Author(s): James Somerton
Location: Canada
“After Earth: The Brothers of Destruction”
Directed By: Tim Burton
Written By: James Somerton & Tim Burton
Produced by: James Cameron
Principal Cast:
Johnny Depp as Prince Salcazar
Johnny Depp as Prince Eridos
Meryl Streep as The Desert Witch
Elijah Wood as Colbyoto; The Military Commander
Christina Ricci as Tayleen; The Queen of the Inklings
Nicole Kidman as Senika; The Watchful Aunt
Tagline: “The End Was Only The Beginning”
Synopsis:
The History: Billions of years ago, the galaxy was forged out of the heart of King Link, a forgotten prince from another cosmos. Now heartless, he knew that he could not care for his creation and so he created two races to do so for him. From his right eye he forged the Inklings and from his left eye he forged the Linkinks. But his left eye was half blind and so the Linkinks came out dark and impure. And then from his loins his bore a son, Meldor, to be king of the galaxy. With these in place, KingLink vanished. The Inklings took the planet of Neptune and the Linkinks took Uranus, while Meldor set up his fortress on Mars, where he was able to watch as the population of Earth slowly destroyed it’s home. Soon he will have to have children after he dies…
The galaxy is in turmoil. Planet Earth has imploded, creating the beginnings of a star, the population of Uranus is growing hostile toward Neptune, and the queen is pregnant. When she gives birth on Mars, she is confronted by the terrifying presence of The Desert Witch. The witch kills the queen and her husband before taking hold of both children. Using her mind powers, the Witch confuses the staff into believing that she is the guardian of the children. This also means that she is in control of the galaxy until the children are of age.
Twenty years later, the princes, Salcazar and Eridos, reach the legal age to be crowned king. However, since they are twins, no one knows who is to become king. The witch, believing that Salcazar is the weaker minded of the two, sends Eridos off to Uranus to watch over the mining of Uranium, the galaxy’s number one source of energy. Salcazar becomes king but when the witch mysteriously dies, everyone realizes that Salcazar is terribly incompetent. Colbyoto, the military commander, secretly begins to do the decision making while Salcazar takes the credit.
Meanwhile, Eridos is growing ever more furious on Uranus. He is always being watched by the Linkinks, who constantly compare him to his grandfather, who they consider a failure due to their faulty creation. He recruits a vast army of Veraclose, the terrifying beasts used to mine the Uranium, and begins to plan an invasion of Mars to take back the title that rightfully belongs to him. But first, he will cripple the galaxy by cutting off their supply of Uranium. This sends Salcazar into panic and forces him to publicly hand over power to Colbyoto while he retreats into seclusion on Neptune, hiding with the ancient race called Inklings. Their queen, Tayleen, attempts to help Salcazar through his troubles. But time passes slowly on Neptune and Salcazar is completely unaware of what is going on elsewhere in the galaxy.
Colbyoto invades Uranus and all but wipes out the race of Veraclose, making it impossible for Uranium to be mind properly. Eridos escapes the battle, retreating to Mars where he is greeted with cheers. The true leader has returned but Colbyoto and Salcazar are planning to overthrow him. The galaxy has entered the most violent time since it’s creation.
What the press would say:
“After Earth: The Brothers of Destruction” is a science-fiction epic that draws on the likes of Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings to create it’s complex history. One character in particular, Tayleen the queen of the Inklings, played with a subtle perfection by Christina Ricci, is always mentioning things that are not explained in this film. She has lived many lifetimes and this is quite apparent. Her role is small but memorable with her pale blue skin and bright green eyes. Johnny Depp plays both Salcazar and Eridos, bringing a regal air to both characters but in very different ways. Salcazar is the reluctant ruler that would much rather just be a normal person, and Eridos is the neglected brother who has groomed himself to take the thrown but was looked over. The make-up and the performances make it nearly impossible at times to see that these are both the same person. As Eridos, Depp is hidden behind a long mane of hair with piercing, white eyes that glow slightly in the darkness of the Uranium Mines. Salcazar is well kemp with dark eyes and a constant blank stare that never seems to leave his face. They are both brilliant performances from a brilliant actor that may deserve separate award nominations for each character. Another stand out roll in the film is Colbyoto, portrayed with a dark intelligence by Elijah Wood. Wood looks so innocent, even when he is ordering the murder of hundreds of people as the military commander. He also has a harsh metallic tone to his voice that may suggest a past that we’re not privy to here. His already prominent blue eyes are brought to even more prominence with a slight glow that rings the blue iris. Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman both play watchful characters that keep their eyes on the brothers, although in different ways. Streep’s performance as the unnamed Desert Witch is cold and unrelenting. She reminds us of a Catholic Nun who’s overbearing domineering way is causing everyone around her to worry. Nicole Kidman plays the polar opposite as Senika, the brothers’ aunt who never seems to age. She watches her nephews closely and does everything she can to keep them out of trouble but has to keep hidden from the Witch dare she, like her sister, be killed. Tim Burton directs the film with gothic glee, creating one of the most bleak science fiction settings ever seen on film. There are no bright lights, robotic beeps, or lasers in this movie. People fight with real swords and real guns. Bullets still go through flesh and blades still cut it. This is a gritty, dark, creative, and original science fiction epic that takes advantage of special effects and then makes them invisible. Even creatures that obviously could be nothing but CG, like the terrifying Veraclose, seem real with wounds, age marks, and even sweat dripping from their brow as they battle. The cinematography and set-design is magnificent. It really brings the difference out between the deserts of Mars, the rain forests of Neptune, and the cavernous mines of Uranus. This is science fiction at it’s greatest, with an ending harkening back to the sci-fi serials of the 40’s.
POSSIBLE NOMINATIONS:
Best Picture
Best Director – Tim Burton
Best Actor – Johnny Depp
Best Supporting Actress – Meryl Streep
Best Sound
Best Make-up
Best Visual FX
Best Original Score – Danny Elfman
Sunday, June 22, 2008
American Tragedy
Author(s): Pat
Location: New York
“American Tragedy”
Directed By Ryan Fleck
Written By Ryan Fleck and Jacob Aaron Estes
Principal Cast:
Gaius Charles (Richie Jones)
Anthony Mackie (Chris Rodrigues)
Gael Garcia Bernal (Gael Martinez)
Javier Bardem (Alejandro Quintante)
Danny Glover (Michael Jones)
Alicia Keys (Emily Arebole)
Alexa Vega (Diana Garcia)
Catherine Keener (Det. Harriet Glicksman)
Harry Lennix (Det. Jerrod Parks)
Irma P. Hall (Loretta Rodrigues)
Tagline: "Two young men, friends forever…or so it seems'
Synopsis: “Half-Nelson” writer/director Ryan Fleck teams up with “Mean Creek” scribe Jacob Aaron Estes to present this heartwrenching tale about two young men growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. The story begins when Richie (Gaius Charles) moves to a bad part of Los Angeles when his ex-cop father (Danny Glover) is forced to retire because of prostate cancer. He meets Chris Rodrigues (Anthony Mackie), the basketball star at the local high school and they quickly become friends. After a year of friendship Richie discovers that Chris is getting into the drug dealing business with the help of a Mexican distributor (Gael Garcia Bernal). Chris decides to spin the situation his way and is able to convince the naïve Richie to join him in the ranks of the Mexican drug ring, headed by a ruthless gangster (Javier Bardem). Chris begins to learn that Richie respects his opinion and decides to use that against his friend. The young man manipulates Richie into a relationship with the Boss’ niece (Alexa Vega), a girl who the Boss strict forbade to all the dealers. Chris, along with his ambitious girlfriend (Alicia Keys), puts events in motion that will lead to the demise of the boy he used to call his best friend. But things do not go as Chris planned when a pair of detectives (Catherine Keener, Harry Lennix) who are investigating the drug ring begin to question him about his involvement. Matters get worse for Chris when Richie learns of his friend’s deception and he decides to exact revenge. A final battle between so-called brothers ensues, which will stun and amaze with its ferocity and emotions. “American Tragedy” is a shocking portrayal of the increasing decadence of American society that must not be missed.
What the press would say:
Acclaimed filmmakers Ryan Fleck and Jacob Aaron Estes join forces in “American Tragedy”, the story of two best friends who become great enemies because of power and ambition. The script is full of raw dialogue and gritty (and sometimes uncomfortable) scenes, like when the Boss, stunningly played by Javier Bardem, discovers that Gael Garcia Bernal’s character has been stealing from him and decides to make him pay with his life in a very graphic way. Both of those actors deliver performances of terror and arrogance, respectively, which add another emotional aspect to the already gutwrenching main plot line. Catherine Keener gives a restrained and nuanced performance as a beleagured detective who wishes to see young men not involved with drugs. Alicia Keys shines as a devilish girlfriend who resembles Lady Macbeth in some aspects. But it is the two leads of this film who deserve the most attention. First is Gaius Charles (NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”) as Richie, a young man growing up where he shouldn’t be while realizing that even the closest friends can be deceiving. Charles’ conveys his characters shock and heartbreak amazingly in the scene where he learns that his best friend has set him up to die. Anthony Mackie provides the balance to Charles in the character of Chris, an ambitious drug dealer who will stop at nothing to become the top dealer. He slips into the most vile character in recent years so easily that it is scary. The cast, direction, script, and all other aspects of this film are astounding and deserve a great deal of attention.
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director-Ryan Fleck
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor-Gaius Charles
Best Actor-Anthony Mackie
Best Supporting Actor-Javier Bardem
Best Supporting Actor-Gael Garcia Bernal
Best Supporting Actress-Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actress-Alicia Keys
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Location: New York
“American Tragedy”
Directed By Ryan Fleck
Written By Ryan Fleck and Jacob Aaron Estes
Principal Cast:
Gaius Charles (Richie Jones)
Anthony Mackie (Chris Rodrigues)
Gael Garcia Bernal (Gael Martinez)
Javier Bardem (Alejandro Quintante)
Danny Glover (Michael Jones)
Alicia Keys (Emily Arebole)
Alexa Vega (Diana Garcia)
Catherine Keener (Det. Harriet Glicksman)
Harry Lennix (Det. Jerrod Parks)
Irma P. Hall (Loretta Rodrigues)
Tagline: "Two young men, friends forever…or so it seems'
Synopsis: “Half-Nelson” writer/director Ryan Fleck teams up with “Mean Creek” scribe Jacob Aaron Estes to present this heartwrenching tale about two young men growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. The story begins when Richie (Gaius Charles) moves to a bad part of Los Angeles when his ex-cop father (Danny Glover) is forced to retire because of prostate cancer. He meets Chris Rodrigues (Anthony Mackie), the basketball star at the local high school and they quickly become friends. After a year of friendship Richie discovers that Chris is getting into the drug dealing business with the help of a Mexican distributor (Gael Garcia Bernal). Chris decides to spin the situation his way and is able to convince the naïve Richie to join him in the ranks of the Mexican drug ring, headed by a ruthless gangster (Javier Bardem). Chris begins to learn that Richie respects his opinion and decides to use that against his friend. The young man manipulates Richie into a relationship with the Boss’ niece (Alexa Vega), a girl who the Boss strict forbade to all the dealers. Chris, along with his ambitious girlfriend (Alicia Keys), puts events in motion that will lead to the demise of the boy he used to call his best friend. But things do not go as Chris planned when a pair of detectives (Catherine Keener, Harry Lennix) who are investigating the drug ring begin to question him about his involvement. Matters get worse for Chris when Richie learns of his friend’s deception and he decides to exact revenge. A final battle between so-called brothers ensues, which will stun and amaze with its ferocity and emotions. “American Tragedy” is a shocking portrayal of the increasing decadence of American society that must not be missed.
What the press would say:
Acclaimed filmmakers Ryan Fleck and Jacob Aaron Estes join forces in “American Tragedy”, the story of two best friends who become great enemies because of power and ambition. The script is full of raw dialogue and gritty (and sometimes uncomfortable) scenes, like when the Boss, stunningly played by Javier Bardem, discovers that Gael Garcia Bernal’s character has been stealing from him and decides to make him pay with his life in a very graphic way. Both of those actors deliver performances of terror and arrogance, respectively, which add another emotional aspect to the already gutwrenching main plot line. Catherine Keener gives a restrained and nuanced performance as a beleagured detective who wishes to see young men not involved with drugs. Alicia Keys shines as a devilish girlfriend who resembles Lady Macbeth in some aspects. But it is the two leads of this film who deserve the most attention. First is Gaius Charles (NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”) as Richie, a young man growing up where he shouldn’t be while realizing that even the closest friends can be deceiving. Charles’ conveys his characters shock and heartbreak amazingly in the scene where he learns that his best friend has set him up to die. Anthony Mackie provides the balance to Charles in the character of Chris, an ambitious drug dealer who will stop at nothing to become the top dealer. He slips into the most vile character in recent years so easily that it is scary. The cast, direction, script, and all other aspects of this film are astounding and deserve a great deal of attention.
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director-Ryan Fleck
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor-Gaius Charles
Best Actor-Anthony Mackie
Best Supporting Actor-Javier Bardem
Best Supporting Actor-Gael Garcia Bernal
Best Supporting Actress-Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actress-Alicia Keys
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
The Awards Ceremony
Author(s): Jorge Gonzalez
Location: Mexico
“The Awards Ceremony”
Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron
Screenplay by: Sacha Baron Cohen and Alfonso Cuaron
Produced by: Oprah Winfrey, Michael Moore and Alfonso Cuaron
Principal Cast:
Clint Eastwood as himself
Warren Beatty as the President of the USA
Annette Bening as the First Lady of the USA
Billy Bob Thornton as the President of the AMPAS
Ellen Degeneres as herself
Sacha Baron Cohen as director-nominee Als Ah-Habab from Iraq
Alfonso Arau as director-nominee Pedro Torres from Mexico
Jean Reno as director-nominee Dominic Deneuve from France
Benicio del Toro as director-nominee Enrico Pausini from Italy
Joan Rivers as herself
Ryan Seacrest as himself
Martha Stewart as herself
Samuel L. Jackson as Reverend Jackson
Tagline: “And the Oscar goes to…”
Synopsis: It’s 2012. Iraq isn’t over. Korea isn’t over. And Iran isn’t over. Republicans still got the Presidency of the USA and alert levels reach red every 4 weeks. In this times of anxiety and social tension, entertainment is the only thing that keeps Americans relieved of the inside and outside problems, being cinema it’s main source of peace of mind. The year 2012 starts like any other year, until end of January arrives and the Oscar nominees are announced. Turns out that from the 5 Best Picture nominees, only one film is American, and the same goes for Best Director. America is in shock. Never before something like this had happened and America does not know how to cope with it. Is it a sign? An omen? If America loses, would it be that they got beaten in their own turf? Is there something that Hollywood is telling us? Or is it that non-Americans have taken on Hollywood? And worst of all, main contender against Best Picture is the film by Iraqi director Als Ah-Habab, a notoriously anti-American and anti-Republican film producer. The scandal goes all the way to Washington, and pressure is applied on the Congress to limit foreigners’ power in American entertainment industry. Demonstrations start to take place outside the White House, and things appear to start go out of control. The American President can’t ignore the situation and had to make a drastic decision: To call directly Clint Eastwood and the President of the AMPAS and tell them that it was compulsory that Clint had to win: “I don’t know if you have to bribe the members of the Academy, hack the results of the ballots, or kill someone, but Clint has to win, and so America.”
What the press would say:
Surely it would be the most expected film of the year. Buzz would start from beginning of the year, and its release would be exactly 1 week before the year ends. In this way, the story described in the film would become reality when one month later the “The Awards Ceremony” would become the year’s front runner in every category. Tons of actors and celebrities would appear in cameos along the movie, which would increase media’s attention. The press would immediately name it as the “Talk-About Movie”. Main appraisals would be: “’The Awards Ceremony’ is the scariest film of the year… And yet the most hilarious.” “Sacha Baron Cohen makes you think that Borat was a wimp.” “It’s the best sci-fi of the year… Not because it would never happen, but because the awards ceremony would never be so damn entertaining.” “Ellen Degeneres will now be reminded as the Oscar hostess icon for the centuries to come.” “When you see the movie, you wonder if George W. Bush would of reacted the same way as Beatty’s character on the movie.” "Make sure to bring a diaper." Top critics would describe it as “Witty”, “Smart”, “Clever” film.
Nominations
Best Picture- Oprah Winfrey, Michael Moore and Alfonso Cuarón
Best Director- Alfonso Cuarón
Best Actor- Clint Eastwood
Best Actor- Warren Beatty
Best Supporting Actor- Sacha Baron Cohen
Best Supporting Actor- Alfonso Arau
Best Supporting Actress- Ellen Degeneres
Best Supporting Acress- Annette Bening
Best Original Screenplay- Sacha Baron Cohen and Alfonso Cuarón
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Costume Design
Best Sound Editing
Best Original Song- “America is the land” by Marilyn Manson
Best Score- Phillip Glass
Location: Mexico
“The Awards Ceremony”
Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron
Screenplay by: Sacha Baron Cohen and Alfonso Cuaron
Produced by: Oprah Winfrey, Michael Moore and Alfonso Cuaron
Principal Cast:
Clint Eastwood as himself
Warren Beatty as the President of the USA
Annette Bening as the First Lady of the USA
Billy Bob Thornton as the President of the AMPAS
Ellen Degeneres as herself
Sacha Baron Cohen as director-nominee Als Ah-Habab from Iraq
Alfonso Arau as director-nominee Pedro Torres from Mexico
Jean Reno as director-nominee Dominic Deneuve from France
Benicio del Toro as director-nominee Enrico Pausini from Italy
Joan Rivers as herself
Ryan Seacrest as himself
Martha Stewart as herself
Samuel L. Jackson as Reverend Jackson
Tagline: “And the Oscar goes to…”
Synopsis: It’s 2012. Iraq isn’t over. Korea isn’t over. And Iran isn’t over. Republicans still got the Presidency of the USA and alert levels reach red every 4 weeks. In this times of anxiety and social tension, entertainment is the only thing that keeps Americans relieved of the inside and outside problems, being cinema it’s main source of peace of mind. The year 2012 starts like any other year, until end of January arrives and the Oscar nominees are announced. Turns out that from the 5 Best Picture nominees, only one film is American, and the same goes for Best Director. America is in shock. Never before something like this had happened and America does not know how to cope with it. Is it a sign? An omen? If America loses, would it be that they got beaten in their own turf? Is there something that Hollywood is telling us? Or is it that non-Americans have taken on Hollywood? And worst of all, main contender against Best Picture is the film by Iraqi director Als Ah-Habab, a notoriously anti-American and anti-Republican film producer. The scandal goes all the way to Washington, and pressure is applied on the Congress to limit foreigners’ power in American entertainment industry. Demonstrations start to take place outside the White House, and things appear to start go out of control. The American President can’t ignore the situation and had to make a drastic decision: To call directly Clint Eastwood and the President of the AMPAS and tell them that it was compulsory that Clint had to win: “I don’t know if you have to bribe the members of the Academy, hack the results of the ballots, or kill someone, but Clint has to win, and so America.”
What the press would say:
Surely it would be the most expected film of the year. Buzz would start from beginning of the year, and its release would be exactly 1 week before the year ends. In this way, the story described in the film would become reality when one month later the “The Awards Ceremony” would become the year’s front runner in every category. Tons of actors and celebrities would appear in cameos along the movie, which would increase media’s attention. The press would immediately name it as the “Talk-About Movie”. Main appraisals would be: “’The Awards Ceremony’ is the scariest film of the year… And yet the most hilarious.” “Sacha Baron Cohen makes you think that Borat was a wimp.” “It’s the best sci-fi of the year… Not because it would never happen, but because the awards ceremony would never be so damn entertaining.” “Ellen Degeneres will now be reminded as the Oscar hostess icon for the centuries to come.” “When you see the movie, you wonder if George W. Bush would of reacted the same way as Beatty’s character on the movie.” "Make sure to bring a diaper." Top critics would describe it as “Witty”, “Smart”, “Clever” film.
Nominations
Best Picture- Oprah Winfrey, Michael Moore and Alfonso Cuarón
Best Director- Alfonso Cuarón
Best Actor- Clint Eastwood
Best Actor- Warren Beatty
Best Supporting Actor- Sacha Baron Cohen
Best Supporting Actor- Alfonso Arau
Best Supporting Actress- Ellen Degeneres
Best Supporting Acress- Annette Bening
Best Original Screenplay- Sacha Baron Cohen and Alfonso Cuarón
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Costume Design
Best Sound Editing
Best Original Song- “America is the land” by Marilyn Manson
Best Score- Phillip Glass
Because He Told Me
Author(s): Ryan D.
Location: N/A
“Because He Told Me”
Directed by Patty Jenkins
Written by Patty Jenkins
Principal Cast:
Angelina Jolie as Andrea Yates
Leonardo DiCaprio as Rusty
Sean Penn as Micheal Woroniecki
Meryl Streep as Therpyst
Tagline: "The fear of sinning, cost her her life''
Synopsis: This is the biography of Andrea Yates and her spiral downward. The movie starts on her wedding day to Rusty. They were very christian, and followed an extremist Micheal Woroniecki. He made videos, telling them not to sin and that god is all they need. Than as Andrea starts having children she starts getting depression. When Woroniecki told them not to worry about possessions they decided to move into a small bus. This is when Andrea starts to go crazy. She says that she see's satin, and that if shes not a good mother than she will go to hell. Andrea attempts suicide, and Rusty decides to take her to a mental faciliy. When the insurance runs out they just give her a lot of medication. Andrea refused to take it and would spit them out after taking them. She started going mentally insane. She wouldn't speak, and had a bald spot in her head from scratching one spot on her head. Rusty thinks they should stop following Woroniecki because he is getting too extreme, btu Andrea refuses and keeps in contact. Andrea gets a letter saying that she can't be a bad mother. Andrea thinks that there are video cameras in her house filming her to see if she is a good mother. Than that day came. Rusty went to work and Andrea see's satin. He said that if she doesn't kill her children they will go to hell. Andrea than takes them to the bathroom one by one, and drowns them in the bath tub. Than she lays them in the bed next to each other. Andrea turns herself in, and is sent to prison.
What the press would say:
"Angelina gives a knock out performance as Andrea Yates, she truly controls the movie showing the downward spiral of Andrea, but yet makes you understand why she did it."
" The most disturbing movie of the year, but also the best."
" This is the best work from Patty Jenkins yet, this screenplay tops Monster."
" Angelina gives the best performance of the year if not the best of the decade.Showing the voulnerability of Andrea."
" Sean Penn shows tremendous power playign the extremist christian."
" Leonardo DiCaprio shines as the worried husband."
" The best cinematography since Traffic."
" I can't see a movie topping this, two thumbs way up."
" The dark movie that will sure be at the podium come oscar night."
" If this doesn't win the oscar i don't think i coudl take the academy seriously."
Awards:
Best Picture
Best Director- Patty Jenkins
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actress Angelina Jolie
Best Supporting Actor Leonardo DiCaprio
Best Supporting Actor Sean Penn
Best Cinematography
Best Original Score
Best ensemble cast
Best Original Song- "Never Forgiven" -Renee Stahl
Location: N/A
“Because He Told Me”
Directed by Patty Jenkins
Written by Patty Jenkins
Principal Cast:
Angelina Jolie as Andrea Yates
Leonardo DiCaprio as Rusty
Sean Penn as Micheal Woroniecki
Meryl Streep as Therpyst
Tagline: "The fear of sinning, cost her her life''
Synopsis: This is the biography of Andrea Yates and her spiral downward. The movie starts on her wedding day to Rusty. They were very christian, and followed an extremist Micheal Woroniecki. He made videos, telling them not to sin and that god is all they need. Than as Andrea starts having children she starts getting depression. When Woroniecki told them not to worry about possessions they decided to move into a small bus. This is when Andrea starts to go crazy. She says that she see's satin, and that if shes not a good mother than she will go to hell. Andrea attempts suicide, and Rusty decides to take her to a mental faciliy. When the insurance runs out they just give her a lot of medication. Andrea refused to take it and would spit them out after taking them. She started going mentally insane. She wouldn't speak, and had a bald spot in her head from scratching one spot on her head. Rusty thinks they should stop following Woroniecki because he is getting too extreme, btu Andrea refuses and keeps in contact. Andrea gets a letter saying that she can't be a bad mother. Andrea thinks that there are video cameras in her house filming her to see if she is a good mother. Than that day came. Rusty went to work and Andrea see's satin. He said that if she doesn't kill her children they will go to hell. Andrea than takes them to the bathroom one by one, and drowns them in the bath tub. Than she lays them in the bed next to each other. Andrea turns herself in, and is sent to prison.
What the press would say:
"Angelina gives a knock out performance as Andrea Yates, she truly controls the movie showing the downward spiral of Andrea, but yet makes you understand why she did it."
" The most disturbing movie of the year, but also the best."
" This is the best work from Patty Jenkins yet, this screenplay tops Monster."
" Angelina gives the best performance of the year if not the best of the decade.Showing the voulnerability of Andrea."
" Sean Penn shows tremendous power playign the extremist christian."
" Leonardo DiCaprio shines as the worried husband."
" The best cinematography since Traffic."
" I can't see a movie topping this, two thumbs way up."
" The dark movie that will sure be at the podium come oscar night."
" If this doesn't win the oscar i don't think i coudl take the academy seriously."
Awards:
Best Picture
Best Director- Patty Jenkins
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actress Angelina Jolie
Best Supporting Actor Leonardo DiCaprio
Best Supporting Actor Sean Penn
Best Cinematography
Best Original Score
Best ensemble cast
Best Original Song- "Never Forgiven" -Renee Stahl
Blank
Author(s): Daniel Crooke
Location: Ohio
“Blank”
Produced by: Lynn Rayburn, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Edited by: Hughes Winborne
Costume Design by: Colleen Atwood
Original Music by: Carter Burwell
Original Screenplay by: Barry Levinson and Peter Morgan
Principal Cast:
Chris Cooper as Gene Rayburn
Catherine O’Hara as Brett Somers
David Cross as Charles Nelson Reilly
Kevin Spacey as Richard Dawson
Ellen DeGeneres as Betty White
Reba McEntire as Fannie Flagg
Bernie Mac as Nipsey Russell
Rebecca Romijn as Loretta Swit
Don LaFontaine as Johnny Olsen
Ed Asner as Mark Goodson
Richard Gere as Bill Todman
Tagline: “Behind the blanks, there was a story”
Synopsis: In the 1970’s, “Match Game” ruled the game show business. It had the highest ratings and would continually push the envelope of what was acceptable at the time on broadcast television. The show’s setup was like this- there were two contestants and the host, the always enthusiastic Gene Rayburn, who would give the contestant a question that had a word missing and the word was replaced with “blank”. An example, “Dumb Dora is so dumb that when she went to Easter Island, she thought it would be covered with blanks”. The contestant gave their answer for what they thought filled the blank. Then, that answer would be compared to a panel of six celebrities and the contestant would get one point per celebrity matched. What made “Match Game” so appealing to the American public was not the setup, although amusing, but the celebrity panel. The six celebrities would always include the three regulars, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Richard Dawson. Somers was the hilarious female and was married to famous actor Jack Klugman. Her funny personality was what made her one of the reasons viewers would watch the show. She was always excited to be on the show and always had a lot of fun. Reilly was outrageous and a famous Broadway actor. Brett and Charles had an ongoing comic feud that lasted the whole show. The feud was one of the funniest parts of the show. Dawson was the man who always had the correct answer and women adored him. A few other frequent celebrity panelists were Betty White, Fannie Flagg, Nipsey Russell, and Loretta Swit. The taping schedule was that two or three shows were taped in the morning and afternoon, dinner (which meant plenty of alcohol), and then a final taped show. This made the celebrity panel bond and form a sort of family. The show was like a big party. Behind the scenes, there was lots of hilarity going on. Whether it was accidental, like the time Rayburn accidentally told a contestant that she had “nice nipples”, when he meant to say “nice dimples” or when a contestant would give a racy answer to a question, “Match Game” continued to push the envelope throughout its 10 season run.
Richard Dawson loved working on the show and the attention that he received from the contestants, until the producers, Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, created a devise that would keep the contestants from always choosing Richard as the celebrity that they chose to match in the final round. The producers created a wheel that would choose the celebrity for you. Dawson took this as a direct hit and ever since then, his enthusiasm was not as great as it was before for “Match Game”. According to Rayburn, Dawson’s ego got in the way. Dawson eventually showed no enthusiasm whatsoever, and quit the show. He went on to host the smash hit game show “Family Feud”.
In 1982, “Match Game” was cancelled due to the time slots and Gene Rayburn signed off for the last time. Rayburn always thought that the show should have lasted longer. He fell into a depressive slump, and as his daughter said, “killed himself by not working”. Rayburn stopped working altogether eventually, except for a few interviews and a failed reincarnation of the show. Rayburn became a Hollywood recluse, but also a living legend. Rayburn died in 1999.
“Match Game” was one of the greatest game shows ever to air. It was certainly one of the most enjoyable to watch. As Charles Nelson Reilly said, “This isn’t a job, it’s a social engagement”.
What the press would say:
It is about time that Hollywood tackled one of television’s greatest shows ever, “Match Game”. Going into the theatre, I was concerned that a two hour movie could be made solely on “Match Game”. But it can and it did. Barry Levinson’s “Blank” does a fantastic job of delivering that goal. The film focuses on the show’s run, the celebrities involved (especially Richard Dawson and Gene Rayburn who are played by Kevin Spacey and Chris Cooper, respectively), and the aftermath of the show. The film begins when Gene Rayburn is closing the last recorded show and from there the film goes back and forth from Rayburn’s life after the show and when the show was on the air. The film does not hold back when going into detail of the show. A few scenes that come to mind right now are when Richard Dawson quits the show, when fights break out between the producers and the creative team, and the social lives of the celebrities. The standouts in the supporting cast are Kevin Spacey, as Richard Dawson, and Catherine O’Hara as Brett Somers. Spacey’s performance gets better and better as the film progresses. His enthusiasm for the show as Dawson is so convincing, and he really gets into his character when he becomes sick of the show and eventually quits. A certain scene comes to mind when Dawson has just finished a wrap of “Family Feud” and you can tell that he thinks he had made the right decision to leave the show. Spacey is currently a frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor award, and he has won a few precursors and has some serious Oscar buzz. In order for Brett Somers to be portrayed on screen, a strong comedic actress must be required. Catherine O’Hara plays the part to perfection, as she gets every single mannerism of the iconic Brett Somers down right to the frantic hand movements. O’Hara is also excellent, and should (finally) be receiving her first Academy Award nomination. But the real star of “Blank” is Chris Cooper. His portrayal of Gene Rayburn is magnificent. In his scenes after the show had been cancelled, Cooper nails the emotional range in order to play this part correctly. Cooper steers away from his normal straight faced approach to his brilliant characters he has played in the past. This is a brand new Chris Cooper. His vocal inflexion is different, his facial expressions are different…this is a different Chris Cooper. “Blank” is one truly great and entertaining film. It accurately tells the story of one of the greatest game shows ever made. “Blank” is a triumph and is rightfully earning rave reviews. It is certainly one of my favorite films this year and has a strong chance of doing extremely well at the Oscars.
Nominations
Best Picture- Lynn Rayburn, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly
Best Director- Barry Levinson
Best Actor- Chris Cooper
Best Supporting Actor- Kevin Spacey
Best Supporting Actress- Catherine O’Hara
Best Original Screenplay- Barry Levinson and Peter Morgan
Best Costume Design- Colleen Atwood
Best Film Editing- Hughes Winborne
Location: Ohio
“Blank”
Produced by: Lynn Rayburn, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Edited by: Hughes Winborne
Costume Design by: Colleen Atwood
Original Music by: Carter Burwell
Original Screenplay by: Barry Levinson and Peter Morgan
Principal Cast:
Chris Cooper as Gene Rayburn
Catherine O’Hara as Brett Somers
David Cross as Charles Nelson Reilly
Kevin Spacey as Richard Dawson
Ellen DeGeneres as Betty White
Reba McEntire as Fannie Flagg
Bernie Mac as Nipsey Russell
Rebecca Romijn as Loretta Swit
Don LaFontaine as Johnny Olsen
Ed Asner as Mark Goodson
Richard Gere as Bill Todman
Tagline: “Behind the blanks, there was a story”
Synopsis: In the 1970’s, “Match Game” ruled the game show business. It had the highest ratings and would continually push the envelope of what was acceptable at the time on broadcast television. The show’s setup was like this- there were two contestants and the host, the always enthusiastic Gene Rayburn, who would give the contestant a question that had a word missing and the word was replaced with “blank”. An example, “Dumb Dora is so dumb that when she went to Easter Island, she thought it would be covered with blanks”. The contestant gave their answer for what they thought filled the blank. Then, that answer would be compared to a panel of six celebrities and the contestant would get one point per celebrity matched. What made “Match Game” so appealing to the American public was not the setup, although amusing, but the celebrity panel. The six celebrities would always include the three regulars, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Richard Dawson. Somers was the hilarious female and was married to famous actor Jack Klugman. Her funny personality was what made her one of the reasons viewers would watch the show. She was always excited to be on the show and always had a lot of fun. Reilly was outrageous and a famous Broadway actor. Brett and Charles had an ongoing comic feud that lasted the whole show. The feud was one of the funniest parts of the show. Dawson was the man who always had the correct answer and women adored him. A few other frequent celebrity panelists were Betty White, Fannie Flagg, Nipsey Russell, and Loretta Swit. The taping schedule was that two or three shows were taped in the morning and afternoon, dinner (which meant plenty of alcohol), and then a final taped show. This made the celebrity panel bond and form a sort of family. The show was like a big party. Behind the scenes, there was lots of hilarity going on. Whether it was accidental, like the time Rayburn accidentally told a contestant that she had “nice nipples”, when he meant to say “nice dimples” or when a contestant would give a racy answer to a question, “Match Game” continued to push the envelope throughout its 10 season run.
Richard Dawson loved working on the show and the attention that he received from the contestants, until the producers, Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, created a devise that would keep the contestants from always choosing Richard as the celebrity that they chose to match in the final round. The producers created a wheel that would choose the celebrity for you. Dawson took this as a direct hit and ever since then, his enthusiasm was not as great as it was before for “Match Game”. According to Rayburn, Dawson’s ego got in the way. Dawson eventually showed no enthusiasm whatsoever, and quit the show. He went on to host the smash hit game show “Family Feud”.
In 1982, “Match Game” was cancelled due to the time slots and Gene Rayburn signed off for the last time. Rayburn always thought that the show should have lasted longer. He fell into a depressive slump, and as his daughter said, “killed himself by not working”. Rayburn stopped working altogether eventually, except for a few interviews and a failed reincarnation of the show. Rayburn became a Hollywood recluse, but also a living legend. Rayburn died in 1999.
“Match Game” was one of the greatest game shows ever to air. It was certainly one of the most enjoyable to watch. As Charles Nelson Reilly said, “This isn’t a job, it’s a social engagement”.
What the press would say:
It is about time that Hollywood tackled one of television’s greatest shows ever, “Match Game”. Going into the theatre, I was concerned that a two hour movie could be made solely on “Match Game”. But it can and it did. Barry Levinson’s “Blank” does a fantastic job of delivering that goal. The film focuses on the show’s run, the celebrities involved (especially Richard Dawson and Gene Rayburn who are played by Kevin Spacey and Chris Cooper, respectively), and the aftermath of the show. The film begins when Gene Rayburn is closing the last recorded show and from there the film goes back and forth from Rayburn’s life after the show and when the show was on the air. The film does not hold back when going into detail of the show. A few scenes that come to mind right now are when Richard Dawson quits the show, when fights break out between the producers and the creative team, and the social lives of the celebrities. The standouts in the supporting cast are Kevin Spacey, as Richard Dawson, and Catherine O’Hara as Brett Somers. Spacey’s performance gets better and better as the film progresses. His enthusiasm for the show as Dawson is so convincing, and he really gets into his character when he becomes sick of the show and eventually quits. A certain scene comes to mind when Dawson has just finished a wrap of “Family Feud” and you can tell that he thinks he had made the right decision to leave the show. Spacey is currently a frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor award, and he has won a few precursors and has some serious Oscar buzz. In order for Brett Somers to be portrayed on screen, a strong comedic actress must be required. Catherine O’Hara plays the part to perfection, as she gets every single mannerism of the iconic Brett Somers down right to the frantic hand movements. O’Hara is also excellent, and should (finally) be receiving her first Academy Award nomination. But the real star of “Blank” is Chris Cooper. His portrayal of Gene Rayburn is magnificent. In his scenes after the show had been cancelled, Cooper nails the emotional range in order to play this part correctly. Cooper steers away from his normal straight faced approach to his brilliant characters he has played in the past. This is a brand new Chris Cooper. His vocal inflexion is different, his facial expressions are different…this is a different Chris Cooper. “Blank” is one truly great and entertaining film. It accurately tells the story of one of the greatest game shows ever made. “Blank” is a triumph and is rightfully earning rave reviews. It is certainly one of my favorite films this year and has a strong chance of doing extremely well at the Oscars.
Nominations
Best Picture- Lynn Rayburn, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly
Best Director- Barry Levinson
Best Actor- Chris Cooper
Best Supporting Actor- Kevin Spacey
Best Supporting Actress- Catherine O’Hara
Best Original Screenplay- Barry Levinson and Peter Morgan
Best Costume Design- Colleen Atwood
Best Film Editing- Hughes Winborne
The Bridge
Author(s): Ross
Location: Memphis, TN
“The Bridge”
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Produced by Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy
Written by Eric Roth
Edited by Michael Kahn
Cinematography by Janusz Kaminski
Score by John Williams
Principal Cast:
Col. Nicholson Liam Neeson
Com. Shears Daniel Craig
Maj. Warden Russell Crowe
Col. Saito Gordon Liu
Lt. Joyce Henry Cavill
Maj. Clipton Ciaran Hinds
Tagline: “N/A”
Synopsis: Deep in the jungles of Burma in a WWII Japanese POW camp, captured British soldiers are ordered to build a railway bridge across the Kwai River. Led by strict British Colonel Nicholson (Liam Neeson), the British POWs eventually concede to Japanese Col. Saito (Gordon Liu) and build a bridge and score a moral victory in the process by not only building the bridge, but running the whole operation.
British POW Commander Shears (Daniel Craig) attempts an escape from the POW camp and succeeds, but his two fellow escapees are do not make it alive. Shears makes it to a British military outpost only to be directly redeployed on a top secret mission with Major Warden (Russell Crowe) and young Lt. Joyce (Henry Cavill) to destroy the bridge that Nicholson and the rest of the British prisoners are attempting to build. So Shears must lead the trek back through the dangerous jungles on a mission where the odds of success are nearly impossible.
The strike team fights its way through the jungle and past Japanese patrols to the bridge only to have the proud Col. Nicholson discover the planned secret demolition by his allies because of low tide revealing the detonation wires. It all leads to a memorable explosive finale that really shows off the courage, determination, and tenacity of the human spirt. Based in the 1957 film "The Bridge on the River Kwai."
What the press would say:
Steven Spielberg, the master of the adventure/drama, does it again as he updates the 1957 classic. This version benefits remarkably from advances in cinema and a great directing job, and a superb cast. Liam Neeson takes the role of British Colonel Nicholson, a man with rigid principles and ideals, who must keep his captured troops from falling apart under the stresses of the POW camp and their captors. He has great pride, which is his most noble quality as well as we see in the finale, his greatest fault. Neeson presents a strong leader and is matched with amazing performances by the rest of the cast.
Most notably is Daniel Craig as Commander Shears, a soldier who just wants to make it through alive and go home. He is a man bitter of war and caught in circumstances out of his control, but doing all he can while waiting for the right time for escape. When he is ordered to lead the strike team back through the jungle for the bridge, Craig does great in presenting the frustration of having to go back. Craig's work here is outstanding. Neeson's performance combined with Craig's makes for two of the most compelling and powerful performances in a while. Gordon Liu as Saito does an exceptional job. Saito is under pressure to get the bridge built or be forced to commit suicide. Liu is very good and when he squares off against Neeson, it is just as intense as the 1957 confrontation. Russell Crowe plays veteran demolitions expert Maj. Warden. Warden is a veteran grisled warrior and Henry Cavill plays Lt. Joyce who clearly has fear and questions whether he would be able to bring himself to kill a man. That question is eventually answered in the finale.
Everything really comes together under the direction of Spielberg. The cinematography and sounds of the jungle and river here are engrossing and at moments stunning. The pacing is on-spot. By the end, we learn a lesson of the horrors of war and the lives it takes. The climax of this movie is simply spellbinding. The whole movie is a powder-keg leading up to this finale where fates are revealed. It is a more than worthy update of the 1957 classic.
Possible Nominations
Best Picture
Best Actor (Liam Neeson)
Best Supporting Actor (Daniel Craig)
Best Supporting Actor (Russell Crowe)
Best Director (Steven Spielberg)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Eric Roth)
Best Original Score (John Williams)
Best Cinematography (Janusz Kaminski)
Best Editing (Michael Kahn)
Location: Memphis, TN
“The Bridge”
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Produced by Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy
Written by Eric Roth
Edited by Michael Kahn
Cinematography by Janusz Kaminski
Score by John Williams
Principal Cast:
Col. Nicholson Liam Neeson
Com. Shears Daniel Craig
Maj. Warden Russell Crowe
Col. Saito Gordon Liu
Lt. Joyce Henry Cavill
Maj. Clipton Ciaran Hinds
Tagline: “N/A”
Synopsis: Deep in the jungles of Burma in a WWII Japanese POW camp, captured British soldiers are ordered to build a railway bridge across the Kwai River. Led by strict British Colonel Nicholson (Liam Neeson), the British POWs eventually concede to Japanese Col. Saito (Gordon Liu) and build a bridge and score a moral victory in the process by not only building the bridge, but running the whole operation.
British POW Commander Shears (Daniel Craig) attempts an escape from the POW camp and succeeds, but his two fellow escapees are do not make it alive. Shears makes it to a British military outpost only to be directly redeployed on a top secret mission with Major Warden (Russell Crowe) and young Lt. Joyce (Henry Cavill) to destroy the bridge that Nicholson and the rest of the British prisoners are attempting to build. So Shears must lead the trek back through the dangerous jungles on a mission where the odds of success are nearly impossible.
The strike team fights its way through the jungle and past Japanese patrols to the bridge only to have the proud Col. Nicholson discover the planned secret demolition by his allies because of low tide revealing the detonation wires. It all leads to a memorable explosive finale that really shows off the courage, determination, and tenacity of the human spirt. Based in the 1957 film "The Bridge on the River Kwai."
What the press would say:
Steven Spielberg, the master of the adventure/drama, does it again as he updates the 1957 classic. This version benefits remarkably from advances in cinema and a great directing job, and a superb cast. Liam Neeson takes the role of British Colonel Nicholson, a man with rigid principles and ideals, who must keep his captured troops from falling apart under the stresses of the POW camp and their captors. He has great pride, which is his most noble quality as well as we see in the finale, his greatest fault. Neeson presents a strong leader and is matched with amazing performances by the rest of the cast.
Most notably is Daniel Craig as Commander Shears, a soldier who just wants to make it through alive and go home. He is a man bitter of war and caught in circumstances out of his control, but doing all he can while waiting for the right time for escape. When he is ordered to lead the strike team back through the jungle for the bridge, Craig does great in presenting the frustration of having to go back. Craig's work here is outstanding. Neeson's performance combined with Craig's makes for two of the most compelling and powerful performances in a while. Gordon Liu as Saito does an exceptional job. Saito is under pressure to get the bridge built or be forced to commit suicide. Liu is very good and when he squares off against Neeson, it is just as intense as the 1957 confrontation. Russell Crowe plays veteran demolitions expert Maj. Warden. Warden is a veteran grisled warrior and Henry Cavill plays Lt. Joyce who clearly has fear and questions whether he would be able to bring himself to kill a man. That question is eventually answered in the finale.
Everything really comes together under the direction of Spielberg. The cinematography and sounds of the jungle and river here are engrossing and at moments stunning. The pacing is on-spot. By the end, we learn a lesson of the horrors of war and the lives it takes. The climax of this movie is simply spellbinding. The whole movie is a powder-keg leading up to this finale where fates are revealed. It is a more than worthy update of the 1957 classic.
Possible Nominations
Best Picture
Best Actor (Liam Neeson)
Best Supporting Actor (Daniel Craig)
Best Supporting Actor (Russell Crowe)
Best Director (Steven Spielberg)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Eric Roth)
Best Original Score (John Williams)
Best Cinematography (Janusz Kaminski)
Best Editing (Michael Kahn)
Broken Mind
Author(s): Chris Moffit
Location: North Carolina
“Broken Mind”
Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
Written by Zach Braff & Michael Arndt
Genre: Comedy
Principal Cast:
Charlie Mitchell- Zach Braff
Martin Mitchell- Peter Saarsgard
Nancy Mitchell- Angelica Houston
Jenna Harker- Amy Adams
Carol Stromber- Toni Collette
Frank Stromber- Aaron Eckhart
Stephen Mitchell- Tom Wilkinson
Anna Calvez- Salma Hayek
Tom Doyle- Greg Kinnear
Tagline: “Even when the mind is broken, the heart still beats”
Synopsis: Charlie Mitchell is depressed. He was a smart and happy college student until his English professor, Tom Doyle, gave him an F on his paper. He snapped and tried to burn down Doyle’s car but was arrested and discovered to be clinically depressed. He was sentenced to five years in a mental institution where he met Dr. Jenna Harker. Jenna believed that Charlie’s depression was not caused by the failing grade and believed that there was a deeper root to the problem. Jenna decides to take Charlie back to his family’s home so that she can see his normal routine and his family.
Charlie lives with his sister, Carol, her husband, Frank, and the matriarch of the Mitchell family, Nancy. Carol is a devoted housewife who takes care of her mother all day long. Frank is an obnoxious stockbroker who is hardly home and spends the time he has at home arguing with the aging Nancy. Charlie’s brother, Martin, visits the family home on a daily basis and is a gun-toting, NRA member who comes to tell his liberal mother stories of deer that he has shot on hunting trips. Jenna begins to understand how the stressful environment of the Mitchell family home could cause Charlie to be depressed but she has yet to pinpoint an exact source. However as she begins to talk more and more with Charlie, she begins to fall in love with his charm and wit.
Jenna eventually discovers that the family refuses to talk about the last member of the family, Dad. Jenna discovers that he is not dead like Nancy says but he is in fact alive. He left the family for a woman he met in Mexico and took almost all of the family’s money. Charlie tells Jenna that he learned about his father’s indiscretions and that was why he was depressed. Jenna took Charlie to visit his father in Mexico, but his father, Stephen had no apology and said that he did not care about the family anymore and had his own family now. Charlie who was coming out of his depression snapped after the meeting with his father and one night tried to kill himself. Jenna was forced to commit Charlie back to the psychiatric hospital and she could longer be his doctor because she loved him and could not see him as a broken mind.
What the press would say:
Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton continue to show that they are great at creating family dramedies. The performances in this film shine strongly with Amy Adams’ heartbreaking, but funny performance as the psychiatrist in love with her patient being the best of them all. Zach Braff shows emotion in his face and eyes while maintaining his comic wit and sharp one-liners. The laughter comes strongest though in the conflicts between Angelica Houston’s Nancy, Aaron Eckhart’s Frank and Peter Saarsgard’s Martin, three characters that are confrontational, angry, stubborn and extremely funny. Toni Collette continues to deliver a great line of fine performances with her character being the most sympathetic and kind character, Carol, the simple housewife. The script is witty and funny as well as devastating and revelatory all at the same time. This is an amazing film that will be one of the few comedies to catch Oscar’s eye.
Best Picture
Best Director- Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton
Best Original Screenplay- Zach Braff & Michael Arndt
Best Actor- Zach Braff
Best Actress- Amy Adams
Best Supporting Actress- Toni Collette
Best Supporting Actress- Angelica Houston
Best Supporting Actor- Peter Saarsgard
Best Film Editing
Location: North Carolina
“Broken Mind”
Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
Written by Zach Braff & Michael Arndt
Genre: Comedy
Principal Cast:
Charlie Mitchell- Zach Braff
Martin Mitchell- Peter Saarsgard
Nancy Mitchell- Angelica Houston
Jenna Harker- Amy Adams
Carol Stromber- Toni Collette
Frank Stromber- Aaron Eckhart
Stephen Mitchell- Tom Wilkinson
Anna Calvez- Salma Hayek
Tom Doyle- Greg Kinnear
Tagline: “Even when the mind is broken, the heart still beats”
Synopsis: Charlie Mitchell is depressed. He was a smart and happy college student until his English professor, Tom Doyle, gave him an F on his paper. He snapped and tried to burn down Doyle’s car but was arrested and discovered to be clinically depressed. He was sentenced to five years in a mental institution where he met Dr. Jenna Harker. Jenna believed that Charlie’s depression was not caused by the failing grade and believed that there was a deeper root to the problem. Jenna decides to take Charlie back to his family’s home so that she can see his normal routine and his family.
Charlie lives with his sister, Carol, her husband, Frank, and the matriarch of the Mitchell family, Nancy. Carol is a devoted housewife who takes care of her mother all day long. Frank is an obnoxious stockbroker who is hardly home and spends the time he has at home arguing with the aging Nancy. Charlie’s brother, Martin, visits the family home on a daily basis and is a gun-toting, NRA member who comes to tell his liberal mother stories of deer that he has shot on hunting trips. Jenna begins to understand how the stressful environment of the Mitchell family home could cause Charlie to be depressed but she has yet to pinpoint an exact source. However as she begins to talk more and more with Charlie, she begins to fall in love with his charm and wit.
Jenna eventually discovers that the family refuses to talk about the last member of the family, Dad. Jenna discovers that he is not dead like Nancy says but he is in fact alive. He left the family for a woman he met in Mexico and took almost all of the family’s money. Charlie tells Jenna that he learned about his father’s indiscretions and that was why he was depressed. Jenna took Charlie to visit his father in Mexico, but his father, Stephen had no apology and said that he did not care about the family anymore and had his own family now. Charlie who was coming out of his depression snapped after the meeting with his father and one night tried to kill himself. Jenna was forced to commit Charlie back to the psychiatric hospital and she could longer be his doctor because she loved him and could not see him as a broken mind.
What the press would say:
Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton continue to show that they are great at creating family dramedies. The performances in this film shine strongly with Amy Adams’ heartbreaking, but funny performance as the psychiatrist in love with her patient being the best of them all. Zach Braff shows emotion in his face and eyes while maintaining his comic wit and sharp one-liners. The laughter comes strongest though in the conflicts between Angelica Houston’s Nancy, Aaron Eckhart’s Frank and Peter Saarsgard’s Martin, three characters that are confrontational, angry, stubborn and extremely funny. Toni Collette continues to deliver a great line of fine performances with her character being the most sympathetic and kind character, Carol, the simple housewife. The script is witty and funny as well as devastating and revelatory all at the same time. This is an amazing film that will be one of the few comedies to catch Oscar’s eye.
Best Picture
Best Director- Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton
Best Original Screenplay- Zach Braff & Michael Arndt
Best Actor- Zach Braff
Best Actress- Amy Adams
Best Supporting Actress- Toni Collette
Best Supporting Actress- Angelica Houston
Best Supporting Actor- Peter Saarsgard
Best Film Editing
Budapest
Author(s): Ryne
Location: Portland
“Budapest”
Produced by Lew Rywin (Schindler’s List, The Pianist) and Dan Kolsrud (L.A Confidential)
Directed by Roman Polanski (The Pianist, Chinatown)
Written by Frank Darabont (Saving Private Ryan, Collateral) and Steven Zaillian (Gangs of New York, Black Hawk Down)
Cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki (Children of Men, The New World)
Makeup by Katherine James (Traffic)
Art Direction by Richard L. Johnson (Road to Perdition, O Brother Where Art Thou?)
Film Editing by Claire Simpson (The Constant Gardener, Platoon)
Principal Cast:
Clive Owen- Peter Farkas
Daniel Radcliffe - Jakab Farkas
Eva Green- Anna Farkas
Shia LaBeouf- Tamas Varga
David Carradine- Dictator Erno Gero
Thomas Kretschmann- General Andris Kral
Tagline: “100 Kilometers, 4 Traitors, 1 Shot At Freedom”
Synopsis: Peter Farkas (Owen) is an advisor to Hungarian dictator Erno Gero (Carradine) in the early days of the Hungarian revolution. One day at work, Peter gets a call from his wife, Anna (Green) explaining to him that their son, Jakab (Radcliffe), his best friend, Tamas (LaBeouf), and twenty other teenagers have been thrown in jail for attending a protest that denounced the tyrannical government. Peter hangs up the phone, walks into Gero’s office, and asks for Jakab and Tamas’ release. Gero coldly informs Peter that an example must be made, that he plans to execute the protesters publicly in the town plaza. Peter is taken back by the apathetic attitude Gero has towards the young protesters. Peter must immediately make a decision: to stay loyal to his country and its leader or find a way break Jakab and Tamas out of jail. He decides to break them out of jail. Peter is able to convince the guards that Gero wants him to escort Jakab and Tamas to a high security prison just outside Budapest. Once they get out, Peter, Jakab, and Tamas must move quickly to get out of Budapest before Gero notices what Peter has done. Understanding that she will be targeted with conspiracy and ultimately put to death, Anna meets the boys just outside Budapest. She feels that it will be easier for them to be followed if they travel by car. She suggests that they move by foot to Slovakia, nearly one hundred kilometers away. Gero learns of the betrayal by Peter, and sends General Andris Kral (Kretschmann) to find and murder the traitors. Kral makes it his civic duty to find these traitors and kill each of them before they make it to Slovakia. After forty kilometers have passed, he is able to catch up to the traitors and capture Tamas. Even with Tamas pleading for his life, Kral shows no remorse when he assassinates him. Jakab, Peter, and Anna witness the assassination from behind a cluster of trees about half a kilometer away. Jakab is undeniably shaken and in the most dramatic scene in the movie, Jakab explains to Peter and Anna that Tamas didn’t want to go to the protest; that he forced Tamas to go with him. Anna is able to pacify Jakab and get him to continue the escape to freedom. Kral is not pleased with the blood of only one traitor spilled so he continues his relentless expedition for justice. The Farkas family must move quickly if they are going to escape into neighboring Slovakia before Kral finds them and murders all of them.
What the press would say:
Powerful, Stunning, Moving. All these adjectives come to mind when I think of Roman Polanski’s new masterpiece Budapest. Roman Polanski’s direction takes this production to a new tier in filmmaking. Superbly casted, directed, and acted Budapest will leave even the biggest film buffs speechless once the lights come up. Clive Owen gives a brilliant performance that will one day define his career. Owen’s ability to create the mood is what stuns me the most about his stellar performance. When Peter is around the Farkas family and needs to stay strong, Owen does that with perfect precision, but when Peter is alone, Owen conveys Peter’s struggles with amazing perfection. This performance will eventually lead him to his second Oscar Nomination and unless the stars fall from the sky, his first win. Overshadowed by Owen’s spectacular performance is the equally spectacular performance of Eva Green.
Green shows no fear as the glue of the Farkas family. Anna is one of the strongest female characters to hit the silver screen in years and Green acts, well not acts, becomes Anna with excellence that it rivals such female performances as Helen Mirren in The Queen and Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth. Proving again why he is one the brightest young stars in Hollywood, Daniel Radcliffe gives his best performance to date. Radcliffe steps out of his wizarding ways to portray the rebellious Jakab as if he has known Jakab since his birth. Radcliffe brilliantly gives one of the most intense, moving scenes in cinematic history, when Jakab tells his parents that Tamas did not wish to go to the protest. Although Owen, Green, and Radcliffe are amazing, the greatest performance in this stunning ensemble comes from David Carradine who callously depicts the Hungarian dictator Erno Gero. It is unbelievable how astounding Carradine is in a role he was born to play. He convinces the audience that even Hitler would cringe at the stolid attitude Gero takes towards his citizens. Though he screen time is limited to forty minutes, his present is felt throughout the entire film. Overall, Budapest is one of the best movies of the year and come Oscar time,it should be the frontrunner in many categories especially Best Picture. ****/****
FYC:
Best Picture
Best Director- Roman Polanski
Best Actor- Clive Owen
Best Actress- Eva Green
Best Supporting Actor- Daniel Radcliffe
Best Supporting Actor- David Carradine
Best Original Screenplay- Frank Darabont and Steven Zaillian
Best Cinematography- Emmanuel Lubezki
Best Art Direction- Richard L. Johnson
Best Makeup- Katherine James
Best Film Editing- Claire Simpson
Location: Portland
“Budapest”
Produced by Lew Rywin (Schindler’s List, The Pianist) and Dan Kolsrud (L.A Confidential)
Directed by Roman Polanski (The Pianist, Chinatown)
Written by Frank Darabont (Saving Private Ryan, Collateral) and Steven Zaillian (Gangs of New York, Black Hawk Down)
Cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki (Children of Men, The New World)
Makeup by Katherine James (Traffic)
Art Direction by Richard L. Johnson (Road to Perdition, O Brother Where Art Thou?)
Film Editing by Claire Simpson (The Constant Gardener, Platoon)
Principal Cast:
Clive Owen- Peter Farkas
Daniel Radcliffe - Jakab Farkas
Eva Green- Anna Farkas
Shia LaBeouf- Tamas Varga
David Carradine- Dictator Erno Gero
Thomas Kretschmann- General Andris Kral
Tagline: “100 Kilometers, 4 Traitors, 1 Shot At Freedom”
Synopsis: Peter Farkas (Owen) is an advisor to Hungarian dictator Erno Gero (Carradine) in the early days of the Hungarian revolution. One day at work, Peter gets a call from his wife, Anna (Green) explaining to him that their son, Jakab (Radcliffe), his best friend, Tamas (LaBeouf), and twenty other teenagers have been thrown in jail for attending a protest that denounced the tyrannical government. Peter hangs up the phone, walks into Gero’s office, and asks for Jakab and Tamas’ release. Gero coldly informs Peter that an example must be made, that he plans to execute the protesters publicly in the town plaza. Peter is taken back by the apathetic attitude Gero has towards the young protesters. Peter must immediately make a decision: to stay loyal to his country and its leader or find a way break Jakab and Tamas out of jail. He decides to break them out of jail. Peter is able to convince the guards that Gero wants him to escort Jakab and Tamas to a high security prison just outside Budapest. Once they get out, Peter, Jakab, and Tamas must move quickly to get out of Budapest before Gero notices what Peter has done. Understanding that she will be targeted with conspiracy and ultimately put to death, Anna meets the boys just outside Budapest. She feels that it will be easier for them to be followed if they travel by car. She suggests that they move by foot to Slovakia, nearly one hundred kilometers away. Gero learns of the betrayal by Peter, and sends General Andris Kral (Kretschmann) to find and murder the traitors. Kral makes it his civic duty to find these traitors and kill each of them before they make it to Slovakia. After forty kilometers have passed, he is able to catch up to the traitors and capture Tamas. Even with Tamas pleading for his life, Kral shows no remorse when he assassinates him. Jakab, Peter, and Anna witness the assassination from behind a cluster of trees about half a kilometer away. Jakab is undeniably shaken and in the most dramatic scene in the movie, Jakab explains to Peter and Anna that Tamas didn’t want to go to the protest; that he forced Tamas to go with him. Anna is able to pacify Jakab and get him to continue the escape to freedom. Kral is not pleased with the blood of only one traitor spilled so he continues his relentless expedition for justice. The Farkas family must move quickly if they are going to escape into neighboring Slovakia before Kral finds them and murders all of them.
What the press would say:
Powerful, Stunning, Moving. All these adjectives come to mind when I think of Roman Polanski’s new masterpiece Budapest. Roman Polanski’s direction takes this production to a new tier in filmmaking. Superbly casted, directed, and acted Budapest will leave even the biggest film buffs speechless once the lights come up. Clive Owen gives a brilliant performance that will one day define his career. Owen’s ability to create the mood is what stuns me the most about his stellar performance. When Peter is around the Farkas family and needs to stay strong, Owen does that with perfect precision, but when Peter is alone, Owen conveys Peter’s struggles with amazing perfection. This performance will eventually lead him to his second Oscar Nomination and unless the stars fall from the sky, his first win. Overshadowed by Owen’s spectacular performance is the equally spectacular performance of Eva Green.
Green shows no fear as the glue of the Farkas family. Anna is one of the strongest female characters to hit the silver screen in years and Green acts, well not acts, becomes Anna with excellence that it rivals such female performances as Helen Mirren in The Queen and Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth. Proving again why he is one the brightest young stars in Hollywood, Daniel Radcliffe gives his best performance to date. Radcliffe steps out of his wizarding ways to portray the rebellious Jakab as if he has known Jakab since his birth. Radcliffe brilliantly gives one of the most intense, moving scenes in cinematic history, when Jakab tells his parents that Tamas did not wish to go to the protest. Although Owen, Green, and Radcliffe are amazing, the greatest performance in this stunning ensemble comes from David Carradine who callously depicts the Hungarian dictator Erno Gero. It is unbelievable how astounding Carradine is in a role he was born to play. He convinces the audience that even Hitler would cringe at the stolid attitude Gero takes towards his citizens. Though he screen time is limited to forty minutes, his present is felt throughout the entire film. Overall, Budapest is one of the best movies of the year and come Oscar time,it should be the frontrunner in many categories especially Best Picture. ****/****
FYC:
Best Picture
Best Director- Roman Polanski
Best Actor- Clive Owen
Best Actress- Eva Green
Best Supporting Actor- Daniel Radcliffe
Best Supporting Actor- David Carradine
Best Original Screenplay- Frank Darabont and Steven Zaillian
Best Cinematography- Emmanuel Lubezki
Best Art Direction- Richard L. Johnson
Best Makeup- Katherine James
Best Film Editing- Claire Simpson
Captain Scott
Author(s): Sergio Requejo
Location: Spain
“Captain Scott”
Directed by Neil Jordan
Written by John Logan
Music by Michael Nyman
Cinematography by Dion Beebe
Edited by Stephen Mirrione
Produced by The Weinstein Company
Principal Cast:
Russell Crowe (Captain Robert F. Scott)
Sean Bean (Capt. Oates)
Daniel Craig (Roald Amundsen)
Colin Firth (Lt. Evans)
James McAvoy(Peter Scott)
Natascha McElhone (Kathleen Scott)
Clive Owen (Lt. Bowers)
Stephen Rea (Dr. Wilson)
Tagline: “Death cannot be far”
Synopsis: The expedition of Captain Scott tries to be the first one to conquer the South Pole but, after a long year in the big blue desert, the English group found the Norwegian flag that Roald Amundsen left there one month before. In the way of return they are punished by the intense cold and the ice storms. The failure of the mission makes the forces disappear little by little and after numerous limit situations, all the members of the expedition die because the illness and the lack of food. One year later the place where they were sheltering is founded. They found the bodies and all their stuff. Between the personal stuff they found Captain Scott’s last unsent letter to his wife Kathleen, as well as the diaries of Evans, Wilson, Bowers and Oates. In his last letter to his wife, Captain Scott thinks that his death is inevitable and he refers to her as "my widow ". Scott encourages Kathleen to get married again and he wishes that Peter, his 3-year-old son, studies natural history. When his wife's last letter was sent from London in October 1912, Scott had been dead already 7 months.
Through the three hundred letters of Captain Scott, and their diaries, his son, Peter Scott, will know all the hard details of the catastrophic expedition, 25 years before. Peter, with the help of his mother, dedicates all his life to compiling the letters and diaries of his unknown father. Sir Peter Scott became a famous ornithologist and a conservationist, in order to honour and to satisfy the desires of his father.
What the press would say:
Based on the terrible real facts of the expedition to the South Pole, the scriptwriter makes a meticulous documentation work with the diaries and the three hundred letters that Scott sent to his wife. He completes and gives the last form to the script adapting the book of Ranulph Fiennes (Captain Scott) that describes the whole exploit. Logan makes an intelligent and emotional script about the expedition, focused in the last days of the group and in the relation between the five men, in the numerous limit situations. By flash - back Peter Scott will know the real history about his father, in a film explained in four different, perfectly connected, epochs. The original title for this film was “Three hundred letters from Captain Scott” but producers find it not very commercial.
About the cast it is necessary to emphasize the mutual understanding of the whole group of actors. They formed a real team and it is not necessary to feed the rumours about the possible conflicts between any of them, because it wouldn’t be good for the film and it would eclipse the interpretations of these real prominent figures, treated with great sense. The scene in which Oates, (played by Sean Bean) with his legs wounded, decides to retire voluntarily from the group, not to delay them, is one of the most impressive in the film. The last words from Oates were: "I am just going outside and may be some time". Russell Crowe faces a big challenge: "If you don’t make a great performance with a character like this you can think you’re not as good actor as you believe" - Russell Crow confesses. But Russell has worked out victorious of a role with lot of courage and he has praised the work of his companions (probably to silence the rumors about the conflicts during the filming). In the London unit the conditions were much better and it is necessary to emphasize the great work of the actress Natascha McElhone who plays the role of Kathleen Scott, a sculptress full of strength, sensibility and entirety. Ridley Scott was the first choice to direct this film (maybe because his surname) but Neil Jordan convinced the major just to confront a great personal challenge, and “Captain Scott” shows everybody that it was a very good decision.
FYC:
Best Picture
Best Director: Neil Jordan
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Logan (based on “Captain Scott” & his 300 letters and diaries)
Best Actor: Russell Crowe
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Bean
Best Supporting Actor: James McAvoy
Best Supporting Actress: Natascha McElhone
Creativity Awards
Location: Spain
“Captain Scott”
Directed by Neil Jordan
Written by John Logan
Music by Michael Nyman
Cinematography by Dion Beebe
Edited by Stephen Mirrione
Produced by The Weinstein Company
Principal Cast:
Russell Crowe (Captain Robert F. Scott)
Sean Bean (Capt. Oates)
Daniel Craig (Roald Amundsen)
Colin Firth (Lt. Evans)
James McAvoy(Peter Scott)
Natascha McElhone (Kathleen Scott)
Clive Owen (Lt. Bowers)
Stephen Rea (Dr. Wilson)
Tagline: “Death cannot be far”
Synopsis: The expedition of Captain Scott tries to be the first one to conquer the South Pole but, after a long year in the big blue desert, the English group found the Norwegian flag that Roald Amundsen left there one month before. In the way of return they are punished by the intense cold and the ice storms. The failure of the mission makes the forces disappear little by little and after numerous limit situations, all the members of the expedition die because the illness and the lack of food. One year later the place where they were sheltering is founded. They found the bodies and all their stuff. Between the personal stuff they found Captain Scott’s last unsent letter to his wife Kathleen, as well as the diaries of Evans, Wilson, Bowers and Oates. In his last letter to his wife, Captain Scott thinks that his death is inevitable and he refers to her as "my widow ". Scott encourages Kathleen to get married again and he wishes that Peter, his 3-year-old son, studies natural history. When his wife's last letter was sent from London in October 1912, Scott had been dead already 7 months.
Through the three hundred letters of Captain Scott, and their diaries, his son, Peter Scott, will know all the hard details of the catastrophic expedition, 25 years before. Peter, with the help of his mother, dedicates all his life to compiling the letters and diaries of his unknown father. Sir Peter Scott became a famous ornithologist and a conservationist, in order to honour and to satisfy the desires of his father.
What the press would say:
Based on the terrible real facts of the expedition to the South Pole, the scriptwriter makes a meticulous documentation work with the diaries and the three hundred letters that Scott sent to his wife. He completes and gives the last form to the script adapting the book of Ranulph Fiennes (Captain Scott) that describes the whole exploit. Logan makes an intelligent and emotional script about the expedition, focused in the last days of the group and in the relation between the five men, in the numerous limit situations. By flash - back Peter Scott will know the real history about his father, in a film explained in four different, perfectly connected, epochs. The original title for this film was “Three hundred letters from Captain Scott” but producers find it not very commercial.
About the cast it is necessary to emphasize the mutual understanding of the whole group of actors. They formed a real team and it is not necessary to feed the rumours about the possible conflicts between any of them, because it wouldn’t be good for the film and it would eclipse the interpretations of these real prominent figures, treated with great sense. The scene in which Oates, (played by Sean Bean) with his legs wounded, decides to retire voluntarily from the group, not to delay them, is one of the most impressive in the film. The last words from Oates were: "I am just going outside and may be some time". Russell Crowe faces a big challenge: "If you don’t make a great performance with a character like this you can think you’re not as good actor as you believe" - Russell Crow confesses. But Russell has worked out victorious of a role with lot of courage and he has praised the work of his companions (probably to silence the rumors about the conflicts during the filming). In the London unit the conditions were much better and it is necessary to emphasize the great work of the actress Natascha McElhone who plays the role of Kathleen Scott, a sculptress full of strength, sensibility and entirety. Ridley Scott was the first choice to direct this film (maybe because his surname) but Neil Jordan convinced the major just to confront a great personal challenge, and “Captain Scott” shows everybody that it was a very good decision.
FYC:
Best Picture
Best Director: Neil Jordan
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Logan (based on “Captain Scott” & his 300 letters and diaries)
Best Actor: Russell Crowe
Best Supporting Actor: Sean Bean
Best Supporting Actor: James McAvoy
Best Supporting Actress: Natascha McElhone
Creativity Awards
A Child of Shame
Author(s): Maia
Location: Los Angeles, CA
“A Child of Shame"
A Focus Features Release
Written and Directed by Niki Caro
Principal Cast:
Catherine Keener as Martina Dahl
Naomi Watts as Helga Dahl
David Strathairn as Paul Krause
Tagline: “Emotions can haunt us for more than one lifetime”
Synopsis: The parallel story of two women, a mother and her daughter; during the Nazi occupation of Norway in the 40’s and its aftermath:
Oslo, Norway, 1982… Helga Dahl has just died and her only daughter Martina has never felt lonelier. Treated all her life as an outcast for being one of the few norwegians with dark hair and rough features, Martina always questioned her mother about her origins without getting any genuine answers. Now that she was gone, Martina was sure she’d never now the truth about her father and her heritage but she was wrong…
Drammen, Norway, 1942… Helga Dahl, a beautiful countryside girl; has just arrived to a Lebensborn camp, a Nazi breeding center designed for german soldiers to procreate “superior race” children with the local women. She has been taken from her village by command of the powerful Nazi official Paul Krause, a man obsessed with procreating a pure “Aryan” child to bring back with him to Germany. Helga becomes pregnant but her offspring turns out like nothing Krause would feel proud about: a baby girl with brown hair and dark eyes, more alike to him than to her blonde and pale mother. Disappointed, Krause goes back to Germany and leaves Helga and her newborn behind. Helga is liberated by the Nazis and sent to Oslo (where she has to battle hate and prejudice for being a “german whore”).
1982… Martina gets a letter from the government and discovers her mother’s secret. Disgusted at first, she soon realizes she must find the truth behind her silence and decides to look for her gone father. Aided by a close friend in Munich, Martina gets access to the Lebensborn files and finds Krause. Martina discovers he is retired in a small town near Stockholm, Sweden. She travels to meet him, only to find a dying man in bed. She introduces herself to him, expecting the worst, but his reaction is the complete opposite…
In the end, Martina is able to understand and forgive her gone mother and to learn about her past thanks to her dying father but most important, she learns to accept herself.
What the press would say:
Based on actual events, director Niki Caro (Whale Rider & North Country) explores the product of the Lebensborn phenomenon in Europe in “A Child of Shame,” a marvelous historical film toplined by the award-worthy Catherine Keener and the splendid Naomi Watts. Meaning “Fountains of Life” in german, the Lebensborn birth centers were created by the Nazis during World War II and they were established mainly in Norway because of the priced “Aryan” attributes of its population. Through a deeply studied and captivating screenplay, Caro brings us closer to the lives of Helga and Martina Dahl: two of the 20,000 victims of this lesser known side of the Nazi regime.
Catherine Keener is heartbreaking as the contemporary woman who must deal with her mother’s passing and the truth behind her origins. Keener is moving as the “war child” affected by the racial prejudice against her and who is unable to understand her own identity. Keener makes her character a fragile victim of many doubts and fears, making us a part of her quest for answers at the same time. Watts is memorable as Helga, she conveys the pain and struggle of one of the thousands of Nazi breeders that later became subject of discrimination in Norway and she is particularly astounding on the scenes where she must pretend she is not ashamed of having conceived a child with a german man and face the judgmental Oslo society. David Strathairn is also excellent as the Nazi leader Paul Krause, particularly on his final scenes with Keener.
In the end, the film’s title is a metaphor that fits each of the main characters’ reality, both Helga and Martina are doomed by the awareness of what they believe are their own flaws. They seem unable to realize though, that what brings them shame, should not. Strathairn’s Krause is also ashamed of the things he did in the past but as he finds some relief on confessing to Keener’s character, he can’t realize that he covers his embarrassment by hiding in another country.
The greatness of “A Child of Shame” lies on that fact, it presents the least wanted emotions as inherit part of our humanity and goes places where few films dare to go by letting the viewer decide if such emotions as shame can, or not, be perpetuated from generation to generation.
Consider this film for the following awards:
Best Picture (Genre: Drama/Historical)
Best Director: Niki Caro
Best Actress: Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actress: Naomi Watts
Best Supporting Actor: David Strathairn
Best Adapted Screenplay – (Based on a BBC News Report): Niki Caro
Location: Los Angeles, CA
“A Child of Shame"
A Focus Features Release
Written and Directed by Niki Caro
Principal Cast:
Catherine Keener as Martina Dahl
Naomi Watts as Helga Dahl
David Strathairn as Paul Krause
Tagline: “Emotions can haunt us for more than one lifetime”
Synopsis: The parallel story of two women, a mother and her daughter; during the Nazi occupation of Norway in the 40’s and its aftermath:
Oslo, Norway, 1982… Helga Dahl has just died and her only daughter Martina has never felt lonelier. Treated all her life as an outcast for being one of the few norwegians with dark hair and rough features, Martina always questioned her mother about her origins without getting any genuine answers. Now that she was gone, Martina was sure she’d never now the truth about her father and her heritage but she was wrong…
Drammen, Norway, 1942… Helga Dahl, a beautiful countryside girl; has just arrived to a Lebensborn camp, a Nazi breeding center designed for german soldiers to procreate “superior race” children with the local women. She has been taken from her village by command of the powerful Nazi official Paul Krause, a man obsessed with procreating a pure “Aryan” child to bring back with him to Germany. Helga becomes pregnant but her offspring turns out like nothing Krause would feel proud about: a baby girl with brown hair and dark eyes, more alike to him than to her blonde and pale mother. Disappointed, Krause goes back to Germany and leaves Helga and her newborn behind. Helga is liberated by the Nazis and sent to Oslo (where she has to battle hate and prejudice for being a “german whore”).
1982… Martina gets a letter from the government and discovers her mother’s secret. Disgusted at first, she soon realizes she must find the truth behind her silence and decides to look for her gone father. Aided by a close friend in Munich, Martina gets access to the Lebensborn files and finds Krause. Martina discovers he is retired in a small town near Stockholm, Sweden. She travels to meet him, only to find a dying man in bed. She introduces herself to him, expecting the worst, but his reaction is the complete opposite…
In the end, Martina is able to understand and forgive her gone mother and to learn about her past thanks to her dying father but most important, she learns to accept herself.
What the press would say:
Based on actual events, director Niki Caro (Whale Rider & North Country) explores the product of the Lebensborn phenomenon in Europe in “A Child of Shame,” a marvelous historical film toplined by the award-worthy Catherine Keener and the splendid Naomi Watts. Meaning “Fountains of Life” in german, the Lebensborn birth centers were created by the Nazis during World War II and they were established mainly in Norway because of the priced “Aryan” attributes of its population. Through a deeply studied and captivating screenplay, Caro brings us closer to the lives of Helga and Martina Dahl: two of the 20,000 victims of this lesser known side of the Nazi regime.
Catherine Keener is heartbreaking as the contemporary woman who must deal with her mother’s passing and the truth behind her origins. Keener is moving as the “war child” affected by the racial prejudice against her and who is unable to understand her own identity. Keener makes her character a fragile victim of many doubts and fears, making us a part of her quest for answers at the same time. Watts is memorable as Helga, she conveys the pain and struggle of one of the thousands of Nazi breeders that later became subject of discrimination in Norway and she is particularly astounding on the scenes where she must pretend she is not ashamed of having conceived a child with a german man and face the judgmental Oslo society. David Strathairn is also excellent as the Nazi leader Paul Krause, particularly on his final scenes with Keener.
In the end, the film’s title is a metaphor that fits each of the main characters’ reality, both Helga and Martina are doomed by the awareness of what they believe are their own flaws. They seem unable to realize though, that what brings them shame, should not. Strathairn’s Krause is also ashamed of the things he did in the past but as he finds some relief on confessing to Keener’s character, he can’t realize that he covers his embarrassment by hiding in another country.
The greatness of “A Child of Shame” lies on that fact, it presents the least wanted emotions as inherit part of our humanity and goes places where few films dare to go by letting the viewer decide if such emotions as shame can, or not, be perpetuated from generation to generation.
Consider this film for the following awards:
Best Picture (Genre: Drama/Historical)
Best Director: Niki Caro
Best Actress: Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actress: Naomi Watts
Best Supporting Actor: David Strathairn
Best Adapted Screenplay – (Based on a BBC News Report): Niki Caro
Cut, Print
Author(s): Maia
Location: Los Angeles, CA
“A Child of Shame"
A Focus Features Release
Written and Directed by Niki Caro
Principal Cast:
Catherine Keener as Martina Dahl
Naomi Watts as Helga Dahl
David Strathairn as Paul Krause
Tagline: “Emotions can haunt us for more than one lifetime”
Synopsis: The parallel story of two women, a mother and her daughter; during the Nazi occupation of Norway in the 40’s and its aftermath:
Oslo, Norway, 1982… Helga Dahl has just died and her only daughter Martina has never felt lonelier. Treated all her life as an outcast for being one of the few norwegians with dark hair and rough features, Martina always questioned her mother about her origins without getting any genuine answers. Now that she was gone, Martina was sure she’d never now the truth about her father and her heritage but she was wrong…
Drammen, Norway, 1942… Helga Dahl, a beautiful countryside girl; has just arrived to a Lebensborn camp, a Nazi breeding center designed for german soldiers to procreate “superior race” children with the local women. She has been taken from her village by command of the powerful Nazi official Paul Krause, a man obsessed with procreating a pure “Aryan” child to bring back with him to Germany. Helga becomes pregnant but her offspring turns out like nothing Krause would feel proud about: a baby girl with brown hair and dark eyes, more alike to him than to her blonde and pale mother. Disappointed, Krause goes back to Germany and leaves Helga and her newborn behind. Helga is liberated by the Nazis and sent to Oslo (where she has to battle hate and prejudice for being a “german whore”).
1982… Martina gets a letter from the government and discovers her mother’s secret. Disgusted at first, she soon realizes she must find the truth behind her silence and decides to look for her gone father. Aided by a close friend in Munich, Martina gets access to the Lebensborn files and finds Krause. Martina discovers he is retired in a small town near Stockholm, Sweden. She travels to meet him, only to find a dying man in bed. She introduces herself to him, expecting the worst, but his reaction is the complete opposite…
In the end, Martina is able to understand and forgive her gone mother and to learn about her past thanks to her dying father but most important, she learns to accept herself.
What the press would say:
Based on actual events, director Niki Caro (Whale Rider & North Country) explores the product of the Lebensborn phenomenon in Europe in “A Child of Shame,” a marvelous historical film toplined by the award-worthy Catherine Keener and the splendid Naomi Watts. Meaning “Fountains of Life” in german, the Lebensborn birth centers were created by the Nazis during World War II and they were established mainly in Norway because of the priced “Aryan” attributes of its population. Through a deeply studied and captivating screenplay, Caro brings us closer to the lives of Helga and Martina Dahl: two of the 20,000 victims of this lesser known side of the Nazi regime.
Catherine Keener is heartbreaking as the contemporary woman who must deal with her mother’s passing and the truth behind her origins. Keener is moving as the “war child” affected by the racial prejudice against her and who is unable to understand her own identity. Keener makes her character a fragile victim of many doubts and fears, making us a part of her quest for answers at the same time. Watts is memorable as Helga, she conveys the pain and struggle of one of the thousands of Nazi breeders that later became subject of discrimination in Norway and she is particularly astounding on the scenes where she must pretend she is not ashamed of having conceived a child with a german man and face the judgmental Oslo society. David Strathairn is also excellent as the Nazi leader Paul Krause, particularly on his final scenes with Keener.
In the end, the film’s title is a metaphor that fits each of the main characters’ reality, both Helga and Martina are doomed by the awareness of what they believe are their own flaws. They seem unable to realize though, that what brings them shame, should not. Strathairn’s Krause is also ashamed of the things he did in the past but as he finds some relief on confessing to Keener’s character, he can’t realize that he covers his embarrassment by hiding in another country.
The greatness of “A Child of Shame” lies on that fact, it presents the least wanted emotions as inherit part of our humanity and goes places where few films dare to go by letting the viewer decide if such emotions as shame can, or not, be perpetuated from generation to generation.
Consider this film for the following awards:
Best Picture (Genre: Drama/Historical)
Best Director: Niki Caro
Best Actress: Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actress: Naomi Watts
Best Supporting Actor: David Strathairn
Best Adapted Screenplay – (Based on a BBC News Report): Niki Caro
Location: Los Angeles, CA
“A Child of Shame"
A Focus Features Release
Written and Directed by Niki Caro
Principal Cast:
Catherine Keener as Martina Dahl
Naomi Watts as Helga Dahl
David Strathairn as Paul Krause
Tagline: “Emotions can haunt us for more than one lifetime”
Synopsis: The parallel story of two women, a mother and her daughter; during the Nazi occupation of Norway in the 40’s and its aftermath:
Oslo, Norway, 1982… Helga Dahl has just died and her only daughter Martina has never felt lonelier. Treated all her life as an outcast for being one of the few norwegians with dark hair and rough features, Martina always questioned her mother about her origins without getting any genuine answers. Now that she was gone, Martina was sure she’d never now the truth about her father and her heritage but she was wrong…
Drammen, Norway, 1942… Helga Dahl, a beautiful countryside girl; has just arrived to a Lebensborn camp, a Nazi breeding center designed for german soldiers to procreate “superior race” children with the local women. She has been taken from her village by command of the powerful Nazi official Paul Krause, a man obsessed with procreating a pure “Aryan” child to bring back with him to Germany. Helga becomes pregnant but her offspring turns out like nothing Krause would feel proud about: a baby girl with brown hair and dark eyes, more alike to him than to her blonde and pale mother. Disappointed, Krause goes back to Germany and leaves Helga and her newborn behind. Helga is liberated by the Nazis and sent to Oslo (where she has to battle hate and prejudice for being a “german whore”).
1982… Martina gets a letter from the government and discovers her mother’s secret. Disgusted at first, she soon realizes she must find the truth behind her silence and decides to look for her gone father. Aided by a close friend in Munich, Martina gets access to the Lebensborn files and finds Krause. Martina discovers he is retired in a small town near Stockholm, Sweden. She travels to meet him, only to find a dying man in bed. She introduces herself to him, expecting the worst, but his reaction is the complete opposite…
In the end, Martina is able to understand and forgive her gone mother and to learn about her past thanks to her dying father but most important, she learns to accept herself.
What the press would say:
Based on actual events, director Niki Caro (Whale Rider & North Country) explores the product of the Lebensborn phenomenon in Europe in “A Child of Shame,” a marvelous historical film toplined by the award-worthy Catherine Keener and the splendid Naomi Watts. Meaning “Fountains of Life” in german, the Lebensborn birth centers were created by the Nazis during World War II and they were established mainly in Norway because of the priced “Aryan” attributes of its population. Through a deeply studied and captivating screenplay, Caro brings us closer to the lives of Helga and Martina Dahl: two of the 20,000 victims of this lesser known side of the Nazi regime.
Catherine Keener is heartbreaking as the contemporary woman who must deal with her mother’s passing and the truth behind her origins. Keener is moving as the “war child” affected by the racial prejudice against her and who is unable to understand her own identity. Keener makes her character a fragile victim of many doubts and fears, making us a part of her quest for answers at the same time. Watts is memorable as Helga, she conveys the pain and struggle of one of the thousands of Nazi breeders that later became subject of discrimination in Norway and she is particularly astounding on the scenes where she must pretend she is not ashamed of having conceived a child with a german man and face the judgmental Oslo society. David Strathairn is also excellent as the Nazi leader Paul Krause, particularly on his final scenes with Keener.
In the end, the film’s title is a metaphor that fits each of the main characters’ reality, both Helga and Martina are doomed by the awareness of what they believe are their own flaws. They seem unable to realize though, that what brings them shame, should not. Strathairn’s Krause is also ashamed of the things he did in the past but as he finds some relief on confessing to Keener’s character, he can’t realize that he covers his embarrassment by hiding in another country.
The greatness of “A Child of Shame” lies on that fact, it presents the least wanted emotions as inherit part of our humanity and goes places where few films dare to go by letting the viewer decide if such emotions as shame can, or not, be perpetuated from generation to generation.
Consider this film for the following awards:
Best Picture (Genre: Drama/Historical)
Best Director: Niki Caro
Best Actress: Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actress: Naomi Watts
Best Supporting Actor: David Strathairn
Best Adapted Screenplay – (Based on a BBC News Report): Niki Caro
Cut, Print
Author(s): Ben Miller
Location: Texas
“Cut, Print”
Directed by Paul Weitz
Written by Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
Produced by Rodney M. Liber & Andrew Miano & Paul Weitz
Principal Cast:
Brian Cox as John Owens
Mary-Louise Parker as Sarah Newman
Maura Tierney as Samantha Unger
Geena Davis as Donna Montgomery
Rainn Wilson as Larry Bentman
Mos Def as Re-Dick
Vince Vaughn as Chris Liddy
Ian Holm as Benjamin Louisk
Tagline: “Things are headed in a new direction”
Synopsis: Director John Owens is looking for his long-deserved Oscar after five prior nominations. Film executive Chris Liddy sets him up for an epic biopic based on the life of Rodney King. The script is penned in no time by neurotic writer Larry Bentman. In a few weeks, the movie is set to start. As production begins, the buzz says this could be the film that finally wins John the Oscar, but his adversary, film critic Samantha Unger, doubts Owens’ ability and writes a particularly scathing article about his directing mediocrity. John puts it aside and, with a nudge from Chris, casts rapper Re-Dick, with no acting experience, in the lead role. Actress Sarah Newman, who he cast in the lead female role, seems to be tanking her performance and keeps picking fights with everyone on set. If that weren’t enough, Chris keeps popping up trying to give unwanted advice. After John quells multiple on-fight sets, many minor crew members come up wondering what part they will play in the movie. John finds out his first assistant director Donna Montgomery has an undiagnosed sex addiction and exchanges “favors” with crew members for parts in the film. When John confronts Donna about her philandering, she begins to come on to him in order to do a little acting herself. After dispatching Donna, Larry expresses to John his disproval of the direction of the film. He has many strange complaints, but can’t express what he really wants and continues saying he wants a “new direction.” If things weren’t bad enough, Re-Dick, whose real name is the very un-intimidating Gregory Monroe, begins to live up to his real name. Despite his harsh lyrics and tough persona, he begins to doubt his abilities and cries everyday in his trailer and the only thing that can calm him down in a “visit” from Donna. Samantha catches wind of the chaos and writes yet another column about John and the chaos that has been created. Influenced by Samantha’s articles, studio chief Benjamin Louis doesn’t seem to think John can get the job done anymore. In order to get things under control, John must confront Samantha and stop the bad press. Can he get all the film’s issues in order and be able to pull of another nomination, but this time get a gold statue?
What the press would say:
I called “Cigarette Burns” one of the best and funniest films of the year. I said “Negatives” might top the prior film in quality and laughs. And just when I think it can’t get any better, here comes the Weitz brothers with the conclusion to their brilliant trilogy. While this film bears little plot resemblance to the prior films, I can’t imagine a greater compliment. This time around, Brian Cox portrays director John Owens who just can’t seem to get everything together for his “epic” Rodney King film. Cox, more known for his smaller, character roles, shines as a sarcastic, seemingly-brilliant but most of all, tired director. He brings all his past roles he can to this portrayal. He has his “25th Hour” subtlety, the “Running with Scissors” lunacy and especially the commanding presence of “Adaptation.” As always with this trilogy, the supporting players shine. Vince Vaughn returns to the role of Chris Liddy and is seen from a different point of view, but still retains the likeability. Mary-Louise Parker also reprises her Golden Globe-winning role of Sarah Newman to great ability. New to the series are actresses Geena Davis and Maura Tierney. Davis plays a sex-obsessed assistant director and gets plenty of laughs. Tierney brings her regal touch and better-with-age looks, playing an adversarial film critic to Cox’s character. She may not be on-screen much, but she has a memorable stand-off with Cox as they battle over her press coverage. Rainn Wilson (from TV’s “The Office”) portrays the neurotic screenwriter who has no idea how his words are supposed to translate into film, which definitely don’t help out the director. Besides Cox, maybe the best in show goes to rapper/actor/comedian Mos Def. Playing a hardcore rapper, who is to act as the character of Rodney King, breaks down and cries because of his lack of acting abilities. Cox and Def have surprising chemistry. When Def says to Cox that he doesn’t know what to do, Cox fires back, “All you do is get your ass beat and act like a retard. What’s so hard about that?” Def wastes no time in responding, “My ass is sensitive. And acting like a retard is hard.” These types of exchanges happen throughout the film and it the reason I believe it is the best comedy and yes…the best film of the year. This is the perfect end to a perfect trilogy. I just wish there would be more.
For Your Consideration:
Best Picture, Rodney M. Liber & Andrew Miano & Paul Weitz
Best Director, Paul Weitz
Best Actor, Brian Cox
Best Supporting Actor, Rainn Wilson
Best Supporting Actor, Mos Def
Best Supporting Actress, Maura Tierney
Best Original Screenplay, Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
Location: Texas
“Cut, Print”
Directed by Paul Weitz
Written by Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
Produced by Rodney M. Liber & Andrew Miano & Paul Weitz
Principal Cast:
Brian Cox as John Owens
Mary-Louise Parker as Sarah Newman
Maura Tierney as Samantha Unger
Geena Davis as Donna Montgomery
Rainn Wilson as Larry Bentman
Mos Def as Re-Dick
Vince Vaughn as Chris Liddy
Ian Holm as Benjamin Louisk
Tagline: “Things are headed in a new direction”
Synopsis: Director John Owens is looking for his long-deserved Oscar after five prior nominations. Film executive Chris Liddy sets him up for an epic biopic based on the life of Rodney King. The script is penned in no time by neurotic writer Larry Bentman. In a few weeks, the movie is set to start. As production begins, the buzz says this could be the film that finally wins John the Oscar, but his adversary, film critic Samantha Unger, doubts Owens’ ability and writes a particularly scathing article about his directing mediocrity. John puts it aside and, with a nudge from Chris, casts rapper Re-Dick, with no acting experience, in the lead role. Actress Sarah Newman, who he cast in the lead female role, seems to be tanking her performance and keeps picking fights with everyone on set. If that weren’t enough, Chris keeps popping up trying to give unwanted advice. After John quells multiple on-fight sets, many minor crew members come up wondering what part they will play in the movie. John finds out his first assistant director Donna Montgomery has an undiagnosed sex addiction and exchanges “favors” with crew members for parts in the film. When John confronts Donna about her philandering, she begins to come on to him in order to do a little acting herself. After dispatching Donna, Larry expresses to John his disproval of the direction of the film. He has many strange complaints, but can’t express what he really wants and continues saying he wants a “new direction.” If things weren’t bad enough, Re-Dick, whose real name is the very un-intimidating Gregory Monroe, begins to live up to his real name. Despite his harsh lyrics and tough persona, he begins to doubt his abilities and cries everyday in his trailer and the only thing that can calm him down in a “visit” from Donna. Samantha catches wind of the chaos and writes yet another column about John and the chaos that has been created. Influenced by Samantha’s articles, studio chief Benjamin Louis doesn’t seem to think John can get the job done anymore. In order to get things under control, John must confront Samantha and stop the bad press. Can he get all the film’s issues in order and be able to pull of another nomination, but this time get a gold statue?
What the press would say:
I called “Cigarette Burns” one of the best and funniest films of the year. I said “Negatives” might top the prior film in quality and laughs. And just when I think it can’t get any better, here comes the Weitz brothers with the conclusion to their brilliant trilogy. While this film bears little plot resemblance to the prior films, I can’t imagine a greater compliment. This time around, Brian Cox portrays director John Owens who just can’t seem to get everything together for his “epic” Rodney King film. Cox, more known for his smaller, character roles, shines as a sarcastic, seemingly-brilliant but most of all, tired director. He brings all his past roles he can to this portrayal. He has his “25th Hour” subtlety, the “Running with Scissors” lunacy and especially the commanding presence of “Adaptation.” As always with this trilogy, the supporting players shine. Vince Vaughn returns to the role of Chris Liddy and is seen from a different point of view, but still retains the likeability. Mary-Louise Parker also reprises her Golden Globe-winning role of Sarah Newman to great ability. New to the series are actresses Geena Davis and Maura Tierney. Davis plays a sex-obsessed assistant director and gets plenty of laughs. Tierney brings her regal touch and better-with-age looks, playing an adversarial film critic to Cox’s character. She may not be on-screen much, but she has a memorable stand-off with Cox as they battle over her press coverage. Rainn Wilson (from TV’s “The Office”) portrays the neurotic screenwriter who has no idea how his words are supposed to translate into film, which definitely don’t help out the director. Besides Cox, maybe the best in show goes to rapper/actor/comedian Mos Def. Playing a hardcore rapper, who is to act as the character of Rodney King, breaks down and cries because of his lack of acting abilities. Cox and Def have surprising chemistry. When Def says to Cox that he doesn’t know what to do, Cox fires back, “All you do is get your ass beat and act like a retard. What’s so hard about that?” Def wastes no time in responding, “My ass is sensitive. And acting like a retard is hard.” These types of exchanges happen throughout the film and it the reason I believe it is the best comedy and yes…the best film of the year. This is the perfect end to a perfect trilogy. I just wish there would be more.
For Your Consideration:
Best Picture, Rodney M. Liber & Andrew Miano & Paul Weitz
Best Director, Paul Weitz
Best Actor, Brian Cox
Best Supporting Actor, Rainn Wilson
Best Supporting Actor, Mos Def
Best Supporting Actress, Maura Tierney
Best Original Screenplay, Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
Dinah Was...
Author(s): Brian
Location: Minneapolis
“Dinah Was”
Directed by Rob Marshall
Adapted Screenplay by David Hare (The Hours)
Art Direction: Paul Ghirardani (Mrs. Henderson Presents, Being Julia)
Costume Design: Julie Weiss (Bobby, Hollywoodland)
Cinematography: Rodrigo Prieto (Babel, Brokeback Mountain, 21 Grams)
Editing: Virginia Katz (Dreamgirls, Kinsey)
Principal Cast:
Dinah Washington: Anika Noni Rose
Alice Williams Jones, Dinah’s mother: S. Epatha Merkerson
Violet Moore, Dinah’s personal assistant: Robin Givens
Bill Rayson, Dinah’s manager: William H. Macy
Walter Bentley, manager of the Sahara: Randy Quaid
Christopher Taylor, one of Dinah’s husbands: Danny Glover
Tagline: “What a difference a day made”
Synopsis: In a white fur coat, Dinah Washington (Anika Noni Rose) “The Queen of the Blues” sits on her luggage in the lobby of The Sahara, a Las Vegas hotel. It is 1959; the legendary star is playing a gig at the hotel that night. However, she is not allowed to stay in the hotel, or even enter without a white escort. She refuses to stay in the trailer that has been provided for her in the hotel’s parking lot. So, in her signature style, Dinah takes a long pull from her flask and starts kicking up a fuss, as the Sahara’s manager (Randy Quaid) and Washington’s personal manager (William H. Macy) attempt to persuade her to stop. While the drama goes on, we see flashbacks to earlier moments in Washinton’s life and career, from which the songs grow. We see Dinah’s confrontations with her critical and very religious mother (S. Epatha Merkerson). We see Dinah’s legendary appetite for men (she had many husbands and boyfriends, including Chrisopher Taylor, played by Danny Glover). We see Dinah’s rocky friendship with her personal assistant, Violet (Robin Givens). We see Dinah’s smart mouth, volatile temper, large ego and fondness for alcohol and pills. We see her struggle with weight gain and loss, reaching her demise from an overdose of diet pills at age 39. All this set against performances of her most legendary songs.
SONG LIST:
“Showtime”
“Baby You’ve Got What It Takes”
“Slick Chick (On the Mellow Side)”
“What a Difference a Day Makes”
“I Wanna Be Loved”
“There Is No Greater Love”
“Long John Blues”
“I Won’t Cry Anymore”
“Come Rain or Come Shine”
“This Bitter Earth”
“Sometimes I’m Happy”
“A Rockin’ Good Way”
“I Don’t Hurt Anymore”
What the press would say:
Anika Noni Rose took her breakout role in Dreamgirls and ran. She shines as jazz and blues legend Dinah Washington in Dinah Was..., a biopic with music, much like the successful Ray and Walk the Line. And much like the leading actors in these two films, Anika Noni Rose appears to be a clear award frontrunner for her haunting portrayal of Dinah Washington. She accurately captures both the acid-tongued, boozy, stubborn personality Washington was famous for, and the less-oft seen quiet, humble and emotional side shown in scenes with her mother and assistant. Rose both gained and lost weight for this role in order to accurately portray Washington’s ongoing struggle with her weight. Her crystal clear voice is perfect for the sound of Ms. Washington.
S. Epatha Merkerson is brilliant as Alice, Dinah’s mother. Although she gets but a few flashback scenes, her presence is left echoing throughout the rest of the film. Merkerson portrays love, jealousy and disappointment with ease. Robin Givens as Violet creates a beautiful love/ hate friendship and working relationship with the difficult Dinah, eventually leaving Dinah alone and without a friend. The men in the supporting cast also shine, particularly William H. Macy as Dinah’s manager, trying to politely and respectfully persuade Dinah away from her stubbornness, and Danny Glover as Dinah’s older lover. We see this is one man that Dinah truly fell in love with, and we see the heartbreak in both Glover and Rose when he leaves her because of her alcoholism.
Rob Marshall’s magnificent and profound direction evokes the style of his Oscar nominated work in “Chicago,” but more mature. He truly understands “show biz” and knows how to put it on screen in the most effective manner. David Hare adapts the screenplay with skill. He takes the flaws of the stage play and reworks them, writing one of the most poignant screenplays of the year. The design, editing, cinematography and costume design are all superb.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Best Picture
Best Director: Rob Marshall
Best Actress: Anika Noni Rose
Best Supporting Actress: S. Epatha Merkerson
Best Supporting Actor: William H. Macy
Best Supporting Actor: Danny Glover
Best Adapted Screenplay: David Hare
Best Art Direction: Paul Ghirardani
Best Costume Design: Julie Weiss
And various other technical categories.
Location: Minneapolis
“Dinah Was”
Directed by Rob Marshall
Adapted Screenplay by David Hare (The Hours)
Art Direction: Paul Ghirardani (Mrs. Henderson Presents, Being Julia)
Costume Design: Julie Weiss (Bobby, Hollywoodland)
Cinematography: Rodrigo Prieto (Babel, Brokeback Mountain, 21 Grams)
Editing: Virginia Katz (Dreamgirls, Kinsey)
Principal Cast:
Dinah Washington: Anika Noni Rose
Alice Williams Jones, Dinah’s mother: S. Epatha Merkerson
Violet Moore, Dinah’s personal assistant: Robin Givens
Bill Rayson, Dinah’s manager: William H. Macy
Walter Bentley, manager of the Sahara: Randy Quaid
Christopher Taylor, one of Dinah’s husbands: Danny Glover
Tagline: “What a difference a day made”
Synopsis: In a white fur coat, Dinah Washington (Anika Noni Rose) “The Queen of the Blues” sits on her luggage in the lobby of The Sahara, a Las Vegas hotel. It is 1959; the legendary star is playing a gig at the hotel that night. However, she is not allowed to stay in the hotel, or even enter without a white escort. She refuses to stay in the trailer that has been provided for her in the hotel’s parking lot. So, in her signature style, Dinah takes a long pull from her flask and starts kicking up a fuss, as the Sahara’s manager (Randy Quaid) and Washington’s personal manager (William H. Macy) attempt to persuade her to stop. While the drama goes on, we see flashbacks to earlier moments in Washinton’s life and career, from which the songs grow. We see Dinah’s confrontations with her critical and very religious mother (S. Epatha Merkerson). We see Dinah’s legendary appetite for men (she had many husbands and boyfriends, including Chrisopher Taylor, played by Danny Glover). We see Dinah’s rocky friendship with her personal assistant, Violet (Robin Givens). We see Dinah’s smart mouth, volatile temper, large ego and fondness for alcohol and pills. We see her struggle with weight gain and loss, reaching her demise from an overdose of diet pills at age 39. All this set against performances of her most legendary songs.
SONG LIST:
“Showtime”
“Baby You’ve Got What It Takes”
“Slick Chick (On the Mellow Side)”
“What a Difference a Day Makes”
“I Wanna Be Loved”
“There Is No Greater Love”
“Long John Blues”
“I Won’t Cry Anymore”
“Come Rain or Come Shine”
“This Bitter Earth”
“Sometimes I’m Happy”
“A Rockin’ Good Way”
“I Don’t Hurt Anymore”
What the press would say:
Anika Noni Rose took her breakout role in Dreamgirls and ran. She shines as jazz and blues legend Dinah Washington in Dinah Was..., a biopic with music, much like the successful Ray and Walk the Line. And much like the leading actors in these two films, Anika Noni Rose appears to be a clear award frontrunner for her haunting portrayal of Dinah Washington. She accurately captures both the acid-tongued, boozy, stubborn personality Washington was famous for, and the less-oft seen quiet, humble and emotional side shown in scenes with her mother and assistant. Rose both gained and lost weight for this role in order to accurately portray Washington’s ongoing struggle with her weight. Her crystal clear voice is perfect for the sound of Ms. Washington.
S. Epatha Merkerson is brilliant as Alice, Dinah’s mother. Although she gets but a few flashback scenes, her presence is left echoing throughout the rest of the film. Merkerson portrays love, jealousy and disappointment with ease. Robin Givens as Violet creates a beautiful love/ hate friendship and working relationship with the difficult Dinah, eventually leaving Dinah alone and without a friend. The men in the supporting cast also shine, particularly William H. Macy as Dinah’s manager, trying to politely and respectfully persuade Dinah away from her stubbornness, and Danny Glover as Dinah’s older lover. We see this is one man that Dinah truly fell in love with, and we see the heartbreak in both Glover and Rose when he leaves her because of her alcoholism.
Rob Marshall’s magnificent and profound direction evokes the style of his Oscar nominated work in “Chicago,” but more mature. He truly understands “show biz” and knows how to put it on screen in the most effective manner. David Hare adapts the screenplay with skill. He takes the flaws of the stage play and reworks them, writing one of the most poignant screenplays of the year. The design, editing, cinematography and costume design are all superb.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Best Picture
Best Director: Rob Marshall
Best Actress: Anika Noni Rose
Best Supporting Actress: S. Epatha Merkerson
Best Supporting Actor: William H. Macy
Best Supporting Actor: Danny Glover
Best Adapted Screenplay: David Hare
Best Art Direction: Paul Ghirardani
Best Costume Design: Julie Weiss
And various other technical categories.
Don't Stop Believin'
Author(s): Matt
Location: Illinois
“Don’t Stop Believin’”
Directed By: Marc Forster
Written By: Patrick Marber
Principal Cast:
Queen Latifah as Rita Grange
Jaden Smith as Stephen Grange
Peter Gallagher as Jerry White
Lindsay Lohan as Laura White
Laura Linney as Priscilla White
Morgan Freeman as Terrence
Milo Ventimiglia as Drake Sampson
Tagline: “Life isn’t about the destination, it’s about the JOURNEY”
Synopsis: The year is 1996. The city is Chicago. The White’s are a family living in the southwest suburbs. The father Jerry is a slimey real estate agent, who pays little to no attention to his wife. Laura, the daughter, gets plenty of attention, though. Her father is very overprotective when it comes just about everything. On the other hand, Jerry’s wife Priscilla has become extremely depressed and hardly talks to Jerry, her daughter, or really anyone of the outside world. An understated jealousy fills Priscilla, as she wishes Jerry gave her the time that he spent on Laura. Laura wishes she could be left alone. She runs to the city, with little money, and settles in a dreadful apartment. Laura is still happier there than she ever was with her father. One night on the train, Laura meets a man named Drake. Drake decides to show Laura around the city, and eventually takes her to a Blues bar. The well-known performer at the club is Rita Grange. The well-known customer is Terrence. Terrence was known for tipping Rita large sums after she performed. This money came in handy for Rita, who was supporting herself and her son Stephen. The small family lived in the projects. The dilapidated building happened to have been sold to Jerry White who was going to advertise the land and hopefully produce a respectable condominium complex. This meant the Grange’s would be out of luck. Rita went to Terrence for help. He promised that he would always take care of Rita and her son, and that they would always have a place to stay. After exploring the Grange’s home, Jerry took a train out of the city. He was followed from the projects to the station by a young resident. He was mugged and killed. His daughter never learned her father’s alternate motives for fixing up the building in Chicago. Jerry had planned to revamp the projects so that he and his wife could move there to be closer to their daughter. Still, after her father’s death, Laura began to understand that all of his sheltering was full of the best intentions. She formed a closer bond with Jerry after he had passed than she ever had while he was living.
What the press would say:
Don’t Stop Believin’ is a completely unique and original film. Never has there been a movie truly inspired by a song, and such a classic one at that. Don’t Stop Believin’ isn’t the average ensemble drama. It is full of irony, heart, and complex characters. The screenplay is amazing. Patrick Marber, hot off Notes on a Scandal, got the job done. He took the Journey song and used similar settings and sounds to produce characters and plot lines. Marc Forster is responsible for putting all of it together; the setting, the characters, the dialogue, and the story. He does an amazing job and makes and even more emotional film than his earlier Finding Neverland. The entire cast of Don’t Stop Believin’ deserves kudos, but of course there were a few standout performances. Most notably, Queen Latifah. She showcases both her voice and her acting talent in the film. Her chemistry with both of her male costars, Jaden Smith and Morgan Freeman is amazing. Freeman is also deserving of some acclaim. He makes Terrence a fully developed and well-rounded character. He is responsible for some of the most heartfelt lines in the film. Still, the stand out male performance is by none other than Peter Gallagher. After leaving film for a while to pursue television acting, Gallagher is back and at the top of his game. He is great at balancing the role of vain, hot shot real estate agent and caring father. Lindsay Lohan expands her talent and even tops her work from Bobby and A Prairie Home Companion. All of these performances and more, result in Don’t Stop Believin’, a film the critics believe is one of the best of the year.
Memorable Quote: “Some will win. Some will lose. And some were born to sing the blues.” – Rita Grange (Queen Latifah)
Possible Oscar Nominations
Best Picture
Best Director - Marc Forster
Best Original Screenplay – Patrick Marber
Best Actor – Peter Gallagher
Best Actress – Lindsay Lohan
Best Supporting Actor – Morgan Freeman
Best Supporting Actress – Queen Latifah
Location: Illinois
“Don’t Stop Believin’”
Directed By: Marc Forster
Written By: Patrick Marber
Principal Cast:
Queen Latifah as Rita Grange
Jaden Smith as Stephen Grange
Peter Gallagher as Jerry White
Lindsay Lohan as Laura White
Laura Linney as Priscilla White
Morgan Freeman as Terrence
Milo Ventimiglia as Drake Sampson
Tagline: “Life isn’t about the destination, it’s about the JOURNEY”
Synopsis: The year is 1996. The city is Chicago. The White’s are a family living in the southwest suburbs. The father Jerry is a slimey real estate agent, who pays little to no attention to his wife. Laura, the daughter, gets plenty of attention, though. Her father is very overprotective when it comes just about everything. On the other hand, Jerry’s wife Priscilla has become extremely depressed and hardly talks to Jerry, her daughter, or really anyone of the outside world. An understated jealousy fills Priscilla, as she wishes Jerry gave her the time that he spent on Laura. Laura wishes she could be left alone. She runs to the city, with little money, and settles in a dreadful apartment. Laura is still happier there than she ever was with her father. One night on the train, Laura meets a man named Drake. Drake decides to show Laura around the city, and eventually takes her to a Blues bar. The well-known performer at the club is Rita Grange. The well-known customer is Terrence. Terrence was known for tipping Rita large sums after she performed. This money came in handy for Rita, who was supporting herself and her son Stephen. The small family lived in the projects. The dilapidated building happened to have been sold to Jerry White who was going to advertise the land and hopefully produce a respectable condominium complex. This meant the Grange’s would be out of luck. Rita went to Terrence for help. He promised that he would always take care of Rita and her son, and that they would always have a place to stay. After exploring the Grange’s home, Jerry took a train out of the city. He was followed from the projects to the station by a young resident. He was mugged and killed. His daughter never learned her father’s alternate motives for fixing up the building in Chicago. Jerry had planned to revamp the projects so that he and his wife could move there to be closer to their daughter. Still, after her father’s death, Laura began to understand that all of his sheltering was full of the best intentions. She formed a closer bond with Jerry after he had passed than she ever had while he was living.
What the press would say:
Don’t Stop Believin’ is a completely unique and original film. Never has there been a movie truly inspired by a song, and such a classic one at that. Don’t Stop Believin’ isn’t the average ensemble drama. It is full of irony, heart, and complex characters. The screenplay is amazing. Patrick Marber, hot off Notes on a Scandal, got the job done. He took the Journey song and used similar settings and sounds to produce characters and plot lines. Marc Forster is responsible for putting all of it together; the setting, the characters, the dialogue, and the story. He does an amazing job and makes and even more emotional film than his earlier Finding Neverland. The entire cast of Don’t Stop Believin’ deserves kudos, but of course there were a few standout performances. Most notably, Queen Latifah. She showcases both her voice and her acting talent in the film. Her chemistry with both of her male costars, Jaden Smith and Morgan Freeman is amazing. Freeman is also deserving of some acclaim. He makes Terrence a fully developed and well-rounded character. He is responsible for some of the most heartfelt lines in the film. Still, the stand out male performance is by none other than Peter Gallagher. After leaving film for a while to pursue television acting, Gallagher is back and at the top of his game. He is great at balancing the role of vain, hot shot real estate agent and caring father. Lindsay Lohan expands her talent and even tops her work from Bobby and A Prairie Home Companion. All of these performances and more, result in Don’t Stop Believin’, a film the critics believe is one of the best of the year.
Memorable Quote: “Some will win. Some will lose. And some were born to sing the blues.” – Rita Grange (Queen Latifah)
Possible Oscar Nominations
Best Picture
Best Director - Marc Forster
Best Original Screenplay – Patrick Marber
Best Actor – Peter Gallagher
Best Actress – Lindsay Lohan
Best Supporting Actor – Morgan Freeman
Best Supporting Actress – Queen Latifah
Elected
Author(s): Bryce Marrero
Location: Los Angeles
“Elected”
directed by: Paul Greengrass
written by: Peter Morgan, and Grant Heslov
produced by: Paul Greengrass, Steven Soderbergh, and Grant Heslov
Principal Cast:
Chris Cooper (George Bush)
John Goodman (Dick Chaney)
Greg Kinnear (Al Gore)
Lynn Whitfield (Condoleezza Rice)
Cuba Gooding Jr. (Colin Powell)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Jeb Bush)
Jon Voight (George Bush Sr.)
Harrison Ford (Bill Clinton)
Judi Dench (Barbara Bush)
Helen Mirren (Laura Bush)
Shaun Toub (Saddam Hussein)
genre: Drama
Tagline: “People call him the president, but what does he call himself”
Synopsis: The story of President Bush and his personal motives behind some of his most difficult decisions as president. The story shows the pressure that were bestowed onto him as president, and his decision to go against Al Gore for the 2000 election, his choice to go to war after September 11 attack, and his decision to go to Iraq to get Saddam Hussein. After going to war in Iraq, and capturing the much controversial Saddam Hussein, President Bush must face another pressure as President. Appealing to the People. He faces much difficulty trying to appeal to the people, and trying to change his image. He becomes an object of attack, by the people, and even his fellow peers. Now he faces the chance of not being re-elected for the 2004 presidential election.
What the press would say:
It's new year's eve and one man makes a decision that changes a nation. Elected is a movie about the presidency of George Bush Jr., thus far, and the difficult decisions he had to make as the president. Elected is one of the most emotional dramas to come along in awhile, showing the "human-like" features of a president. Makeup is at its best for the film. Each actor looks exactly as who they are portraying. But do the actors act just like them? Yes, and with great makeup, this creates an exact double of these characters. Chris Cooper IS George Bush. His acting is the best performance of the year. Chris makes an exact double of George Bush. The rest of the cast is simply amazing. Greg Kinnear acts his best, alongside with a brilliant performance by Lynn Whitfield. Although the show stealer is Shaun Toub, as the infamous dictator who is captured by the U.S., and what he had gone through while captive. Paul Greengrass' direction is top notch, and at its best. With great acting, a great story, and great direction, Elected makes one of the best films of the year, and the one to look out for during award season.
Best Picture
Best Director- Paul Greengrass
Best Actor- Chris Cooper
Best Supporting Actor- Greg Kinnear
Best Supporting Actor- Shaun Toub
Best Supporting Actor- Harrison Ford
Best Supporting Actress- Lynn Whitfield
Best Adapted Screenplay- Peter Morgan, and Grant Heslov
Best Makeup
Best Costumes
Best Editing
Location: Los Angeles
“Elected”
directed by: Paul Greengrass
written by: Peter Morgan, and Grant Heslov
produced by: Paul Greengrass, Steven Soderbergh, and Grant Heslov
Principal Cast:
Chris Cooper (George Bush)
John Goodman (Dick Chaney)
Greg Kinnear (Al Gore)
Lynn Whitfield (Condoleezza Rice)
Cuba Gooding Jr. (Colin Powell)
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Jeb Bush)
Jon Voight (George Bush Sr.)
Harrison Ford (Bill Clinton)
Judi Dench (Barbara Bush)
Helen Mirren (Laura Bush)
Shaun Toub (Saddam Hussein)
genre: Drama
Tagline: “People call him the president, but what does he call himself”
Synopsis: The story of President Bush and his personal motives behind some of his most difficult decisions as president. The story shows the pressure that were bestowed onto him as president, and his decision to go against Al Gore for the 2000 election, his choice to go to war after September 11 attack, and his decision to go to Iraq to get Saddam Hussein. After going to war in Iraq, and capturing the much controversial Saddam Hussein, President Bush must face another pressure as President. Appealing to the People. He faces much difficulty trying to appeal to the people, and trying to change his image. He becomes an object of attack, by the people, and even his fellow peers. Now he faces the chance of not being re-elected for the 2004 presidential election.
What the press would say:
It's new year's eve and one man makes a decision that changes a nation. Elected is a movie about the presidency of George Bush Jr., thus far, and the difficult decisions he had to make as the president. Elected is one of the most emotional dramas to come along in awhile, showing the "human-like" features of a president. Makeup is at its best for the film. Each actor looks exactly as who they are portraying. But do the actors act just like them? Yes, and with great makeup, this creates an exact double of these characters. Chris Cooper IS George Bush. His acting is the best performance of the year. Chris makes an exact double of George Bush. The rest of the cast is simply amazing. Greg Kinnear acts his best, alongside with a brilliant performance by Lynn Whitfield. Although the show stealer is Shaun Toub, as the infamous dictator who is captured by the U.S., and what he had gone through while captive. Paul Greengrass' direction is top notch, and at its best. With great acting, a great story, and great direction, Elected makes one of the best films of the year, and the one to look out for during award season.
Best Picture
Best Director- Paul Greengrass
Best Actor- Chris Cooper
Best Supporting Actor- Greg Kinnear
Best Supporting Actor- Shaun Toub
Best Supporting Actor- Harrison Ford
Best Supporting Actress- Lynn Whitfield
Best Adapted Screenplay- Peter Morgan, and Grant Heslov
Best Makeup
Best Costumes
Best Editing
Flare Manor
Author(s): Al
Location: New York
"Flare Manor"
Directed by David Lynch
Written by Paul Haggis
Principal Cast:
Ana DeRosa: Uma Thurman
Nick: John Krasinski
Andrea MacDowd: Zooey Deschanel
Mickey Dane: Owen Wilson
Iris Bell: Lily Tomlin
James Sasson: Ryan Gosling
Laura Dinhofer: Parker Posey
Alex Watson: Nick Cannon
Dinah Kirk: Anika Noni Rose
Tagline: “N/A”
Synopsis: Iris Bell knows it's the end. For 12 years, the burned-out, rapidly aging expert hostess has operated Flare Manor, a hot disco in the center of L.A. that attracts Hollywood's hottest who live for the party. But the 70's are ending, and hedonism is becoming no more than a passing fad. She knows that Flare Manor is next, and soon the sweaty bathroom sexual encounters and hallucinatory drugs will soon disappear. And Flare Manor isn't all that's dying. Iris has been diagnosed with lung cancer, which is slowly eating away at her body. She has been told she only has a few months to live, but she refuses to accept it. To go out with a bang, Iris holds one last night of self-indulgent debauchery before she-and the club-dies.
All the regulars turn up. Ana DeRosa, a huge pop star, is there to perform her dance-heavy hits. Her harried manager, James Sasson, tries to loosen up at the party as he tries to think up a solution for Ana's sagging career. Dinah Kirk is a well-known blaxploitation actress with a huge heroin addiction that weakens her more every day. The dealer who quenches her habit, Nick, is on hand in the alley outside to supply all manner of vices. Andrea MacDowd, a former child star now doing B-movies, is trying to put her life back together and promises to attend rehab right after this last night out, her Mardi Gras before an eternity of alcoholic Lent. There's Alex, Flare's resident DJ who dreams of recording on his own and hopes to get discovered by James. Dapper man-of-the-moment actor Mickey Dane attracts a huge group of hangers-on, while secretly struggling with his own inner demons. And tabloid photographer Laura Dinhofer hovers above it all, hoping to catch a shot of a star going down.
Over the span of 13 hours, these 9 people will fight, dance, cry, self-medicate, and even die quietly. But most of all, they will end an era-with a bang.
What the press would say:
Everyone remembers the late '70s and the early '80s. These years were the time of the disco: partying late into the night and people-watching at these dance clubs. With his new ensemble drama "Flare Manor", I believe that David Lynch has accurately depicted this turbulent period of American culture. Lynch's non-linear, surrealist style works well with this film, and he surely does one of the best directing jobs ever, atmospherically and dramatically. Lights flash, music pumps, and the entire movie is filled with quick cuts and close-ups that add to the energy of the setting. Paul Haggis' screenplay is very deep, and it paints an accurate portrait of the times and fleshes out every single character. This Oscar-winning screenwriter brings his fast-paced but emotionally potent ensemble style to this film, and it's a perfect match.
Every member of the ensemble is emotionally naked and inhabit their character beautifully, from the big stars among the cast to the relative unknowns. Some cast members are easy to highlight. John Krasinski, best known for his comedic role on TV's "The Office", is perfectly dark as the sleazy drug dealer. It's interesting to see his various mood swings and his mysterious grin. Owen Wilson is another comedic actor going dramatic, as the conflicted man-of-the-moment, who has been described by some critics as a "depressed Robert Redford". This role is a great way for him to break into more challenging, dramatic movies. Lily Tomlin, who showed her melancholy streak in "A Prairie Home Companion", is very good as the club's owner. Anika Noni Rose is also fabulous as a miserable blaxploitation star who relies on drugs to help get her through her life. This is head and shoulders above her role in "Dreamgirls". Parker Posey provides a bit of comic relief in a small part as a celebrity photographer who will do anything for her shot. Zooey Deschanel is the real standout of the cast, however. Her harrowing portrait of an alcoholic former child star on the edge blew me away whenever she was onscreen. Her face accurately heartrendingly captures so many emotions: hurt, dismay, fatigue, depression, even when she doesn't speak. Her persona reflects the entire tone of the movie: that of death, and the poignant end of an era. This performance should catapult her to the better roles that she deserves.
Many a film has tried and failed to replicate the heady disco era, but "Flare Manor" finally strikes the right balance between spectacle and character study. With the help of skilled director David Lynch and screenwriter Paul Haggis, "Flare Manor" pushes past the boundaries of a period piece or ensemble drama and reinvents those genres for a modern filmmaking age. I would give this film consideration for the following awards:
Best Picture (AMPAS)
Best Picture-Drama (HFPA)
Best Ensemble (SAG)
Best Director: David Lynch
Best Original Screenplay: Paul Haggis
Best Supporting Actor: John Krasinski
Best Supporting Actor: Owen Wilson
Best Supporting Actress: Zooey Deschanel
Best Supporting Actress: Anika Noni Rose
Location: New York
"Flare Manor"
Directed by David Lynch
Written by Paul Haggis
Principal Cast:
Ana DeRosa: Uma Thurman
Nick: John Krasinski
Andrea MacDowd: Zooey Deschanel
Mickey Dane: Owen Wilson
Iris Bell: Lily Tomlin
James Sasson: Ryan Gosling
Laura Dinhofer: Parker Posey
Alex Watson: Nick Cannon
Dinah Kirk: Anika Noni Rose
Tagline: “N/A”
Synopsis: Iris Bell knows it's the end. For 12 years, the burned-out, rapidly aging expert hostess has operated Flare Manor, a hot disco in the center of L.A. that attracts Hollywood's hottest who live for the party. But the 70's are ending, and hedonism is becoming no more than a passing fad. She knows that Flare Manor is next, and soon the sweaty bathroom sexual encounters and hallucinatory drugs will soon disappear. And Flare Manor isn't all that's dying. Iris has been diagnosed with lung cancer, which is slowly eating away at her body. She has been told she only has a few months to live, but she refuses to accept it. To go out with a bang, Iris holds one last night of self-indulgent debauchery before she-and the club-dies.
All the regulars turn up. Ana DeRosa, a huge pop star, is there to perform her dance-heavy hits. Her harried manager, James Sasson, tries to loosen up at the party as he tries to think up a solution for Ana's sagging career. Dinah Kirk is a well-known blaxploitation actress with a huge heroin addiction that weakens her more every day. The dealer who quenches her habit, Nick, is on hand in the alley outside to supply all manner of vices. Andrea MacDowd, a former child star now doing B-movies, is trying to put her life back together and promises to attend rehab right after this last night out, her Mardi Gras before an eternity of alcoholic Lent. There's Alex, Flare's resident DJ who dreams of recording on his own and hopes to get discovered by James. Dapper man-of-the-moment actor Mickey Dane attracts a huge group of hangers-on, while secretly struggling with his own inner demons. And tabloid photographer Laura Dinhofer hovers above it all, hoping to catch a shot of a star going down.
Over the span of 13 hours, these 9 people will fight, dance, cry, self-medicate, and even die quietly. But most of all, they will end an era-with a bang.
What the press would say:
Everyone remembers the late '70s and the early '80s. These years were the time of the disco: partying late into the night and people-watching at these dance clubs. With his new ensemble drama "Flare Manor", I believe that David Lynch has accurately depicted this turbulent period of American culture. Lynch's non-linear, surrealist style works well with this film, and he surely does one of the best directing jobs ever, atmospherically and dramatically. Lights flash, music pumps, and the entire movie is filled with quick cuts and close-ups that add to the energy of the setting. Paul Haggis' screenplay is very deep, and it paints an accurate portrait of the times and fleshes out every single character. This Oscar-winning screenwriter brings his fast-paced but emotionally potent ensemble style to this film, and it's a perfect match.
Every member of the ensemble is emotionally naked and inhabit their character beautifully, from the big stars among the cast to the relative unknowns. Some cast members are easy to highlight. John Krasinski, best known for his comedic role on TV's "The Office", is perfectly dark as the sleazy drug dealer. It's interesting to see his various mood swings and his mysterious grin. Owen Wilson is another comedic actor going dramatic, as the conflicted man-of-the-moment, who has been described by some critics as a "depressed Robert Redford". This role is a great way for him to break into more challenging, dramatic movies. Lily Tomlin, who showed her melancholy streak in "A Prairie Home Companion", is very good as the club's owner. Anika Noni Rose is also fabulous as a miserable blaxploitation star who relies on drugs to help get her through her life. This is head and shoulders above her role in "Dreamgirls". Parker Posey provides a bit of comic relief in a small part as a celebrity photographer who will do anything for her shot. Zooey Deschanel is the real standout of the cast, however. Her harrowing portrait of an alcoholic former child star on the edge blew me away whenever she was onscreen. Her face accurately heartrendingly captures so many emotions: hurt, dismay, fatigue, depression, even when she doesn't speak. Her persona reflects the entire tone of the movie: that of death, and the poignant end of an era. This performance should catapult her to the better roles that she deserves.
Many a film has tried and failed to replicate the heady disco era, but "Flare Manor" finally strikes the right balance between spectacle and character study. With the help of skilled director David Lynch and screenwriter Paul Haggis, "Flare Manor" pushes past the boundaries of a period piece or ensemble drama and reinvents those genres for a modern filmmaking age. I would give this film consideration for the following awards:
Best Picture (AMPAS)
Best Picture-Drama (HFPA)
Best Ensemble (SAG)
Best Director: David Lynch
Best Original Screenplay: Paul Haggis
Best Supporting Actor: John Krasinski
Best Supporting Actor: Owen Wilson
Best Supporting Actress: Zooey Deschanel
Best Supporting Actress: Anika Noni Rose
FREAKS
Author(s): Lee
Location: New Jersey
“FREAKS”
DIRECTED BY: DAVID CRONENBERG
PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY: Weinstein Co.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY BY: Stephen King
Principal Cast:
CLEOPATRA: Catherine Keener
HERCULES: Ryan Gosling
HANS: Peter Drinklage
FREIDA: Dakota Fanning
ROSCO: Joe Pesci
VENUS: Abigail Breslin
Tagline: “Your diseased tall lady.... You too tall man... We do not want to be like you, you--FREAKS!”
Synopsis: In 1932, a horror film legend was born: "FREAKS," directed by the infamous and misunderstood, Tod Browning, opened to mass digust. England even went as far as to ban it. In the 21st Century, with the advent of the Saw series and other gross out pictures, this new modern version of the classic FREAKS, reclaims its glory, terrorizing those who dare watch it.
The original film chronicles Cleopatra's intention to marry a little person, kill him, steal his money and run off with Hercules, her lover.
This version is more than slightly different. When Cleopatra sleeps with a midget, she runs off with his money, but what she doesn't know, is that she is also running off with something new in her system: a new disease. Unbenownst to her, Cleopatra spreads this plague to Hercules, her lover who was in on the plot of scamming the little person. Once the little person has phoned the police to report Cleopatra and Hercules' wrongdoing, they have already taken off to a nearby village exclusively reserved for little people. The town strongly encourages "tall people" to stay out. But being that it's a circus that runs the town, Cleopatra and Hercules are asked to stay, to serve as displays of FREAKS, being that they are so different looking from all others. Again, Hercules pretends to fall in love with a young woman (little person) and sleeps with her, and passes the disease on to her. Her life is lost. The little people find these new visitors quite curious. Eventually, after several deaths, they discover the plague carried by the two new FREAKS is AIDS.
Disgusted by the midgets with whom they sleep, Cleopatra and Hercules continue to sleep with countless midgets, spreading more disease and causing more Death. One little person, the circus leader, HANS, finally attempts to put an end to their viciousness and evil by joining together with several hundred little people and attacking the tall FREAKS. Cleopatra and Hercules step on hundreds of little people at a time squashing them to their Deaths. A small woman attacks Cleopatra stabs Cleopatra and utters the words, "Tall lady, I not want to be like you, you diseased FREAK! Cleopatra kills the small woman.
Thus, then, all FREAKS in this film, unlike in the classic, are Cleopatra and Hercules.
What the press would say:
Best Ensemble
Best Picture
Best Director: David Cronenberg
Best Actor: Ryan Gosling
Best Actress: Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actor: Peter Drinlage
Best Supporting Actress: Dakota Fanning and Abigail Breslin
Best Adapted Screenplay: Stephen King
"Catherine Keener," appearing frighteningly tall, portrays the muderous Cleopatra with unsettling ease."
Location: New Jersey
“FREAKS”
DIRECTED BY: DAVID CRONENBERG
PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY: Weinstein Co.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY BY: Stephen King
Principal Cast:
CLEOPATRA: Catherine Keener
HERCULES: Ryan Gosling
HANS: Peter Drinklage
FREIDA: Dakota Fanning
ROSCO: Joe Pesci
VENUS: Abigail Breslin
Tagline: “Your diseased tall lady.... You too tall man... We do not want to be like you, you--FREAKS!”
Synopsis: In 1932, a horror film legend was born: "FREAKS," directed by the infamous and misunderstood, Tod Browning, opened to mass digust. England even went as far as to ban it. In the 21st Century, with the advent of the Saw series and other gross out pictures, this new modern version of the classic FREAKS, reclaims its glory, terrorizing those who dare watch it.
The original film chronicles Cleopatra's intention to marry a little person, kill him, steal his money and run off with Hercules, her lover.
This version is more than slightly different. When Cleopatra sleeps with a midget, she runs off with his money, but what she doesn't know, is that she is also running off with something new in her system: a new disease. Unbenownst to her, Cleopatra spreads this plague to Hercules, her lover who was in on the plot of scamming the little person. Once the little person has phoned the police to report Cleopatra and Hercules' wrongdoing, they have already taken off to a nearby village exclusively reserved for little people. The town strongly encourages "tall people" to stay out. But being that it's a circus that runs the town, Cleopatra and Hercules are asked to stay, to serve as displays of FREAKS, being that they are so different looking from all others. Again, Hercules pretends to fall in love with a young woman (little person) and sleeps with her, and passes the disease on to her. Her life is lost. The little people find these new visitors quite curious. Eventually, after several deaths, they discover the plague carried by the two new FREAKS is AIDS.
Disgusted by the midgets with whom they sleep, Cleopatra and Hercules continue to sleep with countless midgets, spreading more disease and causing more Death. One little person, the circus leader, HANS, finally attempts to put an end to their viciousness and evil by joining together with several hundred little people and attacking the tall FREAKS. Cleopatra and Hercules step on hundreds of little people at a time squashing them to their Deaths. A small woman attacks Cleopatra stabs Cleopatra and utters the words, "Tall lady, I not want to be like you, you diseased FREAK! Cleopatra kills the small woman.
Thus, then, all FREAKS in this film, unlike in the classic, are Cleopatra and Hercules.
What the press would say:
Best Ensemble
Best Picture
Best Director: David Cronenberg
Best Actor: Ryan Gosling
Best Actress: Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actor: Peter Drinlage
Best Supporting Actress: Dakota Fanning and Abigail Breslin
Best Adapted Screenplay: Stephen King
"Catherine Keener," appearing frighteningly tall, portrays the muderous Cleopatra with unsettling ease."
The Gold Digger
Author(s): George
Location: Atlanta
“The Gold Digger”
Director: Sam Mendes
Written by: John Logan
Music by: James Horner
Principal Cast:
Leonardo DiCaprio as John D. Rockefeller
Cate Blanchett as Laura Celestia "Cettie" Rockefeller
John C. Reilly as Charles Pratt
Michael Sheen as Henry H. Rogers
Phyllis Somerville as Ida Tarbell
Michael Gambon as Justice Harvey
Freddie Highmore as John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Tagline: “He discovered something more precious than gold”
Synopsis: A hardly fictional account of the richest man in the world, John D. Rockefeller, and his forty year struggle to keep his amazingly successful oil company, Standard Oil, from going into bankruptcy or against legal and personal accusations. The film starts at his discovery of oil in Houston Texas and, as one searches for gold, he searched and searched and searched and grew an empire in the oil industry. Rockefeller grew extremely rich and yet more distant from his wife, Cettie. He always remained generous to his kids and especially to his son, John Rockefeller Jr. During the reign of his company he was persecuted by every other businessman including Charles Pratt and Henry H. Rogers. He was also put into a bad light by author Ida Tarbell entitled THE HISTORY OF THE STANDARD COMPNAY, and then was held in front of the Supreme Court and Justice Harvey for illegal activities. Standard Oil was forced to split up into 34 separate companies. The film takes an in-depth look and the somewhat unknown personal life of Rockefeller and this almost one-man show follows him to his death.
What the press would say:
This amazing and epic look at one of the most interesting men in American history. DiCaprio is phenomenal as Rockefeller and knows his character inside and out. his mannerisms and behavior is exactly as Rockefeller and you know it is Rockefeller, not someone playing Rockefeller. He has a very in-depth personal life in the film and his wife, Cettie, is brilliantly played by Cate Blanchett and gets more distant from her husband every time you meet her. The sets and costumes and everything make you feel like you are actually in the late 1800's/early 1900's. Michael Sheen and John C. Reilly are very good as Pratt and Rogers, but it is Phyllis Somerville that really gives a great performance. Her wisdom and good intentions are painfully expressed in her emotions during the whole Rockefeller scandal and it makes feel a little sympathy for her even if she does start the downfall of Rockefeller. Overall, this is an amazing film and is one of the best of the year.
Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)
Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)
Best Supporting Actress (Phyllis Somerville)
Best Director (Sam Mendes)
Best Original Screenplay (John Logan)
Best Score (James Horner)
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Make-Up
Location: Atlanta
“The Gold Digger”
Director: Sam Mendes
Written by: John Logan
Music by: James Horner
Principal Cast:
Leonardo DiCaprio as John D. Rockefeller
Cate Blanchett as Laura Celestia "Cettie" Rockefeller
John C. Reilly as Charles Pratt
Michael Sheen as Henry H. Rogers
Phyllis Somerville as Ida Tarbell
Michael Gambon as Justice Harvey
Freddie Highmore as John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Tagline: “He discovered something more precious than gold”
Synopsis: A hardly fictional account of the richest man in the world, John D. Rockefeller, and his forty year struggle to keep his amazingly successful oil company, Standard Oil, from going into bankruptcy or against legal and personal accusations. The film starts at his discovery of oil in Houston Texas and, as one searches for gold, he searched and searched and searched and grew an empire in the oil industry. Rockefeller grew extremely rich and yet more distant from his wife, Cettie. He always remained generous to his kids and especially to his son, John Rockefeller Jr. During the reign of his company he was persecuted by every other businessman including Charles Pratt and Henry H. Rogers. He was also put into a bad light by author Ida Tarbell entitled THE HISTORY OF THE STANDARD COMPNAY, and then was held in front of the Supreme Court and Justice Harvey for illegal activities. Standard Oil was forced to split up into 34 separate companies. The film takes an in-depth look and the somewhat unknown personal life of Rockefeller and this almost one-man show follows him to his death.
What the press would say:
This amazing and epic look at one of the most interesting men in American history. DiCaprio is phenomenal as Rockefeller and knows his character inside and out. his mannerisms and behavior is exactly as Rockefeller and you know it is Rockefeller, not someone playing Rockefeller. He has a very in-depth personal life in the film and his wife, Cettie, is brilliantly played by Cate Blanchett and gets more distant from her husband every time you meet her. The sets and costumes and everything make you feel like you are actually in the late 1800's/early 1900's. Michael Sheen and John C. Reilly are very good as Pratt and Rogers, but it is Phyllis Somerville that really gives a great performance. Her wisdom and good intentions are painfully expressed in her emotions during the whole Rockefeller scandal and it makes feel a little sympathy for her even if she does start the downfall of Rockefeller. Overall, this is an amazing film and is one of the best of the year.
Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio)
Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)
Best Supporting Actress (Phyllis Somerville)
Best Director (Sam Mendes)
Best Original Screenplay (John Logan)
Best Score (James Horner)
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Make-Up
Grand Wizard
Author(s): Dpac
Location: Appleton
“Grand Wizard”
Directed by Ridley Scott
Produced by David Franzoni and Branko Lustig
Written by David Franzoni
Cinematography by John Mathieson
Editing by Pietro Scalia
Art Direction by Andrew Stearn
Music by Rachel Portman
Principal Cast:
Jeremy Irons as Nathan Bedford Forrest
Casey Affleck as William Montgomery Forrest
Liam Neeson as J.S. White
Donald Sutherland as Braxton Bragg
Bernard Hill as William Tecumseh Sherman
Oliver Platt as Samuel D. Sturgis
Bill Nighy as John Bell Hood
Cilfton Collins Jr. as James H. Wilson
with
Kathy Bates
Jeremy Davies
Djimon Honsou
and
Bebe Neuwirth
Tagline: “The battles. The wars. His legacy...”
Synopsis: It's 1908. A man who goes by the name William Montgomery Forrest has a premonition of his death and begins to write a list of everything he's thankful to God for, before he dies. His life, his titles, his wife, his children, his success, his home and other luxuries and his dad's legacy....
Recollecting life as a young boy, he remembers his dad, Nathan Bedford Forrest, telling him how he had become the head of the family at the young age of 17. Knowing his father supported slave trade, William , named after his grand father,remembers his father's determination to learn and become an exemplary officer. William remembers bidding farewell to his father while he departed to participate in the Battle of Fort Donelson, where he first distinguished himself. Earning himself a promotion after several more battles just marked the beginning of his beloved father's colorful career.
Even when he had untrained men, he was successful in his battles. But, William remembered how there was one battle that caused widespread controversy when Forrest took command in - The Battle of Fort Pillow, in which, it was said that, Forrest'stroop aimed only for the African Americans. But never did anyone find fault in Forrest, although they tried.
His last and greatest victory came at Battle of Brice's Crossroads. "I was a horse ahead at the end," he said. Remembering these words, William also recalled how they were financially ruined after slavery was banned. William remembers the three letters that African Americans and Southern Republicans shuddered at - KKK that stood for Ku Klux Klan. He recalled how his father and mother used to fight over his leadership there and the injustice he did to black men, women and children. Nonetheless, he became the Grand wizard of the KKK and had more than 550,000 men at his command. But then, Forrest had a change of heart and demand the disbanding of the KKK and distanced himself from it, because of their increasingly violent tactics. Willaim recalls his pain during his his father's death due to diabetes and doesn't forget how his legacy lives on even after he is long gone....
This movie takes us deep into the life of a great and able officer who fought with dignity and brought variety into the word 'war'. But at the same time, a comprehensive look into the life of a great father, whose children were proud to be called his sons and daughters. And that man is Nathan Bedford Forrest.
What the press would say:
The greatest revolutionary leader. The greatest military genius. The best gifted artist in military art, if there be any such art. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a name that sent resonating feelings of fear and respect to everyone who heard it. Such was his reputation as a warrior, a commander and also, a father. The movie starts of long after Forrest's death. William, his son is dying and he takes us back into the life of his incomparable father. It starts off with Forrest as a young boy goesuntil his death. It gives us a comprehensive look on his exploits and his never-fleeting legacy from the eyes of his son, whohad witnessed it all.
The acclaimed director Ridley Scott takes you into the life of this man who ate, slept and breathed war, which is evident from the opening line of the movie, 'War means fighting and fighting means killing.' The script penned by David Franzoni is almost perfect. The lead role of this great man was given to Oscar Winner Jeremy Irons. And all the Oscar buzz around his performance has just paid off. His performance is everything it is said to be. His performance is superb in every sense of the word. There's never any question about the authenticity of his character. He did not act as Forrest, he became Forrest.Irons imparts every facet of Nathan Forrest's personality with clarity and feeling. Although the supporting roles are a little less than short, there are a few exceptional ones. Clifton Collin's Jr.'s performance is one of them. Albeit short, his performance is the best supporting performance this year. His role as the Union Army general, James H. Wilson who repulsed the attack by Forrest's men, was physically taxxing and Collins makes it look
easy. James repulsion of the attack created a rivalry between him and Forrest by which he put his family's and his life in jeopardy. James was a emotionally damaged because of the mind games Forrest played with him and his family. Cilfton doesn't strike a false note in his short performance. He has to be handed the Oscar.And if the card of screen time is thrown against him, then see Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love. Casey Affleck plays William, Forrest's son who is the narrator of this biopic. Whenever he is on screen, he captures the spotlight like Gloria Stuart did in Titanic. He plays thedying William brilliantly. And last but not the least, Bebe Neuwirth. Preparing for her role wasn't easy, as there is not much record of Forrest's wife. But still she plays this character who is deeply distressed in secrecy by her husband's methods and actions. Although,she shines in every scene, her best scenes are when she confronts and fights with Forrest. She has to be nominated for the Oscar and better win too. The cinematography, the art direction and costume design are also worthy of mention.
To conclude, Grand Wizard will be considered one of the best biopics ever. It is dramatic, descriptive, detailed, reflective, enthusiastic, heroic and in all, a beautiful film.
Possible Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor - Jeremy Irons
Best Supporting Actress - Bebe Neuwirth
Best Supporting Actor - Casey Affleck
Best Supporting Actor - Clifton Collins Jr.
Best Orginal Score
and various other technical Awards
Location: Appleton
“Grand Wizard”
Directed by Ridley Scott
Produced by David Franzoni and Branko Lustig
Written by David Franzoni
Cinematography by John Mathieson
Editing by Pietro Scalia
Art Direction by Andrew Stearn
Music by Rachel Portman
Principal Cast:
Jeremy Irons as Nathan Bedford Forrest
Casey Affleck as William Montgomery Forrest
Liam Neeson as J.S. White
Donald Sutherland as Braxton Bragg
Bernard Hill as William Tecumseh Sherman
Oliver Platt as Samuel D. Sturgis
Bill Nighy as John Bell Hood
Cilfton Collins Jr. as James H. Wilson
with
Kathy Bates
Jeremy Davies
Djimon Honsou
and
Bebe Neuwirth
Tagline: “The battles. The wars. His legacy...”
Synopsis: It's 1908. A man who goes by the name William Montgomery Forrest has a premonition of his death and begins to write a list of everything he's thankful to God for, before he dies. His life, his titles, his wife, his children, his success, his home and other luxuries and his dad's legacy....
Recollecting life as a young boy, he remembers his dad, Nathan Bedford Forrest, telling him how he had become the head of the family at the young age of 17. Knowing his father supported slave trade, William , named after his grand father,remembers his father's determination to learn and become an exemplary officer. William remembers bidding farewell to his father while he departed to participate in the Battle of Fort Donelson, where he first distinguished himself. Earning himself a promotion after several more battles just marked the beginning of his beloved father's colorful career.
Even when he had untrained men, he was successful in his battles. But, William remembered how there was one battle that caused widespread controversy when Forrest took command in - The Battle of Fort Pillow, in which, it was said that, Forrest'stroop aimed only for the African Americans. But never did anyone find fault in Forrest, although they tried.
His last and greatest victory came at Battle of Brice's Crossroads. "I was a horse ahead at the end," he said. Remembering these words, William also recalled how they were financially ruined after slavery was banned. William remembers the three letters that African Americans and Southern Republicans shuddered at - KKK that stood for Ku Klux Klan. He recalled how his father and mother used to fight over his leadership there and the injustice he did to black men, women and children. Nonetheless, he became the Grand wizard of the KKK and had more than 550,000 men at his command. But then, Forrest had a change of heart and demand the disbanding of the KKK and distanced himself from it, because of their increasingly violent tactics. Willaim recalls his pain during his his father's death due to diabetes and doesn't forget how his legacy lives on even after he is long gone....
This movie takes us deep into the life of a great and able officer who fought with dignity and brought variety into the word 'war'. But at the same time, a comprehensive look into the life of a great father, whose children were proud to be called his sons and daughters. And that man is Nathan Bedford Forrest.
What the press would say:
The greatest revolutionary leader. The greatest military genius. The best gifted artist in military art, if there be any such art. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a name that sent resonating feelings of fear and respect to everyone who heard it. Such was his reputation as a warrior, a commander and also, a father. The movie starts of long after Forrest's death. William, his son is dying and he takes us back into the life of his incomparable father. It starts off with Forrest as a young boy goesuntil his death. It gives us a comprehensive look on his exploits and his never-fleeting legacy from the eyes of his son, whohad witnessed it all.
The acclaimed director Ridley Scott takes you into the life of this man who ate, slept and breathed war, which is evident from the opening line of the movie, 'War means fighting and fighting means killing.' The script penned by David Franzoni is almost perfect. The lead role of this great man was given to Oscar Winner Jeremy Irons. And all the Oscar buzz around his performance has just paid off. His performance is everything it is said to be. His performance is superb in every sense of the word. There's never any question about the authenticity of his character. He did not act as Forrest, he became Forrest.Irons imparts every facet of Nathan Forrest's personality with clarity and feeling. Although the supporting roles are a little less than short, there are a few exceptional ones. Clifton Collin's Jr.'s performance is one of them. Albeit short, his performance is the best supporting performance this year. His role as the Union Army general, James H. Wilson who repulsed the attack by Forrest's men, was physically taxxing and Collins makes it look
easy. James repulsion of the attack created a rivalry between him and Forrest by which he put his family's and his life in jeopardy. James was a emotionally damaged because of the mind games Forrest played with him and his family. Cilfton doesn't strike a false note in his short performance. He has to be handed the Oscar.And if the card of screen time is thrown against him, then see Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love. Casey Affleck plays William, Forrest's son who is the narrator of this biopic. Whenever he is on screen, he captures the spotlight like Gloria Stuart did in Titanic. He plays thedying William brilliantly. And last but not the least, Bebe Neuwirth. Preparing for her role wasn't easy, as there is not much record of Forrest's wife. But still she plays this character who is deeply distressed in secrecy by her husband's methods and actions. Although,she shines in every scene, her best scenes are when she confronts and fights with Forrest. She has to be nominated for the Oscar and better win too. The cinematography, the art direction and costume design are also worthy of mention.
To conclude, Grand Wizard will be considered one of the best biopics ever. It is dramatic, descriptive, detailed, reflective, enthusiastic, heroic and in all, a beautiful film.
Possible Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor - Jeremy Irons
Best Supporting Actress - Bebe Neuwirth
Best Supporting Actor - Casey Affleck
Best Supporting Actor - Clifton Collins Jr.
Best Orginal Score
and various other technical Awards
Hostage
Author(s): Connor Campbell
Location: Texas
“Hostage”
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by Paul Attanasio
Principal Cast:
Ryan Gosling- Eric Olsen
Maggie Gyllenhaal- Kristin Erikson
Laura Linney- Elizabeth Coal
James Pickens Jr. - Robert Gary
Keke Palmer- Sasha Gary
Paul Dano- Colin Hannigan
Tagline: “The beginning of a phenomenon”
Synopsis: The year is 1973. Kristen Erikson is applying for a loan. Elizabeth Coal is a bank teller. Robert Gary is with his granddaughter Sasha and needs some quick cash. Eric Olsen has just been released from prison. Eric entered the Norrmalmstorg Bank and fired his gun in the air and demanded that the safe be opened. Two police officers stormed in the bank. One was shot and the other was ordered to sit down and “sing something”. He sang Lonesome Cowboy. During the commotion all but 4 escaped; Kristin, Elizabeth, Robert & Sasha. Eric phoned the police and demanded that his friend Colin be brought to the bank along with 3,000,000 kronor, two guns, bullet-proof vests, helmets and a fast car.
Colin was fixed with a wire and was allowed to enter. For the next 6 days, the six would be locked in the bank. Over this time, relationships grew between the hostages and their captors, and eventually Eric and Kristen develop feelings for each other. The 6 people in the bank become great friends. The hostages are more afraid of the police than their captors. When police invade the bank, all hell breaks loose, and someone is dead. The hostages becoming attached to their captors is the basis of the Stockholm Syndrome.
What the press would say:
This is truly amazing. Paul Attanasio, who wrote one of my all time favorites Quiz Show, has managed to write a modern day masterpiece. The interaction of characters is brilliant. Steven Spielberg is amazing (duh) but still, oscar nod #6 is going to be for Hostage. What a cast! Ryan Gosling fresh from an Oscar nod for last year’s Half Nelson delivers an oscar worthy performance as Eric, the lovable bank robber. There is an amazing connection between him and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is also great. Maggie brings depth and understanding to this difficult character, and eventually Eric & Kristin marry. Laura Linney is simply perfect as Elizabeth. Her seen during the police break-in when she blocks the bullet headed for Eric and dies is amazing. If she doesn’t win the oscar, the academy will loose all credibility. Grey’s Anatomy’s James Pickens Jr. is amazing as the lone male hostage. His character is the most distant from the captors and doesn’t really know who to trust. And Keke Palmer, from last year’s Akeelah & the Bee is amazing as the child who befriends the hostages and defies her grandfather. Her performance is among the great childhood works such as Paper Moon, The Piano, The Sixth Sense, Whale Rider, I am Sam & Little Miss Sunshine. The relationship between Picken’s and Palmer’s characters starts strong but eventually grows weaker and weaker. Amazing acting. Paul Dano is great as Colin. Being wired by the police brings guilt since he is betraying his best friend. The technical achievements in this film are great as usual.
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director- Steven Spielberg
Best Actor- Ryan Gosling
Best Actress- Maggie Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actor- James Pickens Jr.
Best Supporting Actor- Paul Dano
Best Supporting Actress- Laura Linney
Best Supporting Actress- Keke Palmer
Best Original Screenplay- Paul Attanasio
Best Film Editing- Michael Kahn
Best Cinematography- Janusz Kaminski
Best Original Score- John Williams
Best Costume Design- Adrianne Phillips
Best Sound Editing- Richard Hymns & Gary Rydstorm
Best Sound Mixing- Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer & Rod Judkins
Location: Texas
“Hostage”
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by Paul Attanasio
Principal Cast:
Ryan Gosling- Eric Olsen
Maggie Gyllenhaal- Kristin Erikson
Laura Linney- Elizabeth Coal
James Pickens Jr. - Robert Gary
Keke Palmer- Sasha Gary
Paul Dano- Colin Hannigan
Tagline: “The beginning of a phenomenon”
Synopsis: The year is 1973. Kristen Erikson is applying for a loan. Elizabeth Coal is a bank teller. Robert Gary is with his granddaughter Sasha and needs some quick cash. Eric Olsen has just been released from prison. Eric entered the Norrmalmstorg Bank and fired his gun in the air and demanded that the safe be opened. Two police officers stormed in the bank. One was shot and the other was ordered to sit down and “sing something”. He sang Lonesome Cowboy. During the commotion all but 4 escaped; Kristin, Elizabeth, Robert & Sasha. Eric phoned the police and demanded that his friend Colin be brought to the bank along with 3,000,000 kronor, two guns, bullet-proof vests, helmets and a fast car.
Colin was fixed with a wire and was allowed to enter. For the next 6 days, the six would be locked in the bank. Over this time, relationships grew between the hostages and their captors, and eventually Eric and Kristen develop feelings for each other. The 6 people in the bank become great friends. The hostages are more afraid of the police than their captors. When police invade the bank, all hell breaks loose, and someone is dead. The hostages becoming attached to their captors is the basis of the Stockholm Syndrome.
What the press would say:
This is truly amazing. Paul Attanasio, who wrote one of my all time favorites Quiz Show, has managed to write a modern day masterpiece. The interaction of characters is brilliant. Steven Spielberg is amazing (duh) but still, oscar nod #6 is going to be for Hostage. What a cast! Ryan Gosling fresh from an Oscar nod for last year’s Half Nelson delivers an oscar worthy performance as Eric, the lovable bank robber. There is an amazing connection between him and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is also great. Maggie brings depth and understanding to this difficult character, and eventually Eric & Kristin marry. Laura Linney is simply perfect as Elizabeth. Her seen during the police break-in when she blocks the bullet headed for Eric and dies is amazing. If she doesn’t win the oscar, the academy will loose all credibility. Grey’s Anatomy’s James Pickens Jr. is amazing as the lone male hostage. His character is the most distant from the captors and doesn’t really know who to trust. And Keke Palmer, from last year’s Akeelah & the Bee is amazing as the child who befriends the hostages and defies her grandfather. Her performance is among the great childhood works such as Paper Moon, The Piano, The Sixth Sense, Whale Rider, I am Sam & Little Miss Sunshine. The relationship between Picken’s and Palmer’s characters starts strong but eventually grows weaker and weaker. Amazing acting. Paul Dano is great as Colin. Being wired by the police brings guilt since he is betraying his best friend. The technical achievements in this film are great as usual.
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director- Steven Spielberg
Best Actor- Ryan Gosling
Best Actress- Maggie Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actor- James Pickens Jr.
Best Supporting Actor- Paul Dano
Best Supporting Actress- Laura Linney
Best Supporting Actress- Keke Palmer
Best Original Screenplay- Paul Attanasio
Best Film Editing- Michael Kahn
Best Cinematography- Janusz Kaminski
Best Original Score- John Williams
Best Costume Design- Adrianne Phillips
Best Sound Editing- Richard Hymns & Gary Rydstorm
Best Sound Mixing- Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer & Rod Judkins
Hostage
Author(s): Connor Campbell
Location: Texas
“Hostage”
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by Paul Attanasio
Principal Cast:
Ryan Gosling- Eric Olsen
Maggie Gyllenhaal- Kristin Erikson
Laura Linney- Elizabeth Coal
James Pickens Jr. - Robert Gary
Keke Palmer- Sasha Gary
Paul Dano- Colin Hannigan
Tagline: “The beginning of a phenomenon”
Synopsis: The year is 1973. Kristen Erikson is applying for a loan. Elizabeth Coal is a bank teller. Robert Gary is with his granddaughter Sasha and needs some quick cash. Eric Olsen has just been released from prison. Eric entered the Norrmalmstorg Bank and fired his gun in the air and demanded that the safe be opened. Two police officers stormed in the bank. One was shot and the other was ordered to sit down and “sing something”. He sang Lonesome Cowboy. During the commotion all but 4 escaped; Kristin, Elizabeth, Robert & Sasha. Eric phoned the police and demanded that his friend Colin be brought to the bank along with 3,000,000 kronor, two guns, bullet-proof vests, helmets and a fast car.
Colin was fixed with a wire and was allowed to enter. For the next 6 days, the six would be locked in the bank. Over this time, relationships grew between the hostages and their captors, and eventually Eric and Kristen develop feelings for each other. The 6 people in the bank become great friends. The hostages are more afraid of the police than their captors. When police invade the bank, all hell breaks loose, and someone is dead. The hostages becoming attached to their captors is the basis of the Stockholm Syndrome.
What the press would say:
This is truly amazing. Paul Attanasio, who wrote one of my all time favorites Quiz Show, has managed to write a modern day masterpiece. The interaction of characters is brilliant. Steven Spielberg is amazing (duh) but still, oscar nod #6 is going to be for Hostage. What a cast! Ryan Gosling fresh from an Oscar nod for last year’s Half Nelson delivers an oscar worthy performance as Eric, the lovable bank robber. There is an amazing connection between him and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is also great. Maggie brings depth and understanding to this difficult character, and eventually Eric & Kristin marry. Laura Linney is simply perfect as Elizabeth. Her seen during the police break-in when she blocks the bullet headed for Eric and dies is amazing. If she doesn’t win the oscar, the academy will loose all credibility. Grey’s Anatomy’s James Pickens Jr. is amazing as the lone male hostage. His character is the most distant from the captors and doesn’t really know who to trust. And Keke Palmer, from last year’s Akeelah & the Bee is amazing as the child who befriends the hostages and defies her grandfather. Her performance is among the great childhood works such as Paper Moon, The Piano, The Sixth Sense, Whale Rider, I am Sam & Little Miss Sunshine. The relationship between Picken’s and Palmer’s characters starts strong but eventually grows weaker and weaker. Amazing acting. Paul Dano is great as Colin. Being wired by the police brings guilt since he is betraying his best friend. The technical achievements in this film are great as usual.
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director- Steven Spielberg
Best Actor- Ryan Gosling
Best Actress- Maggie Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actor- James Pickens Jr.
Best Supporting Actor- Paul Dano
Best Supporting Actress- Laura Linney
Best Supporting Actress- Keke Palmer
Best Original Screenplay- Paul Attanasio
Best Film Editing- Michael Kahn
Best Cinematography- Janusz Kaminski
Best Original Score- John Williams
Best Costume Design- Adrianne Phillips
Best Sound Editing- Richard Hymns & Gary Rydstorm
Best Sound Mixing- Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer & Rod Judkins
Location: Texas
“Hostage”
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Written by Paul Attanasio
Principal Cast:
Ryan Gosling- Eric Olsen
Maggie Gyllenhaal- Kristin Erikson
Laura Linney- Elizabeth Coal
James Pickens Jr. - Robert Gary
Keke Palmer- Sasha Gary
Paul Dano- Colin Hannigan
Tagline: “The beginning of a phenomenon”
Synopsis: The year is 1973. Kristen Erikson is applying for a loan. Elizabeth Coal is a bank teller. Robert Gary is with his granddaughter Sasha and needs some quick cash. Eric Olsen has just been released from prison. Eric entered the Norrmalmstorg Bank and fired his gun in the air and demanded that the safe be opened. Two police officers stormed in the bank. One was shot and the other was ordered to sit down and “sing something”. He sang Lonesome Cowboy. During the commotion all but 4 escaped; Kristin, Elizabeth, Robert & Sasha. Eric phoned the police and demanded that his friend Colin be brought to the bank along with 3,000,000 kronor, two guns, bullet-proof vests, helmets and a fast car.
Colin was fixed with a wire and was allowed to enter. For the next 6 days, the six would be locked in the bank. Over this time, relationships grew between the hostages and their captors, and eventually Eric and Kristen develop feelings for each other. The 6 people in the bank become great friends. The hostages are more afraid of the police than their captors. When police invade the bank, all hell breaks loose, and someone is dead. The hostages becoming attached to their captors is the basis of the Stockholm Syndrome.
What the press would say:
This is truly amazing. Paul Attanasio, who wrote one of my all time favorites Quiz Show, has managed to write a modern day masterpiece. The interaction of characters is brilliant. Steven Spielberg is amazing (duh) but still, oscar nod #6 is going to be for Hostage. What a cast! Ryan Gosling fresh from an Oscar nod for last year’s Half Nelson delivers an oscar worthy performance as Eric, the lovable bank robber. There is an amazing connection between him and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who is also great. Maggie brings depth and understanding to this difficult character, and eventually Eric & Kristin marry. Laura Linney is simply perfect as Elizabeth. Her seen during the police break-in when she blocks the bullet headed for Eric and dies is amazing. If she doesn’t win the oscar, the academy will loose all credibility. Grey’s Anatomy’s James Pickens Jr. is amazing as the lone male hostage. His character is the most distant from the captors and doesn’t really know who to trust. And Keke Palmer, from last year’s Akeelah & the Bee is amazing as the child who befriends the hostages and defies her grandfather. Her performance is among the great childhood works such as Paper Moon, The Piano, The Sixth Sense, Whale Rider, I am Sam & Little Miss Sunshine. The relationship between Picken’s and Palmer’s characters starts strong but eventually grows weaker and weaker. Amazing acting. Paul Dano is great as Colin. Being wired by the police brings guilt since he is betraying his best friend. The technical achievements in this film are great as usual.
FYC
Best Picture
Best Director- Steven Spielberg
Best Actor- Ryan Gosling
Best Actress- Maggie Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actor- James Pickens Jr.
Best Supporting Actor- Paul Dano
Best Supporting Actress- Laura Linney
Best Supporting Actress- Keke Palmer
Best Original Screenplay- Paul Attanasio
Best Film Editing- Michael Kahn
Best Cinematography- Janusz Kaminski
Best Original Score- John Williams
Best Costume Design- Adrianne Phillips
Best Sound Editing- Richard Hymns & Gary Rydstorm
Best Sound Mixing- Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer & Rod Judkins
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