 Baz Luhrmann sure knows how to bring the bombast to his take on The Great Gatsby, but in the end he’s just the latest filmmaker to fail in his attempt to bring the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald to life. Luhrmann, along with co-writer Craig Pearce, relishes in trying to both bring the period setting to the screen in glorious 3D and giving it a vibrant modern feel. Visually, they’re certainly successful, and much of what you see and hear is suitably garish and loud, but the screenplay just can’t deliver. The plot of the novel is there, but it doesn’t express nearly the same thing. Luhrmann isn’t at all interested in the decline of this particular American period of excess and often seems to be celebrating it instead. Luckily for him, he’s got a real good performance from Leonardo DiCaprio in his back pocket. I’m not as indifferent to this latest adaptation as some will be, but a Best Picture contender, this is not. It’s far too artificial and without an emotional center to be anything more. Read more on The Great Gatsby (**½)…
Categories: Film Reviews Tags: 2013 releases, Amitabh Bachchan, Baz Luhrmann, Carey Mulligan, Craig Pearce, Elizabeth Debicki, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Leonardo DiCaprio, The Great Gatsby, tobey maguire
With the New Year’s hangover slowly wearing off and few new stimulants entering circulation, there’s now ample time to catch up on the overload of awards-contending films, with the nationwide release of Zero Dark Thirty finally completing the best picture category. Expect the box-office to reflect some of the film’s early critical acclaim, especially since its competing new comers, like Gangster Squadand Quartetgarner only mild curiosity in comparison.
Read more on Weekend Openings: 1/11/2013…
Categories: Weekend Openings Tags: Billy Connolly, Chris Colfer, Chris Messina, Christina Hendricks, Dustin Hoffman, emma stone, Eva Longoria, Fairhaven, Gangster Squad, Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, kathryn bigelow, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Quartet, Rebel Wilson, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Zero Dark Thirty
 After debuting a set of new posters, Warner Bros. has released a new trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. Opening in May 2013, Luhrmann’s film stars potential Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio along with Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, and Isla Fisher.
The film was originally scheduled to come out on Christmas and then was pushed back abruptly by Warner Bros. last summer. Could this be a potential Oscar player for next season?
Check out the full trailer after the jump.
Read more on New Trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Great Gatsby’…
 Among the many successful elements of Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal’s new film ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, the thing I feel they should be most proud of is the fact that this movie lingers in your mind the way a good documentary does. Yes, there’s elements of action and thriller moments, but this is more than anything else a dramatization of real life. The press notes accurately speak of it as a unique kind of movie: “the reported film”. It’s got the relentlessness of a Hollywood manhunt, but the stakes of reality. Everything feels authentic here, and I think it’ll be rather hard to find people who aren’t having to catch their breath during the final half hour of this flick. We may all know the end result of this story, but Bigelow’s direction and Boal’s script fill in the blanks with aplomb. Read more on Zero Dark Thirty (***½)…
Categories: Film Reviews Tags: Chris Pratt, Edgar Ramirez, Frank Grillo, Harold Perrineau, James Gandolfini, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, kathryn bigelow, Kyle Chandler, Mark Boal, Mark Duplass, Mark Strong, Oscar hopeful, Scott Adkins, Zero Dark Thirty
 Now that I’ve seen the likes of ‘Argo’, ‘Lincoln’, and ‘The Sessions’, the film I’m most anticipating now is ‘Zero Dark Thirty’. The new film from Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal would have my interest no matter what the topic, but considering it’s a movie about the hunt for and eventual killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden…well that’s a great way to seal the deal. There’s a new Trailer out now that you can see after the jump and it continues to suggest a real strong flick while improving on the already solid last one. Time will tell about its awards hopes, but I certainly can’t wait to see it. Behold the Trailer below…
Read more on The hunt for Osama bin Laden continues in a new Trailer for ‘Zero Dark Thirty’!…
Categories: Trailer Tags: Chris Pratt, Edgar Ramirez, James Gandolfini, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, kathryn bigelow, Kyle Chandler, Mark Boal, Mark Duplass, Mark Strong, Oscar hopeful, Zero Dark Thirty
 Attempting to keep a pulse on the season has presented some challenges as of late for the 2013 Oscars and its predictions. It can be argued that we don’t have a front runner in any category despite some films having strong showings at festivals.
Best Picture has presented real challenges. Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln finally had its trailer début and all I could think about was War Horse (2011). The film didn’t scream high quality and I still believe Spielberg and the film aren’t rewarded unless it stands next to Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Schindler’s List (1993). The film doesn’t look to be of that caliber. I’ve dropped Spielberg from the Directing predictions for now until some praising reviews come. A “secret” screening in New Jersey suggested that the film is good, not great.
Because this year has looked like a question mark thus far, I’ve been saying to some of my colleagues, we could be in store for something unprecedented. This would be something like Michael Haneke’s Amour winning Best Picture, becoming the first foreign language film ever or Silver Linings Playbook, first dramedy to win the top award since Shakespeare in Love (1998). I’m not ready to go there yet though. I don’t know how the Academy will respond to Amour, a film all too real in this stage of their average 62-year aged life. Perhaps Oscar will listen to the critics for the first time in a while. This could work well for something like Ben Affleck’s Argo or Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, two films that could be critics’ darlings throughout the season. What if our Best Picture winner has already been released?
Read more on Oscar Circuit: “If I Had a Magic Lamp…”…
Categories: Article, Editor, Oscar Circuit Tags: Amour, ang lee, Anthony Hopkins, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Ben Affleck, Cinema of the United States, David O. Russell, Denzel Washington, Editor, Entertainment/Culture, Film, Gus Van Sant, Helen Mirren, Hitler, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, john krasinski, Jude Law, kathryn bigelow, Leonardo DiCaprio, Les Miserables, Lincoln, Mark Boal, Matt Damon, Michael Haneke, Nick Nolte, Oscar, Oscar Circuit, Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Zemeckis, Sacha Gervasi, Stephen Chbosky, the 2013 Oscars, The Master, Tom Hooper
My own behind-the-scenes experience with the cast and director of The Odd Life of Timothy Green: Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, CJ Adams, and Peter Hedges.
Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the press junket for Disney’s The Odd Life of Timothy Green. There, I was able to sit in on four very interesting roundtable sessions, where each contributor to the film provided their own unique take, not just on their own roles but also the themes and messages that sprout from the story. It’s rare that you get to speak with four incredible talents in Hollywood who are as talented as they are pleasant to converse with. In particular, Peter Hedges really blew my socks off with his passion and emotion. Whatever your thoughts are on The Odd Life of Timothy Green, it’s impossible to deny that its director is genuine, sincere and heartfelt upon meeting him. I don’t believe I’ve ever witnessed a director so affectionately wrapped up in the work they’ve helped create, making Peter Hedges a rare gift in Hollywood when it comes to finding a director who gives every fiber of their being to a project. I’ll speak more about Peter Hedges and the roundtable session myself and other members of the press partook with him a bit later, but right now I’ll begin the roundtable coverage in sequential order, starting with Joel Edgerton who plays Jim Green… Read more on ‘The Odd Life of Timothy Green’ Press Day Roundtables…
At The Odd Life of Timothy Green press junket, I was fortunate enough to get a chance to conduct a one-on-one interview with the film’s titular star, the very talented and awesome CJ Adams. Below, you will find the transcription of this interview, and let me tell you, it was an absolute joy to interview CJ Adams. He already behaves like an experienced interviewee, but is still a lovable kid at heart who answers each question with total honesty. He even colors his responses with wit and humor. Just like in the movie, it’s hard not to find CJ Adams the coolest, most amazing kid you’re ever likely to meet. He’s got a great career ahead of him if he continues his path of acting. Check out what “Timothy Green” himself has to say to The Awards Circuit: Read more on Interview with “The Odd Life of Timothy Green’s” CJ Adams…
 I freely admit that I went into ‘The Odd Life of Timothy Green’ with absolutely no expectations. Aside from a reminder on my calendar to attend the press screening a week or so ago, I barely was even aware of its existence. Silly me though, as this was one of the better films I’ve seen this year. It’s funny, moving, and the rare combination of both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Filmmaker Peter Hedges drew tears from me during a few moments, and that’s not something that happens too often. From the writing (by Hedges and Ahmet Zappa) and directing (Hedges, of course) all the way to the acting from the entire ensemble (notably the likes of Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Garner, and especially young CJ Adams), everything is better than you’d expect. I’m not sure if enough people are aware of this film, but it’s my hope that this review can get some folks excited for the flick, as it hits theaters on Wednesday and is well worth your time. It’s more than just a kids movie…it’s just a plain great one for people of all ages, especially whole families. Yes, this is a message movie (and another film this year to deal with magic realism, though not one on the level of ‘Ruby Sparks’, though that’s hardly this film’s fault), but it’s a good message and never preachy while always remaining very entertaining. August typically isn’t the greatest month for cinema, but this is a gem of a late summer release. I highly recommend it!
Read more on The Odd Life of Timothy Green (***½)…
 Disney’s The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a film full of wonderful, poignant moments that remind us of the importance of family and self-acceptance, but it seldom carries much of a story or the expected element of fantasy. It’s the rare movie that hits you hard with crucial messages that parents may need to absorb more than their children, although these “pearls of wisdom” contained within The Odd Life of Timothy Green may linger on in your mind more than the film’s somewhat thin plot and slightly askew screenplay. There are lines from the script that surprise you by their originality and quotability, but often times I felt as though director/writer Peter Hedges may have been pushing us faster to the end of Timothy’s journey more than he perhaps intended to. While my feelings toward the actual film went back and forth in my mind as I pondered what score to give it, I ultimately had to settle on one substantial component: The Odd Life of Timothy Green is the first film of 2012 to make me tear up, lump in throat included. Now that’s something magical. Read more on The Odd Life of Timothy Green (***)…
Categories: Film Reviews Tags: CJ Adams, Common, David Morse, Dianne Wiest, Disney, Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, John Toll, Peter Hedges, Ron Livingston, Rosemarie DeWitt, The Odd Life of Timothy Green
 Big news has dropped today folks. Early on in the year ‘The Great Gatsby’ was thought by just about everyone to be gunning for a whole lot of Oscar love, and it still might, but it’ll have to wait a year. Yes, The Hollywood Reporter writes here that Warner Brothers has moved the 3D film to the summer of 2013 and out of a coveted Christmas Day slot. I don’t think any of us saw this coming, and it definitely shakes up the race a great deal, as you can take the film, Baz Luhrmann’s direction (plus the adapted screenplay he co-wrote), and the performances of Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, and Isla Fisher out of the equation, not to mention the below the line possibilities. Perhaps this is a sign that Warner is extra confident in the likes of ‘Argo’, ‘Cloud Atlas’, and ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’? After the jump I’ll share with you WB’s reasoning, but it’s time to update those Oscar predictions and take Gatsby off of them. Read on for more below about this very surprising development…
Read more on Warner Brothers pushes ‘The Great Gatsby’ to 2013!…
 Buried in my email inbox today was Disney sending me a link to the Trailer for their upcoming film ‘The Odd Life of Timothy Green’. Never one to be greedy, I’m here to share it with you all now, and after the jump you can take a look at the Trailer in all of its glory. The flick has a strong cast that includes Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, David Morse, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston, and Dianne Weist and the premise is, well…odd. I’m honestly not expecting too much from it, but I don’t think it looks bad at all. Take a gander below and decide for yourself…
Read more on “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” gets a Trailer!…
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Written by: Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Amitabh Bachchan, Joel Edgerton, Elizabeth Debicki, Jason Clarke, Brendan Maclean, Callan McAuliffe
Synopsis: Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby’s circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy. (Provided by IMDB.com)
F. Scott Fitzgerald had his novel “The Great Gatsby” published in 1925. He began writing it two years earlier and in his wildest dreams could not imagine, the effect the book would have not only on the literary world but its many attempts at translating it to the world of cinema.
Read more on Awards Profile: The Great Gatsby…
Categories: Award Profile, Editor Tags: Awards Profile, Baz Luhrmann, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Joel Edgerton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar hopeful, The Great Gatsby, tobey maguire, warner bros
 Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Writer: Mark Boal
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong, Chris Pratt, Kyle Chandler, Edgar Ramirez, Jennifer Ehle
Synopsis: The Navy Seal Team 6 track down wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden. (Provided by IMDB.com)
Read more on Awards Profile: Zero Dark Thirty…
Categories: Award Profile Tags: Chris Pratt, Edgar Ramirez, Jennifer Ehle, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, kathryn bigelow, Kyle Chandler, Mark Boal, Mark Strong, Osama Bin Laden, President Barack Obama, Zero Dark Thirty
 For Your Consideration – Best Lead Actor – Joel Edgerton
Film: Warrior
Director: Gavin O’Connor
Screenplay: Gavin O’Connor, Cliff Dorfman and Anthony Tambakis
Realistic Nominations: Best Supporting Actor – Nick Nolte
Oscar Scene: “I’m sorry, Tommy…I’m sorry…tap, Tommy…it’s okay…it’s okay…I love you, I love you, Tommy!”
Warrior is an endearingly predictable and sentimental sports drama with big lunges of emotion that end up being more powerful than they have any “right” to be. This success can be primarily attributed to the film’s two stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, who articulate the Bitter Introvert With A Dark Past and the Everyman Thrust Back Into One Last Fight, respectively, much better than its screenplay ever does. Many critics have (not unjustifiably) heaped praise on Hardy, but sadly, Edgerton’s work has been relatively ignored. That’s unfortunate; for my money he was actually the film’s MVP. Read more on Circuit Consideration: Joel Edgerton in Warrior…
 A serviceable prequel to the John Carpenter film of the same name, ‘The Thing’ works best when it resists the urge to fall into being more of a remake than a prequel. When it’s getting into the origins of the creature that terrorized Kurt Russell and company, it’s a decent yet unremarkable sci-fi/horror flick. It’s the middle of the movie, when you’d be forgiven for not realizing it wasn’t a remake…that’s when things go a little off the tracks. Nothing in this film is particularly great, but nothing is terrible either. It just could have stood to have been a little more consistent. Director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. mixes in practical and CGI effects well enough, but doesn’t do much to elevate the terror beyond some “boo” moments. Credit goes to Mary Elizabeth Winstead for being a strong female action hero of sorts, but her character isn’t exactly given much to do either. Every element of this movie is decent, but lacking in some small way.
Read more on The Thing (**½)…
I’m going to have very conflicted feelings about this significant weekend, readers…but that’s for another time. Right now, let’s take a look at the new theatrical releases looking to finally topple The Help from its long reign at the box office:
 The most likely usurper will be Steven Soderbergh’s bio-thriller Contagion, about the emergence of an airborne virus that spreads panic around the world faster than the disease itself. The film has a number of advantages this weekend: it’s opening on more screens – by far – than any other new release, it’s headlined by an all-star cast and has enjoyed an effective (if annoyingly spoilerific) marketing campaign. Reviews have been a bit south of what Soderbergh usually enjoys with his higher-profile projects but still solid enough for financial success. Most critics agree that the film is scary and smart but some complain that the film leaves a somewhat cold impression. Contagion pretty much has the opening weekend in the bag, with a likely $18-23 million take, but its awards prospects are less certain. It didn’t get the raves that a true contender usually has to garner, and its criticized lack of emotional stakes might cause Academy voters to admire this film more than love it. Best Original Screenplay is certainly in the cards, and thrillers with multiple plotlines tend to do very well in the Editing race. No single actor is getting majority “best-in-show” notices as far as I can tell, so vote splitting will probably dash any hopes for acting nods. Read more on Weekend Openings (September 9-11)…
Categories: Weekend Openings Tags: Contagion, Gavin O'Connor, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joel Edgerton, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Nick Nolte, Oscar bait, Oscar hopefuls, paranoia, pornography, Steven Soderbergh, Tom Hardy, Warrior, Weekend Openings
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