Buzz For Birdman Out of Venice

"Birdman" has landed in Venice; the film has received a rapturous amount of praise by nearly everyone that's seen it. 

Take a look at some excerpts from the reviews below, which boost Birdman ahead as the strongest (seen) contender in the picture, director, acting, and tech categories.

Oscar Race: Turning Up the Heat

The end of the summer is upon us, and with the Venice Film Festival just around the corner (starting on the 27th and ending on the 6th of September), we're really about to get in the thick of Oscar season.

Of course, the summer has been dominated (mainly) by buzz; none of the films that are being predicted to be heavyweights in the season have premiered to the masses yet, except for Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" (more on that later). Of the films predicted to do well this season, even fewer have had premieres at all ("Whiplash" had Sundance, "Foxcatcher" had Cannes, "Birdman" will open Venice in a week's time); we've mainly been restricted to pictures, hearsay and trailers.

So, where does that leave us now?

Boyhood: A Film 12 Years in the Making

Our eponymous "boy" played by Eller Coltrane as he ages through the film's 164 minute duration. 

By now, I'm sure everyone has heard of Richard Linklater's "Boyhood"; its the film that took literally 12 years to make. Over this period of 12 years, for a few days, Linklater (serving not only as the film's director, but writer as well) and his cast and crew would assemble for a few days or so every year to revisit the characters, slowly inching towards its emotional conclusion.

Boyhood is a strangely simple title given the laundry list of themes the film explores. Sure, at the center is Mason (Coltrane) who we are watching literally age and grow up. But besides that, Linklater tackles abusive relationships, coming of age, falling in love, absent parents, and (briefly) sex, drugs and alcohol; with Boyhood, Linklater has taken snapshots in time and assembled them into the human experience.

Meryl Streep's Song Reportedly "Cut" From Into the Woods & Unbroken Test Screens

Meryl Streep as The Witch and Mackenzie Mauzy as Rapunzel in Disney's "Into the Woods".

Remember that wonderful news that composer Stephen Soundheim wrote a new song just for Meryl Streep for the onscreen adaptation of "Into the Woods"? Remember how excited she was? Remember how excited we were? Well unfortunately, director Rob Marshall ("Chicago") tells us that the song has been cut from the film.

New York Film Festival Reveals A Very Buzzy Line Up

The New York Film Festival has been the unveiling point and stateside release for several key films headed into the Oscar race in years past, and this year will be no different. Though it was previously announced that David Fincher's "Gone Girl" will have its world premiere here, the thriller will be joined by the likes of Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice", Sundance hit "Whiplash" and Alejandro González Ińárritu's "Birdman" (which will have its official unveiling at Venice weeks earlier).

The festival will take place from September 26, 2014 until October 12, 2014. Stars such as Kristen Stewart, Channing Tatum and Jean-Luc Godard are expected to be in attendance.

Take a look at the full list of films that will play during the festival's duration below. If the film's trailer is available click on the film title to watch the trailer.

Looking Back: Robin Williams' 5 Greatest Performances

By now I'm sure you heard the world has lost one of its greatest talents; Robin Williams was found dead at his California home yesterday. Though nothing has been made official yet, it seems to have been suicide; the press release stated Williams died of asphyxiation.

That's what makes Williams' death so tragic; he was the light of so many peoples' lives, so effortlessly funny, that it's so upsetting he couldn't battle his inner darkness. If anything, this is a strong reminder that depression is no joke, and it can affect anyone despite their reputation of their behavior.

Having just completed work on 5 projects, including the reprisal of his role as Theodore Roosevelt in the newest "Night at the Museum" film, the Oscar winner was an extremely versatile performer gaining notoriety for not only being extremely funny (he was "the funniest man alive" according to Entertainment Weekly in an article they ran back in 1997), but being an adept dramatic actor. He is also one of the few actors that received formal instruction, being one of only 2 students being accepted into John Houseman's acting program at Julliard (the other was Superman himself, Christopher Reeve, who became a great friend to Williams throughout his life). Other actors to follow in Williams' footsteps at attending Julliard include 2 time Academy Award nominee Viola Davis and Jessica Chastain, the latter received a scholarship from Williams himself, and has gone on to be heralded as "the next Meryl Streep".

But rather than focus on the sadness of losing many potential great Robin Williams performances, let's look back on the great ones he left us with, the ones that will continue to inspire and entertain people forever.