Happy New Year !

And here's to hoping for a killer year in 2011 for movies, and to all that visit the site, I say to you much thanks !

Happy Birthday to Anthony Hopkins

Sir Anthony Hopkins turns 73 today. Still staying very busy in the acting game and not slowing down in his progressing years. He can be see in the big budget blockbuster Thor this spring and has also signed on with Dustin Hoffman in the relationship/family drama The Song Of Names. And you know we can never forget his iconic role he will always be most remembered for, Hannibal the Cannibal in Silence Of The Lambs. Bon apatite'

Barney's Version Preview/Synopsis

January 14

Directed by Richard J. Lewis ( CSI ) and starring Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Scott Speedman, Saul Rubiek, Bruce Greenwood, Rachel Lefevre, Mark Addy and Jake Hoffman. Written by Michael Konyves ( Storm Cell ) Cinematography by Guy Dufaux ( The Trotsky ) Editing by Susan Shipton ( Being Julia, The Sweet Hereafter ) Original score by Pasquale Calalano (The Sicilian Girl )

Premise: The story is written as if it is an autobiography by Barney Panofsky ( Giamatti ) recounting his life in varying detail. At the end of the book he is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, explaining his previous memory lapses and footnote corrections by his son Michael. Barney's version of events may be viewed as that of two unreliable narrators', in that his recollections are told from varying mental states and then posthumously edited by his son. Underlying the story of Barney's three marriages is the mysterious disappearance of his friend Boogie. Though there is no body, police suspect murder, and Barney himself is tried but acquitted of murder. An explanation for the mystery is given at the novel's end

Rated R for language and some sexual content 132 min.

Oscar chances ? I used to think that maybe Giamatti and Hoffman had a slight chance but given no attention during the precursor awards this month, I'd be surprised if the film received any Oscar nominations just because of that.

More best of 2010

As with most people that take their movies somewhat seriously, I made my top 10 list of favorite films of 2010 a couple of days ago. Well... I thought just for the heck of it, I'd add on some more " best of's " for 2010. Maybe some not so obvious categories. We'll start off with best popcorn ( what most everyone has seen ) flicks of 2010...

Best popcorn movies:

Toy Story 3
Inception
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part I
Iron Man 2
Despicable Me

Toy Story 3 enough to make a grown man cry. And even if you aren't a fan, just the numbers alone that the Harry Potter franchise has made is beyond enormous.

Best Documentary:

The Tillman Story

There were many good doc's this year with Inside Job and Waiting For Superman to name just a few high up on the list. But The Tillman Story is something unique all in it's own, because of what the main topic is about. It's a film that takes you on so many different emotional landscapes which finalizes with the Tillman family at peace at knowing how their selfless son truthfully died after an embarrassing cover up by our own government.

Most underrated animated film:

The Legends Of The Guardian: The Owls Of Ga' Hoole

Not only is this one of my favorite animated features of the year, it's also one of the best visually to witness. This could go in the most underrated category. Plus the story is a good one. I feel bad for the film not doing better at the box office. I highly suggest renting it.

Best on screen chemistry:

Jake Gyllenhaal & Anne Hathaway- Love and Other Drugs

They seemed so natural together as if they had been a real life couple for many years.

Worst on screen chemistry:

Johnny Depp & Angelina Jolie- The Tourist

Talk about going through the motions. Easily both actors most forgettable performances in a very long time.

Best Sequel:

Toy Story 3

Has to be. It's also the top money maker of the year. Other close calls are Iron Man 2, Shrek Forever After, which is still hugely popular, and even if you aren't a fan, Harry Potter has to be mentioned because so many people love that franchise.

Worst remake:

Clash Of The Titans

This was pretty brutal to sit through. I actually liked the original better and that's not saying much. But go figure, it made the top ten grossing films of all year. Just goes to show ya...

Best transformation for a role:

Christian Bale- The Fighter

He's hands down the actor of the year that became their character. You would have thought he lived in Lowell, Ma. his whole life. Plus you always have to mention his attention to detail in the weight loss for the role to make his impersonation of Dick authentic.

Best Foreign film:

A Prophet

One I didn't see in it's original release but still made my top 5 of the year after renting it. And films rarely do that to me when seeing them on DVD, but this film even transcends that.

Best Dialogue:

The Social Network

I read the last draft of the script a year before the film even hit movie screens and as far back as that I said that was the screenplay of the year. If only for the words. It's the snappiest dialogue of any movie in 2010.

Best newcomer:

Hailee Steinfeld- True Grit

It's unanimous. She's a natural and should have a very good career if she chooses to pursue acting farther.

Best performance by a young performer:

Jennifer Lawrence- Winter's Bone

She acts beyond her years as Ree Dolly, a performance so good and realistic, it could garner the young actress a best actress Oscar nomination.

Most underrated performance of the year:

Michael Douglas- Solitary Man

I personally think it's one of the best performances of his career let alone this year. It's a role he enveloped and made only his. In that thinking, that after you see the film, you can't picture any other male actor in that role. That's really putting your stamp on a character.

The most WTF moment of 2010:

The Tourist, Depp and Jolie; all receiving Golden Globe nominations over so many more better films and performances. Actually too many to mention here.

So there ya go, a little look into the 2010 year in film. Here's hoping for a good year in 2011. Maybe a better one ?

The Dilemma Preview/Synopsis

January 14th

Directed by Ron Howard ( A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 ) Starring Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, Channing Tatum, Queen Latifah. Written by Allan Loeb ( 21, Things We Lost In The Fire ) Cinematography by Salvatore Totino ( Cinderella Man, Any Given Sunday ) Editing by Oscar nominees Dan Hanley and Mike Hill (Frost/Nixon ) Original score by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer ( The Lion King )

Premise: The Dilemma, a story of how far you can bend a brotherly bond before it snaps. Since college, confirmed bachelor Ronny (Vaughn) and happily married Nick (James) have been through thick and thin. Now partners in an auto design firm, the two pals are vying to land a dream project that would launch their company. With Ronny's girlfriend, Beth (Connelly), and Nick's wife, Geneva (Ryder), by their sides, they're unbeatable. But Ronny's world is turned upside down when he inadvertently sees Geneva out with another man and makes it his mission to get answers. As the amateur investigation dissolves his world into comic mayhem, he learns that Nick has a few secrets of his own. Now, with the clock ticking and pressure mounting on the biggest presentation of their careers, Ronny must decide how and when he will reveal the truth to his best friend.

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual content

Oscar chances: Now ay in hades. I was actually surprised that Howard to this project on. Just hoping it's better than I expect ( which isn't much )

The Green Hornet Preview/Synopsis

January 14th

Directed by Michel Gondry ( Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind ) Starring Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, Edward James Olmos, Edward Furlong. Written by Rogen and Evan Goldberg, cinematography by Oscar nominee John Schwartzman ( Seabiscuit ) editing by Michael Tronick ( Scent Of A Woman ) original score by multiple Oscar nominee James Newton Howard ( Defiance, Michael Clayton )

Premise: Britt Reid (Seth Rogen), the son of wealthy newspaper publisher James Reid (Tom Wilkinson), is a ne'er do well playboy who inherits a media empire after his father dies. One day, he meets an employee named Kato (Jay Chou), who is more than he appears. After realizing how he and Kato waste their abilities, Britt decides that the two should become crimefighters, taking on the identity of the Green Hornet. With the help of his new secretary, Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), Britt discovers that Russian criminal Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz) controls the city's criminal underworld. Meanwhile, Chudonfsky, paranoid that he is losing his edge as a crime boss, has united all of the gangs of the city and seeks the Green Hornet, believing him to be a direct threat to his elaborate grand plan.

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violent action, language, sensuality and drug content.

Oscar chances ? Not in any main categories, you can bet on that. But it may get visual effects and sound design attention.

Everybody has a top 10: Here's mine...

Some of these choices may be biased because I read the novels ( and liking them ) before seeing the films, but I have surprised myself in my favorite movie of the year is a documentary. But what a moving film it is ! You'd have to have no human pulse to not get something from that film. It's invigorating, frustrating and then satisfying at least from the families standpoint, that they get to tell their side of the story.

And in a NOT surprise, that I still have Shutter Island in my top 5. There are many reasons why I think the film is a good one as I have written about on this site in the past. The Rush documentary is a total biased choice. But I have always loved the band and you wouldn't even need to be a fan of the group to enjoy this in depth career retrospective. Other than that, some career best performances by Natalie Portman, James Franco and Colin Firth in their respective films.

1) The Tillman Story
2) Animal Kingdom
3) A Prophet
4) The Fighter
5) Shutter Island
6) The King's Speech
7) True Grit
8) 127 Hours
9) Black Swan
10) Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage

Honorable mention: Inception, The Social Network, The Town, The Ghost Writer, Winter's Bone, Solitary Man.

Happy birthday to Denzel Washington

Denzel turns 56 today and the actor still very much in the acting game, though some might argue his most recent choices of film roles aren't as top notch as they were say a decade ago, but he seems to still be making at least one film a year. His current film that is still in theaters Unstoppable, has been well received critically and he is now in pre-production for his next film, Safehouse with Ryan Reynolds and Tim McGraw due out in 2012.
He's been nominated for an Academy Award 5 times and winning twice; once in the leading actor category for Training Day and once in support for Glory.

Top 10 grossing movies of 2010

1) Toy Story 3- $ 1,057,100,000
2) Alice In Wonderland- $ 1,019,200,000
3) Inception- $ 816,900,000
4) Shrek Forever- $ 731,100,000
5) The Twilight Saga: Eclipse- $ 626,900,000
6) Iron Man 2- $ 616,800,000
7) Despicable Me- $ 536,700,000
8) How To Train Your Dragon- $ 492,600,000
9) Clash Of The Titans- $ 491,600,000
10) The Karate Kid- $ 339,500,000

None of these films but Inception made my top 10, but that's to be expected because there are a bunch children/family films on that top 10 list. 4 films are sequels and 3 films are remakes.

These are the names you will see come Oscar night

These are not set in stone Oscar predictions, but with one week left in the year and many precursor nominations already set, and myself doing this this for almost 20 years, I can safely say the names I mention in each category WILL be the 5 names you see somewhere on this list showing up on the ballot when the nominees are announced.

Leading Actor

Javier Bardem- Biutiful
Jeff Bridges- True Grit
Michael Douglas- Solitary Man
Robert Duvall- Get Low
Jesse Eisenberg- The Social Network
Ryan Gosling- Blue Valentine
Colin Firth- The King's Speech
James Franco- 127 Hours

I have Michael Douglas as a dark horse just because of the year he had being very good in one film and being best in show in The Wall Street sequel. His face has also been plastered all over magazines lately too so that keeps his image in the minds of people including Academy members. I think his role in Solitary Man is one of the best performances of the year.. So maybe the sympathy card may get him nominated. So far he's only received a Satellite nod. He's my long shot.

Leading Actress

Annette Bening- The Kid's Are Alright
Sally Hawkins- Made In Dagenham
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence- Winter's Bone
Lesley Manville- Another Year ( category placement issues )
Julianne Moore- The Kid's Are Alright
Natalie Portman- Black Swan
Hilary Swank- Conviction
Michelle Williams- Blue Valentine
Naomi Watts- Fair Game

It's looking like the race is going to be a shootout between Portman and Bening. It could easily go either way. They just might give it to Bening as a veteran who hasn't won an Oscar yet.

Supporting Actor

Christian Bale- The Fighter
Michael Douglas- Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Aaron Eckhart- Rabbit Hole
Andrew Garfield- The Social Network
Ed Harris- The Way Back
John Hawkes- Winter's Bone
Bill Murray- Get Low
Sean Penn- Fair Game
Jeremy Renner- The Town
Sam Rockwell- Conviction
Mark Ruffalo- The Kid's Are Alright
Geoffrey Rush- The King's Speech

It's looking like it's Christian Bale's award to lose. Do I see anybody worthy of dismantling him ? If it is anybody, it would be Rush as speech therapist Lionel Louge.

Supporting Actress

Amy Adams- The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter- The King's Speech
Barbra Hershey- Black Swan
Mila Kunis- Black Swan
Melissa Leo- The Fighter
Rosamund Pike- Made In Dagenham
Sissy Spacek- Get Low
Hailee Steinfeld- True Grit
Jacki Weaver- Animal Kingdom
Diane Wiest- Rabbit Hole

This one looks like it's going to be one of the ladies from The Fighter. But... Jacki Weaver has won a couple of precursors, so she could come in and win it too. Can newcomer Hailee Steinfeld be the surprise and and win ?

Director

Ben Affleck- The Town
Darren Aronofsky- Black Swan
Danny Boyle- 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko- The Kid's Are Alright
Ethan and Joel Coen- True Grit
David Fincher- The Social Network
Debra Granik- Winter's Bone
Tom Hooper- The King's Speech
Christopher Nolan- Inception
David O. Russell- The Fighter
Martin Scorsese- Shutter Island

This one category will be interesting. I think there is going to be a split. I have a feeling that Fincher might win director and The King's Speech winning best picture.
Kind of like the situation where Ang Lee won for director on Brokeback Mountain yet Crash won best picture. I wouldn't be surprised if it went down that way.

Your Higness trailer

April 8

Directed by David Gordon Green ( Pineapple Express ) Starring James Franco, Natalie Portman, Danny McBride, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Theroux, Toby Jones, Damien Lewis.

I know you cannot make a full formed opinion on a film based totally on it's trailer, but my first reaction was mixed at best with this. It has a decent cast, so you just never know. Here's the synopsis of the film...

Throughout history, tales of chivalry have burnished the legends of brave, handsome knights who rescue fair damsels, slay dragons and conquer evil. But behind many a hero is a good-for-nothing younger brother trying just to stay out of the way of those dragons, evil and trouble in general. Danny McBride and James Franco team up for an epic comedy adventure set in a fantastical world-Your Highness. As two princes on a daring mission to save their land, they must rescue the heir apparent's fiancée before their kingdom is destroyed. Thadeous (McBride) has spent his life watching his perfect older brother Fabious (Franco) embark upon valiant journeys and win the hearts of his people. Tired of being passed over for adventure, adoration and the throne, he's settled for a life of wizard's weed, hard booze and easy maidens. But when Fabious' bride-to-be, Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), gets kidnapped by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux)...

1990's Total Recall to get remade

Everybody who visits this site knows by now how I detest remakes, save for the recent Coen brothers recent take on True Grit, as that isn't a straight across remake, it's more closer to the written source material ( book ) than the 1969 film was. But for the most part I think they are a waste of time and easy cash grabs for the vapid, chainstore mentallity of of movie going audiences.
Now Columbia Pictures has ponied up 200 million dollars for a remake of the Paul Verhoven directed and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone sci-fi cult classic, Total Recall.
Why ? You got me there. This time the studio is casting Colin Farrell as Doug Quaide.
I'll sit this version out thank you.

Another Year Preview/Synopsis

December 29

Written and directed by Mike Leigh ( Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake ) Starring Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen, Stuart McQuarrie, Imelda Staunton, Peter Wright, David Bradley, Oliver Maltman, Martin Savage, Michele Austin. Cinematography by Oscar nominee Dick Pope ( The Illusionist ) Editing by BAFTA nominee Jon Gregory ( In Bruges, The Road ) Original score by Gary Yershon ( Happy Go Lucky )

Premise: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Family and friendship. Love and warmth. Joy and sadness. Hope and despair. Companionship. Loneliness. A birth. A death. Time passes... A happily married, middle-aged couple is visited by a number of friends who use them as confidants.

Rated PG-13 for some language. 129 min.

Oscar chances ? Pretty decent for picture, and Lesley Manville won the National Board Of Review for Best Actress, so she may have a chance in one of the actress categories. Screenplay has an outside chance as well.

Blue Valentine Preview/Synopsis

December 29

Directed by Derek Cianfrance and starring Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams, Mike Vogel, Jon Donman,Ben Shenkman, written by Cianfrance, Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne, Cinematography by Andrij Parekh ( Sugar, Half Nelson ) Editing by Jim Helton and Ron Pafone, Original score by Grizzly Bear.

The film centers on a married couple, Dean ( Gosling ) and Cindy ( Williams ), and their relationship over a number of years by shifting between different time periods. Problems with the marriage center around Cindy's ambition, juxtaposed to Dean's contentment to center his life around his wife and child.

Rated R for strong sexual graphic content, language and a beating. 120 min.

Oscar chances ? Pretty good for both Gosling and Williams. Both have some precursor nominations plus Golden Globe nods, so they may stand a chance. Screenplay is a long shot but could sneak in.

The Lincoln Lawyer Trailer

March 18, 2011

Directed by Brad Furman ( The Take ) Starring Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei, Willam H. Macy, Josh Lucas, Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Francis Fisher, Michael Pena, Michael Pare. Cinematography by Lukas Ettlin ( The Shrink, Middle Men )

Premise: Moderately successful criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller ( McConaughey ) operates around Los Angeles County out of a Lincoln Town Car driven by a former client working off his legal fees (hence the title). While most clients are drug dealers and gangsters, the story focuses on an unusually important case of wealthy Los Angeles Realtor Louis Roulet ( Phillippe ) accused of assault and attempted murder. At first, he appears to be innocent and set up by the female "victim."

But Roulet's lies and many surprising revelations tear Mickey's case theory to shreds, making him reconsider the situation of Jesus Menendez, a former client now languishing in San Quentin State Prison after pleading guilty to a similar and mysteriously related crime.

In the end, Haller outmaneuvers Roulet (revealed as a villain) without violating ethical obligations, frees the innocent Menendez, and continues in legal practice.

Role watch 2011: Juliette Binoche in Sponsoring

Keep your eye out next year for a role actress Juliette Binoche will be playing in a movie titled Sponsoring, directed by art house lenser Malgarzada Szumowska.

The premise goes like this...Anne ( Binoche ), a Parisian journalist, leads a pleasant life juggling family, work and leisure. She is investigating student prostitution. She meets Alicja, a Polish student whose persona is troubling and seductive and Charlotte, a French woman, more reserved and viewing her prostitution as part of a bitter social struggle. Having "clients" allows the two women to continue their studies. Anne is sensitive to the students' social realities, but little by little their stories touch her more profoundly, leading her to question her own assumptions and sexuality.

No release date has been set yet but I'm thinking in a what looks like a thin year for leading actresses she might have a shot at a Oscar nomination for this role.

Cedar Rapids trailer

February 11, 2011

Starring Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, Isaiah Whitlock Jr., Stephen Root, Kurtwood Smith and Rob Codrry. Miguel Arteta ( Youth In Revolt ) directed.

Insurance agent Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), is a naive insurance salesman. He's never left his small hometown. He's never stayed at a hotel. And he's never experienced anything like Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Sent to represent his company at the annual insurance convention, Tim is soon distracted by three convention veterans (John C. Reilly, Anne Heche and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) who will show him the ropes and push his boundaries. For a guy who plays everything by the book, this convention will be anything but conventional.

Making it's debut at the Sundance Film Festival.

Keep in mind The Whistleblower

Here's a film and a performance to mark your calender for. It doesn't come out in theaters till August in America, but this film based on a true story, "Whistleblower" chronicles the trials of a female cop ( Weisz ) from Nebraska who serves as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and exposes a United Nations cover-up of a sex trafficking scandal.
The film is directed by Larysa Kodracki and also stars Vanessa Redgrave, David Strathairn, Monica Bellucci, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Anna Anissimova.
Sounds like Oscar-ish type of material for Weisz. Though she did win best supporting actress for The Constant Gardener in supporting actress, she has yet to earn an Oscar nomination for a leading role. This project seems like it may just be the performance where she receives attention in the female leading category for once.

Neill Blomkamp's Distrcit 9 follow up

Much to the dismay of some District 9 fans, director Neill Blomkamp's next film WON'T be the sequel to District 9. But... he will reunite with the star of that film Shartlo Copley, for yet another sci-fi themed film titled Elysium.
The film's plot is tightly under wraps at this point, but the director and star did make an appearance at Comic Con and they mentioned some high profile actors have shown interest and some others have been contacted already.

Black Death trailer

February 4, 2011

Directed by Christopher Smith ( Triangle, Severence ) Starring Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Carice Van Houten, David Warner, Kimberley Nixon, Tygo Gernandt, Andy Nyman, John Lynch.

Premise: The film takes place in 1348 in plague-ridden medieval England. Osmund (Redmayne), a young monk, unbeknownst to his brothers, has fallen in love with a young girl who took sanctuary in the monastery. After the plague befalls his monastery, he believes it no longer safe and sends her home to the marshes. She asks him to join her but he declines on account of his vows, after which she tells him she will wait for him in the marshes by a marker for a week. Soon after, Osmund prays that God will show him a sign as he wishes to leave to join her. As he is doing so, a group of soldiers enters the Church looking for a guide to a village not far from where Osmund's love Avrill was to wait for him. Osmund takes this as a sign and volunteers to lead the feared knight Ulric (Bean) and his band of mercenaries to a remote marshland village which has remained untouched by the Black Death. Their quest is to hunt down a necromancer, who is rumoured to be able to bring the dead back to life.

Happy birthday to Jane Fonda

Actress, political activist and health enthusiast Jane Fonda, turns 73 years young today. I say young as she is defying age. The woman is a in good shaper as she was 25years ago.
The picture above is her character in the latest film is has in post production with her playing a old hippie from the 60's titled Peace, Love and Misunderstanding also starring Catherine Keener due out next year.
Ms. Fonda is a five time Oscar nominee ( The Morning After, On Golden Pond, The China Syndrome, Julia and They Shoot Horses Don't They ? ) and winning two for Coming Home and Klute. She's also received a Golden Globe nod for Any Wednesday, Cat Ballou and Period Of Adjustment. Also a BAFTA nomination for Barefoot In The Park.
For her role as the aging hippie in her next film, many so called movie pundits look at the role as sort of a comeback and might be Oscar worthy.

Paul trailer

March 18

Directed by Greg Mottola ( Superbad, Adventureland ) starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Sigourney Weaver, Jane Lynch, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, Jeffrey Tambor, David Koechner and John Carrol Lynch.
Larence Sher ( Garden State, The Hangover ) cinematography.

Premise: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) reunite for the comedy adventure Paul as two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage takes them to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. For reasons unknown, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town-a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes.

Hanna trailer

Release date: April 8, 2011

Directed by Joe Wright ( Atonement, The Soloist ) starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana, Olivia Williams, Tom Hollonder.
Alwin H. Kulcher ( Solitary Man, Proof ) cinematography.

Premsie: Hanna (Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a solider; these come from being raised by her father (Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Ms. Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.

Somewhere Preview/Synopsis

December 22

Written and directed by Sophia Coppola ( Marie Antoinette, Lost In Translation ) starring Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Michelle Monaghan, Chris Pontius. Cinematography by Harris Sadives ( Milk, American Gangster ) Editing by Sarah Flack ( Away We Go, Lost and Translation ) and Original score by Phoenix.

Coming from Academy award winning writer and director Sophia Coppola brings this witty, moving, and empathetic look into the orbit of actor Johnny Marco (played by Stephen Dorff). You have probably seen him in the tabloids; Johnny is living at the legendary Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood. He has a Ferrari to drive around in, and a constant stream of girls and pills to stay in with. Comfortably numbed, Johnny drifts along. Then, his 11-year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) from his failed marriage arrives unexpectedly at the Chateau. Their encounters encourage Johnny to face up to where he is in life and confront the question that we all must: which path in life will you take

Rated R for sexual content, nudity and language. 97 min.

Oscar chances? I'm not really feeling it since we are almost all through with the precursor awards to the Oscar's and this film received minimal nominations.

True Grit Preview/Synopsis

December 22

Written, directed and edited by Oscar winners Joel and Ethan Coen ( Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Burn After Reading ) starring Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, Bruce Green, Domhnall Gleeson, Paul Rae. Cinematography by multiple Oscar nominee Roger Deakins ( Fargo, No Country For Old Men ) Original music by Carter Burwell ( The Alamo, Fargo )

Premise: More faithful to the Charles Portis novel than the John Wayne 1969 film, the story tells the tale of fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross's (Hailee Steinfeld) father has been shot in cold blood by the coward Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), and she is determined to bring him to justice. Enlisting the help of a trigger-happy, drunken U.S. Marshal, Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets out with him -- over his objections -- to hunt down Chaney. Her father's blood demands that she pursue the criminal into Indian territory and find him before a Texas Ranger named LeBoeuf (Matt Damon) catches him and brings him back to Texas for the murder of another man.

Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of Western violence and disturbing images.

Oscar chances ? Very good. Possibly could garner upwards to nine, but most likely locked for picture, supporting actress, adapted screenplay, cinematography, art direction, costumes, makeup and score. Outside chance for the Coen brothers snagging a directors nomination as well. It's going to get a lot of nominations.

Oliver Stone to do Savages

Oliver Stone won't have a film out in 2011, but he is in pre-production on an adaptation of Don Winslow's book Savages: A Novel. Here is the basic premise as to what the story is about...

Premise: Ben and Chon are two Americans running a lucrative marijuana operation out of ritzy Laguna Beach, California. Their business is buzzing along nicely until members of the Mexican Baja Cartel decide they want a piece of the action. Ben, a charitable, environmentally conscious Berkeley grad, doesn’t want any trouble. Former Navy Seal Chon prefers peace as well but not if it means giving up primo weed. When Ben and Chon resist the Mexicans’ demands, the cartel kidnaps “O” (short for Ophelia), the boys’ close confidante and frequent bedroom playmate. Ben and Chon conjure clever schemes to outwit their adversaries and win back O, using everything from improvised explosive devices to Letterman and Leno masks. Edgar nominee and Shamus winner Winslow, who first evoked the violent world of the Mexican drug cartels in the best-selling narco-thriller Power of the Dog (2005), dispenses short chapters that drive his plot breathlessly forward. He also serves up plenty of savage wit. After Ben dons a Gerald Ford disguise for one of the pair’s heists, he smacks his head against the car door, quipping, “I’m a method hijacker.” Riddled with bullets and splattered with blood, Savages is not for the squeamish, but it’s a must for Winslow fans

Happy Birthday Jake Gyllenhaal

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal turns the big 3-0- today. The Oscar nominated actor has had a good career thus far with decent turns in Brokeback Mountain, Jarhead, Donnie Darko and this years Love and Other Drugs. He next can be seen in the sci-fi thriller Source Code, that comes out in the spirng of 2011.

Birthdays for Spielberg and Pitt

Two Hollywood A listers celebrate their birthday on the same day today. Mega director Steven Spielberg turns 64, and actor Brad Pitt is 47 respectively.
As for projects... Spielberg specifically is as busy as he has ever been. He has The War Horse coming next Christmas and also he and Peter Jackson have The Adventures of Tintin. Then he'll direct Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln, the biopic about our 16th President. Busy he is indeed.
As for Pitt, his has two high profile films coming in 2011 first, the long delayed Terrence Malick film, The Tree Of Life with Sean Penn. Then the Billy Beane/Oakland A's film Moneyball, directed by Bennet Miller. ( Capote )

Water For Elephants trailer

Release date: April 15, 2011

Directed by Francis Lawrence ( I Am Legend ) starring Robert Pattinson, Reece Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook, Paul Schneider, Dan Lauria.
Rodrigo Prieto ( Frida, Brokeback Mountain ) cinematography.

Premise: As a young man, Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie.

It was there that he met Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), the beautiful equestrian star married to August (Christoph Waltz), the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an un-trainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival

Screen Actors Guild Nominations

No real BIG surprises here, other than Hilary Swank's nomination for Conviction... in which by the way is her first nomination of the year. This nod could influence her chances at an Oscar nomination now. Doesn't hurt that's for sure.
Glad to see John Hawkes there in support for Winter's Bone, he's a character actor that's been doing it for a long time and he's very convincing in that role as Teardrop. I don't understand the Jeremy Renner nod for The Town. He was good but I didn't feel worthy of SAG attention. I'd have Sam Rockwell or Michael Douglas in there instead of Renner. Nice to see newcomer Hailee Steinfeld get a supporting nomination for True Grit as Mattie Ross. She held her own just fine in the film against some cagey veterans such as Bridges, Damon and Brolin.

17th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® NOMINATIONS

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
JEFF BRIDGES / Rooster Cogburn – “TRUE GRIT” (Paramount Pictures)
ROBERT DUVALL / Felix Bush - "GET LOW” (Sony Pictures Classics)
JESSE EISENBERG / Mark Zuckerberg - "THE SOCIAL NETWORK" (Columbia Pictures)
COLIN FIRTH / King George VI - "THE KING’S SPEECH" (The Weinstein Company)
JAMES FRANCO / Aron Ralston - "127 HOURS" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNETTE BENING / Nic - "THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT” (Focus Features)
NICOLE KIDMAN / Becca – “RABBIT HOLE” (Lionsgate)
JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Ree Dolly – “WINTER’S BONE” (Roadside Attractions)
NATALIE PORTMAN / Nina Sayers – “BLACK SWAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
HILARY SWANK / Betty Anne Waters – “CONVICTION” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
CHRISTIAN BALE / Dicky Eklund – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures)
JOHN HAWKES / Teardrop – “WINTER’S BONE” (Roadside Attractions)
JEREMY RENNER / James Coughlin – “THE TOWN” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
MARK RUFFALO / Paul – “THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT” (Focus Features)
GEOFFREY RUSH / Lionel Logue – “THE KING’S SPEECH” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS / Charlene Fleming – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures)
HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Queen Elizabeth – “THE KING’S SPEECH” (The Weinstein Company)
MILA KUNIS / Lily – “BLACK SWAN” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
MELISSA LEO / Alice Ward – “THE FIGHTER” (Paramount Pictures)
HAILEE STEINFELD / Mattie Ross – “TRUE GRIT” (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

BLACK SWAN (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
VINCENT CASSEL / Thomas Leroy
BARBARA HERSHEY / Erica Sayers
MILA KUNIS / Lily
NATALIE PORTMAN / Nina Sayers
WINONA RYDER / Beth Macintyre

THE FIGHTER (Paramount Pictures)
AMY ADAMS / Charlene Fleming
CHRISTIAN BALE / Dicky Eklund
MELISSA LEO / Alice Ward
JACK MCGEE / George Ward
MARK WAHLBERG / Micky Ward

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (Focus Features)
ANNETTE BENING / Nic
JOSH HUTCHERSON / Laser
JULIANNE MOORE / Jules
MARK RUFFALO / Paul
MIA WASIKOWSKA / Joni

THE KING’S SPEECH (The Weinstein Company)
ANTHONY ANDREWS / Stanley Baldwin
HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Queen Elizabeth
JENNIFER EHLE / Myrtle Logue
COLIN FIRTH / King George VI
MICHAEL GAMBON / King George V
DEREK JACOBI / Archbishop Cosmo Lang
GUY PEARCE / King Edward VIII
GEOFFREY RUSH / Lionel Logue
TIMOTHY SPALL / Winston Churchill

THE SOCIAL NETWORK (Columbia Pictures)
JESSE EISENBERG / Mark Zuckerberg
ANDREW GARFIELD / Eduardo Saverin
ARMIE HAMMER / Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss
MAX MINGHELLA / Divya Narendra
JOSH PENCE / Tyler Winklevoss
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE / Sean Parker

R.I.P. Blake Edwards

Blake Edwards succumbed to pneumonia today at the age of 88 with his longtime wife Julie Andrews and family by his side.

He will always be remembered as the man that made The Pink Panther franchise so popular on the big screen. He also should get credit for introducing us ( young men that is ) to the lovely Bo Derrek when she made her big screen debut in the Dudley Moore farce 10.

Limitless trailer

Release date: March 18, 2011

Was once titled The Dark Fields based from the novel of the same name, is directed by Neil Burger, who directed The Illusionist and stars Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish and Anna Friel.

It's about a intellectual slacker and former cocaine addict, now eking out a living as a copywriter for a small publishing house. Through a bizarre series of coincidences, Eddie finds himself in possession of MTD-48, a drug that has some curious effects. On his first trip, Eddie discovers that the drug boosts the intellect, making him far smarter - but also faster, more intuitive, and more charismatic. By warding off sleep and focusing his attention span, Eddie finds that the drug enables him, in a matter of hours, to write a book, learn a foreign language, or predict certain events by detecting patterns in vast amounts of information. What author Glynn has imagined, is the perfect drug for the information age, one that makes its user a match for the ceaseless flow of data from television and newspapers to the Internet rather than being lost in the overload of endless news, history, opinions, and other information.

Rabbit Hole Preview/Synopsis

December 17th ( wide on the 25th )

Directed by John Cameron Mitchell ( Hedwig The Angry Inch ) Starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Diane Wiest, Sandra Oh, Giancarlo Esposito, Tammy Blanchard, Jon Tenny. Cinematography by Frank G. DeMarco ( The Winning Season ) Edited by Joe Klotz ( Precious, Grace Is Gone ) Original score by Anton Sanko ( TV's Big Love )

Becca and Howie Corbett are a happily married couple whose perfect world is forever changed when their young son, Danny, is killed by a car. Becca, an executive-turned-stay-at-home mother, tries to redefine her existence in a surreal landscape of well-meaning family and friends. Painful, poignant, and often funny, Becca's experiences lead her to find solace in a mysterious relationship with a troubled young comic-book artist, Jason - the teenage driver of the car that killed Danny. Becca's fixation with Jason pulls her away from memories of Danny, while Howie immerses himself in the past, seeking refuge in outsiders who offer him something Becca is unable to give. The Corbetts, both adrift, make surprising and dangerous choices as they choose a path that will determine their fate.

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some drug use and language. 91 min.

Oscar chances ? Very good for Kidman, who has already earned Golden Globe and SAG nominations for this performance thus far. Wiest has an outside chance at a supporting actress nod, though she has been relatively shut out in the precursor awards, but you just never know.

Glenn Close to return to the big screen

Veteran actress Glenn Close, who happens to be nominated for a Golden Globe for her role on TV's Damages this year, will be returning to the big screen next year in a film called Albert Nobbs. It's based off a George Brown short story that's based in Ireland at the end of the 18th century, about a woman who pretends to be a man and works as a butler and was never discovered. Close played the role on Broadway in the early 80's to good reviews.
The film is directed by Rodrigo Garcia ( Mother and Child ) and co-stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Michael Gambon, Brenda Fricker, Janet McTeer, Mia Wasikowska and Aaron Johnson.

How Do You Know Preview/Synopsis

December 17

Written and directed by James L. Brooks ( Terms Of Endearment, As Good As It Gets ) Starring Reece Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson, Kathryn Hahn, Tony Shaloub, Dean Norris, Ron McClarty and Mark Linn- Baker. Cinematography by Oscar winner Janusz Kaminski ( Saving Private Ryan ) Editied by Oscar nominee Richard Marks ( Broadcast News ) and Tracey Woodmore-Smith ( Hitch ) and Original Score by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer ( The Lion King, Gladiator )

The premise: Lisa (Witherspoon) is a woman whose athletic ability is the defining passion of her life, having been her focus since early childhood. When she is cut from her team, everything she has ever known is suddenly taken from her. Not knowing what to do, she stumbles toward regular life. In this mode, she begins a fling with Matty (Wilson), a major league baseball pitcher, a self-centered ladies man – a narcissist with a code of honor.

George (Rudd) is a straight-arrow businessman whose complicated relationship with his father, Charles (Nicholson), takes a turn when George is accused of a financial crime, even though he's done nothing wrong. Though he may be headed to jail, George's honesty, integrity, and unceasing optimism may be his only path to keeping his sanity.

Before Lisa's relationship with Matty takes root, she meets George for a first date on the worst evening of each of their lives: she has just been cut, and he has just been served. When everything else seems to be falling apart, they will discover what it means to have something wonderful happen

Rated PG-13 for language and sexual situations. 91 minutes

Oscar chances ? Not this film or performances.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides trailer

May 20, 2011

This fourth enstallment will see Rob Marshall ( Chicago, Nine ) take over directorial duties this time with a new leading lady replaceing Keira Knightley, Penelope Cruz. The film will also star Ian McShane as Blackbeard, Geoffrey Rush, Kevin McNally, Richard Griffiths, Stephen Graham, and small roles for Judi Dench and Keith Richards. Dariusz Wolski ( Crimson Tide, Sweeney Todd ) cinematography.

Premise: Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with a woman from his past (Penélope Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love—or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past

The Tree Of Life trailer

May 27, 2011

Directed by Terrence Malick ( The New World, The Thin Red Line, Days Of Heaven ) Starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Fiona Shaw, Kari Matchett, Hugh McCracken. Emannuel Lubezki ( Children Of Men, Sleepy Hollow ) cinematography.

Golden Globe nominations

Well, I don't want to be like every other movie website person out there making claims as to who should have been nominated, who got robbed or the jokes of certain films and or actrors that got in over someone else. They are all over the internet. If you are very familiar with film in the year of 2010, you will see for yourself the exclusions and strange nominations.

The King’s Speech leads with 7. The Fighter and The Social Network tie for second with 6. The Golden Globes will take place on NBC January 16th.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
BLACK SWAN
THE FIGHTER
INCEPTION
THE KING’S SPEECH
THE SOCIAL NETWORK

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Halle Berry, FRANKIE AND ALICE
Nicole Kidman, RABBIT HOLE
Jennifer Lawrence, WINTER’S BONE
Natalie Portman, BLACK SWAN
Michelle Williams, BLUE VALENTINE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
Jesse Eisenberg, THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Colin Firth, THE KING’S SPEECH
James Franco, 127 HOURS
Ryan Gosling, BLUE VALENTINE
Mark Wahlberg, THE FIGHTER

BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
BURLESQUE
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
RED
THE TOURIST

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Annette Bening, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Anne Hathaway, LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS
Angelina Jolie, THE TOURIST
Julianne Moore, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Emma Stone, EASY A

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE -MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Johnny Depp, ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Johnny Depp, THE TOURIST
Paul Giamatti, BARNEY’S VERSION
Jake Gyllenhaal, LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS
Kevin Spacey, CASINO JACK

BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, BLACK SWAN
David Fincher, THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Tom Hooper, THE KING’S SPEECH
Christopher Nolan, INCEPTION
David O. Russell, THE FIGHTER


BEST SCREENPLAY
Danny Boyle, 127 HOURS
Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Hart, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Christopher Nolan, INCEPTION
David Seidler, THE KING’S SPEECH
Aaron Sorkin, THE SOCIAL NETWORK

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Alexander Desplat, THE KING’S SPEECH
Danny Elfman, ALICE IN WONDERLAND
A.R. Rahman, 127 HOURS
Trent Reznor, THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Hans Zimmer, INCEPTION

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
BIUTIFUL
THE CONCERT
THE EDGE
I AM LOVE
IN A BETTER WORLD

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Amy Adams, THE FIGHTER
Helena Bonham Carter, THE KING’S SPEECH
Mila Kunis, BLACK SWAN
Melissa Leo, THE FIGHTER
Jacki Weaver, ANIMAL KINGDOM

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Christian Bale, THE FIGHTER
Michael Douglas, WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS
Andrew Garfield, THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Jeremy Renner, THE TOWN
Geoffrey Rush, THE KING’S SPEECH

BEST ANIMATED FILM
DESPICABLE ME
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
THE ILLUSIONIST
TANGLED
TOY STORY

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“Bound to You” – BURLESQUE
“Coming Home” – COUNTRY STRONG
“I See the Light” – TANGLED
“There’s a Place for Us” – THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE DAWN TREADER
“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” – BURLESQUE

Thor trailer

May 6, 2011

Directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Stellen Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Rene Russo, Idris Elb and Colm Feore.

San Diego film critics chime in

I wonder how many people are actually in this guild ? Here's how San Diego thinks...Just as I said I was sad to not see Robert Richardson's name not up for his cinematography for Shutter Island in many precursor awards, low and behold, San Diego got it right.

Best Picture

BLACK SWAN
INCEPTION
THE FIGHTER
THE KING’S SPEECH
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
WINTER’S BONE

Best Director –
Christopher Nolan, INCEPTION
Danny Boyle, 127 HOURS
Darren Aronofsky, BLACK SWAN
David Fincher, THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Debra Granik, WINTER’S BONE

Best Actress-
Carey Mulligan, NEVER LET ME GO
Jennifer Lawrence, WINTER’S BONE
Michelle Williams, BLUE VALENTINE
Natalie Portman, BLACK SWAN
Tilda Swinton, I AM LOVE

Best Actor –
Aaron Eckhart, RABBIT HOLE
Colin Farrell, ONDINE
Colin Firth, THE KING’S SPEECH
James Franco, 127 HOURS
Jesse Eisenberg, THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Supporting Actress-
Blake Lively, THE TOWN
Dale Dickey, WINTER’S BONE
Jacki Weaver, ANIMAL KINGDOM
Lesley Manville, ANOTHER YEAR
Melissa Leo, THE FIGHTER

Best Supporting Actor –
Christian Bale, THE FIGHTER
Geoffrey Rush, THE KING’S SPEECH
Jeremy Renner, THE TOWN
John Hawkes, WINTER’S BONE
John Hurt, 44 INCH CHEST

Best Original Screenplay –
Christopher Nolan, INCEPTION
David Seidler, THE KING’S SPEECH
Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain and Chris Morris, FOUR LIONS
Michael Ardnt, TOY STORY 3
Neil Jordan, ONDINE

Best Adapted Screenplay –
Aaron Sorkin, THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Debra Granik & Anne Roselini, WINTER’S BONE
Laeta Kalogridis, SHUTTER ISLAND
Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright, SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD
Peter Craig & Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard, THE TOWN

Best Foreign Language Film –
BIUTIFUL
I AM LOVE
MOTHER
NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Best Documentary-
A FILM UNFINISHED
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP
INSIDE JOB
THE TILLMAN STORY
WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’

Best Cinematography –
Anthony Dod Mantle & Enrique Chediak, 127 HOURS
Eduardo Serra, HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1
Matthew Labatique, BLACK SWAN
Robert Richardson, SHUTTER ISLAND
Wally Pfister, INCEPTION

Best Animated Film –
DESPICABLE ME
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
TANGLED
THE ILLUSIONIST
TOY STORY 3

Best Editing-
Andrew Weisblum, BLACK SWAN
Angus Wall & Kirk Baxter, THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Jon Harris, 127 HOURS
Jonathan Amos & Paul Machliss, SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD
Lee Smith, INCEPTION

Best Production Design-
Dante Ferreti, SHUTTER ISLAND
Guy Hendrix Dyas, INCEPTION
Robert Stromberg, ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Stuart Craig, HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1
Therese De Prez, BLACK SWAN

Best Score -
A. R. Rahman, 127 HOURS
Clint Mansell, BLACK SWAN
Danny Elfman, ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Rachel Portman, NEVER LET ME GO
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Ensemble Performance –
44 INCH CHEST
ANOTHER YEAR
THE FIGHTER
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
WINTER’S BONE

Broadcast Film Critics Award nominations

Can't say that I'm all that surprised by these names and films shown on this ballot. Would have liked to see Shutter Island in the best film category. Michael Douglas for Solitary Man instead of Jesse Eisenberg. No love for Naomi Watts for her fine acting in Fair Game. I'd also swap out Andrew Garfield and Jeremy Renner for Sean Penn and Bill Murray in supporting. I'd switch out Kunis with Miranda Richardson for her fine work in Made In Dagenham. And finally one HUGE omission is that of Robert Richardson in the cinematography category not getting in for what is one of the best lensing/lighted films of 2010 on Shutter Island.

The 16th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards will be given on 14 January 2011 to honor the finest achievements in 2010 filmmaking.

BEST PICTURE

Nominees:

•127 Hours
•Black Swan
•The Fighter
•Inception
•The King's Speech
•The Social Network
•The Town
•Toy Story 3
•True Grit
•Winter's Bone

BEST ACTOR

Nominees:

•Jeff Bridges - "True Grit"
•Robert Duvall - "Get Low"
•Jesse Eisenberg - "The Social Network"
•Colin Firth - "The King's Speech"
•James Franco - "127 Hours"
•Ryan Gosling - "Blue Valentine"

BEST ACTRESS

Nominees:

•Annette Bening - "The Kids Are All Right"
•Nicole Kidman - "Rabbit Hole"
•Jennifer Lawrence - "Winter's Bone"
•Natalie Portman - "Black Swan"
•Noomi Rapace - "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
•Michelle Williams - "Blue Valentine"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nominees:

•Christian Bale - "The Fighter"
•Andrew Garfield - "The Social Network"
•Jeremy Renner - "The Town"
•Sam Rockwell - "Conviction"
•Mark Ruffalo - "The Kids Are All Right"
•Geoffrey Rush - "The King's Speech"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Nominees:

•Amy Adams - "The Fighter"
•Helena Bonham Carter - "The King's Speech"
•Mila Kunis - "Black Swan"
•Melissa Leo - "The Fighter"
•Hailee Steinfeld - "True Grit"
•Jacki Weaver - "Animal Kingdom"

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS

Nominees:

•Elle Fanning - "Somewhere"
•Jennifer Lawrence - "Winter's Bone"
•Chloe Grace Moretz - "Let Me In"
•Chloe Grace Moretz - "Kick-Ass"
•Kodi Smit-McPhee - "Let Me In"
•Hailee Steinfeld - "True Grit"

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

Nominees:

•The Fighter
•The Kids Are All Right
•The King's Speech
•The Social Network
•The Town

BEST DIRECTOR

Nominees:

•Darren Aronofsky - "Black Swan"
•Danny Boyle - "127 Hours"
•Joel Coen & Ethan Coen - "True Grit"
•David Fincher - "The Social Network"
•Tom Hooper - "The King's Speech"
•Christopher Nolan - "Inception"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Nominees:

•"Another Year" - Mike Leigh
•"Black Swan" - Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin
•"The Fighter" - Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson (Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson)
•"Inception" - Christopher Nolan
•"The Kids Are All Right" - Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg
•"The King's Speech" - David Seidler

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Nominees:

•"127 Hours" - Simon Beaufoy and Danny Boyle
•"The Social Network" - Aaron Sorkin
•"The Town" - Peter Craig and Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard
•"Toy Story 3" - Michael Arndt (Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich)
•"True Grit" - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
•"Winter's Bone" - Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Nominees:

•"127 Hours" - Anthony Dod Mantle and Enrique Chediak
•"Black Swan" - Matthew Libatique
•"Inception" - Wally Pfister
•"The King's Speech" - Danny Cohen
•"True Grit" - Roger Deakins

BEST ART DIRECTION

Nominees:

•"Alice in Wonderland" - Robert Stromberg
•"Black Swan" - Therese DePrez and Tora Peterson
•"Inception" - Guy Hendrix Dyas
•"The King's Speech" - Eve Stewart
•"True Grit" - Jess Gonchor and Nancy Haigh

BEST EDITING

Nominees:

•"127 Hours" - Jon Harris
•"Black Swan" - Andrew Weisblum
•"Inception" - Lee Smith
•"The Social Network" - Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Nominees:

•"Alice in Wonderland" - Colleen Atwood
•"Black Swan" - Amy Westcott
•"The King's Speech" - Jenny Beavan
•"True Grit" - Mary Zophres

BEST MAKEUP

Nominees:

•Alice in Wonderland
•Black Swan
•Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
•True Grit

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Nominees:

•Alice in Wonderland
•Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

•Inception
•Tron: Legacy

BEST SOUND

Nominees:

•127 Hours
•Black Swan
•Inception
•The Social Network
•Toy Story 3

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Nominees:

•Despicable Me
•How to Train Your Dragon
•The Illusionist
•Tangled
•Toy Story 3

BEST ACTION MOVIE

Nominees:

•Inception
•Kick-Ass
•Red
•The Town
•Unstoppable

BEST COMEDY

Nominees:

•Cyrus
•Date Night
•Easy A
•Get Him to the Greek
•I Love You Phillip Morris
•The Other Guys

BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Nominees:

•The Pacific
•Temple Grandin
•You Don't Know Jack

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Nominees:

•Biutiful
•I Am Love
•The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Nominees:

•Exit Through the Gift Shop
•Inside Job
•Restrepo
•Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
•The Tillman Story
•Waiting for Superman

BEST SONG

Nominees:

•"I See the Light" - performed by Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi/written by Alan Menken & Glenn Slater - Tangled
•"If I Rise" - performed by Dido and A.R. Rahman/music by A.R. Rahman/lyrics by Dido Armstrong and Rollo Armstrong - 127 Hours
•"Shine" - performed and written by John Legend - Waiting for Superman
•"We Belong Together" - performed and written by Randy Newman - Toy Story 3
•"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me Yet" - performed by Cher/written by Diane Warren - Burlesque

BEST SCORE

Nominees:

•"Black Swan" - Clint Mansell
•"Inception" - Hans Zimmer
•"The King's Speech" - Alexandre Desplat
•"The Social Network" - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
•"True Grit" - Carter Burwell

Happy Birthday to Tom Wilkinson

A happy birthday goes out to a master thespian Mr. Tom Wilkenson, who turns 62 today. He is a two time Academy Award nominee; one for supporting actor in Michael Clayton and another for leading actor for In The Bedroom, which also earned him some critic award wins as well. He also recieved Golden Globe nods for his roles in the HBO mini-series John Adams, Recount and Normal.
He is now working on another mini-series as Joe Kennedy in The Kennedy's, which will be one to look out for on cable in 2011.

Other celebs celebrating birthdays...

Jennifer Connelly ( 40 )
Bill Nighy ( 62 )
and... the man, chairman of the board, non other than Frank Sinatra ( 1915-1998 )

Los Angeles Film Critics Awards

Well...they are starting to flood in. All the newspaper publication critics are weighing in on who they think are the best films and performances of 2010. To start off, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association has started the ball rolling, with The Social Network taking the honors for their best picture winner. I have a feeling this won't be the film's only win. I'm in the minority where I just don't get the hype of people claiming it this great movie. It was good...but great ? here are the winners and runner ups...

PICTURE:

“The Social Network”
Runner-up: “Carlos”
DIRECTOR:

Olivier Assayas, “Carlos,” and David Fincher, “The Social Network” (tie)
ACTOR:

Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”
Runner-up: Edgar Ramirez, “Carlos”
ACTRESS:

Kim Hye-ja, “Mother”
Runner-up: Jennifer Lawrence, “Winter’s Bone”
SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Niels Arestrup, “A Prophet”
Runner-up: Geoffrey Rush, “The King’s Speech”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Jacki Weaver, “Animal Kingdom”
Runner-up: Olivia Williams, “The Ghost Writer”
SCREENPLAY:

Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network”
Runner-up: David Seidler, “The King’s Speech”

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:

“Carlos”
Runner-up: “Mother”
ANIMATION:

“Toy Story 3″
Runner-up: “The Illusionist”
DOCUMENTARY / NON-FICTION FILM:

“Last Train Home”
Runner-up: “Exit Through the Gift Shop”
CINEMATOGRAPHY:

Matthew Libatique, “Black Swan”
Runner-up: Roger Deakins, “True Grit”
MUSIC/SCORE:

Alexandre Desplat, “The Ghost Writer,” and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “The Social Network” (tie)
PRODUCTION DESIGN:

Guy Hendrix Dyas, “Inception”
Runner-up: Eve Stewart, “The King’s Speech”
NEW GENERATION:

Lena Dunham, “Tiny Furniture”
DOUGLAS E. EDWARDS INDEPENDENT/EXPERIMENTAL FILM/VIDEO:

“Film Socialism”
LEGACY OF CINEMA AWARDS:

Serge Bromberg, “Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno,” and the F.W. Murnau Foundation and Fernando Pena for the restoration of “Metropolis”
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT:

Paul Mazursky

James Franco to direct

Actor James Franco seems to be in his career best years thus far with an Oscar nomination almost a forgone conclusion this year for his ultra believable take as doomed hiker Aron Ralston in 127 Hours. He aslo has a few other film projects in the works. The sci-fi actioner Rise Of The Apes and a supporting role in the Richard Kuklinski biopic with Benicio Del Toro and Michael Shannon called The Iceman. But what's even more interesting is Franco going behind the camera to direct his first film, Broken Tower ( also co-starring Michael Shannon) The film is an adaptation from the book written by Paul Mariani about the late poet Harold Hart Crane. The premise is as follows...

In a short, wild, and mostly unhappy life, Harold Hart Crane (1899-1932) became -- Hart Crane -- a major figure in 20th Century American poetry whose reputation has grown with time. His life became the stuff of legend. Hart Crane left an unhappy home at the age of 17 to live in New York City and follow his dream to become a poet. Without any formal education -- he did not finish high school -- he used his inborn gifts and wide reading to quickly become important to New York's literary culture and community. His first book, White Buildings, is a collection of short, difficult imagistic poetry. His second book, The Bridge, is a lengthy poem offering a mystic, highly personal account of America, its past and its future, using the Brooklyn Bridge is its chief symbol.
Crane's life was one of excess. From late adolescence, Crane drank heavily. He spent a great deal of time in underworld sex picking up sailors in the harbors of New York, all the while trying to conceal his sexual identity from his parents. Towards the end of his life, his behavior grew increasingly violent and self-destructive. He was jailed on several occasions in New York, Paris, and Mexico. Near the end, he did have what seems to be his only heterosexual relationship with Peggy Cowley, the divorced wife of the critic and publisher, Malcolm Cowley. Crane committed suicide when he returned with Peggy Cowley from Mexico in 1932 by jumping off the deck of a ship. He was all of 32.

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon trailer

Dark Of The Moon ?! Who are they kidding ? Don't disgrace the name of one of rock and rolls all time best albums. Come on Michael Bay. Anyway...Here's the new Transformers trailer for the third movie. Do people really enjoy this stuff ? Tried to make it through he first one. It was like pulling teeth !
Everybody is wondering why such thespian's as good as John Malkovich and Frances McDormand are doing in a Transformers movie ? How about probably their biggest payday of their career ?!
I wouldn't mind walking on a set and reciting some schlocky dialogue and half sleep walking and get five millions bucks.
For those they give a rip, Shia is back as Sam Whitwicky, and basically the same cast as the first two as well.

Real Steel teaser trailer

Release date: October 7, 2011

Starring Hugh Jackman, Anthony Mackie, James Rebhorn, Kevin Durand, Evangeline Lilly, Karl Yune, Dakota Goya. Directed by Shawn Levy ( Night at The Museum, Date Night ) Oscar winner Maura Fiore ( Avatar ) cinematography.

Hugh Jackman plays Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

Charlize Theron stars in new Jason Reitman project

Not wasting time after his last Oscar nominated film Up In The Air, Jason Reitman is already underway filming his next film " Young Adult ", a reuinting of sorts with screenwriter Diablo Cody, which earned both director and screenwriter Oscar nominations a few years ago for Juno, with Charlize Theron in the lead and a cast that co-stars Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser and Patton Oswalt.

Young Adult's plot is centered around a thirty-something fiction writer ( Theron ) who’s returning to her Midwestern home turf to hunt down “the one who got away,” only to find that he’s now married and is a father.

The film is seeking a 2011 release date.

Happy Birthday to Kirk Douglas

Iconic film legend Kirk Douglas turns 94 today. The man seems to be doing well in his advancing years even after surviving a life threatening stroke in 1996.
The now retired actor is a three time Oscar nominee, Champion (1949) Lust For Life(1956) and The Bad and The Beautiful (1962) He received a BAFTA nomination for Lonely Is The Brave ( 1962 ) and also a Golden Globe nominee for Detective Story (1951).
But Douglas made many more films with fine performances, such as two films with directing legend Stanley Kubrick ( Paths Of Glory and of course Spartacus ), and other box office hits such as Lust For Life (1956) Gunfight at The OK Corral (1957) The Vikings (1958) Seven Days In May (1964) In Harms Way (1965) and was just as busy in the 1970's where he played the lead in Brian De Palma's thriller The Fury (1978). He even took stabs at trying his hand at comedy with The Villain (1979) and Tough Guys (1986), opposite long time seven time collaborator Burt Lancaster.
As far as lead actors go in Hollywood history, he's simply one of the best from the golden era.

The Company Men Preview/Synopsis

Opening December 10 (limited ) Wide: January 21

Written and directed by John Wells ( ER ) starring Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Costner, RoseMarie DeWitt, Maria Bello, and Craig T. Nelson. Cinematography by multiple Oscar nominee Roger Deakins ( Fargo, No Country For Old Men ) edited by Robert Frazen ( Smart People, Smokin'Aces )

Premise: Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck) is living the American dream: great job, beautiful family, shiny Porsche in the garage. When corporate downsizing leaves him and co-workers Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper) and Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones) jobless, the three men are forced to re-define their lives as men, husbands, and fathers.

Bobby soon finds himself enduring enthusiastic life coaching, a job building houses for his brother-in-law (Kevin Costner) which does not play to his executive skill set, and perhaps the realization that there is more to life than chasing the bigger, better deal. With humor, pathos, and keen observation, writer-director John Wells introduces us to the new realities of American life.

Rated R for language and brief nudity. 109 min.

Oscar chances ? Unlikely, though I must say that anything that Roger Deakins shoots is always of excellent quality...but that being said, he also has True Grit coming in a couple of weeks as well, so I'm thinking that's most likely the film he will garner any attention for 2010.

Season of the Witch trailer

January 7, 2011

Starring Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Stephen Graham, Clair Foy, Christopher Lee, Stephen Campbell Moore, Robert Sheehan and Ulrich Thomsen. Directed by Dominic Sena (Swordfish, Gone in 60 Seconds )

Nicolas Cage stars as a 14th century Crusader who returns with his comrade (Perlman) to a homeland devastated by the Black Plague. A beleaguered church, deeming sorcery the culprit of the plague, commands the two knights to transport an accused witch ( Foy) to a remote abbey, where monks will perform a ritual in hopes of ending the pestilence.

A priest (Moore), a grieving knight (Thomsen), an itinerant swindler (Graham) and a headstrong youth (Sheehan) join a mission troubled by mythically hostile wilderness and fierce contention over the fate of the girl.

Happy birthday Nancy Meyers

Screenwriter/director Nancy Meyers turns 61 today. Most recently effort for directing the popular comedy It's Complicated, where she earned a Golden Globe nomination for best screenplay.
She also was nominated for an Academy Award for writing Private Benjamin as well. Other well known films she has directed are The Holiday and What Women Want.