Janelle Monae - 'Many Moons'

Well. Arjan Writes has been singing her praises for months and months, and although I hate being late on the band wagon, I must jump on and say there is nothing like her out there - Thank God.

The 'Notorious' 'W'

Well as far as bio pics go, this is certainly the year from them. I mean there is enough fodder here to keep the bip pic happy Academy joyous for years!

This is the first time I have chatted about 'W'. There was so much negative press about this film, as early as the script phase that it almost seemed to have been killed dead right then and there. Reports that the dialogue was unbelievable made me chuckle. Have they never heard the President of the United States speak? You just can't make up that sh*t.
I am not thinking this is going to be a huge awards magnet, simply because in recent year Oliver Stone has lost his sparkle. This probably won’t be a bow at his foot career comeback, but I am sure it is going to be entertaining none the less.




As for the ‘Notorious’ trailer. Well all I need to hear are the words Angela Bassett in a Bio Pic and I am excited.

Trailers, trailers, trailers

3 in fact!

Firstly we have the highly praised ‘Balast’ which caused a huge splash at Sundance and won it’s director the top award.




Then we have Best Animated Feature hopeful ‘Waltzing With Bashir’ which does look amazing.

Waltz with Bashir - Kinotrailer



And lastly we have that movie you may have hear about. You know the one staring those two young things from that movie about the sinking boat? Yes it is the trailer for ‘Revolutionary Road’.

Here is your chance!

Keira Knightley has spent the last couple of movies tressed up in period costumes: 'King Lear' (2010), 'The Duchess' (2008), 'The Edge of Love' (2008), 'Silk' (2007), 'Atonement' (2007), 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' (2007), 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' (2006), 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005). Phew....that's a lot of period. (ew..sorry, that does sound off)


Anywho it seems she is being cast in 'Last Night' a MODERN day story about a married couple who are spending a night apart while hubby goes on a business trip with a woman that he’s attracted to. While hubby is deciding whether or not to sleep with his co-worker, the wife meets a past love and may be the one to cheat.

The rest of the cast includes Eva Mendes, Sam Worthington and Guilluame Canet (yum!). Before you get too excited, it seems the writer of the Keira starer 'The Jacket' will be making her directing debut with this film. Who know she may be able to pull it off, I am just one of those people who hears that Eve Mendes is in a film and assumes it will not be all that good.

Here is hoping Knightley can break out of her self a little and start really digging deep into her characters. What most people forget is the girl is young (23) and has plenty of time to find her place. Plus you all know she will be that beautiful for a long long time!

'Another Way to Die'

No, the producers of the 'Saw' franchise are not holding think sessions to keep their franchise alive. It is in fact the new Bond song!
Since Amy Winehouse is far too much up her own arse these days to actually work, Alicia Keys and Jack White stepped up with this ditty.

What you think?

'Synecdoche, New York' Trailer

Something tell me this is not going to light up the Academy as some have thought. I am sure the reviews will be a mixture of 'baffled', 'ok's' and 'genius' which hardly ever translate into Oscar, which is a shame as it looks like the actors get to have some fun with this (possible Hoffman, but 'Doubt' id more likely there). There is also this whole 'Woody Allen' vide coming off the trailer....then again it does involve a man surrounded by a bunch of women.
Still it has sparked my curiosity at least....any thing with Samantha Morton will spark my curiosity.

Synedoche, New York - Trailer
Uploaded by hawkbcn

The Oscar Race and will it change this year?

Slowly the ratings for Oscar have been doing down like Samantha Jones on New York, and you know ace girl goes down a lot. No one is pressing the on botton on their remote to watch the show aside from us lot.
It seems the Academy has sort of got itself into a predicament. Should they continue to reward the smaller critically acclaimed and more artistic films (as they have been of late) or should they celebrate what the populous love?

This is a question that needs an answer that walks a fine line. ‘The Dark Knight’ is critically acclaimed, has huge box office and the people love it. Can it score a best picture nomination even though it is a Super Hero movie? At this moment in time I am thinking it will miss out of BP, but Christopher Nolan will pick up a directing nom, then again the MASSIVE box office could be enough to get it in (out of the top five US domestic grosser’s, 3 (not including TDK) have gotten Best Picture Oscar noms. This is not saying the Academy are money grabbers, in fact they have seemingly been embracing the notion of actually awarding the ‘best’ films of the year, but in these hard times a big earner could sway the vote.

Last year ‘Juno’ was the biggest hit of the bunch, but was also critically acclaimed, so this could in fact be a good sign for ‘The Dark Knight’. However there are a bunch a films that have yet to be seen: ‘Australia’, ‘Doubt’, ‘Revolutionary Road’, ‘Frost/Nixon’, ‘The Soloist’, ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, ‘The Reader’, ‘Body of Lies’, ‘The Road’ and ‘Milk’. You have to plan on at least 2 or 3 of these films making the short list.

Then you have the films that have been screened to extremely positive reviews: ‘The Wrestler’, ‘Changeling’, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, ‘The Hurt Locker’, ‘Happy-Go-Lucky’ and ‘Rachel Getting Married’.
These all have a chance at making the final 5 as well.

To be honest this is one of the most exciting years for B.P. I can remember. Even the films that have had poor to ok reviews on ‘AICN’ could be re-edited and stand a chance: ‘Valkyrie’, ‘Nothing but the Truth’ and ‘Defiance’ are a few of these.

Plus there are always those films that are never on any ones radar that come out of nowhere.

I am going to have to seriously think about what to put in the top 10 this time around. A top five is near impossible at this time considering every film you put in there, you can also easily see falling out. There is no front runner emerging yet, and that is good news for those of us who like an exciting race.

In fact there is not one of those films I have mentioned that I am willing to put money down and say “It will be nominated”. Perhaps I am overly cautious, or perhaps 2008 is going to be a great year for movies. What do you think?

I do think the Academy needs to nominate the more popular movies to gain audience ratings for the ceremony, but not at the expense of the best films of the year. Will ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Wall-E’ still be able to stand up at year end as the best of the bunch, or will 5 better films take over the slot? If that happens I will be one happy movie goer.

"My One and Only" Trailer

I only like to post good movie trailers on here, or trailers with possible awards merit....but I saw this, the latest offering from lemon face and I just had to post it, because it kind of made me sad. The woman is not a vamp. She does not look like a vamp, and unless Angelous has bitten her the closest thing to a vamp she will ever be is along side Nicole Kidman's 'Satine' as an Oscar nominee. Nor do I think of her as glamorous, and in the type of glamor and stature she is trying to depict here....it seems just so out of place.
Lets face it, there are some actresses who are more limited than others in the roles they can play. So they play to their strengths.
Sure she can do period (ish) but usually succeeds when she plays dowdy. To Quote Peter Griffin from Family Guy "Sexy leading lady no...cute best friend maybe".

Madonna Get Stupid

Sometimes one of the best things about her shows are the back drop videos.

Like this.

Trailer park

Firstly we have 'Hunger' which got great reviews at Cannes, and could possibly see some awards love for Michael Fassbender as the hunger striker.



Then we have.. 'Milk'. This looks more promising then I expected. Sean should be a shoo in!

Milk - Trailer
Uploaded by hawkbcn

And nothing like a British costume comedy. anything with Scott Thomas will get my interest.

'The Soloist' Trailer

The Soloist - Trailer HD #1 [VO]
Uploaded by Lyricis

As good as he was in 'Iron Man', and however much critics are raving him in 'Tropic Thunder' I think this is the one he will be recognized for come year end.
Possibly in Lead with co-star Jamie Foxx.

'Changeling' Trailer

This looks like a winner. Jolie so impressed last year that I am sure she will be welcomed back in the fold, however she won 't win for this. Not sure on BP prospects as there are some major underdogs coming out of Toronto.

'Doubt' Trailer

Wow....so excited about this. Will have to re think my predictions again as Amy Adams looks like she is going to nail this. Plus how exciting was it to see Meryl and Viola in a scene together! Heeeeeeee! Is the Meryl role so comic on stage? Threw me a little.

The Streets - The Escapist

I have long been a fan of The Streets. Not only is the man immensely talented, but he really knows how to craft a track that grows with each each listen.

If you are not familiar with him yet, please change that. Has a fantastic back catalogue, and for a white boy doing rap, he does what his more popular American counterparts do not, he crafts intelligent and thought provoking albums that have more to say than talk about bitches ho's and guns.

I am writing this before I go on vacation, yet I know I will have this on my iPod the entire time...can imagine listening to this whilst on the beach. However I will be getting ready to fly back by the time you read this, so please picture me listening to this, with my amazingly beautiful boy friend by my side sprawled out on a beach towel with waves lapping at my feet.

My 'Sticky and Sweet' tour: part 4

Thank you for listening to my scary ramblings and incoherent tour plan. I see it so clearly in my head but getting down visuals is not my strong point.
Must be my edumacation is not so good.


Anywho...back to the finale.

After what seems like an eternity of darkness (1 minute) the screens once again come to life. A stomping update of 'Dress You Up' fills the air as video plays of Madonna dancing through out the years. Using tour and video footage inter-spliced with images from past tour back drops we see how the woman has really never stopped dancing.
The song continues as the stage turns into a manic dance floor of different levels. there are dancers at all levels dancing their hearts out as Madonna appears, clad in jean shorts, bangles and a Blondie T-shirt on the very highest. The dancers stop turn and look as she utters those famous words "You can dance...for inspiration". And so begins 'Into the Groove'. She comes down to the bottom level and her and her troupe perform choreography that appears so carefree. As the song end they all come to the end of the platform where she leads the audience "I'm tired of dancing here all by myself, tonight I wanna dance with someone else.....WHERE'S A PARTY!!!!" and so the next song begins in a seamless mix.

The entire song takes place on the catwalk with back flips and cart wheels and Madonna playing leap frog with her dancers. At the end she once again, and for the last time dons her electric guitar and lets the audience that there are four songs left, and they all have to dance dance dance.
She starts 'Ray of Light' and the screens show a video reminiscent of the video for the song, but done as a world tour ending in Malawi. The dancers back flip and hand spring up and down the catwalk in a display more captivating than any olympic gymnastic competition. She ends the song as the opening beats of '4 Minutes' start. The crowd goes crazy as she starts the song, but without the Justin Timberlake vocals which she performs. Half way through the track there is a break and Madonna and crew fall into a break dance dance-off before the song continues as the 'Peter Saves Paris Remix' and the stange turns into club-land with one of the most spectacular laser shows I have ever seen and the star leaves the stage as the dancers rave it up big style.

The screen turns from alight show to a DJ deck. You see a record being put on and the opening beats of 'Music' begin. The screens turn into an equalizer of rainbow colours as Madonna appears in a blue heavily sequined bustier and ripped baggy jeans. The music track as been mixed with Kylies 'Can't Get You Out of My Head' and Madonna sings and prances about the stage with abandon and even does a few lines of Minogue's hit. At the end we hear that ticking clock and that famous ABBA riff comes blaring out. Madonna's dancers rip off her jeans to reveal, yes, a leotard. Once again she sings a few lines from the ABBA hit and as the song comes to a close, and the audience has been whipped up into a frenzy, confetti comes showing down (made from recycled paper of course) and fireworks and lazer light up the sky.

Madonna bows and thanks the audience and disappears into the floor.

Then, after another minute or so there is a commotion on the stage. The Dancers have come back dressed in neon, and looking like extras from 'Fame'. A familiar Guitar riff starts from the dance hit 'The Music Sounds Better with You'. The beat kicks in and the dancers starts doing what appears to be a very 80's dance style. Then out comes Madonna. Wearing what looks like pirate pants with a baggy ripped t-shirt showing her bra and tons of bangles on her arms and beads around her neck, like a 2008 version of 1983 Madonna. She looks out into the audience and shouts "Come On, Come On, Come On, Let's CELEBRATE" and so begins the frenzied keens up that is the final song of the show 'Holiday'. The screen shows various cultures around the world celebrating various holidays, festivals with dance.
At the end a sweating and tired Madonna shouts "Thank you I Love You!" as the stange goes dark.

'Skin' Trailer

Based on the true story of Sandra Laing and staring Sophie Okonedo is what I hope will result in her second Oscar nomination.

However the trailer does kind of dash those hopes (it is a small film company mind you) by coming across all too self important. Sam Neil does look mighty fine as does Alice Krige as Sandra's mother (she was wonderful in 'In the Line of Beauty') but there is not a-heck-of-a-lot of performance to see of Okonedo. Here is hoping they are waiting for the film to be released to surprise us all.

Skin movie trailer
Uploaded by some_trailers