Portraits of Admiration: The People That Made Me (My First Solo Art Show!)

Portraits of Admiration: The People Who Made Me is a series of portraits of people I greatly admire and whose work has influenced and shaped me as an artist and a person. These portraits range from people that are close to me like my mother and my son, Oliver to well-known celebrities like Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg. I tried to use a variety of different mediums from traditional to digital to show my abilities as an artist and the newfound skills I’ve acquired while attending South Central College.

Recently extended: The show will be on display until January 17, 2020!

Oh and I was interviewed by KEYC about the show!

Check it out here:

https://www.keyc.com/2019/12/12/scc-student-displays-drawings-illustrations-people-admiration-people-that-made-me/

Thanks for noticing!

Eddie

Movies I Can't Wait to See in 2019

2018 was kind of a down year for movies in my opinion (maybe because I had MoviePass and watched A LOT of bad movies with it…you know back when you could watch movies with MoviePass). But 2019 is shaping up to be one fo the best moviegoing years in recent memory. Let me tell you what I’m most excited to see in 2019.

PLEASE NOTE: You will NOT find any of the Disney live action reimagining of classic Disney animated masterpieces on this list. I saw Cinderella, Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland and they were very meh. And I haven’t seen any of the others (I don’t care how good they are) and I don't plan to. I’m a Disney animation purist and these movies are blatant cash grabs that play on nostalgia. I hated when Eisner made direct to video sequels to classic Disney animated features and even though these films are well made with gigantic budgets I have no interest in seeing them. Sorry but if I want to watch Dumbo, Aladdin or The Lion King I will just pop in the Blu-Rays. Thank you very much. I will get down off my soapbox now. LOL

Glass (January 18)

Can’t believe I’m (tentatively) excited for a film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The reason I write “tentatively” is because I’ve been let down by Shyamalan so many times that it’s hard to trust that this will live up to the hype. Split came out of nowhere for me. I waited until it was in a second run theater before I paid to see it. And I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I couldn’t believe M. Night Shyamalan made a movie I didn’t despise. It was also cool to see it tied into the same universe as Unbreakable, a movie I loved and I always thought was underrated. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that Glass is good. Please please please be good.

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (February 8)

I adored The LEGO Movie. It was so fun and that theme song “Everything is AWESOME” toed the line between being delightful and driving me nuts. Looking forward to being in this world again.

Happy Death Day 2U (February 14)

If your favorite slasher flick and Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray had a baby it would be Happy Death Day, the surprise smash hit from 2017. Produced by my favorite horror movie factory Blumhouse, Happy Death Day had fantastic young cast, a great concept and clever storytelling. While it could be said that the follow-up, Happy Death Day 2U is just a shameless cash grab, I’m still excited to see what Blumhouse comes up with.

How to Train Your Dragon 3: The Hidden World (February 22)

I’m an animation junkie. I loved the first two films. And I have a four year old son…just take my money now.

Captain Marvel (March 8)

The monster money maker that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe keeps chugging along with Captain Marvel starring Brie Larson as the titular hero. Sure the latest trailer didn’t set my world on fire for this movie but Marvel is on such a roll right now that it’s hard to bet against them. I’ve always loved the Carol Danvers character. Excited to see a female lead (finally) spearhead a Marvel movie. Also love the idea of a 90s themed superhero movie. Okay….I’ve talked myself back into this movie.

Us (March 15)

Aside from a movie that takes place in a galaxy far, far away, Us is the movie I’m most excited to see in 2019. Get Out might have been my favorite movie of 2017 and writer-director Jordan Peele is back with another thriller called Us starring Lupita Nyong’o, Elizabeth Moss, and Winston Duke (who played my other favorite character not named Shuri in Black Panther). Very little is known about the plot of this movie outside of a family being tormented by creepy lookalikes of themselves. I’ve watched this trailer at least a dozen times just out of sheer excitement for this movie. March 15th can’t come fast enough for me.

Shazam! (April 5)

Okay wait hear me out…I know Warner Bros. has had a rough go of it with the DC Cinematic Universe. Wonder Woman was great. Justice League was a hurried mess of a movie and I can’t seem to drag myself to the theaters to see Aquaman. I’m sorry but a run time of 2 hours and 23 minutes is far too long for a guy that talks to fish. I’ll see it eventually but Shazam! just looks like a lot of fun. And fun is something we don’t usually get to see in the dark and moody DC Universe. I like the casting of Zachary Levi as Shazam and I’ve always loved the concept behind the character. It’s a cross between Superman and the movie Big. There’s no way it could be as bad as Suicide Squad, right? Right?!? RIGHT?!?!? Hello…?

Pet Sematary (April 5)

“Sometimes dead is better.”

Have I mentioned that I’m a horror movie junkie? Based on the terrifying novel by Stephen King, a man discovers a pet graveyard behind his home that possesses the power to bring the dead back to life but not without nasty consequences. The original Pet Sematary movie scared the shit out of me when I was a kid. Really looking forward to seeing this remake.

Hellboy (April 12)

Hellboy is getting a reboot. Not sure how to feel about that. I love the character. I love David Harbour from Stranger Things, who plays Hellboy. I do love director Neil Marshall because The Descent is one of the scariest movies ever made. And Mike Mignola is one of my artistic heroes and I’m glad he keeps getting those big Hollywood checks. But the trailer and no Guillermo Del Toro has me a little worried about this reboot. Fingers crossed.

Avengers: Endgame (April 26)

I’ve invested my time and money into the Marvel Cinematic Universe for over 10 years now. So of course I’m going to see how the journey ends with Avengers: Endgame. Nuff said. Shut up and take my money.

John Wick: Chapter 3 (May 17)

Keanu Reeves is back as John Wick, the hitman with a heart of gold and never ending ammunition. I loved the first two John Wick films and I’m excited to see what happens because Chapter 2 left us in a very exciting place for the franchise.

Dark Phoenix (June 7)

The X-Men are back with my favorite classic X-Men comics story with Dark Phoenix. Sure X-Men Apocalypse was a HUGE step backwards in X-Men franchise but I’m trying to be more positive in 2019 and I will hope for the best for this franchise. And if it’s lousy, here’s hoping that Disney will reboot the entire franchise and incorporated them into the MCU. POSITIVITY!

Men in Black: International (June 14)

Do we need another Men in Black movie? Probably not. Do I need more Tessa Thompson in my life? OHH HELL YEAH!

Toy Story 4 (June 21)

Do we need another Toy Story movie? Probably not. Was Toy Story 3 the perfect send-off for Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang? Hold on…I’m still crying. YES IT WAS! [sobbing] Is Toy Story 4 an unapologetic excuse to print more money for Disney/Pixar? DEFINITELY YES!! Will I go see it? Shut up and take my money.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 5)

Man, Disney is taking a LOT of my money in 2019. Tom Holland is back as Spider-Man in this upcoming sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming. I have no idea what it is about besides Michael Keaton being back as the Vulture and Jake Gyllenhaal joining the cast as Mysterio. Shut up and take my money.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (August 9)

Quentin Tarantino, one of my favorite writer/directors of all time, is making a movie, set in Los Angeles in 1969 about the Manson Family murders starring Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie and Al Pacino. Seriously though…shut up and take my money.

It: Chapter 2 (September 6)

“You’ll float too!”

Pennywise is back in IT: Chapter Two following the massive horror movie hit that I guess should now be called Chapter One. Andy Muschetti is also back in the director’s chair for the sequel. The story takes place 27 years later with a now grown-up Losers Club cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader and James McAvoy among others as they look to take down the Dancing Clown (played by Bill Skarsgård) for good. I loved the TV movie of IT with Tim Curry as Pennywise and loved the latest version. I’m excited to see if this film can live up to the hype of the 2017 hit.

Zombieland 2 (October)

It’s been 10 years! since Sony gave us the hit horror comedy Zombieland. All four leads Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg and Abigail Breslin along with director Ruben Fleischer are back for the sequel. I loved the first film. Curious to see what they plan on doing for the sequel.

Joker (October 4)

There is a Joker movie coming out starring Joaquin Phoenix (as the Joker) and Robert DeNiro directed by the guy who made the Hangover Trilogy. On paper this movie looks like another train wreck for Warner Bros. but I think Phoenix is a phenomenal actor and I’m curious to see what he does with the character in what is essentially an origin story. I guess we’re going to find out “how he got those scars” after all.

Untitled Terminator Film (November 1)

This is the movie franchise that refuses to die. The Terminator is back. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton are also back in a reboot brought to you by Deadpool director Tim Miller. This film like 2018’s Halloween is looking to retcon all the horrible Terminator films out of existence. The film will take place where the first two movies in the series left off. The good news here is that James Cameron is on board as a producer (very similar to how John Carpenter returned to the Halloween franchise as a producer). So fingers crossed we finally get a good Terminator movie.

Frozen 2 (November 27)

Apparently Disney wasn’t ready to let Frozen go without a sequel. See what I did there. Anyways, Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee are back in the director’s chairs along with the original voice talent of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad. I loved the first film even though the song drove me insane it was played so much. I love Disney Animation and I will see everything they produce so I’m ready to return to Arendelle.

Masters of the Universe (December 18)

“I HAVE THE POWER!!!”

Hold on….wait a minute…while I’m thrilled to return to Eternia as a child of the 80s, why is this film coming out two days before Star Wars: Episode IX?!?!? Do they want this movie to succeed because I certainly want it to? Anyways, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe are making their second attempt at success on the big screen. The first film was a disaster of a movie that I loved because I was young and irrational when I saw it. Leave me alone. I have one request from the filmmakers: Please have Orko in it this time. Thank you.

The Irishman (TBA)

Scorsese. DeNiro. Pacino. Pesci. You already have my money, Netflix. Shut up and give me the movie.

Star Wars: Episode IX (December 20)

So a little movie is coming out for Christmas, you might have heard of it, it’s called Star Wars and apparently this is the ninth one of the series. Outside of the Rose and Finn storyline being too new trilogy, I loved The Last Jedi. That throne room scene alone was worth the price of admission. Glad to see JJ Abrams back at the helm. What’s not to love?!? I know I know it’s the internet and they bitch about everything but I’m ready to see how Rey’s story ends.

So that’s what I’m excited to see in 2019. Leave me a comment and let me know what you’re excited about in 2019. Thanks for reading!

My Top 10 Films of 2018

As 2018 draws to a close and I look back at all the movies I watched this year, I got to say it was a pretty down year for film in my opinion. Sure 2018 started with a bang with Black Panther but the summer was disappointing (outside of Infinity War) and the same could be said about the Oscar season slate. No movie has jumped out at me as the clear cut Oscar winner for Best Picture. However I do live in the middle of nowhere Minnesota and the movie selection here is rather limited despite having three movie theaters in town. Here’s a list of what I haven’t seen: The Favourite, Widows, If Beale Street Could Talk, The Front Runner and Burning.

Honorable Mentions: Incredibles 2, Blackkklansman, Overlord, Unsane, Halloween, Ready Player One, Solo, Love, Simon, Isle of Dogs, Upgrade, Tully, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Creed II, The Hate U Give, Annihilation, Eighth Grade, Green Book, Mid90s and Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Despite thinking it was a down year for film, it was weirdly very difficult to narrow a list down to ten. But here goes:

10. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The Coen Brothers are back with their bleakest film yet! The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is an anthology of six short films set in the Old West post-Civil War. Although each short story tends to get bleaker than the one before it, the film is simply gorgeous to look at and the storytelling is masterful. I love the Coen Brothers and will watch anything they make. If you don’t mind bleak storytelling, then I highly recommend The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

9. A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place is a rather unconventional horror film. Directed by John Krasinski aka Jim from The Office and starring his real life wife, Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place is about a family struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind monsters with an acute sense of hearing. This movie is intense and extremely inventive with the clever use of sound as a storytelling device. Can’t recommend this movie enough.

8. Hereditary

Hereditary, the directorial debut of Ari Aster, is a supernatural horror film about the unraveling of a family by an evil supernatural force following the death of the matriarch grandmother. This film came out of nowhere for me. As a self proclaimed horror movie junkie, I was completely blown away by it. From Toni Collette’s amazing performance to brilliant direction by a first time director, Hereditary is a must-see for any horror movie fan.

7. First Reformed

Ethan Hawke stars as a pastor of a low-attended historical landmark church in upstate New York. His mental state spirals out of control following an encounter with an environmentalist who believes the world is coming to an end. Written and directed by Paul Schrader known for his seminal work on Raging Bull and Taxi Driver, First Reformed is an extremely DARK film but really thought provoking. Hawke gives an Oscar worthy performance. I’ve been a fan of Paul Schrader for a long time. Highly recommend this film as long as you’re prepared for it to be DARK.

6. A Star Is Born

Do I even need to give a synopsis for A Star Is Born?!? I feel like everyone has seen this film. The soundtrack is INCREDIBLE. Lady Gaga gives an extraordinary performance and this is coming from someone who doesn’t even like her music. Bradley Cooper is fantastic in his directorial debut and Sam Elliott better be nominated for Best Supporting Actor. I’ve been singing “Swallow” loudly in my car since October. Love this movie.

5. Avengers: Infinity War

Almost didn’t include Avengers: Infinity War on my list because it’s so mainstream. But I saw this movie in the theater three times I enjoyed it so much that it needed to be on this list. Can’t wait for Avengers: Endgame!

4. Mission Impossible: Fallout

This is the 6th Mission Impossible movie and it is by far my favorite in the series. This franchise gets better and better with every entry. Tom Cruise is back being Tom Cruise crazy doing his own stunts. My wife Rebecca Ferguson is also back as gorgeous and awesome as ever. Can’t wait for the next one.

3. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse

This movie surprised me in the best possible way. I didn’t know what to expect when I entered the theater but I was completely delighted by the end. My best friend Jared said to me that if I, Eddie Snow, was a movie that I would be Spider-Man Into the Spider-verse. For those that know me, you know that I’m a huge comic book nerd. I was into Marvel long before the cinematic universe existed. This film was a love letter to Marvel Comics and to everything Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created. The use of color, the halftone effects, the use of comic book panels and speech balloons, this movie was a comic book come to life on the screen. Miles Morales, created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, is my favorite new Marvel character to come along in quite some time. This movie has helped in introducing him to the masses. The entire movie is basically an origin story about Miles, a half black, half Puerto Rican teenager from Brooklyn, who is bitten by a radioactive spider and turns into a new version of our favorite wall crawler. This is by far and away my favorite Spider-Man movie of all time. And that is no hyperbole. (Sorry Sam Raimi.) If you haven’t seen this movie, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!? GET OUT AND SEE IT NOW!

2. Black Panther

I feel like people are sleeping on Black Panther as one of the best movies to come out in 2018. Released in February 2018, Black Panther is my favorite movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Again no hyperbole here. This film gave me everything I could want out of a superhero movie and more: an awesome superhero lead in Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman, a compelling villain in Killmonger, played by one of my favorite actors, Michael B. Jordan, a fantastic supporting cast headlined by Letitia Wright as Shuri and Winston Duke as M’Baku and an incredible backdrop in Wakanda. Needless to say I love this movie. WAKANDA FOREVER!

1. Roma

The latest from Oscar winning director, Alfonso Cuarón, Roma tells the story of Cleo, a maid for a middle class family in Mexico City in the early 1970s. I don’t want to give anything else away about the film considering it just came out two weeks ago on Netflix. You can really sense that this is a deeply personal film for Cuarón. Cleo is actually based on the live-in maid he grew up with as a child. Yalitza Aparicio plays Cleo and she gives an absolutely incredible performance for a first time actress. Shot entirely in black and white, Roma is absolutely breathtaking to look at. Highly recommend that you watch this movie on as big a screen as you possibly can. Definitely wish that I had seen Roma on the big screen.

My Top 10 Best Films of 2017

2017 was touted as a down year for cinema due in large part to poor box office numbers during the summer. But as 2017 draws to a close, the year finished strong with so many great films that it was really difficult to narrow it down to just ten. So I copped out and included a list of honorable mentions to make myself feel better. Oh and I also included a list of films I know I'm going to love but haven't been able to see yet because of where I currently live. This is the time of year that I miss living in Los Angeles. Okay let's get started.

Honorable Mentions: Wonder Woman, Spider-Man Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, War for the Planet of the Apes, IT, The Founder and All the Money in the World

Movies I haven't seen yet (because I live in the middle of nowhere): Phantom Thread, The Disaster Artist, The Shape of Water, Darkest Hour, The Post And Wind River

10. Lady Bird

Lady Bird is a coming of age story about a girl in her senior year of high school, who longs to leave the boring confines of suburban life in Sacramento, California. Saoirse Ronan gives a great performance as the titular character but it's Laurie Metcalf who steals this movie as her combative mother. Can't recommend this film enough. 

9. Logan

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a comic book junkie so I made it a point to include only one superhero movie on this list. While I adored what Taika Waititi did with Thor Ragnarok and Marvel Studios made me care about Spider-Man again, Logan has to be the best comic book movie I saw this year. It was a fitting ending for a character Hugh Jackman has been playing for 17 years! Man I feel so old. 

8. Baby Driver

The most fun I had in a movie theatre in 2017 had to be the opening car chase sequence in Baby Driver. Went into this film knowing nothing about it except that it was directed by Edgar Wright, whose movies I've loved. Got the Blu Ray for Christmas and I can't wait to watch it again. So so fun. 

7. Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri

Another film I knew absolutely nothing about outside of the Oscar buzz it was receiving. Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri is a fantastic film with an incredible cast. Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell give incredible performances and should definitely receive Oscar nods.  

6. The Big Sick

The best comedy I saw in 2017 has to be The Big Sick. Based on a true story, Kumail Nanjiani plays himself in the story of how he met the love of his life (played by Zoe Kazan) and her parents (played brilliantly by Holly Hunter and Ray Romano) in a very awkward and unconventional way. Been a fan of Kumail long before Silicon Valley and it was nice to see a romantic comedy where the lead character is of Muslim descent. Really funny movie. It's currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Highly recommend it. 

5. Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 is the most visually compelling film I saw in 2017. And narratively even at a robust 164 minutes, I never felt the length of this film. Set 30 years after the events of the first film, Ryan Gosling plays K, a new Blade Runner, in search for answers to a long buried secret having to do a child possibly born to a replicant/robot. I absolutely loved this movie. After Prisoners, Arrival and now Blade Runner 2049, Denis Villeneuve just might be my favorite director working today.

4. Get Out

I love horror movies. I love Jordan Peele. I love that Jordan Peele is a horror movie junkie. And so it seems only natural that I loved Get Out, a funny, terrifying and thought-provoking horror/thriller written and directed by the aforementioned Jordan Peele. Daniel Kaluuya plays Chris Washington, a young African-American who is going on a weekend trip to visit the parents of his white girlfriend, played by Alison Williams, for the first time. Let's just say the trip doesn't go well for Chris. Get Out is a film that is equal parts thriller and biting social commentary. Get Out is more thriller than horror so don't let the fact that it's advertised as a horror film deter you. I highly recommend Get Out.

3. The Last Jedi

Here come the comments. I almost didn't put The Last Jedi in my Top 10 because this film has become so divisive amongst hardcore Star Wars fans. But if you love something, you shouldn't be afraid to show it. Say what you want about The Last Jedi, the latest installment of the Star Wars saga, but to me this movie delivered in ways I didn't imagine it could. Please refrain from trying to change my point of view on this film. I was initially surprised by the backlash so I've done my research and I know what everyone is upset about. This film is certainly not without its flaws but for me the good far outweighed the bad. I'll probably write a detailed review this week once I've seen it for the fourth time. Thank you MoviePass.

2. Dunkirk

Every two (or three) years, Christopher Nolan releases a film on or near my birthday and I always joke that each and every amazing cinematic piece is a birthday present from Nolan to me. With that being said, Dunkirk was the best birthday present I got this year. Based on true events, Dunkirk tells the miraculous story of the evacuation of British and French soldiers off the coast of a German-occupied Belgium during World War II. This was a story I'd never heard before probably due to the fact that it had nothing to do with America. It's an amazing story that showcases the bravery and compassion of humanity. Great cast. Brilliant direction. It will most likely win Best Picture. Really wish I'd seen this film on an IMAX screen.

1. Coco

Coco won't win Best Picture because outside of Beauty and the Beast, Up and Toy Story 3, animated films are rarely even nominated let alone win. But I don't care. Coco was my sentimental number one film I saw this year. Like most Pixar films, Coco left me in a heap of tears by the end. But unlike any Pixar films, Coco is a love letter to Mexico and Spanish culture, centering on the holiday of Día de Muertos. The timing of this film's release seems so ironic considering our current climate. But I'd rather not get into politics. I'd rather talk about this beautiful film. Miguel Rivera, a 12 year old boy, longs to become a musician like his hometown idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. But the problem is that ever since his great-great-grandmother was abandoned by her musician husband, the Rivera family has had a strict policy against music. They would rather Miguel go into the family business of shoe making. Through fantastical circumstances, Miguel enters the Land of the Dead in search of his great-great-grandfather, determined to live out his dream of being a musician even if it kills him. I related to Coco more than any Pixar film I've ever seen and that made it even more special to me. Now I'm of Puerto Rican descent and despite what most people (I call them racists) believe, Mexican and Puerto Rican cultures are very different. But the one thing that's the same is the way in which the family interacts with each other. Mama Coco reminded me so much of my great-grandmother even down to her appearance. The way the family interacts with Mama Coco in such an enduring, loving and coddling way evoked so much emotion in me that zapped me right back to my childhood. Pixar got the details right even down to the Abuela hitting and throwing her chancla as a tool of discipline in a comedic way. Coco is not just a love letter to Mexican culture but a love letter to our families both here and gone. I recently took my three year old son to see it and even he was emotional by the end of the film. When I asked him why he was crying, he explained that he was sad because Mama Coco was sad. Pixar movies are special and they are special because they speak to all of us even my three year old son. I love this movie. I've seen it four times and I can't wait to see it again.