Obsessive Krasnerian

Fantasies

2010-02-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

Fantasies I have for tomorrow:

Best Picture love for interesting movies:

I'd be happy if any of the following make the cut; A SERIOUS MAN, THE WHITE RIBBON, (500 Days) of SUMMER.

Don't nominate Invictus just because it was "supposed" to be great. It's OK to ignore this year's Eastwood contender. He'll be back with 6 more next year.

I want Inglorious Basterds to wind up the most-nominated film of the year. To do so, it's going to need some unexpected attention (Pitt, Laurent and Kruger deserve kudos in addition to Waltz).

Please SHOWER The Fantastic Mr. Fox with praise anywhere and everywhere. Surprise Director nom? Richly deserving score, script. Somehow, it feels like Art Direction would be valid for this particular animated film, as silly as that sounds.

Stop hating Nine. Whatever you wanna say about the movie, it's technically beautiful. Would be a shame to ignore the cinematography, costume design and even those new crappy songs.

Career Achievement Award for Patricia Clarkson would be just lovely.

Final Oscar Predictions

2010-02-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

This is not every category, but who the fuck care about Sound Effects Editing and Make-up?

Best Picture

AVATAR

THE BLIND SIDE

DISTRICT NINE

AN EDUCATION

THE HURT LOCKER

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

PRECIOUS

A SERIOUS MAN

UP IN THE AIR

(It is also very possible they will nominate Ghost, Places in the Heart and my sister's Bat Mitzvah videotape. Ten nominees is stupid).

Best Actress

Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria

Helen Mirren in The Last Station

Carey Mulligan in An Education

Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

Meryl Streep in Julie and Julie

(Going out on a limb suggesting a Gabourey Sidibe snub.)

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart

George Clooney in Up in the Air

Colin Firth in A Single Man

Morgan Freeman in Invictus

Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

Best Supporting Actress

Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air

Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

Melanie Laurent in Inglorious Basterds

Julianne Moore in A Single Man

Monique in Precious

(Hopeful Laurent and/or Diane Kruger make it in. Penelope Cruz and Samantha Morton each would like to receive their 3rd nom this year.

Best Supporting Actor

Woody Harrelson in The Messenger

Christian McKay in Me and Orson Welles

Anthony Mackie in The Hurt Locker

Stanley Tucci in Julie and Julia

Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds

(REALLY - WHO CARES? This is a one-man race)

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

James Cameron - Avatar

Michael Haneke - The White Ribbon

Jason Reitman - Up in the Air

Quentin Tarantino -Inglorious Basterds

(again, I'm suggesting a Precious backlash)

Best Original Screenplay

(500) Days of Summer

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay

District 9

An Education

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Precious

Up in the Air

Best Cinematography

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Nine

The White Ribbon

Best Film Editing

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Star Trek

Up in the Air

Best Original Score

Avatar

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Informant

Star Trek

Best Art Direction

Avatar

District 9

Inglorious Basterds

Sherlock Holmes

A Single Man

Best Costume Design

An Education

Inglorious Basterds

Nine

Sherlock Holmes

The Young Victoria

NSOFC

2010-01-02T22:10:00.000-08:00

The National Society of Film Critics will announce their 2009 winners sometime later today. They are a notoriously difficult group to predict and almost always find a way to make unexpected, eclectic choices.

Here's my stab;

Picture: The Hurt Locker

Actress: Tilda Swinton in Julia

Actor: Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

Supporting Actress: Melanie Laurent in Inglorious Basterds

Supporting Actor: Christop Waltz in Inglorious Basterds

Director: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker

Screenplay: A Serious Man

supporting performances

2009-12-31T11:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a collection of great supporting performances that weren't acknowledged with awards, nominations or fanfare. Mostly we are talking about women here.

1988 - Betty Buckley in Another Woman. Buckley's one scene as Ian Holm's ex-wife who disturbs a party with her intense appearance is some seriously grand acting. The whole cast is incredible - one of Woody's most balanced ensembles. Outstanding supporting work from Gene Hackman, Martha Plimpton, John Houseman and more.

1989 - Laura San Giacomo in Sex, Lies and Videotape. Giacomo's balls-out sexy, nasty and smart performance as Cynthia, the uninhibited sister in Soderbergh's breakthrough put her on the map. Andie MacDowell, James Spader and Giacomo all should have been nominated for Oscars, but the movie is (and was) too in touch with intimacy and sexuality to connect to a conservative Academy.

1990 - 5 excellent actresses were nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 1990 (Annette Bening in The Grifters, Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas, Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost, Diane Ladd in Wild at Heart, Mary McDonnell in Dances with Wolves. Goldberg gets a lot of flack from snobs for her win, but this was a tough choice and Whoopi IS comedy gold in Ghost. That being said, there were at least 5 other women who also deserved attention in 90.

Glenn Close in Reversal of Fortune

Dianne Wiest in Edward Scissorhands (If it were up to me, there would be a Dianne Wiest holiday. We could call it Supporting Actress Day!)

Jennifer Jason Leigh in Last Exit to Brooklyn

Helena Bonham-Carter in Hamlet

Shirley MacLaine in Postcards from the Edge (although this performance could have just as easily been considered leading)

and Madonna in Dick Tracy (seriously).

1991 - Judy Davis wasn't nominated for her fascinating, weird and deeply contrasting performances in Barton Fink and Naked Lunch.

1992 - Category confusion; Helena Bonham-Carter really ISN'T supporting in Howards End. But she isn't leading either, is she? Either way, there needs to be some way to acknowledge her beautiful performance. I feel much the same way about Anthony Hopkins in this rich film.

*Sydney Pollack is unflinchingly real and actually a tad-bit scary in Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives. Judy Davis gets all the funny lines and deservedly was nominated, but Pollock's work is also worth noting.

1993 - '93 is another case where the Academy choose 5 super solid performances but they could have just as easily picked 5 others. The nominees were Anna Paquin in The Piano, Rosie Perez in Fearless, Emma Thompson in In the Name of the Father (honestly, this nom is weird and unwarranted), Holly Hunter in The Firm and Winona Ryder in The Age of Innocence.

UNNOMINATED; Joan Cusack in Addams Family Values. One of the funniest performances ever. Julianne Moore, Madelaine Stowe, Anne Archer, Andie MacDowell and Jennifer Jason Leigh are all remarkable in Short Cuts. Isabella Rossellini is fearless in Fearless.

1994 - Robin Wright Penn in Forrest Gump. She has never been nominated. Her snub in 94 was downright retarded.

1995 - Chloe Sevigny in Kids. Thank God for Chloe.

1996 - Parker Posey and Catherine O'Hara in Waiting for Guffman. One of these days O'Hara will get nominated.

1997 - Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen (or is she leading?) and Christina Ricci in The Ice Storm. STORM received zero nominations. In supporting actor, Jude Law was snubbed for Gattaca - great movie, great performance.

1998 - Jane Adams and Dylan Baker in Happiness. Lisa Kudrow in The Opposite of Sex (best supporting performance of the year), Catherine Keener in Your Friends and Neighbors.

1999 - Cameron Diaz and John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich. Maybe Julianne Moore for Magnolia? I need to see that flick again. Does it hold up?

2000 - JENNIFER CONNELLY in Requiem for a Dream. The Academy made up for this ridiculous slight by awarding her the following year for A Beautiful Mind. Guessing her snub has something to do with prudishness. She would certainly have been the first nominee who got fucked by a dildo onscreen, unless we choose to forget that famous Greer Garson scene in Mrs. Miniver.

2001 - Emily Watson in Gosford Park. Mirren and Smith were nominated. All three are great, but Watson was best. BIg fan of Kristin Scott-Thomas in the same flick. Barbara Hershey is fascinating in Lantana. I think everyone would agree the most traumatic event in 2001 was Naomi Watts's Best Actress snub for Mulholland Drive.

2002 - INSANE that Patricia Clarkson and Dennis Quaid weren't nominated for Far From Heaven. Far From Heaven should have swept the awards - Picture, Actress, both supporting, Director, Screenplay, Score, Cinematography. Great work by Cherry Jones in Signs, but not enough material for a nomination.

2003 - Melissa Leo kicked ass in 21 Grams. Hope Davis was terrific in American Splendor and The Secret Lives of Dentists (but both really are leads). Catherine O'Hara wonderful in A Mighty Wind,

2004 - Naomi Watts is special in I Heart Huckabees. Blanchett and Huston delectable in The Life Aquatic. Streep campy fun in Manchurian. I adore Bryce Dallas Howard and all the lovely theatre ladies (Weaver, Jones, Atkinson) from The Village.

2005 - The silly year when Crash triumphed over BB MTN for Best Picture and Reese Witherspoon won Best Actress for Walk the Line (I like the idea of nominating her for Election, but nothing else). My favorite leading female performance of '05 was Naomi Watts in King Kong. Maria Bello should have been nominated (and won) for A History of Violence in supporting. I wouldn't object to a Diane Keaton nomination for The Family Stone. She is bound to be nominated again the next decade, based on her 1 nomination per decade work ethic thus far - 77 Annie Hall 81 Reds 95 Marvin's Room 03 Something's Gotta Give. Looking forward.

2006 - A movie called FAILURE TO LAUNCH was actually greenlit and released. Great supporting perfs from Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada, Toni Collette in Little Miss Sunshine and those chicks from Pan's Labyrinth,

2007 - Kelly MacDonald in No Country for Old Men, Laura Linney in The Nanny Diaries, Susan Sarandon in In the Valley of Elah, Jennifer Garner in Juno.

2008 - Tilda Swinton in Burn After Reading ("You're so coarse.") and in that Brad Pitt/David Fincher bore.

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2009

2009-12-19T16:16:00.001-08:00

My TOP TEN films released in 2009.

1. AVATAR

2. INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

3. THE FANTASTIC MR FOX

4. A SERIOUS MAN

5. UP IN THE AIR

6. THE HURT LOCKER

7. UP

8. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER

9. PRECIOUS

10.A SINGLE MAN

i live for this shit

2009-12-18T16:16:00.000-08:00

Unoffical Break Down of NYFCC Awards Votes tallies.

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/movies/oscar_watch_ny_la_critics_boost_D2dyUFQdy2RlIe1IazdQSO

Complete, unofficial vote tallies for the leaders in each category are below. Note that in the first ballot, members present (21) and proxies (8) voted for a single choice. In the second ballot, members present and proxies vote on a weighted ballot with up to three choices, but the winner must appear on a majority of ballots. This is also true of the third ballot, which does not allow proxy votes nor the introduction of new contender. If there is still no winner, a simple majority determines the outcome of the fourth ballot.

BEST ACTRESS

First ballot: Meryl Streep, 5; Tilda Swinton, 5; Charlotte Gainsbourg, 4.

Second ballot: Streep, 31; Swinton, 29; Carey Mulligan, 24

SUPPORTING ACTOR

First ballot: Christophe Waltz 11, Christian McKay 5, Anthony Mackie 3, Peter Capaldi, 3

Second ballot: Waltz 39, McKay 31, Capaldi, 26

Third ballot: Waltz 36, McKay 25, Capaldi, 13

BEST DIRECTOR

First ballot: Kathryn Bigelow 11, Jason Reitman 3, Wes Anderson 2, Oliver Assayas, 2

Second ballot: Bigelow 56, Anderson 15, Tarantino, 13

BEST PICTURE

First Ballot: Hurt Locker 8, Up in the Air 5, Fantastic Mr. Fox, 3

Second Ballot: Hurt Locker 42, Up in the Air 25, Fantastic Mr. Fox 16

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

First and only ballot: Fantastic Mr. Fox 14, Up 8, Coraline, 3

BEST DOCUMENTARY

First ballot: Beaches of Agnes 5, The Cove 4, Anvil, 3

Second ballot: Anvil 26, Tyson 25, Time and the City, 20

Third ballot: Anvil 29, Time and the City 22, Tyson 14

Fourth ballot: Time and the City 28, Anvil 27, Tyson, 16

CINEMATOGRAPHY

First Ballot: White Ribbon 5, Hurt Locker 3, A Serious Man 3

Second ballot: White Ribbon 32, Serious Man 20, Avatar 17

Third ballot: White Ribbon 30, Avatar 21, Serious Man 18

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

First ballot: Mo’Nique 13, Vera Farmiga 3, Samantha Morton 2, Anna Kendrick 2, Maggie Gyllenhaal, 2

Second ballot: Mo’Nique 49, Farmiga, 26, Kendrick 21

SCREENPLAY

First ballot: In the Loop 6, Up in the Air 6, A Serious Man 5

Second ballot: Up in the Air 33, In the Loop 31, A Serious Man 24

Third ballot (voided): Up in the Air 31, In the Loop 30, Inglourious Basterds 22

Third ballot (re-vote): In the Loop 29, Up in the Air 28, Inglourious Basterds, 19

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

First ballot: Summer Hours 6, White Ribbon 3, Everlasting Moments 3

Second ballot: Summer Hours 32, Broken Embraces 21, Everlasting Moments 15

BEST ACTOR

First ballot: George Clooney 8, Jeff Bridges 5, Jeremy Renner 3

Second ballot: Clooney 38, Bridges 31, Renner 27

Third ballot: Clooney 38, Bridges 29, Renner 18

Oscar Nomination Predictions (12/13/10)

2009-12-13T19:02:00.001-08:00

I think this is my first real stab at Oscar predix. It's really hard to believe some of these flicks will actually be nominated for Best Picture, but it's difficult to anticipate how this new voting process will really work out.

Picture

AN EDUCATION

AVATAR

THE HURT LOCKER

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

JULIE AND JULIA

THE MESSENGER

NINE

PRECIOUS

UP IN THE AIR

The next most likely nominees appear to be Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, A Serious Man, A Single Man, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, (500) Days of Summer. But my choices currently sound a little more right, huh?

Actress

Sandra Bullock

Helen Mirren

Carey Mulligan

Gabourey Sidibe

Meryl Streep

There's not much playroom here. Marion Cotilliard for her supporting performance in Nine, Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria, Abbie Cornish in Bright Star, Zoeey Deschanel in (500) Days.

Actor

Jeff Bridges

George Clooney

Colin Firth

Morgan Freeman

Jeremy Renner

A few other low-key prospects like Daniel Day-Lewis, Matt Damon, Ben Foster lingering but not really.

Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz

Judi Dench

Anna Kendrick

Monique

Julianne Moore

Large list of backups. Melanie Laurent DESERVES to be nominated for Inglorious, The whole cast of Nine, Mariah Carey, Sigourney Weaver, VERA FARMIGA, Paula Patton, Samantha Morton.

Supporting Actor

Woody Harrelson

Jude Law

Christopher Plummer

Stanley Tucci

Christoph Wentz

Random other possibilities like Christian McKay, Anthony Mackie, Matt Damon, Alfred Molina. Who cares? I'm hoping Christoph Wentz stays the clear front runner.

Director

Kathryn Bigelow

James Cameron

Lee Daniels

Michael Haneke

Quentin Tarantino

This list could go on forever. Tricky year. This will be hard to predict.

NYFCC predix

2009-12-13T18:31:00.000-08:00

Didn't do so well with my LAFC predix, but what the hell - I'm gonna take a stab at the NYFCC, which are announced tomorrow. Sometimes they publicize runners-up and sometimes not.

Picture: A SERIOUS MAN 2. AVATAR

Actress: Carey Mulligan in An Education 2. Meryl Streep in Julie and Julia

Actor: Colin Firth in A Single Man 2. George Clooney in Up in the Air

Supporting Actress: Julianne Moore in A Single Man 2. Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

Supporting Actor: Christoph Wentz in Inglorious Basterds 2. Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones/Julie and Julia

Director: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker 2. Quentin Tarantino for Inglorious Basterds

Screenplay: Up in the Air 2. A Serious Man

Also, start looking out for James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow to go head-to-head for Best Director at the Oscars. I think it's worth noting that they used to be married, and this is sure to be a fun human-interest story for many blogs and boring people.

Golden Globe nominations later this week.

LAFC predix

2009-12-12T19:39:00.001-08:00

The LAFC announces it's winners and runners-up tomorrow.

My last minute go-for-broke predix here:

Picture: AVATAR 2. Inglorious Basterds

Actress: Meryl Streep 2. Carey Mulligan

Actor: Colin Firth 2. Morgan Freeman

Supporting Actress: Monique 2. Julianne Moore

Supporting Actor: Christoph Wentz 2. Christopher Plummer

Director: James Cameron 2. Quentin Tarantino

Screenplay: (500) Days of Summer 2. A Serious Man

Avatar for the win?

2009-12-10T23:17:00.000-08:00

AVATAR was heavily screened by critics last night and it seems people are pretty freaking stoked. The Oscar prediction sites are all a twitter and seem convinced that not only is Avatar a definite nominee for Best Picture but a major frontrunner.

The INVICTUS reviews are also very strong.

Still really hard to predict 10 nominees.

Avatar, Invictus, Precious, Up in the Air - safe bets

Up, Inglorious Basterds, An Education, The Hurt Locker - good bets

Star Trek, Julie and Julia, A Serious Man, Nine, The Lovely Bones, The Messenger (seems to be sneaking up) - contenders

Can you think of any other possibilities?

Predix as of 12/5/09

2009-12-05T18:39:00.001-08:00

Most likely Oscar nominees (as of 12/5/09). Will be interesting to see how Nine, The Lovely Bones and Avatar land over the next week or so...could be some significant changes. No matter how you look at it Best Picture feels real thin. There are some really outstanding performances in play this year, and it's exciting to think we could finally watch Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore collect awards. The NY and LA critics awards are announced this week. Look out for them to pull some interesting surprise choices.

Best Picture

1. Up in the Air

2. Precious

3. Invictus

4. The Hurt Locker

5. Nine

6. Up

7. Inglorious Basterds

8. Avatar

9. Star Trek

10. An Education

11. Julie and Julia

Best Actress

1. Meryl Streep in Julie and Julia OR It's Complicated

2. Gabourey Sidibe in Precious

3. Helen Mirren in The Last Station

4. Carey Mulligan in An Education

5. Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

6. Marion Cotilliard in Nine

Best Actor

1. George Clooney in Up in the Air

2. Morgan Freeman in Invictus

3. Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart

4. Colin Firth in A Single Man

5. Daniel Day Lewis in Nine

6. Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

Best Supporting Actress

1. Monique in Precious

2. Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

3. Julianne Moore in A Single Man

4. Judi Dench in Nine

5. Penelope Cruz in Nine

6. Mariah Carey in Precious

Best Supporting Actor

1. Christop Wentz in Inglorious Basterds

2. Stanley Tucci in Julie and Julia OR The Lovely Bones

3. Christopher Plummer in The Last Station

4. Matt Damon in Invictus

5. Woody Harrelson in The Messenger

6. Alfred Molina in An Education

Most nominations

2009-12-05T16:28:00.000-08:00

most nominated LIVING/functioning actors:

Meryl Streep - 15 (should go to 16 this yr!)

Jack Nicholson - 12

Al Pacino - 8

Peter O'Toole - 8

Jane Fonda - 7

Dustin Hoffman - 7

Michael Caine - 6

Robert DeNiro

Jessica Lange

Maggie Smith

Ellen Burstyn

Judi Dench

Robert Duvall

Vanessa Redgrave

Sissy Spacek

Kate Winslet

17.

Tom Hanks - 5

Sean Penn

Denzel Washington

Cate Blanchett

Shirley MacLaine

Sean Penn

Susan Sarandon

Glenn Close

Albert Finney

26.

Anthony Hopkins - 4

Emma Thompson

Daniel Day-Lewis

Jeff Bridges

Warren Beatty

Robin Williams

Jon Voight

Diane Keaton

Julianne Moore

Holly Hunter

36.

Marisa Tomei - 3

Tommy Lee Jones

Johnny Depp

Leonardo DiCaprio

Ben Kingsley

Russell Crowe

Geoffrey Rush

Tom Cruise

Dianne Wiest

Anjelica Huston

Julia Roberts

Joan Allen

Laura Linney

Renee Zellwger

Helen Mirren

Frances McDormand

Annette Bening

Kathy Bates

Best of 2000-2009

2009-12-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

FILM:

Requiem for a Dream

Mulholland Drive

About Schmidt

There Will Be Blood

Far From Heaven

Inglorious Basterds

Brokeback Mountain

The Squid and the Whale

United 93

Pan's Labyrinth

Little Children

Lots of honorable mentions: Amelie, Wet Hot American Summer, Gosford Park, Up in the Air, City of God, The Departed, No Country for Old Men, LOTR trilogy, Letters from Iwo Jima, Chicago, Lost in Translation, Moulin Rouge, In the Mood for Love, Munich, Memento, The Hours, Dancer in the Dark, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, A History of Violence, Kill Bill Vol 1 and 2, Before Sunset, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, You Can Count on Me, Ratatouille, Michael Clayton, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Amores Perros, 25th Hour, Waltz with Bashir, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Punch Drunk Love, In America, In the Bedroom, etc etc.

Actress:

Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream

Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive

Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven

Charlize Theron in Monster

Annette Bening in Being Julia

Helen Mirren in The Queen

Kate Winslet in Little Children

Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake

Sissy Spacek in In the Bedroom

plus Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet in most of their 00's films.

Actor:

Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt

Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain

Daniel Day Lewis in There Will Be Blood

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler

Sean Penn in Milk

John Cameron Mitchell in Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote

Tom Hanks in Cast Away

Nicolas Cage in Adaptation

Supporting Actress:

Jennifer Connelly in Requiem for a Dream

Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton

Meryl Streep in Adaptation

Patricia Clarkson in Far from Heaven

Virgina Madsen in Sideways

Cate Blanchett in The Aviator

Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There

Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Helen Mirren in Gosford Park

Holly Hunter in Thirteen

Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

Christop Wentz in Inglorious Basterds

Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men

Dennis Quaid in Far From Heaven

William Hurt in A History of Violence

Chris Cooper in Adaptation

Benicio del Toro in Traffic

Paul Giamatti in Cinderella Man

Jackie Earl Haley in Little Children

Jim Broadbent in Iris

Bullock for Best Actress?

2009-11-30T16:27:00.001-08:00

The Oscar website I love and trust the most (In Contention) has moved Sandra Bullock into their Best Actress predictions for The Blind Side.

Most people agree that 4 of the slots are already taken (Meryl Streep, Gaby Sidibe, Carey Mulligan, Helen Mirren) and that the 5th is up for grabs. For a long time, Abbie Cornish had a leg up on the competition but people overall are apathetic towards Bright Star, so her odds are waning.

Other possibilities for the 5th slot include:

Michelle Pfeiffer for Cheri (I'd like to see this happen. She was lovely)

Marion Cotilliard for Nine (feels like a supporting role, but the studio is pushing for lead)

Maggie Gyllenhaal for Crazy Heart (same)

Saoirse Ronan in The Lovely Bones

The Golden Globes should help figure this out, because some interesting things will happen in the comedy/musical category. Bullock should expect 2 Globe noms this year (Drama for Blind Side and Comedy for The Proposal, although I really think they should reverse the categories. I didn't laugh once during The Proposal and Blind Side looks totally fuckin hysterical. I'm hopeful for a Zooey Deschanel nom for (500) Days @ The Globes, but don't think that will get her the Oscar slot.

Ultimately, the Bullock argument makes the most sense to me at the moment. Blech.

New York Film Critics Circle Predictions

2009-11-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

National Board of Review announces its winners on 12/3, but they are hard to predict and although their choices ultimately do matter (Slumdog won last year), I just can't get emotionally invested.

My predictions for the NYFCC awards, which happen the following week (12/10 I believe) follow:

Picture: A Serious Man seems like a very NY choice. I could also see Inglorious winning. It will not be Invictus, Precious, Up, Nine or The Lovely Bones.

Actress: NY went apeshit for Carey Mulligan in An Education. If it's not her, it will be some random totally outside the box person like Tilda Swinton (who have an amazing performance in the movie Julie released earlier this year).

Actor: Colin Firth in A Single Man. Jeff Bridges is winning the Oscar for Crazy Heart.

Supporting Actress: Monique, right? Although the NY critics are obsessed with their hometown darling Julianne Moore and I suspect they are gonna have a love affair with A Single Man (Best Debut Film, or whatever they call that category). The NYFCC doesn't like to be predictable and there will certainly be a Precious backlash sometime over the next few months. Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air also has a large fanbase. At this point, my favorite supporting actress of the year is Melanie Laurent in Inglorious Basterds.

Supporting Actor: Christop Wentz in Inglorious Basterds. I would bet $ on this.

Director: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker. Would it be the first time a woman has won Best Director in NY? I believe so. This award could also go to Q.T.

Screenplay: A Serious Man or (500) Days of Summer

Cinematography: Going out on a limb with Nine. Inglorious and Bright Star are contenders as well.

David Krasner

krasner@the-mine.com

An Educated Stab at 2009 Oscar Predix

2009-11-04T04:26:00.000-08:00

Picture

AN EDUCATION

AVATAR

THE HURT LOCKER

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

THE LAST STATION

THE LOVELY BONES

NINE

PRECIOUS

UP IN THE AIR

Actress

Abbie Cornish

Helen Mirren

Carey Mulligan

Gabourey Sidibe

Meryl Streep

Actor

George Clooney

Daniel Day-Lewis

Colin Firth

Morgan Freeman

JHal Holbrook

Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz

Judi Dench

Anna Kendrick

Monique

Julianne Moore

Supporting Actor

Matt Damon

Jude Law

Alfred Molina

Stanley Tucci

Christoph Wentz

10 NOMINEES

2009-07-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

So, let's say there were 10 nominees for the past 20 yrs or so.

Here's my theory which OTHER films would have been nominated (in order of likelihood)

2008

The Dark Knight

Wall-E

The Wrestler

Gran Torino

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

2007

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Into the Wild

American Gangster

Ratatouille

Sweeney Todd

2006

Dreamgirls

United 93

Pan's Labyrinth

Flags of Our Fathers

Little Children

2005

A History of Violence

The Constant Gardener

King Kong

Pride and Prejudice

Match Point

2004

Kinsey

The Incredibles

Harry Potter/Azkaban

Collateral

Closer

2003

Cold Mountain

The Last Samurai

21 Grams

Something's Gotta Give

House of Sand and Fog

2002 (This is the kind of year where 10 nominees made sense)

Far From Heaven

Catch Me if You Can

The Quiet American

About Schmidt

Adaptation

2001

Amelie

Black Hawk Down

A.I.

Mulholland Drive

Iris

2000

Billy Elliot

Almost Famous

Dancer in the Dark

Cast Away

Oh Brother, Where Are Thou?

1999

Topsy Turvy

Being John Malkovich

Magnolia

The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Iron Giant

1998

Gods and Monsters

The Truman Show

Pleasantville

Primary Colors

Rushmore

1997

Boogie Nights

The Sweet Hereafter

The Ice Storm

Men in Black

Donnie Brasco

1996

Evita

The People vs. Larry Flynt

Sling Blade

The Birdcage

Lone Star

1995

Leaving Las Vegas

Dead Man Walking

The American President

Toy Story

Nixon

1994

The Madness of King George

Bullets Over Broadway

The Lion King

Ed Wood

Little Women

1993

The Age of Innocence

Jurassic Park

Short Cuts

Philadelphia

The Joy Luck Club

1992

The Player

Enchanted April

Malcolm X

Aladdin

Chaplin

1991

Thelma and Louise

The Fisher King

Boyz n the Hood

Hook

Grand Canyon

1990

Reversal of Fortune

The Grifters

Green Card

Avalon

Dick Tracy

1989

Glory

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Do the Right Thing

Enemies, A Love Story

Batman

1988

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

A Fish Called Wanda

Gorillas in the Mist

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Running on Empty

1987

Empire of the Sun

The Untouchables

Full Metal Jacket

Good Morning Vietnam

Radio Days

1986

Stand by Me

The Color of Money

Aliens

Blue Velvet

Hoosiers

1985

Cocoon

Ran

Back to the Future

Agnes of God

The Purple Rose of Cairo

1984

Ghostbusters

Once Upon a Time in America

Greystroke

The Cotton Club

Broadway Danny Rose

1983

Yentl

Silkwood

Fanny and Alexander

Return of the Jedi

Educating Rita

1982

Victor/Victoria

An Officer and a Gentleman

Sophie's Choice

The World According to Garp

Annie

Thoughts? Reactions? Disputes? Comments? More?

2009 Flix

2009-03-29T06:24:00.000-07:00

My 10 most anticipated film releases of 2009:

PUBLIC ENEMIES Directed by Michael Mann starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotilliard and Billy Crudup.

Spike Jonze's WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Scorsese's SHUTTER ISLAND

Rob Marshall's NINE

Ang Lee's TAKING WOODSTOCK

Woody Allen's WHATEVER WORKS

Pedro Almodovar's BROKEN EMBRACES

Peter Jackson's THE LOVELY BONES

Sam Mendes' AWAY WE GO starring John Krasinski

Steven Soderberg's THE INFORMANT with Matt Damon

Frozen River

2009-02-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

Frozen River = good movie. Melissa Leo = wonderful performance. I'm rooting for her to win Best Actress next week.

Also, I'm in the midst of watching KLUTE. Jane Fonda's performance and Gordon Willis' cinematography are incredible.

Bi.

Fucked Up

2009-01-25T23:41:00.000-08:00

I've been kinda bummed about this year's Oscar nominations, but you know what, they pretty much always suck. I just haven't been as immersed in the process as I was this season.

Here is a look back at some of the sillier nominees from 2000-2007;

2000

Gladiator won Best Picture, Actor and Director. Almost Famous, Billy Elliot and Requiem for a Dream weren't nominated.

2001

Naomi Watts snubbed for Mulholland Drive.

A Beautiful Mind was nominated for and won multiple awards including Best Picture, Director and Supporting Actress.

2002

John C. Reilly nominated for Chicago. Dennis Quaid NOT nominated for Far From Heaven.

4 nominations for Far From Heaven instead of the 10 or so it deserved.

Adaptation nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. I get this on some level, but really? Really?

2003

Best Picture nominees include Master and Commander AND Seabiscuit. Seriously. Rough year.

2004

Jamie Foxx nominated for his "supporting" work in Collateral. Remember? He won Best Actor for Ray.

2005

A really healthy year with the notable exception of Crash beating BB Mountain.

Reese Witherspoon's Best Actress for Walk the Line is weird and she hasn't followed up with ANYTHING interesting yet, but when you look back at her competition, it's hard to make serious arguments.

2006

No real complaints! Would prefer Little Children nominated instead of Little Miss Sunshine.

2007

Nice group.

REALLY cool nominations during that time;

2001

David Lynch - Mulholland Drive - Director

Ghost World for Adapted Screenplay

2002

Y Tu Mama Tambien for Original Screenplay

2003

The Triplets of Belleville - Animated Film

2004

The Village - Best Score

Before Sunset - Adapted Screenplay

2005

William Hurt for A History of Violence - S. Actor

Paradise Now for Foreign Film

The Squid and The Whale - original screenplay

2006

Paul Greengrass as Best Director for United 93

all the awards for pan's labyrinth (art direction, cinematography, makeup)

2007

4 great performances in very indie films;

Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises

Casey Affleck for Jesse James

Laura Linney for The Savages

Cate Blanchett for I'm Not There

3:13AM!

Boy A

2009-01-25T11:52:00.001-08:00

Boy A is a terrific movie about a 24 yr old released from prison many years after committing a gruesome crime. It's available for rental. Enjoy!

New York Times

2009-01-25T11:48:00.000-08:00

Rooms is opening up Off Broadway starring Doug Kreeger and Leslie Kritzer. New York Times announces dates at the attached artsblog.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/in-the-wings-2/

Top Ten Films of 2008

2009-01-24T17:23:00.000-08:00

1. Synecdoche, New York - Charlie Kaufman's magnificent exploration of love, art and death featuring brilliant design elements and the best supporting actresses of the year - Dianne Wiest, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Hope Davis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emily Watson and Michelle Williams. It's just as complicated as you've heard and simultaneously totally straightforward and simple. I can't wait to see where Kaufman goes next.

2. The Wrestler - Darren Aronofky's deeply empathetic portrait of a wrestler and a stripper (played with natural ease and honesty by Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei) who are confronted with the very real consequences of their difficult professions.

3. Rachel Getting Married - Jonathan Demme's compassionate and confrontational drama delves deeply into a families pain. Great acting by Anne Hathaway, Rosemary DeWitt, Debra Winger, Bill Irwin and Anne Deavere Smith.

4. Waltz With Bashir - Animated. Foreign. Documentary. It's a captivating, original piece of art. Please don't be afraid - Go see it.

5. Slumdog Millionaire - The feel good fantasy movie of the year that doesn't shy away from the ugly and the real.

6. Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Lovely, sexy, smart, intellectual comedy by Woody Allen. His best film since Bullets Over Broadway in 1994.

7. Happy Go Lucky - Mike Leigh drama about an Poppy, an eternal optimist who has figured out a very happy and healthy way to confront the brutality and sadness of everyone around her. A remarkable performance by Sally Hawkins.

8. Let the Right One In - Swedish vampire movie.

9. Burn After Reading - Fun, cynical, hyper Coen Brothers flick.

10.Doubt - Great story, acting and writing make up for some of Shanley's silly directorial flourishes.

Runners-up

Frost/Nixon

Wall-E

The Dark Knight

A Christmas Tale

Flight of the Red Balloon

The Edge of Heaven

Paranoid Park

Wendy and Lucy

Gran Torino

Pineapple Express

Bette Midler in The Rose

2009-01-21T06:01:00.001-08:00

Haven't reported in on a bunch of movies I've seen this month, but I feel compelled to mention how strongly I responded to Bette Midler in The Rose. I grew up watching Bette in funny comedies and maudlin Disney dramas, so this raw, sexy, animalistic performance pretty much shocked me. Glad I've seen it. If you haven't, check it out - Am I crazy or should Bette have won the Oscar over Sally Field (Norma Rae)? Or was Field's role as a union organizer much easier to swallow in March of 1980?

The soundtrack to SLUMDOG is great.

Oscar Nomination Predictions

2009-01-20T18:16:00.000-08:00

If today's Barack inauguration weren't enough excitement for one week, we have the 2008 Oscar nominations to add some much needed thrills into this cold icky January. The nominations are announced on Thursday morning at 8:38 am.

As some of you may know I have been fairly intensely obsessed with this event (far more than the actual awards or ceremony) since 1988. Over the past few years, my interest in mainstream film releases has remained steady, while my passion for truly independent and foreign cinema has deepened.

I read recently that Scorsese defended the Oscars awarded to Dances With Wolves over his Goodfellas; his point was that the Oscars are a celebration of mainstream success.

It's very refreshing when a few bona fide artistic achievements break through into the masses. I'm hopeful we will see some of my favorite films of 2008 acknowledged in the nominations. It's tricky trying to remain objective with predictions, but I will try my darndest.

Predictions below;

BEST PICTURE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

Wall-E has a slim chance of getting in, but I can't imagine what flick it would kick out. My hope would be a Ben Button "snub," but Milk is probably most vulnerable.

My favorite film of 2008 was Synecdoche, New York.

BEST ACTRESS

Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married

Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky

Melissa Leo in Frozen River

Meryl Streep in Doubt

Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road

Angelina Jolie could sneak in for her lovely performance in Changeling. Leo is vulnerable but VERY well-regarded by her peers. Some voters may respond to Jolie's star power as well as her snub in 07 for another terrific performance in A Mighty Heart. The other possibility is the exclusion of Streep. No one can really imagine that happening cause, well, she is Meryl, but at the same time, it's far from her best work and these other women are more deserving. If Meryl does get in, it's her 15th nomination.

Sally Hawkins work in Happy Go Lucky was my favorite performance in ANY category this year. I will be bummed if this film and her astonishing work are dissed.

BEST ACTOR

Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino

Richard Jenkins in The Visitor

Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn in Milk

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler

Rourke (my favorite), Penn and Langella are definite nominees. Brad Pitt could easily get nominated instead of Jenkins or Eastwood.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams in Doubt

Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis in Doubt

Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler

Kate Winslet in The Reader

Wouldn't be shocked to see Taraji B. Henson acknowledged for her BUTTON crap, pushing Adams or Tomei out. I loved Cruz, Davis, Adams and Tomei but have a special place reserved for Samantha Morton's unfuckingbelievable performance in Synecdoche, New York. If it were up to me, this category would have at least ten nominees each year. This year most of those women would be Synecdoche cast members. What happened to all the buzz for Debra Winger and Rosemary DeWitt for Rachel Getting Married? Wouldn't mind a surprise nom for those lovely ladies.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin in Milk

Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt

Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

Dev Pattel in Slumdog Millionaire

I'm itching to put James Franco instead of Hoffman, but will stay safe.

BEST DIRECTOR

David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight

Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler

Getting the 5th slot for Best Director is always tricky. Best Picture and Best Director have matched perfectly 3 times total, and the Directors branch has a sneaky way of surprising all of us. It wouldn't be shocking if this were a year with perfect matches, but I also think the Directors may want to show love for Mike Leigh, Woody Allen, Darren Aronofsky or even Andrew Stanton (Wall-E). There is also the chance they will acknowledge The Class or Waltz With Bashir. I'm hopeful for something unexpected and interesting.

If this is interesting to you people let me know and I'll continue with Screenplay, Score, Art Direction, etc...

Happy to hear anyone's thoughts, feelings and predictions.

Best, David

Golden Globe Predictions

2009-01-11T14:16:00.001-08:00

Best Picture/Drama: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE 2. Benjamin Boredom

Best Picture/Comedy or Bad Musical: VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA 2. Happy Go Lucky

Best Director: Danny Boyle 4 Slumdog 2. David Fincher 4 Boredom

Best Actress/Drama: Anne Hampton Callaway for Rachel Getting Married 2. Meryl Sheep for Proof

Best Actor/Drama: Sean Pain in MILK 2. Frank Langella as David Frost

Best Actress/Comedy or Bad Musical: Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky 2. Meryl Streep in ABBA

Best Actor/Comedy: James Franco for being a God and Pineapple Express 2. Javier Bardem for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona 2. Kate Winslet in The Reader

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Bar Ledger in Disney's The Dark Knight 2. Robert Downey Jr. for Blackface

Best Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire 2. Doubt

Best Foreign Film: Gomorrah 2. Waltz With Bashir

Best Animated Film: WALL-E 2. Bolt

Best Original Score: Benjamin Boredom 2. Slumdog Millionare (REMINDER: THIS IS WHAT I PREDICT. Not what I want. I'm a Movie Score fanatic and even though I love Desplat usually I was seriously underwhelmed by everything Button related. And Slumdog's score KICKS ASS!

Best Song: "The Wrestler" 2. "Down to Earth" - Wall-E

TV - WHO CARES, BUT I'M GONNA TRY ANYWAY!!!

TV DRAMA: MAD MEN 2. In Treatment

TV COMEDY: 30 ROCK 2. The Office

Actress TV DRAMA: Sally Field 2. January Jones

Actor TV DRAMA: Gabriel Byrne 2. Jon Hamm

Actress TV Comedy: Tina Fey 2. Christina Applegate

Actor TV Comedy: Alec Baldwin 2. David Duchochny

TV MOVIE: JOHN ADAMS 2. Recount

Actress TV MOVIE: Laura Linney 2. Shirley MacLaine

Actor TV MOVIE: Paul Giamatti 2. Tom Wilkinson

Supporting Actress TV: Laura Dern 2. Dianne Wiest

Supporting Actor TV: Jeremy Piven 2. Tom Wilkinson

ENJOY!

Oscar Predix (as of 1/6)

2009-01-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

These are my predictions, not my preferences. MAJOR difference. Most of my favorites (Synecdoche, New York, Michelle Williams, Samantha Morton, Juliette Binoche don't have a shot at a nomination)

Best Picture

The Dark Knight

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Benjamin Button

Slumdog Millionaire (the winner)

Best Actress

Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky (my favorite)

Meryl Streep in Doubt

Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married (the winner)

Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road

Melissa Leo in Frozen River

Best Actor

Sean Penn in Milk

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler (my favorite)

Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino (the winner?)

Richard Jenkins in The Visitor

Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin in Milk

Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (winner and my favorite)

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt

Dev Pattel in Slumdog Millionaire

Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams in Doubt

Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (winner and my favorite)

Viola Davis in Doubt

Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler

Kate Winslet in The Reader

Best Director

Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight

David Fincher - B Button

Danny Boyle - Slumdog (winner)

Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (i have a hard time being objective, but i'm just ever-hopeful this movie will surprise in a big way and wind up with 4 or 5 noms.)

Any guesses? Thoughts? Feelings? What do you think should be nominated? What would you like to see nominated?

Burn AFTER Reading

2009-01-06T19:05:00.000-08:00

Saw this in the theatre and hated it. Just watched it at home, and it seems - oh dear - I was wrong. I guess there is a first for everything. What a fucking great film! So fun and silly and angry. Guess I was moody and tired the first time. Whatever. Anyway, maybe it works better on a smaller screen where everyone's ugliness and desperation is not quite so brutally in your face. Any thoughts?

Jessica Lange once was hot.

2009-01-05T19:51:00.001-08:00

Jessica Lange, Joan Allen and Kathy Bates made a movie called BONNEVILLE a few years ago. Obviously, the intention was to release in theaters and win agazillion oscars. Alas, twas not to be, and Bonneville has shown up on Cable for our viewing pleasure.

The first big clue that something has gone terribly wrong is the awful surgery Jessica has had on her face. She looks like that awful Catwoman from the Upper East Side a few years back. Was there an accident? The results couldn't be intentional.

Kathy Bates just said to Joan Allen "you look like Grace Kelly." It was unclear whether she was joking or not.

Persepolis - #5 in 2009

2009-01-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

WOW. This is an amazing movie. It forces the viewer to feel great empathy towards Iranian women suffering through extreme circumstances. I encourage everyone and their goat to watch this movie. Beware: after viewing this movie, you will no longer want to take a vacation to Iran.

Anne Hathway to win Best Actress Oscar

2009-01-03T15:18:00.000-08:00

I want to officially go on record with my prediction that Anne Hathaway will own a Best Actress Oscar in around six weeks.

The current climate indicates a race between Streep (who is expected to receive nomination #15 for her silly but entertaining performance in Doubt) and Winslet (for Revolutionary Road). When push comes to shove and a nominating member looks at these options, I find it increasingly unlikely either of those performances will inspire a vote.

Everyone loves Streep and she has had a great year. She has at least 2 more Oscars in her future, and when the timing is right, she will win. Not gonna happen this year, for this particular role. Many people are frustrated that Winslet hasn't won yet. I am one of them, but the truth is she has yet to give the best performance of the year any of the times she was nominated. Her honor this year will be double nominations (supporting for The Reader), bringing her total to 7 before the age of 34.

Not that many people have seen Rachel Getting Married, but the ones who do tend to respond very passionately. There is a contingent of folks out there who don't like the movie, but most viewers go apeshit for Anne. She is a genuine movie star; gorgeous, intelligent, interesting - She balances big budget bullshit with interesting smaller character driven roles and is well-respected by her peers and audiences.

My favorite performance of the year was by Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky. Moments ago, she won Best Actress at the National Society of Film Critics. She can add that to her citations from the LAFC and NYFCC. Hopefully, the Comedy/Musical Golden Globe goes her way next week as well. Even with all these awards under her belt, Sally is still not guaranteed an Oscar nomination. U.S.-centric SAG members ignored her performance for their nominations. I believe Sally will prevail and get nominated.

It will be interesting to see how the SAG and GG winners shape the rest of the contest. I think Hathaway's Oscar victory will be solidified after winning both of those precursors. Let's see!

Any thoughts? Feelings?

4TH FILM OF 2009 - GOLDEN COMPASS

2009-01-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

This was a boring movie. The animals were cute, the sets and effects great, but Nicole Kidman is an increasingly awkward presence on Film and the movie overall just feels flat. Sadly, Daniel Craig is only in like 7 minutes. On to the next...

300 - 3RD Film of 2009

2009-01-02T06:27:00.000-08:00

Finally got around to tackling Zack Snyder's 300. It kept my attention, the dudes are hot, the movie looks good and I'm glad I saw it. Racially and sexually, Frank Miller seems to have some interesting hardcore issues, but whatever. Looking forward to Zach's Watchman (CRUDUP!!!!)

Wings of Desire

2009-01-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

My second film of 2009 was Wim Wenders' 1987 modern classic WINGS OF DESIRE (released in the U.S. in 1988 and remade 10 yrs later as City of Angels). The first hour of the movie feels like a waking dream and to be honest, I was in and out of consciousness while watching. It's not boring, but it's certainly contemplative, philosophical and all those other things that make civilians tired. I suspect my trancelike state is a fairly typical response and it made for a very interesting experience. Looking forward to seeing this film on a bigger screen. It's a pretty gorgeous film.

National Society of Film Critics

2009-01-01T08:03:00.000-08:00

The NSOFC votes and announces their winners this Saturday, January 3rd. I imagine you are as eager with anticipation and anxiety as I am. This group used to make really bold, fascinating choices, but in recent years their selections have become both gentrified and just a little confused, so they are tough to predict.

I'm gonna try the "out there" route for my NSOFC predix;

Best Picture: Rachel Getting Married 2. The Wrestler

Best Actress: Michelle Williams in Wendy and Lucy 2. Sally Hawkins

Best Actor: Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler 2. Sean Penn

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz 2. Rosemary DeWitt

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger 2. Michael Shannon

Best Director: Mike Leigh 2. Darren Aronofsky

Good Luck To All!

Anyone wanna chime in with thoughts? Wikipedia lists all the previous winners here;

The Silence

2008-12-31T22:43:00.000-08:00

One of my New Years Resolutions is to keep better record of the films I have seen.

My first film of 2009 is Ingmar Bergman's THE SILENCE. It touched on a lot of interesting issues that I enjoy exploring (anger, sex, loneliness, despair) and the Cinematography by Sven Nykvist is stunning. Probably not a movie I would recommend for everyone, but masochists and sadists should enjoy! Happy New Year!

Best Actress 2008

2008-12-26T14:46:00.000-08:00

MY Favorite 5 Leading Female Performances of 2008:

1. Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky

2. Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married

3. Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road

4. Kristin Scott Thomas in I've Loved You So Long

5. Michelle Williams in Wendy and Lucy

Apologies to Melissa Leo. I have not yet seen Frozen River.

6. Angelina Jolie in Changeling

7. Meryl Streep in Doubt

8. Rebecca Hall in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

1st Stab at a Top Ten List

2008-12-14T06:31:00.001-08:00

I haven't seen a few heavy hitters yet (Revolutionary Road, The Wrestler, etc), but here's my first stab.

10. DOUBT

9. A CHRISTMAS TALE

8. THE DARK KNIGHT

7. WALL-E

6. FROST/NIXON

5. HAPPY GO LUCKY

4. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

3. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

2. RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

1. SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK

Golden Globe coolness

2008-12-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

Really cool nominations:

1980 Best Picture (Comedy): Airplane

1981 Best Actress (Drama): Sissy Spacek in Raggedy Man

1982 Best Actress (Drama): Diane Keaton in Shoot the Moon

1984 Best Actor (Comedy): Steve Martin in All of Me

1985 Best Actor (Comedy): Griffin Dunne in After Hours

1985 Best Actress (Comedy): Mia Farrow in The Purple Rose of Cairo

1987 Best Actress (Comedy): Diane Keaton in Baby Boom

1987 Best Supporting Actor: Richard Dreyfuss in Nuts

1987 Best Supporting Actress: Vanessa Redgrave in Prick Up Your Ears

1988 Best Supporting Actress: Lena Olin in The Unbearable Lightness of Being

1989 Best Actress: Andie MacDowell in Sex, Lies and Videotape

1990 Best Actress: Mia Farrow in Alice

1993 Best Actress: Anjelica Huston in Addams Family Values

Other stuff too!

Woody Allen at The Golden Globes

2008-12-13T11:40:00.000-08:00

ANNIE HALL (1 win, 5 noms)

Actor

*Actress

Director

Picture

Screenplay

INTERIORS (3 noms)

Actress

Director

Screenplay

MANHATTAN

Zero evidence of nominations

ZELIG (1 nom)

Actor

BROADWAY DANNY ROSE (1 nom)

Actress

THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (1 win, 4 noms)

Actor

Actress

Picture

*Screenplay

HANNAH AND HER SISTERS (1 award, 5 noms)

*Picture

Director

Screenplay

Supporting Actor

Supporting Actress

CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS (1 nom)

Picture

ALICE (1 nom)

Actress

MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY (1 nom)

Actress

HUSBANDS AND WIVES (1 nom)

Supporting Actress

MIGHTY APHRODITE (1 win)

* Supporting Actress

EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU (1 nom)

Picture

MATCH POINT (3 noms)

Picture

Screenplay

Supporting Actress

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (4 noms)

Picture

Actor

Actress

Supporting Actress

NYFC

2008-12-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

Movies that have won 4 or more NYFC awards;

07 No Country for Old Men - 4

04 Sideways - 4

02 Far From Heaven - 5

91 The Silence of the Lambs -4

87 Broadcast News - 5

85 Prizzi's Honor - 4

There were fewer awards (no Cinematography, for example) before 1980.

77 Annie Hall - 4

72 Cries and Whispers - 4

There were no supporting awards before 1969, so I'm stopping there...

Woody Allen at the NYFCC

2008-12-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

Woody and his films have received the following citations at the New York Film Critics Awards;

1977 Annie Hall

Picture, Actress, Director, Screenplay

1978 Interiors

Supporting Actress - Maureen Stapleton

1979 Manhattan

Director

1983 Zelig

Cinematography

1985 The Purple Rose of Cairo

Screenplay

1986 Hannah and Her Sisters

Picture

Supporting Actress - Dianne Wiest

Director

1989 Crimes and Misdemeanors

Supporting Actor - Alan Alda

1994 Bullets Over Broadway

Supporting Actress - Dianne Wiest

1995 Mighty Aphrodite

Supporting Actress - Mira Sorvino

2008 Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Supporting Actress - Penelope Cruz

Golden Globe WINNER Predictions

2008-12-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

This is my gut response to the nominations;

Best Picture - Drama: Benjamin Button

Best Picture - Comedy: Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Actor -Drama: Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road

Best Actress - Drama: Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married

Best Actor - Comedy: Dustin Hoffma in Last Chance Harvey

Best Actress - Comedy: Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia!

Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Screenplay: genuinely baffled - Benjamin Button

Best Foreign Film: Waltz with Bashir

Best Animated Film: Wall-E

Best Score: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Song: "Down to Earth" - Wall-E

Any thoughts?

Oscar Predix (as of 11/29)

2008-11-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Milk

Revolutionary Road

Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett in Benjamin Button

Angelina Jolie in Changeling

Kristin Scott-Thomas in I've Loved You So Long

Meryl Streep in Doubt

Kate Winslet in The Reader

Best Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road

Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino

Sean Penn in Milk

Brad Pitt in Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis in Doubt

Tarai B. Henson in Benjamin Button

Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler

Debra Winger in Rachel Getting Married

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin in Milk

Robert Downey, Jr. in Tropic Thunder

Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight

Dev Pattel in Slumdog Millionaire

Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road

Best Director

Gus Van Sant, Jr...Milk

Christopher Nolan...The Dark Knight

Darren Aronofsky...The Wrestler

David Fincher....Benjamin Button

Danny Boyle...Slumdog Millionaire

Critics Groups

2008-11-29T07:38:00.000-08:00

My favorite time of year is at hand - the various critics circles and pre-Oscar awards will be announced over the following two weeks. I always have a special place in my heart for the New York Film Critics Awards - www.nyfcc.com - I tend to be in tune with their selections far more than the eventual Oscar winners and I'm eager to hear who they choose this year. Sissy Spacek has been selected as the Best Actress 3x - In the Bedroom, Crimes of the Heart and Coal Miner's Daughter (with an additional citation as Best Supporting Actress for Altman's Three Women in 77).

I am expecting the following films and actors to pop up all over the critics awards this year;

Best Picture

The Wrestler - If the advance word from Toronto comes true, this will be the critics darling for the year, most likely in NY, which responds best to indie grunge (see Leaving Las Vegas, Naked,

Wall-E - the best reviewed film of the year. At least one of the groups is going to push it outside the Animated Category and acknowledge it's brilliance and ingenuity with the big prize.

Benjamin Button

Best Actress

This is gonna come down to Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky vs. Kristin Scott-Thomas in I've Loved You So Long (Although the Oscar is looking more like a Streep/Blanchett contest).

Best Actor

Mickey Rourke

Sean Penn

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz

Rosemary DeWitt

(I personally could be argued to award the female cast of Synecdoche, New York here but that's not really fair. Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, Dianne Wiest, Hope Davis, Patricia Clarkson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emily Watson, etc)

Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger

Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder

or the breakout from Revolutionary Road -Michael Shannon.

I'm expecting NYC to go with Downey, for the coolness factor. Also, Heath isn't likely to show up at the ceremony.

Best Director

It's going to be a total surprise. Mike Leigh for Happy Go Lucky, Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight, Woody Allen???

Golden Globe Comedy/Musical Predix

2008-11-29T07:22:00.000-08:00

Now that we are deep into November, the Oscar race is intensiying, and thus GOLDEN GLOBE fever is in the air. The Drama nominations seem to be clarifying themselves, and I will go on record with some predictions shortly. What really intrigues me right now is the dearth of competition in the comedy/musical category. There are a couple of films they may choose to place in this category that really have no business there; Happy Go Lucky, Rachel Getting Married and Synecdoche, New York are not comedies, but all three are critical smashes and may find themselves in some surprise categories. I'm not counting on that, so here's what the current crop looks like;

Best Picture (Comedy/Musical)

Sex and the City

Mamma Mia

Iron Man

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Cadillac Records

Sex and the City and Mamma Mia seem definite here and I'd venture to say SEX will win. Other nomination possibilities are Tropic Thunder, Burn After Reading and Wall-E (but seriously, if they are gonna nominate the Pixar film outside of animation, doesn't it qualify as a Drama?). See what I mean?

Best Actress - Comedy or Musical

Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City

Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia

Tina Fey in Baby Mama (seriously)

Emma Thompson in Last Chance Harvey

Scarlett Johannson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Other scary ideas include Katherine Heigl for 27 Dresses, Kristen Bell for Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Beyonce for Cadillac Records, Anna Faris in House Bunny (she also deserves a career achievement award methinks). Oh and the winner is Sarah Jessica Parker, whereby she becomes her Oscar nomination chances start becoming realistic. How did this happen?

Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical

Ben Stiller in Tropic Thunder

Robert Downey, Jr. in Iron Man

Josh Brolin in W.

George Clooney in Burn After Reading

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Synecdoche, New York

Tricky. Will Smith in Hancock? Adam Sandler in Zohan? Ricky Gervais in Ghost Town? Adrien Brody in Cadillac Records? Javier Bardem for his incredible performance in Vicky Cristina Barcelona? I'd put money on a DOWNEY JR. win here, although it's gonna turn out to be a very good year for Brolin (whose supporting nod for Milk looks solid).

More updates to come, if you like this....

otters are nice

2008-05-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Broadcast News

2008-02-08T04:36:00.000-08:00

Some films I've seen lately;

4 Months, 3 Weeks and Two Days - Super-intense movie set in 1987 Romania detailing a very painful day in the life of two women, one of whom is pursuing an "illegal" abortion. Very difficult to watch, but ample rewards.

The Nines - lame supernatural thriller with Ryan Reynolds and Hope Davis. They both play 3 separate characters. One of Ryan's is gay. That is compelling on some level. Otherwise, no thanks. John August, who wrote GO makes his directorial debut here.

Smiley Face - Hysterical Anna Faris stoner comedy. Doesn't really add up and never achieves the splendor of Dude Where's My Car, but there are some very very funny scenes and Anna is always a treat.

miss woods comma elle

2008-01-06T06:16:00.000-08:00

2 more flicks...

Endured the Hugh Grant/Drew Barrymore thing MUSIC AND LYRICS. I suspect everyone involved in this movie was aiming for pleasant and generic. They succeeded! Drew Barrymore bugged me less than usual. Lots of Broadway folk in the supporting cast, which is always fun to see...Matt Morrison, Jason Antoon, Kristen Johnston, etc.

I'm much more excited about Christopher Nolan's FOLLOWING. It's Nolan's first film and there are some interesting parallels to Memento and his Batmans. The movie was shot for $6,000 and all on Saturdays. It is 70 minutes. I found it very compelling. Worth a rental.

Bi,

i used to pray for the day you'd leave

2008-01-05T18:23:00.000-08:00

OK. I've watched 2 more films. Roman Polanski's 1974 classic CHINATOWN and Gela Babluani's underseen and deeply disturbing 13 TZAMETI. Both movies thrilled me. I had seen Chinatown on Betamax as a kid...probably when I was 12 or 13. I remember liking aspects of it, and understanding the tone, but it's a very adult movie and I wasn't able to fully appreciate the fullness of its script until now. It's a very cynical, romantic, complicated masterpiece. Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway are incredible.

I recall skimming a couple of positive reviews for 13 Tzameti when it was released in July 06, but never knew what it was about. I am very happy to have been able to watch the movie without any previous knowledge of its intense content. If you enjoy slowly building tension with a nice Nihilist energy, please check out the movie. It's French. The black and white cinematography is incredible. The reviews I read after seeing the flick compare it to old school Eastern European cinema. Does anyone have any specific examples of similar films I should view?

Gonna try to watch a couple of more flix now. Lata.

2008 Film Blog

2008-01-01T16:07:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try to report in on EVERY film I watch over the course of this year, regardless of whether the films are old classics, bullshit entertainment or new releases.

The first movie I watched this year was the 1959 Katherine Hepburn/Liz Taylor "classic" Suddenly, Last Summer. The material is kinda dated and silly, but everyone commits 100% and the results are fairly captivating.

My 2nd film of the year was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Nope, I had never seen it before. I probably would have been OK keeping it that way. Fun script, and Newman and Redford are ridiculously beautiful, but at the end of the day, who cares?

2008 Oscar Predictions

2008-01-01T15:52:00.000-08:00

Hey there,

It's a strange Oscar season. Due to the Writers Strike, no one quite knows what will happen with the actual ceremony, thus there is an odd air of ambiguity regarding the whole process. My predictions indicate a pervasive darkness to the nominees. In my heart, I'm hopeful all this darkness will be embraced, but my brain tells me some big compromises will be made and some random "happy" movies will be represented.

Here are my current thoughts for the nominations;

Best Picture

Atonement

Into the Wild

No Country for Old Men

Sweeney Todd

There Will Be Blood

Best Actress

Helena Bonham-Carter in Sweeney Todd

Julie Christie in Away from Her

Marion Cotilliard in La Vie en Rose

Keira Knightley in Atonement

Ellen Page in Juno

Best Actor

George Clooney in Michael Clayton

Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood

Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd

Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild

Denzel Washington in American Gangster

Best Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There

Catherine Keener in Into the Wild

Saoirse Ronan in Atonement

Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone

Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actor

Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James

Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men

Philip Seymour Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War

Hal Holbrook in Into the Wild

Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson/There Will Be Blood

Tim Burton/Sweeney Todd

Joel Coen & Ethan Coen/No Country for Old Men

Ridley Scott/American Gangster

Julian Schnabel/The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

The End, for now.

January 6th Oscar Predictions

2007-01-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

My Oscar Predictions:

Best Picture
THE DEPARTED
DREAMGIRLS
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
THE QUEEN
(Babel is lingering nearby)

Best Actress
Penelope Cruz in VOLVER
Judi Dench in NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Helen Mirren in THE QUEEN
Meryl Streep in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Kate Winslet in LITTLE CHILDREN

Best Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio in THE DEPARTED
Ryan Gosling in HALF NELSON
Peter O'Toole in VENUS
Will Smith in THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
Forest Whitaker in THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND

Best Supporting Actress
Adrianna Barraza in BABEL
Cate Blanchett in NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Abigail Breslin in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jennifer Hudson in DREAMGIRLS
Rinko Kikuchi in BABEL

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin in LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Eddie Murphy in DREAMGIRLS
Brad Pitt in BABEL
Michael Sheen in THE QUEEN
Mark Wahlberg in THE DEPARTED
(There are like 10 other viable contenders including Jack Nicholson, Jackie Earl Haley, Michael Caine, etc)

Best Director
Bill Condon for DREAMGIRLS
Clint Eastwood for LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
Stephen Frears for THE QUEEN
Paul Greengrass for UNITED 93
Martin Scorsese for THE DEPARTED
(All 3 Mexican directors could slip in here....BABEL, CHILDREN OF MEN, PAN'S LABRYINTH...OR Robert Altman, David Lynch, Eastwood for FLAGS, Almodovar, etc etc)

Any thoughts?

klingons

2006-10-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

Recently saw 3 dazzling movies, THE DEPARTED, LITTLE CHILDREN and SHORTBUS. Also liked A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS.

At this point I would say LITTLE CHILDREN is my fave movie thus far in 06, followed shortly by SHORTBUS, UNITED 93 and THE DEPARTED. I could rattle on about why I loved each of these films, but I think that would be more fun AFTER you have seen them. SHORTBUS, in particular MUST be seen if you are New Yorker or a sexual compulsive or hate sex or love sex or can't achieve orgasm or intimacy or love, etc. Its breathtaking. If you don't cry at least once, you are an asshole.

D

streep

2006-08-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

favorite streep performances

1 a cry in the dark (creme de la creme)
2 postcards from the edge (wonderful)
3 sophie's choice (undeniable)
4 adaptation (side spllitingly funny)
5 angels in america (as good as anything she has ever done)
6 the devil wears prada (fanfuckingtastic)
7 kramer vs kramer (amazing)
8 prime (wonderful)
9 silkwood (solid)
10 out of africa
11 the manchurian candidate (smart)
12 a prairie home companion (strong)
13 defending your life (redefines relaxed)
14 she-devil (oddly hysterical)
15 one true thing (intense)
16 death becomes her (funny)
17 manhattan (nice)
18 the french lieutenant's daughter (whatever)
19 marvin's room (its keaton's film)
20 music of the heart (forced)
21 heartburn (adequate)
22 the house of the spirits (slightly awkward)
23 dancing at lughnasa (boring)
24 a series of unfortunate events (seems an unfinished performance somehow)
25 before and after (just too lame a movie to matter)
26 the river wild (one of her few movies that would have worked better with lange or close)

haven't seen
the deer hunter
ironweed
still of the night
plenty
falling in love
the seduction of joe tynan

anyone have a copy of ironweed?

d

bet ya on land they understand

2006-08-10T03:51:00.000-07:00

its thursday morning. i watched THE 400 BLOWS last night. for some reason, i imagined seeing this movie years ago, but after last night's viewing, i don't think that is the case.

its funny that i rented this film cause i thought it would be a bit of a relief from the intense sad nasty films i have been enduring lately. turns out, 400 blows is JUST as brutal as any number of movies about neglected children and distant parents. i have seen the famous final shot of this movie before in stills and whatnot, but its just so insanely brilliant within the context.

ANOTHER friggin awesome movie.

Today I get the pleasure of watching the final NY rehearsal of the national tour of SPELLING BEE. Exciting!

Seems its time to watch another film now. Bye.

its a city of strangers

2006-08-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

Just finished the glorious new French Film - L'ENFANT. It comes out on video shortly (my video store gets stuff early; don't ask). Its a fantastic, ugly-beautiful emotionally draining movie, just like everything else I've seen lately.

Now its time to bike to work.

D.

u think u own whatever land u land on!

2006-08-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

finished MASCULINE FEMININE - and so we can now add Jean-Luc Godard to my list of obsessions. I was recently exposed to WEEKEND and ALPHAVILLE by Godard and I am now completely under his spell.

AND watched Robert Bresson's PICKPOCKET. pretty strong stuff. why is it that french filmmakers made such amazing films in the late 50s and 60s?

the more of these "new wave" films i see, the less inspired so many american rip-offs seem. right?

does anyone read this other than patrick?

d.

look at this cup, isn't it neat?

2006-08-07T06:08:00.000-07:00

saw another FANTASTIC film this weekend...Wong Kar Wai's HAPPY TOGETHER. Its about 2 GAY asian dudes who go to Argentina to try to work out their relationship problems. The cinematography is unparrelleled. The movie is heartbreaking and beautiful and functions as MUCH more than a gay breakup movie. Its also clearly a major influence on LOST IN TRANSLATION.

now i'm working on Godard's MASCULINE FEMININE. halfway through and its blowing me away.

d.

excrutiating

2006-08-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

just finished michael haneke's first film ever - THE SEVENTH CONTINENT. I really dont want to discuss the content or actually advise people to see this movie. it is NOT for everyone. all i can say is i have never had a stronger response to a film ever in my life. i am working on a nice big glass of glenlivet right now to relax. i was THISCLOSE to vomiting by the last frame. i am not kidding. I am in love with Haneke very very much. Can someone please tell me if there are other films that penetrate the emotions in this extreme? Do I need to revist Bergman? Sorry if I sound pretentious. "It is what it is."

its scary to me that after watching THIS film, FUNNY GAMES seems kinda light. Michael Haneke is officially my favorite filmmaker ever.

time is racing towards us till the huns arrive

2006-08-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

so, i'm seriously thinking Meryl Streep is gonna be up for Best Actress this year for PRADA. i know, people think of her as being supporting in the movie, but people from Frances McDormand and Anthony Hopkins have won leading Oscars for less screentime. At the end of the day, it IS the performance that drives the movie, gave it great buzz and has made it a very big hit. I also could see Streep winning her long overdue 3rd Oscar come March (or is it Feb this yr?).

Streep's predictable competition is ASHLEY JUDD, who is doing the "Charlize/Nicole/Halle" thing where a beautiful woman in her 30's gets all grungy and dark and impresses people with their RANGE. Judd is starring in the film adaptation of Tracy Lett's hit play BUG. Supposedly, it is a strong performance (Judd has given one or two in the past, so I imagine this is possible).

Annette Bening is gunning for nomination #4 with RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. Susan Sarandon in 1995 (Dead Man Walking) was the last time a woman over 40 won. I'd like to see this change. Bening was Oscar worthy in very competitive years for The Grifters, American Beauty and Being Julia. Hopefully her time will come.

There also appear to be major performances coming from Cate Blanchett (3 leading roles this year), Helen Mirren (THE QUEEN, opening the New York Film Festival), Renee Zellwger (Chris Noonan's MISS POTTER), Nicole Kidman (the Diane Arbus biopic FUR), Anna Paquin (Kenneth Lonnergan's MARGARET), Kate Winslet (Todd Field's LITTLE CHILDREN) AND Judi Dench (NOTES ON A SCANDAL). Beyond those obvious contenders, there is another whole pack of maybes from Beyonce in Dreamgirls to Julianne Moore in Children of Men. Its looking to be one of the most competitive Best Actress races in years.

As long as they are deserving, I'm kinda hopeful the winner will be Bening or Winslet. This will be Winslet's 5th nomination, which may be some kind of record for someone her age (31 in October!).

ALSO, did everyone see that Jai Rodriguez DOESN'T think either Heath or Jake are cute or hot and claims he wouldn't look twice if he saw them in a bar. Some people should just keep quiet if they have nothing meaningful to say.

Love, Gibsonfan31

duck if you see light

2006-07-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

I finally saw SUPERMAN RETURNS. My review is I'm in love with Brandon Routh now and I just wish the movie were better. Like, it has the potential to be semi-brilliant, but kinda winds up feelin pretty flat. Why is it that Parker Posey's moll/girlfriend is the character with the largest journey? Anyway, back to Brandon. He is just so friggin hot and sexy and wonderful. Or am I crazy? I heard a rumor he is a faggot. Is that so? What will he do next?

Also, I'm increasingly excited about Michael Haneke's first English language film; a remake of his brilliant Austrian flick FUNNY GAMES. Naomi Watts is attached to star and I've been obsessing over who should play the sadist killers and her husband. Anyone with any thoughts, please post or contact me. And if you can handle TRULY dark scary films, rent it. Please.

Bye.

d

flippin your fins you don't get too far

2006-07-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

Its July 22nd which means its time to start getting really serious about the 2006 Oscars.

Here are my educated guesses for the nominees WITH an asterisk for my crazy prediction on the winner. Yes, its too early.

Best Picture
* THE GOOD SHEPHERD
DREAMGIRLS
THE DEPARTED
MARGARET
BABEL

Best Actress
Helen Mirren in THE QUEEN
* Kate Winslet in LITTLE CHILDREN
Annette Bening in RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
Nicole Kidman in FUR
Cate Blanchett in NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND

the following 5 are just as likely;
Ashley Judd in BUG
Anna Paquin in MARGARET
Penelope Cruz in VOLVER
Renee Zellweger in MISS POTTER
Naomi Watts in THE PAINTED VEIL

Best Actor
* Matt Damon in THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Patrick Wilson in LITTLE CHILDREN
Jude Law in BREAKING AND ENTERING
Brad Pitt in BABEL
Forest Whitaker in some movie he is in

Best Supporting Actress
* Meryl Streep in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Jennifer Hudson in DREAMGIRLS
Jill Clayburgh in RUNNING WITH SCISSORS
Catharine O'Hara in FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Jennifer Connelly in LITTLE CHILDREN

Best Supporting Actor
* Jack Nicholson in THE DEPARTED
Eddie Murphy in DREAMGIRLS
Albert Finney in A GOOD YEAR
Robert Downey Jr. in FUR
Kevin Kline in AS YOU LIKE IT

whats that word again? oh, yeah. street.

2006-07-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

I am in love with Austrian Film Director Michael Haneke. I watched two of his most disturbing, brutal, brilliant films last night...BENNY'S VIDEO and FUNNY GAMES.

I can't get either film or the countless shocking images and ideas they contain out of my head. Crazy dreams and nightmares last night.

Please see these films if you are OK with being disturbed. And we'll discuss. ARGH!

D

best of 2005

2006-07-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

i have done this b4, but not here. and its been considerably revised methinks;

best film
1 the squid and the whale
2 cache
3 munich
4 brokeback mountain
5 a history of violence

6 mysterious skin
7 palindromes
8 match point
9 grizzly man
10 keane

best actress
1 laura linney in the squid and the whale
2 judi dench in mrs henderson presents
3 felicity huffman in transamerica
4 charlize theron in north country
5 keira knightley in pride and prejudice

6 naomi watts in king kong
7 reese witherspoon in walk the line
8 claire danes in shopgirl
9 toni collette in in her shoes
10 uma thurman in prime

best actor
1 philip seymour hoffman in capote
2 heath ledger in bb moutain
3 jeff daniels in the squid and the whale
4 russell crowe in cinderella man
5 viggo mortenson in a history of violence

6 joseph gordon-levitt in mysterious skin
7 joaquin phoenix in walk the line
8 eric bana in munich
9 david strathairn in good night and good luck
10 terrence howard in hustle and flow
11 ralph fiennes in the constant gardener
12 pierce brosnan in the matador

best supporting actress
1 rachel weisz in the constant gardener
2 maria bello in a history of violence
3 amy adams in junebug
4 michelle williams in bb mountain
5 juliette binoche in cache

6 maggie gyllenhaal in happy endings
7 meryl streep in prime
8 catharine keener in capote
9 frances mcdormand in north country
10 hope davis in the matador
11 shirley maclaine in in her shoes

best supporting actor
1 william hurt in a history of violence
2paul giammati in cinderella man
3 geoffrey rush in munich
4 jesse eisenberg in the squid and the whale
5 jake gyllenhaal in bb mountain

6 ed harris in a history of violence
7 bob hoskins in mrs henderson presents

best director
1. cache
2. munich
3. a history of violence
4. the squid and the whale
5. bb mtn

F.Y.I. - If you haven't seen CACHE yet, rent it please.

Thanks, D.

i like movies. crudup too.

2006-06-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

in the old days (1997-2001) I used to walk to work from 92/2 to the mid 50's. i would see film/tv shoots constantly and lots of fun celebs like cynthia nixon and stuff.

that kinda stopped around 9/11.

its been creeping back up in the past year and i'm very happy to report that there is a movie shooting ON MY BLOCK tonight. dugan and i had to walk to the video store (we choose THE MATADOR) and we had to walk thru the filming. my dog literally walked up to famke janssen to say hello. she had no interest, but the nice director wanted to pet him. its the dude who did barcelona and metropolitan and a bunch of tv since then.

i'm mid-syriana and its quite good. clooney won an oscar? seriously, whats up with that? in this movie alone, matt damon and jeffrey wright are doing stronger work. not to mention all the other dudes like william hurt in a history of violence, geoffrey rush in munich, my mom, etc.

myspace is fun?

2006-06-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

i have a myspace profile now. http://www.myspace.com/davidkrasner

last week i saw MUNICH. i loved it. omar metwally has a couple of great scenes. he is one of my all time favorites. yeah omar!

d.

u want thingamabobs? I GOT TWENTY

2006-06-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

A FEW FUNNY THINGS;

1. THE ONION'S HOROSCOPE this week for ARIES: You will learn the hard way this week that, while rescue workers can take your boy out of the Mississippi River, they can't take the Mississippi River out of your boy.

2. THE NEW YORKER - cartoon on page 4 showing an irate-looking King on the phone with his mom. The caption says "You're why I have the moat, Mother."

3. This week's NEW YORK MAGAZINE'S guide to eitiquette in NY is fucking brilliant. It seems to have been written by a Durang/Silver disciple. There are more references to death than one would expect in this kind of piece. Its seriously the most useful and funny thing I have ever read in this magazine.

Bye.

still more playbills. some with crudup!

2006-06-13T02:10:00.000-07:00

Avenue Q - Golden
Sarah, Plain and Tall - Lortel x2
Lt of Inishmore - Atlantic
Pen - Playwrights Hor.
Lestat - Palace
Angels in America - Kerr
Little Shop of Horrors - Virginia
Sight Unseen - Biltmore/MTC
Frozen - Circle in the Square
R & J - Houseman - adapted & directed by Joe Calarco
The Pajama Game - American
Lt of Inishmore - Lyceum
Kiss Me Kate - Martin Beck
Promises, Promises - City Center Encores!
Berlin to Broadway - Triad
The Boys From Syracuse - City Center Encores!
The Buttlerfly Collection - Playwrights Horizons
Medea - National Theate of Greece - City Center
Red Light Winter - Barrow Street
Mamma Mia - Cadillac x5
Sweeney Todd - O'Neill
Dog Sees God - Century Center
Hairspray - Neil Simon x2
Oklahoma! - Gershwin x2
Blue - Grammercy/Roundabout
White Xmas - Curran Theatre, San Fran.
The Lion King - New Amsterdam
Echoes of the War - The Mint
Big Times - Walkerspace - starring delicious Danielle Skrasstad, Mia Barron and Maggie Lacey. HSYTERICAL!
St. Louis Woman - City Center Encores! - Possibly the masterpiece of Encores!
Endpapers - Variety Arts - remember this?
Sunday in the Park with George - Kennedy Center
Further Than the Furthest Thing - MTC - most pretentious title? ever?
Songs of Paradise - Theatre Four
Carnival - City Center Encores! starring Anne Hathaway
Juan Darien - Vivian Beamount
Lobster Alice - Playwrights Hor
Saturday Night Fever - Minskoff
The Man Who Came to Dinner - American
The Deep Blue Sea - Roundabout/Criterion
Arms and the Man - Roundabout/Grammercy
A New Brain - Newhouse
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! - Triad
Breath, Boom - Playwrights Hor.
Lascivious Something -Cherry Lane
Metamorphese - Circle in the Square
Hair - City Center Encores!
Nothing Like a Dame 99 - Shubert
Momix - City Center
Cinderella - MSG
Ah, Wilderness - Beamount
The Game - presentation at New 42nd St. Studios
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui - Michael Schimmel Center
John Barrowman - American Songbook @ Lincoln Center
Rent - Nederlander x6?
Assassins - Studio 54 x 2
In My Life - Music Box
Franny's Way - Playwrights Horizons
Golden Boy - City Center Encores!
Amy's View - Barrymore - I was drunk. Was this any good?
Little Me - Roundabout
Swan Lake - Neil Simon
Mr Pim Passes By - Mint
Ballad of Yachiyo - Public
E.S.T. - Marathon 97 Series C
A View from the Bridge - Neil Simon
Assassins - Signature Theatre, Arlington
Mame - Kennedy Center
Ethan Fromme - York Reading
Harold & Maude - Paper Mill
Almost, Maine - Daryl Roth
The Light in the Piazza - Beamount
Sweet Charity - Hirschfeld x2
Five Course Love - Minetta Lane

This may seem crazy, but I haven't really made a dent in my pile.

D

close but no cigar

2006-06-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

tony facts:

Glenn Close looked great.

Alfre Woodard has large tits.

Many people in the world are old.

Its not cool that the tribute to dead people neglected Neil Simon.

Julia Roberts happens to be beautiful. And articulate.

La Chanze won a Tony.

I think that's all that happened.

Bye, D

obsessed

2006-06-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed with many things, people, places, movies, etc.

One of the key obsessions in my life has been FEMALE ACTRESSES. This started out as purely from Film, but seguewayed into theatre once I moved to NYC in 96.

Here is a chronological progression of my actress loves. I will include the reason why next to their name, I suppose.

Glenn Close - I don't recall a time I didn't love her. I mean I saw the woman in BARNUM when I was 6 and I assume some immediate connection was made.

Meryl Streep - Kramer vs. Kramer

Diane Keaton - Love and Death. A good deal of my sense of humor stems from this movie.

Jobeth Williams - Poltergeist

Jessica Lange - Tootsie. Although this didn't officially kick in until years later when I saw Blue Sky, Frances, and best of all MEN DON'T LEAVE.

Barbra Streisand - The "Guilty" album.

Dianne Wiest - Hannah and Her Sisters

Holly Hunter - Broadcast News

Anjelica Huston - a combo of The Grifters, Crimes and Misdeameanors, Addams Family Values, The Life Aquatic, Prizzi's Honor

Annette Bening - The Grifters

Jodie Foster - The Silence of the Lambs

Joan Cusack - Addams Family Values

Stockard Channing - Grease, Without a Trace, Six Degrees of Sep
Donna Murphy - Passion
Patricia Clarkson - Three Days of Rain @ MTC

Sigourney Weaver - Always liked her, but The Ice Storm was what finally put her on my OBSESSED list.

Kathleen Turner - Indiscretions on Broadway.

Nicole Kidman - Dead Calm - HONEST. Ask my mother and my friend Kevin. This obsession began as soon as Billy Zane raped her in one of the hotter rape scenes of all time (up there with THE ACCUSED and JURASSIC PARK.).

Joan Allen - The Ice Storm

Christina Ricci - Pumpkin

Kate Winslet - Heavenly Creatures

Becca Ayers - Avenue Q

Hope Davs - The Daytrippers

Parker Posey - Party Girl

Jennifer Jason Leigh - Mrs Parker

Debra Monk - the ASSASSINS cd, Picnic and Redwood Curtain

Emily Watson - Breaking the Waves

Laura Linney - You Can Count on Me

Mary-Louise Parker -always loved her but WEEDS took her to a new level for me, and I forgave her for breaking Crudup's heart.

Shirley MacLaine - Terms of Endearment

Julianne Moore - Safe!!!!!!! - if you haven't seen it, you have a treat in store.

Toni Collette - Velvet Goldmine & The Wild Party

Naomi Watts - Mulholland Drive - the audition scene - i believe i gasped in the theatre at its conclusion. ROBBED OF AN OSCAR!!!

Sissy Spacek -not sure I ever WASN'T obsessed with her, but MISSING, Carrie and Crimes of the Heart all hit a nerve for this Long Island geeky jew teen.

There are many more oddly enough, but this is a good start.

D

scotch is good

2006-06-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

so, the reason i keep finding playbills is cause my roomie is moving out and im converting his bedroom into an office. i'm in the process of going through EVERYTHING...cleaning, throwing out...who knew there would be so much dried blood on the floor???

here are so more playbills!

Sixteen Wounded - Long Wharf
Hollywood Arms - Cort
Titanic - Lunt-Fontanne
Little Fish - 2nd Stage
Millie - Marquis
Hairspray - Neil Simon
The Lightning Field - x2
The Safety Net - Broken Watch
Dance of the Vampires - Minskoff x3
The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow - Atlantic
Lennon - Broadhurst x3
Tharp - City Center
Babes in Arms - City Center Encores - THE BEST!
Cabaret - Studio 54- x4
The Cider House Rules - Atlantic
Urinetown - Henry Miller - x2
Wonderful Town - City Center Encores x3
Dinner With Friends - Variety Arts
Little Murders - City Center Voices!
ABT - City Center - 98
The Waverly Gallery - Promenade
The Green Bird - Cort
The Ride Down Mt Morgan - Ambassador
This is Our Youth - Fairbanks
Shit & Champagne - at sojme bar
The Book of the Dun Cow - at some church
Miss Witherspoon - Playwrights Horizons
The Color Purple - Broadway - * Opening Night
Modern Orthodox - Caldwell Theatre Company
The Blonde in the Thunderbird - Atkinson
The Last Seder - a reading at MTC
Jewtopia - Westside Theatre
The Woman in White - Marquis x 2
Sweeney Todd - O'Neill
The Goat - Golden
All American Boy - Fringe
Last Dance - Workshop
Bernarda Alba - Newhouse
The Tutor - Nymf
Shopping and Fucking - NYTW
What the Butler Saw - New Group
Brutal Imagination - Vineyard
Polk County - Berkeley Rep
Sweeney Todd in Concert - NY Philharmonic
Sweeney Todd - Centerstage, Baltimore

MORE LATER!!!!

more playbills from my floor

2006-06-11T05:17:00.000-07:00

here are more random playbills from my floor. i have been told this is BORING and to either camp it up or not to have a blog. Let's see if I can refer to Liza and Barbra and Cicely Tyson a bit more this go round.

Swimming With Watermelons - Vineyard Theatre - March 2002

Greetings from Cherry Hill, NJ -Theatre for the New City

The Country Club - Drama Dept

Lone Star Love - John Houseman - with YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY Shane Braddock

The Fourth Sister - Vineyard

Eight Days (Backward) - Vineyard - not a very good play.

Sixteen Wounded - Walter Kerr - starring Tony nominee and my favorite actor like ever - Omar Metwally. I represented and pushed the hell out of Omar way back when and I'm still proud and thrilled for him. ASTONISHING.

In Search of Stanley Hammer - Fringe 05 - funniest person of all time - Liz Merriwether - watch her explode as a performer/playwright over the next few years.

Merrily We Roll Along - Laguardia Concert Hal - 9/30/02 - 20 yr anniversary concert = yum!

Vincent in Brixton - Golden Theatre

The Man who Had All Luck - American Airlines - BORING.

Gypsy - Shubert

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea - 2nd Stage

Wicked - Gershwin

Yank! - NYMF 05 - kreeger time

Bye Bye Birdie - City Center Encores

Like Oh My God - concert at Makor. I had a drink.

The Ladies of the Corridor - Pecadillo

Heddatron - Here - SO FUCKING HYSTERICAL.

Grey Gardens - Playwrights Horizons

After Ashley - Philadelphia Theatre Co.

The Baltimore Waltz - Signature

The Me Nobody Knows - Reading at The Vineyard.

Henry, Sweet, Henry - York

La Cage aux Folles - Marquis

Twentieth Century - American Airlines - Anne Heche should do more theatre. She was hysterically funny and ballsy.

Little Ham - John Houseman - that theatre is gone, right?

Peter Pan - Stamford Center for the Arts

Altar Boyz - Dodger Stages

Boys' Life - Broken Watch Productions

First in Flight - Theatreworks

Mamma Mia - Winter Garden

Blue Man Group - Astor Place

Beauty and the Beast - Lunt-Fontanne

Joy - Actors' Playhouse -deliciously cast by my pretty friend Michael Cassara

The Great American Trailer Park Musical - Dodger Stages

Zanna Don't x 7. I worked with Robbie Sapp at the time. You would have gone 7x too.

Assassins - Playwrights Horizons - I didn't see this production. Not sure how I got this Playbill. Oh well. Live and learn!

Hedwig and the Angry Inch - these are everywhere. i saw it at least 8-9 x. its all a blur.

Dorian Gray - NYMF

Swimming Upstream - NYMF - Kreeger!!!!!!!

Sweeney Todd - NYC Opera - wonderful Neil Patrick Harris as Tobias.

Me and Juliet - York

Into the Woods - Broadhurst

From My Hometown - Amas

Floyd Collins - concert at Playwrights Horizons

This post is over and the dog and I need to go back to bed, Sorry this is so boring.

D

2nd post

2006-06-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

This is a list of women I would like to see win an Oscar for Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress;

Julianne Moore - AND SOON!
Glenn Close - I'm starting to give up on this one, but doesn't she have a Supporting in her???
Meryl Streep (yes, again)
Emily Watson
Cate Blanchett (a leading Oscar to compliment the supporting AVIATOR award. "Nice work Aviator!" - new Oscar.
Annette Bening
Patricia Clarkson
Laura Linney
Mary-Louise Parker
Dianne Wiest - I could probably handle her winning Supporting Actress EVERY year. Who objects???
Judy Davis
Nicole Kidman - There is another Best Actress win in her. She is like Bette Davis. She will keep fighting and clawing till she gets it. She turns 39 this year. Will be fascinating to see what happens with her over the next decade.
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Naomi Watts
Kate Winslet!!!!
Catharine Keener

If Sarah Polley, Alfre Woodard, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sigourney Weaver, Anne Hathaway, Christina Ricci, Debra Monk, Laura Dern, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hope Davis, Tilda Swinton, Donna Murphy, Michelle Williams,Joan Allen deserve an Oscar anytime soon, I wouldn't object.

ALSO, is there any way Helen Hunt can publicly acknowledge she didn't deserve her Oscar?

Thanks, D.

My first post

2006-06-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog,

I thought long and hard about what the subject matter, theme and title should be. When push came to shove, it makes sense to keep things randomish and kinda list-y. I love making lists. I love Sondheim and Meryl Streep and great movies about twin gynecologists. And other stuff too.

This seems like an odd list to start with, but I'm currently cleaning my apartment and there are Playbills strewn all over my living room floor. Wouldn't it be fun to list all the Playbills that are randomly laying here? Who cares? My dog might, cause they are currently in his space. His name is Dugan and he is a fan of Chris Durang, Hitler and other dogs.

RANDOM PLAYBILLS:
As Thousands Cheer, Drama Dept - May 98

The Mystery of Irma Vep - Westside Theatre - Feb 99

Tenderloin - City Center Encores - March 00 - I loved this. Really well-produced Walter Bobbie production starring a wicked sexy Patrick Wilson.

American Buffalo - Atlantic - March 00

Saturday Night - 2nd Stage - Feb 00

The Bomb-itty of Errors - 45 Bleecker - March 00

Crimes of the Heart - 2nd Stage - Apr 01

Rent - Nederlander - March 01

A Skull in Connemara - Grammery Theatre/Roundabout - March 01

The Real Thing - Barrymore - April 2000

Closer - Music Box - June 99 -not as good as in London.

Fosse - Broadhurst - Jan 99 - I love Scott Wise.

The Little Foxes - Vivian Beaumont @ LCT - April 97 - GREAT production starring Stockard Channing, Frances Conroy, Frederick Weller

The Life - Barrymore - Feb 98 - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE - This was my 2nd time seeing the show. With my mom. I saw Basic Instinct in the theatre with her too. And The Grifters. Seriously.

Present Laughter - Walter Kerr - April 97 - saw this 2x while interning at Telsey.

Strike Up the Band -City Center Encores! - Feb 98

Li'l Abner - City Center Encores! - April 98 - why?

Parade - Vivian Beaumont @ LCT - November 98 - I didn't realize what a great show this was till I saw it at NYU last year.

ABT - City Center - November 97 - Yum!

Betrayal - American Airlines - Jan 01

Miss Saigon - Broadway - June 99

Do Re Mi - City Center Encores! - May 99 - Josh Prince was in this.

Forbidden Broadway 2001 - Ellen's Classy Stardust Diner - March 2001

La Terrasse - MTC - May 1999

The Iceman Cometh - Atkinson - June 1999

The National Ballet of Canada - City Center - October 98 - this should be your first tip-off that I used to work at City Center.

ABT - City Center - November 98

Corpus Christi - MTC - Oct 98

Freak - Cort - Feb 98

True West - Circle in the Square - Feb 2000

The Time of the Cuckoo - Mitzi Newhouse @ LCT -Feb 2000 Debra Monk at her thinnest.

The Torchbearers - Drama Dept - 2000 - Directed by Dylan Baker

Swing! - St. James - Oct 2000

Closer - Lyric Theatre, London

Noises Off - Atkinson - November 2001

Art - Royale with Cheese - May 1998 - Tom Hewitt was the Standby for Alan Alda and Victor Garber.

I'm officially bored. There are probably another thousand Playbills laying here. Oh well!

Time to do something fun,

Bi, d.