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Oscar postmortem
Posted on March 2, 2008 by btremblay
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I had very few gripes with the Academy’s choices for Oscar on Sunday. The only big surprise was Tilda Swinton winning Best Supporting Actress. Her performance was impressive. In fact, all of the nominees were deserving with the exception of Ruby Dee whose screen time was much too limited to merit an award. That said, Oscars have been bestowed upon thespians whose screen time didn’t total double digits. Case in point, Beatrice Straight’s victory in “Network” for a performance clocked at under six minutes.
While Swinton did stellar work as the evil lawyer in “Michael Clayton,” the Oscar still should have gone to Amy Ryan, whose portrayal of a wayward mother in “Gone Baby Gone” was truly amazing. Only Marion Cotillard’s Oscar-winning performance in “La Vie en Rose” was superior.
On the men’s side, Daniel Day-Lewis and Javier Bardem were the clear and proper choices for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
“No Country for Old Men,” even with its head-scratching conclusion, displayed plenty of dramatic bite.
Unfortunately, hardly anyone saw 2007’s Oscar-nominated movies with the exception of “Juno.” That might explain the award show’s feeble ratings. Why care about movies you didn’t see?
The year “The English Patient” won the Best Picture Oscar in 1996, the ratings for the awards show were also dismal, basically for the same reason. Next year, the Academy eschewed art-house pictures and honored a blockbuster, “Titanic.” The show’s ratings were dynamite. I predict this pattern will be repeated this year. The Academy doesn’t like lousy ratings. Neither do its sponsors.
Look for a popular film of dubious distinction to get nominated for Best Picture in 2008 and if the Academy wants to trade in its standards for cash, this film could easily win the Oscar. And the heartlessness will go on.
Oscar contest - win a prize
Posted on February 23, 2008 by btremblay
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You think you know Oscar? You think you know Oscar better than moi? Well, here’s your chance to prove it. The first blogger who blogs in here with an Oscar prediction better than mine wins a prize. What prize? Can you say “Mercedes Benz”? Great, but that’s not the prize. The prize is a T-shirt from the Michel Gondry film “Be Kind Rewind” starring Jack Black and Mos Def. Decent film, great shirt. And you can’t beat the price. Just make sure you include your address so I can mail you the T-shirt. If no one does beat moi, the prize will be awarded in another contest. Also, any entries made after 9 p.m. Sunday are obviously disqualified. Good luck. You’ll need it.
My blog last week contains my predictions.
Oscar predictions
Posted on February 16, 2008 by btremblay
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Folks who want to read my more exhaustive, exhausting and exhausted article on Oscar handicapping, check out my Get Reel column that ran in the MetroWest Daily on Feb. 10.
Here’s the abridged version of my Academy Award predictions:
BEST PICTURE
The nominees are “Atonement,” “Juno,” “Michael Clayton,” “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood.”
Should win: “No Country for Old Men”
Will win: “No Country for Old Men” - Either “Blood” or “Atonement” could pull off an upset.
BEST ACTOR
The nominees are George Clooney, “Michael Clayton”; Daniel Day-Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”; Johnny Depp, “Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street”; Tommy Lee Jones, “In the Valley of Elah”; and Viggo Mortensen, “Eastern Promises.”
Should win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Will win: Daniel Day-Lewis - Depp has a shot, Mortensen a longer shot.
BEST ACTRESS
The nominees are Cate Blanchett, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”; Julie Christie, “Away From Her”; Marion Cotillard, “La Vie en Rose”; Laura Linney, “The Savages”; and Ellen Page, “Juno.”
Should win: Marion Cotillard
Will win: Julie Christie - Ellen Page has an excellent chance of winning this award.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
The nominees are Casey Affleck, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”; Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”; Hal Holbrook, “Into the Wild”; Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Charlie Wilson’s War”; and Tom Wilkinson, “Michael Clayton.”
Should win: Javier Bardem
Will win: Javier Bardem - This is a sure bet.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The nominees are Cate Blanchett, “I’m Not There”; Ruby Dee, “American Gangster”; Saoirse Ronan, “Atonement”; Amy Ryan, “Gone Baby Gone”; and Tilda Swinton, “Michael Clayton.”
Should win: Amy Ryan
Will win: Cate Blanchett - This award could go to any of the nominees with Dee having the sentimental factor in her favor.
BEST DIRECTOR
The nominees are director: Julian Schnabel, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”; Jason Reitman, “Juno”; Tony Gilroy, “Michael Clayton”; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, “No Country for Old Men”; and Paul Thomas Anderson, “There Will Be Blood.”
Should win: Joel and Ethan Coen
Will win: Joel and Ethan Coen - If the Academy decides to spread the wealth around, Anderson will be the likely beneficiary of the organization’s largesse.
Readers can send me their predictions and in my next blog, if not my next article, I’ll either print these prognostications or discuss the results. For example, the readers made me look like a fool. Granted, not a difficult task.
paris hilton interview
Posted on February 16, 2008 by btremblay
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Paris heats up the Hub
Celebrity supreme Paris Hilton had a busy day yesterday (Feb. 6). So what else is new?
The heiress, actress, socialite, model, author, recording artist, fashion designer, businesswoman and Nobel Peace Prize Winner was at the Four Seasons hotel in Boston to promote her new movie “The Hottie and the Nottie.” OK, Hilton didn’t win the Nobel. But if she did, it would be hot.
After a lengthy round of interviews, so lengthy that some journalists didn’t get an opportunity to interview her in person, Hilton was off to Cambridge where she received the Harvard Lampoon humor magazine’s “Woman of the Year” award. Upon garnering the honor, she proclaimed, “Harvard is hot!”
The Lampoon award is a spoof of the annual honors given by Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals. The troupe planned to present its “Woman of the Year” award to Charlize Theron (Feb. 7). “Man of the Year” Christopher Walken will be honored Feb. 15.
During a phone interview where personal questions were verboten, Hilton described the Harvard honor as “really cool. Everyone has been so welcoming and nice. It was a nice day.”
Harvard also delivered “a really nice speech about me,” said Hilton. “They talked about all the businesses I do… and they wanted to honor me for everything I do.”
Moving right along, Hilton said she became involved in “The Hottie and the Nottie after receiving the script a couple years ago. “I fell in love with it,” she said. “I thought it was hysterical.±… I really love the movie `There’s Something About Mary,’ and it really reminded me of that.”
Hilton loved “Hottie” enough, in fact, to sign on as executive producer. “I helped cast it,” she said.
In the movie, Hilton plays the “hottie,” a sexy event planner named Cristabel who is the object of desire of several men, including Nate (Joel David Moore) who has had a crush on her since the first grade. Nate’s problem is that to date Cristabel he has to find a date for her best friend June (Christine Lakin), who is, to be kind, repulsive-looking. She’s the “nottie.” High jinks ensue.
“I thought it was a really sweet story,” said Hilton.
The film’s star lavished praise on her co-stars. “(Joel David Moore) is a really funny comedian,” she said. “I’m a big fan. I saw him in another movie and when they told me he was reading for this, I’m like, `We have to give it to him. He’s perfect for the part.’
“And I love Christine Lakin. She’s one of my closest friends now and she’s such an incredible actress. I really give her a lot of credit for being able to pull off that makeup.”
Hilton calls Johann Urb, whose character gives June a serious makeover, “such a good actor.” Some scribes have described Urb as a Tom Brady lookalike. Hilton disagrees. “He reminds me of Brad Pitt,” she said. “He’s so beautiful and he’s so nice.
“We had such a great cast,” Hilton continued. “Everyone really got along. We had so much fun together. We went to Vegas after shooting and went skydiving.”
Hilton calls “The Hottie and the Nottie” “a great movie. It’s a fun date movie… and everyone should go see it.”
“Hottie” represents the latest cinematic foray for Hilton, who is no stranger to the camera. She also stars in “Repo! The Genetic Opera,” a musical horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, who previously directed “Saw IV.” In “Repo,” Hilton plays Amber Sweet, Paul Sorvino plays Amber’s father and Sarah Brightman plays Amber’s nemesis. Hilton said the film is scheduled to be released in the spring, and she sings in 12 of the movie’s numbers.
Folks who want to hear more of Hilton’s vocal stylings are in luck as she says she’s working on her second album.
Television is also in Hilton’s future, specifically a role on “The L Word,” the dramatic series on Showtime focusing on a group of lesbians and bisexuals. “The creator asked me to be on it,” she said. “When the writers’ strike is over, I’m going to shoot it with them. I don’t know what the character is going to be. They haven’t told me yet.”
Hilton previously gained considerable exposure on the TV series “The Simple Life.”
“Acting has actually been a passion of mine my whole life,” she said. “I really love to act. I was the lead in school plays. Now I have an acting coach and I’m taking it really seriously.”
Hilton also noted that she has a new line of shoes coming out tomorrow called, incredibly enough, Paris Hilton Footwear. “It’s really hot and affordable and comfortable,” she said. “Every girl loves shoes.”
She added that every shoe has a different name. Examples include Princess, Rocker and Night Owl. Prices start at $60, she said.
Asked what could be the new fashion trend of 2008, Hilton predicted bright-colored tights. “I’ve been doing that a lot lately,” she said.
Hilton, who turns 27 on Feb. 17, said she’s been to Boston before but this trip marks her first lengthy stay. And she’s making the most of it.
On (Feb. 5), Hilton went to the Boston nightclub Rumor. “And I went to my first frat party,” she said of her Harvard soiree. “That was awesome. I had the best time (Tuesday) night.”
“I love it here,” Hilton said of Boston. “The city is so beautiful and everyone has been so nice. I’d like to come back again.”
(Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.)
hottie and the nottie review
Posted on February 16, 2008 by btremblay
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Some like it `Hottie’
More over Meryl Streep. Here comes Paris Hilton.
In “The Hottie and the Nottie,” the finest film of the year, if not the millennium, the heiress-turned-actress demonstrates beyond a shadow of doubt that she deserves the title of the most gifted thespian of this generation, if not eternity. That sound you hear, ladies and gentlemen, is Oscar buzz and it’s deafening.
In a powerhouse performance packed with passion and profundity, Paris proves positively that she’s more than just a pretty pudim in a porno video. That she stars in a film she also executive produced I’m sure is a coincidence. Who wouldn’t want to hire this dramatic dynamo?
In “Hottie,” Paris reveals her acting range by playing a bimbo glamour queen named Cristabel Abbott. Incredibly, she’s the object of desire of every man on Earth if not the galaxy far, far away. She’s the hottie in the film’s title, in case you weren’t sure.
One of her suitors, Nate Cooper (Joel David Moore), has been smitten with her ever since the first grade. After getting dumped by his obnoxious girlfriend for being a loser - she writes “loser” on his car to drive home the point, so to speak - Nate begins his amorous pursuit of Cristabel.
Nate has a problem, however, apart from being an annoying nerd who looks like the love child of Maynard G. Krebs. He discovers that to date Cristabel he has to find a date for her best friend, June Phigg (Christine Lakin), who makes Ugly Betty look like Marylyn Monroe. June has a large mole, facial hair, hairy legs, lousy hair, rotten teeth and an infected toenail. And she works in a zoo. She’s the nottie in the film’s title, in case you weren’t sure.
To assist him in this hard-luck romantic endeavor, Nate enlists the help of another annoying nerd, Arno Blount, played by The Greg Wilson. That’s right, The Greg Wilson so you wouldn’t confuse him with just any run-of-the-mill Greg Wilson. He displays the kind of comedic chops you’d find in a slaughterhouse. Robin Williams, beware of this talented yuckster.
Eventually, Nate hooks up June with yet another annoying nerd, Cole Slawsen (Adam Kulbersh). That’s not his real name, of course. Nate invented it after looking at cole slaw. Gosh darn it, that’s some funny stuff right there.
Incredibly, the date turns out to be a disaster, especially when June’s infected toenail flies off and lands in Cole’s mouth. Woody Allen couldn’t write comedy this hilarious.
Matters turn way interesting when Johann played by an actor named Johann shows up. His last name is, of course, Urb, who just happens to be the greatest Estonian-born actor in the history of film. In one of his upcoming movies, “Porn Star,” Urb plays a character called Cannon Balls.
Anyway, Johann is a hunky dentist - aren’t they all? - who helps transform June into a babe and, in doing so, develops the hots for her. Nate should be happy about this turn of events since he can now turn his attention to Cristabel but - hold on to your hats - it seems Nate may be falling for June, too.
That’s right, June is busting out all over.
You normally have to go to a Polanski film to see plot twists as gnarly as this one. I was on the edge of my seat throughout. And when my spine wasn’t tingling, my eyes were watering. And the humor had me slapping my knee so hard I busted my patella. This film’s emotional roller-coaster ride will leave you nauseous with delight.
The dialogue by Heidi Ferrer, who makes her feature film debut here, can only be called spectacular if not specious. Check out these pearly words of wisdom uttered so convincingly by Cristabel: “A world without orgasms is like a world without flowers.” Eat your heart out, Shakespeare.
The taut direction by Tom Putnam, meanwhile, reminded this critic of the best work of Stroheim if not Florsheim. And the editing? Wow. So tight. I particularly adored the scene where Johann sings a song but the camera doesn’t show his lips moving. It’s almost like he’s a ventriloquist or something.
But the real highlight of the film has to be the fart jokes. Not just one, not just two, but three fart jokes! And what self-respecting romantic comedy doesn’t have fart jokes? Flowers and flatulence, baby. They’re irresistible. As we all know, nothing says true love better than passing gas. Paris, in particular, shines in these scenes as she discusses the smell of her farts. No, I’m not making this up. It’s just another example of the kind of cinematic genius on display in “The Hottie and the Nottie.”
Tragically, some viewers may not appreciate Paris’ prodigious acting ability, which consists mainly of smiling. But you try doing that while wearing revealing clothes. Some viewers may even dismiss this movie as total crud. Blasphemy! I know one thing, and I’d like to share this thought with all of the Hiltonians out there: Remember, we’ll always have Paris.
rambo revisited
Posted on January 27, 2008 by btremblay
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If the sight of sexagenarian Sylvester Stallone reprising his role as Rocky Balboa isn’t ludicrous enough for you, he takes his other franchise character out of mothballs this week and plants him in the killing fields of Burma.
The character is John Rambo, last seen on the screen 20 years ago in the third take of a series that began in 1982 with “First Blood.” The imaginative title of the latest film, “Rambo,” opens with our eponymous hero, a much put-upon ex-Green Beret, catching snakes in Thailand.
When a company of do-gooders arrives at Rambo’s workplace, its leader asks the scowling serpent snatcher to ferry them into neighboring Burma so they can help some downtrodden villagers. He initially refuses as pessism now pervades his persona. As alliteration pervades mine.
Then the lone woman in the troupe appeals to his inner righteousness and he agrees. Wimp.
After Rambo drops off the do-gooders, the do-badders show up - these would be vicious, murderous Burmese troops led by a sadistic, psychopathic officer who only needs horns and a pitchfork to complete the picture. Subtlety isn’t this film’s strongpoint.
Most of the villagers get killed and the go-gooders get captured. To save them, mercenaries are hired and Rambo takes them to the dropoff point. The loutish head mercenary doesn’t want Rambo to tag along, but before you can say, “Arrow in the brain,” our favorite mumbling killing machine has entered the fray and a bloodbath ensues.
The question you have to ask yourself is: Do you feel lucky? Well, do you, punk? Sorry, wrong movie. The real question is: Can a small band of mercenaries defeat 100 Burmese soldiers? I’ll never tell.
At the screening I attended, the theater was packed. Most of the attendees were males in their 20s. A few brought along their dates or wives. You think these guys would attend “Beaches”? One father brought along his two children, ages circa 5 and 3. Nice parenting, pal. Nothing like exposing your young charges to multiple decapitations and mutilations along with a brutal rape here and there for good measure. The film is rated R, bozo.
Then there was the couple who brought their newborn to the screening. Morons. Thank goodness the film was ear-piercingly loud for the most part so that even if the baby were screaming we couldn’t hear the cries. Of course, once the bullets and bombs stopped flying, the baby’s yelps rang out. Taking a newborn to a screening is just so considerate to the other people in the theater. Hey, clueless Mom and Dad, get a baby sitter and then get some manners.
Returning to “Rambo,” which Stallone directed and co-wrote, the film is imbecilic in every way, but if you like grisly violence in your movies, this film delivers a visceral smorgasbord. Body parts go flying, guts go spilling, heads go rolling and bullets blast holes in stomachs large enough to stick a submarine sandwich through. It’s so gratuitous and outlandish that it becomes comical after awhile. Sensitive types, of course, will be appalled. Intelligent types won’t find much to appreciate either.
Still, give Stallone credit for knowing his audience and providing them with what they want - nonstop murder and mayhem. The film only suffers when characters start talking.
Yours truly also had less trouble suspending disbelief that a 61-year-old could wreak such havoc without resorting to super-strength Geritol. I couldn’t buy the “Rocky” comeback. Just too preposterous. At least here he has weapons.
While the critic in me can’t recommend “Rambo” for the simple reason that it lacks such niceties as a brain, the “Dirty Harry” in me gives it two blood-splattered machetes up, way up.
Oscar analysis
Posted on January 22, 2008 by btremblay
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The Academy Awards folks did themselves proud with most of their nominations today. Unfortunately, they should also be repeatedly beaten over the head with an Oscar statuette for some selections that can only be described as abominations against humanity. And they’re not very good either.
Chief among these wayward nominations is Cate Blanchett as best actress for “Elizabeth: The Golden Age.” For starters, Blanchett has already played this role and played it more impressively and in a far better movie - “Elizabeth” - in 1998. She was nominated for an Oscar then but get robbed when the Academy gave the award to Gwyneth Paltrow for “Shakespeare in Love.” Paltrow was excellent in that film, but Blanchett’s performance was stunning. Aussie loses to an American golden girl. Maybe this nomination is a makeup call. And like most makeup calls, it’s bogus.
The actress most deserving of this nomination was Amy Adams for her fabulous performance in “Enchanted.” That film goes nowhere without a talented actress in the lead role, and she not only acts brilliantly, she sings as well - and does so much better than Helena Bonham Carter in “Sweeney Todd.” She didn’t get nominated either.
Other than Blanchett, I don’t have a problem with the other nominees - Julie Christie for “Away from Her,” Marion Cotillard for “La Vie en Rose,” Laura Linney for “The Savages” and Ellen Page for “Juno.”
Cotillard, who won the Golden Globe in the musical or comedy category, should win the Oscar - her performance as Edith Piaf is by far the best in 2007 - but the favorite will likely be Christie, who won the dramatic Golden Globe. Working against Christie is the fact she’s a previous winner - for “Darling” in 1965. Then again the 42-year time differential could work in her favor. She was great when was 24 and is still great at 66 with the Academy showing it’s not ageist.
Still, I wouldn’t want to bet any money on this category. Linney could win simply because she’s one of the best actresses working today. She’s good even in mediocre movies and she’s fantastic in above-average fare, such as “The Savages.” The audience fave, however, has to be Page and the Academy loves to demonstrate that it’s in touch with mainstream moviegoers. Then again, does it want to honor an actress whose character makes teenage pregnancy look just swell? Which message does it want to send?
Keira Knightley, the star of “Atonement,” and Angelina Jolie, the star of “A Mighty Heart,” got snubbed.
The foreign language film category emerges as another headscratcher. No “Orphanage” from Spain? El bummer! Want to hear the nominees? Sure you do. “Beaufort” from Israel, “The Counterfeiters” from Austria, “Katyn” from Poland, “Mongol” from Kazakhstan and “12″ from Russia. Have you seen any of these movies? Have you heard of any of these movies? I’m a critic who saw more than 300 films last year and I haven’t seen or heard of any of these films either. They may all be excellent movies but if a tree falls in the forest and no one’s there… Anyway, maybe I’ll see these fine films before 2008 ends.
Few problems can be found with the best actor nominees - George Clooney for “Michael Clayton,” Daniel Day-Lewis for “There Will Be Blood,” Johnny Depp for “Sweeney Todd,” Tommy Lee Jones for “In the Valley of Elah” and Viggo Mortensen for “Eastern Promises.”
Day-Lewis, who won the dramatic Golden Globe, has been labeled the favorite, and for good reasion. His is an incredible performance. However, he is a previous winner - for “My Left Foot” in 1989 - and that could hurt his chances. If he falters, look for Johnny Depp, who won the Golden Globe in the musical or comedy catergory - to garner the Oscar. He’s a wildly talented and popular actor and, unlike Day-Lewis, he’s an American. All things being equal, the Academy likes to wave the Red, White and Blue. See Paltrow over Blanchett as Exhibit A. Mortensen is also capable of pulling off an upset. Previous Oscar winners Clooney and Jones are longshots.
Yours truly would have replaced Clooney and Jones with Frank Langella, so wonderful in “Starting Out in the Evening,” and Ryan Gosling, so weird in “Lars and the Real Girl.” Strong consideration should also have been given to Philip Seymour Hoffman, either for “The Savages” or “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.” The latter film was one of the best movies of 2007 yet it didn’t receive one major award nomination. Either the majority of Academy voters didn’t see this film or the majority of Academy voters are idiots.
James McAvoy, the star of “Atonment,” Emile Hirsch, the star of “Into the Wild,” and Denzel Washington, the star of “American Gangster,” also were ignored.
Not many complaints with the best picture nominees - “No Country for Old Men,” “Atonement,” “Juno,” “Michael Clayton” and “There Will Be Blood.”
“No Country” has to be the favorite even though “Atonement” won the dramatic Golden Globe. The Globe victor in the musical or comedy category - “Sweeney Todd” - wasn’t even nominated.
Yours truly would have replaced “Clayton” and “Juno” with “Gone Baby Gone” and “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.”
The best supporting actor nominations merit mostly good grades - Casey Affleck for “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” Javier Bardem for “No Country for Old Men,” Hal Holbrook for “Into the Wild,” Hoffman for “Charlie Wilson’s War” and Tom Wilkinson for “Michael Clayton.”
Holbrook’s selection may have raised a few eyebrows since he’s in the film for about five minutes. Consider his nomination a tribute to a great veteran actor. The Academy also probably figured it had to throw a bone to director Sean Penn, as his film failed to receive any other major award nominations.
The award in this category is a lock anyway. Bardem, the Golden Globe winner, should make room on his mantel for a statuette. The other nominees at least don’t have to worry about writing acceptance speeches.
The best supporting actress nominations almost reflect the Golden Globe choices, with Ruby Dee for “American Gangster” replacing Julia Roberts for “Charlie Wilson’s War.” Dee’s selection stands as a tribute to a great veteran actress. Her screentime is also minimal.
The other nominees are Blanchett for “I’m Not There,” Amy Ryan for “Gone Baby Gone,” Saoirse Ronan for “Atonement” and Tilda Swinton for “Michael Clayton.”
Blanchett won the Golden Globe but this category is famous - or infamous - for its unpredictability. While Ryan should win, this award could go to any of these nominees - and they are all worthy. Ronan could win just to appease the “Atonement” crowd. Ditto for Swinton in the well-respected “Clayton.”
Yours truly doesn’t look forward to making this prediction.
Finally, the best director nominees seem OK - Julian Schnabel for “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” Jason Reitman for “Juno,” Tony Gilroy for “Michael Clayton,” Joel and Ethan Coen for “No Country for Old Men” and Paul Thomas Anderson for “There Will Be Blood.”
While Schnabel won the Golden Globe, the Coen brothers would get my vote. Anderson has a shot, too.
Yours truly would have replaced Reitman and Gilroy with Sidney Lumet, the director of “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,” and Tim Burton, the director of “Sweeney Todd.” Joe Wright, the director of “Atonement,” and Ben Affleck, the director of “Gone Baby Gone,” deserved consideration, too.
The Oscars will be presented Feb. 24. Whether there’s a show or not, because of the writers’ strike, remains to be seen.
cloverfield critiqued
Posted on January 20, 2008 by btremblay
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Several of the moviegoers I listened to as they exited a screening of “Cloverfield” were highly critical of the film, to say the least. Most of their comments could not be printed in a family newspaper, and these were members of the film’s target audience - guys in their teens and 20s.
Interestingly, several critics have been much kinder to the movie. Yours truly sides more with the dissatisfied moviegoers on this one. The film basically is “The Blair Witch Project” with a monster. In the film’s defense, the monster does look terrifying - I say “look” because the filmmakers only offer glimpses of the creature through most of the movie. Splatter fans, in particular, will be disappointed as the PG-13 rated film provides few grisly scenes. What’s the point of having a rampaging monster if you can’t show the rampaging in all its gory glory?
Filmgoers who get nauseous watching the handheld camera gimmick should stay far away from “Cloverfield” as the film is one long video operated by an amateur videographer. He’s taping a going-away party and the monster proves to be an effective party-crasher.
By the way, I want the batteries on that videocamera. That film just keeps rolling. Then again, the movie is only 84 minutes long. Filmgoers with short attention spans will be in heaven. The videocamera’s sturdiness is also impressive as it takes a licking and keeps on filming.
While the movie does contain some scary scenes, “Cloverfield” is ultimately undone by lazy screenwriting - do you actually care about any of these characters? Also, these characters do some incredibly stupid things, which I suppose is de rigueur in horror films. For example, if I weren’t best buds with the main character, I sure wouldn’t follow him on death mission.to rescue his girlfriend. Said girlfriend, whose back has been impaled on a rebar, sure makes an amazing recovery after her friends free her from the pesky steel rod.
None of this criticism will matter, however. “Cloverfield” is going to make a killing - sorry - at the box office. Like “Blair,” the film has run a masterful p.r. campaign and the curious will likely want to know how the Statue of Liberty’s head ends up on a Manhattan street. A strong gust of wind perhaps. I blame global warming.
One may wonder if the film’s no-name cast will use “Cloverfield” as a stepping stone to better things. The “Blair” cast didn’t exactly hit the big time.
That’s what happens when you’re upstaged by the villain.
Finally, I hope in “Cloverfield 2″ - you know a sequel is coming - we’ll find out where the monster came from and, more importantly, if it likes Reese’s Pieces.
Golden Globe scorecard
Posted on January 18, 2008 by btremblay
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For those bloggers who have lost sleep wondering how yours truly did with his Golden Globe predictions last week, put away the Sominex.
Here’s my scorecard:
BEST PICTURE, DRAMA - I picked “No Country for Old Men” while the GG went to “Atonement,” the film that received the most GG nominations. I did say “Atonement” had a shot. I predict the Academy Awards folks will atone for this oversight and give the Oscar to “No Country.” I’m batting 0-1.
BEST PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL - I picked “Sweeney Todd” and so did GG. I still preferred “Juno.” I’m now 1-2.
BEST ACRESS, DRAMA - I picked Julie Christie for “Away from Her” and so did GG. Christie could win the Oscar, too. I’m now 2-3.
BEST ACTRESS, MUSICAL OR COMEDY - I picked Amy Adams for “Enchanted” while the GG went to Marion Cotillard for “La Vie en Rose.” Cotillard was my first consideration - and I believe her performance is still the best by an actress in 2007 - but I figured the Foreign Press Association, who award the GGs, wouldn’t select a foreign actress. What was I thinking? I’m now 2-4.
BEST ACTOR, DRAMA - I picked Daniel Day-Lewis for “There Will Be Blood” and so did GG. He should be the Oscar favorite, too. I’m now 3-5.
BEST ACTOR, MUSICAL OR COMEDY - I picked Johnny Depp for “Sweeney Todd” and so did GG. Ryan Gosling deserved the award, however, for “Lars and the Real Girl.” I’m now 4-6.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - I picked Amy Ryan for “Gone Baby Gone” while the GG went to Cate Blanchett for “I’m Not There.” Blanchett was great in “There” but Ryan’s performance was amazing. Bad choice, GG. The Academy should right this wrong. I’m now 4-7.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - I picked Javier Bardem for “No Country for Old Men” and so did GG. This was a lock and so is the Oscar. I’m now 5-8.
BEST DIRECTOR - I picked Ethan and Joel Coen for “No Country for Old Men” while the GG went to Julian Schnabel for “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” If the Oscar goes to Schnabel, I’ll freak out. I’m now 5-9.
BEST SCREENPLAY - I picked Diablo Cody for “Juno” while the GG went to the Coen brothers for “No Country for Old Men.” Strippers just don’t get any respect. I’m now 5-10.
BEST FOREIGN FILM - I picked “Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and so did GG. I’m now 6-11.
BEST ANIMATED FILM- I picked “Ratatouille” and so did GG. Oscar will, too. So I finished 7-12. Not bad.
My only regret is not sticking with Cotillard while the only selection I strongly disagree with is Blanchett over Ryan. The other miscalculations only mildly irritate me.
Bring on the Oscars!
worst films of 2007
Posted on January 13, 2008 by btremblay
Filed Under worst films | Leave a Comment
There are more painful experiences in life than sitting in a movie theater watching films for free, as critics do, but when you have to sit through a seemingly endless supply of wretched movies, as critics do, you sometimes wish for the quick relief of a pair of knitting needles applied forcefully to the eyes.
Last year produced a bumper crop of crap where knitting needles would have come in handy. Incredibly, most of these putrid films starred talented people, or at least people who’ve been called talented. Why they appeared in these films is anyone’s guess. Were they greedy, desperate, clueless or did the producer have photos of them in a compromising position with a yak.
It’s no surprise that films such as “Epic Movie,” “Who’s Your Caddy?” “Hostel II” and “Delta Farce” were horrific. The alleged talent on display in those films couldn’t fill a tick’s thimble.
Much more egregious are these horrible movies that not even a gifted cast could save from ignominy. It’s like taking filet mignon, chopping it up and serving it as Hamburger Helper. What a waste, and speaking of waste - the kind you find in cesspools - here are the 10 worst films of 2007.
1. “NORBIT” - Eddie Murphy, who donned a fat suit much more effectively in “The Nutty Professor,” follows in the extra-large footsteps of Martin Lawrence and Tyler Perry. They also played obese black women in bad movies, but those films don’t come close to the vileness and hatefulness on display in “Norbit.” It’s a comedy for people who think misogyny is a laugh riot.
2. “DADDY DAY CAMP” - At least Murphy had the common sense not to reprise his starring role in this sequel to “Daddy Day Care.” Taking his place is Cuba Gooding Jr., who has turned squandering talent into an art form. In “Daddy Day Camp,” Gooding’s character tries to run a rundown camp populated by children with issues. Lots of slapstick ensues, trumped only by inanity.
3. “GOOD LUCK CHUCK” - Normally I don’t like trashing thespians who hail from the Bay State, but Arlington’s Dane Cook deserves a lengthy stay in a Dumpster for this piece of garbage. A more appropriate title would be “Upchuck Chuck” since it induces more vomitting than laughter.
4. “SOUTHLAND TALES” - Self-indulgent, pretentious and completely incomprehensible - unless you’re taking a Woodstock supply of hallucinogens - this film from Richard Kelly, the director of “Donnie Darko, is so bad that after awhile it becomes comical. .
5. “WILD HOGS” - An “Easy Rider” film for men going through a midlife crisis turns into an excuse to ridicule homosexuals. Homophobes, this is your movie. When the film isn’t being mean-spirited, it’s being mindless as our four bikers head out on the highway, looking for adventure and whatever comes their way. Like a gay cop.
6. “THE HEARTBREAK KID” - When the list of worst remakes of all time gets drawn up, this film will be on it. Where the original, starring Charles Grodin, Cybill Shepherd and Jeannie Berlin, was hilariously horrifying - or horrifyingly hilarious - the remake is just dumb and raunchy.
7. “ARE WE DONE YET?” - This rotten film is a sequel to an equally rotten film called “Are We There Yet?” Why make a sequel of a film that was rotten the first time around? Clearly, there must be a market for people who like rotten films. If that’s not enough, the movie also rips off “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.” That movie starred Cary Grant. This film stars Ice Cube. What do the two actors have in common? Well, they both had parents.
8. “BECAUSE I SAID SO” - Diane Keaton, an Oscar-winning actress who has appeared in some of the best films of the past 30 years - the short list includes “The Godfather,” “Annie Hall” and “Reds” - has also appeared in some less than stellar reels of celluloid. “Town and Country” quickly comes to mind, but that film looks like “The Country Girl” compared to “Because I Said So.” Seldom has a romantic comedy been less romantic and less comedic.
9. “EVAN ALMIGHTY” - As anyone who saw “The 40-Year-old Virgin” knows, Concord native Steve Carell is a funny guy. He’s just a lot less funny as a 40-year-old Noah in “Evan Almighty.”
10. “GEORGIA RULE” - Last and quite possibly least, we have this film which could play on a dysfunctional double bill with “Because I Said So.” Here, double Oscar-winner Jane Fonda plays a meddlesome mother to Felicity Huffman and hard-love grandmother to Lindsay Lohan.Described as a comedy, the film features a child rape subplot. Boy, that child rape sure is funny.. Last year, Lohan also starred in “I Know Who Killed Me,” a film so wretched it becomes a guilty pleasure. If you find dismemberment pleasurable.
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