Authors: Douglas Reese
Location: Clarksville, Ohio
"Abbott and Costello Meet Their Biography”
Directed by Stephen Gallagan
Written by Andrew Fleming and Stephen Gallagan
Produced by Jerry Seinfeld
Cinematography by Russell Carpenter
Editing by Thelma Schoonmaker
Music by Howard Shore
Principal Cast:
Jeff Daniels … William Alexander Abbott
Nathan Lane …Louis Francis Cristillo
Patricia Clarkson … Morgan Abbott
Alan Alda … Carl Laemmie
Missy Crider … Sarah Woodrow
Frances McDormand … Leona Abbott / Evelyn Cristillo
Tagline: "They made you laugh. They made you cry. They made you laugh harder. That’s about it"
Synopsis: Jeff Daniels is William Abbott, a 36-year old vaudeville star who becomes friends when he works as straight man to the 25-year old vaudeville comedian Lou Cristillo (Nathan Lane). It is from here where they become the funniest duo in town and sprout many fans and end up getting a contract to do a comedy film for Universal Studios. Abbott and “Costello” become international stars with their first film ‘One Night in the Tropics’, they spring forth to be America’s most loved comedic stars and make more movies, perform on stage, and become the best of friends! Stephen Gallagan’s deliciously captivating picture focuses on the productions of the duo’s films, the lives at home, the secrets storming up behind the scenes, and the conspiracy of Costello’s hair… It is a sure fact that Stephen Gallagan has delivered a movie masterpiece making the viewer of the film feel as if they are watching Abbott and Costello one last time!
What the press would say:
Shot in glorious black-and-white by ‘Titanic’ director of photography Russell Carpenter and scored beautifully by Howard Shore, ‘ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THEIR BIOGRAPHY’ is a film to remember! Nathan Lane won the Critics Choice Award for Best Actor for his splendid portrayal as Lou Costello! Jeff Daniels was nominated for the same award for his grand performance as Bud Abbott! Richard Roeper of Ebert & Roeper says,
“Daniels and Lane were born to play these roles, especially Lane who pulls off the best comedic performance of the year as Lou Costello. Ten minutes into the film we forget it is Lane acting and we believe that Lou is on the screen. He has risen from the dead!”
Gallagan’s take on making the biopic into a slapstick comedy with the style of Abbott and Costello’s films using black-and-white, full frame, a little grainy picture, old-fashioned musical score, nice corny dialogue, slapstick comedy, it prevails in the end to be a great “old-timers” movie. The film is well-done given the fact that it keeps a family-friendly status with a “G” rating and staying funny without being raunchy or senile.
‘ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THEIR BIOGRAPHY’ is sure to be an instant classic and Gallagan may receive the Director award that he rightfully deserves for delivering such a masterwork of true comical genius!
“Fast-paced, hilarious, touching, one of the best films of the year!” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Quote:
Lou: “Okay so we gonna split it 60/40.”
Bud: “Okay, how ‘bout not!”
Lou: “Fine, I can use more doe!”
For Your Consideration:
Picture
Director – Gallagan
Original Screenplay
Actor - Lane
Actor – Daniels
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Angel in Hells Alley
Author(s): Tony
Location: Pittsburgh
"The Angel in Hells Alley”
Directed by Stephen Frears
Written by Anthony Minghella
Producted by Tim Bevan
Music by Rachel Portman
Principal Cast:
William Sadler as Jerry Burnett
Adam Zolotin as Luke Harper
Alexander Conti as Young Luke
Sharon Stone as Deidre Burnett
Stanley Tucci as Dr. Francis Murray
Ralph Fiennes as Maxwell Harper
Marcia Gay Harden as Claudia Harper
John Hurt as William 'Bill' Burnett
Marc Musso as Jerry Burnett JR
Tagline: "A homeless man and an affluent boy meet in a dark alley...it was the best thing to happen to them both"
Synopsis: Passion and pain arouse in this highly dramatic fable about the relationship through the lives of one character on top of the world, and another at the bottom, the one on top is a 13 year old boy.
Luke Harper is a 13 year old kid with plenty of wealth behind him. His parents, Maxwell and Claudia (Fiennes and Harden) have mostly guided him throughout his life and have been very influential. However the conflict is Fiennes is a highly important government official who wants Luke to grow up in his fathers name. Luke is a boy with plenty ambition and hope towards whatever he decides to be.
However, deep in the city lie urban legends and myths. One being Hells Valley, which has been rumored no child should ever dare into, a rumor that's lived on for years. One day, careless Luke with nothing to lose decides to explore the heart of Hells Valley, only to meet a man (Sadler) cuddled into the corner behind a trash can. He awakes and together the two bind a tremendous relationship, with Luky being Jerrys only real contact ever since his lifestyle had changed to this, and Lukes only real freedom.
About three days a week Luke would meet Jerry in Hells Alley bringing him supplies that's needed for every day life, but every day seemed more painful for Luke, as his father continued to persuade him to be in shoes one day. Jerry teaches Luke the values of life and lectures him on making right decisions for himself day after day. However when Jerry is asked about his tormented past, he falls apart inside and wont let out an answer. It was finally until Luke asked him one more time about it and Jerry would throw a conniption. Frightening Luke so much he would then keep away from the alley for several months. However after feeling alone for a certain amount of time he revisits Jerry in Hells Alley, only to witness a rotting corpse behind a dumpster. Luke falls down in tears as he notices his friend has taken his own life, but a letter is left in his hand stating Luke was the best thing to happen in his life, for once he could express himself, but his troubled past he couldn't let him go.
The film then starts ten years later, where Luke is now a young adult with a lovely girlfriend and great apartment. Deciding to take a different road from his fathers wishing, Luke was a writer. He realizes it's the ten year anniversary since the death and realizes he must know what happened to the angel in Hells Valley that made him do such a thing. He gets in contact with Deidre, Jerrys ex-wife. Hear he learns more than imagined. The film then takes place in the past where Jerry and Deidre lived a beautiful life together, but money was low. Jerry was dealing with alcoholism, chemical dependency, and his father (John Hurt) being a victim of parathyroid cancer. Jerry was a changed man after this, which led to the affair Deidre had with her psychiatrist (Tucci). Never did Jerry know after he left her she conceived his child (Musso). Jerry left all he had behind, but left what he knew to Luke, saving Luke from ever truly knowing the meaning of life, to live it at the fullest, and be grateful for the things with and ahead of him.
What the press would say:
My hats off to the emotion packed gut wrenching drama with many symbolic meanings and forceful performances, "The Angel in Hells Alley". The two stories are told behind two persons eyes, Luke and Deidre. One of which is full of hope, happiness and warmth, while the other is full of agony, deception, and torment. William Sadler is terrific in this film, and whom happens to be the only connection with both stories. The first half of this feature is a kind gentle hearted individual, while the second we see character development that flies off the charts. Sadlers performance is one to not be taken lightly and should create some serious contention. Adam Zolotin touches our souls in his performance in "Jack" and yet saddens it in "The Angel in Hells Alley". The scene after Deidre tells her story and we see Zolotin in the car ride home letting all his emotions out, knowing what he has now is a mark in this young actors career, and he will be remembered for it. Fiennes brings out his old Schindlers List character (less violent of course) as the uptight father urging his son to be something he doesn't want to be, a supporting role nomination would be fit. Remember Casino? Remember Stone? Yeah, forget about it, the less annoying character she plays in Angel blows anything she's ever done out of the water. a lovable wife that is caught up in all her husbands emotions which eventually leads to more frustration from her actions afterwards. Take time in life to learn and appreciate every day life experiences, lovable or tragic, and go see this film. "The Angel in Hells Alley" delivers, and delivers hard!
Possible Nominations:
Best Picture - Anthony Minghella and Tim Bevan
Best Director - Stephen Frears
Best Actor in Leading Role - William Sadler
Best Actor in Supporting Role - Adam Zolotin
Best Actor in Supporting Role - Ralph Fiennes
Best Actress in Supporting Role - Sharon Stone
Best Original Screenplay - Anthony Minghella
Best Film Editing
Best Original Score
Best Original Song - "Further Between Us" - Trent Reznor
Location: Pittsburgh
"The Angel in Hells Alley”
Directed by Stephen Frears
Written by Anthony Minghella
Producted by Tim Bevan
Music by Rachel Portman
Principal Cast:
William Sadler as Jerry Burnett
Adam Zolotin as Luke Harper
Alexander Conti as Young Luke
Sharon Stone as Deidre Burnett
Stanley Tucci as Dr. Francis Murray
Ralph Fiennes as Maxwell Harper
Marcia Gay Harden as Claudia Harper
John Hurt as William 'Bill' Burnett
Marc Musso as Jerry Burnett JR
Tagline: "A homeless man and an affluent boy meet in a dark alley...it was the best thing to happen to them both"
Synopsis: Passion and pain arouse in this highly dramatic fable about the relationship through the lives of one character on top of the world, and another at the bottom, the one on top is a 13 year old boy.
Luke Harper is a 13 year old kid with plenty of wealth behind him. His parents, Maxwell and Claudia (Fiennes and Harden) have mostly guided him throughout his life and have been very influential. However the conflict is Fiennes is a highly important government official who wants Luke to grow up in his fathers name. Luke is a boy with plenty ambition and hope towards whatever he decides to be.
However, deep in the city lie urban legends and myths. One being Hells Valley, which has been rumored no child should ever dare into, a rumor that's lived on for years. One day, careless Luke with nothing to lose decides to explore the heart of Hells Valley, only to meet a man (Sadler) cuddled into the corner behind a trash can. He awakes and together the two bind a tremendous relationship, with Luky being Jerrys only real contact ever since his lifestyle had changed to this, and Lukes only real freedom.
About three days a week Luke would meet Jerry in Hells Alley bringing him supplies that's needed for every day life, but every day seemed more painful for Luke, as his father continued to persuade him to be in shoes one day. Jerry teaches Luke the values of life and lectures him on making right decisions for himself day after day. However when Jerry is asked about his tormented past, he falls apart inside and wont let out an answer. It was finally until Luke asked him one more time about it and Jerry would throw a conniption. Frightening Luke so much he would then keep away from the alley for several months. However after feeling alone for a certain amount of time he revisits Jerry in Hells Alley, only to witness a rotting corpse behind a dumpster. Luke falls down in tears as he notices his friend has taken his own life, but a letter is left in his hand stating Luke was the best thing to happen in his life, for once he could express himself, but his troubled past he couldn't let him go.
The film then starts ten years later, where Luke is now a young adult with a lovely girlfriend and great apartment. Deciding to take a different road from his fathers wishing, Luke was a writer. He realizes it's the ten year anniversary since the death and realizes he must know what happened to the angel in Hells Valley that made him do such a thing. He gets in contact with Deidre, Jerrys ex-wife. Hear he learns more than imagined. The film then takes place in the past where Jerry and Deidre lived a beautiful life together, but money was low. Jerry was dealing with alcoholism, chemical dependency, and his father (John Hurt) being a victim of parathyroid cancer. Jerry was a changed man after this, which led to the affair Deidre had with her psychiatrist (Tucci). Never did Jerry know after he left her she conceived his child (Musso). Jerry left all he had behind, but left what he knew to Luke, saving Luke from ever truly knowing the meaning of life, to live it at the fullest, and be grateful for the things with and ahead of him.
What the press would say:
My hats off to the emotion packed gut wrenching drama with many symbolic meanings and forceful performances, "The Angel in Hells Alley". The two stories are told behind two persons eyes, Luke and Deidre. One of which is full of hope, happiness and warmth, while the other is full of agony, deception, and torment. William Sadler is terrific in this film, and whom happens to be the only connection with both stories. The first half of this feature is a kind gentle hearted individual, while the second we see character development that flies off the charts. Sadlers performance is one to not be taken lightly and should create some serious contention. Adam Zolotin touches our souls in his performance in "Jack" and yet saddens it in "The Angel in Hells Alley". The scene after Deidre tells her story and we see Zolotin in the car ride home letting all his emotions out, knowing what he has now is a mark in this young actors career, and he will be remembered for it. Fiennes brings out his old Schindlers List character (less violent of course) as the uptight father urging his son to be something he doesn't want to be, a supporting role nomination would be fit. Remember Casino? Remember Stone? Yeah, forget about it, the less annoying character she plays in Angel blows anything she's ever done out of the water. a lovable wife that is caught up in all her husbands emotions which eventually leads to more frustration from her actions afterwards. Take time in life to learn and appreciate every day life experiences, lovable or tragic, and go see this film. "The Angel in Hells Alley" delivers, and delivers hard!
Possible Nominations:
Best Picture - Anthony Minghella and Tim Bevan
Best Director - Stephen Frears
Best Actor in Leading Role - William Sadler
Best Actor in Supporting Role - Adam Zolotin
Best Actor in Supporting Role - Ralph Fiennes
Best Actress in Supporting Role - Sharon Stone
Best Original Screenplay - Anthony Minghella
Best Film Editing
Best Original Score
Best Original Song - "Further Between Us" - Trent Reznor
Animal Farm
Author(s): Alex / Daniel Crooke
Location: Washington State / Ohio
"Animal Farm”
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Screenplay by: Dan Futterman
Score by: James Horner
Principal Cast:
Principal Cast:
George Clooney as Theodore 'Napoleon' Richter
Denzel Washington as James 'Snowball' Jacobs
Paul Giamatti as Michael 'Squealer' Clark
Liam Neeson as Alex 'Boxer' Stevens
Jon Voight as Jameson 'Old Major' Doyal
Virginia Madsen as Sandra 'Clover' Miller
Steve Buscemi as "Moses"
Reese Witherspoon as Mollie Jones
Gene Hackman as Benjamin Washington
Patricia Clarkson as Muriel DiMarco
Rachel Weisz as Jessie Robertson
Maria Bello as Melissa 'Bluebell' Browning
Jack Nicholson as Mr. Samuel Jones
Donald Sutherland as Norbert Pilkington
Robert Duvall as Steven Frederick
Tommy Lee Jones as Jon Whymper
Tagline: "All employees are equal, but some employees are more equal than others"
Synopsis: A New York City office building. Jameson Doyal, a department head at Jones Inc., has a dream that the employees will rise up over their boss, Samuel Jones. Jones is the worst boss anyone could have. He keeps his employees late, makes them come in on weekends, underpays them, and is just an overall not a very nice man. Soon after Doyal tells his workers of his dream, he has a heart attack and dies. Theodore Ritchie (who is called Napoleon by his friends because of a daring trade deal he managed to make with a French company) and James Jacobs (who was called Snowball by his childhood friends and the name stuck) were Doyal's favorite deputies. The two desperately wanted to make sure that Doyal's dream would come true. So, they led a Class Action lawsuit against Jones. They constantly argue over who should run the business. The company's spokesperson, Michael Clark, and the hardest worker to most of the interns and employees, Alex Stevens, are both convinced into going along with Ritchie. At the trial to decide who is granted control of the office, Jones or the employees, Jacobs is called to the stand and gives a riveting speech on how cruel life at the office was under Jones. Not only do the employees win their case, but Jacobs is praised by the other employees, for his speech, and is expected to win the upcoming election between him and Ritchie to see who will hold the position of CEO and who will stay department head. It is at about this time that Ritchie and Jacobs issue the new office rules or "Seven Commandments" as they were nicknamed around the office. The rules state that every employee is equal and that they all will never enforce the tyranny that Jones did.
Ritchie now sees Jacobs as even more of a threat to his lust for power. It is then discovered that two other department heads, Jessie Robertson and Melissa Browning, lent Ritchie a total of nine interns. These nine interns, along with Clark, were then used to gather damaging information about Jacobs for Ritchie in order to get him fired. They were, as one could say, a secret police. Clark tells everyone that Jacobs was working for Jones when he gave his infamous speech. Ritchie fires Jacobs and intimidates the other employees into naming him CEO, and then promotes Stevens to department head. It turns out that only one employee was absent from the trial. Mollie Jones. Mollie Jones is Stevens' secretary and Samuel Jones' daughter. She loved the fact that she was treated differently from everyone else. She was never forced to stay late or had any of the inconveniences the other employees had. Clark is fed up with her complaining about her not getting special treatment any longer, and pushes her to resign and leave town. The only employee of Jones' to stay after he leaves is Benjamin Washington, the rusty old chief of security. The only reason why he does stay is because he really doesn't care what happens or how it is done and pretty much keeps to himself. This begins the "purification" of the office by Ritchie. Now that Ritchie is fully secure in his position, he decides to open up trade deals to make some money for the struggling business. Muriel DiMarco, head of the personnel office hires Jon Whymper to be the middle man in the soon to be announced trade summit. Norbert Pilkington is the CEO of Foxwood, INC based in London. Steven Frederick is the CEO of Pinchfeild, CO based in Berlin. Both companies are eager to pay the highest price. It looks like Ritchie is about to close the deal with Pilkington, but he decides instead to sell to Frederick. His reasoning? Jacobs is presumably now working as a top consultant to Pilkington.
It's about now that a homeless Christian fanatic starts to live in their parking garage. He is known only as "Moses", and is obsessed with Armageddon and the coming of next coming of Christ. He is seen only as an annoyance to most of the employees, as well as Ritchie. "Moses" begins to fill the employees' minds with a much better place then where they are already working. He tries to excite the employees into leaving the company. "Moses" disappears. With the money acquired from the deal with Frederick, Ritchie introduces a plan for an extension for their office building (which was originally Jacobs' idea). As soon as its completed, a really nasty storm tears down its foundation. Although this is true, Ritchie tells Clark to report to the employees that it was an act of sabotage by Jacobs, and that he was trying to bomb them to slow progress. The employees believe this and police put out a warrant for his arrest. Sandra Miller is Ritchie's assistant. She walks in on him breaking one of the "Seven Commandments". It stated that "No alcohol shall be consumed in the office". As several other commandments are broken, Ritchie believed that it was about time for a revision in the so called "Seven Commandments". In order to make sure he could do whatever he wanted, he revised the rules so that it only consisted of one. The one and only rule was "All employees are equal, but some employees are more equal than others". Soon Steven gets in a car accident and is immediately hospitalized. He has the third highest paying job and will be on the payroll while lying in bed. Instead of keeping him onboard, Ritchie fires him to save money. no employees shall be fired. Miller gets suspicious again, and is told by DiMarco that. At the end of the film there's a giant party hosted by Pilkington to congratulate Ritchie on a job well done. As they are talking, Ritchie starts to tell Pilkington of the new low wages and long hours to be announced the next day. It turns out that the company really hasn't gotten anywhere since Jones left. It got worse. At least for the common employees. Ritchie and his private staff were living the high life. All employees are equal, but some employees are more equal than others.
What the press would say:
Oliver Stone's newest film "Animal Farm" is one of the greatest adaptations I have seen in over a decade. The film is a parallel to the famous novel by George Orwell, which is also a parallel. Instead of animals on a farm, this film features businessmen and women in a major New York City business. The film has an outstanding cast with George Clooney and Denzel Washington as the lead actors, Theodore "Napoleon" Richter and James "Snowball" Jacobs. A few standouts are Steve Buscemi as the homeless Christian fanatic only known as "Moses", Paul Giamatti as Napoleon's right hand man Michael "Squealer" Clark, Liam Neeson as the extremely dedicated Alex "Boxer" Stevens, and Reese Witherspoon as Mollie Jones, the daughter of the boss, Mr. Jones (Jack Nicholson, in an outstanding portrayal), who is at times extremely frivolous and overly happy. Virginia Madsen and Patricia Clarkson play Sandra "Clover" Miller and Muriel DiMarco, respectively. Both were more than good and will for sure get Golden Globe nominations. Hopefully, both will end up with final Oscar nominations. The screenplay is brilliantly adapted by Dan Futterman. The film is edited beautifully with a great directing eye from Oliver Stone. The film has already won a few precursor awards including the Best Actor award at Venice for George Clooney and outstanding reviews from Toronto.Overall, "Animal Farm" is one of my favorite films of this fierce awards season and will be winning a few awards come Oscar time.
Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director (Oliver Stone)
Best Actor (George Clooney, Denzel Washington)
Best Supporting Actor (Steve Buschemi, Paul Giamatti, Liam Neeson)
Best Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen, Reese Witherspoon, Patricia Clarkson)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Dan Futterman)
Best Film Editing
Location: Washington State / Ohio
"Animal Farm”
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Screenplay by: Dan Futterman
Score by: James Horner
Principal Cast:
Principal Cast:
George Clooney as Theodore 'Napoleon' Richter
Denzel Washington as James 'Snowball' Jacobs
Paul Giamatti as Michael 'Squealer' Clark
Liam Neeson as Alex 'Boxer' Stevens
Jon Voight as Jameson 'Old Major' Doyal
Virginia Madsen as Sandra 'Clover' Miller
Steve Buscemi as "Moses"
Reese Witherspoon as Mollie Jones
Gene Hackman as Benjamin Washington
Patricia Clarkson as Muriel DiMarco
Rachel Weisz as Jessie Robertson
Maria Bello as Melissa 'Bluebell' Browning
Jack Nicholson as Mr. Samuel Jones
Donald Sutherland as Norbert Pilkington
Robert Duvall as Steven Frederick
Tommy Lee Jones as Jon Whymper
Tagline: "All employees are equal, but some employees are more equal than others"
Synopsis: A New York City office building. Jameson Doyal, a department head at Jones Inc., has a dream that the employees will rise up over their boss, Samuel Jones. Jones is the worst boss anyone could have. He keeps his employees late, makes them come in on weekends, underpays them, and is just an overall not a very nice man. Soon after Doyal tells his workers of his dream, he has a heart attack and dies. Theodore Ritchie (who is called Napoleon by his friends because of a daring trade deal he managed to make with a French company) and James Jacobs (who was called Snowball by his childhood friends and the name stuck) were Doyal's favorite deputies. The two desperately wanted to make sure that Doyal's dream would come true. So, they led a Class Action lawsuit against Jones. They constantly argue over who should run the business. The company's spokesperson, Michael Clark, and the hardest worker to most of the interns and employees, Alex Stevens, are both convinced into going along with Ritchie. At the trial to decide who is granted control of the office, Jones or the employees, Jacobs is called to the stand and gives a riveting speech on how cruel life at the office was under Jones. Not only do the employees win their case, but Jacobs is praised by the other employees, for his speech, and is expected to win the upcoming election between him and Ritchie to see who will hold the position of CEO and who will stay department head. It is at about this time that Ritchie and Jacobs issue the new office rules or "Seven Commandments" as they were nicknamed around the office. The rules state that every employee is equal and that they all will never enforce the tyranny that Jones did.
Ritchie now sees Jacobs as even more of a threat to his lust for power. It is then discovered that two other department heads, Jessie Robertson and Melissa Browning, lent Ritchie a total of nine interns. These nine interns, along with Clark, were then used to gather damaging information about Jacobs for Ritchie in order to get him fired. They were, as one could say, a secret police. Clark tells everyone that Jacobs was working for Jones when he gave his infamous speech. Ritchie fires Jacobs and intimidates the other employees into naming him CEO, and then promotes Stevens to department head. It turns out that only one employee was absent from the trial. Mollie Jones. Mollie Jones is Stevens' secretary and Samuel Jones' daughter. She loved the fact that she was treated differently from everyone else. She was never forced to stay late or had any of the inconveniences the other employees had. Clark is fed up with her complaining about her not getting special treatment any longer, and pushes her to resign and leave town. The only employee of Jones' to stay after he leaves is Benjamin Washington, the rusty old chief of security. The only reason why he does stay is because he really doesn't care what happens or how it is done and pretty much keeps to himself. This begins the "purification" of the office by Ritchie. Now that Ritchie is fully secure in his position, he decides to open up trade deals to make some money for the struggling business. Muriel DiMarco, head of the personnel office hires Jon Whymper to be the middle man in the soon to be announced trade summit. Norbert Pilkington is the CEO of Foxwood, INC based in London. Steven Frederick is the CEO of Pinchfeild, CO based in Berlin. Both companies are eager to pay the highest price. It looks like Ritchie is about to close the deal with Pilkington, but he decides instead to sell to Frederick. His reasoning? Jacobs is presumably now working as a top consultant to Pilkington.
It's about now that a homeless Christian fanatic starts to live in their parking garage. He is known only as "Moses", and is obsessed with Armageddon and the coming of next coming of Christ. He is seen only as an annoyance to most of the employees, as well as Ritchie. "Moses" begins to fill the employees' minds with a much better place then where they are already working. He tries to excite the employees into leaving the company. "Moses" disappears. With the money acquired from the deal with Frederick, Ritchie introduces a plan for an extension for their office building (which was originally Jacobs' idea). As soon as its completed, a really nasty storm tears down its foundation. Although this is true, Ritchie tells Clark to report to the employees that it was an act of sabotage by Jacobs, and that he was trying to bomb them to slow progress. The employees believe this and police put out a warrant for his arrest. Sandra Miller is Ritchie's assistant. She walks in on him breaking one of the "Seven Commandments". It stated that "No alcohol shall be consumed in the office". As several other commandments are broken, Ritchie believed that it was about time for a revision in the so called "Seven Commandments". In order to make sure he could do whatever he wanted, he revised the rules so that it only consisted of one. The one and only rule was "All employees are equal, but some employees are more equal than others". Soon Steven gets in a car accident and is immediately hospitalized. He has the third highest paying job and will be on the payroll while lying in bed. Instead of keeping him onboard, Ritchie fires him to save money. no employees shall be fired. Miller gets suspicious again, and is told by DiMarco that. At the end of the film there's a giant party hosted by Pilkington to congratulate Ritchie on a job well done. As they are talking, Ritchie starts to tell Pilkington of the new low wages and long hours to be announced the next day. It turns out that the company really hasn't gotten anywhere since Jones left. It got worse. At least for the common employees. Ritchie and his private staff were living the high life. All employees are equal, but some employees are more equal than others.
What the press would say:
Oliver Stone's newest film "Animal Farm" is one of the greatest adaptations I have seen in over a decade. The film is a parallel to the famous novel by George Orwell, which is also a parallel. Instead of animals on a farm, this film features businessmen and women in a major New York City business. The film has an outstanding cast with George Clooney and Denzel Washington as the lead actors, Theodore "Napoleon" Richter and James "Snowball" Jacobs. A few standouts are Steve Buscemi as the homeless Christian fanatic only known as "Moses", Paul Giamatti as Napoleon's right hand man Michael "Squealer" Clark, Liam Neeson as the extremely dedicated Alex "Boxer" Stevens, and Reese Witherspoon as Mollie Jones, the daughter of the boss, Mr. Jones (Jack Nicholson, in an outstanding portrayal), who is at times extremely frivolous and overly happy. Virginia Madsen and Patricia Clarkson play Sandra "Clover" Miller and Muriel DiMarco, respectively. Both were more than good and will for sure get Golden Globe nominations. Hopefully, both will end up with final Oscar nominations. The screenplay is brilliantly adapted by Dan Futterman. The film is edited beautifully with a great directing eye from Oliver Stone. The film has already won a few precursor awards including the Best Actor award at Venice for George Clooney and outstanding reviews from Toronto.Overall, "Animal Farm" is one of my favorite films of this fierce awards season and will be winning a few awards come Oscar time.
Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director (Oliver Stone)
Best Actor (George Clooney, Denzel Washington)
Best Supporting Actor (Steve Buschemi, Paul Giamatti, Liam Neeson)
Best Supporting Actress (Virginia Madsen, Reese Witherspoon, Patricia Clarkson)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Dan Futterman)
Best Film Editing
Antonie
Author(s): James Somerton
Location: NS, Canada
"Antoine.”
Directed By: Brian DePalma
Written By: James Somerton
Principal Cast:
Joaquin Phoenix as Antoine Sergeni
Jason Cerbone as Antoine Sergeni (1970’s)
Felicity Huffman as Patricia Referno
Haley Joel Osment as Blake Referno
Jamie Lynn Sigler as Kristin Referno
Brendan Filone as Michael Referno (1970’s)
Al Pacino as Anthony DeLetto
Tagline: "There’s a story behind every murder. So imagine a massacre"
Synopsis:
(1970’s)
Antoine Sergeni has just entered college when he meets Michael Referno, a well-known collector for the DeLetto family whom Antoine’s mother owes money. Antoine convinces Michael to excuse the debt but only by assisting him on a hit. Antoine only plans on watching but ends up killing a man to save Michael’s life. The problem is, that man was a police officer and now the only people who can protect him are the DeLetto’s.
(1980’s)
Antoine Sergeni is now one of the most prominent members of the DeLetto crime family. He’s even in the running to take over as boss once Anthony DeLetto, who is dying of lung cancer, dies. Michael Referno wants the job too though but is too respectful of Antoine to do anything about it. But once Antoine is caught in bed with Michael’s wife, Patricia, all bet’s are off. And the birth of a son sends everyone into panic. When Anthony DeLetto dies, Michael and Antoine break the family into two and an all out war begins.
(2000’s)
The Referno Crime Family is now all but extinct. The Sergeni Crime Family is flourishing in the new millennium and so is Antoine. Now that he has his son back, he can be the father he always wanted to be. But when he is taken to jail on RICO charges, his son, Blake, is forced into the family business. Now he must choose between the business created by the man who raised him, or the father that abandoned him.
What the press would say:
Very rarely does a sequel overshadow it’s predecessor but with “Antoine.”, it has been managed. However, “Antoine.” Is a very different film from “Lost in America”. “Lost in America” was a coming of age story that took place in the world of organized crime. “Antoine.” Is a full on mafia thriller that takes places in three different decades; the 70’s, the 80’s, and the 2000’s. I suppose that “Lost in America” took place in the 90’s seeing as how that decade is skipped over. The film’s writing is very powerful, jumping back and forth from decade to decade, all the while making sure that each and every plotline (and there are many) is taken care of nicely. The characters, many of which were introduced in “Lost in America”, are completely fleshed out in this film. Antoine Sergeni, who was a supporting player in “Lost in America”, becomes such a realistic and vibrant character that we find ourselves rooting for him even after seeing him commit some of the most heinous acts in film history. Another character that truly comes to light in this film is Blake Referno, played by Haley Joel Osment. Osment gives the performance of a lifetime in this movie, pulling out all the stops and creating a character so sympathetic that anyone would side with him.
This is perfect, especially when Blake starts committing his own heinous acts. Felicity Huffman returns as Patricia Referno and steals her scenes away from the male leads but the real scene-stealer of this movie is Al Pacino as Anthony DeLetto. The aging mob boss gives Pacino the perfect palate from which to work. His scenes with Phoenix are some of the best of his career. Now, I know that this is a sequel and that sequels are rarely as good as the originals, and almost never better, but “Antoine.” Really pulls it off.
The script and the actors compliment each other so well that director Brian DePalma has only to make it look interesting. He uses different techniques in all three stories to give them all a different feel. When you watch “The 70’s” you feel like you’re watching a movie from that era. When you watch “The 80’s” you feel like your watching a movie from that era too. This movie is nearly three hours long but it doesn’t feel that long. There were some moments near the end that I was wishing that the story would go on for another decade. To see what happens next. Maybe there will be another sequel to show us that. This is definitely one of the most interesting movies of the year. So interesting, in fact, that The New York Times has called it “Mesmerizing”. A real Winner!
POSSIBLE NOMINATIONS:
Best Picture
Best Director – Brian DePalma
Best Original Screenplay – James Somerton
Best Actor - Joaquin Phoenix
Best Supporting Actress – Felicity Huffman
Best Supporting Actor – Haley Joel Osment
Best Supporting Actor – Al Pacino
Location: NS, Canada
"Antoine.”
Directed By: Brian DePalma
Written By: James Somerton
Principal Cast:
Joaquin Phoenix as Antoine Sergeni
Jason Cerbone as Antoine Sergeni (1970’s)
Felicity Huffman as Patricia Referno
Haley Joel Osment as Blake Referno
Jamie Lynn Sigler as Kristin Referno
Brendan Filone as Michael Referno (1970’s)
Al Pacino as Anthony DeLetto
Tagline: "There’s a story behind every murder. So imagine a massacre"
Synopsis:
(1970’s)
Antoine Sergeni has just entered college when he meets Michael Referno, a well-known collector for the DeLetto family whom Antoine’s mother owes money. Antoine convinces Michael to excuse the debt but only by assisting him on a hit. Antoine only plans on watching but ends up killing a man to save Michael’s life. The problem is, that man was a police officer and now the only people who can protect him are the DeLetto’s.
(1980’s)
Antoine Sergeni is now one of the most prominent members of the DeLetto crime family. He’s even in the running to take over as boss once Anthony DeLetto, who is dying of lung cancer, dies. Michael Referno wants the job too though but is too respectful of Antoine to do anything about it. But once Antoine is caught in bed with Michael’s wife, Patricia, all bet’s are off. And the birth of a son sends everyone into panic. When Anthony DeLetto dies, Michael and Antoine break the family into two and an all out war begins.
(2000’s)
The Referno Crime Family is now all but extinct. The Sergeni Crime Family is flourishing in the new millennium and so is Antoine. Now that he has his son back, he can be the father he always wanted to be. But when he is taken to jail on RICO charges, his son, Blake, is forced into the family business. Now he must choose between the business created by the man who raised him, or the father that abandoned him.
What the press would say:
Very rarely does a sequel overshadow it’s predecessor but with “Antoine.”, it has been managed. However, “Antoine.” Is a very different film from “Lost in America”. “Lost in America” was a coming of age story that took place in the world of organized crime. “Antoine.” Is a full on mafia thriller that takes places in three different decades; the 70’s, the 80’s, and the 2000’s. I suppose that “Lost in America” took place in the 90’s seeing as how that decade is skipped over. The film’s writing is very powerful, jumping back and forth from decade to decade, all the while making sure that each and every plotline (and there are many) is taken care of nicely. The characters, many of which were introduced in “Lost in America”, are completely fleshed out in this film. Antoine Sergeni, who was a supporting player in “Lost in America”, becomes such a realistic and vibrant character that we find ourselves rooting for him even after seeing him commit some of the most heinous acts in film history. Another character that truly comes to light in this film is Blake Referno, played by Haley Joel Osment. Osment gives the performance of a lifetime in this movie, pulling out all the stops and creating a character so sympathetic that anyone would side with him.
This is perfect, especially when Blake starts committing his own heinous acts. Felicity Huffman returns as Patricia Referno and steals her scenes away from the male leads but the real scene-stealer of this movie is Al Pacino as Anthony DeLetto. The aging mob boss gives Pacino the perfect palate from which to work. His scenes with Phoenix are some of the best of his career. Now, I know that this is a sequel and that sequels are rarely as good as the originals, and almost never better, but “Antoine.” Really pulls it off.
The script and the actors compliment each other so well that director Brian DePalma has only to make it look interesting. He uses different techniques in all three stories to give them all a different feel. When you watch “The 70’s” you feel like you’re watching a movie from that era. When you watch “The 80’s” you feel like your watching a movie from that era too. This movie is nearly three hours long but it doesn’t feel that long. There were some moments near the end that I was wishing that the story would go on for another decade. To see what happens next. Maybe there will be another sequel to show us that. This is definitely one of the most interesting movies of the year. So interesting, in fact, that The New York Times has called it “Mesmerizing”. A real Winner!
POSSIBLE NOMINATIONS:
Best Picture
Best Director – Brian DePalma
Best Original Screenplay – James Somerton
Best Actor - Joaquin Phoenix
Best Supporting Actress – Felicity Huffman
Best Supporting Actor – Haley Joel Osment
Best Supporting Actor – Al Pacino
The Awakening
Authors: Gabby
Location: NY
"The Awakening”
Produced by Harvey Weinstein
Written & Directed by Jane Campion
Music by Michael Nyman
Original Music – Peter Gabriel
Principal Cast:
Reese Witherspoon - Edna Pontellier
Liam Neeson - Léonce Pontellier
Ryan Gosling - Robert Lebrun
Hayden Christensen - Alcée Arobin
Anjelica Huston - Mademoiselle Reisz
Kathy Baker - Madame Lebrun
Hilary Swank - Adèle Ratignolle
Jeff Bridges - Doctor Mandelet
Tagline: "There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness"
October 20th 2007
Synopsis: The Awakening takes place in the late 1800’s. It begins at a crisis point in twenty-eight year-old Edna Pontellier's life. Edna is a passionate and artistic woman who finds few acceptable outlets for her desires in her role as wife and mother of two sons living in conventional Creole society. Unlike the married women around her, whose sensuality seems to flow naturally into maternity, Edna finds herself wanting her own emotional and sexual identity. During one summer while her husband is out of town, her frustrations find an outlet in an affair with a younger man. Energized and filled with a desire to define her own life, she sends her children to the country and removes herself to a small house of her own: Her triumph is short-lived, however, destroyed by a society that has no place for a self-determined, unattached woman. Her story is a tragedy and one of many clarion calls in its day to examine the institution of marriage and woman's opportunities in an oppressive world.
What the press would say:
The Awakening is a continuation of Australian director Jane Campion's exploration of the unique ways women express soul. In the best performance of her career, Reese Witherspoon conveys Edna's multidimensional journey into passion. Robert, played to perfection by Ryan Gosling is the first to recognize her passion. Liam Neeson plays Léonce, who is frightened of his wife's intensity and put off by her efforts to have her own way. He is very convincing as the absent minded husband. Reese’s best scene of the film occurs during the ending with a dramatic incident at sea; Edna walks into the ocean and chooses death over her unsatisfying life. The Awakening is the most sense-luscious film to reach the screen in years. It shows how soul is revealed through the fusion of body, desire, and feeling. The evocative quality of Jane Campion’s screenplay is one of the strengths of The Awakening. This film boasts one of the most incredible casts ever assembled on screen, all wanting the chance to work with acclaimed director Jane Campion. Award nominations look bright in the future. The safest nominees at this point are.
Best Picture – Harvey Weinstein
Best Director – Jane Campion
Best Actress – Reese Witherspoon
Best Supporting Actor – Ryan Gosling
Best Supporting Actor – Liam Neeson
Best Adapted Screenplay – Jane Campion
Best Original Score – Michael Nyman
Best Original Song – Peter Gabriel
Best Costume Design
Best Cinematography
Best Art / Set Direction
Location: NY
"The Awakening”
Produced by Harvey Weinstein
Written & Directed by Jane Campion
Music by Michael Nyman
Original Music – Peter Gabriel
Principal Cast:
Reese Witherspoon - Edna Pontellier
Liam Neeson - Léonce Pontellier
Ryan Gosling - Robert Lebrun
Hayden Christensen - Alcée Arobin
Anjelica Huston - Mademoiselle Reisz
Kathy Baker - Madame Lebrun
Hilary Swank - Adèle Ratignolle
Jeff Bridges - Doctor Mandelet
Tagline: "There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness"
October 20th 2007
Synopsis: The Awakening takes place in the late 1800’s. It begins at a crisis point in twenty-eight year-old Edna Pontellier's life. Edna is a passionate and artistic woman who finds few acceptable outlets for her desires in her role as wife and mother of two sons living in conventional Creole society. Unlike the married women around her, whose sensuality seems to flow naturally into maternity, Edna finds herself wanting her own emotional and sexual identity. During one summer while her husband is out of town, her frustrations find an outlet in an affair with a younger man. Energized and filled with a desire to define her own life, she sends her children to the country and removes herself to a small house of her own: Her triumph is short-lived, however, destroyed by a society that has no place for a self-determined, unattached woman. Her story is a tragedy and one of many clarion calls in its day to examine the institution of marriage and woman's opportunities in an oppressive world.
What the press would say:
The Awakening is a continuation of Australian director Jane Campion's exploration of the unique ways women express soul. In the best performance of her career, Reese Witherspoon conveys Edna's multidimensional journey into passion. Robert, played to perfection by Ryan Gosling is the first to recognize her passion. Liam Neeson plays Léonce, who is frightened of his wife's intensity and put off by her efforts to have her own way. He is very convincing as the absent minded husband. Reese’s best scene of the film occurs during the ending with a dramatic incident at sea; Edna walks into the ocean and chooses death over her unsatisfying life. The Awakening is the most sense-luscious film to reach the screen in years. It shows how soul is revealed through the fusion of body, desire, and feeling. The evocative quality of Jane Campion’s screenplay is one of the strengths of The Awakening. This film boasts one of the most incredible casts ever assembled on screen, all wanting the chance to work with acclaimed director Jane Campion. Award nominations look bright in the future. The safest nominees at this point are.
Best Picture – Harvey Weinstein
Best Director – Jane Campion
Best Actress – Reese Witherspoon
Best Supporting Actor – Ryan Gosling
Best Supporting Actor – Liam Neeson
Best Adapted Screenplay – Jane Campion
Best Original Score – Michael Nyman
Best Original Song – Peter Gabriel
Best Costume Design
Best Cinematography
Best Art / Set Direction
Bad Habits
Authors: Josh P.
Location: Chicago, IL
"Bad Habits”
Directed by Bill Condon
Screenplay by Bill Condon
Produced by Michael London
Music by Danny Elfman
Principal Cast:
Jim Carrey (Phil Howard)
Kate Winslet (Margaret Domer)
Kathy Bates (Aunt Josephine)
Blythe Danner (Aunt Daphne)
Brad Garrett (James Howard)
Paul Giamatti (Dr. Newton)
Gregory Itzin (George “Richard Nixon” Howard)
Stephen Rea (Officer Jim O’ Kelly)
Nathan Lane (Reverend Henry Jimson)
Kiefer Sutherland (Detective Williams)
Alan Alda (Captain O’ Henry)
Robin Williams (Dr. Arnold Watson)
Tagline: "What can two old ladies with a bottle of wine do for charity?"
Synopsis: A re-working of the play Arsenic and Old Lace, as well as the Frank Capra film, focuses on the character Phil (Carrey), a notorious bachelor who has preached so much about staying one that he keeps it a secret he’s about to wed his sweetheart (Winslet). Before he goes off to Paris for his honeymoon, he visits his two, sweet aunts in the countryside of Springfield, Illinois (Bates, Danner). However, he finds an unexpected surprise: there’s a dead body in the window seat, and his aunts killed him with poisoned wine out of charity. To try and save his aunts from conviction, he tries to pin it on his mentally ill cousin (Itzin), who can’t stop believing he’s Richard Nixon. However, there’s more trouble coming. His estranged brother (Garrett), who bears an uneasy resemblance to Fred Gwyne’s Herman Munster, has returned to the childhood home with a plastic surgeon (Giamatti), both on the run as fugitives and with a dead body of their own. It’s a comedic mess in epic proportions.
What the press would say:
An extraordinary and clever re-working of one of the great classic comedies is brought up before the screen. Writer/Director Bill Condon provides a tight and witty script as well as a marvelous sense of comic direction. The ensemble is full of energy: Jim Carrey is hilarious and provides a nice balance of wit and slapstick, Brad Garrett is ultimately uproarious as
he can now move on from “Everybody Loves Raymond” and the pairing of great comedic talents such as Kathy Bates and Blythe Danner is sublime. The rest of the supporting cast is marvelous as well. The campaign consideration:
Best Picture
Best Director: Bill Condon
Best Actor: Jim Carrey
Best Supporting Actor: Brad Garrett
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates
Best Supporting Actress: Blythe Danner
Best Adapted Screenplay: Bill Condon
Best Art Direction
Best Original Score
Location: Chicago, IL
"Bad Habits”
Directed by Bill Condon
Screenplay by Bill Condon
Produced by Michael London
Music by Danny Elfman
Principal Cast:
Jim Carrey (Phil Howard)
Kate Winslet (Margaret Domer)
Kathy Bates (Aunt Josephine)
Blythe Danner (Aunt Daphne)
Brad Garrett (James Howard)
Paul Giamatti (Dr. Newton)
Gregory Itzin (George “Richard Nixon” Howard)
Stephen Rea (Officer Jim O’ Kelly)
Nathan Lane (Reverend Henry Jimson)
Kiefer Sutherland (Detective Williams)
Alan Alda (Captain O’ Henry)
Robin Williams (Dr. Arnold Watson)
Tagline: "What can two old ladies with a bottle of wine do for charity?"
Synopsis: A re-working of the play Arsenic and Old Lace, as well as the Frank Capra film, focuses on the character Phil (Carrey), a notorious bachelor who has preached so much about staying one that he keeps it a secret he’s about to wed his sweetheart (Winslet). Before he goes off to Paris for his honeymoon, he visits his two, sweet aunts in the countryside of Springfield, Illinois (Bates, Danner). However, he finds an unexpected surprise: there’s a dead body in the window seat, and his aunts killed him with poisoned wine out of charity. To try and save his aunts from conviction, he tries to pin it on his mentally ill cousin (Itzin), who can’t stop believing he’s Richard Nixon. However, there’s more trouble coming. His estranged brother (Garrett), who bears an uneasy resemblance to Fred Gwyne’s Herman Munster, has returned to the childhood home with a plastic surgeon (Giamatti), both on the run as fugitives and with a dead body of their own. It’s a comedic mess in epic proportions.
What the press would say:
An extraordinary and clever re-working of one of the great classic comedies is brought up before the screen. Writer/Director Bill Condon provides a tight and witty script as well as a marvelous sense of comic direction. The ensemble is full of energy: Jim Carrey is hilarious and provides a nice balance of wit and slapstick, Brad Garrett is ultimately uproarious as
he can now move on from “Everybody Loves Raymond” and the pairing of great comedic talents such as Kathy Bates and Blythe Danner is sublime. The rest of the supporting cast is marvelous as well. The campaign consideration:
Best Picture
Best Director: Bill Condon
Best Actor: Jim Carrey
Best Supporting Actor: Brad Garrett
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates
Best Supporting Actress: Blythe Danner
Best Adapted Screenplay: Bill Condon
Best Art Direction
Best Original Score
The Bang-Bang Club
Authors: D.W. Dillon
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
"The Bang-Bang Club"
Directed by Julian Schnabel
Written by John Irving
Music by Sean Moore and James Dean Bradfield
Produced by James Nachtwey
Principal Cast:
Kiefer Sutherland - Kevin Carter (photojournalist)
Rebecca Miller - Nancy Buirski (Time Magazine editor)
Johnny Depp - Ken Oosterbroek (photojournalist)
Charlize Theron - Monica Oosterbroek (wife)
Jeffrey Wright - Joao Silva (photojournalist)
Tim Robbins - Greg Marinovich (photojournalist)
Jeremy Piven - Gary Bernard (photojournalist)
And
Daniel Day-Lewis as James Nachtwey (photojournalist)
Tagline: "Their pictures opened our eyes, but it took their souls"
Synopsis: During the Apartheid period of the late 80's and early 90's, six photo journalists entered the battle zones of South Africa to capture pictures of war, poverty and death. Headed by famed photographers Kevin Carter (Kiefer Sutherland), his best friend Ken Oosterbroek (Johnny Depp) and the veteran James Nachtwey (Daniel Day-Lewis), they hoped to take images that would change the way people see the rest of the world and finally take notice. Their noble intentions would lead them all down a road of guilt and pain. Known as the "Bang-Bang Club" because of their all too realistic shots of gunfire and war, they would soon find themselves in the line of fire. Each taking bullets, each trying to save one another on several occasions, and not without facing fatalities amongst themselves. But the real horror was yet to come after Kevin Carter takes a photo of a vulture circling a passed out Sudanese toddler who had succumbed to hunger and exhaustion. Within months he was awarded with the Pulitizer Prize, but the guilt of not helping the toddler and the death of his friends and the South African people would drive him to an early grave.
What the press would say:
From the director that brought you the intimate films such as Basquiat and Before Night Falls comes The Bang-Bang Club. Director Julian Schnabel brings to life a portrait of self-doubt, self-worth and self-loathing in this film that tells the story of six photo journalists who risk their lives to capture images of war and poverty in South Africa. Kiefer Sutherland stars as Kevin Carter, the most enthusiastic photographer of the group who ends up feeling more pain than he could ever capture on film. A truly tragic character who cannot find redemption. Kiefer Sutherland, brilliantly showcases a list of emotions that would most likely drain any other actor. Johnny Depp and Daniel-Day Lewis round out the supporting roles as Kevin Carters' trusted friends and colleagues, but they too cannot avoid the horrors they see. Charlize Theron, a native to South Africa takes on her role of the widowed wife of Carter's best friend with complete sympathy and anguish. Writer John Irving (Cider House Rules) does more with less, by letting the actors expressions and the pictures speak for themselves compiling a script of a few words making those words mean more when they're spoken. A well put together film could not be accomplished without the immediate and and in-your-face score put together by the Welsh musicians James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore of the Manic Street Preachers fame. Their 1995 U.K. hit song "Kevin Carter" is reworked to a haunting acoustical ballad. An important film on so many levels that dive into the selfish behavior our society has fallen under. Hi Time Magazine, hi Pulitizer Prize, hi Academy Awards.
Best Picture
Best Director - Julian Schnabel
Best Actor - Kiefer Sutherland
Best Supporting Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis
Best Supporting Actor - Johnny Depp
Best Supporting Actress - Charlize Theron
Best Original Screenplay - John Irving (Cider House Rules)
Best Cinematography - Caleb Deschanel (Apocolypse Now, The Passion Of The Christ)
Best Editing - Claire Simpsons (Constant Gardener, Salvador)
Best Art Direction - Andy Nicholson (Live From Bagdad, Band Of Brothers)
Best Score - Sean Moore & James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
Best Original Song - "Kevin Carter" by The Manic Street Preachers
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
"The Bang-Bang Club"
Directed by Julian Schnabel
Written by John Irving
Music by Sean Moore and James Dean Bradfield
Produced by James Nachtwey
Principal Cast:
Kiefer Sutherland - Kevin Carter (photojournalist)
Rebecca Miller - Nancy Buirski (Time Magazine editor)
Johnny Depp - Ken Oosterbroek (photojournalist)
Charlize Theron - Monica Oosterbroek (wife)
Jeffrey Wright - Joao Silva (photojournalist)
Tim Robbins - Greg Marinovich (photojournalist)
Jeremy Piven - Gary Bernard (photojournalist)
And
Daniel Day-Lewis as James Nachtwey (photojournalist)
Tagline: "Their pictures opened our eyes, but it took their souls"
Synopsis: During the Apartheid period of the late 80's and early 90's, six photo journalists entered the battle zones of South Africa to capture pictures of war, poverty and death. Headed by famed photographers Kevin Carter (Kiefer Sutherland), his best friend Ken Oosterbroek (Johnny Depp) and the veteran James Nachtwey (Daniel Day-Lewis), they hoped to take images that would change the way people see the rest of the world and finally take notice. Their noble intentions would lead them all down a road of guilt and pain. Known as the "Bang-Bang Club" because of their all too realistic shots of gunfire and war, they would soon find themselves in the line of fire. Each taking bullets, each trying to save one another on several occasions, and not without facing fatalities amongst themselves. But the real horror was yet to come after Kevin Carter takes a photo of a vulture circling a passed out Sudanese toddler who had succumbed to hunger and exhaustion. Within months he was awarded with the Pulitizer Prize, but the guilt of not helping the toddler and the death of his friends and the South African people would drive him to an early grave.
What the press would say:
From the director that brought you the intimate films such as Basquiat and Before Night Falls comes The Bang-Bang Club. Director Julian Schnabel brings to life a portrait of self-doubt, self-worth and self-loathing in this film that tells the story of six photo journalists who risk their lives to capture images of war and poverty in South Africa. Kiefer Sutherland stars as Kevin Carter, the most enthusiastic photographer of the group who ends up feeling more pain than he could ever capture on film. A truly tragic character who cannot find redemption. Kiefer Sutherland, brilliantly showcases a list of emotions that would most likely drain any other actor. Johnny Depp and Daniel-Day Lewis round out the supporting roles as Kevin Carters' trusted friends and colleagues, but they too cannot avoid the horrors they see. Charlize Theron, a native to South Africa takes on her role of the widowed wife of Carter's best friend with complete sympathy and anguish. Writer John Irving (Cider House Rules) does more with less, by letting the actors expressions and the pictures speak for themselves compiling a script of a few words making those words mean more when they're spoken. A well put together film could not be accomplished without the immediate and and in-your-face score put together by the Welsh musicians James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore of the Manic Street Preachers fame. Their 1995 U.K. hit song "Kevin Carter" is reworked to a haunting acoustical ballad. An important film on so many levels that dive into the selfish behavior our society has fallen under. Hi Time Magazine, hi Pulitizer Prize, hi Academy Awards.
Best Picture
Best Director - Julian Schnabel
Best Actor - Kiefer Sutherland
Best Supporting Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis
Best Supporting Actor - Johnny Depp
Best Supporting Actress - Charlize Theron
Best Original Screenplay - John Irving (Cider House Rules)
Best Cinematography - Caleb Deschanel (Apocolypse Now, The Passion Of The Christ)
Best Editing - Claire Simpsons (Constant Gardener, Salvador)
Best Art Direction - Andy Nicholson (Live From Bagdad, Band Of Brothers)
Best Score - Sean Moore & James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
Best Original Song - "Kevin Carter" by The Manic Street Preachers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)