Frost/Nixon ****

Frost/Nixon ****
Cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Mcfadyen, Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt, Rebecca Hall
Director: Ron Howard
Running Length: 2:02
MPAA Classification: R

For three years after his resignation from the presidency, Richard Nixon (Langella) remained in seclusion in California. He made no appearances, he gave no interviews. Then, a British talk-show host named David Frost (Sheen) offered him $500,000 for a series of interviews. They would cover Domestic Policy, foreign policy, “Nixon the man,” and Watergate. Nixon accepted the deal, figuring he would get a series of easy questions, but Frost was going for something more. Assisted by three allies: John Burt (McFadyen), James Reston Jr. (Rockwell), and Bob Zelnick (Platt), he mounted interview sessions determined to get Nixon to admit he was wrong and committed crimes.

“Frost/Nixon” is a thoroughly engrossing movie, despite the ending being known. Langella and Sheen are great in their respective roles. The story is edge of your seat viewing. Director Ron Howard spends about half the movie reenacting excerpts from the actual interviews, and they are engaging showing a duel of wits where only one can be the winner. I highly recommend this entertaining and engaging film.

Oscar nominations announced

And the nominees are ...

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

Best actor:
Richard Jenkins (The Visitor)
Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)
Sean Penn (Milk)
Brad Pitt (Button)
Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)

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

Best supporting actor:
Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt)
Heath Ledger (Dark Knight)
Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road)
Josh Brolin (Milk)

Best supporting actress:
Amy Adams (Doubt)
Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Viola Davis (Doubt)
Taraji P. Henson (Button)
Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)

Best director:
Danny Boyle (Slumdog)
Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Gus Van Sant (Milk)
David Fincher (Button)
Stephen Daldry (The Reader)

Best animated feature:
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ****

Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Julia Ormond, Taraji P. Henson, Jason Flemyng, Tilda Swinton, Jared Harris
Director: David Fincher
Running Length: 2:46
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Benjamin Button (Pitt) is born in 1918, as an old man. His mother dies in the birth, and his father Thomas (Flemmyng) abandons him. He is found and raised by Queenie (Henson), and within a few years has the appearance of an 80 year old man. But then, as the years pass, he begins to look younger. At the age of 13, he first meets Daisy (Blanchett). Their paths will cross repeatedly over the course of his life, and she will become the love of his life.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is so much more than that description, and is an entertaining and engaging motion picture. Covering the greater part of the 20th century, it takes us on a whirlwind tour of his life. Brad Pitt is great as the tile character, playing him in all stages of his life, from old to young. Blanchett is equally good as his beloved Daisy. The story itself, based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is an amazing backwards look at a life. It has a lot to say about what defines a life and the sacrifices that one must make as he goes through it. I highly recommend this film.

2009 Golden Globes Winners

MOVIES
Best supporting actress, drama— Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best original song, motion picture— Bruce Springsteen, The Wrestler
Best animated film—WALL-E
Best actress, comedy/musical— Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Best supporting actor, drama— Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best foreign film—Waltz With Bashir
Best screenplay— Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Best original score— A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award— Steven Spielberg
Best director — Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best musical/comedy —Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best actor, musical/comedy — Colin Farrell, In Bruges
Best actress, drama — Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Best actor, drama — Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best drama —Slumdog Millionaire

The Best Movies I Saw in 2008

1. The Dark Knight ****
2. There Will Be Blood **** (from 2007)
3. Iron Man ****
4. Wall-E ****
5. Traitor ***1/2
6. Charlie Wilson's War ***1/2 (from 2007)
7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall ***1/2
8. U2 3D ***1/2
9. The Spiderwick Chronicles ***1/2
10. The Secret Life of Bees ***1/2
11. Role Models ***1/2
12. Burn After Reading ***

Marley and Me ***

Cast: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, Alan Arkin
Director: David Frankel
Running Length: 2:03
MPAA Classification: PG

John Grogan (Wilson) and his wife Jennifer (Aniston) decide to get a dog soon after getting married. Marley, a yellow Lab, becomes part of the family, and although he is cute and loveable, he is not a model dog. He fails obedience school, and chews on just about anything. He terrorizes the dog-sitter as well. Despite all that, the Grogans love him, and when they begin to have kids and things get crazy, Marley is the constant.

Based on the memoir by John Grogan, “Marley & Me” is a good adaptation. The movie captures most of the key moments in the book, and manages to be true to its spirit as well. Wilson and Aniston have good chemistry with each other and with the dogs playing Marley. It’s funny without being a comedy and serious without being a drama. “Marley & Me” is an excellent choice for a family movie. Anyone who has ever had a dog will appreciate this film, and everyone else will enjoy it too.