Thursday, June 30, 2011

WAR HORSE




The Broadway play War Horse won a Tony for Best Play this year. It is possible that the Steven Spielberg film version could win the Best Picture the same year. The first trailer was released this week. The trailer is mostly music from the score. I think the words to the music are.."I am a horse and I am  going to win an Oscar, Oscar, Oscar...."



CLICK HERE FOR WAR HORSE TRAILER

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

NETFLIX FOR THEATERS?




Dante Cesa from Engadget writes about a new way to pay for movies. Sounds like a cool idea:

Here's a scenario: you'd love to see the latest blockbuster, but aren't willing to fork out a month's wages to do so. Cue MoviePass, a startup seeking to make life cheaper (fiscally, not emotionally) for repeat cinema moviegoers. The $50 subscription allows for "unlimited" cinema screenings, provided you're okay with a few caveats: 3D or IMAX screenings incur a $3 surcharge, and you'll be limited to one flick per day. Tickets must also be purchased on a partner website, netting you a coupon code that's exchanged for stubs in-theater. Not the most elegant solution, but the reliance on paper prevents folks from re-watching or double-dipping while inside. If that sounds just a bit too jovial for you, the company's also considering a chopped-down $30 plan, which would impose a four movie limit each month. It's launching as a trial this weekend in San Francisco, so if you've nothing better to do, give it a go and let us know how it works out.

SUMMER MOVIES SUCK!




The reason I like following Academy Award films is the fact that the race identifies the best films of the year. Most of them are released in the fall. Very few Summer movies win any major awards. This year is certainly no different. At least so far any way. June brought us X-MEN, CARS 2, MR. POPPERS PENGUINS, BAD TEACHER and GREEN LANTERN all of which made money.  The problem is that they are just plain bad. July does not look much more promising. TRANSFORMERS 3 is already getting horrible reviews as well as ZOOKEEPER and LARRY CROWNE. There may be some hope with CAPTAIN AMERICA. Although I hate to see Summer end, Fall is when the real movies will be released!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

NO REFUND

I have not seen THE TREE OF LIFE yet, but from what I have read it is more about an experience than an actual story. It is intended for the viewer to interpret it's meaning. Apparently a theater in Connecticut is having problems with people wanting a refund. This sign was posted at the Box Office window:



I have never thought of asking for a refund if I didn't understand the plot of a movie.  I am going to ask for a refund for SUPER 8 because I didn't like the "alien part"?

Friday, June 24, 2011

OPENING THIS WEEKEND




CARS 2 (award potential: possible because its Pixar, doubtful due to poor reviews)-CARS 2 will mostly likely win the weekend at the Box Office. The estimates are around $60 million.

BAD TEACHER (award potential: none) The trailers make it look as though it could be a huge comedy hit. The reviews have been mostly negative. I predict it showing up in second place this weekend.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

NEXT YEARS BEST ANIMATED FEATURE?





Pixar's only movie this CARS 2 opens this weekend. Any Pixar film is usually a show in for a Best Animated feature win. Like last years TOY STORY 3. CARS 2 does not seem to be holding up to the Pixar magic. The reviews have been pretty bad with a Rotten Tomato rating of a 44%. So lets look ahead to Pixar for nest year. BRAVE is set to be released June 22, 2012. Disney released the first poster from the film shown above. According to Gordanandthewhale.com:

BRAVE stars Kelly MacDonald, Billy Connelly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson and Robbie Coltrane, and follows the story of “the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman,and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida's quest -- and serving as comic relief -- are the kingdom's three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin, the surly Lord Macintosh, and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall.”

Pixar is also releasing the prequel to MONSTERS INC. nest year titled MONSTERS UNIVERSITY.

They also announced another unnamed release for November 27, 2013.

IDES OF MARCH



George Clooney's IDES OF MARCH will open the The 68th Venice Film Festival on August 31st.  Clooney directed and co wrote the film. It  based on a Beau Willimon play. Clooney is a governor with his sights set on the White House, Ryan Gosling as his press secretary and Paul Giamatti as his rival’s campaign manager. Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright are also in the movie. It is scheduled to be released in the US on October 7th. With all of that acting power in one film it is hard to not include it in a list of possible Oscar contenders.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

ACADEMY CHANGES




It was announced last week that the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences are changing the number of Best Picture nominations from 10 to 5 and then however many more they feel deserve a nomination not to exceed 10. So there could be 5,6,7,8,9 or 10 nominations. In my opinion this is getting out of control. It started a few years back when THE DARK NIGHT failed to get a Best Picture nomination because there were only 5 spots. The next year they upped it to 10 and now they think 10 is too many and films that don't deserve a nomination are getting in just to fill the holes. So who knows how many Best Picture nominations we will have this year. I say go back to 5 and honor the best!

Friday, June 17, 2011

OPENING THIS WEEKEND



THE GREEN LANTERN (award potential: none)-Another summer comic book movie getting bad reviews. Although it will probably be number one at the Box Office this weekend.

MR. POPPER'S PENGUIN'S (award potential: none)-Jim Carrey is a business man who inherits 6 penguins. It is also getting bad reviews.

If you want to see an award potential film, check out: SUPER 8 or MIDNIGHT IN PARIS.  If they are playing near you: THE TREE OF LIFE or THE BEGINNERS.

Monday, June 13, 2011

SUPER 8 AND MIDNIGHT IN PARIS



 It was a big weekend for SUPER 8. It was the most anticipated Summer movie that was not a sequel. It was number one at the Box Office for a total of $38 million. A little higher than predicted. It should quickly make up the cost of only $50 million. The reviews coming in have been mostly positive. (see my review in Saturday's post). Due to the positive reviews and better than expected Box Office SUPER 8 has created some Oscar buzz. That is probably due to the fact that there haven't been any huge Oscar contenders so far. Once we get into September and film festival time begins we will have forgotten about SUPER 8.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS could make it all the way to award season. It came in 8th place at around $14 million in 944 theaters. It has a whopping 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

OPENING THIS WEEKEND









SUPER 8 (award potential: slim to none) The most anticipated non-sequel summer film of the year.  So far it has earned more than predicted for the weekend, so it will beat X-MEN to win the weekend.



I did see the movie last night and I agree with the mixed reviews. The coming of age nostalgic part of the film is mildly entertaining. Growing up in the 70's it brought back a lot memory's, but the alien story was weak. Actually if you took the alien part out it would be a better film. J.J. Abrams wanted the audience to sympathize with this destructive alien that just destroyed an entire town. The big secret is what the alien looks like....ummm it doesn't look much different than other movie aliens. But for the most part Super 8 is worth a look. I think it plays much better on the big screen than it would at home.
MY GRADE: B-

Monday, June 6, 2011

MTV MOVIE AWARDS




The MTV Movie Awards were held last night. They don't really mean anything in an Academy Award sense. Especially since they are held 4 months after the Oscars. It is just an awards show that get a lot of attention for awkward moments. It also seems to be one big commercial for Twilight and other up coming films. Jason Sudeikis hosted and did alright. The opening film spoof is usually my favorite and this year it seemed a little forced and not that funny. Robert Pattinson cannot get out a sentence without being awkward or making any sense. The 7 year winner for best line in a movie spoke better. The best part was Pattinson yelling the F-word and the bleep happening a second late. It was nice to see an awards show only be 2 hours and not go over, partly due to the much hyped premeire of TEEN WOLF. Here is a list of the winners:

Best Movie Winner: 


The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Best Comedic Performance Winner: Emma Stone, Easy A

Best Female Performance Winner, 


Kristen Stewart, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Best Scared-As-S**t Performance Winner: Ellen Page, Inception

Best Line From A Movie Winner: 


”I want to get chocolate wasted!” Alexys Nycole Sanchez, Grown Ups

MTV Generation Award Winner: Reese Witherspoon

Best Kiss Winner: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Best Fight Winner: 


Robert Pattinson vs. Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Best Breakout Star Winner: 


Chloƫ Grace Moretz, Kick-Ass

Biggest Badass Star Winner: 


Chloƫ Grace Moretz

Best Jaw Dropping Moment Winner: 


Justin Bieber, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Best Villain Winner: Tom Felton, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Best Male Performance Winner: Robert Pattinson, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Saturday, June 4, 2011

OPENING THIS WEEKEND




There is only one wide release film this weekend:


X MEN: FIRST CLASS-(award potential:slim)-This is the prequel to the previous X MEN movies. It explains how the "men" got their powers. The reviews have been mostly positive compared to previous X MEN movies. It will be the big winner at the Box Office this weekend.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

WAR HORSE







 Steven Spielberg will be back in the Oscar race this year most likely for WAR HORSE. Wikipedia describes the movie this way:

From director Steven Spielberg comes “War Horse,” an epic adventure for audiences of all ages. Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, “War Horse” begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land. The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war—a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history."


WAR HORSE will not be releaed until December 28th, just in time to be considered for the 2011 awards season. There is not a trailer yet, but only a few production pictures shown here. I see a Best Picture nomination in its future.