Would it be crazy to say that Inception is the greatest movie I’ve ever seen? Maybe. But that is how I felt while I was watching it. Here’s why…
Author Archive
July26
Inception Review
July22
TV Throwdown: Survivor News
I know what you’re thinking… “‘Survivor News’?!? Is the band who wrote the incredible song Eye of the Tiger getting back together and going on tour?” As far as I know, they’re not… but they could be. This news, however, is related to the television program, Survivor, not the band.
Two types of television programs are canceled after only one or two seasons: the brilliant and the utterly stupid. Certainly among the former is the great work of the incomparable Aaron Sorkin. Of his three forays into the small screen, only one made it past its second season, the critically acclaimed The West Wing. It is his other two series, though, that you probably missed: Sports Night and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. (Aside: Aaron Sorkin is also the writer of several films including one of my all-time favorites A Few Good Men.)
Ok, what do you get when you put knock-off versions of Christian Bale and Bridget Moynahan in a deserted town with invisible electric fences? The new Lost? Maybe. But really it’s just NBC’s summer mini-series Persons Unknown.
When they first started making Narnia films, I was afraid that they wouldn’t have the momentum to make it all the way to Book 3 – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which is by far my favorite in the series. At the time, we were just coming off of the Lord of the Rings and right in the middle of Harry Potter. But, it looks as though they are going to continue with the series as long as their income surpasses their budget (which has to be huge).
May25
TV Throwdown: 24 Finale
SPOILER ALERT: *So many spoilers your mom will wonder who left the refrigerator open*
Background: I’ve watched this show live since season 4. I bought the first season on DVD site unseen years ago and fell in love. With that first season, I actually started the last disc around 11:30pm and kept convincing myself “just one more episode” ’til I had finished the whole thing, knowing that I had to be at work at 6 the next morning. I’m a fan.
…now it’s time… to say goodbye… to all our company…
Background: I caught up on Lost around the start of season 4. I borrowed and rented the first three seasons and watched them in about a month. And I was hooked. I’ve watched the last three seasons pretty much live. Needless to say, I’m a fan.
It looks like the powers that be have made a decision on the “First Avenger”, Captain America… it’s The Human Torch! Chris Evans (whose resume includes two rounds of work on The Fantastic Four, Not Another Teen Movie, and some vocal work on TMNT – pretty sure he’s not actually a turtle) will be playing America’s favorite boyscout. The film is set to release July 11, 2011. It is being directed by Joe Johnston, director of the All Time Great: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
So, my first response to this news was “WHAT?!?!?”… but then I gave it some thought and realized that I would probably have never cast Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and that played pretty well.
What do you think?
In case you missed them – the 82nd Annual Academy Award nominees were announced today.
This may be the first awards show in the last 16 months doesn’t feature Lady Gaga in some outrageous outfit, but don’t let that deter you from watching. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will be co-hosting the awards ceremony on March 7. Both are comic geniuses in their own way, but both are also known for thinking more highly of themselves than maybe they should. (Also, along with Christopher Walken, they are the only SNL hosts to warrant their own “Best of” compilations.)
And just like any good presenter, let me offer this very smooth segue way “and the nominees are…” (awkward pause, internal dialogue visible in my expression: “am I supposed to read these out loud or will the announcer do that??”)
BEST PICTURE:
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
DIRECTING:
Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker
James Cameron – Avatar
Lee Daniels – Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Jason Reitman – Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
George Clooney – Up in the Air
Colin Firth – A Single Man
Morgan Freeman – Invictus
Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:
Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side
Helen Mirren – The Last Station
Carey Mulligan – An Education
Gabourey Sidibe – Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Matt Damon – Invictus
Woody Harrelson – The Messenger
Christopher Plummer – The Last Station
Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:
Penelope Cruz – Nine
Vera Farmiga – Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal – Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air
Mo’Nique – Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Neill Blomkamp and – District 9
Nick Hornby – An Education
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche – In the Loop
Geoffrey Fletcher – Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner – Up in the Air
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Mark Boal – The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds
Oren Moverman and – The Messenger
Joel and Ethan Coen – A Serious Man
Pete Docter and Bob Peterson – Up
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
Ajami – Israel
El Secreto de sus Ojos – Argentina
The Milk of Sorrow
Une Prophéte – France
The White Ribbon – Germany
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of the Kells
Up
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Maurio Fiore – Avatar
Bruno Delbonnel – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Barry Ackroyd – The Hurt Locker
Robert Richardson – Inglourious Basterds
Christian Berger – The White Ribbon
FILM EDITING:
Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron – Avatar
Julian Clarke – District 9
Bob Murawski and Chris Innis – The Hurt Locker
Sally Menke – Inglourious Basterds
Joe Klotz – Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
What do you think of the nominations? Are you excited to see this year’s?
credit for nominees list: /Film
February2
TV Throwdown!
The TV Throwdown has been on an extended hiatus, simply because television has been on an extended hiatus. There have been little pockets of life – 24, Hoarders, Gray’s – but, in general, it’s been pretty weak. But tonight, EVERYTHING… CHANGES.
buh-BAM! Can you deal with that?
Lost is back. Set your twitter apps to follow #LOST. It’s going to rock your face off. I don’t care if I have to wait and start it at midnight after everyone has gone to bed, this is going to be an event. I should go order some BBQ wings, Pringles, and a Snuggie… be right back. SWEET, I totally scored a free portable book light with my Snuggie order.
Seriously, though, this show is poised to prove itself as either the greatest sci-fi/drama/mystery in the history of television or the biggest disappointment since Scott Hall’s latest return to TNA.
Occupying the #2 slot on my DVR is this little gem.
Sorry baby, the doctors of Seattle Grace Hospital are going to have to wait… Rupert and Russell are back. But at the end of the day, I’m pulling for Colby. It’s his time.
So, tell me, am I alone in this or will the entire spring television season rest on the back of these two programs. Feel free to disagree with me, but know that I’ll taunt you mercilessly if you do.
