Movie Madness

Redbox, I hate to love you.

2011-05-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

Do you use Redbox, the movie rental kiosk that's popping up all over the Big Country? I do, and I find it very convenient. I think it's a smart move that the DVDs are different versions than the ones you buy at the store, for the fact they don't have any special features. That way people will still continue to purchase DVDs and BluRays... and maybe even be discouraged from purchasing it from the Redbox by failing to return it and eating the fees.

In Brownwood last weekend, we passed a Redbox on the way into CVS. Then, we looked next door toward the new Anytime Fitness which has taken over the old Blockbuster building.

"This replaced that," my husband said, gesturing between the two.

I'm torn by the concept. I'm ALL about convenience, and have used a Redbox probably 10 times in the last few months, whereas I hadn't set foot in a Blockbuster store in years. Maybe if I played video games it would have been a different story. But it's sad to me that technology has allowed machines to do the work of employees.

What do you think about it?

Bravo, Black Swan

2011-01-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

Written by Megan Dobbs

Black Swan is the best movie I have seen in a long time. It's wonderfully formidable for those who appreciate the disquiet that comes with being immersed in the arts.

I'll refrain from recounting the story as in a summary, because this is a film that should be grasped without preconception. I will, however, briefly describe the beauty of the main character's inner throes. The director and Natalie Portman (and anyone else involved in developing the character) wonderfully portrayed the turmoil Nina, quite literally, danced around. What a dark and splendid culmination it makes for.

Easy to watch? For most, no. You will likely find yourself cringing at times, perhaps even closing your eyes. Still, when outwardly depicting certain aspects of the mind, to tread lightly would be unjustifiable.

In short, I loved this film! I will not be surprised when the film is up for multiple Academy Awards. Natalie Portman delivered an outstanding performance. The film itself could easily get nominations for its art direction and score.

Top Grossing Actors of 2010

2010-12-21T07:04:00.000-08:00

Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, Nos. 9 and 10

Two box office hits are putting Leonardo DiCaprio at the top of "Forbes" magazine's year-end list of the Top Grossing Actors of 2010.

Citing his star turns in the hit films "Shutter Island" and "Inception," "Forbes" says DiCaprio was the multi-million-dollar leading man when it came to movie ticket sales this year.

Combined, both films made a whopping $1.1 billion at the global box office.

Johnny Depp tied for second place on the "Forbes" list with his "Alice In Wonderland" co-star Mia Wasikowska. In addition to "Alice," which earned a little over $1 billion, Depp got credit for his film "The Tourist." Wasikowska's appearance in the critically-acclaimed "The Kids Are All Right" also helped her to the second place ranking.

Robert Downey Jr. ranked fourth with $808 million thanks to his appearances in "Iron Man 2" and "Due Date."

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe finished in fifth place on the list with the blockbuster "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" having earned $780 million so far at the global box office.

"Forbes" magazine's list of the Top Grossing Actors Of 2010 based on global box office results:

1. Leonardo DiCaprio ("Shutter Island," "Inception") -- $1.1 Billion
2. Mia Wasikowska -- ("Alice In Wonderland," "The Kids Are All Right") -- $1.03 Billion
3. Johnny Depp -- ("Alice In Wonderland," "The Tourist") -- $1.03 Billion
4. Robert Downey, Jr. -- ("Iron Man 2," "Due Date") -- $808 Million
5. Daniel Radcliffe -- ("Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows") -- $780 Million
6. Robert Pattinson -- ("The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," "Remember Me") -- $749 Million
7. Kristin Stewart -- ("The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," "The Runaways") -- $698 Million
8. Sam Worthington -- ("Clash Of The Titans") -- $494 Million
9. Jaden Smith -- ("The Karate Kid") -- $359 Million
10. Jackie Chan -- ("The Karate Kid") -- $359 Million

Reported by VERTEXNews

Morning Glory

2010-11-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

written by KTAB Daybreak anchor Ron Rosseau

My wife and I went to see a silly new date movie over the weekend. Morning Glory is one of those romantic comedies that are usually very forgettable. This one was a little different for me. First, Harrison Ford is in it. Second, it was set is a morning TV news broadcast. It was pure, escapist fiction...but there were several scenes that made me laugh out loud, and I was the only one the theater laughing. The alarm going off in the middle of the night was all too recognizable. The anchor waking up just in time to pretend to be alertly reading the teleprompter script and the youthful exuberance about the importance of the job were certainly close to reality. The deadline of the clock and the concern about the stories in the stack are real. Both led to some funny and recognizable scenes. The problems with individual egos were exaggerated, but certainly part of the business. It was set in New York, and the concerns about tenths of a rating point and the concerns about the most minute of details remind me of why we stay here in Abilene. My wife enjoyed it for different reasons. She was probably laughing more at me than at the screen.

Inception: You won't be disappointed!

2010-07-26T12:17:00.001-07:00

(Make the headline "You won't be disappointed unless the movie stops during the climax and it takes 10 minutes to get the audio back on so you miss the most important part." Thanks, Century 12.)

Inception was extremely creative, well-written, and well-directed. Many times I find myself in a movie judging the special effects or looking at holes in the plot, but I was immersed in this story from start to finish. Well, except for the aforementioned snafu.

The movie's idea is really complicated, but can be broken down like this: We can't really control our dreams, so if someone were to share a dream with us we'd be vulnerable to him or her discovering our thoughts, desires, personal information, etc. "Inception" means taking it one step further and planting an idea in someone's head during a dream so that they think it's an original idea of theirs.

I'm a vivid dreamer. I think it's probably a poor sleep issue, but I can wake up and tell you everything that happened in my dream, although trying to describe it in normal terms is almost always impossible. I think that's why I liked this movie so much! It takes all the strangeness of a dream and turns it into a plot.

(Yes, I know The Wizard of Oz did that 75 years ago)

I'm also capable of understanding that I'm dreaming, so I can take my dreams "to the next level" so to speak, and manipulate what's happening based on knowing there will be no consequences when I wake up. I also have dreams within dreams. I'll wake up from a dream, go get ready for work, then wake up again and realize I never actually got ready. So the fact that this "two-level dream" was glorified in the movie made me feel like I was special. :)

Ok, I've been writing for 10 minutes and know there's no way I'd be able to properly review this movie, so thanks for listening to me ramble, and GO SEE INCEPTION! Or, if you felt differently about it, please comment!

Conan's Tonight Show gets Emmy nod

2010-07-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

Yeah this is a movie blog, but let's throw some TV in here too!

Reported by: VERTEXNews
The nominees for the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced.

The hit Fox musical comedy "Glee" is among the nominee leaders this year with 19 nods.

AMC's "Mad Men" is also vying for multiple honors with 17 Emmy nominations.

Leading all nominees this year, however, is the HBO World War II mini-series "The Pacific" which nabbed 24 nods.

Acting nominations in the drama categories went to "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm, Michael C. Hall for "Dexter," Julianna Margulies for "The Good Wife" and Glenn Close for "Damages," among others.

Nominated comedy actors include Steve Carell of "The Office," Alec Baldwin of "30 Rock," Amy Poehler for "Parks and Recreation" and Lea Michele in "Glee."

In an interesting turn, short-lived "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien earned his first and only Emmy nomination for his work on the NBC late night talk show from which he was unceremoniously dumped earlier this year. O'Brien's "Tonight Show" predecessor -- and successor -- Jay Leno was not nominated. In January, NBC bought O'Brien out of his contract with the network to make room for Leno's return as host of the "Tonight Show." The move came just seven months after Leno handed the show off to O'Brien after a 17-year run as host. O'Brien will have a new show on TBS beginning in November.

Awards for television's highest honors will be presented during a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles on August 29th.

NBC will air the ceremony live.

Here is a partial list of this year's Primetime Emmy nominees
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

Breaking Bad (AMC)
Dexter (Showtime)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Lost (ABC)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Glee (Fox)
Modern Family (ABC)
Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
The Office (NBC)
30 Rock (NBC)

OUTSTANDING REALITY COMPETITION

The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Idol (FOX)
Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
Project Runway (Bravo)
Top Chef (Bravo)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor - Friday Night Lights (NBC)
Bryan Cranston as Walt White - Breaking Bad (AMC)
Matthew Fox as Jack Shepard - Lost (ABC)
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan - Dexter (Showtime)
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House - House (FOX)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Connie Britton as Tami Taylor - Friday Night Lights (NBC)
Glenn Close as Patty Hewes - Damages (FX Networks)
Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
January Jones as Betty Draper - Mad Men (AMC)
Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick - The Good Wife (CBS)
Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson - The Closer (TNT)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy - 30 Rock (NBC)
Larry David as Larry David - Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Steve Carell as Michael Scott - The Office (NBC)
Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester - Glee (Fox)
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper - The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk - Monk (USA)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Toni Collette as Tara Gregson - United States of Tara (Showtime)
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon - 30 Rock (NBC)
Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton - Nurse Jackie (Showtime)
Lea Michele as Rachel Berry - Glee (Fox)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell - The New Adventures Of Old Christine (CBS)
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope - Parks and Recreation" (NBC)

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES

The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien (NBC)

June 17th, 1994

2010-06-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

Written by Mark Moseley

As much as I love being a part of "The Media", I love things that pick at, make fun of, or otherwise deconstruct the news business. I watch "The Daily Show" every night, and I subscribe to the hilarious Fake AP Stylebook Twitter feed. It is for that reason that I absolutely loved the ESPN documentary "June 17th, 1994", part of the network's "30 for 30" series.

If there's one thing we in The Media love, it's a good storyline. And on June 17th, 1994, the sports world was rife with potentially great storylines. Some of them played out exactly like The Media wanted them to, others, very differently.

Among the planned, scripted storylines:

-Arnold Palmer's final round at the U.S. Open. It was a farewell to a legend of the game. Palmer shot an abysmal +16, but received more applause and adoration than any other golfer that day. The raw emotion from his first post-round interview left his completely speechless.
-Ken Griffey, Jr. tied Babe Ruth for the fastest to reach 30 home runs in a season. A great feat, but an ultimately pointless one; MLB shut down two months later after players went on strike, and Junior never got his shot to break Roger Maris' then-single season HR record.
-The New York Rangers celebrated their first Stanley Cup win in more than half a century as only a New York team could: with a massive ticker tape parade in Manhattan. A little kid, no more than age 8, summed it the fans' thirst for a winner perfectly by saying, "Now I can die in peace."
-The capper was supposed to be New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. As we see in the parade footage, Rangers fans were just as excited about a potential Knicks championship (They didn't get it; Houston won in 7).

But then came O.J.

Orenthal James Simpson had already been in the news following the brutal murders of his ex-wife and her friend. On June 17th, murder charges were officially filed against O.J., setting off one of the most surreal media frenzies we will ever see.

"June 17th, 1994" deftly follows the media's bloodlust for new Simpson information, and weaves in a lot of peripheral stuff 99% of us forgot. Example: CNN had to retract a report that a second suspect was sought in the murders. And does anyone remember Robert Kardashian, the father of three reality TV star daughters, reading O.J.'s apparent suicide note?

Of course no one remembers these things. Why? Because just hours later, O.J. and his buddy, A.C. (YOU KNOW WHO HE IS, G**DAMMIT!) led Los Angeles police on the unforgettable White Bronco chase.

The most fascinating part to me, as a news producer, was watching the events of the evening as they unfolded on NBC, which was obligated to carry the basketball game. Raw footage never before seen on TV shows the inimitable Bob Costas agonizing over the transition between Simpson coverage and basketball coverage ("It sounds so callous," Costas says to his producer). I don't know what the other networks were running that night, but they must have had no problem cutting into programming to show The Chase. It instantly took the Simpson story from interesting to the most fascinating real-life drama most people had seen in years, if not decades. And it played out before everyone live on TV.

As a producer, I can almost feel what it was like for the NBC brass. They must have been squirming in their chairs, knowing they had to stay on the game, while they kept a close eye on that white Bronco moving oh-so-slowly down the 405. Remember, O.J. had a gun to his head, and it was widely known that he wanted to take his own life that night.

Of course, he didn't, and we all know what happened in the days, weeks, months, and years after that. The iconic OJ murder trial (which also played out before our eyes on live TV), the sudden thirst for reality-based programming on TV, the creation of Court TV, the celebrity-obsessed culture we currently live in... a lot of it can be traced back to June 17th, 1994.

This movie does a fantastic job of weaving in and out of the sports stories mentioned above with the ever-increasing interest in the Simpson story. Watching this film, you can almost draw an ascending straight line charting how intense the story became as the day wore on: police name O.J. as the primary suspect, O.J. agrees to turn himself in, O.J. goes missing, lawyers read his supposed suicide note, then the Bronco chase.

Without the usual talking heads or narration we normally see in a documentary, "June 17th, 1994" shatters the notion that we can predetermine the outcome of any given story. After all, this is real life we're talking about here, not some trashy TV soap opera.

---------------

If you saw the Bronco chase, you probably remember where you were. I was only 8, but I remember well: I was at my grandmother's house, with her and my dad. I had no earthly idea who O.J. Simpson was, or for that matter, what was going on, but I couldn't look away from Memaw's old TV. Do you remember that day? If so, where were you?

50 Cent loses 60 pounds for role

2010-05-27T14:01:00.001-07:00

I write this blog because people in our newsroom haven't stopped talking about it.

50 Cent has shed 60 pounds to play the role of a cancer patient in a movie he wrote himself.

I don't know a lot about 50 Cent's (Curtis Jackson's) usual size, other than he's extremely muscular, but I've read today that he's usually the size of a linebacker.

So how did he do it? A liquid diet and three hours a day on a treadmill, Entertainment Weekly reports.

He went from 240 pounds to 160 pounds.

The movie, Things Fall Apart, is about a college football player who is diagnosed with cancer. There's no word on whether this movie will hit theaters. But I imagine this picture posted on 50's Twitter, Facebook, and his own website is helping generate buzz.

Do you want to see it now?

Shrek The Final Chapter

2010-05-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

Me, my date and my dog packed up in the car and headed to Abilene's Town and Country Drive-In to watch "Shrek the Final Chapter," also known as "Shrek Forever After," or just plain "Shrek 4" (which is much faster to type).

I don't think I ever saw "Shrek the Third" but I didn't need to. The plot picks up with Shrek and Fiona at home with their little one-year-old ogre babies, and all the familiar characters are there.

Now, believe it or not, I'm an adult writing from an adult's perspective. The movie was funny, but not as funny as the first two. Or maybe it just wasn't a fresh funny. I'm sure kids would get a kick out of it no matter what.

Folks, if you don't want to be lost like I was, brush up on your fairy tales! I'm sure a lot of the jokes went right over my head because it's been a while since Hans Christian Andersen and I cuddled up in bed together.

Rumpelstiltskin (or Mr. Stiltskin as he prefers to be called) was an appropriately hateable character. I just wish a more famous actor had done the voice. The voice was that of Walt Dohrn, who was apparently a writer for Shreks 3 & 4. Wouldn't it have been better to have Steve Buscemi or Rainn Wilson? You could take the stance of some critics who say it's fantastic that a behind-the-scenes guy with great acting skills was given a big break, but I don't know, I'd rather be more entertained.

The story has a great moral: "You don't know what you got 'til it's gone," and an even greater soundtrack. And by soundtrack, I mean songs in the movie, not songs on the album. I checked and the album doesn't have the best ones. It just has Shake Your Groove Thing, Lionel Ritchie's Hello, and Top of the World by the Carpenters with a few more originals and covers.

Since I went to the drive-in, I didn't remember that it was available in 3-D. Here's an interesting point from one of the Facebook fans of Abilene Midday:

It was a wonderful movie and well-worth going to see. but they had too many showings of the 3D but only 1 showing of the 2D here in Abilene. There is very little difference between 3D and 2D and the price difference is just too much. Too many people are out of work and are scrimping and saving their money.

Sorry, I feel like this review is a little all over the place. But, then again, so is an animated film about dragons and ginger bread cookies and cats wearing boots.

Soon I'll write another blog about Town & Country!

Eclipse Movie Trailer

2010-04-23T09:25:00.001-07:00

The trailer debuted on Oprah today, and hit EclipseMovie.org shortly later. Check it out!

Clash of the Titans: 3 ½ out of 5

2010-04-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

By: Chelsea Delz
Abilene

I recently saw the latest rendition of the 1980s cult classic Clash of the Titans, but don’t be fooled because even though both films share the same title it does not mean they share the same story.

This is the story of Perseus (Sam Worthington). Perseus is ready to take on the Gods after Hades (Ralph Fiennes) kills his family. Little does he know that he is actually a demi-god and the son of Zeus, (Liam Neeson) king of the Gods.

Perseus then realizes it’s his destiny to rescue the city of Argos from Hades and the Kraken. He organizes a group of soldiers and heads out on his quest to “Find and fulfill your destiny,” Sir Laurence Olivier as Zeus Clash of the Titans 1981.

Honestly, I enjoyed this version but I am a huge fan of the original so I have to say it was not as good as its predecessor. I think the thing that bothered me the most about this film was there was no love story and the original was a big love story. Perseus’s love for Andromeda was what sent him on his journey to save the city of Argos. It was also Andromeda’s former suitor that was one of Perseus’s major foes, unlike in the new film.

I also missed the usage of the other Gods and Goddesses. In the 80s version we saw and heard from almost all of them, but in this one they were merely there as part of the ambiance.

Plus, I did miss the campiness of the first one with the giant birds, the original Kraken, and Bubo the golden owl. What happened to Bubo?

However, this was definitely an action packed film that kept you jumping in your seat with excitement. I am giving this remake 3 ½ out of 5. Overall it was a great action fill and I think if I had not seen the original I would have loved this one even more than I do now.

Alice in Wonderland - Curiouser and curiouser…

2010-03-15T06:47:00.000-07:00

by: Erin Stephens
Abilene

missmoviemaestro.blogspot.com

This was my first 3-D experience and I couldn’t have chosen a better film. Needless to say Tim Burton (director) set the bar high, Alice in Wonderland was a joy to experience. The film is not a duplicate of the book or animated feature. The story follows nineteen-year-old Alice as she flees from the expectations of her friends and family, only to find herself in Wonderland where she has new expectations to live up to and different things pulling her in all directions, literally and figuratively. Burton did not disappoint, his style and aesthetic definitely was enhanced by the 3-D technology. The scenes were extremely fresh; the colors in the wardrobe, make-up and setting were rich and bright creating the perfect template for experiencing the wonderment of Wonderland.

The movie did not follow any stories previously written, this was an excellent way to use the already developed characters to build a new story for all to enjoy. However for the viewers that have read Lewis Carroll’s works, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, can be assured that the essence of the stories are still intact. The film incorporated aspects of the books into the storyline, such as the Jabberwocky, which gave it a genuine feel. Also, the characters from the novels were authentically portrayed. The film did a wonderful job of developing the characters, especially Alice, in a way that seemed seamless and effortless, as well as true to the character created by Carroll. The essence of the story, as well as the masterful directing, created the perfect base for a marvelously artful film. But, it would not have been complete without the great performances by the entire cast. Every player portrayed their character with such mastery I could write pages on each performance, however, I will limit myself to the exceptional ones.

Between Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter) and Helena Bonham Carter (Red Queen), I’m not sure which one stole more scenes. Both were so engrossed in their characters they were almost unrecognizable. Depp was phenomenal, from his hair and make-up (which changed colors!) to his swinging pendulum of emotional outburst he WAS the Mad Hatter. He created a character that was kooky and endearing all at once, you will want to keep from blinking, so not to miss a moment of him. Bonham Carter brings the same type of an all-encompassing performance in her portrayal of the Red Queen. The viewers are torn between pity and disgust as she tyrannically rules Wonderland in her efforts to find adoration from her subjects. Anne Hathaway played the other royal character, the White Queen, she moved and spoke with such an extreme amount of grace and sweetness it was completely whimsical, almost overwhelmingly so. As for Alice, newcomer Mia Wasikowska effortlessly portrayed her as the curious, questioning, presumptuous girl that was created by Carroll. Her frankness and stubbornness was ideal, as well as cleverly placed and disturbed throughout the film in order to fully develop her character. Also, all of the voice actors were perfectly cast and articulated beautifully.

Overall, this was a great film, plain and simple. Tim Burton took a classic story of silliness and nonsense and transformed it into a film that is not only pleasing to the eye and entertaining, but kept the heart of Lewis Carroll’s story beating. The idea that thinking differently and seeing things for not what they are, but what they could be, can be extremely rewarding.

Shutter Island - You'll never leave this island

2010-03-11T14:07:00.000-08:00

by: Erin Stephens
Abilene

missmoviemaestro.blogspot.com

I love to watch all types of movies, but I especially love the movies that require a second watch in order to be truly appreciated. Shutter Island is definitely one of those films! It’s set in 1954 and follows two US Federal Marshals as they investigate the disappearance of a patient in a mental hospital for the criminally insane. Martin Scorsese (director) is a master behind the camera. He created elegantly intense scenes using simple, but unique camera angles, coupled with an astounding musical score that kept the viewers on the edge of their seats from the first frame.There was an air of mystery woven through out the film, the audience kept questioning what was truth, what was a ploy, who do you believe? Teddy Daniels (Leonard DiCaprio), the protagonist, seemed to be the only person that the viewers could ultimately trust, because the story was being told from his perspective. He took the audience on a quest through the vast grounds of the island, from trekking in the wilderness to lurking through the halls of the fortified ward C. The scenery and extensive details to the set strengthen the film, especially in coordination with the perfectly articulated script. Another aspect of the film that added mystery were Daniels’ memory flashes. They were artfully placed and assisted in the unfolding of the twisted plot.

As for the acting performances, DiCaprio was amazing! His portrayal of the tormented US Marshal Daniels was phenomenal. He developed a bond of trust through acts of genuine sincerity for justice and morality. This was a crucial part of film. The other notable performance was Sir Ben Kingsley as Dr. Crawley. He created a man with such smooth, suave charisma he was almost untrustworthy, however he had enough compassion and care for his patients the viewers want to believe and trust him.

This film was definitely created for a viewer that appreciates the see-saw of emotions as well as the opportunity to generated a load of conspiracy theories on how the plot will pan out. It will most assuredly keep you guessing and questioning while on the edge of your seat holding your breath! It is Scorsese, so there is a bit of vulgar language and some graphic scenes. Overall, it is a MUST watch film!

Seeking local movie critics!

2010-03-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

Many professional critics get to see movies for free... But we don't! Which means our Movie Madness blog has been bare lately.

If you would like to submit a movie review at any time, email it to lkellerman@bigcountryhomepage.com.

No reviews will be accepted more than two weeks after the movie's release date. All ages are welcome to participate. The decision to publish or not publish a submission is strictly up to our discretion.

New Moon: 4 out of 5 stars

2009-11-25T08:35:00.000-08:00

The second movie installment of the popular Twilight saga, New Moon sucked in viewers from everywhere, including me. Being a fan of the former movie I was intrigued to see how the next film would stand against its predecessor and I am please to report that it did not disappoint. I would even go so far as to say that New Moon’s bite was bigger than the first move.

New Moon picks up a few months from where Twilight left off. It introduces you to more of Edward’s (Robert Pattinson) and Jacob’s (Taylor Lautner) worlds and you see it all from Bella’s (Kristen Stewart) eyes. There were more blood sucking villains than you could shake holy water at in Italy, where the Vulturi live. Plus, some of the hottest werewolves you’ll ever see are part of the Quileutes tribe, so you’ll want to put away those silver bullets.

The pace of this movie was perfect. The beginning may have seemed slow to some people, but to me, it allowed you to truly experience what Bella was going through emotionally, physically, and psychologically after Edward leaves her.

Not to worry though, it quickly picks up once Bella starts spending more time with Jacob. There are some really good action sequences and C.G.I.’s. Plus, the sparks flying from Jacob and Bella two were enough to stake Edward through the heart and create this amazing love triangle.

Overall I would give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. It is definitely worth seeing, even if you haven’t read the books. So if you have some extra time this holiday, you should go check this film out. You should enjoy the film no matter what since it has some amazing eye candy, especially for the women out there.

-Chelsea Delz

"This Is It" great for anyone of any age

2009-11-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

"This Is It" would have been the best concert of all time.

But for the one million or so people who attended, they probably never would have realized what a genius Michael Jackson was. The movie version of the concert development/rehearsals never would have been released, and only insiders would have known how meticulous Jackson was in making it the perfect experience.

If a drum beat started half a second too soon, he stopped and explained why it needed pause. If a riff didn't have enough soul behind it (and I don't even know what that means), he'd beat box/sing/hum exactly how it needed to sound. I couldn't hear a difference, but the musicians could. Everything from the way the vignette actors looked into the camera to the placement of the crystals on what would have been the Billie Jean jacket was deliberate.

For those who are expecting a "River Dance"-type stage production on film, it's not really like that. There is a plot and there are behind-the-scenes explanations of what's going on, which make the story move at a very intriguing pace.

One thing I loved about the concert was that Jackson planned to give the audience exactly what they wanted. The huge stage production was an adaptation of each famous music video. He didn't try to change his original records into something new, or take a different visual stance. "Thriller" was Thriller on steroids. "Smooth Criminal" was smooth criminal on steroids. "Human Nature" was a more raw, acoustic version, but was 100% recognizable.

I think artists try too hard to think outside the box for their shows and end up presenting something wildly different. Jackson and his people thought outside the box and ended up with what would have been a masterpiece.

If you're wondering, there aren't any moments of "freaky Jackson." He's not playing anything up for the cameras pretending to hide his face or anything like that. Aside from the occasional "yes Michael, whatever you want Michael" stuff, it's all about the music and performance.

I would recommend this movie for anyone of any age. The audience at Century 12 Abilene laughed out loud several times, cheered a little bit, and stayed all the way through the credits.

The movie gets a B and Jackson gets an A.

"9" Movie Gets a B+

2009-09-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

Nine is a pretty good film. From a technical standpoint, it's excellent. The CGI is so advanced in this film, it kept me captivated the entire time. I must say, however, the plot may be a bit lacking. It has good intentions, but could have been better executed. Had it not been for the absolutely beautiful composition and astounding use of light and motion, I cannot say I would have remained interested throughout the entire thing. It is an action movie, as you might have guessed, so action fans should be pleased.

The depiction of characters was one of the elements I like best about the film. I found myself in each of them, which is certainly an achievement when it comes to portraying characters.

I do not want to reveal too much about the plot, as it is still a good movie that should be perceived by the individual. Overall, I give it a B+.

Reviewed by Megan Dobbs

Also out this week: Whiteout, I Can Do Bad All By Myself and Sorority Row.

New Moon Trailer Sneak Peek

2009-08-12T14:23:00.001-07:00

A trailer is a sneak peek at a movie. So what's a sneak peek at a trailer? This.
(The full trailer will be played at the beginning of "Bandslam," in theaters Friday.)

Not-So Funny People

2009-08-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

Let's just start off by saying two couples in front of me got up and left. I'll get to why in a minute.

Don't you think you run the risk of extra criticism when you title your comedy "Funny People?" I do like Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan and even Jonah Hill, but don't label them as funny.

After seeing the commercials a dozen times... you know, "How old is Harry Potter? Shouldn't he have graduated by know?" "Are you mad that you died at the end of Die Hard?"... I thought, that's kind of funny, but doesn't seem super funny. I'll give it a try anyway.

Then, when the movie started, I realized those were the only few jokes that weren't R-rated. That's why they had to be in the commercial.

When there's not the drama of a famous comic who's lonely and finds out he's going to die, every single joke consists of the nasty stuff that everyone who has ever been to a comedy show knows comics turn to when they think they're tanking. "Quick, think of something extremely vulgar about your body parts that will make people so uncomfortable they'll have to laugh."

That's why the two couples left. I'm surprised they stuck it out for a full half hour.

Before writing this blog, I watched the 3 1/2 minute trailer online. It's packed full of jokes that aren't in the movie. So, they took out perfectly funny humor to replace it will the vile stuff?

Ok, if you've read this blog before, you know that I dislike raunchy content. (Why I keep going to R-rated movies, I've yet to figure out.) So let's move on to why I disliked the movie for other reasons.

1. It's SO long. You think (hope) it's going to end soon and then you realize the real plot -- about "the one that got away" -- hasn't even started yet.

2. The cameos. Sure, it's fun to see Adam Sandler, who essentially plays himself, interact with big-name comedians on a social level. You have Ray Romano, Sarah Silverman, Norm McDonald, Paul Reiser... but then you have Eminem and James Taylor. Eminem is (no surprise) annoying and rude. And not in an obvious "making fun of himself" kind of way. Then, James Taylor, who plays two of my favorite songs in the movie, opens his dirty mouth and spits out two dirty jokes -- and couldn't even deliver them with a straight face.

3. Leslie Mann. Don't like her. I want to tell her to take it down and octave and move her lips when she talks. In my opinion, she could play the Good Witch of the North and that's about it. I think she has a lot to do with the movie dragging on and on, since it centers around her for the last hour.

One of these days I'll review a movie I like, I promise!

New Batman Film Underway

2009-07-27T11:42:00.000-07:00

A new Batman film may begin shooting next year for release in 2011, according to actor Gary Oldman, who starred in the most recent blockbuster Batman movies.

Oldman, appearing in San Diego at the Comic-Con convention, let it slip that a new flick about the crime-fighting superhero is set to start filming next year.

The actor, who played Commissioner Gordon in director Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" was at the convention promoting another movie thriller, "The Book of Eli."

(Copyright 2009 by Newsroom Solutions)

Bruno is Downright Disgusting!

2009-07-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

Bruno is disgusting, vile, offensive, gross, and downright nasty. If you can look past that...and I consider that a big "if"...the movie can be entertaining and amusing.

The film features a mix of real situations and storyline. The filmmakers do an excellent job of weaving real footage into a wild and outlandish story. These "real" situations are what makes the film. You'd think people learned from Borat. Nope. Star Sacha Baren Cohen is able to pull the wool (or in this case silk D&G scarf) over everyone's eyes again.

The movie follows Austrian fashion TV host Bruno who is famous enough to decide what's "in" and "out" in pop culture. After a disastrous decision to wear a Velcro suit to a fashion show, Bruno is fired from his job and become the laughing stock of Austria. At that point, Bruno decides he needs to come to the U.S. and become a celebrity! He hooks up with a talent agent and tries every route you could imagine to be famous. His exploits include marketing a TV show, going to the Mideast to get a peace treaty signed, adopting an African child, and trying to become straight. His efforts to leave behind his homosexual lifestyle lead to the most humorous aspects of the film.

It might sound cute. However, it's not. I can't stress enough: this movie is nasty! Don't take the kids, don't take grandma, and don't go if you have a heart condition. When my mom came to town last weekend, I suggested to her that we might go see Bruno together because it would probably be funny. That would've been a horrible idea!! We'd probably never be able to look each other in the eyes again.

I'll rate it like this:
22-year-old guy who doesn't have a girlfriend and thinks Harold & Kumar are the world's biggest celebrities: 4 out of 5 stars
Anyone who thinks they can't be offended and likes a good laugh: 3 out of 5 stars
Anyone who considers themselves normal: 1 out of 5 stars
Someone easily offended: You will walk out of the movie

What Happened to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince?

2009-07-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

Before going into my review of this film, let me first say that I am arguably one of the biggest Harry Potter fans ever. I even named my dog, Hermione, after on of the main characters in the series. I love the books and I love the movies and usually I am able to look at each of them as two separate entities so I am not hard on the movies like most of the readers are; however, this film is the rate exception to my rule.

Let’s focus on the things that were good in the film before we get into my critiques.

First of all, the chemistry between Rupert Grint and Emma Watson was amazing. The film did a great job of showing the budding romance between Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. The jealously, the tension, the confusion, the longing was all very well played. These two actors did their jobs perfectly!

Secondly, this is the first time that I actually enjoyed Michael Gambon’s performance as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Until this film, in my opinion, he never compared to the original Dumbledore, Richard Harris, but this time he did the character justice.

Finally, the special effects just keep getting better and better with each film that comes out.

Now onto the parts that make you wonder, did the director, screenwriter, and/or producer actually read the book before writing the script?

Okay, the film is titled Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, right? If not, then they have a whole lot of merchandising mistakes they need to fix. But who is the Half Blood Prince? Well if you watch the movie you wouldn’t even know he was that important of a character because he is barely seen, much less mentioned. And why is he so important? Who would know? The movie sure doesn’t explain that so, you are going to be lost unless of course you actually read the books.

On top of that you were supposed to see Dumbledore and Harry reliving memories from certain events that involved “He Who Must Not Be Named,” otherwise known as Lord Voldemort or by his muggle name Tom Riddle. There were only two instances in the film where Harry and the headmaster actually take a dive in the pensive (where Dumbledore places his memories so he can revisit them) and stroll around to see what they can learn about their evil nemesis and there is only one of those instances that actually pushes the plot forward! There should have been several of these scenes because some extremely crucial things were left out that will be in the next two films. In other words, by cutting these scenes the next two films will not make sense not to mention that it aided in confusing the heck out of the audience in this film. It was as if the director only put those two memory walks in the film just to say “Hey, look at the cool special effects we can do at Industrial Light and Magic!”

There was also a scene in the film that was not in the book that made absolutely no sense and it will also cause more problems for the next two films. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind when extra things are added to the films if they advance the plot or make things more fun. A good example of that would be in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. They added a scene where Professor McGonagall teaches the Hogwarts students to ballroom dance. Not only was it funny to see Ron have to dance with McGonagall, but you also get to see a side of Neville Longbottom that you have never seen before. The added scene in this movie was so not needed nor was it entertaining.

The biggest problem with the film though, was the ending. This is where I was so glad that I had read the book before I had seen the film because the movie was so anticlimactic. The only way I can explain how badly they ended this movie is to compare it to another film, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. The fight scene between Yoda and Count Dooku in that film made the movie. People cheered, got out of their seats and clapped and everyone left the theater feeling fulfilled and totally pumped after seeing Yoda kick some major butt.

This is how you should have felt at the end of the Half Blood Prince. Not! Who needs and ending like that? I mean if people are that pumped when they leave a theater it could cause mass hysteria. Some could have heart attacks, aneurisms, or possibly seizures. I mean the makers of this film were thinking of the public’s well being when they chose to cut the amazing battle between the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix. Not to mention cutting the pivotal battle between Harry and Professor Snape. I mean who needs to see something as cool as that? Umm, ME! I would even go so far as to say EVERYONE AT THE MIDNIGHT SHOWING OF THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE WANTED TO SEE THAT! We need the Yoda fight! We need to see McGonagall kicking some major Death Eater butt! Yet, Harry Potter fans everywhere were left wanting.

Finally and hopefully without ruining the movie for you, or at least more than it already is, there is one more detail that was left out that should have been included. Harry, Hermione, and Ron all inherit something from someone’s will at the end of the book, alas, it is not in the film so one can only hope that they will begin the next film with the three of them receiving their inheritance.

So my advice to everyone who has seen or is planning to see this movie is, read the book before, during, or after seeing this movie because this is truly the worst film out of the six Harry Potter movies. It does not even come close to doing the book justice.

- Chelsea Delz

Film Ratings:

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince 2 out of 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 6 out of 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 5 out of 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 4 out of 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 5 out of 5 stars

Away We Go

2009-07-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

What a sweet, feel-good movie. Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski make a really cute couple. She's a little sad, but a dreamer, and he's extremely laid back and loving and made all the ladies in the audience sigh. They meet some crazy, funny, and tragic characters along their journey to choose a new town for their expanding family.

An expanding family that's out of wedlock.

Call me old fashioned, but why couldn't they have just been a married couple? There's a loose plot line surrounding the reason she refuses to marry the man she plans to spend the rest of her life with, but it's completely unnecessary to the story.

I've just been trying lately to see the shows and movies I'm watching with a more naive eye, because the more I see stories of people who are going against my values, the more I see my values loosening. And people who tell you that they don't let exposure to the world cloud their consciences are putting themselves in a dangerous position.

All that aside, this movie made me laugh out loud, cry a little, and be thankful that I have my own version of the goofy, doting, and perfect partner in life. (But mine's better.)

Hangover: Rauncheriffic

2009-06-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

It pains me to admit that The Hangover was really funny. The humor and the characters were fairly unique, which I liked. It was strangely suspenseful and not at all dark, which I somehow expected. This movie also managed to have a lot of physical comedy without it being slapstick or cheesy.

Premise
Four very different guys leave for a bachelor weekend in Las Vegas. Someone slipped them drugs and they can't remember anything from the night before. They wake up with a missing groom, a missing tooth, a baby and a tiger. The movie takes you along a mystery tour trying to figure out what the heck happened.

This movie was really raunchy. I leaned over and covered my husband's eyes at least three times, and he gets much less offended than I do. There's one brief moment of female nudity in the context of breastfeeding, and one full-frontal of a Chinese gangster.

THEN comes the finale. Once the loose ends have been tied up, the guys go through their digital camera to look through all the photos. That's when the real adventure becomes clear, and the REAL offensive stuff comes out. I'm talking jaw-dropping horrible photos. If you can walk out during the credits and skip this part, go for it. But I'm a realist and I get that people who go to see that movie know what they're in for and would laugh at my suggestion to leave.

Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian

2009-06-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

This latest Night at the Museum was just what I expected: entertaining, cute, and with great visual effects. And it was about a battle at the Smithsonian.

What I loved:
I thought Amy Adams was so great as Amelia Earhart! Just shows that you can have really great acting in a kids' movie. If I were a member of the Academy, I'd fight for her nod. But I doubt this movie is on their radar.

I loved the other dimensions that came to life in the Smithsonian. In the Museum of Natural History (movie #1), T-Rex bones, miniature action figures and stuffed monkeys came to life at night. In this one, the paintings, movies and even bobble heads come to life! And it's all done in a really entertaining and, if I may, logical way.

I loved the story. It managed to make complete sense as a sequel to the original. It had a great moral but didn't get preachy.

For those of you who like The Office, there were three actors from that show who make cameos. I don't know if you can call it a cameo when they're not really famous... but anyway, they make appearances.

Now, parents please don't take my word for it, but I didn't notice stuff that would be inappropriate for kids. I really do try to pay attention to language and innuendos in kid movies like this. I do remember some questionable things in the original, but really didn't catch anything here.

What I didn't love:
As with the original Night at the Museum, I wanted to fast-forward through the climax of the movie, but the theater has no FF button. I don't know, I guess I feel the same way about any action-y movies.

I have mixed feelings about Hank Azaria as a power-hungry pharaoh with feminine tendencies. On one hand, he's a hilarious actor, but on the other hand, WHY do most foreign characters have to have British accents?! Napoleon had a french accent, Ivan the Terrible had a Russian accent, but Egyptian dude was annoyingly British. Whatever! He did make me laugh out loud, though.

Is it Cool to Like Star Wars?

2009-05-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

I am not a Trekkie. In fact, I've never seen a Star Trek movie or episode of the numerous Trek TV shows. The mere thought of Star Trek shows makes me roll my eyes.

I was shocked to see positive reviews for the new flick. So shocked, I was willing to give it a try.

As much as I hate to admit it....I liked it! Granted, I wasn't sure what was happening half the time. But, it was pretty darn good!

The story of how the Star Trek enterprise crew came together was very well written. I enjoyed seeing the characters evolve throughout the film. I thought they did an excellent job introducing each character and making you "feel" for each one.

All the young actors did a great job -- particularly the new Spock, Zachary Quinto. Though I'm not an old school Trek fan, it was nice seeing Leonard Nimoy in the movie. However, I still don't understand how the old Spock and new Spock seemed to coexist. If anyone has some insight, please share.

I'd give this a 3...maybe 4 out of 5 stars. It's not a movie that will change your life....but it sure won't loose your attention!

Rourke Shines as "The Wrestler"

2009-03-06T18:43:00.000-08:00

The Wrestler is the sad, uninspiring tale of a professional wrestling superstar from the 80s who can't seem to escape the headlock the industry has placed on him.

At one point, Randy "The Ram" Robinson (played by Mickey Rourke) was ontop of the world as heavyweight champion. He lived the high life often sacrificing his personal life and health to entertain enormous crowds packed into America's largest arenas. 20 years later, he's washed up.

Robinson's no longer in "the big show." Instead, he's performing in armories and rec centers on the weekends for a measly payout. During the week, he works at a grocery store to make ends meet.

The movie follows "The Ram" Robinson as he searches for his real self, Robin Ramzinski, following a heart attack. He enlists the help of a good-hearted stripper (played by Marrisa Tomei) and his estranged daughter. Can "The Ram" shed his charismatic in-ring persona and live a normal life? or will he always be "The Ram"?...even when everyone else in his life wants Robin.

Rourke does an amazing job. Unquestionably, it's an oscar-worthy performance. I can't say the same for Tomei. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress and I'm not really sure why. She's far from memorable.

I'm not sure that I'd recommend the film to someone who isn't at least familiar with professional wrestling. Like many sports-theme movies, it's not really about a sport. But, it certainly helps to understand it.

Sadly, this tale could be about many once-superstars who once headline pay-per-views and now simply hope to land a spot in the next independent show coming through Abilene...for a $50 paycheck. Though it's not based on a true story, it easily could be one. For anyone who's followed professional wrestling, they'll understand the true tragedy of this film.

It's the story of so many promising people who've gone before their time. It's the story of people who confused fans for family...and ended up all alone. 3 of 5 stars

Bride Wars & More

2009-03-04T09:46:00.000-08:00

Bride Wars was terrible!

I know, I'm late on this one. I recently went to see the movie with my Monster-In-Law, Marian (who lets me call her that because she is so cool). It dragged and dragged and dragged. I've never been an Anne Hathaway fan, but I do like Kate Hudson. They just weren't believable as friends and there was too much horseplay and not enough plot. I didn't laugh out loud very much and I was relieved when it was over... and not just because I had to pee.

Here are some DVDs I recently watched:

27 Dresses - B
This actually had a lot more plot than I expected and the characters were really well thought-out. My husband even ejoyed this one! And by "enjoyed" I mean didn't leave the room.

Rescue Dawn - D
Awful, awful, awful. For some reason I thought I was going to watch a Saving Private Ryan-type film, but it was more like a Disney movie. It was so cheesy and so bad. It's the story of a Navy man who goes to Vietnam, gets kidnapped, and tries to escape the crude prison. I hate that it was based on a true story, because the real people involved are probably super disappointed.

Night at the Museum - A-
Again, super late on this one, but I'd always wanted to see it, and when I saw a preview for the sequel, I figured it was about time! Ben Stiller did a great job and I LOVED that Dick Van Dyke was a villain. I also loved watching him dance during the closing credits. I was a little annoyed during the movie because I thought there would be NO way that the ending would make sense, but it did. Can't wait to see the next one!

Netflix, Please!

2009-02-16T14:08:00.000-08:00

I haven't been to the movie theater in about a month, but I did recently subscribe to Netflix, so why not review some oldies but goodies!

No Country For Old Men: B-
This movie was incredibly violent. I should have known that going into it, but I wasn't ready for how truly evil it was. Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones all delivered stellar performances, though. Brolin plays a man who stumbles upon $2 million from a drug deal gone wrong. Bardem tries to hunt him down and retreive the cash. Jones is the sheriff trying to make sense of it all. I love to look for symbolism and meaning in these types of movies, but aside from the obvious "hunter and prey" theme I didn't get a lot out of it.

Cloverfield: D
Boo. I didn't even finish it. Sorry if that makes my review invalid. Apparently it's about Godzilla. Whatever.

The Kite Runner: C
I rented this because I recently listened to the audio of Khaled Hosseini's book on a road trip. The book was a great mix of light-hearted fun and distrubing drama. Unfortunately, the move wasn't able to capture the story as beautifully as I'd expected. It's about an Afghan man who immigrates to the US as a way to escape political unrest, as well as a dark secret from his childhood. He's then called back to the country to face both tragedies head-on. I don't recommend the movie for those who haven't read the book.

Run, Fatboy Run: B-
It's the story of a man who left his pregnant girlfriend at the altar and has no way of showing her he's changed other than promising to run a marathon. Catch? He hasn't really changed. While this movie did make me laugh, it was very predictable and felt long.

Michael Clayton: B+
This is one of those movies you'll want to go back and watch a second time in order to follow along better. George Clooney plays a lawyer trying to get his friend, a fellow lawyer, out of a huge mess that's set to cost a company millions of dollars. Warning: it's rated R for some pretty graphic language, including sexual language. Which is strange, because the story line isn't sexual at all.

Get Smart: B+
This movie made me want to go back and watch the television series again. I haven't seen it since I was a kid and don't remember a lot about it. I've spoken to people who loved the original Maxwell Smart and they thought the movie was great. It also has a lot of hidden nods to the series. Steve Carrell's rendition was great. It's amazing to me that he can nail both Don Adams and Paul Lynde's famous Uncle Arthur on Bewitched!

How about you? Stayed home for any good flicks lately?

Slumdog Millionaire: A Must-See!

2009-01-25T14:12:00.000-08:00

I am so glad this movie came to Abilene. I don't know much about the history of how this movie garnered international attention, but God bless Fox Searchlight for putting it in widespread release! I wouldn't be surprised at all if it won the Oscar for Best Picture. The movie is actually nominated for 10 Academy Awards.

Here's a quick plot summary. A young man, a "slumdog," winds up on India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and answers his way to a level no one has ever reached. Because of his poverty status and complete lack of education, he's arrested under suspicion of cheating. But Jamal Malik proves that life's lessons are the greatest of all and that everything is possible when fate is on your side.

The story was at the same time hard to watch and hard to look away from. It delves into the level of poverty that makes us Americans squirm. Jamal was happier living in a landfill than I ever remember being at that age. The movie highlights the best and the worst of human character and shows just how far you can go in life when you choose justice over revenge.

The colors, music, editing, and especially the story line were totally over the top, but the story still felt very real. I'm guessing that's true Bollywood fashion, even though I've never really seen a Bollywood movie.

While I would love to recommend this movie to everyone, it is rated "R" for violence, adult themes and children in peril. I definitely didn't leave feeling as if I had watched a rated "R" movie, though.

And the Nominees Are...

2009-01-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

The nominations are in for the 81st Annual Academy Awards!

"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" leads the way with 13 nominations, including Best Picture.

Hugh Jackman will host the Academy Awards presentation on February 22nd. ABC will televise the awards live from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Here is a complete list of nominees for the 81st Annual Academy Awards:
BEST PICTURE:
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

BEST DIRECTOR:
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex - Germany
The Class - France
Departures - Japan
Revanche - Austria
Waltz with Bashir - Israel

MUSIC (SCORE)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

MUSIC (SONG)
Down to Earth -- WALL-E
Jai Ho -- Slumdog Millionaire
O Saya -- Slumdog Millionaire

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
Frozen River
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Milk
WALL-E

ART DIRECTION
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

COSTUME DESIGN
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

MAKEUP
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
La Maison en Petits Cubes
Lavatory - Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)

FILM EDITING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

SOUND EDITING
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

SOUND MIXING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

VISUAL EFFECTS
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Rourke, Winslet, Slumdog Shine at Globes

2009-01-11T20:15:00.000-08:00

Slumdog Millionaire, Kate Winslet, John Adams, and 30 Rock walked away as the big winners of the night. However, the biggest winner had to be an actor who just two years ago could land a job.

Tonight, we witnessed the resurrection of Mickey Rourke’s career. He won Best Actor in a drama for his role in The Wrestler. The crowd roared as an emotional Rourke walked onto the stage an accepted the award. He thanked just about everyone…including his dogs past and present.

Slumdog Millionaire won for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Score. The film, shot and set in India, follows a young man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on a game show and exceeds people's expectations, raising the suspicions of the game show host and law enforcement.

Kate Winslet did what few – if anyone – have done in the past. Winslet won awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. She seemed overcome with emotion following both victories. Winslet happened to thank her makeup and hair team before thanking her husband or longtime friend Leonardo DiCaprio.

30 Rock and John Adams nearly swept all the awards for TV shows. 30 Rock won for Best Comedy, Best Actor and Best Actress. Tracy Morgan may have made the funniest speech of the night giving “shout outs” to just about everyone and anyone you could imagine. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney each took home awards for their performances in John Adams. Adams was a miniseries produced by Tom Hanks.

No surprise, Heath Ledger won Best Supporting Actor for playing the joker in Dark Knight. It was nice to see Tom Cruise lead the standing ovation for Ledger. Whether you think Ledger deserved it or not, it definitely a stirring moment. Director Christopher Nolan accepted the award for Ledger.

What could be the most talked about incident of the night: Rene Zellweger’s see-through dress. This picture doesn’t quite do it justice. You could pretty much see it all. After cameras took a wider shot, they went back in closely to my surprise. Was I the only person who saw this?

Thanks to everyone who participated in tonight’s live blog on bigcountryhomepage.com. It was our first try at it. By the end of the night, we had nearly 50 comments from readers. I hope you had a good time. If you didn’t get to check it out, I’m sure we’ll do it again soon.

Eastwood Tops Box Office

2009-01-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

Movie goers flocked to see the Clint Eastwood drama "Gran Torino" this weekend, giving the 78-year-old actor and director his biggest opening weekend ever. The movie brought in $29 million dollars to take the top spot at the box office according to Warner Brothers Pictures. The best weekend previously for Eastwood was 2000's "Space Cowboys," which earned $18 million in its first few days. It was the first weekend "Gran Torino" was in wide release, as it had been shown in fewer than 100 theatres in the previous month.

It was followed by the debut of the comedy "Bride Wars" starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson with $21.5 million and the supernatural thriller "The Unborn" ar $21.1 million.

In fourth was the movie which spent the past two weeks atop the charts, "Marley & Me," at $11.4 million. It was followed by "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" with $9.5 million dollars in receipts.

Benjamin Button: NOLA on My Mind

2009-01-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a great movie. From the concept to the dialogue to the photography to the visual effects, the film didn't disappoint in any way.

I often watch movies thinking, "Why did they do that? This should have been in that order. That character looks too much like this one and it's confusing." But I lost myself in Benjamin Button's story. It made no sense, but I didn't feel it had to. Brad Pitt did a fantastic job playing a character that ranged from an 80-year-old child to a 17-year-old aging man.

One place where the movie lacked was a catalyst that led to Benjamin's strange birth.

The story begins during World War I with a clock maker who intentionally constructs a clock that ticks backwards. He's figuratively turning back time, wishing the men killed in the war had never left home. But there was no instigating moment that explains why Benjamin ages in reverse. Maybe he was born at the moment the clock started ticking? No. Maybe he was the son of the clock maker? No. If you're going to make me buy the story of an elderly baby, give me a reason to fall for it.

I guess I did sit there criticizing a little bit. But I'm done.

The hidden message of the movie is a surprising one. Yes, the world would be a better place if people maintained the innocence of a child into their adulthood. Yes, growing up would be easier "if only we knew then what we know now."

But the real message is all about New Orleans. F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, which the movie is based on, takes place in Baltimore. Okay, movie makers are offered great tax breaks to film in Louisiana, but you can make Shreveport look like Baltimore in a second. No, New Orleans is more than a setting. She's a character in the movie. Her sights, her sounds, her culture... In Benjamin Button's New Orleans, all are equal. Everyone is content with life the way it is.

The story is bracketed by Cate Blanchett's aging character dying in a New Orleans hospital as Hurricane Katrina approaches. The final scene is that famous backwards clock sitting in a storage room as the flood begins to seep in. The clock continues to tick backwards.

"If only we knew then what we know now..."

Maybe New Orleans will one day get back to the way it was. Maybe the world can reverse itself to a time when people were more connected. Maybe the world can fast-forward itself to a time when we'll judge each other less and open ourselves up to people who are the exact opposite of ourselves.

In Benjamin Button's world, nothing is impossible.

'Valkyrie' Entertaining, Decent

2009-01-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

You've undoubtedly seen movies highlighting the atrocities of the German Nazis. Now, we have a movie shining the spotlight on the Germans who tried to stop one of history's most feared factions.

Tom Cruise tackles the role of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a countryman who realizes the only way to restore Germany's reputation in the world is to assassinate the Fuhrer. Stauffenburg emerges from a role on the battle lines in North Africa (where he's seriously injured) to a position labeled as "the hope of Germany" by one character.

The movie doesn't focus on why the Nazis were bad for Germany; the film presumes you know that. Instead, it's all about a group of grave German's devising the battle plan to win their country back. Though a drama, the movie transforms into a thriller. Director Bryan Singer manages to keep moviegoers on the edge of their seats wondering what might happen next...when we all know what the outcome will be.

The rough patch in this movie for me was the emotional impact. Anyone who knows a little history knows someone dies when the Titanic sinks, not everyone's going to walk away from Pearl Harbor, and it won't end well for the Hitler conspirators. While I prefer the emotional impact of the other films, we instead received a rerun of the Last Samurai. In fact, you could probably confuse the two pictures at times if you listened instead of watching them.

That being said, you'll walk away with a good feeling....knowing that not everyone in Germany drank Hitler's Kool-Aid. And, there were at least 5 men were brave enough to do something about it.

Marley & Me

2008-12-30T11:47:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has ever loved a pet cannot help but be moved by Marley and Me. The plot isn't as simple as "bad dog, attractive owners;" it's a story of how, in every pet owner's life, the animal of the house becomes woven into the family's history. Or, perhaps, the other way around.

But I didn't really like it.

John Grogan's novel is tragic, hilarious and triumphant and reads at a perfect pace. David Frankel's film is mildly funny, somewhat touching and heartbreaking for five minutes. Tears streamed down the faces of nearly everyone in the theater, including the macho date to my left.

But I felt sorry for those who hadn't read the book.

Pivotal scenes flew by faster than Marley chasing a mango. The first tragic event of the plot (a plot based on a real-life family, mind you) was set up with very little back story, given no time to breathe, and was over with little more than an "Aw that's kinda sad."

Some of the film's funniest moments received more anticipatory laughter from book lovers who knew what was coming than from the actual on-screen antics.

I loved Jennifer Aniston in the role of Jenny, the carefree writer-turned mother of three. I actually appreciated Owen Wilson in the role of John as well. The writing for their characters, however, left much to be desired. How can Aniston really portray post-partum depression when she doesn't have more than 30 seconds to drop into it then snap out of it? Why not trust Wilson with a more substantial character than a flaky 30-something who can't make up his mind and doesn't change his shaggy hair over a 12-year period? Alan Arkin, on the other hand, was incredible. His newspaper editor character doesn't even exist in the book, but serves as the perfect hands-off, lukewarm-hearted sounding board for Wilson's puppy dog whimpering.

Don't even get me started on the random "eternal bachelor" character or the (...yawn...) kids.

Marley and Me has its cute and magical moments. Go see it, enjoy it, then go home and snuggle up with your best friend and read the book. You'll like it so much more.

Some articles I found interesting: