Satallite Awards Nominations!

The Satallite Awards are kinda Pre-Golden Globe type of awards. Their lineups looks pretty decent, but there are some really weird ones.

NOTE: "Sweeney Todd" is completely snubbed out. "Atonement" is snubbed for nearly all major awards. "Enchanted" NOT in Musical or Comedy Best Picture. Cate is up for Best Actress for "I'm Not There". "Across the Universe" score 3 nominations.

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Julie Christie, "Away From Her" (Lionsgate)
Angelina Jolie, "A Mighty Heart" (Paramount Vantage)
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Tilda Swinton, "Stephanie Daley" (Regent Releasing)
Keira Knightly, "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Laura Linney, "The Savages" (Fox Searchlight)

Thoughts: Hmmm...the Tilda Swinton nom is really weird. But hey! The Satellites are weird!

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Denzel Washington, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)
Josh Brolin, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
Christian Bale, "Rescue Dawn" (MGM)
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
Frank Langella, "Starting Out in the Evening" (Roadside Attractions)
Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah" (Warner Independent Pictures)

Thoughts: No Johnny Depp and Viggo might just be a surprise contender with Sweeney fails at the end of the year. Was Chistian really better in "Rescue Dawn" then in "3:10 to Yuma"? Oh yeas, no Emile Hirsch or James McAvoy???

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Katherine Heigl, "Knocked Up" (Universal Pictures)
Amy Adams, "Enchanted" (Walt Disney Pictures)
Ellen Page, "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)
Emily Mortimer, "Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)
Nicole Kidman, "Margot at the Wedding" (Paramount Vantage)
Cate Blanchett, "Im Not There" (The Weinstein Company)

Thoughts: So Cate Blanchett has just been nominated lead. Odd. It's great to see Amy Adams here, but I doubt she'll beat Ellen Page (the love for "Juno" is crazy).

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Richard Gere, "The Hoax" (Miramax Films)
Seth Rogen, "Knocked Up" (Universal Pictures)
Ben Kingsley, "You Kill Me" (IFC Films)
Ryan Gosling, "Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)
Clive Owen, "Shoot 'Em Up" (New Line Cinema)
Don Cheadle, "Talk to Me" (Focus Features)

Thoughts: Not a very strong lineup here. The only one that will even be "considered" by the Academy for an Oscar in this catagory is Ryan Gosling. Clive Owen? NO WAY.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Emmanuelle Seigner, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax Films)
Taraji P. Henson, "Talk to Me" (Focus Features)
Ruby Dee, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)

Thoughts: First time I heard Emmanuelle Seigner's name in this catagory. Oh cool, Ruby Dee is getting some recognition.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Jeff Daniels, "The Lookout" (Miramax Films)
Brian Cox, "Zodiac" (Paramount Pictures)
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Ben Foster, "3:10 To Yuma" (Lionsgate)
Javier Bardem, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jessie James" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Thoughts: I would've nominated Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Lead then Jeff Daniels for "The Lookout". That slot could've been given to someone more deserving...hmmm say John Travolta in "Hairspray"!

MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
"The Lookout" (Miramax Films)
"Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (ThinkFilm)
"Away From Her" (Lionsgate)
"Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
"No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
"3:10 To Yuma" (Lionsgate)

Thoughs: So, "The Lookout" and "Away From Her" garner nominations but "Atonement," "Inot the Wild," and "Gone Baby Gone" dont? Weird much...

MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
"Hairspray" (New Line Cinema)
"Juno"(Fox Searchlight)
"Shoot 'Em Up" (New Line Cinema)
"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)
"Knocked Up" (Universal Pictures)

Thoughts: What's up with the "Shoot 'Em Up" nom? It's great to see "Hairspray" there. No "Enchanted"?

MOTION PICTURE, FOREIGN LANGUAGE
"Ten Canoes" Australia (Palm Pictures)
"Offside Iran" (Sony Pictures Classics)
"La Vie En Rose" France (Picturehouse Entertainment)
"Lust, Caution" China (Focus Features)
"4 Months 3 Weeks & 2 Days" Romania (IFC Films)
"The Orphanage" Spain (Picturehouse Entertainment)
"Margot at the Wedding" (Paramount Vantage)

Thoughts: Why is "Margot" there? I don't get it. Is it suppose to be in Musical or Comedy? Confused!

MOTION PICTURE, ANIMATED OR MIXED MEDIA
"Persepolis" (Sony Pictures Classics)
"The Simpsons Movie" (Twentieth Century Fox)
"The Golden" Compass (New Line Cinema)
""Ratatouille"" (Buena Vista Pictures)
"300" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
"Beowulf" (Paramount Pictures)

Thoughts: The Animated Features here ("Persepolis," "The Simpsons Movie," "Ratatoulle" and "Beoowulf" are the ones that are gonna get nominated come Oscar time).

MOTION PICTURE, DOCUMENTARY
"The King Of Kong" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
"The 11th Hour" (Warner Independent Pictures)
"Sicko" (Lionsgate)
"No End In Sight" (Magnolia Pictures)
"Darfur Now Warner" (Independent Pictures)
"Lake Of Fire" (ThinkFilm)

Thoughts: I don't know anything about the Docu catagory. I'll just root for "11th hour" because Leo is my favorite actor! haha.

DIRECTOR
Ang Lee, "Lust, Caution" (Focus Features)
Olivier Dahan, "La Vie En Rose" (Picture House Entertainment)
David Cronenberg, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
Sidney Lumet, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (ThinkFilm)
Sarah Polley, "Away From Her" (Lionsgate)

Thoughts: This lineup wishes it was Oscar.

SCREENPLAY, ORIGINAL
Scott Frank, "The Lookout" (Miramax Films)
Diablo Cody, "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)
Kelly Masterson, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (ThinkFilm)
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Nancy Oliver,"Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)
Steven Knight, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

Thoughts: "The Lookout" sure is getting some blossoming attention.

SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED
James Vanderbilt, "Zodiac" (Paramount Pictures)
Christopher Hampton, "Atonement" (Focus Features)
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)
David Benioff, "The Kite Runner" (Paramount Vantage)
Sarah Polley, "Away From Her" (Lionsgate)
Wang Hui Ling, James Schamus, "Lust, Caution" (Focus Features)

Thoughts: This lineup looks okay.

ORIGINAL SCORE
Dario Marianelli, "Atonement" (Focus Features)
James Newton Howard, "The Lookout" (Miramax Films)
Michael Giacchino, "Ratatouille" (Buena Vista Pictures)
Alberto Iglesias, "The Kite Runner" (Paramount Vantage)
Howard Shore, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)
Nick Cave, "The Assassination of Jesse James" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Thoughts: Nothing.

ORIGINAL SONG
"Do You Feel Me"/Diane Warren, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures) "If You Want Me"/Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, "Once" (Fox Searchlight)
"Come So Far"/Marc Shaiman, "Hairspray" (New Line Cinema)
"Rise"/Eddie Vedder, "Into The Wild" (Paramount Vantage)
"Grace Is Gone"/Clint Eastwood & Carole Bayer Sager, "Grace Is Gone" (The Weinstein Company)
"Lyra"/Kate Bush, "The Golden Compass" (New Line Cinema)

Thoughts: "That's How You Know" should've been nominated. It's better then almost all the songs there. I'm rooting for "Come So Far".

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Harris Savides, "Zodiac" (Paramount Pictures)
Robert Elswit, "There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage)
Bruno Delbonnel, "Across The Universe" (Revolution Studios)
Janusz Kaminski, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax Films)
Roger Deakins, "The Assassination Of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Henry Braham, "The Golden Compass" (New Line Cinema)

Thoughts: Since "Across the Universe" doesn't have any Best Picture chances, let's just hope that it retains this status for some tech awards.

VISUAL EFFECTS
Scott Farrar, "Transformers" (Paramount Pictures)
Michael Fink, "The Golden Compass" (New Line Cinema)
Chris Watts, Grant Freckelton, Derek Wentworth, Daniel Leduc, "300" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Peter Chiang, Charlie Noble, David Vickery, Mattias Lindahl, "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal Pictures)
Thomas Schelesny, Matt Jacobs, Tom Gibbons, "Enchanted" (Walt Disney Pictures)
Jerome Chen, Sean Phillips, Kenn McDonald, Michael Lantieri, "Beowulf" (Paramount Pictures)

Thoughts: "300" deserves its nomination. Weird "Enchanted" nom.

FILM EDITING
Pietro Scalia, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)
Jill Savitt, "The Lookout" (Miramax)
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax)
Richard Marizy, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Christopher Rouse, "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal Pictures)
Ronald Sanders, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

Thoughts: I dunno what to say.

SOUND (EDITING & MIXING) Mike Prestwood-Smith, Mark Taylor, Glenn Freemantle, "The Golden Compass" (New Line Cinema)
Nikolas Javelle, Jean-Paul Hurier, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Christopher Boyes, Paul Massey, Lee Orloff, George Watters II, "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End" (Buena Vista Pictures)
Scott Heckler, Eric Norris, Derek Vanderhorst, "300" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Karen Baker Landers, Kirk Francis, Per Hallberg, "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal Pictures)
Tod Maitland, Skip Lievsay, Rick Kline, Jeremy Peirson, "I Am Legend" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Thoughts: No musicals.

ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION DESIGN
Guy Dyas, David Allday, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal Pictures)
Patricia Norris, Martin Gendron, Troy Sizemore, "The Assassination Of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Dennis Davenport, David Gropman, "Hairspray" (New Line Cinema)
Mark Tildesley, "Sunshine" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Gary Freeman, Stephen Morahan, Denis Schnegg, David Allday, Matthew Gray, Charles Wood, "Amazing Grace" (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Mark Friedberg, Peter Rogness, "Across the Universe" (Revolution Studios)

Thoughts: I love the "Across the Universe" nomination. But what's "Amazing Grace"?

COSTUME DESIGN
Alexandra Byrne, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal Pictures)
Yvonne Blake, "Goya's Ghosts" (Samuel Goldwyn Pictures)
Marit Allen, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)
Rita Ryack, "Hairspray" (New Line Cinema)
Jenny Beavan, "Amazing Grace" (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Jacqueline Durran, "Antonement" (Focus Features)

Thoughts: ^^ Nice one. Go "Hairspray".

Movie Review: Requiem for a Dream (2000, Darren Aronofsky)

* * * * *

Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans, Christopher McDonald, Sean Gullette, Keith David
Screenplay: Hubert Selby Jr. and Darren Aronofsky (Based on the novel by Hubert Selby Jr.)
102 minutes / Color

“Requiem for a Dream” is probably in my Top 5 of the darkest, unconventional, unflattering, twisted films I’ve seen ever…and yet, I loved it quite a lot. It’s even better then the year’s Best Picture “Gladiator” and better then my previous Best Picture choice “Erin Brockovich”. The movie was unique and simply amazing. I’m actually going to say that after seeing this, I don’t think I’ll ever be taking drugs in my life. It looks gross and scary and it’s definitely not for me. The film reaches for the heart and soul and tries to send us a message that dreams can be shattered when people are trying to get to it the wrong ways.

The film takes us in the 4-season lives of 4 people living in New York City and Brooklyn that all connect. We have Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn) a lonely fat widow living in a Old-Folks home, her son Harry (Jared Leto) a unsuccessful graduate living in New York, Harry’s beautiful girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans).

Sara is very lonely and starts a certain obsession with a TV show. When she gets an “application” to be on that show, Sara’s head is turned around and she attempts to loose weight to be able to wear a certain “red dress” that she wore in Harry’s graduation. But after an attempt to loose weight using a diet book given to her by her friend, she quits that and seeks something much faster and much better. Sara obtains diet pills and starts taking them regularly. But her desperation to loose weight is still in hand and she overdoses and quickly starts getting addicted to them, not to loose weight but as something that makes her “feel” good.

In New York, far from Sara’s Brooklyn, Harry and his friends are living the high life of drug dealing. Harry and Tyrone start getting very successful and their little business starts blooming. Marion starts getting influenced by drugs too, even though Harry’s only reason of selling drugs is so he can open up a shop for him and Marion.

When their business crashes one night, the 3 face the reality of being poor and the wanting of drugs. Harry, in the other hand is in serious trouble. The arm where he’s been “shooting up” has been decaying for a couple of weeks but has been hiding it from his girlfriend and his best buddy. Marion, who is the biggest junkie from the three cannot take is anymore. She needs to shoot up and starts having sex (kinda prostituting herself) with random drug dealers for money and drugs that she longs to have and makes her “happy”.

At the end, Sara’s hallucinations of the show sends her to mental institution, Harry’s arm is amputated, Tyrone goes to jail for being a drug dealer and after a night of being forced to have sex with another woman through the ass, Marion has her drugs…but is still left cold and unhappy.

The film is very graphic, it is something you really want to turn you head away from but it’s really very difficult. I really have to compliment and kudos Darren Aronofsky. This is probably his greatest work to date (better then his recent, overrated flick “The Fountain”). His direction was marvelous and it explored every scene and all its nature and scope to the highest level. It was really very perfect. Every angle and every cut was blossoming with directional power and the matching cinematography was full of wonder.

The ensemble is really unforgettable. The film wouldn’t have worked without the 4 principal cast members. Jared Leto should get more films. His talent here was seriously, well “serious”. This is actually the first film I’ve seen him in where he isn’t a supporting player, and leading man really works for him. He was charming and perfect for the role; he is an absolutely underrated actor and performance. Best Actor worthy, once performance which the Academy and most critics have overlooked. .

Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans also make it well. Though there isn’t really anything special about Marlon (don’t worry Marlon, “White Chicks” is probably one of the funniest movie I’ve ever seen in my LIFE), Connelly made a small role something big. She was delicious but disturbed and she created another winning performance.

But I’m joining the band wagon on who did the greatest job in the film. No other then Best Actress nominee Ellen Burstyn. Frightened mothers must be really her thing, just kidding. Anyways, she was too good to be true. Seeing the film was mainly to see how she did and if she really deserves the “hype” surrounding her loose to Julia Roberts for the Oscar back in 2000. I’m sorry Ellen, as brilliant as you are, Julia is still the winner, and you probably run her a close second. But Ellen Burstyn was really super amazing here. The fright, the cries, the desperation, she went beyond the makeup.

“Requiem” is a stunner from beginning to end. The production design was great; did I forget the nearly flawless screenplay? If Darren Aronofsky is reading this (I highly, highly doubt it), if you’re gonna make another film, I encourage and recommend Burstyn and Leto for you. They are perfect and using them, will make your movie into a masterpiece. I can’t believe this film only received 1 Oscar nomination…snubs!

Movie Review: The Great Gatsby (1974, Jack Clayton)

*****

Cast: Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Sam Waterston, Bruce Dern, Karen Black, Lois Chiles, Scott Wilson, Howard Da Silva, Roberts Blossom, Edward Herrmann
Screenplay: Francis Ford Coppola (Based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
143 minutes / Color

I’m not sure if I’m overrating the film because of my wide infatuation with the colors and characters and dialogue and storyline, but I can clearly and honestly say that I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. Not as much as the book however, but despite some “awkward” moments and very, very unique direction, the rest was actually quite interesting.

Based on the Roaring-20s story of F. Scott Fitzgerald, it tells the story of a young bond-seller named Nick Caraway (Sam Waterston) who witnesses the reunited love of a rich socialite Daisy Buchanan (Mia Farrow) and a new-money, self-made man named Jay Gatsby (Robert Redford).

Nick moves to Long Island one summer in a little cottage right across the lawn of a mysterious millionaire named Gatsby, who throws grand parties every night of his life, but never actually attends them. When Nick finally gets invited to one of the parties, he is quickly asked by someone to meet Gatsby inside the house. Nick meets the infamous stranger and finally finds out his reasons of throwing such ornate gatherings:

Gatsby used to be a poor man, who was courting Nick’s cousin Daisy, the belle of the town. But when Gatsby had to go away for the war, Daisy was left heartbroken and got caught up in a loveless marriage with a rich polo player named Tom Buchnanan (Bruce Dern), who in the present is cheating on her for a white-trash married flossy named Myrtle Wilson (Karen Black). All Gatsby wanted to do was have Daisy (who was living near by) “accidentally” come to one of his parties and realize how rich her old lover was.

Alarmed of this news, it is just the beginning of the most interesting summer of Nick’s life. Gatsby has a plan, that’s been in the working for exactly…8 years! After the war and after learning of Daisy’s marriage, he was to make himself rich (not only regular rich but smothered in money and gloss and elegance!) and show off all of his new possessions and amazing reputation to the girl of his dreams. But first, he needed a location to do this new “courting” process and he asks Nick for help and approval to do it at his home. Nick agrees and Gatsby’s plan is back in action.

In the best move (that wasn’t really a move), the first glimpse of Daisy and Gatsby in the hot cottage of Nick, make the two connect again and fall deeply back in the position they were 8 years back. The two start an affair, with the help of Nick and their friend Jordan Baker (Lois Chiles). Tom is suspicious AND jealous (despite the fact he has a lover too).

Wanting to break them up, they all have a tedious fight in a hotel room one summer day in New York City, which leaves their emotions running. The truths of each other come out and everyone sees everyone else’s true colors. The men are in spite, the women are confused. But who will Daisy choose? The man who she married and had a child with OR the man she is madly in love with? She doesn’t choose…until ONE fatal move.

On the way back home from town, Gatsby and Daisy had gone ahead in a different car from Tom, Nick and Jordan. There seemed to be an accident in the side of the street. As the 3 join the group of spectators, they see Tom’s lover Myrtle dead from being hit by a car. Tom is widely affected, but so is Myrtle’s husband George (Scott Wilson) who thinks that Tom is the killer of his beloved. What Tom and the other 3 don’t know is that Daisy was the one driving the car that killed Myrtle, thinking she is the one getting in the way of her marriage with Tom.

In an eager attempt to gain revenge, George goes to the Buchanan household the next morning. Not empty handed, but with a gun! There, Tom tries to defend his wife and tells him who he THOUGHT really ran over Myrtle…GATSBY.

In the meantime, Gatsby is enjoying a quite swim in the pool, trying to overcome the previous day’s events. To his surprise, a mad, sad and outraged George Wilson comes out from behind him and shoots him several times to his death. Guilt of the crime gets to him and Wilson puts the pistol in his own mouth and shoots his brain into scatters.

Quite a tragic tale, that is completely faithful to the book. That is just one of the few flaws that “Gatsby” possesses. It really is TOO faithful. Most of the dialogue you’d think was coming straight out of the novel (which I can prove because I read it). Francis Ford Coppola didn’t do such an exemplary job in adapting the piece of amazing literature, which is such a waste because he has such great material to work with.

I must start with Mia Farrow. Don’t get the wrong ideas about her performance. I think she did really well actually, despite the bashing she receives. She started off perky and annoying and so “rich” and I honestly didn’t like her. But I realized as the scenes were passing and she was getting close to Gatsby, most of her character was really coming out. Her “richness” at the start was such a lie to whom she really was and I think she did a really great job doing that.

For the male leads, Robert Redford created another fascinating performance. He made sort of a “supporting” performance into something really huge. I think the script was written for the Nick character (observe the narration) but Redford really works his star power and pushed himself to the front. But don’t get me wrong; I really, really loved Sam Waterston’s performance as Nick. It’s such a pity that he wasn’t given any follow-up or more screen time.

The film looked gorgeous. It absolutely captured the essence of the 20s with a bliss to it that makes it even better. The Academy Award wining costumes of Theoni V. Aldredge was really so amazing, and sets were fantastic. It kills me to learn that the sets were not nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration. Both played a HUGE role in the movie. It was such eye candy and I was stunned from beginning to end. With all that glamorous outfits and houses, I wished I was that rich. It looked fantastic.

Something unconventional was the direction of Jack Clayton. I was really fast passed, like it was really tying to tell you “classic gossip”. I wasn’t bad at all is what I’m saying, some shots were beautiful, but some shots were a little too much. Some confusing and some just really, really “splish”, “bam”, “boom”! You know what I mean? I don’t think so, it’s really hard to describe in words.

The other technical thing I must kudos is the cinematography. How wonderful it was! The flagrant, exuberant colors are still bright and blossoming in my mind. I feel like I’ve been watching a tasteful color wheel spin around for 2 hours and 40 minutes and goodness, I loved it! To sum up the specs: the film was really beautiful…to look at!

As much as I enjoyed the book, to tell you the truth, I couldn’t put it down (and when I did I was kinda longing to return to it), the movie is a fairly good adaptation. Not good enough though. A brilliant adaptation would reach my Top 10 probably, but that’s a little too hard to reach. This, this is a low 5 stars. I’ll re-watch it again someday and see if my opinions still hold. For now, “The Great Gatsby” was interesting, delectable, mysterious, smart and well-acted. Simply ravishing.

Indipendent Spirit Awards Nominations

Interesting...NO Laura Linney or Julie Christie. Foreign Language looks pretty solid. "Youth Without Youth" gets interesting cinematography nom and "Lust, Caution" gets acting nods. Interesting. Very interesting.

BEST FEATURE
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
I’m Not There
Juno
A Mighty Hear
Paranoid Park

BEST DIRECTOR
I’m Not There – Todd Haynes
The Savages – Tamara Jenkins
Juno – Jason Rietman
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – Julian Schnabel
Paranoid Park – Gus Van Sant

BEST FIRST FEATURE (Give to producer and director)
2 Days in Paris
Great World of Sound
The Lookout
Rocket Science
Vanaja

JOHN CASSAVETTES AWARD (Given to the best movie made in the budget of $500,000 or less)
August Evening
Owl and the Sparrow
The Pool
Quiet City
Shotgun Stories

BEST MALE LEAD
August Evening – Pedro Casandeda
Talk To Me – Don Cheadle
The Savages – Philip Seymour Hoffman
Starting Out in the Evening – Frank Langella
Lust, Caution – Tony Leung

BEST FEMALE LEAD
A Mighty Hear – Angelina Jolie
Interview – Sienna Miller
Juno – Ellen Page
Broken English – Parker Posey
Lust, Caution – Tang Wei

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Talk to Me – Chiwetel Eloifor
I’m Not There – Marcus Carl Franklin
Great World of Sound – Kene Hilliday
The Namesake – Irfan Khan
Rescue Dawn – Steve Zahn

BEST SUPPORTIING FEMALE
I’m Not There – Cate Blanchett
Rocket Science – Anna Kendrick
Margot at the Wedding – Jennifer Jason Leigh
Four Sheet to the Wind – Tamara Podemski
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead – Marisa Tomei

BEST SCREENPLAY
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – Ronald Harwood
The Savages – Tamara Jenkins
Starting Out in the Evening – Fred Parnes & Andrew Wagner
Waitress – Adrienne Shelly
Year of the Dog – Mike White

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Rocket Science – Jeffrey Blitz
Broken English – Zoe Cassavetes
Juno – Diablo Cody
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead – Kelly Masterson
A Mighty Hear – John Orloff

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Savages – Mott Hupfel
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – Janusz Kaminski
Vanaja – Milton Kam
Youth Without Youth – Mihai Malaimare Jr,
Lust, Caution – Podrigo Prieto

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Crazy Love – Dan Klores
Lake of Fire – Tony Kaye
Manufactured Landscapes – Jennifer Baichwal
The Monastery – Pernille Rose Gronkjaer
The Prisoner: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair – Perta Epperlein and Michel Tucker

BEST FOREIGN FILM
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
The Band’s Visit
Lady Chatterley
Once
Persepolis

ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD
I’m Not There

Into the Wild wins Best Feature in the Gotham Awards

Could Sean Penn's "Into the Wild" be our next Oscar Best Picture? Or are the Gothams giving their awards a little bit to early?

"Into the Wild" wins big as it takes the top prize for Best Feature Film. It beat out indie films like "Great World of Sound" and "The Namesake" but also serious Oscar contenders like "I'm Not There" and "Margot at the Wedding". But could this be the next "Half Nelson" (which won last years big prize)? Remember, last year "Half Nelson" had a lot of buzz around it and its rising star Ryan Gosling, but when it came Oscar-time the Indie flick only received a Best Actor nomination for Gosling. Sounds familiar, "Into the Wild"-"Half Nelson" Emile Hirsch-Ryan Gosling? Maybe...

When it comes to the other awards of the night, newcomer Ellen Page takes Best Breakthrough Actor award for the coming-of-age tale "Juno", beating out Hirsch's inspiring "Best-Actor-Buzzed" performance in the winning film.

The Ensemble Award is shared by the casts of "Talk to Me" and "Before the Devil Knows Your Dead". I smell, Actor's Guild and more Best Pic buzz for BTDKYD. I don't know about "Talk the Me", but it might just be a treat at the end of the season (for Best Actor) that is. Sicko wins Best Documentary, putting it back as the front runner.

DVD news: Across the Universe, The Apartment CE, Tootsie 25th AE

Across the Universe (February 5th 2008) - Finally, we get a date. But still, this news isn't complete without artwork! Anyways, it'll cost $27.95, no specs have been released except DVDactive which just said that it'll include a commentary and a two live performances of "Benefit of Mr. Kite". Doesn't sound so flattering. Let's hope those 2-disc rumors are true!

The Apartment - Collector's Edition (February 5th 2008) - Great film! It'll cost ya $19.98 to purchase this great Best Picture-winning classic. Special Features include some commentaries, "Inside the Apartment" and "Tribute to Jack Lemmon" featurettes.

Tootsie - 25th Anniversary Edition (February 5th 2008) - No price yet, but anyways I'll still be getting this. It's one of my favorite movies of all time! This Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange vehicle will be presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic wide screen and will include "A Better Man: The Making of Tootisie" featurette, deleted scenes and a Hoffman Screen test. Excited!

Looks like the 5th of next year will be the one to watch out for! Save up you money now guys!

It's raining...and I hear Gene.

It's raining quite hard tonight and I think I can already hear Gene in the street singing and dancing to the title tune of "Singin' in the Rain". Corny right? Mush...

Anyways, the rain doesn't really bother me. Let's just hope it lasts till tomorrow, hard neough for school to get canceled. Just blogging since I finished all my damn homework and I'm still praying that there's no classes for us highschoolers tomorrow. Lucky middle and lower school! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

"Singin' in the rain,
Just singin' in the rain,
What a wonderful feelin'
I'm happy again!
As I walk down the lane,
With a happy refrain,
I'm singin' and dancin' in the rain."

No wonder why the rain made Gene so happy. Hopefully no classes!

Oh Rhett Butler!

Ever wonder what really happened in that stubborn head of Rhett Butler when his life revolved around the notorious Scarlet O'Hara?

Well, finally we have a chance. While in a very boring math class, my friend Melissa handed me TIME magazine and there inside was a beautiful two page article about a new book, "Gone with the Wind" through Rhett's Eyes, called "Rhett Butler's People" by a Southern male writer named Donald McCaig.

This is surely to be interesting and entertaining. This is in the top of my Book Buying List. Despite whatever price. I wonder what Rhett thinks of his "Scarlet, dear". I'm sure McCraig does his best and makes a wonderful new narrative that I'm sure a bunch of "Gone with the Wind" die-hard fans (like myself) will read and never put down. I'm excited!!!

For now, here's the artwork:

"That's How You Know" They Loved it: People get an Enchanting Weekend

Disney and Kevin Lima's highly praised modern-day princess movie "Enchanted", hits the American Box Office as number 1 with a total gross of a solid $50 million! This will surely help Amy Adams (and let's not forget the film's) Oscar chances. This will truly improve their chances. It'll actually be a crime if Amy Adams and at least on of the glorious songs don't get nominated. I'm rooting for them!

Thoughts on the Oscar Race so far...

Well, this year is pretty weak so far. I'm not sure I'm enjoying it as much as I liked last year. Last year was so packed and interesting and hard to decide on. This one looks like there's gonna be a lot of filler nominations. Anyways, here are my thoughts on the race so far:

-Atonement will NOT win Best Picture, but its very unclear to state the front runner now.

-Sweeney Todd is being over hyped. Most probably this years Dreamgirls.

-Hairspray will get a lot of nominations.

-John Travolta will get nominated for his turn as Edna Turnblad.

-Amy Adams will get nominated for Enchanted.

-Juno won't be as big as everyone says it'll be.

-Angelina will not get nominated for A Mighty Heart.

-Gone Baby Gone will be forgotten for a Best Picture nod, unless it starts campaigning more...now.

-"That's How You Know" will get nominated for Best Song.

-Jon Stuart will be a bad host.

-The Assignation of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford will be big.

-Cate Blancett will win something this year.

-In the Valley of Elliah will make a surprise attack.

-300 is too big to ignore.

-American Gangster will not win Best Picture.

-Kiera won't get nominated.

-Atonement will win Best Adapted Screenplay.

-Knocked Up will be shut out like some really good recent comedies like Mean Girls and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

My Home-Made FYC Adds (Denzel, Amy, John, Michelle).

Their not so good. But I'm compaining for them anyways:

It's Turkey Lurkey time!

HAPPY THANKSGIVIING TO ALL THE PEOPLEWHO CELEBRATE IT!

Now for a little song from the teen movie musical "Camp" (2003):

"Turkey Lurkey Time"

It's turkey lurkey time

Tom turkey ran away, but he just came home

It's turkey lurkey time

He's really home to stay, never one to roam

Let's make a wish, and may all our wishes come true.......

A snowy, blowy christmas, a mistletoey christmas

A turkey lurkey christmas to you...

A turkey lurkey christmas to you

It's loosey goosey time

She was a gadabout, but she's back again

It's loosey goosey time

Her time is running out, and we all know when

Let's make a wish, and may all our wishes come true....

A snowy, blowy christmas, a mistletoey christmas

A loosey goosey christmas to you...

A loosey goosey christmas to you

Turkey lurkey, loosey goosey

Some for uncle joe, some for cousin lucy

Everybody gather round the table

Dig in, dinner is being served

Eat all the turkey you are able

Can't you see a partridge in a pear tree?

Climb up and bring it down for me

That's something i would like to see

A snowy, blowy christmas, a mistletoey christmas

A turkey lurkey christmas to you......

Jingle bells, jingle bells x 15

LYRICS FROM: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/camp/turkeylurkeytime.htm

I can't believe I forgot my ex-girlfriend in my "Film Bitches" list...Here's a tribute, baby.

Forgetting her is such a crime. Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in 1992's "Batman Returns" is like the 2nd Ultimate Screen Bitch. I can't believe I forgot her. This knocks Kirsten out of the list.

Oh, Michelle. Your so glorious and sexy!

Catwoman is probably my favorite character in the Batman movies. She's slick and sexy and evil and bitchy. She rocks.

Halle Berry sucked in the newer version. I blocked out the memory of watching that horrible film and performance. I don't even remember if I pucked in my mouth or not. Probably did.

Anyways, I will always stay faithful to this biyatch. She is one hot chick who likes eating...well...CHICKS. hahahahahhahahaahha....

Her beautiful line in the film, something I'll always keep in mind:

"Life's a bitch, and so am I!"

Waiting for my "The Great Gatsby" DVD to arive.

*sigh*

Been waiting so long......hope the movie is as good as the book. I also hope that the DVD will arive tommorow or in the upcoming days.

:-O

Movie Review: Enchanted (2007, Kevin Lima)

* * * * *

Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Susan Sarandon, Timothy Spall, Idina Mendel, Rachel Covey
Screenplay: Bill Kelly
107 minutes / Color

When it comes to “Enchanted”, I must say that it is the most joyful, un-expecting, underrated achievement of the year. Actually, the best of the year really; it’s gonna take a lot of balls to say this but YES its better then “Hairspray” and “American Gangster”, which is the two other best films I’ve seen in this rather week year. And wow, the character development, hilarious screenplay and great underestimated direction of Kevin Lima. Did I forget to say the songs?

“Enchanted” is the story of a 2D storybook princess named Giselle (Amy Adams), living in a hollow tree in a magical land full of singing animals, evil stepmothers and grand weddings. When she soon gets engaged to the handsome Prince Edward (James Marsden), his evil step mother Narissa (Susan Sarandon) fears that if she marries her son, that she’ll loose her beautiful position as Queen. Thinking fast, she gets into the form of an old lady and pushes Giselle in a portal disguised as wishing well.

Giselle soon arrives in a whole new world without “happy endings”, a world were danger is everywhere, a world where there are no castles and definitely no Prince Edwards: New York City. Giselle is swept of her feet in a mean world with harsh realities and is bedazzled and scared of the sights and sounds of the big apple.

After a while of panic, Giselle meets lawyer divorced Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter Morgan (Rachel Covey). When they save her from a near death experience, Giselle moves home with them where she starts working her “happy” magic and turns New York around with her singing in the park, crying for divorcees, talking to animals and experiencing new emotions.

Meanwhile, Edward discovers the portal and is around New York searching for his long lost love with his man servant Nathaniel (Timothy Spall), who is actually working for his evil mother and trying to make the prince avoid her. Slowly, Robert and Giselle start having a connection and start falling in love.

When Edward finally finds Giselle, they decide to leave when the town’s Ball ends that night. Narissa gets so angry that she decides to take matters in her own hands and goes to New York to kill Giselle herself.

She soon arrives at the ball and persuades Giselle to take a bite at an apple (which is obviously poisonous) so that all her memories of New York will be gone. Giselle is so sad that she has to leave Robert and Morgan whom she loves and takes a bite without thinking. Giselle falls cold on her back and dies.

The End.

Just kidding. Robert remembers exactly what Giselle said to him: “A true loves kiss is the strongest thing in the world”. But Edwards kiss wasn’t working and he goes for it himself. And it works! Giselle awakens like it was all a bad dream. But Narissa is still furious and transforms herself into a big dragon and tries to kill all.

With the power of true love, Giselle and Robert and Pip (the talking squirrel), the three beats Queen Narissa and they live happily ever after. If you’re wondering about Prince Edward, he’s okay; he ended up with Robert’s fiancé.

To begin with, I will say it again, but the movie is utterly underrated. It was such a fun picture from beginning to end and it brightened up my boring, dark week. It’s an awesome feel good movie. Seeing 2D animation was gorgeous. The animation was gorgeous. Well, even the live action characters too, anyways. Oh Amy Adams, she’s my new favorite Disney princess.

Amy Adams was adorable. I have to say, if she doesn’t get nominated for this year’s Best Actress Oscar, boycotting the show is very likely for me. Oh she was just so amazing and charming and beautiful Even her cartoon version had a lot of charisma. But don’t be misleading by the trailer. Her acting is not corny at all. She was so genuine and perky and I’m singling her out as the best performance of the year…so far. She was so great. Her singing is well matching with her whole package and she goes in the leagues of some of the greats like Jodie Benson.

Her character development is the best. She starts out as a perky Disney Princess looking for her way home, estranged and frightened of the new world before her. In the end, she’s a grown woman who has experienced the many emotions of anger and sexuality and sadness. It’s really hard to keep a performance like this up. When she was frightened I was frightened, when she was sad I felt sorry for her. She keeps this whole Oscar worthy performance up with a great sense of humor and comic relief. That one scene where she was experiencing anger for the first time was so fine. Her range of acting was so stupendous. Amy Adams should be in more movies and should definitely be considered a very possible win for a Best Actress Oscar this year.

The rest of the cast was funny and amusing. Shan’t forget Prince Edward, played by the hilarious James Marsden. Musicals are really his thing (remember “Hairspray”?). He should never, ever go back to that horrifying franchise called X-Men. Those films show none of his acting range. He could do so much better. He’s such a flamboyant actor and was really funny too.

When it comes to the music part of the story, the musical numbers where are interesting and were all showstoppers. Simply irresistible they were. The opening number “Love’s Fist Kiss” in the cartoon world really takes us back to those times when Disney wasn’t hypnotized by the power of Pixar and CGI. The “Happy Working Song” number was very cute and charming, while “So Close” gave us such a romantic feeling. Songwriters Alan Menken and Stephen Swartz really did a great job. Kudos! The score by Menken was fantastic. The biggest and best musical number was “That’s How You Know”. The mix of new contemporary type music and “princess” type music really appealed to the audience. It was so fascinating; from Amy Adam’s cool voice to the dancers and staging. Ahhh, perfecto.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. Maybe a little too much, but I really enjoyed it. It was a scrumptious treat and deserves all the recognition I give it. Amy Adams is a star. A star which gives a terrific performance that shouldn’t be ignored at all this award season. “Enchanted” is really very much so what the title indicates: Enchanted.

YES! Less then 24 hours....

till I see "Enchanted" !!!! Wohoo. Kinda excited to see what all this Amy Adams buzz is all about...

Happy Birthday to Martin Scorsese, my internet was f'n up when it was his bday so I wasn't around to honor him. aw....

Movie Review: Ordinary People (1980, Robert Redford)

* * * * *

Cast: Donald Sutherland, Mary Taylor Moore, Timothy Hutton, Judd Hirsch
Screenplay: Alvin Sargent (Based on the novel by Judith Guest)
124 minutes / Color

There isn’t a great enough family drama (except for “The Godfather”, which is more categorized as a gangster movie) that can beat “Ordinary People” in my list. Not even “Terms of Endearment” (1983). Very deservingly, “Ordinary People” is provocative, witty, charming, full of heart but also sensational and truthful in the same time. It tells the story of a suburban family who is hiding their terrible emotions of a tragedy that happened years ago, and lives as “ordinary people” living as upper-class citizens.

When Calvin (Donald Sutherland) and Beth (Mary Taylor Moore) Jarrett’s oldest son Buck dies in a boating accident, which their other son Conrad (Timothy Hutton) also experienced, the family goes topsy-turby as Calvin tries to bring back their old, happy lifestyle.

Their son, Conrad, is still traumatized after seeing his brother die in front of his eyes and had sunk into a deep depression and is the so-called “problem” of the family after attempting to commit suicide. His mother, the ambitious, selfish, self-centered Beth and him don’t connect at all and hardly ever speak to each other with relationship of screams and small talk. Calvin tries to understand his son, but the selfishness and the cruelty of the mother, who favorites the diseased Buck, does nothing to help him.

Conrad soon starts seeing Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsh), a not-so-popular but very good physiatrist who opens doors for Conrad and becomes the soul reason why he enters back into the real world. Still, Calvin tries all the possibilities to make his son happy, but the lack of interest of Beth (who would rather go to Europe or play golf in Boston or chit chat on the phone) keep their family torn apart.

However, at the end, Calvin realizes that it isn’t his son who was the problem and causing all their grief. It’s Beth, who had not the will to let go of Bucks death and who has treated everyone with no respect. Calvin tells Beth that he didn’t know if he still loved her and Beth leaves them, leaving her depressed husband and son who might just have a chance to really be ordinary people once more.

When it comes to the film; the sentiment and power is oh-so powerful and outstanding. Robert Redford’s shots and way of story telling was delectable as could be was a good perception of how a whole family is tortured by the doings of one person who blames their grief on another. The cast was really stupendous. Even the simplicity and casualness of Dinah Manoff (who appeared as Marty in “Grease” (1978)) playing a depressed school girl was already brilliant.

The two veterans, Donald Sutherland and Mary Taylor Moore, I could say they were good but were quickly outshined by the stupendous and heartbreaking performance given to us by the young Timothy Hutton. Sutherland had a huge role, but he made is seem smaller. His character is actually the one who freed Conrad into having the chance of a normal life. He was good whatsoever and very heartwarming. The coward-of-a-woman performance portrayed to us by Mary Taylor Moore was very good. She did what she was supposed to do…piss people off. Believe me, I was really, really pissed at her while watching this. Uhh….

The superior however, the star, the spectacle was no other then Conrad: Timothy Hutton. What a performance this was! From the first to the last show, he was very perfect. Perfect every way. I can proudly say though that he did not deserve his win for Best Supporting Actor…well, because he should have won for Best Lead Actor instead! What a shameful category fraud I thought the whole time. Timothy Hutton showed so much depth and did such a great job. He was the center of attention the whole time.

The film’s screenplay is glorious no doubt. It’s interesting to see a film with so much effort in the writing and direction and acting and not worry about how the actor’s looked. They actor’s looked as they should be: depressed. Human nature pieces are usually fine but this is a human nature film that is definitely worth a lot of viewings. The interactions, the behavior, the characterizations were so perfect and deeply moving. It was fantastic and very little flaws could be found in this marvelous motion picture.

“Ordinary People” is no ordinary movie. It is one that goes far and wide and tells us that depression could be misunderstood. It is one of the most interesting films of the 1980’s that I’ve viewed and I have nothing more say except that the movie is sheer amazement.

Movie Review: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, Robert Mulligan)

* * * * *

Cast: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, Rosemary Murphy, Estelle Evans, Brock Peters, Collin Wilcox Paxton, Alice Ghostley, Crahan Denton, John Megna, Robert Duvall
Screenplay: Horton Foote (Based on the novel by Harper Lee)
129 minutes / Black-and-White

Reading the book, the first thing I really have to point out is that the movie is actually as brilliant as the novel and I cannot believe that all my years of watching movies, I always ignored seeing this film. I don’t know why, but I just did. And that was a very stupid thing to do. The movie shows the whole story of Scout, Jem, Boo Radley and Atticus’ Tom Robinson’s trial in a whole new different (but rather amazing) light. I enjoyed the film a great deal and thought that everything from the acting and direction and superb musical score was masterful.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by Harper Lee, the movie is set in Maycomb Alabama in the 1930s when racial discrimination was still very much so being done (like its not being done these days, doi)! It tells the story of a young tomboy named Scout Finch (Mary Badham) and her brother Jem (Phillip Alford), who experience a lot of changes in their lives when their father Atticus (Gregory Peck) takes the job of defending an African-American named Tom Robinson (Brock Peters) who is being blamed for the rape of the white-trash white woman Mayella Ewell (Collin Wilcox Paxton). As the trial builds up, the story continues as the kids and their summer friend Dill Harris (John Megna) get interested in the infamous Boo Radley (Robert Duvall), who lives just next door to them.

As the kids remain interested in the man who won’t come out of his house, they also experience a lot of torment when the townspeople start talking behind their backs and the respect of the townsfolk start disappearing for their father and their family. But that begins not mattering for them when the kids realize that their father was doing the right thing, and Atticus starts gaining the respected that he also wanted from them.

During the trial, Atticus gives his best shot (which is embarrassing his own kind, the “whites folk”, saying that they are liars and utterly wrong about everything) to save the innocent Tom from being condemned. But the all-white jury and the words of one dishonest father and daughter makes Atticus’ attempt fail. That night, in the works of trying to get another trial, Tom tries to escape his prison and is shot and dies.

Huge affects of Robinson’ Trial still comes to haunt the family when Mayella’s father attempts to kill Jem and Scout on their way home from a Halloween Pageant. As lucky as they are, the kids are saved by a mysterious figure that kills Ewell in defense and gets the kids safely home to their father. This man was no other then Boo Radley, who all these months were being overlooked by the kids as someone bad.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” I think really shows us another theme, apart from the most common one which is “racism”, and that theme is to never judge and book by its cover. Well at least the movie does. In my opinion, it still connects with racism anyway, it tells us that African-American’s weren’t always guilty in those times, or that mysterious people aren’t always bad seeds. Things like that. “To Kill a Mockingbird” shows us a lot of simple themes that have a lot of meaning and depth it. Oh yeah, I cannot forgot that other theme that my great English teacher said “suffering innocence”.

To get to the movie part of the review; clearly, this movie is an absolute winner. It’s actually a mighty gem of a picture. When it comes to comparison of the book, they cut out many scenes that didn’t matter anyways. The line “the book is better then the movie” is completely overrated. When is comes to “Mockingbird”, it really is just as brilliant. There is no better way to have shown Harper Lee’s immortal novel.

Gregory Peck is a master. All is said. He brings Atticus in a whole direction. Shows us that Atticus is more then a man defending a case, but a man with sensitive feelings and thoughts, which was lacked in the novel. Peck’s acting style was unconventional for a Best Actor winner, but he really deserves it. He created us a hard bound Atticus, and brings the character to life in top form and lovely manner. Watching the film, you’d actually think it was made of Gregory Peck.

The kids cast on the other hand, was also very superb. Good acting. Off course, the most common choice (and believe me she deserves all her praise) is Mary Badham. A child actress who certainly puts Linda Blair and Abigail Breslin in the trash can. Her Scout is delicate and in a way, more ladylike. I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be good or bad, but it surely worked.

My favorite seen would definitely have to be the Tom Robinson’s trail case. It was magnificent. The direction and the acting are so complemented in that scene, and even the silence and soft gasps of the actor’s made the scene perfect in every sense. Gregory Peck shined, and even the few-minute performance of, who played Mayella, was also one that was very provocative and interesting to watch.

In a way, I’m kinda glad that the movie didn’t revolve itself around Scout like it did in the book. It showed us what a kid saw, but still shows us that the other characters were special in their own way. The few changes (few but very big in change), was done for the better. The direction of Robert Mulligan was stupendous and the musical score was a delight to listen to and played a huge role in complementing the scenes of terror and mystery.

To wrap it up, “To Kill a Mockingbird” was not at all a waste of time. It usually takes a film 2 times for me to decide if it really is that great, but it only took me one time to sum up that “Mockingbird” and everything in it was a masterpiece. Surprising huh? It’s already #8 of all time (who knows, it could change though).

In My Opinion...The Best and Bitchiest Screen Bitches!

In movies, film bitches are usually my favorite characters, but the question remains: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the bitchiest one of all?

1. Vivien Leigh as Scarlet O'Hara in "GONE WITH THE WIND" (1939)
Why she's a bitch: To sum it up; she has a lot of scandals, she's a flirt, she never loved any of her husbands, she marries of out of spite, she marries twice for money, she hates the only good person to her, she kills one person, she attacks 5 people, she lies, she cheats and she buys the most expensive things to make people jealous. Oh let's not forget the beautiful eyebrow expression she does whenever she doesn't like something!

2. Angelina Jolie as Lisa Rowe in "GIRL, INTERRUPTED" (1999)

Why she's a bitch: I'm not sure what her sickness in the hospital was. Was it bitchism? Anyways, she told someone something so bad that they ended up killing themselves. She also steal drugs and escapes from the hospital any time she wants. Being crazy is not an excuse.

3. Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinsons in "THE GRADUATE" (1967)
Why she's a bitch: Well she only seduced a very gullible and young collage graduate, who finds real love with her daughter and is selfishly brought down by this sizzling mother that won't let anyone have him. And damn, the way she made her daughter find out. Mean...

4. Jean Hagen as Lena Lamont in "SINGIN' IN THE RAIN" (1952)
Why she's a bitch: She's loud mouthed and mean. She can't let go when she learns people don't love her. She's self absorb and just because she has a horrible voice, she warns that studio that she'll sue them if they don't let a young, poor girl (Debbie Reynolds) not be her voice in her upcoming film "The Duelling Cavalier".

5. Meryl Streep as Miranda Preisley in "THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA" (2006)
Why she's a bitch: Impossible demands (get the unpublished Harry Potter book, Starbucks at a certain hour, contact un-contactable people), cruel comments, bad looks and trickery. But damn! Look at that fashion sense...

6. Mary Taylor Moore as Beth in "ORDINARY PEOPLE" (1980)
Why she's a bitch: She gets in the way of her husband and son's happiness and puts her "I-wanna-go-to-England", "I-wanna-go-golfing-in-Boston", "I-wanna-chit-chat" needs before her families depression.

7. Francis Fisher as Ruth Dewitt Bukate in "TITANIC" (1997)
Why she's a bitch: She's so f'n cruel to poor people and to her daughter. It's not their fault their poor ya know. And about your daughter, don't force her into any damn marriage because it benefits your bank account, Ruth!

8. Linda Blair as Regan in "THE EXORCIST" (1973)

Why she's a bitch: Maybe she has an excuse, being possessed and all, but still: masturbating with a crucifix, tormenting priests and putting her mother's face on her bloody vagina is really bitchy. The devil in their is a real asshole...

9. Judi Dench as Barbra in "NOTES ON A SCANDAL" (2006)
Why she's a bitch: When she learns that a co-teacher she loves (and the teacher is another girl) is having an affair with a students, she exposes her, blackmails her and uses everything she can to have any type of "sexual contact" (heck, any type of contact) with her.

10. Kirsten Dunst as Claudia in "INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE" (1994)
Why she's a bitch: In a team of three. She's the meanest and bitchiest vampire around. Her instincts are hella scary too. That doesn't stop the fact that she's the only female AND the only LITTLE GIRL. wow.

Musicals in this years Oscars.

Musicals this decade has had its fair share of Oscar flops, hopefuls and hits. In 2000, Bjork's original song from the musical "Dancer in the Dark" called "I've Seen it All" managed to get a nomination (though not a win). In 2001, musicals was Oscar born again when Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge!" was released. It managed to get a Best Picture nomination and 6 more. And in my opinion, it should have won all of what it was nominated for. 2002 was an amazing year for screen musicals, when "Chicago" took home the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Catharine Zeta-Jones) amongst others. Everyone thought musicals was back in action, but when huge Oscar hopeful "The Phantom of the Opera" (2004) only managed to get technical nominations, and "Rent" (2005) and "The Producers" (2005) got nothing at all, Producers (real ones) kinda backed out of musical projects, afraid they were to become "expensive flops". So in 2006, only one musical was released..."Dreamgirls". When a preview of "Dreamgirls" went out, it instantly became a "lock" for a Best Picture WIN, online and got nominated for almost every major Best Picture award. But when the Academy got their hands on the movie, they gave the film a total of 8 nominations...but NO BEST PICTURE, BEST DIRECTOR and BEST SCREENPLAY. "Dreamgirls" was considered as a sad "truth" in this Oscars. This year, however, we have 4 screen musicals and 1 TV musical, and all 4 of the movies were (or still is) a Oscar hopeful/contender. Since our TV musical (which is kinda annoying), "High School Musical 2" is definitely not running for any Oscars (well, duh, its a TV movie) this year, Zac still has a good year though with all the buzz around "Hairspray" and because of his hit "HSM2". Let's break down each and every movie musical this year and look at their chances at Oscar gold:

Across the Universe

When people heard that popular female director Julie Taymor was creating an original musical using Beatles songs, the Academy wasn't as excited as the Beatles fanboys out there (which includes me). Throughout production, a lot of controversies were heard, including a certain "editing" scandal. Controversies were the best things to catch Oscars attention (remember "Brokeaback Mountain" (2005)?) After those died out, no real buzz ever surrounded the movie until Roger Ebert gave the film a 4 star rave. Right after that, the film received nothing more from critics then mix reviews and a few "good but not great" reviews (despite the fact that right now, it scores higher on IMDb then the Best Picture nominated musical "Moulin Rouge!" (2001)). Right now, the best thing for "Across the Universe" to make a hella good campaign and hopefully score a few critics awards and Golden Globe wins. At thing moment, I'm even worried about this film not getting any technical awards. Sigh...

Enchanted

In a week year for Best Actress, Disney has done a pretty good job by choosing recent "Junebug" (2005) Oscar nominee Amy Adams. The movie looks hilarious and I have a good feeling about this movie. If I enjoy the film, I will support Adams (I know she's gonna get a lot of bashing for this movie) for this. I want a change in the race (that's another advantage for her actually). Apart from that, the film doesn't have any real major (like Picture and Screenplay) and tech buzz, but as for Adams...she's still going strong. Let's just wait and see if she can go all Julie Andrews on us...

Hairspray

When "Hairspray" was released this summer it was a huge hit...just wait till the DVD sales! When a lot of Oscar contenders failed to make it this season, "Hairspray", I think has a very big chance. Yes, the film is wacky and bright; something the Academy doesn't usually take...but for some reason I have a big and good feeling about this movie. It's already a lock for the Golden Globe I think. "Hairspray" also won some critics awards already. It took home Best Production, Best Supporting Actor (John Travolta) and Best Ensemble Cast in the Hollywood Film Festival. It's biggest chance in Oscar is Best Picture, Best Supporting (I actually think he's gonna get nominated for this "change in character" performance) and a lot of technical awards. I'm just glad that there wasn't huge hype around this movie before it was released, now its deserving the buzz its receiving. Let's hope "Hairspray" will pull of "big" one on us.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber from Fleet Street

When it comes to the last musical on the list (and the last one to be released), "Sweeney Todd" is creating a lot of commotion in the online Oscar world. People think its gonna get noms (and maybe even a win) in most categories. I dunno about this though, I'm not making any "big" moves like some bloggers and predictors are because this might be this year's "Dreamgirls" (2006). But I do have some hopes for this movie though. Because I do think Depp, Carter and Burton is due for their very own Golden man. BELIEVE ME THOUGH, I AM NOT A FANBOY. I just can't put this as a lock for a nomination though. I do believe its being overhyped though. It's kinda mean to say, but I think I'm gonna laugh if this doesn't make it.

Still waiting to see ACROSS THE UNIVERSE!!!

It's been nearly a year since I've been waiting to see this damn movie. Right now, all I've got is the Deluxe Soundtrack, a online poster and the trailers on youtube.com.

I'm still really desperate to see this film. The songs are stuck in my mind. I just need to wait a little more. The question is...will I still be alive by the time it comes to me? haha...

Duh!

*sigh*

"It won't be long..."

The eyebrows are beautiful!

Let's all PRAISE it.....

Here in this very beautiful scene, Scarlett, is about to take a "drink" but is detained by her very drunk husband, Rhett Butler. There, Rhett confronts her about her recent scandal with the elegant Ashley Wilkes and how his wife Melanie, covered up for her.

But the basic point of this post, is her beautiful eyebrows. We all agree that Leigh's eyebrows are very scheming but beautiful. And its very expressive and plays a big role in Leigh's acting, and how Scarlet O'Hara is presented. They make a really brilliant pefrormance!

LET'S PRAISE THE EYEBROWS!!!!

Happy Birthday LEO DICAPRIO!

HAPPY 33rd BIRTHDAY, LEO!
Your still my second favorite actor!

Top 5 Performances:

1. The living-in-fear undercover cop BILLY COSTIGAN in "The Departed" (2006)
***

2. The Hollywood aviation fanatic HOWARD HUGHES in "The Aviator" (2004)
***

3. The metally impaired ARNIE GRAPE in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993)
***

4. The witty con-artist FRANK ABAGNALE JR. in "Catch Me if You Can" (2002)
***

5. The passionate, love sick fool ROMEO in "Romeo + Juliet" (1996)
***

Going up to the country for a couple of days...

...and I'm really, really excited to see GONE WITH THE WIND in the car and then again there. Woooohoooo!

...writting a really long "In My Opinion..." post. Will post it as soon as I finish. See you guys...

*wink*

In My Opinion...The 5 Best Movie Musicals Made

For some reason, I just felt that I had to write this article...Let's see, the first musical ever made (heck, its the first "talkie" ever made) was "The Jazz Singer" (1927) starring Al Jolson. There, a new genre was born. One were people can sing and dance to a ton of jolly (or sad songs) to support the narrative of the film. These movies played a huge role in cinema and the box office, but only 9 ("The Broadway Melody" (1929), "The Great Ziegfield" (1936), "An American in Paris" (1951), "Gigi" (1958), "West Side Story" (1961), "My Fair Lady" (1964), The Sound of Music (1965), "Oliver!" (1968) and "Chicago" (2002)) went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Despite the many more, deserving nominees and contenders. These (in my opinion), are the 5 Best of ALLLLLL Film Musicals.

The Wizard of Oz (1939, Victor Flemming)

"There's a land that I dream of once in a lullaby."

Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Burt Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke and Terry the Dog

Screenplay: Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf (Based on the novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum)

Songs: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Munchkin Medley," "Follow the Yellow Brick Road," "If I Only Had a Brain," "We're Off to See the Wizard," "If I Only Had a Heart," "We're Off to See the Wizard (Reprise)," "If I Only Had the Nerve/We're Off to See the Wizard," "The Merry Old Land of Oz," and "If I Were the King of the Forest".

---"The Wizard of Oz", is the Best Film Musical of all time. It's cute, iconic, popular and above all of that; it really is beautiful! It's deliciously childish songs, colorful cinematography, sets, costumes and very cool makeup were the perfect "magical" mixture to take one on a complete, heavenly dream that will sadly only last for less then what they want it to be.

---This the story of a young girl named Dorothy (Judy Garland), who, in an attempt to run away from home, gets stuck between a tornado and gets transported to the color land of Oz. There she meets magical people, talking trees, good pals and the evil Wicked Witch of the West (played absolutely marvelously by Margaret Hamilton). On her journey to see "The Wizard" (who is said by Glinda the Good Witch of the North, the only person who can send her home to Kansas), she meets The Brainless Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), The Heartless Tin Man (Jack Hailey) and The Cowardly Lion (Burt Lahr) and invites them to go with her to Emerald City, hoping that the Wizard will give them what they lack too. When the meet the Wizard (Frank Morgan), he gives them a task to do before he grants their wishes: The kill the Wicked Witch of the West, who's been on their trail because of the magical Ruby slippers Dorothy is wearing. The 4 work together and do their task beautifully (but accidentally)...When they go back to the prestigious Wizard, they learn that he was a complete phony, but he teaches them that after the courageous act that they've done, they've had the things they wanted all along, except Dorothy...who still wasn't home. The Wizard then explains that he was a Kansas man himself and that he was accidentally sent to Oz too. He tells Dorothy that he knows how to get her home. All things were suppose to end well, but their mode of transport (an old air balloon), accidentally leaves Dorothy and she thinks she's stuck in the mystical land forever. But Glinda (Billie Burke), comes to her rescue, she shows Dorothy that she had the power to take herself home ever since the start of her journey, but she needed to learn something..."There's no place like home." When Dorothy "takes" herself home, she realizes that the whole thing was just a dream, and keeps the lesson of the past "days" in her mind...because there really is no place like home.

---The film really teaches a great universal lesson. But apart from that, the film is utterly brilliant. It takes people to a land where one can be young at heart, and older audiences usually enjoy that. "The Wizard of Oz" is every body's childhood dream and images of this iconic picture will be in every one's minds forever. Lets not forget though those beautiful songs written by E.Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen. "Over the Rainbow" is clearly one of the most popular and greatest songs ever written for the silver screen and for the music world. Judy Garland's original rendition is the best of them all. Timeless and sweet, I'd like to say. The ensemble was delectable and was fascinating.

---The only bad thing going for this film is that it was released in the same year as "Gone with the Wind" (1939), so I smell trouble. Obviously (including myself), everyone favored "Gone" more, but "Wizard" still stays timeless, fresh and alive as ever. Catch it on DVD guys, its highly recommenced for those who love mystical magical films, musicals, children movies or film classics. I assure you, its probably better then everything you've seen (except if you've seen "Gone with the Wind"). This film is my #2 of all time. A MASTERPIECE (X10)!

*****

Singin' in the Rain (1952, Gene Kelly and Stanely Donan)

"I walk down the lane, with a happy refrain, just singin' and dancin' in the rain!"

Cast: Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, Cyd Charisse, Rita Moreno and Douglas Fowley

Screenplay: Adolph Green and Betty Comden

Songs: "Singin' in the Rain (credits)," "Fit a Fiddle," "All I Do is Dream of You," "Make 'Em Laugh," "I Got a Feeling Your Foolin'/Wedding of the Painted Doll/Should I?," "Beautiful Girl," "You Were Meant for Me," "Moses Suposes," "Good Morning," "Singin' in the Rain," "Would You?" "The Broadway Ballet," "Would You? (Reprise)," "Singin' in the Rain (Reprise)" and "You Are My Lucky Star".

---As much as I wanna award this the #1 spot in the list, it's just a sad truth that "Singin' in the Rain" is just a second behind "The Wizard of Oz" (and if you look at my Top 20 of All Time list at the bottom, you'll see why). I just gotta say, that this film really made me laugh. It was the funniest movie musical I've ever seen and story lines can't get more original then this. Apart from loving the musical numbers and plot a lot (kudos to Gene Kelly for his superior title tune number in the middle of the movie), but the best performance here was Jean Hagen. She didn't sing, and she didn't play a huge role in musical standards, but she was hilarious and is my Best Supporting Actress of ALL time (her loosing the Oscar is one of the biggest crimes I've seen). Anyways, here's the storyline:

---Set in 1927 Hollywood; the film introduces us to Hollywood's biggest silent screen stars Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen). Though they've made numerous films together, that were all hits, the studios built up a fixed romance between the box office champs. But in reality, Don hates Lina's selfish guts and "squeaky" voice. Lina isn't allowed to talk in public. According to the studious, "she has a beautiful face and the crowds think she has a voice to match it." So Don does all the talking. But when the world gets introduced to "The Jazz Singer", every studio coverts their equipment to sound equipment, for its the type of movie making. Obviously, Monumental Pictures, would like their biggest stars to be converted to talkies too. But they have two huge problem...Lina's annoying, squeaky voice and her inability to act. Don soon meets Kathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds), a rising theatrical actress who supposedly has NO interest in film stars and their "gallivanting". Don quickly falls for her however, even though Lina hates her guts for accidentally throwing pie at her face in a party. When Don's first sound movie with Lina ("The Duelling Caviler") gets a preview screening in a local LA theater, the movie gets the worst reviews in the whole Tinseltown. Don then puts his foot forward, and with the help of Kathy's beautiful voice and his music coordinator friend Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor), the three trim the bad scenes of the movie, converts the film into a musical, dubs over Lina's voice and renames it "The Dancing Caviler", in hopes of saving the film! But Lina has a trick of her own, she plans to keep Kathy there working for her with a permanent contract. But during an attempt to "sing" in front of the audience who demanded an encore of a song she sand in the movie, Don and Cosmo open the curtains of the theater where the hit "Dancing Caviler" was just shown, to show that Kathy was singing for Lina all along. All ends well with Don and Kathy standing in the front of the billboard of their new movie "Signin' in the Rain".
---The truth is, the plot is kinda hard to summarize. But watching this is truly worth it guys. Its bubbly, enthusiastic, light, funny and stunning. The ending was simply but elegant and Gene Kelly is the king of movie musicals. Donan and Kelly's direction is a great spectacle; capturing every hip, foot and bounce in the tremendous dance-and-singing sequences Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown's score has cooked up for us. Green and Comden's screenplay is flawless. It has tons of comic moments, while keeping a "beautiful" film status. The dance movies were just gorgeous. You won't see people dance like this anymore. They were so light-hearted and all the numbers looked so easy for them.

---Cast wise; kudos to Gene Kelly, Jean Hagen and the very funny (and very acrobatic) Donald O'Connor. Who here, makes the best performances of their film careers. This is hands-down, Gene Kelly's most glorious and best film. Even better then his Best Picture winning "An American in Paris" (1951). The cameo of Cyd Charisse is very sexy but elegant (and ohhhh yes, she still has the best legs I've seen in any movie).

---To sum the whole thing up, "Singin' in the Rain" is just a whole lot of hella good fun. It's a lovely account of 1920's movie life, and puts humor in that time Hollywood hates the most: The Silent Era. "Singin' in the Rain" is a musical masterwork.

*****

Moulin Rouge! (2001, Baz Luhrmann)

"Suddenly the world doesn't seem like a waste, it all revoles around you..."

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent, John Leguzamo, Richard Roxburgh, Caroline O'Connor

Screenplay: Baz Lurhmann and Craig Pearce

Songs: "Nature Boy," "The Sound of Music/Children of the Revolution," "Ziddler's Rap," "Sparkling Diamonds Medley," "Your Song," "The Pitch," "One Day I'll Fly Away," "Elephant Love Medley," "Like a Virgin", "Come What May," "El Tango De Roxanne," "Fool to Believe," "The Show Must Go On," "Hindi Sad Diamonds," and "Come What May Finale".

---I think is really one of the most dark, sizzling, extravagant and sexy musicals ever. I can't believe how sexy and vivid the film was about its topic without having to show "nudity" (which so many films nowadays show). It cleary deserved the Best Picture prize over the winner, Ron Howard's drama "A Beautiful Mind", and performances are completely ignored and underrated

---Suppported by lavish sets, costumes amazing acting and the unique direction of Luhrmann; the movie takes us into the world of the sexy French nighclub "Moulin Rouge!". Near there, an English writer Christian (Ewan McGregor), moves from his country to be a Bohemian writer. There, he meets a new group of Bohemian friends, who convince him to write a play for the "Moulin Rouge!". He suddenly falls for the nightclub's most sizzling, most beautiful and most WANTED courtesan, the intriguing Satine (Nicole Kidman). Satine also falls for Christian, but the lovers face two problems that make their relationship "forbidden". Satine's medical state (she has TB) and The Duke (Richard Roxburgh), who pratically owns Satine, after investing into the night club and having a very fascinating deal with the owner, Harold Zelder (Jim Broadbent) that "binds" her to him. The two lowers then have their relationship behind-the-scenes of the show (which Christian wrote) that the Duke is producing for the infamous nightclub. The movie ends with a disapoiingting touch, as Satine dies in Christian's arms, after the hit show and after fighting the rich and powerful Duke for her.

---The popularity of the film has gone far, and not only does young and old girls praise this film, but also boys of all ages! This is the musical for people who do not like musicals! And did I forget to mention that the musical numbers were strong then ever (even though they were just adapted from other artists)? The covers were fanastic. Every song was specially touched and entertaining. From the slow-emotional "One Day I'll Fly Away" to the fast-pased "The Pitch", all the songs were heavely and my eyes stayed open the whole time. The original "Come What May" duet (sung by Kidman and McGregor) was the best in the picture, and the Best Original song snub is a disgrace!

---Kidman and McGregor were absolutely fantastic and emodied their characters to the highest degree. Ewan was emotional, flattering and just plain out amazing. But out of all the roles she's done, this is not only Nicole's most iconic, but her best (even over then uhhh "The Hours" ugh). She was definetely sexy, and my 2001 days were really devoted to her: I was in love. ha.

To support the whole film, was the brillaint arts and technical stuff. The screenplay was funny and hardly flawed. The direction was unqiue and delighting; best of the century. The art direction and costumes were just so lavish and beautiful! It was one of the most memorble things in the movie. And I shant forgert the great/fast film editing and the destinct loud (and fast forwarded) sound.

---From all the movie musicals in this tom 5, "Moulin Rouge" is the most extravagant and probably has the most outstanding production value. The performances, direction, screenplay, SONGS, and everything about the film made me do the one thing the film wanted everyone to do: LOVE.

*****

The Sound of Music (1965, Robert Wise)
"The hills are alive with the sound of music. With songs we have sung for a thousand years."
Cast: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Peggy Wood, Ellanor Parker, Charmian Carr, Richard Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, Kym Karath

Screenplay: Ernest Lehman (Based on the Broadway play by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse)

Songs: "The Sound of Music," "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?," "I Have Confidence," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "The Sound of Music (Reprise)," "The Lonely Goathered," "Edelweiss," "So Long, Farewell," "Climb Every Mountain," "Something Good," "Procreation," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen (Reprsie)," "Do-Re-Mi (Reprise), "Edelweiss (Reprise) and "So Long, Farewell (Reprise).

The only Best Picture here on my list, "The Sound of Music" does wonders for "children's songs" everywhere. In one movie we have "Do-Re-Mi," "My Favorite Things" and "The Lonely Goathered". How iconic can one film get?

---Set during the Golden Days, before the 2nd world war: Maria (Julie Andrews), is a nun trying so hard to fit in the convent. But in a recent attempt that failed, because she forgot about a mass when she was singing in the mountains; the Mother Superior (Peggy Wood), sends her off to be a governess to the 7 children of Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). First, her relationship with the children is as terrible as could be, for the kids always tortured their governesses (the last one only stayed 4 hours). But what starts off as a conflict, ends up as a understanding with the children and their mother-less hearts. Maria then starts waking the house up again: with fun, laughter and music. Things that the Captain forgot about when his dear wife died years ago. She finally realizes that her job there wasn't to take care of the children, but to prepare them for a new mother. When they all meet The Baroness (Ellanor Parker), the Captain's fiancee from Vienna, the household goes mad for no one really likes her except for the Captain's mind. Soon, Maria and the Captain start understanding each other more, and their boss-employee relationship turns into love, and the Baroness leaves knowing she can't love a man who doesn't love her. Maria learns that she was the mother she was preparing the kids to have afterall. When the Nazis suddenly call for the Captain to serve the, after their honeymoon, the family decides that they won't be split up again. They flee their home and goes over the mountains, safely to Switzerland.

---"The Sound of Music" is full of movie magic and great acting and performances. One of the first films where all the child actors (ALL), didn't piss me off. Julie Andrew's reprise as a governess (like her Oscar winning perfomrance in "Mary Poppins" a year before), was very charming and witty and energetic. One uderrated performance however was of Elanor Parker, who was sheer elegance and brilliant. She is completely overlooked.

---The songs are the biggest thing in the film however. They are so iconic and cute and in the same time, beautiful. My favorite song just has to be "Do-Re-Mi". The way it was stagged and sung was actually really, really fanatstic. The diffrent scenes and bright cinematography added to the film's magic and was a huge showstopper. The other numbers, are presented very simply. This film includes some of the most simplest stagging of musical numbers in a musical movies. But the thing is, all the simplicity works! SURPRISINGLY!

---As much the film is in "kiddieness", I just gotta say that "The Sound of Music" is really, really un-hateable. It's really so full of essence and life and magic that its one of the most difficult of all film classics to ignore. It's a true cinmatic gem (even though we do know that the ending was kinda stagged).

*****

Grease (1978, Randall Klieser)

"Grease is the time, its the place, its the motion; Grease is the way we are feeling."

Cast: John Travolta, Olive Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conway, Didi Conn, Sid Ceaser, Eva Arden, Frankie Avalon, Barry Pearl, Michael Tucci, Kelly Ward, Jaime Donnelly and Dinah Manoff

Screenplay: Allan Carr and Bronte Woodard (Based on the musica by Jim Jacobs and Waren Casey)

Songs: "Grease is the Word," "Summer Nights," "Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee," "Hopelessley Devoted to You," "Grease'd Lightnin'," "Beautify School Drop Out," "Hound Dog," "Rock 'n' Roll is Here to Stay," "Those Magic Changes," "Tears on My Pillow," "Hand Jive," "Blue Moon," "Sandy," "There Are Worse Things I Can Do," "Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)," "You're the One That I Want," and "We Go Together".

---"Grease is most definetly the word...". "Grease" has a huge cult build up, and I'm not really ashamed to say that I'm part of that "Grease" cult...I see the film as almost brilliant, even though there are A LOT of visable flaws. I just really love the story of Danny Zuko and Sandy Olson (and still against that annoying ripoff called "High School Musical (2006)).

---"Grease" is the story of Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and Sandy Olson (Olive Newton-John) who meet on a beach during summer and quickly fall in love. Sandy is Australian and is only in America for vication. In their last few days together, the two have their most memorable and romantic memories ever. When they part, Danny goes back to school as the regulation "cool guy" and becomes the king of the High School scene again. He belongs to The T-Birds, a very exclusive clique, who only dates The Pink Ladies, headed by Rizzo (Stockard Channing). When Sandy's family doesn't get sent back to Australia afterall, she is forced to go to Rydell High, the same school Danny is in. But there, Sandy is nothing but dorky "cheerleader material" who becomes friends with loser Patty Simcox. But the Pink Ladies befriend Sandy, but going out with Danny gets to be a little difficult when all Danny cares about is his "image" and he dooesn't wanna be seen with a dork. For the betterment of their relationship, Sandy makes a sucessful move (kinda stupid if it happend in real life, in my opinion) and trasforms herself as a sexy, cool, smoking chick and the two end up togther.

---It was really wierd a few years I ago. I'm only 15 now, but when I was ages 11 to 13, "Grease" was the first DVD I ever bough for myself. It's kinda stupid to say but I watced the film everyday for 3 years! And I'm not exagerating! It's really true. Ask my siblings. Due to my repetative viewings, I'm sure they've also memorized Sandy and Danny's senior year in Rydell High...including ever lyric!!! I know, its kinda crazy, but that was the past...and I'm still in the cult! Ha.......I still find my "film-style-sift" wierd though because compare my favorite movie ("Gone with the Wind") with my favorite a few years ago.

---*sigh*. The thing is, I still do think "Grease" deserves to be on this list. It really is so a fun movie to watch. It's film classic, bad reviews from the critics maybe; but critics aren't always right. I must say that no matter what, this film (even though it's not a masterpiece), will always hold a place in my heart.

---I'M HOPELESSELY DEVOTED TO IT!