Pixar Giveth, and Pixar Taketh Away: Get Ready for The Incredibles 2 and Cars 3

Pictured: Pixar, resigned to making more sequels

News broke today that Pixar, in addition to working on the previously announced Finding Nemo sequel Finding Dory and the original features Inside Out and The Good Dinosaur, have begun work on a sequel to Brad Bird's The Incredibles, which was released way back in the less superhero-clogged days of 2004, and a third film in the Cars series. The latter announcement wasn't that surprising since, even though neither of the previous Cars films were as warmly received as the films that preceded or followed them in the Pixar chronology - I myself likened Cars 2 to demented fanfiction, and said that giving Pixar a pass for how terrible it was would be akin to covering up for a loved one after they killed someone in a drunk driving accident - they were sizable hits, and between them grossed more than a billion dollars worldwide. (Not to mention that the franchise has been a huge cash cow for Disney/Pixar in terms of merchandising.)

Shot/Reverse Shot: Episode 51 - True Detective

Artist's Impression of Joe Gastineau (left) and me.

Following on from our 2014 Preview, in which we singled it out as a show we were very much intrigued by, this week finds Joe and myself poring over the first season of HBO's True Detective, the finale of which aired last Sunday. In addition to wondering just how Dion Dublin fits into the broader mythology of the show, we discuss the aesthetic choices of director Cary Fukanaga, the influence that Weird Fiction had on the tone of the show, and address some of the criticisms of the show, in particular accusations that it is sexist and misogynist, rather than an exploration of sexism and misogyny. (Claims that I think have some considerable merit.) We go into a bit of detail about the resolution of the show, so please do not listen if you haven't seen the whole season.

We also find time to talk about where we think the show will go in the future given that creator Nic Pizzolatto has said that each year will focus on different characters. If HBO want to draw from their stable of past performers, and if the rumours that the next season will focus on female detectives turn out to be true, then I'd like to start the campaign for Melissa Leo and Amy Ryan to headline season two. I mean, I'm not going to start a petition or anything, but I'd just like to throw the suggestion out there and hope that finds purchase.

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Film Review: The Wind Rises (2013)

Flight has been a key factor in both the life and work of Hayao Miyazaki. In his films, flying represents freedom, hope, magic, and the sheer wonder of nature, but Miyazaki's family benefited financially from selling plane parts during World War Two, living in relative comfort as a direct result of the Japanese war effort. This experience seems to have given Miyazaki a very dim view of war, as seen in films like Nausicaa Valley of the Wind and Howl's Moving Castle, but it's especially germane to The Wind Rises: In telling a highly fictionalised account of the life of aircraft engineer Jiro Horikoshi (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the English-language dub) it directly addresses the life of someone who achieved success and renown for designing weapons of war, as well as the tension that exists between conscience and the desire to create something beautiful. Despite its basis in real history, The Wind Rises feels like Miyazaki's version of The Tempest; a fantastical, oblique yet deeply personal work about the craft of its creator.

Oscars 2014 Prediction Scorecard

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, I broke down the Academy Award nominations and set about predicting which films I expected to win which awards. As part of that process, I predicted that Gravity would sweep most of the technical awards and take Best Director, that Dallas Buyers Club would take home three awards, and that American Hustle, despite being nominated for ten awards, would win only a handful. I think Meatloaf has a song which is pretty pertinent to those predictions.

Let's see how I did overall.