Dec 31 2008
When a dozen movies open in the course of a week, it can be tricky to keep track of them all. Here's the skinny:
"Marley & Me" -- Dogs don't live forever. Bring Kleenex.
"Bedtime Stories" -- Not very good but not offensive or terribly long, either.
"Valkyrie" -- Tom Cruise's American accent is out of place but the movie about a plot to kill Hitler is not laughable.
"The Spirit" -- Strictly for people familiar with the comic series and even some of them hated it. I felt like asking for my money back 10 minutes in.
"Frost/Nixon" -- A talky trip back in time anchored by two excellent actors.
"Doubt" -- Four time performances, one thorny question about a priest and an altar boy.
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" -- Leave your logic, glow-in-the-dark watch and memory of "Forrest Gump" at the door and just sink into the story of a man who ages backward.
"The Reader" -- A coming-of-age story set in post-World War II Germany and featuring an excellent (and sometimes nude) Kate Winslet as an accused war criminal.
"Slumdog Millionaire" -- Title is weird and hard to remember but one of the best movies of the year.
"Yes Man" -- Mild and only occasionally wild Jim Carrey. Plus an inspirational message about saying "Yes!" to more things.
"The Tale of Despereaux" -- Animation is better than the story but a good bet for the littlest moviegoers in the family.
"Seven Pounds" -- If you thought "I Am Legend" was dark, just wait till you see Will Smith in this. He's sensational and sympathetic, though, in a drama about a man trying to make amends.
Dec 29 2008
Dustin Hoffman seemed to be everywhere just before Christmas promoting "Last Chance Harvey," which begs the question: When will the movie open in Pittsburgh? It's now scheduled for Jan. 9, same day as "Gran Torino," the Clint Eastwood movie.
"Revolutionary Road" will roll into town Jan. 16, as will "Defiance" with Daniel Craig. Of special interest to Western Pennsylvanians, "My Bloody Valentine 3D" will open that day, too. Here's a shot, by Michael Roberts for Lionsgate, from "Bloody" showing Kerr Smith, Tom Atkins and Jaime King. It's a remake of the 1981 horror film about an inexperienced coal miner who causes an accident that sets off a deadly chain of events
Dec 26 2008
"The ballot is in the mail" trumps "The check is in the mail" any time, at least when the ballot is coming from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Nomination ballots were sent Tuesday to the 5,810 voting members of the Academy. They must be returned to PricewaterhouseCoopers by 5 p.m. Jan. 12. Nominations then will be announced the morning of Jan. 22, uncharacteristically a Thursday to avoid conflicts with the presidential inauguration earlier that week.
The Academy Awards will be handed out Feb. 22 in Hollywood.
Dec 26 2008
Not all vampire movies are created equally and the one playing at the Harris Theater called "Let the Right One In" turned up on David Ansen's Top 10 movies in Newsweek.
He ranked it No. 1 and wrote: "Stunning from first shot to last, Tomas Alfredson's mesmerizing Swedish coming of age/love story/horror film redefined the vampire genre."
If you've been seeing "Frozen River" and "Man on Wire" pop up on lots of lists (including mine), both will be at the Harris Theater in January. They're part of Pittsburgh Filmmakers' "The Best Films You May Have Missed" series."
"Frozen River," which has brought Melissa Leo a shower of praise," returns Jan. 16-18 and "Man on Wire" about Philippe Petit's high-wire act in 1974 will play Jan. 24-25. The following is a photo from "Frozen River," courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
Dec 26 2008
No accounting for taste - or Top 10 lists, it would appear.
Phil Villarreal from the Arizona Daily Star put "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" on his roster of top movies of 2008, ahead of "Frost/Nixon," "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" and "Milk." It grabbed the seventh slot on a list that started with "The Dark Knight," "Slumdog Millionaire," "The Wrestler," "Gran Torino," "Wanted" and, another Seth Rogen comedy, "Pineapple Express."
As for the comedy shot in Pittsburgh earlier this year, the Arizona reviewer wrote: "Writer/director Kevin Smith found his stroke once again with this riotous and surprisingly heartfelt comic yarn about a platonic couple (Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks) who discover they're in love while making a nudie flick. The movie encapsulates Smith's heedless joy of filmmaking."
Although "Zack and Miri" didn't even cross my mind when compiling my list, it is a guilty pleasure and should be out on DVD Feb. 10, just in time for Valentine's Day. Smith has acknowledged that his films typically perform far better on DVD than in the theaters and that will be the case this time around.
Film critic Barry Paris and I weigh in with our top picks of 2008. Here are the links:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08361/937572-120.stm
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08361/937573-120.stm
If you cannot get enough lists, here are a couple of more. First up, Associated Press movie writer David Germain:
1. "Happy-Go-Lucky"
2. "WALL-E"
3. "Encounters at the End of the World"
4. "Slumdog Millionaire"
5. "Frozen River"
6. "The Visitor"
7. "The Wrestler"
8. "Frost/Nixon"
9. "The Dark Knight"
10. "Wendy and Lucy"
From AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire:
1. "The Wrestler"
2. "Frost/Nixon"
3. "Man on Wire"
4. "Waltz With Bashir"
5. "WALL-E"
6. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
7. "Frozen River"
8. "Milk"
9. "Paranoid Park"
10. "Iron Man"
Dec 15 2008
The American Film Institute has announced its outstanding movies for 2008, a list that includes both the blockbuster "The Dark Knight" and a couple of small movies with jewel-like performances. Its roster, in alphabetical order:
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"The Dark Knight"
"Frost/Nixon"
"Frozen River"
"Gran Torino"
"Iron Man"
"Milk"
"WALL-E"
"Wendy and Lucy"
"The Wrestler"
The AFI, which honors those in front and behind the camera of movies and TV shows (a separate roster), will celebrate its selections at a Jan. 9 luncheon in Los Angeles. A 13-member jury spent two days deliberating about the movies of 2008. Leonard Maltin chaired the panel, which also included Richard Schickel from Time, Anne Thompson from Variety and writer-producer-director Robert Towne.
(Photo below, by Simon Max Hill and courtesy of Oscilloscope Pictures, shows Michelle Williams as Wendy.
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Dec 13 2008
A "New Moon" director is rising.
Chris Weitz has been hired to direct the sequel to "Twilight," the teen vampire romance that has grossed more than $142 million domestically and earned another $33 million overseas. Director Catherine Hardwicke and Summit Entertainment announced earlier this month that she would not return to the franchise.
Production on "New Moon" is scheduled to begin in coming months and Summit plans to release the movie in late 2009 or early 2010. In the sequel, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with Jacob Black. She is drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested.
Interestingly enough, when Summit issued the press release about Weitz, it did not list an actor for Jacob, a role that could be recast, according to Entertainment Weekly. Taylor Lautner handled it in "Twilight," based on the Stephenie Meyer novel of the same name.
As for the just signed director, Weitz said in a statement issued by Summit: "I am honored to have been entrusted with shepherding ‘New Moon' from the page to the screen.
"The extraordinary world that Stephenie has created has millions of fans, and it will be my duty to protect on their behalf the characters, themes and story they love. This is not a task to be taken lightly, and I will put every effort into realizing a beautiful film to stand alongside a beautiful book."
Weitz wrote "About a Boy," adapted and directed "The Golden Compass," co-wrote "Antz" and produced "American Pie," among other movies.
Dec 11 2008
Reaction from the lucky Golden Globe nominees has been pouring in all day. A sampling:
"Dustin and I had the best time making this film. It seems insane to get an award nomination on top of that, but I'm thrilled." - "Last Chance Harvey" actress Emma Thompson, competing in the musical or comedy category.
"It is so exciting to be nominated, but working with Emma [Thompson] was reward enough. Don't get me wrong, I still want to win!" - "Last Chance Harvey" star Dustin Hoffman, nominated for best actor in musical or comedy.
"Playing April Wheeler and Hannah Schmitz, two strong and complex characters was a true gift. To be recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for both performances is a genuine honor and I am incredibly grateful.
"I am forever thankful to my husband, Sam Mendes, Leo and fellow cast members and for Justin's beautiful script. I am equally proud to share this day with Stephen Daldry and David Hare." - Kate Winslet, nominated for a leading role in "Revolutionary Road" and supporting turn in "The Reader." Leo is co-star Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Haythe turned the Richard Yates novel into a screenplay.
"I am very happy to receive such support from the HFPA and truly thankful to Mr. Allen for allowing me the amazing experience of working with him and such an outstanding cast." -- Javier Bardem, nominated for best actor for comedy or musical for Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
"We've been on a long and fascinating journey in bringing this story to the screen. It is wonderful for everyone involved with the film for it to receive this recognition. Cinderella has made it to the ball! I am particularly pleased for all of our many friends and colleagues in Mumbai who have had such a tough time over the last weeks." - "Slumdog Millionaire" producer Christian Colson, whose movie is in contention for best drama.
"This is such a great honor for the city of Mumbai and the cast and crew who live there. A film like ‘Slumdog Millionaire' needs a champion, and we thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for their support. It is pretty exciting; absolutely exhilarating really, it's going to be quite a night." - "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle, competing in the directing race.
Dec 10 2008
Jerry Lewis will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 81st Academy Awards on Feb. 22.
The honor, given as an Oscar statue, is awarded to a person in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.
"Jerry is a legendary comedian who has not only brought laughter to millions around the world but has also helped thousands upon thousands by raising funds and awareness for those suffering from muscular dystrophy," Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said in an announcement.
Lewis, an actor, director, writer and producer, has helped to raise more than $2 billion - yes, billion - through his work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Dec 10 2008
The New York Film Critics Circle is happy to drink in "Milk," which it named Best Picture of 2008. Other big honors from the New York crowd:
Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk."
Actress: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky."
Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, "Milk."
Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
Director: Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky."
Animated Film: "WALL-E."
Screenplay: Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married."
Foreign film: "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days."
Non-Fiction Film (Documentary): "Man on Wire."
Cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire."
First film: Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River."
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