The 83rd Academy Award Nominations: And The Oscar Might Go To...?

Wow, has it been a year again already? You all know how this works. The Oscar race is officially underway, so it's time to once again make predictions for this year's contenders. Speaking of, I'm actually starting to get used to the notion of ten Best Picture nominees.

What I don't get is why there are now ten Best Picture nominees, but still only five Best Director noms. Seems kinda silly that half of the film's directors get left in the cold, but that's a subject for another blog.

In any case, between now and Oscar night, it's anybody's guess as to who win. But as always, I'm going to hazard a few guesses. How many do you wager I'll actually get right this time?

Let's find out:

Best Supporting Actress: This contest could get very interesting, as all of these actresses are several strong contenders. I'm not always the biggest Helena Bonham Carter fan, but she was quite good as the Queen Mum in The King's Speech; Young Hailee Steinfeld holds her own opposite Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon in True Grit; and the talented Melissa Leo shines (as always) in The Fighter. Ms. Bonham Carter may be a slight favorite for King's Speech (which has the most nominations at 12), however I think the Oscar is more likely to go and WILL go to Melissa Leo.

All of these actresses are talented, but my gut tells me that this is Ms. Leo's year. Of course, I might be biased (after all, I've been a big fan of Leo's since her days playing Detective Kay Howard on Homicide: Life on the Street). Still, it's the buzz over her tour de force performance that leads me to think that she'll be taking home the little guy on Oscar night. We'll have to wait and see if I'm right.
Predicted Winner: Melissa Leo



Best Supporting Actor: Here's another category that's could land anywhere. Christian Bale always delivers intense performances, and The Fighter is no exception. Jeremy Renner is downright scary as Ben Affleck's bankrobbing wingman in The Town. And while I think the Academy might favor Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech, I think Oscar will bestow acting accolades on either Bale or Renner. That being said, my money's on Christian Bale.
Predicted Winner: Christian Bale

Best Adapted Screenplay: Yes, True Grit and 127 Hours are in this category (along with Winter's Bone). And yes, Toy Story 3 is also n this category, but Woody and Buzz won't win for their movie's script. We all know which category Pixar consistently takes (see my annual rant below in the Best Animated Feature category). Aaron Sorkin is clearly the favorite for The Social Network and he will win. Take it to the bank, kids.
Predicted Winner: The Social Network

Best Original Screenplay: This one's interesting. I don't see Inception getting this one. It's strength is on its visuals, not so much the script (I know, I know. You wouldn't have those mind-bending shots WITHOUT the script it's based on. True, but Inception is viewed -- for better or worse, through the prism of its director, Christopher Nolan, and not the words on a page). But we'll come back to Inception later...

Similarly, I don't see The Fighter or Another Year taking home the prize. The most likely upset in this category is a win for The Kids Are All Right. However, I strongly believe that this one's going to The King's Speech.
Predicted Winner: The King's Speech

Best Cinematography: Look at all the pretty pictures...
This category could be interesting. While I expect this one to go to The King's Speech, it should probably go to Black Swan, or more deservedly, to Inception. However, it's more likely that this category will be caught up in the wake of The King's Speech's tidal wave of wins. But I hope I'm wrong.
Predicted Winner: The King's Speech

Best Art Direction: This is another one that The King's Speech might carry away, but my gut tells me otherwise. While Inception might take it, I'm going with another suspect.
Predicted Winner: Alice in Wonderland

Best Editing: I have a feeling that this Oscar will come down to two films - Black Swan and The King's Speech. I'm having a hard time picking between these two, but I think I'm going to go with the darling of the ball.
Predicted Winner: The King's Speech

Best Sound: And the nominees are... Inception. The King's Speech. Salt. The Social Network. True Grit. I don't see director David Fincher's take on the creation of Facebook taking this category. Probably the same for the Coen Brothers' adaptation of Charles Portis' Western novel, True Grit. This is a possible win for the Angelina Jolie flick Salt, or perhaps even Christopher Nolan's Inception. However, I believe this award will be one more feather in the cap of The King's Speech.
Predicted Winner: The King's Speech

Best Sound Editing: This one will prove a contest between Tron: Legacy and Inception. Advantage to the dream world over the computer world.
Predicted Winner: Inception

Best Visual Effects: Even with competition like Alice in Wonderland and Iron Man 2, the clear winner is the mind-bending visuals of Inception.
Predicted Winner: Inception

Best Original Song: This award more often than not goes to a song from an animated feature. I think this year will be no exception. Despite the presence of nominated songs from Country Strong and 127 Hours, I have the feeling that this one will go either Tangled or Toy Story 3. And given that one of these nominees is a Pixar film, it's pretty much a no-brainer as to which one will win.
Predicted Winner: Toy Story 3

Best Original Score: With several very talented composers filling out this category, it'll be interesting to see who walks away with the Oscar. And while I'm a big fan of John Powell and Hans Zimmer, I think the evening will be very good to Alexandre Desplat.
Predicted Winner: The King's Speech

Best Animated Feature: And so we've finally come to the animated feature category. Since the category was created in 2002 (and included an Oscar category for films released in 2001), one animation studio has been more successful than any other: Pixar. Of the seven animated features that Pixar released between 2001 and 2009, all have been nominated for Oscars, and all but two have won (Monster's Inc. and Cars being the only Pixar films to not win Oscar gold).


While there's no doubt that Pixar is very, very good at what they do (who can't admire any group of people who put story above everything else?!), is it really a good thing that they've dominated this category the way that they have? I'm not hating; I'm just sayin'. And consider the fact that they have a nominee this year: Toy Story 3. And while TS3 is ALSO nominated for Best Picture, we all know that it won't win in this category. And does anyone really believe that it will lose Best Animated Feature to either The Illusionist or How to Train Your Dragon? The fact that TS3 can and WILL win is a slam dunk, a no-brainer.

And that, to me, is the whole point.
Predicted Winner: Toy Story 3

Best Documentary (Short Subject): See Best Documentary Feature below...

Best Documentary (Feature-Length): I can't really speak to the documentary categories this year, because I haven't seen any of them. Which makes it all the more disappointing that the documentary I DID see this past year, Waiting for Superman, wasn't even nominated. I'll save myself the embarrassment and won't even hazard any guesses here...

Best Foreign Film: With all of the buzz behind it this year, I'm going to have to go with Javier Bardem's film, Biutiful.
Predicted Winner: Biutiful

Best Actress: And so, we've come to it. While there are five very talented actresses up for this award, this contest really comes down to just two of them. You know which two I mean. Annette Bening and Natalie Portman. Ms. Bening (up for her performance in The Kids Are All Right) is the veteran actress with numerous roles to her credit. And there are a lot of people who'd like to see her win an Oscar this year. This is her fourth nomination (including three for Best Actress), but she's never won. Many will see that as a sign that the Academy should give her her due this time around. But will she get it?


The odds-on favorite is Natalie Portman for her performance in Black Swan. Little wonder, too, with all the buzz she's garnered. Speaking of garnered, she's bagged a number of awards for this movie, including the Golden Globe, the Screen Actor's Guild award, and the British Academy Award. Not bad for an actress who's probably known to most of the world for playing Luke Skywalker's mom in the Star Wars prequels! Ms. Portman's always been a strong actress. I remember how impressed I was with her the first time I saw her (no, not in Star Wars: Episode I), but director Luc Besson's The Professional. She was just a kid then, but she made me believe every emotion she played in the movie (kinda like Best Actress nominee Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit).

Both Ms. Bening and Ms. Portman are gifted actors. And while there's a chance the former might just surprise us all and upset the Oscar chances of the latter, I'm betting against it. I'm going with Luke Skywalker's mom.
Predicted Winner: Natalie Portman for Black Swan

Best Actor: This is another competitive category, with fresh faces and veteran actors all competing for this award. I think it's unlikely that Oscar winner Jeff Bridges will win another statuette so soon after his win for Crazy Heart. I also don't think this one will go to nominee Javier Bardem, either. Oscar show co-host James Franco could win for the extraordinary job he did in 127 Hours, as could Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network (that was some fine work he did portraying Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

In the end, however, I believe this one to be Colin Firth's to lose. You can look for a possible upset by either Eisenberg or Franco, but Oscar night will belong to The King's Speech.
Predicted Winner: Colin Firth for The King's Speech

Best Director: Every year there's speculation as to whether or not the same movie will win both Best director and Best Picture. Movies like Titanic and The Hurt Locker did it. Other films like Saving Private Ryan and Crash did not. I think this is going to be a year where we see such an award split again. But I guess that depends on which film wins Best Picture, right? Let's take consider the possibilities...

First off, the Coen Brothers, as much as I love them, ain't getting another Oscar so soon after No Country for Old Men. Just not gonna happen, folks. Now it's possible that David O. Russell or Darren Aronofsky might take it, but I don't think so. I also don't think that Tom Hooper is going to win (but I do believe his film will). I think this is one of those situations where the Academy will want to award an extraordinary director while also awarding a different film (the one with all of this year's momentum behind it) with the Best Picture Oscar. Fincher is an amazing director with an impressive body of work behind him. He made a a very strong film with The Social Network and I believe he's going to be recognized for it.
Predicted Winner: David Fincher for The Social Network


Best Picture: Ok, kids. This is it. But I don't think there are going to be any surprises. There's one film that's been the runaway favorite throughout this awards season, and it's I think it's carrying home the big one tonight. That's right. It's gonna be that little film about the Brit royal with a stammer.
Predicted Winner: The King's Speech

Well, that's how I see it. Check back on February 27th and I'll sum up who actually wins. In the meantime, let the speculation begin....

The 82nd Academy Awards: And The Oscar Goes To...

And the big night is finally here. 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 Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, for Inglourious Basterds. He gave a very gracious speech. Good for him.

Best Animated Feature: Up. No big surprise here. I have to admit that I haven't see it yet, but I haven't heard anybody say anything bad about this flick. Gonna have to check it out soon. Personally, I'm a little disappointed The Princess and the Frog didn't win, but Pixar is seemingly unstoppable (but they are pretty good at what they do). Hopefully, their domination of the Best Animated Feature category will force other animators to step up their game in the years to come. No offense, but I'd like to see someone else win this one. But until that happens, let's see if they take it again next year for Toy Story 3. Good job and congratulations, Pixar!

Best Original Screenplay: Mark Boal for The Hurt Locker. Very nice. This could bode good things for the movie tonight. We'll see.

The John Hughes Tribute: That was very touching. It was nice to see so many stars from his movies come together to remember him and honor his family. Movies like The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Some Kind of Wonderful, and of course, Ferris Bueller's Day Off spoke to an entire generation, and were some of the most memorable movies of the last 25 years. Well done, guys. Mr. Hughes, rest in peace and we miss you...

Best Adapted Screenplay: Geoffrey Fletcher for Precious. Looks like this movie is off to a great start for Oscar night. We'll see if the movie wins any other of its nominated awards. Mr. Fletcher is the first African-American to win a screenwriting Academy Award. Very cool, and history in the making, too.

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique for Precious. And that makes two for Precious tonight. After all of the other acting awards she's garnered for this role, it's not surprising that Mo'Nique's taking home Oscar gold tonight.

Best Cinematography: Mauro Fiore for Avatar. Just what I thought. A well-deserved award for a visually stunning film.

Best Original Score: Michael Giacchino for (Up). Looks like I called this one, too. Never bet against a Pixar movie.

Best Visual Effects: And who out there seriously believed that someone other than Avatar would win? What remains to be seen is if Avatar will walk away with the little gold man for any of the bigger awards. Stay tuned, we'll find out pretty soon.

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart. I've been a fan of his for a very long time and I'm really glad to see him win this one.

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side. Despite what I said last month, the feeling I was getting about this award was for Sandra. She was the nominee I was looking at when the winner was announced. I think she was a little surprised when she won. She has quite the sense of humor, as she demonstrated in her acceptance speech. I'm glad she won the little gold guy.

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow!!!! Whoo-hoo! Awesome director of an equally awesome movie. And the very first woman to win this major award. Ms. Bigelow gave a very gracious speech. You could tell how touched she was by her win. I couldn't be more pleased by this choice. Good job, motion picture academy...

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker. Very pleased to see this film win the biggest prize. And equally glad to see Ms. Bigelow holding two Oscars in her hands. If you haven't seen this film yet, check it out.

Well, that's it for another year, folks. Let's do this again next year - same time, same blog - to find out which films from 2010 will take home Oscar gold.

Until then, I hope you have a magic time at the movies. I know I will.

The 82nd Academy Award Nominations: And The Oscar Might Go To...?

Well, here we are once again, and the Oscar race is officially underway. Things are a little different this time around, with ten Best Picture nominees, instead of the traditional five. But as always, the big question is, who will win? And, big surprise, I'm going to hazard a few guesses:

Best Visual Effects: Why do they need to keep us waiting on this one? With a movie like Avatar – and all of its technical achievements to create the world of Pandora – none of the other nominees come even close in terms of what was put up on the big screen. I mean, they should just go ahead and give the Oscar to the Avatar team. It’s not like we don’t already know that they’re going to win. Drawing out the process and making the nominees wait till the envelope is opened is cruel and unusual punishment, IMHO.

Best Adapted Screenplay: I’ve only seen one of these films (District 9), and while I would love to see one of the better science fiction films win in this category, I’ll be surprised if Up in the Air doesn’t win. That, or maybe Precious.

Best Original Screenplay: Again, only seen one of these so far, but what a film it was! I really enjoyed The Hurt Locker, and would like to see it win as many awards as possible (more on that later). Guess we’ll just have to see who comes out on top.

Best Cinematography: My gut tells me that because of all of its technical achievements, this one will probably go to Avatar. If I’m wrong, look for this award to go to The Hurt Locker. I say this because my gut feeling is that Kathryn Bigelow and her film is going to have a very good night. And speaking of Avatar: despite the fact that it took best picture and best director at the Golden Globes, I have a feeling that James Cameron’s not necessarily going to run away with the top awards at the Academy Awards. But more on that later….

Best Original Score: As some of you know, I’m a big fan of movie music. I’m very curious to see how this one plays out. While James Horner’s Avatar score is an obvious choice, I have a feeling that it’ll go to the “feel good” nominee in this category: Up.

Best Animated Feature: I'm excited to see such a diverse slate of films in this category, including several crowd pleasers. That being said, the award is going to Up. I think this is the only movie from 2009 that no one has said anything negative about. At all. And, of course, it’s Pixar (I don’t know why they don’t just call this the Pixar category). Interestingly, Up is also nominated in the Best Picture category. And to give the other nine nominees a chance at taking home Oscar gold, I think they’ll award Pixar in this animated category.

Best Supporting Actress: Hmm. While I suspect that Mo’Nique will take home Mr. Oscar for Precious (just as she did at the Golden Globes), look for a possible upset by either Vera Farmiga (for Up in the Air) or Maggie Gyllenhaal (for Crazy Heart).

Best Supporting Actor: While I’d like to see it go to Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones (he completely immersed himself in the role, turning in a delightfully creepy performance as a murderous neighbor), I suspect the award will go to Christoph Waltz for Inglorious Basterds.

Best Actress: I usually assume that the Academy will award this one to some grand dame like this year’s nominee, Helen Mirren. But I’ve been proven wrong before. While there’s a lot of speculation that Sandra Bullock will win for The Blind Side, I’m not convinced that that’s a safe bet. Meryl Streep is so good that she’d be nominated for reciting her grocery list (and yes, that IS a compliment – she is that good), but I don’t think she’ll win. Again. So while it could very well be Sandra’s year (I’ve been impressed with her non-comedic acting turns since Crash), my gut tells me that it could very well be Gabourey Sidibe (for Precious) or Carey Mulligan (for An Education).

Best Actor: Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela. Just the thought of that gives me chills. He’s one of the best actors of our generation, and Invictus is his latest turn at showing us his acting chops . George Clooney always turns in solid performances in interesting movies (well, maybe not Batman & Robin – but that wasn’t so much his fault as it was the writer and the director's). And Up in the Air is no exception. Jeremy Renner’s performance carried me through the harrowing journey that was The Hurt Locker. He was definitely the heart and soul of that picture. And in another year, I’d think he’d have a real shot at winning. But my gut tells me that this is Jeff Bridges’ year. The talk about his performance in Crazy Heart is that this is his career best. And I think he has the momentum to win. That, and the fact that the Academy loves a down–on-his-luck underdog story.

Best Director: The big question here is how heavily the Avatar phenomenon figures in this category. It’s possible that Cameron could win, and while I am a big fan of both Cameron and Avatar, I personally would like to see his ex-wife – Kathryn Bigelow – win for The Hurt Locker. I’ve been a fan of hers – and her films – for years. She’s a talented filmmaker with a unique point of view. Whether in a cop thriller (Blue Steel) or a science fiction morality tale (Strange Days), Ms. Bigelow knows how to tell a story in a way that’s uniquely her own. She does just that in The Hurt Locker. I love imaginative worlds that evoke a sense of wonder - such as the one that Mr. Cameron transports us to in Avatar, and I was astonished by what we found there. However, in many ways, I was even more astonished by the real world of the bomb teams in uniform who find and defuse explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan, as depicted in Ms. Bigelow's film. She introduces us to characters in a world I never knew existed. And she made me care about them, rejoice with them, and worry about them from the opening shot to the final credits.

In other words, she made a fine movie. But that's not all. Ms. Bigelow has proven herself and shown that she can make good movies with the big boys. And I mean that literally. Hollywood moviemaking is a male-dominated industry, and interestingly, in the entire history of the Oscars, only three other women have ever been nominated (directors Lina Wertmuller, Jane Campion, and Sofia Coppola). None have ever won. Kathryn Bigelow is the fourth woman to receive the nomination. And to be brutally honest, I hope she wins. No, I don't she should win just because she's a woman. Obviously, that would be wrong. But what's also wrong is the fact that no woman has ever won in all this time (the same is true for the fact that no African-American has ever won in this category either, but that's a different blog for another occasion).

The truth, though, is that this is more indicative of a greater issue in Hollywood - that movies are still an overwhelmingly male-dominated arena - than it is the fault of the Academy Awards. I don't fault them, but I think it'd be great if they reward a director who made a superb film. And in this case, that director just happens to be a woman. However this pans out, I hope the best director wins. May the best man - or woman - win!

Best Picture: There's never been a more diverse slate of movies to choose from, at least not in recent memory. Dramas, science fiction (not one, but TWO nominees - when has THAT ever happened?), war movies, and animation. Wow. Who's going to win? I have absolute no idea. I will tell you who I think will NOT win, though. I don't think it will be Avatar. While the movie did win Best Director and Best Picture at the Golden Globes, I don't see that happening this time around. Of course, I also didn't see this movie becoming the biggest box office success of all time (second only to that boat movie, also directed by Mr. Cameron). While it would be interesting to see a science fiction film take the top honor, I'm not convinced that this is the year it will happen. I also don't think it should happen. I think it's a great movie, but I just don't think it's the best movie of 2009.

That being said, while I don't know who will win, I have a hunch that it will be either The Hurt Locker or An Education. Other nominees have either won before or are part of the "it's an honor just to be nominated" club. I don't know. I can't really pin it on any one this time around. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Well, that's how I see it. Check back on March 7th and I'll sum up who actually wins. In the meantime, let the speculation begin....

Do The Right Thing - The 20th Anniversary Celebration

This past weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a special screening of Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing at the Fabulous Fox Theater in downtown Atlanta. The Fox Theater, along with Coca-Cola, CNN, and the Atlanta Film Festival, sponsored the event. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Lee's third feature film. Do The Right Thing - easily the most controversial work in his filmography - is also one of the most honest and interesting.

The film presents a day in the life of one neighborhood in Brooklyn. It's the hottest day of the summer in this corner of Bed-Stuy and tensions (especially racial tensions) are building over the course of the movie. These tensions finally reach a breaking point at the film's climax, turning quickly into an ugly confrontation between white and black that leaves one character dead and every other character changed forever.

When the movie first came out in 1989, many people were afraid that it would provoke riots in the streets. Of course, it never happened. What did happen, however, was that Lee presented an open and honest look at race in America, and opened up a unique discussion about the baggage carried by people on every side of the color line.

After a number of racial incidents in New York City in the 1980s - including the deaths of several blacks at the hands of mobs, among them 16 year old Yusef Hawkins, as well as the controversial Tawana Brawley rape case, in which a teenaged black girl alleged that she was raped by a white police officer - tensions were very high. Instead of inflaming the tension of the times, Lee's film mirrored it and forced America to confront it head on.

It was a gutsy move. The film took a lot of heat for being provocative at a time when society didn’t want to rock the racial boat. And it charted territory on race relations in America in a way that few films have done since.

But that was 20 years ago. Surely things have changed since then, right? A film like this can’t still be relevant in President Obama’s post-racial America, can it? Obviously the answer is yes. If anything, Do The Right Thing is even more relevant today, in an age when, admittedly, race isn’t the issue it used to be. Far less overt than it was, yes, but as long as there are prejudices of any kind that people can hold against one another, there will always be a place for movies like Do The Right Thing.

Anyway, I think you get the point. End of sermon.


As for seeing the movie itself on the big screen again, that was a real treat. While the movie is most often remembered for its in-your-face depiction of race issues, there are a number of touching character moments that always bring a smile to my face. Anytime the late Ossie Davis, and his radiant wife, actress Ruby Dee, graced the screen – as their characters, Da Mayor and Mother Sister, respectively – there were palpable sparks between them. It was beautiful to witness the genuine chemistry between actor and actress, man and woman, husband and wife. Seeing them together reminded me of the time I got to meet them in the flesh when they made an appearance at the University of Georgia. They performed a dramatic reading that night, and I got their autographs. I still have that flyer with their signatures on it somewhere…


That was a special treat, just like this screening. What made it better, though, was the fact that the event was attended by writer and director Spike Lee himself. Also in attendance were Lee’s sister, actress Joie Lee, actor Bill Nunn, and producer Monty Ross. I wish I’d had the opportunity to speak to Monty, ‘cause I’ve actually met him on a couple of occasions, including once on a film shoot Ross produced in Virginia back in my film school days.

All four spoke to the audience after the screening, answering questions from the audience, including a couple from folks who were obviously impressed to be in the same room with gen-u-ine celebrities (folks, please do NOT waste Mr. Lee’s – and the paying audiences’ – time with inane questions)! Dude: Spike Lee is not gonna take a look at the script that you just “happened” to bring with you tonight. And lady: nobody cares that you were at the same party with Spike once upon a time. In Africa, no less. Even if you have with you the picture you took with him as proof.

Despite the bonus entertainment provided by some audience members, all in all it was a memorable evening at the Fabulous Fox.

In closing, I’d have to say that Do The Right Thing is certainly Spike’s most controversial film – and perhaps his best. Sure, some of his other films are more polished stylistically (Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X) and still others show a greater command of his storytelling ability as a director (Inside Man, Summer Of Sam). But for my money, Do The Right Thing has more of Spike Lee in it than perhaps any other of his numerous films.

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Spike’s early films. Do The Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, (most of) Jungle Fever, and Malcolm X all stand out for me because they demonstrate Lee’s passion for making movies and his pure love of cinema. They also showcase the fact that this was a filmmaker with SOMETHING TO SAY. You may not always agree with what he had to say. You may wish he had said something else, but you could never ignore the fact that he was saying it.

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.

300: The IMAX Experience

Finally went to see 300 again tonight, this time in IMAX. You know, I've always been a big fan of the IMAX format. Since the days of The Dream Is Alive, IMAX has been a continual source of wonder and amazement for me. To think that we can enjoy films on the scale of what this format can do with picture and sound - it still blows my mind. Even before they started converting feature films to IMAX, I was sold on the format. My personal favorites to this day include all of the space films: the aforementioned Dream, Destiny in Space, Space Station 3-D, and particularly Magnificent Desolation (which I regret only seeing one time - sigh). With the advent of features on IMAX, I was thrilled all over again. Starting with Apollo 13, Attack of the Clones, and last year's Superman Returns, I got to enjoy these fantastic films in a whole new way, with wall-to-wall picture, exquisite surround sound, and a total cinematic experience that the local multiplex will never be able to recreate.

That experience happened again tonight seeing 300 for the second time. I'm glad that I saw the movie in regular 35mm first, so as to have something to compare it against. I was impressed at how the already eye-popping visuals popped even more (at least in most scenes) in this larger format. With so much more of my field of view taken up by the images on the larger screen, I felt drawn into the movie even more than before. I also noticed the depth of the movie's soundtrack to a greater degree this time (and it wasn't a distraction) and found myself experiencing the film on a deeper level.

All this is to say that I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the movie even more than the first time. What was already a extremely visceral, cinematic rush of a ride was that much more fun the second time around.

Anybody else out there seen 300: The IMAX Experience? Let me know what you think!

Kevin

Spartans! Prepare for glory!!

As you can tell, I've seen the new movie 300. And boy, what a ride! I'm not sure what impressed more: the sumptuous visuals that were an incredible feast for the eyes; the make-no-apologies and take-no-prisoners attitude of the filmmakers, who just went for it and put this fanboys' dream movie out there; or the fact that this isn't just an incredible story - it's a TRUE story, albeit a highly stylized one as told by director Zack Snyder. Either way, this is certainly the first standout film of 2007, a gutsy, visceral experience committed to celluloid like no movie in a long time.

So, do you think he liked it guys?

Well, sure, it was a lot of fun, and I got completely caught up in it. I've got this thing for the little guys vs. big guys, last stand types of movies, especially true ones. Heck, I've been so pumped about this movie that I'm almost as excited about The History Channel's specials (aired the same week the film opened) about the actual battle of Thermopylae (especially the documentary Last Stand of the 300 - check it out if you get the chance). Long story short, 300 is a fun movie that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let you go until the very end.

I read Frank Miller's graphic novel just before I saw the movie and I was immediately impressed by the unique style of artwork that popped out of the panels of the pages. I was also struck by the sense of deja vu that I felt reading the book. I recognized right off some of the very images and sound bites from the movie trailer. That made me think that this could be an interesting adaptation. I loved Sin City, so I was intrigued by the possibilities here. I was very happy to see that the movie wasn't a linear adaptation, but that, in fact, the filmmakers "filled" out the storyline with some welcome set up in the first act, as well as provided some expanded characterization and subplots, particularly with Queen Gorgo and her attempts to sway the council to support Leonidas in his cause for Sparta.

And while many believe that 300 is modern allegory for the Iraq War, I believe the filmmakers weren't aiming for such topical relevance (although it could be argued that, intended or not, the film is topical AND relevant, given the coincidental parallels between film and current events), but instead were instead attempting to tell a compelling story in a unique way. In any case, it's up to the individual viewer to decide.

That's my opinion. What's yours? Feel free to post your thoughts. And if anybody's seen the IMAX version, I'd love to hear how it looks in that format.

Until next time,

Kevin

Welcome to The Reel Blog!

If there's one thing you need to know about me from the get-go, it's that I LOVE movies. Been a film fan since I was a kid, and love to discuss the cinema (and TV, too). So be prepared to hear and be heard on all things film-related. I'm totally devoted to learning and living the craft of filmmaking, so I'm not just a fan, I'm also a writer and director. I've done a few little projects and am currently working on some bigger ones.

So, in short, on this blog we'll talk about all kinds of things: what I'm up to, as well as the latest movies and film news that's worth knowing. And that just for starters. But this only works if you talk, too. So share your thoughts, comments, and questions, and let's have ourselves a little conversation. It's more fun that way.

In the near future, you'll be able to find your way directly to this blog from my web site, www.the-reel-mccoy.net. We're currently re-tooling the site, and you won't want to miss anything that will appear in version 2.0. You'll be able to take a look-see at all kinds of film-related goodness, including several projects that I wrote and directed. Plus, you'll be in the know on what I've got cooking at the moment.

That being said, I'm going to end this post for now. But don't worry, I'll be back in the very near future to add my two-cents worth on the Oscars (I know, I know, I'm only a week and a half late on that one), as well as the new, uber-cool movie 300 (which I saw last night at a sneak preview here in Atlanta).

Until then...

Kevin