tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188382532024-03-05T06:42:48.301-08:00Film at HBPLDiscussion of Film, Movies, the "biz", DVD's and Videos available at HBPL...and MORE!Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-7832293904701744292013-02-16T10:23:00.000-08:002013-02-16T10:23:29.788-08:00Let the Games Begin!Well! Just when you thought I would never update this blog again.....here I am surprising you! Life here at HBPL has been ever changing and busy but I would be very remiss if I didn't at least post for the Oscars!! <br />
Anyone who has read this blog knows I bet with a friend every year. We tend to vote after all the other awards and guilds are presented. This year, to make it interesting, we voted before all of that so we would have less insight into what was being celebrarted by the industry. So....here are my picks for the Oscars this year:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGpyi7nbw87O7w8JouYMY1xqqyMvO0MofEEUxFiIT1UtXbN1z7CZyqvBxbWjKEAN_1kRfJRx5nPJx5A3ccEdODJPAaCe6kBMxjxNexzuVqoa9IDbgnkkzYH1lc1NedPEe0eDioA/s1600/oscar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGpyi7nbw87O7w8JouYMY1xqqyMvO0MofEEUxFiIT1UtXbN1z7CZyqvBxbWjKEAN_1kRfJRx5nPJx5A3ccEdODJPAaCe6kBMxjxNexzuVqoa9IDbgnkkzYH1lc1NedPEe0eDioA/s320/oscar.jpg" uea="true" width="208" /></a><span style="color: #38761d;">Best Picture : Argo</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Animated Film: Brave</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Cinematography: Life of Pi</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Costume Design: Anna Karenina</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Directing: Ang Lee – Life of Pi</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Documentary Feature: Searching for Sugar Man</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Editing: Zero Dark Thirty</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Foreign Film: Amour</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Make-up: The Hobbit</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">Original Score: Life of Pi</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Original Song: Skyfall</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Production Design: Anna Karenina</span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d;">Sound Editing: Skyfall</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Sound Mixing: Les Miserables</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Visual Effects: Life of Pi</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Adapted Screenplay: Silver Linings Playbook</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Original Screenplay: Django Unchained</span></div>
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I think this will be a year when one film doesn't win a ton of Oscars. I will say that my friend voted for Lincoln to win quite a few (including film and director) but I just don't think that will happen. Although I do think that Ang Lee has as good of a chance as any (and popular with Oscar voters) to win Best Director, it is probably my least confident category. Vote at your own risk!</div>
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Let the games begin!</div>
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Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-25512026332539147692012-05-26T13:40:00.000-07:002012-05-26T13:40:06.904-07:00Entertaining intrigue!I’m baaaaaack!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3NWHf4aZNfUJBnaW5i8-KlGg1XZVGw4XXxnKxZhRhQGcsSEIRB5RYO_YkldIHI0X2XS4nZl2rlzeGqOjE1S6J7Sbxq_56AuxBBz9UU1JXExq6p91v3oNa1sMtKP2uPvuesq70A/s1600/got.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3NWHf4aZNfUJBnaW5i8-KlGg1XZVGw4XXxnKxZhRhQGcsSEIRB5RYO_YkldIHI0X2XS4nZl2rlzeGqOjE1S6J7Sbxq_56AuxBBz9UU1JXExq6p91v3oNa1sMtKP2uPvuesq70A/s200/got.jpg" width="200" /></a>Sorry for the lack of blog postings the past few months but….sometimes other work just has to take priority! Also, like many of you, I have become addicted to HBO’s <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><em>Game of Thrones</em></span>.</span> So much so, that I have also spent the past few months reading the books. <strong>When, oh when, will George R.R. Martin give us book six??</strong> For those who don’t have HBO, season one of <em><span style="color: blue;">Game of Thrones</span></em> is available from our Media Department. And for those that just love 800+ paged books……I couldn’t put them down! But what’s that I hear?? After you have seen all the episodes and read all the books, what then??? Maybe one of these will help you get over running out of Westeros sword play and intrigue:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbtd74E0QsmjlvCLo9ghsooU-C5mx4_xy-q8tA1W1J3kUmpwfwj88jatqutFoN5DFaiBkXju_CZ7sDpjEjC4nOad0wursiHlHT2MN9JnF5S9CM3wTxXs9ptM_3UZ3MEN5LGplIQ/s1600/willow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbtd74E0QsmjlvCLo9ghsooU-C5mx4_xy-q8tA1W1J3kUmpwfwj88jatqutFoN5DFaiBkXju_CZ7sDpjEjC4nOad0wursiHlHT2MN9JnF5S9CM3wTxXs9ptM_3UZ3MEN5LGplIQ/s200/willow.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><span style="color: #274e13;">Willow:</span></strong> It is great to see the talented Peter Dinklage get his due as Tyrion (the Imp) Lannister in <em><span style="color: blue;">Game of Thrones.</span></em> (Think he is good as The Imp, you should see him in <em>The Station Agent</em>…brilliant!!). But if you want to see another short actor in action, try Warwick Davis as Willow (he is also known as Professor Flitwick in the Harry Potter films). Written by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard, Willow follows his adventures as he tries to return a baby to its own people. Along the way he meets up with the warrior Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), discovers the baby is really a princess that was sent away to save her from an evil queen and that even small people can accomplish big things. Although Willow didn’t get great reviews when it came out, I love it none the less. </div>
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<strong><span style="color: #274e13;">Ladyhawke:</span></strong> You think Jaime and Cersei Lannister’s love affair has its problems, consider the issues that the stars of Ladyhawke have to deal with! Captain Navarre absolutely loves and adores Isabeau; but unfortunately so does and evil Bishop (who is also a sorcerer). When Navarre runs off with Isabeau, the Bishop places a curse on them that causes Navarre to be a wolf during the night and Isabeau to be a hawk during the day. Hence they can never really be together. With the help of a talented young thief (Matthew Broderick), Navarre attempts to break the curse to be with the love of his life <strong>(a Navarre always pays his debts!)</strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #274e13;">Excalibur:</span></strong> Okay, so what you really love about <em><span style="color: blue;">Game of Thrones</span></em> is all that medieval intrigue and swordplay. If so, than this film will continue the thrill. Often touted as the best of the Arthurian legend films, Excalibur follows Arthur from his pulling the sword from the stone to become King to the unraveling of Camelot. In between there are love affairs, betrayal of friends and family, and battles (don’t forget to <strong>stick ‘em with the pointy end</strong>!). John Boorman directed this visually stunning epic which is never less than compelling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbURs6qsZS0GQY8f7IGaLLyoeJJDhz6l8sJMNp4dpBTS7bU0emzpDek5cl0XLGnamgEwr0mRLcg61oOBrNawS3k3KxMwUxsLswJPOgRUzB4eR7mvNw_UcEokMrgasUYl-4Ztu5g/s1600/missiondeniro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" qba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbURs6qsZS0GQY8f7IGaLLyoeJJDhz6l8sJMNp4dpBTS7bU0emzpDek5cl0XLGnamgEwr0mRLcg61oOBrNawS3k3KxMwUxsLswJPOgRUzB4eR7mvNw_UcEokMrgasUYl-4Ztu5g/s200/missiondeniro.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><span style="color: #274e13;">The Mission:</span></strong> Talk about commitment to duty and missions that seem doomed from the start! We could be talking about <strong>Brienne of Tarth</strong> or the missionaries in this tale of swashbuckling Spanish Jesuits who try to protect a remote South American Indian tribe. Father Gabriel (Jeremy Iron) takes over a mission that is a place of sanctuary and learning for the Guarani tribe. However, due to a change of political views, the church wants him to abandon his mission and leave the Indians to the slavers. He and a recent convert priest (Robert DeNiro – need we say more about the swashbuckling…) decide to stay with the tribe and try and protect them from the coming assault. As the <strong>Maid of Tarth</strong> finds out, things don’t always go as planned…</div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Game of Thrones</span></em>, season two is drawing to a close, only two more episodes left (ending June 3rd with episode 20- "Valar Morghulis”)! Season three is rumored to be coming the end of this year (just like winter, yes <strong>“Winter is Coming”</strong> – oh I do miss you <strong>Eddard Stark</strong>!). Until then here are even more films you may want to consider to get you through: Knight’s Tale, Gladiator, Rob Roy, Lion in Winter, Kingdom of Heaven, 13th Warrior and King Arthur (the Clive Owen version that also has our own Stannis Lannister (Stephen Dillane) as Merlin!).<br />
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</div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-82179812194227331862012-02-23T08:51:00.005-08:002012-02-23T09:15:27.179-08:00Look into my crystal ball.......and see this years Oscar picks. For many years I have made an Oscar bet with a friend from high school. We made our picks last night and for the first time since we started betting, we have the <strong><span style="color:#000099;">EXACT SAME PICKS</span></strong>! We usually have two or three different, but not this year. I hope that this just doubly proves how good these picks are:<br /><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">Best Picture:</span> <strong>The Artist <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl02oXzCpWzTrLZC0fTLH4giY43-MtsBsUFG9Q3N6QQtF3Q1Gh91gZE8gGwBoEMkXfLiPjo4lbg4heTMK9i5XBV-lzk9mQ9K9Nqu8t8yPGqyx-Ys0Sw_ITgL-bnSu-l1Yr5SUFcA/s1600/theartist.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 171px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 128px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712375588299267042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl02oXzCpWzTrLZC0fTLH4giY43-MtsBsUFG9Q3N6QQtF3Q1Gh91gZE8gGwBoEMkXfLiPjo4lbg4heTMK9i5XBV-lzk9mQ9K9Nqu8t8yPGqyx-Ys0Sw_ITgL-bnSu-l1Yr5SUFcA/s320/theartist.jpg" /></a><br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Best Actor:</span> <strong>Jean Dujardin<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Best Actress:</span> <strong>Viola Davis<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Best Director:</span> <strong>Michel Hazanavicius</strong><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Best Supporting Actor:</span> <strong>Christopher Plummer<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Best Supporting Actress:</span> <strong>Octavia Spencer<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Documentary:</span> <strong>Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Foreign Language:</span> <strong>A Separation<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Animated Feature:</span> <strong>Rango<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Cinematography:</span> <strong>Tree of Life<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Make-up:</span> <strong>The Iron Lady<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Art Direction:</span> <strong>Hugo <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH-FxLYVct53HqstqheMlfGDccA32D7oTFKSBomy2Gkl5E2nL_RUgmWorNj3pvZThAn7I81Iy-jo52hK_NXwZ8WSWS6nT2zKUw9lLaN0jQHoJcYHQNBE1dzR5ZTFXeJJhj_XR5Q/s1600/oscar.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 87px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712378118225273554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH-FxLYVct53HqstqheMlfGDccA32D7oTFKSBomy2Gkl5E2nL_RUgmWorNj3pvZThAn7I81Iy-jo52hK_NXwZ8WSWS6nT2zKUw9lLaN0jQHoJcYHQNBE1dzR5ZTFXeJJhj_XR5Q/s320/oscar.jpg" /></a><br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Original Screenplay:</span> <strong>Midnight in Paris<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Adapted Screenplay:</span> <strong>The Descendants<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Visual Effects:</span> <strong>Rise of the Planet of the Apes<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Costume Design:</span> <strong>Hugo<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Editing:</span> <strong>The Artist<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Sound Mixing:</span> <strong>Hugo<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Sound Editing:</span> <strong>Hugo<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Original Score:</span> <strong>The Artist<br /></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Original Song:</span> <strong>“Man or Muppet”</strong></div><br /><br /><div>This Sunday night will show whether we have picked wisely or not. Let the games begin.....</div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-30498657660400667392012-02-03T13:43:00.000-08:002012-02-03T14:25:26.851-08:00They're baaaaaaack!The Oscar nominations came out last week and overall they didn’t have too many surprises. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXlKGgyRRPEs9S-N2r_I3J0lSsLcacMBJSAjIPvJpwcAu2lvs423wpjVoqHFzZGf0NykAcKZqNLKxX53YW1rBIB1Ztn_lOmkTypOG6aDyOKxGrbEdGumIPdgkFB8b4Dwpzaow9g/s1600/oscars4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 145px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705029437439599858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXlKGgyRRPEs9S-N2r_I3J0lSsLcacMBJSAjIPvJpwcAu2lvs423wpjVoqHFzZGf0NykAcKZqNLKxX53YW1rBIB1Ztn_lOmkTypOG6aDyOKxGrbEdGumIPdgkFB8b4Dwpzaow9g/s320/oscars4.jpg" /></a>Sure there were the usual snubs like the final Harry Potter not getting an Oscar nod for Best Film like the final Lord of the Rings. Many thought Albert Brooks should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for <span style="color:#993399;">Drive</span>. Where are Steven Spielberg (<span style="color:#993399;">War Horse</span>) and Tate Taylor (<span style="color:#993399;">The Help</span>) for Best Director (especially Taylor as <span style="color:#993399;">The Help</span> will quite possibly take Best Film)?? Well, since the Academy can only nominate so many, someone is left out every year.<br />So, who will win?? I have been madly seeing as many nominated films as I can. Fortunately for you (and me!), many of these films are out on DVD and available at the <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">HBPL Media Center</span></strong>!<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Films with multiple nominations, currently in the Media Center on DVD: </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcb8s-HSHepDLpL-jDKLTt6jYhoT2WvDrwrLMAhM17VzETNT8LrQ70O4aoMeeGun5T7q4gXvG0EyQchookItHagOM20gcqJ2hVqgMNDxkMMkqjg4oV6__LvnxqAqkc2ZM3JFUvA/s1600/thehelp.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 87px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705031435918248738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcb8s-HSHepDLpL-jDKLTt6jYhoT2WvDrwrLMAhM17VzETNT8LrQ70O4aoMeeGun5T7q4gXvG0EyQchookItHagOM20gcqJ2hVqgMNDxkMMkqjg4oV6__LvnxqAqkc2ZM3JFUvA/s320/thehelp.jpg" /></a>The Help:</span> I was pleasantly surprised that the book <em>The Help</em> was a charming, moving and thoughtful read. I didn’t expect it to be. I was a bit dubious of the movie but, like the book, it won me over. I am a bit surprised it didn’t get a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination but it did receive 4 others: Best Film, Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer and Best Actress for Viola Davis.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLQ7s0n_0CvoPDWVcaNcyHlHBcRfdzMWfZo-STMfzLC3h4LyyYjL5uEat7ar2NDIAIpB7hd_Q0rGJQxycQJ7p3xIwYdya_pe3tylYj6nmV-1e5GiWIm16433_XQ1BcBPyqCMAkw/s1600/moneyasball.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 98px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 89px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705032627284745890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLQ7s0n_0CvoPDWVcaNcyHlHBcRfdzMWfZo-STMfzLC3h4LyyYjL5uEat7ar2NDIAIpB7hd_Q0rGJQxycQJ7p3xIwYdya_pe3tylYj6nmV-1e5GiWIm16433_XQ1BcBPyqCMAkw/s320/moneyasball.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#993399;">Moneyball:</span> Until I saw “The Artist”, Brad Pitt would have been my pick to win Best Actor for his role in Moneyball. At least the Academy had the good sense to nominate him for Best Actor. Moneyball also got Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Editing and Sound Mixing nominations. Plaaaaaaaaaaaaay Ball!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwrwkdB-70SSmxhQY4tkPEZAfyz6sY8U7QyZUH6XvWspqH2KzoJmuEWq0THF9yVZ0eCUk_6NPBPPGAeY_ifULV4K5RbV_PFPhJjynlIrWeWFUMoX-k07kFbHXhf0d0QqdpZ14jg/s1600/MidnightEiffel.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 93px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 129px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705033338586065378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwrwkdB-70SSmxhQY4tkPEZAfyz6sY8U7QyZUH6XvWspqH2KzoJmuEWq0THF9yVZ0eCUk_6NPBPPGAeY_ifULV4K5RbV_PFPhJjynlIrWeWFUMoX-k07kFbHXhf0d0QqdpZ14jg/s320/MidnightEiffel.jpg" /></a>Midnight in Paris:</span> I am a fan of Woody Allen’s early work; Annie Hall, Manhattan, Purple Rose of Cairo, Sleepers to mention a few. Lately I have not been his biggest fan but he has certainly redeemed himself in my eyes with Midnight in Paris. Charming! Funny! Totally Entertaining! Loved it! It has been given deserved nominations for Best Film, Best Director, Original Screenplay and Art Direction.<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">The Tree of Life:</span> Many people walked out of this film and wrote scathing reviews. Others claim it is a visionary piece of art. It will be up to you to decide! Nominated for Best Film, Best Director and Cinematography.<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">Bridemaids:</span> Really? Bridemaids? Comedies usually don’t fare well at the Oscars, so this one came as a surprise, at least to those that haven’t seen it. As a recent convert, I am happy the Academy saw fit to nominate Melissa McCarthy for Best Supporting Actress and to give it an Original Screenplay nod! You go, girls!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRJWBk0TCQ_ydbPQIx9kuNipMCltdE5R84TRRiMdIwMIzdMLFqGsQhukAqhnqWs3ju03j1alHoISEb_Jw-aXib9AFalkAqb4rWXzGbIbd42fCSo7ic27Nz8Vq9kIme9NLRR_ueQ/s1600/HP2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 162px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705035506846010786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRJWBk0TCQ_ydbPQIx9kuNipMCltdE5R84TRRiMdIwMIzdMLFqGsQhukAqhnqWs3ju03j1alHoISEb_Jw-aXib9AFalkAqb4rWXzGbIbd42fCSo7ic27Nz8Vq9kIme9NLRR_ueQ/s320/HP2.jpg" /></a> <span style="color:#993399;">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2:</span> Snubbed for bigger things but thrown a bone with Makeup, Art Direction, and Visual Effects nominations.<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">Transformers: Dark of the Moon:</span> I thought the first Transformer film was exciting and big on action. The next two, I didn’t find as compelling however, the latest still got nominations for Visual Effects, Sound Mixing and Editing.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Films with single nominations, currently in the Media Center on DVD: </span><br /><br />Best Actor: <span style="color:#006600;">A Better Life (Demian Bichir) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PjZrJeOF8nxytVGJjv5vgRiWRxHVXpzfdLhVTb4EOh0sK5ipZU5cs2z8oJYgob97oudwNKNDLngVO81d1H10fFPWPygeo5iFUxXxyrI1dufxcX1rkKmcQswNSB8-4xjXDqO7gw/s1600/kungfupanda.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 195px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 102px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705034140896875458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PjZrJeOF8nxytVGJjv5vgRiWRxHVXpzfdLhVTb4EOh0sK5ipZU5cs2z8oJYgob97oudwNKNDLngVO81d1H10fFPWPygeo5iFUxXxyrI1dufxcX1rkKmcQswNSB8-4xjXDqO7gw/s320/kungfupanda.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSwUJAs4N9w3Ukxi1meUXfHqCbs0XWCfjYIBU9m6N_gABR_5tD4lsh4vVxxlk1-i0y5Ldk7Mil7Jf69XLNt0nMmuE9ZLcHG9zESqziPJ8qOKNTsJd903c3f4woAFCc2Q3C27_Vg/s1600/kungfupandatall.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVDNqetR7sSglKq7mwXecVcmhrOhUx_GxBI1sqz9i48RlWqinY4LcH9Oj-uEY_4kqYkC6XsYpkCgQ09SeNHgWdRBNnXjRdgrcBnjKSTr7jKKPf4gPnJaFZXWEJC0gip8M4PUEqA/s1600/kungfupanda.jpg"></a><br /></span>Best Supporting Actor: <span style="color:#006600;">Warrior (Nick Nolte) and Beginners (Christopher Plummer)<br /></span>Animated Feature: <span style="color:#006600;">Kung Fu Panda 2 and Rango<br /></span>Adapted Screenplay: <span style="color:#006600;">The Ides of March<br /></span>Visual Effects: <span style="color:#006600;">Reel Steel and Rise of the Planet of the Apes<br /></span>Costume Design: <span style="color:#006600;">Jane Eyre and Anonymous (available 2/7) </span><br />Sound Editing: <span style="color:#006600;">Drive</span><br /><br />I will be posting my Oscar picks later this month. I have been betting on the Oscars with a hi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDGJIDx20r_dIC3T__Kza01GrIDYY5zO3Dh5aQEPY1U4xUSOgpDPsDqRev8_OYxmQQgUWRukqn5B06zH4OZ5OaIMv2tuAfEEJfRLi7VQzEALwCBIRe9i1x5MeGJVgm-elYGnVfA/s1600/popcorn.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 104px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 68px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705029669679014130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDGJIDx20r_dIC3T__Kza01GrIDYY5zO3Dh5aQEPY1U4xUSOgpDPsDqRev8_OYxmQQgUWRukqn5B06zH4OZ5OaIMv2tuAfEEJfRLi7VQzEALwCBIRe9i1x5MeGJVgm-elYGnVfA/s320/popcorn.jpg" /></a>gh school friend for longer than I care to mention. I need to check all the guild awards and bet with him before I “go public”! Never fear, I will definitely post them sometime the week before the show (<strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">February 26th</span></strong>). So, get your popcorn, you have some research to do!Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-33064798927765361212011-11-30T11:10:00.000-08:002011-11-30T11:54:55.248-08:00Animation Nation : Holiday EditionI think last year at this time I was listing off inspirational films to help you get through the holidays. The holidays this year call for something more….more….more <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuAzYZmTLnBXI0ajf9fk1g_jgFuQQR10VNclQsvJj611Zz_dN4ZbZ7Bp0JDZbIdARF79wMegrvBaD66dhdyKyvmBYHYUqqGN7P06jnVXq7B6mvVrwJUlY8GjEhCs_6x4RRKJFvQ/s1600/candycanes.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 92px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680877492422970818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuAzYZmTLnBXI0ajf9fk1g_jgFuQQR10VNclQsvJj611Zz_dN4ZbZ7Bp0JDZbIdARF79wMegrvBaD66dhdyKyvmBYHYUqqGN7P06jnVXq7B6mvVrwJUlY8GjEhCs_6x4RRKJFvQ/s320/candycanes.jpg" /></a>animated! Years ago when I worked at Disney Studios, the hold music for the phones would be whatever new film Disney had coming out in the near future. One particular year I seemed to be on hold a lot and I listened to the soundtrack for <em><span style="color:#006600;">Beauty and the Beast</span></em>…for….ever….! Despite that, to this day it is still my favorite animated film and one I could watch over and over and still shed a tear when the Beast becomes the prince (I certainly hope I am not giving the big ending away! If so, you need to get out more...).<br /><br />When your shopping is done, all the presents are wrapped, the cookies are all baked and you have time to sit down and relax, nothing entertains like a good animated film!<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>Beauty and the Beast:</strong></span> Tale as old as time....*sigh*. <span style="color:#006600;"><em>Beauty and the Beast</em></span> combines (at the time) cutting edge computer graphics with the musical delight of a Broadway play. Need some <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZ2RXkL4Qj-yK6EiZp7QJTrGoHQCuzJb8ckg8RktfsWbXlGIVEL4skmlAoFy5gfZX8DWrpdd55TXBkdbuAHVR9shRVc5mCEX3Am5-mU-FviM4FE6TQNiTcngGszsF5Cq7UyUZ2Q/s1600/beautyandthebeast.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 157px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680875985899748882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZ2RXkL4Qj-yK6EiZp7QJTrGoHQCuzJb8ckg8RktfsWbXlGIVEL4skmlAoFy5gfZX8DWrpdd55TXBkdbuAHVR9shRVc5mCEX3Am5-mU-FviM4FE6TQNiTcngGszsF5Cq7UyUZ2Q/s320/beautyandthebeast.jpg" /></a>Busby Berkeley? “Be Our Guest” fills the bill. Need amazing song writing? I give you Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (Winners of the Oscar for Best Original Song and Best Original Score for this film). This version of <em><span style="color:#006600;">Beauty and the Beast</span></em> veers off from the original fairy tale but, as far as I am concerned, not to the detriment of the story. The massive ego of Gaston makes this film all the more enjoyable and his song pointing out all his amazing qualities (he especially good at ex-pec-tor-a-ting!) is one of my favorites. Most girls know a Gaston and most girls would love to find that tender Beast so get out your hankies and enjoy!<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Need more Disney animation: Fantasia, Lion King, or Dumbo. </span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Nightmare Before Christmas</span></strong>: What’s this? What’s this? This is a brilliant bit of stop-moti<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vUatDzoRU3HsAbntg-yQpHUZH9eA6cUFGd5bAPArlntT4VulssBzlRIM8sXcOPtyWwO0jG7x2ErHK88Ln8686kBLl3G79Iu6mcVFJD-L4O5cYwqTHQXLJyCLDJUHBM6ncUoVRA/s1600/jackface.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 124px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680873728611548066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vUatDzoRU3HsAbntg-yQpHUZH9eA6cUFGd5bAPArlntT4VulssBzlRIM8sXcOPtyWwO0jG7x2ErHK88Ln8686kBLl3G79Iu6mcVFJD-L4O5cYwqTHQXLJyCLDJUHBM6ncUoVRA/s320/jackface.jpg" /></a>on animation that is a holiday classic in my household. Although Henry Sellick directed this marvelous film, the script came from the twisted brain of Tim Burton. Is it better at Halloween? Is it better at Christmas? That’s for you to decide but I think this film is so good it could easily be seen at either holidays (or both!). Jack, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, has grown bored with the confines of his holiday and wants to show the world an improved version of Christmas. Every inch of space is crammed full of delightful images that will either creep you out or fill you full of holiday good will. Not many films can say that!<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Need more Burton? Try the Corpse Bride. </span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Spirited Away</span></strong> : This animated film is by Japanese master animator, Hayao Miyazaki (an <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7eYLAbRW2n-d6iJG3azGsm5cePzCviqAh93FNv6UVVsSuxwc70RoLoF5Zst2G9R4kaPNH4U40m75TddjK15Cbwbss6Rns7hqcDNbr7waAe4K52IhGEJgF2UnMnCO_xildUaoiw/s1600/spirited.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680874629120029874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7eYLAbRW2n-d6iJG3azGsm5cePzCviqAh93FNv6UVVsSuxwc70RoLoF5Zst2G9R4kaPNH4U40m75TddjK15Cbwbss6Rns7hqcDNbr7waAe4K52IhGEJgF2UnMnCO_xildUaoiw/s320/spirited.jpg" /></a>animation God to most animators). Not fond of computers, Miyazaki draws thousands of frames by hand, and there is a richness in his work that comes from an artists eye. The story: a young girl named Chichiro embarks on a journey through a fantastical realm to save her parents. In this realm she interacts with a variety of imaginative characters, is surrounded by dazzling visuals, and supported by a rousing musical score. Although this is targeted toward children, adults will also be enchanted by the characters and situations. A charming tale about love, determination, and growing up.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">More thought provoking animation: Howls Moving Castle, Iron Giant, Princess Mononoke, Persepolis.<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Pixar Trifecta: Toy Story (1/2/3) * Up * Wall-E </span></strong><br />Despite my utter adoration of Disney’s <em><span style="color:#006600;">Beauty and the Beast</span></em>, I think that Pixar creates the best, most touching, mo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdKbDrNLbRTD-MnSel5SAIO0JiGJl24QgmN6K4IfWHOCmkyE3hyVurELy-pRxxej5ewQqS_fqyMcL1DPfJsZihD1E7t2jmHIojuHV7q8J_Z4rbuzbAGRQs4O4OjlN4YHJA1u4uQ/s1600/Pixarlogo.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 274px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 70px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680872326784376578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdKbDrNLbRTD-MnSel5SAIO0JiGJl24QgmN6K4IfWHOCmkyE3hyVurELy-pRxxej5ewQqS_fqyMcL1DPfJsZihD1E7t2jmHIojuHV7q8J_Z4rbuzbAGRQs4O4OjlN4YHJA1u4uQ/s320/Pixarlogo.jpg" /></a>st entertaining animated films available. The entire <em><span style="color:#006600;">Toy Story</span></em> trilogy is a masterpiece of animation storytelling, <em><span style="color:#006600;">Up</span></em> has one of the most moving and touching film montages ever created and <em><span style="color:#006600;">Wall-E</span></em> is a delight as well as a commentary on our future if we continue our sedentary lives. All of these Pixar films are ones that whenever I am swinging around the TV dial and land on one of them I go no further. Is Pixar perfect? Well, no one is perfect as is displayed by <em><span style="color:#006600;">Cars 2</span></em> or <em><span style="color:#006600;">How to Train Your Dragon</span></em>, but a great many of their films are true genius so I still support them as the current kings (and queens) of animation.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Need more outstanding Pixar: Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">South Park: Bigger Longer Uncut</span></strong>: I was recently in New York and had the opportunity to see the incredible “Book of Mormon”. It is juvenile in parts and amazingly rude but it is also one of the most entertaining musicals I have ever seen (and I have seen ALOT of musicals!) This <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnx1L3ILa7iZDpsref4h5q9nc1fh3cwJEI6cYw1RPj_0d96RJ7yGd3DAh0e_2__79DQZgvyXuru0-CwsT4haAyp59kwhHGh6sBy9ScZtd5VWQ_9Hc4clTGlSd3v4CbaCzbQpgAw/s1600/blamecanada.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 162px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 104px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680871231404354930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnx1L3ILa7iZDpsref4h5q9nc1fh3cwJEI6cYw1RPj_0d96RJ7yGd3DAh0e_2__79DQZgvyXuru0-CwsT4haAyp59kwhHGh6sBy9ScZtd5VWQ_9Hc4clTGlSd3v4CbaCzbQpgAw/s320/blamecanada.jpg" /></a>film was a pre-cursor to what Trey Parker and Matt Stone were capable of. Like the “Book of Mormon”, <em><span style="color:#006600;">South Park: Bigger, Longer and Un</span><span style="color:#006600;">cut </span></em>is juvenile in parts and amazingly rude but it is one of the most entertaining animated films I have ever seen. Not to mention the fact the Trey Parker received an Oscar nomination for Best Song for the rousing “<span style="color:#ff0000;">Blame Canada</span>” ! The film follows the continuing escapades of Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny as they sneak into an R rated film. When the kids develop some new disturbing vocabulary, the parents and teachers decide to “<span style="color:#ff0000;">Blame Canada</span>” for leading their kids astray. Love ‘em, hate ‘em, but whatever you do, watch ‘em (just don’t let the kids watch with you)!<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Need more juvenile animated fun: The Simpson’s Movie </span><br /><br />Whether we are ready or not, the holidays are here. So in this season of giving, I give to you the permission to slow down, visit our Media Department and check out one of these wonderful<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhiX3vazjbEloX1MyuSEyiS9FEVn03I1LMvBWolFyhUQnjHv8WWANpiYSfbR-4ZZZ0qTq4qZ-qOvWjdO7foimYgs19kBBxZqn3EPdEMR21_iCGKCX2-tdFYRzDkcEzVfM2-EX4g/s1600/christmaschocolates.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 79px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680869031783635058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhiX3vazjbEloX1MyuSEyiS9FEVn03I1LMvBWolFyhUQnjHv8WWANpiYSfbR-4ZZZ0qTq4qZ-qOvWjdO7foimYgs19kBBxZqn3EPdEMR21_iCGKCX2-tdFYRzDkcEzVfM2-EX4g/s320/christmaschocolates.jpg" /></a> animated films (all mentioned films available at HBPL).<br /><br />May your holidays be merry and bright (and full of friends or chocolate or friends bearing chocolate) !!<br /><br />Next post: They’re baaaaaack! The race for Oscar begins.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-11166734491214051572011-09-21T09:24:00.001-07:002011-09-21T15:43:56.129-07:00The People have spoken!<span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Toronto International Film Festival</strong></span> has ended and their awards have been announced. In the past few years, the winner of the People’s Choice award went on to be a major Oscar contender<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LKVa2bCWjvZWOEWUb6_52P4tLe8ejprei0sArGQ46aaWukMRlYw5j4TL2KzuyeKTlsWgnuvgK_jeGSrRAv0G0pFX5MVFvQX4Kw-CwmOBOjbDgMePXkJ-DCaKfgsXS28G1NAxkQ/s1600/wheredowegonow1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 228px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 153px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654849762165738322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LKVa2bCWjvZWOEWUb6_52P4tLe8ejprei0sArGQ46aaWukMRlYw5j4TL2KzuyeKTlsWgnuvgK_jeGSrRAv0G0pFX5MVFvQX4Kw-CwmOBOjbDgMePXkJ-DCaKfgsXS28G1NAxkQ/s320/wheredowegonow1.jpg" /></a>. Think <em><span style="color:#993300;">Slumdog Millionaire, Precious and the King’s Speech</span></em>. This year winner will have to go some to rise to that lofty level. The 2011 winner of the <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">People’s Choice Award</span></strong> for feature film went to the Lebanese film, <em><strong><span style="color:#993300;">Where do we go now?</span></strong></em> This film takes us to an isolated village in war torn Lebanon. The local women decide to save their village from the inter-religious fighting that erupts after a television is installed in a neighbor’s home. This film, so far, does not have U.S. distribution but I assume that will change now that it has won this award. It will also be the official submission from Lebanon for best Foreign Film (many films are submitted as selections but only a few will get the nomination).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziumkyiSFq1MXjL9ZvJwml0qZoB0XOOk2Y3U4OkFTsVL71SmHUEX9UyJLTCcT9dVgDt90Qxb3wox28yn9mUR9_xQj0s9NkuF-eAjWT1rBa55ZNYXYgHV9pLuAlY8rMpnhENM6jQ/s1600/islandpresident.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 147px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 111px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654850074473082626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziumkyiSFq1MXjL9ZvJwml0qZoB0XOOk2Y3U4OkFTsVL71SmHUEX9UyJLTCcT9dVgDt90Qxb3wox28yn9mUR9_xQj0s9NkuF-eAjWT1rBa55ZNYXYgHV9pLuAlY8rMpnhENM6jQ/s320/islandpresident.jpg" /></a>The <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary</span></strong> went to <em><strong><span style="color:#993300;">The Island President</span></strong></em>. In this political documentary, Mohamed Nasheed wins the presidency after a 20-year battle for democracy in the Maldives, only to face a bigger challenge: to save his island nation from global warming and rising seas.<br /><br />Toronto is finished for another year…but never fear! This festival ends, another will soon begin!Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-10344543584115001952011-09-15T14:44:00.000-07:002011-09-15T15:05:47.133-07:00Never Too Late for a Festival Wrap-Up!<div><br /><div>Okay, so I have been very busy this year with all the reorganization of duties. I seem to have been remiss on writing about the big film festivals...all the majors have gone by this year without a word from me. Alas Alas. It takes the <span style="color:#ff6600;">Toronto Film Festival</span> going on (and me not being there) to remind me of that fact! So in case you missed them, here are the top awards that were given at the big film festivals this year:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;">January:<br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Sundance Film Festival:</span></strong> or Bob’s Show as they used to call it. Started in 1978 by Robert Redford, the main focus of Sundance was to conduct a competition for independent American films; to highlight the work of filmmakers who worked outside the Hollywood system. Many<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWIrmb5FBnVZsohsa7JBUCLXXW8rQ6lx41qZY_dAqRYdEXbpc3Dlye9K3NEOTs5nMn-bcfUzpTCj5ilrYaF32oA2JiezxSEdMGhuiqH6uZbCBMPRBmw6DJ-RjORMS0PWsOGvB2w/s1600/sundance.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 208px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 157px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652710537277067138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWIrmb5FBnVZsohsa7JBUCLXXW8rQ6lx41qZY_dAqRYdEXbpc3Dlye9K3NEOTs5nMn-bcfUzpTCj5ilrYaF32oA2JiezxSEdMGhuiqH6uZbCBMPRBmw6DJ-RjORMS0PWsOGvB2w/s320/sundance.jpg" /></a> complain that it isn’t as “independent” minded as it used to be but it is still one of the major festivals in the world.<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">The Grand Jury Prize:</span> <span style="color:#3333ff;">Documentary</span> was presented to How to Die in Oregon, directed by Peter D. Richardson. In 1994 Oregon became the first state to legalize physician-assisted suicide. This film tells the stories of those involved with the practice today. (no release date currently)<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">The Grand Jury Prize:</span> <span style="color:#3333ff;">Dramatic </span>was presented to Like Crazy, directed by Drake Doremus. A British college student falls for an American student, only to be separated from him when she's banned from the U.S. after overstaying her visa. (This film has an October 2011 release date.)<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">The Audience Award:</span> <span style="color:#3366ff;">Documentary </span>was presented to Buck, directed by Cindy Meehl. A real-life “horse whisperer”, Buck shuns the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. (Had limited release in June of this year, coming to DVD in October 2011.)<br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">The Audience Award:</span> <span style="color:#3333ff;">Dramatic</span> was presented to Circumstance, directed and written by Maryam Keshavarz. A wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain a teenager's growing sexual rebellion and her brother's dangerous obsession. (In theaters now, Irvine and Los Angeles)<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">May: </span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes):</span></strong> Cannes was started in 1946 as a rival international cultural event to the Venice Film Festival. (originally was to start in 1939 but had to wait until after WWII to have the first festival).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYicDPRovqNa-jX2QchKEol-T0GY-8TB8QRrf_B8jVYf9XYLMdlTXv3dupBo_MjvSBZG15zlcHp8sMlwMIvN7tTWxVm4qMvFrKa8j4Fje1ygNU05fycyy59OIxdjCXFO7L_uMXA/s1600/festival_de_cannes.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 215px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 83px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652710140010725106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYicDPRovqNa-jX2QchKEol-T0GY-8TB8QRrf_B8jVYf9XYLMdlTXv3dupBo_MjvSBZG15zlcHp8sMlwMIvN7tTWxVm4qMvFrKa8j4Fje1ygNU05fycyy59OIxdjCXFO7L_uMXA/s320/festival_de_cannes.gif" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#33cc00;">Palme D'Or</span> : Terrence Malick's <span style="color:#33cc00;"><em>The Tree Of Life</em></span>. According to reports, many actually walked out of this film at Cannes. That’s Malick for you. People love him, people hate him but it seems the former were on the award committee this year! This impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father. (released in May in theaters, coming out on DVD in October).<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>August:<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhyX2kEPsOeLMbiDAjIDIMyFqSTL0u6u4mRuYB_OV5NIGPDvsPNTeva6bnIr_1xj8KoOYFx6EjPM7CrPTWeUbXPG3tK_fAacBJ685-DII7GsL3QSte6bHbRfd0ErpH2KHo6Dkfg/s1600/veniceff.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 116px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652709139350648882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhyX2kEPsOeLMbiDAjIDIMyFqSTL0u6u4mRuYB_OV5NIGPDvsPNTeva6bnIr_1xj8KoOYFx6EjPM7CrPTWeUbXPG3tK_fAacBJ685-DII7GsL3QSte6bHbRfd0ErpH2KHo6Dkfg/s320/veniceff.jpg" /></a>Venice International Film Festival:</strong></span> Started in 1934 as a non-competitive film event, it is the oldest film festival currently still running. In 1949, the Golden Lion was first given as award for the festival.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Golden Lion for Best Film (Leone d'Oro):</span> <span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>Faust,</em></span> directed by Aleksander Sokurov (Russia). A version of the German legend in which a man sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge (no current U.S. release date).<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>September: </strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Toronto International Film Festival:</strong></span> Started in 1976, TIFF is second only to Cannes in availability of high-profile films, stars and distribution deals. This year’s festival runs from<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRiPfmUU87BimJYKGG9S4xpqjos3uQbmLuQKoNnchyphenhyphenyf_oxExd3DH940C_DtUn11rd_VJ0iowShmi-fr3OduLwm8ZZV-wAwQS-DHX5UTcCVCYg9gFcqLVG6YKSfoo6OtQeOurZA/s1600/tiff.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 103px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652708736965334226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRiPfmUU87BimJYKGG9S4xpqjos3uQbmLuQKoNnchyphenhyphenyf_oxExd3DH940C_DtUn11rd_VJ0iowShmi-fr3OduLwm8ZZV-wAwQS-DHX5UTcCVCYg9gFcqLVG6YKSfoo6OtQeOurZA/s320/tiff.jpg" /></a> September 8th to September 18th. I have not been to the other festivals but have been to Toronto several times. Each time I have seen amazing films, many that will never get U.S. distribution. Such is the value of the festival for film aficionados. Sure, having bragging rights about seeing high profile films first at the festival is definitely a bonus, but the real benefit is seeing great film that you would not have seen otherwise.<br /><br />Toronto lacks a jury and is non-competitive; it doesn’t have a Golden Lion or Palme D'Or. Its highest honor, the <span style="color:#ff6600;">People's Choice Award</span>, is given to a feature-length film with the highest ratings as voted on by festival attendees. Last year’s winner was “The King’s Speech”. What will win the top honor this year?? The top forerunners this year seem to be either <span style="color:#ff6600;"><em>The Artist</em></span> (Michael Hazanavicius’ mostly-silent ode to the death of silent film) or <span style="color:#ff6600;"><em>The Descendants</em></span> (Directed by Sideways’ Alexander Payne, George Clooney plays the head of a storied Hawaiian family as they are forced to decide what to do with their last, vast parcel of land.) It could be either one of these or who knows? Some film that hasn’t even been screened yet may take the festival audiences fancy! I guess we will have to wait until next week to find out! (Check back as I will post the winner when it is announced).<br /><br />For those that aren’t able to travel to these festivals, don’t forget the smaller festivals that happen closer to home. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">AFI Fest</span> in Los Angeles is coming up in November (Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar starring Leonardo DiCaprio will open this year’s festival). <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Palm Springs International Film Festival</span> is in January and <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Newport Beach Film Festival</span> is in the spring. Need it smaller and even closer to home? The <span style="color:#cc33cc;">SoCal Film Festival</span> will be here at the Central Library from Sep 28th to October 2nd.<br /><br />Whew! I now feel like I have fulfilled my major cinematic festival duties for the year! Now get out there and take chance on a festival film! </div></div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-49981625141879068442011-08-03T09:31:00.000-07:002011-08-03T09:54:06.446-07:00Mister GIt is known among my friends that I have a weak spot for the films of <span style="color:#ff0000;">Jake Gyllenhaal</span>. I like the sweet and optimistic Jake in <span style="color:#660000;">October Sky</span>, the teenage angsty Jake in <span style="color:#663333;">Donnie Darko</span>, the obsessive Jake in the <span style="color:#663333;">Good Girl</span>, the gay Jake in <span style="color:#663333;">Brokeback Mountain</span>, and I have just recently got to experience the action-figure Jake in <span style="color:#663333;">Source Code</span>.<br /><br />The many Jakes:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUTcBdSzq0mX5spLXKv9SEaFJdAXv5Dsyi9oqC7s9MNeoZvwvcnle2OuXDV_Yk6XiArTzqNb7yE1Tq1tn0gDKW6VK0s_-b_RzT54E1UNVa6g8G_jjcbVlNRs6rC00kQOAvDeYZA/s1600/octsky.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 124px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636669231833481506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUTcBdSzq0mX5spLXKv9SEaFJdAXv5Dsyi9oqC7s9MNeoZvwvcnle2OuXDV_Yk6XiArTzqNb7yE1Tq1tn0gDKW6VK0s_-b_RzT54E1UNVa6g8G_jjcbVlNRs6rC00kQOAvDeYZA/s200/octsky.jpg" /></a>Optimistic Jake: October Sky :</span></strong> Based on the autobiography of Homer Hickam, October Sky follows the dreams of a young Homer (Jake) whose life was changed in October 1957 with the launching of Sputnik into space. Although his coal miner father hoped he would follow him into the mines, Homer’s dream of the future was in the sky, not below the ground. Life is not easy for a poor kid from West Virginia but with perseverance and some luck, Homer is able to realize his dream.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;">Teenage Angst Jake: Donnie Darko:</span> This is one weird, twisty, time-travellin’ film! (And in my<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSxDt2xRka5xBIuFGuXz7_eZLVfeJVmEl_i626cLhyeAAK_WnziG3a0dLvSLkeRABwSk-XC1STyJ0a8tgIdIKMC0-AE6LDi4gCjqiEO59A2XMWxnXF2_NPhL3QDtCBdT5jKHjSQ/s1600/donniemademe.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1EG622s4gTh9uOrM4CLx-nlfRWoz-gvN8CYYGCLSC0ubI_PYSAceVaQlLe1AEp0N_M5Tvq2LkS7gRv8C0aFQjxwQ-AJXcgt0HI1ICcB2UYpSINpijEA1YKk4S0OZ9dzTMoDpdg/s1600/donnied.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 163px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636671205371723650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1EG622s4gTh9uOrM4CLx-nlfRWoz-gvN8CYYGCLSC0ubI_PYSAceVaQlLe1AEp0N_M5Tvq2LkS7gRv8C0aFQjxwQ-AJXcgt0HI1ICcB2UYpSINpijEA1YKk4S0OZ9dzTMoDpdg/s200/donnied.jpg" /></a> top five all time favorites!) It is definitely a cult film that has people arguing over its meaning. What is Frank the bunny really doing in this film?? (A 6 foot bunny that only Donnie can see). Donnie (Jake) is a troubled teen that listens to the whacky things Frank tells him to do. Supporting Jake in this bizarre film are: Maggie Gyllenhaal as his sister; Noah Wylie and Drew Barrymore as his teachers; Mary McDonnell as his mother; Katherine Ross as his shrink and Patrick Swayze as a creepy motivational speaker. Love it or hate it one thing you can’t do is look away. Donnie Darko is the Everest of teenage angst movies!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;">Obsessive Jake: Good Girl:</span> Jennifer Aniston plays a married woman with a very mundane life <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95YGKx8qPBUE7URQjE-W5GwjaNpoMt56ef0slbSCb3dNfwLbSH6VyZfnF5D7JuI3-IIMw7jmILkyI1vpY67hUneBl8Lrc-cI8rXpEiFJnHCUY6cceC9gwWtpJ7EMh4DsTaFZAng/s1600/goodgirljake.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 151px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636669638121539442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95YGKx8qPBUE7URQjE-W5GwjaNpoMt56ef0slbSCb3dNfwLbSH6VyZfnF5D7JuI3-IIMw7jmILkyI1vpY67hUneBl8Lrc-cI8rXpEiFJnHCUY6cceC9gwWtpJ7EMh4DsTaFZAng/s200/goodgirljake.jpg" /></a>who starts an affair with a lost young man (Jake) who thinks he is Holden Caulfield (or at least wishes he were). They meet in the discount chain store where they both work. Boring jobs, boring lives, boring husbands or parents…nothing is very exciting about the lives of these two. And yet, it makes for a very watchable film. The choices that are made and their consequences are what make this good cinema. If you are looking for cheery happy endings, don’t look here. But if you want a film that does a spectacular job as a character study, this is the one to see.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;">Gay Jake : Brokeback Mountain :</span> Some distill this lovely film down to just “it’s a gay cowboy film”! But if that is all they see, they are missing the real point of this film. It is a human,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTQE8VtDc1n2ZxyBTMM2ovlTucK64O5bwKPZd8_BG5ZSm2JX55JJg9fYnX9wznxyo8C8FaMbiTSqedopiYM2BQZ08HKDWcaLHTmelTZWFRnAEo64N4JfJSM07ULTaUz_n3aoTmQ/s1600/heathjake.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 101px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636669881291316226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTQE8VtDc1n2ZxyBTMM2ovlTucK64O5bwKPZd8_BG5ZSm2JX55JJg9fYnX9wznxyo8C8FaMbiTSqedopiYM2BQZ08HKDWcaLHTmelTZWFRnAEo64N4JfJSM07ULTaUz_n3aoTmQ/s200/heathjake.jpg" /></a> haunting story of two men born in a time when the must deny the great passion they feel for each other. This is not a gay love story; it is just a love story. Heath Ledger is Ennis and Jake plays Jack, two young ranch hands who take a job watching sheep in Wyoming. This is just the start of their lifelong passion for each other, even though they try to uphold a different façade with wives and children. The nuanced performances and the amazing direction of Ang Lee (winner of the Best Director Oscar) make this satisfying cinema.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;">Action Figure Jake : Source Code :</span> Although Jake tried out his action figure status with Prince of Persia (Day After Tomorrow doesn’t really count as he was more left behind son than action <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgI3E3VFNB0OdFhJ0W7E-n16qSVngErfkXIWNm71VDCk6XfVs3q1MyNKJj-6ZdFNKv1fDIzglhMman-ElwT8HJagOyVzPWz0abU6s0TkeX7Z9Mz0T8yZMERYy-lXF7FWOwVoB9Q/s1600/sourcecode.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636670152604161970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgI3E3VFNB0OdFhJ0W7E-n16qSVngErfkXIWNm71VDCk6XfVs3q1MyNKJj-6ZdFNKv1fDIzglhMman-ElwT8HJagOyVzPWz0abU6s0TkeX7Z9Mz0T8yZMERYy-lXF7FWOwVoB9Q/s200/sourcecode.jpg" /></a>figure. Also, even when freezing, it is hard for me to watch people burning books!), I think he really got his action figure “jones” going with this film. Jake wakes up in the body of a different man on a Chicago commuter train. As he finds out, he is there for only 8 minutes before he is pulled back to the present. The “present” involves a time traveling experiment to try and stop a terrorist that bombs the commuter train and threatens even worse. Jakes job: find out who the bomber is so he can be stopped. One unfortunate side note: Jake is really dead…..does he succeed in finding the bomber? Is he really dead? Only one way to find out…<br /><br />Are all <span style="color:#ff0000;">Jake Gyllenhaal</span> films wonderful?? To answer that see <span style="color:#663333;">Love and Other <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsKN9S1sWLk6kh_eO1PtXp4j6D9C6C2rthkCTKHmpmzl6e1UG7h6tuY-tqY8gwpRC2pfOetK7j842U5GfNhikPuUBXzF6_2_HJZHUzjlY9QAAG4xe87xENuFfMr7sTXk93brihg/s1600/bubbleboy.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 85px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636671897587897778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsKN9S1sWLk6kh_eO1PtXp4j6D9C6C2rthkCTKHmpmzl6e1UG7h6tuY-tqY8gwpRC2pfOetK7j842U5GfNhikPuUBXzF6_2_HJZHUzjlY9QAAG4xe87xENuFfMr7sTXk93brihg/s200/bubbleboy.jpg" /></a>Drug</span>s or <span style="color:#663333;">Brothers</span>…I don’t think Jake was the bad part of these films….now the writing…that’s another matter! And then, of course, there is <span style="color:#ff6600;">Bubble Boy</span>. Also one of my favorites but I think it is also on many people’s worse ever film lists. I look forward to seeing what quirky, action-packed or dramatic roles that will make up the future of Jake!Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-44896573863106760372011-06-23T15:36:00.000-07:002011-06-24T10:59:56.992-07:00More than Potter<strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Pottermore.com</span></strong> was (sort of) launched today. I say “sort of” as it was really just a teaser<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyJUJdvlkXF7qKWRxo5GxPnH6wEPBb8QlOk2wAn-P4w1O8GBRQPC_116rAJdFkvDbOQGMbE9V_0_FyjheybfOCnjqo2KUsInYmKMZ9BlX3b1AmsgxgBJffk2qMX3LJzP8vIzAgA/s1600/owleyes.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 123px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 83px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621549820187975170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyJUJdvlkXF7qKWRxo5GxPnH6wEPBb8QlOk2wAn-P4w1O8GBRQPC_116rAJdFkvDbOQGMbE9V_0_FyjheybfOCnjqo2KUsInYmKMZ9BlX3b1AmsgxgBJffk2qMX3LJzP8vIzAgA/s200/owleyes.jpg" /></a> from JK Rowling of things to come (in October, so she says). It got me thinking about the release of the last Harry Potter film (<em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two</span></em>) and wondering what the cast will do now that Pottering is coming to an end. Of course many have become known for their roles in the Harry Potter films but regardless, they are all working actors with other roles in their pasts and (hopefully) their future:<br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;"></span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Daniel Radcliffe:</span></strong> Probably the busiest of the main kids, has been hoofing it <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT0CJnR80mboquic7azMZEZfs_kRFMtHxxFrTlddED4fw9bxrGxvki__8AtBEyQx8FxWWj1zRFttpJiSmC3YkdgaL1i1kzoNR9EtVkuTFNH4tG1U843rKQEO5gjQZ04hHzSTUdg/s1600/danielradcliffehts.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 159px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621548653825558738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT0CJnR80mboquic7azMZEZfs_kRFMtHxxFrTlddED4fw9bxrGxvki__8AtBEyQx8FxWWj1zRFttpJiSmC3YkdgaL1i1kzoNR9EtVkuTFNH4tG1U843rKQEO5gjQZ04hHzSTUdg/s200/danielradcliffehts.jpg" /></a>on Broadway in <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</span></em>. Even while involved with being Harry Potter, young Daniel was pretty active trying other roles (<em><span style="color:#3333ff;">December Boys, My Boy Jack and Equus</span></em>) His next role: The lead role of Arthur Kipps in the horror film, <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Woman in Black</span></em>. The film and play (which has been running for 21 years in the West End of London) are based on the novel by Susan Hill. I guess the “powers that be” decided its theatrical longevity was an indication of popularity and therefore a great candidate to be made into a film. Time will tell…but we will have to wait until its release early in 2012 to pass judgment. Regardless, bravo, I say to Daniel Radcliffe for challenging himself and getting away from the Potter stereotype.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Emma Watson:</span></strong> Although poor Emma got taunted out of Brown University by her classmates, hopefully she will laugh at them….all the way to the bank. Our Hermione is worth millions, will<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhM0X1lnZIgUtzvuxSgN0JmFzwW6vCTQs2rg7k9PMqwyy-Eofu5bvTlDz3i2r5ymBx3se1quP-ikEgDzFZ82aGMWomusHBxCNEDgC50qaOCcnOEQnv78qBImzJAVBs6u5tb87Cg/s1600/ronandhermione.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621550541779895922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhM0X1lnZIgUtzvuxSgN0JmFzwW6vCTQs2rg7k9PMqwyy-Eofu5bvTlDz3i2r5ymBx3se1quP-ikEgDzFZ82aGMWomusHBxCNEDgC50qaOCcnOEQnv78qBImzJAVBs6u5tb87Cg/s200/ronandhermione.jpg" /></a> easily get into another university (I hear in New York) and is also stepping out of her Potter comfort zone to play Sam in the upcoming <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">The Perks of Being a Wallflower</span></em> (based on the popular YA novel by the same name). Take that, you Muggles!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Rupert Grint:</span></strong> I was quite interested to hear that Rupert’s (Ron Weasley) post-Potter project was starring as Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards in <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Eddie the Eagle</span></em> (currently in post production). You might remember Eddie as the awkward British ski jumper from the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. Here’s hoping it gets US distribution so we can see how Rupert does in his AHP outing. (AHP= After Harry Potter).<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Alan Rickman:</span></strong> Already a declared Alan Rickman fan, I can’t wait to see his <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkofX8gzNhfwb3TeTBBpKRP2Xzac4mF1385qb25t0QESQIB_KgEQlALiByPYaSUBq131TS1Aip5SmWsdjxeen_atMEKCLLOzAiQVBadxo5JYqJdkfKgWAdR0dbxNX3aRqQ-HT-A/s1600/snapesmall.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 94px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 77px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621552878273405906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkofX8gzNhfwb3TeTBBpKRP2Xzac4mF1385qb25t0QESQIB_KgEQlALiByPYaSUBq131TS1Aip5SmWsdjxeen_atMEKCLLOzAiQVBadxo5JYqJdkfKgWAdR0dbxNX3aRqQ-HT-A/s200/snapesmall.jpg" /></a>AHP film release. Alan is currently working on a Coen Brothers film, <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Gambit</span></em>. Expected out in 2012, he costars with Cameron Diaz, Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci in a tale about an art curator who enlists the services of a Texas steer roper to con a wealthy collector into buying a phony Monet painting. Coens+Rickman+Firth=Magic!!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Ralph Fiennes:</span></strong> Yesssssssss! Lord Voldemort (or “He who shall not be named” …oops…too<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMxZz_SojlFkk0sromWQRGgSwQnJX1hl4nrow9Dv0iV9mSEp3xP9KCBZto1mFVw5akEvOGEyqm6B7oIKhxPGE-AhKvYsadcXJp4YKCKxaAo88574ln1Nt8ZxML1Nnqps1UDDUQg/s1600/ralphfiennes.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 118px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621552059658147474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMxZz_SojlFkk0sromWQRGgSwQnJX1hl4nrow9Dv0iV9mSEp3xP9KCBZto1mFVw5akEvOGEyqm6B7oIKhxPGE-AhKvYsadcXJp4YKCKxaAo88574ln1Nt8ZxML1Nnqps1UDDUQg/s200/ralphfiennes.jpg" /></a> late!) Whether he is creeping us out as a Nazi in <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Schindlers List</span></em>, playing a demented mobster in <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">In Bruges</span></em> (with fellow Potter player, <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Brendan Gleeson</span></strong> aka Mad Eye Moody)or being sweetly quirky in <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Oscar and Lucinda</span></em>, Ralph is always an actor to watch. In his next film (slated for December 2011 release), he is playing the lead role of Caius Martius Coriolanus in Shakespeare’s <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Coriolanus</span></em>. Although Coriolanus is not performed as much as other Shakespearian plays, Ralph will now join the ranks of <span style="color:#006600;">Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen</span>; all who gave their own interpretation of the trouble Roman general! (Yes, but did the others have magic in their repertoire?)<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Helena Bonham Carter:</span></strong> Probably the most interesting career choices that any of the Potter <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDObbDRa-fhHEL4mMqa_Rgu81mgmQejp0FYa-Xu8PuwxQLP_J7WSo2-R9wZC6nvm4d8_BV6bMFnZGpk38hWpZS_jiRHLaMruLw_yhBP6akKZIXcJp2ml4V3tHvuEzACr12lqxxA/s1600/bellatrix.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 99px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621553345203423410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDObbDRa-fhHEL4mMqa_Rgu81mgmQejp0FYa-Xu8PuwxQLP_J7WSo2-R9wZC6nvm4d8_BV6bMFnZGpk38hWpZS_jiRHLaMruLw_yhBP6akKZIXcJp2ml4V3tHvuEzACr12lqxxA/s200/bellatrix.jpg" /></a>people have taken would be the ones of <span style="color:#006600;">Helena Bonham Carter</span>. Maybe her oddness comes from her close proximity to <span style="color:#006600;">Tim Burton</span> (they have been together since 2001); she is very convincing as the insane Bellatrix Lestrange. But then she amazes us with her regal turn as the Queen Mum in the Kings Speech! Her next project is once again directed by her boyfriend and father of her children, Tim B. It will also reunite her with the Mad Hatter himself, <span style="color:#006600;">Johnny Depp</span>. Carter and Depp are currently filming <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Dark Shadows</span></em>, with Johnny as Barnabas Collins (the vampire that was winning young girl’s hearts way before Twilight was ink on a page!).<br /><br />Who knows if Pottermore.com will ultimately be a site worth our time? I guess we will have to wait until October to find out. In the meantime, we can all look forward to the upcoming <em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two</span></em> (July 15th! Buy your tickets now!). Not to mention the continuing careers of the Potter players and some very interesting upcoming cinema fun!<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Mischief managed…. </span></em>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-29025190686581729682011-05-17T11:02:00.000-07:002011-05-17T11:22:21.838-07:00Fuggeddaboudit!<em>You talkin’ to me?</em> YOU TALKIN’ TO ME?? <br /><p>Just those few words bring up images of skyscrapers and hustlers on the mean streets of New York. I was lucky enough to escape HBPL for a week and head to the Big Apple. Museums, pizza and Broadway theater! Much to my amazement, Harry Potter CAN sing and dance! (Got to see <span style="color:#006600;">Daniel Radcliffe</span> in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”). Roaming the city made me feel like I was in a <span style="color:#006600;">Woody Allen</span> film. Of course, Woody’s films ooze New York as do the following filmatic examples: <br /><p><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>Annie Hall:<br /></em></strong></span>La-di-da, la-di-da …and if that means nothing to you, you haven’t seen Annie Hall. That catch phrase and her eccentric wardrobe <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEs0cRDz0MlUOU5EDxOwQrlSOtcrjtudA2yy6Qd6OUolFLZ6NT4qmn5QgKoD_OFkJxdIHZX-OpMJEvKX-FsKGY0uDpGXIagGeSV5xJBZtgCmeWA7HneX8pMYo6SP9HTfWyo1yvw/s1600/anniehall.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 106px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607748781492432850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEs0cRDz0MlUOU5EDxOwQrlSOtcrjtudA2yy6Qd6OUolFLZ6NT4qmn5QgKoD_OFkJxdIHZX-OpMJEvKX-FsKGY0uDpGXIagGeSV5xJBZtgCmeWA7HneX8pMYo6SP9HTfWyo1yvw/s200/anniehall.jpg" /></a>(which consisted mainly of vintage men's clothing, including neckties, vests, baggy pants, and fedora hats) made <span style="color:#006600;">Diane Keaton</span> the talk of the town … and a Best Actress Oscar winner for this film. It was also the film that changed <span style="color:#006600;">Woody Allen</span> (who won Oscars as director, screenwriter and Best Picture) from a purely comic film director to a filmmaker with a little more substance. New York comedian Alvy Singer (Allen) looks back at his relationship with Annie (Keaton). His journey takes him through his memories of their relationship, trying to find out what caused them to part ways (maybe his neurotic banter?). La- di-da! <br /><p>Need more neurotic New York? Try When Harry Met Sally or Moonstruck. <br /><p><br /><span style="color:#ff99ff;"><em>Sex and the City: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFEoqViO419JvHsGWg72tG6xKR2l-sq5WD1qNkpUGftEWFZ1imbaMY537z3NIkqR81e7bYEV9lUaXwGWOsK98nzaPmPUTW9FxfwUlpFe7KIH-rf3jIRsc6lee3T_p-NTJ6fjjFw/s1600/sexandthecity.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607748937838198194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFEoqViO419JvHsGWg72tG6xKR2l-sq5WD1qNkpUGftEWFZ1imbaMY537z3NIkqR81e7bYEV9lUaXwGWOsK98nzaPmPUTW9FxfwUlpFe7KIH-rf3jIRsc6lee3T_p-NTJ6fjjFw/s200/sexandthecity.jpg" /></a><br /></em></span>Woody Allen used to own New York but in the 21st century, the city belongs to the girls! New York is as much a character in Sex and the City as Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha. Continuing on from the ending of the television series, Carrie’s finally going to marry Mr. Big….or is she?? Heartbreak and trouble swirls around the girls but they are always there for each other….dressed in designer clothes and Jimmy Choo shoes!! <br /><p>For more girls and the city check out: Breakfast at Tiffany’s or The Devil Wears Prada. <br /><p><span style="color:#000099;"><strong><em>Saturday Night Fever:</em></strong></span><br />♫ Well you can tell by the way he uses his walk, he’s a woman's man no time to talk! ♫<br /><span style="color:#006600;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4KrTtRM3qZNEgQNoV1Ru0nb3nhXzohdbdqugNYCY9U8cpvMowNiNKAczc85kzXfxezKpR3O11iJj8u5t6xFbuebC5N0b2ehSyd9trRGv9guPfmr0z6eeX-eBthb_hl6kEhQETA/s1600/johntravolta.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607749230598008674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4KrTtRM3qZNEgQNoV1Ru0nb3nhXzohdbdqugNYCY9U8cpvMowNiNKAczc85kzXfxezKpR3O11iJj8u5t6xFbuebC5N0b2ehSyd9trRGv9guPfmr0z6eeX-eBthb_hl6kEhQETA/s200/johntravolta.jpg" /></a>John Travolta</span> plays a disco dancing miva (male diva) is this 70’s classic. Nineteen-year-old Brooklyn native Tony Manero (Travolta) lives for Saturday nights at the local disco. In the disco he is king of the roost but in the light of day, he’s real life isn’t quite so great; dead-end job and a priest brother who is the apple of his parents eye. Tony meets Stephanie who has higher aspirations in life and through dance inspires Tony to look beyond Brooklyn and his “Saturday Night” claim to fame. Is this film dated? Sure, but for those that lived through the 70’s it is a welcome blast from the past. (Not to mention for the continually mystifying resurgence of BeeGee fans). <br /><p>Musical New York: West Side Story, The Producers and that great scene on the huge piano in Big <br /><p><em><span style="color:#330033;"><strong>Taxi Driver:</strong></span> </em><br />You talkin’ to ME??? Yeah, I know I used this to open this blog posting but it bears repeating. Other than <span style="color:#006600;">Woody Allen</span>, the director that is most associated with New York is <span style="color:#006600;">Martin Scorsese<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk25esPtW5e7LAY8dqlqTeoaIlS82-PJJDSJeDmhWPJ2AC5n7mt8scJhCEdA9Fcu76F8ItMNJAZ1UXjWxKJBowzkObV44cObwNmN21g5X1unrpycTzrCN14Y9RIfLI8UyCzeEpw/s1600/taxi-driver.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607749437088673506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk25esPtW5e7LAY8dqlqTeoaIlS82-PJJDSJeDmhWPJ2AC5n7mt8scJhCEdA9Fcu76F8ItMNJAZ1UXjWxKJBowzkObV44cObwNmN21g5X1unrpycTzrCN14Y9RIfLI8UyCzeEpw/s200/taxi-driver.jpg" /></a></span> (director of Taxi Driver). The gritty reality of New York comes in the form of Travis Bickle (<span style="color:#006600;">Robert DeNiro</span>), an ex-Marine and Vietnam War veteran living in the City. By night he drives his cab around “the City” and by day he deals with his obsessions. The obsessions come mainly in the form of two women, Betsy (<span style="color:#006600;">Cybil Shepard</span>) and Iris (<span style="color:#006600;">Jodie Foster</span>). Bickle’s has a strong (over the top) sense of what is right and wrong with humanity and has made it his goal to make the world a better place. Well, a better place in the mind of Travis….to everyone else…a nightmare! <br /><p><br />More New York grit: Gangs of New York, Mean Streets (two Scorsese flicks) and Serpico. <br /><p>With any luck, you too can visit the Big Apple, the City So Nice, They Named It Twice (NY, NY), the City that Never Sleeps, Gotham City (or whatever moniker you use). But if not in person, the City is always available to you at the movies! <br /><p></p>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-54253107557036323322011-03-17T14:44:00.000-07:002011-03-18T08:28:45.515-07:00Watchin’ of the Green!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8Xel4hoeaIe9CGi6TduXATvPRU7KNoezj4sj8iz-PSR35PbGNen-5Cco6CnG2fxq6aXeFVb1dL_n-k-nhsBL9srSXnuhB2o35PSsCYxglT2iMFsd4apit8TKN0M59xd8Mg41fA/s1600/st-patricks-day.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 121px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585171638785911106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8Xel4hoeaIe9CGi6TduXATvPRU7KNoezj4sj8iz-PSR35PbGNen-5Cco6CnG2fxq6aXeFVb1dL_n-k-nhsBL9srSXnuhB2o35PSsCYxglT2iMFsd4apit8TKN0M59xd8Mg41fA/s200/st-patricks-day.jpg" /></a>Today is the day that despite actual nationality, everyone becomes Irish. I happen to be about a quarter Irish but every March the blarney kicks in and I become a full blooded Irish woman! When I was in high school they sold green bagels and cream cheese to mark the day. Later in my college years I moved on to green beer but now as a responsible librarian I turn to other ways to celebrate the day (okay…sometimes I do revert to green beer). These very Irish films can give you the Irish spirit but help you keep your St. Patrick’s Day safe and sane.<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><em>Intermission (DVD)</em></strong></span><br />I saw this film years ago at the Toronto film festival. It has a definite dark edge to it but like <span style="color:#33ff33;">Pulp <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAIQXpvm_oU8d2QCOuji9mNWWZsrHBK_uB7UrSEoG-RJBukgtFldo7HMPMZEP5RIZ5qUaPd7y3R-1HTiKpZnEYjO8EFO9nWIEE8rn-eRGsKxxHWPX4qCLaGsEHPOzUBObY8fltg/s1600/intermission.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 127px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585169356588488674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAIQXpvm_oU8d2QCOuji9mNWWZsrHBK_uB7UrSEoG-RJBukgtFldo7HMPMZEP5RIZ5qUaPd7y3R-1HTiKpZnEYjO8EFO9nWIEE8rn-eRGsKxxHWPX4qCLaGsEHPOzUBObY8fltg/s200/intermission.jpg" /></a>Fiction</span>, it has scenes that are inappropriately funny. I found myself laughing at things that were just wrong. The setting is working-class Dublin but it is hard to describe the plotline as there are a dozen major characters whose lives intersect in romance, crime and farce. John (<span style="color:#33ff33;">Cillian Murphy</span>), Lehiff (<span style="color:#33ff33;">Colin Farrell</span>) and Oscar (<span style="color:#33ff33;">David Wilmot</span>) are mates who continue to make bad decisions regarding love and life. <span style="color:#33ff33;">Colm Meaney</span> plays Jerry Lynch , who has watched too many cop reality shows and is convinced that he would make a much better reality star. Bring in a whole slew of brown sauce references and you have a dark, dark comedy that is often unsettling…but it's also touching and startlingly original.<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><em>Crying Game (DVD)<br /></em></strong></span>Alright…who doesn’t know “the secret” of the Crying Game?? I remember seeing this when it first came out and how keeping “the secret” was as important as not giving away the ending of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc26OnLFt8tR0YKDWudaq0ocy1uzBMewRA62qZV_DRxm-gaPD_mW2T5HYFtP8hd0ZaPOXRe1b09v3QAzzXfbAS7-mrV2HsMI8POywbCkQD5CNyei0V6gLaMhW7VYkKJFUyqJZw8g/s1600/the+crying+game.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585169616558802658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc26OnLFt8tR0YKDWudaq0ocy1uzBMewRA62qZV_DRxm-gaPD_mW2T5HYFtP8hd0ZaPOXRe1b09v3QAzzXfbAS7-mrV2HsMI8POywbCkQD5CNyei0V6gLaMhW7VYkKJFUyqJZw8g/s200/the+crying+game.jpg" /></a>the <span style="color:#33cc00;">Sixth Sense</span> (<span style="color:#33cc00;">Bruce W</span><span style="color:#33cc00;">illis </span>is really dead….oops!). The always excellent <span style="color:#33cc00;">Stephen Re</span><span style="color:#33cc00;">a </span>plays Fergus, an Irish Republican Army volunteer who develops an unlikely friendship with Jody (the also always amazing <span style="color:#33cc00;">Forest Whitaker</span>), a kidnapped British soldier lured into an IRA trap. When things go terribly wrong, Fergus heads to London to look up Jody’s girlfriend, Dil. Another unlikely friendship develops and….well I guess you are just going to have to watch it, won’t you! You won’t be disappointed; this is a clever film that keeps you guessing and makes you care about the journey of the characters. (Did I mention that<span style="color:#33cc00;"> Bruce Willis</span> is really dead in the <span style="color:#33cc00;">Sixth Sense</span>?)<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><em>Waking Ned Devine (DVD)</em></strong></span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>In the remote Irish village of Tullymore, someone is holding a winning lottery ticket worth several million in the National Lottery. The good thing is that this is a life changing sum of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUO8bE0vTjv5NngdoAQHmg8ZEt8xNzaqG2sS4khZLalHON85eHdHdk1qCPhGpnHVzVfQwYTp1t5NAVi9uqke6UsJZireqR1aFAO05caLKc1AG_kHpoDrYrWkqU9NvvaatSUe_Ksg/s1600/wakingneddevine.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 153px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585170151155071298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUO8bE0vTjv5NngdoAQHmg8ZEt8xNzaqG2sS4khZLalHON85eHdHdk1qCPhGpnHVzVfQwYTp1t5NAVi9uqke6UsJZireqR1aFAO05caLKc1AG_kHpoDrYrWkqU9NvvaatSUe_Ksg/s200/wakingneddevine.jpg" /></a>money, the bad is that ticket holder, Ned Devine, dropped dead from shock when he learned of his good fortune. No, I am not giving the big surprise away (<span style="color:#009900;">Bruce Willis</span>….) as this happens in the beginning of the film. When his mates Jackie O'Shea (<span style="color:#009900;">Ian Bannen</span>) and Michael O'Sullivan (<span style="color:#009900;">David Kelly</span>) come to call on him, they find him dead, still clutching the winning ticket. They concoct a crazy scheme involving someone posing as Ned to fool a representative from the Lottery commission who comes to verify the winner. Laughs, madness and some nudity that you won’t soon forget ensues…it is a story of greed and conniving but somehow, when the Irish do it, it seems charming and quirky; a tale to be told by a fire with a pint in hand (preferably green beer).<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><em>Once (DVD)<br /></em></strong></span>Irish boy musician meets Czech girl musician in Dublin and they go on to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQ57HPkcqTgLagMucoXhJ9WUmSf9yY2C7G1fgAJvE-qDSEERJNJpHEVautCFEp2ONEHBAVRAVAGBdXS0WVug_pzK5EF0U2AMvqX7Xu-OMHdK4xCCh3nWo6tldSYqfJPHP3DSIFQ/s1600/once.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 118px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 93px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585170475991034098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQ57HPkcqTgLagMucoXhJ9WUmSf9yY2C7G1fgAJvE-qDSEERJNJpHEVautCFEp2ONEHBAVRAVAGBdXS0WVug_pzK5EF0U2AMvqX7Xu-OMHdK4xCCh3nWo6tldSYqfJPHP3DSIFQ/s200/once.jpg" /></a>win an Academy Award. Ahhhhh, ain’t love grand? <span style="color:#009900;">Once</span> is a modern day musical about the dreams of a Dublin street musician to become a success and the Czech girl that inspires him. Or I guess I should say they inspire each other as they sing their way around the mean streets of Dublin. After spending time with this romance of a film and its original music, it is easy to see why it was winner of the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance (2007) and why its song, <span style="color:#009900;">"Falling Slowly"</span> went on to win the <span style="color:#009900;">Academy Award for Best Original Song</span> (2008).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrjHvBI2oOncA63shqV4VmiLrAfZajiNH24Zgm0CxvWMeAEwyfN2sTKjHPm5L06hjZD2MvimlVknz0kP5j6QamMicYG3ynkJUMtZmpkYygCqBOu29QHzelgc6iFFDXNMz-aHzOQ/s1600/greenbeer.jpg"></a><br />So enjoy the day that makes it easy to be green or at least easy to be wearin’ the green! Instead of green beer or Irish whiskey, try these films to fill yourself with Irish spirit!</div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">Erin Go Bragh!</span> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-70524683906763512992011-03-03T16:46:00.000-08:002011-03-03T16:49:39.675-08:00And the winner is....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cEInIT08KMBAfU45FOoavKeXHj7T4EVcFX6XBEjGH2SzWaMcaz18PSoBg5K5P_j2yHA4fODkmc89DKGWJJMcwGAIH1SBfREc4ECjUBpFGOnD_wWNW35wjxf77ao7UMgyXTtX5Q/s1600/celebrate.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 96px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580020343318125762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cEInIT08KMBAfU45FOoavKeXHj7T4EVcFX6XBEjGH2SzWaMcaz18PSoBg5K5P_j2yHA4fODkmc89DKGWJJMcwGAIH1SBfREc4ECjUBpFGOnD_wWNW35wjxf77ao7UMgyXTtX5Q/s200/celebrate.jpg" /></a><br />....for anyone who is interested....although I didn't do as well on the technical awards at the Oscars this year, I did get all the majors awards. But even better...I beat my friend...who says there's no free lunch (well...dinner!)Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-13827293634686052772011-02-12T15:04:00.000-08:002011-02-12T15:44:23.387-08:00The votes are in!Although Academy members have until February 22nd to get their votes in, I have already made my picks for this year’s Oscars. I have been betting with a friend from high school for many, many years now (I won’t admit how many!) and last night was our annual “Oscar dinner”. I am usually pretty confident with my choices but this year it could go the way of the King’s Speech or the way of the Social Network. Either direction is possible! My bets were heavily King’s Speech; my friends were the Social Network. We will have to wait until February 27th to see who has chosen most wisely this year.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrc6JUm8PX0EwRBbLP1jMqjXqcS-mkw8LRNEEuCCvb6Baj9BuIgt9RuOZxUhLIkgSl7e9h3d8iG_PSb2kNxACCR8O0j2-xwh9el0IUEsDVKgFkkvYqZ2C-I8xSBDOML-yKICAeQ/s1600/oscars4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572943224054331314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrc6JUm8PX0EwRBbLP1jMqjXqcS-mkw8LRNEEuCCvb6Baj9BuIgt9RuOZxUhLIkgSl7e9h3d8iG_PSb2kNxACCR8O0j2-xwh9el0IUEsDVKgFkkvYqZ2C-I8xSBDOML-yKICAeQ/s200/oscars4.jpg" /></a><br />My Oscar choices:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Best Film: King’s Speech<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">Actor: Colin Firth<br /></span><span style="color:#000099;">Actress: Natalie Portman<br /></span>Supporting Actor: Christian Bale<br /><span style="color:#000099;">Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo<br /></span>Original Screenplay: King’s Speech (Inception won the WGA award and could easily take this one). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTclmxSaqnR8yyfKSe8JufnlAObaBairYV2jwA-YtBFLS_bIDC0aMPN5KLUqKoI_UvjGaopiriCBV0I10f3cjK5zwG1gc36y1g-Hp1r6BZ5VGOMIpsnxjqrXKiITybde9kOD-vg/s1600/inception.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 166px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572945487715473458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTclmxSaqnR8yyfKSe8JufnlAObaBairYV2jwA-YtBFLS_bIDC0aMPN5KLUqKoI_UvjGaopiriCBV0I10f3cjK5zwG1gc36y1g-Hp1r6BZ5VGOMIpsnxjqrXKiITybde9kOD-vg/s200/inception.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Adapted Screenplay: Social Network<br /></span>Directing: King’s Speech<br /><span style="color:#000099;">Art Direction: King’s Speech<br /></span>Cinematography: True Grit<br /><span style="color:#000099;">Costume: King’s Speech<br /></span>Editing: King’s Speech<br /><span style="color:#000099;">Make-Up: Wolfman<br /></span>Original Score: Social Network<br /><span style="color:#000099;">Original Song: Coming Home (Country Strong) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoMPDoBjYux4xob0e9Q171fmBoAHWqFQ1UDMG2DUt2C0J2W8i0mOSoWKy5vmfthJKLwxkQiDq7QCgqLEOEr83bIr-zvfG-kVyoRzzZaOtP6DNT8d7VBxFdqQfwBd5kjYL1lZ4_Q/s1600/socialnetwork.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 123px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572952042993438530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoMPDoBjYux4xob0e9Q171fmBoAHWqFQ1UDMG2DUt2C0J2W8i0mOSoWKy5vmfthJKLwxkQiDq7QCgqLEOEr83bIr-zvfG-kVyoRzzZaOtP6DNT8d7VBxFdqQfwBd5kjYL1lZ4_Q/s200/socialnetwork.jpg" /></a><br /></span>Sound Editing: Inception<br /><span style="color:#000099;">Sound Mixing: Inception<br /></span>Visual Effects: Inception<br /><span style="color:#000099;">Animated Film: Toy Story 3<br /></span>Documentary: Exit Through the Gift Shop<br /><span style="color:#000099;">Foreign Language: Biutiful<br /><br /></span>Fortunately, many of the Oscar nominated films are still in the theaters so you can experience them on the big screen. However, if you miss them, many <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVon1K3hEWI35DxlUXB7GLGNcKWf7OdZRr3CQRyDRF-TAY-xOU6gRqO73nXRAgsrdONUzvS92AV4nCbmauI9mTa-FGNmBxb1RnydJVgkjXygCoOvmUyjFdUhWQGabWX1DC98LXZA/s1600/kingsspeech.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 103px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 135px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572947154020114034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVon1K3hEWI35DxlUXB7GLGNcKWf7OdZRr3CQRyDRF-TAY-xOU6gRqO73nXRAgsrdONUzvS92AV4nCbmauI9mTa-FGNmBxb1RnydJVgkjXygCoOvmUyjFdUhWQGabWX1DC98LXZA/s200/kingsspeech.jpg" /></a>are coming out on DVD in the coming months:<br /><span style="color:#663333;">127 Hours:</span> March 1<br /><span style="color:#663333;">Black Swan:</span> March 29<br /><span style="color:#663333;">Tangled:</span> March 29<br /><span style="color:#663333;">The Fighter</span>: March 15<br /><span style="color:#663333;">Hereafter:</span> March 15<br /><span style="color:#663333;">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part one:</span> April 15<br /><span style="color:#663333;">King’s Speech:</span> April 19<br /><span style="color:#663333;">Rabbit Hole:</span> April 19th <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs1t6nToFv0iSh8KtJddcwx58VMXwjnaeTR5Gbb1YLDwNWFlLQUjbTHBWZJmLb52sBTI-1r_L3m992zMcWU4lg3EMg8ucD7T9y8U1XP5re67X4W0etrwQM3j1SaHDGwKujOrEhQ/s1600/the+fighter.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 101px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572951751984267874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs1t6nToFv0iSh8KtJddcwx58VMXwjnaeTR5Gbb1YLDwNWFlLQUjbTHBWZJmLb52sBTI-1r_L3m992zMcWU4lg3EMg8ucD7T9y8U1XP5re67X4W0etrwQM3j1SaHDGwKujOrEhQ/s200/the+fighter.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Oscar nominated films that are already available at HBPL:<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Social Network<br />Inception<br />Toy Story 3<br />Exit Through the Gift Shop<br />Alice in Wonderland<br />How to Train your Dragon<br />Salt<br />Restrepo (currently on order) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghreIVUJkgRTCipYLPPwZFVUvYUGt6mo4Hieptb0ZpF7dQSru2xnVrBzwY4cFgpPkg2UI7S8eaOTzpu2AGBzGLOy2qTk4Wi07NNgPIunx-HbJrHuW3FOIqI2IIcJTEokRUe5l50Q/s1600/blackswan.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 99px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572948743388296370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghreIVUJkgRTCipYLPPwZFVUvYUGt6mo4Hieptb0ZpF7dQSru2xnVrBzwY4cFgpPkg2UI7S8eaOTzpu2AGBzGLOy2qTk4Wi07NNgPIunx-HbJrHuW3FOIqI2IIcJTEokRUe5l50Q/s200/blackswan.jpg" /></a><br />The Kids are Alright<br />Winter’s Bone<br />The Town<br />Animal Kingdom<br /><br /></span>The glitz and the glamour are just a few weeks away so get your ballots, get your friends, get your snacks organized and that champagne on ice! Hooray for Hollywood!Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-78014325496183285232010-12-18T13:45:00.000-08:002010-12-18T14:09:21.054-08:00Tis the season!<span style="color:#006600;">Yes ‘tis the season!</span> Everyone getting dressed up in their finest, going to parties, reveling in the excitement of each new event! Of course I am talking about the onset of the film award season! <span style="color:#cc9933;">The National Board of Review, Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Golden Globes, New York Film Critics and Los Angeles Film Critics</span> have recently announced their picks for the best of 2010. The Golden Globes made some very interesting nominations…The Tourist for Best Musical or <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-0QkHgnDNx1I9a2igXgMYWx8inJSJmFS_Y5gTK1nS4Z0nhfNBh7PPpet1r8-64Kg3S6hiWr5CFqErLFXnDdlKmK8fD5UW8VZ6JM2ciBeG4cpLR5f7c80PPQCNiWtPClSm8QPEg/s1600/127hours.jpg"></a>Comedy?? I believe it is neither, but what do I know……so what films seem to be at the forefront of the best of 2010 (and probably front runners for the big O – Oscar not Oprah):<br /><br /><em><strong>The top two:<br /></strong></em><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>The Social Network:</strong></span><br />(current DVD release date: Jan 11, 2011, although films that get heavily nominated often delay their release date until after the Oscars)<br /><span style="color:#993399;">Winner Best Film:</span> New York Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics, National Board of Review; <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylWb4F6OCFPLfynPv7upY8pMVVSdj9fHDuPd7nHzx8Om6wUAtmAj54ve7klKL0fW3bhTQpMqc7lXjTN7RL3fNjYn9yYT8UfL4atIjI7kVB1CPDSgusYYNHD0XMCyrTdXHzXO48g/s1600/socialnetwork.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 157px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552142458638923618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylWb4F6OCFPLfynPv7upY8pMVVSdj9fHDuPd7nHzx8Om6wUAtmAj54ve7klKL0fW3bhTQpMqc7lXjTN7RL3fNjYn9yYT8UfL4atIjI7kVB1CPDSgusYYNHD0XMCyrTdXHzXO48g/s320/socialnetwork.jpg" /></a><span style="color:#993399;">Nominated for Best Film:</span> Golden Globes and Best Cast for the SAG’s.<br />National Board of Review named <span style="color:#000099;">Jesse Eisenberg</span> as the Best Actor of 2010 and he is nominated for a SAG award.<br />Director, <span style="color:#000099;">David Fincher</span> <span style="color:#993399;">won Best Director</span> from the New York Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics, National Board of Review and is nominated for a Golden Globe. (The Directors Guild Awards will be announced on Saturday, January 29, 2011. I am sure he will get a nomination!)<br /><br />Freaks and geeks and Oscar buzz. The Social Network follows <span style="color:#000099;">Mark Zuckerberg</span> (played in a delightfully juvenile way by Jesse Eisenberg) in the development of Facebook. As the tagline says, “You don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies”. Watching socially inept twenty-somethings getting back at each other has never been so fun (or disturbing). (In case you can’t tell…I really liked this film!)<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>The King’s Speech:<br /></strong></span><span style="color:#993399;">Nominated for Best Film:</span> Golden Globes<br /><span style="color:#993399;">Awarded Best Actor</span> – <span style="color:#000099;">Colin Firth</span>: New York Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics; Nominated for Golden Globe and SAG award<br /><br />Well, they had me at <span style="color:#000099;">Colin Firth</span>. Come on girls, can I have an “oh yeah”. Ever since he can out of that lake in Pride and Prejudice, Mr. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49mrblcuUKnxQ2i3nbMJVXYd46CdF8bOyQyHkPygjDZW9orEeZqxEFFrSvBHjrVWBquY1vVHWKZMm6l_d9MAWTPDoYTBruwjey1qpcKWG81I4DH8GPMx09Rd-bDIra8Rq3XaDpA/s1600/colinfirthpandp.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552143032309503666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49mrblcuUKnxQ2i3nbMJVXYd46CdF8bOyQyHkPygjDZW9orEeZqxEFFrSvBHjrVWBquY1vVHWKZMm6l_d9MAWTPDoYTBruwjey1qpcKWG81I4DH8GPMx09Rd-bDIra8Rq3XaDpA/s320/colinfirthpandp.jpg" /></a>Firth has had a loyal female following. What’s nice is that he can act as well. Last year he came close to getting his first Oscar for “A Single Man” and I would think that he has a very good chance of winning this year for “The King’s Speech”. The film follows the story of <span style="color:#000099;">King George VI</span> of Britain (<span style="color:#000099;">Queen Elizabeth II</span>’s father), who assumes the throne after his brother George abdicates to marry Mrs. Simpson. Unfortunately, the new king has a dreadful stutter and is not exactly and inspirational speaker to move the masses as WWII takes over Europe. In steps <span style="color:#000099;">Geoffrey Rush</span> as a therapist with unorthodox methods. Their hilarious and heartfelt interactions form the heart of this film as the King changes from a stuttering introvert to the leader of a nation.<br /><br />Other top runners:<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>The Kids are Alright:</strong></span> (currently available on DVD at HBPL) (Awarded<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZM7FuOe6J0qObPS9Wcu8hOz-ArP0CChhV3pVXjJ4YacarGEVPdQXXYHz4zUhMO68SezWDZUzb_XgrzJ3I9UkDHwCIX0HjR7ltDmE_385t1occiTyhhynzoc5B__xhPzg_blLVTg/s1600/kidsalright.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 167px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552144678963956146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZM7FuOe6J0qObPS9Wcu8hOz-ArP0CChhV3pVXjJ4YacarGEVPdQXXYHz4zUhMO68SezWDZUzb_XgrzJ3I9UkDHwCIX0HjR7ltDmE_385t1occiTyhhynzoc5B__xhPzg_blLVTg/s320/kidsalright.jpg" /></a> New York Film Critics Best Actress to<span style="color:#000099;"> Annette Bening</span> and Best Supporting Actor to<span style="color:#000099;"> Mark Ruffalo</span>. Bening is also nominated for Best Actress SAG and Golden Globes; Ruffalo a SAG. The film is nominated for a Golden Globe.)<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Fighter:</span></strong> (SAG and Golden Globe nominations for <span style="color:#000099;">Mark Wahlberg, Melissa Leo, Christian Bale and Amy Adams</span>. <span style="color:#000099;">Melissa Leo</span> was awarded Best Supporting Actress from the New York Film Critics and <span style="color:#000099;">Christian Bale</span> won Best Supporting Actor from the National Board of Review. The film is nominated for a Golden Globe.) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDpTOZ99mAy5ACGqF-cRuJpF8_d6PFQxY5Jbi6xH6YIMGqFp22EUgs7Rw-1EZ9tPOXl-Vvb_CKLcah4xvPWkHLH8yDWA0aNtHUe_64BrLl9GSZ3GJE3ke2o1pHf7_LdR7Th7_jQ/s1600/127hours.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 148px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 77px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552145427421803762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDpTOZ99mAy5ACGqF-cRuJpF8_d6PFQxY5Jbi6xH6YIMGqFp22EUgs7Rw-1EZ9tPOXl-Vvb_CKLcah4xvPWkHLH8yDWA0aNtHUe_64BrLl9GSZ3GJE3ke2o1pHf7_LdR7Th7_jQ/s320/127hours.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>127 Hours:</strong></span> (Based on the book, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place by <span style="color:#000099;">Aron Ralston</span>; available at HBPL) (SAG and Golden Globe nominations for <span style="color:#000099;">James Franco</span>)<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Toy Story 3:</strong></span>(currently available on DVD at HBPL) (Awarded Best Animated film from Los Angeles Film Critics and National Board of Review; nominated for a Golden Globe.<br /><br />I hope your <span style="color:#006600;">Christmas</span> (and/or holiday)obligations don’t get in the way of seeing all the nominated films this year!<br />Have a wonderful celebration season (no matter what you choose to celebrate!)<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Let the games begin!</span>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-58024622446361113262010-11-20T12:25:00.000-08:002010-11-20T14:50:26.534-08:00The sun will come out tomorrow.....Try as I may, it has been difficult to maintain my normal one to two posts a month. As you all probably know, we have had some <span style="color:#ff0000;">BIG </span>changes here at <span style="color:#ff0000;">HBPL</span>. As with services everywhere, we now have fewer staff doing the same work and everyone is taking on new responsibilities. So, my postings may be less often but I will still be maintaining this blog.<br /><br />As we head into the holiday season, many aren’t feeling so merry. When times are hard, what do you need? Do we need traditional holiday movies?? Sure but what we need even more is uplifting cinematic fare! Try these to raise your spirits:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;">The Blind Side:</span></strong> Talk about a rags to riches story! The film is based on the life of Michael<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveVHSt6WfdPr8xf_GoBu11Us43iBufBkYPTAOClHyFoZNdfCgIB0TOMRkuDMsXSFxpvSwCPYlEQMRuXYy_CwCp9yiJKHfYmgbwhMAeTjc1FB53Dk3jgHd-gvfZSOQOROjbtzpXA/s1600/blindside.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 163px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541749266704691394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveVHSt6WfdPr8xf_GoBu11Us43iBufBkYPTAOClHyFoZNdfCgIB0TOMRkuDMsXSFxpvSwCPYlEQMRuXYy_CwCp9yiJKHfYmgbwhMAeTjc1FB53Dk3jgHd-gvfZSOQOROjbtzpXA/s320/blindside.jpg" /></a> Other, an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens (a pro football team for those that don’t know!). As a young, homeless black man, Other was taken in by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy and given a chance at life in a loving, supportive environment. The Tuohy’s are as white and southern as they come. This could have been a stereotypical film that makes you wince but instead it is a heartfelt, inspirational film with an Oscar winning performance by <span style="color:#663366;">Sandra Bullock</span> (Leigh Anne).<br /><br />Need more sport films to inspire you? Try <span style="color:#000099;"><em>Hoosiers</em> (basketball and my all-time favorite for best sports film ever!), <em>Cinderella Man</em> (boxing), <em>Rudy</em> (football), <em>Miracle</em> (hockey) or <em>The Rookie</em> (baseball).<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Places in the Heart:</strong></span> We like her! We really, really like her! I bet <span style="color:#663366;">Sally Fields</span> rues the day she made that statement to the world when accepting her Best <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94ny-1j9XbzmHnvSzyw9C69nzl2aBk9MTWibZcoSK4J_OFUjKFlb1FyPGu0BQbk66VSE_HP4y3_jN5v3-NOfzOw8R_um1erkMQGzdMVsksGEeFm2lAXVJk_sql_eZgcRlaq2M-Q/s1600/placesintheheart.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 95px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541751721198170562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94ny-1j9XbzmHnvSzyw9C69nzl2aBk9MTWibZcoSK4J_OFUjKFlb1FyPGu0BQbk66VSE_HP4y3_jN5v3-NOfzOw8R_um1erkMQGzdMVsksGEeFm2lAXVJk_sql_eZgcRlaq2M-Q/s320/placesintheheart.jpg" /></a>Actress Oscar for this film. (Her first Best Actress Oscar was for Norma Rae, another uplifting performance.) But I DO like her in this heartbreaking role of a woman faced with the death of her husband and the hardship of keeping her cotton farm and life together. Her courage and tenacity is inspirational as she looks tough times in the face and stares it down; a lesson for our times. (Of course, with <span style="color:#663366;">Danny Glover, Ed Harris and John Malkovich </span>as her supporting cast....she had a lot of acting talent to support her). You go, Sister Bertrille!<br /><br />Need more inspiration by strong women? Try <span style="color:#000099;"><em>Fried Green Tomatoes</em></span> (which includes one of my favorite quotable scenes: “Face it girls, I am older and have more insurance!” and if you don’t know what that means…see the film! Tawanda!).<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Apollo 13:</span></strong> The amazing thing about this film is that I know how it ends, and yet I waited in <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJxW3aL2I8oytihZ29_rMnCzgQVWeSqSBkEJq2TRMjq07_Koqk__rHQOoMDR8Ed6ABH4YtVa48d6wOjbBmaR5uIp1EzwVph5kUwECeRTz6BBJ0iTGGJwWLEvd96g5b1aX7isJkg/s1600/apollo13.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 89px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541765912297130002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJxW3aL2I8oytihZ29_rMnCzgQVWeSqSBkEJq2TRMjq07_Koqk__rHQOoMDR8Ed6ABH4YtVa48d6wOjbBmaR5uIp1EzwVph5kUwECeRTz6BBJ0iTGGJwWLEvd96g5b1aX7isJkg/s320/apollo13.jpg" /></a>anticipation at the end of the film to learn the fate of the astronauts. I credit this anticipation to the film making skills of <span style="color:#663366;">Ron Howard. Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon</span> play the stranded Apollo astronauts who have us pulling for them every step of the way! This type of courage and ingenuity shows America at its best!<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>It’s a Wonderful Life</strong></span>: Egads, you say! What is this Christmas film doing in an uplifting movie list? Believe me….I didn’t want to include it but in my research one film just kept coming up as <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheLFiVD-YNSyx-5znEGVqDzUbde13g_95ok36ipQp-6CpZIherjVEHOvWxOycnVA9Dqoc4noMFV6P51REx0y1VyDDaH2foJB-aswtO2djnN5ImK4f7i2s0uxf9u82Euo07JhLGA/s1600/jimmystewart.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541767292928945938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheLFiVD-YNSyx-5znEGVqDzUbde13g_95ok36ipQp-6CpZIherjVEHOvWxOycnVA9Dqoc4noMFV6P51REx0y1VyDDaH2foJB-aswtO2djnN5ImK4f7i2s0uxf9u82Euo07JhLGA/s320/jimmystewart.jpg" /></a>the most inspirational and uplifting (plus, I have a secret thing for <span style="color:#663366;">Jimmy Stewart</span>…shhhh…don’t tell!). Could there possibly be someone who hasn’t seen this film? After a turn of events, George Bailey (my boy, Jimmy) decides that his family would be better off without him. An intruding angel gives him the grim truth of life for his family and friends in a George-less world. (I mean really, without George in her life, his wife would have ended up a librarian! How tragic is that…hey wait! Maybe this film isn’t as uplifting as I thought!) Regardless, the feeling of good will and community that ends the film makes up for any slights on my profession.<br /><br />So keep your chins up out there! Inspiration can come from movies, books and more often from each other. You don’t need to be a celebrity to make someone’s day!Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-86723438878102944412010-09-30T09:35:00.000-07:002010-09-30T09:58:02.155-07:00You think the economy is scary…We are coming into my favorite time of year (fall) that includes my favorite month of the year (<strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">October</span></strong>). Why do I love <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">October</span></strong>? Other than the fact that it contains my birthday and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HA6Viz7OjufolnWPQ_TSFl3_dR4wLrgMZ2iiqlspI0t9M4_1I3YegR_qZo3-3E4qPTUp1LT7VTdVNvcPUPmPu1eIghV3tQRXK8x_qUEjzw93iQgQcq6qh8rYCvPtyFQVI4W6pw/s1600/scarypumpkin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522746813038470658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 139px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HA6Viz7OjufolnWPQ_TSFl3_dR4wLrgMZ2iiqlspI0t9M4_1I3YegR_qZo3-3E4qPTUp1LT7VTdVNvcPUPmPu1eIghV3tQRXK8x_qUEjzw93iQgQcq6qh8rYCvPtyFQVI4W6pw/s320/scarypumpkin.jpg" border="0" /></a>birthdays of several awesome friends, I love it because it tends to be a crisper, cooler time of year (although this year seems to be rebelling). It is also the time for carving scary pumpkins, reading scary stories and watching scary movies. Who doesn’t love getting the popcorn, lighting a few candles, turning out the lights and getting creeped out by some celluloid ghouls??<br />Although HBPL Media does have a selection of horror/slasher type films like <em>Nightmare on Elm Street</em> and <em>Scream,</em> I have never been a huge fan of this type of horror film. I prefer creepies like these:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Night Gallery:</span></strong> After Rod Serling gave us the Twilight Zone, his next endeavor was Night Gallery. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueqlwcXB2CCD9zo0g6yCeeAItg7LCwYZpCJ4qOLjh9dkQTMO32r86yxy27tS0UaUhFF-sVgEE0yymCQks7WUQKO7uPnm_DI4rMevLN-Z64vYAA5Z7qySRcMnLpTU4M_DsD7_Cdw/s1600/serling.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522747730136737522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueqlwcXB2CCD9zo0g6yCeeAItg7LCwYZpCJ4qOLjh9dkQTMO32r86yxy27tS0UaUhFF-sVgEE0yymCQks7WUQKO7uPnm_DI4rMevLN-Z64vYAA5Z7qySRcMnLpTU4M_DsD7_Cdw/s320/serling.jpg" border="0" /></a>True to Serling form, all these episodes are truly creepy. We have recently added the complete first and second season of this classic television show. Some of my favorite episodes are:<br /><strong><span style="color:#663333;">THE CEMETERY</span></strong> A black sheep nephew (<strong><span style="color:#006600;">Roddy McDowall</span></strong>) murders his ailing uncle for the inheritance only to find some disturbing changes in the old man's painting of the family graveyard.<br /><strong><span style="color:#993300;">THE ESCAPE ROUTE</span></strong> A Nazi war criminal (<strong><span style="color:#006600;">Richard Kiley</span></strong>) finds refuge from his pursuers - and a fitting justice for his crimes - by wishing himself into a painting.<br /><span style="color:#663333;">THE CATERPILLAR</span> A bored colonial (<strong><span style="color:#006600;">Laurence Harvey</span></strong>) on a Malaysian plantation finds himself the victim of a gruesome assassination plot he had planned for someone else.<br /><strong><span style="color:#663300;">DELIVERIES IN THE REAR</span></strong> A ghastly shocker about a surgery instructor (<strong><span style="color:#006600;">Cornel Wilde</span></strong>)who is<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBsf32nPrwBivtmsagwSQtGdz5GRlPNXVDwsFfbxSiqpkIDCogWhFuKztj_JMw5WMjT58W_LBKrVt6X0DR916a4-UwqF382DS8J7f-mK5o7e6r1lMan-XjgIVvPA31s2BRzQ1rw/s1600/nightgallery.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522747038205519906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 136px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBsf32nPrwBivtmsagwSQtGdz5GRlPNXVDwsFfbxSiqpkIDCogWhFuKztj_JMw5WMjT58W_LBKrVt6X0DR916a4-UwqF382DS8J7f-mK5o7e6r1lMan-XjgIVvPA31s2BRzQ1rw/s320/nightgallery.jpg" border="0" /></a> unconcerned about the source of his cadavers.<br /><strong><span style="color:#663300;">THE SINS OF THE FATHERS</span></strong> In 19th century Wales, a devastating famine forces a young boy (<strong><span style="color:#006600;">Richard Thomas</span></strong>) to play the part of a sin-eater at a dead man's wake.<br />Watching this series is like watching a who’s who of 60’s and 70’s TV: <span style="color:#006600;">Vincent Price, Bill Bixby, Larry Hagman, Burgess Meredith, Agnes Moorehead, Raymond Massey, William Windom, Leslie Nielsen, Michele Lee, Patty Duke, Bob Crane, Jo Anne Worley</span> and the names go on and on. If you never saw this show while it was on, you now have an excellent opportunity to scare yourself all the way through October!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Nightmare Before Christmas:</span></strong> What’s this? What’s this? This is a brilliant bit of stop-motion <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5koLhOq1I789g_Po8TDPI2PHvoU54ka-31lLCOhvp7LePwidotSH2B0O9dQsuG8k0Z2IyWDI_rXQcoK-48ci1qbonIibjtqhCN17Ohq1XW0tQUKxEsuIkaanQC4pHzUoY6aHX_Q/s1600/jackskellington.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522749036011772226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 76px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 103px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5koLhOq1I789g_Po8TDPI2PHvoU54ka-31lLCOhvp7LePwidotSH2B0O9dQsuG8k0Z2IyWDI_rXQcoK-48ci1qbonIibjtqhCN17Ohq1XW0tQUKxEsuIkaanQC4pHzUoY6aHX_Q/s320/jackskellington.jpg" border="0" /></a>animation that is a holiday classic in my household. Christmas has <em>It’s a Wonderful Life</em>, Halloween has <span style="color:#ff6600;">Nightmare Before Christmas</span>. Although <span style="color:#006600;">Henry Sellick</span> directed this marvelous film, the script came from the brain of <span style="color:#006600;">Tim Burton</span>. If the plot weren’t fun enough, every inch of the screen is packed with ghoulish delights that only become more evident with multiple screenings. Jack Skellington, the bony leader of Halloweentown discovers that other holidays exist when he stumbles upon Christmastown. Convinced that he could do Christmas better than they could, he takes over the holiday with scary, creepy (musical!)results.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">The Frighteners:</span></strong> Before <em>Lord of the Rings</em>,<span style="color:#006600;"> Peter Jackson</span> directed this funny but frightening <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUN9jjOQAX-9XcNrJ9r1h7LkpOdsPSh5C6lUTKo2S1a_2lnfkxUIQlNniwKhReavkMrsmY2mRMemGIWHR1swpuYKbUz7HG41qYcbWnkyhyphenhyphennCWdN9lqwagt-qn2PykxHlVQfgbBA/s1600/frighteners.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522749910307570450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 102px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 136px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUN9jjOQAX-9XcNrJ9r1h7LkpOdsPSh5C6lUTKo2S1a_2lnfkxUIQlNniwKhReavkMrsmY2mRMemGIWHR1swpuYKbUz7HG41qYcbWnkyhyphenhyphennCWdN9lqwagt-qn2PykxHlVQfgbBA/s320/frighteners.jpg" border="0" /></a>film. I saw this when it first came out in 1996 and search it out every fall to revisit. <span style="color:#006600;">Micheal J. Fox</span> plays Frank Bannister who, after a car accident in which his wife, Debra, was killed and he was injured, develops psychic abilities allowing him to see, hear, and communicate with ghosts. Devastated by his wife’s death, he decides to leave his job as a successful architect to join forces with his new ghost friends to con people out of their money. The ghosts go into people’s homes and then they pay Frank to get rid of them. All is going well until a deceased mass murderer comes back from Hell to continue his killing spree and starts targeting people important to Frank.<br /><br />No matter what type of film gives you the willies, slasher horror, psychological horror, teen-age musicals…..it is the time of year to indulge in your darker cinematic side! Scare is in the air!!Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-81556556774703578672010-08-28T14:27:00.000-07:002010-08-28T14:45:41.677-07:00Rule Britannia!As <span style="color:#ff0000;">Samuel Johnson</span> once said: “When a man is tired of <strong>London</strong>, he is tired of life”! I couldn’t agree more! I have had the good fortune to live in <strong>London</strong> and regularly go back for a visit. In fact I am headed there once again for friends, theater and fun! Over the year’s, the British have supplied us with some “terribly delightful” cinema! (Pip pip! Jolly good!) Here are a few of my favorites starring some of Britain’s finest actresses:<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><em>Calendar Girls:</em></span> Before <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Helen Mirren</span></strong> was <em>The Queen</em> and before <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Julie Walters</span></strong> became <em>Mrs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRHtB-BV00jL_klkxm9aBHHeVOcC8ZN64bakCsqiqcS9t7FZJhLMOjEMavpNGaiHWQSWkN-H_vn4GHwxhV7pUIsBivtWGVk0jNjcMXEwwcwunm9Zte8K6a53jP4qvar0-TyEiOw/s1600/caledargirls.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 98px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510577587700381090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRHtB-BV00jL_klkxm9aBHHeVOcC8ZN64bakCsqiqcS9t7FZJhLMOjEMavpNGaiHWQSWkN-H_vn4GHwxhV7pUIsBivtWGVk0jNjcMXEwwcwunm9Zte8K6a53jP4qvar0-TyEiOw/s320/caledargirls.jpg" /></a>. Weasley</em>, they were both in a lovely little film named <span style="color:#cc33cc;"><em>Calendar Girls</em></span>. Every year, the Yorkshire County chapter of the Women's Institute, produces a calendar based around scenes of the Yorkshire dales. The funds raised are usually very meager but this year they are raising money for a hospital where one of their members husband died of leukemia. These “women of a certain age” decide that “sex sells” so decide to do the calendar in the nude. Based on true events, the calendar becomes a world wide sensation, bringing the ladies of Yorkshire not always appreciated fame and changes their lives forever. Move over <span style="color:#ff0000;">Daniel Radcliffe</span>…the continuation of Harry Potter cast nude scenes! Who's next?? I vote for <span style="color:#ff0000;">Alan Rickman</span>!<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Bend It Like Beckham:</span> Jess Bhamra (<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Parminder Nagra</strong></span>) is a teenager with <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi-YywjR2QD9Jg2IbiJH4DXFPAxBVDsWhqx2Fs2sKSKrHuJFydyP-v5ZRCB-pwua_HOlHfe4Q0N8RpEX2KZOtBPCU02odPnJQ0ACWCbFyfbD7BML5U5OJv-VQgDm29EJUctarkg/s1600/benditlikebeckham.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 97px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510578062430508994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi-YywjR2QD9Jg2IbiJH4DXFPAxBVDsWhqx2Fs2sKSKrHuJFydyP-v5ZRCB-pwua_HOlHfe4Q0N8RpEX2KZOtBPCU02odPnJQ0ACWCbFyfbD7BML5U5OJv-VQgDm29EJUctarkg/s320/benditlikebeckham.jpg" /></a>only one real passion in her life: football. She daydreams of being a great soccer star and her hero is <span style="color:#ff0000;">David Beckham</span>. Unfortunately, she is the daughter of orthodox Sikh parents who are more interested in her learning how to cook Punjabi food so that she can attract a nice Punjabi husband. If you don’t know the name Parminder Nagra, you probably know the face. From 2003-2009 she played <em>Dr. Neela Rasgotra</em> on the TV show E.R. And if you don’t know her you will definitely know her co-star. None other than <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Keira Knightley</span></strong> joins Parminder as another football loving young lady who has aspirations of playing in the Women's United Soccer Association professional league in the United States. ♫Yo ho Yo ho a football star is she♫!<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Iris:</span> The true story of the lifelong romance between novelist <span style="color:#ff0000;">Iris Murdoch</span> and her husband <span style="color:#ff0000;">John <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeadePiPu1E1TMzk9i2V9qrsbBmX-_GwXD57Q9p1Bj1nzELlYLUHUR3uDD4x9PgRyDlk6s18cUflMtPmshDc39XegEAkjGcnheR3DZ3JJRoJNbw_IuBbPYVRD_YUs5aDlDXNzDkg/s1600/iris.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 128px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 56px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510578477193480114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeadePiPu1E1TMzk9i2V9qrsbBmX-_GwXD57Q9p1Bj1nzELlYLUHUR3uDD4x9PgRyDlk6s18cUflMtPmshDc39XegEAkjGcnheR3DZ3JJRoJNbw_IuBbPYVRD_YUs5aDlDXNzDkg/s320/iris.jpg" /></a>Bayley</span> (<strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Jim Broadbent</span></strong>; another gem brought to us by the British Isles!), from their student days through her descent into the dark confusion of Alzheimer's. The older Iris is played by the ever-fabulous <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Judi Dench</span></strong> while her younger counterpart is <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Kate Winslet</strong></span>. Two of England’s finest ladies in one film!<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Remains of the Day:</span> Emma, Emma, Emma! Really girl, what are you thinking falling for that <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0tsIY0upqnJioZsQpG9oMJa-ikBapjO8FfkkfUjdNuPMN6jLaIhBGTjNNyrtLSTvF9aIjI3iDUeyBNKes-Iu629yOdgcj_DXZmeaPq2A2LKZPRxFpAslSMlzQLQmg4EjAez2qQ/s1600/remainsoftheday.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 123px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510579295712578082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0tsIY0upqnJioZsQpG9oMJa-ikBapjO8FfkkfUjdNuPMN6jLaIhBGTjNNyrtLSTvF9aIjI3iDUeyBNKes-Iu629yOdgcj_DXZmeaPq2A2LKZPRxFpAslSMlzQLQmg4EjAez2qQ/s320/remainsoftheday.jpg" /></a>stodgy old butler!? Well, I guess because it’s <span style="color:#ff0000;">Anthony Hopkins</span>, I can (in a way) understand it. <em>The Remains of the Day</em> is based on the Booker Prize novel by <span style="color:#ff0000;">Kazuo Ishiguro</span>. The film is a <span style="color:#ff0000;">Merchant/Ivory</span> period piece that tells the tale of a rule bound head butler whose life is all about manners and decorum. Enter a new housekeeper (<strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Emma Thompson</span></strong>) that disrupts the order of his world by falling in love with him. Being unable to show his feelings combined with the growing uneasiness with his master's cultivation of ties with the Nazis, puts a tear in the butler’s self-imposed world.<br /><br />Settle in with a nice cuppa and enjoy one of these gems from across the pond. (All available on DVD from the HBPL Media Department)<br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Cheers!</span>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-7266470078576620002010-07-30T15:18:00.000-07:002010-07-30T15:39:19.252-07:00Happy Birthday Christopher!<strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Christopher Nolan</span></strong> was born in London on this day, forty years ago. Happy <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhN44IUA9UhwfkHOLMkaIAMajg8ZJozkcrzdmUZNlue6yp6Jrd1UNRHWPYLQJFsNtx_eAfEdx-bKlGZC-P0mmNE5hpGYy-r3mYvNNV1yGf1RmAsmKApnrGH-09QID-XfYsDzuBvg/s1600/birthday-candles.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 123px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828386898857250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhN44IUA9UhwfkHOLMkaIAMajg8ZJozkcrzdmUZNlue6yp6Jrd1UNRHWPYLQJFsNtx_eAfEdx-bKlGZC-P0mmNE5hpGYy-r3mYvNNV1yGf1RmAsmKApnrGH-09QID-XfYsDzuBvg/s320/birthday-candles.jpg" /></a>40th b-day to Christopher! At the ripe old age of seven, he was making super 8mm films<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2y14B7-LME2TS2t40QflBbwp-OL1HUPqwbPfFKRG5BxR1-yQZGWMYvFjfBqzqp69dY4rAzZiAsvfRoZuy-tJYbLNHVEunQ3E_Vmu1XAnmhCR6md3ulCTFHZqmU9kt6Ioxd36vew/s1600/christopher+nolan.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 92px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 116px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828854004204690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2y14B7-LME2TS2t40QflBbwp-OL1HUPqwbPfFKRG5BxR1-yQZGWMYvFjfBqzqp69dY4rAzZiAsvfRoZuy-tJYbLNHVEunQ3E_Vmu1XAnmhCR6md3ulCTFHZqmU9kt6Ioxd36vew/s320/christopher+nolan.jpg" /></a> using his action figures as his stars. He graduated into 16mm films when he attended University College London, studying English Literature. In 1996, one of his short films was screened at the Cambridge Film Festival and that, as they say, was that! His career seemed to progress rather nicely from that point on. Of course he has been in the news a bit lately due to the release of his latest film, <span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Inception</em></span>. I haven’t seen it yet but hope to in the near future. Between the time of his Cambridge Film Festival success and the release of <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Inception</span></em>, he has made some films that are worthy of your consideration:<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Memento:</span></em></strong> <span style="color:#3333ff;">Christopher Nolan</span> was only 30 years old when he directed this amazing <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jCkiFO5gLO7kroDoyW9OZt-VuaPhexXCI5NtbD3rv2gMTnJcYzI91999dVWZT97UOrXbM8w_1gc1i8wo3RhZ2jiHL9karKmyoDBV3lYs9QkSlLC9WCQzh8who_NHrC49kUFl_A/s1600/memento.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 80px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499829132039950706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jCkiFO5gLO7kroDoyW9OZt-VuaPhexXCI5NtbD3rv2gMTnJcYzI91999dVWZT97UOrXbM8w_1gc1i8wo3RhZ2jiHL9karKmyoDBV3lYs9QkSlLC9WCQzh8who_NHrC49kUFl_A/s320/memento.jpg" /></a>film. Nolan based <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Memento</span></em> on a short story by his brother, <span style="color:#3333ff;">Jonathan Nolan</span>, who told it to him during a cross-country road trip. If you have seen it, you will know why the plot is difficult to describe. Basically, it is about a man who has lost his short termed memory after a violent incident where his wife is murdered. Oh and the story is told in reverse! The always brilliant <span style="color:#3333ff;">Guy Pearce</span> plays the man and although you have to pay attention during this film, it is indie film at its best and worth the brain cells!<br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Batman Begins:</span></em></strong> Finally! Someone got a Batman film right! I can’t say I was a big fan of this <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TbLXk_s5COghmBvScD8RDJfBasfqeWqu4FrnzoelArvkv9-65Ojir7tbjecBOOD_98QT5g2n6pd-NzrFjN1ym6ycvZuRra7JSNSQM8wuGtFn8Slx_i2no4GX19MInaqvaD2mnQ/s1600/batman-begins.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 106px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499829639655845842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TbLXk_s5COghmBvScD8RDJfBasfqeWqu4FrnzoelArvkv9-65Ojir7tbjecBOOD_98QT5g2n6pd-NzrFjN1ym6ycvZuRra7JSNSQM8wuGtFn8Slx_i2no4GX19MInaqvaD2mnQ/s320/batman-begins.jpg" /></a>franchise until I saw <span style="color:#3333ff;">Christopher Nolan’s</span> vision of the caped crusader. <span style="color:#3333ff;">Christian Bale</span> was an unusual but genius bit of casting as the ever brooding Bruce Wayne. Instead of the <span style="font-family:arial;color:#009900;"><em>Wham!</em></span> <em><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Pow!</span> </span></em>cartooniness of the prior films, this one is intelligent and brings to the foreground the demons that haunt and drive Bruce Wayne versus just the escapades of the caped crusader.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Prestige:</span></em></strong> Abracadabra! The brothers Nolan (Christopher and Jonathan) wrote this <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95N2URpZlEsBRyJR-dQx5yKjTdMsBeAwfJK2xcJogBSZAKkpzwCAU1EfAsr2-rtzrfedlSVjjo9S7BEcTPdt-eShq7KQX1i746TpB9sT-LaKC3RyUDVtMi738FWHmMBQ6TDSBew/s1600/theprestige.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 90px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499830103573026738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95N2URpZlEsBRyJR-dQx5yKjTdMsBeAwfJK2xcJogBSZAKkpzwCAU1EfAsr2-rtzrfedlSVjjo9S7BEcTPdt-eShq7KQX1i746TpB9sT-LaKC3RyUDVtMi738FWHmMBQ6TDSBew/s320/theprestige.jpg" /></a>screenplay for Christopher to direct. Nolan, once again, uses <span style="color:#3333ff;">Christian Bale</span> to great effect. Bale and <span style="color:#3333ff;">Hugh Jackman</span> play magicians in turn-of-the-century London who engage in a devious and deadly no-holds-barred rivalry. As the illusions get more spectacular, these bitterest of rivals rage with enough fury to want to destroy each other's personal as well as professional lives. Look for another brilliant casting turn as <span style="color:#3333ff;">David Bowie</span> shows up briefly as <span style="color:#3333ff;">Nikola Tesla.</span><br /><br />All of these films are available on DVD in the HBPL Media department. So if you want to celebrate Nolan’s birthday tonight, get some cake, get some ice cream, get a DVD of one of his films and celebrate!Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-35103539197473943002010-07-03T12:38:00.000-07:002010-07-03T15:40:32.760-07:00Celluloid for the patriot!I was talking to some fellow library employees about their plans for the holiday weekend. Many have movies in their plans and the usual patriotic fare kept being mentioned: <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Independence Day, Born on the 4th of July, Saving Private Ryan</span></em>…all fine films to watch on the 4th. However, the ones that I found most intriguing were the not so obvious ones….the ones that made them feel proud to be Americans without being conspicuously patriotic.<br /><div><br />Musicals! How much more American can you get than watching people break into song at <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEtwdGVMX_nQAv_YWX5bYcFYFZyHWdI5u8bjdjFfr5KztFkswzj_mliM2ns7DSogaCq29Qc0OAWbDVl1wPVqwUGmVbSJFngvAJWyQMhyuYd6GREVKngfV4xjs7jpA6GPU7-H2lw/s1600/musicman.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 117px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489768272393149570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEtwdGVMX_nQAv_YWX5bYcFYFZyHWdI5u8bjdjFfr5KztFkswzj_mliM2ns7DSogaCq29Qc0OAWbDVl1wPVqwUGmVbSJFngvAJWyQMhyuYd6GREVKngfV4xjs7jpA6GPU7-H2lw/s320/musicman.jpg" /></a>measured appropriate times! My favorite Independence Day musical is a very patriotic one: <span style="color:#3333ff;"><em>1776</em></span>. What fun to watch our Founding Fathers tell bawdy jokes, watch them sing and dance, watch them flirt, watch them fight with walking sticks! Independence has never been so entertaining! But the musical that kept getting mentioned as a 4th of July favorite, without being overly patriotic, was <strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">The Music Man</span></em></strong>. Younger woman, hanging out with older man, getting his wealth when he passed away….<span style="color:#ff0000;">Anna Nicole</span>?? No! Marion the Librarian (♫He left River City the library building but he left all the books to her!♫). A story of redemption, of love and most of all, catchy tunes and 76 trombones!</div><div><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">Jaws</span></em></strong>: When a colleague mentioned that he/she watched this every 4th of July for <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEQ2nExRPPucM2O2j26ouCKOJNFMCgzXuL9hsCpyrUcZWZlXFrny8cml-fXjzYZjZzinMyHNVc-aripL7yzUyywBIRuj68GgMxRwbGq3wQbUxP74zPsbnVDn8z7PEWAF7pM23hA/s1600/jaws.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 96px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 80px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489768818151055762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEQ2nExRPPucM2O2j26ouCKOJNFMCgzXuL9hsCpyrUcZWZlXFrny8cml-fXjzYZjZzinMyHNVc-aripL7yzUyywBIRuj68GgMxRwbGq3wQbUxP74zPsbnVDn8z7PEWAF7pM23hA/s320/jaws.jpg" /></a>the last ten years, it only took a few seconds to think “but, of course!!”. What could be more appropriate than a day of fun in the sun at the beach with friends and family and going swimming on our nation’s day of independence? Throw a man eating great white shark into the mix and you have a fine slice of Americana! Man versus Wild has nothing on <span style="color:#3333ff;">Roy Scheider</span> as he shows good old American know how in dealing with this underwater nemesis!</div><div><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Die Hard, Die Harder (aka Die Hard 2), Die Hard with a Vengeance, Live Free or Die Hard</span></em></strong>: I loved it when I asked my colleague what he/she was going to watch and the answer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV6hZKcv6X1UfHqduqqO15iKlWFtVZk0zyw9L8GldSEaG3sRcWqgiHSLNyN_dq_f_RsO49B2UJD2V0rc7JYVXk7R5d3Y6L_DDjMwdwLwSAhjAWrPSUt2M3Q3kNaOZHU5VC2VEaQ/s1600/diehardjohn.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 117px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 159px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489769527458971138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV6hZKcv6X1UfHqduqqO15iKlWFtVZk0zyw9L8GldSEaG3sRcWqgiHSLNyN_dq_f_RsO49B2UJD2V0rc7JYVXk7R5d3Y6L_DDjMwdwLwSAhjAWrPSUt2M3Q3kNaOZHU5VC2VEaQ/s320/diehardjohn.jpg" /></a> was: (paraphrased) I am going to sit around all day and watch stuff blow up. That’s right! It is our American right to watch things exploding on the big screen! And who does it better than Sgt. John McClane (<span style="color:#3333ff;">Bruce Willis</span>)!! In my past, I lived abroad for many years. After being away from the US of A for almost five years, I spent a month in Thailand on my way home. I stayed in the Khao San Road area of Bangkok and all along the streets were cafes that screened movies in the evening. Travelers would stream in to watch films, drink beer and eat delicious Thai food. Every night one of the café’s would show Die Hard and for several nights I would be there watching it. It made me oddly patriotic and homesick; <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Stuff blowing up = America=Awesome!</span></strong></div><div><br />Whether you will be grilling with friends and/or family, hanging out and relaxing, braving the ocean (see second film above) or watching a big old fireworks show (that’ll be me! I LOVE fireworks!), hopefully you will have a safe and sane 4th of July! Now get out there and do your patriotic duty – <span style="color:#ff0000;">CELEBRATE!</span></div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-10889263072805558112010-06-16T15:35:00.000-07:002010-06-16T15:41:33.573-07:00Saturday Film Forum Going, Going, Gone!Yes, the <strong>Saturday Film Forum</strong> will soon be <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Gone Baby, Gone</span></strong>…in more ways than one.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpXmmWP2acyhuNXWWjqEH_sluWSEdUartTC8YQl3SwbuwGCUzMR__aH1FZ4JTSvOyqA51Spk_JKhkyJg0wblOlIWPzvToLrnqH8Kn39YpE6whQNz7OiHOznUan3y3hR5mcwyp5Q/s1600/gonebabygone.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 153px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483504927844291506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpXmmWP2acyhuNXWWjqEH_sluWSEdUartTC8YQl3SwbuwGCUzMR__aH1FZ4JTSvOyqA51Spk_JKhkyJg0wblOlIWPzvToLrnqH8Kn39YpE6whQNz7OiHOznUan3y3hR5mcwyp5Q/s320/gonebabygone.jpg" /></a> <strong>June 26th</strong> will be the final film in our <strong>Watching the Detectives</strong> series and that film will be…<strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Gone Baby, Gone!</span></em></strong> Come see <span style="color:#6600cc;">Ben Affleck’s</span> directorial debut on the big screen in the Library Theater! As usual, we will start at 2pm with a trivia quiz for prizes (the quiz this time will be about books that have been turned into films) and a short lecture about the film.<br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">(Don’t worry, it will be light on the Bennifer references)</span><br />This film is R rated, so adults only please!<br /><strong>Hope to see you there!</strong>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-25868516558923084942010-05-25T14:28:00.000-07:002010-05-25T14:37:26.140-07:00Triumphant Thai!<div>This year’s <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Cannes Film Festival</span></strong> has come to a close and the awards have been announced. One could just imagine that by choosing <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Tim Burton</span></strong> as the head of the jury, we would be in<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuund1aFGc4BRuRceklL8G1-Gt6_j6I_RiXWXOT90iLggVYvZd5cMpO7D3rR0kjp58epimClR2On70TchdXRUOGeDOcCv4Xa6bbLnjNl73uD6Yoqo6pixHZFwLOwv2GabnKICKQ/s1600/burtoncannes.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475324200061816690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuund1aFGc4BRuRceklL8G1-Gt6_j6I_RiXWXOT90iLggVYvZd5cMpO7D3rR0kjp58epimClR2On70TchdXRUOGeDOcCv4Xa6bbLnjNl73uD6Yoqo6pixHZFwLOwv2GabnKICKQ/s200/burtoncannes.jpg" /></a> for some interesting selections. Burton with his fellow judges (including <span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Kate Beckinsale</strong> </span>and <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Benicio Del Toro</span></strong>) have made the Thai people very happy by choosing one of their own to win the coveted <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Palme d’Or</span></strong>. This year’s top prize went to <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s</span></strong> film <em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives</span></em>, a one-of-a-kind dreamy ghost story about a man who is on speaking terms with all sorts of supernatural entities. The runner-up for the Palme was <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Xavier Beauvois’</span></strong> <em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Of God and Men</span></em>, which garnered the most buzz as a possible Best Foreign Film Oscar contender this year. (stay tuned for that one!)</div><div><br />The festival's jury prize went to <em><span style="color:#6600cc;">A Screaming Man</span></em>, directed by <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Mahamat-Saleh Haroun</span></strong>, and the first film ever in the competition from Chad. It is a melancholy film that explores the relationship between a father and son during a civil war in Chad. <strong>Well done, Chad!<br /></strong></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFriUBgH_uCpzGe4CZqFeqE8fovI0wXJE0VTDyTQwGarzoEcV5U9UdJY7G09qI67AUfs3RluAKVPFi9zMfx_J2rSZb0PT24aCPzpcoaGbB8F-lt9Kn9TJt5wHXrKvvBW8z1Zp5wA/s1600/bardenbinochecannes.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475324774023278162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFriUBgH_uCpzGe4CZqFeqE8fovI0wXJE0VTDyTQwGarzoEcV5U9UdJY7G09qI67AUfs3RluAKVPFi9zMfx_J2rSZb0PT24aCPzpcoaGbB8F-lt9Kn9TJt5wHXrKvvBW8z1Zp5wA/s200/bardenbinochecannes.jpg" /></a>The top acting nods went to <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Javier Bardem</span></strong> (<em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Biutiful</span></em>) and <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Elio Germano</span></strong> (<em><span style="color:#6600cc;">La Nostra Vida</span></em>) who tied for best actor. Best actress went to the always wonderful <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Juliette Binoche</span></strong> (<em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Certified Copy</span></em>). </div><br /><div>Not in competition but also present were <span style="color:#000099;">Ridley Scott</span> with <em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Robin Hood</span></em>, <span style="color:#000099;">Woody Allen</span> and his latest, <em><span style="color:#6600cc;">You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger</span></em> and <span style="color:#000099;">Oliver Stone</span> with <em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps</span></em>.</div><br /><div>Having attended some major film festivals, I know that sometimes it is satisfying to see the big films before they open in the States. However the real joy in attending is discovering those hidden gems; the ones you know won’t ever get distribution here in America. If you haven’t already, give a film festival a try!! (see <strong><em>The Film festival Guide: for filmmakers, film buffs and industry professionals</em></strong> 791.43079LAN @HBPL or there are many websites online with film festival information.)</div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-56891696662173077122010-05-11T12:54:00.000-07:002010-05-11T12:57:42.130-07:00Forget it Jake, it’s Chinatown<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1SzJmxgxbZ67ytUJfYnzkVI0ffSkM4rxvimA-Vnww5bUEYLg3PkboVObq2M8itTU5JheWRcnBF0-9Iiiphmnt0cPC2KECkaxUHq-GvWz3y9onIUQj_UPAoHWS61ZLiFnzTfegg/s1600/chinatown.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 141px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470103864698596770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1SzJmxgxbZ67ytUJfYnzkVI0ffSkM4rxvimA-Vnww5bUEYLg3PkboVObq2M8itTU5JheWRcnBF0-9Iiiphmnt0cPC2KECkaxUHq-GvWz3y9onIUQj_UPAoHWS61ZLiFnzTfegg/s200/chinatown.jpg" /></a>Jake can forget but you shouldn’t! At least you shouldn’t forget to come to this Saturday’s screening of <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Chinatown</span></em></strong>! I have another informative talk to give you about the film and there will be a trivia quiz for prizes. The trivia this time will be on films of the seventies, so brush up if you want to win! And, of course, there will be candy! This film is rated R so adults only please! <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">See you @ 2pm in the Library Theater!</span></strong>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-74416912134867144542010-04-17T10:05:00.000-07:002010-04-17T10:31:41.709-07:00Creepy but Cool<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9Wgp9zgIZtEa_6Dq0dKKpmn69TE_5HkC6VB67zJ1Up5gGxPg0lOvXXdAXUV8y-l9AvZgy8lRo1ib-Lbgzx44oay5s3fLYktGOWv8DHBclGJsK60kiW_E_YwDY98PCzzAHgJ9eg/s1600/samrockwellhead.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461158983871657938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 108px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9Wgp9zgIZtEa_6Dq0dKKpmn69TE_5HkC6VB67zJ1Up5gGxPg0lOvXXdAXUV8y-l9AvZgy8lRo1ib-Lbgzx44oay5s3fLYktGOWv8DHBclGJsK60kiW_E_YwDY98PCzzAHgJ9eg/s200/samrockwellhead.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#003300;">Roger Ebert</span> said about this actor that he "seems to have become the latter-day version of <span style="color:#003300;">Christopher Walken</span> -- not all the time, but when you need him, he's your go-to guy for weirdness". I couldn’t agree more! He first came to my notice in the Green Mile. Who is this creepy but cool, Walken apprentice?? <strong><span style="color:#003333;">Sam Rockwell!</span></strong> He is slated to be in the upcoming Iron Man 2 with <span style="color:#003300;">Robert Downey, Jr.</span> But before he took on the super hero, he was delighting and creeping us out in these films:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Moon:</em></span></strong> See it, see it, see it, see it! Not since <span style="color:#003300;">Tom Hanks</span> did Castaway has a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26e-7DAB81oFGzfrQaFOD_Nb-k-oX8fUpU6yKhO1o9yM5kHHq7z5UUCdO0U7Xc9Zy3eCU0Xs6t3lPwOuW57_cUu15izia3gQrTsmj40_0uT09Ds6vbYOSVXIU2hYGOQhzVkfx1Q/s1600/sam_rockwell_moon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461158390933574850" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 110px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 86px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26e-7DAB81oFGzfrQaFOD_Nb-k-oX8fUpU6yKhO1o9yM5kHHq7z5UUCdO0U7Xc9Zy3eCU0Xs6t3lPwOuW57_cUu15izia3gQrTsmj40_0uT09Ds6vbYOSVXIU2hYGOQhzVkfx1Q/s200/sam_rockwell_moon.jpg" border="0" /></a>single actor been able to carry a film (almost) on his own. <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Rockwell </span></strong>plays Sam Bell, the only occupant of a Moon-based manufacturing facility. His only companion is the “HAL-like” computer, GERTY (voice by <span style="color:#003300;">Kevin Spacey</span>). He is just a few weeks short of fulfilling his three year contract when then most definitely start going awry!<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford:</span></em></strong> Creepy and whiney at the same time! <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Rockwell </span></strong>plays Charley Ford, brother of Robert (<span style="color:#003300;">Casey Affleck</span>), who introduces him to Jesse James. As a member of the James gang, <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Rockwell </span></strong>is there to push his brother and ultimately ruin both of their lives. This film would not be as enjoyable without <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Rockwell’s </span></strong>performance. <br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Confessions of a Dangerous Mind:</span></em></strong> Whacky! This film is based on Chuck Barris’s <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFtuVihDHlxNIsXACjR2KkR3eSsNoAM6C0f_n6-dOUYPsbAFVjbV1U5hzg6-EXqm1M7tLpvK5HkAXxjchbYNW9k4I6pzWlWJWcZdt8UJ-fS9dkcqbWTe0cBwfSbS9q4jRdY-FoA/s1600/confessionsdangerousmind.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461159218511724210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 102px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 131px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFtuVihDHlxNIsXACjR2KkR3eSsNoAM6C0f_n6-dOUYPsbAFVjbV1U5hzg6-EXqm1M7tLpvK5HkAXxjchbYNW9k4I6pzWlWJWcZdt8UJ-fS9dkcqbWTe0cBwfSbS9q4jRdY-FoA/s200/confessionsdangerousmind.jpg" border="0" /></a>autobiography of the same name. In his book, this once host of The Gong Show, claims to have been an employee of the CIA and assassinated 33 people on their orders. <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Rockwell’s</span></strong> portrayal of Barris strikes the perfect balance between geek, simmering menace, alluring personality and quirky humor.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Galaxy Quest:</span></em></strong> <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Rockwell </span></strong>plays Guy, an actor who was in episode 81 of the cult TV show, Galaxy Quest and died by the first commercial. This film is one of my favorites! Although <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Rockwell</span></strong> plays a supporting character, anyone who has watched any sci-fi series will get a laugh over his interpretation of the disposable cast member (you know who I mean guys with red shirts on Star Trek).<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Js1c_sMoL1Wt8quSnidcwzPq1nRlBw-LY0o7C2bm6pEx4eiOZrFid9Z6YjDEej_MsFaIVfhKDPDcSY2E6oHGdX9roA4kbCi87LmWCJPLQjM00E_uqGsVcKzhy4C13Uz8SypObQ/s1600/rockwellwharton.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461159760356733250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 98px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Js1c_sMoL1Wt8quSnidcwzPq1nRlBw-LY0o7C2bm6pEx4eiOZrFid9Z6YjDEej_MsFaIVfhKDPDcSY2E6oHGdX9roA4kbCi87LmWCJPLQjM00E_uqGsVcKzhy4C13Uz8SypObQ/s200/rockwellwharton.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Green Mile:</span></em></strong> Not a lead character but, once again, <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Rockwell</span></strong> creates a performance to remember. In this case I wish it wasn’t so memorable! He plays the psychotic and violent 'Wild Bill' Wharton who ultimately gets his due at the hands of the equally disturbing Percy Wetmore. Mainly I find the film interpretations of <span style="color:#003300;">Stephen King</span> novels decidedly lacking; this is certainly an exception. Moving and disturbing at the same time, made even more creepy by <strong><span style="color:#003300;">Sam Rockwell’s</span></strong> portrayal of Wharton.Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-82150957585175723342010-04-06T15:03:00.000-07:002010-04-06T15:16:59.893-07:00On the QT and Very Hush Hush!How time flies!! It seems like I just screened the first film in my <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Watching the</span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuJvtI6l5uGC0CbcM1mMSqRvD2iSswaZQehJPOOYiVu9V3lXJeWLsn428IS9rNqOaYfrwiv37DZHm6PUerPi6jYdR78j8W8phFkfwPLDqtAvZtIkUOCYdhbLzJMRrv2CVNjH7YA/s1600/laconfidential.jpg"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 110px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457150911508170418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuJvtI6l5uGC0CbcM1mMSqRvD2iSswaZQehJPOOYiVu9V3lXJeWLsn428IS9rNqOaYfrwiv37DZHm6PUerPi6jYdR78j8W8phFkfwPLDqtAvZtIkUOCYdhbLzJMRrv2CVNjH7YA/s320/laconfidential.jpg" /></span></strong></a><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> Detectives</span></strong> film program and it is already time for film number two! This <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Saturday,</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">April 10th</span></strong>, I will be talking about and showing the "noir that doesn't look like noir" detective film, <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">L.A. Confidential</span></strong>. I say noir that doesn't look it because that was Curtis Hanson"s (the director) intent. The entire film has a very noir feel to it but it was shot with very contemporary lighting and staging. Come see for yourself! We will be in the <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Central Library theater at 2pm</span></strong> and since this one is R rated, adult's only please.<br /><br />See you there!Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18838253.post-53968936908276072602010-03-19T16:17:00.000-07:002010-03-19T16:24:22.419-07:00The Maltese Falcon comes to HBPL<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PWiC34c1pwB-Acqx-HsZ9KcGnI6yYT4RmMmpdCG-r6uA6EhsfdVdit6qjWS-HDmd5CqolfJQAHdLKcP8-qMeNFfqIJvxIkZVQEvR42LgSVI40rf91Zr38ojxJYIkxcCmlazA4Q/s1600-h/maltesefalcon.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 80px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 137px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450489667571432354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PWiC34c1pwB-Acqx-HsZ9KcGnI6yYT4RmMmpdCG-r6uA6EhsfdVdit6qjWS-HDmd5CqolfJQAHdLKcP8-qMeNFfqIJvxIkZVQEvR42LgSVI40rf91Zr38ojxJYIkxcCmlazA4Q/s200/maltesefalcon.jpg" /></a>Just a reminder...tomorrow, March 20th will be the start to our detectives film program. I will be screening the Maltese Falcon at 2pm in the Library Theater. I will start with a trivia quiz where you can win (but only with the right answer!) a free DVD rental from the media section and a DVD or book. After that a short talk about the film (by moi) and then on with the show!<br /><div>Please join us for this fun afternoon.</div>Fesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16096416997588678850noreply@blogger.com