Le Couperet (The Ax)

A little over a year ago I met someone (when I saw Milos Forman in person) that raved about Le Couperet (he used its English title The Ax). He said that he saw it a the Tribeca Film Festival and that as far as he knew the film wasn't released in the US. Well, guess what - the film still isn't released in the US. But if you have Time Warner cable you can go to their channel 500 (foreign films on demand) and rent this film for $5.00. It is really worth every cent.

The film is based on a novel by Donald Westlake (I now want to read the book). It follows Bruno Davert as he goes from an high powered executive with a paper company to an unhappy long term unemployed man. Bruno has been out of work for over two years. What is he to do? His wife Marlene (Karen Viard) got two part time jobs but they can barely make ends meet. And their two kids are upset because the cable television has been disconnected.

Bruno sees only one solution to his problem. He is determined to work for a particular company but first he must eliminate his competition. And how does he do that you may ask? Well, by murdering them. The film has some comic elements but it is really a tragedy. Because of corporate greed many people are losing their jobs and what they find afterwards may not come close to what they had.

In some ways the film reminded me of two other French films - Human Resources and Time Out. Two other films in that category are Britain's The Full Monty and Spain's Mondays in the Sun. Of course, the stories are not the same but all of these films have to do with people who are let go from their jobs. And this is a very serious problem all over the world.

I won't tell you what happens to Bruno or how he goes about his business. I don't want to spoil the suspense of the film. Two of the producers are Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne. And that is not a surprise because their films also have a social conscience.

I hope that some US distributor will pick up this film and at least release it on DVD. The lack of interest makes me wonder what they are afraid of. In the meantime,
if you have Time Warner cable be sure to check out Le Couperet.

The Great Debaters

The Great Debaters is Denzel Washington's second time around as a director. I must say that although it is a formulaic film it is still a good one and worth seeing.

It is based on a true story (by Robert Eisele who also wrote the screenplay). The time is 1935 and the place is Texas. Wiley College is a small school for black students. Among their teachers is James Farmer, Sr. (Forest Whitaker) who was the first black man to earn a Ph.D. Farmer's son James, Jr. - (Denzel Whitaker - no relation but there really is a resemblance) - who later on founded the organization CORE - is one of the students chosen for the school's debate team that is being coached by Melvin Tolson (Washington). Two of the other debaters are Henry Lowe (Nate Parker) and Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollett).
There is another young man on the debate team but he eventually drops out.

There is the theme of never giving up that pervades the film. And that is a positive and powerful theme. It is a pleasure to see these young folks quoting such esteemed writers like Joyce and Lawrence. The politics of the day is also part of the film. Tolson has some strong political beliefs that get him into some trouble. And, of course, we witness the horrible conditions under which black people were forced to live in the South at that time.

Washington is good and the elder Whitaker is wonderful. And the three young actors are terrific. Oprah Winfrey produced this film and I give her a thumbs up for helping to create something inspirational.

No, The Great Debaters does not break any new ground in the world of filmmaking. But it is good for your heart and soul.

Honeydripper

Any time John Sayles makes a film it is an event for me. Even Sayles that isn't great is better than a lot of the stuff out there. While his new film Honeydripper may not be his best it is quite a good one.

The story takes place in 1950 in Alabama in a small town. Tyrone (Danny Glover) runs a music club called The Honeydripper. His partner in the venture is Maceo (Charles S. Dutton). The club is not doing well. Tyrone lets go his elderly singer because she is not attracting a crowd. His competition has a juke box but he can't use his juke box because he can't pay the electric bill. If he doesn't come up with some money soon his club will be taken away from him.

Tyrone has a past. He is married to the church going Delilah (Lisa Gay Hamilton) and has a stepdaughter named China Doll (Yaya DaCosta). They are supportive of his venture and want him to succeed. But something good seems to be coming down the road and perhaps Tyrone's luck will change.

Even though I had an idea of what would happen I must say that I enjoyed this film. All of the acting was very good. I should mention Gary Clark, Jr. because he is a prominent player in the film. The smaller roles were also well acted. Most of the cast is black. The two main exceptions are Stacey Keach, Jr. (who plays the town sheriff) and Mary Steenburgen (she plays the woman who Delilah works for).

As usual, Sayles wrote, directed and edited the film. And his long-time partner Maggie Renzi produced. Do yourself a favor and go see this film. It has an old fashioned quality about it that you don't often see in films these days.

DVD Mini Review - La Dolce Vita

I always wanted to see Federico Fellini's masterpiece La Dolce Vita and I finally did on DVD. The translation is The Sweet Life but there certainly an undercurrent of emptiness that pervades the film.

Marcello (Marcello Mastroianni) is a journalist. He would like to write more serious pieces but he finds himself drawn to people who are empty. And he can't stop finding women to lust after. His long suffering girlfriend Emma (Yvonne Funeaux)longs for him to settle down. But why should he when he has Maddalena (Anouk Aimee) to bed. He is also very attracted to the actress Sylvia (Anita Ekberg).

Throughout the film Marcello goes from one event to the next. They don't seem connected but after you see each one you realize that they all have something in common - that emptiness that I mentioned before.

La Dolce Vita is a must for any real film buff. All of the acting is terrific and Marcello M. is a standout. And he is handsome to boot!! The film is shot in beautiful black and white. Fellini shows us his vision of despair in a somewhat circus-like style. And the score by Nino Rota is a knockout.

The DVD that I got had easy to read subtitles in yellow. I would love to write more about the film but I am behind because my cable internet was down for a day. But I highly recommend that you see this film ( if you haven't already) so you can see what a true master can do.

Charlie Wilson's War

Mike Nichols' Charlie Wilson's War is a most entertaining history lesson. The screenplay is written by Aaron Sorkin from a book by Georg Crile.

The story starts off in 1980. Wilson (Tom Hanks) is a Democratic congressman from Texas. He is hard drinking and a hard party man. He has a group of young, beautiful women working for him. He winds up getting an illegal drug charge launched against him but it doesn't stick. But his attention is suddenly pointed in the direction of more serious things. Russia has launched an all out war on Afghanistan and many people are being killed or maimed. Add into the fact that Charlie is seduced by a rich, right wing, anti-Communist Texas woman named Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts)into being more pro-active in this cause. Charlie is joined in his mission by a rough CIA man named Gust Avrankotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a man who has problems of his own.

Charlie visits Afghanistan several times and sees the plight of the people. He eventually persuades another congressman (Ned Beatty) to push through his bill and the Afghani people now have the weapons to defeat the Russians.

This is a good, solid film. Hanks is his usually reliable self. And Hoffman is terrific. Roberts is okay but sometimes her southern accent is a bit much. Beatty is good. And I loved seeing the great Pakistani actor Om Puri in a small role as President Zia. I also liked Scottish actor Ken Stott as Israeli Mossad man Zvi. Amy Adams plays Wilson's assistant Bonnie Bach in the same wide eyed way that she used in Junebug. And, sadly, Emily Blunt is wasted in a small role as one of Charlie's conquests.

Like I said before, Charlie Wilson's War is a good film. But I have a feeling that the portrait of Charlie is a bit nicer than what it ought to be. I recently read that he attended the premiere of the film and he claimed that the filmmakers were "too nice." So while I enjoyed the film I am sure that I would have preferred something with more of an edge. Still and all, the film is worthwhile and I do recommend it.

Oklahoma Film Critics Winners

Top Ten Films
No Country For Old Men
Juno
Zodiac
Atonement
Michael Clayton
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Gone Baby Gone
Once
Eastern Promises

Best Film of 2007
No Country for Old Men

Best Director(s)
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men


Best First Feature
Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone

Best Actress
Ellen Page, Juno

Best Actor
George Clooney, Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men

Breakout Performance
Ellen Page, Juno

Best Documentary
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Best Foreign Film
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Animated Film
Ratatouille

Obviously Worst Film
Norbit

Not-So-Obviously Worst Film
Youth Without Youth/Bee Movie (Tie)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

This new film version of Sweeney Todd is based on Stephen Sondheim's hit Broadway musical of the same name. It was directed by the offbeat Tim Burton and the script is by John Logan. I didn't know if Burton would be able to pull it off but I must say that he most certainly did. I found this gothic, bloody tale a lot of fun to watch.

Barber Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) is taken off to jail for no rhyme or reason. He left behind his wife and baby daughter. The man behind the jailing is Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman). He has a thing for Sweeney's wife.

Fifteen years later Barker is out of jail and seeking revenge for the one has done him wrong. He changes his name to Sweeney Todd. When he goes back to where he used to live he finds a Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) in the space. She has a meat pie business (a very dirty one at that). She tells Sweeney that his wife took poison and that his daughter now lives with the judge as his adopted daughter. Sweeney is bent on killing the judge and his assistant Beadle Bamford (Timothy Spall). Along the way Todd meets another barber - Signor Adolfo Pirelli (Sacha Baron Cohen) and his boy assistant Toby (Ed Sanders).

There is no need to go on with the plot because it would spoil things if you haven't seen the show (like me). And if you have seen it then you don't need to know more.
Depp is very good as Sweeney. And I liked Bonham Carter as well. Rickman, Spall and Baron Cohen are also good. And littler Sanders is a wonder. The music is not really my style but I enjoyed it while I was watching the film. It works. And Depp has a nice voice. Yes, the movie is very bloody but it didn't bother me. I found it to be a lot of good, dark fun.

I was surprised to see that the theater was not very full. Depp can usually find an audience. Perhaps people don't want to see dark musicals. But I do recommend the film for those of you who want to see Depp and Bonham Carter branch out into a different type of film and for those of you who are not afraid of a little blood.

DVD Mini Review - The Situation

The Situation is directed by Philip Haas from a screenplay by Wendell Steavenson. Steveanson was a journalist covering Iraq so much of what is in the film based on fact.

Anna (Connie Nielsen) is a US based reporter covering the situation in Iraq(hence the name of the film). The story starts off when a US soldier throws two innocent Iraqi boys into the water. One of them survives because he can swim. The other one, who didn't know how to swim, dies. Anna wants to investigate what really happened. Along the way she speaks to many Iraqis. What she gets is that even though things were bad with Sadaam things are even worse since the Americans arrived.


Anna is sort of involved with US agency man named Dan Murphy (Damian Lewis). But she starts falling for an Iraqi photographer named Zaid (Mido Hamada). Through him she learns about what is really going on in Iraq and how bad things are there.

I don't want to say more about the plot. I will say that during the film you will meet a number of Iraqi characters who have to deal with very dangerous situations every day of their lives.

The Situation is a good film. But it had a very small release earlier this year. Perhaps the powers that be didn't want people to see it. But it is now out on DVD and do urge you to see it. It is a compelling film and one can certainly learn things about the horrendous situation in Iraq.

Juno

Juno is a warm and sweet independent comedy. It is directed by Jason Reitman and the screenplay is written by Diablo Cody. It features some snappy dialog (which every once in a while is too smart alecky for its own good) and some fine acting. However, the plot is nothing out of the ordinary.

Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is sixteen years old and curious about sex. She and her best friend Paulie (Michael Cera) decide to have a go at it. When she becomes pregnant she decides to have an abortion. But once she is in the clinic she changes her mind. She then decides to find a couple to give the baby to. When she tell her father Mac (J.K. Simmons) and step mother Bren (Allison Janney) they are very accepting of the situation and supportive of her choice. While looking through the Pennysaver Juno finds an attractive couple - Vanessa (Jennifer Garner) and Mark (Jason Bateman) - who want to adopt. Juno meets the couple (who have a beautiful house) and their lawyer and they draw up a contract regarding the adoption.

During this time Juno finds out quite a bit about herself and other people. There are some very funny moments in the film and also some very tender ones. I especially liked the scene in which Mac tells Juno how to know when a person really loves you. All of the acting is good. Page is definitely a young talent to watch although I sometimes had trouble believing that Juno was only sixteen. She just seemed older. And Janney is a marvel in her small role.

Juno is a good film but it just doesn't stand up to some of the year's best films. At least it is my opinion that it didn't. But go see it for yourself and make up your own mind about it.

St. Louis Gateway Critics Awards

St. Louis Gateway Critics Awards

BEST PICTURE:
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Runners Up (tied)
The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
Juno

BEST ACTRESS:
ELLEN PAGE - JUNO
Runner Up - Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose

BEST ACTOR:
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS - THERE WILL BE BLOOD
Runner Up - Don Cheadle --Talk to Me

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
AMY RYAN - GONE BABY GONE
Runner Up - Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
CASEY AFFLECK - THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD
Runner Up - Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson's War

BEST DIRECTOR:
ETHAN AND JOEL COEN - NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Runner Up - Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD - ROGER DEAKINS
Runner Up - Atonement - Seamus McGarvey

BEST SCREENPLAY (original or adapted):
JUNO - DIABLO CODY
Runner Up - No Country For Old Men - Ethan and Joel Coen, Cormac McCarthy

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
Runner Up - The Kite Runner

More after the cut.

BEST DOCUMENTARY:
SICKO
Runner Up - King of Kong - A Fist Full of Quarters

BEST COMEDY:
JUNO
Runner Up - Superbad

BEST ANIMATED OR CHILDREN'S FILM:
RATATOUILLE
Runner Up - The Simpsons Movie

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS (CGI/Special Effects)
300
Runners Up (tied) -
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
Sweeney Todd

BEST SCORE:
SWEENEY TODD
Runners Up (tied) -
La Vie En Rose
Once

MOST ORIGINAL OR INNOVATIVE FILM:
I'M NOT THERE
Runner Up - Diving Bell and the Butterfly
TagsSt. Louis

Florida Film Critics Awards

Best Picture
No Country for Old Men by Joel and Ethan Coen

Best Foreign-Language Film
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Julian Schnabel

Best Documentary
No End in Sight by Charles Ferguson

Best Directors
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

Best Actress
Ellen Page, Juno

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone

Best Screenplay:
Diablo Cody, Juno

Best Animated Film:
Ratatouille by Brad Bird

Best Cinematography:
Roger Deakins, No Country for Old Men and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Pauline Kael Breakout Award:
Ellen Page, Juno

Best Original Songs
Once

Utah Film Critics Winners

Utah Film Critics Winners

Best Picture
No Country for Old Men
Runner-up: Juno

Best Achievement in Directing
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Runner-up: Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

Best Lead Performance, Male
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Runner-up: Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Best Lead Performance, Female
Ellen Page, Juno
Runner-up: Amy Adams, Enchanted

Best Supporting Performance, Female
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Runner-up: Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There

Best Supporting Performance, Male
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Runner-up: Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild

Best Screenplay
Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Runner-up: Diablo Cody, Juno

Best Documentary Feature
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Runner-up: My Kid Could Paint That

Best Animated Feature
Ratatouille
Runner-up: The Simpsons Movie

Best Non-English Language Feature
The Host
Runner-up: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Utah Film Critics Association Top 10 Films of 2007 (alphabetical):

3:10 to Yuma
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
No Country for Old Men
I’m Not There
Into the Wild
Juno
Knocked Up
Michael Clayton
Once
There Will Be Blood

Las Vegas Film Critics Winners

Best Picture
“No Country for Old Men”

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”

Best Actress
Ellen Page, “Juno”

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, “I’m Not There”

Best Director
Joel & Ethan Coen, “No Country for Old Men

Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted)
Diablo Cody, “Juno”

Best Cinematography
Robert Elswit, “There Will Be Blood”

Best Film Editing
Christopher Rouse, “The Bourne Ultimatum”

Best Costume Design
Colleen Atwood, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Best Art Direction
“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”

Best Visual Effects
“Transformers”

Best Score
Jonny Greenwood, “There Will Be Blood”

Best Song
“Walk Hard” by Marshall Crenshaw, John C. Reilly, Judd Apatow and Jake Kasdan
Performed by John C. Reilly

Best Animated Film
“Ratatouille”

Best Family Film
“Ratatouille”

Best Documentary
“Sicko”

Best Foreign Film
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”

Youth in Film Award (Male)
Ed Sanders, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Youth in Film Award (Female)
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"

Best DVD (Packaging, Design and Content)
Blade Runner Ultimate Edition (Warner Home Entertainment)

William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award
James Hong

LVFCS Top Ten Films for 2007
No Country for Old Men
Sweeney Todd
3:10 to Yuma
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac
Into the Wild
Juno
Eastern Promises
The Lookout
Sunshine

Detroit Film Critics Winners

Best film: "No Country for Old Men"

Best director: Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"

Best actor: George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"

Best actress: Ellen Page, "Juno"

Best supporting actor: Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"

Best supporting actress: Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"

Best ensemble: "Juno"

Best newcomer: Diablo Cody, screenwriter, "Juno"

SAG Nominations

14th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® NOMINATIONS

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

GEORGE CLOONEY / Michael Clayton – “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Daniel Plainview – “There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage)
RYAN GOSLING / Lars Lindstrom – “Lars And The Real Girl” (Sidney Kimmel Entertainment)
EMILE HIRSCH / Christopher McCandless– “Into The Wild” (Paramount Vantage)
VIGGO MORTENSEN / Nikolai – “Eastern Promises” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

CATE BLANCHETT / Queen Elizabeth I – “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (Universal Pictures)
JULIE CHRISTIE / Fiona – “Away From Her” (Lionsgate)
MARION COTILLARD / Edith Piaf – “La Vie En Rose” (Picturehouse)
ANGELINA JOLIE / Mariane Pearl – “A Mighty Heart” (Paramount Vantage)
ELLEN PAGE / Juno MacGuff – “Juno” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

CASEY AFFLECK / Robert Ford – “The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh – “No Country For Old Men” (Miramax Films)
HAL HOLBROOK / Ron Franz – “Into The Wild” (Paramount Vantage)
TOMMY LEE JONES / Ed Tom Bell – “No Country For Old Men” (Miramax Films)
TOM WILKINSON / Arthur Edens – “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

CATE BLANCHETT / Jude – “I’m Not There” (The Weinstein Company)
RUBY DEE / Mama Lucas – “American Gangster” (Universal Pictures)
CATHERINE KEENER / Jan Burres – “Into The Wild” (Paramount Vantage)
AMY RYAN / Helene McCready – “Gone Baby Gone” (Miramax Films)
TILDA SWINTON / Karen Crowder – “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

3:10 TO YUMA (Lionsgate)

CHRISTIAN BALE / Dan Evans
RUSSELL CROWE / Ben Wade
PETER FONDA / Byron McElroy
GRETCHEN MOL / Alice Evans
DALLAS ROBERTS / Grayson Butterfield
VINESSA SHAW / Emmy Roberts
BEN FOSTER / Charlie Prince
ALAN TUDYK / Doc Potter
LOGAN LERMAN / Will Evans

AMERICAN GANGSTER (Universal Pictures)

ARMAND ASSANTE / Dominic Cattano
JOSH BROLIN / Detective Trupo
RUSSELL CROWE / Richie Roberts
RUBY DEE / Mama Lucas
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR / Huey Lucas
IDRIS ELBA / Tango
CUBA GOODING, JR. / Nicky Barnes
CARLA GUGINO / Laurie Roberts
JOHN HAWKES / Freddie Spearman
TED LEVINE / Lou Toback
JOE MORTON / Charlie Williams
LYMARI NADAL / Eva
JOHN ORTIZ / Javier J. Rivera
RZA / Moses Jones
YUL VAZQUEZ / Alfonse Abruzzo
DENZEL WASHINGTON / Frank Lucas

HAIRSPRAY (New Line Cinema)

NIKKI BLONSKY / Tracy Turnblad
AMANDA BYNES / Penny Pingleton
PAUL DOOLEY / Mr. Spritzer
ZAC EFRON / Link Larkin
ALLISON JANNEY / Prudy Pingleton
ELIJAH KELLEY / Seaweed
JAMES MARSDEN / Corny Collins
MICHELLE PFEIFFER / Velma Von Tussle
QUEEN LATIFAH / Motormouth Maybelle
BRITTANY SNOW / Amber Von Tussle
JERRY STILLER / Mr. French
JOHN TRAVOLTA / Edna Turnblad
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN / Wilbur Turnblad

INTO THE WILD (Paramount Vantage)

BRIAN DIERKER / Rainey
MARCIA GAY HARDEN / Billie McCandless
EMILE HIRSCH / Chris McCandless
HAL HOLBROOK / Ron Franz
WILLIAM HURT / Walt McCandless
CATHERINE KEENER / Jan Burres
JENA MALONE / Carine McCandless
KRISTEN STEWART / Tracy Tatro
VINCE VAUGHN / Wayne Westerberg

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Miramax Films)

JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh
JOSH BROLIN / Llewelyn Moss
GARRET DILLAHUNT / Wendell
TESS HARPER / Loretta Bell
WOODY HARRELSON / Carson Wells
TOMMY LEE JONES / Ed Tom Bell
KELLY MACDONALD / Carla Jean Moss

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

MICHAEL KEATON / James Jesus Angleton – “The Company (TNT)
KEVIN KLINE / Jacques – “As You Like It” (HBO)
OLIVER PLATT / George Steinbrenner – “The Bronx is Burning” (ESPN)
SAM SHEPARD / Frank Whiteley – “Ruffian” (ABC)
JOHN TURTURRO / Billy Martin – “The Bronx is Burning” (ESPN)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

ELLEN BURSTYN / Posey Benetto – “Mitch Albom’s For One More Day” (ABC)
DEBRA MESSING / Molly Kagan – “The Starter Wife” (USA)
ANNA PAQUIN / Elaine Goodale – “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” (HBO)
QUEEN LATIFAH / Ana – “Life Support “ (HBO)
VANESSA REDGRAVE / Woman – “The Fever” (HBO)
GENA ROWLANDS / Melissa Eisenbloom – “What If God Were the Sun?” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano – “The Sopranos” (HBO)
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan – “Dexter” (Showtime)
JON HAMM / Don Draper – “Mad Men” (AMC)
HUGH LAURIE / Dr. Gregory House – “House” (FOX)
JAMES SPADER / Alan Shore – “Boston Legal” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

GLENN CLOSE / Patty Hewes – “Damages” (FX)
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano – “The Sopranos” (HBO)
SALLY FIELD / Nora Walker – “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC)
HOLLY HUNTER / Grace Hanadarko – “Saving Grace” (TNT)
KYRA SEDGWICK / Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson – “The Closer” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – “30 Rock” (NBC)
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott – “The Office” (NBC)
RICKY GERVAIS / Andy Millman – “Extras” (NBC)
JEREMY PIVEN / Ari Gold – “Entourage” (HBO)
TONY SHALHOUB / Adrian Monk – “Monk” (USA)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE / Samantha Newly – “Samantha Who?” (ABC)
AMERICA FERRERA / Betty Suarez – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – “30 Rock” (NBC)
MARY-LOUISE PARKER / Nancy Botwin – “Weeds” (Showtime)
VANESSA WILLIAMS / Wilhelmina Slater – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)

RENE AUBERJONOIS / Paul Lewiston
CANDICE BERGEN / Shirley Schmidt
JULIE BOWEN / Denise Bauer
SAFFRON BURROWS / Lorraine Weller
CHRISTIAN CLEMENSON / Jerry Espenson
TARAJI P. HENSON / Whitney Rome
JOHN LARROQUETTE / Carl Sack
WILLIAM SHATNER / Denny Crane
JAMES SPADER / Alan Shore
TARA SUMMERS / Katie Lloyd
MARK VALLEY / Brad Chase
GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS / Clarence/Clarice Bell
CONSTANCE ZIMMER / Claire Simms

THE CLOSER (TNT)

G.W. BAILEY / Det. Lt. Provenza
MICHAEL PAUL CHAN / Lt. Tao
RAYMOND CRUZ / Det. Sanchez
TONY DENISON / Lt. Andy Flynn
ROBERT GOSSETT / Commander Taylor
GINA RAVERA / Det. Irene Daniels
COREY REYNOLDS / Sgt. David Gabriel
KYRA SEDGWICK / Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson
J.K. SIMMONS / Asst. Police Chief Will Pope
JON TENNEY / FBI Agent Fritz Howard

GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC)

JUSTIN CHAMBERS / Alex Karev
ERIC DANE / Mark Sloan
PATRICK DEMPSEY / Derek Shepherd
KATHERINE HEIGL / Izzie Stevens
T.R. KNIGHT / George O’Malley
CHYLER LEIGH / Lexie Grey
SANDRA OH / Cristina Yang
JAMES PICKENS, JR. / Richard Webber
ELLEN POMPEO / Meredith Grey
SARA RAMIREZ / Callie Torres
ELIZABETH REASER / Jane Doe/Ava/Rebecca Pope
BROOKE SMITH / Erica Hahn
KATE WALSH / Addison Montgomery-Shepherd
ISAIAH WASHINGTON / Dr. Preston Burke
CHANDRA WILSON / Dr. Miranda Bailey

MAD MEN (AMC)

BRYAN BATT / Salvatore Romano
ANNE DUDEK / Francine Hanson
MICHAEL GLADIS / Paul Kinsey
JON HAMM / Don Draper
CHRISTINA HENDRICKS / Joan Holloway
JANUARY JONES / Betty Draper
VINCENT KARTHEISER / Pete Campbell
ROBERT MORSE / Bertram Cooper
ELISABETH MOSS / Peggy Olson
MAGGIE SIFF / Rachel Menken
JOHN SLATTERY / Roger Sterling
RICH SOMMER / Harry Crane
AARON STATON / Ken Cosgrove

THE SOPRANOS (HBO)

GREGORY ANTONACCI / Butch DeConcini
LORRAINE BRACCO / Dr. Jennifer Melfi
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano
DAN GRIMALDI / Patsy Parisi
ROBERT ILER / Anthony Soprano, Jr.
MICHAEL IMPERIOLI / Christopher Moltisanti
ARTHUR NASCARELLA / Carlo Gervasi
STEVEN R. SCHIRRIPA / Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri
MATT SERVITTO / Agent Dwight Harris
JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER / Meadow Soprano
TONY SIRICO / Paulie “Walnuts” Gaultieri
AIDA TURTURRO / Janice Soprano
STEVEN VAN ZANDT / Silvio Dante
FRANK VINCENT / Phil Leotardo

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

30 ROCK (NBC)

SCOTT ADSIT / Pete Hornberger
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy
KATRINA BOWDEN / Cerie
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon
JUDAH FRIEDLANDER / Frank Rositano
JANE KRAKOWSKI / Jenna Maroney
JACK McBRAYER / Kenneth Parcell
TRACY MORGAN / Tracy Jordan
KEITH POWELL / Toofer
LONNY ROSS / Josh Girard

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)

ANDREA BOWEN / Julie Mayer
RICHARDO A. CHAVIRA / Carlos Solis
MARCIA CROSS / Bree Van De Kamp Hodge
DANA DELANY / Katherine Mayfair
JAMES DENTON / Mike Delfino
NATHAN FILLION / Adam Mayfair
LINDSY FONSECA / Dylan Mayfair
TERI HATCHER / Susan Mayer
ZANE HUETT / Parker Scavo
FELICITY HUFFMAN / Lynette Scavo
KATHRYN JOOSTEN / Mrs. McCluskey
BRENT KINSMAN / Preston Scavo/Porter Scavo
SHANE KINSMAN / Porter Scavo/Preston Scavo
JOY LAUREN / Danielle Van De Kamp
EVA LONGORIA PARKER / Gabrielle Solis Lang
KYLE MacLACHLAN / Orson Hodge
SHAWN PYFROM / Andrew Van De Kamp
DOUG SAVANT / Tom Scavo
DOUGRAY SCOTT / Ian Hainsworth
NICOLETTE SHERIDAN / Edie Britt
JOHN SLATTERY / Victor Lang
BRENDA STRONG / Mary Alice Young

ENTOURAGE (HBO)

RHYS COIRO / Billy Walsh
KEVIN CONNOLLY / Eric Murphy
KEVIN DILLON / Johnny Drama
JERRY FERRARA / Turtle
ADRIAN GRENIER / Vincent Chase
REX LEE / Lloyd
JEREMY PIVEN / Ari Gold
PERREY REEVES / Mrs. Ari

THE OFFICE (NBC)

LESLIE DAVID BAKER / Stanley Hudson
BRIAN BAUMGARTNER / Kevin Malone
CREED BRATTON / Creed
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott
JENNA FISCHER / Pam Beesly
KATE FLANNERY / Meredith Palmer
ED HELMS / Andrew Bernard
MINDY KALING / Kelly Kapoor
ANGELA KINSEY / Angela Martin
JOHN KRASINSKI / Jim Halpert
PAUL LIEBERSTEIN / Toby Flenderson
B.J. NOVAK / Ryan Howard
OSCAR NUÑEZ / Oscar Martinez
PHYLLIS SMITH / Phyllis Lapin
RAINN WILSON / Dwight Schrute

UGLY BETTY (ABC)

ALAN DALE / Bradford Meade
AMERICA FERRERA / Betty Suarez
CHRISTOPER GORHAM / Henry
MARK INDELICATO / Justin
ASHLEY JENSEN / Christina
JUDITH LIGHT / Claire Meade
ERIC MABIUS / Daniel Meade
BECKI NEWTON / Amanda
ANA ORTIZ / Hilda
TONY PLANA / Ignacio
REBECCA ROMIJN / Alexis
KEVIN SUSSMAN / Walter
MICHAEL URIE / Marc
VANESSA WILLIAMS / Wilhelmina Slater

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

300 (Warner Bros.)
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (Universal)
I AM LEGEND (Warner Bros.)
THE KINGDOM (Universal)
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

24 (FOX)
HEROES (NBC)
LOST (ABC)
ROME (HBO)
THE UNIT (CBS)

Screen Actors Guild Awards 44th Annual Life Achievement Award

Charles Durning

Toronto Film Critics Association Picks

Toronto Film Critics Association - 2007 Awards

BEST PICTURE
"No Country for Old Men" (Alliance Films)

Runners-up
"Eastern Promises" (Odeon Films)
"Zodiac" (Paramount Pictures)

BEST PERFORMANCE, MALE
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"

Runners-up
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
Gordon Pinsent, "Away From Her"

BEST PERFORMANCE, FEMALE -- TIE
Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
and
Ellen Page, "Juno"

Runner-up
Laura Dern, "Inland Empire"

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, MALE
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"

Runners-up
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James
By the Coward Robert Ford"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"

Runners-up
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"

BEST DIRECTOR
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"

Runners-up
David Cronenberg, "Eastern Promises"
David Fincher, "Zodiac"

BEST SCREENPLAY
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"

Runners-up
Diablo Cody, "Juno"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"

BEST CANADIAN FILM
"Away From Her" (Mongrel Media)

Runners-up
"Eastern Promises" (Odeon Films)
"Radiant City" (Odeon Films)

BEST FIRST FEATURE
"Away From Her", directed by Sarah Polley

Runners-up
"Gone Baby Gone", directed by Ben Affleck
"Michael Clayton", directed by Tony Gilroy

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
"Ratatouille" (Disney/Pixar)

Runners-up
"Paprika" (Mongrel Media)
"The Simpsons Movie" (20th Century Fox)

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
"4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days" (Mongrel Media)

Runners-up
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Alliance Films)
"The Lives of Others" (Mongrel Media)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"No End in Sight" (Mongrel Media)

Runners-up
"Iraq in Fragments" (Mongrel Media)
"My Kid Could Paint That" (Mongrel Media)

DVD Mini Review - Man Push Cart

Ramin Bahrani's Man Push Cart is a wonderful little film. And I say little because it was obviously shot on a tight budget.

The story takes place in New York City. In fact, the city is one of the main characters. And as life long New Yorker I can tell you that Bahrani captured New York to a tee. The protagonist of the film is Ahmad (Ahmad Razul). Ahmad is struggling to pay off his cart. He sells bagels, doughnuts, tea and coffee to busy New Yorkers. His is a life of solitude. He came to the US from Pakistan with his wife and child. His wife died and his child lives with his wife's parents. Back in Pakistan he was a famous singer but in the US he struggles to make ends meet.

Ahmad strikes up a friendship with one of his customers Mohammed (Charles Daniel Sandoval) who is well off and recognizes him from Pakistan. Ahmad also becomes friends with Noemi (Leticia Dolera) a Spanish woman who works at a new stand. All of the acting is good and Razul is fantastic. I believe that the film received several Spirit nominations this past year.

Man Push Cart is a real slice of life film. Things that happen in the movie can surely happen in real life. I don't want to say how things turn out for Ahmad. Why should I ruin things for you? But I certainly urge you to rent Man Push Cart.

San Diego Critics Picks

BEST FILM
"No Country for Old Men"
Runner-up: "There Will Be Blood"

BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Runner-up:Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country For Old Men"

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
Runners-up (tie): Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"; Russell Crowe, "3:10 to Yuma"

BEST ACTRESS
Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Runner-up: Ellen Page, "Juno"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tommy Lee Jones, "No Country for Old Men"
Runner-up: Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Runner-up: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Diablo Cody, "Juno"
Runner-up: Gerard Soeteman and Paul Verhoeven, "Black Book"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Runners-up (tie): Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Runner-up: "The Orphanage"

BEST DOCUMENTARY
(tie) "No End in Sight" and "Deep Water"

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
""Ratatouille""
Runners-up (tie): "Persepolis" and "Paprika"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Roger Deakins, "No Country for Old Men"
Runner-up: Robert Elswitt, "There Will Be Blood"

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Dante Ferretti, "Sweeney Todd"
Runner-up: Sarah Greenwood, "Atonement"

BEST EDITOR
Paul Tothill, "Atonement"
Runners-up: Christopher Rouse, "The Bourne Ultimatum"; Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"

BEST SCORE
Jonny Greenwood, "There Will Be Blood"
Runner-up: Dario Marianelli, "Atonement"

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
"No Country for Old Men"

BODY OF WORK
Christian Bale, "3:10 to Yuma," "Rescue Dawn," "I'm Not There"

Austin Film Critics Picks

Top Ten:

There Will Be Blood
No Country for Old men
Juno
Into the Wild
3:10 to Yuma
Knocked Up
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Atonement
American Gangster
Eastern Promises

Best Film:
There Will Be Blood

Best Director:
Paul Thomas Anderson, 'There Will Be Blood'

Best Actor:
Daniel Day Lewis, 'There Will Be Blood'

Best Actress:
Ellen Page, 'Juno'

Best Supporting Actor:
Javier Bardem, 'No Country For Old Men'

Best Supporting Actress:
Allison Janney, Juno

Best Foreign Film:
Black Book

Best Documentary:
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Best Animated Film:
Ratatouille

Best First Film:
Ben Affleck, 'Gone Baby Gone'

Best Original Screenplay:
Diablo Cody, 'Juno'

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Ethan & Joel Coen, 'No Country For Old Men'

Best Cinematography:
Robert Elswit, 'There Will Be Blood'

Best Original Score:
Jonny Greenwood, 'There Will Be Blood'

Breakthrough Artist:
Michael Cera, 'Superbad,' 'Juno

Austin Film Award:
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, 'Grindhouse'

Phoenix Film Critics Winners

Best Picture
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Top Ten Films (In Alphabetical Order)
Atonement
Away From Her
Hairspray
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country For Old Men
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
There Will Be Blood
3:10 to Yuma
Zodiac

Best Achievement in Direction
Ethan and Joel Coen for NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Daniel Day Lewis for THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Julie Christie for AWAY FROM HER

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Javier Bardem for NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Ryan for GONE BABY GONE

Best Ensemble Acting
The Cast of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Screenplay written directly for the screen
Diablo Cody for JUNO

Best Screenplay adapted from another medium
Joel and Ethan Coen for NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Adapted from the novel by Cormac McCarthy

Best Live Action Family Film
ENCHANTED

Overlooked Film of the Year
STARDUST

Best Animated Film
RATATOUILLE

Best Foreign Language Film
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY

Best Documentary
SICKO

Best Original Song
"Falling Slowly" from ONCE

Best Original Score
ATONEMENT

Best Achievement in Cinematography
ATONEMENT

Best Achievement in Editing
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Best Achievement in Production Design
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET

Best Achievement in Costume Design
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET

Best Achievement in Visual Effects
300

Best Achievement in Stunts
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

Breakthrough on Camera
Ellen Page for JUNO

Breakthrough behind the Camera
Sarah Polley for AWAY FROM HER

Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role - Male
Edward Sanders for SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET

Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role - Female
Saoirse Ronan for ATONEMENT

Golden Satellite Awards

FILM

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie En Rose" (Picturehouse Entertainment)

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Ellen Page, "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Ryan Gosling, "Lars and the Real Girl" (MGM)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone" (Miramax Films)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
(tie) Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jessie James" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
"No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)

MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
"Juno"(Fox Searchlight)

MOTION PICTURE, FOREIGN LANGUAGE
"Lust, Caution" China (Focus Features)

MOTION PICTURE, ANIMATED OR MIXED MEDIA
""Ratatouille"" (Buena Vista Pictures)

MOTION PICTURE, DOCUMENTARY
"Sicko" (Lionsgate)

DIRECTOR
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, "No Country For Old Men" (Miramax Films)

SCREENPLAY, ORIGINAL
Diablo Cody, "Juno" (Fox Searchlight)

SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED
Christopher Hampton "Atonement" (Focus Features)

ORIGINAL SCORE
Alberto Iglesias, "The Kite Runner" (Paramount Vantage)

ORIGINAL SONG
"Grace Is Gone"/Clint Eastwood & Carole Bayer Sager, "Grace Is Gone" (The Weinstein Company)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Janusz Kaminski, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax Films)

VISUAL EFFECTS
Scott Farrar,
Chris Watts, Grant Freckelton, Derek Wentworth, Daniel Leduc, "300" (Warner Bros. Pictures)

FILM EDITING
Pietro Scalia, "American Gangster" (Universal Pictures)

SOUND (EDITING & MIXING)
Karen Baker Landers, Kirk Francis, Per Hallberg, "The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal Pictures)

ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION DESIGN
Guy Dyas, David Allday, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal Pictures)

COSTUME DESIGN
Alexandra Byrne, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal Pictures)

MARY PICKFORD AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
Kathy Bates

TESLA AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF VISIONARY ACHIEVEMENT IN FILMMAKING TECHNOLOGY
Dennis Muren

AUTEUR AWARD
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

BEST ENSEMBLE
"Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead"

TELEVISION

TELEVISION MINISERIES
"The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard" (BBC/Kudos Productions)

MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
"Mitch Albom’S For One More Day"(ABC)

ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Samantha Morton, "Longford" (HBO/Channel 4)

ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISIONDavid Oyelowo, "Five Days" (HBO)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty" (ABC)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
G. David Zayas, "Dexter" (Showtime)

TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
"Dexter" (Showtime)

ACTRESS IN A SERIES, DRAMA
Ellen Pompeo, "Grey’s Anatomy" (ABC)

ACTOR IN A SERIES, DRAMA
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" (Showtime)

TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
"Pushing Daisies" (ABC)

ACTRESS IN A SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty" (ABC)

ACTOR IN A SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Stephen Colbert, "The Colbert Report" (Comedy Central)

BEST ENSEMBLE
"Mad Men"

DVD AWARDS

BEST OVERALL DVD
"The Prestige" (Buena Vista)

DVD EXTRAS
(tie) "Borat" (20th Century Fox)
"Masters of Horror, Season 1" (Anchor Bay/Starz)

YOUTH DVD
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney Home Entertainment)

DOCUMENTARY DVD
"The War: A Ken Burns Film" (Acorn Media)

DVD RELEASE OF A TV SHOW
"Dexter, Season 1" (Showtime Entertainment/Paramount)

GAME AWARDS

OUTSTANDING SPORTS/RHYTHM/MUSIC GAME
"Guitar Hero II" Publisher: Redoctane

OUTSTANDING ACTION/ADVENTURE GAME

"God Of War II" Publisher: Scea (Sony Computer Entertainment America)

OUTSTANDING PUZZLE/STRATEGY GAME

"Medieval II: Total War" Publisher: Sega

OUTSTANDING ROLE PLAYING GAME

"Super Paper Mario" Publisher: Nintendo

Southeastern Critics Winners

BEST PICTURE
1. No Country for Old Men
2. There Will Be Blood
3. Atonement
4. Juno
5. Michael Clayton
6. Zodiac
7. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
8. Gone Baby Gone
9. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
10. Into the Wild

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
* Runner-up: George Clooney - Michael Clayton

BEST ACTRESS
Julie Christie - Away from Her
* Runner-up: Ellen Page - Juno

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
* Runner-up: Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward
Robert Ford

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
* Runner-up: Cate Blanchett - I'm Not There

BEST DIRECTOR
Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men
* Runner-up: Joe Wright - Atonement

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Diablo Cody - Juno
* Runner-up: Tamara Jenkins - The Savages

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Joel & Ethan Coen - No Country for Old Men
* Runner-up: Christopher Hampton - Atonement

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (France)
* Runner-up: La vie en rose (France)

BEST DOCUMENTARY
No End in Sight
* Runner-up: Sicko

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Ratatouille
* Runner-up: The Simpsons Movie

WYATT AWARD
Waitress
* Runner-up: Black Snake Moan

Dallas Ft. Worth Critics Awards

BEST PICTURE
1. No Country for Old Men
2. Juno
3. There Will Be Blood
4. Atonement
5. Michael Clayton
6. Into the Wild
7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
8. The Kite Runner
9. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
10. Charlie Wilson's War

BEST ACTOR
1. Daniel Day-Lewis
2. George Clooney
3. Frank Langella
4. Tommy Lee Jones
5. Emile Hirsch

BEST ACTRESS
1. Julie Christie
2. Marion Cotillard
3. Ellen Page
4. Laura Linney
5. Angelina Jolie

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
1. Javier Bardem
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman
3. Casey Affleck
4. Tom Wilkinson
5. Hal Holbrook

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
1. Tilda Swinton
2. Amy Ryan
3. Cate Blanchett
4. Saoirse Ronan
5. Jennifer Jason Leigh

BEST DIRECTOR
1. Joel and Ethan Coen
2. Paul Thomas Anderson
3. Tim Burton
4. Julian Schnabel
5. Sean Penn

BEST SCREENPLAY
1. Juno
2. No Country for Old Men

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
1. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
2. (tie) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
2. (tie) No Country for Old Men

BEST FOREIGN FILM
1. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
2. La Vie en Rose
3. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
4. Lust, Caution
5. Black Book

BEST ANIMATED
1. Ratatouille
2. Persepolis

BEST DOCUMENTARY
1. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
2. SiCKO
3. No End in Sight
4. My Kid Could Paint That
5. Crazy Love

Atonement

Joe Wright's big screen adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel Atonement is a good film but not a great one. The screenplay by Christopher Hampton is well written. Wright's attention to detail is right on. Seamus McGarvey's lush cinematography is exquisite. And Dario Marianell's score is beautiful. So what could be bad? Well, nothing really. Except it is not great either.

The story focuses on Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) and Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley). Robbie's mother Grace (Brenda Blethyn) works as a maid for Cecilia's parents. There is a strong attraction between the two but, of course, there is the class difference. Cecilia's younger sister Briony (Saoirse Ronan) is watching them closely. Perhaps too closely for everyone's good. She misinterprets something that she sees and tells a lie (although at the time she believes it to be true) that ruins lives. After this event happens we switch to Dunkirk a few years later. It is during the war and Robbie is serving in the British army. There is a spectacular sequence shot of Dunkirk that lasts for several minutes. It absolutely takes your breath away and is one of the best scenes in the film. We then go back to London where we see an older (18) Briony (Romola Garai) working as a nurse. She desperately wants to make amends and right wrongs. But how will she do that? The last ten minutes of the film shows the elderly Briony (Vanessa Redgrave) who is a writer. She talks about her latest book which she has been working on for years.

I won't tell you what the lie is about. If you haven't read the book then it will be a surprise. If you have read the book then you already know. I never compare books to films because they are two different mediums. And I found the war section in the book way too long. However, the book had a certain emotional element that the films doesn't have. Wright seemed to be too detail oriented to be able to concentrate on emotion. McAvoy and Knightley are good but not special enough for awards consideration. However, the three Brionys - Ronan, Garai and Redgrave are all wonderful. When I read the book I cried as I read the last part. And Redgrave did bring tears to my eyes (as hers is the last part). The great Blethyn is wasted in a small role in which she has nothing to do.

Atonement will probably be up for some Oscars. I don't think it deserves to win. But it seems like it might be the Academy's cup of tea. I do hope that they take a risk and pick an edgier film for the win. In any case, if you like period films that contain romance you might want to check this out.

One last thing - Knightley look absolutely skeletal in the film. Someone should get that woman some food!

DVD Mini Review - The Bourne Ultimatum

The Bourne Ultimatum is the third in the popular Bourne film series. Paul Greengrass is back in the director's chair. And does such a great job. You feel as if you are on one long chase from country to country. But Greengrass is so good that he really elevates the film way above your average action film.

Matt Damon is back as Jason Bourne. And in this film we find out more about Bourne and what really happened to him. Damon is joined by Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Julia Stiles, Paddy Considine and Albert Finney. And Daniel Bruhl is in one scene.

I recommend this film to anyone who wants to see a thinking person's action film. And I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my tour to all of those different locales.

There Will Be Blood

There Will Be Blood is an incredible film. It has the look and feel of an old fashioned epic. Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson loosely adapted it from Upton Sinclair's book Oil. It is also (again loosely) based on Edward Doheny who became a millionaire and headed the Pan American Petroleum and Transport Company.

In the film Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) starts out by mining gold. But he pursues bigger and better things when he discovers that a lot of the land has oil. He advertises himself as a family man - he always takes his son H.W. (Dillon Freasier) with him. You could say he is a con artist who tries to swindle people out of their money. He never seems to have enough. And he does not like people.

When he gets a tipoff that the Sunday ranch is loaded with oil he wastes no time in visiting them. But their son Eli (Paul Dano) is suspicioius. And he should be - Plainview is not an honest man. Oh, it should be noted that Eli is a preacher and is trying to build up his church.

The plot is not hard to follow. It is mainly the telling of the rise and fall of one man. And it is also very much a story about a father and son. And it is about greed and vengeance. It is a truly American film. There Will Be Blood shows how the great illness of over ambition, which is a very American trait, can be destructive when it is taken to its limits. And it is also about religious hypocrisy. Plainview and Eli are two sides of the same coin.

Anderson does a fantastic job directing this film. It is definitely his best film to date. His screenplay is very well written. Dano is good but he sometimes goes a bit over the top. I understand that his character preaches fire and brimstone. But Dano doesn't have the experience of a Burt Lancaster who was just amazing in Elmer Gantry. Young Freasier is terrific as the you H.W. He conveys a lot of emotion without saying much. But this film really belongs to Day-Lewis. He is beyond mesmerizing. He is in almost every scene and I just couldn't take my eyes off of him. Even though he is a dispicible I wanted to see more of him. I was tranfixed while I watched the man go down the tubes. As he grew richer with material things he became poorer in spirit. The cinematography by Robert Elswit is stunning.

I really don't think that this film is for everyone. If you like fast moving action films and nothing else then don't see this film. It takes its time to roll out. But for those of you who want a unique film going experience then you must see There Will Be Blood. It is definitely one of the best films of 2007.

By the way, I attended an advance screening where Anderson and Day-Lewis took questions and answers after the film. Day-Lewis is a lovely, charming man - so unlike the character he plays in this film (or Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York).

Chicago Film Critics Winners

BEST PICTURE – "No Country for Old Men"

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM – "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days"

BEST DIRECTOR – Joel & Ethan Coen for "No Country for Old Men"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – Diablo Cody for" Juno"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – Joel & Ethan Coen for "No Country for Old Men"

BEST ACTOR – Daniel Day-Lewis for "There Will Be Blood"

BEST ACTRESS – Ellen Page for "Juno"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – Javier Bardem for "No Country for Old Men"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – Cate Blanchett for "I’m Not There"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova for "Once"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – Roger Deakins for "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

BEST DOCUMENTARY – "Sicko"

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – "Ratatouille"

MOST PROMISING PERFORMER – Michael Cera for "Juno" and "Superbad"

MOST PROMISING FILMMAKER – Ben Affleck for "Gone Baby Gone"

Golden Globe Nominations

MOTION PICTURES:

Picture, Drama: "American Gangster," "Atonement," "Eastern Promises," "The Great Debaters," "Michael Clayton," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

Actress, Drama: Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"; Julie Christie, "Away From Her"; Jodie Foster, "The Brave One"; Angelina Jolie, "A Mighty Heart"; Kiera Knightley, "Atonement."

Actor, Drama: George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"; Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"; James McAvoy, "Atonement"; Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"; Denzel Washington, "American Gangster."

Picture, Musical or Comedy: "Across the Universe," "Charlie Wilson's War," "Hairspray," "Juno," "Sweeney Todd."

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Amy Adams, "Enchanted"; Nikki Blonsky, "Hairspray"; Helena Bonham Carter, "Sweeney Todd"; Marion Cotillard, "La Vie En Rose"; Ellen Page, "Juno."

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd"; Ryan Gosling, "Lars and the Real Girl"; Tom Hanks, "Charlie Wilson's War"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Savages"; John C. Reilly, "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story."

Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"; Julia Roberts, "Charlie Wilson's War"; Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"; Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"; Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."

Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"; Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"; John Travolta, "Hairspray"; Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton."

Director: Tim Burton, "Sweeney Todd"; Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Ridley Scott, "American Gangster"; Joe Wright, "Atonement."

Screenplay: Diablo Cody, "Juno"; Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"; Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Aaron Sorkin, "Charlie Wilson's War."

Foreign Language: "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," Romania; "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," France and U.S.; "The Kite Runner," U.S.; "Lust, Caution," Taiwan; "Persepolis," France.

Animated Film: "Bee Movie," "Ratatouille," "The Simpsons Movie."

Original Score: Michael Brook, Kaki King, Eddie Edder, "Into the Wild"; Clint Eastwood, "Grace Is Gone"; Alberto Iglesias, "The Kite Runner"; Dario Marianelli, "Atonement"; Howard Shore, "Eastern Promises."

Original Song: "Despedida" from "Love in the Time of Cholera"; "Grace Is Gone" from "Grace Is Gone"; "Guaranteed" from "Into the Wild"; "That's How You Know" from "Enchanted"; "Walk Hard" from "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story."

___

TELEVISION:

Series, Drama: "Big Love," HBO; "Damages," FX Networks; "Grey's Anatomy," ABC; "House," Fox; "Mad Men," AMC; "The Tudors," Showtime.

Actress, Drama: Patricia Arquette, "Medium"; Glenn Close, "Damages"; Minnie Driver, "The Riches"; Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"; Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters"; Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace"; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer."

Actor, Drama: Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"; Hugh Laurie, "House"; Jonathan Rhys Meyers, "The Tudors"; Bill Paxton, "Big Love."

Series, Musical or Comedy: "30 Rock," NBC; "Californication," Showtime; "Entourage," HBO; "Extras," HBO; "Pushing Daisies," ABC.

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?"; America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"; Tina Fey, "30 Rock"; Anna Friel, "Pushing Daisies"; Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds."

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; Steve Carell, "The Office"; David Duchovny, "Californication"; Ricky Gervais, "Extras"; Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies."

Miniseries or Movie: "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," HBO; "The Company," TNT; "Five Days," HBO; "Longford," HBO; "The State Within," BBC America.

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Bryce Dallas Howard, "As You Like It"; Debra Messing, "The Starter Wife"; Queen Latifah, "Life Support"; Sissy Spacek, "Pictures of Hollis Woods"; Ruth Wilson, "Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre)."

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Adam Beach, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee"; Ernest Borgnine, "A Grandpa for Christmas"; Jim Broadbent, "Longford"; Jason Isaacs, "The State Within"; James Nesbitt, "Jekyll."

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Rose Byrne, "Damages"; Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers & Sisters"; Katherine Heigl, "Grey's Anatomy"; Samantha Morton, "Longford"; Anna Paquin, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee"; Jaime Pressly, "My Name Is Earl."

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Ted Danson, "Damages"; Kevin Dillon, "Entourage"; Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"; Andy Serkis, "Longford"; William Shatner, "Boston Legal"; Donald Sutherland, "Dirty Sexy Money."

Broadcast Film Critics Association Nominations

NOMINEES FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS

PICTURE
American Gangster
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Into the Wild
Juno
The Kite Runner
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
Sweeney Todd
There Will Be Blood

ACTOR
George Clooney — Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis — There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp — Sweeney Todd
Ryan Gosling — Lars and the Real Girl
Emile Hirsch — Into the Wild
Viggo Mortensen — Eastern Promises

ACTRESS
Amy Adams — Enchanted
Cate Blanchett — Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie — Away From Her
Marion Cotillard — La Vie en Rose
Angelina Jolie — A Mighty Heart
Ellen Page — Juno

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Casey Affleck — The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem — No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman — Charlie Wilson’s War
Hal Holbrook — Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson — Michael Clayton

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett — I’m Not There
Catherine Keener — Into the Wild
Vanessa Redgrave — Atonement
Amy Ryan — Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton — Michael Clayton

ACTING ENSEMBLE
Hairspray
Juno
No Country for Old Men
Sweeney Todd
Gone Baby Gone
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

DIRECTOR
Tim Burton — Sweeney Todd
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen — No Country for Old Men
Sidney Lumet — Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Sean Penn — Into the Wild
Julian Schnabel — The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Joe Wright — Atonement

WRITER
Diablo Cody — Juno
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen — No Country for Old Men
Tony Gilroy — Michael Clayton
Nancy Oliver — Lars and the Real Girl
Sean Penn — Into the Wild
Aaron Sorkin — Charlie Wilson’s War

ANIMATED FEATURE
Bee Movie
Beowulf
Persepolis
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie

YOUNG ACTOR
Michael Cera — Juno
Michael Cera — Superbad
Freddie Highmore — August Rush
Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada — The Kite Runner
Edward Sanders — Sweeney Todd

YOUNG ACTRESS
Nikki Blonsky — Hairspray
Dakota Blue Richards — The Golden Compass
AnnaSophia Robb — Bridge to Terabithia
Saoirse Ronan — Atonement

COMEDY MOVIE
Dan in Real Life
Hairspray
Juno
Knocked Up
Superbad

FAMILY FILM (LIVE ACTION)
August Rush
Enchanted
The Golden Compass
Hairspray
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
The Company
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Tin Man
The War

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
La Vie en Rose
Lust, Caution
The Orphanage

SONG
Come So Far — Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley — Hairspray
Do You Feel Me — Anthony Hamilton — American Gangster
Falling Slowly — Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova — Once
Guaranteed — Eddie Vedder — Into the Wild
That’s How You Know — Amy Adams — Enchanted

COMPOSER
Marco Beltrami — 3:10 to Yuma
Alexandre Desplat — Lust, Caution
Clint Eastwood — Grace Is Gone
Jonny Greenwood — There Will Be Blood
Dario Marianelli — Atonement
Alan Menken — Enchanted

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Darfur Now
In the Shadow of the Moon
The King of Kong
No End in Sight
Sharkwater
Sicko

NY Film Critics Circle Awards

BEST FILM No Country for Old Men

BEST DIRECTORS Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men)

BEST ACTOR Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)

BEST ACTRESS Julie Christie (Away From Her)

BEST SUPPRTING ACTOR Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)

BEST SCREENPLAY Joel and Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood)

BEST DOCUMENTARY No End in Sight

BEST FOREIGN FILM The Lives of Others

BEST ANIMATED FILM Persepolis

BEST FIRST FILM Sarah Polley (Away from Her)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Sidney Lumet

SPECIAL CRITICS' AWARD Charles Burnett (Killer of Sheep)

NY Online Film Critics Awards

Film (tie): The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - dir. Julian Schnabel; There Will Be Blood - dir. Paul Thomas Anderson

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)

Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)

Actress: Julie Christie (Away from Her)

Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)

Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There)

Cinematography: Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood)

Screenplay: Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola (The Darjeeling Limited)

Foreign Film (tie): The Lives of Others - dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmark; Persepolis - dir. Vincent Parannaud, Marjane Satrapi

Documentary: Sicko - dir. Michael Moore

Music/Score: Jonny Greenwood (There Will Be Blood)

Breakthrough Performance: Ellen Page (Juno)

Debut as Director: Sarah Polley (Away from Her)

Ensemble Performance: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Albert Finney, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Amy Ryan, et al)

The 11 Best Films of 07 (alphabetically):

Atonement - dir. Joe Wright
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - dir. Sidney Lumet
The Darjeeling Limited - dir. Wes Anderson
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - dir. Julian Schnabel
I'm Not There - dir. Todd Haynes
Juno - dir. Jason Reitman
Michael Clayton - dir. Tony Gilroy
No Country for Old Men - dir. Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Persepolis - dir. Vincent Parannaud, Marjane Satrapi
Sweeney Todd - dir. Tim Burton
There Will Be Blood - dir. Paul Thomas Anderson

Washington DC Film Critics Awards

Film: No Country for Old Men

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men)

Actor: George Clooney (Michael Clayton)

Actress: Julie Christie (Away from Her)

Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)

Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead)

Ensemble Cast: No Country for Old Men (Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Kelly Macdonald, Woody Harrelson, et al)

Breakthrough Performance: Ellen Page (Juno)

Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin (Charlie Wilson's War)

Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody (Juno)

Animated Feature: Ratatouille - dir. Brad Bird

Foreign Language Film: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - dir. Julian Schnabel

Documentary: Sicko - dir. Michael Moore

Art Direction: Sweeney Todd

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

Film: There Will Be Blood
Runner-Up: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)
Runner-Up: Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)

Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Runner-Up: Frank Langella (Starting Out in the Evening)

Actress: Marion Cotillard (La Vie en rose)
Runner-Up: Anamaria Marinca (4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days)

Supporting Actor: Vlad Ivanov (4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days)
Runner-Up: Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild)

Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)
Runner-Up: Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There)

Screenplay: Tamara Jenkins (The Savages)
Runner-Up: Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)

Foreign-Language Film: 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days - dir. Cristian Mungiu
Runner-Up: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - dir. Julian Schnabel

Documentary/Non-Fiction Film: No End in Sight - dir. Charles Ferguson
Runner-Up: Sicko - dir. Michael Moore

Production Design: Jack Fisk (There Will Be Blood)
Runner-Up: Dante Ferretti (Sweeney Todd)

Animation (tie): Ratatouille - dir. Brad Bird;
Persepolis - dir. Vincent Parannaud, Marjane Satrapi

Music: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova (Once)
Runner-Up: Jonny Greenwood (There Will Be Blood)

Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)
Runner-Up: Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood)

New Generation: Sarah Polley (Away from Her)

Career Achievement: Sidney Lumet

Independent/Experimental: Colossal Youth [Juventude Em Marcha] - dir. Pedro Costa

The Boston Film Critics Society Awards

Best Picture: No Country For Old Men

Best Actor: Frank Langella for Starting Out in the Evening

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose

Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone

Best Director: Julian Schnabel for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Screenplay: Brad Bird for Ratatouille

Best Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best Documentary: Crazy Love

Best Foreign-Language Film: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Best New Filmmaker: Ben Affleck for Gone Baby Gone

Best Ensemble Cast: Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead

Margot at the Wedding

I absolutely loved Noah Baumbach's film The Squid and the Whale. It was one of my favorite films of the year that it came out. Now he has a new film entitled Margot at the Wedding. And while it is not nearly as good as Squid it is not a bad film either (although many people I know did not like this film).

Margot (Nicole Kidman) is an uptight writer from NYC. She and her son Claude (Zane Pais) are traveling to her childhood home (somewhere in the suburbs or upstate but I'm not sure where) to attend her sister Pauline's (Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding. Now it just so happens that Margot and Pauline have not seen each other in a long time or even spoken to each other that much. Margot wants to try to patch things up by attending. But that isn't an easy thing to do. It doesn't make matters any easier because Margot is not too fond of Pauline's intended Malcolm (Jack Black). This is Pauline's second marriage and she has a daughter, Ingrid (Flora Cross) from her first one.

Some people don't like the film because the characters aren't nice. So what? Many people in this world aren't nice. I happened to like the way the sisters ripped into each other. It made for some fine acting. However, I felt that the filmmaking was at times fragmented. Going from scene to scene was not always a smooth transition. Ciaran Hinds, as a man that Margot is having an affair with and John Turturro as her husband Jim (who she is having problems with) have small roles in the film.

Margot at the Wedding is not as good as another dysfunctional family film that is just released - The Savages. And it doesn't measure up to Baumbach's previous film. But it is a decent film that is well worth seeing for the acting - especially my Kidman and Jason Leigh.

One last comment - it seems very fashionable these days to bash Kidman. Some are even so cruel as to rip apart her appearance and make vicious remarks. She is talented actress who has made some poor film choices. What actor hasn't? The people that have nothing better to do then bash people (now I am not talking about real criticism - especially constructive criticism) should take some lessons in kindness and get a life.

National Board of Review winners

National Board of Review Awards for 2007:

Best Film NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Top Ten Films(In alphabetical order)

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD
ATONEMENT
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
THE BUCKET LIST
INTO THE WILD
JUNO
THE KITE RUNNER
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
MICHAEL CLAYTON
SWEENEY TODD

Best Foreign Film
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY

Top Five Foreign Films(In alphabetical order)
4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS
THE BAND'S VISIT
THE COUNTERFEITERS
LA VIE EN ROSE
LUST, CAUTION

Best Documentary BODY OF WAR

Top Five Documentaries(In alphabetical order)

DARFUR NOW
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON
NANKING
TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE
TOOTS

Top Independent Films(In alphabetical order)

AWAY FROM HER
GREAT WORLD OF SOUND
HONEYDRIPPER
IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
A MIGHTY HEART
THE NAMESAKE
ONCE
THE SAVAGES
STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING
WAITRESS

Best Actor GEORGE CLOONEY, Michael Clayton

Best Actress JULIE CHRISTIE, Away From Her

Best Supporting Actor CASEY AFFLECK, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Best Supporting Actress AMY RYAN, Gone Baby Gone

Best Ensemble Cast NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Breakthrough Performance by an Actor EMILE HIRSCH, Into The Wild

Breakthrough Performance by an Actress ELLEN PAGE, Juno

Best Director TIM BURTON, Sweeney Todd

Best Directorial Debut BEN AFFLECK, Gone Baby Gone

Best Adapted Screenplay JOEL COEN and ETHAN COEN, No Country For Old Men

Best Original Screenplay DIABLO CODY, Juno and NANCY OLIVER, Lars and the Real Girl

Best Animated Feature RATATOUILLE

Career Achievement Award MICHAEL DOUGLAS

William K. Everson Award For Film History ROBERT OSBORNE

Career Achievement in Cinematography ROGER DEAKINS

The Bvlgari Award for NBR Freedom of Expression THE GREAT DEBATERS and PERSEPOLIS

DVD mini review - Obaba

Obaba is a terrific little Spanish film directed by Montxo Armendariz. It takes place in the small Basque town of Obaba.

University student Lourdes (Barbara Lennie) goes there because she is working on a project for school. While there she meets a number of residents. Many of them were in a picture taken a long time ago. Some of these people have stories and each story carries its own significance. It helps Lourdes piece together the puzzle of this town. And it also helps her to understand herself better.

Pillar Lopez de Ayala, Juan Diego Botto and Eduord Fernandez also star in the film. It is based on a collection of short stories by Bernardo Atxaga. I highly recommend Obaba to anyone who loves good and interesting world cinema.

Youth Without Youth

Youth Without Youth is Francis Ford Coppola's first film in ten years. And it is a very original film indeed. It is based on a story by Romanian writer Mircea Eliade.

The film starts off with Dominic Matei (Tim Roth) walking through the streets of Bucharest. He is an intellectual who is obsessed with the origin of language. After he puts up his umbrella he is struck by lightning. But he not only survives but becomes young (he is 70 but he becomes a man of 40). While recovering he thinks about his long lost love Laura (Alexandra Maria Lara) who left him because of his obsession with work. His primary doctor Professor Stanciulescu (Bruno Ganz) publishes articles about him and too many unsavory people have an interest in him - especially the Nazis. At some point Dominic disappears and takes on another identity. Oh, Dominic has a double that tells him what to do.

Dominic spends many years keeping to himself. But one day he meets a woman named Veronica (Lara) and a friend. He gives them directions but when he tries to pursue them he finds that they were struck by lightning. The friend is dead and Veronica is in a trance. She claims to be an Indian woman named Rupini. She may also be the reincarnation of the long dead Laura.

Well, that is all I will say about this film. It is quite complex. It is esoteric, metaphysical and deals with spirituality, memory and reincarnation among other things. It is not a commercial film. In fact, it seems that so far most critics do not like it. Well, I can tell you that I did. I found it fascinating. But it is too complicated for the average filmgoer.

Coppola shows that he still has his director's flair. And I am glad that he is able to make these small, interesting films. Roth, Lara and Ganz are all wonderful. And the film looks beautiful.

I attended a screening where Coppola spoke a bit and introduced the film. Afterwards Roth, Lara and editor Murch answered questions.

I am the first to admit that this film is not for everyone. But if you like films that explore some of life's mysteries then Youth Without Youth is for you.

MOD Mini Review - Chronicle of an Escape

I just saw Adrian Caetano's powerful film Chronicle of an Escape on IFC on Demand. It is certainly worth the six dollars.

Caetano adapted the screenplay with Julian Loyala and Estaban Student. It is based on a book by Claudio Tamburrini. Tamburrini was a soccer player for a small team. In the late 70s he was arrested without any proof. It was claimed that he was a terrorist. Remember, these were the days of Argentina's military junta. There were many people who disappeared and were never seen again. After months of torture Tamburrini and three other men plan their escape.

This was an outrage and it still boggles my mind that something like this could happen in a so-called civilized world. But things like this are happening all the time.

The direction and screenplay are top notch. So is the cinematography. The wonderful Argentinean actor Rodrigo de la Serna heads the cast as Tamburrini. All of the other actors (who I have never heard of before) were terrific.

I urge people to see this film not only because it is great cinema but because we need to be reminded of what can happen in a "democratic" country. It happened in Argentina and it could happen anywhere including here.

Times Talk with Javier Bardem 11/28/2007

I just want to make a brief posting on this. I could go on and on about the evening but I really don't have the time. So here it goes - On Wednesday, November 28 of this year Lynn Hirschberg, an editor of the NY Times Sunday Magazine, interviewed Senor Javier Bardem for the Times Talk series.

Now, this was my first Times Talks. They are pretty expensive (but not as expensive as the New Yorker Festival) but I had to go to this. It was worth every penny.

JB was intelligent, sensitive and funny (not to mention very handsome!!). He spoke about the acting process and some of his films. He was very generous in his praise of other actors and directors (Al Pacino, Daniel Day Lewis, Sean Penn, Julian Schnabel, Antonio Banderas, etc.).

It was a terrific evening and when I get the chance I hope to expand on this more.

Starting Out in the Evening

Starting Out in the Evening is a film adaptation of Brian Morton's novel. It is directed by Andrew Wagner and co-written by Wagner and Fred Parnes. To be honest with you I don't understand how the title fits the film

The protagonist of the film is Leonard Schiller (Frank Langella). Leonard is getting up in years. He is desperately trying to finish a novel that he started writing ten years ago but is having trouble with. He has had several novels published but they are all out of print. He also supported himself as a teacher but writing is his vocation. There are some terrific scenes of Leonard typing and trying to figure out what words come next. That may not sound like exciting stuff but in the hands of the very talented Langella it is pure cinema magic.

Enter graduate student Heather (Lauren Ambrose) into Leonard's life. She is writing her thesis on Leonard's work and she wants to get to know him. At first he resists but Heather is rather persuasive and soon Leonard is convinced to let Heather into his space.

Leonard is close to his daughter Ariel (Lili Taylor). Ariel has her own issues. Approaching 40 she wants to have child. She hooks up with her old boyfriend Casey (Adrian Lester) but he is not interested in fatherhood. She also has some doubts about Heather's motives.

The story is filmed in New York. And it is a very New York film. I loved seeing the streets of the Upper West Side. And in many ways it is the sad tale of the dying literary scene in the city.
At one point Leonard asks if people will still be reading in ten years. Some of us will be but I think that our numbers are rapidly decreasing. The way the film depicts the writer's dilemma is right on target. And as mentioned before Langella is a marvel. I hope that he gets some awards nominations (he is already nominated for a Spirit award). His was a very brave performance.

Taylor is an actress that I've always liked and she is terrific as the troubled Ariel. I hope that this film marks a comeback for her career. And Lester is fine as Casey. Ambrose is also good as Heather. But I had a great deal of trouble with her character - and this is why I feel that this is a good film rather than a great one. Heather is extremely pushy and annoying. I really didn't understand what she wanted from Leonard and I don't think she knew either. And I felt that there wasn't any chemistry between Leonard and Heather. So that did present a problem for me.

But, all in all, Starting Out in the Evening is a very worthwhile film to see. It is very adult and it deals with some important themes. And if you like character driven dramas with wonderful acting (as I do) then this is a film for you.