25 Billion

Author(s): Matthew LaRusso
Location: New Jersey

“25 Billion"

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Written by: Paul Haggis, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg
Original Score by: John Williams

Principal Cast:

Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Moore
Maggie Gyllenhaal as Judy Moore
Abigail Breslin as Stacey Moore
Djimon Hounsou as Clemins Agadishu
Sophie Okonedo as Marie Agadishu
Ed Harris as George Streit

Tagline: "In a world of so many, hope is nowhere but extinct"

Synopsis: The year is 2150, Earth’s population: 25 billion. There are no cars, no houses, no more available natural resources. With barely enough room to move, the only possessions are scarce food and the clothes on your back. Robert Moore (Gyllenhaal) cannot accept this world. He is lost between what is and what was, a stable career, a decent life. Most of his family has passed on; all that remains is his sister Judy and niece Stacey (Breslin). As the three fights to survive, they fight within themselves to accept this new type of hostile world, no privacy, nowhere to go, and nowhere to be. As the three search for something, anything in this world, they befriend a Nigerian couple (Hounsou and Okonedo), a couple that had to flee their overpopulated country when the government caved and decided to bomb it’s own citizens as a form of population control. On the opposite side of the spectrum, George Streit (Harris) also a once happy man has lost everything, his wife, his children his sense of sanity. He is on the edge of suicide and does not know where to turn. In their diminished realm of hope, the Moores try to pull Streit out of his mental gutter and invite him to join their journey. This movie portrays a journey for hope, and a deep yearning for what is lost and the powerlessness involved in not being able to help. What will become of these six individuals, yet collectively strong-willed people? Will they cave to their inner powerlessness? Or will they find a way to live in their hopelessness?

What the press would say:

Add this film to the gems of movie history and another gem by Steven Spielberg. Spielberg brings this venerably powerful script, co-written by Paul Haggis and George Lucas, to the big screen. The movie has all the elements, brilliant dialogue from three of the greatest movie minds, impeccable imagery and art direction that displays the harshness of this new planet, sound and editing that live up to any Spielberg or Lucas work before it and acting that may be amongst some of the greatest ever, especially that Jake Gyllenahaal and Ed Harris. The former will recognize this as his pinnacle role in a young career, while the latter may finally get what his is so overdue for, an Oscar. Brilliantly directed and written, this film is a must see and will go down as one of the greatest visual experiences in movie history.

For Your Consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director- Steven Spielberg
Best Actor- Jake Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actor- Ed Harris
Best Original Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Art Direction
Best Sound
Best Cinematography

3:08 PM

Author(s): Ryan
Location: New Jersey

“3:08 pm"

Directed by Joseph Ruben
Written by Paul Haggis
Music by Mark Isham

ESTIMATED BUDGET- $110,000,000

Principal Cast:

Jennifer Tilly (Kate Mathis)
Jamie Foxx (Chris Yander)
Jodie Foster (Mary Sluther)
Aaron Eckhart (Jared Lemon)
Maria Bello (Sarah Channing)
Lindsay Lohan (Lisa Channing)
Hilary Swank (Marisa Johan)
Johnny Depp (Manny Frailing)
Felicity Huffman (Tracy Knight)
Clive Owen (Parker Knight)
Charlize Theron (Candy)
Kate Winslet (Jordan Fret)
Sophie Okonedo (Lala Gram)
John Cusack (Jason Bale)

Tagline: "Everyone Stopped….except for 12" 12/12/07

RATED R- for some graphic violence, language and a scene of graphic sexual content

RUNNING TIME-138 minutes

Synopsis: 12 people are in a distance of a few feet of each other. They share one thing in common, they all live in Voorhees, New Jersey. Two of the people are Kate Mathis (Jennifer Tilly) and her doctor, fiancé Jared Lemon (Aaron Eckhart). They are eating at the food court. At a table near them is mall cop, Chris Yander (Jamie Foxx). In line at the Chick-Fil-A are two JC Penny workers and friends, Mary Sluther (Jodie Foster) and Marisa Johan (Hilary Swank). At the Victoria’s secret across from the food court is alcoholic mom, Sarah Channing (Maria Bello), and might-be-pregnant daughter Lisa (Lindsay Lohan); each keeping their secret from each other. The cashier is Candy (Charlize Theron) who is a stripper and is worried because she sees her older sister Tracy Knight (Felicity Huffman), because Tracy thinks she has been dead for five years. However, Candy is an escaped convict. With Tracy is her newlywed husband a mathematician, Parker Knight (Clive Owen), they just moved to Voorhees. Next to the Victoria’s Secret is a GameStop with drugged-out worker Manny Frailing (Johnny Depp). And facing away from the GameStop is a Borders book store with ADD manager Jordan Fret (Kate Winslet).

However, when the clock hits 3:08 everyone and thing stops except Kate, Chris, Mary, Jared, Sarah, Lisa, Marisa, Manny, Tracy, Parker, Candy, and Jordan. They soon realize this strange phenomenon and as far as they can tell, they are the only 12 still moving. However, when one gets hurt they go to the hospital for supplies and see that the Birth Ward is full of dead woman with dead babies still attached to them. Soon a frozen woman, Lala Gram (Sophie Okonedo), moves and she delivers a baby. They realize when someone gives birth they come to life. So, Parker being a mathematician thinks life will work the same way as math. Two negatives make a positive. However a live person and a frozen one would be neutral making them vegetables. However when they put two frozen people “in” to each other only one survives, Jason Bale (John Cusack).

But, one of the fourteen people in the group is found murdered, and then another they realize a serial killer is among them.

The questions: Who is the killer, and how can things go back to normal?

What the press would say:

“Two thumbs up!”-Ebert & Roeper

“One Word: Outstanding!”- People

“A+! One of the most satisfying films in the past decade.”-Entertainment Weekly

“With a cast this GREAT it is hard not to go wrong. This went OUTSTANDING!”-Rolling Stone Magazine

3:08 pm is a truly gripping film worthy of sweeping every award. It is simply breath-taking and is pure terrific. Even Lindsay Lohan is Oscar-Winner-Worthy in this film. Jennifer Tilly is simply fantastic and hits every right key charmingly. The premise is fresh along with all of the performances. Jodie Foster and Hilary Swank were great along with Aaron Eckhart, John Cusack, and the popular Johnny Depp who is great. Jamie Foxx is terrific, so is Maria Bello, and one of the most complicated roles, Charlize Theron is great with Felecity Huffman. Also, Sophie Okonedo is better than in Hotel Rwanda. Paul Haggis is a genius along with Joesph Ruben. 3:08 pm doesn’t stay frozen, it is moving.

Best Picture
Best Director: Joseph Ruben
Best Screenplay: Paul Haggis
Best Original Score: Mark Isham
Best Actor: Aaron Eckhart, Jamie Foxx
Best Supporting Actor: John Cusack, Johnny Depp
Best Actress (anyone of these): Jennifer Tilly, Jodie Foster, Maria Bello, Kate Winslet, Felicity Huffman, Charlize Theron
Best Supporting Actress: Lindsay Lohan, Sophie Okonedo, Hilary Swank

MEMORABLE QUOTE: “Do you think we will be stuck as the same forever?”-Kate Winslet as Jordan Fret in 3:08 pm

The 38th Parallel

Author(s): Zgamer
Location: Eagle, ID

“The 38th Parallel"

Distributed by: Universal Studios
Produced by: Oliver Stone, Tommy Lee Jones and Michael Shamberg
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Written by: Oliver Stone

Release Date: October 21, 2008
Running Time: 140 Minutes
Rated R for some graphic violence, strong language and alcohol use.
Genre: Political/War/Biopic

Principal Cast:

Robert De Niro as General Douglass MacArthur
Joe Pesci as Lieutenant General Walton Walker
Tim Robbins as Lieutenant Matthew Ridgeway
William Hurt as President Harry S. Truman

Tagline: "We all have barriers in our paths. It all depends on how far you push them”

Synopsis: October 1950. It had been a few weeks since the boats landed on the shores of Inchon. Forty thousand United Nations soldiers piled out onto the beach with one goal on their minds: secure at all costs. As they advanced through the beach and into the fields, the city of Seoul began to slowly come into view. In the city, a detachment of North Korean soldiers stood in the streets prepared to fight. With the determination to win, the UN troops charged forward. After a year of loses and draws, they would finally have their moment. This was Operation CHROMITE.

One week has passed since then and the UN troops are alive with morale. Seoul has been recaptured and the South Korean government has been liberated. However, someone is unsatisfied. As he sits in his tent, General Douglass MacArthur looked down upon his map. He knew he easily defeated the enemy in South Korea and had driven them to the 38th Parallel, but he wasn’t satisfied with that. He knew he could win this war against Communism and he had every intention to keep pushing until Korea was united by democracy. Despite all warnings of Chinese resistance, he gave Lieutenant General Walton Walker the order to march…

January 1951. Thousands of Chinese soldiers have been flooding down North Korea to push the overeager UN soldiers back. Having only recently reclaimed some of the land the Chinese took, the forces are now at a standoff at the 38th Parallel, with neither side able to push the other back enough to make a difference. Walker, with his Eight Army unit in trouble, begs MacArthur for assistance. MacArthur is now in a pickle. If he backs down, he will admit weakness against the “Communist Disease”. If he pushes forward, he will have a long struggle ahead of him. Refusing to take the former, MacArthur demands that President Truman allows him to use nuclear weapons against the Chinese. This shocks the entire Cabinet, who immediately deny the request. MacArthur refuses to quit, however, and proceeds with his attacks on and of the battlefield.

February 1951. Lieutenant General Ridgeway walks into MacArthur’s tent. He has replaced Walker, who was killed in a car crash a month earlier. MacArthur is not pleased with this, as he sees this rising star as a threat. He knows that Ridgeway is the UN’s little star pupil and he will not take it. With the Communist scum at his doorstep, MacArthur decides that it is time for him to call the shots in the war. He goes straight to the American newspapers to gain support for his cause and belittle the president’s lack of action. Even if he had to fight his own government, MacArthur was going to keep pushing. Or so he thought.

What the press would say:

There’s a saying that “Those in power want to stay power”. Well, that is true in many ways with the release of Oliver Stone’s new film “The 38th Parallel”. The struggle for power is the central theme of this political war movie, as the hotheaded MacArthur contends with his superiors for control of the situation. However, this is also symbolized by Stone’s seeking for power. Years ago, Stone was one of the premiere directors in Hollywood. Recently though, he has lost some of his fame with the lack of limelight and some snoozer film. But with the release of this film, Stone wishes to cement himself back into the Hollywood prestige, to which we gladly say he succeeds in.

“The 38th Parallel”, along with being a film on power struggle, is a return to glory of the controversial films Stone had directed earlier. However, it is one that is not intentionally controversial, but has a layer of depth that if not uncovered will lead to this. At first glance, many will think that Douglass MacArthur is merely portrayed as a foul-mouthed, hotheaded, and stubborn man bent on succeeding in his goals with no worries for the consequences. Add this to the less than enthusiastic attitude on the war, this may mislead people into thinking that MacArthur was just some demon bent on fighting a losing war. However, upon further examination, we see that the film goes deeper than this. MacArthur, despite his unappealing ego, is shown conflicted human being who wished nothing more than to serve his country and protect his way of living. He may have had some interesting methods, but in a world like ours today, don’t we have some radical thinkers to match. This is the true genius of the film.

The acting in the film is something at a different level. The heart and sole of this is the hot head General himself, played with gusto by Robert De Niro. Invoking a bit of George C. Scott’s Patton while adding a fresh spin, De Niro has given us a unique portrait on an oft forgotten historical figure. Even when we disagree with his views, we can’t help but feel sympathy for this man who was once a World War II hero. The sight of De Niro walking into screen with those iconic sunglasses can give a tingle down your spine. The supporting cast also sports some impressive work, with Joe Pesci as General Walton Walker and Tim Robbins as the rising star Ridgeway. Their roles, while overshadowed at times, support the film and give it the depth it needs to show that this war was one fought by more than one man. Some impressive technical work is also in need of praise. The editing, cinematography and score all give a great feeling of professionalism within war. While it is not the gritty down to earth style of war we’ve come to know lately, it really isn’t necessary for this movie. This is a movie not only about the combat on the field, but the combat off the field as well, which requires more restraint and prestige. And Stone’s style of filmmaking expertly compliments this.

“The 38th Parallel” is one of those films you don’t see anymore; a good, adrenaline fueled politically charged war biopic. Like the infamous imaginary line that divided Korea, this movie will be the film that separates the weak films from the strong films. And we can safely say that this is among the strong.

Award Possibilities

Best Picture (Oliver Stone, Tommy Lee Jones and Michael Shamberg)
Best Director (Oliver Stone)
Best Actor (Robert De Niro)
Best Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci)
Best Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins)
Best Original Screenplay (Oliver Stone)
Best Cinematography (Robert Richardson)
Best Editing (Julie Monroe)
Best Original Score (Craig Armstrong)

47

Author(s): Patrick D.
Location: Long Island

"47"

Directed by: Michael Mann
Written by: William Monahan
Music by: Clint Mansell

Principal Cast:

Patrick Wilson as Vincent Beere
Christopher Walken as Michael Saginario
Leonardo DiCaprio as Sean Muglia
Ryan Gosling as David Schwartz
Gerard Butler as Timothy Gazzola
Mads Mikkelsen as Christian Erwolter
Christian Bale as Charles Barkley
Brian Cox as Paul Rizzo
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Charlie Roundtree
Uma Thurman as Katitlyn Beere
Daniel Craig as Kenneth Harris
Peter Outerbridge as Ross Williams
Ethan Hawke as Robert La Forge
Anthony DeSando as Gregg Weingardner

Tagline: "47 players. 47 bullets. One winner"

Synopsis: Michael Mann teams up with William Monahan and a incredibly diverse cast to make one of the most thrilling films in years! In this American remake of "13 Tzameti", the story begins with Vincent Beere (Patrick Wilson) finding an invitation to a "event" in a dead man's mail. He becomes curious, and embarks on a journey of clues. These clues eventually lead him to the middle of the desert, where he learns of a new game. The rules are simple, 47 men get into a large circle of sorts, and hold a gun to the man's head in front of them. Everyone has a six-shooter gun, and start out with one bullet. Process of elimination eventually brings 47 down to 2. The one man who doesn't have a bullet in his head at the end, wins. And just when you think you have figured out who will win, they are the next to go. This amazing thriller directed by Michael Mann, is a pulse-pounding thriller, that will truly go down as a rare remake that is better than the original.

What the press would say:

"Amazing!" - Newsweek
"Electrifying!" - Time
"Brilliant! I've never seen anything like this before, and I never will. A+!" - Entertainment Weekly
"The film to beat at this years Academy Awards!" - New York Times

"I saw 13 Tzameti when it first premiered. While it had beautiful cinematography and convincing acting, I never felt that the main character had a chance of losing. But in this remake of 13, "47", takes this security and throws it out of the window. At the beginning of the film, I had a feeling that Vincent Beere would be the man to beat, but the fact he is killed in the second round leaves you shocked and bewildered. What continues is both a gripping thriller and a effective human drama. One would think that the large amount of characters would be confusing, and even frusturate viewers, but in 47, the main thirteen characters stories work remarkably. Paul Rizzo (Brian Cox) the "referee" of the games, goes through guilt, classifying himself as a executioner. Charles (played by an intense Christian Bale) enters the contest in hopes to kill the stone-wall Christian Erwolter (played by Mads Mikkelsen who is cold as ice) who defeated his older brother years earlier. Timothy (Gerard Butler) enters hoping to make enough money to pay off a ransom to get his daughter back from psychotic kidnappers. Sean Muglia (Leonardo DiCaprio) and David Schwartz (Ryan Gosling) join to for their families reputations made by this game. But the best preformance comes from Christopher Walken, who takes a role that he's been making fun of for years, and turns it into one of the greatest villian roles in movie history. This film is a shoe-in for the acting categories, and it wouldn't surprise me if it was nominated for every major category. When you walk into the theater, get ready for the most thrilling experience of the year."

Best Picture
Best Director: Michael Mann
Best Adapted Screenplay: William Monohan
Best Original Score: Clint Mansell
Best Actor: Christopher Walken
Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Best Supporting Actor: Mads Mikkelsen
Best Supporting Actor: Gerard Butler
Best Supporting Actor: Brian Cox

The 7,000 Mile Screwdriver

Author(s): Harry / Ryan
Location: Colombia / New Jersey

“The Seven Thousand Mile Screwdriver”
A Focus Features Release


Written and directed by Siddiq Barmack, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, Paul Haggis and Ang Lee

ESTIMATED BUDGET: $ 55.000.000

Principal Cast:

Edward Norton as Mark Hilfiger
Jennifer Tilly as Julie Helmer
Ken Watanabe as Koji Kitano
Rinko Kikuchi as Kyoko Kitano
Diego Luna as Guillermo Guevara
Gael García Bernal as Sebastián Martínez
Shoreh Aghdashloo as Samantha Aikon
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Madi Aikon
Ryan Gosling as Ian Hilfiger
Jean Reno as François Collignon

Tagline: "There are seven thousand miles between Washington and Iraq; there are seven thousand miles between greed and confusion”

Synopsis: War. A world of greed, blood, passion and sadness. A place, so obscure, that you’ll feel like if you were in hell. War makes you feel pure misery and disgust for all of the abuses it brings. You just want to imagine, it is fake, and that the news were just simulated. You want to feel a little peace in a while. The problem is, war exists and not only must we be realistic but we must also do something to stop it. These are the four stories of various persons that connect because of the War of Iraq, and that live between Washington D. C. and Iraq…

Mark Hilfiger is a widowed and unemployed film producer living in Washington D. C. His desperate situation of money makes him send his son Ian to the Iraq war so that he can get some dollars. After learning that his son dies in Iraq, Mark feels an enormous guilt. Not wanting to admit his enormous error, he decides to convince people that the war never happened. He casually befriends Julie Helmer, a drink and drug-addicted woman that also lost her son in Iraq. Julie supports Mark and takes the situation farther by making an international scandal.

Koji Kitano is a pacifist Japanese senator living in Paris with his daughter Kyoko. They both learn about the fakeness of Iraq in the news. Cheering and feeling amazed after learning that there was never a war, they celebrate in happiness. It is then, when Koji discovers that his daughter was abused by his longtime friend and senator François, a politician that thought that everything had to get a solution with war and one that makes Koji realize that the war was still existing.

Guillermo and Sebastián are two Mexican students. In their University, they meet Koji Kitano, a Japanese senator living in Paris that was a special guest in their class. Koji tells them that the Iraq war never happened. The two students decide to go visit Iraq. When they arrive, they learn that the war is still happening and that misery occupied those lands. They are realistic about the fact and as they saw the pain of the war victims and the poor, they decide to help the country.

Madi Aikon is a miserable Iraqi girl. Her father dies in the Iraq war. Her mother becomes a selfish woman and makes Madi become a prostitute to receive a bit of money. Madi becomes a sad and depressed prostitute threaded horribly by a few soldiers and constantly abused. She prays to Ala every single day expecting a better life and a way to escape to her mother’s trap. She luckily meets Ian, a solider and they both fall in love. Ian tries to save the girl from her forced job but thing don’t turn out as they should.

Rated R for graphic violence, disturbing images, mature thematic elements, language and strong sexual content.

Languages: English, Japanese, Arab and Spanish with English subtitles.

What the press would say:

“Two Thumbs Way Up!” – Roger & Ebert

“Outstanding! One of the top films of the year” – People

“A+! A beautiful vision with a fantastic idea. I’m sure there’ll be more director collaborations to come!” – Entertainment Weekly

“Superb! This is definitely a new perspective of cinema! This is what movies are all about!” – Rolling Stone Magazine

The Seven-Thousand-Mile Screwdriver is a majestic visionary film of the Iraq war told by four different stand-points from four different directors who connect their visions to make a masterful work. Siddiq Barmack (“Osama”) brings the heartbreaking story of a prostitute with an aerial vision from different angles and POV shots. Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu (“Babel”) uses a hand-held method that compliments the mood of fear perfectly in his story of two Latin-Americans. Paul Haggis (“Crash”) brings the story of a desperate film producer with many cuts and pans to convey intensity and the fast movement of the action and hustle and bustle of Washington. And Ang Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) portrays the story of a Japanese family living in Paris with long steady-cam shots with barely any visible cuts.

One of the finest ensembles ever putted together makes “Screwdriver” a monumental triumph. The most impacting and standout performances are given by Edward Norton in one of his most powerful roles as a film producer, who can’t fight his inner demons; Jennifer Tilly also being a standout is riveting as an unstable mother unwilling to accept her son’s death; Rinko Kikuchi topping her last works in a career performance as an abused pacifist Japanese; Gael Garcia Bernal as a realistic Latin-American helping people at Iraq and Keisha Castle-Hughes giving the role of a lifetime as a young prostitute living pain and praying for hope in a tear jerking performance that leaves you speechless.

Many emotions go through the movie The Seven-Thousand-Mile Screwdriver, most sad. At the end you feel emotionally drained yet wanting more. It is a cinematic triumph that will be seen again and again and again.

Awards Potential

Best Picture
Best Directing
Best Supporting Actor – Edward Norton
Best Supporting Actor – Gael Garcia Bernal
Best Supporting Actor – Ken Watanabe
Best Supporting Actress – Keisha Castle-Hughes
Best Supporting Actress – Jennifer Tilly
Best Supporting Actress – Rinko Kikuchi
Best Original Screenplay

After Earth: The Rise of Colbyotism

Author(s): James Somerton
Location: NS, Canada

“After Earth: The Rise of Colbyotism"

Directed By: Peter Jackson
Written By: James Somerton and Fran Walsh
Produced By: James Cameron
Score By: Howard Shore
All Digital FX By: WETA Digital

Principal Cast:

Elijah Wood as Colbyoto
Johnny Depp as King Salcazar / Prince Eridos
Christina Ricci as Tayleen
Andy Serkis as Mevon; king of the Bibugals
Alan Rickman as Lanord
Naomi Watts as Amberite

Tagline: "All Beginnings Must Come To An End"

Synopsis: Salcazar is still in hiding on Neptune. Eridos is attempting to amass a new army, and Colbyoto is enjoying the perks of being ruler of the galaxy. A problem is beginning to surface though. With the destruction of the Uranium mines, the galaxy has been forced to dip into its Uranium reserves. But now those reserves are all but depleted and the price of energy is skyrocketing. Colbyoto must now look somewhere else for energy: Pluto.

Pluto is such a distant planet that it has rarely been drawn into the affairs of the rest of the galaxy. But they are also the only planet with another energy source. They have plutonium. Colbyoto refuses to be diplomatic about it though and, at the advice of his father Lanord, takes Pluto by storm. The invading army is met when they arrive on the frozen planet though, by a heard of Bibugals, distant cousins of the Veraclose. But they're smarter, stronger, and able to use the frozen deserts of Pluto to their advantage. Soon, the army is defeated and Colbyoto is taken captive.

Elsewhere, on Neptune, Salcazar is preparing for his return to the thrown. Time passes very slowly on Neptune though and an entire generation has passed without knowing Salcazar as their rightful ruler. Salcazar, on the other hand, has barely aged a year. Eridos has aged nearly two decades but in this time he has been able generate an army large enough to take out Colbyoto's forces. And now that Colbyoto is imprisoned, Eridos has the
perfect opportunity to take the thrown.

The royal army cannot attack without it's commander's order, so with Colbyoto unable to contact them, they must remain immobile. But now the people of the galaxy have formed a Militia are they invade Pluto with just enough force to take out the Bibugals. Now they begin marching toward Colbyoto but Pluto's leader will not be taken hostage and the clock begins to wind down on the planet's existence.

Eridos and Salcazar both arrive at the palace at nearly the same time. A battle almost erupts but they both get the terrifying news. Pluto is destroyed and along with it the galaxy's only source of Plutonium. The Uranium reserves have run out so the brothers but now work together to find a new energy source before the galaxy implodes. They'll have to go back to the dead planet of earth and find the mythical energy source that damned the planet to destruction; Oil.

What the press would say:

It's a rarity in Hollywood when a sequel surpasses the original. Terminator, The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, and now After Earth. "The Rise of Colbyotism" is bombastic roller coaster ride that takes the audience on an amazing sci-fi journey. "The Brothers of Destruction" was weighed down with exposition but "The Rise of Colbyotism" is able to start right away without having to explain much before the story really gets going. Elijah Wood returns as Colbyoto, a brilliant military commander who has taken control of the galaxy away from its rightful ruler and is now in a quandary. He has to find a new energy source for the galaxy before the Uranium reserves run out so he goes to Pluto for it's richness in Plutonium. He doesn't get what he expects though. His army is attacked by Bibugals, fearsome creatures that are just as smart as they are scary. They are led by Mevon, played through brilliant CGI by Andy Serkis, a disgustingly decrepit ancient being that commands his army from the depths of a frozen base. Pluto's leader, Amberite, is as sympathetic as any villain has ever been. She has been able to keep her planet out of the galaxies battles and is furious a Colbyoto for bringing the battle to her. Amberite is played with great gusto and charisma by Naomi Watts who speaks only Plutonion, the language of Pluto. Watts brings this false language to life as if it has been spoken for thousands of years. Johnny Depp is hidden a little bit more in this movie, his characters taking a back seat to Colbyoto. By the end of the movie though, we get the impression that Depp will finally really get his day in the third installment of the series. Alan Rickman has a small cameo as Colbyoto's power hungry father, Lanord. His one scene is pitch perfect. Lanord comes across perfectly as a controlling father figure who wants his son to get the things he never did. We're lead to believe that Lanord may play a larger roll in the series finale. Tim Burton gives up the directing reigns to Peter Jackson, who willingly creates a new king of movie. This is not the gothic sci-fi of "The Brothers of Destruction" but an atmospheric action film.

He doesn't try to copy Burton's direction but instead brings the series in a new direction. The action scenes are spectacular! These make many of the scenes from the LOTR trilogy look like they were shot in a high school film class. WETA creates creatures so life-like and action scenes so realistic that its completely impossible to tell where reality ends and the fantasy begins, must like the topical story of an energy crisis. A perfect cliffhanger leads us into the third, and final installment.

Possible Nominations:

Best Picture
Best Actor - Elijah Wood
Best Director - Peter Jackson
Best Supporting Actress - Naomi Watts
All Tech Categories

Baddest Man On the Planet

Author(s): Ross Jensen
Location: TN

“Baddest Man On the Planet”

Directed by Peter Berg
Written by Paul Scheuring and Peter Berg
Edited by William Goldenberg
Music by John Murphy
Produced by Michael Mann

Principal Cast:

Jamie Foxx Mike Tyson
Anthony Hopkins Cus D'Amato
Matt Damon Kevin Rooney
Jada Pinkett Smith Robin Givens
Louis Gossett Jr. Don King

Synopsis: A raucous crowd can be heard outside the locker room. Mike Tyson (Jamie Foxx) sits in final preparation for his fight in Tokyo, Japan against James "Buster" Douglas.

Flashback to years ago with a young Tyson fighting in juvenile jail. He wins easily over everyone and is discovered by legendary trainer Cus D'Amato (Anthony Hopkins). D'Amato takes Tyson out of jail and vows to keep an eye on him as he lets Tyson spar and fight in his gym.

Back in Tokyo, Japan, Tyson fights Douglas. Tyson, who is the heavily favored to win is slow and Douglas surprises him with good hits.

Flashback to Tyson's relationship with Cus D'Amato. D'Amato is an aged, veteran, tough talking, and highly respected trainer. Tyson, who trusts and respects no one at this point, learns just that from being around D'Amato and his protegee Kevin Rooney (Matt Damon). D'Amato legally adopts Tyson and teaches him life lessons.

Back in Tokyo, Tyson fights through middle rounds against Douglas and knocks him down in Round 8, but Douglas rises from the canvas to fight some more. Tyson is very fatigued as he goes back to his corner.

The wild Tyson who is only held in check by D'Amato breezes through the low ranks and into the higher ones of the heavyweight world. But, Tyson discovers one day that D'Amato passed away and he becomes angered at the loss, but is focused on winning for his late father. He enlists D'Amato's protegee and Tyson's best friend Kevin Rooney, who trains Tyson intensely. Tyson wind the title in brutal fashion as he dismantles Trevor Berbick and is thrown into the media spotlight and a level of fame only hinted at before. The young Tyson is lost in a whirlwind of parties, women, and money. He marries Robin Givens (Jada Pinkett Smith) which turns physical as she seems to have married him just for his money. But, Tyson won the undisputed championship over Michael Spinks thanks to the heavy training program of Kevin Rooney in the Catskill Mountains. The media world goes into a Tyson craze. After the fight, historic trainer Don King (Louis Gossett Jr.) offers Tyson a large sum of money to be his promoter. The only catch is that he had to fire Kevin Rooney. So Tyson betrayed his only friend. Don King set up Tyson with a fight against Buster Douglas in Japan.

Back in the Tokyo fight, Buster Douglas hits Tyson and he is knocked out for his first defeat. The media scrutiny of Tyson is maddening. His private life turns brutal and falls into depression for leaving Rooney and all the people he betrayed and the people that betrayed him. He divorced his wife and while visiting Indianapolis, he is accused of rape and sent to prison for five years.

Seven years later. Tyson is in his room praying and reading the Koran. His trainer comes in and tells him "It's time." TYSON v. HOLYFIELD. Tyson is getting beaten by Holyfield late in the fight. Holyfield repeatedly head butts Tyson without notice by the referee. So, Tyson bites Holyfield's ear in retaliation and takes a large chunk out of it. Tyson is quickly disqualified and gets into it with spectators as they throw bottles at Tyson as he leaves.

Tyson is sitting in a park far away from anything that has to do with boxing. He sits alone except for a few pigeons he is feeding. He looks off into the distance, reflecting on what was and what could have been.

What the press would say:

"Baddest Man on the Planet" was what Mike Tyson was known as to the world. It forms the very basis of what the film is about: a man who was misunderstood by nearly everyone. The film shows Tyson in a peaceful state as he is mentored by Cus D'Amato, and his state changes as his life progresses and things go wrong.

Jamie Foxx as Mike Tyson was absolutely fun to watch. Foxx's talent of mimicry is second to none as he shows Tyson's guardedness, caution of speech, intense physicality, and wariness of strangers. He shows Tyson very much as an outsider that got caught up with a bad group of people that dragged him down. Foxx bulked up for the role as he gained nearly 20 ponds of muscle. He also has Tyson's somewhat high-pitched lisp down perfectly, and when he gets angry as Mike Tyson, he does it with such a ferocity that it's scary. But, he also showed the emotional side to Tyson where he cries after hitting his wife among other things.

Anthony Hopkins plays an extremely important role as Tyson's first trainer and and father, Cus D'Amato. Hopkins hides his British accent flawlessly and becomes a tough-talking, legendary, old-school boxing trainer from New York. He is the only person that truly understands Tyson and teaches him the right way to do things in society. He teaches Tyson that character beats skill every time. It's interesting to watch Hopkins act in this role that had such a huge impact on Tyson's life.

This film shows Tyson as a sympathetic character that always wanted to do right, but lacked the guidance. The film balances boxing and personal life nearly seamlessly. The screenplay and direction never gets over the top or into any cliches. It's very raw and what it shows is how it was and that seems pretty unique for films these days.

Possible Nominations:
Best Actor (Jamie Foxx)
Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins)
Best Original Screenplay (Paul Scheuring and Peter Berg)
Best Director (Peter Berg)
Best Picture
Best Editing

Battle Cries

Author(s): Pat
Location: New York

“Battle Cries"

Directed By Mike Nichols
Written By Stuart Beattie
Music By James Horner
Cinematography By Dion Beebe
Produced By Mike Nichols, Michael Mann, Clint Eastwood

Principal Cast:

Matt Dillon (Jeff Watkins)
Clive Owen (Martin Fullerton)
Naomi Watts (Marie Watkins)
Michelle Pfieffer (Kim Fullerton)
Joaquin Phoenix (Sam Seaward)
James Woods (Mitchell Gundries)
Frances McDormand (Kathy Nuttall)
Anthony Anderson (Evan Jumper)
Kimberly Elise (Rhonnie Jumper)

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: Mike Nichols directs this new dark romance about two Army officers who are brought together by the war in Iraq and torn apart when infidelities and jealousy lead to disaster. Jeff (Matt Dillon) has just married Marie (Naomi Watts) and has learned that he will be shipped off to Iraq in a few months after a three-week stint in Germany. At Ramstein Air Force Base, Jeff meets Martin (Clive Owen), a superior officer with an angry disposition who is married to Head Surgeon Kim (Michelle Pfieffer). As time passes in Germany, Jeff falls for Kim when he works at the hospital and enters into a torrid affair with her while Marie is left home alone wondering where her husband is. Martin begins to suspect that his wife is cheating on him and decides to spy on Jeff’s residence. Martin gets a quick glance at Marie on his first stakeout and immediately falls for her. Marie, having her own suspicions about Jeff, decides to give Martin a try and begins an affair with him.

After three weeks, both Jeff and Martin are sent to Iraq in the same unit. They both know what the other has been doing with the wives and create an uneasy aura about them. After nearly a month in Iraq, Martin receives a letter from his wife saying that she is going to leave him for Jeff. The incidents that transpire from that letter lead to a deadly struggle between two men in love each other’s wives in the midst of a major battle in the southern part of the country.

Joaquin Phoenix plays an ambitious West Point graduate who tries to become the mediator of the situation. James Woods stars as the leader of the Iraq group who threatens to have the two arrested when their personal war starts inflicting casualties. Frances McDormand plays a friend of Kim’s and Anthony Anderson and Kimberly Elise are husband and wife friends of Jeff and Marie.

What the press would say:

Mike Nichols directs Stuart Beattie’s new script, “Battle Cries”, about two military couples who are brought together by infidelity and torn apart by jealousy. Matt Dillon and Clive Owen star as two married officers on a military base who begin to cheat on each other’s wives (Naomi Watts, Michelle Pfieffer). They both discover the infidelities just before the duo is shipped off to Iraq in the same group. Their feud begins to endanger the rest of the task force and leads to shocking events. Both Dillon and Owen command the screen in every frame while the former becomes a tortured avenger who tries to keep his anger within him as the latter’s anger increases as the minutes pass by. Naomi Watts is very good as the naïve wife of Dillon’s character and is oblivious to the situation that she fueled once she learns that her husband has been cheating on her. Michelle Pfieffer deserves best-in-show accolades for playing Owen’s quiet but stern housewife who is sick of her husband’s constant anger fits. All in all, “Battle Cries” is a fantastic movie about the battlefield that is love.

Awards

Best Picture
Best Director-Mike Nichols
Best Original Screenplay-Stuart Beattie
Best Actor-Matt Dillon
Best Supporting Actor-Clive Owen
Best Supporting Actress-Michelle Pfieffer
Best Supporting Actress-Naomi Watts
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Sound
Best Sound Editing
Best Original Score

Candidacy

Author(s): Brian
Location: Arizona

"Candidacy"

Directed by Alexander Payne
Written by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
Music by Rolfe Kent

Principal Cast:

Matthew Perry (Keith)
Edward Norton (Chris Stanton)
Jack Nicholson (Norbert)
Megan Mullally (Nancy)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Sophie)
Neil Patrick Harris (Tony)
Steve Carell (Jack)
Tatum O’Neal (Monica)
Aasif Mandvi (Harvey)
Cynthia Nixon (Denise)

Tagline: "Coming Election Day 2008"

Synopsis: Politicians are dirty, ruthless people. That’s pretty much a fact. The public has grown to hate the core of them, almost all of them are out of touch with the actual needs of the people and scandal after scandal bombards our televisions. That’s where Chris Stanton steps in. Chris was elected Senator of Massachusetts three years ago in a landslide, and he has since been deeply inclined to run for President. Since he has virtually no experience, he runs simply on the platform that, for one, he’s young, two, that he’s good looking and three, he’s not like most politicians. To start, he needs to set up a campaign committee…

First, he needs a campaign manager, and finds one named Keith. Keith is fairly organized and likeable, and as a bonus to Chris’ image, he’s also gay.

Next he needs a speechwriter or two, and discovers Nancy and Tony. Nancy is a brilliant writer, but she has no idea who she is. She considers herself a wild rebel who plays by her own rules, when really she’s a frivolous and shallow person. Tony is Keith’s boyfriend who can’t say anything without it being witty. One can only imagine what a presidential speech he wrote would be like…

Next he needs people to organize it all. As treasurer, Stanton appoints Monica. Big mistake. Monica is perfectly nice, but if anyone mentions the word “work,” and she will criticize you for hours at a time and force her perfectionist views on you. About everything. No matter what. So, it’s just her luck that she gets to work with Jack. Jack is essentially bipolar. Half of the time, he will be incredibly efficient and timely, and the other half of the time he’ll be making insulting jokes about his co-workers or writing stand-up routines.

Now all that he needs are endorsements. His first one is Sophie, a high profile and slightly crazy actress. Or, more properly, a slutty actress. She dates anything that moves. He also has a model named Denise, a strikingly beautiful but incredibly annoying woman. She will talk about anything to anyone for hours at a time, loudly and without warning. Then there’s Harvey. Harvey isn’t really a celebrity endorsement, he’s just Chris’ best friend. He thinks that he’s an extremely successful stand-up comic, when in fact he flips burgers from 9 to 5 and sneaks into comedy clubs and is usually booed off the stage. And finally, there’s Norbert. Norbert is the former Vice-President of a very Republican administration, and is only backing Stanton, a Democrat, because none of the Republican candidates wanted him. And why would they? He is a foul mouthed, rude and overall dirty old man. Stanton only took him because he needed a conservative endorsement, and he was the only one available.

All of these people are put on one bus together to go across the country on a two-week campaign trip. And, from Norbert constantly turning up the heat to remind Keith and Tony how hot Hell is, to Nancy falling in love with Jack and Jack in love with her 50% of the time, and insulting her the other half of the time, to Sophie seducing virtually everyone on the bus, to Harvey and Tony getting into a feud over who’s funnier (when Tony would win unanimously), to Denise talking to Monica constantly during her “working time” (a time no non-suicidal person should mess with), everyone has tons of problems. And that’s where Keith comes in. Keith needs to balance managing with everyone’s conflicts, saving his dying relationship with Tony and winning the election for Chris all at once.

What the press would say:

“Candidacy”, the major hit at the Cannes Film Festival, is not only one of the best films of the year, but it’s also the smartest. Alexander Payne, who graced us in 2004 with his masterpiece “Sideways”, provides us with another insightful, poignant character study, with plenty of laughs along the way. Matthew Perry headlines the cast with a likeable and entertaining performance that could easily earn him an Oscar nomination. But it is Megan Mullally and Jack Nicholson that steal the screen. Nicholson takes a role that one would usually consider to be a “typical Jack” role, but he turns it into something much more. He brings so many new things to the table with this performance in a tricky role. Mullally takes what seems like a run-of-the-mill role and turns it into something extraordinary. She reminds why America fell in love with her with “Will & Grace.” Even though we are only in the beginning of November, I can easily call this these the best supporting performances of the year. But the star of the movie is its screenplay, written by the director, Payne, and his brilliant co-scribe Jim Taylor. “Candidacy” could have easily fallen victim to a typical comedy that thinks it’s smart but isn’t, but Payne and Taylor create such brilliant characters with sharp, fresh dialogue and the most unexpectedly clever, sometimes moving, situations. Wrap all of these things up and you have a serious comedic contender for Best Picture with a strong campaign in the following categories…

Best Picture
Best Director (Alexander Payne)
Best Original Screenplay (Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor)
Best Actor (Matthew Perry)
Best Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson)
Best Supporting Actress (Megan Mullally)
Best Original Score (Rolfe Kent)

Clouds of Red

Author(s): Tony
Location: Pittsburgh

“Clouds of Red"

Directed by Terrence Malick
Written by Robert Rodat
Produced by John Daly
Music by Nick Glennie-Smith

Principal Cast:

Christian Bale as Mick Mannock
Gerald Butler as James McCudden
Ewan McGregor as Ross Bisping
Stephen Rea as Major Keith Caldwell
Chace Crawford as Albert Ball
Colin Hanks as Donald Inglis
Luke Goss as Jim Eyles
Powers Boothe as Micks Father

Tagline: "On solid ground, he felt emotion. In the skies, he was God"

Synopsis: War is something to look away from. We remind ourselves of what happened, learning about them in schools, you hear a few names mentioned and you learn about them, however, most of the heroes you never hear of are severely "under the radar". Mick Mannock was, if not the best at combat flying in the first World War. Mannock was untouchable in his death of destruction, but outside the plane Mannock was as human all of us.

Born in 1887 in Aldershot, England, Mannocks life took a road bump when he reached 10 years old he developed amoebic infestation which rendered him temporarily blind. Two years after is when his father abandoned his family. His father was known to be a brutal man and hard drinker. Mannock would remain partially blind in his left eye the rest of his life. By the time he was 20 he had joined the Labour Party. While working as a telephone engineer, he had been captured by the Turks, and had been kept in prison. It was until he was near death where he was released as afterwards he joined
the Royal Flying Corps.

During his time as a flying officer, Mannock developed a brash, cocky attitude towards his work, which enraged his CO Major Keith Caldwell. Caldwell would bring it down hard on Mannock several times, but it never stopped him. He practiced shooting consistently and was soon to get his first kill, as he flew in close to German airplanes. By 1918, Mannock had 23 kills, and his over confident attitude seemed to fade away as he was made to flight commander. He was an excellent motivator to his pilots, James McCudden, Ross Bisping, and Albert Ball. McCudden and Mannock were best friends, Pointon was a bitter rivalry of Mannocks, and Ball was a close friend, however tragically on May 7th Ball had been shot down, and this tore Mick up inside.

Mannock continued to remain a titan in the skies, and although Mick grew a strong hatred for the Germans (as he told McCudden after he questioned Micks brutal behavior towards them, he told him "the swins are better dead, no prisoners", the kills were beginning to get to him. After seeing one of his victims catch fire on the way to the ground, Mick developed a severe fear of catching on fire. Due to this, Mannock always had a revolver in his cockpit, where if his plane had ever caught on fire, he'd finish the job himself as soon as he saw the flames. By 1918 he had 59 kills, and earned a trip home, where he had haunted visions of his childhood, his father more importantly. He also developed an obsession with neatness and order, everything had to be perfect. He came back to the war, only to hear that James McCudden had been killed. Mannock didn't take the news lightly, and he realized that deep down he was falling apart, and he wasn't immortal after all. This was known when Mannock and McCuddens new replacement Donald Inglis went up where they finished off a German plane. On the way back down, Mick started to kick his rudder, as the plane all of a sudden caught fire, Mick used his revolver wisely. Apart from the complete irony of Mannocks death, dying in the skies, having his worst fear come to life, Mannock will always be remembered as one of the greatest war heroes the world will ever see. By the end of his life, Mannock had brought down 74 planes.

What the press would say:

Though few war movies in recent years haven't been strictly for one character, "Clouds of Red" delivers us with a sensational style of something new. We look at a different aspect of
WWI and the man leading the way is Terrence Malick. From The Thin Red Line, to The New World, to Clouds of Red, Malick is selling himself as one of the top directors recently in this particular genre. You'll grow a whole new respect to Malik after this one. The dark atmosphere Malik provides us throughout the film brings those haunting stories you have read, and the old films you and your dad used to watch. The scenes in which Malik blends in some fire effects to provide a more fear for the main character was intentionally done well. The quality of the battle scenes is some of the best work I've ever seen, it's not overpowered with them, but after watching one, you can't wait for the next.

However, that is if you can't get enough of the forceful acting provided by Christian Bale. While in the airplane Bale still shines, it's when you take the immortality away from him, and he shows his true talents portayaling a real person, a real person with emotions that Mannock doesn't want to feel. Bale sells the cold hearted killer act as well as he does with his compassionate, overwhelming acting, much like his character in American Psycho, Bale has to sell two personalities, and that he does. You can say what you want about Gerald Butler, but the guy continues to progress in every film as he takes the role of being Micks personal psychiatrist and best friend, you two have this undeniable chemistry that grabs you by the throat. His death alone brings out one of Bales brighter performances in the film after hearing it.

This two and a half hour masterpiece is well earned the price of admission. A very important film that shows the heroics of some of the warriors that have done battle and that warrior doesn't have to be American, the ones we don't take account of, but also shows the tragic mind set a war can give a person. Mick Mannock was a pure example of this. In perhaps one of the most memorable scenes in the film, we get a slow zoom in shot on Christian Bale Nick Glennie-Smith works his magic, and he quotes a direct saying from Mick Mannock. "The journey to the trenches was rather nauseating - dead men's legs sticking through the sides with puttees and boots still on - bits of bones and skulls with the hair peeling off, and tons of equipment and clothing lying about. This sort of thing, together with the strong graveyard stench and the dead and mangled body of the pilot combined to upset me for a few days."

Possible Nominations:

Best Picture - Terrence Malick, Robert Rodat, and John Daly
Best Director - Terrence Malik
Best Actor in Leading Role - Christian Bale
Best Actor in Supporting Role - Gerald Butler
Best Original Screenplay - Robert Rodat
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
Best Effects
Best Film Editing
Best Makeup
Best Original Score

Comedy of Life

Author(s): Corey
Location: USA

“Comedy of Life”

Directed By: James L. Brooks
Written By: James L. Brooks and Michael Arndt
Produced By: James L. Brooks
Music By: Hans Zimmer
Cinematography By: John Bailey
Costumes By: Molly Maginnis and Kristi Zea
Art/Set Direction: Polly Platt, Harold Michelson, and Anthony Mondell
Edited By: Richard Marks

Principal Cast:

Jack Nicholson: Frank Kensington
Shirley MacLaine: Ava Kensington
Alan Arkin: Art Singleton
Helen Hunt: Samantha Kensington
Abigail Breslin: Michelle Kensington

Tagline: "You want comedy? Take a look at this family”

Synopsis: The Kensington family has seen its ups and downs. Ava met and fell in love with Frank Kensington, leaving her husband of 13 years, Art Singleton, behind. Art never did get re-married, focusing on raising his daughter Samantha.

Now 30 years later all their lives are about to be changed.

Samantha has moved back in with her mother after her boyfriend leaves for another woman. With Samantha is her 12 year old daughter Michelle. Art sees this as a change to re-connect with his daughter, and his new grand-daughter who he hasn’t seen yet. To do so, though, he must go through Ava and her new husband Frank Kensington, a man he can hardly tolerate.

What results is a realization for every one. Was leaving Art the best choice for Ava and will she ever be able to really become part of her daughter’s life after abandoning her? Will Art ever be able to understand Frank? Will Michelle ever really accept all that has happened to her? Only the healing power of comedy will tell…

What the press would say:

James L. Brooks is back to the type of films he’s best at. Returning to the roots of Terms of Endearment, he crafts his best movie since 1997’s As Good As It Gets. Much like Terms and As Good As It Gets, Comedy excels due to the actors and their realistic performances.

Supporting the great directorial work is an ensemble of career best performances. The dynamic pairing of Nicholson and Brooks is once again very present in their 4th pairing together. Nicholson manages to create the quality characters he did back in the 70’s and 80’s, using the acting skills that made him a legend in the first place. Shirley MacLaine is in perfect harmony with Nicholson, in her best performance since her Academy-Award winning turn in Terms. The chemistry she manages to rekindle with Nicholson is phenomenal and that created with Arkin is as equally effective. Then there’s the greatness of Alan Arkin’s performance. Along with this performance and Oscar winning turn in Little Miss Sunshine, Arkin presents two of the most creative roles of his prolific career. His scenes with MacLaine are, at times, highly dramatic, but he balances it perfectly with his high presence of wit, humor, and humanity. Arkin’s scenes with Nicholson provide the film with its most laugh-out-loud moments. This marks the first time the two have ever shared the screen and viewers should be more than happy to see that.

Helen Hunt gives a pitch perfect performance in possibly her best role even. She manages to interact perfectly with every member of the ensemble and her character manages to connect the rest of the movie together.

Giving yet another delightful performance is young Abigail Breslin. While her scenes with Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine were very touching and loveable, she does almost the opposite in Comedy. Her character is somewhat sarcastic, clashing with her family at any moment that she can. Her scenes with Arkin are frequently tense, creating some of the best comedic moments of the whole film.

Overall, this movie is the best comedy of the year. With the tenderness of Terms and the dysfunctional humor and charm of Sunshine, Comedy of Life manages to present real life situations…well at least in a humorous manner.

Oscar Nominations:

Best Picture: James L. Brooks
Best Director: James L. Brooks
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson
Best Actress: Shirley MacLaine
Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin
Best Supporting Actress: Abigail Breslin
Best Supporting Actress: Helen Hunt
Best Original Screenplay: James L. Brooks and Michael Arndt
Best Editing: Richard Marks
Best Cinematography: John Bailey
Best Score: Hans Zimmer
Best Art/Set Direction: Polly Platt, Harold Michelson, and Anthony Mondell

Cluster Town

Author(s): Sergio Requejo
Location: Spain

“Cluster Town"

Directed by Sofia Coppola
Written by Sofia Coppola
Music by Jon Brion
Produced by Francis Ford Coppola

Principal Cast:

Liv Tyler (Brenda)
Peter Sarsgaard (Matt)
Jake Gyllenhaal (Gabriel)
Susan Sarandon (Martha)
James Woods (Gabriel’s father)
Joan Allen (Gabriel’s mother)
Ellen Burstyn (Brenda’s mother)
Kirsten Dunst (Patricia)

Tagline: "Nothing can change if we don’t change in our inside”

Synopsis: Matt (Peter Sarsgaard) hasn’t found his own place yet. His strong personality doesn’t allow him to join or match at any place. The relationship with his mother is getting worst day by day. His mother Martha (Susan Sarandon), left by his father when he was a child, is always telling him that he’s a failure as his father. Matt gets fired from all the jobs he begins, he is not the perfect man for Brenda, and there is a big distance between him and his best friend Gabriel. The town seems to be increasingly small and he needs more space to breathe. Matt needs to find himself, and he thinks the best way is meeting his father, who lives in Florida.

Brenda (Liv Tyler) can’t find a job. She has studied in Georgetown but she had to return when her mother (Ellen Burstyn) gets ill before dying. She doesn’t find a job adapted for her in the town and she is tired of not being able to devote what she wants. She has to pay all the debts of her mother and now that she has saved a little of money she wants to return to her past life. She had a relation with Matt in the past and now she feels that her relation with him is almost finished, but she cannot help love him.

Gabriel (Jake Gyllenhaal) lives in a very religious and oppressive family. He has four younger sisters. His parents want him to dedicate his life to spreading the god's word. His girlfriend, Patricia (Kirsten Dunts), the preacher daughter, gets pregnant and that is a big drama in their families. He has a big discussion with his father (James Woods), who forces him to leave the house in front of the disappointed look of his mother (Joan Allen). Unfortunately Patricia kills herself the same night.

The three need to leave the town. So by chance, without knowing anything of others they do the suitcases to go away the morning after. Brenda has bought a bill for the bus, Matt will drive his own old car and Gabriel will do hitch-hiking. But the night before of the leaving they will meet by chance in the bar where they have spent most of the time together, the only place that they will miss. It’s been a long time since the three friends where all together and they spend the whole night talking. None wants to say anything but finally Gabriel confesses that he’ll leave the town in the morning. He’ll sleep in an old cabin by the river. Finally Brenda and Matt confess their intentions too.

Surprised by the chance of their thoughts they realize that they still have much to clarify between them and with others and they elaborate a last plan. They will simulate that they have gone out of the town on the following morning but they will remain hidden in the cabin. They will be useful to try to arrange the things that they don’t like of their town without being discovered, from the shade of the old cabin. They will try to change what they don’t please about themselves and their families. They will do politics, will revolutionize to the masses, they will create new illusions and dreams in the people. But they know that it won’t be forever. The three finally decide to leave the town together sharing a last trip. Gabriel will stay in New York, to be finally himself, Brenda will stay in Washington to be a politic and Matt will continue to the south to find his father. After the latter great trip it will be difficult to them to separate but they know that they cannot sacrifice their dreams for others dreams. And they know nobody will take away from them what they have lived together.

What the press would say:

A melancholic and subtle atmosphere embraces this strong film that talks about the natural changes of every human being and about the idea of a world that cannot change by itself. They know that nothing can change if we don’t change in our inside. Cluster town is about the promise of a life that never comes, the old dreams of a perfect future that don’t get real. Cluster Town talks about the creation of a small society from the beginning. The three friends represent the three big supports of any society. In Cluster Town everybody is different, none looks like anybody, everyone has different fears, secrets, faults, but all of them are joined by an invisible nexus that keep them together. The three main characters broke this nexus and try to have their own life, to get their own dream, to find their own cluster.

FYC:

Best Picture (Drama)
Best Director: Sofia Coppola
Best Original Screenplay: Sofia Coppola
Best Actress: Liv Tyler
Best Actor: Peter Sarsgaard
Best Supporting Actor: Jake Gyllenhaal
Creativity Awards

The Counterfeit King

Author(s): Adam
Location: Texas

“The Counterfeit King”

Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by Nicholas Pileggi
Produced by Graham King/Irwin Winkler

Principal Cast:

MARK WHALBERG as Frank Sereno
ROBERT DE NIRO as William "Bill" Ronstadt
CATE BLANCHET as Olivia "Liv" Marcell
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN as Marcus Sereno
TALIA SHIRE as Julia Sereno
RAY LIOTTA as James Maretto

Released: December 25, 2007

Rated R for strong language, some sexual content/nudity

Tagline: "Greed is an evil king"

Synopsis: The true story of "The Counterfeit King" on which the film is based was featured on an episode of The History Channel's Breaking Vegas. Told in flashback, it is the true story of Frank Sereno, who along with his girlfriend Olivia Marcell, worked what seemed to be the perfect plan for getting rich quick off of casino slot machines. He created counterfeit coins that looked, weighed and were shaped exactly like slot machine coins from Atlantic City's Empire Casino. After spending nearly a year crafting these false coins, Frank's tests of the coins showed that many of them worked on the machines. Hence began what Frank felt would be the key to his early retirement. Over a period of time, Frank begins to craft coins from other casinos as well and has coins for numerous Atalntic City casinos. He and Olivia go to different casions and use the counterfeit creations. After making hundreds of thousands off casinos in Atlantic City, Frank and Julia want to try their luck in Vegas. Using part of their earnings, Frank moves his equipment with him to Vegas as he and Olivia work to fool another city of infinite slot machines. The more Frank wins, the more he wants to keep going. Frank and Olivia have built themselves a world of wealth. Frank is even sending money to his parents Marcus and Julia whom he plans to eventually move down to Vegas. Frank also plans to eventually wed Olivia. What Frank doesn't know is that he's being watched. Suspicions begin to arouse from different figures the more Frank gets lucky on the machines. William Ronstadt, an invesatigator for the FBI has been put on the case to investigate Frank. Frank is now also being watched by James Maretto, the tough-natured owner of the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. Frank is so into his creating and winning off of counterfeit coins that it has become an addiction. Nothing lasts forever, and neither does Frank's glory. The FBI has gained enough evidence on him to go in and make an arrest. Olivia is also arrested as an accomplice. Frank's empire has fallen. His coins are confiscated from the trunk of his car and used as evidence against him in court. He pleads guilty and is sentenced to time in prison. Upon his release, Frank never again works any kind of coin counterfeiting.

What the press would say:

"The Counterfeit King is an excellently crafted drama about how far down our greed will take us"

"It's the Scorsese/Pileggi reunion we've all been waiting for"

"Whalberg, Blanchet and De Niro give excellent performances"

"Another Scorsese crime classic!"

Nominations:

BEST PICTURE- Graham King/Irwin Winkler
BEST DIRECTOR- Martin Scorsese
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY- Nicholas Pileggi
BEST ACTOR- Mark Whalberg
BEST ACTRESS- Cate Blanchet
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- Robert De Niro
BEST EDITING- Thelma Schoonmaker

Dance, Dance

Author(s): Matthew LaRusso
Location: New Jersey

“Dance, Dance"

Directed by: Rob Marshall
Written by: Bill Condon and Rob Marshall
Original Score by: Danny Elfman
Original Music by: Fall Out Boy

Principal Cast:

Patrick Stump as Himself
Pete Wentz as Himself
Joe Trohman as Himself
Andy Hurley as Himself
Ben Affleck as Deuce Devon
Kate Hudson as Faye Funnerling
Kevin Kline as Larry Dermicus
Richard Gere as Troy Spalding

Tagline: "4 Eager Rock and Roll Wannabes, 1 Dream…. time to dance!"

Synopsis: Loosely based on a true story, this musical movie follows four aspiring high school musicians who eventually formed the band Fall Out Boy. West Wilmette High School was a hot bed for young aspiring bands, but making it was never an option, it would take skill, guts, raw energy and a will that could never be matched. The four boys meet their future manager in Deuce Devon (Affleck), a wacky, goofy and sometimes-perverted 30 something man, who cares about nothing more than high school girls, especially that of Stump’s girlfriend, Faye Funnerling (Hudson). If Deuce has one advantage, it’s that he has an eye for talent and he has connections to many powerful men in the music business. Those connections are mainly to record producer Troy Spalding (Gere), who is CEO of Spalding Records. Devon sets up a show for the band, which also happens to be the spring formal, with a little coercing of Principal Dermicus (Kline). The guest of honor is Spalding, scouting out the band that Deuce wants him to sign. This is it, where the skill, guts and raw energy come to the forefront that will decide the fate of these four young men from Wilmette, Illinois. Get ready; it’s time to dance.

What the press would say:

The next musical from the ever-changing minds of Rob Marshall and Bill Condon, follows a different suit than “Chicago” and “Dreamgirls.” It is a movie about the rock business and the trials and tribulations of a young band trying to make it big. The choreography of the musical numbers is outstanding, as the piercing and highly original sound of the band Fall Out Boy makes this movie one for the ages; as does the performance of Ben Affleck as the boys sadistic and perverted manager, who has his eye on the prize, in more ways than one. This is truly a gem for Affleck who is a lock for a nod from the Academy. Visually breathtaking, and musically stunning, “Dance, Dance” will sweep you off your feet and carry you away.

For Your Consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director- Rob Marshall
Best Supporting Actor- Ben Affleck
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Sound
Best Costume Design
Best Song, “For What It’s Worth”, Fall Out Boy
Best Song, “The Guts, The Glory and the Way”, Fall Out Boy

Debris from a Silent War

Author(s): Marcus Dennis
Location: N/A

“Debris from a Silent War"

Written & Directed by David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive)
Cinematography by Dante Spirotti (Heat, The Insider)
Production Design by Allan Starski (The Pianist
Costume Design by Anna Sheppard (The Pianist)
Edited by Michael Kahn (Saving Private Ryan, Munich)
Score by James Newton Howard (The Village, Batman Begins)

Principal Cast:

Eric Bana-Jacob Steinbrenner
Christian Bale-Otto Von Wolford
Brian Cox-Adolf Hitler
William H. Macy-Walter Schmidt
Liev Schreiber-Oskar Schindler
Laura Dern-Tara/Lanya
Vera Farmiga-Varya

Tagline: "Some of the greatest wars are never heard of”

Synopsis: David Lynch's latest film, 'Debris From A Silent War' delves into moral reversal and a blur of reality during the Holocaust.

Germany 1905-A homeless boy begs for change to no avail. He is harassed by hoodlums, kidnapped, and sold to a Jewish man with a sick fetish. This abused and neglected boy would grow into the one of the world's greatest dictator: Adolf Hitler (Brian Cox).

During the beginning of the Holocaust, with the help of his secretary and confidante: Walter Schmidt (William H. Macy), Hitler starts assigning SS officers to oversee the segregation of German cities. One of the officers is Otto Von Wolford (Christian Bale) a gentle and respectful officer married to an illegal Russian immigrant woman, Varya (Vera Farmiga).

Jacob Steinbrenner (Eric Bana) is a swindling fast-talking Jew who finds a way to get what he needs. He's also a woman-beater if you ask his girlfriend, Tara (Laura Dern).

One night Jacob comes into their apartment with rotten sausage. Tara becomed furious at Jacob because of his hustling ways and tells him that she's pregnant. In denial, Jacob hits Tara, locks her in a closet and falls asleep. That same night, Otto tells Varya that he'll be working for Hitler to 'cleanse' Germany. She is angry, but he calms her down and they make passionate love.

The next morning, Jacob wakes up with Tara laying on top of him nude. He doesn't mention the events of the previous night. That same morning, Otto wakes up cheerful, but Varya is angry and her eye is swollen. She claims that he hit her in a drunken rage. He leaves their apartment perplexed.

As the segregation of Germany cities become more hostile, so does Hitler. Hitler's new found arrogance and anger surprises Walter because he has always known Adolf to be a calm and soft-spoken man.

Jacob returns home one day and finds Tara droned in the bathtub. He laments over her body until SS officers, lead by Von Wolford, storn his apartment and place him into a concentration camp. That same day, Varya is killed in a house fire.

As the Holocaust progesses, Otto becomes more aggressive to his Jewish captives and Jacob becomes more subdued. Then Oskar Schindler (Liev Schreiber), an arrogant, foul-mouthed industrialist who runs a pot-making factory buys the group of Jews that Jacob is in. Oskar also hires Otto as his head security guard.

Hitler continues his reign of terror. He begins to treat Walter like an employee and not an friend as he was once was. He continously refers to him as boy.

Otto has a dream that he is walking through the plains of Africa with Hitler. They talk about their families and Hitler seems regretful about starting the Holocaust. A lion attacks Hitler and Otto fights him away. While dying, Hitler tells Otto to beware of the timid man.

The next day, Jacob drops a box of ceramic plates. Otto begins to shoot him in the hand, but he remembers his dream and sees the look of fear on his face and stops. At their meal break, Jacob stumbles a plot amongst several workers to revolt against Schindler and escape the factory. The leader of the conspiracy is Lanya (Also Laura Dern) who is ready to revolt against the Nazi oppression after her girlfriend was raped and killed by Nazis. She tries to coerce Jacob into the plot, but he refuses.

The day before the rebellion, Jacob warns Otto. Otto warns Schindler, who brings in extra security. The rebellion is attempted but Schindler's security halt it. Everyone apart of the plot is murdered.

Several weeks later, Oskar calls Otto in his office. He asks Otto how he thinks the war will end. Otto tells him that Germany will lose. Otto tells him that he should free all of the workers in his factory. Oskar ponders this idea. Otto confronts Jacob about his still being there. Jacob does the same. In a series of flashbacks, we realize that Jacob believes he accidentally killed Otto the previoud night, while Otto believes that he let Jacob go the previous night.

The next day, Oskar is nowhere to be found. His office is empty accept for a pair of keys laying on the floors and a golden pen. Otto takes it upon himself to tranfer all the workers into the city.

Hitler, now in the bunker, plots his escape to Africa after the war is over. Schmidt comes into the bunker, shoots Hitler in the head, and sets it up to look like a suicide. The rest of Hitler's allies are devastated by the 'suidide' and many of them kill theirselves right in front of Schmidt. Schmidt gets inside a Jeep and flees Germany, which is being invaded by the Allied forces.

While riding through the city, the bus that Otto and com. are on is almost hit by a missile. It's turned over and burning. Otto escapes, and oddly saves Jacob they duck and dodge Allied troops who are shooting anything in their path. They still a car and escape Germany. They avoid hitting a pack of lions in the road, but their car flips over. When Allied Troops find the car, the only person inside is a large portion of diamonds wrapped in a Mexican flag.

What the press would say:

The most controversial film of the year is also the best. Debris From A Silent War is David Lynch's most ambitious film yet. His weird and abnormal direction makes the viewer feel like their reading the diary of a schizophranic. Christian Bale and Eric Bana give strangely brilliant performances. They perfectly capture the anguidh of men who have lost their loved ones. Brian Cox electrifies as Adolf Hitler. He steals every scene that he is and his powerful rants conjure emotion from the strangest places. Laura Dern gives a commanding performance twowomen who have different reason for their anger. Vera Farmiga gives a heartbreaking performance that'll draw tears from the toughest of warriors. Liev Schreiber gives a career performance as a morally reversed Oskar Schindler. This sickening portrayal of a man who is known as a hero in most people's eyes has earned him the best reviews of his career and should earn him some awards attention. William H. Macy gives a subtle performance that perfectly vibes with Brian Cox's fiery. With a great score by James Newton Howard, weird cinematography, great acting, and odd direction, this will be the one to beat come March.

Best Picture
Best Director: David Lynch
Best Original Screenplay: David Lynch
Best Actor: Christian Bale
Best Actor: Eric Bana
Best Supp. Actor: Brian Cox
Best Supp. Actor: Liev Schreiber
Best Supp. Actress: Laura Dern
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Score

The Dirty Dozen

Author(s): Daniel Crooke
Location: Ohio

“The Dirty Dozen”

Produced by: Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Edited by: Joel Cox
Costume Design by: Anna B. Sheppard
Cinematography by: Emmanuel Lubezki
Original Music by: John Williams
Sound Editing by: Steven Rosenblum
Sound Mixing by: Kevin O’Connell and Greg P. Russell
Adapted Screenplay: Paul Haggis and E.M. Nathanson (novel)

Principal Cast:

Harrison Ford as Major John Reisman
Richard Tyson as Joseph T. Wladislaw
Mark Wahlberg as Victor R. Franko
Terrence Howard as Napoleon Jefferson
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Archer J. Maggot
Ben Affleck as Milo Vladek
Daniel Craig as Roscoe Lever
Michael Sheen as Seth K. Sawyer
Michael Pena as Glenn Gilpin
Gael Garcia Bernal as Tassos R. Bravo
Adam Beach as Samson Posey
Steve Zahn as Vernon L. Pinkley
Unax Ugalde as Pedro Jiminez
Greg Kinnear as Major General Worden
Bill Nighy as Colonel Everett Dasher Reed
Leonardo DiCaprio as Sergeant Bowren

Tagline:"“Train them! Excite them! Arm them! …then turn them loose on the Nazis!”

Synopsis: England, 1944. Major John Reisman walked into a room filled with army officers, including Major General Warden. Warden offered Reisman the chance to command a mission that the two had discussed earlier. Reisman accepted the offer.

United States, 1944. Reisman has volunteered to command a suicide mission deep in Nazi Germany. His soldiers? Twelve convicts arrested for various crimes including murder, rape, and robbery. The soldiers are: Joseph T. Wladislaw: the last man you would ever expect to be a hero, Victor R. Frank: a rebel without a cause, Napoleon Jefferson: a man who wants to make something of himself and just might be innocent, Archer J. Maggot: a religious fanatic and murderous maniac, Milo Vladek: a scared young man, Roscoe Lever: a typical jailmate, Seth K. Sawyer: a young man who doesn’t realize what he has done, Glenn Gilpen: a thief, Tassos R. Bravo: a Mexican thief whose actions do not phase him, Samson Posey: an innocent man but with a temper of fire, Vernon L. Pinkley: an introvert with a sense of humor, and Pedro Jiminez: a man who would never be mistaken as a criminal. If the convicts accepted, they would be given their freedom after the mission (assuming they returned alive). The convicts accepted, although they did not have a choice.

United States, 1944. After they volunteered, the convicts, Reisman, and Sergeant Bowren (a sergeant from the convicts’ prison) went to a remote training base. There, Reisman taught them the attack plan. The plan was to helicopter into the heart of Nazi Germany. There, the squadron would make there way to a chateau owned by a dangerous Nazi general. At the chateau, there would be a party where more Nazi generals and majors were. The squadron’s job: kill the Nazi officers and take the chateau. In reality, this was almost a suicide mission. But, in order for this team of criminals to pull off the mission, they had to be trained. Reisman led the team through an intense four month training course. The training was not without its ups and downs. Franko led several riots of sorts. One was to convince all the convicts that what they were doing was so the prison could exterminate them. Franko led another in regards to that the squadron had no warm water to shave with. In return, Reisman gave the squadron cold water for a month. The training also showed some of the convicts’ true colors. Reisman picked a fight with Posey to try and make him angry, it worked. When Jiminez couldn’t make it up the rope ladder, Reisman took a machine gun and shot at the rope. Jiminez made it to the top in several seconds. When Reisman finally thought they were ready, he entered the squadron into a round of war games against his rival, Colonel Everett Dasher Reed. “The Dirty Dozen”, as they had been nicknamed won it in an intense game of cat and mouse, deception, and the ability to gain trust from Reed. When the troops returned to training, they memorized the mission plans and they were all assigned tasks that they had to fulfill. The squadron had become a tight unit and they had all overcome a general disliking for Reisman that had been there at the beginning of the training.

Germany, 1944. The squadron flew in an army helicopter into Nazi Germany. On the way over, Reisman had them recite the game plan in the form of a rhyme that he had made up. The squadron, where before they had acted fearless, was showing signs of fear and weakness. Once they were above the forest surrounding the chateau, one by one the squadron parachuted down. Jiminez was caught in a tree and the strings on his parachute strangled him to death. The squadron continued to the chateau. Sawyer and Gilpin killed the Nazi guards at the gates and took their uniforms. Sergeant Bowren stayed at the gates and gained control of the cars going in and out of the chateau. Once they got to the chateau, Reisman and Wladislaw threw a rope to the top of the building and started scaling the chateau. A few guards at the door spotted Bravo and shot him. Bravo shot back at the guards and hit them, but then died. Meanwhile, Pinkley killed the chauffeur of one of the Nazi’s car. Pinkley put on the uniform and posed as the driver. Sawyer and Gilpin took the positions where the guards once stood. Reisman and Wladislaw made it to the top of the building and posed as Nazi generals. Outside the chateau, the squadron laid explosives around the perimeter. Pinkley kept a watch out for any real guards that might come out. Then, the remaining squadron (except for Pinkley) scaled the chateau, as Reisman and Wladislaw had. Reisman let the squadron into the chateau through a window and Maggot and Jefferson started searching the other rooms. Maggot found someone, a young Arian woman who Maggot deemed to be sent from Satan to tempt man. Maggot tried to stab her, and the woman screamed. The scream was heard throughout the chateau. Reisman and Wladislaw, who were fitting in with the other generals, knew this was the correct time to get ready. At this point, one of the explosions went off at the top of the chateau. Inside the chateau, all the Nazi officers fled to the bomb shelters. Outside the chateau, Pinkley was caught and shot down by an officer. Reisman and Wladislaw went with the other officers to the bomb shelters, but kept towards the back of the line. Then, the two shot some of the officers and locked the Nazis in the bomb shelter. The two ran out of the chateau to be with the squadron, along with the other remaining squadron members in the chateau (except Maggot). Jefferson poured lighter fluid into the air vents in the bomb shelters. Some of the Nazi troops who were not in the shelter came out of the chateau and shot down all of the men except Reisman, Wladislaw, Franko, Jefferson, Gilpin, and Bowren. Jefferson threw grenades down the air vents, one by one. However, when he got to the last one, he was shot. Then, Gilpen was shot as well. The last four got into a vehicle and drove away. The chateau went up in an explosion. Franko celebrated by screaming at the Nazis as they drove away. But then Franko was shot by a few Nazis tracking them and he fell out of the vehicle. Sadly but with haste, Reisman, Wladislaw, and Bowren drove away to where the helicopter landed. They flew away. The mission was a success, but they lost 11 of the 12 convicts.

Wladislaw vowed never to fight again. Reisman retired. Bowren went back to work at the prison. Over the months of training, the squadron became a strong unit. They were a team until they died and together they pulled off a very successful mission.

What the press would say:

"“The Dirty Dozen”, a remake of the 1967 film of the same title, is a smash hit! Directed by Clint Eastwood, this is the story of a squadron of 12 convicts led by their general into a suicide mission in Nazi Germany. The film is one part a war story, one part an ensemble piece, and one part drama (not to mention a little bit of comedy). Harrison Ford is General John Reisman, the leader of the squadron. Ford’s work here is superior. He plays Reisman as a tough as nails leader, but also with compassion to his troops. The scene that comes to mind most of Harrison’s performance is between him and Adam Beach, who plays Samson Posey. Posey comes off as a quiet and innocent man. Reisman tests this by shoving Posey around telling him what a weak man he is and how he amounts to nothing. Reisman doesn’t mean it, he is just trying to incite the anger in Posey and it works; Posey pulls out a knife on Reisman. Ford’s performance has received raves at Toronto and Venice. His performance is very strong and should be considered as a serious contender this year. The other standout in the cast is Mark Wahlberg as Victor Franko. Franko is a rebel. He fights the power and thinks everyone is out to get him. Wahlberg plays this perfectly. Wahlberg plays Franko’s transition from rebel to soldier brilliantly. Wahlberg’s performance is also drawing raves, and he has won several Best Supporting Actor precursors from the Boston Society of Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and also the National Board of Review. Wahlberg channels Franko’s anger superbly. There is a specific scene that I am thinking of that best showcases Wahlberg. Franko is trying to sneak out of the training camp and two of his squadron members catch him and throw him some punches. Franko yells at them saying “They're trying to get rid of us by killing us in Germany, that's what they want! That's what they want!” This truly showcases Wahlberg’s performance. A brilliant screenplay adapted by Paul Haggis and the author of the original novel is also sharp. Filled with strong dialogue, excellent mission sequences, and some truly funny dialogue at time, this is a very strong drama. Eastwood has captured the emotions of the convicts, and he is also sure to be rewarded this year. Filled with a great screenplay, superb acting, and fine direction, “The Dirty Dozen” is poised to be one of the best films of the year.

Nominations

Best Picture- Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz
Best Director- Clint Eastwood
Best Actor- Harrison Ford
Best Supporting Actor- Mark Wahlberg
Best Adapted Screenplay- Paul Haggis and E.M. Nathanson
Best Film Editing- Joel Cox
Best Cinematography- Emmanuel Lubezki
Best Original Score- John Williams
Best Sound Editing- Steven Rosenblum
Best Sound Mixing- Kevin O’Connell and Greg P. Russell

DragonTown

Author(s): James Somerton
Location: NS, Canada

“DragonTown"

Directed by Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Written by Hayao Miyazaki and Haruka Handa
Music by Joe Hisaishi

Principal Cast:

Sonny Chiba as Boss Tasaka
Chiaki Kuriyama as Sen
Rinko Kikuchi as Atani
Yuki Matsuzaki as Takumi
Takehito Koyasu as Fongotsu

Tagline: "The Darkest Evil Is Purer Than The Greatest Good Deed"

Language: Japanese

Synopsis: Tokyo has fallen into a depression. The politicians arecorrupt and are taking the population for everything they're worth. The bosses of the underground are planning a revolt but one, Boss Tasaka, is going onestep further. He is using an ancient spell to bring back a force of pureevil to destroy everything that is impure.

Hundreds of miles away in the small village of Hykoto a teenaged boy, named Takumi, wakes up from a terrible nightmare. He tells his younger sister, Sen, about the terrible fires rising up in Tokyo and the war brewing there that will soon expand into their peaceful countryside. Takumi sets out for Tokyo, leaving his younger sister behind to watch over the farm but she isn't safe for long as nightmares invade her sleep.

When Takumi arrives in Tokyo he is witnesses the destruction of a once great temple by a fleet of tanks. With the help of a girl named Atani, who looks like she could be his twin, Takumi fights his way to the top of DragonTown Hall where he comes face to face with Boss Tasaka.

Boss Tasaka calls forth his demon purity known as Fongotsu and the battle is nearly lost right away. Takumi is near dead when the nightmares plaguing his younger sister arrive in Tokyo to protect him. A battle of biblical proportions takes place atop DragonTown Hall and the outcome will decide the fate of both Japan and the world.

What the press would say:

Hayao Miyazaki has brought us another brilliant animated masterpiece. "DragonTown" shows us that even the best intentions can become corrupted. A battle between evil and... evil is shown here as demonic creatures fight to destroy each other just so the other can have control. Takumi and his sister are really the only good people in this movie, as even Takumi's partner Atani is in it for herself. A brilliant voice cast lead by Sonny Chiba and Yuki Matsuzaki bring this epic to life. The astonishing visuals could arrest the most jaded of moviegoers. Computer animation is blended seamlessly with traditional animation, the countryside being more heavily traditional and Tokyo being more computer-generated; subtly showing us the difference in the two worlds. The story is modern and ancient at the same, taking the modern world and mixing it with problems as old as time; namely the corruption of power. This is a work of conscience hidden behind layers of amazing animation. One of Miyazaki's best!

Best Animated Picture
Best Foreign Film
Best Sound
Best Original Screenplay

A Dream Away from Death

Author(s): Bryce Marrero
Location: Los Angeles

"A Dream Away from Death"


Directed By: Cameron Crowe
Written By: Cameron Crowe
Produced By: Cameron Crowe, Ian Bryce, and Lindsay Doran

Principal Cast:

Amanda Bynes as Meg Donner
Stephen Colbert as The Guardian Angel
Dennis Quaid as Steven Donner
Jamie Lee Curtis as Sheryl Donner
Michael Caine as Bob Charker
Kyle Sullivan as Mike Black
Alan Rickman as Detective Carl
Tom Welling as Tim Boyle

Genre: Comedy

Tagline: "She dreams about her death, and she doesn't care"

Synopsis: Meg Donner lives a very boring life. She lives with her boring parents, Steven and Sheryl Donner, and She dates her boring boyfriend Tim Boyle, in a boring suburban town. But one dream will change all that. One night, in her dream, her guardian angel appears, and tells her that she will die soon. Meg wakes up with a choice. She could live her last days in her boring life, or adventure and do the things she always wanted to do. She decides to leave suburbia, taking some of her dad's money, and getting on a taxi with wise taxi driver Bob Charker. With a bit of guidance from the elderly taxi driver, they visit all sorts of locations, doing everything Meg has always wanted to do. However, every night, in her dreams, her guardian angel gives her a hint on how she will die. Meg tries to not do what the hint may have suggested, in an attempt to try and avoid her death. During her adventure she meets Mike Black, a weird kid her age, who she falls for, and joins her, in her journey. Meanwhile, Meg's parents are worried sick. They hire Detective Carl to find their daughter, and bring her home. After a close call of being caught by the detective, Bob advises her to go back home. However, after her guardian angel tells her she only has one more day to live, she must make another decision. She must choose whether to spend her last day with her family, or reach her final destination, and do the thing she has always wanted to do her entire life. Cliff Diving.

What the press would say:

I have a dream, that one day a comedy that is not only hilarious, but also meaningful would be made. That dream has come true. A Dream Away From Death, is the best movie of the year. The movie is about Meg, played by Amanda Bynes, having a dream in which her guardian angel, played by Stephen Colbert, warns her of a soon to come death. Meg decides to adventure, and do all the things she has always wanted to do before she dies. Cameron Crowe directs the film in such a way, that he makes us fall in love with these characters. With great dialogue, and a great story, this is definitely Cameron Crowe's best script. Meg is Amanda Bynes' dream role. Her best acting yet, and this shows that she can be a definite contender for an academy award in her future. Michael Caine is brilliant, as usual, but the show stealer is none other than the hilarious Stephen Colbert. The dream scenes become the highlights of the movie, as we get to see the guardian angel do hilarious things to give Meg a hint on how she will die. Stephen steals all the scenes he is in, and his performance is worth the ticket price alone. I had a blast looking at this light-hearted hysterical comedy, and know others will too. I rank this movie among the best of this year.

Best Picture
Best Director- Cameron Crowe
Best Actress- Amanda Bynes
Best Supporting Actor- Stephen Colbert
Best Supporting Actor- Michael Caine
Best Supporting Actor- Dennis Quaid
Best Supporting Actress- Jamie Lee Curtis
Best Original Screenplay- Cameron Crowe
Best Editing- Hughes Winborne

Falling Angels

Author(s): Juan
Location: Mexico

"Falling Angels"

Directed by: Sofia Coppola
Screenplay by: Robin Swicord & Sofia Coppola
Music by: Rachel Portman
Cinematography by: Emmanuel Lubezki

Principal Cast:

Emma Thompson-Kitty Coleman
Emmy Rossum- Maude Coleman
Jena Malone- Lavinia “Livy” Waterhouse
Paul Dano- Simon Field
Miranda Richardson-Gertrude Coleman
Hugh Grant-John Jackson
Pierce Brosnan- Mr. Coleman
Maggie Smith- Edith Coleman

Tagline: "There’s something we always need to remember…the happy days"

Synopsis: An adaptation of the novel by Tracy Chevalier, “Falling Angels” tells us the story of three young friends whose lives were unexpectedly linked by a sincere friendship during an epoch of strong political and social changes in England

Maude Coleman is a smart girl with a sad lonely life; her mother is a though role model to follow because of her eccentric personality, these situation increases Maude’s sadness because she finds herself incapable of accomplishing the demanded expectations of the society she lives. When the Waterhouse move near her house her life changes completely; their oldest daughter, a sophisticated frivolous girl called Livy, surprisingly becomes her best friend. Both feel really attracted by the beauty of the angels that adorn the tombs in the local cemetery, that is why they visit it very often and make friends with the gravedigger’s son, a self-assured nice guy that joins their childish adventures and wakes unknown feelings for the girls.

Meanwhile, Kitty Coleman, Maude’s mother, tries really hard to escape from her boring lifestyle and her mother-in-law criticism, so she decides meeting Gertrude Waterhouse, who scandalizes about Kitty’s modern mentality and sadly realizes her life is totally mediocre. Kitty has an affair with John Jackson, the cemetery’s administrator; this romance brings consequences to the lives of the three friends because Simon discovers Mrs. Coleman’s secret and Livy seduces him to make him confess. Livy tries Mr. Coleman to know the truth about his wife, but she fails.

Maude witnesses her mother’s fight against traditional ideology and makes a big effort to understand her, but she only gets more confused and begins to see Livy as a social rival. After bringing some emotion to her life with her affair, Kitty decides joining the British Suffragette movement. Livy gets excited with Mrs. Coleman’s new adventure and convinces Maude of going with her to a chaotic meeting, where unfortunately her little sister dies.

Kitty consecrates totally to the Suffragette movement and stops caring about her family; she has finally found a relief to her boring lifestyle. Then, during another meeting organized by her, she has an accident and dies. After this, Maude spends all her time in consoling her father and planning her future as a College student with the support of her grandmother. In the other hand, the Waterhouse decide to move, separating Maude from her loved friend Livy, who is destined to become some rich man’s wife. Simon has to face his present and future as a gravedigger.

This is the story of three lives united by a pure feeling, that is always kept in our hearts, but that can die when we star to grow up.

What the press would say:

Why is a movie able to remain in our hearts? Because they are so powerful that can portray the essence of our feeling or just make us part of the life of someone we’d like to be. “Falling Angels” is destined to become one of those memorable films; its message of hope, friendship and beauty will touch the hearts of many people, make critics fall in love with it. After seeing this film you realize that hopes exist everywhere and it only requires an innocent heart to blossom.

The character of Maude is the center of the story, an innocent girl looking for love in the middle of a troubled society. This character is majestically played by Emmy Rossum, who is back in the spotlight after “The phantom of the opera”, this time she shows she doesn’t need to sing to impress, she totally nailed her character, and she captures the screen since the first moment. You can ignore such a performance; her look, gestures, walking and her well accomplished British accent make her work a career performance. She play a big spirit caged in a small person, she transmits that anxiousness of living but also a deep fear of growing up.

One curios thing about this film is that there are two powerful leading actresses. Emma Thompson plays Kitty, Maude’s mom, but she looks totally separated from her daughter; she is selfish and spend her entire life trying to escape from her boring life, she is the kind of women that are ahead to their time, she was born to transcend but she has a big problem, she has to play an static social role: the perfect housewife. Emma Thompson is brilliant, this character is a real challenge for her and the result is amazing, you can not imagine someone can suffer a lot having a perfect life before seeing her performance. Emmy Rossum and Emma Thompson play mother and daughter, both are great and both deserve AMPAS attention.

Continuing with the great performances in this film, we have to talk about Jena Malone and Paul Dano. Two young actors that give sparkling performances. The character played by Malone might seem easy for any actress, but the magic of her performance lies in the authenticity, she is frivolous, glamorous, capricious and dramatic in an extraordinary way, no one before had played this kind of character as well as Malone did, now we only have to wait to see her in the AMPAS nominees list. Paul Dano plays an innocent friendly character, the kind of friend everyone would love to have, her performance is a mix of ignorance, fear and hope, the perfect one to complete the trio of friends. Paul Dano is more mature in this film; his talent is big and in this film Sofia Coppola knew hoe to used it to create an iconic performance.

Sofia Coppola has created a master piece, apparently a very simple story but that has a deep message and the power of changing feelings. This is the first time the characters melt in Coppola’s hands, they are deep and unique, they are real. The cast delivers big acting; Pierce Brosnan, Miranda Richardson, Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson are the icon of a talented generation, and the idea of seeing them acting with young actors is amazing. The screenplay adaptation is smart, touching and respectful to the novel. This film will change Sofia Coppola’s career in a tremendous way, the AMPAS will have a new darling.

AWARDS FOR CONSIDERATION:

Best Picture
Best Director: Sofia Coppola
Actress in a leading role: Emma Thompson
Actress in a leading role: Emmy Rossum
Supporting actress: Jena Malone
Supporting actress: Miranda Richardson
Supporting actor: Paul Dano
Adapted Screenplay
Original Score
Costume Design
Art Direction
Cinematography