The Oscars finally shake things up!!!

// March 8th, 2010 // No Comments » // Film & Script Reviews

By reinstituting 10 best picture nominees, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences set out to shake up its 82nd annual awards show and, in the process, ended up making history.

Summit’s “The Hurt Locker,” with just $14.7 million in domestic grosses, captured a leading six Oscars on Sunday night and defied the odds to emerge as best picture — defeating five movies that had grossed more than $100 million each domestically, including Fox’s “Avatar,” the top-grossing movie of all time.

In fact, though the 10 nominees brought a number of studio movies to the party, the indies still ruled with Fox Searchlight’s “Crazy Heart” and Lionsgate’s “Precious” also winning key awards.

As part of “Locker’s” triumphant night, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to receive a directing Oscar, which was presented to her by Barbra Streisand, who appeared to savor the envelope-opening since her own efforts to break down barriers for female directors had been ignored by the Academy in an earlier era.

“There is no other way to describe it, it’s the moment of a lifetime,” Bigelow said, drawing a deep breath as she accepted her trophy.

“Locker’s” success was all the more dramatic given that Hollywood’s previous efforts to portray the war in Iraq had drawn mixed critical responses.

Bigelow made a special point of dedicating her directing win to “the women and men in the military who risk their lives on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world. And may they come home safe.”

Eleventh-hour controversies — some real, some manufactured — had surrounded “Locker.” The Academy even took the unprecedented step of banning financier Nicolas Chartier from the awards after he sent out e-mails urging others to ignore “Avatar” and vote “Locker.”

Here are the nominees again in

Best picture
“Avatar”
“The Blind Side”
“District 9″
“An Education”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious”
“A Serious Man”
“Up”
“Up in the Air”

Best actor
Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney, “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth, “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman, “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”

Best actress
Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren, “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan, “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious”
Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”

Best supporting actor
Matt Damon, “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson, “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer, “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci, “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds”

Best supporting actress
Penelope Cruz, “Nine”
Vera Farmiga, “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal, “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique, “Precious”

Best director
James Cameron, “Avatar”
Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”
Lee Daniels, “Precious”
Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air”

Best foreign-language film
“Ajami,” Israel
“El Secreto de Sus Ojos,” Argentina
“The Milk of Sorrow,” Peru
“Un Prophete,” France
“The White Ribbon,” Germany

Best adapted screenplay
Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, “District 9″
Nick Hornby, “An Education”
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, “In the Loop”
Geoffrey Fletcher, “Precious”
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, “Up in the Air”

Best original screenplay
Mark Boal, “The Hurt Locker”
Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”
Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman, “The Messenger”
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, “A Serious Man”
Bob Peterson, Pete Docter and Tom McCarthy, “Up”

Best animated feature film
“Coraline”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“The Princess and the Frog”
“The Secret of Kells”
“Up”

Best art direction
“Avatar”
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”
“Nine” “Sherlock Holmes”
“The Young Victoria”

Best cinematography
“Avatar”
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“The White Ribbon”

Best sound mixing
“Avatar”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Star Trek”
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

Best sound editing
“Avatar”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Star Trek”
“Up”

Best original score
“Avatar,” James Horner
“Fantastic Mr. Fox,” Alexandre Desplat
“The Hurt Locker,” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
“Sherlock Holmes,” Hans Zimmer
“Up,” Michael Giacchino

Best original song
“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog,” Randy Newman
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog,” Randy Newman
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36,” Reinhardt Wagner and Frank Thomas
“Take It All” from “Nine,” Maury Yeston
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart,” Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Best costume design
“Bright Star”
“Coco Before Chanel”
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”
“Nine”
“The Young Victoria”

Best documentary feature
“Burma VJ”
“The Cove”
“Food, Inc.”
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers”
“Which Way Home”

Best documentary short
“China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province”
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner”
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant”
“Music by Prudence”
“Rabbit a la Berlin”

Best film editing
“Avatar”
“District 9″
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious”

Best makeup
“Il Divo”
“Star Trek”
“The Young Victoria”

Best animated short film
“French Roast”
“Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty”
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)”
“Logorama”
“A Matter of Loaf and Death”

Best live-action short film
“The Door”
“Instead of Abracadabra”
“Kavi”
“Miracle Fish”
“The New Tenants”

Best visual effects
“Avatar”
“District 9″
“Star Trek”

Alice in Wonderland star gets ripped a new A$$ by British movie critic.

// March 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // Film & Script Reviews

AUSTRALIAN actress Mia Waiskowska’s portrayal of Alice in Wonderland has been savaged by a British movie critic, who says she “looks like she’s on heroin”.

News of The World critic Robbie Collin gave the Tim Burton blockbuster just one star in his column on Sunday, describing the 3D film as one that should be burned and fired off into space.

On Waiskowska’s performance, Collin wrote that “there’s not been a lead character this paper-flat since the South Park movie”.

“The girl’s got all the warmth of a refrigerated trout, and a face you’d expect to see Blu-Tacked to the inside of a London phone box.

“She’s not a heroine – she looks like she’s ON heroin.”

Waiskowska’s co-stars, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, were also slammed for their roles as the Mad Hatter and Red Queen.

Depp’s Hatter was a “flailing, pointless idiot” and “the worst role he’s played in his life”, according to Collin.

His advice to Bonham Carter was: “put some bloody EFFORT into it woman”, describing her Red Queen as a “seventh-rate impression of Queenie from Blackadder II”.

Collin summed up the film as a “bona fide, bums-in-the-air fiasco that needs to be burned and the ashes hurtled off in the direction of the nearest black hole as soon as you can, NASA”.

“In fact, it’s Lesbian Vampire Killers bad – the kind of film that you don’t just dislike or even hate, but one that your body physically rejects like a dodgy organ transplant.”

Alice in Wonderland had its world premiere in London last Thursday.

Angelina Jolie in talks to bring “Serena: A Novel” to the big screen.

// March 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // Film & Script Reviews

Angelina Jolie and Darren Aronofsky are in discussions to develop a big-screen adaptation of Ron Rash’s 2008 period tome “Serena: A Novel.” The project would be a starring vehicle for Jolie, while Aronofsky would direct.

Chris Kyle, who penned the Kathryn Bigelow movies “The Weight of Water” and “K-19: The Widowmaker,” wrote the screenplay for the project, which is being produced by Nick Wechsler, the man behind recent high-profile adaptation such as “The Road,” “The Time Traveler’s Wife” and “Reservation Road.”

Set in the rugged mountains of 1929 North Carolina, “Serena” follows a man named George Pemberton and his new bride, Serena, as they create a timber empire. Serena not only takes to the woods, but she also pushes her husband to commit more and more ruthless acts. When she learns she cannot bear a child, Serena sets out to murder the son her husband fathered illegitimately.

The package is quietly making the rounds around town in its search for financing. Work on the script is also needed before the duo could move forward.

CAA-repped Aronofsky, who just wrapped “Black Swan” for Fox Searchlight and Phoenix Pictures, is on the hunt for a new project. And he has shown that he is not afraid to go it alone to get a movie made — as he did with “The Wrestler.”

Despite the period setting, “Serena” could be made for a price if made in a similar fashion to the way Paul Thomas Anderson fashioned his early 20th century-set movie “There Will Be Blood.”

Jolie, repped by Media Talent Group, remains one of the few female actresses who can make or break a movie. It was her interest in “Salt” that got Sony to change the sex of its title character to make that pic, which opens July 23.

Jolie recently dropped out of “Wanted 2″ for Universal, which caused reports to surface the project was dead. The sequel is alive, according to Universal insiders.

The actress, who is currently shooting “The Tourist” with Johnny Depp, has nothing lined up as a follow-up, though

Bruce Willis Talks about Die Hard 5 and another Unbreakable movie.

// February 23rd, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Film & Script Reviews

Here is the Clip in which he discusses DIE HARD 5

In this clip he discusses Samuel L. Jackson and talks about another Unbreakable movie.

Little film with big heart: “Falling Awake” goes from the streets of NY to your soul.

// January 25th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Film & Script Reviews

By Denise J. Herrera

Last week I attended the premiere for Falling Awake here in New York City. The film was directed by Agustin, an up and coming director/writer/producer. Not only is he getting ready to take on another film, this cutting edge producer has had the honor of having received four Emmy Awards – two of which were received two consecutive years in a row. As of January 20th 2010 you can catch Falling Awake nationwide and on demand.

The film takes place in the Bronx and revolves around a group of adolescents who alike many inner city teens aspire to get out of the streets. However living in this part of town it’s easier said than done. With situations springing in the streets, and at home all the same it can sometimes cloud a persons train of thought. However, the young guitarist Jay (played by Andrew Cisneros) manages to overcome the occasional drawbacks by focusing on what he loves most, his music. Eventually Jay meets a girl (played by Jenna Dewan) who brings out the best in him. Together the two endure pain that ultimately shape their paths, and most importantly, help Jay put his past behind him.

In Andrew’s autobiography he mentions that if things didn’t pan out with the Falling Awake auditions it would be his last attempt at acting. Instead he would shift his attention entirely to his band, Grass Anatomy in which he is currently working on a new album for. However, it was something about this film that drew the actor in, and he decided to give it one last shot. In his autobiography he mentions, “all of a sudden this role came and I wanted it so bad. I just felt like this kid, related on so many levels.” Aren’t we all glad that Andrew landed the lead? I know I am!

Watching the film I couldn’t help but think of how incredibly talented the actors in this movie were. Each scene effortlessly drew us into the next scenario. Every scene would build you up and leave you anxiously waiting to see what happens next. The characters in this film did an amazing job bringing these roles to life. From Papo’s attacks, to Mafi’s smart remarks, and Jay’s dad yelling at the top of his lungs about household priorities, these actors instinctively drew you closer to them.

I really enjoyed this film because it actually took place in the South Bronx and most importantly have a great cast on board. The actors in this film all come from different spectrums in terms of acting. From poets, so singers, theatre backgrounds, to having had the chance to have landed roles in HBO series, all of these actors reel in their backgrounds to deliver passionate and elaborate acting. Kudos to everyone that helped make this film what it is today and will become even greater as the days progress.

For more info on the cast and production check out www.fallingawakefilm.com.

Falling Awake is available on Video On Demand check your local cable provider.

BEGINNING 1/20/10 THROUGH THESE PROVIDERS:

BRIGHT HOUSE:
MOVIES ON DEMAND – IFC IN THEATERS

CABLEVISION: MOVIES
ON DEMAND INDEPENDENT FILMS & IFC IN THEATERS

CHARTER: CHANNEL 1
OR CHANNEL 99 & MOVIES & INDIE & INTL FILMS

COMCAST: CHANNEL 1
MOVIES & EVENTS & SAME DAY AS THEATERS & IFC IN THEATERS

COX: CHANNEL 1
MOVIES ON DEMAND & IFC IN THEATERS

INSIGHT: MOVIES ON
DEMAND & IFC IN THEATERS

TIME WARNER: MOVIES
ON DEMAND (CHANNEL 1000 IN MOST MARKETS) & IFC IN THEATERS