New In Theaters - April 1st, 2011

HOP

Starring: James Marsden, Russell Brand, Kaley Cuoco, Hank Azaria, Gary Cole,

Elizabeth Perkins, David Hasselhoff, Chelsea Handler & Hugh Laurie

Directed by Tim Hill for distribution by Universal

The Plot: A out of work slacker (Marsden) is tricked into taking care of the Easter Bunny’s son (Brand), who ran away to Los Angeles instead of taking over the family business.

The Final Word: “Hop” cleverly blends CGI and live-action to tell this story about an unlikely friendship. Russell Brand lends his voice to the Easter Bunny’s son E.B., who instead of taking over for dear old dad, wants to be a drummer in Hollywood. Upon his arrival, Marsden’s character hits E.B. with his car and the bunny fakes an injury in exchange for a place to stay. It’s actually a fun concept and is (of course) perfectly timed to the upcoming Easter holiday. This will also be the first movie for “The Big Bang Theory’s” Kaley Cuoco since her sitcom premiered. She’ll co-star as Marsden’s love interest, who is also admired by E.B.

INSIDIOUS

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye,

Ty Simpkins & Barbara Hershey

Directed by James Wan for distribution by FilmDistrict

The Plot: A family finds their new house haunted by evil spirits only to realize the root of their problem may not actually be the house.

The Final Word: This new take on the classic haunted house genre comes courtesy of a collaboration of talent from the people behind “Saw” and “Paranormal Activity.” Horror films are notoriously unpredictable, but they have also been a hugely successful as of late. With the pedigree behind this film and a cast led by rising stars Patrick Wilson and “Damages’” Rose Bryne, upstart company FilmDistrict could make a splash if it doesn’t get overshadowed by “Source Code.”

SOURCE CODE

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga & Jeffrey Wright

Directed by Duncan Jones for distribution by Summit Entertainment

The Plot: A soldier (Gyllenhaal) becomes a part of a secret government program known as the “Source Code,” where he is given the ability to travel back in time to eight minutes prior to a terrorist attack.

The Final Word: Director Duncan Jones put himself on the map in 2009 with a little-known film called “Moon.” The indie hit attracted the attention of Summit, which led to this movie, which could probably best be described as “Groundhog Day” with a twist. The son of David Bowie, Jones is slowly making a name for himself and is looking for “Code” to bring him mainstream buzz. The tricky part here is that Gyllenhaal, while known in the mainstream, still hasn’t been able to prove he can consistently open a picture on his own. Yes, “Brokeback Mountain” and “The Day After Tomorrow” did extremely well, but he was also a supporting player in both. While he is a talented actor, his films don’t perform well, with the most obvious example being last year’s high profile dud “Prince of Persia.” Although “Code” is just the right mix of indie, but molded for mainstream viewing, so it is possible he could be a great fit here, but honestly the jury is still out.

SUPER

Starring: Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon & Nathan Fillion

Directed by James Gunn for distribution by IFC Midnight (Films)

The Plot: An ordinary man (Wilson) transforms himself into a superhero after his wife (Tyler) leaves him for a psychopathic drug dealer (Bacon).

The Final Word: This is the definition of an indie film, but it comes with a very mainstream cast, which should earn it some attention. Although Gunn, who also wrote the script, is known for dark and edgy style which could limit its potential audience, but more than likely those going to see it will know ahead of time what to expect.: An ordinary man (Wilson) transforms himself into a superhero after his wife (Tyler) leaves him for a psychopathic drug dealer (Bacon).

Previewed next week: Arthur, Hanna, Born To Be Wild 3D, Your Highness

New In Theaters - March 25th, 2011

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES

Starring: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris,

Devon Bostick & Steve Zahn

Directed by David Bowers for distribution by 20^th Century Fox

The Plot: The parents of two feuding brothers try to keep the peace by having them try and spend quality time bonding.

The Final Word: Jeff Kinney’s “Diary Of A Wimpy Kid” book series have sold over 40 million copies, which in today’s Hollywood almost guarantees a movie adaptation. The first film, which was released around this time last year, had an impressive opening weekend and made back all of its money in just three days. Now comes the next installment in the series and I honestly really curious if they can repeat the success of the original.

SUCKER PUNCH

Starring: Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, Jamie Chung,

Jena Malone, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm, Oscar Isaac & Scott Glenn

Directed by Zach Synder for distribution by Warner Brothers

The Plot: Locked away in an asylum against her will, a young girl (Browning) enlists the help of four of her fellow captives to escape from their prison and enter a fantasy world of warfare.

The Final Word: Let’s be honest, you can’t really summarize this movie’s plot. I’m not even sure I did it anywhere near justice, but the basic idea is hot girls kicking the ever loving hell out everything and everyone in their way; in IMAX. Directed by Zach Snyder, the man working with Christopher Nolan’s on the next “Superman” re-boot, this fantasy action flick is the type of movie fanboys go crazy over and with good reason. It has a smoking hot cast and basically a release date almost entirely to itself. 


Previewed next week: Hop, Insidious, Source Code

New In Theaters- March 18, 2011

LIMITLESS

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, 
Anna Friel & Tomas Arana

Directed by Neil Burger for distribution by Relativity

The Plot: An out-of-work writer (Cooper) discovers a wonder drug designed to let him access 100% of his brain, but finds his newfound intelligence comes with major side effects as well as the interest of a shrewd business mogul (DeNiro) determined to use it for financial gain.

The Final Word: This is a big opportunity for “Hangover” star Bradley Cooper to show he can carry a film without an ensemble to back him. He also won’t exactly be going it alone as Hollywood icon Robert DeNiro is his co-star, but the fact remains it is a great chance for Cooper to shine. He is a very talented actor and Relativity is banking on him to carry this adaptation of author Alan Glynn’s debut novel.

THE LINCOLN LAWYER

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe,

William H. Macy,  Josh Lucas, John Leguizamo, Michael Pena,

Trace Adkins, Katherine Moennig & Erin Carufel

Directed by Brad Furman for distribution by Lionsgate

The Plot: A charismatic and at times morally challenged lawyer (McConaughey), who operates his firm out of his Lincoln Continental car, is drawn into what seems like a straightforward case involving a rich playboy (Phillippe) accused of attempted murder, but soon finds himself in a cat and mouse game of manipulation with possibly deadly consequences.

The Final Word: Some may be hard pressed to name the last movie that McConaughey successfully headlined, but surprisingly it was only a few years back in 2008 when he teamed with Kate Hudson in “Fool’s Gold.” While that may seem like a while ago, by Hollywood standards it is actually in the normal range. Although the year Lionsgate if focused on is 1996, which is the year McConaughey first broke through as a lawyer in John Grisham’s “A Time To Kill.” It is the studio’s hope that McConaughey can reclaim that magic and help them launch what could turn into a new franchise.

PAUL

Starring: Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Seth Rogen, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig,

 Bill Hader,Jane Lynch, Sigourney Weaver, Joe Lo Truglio, 

David Koechner,Blythe Danner & John Carroll Lynch

Directed by Greg Mottola for distribution by Universal

The Plot: Two sci-fi geeks (Frost, Pegg) pick up an alien hitchhiker (voiced by Rogen) on a cross-country journey through America’s UFO heartland and soon find themselves the focus of a government task force designed to re-capture their new friend.

The Final Word: Frost and Pegg are known for their irreverent humor in movies like “Hot Fuzz” and “Shaun of the Dead,” which gives them a built in audience for this picture. The problem will be drawing in the average viewer who may not be familiar with the pair’s across-the-pond following. With a solid cast of supporting actors and Judd Apatow staple Seth Rogen in the mix, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility they could pull off a surprise at the box office.

Previewed next week: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules & Sucker Punch

The Flicks Flashblack- Aaron Eckhart

Today, Columbia Pictures releases “Battle: Los Angeles,” an action film that focuses on an alien invasion. The star of the movie is actor Aaron Eckhart who is best known for his role as Two-Face in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight.” Although while “Knight” is what really made Eckhart a pop culture icon, he’s always been around the fringes of the Hollywood A-list. 

Here’s your “Flicks Flashback” featuring Aaron Eckhart.

Erin Brockovich (2000)

Total USA Earnings:  $125 million

While “Erin Brockovich” wasn’t Eckhart’s first role, it was probably the one that really put him on the radar with mainstream America. Playing the role of George, Erin’s biker boy-friend, Eckhart took on a strong but important supporting character. Through that part, awareness of this versatile actor began to pick up and more A-level roles began to find their way to him.

The Core (2003)

Total USA Earnings:  $31 million

As is the case with all actors, sometimes an increased number of roles don’t always lead to an increased number of hits. 2003’s end of the world action film “The Core,” on paper looked like a good idea. It had Hilary Swank, Stanley Tucci and Bruce Greenwood on board and a premise that was (at the time) very profitable for Hollywood. Although the critics quickly turned on it and then so did audiences. Despite a respectable (again, at the time) $12 million third place opening, the movie quickly half-lifed its way down the charts and out of theaters. It just wasn’t one of higher quality movies of its genre.

Thank You For Smoking (2005)

Total USA Earnings: $24 million

Following the implosion of “The Core,” Eckhart went back to his independent roots. He starred in “Thank You For Smoking,” a satirical look at the tobacco industry and their lobbyist spin doctors.  The feature-length directorial debut of Jason Reitman (son of “Ghostbusters” director Ivan) was a critical hit and began finding its way into contention for a number of awards. Eckhart himself was nominated for both an Independent Spirit Award and a Golden Globe.  The movie also turned a small profit as it only cost $6.5 million to make.

No Reservations (2007)

Total USA Earnings: $43 million

After the critical success of “Smoking,” Eckhart returned to the mainstream in “The Black Dahlia” which despite a strong pedigree among its cast and crew stumbled out of the starting gate. Although Eckhart quickly got back in the game, with “No Reservations,” a romantic comedy opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones. Released during the height of the summer movie season, the film was a welcomed relief to people tired of the big budget action films that traditionally dominate the season. Again, it was only a mild hit domestically, but it also managed to match that total in the international market.

The Dark Knight (2009)

Total USA Earnings $533 million

Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” dominated from week one and this Oscar winning film would go on to top $1 billion worldwide. Eckhart starred as Harvey Dent, the alter ego of Batman’s eventual nemesis Two-Face.  It was a defining moment in the actor’s career and one that he will always be associated with his filmography.

Eckhart followed that role with a turn as Jennifer Aniston’s love interest in “Love Happens” and then Nicole Kidman’s husband in “Rabbit Hole.” While nothing happened with “Love,” “Rabbit Hole” put him back in contention for awards season. While it was his co-star who eventually received the Oscar nomination, it was the still talked about success of “Knight” that made him a strong contender in what proved to be a tight race.

That brings us to the present and “Battle: Los Angeles.” Eckhart once again is set to take a leading role and looks to be in prime position to take the box office by storm.  

New In Theaters - March 11th, 2011

BATTLE: LOS ANGELES

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez,

Bridget Moynahan, Ne-Yo & Michael Pena

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman for distribution by Columbia (Sony)

The Plot: For years conspiracy theorists have claimed the existence of UFOs was being covered up; but what if they were right? After many early and ignored signs, Los Angeles finds itself under attack from hostile visitors the likes of which the world has never seen and a Marine staff sergeant (Eckhart) finds his platoon may be the world’s last hope.

The Final Word: Aliens attacking Los Angeles isn’t a new concept, but that has never stopped Hollywood from trying to put a new spin on it. Director Jonathan Liebseman is a hot property these days and Columbia believes his touch will attract audiences to this movie, whose concept is reportedly (loosely) based on an incident during World War II known as the “Battle of Los Angeles.” Although the irony here is that Disney has selected the same weekend for its animated alien pseudo-attack film. Of course they are targeting two extremely different audiences, but I can’t remember the last time to similarly themed went head to head on the same opening weekend. Now that will be a battle!

MARS NEEDS MOMS

Starring (voices): Seth Green, Dan Fogler, Elisabeth Harnois,

Mindy Sterling, Kevin Cahoon & Joan Cusack

Directed by Simon Wells for distribution by Walt Disney Pictures

The Plot: A nine year old (Green) stows away on a spaceship to Mars after the Martians kidnapped his mother (Cusack) to act as a surrogate for their kids.

The Final Word: So while Columbia has aliens attacking Los Angeles, Disney has them kidnapping Earth mothers. The main plot difference here is that while “Battle” takes place on Earth, most of “Mars” takes place in space. Based on the book by Berkeley Breathed, this 3D/CGI/IMAX film is from the same producers of Disney “A Christmas Carol” and Warner’s “The Polar Express,” so they clearly have the whole added dimension thing down by this point, which should help remedy some of the 3D problems that has gripped the studios as of late.

RED RIDING HOOD

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Lukas Haas, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, 
Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Virginia Madsen & Julie Christie

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke for distribution by Warner Brothers

The Plot: A medieval village is targeted by a werewolf in this update of the classic fairy tale with a dark undertone.

The Final Word: “Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke returns to theaters in a movie that could very well be a different version of the popular teen book series she helped launch, complete with werevolves. Here rising star Amanda Seyfried steps into the iconic red cape and in this adaptation falls for woodcutter with a bad reputation. Hardwicke is major draw for the teen sect and she has two popular young leads that will bring audiences to theaters. The only major drawback is that this is going to be prove to be a busy week for the sci-fi/fantasy genre and it result in lower grosses across the board.

Previewed next week: Limitless, The Lincoln Lawyer, Paul

New In Theaters - March 4th, 2011

THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU

Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, John Slattery,

Shohreh Aghdashloo, Michael Kelly & Terence Stamp

Directed by George Nolfi for distribution by Universal

The Plot: A aspiring politician (Damon) decides to challenge what fate has in store for him when he goes after the love of his life (Blunt), but soon finds himself the target of a mysterious group of men charged with keeping order in the universe.

The Final Word: Based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick, the man credited with “Total Recall” and “Blade Runner,” “Bureau” asks the question “can we change our own fate?” Ironically that is also the question Damon could have been asking himself after seeing his 2010 films “Green Zone” and “Hereafter” under-perform. Although among major tent-pole releases, his track record is remarkably solid and with “The Bourne Ultimatum” scribe, George Nolfi making his directorial debut, Damon looks likely to re-capture the magic of the Bourne trilogy.

BEASTLY

Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen,

Neil Patrick Harris & Peter Krause

Directed by Daniel Barnz for distribution by CBS Films

The Plot: A modern day re-telling of the classic “Beauty & the Beast” tale which focuses on a spoiled rich kid (Pettyfer) robbed of his good looks by a Goth girl (Olsen) he savagely spurned.

  

The Final Word: The story of “Beauty & the Beast” and the story of CBS Films are both widely known by this point. “Beauty & the Beast” is a classic tale of two people trying to overcome a number of obstacles in the name of love and CBS Films is a classic tale of a studio trying overcome a slate of dismal box office performers in the name of business. Except we all know “Beauty” tends to have a happy ending. CBS Films really doesn’t seem to know what to do with this film. Similarly as to how the Beast was banished to his castle, “Beastly” was banished from its first release date following the failure of CBS Films’ first two releases. I’m not even sure the drawing power of Neil Patrick Harris or rising star Alex Pettyfer will be able to help this movie survive its crowded release date. Although the thing people tend to forget about CBS Films is that every one of its movies by design have a small budget (by Hollywood standards) and at the end of the day they do tend to re-coup their money. The problem is that CBS is a victim of its own success. People of course associate the studio with the network and for the network to be as successful as it is and not have the studio mimic that profitability raises a few red flags. Then again perception isn’t always reality, despite what certain people foolishly believe.

RANGO

Starring (voices): Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin,

Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Ray Winstone, Beth Grant,

Ned Beatty, Harry Dean Stanton & Alfred Molina

Directed by Gore Verbinski for distribution by Paramount

The Plot: A chameleon (Depp) who daydreams about being a hero suddenly finds himself in that role when he becomes a small town’s only hope against bandits.

The Final Word: Gore Verbinski, known for the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy, steps into the world of animated 3D for the first time, with his friend “Pirates” star Johnny Depp accompanying him. The versatile director is also taking his first stab at writing for a full-length motion picture. All of those details combined give “Rango” and Paramount a great chance of success at the box office. With Verbinski not returning to the helm of the “Pirates” franchise, this movie may the only chance audiences will get to see him and Depp re-unite on the big screen for a little while.

TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT

Starring: Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler, Teresa Palmer, Chris Pratt,

Michelle Trachtenberg, Lucy Punch, Michael Ian Black & Demetri Martin

Directed by Michael Dowse for distribution by Relativity Media

The Plot: A recent MIT graduate (Grace) decides to throw away the future everybody wants for him and go his own way, until he meets the girl of his dreams (Palmer) and realizes an upcoming end of summer bash may be his only chance to impress her.

The Final Word: We’ve seen this scenario a thousand times before where a group of teens or twenty-somethings believe they can change their lives at one major (generally milestone related) party. Although studios keep making them because if done right they tend to do well at the box office, but unfortunately more often than not most fail. This one is intriguing because it has a solid cast of rising stars, a fun trailer and a great catalogue of 80’s hits at its disposal. Relativity can’t be expecting to make a huge profit off of this one, but at least it seems to have a decent shot at success.

Previewed next week: Battle: Los Angeles, Mars Needs Moms, Red Riding Hood

Oscar Hopefuls: Best Picture Profiles 2011

With the Academy Awards coming up on this Sunday night, it’s time to take one last look at all the contenders for the movie industry’s coveted top prize.

BLACK SWAN

Starring: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis,

Barbara Hershey & Winona Ryder

Directed by Darren Aronofsky for distribution by Fox Searchlight

“I just want to be perfect.”

The Summary:

A ballerina (Natalie Portman) competing for the lead spot in the New York City ballet’s production of "Swan Lake," finds the pressure of the competition impacting her grasp on reality.

The Background:

Darren Aronofsky is known for dark edgy style and this drama had plenty of both.  It also has a number of nominations, including one for lead actress Natalie Portman, who is the heavy favorite. While Aronofsky is one of the most talented young directors on the scene, he’s always been shut out of the Academy Awards, but this year both him and his movie were recognized with nominations, a sure sign the voters are beginning to expand their very structured horizons.

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THE FIGHTER

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo & Jack McGee

Directed by David O. Russell for distribution by Paramount Pictures

I'm the one who's fighting. Not you, not you, and not you.

The Summary:

The true story of “Irish” Mickey Ward (Mark Whalberg), a boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts who rose to fame after a rocky early career.

The Background:

Traditionally boxing movies do extremely well during the awards season and Wahlberg has become an early odds on favorite to win big. Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams who play Wahlberg’s volatile brother, mother and love interest (respectively) have picking up buzz with every passing award ceremony. In fact many believe Bale and Leo are locks to win which could land Paramount’s tentpole a TKO on Oscar night.

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INCEPTION

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Ellen Page,

Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy & Michael Caine

Directed by Christopher Nolan for distribution by Warner Brothers

“Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.”

The Summary:

A skilled thief (Leonardo DiCaprio) who extracts secrets from people’s minds must reverse the process to reclaim his past and settle an old score.

The Background:

Warner Brothers knew it had something special in this action thriller from the incredibly talented Christopher Nolan; although they didn’t know just how special until the movie ballooned up the box office. The film succeeded because audiences now know what to expect from the thriller’s visionary director and as a result Warner Brothers was rewarded tenfold for their trust and patience. Now Nolan, his cast and the studio are all reaping the benefits this award season.

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THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, 
Josh Hutcherson & Mark Ruffalo

Directed by Lisa Cholodenko for distribution by Focus Features

“marriage is hard... Just two people slogging through the sh*t, year after year, getting older, changing.”

The Summary:

Two children (Mia Wasikowska & Josh Hutcherson) conceived through artificial insemination and raised by lesbians (Annette Bening & Julianne Moore) track down their birth father (Mark Ruffalo) and introduce him into their lives.

The Background:

This is not your typical family movie and that’s why it works. With Bening and Moore, as a lesbian couple who have to come to grips with their kids desire to meet their birth father, the movie already had a solid foundation to build off of before the script was even finalized.  This is also one of those type of movies that the Academy had in mind when it expanded the Best Picture category to ten and as a result it was given the recognition it deserved.

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THE KING’S SPEECH

Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter,

Guy Pearce & Michael Gambon.

Directed by Tom Hooper for distribution by The Weinstein Company

“If I am King, where is my power? Can I declare war? Form a government? Levy a tax? No! And yet I am the seat of all authority because they think that when I speak, I speak for them.”

The Summary:

The true story of how King George VI (Colin Firth) found his voice courtesy of Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), a maverick speech therapist called in to help him overcome a stutter.

The Background:

If early critic’s lists are to be believed, then this year’s “Best Picture” race is over and “The King’s Speech” is the winner. Breaking it down further, the movie has everything Academy voters love and with the Weinstein’s guiding the PR ship, it should have been a smooth ride across the award season waters. Although in the early stage of the Oscar race, the ship came across some rough sail as “The Social Network” went from dark horse to frontrunner. Although now after a slew of important victories under its belt, “Speech” could regain its status as King.

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127 HOURS

Starring: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara & Lizzy Caplan

Directed by Danny Boyle for distribution by Fox Searchlight

“You know, I've been thinking. Everything is... just comes together. It's me. I chose this. I chose all this. This rock... this rock has been waiting for me my entire life”

The Summary:

The true story of hiker Aron Ralston (James Franco), who spent a harrowing 127 hours with his arm trapped under a boulder in an isolated Utah canyon.

The Background:

“Slumdog Millionaire” director Danny Boyle chose to reunite with Fox Studios for his first film since his big Oscar win a few years ago and so far it looks to be paying off. Ralston’s story was already generating Oscar buzz well before its release, as was the actor portraying him. James Franco has built up an amazing following the last few years even though he basically dropped off the grid to go back to school. Although while Boyle was snubbed in the Best Director category (and in good company this year), both Franco and the film did pick up key nominations. It is unlikely either will triumph, but both will make voters give pause.

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THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Starring: Jessie Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Andrew Garfield, Joe Mazzello & Rashida Jones

Directed by David Fincher for distribution by Columbia Pictures (Sony)

“The internet's not written in pencil... It's written in ink.”

The Summary:

The story behind the rise of the Facebook social networking phenomenon and the trouble sudden fame brought to its creator (Jesse Eisenberg)

The Background:

Similar to the social network website it is based on, the movie started out with some solid buzz and then literally exploded onto the scene. Talk went from it garnering a few nominations to later possibly dominating the field, before finding a middle ground on nomination morning. Although the question lately has become was it a case of “too much, too soon,” as the original frontrunner “The King’s Speech” has run the table as of late.

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TOY STORY 3

Starring (voices): Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty,

Michael Keaton, Timothy Dalton & Whoopi Goldberg

Directed by Lee Unkrich for distribution by Disney/Pixar

“So long... partner. ”

The Summary:

As their owner prepares for college, a group of toys begin to realize they face an uncertain future.

The Background:

Pixar took its arguably most beloved set of characters and gave them a send-off worthy of the era of they helped usher in back in the late 1990’s. With this third and presumably final entry into the franchise, the studio has proven once again there’s animation and then there’s Pixar. Unfortunately, the Academy still believes that animated movies don’t belong on the same tier as their live-action counterparts. Yes, they have instituted a “Best Animated Film” award, but even that has come under controversy. It’s unfortunate that movies like this are given a nomination in what seems like name only. “Toy Story 3” was without a doubt one of the best movies of 2010, but it is highly unlikely it will receive the votes needed to win the big prize. While settling for “Best Animated Film” isn’t something to be taken lightly, this movie deserves more.

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TRUE GRIT

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin,

Barry Pepper & Hailee Steinfeld

Directed by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen for distribution by Paramount Pictures

“You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God”

The Summary:

A fourteen year old girl (Hailee Steinfeld) turns to a trigger-happy US Marshal (Jeff Bridges) for help after her father is brutally murdered in front of her. Once she gets the Marshal on board, the situation becomes more complicated when she insists on joining him in tracking down the killer.

The Background:

In 1969, John Wayne starred in the original “True Grit” and picked up his first and only Best Actor Academy Award. With the Coen Brothers behind this 2010 remake, Paramount is hoping for similar luck for both the film and lead Jeff Bridges who also happens to be the reigning Best Actor winner. “Grit” started off as a dark horse courtesy of a slow run at the box office, but has quietly moved to the forefront and accumulated over $100 million at the box office.  This horse may now be a stud.

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WINTER’S BONE

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Lauren Sweetser,

 Kevin Breznaha & Garrett Dillahunt

Directed by Debra Granik for distribution by Lionsgate

“Never ask for what should be offered.”

The Summary:

A teenage mother (Lawrence) must search the Ozarks for her deadbeat drug dealing father after he jumps bail prior to his trial.

The Background:

Every year the Academy nominates a handful of people and films that the majority of the movie-going public has never heard about at all.  This year a number of those slots were filled by “Winter’s Bone” and its talented stars Jennifer Lawrence and John Hawkes. A haunting drama, the movie has been on a number of critic’s year end lists and has enjoyed a nice second life on DVD. While it is unlikely to pull off any upsets, this time the prize may very well be the nomination.