Armchair Commentary

And the Nominees Are....

The nominees for the 84th Annual Academy Awards have been out for a few days now so we've all had time to stew and gain some perspective. I can describe the nominations and this whole year in film in terms that my once favorite English teacher told me never to do, as "interesting". As a group it just doesn't seem like a stellar year. This year we've got nine nominees. Apparently Oscar got an editor because it's really getting clipped back from the last two year's ten choices. Go back to five, I beg you Oscar. Where's the tradition? That's what you're all about right?

Some of us have always attached too much significance to both the nominees and the winners as if it validates our personal taste in the art of cinema. I can remember jumping up and cheering for a Braveheart win back in 1995, or screaming profanities at my TV when Driving Miss Daisy beat Dead Poet's Society in 1989. This year there doesn't seem to be much of a favorite with The Golden Globes and SAG Awards differing on their best movies. There is definitely not a lurking dominant force like Titanic. We shall see who picks up momentum as we get closer to the red carpet.

Best Picture

From Woody to a silent film to a horse. Does anyone else think maybe War Horse wouldn't be here if it didn't have Spielberg's name on it? It's quite a mix of films this year. Will it be the feel good favorite with The Help or Alexander Payne's The Descendants? It's a wide open field so far but the front runner may be the return of the silent film. The Artist just seems to be the kind of movie the Academy likes and picking up steam with its Golden Globe success.

The Ides of March may have been the most talked about "snub" but I'd like to mention another film that should have been considered. Warrior is an excellent film. The acting buy Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte, who was nominated in a supporting role, is brilliant. It's a more raw, indie feeling version of The Fighter and that may be the reason it didn't get more love. Do yourself a favor and watch it.

Best Actor

What?! No Hugh Jackman in Real Steel, no Shia LaBeauf for Transformers: Dark of the Moon? Oh, wait that's the best actor alongside a robot category. It's easy to confuse. Again, no clear favorite in this category but if I had to pick one it would be Jean Dujardin of The Artist. But don't underestimate the power of the Clooney. Big snub here was Michael Fassbender for the film Shame but that's not too surprisng for those of us who seen Oscar snub a "controversial" film before.

Best Actress

What's that you say? Meryl Streep is nominated? Get out! Well, it's nice to see that up and comer get some recognition. Just fresh into the game and already people are noticing. Really though, Streep is the best but she could have three minutes of screen time in The Zookeeper Part 2 and she'd get nominated. It's just ridiculous. Very strong year for women's roles including the amazing success of Bridesmaids but mark this on your ballot. Viola Davis is going to win for her role in The Help. It's gotta happen. Its feel good, its tears and its everything we've come to expect from this category.

 

I could keep going through all the categories all the way down to sound editing (C'mon Transformers!) but I'll spare us all the debate of whether the winner of best film should match the winner of best director. But here's the biggest shocker that will happen at this year's Oscars.....Christopher Plummer will win Best Supporting Actor for Beginners. OK, not a shocker but ink it into your ballot.

I would also like to remind the Academy that one Nic Cage was in five eligible films this year. Hello? Academy.....five movies and you couldn't recognize old Nic for his brilliance. Have you seen Seeking Justice? No? Me either.

 

 

 --Adam

 

 

 

 

The 69th Golden Globes - What Went Down

The 69th Golden Globes have happened; click here for the full list of winners, including which ones you can order on DVD, Blu-ray, or Amazon Instant Video; the others you can sign up to be notified whenever they become available to pre-order. Meanwhile, check out some opnions on last night's ceremony.

Everyone will talk about the heart warming success of the The Help, or on a bigger scale the strength of important and sometimes hilarious roles for women, Bridesmaids. Of course one has to mention the definition of acting class and brilliance with the incomparable Morgan Freeman. These are the deserved themes of the evening but here are a few other, smaller moments that supplied an overall flat night with some memories.

Classy Christopher

    

Christopher Plummer. Kudos to this gentleman being recoginzed for his role in The Beginners. Although there is a whole new generation of leading men from George Clooney to Leo and Pitt, there is just something about that classic generation of Hollywood that will never be matched again. There is definitely some old school Tinseltown glamour in thanking your bartender in an acceptance speech.

 

 

 

Good for Joey

Maybe it was just me but it just felt good to see Matt LeBlanc up there receiving an award for Episodes. Not because I was rooting one way or the other but because I thought it was the most geniune and humble moment of the night. LeBlanc was authentic, truly nervous and suprised and it was heart warming.

Pure Harmony

    

It was just the moment that put a big smile on your face. Husband and wife William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman harmonizing a little ditty while presenting. How can you not like these two?

 

 

 

These "Talkies" Are Going to Kill the Movie Biz

I guess we were all wrong about this whole "sound" thing. It appears that the real darlingn of last year and this year's awards circuit might be The Artist. It's time to face reality if you're a big movie and award show fan. You are going to have to watch a silent (mostly) film. It's already won best movie at the Critic's Choice and now Best Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes. It could shock at the Oscars.

Just Shut Up!

Madonna, you are just....obnoxious. We get it, you directed a movie. Good for you. You were sure to remind us of that in you boring and awkward speech as you uttered "My Movie" countless times. Guess what, nobody saw it and your movie career is still the source of punchlines not praise.

Best David Bowie Impersonation

      And the winner is........Tilda Swinton. Brilliant actress and I'm sure when the movie is made about the life and times of David Bowie  she will play the role and probably receive a Golden Globe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table We Most Want to Sit At

Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman? Yes, please. While Tina Fey's photobomb was one of the most gif worthy moments of the night, we can only imagine the champagne buzz chatter emmenating from that table. As Liz Lemon would say, "I want to go to there."

--Adam & Megan

Screenwriters/"Reno 911!" Stars on TV vs. Movies, and Creating By Committee

Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon are probably best known as the stars of Reno 911!, but they've also written hit movies like Night at the Museum. And they've written a book, Writing Movies for Fun and Profit, that's a hilarious and genuinely insightful read for anyone who wants to know more about how stories get  to the big screen. They recently talked with Amazon Studios about screenwriting and why comedy is so tough, and in this interview they answer such burning questions as: Will they write a book about writing TV for fun and profit? Did they really make more on unemployment than while doing '90s cult comedy favorite The State? How is working in TV different from working in movies? What happens when you try to create great entertainment by committee?

Amazon Goes to Pixar

A few weeks ago, two lucky Amazonians got the chance to travel down to Pixar Animation Studios for a campus tour and a chat with the creators of Cars 2. Watch our blog and site for the resulting interviews with John Lasseter, Denise Ream and the lead animators and artists of Cars 2. In the meantime we wanted to share a little bit of our behind the scenes experience at Pixar.  - Megan Newman

 

 Entrance

Pixar is located in Emmeryville, CA, adjecent to Berkeley.  Specifically it’s located on Park Avenue. The street name has inspired a New York themein building names across the campus. The main building, and home to the poshest offices, contains the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. We also saw a sign pointing to offices a little further out that were named, appropriately, Brooklyn.

 

 

 

Luxo Lamp and Ball

Located right outside the main office the Luxo Lamp and ball greet employees and visitors.  The Luxo lamp and ball play an important part in Pixar’s early history and have been incorporated into their logo. It’s also one of the most popular spots for visitor photos on campus.

 

 

 

 

 

Howdy Partner

Several of Pixar’s main characters guard the entrance to the main building and are scattered throughout. Lego Buzz and Woody are particularly impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main Building

The Pixar campus opened in 2000. It was built on the location of an old canning factory and the factory vibe inspired the architecture. Steve Jobs, one of the Pixar founders was heavily involved in the design. He wanted Pixar's main building to serve as a central gathering place where employees would come several times a day to interact and share ideas. In service of this goal a cafeteria, coffee shop and the employee mail room were clustered within steps of each other within the atrium of the main building. Pixar lore is that Jobs was so obsessed with the idea of all employees venturing to this area at least once a day that he advocated for only having one bathroom on the campus. He was overruled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bathrooms

Speaking of bathrooms, Boo Peep for the ladies and Woody for the men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upstairs Galleries

Lining the main building’s upper floor are two mini-Pixar centric art galleries. The right side (the Upper East Side) features art from, or inspired by, the current release. Cars 2 inspired art ranged from photos from the crew’s reserach trips to the clay figures used to help model the characters. This side changes every year to focus on the current film release. The left side (i.e. The Upper West Side) features art created by Pixar employees. The art featured in the gallery is a myriad of different subject types and provides an outlet for Pixar artists that is separate from their work. Unfortunately no cameras were allowed upstairs.

 

 

Awards

One of the coolest displays is the awards, a case full of Academy Awards, Baftas and more prominently displayed by the entrance. One Oscar we spotted was inscribed “Awarded to Brad Bird” for “Ratatouille”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Café Luxo

When Pixarites need a caffeine fix they visit Café Luxo. Drip coffee is provided gratis to employees. They can enjoy their caffeine boost while they peruse the cereal bar, also free, featuring dozens of different cereals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Screening Room

The main building holds at least one screening room (we suspect there are more.) Velvet couches fill the mini movie theatre which is used by employees to view, edit and discuss movies in production.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Café & The Evil Dead 2

It’s not all kid’s stuff at Pixar. Screenings of a wide variety of films are held regularly for employees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amphitheatre & Campus

Pixar's campus has plenty of green space. Adding to the collegiate vibe is the amphitheater located directly outside the main building.

In addition to company meetings, smaller groups of employees gather here. Upon our arrival we saw a small group sword fighting, a one-off clinic to ensure accuracy for their upcoming film Brave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodbye!

Until next time. Thanks for letting us visit, Pixar!

Mom Always Liked You Best: Siblings Who Shared the Screen

Critics have been almost unanimous in their praise of Elizabeth Olsen's performance as a cult survivor in the indie drama Martha Marcy May Marlene, which opens in limited release on October 21. Most, if not all of the coverage has mentioned in often incredulous tones that Olsen is the younger sister of fraternal twins and child superstars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The siblings are the latest in a long line of brothers and sisters who followed each other to Hollywood, some of whom launched acting dynasties and enduring film franchises, while others... well, let's just say that they established the black sheep in their respective families. Following is a by-no-means complete list of movie star sibs, from the Marx Brothers to the Baldwin brothers and beyond. 

-- Oscar-winning actor/writer/director Ben Affleck, who cast his brother, Casey (Tower Heist) - himself an Oscar nominee for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - in his acclaimed thriller Gone Baby Gone.

-- '40s leading man Dana Andrews (The Ox-Bow Incident, The Best Years of Our Lives) and his brother William, who gained fame as Steve Forrest (SWAT).

-- Gunsmoke star James Arness and his brother Peter Graves (Mission: Impossible).

-- all of actor/director David Arquette's siblings are professional actors, including Rosanne (Desperately Seeking Susan), Patricia (Medium), Alexis (The Wedding Singer) and Richmond.

Gear Jammers and Night Riders: 10 Great Car Chase Movies Before "Drive"

With its blend of high-octane car action and an indie-friendly cast that includes Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks, Bryan Cranston and Ron Perlman, the thriller Drive, which opens September 16, appears to pay homage to the great auto-oriented action and suspense films of the 1970s, where top actors like Steve McQueen, Gene Hackman and Peter Fonda vented their frustration over the decade's turmoil from behind the wheel of some heavy-duty horsepower. No Michael Bay histrionics or Fast and Furious drift here - just four wheels, an open road and plenty of attitude.

Following are some of the best and most ballsy car chase films from that decade, as well as a few from the 1980s and 1990s that took their MPH to heart.

Bullitt (1968) Steve McQueen's Inspector Frank Bullitt and his '68 V8 Ford Mustang are pursued by a 440 Dodge Charger through San Francisco's highly vertical Mission District in the landmark 9-minute chase scene from Peter Yates' police thriller. McQueen did about 10% of his own driving in the film, leaving the rest to veteran stunt drivers Bud Ekins (who executed McQueen's barbed wire fence jump in The Great Escape, 1963) and McQueen's usual stunt double, Loren James. The Bullitt Mustang was revived by Ford in 2008 to celebrate the film's 40th anniversary.

The French Connection (1971) Gene Hackman's tough cop Popeye Doyle pits his 1971 Pontiac Le Mans against New York's BMT West Line train in a frenzied attempt to stop hitman Marcel Bozzuffi after a botched attempt on Doyle's life. An astonishing display of cinematic bravura, director William Friedkin puts the viewer in the driver's seat (well, the back seat, where he shot over stunt driver Bill Hickman's shoulder while wrapped in a mattress for protection) or on the Pontiac's front bumper to provide one of the movies' greatest adrenaline rushes.

The Icky Shuffle: Contagion Movies

Gesundheit. With Steven Soderbergh’s brilliantly clinical, scarily plausible all-star disaster movie Contagion hitting screens, here’s a few notable films which also explore the fertile topic of quarantines and near-invisible invaders. Does … does anybody else feel warm?

Panic in the Streets (1950) Q: What’s scarier than having an unknowing carrier of bubonic plague on the loose in New Orleans? A: When said carrier is played by a huffing, puffing Jack Palance. Elia Kazan’s heavily expressionistic film noir (which features Richard Widmark in a too-rare heroic role) piles on the paranoia, especially when zooming in on the increasingly manic Palance, spreading potential death with every musk-ox exhalation.

Shivers (1976) There’s a fear of infection at work in most horror stories (Vampires, check; Werewolves, check; Zombies, big time check). While George A. Romero’s Dead saga, the 28 Days Later series, and The Stand all have their considerable virtues, no filmmaker has ever played with the idea as boldly as David Cronenberg, whose first two movies are brilliantly grody metaphors about catching a bug.  Shot entirely in a claustrophobic high rise, Shivers follows the outbreak of a group of horrid slug-things whose bite releases the inner deviant in their victims. Working on an extremely low budget, Cronenberg takes the concept of viral horror and absolutely runs with it, leaving no queasy stone unturned.  (To quote Stephen King from his awed appreciation in Danse Macabre, “[the film] is about sexual promiscuity on one level; on another level it’s asking you how you’d like to have a leech jump out of a letter slot and latch itself onto your face. These are not the same levels of unease at all.”) Nowhere is the film more effective than in its bizarre finale, which somehow plays as both worst case scenario and happy ending. 1977’s follow-up Rabid, in which Marilyn Chambers develops a communicable hankering for human blood following an experimental surgery, is a slightly more conventional movie, although the director still goes to degrees where few others dare to tread. After watching a surgeon start foaming at the mouth in mid-operation, never leaving the house again feels like a valid option.

Carriers (2009) A small group of survivors attempt to outdrive a widening plague zone, in this surprisingly vital, unstintingly tough-minded end of the world virus movie, with a pre-Trek Chris Pine unafraid to ugly it up in the lead role. The lack of funds occasionally shows, but in its unpretentious B-movie miserablism, it works like gangbusters.

Black Death (2011) In which a bunch of church-commissioned Medieval witch hunters (led by Sean Bean) stumble across a community mysteriously free of the plague. A cult movie in the making, director Christopher Smith’s fantastically atmospheric film explores the horrors of unexplained sickness, as well as the extreme steps taken by some to escape the taint.

Outbreak (1995) Released during the height of Ebola fears, Wolfgang Petersen’s mild yet effective monkey virus thriller manages to hit some of the same nerves that Contagion pings so expertly. The novelty of Dustin Hoffman as an action hero aside, this makes the list mainly for the awesomely overt scene where the plague is first spread … in a movie theater. William Castle would have given a high-five.

So, what movies make you reach for the Purell? --Andrew Wright

 

Talking Film Distribution with Director Kevin Smith

Movie fans are familiar with the standard routine -- a movie is promoted for months through TV, print advertising, and trailers building anticipation for its theatrical release.  The film is then released to movie theaters around the country with the number of screens varying from title to title.  Depending on the movie, it can be widely released across the US or limited to “art house cinemas” in select cities.  After several months, the movie is made available for home viewing on DVD and Blu-ray discs, and through digital Video On-Demand services.  Films are then often available through premium cable channels (like HBO) and eventually, broadcast and basic cable channels. 

This lifecycle of movie distribution “windows” has remained relatively unchanged for some time.  But now, the proliferation of high-speed broadband and Internet-connectable devices in consumer homes has opened a new movie distribution portal for filmmakers, and more consumption alternatives for movie fans.  One filmmaker embracing these possibilities is Kevin Smith, director of films such as Clerks, Chasing Amy, Cop Out, and the upcoming Red State.  I recently had a chance to speak to Kevin about the Internet's effect on the movie business and his new film. 

Written and directed by Smith, Red State premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and releases today through Video On-Demand outlets BEFORE its scheduled theatrical release on September 23.  It is also scheduled to be released on DVD October 18, only four weeks after its release in theaters (much sooner than the typical three to four month delay).  "We live in a world in which it is increasingly difficult to get people’s attention," Smith said describing this strategy, "You have to reach the audience where they are.  You have to figure out a way to get your art in the hands of the people.”

Smith went on to describe why the movie business is unique in its dependence on multiple channels of distribution.  “Filmmaking is an expensive art form.  If I was a singer and I wanted to express myself to you, I would simply sing a song; if I was an artist and I wanted to express myself, I would get a canvas and some paint; but to make a film, I need millions of dollars and a large cast and crew.”  When asked about the potential he sees in Internet distribution of movies, Smith (who also hosts a weekly podcast with longtime producer Scott Mosier) replied, “It’s an opportunity to create new viewer experiences” and “on-demand entertainment.  Smith also added that “Video On-Demand could be the new art house cinema.”  That’s a revolutionary concept and could mean that the opportunity to see select independent films on their release date may no longer be limited to those in New York or Los Angeles.

Describing the R-rated horror/thriller film Red State, Smith says it’s a movie of “tragic decisions.”  When asked how he wants the audience to walk away from the film (which certainly does not have the typical Hollywood ending), Smith hopes viewers appreciate "great performances" by the cast and maybe even walk away "inspired to make some art" of their own.  Smith encourages filmmakers to keep innovating and utilizing technology to stay relevant. “I’m a great commercial for trying what you want to do,” says Smith. 

Another upcoming film experimenting with the traditional release windows is Trespass, starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman, which is scheduled to be released in both theaters and through Video On-Demand on October 14.

Watch Red State today on Amazon Instant Video before it hits theaters on September 23.  You get to watch it at home, but you’ll have to make your own popcorn.

Trailer Park: "Carnage" and "The Ides of March"

Roman Polanski's Carnage, opening later this year, is an adaptation of the Broadway play God of Carnage, which is about two sets of parents squabbling over their sons, who have gotten in a school yard fight. The teaser trailer (not an official green band release, so there is profanity for those who want to be properly warned) is like a mash-up of Oscar Gold, and for that alone it's a must-see. Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly play one set of parents, while Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz play the other set. Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet in the same frame? My mind is going to explode.

 

 

 

I had a similar experience watching the trailer for The Ides of March a few weeks ago, directed by and starring George Clooney as a rising Presidential candidate whose press secretary (Ryan Gosling) knows something that could shatter his career. My head-exploding moment? Realizing that on top of the two mildly handsome and talented actors listed above, this also contains both Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman in the same movie (if this has happened before, and I feel like it should have, please let me know cause it's really bugging me). This is on my must-see list for fall. --Ellen

 

 

Can't Recall Being this Totally Excited

For a lot of guys in my age bracket Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall is a seminal movie. If you were an Arnold (pronounced Aahh-nuld) fan (go ahead and admit it, it was a different time), Total Recall was the zenith of his awesomeness. And my dad took me to see it when I was too young for an R rated movie. It came after Commando, Predator, The Running Man & Twins. It was the right movie at the right time for any action/adventure loving movie goer. Total Recall was full of humor, memorable quotes and for the era, great sci-fi design and special effects. It seemed like such a BIG movie and for at least this one movie geek, it would became one of the most referenced films ever.

So now, of course, the upcoming "re-imagining" Total Recall (2012) directed by Len Wiseman (of Underworld fame) is making me feel like a kid again. Scanning the google looking for updates or new photos, hoping for an Arnold cameo, anything to feed my excitement. Anyways.....this time around we've got Colin Farrell in the Arnie role. Which, I can get on board with. He's versatile and sometimes brilliant as is evident in the far too unwatched In Bruges. Then the cast really gets good. Kate Beckinsale in the Sharon Stone role, AWESOME! Jessica Biel as Melina, SWEET!! And to top it all off Bryan Cranston as Cohagen. AWESOMELY SWEET!!! Oh wait, as if that wasn't good enough, how bout' they throw in a little Bill Nighy, John Cho and some Ethan Hawke. MIND BLOWN!! One more bonus, Shia LaBeouf is not in it. Just a powerhouse group! What's next, Robocop with Daniel Craig? We can dream.

It's OK if you're smiling right now thinking of some mindless action fun. Let yourself go back to that place when you were younger and going to the movies was so much more exciting. We didn't need no stinkin' 3D! We just needed absurd fight scenes and enough of the F word to make us feel a little bit dangerous while we watched. Thanks Paul Verhoeven, thanks Arnie and now thank you Len Wiseman and Columbia Pictures for bringing back this classic. Yeah, I said it, c-l-a-s-s-i-c.