Scared of Disney Running Star Wars Into the Ground? Don't Be.

          As of October 30th, 2012 Disney is now the sole owner of Lucasfilm and all of it's properties, including Industrial Light & Magic, Skywalker Sound, Indiana Jones, and the Star Wars Franchise. The internet is in panic mode with the latest purchase with claims that Star Wars will be "childish" or "ruined" but there is nothing further from the truth. To understand what I mean, let's first discuss what "Disney" means.
          Disney is shorthand for The Walt Disney Company, the world's largest media conglomerate located in Burbank, California. They employ over 100,000 people worldwide (60,000 in Orlando alone). The employees are oftentimes called "Cast Members" because the goal is to put on a show. But Disney owns a lot more than just Walt Disney World. It's Parks & Resorts divisions controls four resorts around the world with one more on the way (and one in Tokyo that is licensed out to the Oriental Land & Sea Co). They operate four Cruise ship and 24 hotels in the United States alone. What is really sad is that I know all of this without looking it up. They operate a timeshare division called the "Disney Vacation Club" and give worldwide expeditions via "Adventures by Disney". Their theme parks have had Star Wars attractions since 1987 and an annual Star Wars Weekend since 1993. Needless to say, Disney is no stranger to Star Wars.
          "The Little Mermaid", "Pulp Fiction", "Beauty and the Beast", "Trainspotting",  "Cinderella", "Gangs of New York", and "Chicago". What do all of these films have in common? All produced and distributed by Disney. The Walt Disney Company needs to keep the Disney "image" clean and wholesome so it releases certain films under other banners. Disney releases all of it's "adult" content through Touchstone Pictures and formerly through Miramax, Hollywood Pictures, and Dimension Films. The upcoming Star Wars films will be released under the "Lucasfilms" banner and even though it is distributed by Disney, they will not attach their logo to the beginning (Disney has not made this statement, but it is easy to connect the dots). Disney took the same approach with "The Avengers" this summer by just placing the Marvel logo at the beginning of the film.
           The Walt Disney Company is no stranger to the acquiring business. Disney CEO Bob Iger has already acquired PIXAR, Marvel and Lucasfilm in his tenure. Disney has taken the same approach with each one by stepping back and letting them all work their magic. The people who work in the Burbank office are not idiots, they want these companies because they are successful, they aren't going to go and ruin it by putting Mickey Mouse everywhere. PIXAR still operates out of the same Emeryville building, Marvel still operates out of New York City and Lucasfilms will still operate out of the Presidio in San Francisco (coincidentally within walking distance of the Walt Disney Family Museum - which is not operated by the Walt Disney Company).
           What else does Disney own? ABC, ESPN, The Muppets Studio and A&E Networks. Fan of "Lost"? Disney made it. "Scrubs", "Desperate Houswives", "Boy Meets World"? Disney made those too. We can thank Disney for most of the sporting events we watch. Some of the best mobile apps are owned made by Disney. If you've never played "Where's My Water", you're missing out. Let's be real for a second, though. The movies they DO release under the Disney brand are almost always outstanding. The Disney renaissance in the 80's and 90's was perhaps the best stretch of movie making, animated OR live-action, since the Golden Age of Hollywood. The only concern should be that Disney owns too much and is turning into an "Empire" of it's own, not that it won't do Star Wars justice (clearly you haven't seen Episode 1).
           If you're worried because you think Star Wars is going to somehow be incorporated into the Theme Parks and Disney Merchandise..... wake up and smell the roses, this has been going on for years. If you're worried because you think Disney will "ruin" the Star Wars movies, you are naive. The same thing was said after they purchased Marvel, yet no one will argue how terrific they have done since then. Princess Leia won't become a Disney Princess, and if you're concerned about an animated Star Wars (it already exists).
          In full disclosure, I do work for Disney but this doesn't make what I've said any less true. But don't take my word for it, wait until you see the film in 2015. And let's be honest, fan boys are going to love it regardless.

"Lincoln" Review

Walking into Alice Tully Hall for the third time in two weeks was far from routine. I have never been to a Disney screening where I did not have to turn in my cell phone at the door. Other studios, far whatever reason, seem to care less. I begrudgingly handed my phone over, jokingly telling the guard "it's an iPhone 5, please don't break it". He didn't laugh. Once inside the Starr Theater my friends and I found our seats. We had prime spots in the tenth row (which sure beat the neck-bending front row seats I had for Life of Pi just one week earlier). The screening was a "secret screening" of a work-in-progress movie, although everybody knew it was "Lincoln". The New York Film Festival had great success with last year's "Hugo" and I can imagine this becoming a new tradition (the first work-in-progress screening was Disney's Beauty and the Beasts). Robert Pena gave a short introduction before welcoming Steven Spielberg to the stage. Spielberg gives his introduction then disappears.

Let's begin. Ahhh, "Lincoln". It should be noted that this IS a work-in-progress film and much may change between it's November opening. The film follows Abraham Lincoln, played brilliantly by Daniel Day-Lewis, and his mission to pass the thirteenth amendment, abolishing slavery. The film dives into the back room deals that were made to get the amendment passed and the striking similarities to today's climate. The cinematography by Janusz Kaminski (Spielberg's go-to guy) is what you would expect, top notch. Costume, sets, editing and a score by John Williams are all on par with what we have come to expect from the most proficient director of all-time. The script, by playwright Tony Kushner, felt more inclined for the stage with the numerous dramatic monologues given by several of the characters. Spielberg even said it felt more theatrical than any project he had done before.

The performances were outstanding across the board. In addition to the aforementioned Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones was a standout in his performance of that one guy who had that one part (I have the memory of a two-year old). Sally Fields played a very convincing Mary "Molly" Todd Lincoln and brought some empathy to a character that is typically looked down upon. Joseph Gordon Levitt's, although very good, portrayal of Lincoln's eldest living son did nothing for me. The character served little purpose than to make the film run longer, and his part could and should be taken out in it's entirety.

Everything from Lincoln's voice to the way he walked was study meticulously. As Spielberg said "this is not your Disneyland Abe Lincoln". He also said "Epcot Center" which was stupid because A) we call it Epcot now and B) Epcot doesn't have an Abe Lincoln, dummy. Mr. Day-Lewis, you can start working on your next Oscar speech now. He seriously nailed it and so did Spielberg. I'm not going to make an Oscar prediction this early but I can tell you this film should be taken seriously in almost every category. The film really centers around the 13th amendment and less on events like the Gettysburg address (it's mentioned once) and the shooting in the Ford Theater (mentioned, but not shown). The film opens briefly on the Civil War but afterwards we never see war footage and it fades into the background. John Hawkes, James Spader (Michael Scott's replacement), and a third man (for the life of me I can't remember his name) became, what I imagined were, the first lobbyist in trying to secure bi-partisan support for the 13th amendment. I loved the scenes with these folks, they provided comic relief in an otherwise very dark movie. It's still all settling in and the excitement that followed the movie (more below if you care to read) made me forget a lot of what happened the preceding 2-3 hours (couldn't be sure since we didn't have cell phones!). What I do know is that if your'e a fan of cinema or history, you must see this movie. 3 1/2 Stars (out of 4).

Following the screening I immediately rushed back to security and got my phone and headed back in for the Q&A. I must've been the only person in the entire theater with a cell phone at this point. After the Q&A finished, Spielberg lingered on stage for a second. Big mistake, Steve. We bum rushed towards the front and immediately requested autographs and handshakes and words of wisdom from the man himself. I secured the first two, but he wouldn't reveal his secret. It was a dream come true just to be at a quasi-World Premiere (was it or wasn't it?) of a Spielberg film and to see him, but to shake his hand and have a mini-conversation?!? Beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you Mr. Spielberg and thank you Film Society of Lincoln Center for giving me this opportunity.

Most Anticipated Summer Movies

Tomorrow's opening of "The Avengers" officially marks the summer blockbuster season. My top ten most anticipated summer movies are as follows:

1. Brave

Coming off of last year's critically panned "Cars 2", Pixar finally has something to prove. Pixar's first female lead, it's first period piece, it's first princess all make for what should be a remarkable adventure. Given the studio's past history, "Brave" should be both a critical and box office success. With the exception of the "Cars" franchise, Pixar has been near-perfect. "Brave" is a safe bet for a great time at the movies and that's why it makes number one on my most anticipated summer movies.

2. Prometheus

Ridley Scott is back. And I mean BACK. This guy has been making fan boy films while Chris Nolan was in diapers. He has made some of Hollywood's most recognizable films of all time. "Alien", "Blade Runner", and "Gladiator" comprise just a small list of Scott's repertoire. He has been on a sci-fi break for decades so this return with a "semi-sorta-not really" prequel to Alien is a welcome number two on the list.

3. The Amazing Spider-Man

Andrew Garfield has had a short career thus far but has already proven he is one of the best actor's of our generation. Still a relatively unknown to some, you will fall in love with this guy. You will think, why the hell did we cast Tobey Maguire in the first place? Now I know what you're thinking, "there's not a single person who is looking forward to this over The Dark Knight Rises". Slow down. We all know the new Batman flick will be great, but this one is a toss-up. It has Marc Webb directing. His filmography is limited. And I mean limited, as in like one movie, "500 Days of Summer". And while we can all agree that movie was a breakout indie, how will Webb stack up on a high-budget action film? This is why I'm looking forward to The Amazing Spider-Man, not because I think it'll be better than The Dark Knight, but because we just don't know what it's going to look like.

4. The Dark Knight Rises

Need I say more? It's Batman. I had the opportunity to catch the first 10 minutes of this film and all I can say is "wow". It opens similar to "The Dark Knight" with a big heist scene (this time in a plane). Chris Nolan will undoubtedly have fan boys saying "Greatest Movie Ever" until his next flick comes out. Look for this film becoming a dark horse in the Oscar Race this year. If I had to put money on it, this will become the highest grossing movie of the summer, but don't forget the force that it is "Prometheus".

5. The Avengers

This movie has had very good reviews coming out of the gate (and I mean like critically acclaimed reviews) which makes me pretty excited for this action pic. It is one of the most ambitious films ever made and I can't think of any other movie like it (unless you count Freddy Vs. Jason). not only does it combine the stars of "Iron Man", "Thor" and "Captain America" but it weaves their story lines into this film (picking up where Captain America left off). It's not really a sequel, it's kind of hard to put into words. All four preceding Marvel films (five if you count "The Incredible Hulk") have received overwhelming positive reviews making this one of the best critical franchises of all time. The first five films are all solid, the next five could all be hit or miss.

6. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

I admit this one could be a huge flop, but just the title gets me excited. Throw in Tim Burton to the mix and we could have ourselves a cult classic. Benjamin Walker who plays Abraham Lincoln has had some experience with playing president's last seen as Andrew Jackson on Broadway's "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson". It should be interesting seeing him in a different medium this summer.

7. The Bourne Legacy

Jeremy Renner has really made a name with himself since The Hurt Locker won the Oscar in 2010. He stars in two mega blockbusters this summer, the first as Hawkeye in "The Avengers" and the second in "The Bourne Legacy" but NOT as Jason Bourne. It's not really a sequel and it's not really a reboot, it's a spin-off with the same naming scheme. This new series follows Aaron Cross on the same predicaments Matt Damon's "Bourne" character had. It's on the list because the first three were solid action flicks so who's to say this film won't follow suit?

8. Men In Black III

This is one of those toss-ups on the list. In one respect it could be awesome like "Men In Black" or it could be complete shit like "Men In Black II". Will Smith has definitely matured a lot as an actor since we last saw him as Agent J so it should be interesting to see how the character has progressed (my guess is not at all). This new film uses time travel, mostly because Tommy Lee Jones is getting too old for this shit.  They're sticking with Barry Sonnenfeld, who hasn't directed a good film since the original Men In Black in 1997. Some of his flops in the meantime include, "Wild Wild West", "Fun With Dick and Jane", and "RV". I guess we'll just have to wait in anticipation...

9. Dark Shadows

Johnny Depp. Tim Burton. Let's face it, except "Alice In Wonderland", every movie these guys do together is amazing. Why should this one be any different? The trailer looks odd to say the least, but can we expect anything different from this duo? Add an extra dose of anticipation because of the cult following aspect (this is an adaptation of a 1960's soap opera).

10. Ted

On one hand I hate "Family Guy" (It lacks originality, coherency and whimsy). On the other, it does look pretty funny. If there's one thing I've learned from the years is don't trust a trailer. Trailer houses are notorious for cramming in all of the funny bits into two minute trailers (see any Adam Sandler movie for an example). That's why I will have to wait and see with this one. I will give it it credit though, in the brief two minute trailer there was more originality and comedy than a 30 minute Family Guy episode. Let's hope Seth MacFarlane makes a successful break into the movie industry.

HONORABLE MENTION: "Lawless"

Formerly titled "The Wettest County", this film did not make the list because I've already seen it. I can attest to how good it is though. There's been a lot of Oscar talk (especially now that it is premiering at Cannes) but I can dismiss that notion (unless they've done an overhaul since October). Shia LaBeouf has his best performance in years and Tom Hardy is excellent as always. Guy Pearce was the standout (and if there is an Oscar nomination for anybody, it's going to him). This is a very big character-driven piece and I highly recommend it. Opening in August.

Predictions for the Oscars!

The final event of the year to celebrate the best of cinema of 2011. And what a year it was. I was fortunate enough to see premieres of many of the oscar nominated pics including, "Hugo", "The Artist", "Drive", "A Better Life", and "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore". Really a fantastic year for film. From a movie like, "The Artist" a black and white, silent film in the now-extinct 4:3 ratio with a budget of 12 million dollars to a super blockbuster like "Hugo" in brilliant 3D and a budget close to 150 million. Nine films were nominated for Best Picture this year, and eight of the nine deserved to be (I'm sorry but "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"... really?). The Academy can nominate a maximum of 10 and this is a year we should've hit 10 by adding "Drive" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2", and taking out 'Loud and Close'. Alas, the Academy is not perfect but it's still the most prestigious awards show across the entertainment world. So without further adieu, let's get on to the winners:

BEST PICTURE

The Artist - In the past couple of years I have disagreed with the Academy's Best Picture winner. Don't get me wrong I have predicted the winner correctly every year since I started doing this, but that doesn't mean I always agreed with the Academy's choice. This is one of those exceptions as the Academy will finally award the best picture of the year to the best picture of the year. I remember leaving "The Artist" screening thinking, "this is the year's Best Picture winner" and have openly discussed it ever since. At no point did I consider any other movie, because no other movie really comes close. "The Artist" and "Hugo" share some similarities, both are love letters to the olden days of filmmaking. And that is where the similarities end. One is set in America but made by the French. The other is set in France but made by Americans. "Hugo" is all-star director Martin Scorsese's first attempt at 3D, and he does it quite well. "The Artist", however goes even further. They realize that to take a step forward, you sometimes have to take a step back. If any film can upset, it's "Hugo" but seems very unlikely.

BEST DIRECTOR

Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) - A very simple formula to decide who wins this one, win the DGA, win the Oscar. The DGA, for those that don't know, is the Director's Guild of America. It is a very good indicator at who wins the Best Director statuette at the Academy Awards (failing to match up only 6 times). And since Michel won at the DGA's, then it's a good indication he'll win here. If anyone can upset, it's Scorsese for "Hugo", but again unlikely.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Jean Dujardin (The Artist)- What?!? What about Clooney!? What about Pitt?! What about them? I am telling you right now, "The Artist" is a force to be reckoned with. Besides, Dujardin has won this category at all of the major awards ceremonies, including the SAG awards (Screen Actors Guild). Like the DGA, the SAG predicts the Oscars pretty well for Actors. Possible upset?

If it's going to happen, it's going to be Clooney in "The Descendants". But there comes a point in your life where you ask? Is George even acting anymore? I think he's just THAT cool in real life!!

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Viola Davis (The Help)- But Meryl Streep won this award at the Golden Globes? Yeah, that's because the Golden Globes is a load of shit. The only thing good about that ceremony is the food, and the viewers at home can't enjoy that. Davis' breakout performance came in "Doubt" which she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination. And guess how long she was on screen for? 8 minutes. Now THAT'S acting. Upsets? Never forget the power of Meryl Streep. That woman has been nominated more times than most people can count.

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christopher Plummer (Beginners)- The really shame here is that Albert Brooks didn't even get nominated for "Drive"?! But anyway, Chris is a shoo-in here. His performance in "Beginners" as a father that comes out of the closet after his wife's death is outstanding. Upsets? No.

SMALL UPDATE: Chris Plummer skipped out on the Academy Nominee Banquet, something seen as taboo apparently. This race just opened up the possibility of a Max von Sydow, unlikely still, but possible. But if last year's race taught us anything, it's that the Academy doesn't really focus on Actor's campaigns as much as they used to. I'm referring to Melissa Leo buying her own "For Your Consideration" ads in the Hollywood trades. That made me publish a last minute blog predicting a win by Hailee Steinfeld. Leo did end up winning which has taught me to stick to my original gut feeling. I'm sticking with Plummer.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Octavia Spencer (The Help)- Don't get me wrong, she was good, but is this performance really oscar worthy? I thought Berenice Bejo did a much better job in "The Artist". Hell, even Melissa McCarthy's role in "Bridesmaids" was more memorable. I don't pick the winners, folks. I just predict them and Octavia Spencer will win. SAG, guys. She won there, she'll win here.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Woody Allen (Midnight In Paris)- Fresh off it's win at the WGA for Original Screneplay, I think it will follow suit here. My previous post is as follows:

Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)- Now this and the next category are a little harder to predict since the Writer's Guild have not held their awards yet. I will be sure to update if those results change my mind. Even with the WGA winners announced, this category is perhaps the hardest to predict. I think it really comes down to Woody Allen or Michel, and I believe the Academy will realize how hard it must be to write an entire script with no dialogue. For that reason alone, I give this won to Hazanavicius, but I wouldn't be surprised by a Woody Allen victory (I wouldn't even call it an upset).

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (The Descendants)- This one I am a little bit more confident on than the previous category. Although, Aaron Sorkin (Moneyball) is one of the best writer's in the game, I think what made "The Descendants" was the story. The dialogue wasn't as snappy or witty as Sorkin, but the story and the character development in 'Descendants' was unmatched by any other movie this past year.

BEST ART DIRECTION

Hugo - This is the category where I stop listing names of the individual people because they're typically multiple people and they all have obscure names and let's be frank, who cares? I go with "Hugo", but honestly "The Artist" or "Midnight in Paris" could just as easily win. This is one of those categories that is just hard unless you really know about set design, which I don't.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Tree of Life- You hear a lot of things about this film, but the one that gets brought up the most is "I love the way it was shot". Spielberg films, in my opinion, have always had some of the best cinematography, and so I would love to give this to "War Horse" but it seems unlikely. It's categories like these that will help you win your Oscar Pool. Pick "The Tree of Life" for the best chance.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Hugo- Period pieces like "Hugo" always take the cake on this one. Oh wait... all of the films nominated in this category are period pieces... what a surprise. You know, I'm not big into Costumes, but I was much more impressed with Harry Potter's Costume pieces than the films nominated in this category. Nothing made me go Whoah!!! Look at that costume! I wouldn't be surprised if "Jane Eyre" walked off with this one either, expect them if "Hugo" doesn't get it.

BEST FILM EDITING

The Artist- Finally another category I know something about!! This is one film that is enhanced by the editing. If it's not an area you care about, you won't notice it, but the slicing on this movie was top-notch. Fincher movies are always very well edited, so a win by "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" would not be the strangest thing of the night.

BEST MAKEUP

The Iron Lady- You made Meryl Streep look like a slightly younger lady?!? Wow! This wasn't a year of spectacular makeup, to be honest. I'm surprised J.Edgar didn't get a nomination here. Maybe if they stopped spending so much time campaigning for a Best Picture and pulled out some "For Your Consideration: Best Makeup" ads, it would work. If there's an upset it comes from "Albert Nobbs" not "Harry Potter".

BEST SOUND EDITING

Hugo- Why? Because it's Hugo. The bigger the budget, the better the Sound Editor, right? Something like that. One can also make a case for "Transformers". I do recall walking past a "Transformers" showing that was emptying out and two people were discussing, "that was some REALLY good Sound Editing!!" "Yeah, but not as good as the Sound Mixing!!". Which brings me to my next stop.

BEST SOUND MIXING

Hugo- Come on, these categories should really be combined as one. "But they are completely separate things!" Oh yeah? Then why are all of the same movies nominated for both categories, and the film that wins, wins both categories? Also, why are some of the nominated names the same! Let's just call it "Sound Design" and save some Oscar Time.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Rise of the Planet of the Apes- I don't know if Andy Serkis will ever get a much deserved Oscar nomination, but this is the closet he always comes. Best Visual Effects. Anytime he's in a movie, you can expect that movie to win. In this case, he plays the Ape in "Planet of the Apes" and he does one hell of a job, and the effect artists do one hell of a job making him look like a primate. Upset? Transformers or Potter I suppose, but I think "Planet of the Apes" has this one locked.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

The Artist- If you don't know by now, The Artist is a silent film and depends heavily on it's score. The score plays such an important role it is one of the few movies you really get into it. Nothing really that special on the other scores here, John Williams is nominated twice which may sound good in theory, but he'll split any vote he gets. "The Artist" isn't foolproof here, but it's a good bet.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

"Man or Muppet" (The Muppets)- Bret McKenzie has written a classic! I would be okay with this entire field being nominated by Muppets songs (there are only two nominees this year!!). Has anyone heard "Real in Rio", the other contender? It's nothing special. "Life's a Happy Song", also from The Muppets, should've been nominated as well.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Rango- The Golden Globes Animated Feature pick, "The Adventures of Tintin" wasn't even nominated here. The Best reviewed animated film of the year, "Arthur Christmas" also got snubbed. "Rango" is good though, so I'm glad the Academy is nominating it. Happy "Cars 2" didn't get nominated. What a huge disappointment from my favorite production company, Pixar. I can't see an upset coming from Puss or Kung Fu, so "Rango" looks pretty solid here without much competition.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Pina- I saw a lot of good documentaries this year, and none of my top choices were nominated. While "Pina" was good, it's hardly the best. "The Bully Project" or "Project: Nim" were superior films, but they didn't get the marketing they needed. If someone pulls an upset, it's "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory", but I really think Pina has this one locked-up.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FEATURE

A Separation- Few foreign language films also get screenplay nominations. Not a lot of heavy competition in this category. "A Separation" has had lots of success this awards season, and I don't see it ending here.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

La Luna- Just had the pleasure of watching this at the IFC Center in Manhattan. It is a spectacle for the eye. The animation pops out at you, and that's saying something since I didn't see it in 3D. Very nice heart-warming story, would you expect anything less from PIXAR. The rest of my previous post remains the same, and I didn't even change the winner, but now I am more confident in it:

La Luna- Haven't seen it, but it's from PIXAR and they are the best in the biz. I have seen the "Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore" which I was shocked to find out was not a Pixar Short. Non-Academy members will be able to see La Luna debut in front of this summer's Disney/Pixar flick, "Brave". Expect La Luna, with runner up 'Flying Books'.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

Saving Face- This had the biggest "wow" factor and had half the audience crying around the 10-minute mark. This one's not all a sob-story though, it has all of the ingredients a full-length documentary has, just shrunk down to a nice 40 minutes. The rest of the short documentaries are good too, and the one to steal it from "Saving Face" would have to be "Incident in New Baghdad". Here is my previous post, which no longer holds true:

Incident in New Baghdad- Let's be real, now we're just guessing. The only reason I pick this one is because it's the only one I've heard about. Plus it sounds the most compelling out of them all.

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

Raju- I am pretty impressed that only one of my short film picks changed before I even saw them. My favorite of the Live Actions was "Tuba Atlantic" but I don't see that being picked by The Academy. "Raju" has a much more serious subject matter but is done in a far less serious tone than "Tuba Atlantic". "Time Freak" was hilarious! I highly recommend anybody watch that one. It can be enjoyed by all, whereas some of the other shorts have, shall I say, an acquired taste. My previous post picked "Raju" as well:

Raju- They say the easiest way to get to the Kodak Theater on Oscar night is to make a short film. This isn't exactly true. There are more qualifying Live Action Short Films than any other category. I would hate to be the group that has to narrow it down to five. Why Raju? Why not.

So, stay tuned because the picks might change before Oscar night. But as far now, this is a pretty good idea on how the night should shape out. So tune in February 26 to find out!

Golden Globe Predictions - 2012

I'll make this one quick because the Golden Globes are really just a pit stop on the way to The Oscars. Not to mention they are a little wacky when it comes to nominations (anyone remember last year's double Johnny Depp nods, or "The Tourist" getting a Best Picture nomination?!). Anyways, here goes what I think will win, not necessarily what I think should win:

BEST PICTURE DRAMA- THE DESCENDANTS

BEST PICTURE COMEDY- THE ARTIST

BEST ACTOR (DRAMA) – GEORGE CLOONEY

BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA)- VIOLA DAVIS

BEST ACTOR (COMEDY) – JEAN DUJARDIN

BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY)- MICHELLE WILLIAMS

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS- OCTAVIA SPENCER

BEST DIRECTOR- MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS

BEST SCREENPLAY – WOODY ALLEN

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – THE ARTIST

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – THE HELP, “THE LIVING PROOF”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE- “RANGO”

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM- “IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY”

BEST TV DRAMA- HOMELAND

BEST ACTOR TV (DRAMA) – KELSEY GRAMMER

BEST ACTRESS TV (DRAMA) – CLAIR DANES

BEST TV COMEDY- ENLIGHTENED

BEST ACTOR TV (COMEDY) – MATT LEBLANC

BEST ACTRESS TV (COMEDY) – ZOOEY DESCHANEL

BEST MINI-SERIES/TV MOVIE –DOWNTOWN ABBEY

BEST ACTRESS MINI-SERIES- MILDRED PIERCE

BEST ACTOR MINI-SERIES- DOMINIC WEST

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS TV- JESSICA LANGE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR TV- PETER DINKLAGE

"A Dangerous Method"

Yesterday was a Roller Coaster ride, that is for sure. I had been looking forward to that day for weeks, not only because of "A Dangerous Method" but because of the mid-season premiere of "South Park" as well. As everyone in the world now knows (Justin Bieber was the last to find out apparently), Steve Jobs has passed away -- more on that later.

"A Dangerous Method" by David Cronenberg. Sony Pictures Classics. United States Premiere.

The New York Film Festival Gala Screening of "A Dangerous Method" welcomed a packed house last night as it welcomed director David Cronenberg to the stage. He gave a short introduction, brought out a few people and then began the film. 'Method' chronicles the life of Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), the protege of Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). The topic may be psychoanalysis, but in it's core "A Dangerous Method" is about sex, love and deception. Keira Knightly gives the best performance of her career as Sabina Spielrei, Jung's patient and later his mistress. There are humorous moments throughout, most notably the dinner scene where Carl Jung stacks his plate full of food (it's a "you'd-have-to-see-it" moment). Comic relief, however, is brisk in this brilliantly adapted film. Oscar Buzz for the film has been running rampant since the World Premiere in Venice last month. Expect a slew of nominations for Screenplay, Directing, Best Picture, Costume and possibly set design and score.

The Quiet Before The Storm

I expect the peacefulness to be short lived so we'll take it while we have it. Hurricane Irene is a matter of hours away from hitting NYC head on. It's a very eerie feel in Brooklyn and from what I can tell the rest of New York as well. Reporters have called it a post-9/11 feel with neighbors helping each other out, which I have noticed in my limited time outdoors today. Walgreens is sold out of flashlights and water which seem to be the most sought after item here. No luck at Staples either. An odd mix of stores, but some of the few I have in walking distance. Taxis have switched over to Group Ride Fare-to-fare zones which is cheaper for trips between boroughs. A trip to Bronx would normally cost me 60-70 bucks, but I can get to Yankee stadium for 20 bucks flat on the new system. Tollways are closed to encourage citizens to leave the city, mass transport shut down early today at noon. All flights have been cancelled and all the airports are closed. Amtrak has suspended service. Broadway is giving in and saying "the show must not go on". Dave Matthews who had a three day festival set for this weekend on Governor's Island postponed today and tomorrow's lineups. While I've only lived in this apartment for a couple days, I have had extensive experience in New York and this is a very strange feeling. I am not in an evacuation zone but even those that are are brushing off the hurricane as nothing. It will be interesting to see how things play out tomorrow. I will update soon if I have power.