'Public Enemies' Trailer

Michael Mann may have a hit on his hands with this. It looks, at the very least, like Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard are going to be wonderful in the film.

Bale Schmale

So these Christian Bale rants and hurls of abuse have been going around the net. I have received them in emails with subject likes like "What a Twat" and "Such an Asshole".
I wasn't going to write about it until I received my 7th email (at work of all places) on the subject.

People need to get over themselves. I have behaved like a right twat to my loved one before (sorry honey), but I am not a celebrity so I doubt there is ever anyone recording it.
This happens all the time in Hollywood and people get up on their high horses and judge. I mean lets face facts, we are all living in glass houses throwing stones.

Sure Christian lost it. But he has apologized for it, the guy the rants were aimed at doesn't care. It is over. Why do people give a f*ck?

I love movies, and I especially love good actors. I do not care if Russell Crowe throws a phone at a hotel worker or Lily Tomlin and David O. Russell f*ck each other off or Alec Baldwin calls his daughter a 'little pig'. Why should I? I do not live their lives. I just care about what they put out on screen.

I mean I love 'Dancer in the Dark', even though I know Lars Von Trier treated Bjork like crap on the set. He still got magic out of her and the end result was sublime.

All I know is that the Bale incident happened last summer and it is finally making it's way onto the internet now, just after 'The Dark Knight' lost out on an Oscar nomination and is getting even more hype and his next film 'Terminator: Salvation' hits theaters this summer. Nice coincidence.

We do like to bring them down when they are on top don't we.

As for me, I couldn't give two shits really. He is a good actor and a hot one at that. I do like a man with a bit of fire in him.

MAFFE Awards 2008!! The Lead Actors

Casey Affleck - "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

Simply stunning work.
His Ford is both creepy and pathetic.
Shows the danger of fandom.


Christian Bale - "3:10 to Yuma"

His everyman father doing something brave and ridiculous to prove himself to his son was heroic work.
You wished he would just turn back.


Daniel Day-Lewis - "There Will Be Blood"

What can I say that has not been said already by much better writers?

A simply towering performance.


James McAvoy - "Atonement"

For an iconic performance his Robbie Turner is up there with Day-Lewis.
You believed in his love, his passion and finally his despair. Your heart breaks for Robbie.


Viggo Mortensen - "Eastern Promises"

Minus the fact that he is incredibly sexy in the role, his is also amazing. His slight character shifts are so slight as to not give him away. You wonder how he did it.


Gorden Pinsent - "Away From Her"

For all the Hosanna's bestowed upon his co-star, people forget that he has the much more difficult role.
You feel his longing and pain as he looks at the woman he loves but who doesn't know him anymore.

Mini Reviews….The Catch up!!

I am going to make there as brief as possible so bear with me as I condense two hours of cinematic time down to a few lines.


Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Cold and calculated. Aside from the wonderful costumes, eye popping art direction and wonderful black white and red cinematography there is nothing else of substance (something most Tim Burton films leave me thinking). Sure you can still appreciate the genius of Sondheim’s lyrics and music, but I was expecting more.

Johnny Depp just seems to walk around with a constant scowl, while the usually wonderful Helena Bonham Carter, whilst being very comical does not have the singing voice for this. I could hardly understand what she was singing about most of the time. I kind of wish they had cast Toni Collette in the role.
All in all a missed opportunity
C


3:10 to Yuma

Call this the year of the westerns. Rancher Dan Evans (a wonderful sad and haunted performance by Christian Bale) heads into a near town when he witnesses the closing events of a stagecoach robbery lead by famed outlaw Ben Wade (The reliable Russell Crowe).
Wade is captured by the law and Evans finds himself one of the escorts who will take Wade to the 3:10 to Yuma train (get the title now??) for the reward of $200.

The reason for Evans taking this trip is not only to save his land with the money, but to be seen as a hero in his sons eyes.

Wade and Evans form a strange bond on the journey. Wade has spent most of his life destroying lives and families, and he sees Evans as something he would like to, but can never be….a noble man.

The transport is hazardous as they are constantly being pursued by Wade's vengeful gang (including the scenery chewing Ben Foster).
While watching Bale held my attention there is only so much one can take of constant shot-em-ups. The western is something that has never really excited me as a film genre, and while the filmmaking and acting is wonderful I just found myself wondering why all this killing had no moral.
B


4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days)

Director Cristian Mungiu’s film is one of the most harrowing films I have seen in a long time. The feeling of dread and fear he manages to capture is astonishing when you think there is no score to tell you what to feel, and no villain to be fearful of.

During the course of one day in 1987 in Communist Romania, Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) helps her friend and roommate Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) to get a late-term abortion done (at that time, any sort of abortion, as well as any kind of contraceptive were illegal in Romania).

The camera follows Otilia around, as she helps her friend, who is too scared to be of help. To talk more about the film will give far too much away. This is one of those films that needs to be seen not just for the amazing acting but to see how it is possible to create such fear and dread in a viewer with out violence or mountains of gore. Just the idea that something could go wrong is enough for your heart to be in your throat.
Such a shame Anamaria Marinca was not considered for awards attention as she gives one of the best performances of the year. She plays the more head strong of the two girls who makes the decisions and has to live with them. The scene at the dinner party is harrowing and entirely played on her face. This actress does not play one false note. A sublime performance in an amazing film.
A-

Christian Bale - Hot Mo Fo

He is the thinking man/womans peice. Yummy with a big ole spoon. May you get your recognition...and soon!!

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns teaser trailer - bootleg

This sneak peek that has appeared really gets me excited, espeically when we hear Heath as The Joker.
I am utterly convinced he can pull this off.
I am covered in goose bumps at the thought. This is my only 'Can't Wait' movie. Kind of sad considering Oscar season is around the corner, and this is almost a year away.
Watch before it gets taken down.

Sorry, it did! but you can see it here (slow as shit)