Movies, Films and Flix: Best Supporting Actress
Hello all. Mark here.
People can analyze this list all they want but it is unnecessary. Octavia Spencer is going to walk away with the Academy award. People loved her in The Help and she has proved to be a humble/friendly/personable presence amongst the veteran Hollywood folk.
Here are the Vegas betting odds:
Octavia Spencer – 1/33
Berenice Bejo – 10/1
Jessica Chastain – 20/1
Melissa McCarthy – 40/1
Janet McTeer – 40/1
It would be amazing if Melissa or Jessica won but there is no way that will happen. I’m pretty certain Jessica Chastain will win an Oscar eventually and Bridesmaids is the number one movie in On Demand history so I don’t feel too bad for Melissa. Many people love McCarthy’s character so that is award enough.
Kudos to Octavia Spencer!
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Movies, Films & Flix Oscar Talk: Best Supporting Actor
Hello all. Mark here.
It is time for another unscientific look at who will win the bald gold man statue.
This is a two man race. Christopher Plummer and Max Von Sydow are vying for the title. The favorite is Plummer but word on the street says that Max is gaining momentum. Basically, if you watch football Plummer is the New England Patriots and Max is the New York Giants. Plummer has won all of the awards but Von Sydow is peaking at the right time. Who will win the Oscar Bowl?
I have no problem with either man winning but it is a shame that Nick Nolte (Warrior) is not being considered for his beautiful portrayal of a man trying to redeem himself. Nolte actually takes more punishment that his fighting sons. His role covers the spectrum of emotions and leads to the best scene of the year. Watch Warrior and you will know what I’m talking about.
Here are the Vegas odds
Christopher Plummer – 1/33
Max Von Sydow – 20/1
Kenneth Branagh – 12/1
Nick Nolte – 33/1
Jonah Hill – 40/1
Momentum is a strange thing. Critics are split on Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close however they all agree Von Sydow is great. At the Oscar luncheon last week Max was only person to get a standing ovation. I wouldn’t look into this too much because Plummer wasn’t at the luncheon and Von Sydow famously played chess with the devil.
I’m happy that Jonah Hill got nominated for his understated work in Moneyball. Some people argue that he took Patton Oswalt’s (Young Adult) spot. However, I enjoyed Hill the most. Oswalt knocked his role out of the park but I liked Hill’s mixture of intelligence and naivity.
Kenneth Branagh is a welcome addition any year. He won’t win the award but he does class it up a bit.
Who will win: Christopher Plummer
Who Should win: Nick Nolte
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Bad Movie Tuesday: Two-Headed Shark Attack
They Asylum has jumped the shark by making too many crappy shark movies. The films used to create a feeding frenzy in the deep waters known as the blogosphere. Now you need to take a Jules Verne type adventure to read anything about the bad films.
Two-Headed Shark Attack is purposefully bad. That is why it is not worth watching. It may seem odd to tackle the intricacies of a two-headed shark movie. However, the actors know they are saying bad dialogue. The writers knew the dialogue was horrible. The producers gave the film a six-day shooting schedule…..It all smooshes into a boring film. A film that is only watchable if you you are doing something else and vacuuming at the same time.
If you look at The Asylums breakout hit Megashark Vs. Giant Octopus the movie seems to be taking itself seriously. The actors play everything straight-laced and nobody seems to be acting like they are in a terrible film. The movie is horrible genius.
The production company Asylum has made 100 bad films in the last 15 years. With the notoriety their product has become sub par. Now a days they are celebrating making bad films. Before Two-Headed they showed a video of all the bad movies they’ve made. They are patting themselves on the back and that is not a good thing. They’ve become a self-aware (wink wink) company that no longer tries to be creative. When this man is hilariously bicycle kicking the piranhas he is not smiling at the cameras.
The Asylum has hit a bottleneck. They saturated the market with pre made bad products. Their movies are no longer talked about. The Scope has shrunk. They no longer look to push the creative boundaries of sharks eating planes mid-air.
There will be no Mega Shark infographics for this film.
The other movies (Megashark, Mega Piranha, Crocosaurus) had a wow factor that made them inherently watchable. You watched them to see something unexpectedly hilarious. Now, they bask in the badness which makes it predictable.
The best horrible movies are films that the producers think are good. They feature directors who believe in their horrible film. The Room, Troll 2, Bucky Larson and The Change Up are bad because people thought they were good.
People made this to be bad. They failed by not trying hard enough. They say two heads are better than one….Not in this case.
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Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengance
When I first heard that Nic Cage was doing a Ghost Rider sequel I was extremely happy. Then I heard that he was going to be directed by Neveldine/Taylor the insane guys who filmed Crank. I envisioned an R-rated spectacle of crazy shots and Nic Cage freaking out multiple times.
However, when I found out the film would be rated PG-13 I got worried. I knew it wouldn’t be better than Blade 2 and I never expected good writing or a coherent plot I just wanted Marvel mayhem in which a man with a flaming skull battles evil people. I also hoped that this film would be more Crank (fun) and less Gamer (horrible on every level) These pictures suggested I would get what I wanted.
I understand the %15 rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The plot is nonexistent and Nic Cage’s freak outs are predictable. The fun is gone when the Cage crazy seems forced. The movie works best when Cage is being a normal human being. I understand that he has been possessed by a captured angel that was tortured in hell and ultimately became insane. However, Cage is the weakest part of this film. The dude feels semi-exploited by his zaniness and this hurts the movie.
The look of Ghost Rider is beautifully gritty. I will never say that this is a good film but I will admit it looks great. The directors are known for their out of control style and determination to get the funkiest shots available.
I think a documentary about the making of this film would be better than the actual movie. Neveldine/Taylor have been known to buy cheap cameras in order to wreck them to get a crazy shot. The problem is that they focus more on thier style and less on the story. The idea behind this film is very cool. However, it becomes so garbled you are left with a great looking movie with very few bright spots.
Idris Elba is reliably good as the drunk Frenchman named Moreau.
Also, Johnny Whitworth has a great time being an evil dude who becomes Blackout. Blackout can turn anyone into dust…besides the main characters.
The movie is a visual cornucopia full of dumb. I wish the story would have lived up to the look of the film. There is a great Ghost Rider story out there somewhere. Hopefully, the third time is the charm.
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Movies, Films & Flix Oscar Talk: Best Actress
Hello all. Mark here.
Here is another one of my completely unscientific Oscar prediction posts. The best actress race comes down to two women. Viola Davis and Meryl Streep will be battling it out for best actress supremacy. Here are the Vegas odds
Viola Davis – 8/11
Meryl Streep – 11/10
Michelle Williams 16/1
Glenn Close – 50/1
Rooney Mara – 50/1
I’m certain that Viola Davis will win the Oscar despite Streep’s towering performance in The Iron Lady. Davis manages to be a powerful force amidst the women of The Help. Her role made the movie much better.
I hope Rooney Mara does not win the Oscar. I liked her a lot in The Social Network but I don’t get the buzz around her performance. She plays a character that was defined by Noomi Rapace. Also, the Lisbeth role under David Fincher’s direction would have been a showcase for anyone.
Take a look at these two pics to see the comparison:
Who Will Win: Viola Davis
Who Should Win: Viola Davis
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Movies, Films & Flix Oscar Talk: Best Actor
The Oscar season is loaded with parties, screenings and politics. In the upcoming weeks many people will analyze, study and research in an attempt to win their office Oscar competitions. As the race comes to a close I will try to widdle down the nominees in an attempt to get every category right.
Sidenote: There is no way I will get all of them right because I have a gut feeling that Gary Oldman will win the Best Actor Academy Award.
I am going to write a completely unscientific break down of the Best Actor category.
Here are the nominees in the order the Vegas Oddsmakers have conjured up.
Jean Dujardin – The Artist – 5/6
George Clooney – The Descendants – 11/10
Brad Pitt – Moneyball– 10/1
Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – 20/1
Demian Bichir – A Better Life 50/1
Here is how this category works for me.
1. I watched Moneyball and thought Pitt deserved the Oscar
2. I then watched The Descendants and thought Clooney should win
3. Then The Artist happened and I was convinced nobody could top Jean
4. HOWEVER, I watched Tinker Tailor and decided Gary Oldman was the man to beat. This photo says it all
Gary Oldman has admitted that he has been having a blast doing all the promotional Oscar stuff and his interviews have been great. I read this neat review on Collider. http://collider.com/gary-oldman-dark-knight-rises-call-of-duty-interview/144183/
I wouldn’t be mad if any of the actors won. This is a strong category this year and I’m rooting for the under dog.
My Prediction: Gary Oldman
Who Will Win: Jean Dujardin
Who Should have won: Michael Shannon
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Anonymous
Roland Emmerich (2012, Day After Tomorrow, 10,000 BC) is a maestro of mayhem and a demigod of digital destruction. His films pack the BOOM but deliver the dumb. At times it seems like Emmerich ignores all the facts and goes straight for the grandeur.
After destroying the world multiple times Roland has decided to shake the foundations of William Shakespeare’s plays. I didn’t see this film in theaters but I read John’s review and I gathered that this was a toned down Emmerich.
Anonymous is not a toned down Emmerich. This film is loud, dumb and loaded with puffy shirts. Emmerich has created a digital London populated with every available British actor. These actors speak loudly and strut through a non linear story involving conspiracies, sex and hair gel.
The movie centers around Rhys Ifans as the true playwright. However, he can’t publish his stories due to his high stature in the British kingdom. He pays a young playwright to be the faux author. However, faster than you can say “Hamlet” an actor named William Shakespeare takes all the glory.
What follows is more plot, conspiracies and loud noises. It is admirable that the film tackles the issue of the true writer. If professors and literate types cannot figure out the truth then I didn’t see any reason why this film could. However, the movie gets muddled amidst CGI and facial hair and becomes just another Roland Emmerich destruction film.
If you like loud noises, puffy costumes and a CGI London you will dig this film.
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The Rum Diary
“You’re high you fool. Drink some rum!”
The Rum Diary has been described as rambling, disjointed and undisciplined. I agree but how can a movie about Hunter S. Thompson be cohesive? This is a film about how he drunkenly (before the drugs) found his gonzo voice.
The movie loosely/drunkenly centers around Depp working for a newspaper in Puerto Rico. A rich American businessman (Aaron Eckhart) pays him to write favorable articles about his property schemes. Along the way he meets an attractive mess played by Amber Heard.
Depp also mingles with his excellent acting co-workers Giovanni Ribisis, Michael Rispoli and Richard Jenkins.
The movie meanders through car chases, acid trips and lots of rum. The plot is loose and Depp relaxed. The problem is that they stick too close to the source material. When a movie meanders it is hard to engage the audience. You follow the plot but you remain on the outside looking in. The film should have flown like a breeze but instead treads the line of monotonous.
The movie is sitting at 50% on Rotten Tomatoes which is a fair assessment. The movie works somewhat. By the time the Thompson finds his voice it feels inconsequential.This was an important chapter in Hunter’s life but it carries none of the impact of the similar Che centered The Motorcycle Diaries.
Watch this film. Drink some Rum, lose your attention span, appreciate what the film was going for.
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Top Ten Party Movies
Here is the situation.
1. You are throwing a party/get together/gathering at your place and you are wondering what movie to screen.
You need to keep your super indie friend away from Netflix because he/she will choose the most obscure Korean horror film. If you don’t have a movie ready to play people will stand around your DVD collection and wonder why you have three copies of Roadhouse.
You need to make an executive decision and put a trustworthy movie in the Blu-ray player. This will show you are confident in your movie choices. Here are ten films that will not disappoint the party goers. So, when you are doing a keg stand or pouring an expensive wine you can be certain that the movie playing in the background is a people pleaser.
The reason I chose these films is because they are familiar and funny. Depressing is not good when you are trying to chat. Also, blood, guts, gore and nudity are not necessary at parties. Imagine somebody walking into your party when the gimp is out in Pulp Fiction or Leatherface is chainsawing an attractive teen. This can all be avoided with a tasteful film. An added bonus is… if you are in an awkward conversation you can quote the movie and you’ve bought yourself another minute.
Enjoy these movies. They will be popular at any party. Thank me later….or now. Give me suggestions if you think there are better films I’m leaving out.
1. Super Troopers – I’ve never met somebody who hasn’t liked this film. Engage in a rapid fire quote drinking game. Tell everyone that Erik Stolhanske (Rabbit) has one leg and is in the P90x workout doing plyometrics (jump training)
2. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby – Shake and bake! Argue the merits of Nascar vs. Formula 1. Tell everyone about the wonderful documentary Senna.
3. Bridesmaids – Talk about how good the food looked. Share recipes. Tell people where you would hide your gun if you were an Air Marshall.
4. The Replacements – He’s wiry…Instant sports talk. Also, this movie was originally supposed to be an R rated film.
5. Anchorman – Drink scotch while watching this. Discuss how you went to Scotland and sampled all the finest scotch…or talk mustache trimming techniques.
6. Zoolander – Blue Steel competition!
7. Dodgeball – If you can keep up a good party conversation you can dodge a wrench. Make up team names and play some form of party game.
8. Office Space – Show party goers your “O” face. You can also share office stories.
9. Dazed and Confused – Well alright alright alright alright. Proclaim your love of Foghat.
10. Animal House – Who cares if young folk haven’t watched this film. It is a classic and needs to be kept alive.
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Bad Movie Tuesday: Valentine’s Day Edition
I was going to write a BMT about the new Twilight film. However, it began to feel like I was piling on top of several piles. I began to think about the couples that will unwittingly stumble upon this movie on Valentine’s Day and I felt bad for them.
If you couldn’t get reservations to your favorite restaurant or a sudden rain/snow/hail storm hits you will need a contingency plan. The back up plan could be to cuddle up on a couch and watch a movie. With this sudden change of plan you might be forced to make an impulsive movie choice that could affect the outcome of your night.
Back in 2003 I co-hosted a radio show focused on movies. We had a caller who described an ill-fated night in which the current romantic comedy was sold out so he and his wife watched Gangs of New York. I love GONY but it is not a date night movie.
Also, don’t fall for the Valentine’s Day trick. The movie Valentine’s Day is a poor mans rip off of Love Actually. Also, If somehow you come across Sex in the City 2 run for the hills. I watched it with my girlfriend and we almost died. The power was drained right out of us. The pain was excruciating.
To help you avoid a potentially fatal romantic movie choice I’ve decided to inform you of the current romantic films that are readily available on Netflix and Redbox. There are many caveats but if the two of you are hell-bent on watching some romance here are the best and worst.
The underlined films and have been reviewed on the site. Click on the link if you want to read more.
The Good
Fright Night – Fun, breezy, scary…offers something for everyone.
Crazy Stupid Love – Smart, romantic and lovely
Beginners – An original film that is perfect for any couple
Midnight in Paris – Impress your date by guessing all the literary references.
Bridesmaids – A guaranteed laugh
The Decent
Friends with Benefits – Eh…It’ll do.
The Soul Crushing
I Don’t Know How She Does It – Me neither.
Larry Crowne – The Strangest mainstream film in years.
What’s Your Number – Anna Farris tries really hard….
One Day – I thought an hour had passed but the movie was only three minutes in.
Something Borrowed – Weak characters. Makes you like an evil Kate Hudson.
Arthur – An example on how to take good actors and make them unlikable.
Now on to Netflix!
Do not fall into the trap of searching Netflix for hours. Pick one of these films. Many hours have been wasted looking for the right streaming movie….
I’ve included the movies that will not disappoint.
The Good
Before Sunrise – Romance for Generation X.
No Strings Attached – Flawed but fun.
Wild Target – Cheeky British fluff.
Nine Months – I watched it years ago and thought it was funny. Hopefully, it holds up.
Chasing Amy – Kevin Smith’s best screenplay
Notting Hill – Did you say oopsy daisy?
Roxanne – Steve Martin + A long nose = 80s gold
Tangled – You will smile the entire time.
Enjoy!
Movies, Films & Flix 