Oscar has its Effect: Looking back at Movies that took home the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects

By Michael Lyons

On Sunday night, as the world eagerly awaits to see who wore what best and wonder which winner will use the opportunity to share their political beliefs, there will be a small group of artists and technicians sitting waaay in the back of the Dolby Theater waiting their turn for their name to be announced.

They are members of the Visual Effects community, who work in anonymity throughout the year, but whose work bring life and believability to film.  Since 1928, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences have recognized these talented craftspeople with their own category, which was originally called  “Best Engineering Effects” (and was won by the World War I drama “Wings).”

Since then, some of film’s most eye-popping moments have been honored by Oscar.  Here are just some:

“Mighty Joe Young,” (1949 winner for Best Visual Effects ).  This story of a family who bring a large gorilla from Africa to Hollywood (and was later remade in 1998) featured stop-motion animation by effects pioneer Willis O’Brien (who had created “King Kong”).  The animation effects in this film are so detailed, extensive and immersed in the environment, it’s astounding to think it was all done by hand and no wonder Oscar rewarded the work.

“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” (1954 winner for Best Visual Effects).  Last year’s “Aquaman” made underwater scenes look so easy, but in the pre-digital age it didn’t happen so swimmingly.  Walt Disney’s adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel brought the undersea world to life as never before...and that giant squid sequence is still a movie geek’s dream.

“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968 winner for Best Visual Effects). Director Stanley Kubrick’s opus to space exploration is both fascinating and maddening, but one can’t deny that the visual effects are jaw-dropping and set a standard for future winners, like “Star Wars,” “Superman” and “Alien.”

“The Abyss” (1989 winner for Best Visual Effects).  Welcome to the computer age of Visual Effects.  Director James Cameron (who continually pushed the effects envelope for another twenty years after) incorporated computer generated imagery in his underwater adventure film, as it had never been done before.

“Jurassic Park” (1993 winner for Best Visual Effects).  The dinosaur is back.  Enough said.

“Avatar” (2009 winner for Best Visual Effects).  The fictional world of the Na’vi simply seem to exist.  James Cameron (again) built upon what Peter Jackson started in “The Lord of the Rings” movies: Visual Effects aren’t just part of the movie, they ARE the movie.

So, as you watch Sunday’s marathon of an awards show, don’t use the Visual Effects category as a snack break, take the time to watch and celebrate the usually uncelebrated wizards who bring our movie world’s to life.

Sources:

Wikipedia

Love and Laughs: Classic Sitcom Episodes Perfect for Valentine’s Day

By Michael Lyons

Forget to get a Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other?  You may be facing a rough February 14th and could be in need of a little levity.

Consider one or all of the episodes of some of TV’s classic sitcoms, each one guaranteed to theme perfectly to Valentine’s Day and each one as sweet as a heart shaped box of chocolates.

“The Honeymooners,” (“A Matter of Record”), January 6, 1956

In many ways, Ralph (Jackie Gleason) and Alice Kramden (Audrey Meadows) epitomize true love.  After all, despite Ralph’s constant and disastrous get rich schemes and loud-mouth blustering, the put-upon Alice always sees just how genuine Ralph is.  In turn, Ralph is always amazed at how understanding Alice is and never fails to tell her, “Baby, you’re the greatest!”

In “A Matter of Record,” Ralph causes quite the riff in the family, when he argues with his mother-in-law.  Well, not so much argues as “goes off” on her.  When his mother-in-law comes to visit, Ralph tries to keep his cool, but eventually can’t take it and yells (in great, hysterical,“Gleason style”) at his mother-in-law that she’s a “Blabbermouth!”

When Alice is so offended she moves out and back in with her mother, Ralph turns to pal Ed Norton (Art Carney), who convinces Ralph to record an apology on a record album and send it to Alice.  Well...not all works out perfectly, but then it wouldn’t be a “Honeymooners” episode if it did.

This episode however is not only funny, but also very poignant, shedding a light, in its own simple way, on how imperfect and forgiving love can be.

“Happy Days” (“Be My Valentine”), February 14, 1978

Originally airing on Valentine’s day, this episode of the 1950’s-set sitcom breaks out that ol’ TV trope, “the dream sequence.”  “Happy Days” takes it up a notch, however, by making the entire show a dream sequence...and a musical, as well!

While in Arnold’s (the local hamburger joint), Joanie Cunningham (Erin Moran) daydreams and as she does, we see each of the cast of characters in different romantic, musical sequences: Ralph Malph (Donny Most) sings “My Funny Valentine,” which is nothing compared to Chachi (Scott Baio) belting out “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” or Al (Al Molinaro) warbling “Isn’t it Romantic.”

If it all sounds like typical ‘70’s sitcom cheese...it is...and it’s wonderful in it’s simple, uncynical, innocent way.

“Friends” (“The One With the Candy Hearts”), February 9, 1995

It’s Valentine’s Day for the Central Perk gang in ‘90’s New York, which means that everything will go wrong.

Ross (David Schwimmer) goes on his first date since his divorce and winds up at a restaurant where his ex-wife and her lesbian lover are at.  Meanwhile, the girls Phoebe, Monica and Rachel (Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox and Jennifer Anniston) stay at home to perform a “cleansing ritual,” in which they lite items from their ex-boyfriends on fire...and proceed to almost burn down the apartment.

Then, there’s Chandler (Matthew Perry) who finds himself on a blind date with his annoying ex-girlfriend Janice (Maggie Wheeler).

Like all of the “Friends” episodes, this one balances quite a bit and delivers consistent laughs, balanced with solid character development.  It’s no wonder this show was “Must See TV.”  And is it funny?  As Janice would say, “Oh my Gaaaawd!”

This year, consider one or all of these sitcom episodes as part of a perfect February 14th...and go out and buy your significant other a gift!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Sources: IMDb 

Pigskin and Prisoners: The 45th Anniversary of “The Longest Yard.”

By Michael Lyons

If the biggest competition you’re concerned about on Super Bowl Sunday is between whether to have another buffalo wing or more nachos before the next commercial comes on, you may not have much of a rooting interest in the actual game.

If that’s the case, consider using Super Bowl Sunday as an opportunity to celebrate the 45th anniversary of one of the most popular football movies ever made, “The Longest Yard.”

In it, Burt Reynolds plays party boy NFL player Paul “Wrecking” Crew, who finds himself arrested and thrown in a seedy Southern prison, after taking a cop on a drunken car chase

Crew is soon literally playing for his life, as he rounds up a Team of hardened convicts to face off against the prison guards in one of the roughest, backbreaking games of football you’ve ever seen.

This was Reynolds at his swaggering, charismatic, movie star best and he delivers a memorable performance that centers a film which is constantly waivering back and forth, effectively, between comedy and raw drama.

In supporting roles, Eddie Albert, cast against type, crafts a perfect performance as the calculating Warden and veteran character actor Ed Lauter brings depth to the role of the conflicted Captain of the Guards.

Released on August 21, 1974, “The Longest Yard” is more than just a “football movie. “  Under the helm of reliable and underrated Director Robert Aldrich, the film is an analogy for bucking the establishment and a compelling redemption tale.

There have been several remakes through the years (including one in 2005, starring Adam Sandler, with Reynolds returning in a supporting role), but comparing those remakes to the original “The Longest Yard” is like, well, comparing a regular football game to The Super Bowl.

Sources:

Wikipedia