Frost/Nixon

Frost/Nixon is definitely one of the best films of 2008. Why it didn't go on wider release like it was supposed to really amazes me. It is such an intelligent, well acted film. But that might be the problem. Perhaps it is too intelligent for the average person.

The film is directed by Ron Howard. I have liked some of Howard's work but I have also felt that he sometimes whitewashed his films (A Beautiful Mind comes to mind - it is good but pales in comparison with the darker Spider). He doesn't do that in this film. Frost/Nixon is Howard's best film to date.

The story takes place in the 1970s after Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) resigned from office. Talk show host David Frost (Michael Sheen) decides that it would be a great idea for him to interview the disgraced Nixon. But it isn't easy for him to get financial backing for his idea because his interviews are of a lighter nature.

Part of the film is spent on the preparation of the interviews. Frost gets help from his associate John Birt (Matthew Macfayden), James Reston, Jr. (Sam Rockwell), and Bob Zelnick (Oliver Platt). All of this is fascinating. We also have these people telling of their experience during that time. Also included in the set of people talking about their experience are Frost's love interest at the time Caroline Cushing (Rebecca Hall) and Nixon aide and confidante Jack Brennan (Kevin Bacon).

Although we know what happens the film is very suspenseful. I was on the edge of my seat as I watched the these two men go back and forth.

The film is adapted from a stage play by Peter Morgan. Morgan wrote the screenplay and this is one of the many reasons the film works so well. Both Langella and Sheen are outstanding. Langella is getting a lot of Oscar buzz. But where is the buzz for Sheen? He is equally as good. All of the above mentioned supporting players are terrific as is Toby Jones as Swifty Lazar.

I urge people to see this film. I don't think it is doing as well as it should be. Hopefully, when it gets its Oscar nominations (as I am sure that it will) more people will be inclined to see it. It is also nice to know that Ron Howard can make such a great film and look forward to him making some more challenging films in the future.

DVD Mini Review - What Have I Done to Deserve This

What Have I Done to Deserve This is old Pedro Almodovar film that I never got the chance to see. And it is a very good one at that. No, it is not one of his best. But, so what? Even lesser Almodovar is always good. And this one has all of the wonderful Almodovar trademarks.

Gloria (Carmen Maura) works hard as a cleaning woman. Her taxi driver husband (who has his own issues) doesn't give her enough money to pay the bills. Her two sons are strange - one is a drug dealer. Her mother-in-law is stingy and lives with them. And her best friend Cristal (Veronica Forque) is a prostitute. In fact, Gloria takes uppers to get her through the day.

The script is sharp and the film always held my interest. There is no sense telling you much about the plot. See for yourself. The whole cast is good and Maura and Forque are marvelous. And Almodovar himself is in the film. This film is funny and I laughed out loud several times. But there is also some tragedy in it. It is also quite sexy. Almodovar creates terrific roles for women and this film is no exception.

Che (The Argentine & Guerrilla)

I had read so much about Steven Soderbergh's Che. Some was negative and some was positive. But I wanted to see it for myself. Rather than wait and see it at my local art theater as two films or on IFC On Demand I chose to see the four and half hour road show version that is playing at only one theater in the city.

From the beginning I felt that Soderbergh was not the right director for this film. I wanted to be proven wrong but I was not. I do give him high marks for trying. This is not a mainstream film and that is a good thing. But just because it is not mainstream doesn't mean that it will work.

The production values are terrific. You really feel that you are on the battlefields of Cuba and Bolivia. But there is way too much of that. The majority of this film is about fighting. We never really get to learn about Che the man. There is absolutely no emotion in this film. I wanted to know more about how he got to the point where he wanted to be a rebel and nothing else. I wanted to know more about his relationship with Aleida and what happened to his first wife. And I certainly wanted there to be something about the period of time between the Cuban revolution and his time in Bolivia. During the time he helped Castro rule Cuba Che did some very bad things. But we see none of that.

Benicio del Toro is stunning as Che. He becomes Che. You can see that del Toro put his soul into this role. But I don't think that Soderbergh took enough advantage of this amazing actor's talents. But del Toro's performance makes the film worth seeing. Demian Bichar gives a great performance as Fidel Castro - but he is not in the film nearly enough. Catalina Sandino Moreno is wasted as Aleida. She is given very little to do. And while I enjoyed seeing Jordi Molla, Carlos Bardem, Rodrigo Santoro, and others I just wish that their roles were better written.

During the first part of the film (The Argentine) we see two different time frames. We go back and forth between the Cuban revolution and Che's visit to NYC. The visit part is in black and white - which is a nice touch. And it is my favorite part of the film. Why - because Che is speaking about his beliefs. There is no fighting going.

Besides Soderbergh not being the right director for the film I also blame Peter Buchman's screenplay. It lacked depth. A few years ago I read a Che screenplay by a writer named Ronan Bennett (who I used to be friends with). Even though I read it a long time ago I can say that it is a better screenplay. I think I will have to reread it.

Despite my disappointment, I am glad that I saw the film. It should be seen by anyone who loves cinema. And I got a nice program book that comes with the Roadshow screenings. I love subtitled films and films that are not mainstream. But this one just didn't work. But it confirms del Toro's status as one of the greatest actors working today.

So, was Che a murderer or a hero? Well, I would say that he is both - depending upon who you speak to. But he is an important figure in modern history and deserves to have a really good and truthful film made about him during the years of the revolution, his working in Cuba and fighting in Bolivia. In the meantime you can always watch a great film about his early years - The Motorcycle Diaries. And if you haven't seen that film go out and rent it at once!!

The Secret of the Grain (MOD)

Well, I just saw another good and interesting film. This one, The Secret of the Grain, I saw on IFC's Movies on Demand. It is playing in my city but I usually see most of IFC's films on television because there are just so many movies I can see in the theater.

This film has won many awards and it is easy to see why. Director Abdel Kechiche has done a marvelous job of bringing to life a family who live in the small port city of Sete in France. They are originally from Tunisia but consider themselves French.

Slimane (Habib Boufares) is a man of about sixty. He has been working for a long time and he is tired. When he is laid off he decides to open a restaurant on a boat.
But this is not so easy because he has very little money. He has four children who all have their problems. But they are a very close family. He is divorced from their mother and now has a younger lover. He is like a father to her daughter Rym (Hafia Herzi).

There is a terrific scene where the four children, their spouses and their children gather at their mother's house for a Sunday family meal. There is much bickering, laughter and love. And it feels very real because that is how families are. Slimane decides to have an opening party to show people how great his restaurant will be. His ex-wife has a wonderful specialty - fish couscous - and she is even willing to make a batch for him to use on opening night.

I must say that I guessed one thing that would happen. But that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the film. Things like this happen in real life. The acting of this ensemble is spot on. Boufares was very good as the defeated looking Slimane. And Herzi was outstanding. She should have a great future in cinema. As should Kechiche, who is a new voice in world cinema.

The ending was a bit of a surprise to me but it actually makes sense. I am still thinking about it and I would love to talk about it to people who have seen the film. It is something to discuss. The Secret of the Grain (which is couscous) is not for everyone. It is two and a half hours long and takes its time telling the tale. But for those of you who love this type of world cinema I highly recommend it to you.

FYI - The great Claude Berri is one of the producers of this film.

Doubt and The Reader

Yesterday I saw two films that were both good and quite interesting.

First up was Doubt, the screen version of John Patrick Shanley's awards winning play.
Shanley both wrote and directed the film. Since I did not see the play I have nothing to compare the film with. I will say that it is an actor's film. Meryl Streep plays the wicked Sr. Aloysius. It seems that nothing can please this woman. Amy Adams plays the wide eyed, innocent Sr. James. And Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Fr. Flynn. The story takes place in the Bronx in the mid 1960s. As someone who lived in the Bronx at that time I can tell you the film looked very real.

From the beginning you know that Sr. Aloysius does not like Fr. Flynn. He wants to modernize the Church and make it more open. The school has admitted its first black student Donald Miller (Joseph Foster). Donald feels isolated and the good Father takes him under his wing. When Sr. James sees Donald leave Fr. Flynn's office she is suspicious that something nasty might be going on. And she lets Sr. Aloysius know about this.

From then on we have to think about the story's basic premise - if you have you suspicions but no proof how can you prove that you are right? And if there is any doubt can your suspicions be thrown out of the window?

All of the actors are good. Streep is terrific and Adams fits her part to a tee. Hoffman is great but I still would have picked another actor for this role. Perhaps F. Brendan O'Byrne who was the priest on Broadway. Cillian Murphy would fit the bill. And if Stephen Rea were younger he would be perfect. Davis has only once scene but it is a powerful one. At times the film seems a bit theatrical (afterall it was a play). But it is basically a solid film. And I must say that I have my own conclusions about what the truth is. You might too - or perhaps you will have your doubts.

The Reader is based on wonderful book by Bernard Schlink. The beginning of the story starts off in Germany in the 1950s. Young Michael Berg (David Kross) becomes sick in the middle of the street. A woman comes to his rescue and cleans him up. Michael is quite sick and has to stay in bed for three months. But he never forgets the woman who helped him. When he is better he brings her some flowers as a way to thank her. She is about twice his age (he is fifteen) and her name is Hanna (Kate Winslet). The two are very attracted to each other and begin an affair that lasts through the summer. We find out that Hanna works as a ticket seller on the bus. At this point in the film that is all we find out about her because she suddenly disappears.

Michael is quite upset but there is not much he can do. When is a studying law he comes across Hanna again. I don't want to tell you much more because it might spoil it for you. But since I read the book I knew what was coming. Oh, I should say the the story actually starts off in 1995 when the older Michael (Ray Fiennes) starts to reminisce about Hanna and his past.

The film is well directed by Stephen Daldry and David Hare did a nice job of capturing the book's essence. Although I felt that the book is better than the film (as is almost always the case) The Reader is a quality film. Winslet is a good as she always is. People say that she might get a supporting actress nomination for this role. I think that she is actually lead but she will probably go as lead for Revolutionary Road. She should win an Oscar soon but not in that category because Penelope Cruz should be the winner. So perhaps she will in as lead actress. In any case, she is very good. What can I say about Fiennes? He is just one of the best actors around. You can see all of the pain that he feels when you look into his eyes. I would have liked to see more of him in the film but having read the book I knew that his role would be small. Newcomer Kross was terrific. I look forward to seeing more of him in the future. Also good in small roles were Bruno Ganz as a professor of law and Lena Olin as a Holocasut survivor. I do have a quibble with the filmmakers. There isn't much resemblance between Fiennes and Kross and even the color of their eyes are not the same.

The Reader asks a hard question. I won't tell you what it is but when you see the film (or read the book) you will have to think about it. I am thinking about it right now. And one of the surprises is that Hanna thinks that one of her secrets is so much worse than the other one. But the one that she thinks is lesser is the one that everyone else will care about.

So if you want to see movies that will make you think check out Doubt and The Reader.

Edit: I have since changed my mind - If Kate Winslet wins in supporting actress instead of Penelope Cruz that would be okay with me (although I still think that Winslet is lead in this film). Both were wonderful. I have still to see Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler (that will happen next weekend) but from what I've heard she will probably also be right up there. So may the best woman win.

The Curioius Case of Benjamin Button

I went into The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which will be referred to as BB for the rest of this review) with mixed feelings. I wanted to love this film but I just didn't know if I would. Well, you could say that about any film I suppose. But I can't say that I am a big fan of the film's director David Fincher. I liked his film Seven but loathed Fight Club. And his much praised Zodiac was okay but nothing special. I am happy to report that I think that BB is a wonderful film.

Fincher and screenwriter Eric Roth have created something special and magical. Benjamin's mother dies in childbirth. He is such a hideous child that his father Thomas (Jason Flemyng) leaves him on the doorstep of a home for older people. He is adopted by Queenie (Tarji P. Henson), a woman who is in charge of the home. Although Benjamin seems like a freak, Queenie knows that he is special. Benjamin is born old and as he gets older in years his body gets younger. By now Benjamin is played by Brad Pitt who does a very good job of playing him at his various ages.

Throughout his life Benjamin meets many people. Most significant is Daisy - she is just a little girl when they meet but you can say that it is love at first sight.
Other important people during his life are Elizabeth Abbott (Tilda Swinton) and Captain Mike (Jared Harris).

I won't get into more of the plot. You can see the film for yourself. The film starts off with the older Daisy (played as an adult at her various ages by the fabulous Cate Blanchett) and her daughter Caroling (Julia Ormond).

Some people have compared this film to Forrest Gump. Roth wrote both screenplays and I could see some similarities. But the stories are different. BB deals with life, death, loneliness, love and all of the other things that we human beings deal with. For me, the film was an emotional experience and I cried during parts of it.
I am sure that there are others who will not like this film. But for those of you who want to see something a bit different and very special then this is a film for you.

Of note: The film is based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Be sure you pay attention at the beginning of the film where a new clock is being installed. It is significant. Also, I do believe that there is an anti-war message in the film.

DVD Mini Review - The Butterfly

The Butterfly is a sweet (but not saccharine), charming French family film. Director Phillipe Muyl does a terrific job in the telling of this simple but meaningful story.

Julien (the wonderful Michel Serrault) is an elderly man who seems to be a loner. He is a retired watchman who collects butterflies. When a woman (Nade Dieu) moves upstairs with her young daughter Elsa (Claire Bouanich) his life changes. Elsa's mother does not seem to have much time for her. With working and seeing her
"friends" mom is very busy. So the lonely Elsa tries to get the reluctant Julien to warm up to her. When he decides to go to the country in the search of a special butterfly Elsa follows him. At some point he has no choice but to take her along.

This is such a wonderful little gem of the film. Julien opens up and we find out a bit more about him. The film has many words of wisdom throughout. I won't get more into the plot but the trip benefits both of them. I highly recommend this film to those of you who want something to warm your heart.

Wendy and Lucy

Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy is a quiet, beautiful and heartbreaking film. It is a very minimalist type of a film but it is very emotional.

Wendy (Michelle Williams) is a down on her luck young woman. She is passing through Oregon on her way to Alaska in the hopes of finding a job in a cannery. With her is her faithful dog Lucy. Wendy's luck doesn't get better when her car breaks down. She has to figure out a way to fix it. Her only kindness comes from an Walgreen's security guard (Wally Dalton) In all honesty, I don't want to say more about the plot. Many critics have but I will not.

What I will say is that this film portrays a segment of the US population that the government wants to forget about. These are the people who have fallen into the cracks. And with Wendy you get a real sense of what it must be like trying to survive day to day with almost no money and your car as your home. We don't know why Wendy is having these problems. We are given only a tiny bit of hint of what is happening in here life.

After this film and Old Joy Reichardt is definitely a director with a great future.
Her screenplay, written with Jonathan Raymond, sharp and without an ounce of fat on it. Williams is wonderful as Wendy. All of her emotions are conveyed with her eyes. She certainly deserves to get some awards attention but so far she has gotten very little notice. And Lucy is the sweetest little pooch and a smart one at that.

Wendy and Lucy is a perfect film in the time of this recession. It is a must see for all of those who have a heart. I cried at the end of the film and even when I think about. Do yourself a favor - see this film.

SAG Nominations

Actor
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Actress
Anne Hatahway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, Rev Road

Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey , Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Night
Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, Benjamin Button
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Ensemble
Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

DVD Review - Mamma Mia

What can I say about Mamma Mia? It was a lot of fun.

The story is rather simple. Donna (Meryl Streep) is a free spirit living on a Greek Island with her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). Sophie is about to get married to Sky (Dominic Coooper). She has been reading her mother's diary and discovers that there are three men out there who might be her father. So Sophie invites them to her wedding.

The three men are played by Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard and Colin Firth. The film also includes Christine Baranski and Julie Walters. Everyone takes a turn at singing Abba songs.

That is it in a nutshell. This film is a worldwide smash. I enjoyed the film. Streep is good. The music is lovely. And Greece is romantic. Many of the actors do not have good voices. So what?! It doesn't take away from this charming film.
Is it great filmmaking? No. But not everything has to be Bergman or Fellini. Sometimes we just need a light diversion. And Mamma Mia is the perfect antidote to this gloomy weather and economic state. So check it out when you are feeling blue.

Golden Globe Nominations.

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Warner Bros and Paramount Pictures
FROST/NIXON
Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Studio Canal; Universal Pictures
THE READER
Mirage Enterprises; The Weinstein Company
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
An Evamere Entertainment BBC Films Neal Street Production; DreamWorks with BBC Films and Paramount Vantage
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.; Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
ANNE HATHAWAY, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
ANGELINA JOLIE, CHANGELING
MERYL STREEP, DOUBT
KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS, I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME)
KATE WINSLET, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
FRANK LANGELLA, FROST/NIXON
SEAN PENN, MILK
BRAD PITT, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
MICKEY ROURKE, THE WRESTLER

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
BURN AFTER READING
Working Title/Releasing Company; Focus Features in association with Studio Canal
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
Summit Entertainment, Film4, Ingenious Film Partners, Miramax Films; Miramax Films
IN BRUGES
Blueprint Pictures; Focus Features
MAMMA MIA!
Relativity Media, Playtone, Littlestar; Universal Pictures
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
Mediapro; The Weinstein Company

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
REBECCA HALL, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
SALLY HAWKINS, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
FRANCES MCDORMAND, BURN AFTER READING
MERYL STREEP, MAMMA MIA!
EMMA THOMPSON, LAST CHANCE HARVEY

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
JAVIER BARDEM, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
COLIN FARRELL, IN BRUGES
JAMES FRANCO, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
BRENDAN GLEESON, IN BRUGES
DUSTIN HOFFMAN, LAST CHANCE HARVEY

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
BOLT
Walt Disney Pictures; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
KUNG FU PANDA
DreamWorks Animation SKG; Paramount Pictures
WALL-E
Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (GERMANY)
(DER BADDER MEINHOF KOMPLEX)
Constantin Film Produktion GmbH; Summit Entertainment, LLC
EVERLASTING MOMENTS (SWEDEN/DENMARK)
(MARIA LARSSONS EVIGA ÖGONBLICK)
Final Cut Productions Aps; IFC Films
GOMORRAH (ITALY)
(GOMORRA)
Fandango; IFC Films
I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (FRANCE)
(IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME)
UGC YM/UGC Images/France 3 Cinema/Integral Film; Sony Pictures Classics
WALTZ WITH BASHIR (ISRAEL)
Bridgit Folman Film Gang/Les Films D'Ici/Razor Films/Arte France/ITVS International; Sony Pictures Classics

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
AMY ADAMS, DOUBT
PENELOPE CRUZ, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
VIOLA DAVIS, DOUBT
MARISA TOMEI, THE WRESTLER
KATE WINSLET, THE READER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
TOM CRUISE , TROPIC THUNDER
ROBERT DOWNEY JR, TROPIC THUNDER
RALPH FIENNES, THE DUCHESS
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, DOUBT
HEATH LEDGER, THE DARK KNIGHT

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
DANNY BOYLE, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
STEPHEN DALDRY, THE READER
DAVID FINCHER, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
RON HOWARD, FROST/NIXON
SAM MENDES, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
SIMON BEAUFOY, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
DAVID HARE, THE READER
PETER MORGAN, FROST/NIXON
ERIC ROTH, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY, DOUBT

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
ALEXANDRE DESPLAT, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
CLINT EASTWOOD, CHANGELING
JAMES NEWTON HOWARD, DEFIANCE
A. R. RAHMAN, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
HANS ZIMMER, FROST/NIXON

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“DOWN TO EARTH” — WALL-E
Music by: Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman
Lyrics by: Peter Gabriel
“GRAN TORINO” — GRAN TORINO
Music by: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
Lyrics by: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
“I THOUGHT I LOST YOU” — BOLT
Music & Lyrics by: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele
“ONCE IN A LIFETIME” — CADILLAC RECORDS
Music & Lyrics by: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street
“THE WRESTLER” — THE WRESTLER
Music & Lyrics by: Bruce Springsteen

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
Showtime/John Goldwyn Productions/The Colleton Company/Clyde Phillips Productions
HOUSE (FOX)
Universal Media Studios in association with Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions
IN TREATMENT (HBO)
Sheleg, Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
MAD MEN (AMC)
Lionsgate Television
TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
SALLY FIELD BROTHERS AND SISTERS
MARISKA HARGITAY LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
JANUARY JONES MAD MEN
ANNA PAQUIN TRUE BLOOD
KYRA SEDGWICK THE CLOSER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
GABRIEL BYRNE IN TREATMENT
MICHAEL C. HALL DEXTER
JON HAMM MAD MEN
HUGH LAURIE HOUSE
JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS THE TUDORS

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
30 ROCK (NBC)
Universal Media Studios in association with Broadway Video and Little
Stranger Inc.
CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
Showtime Presents in association with Aggressive Mediocrity, And Then...
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
Leverage and Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
THE OFFICE (NBC)
Deedle Dee Productions, Reveille LLC, Universal Media Studios
WEEDS (SHOWTIME)
Lionsgate Television

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE SAMANTHA WHO?
AMERICA FERRERA UGLY BETTY
TINA FEY 30 ROCK
DEBRA MESSING THE STARTER WIFE
MARY-LOUISE PARKER WEEDS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
ALEC BALDWIN 30 ROCK
STEVE CARELL THE OFFICE
KEVIN CONNOLLY ENTOURAGE
DAVID DUCHOVNY CALIFORNICATION
TONY SHALHOUB MONK

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
A RAISIN IN THE SUN (ABC)
Sony Pictures Television
BERNARD AND DORIS (HBO)
Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films
CRANFORD (PBS)
A Co-Production of BBC and WGBH Boston.
JOHN ADAMS (HBO)
Playtone in association with HBO Films
RECOUNT (HBO)
Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
JUDI DENCH CRANFORD
CATHERINE KEENER AN AMERICAN CRIME
LAURA LINNEY JOHN ADAMS
SHIRLEY MACLAINE COCO CHANEL
SUSAN SARANDON BERNARD AND DORIS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
RALPH FIENNES BERNARD AND DORIS
PAUL GIAMATTI JOHN ADAMS
KEVIN SPACEY RECOUNT
KIEFER SUTHERLAND 24: REDEMPTION
TOM WILKINSON RECOUNT

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV
EILEEN ATKINS CRANFORD
LAURA DERN RECOUNT
MELISSA GEORGE IN TREATMENT
RACHEL GRIFFITHS BROTHERS AND SISTERS
DIANNE WIEST IN TREATMENT

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURES MADE FOR TV
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
DENIS LEARY, RECOUNT
JEREMY PIVEN, ENTOURAGE
BLAIR UNDERWOOD, IN TREATMENT
TOM WILKINSON, JOHN ADAMS

New York Film Critics Winners

Film: "Milk"

Director: Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"

Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"

Actress: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"

Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, "Milk"

Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Screenplay: Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"

First Film: Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"

Foreign Film: "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days"

Animated Film: "WALL-E

Documentary: "Man on Wire"

Cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

DVD Mini Review - Up the Yangtze

Yung Chang's documentary Up the Yangtze is a wonderful and beautifully shot film. It tells the story of a peasant family living in a small village who will soon be displaced. This is due to the construction of the Three Gorges Dam which will make the waters rise. Actually, about two million people have been displaced (we see some of the in the extras on the DVD). But the film focuses on the Yu family.

Daughter Shui would love to attend college and become a scientist. But that is out of the question as the family needs her to work. Since they have to move they will not be able to do the farming they were used to doing.

Shui begins a job working on a cruise ship that takes people around the area that will soon be taken over by the rising waters. Shui changes her name to Cindy in order to appeal to the many English speakers on the ship. We also meet Campbell, a young man who trains the new employees on the ship and Jerry, who considers himself a cut above Cindy and has a bit of a swagger.

You wonder why China did this to its people. But their record of caring for people is not a good one. I learned a lot from Up the Yangtze and recommend it to those of you who want to know what is going on in other parts of the world.

LA Film Critics Winners

Picture: "Wall-E"
Runner-up: "The Dark Knight"

Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Runner-up: Christopher Nolan, "The Dark Knight"

Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"
Runner-up: Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Actress: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Runner-up: Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"

Supporting actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Runner-up: Eddie Marsan, "Happy-Go-Lucky"

Supporting actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Elegy"
Runner-up: Viola Davis, "Doubt"

Screenplay: Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"

Foreign-language film: "Still Life"
Runner-up: "The Class"

Documentary: "Man on Wire"
Runner-up: "Waltz With Bashir"

Animation: "Waltz With Bashir"

Cinematography: Yu Lik Wai, "Still Life"
Runner-up: Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Production design: Mark Friedberg, "Synecdoche, New York"
Runner-up: Nathan Crowley, "The Dark Knight"

Music/score: A.R. Rahman, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Runner-up: Alexandre Desplat, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

New Generation: Steve McQueen, "Hunger"

Douglas E. Edwards independent/experimental film/video: James Benning, "RR" and "Casting a Glance"

Broadcast Film Critics Association Nominations

BEST PICTURE
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
The Wrestler

BEST ACTOR
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS
Kate Beckinsale - Nothing But the Truth
Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
James Franco - Milk

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Vera Farmiga - Nothing But the Truth
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Milk
Rachel Getting Married

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk

BEST WRITER (Original or Adapted Screenplay)
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Wall-E
Waltz With Bashir

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS (Under 21)
Dakota Fanning - The Secret Life of Bees
David Kross - The Reader
Dev Petal - Slumdog Millionaire
Brandon Walters - Australia

BEST ACTION MOVIE
The Dark Knight
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Quantum of Solace
Wanted

BEST COMEDY MOVIE
Burn After Reading
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Role Models
Tropic Thunder
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
John Adams
Recount
Coco Chanel

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
A Christmas Tale
Gomorrah
I've Loved You So Long
Let the Right One In
Mongol
Waltz With Bashir

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
I.O.U.S.A.
Man On Wire
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
Standard Operating Procedure
Young At Heart

BEST SONG
"Another Way to Die" (performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, written by Jack White) - Quantum of Solace
"Down to Earth" (performed by Peter Gabriel, written by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman) - Wall-E
"I Thought I Lost You" (performed Miley Cyrus and John Travolta, written by Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele) - Bolt
"Jaiho" (performed by Sukhwinder Singh, written by A.R. Rahman and Gulzar) - Slumdog Millionaire
"The Wrestler" (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen) - The Wrestler

BEST COMPOSER
Alexandre Desp lat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Clint Eastwood - Changeling
Danny Elfman - Milk
Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard - The Dark Knight
A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire

Milk & Slumdog Millionaire

Well, the awards season is really heating up and today I saw two films that seem to be big contenders.

Milk is the story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) and the start of the gay right's movement. I would say it is exactly a biopic because when we meet Milk he is already 40 years old. He meets Scott Smith (James Franco) in a subway station and the two immediately become lovers. Harvey works in a conservative industry and is closeted. Scott convinces him to come out of the closet and move to San Francisco. And the rest is history.

There is no need to go into details about the plot because many of us know what eventually happens (although some members in my movie audience seemed not to know). Milk is a very powerful film and one of the year's best. Gus van Sant does a fabulous job of directing and Dustin Lance Black's screenplay is sharp and crip. Penn is unbelievable as Milk. Franco is terrific as is Emile Hirsch as activist Cleven Jones. And Josh Brolin is amazing as Dan White. What a fantastic cast! I think that Milk can look forward to some nominations from the various groups.

Through this film you get the real feel of what is was like to be gay in San Francisco. Milk made history be becoming the first openly gay elected official in the city. And we've come a long way since that time. But have we really? Sadly,
several states have banned same sex marriage - even "liberal" California. So there is lots of work to do.

The film really hit me emotionally and I cried at the end. Milk is not only a great film but an important one as well. I hope that many people go to see it. Until gay people have the same rights as straight people the United States cannot be a true democracy.

Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire has been widely praised and has already won a best film of the year from the National Board of Review. And while I thought that is was a very good film I certainly don't think it is the best of the year.

The story opens with Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) being tortured and then questioned by the police because he has won a ton of money on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The authorities think that he cheated. But he tells a sympathetic police investigator (the wonderful Irfan Khan) that he got all his answers from his life experiences. We go back and forth from the present to the past when Jamal and his brother Salim become orphans. It is a very sad story and one that I am sure happens all the time to the poverty stricken in India. Along the way he meets Latika and even when they lose one another he is constantly thinking of her.

Boyle's direction is outstanding. His shots of Mumbai (where the story takes place) are truly dazzling. Credit must also go to his co-director in India Loveleen Tandan.
The reason why I don't think this is a great film is because of the way the story is carried out. Simon Beaufoy's screenplay is well written but something just doesn't ring true. That may the fault of Vikas Swarup's book which the film is based on. The scenes of poverty are heart wrenching and the love story is very sweet. But the film should have grabbed me more on an emotional level. Patel is very good as Jamal and I already mentioned Khan. Also fine in the acting department are Anil Kapoor as Millionaire host Prem Kumar, Freida Pinto as Jamal's love interest Latika, Mudhur Mittal as his brother Salim and the various young actors who played them as children.

Still and all, I think that Slumdog Millionaire is a very worthwhile film and I recommend it. It brings us to a culture that we don't know much about and a way of life that we don't want to think about. But it just doesn't live up to all of the hype.

National Board of Review Winners

Best Film: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Director: David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Actor: Clint Eastwood, “Gran Torino”
Best Actress: Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Best Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Best Foreign Film: “Mongol”
Best Documentary: “Man on Wire”
Best Animated Feature: “WALL-E”
Best Ensemble Cast: “Doubt”
Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: Dev Patel, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Best Directorial Debut: Courtney Hunt, “Frozer River”
Best Original Screenplay: Nick Schenk, “Gran Torino”
Best Adapted Screenplay (tie): Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire” and Eric Roth, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

The top ten (in alphabetical order):
“Burn After Reading”
“Changeling”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Defiance”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Gran Torino”
“Milk”
“WALL-E”
“The Wrestler”

Top five foreign films (in alphabetical order):
“Edge of Heaven”
“Let the Right One In”
“Roman de Gare”
“A Secret”
“Waltz with Bashir”

Top five documentary films (in alphabetical order):
“American Teen”
“The Betrayal”
“Dear Zachary”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired”

Top Ten Independent Films
“Frozen River”
“In Bruges”
“In Search of a Midnight Kiss”
“Mr. Foe”
“Rachel Getting Married”
“Snow Angels”
“Son of Rambow”
“Wendy and Lucy”
“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
“The Visitor”

William K. Everson Film History Award: Molly Haskell, Andrew Sarris
Spotlight Award: Melissa Leo, “Frozen River,” Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
The BVLGARI Award for NPR Freedom of Expression: “Trumbo”

DVD Mini Review - In July

Here are a few words (and I do mean few) on another wonderful film by director Fatih Akin.

In July is a charming romantic comedy that has to do with destiny. After a random meeting a a bazaar Juli (Christiane Paul) decides that Daniel (Moritz Bleibtreau) is the man for her. The straight laced Daniel buys a sun god ring from the free spirited Juli. She tells him to look for a woman wearing that sign. She hopes it is herself but Danile actually falls for another woman.

Besides being a very romantic film In July is also a wonderful road film. We see how Daniel and Juli get in and out of tight spots. The actors are great and so is the cinematography. This is one of Akin's early films and although it is not up to the level of his more recent films it is still terrific. And like like seeing how he is progressing as a filmmaker. Highly recommended. I can't wait to see his next film.

Independent Spirit Awards Nominees

Best Feature

"Ballast"

Producers: Lance Hammer, Nina Parikh

"Frozen River"

Producers: Chip Hourihan, Heather Rae

"Rachel Getting Married"

Producers: Neda Armian, Jonathan Demme, Marc Platt

"Wendy and Lucy"

Producers: Larry Fessenden, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani

"The Wrestler"

Producers: Darren Aronofsky, Scott Franklin

Best Director

Ramin Bahrani, "Chop Shop"

Jonathan Demme, "Rachel Getting Married"

Lance Hammer, "Ballast"

Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"

Thomas McCarthy, "The Visitor"

Best First Feature

"Afterschool"

Director: Antonio Campos

Producers: Sean Durkin, Josh Mond

"Medicine for Melancholy"

Director: Barry Jenkins

Producer: Justin Barber

"Sangre de Mi Sangre"

Director: Christopher Zalla

Producers: Per Melita, Benjamin Odell

"Sleep Dealer"

Director: Alex Rivera

Producer: Anthony Bregman

"Synechdoce, New York"

Director: Charlie Kaufman

Producers: Anthony Bregman, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Sidney Kimmel

John Cassavetes Award (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000)

"In Search of a Midnight Kiss"

Writer/Director: Alex Holdridge

Producers: Seth Caplan and Scoot McNairy

"Prince of Broadway"

Director: Sean Baker

Writers: Sean Baker, Darren Dean

Producer: Darren Dean

"The Signal"

Writer/Directors: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry

Producers: Jacob Gentry and Alexander Motiagh

"Take Out"

Writer/Directors/Producers: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou

"Turn the River"

Writer/Director: Chris Eigeman

Producer: Ami Armstrong

Best First Screenplay

Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"

Lance Hammer, "Ballast"

Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"

Jonathan Levine, "The Wackness"

Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"

Best Screenplay

Woody Allen, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, "Sugar"

Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"

Howard A. Rodman, "Savage Grace"

Christopher Zalla, "Sangre de Mi Sangre"

Best Female Lead

Summer Bishil, "Towelhead"

Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"

Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"

Tarra Riggs, "Ballast"

Michelle Williams, "Wendy and Lucy"

Best Male Lead

Javier Bardem, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"

Sean Penn, "Milk"

Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"

Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Best Supporting Female

Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Rosemarie DeWitt, "Rachel Getting Married"

Rosie Perez, "The Take"

Misty Upham, "Frozen River"

Debra Winger, "Rachel Getting Married"

Best Supporting Male

James Franco, "Milk"

Anthony Mackie, "The Hurt Locker"

Charlie McDermott, "Frozen River"

JimMyron Ross, "Ballast"

Haaz Sleiman, "The Visitor"

Best Cinematography

Maryse Alberti, "The Wrestler"

Lol Crowley, "Ballast"

James Laxton, "Medicine for Melancholy"

Harris Savides, "Milk"

Michael Simmonds, "Chop Shop"

Best Documentary

"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"

Director: Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath

"Encounters at the End of the World"

Director: Werner Herzog

"Man on Wire"

Director: James Marsh

"The Order of Myths"

Director: Margaret Brown

"Up the Yangtze"

Director: Yung Chang

Best Foreign Film

"The Class" (France)

Director: Laurent Cantet

"Gomorrah" (Italy)

Director: Matteo Garrone

"Hunger" (UK/Ireland)

Director: Steve McQueen

"Secret of the Grain" (France)

Director: Abdellatif Kechiche

"Silent Light" (Mexico/France/Netherlands/Germany)

Director: Carlos Reygadas

Robert Altman Award (Given to one film's director, casting director and ensemble cast)

"Synecdoche, New York"

Director: Charlie Kaufman

Casting Director: Jeanne McCarthy

Ensemble Cast: Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams

Someone to Watch Award

Barry Jenkins, "Medicine for Melancholy"

Nina Paley, "Sita Sings the Blues"

Lynn Shelton, "My Effortless Brilliance"

Truer Than Fiction Award

Margaret Brown, "The Order of Myths"

Sacha Gervasi, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil"

Darius Marder, "Loot"

Producers Award

Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy, "Treeless Mountain" and "I'll Come Running"

Jason Orans, "Goodbye Solo" and "Year of the Fish"

Heather Rae, "Frozen River" and "Ibid"