Year in Review – Top Ten Films of 2008
One of the problems with living in a place like Cleveland (or Erie, Pa. before this) and not in NYC or LA is that you don’t get to see all the movies of 2008 until it’s 2009. I’ve always given myself an extra month to catch up. Considering the lackluster year it’s been for movies, it’s no surprise that I could have published this list a few weeks ago. (Damn you Fox Searchlight for holding back The Wrestler.) It’s also no surprise that a three-and-a-half star movie made it onto my list for the first time since I started compiling them. That would Woody Allen’s best film in years, Vicky Christina Barcelona. But even in bad years, there are certain movies that you fall in love with. I can’t remember caring about the characters in the movies as much...
Read MoreOscar Trivia: What if Kate Winslet loses?
Kate Winslet earned her sixth Academy Award nomination on Thursday for her performance in The Reader. All signs point to Oscar for Mrs. Mendes, but what happens if she doesn’t win? Well, she’ll tie Deborah Kerr for female actor with the most nominations and no wins. Kerr earned her sixth and final acting nomination when she was only 39 years old for her leading role in The Sundowners (1960). She received an Honorary Oscar in 1994 for being “An artist of impeccable grace and beauty, a dedicated actress whose motion picture career has always stood for perfection, discipline and elegance.” I hope Kate does win the Oscar this year just so she doesn’t have to accept an honorary one thirty-four years from now with something like that engraved on the...
Read MoreFinal Oscar 2008-2009 Nomination Predictions
Will The Dark Knight get its Best Picture nod? Will Slumdog nab the most nominations? Will Woody Allen spoil the day for another director? Will Kate Winslet get the two nods she deserves? What’s going to happen?! Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. EST/5:30 p.m. PST the Academy will announce the Oscar nominees. Anyone who has watched the Oscar knows there are bound to be surprises. People are starting to doubt The Dark Knight, but I’m not betting against it. TDK fans will have their day. My final predictions are listed below, but check out the Oscar Predix page to see the evolution of Oscar 2008/2009. Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire – And the winner is… The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Solid, classy, the future of Hollywood. Milk – The kind of politically-charged, fight-for-what’s-right kind of story the Academy loves....
Read MoreMovie Review: Revolutionary Road
Revolutionary Road (2008)–**** What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore– And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over– like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? I watched Sam Mendes’ American Beauty the day before I saw Revolutionary Road. When I popped in the DVD I thought it was a bad idea, watching a movie as near perfect as American Beauty before catching the new Mendes picture. Both films deal with the soul-crushing nature of homogeneous suburban life. Both films have an enviable cast of some of the best movie actors working under the direction of an actors’ director. How could you not have your view of Revolutionary Road obstructed by...
Read MoreGolden Globe Winners 2009
Slumdog may have took top prize, but Kate Winslet was the queen of the Golden Globes. That long-overdue Winselt Oscar looks like a real possibility. The winners: Best Picture – Drama Slumdog Millionaire Best Actor – Drama Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler Best Actress – Drama Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road Best Picture – Comedy/Musical Vicky Cristina Barcelona Best Actress – Comedy/Musical Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky Best Actor – Comedy/Musical Colin Farrell – In Bruges Best Director Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire Original Score A. R. Rahman – Slumdog Millionaire Best Writer Simon Beaufoy – Slumdog Millionaire Foreign Language Film Waltz With Bashir (Israel) Best Supporting Actor Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight Animation Wall-E Original Song “The Wrestler” – The Wrestler Music & Lyrics By: Bruce Springsteen Best Supporting Actress Kate Winslet – The...
Read MoreSlumdog takes Best Picture at Critics’ Choice Awards
No real surprise as Slumdog Millionaire takes top prize (and 4 others) at the BFCA Critics’ Choice Awards. (Sorry, The Dark Knight fans.) All signs continue to point to Slumdog as the Best Picture favorite. Damn me for not having cable television. I’d would have liked to seen some of these acceptance speeches, especially Kate Winslet’s for her surprise win in the Supporting Actress category. These speeches are make or break for a potential Oscar winner. You’ll see more of them on Sunday at the Not the Oscars… err… Golden Globes. Here are all your Critics’ Choice winners (courtesy of AwardsDaily.com): Best Comedy Movie: Tropic Thunder Best Acting Ensemble: Milk Best Young Actor/Actress: Dev Patel Best Writer: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire Best Action Film: The Dark Knight Best Composer: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire Best Song: Bruce Springsteen, The Wrestler...
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