Hot Tub Time Machine

Directed from the writer that brought you Gross Point Blank and High Fidelity ( Steve Pink ) is this going back into the past comedy starring John Cusack, Rob Cordrry, Craig Robinson, Crispin Glover. Will see a March release date.

Don McKay trailer

Black comedy/thriller starring Thomas Haden Church, Elizabeth Suhe, James Rebhorn, David Keith, Melissa Leo and M. Emmett Walsh. Was well recieved at the Tribecca Film Festival. Out in April.

Date Night trailer

Directed by Shawn Levy ( Night At The Museum ) Starring Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco and Mila Kunis. In theaters this April.

Cop Out trailer

Written and directed by Kevin Smith. Starring Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Seann William Scott, Kevin Pollock and Michelle Trachtenberg. Out February.

More movie trailers for 2010

I'm going to post some trailers for some upcoming films that will be released in the next few months. Really looking forward to Scorsese's Shutter Island !

Iron Man 2 Trailer

May 7 2010

I actually like what I see in the trailer. I think they know what the fans want. New characters too. IM 2 is now on the anticpated list.

The Oscar Chances Page Top 10 of 2009

1) The Hurt Locker
2) The Messenger
3) Inglourious Basterds
4) Up In The Air
5) Avatar
6) District 9
7) Sunshine Cleaning
8) The Hangover
9) Star Trek
10)In The Loop

Honorable Mention- The Road, Public Enemies, Crazy Heart, The Blind Side, It Might Get Loud.

Most Overrated- Invictus, An Education.
Best Visual Effects- Avatar, Star Trek.
Best Laugh- The Hangover, I Love You, Man
Guilty Pleasure- Up
Underrated performance of the year- Ben Foster- The Messenger, Emily Blunt- Sunshine Cleaning, Daniel Day-Lewis- Nine. He pulls off something he's never done before on film and looked comfortable in doing so. You'd never know it was a first.
Overrated performance of the year- Morgan Freeman- Invictus ( he slips in and out as Mandela more than a couple of times ), Carey Mulligan- An Education ( she wasn't bad mind you but a top 5 performance ? I just didn't see it ).
Supporting actor- Christoph Waltz- Inglourious Basterds. Scene stealer.
Supporting Actress- Mo'Nique- A harrowing performance.
Best storytelling- The Road- Even though some things in the book were left out of the film. 500 Days Of Summer. ( tie )
Cinematography- Avatar, Nine.
Art Direction- The Road, Nine.
Score- Avatar
Editing- The Hurt Locker
Makeup- District 9, The Road
Documentary- The Cove
Original Screenplay- Inglourious Basterds, The Hurt Locker ( tie )
Adapted Screenplay- Up In The Air
Sound- Avatar
Costumes- The Young Victoria
Song- Crazy Heart- The Weary Kind- T-Bone Burnett
Best Child performance- Kodi Smit- McPhee- The Road
Breakthrough Actor- Jeremy Renner- The Hurt Locker
Breakthrough Actress- Abby Cornish- Bright Star

Robbins and Sarandon split ?

I'm don't do " rag " gossip on this site but I have to admit I'm very surprised to find out that Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins split after a long 23 years together. I point this out because I was just talking about them to a friend as being the indestructable Hollyweird couple. I guess spoke too soon.

Leap Year Preview/Synopsis

Leap Year Jan 8

Directed by Anand Tucker ( Shop Girl, Hilary and Jackie ) Starring Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam Scott, John Lithgow, Kaitlin Olson. Written by Deborah Kaplan ( Made Of Honor ) and Harry Elfont ( Surviving Christmas ) Cinematopgraphy by Newton Thomas Sigel ( Valkyrie, The Brothers Grimm ) Editing by BAFTA nominee Nick Moore ( About A Boy, The Full Monty ) Original Music by Golden Globe nominee Randy Edelson ( Last Of The Mochicans )

Leap Year is a comedy/romance about a woman ( Adams ) who's plan it is to go to Ireland and propose to her boyfriend ( Scott ) on Leap Day, February 29, as in with Irish tradition, the man must accept the proposal. But... on the way to Dublin her plane is diverted to Cardiff where it's there she meets a Irish inkeeper ( Goode ), who assists her to go cross country through land and sea so she can make it by the 29th.

Rated PG-13 for sensuality and language.

Oscar chances ? Likely none. Too early of a release date and not strong enough material to maintain word of mouth come Oscar season.

The most expensive movie made to date...

Avatar makes 73 million in the U.S. alone. My prediction is that it will make a profit and easily be the top grossing film of 2009.

My thoughts... in short, I liked it, I liked the message and it's visually one of the best films ever made. The film will dominate the technical categories at the Oscar's.

R.I.P. Brittany Murphy

1977- 2009. Very sexy and underrated actress passes on of cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest at 32 ? Lets' hope that more sad news is not brought to light on her death. Way too young.

Hhmm.... ???

This is a simple entry. I don't think Jeremy Renner's performance in The Hurt Locker and Morgan Freeman's in Invictus are of being the top 5 performances by a leading male this year. But that's just me. Both are seeing a lot of precursor love as of late. I guess we'll see come Oscar if they'll hang on and score nods there too.

Green Zone trailer

March 12 release date. Directed by Paul Greengrass ( United 93 ) Starring Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Brendan Gleeson, Amy Ryan and Jason Isaacs.

Robin Hood trailer

May 14. I have seen some negative comments from people. It does look like Gladiator Part 2. Obviously I have to save my opinion as it looks rather viable as an actioner. Ridley Scott and cast are very more than capable of pulling off a entertaining film. I reserve my right to comment until I see the movie.

Creation Preview/Synopsis

Creation Jan. 22



Directed by Jon Amiel ( Sommersby, Entrapment ) Starring Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Jeremy Northam, Toby Jones. Written by John Collee ( Master And Commander ) Cinematography by Jess Hall ( Hot Fuzz ) Edited by Melanie Oliver ( John Adams, Longford ) Original Music by Golden Globe nominee Christopher Young ( Spider-Man, Runaway Jury )

Story comes from the adapted bio by Randal Keynes, about the English naturalist, Charles Darwin, and his efforts to find the balance of his revolutionary theories and the relationship with his christian wife Emma, who's religious belief's contradict his belief's from his findings.

Rated PG-13 For some intense thematic material. 108 min.

Oscar chances ? Honestly I don't see it, but that doesn't mean it won't be a good film. Cinematography looks good though.

The Last Station Preview/Synopsis

The Last Station Jan. 15

Directed by Michael Hoffman ( Soap Dish, The Emperor's Club )Starring James McAvoy, Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, Paul Giamatti, Kerry Condon. Written by Hoffman, Cinematography by Sebastian Edschmid ( Adam Resurrected ) Edited by Patricia Rommell ( French For Beginners ) Original Music by Serjei Yevtushenko ( Russian Ark )

True story about the Russian author Leo Tolstoy's struggle in achieving a non materialistic life with money and fame.
Rated R for a scene of sexuality and Nudity. 112 min.

Oscar chances ? Good. For supporting actor, lead actress, costumes and screenwriting.

The precursor awards are coming soon...

12-16 Chicago Film Critics Nods, 12-13 AFI Awards Announced, 12-13 LA Film Critics Nods, 12-14 NY Film Critics Nods, 12-14 Critics Choice Nods, 12-15 Golden Globe Nods, 12-17 SAG Award Nods, 2-2 Academy Award Nods.

The Book Of Eli Preview/Synopsis

The Book Of Eli Jan. 15

Directed by Allen and Albert Hughes ( Menace To Society, From Hell, Dead President's ) Starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Malcom McDowell, Michael Gambon, Jennifer Beals. Written by newcomer Greg Whitta, cinematography by Oscar nominee Don Burgess ( Cast Away, Forrest Gump ) Edited by Cindy Mollo ( Oz, The Sentinel ) Original music by Attic Ross ( Touching Evil )

Story is set in post apocalyptic America in 2043 where one lone man has to fight his way across a barren United States in his possession, a sacred book that may hold the answers at possibly saving mankind.

Rated R for some strong brutal violence.

Oscar chances ? It's possible it can earn a cinematography nod.

Some surprise names show at The Satellite Awards

The Satellite Awards were recently announced and there were some surprising nominations and also ommisions. Not making the cut were Oscar favorites Carey Mulligan and Gaboury Sidibe and Morgan Freeman. Some surpise names were Emily Blunt for her turn in The Young Victoria and Michael Sheen in The Damn United.

Here's how the nominations panned out...

Best Picture-Drama

Bright Star, An Education, The Hurt Locker, The Messenger, Precious, The Stoning of Soraya M.

Best Picture Musical/Comedy

The Informant, It's Complicated, Julie and Julia, Nine, A Serious Man, Up In The Air.

Best Actress- Drama

Emily Blunt- The Young Victoria, Abbie Cornish- Bright Star, Penelope Cruz- Broken Embraces, Catalina Saaverda- The Maid, Shoreh Aghdashloo- The Stoning Of Soraya M.

Best Actor- Drama

Johnny Depp- Public Enemies, Hugh Dancy- Adam, Jeff Bridges- Crazy Heart, Jeremy Renner- The Hurt Locker, Colin Firth- A Single Man, Michael Sheen- The Damn United

Best Actress- Musical/Comedy

Zooey Deschanel- 500 Days, Katherin Heigl- The Ugly Truth, Sandra Bullock- The Proposal, Meryl Streep- Julie and Julia, Marion Cotillard- Nine.

Best Actor- Musical/Comedy

Matt Damon- The Informant, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney- Up In The Air, Daniel Day-Lewis- Nine, Michael Stuhlbarg- A Serious Man.

Supporting Actress
Anna Kendrick- Up In The Air, Mozhan Morro- The Stoning Of Soraya M., Mo'Nique- Precious, Penelope Cruz- Nine, Emily Blunt- Sunshine Cleaning.

Supporting Actor

Woody Harrelson- The Messenger, Alfred Molina- An Education, James McAvoy- The Last Station, Christoph Waltz- Inglourious Basterds.

Director

Rob Marshall- Nine, Neill Blomkamp- District 9, Jane Campion- Bright Star, Lone Scherfig, Katherine Bigelow- The Hurt Locker, Lee Daniles- Precious.

As of now seems it's the Clooney and Freeman show

Are there any locks so far for the Academy Award in the Best Actor category ? Yes...as of now, the sure bets are Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in Invictus ( I for one have not seen it, I will on the 7th ) and George Clooney In Up In The Air. Both have got great reviews so far. Right now if you go by approval rating it seems both movies are about neck and neck. Same with the performances, where Freeman might have a slight edge. The rest of the pack who have a chance are Colin Firth in A Single Man, Daniel Day-Lewis-Nine, Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart ( my predicted winner )Matt Damon- The Informant ! Edward Norton- Leaves Of Grass, Viggo Mortensen- The Road, Jeremy Renner- The Hurt Locker, Michael Stuhlbarg- A Serious Man and Hugh Dancy in Adam.
Bridges is getting very good reviews as well, some even saying " career best " and then that might make him the dark horse.

Rent this- The Lost Weekend

Nominated for 7 Oscar's and winning four ( most notably Ray Milland for Best Actor and Billy Wilder for Best Director ) The Lost Weekend is a total classic. Released in 1945, the film is about the four day drunken binge of a failed writer ( Milland ) and the self destructive actions his addcition is leading him.

The film has it's over the top acting ( the withdrawl's and DT's ) and is campy in spots that aren't meant to be camp, but it's an enjoyable movie as it deals with real life problems such as a addiction but there is also redemption that prevails in the film as well.

Let the Oscar campaigning begin...

Fantastic Mr. Fox isn't all that fantastic but was still entertaining

I'll admit it, I'm not really into animated films. I can take them or leave them. But Fantastic Mr. Fox is a well made animated movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I cheated somewhat and went to Borders and read a bunch of it just so I knew what the premise was about.

Very solid film, and lots of one liners and memorable quotes as well. I'd be very surprised if it doesn't get a Best Animated Oscar nomination.

The Road- my short analogy

I saw The Road on Wednesday and was not unfamiliar about the movie, as I have read the book more than a couple of times, so I knew what I was in for. But unlike what I was led to believe going in, this adaptation is NOT verbatim to the book. I'd say it's 85% genuine to the Pulitzer Prize winner by Cormac McCarthy.

In all honesty, I was more taken with the book. Something about the film loses it's edge onscreen. I still thought it was fine filmmaking by John Hillcoat but there were some liberties taken with the dialogue that were not in the book. And a couple of scenes in the book that were pretty frightening were left out, that I thought were very key when reading the book that stuck with me. I think those two key scenes would have given the movie more of a horrific feeling to it.

I feel most of the actors did a good job, especially Viggo Mortensen as The Man. Robert Duvall's several minutes of time he has is poignant. The cinematography is solid but what should really deserve a Oscar nomination is the art direction and production design. There was very minimal green screen shooting involved and what you see on screen is real, and looks it. See Roland Emmerich, you don't need to use a green screen the entire time to film a post apocalyptic disaster film.

As of right now, the film seems to be getting a split right down the middle reaction from people that have seen it. For that, I think it is will more of an uphill battle to earn one of the ten slots for a Best Picture nomination. Personally for me, it's in my top 5, but there are more film's yet to be seen in the next month.

Oscar predictions ? I'd be very surprised if it doesn't get Oscar nominations for Adapted Screenplay and Art Direction. I think Viggo's chances are on the outside looking in, but you just never know.

Just got back from Up In The Air

It was a solid movie. Just short of great because at times it meanders and there are some slow ( boring ) things going on. I think it's Clooney's 2nd best performance of his career. Behind Michael Clayton. But I like how he played this charatcer and the script has great dialogue and Jason Reitman is proven to be one of the best young directors of his time. And I'd also be failing if I didn't mention that Anna Kendrick SHOULD get a Oscar nod in support.

So my prediction Oscar prediction for Up In The Air ?

I say that it will easily get a best pic nod. Likewise for screenplay and supporting actress. Then I don't know. Right now I have to see more male lead performances until the end of this year to say George should get nominated. As of now, he gets in. But this is a crowded category this year. We'll see by the end of 2009.

Sandra Bullock's name should be thrown in the Oscar hat

The Blind Side is a pretty good movie, but what I noticed most about it, was mostly comedian actress Sandra Bullocks performance. It stuck out. I feel it's her career best performance personally, and she should at least be in the mix ( whatever category ) of discussion for an Oscar nomination.

Director Ed Zwick's next; a pharmaceutical drama ?

Ed Zwick has made some great films, Blood Diamond, Legends Of The Fall, Glory to name just a few and can you believe the man has never been nominated for an Oscar in directing ? Not even for Glory. That's pretty unbelievable.
Following up last years WWII adventure, Definace, Zwick has been in Pittsburgh, Pa. since September directing Love And Other Drugs. An adaptation of the humorous memoir Hard Sell: The Evolution Of A Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy and reuniting Brokeback Mountain co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.
The main premise of the story, is that Gyllenhaal plays a Pfiser prescription salesman in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical sales, considered to be " the Jerry Magire " in his field, and along the way on one of his sales calls meets a woman ( Hathaway ) who has been stricken with Parkinson's disease. Rounding out the cast are Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt, Gabrial Macht, Judy Greer, George Segal and Jill Clayburgh.
The film will open November 24th 2010.

If not this year for Colin Firth, maybe for The King ?

Filming is underway across the UK for a seven week shoot on Tom Hooper's ( That Damn United, Longford ) on The Kings Speech.
The premise is the true story about the reluctant monarch King George VI's efforts at overcoming his stutter with the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue.
Colin Firth will play King George VI and Geoffrey Rush as Logue. If Firth does NOT recieve a Oscar nomination for his role in this year's A Single Man, this role looks like Oscar bait as well.
Guy Pearce, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, Jennifer Ehle, Timothy Spall and Derek Jacobi co-star. No exact release date has been set yet, though the production is steering for sometime in 2010.

No date yet for The Fighter

The true story about junior welterweight boxer Micky Ward, is in post production and found the sometime prickly David O.Russell ( Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees ) directing the film with Mark Wahlberg as Ward and Christian Bale as his trainer/brother Dicky Eklund. As you can see by the photo, Bale went for another method weight loss in the role.
Rounding out the cast is Amy Adams as Ward's bartender girlfriend, Melissa Leo as the pair's mother, and Allison Folland as Ward's ex girlfriend. There has been no release date set for this hush,hush production.

Pippa Lee getting good reviews

Rebbeca Miller's ( daughter a famous playwright Arthur Miller and wife of Daniel Day-Lewis ) relationship drama The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee seems to be getting positive reviews. Out of 28 so far, it's recieved an 82% approval rating. And from those postive reviews, they seem to make it look like this is a career best for Robin Wright Penn.