in their place?

Below, you can vote for up to five alternative nominees.

6 Trailers From Vacation Girl

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hi! I may be on vacation but the trailer kitties have still been hard at work, putting together another edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film Trailers.

Let’s see what they’ve got for us this week.

1) Raiders of the Living Dead (1986)

2) Phase IV (1974)

3) Hellgate (1989)

4) Beyond Evil (1980)

5) Terrorgram (1988)

6) Ticks (1993)

What do you think, Trailer Kitty?

6 Rebel Trailers

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hi there and welcome to another edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film trailers! This week, the trailers are all about rebellion!

1) Rebel Rousers (1970)

“Starring Academy Award nominee Jack Nicholson…” Actually, this film features at least 3 Academy Award nominated performers — Nicholson, Bruce Dern, and Diane Ladd.

2) Cry Baby Killer (1958)

Speaking of Jack Nicholson, here’s proof that even the most iconic stars had to start somewhere. This was Nicholson’s film debut.

3) The Delinquents (1957)

This juvenile delinquent film was directed by Robert Altman, who would later direct films like M*A*SH, Nashville, The Player, Short Cuts, Gosford Park, and The Company.

4) The Cool and the Crazy (1958)

The 50s were a wild time to be a teenager, apparently.

5) The Narcotics Story (1958)

“It’s a story of the young and innocent…” They’re young and innocent only be the standards of the decadent 50s!

6) The Pusher (1960)

And, of course, you can’t have the narcotics story without …. The Pusher!

What do you think, Trailer Kitty?

6 Trailers That Are Too Dangerous For Vermont

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Hi there! The trailer kitties have been busy assembling the latest edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film Trailers! Let’s see what they’ve got for us this week…

1) Blood Hook (1986)

A.k.a. When Slasher Movies Get Lazy!

2) The Paperboy (1994)

I’ve watched this trailer a few times and I have yet to see either Matthew McConaughey or Zac Efron.

3) Mikey (1992)

However, the Paperboy isn’t the only psychotic child around…

4) Crazy Mama (1975)

I don’t know about you but I was getting disturbed by all those crazy kids. Let’s go back to a more innocent age…

5) Battle Beyond The Sun (1960)

This was a Russian film that Roger Corman brought over to the United States. A young Francis Ford Coppola shot the scenes with the space monsters. I’m not even going to say what the monsters look like…

6) Robot Monster (1953)

Yes, I know we’ve shared this one before but seriously — don’t we all need a Robot Monster in our life?

What do you think, Super Trailer Kitty?

Trailer: American Hustle

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Lisa Marie Bowman

American Hustle is one of the films that I most looking forward to seeing this year. After watching this trailer, can you blame me?

Poll: Which Films Are You Most Looking Forward To Seeing In September?

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Well, another month has come to a close and that means that it’s time for another poll here at the Shattered Lens.

The results of last month’s poll can be found here and should make the fans of Elysium and Kick-Ass 2 very happy.

As always, please feel free to vote for up to four films and write-in votes are accepted!

Trailer: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Lisa Marie Bowman

I am currently in the process of catching up on all of the news that I missed out on during last week’s unplanned vacation from posting. Indeed, one of the biggest events last week was the release of this trailer for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The Hunger Games was one of the best films of 2012 and Jennifer Lawrence provided a role model for girls who, otherwise, might be tempted to mistake Bella Swan for a strong woman.

Is it any wonder that Catching Fire is one of the most anticipated films of 2013?

Catching Fire, starring Jennifer Lawrence and directed by Francis Lawrence, is scheduled to be released on November 22nd.

6 Trailers That Do What They Want

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Lisa Marie Bowman

It’s time for another edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film Trailers! These trailers … they don’t care. They do what they want, when they want! Celebrate the revolution…

1) Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)

2) Switchblade Sisters (1975)

3) Foxy Brown (1974)

4) Cleopatra Jones And The Casino of Gold (1975)

5) Tick…Tick…Tick (1970)

6) Breaker! Breaker! (1977)

What do you think, Trailer Kitty?

2013: What Type of Year Has It Been So Far?

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Lisa Marie Bowman

We are now at the halfway mark as far as 2013 is concerned. This is the time of year that self-important film critics (both online and elsewhere) tell their readers what type of year it’s been so far.

So, without further ado — what type of year has 2013 been so far?

(By the way, you can also check out my thoughts from last year, July of 2011 and July 2010 as well.)

(Also, please understand that my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the any other contributor here at TSL. And I reserve the right to change my opinion.)

Best Film Of The Year (So Far): Upstream Color (with The Bling Ring, This Is The End, Spring Breakers, Before Midnight, Frances Ha, Iceman, and Much Ado About Nothing as close runner-ups.)

Best Male Performance Of The Year (So Far): Michael Shannon in Iceman (with James Franco in Spring Breakers as a close runner-up).

Best Female Performance of the Year (So Far): Greta Gerwig in Frances Ha (with Emma Watson in The Bling Ring as a close runner-up.)

Best Voice Over Performance Of The Year (So Far): Steve Carell in Despicable Me 2.

Best Ending of the Year (So Far): Upstream Color

Best Horror Film Of The Year (So Far): Maniac

Most Underrated Film Of The Year (So Far): The Last Exorcism Part 2

Best Bad Film Of The Year (So Far): Safe Haven

Worst Film Of The Year (So Far): Tyler Perry’s Temptation, which was a guilty pleasure up until it turned out that Tyler Perry is apparently a messenger from God.

Biggest Example Of A Missed Opportunity For This Year (So Far): Man of Steel, which started out so strong before it became just another series of mind-numbing CGI sequences.

The Get Over It Already Award For The First Half of 2012: Disconnect. Hey, everyone, did you know that the Internet makes people feel disconnected from others? If this is news to you, then you’ll probably think Disconnect is a really profound movie.

The Cameron/Fincher Bandwagon Trophy (Awarded To The Upcoming Film That, Regardless Of Quality, Will Probably Be So Violently Embraced By People Online That You’ll Be Putting Your Life In Danger If You Dare Offer Up The Slightest Amount Of Criticism): Elysium

The Trailer That Has Most Outgrown Its Welcome: Elysium

The Sasha Award (Awarded To The Film That I Am Predicting Will Be The Most Overrated Of The Year): August: Osage County

The Stone Award (Awarded to the upcoming film that will probably get positive reviews based on the film’s political context as opposed to the film itself): The Butler

The Roland Emmerich/Rod Lurie Award For The Film That I’m Predicting Will Be The Worst Of 2012: Could any film possibly be worst than Tyler Perry’s Temptation?

Films I’m Looking Forward To Seeing In The Future (An incomplete list): American Hustle, Anchorman: The Legend Continues, Carrie, Dallas Buyers Club, Foxcatcher, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Inside Llewyn Davis, Insidious Chapter 2, Nebraska, Only God Forgives, Oldboy, Pacific Rim, Thor: The Dark World, The Wolf of Wall Street

Let’s hope that the second half of 2013 is better than the first.

Seriously, just because the Mayans were wrong, that’s no excuse for bad cinema.