OSCAR OSCAR

Click to see if your favorite movie or actor was nominated for the all coveted Academy Award - Oscar!  Come back tomorrow to see my picks and a challenge to see how many I get right on Oscar night.  You play too.

The Best Picture nominees are The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, and Slumdog Millionaire!  I have seen three of the five, and I will see and review the remaining two, Frost/Nixon, and The Reader.  Let me know what you thought of these movies.  Send your comments -- inquiring minds want to know!

Ciao Y'all

"Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have messed with? That's me."

A quote from the movie GRAN TORINO, delivered steel eyed by Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) -- Since the first release of the trailer, I had no idea what the title meant.  I am not a Ford fan or car buff.  I like NASCAR though, and when they added Toyotas I thought they made a good move.  My driver drives a Chevy # 88 - JUNIOR!

Back to the movie.  The 1:10 matinee was half full of people who looked to be Mr. Eastwood's age, and then there was me with my bottle of water and small popcorn.  No one really was excited about seeing the movie with me, but I wanted to see it, because it was Clint Eastwood.  What exactly that means to me - IDK.  

Here's my take.  If you are a huge or even small Eastwood fan, than go see it.  To quote my Uncle Joe -- "I haven't seen a Clint Eastwood movie that wasn't great!"  Dude!  But, if you get easily offended by racial slurs and trash talk, after you get through the first negative hour of continuous stereotyping and racial obscenities, you just might think the movie is great.  

There are some nice strings throughout, but also a lot of empty or left out information in this piece of storytelling.  Didn't really see the ending veer way away from traditional vigilante Eastwood, but I did hear a comment walking out of the theater that the ending was lame.  I'm guessing that person wasn't a true follower of this Hollywood icon.  

Emotionally gripping or disturbing movie - whatever way you look at it.  Cool car though -- but the movie wasn't about the car.  Mr. Eastwood's performance -- yes, worthy of an Oscar nom.

Ciao Y'all

"Without hope, life's not worth living."

...The end words to a very moving memoir by Harvey MILK spoken into a tape recorder in 1978 before he was murdered that same year.  

Eight years earlier on his 40th birthday, Milk, had prophesied to his partner Scott Smith that he wouldn't make it to 50.  Out of the mouth the heart speaks.  I'm sure if he had been able to foresee the good works he was to do for the gay community he would have opted for more time.  I had no knowledge of this man's life and now I know how his life changed many lives.  No matter your views on homosexuality or the gay movement, this story is told to encourage as Harvey Milk put it "us".  We're the "us" vice being the "thems" or the "theys".  

Sean Penn (and I have seen seen this tall, handsome man in person), very much transformed himself into the man Milk.  Every now and then there was a hint of Sam (I AM SAM - New Line Cinema) in the gestures he made, and I had to remember who I was watching, but a worthy performance.  Worthy of many nods from many award shows that we will be watching in the upcoming months.  Go see this flick on performance alone.

Ciao Y'all.

MILK movie poster courtesy of IMDB.com 2008

As 2008 Comes to a Close

May all who read my blog be blessed indeed, may God who provides for all your needs, increase your territory, and keep His hands always on you to keep you away from evil, so you will not experience unnecessary pain or cause unnecessary pain to anyone.

Thank you for reading and following this site.  I hope you are getting what you are looking for out of reading it.  If in the soon coming new year you develop a blog of your own please let me know, and I will advertise it here.  From me in 2009 you will see more movie reviews, Dodgers updates, and sneak peaks into what's going on with L'AMORE, because everything I do is from a deep place inside my heart.

Ciao Y'all!

"Only God can judge us now"..."I don't think Father Flynn did anything wrong"..."They said I was gonna die soon but, maybe not"

Holiday movies 2008 -- These three for me rated least to most liked.   No, none merited "love", but depending on your own interest you very well could love them all or hate them all.  Yes, worth seeing them all.

VALKYRIE -- "Only God can judge us now" delivered by Tom Cruise in this don't go see at night after you have viewed one 2 hour and 48 minute movie, and you are sleepy on Christmas day.  Pheww!  The botched plan to kill Hitler was the premise, and you can take the rest as you like it.  The patch Tom Cruise wore did give him a very dapper look, and wardrobe was pretty darn good.

DOUBT -- "I don't think Father Flynn did anything wrong" delivered innocently by Sister James (Amy Adams) when put on the defense by Sister Aloysius Beauvier (can somebody say "and the OSCAR goes to Meryl Streep").  Being a uniformed clad Catholic school girl myself, I must admit this nun was reality scary!  The story itself was quite predictable, and I DOUBT there will be healing for anyone who lives with the memories of innocence lost.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON --  "They said I was gonna die soon, but maybe not."  A wise beyond his years, or perhaps old for his age, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) delivers this line upon meeting the love of his life Daisy (Cate Blanchett).  The research of the developmental stages of human life alone, deserves the Oscar.  An enjoyably long feature worth every moment you had to hold your bladder - considering there are no intermissions at the movies.  I would even sit through it again, just to catch all the little things I'm sure I missed the first time.  I am curious to read the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  My number one pick for the holiday releases, but then again - I haven't seen Marley and Me.

Ciao Y'all...

All movie photos courtesy of IMDB.com 2008.

"I did something really bad once and I'm never gonna be the same! "

This statement made by Ben Thomas (Will Smith), or was his name Tim.  Whoever he was, he read a text while driving (really bad).  That will soon be against the law here in LA -- January 1, so HAPPY NEW YEAR but don't text while driving, or you might get finished off! 

Yes, it's Wednesday, Gregorysm's Day.  For today, in honor of Gregory who co-starred in an episode of the Fresh Prince (a Christmas episode with Boys II Men -- check it out), I have decided to be a finisher and write about 7 POUNDS.

OK, here it goes, my critique of a movie Will Smith stars in.  

If you go to the movie theater, sit in the center and munch some pretty decent popcorn, with a chaser of fruit punch, you would pretty much be taken in by the depth of this movie.  Comments from the mostly 40+ crowd that day, were audible at the end of this film.  "WOW"was the consensus.  They gave it a WOW.  I think that's a thumbs up?  

What I give it is a bit more detailed.  I liked the movie, would probably give it 3 stars if I had to.  It was good.  The premise was good, viable, the casting was great, the 8 x 10's were all wonderful in their own element, but then --

On your way home you start to thinking, and it hits you, as beautiful as Rosario Dawson is and as sexy as Will Smith is, the intimacy between the two threw the whole thing off.  That point was where I was no longer buying it - as my old writing instructor used to say to me when something in one of my screenplays was unclear or throwing her for too much of a loop.  "I'm not buying it".  And then --

You think a bit more and that's when it hits you -- the back story is insufficient.  Things start to be told vice shown on the screen to fill in the missing back story.  Then --

You understand the reviews from the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and Variety.  Go see it, it's not bad, but take some tissues because the person sitting next to you might need them and if you don't have any they might just snot all over your shirt.  This happened to the man sitting beside me -- but I think the women was his significant other.

Ciao Y'all!  Merry Christmas Eve.

Photo courtesy of IMDB.com 7 Pounds 12/2008

"...What can a slumdog possibly know?"

More than an A+.  My whole-hearted belief -- "Slumdog Millionaire" is the epitome of  how to write a great screenplay as taught by the well known Writer's Boot Camp.  All the elements are put on the page and brought together with brilliant creativity that this film is sure to win many awards.

With all the news coming out of India about the Hindu extremist gangs and lack of police control in this over populated area of the world, Slumdog Millionaire invites us into the ugly streets of this dismal place with the only beauty found in the vibrant characters who survive daily there.  Simon Beaufoy adapts a magnificent tale from the novel by Vikas Swarup - more than likely exquisitely detailed, as I have yet to read it - and places us directly into the dung heaps of  a former India, and over a span of approximately 10-12 years as we follow the life of "slumdog" Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) as he goes from child to young adult - from rags to riches.  With the real riches being to finally re-unite with the love he feels he is destined to be with.  

Bollywood takes the helm with this one.  A tent pole I must say.  More theaters need to pull it into there house as it will, without a doubt, bring in the ticket sales.  A MUST SEE!

Ciao Y'all.

Photo courtesy of Slumdog Millionaire, Celador Films, IMDB, 12/2008.

"If the Earth dies, you die. If you die, the Earth survives"

The Day the Earth Stood Still... yawn, but the beautiful actors in this flick make this sci-fi thriller worth while.  There was a slight applause in the audience at the end.  I frankly wasn't sure if the two people were clapping because it was over or just from the cute performance by Jaden Smith (Jacob Benson)-- who looks more like his papi every day.  Keanu Reeves (Klaatu) wasn't bad on the eyes either.  

Although a good premise, the content of the film left you wondering if there could have been more.  Not wanting to see more, but more like - ok, is that it?  The 1951 Golden Globe winner version was on television yesterday and caught my eye for a moment in all of it's black and white glory.   Maybe watching it would have detoured me to see another silver screen feature opening last night.  IDK...

Go see it if you must.  The IronMan looking robot with the mummy bug throwing effect might interest you -- or not.

Ciao Y'all.

Movie Poster from 1951 The Day the Earth Stood Still courtesy of IMDB.com

"I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger"

They (news source) announced it as a snub, but I say they (the Golden Globe Awards) got it right.  The Dark Knight - as good as it is - is not an award winning film, but Ledger's performance in the movie is untouchable and should win every nomination he gets.   

May God rest his soul.

Ciao Y'all!!

Movie still courtesy of Warner Pictures 2008

"Waaaiiit for it"

Probably the funniest line and deliverance of the year from Disney Pixar's BOLT!  The pigeon banter.  Go see the pigeon banter!

Okay, I must admit I was not enthused about getting in line - albeit the line was short and those who waited in that line for about 15 minutes were the only ones who attended the 4:40 show.  I was even kind of fine with going to, the concessions stand to get popcorn, nachos, candy, and drink for my entourage, hoping maybe I would miss some of the movie.  Luckily I did make it back into my semi-worn-out stadium seat before the opening scene when a little girl (voice of Miley Cyrus) picks out a doggy in the window and names him BOLT (voice of John Travolta).

Truly Disney, as I thought about Woody's laughable line to Buzz Lightyear -- "You are a toy!", with a keep you watching story line.  The second act may have stayed a bit longer than needed but the (sometimes difficult to keep together) third act was clean and on point in that it wasn't anti-climatic, and offered a maybe predictable but a smart resolution.  But all in all I loved the pigeons!

The line for TWILIGHT - which also opened this weekend - was four times as long and outside of seeing this dismal rated pic for myself, I was pleased with the cinema bucks spent.

Ciao Y'all.

(Photo still courtesy of Disney Pictures November 2008 IMDB)

"I don't think the dead care about vengeance..."

...a cool response to M's questioning of Bond's passion behind his latest mission in Quantum of Solace.

As I made my way to the stadium seating theater, I watched and listened as two twenty-something women chatted about this new James Bond film.  Neither understood the title but they were both in agreement about seeing the immortalization of the handsome Daniel Craig. 

O.K., maybe they phrased it more like this:

WOMAN 1:  What's up with the title?  Do you know what it means?

WOMAN 2:  No... but he's really hot and carries a big gun!

They laugh.

Must have been some kind of inside joke.  Whatever.  Despite the title, this movie raked in $67,528,882 opening week in the US.  Although I have never myself been a "Bond" girl -- I mean fan, I believe this movie rocked with explosive action and a dynamic cast that carried a weighted "so what" plot.  The inconsistencies of the final cut are worth the price of the ticket.   

You avid Bond followers don't have to be convinced to go see this newest installment, but for everyone else, I recommend you rent Casino Royale so you won't be lost in translation and you get another opportunity to ogle the swagger of Mr. Craig.

Ciao Y'all!

Movie still courtesy of MGM/Sony Pictures found on IMDB.

"That is so unfair"

The agonizing look on her face and the words "that is so unfair" spewed by Kym, when in the middle of a heated family discussion - her older sister, Rachel announces she's having a baby - is the picture that paints a thousand words in this beautiful film.  The realism of Anne Hathaway's selfish and self-centered co-dependent character in "Rachel Getting Married" is bravely and remarkably written by Jenny Lumet.  Nice job all around.  

I had a frustrated loathing for Kym as I sat and watched this drama, a real family drama centered around a multi-cultural wedding celebration on the heals of Kym's latest release from rehab.  A whole family full of suffering from one person's addiction to narcotics and the like.  As open to family meetings as they were, this family still suffered gravely from the unspoken.  The tragedy that held Kym hostage was also the tragedy that broke a family and yet led to their interdependence on each other and for each other.  

A sad, ugly, joyous, beautiful time, and yes, Rachel did get married.  I would bet my season ticket in the Dodgers dugout that this film is definitely Oscar worthy.  Okay -- maybe I don't have a dugout seat, but this flick is a winner.

Ciao Y'all.

"Rachel Getting Married" movie still courtesy of IMDB 2008.

"F" You and the Horse You Rode Into Town On!

What a great line -- delivered masterfully by Angelina Jolie, in CHANGLING.  

I believe every writer writes a screenplay with  a theme in mind.  This theme may or may not be the key line of the flick.  This line, "F" you and the horse you rode into town on, was not the theme in this biopic but it did define the 180 of the main character.

CHANGLING... I delighted in attending a real noon matinee to see this film today - Halloween - the least favorite day of the year for me.  I was surprised by the crowd.  The theater was just about full except for a few scattered seats here and there, the movie started and through the first act - which definitely pushed me to keep watching - I was content with my popcorn and the beautiful depiction of Los Angeles in the late 20s and 30s.  I also was amazed, probably more disturbed with the half-ass way the police dealt with missing children back then..  Yes, I lost myself in the story.

and then...

The fire alarm went off, with an announcement to vacate the theater.  After everyone realized this was not a part of the story we made our way to the front exit.  Twenty minutes later I was scurrying to get back to the story.  Weirdly enough, most of the movie goers decided to go somewhere else.  The theater was now half full.

Back to my popcorn and matinee and the disbelief of the events of the movie which was two hours and 15 minutes, I only dozed once.  I did however enjoy this sad story.  Angelina was a great cast pick, but the rest of the actors very much held the film, especially John Malkovich - brilliant as usual.  I give it 3 stars out of 4.

Ciao Y'all.

(CHANGLING poster courtesy of Universal Pictures 2008)

HSM3

Shall we take a moment to sigh out loud before we start?  Why is it that people use the word "we" when they have something to say that only stems to them - the individual... does it define what they say as so important that they volunteered to extend it to everyone's thoughts?

Any way...

High School Musical 3 in my opinion -- not too shabby.  Could it have been kept to the confines of Disney cable television?  Yes -- but than it would not have been the box office winner for the weekend.  I saw it almost a week after it opened and the theater was quite empty, ten people tops.  Maybe it was the after school hour matinee that hindered the massive crowd, or maybe everyone who was going to see the movie saw it on the opening weekend.

Any way...

The musical was definitely held together by the musical numbers.  Imagine that.  Efron was way cute, and Hudgens' could be well casted in my screenplay as the lead.  All ears that hear - pass this info on.  

Any way...

Glad  I saw the Disney phenomenon.  Very fun.

Ciao Y'all!

Recast

What's up with Renee Zellweger's face?  

She has a constipated pinched nerve expression in the whole of the movie Appaloosa.  After the movie, which I thought was very good considering I don't care for westerns - my amore and I contemplated just what other actresses could have played the part.

Recasting.  We all do it!  We all know better than most casting directors who should have been cast in our favorite flicks.  Let's recast Allison French for everyone who loved Appaloosa but abhorred  -- maybe that's too strong a word -- "misunderstood" why Renee Zellweger was given this role.

Kate Winslet, Sandra Bullock, Debra Messing...   Name your recast...

Ciao Y'all!

(Film still courtesy of Warner Brothers 2008)