celluloidnotes

PICK OF THE WEEK
Anvil! The Story of Anvil [LA/NY]
dir. Sacha Gervasi
Stars: Robb Reiner, Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow, Tiziana Arrigoni

Anvil! has been getting nothing but a ton of positive buzz. Since the 2008 Sundance fest there has been a lot of anticipation for this film. It’s finally seeing a limited theatrical release and certainly has the potential to expand to more theaters if there are still cinema-goers looking for something a little more meaty than the pre-summer releases that have been flooding theaters since the end of Oscar season.

Observe and Report
dir. Jody Hill
Stars: Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Ray Liotta

This seems to be the Apatow family equivalent of Paul Blart: Mall Cop, except funny. Though what do I know? I said Paul Blart was a terrible film and it’s made more money than about anything in 2009 so far. Maybe you’re best off not listening to me, though I’m still going to say that this is probably a whole lot better than Blart.

Hannah Montana: The Movie
dir. Peter Chelsom
Stars: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Billy Ray Cyrus

The first step in what is largely seen as Miley Cyrus’ attempts to become a little bit more of an adult star. Nonetheless, I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that this film isn’t really for adults.

Dragonball: Evolution
dir. James Wong
Stars: Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Yun-Fat Chow

As the IMDB buzz says this is just part of the stream of films that includes last summer’s SpeedRacer, which sees Hollywood trying to create feature films out of anime. We’ll see if this winds up being a little more interesting than SpeedRacer.

Last Week’s Top 10:
1. Fast & Furious
2. Monsters vs. Aliens
3. The Haunting in Connecticut
4. Knowing
5. I Love You, Man
6. Adventureland
7. Duplicity
8. Race to Witch Mountain
9. 12 Rounds
10. Sunshine Cleaning

PICK OF THE WEEK:
Duplicity
dir. Tony Gilroy
Starring: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen

Going a little mainstream on the pick of the week, and putting some blind faith in tony Gilroy’s ability to deliver in his second directorial adventure. It’s another spy thriller, which is hopefully as surprising as his great Michael Clayton. Like every other spy thriller this year it stars Clive Owen. Meh, I’m going with it.

Knowing
dir. Alex Proyas
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne

Remember when Nicolas Cage used to do films that were at least mildly interesting, I don’t anymore. This film is about Cage’s family and their son who discovers an artifact that predicts natural disasters. Sounds like a snooze-fest that you surely be on next week’s top ten list.

Sin Nombre [limited]
dir. Cary Fukunaga
Stars: Paulina Gaitan

Sin Nombre was second in the running for this weeks PICK OF THE WEEK. It’s a story of two teenagers from Honduras who hop aboard a freight train bound for America. Both are running from their past. The trailer is very enticing.

I Love You, Man
dir. John Hamburg
Stars: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones

Next up from the Apatow factory: I Love You, Man. All of the promo has given very little away about this film, or there is really no plot. Expect a funny first act, a mildly funny second act - with lots of zaniness, and a third act where morality surfaces and everyone learns a little something about themselves.

Lesbian Vampire Killers
dir. Phil Claydon
Starring: James Corden, MyAnna Buring

I don’t know what to say. Only AWESOME comes to mind. (Kind of looks like an Edgar Wright film, no?)

The Great Buck Howard
dir. Sean McGinly
Starring: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks

This honestly looks like it could be a great film, or another semi-boring idea that got watered down by focus groups. Great guest stars (Conan O’Brian, Martha Stewart, Tom Hanks), and Malkovich is always great (we think).

Super Capers
dir. Ray Griggs
Stars: Justin Whalin, Ray Griggs, Danielle Harris

Not sure about this. It almost sounds like it should be thrown in with the Scary Movie lot, but who knows. I’ve got no faith in this and the early signs seem to say I’m right.

Last Week’s Top Ten:
1. Race to Witch Mountain
2. Watchmen
3. Last House on the Left
4. Taken
5. Madea Goes to Jail
6. Slumdog Millionaire
7. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
8. He’s Just Not That Into You
9. Coraline
10. Miss March

There have been a big pile of trailers released for the summer blockbusters in recent weeks and I’m going to attempt to round some of these up here for your viewing pleasure. If this doesn’t make you a little excited for the summer films it’s quite possible nothing will.

The Star Trek Trailer:

Public Enemies. The new Michael Mann film with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale going to it.

Terminator Salvation, another Christian Bale summer flik.

Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince:

There you’ve got it. That’s all for today, but a few intriguing trailers. Lots of great indie pictures coming out right now, but I’m ready for some blockbusters.

PICK OF THE WEEK
Sunshine Cleaning [limited]
dir. Christine Jeffs
Starring: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin

This was last years Sundance darling. The buzz is still all positive. the film is a quirky sentimental comedy that the studio is hoping is this year’s Little Miss Sunshine. Is there an Arkin connection?

Race to Witch Mountain
dir. Andy Fickman
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb

Dwayne Johnson. Self explanatory.

Last House on the Left
dir. Dennis Iliadis
Stars: Garret Dillahunt, Monica Potter, Tony Goldwyn

A remake of the classic horror film. A sentence that appears on this site weekly. If you don’t know my feeling about this sub-genre: I think it’s crap.

Miss March
dir. Zach Cregger, Trevor Moore
Starring: Zach Cregger, Trevor Moore, Raquel Alessi

The kids from Whitest Kids You Know have made a film. One guys goes into a coma and wakes up to discover his high school sweetheart is now a model for Playboy. Hijinx surely ensue.

Brothers at War [limited]
dir. Jake Rademacher
Stars: Jake Rademacher, Isaac Rademacher, Joe Rademacher

Jake Rademacher takes cameras into the war in Iraq to discover what his brothers Issac and Joe are experiencing in the war. This is a slightly lo-fi but engaging film that should be seen (and might be now that the heavy slurry of Iraq films has subsided.

Sex Positive [limited]
dir. Daryl Wein
Starring: Richard Berkowitz

Three Monkeys
dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan

This is the newest film from Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Becoming known for his plodding nearly ambient films Ceylan is trying a more plot driven approach with this film. A politician kills a man with his car and decides to turn himself in, but the story is much more complicated than he realizes. Ceylan won the Best Director award at last years Cannes festival for this film.

Severed Ways [limited]
dir. Tony Stone
Starring: Gabriella Mary Hoffmann, David Perry

Severed Ways is a film about the Nordic discovery of America. I think there will be a little less Pathfinder in here, and maybe a little bit more Mongol. Dear lord, let’s hope so.

Z [limited]
dir. Costa Gavras
Starring: Yves Montand, Irene Papas

The Z is not for Zombie. The 1969 Oscar winning film is getting a fresh theatrical release in New York on a fresh 35mm print.

This is a historical-political thriller from cinematic master Costa Gravas. This is fantastic. Pray that people go out and see this and that it winds up in your town. In the meantime find more Gavras and watch it.

Edge of Love [limited]
dir. John Maybury
Starring: Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller

Edge of Love is a story about two women who were connected by the occasionally philandering poet Dylan Thomas. The film has got a decent buzz, and hopefully isn’t too sentimental, because Thomas never was (except in his love letters, which were often far over the top).

PICK OF THE WEEK:
12
dir. Nikita Mikhalkov
Stars: Sergei Makovetsky, Sergey Garmash, Apti Magamaev

Mikhalkov (Burnt By the Sun) twists the classic 12 Angry Men to his own needs in 12. Creating a uniquely Russian version of the classic. This is finally seeing the light of day in America, where it was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 2007 Oscars, but not given a theatrical release until now. Only in America.

Watchmen
dir. Zack Snyder
Stars: Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino

This is easily one of the three or so most anticipated films of the spring. This should be number one for a while. The consensus had been it was going to be great, then Zak Snyder was accused of destroying one of the most beloved graphic novels ever, then it was great again, then no one was sure. So, there you have it, movie blog hype. We’ll see what happens when people are finally watching the film.

Horsemen [limited]
dir. Jonas Åkerlund
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Ziyi Zhang, Lou Taylor Pucci

Quaid and Zhang, why hadn’t anyone thought of that before. It’s definitely going to become a classic combination. This is the film duo that the world has been waiting for.

Tokyo! [limited]
dir. Michel Gondry, Joon-ho Bong, Leos Carax

The three directors offer their respective tributes to the city, much in the fashion of the recent New York, I Love You and Paris, J’taime. Multi-director tributes to cities, the new D & G? Anyone?

Phoebe in Wonderland
dir. Daniel Barnz
Starring: Elle Fanning, Patricia Clarkson, Felicity Huffman

Another Fanning for us to love and hold. yay. This was actually a decent week in releases wasn’t it. No letters to god this week. This looks fine, but I’m feeling positive about the first good week of releases since the blogs turned to “Oscar Prediction Mode.” So, I won’t ruin it by hating on this.

Last Week’s Top Ten
1. Madea Goes to Jail
2. Jonas Brothers: 3-D Concert Experience
3. Slumdog Millionaire
4. Taken
5. He’s Just Not That Into You
6. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
7. Coraline
8. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
9. Confessions of a Shopaholic
10. Fired Up!

PICK OF THE WEEK
Birdsong [limited release]
dir. Albert Serra
Starring: Victòria Aragonés, Lluis Carbo

This quiet meditation is a sort of re-imagining of the Don Quixote story.

Jones Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience
dir. Bruce Hendricks
Starring: Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas (I’m suspicious they are “The Jonas Brothers” of the title)

So, this is the film that is going to make you stop believing in god this week. This is this week’s Paul Blart: Mall Cop, because clearly all the kids are going to be rushing out to the theater for this one, unfortunately.

American Affair [limited release]
dir. William Sten Olsson
Starring: Gretchen Mol, James Rebhorn

A slightly risque political thriller taking a look behind the JFK administration, maybe a little more fiction than fact.

Echelon Conspiracy [limited release]
dir. Greg Marcks
Starring: Shane West, Ed Burns

This appears to be a taut little thriller in the vein of The Network. Maybe a underdog indie film this week, will likely make it to a wide release.

Garisson Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes
dir. Peter Rosen
Starring: Garrison Keillor

Garisson Kiellor is always an interesting subject, but a whole documentary dedicated to the man…

Crossing Over [limited release]
dir. Wayne Kramer
Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Penn, Ashley Judd

Director Wayne Kramer’s tale of immigration is already drawing comparisons to the vastly over-rated Crash. This drama has been in the works for years and draws heavily from Kramer’s own experience (Kramer is a naturalized citizen of the US).

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-LI
dir. Andrzej Bartkowiak
Starring: Kristin Kreuk, Neal McDonough, Michael Clarke Duncan

Anyone else remember the first Street Fighter? Dear lord let’s hope this is a little better than that.

Last Week’s Top Ten:
1. Madea Goes To Jail
2. Coraline
3. Taken
4. He’s Just Not That Into You
5. Slumdog Millionaire
6. Friday the 13th
7. Paul Blart: Mall Cop (I know…still)
8. Confessions of a Shopaholic
9. Fired Up!
10. The International

PICK OF THE WEEK:
nothing at all, this week I recommend renting a movie. Maybe The Naked City. Stay out of the theaters.

Madea Goes to Jail
dir. Tyler Perry
Starring: Tyler Perry, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Derek Luke

More Tyler Perry non-sense. Will these films ever stop coming out?

(from the live performance)

Fired Up
dir. Will Gluck
Starring: Eric Christian Olsen, Nicholas D’Agosto, Sarah Roemer

more zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Eleven Minutes
dir. Michael Selditch Robert Tate
Starring: Jay McCarroll

If you’ve watched the first two trailers on here take my advice and stay away from this one, it’s just as bad.

Last Week’s Top Ten:
1. Friday the 13th
2. He’s Just Not that Into You
3. Taken
4. Coraline
5. Confessions of a Shopaholic
6. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
7. The International
8. Pink Panther 2
9. Slumdog Millionaire
10. Push

Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds is currently one of the most talked about films online, and with the barrage of actual marketing that’s about to take place don’t expect that to stop until the film actually hits theaters on August 21st.

ET recently ran a small preview of the film and the trailer is going to be hitting theaters on Friday in front of the new reimagining of Friday the 13th. Which, as over blown as the hype may be already, this may be the best reason for anyone to possibly buy a ticket to Friday the 13th.

Expect the trailer for Inglourious Basterds to be online sometime this weekend or early next week, and then the Tarantino-ites will take over the movie blogosphere. Be wary.

The footage is a little grainy, but this about all you’re going to get until the trailer comes out.

PICK OF THE WEEK:
Gomorrah
dir. Matteo Garrone
Starring: Gianfelice Imparato, Salvatore Abruzzese, Toni Servillo

This film weaves five stories of organized crime in modern day Naples. This film was a big hit at on the festival circuit and Scorsese’s endorsement has certainly helped. It could definitely be a sleeper hit this spring.

The International
dir. Tom Tykwer
Starring: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl

Tom Tykwer has consistently been an interesting filmmaker at least dating back to his brilliant Run, Lola, Run, if not earlier. This thriller about conspiracy at the International Bank looks like it could be a great film. Though Clive Owen seems like the easy casting choice and the film could easily slip into the cheesy.

Confessions of a Shopaholic
dir. P.J. Hogan
Starring: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter

If films like this frustrate you, remember that they only make these because people watch them. If you stop watching them, they will stop making them. Please, true friends will stop their friends from seeing this.

Friday the 13th
dir. Marcus Nispel
Starring: Jared Padalecki, Amanda Righetti, Derek Mears

This - um - reimagining of the classic horror film is being helmed by Marcus Nispel, the man behind the surprisingly solid Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake. The buzz on this has not been all that rave yet, but they’ve kept a pretty tight lid on this so far. Which, naturally leads you to believe that it will be terrible, but that remains to be seen.

Two Lovers
dir. James Gray
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw

Most of the buzz on this film has simply been focused on Mr. Phoenix’s proclamation that he’s quitting acting in favor of his new rapping career. (Aside: early reports were that this was a stunt, his manager’s recent statement on the situation - basically a no comment - seems to indicate that Phoenix is dead serious about this.)

Under the Sea 3-D
dir. Howard Hall
Starring: Jim Carrey

The new barrage of 3-D films continues. This looks about like the vast majority of snooze-fests that have come in 3-D form.

The Oscar nominees are in. And as I’ve said previously, oy, it was kind of a weak year at the cinema. Glad to see that The Visitor, Frozen River, and Happy-Go-Lucky all earned a nomination. Roger Deakins earned another nomination this year. Maybe it will finally be his year to win an award. He always deserves it, but if he wins it this year it’d be like spitting in the face of all of the amazing films he’s shot.

Only real disappointments: no Wallace & Gromit for short animated film and no Synecdoche, New York for best screenplay, which I think probably deserves it. Though, look at the list, this is no place for experimentation. Especially this year. Also, what the hell happened in the supporting actor category? Heath Ledger and Robert Downey, Jr. Really? I guess.
Best Motion Picture of the Year
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Ceán Chaffin, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall
Frost/Nixon (2008): Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Eric Fellner
Milk (2008): Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks
The Reader (2008): Nominees to be determined
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Christian Colson

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Richard Jenkins for The Visitor (2007/I)
Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon (2008)
Sean Penn for Milk (2008)
Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Angelina Jolie for Changeling (2008)
Melissa Leo for Frozen River (2008)
Meryl Streep for Doubt (2008/I)
Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Josh Brolin for Milk (2008)
Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder (2008)
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt (2008/I)
Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008)
Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road (2008)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams for Doubt (2008/I)
Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Viola Davis for Doubt (2008/I)
Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler (2008)

Best Achievement in Directing
Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Stephen Daldry for The Reader (2008)
David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon (2008)
Gus Van Sant for Milk (2008)

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Frozen River (2008): Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008): Mike Leigh
In Bruges (2008): Martin McDonagh
Milk (2008): Dustin Lance Black
WALL·E (2008): Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
Doubt (2008/I): John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon (2008): Peter Morgan
The Reader (2008): David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Simon Beaufoy

Best Achievement in Cinematography
Changeling (2008): Tom Stern
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Claudio Miranda
The Dark Knight (2008): Wally Pfister
The Reader (2008): Roger Deakins, Chris Menges
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Anthony Dod Mantle

Best Achievement in Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter
The Dark Knight (2008): Lee Smith
Frost/Nixon (2008): Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
Milk (2008): Elliot Graham
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Chris Dickens

Best Achievement in Art Direction
Changeling (2008): James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo
The Dark Knight (2008): Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando
The Duchess (2008): Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway
Revolutionary Road (2008): Kristi Zea, Debra SchuttBest Achievement in Costume Design
Australia (2008): Catherine Martin
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Jacqueline West
The Duchess (2008): Michael O’Connor
Milk (2008): Danny Glicker
Revolutionary Road (2008): Albert Wolsky

Best Achievement in Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Greg Cannom
The Dark Knight (2008): John Caglione Jr., Conor O’Sullivan
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008): Mike Elizalde, Thomas Floutz

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Alexandre Desplat
Defiance (2008): James Newton Howard
Milk (2008): Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman
WALL·E (2008): Thomas Newman

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, Gulzar(”Jai Ho”)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A.R. Rahman, Maya Arulpragasam(”O Saya”)
WALL·E (2008): Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman(”Down to Earth”)

Best Achievement in Sound
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten
The Dark Knight (2008): Ed Novick, Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty
WALL·E (2008): Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt
Wanted (2008): Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt

Best Achievement in Sound Editing
The Dark Knight (2008): Richard King
Iron Man (2008): Frank E. Eulner, Christopher Boyes
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Tom Sayers
WALL·E (2008): Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood
Wanted (2008): Wylie Stateman

Best Achievement in Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
The Dark Knight (2008): Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Timothy Webber, Paul J. Franklin
Iron Man (2008): John Nelson, Ben Snow, Daniel Sudick, Shane Mahan

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Bolt (2008): Chris Williams, Byron Howard
Kung Fu Panda (2008): John Stevenson, Mark Osborne
WALL·E (2008): Andrew Stanton

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (2008)(Germany)
Entre les murs (2008)(France)
Revanche (2008)(Austria)
Okuribito (2008)(Japan)
Vals Im Bashir (2008)(Israel)

Best Documentary, Features
The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (2008): Ellen Kuras, Thavisouk Phrasavath
Encounters at the End of the World (2007): Werner Herzog, Henry Kaiser
The Garden (2008/I): Scott Hamilton Kennedy
Man on Wire (2008): James Marsh, Simon Chinn
Trouble the Water (2008): Tia Lessin, Carl Deal

Best Documentary, Short Subjects
Conscience of Nhem En, The (2008): Steven Okazaki
Final Inch, The (2008): Irene Taylor Brodsky, Tom Grant
Smile Pinki (2008): Megan Mylan
Witness from the Balcony of Room 306, The (2008): Adam Pertofsky, Margaret Hyde

Best Short Film, Animated
La Maison en Petits Cubes: Kunio KatoUbornaya istoriya - lyubovnaya istoriya (2007): Konstantin Bronzit
Oktapodi (2007): Emud Mokhberi, Thierry Marchand
Presto (2008): Doug Sweetland
This Way Up (2008): Alan Smith, Adam Foulkes

Best Short Film, Live Action
Auf der Strecke (2007): Reto Caffi
Manon sur le bitume (2007): Elizabeth Marre, Olivier Pont
New Boy (2007): Steph Green, Tamara Anghie
Grisen (2008): Tivi Magnusson, Dorthe Warnø Høgh
Spielzeugland (2007): Jochen Alexander Freydank