As all of us who have stepped out into the world in the last 2 weeks know, the Oscar nominees are out! (See further down the blog for a complete list, including which films we carry.) And everyone who's anyone is trying to catch up on all their Oscar films. But sometimes, there just aren't enough films to go around. (Trying to get your mitts on a copy of Winter's Bone on a Friday night? Godspeed.) But that doesn't mean you can't catch up on some of the nominees' other work. So, here's a list of other great performances by the Best Actor and Actress nominees that we think you should watch while waiting for the million people who checked out The Social Network before you did to return their copy.
All of these films are available to rent at our MacArthur store.
Best Actor
Javier Bardem (nominated for Biutiful): Try checking out No Country For Old Men or See Inside for other examples of Bardem's work
Jeff Bridges (nominated for True Grit): If you're a year behind in your movies, check out Crazy Heart, which snagged Bridges an Oscar last year. Other options: Tron (the original; the new one is still in theaters) or Starman
Jesse Eisenberg (nominated for The Social Network): Eisenberg doesn't have a whole lot of movies under his belt, but Adventureland is one of them, and a good sample of his acting chops.
Colin Firth (nominated for The King's Speech): Honestly, what HASN'T this guy been in? It was hard to narrow it down, but here's a list of good picks: to see him perform totally against type, try A Single Man, Girl With the Pearl Earring, or Dorian Gray. For some good old cheesy fall-in-love-with-him-every-time romance, try Pride & Prejudice, Love Actually, or Bridget Jones' Diary
James Franco (nominated for 127 Hours): He may be busy getting a PhD, but Franco's had the time to churn out a few classics. Try Spiderman or Pineapple Express
Best Actress
Annette Bening (nominated for The Kids Are All Right): She's got a list of great performances as long as your arm, but here's a sample: Bugsy, American Beauty, Valmont, American President, Being Julia
Nicole Kidman (nominated for Rabbit Hole): For such a wonderful actress, she certainly has some garbage on her resume. (Australia, anyone?) Fortunately, she's got some classics, too. For a good sampling of her many talents, check out Moulin Rouge, The Others, Cold Mountain, or Eyes Wide Shut.
Jennifer Lawrence (nominated for Winter's Bone): As a Hollywood newcomer, Lawrence doesn't have a whole lot of roles under her belt. But you can see her in a supporting role in The Burning Plain.
Nathalie Portman (nominated for Black Swan): Like Bening and Kidman, Portman is a bit of a living legend; her list of great films goes on for days. But we picked a few favorites: Where the Heart Is, The Professional, V For Vendetta, and Closer
Michelle Williams (nominated for Blue Valentine): Remember her way back in Dawson's Creek? Fortunately, she's blossomed since then. For a sampling of her work, take a look at Brokeback Mountain, Wendy and Lucy, or Dick.
-Posted by Colleen
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Movies I'm Ashamed to Love
Everyone has them-the guilty-pleasure movies they can't stop watching. And no one likes to admit what they are. I'm no exception-if you come up to me in the store and ask what my favorite movies are, I'll inevitably give you a list that includes The Shawshank Redemption, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, and Clerks. And these are great movies. They really, really are. I love them and will never turn down an opportunity to watch them. But let's be honest-those are only the favorites that I'm not ashamed of. The time has come to 'fess up. Here's my list of favorite movies that you won't find on AFI's Greatest Movies of All Time list.
Don't judge me.
Grumpy Old Men
Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheau play next-door-neighbors whose life-long rivalry is only getting worse with age. Their fighting comes to a head when the new exotic neighbor Ariel (played by Ann-Margaret) moves in, and they both fall head over heels. But eventually they begin to realize that maybe they don't hate each other after all.
I love, love, LOVE this movie. I watch it in the store all the time. You've probably seen me at it-I'll quickly press "pause" or turn the volume down as soon as I see you coming so you won't be witness to my shame. But now I confess it to the world-this is my all-time, hands-down, no-holds-barred favorite movie. There. I said it. (Come on-you know you love watching Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheau call each other names and throw dead fish in each other's cars.)
Bringing Down the House
Steve Martin plays an uppity divorced tax lawyer who is trying to find a way to bond with his kids, get his ex back, and have a successful career at the same time-and he's not doing a very good job. In walks Charlene (Queen Latifah) an ex-con who brings him both her case and her attitude, and teaches him a thing or two about life, falling in love with Steve Martin's law partner (Eugene Levy) in the meantime.
I can't decide if this film is racist or not. Furthermore, if it is, I can't tell if it's making fun of black people or white people. Maybe both. Maybe neither. Also, the script is bad. B-A-D bad. The plot is lame, the comedy is unworthy of the cast, and the soundtrack is so cliche it's laughable. But I love it anyway. So sue me.
The Mummy series
A quasi-remake of the old horror movie The Mummy, this series stars Brendan Frasier as Rick O'Connell, an American treasure-seeker who stumbles upon an ancient curse in Hamunaptra, a mythical Egyptian city. With the "help" of Yvie, a librarian and expert on ancient Egyptian lore (Rachel Weisz), he manages to free the mummy that haunts Hamunaptra, and endangers the whole world in doing so.
Everyone (Seriously. Everyone.) tells me this trilogy sucks. But I don't get it. I think it's awesome. Brendan Frasier is hot, I have a girl-crush on Rachel Weisz, and a soft spot for ancient mythology. I can't get enough of these movies. (Though you can skip the third one. Rachel Weisz dropped the franchise, so really, what's the point?)
Encino Man
Another Brendan Frasier catastrophe, this film also stars Paulie Shore and Sean Astin as two hapless teenagers who dig up a frozen caveman (Frasier) in their pool and unfreeze him with hairdryers. In their quest to be cool, they end up "dissing" their new caveman buddy and setting him adrift. But in the end, Link the Caveman teaches them things about life they were too busy to learn on their own.
Come on, it's Paulie Shore. What more is there to be said?
17 Again
Zac Efron stars in this not-at-all-original body-swap comedy. Mike (Efron/Matthew Perry) feels as if he has thrown his life away. But then, he gets a second chance when he wakes up 17 again! He befriends his high school children, and hilarity ensues.
There's nothing good about this movie. I love it anyway. I have no excuse.
Austin Powers in Goldmember
The third and inarguably worst installment in the Austin Powers trilogy, in this film Austin finds himself working alongside his estranged father (Michael Caine) to defeat the criminal mastermind Goldmember, who loves gold so much he had his genitals re-cast in gold after suffering from an "unfortunate smelting accident".
There's lots of Dr. Evil in this movie. Britney Spears' head explodes. And Mini-Me turns good. What's not to love about this terrible, horrible, no-good-very-bad film?
-Posted by Colleen
Don't judge me.
Grumpy Old Men
Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheau play next-door-neighbors whose life-long rivalry is only getting worse with age. Their fighting comes to a head when the new exotic neighbor Ariel (played by Ann-Margaret) moves in, and they both fall head over heels. But eventually they begin to realize that maybe they don't hate each other after all.
I love, love, LOVE this movie. I watch it in the store all the time. You've probably seen me at it-I'll quickly press "pause" or turn the volume down as soon as I see you coming so you won't be witness to my shame. But now I confess it to the world-this is my all-time, hands-down, no-holds-barred favorite movie. There. I said it. (Come on-you know you love watching Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattheau call each other names and throw dead fish in each other's cars.)
Bringing Down the House
Steve Martin plays an uppity divorced tax lawyer who is trying to find a way to bond with his kids, get his ex back, and have a successful career at the same time-and he's not doing a very good job. In walks Charlene (Queen Latifah) an ex-con who brings him both her case and her attitude, and teaches him a thing or two about life, falling in love with Steve Martin's law partner (Eugene Levy) in the meantime.
I can't decide if this film is racist or not. Furthermore, if it is, I can't tell if it's making fun of black people or white people. Maybe both. Maybe neither. Also, the script is bad. B-A-D bad. The plot is lame, the comedy is unworthy of the cast, and the soundtrack is so cliche it's laughable. But I love it anyway. So sue me.
The Mummy series
A quasi-remake of the old horror movie The Mummy, this series stars Brendan Frasier as Rick O'Connell, an American treasure-seeker who stumbles upon an ancient curse in Hamunaptra, a mythical Egyptian city. With the "help" of Yvie, a librarian and expert on ancient Egyptian lore (Rachel Weisz), he manages to free the mummy that haunts Hamunaptra, and endangers the whole world in doing so.
Everyone (Seriously. Everyone.) tells me this trilogy sucks. But I don't get it. I think it's awesome. Brendan Frasier is hot, I have a girl-crush on Rachel Weisz, and a soft spot for ancient mythology. I can't get enough of these movies. (Though you can skip the third one. Rachel Weisz dropped the franchise, so really, what's the point?)
Encino Man
Another Brendan Frasier catastrophe, this film also stars Paulie Shore and Sean Astin as two hapless teenagers who dig up a frozen caveman (Frasier) in their pool and unfreeze him with hairdryers. In their quest to be cool, they end up "dissing" their new caveman buddy and setting him adrift. But in the end, Link the Caveman teaches them things about life they were too busy to learn on their own.
Come on, it's Paulie Shore. What more is there to be said?
17 Again
Zac Efron stars in this not-at-all-original body-swap comedy. Mike (Efron/Matthew Perry) feels as if he has thrown his life away. But then, he gets a second chance when he wakes up 17 again! He befriends his high school children, and hilarity ensues.
There's nothing good about this movie. I love it anyway. I have no excuse.
Austin Powers in Goldmember
The third and inarguably worst installment in the Austin Powers trilogy, in this film Austin finds himself working alongside his estranged father (Michael Caine) to defeat the criminal mastermind Goldmember, who loves gold so much he had his genitals re-cast in gold after suffering from an "unfortunate smelting accident".
There's lots of Dr. Evil in this movie. Britney Spears' head explodes. And Mini-Me turns good. What's not to love about this terrible, horrible, no-good-very-bad film?
-Posted by Colleen
Monday, January 31, 2011
"Different" movies
So the other day I was in the store, and absent-mindedly turned on the new(ish) Bollywood film My Name Is Khan. I remember loving it when it first came out in late Summer 2010, but I forgot exactly how much until I watched it again. This got me thinking-there seems to be an entire sub-genre of drama films involving the mentally handicapped-and generally these films are thought-provoking and beautifully executed. Though it's a small sub-genre, I think it at least deserves a blog post. So, here's a list of some of my favorite movies that deal with mental handicaps. But beware-most (if not all) of these will leave you with tears in your eyes!
My Name is Khan
As this film was the inspiration for the blog post, I might as well start with it. Starring Bollywood superstars Kajol and Shahrukh Khan, this film is about Rizwan Khan, a Muslim man suffering from Asberger's Syndrome. He moves to San Francisco from India after the death of his mother, where he meets the beautiful and vivacious Mandira (Kajol). They fall in love, get married, and it seems as if they will have a happily ever after. But then 9/11 hits, and they must deal with the reality of bearing the name Khan in a post-9/11 America. Tragedy strikes their family, and Rizwan sets out on a journey to tell the President that he is, in his words, "not a terrorist". Along the way, he meets other Muslim couples struggling with their identity, as well as a small community in Georgia who are down on their luck. He gradually garners media attention, until finally the whole world is watching as he makes his way to see the President.
This film is not only entertaining, but beautifully performed and shot. It is for the most part subtitled, but you will get so caught up in the story you won't even notice. And I guarantee that by the end, you will find yourself in tears. I cannot recommend this movie enough.
Temple Grandin
I will come out and admit that I haven't seen this movie myself. Please don't think it's because I don't want to-it's actually because we only have one copy and people keep renting it. But I can tell you the basics-Claire Danes stars as Temple Grandin, a real-life hero for sufferers of Autism. An autistic herself, Grandin went on to do great things for the rights of the mentally handicapped. You may have seen her at the Emmys and Golden Globes cheering on Claire Danes. Danes won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe and received a Satellite and a Screen Actors Guild nomination for her performance. So although I admittedly haven't yet seen the film, it seems like a good bet, at the very least to witness Claire Danes' multi-award-winning performance.
Forrest Gump
Do I even need to give a summary of this one? Tom Hanks. Forrest Gump. Inspirational travels across America. Famous events in American History. It's awesome. If you haven't seen it, climb out from under your chosen boulder of residence and rent it immediately. That is all.
P.S. It also stars Sally Field, Gary Sinise, and Robin Wright. As if Tom Hanks wasn't enough.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in his breakout role as Arnie, the mentally handicapped younger brother of Gilbert Grape, played by a very young (and pretty) Johnny Depp. Gilbert is forced to take care of both Arnie and their obese mother, which gets in the way of his love life-until Becky (Juliette Lewis) steps into his life and shows him that maybe having Arnie for a brother isn't such a curse after all.
Definitely a great sappy family film-and who doesn't love watching Johnny Depp? Or Leo? (The movie also stars Mary Steenbergen and John C. Reilly, rounding out a fantastic cast of character actors.)
The Other Sister
This film is by far the sweetest on this list. Juliette Lewis stars as Carla Tate, a mentally handicapped teenager who wants to go to college, much to the chagrin and concern of her parents, played by Diane Keaton and Tom Skerritt. Carla convinces them to let her go, and she immediately falls in love and gets asked to a dance by a boy. Her parents are concerned that she is being taken advantage of, until they meet him and realize that he is mentally handicapped as well-and that together, Carla and Daniel (played by Giovanni Ribisi) prove that they can face the world better than their parents ever thought.
This is a beautiful movie, with outstanding performances. You will find yourself laughing through tears the whole way through. This is a perfect movie for a girls' night in!
-Posted by Colleen
My Name is Khan
As this film was the inspiration for the blog post, I might as well start with it. Starring Bollywood superstars Kajol and Shahrukh Khan, this film is about Rizwan Khan, a Muslim man suffering from Asberger's Syndrome. He moves to San Francisco from India after the death of his mother, where he meets the beautiful and vivacious Mandira (Kajol). They fall in love, get married, and it seems as if they will have a happily ever after. But then 9/11 hits, and they must deal with the reality of bearing the name Khan in a post-9/11 America. Tragedy strikes their family, and Rizwan sets out on a journey to tell the President that he is, in his words, "not a terrorist". Along the way, he meets other Muslim couples struggling with their identity, as well as a small community in Georgia who are down on their luck. He gradually garners media attention, until finally the whole world is watching as he makes his way to see the President.
This film is not only entertaining, but beautifully performed and shot. It is for the most part subtitled, but you will get so caught up in the story you won't even notice. And I guarantee that by the end, you will find yourself in tears. I cannot recommend this movie enough.
Temple Grandin
I will come out and admit that I haven't seen this movie myself. Please don't think it's because I don't want to-it's actually because we only have one copy and people keep renting it. But I can tell you the basics-Claire Danes stars as Temple Grandin, a real-life hero for sufferers of Autism. An autistic herself, Grandin went on to do great things for the rights of the mentally handicapped. You may have seen her at the Emmys and Golden Globes cheering on Claire Danes. Danes won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe and received a Satellite and a Screen Actors Guild nomination for her performance. So although I admittedly haven't yet seen the film, it seems like a good bet, at the very least to witness Claire Danes' multi-award-winning performance.
Forrest Gump
Do I even need to give a summary of this one? Tom Hanks. Forrest Gump. Inspirational travels across America. Famous events in American History. It's awesome. If you haven't seen it, climb out from under your chosen boulder of residence and rent it immediately. That is all.
P.S. It also stars Sally Field, Gary Sinise, and Robin Wright. As if Tom Hanks wasn't enough.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in his breakout role as Arnie, the mentally handicapped younger brother of Gilbert Grape, played by a very young (and pretty) Johnny Depp. Gilbert is forced to take care of both Arnie and their obese mother, which gets in the way of his love life-until Becky (Juliette Lewis) steps into his life and shows him that maybe having Arnie for a brother isn't such a curse after all.
Definitely a great sappy family film-and who doesn't love watching Johnny Depp? Or Leo? (The movie also stars Mary Steenbergen and John C. Reilly, rounding out a fantastic cast of character actors.)
The Other Sister
This film is by far the sweetest on this list. Juliette Lewis stars as Carla Tate, a mentally handicapped teenager who wants to go to college, much to the chagrin and concern of her parents, played by Diane Keaton and Tom Skerritt. Carla convinces them to let her go, and she immediately falls in love and gets asked to a dance by a boy. Her parents are concerned that she is being taken advantage of, until they meet him and realize that he is mentally handicapped as well-and that together, Carla and Daniel (played by Giovanni Ribisi) prove that they can face the world better than their parents ever thought.
This is a beautiful movie, with outstanding performances. You will find yourself laughing through tears the whole way through. This is a perfect movie for a girls' night in!
-Posted by Colleen
February Movies!
That's right folks, it's February. (Well, almost.) It's cold. It's dreary. It's disgusting. There's an ice storm headed our way tonight. Basically, February sucks. So what better way to deal with the end-of-winter blues than to lock yourself inside with a movie about summer? If it can't be warm outside, at least it can be warm on your TV!
Here's a list of my 28 favorite warm-weather movies, one for each day in February, all available at our MacArthur store!
1) Journey to the Center of the Earth-Well, OK, the part in Iceland is cold, but once they get to the center of the Earth it's super hot.
2) Now and Then-Perfect for a girls' night in!
3) Field of Dreams
4) Addams Family Values
5) Stand By Me
6) American Pie 2
7) The Mummy series
8) Pirates of the Carribean series
9) Cairo Time
10) Accepted
11) The Goonies
12) 500 Days of Summer
13) Varsity Blues
14) Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series
15) What About Bob
16) A League of Their Own
17) Into the Blue
18) Top Gun
19) Footloose
20) Grease
21) Dirty Dancing
22) The Lost Boys
23) Hook
24) Blue Lagoon
25) Major League
26) The Fast and the Furious
27) Rambo
28) Predator
-Posted by Colleen
Here's a list of my 28 favorite warm-weather movies, one for each day in February, all available at our MacArthur store!
1) Journey to the Center of the Earth-Well, OK, the part in Iceland is cold, but once they get to the center of the Earth it's super hot.
2) Now and Then-Perfect for a girls' night in!
3) Field of Dreams
4) Addams Family Values
5) Stand By Me
6) American Pie 2
7) The Mummy series
8) Pirates of the Carribean series
9) Cairo Time
10) Accepted
11) The Goonies
12) 500 Days of Summer
13) Varsity Blues
14) Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series
15) What About Bob
16) A League of Their Own
17) Into the Blue
18) Top Gun
19) Footloose
20) Grease
21) Dirty Dancing
22) The Lost Boys
23) Hook
24) Blue Lagoon
25) Major League
26) The Fast and the Furious
27) Rambo
28) Predator
-Posted by Colleen
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Oscar Nominees!
It's that time again-Oscar season! Here's a list of this year's nominees-the titles in red are titles we carry in our MacArthur store. (The titles we don't carry are either still in theatres or in between theatres and DVD, so check your local listings to see the movies we don't carry.)
Actor in a Leading Role
Actor in a Leading Role
- Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
- Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
- Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
- Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”
- James Franco in “127 Hours”
Actor in a Supporting Role
- Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
- John Hawkes in “Winter's Bone”
- Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
- Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
- Geoffrey Rush in “The King's Speech”
Actress in a Leading Role
- Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
- Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
- Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter's Bone”
- Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
- Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”
Actress in a Supporting Role
- Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
- Helena Bonham Carter in “The King's Speech”
- Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
- Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
- Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”
Animated Feature Film
- “How to Train Your Dragon” Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
- “The Illusionist” Sylvain Chomet
- “Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich
Art Direction
- “Alice in Wonderland” Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara
- “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”
Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan - “Inception” Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
- “The King's Speech”
Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr - “True Grit”
Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
Cinematography
- “Black Swan” Matthew Libatique
- “Inception” Wally Pfister
- “The King's Speech” Danny Cohen
- “The Social Network” Jeff Cronenweth
- “True Grit” Roger Deakins
Costume Design
- “Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood
- “I Am Love” Antonella Cannarozzi
- “The King's Speech” Jenny Beavan
- “The Tempest” Sandy Powell
- “True Grit” Mary Zophres
Directing
- “Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky
- “The Fighter” David O. Russell
- “The King's Speech” Tom Hooper
- “The Social Network” David Fincher
- “True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Documentary (Feature)
- “Exit through the Gift Shop” Banksy and Jaimie D'Cruz
- “Gasland” Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
- “Inside Job” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
- “Restrepo” Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
- “Waste Land” Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley
Documentary (Short Subject)
- “Killing in the Name” Nominees to be determined
- “Poster Girl” Nominees to be determined
- “Strangers No More” Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
- “Sun Come Up” Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger
- “The Warriors of Qiugang” Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon
Film Editing
- “Black Swan” Andrew Weisblum
- “The Fighter” Pamela Martin
- “The King's Speech” Tariq Anwar
- “127 Hours” Jon Harris
- “The Social Network” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter
Foreign Language Film
- “Biutiful” Mexico
- “Dogtooth” Greece
- “In a Better World” Denmark
- “Incendies” Canada
- “Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)” Algeria
Makeup
- “Barney's Version” Adrien Morot
- “The Way Back” Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
- “The Wolfman” Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
Music (Original Score)
- “How to Train Your Dragon” John Powell
- “Inception” Hans Zimmer
- “The King's Speech” Alexandre Desplat
- “127 Hours” A.R. Rahman
- “The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Music (Original Song)
- “Coming Home” from “Country Strong” Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
- “I See the Light” from “Tangled” Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
- “If I Rise” from “127 Hours” Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
- “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3" Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
Best Picture
- “Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
- “The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
- “Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
- “The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
- “The King's Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
- “127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
- “The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
- “Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer
- “True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
- “Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers
Short Film (Animated)
- “Day & Night” Teddy Newton (can be found on the Special Features section of the Toy Story 3 DVD)
- “The Gruffalo” Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
- “Let's Pollute” Geefwee Boedoe
- “The Lost Thing” Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
- “Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)” Bastien Dubois
Short Film (Live Action)
- “The Confession” Tanel Toom
- “The Crush” Michael Creagh
- “God of Love” Luke Matheny
- “Na Wewe” Ivan Goldschmidt
- “Wish 143” Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite
Sound Editing
- “Inception” Richard King
- “Toy Story 3” Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
- “Tron: Legacy” Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
- “True Grit” Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
- “Unstoppable” Mark P. Stoeckinger
Sound Mixing
- “Inception” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
- “The King's Speech” Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
- “Salt” Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin
- “The Social Network” Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten
- “True Grit” Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland
Visual Effects
- “Alice in Wonderland” Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
- “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
- “Hereafter” Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojansky and Joe Farrell
- “Inception” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
- “Iron Man 2” Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
- “127 Hours” Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
- “The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
- “Toy Story 3” Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
- “True Grit” Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
- “Winter's Bone” Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini
Writing (Original Screenplay)
- “Another Year” Written by Mike Leigh
- “The Fighter” Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson;
Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson - “Inception” Written by Christopher Nolan
- “The Kids Are All Right” Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
- “The King's Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler
Thrillers!
Side note: I realize we haven't posted on here in forever. I have no good excuse. My bad.
Now that that's out of the way, it's time for a post about my favorite movie genre-thrillers! For those of you who are a fan of horror/mystery/thrillers, take a good look at the New Release wall-there are quite a few smaller movies up there that you might overlook that are definitely worth checking out (and some that aren't). Here's a guide to finding the perfect creepy movie for your Saturday date night!
Afterlife
Liam Neeson, Justin Long, Christina Ricci
I might as well start off with one you absolutely SHOUDLN'T watch. Christina Ricci plays a somewhat neurotic elementary school teacher who dies in a car accident after a fight with her boyfriend (Long). She wakes up in a morgue, only to find that she is dead and Liam Neeson is her mortician! He attempts to guide her "into the light", so to speak...but her boyfriend refuses to believe she's gone. Can he save her before she moves on?
Yes. It is as lame as it sounds. I have a crush on both Liam Neeson and Justin Long, and even that wasn't enough to keep me interested. Do yourself a favor and leave this one on the shelf.
Buried
Ryan Reynolds
I can't decide if I should recommend this one or not. The plot is interesting-Paul (Reynolds) wakes up in a coffin in the middle of the Iraqi desert. As his memory returns, he realizes that his whole company of truck drivers has been ambushed and killed, and he is the only one left alive-but not for long if he can't escape the coffin. He finds a bag with various light sources and a cell phone at his feet. He's got 90 minutes of oxygen and cell battery life left before he suffocates-will he find a way out in time?
This film is...stressful. It's definitely well done, and interestingly conveyed-the entire film takes place in the coffin. No flashbacks, no scenes of government agents trying to rescue him-nothing. Just a coffin. The only exposure you get to the outside world are the voices you hear him speaking to on the phone. I will say this-you won't be bored, and the films stays with you after it's over. But if you're at all claustrophobic, I'd stay away from this one. If tight spaces don't bother you, then definitely check it out-but be ready to come away from it slightly disturbed.
Case 39
Renee Zellwegger, Bradley Cooper
Renee Zellwegger plays a social worker who is given yet another case piled on top of her already-existing 38 active cases. As she investigates into the allegations of child abuse, she realizes that the case is nothing like it seems-and maybe she should have just stayed away.
This is actually a very entertaining film. The first half is full of surprises. However, the second half of the film is fairly predictable. Once the twist is revealed, the plot doesn't move forward a whole lot. But the performances are good, the deaths are gory, and the film is generally creep-tastic.
Devil
No Actors Anyone Has Ever Heard Of
The latest M. Night Shyamalan film*, Devil is about a group of strangers who get stuck in a high-rise elevator-only to discover that the devil himself is among them! One by one they start dying, and they only have until the next blackout to figure out who the culprit is.
This is a pretty good flick. It's creepy, but not too scary for those who aren't horror movie fanatics. It will keep you guessing until the end, and it's not too gory. Overall, it's a good, fun popcorn flick.
*Don't worry, he didn't actually make it-he just came up with the general idea. I promise it's better than anything he's done since Signs.
The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Also Nobody Famous
Alice Creed is the daughter of a millionaire who gets kidnapped for ransom money. Little does she know, not everything is as it seems, and her kidnappers might be out for more than just money.
This film is definitely worth watching, particularly for fans of crime drama. The beginning kidnapping scene is a little intense, but the film never crosses the line into disgusting or grotesque, at least not for my tastes. (There was a moment where I thought the movie might delve into rape or sexual abuse, but it doesn't, so don't avoid the film on that account.) The plot itself is very interesting-there is more than one "big reveal", and every plot twist is completely unexpected. Definitely worth checking out!
Exam
Once Again, No One Famous
A group of executives are put in a room and asked to take an exam as the final step in an interview process for one of the most powerful corporate jobs in the world. There is only one question they have to answer, and if they answer it wrong or break any of the rules, they are immediately disqualified and removed from the room. But there's just one problem-they don't know what the question is! Slowly the situation breaks down as it is revealed how desparate each one is to get the job.
This one is definitely a great thrill ride-it will keep you guessing, and has some great performances. The film is tense and fast-paced-with almost no violence, this is a good one for those who like mysteries, but don't like too much blood and gore.
The Last Exorcism
No One Famous, But The Lead Kinda Looks Like The Poor Man's Thomas Jane
Filmed in the documentary/mockumentary style, this film follows a hacky pastor who makes his living by cheating people out of their money. Eventually, he decides to quit swindling-after this one last exorcism. He goes through the ritual, including his hidden speakers with scary voices, buzzers hidden on the victim's bed to shock her, and sound effects-only to discover to his surprise that this exorcism might be real.
I really like this film, although I am the first to admit that I'm a bit biased-I love the exorcism genre. (The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose-I love 'em all!) But what appealed to me most about this film is that although it is shot in documentary style, this filmmakers appear to actually understand what documentaries are supposed to look like. (In case you're wondering, Paranormal Activity isn't it.) They appreciate that documentaries aren't shaky and poorly made, and execute this film much in the same way. Also, it's kind of creepy and weird without being too intense. Overall, a good film for a night in!
-Posted by Colleen
Now that that's out of the way, it's time for a post about my favorite movie genre-thrillers! For those of you who are a fan of horror/mystery/thrillers, take a good look at the New Release wall-there are quite a few smaller movies up there that you might overlook that are definitely worth checking out (and some that aren't). Here's a guide to finding the perfect creepy movie for your Saturday date night!
Afterlife
Liam Neeson, Justin Long, Christina Ricci
I might as well start off with one you absolutely SHOUDLN'T watch. Christina Ricci plays a somewhat neurotic elementary school teacher who dies in a car accident after a fight with her boyfriend (Long). She wakes up in a morgue, only to find that she is dead and Liam Neeson is her mortician! He attempts to guide her "into the light", so to speak...but her boyfriend refuses to believe she's gone. Can he save her before she moves on?
Yes. It is as lame as it sounds. I have a crush on both Liam Neeson and Justin Long, and even that wasn't enough to keep me interested. Do yourself a favor and leave this one on the shelf.
Buried
Ryan Reynolds
I can't decide if I should recommend this one or not. The plot is interesting-Paul (Reynolds) wakes up in a coffin in the middle of the Iraqi desert. As his memory returns, he realizes that his whole company of truck drivers has been ambushed and killed, and he is the only one left alive-but not for long if he can't escape the coffin. He finds a bag with various light sources and a cell phone at his feet. He's got 90 minutes of oxygen and cell battery life left before he suffocates-will he find a way out in time?
This film is...stressful. It's definitely well done, and interestingly conveyed-the entire film takes place in the coffin. No flashbacks, no scenes of government agents trying to rescue him-nothing. Just a coffin. The only exposure you get to the outside world are the voices you hear him speaking to on the phone. I will say this-you won't be bored, and the films stays with you after it's over. But if you're at all claustrophobic, I'd stay away from this one. If tight spaces don't bother you, then definitely check it out-but be ready to come away from it slightly disturbed.
Case 39
Renee Zellwegger, Bradley Cooper
Renee Zellwegger plays a social worker who is given yet another case piled on top of her already-existing 38 active cases. As she investigates into the allegations of child abuse, she realizes that the case is nothing like it seems-and maybe she should have just stayed away.
This is actually a very entertaining film. The first half is full of surprises. However, the second half of the film is fairly predictable. Once the twist is revealed, the plot doesn't move forward a whole lot. But the performances are good, the deaths are gory, and the film is generally creep-tastic.
Devil
No Actors Anyone Has Ever Heard Of
The latest M. Night Shyamalan film*, Devil is about a group of strangers who get stuck in a high-rise elevator-only to discover that the devil himself is among them! One by one they start dying, and they only have until the next blackout to figure out who the culprit is.
This is a pretty good flick. It's creepy, but not too scary for those who aren't horror movie fanatics. It will keep you guessing until the end, and it's not too gory. Overall, it's a good, fun popcorn flick.
*Don't worry, he didn't actually make it-he just came up with the general idea. I promise it's better than anything he's done since Signs.
The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Also Nobody Famous
Alice Creed is the daughter of a millionaire who gets kidnapped for ransom money. Little does she know, not everything is as it seems, and her kidnappers might be out for more than just money.
This film is definitely worth watching, particularly for fans of crime drama. The beginning kidnapping scene is a little intense, but the film never crosses the line into disgusting or grotesque, at least not for my tastes. (There was a moment where I thought the movie might delve into rape or sexual abuse, but it doesn't, so don't avoid the film on that account.) The plot itself is very interesting-there is more than one "big reveal", and every plot twist is completely unexpected. Definitely worth checking out!
Exam
Once Again, No One Famous
A group of executives are put in a room and asked to take an exam as the final step in an interview process for one of the most powerful corporate jobs in the world. There is only one question they have to answer, and if they answer it wrong or break any of the rules, they are immediately disqualified and removed from the room. But there's just one problem-they don't know what the question is! Slowly the situation breaks down as it is revealed how desparate each one is to get the job.
This one is definitely a great thrill ride-it will keep you guessing, and has some great performances. The film is tense and fast-paced-with almost no violence, this is a good one for those who like mysteries, but don't like too much blood and gore.
The Last Exorcism
No One Famous, But The Lead Kinda Looks Like The Poor Man's Thomas Jane
Filmed in the documentary/mockumentary style, this film follows a hacky pastor who makes his living by cheating people out of their money. Eventually, he decides to quit swindling-after this one last exorcism. He goes through the ritual, including his hidden speakers with scary voices, buzzers hidden on the victim's bed to shock her, and sound effects-only to discover to his surprise that this exorcism might be real.
I really like this film, although I am the first to admit that I'm a bit biased-I love the exorcism genre. (The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose-I love 'em all!) But what appealed to me most about this film is that although it is shot in documentary style, this filmmakers appear to actually understand what documentaries are supposed to look like. (In case you're wondering, Paranormal Activity isn't it.) They appreciate that documentaries aren't shaky and poorly made, and execute this film much in the same way. Also, it's kind of creepy and weird without being too intense. Overall, a good film for a night in!
-Posted by Colleen
Monday, December 20, 2010
Belated Holiday Post
With less than one week to go until Christmas, we know what's on everyone's mind-CHRISTMAS MOVIES! That's right folks, it's that time of year again...time to snuggle up with some popcorn, a cup of hot chocolate, and your favorite Christmas movies. Here's a list of some of our favorites to keep you (and more importantly, the kids!) entertained over Christmas break!
1) It's A Wonderful Life
If you don't know this movie yet, you've obviously been living under a boulder for the last 50 years. See it now.
2) The Santa Clause
Tim Allen stars in this movie about a curmudgeonly divorcee who is shocked to find Santa Clause on his roof-and even more suprised when Santa disappears, leaving his suit behind! To appease his son, he tries on the suit, only to find that he's now officially the new Santa!
3) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
Though the Jim Carrey version is certainly fun, it's nothing compared to the old-school cartoon. Do yourself a favor this Christmas and go back to basics!
4) Home Alone
What kid doesn't dream of having the run of his house? In this classic Christmas film starring Macauley Caulkin, that's exactly what happens. You and your kids will laugh and cheer as Kevin (Caulkin) learns about grocery shopping, after-shave, and home security.
5) A Charlie Brown Christmas
Who doesn't love the world's biggest Negative Nancy? This story about Charlie Brown and his loser-ish Christmas tree is a classic not to be missed!
6) Elf
OK, yes, we all agree-Will Ferrell can be kind of annoying. But he puts his annoying sense of humor to good use as Buddy, a human raised by Christmas elves who travels to New York to find his father. Only problem is, his father's on the naughty list! Although this film does has it's moments of extreme cheesiness, it's still good clean fun for the whole family!
7) A Muppet Christmas Carol
Michael Caine stars along Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Fozzywig in this musical twist on Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story. You and the kids will both love this newer rendition of an old story. (And besides, who doesn't love watching Miss Piggy every chance they get???)
All these films and more are available at our McArthur store-stop by today and pick up your favorite, and get ready to be in the Christmas spirit!
-Posted by Colleen
1) It's A Wonderful Life
If you don't know this movie yet, you've obviously been living under a boulder for the last 50 years. See it now.
2) The Santa Clause
Tim Allen stars in this movie about a curmudgeonly divorcee who is shocked to find Santa Clause on his roof-and even more suprised when Santa disappears, leaving his suit behind! To appease his son, he tries on the suit, only to find that he's now officially the new Santa!
3) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
Though the Jim Carrey version is certainly fun, it's nothing compared to the old-school cartoon. Do yourself a favor this Christmas and go back to basics!
4) Home Alone
What kid doesn't dream of having the run of his house? In this classic Christmas film starring Macauley Caulkin, that's exactly what happens. You and your kids will laugh and cheer as Kevin (Caulkin) learns about grocery shopping, after-shave, and home security.
5) A Charlie Brown Christmas
Who doesn't love the world's biggest Negative Nancy? This story about Charlie Brown and his loser-ish Christmas tree is a classic not to be missed!
6) Elf
OK, yes, we all agree-Will Ferrell can be kind of annoying. But he puts his annoying sense of humor to good use as Buddy, a human raised by Christmas elves who travels to New York to find his father. Only problem is, his father's on the naughty list! Although this film does has it's moments of extreme cheesiness, it's still good clean fun for the whole family!
7) A Muppet Christmas Carol
Michael Caine stars along Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Fozzywig in this musical twist on Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story. You and the kids will both love this newer rendition of an old story. (And besides, who doesn't love watching Miss Piggy every chance they get???)
All these films and more are available at our McArthur store-stop by today and pick up your favorite, and get ready to be in the Christmas spirit!
-Posted by Colleen
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Toy Story
As much as we like to say that the holidays are about family, love, giving, etc., ask any child in the nation what Christmas is about, and you'll inevitably get the same answer...TOYS!
That's right, folks...Toy Story 3 is officially available for rent! This final installment in the runaway hit series brings back all your old favorites-Woody, Buzz, Slink (now voiced by Blake Clarke, who does an admirable job of filling the late Jim Varney's extremely large shoes), Barbie, Jessie, the Potato Heads, Hamm, and Rex are all back, along with some new characters, including Lotso, the creepily strawberry-scented Losto Huggin Bear, and Ken, who sweeps Barbie off her feet and into his dreamhouse.
This movie takes the franchise to a whole new level, and lives up to the first two in hilarity, and even surpasses them in emotional depth. I'll be honest-I've seen it 4 times and still get choked up every time. Including the time last week I watched it at the store and got choked up while working. Sorry about that, folks.
Moral of the story: rent it today and have a great family night in with the kids and a movie you'll actually enjoy for a change!
-Posted by Colleen
That's right, folks...Toy Story 3 is officially available for rent! This final installment in the runaway hit series brings back all your old favorites-Woody, Buzz, Slink (now voiced by Blake Clarke, who does an admirable job of filling the late Jim Varney's extremely large shoes), Barbie, Jessie, the Potato Heads, Hamm, and Rex are all back, along with some new characters, including Lotso, the creepily strawberry-scented Losto Huggin Bear, and Ken, who sweeps Barbie off her feet and into his dreamhouse.
This movie takes the franchise to a whole new level, and lives up to the first two in hilarity, and even surpasses them in emotional depth. I'll be honest-I've seen it 4 times and still get choked up every time. Including the time last week I watched it at the store and got choked up while working. Sorry about that, folks.
Moral of the story: rent it today and have a great family night in with the kids and a movie you'll actually enjoy for a change!
-Posted by Colleen
Friday, November 5, 2010
Paradise Lost
Those of you who read this blog or pick up the Village Vidiot fairly regularly will know that I have recommended this before, but I feel it bears reiterating: everyone who isn't squemish should rent the documentary Paradise Lost.
Filmed in 1993, Paradise Lost follows the famous trial that is now known as the West Memphis Three, where 3 teenagers were convicted of the murder of three 8-year-old boys. Two of them were sentenced to life in prison, and another, Damien Echols, was given the death penalty.
Yesterday, there was a major breakthrough in the case, and after hearing a presentation of new DNA evidence which may indicate the innocence of the three convicts, the Arkansas State Supreme Court ruled for a new trial. (Those interested in reading more can either check out yesterday's Washington Post or go to http://www.wm3.org/.) This case and its history is quickly becoming front-page news nationwide, so go ahead and rent Paradise Lost today and decide for yourself-are they guilty, or innocent?
-Colleen
Filmed in 1993, Paradise Lost follows the famous trial that is now known as the West Memphis Three, where 3 teenagers were convicted of the murder of three 8-year-old boys. Two of them were sentenced to life in prison, and another, Damien Echols, was given the death penalty.
Yesterday, there was a major breakthrough in the case, and after hearing a presentation of new DNA evidence which may indicate the innocence of the three convicts, the Arkansas State Supreme Court ruled for a new trial. (Those interested in reading more can either check out yesterday's Washington Post or go to http://www.wm3.org/.) This case and its history is quickly becoming front-page news nationwide, so go ahead and rent Paradise Lost today and decide for yourself-are they guilty, or innocent?
-Colleen
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
"Friendly" Films to Keep You Warm
To many, Thanksgiving is above all a time to celebrate having food by eating as much of it as possible. Secondarily, it's also a time to gather with friends and family and just have fun. And turkey. Lots of turkey.
In honor of Thanksgiving (my personal favorite holiday), here's a list of 30 films about friendship to cozy up to with twenty of your closest buds, one for each day in November!
1) Steel Magnolias-This one is definitely a tear-jerker, only to be watched with your best girls and a box of tissues!
2) Now and Then
3) Stand By Me-The ultimate "guy friend" movie, this one is probably the only acceptable film for guys to watch together and actually show emotion.
4) The Goonies
5) Grumpy Old Men-A funny flick for the whole family!
6) Circle of Friends
7) Empire Records
8) Thelma and Louise
9) The Fox and the Hound-Kid-friendly!
10) Superbad
11) Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
12) The Lord of the Rings trilogy
13) Up-Also kid-friendly, but have the tissues handy!
14) Toy Story trilogy (FYI, Toy Story 3 is now available on the Kids New Release wall!)-Great pick for a kids' sleepover!
15) Harry Potter series
16) Madagascar-Best for young children
17) When Harry Met Sally...
18) Casablanca
19) The Breakfast Club-Wonderful film, but with quite a bit of language-might want to save this for the over-15 set.
20) Mean Girls
21) Forrest Gump
22) Monsters, Inc.-Funny for all ages!
23) The Jungle Book
24) Shrek trilogy-Great one for the kids!
25) Star Wars series
26) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas-Although there is nothing specifically inappropriate in this film, it is thematically very heavy-watch this one after the kids are in bed and only if you want to go to bed depressed. But it's worth the Kleenex you'll go through!
27) Men in Black
28) Shaun of the Dead
29) South Park TV series
30) Friends TV series
-Posted by Colleen
In honor of Thanksgiving (my personal favorite holiday), here's a list of 30 films about friendship to cozy up to with twenty of your closest buds, one for each day in November!
1) Steel Magnolias-This one is definitely a tear-jerker, only to be watched with your best girls and a box of tissues!
2) Now and Then
3) Stand By Me-The ultimate "guy friend" movie, this one is probably the only acceptable film for guys to watch together and actually show emotion.
4) The Goonies
5) Grumpy Old Men-A funny flick for the whole family!
6) Circle of Friends
7) Empire Records
8) Thelma and Louise
9) The Fox and the Hound-Kid-friendly!
10) Superbad
11) Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
12) The Lord of the Rings trilogy
13) Up-Also kid-friendly, but have the tissues handy!
14) Toy Story trilogy (FYI, Toy Story 3 is now available on the Kids New Release wall!)-Great pick for a kids' sleepover!
15) Harry Potter series
16) Madagascar-Best for young children
17) When Harry Met Sally...
18) Casablanca
19) The Breakfast Club-Wonderful film, but with quite a bit of language-might want to save this for the over-15 set.
20) Mean Girls
21) Forrest Gump
22) Monsters, Inc.-Funny for all ages!
23) The Jungle Book
24) Shrek trilogy-Great one for the kids!
25) Star Wars series
26) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas-Although there is nothing specifically inappropriate in this film, it is thematically very heavy-watch this one after the kids are in bed and only if you want to go to bed depressed. But it's worth the Kleenex you'll go through!
27) Men in Black
28) Shaun of the Dead
29) South Park TV series
30) Friends TV series
-Posted by Colleen
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