OPENING TODAY

CONVICTION-This movie is opening in more theaters today. It did have some Oscar buzz for the performances of Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell and Juliette Lewis. That has died down a little, but worth checking out.

SAW 3D-This is the 7th and final movie of the Saw franchise. An 8th was planned, but the poor performance of the 6th made them stop at 7, but never say never. I have liked all of the previous Saws I have seen. Great film for the Halloween weekend, but not an Academy Award winner.

If you want to see a movie this weekend that has a better chance of being in the Oscar race check out:

-THE SOCIAL NETWORK
-THE TOWN
-THE TILLMAN STORY
-SECRETARIAT

OSCAR NOTES

-Halle Berry will now be in the running for the film FRANKIE & ALICE. She is being pushed for a Best Actress nomination for her performance as a woman suffering from multiple personality disorder. The film will get a one week qualifying release in December before its actual release in 2011. This film was on the qualifying list in 2009 also, but can be considered again this year.  I would not count on Berry receiving a nomination, but they are giving it a try. She needs something after that great performance in CATWOMAN!

-WINTER'S BONE was released yesterday on DVD. You will be seeing this film a lot at awards time so check it out. 

-FOR COLORED GIRLS was moved up from January release to November in order to qualify for this years awards season.  Kimberly Elise and Thandie Newton will be campaigning for Supporting Actress, despite early buzz for Loretta Devine and Janet Jackson. The reviews for Tyler Perry's work have not been steller. The Hollywood Reporter described it as a "train wreck of a movie".  Sounds like the performances are good, but just another Tyler Perry film.

A NEW WAY TO MARKET

A few movies vying for an Oscar nomination are using a line from their movie as URL to get them to go viral.
Here are the links...

http://www.youknowwhatscool.com/   THE SOCIAL NETWORK

http://www.ijustwanttobeperfect.com/   BLACK SWAN

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

1. "Paranormal Activity 2," $41.5 million.
2. "Jackass 3D," $21.6 million.
3. "Red," $15 million.
4. "Hereafter," $12 million.
5. "The Social Network," $7.3 million.
6. "Secretariat," $6.9 million.
7. "Life as We Know It," $6.2 million.
8. "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole," $3.2 million.
9. "The Town," $2.7 million.
10. "Easy A," $1.8 million.

Oscar contenders are in bold.

REVIEWS

I saw a few movies this weekend trying to stay ahead of the game:

WINTER'S BONE-An Ozark Mountain girl hunts down her drug-dealing father while trying to keep her family intact. It was an official selection of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival's Dramatic Competition and was the recipient of the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. This film is the definition of an independent movie. It plays rather slow and the characters are the story more than the plot. Jennifer Lawrence is great in the role and deserves at least a Best Actress nomination. If you are not a fan of independent films this movie will seem slow.  It is still a Best Picture contender, but not a Best Picture winner. My Grade: B

ANIMAL KINGDOM-A teenage boy is trying to live with his arm robbing family after the death of his mother. This is another independent movie that is more about the acting. It is an Australian movie so its takes a few minutes to get used to the accent and understand what they are saying. Jacki Waver plays the Grandmother who will do anything to keep her family together. It is a great performance and deserves a Best Supporting nomination. They are sure pushing hard for it. My Grade: A-

JACKASS 3D- I can guarantee that this will not win any awards, but entertaining and in 3D. My Grade If you are a Jackass fan: B.  If you are not a Jackass fan: D