The Desert of Forbidden Art (1:20) 2010

Igor Savitsky's efforts to save forty-four thousand works of art is highlighted. This documentary tells the incredible true story of this man's tireless effort to save the works of artists who were the enemies of Stalin's government. Savitsky risk his life many times in doing so. Naturally, one would ask, "Where do you hide all these works?"  The works are displayed in a museum in the desert of Uzbekistan, To be more precise the works are held by Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art. Also known as the Nukus Museum, the museum is located in Karakalpakstan, a independent state of Uzbekistan. This independent state is one of the world's poorest but is rich in avant garde Russian works. The Nukus Museum is highlighted, many paintings are shown and their system of keeping the dry air humidified is discussed. The museum workers manually place pans of water in the different galleries .to help keep moisture in the air. I highly recommend this documentary about a determined man and the artists who held on to the belief that their art said it all and needed to be kept alive.

A Smile as Big as the Moon (Hallmark Hall of Fame) 2012

The Hallmark Hall of Fame shown tonight is titled A Smile as Big as the Moon. The movie is based on a book about the experiences of a Michigan high school class of students with special needs who attend Space Camp in Huntsville in the late 1980s. Mike Kersjes realizes that his Forest Hills students are much more capable then people realize. When given opportunities and high expectations, the students will rise to the occasion. The teachers work with the class practicing all the skills they will need for the camp experience for seven months. The most important skill is teamwork which will be quite a challenge for this diverse group of students. With a generous donation and school board support, the class reaches their US Space Camp destination. The group competes against other teams. Given the strengths of the students, the team remains competitive. The last task the team must perform is a simulation of a space shuttle flight. The closing scene is the award ceremony. I won't give away ending but I cried. And that's what special education teachers do when they are witness to the triumph of the human spirit.

SAG Awards 2012 Announced Continued

The SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture is:

                                           The Help

Congratulations to the cast of The Help. The award is greatly deserved, The Help is the movie I was rooting for.

SAG Awards 2012 Announced Continued

The winners of SAG awards are:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:  Jean Dujardin in The Artist
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:  Viola Davis in The Help

SAG Awards 2012 Announced

The winner for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role is Christopher Plummer.
The winner for Outstanding  Female Actor in a Supporting Role is Octavia Spencer.

Congratulations!

First Thoughts on 2012 Oscar Nomination for Actress in Supporting Role

Without a doubt, the Oscar Nomination for Actress in Supporting Role is the tightest contest this year. The following list of the five nominees are as follows:  Berenice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Melissa McCarthy, Janet McTeer, Octavia Spencer. Althought I am rooting for and predict that Octavia Spencer will take home an Oscar for her fantastic performance as Minnie, one of housemaids in The Help. Spencer had great lines which she delivered with humor and feistiness. I was fascinated with her eyes, they said it all! Having said that I thought that Melissa McCarthy was hysterically funny in The Bridesmaids. I still laugh at her performance in the ladies room as she and the other bridesmaids are dealing with the effects of food poisoning. Jessica Chastain also deserved a nomination for her role as the social outcast with a heart of gold in The Help. Berenice Bejo is the up and coming starlet and love interest in The Artist. Since it is a silent movie, she has no dialogue but she can act and dance. Lastly, Janet McTeer is Mr. Page in Albert Nobbs, a house painter in 1898 Dublin. McTeer befriends Nobbs and encourages Nobbs to reach his goal.

Albert Nobbs (1:53) 2011

Glenn Close portrays Albert Nobbs, a quiet butler working in a Dublin Hotel in 1898. Nobbs is a competent worker who saves all his money with the goal of opening a Tobacco Shop. A painter discovers the Nobbs is closely guarding a secret - Nobbs is a woman. The painter, Mr. Page, promises Nobbs he will keep his secret. And he does since Page has a secret of his own. As Nobbs continues to inch his way to his goal, he asks a young servant girl, Helen, to take a walk. Each week Nobbs and Helen take walks during which Nobbs buys treats and clothing for Helen. Helen does have another boyfriend, Joe, who wants Helen to use Nobbs for his money. A typhoid fever hits Dublin and lives are changed for ever. Albert Nobbs is quiet, somber movie which deals with the issues women, especially poor women, faced a hundred years ago. Glenn Close speaks very little, she acts with her eyes. She has been nominated for an Oscar and it is well deserved. Close's scene walking on the beach riveted me. Janet McTeer  has received multiple nominations for Best Supporting Actress. They, too, are well deserved. I would recommend the movie for Close and McTeer's performances. The movie is, I suspect, is not everyone's cup of Irish Breakfast tea.

The Directors Guild of America Announce 2012 Winners

The Directors Guild of America held the 64th Annual Awards dinner last night in Hollywood. The following received awards:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:  Michel Havanavicius for The Artist
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary:  James Marsh for Project Nim
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series:
Jon Cassar for The Kennedys

Congratulations to all the winners. This well may be the year of The Artist.

Follow the link to read about all the DGA 2012 winners: http://www.dga.org/Awards/Annual.aspx

One for the Money (1:46) 2012

Stephanie Plum (Katherine Heigl) is a divorced unemployed woman who has run out of money. She does have a cousin, sleazy Vinnie Plum, a New Jersey bail bondsman. Vinnie reluctantly gives her a job of bringing in Joe Morelli, a former cop who has been arrested for shooting and killing an unarmed man. Stephanie's work skills have been limited to selling women's lingerie and has the ability to use a can of  pepper spray. The bond on Joe is high so Stephanie has a chance of making some good money if/when she brings him in. Also, she has a score to settle, he is a former high school boyfriend. One for the Money is based on the book of the same title. Stephanie Plum is is a recurring character in the Janet Evanovich series. The books came out about fifteen years ago - many of us teachers read the popular series. We would discuss the the laugh out loud parts of each book and then brainstorm as to who we would cast in the movie as we wondered if the book would ever become a movie. At that time, we picked Sandra Bullock, Heigl was unknown because she was probably fifteen at that time. The movie was cute, the characters are the same in the movie as in the book.  Unfortunately. the movie has not received positive reviews. If you are a fan of the Plum mysteries or in the mood for a light, fluffy movie, take a friend and escape from reality for awhile.
 Here's to you, the staff of Montowese School teaching in the 1990s. Those were good years!

Red Tails (2:00) 2012

Red Tails is a movie inspired by the true events. The Tuskegee Airmen were African American pilots who served in Italy during WWII. Due to low expectations that comes with racisim and prejudice, The Red Tails were given flying assignments that were considered routine. When the American bombers were being shot down by the Germans in high numbers and losses were high, the Red Tails were finally given a forward mission. The fliers performed so well that not one bomber was lost on their first mission. Red Tails has strengths and weaknesses. It's strength is the telling of the herioc actions of the Tuskegee Airmen in military history, It also show how the most respected fighter groups  had to overcome adversity, segregation, poor equipment and negative press. George Lucas, the director,  filmed a lot of movie in the sky. There are lot of dogfights, fancy flying, and planes being shot down. The weakness is with some of the dialogue with the men as they were sitting around awaiting orders. Terence Howard was excellent as the Colonel who fought for his men and expressed his high expectations to them. Cuba Gooding, Jr. drove me crazy when he smoked his pipe, it seemed hokey.  However, that is a minor complaint. This is a good movie. There is some language but I would suggest the high school students or students who have an interest in American history, would enjoy learning about the Red Tails and the importance of their contribution in the war.

First Thoughts of American Spirit Awards - Best Supporting Male 2012

Five actors have been nominated for an American Spirit Award in the Best Supporting Male category. The five are:  Albert Brooks, John Hawkes, Christopher Plummer, John C Reilly, and Corey Stoll.
Albert Brooks portrays Bernie Rose, a real bad guy in the movie, Drive. He is a gangster who resorts to criminal acts, violent in nature. Much has been written that Brooks was snubbed by the Academy and I do agree. Brooks was very convincing as the villain. He very well may take home a Spirit Award. Jonathan Hawkes plays a charming and controlling cult leader in Martha Marcy May Marlene. His cult encourages young isolated young people to join the family. After making them feel welcome and safe, Hawkes "chooses" the women to be his sexual partner. Hawkes is creepy and invokes feelings of intense dislike. His nomination is well deserved but he will not take home the award. John C. Reilly plays Dean Zielger, an insurance agent who exhibits outrageous behavior, is attending an annual insurance convention. He meets up with a very naive Tim Lippe and introduces him to life on the wild side. Reilly is crude, vulgar and sometimes funny. Reilly does well with this type of role but this is not his year for a win. Corey Stoll plays Ernest Hemingway in Midnight in Paris. The ensemble cast was good but honestly, I don't remember his role that well. He'll be passed over. Lastly, Christopher Plummer will mostly likely take home for his role as the terminally ill father who reveals his homosexuality late in life. Plummer performance in Beginners has taken home a Golden Globe, most likely the first of several awards.

Reel Injun (1:25) 2009

Documentary director Neil Diamond travels around the Western part of the US in his "rez car." He visits different Native American tribes exploring how The People have been treated by Hollywood through the years. Diamond segments his documentary by the silent era, the Western movie era and. later on, by each decade. Well known Native American actors are interviewed including Adam Beach, Russell Means, and Graham Greene.  Reel Injun exposes a long time Hollywood secret when it is revealed that the Iron Eyes Cody, the Indian who shed a tear in the Keep America Beautiful television ads, was not a Native American but a son of Silician immigrants. The documentary also discusses political activism of the aboriginal people with the sit in at Alcatraz and Pine Ridge. This is a senstive and eye opening discussion of Hollywood's treatment of the Native American.

First Thoughts on Best Feature American Spirit Awards Nominees 2012

The following are the six nominees for this year's American Spirit's  Best Feature:
50/50, Beginners, Drive, Take Shelter, The Artist, The Descendants. 
Having viewed all the movies, I've divided the films into three tiers. The first are the two nominees who have a slim chance of taking home an award.
50/50 is a movie about a young man's struggle with cancer. It's a touching movie with a small but excellent cast led by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Beginners is a story about a young man who deals with his father after his father's diagnosis  of a terminal illness. Along with dealing with the diagnosis, he also has to be accustomed to his widowed father's revelation that he is gay. Christopher Plummer has received multiple nominations for his performance in the Supporting Actor category.
The next two are creative and original and have been recognized with positive critical acclaim. Drive is a vehicle driven by Ryan Gosling literally and figuratively. Gosling is a stunt driver for the movies by day, at night he hires out as a getaway driver for robbers. Gosling is a loner until he meets Irene, a young mother whose husband is in prison. Gosling forms an attachment to both the mother and son and puts his life on the line to help the family. This is a taut movie, Gosling is at his best as the loner. Take Shelter is a movie which I was very taken with. Curtis, Samantha and their deaf six year old daughter, Hannah are living in Ohio.  Curtis is hardworking but money is tight but still they are a happy family. Curtis starts having nightmares about approaching an environmental doom. He also starts having hallucinations, such as the sky is raining oil. Curtis is freaked out by the nightmares because he mother was diagnosed with mental illness at the age he is now. The entire movie has the viewer asking, is Curtis succumbing to mental illness or are his dreams are harbinger of an cataclysmic event. Although both movies are up against better known movies, I would be happy if either of them walk away with a Spirit award.
The two films which I see as the favorites are The Artist or The Descendants, And the winner is a toss up. I do predict the award will go to The Artist, the highly acclaimed black and white silent film. However, Payne's The Descendants may take home the award. Set in Hawaii, The Descendants tell the story of a man (George Clooney) and his two daughters struggling with the impending death of their mother, a victim of a boating accident. It is a touching and sometimes humorous look at how the "back up" parent deals with a family tragedy.

50/50 (1:40) 2011

50/50 is based on a script written by Will Reiser who was diagnosed with cancer as a young man. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Adam, a 27 year old writer for radio, as he is told that he has a rare form of spinal cancer. He turns to his wise cracking friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen) for support. Adam also turns to Katherine, a therapist, for emotional support. Adam, at first,  keeps his mother at a distance but over time confides in her. Adam undergoes a round of chemo and later but later learns the chemo has had no effect on the tumor. He is advised to have a life threatening operation. The best scene, and one of the most moving, is between Adan and his mother (Anjelica Huston) just as he is being prepped for surgery. Gordon-Levitt is great in expressing all the emotions that come with battling for his life. Rogen, true to his movie personna, is crude, emotionally bungling, and funny as he supports the friend for whom he cares so much. 50/50 has been nominated for a American Spirit Best Feature award. Due to the competition, 50/50 has les than 25% chance of winning the Best Feature Award. It does get 100% for its heart and soul. A true gem of an independent film.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (1:34) 2008

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the story of two boys in wartime Germany. Bruno is the eight old son of the German Commandant of a concentration camp. Shmuel is an eight year Jewish boy who is a prisoner of the camp. Bruno lives with his family in a rural area. He and his older sister, an ardent supporter of the cause,  have a tutor as there are no schools nearby. Lonely and missing his friends, Bruno escapes the family residence through a gardener's storage shed. After taking a walk through a wooded area, he comes across a clearing surrounded by barbed wire. There he meets Shmuel, a boy wearing pajamas. Bruno thinks he is one of the strange farmers, Shmuel doesn't understand why he has been moved to the camp. The boys begin a friendship not understanding why they are supposed to be enemies. This is a very quiet and very emotional film. The entire cast is wonderful but Bruno and Shmuel give riveting performances. This is the second time I've watched this movie and the ending is just as heart wrenching as the first time. In the United States, eight grade students study the Holocaust. This is a movie that families should watch together in support of the unit of study.

First Thoughts on Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nominations

The following five actors have been Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actor this year. They are:
Kenneth Branagh, Jonah Hill, Nick Nolte, Christopher Plummer, Max Van Sydow. Kenneth Branagh portrayed Sir Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn. Based on actual events during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl, Branagh portrays Olivier as a frustrated director dealing with Marilyn Monroe's erratic behavior. He shows his conflicting emotions - his recognition of her natural acting ability but her disregard for arriving on time and other behavior he considers unprofessional.  Well done, old boy, but he won't receive an Oscar this time. Jonah Hill portrays Peter Brand, a character loosely based on Paul DePodesta. Brand is a recent college graduate who helps Billy Beane (Pitt) make hiring decisions based on computer based statistics. Hill is well known for his work in comedic movies like SuperBad and Knocked Up. I'm rooting for Hill, the lovable assistant. I don't think he will win but am happy he was nominated. Nick Nolte plays Paddy Conlan, an alcoholic former boxer in Warrior. He is estranged from his two sons but reconnects when he becomes a trainer for one of his sons. When his two sons reach the finals in a mixed arts tournament, Conlan is needed and rebuffed. I've always like Nolte and he really did a great job in showing his regrets about his past behavior caused by his alcholism. He has a chance of winning. Christopher Plummer is a dying widowed father who admits he is gay and embraces his new, and long denied, lifestyle. While I was watching Beginners, there were several scenes which I thought would earn him an Oscar nomination and a probable win. Max Von Sydow is the estranged and mute grandfather of Oskar in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Von Sydow rents a room from Oskar's grandmother and eventually meets Oskar. He accompanies Oskar on his Saturday's trips through the five boroughs. Oskar, a bright boy, realizes the renter is, in fact, his grandfather. Von Sydow, without speaking a word, expressed so many emotions, including grief. If Plummer doesn't take home the Oscar, Von Sydow will.

First Thoughts on Best Picture Oscar Nominations

The following movies have been nominated for Best Picture:

The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight In Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, and War Horse.

Last night  my friends and I saw Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Now that I have seen all nine of the nominees, here are some of my thoughts.

The three lower tier movies are: Hugo, The Tree of Life and War Horse. These were movies that had it strengths but they just missed the mark or as I often write, they were "not my cup of tea."

The middle tier movies are:  The Descendants, Midnight in Paris and Moneyball. I really liked these movies. Moneyball is a baseball movie starring Brad Pitt. Pitt portrays Billy Beane, the manager of the Oakland team in their rebuilding year. Midnight in Paris was directed by Woody Allen whom I just love.
Luke Owens was so good in his role as the writer who wishes to live at the time of the great poets, writers and artist living in Paris during the 1920s. Owens finds out that wishes sometimes comes true. The Descendants is set in modern day Hawaii with George Clooney dealing with his daughters and his hospitalized and critically injured wife. Lots of great scenery, one liners and a very heartfelt performance from Clooney. The Descendants appears to be a strong front runner.

The top tier movies:  The Artist is a tribute to the silent film era. With no dialogue, filmed in black and white, great soundtrack, and an actor who has great facial expressions and body language, this is a unique film going experience.  The Artist has received several nominations and awards. This will give The Descendants a run for the money. The Help was my favorite movie of 2011. I went to see this film with five of my teacher friends this summer and we all raved about it. Octavia Spencer was wonderful as one of the maids, Minnie, and has already received nominations and awards. The story is about the housemaids and the housewife employers in the early 1960s. Set in the South, a local journalist writes a book about life in the South as told by the black housemaids. The book is a thinly disguised tell all which doesn't set well with some of the local residents. You laugh, cry and cheer - sometimes all at once. I just reviewed Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close in the previous post. It has just been released and has been given poor reviews. I think positive words of mouth will give this film the praise and popularity it deserves. I would be pleased if this is a surprise winner.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2:09) 2012

Run, do not walk, to see Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close . I do caution anyone who lost a loved one on 9/11 or was an up close witness to  this American tragedy, it may be emotionally upsetting being a little close to comfort. Preteen Oskar loses his jeweler father Tom (Tom Hanks) on 9/11. His dad was on the 104th floor when one of the planes hit the tower. Oskar is an only child, bright and curious. He was tested for Asperberger's but the results were inconclusive. He does exhibit sensitivity to sound, heights, bus, subways which he avoids due to anxiety. After he father's death, he finds a key in a small envelope in a vase. This mystery key has Oskar scour the city looking to answer the mystery his father left him. Will he make sense out of a senseless act? When Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was nominated for an Oscar this morning, I was surprised as it had been released last week to lukewarm reviews. There is nothing lukewarm about this emotional, sensitive look at a young boy's dealing with the sudden loss of his beloved father. Thomas Horn who portrays Oskar deserved an Oscar nomination. Sandra Bullock was overlooked for an Academy  award. Max Von Sydow did receive a nod for Best Supporting Actor and was wonderful as a elderly man who only communicates through writing, who tries to help Oskar. To paraphrase Nike  - Just See It.

First Thoughts on Actor in Leading Role

Predicting the winner in this category is difficult, it is a toss up between George Clooney (The Descendants) and Jean Dujardin (The Artist). Clooney gives a touching performance as a father of two daughters who is dealing with his wife's imminent death after a boating accident. This sad situation because more entangled when Clooney learns that his wife has been cheating. Clooney is funny, sensitive and somewhat of  a bungling father. Jean Dujardin is a well known and beloved silent movie star whose career comes to a screeching halt when talkies are released. Dujardin has no dialogue and  acts entirely with his expressions and body language. My prediction is that the winner will either be Clooney or Dujardin. I do want to comment on Brad Pitt's performance as Billy Beane. He was wonderful and gave a very touching performance as a divorced dad who is given a job to rebuild a major league baseball team. Demain Bichir gave a memorable performance as an undocumented gardener who wants the best for his teenage son. I remember thinking that Bichir deserves an Oscar nomination for his role and was very happy to see that the members of the Academy thought the same. Gary Oldman gave a strong performance as an intelligent, no affect  British spy. I just wasn't crazy about the movie and Oldman's character wasn't likable or endearing.

First Thoughts about the 2012 Oscar Nominations

The Oscar nominations are in. In thirty three days, the winners will be announced. And who will be the winners be? Although I have some preferences, it is hard to make a final decision until I've seen all the movies. My track record is pretty good but I have not seen Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. This Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock vehicle was released this weekend but Connecticut had a snowstorm Saturday that left us with nine inches of the white stuff. The other movie I haven't seen is Albert Nobbs. I'm looking forward to this movie, set in Ireland, and have no idea when it will be released in the Greater New Haven area. When I have seen all the movies in each category, there will be predictions and sentiments.

Academy Award Nominations 2012 Announced

The Academy has announced the choices for the 2012 Oscars. The following are the nominees by category:

Best Picture:

The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight In Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Best Actor:

Demian Bichir
George Clooney
Jean Dujardin
Gary Olman
Brad Pitt

Best Actress:

Glenn Close
Viola Davis
Rooney Mara
Meryl Streep
Michelle Williams

Best Supporting Actor:

Kenneth Branagh
Jonah Hill
Nick Nolte
Christopher Plummer
Max Van Sydow

Best Supporting Actress:

Berenice Bejo
Jessica Chastain
Melissa McCarthy
Janet McTeer
Octavia Spencer

Congratulations to all the Nominees!

The Hangover Part II (1:42) 2011

Stu is getting married and wants a bachelor breakfast party at IHOP as his "psyche" hasn't fully recovered from Las Vegas. The guys travel to Thailand for the wedding as it is the bride's family's home. On night on the beach, the friends plus the bride's younger brother, Teddy decide to have a beer as they sit around the bonfire. They wake up the next morning in Bangkok hotel with a monkey, no Teddy and no memory. They have to search out clues as to what has happened so they can find Teddy and get back in time for the wedding. If you saw The Hangover you know pretty much what happened as this is just a regurgitation of the original movie except without the laughs. Some sequels should never be made and this is a prime example of one.

23rd Annual Producers Guild Awards - January 21, 2012

The Producers Guild of America have announced the 2012 winners of their Guild awards.  Their website describes the guild as "non-profit trade group that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media."  The 2012 award winners are:

Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: The Artist


The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures: The Adventures of Tintin

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures: Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a  Tribe called Quest.

The Stanley Kramer Award:  In the Land of Blood and Honey

No surprises with The Artist, I would have liked Puss in Boots for animation and Project Nim for Documentary.

Oscar Nominated Foreign Language Films 2012 -Top Nine

The Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film have been narrowed to nine from the original sixty three tiles. Listed below are the titles of the surviving nine films, country and the directors' name. On January 24th, the top five will be announced.  I haven't seen any of them but predict that A Separation from Iran will be in the top five.


Belgium, “Bullhead,” Michael R. Roskam, director;
Canada, “Monsieur Lazhar,” Philippe Falardeau, director;
Denmark, “Superclásico,” Ole Christian Madsen, director;
Germany, “Pina,” Wim Wenders, director;
Iran, “A Separation,” Asghar Farhadi, director;
Israel, “Footnote,” Joseph Cedar, director;
Morocco, “Omar Killed Me,” Roschdy Zem, director;
Poland, “In Darkness,” Agnieszka Holland, director;
Taiwan, “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale,” Wei Te-sheng, director.

The Iron Lady (1:45) 2011

Great Britain's Iron Lady wears a hat, pearls and carries a mixed bag. Meryl Steep's portrayal of Margaret Thatcher is fantastic. Streep is shown aging over a thirty year time frame -  from the time she places her name for election to be Prime Minister until the current day as Thatcher adjusts to life without her husband. Streep is very convincing as the aged grieving widow but there lies the problem with the film. Too much time is spent showing Maggie interacting with her deceased husband. Her political life is shown in flashbacks highlighting the Falkland Islands war, the rioting in London during the recession, and several IRA bombings.  However, there isn't really time spent on her climb to the top where she became the first and only Prime Minister of England. We also know that Thatcher was a wife and mother but there is no sense on how she juggled her personal and political life. I really don't think The Iron Lady will be in the theaters very long, it just doesn't seem to have an appeal for American audiences. Look for a Streep to take home an Oscar and please note that Harry Lloyd who plays the young Dennis Thatcher is a true delight!

Drew Peterson: Untouchable

Drew Peterson, an Illinois policeman, was a person of interest when his much younger fourth wife disappeared in 2010. Peterson claimed that she had run off with another man. Stacy's sister and neighbor claim her disappearance was caused by Peterson. Suspicions deepen when his third wife's body was exhumed. The cause of her death was ruled accidental drowning but upon further investigation, Kathleen's death was ruled a homicide. Currently, Peterson is in prison awaiting trial for his third wife's death. Stacy's body has never been found. Rob Lowe portrays the very unlikeable misogynist in this Lifetime movie which uses actual news reports. I know that our judicial system is based on the belief that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Peterson will eventually stand trial but there is no doubt that he is guilty of being a creep. Let justice be served.

Burlesque (1:40) 2010

Do you like Cher? Christina Aguilera? Lots of singing and dancing? If you answered yes to any of the questions, this is a movie for you. Aquilera portrays Ali, a small town gal, who heads for L.A. in hopes of being a singer. Ali ends up waitressing at a neo-burlesque nightclub owned by Tess (Cher). The nightclub is struggling and Tess is on the verge of being forced out of business. Ali eventually gets her break as a dancer in the chorus line. One night, the star dancer is sent home by Tess and pulls the plug on the sound system on the way out. This gives Ali a chance to belt out a song much to the every one's amazement. Realizing Ali has real talent, Tess changes the acts so Ali will be the star of the show. Of course, Ali is caught in the middle of love triangle and needs to decide if she wants the wealthy businessman who had designs on the club or the piano playing bartender?  Will Tess be able to save her theater? I saw this movie on the big screen the week it was released. My first reaction was that I was unsure whether I would like it or not since the first musical number reminded me of Caberet which is a movie I didn't like. The good news was in a short amount of time, I really grew to like the movie and love the musical numbers. It was a real treat to see Cher on the big screen.

Sinone -S1mOne (1:57) 2002

Simone maybe have been a movie that was ahead of its time. Al Pacino portrays Victor Taransky, a struggling filmmaker who is truly devoted to the artistic element of his craft.  He is approached by a dying computer programmer who has created a digital actress. Taransky develops Simone, a beautiful blond young actress. Using modern technology, Taransky, using specialized computer effects, inserts Simone into his next films. Simone is a smash hit and wins an Oscar for Best Actress. Simone, not being a feel person, is a very private and never appears in public which adds to the media frenzy. Taransky spends time arranging Simone's appearances through the Internet and streaming on television. Victor soon finds that Simone is interfering with his effort in reconciling with his former wife. When Simone dies of a "virus", Victor is arrested for murder. How will he defend himself against this charge? At the time of release, Simone received poor reviews so I never bothered to take the time to see it. Since it is a snowy day in Connecticut, I came across it on the Multiplex channel.  While it is still far fetched, it does raise questions into media frenzies, the creation of "stars" and how real is what we see on the big screen or television?

The Donner Party (1:35) 2009

The Donner Party is well known in the westward movement history of the United States. In 1846, a group of pioneers traveled to California in covered wagons. The Donner Party took a new route across the mountains. There were many delays in the journey and the party was caught in the Sierra Nevada's with early winter snowstorms. Running out of food and members weakening and dying, a small group decide to walk to California to bring back a rescue party. The reason the Donner Party is so well known is, when they were faced with no food, they resorted to cannibalizing the members of their party. This is a very gritty and realistic retelling of this infamous group of pioneers.

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Nominations 2012 (Continued)

The SAG Nominations 2012 are continued:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:

Jonah Hill, Nicke Nolte, Kenneth Branagh. Christopher Plummer, Armie Hammer
I seen all the actors except for Hammer (J. Edgar). Plummer received a Golden Globe for his performance in Beginners.
I'm rooting for Jonah Hill but predict that Nick Nolte or Christopher Plummer will win.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:
Bernice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Melissa McCarthy, Janet McTeer, Octavia Spencer
I'm rooting for Octavia Spencer and predict she will take home another award.

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Nominations 2012

The SAG Awards will be announced on Sunday, January 29th. Here is a list of movie nominations:

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:

The Artist, The Help, The Descendants, Bridesmaids, Midnight in Paris

I'm rooting for The Help, my prediction is The Descendants will receive the award.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:

George Clooney, Brad Pitt (Moneyball), Demian Bichir, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jean Dujardin

I'm rooting for George Clooney, my prediction is George Clooney will receive the award

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:

Viola Davis, Michelle Williams, Glen Close, Meryl Streep, Tilda Swinton

So far I've only seen Viola Davis and Michelle Williams. This is a very tight contest.
I reserve my prediction for later but I loved Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe.

Power Shift (0:26) 2007

Narrated by Cameron Diaz, Power Shift is a documentary on the use of Solar Energy around the world. The effects of global warming are changing people's lives now and in the future. This video, geared to middle and high students, attempts to shifting our thinking away from using fossil fuels to redesigning our lives around the use of solar and wind power.

Amazing Journeys (0:40) 1999

Amazing Journeys is a documentary which was shown in IMAX theaters. And I would have loved to seen it on a big screen or better yet, in a  IMAX theater. The opening scenes are of millions of monarch butterflies as they begin their migration from Mexico northwards. Robert Foxworth continued the narration of the migration of the Canadian geese. The geese were filmed on land and in the sky, flying in their famous V formation. The documentary then turns to the ocean with whales and their calves swimming in lagoons. Red crabs on Christmas Islands are next highlighted with many interesting and little know facts. Turning to land, migration taking place in East Africa is examined. Zebra great migration northward occurs with the dangers of wildfires, thirst and hyenas. The closing scene focuses on the Masai people who are nomads and move with their herds. This is a must see for all nature and animal lovers.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1:53) 2010L

Lucy, Edmund and their cousin, Eustace rejoin Prince Caspian in Narnia aboard the ship, Dawn Treader.
The crew meet all types of mystical creatures including a flying dragon as they battle a green mist. Whenever a green mist appears, all those engulf in the mist disappear never to be seen again. I haven't read any of the books in the series or seen any of the prior movies. This film is loaded with special effects, a talking rat, sword fights, sea creatures and battles.  For fans of the Narnia Chronicles, I can certainly understand why these fantasy books and films, filled with action, are popular with teens.

Firewall (1:46) 2006

Firewall stars Harrison Ford as a wealthy technologist who specializes in security (firewalls) for  a Seattle Bank. Bill Cox (Paul Bettany) has shadowed Stanfield's family for months. When Cox kidnaps the Stanfield's wife, children and dog, he blackmails Stanfied into transferring 100 million dollars in an offshore account. Stanfield complies but when his friend is murdered, he decides to take matters into his own hands and get his family bank. When he drains Cox's offshore accounts dry, the tables are turned, no family, no money. Stanfield uses a GPS tracking device and learns Cox and his family's location. Who will survive the showdown. I missed this film in the theaters when it was released but wanted to see it as Ford is usually in good action thriller movies. Having finally caught up with it, it is a very unrealistic movie but predictable end. I watched it on AMC and was glad that I finally saw it - at no cost.

The Special Relationship (1:29) 2010

Martin Sheen portrays Tony Blair and Dennis Quaid portrays Bill Clinton in this inside look at the relationship between Blair and Clinton during Clinton's presidency. The major events that are examined during the time frame between Blair's being elected and Clinton leaving office are the Clinton scandal with Lewinsky and genocide taking place in Yugoslavia under the leadership of the dictator Milosevic.  The film last scene is with newsreel of George W. Bush and Tony Blair meeting at Camp David soon after Gore concedes defeat. Martin Sheen is wonderful as Blair just as in was in The Queen. Quaid does a decent job as Clinton, Hope Davis, one of my favorite actress, is Hillary Clinton. The Special Relationship is a HBO production. My suggestion is that political junkies will enjoy this film, everyone else will teeter on a take or leave it decision as to whether to should watch it.

The Golden Globe Winners 2012 continued

The winners of the Golden Globes in the major catagories are:

Best Motion Picture - Drama - The Descendants. The Descendants is a good movie with a wonderful ensemble cast and it was not a surprise that it was given the award. Personally, The Help was my favorite.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama - Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady. The Iron Lady just opened in New Haven this weekend and I haven't had a chance to see it. Streep is my favorite actress do I am pleased that she received an award. I would have been pleased with Viola Davis receiving the award also.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - George Clooney in The Descendants. From what I read and after seeing Clooney, his award was expected.

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical - The Artist. This black and white tribute to the silent films, is certainly very endearing. Again, this award for The Artist was expected.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical - Jean Dujardin, The Artist. Congratulations to this handsome, charming Frenchman.

Golden Globe Winners, So Far

The Golden Globe 2012 winners so far:

Best Performance by an Actress in a Comedy or Musical - Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn - Yeah, this award is greatly deserved.

Best Performance by an Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture- Christopher Plummer in Beginners - Plummer gave a very touching performance as a dying man who reveals to his son he is gay.

Best Animated Feature Film - The Adventures of Tintin - No surprise but would have given the award to Puss in Boots

Best Foreign Language Film - The Separation - I have seen this film, yet, but from all accounts well deserved.

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A Taste of Romance 2012

Sara Westbrook is a hard working single owner of a French restaurant. Her life is her restaurant with little time left over for fun or romance. Along comes a small group of fireman who open a small restaurant right next to hers. Their clientele is different but Sara realizes how successful her competitor is. Sara is not very neighborly towards handsome widower Gil , the owner, but does strike up a friendship with his young daughter, Hannah, who loves all things French. Gil, a prankster and a rival, soon learns that Sara is very nice to Hannah and becomes interested in Sara romantically. Sara deep down likes Gil but doesn't want to give up her independence or turn her attention away from her struggling restaurant. The ups and downs of the relationship takes a turn when a well known local television food critic comes to do a review and ends up at Gil's. Sara is disappointed and furious, can Gil make it right? This Hallmark Channel movie is very similar to No Reservations which is based on the German film Mostly Martha. This is a light, fluffy movie that we have seen before but it still goes down easily,

Joyful Noise (1:58) 2012

Joyful Noise is receiving poor reviews from the critics. And yes, the storyline could be a taken from a made for television movie. And yet, there are five very good reasons to see this movie and take the family along. The six reasons are: Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, the two teenagers, the gospel music, and a wonderfully affirming scene between Queen Latifah and her son, Walter, a teenager on the autism spectrum. Set in a small Georgia town with a high unemployment rate, the high note is the local church's choir led by Vi Rose Hill (Queen Latifah).  G.G Sparrow (Dolly Parton) signs in the choir and is also a big financial supporter of the church. Vi Rose and G.G. get along like oil and vinegar, their relationship is further strained by G.G.'s grandson, Randy, coming to live with her. Randy is attracted to Vi Rose's  sixteen year old daughter, Olivia. A bigger outside pressure further strains the personal strains all the way around when the choir is selected to complete in the Joyful Noise Competition in Los Angeles. Will the choir members be able to work together in order to place first in the competition? This film is a joyful, feel good delight.

Like Dandelion Dust (1:40) 2009

Jack and Molly Campbell are a wealthy couple living the good life with their beloved adopted son, Joey, in Georgia. In Ohio, Rip Porter is released from prison after a seven year term. He reunites with his wife Wendy who tells him that he has a son and the son was put up for adoption soon after Rip was sent to prison. Rip, having never relinquished custody, pursues gaining custody of Joey. The Ohio courts agree with Wendy and Rip and the Campbells are faced with giving up their son. The Campbells are thinking of fleeing the country with Joey, Wendy Porter experiences Rip's issue with anger management and has second thoughts and Joey is caught in the middle. This is a fairly well done realistic movie, Jack and Molly are a loving couple who relationship start to splinter under stress. Rip wants a son but is not ready to be a father. Wendy is a very sympathetic character. She comes to realize that she loves her son so much that she has to let him go. This is quite a gem of a movie.

Critics' Choice Awards 2012

The Critics' Choice Awards for 2012 have been announced. Listed are a some of the winners:

Best Picture:  The Artist.       
Best Actor: George Clooney in The Descendants.  By the end of the award season, Clooney will have many more than this one award
Best Actress:  Viola Davis in The Help.  I was rooting for Davis
Best Supporting Actor:  Christopher Plummer in The Beginners.  Good Choice but I was rooting for Nick Nolte in Warrior
Best Supporting Actress:  Octavia Spencer in The Help. Spencer's role as Minnie was the best performance of the year, in my opinion.
Best Animated Feature:  Rango.  Yuck, I did not like this movie at all
Best Comedy: The Bridesmaids.  This is one of the funniest movies. A well deserved honor.

For more award winners. please follow the link:
http://www.criticschoice.com/movie-awards/17th-annual-critics-choice-movie-awards-2012/

Sniper: Reloaded (1:31) 2010

Sniper: Reloaded is the latest in The Sniper series which starred Tom Berenger, The latest in the sequel is the story of Beckett's son, Brandon, who follows in his father's footsteps. Beckett is assigned to the Congo with the his mission to safely extract a white Belgian plantation owner from his land. The mission ends in disaster, everyone is killed but Beckett. Beckett soon realizes that there is traitor in the peacekilling force and goes AWOL to uncover him. Will he survive this most dangerous mission? This is a movie with little acting, a lot of shooting and killing. The movie must have gone straight to DVD. Why did I rent it? The scenery. The film was shot in South Africa. There are beautiful sunsets, wild animals like elephants, and scenes of the bush.
As the saying goes, location, location. Location is Sniper: Reloaded's strength.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2:08) 2011

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a Cold War thriller based on the well-known LeCarre novel of the same name. Unfortunately, this movie isn't very thrilling. Actually there aren't any thrills. Gary Oldman, Toby Jones, Colin Firth  and other well known actors are very good as no affect, low key British agents. The group is aware that there is a mole among them and Oldman is brought back into the family after a forced retirement. He has the charge of learning if the  double agent is the the tinker, the tailor, or the soldier. Although this is a well done production, I don't think it will have any appeal to American audiences and I suspect that it will not be in the theaters for more than two weeks. This movie isn't my cup of tea - Earl Grey or not.

Up (1:29) 2009

Carl Fredericksen is a recent widow who misses the love of his life, Ellie. The couple had life long plans to visit Paradise Falls in South America.When  Carl is pressured to move into a retirement home, he attaches so many helium balloons to his house, the house floats away. However, Carl is unaware that eight year old Russell is standing on his porch and will have to go with him. As they get close to Paradise Falls where Carl meets his childhood hero, the explorer Muntz. Russell meets a large bird who he names Kevin, who turns out to be a mother finding food for her babies. Will Carl and Russell ever reach Paradise Falls? This is an absolutely colorful and delightful animation. The opening scene, a silent capture of Carl and Ellie's life together is one of the most moving scenes I ever seen. This is a great family movie, if you missed it the first time around, my suggestion is Up should be moved way up on the rental queue.

BURN-E (0:07) 2008

BURN-E is a short film that ran parallel with the smash hit Wall-E. BURN-E is a repair robot who with SUPPLY-R attempts to make a lamp spire repair on the spaceship Axiom. BURN-E soon finds himself locked outside the spaceship. But, not all is lost - he has an idea.

Tin Toy (0:05) 1989

Tin Toy is an early Pixar short animation which won an Oscar for Best Short Animated Film. The story is about Billy, a baby, and one homely baby at that, and one of his tin toys, a drummer named Tinny. Tinny finds out that Billy is very destructive with his toys as he throws everything that he grabs.

Red's Dream (0:04) 1987

Red's Dream is a short animated film which is being shown on ABC family channel tonight. Red is a unicycle who is the clearance section of  Eben's Bikes. On rainy night, Lumpy, the clown, comes alive and starts to ride Red as he juggles. Of course it is only a dream and Red returns to his bleak reality.

National Society of Film Critics Announces 2011 Awards

The National Society of Film Critics announced their award winners for 2011.

Melancholia was named Best Picture of the Year 2011 and Kristin Dunst was named Best Actress for her role in Melancholia. Brad Pitt was named Best Actor for his work in Tree of Life and Moneyball.
For a complete list of  all the award winners, please follow this link:

http://www.nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/

First Grader (1:43) 2010

Maruge is an eighty-four year old illiterate Kenyan, a member of  the Mau Mau. When the government that a free education is available to Kenyans, Maruge shows up at the local bush elementary school to become one of the students. Although he is initially refused entrance, Maruge finally wears down the head teacher, enrolls and begins attending daily.  Parents are upset with Maruge attending the school because the school is very overcrowded. Political pressure forces the transfer of the head teacher and the students react to the news by protesting and locking the school gates. Maruge decides to protest by going to the city and lodging a complaint with the state government of education.  Maruge protested as the British in the 1960s and sacrificed his family. Will his pleads be ignored? Based on a true events, First Grader is a very moving story. The flashbacks of Maruge's life are hard to watch as he was treated cruelly by the British. The movie is balanced by his belief in the importance of education. His actions inspire many, young and old. This is a must see!

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (2:13) 2011

Ethan Hunt and his small crew have been labeled and disavowed as rogue agents and the IMF has been shut down. The Kremlin has been blown up by a Russian mad man who placed the blame on the Americans.
Hunt and his crew have to travel the world to hunt down the nuclear launch codes. The film, produced by Tom Cruise, was shot in Prague, Russia, Dubai and India. This is a typical Mission Impossible movie - lots of action, shooting, car chases and car crashes. It's a typical blockbuster movie that costs lots of money to film but well worth the two hour escape from reality.

Another Earth (1:32) 2011

Filmed in Connecticut, Another Earth is the story of Rhoda, a brilliant student ,who has been accepted to MIT. One night, in an instant of careless driving, she slams into a car killing a pregnant woman and her young son. The driver is a Yale professor, a composer, in a coma. Rhoda is sentence to four years in prison. The reason for the accident is Rhoda was looking into the night sky and viewing Earth 2. Earth 2 is just like us and have us on their planet, living our same lives. After she is released from prison, Rhoda appears at John Burroughs's  home, the sole survivor of the car accident, in order to apologize. When she loses her nerve, she tells him that she is there to give a complimentary house cleaning. He asks her to keep cleaning his house  and, over time, they develop a relationship. As Earth 2 comes closer, Rhoda is given a ticket to travel to Earth 2. Will she use the ticket? This is an interesting story idea but the movie fell a little flat. I watched it because it was filmed in and around my area and I spent time looking at the locations to spot familiar houses, buildings, and streets.

2012 Environmental Film Festival at Yale.

The third annual Environmental Film Festival at Yale will take place on April 9th through the 15th. More information will be posted on their website as the festival draws closer. This is a fantastic free event for the Greater New Haven community.