L.A.dy Dior The Film - Starring Marion Cotillard

for those who follow my blog you know i am mad about actress marion cotillard. i mean i am really in love with this woman. so even this small film is a reason to celebrate. it's like an early chanukah/christmas gift.

Cinescape 2011

Angela Lansbury Gets the Christmas Spirit Going

Jesus Says Rick Perry Is an Imbecile

'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'

the film i most look forward to this season is the yet to be seen, by critics and public alike, is  'extremely loud and incredibly close' starring tom hanks, sandra bullock and max van sydow. the trailer above gives a sign for an emotional journey. it is perhaps the first really important film on the aftermath of the 9/11 events in 2011.  it will open on christmas day and i suspect will be a strong oscar contender in the months to come.

The Year in Film 2011

Sorry!

i am currently going thru a round of chemo and radiation resulting from a cancer that has kept me down for the past few months. thus i have been neglecting this blog. i will be trying my best to post as i can especially at this year's film season wraps up. truly i will do my best.

'Melancholia': ****stars

'melancholia' is not for everyone. it is a dark film revolving around the impening collision of our planet with another. it begins with a wedding whose bride suffers melancholia which is the name of the planet that will collide with earth. it has a good cast well suited to their parts but it is the amazing performance of kirsten dunst as the bride that is the center of it. her sister played by a wonderful charlotte gainsbourg anchors it until the final moments when roles reverse.

kirsten dunst deserves an oscar nom for here portrayal. she has already won best actress earlier this year at the cannes film festival. the question is whether or not academy members will see it. right now the film and ms dunst top my year end 'best of' lists.

Natalie: Justice at Last

after 30 years almost to the date, 11/29, natalie may finally get justice in her sad and untimely death. investigations are at last reopening as authorities look into her husband robert wagner and his possible complicity in her drowning. i have always believed rj wagner knew more than he was saying as well as actor christopher walken. let's hope the authorities get it right this time and do not let 'celebrity' get in the way.

Michelle Williams BECOMES Marilyn in 'My Weekend with Marilyn'

coming soon and ms williams will get an oscar nod

'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. 

trailer

Due to some major health issues i have taken time off....

but now i am trying to get back to work on here which i enjoy. things may be sporadic for a time but i will give it my best. pleases be patient.

'Revenge' Gets an A

having been away i needed time to catch up on the new tv season. i won't judge any show on it's pilot alone if i liked the pilot. i need to see at least 3 episodes to see where it's going if it is going anywhere.

'revenge' is a guilty pleasure that i recommend. it's leading lady, emily van camp, is wonderful. and she wonderfully goes from sweet to the revenge seeking emily thorn in a nano second with just a look..a glance. out to revenge her father's downfall and eventual death she cleverly goes after those involved one by one systematically and cleverly. i just wonder how they can keep this going. but then i look back on 'pretty little liars' which i thought the same about. good writing keeps the liars going. here's hoping the same is true here.

Oscarbation: A Look Back at 2003 for Best Actress

looking back on 2003 it was a pretty good year for the nominees in this category. a younger actress was rightfully nominated, a semi legend got in, and three other brilliant performances made the list.

and the nominees were:

#5 diane keaton in 'somethings got to give' somehow got a nom. longevity perhaps? a dark horse deservedly left in the dark. i have just never 'got' ms keaton. perhaps i never will.

#4 samantha morton was just wonderful in 'in america' and someday she may score a win as she is damn good in most all of her performances.

#3 keisha castle-hughes was a surprise nominee for 'the whale rider'. a younger actress who snuck by the supporting nomination where they are generally placed. her performance was touching and believable. her nom in and of itself was a win.

#2 naomi watts nominee was brilliant in '27 grams'.  she gets better and better film after film. one day she may take the statue home.

#1 charlize theron in 'monster' won the award portraying serial killer aileen wournos and there was never any doubt she would. a brilliant performance that ranks among the best of oscar wins. it was the role of a lifetime that has yet to be matched by the actress herself. perhaps that is asking too much.

the beautiful charlize theron as opposed to the monster pictured above. damn that's a real transformation.

R.I.P. Steve Jobs

as i am on my mac now this seems approbriate

as i type on my mac while i charge my iphone and ipad i'd say he influenced my life.

Happy Birthday Kate

back just in time to wish ms winslet a happy birthday

Following My Heart and Soul

going to be away until the 5th october. by the time most of you are reading this i should be in munich. for a number, great number, of years i have felt the need to visit germany and poland. sure i will be there for oktoberfest and that's a plus. but the real reason for this trip is to visit the sites of man's greatest inhumanity to man. the warsaw ghetto. dachau. auchwitz. it's a pilgramage for me. i planned this once before. and then 9/11 happened and the world went upside down, again. so here i am 10 years later and on my way. friends and family ask me why. my only answer is that i feel the need to go. i am called to do this. my spirit demands that i do this.

so leaving film and tv and everything else behind i am there. i'll see you in a couple of weeks. i hope you return when i return and that you understand my need to be away. we all have things that 'pull' us. this horrific moment in history has always pulled at me.

'Criminal Minds' Returns Tonight

...and the gang's all here. after fans protested the dismissal of aj cook and paget brewster the powers that be hired them back this season. so we do have a voice...sometimes.

the show dealt with the return of jj (aj cook) at the end of last season. here goes...

'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