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.

The Day the Earth Stood Still **

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith, Kathy Bates, John Cleese, Jon Hamm
Director: Scott Derrickson
Running Length: 1:43
MPAA Classification: PG-13

The alien Klaatu (Reeves) arrives on Earth in a giant sphere that he lands in New York’s Central Park. Earth’s greeting party, led by Dr. Helen Benson (Connelly), attempts to make contact, but that is derailed when Klaatu is shot. They take him to a secret medical lab for surgery and also interrogate him on his intentions. Klaatu wants to speak to the leaders of the world to advise them that the end has come for the people of the Earth – he is there to save the planet from us.

“The Day the Earth Stood Still” is a middle of the road, average film. The effects are good, but they aren’t always necessary. The acting is ok, with Keanu Reeves’s usual wooden performance actually working for the alien Klaatu. Jaden Smith’s character Jacob is annoying and a hindrance to the story. This could have been better, I suppose. I have not seen the original, so I cannot compare the two, but I get the feeling that aside from the special effects, this version brings noting new or worthwhile to the table. I would wait for DVD if you must see this.

Bolt 3D ***

Cast: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, Mark Walton, Malcolm McDowell, James Lipton, Greg Germann
Directors: Dan Fogelman, Chris Williams
Running Length: 1:36
MPAA Classification: PG

Bolt (Travolta) the dog is the star of a television show about a girl named Penny (Cyrus) and her super-powered dog who battle the evil Dr. Calico (McDowell). A mix up sends him across the county and way out of his element. See, Bolt doesn’t know he is the star of a television show. He thinks that he is actually super-powered. On his journey to get back to Penny, he teams up with a cat named Mittens (Essman) and a hamster named Rhino (Walton), and begins to inspire them to be more than they are despite learning that he is not as powerful as he thought.

“Bolt” is a step in the right direction after the last few animated films for Disney. The opening sequence grabs the viewer and takes tham on an action packed thrill ride worthy of the best summer blockbusters. The voice talents of Travolta, Essman, and Walton breathe life into their characters and make them likeable and relatable. The animation is solid, as one would expect from Disney, with the 3D effects crisp and clear. Finally, “Bolt” is a movie that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Four Christmases ***

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Tim McGraw, Mary Steenburgen, Kristen Chenoweth, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight
Director: Seth Gordon
Running Length: 1:22
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Brad (Vaughn) and Kate (Witherspoon) are heading to Figi for Christmas so they do not have to spend time with their family. A dense fogbank grounds all flights out of San Francisco and destroys their plans. A local television report from the airport seals their fate, and soon they are off to see their families – Brad’s divorced mom and dad and Kate’s divorced mom and dad. Brad’s dad (Duvall) and brothers (Favreau and McGraw) are hell on Brad, but Kate finds amusement in his discomfort. Kate’s mom (Steenburgen) is a bit of a cougar, making things uncomfortable for everyone. By the time they have survived Brad’s mom (Spacek), their relationship is hanging by a thread. Kate’s dad is not so bad, but by then it may just be too late.

“Four Christmases” is a pretty funny holiday film. Vaughn and Witherspoon are two likeable, funny leads. A star-studded supporting cast keeps the humor coming as well. The humor is of the squirmy, uncomfortable kind. You feel bad for these two as they are forced to deal with their families. This is an entertaining film for fans of holiday movies. If you are in the mood for something Christmassy, check it out.

Quantum of Solace ***

Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Gemma Arterton, Jeffrey Wright
Director: Marc Forster
Running Length: 1:46
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Picking up where “Casino Royale” left off, James Bond (Craig) is taking Mr. White back to M (Dench). White is not giving up the goods on his employer, and when the interrogation goes awry, Bond is tracks down a woman by the name of Camille (Kurulenko), who in turn leads him to Dominic Green (Amalric). Greene is attempting to control Bolivia’s water supply. His role in Vesper’s death puts him in the crosshairs of Bond, who is bent on revenge. Meanwhile, M has orders to rein Bond in, but that is easier said than done.

“Quantum” has a lot to live up to after “Casino Royale”, almost too much. And, as such, it falls short. There is plenty of action, and Craig is once again great as James Bond, but the direction is seriously lacking. Forster is a good director, but does not know how to film action scenes, and the result is a confusing mess at times. It is nice to see an actual sequel in the series, especially since “Casino Royale” set “Quantum” up so nicely. Wright reprising his role as Felix Leiter is also a nice touch. It is clear that the producers wanted to set up a new bad guy organization for Bond to deal with and that is done fairly well. However, it would have been nice to have some info on them disseminated. Sure, they are probably waiting for the next Bond film, but they needed to give the audience something. Not the best Bond, but a solid effort nonetheless.

The Secret Life of Bees ***1/2

Cast: Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifa, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Bettany
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Lily Owens (Fanning) is a 14-year old who, as a young child accidentally killed her mother, and now lives with just her dad T. Ray (Bettany). The killing of her mom has shaped her life, along with knowing very little about her. T. Ray is not a good parent, and her only “family” is her nanny Rosaleen (Hudson). The combination of T. Ray badmouthing her mom and Rosaleen being beaten up by a bunch of white men causes Lily and Rosaleen to flee to a town where she believes her mother went at one time to get away from T. Ray. They end up at the home of the Boatwright sisters: August (Latifa), June (Keys), and May (Okonedo).. Together, these sisters make some of the best honey in the area. They also have a connection to Lily’s mom.

“The Secret Lifeof Bees” is a solid movie. Strong performances by Fanning and Latifa carry the sometimes heavy weight of the story. Race relations and the search for one’s self are the main themes, and the cast and director pulls them off almost effortlessly. Lily’s story is a story of redemption. It is powerful without being preachy. This is not a film for everyone, but it is well worth checking out.

Role Models ***1/2

Cast: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch
Director: David Wain
Running Length: 1:39
MPAA Classification: R

Wheeler (Scott) and Danny (Rudd) work for a high energy drink company as spokespersons. They travel from school to school promoting the drink as an alternative to drug use. After a disasterous proposal to his girlfriend, Danny gets a little crazy and drags Wheeler down with him. When the dust clears, Wheeler and Danny have been sentenced to 150 hours of community service, specifically being big brothers to troubled kids. Wheeler gets Ronnie, a foul mouthed youngster who goes through big brothers like clean shirts. Danny gets Augie, a nerdy kid who likes medieval reenactments. Nothing goes smoothly at first, but soon they need to make this work or face jail time.

“Role Models” is a genuinely funny movie, and the majority of the credit goes to Scott and Rudd. Scott is channeling his inner-Stiffler (from “American Pie”, and Rudd is utilizing his Judd Apatow-related freedom to improvise. They work well off each other and carry the movie. Supporting roles by Mintz-Plasse and Thompson, as the kids, also add to the fun. Finally, Jane Lynch, as the head of the big brothers organization steals every scene that she is in. The story is good, even sweet. This is a film that will be enjoyed by most and I highly recommend it.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno *1/2

Cast: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, Katie Morgan, Traci Lords, Brandon Routh, Justin Long
Director: Kevin Smith
Running Length: 1:41
MPAA Classification: R

Platonic best friends, Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) live together and are in a financial crisis that threatens to put them on the street. They cannot afford to pay the rent. Zack comes up with the idea to make a porno to make some money. Sure, they will have to cross a line in their friendship, but it will help them get back on their feet again. After all, it is just sex. They enlist the help of some friends, and set up at the local coffee shop where they work. Of course, things never go as smoothly as planned.

I had somewhat high expectations for “Zack and Miri”, and was let down. That it is no where as funny as I had hoped was the biggest problem. Rogen, who has had a string of successful comedies over the past few years is finally working outside the Judd Apatow group, and he is a bit flat. Perhaps it is the material that they provide that makes him work. The story is predictable and disappointing. Director Kevin Smith has been struggling with his last few films, and “Zack and Miri” will not help his resume. If you need to see this, wait for DVD.

W. ***

Cast: Josh Brolin, James Cromwell, Elizabeth Banks, Richard Dreyfuss, Ellen Burstyn, Scott Glenn, Toby Jones, Jeffrey Wright, Thandie Newton
Director: Oliver Stone
Running Length: 2:09
MPAA Classification: PG-13

“W.” is a look at the 43rd President of the United States (Brolin), and is told in a non-linear fashion. The main story takes place from about 2002 onward, while flashing back to key points in Bush’s past, including his time at Yale, meeting Laura (Banks), working for his father (Cromwell), and his decision to run for governor of Texas. In the “present”, Bush is dealing with the Iraq war and its ramifications.

“W.” is an odd film that sometimes tries to be a serious drama, and other times branches off into satire territory. It is interesting, looking at Bush’s “daddy issues” and their motivation for the man he becomes. But then, performances like Newton’s Condoleezza Rice are downright campy and take away from the overall effect of the film. Also, dream sequences undermine the factual elements of the film, since it is unlikely that President Bush had any input into this film. Brolin’s performance is solid enough to make this worth seeing. Bush does not really come off that bad, the same cannot be said for Cheney. Liberals will think it doesn’t go far enough, conservatives will think it went to far, and those in the middle will probably find it the most interesting. Any way you look at it, “W.” will have you talking.

Max Payne **

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Chris O’Donnell, Donal Logue, Amaury Noalsco, Olga Kurylenko
Director: John Moore
Running Length: 1:28
MPAA Classification: PG-13

NYPD detective Max Payne (Wahlberg) has worked on cold cases since the murder of his wife and child. He is consumed with trying to find their killer. There aren’t many leads to follow, and most of them are dead ends. Following one up, he meets Mona Sax (Kunis), whose sister may have been murdered by the same killer. With the help of his father’s former partner (Bridges) and an Internal Affairs cop (Ludacris), he finds himself drawn into a drug ring whose leader (Noalsco) sometimes shows almost superhuman qualities.

“Max Payne” is disappointing. It is a case of style over substance, and one can’t help but wish that there was a better story. The most interesting part is seeing the world through the eyes of the drug dealers – a world full of demons and monsters. Unfortunately, the real world part of the movie is less than compelling. Wahlberg seems to be going through the motions here, and Kunis really isn’t given much to do except show up and save the day in a key scene. This is one that you can skip.

Appaloosa ***

Cast: Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons, Renée Zellweger, Lance enrickson, Adam Nelson, Ariadna Gil
Director: Ed Harris
Running Length: 1:54
MPAA Classification: R

Outlaw Randall Bragg (Irons) and his gang do whatever they please in the Old West town of Appaloosa, but all that is about to change. The town leaders have had enough of him, and decide to bring in gunman Virgil Cole (Harris) and his associate Everett Hitch (Mortensen) to clean things up. As marshal, Cole demands some leeway to take care of things his way, and that is granted by the town. Soon, Cole and Hitch are able to stage a midnight arrest of Bragg at his hideout, but getting justice is not that easy. Bragg’s men are out to get him back.

Not many westerns make it to theaters these days, but “Appaloosa”, Ed Harris’ second directorial effort does not disappoint. The leads all produce real characters that are not perfect people. There is an understated humor that keeps things from getting to heavy, and everything in the film looks authentic. “Appaloosa” is an entertaining film that will satisfy any thirst for a fresh western. I recommend it.

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist ***

Cast: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Ari Graynor, Alexis Dziena, Aaron Yoo, Rafi Gavron
Director: Peter Sollett
Running Length: PG-13
MPAA Classification: 1:30

It has been a while, but Nick (Crea) is still trying to get over his ex-girlfriend Tris (Dziena). One night, he and his friends head out into New York City to look for the secret site where his favorite band, Where’s Fluffy, is playing. Norah (Dennings) is going on the hunt as well, with her friend Caroline (Graynor). Norah has a bit of a crush on Nick through an inadvertent sampling of mix cds he had made for Tris. At a club, to overcome not having a boyfriend when questioned, she gets Nick to play the part. Together, they set out to find Where’s Fluffy and Caroline, who is drunk and missing in NYC.

“Nick and Norah” succeeds because of two things: the chemistry between Cera and Dennings, and the quality of the screenplay. Nick and Norah are likeable characters that belong together, even if it takes them a little while to figure it out. The relationship develops slowly, and pays off nicely. The script is smartly written with clever dialogue. The movie is fresh and enjoyable. I recommend “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.”

Eagle Eye **

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Billy Bob Thornton
Director: D.J. Caruso
Running Length: 1:58
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Jerry Shaw (LaBeouf) is a Stanford drop-out who isn’t living up to his full potential. He makes money working at a copy store and playing cards. One day he discovers $750,000 ion his bank account, and returns to his apartment to find it filled with illegal weapons. A phone call warns him that he will be arrested if he doesn’t get out of there ASAP. Rachel Holloman (Monaghan) is hanging out with her girlfriends when she receives a call that her son’s life is in danger if she doesn’t do as she is told. The instructions bring her face to face with Jerry, and together they must follow the instructions if they are to ever return to a normal life.

“Eagle Eye” is less interesting than it initially seems. Once you find out who is pulling Jerry and Rachel’s strings, the movie loses any originality. This movie has been done before, and better. Also, given what this mystery entity can do, you would think a more straightforward plan would be the logical choice. Jerry and Rachel really aren’t needed at all. There are plenty of loud action scenes to distract the viewer from all this, but even they venture a bit over the top. I cannot really recommend “Eagle Eye”, and have to admit to being disappointed by it.

Burn After Reading ***

Cast: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins
Director: Joel & Ethan Coen
Running Length: 1:35
MPAA Classification: R

Osborne Cox (Malkovich) would rather quit his job with the CIA than be demoted. His wife, Katie (Swinton), thinks this is a mistake and is irritated with his decision. Her lover, Harry Pfarrer (Clooney, an ex-secret service agent, is trying to decide weather to divorce his wife to be with Katie. Harry is a bit of a player though, and has been known to search the internet for dates. On the internet, he meets Linda (McDormand), a gym worker who is desperate to get some money to have cosmetic surgery done. Linda and her co-worker Chad (Pitt) find a way to get that money: sell CIA secrets from some unpublished memoirs found at the gym and belonging to Osborne Cox to the Russians.

This is the type of movie that the Coen brothers do best: idiots with a plan that goes horribly wrong. “Burn After Reading” delivers the goods with solid performances all around. Brad Pitt is probably the stand out, but Malkovich also gives a strong performance. The stories are interwoven effectively so the pieces come together at the right time for maximum drama and humor. This is no “No Country For Old Men”, but it many ways it will appeal to a wider audience, if only for the star power. “Burn After Reading” is another solid effort from the Coen brothers.

Traitor ***1/2

Cast: Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Neal McDonough, Jeff Daniels, Said Taghmaoui, Archie Panjabi
Director: Jeffrey Nachmanoff
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: R

Samir Horn (Cheadle) is supplying detonators to an Islamic terrorist group when a FBI raid kills or captures everyone at the compound. FBI agents Roy Clayton (Pearce) and Max Archer (McDonough) take the survivors into custody. While in prison, Samir and the terrorist leader Omar (Taghmaoui) form a bond, and when Omar makes his escape, he takes Samir with him. Now, Samir is an inside man who can stop an major attack on U. S. soil. He is so deep undercover that only one person, Carter (Daniels) knows about him. Now, he must find a way to stop the attack and get out before it is too late.

“Traitor” is a top notch drama with some action sprinkled in. Don Cheadle is excellent as always as the conflicted Muslim who can stop a massacre. The story is timely and intelligent. A focus of the movie is the difference between fundamentalist Islam and the non-violent Islam. Cheadle’s Samir is of the non-violent type, and as violence becomes necessary, it is interesting to see his character deal with things. The supporting cast is also well-cast, playing characters that are more grey than black or white. I highly recommend “Traitor” and encourage checking it out.

Hamlet 2 **1/2

Cast: Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Joseph Julian Soria, Skylar Astin, Phoebe Strole, Melonie Diaz, David Arquette, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Poehler
Director: Andrew Fleming
Running Length: 1:32
MPAA Classification: R

Dana Marschz (Coogan) is a bad actor who has been relegated to teaching high school drama. There are two kids who want to be in his class, but the rest are there because they are “trouble” kids and the principal had to put them somewhere. Dana, however, wants to make a difference and challenge these kids. Previous plays that class performed were adaptations of movies, and garnered little accolades. Dana decides to write something original, and “Hamlet 2” is born. This musical sequel to Shakespeare’s masterpiece soon raises the ire of the principal. After he attempts to shut it down, Dana and the class take the play off of school grounds, and soon the community is clamoring to see exactly what all the buzz is about.

“Hamlet 2” is an interesting idea that is only somewhat effective. I almost wish that there was more shown of the actual play, in which Hamlet goes back in time to become friends with Jesus. The play is never fully flushed out, and we are only treated to snippets, including the musical number, “Rock Me Sexy Jesus.” (They actually give a good reason why this song is not blasphemy). Coogan is good and the talent-challenged Dana, the poor schlub with a good heart. The problem with the movie is its unevenness, alternating between really funny and not that funny at all. This is one to wait for on DVD.