Guy and Madeline

Love me some musicals that actually resemble real life. Life really can be a musical! This movie is called Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench and The Village Voice liked it. It was filmed in Boston. A Bostonian musical? Who would have thunk it? Two trailers below. The font on the poster is fantastic (love that blue, yellow, green, and red). Even though it comes from the Juno/Away We Go school of poster design (animated, drawn cutesy stuff), I really like the poster. Can't wait to see it. I'm a total sucker for bursting, exploding into song and dance in the middle of the street. Gets me every time.

I Can See It Now

So Baz Luhrmann, director of the zany and wonderful Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and cheese ball Australia is doing The Great Gatsby as his next movie! What?! After the initial shock wore off, I became intrigued and excited about Baz's adaptation. The Great Gatsby is not a book you mess around with. It's a classic. But thinking of the beautifully described party scenes in the book, I can see Baz doing something special. The party scenes will be splendid. Will he keep it in the 20's? Will he incorporate musical numbers? Please yes. Flappers, music, lights, Gatsby's house! The green light! Oh boy, I'm getting very excited. However Baz often pulls the cheese and sap card which I really hope he doesn't do too much in this adaptation. Gatsby is not sappy or cheesy. I'm hoping he takes the Romeo + Juliet route here while using some of that Moulin Rouge spectacle. He's trying to find Daisy now according to the article below. Leo DiCaprio will be Gatsby and Tobey Maguire will be Nick apparently. Look at the list and pick your Daisy. I'm thinking Michelle Williams, Rebecca Hall, or Keira. Check out these articles. I'm very excited by all this and hopefully we will get a cast announcement super soon.

http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/baz-luhrmann-playing-the-field-to-pick-the-right-daisy-for-the-great-gatsby/

http://www.deadline.com/2010/10/baz-luhrmann-worshops-the-great-gatsby-in-new-york/

News

-Vanessa Williams is going to be on Desperate Housewives next season! This is such a good choice for her after her 4 years of hilarious meanness on Ugly Betty. I hope she injects some life into Housewives which I still have a soft spot for. She could be a great villain. She'll fit the campy dramedy tone of the show perfectly. Give her some great lines.

-Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling at the Cannes Film Festival with their new movie Blue Valentine. They both look wonderful. I want Ryan Gosling's outfit. I'm itching to see this movie which was shown at the Sundance film festival in January. It is roughly about a young married couple's highs and lows. Gosling and Williams are supposed to be very good in it.

-Woody Allen who will reliably make a movie every year til the end of time will film "Midnight in Paris" in the coming months in the City of Lights. The cast of this movie is fantastically divine. If Woody Allen does this group of people a disservice with a blah script I will be so sad. Here's the cast, are you ready? : Marion Cotillard (who I absolutely adore), Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Kathy Bates, Michael Sheen (love him even though he's not that funny on 30 Rock), Carla Bruni (yes, the French president's classy, elegant wife), and one of my absolute favorites, Rachel McAdams. Allen hasn't worked with many of these people before. I'm very curious to see the result especially because Allen's films from the first decade of the 00's were pretty hit or miss. Cassandra's Dream and Match Point were good particularly Dream. Scoop was pretty meh and not that funny. I kind of liked Vicky Cristina Barcelona but that was pretty much because of Penelope Cruz (she should do another movie with him). I heard mixed sentiments about Whatever Works, but I just might have to see it because of the splendiferous Patricia Clarkson. And the film he's releasing here in September called You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger recently got a melange of a response at Cannes. Here's the Midnight in Paris plot courtesy of movies.about.com (also thanks to imdb.com for other info):

"The Official Midnight in Paris Synopsis: Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy that follows a family traveling to the city for business. The party includes a young engaged couple that has their lives transformed throughout the journey. The film celebrates a young man's great love for Paris, and simultaneously explores the illusion people have that a life different from their own is better."

-One of my favorite directors, Spaniard Pedro Almodovar, is planning to make a movie this summer season. It's called La Piel que Habito (The Skin I Live In) and will star Antonio Banderas. Here's the plot from imdb: "Based on Thierry Jonquet's novel "Mygale", this revenge tale tells the story of a plastic surgeon on the hunt for the men who raped his daughter." Straight from Mr. Almodovar's mouth: "close to the terror genre, but I won't respect any of its rules." and "a terror film without screams or scares" (quotes and info courtesy of imdb.com and empireonline.com). I cannot wait for this. 2009's Broken Embraces was good and moving. I hope he puts some Bad Education-esque camp in this. Plastic surgeon: how can there not be camp.

Trailer Time

Just in time for the holidays, director Nancy Meyers (The Parent Trap, The Holiday) gives us the horribly-titled, It's Complicated, a comedy drama about a divorced woman (Meryl Streep)and her relationship with her ex-husband (Alec Baldwin) and her architect (Steve Martin). It looks cute and girly if not exactly hilarious. It's nice to see Meryl, my favorite actress, in one of these more normal roles. She's just playing a regular woman not a zany nun or a scary magazine editor. From the preview it looks like Streep will be organic and warm in this role. It's Complicated could be the title for practically any movie, but besides that the movie looks like cuddly holiday entertainment.


This is the trailer for New York, I Love You, an anthology movie featuring short films by different directors about New York. It's a companion piece to Paris, Je T'aime. The trailer was pretty much tailor-made for me to love. It uses Phoenix's rapturous, infinite-feeling song 1901 perfectly, and New York is one of my favorite places in the world. The cast is huge featuring Blake Lively, Natalie Portman, Rachel Bilson, Julie Christie, Shia Laboeuf, Orlando Bloom, and Bradley Cooper to name a few. I can't wait.


The September Issue is a documentary about Vogue editor Anna Wintour and how the magazine puts together one of their trendsetting, very heavy September issues. I'm so excited to see this. It looks fascinating and fluffy.


Here's the trailer for Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's latest movie, Broken Embraces, starring the stunning Penelope Cruz. It will be released here in the fall. The plot revolves around a blind writer. Cruz looks gorgeous in the trailer, and I love seeing her in anything especially since she's been getting better roles in English features in the past couple years. Also, I recently got into Almodovar Can't wait!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Review

The newest Harry Potter movie is like a visit with old friends. I've grown up with these characters, books, and movies. When I saw the new little Hogwarts students early in the movie I thought "Aw how cute." Harry and the gang were them not long ago and so in a way was I and others my age. This sixth movie in the series is an improvement on the previous film: 2007's Order of the Phoenix. In fact, this sixth film, is second place in my list of Potter adaptations : 2005's immensely entertaining Goblet of Fire being number 1. The new installment is funny and full of teen drama. Wizards and witches are just like us after all. They just want to be loved. We are even led to believe that Harry might get some action from a train station diner waitress in one of the first scenes, but then Dumbledore shows up and that whole possibility fades away. You see, Dumbledore wants Harry to get in good standing with the new potions professor, Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) who has information about Voldemort that Dumbledore wants. And Voldemort's Death Eaters are on the prowl, wreaking havoc wherever they go. That being said, I don't think I've ever laughed out loud during a Potter movie as I did during this one. Harry is even funny albeit after taking a luck potion. There's a sequence where Slughorn has some of his star pupils over for dinner where they proceed to eat huge desserts. It's all very funny. Scenes of this nature are nice contrasts to the darker moments. Not every second of every day at Hogwarts is dark and life-threatening. Creepy flashbacks to Voldemort's or Tom Riddle's childhood days and teen years at Hogwarts are eerie as is a voyage Harry and Dumbledore take into a cave. Not a lot of huge things happen minus the death of a huge character at the end, but I didn't really mind. These characters are so interesting and watchable. The gang have really grown into their parts. There are slow patches , but overall it's very entertaining especially due to the magnificent, mostly spot-on casting. Rupert Grint is amusing as the suddenly hotshot Ron (possibly his best performance as Ron yet), and Emma Watson is her usual smart, sassy self but with more of a vulnerable side this time around. Evanna Lynch is hilarious and the definition of spacey and trippy as Luna Lovegood. Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe was spot-on when he compared her to Anna Faris. The two actresses deliver their lines similarly as if in a mist of otherwordliness. Whenever she was in a scene I knew it would be good (just watch for the lion mask). Helena Bonham Carter is insane, vulgar, primal, and somewhat sexual in her portrayal of Bellatrix Lestrange, one of Voldemort's Death Eaters. Maggie Smith is the shiz (what else is new?) as McGonagall, taking names and getting stuff done. Jim Broadbent (Bridget's dad in Bridget Jones' Diary among many other roles) is funny as Slughorn. He gives Slughorn these great facial expressions. Alan Rickman continues to show why he was born to play Snape as he glides and whispers his way through the movie. Daniel Radcliffe is good as Harry, likeable and somewhat awkward. His scene with Grint where they talk about girls and their skin is a great example of awkward hilarity. Overall, a strong summer movie filled with wonderful performances and striking images and shots (thanks to cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel). I've seen it twice already in the span of three days, and the funny parts are still funny. Always a good sign.

A Double Feature

Since Tuesday was such a rainy and yucky day, I stayed in and watched two movies but the great Spanish director, Pedro Almodovar. The first one I watched was Talk to Her, his 2002 film that won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. It's the story of two men (Benigno and Marco) and the women they love (Alicia and Lydia) who are both in comas. The two men become close friends as they care for their loved ones. Benigno is a nurse who works in the hospital where the women are staying and Marco is a journalist. The friendship that blooms between the two men is beautiful and very touching. The movie is very sad and moving particularly the ending. Almodovar throws in some twists, but the viewer never is turned off by them or taken out of the story because we have already become so invested in these characters and their stories. There is an interlude where Benigno describes to Alicia a silent movie he saw about a female scientist and the male lover who shrinks when he drinks her new diet drug. It's a bizarre, funny, and transfixing black and white vignette that mirrors what's to come in the movie. A very memorable Shrinking Man. The other Almodovar movie I watched was 2004's seductive and grim Bad Education. Now this film is utterly fantastic. It's comedy, color, drama, sex, and controversy all rolled into one odd movie. It stars Gael Garcia Bernal as three characters: a tranny named Zahara and two brothers, Ignacio and Juan. The story begins when movie director, Enrique (Fele Martinez) is visited by his Catholic school lover, Ignacio who presents to him a story based on their childhood. Enrique starts to read it later that night, and it all comes back in flashbacks or so we think. It turns out Ignacio was sexually abused by one of the priests at the boys' Catholic school which leads to more flashbacks until everything is flipped on its head and we get the real story. The movie is fascinating, and Almodovar handles all the plot technicalities with skill and grace. Gael Garcia Bernal is wonderful in all the roles he plays especially as Zahara, the tranny. Overall, a wonderful movie. Highly Recommended.

Oh My Gosh

The trailer for the movie version of the musical based on Fellini's movie 8 1/2 (mouthful) entitled NINE arrived the other day. The cast of this movie is absolutely amazing: Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench (rocking a bob), Kate Hudson (looking gorgeous), Sophia Loren's cheekbones (and the rest of her), Nicole Kidman, and Fergie Ferg (looking a little scary). Rob Marshall who did a great job with Chicago back in 2002 directs, and I have faith in him. The staging looks similar to that of Chicago's where some of the numbers occurred on stages. The song used in the trailer is fantastic, big, and dramatic as hell. Judi Dench closes and begins the trailer with some witty lines. Daniel Day-Lewis could actually be good in this role. I have mixed feelings about him, but he looks like he's having fun. Penelope looks stunning as usual and that dance with the huge curtain: sexy as hell. Marion is a radiant being who I adore. Kate Hudson (the most surprising member of the cast) looks like she's fitting in nicely. Even if this movie is all about the outfits and fierce women in it who cares? Deeves are the best!

Oscar Predictions

The Oscars are tomorrow night, and Hugh Jackman is hosting. I can't wait. I used the Boston Globe's technique for predictions (ie should win, will win, shouldn't be here). Many of the supposed Oscar-worthy movies released at the end of 2008 underwhelmed me with only a few movies really standing out. Without further ado, here are my predictions.

Best Picture:
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
The Reader
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon

Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Should Win: Slumdog Millionaire-the right movie at the right time. A real underdog story in terms of the story itself, and the buzz that slowly built around it.
Shouldn't Be Here: The Reader and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button-The Reader was an average movie, but since it fits the Oscar prototype it gets nominated. Benjamin Button was a disappointment. I didn't feel invested in the story or the relationship between Brad and Cate. I really wanted to like it.
Where is this Movie?: The Dark Knight was amazing. Way better than The Reader. Why isn't it here?

PS I didn't see Frost/Nixon.

Best Actress:
Kate Winslet-The Reader
Melissa Leo-Frozen River
Meryl Streep-Doubt
Anne Hathaway-Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie-Changeling

Will Win: Kate Winslet-she doesn't deserve the Oscar for this movie.
Should Win: I haven't seen Frozen River, but I've heard great things about Melissa Leo's performance so I'll go with her.
Shouldn't Be Here: This category is kind of mess. Doubt was Oscar-bait from the beginning so Meryl's nod was a shoo-in. Anne Hathaway was good, but she has more chances to show her chops. Kate Winslet was good as well, but the performance doesn't warrant a nod.
Where's this Actress?: I still haven't seen Happy-Go-Lucky, but I heard Sally Hawkins was superb in it. She was terrific in Woody Allen's Cassandra's Dream.

Best Actor:
Sean Penn-Milk
Mickey Rourke-The Wrestler
Brad Pitt-Curious Case
Frank Langella-Frost/Nixon
Richard Jenkins-The Visitor

Will Win: Mickey Rourke
Should Win: Sean Penn or Mickey Rourke
Shouldn't be Here: Brad Pitt-there wasn't much to his performance
This category makes somewhat more sense than Best Actress. I'm torn between Rourke and Penn. Penn became Harvey Milk and blew me away. Rourke has the comeback story though. Ultimately, Sean Penn should win I think.

Supporting Actress:
Penelope Cruz-Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Marisa Tomei-The Wrestler
Amy Adams-Doubt
Viola Davis-Doubt
Taraji P. Henson-Curious Case

This category is extremely strong filled with awesome performances.
Will Win: Penelope Cruz-She was the best part of Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Should Win: Amy Adams or Marisa Tomei
Shouldn't be Here: Maybe Taraji

Amy Adams managed to play innocent and naive again in Doubt, but somehow made it fresh. Marisa Tomei was moving and lovable as the stripper who stole Rourke's heart.

Supporting Actor:
Josh Brolin-Milk
Robert Downey Jr.-Tropic Thunder
Heath Ledger-Dark Knight
Michael Shannon-Revolutionary Road
Philip Seymour Hoffman-Doubt

Will Win: Heath Ledger
Should Win: Heath Ledger
Shouldn't Be Here: Josh Brolin

Ledger gave us an iconic and delightfully twisted performance that deserves this honor. Downey Jr. was comically ruthless in Tropic Thunder and Hoffman turned himself into another interesting person. Josh Brolin's performance didn't make me sit up and notice him. He was good just not out of this world like his fellow nominees.

Best Director:
Danny Boyle-Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry-The Reader
Gus Van Sant-Milk
Ron Howard-Frost/Nixon
David Fincher-Curious Case

Will Win: Danny Boyle
Should Win: Danny Boyle-his movie was alive
Shouldn't Be here: Stephen Daldry
Where is this Director?: Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight. Outstanding vision for an epic movie.

Boyle made Slumdog a treat for the senses. Curious Case was a beauty to look at, but there wasn't much to it. I don't understand Daldry's nod. There wasn't really any distinctive vision or style in The Reader to me at least. Milk was presented as a powerful and moving, but somewhat standard biopic.

Those are my predictions. We'll see what happens. Tomorrow night at 8 on ABC!

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist Review

A funny thing happened the other night at the movies: as I sat there watching Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, I saw myself up there on the screen; I saw people I knew. This was the first teen movie I had seen that I could actually relate to. Sure, Mean Girls or Bring it On, are funny and all, but I don't particularly relate to any of the characters in them. With Nick and Norah, I recognized the characters. They had the same sense of humor as me (somewhat awkward and sarcastic with odd emphasis on certain words). The movie takes place over one night. Nick (played by the super cool Michael Cera) plays in a gay band where he is the only straight guy and he is also getting over his break-up with mean, nasty girl Tris (Alexis Dziena), who goes to Norah's (Kat Dennings) school. It turns out Nick has been sending Tris all this mix tapes in hopes that maybe she'll come back to him. She just throws them out and Norah collects them and relishes in them. Norah has a best friend named Caroline (Ari Graynor) who gets inebriated on said night that Nick and Norah's have together. All of these characters end up in New York where Nick's band, the wonderfully named The Jerk-Offs are playing a gig that Norah happens to be attending. After a chance encounter Nick and Norah end up meeting and Nick's friends in The Jerk-Offs decide Norah is the person Nick needs after the horrible Tris. Various amusing hi jinx ensue. They involve Caroline going missing and a quest to find her, locating a secret concert by Nick and Norah's favorite band, Where's Fluffy? Also, it turns out Norah's has some boyfriend issues of her own to resolve. The movie glides along and is the perfect length. The whole cast is wonderful. Michael Cera brings his usual awkward sweetness to the role and it really pays off. He is perfect for the role of Nick. Kat Dennings as Norah is amazing. She is smart, witty, clever, sarcastic, and just is Norah. You want to be friends with her. This girl Kat has really got something. She was the character I saw myself the most in with her sarcasm and endearing awkwardness. Ari Graynor is a hilarious scene-stealer as, Caroline, the inebriated friend. She has great comic timing and is a joy to watch. Rafi Gravon (Dev) and Aaron Yoo (Thom) are funny, sweet, and caring as Nick's gay bandmates. The fact that they are gay and that Nick is friends with them isn't addressed, and that's extremely refreshing. They are also not stereotypes, and come off as genuine, living, breathing characters. Also, Jonathan B. Wright is amusing as Lothario, Dev's boyfriend. New York is wonderfully depicted by director Peter Sollett as a place of adventure and youthful sponteineity. The city is an essential part of the movie. The script by Lorene Scafaria is smart, clever, and much funnier than the preview led me to believe. The humor gives us insights into the characters and we laugh because we see ourselves in them or at least, I did. The music, as expected, is very good. There's this great moment near the end where everyone involved with Nick and Norah and their big night, meet on the rooftop of this building where the Where's Fluffy show is happening, and the movie goes into slow motion and as Nick and Norah get pulled different ways by an ex-boyfriend and girlfriend they just stare at each other knowingly. It's a sublime movie moment that I appreciated for its simplicity and its depiction of a moment of connection between two cool, indie kids. Bottom Line: I loved this movie. Kat Dennings is the shiz!

P.S. Fistful of Assholes (see the movie and you'll know what I mean)