SAG Predictions

BEST ENSEMBLE

Atonement

No Country for Old Men

Juno

Michael Clayton

There Will Be Blood

BEST ACTOR

Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

Johnny Depp, Sweeny Todd

George Clooney, Michael Clayton

James McAvoy, Atonement

Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah

BEST ACTRESS

Ellen Page, Juno

Julie Christie, Away from Her

Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose

Amy Adams, Enchanted

Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
Max Von Sydow, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Jennifer Garner, Juno

Playing Catch-up

I haven't wrote here in awhile, but I wanted to keep everyone updated on the movies I have seen. First off, before I review any movies I would like to say something about "No Country for Old Men." I think I did not give this film enough credit; while it is not the greatest film of the year it deserves to be in the top 10. It is a fine piece of filmmaking, and a second viewing of the film has only made me appreciate it more. I'm still not totally satisfied with the ending, but it is a film that lingers in the mind. I want to revise my rating from *** to ***1/2.

Now for the brief reviews....

"Atonement" (****)
This is my favorite film of the year so far. Joe Wright has really knocked it out of the ballpark with this one. The story started off a little slow for me, but it really captures the audience's attention, slowly pulling them in. The actors all give Oscar caliber performances. Saorise Ronan is amazing as Briony, as is Romola Garai (haven't bothered to check spelling on names). Both can display a range of emotions just with their eyes. Keira Knightley once again does wonders under the direction of Joe Wright. James McAvoy also is excellent as Robbie. I was looking forward to Vanessa Redgrave's part, but it was so small and it just really didn't compare to the other performers. The cinematography was excellent; I loved the long tracking shot of Robbie in the war. The cinematography made the film feel refreshing because it was different from other films. This film also features my favorite score since "Requiem for a Dream." The music in this film is absolutely amazing. I also liked how some scenes were at first shown from Briony's perspective and then it would flashback to what really happened. Perspective is a major theme of the film. The ending was also brilliantly done; it caught me off guard and was very emotional. If I were an Academy member this would get my vote for Best Picture (so far).

"I Am Legend" (***)
This film was good, but it could have been better. I thought Will Smith did a good job of carrying this film. It is definitely one of the better "zombie" movies. I thought some parts were corny and there were some errors in continuity, but the film was nevertheless entertaining. It was haunting at times and interesting to think about. It was also surprisingly sad. Any movie that is deeply emotional is good in my book, even with the few problems.

"Juno" (***1/2)
This is the best original screenplay of the year, a truly wonderfully written film. Diablo Cody's script is flawless. It is quirky, edgy, and very entertaining. I was laughing the entire time. Her script was chock-full of emotion. Ellen Page also gives one of the best performances of the year. Juno is probably the best character in film this year. The audience fell in love with her. I can't imagine anyone playing her as perfectly as Page (who delivered another amazing performance in "Hard Candy" last year). She delivers her lines effortlessly and truly nails the personality of her character. Jennifer Garner is also good as Vanessa, the mother who is going to adobt There is a lot to love about this film.

Golden Globe Predictions

In the midst of all this chaos that is the precursor awards, I have decided to post my Golden Globe predictions. I am not really sure about these, but who is in a year like this? The precursors have been interesting to watch so far. "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" seem to be getting the most mentions. I am surprised by "Atonement;" where is the love? Maybe it will pick up steam soon. Anyways, here is what I have predicted for the Golden Globes.

BEST PICTURE DRAMA
Atonement
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Into the Wild
Michael Clayton

BEST PICTURE COMEDY/MUSICAL
Sweeny Todd
Juno
Hairspray
Charlie Wilson’s War
The Savages

BEST DIRECTOR
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Joe Wright, Atonement
Paul T. Anderson, There Will Be Blood
Tim Burton, Sweeny Todd
Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Sean Penn, Into the Wild

BEST ACTOR DRAMA
James McAvoy, Atonement
Denzel Washington, American Gangster
Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
George Clooney, Michael Clayton

BEST ACTRESS DRAMA
Keira Knightley, Atonement
Julie Christie, Away from Her
Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Jodie Foster, The Brave One

BEST ACTOR COMEDY
Johnny Depp, Sweeny Todd
Seth Rogen, Knocked Up
Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson’s War
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages
Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl

BEST ACTRESS COMEDY
Amy Adams, Enchanted
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Ellen Page, Juno
Nikki Blonsky, Hairspray
Laura Linney, The Savages

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
John Travolta, Hairspray
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson’s War


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Cate Blanchett, I’m Not There
Amy Ryan, Gone, Baby Gone
Jennifer Garner, Juno
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Julia Roberts, Charlie Wilson’s War

BEST SCREENPLAY
There Will Be Blood
Atonement
No Country for Old Men
Charlie Wilson’s War
Juno
Into the Wild

NBR Predictions

Many of the Oscar prognosticators or beginning to predict what the National Board of Review will name as the best film. They announce on Wednesday and are considered by many as the first of the precursors. Here are my predictions:

BEST FILM
"There Will Be Blood"
Alt: "No Country for Old Men"

TOP TEN FILMS(in no particular order)
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"
"Atonement"
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Gone, Baby Gone"
"Juno"
"Into the Wild"
"American Gangster"
"Sweeny Todd"
"Michael Clayton"

BEST ACTOR
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
Alt: Johnny Depp, "Sweeny Todd"

BEST ACTRESS
Angelina Jolie, "A Mighty Heart"
Alt: Amy Adams, "Enchanted'

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"
Alt: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"
Alt: Marisa Tomei, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"

BEST ACTING BY AN ENSEMBLE
"Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"
Alt: "I'm Not There"

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE-MALE
Emile Hirsch, "Into the Wild"
Alt: James McAvoy, "Atonement"

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE-FEMALE
Ellen Page, "Juno"
Alt: Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"

BEST DIRECTOR
Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Alt: Sean Penn, "Into the Wild"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
"Atonement"
Alt: "No Country for Old Men"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
"Juno"
Alt: "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"

BEST FOREIGN FILM
"4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days"
Alt: "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

BEST ANIMATED FILM
"Ratatouille"
Alt: "The Simpsons Movie"

BEST DOCUMENTARY
"Sicko"
Alt: "No End in Sight"

"The Golden Compass" (***)

The "His Dark Materials" trilogy written by Philip Pullman remains one of my favorite book series of all-time. Of course when they announcing they were adapting the first of the acclaimed series into a movie I couldn't be more excited. When they announced that there were going to be sneak previews tonight I knew I had to be there. "The Golden Compass" is a good film that for the most part stays true to the book, but it felt like it could have been something more.

The story takes place in an alternate world where people have daemons, animal incarnations of peoples' souls. In control of this world is the Magesterium, this world's version of Catholics. In competition against them is Lord Asriel. He has done study on Dust, a material that is attracted to adults. The Magesterium has also figured out that if they separate a child from his or her daemon then he or she will have no Dust as adults. Also in this world are the Gobblers, people who kidnap children. This is the setting of the story, and inhabiting this world is Lyra. She is a cunning and mischievous girl who happens to be the niece of Lord Asriel. She lives at Jordan College among scholars, but she leaves to stay with Ms. Coulter, a woman who is to travel to the North to learn about Dust. Before she leaves she is given an alethiometer, a compass that tells the truth. When Lyra realizes that Ms. Coulter is not as nice as originally thought she runs away, and the audience is along for the ride.

It is hard trying to describe the story in depth. It is a complex and fascinating world filled with witches, armored bells, and Gyptians. It is a richly layered world intricately imagined by Pullman. The world contains many parallels to our own. The Magesterium is the Catholic church. The things they do in the film could be compared to the Nazis. They capture children, mainly Gyptians, and perform cruel experiments on them. Pullman has received much criticism for his anti-Catholic beliefs. I, however, think he has created a vastly creative and symbolic world.

The performances in the film are good. Dakota Blue Richards is a good find as Lyra. She is good but still has a long way to go. Daniel Craig and Eva Green are not given much to do. Playing a bigger role is Nicole Kidman who gives the best performance of the film. She perfectly captures the essence of Ms. Coulter from the book. She is at once sexy and evil. With the Supporting Actress category as weak as it is this year I see a possibility of a nomination (Right now I am pulling for her and Imelda Staunton in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," two evil women in contemporary fantasy that were expertly brought to the screen this year.).

The film should also be a shoo in for a Best Visual Effects nomination. The daemons and armored bears looked fantastic. It was also interesting to watch the daemons incinerate when their human counterparts were killed.

The main problem I had with the film was that it felt like it did not explore its full potential. I wanted it to be a lot darker, like the book. Also, the ending was changed; it was a much happier ending. The ending in the book was much better and darker. It did not come across as epic like the "Harry Potter" or "Lord of the Rings" franchises. Hopefully, this will change if the remaining books are adapted.

Overall, "The Golden Compass" is a fun ride, especially if you have not read the books. People who have read the books need to know that it is not as dark or as epic as it could have been, but hopefully this will change when the other two books are adapted. It is a nice way to spend two hours though.

My Group

So the end of the semester is here, and it is now crunch time. I am starting to stress out with all the work, but I am trying not to let it overwhelm me. My group seems to be making progress in our presentations. In the beginning, I was worried about Farrah's attendance and Michelle being sick, but they have since improved. I do have to help Farrah with her paper, though. I read her paper, and it seemed clear that she had never heard of MLA format. I don't want to be mean, but structurally, her paper was a mess. It seems like I don't have enough time to fix her paper while also adding all the stuff to mine that I need. I haven't really looked at Barbara's or Michelle's. I remember proofreading Michelle's, and I know she needs to fix a few things. Barbara's also had plenty of grammatical mistakes, but those are easier to fix that Farrah's formatting ones. My main concern now is Scarlett. In the beginning, she was doing great. She attended all the meetings, and she had really shown a drive to succeed and help. Now that is not there. She isn't even there. She has missed the last few meetings and has admitted how behind she is. That's nice, but where does that leave her group members? This is a group effort and everyone has to pull their weight. Right now, I could care less if she doesn't turn in an English paper. I doubt she will since she hasn't even turned in the last assigned paper. I do, however, want her their for the Oral Communication presentation. I am really proud of what our group has been working on for our presentation, and I want everyone their to present it. Also, we are doing a narrative, and Scarlett's part is very interesting. I would hate to have to take her part out. I wonder if we could leave her narration in, have someone else say it, skip her speech, and then just move into the next portion of it? I doubt we will get approval for that though because it stops the "fluidity" of our presentation. Well, I just hope this goes over well.

Two Film Reviews

These journals are due tomorrow, and I am desperately trying to find things to write about. I have been sick and really haven't felt like writing anything. When you can't think of what to write, write what you know. In my case, that would be movies. I just saw two highly acclaimed films, and I figured I give you my thoughts on them.

"No Country for Old Men" (***)
"No Country for Old Men" is a riveting thriller directed by the Coen brothers. It really is a well-crafted film that, for the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed. The screenplay is excellent, filled with much piercing dialogue and wit. I really enjoyed the performance of Javier Bardem. He gives the best creepy performance since Anthony Hopkins in "The Silence of the Lambs." Right now he is the frontrunner to win Best Supporting Actor. I also liked Tommy Lee Jones' performance. This is probably his best performance to date as the story's moral narrator. The story, even if the viewer doesn't realize it at first, is his. I don't think his performance will be nominated though, because he will be competing against Bardem who has received much of the praise. The one thing I didn't like about the film was the ending. I thought it could have ended about ten minutes earlier. I am not totally furious at the ending however. I have since realized that some of the scenes were necessary. The car accident scene for instance, I thought served no purpose, but then after analyzing the film and reading the reviews it shows that Bardem's character could not be stopped. The tagline says, "You Can't Stop What's Coming." Ending on the Jones' dream was weird, but like I said it was Jones' story. Also, I would like to praise this film for being as gripping as it was without a musical score. I didn't even realize this at first, but it's true. The film was very suspenseful in parts, and it did this not without music. The film worked because it was such a gripping story.

"I'm Not There" (**1/2)
I really don't know what to make of Todd Haynes' ode to Bob Dylan, "I'm Not There." I am not a huge fan of Bob Dylan and don't know much about him. This may have been the reason I was completely amazed by this film. The story is told through interwoven vignettes. If one does not know much about Bob Dylan, then one can just take these segments for what they are: stories. Certain segments were definitely stronger than others, and this could be seen as one of the film's weak points. Cate Blanchett definitely has the best role of the film. Her story is the most fascinating, and apparently the most accurate depiction of Dylan. I think she gave a really good performance that will definitely be nominated come Oscar nominations. I thought she did an excellent job, and it was definitely a different performance for her. I also liked Heath Ledger's performance. His story was very interesting, and he proves that "Brokeback Mountain" was no flop. He should, in my opinion, when an Oscar one day (He should have won it for "Brokeback Mountain."). I also liked the cinematography of the film; Haynes' took a unique approach to shooting this film. "I'm Not There" is definitely an experimental film, an unconventional biopic. The film worked for me, because it was something fresh, even if it wasn't always compelling. The film may not have been all that great, but it was always interesting.

Thanksgiving Holidays

I think I just had the worst Thanksgiving break ever. I just don't see how any other Thanksgiving break can top the horribleness of this one. It is just not possible. I went home to Louisiana to see my family. Thanksgiving Day was fine. I hung out with my family and had a nice dinner. The food was good; definitely better than the dorm food I eat everyday. That night my brother and I drove to Baton Rouge because we were going to the LSU game on Friday. Before going to his apartment we stopped at the Rave to see a movie. Michael refused to see the movie I wanted to see, "No Country for Old Men," so he went to see "The Mist." This, however, is not where the trouble begins. I just figured I mention the last remaining positive highlight of my trip.

Friday morning Michael and I woke up and went to Target to see some of the Black Friday specials. I ended up buying a few DVDs: "Planet Terror," "Death Proof," "Smoking Aces," "Borat," and "Sex, Lies, and Videotape." On the way home we were stuck in ridiculous game day traffic. We seriously sat on the interstate for a good 45 minutes to get to our exit when it should have taken 5-10. When we got off the exit contraflow, rerouting traffic which apparently is supposed to help traffic, was in effect. Because of the way it was organized though, my brother and I could not get back to the apartment where the tickets were. We ended up having to park near the stadium, walk 40 minutes to his apartment to get the tickets, and then trek back to get to the game. The game was fun, but LSU lost. When the hell does that happen? It just doesn't. I swear the only times I go to the game is when LSU freaking loses. Remember when they won the National Championship a few year back and only lost one game? Well that one game was the only game I went to. I must be a curse.

LSU wasn't the only team I liked that lost that weekend. My high school football team got eliminated from the playoffs. They had made it the furthest in school history, and the previous week they even upset the number 2 team (we were 18). On Saturday, my parents, my brother, and I went out to eat. When I got back home I settled down to watch the Kansas/Missouri game. Kansas, the team I was rooting for, lost.

That wasn't even the worst part of the game. Before the game had started I was feeling sick. My brother had complained of feeling sick earlier in the day. He called me from his girlfriend's house later saying that he was on his way home because he had thrown up. That night I also started throwing up. I HATE throwing up. It's disgusting. I was blowing chunks out of my nose....I'm not going to go into anymore detail. My mom and dad brought us to the hospital on Sunday to be looked at. Apparently we both had a stomach virus that was going around. We also had to be hooked to an IV because we were dehydrated. I couldn't even drive home that day. I had to wait until Monday to get back to school and miss class.

I am still not feeling that great. I can't even eat real food. My diet over that past few days has consisted of watered down gatorade, saltines (with peanut butter if I want to be daring), and soup. Yeah, so that was my holiday. This was a lot longer than I expected, and I still have a ton of work to finish. Wow! My life sucks!

"Enchanted" (***)

I'm still trying to collect my thoughts after one of the most wonderful movie going experiences of the year. "Enchanted," in all its camp and predictability, is one of the best films of the year. It brought back memories of the old Disney classics that my generation and the ones before me grew up with.

The story is very simple. Giselle, a cartoon princess, before marrying her Prince Charming is pushed into a well by his mother so she will not have to give up her crown. The well leads Giselle to real world New York where Giselle has to cope with some new experiences and find her place in the world. All the time, she is trying to find Prince Edward, who has ventured into the real world to bring her back, so they can get married. The catch is Giselle meets a divorce attorney who teaches her how to survive in the real world. The story is very predictable, but the audience cannot help but be fully engrossed in it. It is a satire of the Disney classics that in turn pays homage to them.

The main reason the film works is because of Amy Adams. Amy Adams gives the best performance out of any actor or actress this year. I don't see how she can't be nominated for Best Actress. I'm going to go ahead and say she's going to win. I have not seen Keira Knightley in "Atonement" or Ellen Page in "Juno" yet, but I don't see how either of them can come close to Adams. She was Giselle. This movie would not have been as good as it was if it were not for Adams. She is the epitome of a Disney princess. Her performance is something that has to be experienced; the universal, glowing praise from critics doesn't even do her justice. It is hard to describe her performance in words. It's kind of like in the movie when Giselle experiences anger for the first time. Watching her on screen is like experiencing something totally new, a new feeling that I have never felt before. All I could do was smile. She is the next big thing.

On a few side notes. The music was very good. I loved Giselle's song in the park. The CGI animals were well done. The scenes with Pip the chipmunk are hilarious. Overall, "Enchanted," in all its predictability, is one of the great achievements in film this year. It could have easily sunk into camp, but instead it succeeds mainly because of Amy Adam's breathtaking performance.

So....

So I couldn't sleep. It's 1:30 in the morning, and I'm wide awake. This energy is probably going to come back and bite me in the ass later but oh well. I figure since I'm up I might as well give my comments on the Best Actor and Best Actress races.

Best Actor
Right now the actor that everyone is predicting is Daniel Day-Lewis for "There Will Be Blood." He is one of the greatest actors working today, and he is paired with one of the greatest directors working today. How can you go wrong? The early reviews have compared his character to Charles Foster Kane in "Citizen Kane," high praise indeed. Right now I see him winning this award. I don't know who else could. Also watch out for Johnny Depp in Sweeny Todd. I think this performance is going to thrive on Depp's singing ability, and I am not sure if he can deliver. We'll find out soon. George Clooney's portrayal of Michael Clayton is a performance many are predicting, but I don't see it. It was a good performance, but the real standout in that film, if any, was Tom Wilkinson. Many people are also predicting Tom Hanks for "Charlie Wilson's War" and Denzel Washington for "American Gangster." No one has really seen "Charlie Wilson's War" yet, and if I were a voter "American Gangster" would not be getting any of my votes. I can see Denzel getting in because of the film's success, but it is undeserving. I think if the Weinstein's really campaign John Cusack for "Grace is Gone" he can get in. It's a good film, and he does good work. Ryan Gosling is excellent in "Lars and the Real Girl," but I don't see the Academy going for his performance. I think the real underdog could be James McAvoy for "Atonement." He has been on the verge for a year or two. Everyone seems to love "Atonement," and I could see him upsetting Daniel Day-Lewis. Also competing for the breakthrough spot is Emile Hirsch in "Into the Wild." It's a really good performance, and I wouldn't mind seeing him nominated. Another potential dark horse could be Mathieu Amalric in "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," but I'm not so sure. The film is primarily told from his perspective, so the audience rarely sees him. The delivery of his lines is quite poetic, so I wonder if the Academy will look at that. I personally would like to see Brad Pitt nominated for "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford."

MY PREDICTIONS
1. Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
2. James McAvoy, "Atonement"
3. Johnny Depp, "Sweeny Todd"
4. Denzel Washington, "American Gangster"
5. John Cusack, "Grace is Gone"

6. George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
7. Ryan Gosling, "Lars and the Real Girl"
8. Emile Hirsch, "Into the Wild"
9. Tom Hanks, "Charlie Wilson's War"
10. Mathieu Almaric, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

Best Actress
The Best Actress race is more wide open than the Best Actor race. Many people are consistently predicting Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose." I personally did not like the film. She was good, but the film was so bad that it undermines her performance. I think there are three actresses that could win this race. Keira Knightley has a legitimate shot for "Atonement," but I think her chances of a win dwindle everyday. Ellen Page has gained much momentum for "Juno." I thought she was phenomenal in "Hard Candy," and I hope she is as good in "Juno" as she was in "Hard Candy." Amy Adams could also pull off a surprise win for "Enchanted." She has received universal raves. I'm seeing this film tomorrow (actually today), and I should have a review of it later. Many contenders from earlier in the year seem to have decent shots at nominations. Julie Christie would be deserving of a nomination for her performance in "Away from Her." I am campaigning Angelina Jolie's performance in "A Mighty Heart." I would like to see Amber Tamblyn nominated for "Stephanie Daley," but that's impossible. It seems like I am the only one that has seen that film. I also thoroughly enjoyed Tang Wei's brave performance in "Lust, Caution," but a nomination seems unlikely. Laura Linney is also overdue for a nomination, and "The Savages" could be the film to get her that nomination. I think Helena Bonham Carter should have been kept in supporting for "Sweeny Todd," and maybe this will change.

MY PREDICTIONS
1. Amy Adams, "Enchanted"
2. Ellen Page, "Juno"
3. Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"
4. Keira Knightley, "Atonement"
5. Angelina Jolie, "A Mighty Heart"

6. Laura Linney, "The Savages"
7. Julie Christie, "Away from Her"
8. Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Ege"
9. Helena Bonham Carter, "Sweeny Todd"
10. Tang Wei, "Lust, Caution"

Weekend Update.

This weekend actually felt like a productive weekend. I was able to finish my English paper as well as study for my History test (Which I just took, and it was really easy.). I also got a haircut. It sucks. I like my hair long, but my hair gets in my eyes and irritates me. The lady that cut it obviously does not know how to cut in a straight line. Anyways, I decided to reward myself and see a few films. Here are just brief reviews of what I saw.

"Sleuth" (***)
Sleuth is an intriguing cat and mouse, battle of the wits film. It is intriguing and expertly written. The film thrives on the intercourse between Michael Caine and Jude Law. The conversation between them is always captivating and makes for an interesting character study of each. Both Michael Caine and Jude Law give good performances. Jude Law did seem over-the-top at times. He was very maniacal. I think he could have gone with a more subdued performance, but what he did worked. The film dragged somewhat in the middle, but it quickly regains its footing. The cinematography and art direction were also expertly done. The beginning sequence when you see the initial encounter between Jude Law and Michael Caine was captured beautifully through the lens of the security camera; it was a great way to film that segment. Overall, "Sleuth" is a very good film, and it is a shame that its box office intake is so low. This is a film that deserves to be seen.


"Love in the Time of Cholera" (*1/2)
"Love in the Time of Cholera" is a film that had potential, but instead is one of the worst films of the year. Its a love story that follows a mans "devout" love for a woman which spans over 50 years. I have not read the novel the film is based upon, but it is considered a classic. The film, however, is anything but. The story thrives on the thread that these two characters love each other. It seemed like they barely knew each other, and the love never seemed authentic. The characters did not make us believe that they were in love. Some of the dialogue was extremely cheesy. The actors try their best with the roles given to them, but there is not much they can do. The part I found most amusing was towards the end when Javier Bardem's character confesses to his lover that he is a virgin and has waited 53 years for this moment. What is even worse is the viewer is supposed to believe that he has slept with over 600 women. If I have to compliment this film on anything, it has to be the makeup team. They did an excellent job aging the actors. It's pathetic, however, when the makeup crew is the best part of the whole film.

"August Rush" (***)
"August Rush" is a good feel good movie that could have been great. The story is about an orphan who runs away in search of his parents. He says he can hear them and is following the music. His father is in search of his mother, and his mother is in search of her son. It is about all these people in search of something. It is a predictable, cliched story that asks the audience to suspend their belief to believe the impossible and buy into the coincidences. Sometimes, it is easy for the audience to do this. The viewer gets caught up in what is going on and is fully engrossed. Other times, the viewer looks at the film and questions in disbelief what is going on. The film just wasn't consistently captivating. The scenes that were, however, were highly entertaining and were some of the moving, best scenes of the year. I just wish the whole film was like this.

My Ramblings on the Oscar Race

I have not done a post on the state of the Oscar race in awhile, and I think it is about time that I get my thoughts out. It is the middle of November, and the Oscar season is underway. This is, for me at least, the best time of the year.

BEST PICTURE
I think the only assured nomination this year is "Atonement." I had previously thought that "There Will Be Blood" was guaranteed a nomination; however, even though early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, some consider it not the Academy's cup of tea. I'm pretty sure that "Juno" will also be nominated. This is the only real comedy in my opinion that stands a chance at a Best Picture nomination. I think this is a serious contender to win the top prize, a dark horse in the race. "No Country for Old Men" is expanding today, and the critics seem to love this film. Reviews have been great. I had previously thought that the Academy would not go for this film, but I do not see how they can ignore the deafening buzz it is garnering. "Sweeny Todd" is also a strong contender. After seeing the preview I have my doubts. From early word of mouth, Johnny Depp's singing voice is not that spectacular, but the film is supposed to be one of Tim Burton's best. Universal seems to be keeping "Charlie Wilson's War" under wraps, and I do not even know what to think of this film. "American Gangster" has received some favorable reviews and is having an amazing box office run, but I just do not think it is Best Picture material.

My predictions:
"Atonement"
"No Country for Old Men"
"Juno"
"There Will Be Blood"
"Sweeny Todd"

I hopefully want to analyze the remaining categories sometime next week, so be looking for those.

Procrastination.

I really do not feel like doing any of my homework, so I think I'll write on my blog. Right now I am working on the rough draft of my speech outline. I have to present and solve the problem that exists with assisted suicide. I pretty much know what I want to say; the hard part is just actually typing it. You see, when I get online my fingers magically type the words facebook.com in the browser or one of the many movie sites that I like to check daily. It seems like I go on one of the sites, look at it for five minutes, close it out, look at the blank document that is supposed to be one of my papers, and then I end up back on the previous site like something new is suddenly on it.

This weekend is going to be hell. I have a paper to work on in English, and luckily that goes along with my speech. Hopefully, I won't be up too late working on that. I also have my History paper that I have been working on forever (a.k.a staring at a blank sheet of paper). I also have a film paper due in the beginning of December. Now that is a paper that I am actually not worried about. FINALLY! I love movies, and I am doing pretty well in the course.

Speaking of movies......This weekend I plan on going to see "Sleuth," "the sneak preview of "August Rush," and maybe "Love in the Time of Cholera." I should have reviews of all these films soon. That is another thing I do besides my schoolwork-- go to the movies. I am always there. I may get tired of sitting in my jail cell and decide to venture out into society. Somehow I always end up at the movie theatre......strange. In my defense, Oscar season has started. I am considering being a film critic if I can't actually make movies, so the Oscar season can be very "educational" to enhancing my learning. Friday morning there is a screening of "The Mist" which I really want to see, but it interferes with school goddammit. I was thinking about missing it, but that just wouldn't be right. I guess I can wait a few days to see it when it is released. But that means I have to pay for it!

Well I think I should stop rambling on. I think I could go on forever typing in this post and make it the world's longest post. I just REALLY do not want to finish my speech outline. Ok I'm logging off before I start typing anymore.

"Beowulf" (*1/2)

I do not exactly know what to think of "Beowulf" after my initial viewing. It is a visually mesmerizing film that should be considering revolutionary in modern cinema, a step forward. On the other hand, the script is so blatantly awful that the only thing that kept me interested was the 3D effects.

"Beowulf," in the beginning, follows the classic epic pretty accurately, but as the film progresses it stretches farther and farther away from the source material. The basic story follows Beowulf, a vain hero who can defeat anything he fights. Once Beowulf defeats the monstrous Grendel, he becomes enraptured with Grendel's mother, hopelessly falling for her seduction. The book does not have anything about Grendel's mother being seductive, and the love story is no where in the text, at least not to my knowledge. I read the book my senior year and did not particularly care for it. I found Beowulf to be a vain bastard; he came off as annoying. I think that was intentional so I am not going to bash the book for that, but the book is definitely not one of my favorites. The new events expressed in the film are interesting and weaken Beowulf, makes him more human. I liked this aspect of the film, but it was totally unexpected. This infuriated me in a way because I was expecting something and got something totally different. It was an interesting idea, but it should not have played such a dominant role in the second portion of the film. It seems like since Angelina Jolie was cast as Grendel's mother, this part of the film was put in just to take advantage of her sex appeal.

The dialogue in the film is cheesy and filmed with innuendos. This was intentional, but the audience is laughing at the film, not with it. I just did not think "Beowulf" should have been as comedic as it was portrayed. The camera angles during Beowulf's fight against Grendel were also amusing, garnering plenty of laughs from the audience. It seemed like the camera was playing see how many different angles we can use to conceal Beowulf's penis.

Now, the thing that did work for the film was the visual effects. If you cannot see the film in 3D in your area do not bother going to see it. I think the 3D effects were put to the best use in this film than any other film I have seen. Past 3D films like "Monster House," "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and "Superman Returns" have all been in 3D, and while there was a difference, I did not really feel like anything was popping out at me. This is not the case with "Beowulf." The battle scenes are exhilarating and would not have been the same in the 2D format. The 3D effects were the only reason that my eyes did not start venturing over to the nearest exit sign.

The animation was interesting and looked quite authentic at times. There were other times, however, that the characters looked like wax figures. This is especially noticeable in the first song that the queen (Robin Wright Penn) sings. The technology is advancing, but it has not been perfected yet. There are still a few kinks that could be worked out, but it is still a huge step forward for future filmmaking.

Overall, "Beowulf" is a valiant effort. The visual effects are outstanding; it is just too bad they could not have been used on a film featuring a much better script.

"Lions for Lambs" (***)

The reviews for Robert Redford's new film, "Lions for Lambs," have been mixed. I understand because the movie is biased, political propaganda. The film does not necessarily preach its message, but the viewer clearly knows the director's view on the "War on Terror." I, however, agreed with what the film was trying to say.

"Lions for Lambs" follows one of the newest trends in Hollywood narrative, that of the interconnecting stories. Arian and Ernest are two college buddies who decided to fight in Afghanistan to do something important with their lives. Meanwhile, there is Dr. Malley, who taught the two soldiers, who is trying to motivate a bright but lazy student. He draws parallels between this kid and Arian and Ernest, but the difference is that this kid is naturally intuitive while Arian and Ernest really had to work for their grades. Then their is the story of Senator Jasper Irving who is giving a journalist the exclusive story on a new strategy that is going to be implemented in Iraq (as they speak), which happens to be the mission that Arian and Ernest are a part of.

The story is pretty straightforward and easy to follow. There is a lot of dialogue also, but the discussion is all very interesting. The script raises some very thought-provoking questions. What are we doing in Iraq? When is the war going to end? How are we helping Iraq? Exactly how good is the media in America? Why do soldiers fight? How free is the media? This film clearly has an opinion, which may rub some people the wrong way.

The performances in the film are good. Meryl Streep is always good; she plays the journalist who does not completely buy the senator's story. She seems like the last journalist with the last bit of integrity in her, the last one who wants to actually report an honest story. Tom Cruise is also good as the politician who will do what it takes to become president. Finally, Robert Redford gives a good, fiery performance as the no-shit-taking professor. The actors are not the important part of the film; the script is the film's greatest asset.

The major problem I had with the film is it was very by-the-books. It seemed like a director's first feature. The editing was predictable. When the mission in Afghanistan goes wrong, the commanding officer says that he wants to speak with the bastard (except this word started with an f) who said the area would be clear. It then cuts to Tom Cruise's character, who came up with the plan. This is just one of the examples of how the structure of the film is predictable. It does nothing to defy the conventions of film. This is a good film; it just could have been one of the best of the year if constructed more originally.

Weekend

Tomorrow is Friday! This weekend has seemed like an eternity, and I am glad that it is finally coming to an end. Tomorrow, I am driving to Tupelo because my sister is getting married on Saturday. I am not too big on weddings, but I do not think it will be that bad.

I feel kind of bad because I am not even staying for the reception. Saturday is also the Memphis at Southern Mississippi football game. I have a few friends that go to Southern Miss, so I am going to go. I almost went to Southern Miss myself, and the campus and people are cool. The football team will probably lose, but hopefully they will surprise me. I am glad that I get the opportunity to see my friends though. I have met a lot of cool people in Memphis, but I miss my friends from high school.

Hopefully, it won't take me too long to get there. Mapquest said that the trip from Tupelo to Hattiesburg is around four hours. I can't speed becaue I got a ticket last time I drove through Mississippi. It was my first ticket so I can take a defensive driving course in Mississippi, and the ticket will not even show up on my record. That's better than paying the ticket. I was doing 94 in a 70, and if I paid the ticket it would be $172.

Sunday, I will probably try to leave early. I feel like I have so much schoolwork. I think the learning community is good, but it is a lot of work. I also have assignments in my two classes outside of the learning community. Th work just never seems to stop. My adviser is also trying to get me to take 19 hours next semester. That sounds crazy, like too much, but I am actually thinking about doing it. It would be the same number of classes, except I would have a class and a lab, instead of having a two hour class this semester. I think I am going to try it out, and if it doesn't work just drop a class.

Well, I need to get back to catching up with the never ending supply of work that I have.

Weekend Catchup.

I have been very involved in my studies this past week, and films provide a break from reality, a chance to leave my life and escape into someone's for a brief period of time. I took time out of my busy weekend to see two critically acclaimed films: "Lust, Caution" and "American Gangster." While I do not have time to offer full critical reviews of each film, I can briefly state my take on each.

"Lust, Caution" (***1/2)
"Lust, Caution" is director Ang Lee's followup to the universally hailed "Brokeback Mountain." "Brokeback Mountain" was an astounding film that should have won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and it remains as one of the best films of the decade. While "Lust, Caution" does not exceed Ang Lee's previous film, it does, however, establish itself as one of the best films of the year. The film is set during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai during World War II and follows the story of a group of theatre students who try to take part in the resistance. The film has a slow pace, but like "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," it is never boring. I was fully engrossed the entire time. Tang Wei delivers an amazing and brave breakthrough performance as Wong Chia Chi, a girl who has to disguise herself in ordr to infiltrate the enemy. She later involves herself in a torrid love affair with Mr. Yee, the man she is trying to bring down. The motif of the cigarette is very important to the film. Actors have to learn to smoke, and as the film progresses Tang Wei executes this habit well. It is a symbolic reference to her deception. The film does have some graphic sex scenes. Most of the time, I hate watching unnecessary sex and nudity in films. While the number of sex scenes could have been cut, I was not bothered by them in this film. Like last year's "Babel," the nudity progressed the film. Overall, this is a well-executed film led by an amazing performance by Tang Wei that I would highly recommend.

"American Gangster" (**1/2)
I also had the opportunity to catch Ridley Scott's latest, "American Gangster." This film is by no means a bad one; it just does not live up to the hype that I have been hearing about it. I halfway expected this. The story follows the rise and fall of Frank Lucas, a black heroin kingpin in Harlem. The script is not bad, but it does drag in places. Denzel Washington delivers a good performance as Lucas, but it is nothing Oscar-worthy. Personally, I enjoyed Joaquin Phoenix's performance in "We Own the Night" more. Russell Crowe is also noteworthy as the honest police investigator who helped bring Lucas down. His performance is good, but if the Academy wants to award him with a nomination this year they are better off seeing "3:10 to Yuma." The film accurately depicts the atmosphere of Harlem, but I did not fully invest in the lives of the characters to care enough about the movie. It is a good film that could have been tightened up somewhat, but it does not compare to last year's "The Departed," and definitely does not come close to other films in its genre like "The Godfather." I have a feeling, however, that because of the explosive box office gross as well as good reviews, we could see this film's name called during the announcement of the Oscar nominations.

Tomorrow, I should be catching an advanced screening of "Lions for Lambs," so make sure to watch out for that review coming soon.

"Lars and the Real Girl" (***)

I spent my Halloween night watching "Lars and the Real Girl." This quirky comedy follows Lars, an introvert, who orders a sex doll named Bianca off the internet, and they start a relationship. Now this is definitely a hard sell, especially to mainstream audiences. Instead, a film which easily could have been filled with vulgarities, turns out to be one of the most heart-warming films of the year.

The main reason the film works is it is skillfully written by Nancy Oliver. I don' expect the Academy to embrace this film and give her a nomination, but it is a possibility. The story is very sincere, and Lars is a well-developed character that the audience can really relate to and sympathize with. It is amusing to watch this relationship between Lars and Bianca develop. Lars is weaving a narrative between himself and this sex doll, and the viewer cannot help but be intrigued. He is living in this fantasy in which he is the puppeteer.

Now, a lot of the credit also has to be given to Ryan Gosling. This is a role unlike any other for this amazing young actor, and if in any other actor's hands the film may not have worked as well as it did. Last year Ryan Gosling gave my favorite performance of the year out of any of the acting categories. He was astounding in "Half Nelson," and while he does not top that performance in this film, he still delivers an Oscar-worthy performance. For the viewer to really invest in the film, the relationship between Lars and Bianca has to feel authentic. When Lars is having conversations with Bianca, it is like he is talking to any other human being. It is interesting to watch how this character is afraid of human contact, of human emotion. I think his mother's death had a great affect on how he views the world. Losing his mother has made him afraid of becoming close to anyone. His performance is really a spectacular feat, and Ryan Gosling continues to prove that he is one of the premier actors of his generation.

It was also interesting to see the effect that inanimate objects had on people throughout the film. As kids, our toys play important roles in our lives. They become our friends, and they are not just toys to us. We see them as real friends, items of comfort. Many of the characters illustrated this inner child. Lars had Bianca who helped him overcome his fears of his own emotions. One of Lars' co-workers collects action figures. They are important to him, and when Margo, another co-worker, hides them he is upset. Margo also has a teddy bear that means a lot to her. She is devastated when a noose is placed around him. The scene is which Lars performs CPR on the bear was very heart-warming. The viewer can also see Lars' blank as an important inanimate object in his life. His mother made it from him, and it comforts him, helping him try to remember the mother he never knew.

"Lars and the Real Girl" is a real delight that everyone should see. Before I sign out I would like to point out two things. First, the film was directed by Craig Gillespie who also directed "Mr. Woodcock." After, that horrible film, I didn't think Mr. Gillespie could make a good film, but he proved me wrong. He provides an assured hand, and directs the film carefully making sure that the audience can relate to it. On a final note, I just thought it would be amusing if Bianca the sex doll received a Best Supporting Actress nomination. I know this isn't possible, but she is very much a character in the film. In a year vacant of good supporting roles for females, I thought this idead would be interesting.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (****)"

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" is the best film to hit theatres this year. It is a great example of a near-perfectly crafted film. In spite of it two hour and forty minute running time, I never had to check the time. My eyes were suctioned to the screen taking in the beauty of this extraordinary film.

The story is epic in scope, and it takes its time arriving to the foregone conclusion. The viewer does not care that he or she already knows what is going to happen. The beauty of the film is getting to the point. Director Andrew Dominik makes sure not to rush the story, letting it play out slowly and methodically. The characters are fully developed, and the viewer is fascinated by them. The pacing works really well for the film, letting the viewer completely embrace and take in every scene. The voice over narration used had a kind of lyrical quality to them, and the score paired with it really stuck with the viewer.

There will probably be no better on-screen duo this year than Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck. Brad Pitt is extraordinary as Jesse James. His performance is very internalized. The viewer can see the hints of madness and extreme violence hiding behind his eyes. Brad Pitt also adds a sense of vulnerability to the character, and no scene better expresses this than when Jesse James attacks a boy. I also liked Richard Deakins cinematography because it helped say something about Jesse James. In many of the voice over scenes that talk about Jesse James, the outlines are blurred. To me, this symbolized that no one really understands who Jesse James was. The blurred outlines represent this misunderstanding of who Jesse James was. He was a complex man that many people did not fully know.

Casey Affleck also gives an amazing performance, even stealing the show from Brad Pitt. In my opinion, he gives the best performance of the year, but with the film lackluster box office take and mixed reviews, I doubt he will be nominated. His performance was reminiscent of Matt Damon's in "The Talented Mr. Ripley. " Casey Affleck plays Robert Ford, a man who is obsessed with trying to be a somebody. He refuses to be ordinary. He is the youngest in his family, and there really is nothing special about him. He lacks confidence, and he is determined to prove to himself and others that he can actually be something. He lives in the legacy of Jesse James, finding comparisons between themselves to try to find meaning in his own life. Casey Affleck gives Robert Ford a chilling voice that adds to the underlying jealousy of the character. He also takes to glancing around furtively, barely ever looking anyone in the eyes. When he kills James' cousin, he finds newfound confidence. He actually did something extraordinary, in his eyes. When he kills Jesse James, he believes that people will praise him. He defeated a giant; it's like David defeating Goliath. He believes that everything in his life was leading to this. He was in love with Jesse James and by killing him he was conquering him, becoming him.

These are two of the greatest characters written for the screen in recent years. The scene in which Pitt is taking a bath, and he asks Affleck if he wants to be him is a great scene that really sums up the film. The dinner table sequence is also interesting to watch. Pitt sits at one side of the table , having Affleck name the comparisons between the two. The whole time the viewer gets that sense of underlying violence from Pitt, and the way in which he watches Affleck, its like he is analyzing him (kind of like my film professor).

Overally, Andrew Dominik has made some excellent choices. The film moves at a methodical but comfortable pace that allows the viewer to get sucked in to the story. The cinematography is excellent and really helps establish that the character of Jesse James is a myth that many people don't understand. Affleck also turns in a groundbreaking performance, and if I had it my way he would win Best Supporting Actor this year. Overall, this is the best film this year, and it is a shame that more people have not embraced it.

Workload

It seems to be getting down to crunch time at the University of Memphis. I've been staying up late, willing myself to get my work done. The assignments just seem to be piling up, and there is no end in sight. I keep praying for it to stop, and hopefully it will come to an end soon.

Right now I am working on my Humanities paper, and I am completely lost. I have to discuss the American perceptions, ideologies, and myths in establishing leadership over American citizens and foreign nations. When I first read the assignment I quickly closed the application and did not bother looking at it again for a week. It all sounded like a bunch of gibberish to me, and my brain could not take the plethora of information. It would not be so bad if I only had to explain these concepts, but I have to relate them to two movies that we have watched in class as well as try to use as many of the readings that we have done this semester to support my thesis. I have a general idea about what I want to discuss; it is just hard trying to incorporate the films in them. I could briefly mention the films, but I think that the ideas that the films present are supposed to serve as the major foundations of our essays. Well, this paper is due in a week, and I hope I can get it done without sounding too stupid.

I also have a paper deadline coming up in my History class. The topic that I am writing about is the Salem Witch Trials. I have begun to research information on this topic, but I have yet to decide how I want to narrow it. I have come up with two ideas, but I am not sure how much I like them. I could either write about four of the accused people or I could look at the causes of the Salem Witch Trials. I just want to make sure that my paper is not boring. I have an A in the class, and the paper is worth two test grades. I do not want to lose everything that I have worked for.

In my learning community we also have this humongous group paer due in a month. It is a combination of our fourth speech and paper. We each have to talk about a problem in our chosen semester topics and present a solution. It wouldn't be so bad, but the final group paper is supposed to be anywhere from 40-48 pages. That seems like a lot, and I hope my group can manage it. I guess we will find out soon enough.

My Day.

My day started off well enough. Today is Thursday, and my first class does not start until 9:40 so I got to sleep in somewhat. My first class is Oral Communication, and this entire week people are giving speeches. I went on Tuesday, so the only thing I have to do in that class is comment on my peers' speeches.

In Introduction to Film today we got our midterm tests back. I was really nervous because I thought I had bombed that test. I am a film major so I figured I couldn't do too bad on it. When we finished taking the midterm I just knew that I did horrible, and I was wondering why I was a film major. I told my friends that I came here to major in film and if I'm not good at that I might as well go back to Louisiana where I could get in-state tuition. As it turns out I got a B on the test. That made my day. I was so excited. There weren't very many B's; most people received F's. In class that day Professor Auguiste went over the material that we did not know, and I quickly grasped the concepts that I did not understand. I asked him questions, and I seemed to know what I was talking about. Introduction to Film is a class that really interests me, and film is a medium that I understand. It's nice to have a class in which I know and care what I am learning about. It gives me confidence, making me believe that I can actually make it in the film industry, no matter the difficulties.

After class, I went to work in which I did nothing. On my way to my dorm I checked my mail. Now, about two weeks ago I had signed up to receive passes for a screening of "Reservation Road," a movie that was my most anticaipated film in the beginning of the year. I have been religiously checking my mail everyday for the past week and a half. Today, I happened to get the pass. This is good news, right? NO! The screening was for yesterday. I was so excited to see this movie, and now it looks like I am going to have to wait a few more weeks to see it. Plus, I am going to have to pay for it. Malco tentatively has it scheduled to open up there November 9, but with its poor boxoffice in-take, I am not sure if that is going to come here.

So right now I am pretty pissed. Hopefully, the great day that I was having earlier will reappear. Maybe the thought of going back home tomorrow to pick up my Mac will make things better. Who knows? I'm going to eat.

Capsule Reviews

A stampede of movies has opened up in Memphis over the past couple weeks. All of a sudden Memphis has become a movie lover's paradise, at least for the time being. Also, it is not like the theaters are being flooded with standard Hollywood crap, but they are showing engaging, adult dramas. Over the past few days I have seen a number of movies, so instead of boring you with my lengthy reviews, I am going to just write some quick short ones.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" (***)
Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas" has been brought to the big screen once again, this time in glorious 3D. The movie remains a classic, visual achievement, and this notion is only strengthened when in 3D. The songs are great, especially "This is Halloween" and "Sandy Claws." The film runs short, not even reaching the 80 minute mark. The story seems to steam along, and the characters could have been given more to do, but at least it is not like most Hollywood films that don't know when to end. The 3D effects keep the viewer engrossed in what is going on. If you get the chance, check this out.

"Things We Lost in the Fire" (***)
"Things We Lost in the Fire" is a slow-moving, character drama that features some strong performances from Halle Berry and Benicio del Toro. The film follows two people going through some rough times who don't really like each other. Even though they don't particularly like each other, they need each other. The non-linear structure worked really well, giving the viewer a sense of who Brian was. The film did have some cheesy dialogue in some parts and really seemed to drag at the end though.The extreme close ups really emphasize the raw emotion of the characters, intricately scrutinizing their suffering. The film is about loss and coping with what you don't have anymore. It is about the personal struggles people face, whether it be the loss of a husband or drug addiction. It is a refreshing film, though somber, that everyone should check out.

"Into the Wild" (***)
"Into the Wild" is a captivating meditation on human life featuring a breakthrough performance by Emile Hirsch. The dialogue is poetic at times and thought-provoking. The film features many supporting performances, the best coming from Catherine Keener and Hal Holbrook. Emile Hirsch gives a commanding performance that is exhilarating to watch. It is fascinating to watch this man try to find this freedom in the world by leaving society as he knew it. He obviously had a dark past, and he felt lied to by those who were supposed to love him. He escapes to the wild to try to figure out who he is. Though it is lengthy, it is always fascinating.

"Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (*1/2)
This should also be known as "Elizabeth: The Film that Shouldn't Have Been Made." The story plays like a soap that could have been shown on any television station. While Cate Blanchett does a fine job reprising the role of Queen Elizabeth, it pales in comparison to the first one, and I wasn't even extremely impressed with the first one. The film, however, is beautiful to look at, but there is no substance. It is just a soap that tries to pretend to be a good film by giving the viewer some beautiful images. But even those images couldn't keep my eyes from looking at the wall.

"Michael Clayton" (**1/2)
"Michael Clayton" is one of the better thrillers that has hit theatres recently, though it is not as good as "The Bourne Ultimatum." The film has a slow, deliberate pace which works for the most part. The story confuses the viewer in the beginning, but it starts to make sense later on. It was a well-written film, something that you don't see from thrillers today. It was stylized and intriguing with some really good performances. I think George Clooney did well; I'm just not sure if I would deem it Oscar-worthy. Tilda Swinton was also good, but I preferred her perfrmance in "Stephanie Daley" earlier this year, a film that people need to check out. Tom Wilkinson did the best job, always keeping the viewer intrigued, and could receive a nomination.

Those are my thoughts. I still haven't seen "Gone, Baby Gone" or "Rendition" yet. This weekend, six new films open in the Memphis area, but I'm going home so I won't be able to catch them. I probably will end up seeing "Saw IV" which is probably going to suck, but I just have to see it. "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" finally opens up here. I have been salivating at the mouth to see this film ever since I saw the trailer. "Lust, Caution," Ang Lee's latest opens up, which is a film that I am really excited about seeing. "The Darjeeling Limited" also comes to the Memphis area. Even though the reviews have been mixed, I'm going to see it because the word of mouth seems to be strong. And finally, "Lars and the Real Girl" is also a film that I am excited about checking out. Who wouldn't want to see a film about a guy who gets involved with a blow-up doll?

Busy, Busy, Busy

Right now I am working on a speech. It's not too bad; it's just that I have been working on this thing for days., even though it has felt like weeks. It seems like I just have so much to do and not enough time. I'm trying to balance work and fun so I won't go crazy.

After I finish this speech I have to work on my paper for English. The rough draft was a mess, and I have no idea how to fix it. I have to find a non obvious theme that is prevalent in all these articles that I picked. I can point out the obvious, but it is much harder when looking for those subtle themes that run through the essays. Hopefully, as I reread the articles for the twentieth times maybe I'll have some sort of epiphany and find a common theme.

Plus I have a paper coming up in History and in Humanities. The History paper I can deal with, the Humanities one.....not so much. I read the guidelines, and it all sounded like a bunch of gibberish to me. It is something along the lines of exploring the American theologies, ideologies, mythologies, and other ologies that I haven't heard of in these two movies that we watched. If we want an A we have to relate them to 99% of the readings that we have done this semester. All the other professors gave their students the paper topic of what they would do if the draft were reinstated. Why couldn't we have gotten that? Seriously, I have as much of a possibility of breaking the space-time continuum than writing a good, thought-provoking paper.

I did have time to see some movies this weekend. I actually made a lot of time for that. As you can see, I have my priorites in order. I saw "The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D," "Things We Lost in the Fire," "Into the Wild," and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." I should have mini reviews of all these films coming up. I'm trying not to write as many movie reviews on this blog because my English teacher is supposed to be reading this, and I don't want to bore him with all my thoughts on movies.

Well, I need to get back to my speech I guess. I'll probably only work on it for like another ten seconds, then I'll find something better to do with my time.

"Grace is Gone" (***)

"Grace is Gone" is a small film that boasts a strong central performance and a deftly written, yet familiar script.

Stanley Philipps works at Home Store "selling shit," while his wife is fighting in Iraq. He takes care of their two daughters while their mother is away, but the girls desperately need a mother in their life. One day, Stanley receives a visit by two officers informing him that his wife has died overseas. Stanly decides that rather than tell his two daughters what has just happened, he is going to take them on a road trip to wherever they want. The script is well-written and it is nice to see the film focus on a man losing his wife in the war, an aspect not commonly portrayed on film. The film is emotionally powerful, but as I was watching I felt like I had seen it before.

The performances also help to elevate this small film. John Cusack is this year's Sundance man. Last year it was Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson," and the year before that it was Terrence Howard in "Hustle & Flow." If the Academy sticks to this pattern that has recently developed, then Cusack is on is way to an Oscar nomination, but I'm not so sure about that. I'm not sure this film is going to be as big as "Hustle & Flow" was, and while "Half Nelson" was a small film, Ryan Gosling delivered the best performance last year out of any of the four acting categories. Cusack's performance is worthy; I'm just not sure the film is going to be able to garner much awards attention. Also good are the two girls, Dawn and Heidi. Shelan O'Keefe, in particular, is excellent as Heidi. She is very mature for her age, and she is able to hold her own with John Cusack. I would be surprised if she did not receive either some breakthrough performance awards or child awards this awards season.

Overall, this film is an emotional and powerful film, but it may be too small to receive much attention. While the script is well-written, it seemed like I had seen it before. The film, however, is worth checking out for Cusack's strong performance as well as a breakout performance from newcomer Shelan O'Keefe.

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (***1/2)

Last year Darren Aronofsky did it with "The Fountain," as well as Alfonso Cuaron with "Children to Men." These are filmmakers that test the boundaries of film, creating instant masterpieces that demand to be watched. Julian Schnabel has joined that elite group of filmmakers with "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," creating an original, visually intoxicating masterpiece.

The true story follows Jean-Dominique Bauby, the editor of Elle France, who suffered a stroke in 1995 that left his whole body paralyzed except for his left eye. Using a system of dictating his thoughts by blinking his eye, he is able to translate his inner thoughts into a memoir about the torment that his situation is putting him through (the diving bell) and the imagined places he sees in his mind to help cope with his predicament (the butterflies). Ten days after the publication of his memoir, Bauby would pass away. It is really a fascinating story of a man overcoming adversity. It does drag in parts, but it's hard for the viewer to take his or her eyes away from the screen.

The performances in the film are good. Mathieu Amalric is good as Bauby, but the film is seen mostly from his perspective, so it is hard to gauge his performance. Marie-Josse Croze is engaging as Bauby's speech therapist, Henriette. She is determined to help Bauby overcome insurmountable odds. Even though he is only on screen for two scenes, Max von Sydow delivers the most emotional performance as Bauby's father who has to cope with his own situation as well as his son's. He is unable to leave his apartment and dearly misses his son who is locked in his own body. The agony of this utter remoteness takes a great toll on him, and the scene in which he calls Bauby is very powerful.

While the story and performances may be good, the film excels visually. Most of the film is seen from Bauby's perspective. The viewer's view is limited to that one eye. When Bauby blinks, the camera shutters. The viewer is also able to hear Bauby's inner thoughts, creating a wonderful, poetic narration. Janusz Kaminski, in my opinion, should win Best Cinematography at this year's Academy Awards (still haven't seen The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, however), but I haven't even seen him on people's prediction pages. Julian Schnabel also should be nominated for Best Director, creating an riveting, emotional experience like no other film before.

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" is a modern masterpiece by a truly gifted filmmaker. The story, even though it may drag in parts, is engaging. The film's biggest strength is in telling a story by actually simulating one man's experience. It is a film that should be seen as one of the visually cinematic masterpieces of the decade.

"Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (***)

Before seeing Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," I had mixed feelings; I didn't know what to expect. I like heist movies, but I don't find them that intoxicating. Then again, this is Sidney Lumet.

Andy and Hank are two brothers in desperate need of money, so they hatch a plan to rob their parent's jewelry store. This is the basic premise of "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead." The film begins with the robbery. Hank is responsible for executing the robbery, but things go astray when he enlists the help of an accomplice to do the actual heist. No weapons were supposed to be involved, but his friend brings a gun in the store. One thing leads to another, and the accomplice ends up dead and the mother (who is not even supposed to be working that shift) is left in critical condition. From here, the film chronicles the days leading up to and after the heist, focusing on the lives of Hank, Andy, and their father, Charles.

The story is nothing original, but it works more as a morality tale. Essentially, the film is about family and how the ones that are closest to you can turn out to be your worst enemies. The film is about searching for love. Andy does not feel like he belongs to his family. He was always pushed to the background, his brother receiving all the attention. He even goes as far to ask his father if he was adopted. Andy is the mastermind behind the heist, and it doesn't seem so much as a scheme to get money, but as payback to the those who were supposed to love him. Andy's wife, Gina, is also searching for love. Unable to find it in her husband anymore, she begins an affair with his brother who is struggling to pay child support to his ex-wife.

The storyline may seem simple enough, but the film works because of its intricately developed characters. Philip Seymour Hoffman is quite good as Andy. He gives a fiery, intense portrayal of a man whose life is going downhill. His marriage is crumbling, work sucks, his mother is in the hospital because of the heist, and he may not even get away with it. His world begins to close in on him, and he eventually explodes. Ethan Hawke deftly plays his brother, Hank, who is in similar, dire circumstances. It's a good performance from Hawke, but he is overshadowed by Hoffman. Marisa Tomei plays Andy's wife. Her character is cliched and for the most part she just walks around naked. The best of the bunch is Albert Finney, who plays Andy and Hank's father and the husband to their mother. He perfectly portrays a husband intent on finding his wife's murderer. His performance is similar to that of Tommy Lee Jones' in "In the Valley of Elah."

Overall, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" is a better than average heist film that boasts some strong performances. It's a good story, but I felt like I had seen it before. I guess all heist movies just kind of seem the same to me. This film should be seen as a return to form, however, for the legendary Sidney Lumet. It's definitely a movie worth checking out.

Tired

My eyelids keep closing but I'm willing them to stay open. My body wants to sleep but my mind tells me that I cannot. All I want to do is fall asleep in my bed, even if it is a crappy dorm bed. Right now I am frantically trying to get all my work done so I can leave tomorrow night (technically tonight).

I've been eagerly anticipating going home, and I want to leave early, but as the minutes fly by that dream does not look like a reality. There is just too much that I have to do. I just finished studying for an Introduction to Film midterm; I still have to finish the paper in that class. I also had some readings to do in Humanities. I don't even feel like typing this journal, but I need one more entry before I can turn it in.

I'm going to try to wake up early in the morning to get some extra work done. I just feel like I have this neverending, insurmountable amount of work, and all I want to do is go home.

I really don't feel like it, but over my fall break, I am going to have to play catch up to get on top of all my work. Fall break is supposed to be a break, but apparently some people don't understand that concept. I live in Louisiana so when I go home I want to actually enjoy my trip. I have people to see and things to do.

Well I think I am going to go to bed finally. I still have to wake up early to try to get some of this work done. I wish I could go into hibernation and never wake up. Just chill in sleep, permament nap time. That would be amazing. But I guess if that happened I would be dead, so that kind of sucks. I'll just manage this work load, and it better pay off in the future.

"We Own the Night" (***)

I did not know much about "We Own the Night" when I walked into the auditorium. I was not expecting anything special, but the film caught me off gaurd and really surprised me.

Bobby Green is the manager of El Caribe, a club owned by a Russian family. These Russians are Bobby's new family. He has turned his back on his family. His father and brother are cops, and Bobby disassociates himself with them, even going as far as using his mother's maiden name so no one will connect him with his real family. Bobby is running a life of nonstop partying and drugs. Bobby's life, however, will change forever when his brother bust into the club in search of a Russian drugdealer.

When I saw the preview to this film I said to myself that this did not look like the type of film that I would enjoy, but the story is interesting, making many unconventional choices that I did not expect. The story played out differently than I believed. Some of the dialogue was cheesy, but it was easy to overlook. The script is a refreshing ray of light in an age where every film sounds the same. I think the reason I enjoyed the story is because I went in expecting this formulaic action thriller, but the film is neither. At its heart it is a character driven story.

Joaquin Phoenix gives another tour-de-force performance as Bobby Green. At times I forgot it was Joaquin Phoenix on the screen. He WAS Bobby Green. In today's celebrity-obsessed society it is hard for a character to so completely dissolve into his character that the viewer forgets who he is; he embodies Bobby. Right now this is my favorite performance of the year, but the awards season is just beginning. The rest of the cast do good jobs, but this is Joaquin's film. Eva Mendes gives her best performance to date as Bobby's girlfriend, Amanda. The pathetic thing about this is that her performance is just good. She does a good job with the source material and has some good scenes, but she is the most cliched character of the film, the suffering girlfriend. Also noteworthy are Mark Wahlberg and Robert Duvall as Bobby's brother and father. Both give good performances, but neither can match the screen presence of Joaquin Phoenix.

The film is also skillfully directed by James Grey. He does a good job in directing his actors and make some interesting choices. There isn't much music in the film. Instead, the film relies on sounds to create tension; for example, the sound of windshield wipers echo in the viewers' heads during a car chase sequence. The cinematography was also well done. When Bobby is about to walk down the hall and into this "drug factory" of sorts the camera does not move. Bobby walks ahead and is soon enveloped in the darkeness, symbolizing the ensuing troubles that are about to occur.

Overall, "We Own the Night" is a well-done film that I really enjoyed. If you go into the theatre with no high expectations like I did, then you should walk out pleasantly surprised. It may not be a perfect film, but it is better than most of what is out now.

"The Kingdom" (**)

What starts out as an interesting political thriller, winds up being nothing more that a formulaic film that tries to convey to its audience how high and mighty America is.

The film begins with a timeline showcasing major events between America and Saudi Arabia concerning oil. It is really a fantastic sequence, but too bad the rest of the film cannot live up to it. The film then cuts to a baseball game taking place inside a Western housing compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During the game terrorists attack the area killing many. Soon after the impending mayhem an explosion occurs, creating a major international incident. A special FBI team led by Ronald Fleury is assembled to go to Saudi Arabia to find out who is behind the attacks. This is the point where the film begins to drag. When men talk about pursuing a girl, most of the fun is in the chase. Well, the chase to find out who is behind the attacks in this film is not that exciting. The middle, turns out to be formulaic and dull.

The film tries to relay a political message to its audience about how superior America is to foreign countries. When the special forces are told to take the backseat in the investigation, Jamie Foxx's character tells the man, "Just let us Americans do what we're good at." Americanism unfortunately plays a major role in the film. In my Humanities class at the University of Memphis, we are told to look at America, among other things, from a different perspective. How do people in other countries view America? We are told to transcend borders in order to gain a wider knowledge of the world around us. I don't like it when America boasts its greatness. Many times when America does this, it inadvertently shows its ignorance as well.

The movie does work, however, when it illustrates universal parallels between the two nations. One example would be the theme of the importance of family. Jamie Foxx plays a father who wants to go to Saudi Arabia to exterminate the bad guys. He tells his son that he is trying to rid the world of these bad guys. Some of the films most tender moments occur between Fleury and his son whether it be in the classroom or over the phone. Al Ghazi is a Saudi Colonel who is assigned to the Americans to aid them in their investigation. He has two daughters and a son and could be considered a family man. There are a few scenes that show his family. To me, this was important because it made parallels between the two nations. Another example, would be at the end of the film. It goes back and forth between a Saudi mother asking her son what his grandfather whispered to him and Jason Bateman asking Jamie Foxx what he whispered to Jennifer Garner. Both responses were, "Don't worry. We're going to kill them all." It shows that no matter what nationality a person is from they all share certain similarities and emotions, they are all humans. This is when the film works the best.

Thoughts about Memphis and Fall Break.

I really like the University of Memphis and the people here. As of now, I definitely plan on staying here for my four years in college. My dad told my brother that he did not think that I would last a semester. He said that he believed I would end up homesick, come back home, and go to the University of Southern Mississippi. Even if I hated the campus I would at least stick it out two semesters just to prove him wrong.

With my distance from home and the recent on campus tragedy, my mom has also stated that I have to call her everday. I do not really have to say much. I just have to call, say, "Hey Mom, I'm alive," and hang up.

Next weekend, however, is fall break, and I'm going home! I could not be more excited. I have not gone home once since arriving on campus, and I am eagerly anticipating seeing my other friends again. While I am home I will be attending the New Orleans Film Festival. I went last year and cannot wait to go back. I will be seeing "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," and "Grace is Gone."

I also am excited to see my nephew. I babysat him a lot during the summer, and we became very close. He will turn one on December 8. He is the epitome of a perfect kid.

Other random things that I want to do are go back to my high school to see some of my teachers and go to Southern Miss. I have a really good friend that goes there, and her fall break is directly after mine. I will probably also end up going to LSU where many of my friends go, but I think their fall break is the same as mine so hopefully they will be home.

Textual Analysis

I just turned in the final draft of my textual analysis today, and hopefully I will get a decent grade on it. For my paper, I chose to analyze the word assisted suicide in numerous texts. It is an interesting topic to discuss because many people have different perspectives on the issue depending on their morals.

On Wednesday Professor Duncan handed back our rough drafts of the paper. He said that my rough draft was a solid start, but he gave me a few suggestions. First off, he asked me how the term is used politically. I found a few politicians' views on the issue, but I could not find a way tp incorporate them into my paper. When I tried to add a senator's quote in my paper, it sounded out of place, so I decided to just leave it out. I was also asked where the term originated. Now, I did not find where the term assisted suicide originated, but I did find out how the broader concept of euthanasia was first used. It used to be referred to as a pleasant state of mind, and I added this information to my paper when I talked about how euthanasia and assisted suicide was perceived before the Hippocratic Oath. Mr. Duncan also stated that I should find an article that states if the government tries to intentionally miseducate the general population by having them believe that euthanasia and assisted suicide are the same thing. Unfortunately, I was unable to find this information. The articles that I found for my paper distinguished assisted suicide from euthanasia. This theory, however, is interesting, and I would like to pursue it.

Overall, I believe that my paper did an adequate job of defining assisted suicide through the use of several sources. Now, I get to look forward to that wonderful synthesis paper (Did you notice the sarcasm?).

"Eastern Promises" (**1/2)

There really isn't anything majorly wrong with David Cronenber's new film, "Eastern Promises;" it just does not live up to the high expectations that I had for it. "A History of Violence," Cronenberg's last film was a modern masterpiece, a marvel of a film, and his latest one just can't live up to it.

Anna Khitrova is a midwife who is investigating the background of a mother who died in her ward while giving birth. This leads her to the Vory V Zakone, the Russiana mafia. She investigates the family's role in the woman's death and strikes up a friendship with their driver, Nikolai Luzhin. The story is a fairly simple one. It is told pretty straightforward, but there is an interesting twist towards the end that I did not see coming. I just didn't find the story as engaging as Cronenber's previous films. The story isn't a bad one; I was just expecting more.

The performances in the film are pretty good. Viggo Mortensen, once again, delivers a great performance. I really hope he decides to work with Cronenberg again. His performance may not be as good as his turn in "A History of Violence," but it is a creepy, brave one that may get awards attention. The rest of the cast do well, but they can't match Viggo. Naomi Watts character is well-developed, and she delivers a good performance, but it is just not as good as her previous roles. Armin Mueller-Stahl is also noteworthy.

Overall, David Cronenberg has composed a good film. It just falls a little flat compared to his previous works. One good thing that I do see coming from this film; however, is the beginnings of a great and hopefully long relationship between Cronenberg and the film's star, Viggo Mortensen.

Random Happenings.

I haven't really posted in awhile, but I need one more post this week to meet Mr. Duncan's quota. Here is what has been going on in my life. I was going home this weekend, but now I'm not. My parents didn't think I should waste the gas money. I'm hopefully going to order my Mac this weekend; I'm pretty excited.

I also want to go see two movies this weekend. I didn't get a chance to see "Eastern Promises" last weekend so I'm going to go this weekend. Also, test screenings for "The Kingdom" have been surprisingly good, so I'm going to try to go see that. One thing that I am really mad about is I have really been looking forward to seeing "Across the Universe," but it is still not playing here. It seems like I have been waiting forever to see this film. I don't see how a film, "In the Valley of Elah," who is doing worse than "Across the Universe," could get two screens at my local independent theatre and "Across the Universe" can't even manage one.

Saturday I am going to order tickets for the New Orleans Film Festival. I only plan on seeing three films this year: "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," and "Grace is Gone." I went last year and had a great time; I expect to do the same this year.

Also, to keep everyone up to date, that is if anyone even reads my posts, I'm going to try to have a regular Oscar column. I want to keep a chart on the side with a list of my predictions, and I will do that once I find out how. I just have to find the time to figure it out.

In Response.

I created this blog because for my freshman English class at the University of Memphis we have to write a journal. Mr. Duncan, my professor, suggested that people write their journals in the form of a blog; I immediately took to this idea. I always wanted to start a blog, but I was never really motivated enough. This assignment has served as my motivation.

Now, for the most part, I have been using this blog to give my opinions on certain movies and the upcoming awards season. I have posted a few other articles not related to movies, but for the most part that is all I have been discussing. Movies are my passion, and I am constantly thinking about them.

Mr. Duncan also said that we should use our journal to answer questions that he writes on our papers. Well, I just got my first graded paper back in his class, and while he did not ask me any questions, he did make a comment to me that I would like to thank him for.

When he handed my paper back he asked me, "Are you sure you don't have a secret identity?" Now, I took this to mean that he was asking me if I write under another alias. (Hopefully, this is what he meant by it, because if not then I am sounding really stupid now.) It was an extremely nice thing to say that really moved me. It is the best praise that I have probably ever received, and I am very thankful. Writing is one of my passions, and I am an aspiring screenwriter or film director. A lot of the time I think to myself, "Do I have what it takes to make it in such a difficult, competitive field?" It scares me. This is what I want to do with my life, and I don't know what else I would do.

When I receive high praise like this I am very honored. It gives me hope and lifts my spirits; it makes me think that I can be one of the next generation of filmmakers. It reassures me that I am not moving towards a false dream but an actual reality. Thank you.