Looking Forward To...

 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Release: December 14, 2012
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Martin Freeman, Richard Armitrage, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Billy Connolly, Elijah Wood, Christopher Lee, Aidan Turner, Ian Holm, James Nesbitt, Dean O'Gorman, and Ian McKellen

So of course I'm super excited for this film mostly because I was such a huge fan of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy which I consider to be three of the best films of last decade. I cheered when they swept the Academy Awards for the final film and more recently I spent 4 hours (or was it 5? 6?) watching the extended edition of Return of the King and remembered why I loved it in the first place. So when it was announced that Peter Jackson was coming back and directing the prequel with some of the original cast members? Well, I was off-the-moon happy. Then of course one film became two films... and two films became three films... and well some of my excitement has been noticeably diluted. Still, I'll be right there on opening weekend. I miss Middle Earth that much. Also look how pretty...

Birthday Girl: Karen Gillan

Quick birthday shoutout to Karen Gillan who played Doctor Who companion Amy Pond. She turns 25 today which just highlights just how freaking young she is especially in light of her former co-stars, Arthur Darvill and Matt Smith, both turning 30 last year. Then again, not really a big surprise since everyone had already commented on how young she was when she was cast in the role all those years ago. Along with Darvill, Gillan was the longest running Who companion of the modern series. Their last appearance on the show was just a couple months ago.

While it was sad to see her go, it's heartening to see her involved with more than a few projects. She starred in a couple of TV movies which aired in Britain earlier this year, We'll Take Manhattan and In Love with Coward. She will then be appearing in the following two films with release dates still to be determined: Not Another Happy Ending and Oculus. The latter film is slated for 2014 release and also stars Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackhoff.

Spirit Awards Nominations

I could probably lament the poor state of my severely neglected blog, but instead I will just dive into a new entry talking about the Spirit Awards nominations which were announced earlier today. That announcement along with yesterday's Gotham Awards winners (Moonrise Kingdom won Best Feature), awards season is officially underway!

BEST FEATURE
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Bernie
Keep the Lights On
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook

Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom and David O'Russell's Silver Linings Playbook led the pack with 5 nominations each including one for Best Feature. One of those will probably win, but it's heartening to see Sundance and Cannes sensation Beasts of the Southern Wild make it in as well as Music Box's Keep the Lights On.

BEST DIRECTOR
Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom
Julia Loktev, The Loneliest Planet
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Ira Sachs, Keep the Lights On
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

I haven't seen either Silver Linings Playbook or The Loneliest Planet, but I have seen the other films and at least for those three, I thought this nomination was very well-deserved. Again, it's looking like an Anderson-Russell battle, but I would not underestimate Zeitlin.

BEST FIRST FEATURE
Fill the Void
Gimme the Loot
Safety Not Guaranteed
Sound of My Voice
The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I've only seen Safety Not Guaranteed (weird, fun, but original) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (should be more celebrated) from this group. The latter I'm hoping gets more notices this awards season somewhere.

BEST FEMALE LEAD
Linda Cardellini, Return
Emayatzy Corinealdi, Middle of Nowhere
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Smashed

Like everyone who hasn't yet seen it yet, I realized that I need to see Middle of Nowhere which picked up a solid 4 nominations including one for its leading lady. I'm very curious to see how far Quvenzhané Wallis will go this awards season. Finally, it's just awesome to see a list that includes Katniss Everdeen, Lindsay Weir, and Ramona Flowers. Winstead's nomination makes me smile.

BEST MALE LEAD
Jack Black, Bernie
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Thure Lindhardt, Keep the Lights On
Matthew McConaughey, Killer Joe
Wendell Pierce, Four

Unfortunately, I've only seen one performance here and that is Lindhart's star turn in Keep the Lights On. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Cooper though as he's apparently very good in the film. Finally, what a great year for McConaughey, huh? Along with his scene-stealing supporting turn in Magic Mike, he's doubly nominated.

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE
Rosemarie DeWitt, Your Sister’s Sister
Ann Dowd, Compliance
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Brit Marling, Sound of My Voice
Lorraine Toussaint, Middle of Nowhere

Looks like a diverse and deserving crowd. Well actually since I haven't seen any of these performances, I can't exactly say if they are deserving, but it's always nice to see someone like DeWitt get praised as well as Hunt's re-emergence.

BEST SUPPORTING MALE
Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike
David Oyelowo, Middle of Nowhere
Michael Péna, End of Watch
Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths
Bruce Willis, Moonrise Kingdom

McConaughey, with his critically-loved roles this year and name recognition, might be on the short list for Oscar, but how about David Oyelowo? He's like the Jessica Chastain circa last year with five films to his credit. I haven't seen his nominated performance, but he was more than fine in Lincoln and The Paperboy. Also where is Ezra Miller for his great work in Perks of Being a Wallflower?

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM
Amour
Once Upon A Time in Anatolia
Rust And Bone
Sister
War Witch

It's pretty bad that I not only have I not seen any of these films, but I also don't even know what most of them are about. I do know Amour (the frontrunner?) and Rust And Bone are on my shortlist to see ASAP, but that's about it. Also apparently Holy Motors was snubbed? I also probably should see that when I can.

BEST DOCUMENTARY
How to Survive a Plague
Marina Abramoviæ: The Artist is Present
The Central Park Five
The Invisible War
The Waiting Room

How to Survive a Plague recently won at the Gothams so it's probably being seen as the front runner, but how do you count out a legendary documentarian like Ken Burns who directed The Central Park Five? You don't.

BEST SCREENPLAY
Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola, Moonrise Kingdom
Zoe Kazan, Ruby Sparks
Martin McDonagh, Seven Psychopaths
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Ira Sachs, Keep the Lights On

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY
Rama Burshtein, Fill the Void
Derek Connolly, Safety Not Guaranteed
Christopher Ford, Robot & Frank
Rashida Jones & Will McCormack, Celeste and Jesse Forever
Jonathan Lisecki, Gayby

The cool thing about these screenplay nominations is that even if I haven't seen the films, I actually KNOW about them. Lots of interesting names here as well like Kazan, Sachs, Lisecki, and Jones. The latter's nomination made me yell "ANN PERKINS!"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Yoni Brook, Valley of Saints
Lol Crawley, Here
Ben Richardson, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Roman Vasyanov, End of Watch
Robert Yeoman, Moonrise Kingdom

JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (Low Budget Films)
Breakfast with Curtis
Middle of Nowhere
Mosquita y Mari
Starlet
The Color Wheel

No other comments, but I'm realizing there's just way too many films I still need to see and this just encompasses the "independent" films. And so far, I'm not sick of awards season yet! But I'm sure that will change as people divide via their rooting interests, etc. See you all on the other side.

Looking Forward To...

Anna Karenina
Release: November 16, 2012
Distributor: Focus Features
Director: Joe Wright
Starring: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Matthew McFayden, Kelly Macdonald, Aaron Johnson, Ruth Wilson, Michelle Dockery, Emily Watson, Domhnall Gleeson, and Olivia Williams

Willow & Oz Together Again

Alyson Hannigan posted the picture above earlier today on her twitter to show her reunited with former Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Seth Green on the set of How I Met Your Mother. As a longtime-fan of Buffy and especially a HUGE FAN of Willow/Oz, this made me ridiculously happy. It was like seeing a continuation of the Willow & Oz story.

But of course Hannigan and Green took it up a notch by posting this extremely adorable and unbelievably cruel picture later today...

I... just... I can't even really. I've the lost the ability to... whatever. I'm done. It really does look like Willow and Oz got their happy ending, didn't it?

Looking Forward To...

Skyfall
Release: November 9, 2012
Distributor: Sony/Columbia
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Ben Whishaw, Albert Finney, Helen McCrory, and Javier Bardem

Keep Calm and Rock the Vote

If only my fridge can vote, you know? In any case, if you can, then please vote today.

Zombie Redneck Torture Family

Happy Halloween everyone! Hope it was a good one full of costumes, candies, and cheers. Or maybe it was filled with gory adventures Cabin in the Wood-style. If the latter, do tell me which scary monster you picked to hunt you down...

Was it... Werewolf, Alien Beast, Mutants, Wraiths, Zombies, Reptilius, Clowns, Witches, Sexy Witches, Demons, Hell Lord, Angry Molesting Tree, Giant Snake, Deadites, Kevin, Mummy, The Bride, The Scarecrow Folk, Snowman (wait, what?), DragonBat, Vampires, Dismemberment Goblins, Sugarplum Fairy, Merman, The Reanimated, Unicorn, Huron, Sasquatch/Wendigo/Yeti, Dolls, The Doctors, Zombie Redneck Torture Family, Jack O' Lantern, Giant, or the Twins?

I say anything but the Merman. Because... eewww. Also, how great was this little gem of a film written by Joss Whedon released earlier this year? I was almost glad its release was delayed a couple of years so we could all enjoy the 1-2 cinematic punch of Whedon this year. Could be three if Much Ado About Nothing actually releases this year. Make it happen, Hollywood, or I swear the Angry Molesting Trees will get you.

Looking Forward To...

Lincoln
Release: November 9, 2012
Distributor: Buena Vista
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairn, James Spader, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Hawkes, Jared Harris, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jackie Earle Haley, Julie White, Adam Driver, Lee Pace, Walton Goggins, Gregory Itzin, S. Epatha Merkerson, David Oyelowo, and Hal Holbrook

A star-studded cast headed by a legendary director in a movie about one of the greatest historical figure of all time... GIVE IT ALL THE AWARDS! Or not. Can't really say much until I see the film. I mean look at last year's J. Edgar. But I have higher hopes for this film than last year's dull affair mostly due to two elements that are conveniently highlighted in this week's TIME covers.

First, the American cover features Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln and surely delving more into the life of the supremely popular president will be a bit more worthwhile than the controversial head of the FBI. The focus on the election this year (this week!) will also keep politics in the forefront of many Americans' minds making the film perfectly topical. The second cover, the International Edition, chose to highlight the actor or in their words, The World's Greatest Actor. It's a bold claim that I'm sure has been widely debated, but it's certainly acceptable. Nothing against Leonardo DiCaprio, but he's no Day-Lewis. Of course, with all of this said, the film can still disappoint, so we'll see!

Parks and Rec: I Say I Do

I've been working on a post where I touch base on all of the new shows I picked up this season and see where I am with each, but I'm going to post that a bit later this week. For now I just want to quickly talk about my favorite comedy, Parks and Recreation, especially since this week it's getting preempted for some stupid reality show.

First, the proposal last week was absolutely perfect. It just felt right that these two characters are taking this next step in their relationship. And even though Ben, yet again, put Leslie and her dreams ahead of his professional career because he realized that he was "ridiculously in love" with her was the stuff of fairy tales, it still felt like this show and these characters EARNED this perfect moment. The fact that it was also a surprise proposal gave me joy since I honestly didn't see it coming. I knew some big, life-changing thing was probably going to happen in the episode. I thought Jerry's heart fart attack was it then I thought it was Ben taking the job in Florida. And even later in the episode, I thought it was going to be Ron opening himself up to a romantic relationship. So when Ben went down on bended knee and opened the box with the ring, Leslie wasn't the only one whose heart skipped a beat.

My love for Ben, Leslie, and their relationship can probably be summed up in this wonderful retrospective video montage of some of their best moments:



Frankly, I'm glad Ben's Washington arc is done as both actors really do play off best with each other, but that's not to say I didn't like it. On the contrary, I have enjoyed seeing Adam Scott have lots of scene with Audrey Plaza as they too had palpable chemistry. But I really was starting to feel uncomfortable as it seemed like the show wanted us to imagine Ben and April together, as in romantically. On the other hand, I knew this show really wasn't like that as that plot development would absolutely break the hearts of Leslie and Andy.

But on to the other characters... how awesome is it that Ron Swanson is dating Xena Warrior Princess? I mean when I heard Lucy Lawless was cast as Ron's love interest, I already knew it would be love at first sight and it really, really was. Speaking of, I'm more and more convinced that Chris and Ann are becoming endgame. Yes, when they first got together it didn't work out, but we now know that BOTH of them were seriously messed up as evidenced by Chris going to therapy now and Ann most recently realizing she's been losing herself in her relationships. I think a season or so of more self-actualizing and both can reconnect. A few of the other things that have made me smile this season: Andy hanging out with kids, Donna livetweeting, Tom's Rent-A-Swag, Ron in princess makeup, Leslie's half-perm, Ben's Star Trek fanfic, and April toying with Ben.