You like me, you really like me!

8 Oscars for one film? Shazam! Danny Boyle in particular deserves this, especially for his diverse track record. Trainspotting, Sunshine, 28 days later. It's quite respectable. Enough about him, let's talk about the others.

Every award given out was the right one for the right person except one. Kate Winslet was long overdue and Heath Ledger was by far the most deserving for undoubtedly the best performance of the year, if not ever for a psychopath. The one award I didn't agree with, with my counterpart so accurately called, was Sean Penn for best actor. I'm sure many agree with me. Yes, he's a great actor, but in the competition of who can play the best historical figure, Frank Langella's Nixon was far better. Milk was one of the more liberal movie to be released this past year and acting aside, I believe the (incredibly liberal) Academy would be more likely to vote for a man playing a gay freedom fighter than for a man playing a corrupt selfish ex-president.

And though there was no chance of him winning, I am very happy that Robert Downey Jr. was nominated. It's not often that a comedy get's a nod from the Academy and it's encouraging for future films of the genre.

All in all it was a good night, already films like Watchmen will be potential winners for next year.

Waiting is the hardest part

Sigh. If and when I make a movie I will make sure it is released in the first two months of the year so it'll look like gold compared to everything that's out. It's not to say these movies are bad by any means, just that none are truly original.

Put on your walking shoes and take a journey with me as we take a gander at the chart toppers for this past weekend. And...here...we...GO!

Friday the 13th comes in at #1. I can respect that. After Jason went to Space and took on Mr. Kruger, it was about time for him to come back to what his mama taught him and slash up some horny teens. Good form, Mr. Voorhees, originality is the key to success.

He's just not into you. Though I'm not really into date movies aka movies for angry/upset-recently dumped-girlfriends-that-will-watch-this-movie-after-going-to-ben-&-jerry's-for-a-pint-o'- chunky-monkey-while-wearing-sweatpants-and-a-box-of-'hankies', it has a great cast and is a carbon copy of the best seller that came out about 4 years ago.

Taken is nothing more than a less awesome, moreover, less AMERICAN Commando.

Coraline. Everyone should see this movie. Think Spirited Away but not Japanese, not whiney, and on the cusp of creepy graphics. Check it.

Annnddd Confessions of a Shopaholic. Girls that have a mean age of about 3.68 years less than those that will see He's just not that into you will see this. They of course also may be the same girls. The difference between these two movies is a girl actually has a shot at bringing her boyfriend to see the former. No man alive would willingly see this movie without some serious incentive, ie if Sacha Baron Cohen weren't in the picture and some lucky guy were able to take Isla Fisher to the premiere.

Like my counterpart, I am eagerly anticipating the premiere of Watchmen. Until then we're graced by Madea goes to Jail, Under the Sea 3D (which actually looks pretty amazing), Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li, and another 3D adventure, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience. Lucky for us NY/LA residents, Gomorrah is out as well. Expect a full review on it shortly.

Come on. Push Me.

I'm back. As I'm sure you all know, this blog has come to a screeching halt as of late. And what is to blame you ask, the shitty movies that come out in January and the lovey-dovey February ones still to come. Right now the only movie I'm interested in seeing isn't out until March, and that film is titled Watchmen, but I digress.

Now, to pass the time I went to see Push. I must say that being Chris Evans looks like fun. He gets to beat the shit out of people and sleep with the hottest girls.

Back to Push. For those of you who don't know, it's about people with special abilities aka super powers. There are a few powers that make little or no sense and a few that would just suck to have. I mean I wouldn't tell anybody that when I scream loud, glass breaks. I think that would normally be a given.

Push, however, is not all that bad. It's action is entertaining and the exposition never really slows down the pace of the film. Granted the "why" of the main objective is never really explained and as always in a film like this, a couple of holes in the plot are very apparent.

For the general movie-going population, they will find this film to be dumb and most likely a wast of their time. With any film involving superpowers, magic, or vampires if you can't suspend your beliefs for 2 hours, why are going to see the film in the first place?

For lovers of the Superhero genre (such as myself and my counterpart on this site) we will enjoy the film for what it is, but all of us will leave the theatre with the same thought, "I could have made a movie like that so much better;" and therein, as the Bard would tell us, lies the rub.

And the Award Goes To...

Every year, after the so called best movies are all released (all in the same week no less) announcements come out about the nominated films for the Academy Awards. Now here's what I don't understand, why doesn't the best film or best person ACTUALLY win the award? So I am submitting to you now my thoughts on who WILL win and who DESERVES to win.

BEST PICTURE

Who Will Win: MILK - Now I haven't actually seen this film so I may be biased, but I don't think it deserves the win.
Who Should Win: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - This movie deserves the win due to the fact that it is BY FAR the best movie that has come out all year.

BEST ACTOR

Who Will Win: SEAN PENN - I'm gonna lay something out there, I HATE Sean Penn. I think he is a HUGE over actor and definitely did not deserve the Oscar for Mystic River, especially over Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York. I did hear his performance in this film is incredible, but that still doesn't sway me.
Who Should Win: FRANK LANGELLA - He was absolutely perfect as former President Richard Nixon. His performance could not have been better in any way. This is the guy who should take it home.
Honorable Mention: MICKEY ROURKE - I would say that he deserves the win for the Wrestler, but to be perfectly honest, he was just being himself and not playing a character.

BEST ACTRESS

Who Will Win: MERYL STREEP - I did not see Doubt, but I'm sure miss Streep was great in it as usual. And knowing how the Academy feels about her, she'll probably take it home.
Who Should Win: KATE WINSLET - I didn't see Revolutionary Road either, but every single movie that Mrs. Mendes (Yes she's married to Sam Mendes) is in, she gives an Oscar worthy performance, I mean she has been nominated 5 times and never won.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Who Will Win: HEATH LEDGER - By far the greatest performance of the year.
Who Should Win: HEATH LEDGER - see above
Honorable Mention: ROBERT DOWNEY Jr. - His performance in Tropic Thunder was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Now Comedy roles rarely, if ever win Academy Awards and if Heath Ledger wasn't in contention, the Award definitely should have gone to Downey Jr. "I don't read the script, the script reads me" Classic.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Who Will Win: KATE WINSLET - Considering she will be nominated for Best Actress and Supporting, she has a better shot in the Supporting area for The Reader.
Who Should Win: VIOLA DAVIS - Now yes, she does have an edge in playing her role in Doubt on the stage, but her transition to film was seamless. She should take it home.


That's how I feel about the year in film. You don't like it, I don't care. I'm right. You're wrong. Learn to like it.

'And if ya don't know, now ya know N*gga'

As I sat watching the green load bar on my computer screen, a nerdy chick explained the woes of my Dell computer to me. She suddenly gasped when she saw a glistening object hanging on my wall. "You like Biggie?" she asked enthusiastically. She be frontin' bout my phat blingin' B.I.G. dawg tag dat I nab'd fo 650 tix at D and B's fo sho (Dave and Buster's fo' ya'll honkies). After affirming I was in fact a fan of Christopher Wallace and his rhymes about receiving fellatio from promiscuous strumpets around Brooklyn, she proceeded to divulge Notorious, the movie based upon the great Notorious B.I.G.

This was my first time hearing of this title, despite a teaser being out three months ago. Well I just watched the theatrical trailer and though it's no 8 mile, it'll definitely get more nods than 50's stank dirty, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. George Tillman Jr. is going from bringing a man out of racial ties (Men of Honor) to bringing a man out of the grave in Notorious. He's chosen Jamal Woolard to play the title role. Who? I'm asking the same question. It's his first time on screen and from the trailer, it may be his last. He's big, but Biggie he is not. In any case, this movie will show the life of Biggie, Puffy, Pac, and all the other East/West hoodlums when the rap industry transformed words in the studio to actions out on the street. This is a story that has been waiting over ten years to be told, this January we will listen.

Check the trailer out Apple or YouTube and tell us what you think.

The Curious Case of Brad Pitt.

It is truly amazing how far technology has come in such a short period of time. Lord of the Rings was an epic achievement but in just eight years, the visual level of Benjamin Button was remarkable. I will warn you that being a 2 hour and 48 minute film, it does start out a little slow. The visuals do not.

Although Brad Pitt will most likely never win an Academy Award (which is a damn shame) his performance in this film, while not incredibly demanding, was perfect. He was great and believable as an old man and you could really see the character change as his age did. Cate Blanchett was stellar as usual. Her best moments came when she is an old woman recounting her story.

The story itself was interesting enough but the way that it is told is what makes this movie great. Those watching will feel the similar style of Forrest Gump as that and this were both written by Eric Roth. The visual style was really director David Fincher at his best. Fincher and Pitt have given us Se7en and Fight Club, both with unique styles of there own, and Fincher continues to reinvent himself with this film.

I have no doubt that this movie will be up for Best Picture, and what it deserves the most is Best Makeup, Special Effects and Cinematography. When you see Brad Pitt at around age 21 you will almost not believe your eyes. I leave you with this, so far this year, Benjamin Button is one of the best.

Walküre

Nazis! Conspiracies! Cruise! Rejoice! 'cause Valkyrie has all three. Though they don't come together as they one could have hoped, Bryan Singer has succeeded in bringing something a little less Superman Returns and a little more The Usual Suspects. 

This is not a war movie, it's not about the horrific nature of the Third Reich or its controllers, the Nazis (or their awesome leather trench coats). All these are merely the backdrop to tell a story of the heroic acts of a courageous few that stood up to what they knew as evil. 

And evil Hitler was. Singer made sure to keep him out of direct lens focus to ensure the diabolical puppeteer behind the scenes to stay true to our image of the Fuhrer. David Bamber performed the role as it should have been. Another stand out was Clarice van Houten, Stauffenberg's wife. It was unfortunate she was given such a small role as not only was she the only one with an authentic German accent, she's a phenominal actress. The acting of all others involved was equally fitting. 

Where they all succeeded, they all equally failed. Near every actor, regardless of birthplace, threw all regard for authenticity to the dogs and gave their character an English accent. Even as these supposed Nazis are scheming against the Brits, they speak their evil doings in proper English. Tom Cruise apparently decided not to stoop so low and brought in nothing but his gold, ol' fashioned American tongue for most of the film. In the prologue, he speaks in German. If the entire movie was done in this way, it would have been far more historical and believable. Why Mr. Singer chose to allow so many different forms of English or the English language in general is beyond me. In any case, this mess of cross cultural Nazi slander gave Valkyrie even less credibility; it seemed these Nazi freedom fighters weren't German at all, but in fact Allied soldiers dressed up in swastikas.

Valkyrie is based on a true story and it stayed very close to fact; near all events portrayed in the film are as they were 54 years ago. I would recommend reading up on the historical events that actually happened, they're quite fascinating. If not, just take my word for it, Valkyrie is near dead on. Though slow in some areas and unbelievable in others, for the shere historical value, Valkyrie should be on your list of films to see, it exemplifies the bravery and heroism of individuals needed then and now.