Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Best Picture Oscar expanded to 10 nominees ?

It's the truth. It's kind of like a catch-22. I see where other genres could squeeze into the expansion like comedies and action films ( as in Star Trek for example ) but when you keep it at 5 nominees it really brings the nomination into a distinction from other movies. Yet I do make a top 10 of the year list ( and a 20 as well ), not a top 5. I guess we'll see how it turns out.
Personally, I'd keep it at 5. And bring back the winners of the previous acting categories to introduce the new nominees. That experiment where they have 5 different actors up on stage was lame. Keep the tradition that's been going on for years. It just works.

Updated performances and films as of 6-30-09

Film
The Hurt Locker- Best Iraq film of the lot in the last several years.

Lead actor/actress
Jeremy Renner- The Hurt Locker
Denzel Washington- The Taking Of Pelham 123
Cameron Diaz- My Sister's Keeper

Supporting actor/actress

Abigail Breslin- My Sister's Keeper
Alison Janney- Away We Go
Jim Gaffigan- Away We Go

Director
Katheryn Bigelow- The Hurt Locker

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Sean Penn to quit Hollyweird for awhile ?

Apparently actor extraordinaire, Sean Penn is going to take some time off from making movies to work on his marriage, which he has twice filed for divorce in the recent years.

Penn was signed on to play Three Stooges Larry Fine, with Benicio Del Toro as Moe and a weight gained Jim Carrey as Curley. The Farrelly brothers who are directing the film are looking to recast the role with several well known actors being thought of.

Penn has backed out of the movie Cartel that was supposed to be shooting this summer, but that won't be happening now. The studio isn't sure whether to wait for Penn or recast the role. He will also need to be recast in the movie This Must Be The Place.

Penn can next be seen in Terrence Malick's Tree Of Life with Brad Pitt and the political drama, Doug Liman directed Fair Game.

Penn is recently coming off his Oscar winning role in Milk.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Kung Fu Kid ?!

Yes... you are reading it correctly, Hollyweird is doing it again, just 25 years old, they have decided to re-make The Karate Kid. A movie still a regular on cable TV stations.
This time in the Daniel role played by Ralph Macchio will be Will Smith's son Jaden, this time named Dre. In the role of Mr. Miyagi played by Arnold, uh... I mean Pat Morita, will be Jackie Chan as Mr. Han. The mother will be played by Taraji P. Henson ( Queenie in Bejamin Button )

I know I am not in a big minority in rallying against studios to stop already with the re-makes. Especially to very popular franchises such as The Karate Kid. If you are going to do a remake at least wait 40 or 50 years since the film's release. As I mentioned before, kids can still see the original's on TNT or A&E.

This baffles my mind. The re-makes are out of control. It just shows the lack of originality in Hollywood. Re-makes I thought would take a fall after so many have tanked at the box office, but I was wrong, they still keep on trying to redo movies, some just a little over 20 years old. I just shake my head in annoyance.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

More motion pictures in the filming stage for 2010 release

Robin Hood- August 14 2010

Ridley Scott teams with Russell Crowe for the 4th time, in their take on the man who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Filming is under way currently in Surrey, England, and the screenplay is written by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland ( Mystic River, LA Confidential ) Also starring Cate Blanchett as Maid Marion, with William Hurt, Mark Strong and Eileen Atkins.

Gulliver's Travels- June 4 2010

Directed by Rob Letterman ( Mosters and Aliens ) from a script written by Yes Man scribe Nicholas Stoller, where they do their take on the popular childrens story starring Jack Black as Gulliver, a travel writer who comes across a rare Bermuda island that is inhabited by very tiny people. Also starring Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Amanda Pete and Billy Collony.

Jonah Hex- August 6 2010

Animator Jimmy Hayward goes for his 2nd live action movie behind the director's chair in this adaptation from the graphic novel of the same name. Josh Brolin will play Hex, a bounty hunter who hunts a voodoo practitioner ( John Malkovich ) bent on liberating the South by raising an army of the undead. Also starring Michael Shannon, Megan Fox, Michael Fassbender and Brandi Coleman.

Iron Man 2- May 27 2010

Jon Favreau is back in the director's chair in the sequel to the 21st highest grossing film of all time, returning Robert Downey and Gwenyth Platrow reprising their roles with Don Cheadle replacing Terrence Howard as James Rhodes, with newcomers Sam Rockwell, and new villain's Scarlett Johannson as Black Widow and Mickey Rourke as Whiplash.

My Sister's Keeper Preview/Synopsis

My Sisters Keeper June 26

Directed by Nick Cassevetes ( John Q, The Notebook ) Starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, Jason Patric, Alec Baldwin. Written by Cassevetes and Jeremy Leven ( The Legend Of Bagger Vance, Alex and Emma ) Cinematography by multi Oscar nominee Caleb Deschanel ( The Passion Of The Christ, The Patriot ) Editing by Jim Flynn ( Friday Night Lights ) and Oscar winner Ed Heim ( All The Jazz, American History X ) Original Music by Aaron Zigman ( The Notebook, The Jane Austen Book Club )

Basic premise, an adaptation of the Jodi Picoult novel, is about young Anna Fitzgerald ( Breslin ) looking to get a medical emancipation from her parents, after she finally discovers what she was born for, that she was conceived to be a perfect bone marrow match for her leaukemia stricken older sister Kate. Throughout most of Anna's short life, she has had to endure many surgeries, transfusions and shots. Something happens until one final time, when she finally begins to question these acts and what her whole life is about. When it comes time that her older sister is in need of a kidney and Anna is the perfect match, Anna hires a lawyer to become legally emancipated from her parents and be able to make her own decisions about what she does with her own body. Saying anything more would be major spoilers. One must know if choosing to see this movie, that Cameron's father passed away midway through shooting, so any tears you see from her are most likely genuine.

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality and brief drinking. 106 min.

Oscar chances ? Possibles for Best Actress, Screenplay, Supporting Actress, Editing and Cinematography.

About Me

My photo
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 !