Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Out on DVD Today (February 2nd)

Here is a bit of what is out on DVD today:

Zombieland
Rated: R, 1 hr. 21 min.

Love Happens
Rated: PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.

New York, I Love You
Rated: R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Amelia
Rated: PG, 2 hr.

The House of the Devil
Rated: R, 1 hr. 33 min.

I recommend Zombieland. I also recommend that you avoide The House of the Devil unless you enjoy not-so-scary-and-slow-moving horror films. I myself am looking forward to seeing Amelia.

The Academy Award Nominations 2010

Today the 82nd Annual Academy Awards nominations were announced. Here is a complete list of the nominees:

Actor in a Leading Role:
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"

Actor in a Supporting Role:
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Actress in a Leading Role:
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"

Actress in a Supporting Role:
Penelope Cruz, "Nine"
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique, "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

Animated Feature Film
"Coraline," Henry Selick
"Fantastic Mr. Fox," Wes Anderson
"The Princess and the Frog," John Musker and Ron Clements
"The Secret of Kells," Tomm Moore
"Up," Pete Doctor

Art Direction
"Avatar" Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
"Nine" Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
"Sherlock Holmes" Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
"The Young Victoria" Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Cinematography
"Avatar," Mauro Fiore
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," Bruno Delbonnel
"The Hurt Locker," Barry Ackroyd
"Inglourious Basterds," Robert Richardson
"The White Ribbon," Christian Berger

Costume Design
"Bright Star," Janet Patterson
"Coco before Chanel," Catherine Leterrier
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," Monique Prudhomme
"Nine," Colleen Atwood
"The Young Victoria," Sandy Powell

Directing
"Avatar," James Cameron
"The Hurt Locker," Kathryn Bigelow
"Inglourious Basterds," Quentin Tarantino
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," Lee Daniels
"Up in the Air," Jason Reitman

Documentary (Feature)
"Burma VJ," Anders Ostergaard and Lisa Lense-Moller
"The Cove," Nominees to be determined
"Food, Inc.," Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers," Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
"Which Way Home," Rebecca Cammisa

Documentary (Short Subject)
"China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province," Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neil
"The Last Campaign of Governer Booth Gardner," Daniel Jung and Henry Ansbacher
"The Last Truck: The Closing of a GM Plant," Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
"Music by Prudence," Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
"Rabbit a la Berlin," Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

Film Editing
"Avatar," Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, and James Cameron
"District 9," Julian Clarke
"The Hurt Locker," Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
"Inglourious Basterds," Sally Renke
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," Joe Klotz

Foreign Language Film
"Ajami," Israel
"El Secreto de sus Ojos," Argentina
"The Milk of Sorrow," Peru
"Un Prophete," France
"The White Ribbon," Germany

Makeup
"Il Divo," Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
"Star Trek," Barney Burman, Mindy Hall, and Joel Harlow
"The Young Victoria," Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Music (Original Score)
"Avatar," James Horner
"Fantastic Mr. Fox," Alexandre Desplat
"The Hurt Locker," Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
"Sherlock Holmes," Hans Zimmer
"Up," Michael Giacchino

Music (Original Song)
"Almost There" from "The Princess and the Frog," Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess and the Frog," Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36," Music by Reinhardt Wagner, Lyric by Frank Thomas
"Take It All" from "Nina," Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
"The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart" from "Crazy Heart," Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Best Picture
"Avatar," Producers: James Cameron and Jon Landau
"The Blind Side," Nominees to be determined
"District 9," Producers: Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham
"An Education," Producers: Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey
"The Hurt Locker," Nominees to be determined
"Inglourious Basterds," Producer: Lawrence Bender
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," Producers: Lee Daniels, Sara Siegel-Magness, Gary Magness
"A Serious Man," Producers: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"Up," Producer: Jonas Rivera
"Up in the Air," Producers: Daniel Duniecki, Ivan Reitman, and Jason Reitman

Short Film (Animated)
"French Roast," Fabrice O. Joubert
"Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty," Nicky Phelan and Darragh O'Connell
"The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)," Javier Recio Garcia
"Logorama," Nicolas Schmerkin
"A Matter of Loaf and Death," Nick Park

Short Film (Live Action)
"The Door," Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
"Instead of Abra Cadabra," Patrik Eklund and Mathius Fjellstrom
"Kavi," Gregg Helvey
"Miracle Fish," Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
"The New Tenants," Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Sound Editing
"Avatar," Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
"The Hurt Locker," Paul N.J. Ottosson
"Inglourious Basterds," Wylie Stateman
"Star Trek," Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
"Up," Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Sound Mixing
"Avatar," Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson, and Tony Johnson
"The Hurt Locker," Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
"Inglourious Basterds," Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti, and Mark Ulano
"Star Trek," Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson, and Peter J. Devlin
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, and Geoffrey Patterson

Visual Effects
"Avatar," Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, and Andrew R. Jones
"District 9," Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros, and Matt Aitken
"Star Trek," Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh, and Burt Dalton

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
"District 9," Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
"An Education," Screenplay by Nick Hornby
"In the Loop," Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, and Tony Roche
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
"Up in the Air," Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Writing (Original Screenplay)
"The Hurt Locker," Written by Mark Boal
"Inglourious Basterds," Written by Quentin Tarantino
"The Messenger," Written by Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman
"A Serious Man," Written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
"Up," Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Doctor; Story by Pete Doctor, Bob Peterson, and Tom McCarthy


Not too many surprises in the nominees for this year's awards. What do you think of the nominees?

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will occur on March 7, 2010 from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.






Excellent Acting, Lovely Visuals, and a Disappointingly Flat Story.



The Lovely Bones

Directed By: Peter Jackson

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci

Rated: PG-13

2 hrs. 15 min.

The Lovely Bones is told by 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Soairse Ronan), murdered in December of 1973, as she watches her family struggle in the time after her disappearance from a place called "The In-Between." She must find closure with her death before she may move on to heaven.

The acting by lead Saoirse Ronan is absolutely superb. She is able to project her own fears, frustrations, and countless other emotions on the audience rather well. Mark Wahlberg plays the role of a father in search for answers to perfection, and we root for him to find the answers he desperately seeks for the sake of his murdered daughter. Stanley Tucci's creepy version of George Harvey also stuns. In fact, all of the acting is utterly impressive, but those three in particular stand ahead of the rest.

As brilliant as the acting may be, it does not account for the fact that the story itself lacks. While it is true that films based on books will never logistically be able to include everything that the book does for the sake of time, there were so many elements missing from the film. Moments in the story that were important to the integrity of the original plot were completely cut; these moments are also essential to the emotion behind the story. Even a friend who had never read the book stated that there seemed to be something missing.

It seemed as though the director was more focused on making the film visually spectacular as apposed to trying to keep the story well-rounded. That may pass in epics like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson, but that does not fly in emotion-based dramas such as The Lovely Bones.

Overall, it is a good attempt, but even the strong acting cannot save the story from completely falling flat.

Grade: C+

Saturday, January 23, 2010

2010 SAG Award Winners

The SAG Awards were held tonight. Here's the final list of winners!

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges - Bad Blake, "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock - Leigh Anne Tuohy, "The Blind Side" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Oustanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Christoph Waltz - Col. Hans Landa, "Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Mo'Nique - Mary, "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS (The Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures)
Daniel Bruhl - Fredrick Zoller
August Diehl - Major Hellstrom
Julie Dreyfus - Francesca Mondino
Michael Fassbender - Lt. Archie Hicox
Sylvester Groth - Joseph Goebbels
Jacky Ido - Marcel
Diane Kruger - Bridget von Hammersmark
Melanie Laurent - Shosanna
Denis Menochet - Perrier LePedite
Mike Myers - General Ed French
Brad Pitt - Lt. Aldo Raine
Eli Roth - Sgt. Donny Donowitz
Til Schweiger - Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz
Rod Taylor - Winston Churchill
Christoph Waltz - Col. Hans Landa
Martin Wuttke - Hitler


PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Kevin Bacon - Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl, "Taking Chance" (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Drew Barrymore - Little Edie, "Grey Gardens" (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Michael C. Hall - Dexter Morgan, "Dexter" (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Julianna Margulies - Alicia Florrick, "The Good Wife" (CBS)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin - Jack Donaghy, "30 Rock" (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey - Liz Lemon, "30 Rock" (NBC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
MAD MEN (AMC)
Alexa Alemanni - Allison
Bryan Batt - Salvatore Romano
Jared S. Gilmore - Bobby Draper
Michael Gladis - Paul Linsey
Jon Hamm - Don Draper
Jared Harris - Lane Pryce
Christina Hendricks - Joan Holloway (Harris)
January Jones - Betty Draper
Vincent Kartheiser - Peter Campbell
Robert Morse - Bertram Cooper
Elisabeth Moss - Peggy Olson
Kiernan Shipka - Sally Draper
John Slattery - Roger Sterling
Rich Sommer - Harry Crane
Christopher Stanley - Henry Francis
Aaron Staton - Ken Cosgrove

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
GLEE (FOX)
Diana Agron - Quinn Fabray
Chris Colfer - Kurt Hummel
Patrick Gallagher - Ken Tanaka
Jessalyn Gilsig - Terri Schuester
Jane Lynch - Sue Sylvester
Jayma Mays - Emma Pillsbury
Kevin McHale - Arty Abrams
Lea Michele - Rachel Berry
Cory Monteith - Finn Hudson
Heather Morris - Brittany
Matthew Morrison - Will Schuester
Amber Riley - Mercedes
Naya Rivera - Santana Lopez
Mark Salling - Puck
Harry Shum, Jr. - Mike Chang
Josh Sussman - Jacob Ben Israel
Dijon Talton - Matt Rutherford
Iqbal Theba - Principal Figgins
Jenna Ushkowitz - Tina

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Star Trek (Paramount Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
24 (FOX)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Betty White

So what do you think of the winners?

Monday, January 18, 2010

Airplanes, Aerial Shots, and Scene Stealers.



Up in the Air

Directed By: Jason Reitman

Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick

Rated: R

1 hrs. 49 min.

George Clooney stars as Ryan Bingham, the man your big chicken boss hires to fire you for him. As his company moves on into the digital world and threatens to ground him from flying across the country as he so loves to do, thanks to a program developed by new team member Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick), his whole world may just be about to change.

The story alone is absolutely superb, and the script is brilliantly brought to life by the three stars of the film. All three (Clooney, Farmiga, and Kendrick) provide knockout performances; however, no one steals scenes like Kendrick does. She is even better than--dare I say it--Clooney.

The film also contains some of the most beautiful shots I've seen in a while. One such shot is a beautiful silhouette shot of Clooney and Kendrick in front a huge airport window waiting for their flight; others include some beautiful aerial shots and landscapes.

On top of the outstanding script, award-worthy acting, and exquisite composition (and of course directing by Reitman), the music and score throughout ties the story together.

Grade: A+

A Classic Detective, a Shining Doctor, and a Story That's a Bit of a Drag.




Sherlock Holmes

Directed By: Guy Ritchie

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel Adams

Rated: PG-13

2 hrs. 8 min.

Robert Downey Jr. takes on the role of the popular titular character in this new Sherlock Holmes tale in which the detective from Baker Street must stop the supposedly resurrected Lord Blackwood.

The plot of the film is engaging for the most part, however the film becomes a little boring in some spots. The story could have been condensed a little, making it drag less. Robert Downey Jr. is impressive as Sherlock, though, and portrays the detective differently from the clean cut, organized, leader-type Holmes has been in the past. Jude Law's Dr. Watson also shines, possibly even more so than Downey Jr. Unfortunately, Rachel McAdams is monotoned and seemingly disinterested in her role, which is a little off-putting considering she is usually such a talented actress. Maybe she was a little bored, too.

Overall, the action is fun but the caper (and Rachel McAdams, for that matter) could have been a lot more exciting.

Grade: C+

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Golden Globe Awards 2010 Winners

So tonight on NBC the Golden Globes aired. There were some expected wins and big surprises! In case you missed it, here is the complete list of winners.

BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA:
Avatar (Lightstorm Entertainment; 20th Century Fox)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

BEST MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
The Hangover (Warner Bros. Pictures)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Robert Downey Jr. - Sherlock Holmes

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Mo'nique - Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Up (Walt Disney Pictures/PIXAR Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The White Ribbon (Das Weisse Band - Eine Deutsche Kindergeschichte) (Germany) X Filme Creative Pool/Les Films Du Losange/Lucky Red; Sony Pictures Classics)

BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE
James Cameron - Avatar

BEST SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE
Up in the Air - Written by Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE
Up - Composed by Michael Giacchino

BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTURE
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" - Crazy Heart (Music & Lyrics by: Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett)

BEST TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Mad Men (AMC) (Lionsgate)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife (CBS)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Michael C. Hall - Dexter (SHOWTIME)

BEST TELEVISION SERIES - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Glee (FOX) (Twentieth Century Fox Television)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Toni Collette - United States of Tara (SHOWTIME)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock (NBC)

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Grey Gardens (HBO) (Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Drew Barrymore - Grey Gardens (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Kevin Bacon - Taking Chance (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Chloe Sevigny - Big Love (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
John Lithgow - Dexter (SHOWTIME)

CECIL B. DEMILLE AWARD
Martin Scorsese