Filler

How about some news/blog round ups?

During my self imposed exile on monster island I have been spending the past few weeks catching up on the news stories and blog entries from my online friends.
They are such a talented and dedicated bunch.

Variety reports on an upcoming ‘Jimmy Hendrix’ project. Yes, another bio pic (still waiting for a Mama Cass one). Although people like Andre 3000 and Lenny Kravitz have been circling the project (hasn’t Lenny spent his whole career building up to this?) I for one would love to see the amazingly talented Jeffery Wright finally get a major lead.

The same rag also reports on even more changed to the Oscar, case in point the newly elected president Tom Sherak.
It looks like it wil be the show that is tackled again.

With the now ‘10’ best picture nominees starting this year, the opening number is going to go on forever.
Can you imagine Hugh fitting in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” into his best picture nominee melody?
All I have to say is please loose the montages. Or at least have just one. Get this guy to do it! Also if the presenters are not natural and funny on a huge stage, please do not force them to make jokes.
Lastly….have a colour allowance for the red carpet fashions. People have to draw straws, and there will only be one woman allowed to wear white, black or natural.
In fact make COLOUR mandatory. Nothing neutral please ladies.

Over at my bible, Awards Daily there is a lovely piece on Carey Mulligan. I need to see the film of course, but am excited about the prospect of so many new comers getting great praise for their films.

Valley Dreaming also loves Florence + the Machine.
Us bloggers have such amazing taste.
She is a real unique find in the drab drab drab oceans of cookie cutter tartlets that seem to be filling the airwaves.
However we seem to be in an exciting time for music right now, especially with female artists really stepping up.

Movies Kick ass drools over Alexander Skarsgård. I think he was even sexier in “Generation Kill” but then I like a man in uniform.
José also years for a time when these two icons get together. Aside from the fact that when they were together he beat the living crap out of her, I kind of agree. Age can mellow you.

Celebrate?

I was so going to leave music chat for Tuesdays, but really, this is Madonna music chat, and that can go down any day!

I need to talk about her lead single off her latest and last greatest hits package with Warner Music “Celebration”. The single is also called “Celebration” and is it a corker?

Well……not really.

It is so much better than most of the crap that was on the “Hard Candy” album, but it still does not live up to the Madonna that is great.
She has never been a great lyricist and so we forgive her for that. My biggest gripe with the single is her need to be Britney Spears. The lazy robotic vocal stylings need to stop. You trained to sing Evita Madge!

Yes it is the vocals I have the biggest problem with. She sounds like a really revved up motorbike. There is no joy or passion. Does she really want us to celebrate? If so she sounds extremely indifferent at the thought of it.

Remember those gems like “Into the Groove”, “Holiday”, “Express Yourself”, “Ray of Light” and “Music” where she had this urgency in her voice.
It seems that has gone for the moment.

The only time she sounds like herself is in the speaking interlude where she says:

“I guess I just don’t recognize you with your clothes on”

There is a laughter in her voice, she gets the joke for it harks back to the days where Madonna freely talked about sex.

However producer and DJ Extraordinaire, Paul Oakenfold, really does step up the dance productions which make me believe that the song will soar when it comes to the remixes.

All in all it is music Madonna can do in her sleep. This doesn’t make it bad, but for a ‘Celebration’ I really expected to celebrate.

B-

Peeking

Every year it is the same. Big epic pictures that usually come out at the end of the year send out teaser pic to wet the collective appetite of us cinema whores.
This year we have had pictures for almost all of the big films, but only one actually captured any kind of real emotion from me.

Of course that would be Peter Jacksons “The Lovely Bones” and this is the image.


What was yours?

"Avatar" trailer stills

It certainly look stunning.











Thank f*ck for macs

'Avatar' trailer

It is here and has spiked my curiosity.

View it here

Mini Review “Moon”

First, let me get this off my chest. I am not a sci-fi fan.
I did like “Star Trek” a lot, but not love. When it comes to sci-fi I need a little grounding in reality (“Alien”, “Firefly”, “Battlestar Galactica” and the such) in order to suspend my belief. I like my vessels of space travel to be clunky and dirty and old.
I also was not a big fan or “2001: A Space Odyssey” . In fact I would live a very long and happy life if I were to never see that film again.

However, I very much liked “Moon”. Although it bears some very obvious similarities to Stanley Kubricks space opera (the set, Gertie being a gender confused version of HAL) as well as Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Solaris”, the film can stand alone as a unique and very captivating study on what it is to be human, what it means to be unique and how you should never deprive anyone of hope, for it may be all they have.

Sam Rockwell give a very compelling and awards worthy performance as a lone astronaut out on a three year mission collecting helium 3 (a new energy source) from the moons surface. He has two weeks before he is due to return to earth, and strange things start happening.

To go any further would be to give too much away but on a side note, I never noticed just how much Kevin Spacey’s performance in “Se7en” has disturbed me. I cannot hear his voice without feeling immediate anxiety.

Grade - B

Oscar bound?

Here are a few trailers that kind of got that silly little hopeful voice in my head whispering “Could this performance be nominated?”.
That voice will be causing major headaches in the next few months.

Firstly we have “It’s Complicated”


Sure the trailer looks like a big ole basket of fluff, but never underestimate the power of Meryl Streep. Remember when Nancy Meyers for Diane Keaton a nomination for “Somethings Gotta Give”?
No one was expecting that when the trailer came out. Well here she teams up with La Streep who could be looking at a double nomination should her performance in “Julie and Julia” get put in supporting.


“Boys are Back”


Well this certainly looks like a bit of a weeper. Manly mans man Clive Owen getting all teary eyed just makes me want to reach out and hold him close to my chest, and comfort him in the shower whilst I wash his back………….mmmmmmmm. However it looks like it could be the sort of role that gets some love. Do slushy films about men do that well though?


“Motherhood”


Maybe I just really want to see Uma do something great without Tarantino. Perhaps I just really want Minnie Driver back on the big screen. Perhaps I am a sucker for this type of dramedy. Here is hoping Uma and Minnie capture my hearts again…regardless of if they get a nomination.


“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”


Apparently Heath Ledger is in this more than people initially thought, and apparently he is great fun. So excited to see what he does.

Slowly coming back

I feel a little like Whitney Houston today.
I keep saying I am returning to the world of blogging, and then ….I have nothing.
The funny thing about a break up is discovering that, compared to other huge hurdles you face, it really isn’t the end of the world.
Just seemed like it for a while.
I have discovered a few interesting things:

1) I am stronger and braver than I thought – now I just need a super power.
2) People dealing with guilt can be heartless.
3) Film and music, although wonderful, are not my oxygen.
4) My true friends are amazing people.
5) I kind of like Beyoncé more than I thought.
6) You can do a rebound in a weekend.
7) Falling in love is wonderful, if you open yourself up to it.
8) Gü yummy yummy yummy, but what to do with the left over pots? I need a Martha Stewart idea.

So what has happened in the past (nearly 5 months) that I have yet to comment on.

The Cannes film festival as a little of a let down in terms of it really has not given a clear picture of the Awards race, aside from Abbie Cornish being wonderful in ‘Bright Star”

Lots of lots of Awards season movie trailers have shown, but very few actually capture any type of awe and wonder in me.
Even though “Precious: Based on a Novel by Sapphire” is still my most anticipated film of the year, the trailer was a little life time. I have heard that the reason for this was not to put off audiences with the darkness of the film. I guess it is a good idea.
“The Lovely Bones” looks wonderful, but I am still not convinced.
“I love you Philip Morris” looks down right great. The French trailer is a little shocking (Jim Carey’s a top!)
The best trailers of the year would have to go to both “Nine” and the absolutely amazing “Where the Wild Things Are”. I felt like a kid watching that. I was transported to being a kid all over again.

So far the performances that are getting Oscars attention (from films that have opened in the U.S.) are:

Meryl Streep (naturally) for “Julie and Julia”. The praise is unanimous again. She is so over due.
Jeremy Renner for “The Hurt Locker” a film that could go all the way as the reviews are OUTSTANDING!
And Hugh Dancy for “Adam”

Over the next few months we will get a lot more information, and it is really the most exciting time for the Awards season. September, October and November Rock!

So, even though I may not be posting as frequently as I usually do, I will be checking in time and time again.

I mean I still need to think about those damn predictions.