Clooney and Damon Go Nespresso

'Behind the Candelabra' Tonight on HBO

advance word of mouth is twofold: it's damn good and michael douglas will win best actor whenever tv awards are given out this year. as it premiers on hbo in the usa it will open in theaters internationally.

let's face it without liberace there may never have been an elton john. he was flamboyant, outrageous, a showman and a closeted gay man. closeted? has another man ever been more obviously gay? but at the time of his 'fame' being openly gay was a no no. hello rock hudson.

matt damon stars as the next young thing liberace takes under his wing and under the sheets.

it's set up on my dvr. the choice is yours.

Covers

'Contagion' **1/2

it all falls apart after the first 15 minutes or so. except for matt damon it is a complete waste of talent. it is not the fault of the actors it's just that they are given nothing to do. it's a boring script and a boring movie. wait for the dvd release. there is enough coming out this fall without wasting time and money on this. it pains me to say this as kate winslet and marion cotillard are in it. and ms cotillard has the most thankless role of all.

'Contagion' Opens Wide Today

'Contagion' Coming 9/9

kate, marion and damon together....i'm there the day it opens

'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.

 trailer

'Hereafter': VFX Shot Breakdowns

since 'hereafter' is arriving on video in march, the 14th,  i thought it might be cool to spotlight how the tsunami was shot. i generally hate these things because i think they kill the whole fantasy of film but hey i needed something to blog today.

i do recommend this film if you haven't seen it.

'Hereafter' ***1/2

clint eastwood continues to amaze me. he never looks back. he takes on new material with every directorial effort. and he always seems to succeed. 'hereafter' is the newest success. i'm never ashamed to say i cried...ever! and this film had tears rolling down my face intermittently a number of times. why? not too sure. maybe it was just the cumulative effect of the number of deaths i've lived through my whole life packed into 2hours and 9 minutes. but i am not saying this is a sad film....it isn't. nor is it a joyous film in that we now know what the hereafter is as we don't know this any more after seeing the film than the moment before it began. but it touched something deep within me. that says a lot to me. i liked these moments and the feelings. i liked the film in it's entirety also.

matt damon just keeps on growing as an actor with each role. he and eastwood ('invictus") make a good team. the rest of the cast, mostly unknown to me, all delievered the goods. there was no weak link in the cast.

'hereafter' heads into my top 5 of 2010. is it brilliant? no. is it eastwood's best? no. but it is damn good and better than most releases. is it a masterpiece? no. but it is a minor masterpiece.

'hereafter' touched my spirit.

'Hereafter' Opens Friday

4 teasers for 'hereafter'

Happy Birthday Matt

there are a handful of 'younger' actors today who are reaching the heights and reputation of classic actors past. one of them is matt damon. as an actor matt keeps learning and growing. he's come along way since 'good will hunting' and i don't see him stopping any day soon.

'Invictus' ***1/2stars

in lesser hands this might have been titled 'guess who's coming to the world cup'. however, damn good direction (clint eastwood) and two amazing performances by morgan freeman and matt damon raise this film above the sentimental or just another sports film based on historical events. trust me i know nothing, zero, nada about sports nor do i want to but the final minutes of this film had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breathe. eastwood did something my parents never could: get me interested in sports. trust me it's surely a once in a lifetime moment. god i pray it is.

rent this or buy this...just see it.

p.s. yet this is another 2009 film that lost the oscar to 'the hurt locker'.actually it wasn't even nominated for best picture. i still don't get it!