Luck of the Irish

It’s been awhile, dear friends, but never fear, Popcorn Dinner is back! Ages ago I did a post about my favourite English movies promising more movie snapshots from the British Isles in the future. The time is now! I dubbed March “Irish Movie Month” (and yes, I recognize it’s now almost May, but that’s sometimes how long these things take) and had loads of fun watching a bunch of films with a distinctly Irish flavour. I’ve never actually been to Ireland – an oversight from my time living in the UK that I hope to rectify someday soon – but here’s an overview of what I’ve learned about the country from the movies, whatever your mood or preferences…

The Guilt-laden Romance:

Chris O’Donnell and Minnie Driver explore young Catholic love and friendship in Circle of Friends (Source)

Set in 1950s Ireland, Circle of Friends is the quintessentially Irish story of teenagers torn between traditional religious values and raging hormones. With a highly recognizable cast in supporting roles – Alan Cumming as the creepy Sean Walsh, Ciarán Hinds as the liberal sociology professor, and Colin Firth as the dashing older aristocrat – it traces the lives of three best friends from their small-town upbringing to higher education in the big city of Dublin. Take home message: Irish Catholic guilt meets the sexual revolution.

Once (2006)

A refreshing, charming, Irish take on guitar-playing guy meets piano-playing girl. Set on the streets of Dublin and made on a shoestring budget, Once is real, awkward, and heartfelt without feeling overly earnest or sentimental. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (who were once an item off-screen as well) have effortless chemistry which gets communicated primarily through the character’s song-writing partnership. Take home message: Dublin is for lovers.

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová discover love on the streets of Dublin in Once (Source)

A subcategory of the Irish romance movie genre is rom coms that use Ireland as a setting for American characters to find love (PS I Love You, Leap Year, Laws of Attraction).  The best of these in my opinion is 1997′s The Matchmaker with Janeane Garofalo – the cynical yet charming antithesis of a cookie-cutter romantic leading lady. The plot conspires to send Garofalo, a senator’s aide, to research her boss’s Irish ancestors coincidentally during the town’s annual matchmaking festival where qualified matchmakers pair up hopeful singles who flock there each year. Apparently this is totally a thing in Ireland (and was so way before match.com), but it happens in County Clare’s Lisdoonvarna and not the film’s fictional town of Ballinagra (those looking for an international booty call can check out Lisdoonvarna’s official Matchmaker website). The script relies a little too heavily on stereotypical Celtic charm and the plot is somewhat obvious and contrived (even for a rom com), but for fans of Garofalo’s self-deprecating humour and gorgeous Irish scenery, The Matchmaker delivers. Take home message: Matchmaking is a lost art.

Janeane Garofalo and David O’Hara are reluctantly paired in The Matchmaker (Source)

The History:

Of course, there is a much darker side to Ireland as well. There has been devastating oppression, violence, and bloodshed as part of the region’s history and politics – considerable material for intense weighty dramas, if that’s more your thing. There’s a number of these I haven’t seen like Paul Greengrass’ Bloody Sunday which received multiple honours on the festival circuit in 2002 and Michael Collins starring Liam Neeson as the instrumental figure in Ireland’s fight for independence.

While I skipped Michael Collins, I did catch The Wind That Shakes the Barley when it came out in 2006. It had similar subject matter and told the story of two brothers (Cillian Murphy and Pádraic Delaney) ideologically torn in the midst of the anti-British rebellion in the early 1920s. I honestly don’t remember a whole lot about this film other some spectacular cinematography, that it seemed to drag a bit, and was rather painful to watch in terms of heart wrenching content. Critics seemed to like it though as it captured the coveted Palme D’Or at Cannes. Take home message: War… What is it good for?…

Cillian Murphy and Pádraic Delaney’s family ties are tested in The Wind That Shakes the Barley (Source)

In the Name of the Father (1993)

No list of Irish-themed movies is complete without In the Name of the Father, set in the 1970s and based on the real life story of the “Guildford Four”, a group of four innocent people convicted of a brutal IRA bombing. Daniel Day-Lewis is phenomenal as the petty thief and all-around troublemaker Gerry Conlon who is falsely accused, viciously interrogated, and wrongly convicted of a terrible crime. His family is likewise investigated and convicted to long prison sentences for aiding and abetting the crime. The incomparable Pete Postlethwaite plays the disappointed yet optimistic father with superb nuance and depth. Both master actors play off each other well to convey the tensions, hostilities, and eventual grudging respect in a strained father-son relationship enduring unimaginable circumstances. Despite the riveting performances, I found the plot loses some steam, and was glad for Emma Thompson’s appearance as the vigilant lawyer committed to correcting the injustice to help move things along. Take home message: Irish fathers know best.

Emma Thompson rescues Daniel Day-Lewis from false imprisonment in In the Name of the Father (Source)

The Slums:

Emily Watson, Ciaran Owens, and Robert Carlyle fight to survive Ireland and each other in Angela’s Ashes (Source)

Based on Frank McCourt’s bestselling memoir of the same name, Angela’s Ashes runs contrary to the romanticized, lush, green version of Ireland we see portrayed in a lot of films. Young Frankie McCourt narrates this bleak tale of growing up amidst abuse, poverty, and alcoholism in Limerick. The movie received a lot of criticism for the dark, dismal visuals and the omission of McCourt’s characteristic dry humour, arguably what made the book the phenomenon it was. I was fully prepared to dislike the movie because I am a huge fan of the book, and I usually find the translation of books to film lacking, but I liked the movie version, mostly on the strength of the performances by Robert Carlyle (Angela’s ne’er do well husband) and Emily Watson (Angela). Take home message: “Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood. And worse still is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood.”

My Left Foot (1989)

If great acting is your thing, My Left Foot is a must-see. The film tells the life story of  Christy Brown – from growing up with cerebral palsy in working class Ireland to his eventual acclaim as an artist and writer. Brown created all of his work using his left foot – the only part of his body over which he had complete motor control. Daniel Day-Lewis’ brilliance playing the adult Christy Brown cannot be overstated (although he did lose the acting Oscar to Tom Hanks that year for his Philadelphia role). Day-Lewis infamously remained in character throughout the film’s production. Brown is a complex character (as most geniuses are) and the movie frames his story as one of both inspiration and candid emotional turmoil. Take home message: Never bet against Irish grit and determination.

Daniel Day-Lewis as renowned artist and author Christy Brown in My Left Foot (Source)

The Commitments (1991)

Glen Hansard makes another appearance here as one of the band members of The Commitments, a motley group of musicians assembled to bring soul to the music scene in Dublin. The film rests on the drive and ambition of manager Jimmy Rabbitte (played by Robert Atkins) as well as the tensions, attractions, and outright hostilities between the bandmates. It also features Maria Doyle Kennedy in her acting debut, who is now well-known to many for her impressive TV résumé which includes Downton Abbey, Dexter, and The Tudors. The Commitments is a great character-driven film capturing the turmoil and yearnings of working class Dublin. Take home message: Soul “grabs you by the balls and lifts you above the shite”.

The Commitments: They’ve got soul but they’re not soldiers (Source)

The Quirky Comedy:

Ending on a lighter note, there are some charming comedies that feature a distinctly Irish flavour. Try War of the Buttons (1994) – sort of a cross between Lord of the Flies and Stand By Me. Based on a French novel and film, La Guerre Des Boutons, the Irish adaptation pits the boys from Ballydowse against the neighbouring wealthier Carrickdowse gang. Captured members of either faction would be subjected to the humiliation of having all of the buttons and laces cut from their clothes, and face the wrath of their parents when they returned home with their school uniforms ruined. A particularly memorable scene involves the “Bally” boys storming down an Irish hillside in the buff to shock and horrify their enemy. Good, fun, wholesome family entertainment. Take home message: Sometimes wars need to finish in time for dinner.

Rallying the troops in The War of the Buttons (Source)

Waking Ned Devine (1998)

A similarly adorable, but perhaps more adult Irish comedy is Waking Ned Devine. Poor old Ned drops dead of shock upon learning that he is the national lottery winner. The news of Ned’s simultaneous good and bad fortune spreads like wildfire in Tullymore, Ned’s tiny hometown in Ireland, and the townsfolk attempt to honour his memory by scamming the big-city lottery officials and claiming his winnings. With all the eccentric characters and captivating scenery, this is one of those purely delightful, lighthearted British films that make me fantasize about immediately packing my bags and moving to just such a small hamlet in rural Ireland, however, the reality of this prospect would probably drive me mad within a couple of days. And that dear friends is the magic of movies… Take home message: Nothing entertains like mischievous Irish shenanigans.

David Kelly and castmates celebrate Irish-style in Waking Ned Devine (Source)

A Bad Case of Oscar Blahs

Is it just me, or were the Oscars especially dull this year? This seems to be a common complaint about recent ceremonies. Perhaps my expectations are just too high? But it hasn’t always been this way. Remember the days when the Oscars were fun?

The over-the-top winning moments…

A memorable acceptance speech or two…

1996 Best documentary short winner Jessica Yu who quipped: “You know you’re in new territory when you realize your outfit cost more than your film.”

Joe Pesci’s short, sweet, and sincere statement on winning Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Goodfellas in 1991: “It was my privilege. Thank you.”

Tom Hanks eloquently thanking his high school drama teacher and classmate on his 1994 Best Actor win for Philadelphia and paying tribute to those who suffer the very real indignities and pain of AIDS.

The bizarre fashion choices…

Helena Bonham Carter in 1987 wearing… um, something. (Photo credit)

The incomparable Cher barely wearing Bob Mackie at the 1986 Oscars. (Photo credit)

Bjork in Marjan Pejoski’s swan-inspired creation at the 2001 ceremony. (Photo credit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The political statements (and in one instance, nudity)…

Oh yes, they call him the streak:

Sacheen Littlefeather declining the Oscar for Best Actor on behalf of Marlon Brando in 1973:

Michael Moore berating George W. Bush when receiving his 2003 award for Bowling for Columbine:

The only thing that really stands out in recent memory is Melissa Leo dropping the F-bomb in her Supporting Actress speech for her role in The Fighter two years ago, and that was barely a “blip” (or I guess, a “bleep”). As for the fashion this year, as much as I appreciate the glitz and glam of Hollywood’s biggest night, I’m not really qualified, even in an armchair way, to render an opinion on “best” and “worst” dressed (check out my fashion-savvy blogging friend Jill’s take on the highlights of Oscar night for some insights). This year seemed like so many others in that department – mostly generically beautiful gowns with a few that were marginally more original, and a handful that fell a little short of the Hollywood standard. But nothing that even rates alongside the aforementioned dramatic, scene-stealing fashion choices.

As an avid Oscar-watcher, I can’t help but wonder if maybe it’s time to get rid of the host. Time could be better spent on quality production numbers and tributes. I like the big song and dance stuff and the annual memorial slideshow – I know some might find these tedious, but to me they are all about classic Hollywood glamour and celebrating the movies and movie-makers, which is really what the Oscars should be all about. Material for said hosts seems to have degenerated to the point of mediocre stand-up and the jokes have become more and more mean-spirited – and worse, not funny. And let’s not even talk about the ill-fated Franco-Hathaway pairing.

Lest we forget, there have been some pretty entertaining hosting moments, both scripted and unscripted over the years…

Whoopi Goldberg in full Elizabethan regalia hosting the 1999 Oscars. (Photo credit)

Billy Crystal as Hannibal Lecter at the 1991 ceremony. (Photo credit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heeeere’s Johnny… with Miss Piggy at the 1980 Oscars. (Photo credit)

I could barely stay awake during the awards this year, in part because on the East Coast of Canada they are telecast from 9:30-1:30ish and I was pretty tired. But mostly because they were B-O-R-I-N-G – like watching sparkly paint dry.

So what’s a girl to do about the Oscar blahs? Maybe give up watching altogether, or at least record and watch them later (skipping past the boring bits and commercials – that would probably be what, 45 minutes of viewing time…)? That would be the sane thing to do, yet I can’t seem to bring myself to quit altogether. Yes, I am probably crazy for watching each year expecting different results, but here’s why: I want to see what happens. I want to see who wins especially when quality trumps politics. I want to see all the pretty people in the fancy clothes. I want someone to wear or do or say something crazy. I want to see an elaborately choreographed song-and-dance opening number (in this respect I wasn’t disappointed this year – Charlize Theron, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, and Joseph Gordon Levitt were delightful surprises). Mostly, I want to be entertained. I guess there’s always next year…

“Do You Want to Play a Game?”: Favourite Movie Board Games

So friends, this month I have taken it upon myself to share some thoughts on what makes a good movie board game. I love games – grew up playing board games, card games, video games – and even now enjoy a good, old-fashioned “game night” with friends and family. But it’s hard to find good movie-related games. You need something that appeals to a wide range of movie knowledge levels and preferably something with some recent content. Movie trivia games become out-of-date quickly and the more specific they get (i.e. games about a particular movie or franchise), the more obscure and esoteric the questions. For myself, I don’t have fun playing a trivia game that’s way too easy and I also don’t enjoy ones where I don’t know any of the answers. It’s a tricky balance, so I thought I’d share reviews of some of my own game acquisitions over the years and open the floor so you all can share your favourites as well.

I received an interesting addition to my collection of movie-themed games for Christmas this year called Movie Mania: The Trivia Game of Famous Movie Quotes and Questions. Those who know me know this is right up my alley – quotes from movies – I’m all over it! However when we broke out said game to play with the family at Christmas, the required movie knowledge is pretty obscure. It’s a name-that-film game where the sole clues are short film quotes divided into five genre categories: Action/Adventure, Drama, Comedy, Classic/Western, and Science-Fiction/Horror. It’s hard! At least with DVD games that use quotes, you have the actor’s voice or some background noise as clues as well. Also, the developers’ definition of “famous” movie quotes needs to be called into question. Most seemed to be just random snippets of dialogue, which when taken out of context are pretty hard to identify. For example, one we had in action/adventure was “My, that’s a big one”. Now I’m sure many of you faithful readers know immediately that that’s a line from Dirty Harry, but I had no idea and it sounded like a line that could be from half a dozen action movies. Now some were glaringly obvious like, “I’m so sure that you’re Superman that I’m willing to bet my life on it” (although this appeared in the “drama” category and I’d more qualify the Superman films as action/adventure, but whatever!) How about “I’m sailing! I’m sailing!” in comedy? Anyone? Anyone?… Bueller… Bueller…

With Shout About Movies, there is no board. You just pop it in the DVD player (wait – does anyone else still have a DVD player?) and all questions and scoring happen as per step-by-step instructions from a game show host type guide. It’s a series of four DVDs circa 2004 and each disc has three games’ worth of content. Of course, once you’ve played them all, you’ve pretty much exhausted the fun factor. Played in a 2-team format, each game consists of 8 rounds where team members shout out the answers to questions that include name-that-film clips, put-the-following-in-order, and a Final Jeopardy type round. I only have one of the discs and it includes a pretty good range of clips and questions based on films mostly from the 60s – early 2000s. There are also a number of questions that require some knowledge of contemporary history instead of or in addition to movies. Overall, Shout About Movies is a pretty good time, but I think I only played it with a large group once or twice… it’s enjoyable, but not overly memorable.

Another gift I received for Christmas one year was a basic travel movie trivia game from a small toy and game company in Ontario called Home Toy and Games Inc. They have a bunch of themed games that are perfect when you’re on the go – just a deck of trivia cards. For the movie version, you win by correctly answering two questions from each of five genre categories: Comedy/Cartoon, Action/Adventure, Drama/Musical, Horror/Sci-Fi, and Awards. The questions have a good range of difficulty and often include multiple-choice answers, so folks of all knowledge levels can have a fighting chance. I like the Awards category – something a little different from the usual genre selection. As I write, I’m flipping through the cards and here’s a neat question from that category: “What two films hold the title for most Oscar nominations with no wins?” Answer: The Color Purple and The Turning Point. I didn’t know that one. Now I do! And incidentally, they both had 11 nominations, no wins. In case you were wondering…

For something a bit different than the usual run-of-the-mill trivia movie game, you can try Act One. It was made in 1995 so getting a bit out of date now, but of course it’s still fun if your movie familiarity extends beyond new releases. Played in teams, the object of this charades-type game is to get your team to guess the title of a film or TV show. The cards provide a series of lines from the title film or show together with acting “suggestions” like accents, tone, setting, or age of the character. It’s in part a quote-based trivia game and in part a fun opportunity to recreate some famous movie moments. For instance, how far would you go to get your team to guess Jack’s famous “I’m king of the world!” moment from the example card below? You’d want to play this game with a group of friends who not only know movies, but who aren’t afraid of looking a little silly and have some aptitude for accents. It’s fun for a bit, but when I’ve played it in big groups, we tend to tire of it pretty quickly.

Not exactly a movie game per se, Who’s in the Bag is one of my favourite pop culture party games. I’m sure most know some version of this game – it’s basically “Celebrities” where players put a random selection of famous people’s names into a hat and then the other team tries to guess as many as possible within a set time limit. In case you don’t want to create your own selection of celebrities, there’s Who’s in the Bag. As an example, if the clue was Audrey Hepburn you might fire off some of her more famous film titles i.e. “She was in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, My Fair Lady, Roman Holiday, Sabrina”, etc. Things get really interesting when you don’t know who the person is or why they’re famous. Also, it’s amazing the crazy flubs that come out of people’s mouths when racing against the egg-timer… You can also get new cards from time to time to update your selection of Who’s in the Bag personalities.

Director’s Cut is another typical trivia board game, but its questions are a bit different from the usual genre format. There are five questions on each card. The first lists two movies – you need to provide the actor who appeared in both i.e. Q: Gandhi & Carnal Knowledge. A: Candace Bergen. The second is straight up trivia i.e. Q: What is Indiana Jones a professor of? A: Archeology. The third provides the names of two actors and you supply the movie(s) they both appeared in i.e. Q: Mike Myers & Tia Carrere. A: Wayne’s World (1 or 2). The fourth set of questions provides 3 clues and you must name the film i.e. Q: Kidnap, Boss, Parton. A: Nine to Five. The fifth is a description of a person, and you need to name the actor/tress or director i.e. Q: Film fans know me as the Duke, but Mom and Dad called me Marion. A: John Wayne. There’s also some bumps along the board path as well – you might draw a card that tells you “At a premiere, you mistake Jim Varney for Tom Cruise. Move back two spaces and lose your turn” (the game developers seem to have an odd sense of humour). I picked some fairly easy examples, but this game is actually much harder than it seems. It is fun though.

Scene It is a popular movie trivia board game franchise that combines movie  clips and puzzle games on DVD with standard trivia cards played on a board you can adjust for game length. There are tons of versions – those with movie content include themes like Turner Classic Movies, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney, and James Bond editions. Apparently it’s now available through Facebook and a number of mobile devices too. Of all of my many movie trivia games, this one is my favourite and the one I’ve played most often. The clips are a good length and the questions are unpredictable. You may be asked to name the actor/actress, or you may be asked what’s the make and model of the car shown in the clip. I find the questions challenging but accessible, even if you’re not a die-hard movie trivia buff. The DVD questions proceed without a “host” but are accompanied by dramatic Weakest Link type music to suitably set the mood. At the end there’s an awesome movie-phone type voice that announces, “You‘ve won the game. You are a winner.” Yes, Scene It, I am a winner. Thank you for noticing.

I hope you all enjoyed my catalogue of movie games. What are some others? I’m always looking to expand my collection!

PS. Oh, and the “I’m sailing!” quote I referenced earlier is from What About Bob. In case you were wondering…

 

Awards Season Round-up

First of all, faithful readers, I have an announcement to make – I think the weekly posting idea has proved a tad optimistic and for the new year, I’m going to aim for posting about once a month. My lack of time for movie-blogging has also carried over as lack of time for movie-watching – usually by now I would have seen at least 75% of the top nominees. I’m nowhere near that this year, which makes it hard to render opinions as to winners. So I’m going to flounder my way through the practically mandatory film blog “predictions” post, even without seeing the majority of nominees. I’ve included contenders for the big three: the Golden Globes (which have already happened), the Screen Actors Guild Awards (which will be broadcast on January 27^th), and the grand finale of the glitz and sparkle of the Academy Awards (airing February 24^th).

Oscar, Globe, and SAG Award Statues

The Golden Globes

The Golden Globes are a fun celebration of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood that began over 50 years ago by journalists to try to gain greater access to and credibility with Hollywood stars. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association members vote for the movies and TV shows that will be honoured each year. So who are the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association? Well, they are working international journalists who cover the Hollywood entertainment industry for their respective publications. There are about 90 members from over 40 countries worldwide. The accounting firm of Ernst and Young diligently handles the entire voting process. But despite the stringent standards for the voting process, the HFPA has been the subject of controversy over the years falling under suspicions of bribery and vote-buying, particularly when it comes to patterns of nominating what are considered to be “substandard” films (seriously, The Tourist and Burlesque?! C’mon HFPA!)

The HFPA tends to reward films that may or may not be critically acclaimed, but have secured wide distribution, publicity, and popularity with moviegoers. The Globes have some different categories than the Oscars, most notably the separation of Best Motion Picture and Actor/Actress into “Drama” and “Comedy or Musical” categories, but coming annually about 6 weeks before the Academy Awards, they are often regarded as a good predictor of Oscar success.

Ben Affleck celebrates his Golden Globe win for Argo. Photo credit: Paul Drinkwater/AP

A summary of the winners from the Globes breaks down like this: Les Misérables took home the most high profile trophies with three: Best Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical (Hugh Jackman), and Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Anne Hathaway). But remember, the Globes are the only awards that have two categories for Best Picture and Best Actor/Actress. Competition within these prominent categories will be much more rigorous for the coveted SAG awards and Oscars. Argo and Django Unchained captured two apiece; Argo snagging Best Picture Drama and Best Director for Ben Affleck (who was notably snubbed by the Academy, but I’ll get to that in a minute), and Django winning for Best Supporting Actor Performance (Christoph Waltz) and Tarantino’s screenplay. Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, and Zero Dark Thirty each secured acting trophies for Daniel Day Lewis, Jennifer Lawrence, and Jessica Chastain respectively. So there were no real sweeps at the Globes – the major awards were distributed across a range of nominated films. So this gives some indication of how the other major entertainment awards might fall, but it can be hard to draw parallels because of the difference in voting population (90-some-odd press members as opposed to thousands of moviemakers) and the narrower categories.

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Also honouring performances in both movies and television, the SAG awards are fairly prestigious and have a reputation for focusing on the “craft” of acting, rather than commercial popularity. The SAG awards haven’t been around very long (celebrating their 19^th annual ceremony this year), but are considered a high profile honour because they are voted on by Screen Actors Guild union members, in other words, the nominees’ peers. A randomly selected committee of approximately 2,100 members determine the nominees. All active members are eligible to vote for the award winners (provided they’ve paid their union dues). There tend to be pronounced similarities between SAG award winners and the Oscars, as many SAG members are also members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (and actors comprise the largest block of Oscar voters).

The “Best Picture” award equivalent for the SAGs is the Ensemble Acting award and the nominees this year are Argo, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Les Misérables, Lincoln, and Silver Linings Playbook. This is likely a toss-up between Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook, with advantage Lincoln. Expect Daniel Day Lewis to be the front-runner in the Best Actor category (sorry, Hugh Jackman). The SAG Best Actress award has Jennifer Lawrence and Jessica Chastain going head to head (unlike the Globes). I would suspect Jessica Chastain will be the favourite here, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Emmanuelle Riva squeak out a win. Anne Hathaway is considered a lock for the Best Supporting Actress category – this category has identical nominees to the Globes. Despite multiple acting nominations at the Globes, Django Unchained was completely shut out of the SAGs making the Best Supporting Actor Award a complete toss-up. I have no idea on this one. Perhaps Tommy Lee Jones has an edge, especially if Lincoln snags the Ensemble award, but Robert DeNiro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Alan Arkin are all heavy-hitters as well. Anybody’s guess…

 

 

 

 

The Oscars

Oscar is the oldest (85 this year) and most coveted award in the pack. In addition to the main categories of Picture, Director, Screenplay, and the four Acting Awards, this ceremony also includes all of the technical/behind-the-scenes awards like Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound Editing, and Visual Effects. These can be the trickiest to call – most often the Best Picture winner secures many of these categories, but not always (Avatar prevented a Hurt Locker sweep three years ago by taking home trophies for Art Direction, Cinematography, and Visual Effects). The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has over 6,000 members who work in all aspects of film production and are eligible to vote for the Oscar winners.

As for what might transpire on Oscar night this year, check out this article in the Guardian laying out a complete list of this year’s entertainment award nominees and winners so far. In the directing category, Ben Affleck is the award-season favourite so far with a Globe and a Critic’s Choice Award. But remember he’s not even nominated for an Oscar so that category is anybody’s game at this point. However, the snub practically ensures Argo won’t win Best Picture. It is possible – Driving Miss Daisy (1989) was the last film to win Best Picture without a directing nomination - but highly improbable based on the Academy members’ voting patterns in the past.

According to “buzz”, Lincoln is the most likely recipient of Best Picture honours this year and therefore Spielberg the most likely candidate for directing. It is exactly the type of movie Academy members tend to favour, both in content and execution. Best Actress is looking like a 3-way race between Emmanuelle Riva, Jessica Chastain, and Jennifer Lawrence. Tough one to call, but if I was a betting woman (and I sometimes am), I’m inclined to favour Jessica Chastain’s performance. As I mentioned before, the SAG winner will likely give an early indicator of which way Academy voters are leaning. And at this stage in the game, Daniel Day Lewis and Anne Hathaway appear to have their respective categories locked up. The Best Supporting Actor category promises the most suspense. Not sure whether or not Christoph Waltz’s success at the Globes will translate to the Academy’s preferences come Oscar night.

As a wannabe writer, I’m always intrigued at how the Screenplay awards play out. There are two categories for Screenwriting at the Oscars: Original and Adapted. Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained) is the likely winner in the Original category and Tony Kushner (Lincoln) is the probable favourite in the Adapted category, although David O. Russell could upset for adapting Silver Linings Playbook for the screen.

So despite my firsthand experience with most of the movies nominated (I still have a month or so and just saw Silver Linings Playbook last night so I’m catching up), I’ll definitely be watching. If only to see how much Seth McFarlane gets away with as this year’s irreverent host.

 

9 talks about the making of movie magic

Reblogged from TED Blog:

“Movies have proved to be the ultimate medium for magic,” says Don Levy in today’s talk.

A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and former senior vice president of marketing and communications at Sony Pictures, Levy has always been fascinated by the sleights of hand that filmmakers use to create illusions. And he knows he is far from alone.

Read more… 718 more words

Until I get my act together and get something original posted for 2013, here are some TED talks about moviemaking to tide you over. For those not familiar with TED, it's a non-profit group that promotes "Ideas Worth Spreading" from innovative thinkers and visionaries in the fields of Technology, Education, and Design. Speakers are allowed just 20 minutes to get their ideas across. I haven't taken a look at all of these talks about moviemaking yet, but so far J.J. Abrams' talk about the "mystery box" is my favourite. Enjoy! And don't worry, there will be fresh Popcorn soon...

Christmas Movie Madness

‘Tis the season for all of the holiday specials, Christmas movies, and related seasonal entertainment to be played and replayed ad infinitum on TV. I’ve noticed some new offerings this year (i.e. what’s with this hot-mess-looking-craziness starring Tori Spelling about rival holiday singing groups?) but I tend to stick pretty closely to the classics – the Christmas-wouldn’t-be-quite-complete-without-them holiday staples like the animated Grinch with Boris Karloff narrating, for one. I was home the other weekend flipping through the various Christmas options and my Mom astutely observed, “You know, a lot of Christmas movies aren’t very good”. So true, Mom. Sad, but true.

Why is this? It seems like holiday-themed programming is rife with trite plots, schmaltzy gimmicks, and over-the-top epiphanies. Like much during the holidays, the related entertainment has been commercialized, packaged and wrapped up in a big glittery bow. But when you open it up, all you get a lot of the time is an empty box. Maybe the industry powers-that-be think quality doesn’t matter much at this time of year – people have time off and are more likely to be in watching TV or at the movies than out in the snow or braving the jam-packed malls and stores. And we’ll watch whatever happens to be on, right? (Case in point, I settled for Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause the other night… please don’t judge me). Maybe all of the original ideas for Christmas family programming have been used up, or are so out of the mainstream that they are all but inaccessible. Regardless of the reasons, it seems to be a sad state of affairs out there for discerning movie watchers looking to expand our holiday repertoire.

I don’t mean to come across as jaded and Grinchy (yep, that’s totally a thing), but realistically, it can be a challenge deciding on quality holiday entertainment. But my Mom’s observation gave me an idea for a holiday-themed post. I thought it might be fun to do a rundown of the popular family-friendly Christmas fare and share my own candy cane ratings out of 3. Perhaps a bit too ambitious, as it’s taken longer than I thought, but I figure I won’t be posting over the holidays so thought I’d do it up right to end the year. Because of the abundance of holiday films, TV specials, and made-for-TV movies out there, I’ve limited my list to full-length feature films (and just the ones I’ve actually seen).

So many renditions of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol have been made for both the big and small screen using various titles, it warrants its own heading here to help keep them all straight:

Scrooge (1951) – starred Alastair Sim in the title role. Still the best and spookiest of the adaptations coming straight from Dickens’ text. (3 candy canes)

Scrooge (1970) – featured Albert Finney in this musicalized version. Personally I find Finney a tad over-the-top in the title role, and the songs aren’t terribly memorable, but overall, more than watchable.  (2 candy canes)

A Christmas Carol (1984) – I’m including this version with George C. Scott even though it was a TV movie… when watching this, I’m always distracted by images of him as Patton. It doesn’t work. (1 candy cane)

Scrooged (1988) – I really like Bill Murray as the Scrooge-like character. He deliciously milks his role as a hard-nosed tv executive exploiting Christmas programming who eventually sees the light. It’s fun with lots of weird twists, one of the most enjoyable is Carol Kane’s oddly violent Ghost of Christmas Present. (2 candy canes)

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) – perhaps my all-time favourite Christmas movie, and not just for nostalgic reasons. There’s Dickens. There’s Muppets. There’s Michael Caine (who plays Scrooge brilliantly balancing warmth and vitriol). There’s singing. “There’s only one more sleep to Christmas”. It makes me smile. (3 big candy canes)

There are also a number of other versions of A Christmas Carol that I haven’t seen such as Patrick Stewart’s 1999 TV version, Jack Palance’s western version in 1997, Kelsey Grammar’s 2004 musical version, and Jim Carrey in the most recent 2009 animated take. For those of you who have seen these or others, feel free to comment on their watchability… (I’m always looking for recommendations).

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” (Source)

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – Another of my all-time favourites, I’m sure most readers know the story of a small-town man with big dreams who gets a glimpse of what life would be like without him in it. I actually like the beginning – where George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) and Mary (Donna Reed) are falling in love – better than the somewhat cheesy ending. Their initial tension and chemistry are what set the stage for the drama to come and are some of the best scenes in the film. It still holds up well over 60 years later – I find it endlessly re-watchable and find new parts to enjoy each time I see it. That makes it perfect for holiday viewing. (3 candy canes)

Miracle on 34^th Street – there are two well-known versions of this timeless story of a young lawyer’s mission to prove the existence of Santa and get the girl. The 1947 original version with Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle is my personal favourite. I don’t know, the scene where they bring in the sacks and sacks of mail into the courtroom at the end has way more impact than the weak-ass ending of the 1994 remake. Yes, it introduces the story to a new generation, but the original is way more fun (if somewhat dated). Original – 2 candy canes; Remake – 1 cane.

White Christmas (1952) – Undeniably a classic and a spectacle in the grand Hollywood musical tradition, White Christmas is the quintessential holiday movie. Things I love: Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney; Bing and Danny Kaye’s drag reprise of “Sisters”; the harmonies of “Snow”; the spectacular costumes; and that every time we watch it, my Dad refers to it as “the biggest coincidence in movie history” that the two entertainers wind up at their old army sergeant’s Vermont inn. But some of the dance numbers go on way too long (like “Choreography”), and the movie drags in places – I generally fast forward through those scenes. But there is lots to love here. (2 candy canes)

“Vermont should be beautiful this time of the year, all that snow.” (Source)

“Christmas was on its way. Lovely, glorious, beautiful Christmas, upon which the entire kid year revolved.” (Source)

A Christmas Story (1983) – Ralphie’s obsession with getting a “Red Ryder , carbine action, 200 shot range model air rifle” perfectly captures the magic, wonder, and yes, wanton desire associated with Christmas from a kid’s point of view. It’s charming and real without being overly saccharine. (3 candy canes)

“I don’t know what to say, except it’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.” (Source)

Christmas Vacation (1989) – who could imagine Christmas without the Griswalds? Poor Clark tries so hard and always seems to come up short (or broke, or injured, or goofy). The over-the-top hilarity is somewhat comforting – at least our Christmas won’t be THAT bad! (2 candy canes)

“You know, I think this Christmas thing is not as tricky as it seems!” (Source)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – weird, surreal, endearing, off-beat – all the things that characterize Tim Burton at his best. Shot in stop-action animation, the world of Jack Skellington (our “hero”) is one strange, ethereal landscape after another. Jack yearns to break free from what he has come to see as the monotony of Halloweentown and accidentally winds up in Christmastown. He kidnaps Santa to infuse his hometown with some Christmas spirit. It’s not one of my favs or “must-see” Christmas movies, but it’s kind of fun to catch on cable. (2 candy canes)

“Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean is doesn’t exist.” (Source)

The Santa Clause (1994) – there a whole series of Tim Allen as Santa in the Santa Clause movies, but I’ve only seen the first one. I’m good with that. The first one is okay. It addresses those age-old questions of how Santa visits all the children in the world in one night and how he deliver gifts when there’s no chimney. I’m not really a fan of Tim Allen, but here he’s fairly relatable as Scott Calvin, working weekend Dad struggling to maintain a relationship with his son. And I confess I do enjoy Judge Reinhold as the well-meaning shrink poised to become Scott’s ex-wife’s new husband. (1 candy cane)

“Dancing with you makes me feel all fluffy, like I was dancing on a cloud.” (Source)

Mixed Nuts (1994) – set at a California suicide hotline on Christmas Eve, it’s not surprising this comedy tips heavily into dark territory. With Nora Ephron at the helm and a stellar comedic cast including Steve Martin, Rita Wilson, Madeline Kahn , Rob Reiner, Liev Schreiber, Juliette Lewis, and countless others in smaller cameos (Garry Shandling, Adam Sandler), I expected more – or maybe less. There’s a lot going on in this movie – too much – like no one in the cast got the memo they were supposed to be the straight man. It’s not without some solid funny moments, but it plays like one slapstick bit after another rather than a cohesive whole. (1 candy cane)

“Nobody means what they say on Thanksgiving, Mom. You know that. That’s what the day’s supposed to be all about, right? Torture.” (Source)

Home for the Holidays (1995) – this one isn’t actually a Christmas movie, as the whole story revolves instead around family members converging for Thanksgiving. Not exactly a laugh-out-loud comedy, Home for the Holidays is funny in a “been-there, done-that” way across a series of awkward family holiday moments. Holly Hunter plays a single mother who comes home to her parents’ (Anne Bancroft and Charles Durning) to face the brutal honesty only people who know each other very well can level at each other. The cast is rounded out nicely by Robert Downey Jr. as her gay brother and his partner played by Dylan McDermott. (2 candy canes)

“It’s because I’m green isn’t it?” (Source)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – Why, Ron Howard, why? This is not a fun movie to watch. Despite the glimpses we get into the Grinch’s childhood and how he comes to hate Christmas (which I think are supposed to make him more sympathetic), Jim Carrey’s portrayal seems overly mean-spirited and hurtful with none of the heart of the beloved animated original. Incidentally, the cartoon Grinch seems to have more emotional clout than Carrey under all that makeup. I would rather watch the animated Boris Karloff-narrated version 4 times in a row than the Jim Carrey live action version ever, ever again. (No canes for you)

“Don’t screw up the best thing in your life just because you’re a little unsure about who you are.” (Source)

The Family Man (2000) – The Family Man starring Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni isn’t bad holiday entertainment, but it’s not terribly original (the plot is essentially a recycled version of It’s a Wonderful Life where the main character gets a glimpse of an alternate reality and learns an important life lesson). The “what if” plot is a little tired and predictable, and I’m not a huge Nicolas Cage fan to begin with. But I do like Tea Leoni in this movie and Don Cheadle lends some class as the “angel” who helps Cage’s character see the light. (1.5 candy canes)

Love Actually (2003) – with the intersecting storylines and “who’s who” cast of mostly British actors, Love Actually is at the top of my mandatory holiday viewing list. It’s consistently funny, occasionally absurd, and often simultaneously heart-warming and –wrenching, depending on your point of view.  (3 candy canes)

“If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion… love actually is all around.” (Source)

“I’m sorry I ruined your lives and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR.” (Source)

Elf (2003) – Will Ferrell is at his frenetic best in Elf as Buddy, a 6 foot plus human raised in the North Pole who thinks he’s an elf. Farrell’s earnestness borders on psychosis, but makes for entertaining holiday fun. I enjoyed the supporting cast immensely: Bob Newhart as Buddy’s elf-father, James Caan as the hard-nosed exec who Buddy learns is his biological father, and Ed Asner as the big man himself. Elf has heart, some homages to classic Christmas shows, and lots of funny, quotable moments: “I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favourite!” You will. (2 candy canes)

“The thing about trains… it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.” (Source)

The Polar Express (2004) – I wasn’t familiar with the children’s book on which this motion-capture computer-animated film was based, but I like the story of a skeptical boy who boards a magical train to the North Pole in search of Santa’s workshop. Tom Hanks lends his face and voice to multiple characters in the film to mysterious and charming effect. The action sequences were outstanding on the big screen (but lose a little when watching on TV), and the motion capture technique lends a captivating (and sometimes eerie) realism to the animated characters. (2 candy canes)

“You’re skipping Christmas! Isn’t that against the law?” (Source)

Christmas with the Kranks (2004) – Based on the John Grisham story, “Skipping Christmas”, I generally skip the Kranks whenever it’s on. It wants to be a satire/commentary about the consumerism culture around Christmas, but ends up being a study in conformity rather than in finding the “true” meaning of Christmas. It has a little too much slapstick for my taste, and again, Tim Allen who I know has his fan-base, but I don’t count myself among the ranks (and seriously, what is with this guy and bad Christmas movies?!). Skip it. (1 candy cane)

“Christmas is not “clothing optional” this year – we have a guest.” (Source)

The Family Stone (2005) – I really like The Family Stone, for the same reasons I like Home for the Holidays – families are their own weird little universe and nothing calls this into sharper relief than when someone new attempts to enter the fray. The matriarch and patriarch Stones are played (or should I say, expertly underplayed) by Diane Keaton and Craig T. Nelson. Part screwball comedy and part family drama, the strong cast which includes Luke Wilson, Claire Danes, Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Rachel McAdams strikes an effective balance between corny and genuine. (3 candy canes)

“You can’t spell ‘families’ without ‘lies’, am I right?” (Source)

Four Christmases (2008) – I’m not going to say much here except that I hated, yes hated this movie – and I don’t say that very often. Usually I can find at least one redeeming feature. Sorry, not here. I will instead refer you to Roger Ebert’s review which made me laugh out loud with its tongue-in-cheek presentation of the theoretical pitch for such a colossal waste of talent. (Zero canes)

So that’s what I’ll be watching (or not watching as the case may be). What will you be watching this holiday season?

This will probably be it for me for 2012 (plus the world is ending on Friday so that could be “it”, period!). Hope all of you out there in blog-land have a very safe and happy holiday season. See you next year!

A Jimmy Stewart Education

In the summer of 1997 I worked at a movie theatre. Around the same time I was hired, the small-town theatre went from two screens to three – a big deal at the time. I sold tickets. I ate a lot of popcorn. I saw a lot of free movies. I collected movie posters. I flirted with Syd Field’s tips on “How to Write a Screenplay”. And I met a lot of people who I would genuinely call “movie buffs” – regulars who would come to see whatever was playing just because they loved movies. There was a man who would come in religiously on discount night each week. He never spoke and carried a Ouija board with him to communicate. I learned some sign language while selling him his weekly ticket. There were the “arty” intellectual types who would come in debating the movie they were about to see and leave analyzing it throwing around fancy terms and names I didn’t recognize. There was the manager, Al, who welcomed everyone like they were a long lost friend and diligently worked to sustain an environment where people could enjoy a pure, uninterrupted movie-going experience. He ran a tight but friendly ship and was a walking encyclopedia of all things film, especially the technical aspects of film projection.

In that summer of 1997 the iconic movie actor Jimmy Stewart died at the age of 89. Within our little film-centric cultural community this understandably caused quite a stir, of which I was completely ignorant until one of the regulars came in the next day and made a comment about it while he was buying his ticket. Our interaction went something like this:

Patron: “Isn’t it sad that Jimmy Stewart died?”

Me: [stunned blank look]

Patron: “Do you know who that is?”

Me: “No.”

Patron: “Really?! Frank Capra?”

Me: [stunned blank look]

Patron: “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?”

Me: [stunned blank look] [shakes head]

Patron: “It’s a Wonderful Life?”

Me: [shakes head]

Patron: “Hitchcock then. Vertigo? Rear Window?”

Me: [embarrassed blank look] “No, sorry.”

Patron: [shakes head sadly] “Okay then. One please.”

That was the moment I realized that if I was going to work at the theatre (even if I was only selling tickets), I should know some things. Like who Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra were and why they were noteworthy. Not only had I not seen their films, but I had never even heard of them. I was mortified! Thus began in earnest my movie education.

I rented a LOT of movies that summer (at least one a day – three or four on the weekend – and remember this is in addition to seeing EVERYTHING that came out that summer in the theatre). I watched anything and everything that I had ever heard anyone say was a “classic” or had been parodied on the Simpsons. I began with Jimmy since that was where my lack of education was so unceremonious revealed, which led me to the aforementioned Mr. Smith, The Philadelphia Story, and the darker Hitchcock-Stewart pairings. It wasn’t until a few years later that I would discover my favourite Stewart role – that of Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey – where he is at his most self-effacing and down-home charming. I saw It’s a Wonderful Life for the first time on the big screen when it was rereleased in theatres later that same year.

From The Philadelphia Story, I segued into the Hepburns – Katharine and Audrey. Bringing Up Baby (still one of my favourite all-time comedies), The African Queen, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner for the former; Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Roman Holiday for the latter. I fell in love with Humphrey Bogart watching Casablanca, The Big Sleep, and The Maltese Falcon and wanted to be Lauren Bacall in To Have or Have Not. Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman… I met them all that summer and we became good friends. We still hang out a lot.

I also watched some pivotal films of the 1970s like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Godfather I and II, Midnight Cowboy, Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Easy Rider, Bonnie and Clyde, Scarface, Jaws, Chinatown – some of which I liked and some of which made me cringe. I learned to differentiate between movies I “should” watch and movies I wanted to watch. Watching more and more movies from different genres and eras strengthened my appreciation across the board. I started reading “making of” memoirs, actor autobiographies, and film criticism and trivia. I binged on all things cinematic that summer and have never looked back.

This post wouldn’t be complete without some shout-outs to some others who have contributed to my movie education before and since. I was introduced to a lot of great movies by my parents. For example, they had the good fortune to see Charade on their first date (incidentally at that same small-town theatre where I later worked). It’s a suspenseful romp starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant set in Paris that my folks shared with my sister and me to great nostalgic effect. I grew up on the Oscar-winning My Fair Lady – I could sing all the songs and quote it line by line. I can also remember as a teenager coming home one Halloween night to my parents watching The Birds. I think I groaned and griped about it (“Why do we have to watch this – it’s old and in black and white!”), but it didn’t take long to get sucked into Hitchcock’s strange and terrifying universe. I also remember my parents introducing me to The Graduate in my late teens – still one of my all-time favourite movies (coo coo ca choo, Anne Bancroft).

And of course, I owe a debt of gratitude to my movie-going circle of friends, past and present. Circa ’97 I had a good friend who loved movies even more than I did. And long before the Seinfeld episode with the same theme, he had a hate-on for The English Patient. In fact, this was his cinematic “friend barometer” – if you loved the English Patient, you were dead to him, movie-wise. I also try to surround myself with friends who have diverse tastes and a wide range of knowledge on the subject so they can introduce me to some really wonderful movies I would otherwise never have seen like Antonia’s Line, Like Water for Chocolate, and Dogfight (I can’t believe this was totally off my radar until a couple of years ago). It’s always a nerve-wracking test to watch a movie with someone you care about that you know they really, really love. But it’s so very cool when you end up loving those movies too.

When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Stockard Channing

 

After taking yet another unintentional hiatus from blogging, I thought I’d try something a little different and begin a series of Actor Profiles where I extol the virtues of my all-time favourite actors. For me, there is no better place to begin than Stockard Channing. If she had been around during the 40s, she would’ve referred to as a “tough broad” or a “swell dame”. Her career bio is a diverse and varied range of interesting and unique acting challenges. She seems to have a particular talent for playing strong, yet vulnerable characters with bold dignity and a sharp wit. She’s a triple threat tackling Broadway, TV, and film, and been nominated for the industry’s foremost awards in all three. She’s a stand-out performer in big screen turns as Betty Rizzo in “Grease” and Ouisa Kittredge in “Six Degrees of Separation” (for which she received an Oscar nom) as well as small supporting, yet scene-stealing roles in movies like “Where the Heart Is”, “Practical Magic”, and “The First Wives Club”. Her stage career is even more prolific – I would’ve killed to see her as Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter. I think the most recent thing I saw her in was a guest appearance on TV’s “The Good Wife” in an episode ironically titled ‘A Defense of Marriage’ – ironic because Stockard herself has been married four times. None took.

So without further ado, allow me to present evidence of why Stockard Channing is the Queen of All That is Awesome:

Grease

Seriously, who would want to play boring, goody-two-shoes Sandy when you could play the defiant, sarcastic spitfire Rizzo? The alpha of the Pink Ladies does what she wants, when she wants and who she wants: “I’m gonna get my kicks while I’m still young enough to get ‘em.” But she also has a softer, vulnerable side. She’s a much more complex character than Sandy. And she has way better songs.

Six Degrees of Separation

Will Smith helps Stockard Channing and Donald Sutherland examine their values in Six Degrees of Separation (Source)

If you haven’t seen Six Degrees of Separation, you totally should. Not only does it feature Stockard Channing in an Oscar nominated performance, but co-stars Donald Sutherland and a young Will Smith who exhibits the first signs his acting range extends beyond his “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” persona. It’s about the Kittredges, a wealthy New York couple (Channing and Sutherland), who encounter Paul (Smith), a charismatic, mysterious young man who claims to be friends with their children at Harvard and Sidney Poitier’s son. The couple regales their socialite friends with the story of their brief relationship with Paul and how it revealed some hidden truths about their own lives and social status.

 

 

The West Wing

Martin Sheen and Stockard Channing as the President and First Lady on “The West Wing” (Source)

In my humble opinion, The West Wing still holds up as one of the strongest ensemble casts of all time. Channing had a recurring role as First Lady Abigail Bartlett on the critically acclaimed series and later joined the regular cast in the show’s third season. A headstrong, accomplished physician married to the President of the United States (Martin Sheen), Abbey did not back down from a justified fight and refused to be “managed” by Bartlett’s staff. Channing played her with conviction and dignity – a rarity in female roles on television. Channing was repeatedly nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Emmy each year of the show’s run, and took home the award in 2002 for her consistently stellar portrayal.

To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar

In “To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar”, Channing gives a noteworthy performance in a mediocre movie. Don’t get me wrong, Wong Foo is not without its entertainment value. Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo also turn in solid portrayals as drag queens traveling cross-country to compete in a drag contest in LA. There’s a satisfying, campy novelty to seeing these action stars all made up, but that wears off and there’s still something endearing about their earnest, well-meaning characters. But the plot is formulaic (bordering on trite) and somewhat heavy themes (like violence against women) mix uneasily with the overall light-hearted tone of the movie. As I am want to do, I will defer to the always astute Roger Ebert who said in his review, “I feel like recommending the performances, and suggesting they be transported to another film. The actors emerge with glory for attempting something very hard and succeeding remarkably well. They deserve to be in a better movie.”

Stockard Channing gets an empowering makeover from her friendly neighbourhood drag queens (Source)

The Matthew Shepard Story

Channing earned her second Emmy in 2002 for her portrayal of Matthew Shepard’s mother in the based-on-a-true-story, made-for-tv movie of his life and murder. For those who may not know of the events on which this movie is based, Matthew Shepard was a college student who was brutally tortured and killed near Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. He was the target of this crime because he was gay and the subsequent US hate-crime legislation bears his name. Many movies and documentaries have been made about those tragic events. This version is really Judy Shepard’s story and features Channing in a powerful performance of grief, rage, and ultimately love. It is a little difficult to see this important social issue portrayed as a “movie-of-the-week”, but Channing’s authentic and even portrayal supplies the necessary depth of emotion and heart.

Channing with co-stars Sam Waterston and Shane Meier in The Matthew Shepard Story (Source)
Image credit: The Matthew Shepard Story: Alliance Atlantis Photo

 

Guest post: Janet looks for UFOs (and birds) in Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia

Reblogged from Bite-sized Travel:

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Friends, you are in for a treat today. Film blogger extraordinaire and long-time bestie Janet of Popcorn Dinner took a trip to Nova Scotia's South Shore to settle one of our province's most mysterious mysteries: whether UFOs visited in 1967.

This summer, I enlisted my Mom to make a pilgrimage to Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia. Located on the very tip of the province’s South Shore, Shag Harbour was the site of a certified UFO incident on October 4, 1967 and the subject of considerable interest for locals and sci-fi aficionados alike.

Read more… 1,003 more words

Thanks to Bite-sized travel for hosting my non-movie related content this week!

Home Run Hits: Favourite Baseball Films

For all you faithful readers, you know from some of my posts that I enjoy the sports. My sports interests are as varied and diverse as my movie interests – I follow professional football (NFL) most closely, but as indicated in a previous post, I also enjoy the Olympics, and eventually I get into the NCAA basketball coverage as well. This summer, I got to go to my first live MLB baseball game. It was at Rogers Centre in Toronto where my sister and I watched the Blue Jays defeat the Athletics 10-4 and we had a blast!

The field at Rogers Centre in Toronto

Swing for the cheap seats!

Sadly, the Jays didn’t advance to playoff action, but as they say, the show must go on. With the World Series match-up  starting this week between the San Francisco Giants and the Detroit Tigers, it seemed appropriate to compile a list of my favourite baseball movies. There are a lot to choose from – baseball being the “favourite American game” is also a favourite subject of American filmmakers. So here are my all-time favs, and feel free to add your own in the comments – I always like to have recommendations to add to my “to watch” list!

Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins go head-to-head in Bull Durham (Source)

1. Bull Durham

Crash Davis (Costner) and ‘Nuke’ LaLoosh (Robbins) compete for the affections of Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon). Take home message: Baseball is more than a game, it’s a way of life (and love).

2. Field of Dreams

Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) is either delusional or receiving messages from the ghosts of baseball’s greatest players including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson (a pre-Goodfellas Ray Liotta). He enlists reclusive author Terry Mann (James Earl Jones) to help him figure it out. Take home message: Of course heaven is a cornfield in Iowa.

He built it and they came: Kevin Costner and Ray Liotta in Field of Dreams (Source)

3. The Natural

Robert Redford mounts a comeback in The Natural (Source)

Promising pitcher Roy Hobbs (Redford) suffers an injury in his youth from a random act of violence only to return from obscurity years later to salvage the season of an ailing 1930s baseball team. With help from Wonderboy (a hard-carved bat with perhaps magical or divine properties), Hobbs makes his mark. Take home message: Walk softly and carry a big bat.

4. A League of Their Own

Boozing, womanizing, washed-up coach Jimmy Duggan is reluctantly enlisted to coach the Rockford Peaches, a team in the women’s professional baseball league formed during WWII. His prize players included sisters Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty), exotic dancer “All the Way” Mae (Madonna), and tomboy Doris (Rosie O’Donnell). Take home message: Throwing like a girl… not such a bad thing.

5. Major League 

Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen are “winning” in Major League (Source)

A fictional comedy based on the real-life Cleveland Indians where the owner’s baseball-illiterate wife inherits the franchise and decides she’d rather live in a warmer city. She plots to sabotage the team to make relocating easier and cheaper. But the band of misfit players has other plans… Take home message: Winning is a lot more fun when it’s next to impossible.

6. Moneyball

Moneyball tells the true story of Oakland Athletics’ manager Billy Beane’s (Brad Pitt) radical system for developing a winning ball club using computer generated statistics and analysis. Jonah Hill plays Peter Brand, his trusty side-kick, and like magic the A’s start winning on a budget. Take home message: Nerds and jocks unite!

Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill work the numbers in Moneyball (Source)

I know some people might wonder about the absence of Pride of the Yankees on this list, but remember it’s a list of my favourites, and not a “best” list. I’ve never actually seen the Gary Cooper film where he portrays the famed baseball player Lou Gehrig. It’s one of those classics that I’ve always intended to watch, but never got around to it… not sure if it would make the cut or not. What are your all-time baseball movie favs?