Tuesday, July 26, 2011

TIFF

So - I've been working on a longer post (for... ummm... months now. It keeps becoming more and more unmanageable). So... in my dearth of posting, I bring you: TIFF 2011. *sigh* One day I will go to there....

Gala Presentation
From the Sky Down (Davis Guggenheim, USA)

Galas - I'm excited about almost all of these.
Albert Nobbs (Rodrigo Garcia, Ireland)
Butter (Jim Field Smith, USA)
A Dangerous Method (David Cronenberg, France/Ireland/UK/Germany/Canada) [CANNOT WAIT.]
A Happy Event (Rémi Bezancon, France) [I have never heard of this.]
The Ides of March (George Clooney, USA) [Maybe? Can't wait to hear reviews for this.]
The Lady (Luc Besson, France/UK)
Moneyball (Bennett Miller, USA) [CANNOT WAIT.]
Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding (Bruce Beresford, USA) [Um.... what?]
Take this Waltz (Sarah Polley, Canada)
W.E. (Madonna, UK)

Special Presentations
11 Flowers (Wang Xiaoshuai, China/France)
50/50 (Jonathan Levine, USA) [Yay!]
360 (Fernando Meirelles, UK/Austria/France/Brazil)
The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius, France) [Already has good buzz]
Americano (Mathieu Demy, France)
Anonymous (Roland Emmerich, Germany) Ugh. Just... ugh.
A Better Life (Cédric Khan, France) Well, this is confusing, since Chris Weitz has a movie with the same title out at the moment....
Burning Man (Jonathan Teplitzky, Australia)
Chicken with Plums (Marjane Satrapi & Vincent Paronnaud, France/Germany/Belgium)
Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes, UK) [Already has good buzz]
Countdown (Huh Jong-ho, Korea)
Dark Horse (Todd Solondz, USA)
The Deep Blue Sea (Terence Davies, UK) This looks interesting...
The Descendants (Alexander Payne, USA)
Drive (Nicolas Winding Refn, USA) [Good buzz, CANNOT WAIT.]
Elles (Malgoska Szumowska, France/Poland/Germany)
Eye of the Storm (Fred Schepisi, Australia)
Friends with Kids (Jennifer Westfeldt, USA)
Habemus Papam (Nanni Moretti, Italy/France)
Headhunters (Morten Tyldum Norway)
Hick (Derick Martini, USA)
The Hunter (Daniel Nettheim, Australia) Awww.... Tasmanian tigers. :(
Jeff, Who Lives at Home (Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass, USA)
Killer Joe (William Friedkin, USA)
Like Crazy (Drake Doremus, USA) [Good buzz]
Machine Gun Preacher (Marc Forster, USA)
Martha Marcy May Marlene (Sean Durkin, USA) [Good buzz]
Melancholia (Lars von Trier, Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany) [Good buzz]
The Oranges (Julian Farino, USA)
Pearl Jam Twenty (Cameron Crowe, USA)
Rampart (Oren Moverman, USA)
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (Lasse Hallstrom, UK)
Shame (Steve McQueen, UK) CANNOT WAIT.
A Simple Life (Ann Hui, HK/China)
The Skin I Live In (Pedro Almodóvar, Spain)
Take Shelter (Jeff Nichols, USA) [Good buzz]
Ten Year (Jamie Linden, USA)
Trishna (Michael Winterbottom, UK)
Twixt (Francis Ford Coppola, USA) Seriously - what the hell is this?!?
Tyrannosaur (Paddy Considine, UK) Good buzz.
We Need to Talk About Kevin (Lynne Ramsay, UK) Mixed buzz.
Where Do We Go Now? (Nadine Labaki, France/Lebanon/Italy/Egypt)
Woman in the Fifth (Pawel Pawlikowski, France/Poland/United Kingdom)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Emmy noms!

Awww... Love the Emmys. I don't care enough to really, REALLY get invested in them, but they come right at the perfect lull between movie awards seasons.

So... the nominations. With commentary. Because I kibbitz. It's what I do.

Best drama series: Boardwalk Empire, Friday Night Lights, Dexter, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, Mad Men.

I didn't love The Walking Dead as much as I thought I would, but I wish it were up here. And I suppose I need to see Boardwalk Empire. Also, it should be an interesting year since Breaking Bad is ineligible till next year.

In conclusion: Dexter! Dexter!

Best comedy series: Modern Family, 30 Rock, Glee, The Office, The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation.

Community community community. COMMUNITY. Also: Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

Drama actress: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU; Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law; Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights and Mireille Enos, The Killing.

Comedy actor: Steve Carell, The Office; Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory; Matt LeBlanc, Episodes, Louis C.K., Louie; Johnny Galecki, Big Bang Theory.

Joel McHale. I will say, though, that I'm kinda happy about Matt LeBlanc's inclusion.

Drama actor: Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Hugh Laurie, House; Timothy Olyphant, Justified.

Huzzah! Timothy Olyphant!! Also: Michael C. Hall. I know a lot of people weren't fans of the last season, but I loved it.

And I'm happy Chris Meloni is moving on to other endeavors, since he never got the recognition Mariska did.

Comedy actress: Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation; Laura Linney, The Big C; Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope; Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly.

Yay Martha Plimpton! (Is Raising Hope supposed to be any good?)

Supporting drama actor: Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age; John Slattery, Mad Men; Alan Cumming, The Good Wife; Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones; Josh Charles, The Good Wife; Walton Goggins, Justified.

I'm still a little sad that Ryan Kwanten didn't win for S2 of True Blood. But, happy to see Peter Dinklage and Walton Goggins on here. Plus, I love Alan Cumming, and Josh Charles can do no wrong (although I really don't need to add one more tv show to my 'to be watched category' - stop it, Good Wife!), so.... pretty strong category. I'm going to root for Walton Goggins, though. (I tried to watch Game of Thrones for Peter Dinklage, but.... I just couldn't get into it...)

Supporting comedy actor: Ty Burrell, Modern Family; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family; Ed O’Neill, Modern Family; Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family; Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men; Chris Colfer, Glee.

Danny Pudi and Neil Patrick Harris. Just... stop with the Modern Family thing.

Supporting comedy actress: Julie Bowen, Modern Family; Sofia Vergara, Modern Family; Jane Lynch, Glee; Betty White, Hot in Cleveland; Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live; Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock.

Really? Betty White over Lea Michele? Really?

Supporting drama actress: Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife; Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire; Christine Baranski, The Good Wife; Michelle Forbes, The Killing; Margo Martindale, Justified; Christina Hendricks, Mad Men.

Movie or miniseries: Mildred Pierce, HBO; Downtown Abbey, PBS; The Kennedys, ReelzChannel; Cinema Verite, HBO; Too Big To Fail, HBO; Pillars of the Earth, Starz.

The Kennedys? Really?

Reality competition: So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef, The Amazing Race, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway.

Reality host: Jeff Probst, Survivor; Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance; Phil Keoghan, Amazing Race; Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars; Ryan Seacrest, American Idol.

Variety, music or comedy series: The Colbert Report, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live, Conan, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.


You know, I don't watch it, but shouldn't somebody have gotten an acting nod for In Treatment? Also, I've heard from those that watch it, that the most deserving actor on the Killing is Stephen Holder. Then again, it took the Emmys a little while to come around on Aaron Paul.

Also also (from Vulture): "Con: And speaking of Oscars, the debacle that was this year's James Franco–led Academy Awards somehow got nine Emmy nominations, including one for Best Direction." That's so wrong.

I suppose I should go bump Mildred Pierce up my queue.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Golden Trailer Winners

First up, the category that was only unveiled on the day:
Best In Show
Winner:
Nominees:
Blue Valentine "Trailer 1", The Weinstein Company, Zealot Productions Inc
Inception "Control", Warner Bros., BLT:AV
The King's Speech, The Weinstein Company, AV Squad
Tree of Life, Fox Searchlight, Mark Woollen & Associates

Yup. I'd say that's about right. The Social Network was the best. Blue Valentine, Inception, and Tree of Life were all brilliant. King's Speech. Bah.

Best Action
Inception “Control”, Warner Bros., BLT:AV
Sucker Punch “Trailer”, Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures, Mojo
The Town “This Side”, Warner Bros., Wild Card
Unstoppable “Domestic Trailer”, 20th Century Fox, Ignition Creative

Inception wins it!

Best Animation/Family
Cars 2 “Spies Are Us”, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, mOcean
Gnomeo & Juliet, Walt Disney Studios, The Ant Farm
Hop “Battle For Easter”, 20th Century Fox, Cimarron Entertainment
Rango “Teaser”, Paramount Pictures, The Ant Farm

Rango wins it!

Best Comedy
Bad Teacher “Hot For Teacher”, Columbia, Seismic Productions
The Hangover Part II “Trailer #3”, Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures, BLT:AV
The Other Guys “Return to Glory”, Columbia, Seismic Productions
Paul “Trailer”, Universal/Working Title, Workshop Creative

The Other Guys Wins it! I'm happy with that - their teaser was really funny.

Best Documentary
Catfish, Universal Pictures, Mark Woollen & Associates
Life in a Day “Best Day Ever Trailer, Scott Free/National Geographic, Empire Design

Running America, Nehst, Mighty Pictures
The Tillman Story “Trailer 1”, The Weinstein Company/ A&E Indie Films, Zealot Productions Inc.

The Tillman Story wins it! Yay! Happy with all the wins so far!

Best Drama
127 Hours, Fox Searchlight/Pathe, Motive

Hereafter, “Connection”, Warner Bros., Wild Card
The King’s Speech, The Weinstein Company, AV Squad
The Social Network ,”Domestic Trailer #2”, Sony Pictures, Mark Woollen & Associates

The Social Network wins it!

Best Horror
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, “Whisper”, Miramax, Buddha Jones
The Last Exorcism, Lionsgate, Mojo

Let Me In, “More”, Overture/Hammer/Relativity Films, Buddha Jones
The Rite, “Proof”, New Line Cinema, Aspect Ratio

The Last Exorcism wins it! I... don't remember this one. Was it the priest who didn't believe nay more? Oh, yup. That got mostly good reviews.

Best Independent Trailer
It’s Kind of a Funny Story, Focus Features, Big Science Film, Inc
Martha Marcy May Marlene, “Can’t Wait”, Fox Searchlight, Acme Trailer Company
Tree of Life, Fox Searchlight, Mark Woollen & Associates
Winter’s Bone, Roadside Attractions, AV Squad

Tree of Life wins it! Still happy!

Best Music
Battle: Los Angeles, “Prepare”, Columbia/Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Card
Rabbit Hole, “Trailer 1A”, Lionsgate, Ignition
The Social Network, “Trailer 2”, Sony Pictures, Mark Woollen & Associates
Sucker Punch, “Trailer”, Warner Bros., Mojo

Social Network wins it!

Best Romance
Beginners, Focus Features, Mark Woollen & Associates
Blue Valentine, “Trailer 1”, The Weinstein Company, Zealot Productions Inc
Love and Other Drugs, “Match Trailer”, 20th Century Fox, Empire Design
Something Borrowed, “Best Things”, Alcon Entertainment/Warner Bros., Trailer Park

Blue Valentine wins it!

Best Thriller
Black Swan, Fox Searchlight, Mark Woollen & Associates
Buried, “Trailer 1A”, Lionsgate, Ignition
Super 8, Paramount Pictures, Mark Woollen & Associates

Unknown, “Puzzle”, Warner Bros., AV Squad

Black Swan wins it!

The Don LaFontaine Award for Best Voice Over
Biutiful, “Intl Trailer”, Focus Features International, Mark Woollen & Associates
Born To Be Wild, “Evolution”, Warner Bros. Pictures, Mob Scene Creative + Productions
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc Sec, “UK Trailer”, Optimum Releasing, The Editpool
Tangled, “Flynn’s Story”, Walt Disney Studios, mOcean

Awww.... Born to be Wild. My first loss. JUST BECAUSE IT IS MORGAN FREEMAN DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THAT ONE.

Golden Fleece
Burlesque, “Make A Star”, Screen Gems, Seismic Productions
Faster, “Int’l Trailer B”, Sony Pictures Releasing, Tao Creative
Stone, “Trailer”, Overture Films, In Sync Advertising
The Tourist, “Domestic Trailer”, Columbia, Create Advertising Group

Burlesque "wins" it! Huzzah!

Most Original Trailer
Battle: Los Angeles, “Prepare”, Columbia/Fox Searchlight, Wild Card
Buried, “Trailer 1A”, Lionsgate, Ignition
The Social Network, “Domestic Trailer #2”, Sony Pictures, Mark Woollen & Associates
Tree of Life, Fox Searchlight, Mark Woollen & Associates

Ah - another upset. The Social Network gets it. I'm okay with that.

Summer 2011 Blockbuster Trailer
Cowboys & Aliens, “Domestic Trailer”, Universal Pictures/Paramount Pictures, Ignition Creative
Pirates of the Caribbean 4, “Jack”, Walt Disney Pictures, Create Advertising Group
Super 8, Paramount Pictures, Mark Woollen & Associates
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, “Alien Secret”, Paramount Pictures, Wild Card

Transformers? Are you fucking kidding me?

Trashiest Trailer
F, “UK Trailer”, Optimum Releasing, The Editpool
Hobo With A Shotgun, “Red Band”, Magnet, AV Squad
Machete, “Machete Int’l Trailer B”, Sony Pictures Releasing Int’l, Tao Creative
Piranha 3D, “Waiting”, Dimension Films, Buddha Jones

Hobo with a Shotgun wins it!

Best Foreign Action Trailer
22 Bullets, “German Trailer”, Europa Corp/Central Film/Wild Bunch, Trailerhaus
Carlos, “German Trailer”, Warner Bros. Pictures, Trailerhaus
Centurion, Magnolia Pictures, Kinetic Trailers
Valhalla Rising, “Theatrical Trailer”, IFC Films, Kinetic Trailers

Centurion wins it! Surprisingly! I'm... okay with that.

Best Foreign Comedy Trailer
Potiche, “Trailer 1”, Music Box Films, Zealot Productions Inc
Soul Kitchen, “Soul Kitchen”, IFC Films, Big Science Film, Inc
Submarine, “Trailer 1”, The Weinstein Company, Zealot Productions Inc
Wild Target, Vue Entertainment/Free Style Releasing, Create Advertising Group

Wild Target wins it. Is that the Emily Blunt/ Bill Nighy one? Yes, yes it is. I'm okay with that - I like that trailer. I heard, sadly, that the film is not as good.

Best Foreign Drama Trailer
Empire of Silver, Neo Classics Films, Big Science Film, Inc.
The King’s Speech, “Trailer 1”, Momentum Pictures, Zealot Productions Inc
Life, Above All, “Theatrical Trailer”, Sony Pictures Classics, Kinetic Trailers
Oranges and Sunshine, “Trailer 1”, Icon Films, Zealot Productions Inc

BLECH.

Best Foreign Horror/Thriller Trailer
F, “UK Trailer”, Optimum Releasing, The Editpool
I Saw the Devil, “Red Band”, Magnet, AV Squad
REC2, “Red Band”, Magnet, AV Squad
Silent House, “Theatrical Trailer”, IFC Films, Kinetic Trailers

REC2 - okay whatever.

Most Original Foreign Trailer
Drei, “Main Trailer”, X Verleih, Fleischmann Trailer
REC2, “Red Band”, Magnet, AV Squad
Rubber, “Greenband Trailer 1”, Magnolia Pictures, Zealot Productions Inc
Wasted on the Young, “Teaser”, Paramount, The Solid State

Rubber. You know, I really feel like it is more of an original concept to have a killer tire, than it is an original trailer.

So there you have it. I like most of the choices, and the Social Network gets some nice consolation comeuppance on the King's Speech. Well done, everybody.


On a completely unrelated topic, I finally got around to watching A Prophet and it is completely, totally, wildly brilliant and everyone should see it.