Golden Globe Musings: Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
500 Days of Summer
The Hangover
It’s Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

Last year’s race demonstrated that voters can be hip to current trends when they nominated “500 Days of Summer” and shockingly chose “The Hangover” over more traditional romantic comedy and musical fare. That kind of sentiment could definitely help a film like Easy A that might otherwise not be recognized in this category (ditto It’s Kind of a Funny Story). This year, however, does have a decent amount of standard fare contenders, so voters can choose from that pool. The Kids Are All Right is the indie frontrunner, and if Made in Dagenham and Somewhere end up classified as comedies, they’re probably in too. Love and Other Drugs seems like an above-average romantic comedy with a backbone, and Morning Glory could be a nice way for voters to honor the still-working Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford, who among the two of them have twelve Golden Globe nominations, five of which are for comedies. Though it didn’t do well critically, Alice in Wonderland could place here as the token fantasy film. Barney’s Version might succeed here as well, as could the Robert Duvall drama Get Low (which may ultimately be classified a drama). A few other contenders: Burlesque, Casino Jack, Due Date, Eat Pray Love, Red, and How Do You Know.

Predicted nominees:
The Kids Are All Right
Love and Other Drugs
Made in Dagenham
Morning Glory
Somewhere

Golden Globe Musings: Best Motion Picture – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air

Last year, this category gave us our eventual Oscar Best Director nominees and presumable five Best Picture nominees if that was still how the rules worked. The leading five seem somewhat clear this year, though I underestimated both “Avatar”and “Inglourious Basterds” in favor of “An Education” (nominated for Best Picture) and “Invictus” (nope). Four contenders seem like sure things, starting with The King’s Speech and The Social Network. Next up, we have Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours and Christopher Nolan’s Inception. Given the inclusion of James Cameron’s science fiction epic last year, I don’t really doubt the chances of the dream-invading film. My current pick for the final slot is David O’Russell’s The Fighter, though it could also go to Black Swan or True Grit. On the next tier, we have Another Year, The Ghost Writer, Hereafter, Rabbit Hole, Secretariat, The Way Back, and a film that I suspect will pick up steam later in the awards race, Winter’s Bone.

Predicted nominees:
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network

Golden Globe Musings: Best Director – Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
James Cameron (Avatar)
Clint Eastwood (Invictus)
Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)

There’s a contender in this race whose film doesn’t have nearly as good a chance anywhere else. That’s Clint Eastwood (Hereafter), who has four times managed to get nominated here without a corresponding Best Motion Picture – Drama nomination (in addition to the three times that he did). The sure things here are David Fincher (The Social Network), Danny Boyle (127 Hours), Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech), and Christopher Nolan (Inception). I think that David O’Russell (The Fighter) won’t make it in this round, though he easily could, as could Sofia Coppola (Somewhere), Roman Polanski (The Ghost Writer), Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), and Joel & Ethan Coen (True Grit).

Predicted nominees:
Danny Boyle (127 Hours)
Clint Eastwood (Hereafter)
David Fincher (The Social Network)
Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech)
Christopher Nolan (Inception)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
It’s Complicated
Up in the Air

This category is strange because it aggregates original and adapted scripts, unlike the Oscars, and last year it included interesting choices like sci-fi film “District 9” and romantic comedy “It’s Complicated.” That said, there are some clear frontrunners for this year. The Social Network is a lock, and The King’s Speech should be as well. Perusing the two lists of Best Picture contenders, I’d say that The Kids Are All Right and Inception probably look strongest. After that, there’s 127 Hours, The Fighter, Somewhere, and True Grit, plus a bunch of others. My choice for the surprise fifth nominee is Roman Polanki’s The Ghost Writer.

Predicted nominees:
The Ghost Writer
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech
The Social Network

Golden Globe Musings: Best Original Song

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
I See You (Avatar)
Winter (Brothers)
The Weary Kind (Crazy Heart)
I Want to Come Home (Everybody’s Fine)
Cinema Italiano (Nine)

After hours of listening to confirmed Oscar submissions for this category on YouTube in the background while doing more important things, I feel like I have a good idea of what might be nominated, which probably translates to a decent shot at predicting a few of the nominees correctly. It’s impossible to narrow down the songs that will be included from Burlesque and Tangled, but I suspect that at least the latter will get one or two nominations. Toy Story 3, with only one song, is a safe bet considering the first two films got a nomination apiece. How to Train Your Dragon has a good shot as well, since this category is traditionally kind to animated films. There are some interesting choices from Alice in Wonderland, Get Low, Somewhere (the song used in the trailer), Waiting for Superman, and Why Did I Get Married Too. Consider also the epic song from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and any of the music from Country Strong, which bears some similarities in plot to last year’s victor “Crazy Heart.” I’m hopeful that any of the songs from Ondine, especially “All Alright,” can make it in, but I doubt it. Here are my best, rather uneducated guesses.

Predicted nominees:
Burlesque (Bound to You)
Country Strong (Country Strong)
How to Train Your Dragon (Sticks and Stones)
Tangled (I See the Light)
Toy Story 3 (We Belong Together)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Original Score

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Avatar (James Horner)
The Informant! (Marvin Hamlisch)
A Single Man (Abel Korzeniowski)
Up (Michael Giacchino)
Where the Wild Things Are (Carter Burwell & Karen Orzolek)

This category is hard to predict both because the Globes are irreverent and so many of the scores for later films remain unheard at this point (at least by me). Given the Globes’ fondness for comedy scores, nominated stuff like “Sideways” and “Spanglish” in the past, I’d put Alice in Wonderland (Danny Elfman), How to Train Your Dragon (John Powell) and Toy Story 3 (Randy Newman) high on the list. Dramatically speaking, I’ve already heard excellent scores for Inception (Hans Zimmer), Never Let Me Go (Rachel Portman), and The Ghost Writer (Alexandre Desplat). Desplat also scored The King’s Speech, which could be a strong contender. Additionally, 127 Hours (A.R. Rahman) and The Way Back (Burker Von Dallwitz) are right up the Globes’ alley. Another wild card to watch out for: Clint Eastwood, who composed the score for Hereafter and has been nominated three times in this category.

Predicted nominees:
Alice in Wonderland
The Ghost Writer
Inception
Never Let Me Go
The Way Back

Golden Globe Musings: Best Animated Film

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up

This five-year-old category expanded from three nominees to five last year, and given the fact that the Oscar race is trimming back to three this year, this category might do the same. One film is a lock no matter what, and that’s Toy Story 3. I’ve heard that How to Train Your Dragon is also a sure thing, and then after that things get more crowded with traditional fare like Tangled, Despicable Me, and Megamind. I wouldn’t count on Shrek Forever After, but watch out for French film The Illusionist.

Predicted nominees:
How to Train Your Dragon
Tangled
Toy Story 3
The Illusionist (if 5 nominees)
Despicable Me (if 5 nominees)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Foreign Language Film

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Broken Embraces
Baaria
The Maid
A Prophet
The White Ribbon

Like the Best Original Song category, this one isn’t subject to the same limitations as the Oscar race. It’s usually a combination of the eventual Oscar frontrunner that you’ve heard about and the most buzzed-about foreign films to make it over from other countries. Multiple films from one country can also contend, and the USA counts as a country if the film is in a foreign language. That said, it’s important to consider major foreign films from this year that aren’t eligible at the Oscars, like The Girl with the Dragon Tatttoo (Sweden) and I Am Love (Italy). Leading the buzz among foreign contenders in Of Gods and Men (France) and Biutiful (Mexico) – which are both great films, for the record – as well as Incendies (Canada) and When We Leave (Germany). Beyond that, I can’t offer much insight at this point, having heard little of the other contenders.

Predicted nominees:
Biutiful (Mexico)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Sweden)
I Am Love (Italy)
Incendies (Canada)
Of Gods and Men (France)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Penelope Cruz (Nine)
Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)
Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)
Mo’Nique (Precious)
Julianne Moore (A Single Man)

Like Best Supporting Actor, all I can really do here is go through the list of women I compiled in last week’s Thursday Oscar spotlight and pick out five that will likely be the nominees. At the forefront of the competition is Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech), the only sure thing. After that, I’m somewhat lost because there are so many contenders. Amy Adams (The Fighter) and Melissa Leo (The Figher) could recreate last year’s scenario of two actresses being nominated for the same film. This is probably a good awards body to recognize Miranda Richardson (Made in Dagenham), whereas someone like Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom) or Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) might have to wait until later in the awards season to drum up buzz. I’m tempted to include Marion Cotillard (Inception), though I’ve been seeing her name on fewer and fewer lists lately. Then we have a whole host of contenders with no discernable advantages over any of the others, like Elle Fanning (Somewhere), Barbara Hershey (Black Swan), Ruth Sheen (Another Year), Sissy Spacek (Get Low), and Dianne Wiest (Rabbit Hole). I expect some surprises here.

Predicted nominees:
Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech)
Marion Cotillard (Inception)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Miranda Richardson (Made in Dagenham)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Matt Damon (Invictus)
Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
Christopher Plummer (The Last Station)
Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

I can’t offer much more insight into this category than I did two weeks in my Thursday Oscar spotlight since the pool is pretty much the same. Two notes about the Golden Globes, however, which may be helpful. Bob Hoskins (Made in Dagenham) got a nomination back in 2005 for “Mrs. Henderson Presents,” so I think he has a much better shot here than at the Oscars. Also, the Globes aren’t opposed to honoring multiple performers from the same movie, doing it in both 2005 and 2006 most recently, so Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) and Justin Timberlake (The Social Network) could both get in. After that, we’re back to the same drawing board. Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech) is a lock. Christian Bale (The Fighter) is a good bet, as are Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right) and Sam Rockwell (Conviction). Ed Harris (The Way Back) and Josh Brolin (True Grit) are wild cards, and then there’s John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone). One additional note: this category matched the corresponding Oscar field perfectly last year.

Predicted nominees:
Christian Bale (The Fighter)
Bob Hoskins (Made in Dagenham)
Sam Rockwell (Conviction)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Sandra Bullock (The Proposal)
Marion Cotillard (Nine)
Julia Roberts (Duplicity)
Meryl Streep (It’s Complicated)
Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

This category is somewhat easier to predict than its dramatic counterpart. That’s because it has two locks, both from the same film: Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right) and Julianne Moore (The Kids Are All Right). Joining them will likely be 2008’s winner Sally Hawkins (Made in Dagenham), though I don’t know if I agree that her film fits the bill of a comedy. Anne Hathaway (Love and Other Drugs) will probably make it in, partially as a result of good will for “The Devil Wears Prada,” for which she was not nominated. Duking it out for the fifth slot, I suspect, are young up-and-comers Rachel McAdams (Morning Glory) and Emma Stone (Easy A). I’m tempted to go with the former, but the latter’s inclusion would be cool. 2005 winner Reese Witherspoon (How Do You Know) could be a contender if her film has some depth, and Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) will only place if it turns out that someone (besides me) liked her film. And then there’s wild card Gwyneth Paltrow (Country Strong) in her musical debut, who could seriously shake this category up if she’s received positively (though the latest reports are that the film is being submitted as a drama).

Predicted nominees:
Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right)
Anne Hathaway (Love and Other Drugs)
Sally Hawkins (Made in Dagenham)
Rachel McAdams (Morning Glory)
Julianne Moore (The Kids Are All Right)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer)
Matt Damon (The Informant!)
Daniel Day-Lewis (Nine)
Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man)

I feel like I have no idea how the comedy categories will go this year, though I suppose last year was a bit of a conundrum (with a few surprises). Technically, the best bet is probably Robert Duvall (Get Low), though I’m not convinced his film is a comedy, and the latest reports are that it isn't, so I'm torn about putting him in my predictions. Paul Giamatti (Barney’s Version) will also probably have success here. Robert Downey Jr. (Due Date) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Love and Other Drugs) feel to me a bit too much like fillers, but they’ll probably manage slots given the kind of fare this category has honored in recent years. Then, there are a bunch of contenders, like Jim Carrey (I Love You Philip Morris), Johnny Depp (Alice in Wonderland), Stephen Dorff (Somewhere), Harrison Ford (Morning Glory), Zach Galifianakis (Due Date), and Kevin Spacey (Casino Jack). Having seen the Spacey’s film, I’m tempted to give him the edge given the fierceness of his performance. (If Duvall ends up in drama, Carrey is my alternate).

Predicted nominees:
Robert Duvall (Get Low)
Paul Giamatti (Barney’s Version)
Robert Downey Jr. (Due Date)
Jake Gyllenhaal (Love and Other Drugs)
Kevin Spacey (Casino Jack)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria)
Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
Helen Mirren (The Last Station)
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)

This category seems especially difficult to penetrate at this point. With Annette Bening in the comedy category, the strongest contender and likely winner is Natalie Portman (Black Swan), who won in the supporting race back in 2004 for “Closer.” Next up is probably Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole), a three-time Globe winner, once in this category. After that, things get a bit more uncertain. I’m hopeful that Lesley Manville (Another Year) can begin awards season with a deserved nomination, and her placement in this category shouldn’t be as much of a problem here as it might be at the Oscars. While she probably won’t make it to the Oscars, Naomi Watts (Fair Game) is a good bet to earn her first Globe nomination, and I would posit that Oscar favorite Hilary Swank (Conviction) makes it in here. That of course does leave out Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone), but I think she’ll surge later on, like at the SAG Awards. Additionally, don’t discount Diane Lane (Secretariat), Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine), Tilda Swinton (I Am Love), and the unpredictable Halle Berry (Frankie and Alice).

Predicted nominees:
Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Lesley Manville (Another Year)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Hilary Swank (Conviction)
Naomi Watts (Fair Game)

Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
George Clooney (Up in the Air)
Colin Firth (A Single Man)
Morgan Freeman (Invictus)
Tobey Maguire (Brothers)

Last year, the fifth slot in this category still needed to be filled (Jeremy Renner took it at the Oscars), and so we got Tobey Maguire. This year, we have three pretty definitive locks, and then it gets fuzzier. Colin Firth (The King’s Speech), a nominee last year, is a no-brainer. Same goes for James Franco (127 Hours) and Mark Wahlberg (The Fighter), unless the latter film mysteriously isn’t a hit. Last year’s winner Jeff Bridges (True Grit) is a good bet for the fourth slot, though it’s to know how the film will be received and if the acting branches will be filled with nominees from its ranks. Competing for the fifth slot we have a few strong contenders, like Javier Bardem (Biutiful), Aaron Eckhart (Rabbit Hole), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), and Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine). I’m less confident about the chances of one Ben Affleck (The Town), though he was an acting nominee in the supporting category two years ago. My prediction for the fifth spot is Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception), who earned two nominations in this category back in 2006. With two major films out this year, I think he’s a good shot for at least one of them, and since the Globes allow multiple nominations for an actor within one category, I think this is where he makes it in. An interesting fact: all five of my predicted nominees have been nominated at least once before.

Predicted nominees:
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception)
Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)
Mark Wahlberg (The Fighter)

Movie with Abe: Heartless

Heartless
Directed by Philip Ridley
Released November 19, 2010

Deals with the devil can be tricky. It’s important to read the fine print since that’s often the only thing that matters. When a miserable soul has a physical deformity which he is seeking to cast off in exchange for some service to the devil, things can get especially suspicious, and a general air of caution is recommended. For Jamie Morgan, a young man with a hideous birthmark surrounding his eye and on his neck, getting rid of his physical baggage is something that seems to be good to be true, and, unsurprisingly, it is.

One of the few films these days with a title that isn’t a metaphor but rather the straight truth, “Heartless” is a peculiar film that starts out as a frightful drama and quickly descends into incomprehensible horror territory. When Jamie witnesses a pack of thugs beating up a civilian, he is astounded when one of the thugs turns around and reveals himself to be inhuman (a faceless demon, in fact). Jamie’s dull and uninteresting life quickly turns violent and volatile as he is embroiled in supernatural matters that he can’t hope to cope with or comprehend.

The film presents events as Jamie sees them, which makes for an awful head trip of a film. It’s difficult to understand just what is meant to be going on objectively and what is meant to be imagined or misinterpreted by the lead character, and Jamie’s head is not a pleasant place to be. It seems like more of an excuse not to fully explain the story or to delineate and distinguish what is meant to be real and what is meant to be hallucination, dream, or pure fantasy on Jamie’s part.

“Heartless” falls prey to the convention of spiraling downwards along with its main character, following the craziness in a way that doesn’t make any more (and often even less) sense to the audience than it does to its protagonist. Jamie isn’t framed as a hero or a particularly nice guy, so it’s additionally difficult to empathize with him and stay with him through his dark, treacherous, convoluted journey. Some parts of the film contain unexpected humor, like a cameo from the always-terrific Eddie Marsan as the devil’s Weapons Man, and while the humor is appreciated in such a dark, dismal film, it doesn’t flow with the rest of the movie. “Heartless” is a messy, mostly incomprehensible experience without anything else to recommend it.

F

Movie with Abe: Made in Dagenham

Made in Dagenham
Directed by Nigel Cole
Released November 19, 2010

It turns out that the true story of a 1968 strike by the women of a Ford plant in Dagenham, England is quite inspirational, yet no one seems to know anything about it. Director Nigel Cole says that it’s a completely unknown story, even in London, and stars Sally Hawkins and Miranda Richardson weren’t familiar with it either. The idea of telling such a positive and uplifting tale appealed to Cole, whose previous films include the Helen Mirren comedy “Calendar Girls.” His latest work is a drama, yet Cole manages to brilliantly capture the humor of the women in question and turn the story into a marvelously entertaining and wonderful film.

The cast of actors and characters in “Made in Dagenham” is colorful and diverse, and on all accounts, very strong. Bubbly Sally Hawkins from “Happy-Go-Lucky” is a little more nervous and a little less jubilant as reluctant leader Rita, bringing a wonderfully sedated energy to the character and prompting Hawkins to appropriately note that “you always have to look out for the quiet ones.” Bob Hoskins is entirely endearing as the kindly and supportive Albert, who encourages the women to stand up for their rights. Miranda Richardson is fiery and often hilarious as Secretary of State Barbara Castle, who takes an interest in the widely-publicized case. The wondrous standout in a cast filled with likeable and admirable women is Rosamund Pike (“An Education”) as Lisa, a fellow mother and wife who proves to be a surprising ally for Rita.

The ensemble functions excellently together, and there’s a true sense of camaraderie and fun that isn’t often present in this kind of film. Part of the wonder is that the women aren’t aware of just what it is they’re doing, and their strike is initially meant as little more than an empty threat. Seeing their reactions as it spirals into something else entirely is delightful, and it makes the ladies of Dagenham easy to sympathize with and root for along their journey. This is one of those rousing and motivational films that should be viewed especially, according to Cole, by those “who aren’t engaged.” The film, he says, is a celebration of the women involved, many of who haven’t even told their children and grandchildren about this momentous event in which they took part. They started out simply trying to get what they thought they deserved, and it turned into something unexpected and revolutionary. After seeing this stimulating and enjoyable film, more people should certainly be able to appreciate a little-known but majestically important event.

B+

Movie with Abe: White Material

White Material
Directed by Claire Denis
Released November 19, 2010

“White Material” is not a happy movie. Set in war-torn Africa, it follows Maria Vail (Isabelle Huppert), the kindly, stubborn, determined head of a coffee plantation. Facing the pullout of foreign troops and the rise of rebel child soldiers, Vail elects to stay behind and stand strong. One of the film’s scenes shows her walking aimlessly along a road with nothing in her arms, seemingly defeated but still determined to get back to her coffee-growing home. It’s a bleak, unflinching drama that offers a devastating look at lawlessness in a third-world country and the effects it has on its populace.

The film tackles a number of issues, but the most effort is spent on developing its lead character. Maria has to contend with unruly workers, dangerous situations, and her ex-husband’s desire to sell the plantation without her knowledge and consent on a daily basis. Yet none of this seems to faze Maria. She is an impossibly strong-willed woman with the courage to remain in a volatile area in order to continue doing what she believes in and loves doing. Huppert’s brave performance is entirely believable, and it’s her spirit that fuels most of the film since nearly everyone else is eternally pessimistic.

Yet there’s also something blissfully ignorant about the way Maria views the world. Part of the reason that Maria has such a hopeful attitude is that she sees the best in people and isn’t quite able to absorb and comprehend, at least initially, the fact that things are in fact much worse than they seem. Maria’s innocence comes from her persistence, and the inevitable decline and ultimate implosion of the situation is even more heartbreaking to watch as a result since Maria seems so fiercely prepared to keep on fighting for her right to exist and go about her life as she pleases.

The rest of the film unfolds around Maria in a slow, foreboding fashion that manages to work in just enough character and plot development before things really deteriorate and all that’s left is death and destruction. The cinematography is sweeping and magnificently able to capture both the grandeur and intimacy of Maria’s coffee plantation and her treacherous surroundings. The film gradually unfolds as its main character becomes more and more aware of just what exactly is going on around her, and it’s a depressing, heartfelt, moving experience that’s more than a bit tough to take.

B+

Movie with Abe: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Directed by David Yates
Released November 19, 2010

What’s likely the most anticipated film of the year has arrived, and it’s certainly a spectacle. This reviewer read the final book on the day it was released and only managed to see the first film in the series, which was actually quite good. Now, eight years later in the real world and almost the same in the world of Muggles and wizards, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all grown up and hormones, spells, and curses are flying everywhere. In his third consecutive adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s novels, director David Yates manages to recreate some elements of the saga well while others are represented less impressively.

Dividing one singular book into two films is bound to present just as many challenges and limitations as it is to allow extra space and time (over five hours) to tell its story. In that sense, it’s easy to remember that the first half of this particular book is much less action-packed and exciting than the second half. Knowingly splitting the story in two and ending on a cliffhanger also presents its share of frustrations. At certain points, especially when our three heroes find themselves pitching tents in the woods, it feels like time is being killed because the first movie needs to be significantly stuffed with content. Whereas extensive description might be necessary in the books, it isn’t as applicable here. Similarly, the impact of writing about beloved characters being killed in a stark sentence on a page is much more powerful than hearing an actor say it, and therefore the strictly adaption some of the conversation is less effective than actually seeing it happen would have been.

There’s also a degree to which it seems almost required to have read the book and seen the previous films in order to comprehend what’s going on in this installment. While the latter is understandable, it’s still likely that most audiences haven’t seen the sixth film in over a year, and therefore some sort of quick refresher should be mandated, or at least recommended, so that audiences can more accurately follow along. Along the same lines, there are plot points not dwelled on that might be confusing to those unfamiliar with or unable to recall the intricacies of the book, and the plethora of fanciful names is also daunting to follow.

Though casting the lot of colorful characters is no easy task, that’s one area in which this episode of the series, like its predecessors, succeeds marvelously. Helena Bonham Carter steals the show for the second time this year in a fantasy film as the vicious Bellatrix Lestrange, and she is supported by other standouts like Imelda Staunton as the gleeful, evil Dolores Umbridge, Simon McBurney and Toby Jones as the voices of house elves Kreacher and Dobby, and James and Oliver Phelps as Fred and George Weasley. The lead trio has done a respectable job of growing up as well, and the relationship dynamic between Hermione and Ron is particularly entertaining. While the film does lag at times, it has its applause-worthy moments and ultimately proves to be decently enthralling.

B

Thursday Oscar Spotlight: Best Supporting Actress

It still feels just a bit too early to start ironing out real Oscar predictions, and therefore I’ve decided to take a brief look at the acting categories, one per week. Many buzzed-about films have yet to be seen, and more may still emerge in the next month and a half. For now, here’s a brief rundown, sight unseen in some cases, of the likeliest contenders at this point. Please feel free to add your own thoughts as well as to point out any actors I may have missed in the comments section.

The veterans:

Barbara Hershey (Black Swan)
Hershey hasn’t done much in the way of serious acting in a while, and this could be her chance to jump back into this race after being nominated back in 1996 for “Portrait of a Lady.” As Natalie Portman’s mother in “Black Swan,” she looks to be certifiably intense. In the past, however, only the lead actors of Darren Aronofsky’s pictures have earned nods, so it will be an uphill battle for Hershey.

Miranda Richardson (Made in Dagenham)
Here’s one two-time nominee from the 1990s who has an extremely baity role as the Secretary of State in England. Richardson is a respected actress who hasn’t been honored much lately, but it’s likely that this film will throw her back into the awards circuit and she’ll go far, even if the film stumbles.

Sissy Spacek (Get Low)
Back in the 1980s, Spacek was getting nominated every two years. After a fifteen-year hiatus, she was recognized for 2001’s “In the Bedroom,” and now plays the romantic interest of Robert Duvall’s hermit. I’m not sure how the film will fare, but Spacek has been working consistently and is probably the film’s best bet.

Dianne Wiest (Rabbit Hole)
Two-time Oscar champ Wiest is back in the running after her Emmy win for HBO’s “In Treatment” as a grieving grandmother in John Cameron Mitchell’s drama. Wiest was last nominated back in 1994, and I think her chances will rest on the size of her role and the reception of the film.

The breakthroughs:

Elle Fanning (Somewhere)
Her older sister is still without any Oscar nominations despite delivering impressive performances at an even younger age than Elle. Sofia Coppola’s 2003 film “Lost in Translation” fared well with Oscar voters, even if it couldn’t net Scarlett Johanssen a nod. “Somewehere” may prove to be a hit, and Fanning might get recognized for what is sure to be a mature performance.

Lesley Manville (Another Year)
I already wrote about Manville in my post about Best Actress two weeks ago, and I’m just hopeful that she’ll get nominated somewhere since a good case can be made for her in either the lead or supporting category, and it will just be up to voters to decide.

Rosamund Pike (Barney’s Version/Made in Dagenham)
Pike is a wonderful actress you’d probably recognize from “An Education” and she has scene-stealing parts in two independent films with very large casts. Her small role in “Made in Dagenham” likely won’t muster enough attention, whereas she is framed in “Barney’s Version” as the object of the title character’s obsession, which should help. Ultimately, I think two films will pull her in two directions and she’ll end up snubbed.

Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Last time this book was adapted, John Wayne won an Oscar and Kim Darby went home empty-headed (no nomination at all). Now, last year’s winner Jeff Bridges is in the lead role and now newcomer Steinfeld, in her first feature film role, is primed to garner Oscar buzz and possibly face accusations of category fraud. We’ll see how it plays out.

The one-time nominees:

Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech)
This category’s biggest and only lock is a one-time nominee, back in 1997 for “The Wings of the Dove.” After doing great work in films like “Sweeney Todd,” she is a shoo-in to get honored for the kind of role she hasn’t had in a role time, as the stuttering King George’s wife.

Marion Cotillard (Inception)
She won in 2007 for “La Vie en Rose” and came close to getting another nomination last year for “Nine.” Now, she’s in the position of being the most easily praiseworthy of the cast of this summer’s blockbuster hit. It’s also a marvelous and haunting role, and I suspect she may fare better than most are predicting.

Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Leo was nominated in the lead actress category in 2008 for steering “Frozen River,” and since then, she’s been getting some pretty terrific roles. She doesn’t appear to be going for any accolades for her role in “Conviction,” so maybe this will land her a second nod, depending on the size of the role and whether voters prefer Amy Adams in the same film.

Kristin Scott Thomas (Nowhere Boy)
I’m dubious about Thomas’ chances since the film appears to be so small. Thomas was nominated back in 1996 for her lead role in “The English Patient” and scored a Golden Globe nod for speaking in French in “I’ve Loved You So Long.” She’s had a good year – French film “Leaving” in addition to this – so maybe she has a shot.

The uphill battles:

Amy Adams (The Fighter)
After playing an adorable, chatty pregnant woman in “Junebug” and a sweet, do-gooder nun in “Doubt,” Adams is vying for nomination number three in a role that looks to be a whole new direction for her. She’s still the sweetheart for Mark Wahlberg’s fighter, but the trailer makes her seem considerably punker and grittier. Adams is talented, and she should be able to capitalize on playing against type.

Ruth Sheen (Another Year)
This Mike Leigh favorite has an arguably lead role opposite Jim Broadbent in his new film, and since his films do have a good Oscar track record, her chances will be based on where showier costar Lesley Manville ends up being placed. Her performance is definitely excellent, and it will also be a matter of whether voters like the movie.

Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)
I’m all for Weaver’s nomination; I’m just worried it will be the sole means of recognizing a terrific, underseen film. Weaver’s role as a mother deeply involved in the criminal activity of her sons is extremely meaty, and she does a phenomenal job. Hopefully, Americans will be able to appreciate this esteemed Australian actress.

That’s all for now! The Oscars aren’t that far away, and Golden Globe predictions will begin on Tuesday.

Movie with Abe: Fair Game

Fair Game
Directed by Doug Liman
Released November 5, 2010

In current times littered with current events, stories are frequently ripped from the headlines. The story of Valerie Plame, a real-life CIA agent whose identity was revealed in a national newspaper article, was adapted in part for a character played by Vera Farmiga in the 2008 film “Nothing but the Truth,” which focused on the journalist who blew her cover. Now, Plame is front and center in this invigorating, infuriating dramatization of the events that led up to the exposure of her covert identity and what occurred in the aftermath. “Fair Game” is a poster example of a strong, effective political thriller that manages to provide suspense while still staying true enough to believable reality.

“Fair Game” is an extremely smartly-written film which imbues its characters with credible dialogue and complex relationships, indicated both by the language of the characters and the delivery by the actors. Starting from that standpoint rather than assembling action scenes into a convoluted plot later, the director of action flicks like “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and “The Bourne Identity,” with the aid of screenwriters Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, has crafted an intelligent drama that still succeeds as a well-paced thriller. Additionally, the screenplay is based on books written by Plame and her husband Joseph Wilson, which allows its characters to tell their story from their own real-life accounts.

Playing the couple are Naomi Watts and Sean Penn, reunited after starring in the best film of 2003, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “21 Grams.” Watts formulates Plame into a presentable, official government employee trying her best to keep her calm and maintain her sanity. Her spirited defense of her operations to her superiors and her actions to her husband are among the most compelling scenes in the film. Penn, by contrast, is uncensored and prone to outbursts, creating a fascinating dynamic between the spouses. His role feels very lived-in, and the two make for one electrifying and sympathetic pair.

“Fair Game” manages to tell its story reasonably and completely, adequately detailing the chronology of events so that someone utterly unfamiliar with the scandal can comprehend it. It’s an extraordinarily gripping film that should serve to stir up anger and rage in some viewers due to the evident injustice of events. That makes it just as effective as a political talking piece as it is a strong film. It’s part familial drama, part conspiracy thriller, and full, entirely watchable expose.

B+

Movie with Abe: Skyline

Skyline
Directed Colin & Greg Strause
Released November 12, 2010

This is one of those films that is doomed from the start, yet somehow it manages to go even further downhill and become worse as it inexplicably continues to run on for 92 minutes. The audience is in for just as hellish and unsurvivable a journey as its characters, though moviegoers will be fighting boredom, stupidity, and sheer disbelief while the idiotic characters are flailing about trying to defend their lives in the midst of an alien invasion. On every possible level, “Skyline” fails miserably as a film, and it’s appalling that it actually got made.

Before the aliens even arrive, “Skyline” is established as having some of the worst dialogue heard on film of late. The hostile aliens don’t speak, of course, but it’s likely that their unintelligible grunts would seem more profound than anything the humans say. The cast contains actors culled from television, led by serial series killer Eric Balfour (currently actually succeeding on Syfy’s “Haven”), Donald Faison (Turk from “Scrubs”), Scottie Thompson (Tony’s girlfriend Jeanne from “NCIS”), Brittany Daniel (“Sweet Valley High”), and David Zayas (Batista from “Dexter”). It’s as if they’re all fighting a secret competition to be crowned the worst actor in the film, and while Daniel probably wins, it’s a close race that’s far more enticing than the deadly threat of the aliens.

Once the aliens in question do in fact arrive, the most excitement the film can offer is guessing just how each of the characters will meet his or her end. Much of the film’s $10,000,000 budget was likely spent on effects, but the results aren’t overly impressive. While the images themselves are decent enough, the graphic concepts of the aliens are fairly dumb and incomprehensible. Some aliens hop around like a mix between gargoyles and Transformers, and others fly around as Nebuchadnezzar-like spaceships. This is one of those cases where the characters think they are the center of the universe – Daniel’s Candice actually calls the police on the aliens – and, mysteriously, they are. Not content with a hypnotizing light to capture a good portion of the human race, the ships and gargoyles engage in hunting down the survivors in inconvenient places like stairwells and parking garages, just for the hell of it.

When aliens attack from above, go underground. It doesn’t get any more obvious than that. Yet the idiots in this film are obsessed with either staying in the penthouse of a tower or making a run for the open water. Somehow, these friends are even stupider than horror film characters who decide it makes sense to split up. If this film contained a bit of fun action and featured enjoyable deaths of its characters like, say, “Cloverfield,” it would be infinitely better. Instead, it’s the kind of embarrassment that clearly derives its inspiration from and mangles the concept of a far superior film (though any film really is) like “Independence Day.” It’s inexcusably and impossibly bad, with no possible saving factors. The film’s conclusion proves even more senseless than the rest of the film, putting it pretty much on par with “Knucklehead” as the worst film of 2010 so far.

F-

Movie with Abe: Due Date

Due Date
Directed by Todd Phillips
Released November 5, 2010

Director Todd Phillips’ follow-up to last summer’s comedy smash “The Hangover” bears a number of similarities to its predecessor. Bearded breakout star Zach Galifianakis is on hand for more socially awkward shenanigans, for one thing, and both films feature a group of men desperately trying to get somewhere, with numerous obstacles constantly presenting themselves in the way of their quest. The important (and unfortunate) difference is that the unraveling of “The Hangover” is far smoother and more entertaining, while much of what goes on in “Due Date” seems like a half-hearted attempt to recreate the kind of hilarity that occurred while the boys were trying to piece together their wild night in Vegas.

After a scene that officially takes the cake as the worst case of airplane conversation miscomprehension since Greg Focker, things officially get weird in “Due Date.” Galifianakis stars as budding actor Ethan Tremblay, eager to get to Hollywood and make it big. By his side is the ever-sarcastic Peter Highman, played by the ever-sarcastic Robert Downey Jr., anxiously trying to get home to his pregnant wife by the time she delivers their baby. Put on the no-fly list thanks to the suspicious behavior and questionable actions of Ethan, Peter has no choice but to join the all-too-friendly Ethan on a cross-country trip from Atlanta to Los Angeles.

Putting Downey and Galifianakis together in a car for an hour and a half is a recipe for success, and that part of the film works quite well. Downey is just as fiercely committed to remaining pessimistic and annoyed as Galifianakis is to being as weird as humanly possible. Positioning Ethan as a social misfit gives him license to act as crazily as possible, which works most of the time. What doesn’t flow so well, however, is the sequence of events in the film. Whereas “The Hangover” was put together as a puzzle designed to eventually fill in holes, mysteries, and inconsistencies, the plot of “Due Date” is entirely horizontal. The happenings are just as ludicrous, however, and as a result, the film feels terribly inorganic.

Irreverent is the best way to describe “Due Date,” and at a point it feels like obstacles are being piled on for no discernable reason other than to help Peter burst a blood vessel (and to present opportunities for gross-out humor). Some cameos, like that of Danny McBride from “Eastbound & Down” as a Western Union teller, are entirely worthwhile and appropriately capped, while others, like that of Jamie Foxx as a wealthy friend of Peter’s, are more aimless and unfulfilling. All in all, it’s an imbalanced, uneven experience that resolves itself with a rather silly and throwaway ending. That said, Downey and Galifianakis are a fun pair, and it’s hardly an unenjoyable experience, with more than a few laughs on tap even for those who aren’t entirely fond of its brand of humor.

C+

Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: Coffee

The 4th Annual Israel Film Festival began last night, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


Coffee: Between Reality and Imagination
This five-part series is made up of short films that are inspired by coffee. Some are connected thinly by a momentary mention of the drink, like the first, a couch-set, intimate audition. The most entertaining and invigorating of the five, reminiscent of last year’s Oscar-nominated animated short “French Roast,” follows a short period of time in the life of a coffee shop owner, displeased by his newly received order of coffee cups with handles. The collection of films was made by Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers and spans comedy and drama. All in all, the 68-minute presentation is an interesting look at how the same starting point can inspire such diverse and equally compelling results.

Movie with Abe: Red

Red
Directed by Robert Schwentke
Released October 15, 2010

It’s rare to find an action movie, and a good one at that, where most of the stars are in their fifties or older. Yet, miraculously, that’s the case in “Red,” adapted from a 2003 comic book series and starring some big names that have been around for a number of years. It’s not a magnificent movie, falling prey to plenty of silly storylines and a few plot holes, but it’s a marvelously enjoyable film due both to the intensity of the action and the wildly amusing performances of the many actors involved in the production.

“Red” doesn’t show any signs of aging, keeping up the pace of an action flick with younger stars after a slower, witty start that introduces Frank Moses (Bruce Willis), a retired spy who rounds up his old posse when he is nearly assassinated by a CIA hit squad. His reassembled entourage includes the savvy Joe (Morgan Freeman), fierce gunwoman Victoria (Helen Mirren), and the nutty, paranoid Marvin (John Malkovich). Also along for the line, unwittingly and unwillingly at first, is Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker), the woman Frank has been flirting with on the phone who becomes involved when those who tried to take out Frank decide to go after the people he loves (or in this case, likes).

What ensues is a mixture of funny conversation between the senior citizen former agents and furious gun-filled combat scenes, mostly featuring Willis. The film should definitely be termed a comedy, but like “Rush Hour,” it properly balances its dual role as actioner and laffer. The cast certainly knows how to make that balance work, and this is definitely among the better performances “Die Hard” star Willis has given in recent years. Mirren and Freeman handle the comic moments well, and Malkovich delivers yet another film-stealing performance this year after his humorous in “Secretariat.” The real find, from the younger generation, is Karl Urban, as the super-spy on the trails of these retired, extremely dangerous persons. Urban has previously starred in films like “The Bourne Supremacy” and “Star Trek” (as Bones), and hopefully his next role will be as an even match for James Bond since he has mastered the art of making surveillance and hand-to-hand combat look sleek and easy. The cast as a whole, including an initially frantic and later excited Parker, makes this film come alive and work well. Aided by the occasional use of stylized cinematography, this film is a purely entertaining experience.

B

Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: Documentaries

The 4th Annual Israel Film Festival began last night, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


Back and Forth
This collection of four short films weaves together vignettes related to Bedouins and the treatment of women within their culture. Of note about this project is that all of the directors are themselves Bedouins and first-time filmmakers, and the end result is edited in such a way that they flow together seamlessly to create a fleeting but fascinating portrait of Bedouin life that rarely gets exposed to the outside world.


Lod Detour
With films like “The Lottery” and “Waiting for Armageddon” populating the American documentary scene this year, it’s especially interesting to take a look at a failing high school in Israel that underlines the perceived differences in educational opportunities and experiences of Jewish and Arab students. What makes it especially worthwhile is the fact that it isn’t sugar-coated with a hopeful message in the same way that those in the West are (though it’s not necessarily inappropriate if they are), giving it a very rugged, gritty, authentic feel.


Lone Samaritan
This look at the effects on one Samaritan family as the three daughters leave the community is short but densely packed with plenty of emotional punch. Famous actress and singer Sophie Tzdaka, one of the daughters, makes a particularly compelling case as she becomes visibly agitated as her father refuses to allow himself to become angry about his treatment since the defection of his children. This story is specific to the Samaritans, yet it’s a universally relatable truth about what tends to happen when people leave a close-knit community.

Thursday Oscar Spotlight: Best Supporting Actor

It still feels too early to start ironing out real Oscar predictions, and therefore I’ve decided to take a brief look at the acting categories, one per week, throughout October and November. Many buzzed-about films have yet to be seen, and more may still emerge in the next two months. For now, here’s a brief rundown, sight unseen in some cases, of the likeliest contenders at this point. Please feel free to add your own thoughts as well as to point out any actors I may have missed in the comments section.

The veterans:

Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech)
The biggest (and technically, only) lock in this category is three-time nominee Geoffrey Rush, who won in 1996 for “Shine” and was nominated again in 1998 (in supporting) and 2000. His film is supposed to be very baity and he’s a respected actor sure to claim his fourth nomination.

Ed Harris (The Way Back)
Four-time nominee Harris is the most Oscar-friendly face in four-time Oscar-nominated director Peter Weir’s period epic opening just in time for Oscar consideration. Harris has yet to win and, if the film is a hit, could definitely take home this award. He may face internal competition from the likes of Colin Farrell, but his chances will mostly depend on how the film fares.

Dustin Hoffman (Barney’s Version)
Seven-time nominee and two-time winner Hoffman hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar in thirteen years, and now may be just the time to honor him. He’s also easier to nominate (and more entertaining) than costar Paul Giamatti in the lead category, so his mustachioed portrait of a former cop and wisecracking father may return him to the Oscar race.

Bob Hoskins (Made in Dagenham)
Hoskins has only been nominated for an Oscar once, back in 1986 for “Mona Lisa,” when he lost to Paul Newman. While he surely won’t win, he could be nominated for his heartwarming portrayal of the most supporting male character involved with the 1968 women’s strike at a Ford factory in Dagenham. Of note: Hoskins earned a Golden Globe nod back in 2005 for his supporting presence in “Mrs. Henderson Presents.”

Michael Douglas (Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps)
Douglas won an Oscar back in 1987 for “Wall Street,” and now his appearance in the sequel could net him another nomination – in the supporting category. I haven’t seen the film, so I can’t judge. Still, it’s rare to earn a nomination for playing the same character again, and I think charges of category fraud may come into play. We’ll see; it’s hard to know.

Harrison Ford (Morning Glory)
Call it the Alec Baldwin slot had he been nominated last year for “It’s Complicated.” Of course, he wasn’t, so that about guts the chances of popular actor slash one-time nominee (for 1985’s “Witness”). If the film is a hit (we’ll know by the end of the weekend), there’s a chance he’ll get residual career love, but it’s slim.

The not-yet-nominated on the cusp:

Christian Bale (The Fighter)
After “American Psycho,” “The Machinist,” and “Rescue Dawn,” it’s hard to believe that Bale has never been an Oscar nominee. A supporting role in a buzzworthy Best Picture contender starring Mark Wahlberg may be just the trick, except for one thing. Bad boy Russell Crowe won his Oscar before revealing his temper, and Bale’s public image may prove to be quite a hindrance.

Andrew Garfield (The Social Network)
Garfield is getting big this year, earning raves for his performance in “Never Let Me Go” before the Facebook movie even came out. Technically speaking, he’s probably the strongest actor in “The Social Network,” and therefore he shouldn’t have a problem getting in as the film’s moral center unless Oscar voters choose not to recognize the performances within.

Sam Rockwell (Conviction)
After being ignored for “Moon” last year, it’s likely that Rockwell can finally earn his due for his portrayal of an innocent man serving time in prison. It’s not entirely relevant if the film succeeds with Oscar voters considering Stanley Tucci still got nominated last year for “The Lovely Bones.” Rockwell, at this point, is a good bet.

Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right)
This hard-working actor has starred in plenty of films over the past ten years, and now his role in this year’s indie comedy darling may net him his first Oscar nod. His chances will depend on just how warmly the film is embraced, starting with the Golden Globes. He’s at a disadvantage as a supporting actor in a comedy, but he’ll probably be fine.

The one-time nominees:

Jim Broadbent (Another Year)
Broadbent won back in 2001 for “Iris” and now stars in Mike Leigh’s “Another Year.” He doesn’t face the same problem as his costars, who could easily be placed in either the leading or supporting categories, and therefore he may have the best chance to be nominated for his believable and realistic portrayal of a devoted husband.

Josh Brolin (True Grit)
After not being nominated for his starring role in “No Country for Old Men,” Brolin is back as a supporting villain in the new Coen brothers movie. Since then, he has become an Oscar nominee, for 2008’s “Milk.” The acting love for “True Grit” will likely go to last year’s winner Jeff Bridges and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, so Brolin may coast along with them and may not.

Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Renner was nominated last year for his lead role in Best Picture winner “The Hurt Locker,” and now he’s got a supporting part in Ben Affleck’s Boston-set crime thriller. He’s certainly the most entertaining actor in the film, and that could help, but I’m not sure the film will go far enough to carry him to an Oscar nomination.

The unpredictables:

John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone)
This is a true long shot. Whether “Winter’s Bone” will earn any Oscar attention is a mystery, and anyone who sees the film will surely be impressed with character actor Hawkes’ frightening performance. It’s uncertain whether voters will actually remember his name, and it’s likely that his great turn will go unrewarded.

Justin Timberlake (The Social Network)
Singer Timberlake isn’t someone who would have been pegged as an eventual Oscar nominee a few years ago, but his performance as Napster found Sean Parker in the Facebook movie may just change that. He’s got internal competition – namely Andrew Garfield – and it’s up for debate whether Oscar voters will take him seriously.

Come back next week for a look at the Best Supporting Actress category!

Wednesday Oscar Watch

Welcome to a newly-restarted feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Watch with Abe. It’s a bit early to be able to accurately predict the eventual Oscar nominees, but around this time, plenty of likely contenders are being released. I’ll be looking every Wednesday at the awards chances for all of the films released the previous week. Chime in with your thoughts on the Oscar chances for these films in the comments section.

Films released November 5, 2010

127 Hours
This surefire Oscar contender has received terrific reviews and is a lock for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (James Franco). On top of that, it will likely earn bids for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography, as well as possibly Best Film Editing and Best Original Score.

Due Date
This comedy didn’t receive overwhelmingly positive reviews and should more seriously be considered a potential player at the Golden Globes given the fact that Robert Downey Jr. won last year for “Sherlock Holmes” and Zach Galifianakis starred in last year’s Best Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical victor, “The Hangover.” Oscar attention is probably out of the question.

Fair Game
This political thriller based on true events has garnered generally positive notices, and it’s possible that past Oscar nominee Naomi Watts and two-time winner Sean Penn could factor into the race. Memories of “The Interpreter” are flooding my mind and compelling me not to have faith in this movie, but I think I’ll probably have to see it first and also see how well the yet-to-be-released films fare to accurately judge its potential. My guess at this point would be no Oscar recognition for it.


Four Lions
If only. This jihadist comedy is one of the funniest I’ve seen all year, and I can only hope that it gets recognized by someone. Last year’s Best Adapted Screenplay nominee “In the Loop” is more obviously smart, so I think this one doesn’t have much of a prayer.

For Colored Girls
This is the kind of film that will likely be pushed for Oscar nominations and probably won’t receive any. It seems to contain many strong performances yet it got mixed reviews and will probably be too niche or overpopulated to get singled out for anything.

Megamind
I’m missing too many of the animated films already released this year, like “Shrek Forever After,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “Despicable Me,” to guess whether this enjoyable-looking flick will be able to enter the Best Animated Feature race. My guess at this point would be no since the latest rumor is that the field will only be three nominees wide.

Come back next week for a look at films released November 12, 2010.

Tuesday’s Top Twin Trailers: No Strings Attached & Friends with Benefits

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

No Strings Attached – January 21, 2011
Friends with Benefits – July 22, 2011



I saw both of these recently-released trailers yesterday and was shocked by the similarities between them. Both are comedies dealing with friends deciding to add a little more to their relationships. On top of that, one stars Natalie Portman and the other stars Mila Kunis, both of whom are starring together in Darren Aronofsky’s forthcoming “Black Swan” next month. Watching both trailers back to back leaves scattered impressions, but there does seem to be a distinction between the two. After trying to woo best friend Jennifer Garner in February’s dismal “Valentine’s Day,” Ashton Kutcher is once again going after someone way out of his league with Portman. Even though she hasn’t made many comedies, Portman is very funny, although it seems that “No Strings Attached” might be trying to emphasize a more dramatic chord. “Friends with Benefits,” on the other hand, seems much more inclined to tickle the funny bone. The comparison is somewhat unfair since the trailer embedded below is a red band trailer and therefore gives more of a sense of the tone of the film since it can include swearing and sex and the like. Justin Timberlake proved he can act with “The Social Network” earlier this year, and Mila Kunis demonstrated that she can do more than “That 70s Show” with “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” back in 2008. Follow-ups like “Extract” and “Date Night” haven’t been as rewarding, but this appears to be more of the raunchy role that she didn’t get to play in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” so I’m hopeful that they’ll make for an entertaining pair. “No Strings Attached” is scheduled for the desert that is January, so maybe it will be a bright spot, while “Friends with Benefits” is coming out in the more crowded summer. I’ll probably see fifty films before the former and 150 before the latter, but I think they both look reasonably entertaining. Which one do you think looks better?

Warning: Red Band Trailer (NSFW) embedded below

Movie with Abe: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
Directed by Daniel Alfredson
Released October 29, 2010

The third and final chapter in Stieg Larsson’s trilogy centered around Lisbeth Salander, also known as the girl with the dragon tattoo, and fearless journalist Mikael Blomkvist brings the series to a fulfilling and appropriately awesome end. It’s one of those movies that absolutely requires a viewing of the previous two in order to comprehend its events, and a screening of the previous films is also necessary to attain the same sense of appreciation and awe upon viewing the final installment. While “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” can be seen as an action/mystery film and “The Girl Who Played with Fire” as a revenge thriller, it’s harder to put the third film even in a somewhat conveniently stretched box since it straddles the line of different genres and styles.

“The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” picks up exactly where the second film left off, much like “The Matrix Revolutions” did, and to make this review readable by those who might not have seen the earlier films, important spoilers will be avoided. Yet it’s still worth pointing out that this film, in stark contrast to its predecessors, does not involve much of Lisbeth in action, taking out and/or striking fear in the hearts of bad guys. Instead, Mikael and the Millenium group are out there taking risks as they prepare to publish Lisbeth’s story in their forthcoming issue. What plays out is a mix of legal and political thriller, as Lisbeth prepares for her own trial and Mikael works with investigators to build a case against all those corrupt officials who caused Lisbeth so much pain over the years.

What “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” lacks in energy and excitement at its start, it makes up for as the film progresses. The thriller becomes increasingly more enthralling as twists unfold and characters come closer both to the truth and to deadly danger. Lisbeth’s inability to participate isn’t too much of a detractor, and the film manages to find its twisted vengeful side elsewhere. The film also provides a spotlight for more innocent, underused characters like Annika, Mikael’s sister, who steps in to be Lisbeth’s lawyer. Including characters like her, blissfully unaware of the extent of actions taken by both the villains and Lisbeth herself, helps to raise the stakes and make all parties’ discoveries all the more intense and shocking. All in all, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” is a perfect companion film and final chapter for a truly terrific Norwegian import. Hopefully David Fincher’s 2012 American remake will be deserving of its source material.

B+

Movie with Abe: Four Lions

Four Lions
Directed by Christopher Morris
Released October 5, 2010

This fall’s funniest comedy so far is also one of the strangest and most controversial-sounding films. “Four Lions” follows a group of idiotic British jihadists seeking to discover how they can contribute to the cause. It’s unlike any other film that’s been released in that it imbues its characters with such all-encompassing stupidity yet doesn’t fall prey to those same follies in the creation of the film around them. As an easily comprehensible summary, the end result is what “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” might have been like if Adam Sandler had been more focused on sophisticated parody rather than immature humor.

To make that comparison isn’t meant to liken the folks behind this gem to Sandler and Zohan director Dennis Dugan. “Four Lions” is constructed in an extraordinarily intelligent, witty manner that follows its characters on an unlikely and almost impossible journey that begins with their aspirations of martyrdom. The dedication of its characters to the cause is matched by the frequency of their unintelligent acts. Even the smartest member, de facto leader Omar, manages to shoot a rocket launcher in the wrong direction, sending the missile towards his fellow training camp soldiers rather than the enemy helicopter hovering above.

What makes the film work, more than anything, is the portrayal of the main characters. There’s such an innocence present in figures like Waj, who holds a comically miniature gun during his martyr speech and shakes his head back and forth rapidly so that he won’t be caught on camera, and Fessal, who attaches a bomb to a crow with rather devastating and non-PETA-friendly results. And then there’s Barry, the biggest loudmouth of the crew, who attacks the use of a term invoked during a panel debate only moments after he uses it. Credit is due to the entire cast, with Nigel Lindsay representing the standout as Barry.

“Four Lions” may sound far-fetched, and it is. Yet it’s blissfully aware of that, choosing instead to follow these preposterous people around as they continue to muck about and somehow keep on existing without getting caught or suspected by the authorities. It’s absolutely hilarious and contains many laugh-out-loud moments. It certainly reaches a level of ridiculousness by its end, yet taking it all with a grain of salt helps make it go down more easily and increases its hilarity considerably. While it does contain a surprising moment or two of political commentary, this film is preachiness-free and immensely enjoyable.

B+