Away From Her's Recent Activity

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Title: Away From Her
Year: 2007
Director: Sarah Polley
Plot: Filmmaker Atom Egoyan - a longtime onscreen collaborator with the gifted young thesp Sarah Polley (The Sweet Hereafter) - executive-produced Polley's directorial debut, Away from Her, starring Julie Christie, Olympia Dukakis, Michael Murphy and Wendy Crewson. Adapted by Polley from a short story by Alice Munro, this small-scaled two-character drama concerns Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona (Christie), a long-married couple, well into their golden years, who are much in love and connected to one another on every level. 'Soulmates' in the purest sense of the word, the two feel a sense of ease and tranquility in their rural home. But when Fiona's memory begins to slip away and she insists on being taken to a rest home, the decision stirs up torrents of guilt and regret in Grant's heart. The rules of the center only complicate matters, as they forbid visitation and communication with Fiona for an interminable period of time. He determines to support his wife at all costs, even if must happen at the expense of his own peace of mind. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 7
Number of Lists: 30
Number of blog posts: 7
Number of discussion threads: 3
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:49:14 GMTAway From Her2007Sarah PolleyFilmmaker <a href="/players/P____88743/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Atom Egoyan</a> - a longtime onscreen collaborator with the gifted young thesp <a href="/players/P____57251/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Sarah Polley</a> (<a href=/films/111087/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>The Sweet Hereafter</a>) - executive-produced Polley's directorial debut, Away from Her, starring <a href="/players/P____13030/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Julie Christie</a>, <a href="/players/P____20452/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Olympia Dukakis</a>, <a href="/players/P___103847/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Michael Murphy</a> and <a href="/players/P____15759/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Wendy Crewson</a>. Adapted by Polley from a short story by Alice Munro, this small-scaled two-character drama concerns Grant (<a href="/players/P___106551/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Gordon Pinsent</a>) and Fiona (Christie), a long-married couple, well into their golden years, who are much in love and connected to one another on every level. 'Soulmates' in the purest sense of the word, the two feel a sense of ease and tranquility in their rural home. But when Fiona's memory begins to slip away and she insists on being taken to a rest home, the decision stirs up torrents of guilt and regret in Grant's heart. The rules of the center only complicate matters, as they forbid visitation and communication with Fiona for an interminable period of time. He determines to support his wife at all costs, even if must happen at the expense of his own peace of mind. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide7Taggedy Taggged (6-10)30733http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s287320.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Away_From_Her/287320/default.aspxFilm Spout Post: An Unforgettable Directing Debut http://www.spout.com/blogs/dj4our/archive/2008/10/19/36496.aspx

Post By: dj4our
Post To: dj4our Blog
Post Date: 10/19/2008 3:32:53 AM
Body: AWAY FROM HER (2007) **** PG-13 (for some strong language) 1 hr. 50 min. written by: Sarah Polley (screenplay) & Alice Munro (from short story, The Bear Came Over the Mountain) produced by: Daniel Iron, Jennifer Weiss & Simone Urdl directed by: Sarah Polley I can't imagine a time where after fifty years of marriage my wife would look at me and not know who I am. That would be devastating. I would obviously want to provide her with the best care possible if her dementia increases but what about me? How would I manage? This may sound selfish but just think about how this would hit you if someone you love dearly was affected by this disease. The majority of my life would have been spent with this person who knows me better than anyone else but now all that is vanishing. That's exactly what position Grant Anderson (Gordon Pinsent) finds himself in as he comes to terms with his wife, Fiona (Julie Christie) being diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. As they both come to terms with this unexpected stage in their life, their challenging history is also brought to light and we see that their marriage wasn't always as cozy as they seem. Until now, this was a couple who were comfortable with who and where they are in life. Yet as Fiona's memories fade, new ones seem to enter. We get the idea that in their past, Grant may have fooled around with a student during his tenure as a professor. It seems like an event that rocked their relationship but may have been uncomfortably glossed over. Well, it surfaces now as well as other doubts and frustrations. Since Grant still has his faculties, it is he who must now feel the same isolation that Fiona must have at one time felt. He wants to support Fiona in her decision to check herself into a nursing home not far from where they live but he still feels alone and somewhat guilty (both for the affair years ago and for not being able to help her). This decision becomes more real for both of them after Fiona is found after being lost in the snowy outdoors, it's then that they realize that she's going to need care. For the first time, the couple are forced to undergo a long-term separation that brings pain, confusion and frustration. It's even more painful for Grant when he's told by the facility's administrator Madeline (Wendy Crewson) that new patients must have no outside contact for 30 days, so that they can become acclimated to their new stage of life. At least he's able to confide in Kristy (Kristen Thomson) a nurse who helps Grant deal with this new stage of life with stark honesty. When Grant is finally able to visit Fiona after the orientation period, he shows up with flowers and is devastated to find out that not only has she seemingly forgotten him, but she has transferred her affections to another man. It's up in the air whether or not this man, Aubrey (Michael Murphy) is all there since he's only shown as a wheelchair bound mute patient at the nursing home. Although he seems quite reliant on Fiona as she helps him move around and reads to him, I wondered if it was a ruse. As the distance between husband and wife grows, Grant must draw upon his love for Fiona to perform an act of self-sacrifice in order to ensure her happiness. Grant continues to visit but is relegated to the rec room sofa on the sidelines as he watches Fiona help Aubrey play board games with the other residents. Side note: if I have to admit myself to a nursing home, I guess I'm heading north to Canada cuz this was the nicest looking facility I've ever seen. Pinsent quietly commands these scenes. His eyes show a man frozen in love with a woman who no longer knows him. He doesn't know what to do but still cannot bare to be away from her. It's almost as if he is afraid that he too will forget her and will be left the strange voyeur in her life. In an effort to provide for Fiona any way he can, Grant introduces himself to Aubrey's wife when she takes him out of the home due to financial reasons. With Aubrey gone from the home, Fiona is depressed which noticeably deteriorates her condition and Grant knows he is not the man who can provide what his wife needs. He gradually builds a connection with Marian (Olympia Dukakis), the blunt-talking, pragmatic wife of Fiona's catatonic friend. She seems as stuck and lonely as she is, the only difference is he's new to all this. This leads to a brief and awkward relationship for the two ostracized spouses. They need each other, perhaps Marian moreso than Grant since she's dealt with her husband's illness longer than he has but he clearly still loves Fiona. Clearly and deservedly, Christie is promoted as the mesmerizing star of the film and first-time director/actress Sarah Polley, focuses as much on her beauty as Christie does on her character. It doesn't take much for one to be absorbed by Christie's startling, mature beauty yet Polley keeps the camera tight and close on her magnificent face and those piercing blue eyes as Fiona takes leave of her life and her husband. I get the feeling that Polley is as much in awe of Christie as anyone else who sees her work. But Pinsent is formidable here and the story is just as much about his character if not moreso. It's a role that is just as challenging as Christie's and the two of them work wonderfully together. Until this film, I had never seen or heard of this Canadian actor. I'll definitely be looking to see what he does next. I gleaned that Canadian writer, Alice Munro is telling a story about hanging on and letting go, and about the mysteries of what binds men and women together. How Polley's screenplay differs from the source is unknown but the filmmaker does take the time to glance back at Grant and Fiona's past as much as their unknown future unfolds. Polley delivers a thoughtful and compelling meditation on the familiar lives older people with this disease are leaving and the frightening lives they find themselves entering. Deceptively simple but wrenching in execution, writer/director Sarah Polley has become a talent to look out for behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera. There have been several films released within the last six years that have dealt with Alzheimer's disease in some manner. I've only see Nick Cassavete's 2004 film "The Notebook" which I really enjoyed but I kinda felt like at times I wanted to see just the older couple currently dealing with the disease instead of flashbacks of their youth. That's one of the many things I like about this film, it has no problem focusing on characters over age 60 and it does so in a real manner. It's a beautiful film.
]]>Sun, 19 Oct 2008 07:32:53 GMTdj4ourdj4our Blog10/19/2008 3:32:53 AMAWAY FROM HER (2007) **** PG-13 (for some strong language) 1 hr. 50 min. written by: Sarah Polley (screenplay) & Alice Munro (from short story, The Bear Came Over the Mountain) produced by: Daniel Iron, Jennifer Weiss & Simone Urdl directed by: Sarah Polley I can't imagine a time where after fifty years of marriage my wife would look at me and not know who I am. That would be devastating. I would obviously want to provide her with the best care possible if her dementia increases but what about me? How would I manage? This may sound selfish but just think about how this would hit you if someone you love dearly was affected by this disease. The majority of my life would have been spent with this person who knows me better than anyone else but now all that is vanishing. That's exactly what position Grant Anderson (Gordon Pinsent) finds himself in as he comes to terms with his wife, Fiona (Julie Christie) being diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. As they both come to terms with this unexpected stage in their life, their challenging history is also brought to light and we see that their marriage wasn't always as cozy as they seem. Until now, this was a couple who were comfortable with who and where they are in life. Yet as Fiona's memories fade, new ones seem to enter. We get the idea that in their past, Grant may have fooled around with a student during his tenure as a professor. It seems like an event that rocked their relationship but may have been uncomfortably glossed over. Well, it surfaces now as well as other doubts and frustrations. Since Grant still has his faculties, it is he who must now feel the same isolation that Fiona must have at one time felt. He wants to support Fiona in her decision to check herself into a nursing home not far from where they live but he still feels alone and somewhat guilty (both for the affair years ago and for not being able to help her). This decision becomes more real for both of them after Fiona is found after being lost in the snowy outdoors, it's then that they realize that she's going to need care. For the first time, the couple are forced to undergo a long-term separation that brings pain, confusion and frustration. It's even more painful for Grant when he's told by the facility's administrator Madeline (Wendy Crewson) that new patients must have no outside contact for 30 days, so that they can become acclimated to their new stage of life. At least he's able to confide in Kristy (Kristen Thomson) a nurse who helps Grant deal with this new stage of life with stark honesty. When Grant is finally able to visit Fiona after the orientation period, he shows up with flowers and is devastated to find out that not only has she seemingly forgotten him, but she has transferred her affections to another man. It's up in the air whether or not this man, Aubrey (Michael Murphy) is all there since he's only shown as a wheelchair bound mute patient at the nursing home. Although he seems quite reliant on Fiona as she helps him move around and reads to him, I wondered if it was a ruse. As the distance between husband and wife grows, Grant must draw upon his love for Fiona to perform an act of self-sacrifice in order to ensure her happiness. Grant continues to visit but is relegated to the rec room sofa on the sidelines as he watches Fiona help Aubrey play board games with the other residents. Side note: if I have to admit myself to a nursing home, I guess I'm heading north to Canada cuz this was the nicest looking facility I've ever seen. Pinsent quietly commands these scenes. His eyes show a man frozen in love with a woman who no longer knows him. He doesn't know what to do but still cannot bare to be away from her. It's almost as if he is afraid that he too will forget her and will be left the strange voyeur in her life. In an effort to provide for Fiona any way he can, Grant introduces himself to Aubrey's wife when she takes him out of the home due to financial reasons. With Aubrey gone from the home, Fiona is depressed which noticeably deteriorates her condition and Grant knows he is not the man who can provide what his wife needs. He gradually builds a connection with Marian (Olympia Dukakis), the blunt-talking, pragmatic wife of Fiona's catatonic friend. She seems as stuck and lonely as she is, the only difference is he's new to all this. This leads to a brief and awkward relationship for the two ostracized spouses. They need each other, perhaps Marian moreso than Grant since she's dealt with her husband's illness longer than he has but he clearly still loves Fiona. Clearly and deservedly, Christie is promoted as the mesmerizing star of the film and first-time director/actress Sarah Polley, focuses as much on her beauty as Christie does on her character. It doesn't take much for one to be absorbed by Christie's startling, mature beauty yet Polley keeps the camera tight and close on her magnificent face and those piercing blue eyes as Fiona takes leave of her life and her husband. I get the feeling that Polley is as much in awe of Christie as anyone else who sees her work. But Pinsent is formidable here and the story is just as much about his character if not moreso. It's a role that is just as challenging as Christie's and the two of them work wonderfully together. Until this film, I had never seen or heard of this Canadian actor. I'll definitely be looking to see what he does next. I gleaned that Canadian writer, Alice Munro is telling a story about hanging on and letting go, and about the mysteries of what binds men and women together. How Polley's screenplay differs from the source is unknown but the filmmaker does take the time to glance back at Grant and Fiona's past as much as their unknown future unfolds. Polley delivers a thoughtful and compelling meditation on the familiar lives older people with this disease are leaving and the frightening lives they find themselves entering. Deceptively simple but wrenching in execution, writer/director Sarah Polley has become a talent to look out for behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera. There have been several films released within the last six years that have dealt with Alzheimer's disease in some manner. I've only see Nick Cassavete's 2004 film "The Notebook" which I really enjoyed but I kinda felt like at times I wanted to see just the older couple currently dealing with the disease instead of flashbacks of their youth. That's one of the many things I like about this film, it has no problem focusing on characters over age 60 and it does so in a real manner. It's a beautiful film. Spout Post: Re:Top 5 movies directed by an actor or actress http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_movies_directed_by_an_actor_or_actress/190/26377/1/ShowPost.aspx

Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 3/18/2008 9:58:30 PM
Body: quote:"I'm having some difficulty actually deciding if some people qualify or not.Certainly Orson Welles, if he was not already often in contention for the greatest director of all time would have been well known as one of the greatest actors.Roman Polanski is surely more well known as a director, but has done just as much acting, and was an actor before being a director. The same with Vittorio De Sica.Many comedians are just as recognizable as actors, writers, and directors. Often doing all roles in the same film. Think of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Or Jaques Tati. Today think of Mel Brooks, Harold Ramis, Christopher Guest. Terry Jones??Also many kung fu stars. Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, Sammo Hung.And what about classical actors where, acting is clearly where they are most recognized, but they are also renown in directing of theatre and film. A production directed by Lawrence Olivier or Kenneth Branagh is surely not an anomaly."Yeah, I was kinda thinking along the lines of an actor that has been around for a while before directing. ( I completely forgot about The Apostle & Buffalo '66) When I think of an actor that has dabbled in directing, Orson Wells doesn't really come to mind, unless you consider his radio carrer acting. I think more of Sean Penn, Kevin Costner or Rober Duvall. Or more recently with Zack Braff and Sara Polley who just directed her first film, Away From Her. (sitting in a stack of dvds yet to be watched) The reason I started this was because I've found that actors that I enjoy watching seem to direct films that I gravitate towards, hence the two John Turturros on my list. It is interesting that you mentioned Jackie Chan in the same post as Charlie Chaplin though. I've always thought that they had a lot of similarities. Stephen Chow has a lot in common with Bugs Bunny
]]>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:58:30 GMTleeroy711Top 53/18/2008 9:58:30 PMquote:"I'm having some difficulty actually deciding if some people qualify or not.Certainly Orson Welles, if he was not already often in contention for the greatest director of all time would have been well known as one of the greatest actors.Roman Polanski is surely more well known as a director, but has done just as much acting, and was an actor before being a director. The same with Vittorio De Sica.Many comedians are just as recognizable as actors, writers, and directors. Often doing all roles in the same film. Think of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Or Jaques Tati. Today think of Mel Brooks, Harold Ramis, Christopher Guest. Terry Jones??Also many kung fu stars. Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, Sammo Hung.And what about classical actors where, acting is clearly where they are most recognized, but they are also renown in directing of theatre and film. A production directed by Lawrence Olivier or Kenneth Branagh is surely not an anomaly."Yeah, I was kinda thinking along the lines of an actor that has been around for a while before directing. ( I completely forgot about The Apostle & Buffalo '66) When I think of an actor that has dabbled in directing, Orson Wells doesn't really come to mind, unless you consider his radio carrer acting. I think more of Sean Penn, Kevin Costner or Rober Duvall. Or more recently with Zack Braff and Sara Polley who just directed her first film, Away From Her. (sitting in a stack of dvds yet to be watched) The reason I started this was because I've found that actors that I enjoy watching seem to direct films that I gravitate towards, hence the two John Turturros on my list. It is interesting that you mentioned Jackie Chan in the same post as Charlie Chaplin though. I've always thought that they had a lot of similarities. Stephen Chow has a lot in common with Bugs Bunny Spout Post: Away from Her http://www.spout.com/blogs/jimbell/archive/2008/2/26/25624.aspx

Post By: JimBell
Post To: JimBell Blog
Post Date: 2/26/2008 4:32:19 PM
Body: Away from Her (2006) is a superior film, but it left me with some critical questions. The serious and thought-provoking theme is supported by solid acting. While Julie Christy, as the wife with Alzheimer’s (Fiona), was nominated for an Oscar, and while Gordon Pinsent, as her distraught husband (Grant), won an ACTRA for Outstanding Performance, I thought the best work came from Kristen Thomson, the nurse at the Alzheimer’s facility. In contrast to a woman whose deteriorating mind makes her distant, a husband who is trying to be stoical, and an unemotional administrator who keeps an Alzheimer’s institution running efficiently, Thomson’s nurse is full of life—warm, concerned, a little troubled, a little pushy—quite a complex character for so little time on screen. Thomson’s character brings up a sub-theme which left me asking whether Grant got a fair shake. When Fiona entered an Alzheimer’s facility, Grant was forbidden to visit for 30 days so that Fiona could settle in. She fell in love with one of the other patients and apparently forgot who her legal husband was. In a short story written by a woman (Alice Munro) and turned into a movie by a woman (Sarah Polley), a female nurse (Thomson) says that Fiona may have been driven into the arms of another man by something Grant did in the past. The nurse says that men, such as Grant, often say their marriages have been very good but the wives disagree. But it may not be too late for Grant to make amends and become a better man. That’s it. No more details. Is this consistent with the rest of the movie? We have seen Grant nothing but happy with his wife and then terribly distraught as she loses her memory. He is the one reluctant to “put her in a home”; he says he never wanted to be away from her. When his wife falls in love with Aubrey, a man who come in and goes out of the home on an irregular basis, Grant is pleased to see his wife’s happiness when Aubrey is there, and quick to try to get Aubrey back when he sees how depressed his wife has become without Aubrey. As the punk girl visiting the home says to Grant, “I should be so lucky [to have a guy like you]!” Is Grant given a fair trial? And, turning to real life, is what the nurse says true? Or is it more likely that about half the men say their married life was pretty fine, and their wives sort of disagree, and about half the women say their married life was pretty fine, and their husbands have doubts about it? The movie portrays unflinchingly the issues of Alzheimer’s, and makes them more powerful by expanding the concerns to life in general. But what do we make of the movie’s answer? Grant and Aubrey’s wife Marian (Olivia Dukakis) slowly and awkwardly get together. Grant is not really getting with the program, so, while driving down the highway, Marian says that life always hits us with the unexpected, and we can either remain angry about it or we can decide to choose happy. This seems to inform the last part of the movie. But is this a pretty good philosophy of life, or does it fit much better for advanced Alzheimer’s (for example, your spouse does not even know who you are) than it does for most other situations?
]]>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:32:19 GMTJimBellJimBell Blog2/26/2008 4:32:19 PMAway from Her (2006) is a superior film, but it left me with some critical questions. The serious and thought-provoking theme is supported by solid acting. While Julie Christy, as the wife with Alzheimer’s (Fiona), was nominated for an Oscar, and while Gordon Pinsent, as her distraught husband (Grant), won an ACTRA for Outstanding Performance, I thought the best work came from Kristen Thomson, the nurse at the Alzheimer’s facility. In contrast to a woman whose deteriorating mind makes her distant, a husband who is trying to be stoical, and an unemotional administrator who keeps an Alzheimer’s institution running efficiently, Thomson’s nurse is full of life—warm, concerned, a little troubled, a little pushy—quite a complex character for so little time on screen. Thomson’s character brings up a sub-theme which left me asking whether Grant got a fair shake. When Fiona entered an Alzheimer’s facility, Grant was forbidden to visit for 30 days so that Fiona could settle in. She fell in love with one of the other patients and apparently forgot who her legal husband was. In a short story written by a woman (Alice Munro) and turned into a movie by a woman (Sarah Polley), a female nurse (Thomson) says that Fiona may have been driven into the arms of another man by something Grant did in the past. The nurse says that men, such as Grant, often say their marriages have been very good but the wives disagree. But it may not be too late for Grant to make amends and become a better man. That’s it. No more details. Is this consistent with the rest of the movie? We have seen Grant nothing but happy with his wife and then terribly distraught as she loses her memory. He is the one reluctant to “put her in a home”; he says he never wanted to be away from her. When his wife falls in love with Aubrey, a man who come in and goes out of the home on an irregular basis, Grant is pleased to see his wife’s happiness when Aubrey is there, and quick to try to get Aubrey back when he sees how depressed his wife has become without Aubrey. As the punk girl visiting the home says to Grant, “I should be so lucky [to have a guy like you]!” Is Grant given a fair trial? And, turning to real life, is what the nurse says true? Or is it more likely that about half the men say their married life was pretty fine, and their wives sort of disagree, and about half the women say their married life was pretty fine, and their husbands have doubts about it? The movie portrays unflinchingly the issues of Alzheimer’s, and makes them more powerful by expanding the concerns to life in general. But what do we make of the movie’s answer? Grant and Aubrey’s wife Marian (Olivia Dukakis) slowly and awkwardly get together. Grant is not really getting with the program, so, while driving down the highway, Marian says that life always hits us with the unexpected, and we can either remain angry about it or we can decide to choose happy. This seems to inform the last part of the movie. But is this a pretty good philosophy of life, or does it fit much better for advanced Alzheimer’s (for example, your spouse does not even know who you are) than it does for most other situations? Spout Post: Come drink my milkshake: This year's Oscar picks http://www.spout.com/blogs/usesoap/archive/2008/2/10/24944.aspx

Post By: usesoap
Post To: usesoap Blog
Post Date: 2/10/2008 9:20:58 PM
Body: Even though the writers have apparently settled on a deal to end the strike, there is still a great deal to fear on the Oscar broadcast set for Feb. 24, that can be summed up in three simple words (two if you hyphenate correctly):Oscar-winner 'Norbit'.That's right. While many wrestle with the fact that their favorite films have been left off the nominee list (I understand, though don't agree with, the love-fest called Juno, but even my friends who are the most ardent supporters of the film agree that it has no place in the Best Picture and Best Director category) a film that was universally loathed like 'Norbit' has a shot at earning the most coveted trophies in the biz.Here to give you an edge on the office ballots, I have opted to fill this column with a handy guide to this year's nominees, chock-full of winner predictions. (Plus, you can check out some of the shorts on your computer, links provided, free of charge. You're welcome!)Best picture“Atonement”“Juno”“Michael Clayton”“No Country for Old Men”“There Will Be Blood”Winner: “No Country for Old Men. A sweeping 86 wins from various awards programs, coupled with the Academy's love for the Coens, means the “Old Men” should have a lot of life in them on Oscar night. Best Director“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Julian Schnabel“Juno” Jason Reitman“Michael Clayton” Tony Gilroy“No Country for Old Men” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen“There Will Be Blood” Paul Thomas AndersonWinner: The Coens again will be awarded, not only for this film, but for their decades of impressive contributions to cinema, whereas the runner-up, Anderson, seems to be just beginning his remarkable run.Best ActorGeorge Clooney in “Michael Clayton”Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood”Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”Tommy Lee Jones in “In the Valley of Elah”Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises”Winner: Daniel Day Lewis. Of the film's 45 award wins, the majority have gone to Lewis, whose Daniel Plainview could have easily been the embodiment of evil, were it not for the actor who shades the character with the tiniest sliver of humanity. Best ActressCate Blanchett in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”Julie Christie in “Away from Her”Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose”Laura Linney in “The Savages”Ellen Page in “Juno”Winner: Christie. Winning nods from coast (New York, D.C.) to coast (San Francisco, San Diego), to all parts in between (Arizona, Houston, Phoenix), as well as a BAFTA from overseas, Christie is a lock. Best Supporting ActorCasey Affleck in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”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”Winner: Bardem. Who knew a bowl-cut could be so bad-ass? Bardem's emotionless killing machine is the embodiment of evil in “No Country.” Best Supporting ActressCate Blanchett in “I’m Not There”Ruby Dee in “American Gangster”Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement”Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone”Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton”Winner: Blanchett. Unless her two nominations this year cancel each other out, Blanchett is the best thing in an otherwise decent, but rather convoluted movie. Best animated feature“Persepolis”“Ratatouille”“Surf's Up”Winner: “Ratatoille.” Unless the Academy chooses to show its indie credibility with selecting “Persepolis,” the little guy should go to Pixar's latest masterpiece, and one of its most technically lavish and emotionally mature works in its canon. Best documentary feature“No End in Sight”“Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience”“Sicko”“Taxi to the Dark Side”“War/Dance”Winner: “No End in Sight.” My only hope is that an Oscar win will bolster this film's chances of being seen, since it is far and away one of the most insightful documentaries concerning the war in Iraq out there. Art direction“American Gangster”“Atonement”“The Golden Compass”“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”“There Will Be Blood”Winner: “There Will be Blood.” Only because “No Country for Old Men” didn't make it, the Academy will toss “Blood” a bone here. Cinematography “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” Roger Deakins“Atonement” Seamus McGarvey“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Janusz Kaminski“No Country for Old Men” Roger Deakins“There Will Be Blood” Robert ElswitWinner: “There Will Be Blood.” For true cinema geeks, this is the most exciting category of the evening. Deakins, whose work in “Jesse James” is nothing short of poetic, adequately captures the harsh dust bowls in “No Country.” But in “Blood,” there are entire stretches of time where not a word is uttered and we can drink in the sumptuous images captured by Elswit. Costume design“Across the Universe” Albert Wolsky“Atonement” Jacqueline Durran“Elizabeth: The Golden Age” Alexandra Byrne“La Vie en Rose” Marit Allen“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” Colleen AtwoodWinner: “Atonement.” After sweeping up at the BAFTA awards last weekend, the period piece that is perhaps more notable for its costume over its content. In particular, Kiera Knightly's green dress in act one may cinch the prize alone.Best documentary short subject“Freeheld”“La Corona (The Crown)”“Salim Baba”“Sari’s Mother”Winner: “Sari's Mother.” Look for director James Longley's tale of a mother in Iraq trying to get health care for her young AIDS-afflicted son to take the prize. It helps that he's earned such prior praise with his doc “Iraq in Fragments.' Editing“The Bourne Ultimatum” Christopher Rouse“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Juliette Welfling“Into the Wild” Jay Cassidy“No Country for Old Men” Roderick Jaynes“There Will Be Blood” Dylan TichenorWinner: “No Country for Old Men.” Perhaps more than any other technical category, “No Country” earns its stripes for its near-perfect slicing. Foreign language film“Beaufort” Israel“The Counterfeiters” Austria“Katyń” Poland“Mongol” Kazakhstan“12” RussiaWinner: “Beaufort.” In a rather weak field, “Beaufort” is the only film that seems to be making any critical waves. And if Borat had done enough to sully the name of Kazakhstan, “Mongol” has been doing a bang-up job on its own. Makeup“La Vie en Rose”“Norbit”“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”Winner: “Pirates.” So help me, Rick Baker has been a pioneer in real-life visual effects, but if he walks with one for transforming Eddie Murphy into a gargantuan shrew, I'm out, man. Game over. Original score“Atonement”“The Kite Runner” Distributed by Paramount Classics) Alberto Iglesias“Michael Clayton”“Ratatouille”“3:10 to Yuma”Winner: “Michael Clayton.” Where the hell was Jonny Greenwood's eclectic, haunting orchestration for “There Will Be Blood”? Because of some lame technicality, it was left off. None of the other candidates here are even in the same league, but Clayton's is the only score that I can still recall after seeing the film, so it gets my vote. Original song“Falling Slowly” from “Once”“Happy Working Song” from “Enchanted”“Raise It Up” from “August Rush”“So Close” from “Enchanted”“That’s How You Know” from “Enchanted”Winner: “Falling Slowly.” Sure, there's overwhelming odds that “Enchanted” could pick it up here, and it deserves some love, but more for a nomination for its lead Amy Adams, not in its cheeky, but slight, soundtrack. Best animated short film“I Met the Walrus” (trailer)“Madame Tutli-Putli” (full film)“Même les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)” ( full film)“My Love (Moya Lyubov) for Natalie” (Channel One Russia) (full film, part 2's link is provided after film)“Peter & the Wolf” (BreakThru Films)Winner: My Love. Like a Renoir painting come to life, this is one of the most lavish 2-D animated films in quite some time.Best live action short film“At Night” (clip)“Il Supplente (The Substitute)” (full film)“Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)” (full film)“Tanghi Argentini”“The Tonto Woman” (trailer)Winner: “Il Supplente.” Comic gold and a great punchline.Sound editing“The Bourne Ultimatum”“No Country for Old Men”“Ratatouille”“There Will Be Blood”“Transformers”Winner: “No Country for Old Men.” It could be a toss up with “There Will Be Blood,” but I have a feeling that the cold thud of Javier Bardem's pneumatic air gun gives it a slight edge. Sound mixing“The Bourne Ultimatum”“No Country for Old Men”“Ratatouille”“3:10 to Yuma”“Transformers”Winner: Transformers. Kevin O'Connell and Greg P. Russell have a combined 32 nominations in their career. It's time Oscar paid them for their labor for their work literally making heavy metal. Visual effects “The Golden Compass”“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”“Transformers”Winner: Transformers. Was there a part of this film that was not a visual effect? “Compas” flopped, “Pirates” sailed off with the trophy last year, plus, wouldn't it be cool to have a statue that morphed into a robot that would blow up screenwriter Diablo Cody's prize?Adapted screenplay“Atonement” Christopher Hampton“Away from Her” Sarah Polley“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Ronald Harwood“No Country for Old Men” Joel and Ethan Coen“There Will Be Blood” Paul Thomas AndersonWinner: “No Country for Old Men.” This one will be swept up in the Coen fever that will take hold on Oscar night, though I think “Blood” will have a longer shelf life with repeated viewings. Original screenplay“Juno” Diablo Cody“Lars and the Real Girl” Nancy Oliver“Michael Clayton” Tony Gilroy“Ratatouille” Brad Bird“The Savages” Tamara JenkinsWinner: Diablo Cody for Juno. I think the Academy members have a stake in the merchandising of the T-shirts, since the entire script seems ready to be ironed on to the front of clothing, line by agonizing line.
]]>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:20:58 GMTusesoapusesoap Blog2/10/2008 9:20:58 PMEven though the writers have apparently settled on a deal to end the strike, there is still a great deal to fear on the Oscar broadcast set for Feb. 24, that can be summed up in three simple words (two if you hyphenate correctly):Oscar-winner 'Norbit'.That's right. While many wrestle with the fact that their favorite films have been left off the nominee list (I understand, though don't agree with, the love-fest called Juno, but even my friends who are the most ardent supporters of the film agree that it has no place in the Best Picture and Best Director category) a film that was universally loathed like 'Norbit' has a shot at earning the most coveted trophies in the biz.Here to give you an edge on the office ballots, I have opted to fill this column with a handy guide to this year's nominees, chock-full of winner predictions. (Plus, you can check out some of the shorts on your computer, links provided, free of charge. You're welcome!)Best picture“Atonement”“Juno”“Michael Clayton”“No Country for Old Men”“There Will Be Blood”Winner: “No Country for Old Men. A sweeping 86 wins from various awards programs, coupled with the Academy's love for the Coens, means the “Old Men” should have a lot of life in them on Oscar night. Best Director“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Julian Schnabel“Juno” Jason Reitman“Michael Clayton” Tony Gilroy“No Country for Old Men” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen“There Will Be Blood” Paul Thomas AndersonWinner: The Coens again will be awarded, not only for this film, but for their decades of impressive contributions to cinema, whereas the runner-up, Anderson, seems to be just beginning his remarkable run.Best ActorGeorge Clooney in “Michael Clayton”Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood”Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”Tommy Lee Jones in “In the Valley of Elah”Viggo Mortensen in “Eastern Promises”Winner: Daniel Day Lewis. Of the film's 45 award wins, the majority have gone to Lewis, whose Daniel Plainview could have easily been the embodiment of evil, were it not for the actor who shades the character with the tiniest sliver of humanity. Best ActressCate Blanchett in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”Julie Christie in “Away from Her”Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose”Laura Linney in “The Savages”Ellen Page in “Juno”Winner: Christie. Winning nods from coast (New York, D.C.) to coast (San Francisco, San Diego), to all parts in between (Arizona, Houston, Phoenix), as well as a BAFTA from overseas, Christie is a lock. Best Supporting ActorCasey Affleck in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”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”Winner: Bardem. Who knew a bowl-cut could be so bad-ass? Bardem's emotionless killing machine is the embodiment of evil in “No Country.” Best Supporting ActressCate Blanchett in “I’m Not There”Ruby Dee in “American Gangster”Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement”Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone”Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton”Winner: Blanchett. Unless her two nominations this year cancel each other out, Blanchett is the best thing in an otherwise decent, but rather convoluted movie. Best animated feature“Persepolis”“Ratatouille”“Surf's Up”Winner: “Ratatoille.” Unless the Academy chooses to show its indie credibility with selecting “Persepolis,” the little guy should go to Pixar's latest masterpiece, and one of its most technically lavish and emotionally mature works in its canon. Best documentary feature“No End in Sight”“Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience”“Sicko”“Taxi to the Dark Side”“War/Dance”Winner: “No End in Sight.” My only hope is that an Oscar win will bolster this film's chances of being seen, since it is far and away one of the most insightful documentaries concerning the war in Iraq out there. Art direction“American Gangster”“Atonement”“The Golden Compass”“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”“There Will Be Blood”Winner: “There Will be Blood.” Only because “No Country for Old Men” didn't make it, the Academy will toss “Blood” a bone here. Cinematography “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” Roger Deakins“Atonement” Seamus McGarvey“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Janusz Kaminski“No Country for Old Men” Roger Deakins“There Will Be Blood” Robert ElswitWinner: “There Will Be Blood.” For true cinema geeks, this is the most exciting category of the evening. Deakins, whose work in “Jesse James” is nothing short of poetic, adequately captures the harsh dust bowls in “No Country.” But in “Blood,” there are entire stretches of time where not a word is uttered and we can drink in the sumptuous images captured by Elswit. Costume design“Across the Universe” Albert Wolsky“Atonement” Jacqueline Durran“Elizabeth: The Golden Age” Alexandra Byrne“La Vie en Rose” Marit Allen“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” Colleen AtwoodWinner: “Atonement.” After sweeping up at the BAFTA awards last weekend, the period piece that is perhaps more notable for its costume over its content. In particular, Kiera Knightly's green dress in act one may cinch the prize alone.Best documentary short subject“Freeheld”“La Corona (The Crown)”“Salim Baba”“Sari’s Mother”Winner: “Sari's Mother.” Look for director James Longley's tale of a mother in Iraq trying to get health care for her young AIDS-afflicted son to take the prize. It helps that he's earned such prior praise with his doc “Iraq in Fragments.' Editing“The Bourne Ultimatum” Christopher Rouse“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Juliette Welfling“Into the Wild” Jay Cassidy“No Country for Old Men” Roderick Jaynes“There Will Be Blood” Dylan TichenorWinner: “No Country for Old Men.” Perhaps more than any other technical category, “No Country” earns its stripes for its near-perfect slicing. Foreign language film“Beaufort” Israel“The Counterfeiters” Austria“Katyń” Poland“Mongol” Kazakhstan“12” RussiaWinner: “Beaufort.” In a rather weak field, “Beaufort” is the only film that seems to be making any critical waves. And if Borat had done enough to sully the name of Kazakhstan, “Mongol” has been doing a bang-up job on its own. Makeup“La Vie en Rose”“Norbit”“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”Winner: “Pirates.” So help me, Rick Baker has been a pioneer in real-life visual effects, but if he walks with one for transforming Eddie Murphy into a gargantuan shrew, I'm out, man. Game over. Original score“Atonement”“The Kite Runner” Distributed by Paramount Classics) Alberto Iglesias“Michael Clayton”“Ratatouille”“3:10 to Yuma”Winner: “Michael Clayton.” Where the hell was Jonny Greenwood's eclectic, haunting orchestration for “There Will Be Blood”? Because of some lame technicality, it was left off. None of the other candidates here are even in the same league, but Clayton's is the only score that I can still recall after seeing the film, so it gets my vote. Original song“Falling Slowly” from “Once”“Happy Working Song” from “Enchanted”“Raise It Up” from “August Rush”“So Close” from “Enchanted”“That’s How You Know” from “Enchanted”Winner: “Falling Slowly.” Sure, there's overwhelming odds that “Enchanted” could pick it up here, and it deserves some love, but more for a nomination for its lead Amy Adams, not in its cheeky, but slight, soundtrack. Best animated short film“I Met the Walrus” (trailer)“Madame Tutli-Putli” (full film)“Même les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)” ( full film)“My Love (Moya Lyubov) for Natalie” (Channel One Russia) (full film, part 2's link is provided after film)“Peter & the Wolf” (BreakThru Films)Winner: My Love. Like a Renoir painting come to life, this is one of the most lavish 2-D animated films in quite some time.Best live action short film“At Night” (clip)“Il Supplente (The Substitute)” (full film)“Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)” (full film)“Tanghi Argentini”“The Tonto Woman” (trailer)Winner: “Il Supplente.” Comic gold and a great punchline.Sound editing“The Bourne Ultimatum”“No Country for Old Men”“Ratatouille”“There Will Be Blood”“Transformers”Winner: “No Country for Old Men.” It could be a toss up with “There Will Be Blood,” but I have a feeling that the cold thud of Javier Bardem's pneumatic air gun gives it a slight edge. Sound mixing“The Bourne Ultimatum”“No Country for Old Men”“Ratatouille”“3:10 to Yuma”“Transformers”Winner: Transformers. Kevin O'Connell and Greg P. Russell have a combined 32 nominations in their career. It's time Oscar paid them for their labor for their work literally making heavy metal. Visual effects “The Golden Compass”“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”“Transformers”Winner: Transformers. Was there a part of this film that was not a visual effect? “Compas” flopped, “Pirates” sailed off with the trophy last year, plus, wouldn't it be cool to have a statue that morphed into a robot that would blow up screenwriter Diablo Cody's prize?Adapted screenplay“Atonement” Christopher Hampton“Away from Her” Sarah Polley“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Ronald Harwood“No Country for Old Men” Joel and Ethan Coen“There Will Be Blood” Paul Thomas AndersonWinner: “No Country for Old Men.” This one will be swept up in the Coen fever that will take hold on Oscar night, though I think “Blood” will have a longer shelf life with repeated viewings. Original screenplay“Juno” Diablo Cody“Lars and the Real Girl” Nancy Oliver“Michael Clayton” Tony Gilroy“Ratatouille” Brad Bird“The Savages” Tamara JenkinsWinner: Diablo Cody for Juno. I think the Academy members have a stake in the merchandising of the T-shirts, since the entire script seems ready to be ironed on to the front of clothing, line by agonizing line. Spout Post: Reaping Screwfly Solution Away from Her http://www.spout.com/blogs/dibot/archive/2008/2/8/24874.aspx

Post By: dibot
Post To: dibot Blog
Post Date: 2/8/2008 1:48:58 PM
Body: Well, I really wanted to see The Reaping because I love rivers of blood and biblical plagues. And Hilary Swank ("P.S. I Love You"). And the film had all three of those things. Sometimes atmospherically creepy and sometimes jump scary, the plot was just a bit too thin. Swank plays a professor who specializes in debunking religious mysteries. She's called in to investigate what seems to be a series of biblical plagues affecting a small town. She has a past of a terrible event where she lost her faith. Stephen Rea ("Stuck") is a priest and former friend who tires to warn her she's in danger. Though some of this is pretty cool, I could see where it was going before it went there.For Christmas, my husband got me Masters of Horror: Joe Dante - The Screwfly Solution as a companion piece to Season 3 of 90210, both staring the fabulous Jason Priestley ("Made in Brooklyn"). I had not watched any of the Masters of Horror series before, and so I wasn't really sure what to expect. It's sort of twilight zoney. Priestley and Elliot Gould ("The Deal") are scientists called in to try and figure out why men all over the world are suddenly and viciously attacking women. The pacing is pretty good and there's some good creep factor. But it's more sci-fi than horror. Still, I'm interested to see more of this series.Away from Her is gorgeous and depressing. I pretty much had tears in my eyes from the beginning until the end. The desolateness of the story is reflected beautifully in the scenery. Good job for writer/director Sarah Polley in her full length debut, though it sometimes reminded me of a film in which she starred, The Sweet Hereafter. Julie Christie ("The Secret Life of Words") stars as a woman developing Alzheimer's. She wants to go live in a home so as not to be too much of a burden on her husband, played by Gordon Pinsent ("The Sparky Book"). The film takes us through the decision, her placement in the home and how both husband and wife react to the new situation. It's heartbreaking.
]]>Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:48:58 GMTdibotdibot Blog2/8/2008 1:48:58 PMWell, I really wanted to see The Reaping because I love rivers of blood and biblical plagues. And Hilary Swank ("P.S. I Love You"). And the film had all three of those things. Sometimes atmospherically creepy and sometimes jump scary, the plot was just a bit too thin. Swank plays a professor who specializes in debunking religious mysteries. She's called in to investigate what seems to be a series of biblical plagues affecting a small town. She has a past of a terrible event where she lost her faith. Stephen Rea ("Stuck") is a priest and former friend who tires to warn her she's in danger. Though some of this is pretty cool, I could see where it was going before it went there.For Christmas, my husband got me Masters of Horror: Joe Dante - The Screwfly Solution as a companion piece to Season 3 of 90210, both staring the fabulous Jason Priestley ("Made in Brooklyn"). I had not watched any of the Masters of Horror series before, and so I wasn't really sure what to expect. It's sort of twilight zoney. Priestley and Elliot Gould ("The Deal") are scientists called in to try and figure out why men all over the world are suddenly and viciously attacking women. The pacing is pretty good and there's some good creep factor. But it's more sci-fi than horror. Still, I'm interested to see more of this series.Away from Her is gorgeous and depressing. I pretty much had tears in my eyes from the beginning until the end. The desolateness of the story is reflected beautifully in the scenery. Good job for writer/director Sarah Polley in her full length debut, though it sometimes reminded me of a film in which she starred, The Sweet Hereafter. Julie Christie ("The Secret Life of Words") stars as a woman developing Alzheimer's. She wants to go live in a home so as not to be too much of a burden on her husband, played by Gordon Pinsent ("The Sparky Book"). The film takes us through the decision, her placement in the home and how both husband and wife react to the new situation. It's heartbreaking. Spout Post: Re:Predictions and Commentary, 2008 http://www.spout.com/groups/It_s_a_Wonderful_Night_for_Oscar/Re_Predictions_and_Commentary_2008/46/24460/1/ShowPost.aspx

Post By: pippin06
Post To: It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar!
Post Date: 1/28/2008 3:39:10 PM
Body: Here is some commentary on surprises and snubs. A week late, but I have some time here and now.In the Best Actor category, the surprise nomination is Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah. He has not previously been nominated for any similar awards. Surprising omission? A long shot, but better than Jones was Ryan Gosling for Lars and the Real Girl; he's received several nominations (and no wins) to date. I think prediction-wise, though, you best be looking at Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood. He's swept them all so far.In the Supporting Actor category, there are no real surprises or snubs. (Think Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men come the big day, though).In the Best Actress category, a surprise nomination for Laura Linney for The Savages (she's had no love up until now). There are no real snubs, though, because the win will probably without doubt go to Julie Christie for Away From Her, with the other four nominations acting sort of like wild-card "it's a thrill just to be nominated" honorees.In the Supporting Actress category, no surprises or obvious snubs, though this category is rather up in the air.For Best Director and Best Picture, I see no surprises or obvious snubs, with the clear front runners being No Country for Old Men and the Coen brothers.For foreign language film, see the above post.For the technical categories: nothing really jumps out at me. Do you see anything?I will post a complete set of predictions closer to February 24, but in the meantime, share your predictions here! Any agreements or disagreements to the above?
]]>Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:39:10 GMTpippin06It's a Wonderful Night for Oscar!1/28/2008 3:39:10 PMHere is some commentary on surprises and snubs. A week late, but I have some time here and now.In the Best Actor category, the surprise nomination is Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah. He has not previously been nominated for any similar awards. Surprising omission? A long shot, but better than Jones was Ryan Gosling for Lars and the Real Girl; he's received several nominations (and no wins) to date. I think prediction-wise, though, you best be looking at Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood. He's swept them all so far.In the Supporting Actor category, there are no real surprises or snubs. (Think Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men come the big day, though).In the Best Actress category, a surprise nomination for Laura Linney for The Savages (she's had no love up until now). There are no real snubs, though, because the win will probably without doubt go to Julie Christie for Away From Her, with the other four nominations acting sort of like wild-card "it's a thrill just to be nominated" honorees.In the Supporting Actress category, no surprises or obvious snubs, though this category is rather up in the air.For Best Director and Best Picture, I see no surprises or obvious snubs, with the clear front runners being No Country for Old Men and the Coen brothers.For foreign language film, see the above post.For the technical categories: nothing really jumps out at me. Do you see anything?I will post a complete set of predictions closer to February 24, but in the meantime, share your predictions here! Any agreements or disagreements to the above? Spout Post: The 10 Best Films of 2007 http://www.spout.com/blogs/the1theonlyjp/archive/2008/1/1/23392.aspx

Post By: The1TheOnlyJP
Post To: The Paxton Log
Post Date: 1/1/2008 5:35:28 AM
Body: Hello, my name is JP Paxton and I love movies. What began in mid 2004 has since became my uncontrollable obsession that can now be considered nothing less than an incurable sickness. Seriously, I probably think of a movie or something movie-related once every ten seconds. Because of this, I am propelled to constantly see, write & talk about movies. Those of you who are my friends or at least know of me already know this. For the ones that don't, now you know. Here it is New Year's Eve which means that yet another year has passed. Of course though that also means I'm here to let you all know what films I consider the best of 2007. This year certainly had its share of disappointments including but not limited to 'Bee Movie', 'Underdog' & 'Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.' I still can't recall what made me even think 'Underdog' might have possibly had a shot at being even half-decent. With the bad though there's always some good. For example 'Once'; the independent musical starring actual musical artists as the films two leads instead of actors resulting in real on-screen emotion. Also this year featured the thrilling crime-drama 'Zodiac' depicting the merciless murderers that started in the 60's by the infamous serial killer of the same name. Then there was the film that would inevitably become my favorite of 2007: 'Grindhouse.' The throwback to the gritty, low-budget exploitation double features of the 70's caused confusion among audiences nationwide due to marketing that didn't quite reveal its true nature. For those of that did understand it though we were able to appreciate it's kick-ass style and utter awesomeness. However, not one of the films I just mentioned are included in the list that follows and neither are 'Michael Clayton', 'Away From Her', 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead' or 'Gone Baby Gone.' They all had some great qualities but just fell short in the end. With that, here they are in all their glory in no particular order, the ten films deemed by yours truly as the best of 2007.'La Vie en Rose'The passionate and troubled life of Paris singer Edith Piaf features one of if not the most captivating performances of the year. Written with her in mind by director Olivier Dahan, Marion Cotillard is flawless. I imagine she'll be a shoe-in for a nomination of best actress at this years Oscars.'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's sixth collaboration together is a "bloody" good Gothic feast for the eyes. It's true, it is repetitious of Burton's previous works in terms of style but it's also a smooth and elegant telling of the macabre brought to life by its great music.'Juno'This was actually the final film I saw this year and how glad I am that ended up getting the chance to do so. It is an immensely funny, clever & sweet comedy starring the fantastic Ellen Page. Its greatest strength resides in the smart screenplay written by Diablo Codybest known for memoir titled "Candy Girl: A Year in The Life of an Unlikely Stripper."'The Kite Runner'One of three book adaptations featured in this best of list 'The Kite Runner' brings to the big screen Khaled Hossenini's gripping novel of friendship and betrayal. While many will argue the exact opposite, I found it to be an amazing story that will touch your heart.'Ratatouille'Take one ambitious rat named Remy, an array of astounding visuals that could only be created by Pixar studios and then mix them with the delightful storytelling and directing skills of Brad Bird. Let it simmer for a few years and what do you get? A delicious film that reinforces the fact that even after all these years magic has yet to leave the imaginative Walt Disney Pictures.'Sicko'Oh, how patriotic Michael Moore is. He returned this year with his documentary voicing the horrors of the healthcare system in America. The surprisingly interesting and entertaining two hours and three minutes and will make you cringe and leave you in complete awe.'Atonement'The opening film at this year's Venice Film Festival and adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel brought to the table a wondrous tale of longing which featured magnificent cinematography and an equally lovely score composed by Dario Marianelli. It's such a shame it's not playing in more theaters here in the U.S.'Superbad'Written by Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg when they were just thirteen years old 'Superbad' turned out to be super good. The Judd Apatow produced comedy is hands down one the years funniest films that offers a truthful glimpse of teenage anxiety and has a groovy soundtrack to boot including cuts from composer Lyle Workman as well as tracks from The Bar-Kays and Rick James.'I'm Not There'The bio-pic formed and executed in a way that resembled one of its subjects own songs 'I'm Not There' gave an interesting look at the life of Bob Dylan. While it wasn't quite what I had envisioned beforehand it still is probably the best put together and creative film of 2007.'No Country for Old Men'The most compelling film of the year is brought to us by The Coen brothers. It gives us a front row seat to the violent game of cat and mouse portrayed by Josh Brolin and a extraordinarily crafty Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh from the bestseller by Cormac McCarthy. There is no doubt in my mind a best picture nomination in store for this flick.So there you have it. You may agree or disagree with my choices, it doesn't really matter to me. Just be aware that if you don't agree with me you are wrong. DEAD WRONG. Right now I'm typing this as my face sports a disturbingly angry expression... Seriously though, I wish you all a safe and happy new year. Thanks for reading.
]]>Tue, 01 Jan 2008 10:35:28 GMTThe1TheOnlyJPThe Paxton Log1/1/2008 5:35:28 AMHello, my name is JP Paxton and I love movies. What began in mid 2004 has since became my uncontrollable obsession that can now be considered nothing less than an incurable sickness. Seriously, I probably think of a movie or something movie-related once every ten seconds. Because of this, I am propelled to constantly see, write & talk about movies. Those of you who are my friends or at least know of me already know this. For the ones that don't, now you know. Here it is New Year's Eve which means that yet another year has passed. Of course though that also means I'm here to let you all know what films I consider the best of 2007. This year certainly had its share of disappointments including but not limited to 'Bee Movie', 'Underdog' & 'Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.' I still can't recall what made me even think 'Underdog' might have possibly had a shot at being even half-decent. With the bad though there's always some good. For example 'Once'; the independent musical starring actual musical artists as the films two leads instead of actors resulting in real on-screen emotion. Also this year featured the thrilling crime-drama 'Zodiac' depicting the merciless murderers that started in the 60's by the infamous serial killer of the same name. Then there was the film that would inevitably become my favorite of 2007: 'Grindhouse.' The throwback to the gritty, low-budget exploitation double features of the 70's caused confusion among audiences nationwide due to marketing that didn't quite reveal its true nature. For those of that did understand it though we were able to appreciate it's kick-ass style and utter awesomeness. However, not one of the films I just mentioned are included in the list that follows and neither are 'Michael Clayton', 'Away From Her', 'Before the Devil Knows You're Dead' or 'Gone Baby Gone.' They all had some great qualities but just fell short in the end. With that, here they are in all their glory in no particular order, the ten films deemed by yours truly as the best of 2007.'La Vie en Rose'The passionate and troubled life of Paris singer Edith Piaf features one of if not the most captivating performances of the year. Written with her in mind by director Olivier Dahan, Marion Cotillard is flawless. I imagine she'll be a shoe-in for a nomination of best actress at this years Oscars.'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's sixth collaboration together is a "bloody" good Gothic feast for the eyes. It's true, it is repetitious of Burton's previous works in terms of style but it's also a smooth and elegant telling of the macabre brought to life by its great music.'Juno'This was actually the final film I saw this year and how glad I am that ended up getting the chance to do so. It is an immensely funny, clever & sweet comedy starring the fantastic Ellen Page. Its greatest strength resides in the smart screenplay written by Diablo Codybest known for memoir titled "Candy Girl: A Year in The Life of an Unlikely Stripper."'The Kite Runner'One of three book adaptations featured in this best of list 'The Kite Runner' brings to the big screen Khaled Hossenini's gripping novel of friendship and betrayal. While many will argue the exact opposite, I found it to be an amazing story that will touch your heart.'Ratatouille'Take one ambitious rat named Remy, an array of astounding visuals that could only be created by Pixar studios and then mix them with the delightful storytelling and directing skills of Brad Bird. Let it simmer for a few years and what do you get? A delicious film that reinforces the fact that even after all these years magic has yet to leave the imaginative Walt Disney Pictures.'Sicko'Oh, how patriotic Michael Moore is. He returned this year with his documentary voicing the horrors of the healthcare system in America. The surprisingly interesting and entertaining two hours and three minutes and will make you cringe and leave you in complete awe.'Atonement'The opening film at this year's Venice Film Festival and adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel brought to the table a wondrous tale of longing which featured magnificent cinematography and an equally lovely score composed by Dario Marianelli. It's such a shame it's not playing in more theaters here in the U.S.'Superbad'Written by Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg when they were just thirteen years old 'Superbad' turned out to be super good. The Judd Apatow produced comedy is hands down one the years funniest films that offers a truthful glimpse of teenage anxiety and has a groovy soundtrack to boot including cuts from composer Lyle Workman as well as tracks from The Bar-Kays and Rick James.'I'm Not There'The bio-pic formed and executed in a way that resembled one of its subjects own songs 'I'm Not There' gave an interesting look at the life of Bob Dylan. While it wasn't quite what I had envisioned beforehand it still is probably the best put together and creative film of 2007.'No Country for Old Men'The most compelling film of the year is brought to us by The Coen brothers. It gives us a front row seat to the violent game of cat and mouse portrayed by Josh Brolin and a extraordinarily crafty Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh from the bestseller by Cormac McCarthy. There is no doubt in my mind a best picture nomination in store for this flick.So there you have it. You may agree or disagree with my choices, it doesn't really matter to me. Just be aware that if you don't agree with me you are wrong. DEAD WRONG. Right now I'm typing this as my face sports a disturbingly angry expression... Seriously though, I wish you all a safe and happy new year. Thanks for reading. Spout Post: Re: Unlikely Double Features http://www.spout.com/groups/Double_Feature/Re_Unlikely_Double_Features/426/17228/1/ShowPost.aspx

Post By: joem18b
Post To: Double Feature
Post Date: 8/3/2007 10:17:30 PM
Body: First time I watched The Seventh Seal (1957), I was sooooo depressed. So I figure, why not follow it with Little Nicky (2000)?The Illusionist (ho hum) or The Prestige (ho hum) and The Magician (Bergman magic)Old and then young. Always cheers me up:Julie Christie - Away from Her and DarlingKatherine Hepburn - Long Day's Journey into Night and Little WomenClint Eastwood - Million Dollar Baby and Revenge of the Creature...and btw, the double feature is dead, but surfing at the Metroplex is alive and well. A bit of POTC, Harry Potter, Chuck and Larry, and Transformers, and then the full Live Free or Die, and then a little Hairspray and Ratatouille and back to work... nothing better... And finally, my most enjoyable double-feature experience: slipping out of work, 1982, over to AMC. Me and two other patrons distributed maximally throughout the theater for Conan the Barbarian and Road Warrior, with a giant coke and popcorn.
]]>Sat, 04 Aug 2007 02:17:30 GMTjoem18bDouble Feature8/3/2007 10:17:30 PMFirst time I watched The Seventh Seal (1957), I was sooooo depressed. So I figure, why not follow it with Little Nicky (2000)?The Illusionist (ho hum) or The Prestige (ho hum) and The Magician (Bergman magic)Old and then young. Always cheers me up:Julie Christie - Away from Her and DarlingKatherine Hepburn - Long Day's Journey into Night and Little WomenClint Eastwood - Million Dollar Baby and Revenge of the Creature...and btw, the double feature is dead, but surfing at the Metroplex is alive and well. A bit of POTC, Harry Potter, Chuck and Larry, and Transformers, and then the full Live Free or Die, and then a little Hairspray and Ratatouille and back to work... nothing better... And finally, my most enjoyable double-feature experience: slipping out of work, 1982, over to AMC. Me and two other patrons distributed maximally throughout the theater for Conan the Barbarian and Road Warrior, with a giant coke and popcorn. Spout Post: Hollywood Tackles Iraq: Trade Roughage 7/17/07 http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2007/7/17/15131.aspx

Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 7/17/2007 12:00:43 PM
Body: ***Director Kathryn Bigelow has cemented a cast for The Hurt Locker, which is, as far as I can tell, the first film by a major Hollywood director to be set in present day Iraq. The film was scripted by journalist Mark Boal, who spent time embedded with a bomb squad. He tells The Hollywood Reporter: "We wanted to show the kinds of things that soldiers go through that you can't see on CNN, and I don't mean that in a censorship-conspiracy way. I just mean the news doesn't actually put photographers in with units that are this elite." ***Variety's Brain Lowry watched I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry so that you never, ever have to. And though he concedes that "Sandler's fans should enjoy hearing him toss off lines about being 'big-time fruits' or having 'boarded the dude train'," ultimately "it will be slightly depressing if a barrage of schoolyard gay jokes passes for 'edgy' a quarter-century after Victor/Victoria." ***After the massive critical success of her feature directorial debut Away From Her, Sarah Polley will return to the other side of the camera to star opposite Jared Leto in Mr. Nobody. It's the first English-language feature for Belgian director Jaco Van Dormael, and THR's Borys Kit says the script is "a multilayered love story inspired by the 'butterfly effect, the chaos-theory notion that the beat of a butterfly's wings can cause a storm thousands of miles away." Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:00:43 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com7/17/2007 12:00:43 PM***Director Kathryn Bigelow has cemented a cast for The Hurt Locker, which is, as far as I can tell, the first film by a major Hollywood director to be set in present day Iraq. The film was scripted by journalist Mark Boal, who spent time embedded with a bomb squad. He tells The Hollywood Reporter: "We wanted to show the kinds of things that soldiers go through that you can't see on CNN, and I don't mean that in a censorship-conspiracy way. I just mean the news doesn't actually put photographers in with units that are this elite." ***Variety's Brain Lowry watched I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry so that you never, ever have to. And though he concedes that "Sandler's fans should enjoy hearing him toss off lines about being 'big-time fruits' or having 'boarded the dude train'," ultimately "it will be slightly depressing if a barrage of schoolyard gay jokes passes for 'edgy' a quarter-century after Victor/Victoria." ***After the massive critical success of her feature directorial debut Away From Her, Sarah Polley will return to the other side of the camera to star opposite Jared Leto in Mr. Nobody. It's the first English-language feature for Belgian director Jaco Van Dormael, and THR's Borys Kit says the script is "a multilayered love story inspired by the 'butterfly effect, the chaos-theory notion that the beat of a butterfly's wings can cause a storm thousands of miles away." Originally posted on:SpoutBlog Spout Post: away from her http://www.spout.com/blogs/wonga/archive/2007/7/13/13813.aspx

Post By: wonga
Post To: wonga's filmblog
Post Date: 7/13/2007 11:34:55 AM
Body: hard to believe this is a debut movie for this director (Sarah Polley), who is also a pretty good actress! a story about someone who has Alzheimer's doesn't sound like a good time but it really is a beautiful and wise movie. it's not a disease-of-the-week movie but instead is a love story, with universal themes about life and what's really important. the music and cinematography were beautiful and i loved the quiet slow way the story unfolded. the acting was exceptional and i've already heard Julie Christie mentioned in oscar buzz but i was the most impressed by the man who played her husband (Gordon Pinsent).
]]>Fri, 13 Jul 2007 15:34:55 GMTwongawonga's filmblog7/13/2007 11:34:55 AMhard to believe this is a debut movie for this director (Sarah Polley), who is also a pretty good actress! a story about someone who has Alzheimer's doesn't sound like a good time but it really is a beautiful and wise movie. it's not a disease-of-the-week movie but instead is a love story, with universal themes about life and what's really important. the music and cinematography were beautiful and i loved the quiet slow way the story unfolded. the acting was exceptional and i've already heard Julie Christie mentioned in oscar buzz but i was the most impressed by the man who played her husband (Gordon Pinsent). Spout Tag:love http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspxlove
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]]>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:46:17 GMT124773361476Tag Spout Tag:romance http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/romance/MemberTagFilms.aspxromance
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]]>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:50:40 GMT71601691002Tag Spout Tag:drama http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/drama/MemberTagFilms.aspxdrama
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]]>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:39:10 GMT525102624Tag Spout Tag:depressing http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/depressing/MemberTagFilms.aspxdepressing
Number of films tagged: 55

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]]>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:23:43 GMT554574Tag Spout Tag:tension http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/tension/MemberTagFilms.aspxtension
Number of films tagged: 183

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Number of films tagged: 393

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]]>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:22:03 GMT3931529Tag Spout Tag:husbandandwife http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/husbandandwife/MemberTagFilms.aspxhusbandandwife
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]]>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:13:22 GMT7671023Tag Spout Tag:nursinghome http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/nursinghome/MemberTagFilms.aspxnursinghome
Number of films tagged: 68

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]]>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:07:03 GMT6833Tag Spout Tag:Alzheimers http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Alzheimers/MemberTagFilms.aspxAlzheimers
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]]>Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:51:03 GMT222Tag Spout Tag:love-over-self http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love-over-self/MemberTagFilms.aspxlove-over-self
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]]>Thu, 03 May 2007 17:55:56 GMT111Tag Spout Tag:alzheimersdisease http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/alzheimersdisease/MemberTagFilms.aspxalzheimersdisease
Number of films tagged: 54

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]]>Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:02:15 GMT5400Tag Spout Tag:retirementhome http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/retirementhome/MemberTagFilms.aspxretirementhome
Number of films tagged: 45

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