'London Boulevard' Is a Mess and Gets 1/2*

i happen to enjoy both keira knightley and colin farrell on screen. lately colin has been disappointing in his choices while keira has been growing as an actress in better fare. the question is how the hell have either of them gotten involved in this mess of a film. i can't even begin to imagine it read well on paper. ex con and reclusive actress battle the worlds of con men. the whole premise is nonsensical. i repeat this is a mess and best forgotten.

save your money and wait for keira in 'a dangerous method' later this month. 

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'J Edgar' Official Trailer Released

can this be leo's year? watch judi dench as there's a supporting nom nod there. coming nov. 9

'Twilight Breaking Dawn' Official Trailer Released

'Contagion' Opens Wide Today

Oscarbation: 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' Featurette

oscar bait coming nov.18

'Love Crime' and Kristin Scott Thomas

'love crime' opens in la and ny on september 9. no word yet on wide releases. but how lucky we are that the wonderful ms thomas has two films stateside this year. you must see 'sarah's key'. ms thomas is at home in french and english. as for me ms thomas can speak in any language and i am there.

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Kate

today's my birthday. i'm celebrating it here updating the films of kate winslet. indulge me.

with two films coming out this season it's time to review the films of kate winslet adding 'contagion' (9/9) and 'carnage' (12/16) to the tribute.

The Help' ***stars

it is wonderful that 'the help' has become a grand slam winner at the box office. it's a mainstream film that touches the heart while it is at the same time disturbing. but wait...the disturbing parts are infact the most touching. i think this movie could have been second rate though were it not for the brilliant performances of the lead women in it. viola davis, emma stone, octavia spencer, allison janney, sissy spacek and bryce dallas howard all shine.

pampered white southern women and their 'help'. i have often seen this subject matter treated in more cliched films over the years. here it is not so cliched. i don't think it's the 'last word' on the subject. it should not be the 'last word' but for now it is the best word so far.

viola davis and octavia spencer should get academy consideration come oscar time in best actress and supporting categories respectively. they get a nom from me. there are not many really good parts for black actresses on screen. these two actresses nabbed two of the best to date.

i think just about everyone has seen this film judging from the boffo box office it has done. if you have not i say put it on your list of things to do and see it before the fall/winter oscar hopefuls take over our collective movie going.

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*****

now why have i waited so long to see it? well i heard melissa harris-perry discuss it on 'the last word with lawrence o'donnell'. i so so respect ms harris-perry and hearing her 'review' i opted out of going to see it. but word of mouth spread and thus i had see it. also, good friends were urging me to see it. so using viola davis's probable oscar nom as an excuse i went.needless to say i am not sorry i did. but the words of ms harris-perry would not leave me throughout my viewing of it.

when i got home i had to re-watch her interview with mr o'donnell. now, i am not a black woman nor a black man. i'm a northern white gay man somehow transplanted to the south (what the hell was i thinking or smoking?). i do not stand in ms harris-perry's shoes nor the shoes of her ancestors. yet after seeing the film i have to ask: 'what am i missing here?'.

i have no answer to this.so in a way i bow to melissa's first hand knowledge. i am sharing her interview so you can hear her in her own words. you need to decide for yourself. in any case i continue to follow ms harris-perry and her thoughtfulness and hope msnbc graduates her from the 'best substitute teacher' around and gives her tenure as tulane university has done.

ms harris-perry in her own words:

i see strength in adversity in these women. and may i add that i also see the strength in emma stone's character as the white woman who dared to stand up and be counted as a woman of courage. i recommend this beautifully told story and it's wonderful performances.

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Oscarbation:: Contender 'The Artist'

the weinstein's have pulled off miracles before but can they sell a love letter to days gone by with a black and white silent film. the festival circuit is in love with it. critics are raving about it. but will an under 50 crowd buy tix for it. i too often hear people say they don't even like to watch the older black and white classics. so i wonder if only cinephiles will go see what looks to be a charming film. check out the trailer below. what do you think? will it be oscar bait. i think it possible.

opening november 23

'Fireflies in the Garden'

this 1978 film (worldwide release) will get it's stateside opening oct.14. the trailer looks interesting so why was this julia roberts/ryan reynolds starer held up so long.

'Sarah's Key' ****stars

sometimes a film comes along that takes over your heart, mind, spirit and readjusts one's moral compass. . 'sarah's key' is one of those films. based on the novel of the same name it's the path of a journalist who uncovers a story that involves the french collabarators of the axix powers in ww2, the jews in the marais section of paris, and eventually her own family as she unlocks the story of sarah's key. sarah is remarkably played by young actress melusine mayance. she locks her brother in a closet during a jewish roundup hoping to release him in a few short days. this would not happen. as journalist julia jarmond investigates the story unfolds in past and present time.

although a work of fiction those of us who have studied the jewish situation during the nazi hell and the vichy collaboration know this story could have happened. i cannot recommend this smallish film enough. it will not get the 'talk' come oscar season but it damn well should. i think i will be hard pressed to find a more important film this season.

and now kristin scott thomas: ms thomas choses her roles wisely. she once again proves here that she is one of the best cinema has to offer. even in silence she explodes. some day, if there is any justice, she will win her oscar.

a surprise appearance by aidan quinn as william rainsford, sarah's son, in the present time of the film is exceptional. it is good to see him in a meaty role, no matter how brief, again. i would give him a supporting actor nod.

with all the fuss of 'schindler's list' and 'sophie's choice' this this the period film that 'moves' you. oddly i found spielberg's 'schindler's list' void of emotion. i found the 'present day' portion of 'sophie's choice' just plain awful. the key to 'sarah's key' is the unlocking of the truth between past and present seamlessly.

as of this day it is my favorite, best, film of 2011.

'sarah's key'

'War Horse'

as i review the past in film i always look to the future. one i'm looking forward to this year is the december release of spielberg's 'the war horse'.

this is an award winning play that i'm sure speilberg will do justice to.

'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' ***1/2stars

the best summer film yet and it's what summer movies are all about. by far the best visual effects of the year. if you don't root for the apes you are not human. andy serkis deserves a supporting actor nom for his portrayal of caesar but the academy tends to ignore these roles. perhaps a new category long denied should finally be created. james franco really has a supporting role to mr. serkis but says more with his eyes than most actors with words. just get your popcorn and enjoy this wonderful summer flick.

'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' Today

not much has come out this year that made me say 'i gotta see it'. well this i have to see...soon. well after what i think will be a weekend rush that is. hey it has james franco in it. that's enough in itself.

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We're Invited to the Wedding of the Year

Bridesmaids' ***stars

anyone who has followed my blog knows that comedic films are not my thing. so kicking and screaming, figuratively, i went with my friends this weekend. i had the best time. perhaps part of it was the company of friends. but mostly it was in the end the film. bathroom humor abounded literally in fact. the lines were funny, the sight gags hysterical. i was surprised. happily. i can really recommend this flick although i may be the last person who saw it as it's been doing blockbuster business. i assure this will not start a trend. i will not go see 'hangover 2' as the first was was as dumb as gw bush.

so there are some comedy surprises still coming out of hollywood every decade or so.

'The Adjustment Bureau' : Opening Friday

for me this is the first major release of 2011. the continuously growing talents of matt damon and emily blunt star in this thriller. the trailer is inviting and a must see for me. i'll let you know.

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