Kate Winslet in "The Reader"
- Amy Adams, Doubt
- Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
- Viola Davis, Doubt
- Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
- Kate Winslet, The Reader
Possible spoiler: Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Archive for Movies
Oscar Nomination Predictions: Best Supporting Actress
Oscar Nomination Predictions: Best Actress
Sally Hawkins in British indie film "Happy-Go-Lucky"
- Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
- Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
- Angelina Jolie, Changeling
- Meryl Streep, Doubt
- Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Possible Spoiler: Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved You So Long
Oscar Nomination Predictions: Best Actor
Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler"
The 2009 Oscar nominations will be announced Thursday, January 22nd, and in anticipation of the announcements, I’m presenting my personal picks for who is mostly likely going to score a nomination. How accurate am I? I don’t know- however, I’ve correctly picked the Best Picture Oscar winner in August of each year for the last 5 years (by the way, my choice for 2009- Slumdog Millionaire).
Most Likely Best Actor Nominees:
- Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
- Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
- Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Sean Penn, Milk
- Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Possible Spoiler: Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
Don’t count him out: Oscar winners love Eastwood. Though Gran Torino, might not have gotten the best reviews, the movie has had serious box office success.
Box Office Report (November 21-23, 2008): “Twilight” Shocks “Bolt”
It certainly wasn’t shocking that “Twilight” toppled the movie box office this weekend with a $70.6 million intake. “New Moon,” the “Twilight” sequel, was put quickly into production after “Twilight” made more than $30 million on Friday. However, since “Twilight” grossed almost exactly what it did on Friday as on Saturday and Sunday, there might be a huge drop next weekend. In other “Twilight” stats news, 75% of the audience was female, and 55% were under 25.
The horrifying part was “Quantum of Solace” suffering a 60% drop in its second week with $27.4 million, and “Bolt” coming in third with $27 million. After the final tallies come in, “Solace” and “Bolt” might change places.
For more info, go here.
Religulous
Let me start off with a disclaimer before I get into a review of “Religulous”: A) I am no fan of Bill Maher’s, as a Republican, and B) I am an atheist. So I had reasons to both like and dislike Bill Mahr’s anti-religion documentary that came out on Oct. 3.
The movie is mostly made of interviews with various people somehow connected to the topic of religion: former Mormons, gay Muslim activists, a crazed rabbi, a person from Jews for Jesus, and a theme-park Jesus impersonator, among others. All of the short segments are hilarious as Bill Maher gets them to say absolutely ridiculous things. This movie is “Borat” with meaning, or a Michael Moore doc with more humor and charm. In fact, let’s go ahead and hail Bill Maher as the next Michael Moore because “Religulous” is the best mainstream documentary in a long time.
That’s not to say that religious audiences will find it as amusing as I did. Christians might be easily offended by comments that their belief in God is illogical and possibly a result of a neurological disorder. Muslims may also be upset at the way the Koran is portrayed, and how Muslims are shown violent extremists. However, I think that religious people should see the movie so that atheists, agnostics, Jews, Muslims, and Christians can all have an open dialogue about religion and the effects it can have. No one should ever blindly accept things. Sometimes faith needs questioning.
The movie may go to the extremes when implying that religion may be dangerous and a result of a neurological disorder. However, it is refreshing to have something that finally takes up the subject and is not afraid to face against religion, which usually seen as a taboo subject. B+
See Bill Maher on “The View” here and here, and watch as the ladies get angry with him. It’s really quite humorous. If you would like to see the trailer, go here.
