TV Renewals and Cancellations (As of 3/4/2016)

TV Renewals and Cancellations (As of 3/4/2016)

   Well it's that time of year again, when Networks start making decisions for the Fall on what shows to bring back and which ones to give the axe too. While most of the time it has to do with ratings sometimes outside forces can hurt or help a show as well. Anyway below you'll find a list of the fate of all the shows so look for your favorite and may the odds be ever in your favor.

#

2 Broke Girls (CBS): Renewed through Season 5

12 Monkeys (Syfy): Renewed through Season 2

The 100 (CW): Renewed through Season 3

A

Adventure Time (Cartoon Network): Renewed through Season 8

The Affair (Showtime): Renewed through Season 3

Agent Carter (ABC): Renewed through Season 2

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC): Renewed through Season 4

Agent X (TNT): Cancelled

Almost Royal (BBC America): Renewed through Season 2

American Crime (ABC): Renewed through Season 2

American Dad! (TBS): Renewed through Seasons 11 & 12

American Horror Story (FX): Renewed through Season 6

The Americans (FX): Renewed through Season 4

Aquarius (NBC): Renewed through Season 2

Archer (FX): Renewed through Season 7

Arrow (CW): Renewed through Season 4

Ash vs. Evil Dead: Renewed through Season 2

Atlantis (BBC America): Cancelled; Season 2 episodes will air in 2015

The Awesomes (Hulu): Cancelled

Awkward (MTV): Renewed through 5th/final season

B

Ballers (HBO): Renewed through Season 2

Being Mary Jane (BET): Renewed through Season 4

Banshee (Cinemax): Renewed through Season 4/final season

Baskets (FX): Renewed for Season 2

The Bastard Executioner (FX): Cancelled

Bates Motel (A&E): Renewed through Seasons 4 & 5

Beauty and the Beast (CW): Renewed through Season 4 ahead of Season 3’s May 21st premiere

Being Mary Jane (BET): Renewed through Season 3

Better Call Saul (AMC): Renewed through Season 2

The Big Bang Theory (CBS): Renewed through Seasons 9 and 10

Billions (Showtime): Renewed through Season 2

Billy on the Street: Renewed through Season 5

black-ish (ABC): Renewed through Season 3

The Blacklist (NBC): Renewed through Season 4

Black Sails (Starz): Renewed through Season 4

Blindspot (NBC): Renewed through Season 2

Blood and Oil (ABC): Reduced to 10 episodes

Bloodline (Netflix): Renewed through Season 2

Blue Bloods (CBS): Renewed through Season 6

Bob’s Burgers (Fox): Renewed through Season 7 and 8

Bojack Horseman (Netflix): Renewed through Season 3

Bones (Fox): Renewed for Season 12 (final season)

The Brink (HBO): Cancelled

Broad City (Comedy Central): Renewed through Season 5

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox): Renewed through Season 3

C

Call The Midwife (PBS): Renewed through Season 5

The Carmichael Show(NBC): Renewed through Season 2

Castle (ABC): Renewed through Season 8

Casual (Hulu): Renewed through Season 2

Chicago Fire (NBC): Renewed through Season 5

Chicago PD (NBC): Renewed through Season 4

Colony (USA): Renewed through Season 2

The Comedians (FX): Cancelled

Continuum (Syfy): Renewed through 4th/finale season

Copper (BBC America): Cancelled

Criminal Minds (CBS): Renewed through Season 11

CSI: Cyber (CBS): Renewed through Season 2

D

Daredevil (Netflix): Renewed through Season 2

Dark Matter (Syfy): Renewed through Season 2

Da Vinci’s Demons(Starz): Cancelled

Defiance (Syfy): Cancelled

Devious Maids (Lifetime): Renewed through Season 3

Difficult People (Hulu): Renewed through Season 2

Doctor Who (BBC America): Season 9 premieres in 2015

Documentary Now! (IFC): Renewed through Season 2 and 3

Dominion (Syfy): Cancelled

Downton Abbey (PBS): Renewed through 6th/final season

Drunk History (Comedy Central): Renewed through Season 3

E

Elementary (CBS): Renewed through Season 4

Empire (Fox): Renewed for Season 3

Episodes (Showtime): Renewed through Season 5

The Expanse (Syfy): Renewed through Season 2

F

Falling Skies (TNT): Renewed through 5th/finale season

Fargo (FX): Renewed through Season 3

The Flash (CW): Renewed through Season 2

The Following (FOX): Cancelled

Forever (ABC): Cancelled

Fortitude (Pivot): Renewed through Season 2

The Fosters (Freethroughm): Renewed through Season 4

Fresh Off the Boat (ABC): Renewed through Season 3

From Dusk Till Dawn (EL REY): Renewed through Season 3

Fuller House: Renewed through Season 2

G

Galavant (ABC): Renewed through Season 2

The Game (BET): Renewed through 9th/final season

Game of Thrones (HBO): Renewed through Season 6

Garfunkle and Oates (IFC): Cancelled

Getting On (HBO): Renewed through 3rd/final season

Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (Bravo): Renewed through Season 2

Girls (HBO): Renewed through Season 6

The Good Wife (CBS): Cancelled (after finishing Season 7)

The Goldbergs (ABC): Renewed through Season 4

Gotham (Fox): Renewed through Season 2

Graceland (USA): Renewed through Season 3

Grantchester (PBS): Renewed through Season 2

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC): Renewed through Season 13

The Grinder (Fox): Given a full season order

Grimm (NBC): Renewed through Season 5

H

Halt and Catch Fire (AMC): Renewed through Season 3

Hand of God (Amazon): Renewed through Season 2

Hannibal (NBC): Cancelled

Happyish (Showtime): Cancelled

Hawaii Five-0 (CBS): Renewed through Season 6

Hell on Wheels (AMC): Renewed through 5th/final season

Hemlock Grove (Netflix): Renewed through 3rd/final season

Hindsight (VH-1): Cancelled

Homeland (Showtime): Renewed through Season 6

Hot in Cleveland (TV Land): Cancelled past Season 6

House of Cards (Netflix): Renewed through Season 5

House of Lies (Showtime): Renewed through Season 5

How to Get Away with Murder (ABC): Renewed through Season 3

Humans (AMC): Renewed through Season 2

I

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (IFC): Season 3 premieres in 2015

Inside Amy Schumer(Comedy Central): Renewed through Season 5

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FXX): Renewed through Seasons 11 and 12

iZombie (CW): Renewed through Season 2

J

Jane the Virgin (CW): Renewed through Season 2

K

Killjoys (Syfy): Renewed through Season 2

The Knick (Cinemax): Renewed through Season 2

L

The Last Ship (TNT): Renewed through Season 3

Last Man Standing (ABC): Renewed through Season 5

Law & Order SVU (NBC): Renewed Season 17

The League (FXX): Renewed through 7th/final season

The Leftovers (HBO): Renewed through Season 3 (final season)

Legends (TNT): Cancelled

The Librarians (TNT): Renewed through Season 3

Life in Pieces: Given full season order

Limitless (CBS): Given full season order

Longmire (A&E): Renewed by Netflix through Season 4

Looking (HBO): Cancelled, but will air a finale special

Luther (BBC America): Season 4 premieres late 2015

M

Madam Secretary (CBS): Renewed through Season 2

Mad Dogs (Amazon): Cancelled

The Magicians (Syfy): Renewed through Season 2

Major Crimes (TNT): Renewed through Season 5

Manhattan (WGN America): Cancelled

The Man in the High Castle(Amazon): Renewed through Season 2

Man Seeking Woman (FXX): Renewed through Season 2

Maron (IFC): Renewed through Season 4

Married (FX): Cancelled

Masters of Sex (Showtime): Renewed through Season 4

The McCarthys (CBS): Cancelled

The Messengers (CW): Cancelled

The Middle (ABC): Renewed through Season 8

Mike and Molly (CBS): Cancelled after Season 6

The Mindy Project (Fox): Moved to Hulu

Minority Report (Fox): Reduced to 10 episodes

The Missing (Starz): Renewed through Season 2

Modern Family (ABC): Renewed through Season 8

Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon Prime): Renewed through Season 3

Mr. Robot (USA): Renewed through Season 2

Murder in the First (TNT): Renewed through Season 2

The Mysteries of Laura(NBC): Renewed through Season 2

N

Narcos (Netflix): Renewed through Season 2

Nashville (ABC): Renewed through Season 4

Nathan through You (Comedy Central): Renewed through Season 4

New Girl (Fox): Renewed through Season 5

NCIS (CBS): Renewed through Season 15

NCIS: LA (CBS): Renewed through Season 7

The Night Shift (NBC): Renewed through Season 3

O

The Odd Couple (CBS): Renewed through Season 2

Once Upon a Time (ABC): Renewed through Season 6

One Big Happy (NBC): Cancelled

Orange is the New Black (Netflix): Renewed through Season 7

The Originals (CW): Renewed through Season 3

Orphan Black (BBC America): Renewed through Season 4

Outlander (Starz): Renewed through Season 2

P

Penny Dreadful (Showtime): Renewed through Season 3

Person of Interest (CBS): Renewed through Season 5

The Player (NBC): Cut to 9 episodes

Playing House (USA): Renewed through Season 3

Portlandia (IFC): Renewed through Seasons 6 and 7

Power (Starz): Renewed through Season 3

Public Morals (TNT): Cancelled

Q

Quantico (ABC): Renewed through Season 2

R

Ray Donovan (Showtime): Renewed through Season 4

Rectify (Sundance): Will conclude with Season 4

Red Oaks (Amazon): Renewed through Season 2

Regular Show (Cartoon Network): Renewed through Season 8

Reign (CW): Renewed through Season 3

Resurrection (ABC): Cancelled

The Returned (Sundance): Renewed through Season 2

The Returned (A&E): Cancelled

Review: Renewed for Abbreviated Final Season

Rick and Morty (Adult Swim): Renewed through Season 3

Rizzoli & Isles (TNT): Renewed through Season 7 (13 episodes)

Rookie Blue (ABC): Cancelled

Royal Pains (USA): Renewed through Seasons 7 and 8

The Royals (E!): Renewed through Season 3

S

Salem (WGN America): Renewed through Season 3

Schitt’s Creek (Pop): Renewed through Season 3

Scandal (ABC): Renewed through Season 6

Scorpion (CBS): Renewed through Season 2

Scream (MTV): Renewed through Season 2

Scream Queens (Fox): Renewed through Season 2

Secrets & Lies (ABC): Renewed through Season 2

Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (FX): Renewed through Season 2

Shades of Blue (NBC): Renewed through Season 2

Shameless (Showtime): Renewed through Season 7

Sherlock (PBS): Renewed through Season 4, preceded by a special in late 2015

Silicon Valley (HBO): Renewed through Season 3

The Simpsons (Fox): Renewed through Seasons 27 and 28

Sirens (USA): Cancelled

Sleepy Hollow (Fox): Renewed through Season 3

South Park (Comedy Central): Renewed through 2019

Star Wars: Rebels: Renewed through Season 3

The Strain (FX): Renewed through Season 3

Supergirl (CBS): Given full-season pickup

Supernatural (CW): Renewed through Season 11

Superstore (NBC): Renewed for Season 2

Survivor’s Remorse (Starz): Renewed through Season 2

T

Teen Wolf (MTV): Renewed through Season 6

Togetherness (HBO): Renewed through Season 2

Top of the Lake (Sundance): Renewed through Season 2 by the BBC

Transparent (Amazon Prime): Renewed through Season 3

True Detective (HBO): Season 2 premieres in June of 2015

Turn: Washington’s Spies (AMC): Renewed through Season 3

Truth Be Told (NBC): Reduced to 10 episodes

Tyrant (FX): Renewed through Season 3

U

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix): Renewed through Season 3

Undateable (NBC): Renewed through Season 3

Under the Dome (CBS): Cancelled; Season 3 Will Be Last Season

Unforgettable (A&E): Cancelled

UnReal (Lifetime): Renewed through Season 2

V

The Vampire Diaries (CW): Renewed through Season 7

Veep (HBO): Renewed through Season 5

Vikings (History): Renewed through Season 4

Vinyl (HBO): Renewed through Season 2

W

The Walking Dead (AMC): Renewed through Season 7

Wayward Pines: Renewed through Season 2

Welcome to Sweden (NBC): Cancelled

The Whispers (ABC): Cancelled

Wicked City (ABC): Cancelled

Witches of East End (Lifetime): Cancelled

Y

Younger (TV Land): Renewed through Season 3

Young & Hungry (ABC Family): Renewed through Season 2

You’re the Worst (FXX): Renewed through Season 3

Z

Z Nation (Syfy): Renewed through Season 2

Zoo (CBS): Renewed through Season 2

Weekend Box Office 2/26/2016 - 2/28/2016

Weekend Box Office 2/26/2016 - 2/28/2016

   Stop me when you heard this one...."Deadpool" was atop the weekend box office again. Now a certified megahit "Deadpool" is now the highest grossing movie in the "X-Men" franchise and it's only its third week in release!! It brought in another $31.5 million this weekend to raise its total domestically to $285 million and over $600 million worldwide. It's also now the third highest grossing R-rated movie of all time behind only "American Sniper" and "The Passion of the Christ", Not too shabby indeed.

   Also getting good news this week was Dreamworks as "Kung Fu Panda 3" became China's highest grossing animated movie of all time at $144.2 million. That in addition to its American take puts the sequel above the $300 million mark. Still not where the last movie was at but still a ton of money so expect a fourth one soon. Its also probally the last time we'll see "Kung Fu Panda 3" on this list with "Zootopia" opening soon and ready to take the childrens market by force. Its international numbers are already at $81 million which is very good news indeed.

   On the other end of the spectrum is.....pretty much everything else. The big news of the week of course being "Gods of Egypt" which did open in second place at $14 million but considering its $140 million budget before marketing (what they spent that money on noone knows) thats a pretty loud thud it landed with. It also hasn't resonated with foreign audiences either as its made $24.2 million worldwide. Needless to say we have the first bomb of 2016 and Lionsgate's attempt to kickstart a new franchise now that "Hunger Games" and "Divergent" are done didn't work out as planned.

    Every other movie that opened this week underperformed as well. "Eddie the Eagle" opened in 5th place with $6.3 million. A huge letdown for Fox as they had hoped the movie, led by Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton, would be able to catch the inspirational sports movie crowd but now they're just hoping to make back the $23 million budget. Not to mention Hugh Jackman coulda used a non "Wolverine" related hit since he's retiring the character soon and will need to show he can draw audiences otherwise.

   Also opening badly was "Tripe 9" which despite its all-star cast and critical darling pedigree just didn't seem to resonate as it opened in sixth place at $6.1 million. Not good news for Open Road films as the movie cost them $20 million before marketing and doesn't seem to have either the critical or audience buzz to be a hit going forward. Guess they better hope that cult movie status kicks in.

       Title                      Weekend            Total

1. Deadpool                 $31,500,000        $285,600,000

2. Gods of Egypt          $14,000,000        $14,000,000

3. Kung Fu Panda 3    $9,000,000          $128,500,000

4. Risen                        $7,000,000          $22,700,000

5. Eddie the Eagle       $6,300,000          $6,300,000

6. Triple 9                    $6,103,096          $6,100,000

7. How to Be Single     $5,155,000          $39,600,000

8. The Witch                 $5,009,662          $16,600,000

9. Race                         $4,273,000          $13,800,000

10. The Revenant         $3,800,000          $170,500,000

Written by Jacob Maracle (https://twitter.com/TheDrizzle37)

Ranking last 10 "Best Picture" Oscar winners

Ranking last 10 "Best Picture" Oscar winners

10. "Crash" (2006)

Trash....pure trash. "Munich", "Good night and Good Luck" and most importantly "Brokeback Mountain" were all WAY superior movies to this melodramatic race-baiting piece of trash. An example of how politics can play an out sized role in who wins these awards. just skip this one folks. Not worth it

9. "The Artist" (2012)

A French silent movie huh? Yeah no thanks. Another example of the Academy being a bit too up their own ass with this pick. No one remembers this movie and its only been 4 years, not exactly a lasting legacy. Not a bad movie but a forgettable one that no one went to see and hasn't been watching since. Pass....hard pass

8. "The Kings Speech" (2011)

The movie for your favorite speech pathologist. This movie about overcoming the speech impediment of King George VI before World War 2 is a perfectly serviceable period piece of a movie but not exactly my cup of tea (yep a British joke). Good movie worth a watch for the performances alone but nothing overly special.

7. "Slumdog Millionaire" (2009)

The Hollywood version of Bollywood is up next with the musical drama "Slumdog Millionaire". A movie about a man remembering his life as he tries to win a million dollars on the Indian version of "Who wants to be a Millionaire". A very good emotional and surprisingly violent movie actually. Don't let the singing and stuff keep you away from this one, its well worth watching and even though it didn't kick off a Bollywood explosion here its still an excellent movie.

6. "The Hurt Locker" (2010)

While one of the lowest grossing Best Picture winners this examination of what happens to some soldiers after war and how some can't let it go is an excellent example of a movie with a message and timely topic. Jeremy Renner and Kathryn Bigelow bring us this Iraq war drama about a bomb defusing expert and how he becomes addicted to the thrills of his job so much so that he can't stand normal life. A movie that gets more and more important as the years go by and the war keeps dragging on. Watch this movie everyone, its more then worth it

5. "The Departed" (2007)

The movie that finally gave Scorsese his first and only Best Director and Best Picture win (a goddamn unbelievable fact that THIS is what won it for him). An excellent remake of the Hong Kong thriller series "Infernal Affairs" this is an excellent crime drama of backstabbing and shifting loyalties. All the actors in this movie are more then game for and everyone gives top notch performances that make up for the flimsy at times story. If you're looking for an excellent crime drama, and maybe the 5th best movie of Martin Scorsese's career, check this one out.

4. "Argo" (2013)

Who woulda thought Ben Affleck had this in him? He stars and directs in this excellent political drama about getting a group of US citizens out of Iran after the embassy they worked in was overrun in the 70's and they managed to escape from before it did. Mixing action, drama and comedy Affleck shines both in front and behind the camera and proves there's more to him then what most people thought and placed him as one of Hollywood's top youngish Directors. This movie was able to hold off an extremely tough group of nominees with "Lincoln", "Silver Linings Playbook", "Django Unchained" and "Les Miserables" also being up. Some would say it didn't deserve it but i disagree as this movie has tremendous re watch value. Great movie

3. "No Country for Old Men" (2008)

The best example of bringing a book to the big screen of movie history is the Coen Brothers "No Country for Old Men". A virtual scene for scene film version of the classic Cormac McCarthy book "No Country" brings us one of cinemas all time great villains in Anton Chigurgh (Javier Bardem) and features pitch perfect performances from Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones as well. This is what happens when you combine legendary directors with an amazing story and also shows that yes you can have success by just transporting a book to the screen word by word, see we told you it would work Hollywood!! Classic game of cat and mouse as Brolin is pursued by Bardem all in pursuit of a suitcase full of money Brolin found at a drug hit. Everything about this movie is perfect so go check it out

2. "Birdman" (2015)

Perfect performances, an arresting visual style and the added gravitas of forces outside of movie (Michael Keaton being Batman and all) "Birdman" was not only a surprise last year but a welcome one. Featuring Michael Keaton giving the performance of a lifetime as a washed up actor taking one last stab at legitimacy, see there's that real world subtext going on, "Birdman" takes us on a journey that can go from comedy to drama at the drop of a hat. The no cut camera work alone is reason enough to check this one out as it keeps you engaged at all times but its the performances that will hook you. Everyone is outstanding so go check this out right now!

1. "12 Years a Slave" (2014)

Want a ultra powerful drama that will force you to re-examine the history of our country? This is the one for you. I don't have to sell "12 years a slave" to anyone as it stands and sells itself as one of the most emotionally poignant movies ever. The story of Solomon Northrup's ordeal of being kidnapped and sold into slavery is a chilling portrait of an America that once was. This is what it costs to make our country and is it worth it is one of the many questions you'll be forced to ask yourself after watching this movie after you wipe away the tears. What an incredible piece of film making and one worthy of our top spot. Go watch this movie folks, just do it.

Written by Jacob Maracle (https://twitter.com/thedrizzle37)

Ranking last 10 "Best Actor" Oscar winners

Ranking last 10 "Best Actor" Oscar winners

   We're onto our list of the Best Actor winners for the last 10 years. Not going to count all the Leonardo Dicaprio loses over this time but if you want a fun activity keep a tally yourself. Anyway onto our list:

10. Jean Dujardin "The Artist" (2012)

OK we kick off our list with Jean Dujardin for "The Artist". A movie pretty much completely forgotten about even though it won Best Picture and in my opinion with good reason. Its a silent movie starring French actors that won in one of the weakest fields ever even though there were 10 nominees. Now I'm not saying Dujardin's performance is bad because it certainly isn't, its just mostly forgettable is all. Take it, leave it meh....

9. Sean Penn "Milk" (2009)

Next up is Sean Penn, now he's a very accomplished actor but in this occasion he absolutely did not deserve this win. Mickey Rourke for "The Wrestler" was the heavy favorite to win and certainly deserved to do so, unfortunately for him he made the horrible decision to start appearing for the WWE and subsequently torpedoed his chances to win. Sean Penn is good in "Milk" but its still a footnote and a victory undeserved.

8. Colin Firth "The Kings Speech" (2011)

Next we have Colin Firth, now don't take this spot entirely about his performance as its also a commentary about the rather dry movie that its in, Firth however is excellent as King George VI as he struggles to tame his stutter in order to steady the British public on the eve of World War 2. Excellent acting from the entire cast and Firth leading the way. 

7. Forest Whitaker "The Last King of Scotland" (2007)

Forest Whitaker playing cannibal dictator Idi Amin. Whitaker is perfect for this role, able to use his size and temperament to give Amin the intimidating edge he was known for. Amin was one of the worst African Dictators and while this movie doesn't get into all his atrocities he does give you an intimate view in his own household as to how dangerous he can be. Just a look from Whitaker is enough to chill most viewers. Outstanding and deserved win

6. Jeff Bridges "Crazy Heart" (2010)

A kind of lifetime achievement award here with Jeff Bridges. Bridges plays a washed up/alcoholic Country singer who gets a shot to make one last hit while also a chance at the family he never had with Maggie Gyllenhaal and her son. Bridges is great here, he makes you feel the regret and waste that Bridges character feels as he realizes he's wasted his life and missed the most important things but maybe has one last chance for it. A good movie anchored by an outstanding performance and well worth watching.

5. Philip Seymour Hoffman "Capote" (2006)

One of the dueling Truman Capote movies that came out at the same time but certainly the better of the two in both ways with Philip Seymour Hoffman leading the way. While in many ways a regular biopic but with the advantage of an amazing actor in the lead. Hoffman perfectly captures the eccentric authors idiosyncrasies  exactly and is unrecognizable in the role. A textbook example of how to star in a biopic and a excellent display of acting. 

4. Matthew McConaughey "Dallas Buyers Club" (2014)

Talk about somethhing you never thought you'd see am i right? Yep McConaughey got an Oscar for playing the AIDS infected Ron Woodruff. The physical transformation he went through, basically being skeletal in some parts, is amazing and even more so when you consider the usual toned physique he's known for. Not to mention he was also able to win in one of the tightest races in history as any of the nominees would have been worthy of a victory. (Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruce Dern and Chiwetel Ejiofor). This movie launched the McConausainse and showed there's more to him then just his stoner charm. Exceptional work here,

3. Eddie Redmayne "The Theory of Everything" (2015)

I myself was pushing for Michael Keaton in "Birdman" this year but you can't argue with Redmayne's win as Professor Stephen Hawking. Redmayne disappears into the role and is able to capture him perfectly. His slow decline losing the ability to move any part of his body is heartbreaking as you see the once vibrant genius reduced to a wheelchair only being able to move his eyes but never losing his sense of humor during it. He's both charming and tragic and thats the essence of acting really. Amazing performance.

2. Daniel Day-Lewis "Lincoln" (2013)

We now get to the Daniel Day Lewis portion of our list as he's taking both of the top spots. Really can't go wrong either way so lets start with Lincoln. For a President noone has ever met this is exactly what every American thinks he was like. Everything about this performance his perfect, the humanity of the man, the intelligence and the political cunning are all on display here. Day-Lewis was the perfect choice to play Lincoln as he just melts into the role and brings to life one of the iconic figures in American history. The idea of anyone else playing this role is laughable now as this stands as one of the best performances in movie history.

1. Daniel Day-Lewis "There Will Be Blood" (2008)

Talk about owning a movie! Thats exactly what Daniel Day-Lewis does here as he owns this movie. He's an absolute tour de force and is right on the edge of over the top but never quite overreaches. He stars as oil man Daniel Plainview who we watch over the years as he builds his oil empire and deals with a deaf "son", a preacher with a grudge and in the end himself. Day-Lewis shows the world why he's the greatest film actor alive as this movie completely hinges on his performance and he pulls it off perfectly. This is the kind of performance that actors try their whole lives to pull off and is exactly why it sits at the top of our list.

Written by Jacob Maracle (https://twitter.com/thedrizzle37)

Ranking last 10 "Best Actress" Oscar winners

We are getting to the big three awards now so lets kick these off with our ranking of the last 10 "Best Actress" Oscar winners. Why waste anymore time and lets jump right in shall we?:

10. Helen Mirren "The Queen" (2007)

Queens.....why do great actresses feel this need to play these boring, one-note parts? Fantasy queens sure i get that but historical ones? Not even an interesting one either here by Helen Mirren, at least in "Elizabeth" there was intrigue and actions scenes. "The Queen" revolves around the aftermath of Princess Diana's death and what response, if any, the British Royal Family would have. Sounds like a real barn burner doesn't it? Anyway last place for me in this category.

9. Kate Winslet "The Reader" (2009)

Again guilty of a mortal movie sin but i didn't see this movie so can't really speak to it. Moving on.....

8.  Sandra Bullock "The Blind Side" (2010)

OK so this role is fun, Bullock is sassy and in your face as Leigh Tuohy, a tough Texas mom who, after seeing Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a friend of her son and a promising football prospect, walking shivering down the street offers him a place to stay. The movie is about the family making Michael one of their own and the struggle/triumph that leads to. Not your typical Oscar winning performance here as it seems it was given more for a mixture of hype/everyone loving Sandra Bullock then actual on screen work but Bullock is still very good here. Her "no nonsense" demeanor and sense of wanting to do whats right was believable and the movie itself is pretty good, in addition to a relatively light year of competition, was enough to take home the gold. Good for her.

7. Reese Witherspoon "Walk The Line" (2006)

Everyone just thinks about Joaquin Phoenix for this movie, and for good reason, but it was actually Reece Witherspoon as June Carter Cash who took home the Oscar for her performance. Doing all her own singing I'm sure helped but her portrayal as June, a highly successful/feisty yet vulnerable woman in love with a man who is on a path to self destruction is really very touching. She wants to help but at a certain point realizes she can't without herself being dragged down too, the conflict she feels since she is truly in love with Johnny Cash is really quite moving. Even more so when you see the chemistry the two have on stage early on and later once they're married. Witherspoon perfectly embodies the wholesome on stage and not entirely so off June Carter Cash and certainly earned her award.

6. Meryl Streep "The Iron Lady" (2012)

Meryl Streep as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher....almost seems a bit too on the nose but needless to say perfect casting. Streep perfectly embodies the legendary British political figure, or at least insofar as i know she does. She brings the toughness that begot the title of the film but is also able to show her humanity and softer side. Fully fleshing out a character who can seem one-note at times in history. Streep once again proving why she holds the record for most Academy Awards for women.

5. Jennifer Lawrence "Silver Linings Playbook" (2013)

The movie that started the award winning behemoth that is Jennifer Lawrence, or at least during awards season that is. Now i myself thought she was better in "Winters Bone" but that's not relevant here. What is relevant is how Lawrence took the world by storm with her performance as Tiffany, a young widow with depression and sex issues who forms a relationship with bi-polar Pat (Bradley Cooper). Lawrence is extremely charming and off center in the role. Her chemistry with Cooper is palpable and shows us why the two have worked together so often since then. Lawrence pulls off the damaged character flawlessly and you really feel the tragedy she's had and hows it lead her to who she is today.

4. Marion Cotillard "La Vie en Rose" (2008)

Biopics are usually the easiest route to an Oscar but when you can pull of the win in your first Hollywood movie, fend off one of strongest list of nominees in recent history ("Juno" Ellen Page, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" Cate Blanchett, "Away from her" Julie Christie, "Savages" Laura Linney) and do so in a movie that's about a 1930's French singer well then brother you know you've done something special. The film about the life of Edith Piaf is at the same time heartbreaking and inspiring. Seeing the tough life this woman led and how it all translated into her voice is fabulous. The way we can see all the hardship and loss turned into her music and how it eventually leads to her death, you simply can't look away. Cotillard loses herself in this performance and its easy to forget she's acting at all, a sign you've truly done something special. If you're usually wary of foreign movies just ignore that and go check this one out asap.

3. Cate Blanchett "Blue Jasmine" (2014)

This is not a happy movie everyone lets just get that out of the way, nut its packed with great performances lead by Cate Blanchett who is gives a tour De force performance. Considered by many to be a take-off on "A streetcar named desire" Blanchett has the Blanche Dubois roll and plays it to perfection. Whether she's playing role as the high class, rich lady of Jasmine's past or the post nervous breakdown, muttering to herself Jasmine of later in the movie Blanchett makes you believe every second of it and shows why she's one of the top actresses in Hollywood today. You feel anger/disgust at Jasmine for the things she does and how it effects those around her but at the same time you pity her by the end when you see the ruin she becomes in the end. A hard switch to make but Blanchett pulls it off beautifully. Amazing performance

2. Natalie Portman "Black Swan"

We all knew Natalie Portman could act but i don't think anyone was expecting a performance like this. Portman play Nina, a ballerina and a member of the prestigious New York Ballet Company who is willing to give everything, including her sanity, in order to become "Prima Ballerina" and star in the company's newest production of "Swan Lake". She must prove to the company's new Director Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassell) but also fend off a challenge from the young and sexy new member of the company Lily (Mila Kunis). Portman dives into Nina headfirst and simply disappears into it. Showing a girl who's hold on sanity slips further and further as the stress mounts closer to opening night in her quest for perfection. Portman puts on display the entire spectrum of emotions, from anger to joy, sadness to lust and does so flawlessly. We ourselves feel like we're losing our grip as things occur around Nina that are impossible and we're not sure we're seeing either. This is so much more then a movie about ballet, its a psychological thriller set in a ballet world and the way that "Swan Lake" is used as both the plot of the movie and the ballet to be performed in the movie is masterful. If you haven't seen "Black Swan" you're missing out on one of the great performances of all time. Go see it, Which brings us too.....

1. Julianne Moore "Still Alice" (2015)

My soul still hasn't recovered from this movie that's how effective it is. The story of a woman who is one of the top linguists in the world slowly falling prey to early onset Alzheimer's is going to stick with you long after you're done watching. Moore is transcendent as Alice, the mentioned linguist, who after having a few bouts of memory loss finds out she has irreversible Alzheimer's and the rest of the movie is us watching her fall prey to her disease. While initially confident she can manage the disease slowly but surely everything that makes her who she is is taken away from her, even her mind itself. She goes from a woman who is at the top of the academic world for languages to someone who can't more then grunt by the end. Words can't even describe how you feel watching this slow decline, it goes beyond sadness and crying and enters the souls crushing territory that lets you know you've had an experience. Seeing Moore not even being able to take her own life because she can't remember how is one of the most painful moments I've ever had watching a major motion picture. Tears just stop at a certain point as they no longer can express how you feel, simply magnificent. Julianne Moore gives one of the ALL-TIME great performances here and is easily the top performance by an Actress in the last 10 years.

Written by Jacob Maracle (https://twitter.com/TheDrizzle37)