light & vision

The nominees were announced for the American Society of Cinematographers this week. I have become much more invested in Best Cinematography awards over the years. Last year I was torn between Robert Elswit for "There Will Be Blood" and Roger Deakins for "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." The year before I fell hard for Emmanuel Lubzeki's work for "Children of Men", only to watch him lose the Oscar to the relatively deserving Guillermo Navarro for "Pan's Labyrinth." I could go on, but I'm generally ambivalent about the nominees this year. However, Steven Soderbergh's tireless work for "Che", Harris Savides's beautiful composition in an awkward and telling moment between Sean Penn and a drunk Josh Brolin in "Milk", the breathtaking grandiosity of Wally Pfister's work in "The Dark Knight", and the technical grace of Claudio Miranda for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" were all impressive. Here's a look at this year's nominees:
Roger Deakins, "Revolutionary Road"

Wally Pfister, "The Dark Knight"

Roger Deakins & Chris Menges, "The Reader"

Claudio Miranda, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Any notable snubs?

the flood

It's that time of the year. No, not the holidays. No, not the weather. No, not the fact it's dark at 4:30. It's Award Season ladies and gentlemen and Hollywood is shoving everything down our throats during the prestigious and overcrowded month of December. The Independent Spirit nominations are out and the National Board of Review and the Gotham Awards announced their winners this week. It's on motherfuckers! There are some films that I'm foaming at the mouth in anticipation ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") and others, well, uh I have zero fucking interest in acknowledging their presence. Here are the five films I'll be avoiding this month:

"Doubt"
Directed by John Patrick Shanley
I HATE THIS MOVIE. I HATE THIS MOVIE. Meryl is chewing scenery as if she hasn't had a decent meal in years.


"What Doesn't Kill You"
Directed by Brian Goodman
Didn't James Gray make this movie like twice? Ethan Hawke has a gold tooth, so count me out.


"Nothing But the Truth"
Directed by Rod Lurie
I defend Kate Beckinsale in "Last Days of Disco" but this movie looks abysmal.


"Frost/Nixon"
Directed by Ron Howard
I HATE RON HOWARD. I HATE RON HOWARD.



"Seven Pounds"
Directed by Gabriele Muccino
Woody Harrelson has a blind man in an awful wig, Will Smith in serious mode, Rosario Dawson in another throwaway role, and I bet there's a twist about someone being dead. Do I need to give you more reasons why I will not be seeing this movie?

does it really matter?

We can finally breathe a sigh of relief now that the Academy Awards are out of our hair until next year. Apparently this was the lowest rated Oscars in twenty years, which is unfortunate because some truly great performances and films were awarded. It's curious that the general public may not be familiar with the winners or the films recognized, when in fact they speak very intelligently and loudly about America right now. "No Country for Old Men", "There Will Be Blood", and "Michael Clayton" propose that we live in a greed obsessed world where consumption and the quest for monopolizing and claiming territory is as essential as brushing one's teeth. The precocious teenager in "Juno" is the everygirl, with her whip crack smarts and woman-child vulnerability, learns how to deal with pregnancy in the face of her peers, parents, pro-lifers, and the baby's daddy. The rise and fall of Edith Piaf, so wonderfully and skillfully rendered by Marion Cotillard, could be the rise and fall of any hard living American rock star. All of these issues and concerns are on the pulse of who and what American has become in this juncture of history, but perhaps that confrontational, vague definition is off putting to most Americans. They would rather see Shia LeBeouf chased by CGI created robots from some popular cartoon in the '80s. (which in a way, says tremendous things about politics, gender, generational divide, and so on) When Chris Rock hosted the show a few years ago, his comic and astute observation that most Americans don't bother to see the prestigious echelon of films nominated, played out in the form of a man on the street style interview with actual moviegoers who all seemed clueless at the mention of a film like "Vera Drake" or "Maria Full of Grace." What does that mean? Are the Oscars irrelevant?

I have faithfully tuned into the big show ever since I can remember and each year as I become more and more film literate and invested in "the best films of the year", it is crushing to watch the films I'm rooting for not win in their respective categories. How is a big, audacious, punch of a movie like "There Will Be Blood" only win two awards? Let's not forget the "Crash" debacle or how films that seem like a thing of the past, such as "Shakespeare in Love", "Gladiator", "Titanic", and "Chicago", have won best picture. Are these the films we'll remember in ten, twenty, fifty years time? I'm still thinking about Clive Owen desperately trying to save the 21st century Madonna in "Children of Men" or Heath Ledger remorsefully clinging to his lover's bloodied shirt in "Brokeback Mountain" or the sensational bathhouse brawl in "Eastern Promises." Whether or not the Oscars are always accurate in who they select as the best actress or best cinematographer, they remain a cornerstone of American entertainment and a bit of a national treasure. It is the last major film awards of the season, and certainly one of the first in the world to acknowledge the achievements of its artistic community of players and craftspeople. To not watch such a prime spectacle is almost unAmerican. I'm sure I'll be tuned in next year and probably gasp loudly when an unexpected winner takes the stage (such as I did when Tilda Swinton's name was called), but hopefully those damn Coen brothers won't hog all of the awards again.

and it has to be said, the buttocks.

The award for best acceptance speech goes to...

suited up

It seems as though half of why most people watch the Academy Awards is for the fashion, namely what will the parade of actresses will wear. I thought Amy Adams in Proenza Schouler, Cate Blanchett in Dries Van Noten, Marion Cotillard in Jean Paul Gaultier, Jessica Alba in Marchesa, and Tilda Swinton in Lanvin, all looked positively resplendent. For the most part the female fashion was safe, if not due to the writers' strike or the lack of award show momentum in the recent months, but I thought some of the most handsomely dressed men looked as classic as any movie star could achieve. Here are the three best dressed men at the 80th Academy Awards:

Sean Combs
I think scalloped vests are making a comeback. There is no "bitch assness" found here.

James McAvoy, with wife Anne-Marie Duff
The button detail and subtle shawl collar combination is striking, and yet his slightly deshelved hair makes it look youthful and relaxed.

George Clooney
And then there's what Time dubbed "The Last Movie Star." How does he do it? It's pure Hollywood glamour and no one does it quite like Mr. Clooney, in a classic Armani tuxedo.

oscar, oscar

12:16AM The show is over and I'm fading fast. My thoughts on the show will be better formed after a good night's rest. Good night.

11:46PM Yawn. "No Country for Old Men" wins best picture. What's with Denzel's new haircut?

11:42PM UGGGGHHHHH. I'll accept the Coen brothes win, but I want to buy Paul Thomas Anderson a drink.

11:41PM BEST DIRECTOR. OMG. Who's it going to be?

11:34PM I'M FINISHED! The show is not over but Daniel Day-Lewis keeps it short, sincere, and sweet. How such a mild mannered Englishman can transform into an American sociopath is beyond me, but he did it and he deserved that Oscar.

11:31PM Helen Mirren has to share the award with Forest Whitaker for best performance by a presenter.

11:26PM Cheetah print, jeweled neckline, asymmetrical haircut, red lips, thigh high slit--pick one Diablo Cody and stick with it. Was Rachel Zoe too busy with Cameron and Jennifer?

11:10PM As I predicted, "Atonement" takes best original score. Johnny Greenwood is getting drunk somewhere.

11:02PM The dreaded In Memorium tribute. I'm reminded that Antonioni is gone and I'm still not over it. Noticeable absence: Brad Renfro. Wtf?

11:00PM "THERE WILL BE BLOOD" WINS BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY. THERE IS A GOD.

10:56PM Markéta Irglová gets a second chance to make her speech. A new precedent has been set.

10:54PM Diane Von Furstenberg's American Express commercial is breathtaking. There's something very pretty and calming about DVF wandering around a snowy forest seeking inspiration for her latest collection.

10:52PM Seriously. John Travolta go away.

10:48PM UGGGHHHHH. John Travolta dances. Amazing.

10:46PM UGGGHHHHH. "Enchanted" song again.

10:42PM The token import actor presents best foreign language film. Thank goodness it's Penelope Cruz. Who are the nominees again? Oh yeah, no one has heard of them.

10:30PM Hey Nicole Kidman, you have a diamond necklace circling your right boob. Thought I'd let you know.

10:29PM "Bourne Ultimatum" is killin' 'em. The best action movie of the past decade should have been nominated in more categories. Shoulda, coulda, woulda Academy.

10:27PM Renee Zellweger not wearing something obviously Carolina Herrera? Gasp. EDIT: I was wrong. It was Herrera. Boooooorrrrrring.

10:23PM I'm totally tempted to count how many best picture winners I've seen. I. LOVE. MONTAGES.

10:13PM Radiant in Jean Paul Gaultier couture, Marion Cotillard takes best actress. I love the surprises in the major categories. Once again, I would love a "There Will Be Blood" upset somewhere. Anywhere. Please.

10:10PM Best performance by an actor presenting an Oscar: Forest Whitaker. Did he really have to give the dramatic pauses in between BEST. ACTRESS. IN. A. LEADING. ROLE?

10:00PM The pregnancy award bit was pretty funny. Halle Berry and Dame Judi Dench as presenting partners would have been funnier. I suppose Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill will do.

9:54PM The Kristin Chenoweth anchored performance of the second nominated song from "Enchanted" is...odd. Why did she get so much accompaniment? Why do I always think of Madonna in the early '90s when I see those earpiece microphones? Why didn't Amy Adams perform this one? So many questions.

9:47PM I'm fine with the Coen brothers win for adapted screenplay. I really hope the Academy doesn't give them best picture or director. Spread the love, dammit.

9:39PM Wow. I literally yelped out loud in front of my friends at Tilda Swinton's best supporting actor win. She's not your typical lady, or fashionista for that matter, and that's why we love her. A pleasant surprise and a genuinely surprised acceptance speech. I need to know if she brought her baby's daddy or the other man.

9:24PM Keri Russell: MILF pt. 2.

9:19PM The villain with the bad haircut wins best supporting actor. Javier Bardem is a badass, on and offscreen, but I hate his tuxedo jacket. Penelope, you could have done something about this.

9:09PM CATE BLANCHETT IS A TOTAL MILF. Who cares about the best art direction when a pregnant lady looks that good?

9:02PM Amy Adams wins the award for ballsiest non-nominated actor. If you didn't already love her, she gains extra points for preforming a big song from her film "Enchanted" without backup dancers or an elaborate set piece. She also looked slammin' in a deep emerald gown on the red carpet. Dear Amy, I love you. W.

8:57PM The makeup duo from "La Vie En Rose" deservedly win the makeup achievement award. On a somewhat unrelated note, when did Katherine Heigel's waist get so tiny?

8:50PM Philip Seymour Hoffman and Helen Mirren do not seem excited about Anne Hathaway and Steve Carrell. I guess they don't care for that big rosette thing on Anne Hathaway's dress.

8:47PM The first montage of the evening. YES! 80 YEARS OF OSCAR! ROB LOWE! EVA MARIE SAINT! FELLINI! HEPBURN! CELINE DION SONG!

8:42PM The first win is for costume design. "Elizabeth: The Golden Age", duh. The costume designer is quite the aesthete--severe bangs, billowy dress, nerdy glasses. A glowing Cate Blanchett approves.

8:39PM Is Wesley Snipes Spike Lee's date? Isn't the government after him?

8:31PM Am I the only one who hates Reege? The perma-tan, the glow in the dark white teeth, and the hairline that never recedes drives me wild. So much to loathe, especially when his job dictates interviewing Miley Cyrus.


Glass of pinot noir? Check.
Cupcakes? Check.
Famous people winning awards? Check.

It's time for the Oscars. And so it begins...

and i want to thank...

IT'S OSCAR DAY!

and the oscar goes to...

The 80th Annual Academy Awards are this Sunday and I could not be more excited. It's three hours of glamour, the recognition of the best of film (although that is never accurate), and lots of self-gratulation. I love it. Here are my picks for who will win, who should win, and who should have been nominated:

BEST PICTURE
Will Win: "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"

BEST DIRECTOR
Will Win: Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: David Fincher, "Zodiac"

BEST ACTRESS
Will Win: Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Should Win: I'm pretty ambivalent about this category. The actresses nominated gave good, if not great performances, but this was a relatively weak year in film for memorable lead female roles. Ellen Page would be an exciting upset. I hope she wouldn't say "sweet" or thank her cheeseburger phone.
Should Have Been Nominated: Tang Wei, "Lust, Caution"

BEST ACTOR
Will and Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: Brad Pitt, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Will Win: Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Should Win: It's a close race, but I'm curious what kind of acceptance speech Tilda Swinton would make. Does Hollywood even know who she is?
Should Have Been Nominated: Emmanuelle Seigner, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Will Win: Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Should Have Been Nominated: Irfan Khan, "The Namesake"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Will Win: Diablo Cody, "Juno"
Should Win: Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Should Have Been Nominated: Kelly Masterson, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Will Win: Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: Aaron Sorkin, "Charlie Wilson's War"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Will Win: Roger Deakins, "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: Roger Deakins, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Should Have Been Nominated: Edward Lachman, "I'm Not There"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Will Win: "Elizabeth: Golden Age"
Should Win: "Atonement"
Should Have Been Nominated: "American Gangster"

BEST ART DIRECTION
Will Win and Should Win: "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: "Eastern Promises"

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Will Win: "Sicko"
Should Win: "No End In Sight"
Should Have Been Nominated: "Crazy Love"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Will and Should Win: "Atonement"
Should Have Been Nominated: "There Will Be Blood"

EDIT: Something is brewing for Oscar coverage. Hold your breath. Make a wish. Count to three...

it won't die

Rihanna feat. Klaxons
"Umbrella/Golden Skans"
Live at The Brit Awards

Does this mean I finally like this song? Funny how a laser light show, Klaxons, and a British music award show can change your mind.

and the nominees weren't...

Oh Oscar, how you vex me so.

The nominations for the 80th Academy Awards are out and once again I am befuddled and excited. My fingers are still crossed in hopes of the ceremony not being canceled due to the writers' strike because the major categories are actually recognizing some of the best and anti-studio films of the year, however the Academy did make some mistakes. Jason Reitman, really? Johny Greenwood getting the shaft because of a technicality for his mind-bending score for "There Will Be Blood"? Only two non-white acting nominees? "Transformers" and "Norbit" racking up a few nominations in the technical categories? Did they forget about Sidney Lumet? Instead of commenting in a lengthy rant on the actual nominees (although snaps to "There Will Be Blood" for its eight nominations), here is my list of nominees that were overlooked and should have been:

BEST PICTURE
"Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"
A grand familial tragedy in the vein of Shakespere or even Greek drama, Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" showcases a master filmmaker at his best in ages. A bank robbery gone wrong is the simple text but beneath lies a greater quest to explore the ugliness and rage within us all. How far would you go to achieve the fantasy you've always wanted to be your life? Lumet shows us and what we see is something destructive and unforgettable.

BEST DIRECTOR
Andrew Dominik, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Although it's his second feature, Andrew Dominik's "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" confidently mixes nostalgia with the contemporary. A sly rumination on celebrity, iconography, and the Old West coalesce into a visceral world Dominik orchestrates with superb execution.

BEST ACTOR
Gordon Pinsent, "Away from Her"
It's almost a given at award shows when an actor plays a character with a debilitating disease. Julie Christie can add another Oscar to her mantle for her work in Sarah Polley's "Away From Her", but I found Gordon Pinsent's performance much more complex and interesting. As the husband dealing with his own regrets and sins as his wife slips away into Alzheimer's, he must cope with the idea that as time goes by the memory of their relationship fades away. It's a performance full of private pain, anguish, and heartbreak.

BEST ACTRESS
Marina Hands, "Lady Chatterly"
Very rarely is an actor capable of demonstrating an arc in a character without it feeling episodic or cheap. Marina Hands' Lady Chatterly's frolic in the forest with the gamekeeper (an equally impressive Jean-Louis Coullo'ch) is tense to watch but one of the most sensual and natural performances I've seen in a while. As Lady Chatterly discovers herself and her sexuality, we discover a capable and enigmatic actress at her finest.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Robert Downey Jr., "Zodiac"
Crushed by obsession and spit out by consumption, Robert Downey Jr.'s sad and entertaining portrayal of journalist Paul Avery is perfectly eccentric but tuned in to our culture's fetish with maniacal media darlings.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Catherine Keener, "Into the Wild"
As an aging maternal hippie Catherine Keener exudes warmth and a gravitas she has yet to display in her usual menagerie of icy and ennui-laden characters.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Julie Delpy, "2 Days in Paris"
Funny, biting, and at times painful, Julie Delpy has confidently and pointedly marked her debut as a writer and director to watch with her first feature. A battle of the sexes abroad has never been as fresh, witty, and insightful.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns, and George Nolfi, "The Bourne Ultimatum"
An action thriller that is brooding, subtle, and full of snappy dialogue? It is possible for this writing team who made "The Bourne Ultimatum" the best blockbuster of the summer devoid of irony or idiocy.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Harris Savides, "Zodiac"
Drained of its vibrance but fully of murky colors like dishwater gray, mustard, and oxblood, David Fincher's "Zodiac" was one of the most unique looking films of 2007. We've known Fincher to be a rigorous stylist but he goes one step further with the expert camera work of Harris Savides and gives us original and memorable shots such as the breathtaking aerial shot of a taxi cab winding through the streets of San Francisco with a very dangerous passenger in tow. Undoubtedly the most cinematic looking HD film ever shot.

Click here for the full list of actual nominees.

the aftermath

We can all thank the inane Billy Bush and Nancy O'Dell for making the Golden Globes look like a joke. The sloppy banter between announcing the winners sucked all of the pomp and importance out of the awards. Did Billy Bush really have to undercut Cate Blanchett for saying she shouldn't have won because it's easy to play a man? Oh well, at least there some surprises and of course, some not so surprises. The winners are:

Best Motion Picture, Drama
"Atonement"
I wouldn't worry too much about this movie gaining steam because in the past ten years only four of the Best Picture winners have gone on to win the Oscar. The campaign for "There Will Be Blood" starts now.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Julie Christie, "Away from Her"

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
"Sweeney Todd"

Best Actor, Musical or Comedy
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd"

Best Actress, Musical or Comedy
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett, "I’m Not There"
Good to see she might be back in the game.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"

Best Director
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
The win is not a total surprise because the film is one of the most acclaimed of the year, but it has been a battle between the Coens and Paul Thomas Anderson at the critics awards, making Schnabel's win deservedly refreshing. A friend noted it would have been awesome to see him accept the award in his usual pajama attire.

Best Screenplay
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, "No Country for Old Men"

Best Foreign Language Film
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

Best Animated Film
"Ratatouille"

writer's block: the nominees

The nominees for the Writers Guild of America:

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
"Juno", Written by Diablo Cody
"Michael Clayton", Written by Tony Gilroy
"The Savages", Written by Tamara Jenkins
"Knocked Up", Written by Judd Apatow
"Lars and the Real Girl", Written by Nancy Oliver

My pick: "Michael Clayton"

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
"No Country for Old Men", Screenplay by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
"There Will Be Blood", Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
"Into the Wild", Screenplay by Sean Penn
"Zodiac", Screenplay by James Vanderbilt

My pick: Having not seen "Blood" and "Butterfly", my choice is "Zodiac"

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
"The Camden 28", Written by Anthony Giacchino, First Run Features
"Nanking", Screenplay by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman & Elisabeth Bentley, Story by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman
"No End in Sight", Written by Charles Ferguson, Magnolia Pictures
"The Rape of Europa", Written by Richard Berge, Nicole Newnham and Bonni Cohen
"Sicko", Written by Michael Moore
"Taxi to the Dark Side", Written by Alex Gibney

My Pick: "No End in Sight"

The dialogue in Jason Reitman's "Juno" crackles with a sardonic earnestness that is filled to the brim with pop cultural references, a sly intelligence, and humorous colloquialisms that are endearing and oddly relatable. At times it is too cutesy and self-consciously yearns to say something about the meh generation that has developed a patois of sentences punctuated with "dude", "totally", and "nuh-uh", but luckily the actors saying the lines are so good that it becomes less of an annoyance and an opportunity for some memorable moments. Here is my favorite scene from the film in which Juno (Ellen Page) confronts her baby's daddy, Bleeker (Michael Cera), about his plans for prom:

INT. DANCING ELK SCHOOL - BLEEKER’S LOCKER - DAY
Bleeker retrieves a book from his open locker. Juno marches up to him, belly leading the way.

JUNO
Are you honestly and truly going to
prom with Katrina De Voort

BLEEKER
Um, hi?

JUNO
Leah just told me you were going with her.

BLEEKER
Yeah, I did ask her if she wanted
to go. A bunch of us from the team
are going to Benihana, then the
prom, then Vijay’s parents’ cabin.

Juno is clearly AFFRONTED.

BLEEKER
(meekly)
We’re getting a stretch limo.

JUNO
Your mom must be really glad you’re not taking me.

BLEEKER
You’re mad. Why are you mad?

JUNO
I’m not mad. I’m in a fucking great
mood. Despite the fact that I’m
trapped in a fat suit I can’t take
off, despite the fact that everyone
is making fun of me behind my back,
despite the fact that your little
girlfriend gave me the stinkeye in
art class yesterday...

BLEEKER
Katrina’s not my girlfriend! And I
doubt she was actually giving you
the stinkeye. She just looks like
that all the time.

A GIRL strides past (obviously KATRINA) with a sour look aimed squarely at Juno.

JUNO
Whatever. Have fun at the prom with
Soupy Sales. I’m sure I can think
of something way more cool to do
that night. Like I could pumice my feet, or go
to Bren’s dumb Unitarian church, or
get hit by a ten-ton truck full of
hot garbage juice. All those things
would be exponentially cooler than
going to the prom with you.

She starts to walk away. Bleeker takes a deep breath.

BLEEKER
You’re being really immature.

JUNO
(turning around)
What?

Bleeker BRACES himself and pushes up his lab goggles.

JUNO
That’s not how our thing works! I
hurl the accusations and you talk
me down, remember?

BLEEKER
Not this time. You don’t have any
reason to be mad at me. You broke
my heart. I should be royally
ticked at you, man. I should be
really cheesed off. I shouldn’t
want to talk to you anymore.

JUNO
Why? Because I got bored and had
sex with you one day, and then I
didn’t, like, marry you?

BLEEKER
Like I’d marry you! You would be the
meanest wife of all time. And anyway,
I know you weren’t bored that day
because there was a lot of stuff on
TV. The Blair Witch Project was on
Starz, and you were like, “Oh, I want
to watch this, but we should make out
instead. La la la.”

JUNO
Forget it, Bleek. Take Katrina the
Douche Packer to the prom. I’m sure
you guys will have a really
bitchin’ time!

BLEEKER
(searching for a comeback)
Yeah, well...I still have your underwear.

JUNO
I still have your virginity!

BLEEKER
(looking around, panicked)
Oh my God, SHUT UP!

JUNO
What? Are you ashamed that we did it?

BLEEKER
No...

JUNO
Well at least you don’t have to walk around
with the evidence under your sweater. I’m a planet!

Juno picks up her BACKPACK dejectedly and slides it over her shoulder. She’s about to walk away, when...

BLEEKER
Wait, let me take that.

JUNO
Huh?

BLEEKER
You shouldn’t be carrying that heavy bag. I’ll take it.

JUNO
Oh. It’s fine. What’s another ten pounds?

She turns around, wipes TEARS off her cheek (making sure no one sees) and continues down the hallway.

a no-go

The award season is shaping up to be a messy battlefield of disgruntled and picketing writers, frantic producers with award ceremonies in limbo, and designers sobbing in their show rooms full of frocks that will be saved for next year. The first and major casualty of the writers strike during the awards melee has been the Golden Globes scaling back its usual parade of film and television stars, who have all agreed not to show up due to the alliance between their Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild, to an hour-long news conference in which the winners will be announced. I realize that most, if not all, award shows are arbitrary and not in any way a true barometer for what represents the best films of the year, but there is an escapism, similar to the feeling you experience when you go to the movies, that is unparalleled and will be sorely missed, at least from this most faithful viewer. The glamour is why we tune in, otherwise we wouldn't care who is wearing what or whose arm so and so is on or those deliciously awkward presenting pairings. I'm gonna miss my Golden Globes this year for the delight in an award show that acknowledges comedy and is not full of the empty jokes of a bad host. It's a brisk, fun affair with not only movie stars but the actors and actresses from your favorite television shows. The Golden Globes also throws a curveball or two and is never short on memorable moments, unlike the easily predictable and bloodless Academy Awards. Do you remember how incredible the "Closer" supporting role upset was a few years ago? What about Dame Elizabeth Taylor opening the envelope for Best Picture Drama before reading the nominees and being genuinely confused? I'll never forget when Renee Zellweger was in the restroom when she won for "Nurse Betty." So many moments that will be replaced this year with Brian Williams reading off a laundry list of names. And what about all of the films and actors that need the attention of these award shows to boost their visibility? I don't think "Persepolis" is playing at your local mall theater and the average person probably has never heard of Marion Cotillard or Amy Ryan. Please writers, I beg you to come to some agreement before the dandiest award show of them all rolls around at the end of February. I guess there's always next year.

The guild nominations are looking pretty diverse. I've seen three out of the five nominees for the directing award ("There Will Be Blood" and "Diving Bell" haven't opened in Da Ville yet) and they could not be stylistically more disparate with each baring the precise imprint of their talented director. The support for "Michael Clayton" is growing and it would be great if Tony Gilroy got an Oscar nomination, but my heart belongs with Mr. Anderson. However, I would like to see a female or minority presence that is lacking in general this year.

The Directors Guild of America nominees:
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Sean Penn, "Into the Wild"
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

"Diving Bell" and "There Will Be Blood" are excellent I'm sure, but I loved the sumptuous and original work Roger Deakins contributed to "Jesse James." He's also having the best year ever with his twin nomination for "No Country", which was not a bad looking film either. After the Emmanuel Lubezki debacle last year I'm not trying to invest too much in this category but it is a fine group of lensmen.

The American Society of Cinematographer nominees:
Roger Deakins, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Roger Deakins, "No Country for Old Men"
Robert Elswit, "There Will Be Blood"
Janusz Kaminski, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Seamus McGarvey, "Atonement"

The Writers Guild of America will be announced tomorrow.

Recent award winners:
Broadcast Critics Choice
National Society of Film Critics

in defense: michael clayton

Tony Gilroy's "Michael Clayton" is one of the best and little seen films of the year. The plot cannot be summarized in one sentence, although its fairly simple in its most reduced terms, and the advertising was poor and did not accurately or attractively allure the masses to what is a very perspicacious and thrilling film about greed, corruption, and corporate responsibility. It's not child's fare but it doesn't pander or pat its audience on its head with its intelligence. "Michael Clayton" is a finely crafted film that I know a few friends have no desire to see probably due to the already mentioned advertising and plot issues. However, there are many reasons to see the film and I hope with all of the award attention its receiving more people will see it. Here are three reasons why you should "Michael Clayton."

1. Tony Gilroy
Tony Gilroy's early screenwriting credits include such dubious popcorn blockbusters as "Armageddon", "Proof of Life", and "The Devil's Advocate." It would be easy to write him off immediately after those titles, but there's a development in his voice that has lead him to be someone who has something to say about the world and yet make it utterly appealing in its universality. "The Bourne" series, of which he wrote all three, were films that crackled with breakneck car chases, fight sequences that enthralled, and explosions that were big and mighty, however the film's hero was, and to some degree, still on a journey to discover his identity and make good with the world. Jason Bourne has a clear conscious and strict moral code that he abides by with every brooding and quiet stare. There's a curiosity there that Gilroy pushes further in "Michael Clayton", his official directorial debut. It's such an assured and astute debut that it feels like he's been directing his entire career and has been burning to tell us something we need to hear. Michael Clayton, the character is a man caught in a bind where the world he lives in and the work he performs is ambiguous in its intentions. He covers up the wrongdoings of the big bad boys at his law firm, but he realizes he has a responsibility with that duty and uses it to expose the corruption at a big time corporation that has been responsible for the deaths of many and an attempt as his life as well. It's such a well written and balanced look at how we are now. No one is exactly good or bad anymore, but in the imaginative playground of film, Gilroy apes for a time when if given the opportunity we would choose to do the right thing.

2. Tilda Swinton
Cate Blanchett may be the auteur muse and fashion chameleon at the moment, but let's not forget about Hollywood's other alien beauty, Tilda Swinton. Her role as Karen Crowder in "Michael Clayton" is an interesting step for the actress who is more known for her independent film work. Her screen presence, which is based so much on her unusually striking physicality, reacts palpably with the movie's charming male lead, Mr. Clooney. She's not a classic beauty, but their story is not a romance, nor would that matter because they match quiet well in the film in the two or so scenes they share. It's a big film where she is not shrouded in theatrical costumes or a habitant of a fantastical otherworld. She is the modern day woman trying to establish herself along with the big boys at a major corporation. Although her character is a bit of an archetype--icy, bound to her work more than her life, a lover of boxy power suits--Swinton imbues the character with a certain weight that gives her a life beyond how she is defined by her job. The facial ticks and body movement Swinton employs during two great sequences in which we watch her prepare for a series of rehearsed speeches that cover her company's ass, and possibly her own, are fascinating to watch in their jumpy and revealing quality. She pulls her shaper over her tummy, winces at the sound of her own voice, adjusts her suits to fit just right, attaches an earring to her lobe ever so gently. There's an unspoken acknowledgment of the evil she is participating in that makes her character human and watchable. It's not sexy or pathetic but an honest and voyeuristic moment where everything we need to know about her character is expressed on that alabaster face. This was an odd year in film for women, particularly in American film, but this is one of the few great performances of the year that questions and gets at what it means to be a woman trying to have it all and what price there is to pay.

3. The opening and end credits
"Michael Clayton" begins and ends like a Michelangelo Antonioni film. There's a fine attention put on the meaning of space and the objects relative to their space at the beginning and end of the film that looks like something I haven't seen in a while. The film opens with an incendiary voice-over juxtaposed against very composed shots of Manhattan architecture, the contents on a desk, the wheel of a mail cart that increase in their edited intensity. The malaise of work, power, and white collars settles in quickly and with great fervor. Gilroy wants us to look at all of these things and ask what do they mean. Are we nothing but walls, pencils and pens, half empty coffee mugs? Is this the new beast that we have become part of? The deviation continues after the first few minutes. Clooney doesn't show up for almost another ten minutes, Swinton is profusely sweating in a bathroom stall, and Sydney Pollack is pissed about something. It's dizzying and on the verge of pure abstract. As a complement to the frenetic opening, "Clayton" ends in such a calm, sublime way that it's almost unbelievable how the film opened. I won't reveal what happens at the end but the last scene is punctuated with another great understanding of the power of space and object. The audience watches one of the film's stars have a moment of repose as the credits roll next to their satisfied visage. It's one of the best and unexpected ways to end a film.

Go see this movie.

and the nominess are...

Thankfully my predictable lits of Golden Globe hopefuls turned out to be too predictable. I threw some wild cards in there (Halle Berry, Emile Hirsch, Seth Rogen), but as usual the official list of the 65th Golden Globes could not be more of a mix bag of films I thought were either dead in the water award wise or films I knew the Globes would ga ga for but hoped it wouldn't be true (Damn you "Hairspray"!). "Into the Wild" couldn't muster a presence in the major categories and I'm really shocked to see such a strong presence for "American Gangster." I would have loved to have seen more love for "I'm Not There" and a directing nod for Paul Thomas Anderson as well as a writing or directing nomination for "Michael Clayton." "The Great Debaters" and John C. Reilly also came as a bit of a surprise. I read "Charlie Wilson's War" was losing its award potential and is getting mixed early reviews but Mike Nichols seems to be a favorite with the Golden Globes with his last film, "Closer", not only garnering wins for Natalie Portman and Clive Owen, who were unfortunately shut out at the Oscars, but also a directing and best picture nomination. I don't think it will pan out during the award season with the exception of the supporting nominations but this looks like an award season that will grow with varied surprises.

Here are the nominees*:
BEST MOTION PICTURE DRAMA
"American Gangster" [X]
"Atonement"
"Eastern Promises"
"The Great Debaters" [X]
"Michael Clayton" [X]
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS DRAMA
Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" [X]
Julie Christie, "Away from Her"
Jodie Foster, "The Brave One" [X]
Angelina Jolie, "A Mighty Heart"
Keira Knightley, "Atonement"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR DRAMA
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
James McAvoy, "Atonement"
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"
Denzel Washington, "American Gangster"
(spoilers slipped in and I got most of them)

BEST MOTION PICTURE COMEDY/MUSICAL
"Across the Universe" [X]
"Charlie Wilson’s War" [X]
"Hairspray"
"Juno"
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS COMEDY/MUSICAL
Amy Adams, "Enchanted"
Nikki Blonsky, "Hairspray"
Helena Bonham Carter, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose" (Wrong category)
Ellen Page, "Juno"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR COMEDY/MUSICAL
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Ryan Gosling, "Lars and the Real Girl"
Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson’s War" [X]
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages"
John C. Reilly, "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" [X]

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
"Bee Movie"
"Ratatouille"
"The Simpsons Movie"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (the only category I guessed without error)
"4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
"The Kite Runner"
"Lust, Caution"
"Persepolis"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Cate Blanchett, “I’m Not There”
Saoirse Ronan, “Atonement” [X]
Julia Roberts, “Charlie Wilson’s War” [X]
Amy Ryan, “Gone Baby Gone”
Tilda Swinton, “Michael Clayton”

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson’s War" [X]
John Travolta, "Hairspray" [X]
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton"

BEST DIRECTOR
Tim Burton, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Ridley Scott, "American Gangster" [X]
Joe Wright, "Atonement" [X]

Click here for more. (*an X denotes a name or film I did not predict)

Also:
Broadcast Film Critics nominations
London Film Critics nominations

the one to beat

The New York Film Critics Circle is fueling the "No Country for Old Men" award fire. Check out the winners:

Best Picture
"No Country for Old Men"

Best Director
Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"

Best Actor
Daniel Day Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"

Best Actress
Julie Christie, "Away from Her"

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"

For more click here. I'm really surprised "I'm Not There" isn't getting directing or supporting actress accolades. That film seemed like it would get its greatest attention from the critics awards, especially the knockout performance by La Blanchett. However, I am loving all of this support for "There Will Be Blood" because somehow Paul Thomas Anderson has never been too widely embraced by major American awards. He's made me, and so many of his most loyal fans, wait five long years for his next film and this looks like it could be the film of the year (I hope I don't regret such a hyperbolic statement).

As promised, here are my predictions for Golden Globe nominations. Take into consideration that I've only seen so many films this year but based on critics awards, reviews, and my fervent attention to what kind of films and performances get major award nominations, this is the best I can do:

Best Picture Drama
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"
"Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"
"Atonement"
"Into the Wild"
possible spoiler: "Eastern Promises", "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford", or "Michael Clayton"

Best Picture Comedy/Musical:
"Sweeney Todd"
"Knocked Up"
"Ratatouille"
"Juno"
"I'm Not There"
possible spoiler: "Waitress", "Lars and the Real Girl", or "Hairspray"

Best Director
Sidney Lumet, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"
Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Tim Burton, "Sweeney Todd"
possible spoiler: Todd Haynes, David Cronenberg, or Sean Penn

Best Actor in a Drama
Denzel Washington, "American Gangster"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
Emile Hirsch, "Into the Wild"
Frank Langella, "Starting Out in the Evening"
possible spoiler: Viggo Mortensen, Benecio Del Toro, or James McAvoy

Best Actress in a Drama
Keira Knightley, "Atonement"
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie En Rose"
Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Angelina Jolie, "A Mighty Heart"
Halle Berry, "Things We Lost in the Fire"

Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical
Ryan Gosling, "Lars and the Real Girl"
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Savages"
Steve Carell, "Dan in Real Life"
Seth Rogen, "Knocked Up"

Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical
Amy Adams, "Enchanted"
Keri Russell, "Waitress"
Ellen Page, "Juno"
Helena Bonham Carter, "Sweeney Todd"
Laura Linney, "The Savages"

Best Supporting Actor
Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"
Paul Dano, "There Will Be Blood"
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton"
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

Best Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"
Marisa Tomei, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"
Jennifer Jason Leigh, "Margot at the Wedding"

Best Foreign Film
Ang Lee, "Lust, Caution"
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Cristian Mungiu, "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days"
Vincent Paronnaud & Marjane Satrapi, "Persepolis"
Marc Forester, "The Kite Runner"

and the award goes to...

Winners from critics awards this past weekend:

The Los Angeles Film Critics
Best Picture
"There Will Be Blood"
Runner-Up: "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Runner-Up: Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
Runner-Up: Frank Langella, "Starting Out in the Evening"

Best Actress
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie En Rose"
Runner-Up: Anamaria Marinca, "4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days"

Best Supporting Actor
Vlad Ivanov, "4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days"
Runner-Up: Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone" and "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"
Runner-Up: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"

For more click here.

New York Film Critics Online
Washington D.C. Critics
Boston Film Critics

And yes I will have a Golden Globes prediction post sometime this week.

nbr

The 2007 National Board of Review winners were announced today. I love the support for "Michael Clayton" and "Jesse James", which appeared to be losing steam in all of this "Sweeney Todd" and "Into the Wild" hoopla. I guess I need to see "Away From Her", "Ratatouille" and "Lust, Caution." And a screenplay nod to "Lars and the Real Girl", really? Really? Oh well, I still have a few months before Oscar starts rearing its ugly, disappointing little head. Here are the winners:

Best Film: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Best Director: TIM BURTON, Sweeney Todd
Best Actor: GEORGE CLOONEY, Michael Clayton
Best Actress: JULIE CHRISTIE, Away From Her
Best Supporting Actor: CASEY AFFLECK, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Best Supporting Actress: AMY RYAN, Gone Baby Gone
Best Foreign Film: THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
Best Documentary: BODY OF WAR
Best Animated Feature: RATATOUILLE
Best Ensemble Cast: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: EMILE HIRSCH, Into The Wild
Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: ELLEN PAGE, Juno
Best Directorial Debut: BEN AFFLECK, Gone Baby Gone
Best Original Screenplay (tie):
DIABLO CODY, Juno and NANCY OLIVER, Lars and the Real Girl
Best Adapted Screenplay: JOEL COEN and ETHAN COEN, No Country For Old Men

Top Ten Films:
(In alphabetical order)
THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD
ATONEMENT
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
THE BUCKET LIST
INTO THE WILD
JUNO
THE KITE RUNNER
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
MICHAEL CLAYTON
SWEENEY TODD

Top Five Foreign Films:
(In alphabetical order)
4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS
THE BAND’S VISIT
THE COUNTERFEITERS
LA VIE EN ROSE
LUST, CAUTION

Top Five Documentary Films
(In alphabetical order)
DARFUR NOW
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON
NANKING
TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE
TOOTS

Top Independent Films
(In alphabetical order)
AWAY FROM HER
GREAT WORLD OF SOUND
HONEYDRIPPER
IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
A MIGHT HEART
THE NAMESAKE
ONCE
THE SAVAGES
STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING
WAITRESS

Career Achievement – MICHAEL DOUGLAS
William K. Everson Film History Award – ROBERT OSBORNE
Career Achievement in Cinematography – ROGER DEAKINS
The BVLGARI Award for NBR Freedom of Expression – THE GREAT DEBATERS and PERSEPOLIS

breaking news

Some news tidbits:
-The 2008 Independent Spirit Award nominations were announced this morning and it has already got me salivating about award season. Sadly, I am a devoted follower of all the hoopla surrounding the magical time of the year that honors film and although just about ever year I am more and more disappointed ("Children of Men" coming up empty handed last year sticks out almost immediately), I come back for more. Let the self-congratulation begin:
Best Feature
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
“I’m Not There”
“Juno”
“A Mighty Heart”
“Paranoid Park”

Best Director
Todd Haynes, “I’m Not There”
Tamara Jenkins, “The Savages”
Jason Reitman, “Juno”
Julian Schnabel, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
Gus Van Sant, “Paranoid Park”

Best Female Lead
Angelina Jolie, “A Mighty Heart”
Sienna Miller, “Interview”
Ellen Page, “Juno”
Parker Posey, “Broken English”
Tang Wei, “Lust, Caution”

Best Male Lead
Pedro Castaneda, “August Evening”
Don Cheadle, “Talk to Me”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Savages”
Frank Langella, “Starting Out in the Evening”
Tony Leung, “Lust, Caution”

Best Supporting Female
Cate Blanchett, “I’m Not There”
Anna Kendrick, “Rocket Science”
Jennifer Jason Leigh, “Margot at the Wedding”
Tamara Podemski, “Four Sheets to the Wind”
Marisa Tomei, “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”

Best Supporting Male
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “Talk to Me”
Marcus Carl Franklin, “I’m Not There”
Kene Holliday, “Great World of Sound”
Irrfan Khan, “The Namesake”
Steve Zahn, “Rescue Dawn”

Full list of nominations here.

-How do you go from working with Werner Herzog, Mary Harron, Todd Haynes, Terrence Malick, and Christopher Nolan to Mc Fucking G? Yeah, the director (or whatever you want to call him) behind those Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray music videos. I'm hoping this isn't true but apparently Christian Bale, perhaps one of the most obsessive and protean actors of his generation, is starring in McG's installment of the Terminator series, "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins." I thought those Batman paid the bills Mr. Bale. What a shame.

-Star in "Ocean's Thirteen" and change the world at the same time? That would be a resounding yes according to the World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates who will honor George Clooney and Don Cheadle for their efforts in raising awareness about Darfur at the upcoming World Summit in Rome. I bet Sean Penn is pissed he didn't get this kind of recognition for showing up in the aftermath of Katrina with shotguns and a boat.