I hope that the Academy will nominate The Wrestler for Best Picture. Nothing else I have seen this year has stuck with me in the same way. Ditto every person I have talked to about this film. I think that it could have enough number ones on the preferential balloting to make a nom. What else are people going to be so in love with to place at Number 1. Slumdog Millionaire....shoe in. Benjamin Button...probably. Frost/Nixon...possibly. The Dark Knight...I hope not.
The way the Academy nominates is by the numbers...literally. Voters pick one choice of "Best" and four back-up votes. So, they have five potential nominees placed much like a beauty pageant. Choice for winner...first runner up, second runner up and etc. One, two, three and etc. So, They count all the number ones first. You have to have at least one number one ordinal to even be nominated. If they get five films with number ones, they don't even count the number twos. If they get less or more, then they add in the number twos. If they still don't have five clear nominees, then on to the number threes. So confusing! But, it is what makes things a little unpredictable!
So....my point is...how many films are going to inspire enough passion to be placed at number one above all others? Because you have to use your number one vote wisely.
Ballots are in the hands of voters even as we speak. If Little Miss Sunshine and Juno were Best Picture nominees...well, The Wrestler shouldn't be allowed to miss.
If you were picking a number one. Only one film for Best Picture...what would you choose?
These are the film nominees. Pretty boring...although Melissa Leo and Richard Jenkins did get a nomination so, someone was paying attention.
But...
Slumdog Millionaire getting an ensemble nomination? This is not a Best Picture category and shouldn't be treated as one. I dunno. First of all, it's not an actor's film to begin with and second...the acting is really...not great. Sorry. It's not.
Also, Doubt. What's up with that. There are like four actors in the movie and they all got separate nominations. Personally, I think the acting is overwrought and over the top, but, even if you thought it was the second coming how many nominations do they need?
I think The Visitor would have been a better choice here. A fine film that has no chance at Best Picture, but did boast a terrific ensemble in a character driven piece of work. Well cast and perfectly executed.
Also, Synecdoche, New York!?!? Great performances from all involved and what an ensemble! Diane Weist, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Philip Hoffman, Michelle Williams...I can't even name them all because it is a movie about rehearsing a play and there are a gazillion actors. Hello?
It is supposed to be about the acting only. That is the thing that should distinguish the SAG awards.
They don't pull it off very well at all.
They still, for the most part, kiss the same asses as every else.
I have no doubt I'll rant more about this later.
The nominees:
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role RICHARD JENKINS / Walter Vale - “THE VISITOR” (Overture Films) FRANK LANGELLA / Richard Nixon - “FROST/NIXON” (Universal Pictures) SEAN PENN / Harvey Milk - “MILK” (Focus Features) BRAD PITT / Benjamin Button - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures) MICKEY ROURKE / Randy - “THE WRESTLER” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role ANNE HATHAWAY / Kym - “RACHEL GETTING MARRIED” (Sony Pictures Classics) ANGELINA JOLIE / Christine Collins - “CHANGELING” (Universal Pictures) MELISSA LEO / Ray Eddy - “FROZEN RIVER” (Sony Pictures Classics) MERYL STREEP / Sister Aloysius Beauvier - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films) KATE WINSLET / April Wheeler - “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD” (Paramount Vantage)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role JOSH BROLIN / Dan White - “MILK” (Focus Features) ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. / Kirk Lazarus - “TROPIC THUNDER” (Paramount Pictures) PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN / Father Brendan Flynn - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films) HEATH LEDGER / Joker - “THE DARK KNIGHT” (Warner Bros. Pictures) DEV PATEL / Older Jamal - “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role AMY ADAMS / Sister James - “DOUBT” (Miramax Flms) PENÉLOPE CRUZ / Maria Elena - “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” (The Weinstein Company) VIOLA DAVIS / Mrs. Miller - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films) TARAJI P. HENSON / Queenie - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures) KATE WINSLET / Hanna Schmitz - “THE READER” (The Weinstein Company)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture DOUBT (Miramax) FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures) MILK (Focus Features) SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures) THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)
Seriously...did ya'll see Kanye West on Saturday Night Live last night? I clicked onto the show after his introduction, and I swear to God, I thought it was an Andy Samburg joke.
Then I started thinking, maybe I had somehow infilterated a high school talent show...except, I don't think he would have been allowed to perform at a high school talent show.
My God...this man makes a bizillion dollars a year as...just guessing here... a musician? A singer? An entertainer? What is he exactly? Bring back Ashley Simpson, at least she knew when to cut and run.
Frances McDormand as Elaine Miller in Almost Famous. A no-nonsense mother bear, who would stare down a locomotive for her children...much to their chagrin, I might add. There is no hint of uncertainty in the way she, a single mother, guides her children. A strict, yet progressive, scarily intelligent, take no prisoners, college professor. A mother who drives her 15 year old son to his date with destiny, and, instead of goodbye, merely says..."Don't do drugs."
Good sound practical advice...no explanation needed.
Elaine is talking to her son William on a pay phone backstage before a rock concert, when the lead guitarist of the band cockily takes the phone from him. Probably thinking he would freak William's mother out a bit, he says hello and introduces himself. The following is the dialogue from that scene.
William: [on the phone with his mother] I'm fine! I'm fine! I'm flying back on Monday Morning. I'll only miss one test. I'll make it up. [Russell listens in, laughing.] Russell: Tell her you're a slave to the groove - you can't help it! William: [covers phone] No. [Russell grabs the phone] Russell: Hi Mom! It's Russell Hammond, I play guitar in Stillwater! It's my fault. How does it feel to be the mother of the future of rock journalism? [pause] Hello? [Silence.) Russell: You've got a great kid -- nothing to worry about! We're taking care of him! And you should come to a show sometime! Join the Circus! Elaine: Listen to me. Your charm does not work on me. I'm onto you. Of course you like him. Russell: [getting serious] Well, yeah. Elaine: He worships you people and that's fine with you, as long as he helps make you rich. Russell: [a nerve is struck] Rich? I don't think so - Elaine: Listen to me. He's a smart, good-hearted, 15 year-old kid, with infinite potential. This is not some apron-wearing mother you're talking to. I know about your Valhalla of Decadence, and I shouldn't have let him go. He is not ready for your world of compromised values, and diminished brain cells that you throw away like confetti. Am I speaking clearly to you? Russell: Yes, ma'am. Elaine: If you break his spirit, harm him in any way, keep him from his chosen profession -- which is law, something you may not value but I do -- you will meet the voice on the other end of this telephone. And it will not be pretty. Do we understand each other? Russell: Uh, yes ma'am. Elaine: I didn't ask for this role, but I'll play it. Now go do your best. "Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid." Goethe said that. It's not too late for you to be a person of substance, Russell. Get my son home safely. You know, I'm glad we spoke. [Russell is in shock]
This is great writing...but, when you can get Frances McDormand to speak it, well, I imagine that is just like writer heaven.
Stinky Lulu's 3rd Annual Supporting Actress "Class of 2008" blogathon is coming! Join me and countless other bloggers as we make our case for the Supporting Actresses of the year!
On January 4th...come back to The Screen Zone to view my pick for 2008's best. You will be able to follow links to other blogsites to read and discuss their top picks as well. At the end of the day, Stinky herself will crown the winners!
Sounds like fun!
Enjoy this "advertisement" created by Nathanial at the Film Experience!
In the meantime, check out Stinky LuLu's blog. You'll see she really has an eye for the Supporting ladies. Read her take on "actressing on the edges"!
The link is right over there>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Best Picture, Drama Benjamin Button Frost/Nixon The Reader Revolutionary Road Slumdog Millionaire
Best Picture Comedy/Musical Burn After Reading Happy Go Lucky In Bruges Mamma Mia Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Director Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire Stephen Daldry, The Reader David Fincher, Ben Button Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road
Actor, Drama Leo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon Sean Penn, Milk Brad Pitt, Benjamin Button Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Actress, Drama Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married Angelina Joie, Changeling Meryl Streep, Doubt Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved you So Long Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Supporting Actor Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder Robert Downey Jr. Tropic Tunder Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Supporting Actress Amy Adams, Doubt Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona Viola Davis, Doubt Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler Kate Winslet, The Reader
Actor, Comedy Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina Barcelona Colin Farrel, In Bruges James Franco, Pineapple Express Brendan Gleason, In Bruges Dustin Hoffman Last Chance Harvey
Actress, Comedy Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey
Foreign Language Film The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany) Everlasting Moments (Sweden) Gomorrah (Italy) I’ve Loved You So Long Waltz with Bashir
Animated Feature Bolt Kung Fu Panda Wall-E
Screenplay Slumdog Millionaire The Reader Frost/Nixon Benjamin Button Doubt
Score Benjamin Button Changeling Defiance Slumdog Millionaire Frost/Nixon
Song Down to Earth, Wall-E Gran Torino I thought I Lost You, Bolt Once in a Lifetime, Cadillac Record The Wrestler, The Wrestler
This has been going around the "blogosphere"...and although I didn't get tagged...I'm going to play anyway!
One favorite film for each letter of the alphabet!
A Across The Universe B Bull Durham C Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon D Die Hard E Empire Of The Sun F Field Of Dreams G The Godfather H His Girl Friday I Irreversible J Jaws K The King And I L Living In Oblivion M My Life As A dog N Ninotchka O On The Waterfront P Punch Drunk Love Q The Queen R Raising Arizona S Sense And Sensibility T The Turning Point U The Upside Of Anger V Vanya On 42nd Street W What's Eating Gilbert Grape X Xx/Xy Y Yentl
*Oy Vey...what was I thinking? Changing Y to Young Frankenstein! Z Zelig
Yentl, I must admit, is more of a guilty pleasure but I couldn't come up with a mo' better choice for Y. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? * List amended!
During todays press junket for The Wrestler, Evan Rachel Wood confirmed that she will be playing Mary Jane Watson in Julie Taymor's new Broadway musical "Spiderman".
Last summer, she and Across The Universe co-star Jim Sturgess participated in a workshop for the new musical. Sturgess is still a hold-out for the upcoming musical, but Wood went on to say, they were still trying to snag him in the web.
If Taymor can land both of these up and coming film stars, that would be quite a get.
Don't know about you, but, with Taymor at the helm, this looks to be a ground breaking piece of live theatre, much like The Lion King was back in it's day.
No expense is being spared for this new production, and the budget has reportedly risen to a cool 35 million dollars.
The best of the year list from the New York Film Critics Association:
Best Picture - Milk
Best Director - Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Actor - Sean Penn (Milk)
Best Actress - Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Best Supporting Actor - Josh Brolin (Milk)
Best Supporting Actress - Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Best Screenplay - Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married) Best Cinematographer - Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire) Best Foreign Film - 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days Best Animated Film - WALL-E Best First Film - Courtney Hunt (Frozen River) Best Documentary - Man on Wire
May I say, I am getting a bit pissed at Fox Searchlight. What happened with The Wrestler? You bought it in Toronto, fresh off the Best Picture win at the Venice Film Festival. The buzz was booming! Here it is December, and it hasn't even opened. Few people have seen it. How can people be talking about a film if they haven't seen it? The will of the people man! Not just the critics and the elite few. Damn!
Anyhoo....Good for Sally Hawkins. A second Best Actress pic from top critics means...that Oscar nom is looking better and better. Also, Milk has been my top pick since the trailer released, so Yay, happy for it.
Also, Penelope Cruz is looking like she will be the next Woody Allen directed Best Supporting Actress winner. This will be his fifth. Count on it.
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has chosen Wall-E, an animated film, as Best Picture of the year. The actor in me is having a hard time with this. Yes, it's a good movie...maybe even a great one. But, it's not really "filmmaking", is it?
A lot of people are on the bandwagon hoping that Wall-E gets an Oscar nom in the Best Picture category as well. But, there is already a special category for animated films, and really, doesn't it do that category an injustice to assert that it is less important then Best Picture? Can't we elevate the category, and just except that animation is a completely different process?
Do we really want to make the critics awards and the Oscars a "what was the best time at the movies" category? As opposed to, oh, I don't know, surviving the curve balls, the unforeseen events that can and do shape a picture. When you lose the light, or the actor... when shots go un-shot. When a happy accident occurs, when actors playing off each other "in the moment" create something that wasn't there on paper? When a producer sits through dailies every damn day and has to make financial and artistic calls based on what they see. When a director, a DP, an editor, to name a few have to adjust daily, roll with the punches, and still have the vision to make a great film? With animated films, everything is predetermined. Every emotion, every tilt of the head is calculated. It's amazing, really, but it's not the same thing.
I dunno.
Sally Hawkins in Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky
The L.A. critics did make some interesting choices, and kept the race alive for some. Including Sally Hawkins for Best Actress. Nice choice, and she will be a shoe in for a Globe nom in Comedy. Still rooting for her.
Full list of LAFCA's picks are as listed below:
Picture: “Wall-E” Runner-up: “The Dark Knight”
Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire” Runner-up: Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight”
Actor: Sean Penn, “Milk” Runner-up: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
This horrible looking piece of Hollywood crap is the one thing standing in the way of Anne Hathaway's Oscar nomination! In my humble opinion, of course. Here's hoping this won't be her Norbit!
I don't believe that Catherine Hardwicke was "fired."
Hardwicke directed the huge box office hit that is Twilight.
Last week Summit Entertainment announced that a sequel, called New Moon, would go forward...with the same cast, and a much larger budget. Word was that Hardwicke was negotiating for a pay day. Most likely it's what her agents wanted, but Catherine is not very materialistic. She's already making more and doing better then her talent level should afford her. My guess is Catherine wasn't after the money. She's after the prestige. She wants the Oscar, man! Now, quite honestly, one Twilight movie will fill her message machine with offers....two Twilight movies, are just two Twilight movies. And considering that the sequel was focused on werewolves...I mean, talk about painting yourself into a corner.
Catherine is moving on. She is already negotiating with Michael London to direct the new Diablo Cody script. ( It's not on IMDB yet, so don't bother. ) Michael produced thirteen, and is the top man at Groundswell, the film company that produced The Visitor as well as Milk. Michael has prestige. He is also a fan of Catherine ever since thirteen, the film that jump started both their careers.
I think it's a smart move. So, maybe you give up a few million dollars, but you're not tied to unbelievable schlock for the rest of your life.
So Catherine...good luck with your quest to become an artist. Just one thing...please don't cast Nikki Reed in the Cody script. Thanks.
So, the National Board of Review announced their year end "Best of" picks yesterday. This is considered the first precursor to Oscar, but, really...I've met a lot of these people...and I don't get it. This group is a bunch of old fogies...nice ones...but, really? Their picks kinda revolve around screenings where the actors, producers and directors have to answer questions, look attractive and kiss ass. Also, a Fall cocktail party where the actors, producers and directors have to attend, look attractive and kiss ass.
They usually make some fine picks...having privately screened all of the films...met the actors and well, you know...the butt polishing. But, they also make some odd ones that can only be based on the latter.
This year...Anne Hathaway was chosen Best Actress. Okay...no complaints. Then they go and put Clint Eastwood as Best Actor. Not only did Clint get chosen Best Actor over Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke, Frank Langella and Richard Jenkins...but, the two movies he directed and released this year were also chosen to be in the top ten. Changeling, and Gran Torino. Best of the year. That is a lot of love for Clint. Is he this year's John Wayne?
The Board also chose Josh Brolin for Supporting actor...Penelope Cruz for Supporting Actress...David Fincher...Director. Best Picture was Slumdog Millionaire.
Breakthrough awards went to Dev Patel for Slumdog, and Viola Davis for Doubt.
All of these figure in my predictions, so, I'm pretty happy with them. Also, The Wrestler in the top 10 movies of the year. So, all in all, the Eastwood stuff is my only head scratcher.
Anyhoo...I'll get the entire list up later....the real reason I'm here is to share the word for the day, Friday, December 5th. Margarita.
Personally, I've had a very hard week. I made it through. Tonight, I am going out with the "girls" from work, and we are going to drink Margaritas. I may even have two.
I advise you to do the same. Life is good...except when it sucks.
So, to everyone within the sound of my voice...La Chaim!
I must say...this trailer for Rachel Getting Married almost kept me from seeing the film. Fortunately my curiousity and desire to know for myself whether Anne Hathaway actually deserved an Oscar nomination or not, forced me to the theatre last week. I was pretty blown away.
I don't think there was anyway to cut a trailer that would do the movie justice, because...here's the thing...it's not a sound bite movie. It's not a Kate Hudson movie...it's not a Drew Barrymore movie...it's not even an Anne Hathaway movie. Anyone wandering into this thinking that it was going to be another slick Hollywood movie with tidy family squabbles and tidy romantic endings, had another think coming!
This is a family with a lot of grief on their plate. ( The reason is explained a third of the way through the picture in a perfectly pitched monologue by Hathaway.) We have Kym, who's coming to the wedding fresh from a nine month stint in rehab. It is clear that Kym has been wrestling with self-worth her entire life. Rachel, her sister, is the bride. Rachel was the one the family counted on to be perfect, to have her ducks in a row when everyone else was struggling, and boy does she resent it. Their father, who has so much love for his kids, that he is constantly adjusting and tiptoeing around them, and boy do they resent it. And then there is their mother, who seems to have buried her pain so deep that she is barely human. Perhaps mom has always been this way, but I think not. It seems to me that she is coping in the best way she can.
I have spoken to many people during the week since I saw the film, and I haven't found one who, like me, was sympathetic to Hathaway's "Kym". I am quite shocked at the lack of understanding, or empathy towards her. I personally, was forced to rethink my attitude of choice, and making life choices. It's the whole idea behind The Secret...ask and you shall recieve, make the bold choice and magic will follow, knock and the door...well, you know. I do believe we have the power in the choices we make. If we are strong enough to make them.
There's the rub. What if someone has so much pain, so much self-loathing and fear that choosing isn't even a choice for them? If you don't think you deserve it...if self-destruction seems the only answer? Maybe you don't want to choose well. Most of us have pretty developed survival instincts. We may all, at times, feel like square pegs. We've cried over spilt milk, and felt lonely and trivial. But, imagine multiplying it all by 10 or 20. There is a level of feeling out of place...that must become...unbearable.
I read this in Variety this morning. This is what James Mcavoy had to say about Ann Hathaway and the role of Kym in Rachel Getting Married:
"At her sister's wedding, Kym constantly behaves like the most important person in the room. It would be so easy to dislike Kym, but Anne makes you feel that her character is perhaps in another room -- both mentally and socially, albeit not physically, and therefore her calamitous outburst and limelight stealing seem like an ill-conceived attempt to connect. And in an extended post-wedding party scene, Kym dances with the group. This moved me to tears as I realized that her flailing arms and "look at me" gusto were the result of a self-conscious and forced attempt to fit in. In the end we see her dancing with her eyes closed among a hundred or so people and she is completely alone. That is a lot of empathy and understanding to garner from one shot, but Anne gives a performance so open and raw that I could not help but connect with Kym, even if her family was not able to do so."
Her character is in another room.
Well said.
This film is not always easy. I did lose patience with it a couple of times. In a documentary style of film making, Demme has made you a guest at the wedding. Like most weddings, sometimes you want to run screaming from the room. The toasting always goes on too long....the family is tense and ready to fight at any given moment, the reception is never ending and where the hell did they get all those musicians?
If you can, get out to see this film while it is still in theatres. If I was rating Rachel Getting Married based on the five star system, I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.
And, yes, I do think Anne Hathaway deserves that Oscar nomination.
