The 2009 Hollmann Award in 2010!!!

I'm afraid I've been having a number of technical difficulties with the Hollmann Awards this year. I usually have them out before the Oscars, but between Internet problems, saving issues, and a Microsoft Word plagued by an odd virus, I'm going to have to do this a la 2007 Golden Globes - that is, just a list of nominees and winners. We'll let Judi and Maggie host next year, and hopefully I can get more of a jump on things then. My apologies to everyone.

BEST ENSEMBLE, awarded to the casting director(s)
5. Ellen Chenoweth and Rachel Tenner, A Serious Man
4. Celestia Fox, Easy Virtue
3. Justine Baddeley and Kim Davis, Whip It!
2. Sarah Crowe and Meredith Tucker, In the Loop

1. Simone Bar, Olivier Carbone, Jenny Jue and Johanna Ray, Inglourious Basterds
Bar is a German casting director whose other credits include The Reader and The White Ribbon. Olivier Carbone is a French casting director who also worked on La Vie en Rose.
Jenny Jue and Johanna Ray have worked together on the Funny Games remake, Repo! The Genetic Opera and Brian De Palma's The Black Dahlia.

BEST SOUND, awarded to whatever senior sound mixers and editors I managed to find
5. Craig Berkey, Johnna Chism and Greg Orloff, A Serious Man
4. Joseph Geisinger, Marti D. Humphrey, Chris M. Jacobson, Ryan Juggler, Paul N.J. Ottosson, Carin Rogers and Jussi Tegelman, Drag Me to Hell
3. Anna Behlmer, Peter J. Devlin, Andy Nelson, Alan Rankin and Mark Stoeckinger, Star Trek
2. Tony Lamberti, Michael Minkler, Mark Ulano and Wylie Stateman, Inglourious Basterds
1. Kristian Eidnes Andersen, Antichrist
I think the sound work in the film is incredible, and though more mixing was involved than editing, the overall effect is the same. Less really is more.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
5. John DJ DesJardin, Jessica Norman, Peter G. Travers and Joel Whist, Watchmen
4. Matt Aitken, Robert Habros, Dan Kaufman and Peter Muyzers, District 9
3. Peter Brooke, Michael Eames, Sonny Gerasinowicz, Daniel Jeannette and Peter Stubbs, Where the Wild Things Are
2. Volker Engel, Mike Vezina and Marc Weigert, 2012

Richard Baneham, Joe Letteri, Andrew R. Jones and Stephen Rosenbaum, Avatar
But really, who else?

BEST...I DON'T KNOW, PRACTICAL VISUALS? This is awarded to the production designer, art director and, where credited, set decorator.
5. Dan Bishop (PD), Ian Phillips (AD) and Amy Wells (SD), A Single Man
4. Tony Noble (PD) and Hideki Arichi (AD), Moon
3. Nelson Lowry (PD) and Francesca Maxwell (AD), Fantastic Mr. Fox
2. Henry Selick (PD), Phil Brotherton (AD), Bo Henry (AD) and Tom Proost (AD), Coraline

1. Nathan Crowley (PD), Patrick Lumb (AD), William Ladd Skinner (AD) and Rosemary Brandenburg (SD), Public Enemies
Echoing the art deco style of the period, Crowley and crew got every detail, down to the little price tags on the shops. When they needed to trade in shine for dust, it was perfect.

BEST MAKEUP
5. Thomas Foldberg and Morten Jacobsen, Antichrist
4. Sarah Monzani, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
3. Nick Dudman and Amanda Knight, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2. Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow, Star Trek

1. Joe Dunckley, David Meng, Frances Richardson, Sarah Rubano, Richard Taylor and Leon Von Solms, District 9
Taking body horror to a new level, we got to see Weekus transform in the most grotesquely realistic manner. From nails falling out to a prawn claw replacing his hand, the effect was astounding.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
5. Charlotte Walter, Easy Virtue
4. Hope Hanafin, (500) Days of Summer
3. Anna B. Sheppard, Inglourious Basterds
2. Janet Patterson, Bright Star

1. Colleen Atwood, Public Enemies
What a gorgeous fucking film. This is really the only movie where you actually notice the duds on the men...ok, the first for me, anyway. I would seriously wear anything there. And the women? Gorgeous. Don't you love the ropey look of Marion's poor red dress, compared to the fur finery of when she's dating Dillinger? Such exquisite detail.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
5. Back to Tennessee, Hannah Montana: The Movie
4. Dig a Little Deeper, The Princess and the Frog
3. Never Knew I Needed, The Princess and the Frog
2. Possibility, The Twilight Saga: New Moon

1. Through the Trees, Jennifer's Body
Works as both a genuinely great "boo-hoo" song, and as a satire on such music. How does it do it?

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
5. Alexandre Desplat, Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. Elliot Goldenthal, Public Enemies
3. Alexandre Desplat, The Twilight Saga: New Moon
2. Alexandre Desplat, Julie & Julia
1. Abel Korzeniowski, A Single Man
I admit, I like my music big. Abel, I hope you don't mind if I say the music here reminded me of Philip Glass's work in The Hours, which I find to be the greatest score ever. The beauty of it is just so...unbelievable. Korzeniowski effortlessly evokes the 1960s. Highlights include "Swimming", "Snow" and "Drowning".

BEST EDITING
5. Roderick Jaynes, A Serious Man
4. Sally Menke, Inglourious Basterds
3. Alan Edward Bell, (500) Days of Summer
2. James Cameron, John Refoua and Stephen Rifkin, Avatar
1. Alexander Hall, The Messenger
You know, too few of these awards are given to editors of films that rely on long takes. But really, the editor cuts for dramatic emphasis, unless he needs to cut around the bullshit. So, why cut all around the place if all you need to make your point is a single long take? That's what makes sense for this movie.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
5. Robert Richardson, Inglourious Basterds
4. Greig Fraser, Bright Star
3. Eduard Grau, A Single Man
2. Anthony Dod Mantle, Antichrist
1. Dion Beebe, Nine
The only truly cinematic aspect of the film. The use of the projector in "I Can't Make This Movie", the spotlights in "My Husband Makes Movies", the dreamy effect of "Guarda la Luna", the black-and-white "Take It All". All brilliant.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
5. Nora Ephron, Julie & Julia
4. Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
3. Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
2. Dave Eggers and Spike Jonze, Where the Wild Things Are
1. Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, Fantastic Mr. Fox
It's clever and it's funny. Little nuances, like Mrs. Fox's "tarty" background, truly develop the characters, instead of merely serving as a throwaway joke.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
5. Jane Campion, Bright Star
4. Scott Neustatder and Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer
3. Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
2. James Cameron, Avatar
1. Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, A Serious Man
Probably my favorite Coen Brothers movie.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
5. Stanley Tucci, Julie & Julia
4. Fred Melamed, A Serious Man
3. Colin Firth, Easy Virtue
2. Woody Harrelson, The Messenger

1. Peter Capaldi, In the Loop
I mean, this scene alone. That snap as he says, "Now fuck off." Has swearing ever seemed this natural?

BEST ACTOR
5. Ben Foster, The Messenger
4. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
3. Colin Firth, A Single Man
2. Johnny Depp, Public Enemies
SPOILER ALERT

1. Sam Rockwell, Moon
A one-man show that it is impressive in it understatedness.

BEST ACTRESS
5. Zoe Saldana, Avatar
4. Carey Mulligan, An Education
3. Abbie Cornish, Bright Star
2. Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

1. Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Such a raw performance. That a first-timer can give this kind of performance is staggering.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
5. Marion Cotillard, Public Enemies
4. Julianne Moore, A Single Man
3. Kristin Scott Thomas, Easy Virtue
2. Samantha Morton, The Messenger

1. Mo'Nique, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
An unbelievable performance from the great comedienne. Just try to wrap your head around this.

BEST DIRECTOR
5. Jane Campion, Bright Star
4. Marc Webb, (500) Days of Summer
3. Michael Mann, Public Enemies
2. James Cameron, Avatar
1. Oren Moverman, The Messenger

BEST PICTURE
5. (500) Days of Summer - Mason Novick/Jessica Tuchinsky/Mark Waters/Steven J. Wolfe
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox - Allison Abbate/Wes Anderson/Jeremy Dawson/Scott Rudin
3. Public Enemies - Michael Mann/Kevin Misher
2. Avatar - James Cameron/Jon Landau
1. The Messenger - Mark Gordon/Lawrence Inglee/Zach Miller
A strong debut from a first-timer.

[UPDATED: Producers nominated for Best Picture, as of 1/13/2017]

Crazy Hearts in the Air for Precious Performances! Nine!

It is with great honor that I direct you to this Sunday's edition of StinkyLulu's Supporting Actress Smackdown. Looking at this year's batch of Oscar nominees, the result is kind of...inevitable. You'll see it on there, of course, but for me, it was no contest. Thanks, of course, to StinkyLulu for once again graciously inviting me to take part in this most exciting of Smackdowns.

I wanted to see how my ratings for now compared to my initial reactions.

My lowest score, one heart, went to Maggie Gyllenhaal. As I wrote:
Maggie Gyllenhaal is fine, playing a vulnerable young woman who always seems to be attracted to the wrong guy. She does not want to love Bridges, but she falls for him, and takes the risk. Sometimes, though, she looks like she wishes she could do more. It doesn't help that the editing, or maybe the screenplay itself, seems to cut most developments, including what attracts her to Bad Blake.

Two hearts to Anna Kendrick, whose nomination still flummoxes me. When I first saw her movie:
Kendrick has certain moments where she shines, reminding me why I like her in Rocket Science and tolerate her in the Twilight movies. But her Natalie Keener is shrill, whiny, and cliched. Some of her dialogue, God help me, sounds like lines written for the middle daughter in Dan in Real Life. As for that breakdown scene midway through the film? Yikes. Talk about overplaying the comedy. She is the least consistent out of all the actors, and there seems to be no throughline for her character. It's all moments. While I didn't hate her, and while I definitely (DEFINITELY) still love the movie, Kendrick's Natalie gets a shake of the head from me.

Penelope Cruz, upon reflection, got three hearts. As I said in my review of her film:
Penelope Cruz is, naturally, sexy and funny, and also surprisingly vulnerable as the mistress. "Call from the Vatican" is a hot number as it is, but Cruz just sizzles. Bring the vapors.

I gave four hearts to Vera Farmiga. My initial reaction:
Vera Farmiga is smart, sexy and confident as Alex, who describes herself to Ryan Bingham as "you, but with a vagina." You love her. You must. I certainly fell for her, and so of course I'm rooting for the coupling all throughout. There are sweet moments between her and Clooney that are charmingly understated. Farmiga gives one of the most relatable, believable performances of the year.

Of course, in lock-step with the Globes, Critics and SAG, my five hearts were awarded to Mo'Nique:
Mo'Nique is her mother Mary. Ho. Ly. Crap.... Mo'Nique...is the mom from Hell. I had chills. Her first monologue, raw and abusive, dropped my jaw. Her final monologue gave me goosebumps. Mark these two on your ballots, people; they're in.

I think my opinion of Gyllenhaal lowers the more I reflect on the movie, whereas after a second viewing, Mo'Nique just gets better and better. Please also note: this is the first time I've ran th whole gamut of hearts. An interesting year, this.

But why read all that when you can just see what the Smackdowners have to say?

Who's It Gonna Be?

Before I get ready to host the Golden Globes fete a ma maison, mayhaps some predictions are in order. After all, if I am right, that gives me bragging rights. And bragging rights are important to me.

BEST PICTURE - DRAMA
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air
WHAT WILL WIN: The Hurt Locker, because sweeps are de rigueur.
WHAT SHOULD WIN: Avatar.

BEST PICTURE - COMEDY
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine
WHAT WILL WIN: Nine, because HFPA prefers musicals and it's the most-nominated in this category.
WHAT SHOULD WIN: (500) Days of Summer

BEST DIRECTOR
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
WHO WILL WIN: Kathryn Bigelow, because this is her year, and it cannot be denied.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Anyone except Eastwood.

BEST SCREENPLAY
Neill Blomkamp/Terri Tatchell, District 9
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Nancy Meyers, It's Complicated
Jason Reitman/Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
WHO WILL WIN: The Hurt Locker, because I do believe in the love for that movie.
WHAT SHOULD WIN: Inglourious Basterds.

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Tobey Maguire, Brothers
WHO WILL WIN: Jeff Bridges.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Well, I still need to see Crazy Heart, but I'm personally torn between Clooney and Firth. Both so great in their respective films.

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL/COMEDY
Matt Damon, The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine
Robert Downey, Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man
WHO WILL WIN: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, because he's repping the best film in the category.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
WHO WILL WIN: Carey Mulligan, since I dare not believe the Americans are taking these categories without a threat. Mulligan's film actually came out, too.
WHO SHOULD WIN: I do not consider myself able to pick a favorite without having seen The Young Victoria or The Last Station.

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL/COMEDY
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cotillard, Nine
Julia Roberts, Duplicity
Meryl Streep, It's Complicated
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
WHO WILL WIN: La Streep for Julie & Julia
WHO SHOULD WIN: Haven't seen Duplicity; otherwise, La Streep in Julie & Julia

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
WHO WILL WIN: Christoph Waltz.
WHO SHOULD WIN: I don't know. Haven't seen Harrelson's or Plummer's work. Probably Waltz, though.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man
WHO WILL WIN: Mo'Nique.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Vera Farmiga? Nah, Mo'Nique's win is cool with me.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up
WHAT WILL WIN: Up
WHAT SHOULD WIN: Fantastic Mr. Fox

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Baaria
Broken Embraces
The Maid
A Prophet
The White Ribbon
WHAT WILL WIN: The White Ribbon.
WHAT SHOULD WIN: Haha, yeah! Like I've seen any of these! Release schedules don't work like that, hon.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"I See You" from Avatar
"Winter" from Brothers
"The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart
"I Want to Come Home" from Everybody's Fine
"Cinema Italiano" from Nine
WHAT WILL WIN: "Cinema Italiano", because of the OOH AHH factor of the song.
WHAT SHOULD WIN: "I See You", although to be fair, I haven't heard "The Weary Kind"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Carter Burwell/Karen O, Where the Wild Things Are
Michael Giacchino, Up
Marvin Hamlisch, The Informant!
James Horner, Avatar
Abel Korzeniowski, A Single Man
WHO WILL WIN: Toughie. Probably Marvin Hamlisch for the nostalgia factor.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Toughie. Probably Michael Giacchino for the pure, freeing fun of it all.

Please don't think less of me when I'm wrong. See you at seven!

Nine a Given

And it would be unjust to my man Rex if I left these out. I've never before posted the nominees for the American Society of Cinematographers, but that was then. And this is now, where I'm less ignorant of the impact cinematographers have on the finished product. Nothing like some post-Oscars movie-making to make one aware!

Anyway:

Barry Ackroyd, The Hurt Locker
Dion Beebe, Nine
Christian Berger, The White Ribbon
Mauro Fiore, Avatar
Robert Richardson, Inglourious Basterds

Question: Ebert's tweeting sarcastically, right?:

Cinematography nomines. "Avatar," "Basterds," "White Ribbon," "Hurt Locker" and..."Nine???"

He has to be, right? I know Nine wasn't nominated for the PGA, DGA or WGA, but the ASC was a given. Beebe's is some of the strongest work of the year. Yet even Awards Daily calls the nom "a big surprise". I know the direction and screenplay were disappointing, but I thought this was all set in stone. And look: instead of just Avatar, I've also not seen The White Ribbon! Horray!

The Best of 2009, Part One

At midnight, 2009 is officially over. Six documentaries, several sets, a film festival, 72 new films, three Supporting Actress Sundays, 189 posts. And, of course, we must make do with these traditional year-end lists.

Of the seventy-two 2009 releases I had the pleasure (and sometimes displeasure) of seeing, I have managed to actually find 26 titles that, if I used a grading scale, would deserve a B- or more. Some of my peers believe this has to do with me being, for lack of a better term, "an easy lay". I say, if you can't find that many films in a given year to be excited about, don't rain on my parade. Fuckhead.

But why discuss something so sad? Presenting, mes amis, items 25 - 11 of my Top Ten. Some of these may be at variance with the Top Ten on the sidebar, but I always said it was subject to change. You never know how you'll feel when the time comes.

25. HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE and WHIP IT!

This was, interestingly enough, a tough call. Both are female-driven films with a teenage protagonist. Both are surprisingly affecting. While Hannah Montana is the fourth feature from Peter Chelsom, Whip It! is the directorial debut of the lovely Drew Barrymore. Both manage to get career-best work from their leads. Great soundtracks, too.

24. IT'S COMPLICATED

Utterly charming. I'm so sorry I haven't reviewed it yet, but consider this to be it: despite a rocky start and repetitive dialogue, the movie is a delight to be with. Meryl Streep and Steve Martin are adorable; John Krasinski and Alec Baldwin are funny, too. The costumes by Sonia Grande are beautiful. Fun and laugh-out-loud hilarious.

23. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
(Number Fourteen on 25 Most Anticipated)

An epic-sized rewriting of history. The ensemble here is a game one, diving fearlessly into Tarantino's pulp dialogue. Christoph Waltz will probably win an Oscar for his surprisingly charming portrayal of The Jew Hunter. Diane Kruger, thank God, managed to get a deserved SAG Nomination. And that finale is a knock-out.

22. PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL 'PUSH' BY SAPPHIRE

Despite Lee Daniels' best efforts to make it all about him, I can't get Gabourey Sidibe's lead performance out of my head. The movie, bittersweet ending and all, is hopeful. And despite the depressing surroundings, it manages to be a funny one, too. I'm glad the rest of the world caught up with me in their adoration of Mo'Nique. I knew she had it in her.

21. ZOMBIELAND

It's a zombie flick, a road movie, and a family film all in one. I haven't seen The Messenger, but I do wish Woody Harrelson was getting Oscar buzz for this movie. His Tallahassee is a memorable one. Despite how meta it is, the cameo is hilarious. Just when you thought nothing could match Shaun of the Dead...

20. STAR TREK

A talented (and very attractive) cast. A ludicrously awesome story. A rousing score. And flares, flares, flares. It's pure popcorn, and it revels in it. Have I ever waited for a non-Batman sequel this eagerly?

19. THE HANGOVER

I don't think I have ever laughed as heartily in a movie theater. Ever.

18. WATCHMEN
(Number Four on 25 Most Anticipated)

Zack Snyder was courageous in his vision, almost slavishly faithful to the source, yet willing to "mend" some elements here and there. Even if it's mostly a collection of montages, at least they are beautiful ones: the opening credits, the origin of Dr. Manhattan, the sex scene. Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jackie Earle Haley are so cool.

17. THE INFORMANT!
(Number Seventeen on 25 Most Anticipated)

Matt Damon is excellent. Steven Soderbergh's choices are odd and genius. A true-life thriller becomes a wacky comedy, a 90s setting is given a 70s vibe. Add Marvin Hamlisch's score and you've got a funny yet thoughtful look at one of the strangest cases of corporate greed to make it to press. Also, Scott Effing Bakula.

16. BREAKING UPWARDS

Though only released in New York City, I got to see this at the Tallahassee Film Festival. A couple, played by co-writer Zoe Lister-Jones and co-writer/director Daryl Wein, strategize their own break-up, based on the real-life relationship between the filmmakers. Andrea Martin and Julie White play their mothers; some of the best supporting actressing this year.

15. AN EDUCATION

A career-making performance from Carey Mulligan centers a solid, relatable film. Great performances from the whole cast, though Rosamund Pike and Cara Seymour are true stand-outs. Lovely costumes, too. Mulligan could be the new Hepburn.

14. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
(Number Four on 25 Most Anticipated)

The more I think on this, the more I love it. I love watching a movie and seeing myself in it. Anyone who remembers their childhood is sure to relate to this movie. It's magical in its ability to bring to life those feelings of freedom and insecurity. Great voicework by James Gandolfini, Chris Cooper and Catherine O'Hara.

13. NINE
(Number Two on 25 Most Anticipated)

Such a flawed movie. Yet I am in love with it. So. Much. Oh, Sophia Loren, please say you're back for good.

12. MOON

Sam Rockwell carried an entire film by himself. Not only did he play multiple roles...he played multiple aspects of one man. And brilliantly at that. Clint Mansell's simple score is haunting. It's unbelievable what Duncan Jones does with his budget. Dig it.

11. IN THE LOOP

I don't think I have ever as heartily in the comfort of my own home. Ever. Fuckity-bye-bye, then.

Check out the Top Ten later on. And remember, I've still a long way to go before I see all the 2009 releases: New York, I Love You, Sherlock Holmes, Notorious, Duplicity, Monsters vs. Aliens, My Bloody Valentine, A Single Man, etc.

In a Very Unusual Way, I'm So in Love With Nine

It's very difficult to concentrate on writing about Nine when I have the music from it playing incessantly in my head...and on my iTunes. So, first thing out of the gate, at least be reassured that the music is a pleasure to listen to. Thank goodness, too. The first thing one would want in a musical, of course, are numbers that attract the audience, and Nine does deliver on this front. With one or two exceptions, each number is a pleasure to experience, from the Overture to the Finale -- both of which gave me goosebumps and had me a wee wet-eyed.

True, "Folies Bergeres" is surprisingly lacking in life, a pity since it is my favorite from the show AND it's Judi Dench's big number. God knows she tries to deliver, but cutting out the dance break was a bizarre choice, and even the mid-song banter is noncommittal.

True also, the original song "Take It All", though sexy and ending with a punch to the gut, is a little too Chicago for me. The music, the costumes, the production design: I saw it all back in 2002.

But as for the rest, good job. Yes, even "Cinema Italiano" works, as I hoped it would, in context. A shallow song from a shallow character, so it's fine. Indeed, it reminds me of those cheesy pop tunes from the 60s, and I have a great number of those on my iTunes as well. If there is room for Herb Alpert's "Casino Royale Theme", there is room for "Cinema Italiano". And as for the rest of Kate Hudson's performance: Almost Famous was a fluke.

Nicole Kidman does fine with "Unusual Way", though it's always been one my least favorite songs from the show. It matters little, the lady's in and out within minutes. Marion Cotillard takes my second favorite number, "My Husband Makes Movies", and does not fail to impress. Her Luisa is just as wise, broken, and loving as Anouk Aimee's. That lead campaign is a joke, though -- as vital as Luisa is to the storyline, especially in this version, she is still a supporting part. Penelope Cruz is, naturally, sexy and funny, and also surprisingly vulnerable as the mistress. "Call from the Vatican" is a hot number as it is, but Cruz just sizzles. Bring the vapors. Daniel Day-Lewis does well with both his numbers, but his Guido is not as fun-loving as Marcello Mastroianni's. That's not bad, just a different, more emotional take on the character. His voice is just fine, his accent flawless.

I complained to some friends that recent movie musicals lack the huge dance numbers of old. The greatest musical, Funny Face, has one full dance number, plus several songs that stop to allow Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire to do their thing. Nine finally gives me what I want, in Fergie's tambourine dance for "Be Italian". A wonderful performance. Fergie rocks her scenes as Saraghina anyway, though. She does not speak, she just looks trashily sultry, sings, dances. It's not a challenging role at all, but just try looking away from her! The woman commands every scene she's in!

Sophia Loren's "Guarda la Luna" is magical, the song that I've been listening to all day, the song that I hummed to my niece to keep her from crying (it worked a little). It's probably the smoothest transition into a number, too, working as the lullaby it is, and as another layer to Guido's female problems. I didn't even miss the number it replaced, the titular tune "Nine", though audiences not already familiar with the story may.

This, then, is one of the main problems of the film. I know what's going on because I've seen 8 1/2 and I have the Broadway Revival CD of Nine. But will an uninitiated audience get what's going on? They introduce all these women in the Overture without telling you who they are. They just sort of stand there, Guido interacts with them a little, la-di-dah. Hell, after seeing a Nicole Kidman kiss, a Marion Cotillard tenderness, and a Penelope Cruz embrace, it's hard not to think "Oh, God, did he fuck her too?!" when Judi Dench shows up. The bedroom eyes don't help. It's not until much, much later that these women are introduced, and even then, much of who and why they are is unclear.

The film smacks of a strange restraint. It never fully embraces either of its source productions, though it tries to include elements of both. The screenwriters, Anthony Minghella and Michael Tolkin, have never written a musical before, and the awkward transitions between scene and song reveal this unfamiliarity. Director Rob Marshall tries to capture some Fellini-esque moments in flashbacks, but there is reluctance in his execution of it. Those quick cuts, courtesy Claire Simpson and Wyatt Smith, certainly don't help.

Neither does that odd choice of framing the musical numbers as fantasy sequences. Marshall's separation of fantasy and reality in this regard don't mesh with the non-musical mix of fantasy and reality, such as Guido's dead Mamma appearing in his car, or the absent Claudia in his room as he forges her autograph for a fan. If only he would just embrace the genre, the movie would work so much better than it already does -- for rest assured, kiddies, despite all of its problems, the movie works. The transitions are rocky and the direction misguided, but it somehow gets to me. The reality and fantasy sequences are flawed in their mingling, yet separately they are almost beautiful.

Much of this can be attributed to the actors and the technical experts. Dion Beebe's cinematography is gorgeous, the clear front-runner for the Oscar, getting with the material far better than the director, writers or editors or. Colleen Atwood's costumes are still dazzling, and she seems especially inspired by Ms. Cruz and Ms. Loren. The art team does a great job of dressing up a sound stage and a hotel. And the original score by Andrea Guerra deserves a release of its own, paying tribute to Ennio Morricone and Maury Yeston simultaneously, effortlessly.

Dammit, I liked the movie. I would buy it. And as I said, I love listening to the album. Just don't expect Rob Marshall to get any credit, because he is probably the weakest link in this.

Screen Actors Guild Nominees

The Screen Actors Guild has given us their noms from on high. Let us peruse. Amen.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
This list looks familiar, doesn't it? Alfred Molina (An Education) should be on here, I want to say. But I haven't seen those center three, either. A win for Waltz.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique, Precious
Oh Em Gee, Diane Kruger is there! That makes me so happy! Easily my favorite of the Basterds ensemble! Penelope Cruz is here for Nine, so that's interesting; maybe she will make it to the top. No Samantha Morton for The Messenger, which I thought they'd go for in a big way. A win for Mo'Nique.

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
Respectable list. Glad to see Renner is here. Tough call here. Bridges, I think.

BEST ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
That's it: Abbie Cornish's performance in Bright Star is dead, kaput, no more. The Bullock nom is actually going to happen. Mulligan, Sidibe and Streep all deserve to be here, Mulligan especially. Streep wins here.

BEST ENSEMBLE
An Education: Dominic Cooper, Alfred Molina, Carey Mulligan, Rosamund Pike, Peter Sarsgaard, Emma Thompson, Olivia Williams
The Hurt Locker: Christian Camargo, Brian Geraghty, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner
Inglourious Basterds: Daniel Bruhl, August Diehl, Julie Dreyfuss, Michael Fassbender, Sylvester Groth, Jacky Ido, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Denis Menochet, Mike Myers, Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Til Schweiger, Rod Taylor, Christoph Waltz, Martin Wuttke
Nine: Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren
Precious: Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Sherri Shepherd, Gabourey Sidibe
Holy crap, is this a strong list or what? Only Basterds and Precious have multiple acting nominations, though An Education is deserving of more. Oh, and hey, did Cara Seymour disappear from An Education since I've seen it? Because she's the only cast member not in the ensemble list. I love the inclusion of veteran actor Rod Taylor in the official Basterds ensemble. And the Each One Teach One girls should've gotten a mention in the Precious ensemble, but I'm also happy Sherri's there. Precious wins here.

No huge surprises, ugly or otherwise. Very safe, tow-the-line list. Glad Kruger showed up.

The Golden Globes Nominations

Finally caught up with reviews, and now I will have caught up with the precursors. SAG announces tomorrow, but yesterday morning the Golden Globes brought out their noms:

BEST SCREENPLAY
Neill Blomkamp/Terri Tatchell, District 9
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Nancy Meyers, It's Complicated
Jason Reitman/Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
I did not expect District 9 to do so well in this category. Of course, we've still not heard from the WGA or Academy, but it is becoming difficult to ignore. I hope Meyers and Reitman/Turner did a damn good job, though, because the Neustatder/Weber team behind (500) Days of Summer is stellar. Boal wins, I bet. It's The Hurt Locker's year.

BEST DIRECTOR
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Once again, the Globes find Clint irresistible. Guilds, Academy: Resist. Resist! This could be Bigelow's year at the Oscars, but why do I feel Reitman is getting the Globe?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Two of these are not in release. The Messenger has yet to arrive in either my college town or my hometown. Despite my reservations concerning Invictus, I will once again call the Damon nom well-deserved. And Waltz, of course, is unstoppable. Count on him to win it.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man
Look for Cruz to be sidelined in favor of Samantha Morton in The Messenger come Oscar Nom Morn. Mo'Nique, like Waltz, is unstoppable, and that is truly awesome. Award-winning actress Mo'Nique. What a sentence.

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL/COMEDY
Matt Damon, The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine
Robert Downey, Jr., Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man
Damon, Gordon-Levitt and Stuhlbarg are all deserving of noms. Hell, they'd be deserving of Oscar noms, with the other slots filled by Sam Rockwell (Moon) and...hm....either Johnny Depp (Public Enemies) or George Clooney (Fantastic Mr. Fox). Anyway. No telling who would win this, really. Day-Lewis? But probably Stuhlbarg. I'll go with Stuhlbarg.

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Tobey Maguire, Brothers
The more I hear about how good Brothers (and Maguire) is....the more confused I get. The trailers look AWFUL. Freeman is still deserving, he just wouldn't be on my list. Where's Rockwell? Where's Depp? What is this? Bridges gets it.

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL/COMEDY
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cotillard, Nine
Julia Roberts, Duplicity
Meryl Streep, It's Complicated
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Holy crap, someone remembered Duplicity! That's the big news here, really. Well, that and the Streep times two. I suppose her performance as Julia Child will get her the Globe. I really can't wait to see It's Complicated, though. I am ashamed to say I have not seen The Proposal or Duplicity yet. Perhaps during my Christmas break...? Amy Adams, by the way, gave a truly great performance in Sunshine Cleaning. Just saying.

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
So...is this Bullock nom happening? Strange, sexy thought, that. I love that Blunt is coming out of the woodwork. I don't love Abbie Cornish (Bright Star) being left out in the cold. Mulligan wins, and everyone is happy.

BEST PICTURE - MUSICAL/COMEDY
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine
Nine wins, of course. What a delightful group this is. I know: I haven't seen It's Complicated or Nine. But the other three rock. So there.

BEST PICTURE - DRAMA
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air
The bookends are unseen by me. The three in the middle are fine. I did expect them to like An Education more than Precious. This lack of attention to the former has me fearing a Sally Hawkins-esque snub. Knock on wood.

Thank You for Being a Friend, SAG

The Hollywood Reporter brings tidings of great joy!

First up, one of the Golden Girls is getting a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild!!! Three guesses on who. Hint: you'll only need two.



It's like everyone I love is getting an award this year! Roger Corman, Lauren Bacall, and now last year's Hollmann Awards Host! Thank you, awards season. I appreciate it.

And hey, this week's SSR obsession, A Single Man, just got a distributor! Of course, it's The Weinstein Company, so while they're aces with awards, they also hate releasing their movies. (Trick 'r Treat, anyone?)

Rumor has it, of course, that this may push Nine out of this calendar year, what with the moolah spent on an Awards Campaign. Which would be...AWFUL. But it's just a rumor, so I will hope against hope that it's not true.

(If they push anything, make it The Road. Who really wants to see that?)

25 + 3 - 10 = Nine

Well, it was inevitable that some songs had to go. This story from Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals led me to the Theatre Aficionado at Large, particularly to his discussion of the musical Nine. Now, my roommate and I knew something had to go, what with three songs being added to the already 25-strong score. And the choices are interesting.

First, I had been thinking only last week of the song "The Bells of St. Sebastien's", which I consider to be a very stage-bound number. I couldn't imagine how one would incorporate it within a film. Thankfully, it has been cut. Surely no one is mourning this. The music's pretty, but it is (for me) a very forgettable number).

The entire "Grand Canal" sequence, consisting of six songs, has also been cut. Again, I can understand this. It's a show-within-a-show deal, and since director Rob Marshall is already doing his A Song Is A Fantasy Sequence approach, this could be too literal. So...I guess they'll just do the dailies scene from 8 1/2. Which, again, makes more sense to me.

"Simple", sung by Claudia (Nicole Kidman), and "Be On Your Own", sung by Luisa (Marion Cotillard), have also been cut. Both immediately follow the "Grand Canal" sequence, so I guess with one gone the transition into the others would feel bizarre? Anyway, Luisa still gets a weepy ballad, this time with new song "Take It All". Hey, as long as Cotillard still gets all the screentime, I'm fine.

The fifth number cut is kind of surprising, kind of not. Look, I know Sophia Loren doesn't have the strongest voice in the world, and I know the song is for the greatest soprano in all the lands, but to cut the song "Nine" from a musical called Nine is odd. Anyway, a new song has been written for Ms. Loren, entitled "Guarda La Luna". I do feel she should get special treatment. Always.

(Which reminds me, I recently saw her in Altman's Ready to Wear, and while I do feel she was deserving of that Golden Globe nom, holy crap was Anouk Aimee amazing in this. And of course, Aimee played Luisa in the original 8 1/2. I'll have to talk about that later.)

In the meantime, Kate Hudson has gotten her own musical number called "Cinema Italiano", which I guess is that odd-looking bit in the trailer where Daniel Day-Lewis jizzes champagne everywhere.

Speaking of Trailers....

This morning, my attention was directed to this lovely bit o' crumpet:



Holy holy holy! That's Fergie singing throughout, by the way. And sexy, sexy Penelope Cruz is sexy. And sexy, sexy Judi Dench is...well, anyway, it looks amazing! I see Rob Marshall is once again going for an actual "stage" for his musical numbers. But I guess it works, as most of the numbers in Nine are either soliloquies or fantasies.

Looking Ahead

In the great tradition of making as many lists as possible, I want to take a look at the 25 Most Anticipated Films of the Year. But, you know, not the world's. Just mine.

I did this in April of 2008, too, but what's the point of doing a most-anticipated of the year when three months' worth of films has already come and gone? I did pretty well, though. My Top 25 last year looked like this:

25. Burn After Reading
24. Pineapple Express
23. Leatherheads
22. Speed Racer
21. Prom Night
20. Synecdoche, NY
19. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
18. The Argentine AND Guerrilla
17. Young @ Heart
16. Get Smart
15. The Women
14. Vicky Cristina Barcelona
13. Frost/Nixon
12. WALL-E
11. Revolutionary Road
10. Snow Angels
9. Doubt
8. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
6. Quantum of Solace
5. The Dark Knight
4. Iron Man
3. Milk
2. Savage Grace
1. Mamma Mia!

Not a bad list, certainly. I actually saw 21 of these bad boys in 2008, too. I've still yet to see Prom Night, Che (The Argentine/Guerilla), The Women, or Revolutionary Road. Seven of these films made it to my Top Ten of 2008. The other three: Valkyrie kept changing its release date, Married Life I had already seen, and Rachel Getting Married just surprised me.

And now, before we're fully into the new year, it's time to make a new list. It's getting close, too, to Hollmann Awards Time. Nominations will be announced January 21st, the day before the Academy announces its nominees. Anyway....


25. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

DIRECTOR: Gavin Hood (Tsotsi, Rendition)
WRITER: David Benioff (Troy, The Kite Runner)
CAST: Oscar host Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Liev Schreiber, Dominic Monaghan, Danny Huston
PLOT: Wolverine (Jackman) lives a mutant life, seeks revenge against Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber)--who will later become Sabertooth--for the death of his girlfriend, and ultimately ends up going through the mutant Weapon X program.
WHAT I THINK: A chance to pretend The Last Stand didn't happen. Also, Jackman's the fucking man. And Gambit finally shows up!

24. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

DIRECTOR: David Yates (the last one)
WRITER: Steve Kloves (all but the last one), from the novel by J.K. Rowling
CAST: Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Jim Broadbent, Alan Rickman
PLOT: As Harry Potter (Radcliffe) begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's (Ralph Fiennes) dark past.
WHAT I THINK: It's about damn time. Although I am upset that they took away Broadbent's moustache.

23. Monsters vs. Aliens

DIRECTOR: Rob Letterman (Shark Tale) & Conrad Verdon (Shrek 2)
CAST: Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Stephen Colbert
PLOT: When a meteorite from outer space hits a young girl (Witherspoon) and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years.
WHAT I THINK: HOLY SHIT STEPHEN COLBERT IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA! Also, how cute does this look? Oh so very cute.

22. The Box

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko, Southland Tales), from the short story "Button, Button" by Richard Matheson
CAST: James Marsden, Cameron Diaz, Frank Langella, James Rebhorn, Lisa K. Wyatt
PLOT: A small wooden box arrives on the doorstep of a married couple (Marsden & Diaz), who open it and become instantly wealthy. Little do they realize that opening the box also kills someone they do not know.
WHAT I THINK: I think Marsden -- and let me a little gay here -- looks adorable with that 70s hair. But I also think I love everything Kelly does, and Frank Langella is the fucking man.

21. New York, I Love You

DIRECTORS: Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Red Dragon), Mira Nair (Vanity Fair, The Keepsake), Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age), etc.
WRITERS: Emmanuel Benbihy, Anthony Minghella, Natalie Portman, Faith Akin, Stephen Winter, etc.
CAST: Kevin Bacon, James Caan, Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman, Hollmann Award Nominee Eli Wallach
PLOT: An anthology film joining several love stories set in one of the most loved cities of the world, New York.
WHAT I THINK: I love Paris, je t'aime, so I'm really looking forward to this one. Kevin Bacon's the effing man. If only Woody Allen could have done one....

20. Shutter Island (aka Ashcliffe)

DIRECTOR: Hollmann Award Nominee Martin Scorsese (The Departed, The Aviator)
WRITER: Laeta Kalgridis, from the novel by Dennis Lehane
CAST: Hollmann Award Nominee Leonardo DiCaprio, Hollmann Awards Host Patricia Clarkson, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Mark Ruffalo
PLOT: In 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.
WHAT I THINK: I need to read this book. I love the Scorsese-DiCaprio team, always. I love Patty Clarkson, always. And I'm always ready for some island murdering. Sign me up!

19. Coraline

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Henry Selick (The Nightmare before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach), from the book by Neil Gaiman
CAST: Dakota Fanning, Keith David, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Teri Hatcher
PLOT: A young girl (Fanning) walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life.
WHAT I THINK: It looks beautiful and haunting. Selick is great, and it reteams French and Saunders. Excitement city!

18. Duplicity

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)
CAST: Julia Roberts, Hollmann Award Nominee Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Thomas McCarthy
PLOT: A pair of corporate spies (Roberts, Owen) who share a steamy past hook up to pull off the ultimate con job on their respective bosses (Wilkinson, Giamatti).
WHAT I THINK: The trailer is the right amount of BAM WOW COOL! Julia's growing on me. There's nothing quite like a good ol' Wilkinson flick.

17. The Informant

DIRECTOR: Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's 11, The Good German)
WRITER: Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum), from the book by Kurt Eichenwald
CAST: Matt Damon, Melanie Lynskey, Frank Welker, Candy Clark, Patton Oswalt
PLOT: The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president turned informant Mark Whitacre (Damon).
WHAT I THINK: Look at that! That's Matt Damon! How? God, I love all things Soderbergh touches that I've seen that I've liked.

16. Funny People

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Judd Apatow
CAST: Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler, Hollmann Award Nominee Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman
PLOT: When seasoned comedian George Simmons (Sandler) learns of his terminal, inoperable health condition, his desire to form a genuine friendship cause him to take a relatively green performer (Rogen) under his wing as his opening act.
WHAT I THINK: Apatow has the chops to do a drama. Sandler has always impressed me, and he's done this kind of balance in Punch-Drunk Love. Oscar, maybe? Finally?

15. My Bloody Valentine 3D

DIRECTOR: Patrick Lussier
WRITERS: Todd Farmer & Zane Smith
CAST: Jensen Ackles, Jaime King
PLOT: Tom (Ackles) returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine's night massacre that claimed the lives of 22 people.
WHAT I THINK: I think nothing says date movie like a 3D ride to hell. Muthafucka.

14. Inglourious Basterds

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Quentin Tarantino
CAST: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, B.J. Novak, Eli Roth, Mike Myers
PLOT: In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis.
WHAT I THINK: Finally, the movie Tarantino fans have been waiting for! I love Jews, and I also love bloody vengeance! Yay!

13. The Tempest

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Julie Taymor (Across the Universe, Titus), from the play by William Shakespeare
CAST: Hollmann Award Winner Helen Mirren, David Strathairn, Djimon Hounsou, Alfred Molina, Chris Cooper
PLOT: In Taymor's re-imagining, Mirren is Prospera, who rules an island with ehr magic after being banished by her brother (Molina?).
WHAT I THINK: Ooh interesting, turning Shakespeare (he can be a little misogynistic) into an examination of the sacred feminine. You've piqued my interest, Mrs. Goldenthal.

12. A Christmas Carol

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Beowulf), from the book by Charles Dickens
CAST: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Cary Elwes
PLOT: Yeah, because no one knows the plot to this. Give me a break.
WHAT I THINK: I love Christmas!!!

11. Up

DIRECTOR: Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.) & Bob Petersen
WRITER: Bob Petersen (Finding Nemo)
CAST: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Delroy Lindo
PLOT: By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America.
WHAT I THINK: Yay, a Pixar fantasy about old people! Dream come true!

10. 500 Days of Summer

DIRECTOR: Marc Webb
WRITERS: Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber
CAST: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
PLOT: An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman (Deschanel) who doesn't believe true love exists, and the young man (Gordon-Levitt) who falls for her.
WHAT I THINK: What that synopsis doesn't mention is that JGL loves music, and breaks out into song periodically. So....they made my life story? Awesome.

9. Julie & Julia

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Nora Ephron (Bewitched, Michael), from the books Julie & Julia by Julie Powell and My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'homme
CAST: Hollmann Award Winner Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Jane Lynch, Stanley Tucci
PLOT: As Julie Powell cooks her way through Julia Child's cookbook, Julia Child experiences France!
WHAT I THINK: Oh, I fondly remember watching Julia Child on TV when I was a boy. And oh, I fondly love watching Meryl Streep and Amy Adams now that I'm a man. think the only thing that could make this better is if they include Julia Child's CIA missions.

8. Where the Wild Things Are

DIRECTOR: Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation.)
WRITERS: Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers, from the book by Maurice Sendak
CAST: Catherine O'Hara, Catherine Keener, Forest Whitaker, Paul Dano, James Gandolfini
PLOT: An adaptation of the children's classic about Max, a disobedient little boy sent to bed without his supper, creates his own world--a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown Max as their ruler.
WHAT I THINK: It's about the damn gosh darn time! Jonze is a genius (there, I said it!), and I canna wait for this!

7. State of Play

DIRECTOR: Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland)
WRITERS: Matthew Michael Carnahan (Lions for Lambs), Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Supremacy) & Billy Ray (Breach), from the BBC miniseries by Paul Abbott
CAST: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, Hollmann Award Winner Helen Mirren
PLOT: A team of investigative reporters work alongside a police detective to try to solve the murder of a congressman's mistress.
WHAT I THINK: Mm, the sweet, sweet smell of a political thriller involving investigative journalism. And Helen Mirren. It smells like victory.

6. Notorious

DIRECTOR: George Tillman, Jr.
WRITERS: Reggie Rock Bythewood & Cheo Hodari Coker
CAST: Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Angela Basset
PLOT: Biopic depicting the life of Notorious B.I.G. (Jamal Woolard)
WHAT I THINK: I like that a biopic is being made from someone I was alive to appreciate. The trailer is fantastic, I like Derek Luke, and it's a great way to bond with my sister.

5. Public Enemies

DIRECTOR: Michael Mann (Miami Vice)
WRITERS: Ronan Bennett, Ann Biderman (Primal Fear) & Michael Mann (Heat), from the book by Bryan Burrough
CAST: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Channing Tatum, Billy Crudup, Hollmann Award Winner Marion Cotillard
PLOT: The Feds try to take down notorious American gangsters John Dillinger (Depp), Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Pretty Boy Floyd (Tatum) during a booming crime wave in the 1930s.
WHAT I THINK: I think that if Bale and Depp starred in a series of monologues consisting of phone book entries, I would see it twice in theatres.

4. Watchmen

DIRECTOR: Zack Snyder (300, Dawn of the Dead)
WRITERS: David Hayter (X-Men, X2) & Alex Tse, from the graphic novel by Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore
CAST: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jackie Earle Haley, Carla Gugino
PLOT: When an ex-superhero (Morgan) is murdered, a vigilante named Rorshach (Haley) begins an investigation into the murder, which begins to lead to a much more terrifying conclusion.
WHAT I THINK: The graphic novel was EPIC. The trailer was EPIC. Everything about this just screams, "WALTER! LOVE ME!" And I will.

3. Sherlock Holmes

DIRECTOR: Guy Ritchie (RockNRolla, Snatch)
WRITERS: Mike Johnson, Simon Kinberg, Anthony Peckham & Guy Ritchie, from the comic by Lionel Wigram and characters by Arthur Conan Doyle
CAST: Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Eddie Marsan, Mark Strong
PLOT: Detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) and his stalwart partner Watson (Law) engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
WHAT I THINK: At last, the return of a popular detective, with a number of great actors thrown into the mix! What's next--Agatha Christie? (Please?)

2. Nine

DIRECTOR: Rob Marshall (Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago)
WRITERS: Anthony Minghella (The English Patient) & Michael Tolkin (The Player), from the musical by Arthur L. Kopit and Maury Yeston
CAST: Hollmann Award Winner Daniel Day-Lewis, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Hollmann Award Winner Marion Cotillard, Hollmann Award Nominee Judi Dench
PLOT: Famous film director Guido Contini (Day-Lewis) struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife (Cotillard), his mistress (Cruz), his muse (Kidman), his agent (Dench), and his mother (Loren).
WHAT I THINK: I love musicals. I love this cast. It's like who I would cast in every musical ever made. Sexy, sexy Penelope is there. Incandescently beautiful Marion is there. Ultimate bad-ass Judi is there. Heaven! I'm in Heaven!

1. The Wolf Man

DIRECTOR: Joe Johnston (Jumanji, October Sky)
WRITERS: Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en, Sleepy Hollow) & David Self (Road to Perdition, Thirteen Days)
CAST: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Geraldine Chaplin
PLOT: Upon his return to his ancestral homeland, an American man (Del Toro) is bitten, and subsequently cursed, by a werewolf.
WHAT I THINK: The original was one of my favorite movies growing up. I must have watched it three times a week for a year. Walker and Self both have a number of films to their credit that I adore, and Johnston clearly knows both the spectacular and the subtle. What a cast! It's a remake that appears to build on the themes of the original, giving it an epic scope that speaks to more than just the horror fan. Epic.