Stan Winston (1946-2008)

This is a sad day for movie fans everywhere.

Earlier today I saw a story on Aint-It-Cool-News that said effects artist Stan Winston has passed away. This was the man that brought the Terminator to life. Who made Sigourney Weaver face the terror of the title creatures in Aliens. Who made us believe that an alien hunter could stand toe to toe with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator. Oh, he also made us believe that dinosaurs walked the earth again in Jurassic Park. And that's just a partial resume.

Winston was one of a select breed of Hollywood visionaries who revolutionized the way that movies were made and changed how we look at them forever. He is one of the main reasons why so many of the best genre films of the last 30 years made such a lasting impression here and around the world. His craftsmanship made so many of my favorite science fiction, fantasy, and horror movies believable. He imbued his work with a sense of wonder that made the movies themselves work on a visceral level.

Try to imagine experiencing the climax of The Terminator without the frightening sight of that metal endoskeleton rising out of the flames to menace Sarah and Reese. Arnold was scary in that movie, but that red-eyed skeleton that just wouldn't stop was REALLY scary. I remember thinking how cool that T-100 Terminator was, and how much it scared the crud out of me at the time (even if it was animated in a pre-digital era).

I remember being scared spitless watching Ridley Scott's Alien. In the sequel, Aliens, Stan Winston (along with director James Cameron) multiplied my terror by introducing many, many versions of the H.R. Giger-inspired monster from the original film. The work on this film so inspired me that it's still my favorite science fiction film of all time.

I felt the same way about Jurassic Park. To this day, I still remember the wonder and the horror of those magical dinosaurs as they stood majestically, moved, roared, and well, chased humans, too.

All this is to say that more than a little of what's right about the movies is in no small part due to the contributions of Stan Winston. While I'm saddened to hear he's gone, knowing that we'll not see anymore of his work (after upcoming films like Terminator: Salvation), I'm glad to know that his films will live on.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues.

He will be missed, but Stan Winston will always be remembered.

Sydney Pollack (1934-2008)

Director. Producer. Actor.

That was the great Sydney Pollack. It’s hard to believe that he’s gone. The Academy Award-winning director of such hits as Tootsie and Three Days of the Condor passed away on May 26 after a long bout with cancer.

His was an amazing career, beginning as an actor in the 1950s. He did stage and TV before making the leap to films in the early 60s, starting with War Hunt, a Korean War drama co-starring another young actor named Robert Redford. The two first met on this film and formed a lifelong friendship and professional partnership.

Interestingly, Pollack never really considered himself an actor, and soon made the transition to directing and producing. The results were magical. As a director, he made a number of memorable films, including Jeremiah Johnson, Absence of Malice, Out of Africa (which won the Best Picture Oscar for 1985 and garnered Pollack the Best Director statuette), and of course, Tootsie.

His producing credits were diverse, including such films as Presumed Innocent, Sense and Sensibility, and The Talented Mr. Ripley (one of several films he made with the late Anthony Minghella).

I always saw Pollack as a journeyman director, the kind of filmmaker who builds an incredible body of work over years – decades, even – films of all genres and temperaments, the kind of director that Hollywood just doesn’t seem to produce anymore. He was a director that actors clamored to work with, knowing he could take their performances to a whole, new level.

Don’t believe me?

Just ask Dustin Hoffmann. Or Meryl Streep. Or Robert Redford. These actors, and many others like them, loved working with Sydney Pollack because they knew that he would take care of them, that he would make them feel safe, that he would do whatever it took to help them give the best performance possible, and turn a good movie into a great movie.

Pollack was the kind of director that cinema needs more of – however, sadly today, it has one less. And like all of the other directors we’ve lost recently, he will be missed by the audiences he leaves behind.

The 2008 Summer Movie Season

They’re here…

The 2008 Summer Movies! And we all know what that means.

Crowded, air-conditioned theaters.

Buckets of popcorn…much of which you’ll be stepping on to get to your seat.

Crying babies, talking teens, and at least one person who never remembers to set their cell phone on vibrate!

Enough CGI to send you into a cartoon coma.

And enough heavy bass coming out of your local theater’s speakers to rattle the fillings in your teeth.

That being said, I’m actually looking forward to (most of) this summer’s crop of tentpole movies. Which isn’t usually the case, especially in recent years. Now don’t get me wrong. I love a good popcorn movie as much as anybody, but they’re just not like they used to be. I still long for the days back when I was a kid and had (at least) one good movie to look forward to over summer vacation to make me believe in the magic of the movies. Movies that instilled a sense of wonder in me and took me into amazing imaginative worlds. Movies that thrilled me or scared the yell out of me.

Movies that made me believe.

Movies like the original Star Wars. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Superman: The Movie. Alien. Raiders of the Lost Ark. The Terminator. At the end of the 70s and for most of the 80s, it seemed like there was always a summer movie or two (or three) that took my breath away and amazed me with its originality and power.

These days…not so much.

Of course, there are still amazing summer movies being made that carry us off into a unique world we’ve never seen before (or maybe only once or twice, depending upon which sequel it is). But for the most part, they usually lack a genuine sense of wonder, or that certain “We’ve never seen anything quite like this before…” quality that I remember growing up.

And that’s why most summers I don’t really get that excited about what the studios are sending our way to drive up the weekend grosses.

But this year is different.

For the first time in a long time, I’m looking forward to more than a few films coming out between Memorial Day and Labor Day. (or more accurately, between the beginning of May and Labor Day – man, is it me, or is summer getting longer every year?)

In fact, the summer movie season kicks off with the arrival of Iron Man on May 2. Yes, it’s yet another superhero movie from the gang at Marvel Comics (who, incidentally, are so far ahead of the DC kids that at this point, it’s ridiculous. Come on Warner Brothers, let’s get it in gear!) However, I’ve always liked this particular character. I read Tony Stark/Iron Man’s adventures in the comics as a kid, and I always thought that he was pretty cool, especially since he had no powers and had to rely on his smarts to survive. That, and his ultra cool suit of armor that could fly (and shoot repulsor rays!). Plus, Stark was not a goodie two-shoes. He was a complex character who had problems and demons of his own to fight (like so many of the Marvel characters). The fact that director Jon Favreau chose an actor of Robert Downey, Jr.’s caliber speaks well for the project. I’m hoping it’s a good flick.

Along with Iron Man, there are quite a few other superheroes on their way to the big screen this summer, and it’ll be interesting to see how these movies fare:

- The Incredible Hulk, with Ed Norton as Bruce Banner. I’m really hoping this one is better than the last Hulk movie with Eric Bana. Nothing against director Ang Lee and the cast he put together with that one, but I really didn’t care for that story at all. My fingers are crossed that this one is a better script.

- Hellboy II: The Golden Army. I have to admit, I know nothing about this movie, except for the fact that I liked the first Hellboy. Ron Perlman's the man. Put him in prosthetic makeup, all the more so.

- Hancock, starring Will Smith. I know absolutely nothing about this movie, except for the trailer I saw online. I’ve never heard of this character before, so I’m assuming he’s not based upon a comic book. If I’m wrong, maybe somebody can correct me. Don’t know what to expect, and unless I hear it’s dreadful, I’ll give it a chance and judge the flick on its own merits.

I love my superhero movies, so I’m willing to give most Hollywood fare a chance. Which brings me to one other superhero movie that’s coming this summer, and it’s the one I’m most looking forward to…and that’s Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. I have to admit, I was a little wary when I heard that they were bringing Batman back to the big screen with Batman Begins a few years back. While I enjoyed Tim Burton’s interpretation of Batman, I can’t describe how much I hated Joel Schumacher’s. Batman & Robin in particular convinced me that Hollywood had lost its way with the Dark Knight Detective, and I wasn’t in the mood to see my favorite superhero get trashed again anytime soon.

And then I saw Batman Begins. Nolan gave us a vision of Batman that suggests he could really exist, and not as some gothic cartoon world out of Tim Burton’s imagination. And as much as I liked Batman and Batman Returns, it’s the world of Batman Begins that I wanted to play in. Nolan and actor Christian Bale captured the essence of who Bruce Wayne and his terrifying alter ego are. They convinced me that Gotham City could be a real town, set somewhere not too far outside the realm of where I live in the real world. That movie just worked for me on so many levels, and it finally gave us a look at Batman as he always should’ve been portrayed. And that’s why I look forward to The Dark Knight. I want to see how Nolan will build upon the foundation of the first film, and I’m particularly curious to see how the late, great Heath Ledger interprets Batman’s greatest foe, the Joker.

But it isn’t just superheroes drawing me to the theater most weekends this summer. There are a number of other films coming our way in the weeks to come that have caught my eye. Films like:

- Speed Racer. I grew up on the cartoon and am very curious to see how the Wachowski Brothers adapt such an important part of my childhood to the big screen. At least they didn’t change the Mach 5, which honestly, I fully expected them to do. So there’s hope.

- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. These films (and the books they’re based on) have a special place in my heart, so I’m looking forward to seeing another romp through Narnia with the Pevensie kids. Long live Aslan!

- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Well, it certainly took them long enough to make another one of these movies, so I’m hoping it’s worth the wait. Everybody talks about how old Harrison Ford is, but that isn’t what’s really important. What matters is if this movie and its story are worthy successors to a film like Raiders of the Lost Ark. I liked the two earlier sequels, but in my opinion, they just never captured the full magic of Raiders for me. So while my expectations are a bit lowered for Crystal Skull, I have hope. And the fact that they were smart enough to bring Karen Allen back to reprise her role as Marion Ravenwood bodes well for the movie. So keep your fingers crossed.

- The Happening, from director M. Night Shyamalan. I have no idea what this movie is about, but I’m excited that M. Night is back with another movie. Some have criticized him for the inconsistency of his movies in the past (and frankly, I sometimes agree), but the man just has a way with telling stories. And he’s amazing with the ensemble casts he puts together. Even if the story doesn’t always engage me, I always enjoy watching his actors on screen. This was particularly true for me with The Village and Lady In The Water. So we’ll see what he does with his new flick next month.

- The X-Files movie. Okay, so yes, it’s been 10 years since the last X-Files feature film, and I didn’t exactly love it. It’s also been nearly 10 years since the TV show went off the air. Still, I loved that show, and especially the characters of Scully and Mulder, so yes, I DO want to know what they’ve been up to all these years. I’m hearing rumors that this film isn’t part of the show’s mythology, but is in fact a stand-alone story. That sounds intriguing, as many of the show’s stand-alone episodes were quite good, so I’m hoping that a Chris Carter story given the feature film treatment will be good.

- The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Yes, I know. This movie series went way off course after the first Mummy remake back in 1999. I loved that film, starring Brendan Fraser and the lovely Rachel Weisz. The Mummy Returns was a movie I wanted to like as much as the first, but just couldn't. It was one of those CGI-fests that numbs my brain, and I wasn't impressed by the whole Scorpion King tie-in that was shoehorned into that film. Still, when I heard about this movie, yes, another CGI-spectacle like the other film in the series - I wondered if maybe, just maybe...

For one thing, they didn't get Rachel Weisz back, which is an argument against this movie. But in their defense, the producers got Maria Bello to take over the role of Evie (I hate re-casting, but there it is). And they got Michelle Yeoh. Both of these women are fine actresses and will undoubtedly bring something to the movie. One just hopes the movie itself isn't a stinker, but I'll give it the benefit of a doubt. And hope I don't come to regret it.

- Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Who would have thunk it, that three years after the last Star Wars movie, that there would be…another Star Wars movie? Especially one set during the prequel era we’ve been treated to for the last decade? Naturally, like many a Star Wars fan, I want a movie that begins with the words, “Episode VII”, but since that will never happen, I guess this will have to do. But that’s a blog for another time. Of course, this release sets up The Clone Wars TV show that’s coming our way soon, but what the heck. It’s one more chance to see tales from a galaxy far, far away, with lightsabers swinging and heroes doing good deeds. If it’s half as good as the 2-D animated Clone Wars cartoon from a few years back, this 3-D entry will be worth the trip.

Well, those are some of the highlights of the summer season that I’m looking forward to seeing. At summer’s end, I’ll do a recap to see if the reality of it all matched my expectations. In the meantime, every chance I get, I’ll be at the movies. Hope to see you there!

Anthony Minghella (1954-2008)

Frankly, I’m stunned beyond words. I can’t believe that we’ve lost yet another of our directors. After the losses of Robert Altman in 2006, as well as Ingmar Bergman and Michelangelo Antonioni (both in 2007), it’s a bit of a shock to lose yet another prominent director so soon. While Anthony Minghella probably wasn’t a household name to much of the movie-going public, he was certainly a significant figure in cinema.

Known to many for his Academy Award winning film The English Patient, Minghella was a visionary director who touched the minds and hearts of millions as his films flashed upon screens around the world. Judging from the responses of many in the filmmaking world following his death, Minghella also undoubtedly touched the lives of many in front of and behind the camera. It’s important to note that Minghella was a screenwriter as well as a director, having penned many of the films he directed, including 1999’s The Talented Mr. Ripley. Minghella made his filmmaking debut with 1991’s Truly, Madly, Deeply, starring Alan Rickman.

While I was not familiar with all of Minghella’s work, I do have one very special memory about one of his films, 2003’s Cold Mountain.

It was just after the New Year in 2004, and I had just helped my sister move from Atlanta to LA. We caught up with a film school buddy of mine, who was able to get the three of us into a special screening of Cold Mountain at the Director’s Guild of America. This was a special treat for us, and my first time at the DGA. Unfortunately, Minghella himself wasn’t in attendance, but that didn’t lessen my excitement one tiny bit. It was just cool to see Minghella’s new film. I remember very clearly being drawn into this period drama set at the end of the Civil War. I was impressed by the intelligence and sensitivity of Minghella’s screenplay as well as his direction.

While I have no idea what mid-nineteenth century American life was like, the look and feel of the film made a believer out of me. And something in particular that stood out for me: I was touched by the depth of the performances that Minghella drew out of the diverse group of actors he’d assembled: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger (who would win a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her performance in this film), Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffmann, Giovanni Ribisi, Natalie Portman, among many others.

Seeing this film made me realize that Minghella was the type of director that I aspire to be – a storyteller first of all, who knows how to craft a story for the big screen through a well-put together screenplay and a carefully guided ensemble of talented actors. Seeing Cold Mountain made me better appreciate the work Minghella brought as a filmmaking hyphenate (writer-director) to both The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley. His work helped me realize what a filmmaker can bring to a movie as a writer, as well as a director, proving that what’s on the page and on the stage are both extremely important and have to be carefully handled by the director.

That being said, it makes me very sad to acknowledge the fact that there will be no more Anthony Minghella films for the world to enjoy (after, of course, the TV adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith’s best-seller The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, starring Anika Noni Rose and Jill Scott - due to air on HBO in 2009). That’s certainly something to look forward to, but without a doubt it is a great tragedy to have to mourn the loss of yet another filmmaker. While his work will live on, the man himself (and any future endeavors he might have brought us) will certainly be missed.

Let’s just hope we don’t lose any more of our great directors any time soon.

And The Oscar Goes To...

Well, the 80th annual Oscars are finally here. Thankfully, the Writers Strike is over and Hollywood gets to have its big night. So far, it's turning out to be an interesting night. For those of you keeping track, I made some Oscar predictions last month in some of the major categories. Now that the awards are finally being handed out, let's see how much I got right:

Best Adapted Screenplay: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen and No Country for Old Men No surprise here. This movie has had a lot of buzz behind it and it looks to be the Coens' year.

Best Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody for Juno. She wrote the 2007 "little movie that could". And now she's been rewarded for it. I stand by what I said before: Ms. Cody is likely to have an impressive career, and she's one to watch. It's going to be interesting to see what she writes as her next 2-3 movies.

Best Cinematography: There Will Be Blood. Ok, I was completely wrong about this one. Shows how much I know.

Best Original Score: Dario Marianelli (Atonement). Missed this one, too.

Best Animated Feature: Ratatouille. While I'm disappointed that Persepolis didn't win (and I saw this one coming for miles), I thoroughly enjoyed Brad Bird's acceptance speech. Let's see if Pixar takes it again next year for Wall*E.

Best Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton. Disappointed that neither Ruby Dee nor Cate Blanchett won, but kudos to Ms. Swinton for a knockout performance.

Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men. Do I see a pattern developing?

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose. So much for my theory about honoring film veterans. And, unfortunately, I was proved right about Ms. Blanchett: no Oscar gold goes home with her tonight.

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis for his role in There Will Be Blood. Just goes to show you that you should never bet against the favorite in the big races.

Best Director: By this time, if anyone doubts that this is the Coen brothers' year, you should catch a clue. Just one more award to go. I wonder who will walk away with it? Hmmm....

Best Picture: No Country for Old Men. The night does indeed belong to Ethan & Joel Coen. Congratulations, guys. My only disappointment is that they didn't win for Best Editing. I've always wanted to see who this "Roderick Jaynes" fellow is. ;)

Well, maybe next time.

Speaking of which, it's past my bedtime. So I'm going to wrap this up. Let's try this again next year when a whole new crop of movies and nominees will step up to take Oscar home. Until then, that's it for my look at the Academy Awards.

And The Oscar Might Go To...?

Now the big race is on. The Oscar nominees have been announced and the big day is approaching. Now the only question besides who will win is: "Will the ceremony actually take place?" With the Writers strike still going strong, who knows if anyone will walk the red carpet on February 24? Assuming that they do, who might take home the golden boy? That's a good question, but if I had to hazard a few guesses, I think it might go like this:

Best Adapted Screenplay: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen Why? The Coen Brothers are a standard in the movie industry, known for delivering incredibly memorable and visceral cinema. No Country for Old Men is no exception. Keep an eye on the brothers tonight. This could be the first of several wins for them on the big night.

Best Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody for Juno. Why? I just have a feeling about this one. Juno has become this year's little movie that could and its best shot for an Oscar is with the writer. Besides, she's become quite the media darling for her smarts and savvy. Not to mention for being the former exotic dancer/stripper turned screenwriter who could. Ms. Cody's one to watch because she's got an interesting career ahead of her. You heard it here first.

Best Cinematography: This is a hard one. All of these are incredibly well-shot movies with first rate directors of photography lensing them. But if I had to choose one, I'd go with Atonement. Why? Because war-torn love stories told against exotic backgrounds are usually a sure bet. Besides, everyone keeps talking about that tracking shot following James McAvoy during an epic battle.

Best Original Score: I love movie scores and am a big fan of three of the nominees: Dario Marianelli (Atonement), James Newton Howard (Michael Clayton), and Marco Beltrami (3:10 to Yuma). All of these guys are good, having composed some incredible music for numerous movies. If you don't believe me, just listen to the scores for V for Vendetta (Marianelli), Unbreakable(Howard), or Terminator 3 (Beltrami). My guess is that Howard will win for Michael Clayton. We'll see.

Best Animated Feature: I'm excited about the prospect of Persepolis winning this. Such an interesting way to tell the story of a young woman's coming of age during turbulent times in Iran. As much as I want this to happen, this film is up against the latest Pixar offering, Ratatouille. A well done and entertaining film that I enjoyed, but to be honest, it wasn't really the movie I wanted to see when I went to the movies with friends that weekend. That's not a slam against Pixar; I love their films (The Incredibles is still my favorite). But, while I think Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis should win, it won't. It's going to be Ratatouille.

Best Supporting Actress: Oh, boy. This is an interesting race, and I admit that I'm very biased in this category. These are incredible actresses in some fine performances. I have to admit, I'd love to see Cate Blanchett, perhaps this generation's most gifted actress (and my personal fav - like I said, I'm biased), take home the golden dude for her interpretation of Bob Dylan, I don't think it's going to happen. She's just won a Best Supporting Oscar a few years ago for playing Katherine Hepburn in The Aviator, and I think it very unlikely that she's going to get another one so soon. I'd also love to Ruby Dee win Oscar gold for her small, but memorable role in American Gangster (if she won, it'd be her first). This would be a wonderful cap to an incredibly illustrious career on stage and screen for Ms. Dee, an actress I was once privileged to meet, along with her late husband, the great Ossie Davis, back in college. However, while I want her to win, I think the Oscar will go to Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton.

Best Supporting Actor: Some seriously seasoned actors here, even if you don't count the great character actor Hal Holbrook. While I think there's a precedent for honoring veteran actors like Mr. Holbrook, I think it will go to Javier Bardem. Yet another indication that this could be No Country for Old Men's big night.

Best Actress: If you thought I was biased in the Supporting Actress category, you'll really get an earful with this race. All of these actresses gave incredible performances this past year, and choosing from this group won't be easy. I've admired Laura Linney in just about everything I've seen her in (with the exception of Congo - but I don't fault her for that one). She deserves her nomination for The Savages, turning in a very quirky and nuanced performance as a neurotic sibling caring for her dying father. That being said, I don't think she'll win. Ellen Page impressed many with her turn in the darling movie of the year, Juno, but she's the new kid on the block, and the Academy doesn't usually hand the statuette over to newbies. The fact that Cate Blanchett was nominated for her role as Elizabeth I in Elizabeth: The Golden Age speaks to the fact that not only did she deliver a strong performance, but that she might FINALLY get justice for being robbed 10 years ago when she didn't win the first time she was nominated for playing The Virgin Queen in Elizabeth. Gwyneth Paltrow won for Shakespeare in Love, a wonderful performance, but one not nearly as powerful as Ms. Blanchett's that year. It would be poetic justice if Cate did win this year. However, she won't, because as wonderful as she is in the movie, it's her performance that is the best thing about the film. This sequel just wasn't as strong as the original, and I fear that that will nix any chance of winning the Oscar (the thought of which really bums me out, as I think the twice-nominated Cate Blanchett will go home empty-handed this year). That brings us down to two: Julie Christie and Marion Cotillard. While Ms. Cotillard's performance in La Vie en Rose showcases a lot of range, I think it will come down to the Academy honoring veteran actress Julie Christie. And like I said, they like to honor those actors who deliver memorable performances in their golden years.

Best Actor: It'd be cool to see Viggo Mortensen win for his turn as a Russian killer in Eastern Promises, but I have a sneaking feeling that it will come down to the odds on favorite in this race: Daniel Day-Lewis for his role in There Will Be Blood. His is one of the most remarkable performances of the last year, and I think this will be a case of the buzz getting it right. Unless, of course, they give it to Tommy Lee Jones. But I think it will be Day-Lewis.

Best Director: While it could go to Paul Thomas Anderson, I really think that this is the Coen brothers year. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Best Picture: While conventional wisdom tells me to go with Atonement (the whole war torn love story thing), I'm betting on No Country for Old Men. The night belongs to Ethan & Joel Coen. Unless I'm wrong.

Well, that's how I see it. Check back on February 24th and I'll sum up who actually wins. In the meantime, let the speculation continue....

Welcome to 2008

Well, the holidays are over, and the new year has begun. Now seemed as good a time as any to start up my blog again. The last few months have been pretty busy for me, and I let the upkeep of the "The Reel Blog" fall by the wayside. But no more. It's a new year with new challenges and opportunities to be met. And coming back to the blog is a priority for me. Another priority will be to provide some focus and cool content to my posts. For example, in the coming weeks and months, you'll be able to check here for information on my ongoing projects, as well as some background on my past works, including The Dark Letter and the scripts I have posted on The-Reel-McCoy.Net.

In addition, I'll be posting write ups on some of the film-related events that happen throughout the year here in Atlanta, including film festivals, special screenings, and more. In my next couple of posts, I'll get into the specifics of what's coming in the next few months. I'll also be talking about different aspects of filmmaking, interesting films coming out this year, and the people who make them.

So be sure to check back here often, because there's a lot of cool stuff going on in film this year. And I intend to check out as much as I can. And talk about it, of course. So feel free to weigh in, too.

Here's to an exciting 2008. It's going to be a good year.