Marching

Racism is very ugly. We all know this, unless of course, dear reader, you are a racist and have no idea what the word means.

In 1965 three marches took place that helped turn the tide for the African-American struggle for equality. The marches were from Selma, Alabama to Mongomery which was 57 miles and would last 5 days. The reason for the three marches is that due to police beating, tear gas and violence, the first march never got to the destination.

For the second march Martin Luther King Jr. gathered hundreds of people to march however an injunction was put on the march preventing it reaching Montgomery.

The third march made it.


Please forgive my horrendous slimming down of a Historical event. Please read more about it here.

My reason for posting this is because Lee Daniels is going to direct the film version. This story of hope and determination against immense odds is nothing new to Daniels, and given his need to try and get emotional truth over on the screen leads me to believe this could be very powerful stuff.

Perhaps he could be back in the Awards race next year as well?

Mo'Nique rocks

All this backlash against the woman not doing any PR for 'Precious' is a load of hooey. Love it when people's bad intentions end up making them look so petty. Gossip mongers!

Anywho I was doing my usual searches for anything 'Precious' related on You Tube last night and came across these two, different, yet very entertaining interviews.

The first is from 'The Ellen Show'. It i strange the Ellen seems completely unprepared for Mo'Nique, it is almost as though she is really intimidated of her.
Mo'Nique is wonderful though. She looks great, is extremely honest and unsentimental and most importantly never comes across as wanting an award.
Love the bit at the end when she talks about her weight loss, but still Ellen just didn't seem able to cope.



A much better interview was on the Late Night Show with Craig Ferguson. She was sexy, sassy, extremely funny and her rap pour with Ferguson is priceless.



Both of these interviews prove one thing to me. There is nothing I would rather see then this force of nature on stage accepting an Oscar and giving a speech. I mean how awesome would she be?
I also love how she both praised Gabby and constantly says that the success of the film and her performance is all due to Lee Daniels. It is modestly, but it never comes off as false.
I honestly think should she not win or even get nominated, she will not really mind. It seems that doing this film was reward enough.
I think she would be more upset should Gabby or Lee be passed over.

Also interesting is this interview over at Interview Magazine where Mo'Nique interviews Gabby.

'Crazy Heart' trailer

Or 'let's call the whole thing off'.
Does Jeff Bridges deserve an Oscar? Absolutely.
Will he finally win one this year for 'Crazy Heart'? More than likely.
Does this performance deserve it? We shall see.
All the tricks are there though;
Singing, Alcoholism, Accent, Redemption and a trailer that lets everyone know it is the performance of a lifetime. Jeez! Hold our hand why don't you Fox.
The poser design is wonderful though. Very impressed - it screams "BEST ACTOR!!!"

It will be a Clooney vs. Firth vs. Bridges, vs. Freeman. BRING IT ON!
Right now, since I have not seen any of the films, I would like to see Colin Firth win an Oscar and Bridges. However is Morgan Freeman is amazing then give it to him. So many unseen films! Eeek!


Can Maggie Gyllenhaal make it in as well. Would she be lead or supporting and ride in on Bridges coat tails?

What an excellent song for an exorcism.

With articles like this you cannot help but feel there may be a 'Precious' juggernaut coming. Mary J. "the devil got me" Blige has gone deep within and battled the demons to write the song from 'Precious'.
If ever there was a best original song PR opp, this is it.


The power of Christ compels her.

Predictions Updated

Well I have decided to completely update my Oscar predictions in a few categories.

I started with Best Picture. Nothing really added here, just a lot of movement from before.

Where there is great changes is in Best Actress. People say it is a weak race, but my word, there are 15 possible contenders (16 if you add Meryl's number two). Added are Helen Mirren, Marion Cotillard, Brenda Blethyn, Sandra Bullock, and for shots and giggles, Catalina Saavedra. At this point this category is looking pretty full with only the 5th slot up for grabs, unless Mirren slips.

Same goes for Best Supporting Actress. It is filling up with only Mo'Nique as a lock. The next safest looks to be Julianne Moore but then we have a free for all for the last slots. Emma Thompson, Rosamund Pike, Mélanie Laurent, Rachel Weisz, Samantha Morton, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Mariah Carey, Vera Farmiga, Susan Sarandon, Penélope Cruz and Anna Kendrick. It could honestly go any which way but obvious.

'London River' - Trailer

Since it is getting it's qualifying run for Oscar in L.A. I felt it was worth posting the trailer.
The main attention if for Brenda Blethyns performance, which is a very unlikely contender for the final five. However she, when she holds back, is an amazing actress, and to break your heart as if it was a glass Christmas decoration.

'Leap Year' - Trailer

Or how there is no point seeing the movie after watching this.


Oh Amy....challenge yourself. Goode looks hot though.

She loved Oscar

Way back on the 8th of March I asked who should have won the 1994 Lead Actress Oscar.
You voted in the 10's and I can safely say it is time to move onto another poll.

In 5th place with 2% of the vote was Susan Sarandons slight performance as Reggie Love in 'The Clients

In 4th place we have the eventual Oscar winner, Jessica Lange in 'Blue sky' with 7%

In 3rd place the most famous shoplifter ever, Winona Ryder with 12% of the votes

In close, but no cigar 2nd place we have the wonderful Jodie Foster for wild woman performance in 'Nell' with 33%.

And in first place, we have a woman who should be acting so much more than she is.

Miranda Richardson in 'Tom & Viv' with 45%.
The film told the true-life story of the relationship between T. S. Eliot and his first wife,Vivienne Haigh-Wood.

They were married in 1915 after a very brief courtship and separated in 1933 though they never divorced.

1994 was the last time Miranda was invited to the Academy awards as a nominee.

Now she mainly focuses on television with a pilot filmed called 'Rubicon' in which she played a New York socialite who finds herself drawn into the central intrigue of a think tank, after the death of her husband.

Nothing is heard of this show yet, but she also is filming three films for release next year. 'We Want Sex' with Sally Hawkins, Rosamund Pike, and Bob Hoskins. 'Telepathy' with Sam Neill and a little film about a teenage wizard....Harry something.


The next poll will centre on that age old battle of the Supporting Actresses.

The year was 1994 and five woman wanted gold. One from Suffolk, England, one from Boston, U.S.A., one from London, England another from Kansas, U.S.A., and finally a girl from California.


Who should have won the big prize?

Rosemary Harris – Tom & Viv as Rose Haigh-Wood
Helen Mirren – The Madness of King George as Queen Charlotte
Uma Thurman – Pulp Fiction as Mia Wallace
Jennifer Tilly – Bullets Over Broadway as Olive Neal
Dianne Wiest – Bullets Over Broadway as Helen Sinclair

Mini Review - '2012'

The special effects were really good.

Grade - F

Look at the pretty

.....and Vincent Cassel

Darren Aronofsky directs a thriller that hones in on the relationship between a veteran ballet dancer and a rival who may or may not be real.

Natalie Portman plays the dancer in question, Mila Kunis is the rival, Winona Ryder plays the previous lead dancer of the company. Barbra Hershey plays Portmans mummy, and Cassel is the suspicious theater director.

Colour me intrigued.

'Wolfman' posters

Totally yesterdays news, but still these are bloody great designs.
People constantly say that movie making is an art form, yet so few poster campaigns adhere to that.
It is very rare when a poster design gets you excited.

X-Men - The Ladies

So after posting my little post about the X-Men 3 film, and then going off in a Storm tangent, I have been thinking about the ladies of X-Men and how when thinking of a spin off movie for the franchise, they never go to the women. Am I the only one who would love to see these ladies in action?

Rogue

Not the Anne Paquin version, but the version where she is a kick ass girl who can control her powers.
Not only can she drain people of thier power/life, she can also use it to heal herelf, and also take on other mutants characteristics for days, sometimes weeks on end. This could cause her to be temporarily unstoppable.
As long as she used her powers for good - does she go to the dark side?



Jubilee

She has not made the films yet, but since I am all for ethnic diversity, why could we not have a Chinese American mutant?
SHe is able to generate blinding and explosive energy "fireworks" that can do a lot of damage.
When she first comes into the X-Men she is very close with Wolverine, they have a father daughter relationship until she leaves for L.A. to pursue an acting career. Unfortunately she is cast in nothing but stereotypical Asian roles.
I totally smell an indie action/comedy.



Shadow Cat

Or Kitty Pride as she is better known. Well she can walk through solid objects. Kitty also shares a sort of mental or empathic connection with Lockheed (her pet dragon); both she and the alien dragon can 'sense' each other's presence at times.
Besides her mutant powers, Kitty is a genius in the field of applied technology and computer science. Shadowcat is highly talented in the design and use of computer hardware.
I sense a high tension weapons thriller, with cute dragon side-kick.



Lady Deathstrike

Yuriko Oyama deserved a bigger part, and why not her own film.
Like Wolverine she was virtually indestructible, so why killed off so easily?
Perhaps bring her back as the ultimate villain for Wolverine. People seem to think because she is a women he can defeat her.
She has many interesting stories (romance with Wolverine, turned into a cyborg, working with terrorists)
Give her a star billing.



Scarlet Witch

She has the ability to alter probability; making the highly improbable more likely possible.
I smell a Vegas trip!
In the Ultimate X-Men comics she is the daughter of Magneto and the sister of Quicksilver.
Such a family to be apart of, especially since she goes to Xavier to be part of the 'good'.
Perhaps an 'In the Bedroom' style film with super powers!



Phoenix/Jean Gray

I mean she is the most powerful mutant ever, yet Wolverine can kill her?
What gives.
She need a film that centres on her and her internal struggle with keeping Phoenix at bay.
And epic all out disaster movie where she completely destroys mankind to save the world.
A sort of ecological story with mass murder.



Mystique

Need I really say anything or go into why she needs her own film

'Clash of the Titans' trailer

Last one reporting on this I know. That is what happens when you are asleep after making the bf watch 'Cloverfield' only to realise just how much I hated Hud (the camera guy) and wish they would edit most of his voice over out. What a douche bag.

Anyway, back to the trailer

They totally rocked out in ye times of yor.
Special effects should always be a wow factor, but they need to blend seamlessly into the story. Take 'Lord of the Rings' for example. Amazing special effects, but they enhanced the story.
Not sure how this is going to work, for as it is, it is very very "Look! Giant scorpions, Look! Medusa snake thingy".

We shall see. No doubt it will make a million.



Is it me, or does the whole 'Titans will Clash' tag line sound so 'American Gladiators'?
Follow the link for Glorious Quicktime!

Links are all Precious

I was trying not to post movie related news on Tuesdays. This day was completely reserved for music appreciation.
However since the remaining six days of the week are dedicated to movies, there will always be some bleed over.

Also it has been a while since I linked to any stories that have caught my eye and made me want to share (there have been plenty, but I get lazy typing out the target= crap to set my links up.

Anyway here are some things that I have found very note worthy:

To start with a music post, go over to Arjan Writes and check out this gorgeous track by Gadsdens.

My New Plaid Pants has a look at some of the concept art for Singers version of X=Men 3.
If only he had not bothered with that forgettable 'Superman Returns' thing (any excuse to get into Brandons' pants) and gone and treated the Dark Phoenix story with the respect it so clearly deserved.
Perhaps he can be convinced to revisit it.
All these X-Men movies being made revolving around specific characters (mainly men) is getting out of hand.
Although if they were to do a Storm film, and make her as amazing as she is in the comics, I would not complain.
Since Storm was a Kenyan princess any casting choices would have to stay true.

As I completely loved ‘Precious’ I of course am going to point out any new/reviews/tid bits. AICN have been VERY lazy when it comes to reporting on the movie. I guess because it doesn’t really fit the fan boy category. However Capone wrote a wonderful review of the film.
You know how reading a review can help you relive the film? Not good when reading at work and getting a bit emotionally wobbly.

The Film Experience takes a look at one of my favourite performances, even though at the time I was not a huge fan, it has grown on me over the years, and despite who she was, or could have been up against for Oscar, I do not begrudge her win.

'Disgrace' the film that had a tiny little buzz for John Malkovich's performance gets a typically insightful review by José over at Movie Kick Ass

Well it looks like 2010 will be another Clint Eastwoodlate release Oscar contender year. Jesus Clint! Can you just release films in October/November please? It is getting so ridiculous and just screams "I WANT ANOTHER OSCAR". It is all so boring.

The Top Ten Reasons to Make Gay Marriage Illegal via Modern Fabulosity. Hysterical.

Empire reviews the 'Alice in Wonderland' poster. Am I the only one who is not overly sold on the look of the film?

And finally, back to music - sort of. Sometime a magazine cover just needs to be framed. MUST GET MY HANDS ON THIS

I Feel It In My Bones

Ever since I heard ‘Where Does the Good Go?’ on ‘Greys Anatomy’ (when I watched it in its first season) I have been a fan of Tegan and Sara.
Their last album, ‘The Con’ was genius and I have their latest, which I need to give a proper listen to.
This is something that is a definite problem right now.
Bought too much music, not enough time to listen to it.


When Tiesto recruited Sarah MacLachlan to sing on ‘Silence’ a match made in dance heaven was born. Although he tends to spread himself a little thin, and at oe point risked sounding the same of every record, he has stepped up with his latest album.

Who would have though the indie rock outfit and a trance DJ would be another match in musical heaven.

Give Tiesto featuring Tegan and Sarah – ‘I Feel It In My Bones’ a listen RIGHT NOW!!

Miike Snow

Swedish singer/songwriter Andrew Wyatt and a producing team of Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg (also know as Bloodshy & Avant - of Madonna fame) joined forces in 2007 under the name Miike Snow.
The self titled debut album has been played a quadrillion times by me this weekend. Try as I might to get sick of them, I just cannot.

Please go and seek them out and buy their album.

Give these songs a listen. And I mean really listen to them. Turn the music up, don't do anything else and listen (and dance if you want).
When you are done, listen again. Sometimes it takes a few listens to fall in love.

The first single 'Animal' is a catchy slice of pop/rock/electro that gets under your skin and forces you to hit repeat 10 times in a row. The perfect morning wake up song!



Next up we have 'Black & Blue' which was the second single. Sounding familiar yet totally different, this has all the makings of a dance floor stomper (or in my case a living room stomper)



And finally For something more mellow I will give you 'San Soleil'. This conjures up feelings of sorrow mixed with love and warms. It sounds like an icicle slowly melting on a sunny winters day, with a hit of Christmas.



Do yourself a favour. Give these guys a serious listen and buy their album.
I won't tell you a third time...................maybe forth.