Jan 28 2009
In recent years, Newsweek has hosted an Oscar roundtable and, invariably, one of its participants doesn't get nominated for an Academy Award.
This year, it was Sally Hawkins, considered a very strong possibility for "Happy-Go-Lucky." Everyone else at the interviews - Brad Pitt, Mickey Rourke, Robert Downey Jr., Frank Langella and Anne Hathaway - is now booked for Feb. 22 in Hollywood.
The interview, which you can find online at www.newsweek.com (or in the magazine, if you're old school and subscribe, like me) is fascinating. Among the tasty tidbits:
Pitt recalls moving to Burbank, Calif., two weeks before college graduation. A week later, he picked up a job as an extra, on "Less Than Zero" starring Robert Downey Jr. Hawkins was an extra on the "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" and says she can be spotted in a crowd scene with Jar Jar Binks.
Downey talks about how his criminal record made gaining entry into Japan to promote "Iron Man" difficult, and Pitt ruminates on how the "publicity machine is out of control." He also gives a shoutout to "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (photo below), which is worth your Netflix list.
Pitt also says Langella gets the degree-of-difficulty award. "Because he's taken on someone that's such a caricature," and Langella avoided caricature and lent humanity. Yes, he did.
Jan 28 2009
As all of Steeler Nation now knows, Troy Polamalu will appear in a remake of a Coca-Cola commercial made famous by Joe Greene. Ed Bouchette reported that back in November but it means more now that the Steelers are in the Super Bowl and that is when the spot will debut. Polamalu may be the perfect player for the job, although Hines Ward would have been a good bet, too, given his signature smile.
But does anyone remember the TV movie inspired by the 1979 TV spot? Called "The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid," it aired on NBC in November 1981 and starred Joe Greene, Franco Harris and, as the kid, Henry Thomas.
This was less than a year before Thomas would befriend another popular icon: E.T. in Steven Spielberg's "E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial."
In the original commercial, a boy (not Thomas) approaches the Steeler as he's hobbling to the locker room. He tells the defensive tackle, "I think you're the best ever. Want my Coke? Really, you can have it."
As the music celebrates "a Coke and a smile," Greene downs the sugary libation and then, in a surprise move, tosses the boy a souvenir jersey. How sweet it was.
In 1999, when TV Guide compiled a list of the 50 best commercials of all time, it ranked No. 7. Ahead of it were:
1. Apple Computer, "1984," 1984 -- Not bad for a spot that aired only once, during the Super Bowl. It features an ominous, large-screen Big Brother whose tyranny is about to be shattered by the introduction of Apple's Macintosh personal computer.
2. Alka-Seltzer, "Spicy Meatballs," 1969 -- During the filming of an ad for spaghetti sauce, an actor repeatedly flubs his lines, has to start over, develops heartburn and needs an Alka-Seltzer.
3. Volkswagen, "Funeral," 1969 -- Penny-pinching Harold, who drives a Bug and brings up the rear in the funeral procession, inherits his uncle's fortune.
4. Volkswagen, "Snowplow," 1963 -- A Beetle triumphs over winter's fury to deliver its driver to a snowplow.
5. Federal Express, "Fast-Paced World," 1981 -- Motormouth actor John Moschitta talks at warp speed and plugs the speedy delivery service.
6. American Tourister, "Gorilla," 1970 -- The luggage maker lets Oofi, a former circus performer, abuse its hard-sided suitcase to demonstrate its durability.
Remember, these were all commercials, not just Super Bowl ones and in the ad world, a decade is a long time.
Jan 27 2009
When Best Picture nominations were announced last week, they included the names of the producers of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Milk," "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Frost/Nixon." But the credits for "The Reader" had yet to be determined.
Academy rules allow for only three producers - except in "a rare and extraordinary circumstance" - to be nominated and potentially receive Oscar statuettes. Four producers - Anthony Minghella, Sydney Pollack, Donna Gigliotti and Redmond Morris - were listed on the credits form for "The Reader," a surprise Best Picture contender. Minghella and Pollack died during the making of the post-World War II drama.
The Producers Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided this was, indeed, rare and extraordinary and all four would be included.
Inclusion or exclusion is a big deal which, in the past, created hard feelings among producers who felt they contributed to a movie but were left in their seats and empty-handed on Oscar night.
The 81st Academy Awards will be handed out Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center. Below is chef Wolfgang Puck with a preview of what the chocolate Oscars will look like at the Governors Ball. Photo by Richard Harbaugh, AMPAS.
Jan 27 2009
And the winner is ... "Frost/Nixon," according to AARP The Magazine.
It named the drama about David Frost's post-Watergate interviews with former President Nixon as the best 2008 movie for grownups.
The magazine singles out movies or performances by people who are 50 or older for the 50-plus audience:
Best actress: Meryl Streep, "Doubt."
Best actor: Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon."
Best supporting actor 50 and over: Bill Irwin, "Rachel Getting Married."
Best supporting actresses 50 and over: Christine Baranski and Julie Walters, "Mamma Mia!"
Best director: Gus Van Sant, "Milk."
Best screenwriter: J. Michael Straczynski, "Changeling."
Best grown-up love story: "Last Chance Harvey."
Best comedy for grown-ups: "Ghost Town."
Best intergenerational film: "The Visitor."
Best documentary: "Man on Wire."
Best foreign language film: "Edge of Heaven."
Best buddy picture: "The Family That Preys."
Best movie for grownups who refuse to grow up: "Iron Man."
Jan 26 2009
Clint Eastwood has a very loyal following in Pittsburgh, or at least among readers of the Post-Gazette's website. In our poll about Oscar snubs (now winding down), Eastwood's failure to score a nod for "Gran Torino" led all others, including no nomination for "The Dark Knight."
No Batman was second with the lack of a Bruce Springsteen nomination for "The Wrestler" song, third.
When MovieTickets.com asked moviegoers to name its biggest snub, this is how its voting broke down:
1. No Best Picture nomination for "Dark Knight," 46 percent.
2. No actor nomination for Eastwood, 28 percent.
3. No actor nomination for Leonardo DiCaprio for "Revolutionary Road," 11 percent.
4. No directing nomination for "Dark Knight" helmer Christopher Nolan, 8 percent.
5. No song nomination for Springsteen, 7 percent.
Jan 26 2009
Wolfgang Puck once again is creating the menu for the Governors Ball after the 81st Academy Awards on Feb. 22.
The lineup will include these returning favorites: tuna tartare in sesame miso cones; chopped Chino farms vegetable salad with ginger soy vinaigrette, Maine lobster and caviar; and gold-dusted chocolate Oscars.
Wolfgang Puck Catering will serve 1,500 ball guests, some of whom will be over the moon at just having won Oscars and some who will have to settle for the old standby about how it was an honor just to be nominated.
In related news, the Associated Press reported on Friday that Heath Ledger's family members said they were proud and excited by his posthumous nomination for his supporting turn as The Joker in "The Dark Knight."
"To us ... it seems like merely yesterday, and we are all still nursing broken hearts," Kate Ledger, the actor's sister, said. The actor died Jan. 22, 2008, of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
Kate and Ledger's two other sisters, Ashleigh Bell and Olivia Ledger, read from a prepared statement to reporters at one of the actor's favorite places, picturesque Cottesloe Beach near his hometown of Perth, the AP reported.
"In Heath's words, he had the time of his life portraying the Joker and said that it was the most fun he'd ever had working on a film," Bell said.
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Jan 26 2009
"Rachel Getting Married" will be out on DVD on March 10, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced today.
It's the drama that elevated Anne Hathaway into the awards stratosphere. She plays Kym, the sister of the bride who returns home with her long history of personal crises, family conflict and tragedy.
Rosemarie DeWitt plays Rachel and Debra Winger is their chilly mother, who has an encounter with Kym that you will not soon forget.
DVD bonus features will include deleted scenes, filmmaker and cast audio commentaries, featurettes and a Q&A panel with director Jonathan Demme. DVD will have a suggested retail price of $28.98 and Blu-ray, $39.95.
Video Business reported recently on its website that most of the Best Picture nominees won't be out before April. That is when "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Frost/Nixon," "Milk" and "The Reader" likely will arrive, as will "Doubt" and "The Wrestler."
"Slumdog Millionaire" is expected March 31, the trade publication reported but "Revolutionary Road" could come out in May.
Other dates:
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Jan. 27.
"Frozen River," Feb. 10.
"Changeling," Feb. 17.
"Bolt," March 22 for Blu-Ray and March 24, DVD.
Jan 26 2009
The Screen Actors Guild Awards are a good - but not flawless - predictor of the Academy Awards.
Last year, "No Country for Old Men" won overall honors along with an award for supporting actor Javier Bardem. Other winners: Daniel Day-Lewis of "There Will Be Blood" and Julie Christie of "Away From Her" for their leading roles, and Ruby Dee for her supporting turn in "American Gangster."
On Oscar night, "No Country" cleaned up and Bardem and Day-Lewis won, but Christie and Dee lost to Marion Cotillard of "La Vie en Rose" and Tilda Swinton of "Michael Clayton."
This year, the forecasts will be muddled by the placement of Kate Winslet (a supporting winner for "The Reader") in the lead category alongside Meryl Streep. If I were entering an Oscar contest or betting the mortgage money, I would go for Winslet today. But there is still a month to go.
And since Sean Penn already won an Oscar for "Mystic River," voters might reward Mickey Rourke for his comeback. I once thought the race would be Rourke vs. "Frost/Nixon" star Frank Langella but it appears to be Penn against Rourke. Again, it's still early in the game.
Jan 25 2009
Even aristocratic vampires and barbaric werewolves couldn't catch Paul Blart and his Segway.
Box Office Mojo reports "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," the Kevin James comedy, was No. 1 for the weekend with an estimated $21.5 million. "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" was second with $20.7 million, "Gran Torino" third with $16 million (and poised to hit $100 million overall soon), "Hotel for Dogs" fourth with $12.4 million and "Slumdog Millionaire" fifth with $10.6 million.
"Slumdog," winner of the Producers Guild of America Award, is on 1,411 screens versus the mall cop's 3,144. That can make a very big difference in the bottom line each Sunday.
Jan 25 2009
The freight train that is "Slumdog Millionaire" picked up speed this weekend when it won the top honor from the Producers Guild of America.
Christian Colson received the PGA's Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year award, often a predictor of Oscar success. In early 2008, the producers of "No Country for Old Men" took the award but the previous year, "Little Miss Sunshine" claimed the producers' honor but "The Departed" won the Academy Award as best picture.
"Slumdog" beat out "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Milk," "The Dark Knight" and "Frost/Nixon."
"WALL-E," deservedly, won for animated motion picture, nudging aside "Bolt" and "Kung Fu Panda," and "Man on Wire" took the documentary prize over "Standard Operating Procedure" and "Trouble the Water."
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