Best Actor Predictions

Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button


Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon


Sean Pean - Milk


Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road


Viggo Mortenson - The Road

Who Will Win: Viggo
Who Should Win: Brad

Rachel Getting Married: Hathaway Getting Oscar

“Rachel Getting Married” is an ensemble family drama for the ages. Following in the footsteps of classics like “Ordinary People” and “The Big Chill”, this latest addition is redefining the genre for a new generation.
The titular Rachel (an unknown though superb Rosemarie DeWitt) is shown in the days preceding her wedding. For the first time in a long time, the divorced parents (Bill Irwin and Debra Winger, respectively), the fiancé’s Hawaiian family and Rachel’s sister Kym (Anne Hathaway) come together -- drama ensues. Rachel’s family is the definition of “dysfunctional”, all filled with tragedy, regret, secrets and shame, all revealed and confronted throughout the film. Though she maybe the title character, Rachel is certainly not the main character; no, that would be Kym.
Anne Hathaway is devastating, disturbing and deliciously dramatic as Kym, Rachel’s sister who comes straight out of rehab to the wedding. She arrives still full of problems -- subtly harassing her sister, manipulating her dad all while she thinks, needs and makes (whether consciously or not) the world revolve around her. She’s constantly competing with her sister for the parents’ attention and approval (though mom and dad have the same reservations and opinions about their daughters from beginning to end).
First time writer Jenny Lumet perfectly captures the mess of the confrontation in a really beautiful and brutally honest way. Director Jonathan Demme works scripts’ realism by using handheld cameras to make “Rachel Getting Married” appear to be documentary-like, adding to the realism of the movie. Lumet also makes subtle yet brilliant comparisons between the twelve steps (Kym attends AA) and the wedding preparation. She also established every scene with tone-setting, acoustic music, usually coming from the wedding band rehearsing outside of the house. Their playing gets to be so tedious that at one point Kym yells, “Are they going to play all weekend?!”, leading to the whole family to tell them to shut up.
Demme works like a composer, stringing all the elements together for an incredible film, the beauty of which comes out of how natural it feels. You get so absorbed into their drama, life and world that you might as well be a guest at the wedding. Maybe beyond everything else spectacular about “Rachel Getting Married” are the oscar-worthy performances by Debra Winger, Bill Irwin, Rosemarie DeWitt and, of course, Anne Hathaway. Hathaway has come a long way from her “Princess Diaries” days and honed her skills as a credible actress, as she just so stunningly brilliant and radically different that she is almost unrecognizable. Not in a million years would I consider that she is acting, because it is so unbelievably authentic that Hathaway is not just playing Kym; she is Kym. Don’t be to surprised to see her on stage in a few months, thanking Demme for casting her in this tour de force that will surely be a considered a classic in years to come.

Rachel Getting Married is 113 minutes and Rated R for language and brief sexuality.

Oscar Predictions: October

Oscar Season is comming up and we're going to bring you a monthly catagory prediction. We're starting off with "BEST PICTURE" catagory:


Doubt is based on the award-winning Broadway play. With an all star cast, filmmakers and some serious buzz going around, Doubt is almost a sure nominee.


Rachel Getting Married is one of the best reviewed films of the year, and likely nomintions for almost everyone in the cast.


The duo re-unites with oscar-winning director Sam Mendes for an adaptating of the critically aclaimed novel, Revolutionary Road. The reviews will make or break it.


The Curious Case of Benjamn Button is a possibilty, but mostly a serious hopeful.


Cormac MacCarthy, author of No Countryn for Old Men, wrote The Road, now a film with Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron. Lets just say things are looking pretty good.

WHO WILL WIN: The Road
WHO SHOULD WIN: Rachel Getting Married

Top Three Good Actors-Bad Habits List

There are three actors who I believe can be considered at least "ok" by anyone, all of whom do the same really stupid things in their films:

3. Harrison Ford Makes The Same Movie
This perfectly sums up every Harrison Ford movie ever made:
Harrison Ford Wants His Family Back
I cannot stand seeing the exact same movie over and over again. Maybe he should do a comedy...

2. Kirsten Dunst Looks Angelic and Rolls In The Grass
FYI, This is not a weed joke. Every movie I've ever seen Kirsten Dunst in, she's either this overly poetic person or silently rolling in the grass. Heres a few examples:
The Virgin Suicides (shes quintisential poetic and grass rolling Kirsten Dunst):


Elizabethtown (she plays the angelic poetic person):


Marie Antionette (a little bit of everything):


1. Steve Carrell Being Loud

I love Steve Carrell. The Office is genius and hes just plain funny. But he does this same bit in everything where was funny-buut-not-so-funny and really loud.

Bruce Almighty - Hes the Anchor the Jim Carrey makes talk gibberesh and crazy loud
The 40 Year Old Virgin - Chest waxing scene
The Office - Countless times, being Micheal Scott
Bewitched - Crazy Uncle sneaking up on Will Ferrell
Little Miss Sunshine - "No one gets left behind!" (argubly the most bearble and appropriate)
Get Smart - "Cone of Silence" scene

It gets old.

Total Rip-Off

May Movie Rip-Offs

Ari Saperstein

Nearly all films are based on previous written material. Whether it's the newest sequel in blockbuster franchise or a romantic comedy we've seen a thousand times before, there's rarely any original ideas in theatres nowadays. What so funny is that almost all the best films are completely new and original ideas. But now, in this big, big month of May with some of the summer's biggest films out, we're going to take a look at eight and scrutinize the script behind it:

Iron Man -- Every summer needs at least three superhero movies, and the Iron Man just happened to be the big summer opener. Of course this is based on the +40 year old comic about a man who an Iron suit tat fights crime. As if there aren't enough superhero movies this summer.

Made of Honor -- in 1997, Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz starred in a movie called "My Best Friend's Wedding", in which Diaz marries Roberts's best friend, and Roberts slowly breaks them up while appearing to help them. She feels threatened by Diaz and feels bad about breaking them up since, as she wants them to be happy. I guess some one decided it would be fun to make the exact same movie, but with the biggest TV star (Patrick Dempsey) in the place of Ms. Roberts. But instead, its not even enjoyable bad, or cheesy bad. It's just bad.

Speed Racer -- It seems that we've come to a point where we're adapting cartoons in live action movies, since that's worked sooooo well (*cough* Rocky and Bullwinkle cough). But now, it's an American cartoon that was originally a Japanese cartoon. This might be the only occasion where there's a Japanese remake that isn't a horror movie.

What Happens in Vegas -- Instead of listing all 287 other rom-coms with the exact same premise, I'll just explain in basic words what this movie is about: Boy meets girl. Boy and girl go to Vegas. Boy marries girl. Girl divorces boy. Boy hates girl, but ends up in love with girl. The end. Need I say more?

Sex and the City -- At least its not The Sopranos or Six Feet Under that they're ruining by making a movie of it four years after the series has ended.

War Inc. -- Not the most commercialized film, but I felt this was important to include. War Inc., is about an assassin that gets involved in a war going on in another country. Not quite a shoot 'em up and not quite a political film, but it falls into the exact same line of genre as "Lord of War" and "Domino". One of the bad genre-less assassin films is one too much for me.

Indiana Jones -- Of course its kick ass since its Jones, but come on, Harrison Ford is 64 years old. He definitely doesn't need the money, and he must have had a couple hundred stunt doubles to do every action scene for him. How he hasn't broken a hip yet and how this movie got made is beyond all logic.

Chronicles of Narnia -- As if we don't have enough children's fantasy novels being turned into movies. Frankly, I can't keep track of all the premises, it all seems to mold together and there becomes a point where I don't know why is Lyra running after the Golden Snitch and why is Harry trying to find the Golden Compass? Not that I don't love Narnia but it all gets a little exhausting if not old after a while.

Indie DVD Pick of the Week

I'M NOT THERE

Most people weren't their, at the theatres when this movie came out, resonably, because it had no target audience. I'm Not There follows 6 different versions of Bob Dylan, all representing different sides -- the best being a fantastic Cate Blanchette and the late Heath Ledger (who beautifully interacts with the mesmerizing Charolette Gainsbough). It can be as weird as the premise occasionally (especially concerning Richard Gere as a Dylan/Billy the Kid) but the few great scenes are worth it in the end.

Review of "The Paper"

Recycled ‘Paper’ Is No Good
By Ari Saperstein

MTV’s “The Paper”, which premired earlier this April, follows one of the largest high school papers in the country, and the drama that ensues amongst the staff. It all takes place at Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Florida, the largest high school in America with – get this – 5500 kids. That’s roughly 18 times the size of Burke. I wouldn’t be surprised if the principal didn’t know this show was being made. There’s a staff of 70+ people on the school paper and with one teacher in charge. I tend to spend most of the show wondering when the kids actually have class.
The show focuses primarily on four juniors: Adam, the effeminate business manager; Alex, the underdog managing editor; Giana, the friendly-yet-prissy news editor; Amanda, the self-absorbed new Editor-in-Chief that everyone loves to hate. Amanda appears to be pulled right out of another MTV show, “My Super Sweet 16” as she is possibly one of the most spoiled, arrogant, over-dramatic, idiotic teens ever be filmed on camera (as are most of the kids on “Sweet 16”). At the same time though, its almost sad to watch her, because really, she’s just a desperate, self diluted girl living in her own reality, when in actuality, she doesn’t realize everyone hates her. Either this is one really bad actress (as are most MTV “reality” stars) or a truly pathetic girl who thinks she’s the center of the universe.
These kids are just as annoying, obnoxious and unappealing as those on other MTV hits like “Laguana Beach”, “Newport Harbor”, “The Hills”. The only thing this MTV contraption seems to be is just an amalgam of all the worst parts of its few high-rated hits.

New episodes on Monday at 10:30 on MTV.

Indie DVD of the Week: All the Real Girls

ALL THE REAL GIRLS

There were no good picks this week, so I went into the archives and found this: All The Real Girls. Zooey Deschanel and Paul Schnider star in the fascinating and very sad film about two southern kids that fall in love. Besides the performances, whats so great about this movie is that it really isn't afraid to show a realistic portrait of southern US, and its very touching, the film as a whole, but kind of hard to watch sometimes, as you become so emotionally attached. Very impressive for a first time filmmaker.

FEATURED: Judd Apatow

Funny Men, Very Funny Women

Judd Apatow. That’s a name everone should know, especially those who like some of the best comedic films in the past decade, such as Anchorman, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, Walk Hard, and the newest, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He has beeen either a producer, writer, director, or songwriter on all of these films. Most of these films are commentary about what men are really like, which is why there is a new “frat pack”-esque of very funny men who show up in most of the movies: Seth Rogan, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Steve Carrell, and Jonah Hill. Notice anything missing? Women.

That’s the only thing that seems to be missing from these Apatow brainchild projects is a constant female performers. Admitedly, all of these movies are social commentaries about how men act and think, but one of their biggest subjects in how they interact with women. The women have all been great actresses and pitch-perfect in their roles: Catherine Keener in "The 40 Year Old Virgin", Katherine Heigel and Leslie Mann in "Knocked Up", and now Kirsten Bell and Mila Kunis in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". Is it that the roles are designed specifically for characters only these different women can play, or is it that Apatow doesn't see the same versitality in women as men?

Apatow got his start by creating the short lived series "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared", both of which starred most of his film stars. Another thing in common -- almost no female leads. Thats what it is about these "rat pack" and "frat pack" groups is that there isn't any women. Maybe all we need to for Tina Fey, Amy Sedaris, Sarah Silverman, Amy Poelher, and Jenna Fischer need to form their own "Cat Pack"... or hopeful something with a more clever name

Indie DVD Pick of the Week: Lars and the Real Girl

LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
came out on DVD last week, but I just watched it and thought i needed to include it this week. Ryan Gosling shows his incredible versatility as Lars, a twnety-something lonely man who (because of a disillousion) walks around with his knew girl friend -- a brazillian sex doll named Bianca. The whole town, though, goes along with it. Emily Mortimer stars as his sister in law who tries to help him out and Patricia Clarkson is his psycologist. Its really suprisingly funny and very touching. Highly Recommended.