The summer action-movie season is well under way in theaters and it is time for the Freedom Film Series to catch up. Every summer movie studios put a great deal of their yearly budget into what they hope will be the biggest summer blockbuster of the year. Most of the time these are large-scale action/adventure movies with a lot of star power, but occasionally a studio will put its faith in a star-driven comedy. The summer of '09 is no different. This is the summer of Star Trek, Land of the Lost, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Public Enemies, and Harry Potter, of course.
This year I didn't want the Freedom Film Series to be left out of all the summer action-movie fun. So, the month of July will be dedicated to action-packed movies based on popular video games. This has become a very popular genre in film recently so there were a lot of movies from which to choose. The movie industry has been tapping into video game titles from the classic Nintendo NES system and Sega Genesis, to the more recent Playstation titles. I wanted to pick movies that represented as many video game companies and systems as possible, while still picking movies that would be fun, enjoyable, and somewhat decent. Hopefully, I have achieved my goal.
The Video Game Adaptation series will be held every Wednesday night in July. All screenings will start at 6:00pm in the Community Room of the Freedom Regional Public Library. All screenings are free and open to the public. There will also be free popcorn for those who attend the screenings. Hope to see you there!
Freedom Film Series Presents: Video Game Adaptations
July 1: Super Mario Bros., PG
July 8: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, PG-13
July 15: Street Fighter, PG-13
July 22: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, PG-13
July 29: Mortal Kombat, PG-13
Until next time....
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
FREEDOM FILM SERIES PRESENTS: COMIC DUOS
The spring is turning out to be a busy time for the Freedom Film Series. The Mel Brooks Freedom Film Series wrapped up just last night after an April run and it is time to turn our sights on the next series which will run throughout the month of May.
In May, the Freedom Film Series will remain in the comedy genre as we take a look at some of the more successful comedic duos in film. When the idea for this theme came to me, I spent a lot of time trying to decide which duos to feature in a four week series. There have been numerous comedic teams throughout the history of film that have made an indelible impact on today's cinema. So instead of just trying to pick and choose the duos randomly, I decided to create a structure for the series and use that as a guide in my choosing. I thought the best course was to go for the broadest appeal possible. So, I decided to take a comic duo from four different time periods in film history. I have chosen a comic duo from the earlier days of film ('30s-'40s), a duo from the '70s-'80s, a duo from the early to mid-'90s, and a recent comic duo.
The comic duos that will be highlighted in this series are: Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, Chris Farley and David Spade, and Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. The first three duos more or less fit the classic definition of a comic duo that I initially had in mind. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are more of an action/comedy duo, but they are one of the better examples from the more recent cinema of today. Abbott and Costello helped to define what a great comedic duo is and there routines are stuff of legend. Pryor and Wilder equaled comedy gold during the '70s, '80's, and even into the early '90s. Even though Chris Farley and David Spade only head-lined two movies together in the mid-'90s, one cannot think of one without the other. The two movies they made, Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, have become huge cultural phenomenons and have allowed both men to leave significant marks on the comedy genre. And everyone knows the kind of success Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker have experienced with their three Rush Hour films.
Each screening in the Comic Duos Freedom Film Series is be on each Wednesday night in the month of May. All screenings will begin at 6:00pm in the Community Room of the Freedom Regional Public Library. Free popcorn is served at every screening to those who attend. Hope to see you there!
Freedom Film Series Presents: Comic Duos
May 6: Who Done It?
May 13: Stir Crazy, R
May 20: Tommy Boy, PG-13
May 27: Rush Hour, PG-13
**Anyone under 17 must have parental guidance or permission to attend an R-rated film.**
Until next time....
In May, the Freedom Film Series will remain in the comedy genre as we take a look at some of the more successful comedic duos in film. When the idea for this theme came to me, I spent a lot of time trying to decide which duos to feature in a four week series. There have been numerous comedic teams throughout the history of film that have made an indelible impact on today's cinema. So instead of just trying to pick and choose the duos randomly, I decided to create a structure for the series and use that as a guide in my choosing. I thought the best course was to go for the broadest appeal possible. So, I decided to take a comic duo from four different time periods in film history. I have chosen a comic duo from the earlier days of film ('30s-'40s), a duo from the '70s-'80s, a duo from the early to mid-'90s, and a recent comic duo.
The comic duos that will be highlighted in this series are: Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, Chris Farley and David Spade, and Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. The first three duos more or less fit the classic definition of a comic duo that I initially had in mind. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are more of an action/comedy duo, but they are one of the better examples from the more recent cinema of today. Abbott and Costello helped to define what a great comedic duo is and there routines are stuff of legend. Pryor and Wilder equaled comedy gold during the '70s, '80's, and even into the early '90s. Even though Chris Farley and David Spade only head-lined two movies together in the mid-'90s, one cannot think of one without the other. The two movies they made, Tommy Boy and Black Sheep, have become huge cultural phenomenons and have allowed both men to leave significant marks on the comedy genre. And everyone knows the kind of success Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker have experienced with their three Rush Hour films.
Each screening in the Comic Duos Freedom Film Series is be on each Wednesday night in the month of May. All screenings will begin at 6:00pm in the Community Room of the Freedom Regional Public Library. Free popcorn is served at every screening to those who attend. Hope to see you there!
Freedom Film Series Presents: Comic Duos
May 6: Who Done It?
May 13: Stir Crazy, R
May 20: Tommy Boy, PG-13
May 27: Rush Hour, PG-13
**Anyone under 17 must have parental guidance or permission to attend an R-rated film.**
Until next time....
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
FREEDOM FILM SERIES PRESENTS: MEL BROOKS
After taking a month off following the previous National Lampoon series, the Freedom Film Series is returning in April with a series celebrating one of the funniest filmmakers of all time: Mel Brooks.
What can be said that people do not already know about Mel Brooks. The man is a genius and has been making people laugh since The Producers was released in 1968. Nothing has been safe from Mel Brooks' satirical eye and mind. He is one of the few total packages in Hollywood. He writes, directs, and acts in all of his films. Sometimes this combination does not work for people in Hollywood, but Mel Brooks always hits his mark perfectly. Of course he is not without his critics. There are some people who consider some of his humor vulgar and distasteful. In response to some of these detractors, Mel Brooks coined one of his most well-known quotes: "My movies rise below vulgarity."
Those detractors, however, are in the extreme minority. Mel Brooks is widely considered to be one of the greatest comedic minds in film history. From his famous movie and genre parodies to his constant jokes about Nazi Germany and Hitler, Mel Brooks has been making audiences laugh for over 40 years. Even though his focus recently has been mainly on adapting his previous work into Broadway musicals, we have plenty of quality films to draw from for the Freedom Film Series. For this series, we are tapping into the three decades in which he did the majority of his work: the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Through April, we will be taking a look at two movies from the 90's, two movies from the 70's, and one from the 80's.
So, if you've got nothing to do on a Wednesday night in April, come out to Freedom Regional Library and enjoy yourself for two hours courtesy of Mel Brooks. It is especially important in these difficult economic times to find time for laughter and enjoyment. As Mel Brooks himself has been known to say: "Humor is just another defense against the universe." Come and humor yourself with the Freedom Film Series.
All screenings in the Freedom Film Series are free of charge (and there's not much you can get for free these days.) The screenings for this series will take place on each Wednesday night in April at 6:00pm in Freedom Regional's Community Room. There will also be free popcorn for those who attend the screening. Hope to see you there!
Freedom Film Series Presents: Mel Brooks
April 1: Dracula: Dead and Loving It, PG-13
April 8: Spaceballs, PG
April 15: Blazing Saddles, R
April 22: Robin Hood: Men in Tights, PG-13
April 29: Young Frankenstein, PG
**Anyone under 17 must have parental guidance or permission to attend the screening of an R-rated film.**
Until next time....
What can be said that people do not already know about Mel Brooks. The man is a genius and has been making people laugh since The Producers was released in 1968. Nothing has been safe from Mel Brooks' satirical eye and mind. He is one of the few total packages in Hollywood. He writes, directs, and acts in all of his films. Sometimes this combination does not work for people in Hollywood, but Mel Brooks always hits his mark perfectly. Of course he is not without his critics. There are some people who consider some of his humor vulgar and distasteful. In response to some of these detractors, Mel Brooks coined one of his most well-known quotes: "My movies rise below vulgarity."
Those detractors, however, are in the extreme minority. Mel Brooks is widely considered to be one of the greatest comedic minds in film history. From his famous movie and genre parodies to his constant jokes about Nazi Germany and Hitler, Mel Brooks has been making audiences laugh for over 40 years. Even though his focus recently has been mainly on adapting his previous work into Broadway musicals, we have plenty of quality films to draw from for the Freedom Film Series. For this series, we are tapping into the three decades in which he did the majority of his work: the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Through April, we will be taking a look at two movies from the 90's, two movies from the 70's, and one from the 80's.
So, if you've got nothing to do on a Wednesday night in April, come out to Freedom Regional Library and enjoy yourself for two hours courtesy of Mel Brooks. It is especially important in these difficult economic times to find time for laughter and enjoyment. As Mel Brooks himself has been known to say: "Humor is just another defense against the universe." Come and humor yourself with the Freedom Film Series.
All screenings in the Freedom Film Series are free of charge (and there's not much you can get for free these days.) The screenings for this series will take place on each Wednesday night in April at 6:00pm in Freedom Regional's Community Room. There will also be free popcorn for those who attend the screening. Hope to see you there!
Freedom Film Series Presents: Mel Brooks
April 1: Dracula: Dead and Loving It, PG-13
April 8: Spaceballs, PG
April 15: Blazing Saddles, R
April 22: Robin Hood: Men in Tights, PG-13
April 29: Young Frankenstein, PG
**Anyone under 17 must have parental guidance or permission to attend the screening of an R-rated film.**
Until next time....
Thursday, February 19, 2009
2009 OSCAR PREDICTIONS
I don't think I have ever had more trouble making Oscar predictions than I've had this year. This does not apply to all of the categories. I am mainly referring to the acting categories. I have never been more conflicted over choices that, in the scope of things, are quite inconsequential. I don't stand to gain or lose anything by making the wrong predictions, except perhaps a little bit of personal pride. What conflicts me is whether to make my picks based on what I think will happen or what I want to happen. Normally, I would not hesitate to base my official picks on how I think the Academy will vote. This has never really bothered me because: a.) the clear choices of the Academy are usually mine as well, and b.) in the past, I have never been able to see as many of the nominated films as I have this year. Having seen almost every nominated film, I have a better idea of what the competition really looks like and am better able to compare the nominees. This also means that my personal reactions to the films are going to play a large role in my predictions. Thus, after a paragraph of rambling that some may find boring and useless, I have reached the heart of the conflict. This year, much more than others, the apparent choices of the Academy do not sync up with who I think deserves to win. You're probably thinking to yourself, who cares? My response.....go see these movies. Some of the performances that are nominated carry such power and conviction that I lost sight of the actor and saw only the character and believed they were real. And for an hour and a half to two hours, they were real for me.
Since last night, I have been having an internal battle with myself. Do I write and post this blog with true "predictions" of what the Academy will do, or do I present you with my "choices" for who will walk away with the golden statue? That battle did not come to an end until the moment I started typing this sentence. My official predictions this year and for this blog will be based on who I believe deserves to win. For the categories where my choice and the choice of Academy will most likely not match up, I will name the likely Academy choice, as well. Again, this will not apply to the majority of the categories, but mainly the acting ones.
I will be making predictions in all 24 categories as listed on the ballot available at the Internet Movie Database website, imdb.com. I've also decided to go in reverse order with the main categories coming at the end of the blog just so you'll at least have to scroll past the constantly overlooked categories. Some predictions will have a brief explanatory note and some will not.
Now, if you're still reading, here are my official predictions for the 81st Annual Academy Awards:
Best Short Film, Live Action
-Auf der Strecke
-Manon sur le bitume
-New Boy
-Grisen
-Spielzeugland
Prediction: New Boy
Best Short Film, Animated
-La Maison en petits cubes
-Ubornaya istoriya-lyubovnaya istoriya
-Oktapodi
-Presto
-This Way Up
Prediction: Ubornaya istoriya-lyubovnaya istoriya
Best Documentary, Short Subject
-The Conscience of Nhem En
-The Final Inch
-Smile Pinki
-The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306
Prediction: The Final Inch
Best Documentary, Feature
-The Betrayal-Nerakhoon
-Encounters at the End of the World
-The Garden
-Man on Wire
-Trouble the Water
Prediction: Man on Wire
-Man on Wire has been the clear front-runner in this category. Though Encounters at the End of the World is a beautiful and well-made film and Herzog is brilliant, I believe that Man on Wire is something special. It was unlike any documentary that I had ever seen before. I think it will revolutionize the genre.
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
-Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (Germany)
-Entre les murs (France)
-Revanche (Austria)
-Okuribito (Japan)
-Vals Im Bashir (Israel)
Prediction: Vals Im Bashir (Waltz with Bashir)
-Admittedly, I have not seen any of these films yet. The weight that Waltz with Bashir is bringing is undeniable, though. I was disappointed, once again, that Let the Right One In did not receive any kind of nomination. It got shafted at the Golden Globes and it has been shafted by the Academy. For shame.
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
-Bolt
-Kung Fu Panda
-Wall-E
Prediction: Wall-E
-With all the buzz there was about Wall-E possibly receiving an overall Best Picture nomination, this is a no-brainer. And it is better than the other two films.
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Iron Man
Prediction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-What these guys did with Brad Pitt was amazing. Even if the movie doesn't quite live up to ALL of the hype.
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
-The Dark Knight
-Iron Man
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Wall-E
-Wanted
Prediction: Wanted
-I had to give this movie something. Don't be surprised, though, if they give The Dark Knight a lot of the technical awards in compensation for not getting Directing and Best Picture nods.
Best Achievement in Sound
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Wall-E
-Wanted
Prediction: The Dark Knight
-The Sound and Sound Editing usually go hand-in-hand. This one is my legit pick of the two.
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
-Slumdog Millionaire, "Jai Ho"
-Slumdog Millionaire, "O Saya"
-Wall-E, "Down to Earth"
Prediction: Wall-E, "Down to Earth"
-One of the travesties of this years list of nominees.....Bruce Springsteen wins the Golden Globe in this category (for The Wrestler) and doesn't even get an Oscar nod??!! And then Slumdog Millionaire gets TWO nominations??!! My prediction in this category is a cry of defiance. And I really do think this song will win.
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Defiance
-Milk
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Wall-E
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-The soundtrack for this movie is incredible. A.R. Rahman is a major contributor to this movie's magic.
Best Achievement in Makeup
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Prediction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The subtle, believable stuff usually wins here. Brad Pitt as an 90 year old man.....I bought it.
Best Achievement in Costume Design
-Australia
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Duchess
-Milk
-Revolutionary Road
Prediction: The Duchess
-Extravagant period pieces are a sure bet most of the time.
Best Achievement in Art Direction
-Changeling
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-The Duchess
-Revolutionary Road
Prediction: Revolutionary Road
-I had a really tough time with this category. For those who are not sure what Art Direction is, it's sort of like set design in theatre. Basically, it deals with how the background looks; the furniture, the surroundings, houses, cars, etc. Revolutionary Road just happens to be the film in which all those things stood out to me the most. In a good way.
Best Achievement in Editing
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Frost/Nixon
-Milk
-Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-This was just a really well put together film. There was a lot of quick cutting, but it did not become confusing. There was no unnecessary cutting or jumping around done. The Dark Knight may be a sleeper here. That wouldn't bother me too much, though.
Best Achievement in Cinematography
-Changeling
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-The Reader
-Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-The colors, the lighting, and the camera work are all superb in this film. Every shot and every angle has a distinct purpose. It's just a beautiful looking film.
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Doubt
-Frost/Nixon
-The Reader
-Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-The writing was one of the first things that caught my attention when I saw this movie. It flows so naturally. And this has just as much to do with the original material as it does with the screenplay.
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
-Frozen River
-Happy-Go-Lucky
-In Bruges
-Milk
-Wall-E
Prediction: Milk
-O.K. My pride got the better of me on this one. I really want to get this category right because I almost always do. I believe the Academy will award Dustin Lance Black for the incredible work he did. He pretty much wrote a biography of Harvey Milk in a 2 hour long movie script. Then again, I have special place in my heart for In Bruges. It is such a good film; well written and well acted. If another movie comes close to Milk, I do think it will be In Bruges. It's a win-win in my eyes.
Best Achievement in Directing
-Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
-Stephen Daldry, The Reader
-David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
-Gus Van Sant, Milk
Prediction: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
-The magic of this movie will share plenty of its wealth on Oscar night. Danny Boyle deserves just as much as anyone.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
-Amy Adams, Doubt
-Penelope Cruz, Vickey Cristina Barcelona
-Viola Davis, Doubt
-Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Prediction: Viola Davis, Doubt
-I so want Viola Davis to win this award, and I think the Academy does, too. There has been some last minute buzz about Penelope Cruz, and she is great in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. But the kind of impact that Viola Davis had in that film with only a 12 minute scene (with Meryl Streep, no less) is awe-inspiring. I really hope the Academy does the right thing here.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
-Josh Brolin, Milk
-Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
-Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
-Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
-Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Prediction: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
-Well deserved in more ways than one. Michael Shannon deserves some attention, though. I still don't think he should win, but you should see Revolutionary Road if only for his performance.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
-Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
-Angelina Jolie, Changeling
-Melissa Leo, Frozen River
-Meryl Streep, Doubt
-Kate Winslet, The Reader
Prediction: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
-This is the category that I lost the most sleep over. Anne Hathaway had the strongest buzz going into Oscar season, but kind of died away after Kate Winslet's Golden Globes sweep (which was an injustice.) Meryl Streep is always a contender and I have heard a lot about Melissa Leo in the last couple of weeks. I had not made a decision on this category until last night. This was due to the fact that I had not seen Frozen River until last night. My choice was made, however, before that movie even started. When I put the DVD in last night, one of the first previews was for Rachel Getting Married. As I watched the trailer, all of the memories of seeing that movie and witnessing the power of Anne Hathaway's performance came rushing to the forefront of my mind. When the simplest reminder of a movie, like that trailer, can bring that much detail and emotion to mind, there is something special there. The widespread favorite for this category is clearly Kate Winslet. And I wouldn't be surprised if Melissa Leo snuck in a win (she's worked with a lot of people in the business and that's who votes.) As for me, though, I'm standing beside Anne Hathaway. (Kristen Scott Thomas was robbed by not receiving a nomination for I've Loved You So Long. She was a subtle emotional force in that movie.)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
-Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
-Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
-Sean Penn, Milk
-Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Prediction: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
-As with the previous category, I believe I am in the minority on this one. The buzz over who will win seems to flip/flop from week to week between Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn. I feel kind of bad that the other three guys are just left out in the cold. Their performances were great as well. For me, it came down to the fact that I lost sight of Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler and saw only Randy "the Ram" Robinson. That's a difficult thing to do. Ever now and then, I could still see Sean Penn through Harvey Milk. I don't want to take anything away from Sean Penn; his performance is amazing. It took a lot of courage to embrace a role like that and he did it with flare. Sean Penn will be the favorite going into Sunday night, but my heart screams Mickey!
Best Motion Picture of the Year
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Frost/Nixon
-Milk
-The Reader
-Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-A clear favorite and rightly so. It truly is one of the few complete package movies I have seen. A real underdog story in a year of underdog stories. It deserves to win and it should win. I wouldn't have minded seeing The Wrestler take the place of Frost/Nixon, though. Or The Dark Knight replace The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. My prediction, however, would still be the same.
Well, there you have it. The full list of my 2009 Oscar predictions. Please feel free to let me know what you think. And, if you completely disagree with one of them, tell me. I'd love to hear some different opinions.
Until next time....
Since last night, I have been having an internal battle with myself. Do I write and post this blog with true "predictions" of what the Academy will do, or do I present you with my "choices" for who will walk away with the golden statue? That battle did not come to an end until the moment I started typing this sentence. My official predictions this year and for this blog will be based on who I believe deserves to win. For the categories where my choice and the choice of Academy will most likely not match up, I will name the likely Academy choice, as well. Again, this will not apply to the majority of the categories, but mainly the acting ones.
I will be making predictions in all 24 categories as listed on the ballot available at the Internet Movie Database website, imdb.com. I've also decided to go in reverse order with the main categories coming at the end of the blog just so you'll at least have to scroll past the constantly overlooked categories. Some predictions will have a brief explanatory note and some will not.
Now, if you're still reading, here are my official predictions for the 81st Annual Academy Awards:
Best Short Film, Live Action
-Auf der Strecke
-Manon sur le bitume
-New Boy
-Grisen
-Spielzeugland
Prediction: New Boy
Best Short Film, Animated
-La Maison en petits cubes
-Ubornaya istoriya-lyubovnaya istoriya
-Oktapodi
-Presto
-This Way Up
Prediction: Ubornaya istoriya-lyubovnaya istoriya
Best Documentary, Short Subject
-The Conscience of Nhem En
-The Final Inch
-Smile Pinki
-The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306
Prediction: The Final Inch
Best Documentary, Feature
-The Betrayal-Nerakhoon
-Encounters at the End of the World
-The Garden
-Man on Wire
-Trouble the Water
Prediction: Man on Wire
-Man on Wire has been the clear front-runner in this category. Though Encounters at the End of the World is a beautiful and well-made film and Herzog is brilliant, I believe that Man on Wire is something special. It was unlike any documentary that I had ever seen before. I think it will revolutionize the genre.
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
-Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (Germany)
-Entre les murs (France)
-Revanche (Austria)
-Okuribito (Japan)
-Vals Im Bashir (Israel)
Prediction: Vals Im Bashir (Waltz with Bashir)
-Admittedly, I have not seen any of these films yet. The weight that Waltz with Bashir is bringing is undeniable, though. I was disappointed, once again, that Let the Right One In did not receive any kind of nomination. It got shafted at the Golden Globes and it has been shafted by the Academy. For shame.
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
-Bolt
-Kung Fu Panda
-Wall-E
Prediction: Wall-E
-With all the buzz there was about Wall-E possibly receiving an overall Best Picture nomination, this is a no-brainer. And it is better than the other two films.
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Iron Man
Prediction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-What these guys did with Brad Pitt was amazing. Even if the movie doesn't quite live up to ALL of the hype.
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
-The Dark Knight
-Iron Man
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Wall-E
-Wanted
Prediction: Wanted
-I had to give this movie something. Don't be surprised, though, if they give The Dark Knight a lot of the technical awards in compensation for not getting Directing and Best Picture nods.
Best Achievement in Sound
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Wall-E
-Wanted
Prediction: The Dark Knight
-The Sound and Sound Editing usually go hand-in-hand. This one is my legit pick of the two.
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
-Slumdog Millionaire, "Jai Ho"
-Slumdog Millionaire, "O Saya"
-Wall-E, "Down to Earth"
Prediction: Wall-E, "Down to Earth"
-One of the travesties of this years list of nominees.....Bruce Springsteen wins the Golden Globe in this category (for The Wrestler) and doesn't even get an Oscar nod??!! And then Slumdog Millionaire gets TWO nominations??!! My prediction in this category is a cry of defiance. And I really do think this song will win.
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Defiance
-Milk
-Slumdog Millionaire
-Wall-E
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-The soundtrack for this movie is incredible. A.R. Rahman is a major contributor to this movie's magic.
Best Achievement in Makeup
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Prediction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The subtle, believable stuff usually wins here. Brad Pitt as an 90 year old man.....I bought it.
Best Achievement in Costume Design
-Australia
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Duchess
-Milk
-Revolutionary Road
Prediction: The Duchess
-Extravagant period pieces are a sure bet most of the time.
Best Achievement in Art Direction
-Changeling
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-The Duchess
-Revolutionary Road
Prediction: Revolutionary Road
-I had a really tough time with this category. For those who are not sure what Art Direction is, it's sort of like set design in theatre. Basically, it deals with how the background looks; the furniture, the surroundings, houses, cars, etc. Revolutionary Road just happens to be the film in which all those things stood out to me the most. In a good way.
Best Achievement in Editing
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-Frost/Nixon
-Milk
-Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-This was just a really well put together film. There was a lot of quick cutting, but it did not become confusing. There was no unnecessary cutting or jumping around done. The Dark Knight may be a sleeper here. That wouldn't bother me too much, though.
Best Achievement in Cinematography
-Changeling
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-The Dark Knight
-The Reader
-Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-The colors, the lighting, and the camera work are all superb in this film. Every shot and every angle has a distinct purpose. It's just a beautiful looking film.
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Doubt
-Frost/Nixon
-The Reader
-Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-The writing was one of the first things that caught my attention when I saw this movie. It flows so naturally. And this has just as much to do with the original material as it does with the screenplay.
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
-Frozen River
-Happy-Go-Lucky
-In Bruges
-Milk
-Wall-E
Prediction: Milk
-O.K. My pride got the better of me on this one. I really want to get this category right because I almost always do. I believe the Academy will award Dustin Lance Black for the incredible work he did. He pretty much wrote a biography of Harvey Milk in a 2 hour long movie script. Then again, I have special place in my heart for In Bruges. It is such a good film; well written and well acted. If another movie comes close to Milk, I do think it will be In Bruges. It's a win-win in my eyes.
Best Achievement in Directing
-Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
-Stephen Daldry, The Reader
-David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
-Gus Van Sant, Milk
Prediction: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
-The magic of this movie will share plenty of its wealth on Oscar night. Danny Boyle deserves just as much as anyone.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
-Amy Adams, Doubt
-Penelope Cruz, Vickey Cristina Barcelona
-Viola Davis, Doubt
-Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Prediction: Viola Davis, Doubt
-I so want Viola Davis to win this award, and I think the Academy does, too. There has been some last minute buzz about Penelope Cruz, and she is great in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. But the kind of impact that Viola Davis had in that film with only a 12 minute scene (with Meryl Streep, no less) is awe-inspiring. I really hope the Academy does the right thing here.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
-Josh Brolin, Milk
-Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
-Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
-Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
-Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Prediction: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
-Well deserved in more ways than one. Michael Shannon deserves some attention, though. I still don't think he should win, but you should see Revolutionary Road if only for his performance.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
-Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
-Angelina Jolie, Changeling
-Melissa Leo, Frozen River
-Meryl Streep, Doubt
-Kate Winslet, The Reader
Prediction: Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
-This is the category that I lost the most sleep over. Anne Hathaway had the strongest buzz going into Oscar season, but kind of died away after Kate Winslet's Golden Globes sweep (which was an injustice.) Meryl Streep is always a contender and I have heard a lot about Melissa Leo in the last couple of weeks. I had not made a decision on this category until last night. This was due to the fact that I had not seen Frozen River until last night. My choice was made, however, before that movie even started. When I put the DVD in last night, one of the first previews was for Rachel Getting Married. As I watched the trailer, all of the memories of seeing that movie and witnessing the power of Anne Hathaway's performance came rushing to the forefront of my mind. When the simplest reminder of a movie, like that trailer, can bring that much detail and emotion to mind, there is something special there. The widespread favorite for this category is clearly Kate Winslet. And I wouldn't be surprised if Melissa Leo snuck in a win (she's worked with a lot of people in the business and that's who votes.) As for me, though, I'm standing beside Anne Hathaway. (Kristen Scott Thomas was robbed by not receiving a nomination for I've Loved You So Long. She was a subtle emotional force in that movie.)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
-Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
-Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
-Sean Penn, Milk
-Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Prediction: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
-As with the previous category, I believe I am in the minority on this one. The buzz over who will win seems to flip/flop from week to week between Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn. I feel kind of bad that the other three guys are just left out in the cold. Their performances were great as well. For me, it came down to the fact that I lost sight of Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler and saw only Randy "the Ram" Robinson. That's a difficult thing to do. Ever now and then, I could still see Sean Penn through Harvey Milk. I don't want to take anything away from Sean Penn; his performance is amazing. It took a lot of courage to embrace a role like that and he did it with flare. Sean Penn will be the favorite going into Sunday night, but my heart screams Mickey!
Best Motion Picture of the Year
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
-Frost/Nixon
-Milk
-The Reader
-Slumdog Millionaire
Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire
-A clear favorite and rightly so. It truly is one of the few complete package movies I have seen. A real underdog story in a year of underdog stories. It deserves to win and it should win. I wouldn't have minded seeing The Wrestler take the place of Frost/Nixon, though. Or The Dark Knight replace The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. My prediction, however, would still be the same.
Well, there you have it. The full list of my 2009 Oscar predictions. Please feel free to let me know what you think. And, if you completely disagree with one of them, tell me. I'd love to hear some different opinions.
Until next time....
Thursday, January 22, 2009
FREEDOM FILM SERIES PRESENTS: NATIONAL LAMPOON
It warmed my heart and brought the slightest little tear to my eye when I heard someone asking when the Freedom Film Series was coming back. It's always nice to know that this film series is something people look forward to as new months approach. For those who are wondering, the Freedom Film Series has been on somewhat of a hiatus for the holiday season. The multiple closing dates for the library made the idea of putting the series on hold a good one. But the holidays are behind us and it's time to get things rolling again!
The return of the Freedom Film Series is scheduled for the month of February. The theme for this return to the series will be movies from one of the greatest storehouses of comedy: National Lampoon!
Since the 1970s, the words "National Lampoon Presents" in front of a movie's title meant something special. You knew that you were in store for a particular brand of comedy that has become a staple of American movies. National Lampoon originated as a magazine publication, much like "Mad" is today. They eventually branched out into the movie business and really hit the big time with Animal House. Since then, expectations have been high for National Lampoon movies and they have met them, for the most part. From the late 1970s through the early 1990s, they experienced their cinematic peaks. These days most of their movie offerings come in the way of straight to DVD releases. Though they do come out with the occasional success, like Van Wilder. The Freedom Film Series will focus on the only series of movies that National Lampoon produced (with one exception thrown in to fill out the four week series.) For this film series, we will be looking at the "Vacation" series from National Lampoon. The "Vacation" series, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, and Randy Quaid, follows the Griswold family on their various....vacations.
The time and place for the Freedom Film Series has not changed. All screenings will take place at the Freedom Regional Public Library in the Community Room. They will be held each Wednesday in February at 6:00pm. So, if you're not doing anything Wednesday nights in February, mark your calendar and I hope to see you there! (Free popcorn will be served.)
Freedom Film Series Presents: National Lampoon
February 4: Vacation, R
February 11: Loaded Weapon, PG-13
February 18: Vegas Vacation, PG-13
February 25: Christmas Vacation, PG-13
**Anyone under 17 must have parental guidance or permission to attend the screening of an R-rated film.**
Until next time....
The return of the Freedom Film Series is scheduled for the month of February. The theme for this return to the series will be movies from one of the greatest storehouses of comedy: National Lampoon!
Since the 1970s, the words "National Lampoon Presents" in front of a movie's title meant something special. You knew that you were in store for a particular brand of comedy that has become a staple of American movies. National Lampoon originated as a magazine publication, much like "Mad" is today. They eventually branched out into the movie business and really hit the big time with Animal House. Since then, expectations have been high for National Lampoon movies and they have met them, for the most part. From the late 1970s through the early 1990s, they experienced their cinematic peaks. These days most of their movie offerings come in the way of straight to DVD releases. Though they do come out with the occasional success, like Van Wilder. The Freedom Film Series will focus on the only series of movies that National Lampoon produced (with one exception thrown in to fill out the four week series.) For this film series, we will be looking at the "Vacation" series from National Lampoon. The "Vacation" series, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, and Randy Quaid, follows the Griswold family on their various....vacations.
The time and place for the Freedom Film Series has not changed. All screenings will take place at the Freedom Regional Public Library in the Community Room. They will be held each Wednesday in February at 6:00pm. So, if you're not doing anything Wednesday nights in February, mark your calendar and I hope to see you there! (Free popcorn will be served.)
Freedom Film Series Presents: National Lampoon
February 4: Vacation, R
February 11: Loaded Weapon, PG-13
February 18: Vegas Vacation, PG-13
February 25: Christmas Vacation, PG-13
**Anyone under 17 must have parental guidance or permission to attend the screening of an R-rated film.**
Until next time....
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