Have you seen Public Enemies? The new Michael Mann film is fabulous. Don’t listen to the naysayers, this is one of the best films of the year. It looks amazing (shot on HD digital), the acting is superb (espcially the gorgeous Marion Cotillard), the details are precise, and the story is old school Hollywood romanticism. For the high-brow types, the film provokes thought about criminality and technology (in the movie and about the movie). For the low-brow, the action is gripping (loved all the shootouts). Loved this movie. My score: 83 out of 100.
July 8, 2009
March 5, 2009
Pedro Almodóvar, one of our favorite directors of all time, has a new film and ropeofsilicon.com has the trailer. The film, entitled ”Broken Embraces” (Los Abrazos Rotos) stars the recent Oscar-winning Penelope Cruz. The only bad news is that we have to wait until the fall for a US release. We’ve included the official movie poster, from filmin.es.
February 26, 2009
While most of the winners at the Academy Awards on Sunday were expected, there were a few surprises. The most significant was the win for Departures, from Japan, in the foriegn film category. Most pundits had Waltz with Bashir, from Isreal, winning. And while a few pundits did suggest Departures could pull off the upset in the week before the Oscars, we felt the academy voters would not be able to deny the amazingness of Waltz with Bashir. When will we learn? Read Scott Foundas great article scolding the Academy for not picking the true “best” foreign film.
February 23, 2009
The 81st Annual Academy Awards are history now and Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner taking home 8 Oscars, including best picture. Kate Winslet finally won her first Oscar for best actress while Sean Penn edged out Mickey Rourke for best actor. Heath Ledger and Penelope Cruz won in their respective supporting acting categories. There was one surprise: Departures, from Japan, winning best foreign film over favorites Waltz with Bashir, from Israel, and The Class, from France. See a full list of winners by clicking here.
The revamping of the Oscar telecast was, from our perspective, a success. We enjoyed the redesigned stage, the presentation of awards in groups, and the new way the acting nominations were presented. Having previous winners come out and introduce each of the nominees proved to be an inspired move, as each nominee recieved recognition for their honored performance. Plus, it was wonderful to see all those stars on stage. More Oscar analysis to follow.
February 21, 2009
FINAL OSCAR PREDICTIONS
Posted by chuchacho under Academy Awards, Film, Movie Awards, Oscars | Tags: Oscar predictions |1 Comment
The Oscars are less than 24 hours away and below we present our final predictions:
FINAL PREDICTIONS AS OF FEBRUARY 21, 2009
Best Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Actor: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Animated Feature: “WALL-E”
Adapted Screenplay: “Slumdog Millionaire,” screenplay by Simon Beaufoy
Original screenplay: “WALL-E,” screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon; original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter
Art Direction: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Donald Graham Burt; set decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire,” Anthony Dod Mantle
Costume Design: “The Duchess,” Michael O’Connor
Documentary Feature: “Man on Wire”
Documentary Short:“The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306″
Film Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire,” Chris Dickens
Foreign Language Film: “Waltz with Bashir,” Israel
Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Greg Cannom
Original Score: “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman
Original Song: “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” music by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Gulzar
Animated Short: “Presto”
Live-action Short: “Spielzeugland”
Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight,” Richard King
Sound Mixing: “The Dark Knight,” Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
February 19, 2009
CARPETBAGGER OSCAR PREDICTIONS
Posted by chuchacho under Academy Awards, Film, Movie Awards, Oscars | Tags: Carpetbagger, Oscar predictions |Leave a Comment
David Carr, the Carpetbagger at the NY Times, has announced his Oscar predictions. We are pleased to see that we vary only slightly (Supporting Actress and Original Screenplay). See his predix by clicking here.
February 18, 2009
OSCAR TALK
Posted by chuchacho under Academy Awards, Film, Movie Awards, Oscars | Tags: Oscar Talk, Oscars |Leave a Comment
The Film Experience is hosting its 4th Annual Oscar Symposium. Invited guests from around the blogoshpere discuss this year’s Oscars. Some interesting conversation occurs, check it out.
February 16, 2009
WEEKLY OSCAR ASSESSMENT: THE BIG 6
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The Academy Awards are less than a week away and this is our penultimate assessment of where the Big 6 prizes stand.
BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
Slumdog Millionaire
We’re still calling Slumdog, but it would not surprise us if The Reader pulled off an upset. Recall, Harvey Weinstein (whose Weinstein Company released The Reader) was the mastermind behind one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history: Shakespeare in Love winning Best Picture over Saving Private Ryan in 1998.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Kate Winslet, The Reader
This is Kate Winslet’s year. But either Streep or Hathaway could play the spoiler.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Yes, Sean Penn was amazing in Milk. But Mickey Rourke gave what is the best performance of his career thus far in The Wrestler. Plus, Penn already has an Oscar.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger HAS to win. He gave the best performance on film of 2008.
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Christina Barcelona
We are sticking with Penelope Cruz for now. This is a difficult race to call, though, as Viola Davis or Amy Adams have come on strong in the last week.
DIRECTING
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
This category, along with Supporting Actor, are the surest locks of all the six. Boyle will win.
February 16, 2009
Over at The Envelope (Los Angeles Times), Scott Feinberg wonders if there are some upsets coming in the acting categories. Our answer is yes if he insists on thinking Sean Penn will win Best Actor. Which he clearly senses, since he designates a Mickey Rourke win over Penn as his #1 upset. Check out the rest on his list here.
February 13, 2009
OSCAR PREDICTIONS, V1.0
Posted by chuchacho under Academy Awards, Film, Movie Awards, Oscars | Tags: Oscar, Predictions |1 Comment
The Oscar telecast is a little over a week away and we thought it was time to announce our Oscar predictions (we will update these predictions next Friday). There are still a few races we do not feel confident enough to call. Most notably, we have new doubts that Penelope Cruz will win Best Supporting Actress come Oscar night. Earlier in the week we felt her BAFTA win had solidified her as the strong favorite. Now, some pundits have gotten behind Viola Davis. One is even calling Amy Adams! All this should come as no surprise, as nothing is ever certain with the Oscars. Especially when it comes to Supporting Actress, which has proven to be the most unpredictable category over the years. Nevertheless, below are our predictions (v1.0).
PREDICTIONS AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 2009
« Our pick to win.
w One of our picks to win, final decision pending.
Best Picture
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk”
“The Reader”
« “Slumdog Millionaire”
Actor
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
« Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Actress
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
« Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
« Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road”
Supporting Actress
wAmy Adams, “Doubt”
w Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
w Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”
Director
« Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”
David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
Gus Van Sant, “Milk”
Animated Feature
“Bolt”
“Kung Fu Panda”
« “WALL-E”
Adapted Screenplay
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” screenplay by Eric Roth, screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
“Doubt,” written by John Patrick Shanley
“Frost/Nixon,” screenplay by Peter Morgan
“The Reader,” screenplay by David Hare
« “Slumdog Millionaire,” screenplay by Simon Beaufoy
Original screenplay
“Frozen River,” written by Courtney Hunt
“Happy-Go-Lucky,” written by Mike Leigh
“In Bruges,” written by Martin McDonagh
« “Milk,” written by Dustin Lance Black
“WALL-E,” screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon; original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter
Art Direction
“Changeling,” James J. Murakami; set decoration: Gary Fettis
w“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Donald Graham Burt; set decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
w “The Dark Knight,” Nathan Crowley; set decoration: Peter Lando
“The Duchess,” Michael Carlin; set decoration: Rebecca Alleway
“Revolutionary Road,” Kristi Zea; set decoration: Debra Schutt
Cinematography
“Changeling,” Tom Stern
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Claudio Miranda
w “The Dark Knight,” Wally Pfister
“The Reader,” Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
w“Slumdog Millionaire,” Anthony Dod Mantle
Costume Design
“Australia,” Catherine Martin
« “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Jacqueline West
“The Duchess,” Michael O’Connor
“Milk,” Danny Glicker
“Revolutionary Road,” Albert Wolsky
Documentary Feature
“The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“The Garden”
« “Man on Wire”
“Trouble the Water”
Documentary Short
“The Conscience of Nhem En”
“The Final Inch”
“Smile Pinki”
«“The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306″
Film Editing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
w “The Dark Knight,” Lee Smith
“Frost/Nixon,” Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
“Milk,” Elliot Graham
w “Slumdog Millionaire,” Chris Dickens
Foreign Language Film
“The Baader Meinhof Complex,” Germany
w“The Class,” France
“Departures,” Japan
“Revanche,” Austria
w “Waltz with Bashir,” Israel
Makeup
« “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Greg Cannom
“The Dark Knight,” John Caglione Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan
“Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz
Original Score
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Alexandre Desplat
“Defiance,” James Newton Howard
“Milk,” Danny Elfman
« “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman
“WALL-E,” Thomas Newman
Original Song
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E,” music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, lyrics by Peter Gabriel
w“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” music by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Gulzar
w “O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” music and lyrics by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam
Animated Short
“La Maison en Petits Cubes”
“Lavatory — Lovestory”
“Oktapodi”
« “Presto”
“This Way Up”
Live-action Short
“Auf der Strecke (On the Line)”
“Manon on the Asphalt”
“New Boy”
“The Pig”
« “Spielzeugland”
Sound Editing
« “The Dark Knight,” Richard King
“Iron Man,” Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
“Slumdog Millionaire,” Glenn Freemantle and Tom Sayers
“WALL-E,” Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
“Wanted,” Wylie Stateman
Sound Mixing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Mark Weingarten
« “The Dark Knight,” Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
“Slumdog Millionaire,” Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty
“WALL-E,” Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt
“Wanted,” Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt
Visual Effects
« “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
“The Dark Knight,” Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
“Iron Man,” John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan
