Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Oscar's rating's improve

Who may know why this year's Oscar's were up 13 percent from last year, at 36.3 million viewer's, compared to last year's all time lowest rated ceremony.

Could it be the all around thespian/singing skills of a new host in Hugh Jackman, the sexiest man alive, so People magazine voted earlier this year. ? Could just the change of the host, make a 4 million viewership difference ? I just find that analogy hard to chew on.

I will admit that personally I had no problem with Jon Stewert as the host last year, but there has to be a reason why there was an improvement in the rating's. Maybe it's because there were film's that were more seen and more likeable than last year. I have pondered this more than once.

I do have one slight problem with the show. I would like the ceremony to stay within the past tradition of the past winner presenting with a clip for the nominated actor and actress. A lot of the people chose to present were reading off a teleprompter, and that seemed to make it less genuine. I would have much rather seen Daniel Day-Lewis give the golden statue to Kate Winslet.

As for a complete show, I'd say it was a decent watch. It seemed like a quicker three hours than last year. I'd still go with a proven comic to host the show though. Especially in these times. People need to laugh.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Post Oscar's

Well it looks like it was the year of the Slumdog. I liked the movie. From Danny Boyle's ambition, it's impressive, I just didn't love it or think it was the best movie of 2008. Especially from the technical aspects of of flimmaking. It won for cinematography which I thought should have went to Australia ( that didn't even get nominated ) then Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.

I feel the Sean Penn win is warranted as he became Harvey Milk, and that either a Penn or Rourke win I would have been fine with. And it was Kate Winslet's year. Heath Leder was a lock back in October. Penelope Cruz or Marisa Tomei I was OK with.

One thing that bother's me, is the so many months ahead of the actual ceremony, the forgone conclusion to the pre-determined landslide that seems to happen a lot. Was Slumdog really that great to dominate all other movies ?

Well, here's looking into movies for 2009, which I'm looking forward to as I really thought 2008 was a down year compared to the past.

Look out this year for Watchman, Star Trek, Public Enemies, Terminator: Salvation, Nine, Transformer's 2, The Lovely Bones, The Soloist, The Taking Of Pelham 123, Leaves Of Grass, X-Men Orgins: Wolverine, Monsters and Aliens, Shutter Island, The Informant, The Last Station, Amelia, The Human Factor, The Green Zone, Within The Whirlwind, Taking Woodstock, Up In The Air, Sherlock Holmes,The Human Factor, Inglourious Basterds, Up, Crazy Heart, Tree Of Life, The Wolfman, The Road, Love Ranch, Duplicity, The Boat That Rocked, 1939, Repossesion Mambo, Avatar, Men Who Stare At Goats, State Of Play, The Horseman, The Brothers Bloom, Away We Go, The Fantastic Mr. Fox. That just the real high profile films.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

New surprising rumors

The Farrelly Brothers of There's Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber fame, announced they are making a Three Stooges film. Sounds pretty cool doesn't it ? I just don't know how I feel about the casting they are trying to sign. To whom are the actor's that I speak of ? That would be none other than Johnny Depp as Moe and Sean Penn as Larry. No word on who will play Curly.

I don't know how to feel about this, because I don't know what angle the Farrelly's are going to go for. Will it be a farce like the real Stooges ? Or will it be more of a bio-pic with some serious tone to it. Or will it be a full on comedy where we'll get to see Penn do comedy for the first time since Fast Times At Ridgemont High. This is one that I will be following closely.

Monday, February 9, 2009

The Horseman Preview/Synopsis March 6

Directed by Jonus Akerland ( Spun ) Starring Dennis Quaid, Ziyi Zhang, Clifton Collins Jr, Peter Stomare, Patrick Fugit and Eric Balfour, Wriiten by Dave Callahan, Cinematography byEric Broms ( Spun ) Editing by Jim May ( Van Helsing, Narnia ) Original Score by Jan AP Kaczerorek ( Finding Neverland, The Visitor )

The Horseman is a thriller about a recently widowed detective, Aiden Breslin, that is still grieving the loss of his wife, when he discovers a shocking connection between himself and the suspects in a serial killing spree linked to The Four Horseman of the apocalypse.

Rated R for Grisly and Disturbing Content, Some Sexual Images and Language.

110 min.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Duplicity Prieview/Synopsis March 20

Directed by Oscar nominee Tony Gilroy ( Michael Clayton ) Starring Clive Owen, Julia Roberts, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Thomas McCarthy, Wayne Duvall. Written by Gilroy, Cinematography by Oscar winner Robert Elswit ( There Will Be Blood, Boogie Nights ) Editing by Oscar nominee John Gilroy, Original Music by Oscar nominee James Newton Howard ( Defiance, The Prince Of Tides )

Duplicity is about two corporate spies ( Owens and Roberts ) that team up to manipulate a corporate race to corner the market on a medical invention that could reap huge profits. Their mission ? Secure the formula for the product that will bring a fortune to the company that patents the invention first.

Rated PG-13 for Language and some sexual content.

Sunshine Cleaning Preview/Synopsis March 13

Directed by Christine Jeffes ( Sylvia ) Starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn, Clifton Collins Jr, Kevin Chapman. Written by Megan Holley ( Cold Readings ) Cinematography by John Toon ( Glory Road ) Editing by Heather Parsons ( The In Laws )

Sunshine Cleaning is an uplifting dramedy about an average family that finds a path to their dreams in a very unlikely setting. A single mother ( Adams ) and her slacker sister ( Blunt ), find a unexpected way to turn their lives around... starting up a crime scene cleaning service. In no time, the two are up to their elbows in murder's, suicide's, and other specialized situations. As they climb the ranks in their new dirty jobs, the sister's find a rapport and true respect for eachother that was not previously there and the closeness they had always longed for that finally blossoms.

Rated R for Language, Disturbing Images, Some Sexuality, and Drug Use.
102 minutes.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Two Lovers Preview/Synopsis Feb 13

Directed by James Gray ( We Own The Night, Little Odessa ) Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gweneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Isabella Rossellini, Moni Mashanov, Elias Koteas, Bob Ari, John Ortiz. Written by Gray and Ric Menello, Cinamatography by Joaquin Baca-Asay ( Roger Dodger ) Editing by John Axerlad ( The Messengers )

Two Lovers is a romantic melodrama set in Brighten Beach, NY, about a bachelor named Leonard, who moves back in with his parents after a breakdown and being heart broken. He is an aspiring photographer who works part time at his fathers dry cleaners. He becomes torn between two women. One, who is a close family friend, who his parents really want him to marry, and the other an attractive but sometimes volatile blond who has recently moved into his building that has really caught his eye, and his struggle to figure out this predicament he's found himself in.

Rated R for language, some sexuality and brief drug use
110 min

Award worthy ? I have read where Phoenix and Paltrow give one of their best performances.

Push- Synopsis/Reveiw Feb 6

Directed by Paul McGuigan ( Lucky Number Slevin ) Starring Chris Evans, Djimon Housnou, Dakota Fanning, Camille Belle, Cliff Curtis, Ming-Na, Neil Jackson. Written by Dave Bourla ( Larceny ) Cinematography by Peter Sova ( Wikcer Park, Gangster No. 1 ) Editing by Nicolas Trembasiewicz ( Unleashed, The Transporter ) Original Music by Neil Davidge ( Battle In Seattle, Unleashed )

Push is a sci-fi action thriller that involves a group of American ex-pats with telekinetic and clairvoyant abilities, hiding from a U.S. government group called The Division. They try to find the only woman that has ever escaped The Division. She is the only key to finding out how to escape the agency. They also must band together and their talents enabling them to leaving the agency forever. They are made up of 9 different types of special traits. There are Movers, Pushers, Watchers, Bleeders, Sniffers, Shifters, Wipers, Shadows and Stitchers.

Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence and action, breif strong language, smoking and a scene of teen drinking.
111 min.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

The International- Film Preview/Synopsis Feb 13

Directed by Tom Tykwer ( Perfume: The Story Of A Muderer ) Starring Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller- Stahl, Ulrich Thomsen, James Rebhorn, Jack McGee, Victor Slezak. Written by Eric Singer, Cinematography by Frank Griebe ( Heaven ) Editing by Mathilde Bonnefoy ( The Soul Of A Man ) Original Music by Tom Tykwer.

The International is an action thriller that follows two people investigating a highly corrupt banking institution. Agent Louis Salinger ( Owen ) and Assistant DA Eleanor Whitman ( Watts ) are determined to bring to justice one of the most powerful banks in the world, The International Bank Of Business and Credit. They uncover money laundering, arms trading and the destabilzation of governments. The pair finds them in a chase across the globe with the bank stopping at nothing to prevent them from succeeding.

Rated R for some violence and language.
113 minutes.

Watchman- Film Preview/Synopsis March 6

Directed by Zack Snyder ( 300 ) Starring Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earl Haley, Carla Gugino, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Matthew Goode, Malin Ackerman, Niall Matter, Matthew Goode, Stephen McHattie. Written by David Hayder ( X-Men ) and Alex Tse, Cinematography by Larry Fong ( 300 ) Editing by William Hoy ( I, Robot, We Were Soldiers ) Original Score by Tyler Bates ( The Day The Earth Stood Still )

Watchman is based from the graphic novel set in 1985 where super heroes exist, Richard Nixon is still the President, Vietnam was won by the South and tensions are at an all time high between America and the Soviet Union. The washed up super hero and vigilante Rorschach ( Haley ) is investigating the murder of a former super hero, The Comedian ( Morgan ) and uncovers a plot to discredit and murder various super heroes. At this time Rorschach discover's a far wider ranging conspiracy involving his collegues past, which could change the course of history.

Rated R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language.
163 minutes.

About Me

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Started to really pay attention to film ( movies ) what was going on in front of the camera, but more interestingly, behind it as well at about as far back as age 10. Motion pictures ( when good ) are a fascinating medium. All the work and prep that goes into filmmaking. It's an amazing process !