BuzzSugar

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:30:00 -0800

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the titles below you can view Cate Blanchett's award-nominated performance in Elizabeth: The Golden Age and The Jane Austen Book Club, which I featured as one of my February Must Haves. Additionally, the Jodi Foster thriller The Brave One, which I liked well enough, is now on DVD.

The Assassination of Jess James by the Coward Robert Ford
This movie adaptation of Ron Hansen's acclaimed novel brings to life two infamous personalities of the American wild West. Notorious outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt) befriends what amounts to a latter-day celeb stalker, Robert Ford. Played by Casey Affleck who has been nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal, Ford is a man looking for fame and will do just about anything to attain it.

I enjoyed this movie, despite some awkward pacing and artifice. The visualizations of the West and solid performances make this a great choice for home-theater viewing.

It's a fun week for DVDs so read more.

Across the Universe
I once described the look and feel of Across the Universe as a shroom-induced dream set to Beatles songs, and I stand by that description. Using the Fab Four's music, a romantic plot line, and trippy visual effects, director Julie Taymor takes audiences through the ups and downs of the 1960s. The result is an ambitious, psychedelic attempt to capture a moment in time, and I give it an "A" for effort.

The burning question you'll probably have when viewing these crazy visuals is, "How'd they do that?" Thus, the two-disc DVD set is highly satisfying with all its making-of featurettes. Also, the commentary by Taymor gives great background on why she chose the '60s as her backdrop and how the Beatles inspired her.

2 Days in Paris
Julie Delpy wrote, stars in, directed, and composed the music for this comedy that co-stars Adam Goldberg. I had a chance to talk with Delpy about this film, and it was clear she has a serious interest in exploring what makes modern relationships tick. The film follows a neurotic yet lovable couple that spends two awkward days in Paris where Marion's (Delpy's) family forces them to confront their relationship issues, not to mention their cultural differences. Overall, the movie is a charming take on all the work that goes into love nowadays. Special features include five deleted scenes and an interview with Julie Delpy.

Snap Judgment: The 2008 Oscar Nominations

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:29:31 -0800

The Oscars ceremony simply must go on. When else am I ever going to see Michael Cera in a tux?

Seriously, though. Now that I've seen the nominees the Academy plucked for this year's awards, I'll be truly upset if the strike keeps actors and writers from attending the show. Some of my favorite films of the year got major nominations, while others were recognized in smaller (but still significant) ways. Overall, the nominations feel spread out, with seven films receiving four or more nominations each. There's also quite a range in tone, from bleak (There Will Be Blood) to delightful (Juno). There are quite a few categories where I'd feel satisfied no matter who won, and that's rare for any awards show.

Here are a few of my other thoughts on the nominees:

Of course, I have to celebrate the nominations for Juno, my top movie of '07. Ellen Page pulled off what could have been a cheesy or simply unbelievable role in less adept hands, and Diablo Cody's screenplay shined. It gets notice for its witty language, but beneath those tricks, it was purely a great story.
Speaking of which: This is the first time three of the Best Original Screenplay nominees have been penned by women. Congrats to Cody, Nancy Oliver (Lars and the Real Girl), and Tamara Jenkins (The Savages). Add in Sarah Polley's Best Adapted Screenplay nod for Away from Her, and I think we can officially call this a banner year for female writers.
That said, you know what literally made me yelp with joy? Brad Bird's writing nomination for Ratatouille, especially after his call for more respect for writers on animated films.

Lots more - including my thoughts on a couple of snubs - so read more.

I figured The Diving Bell and the Butterfly would have a tough time since it's not eligible for Best Foreign Film and might have been a long shot as Best Picture, but I still can't help but feel that it got snubbed. I finally saw it, and I thought it was a powerful example of what movies can be at their best. At least it's nominated for many awards - for its director, cinematography, script, and editing - that recognize how strong it was.
I'm aware that a lot of people liked Michael Clayton a lot more than I did, but I'm still surprised to see it get quite so much love. Its seven nominations cover all the major categories except Best Actress - quite the Oscar darling.
On the other hand, Atonement also got seven nominations, and yet they feel more minor. I'm surprised to see Joe Wright left out of the Best Director category, since I thought his direction was such a major part of the film. I am glad to see Jason Reitman and Julian Schnabel in that category, though.
Cate Blanchett was easily the best thing about I'm Not There, so I'm glad she's getting recognition. Her nomination for Elizabeth: The Golden Age, though, seems a little too easy.

What an age range in the Best Supporting Actress category - from Ruby Dee (83) to Saoirse Ronan (13)!
Speaking of Dee, I'm a little surprised the Academy generally shied away from American Gangster - or, for that matter, 3:10 to Yuma, both of which had major Oscar buzz when they were released.
Maybe it's the Curse of Tim Burton rubbing off, but I practically expected Johnny Depp to get snubbed.
Last year, it was three songs nominated from Dreamgirls; this year, it's three from Enchanted. Does this mean Amy Adams gets to sing at the Oscars?
Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood was thought to be a shoo-in for the Best Original Score category for There Will Be Blood, but his work was disqualified at the last minute because the film also includes music that was not written specifically for it.
Finally, I couldn't be happier to see Hal Holbrook get his due for Into the Wild. Fun fact: He's now the oldest supporting actor nominee ever at age 82.

Source

Announcing the 2008 Oscar Nominations!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:16:51 -0800

No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood led the field this morning when the Oscar nominations were announced in Hollywood. Each film snagged eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

After it raked in a huge number of Golden Globe nominations, Atonement made less of a splash here, scoring nods for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress but largely getting shut out of other major categories.

Juno and Michael Clayton are the other two films that will compete for Best Picture when the awards are presented Feb. 24. Juno scored a total of four nominations, while Michael Clayton nabbed seven. To see the full list of nominees, just read more.

BEST PICTURE
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

BEST DIRECTOR
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Jason Reitman, Juno
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno

BEST ACTOR
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Diablo Cody, Juno
Nancy Oliver, Lars and the Real Girl
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Ratatouille
Tamara Jenkins, The Savages

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Christopher Hampton, Atonement
Sarah Polley, Away from Her
Ronald Harwood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Beaufort (Israel)
The Counterfeiters (Austria)
Katyn (Poland)
Mongol (Kazakhstan)
12 (Russia)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Persepolis
Ratatouille
Surf's Up

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION
American Gangster
Atonement
The Golden Compass
Sweeney Todd
There Will Be Blood

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
Across the Universe
Atonement
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
La Vie en Rose
Sweeney Todd

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
No End in Sight
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience
Sicko
Taxi to the Dark Side
War/Dance

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
Freeheld
La Corona (The Crown)
Salim Baba
Sari's Mother

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Into the Wild
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP
La Vie en Rose
Norbit
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Atonement
The Kite Runner
Michael Clayton
Ratatouille
3:10 to Yuma

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Falling Slowly" from Once
"Happy Working Song" from Enchanted
"Raise It Up" from August Rush
"So Close" from Enchanted
"That's How You Know" from Enchanted

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
I Met the Walrus
Madame Tutli-Putli
Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)
My Love (Moya Lyubov)
Peter and the Wolf

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
At Night
Il Supplente
Le Mozard des Pickpockets
Tanghi Argentini
The Tonto Woman

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
There Will Be Blood
Transformers

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
3:10 to Yuma
Transformers

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS
The Golden Compass
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Transformers

Source