Seeing the good in SAG

With all the ranting and raving at how 'Slumdog Millionaire' does not deserve the awards it has won, especially the SAG ensemble, I have to look on the bright side of the situation.
Irrfan Khan is a SAG award winner. Heeeeeeeeee!

Mini Review - 'Changeling'

Not so much a review as random babblings.
The story depicted in the film 'Changeling' is one so fascinating and horrific that you most likely wouldn't believe it. In 1928 Walter Collins disappeared. His mother Christine, frantically searched for him until the LAPD found and returned him to his mother. However, the boy was not her son, and she was locked away in an insane asylum because she dared to publicly say that the police has made a mistake. It was only until the partial bodies of many children were found in Wineville California, and one of the killers identified Walter as being a victim, that she was let out.

It was harrowing stuff to read. It could have been two films in one.
However watching the film, and overly dramatic and sloppy telling of this true life crime, makes you think the story is nothing but second rate fiction.
I can forgive the film for leaving out certain details, such as the children were kidnapped and rented out to wealthy Southern California pedophiles. Or that the killer was aided by his own mother. Audiences would hate pedo's and child killing mothers, I mean how very unlike Clint to show that.
However there are certain elaborations taken in regards to the fate of Walter that firstly, are not true, and secondly have no purpose than to give the central character in the film hope. Leave out fact sure, but don't introduce fiction to a true story.
And as for the central character, well Angelina Jolie tried her best, but simpering and crying and shouting 'he's not my son' over and over again does not a performance make. And boy does she cry, and cry and cry and cry. Yes, it is emotional and overwhelming stuff for a mother to go through, but having to watch a constantly glassy eyed Jolie takes its toll. I mean her eyes wee so glassy she looked like Puss-n-Boots.
The rest of the cast is uneven and forgettable, much like the movie.
I was thinking after watching it, how good it would have been had the cast Mary Louise Parker and had David Fincher direct. If only eh?
It seems Jolie get Oscar nominated only when she doesn't really deserve it. when she does, she is snubbed. Go figure!
For a better review that is much more though out and a lot nicer go here.

Grade: D+

The Curious Case of Distribution

Ok, so my promise not to talk about 'Push' is already broken. I said I was not going to talk about the big winner of Sundance until I had to.
However even though it won three awards, the film is still without distribution.
There has been talk that this is simply due to the economy.
Somehow I think this is not simply the case. Not only has the film already had 'awards talk' for its two actresses (Mo'Nique and Gabby Sidibe) but it won the Audience Dramatic award and the grand jury Dramatic award. Only one other film has ever done that in the festivals history and that was 'Quinceañera' in 2005 (also about a pregnant teenager - but that one got distribution).
I am pretty sure this film will eventually get seen, however I can also imagine white studio heads thinking "black obese illiterate pregnant teen pregnant by father and living in poverty? No thank you....how about a terrible but lucrative rom-com with Kate Hudson?"
Sure the film will be a marketing challenge, but enough people loved the book, and with those two high(ish) profile wins it should definitely boost interest. 'Maria Full of Grace' and 'Hustle & Flow' were Audience award winners and both did well in terms of gross and awards buzz. Perhaps they need to sell the "Mariah Carey is great in this" angel which sucks, but if it gets people to see it then great!
Perhaps if 'Push' featured pretty white people it would been bought very quickly.

Since I haven't seen the film, or read the book (it arrived today peeps so you know I will be glued - currently reading 'The Cement Garden', but may have to put that one down) people may ask why I care so much?
A gay black man has made a film about an incredibly overweight and sexually abused black teenage girl trying to better herself. He has made a film that he probably knew would be a struggle to get seen. So, regardless of quality, that courage and belief in the story needs to be celebrated.
You may say sexual orientation and race shouldn't matter, and you are right, it shouldn't. Sadly though, to many people, it does.

SAG Winners

Here they are. For an in depth look go over to Nat at The Film Experience who did some fabulous live blogging. Here is part 1 and here is part 2.

Ensemble Cast: Slumdog Millionaire
Lead Actress: Meryl Streep, Doubt
Lead Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Quick! Before it is taken down!

Documentary Watch

From Variety:

"The Mouse House's first production under its Paris-based Disneynature label, "The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos" offers up a visually captivating flight through a little-known realm of the animal kingdom. Freshman effort from docu lensers Matthew Aeberhard and Leander Ward follows the lead of Luc Jacquet's smash hit, "March of the Penguins," using striking imagery, soothing narration and stirring music to depict the heroic migratory habits of flamingos perched in northern Tanzania's Lake Natron."

Watch the stunning trailer here.

The Cove

For those of you who visit this blog from time to tie you will know that I am not only a nature lover, but am deeply concerned with the way the general public turn a blind eye to to what goes on. I understand that to take all this on board would cause major life style changes (where you buy food, what you eat, what you throw away) and lets face it, most people just do not want to be inconvenienced.

Sad but very very true. Even I, up here on my high horse, sometimes cannot be bothered and buy prawns knowing how destructive the methods in which they are caught are on the ocean simply because I want them.

I had posted on Sharkwater a while ago, as well as the extra Hero's activities of Hayden Panettiere trying to save the lives of trapped dolphins before they are butchered by Japanese fishermen, and now Sundance brings us another film. The Cove.
Variety reviewed it and had this to say:

"Eco-activist documentaries don't get much more compelling than "The Cove," an impassioned piece of advocacy filmmaking that follows "Flipper" trainer-turned-marine crusader Richard O'Barry in his efforts to end dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan. Casting a very wide net, this powerful polemic is simultaneously a love letter to a beloved species, an eye-opening primer on worldwide dolphin captivity, a playful paranoid thriller and a work of deep-seated (if sometimes hot-headed) moral outrage. The devastating final images demand to be seen on the bigscreen, though cable exposure won't blunt their impact."

Tackling dolphins and their slaughter in Japan, the film makers risk their lives to record footage to show the world. Of course this is going to be upsetting and no doubt I will be unable to watch a majority of the footage, but with enough people going to see this, maybe we will be on our way to stopping this cruelty. The sad thing is, unless they are cute and cuddly penguins, people do not really rate documentaries about nature. They are usually reserved to being viewed on PPS.
This is such a shame because as fascinating as walking on a high wire is, and how horrendous the holocaust was, the future of our planet is in critical condition now. Unless people are willing to wait a few years to go and see documentaries about all the creatures that are no longer with us.



Oscar Prospects:
Best Documentary

'Push' wins BIG

Lee Daniels’ 'Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire' earned the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and the Dramatic Audience Award. Check out the video here.
In addition to those two awards...Mo'Nique picked up the acting award. Take that haters!

Here is the full list of winners:

2009 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners

Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary We Live in Public
Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire
World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary Rough Aunties
World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic The Maid (La Nana)
Audience Award: U.S. Documentary The Cove
Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire
World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary Afghan Star
World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic An Education
Directing Award: U.S. Documentary El General, director Natalia Almada
Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic Sin Nombre, written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga
World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary Afghan Star, directed by Havana Marking
World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic Five Minutes of Heaven, directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award Nicholas Jasenovec and Charlyne Yi, Paper Heart
World Cinema Screenwriting Award Guy Hibbert, Five Minutes of Heaven
U.S. Documentary Editing Award Sergio
World Cinema Documentary Editing Award Burma VJ
Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Documentary The September Issue, cinematographer Bob Richman
Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Dramatic Sin Nombre, cinematographer Adriano Goldman
World Cinema Cinematography Award: Documentary Big River Man, director/cinematographer John Maringouin
World Cinema Cinematography Award: Dramatic An Education, cinematographer John De Borman
World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Originality Louise-Michel
World Cinema Special Jury Prize: Documentary Tibet in Song
World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Acting Catalina Saavedra, The Maid (La Nana)
Special Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary Good Hair
Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Independence Humpday
Special Jury Prize for Acting Mo'Nique, Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire

Mini Review - 'Doubt'

I can imagine this being an extremely great stage play. With the crackling dialogue, moral ambiguity and small cast, I can see it being theater of the highest calibre.
As a movie it is merely just quite good.
Perhaps it is the subject matter, a nun starts a witch hunt against a priest she 'suspects' is a pedophile (is this some sort of Iraq war allegory?) that seems better suited for the stage?
Or perhaps seeing a performance up close on the big screen leaves less speculation as to the characters motivations.
There has been so much talk as to whether Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) did molest the boy or didn't, as if it was open ended.
I saw it plain as day.
He has, maybe not this boy, but he has.
Hoffman is more charming that he has been in other roles, and he handles his scenes with Streep admirably, however it is not a performance that lingers.
What you do remember is the women of 'Doubt'.
Adams has the difficult task of bringing a very dull and innocent character to life, and she does a fantastic job. Her need to see the good in people is clouded by her own instincts. Instincts she cannot even muster to acknowledge until something she sees brings it to the surface. It is a quiet but captivating performance.
Streep is, well, she is Streep. At first you are un-nerved by the performance. There are certain Streepisms on display (the way she pauses for dramatic/comedic effect) but early on you see the humanity beneath the hardness. She plays Sister Aloysius with conviction. Emotions come out as anger and rage when her matter-a-fact mask begins to crack. By the end of the film, when her humanity spills forth it is not a shock, or a surprise. It is something we all saw coming from the very beginning, even if she didn't.
I will leave the greatest praise till last.
Viola Davis has said she cannot understand her character's motivation. You would never guess it by how she handles it. Mrs Miller is a woman who loves her child. She has to make tough and soul destroying decisions based on her child's well being and future. In an all too short scene David paints a stunningly dramatic picture of a woman, and everything she has experienced up until this moment. As a viewer you are taken aback, not because of the acting, but because of sucker punch she delivers. Can a mother turn her eye on one horrible act happening to her child, so that a second and possibly worse one can be prevented? It is amazing acting, and deserving of all the year end kudos bestowed upon her.

As the hours distance myself from the film, the impact of the story has faded greatly (although the ambiguity keeps you thinking), but the power of the performances still knock the wind out of me.

Grade: B+

WORST VOICE OVER EVER!

It is just horrible. I really do not want to see the film based solely on the horrific voice over. It sounds like a 70's horror 'B' movie trailer voice over.

Mini Review 'The Reader'

At one point in the film I could not get the image of Harvey Weinstein sitting in the editing room with his scissors licking his lips and planning his Oscar campaign.
Outside of the performances, this film really did nothing for me.
It was nicely shot, with nice music, but it all felt far too generic.
The idea of a film focusing on German guilt about the holocaust is very interesting one, however if you are looking for a in depth look at that guilt, you won't find it here.
Instead you are served up with a flimsy excuse for the most unthinkable behavior of people, not matter how well sold by powerfully restrained performances.
What saves this film is the performances of Winslet and German actor David Cross. Cross nails his performance. The youthful idealism, the heartbreak of relationships and the confusion of a shocking revelation about the only person you have loved, all play amazingly across his face.
As for Winslet, well she hardly ever does any wrong. She has a difficult task of playing a woman who has done unthinkable things. She never plays the part for sympathy or sentimentality which works wonders for the film. She deserves her place in the Best Actress line up.
However, when Leno Olin (In a smart and wonderfully restrained, dual performance) says near the end of the film: "Go to the theater if you want catharsis," I had to think to myself "not this theater".

Grade: C+

'Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire'

""Push" has no bounds. It's a disturbing, overwhelming story of one Harlem girl's merciless degradations. An overwhelming, masterful dramatic competition entrant, this Lee Daniels film may have no bounds in the awards categories here at Sundance. It would not be surprising to see "Push" pull in both the Audience Award and Jury Award."

So say the Hollywood Reporter

I get the feeling I am ramming this down my few loyal readers throats. You all know that this is probably my numero uno most anticipated film of 2009.
When Nathaniel over at The Film Experience first mentioned this film last year I was immediately struck by the synopsis. So much so I looked up the book and the story of the lead actress.
Over the year I constantly checked up for any news and was always met with 'nothing'. My good friend Andra, after seeing me mention the film on here, told me I have to read the book, it is a modern day 'Color Purple'.
Well that sold me.

I still haven't read the book (it is on order through amazon.co.uk, but only second hand which sucks ass as it is taking forever), but that doesn't mean I am going to stop posting on this film.
The reviews from Sundance are stellar. Not only is the film getting standing ovations and raves, but lead actress (newcomer Gabourey Sidibe) and supporting actress (Mo'Nique - yes her!) are garnering serious awards buzz.

Do not believe me?

Check these out:

First here are the raves for Sibide:

".....played with astonishing rawness by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe.....Sidibe's performance as Precious is fantastic -- fully realized, perfectly authentic, and without a hint of contrivance. It's the sort of debut that will either be followed by a stellar career, or that she'll never be able to live up to...." Eric D. Snider - Cinematical

"As Precious, Sidibe is superb, allowing us to see the inner warmth and beauty of a young woman who, to her world's cruel eyes, might seem monstrous. " Duane Byrge - Hollywood Reporter

"A huge amount of the credit must go to newbie Gabourey Sidibe, who plays Precious. Her performance is so thorough, so all-encompassing, so natural, that a fantasy sequence where she's not talking like a mumbly ghetto girl is actually shocking. There's one scene at the end where a teary-eyed Precious gets a little too poetic and speechtastic for the character, but Sidibe makes it work. She sells every moment of pain and self-doubt and self-loathing with bottomless sincerity and truth. It's a stunning debut." Davin Fraci - chud.com

"Front and centre is newcomer Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe whose brave performance as the teenager Precious Jones is one of the most electrifying debuts in years." Mike Goodridge - Screendaily

"The director, Lee Daniels, shows us the awful circumstances that have caused Precious to be the way she is (she is pregnant -- for the second time -- by her drug-addict father), and the actress Gabourey Sidibe plays her without a flicker of sentimentality, but with barely visible tremors of emotion that cue us to everything this arrested girl is holding back. ......... it's a potent and moving experience, because by the end you feel you've witnessed nothing less than the birth of a soul" Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

And for Mo'Nique:

"...there are eye-opening turns by Mo'Nique, who helps us understand Precious' mother's frame of mind without making her sympathetic;" Eric D. Snider - Cinematical

"As Precious' hideous mother, Mo'Nique is cruelty incarnate. It's an astonishingly powerful performance. " Duane Byrge - Hollywood Reporter

" 'Push' is a horror movie, of course, and Mary is a monster, whose one glimmer of humanity -- which Mo’Nique, who is utterly brilliant, reveals in a tour de force soliloquy at the finale -- only makes her more horrible." John Anderson - Variety

"What I really appreciated about Mo'Nique's performance was not only how rotten she was willing to go but how she maintained that even during a big emotional scene where we get to understand why she is the way she is. Mo'Nique lays the character bare for us but never begs for us to feel bad for her or to change our opinion of her. The actress - and the film - knows that understanding isn't the same as accepting. Were Mo'Nique (and Sidibe) to be nominated for Oscars in 2010 I wouldn't imagine raising a stink. I wouldn't imagine raising anything but a glass in their direction for two performances that shatter with their honesty." Davin Fraci - chud.com

"Comedienne Mo'Nique is sensational as the mother and her work in the confrontation scene at the film's finale is awards-worthy" - Mike Goodridge - Screendaily

Even Todd McCarthy has high praise for the two actresses.

The sad news is the film still has not found distribution. I do not think I can even imagine a studio brave enough to take this film on as it is going to be a tough sell.
I am sure it will be bought and distributed, and most importantly seen.
I would not be surprised in HBO tackled this for TV as getting people into theaters to see a film about a black, obese, illiterate teenager pregnant with her second child because of her fathers repeated rapes will be a tough sell admist the superhero films and rom coms.
I have been so happy with the coverage Entertainment Weekly has given the film, they are always there to shout out about the smaller things they believe in and kudos to them. They did a wonderful write up here on the women of the film.
Scott Foundas of 'OC Weekly' (?) did not love the film, even saying it was sloppy in places, but also has this to say:

"Not one for subtlety, Daniels puts black female lives destroyed by abuse and defeatism on the screen with a brute-force intensity and lack of sentimentality (The Color Purple this certainly isn’t). He also gathers a collection of startlingly effective performances from such unlikely players as Mo’Nique (whose monster mom is anything but a one-note villain), Mariah Carey (deglamorized as an empathetic social worker) and the magnanimous Sidibe, who carries this exhausting and strangely exhilarating film on her mighty shoulders. Push is far from perfect, but there isn’t much I’ve seen at Sundance this year that I wouldn’t trade for the sight of a hard-won smile finally making its way across Precious Jones’ stoic, beautiful, wounded face."

That is enough for me. The image and sentiment brings a tear to my eye.
I know a lot of you dear reader, like me, love stories with powerful performances from women. This film is said to be just that, except the packages the women come in are not your usual 'red carpet ready' size zeros which may make this film harder to be seem. I will see it, and I hope you all go and see it too when it comes your way.

I promise to remain silent for a while on this (until I find more news/film clips/trailers.

Looking Ahead to 2009/10 Awards race

I know this awards race is not over, but the Oscar nominations were ho hum, and boring and kind of yucky all around.
So with great pleasure I am looking towards the films (mainly the performances) that have shown at Sundance to positive word of mouth:

'Rudo y Cursi' - Diego Luna & Gael Garcia Bernal star in one of the biggest hit in Mexican cinema.
Both are said to be fantastic together.
Not sure of the acting prospects as ofyet, but this could be a strong contender for Best Foreign Film. The reviews say it is crowd pleasing (and you know how far that can go). Screen International said:

"this crowd-pleaser is bound to be one of the year's more successful foreign-language titles, if not necessarily a critical slamdunk."

'Push: Based on a Novel by Sapphire' has already garnered a lot of praise. If it gets distribution and is handled well, it could see itself making the round at various awards show. Praise for the direction and screenplay aside, a majority of the attention will be aimed at Gabourey 'Gabby' Sibide, Mo'Nique and perhaps Mariah Carey for their performances.
In reviewing it, Cinematical said:

"Sidibe's performance as Precious is fantastic -- fully realized, perfectly authentic, and without a hint of contrivance. It's the sort of debut that will either be followed by a stellar career, or that she'll never be able to live up to. I hope we get a chance to see what else she can do. Meanwhile, there are eye-opening turns by Mo'Nique, who helps us understand Precious' mother's frame of mind without making her sympathetic; and Mariah Carey, who's almost unrecognizably un-glamorous as a social worker. "

'Amreeka' - A Palestinian mother and son clash head-on with the American heartland in this tender and droll feature debut from Arab-American director Cherien Dabis. Nisreen Faour has been singled out by various reviews for her warm and focused performance. Warm doesn't usually cut it with Oscar, but you never know.
Variey says:

"From the West Bank to White Castle flips the resilient heroine of "Amreeka," a culture-clash dramedy whose background in Middle-East conflict is leavened with vibrant energy, balanced politics and droll humor by first-time feature director Cherien Dabis. Enormously appealing turn by earthy Nisreen Faour in the lead role of Muna, a Palestinian single mother who brings her teenage son to rural Illinois in pursuit of a brighter future, more than makes up for the film's familiarities."

'Five Minutes of Heaven' sees acclaimed director of 'Downfall' Oliver Hirschbiegel directing Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt and Anna Maria Marinca in a film about two men who struggle to come to terms with the murder of a fellow 19-year-old Catholic soldier years after the conflict that raged between Republican and Loyalist paramilitary groups, the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The film has been raved by Cinematical, Screen International, and Variety's Dennis Harvey who says:

Powerhouse performances by Liam Neeson and James Nesbit make this an intense, ultimately moving tale...

'The Cove' - I will be talking about this later.

'The Greatest' - Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan have been singled out in this film about a middle-aged couple coping with the loss of their 18-year-old son – not to mention the imminent and unexpected birth of his child. I had already spoken about this a few weeks ago when look out for the films Susan Sarandon had coming up, and it still could go either way, but early word is very positive, especially for Brosnan and newcomer Mulligan. Todd McCarthy of Variety says:

"Thesps do admirable, potent work, with Brosnan coping well with the sort of heavy dramatic lifting he only occasionally undertakes; Sarandon channeling a mother's distressed obsession with complete conviction; and Mulligan, a British newcomer who proves a revelation in another Sundance entry, "An Education," bringing a bracing resilience to a teenager for whom one night changed the rest of her life"

'An Education' - Varitey already gave you a preview of the buzz surrounding this film starring Peter Sarsgaard and Carey Mulligan based on well-known UK journalist Lynn Barber's childhood memoirs has been quite big, especially for it's leading lady. Todd McCarthy at Variety went ga ga:

"Sarsgaard, sporting a decent accent and an ever-present twinkle in his mischievous eyes, marvelously expresses the savoir faire that has such an impact on Jenny. Cooper and Pike suggest the last gasp of overly fussy high style that will soon be replaced by Carnaby Street trendiness, Molina and Seymour aptly fill out their traditional roles, Emma Thompson has a couple of key scenes as the school headmistress, and Matthew Beard is touchingly gawky as a smitten student who realizes Jenny's out of his reach the moment David appears on the scene.
But there's no question of who the star is here. Mulligan, 22 when the picture was shot, is completely convincing as 16 going on 17. Attractive without being a knockout, she tangibly communicates Jenny's thirst for knowledge, her attraction to culture and impatience atconservative ways of thinking and behaving. The way she tosses off little French phrases may be pretentious, but it adorably indicates where her head is. And when she finally gets to Paris and puts up her hair, you could almost swear you're watching Audrey Hepburn skipping through the same streets 50 years ago."

'The Messenger' - Ben Foster, Jena Malone, Samantha Morton and Woody Harrelson star in this film about an Iraq War hero assigned to work for the Casualty Notification Office -- those uniformed bearers of bad news who show up on the doorsteps of parents and wives with word of a soldier's death. The Reviews have been very good if wary about the commercial prospects of another Iraq film. Most of the praise is heaped on Foster. Variety said "Nobody plays angry like Ben Foster, but compassion is something new for the actor, who softens his crazy-man shtick to deliver a complex and moving performance..."
Screen International went further saying:

"Ben Foster is a revelation here, carrying the film and delivering his first true adult performance after a string of youthful turns in 3:10 To Yuma, X-Men: The Last Stand and Alpha Dog.........Harrelson gives one of his best performances as the army lifer Stone, a likeable sort behind the bravado, and Morton is excellent as always as the gentle widow...."

I am not saying these films are going to light up the Awards race in any way, but they could, and as Melissa Leo proves this year, never ever underestimate a buzzed about performance at Sundance.

"It's exactly like Forrest Gump, except no AIDS"

The Curious Case of Forrest Gump - watch more funny videos

It's funny 'cause it's true

You can't make everyone happy.

And so spoke Zoe to Poppy while rowing a boat in London near the end of Mike Leighs wonderful and winning film 'Happy-Go-Lucky'.
It turns out this is unfortunately true, but there was no harm in Sally trying.

So why was Sally Hawkins not nominated, especially over Angelina Jolie?
That is the question I want the Academy to answer...and now dammit.
I think most people would agree that not only was she fantastic in the role, but it was an extremely difficult role to pull off, and not only did she, but she added amazing layers to Poppy. Most critics agree, so why not SAG, BAFTA and Oscar?

Here are some possible reasons:

For starters, BAFTA is a joke. They move their awards to become a precursor to Oscar. That shows no backbone and no striving to be different. It seems they have bowed down to the US film industry. They seem to be sending out a message that, yes, America does it better, by putting best British film in a category all it's own. Shouldn't it should be Best Film, and then a Best non-British film category? That category simply makes it seem like they are admitting to being less then they are. Very sad indeed. I mean 'Mama Mia' better than 'Happy-Go-Lucky'? Please.

In the past 10 years, this is the lowest showing for non North American actors, with only 3 nominated (Kate, Heath, Penelope). Each of those actors were in very high profile films (Best Pic Nominee, Highest Grossing Film and Woody's return). Sally is in a small film, and a comedy at that. No matter how many precursor awards she clocked up, it would always be an uphill battle with SAG and Oscar.

Oscar voters are miserable people. I mean look at the films they choose for Best Picture. They love to wallow in grief. Even 'Slumdog' is pretty grim in places. 'Happy-Go-Lucky' is a comedy with a permanently happy and joyous person as the lead. I can see how she could be annoying to the old misery guts of the Academy.

Brangelina at the awards was too much to pass up. They need some ratings boost since they were gonna snub The Dark Knight anyway (then again is the child collecting couple really that much of a draw anymore?)

She was just far too good and made it all look too easy. Remember the Academy like to see that you are acting, how else can they judge? They need the accent, make up, weight gains, no make up, ticks and big emotional scenes because that, dear readers, is what acting is all about. Noticeability.

Mini Review 'Gran Torino'

I was so prepared to hate this film. I have never really been a fan of Clint Eastwood's movie making style (aside from the blub-fest of 'The Bridges of Madison County) so it was with great trepidation that I watched this film.
Imagine my surprise when I began to warm to his, tongue firmly in cheek, caricature of the grumpy racist old man who shows surprising depth and feeling. Sure the story of an angry old man taking on a gang that is disturbing the neighborhood is not the most inspired, but the way Eastwood handles the story keeps you in rapt attention.
Sure there are many clunky scenes in this film, but you do buy the characters he has laid out in front of you, you believe how their relationships evolve and most importantly how they bond with each other is completely plausible.
Eastwood never softens his character, he never apologizes for his racism and he doesn't have an enlightening moment, all of which I was expecting, and dreading.
For that I am thankful.
Also noteworthy is newcomer Ahney Her as the young next door neighbour Sue Lor. I am not sure if her performance was as layered as I saw it, or a totally accident due to inexperience, but she seemed to get across the wall of confidence with the fear ready to break through very well.
Clint Eastwood has made an enjoyable film, and give a throughly enjoyable performance. A shame then that he did not get a nomination from Oscar.

Grade: B

Sundance Watch – ‘Prom Night in Mississippi’

Moving swiftly on from this morning debacle.
Can you imagine a segregated prom in this day and age? Well it happens.
Of course in America, and not shockingly in Mississippi in a town called Charlton.

Hometown celebrity Morgan freeman has offered to pay for the party is it is de-segregated, but the town elders refused.

The Documentary ‘Prom Night in Mississippi’ explores the first ever mixed prom.

Dennis Harvey of Variety summarised it this way:

“It may amaze many viewers that in this day and age -- particularly in this political moment -- an American high school would retain separate proms for black and white students. But such is the reality of "Prom Night in Mississippi," which scrutinizes a pint-sized town's travails when the school board finally consents to "try out" a first-ever colorblind fete. An upbeat portrait of youth anxious to shed their elders' prejudices, this inspirational Canadian-produced documentary is a perfectly timed crowdpleaser sure to score in broadcast and educational venues, with modest theatrical exposure possible.”

The reason this made me think, especially in terms of awards, is due to the timing. America’s first black president is in office. This is sure to be a popular documentary, and Oscar is nothing if not influenced by the times. Could we be looking at a Best Documentary nominee for 2010?

Oscar Prospects:
Best Documentary