The Good German

Set in the style of the films of old, namely Casablanca, Steven Soderbergh's latest film The Good German falls flat. The story, which is a bit flimsy, is a story that has been done before. It's one thing to set a film in the style of earlier works, but it is quite another to actually copy the stories as well. The film revolves around a reporter, played by George Clooney, who attempts to help his old girlfriend, played by Cate Blanchett, and her husband get out of Berlin shortly after World War II ends. The story seems a lot like Casablanca, and the look of the film is clearly a copy.

There are, however, two redeeming aspects of this film. First, it is great to see Tobey Maguire play a different role for a change. He plays a young American who gets in over his head. He seems like a nice guy, but he shows an angry side as well. Second, the look of the film is a pure treat to see. Soderbergh goes after a new look for his film which turns out to be great. The black and white palate, coupled with the minimal sets create the notion that I really was watching an old movie. B.

Film Rankings for 2006

Here are the latest film rankings for 2006. I have yet to see a few films, namely Letters from Iwo Jima and The Good German.

The Departed (A+)
The Queen (A+)
Flags of our Fathers (A)
Blood Diamond (A)
Children of Men (A)
The Last King of Scotland (A)
World Trade Center (A)
Babel (A)
Casino Royale (A)
An Inconvenient Truth (A)
Bobby (A-)
Little Miss Sunshine (A-)
The Pursuit of Happyness (A-)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (A-)
United 93 (A-)
X-Men: The Last Stand (A-)
A Prairie Home Companion (A-)
Stranger than Fiction (B+)
Clerks II (B+)
The Good Shepherd (B+)
All the King's Men (B+)
The Illusionist (B+)
Dreamgirls (B)
Miami Vice (B)
Snakes on a Plane (B)
V for Vendetta (B)
Superman Returns (B)
Inside Man (B)
Hollywoodland (B)
MI: 3 (B)
Thank you for Smoking (B)
Strangers with Candy (B)
The DaVinci Code (B-)
Man of the Year (C+)
Poseidon (C)
Scary Movie 4 (C)
You, Me & Dupree (C-)
Night at the Museum (C-)
The Black Dahlia (F)

The Last King of Scotland

Forest Whitaker shows commanding force as the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. The film follows the rise of Amin and the way he runs the country of Uganda. The story revolves around a young Dr. Garrigan, played by James McAvoy, who travels to Uganda to help the battered people. Along the way, Amin befriends Dr. Garrigan, and Amin uses him as a close advisor. However, after a while, Garrigan learns how Amin runs the country, and he tries to escape.

Whitaker is positively amazing as Amin, and he could easily secure an Oscar for his performance. McAvoy is also great, and thus far he has been somewhat ignored for his stellar performance. The film uses a good dose of closeups that really exemplify the feeling on Whitaker's face. While the film does seem a bit drawn out at times, the ferocious performance by Whitaker more than makes up for any shortcomings. A.

Oscar Nominee Breakdown

First things first. God bless the Academy. It is so wonderful to see that Mark Wahlberg got nominated in the Supporting Actor category, but it is even more amazing to see that Dreamgirls did not get nominated for Picture or Director. Personally, I didn't think it was that great of a film. Now, the breakdown.

Best Picture

1) Babel

2) The Departed

3) Letters from Iwo Jima

4) Little Miss Sunshine

5) The Queen

The only big surprise is the obvious omission of Dreamgirls. I really thought that either Letters or Little Miss Sunshine would be nominated - not both. However, I think the Academy made the right choice here.

Best Director

1) Allejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel)

2) Martin Scorsese (The Departed)

3) Clint Eastwood (Letters from Iwo Jima)

4) Paul Greengrass (United 93)

5) Stephen Frears (The Queen)

Again here, the surprise is that Bill Condon did not get nominated for Dreamgirls. This is going to be a tough race, but I think Scorsese is the early front-runner.

Best Actor

1) Leonardo DiCaprio (Blood Diamond)

2) Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson)

3) Peter O'Toole (Venus)

4) Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness)

5) Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)

I was right on with my predictions for this category. Right now, Forest Whitaker has the early momentum.

Best Actress

1) Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal)

2) Penelope Cruz (Volver)

3) Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada)

4) Helen Mirren (The Queen)

5) Kate Winslet (Little Children)

Again here, there were no surprises. Congratulations, Helen Mirren.

Best Supporting Actor

1) Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine)

2) Jackie Earl Haley (Little Children)

3) Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond)

4) Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)

5) Mark Wahlberg (The Departed)

My incorrection in this category was that I had Jack Nicholson getting a nomination for The Departed. Instead, Alan Arkin scored a nomination for Little Miss Sunshine. The bigger story is that Mark Wahlberg got nominated for The Departed. Right now, Eddie Murphy has the momentum, but stranger things have happened. I would just like to point out that this is the toughest category of all. All the performances, including those listed in my predictions, are deserving of an Oscar. It is too bad that Michael Sheen did not get nominated for his role as Tony Blair in The Queen.

Best Supporting Actress

1) Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal)

2) Adrianna Barraza (Babel)

3) Rinko Kikuchi (Babel)
4) Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)
5) Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine)

I had no incorrect predictions in this category. Jennifer Hudson is the early leader, but it would be great to see someone else get the Oscar. Wait and see.

Oscar Nominee Predictions

Here are my Oscar nominee predictions for the 79th Annual Academy Awards that will take place on Sunday, February 25, 2007. The nominees will be announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2007.

Best Picture
1) The Departed
2) Babel
3) The Queen
4) Dreamgirls
5) Letters from Iwo Jima

Darkhorse candidates: Little Miss Sunshine, Flags of our Fathers

The top four choices as nominees for this category are almost for certain. My choice of Letters from Iwo Jima is sort of a risky choice, but I think Academy voters tend to like Eastwood, and they will probably go for this film. However, Little Miss Sunshine could just as easily secure the fifth spot.

Best Director
1) Martin Scorsese (The Departed)
2) Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Babel)
3) Stephen Frears (The Queen)
4) Bill Condon (Dreamgirls)
5) Clint Eastwood (Letters from Iwo Jima)

Darkhorse Candidates: Paul Greengrass (United 93), Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine), Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men)

A very unlikely occurence may happen for the second year in a row. The Best Picture nominees may follow suit with the Best Director nominees. If there is one person who really does deserve a nomination, it is most definitely Alfonso Cuaron, as his film was one of the best of the year, but it never really got any help from critics. Both Clint Eastwood and Bill Condon are risky nominees, but I think they will ultimately beat out the other Darkhorse potentials.


Best Actor
1) Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)
2) Peter O'Toole (Venus)
3) Leonardo DiCaprio (Blood Diamond)
4) Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness)
5) Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson)

Darkhorse Candidates: Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed)

I think this category is pretty much set with the given nominees. Unlike the Golden Globes, I think it is unlikely that DiCaprio will score two nominations. It seems more likely that he would get a nomination for Blood Diamond. However, if the Academy decides to go wild for The Departed (and that very well could happen), he may just get nominated for that film instead. It also seems unlikely that Cohen would get nominated for Borat, but considering his success at the Golden Globes, he may just pull off a nomination.


Best Actress
1) Helen Mirren (The Queen)
2) Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada)
3) Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal)
4) Penelope Cruz (Volver)
5) Kate Winslet (Little Children)

Darkhorse Candidates: Beyonce Knowles (Dreamgirls), Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine), Maggie Gyllenhal (Sherrybaby).

It really doesn't matter who gets nominated in this category, because this is a runaway for Helen Mirren. However, the outsider who could most likely get nominated would probably be Toni Collette, if and only if the Academy goes crazy for Little Miss Sunshine.

Best Supporting Actor
1) Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)
2) Jackie Earl Haley (Little Children)
3) Jack Nicholson (The Departed)
4) Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond)
5) Mark Wahlberg (The Departed)

Darkhorse Candidates: Michael Sheen (The Queen), Ben Affleck (Hollywoodland), Alan Arkin
(Little Miss Sunshine), Adam Beach (Flags of our Fathers), and Brad Pitt (Babel).

This is a really rough year to be in this category. Every single one of these actors deserves to take home Oscar gold. I'm going out on a limb for Wahlberg, but I think he may just get nominated due to his great performance in The Departed, coupled with the overall success of the film. It would be nice to see Michael Sheen sneak in somewhere, as his performance in The Queen was riveting.

Best Supporting Actress
1) Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)
2) Rinko Kikuchi (Babel)
3) Adrianna Barraza (Babel)
4) Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine)
5) Cate Blanchett (Notes on a Scandal)

Darkhorse Candidates: Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), Catherine O'Hara (For Your Consideration)

This category also seems pretty well set with the top five listed here. Emily Blunt's performance in Devil was good but probably not good enough to get her a nomination.


Final Thoughts
There are a few variables that could take place with each of these categories. First, any of these films could be THE film that voters go gaga for. Second, I think that voters will probably make that film The Departed since it did well at the box office and the cast is so amazingly great. The riskiest choice by far is to give Letters from Iwo Jima a top nod. It could happen, and I think it might given Eastwood's success at the Oscars.

The Queen

Helen Mirren engages in the year's greatest tour de force as she plays Queen Elizabeth II in Stephen Frears' The Queen. The film, set around the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana, follows the royal family in what became a publicity nightmare. While British Prime Minister Tony Blair, played brilliantly by Michael Sheen, becomes the love of the people, the royal family becomes a target for criticism as the Queen refuses to make a public statement.

This film is a lot like Capote from last year. It is a small film that is ultimately driven by one character. Similar to Philip Seymour Hoffman's turn as the infamous writer Truman Capote, Mirren captures the very essence of Queen Elizabeth II, and she makes the viewer forget that she is really not the Queen. Like Capote, The Queen offers a wonderful supporting character of the opposite sex. Just as Catherine Keener (Harper Lee) was the yin to Hoffman's yang, Sheen functions in the same capacity forMirren, who is sure to be an Oscar shoo-in for Best Actress.

I've only given out one A+ this fall, and that was for The Departed. I'm happy to say that while this film is just a hair shy of the excellence achieved by The Departed, The Queen runs a close second. A+.

Golden Globe Breakdown

The Golden Globes solidified the chances of some Oscar front-runners, and created some confusion with others. With Martin Scorsese's win for Best Director, he can now be considered the front-runner for the Directing Oscar. However, Babel's Globe win for Best Drama only helps its chances of winning the Best Picture prize that has eluded Scorsese for years.

In the major acting acting, categories, all of my predictions were correct: Helen Mirren, Forest Whitaker, Meryl Streep, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jennifer Hudson, and Eddie Murphy. Likewise, my choice for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) of Dreamgirls was also correct. I did choose The Departed, but it did not necessarily surprise me to see Babel win as it is a worldly film, and after all we are dealing with the Hollywood Foreign Press.

I think Clint Eastwood's win for Letters from Iwo Jima may help him get a Best Picture nod for that film. He may even pick up a directing nod by the Academy as well.

On the television side, I was not quite as correct with my predictions. Let me, however, be very frank about this. The television awards that have been given out, namely the Globes and the Emmys, are grossly incorrect in who they have chosen to honor over the last couple years. It is disappointing to see quality shows such as The Wire be denied the accolades they so richly deserve. When a show like Ugly Betty wins Best Comedy and Best Actress I just cringe and think that these people are losing their minds.

Overall, of the 25 categories in which awards were presented, I was correct 13 times, incorrect 10 times, and I had no idea about two categories. If one only includes the film categories, I was correct 11 times, incorrect once, and I had no idea about two categories. The one category that I got wrong was again the Best Picture (Drama) category. I chose The Departed while Babel was the winner.

Up next....Oscar nomination predicitions

Babel

Like his previous film 21 Grams, Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu's latest film Babel moves flawlessly through interconnecting story lines and tragic ends for many characters. Set in mostly in Morocco, the film follows the shooting of an American traveler, played by Cate Blanchett. The interwoven stories of a nanny, two young boys, two American travelers, and a Japanese girl create a scene true to the title of the film. Wherever one goes, there is sure to be some misunderstanding.

In a role much different from previous parts, Brad Pitt shines as the husband of his wounded wife. Unlike other films with Pitt, this one places him in a more supporting role. In effect, there is no dominating role within the film. What works so well in this film is that while there are different stories happening, no one story dominates. Moreover, the writing and directing work flawlessly in that the viewer must put the pieces of the puzzle together - it isn't spelled out completely.

While this film will most likely get nominated for Best Picture at this year's Oscars, it may have a more difficult time bringing home the top prize. However, given the uncanny surprise of Crash at last year's Oscars, this film could just sneek up and take Marty's prize. A.

Golden Globe Predictions

The Golden Globes will be held Monday, January 15th. Here are my predictions for who will take home the prize. The full list of nominees can be found at the Golden Globe Web site: http://www.hfpa.org/nominations/index.html.

* * * FILM * * *

Best Picture - Drama - The Departed

Best Picture - Musical/Comedy - Dreamgirls

Best Actress - Drama - Helen Mirren (The Queen)

Best Actor - Drama - Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)

Best Actress - Musical/Comedy - Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada)

Best Actor - Musical/Comedy - Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat)

Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)

Best Supporting Actor - Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)

Best Animated Feature - Cars

Best Foreign Language Film - Letters from Iwo Jima

Best Director - Motion Picture - Martin Scorsese (The Departed)

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture - The Queen

Best Original Score - Motion Picture - NO IDEA

Best Original Song - Motion Picture - NO IDEA

* * * TELEVISION * * *

Best Television Series - Drama - 24

Best Television Series - Musical/Comedy - The Office

Best Actress - Drama - Edie Falco (The Sopranos)

Best Actor - Drama - Kiefer Sutherland (24)

Best Actress - Musical/Comedy - Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)

Best Actor - Musical/Comedy - Steve Carell (The Office)

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television - Elizabeth I

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television - Helen Mirren (Elizabeth I)

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television - Andre Braugher (Thief)

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television - Toni Collette (Tsunami, The Aftermath)

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television - Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

Best Films of 2005

Here is just a look back at my favorite films of 2005

1) Capote
2) A History of Violence
3) good night, and good luck
4) Batman Begins
5) Walk the Line
6) Jarhead
7) Munich
8) Cinderella Man
9) Crash
10) The Squid & the Whale

Honorable Mention: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, King Kong, The Constant Gardener, Syriana, Lord of War, Brokeback Mountain

Dreamgirls

While Jennifer Hudson was a surefire hit with her amazing voice, Dreamgirls feels too saccharine to have any real chance at winning the Best Picture Oscar at this year's Academy Awards. The real showstopper here is by none other than Eddie Murphy, who shines after many years of playing the dumbed down comedian. Murphy shows that he is a fine actor - and he makes a good case for the Supporting Actor Oscar.

The film is set around a group of women who strive to become successful singers. Along the way, however, struggles ensue. What director Bill Condon does well with this film is show the audience just how flashy a production can be. However, the acting at times seems a bit laborious, and some of the singing numbers feel as though they may never end.

All in all, it's a good show that will most likely be nominated for an Oscar, but it just doesn't stand up to the year's other top films. Look for this to get a few nominations, with Hudson and Murphy most likely taking home Oscar gold. B.

Clerks II

I know this movie came out way back in August, but a friend of mine said that he was disappointed I hadn't reviewed it yet. Kevin Smith again delivers a hilarious romp in his latest film Clerks II. Beginning where the first film left off in black and white, the film again follows the lives of two lowly clerks, Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson). Unfortunately for them, the old Quickstop has burned down and they are now forced to work at a fast food restaurant. Joining the cast for this film are Rosario Dawson and Trevor Fehrman. Of course, the film wouldn't be complete without Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith).

For fans who have come to love Kevin Smith films (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, etc.) this film is of course another treat along the way. Smith brings back the hilarious lines that made his earlier films so successful. Moreover, the characters simply do not sit back and laugh, there is a story unfolding as well. The big question remains: what will Dante and Randal do with their lives?

While the film is not the smartest film of the year, it is one of the funniest. Aside from Borat, this film is the funniest of the year. Likewise, the clever dialogue as well as the Lord of the Rings bashing (yippee!) make the film a must see for anyone desiring a good laugh. While some may find the film repulsing, Smith has a certain way with directing comedy that just plain works. And if you don't necessarily like the film, maybe you might want to try some interspecies erotica instead.... B+.

Children of Men

Alfonso Cuaron wowed audiences with his 2001 film Y Tu Mama Tambien. His follow-up film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, showed audiences that he was ready for bigger movies. Children of Men is nothing short of a masterpiece for the director from Mexico. Cuaron seemingly blends thrilling action with dramatic prose.

The film revolves around the world in 2027. Things have sped up, but the biggest difference is that humans are infertile. The film begins with the death of the youngest person on the planet. Clive Owen, brilliant as ever, goes on a journey to help a young woman who happens to be pregnant.

What works so well in this film is that we never really find out what happened to humans to make them infertile. Likewise, Cuaron uses a number of great shots to show the hopelessness in the society of the future. One of my favorite parts about this picture is that unlike works of Steven Spielberg, technology is secondary. Instead of the special effects being the main thrust of the picture, such as is in Spielberg's Minority Report, the special effects take a back seat to good old fashioned acting. All in all, this is another solid outing for Cuaron. Look for him to continue as a top director in the future. A.

The Good Shepherd

Robert De Niro's film about the origins of the CIA is both eye-opening and disappointing. Set in the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs debacle, the films looks at the life of Edward Wilson, played by Matt Damon in his second powerful performance of the year. The film clocks in at over two and a half hours, which should imply that one would not leave without getting his or her fill. However, after viewing it, I felt as though I never really got to know the real plight of Wilson, save for his uncanny love for his country.

Angelina Jolie stars as the troubled wife of Wilson. While the film has some strong points - namely the entire cast - it seems to fall flat. My suggestion is that De Niro should have either made the film a fullblown three hours, or else the film should have been trimmed down to two hours. The stellar cast included Michael Gambon, the ever-talented and multidimensional William Hurt, and of course De Niro's own Scorsese-film costar Joe Pesci. All in all, the film works, but it does leave the viewer asking more questions than should be asked. B+.

Night at the Museum

While this film has done quite well at the box office, Ben Stiller's latest is not a top-notch film by any means. Except for a few good lines (Owen Wilson's reference to Brokeback Mountain) and the well-crafted special effects, this film fails in a couple respects. First, the fear of the unknown is almost immediately taken away, as Stiller's character, Larry Daley, discovers almost immediately that the items in the museum do indeed come to life. Second, the plot of the film is flimsy at best.

While a good friend of mine said that I am too hard on this movie because it is a children's movie, I would have to disagree by noting that other children's films can be both entertaining and smart as well. My only other major qualm with this film is with Ben Stiller. It seems to me that in any of his recent films, he is always one degree away from his own personality. It's time to try something new, because I for one have seen enough of the inept, bumbling nice guy. C-.

The Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith delivers another shining performance as he plays a rags-to-riches father in The Pursuit of Happyness. The based-on-true-events film would be one of the year's best if only it had a little more pop. Smith could receive an Oscar nomination, but it is his own son, Jaden, who steals the show.

The film revolves around a man who has nothing, save for a dream. He takes on an internship with no pay, and he strives to make ends meet. After his wife leaves him, all he has left in the world is his son. And apparently that is enough. While the film is good, there are moments that come off as almost a bit too saccharine. The film shines, however, as it blends clever splashes of humor along the difficult journey for Smith's character, Chris Gardner.

While the film certainly did leave me wanting to know a little more, it does a good job in regard to the cinematic style that has been lost today. The camerawork does not intrude on the performances. Rather, the actors are allowed to do their job - act. All in all, it's a solid outing for Smith and a pleasant surprise to see a child-actor perform well. A-.