Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox International jointly announced on February 1st that fans the world over had rushed the web – crashing multiple servers in the process – to secure advance tickets for the now sold-out February 14th preview screenings of TITANIC in 3D. Well guess what WAMG readers, we have some of those highly sought after passes for the Valentine’s Day screening here in St. Louis. That’s right, you have the opportunity to be one of the many moviegoers who are lucky enough to secure a seat to be among the first people anywhere to see the newly re-mastered TITANIC in 3D, in advance of the film’s worldwide release on Wednesday, April 4, 2012!

Photocredit: Merie Weismiller Wallace © 2011 Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What ship recently made the news when it went down, ala the Titanic, with a hole ripped in its hull and what was the name of the captain, who unlike the Titanic, DID NOT go down with the ship?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Cameron, who also directed the breakthrough 3D epic AVATAR, will bring TITANIC to life as audiences have never seen it before, digitally re-mastered to an unparalleled 4K 3D, harnessing the innovative technology of StereoD. The re-release of TITANIC also coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Titanic setting sail on April 10, 1912. Written, directed and produced by James Cameron, TITANIC is the second highest grossing movie of all time. It is one of only three films to have received a record 11 Academy Awards® including Best Picture and Best Director; and launched the careers of stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

Photocredit: Merie Weismiller Wallace © 2011 Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

Called “A spectacular demonstration of what modern technology can contribute to dramatic storytelling” by Variety upon it’s release in 1997, the long in the works 3D conversion was overseen Cameron and his Lightstorm producing partner Jon Landau who produced the hit movie.

TITANIC in 3D will be in theaters Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

Learn more about TITANIC in 3D at http://www.titanicmovie.com/

“Like” it on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TitanicMovie

Follow it on Twitter: @TitanicMovie

Twentieth Century Fox is declaring “War” on Valentine’s Day with its comedy-action film THIS MEANS WAR, on Tuesday, February 14.

In the film, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy portray the world’s deadliest CIA operatives, as well as inseparable partners and best friends… until they fall for the same woman (Reese Witherspoon). Having once helped bring down entire enemy nations, they are now employing their incomparable skills and an endless array of high-tech gadgetry against their greatest nemesis ever – each other.

WAMG has passes to the advance screening of THIS MEANS WAR – Monday, February 13th at 7pm at Wehrenberg Ronnies 20 Cine.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: After watching the trailer above, you must pick a side – Team Pine or Team Hardy…and tell us why!

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Official Site: http://www.thismeanswarmovie.com

“Like” it on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thismeanswar

Follow it on Twitter: @ThisMeansWarMov #ThisMeansWar

Nicolas Cage reprises his role as Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. In this gritty new vision for the character, directed by Neveldine/Taylor (Crank), Johnny is still struggling with his curse as the devil’s bounty hunter – but he may risk everything as he teams up with the leader of a group of rebel monks (Idris Elba) to save a young boy from the devil…and possibly rid himself of his curse forever.

WAMG has passes to the advance screening of GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE on February, 16, 2012 at 7PM at B&B Wildwood Theatre.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Name the actor who played Mephistopheles in the 2007 film.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE in 3D will ride into theaters February 17, 2012.

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.thespiritofvengeance.com/
“Like” Ghost Rider on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ghostridermovie
Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/GhostRider #GhostRider

This film has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for INTENSE SEQUENCES OF ACTION AND VIOLENCE, SOME DISTURBING IMAGES, AND LANGUAGE.

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all. From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom.

Disney’s THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY opens in theatres nationwide on February 17. WAMG has passes to the advance screening – February 11th at 10:00am at the Great Escape Gravois Bluffs Cine.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are highly successful producing partners whose films, separately and together, include “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “E.T.,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?,” the Indiana Jones films and the Jurassic Park films. In total, Kennedy and Marshall have earned __ Oscar® nominations. (HINT)

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Visit the film’s official site: http://disney.go.com/official-sites/arrietty/index

“Like” THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SecretWorldofArrietty

“Dance, dance, or we are lost.” Pina Bausch’s final words summarize her life and provide the inspiration for acclaimed director Wim Wenders’ (WINGS OF DESIRE, BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB) breathtaking tribute to the legendary choreographer. Bausch and her Tanztheater Wuppertal elevated dance into brilliantly subversive new expressive realms, and in this exhilarating film Wenders captures the raw, heart-stopping intensity of the movement and in stunning 3D transforms it into a transcendent cinematic experience. An official selection of the Berlinale, Telluride, Toronto and New York film festivals, and now Germany’s official entry for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, PINA features interviews with and performances by Bausch’s beloved original company members, and offers an indelible image of an artist who went the full distance in her uncommonly rich creative life.

WAMG has passes to the 3D screening of PINA, the new Wim Wenders film about choreographer Pina Bausch which was just nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 84th Academy Awards. The screening is Thursday, February 9th, 7pm at the Chase Park Plaza. The film opens at the Chase on February 10.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What film won Best Documentary Feature at the 83rd Academy Awards?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/pina

“Like” it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WendersPINA

Paige and Leo (Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum) are a happy newlywed couple whose lives are changed by a car accident that puts Paige in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, Paige has no memory of Leo, a confusing relationship with her parents (Sam Neill and Jessica Lange), and an ex-fiancé (Scott Speedman) she may still have feelings for. Despite these complications, Leo endeavors to win her heart again and rebuild their marriage.

THE VOW will be in theaters February 10, 2012. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, WAMG  has passes to the advance screening in St. Louis on Wednesday (2/8) at Ronnies at 7PM.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Tell us your favorite romantic movie and why.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.thevow-movie.com/

“Like” the film on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheVow

Follow it on Twitter: @TheVowMovie

THE VOW has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for the following reasons: an accident scene, sexual content, partial nudity and some language.

It’s your big chance to win a ticket for free, to a movie for you and the whole family!

The 3D-CGI feature DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope.  The animated adventure follows the journey of a boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

Danny DeVito will lend his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their talents to the film are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic young boy who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Ashley, the girl of Ted’s dreams. Rob Riggle will play financial king O’Hare, and beloved actress Betty White will portray Ted’s wise Grammy Norma.

DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX is the third feature created by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, Hop).

Enter your e-mail below, along with your name, for a chance to win a family four-pack of passes to a special advance screening on Saturday, February 25 at 10:00 AM. 

You should enter just once. You should, take a shot!

Take a minute to enter. Give it all that you’ve got!

IN THEATERS MARCH 2

Visit the film’s official site:  http://www.theloraxmovie.com/

“Like” it on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theloraxmovie

Follow it on Twitter: @TheLorax

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. While supplies last. Passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One pass (each admits two) per person. Theater is overbooked to ensure capacity. Employees of participating sponsors are ineligible. DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX has been rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested – Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children) for brief mild language

An EPIX Original Comedy Event, Premieres February 11

On Demand Preview Spotlights ‘TV Everywhere’
to Drive Subscription and Authentication
Beginning February 3

Writer/Director/Raconteur/Podcaster/Sinner (to some) and proud Jersey boy Kevin Smith returns to EPIX, bringing his unusual multi-talents in a one-man show, Kevin Smith Burn in Hell. The original comedy event premieres February 11 on the EPIX premium network. Additionally, EPIX is reaching out to Kevin Smith fans everywhere with an on demand preview beginning February 3, offering subscribers and non-subscribers an early screening of the entire special. The preview can be viewed via participating affiliated television providers’ EPIX On Demand service and EPIX apps on Xbox 360 and Roku. It will also be available for streaming at EpixHD.com and the “TV Everywhere” portals of affiliated providers.

In the hour and a half special, recorded live at the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas, Smith conducts a riotous and outrageous Q&A session about the aftermath of his latest film, Red State. Topics include his mishaps and misadventures such as drawing the ire of the entire movie blogger community at the Sundance Film Festival and being followed around the country by the highly devout, and highly angered, Phelps Family.

Smith’s last special for EPIX, Too Fat for Forty which premiered October 2010, tapped his online base of millions of highly engaged fans for an EPIX Live Q & A event on EpixHD.com. “Kevin is tremendously popular with EPIX viewers – his first special continues to be a top performer on the channel, on demand and on EpixHD.com. We’re glad that he’s been a part of EPIX since the beginning and excited to have him back,” said EPIX President and CEO Mark Greenberg.

“The EPIX preview is designed to tap Kevin’s audience appeal to cast a spotlight on ‘TV Everywhere,’ increasing app and online authentications and subscriber acquisition for our affiliated providers,” Greenberg continued.

For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com. Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EpixHD

WAMG has a special Kevin Smith giveaway for all you Mallrats. Enter to win either a book or dvd.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.

2. FILL OUT YOUR REAL NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What are Smith’s two dogs names?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.

When J. EDGAR was released last Fall, We Are Movie Geeks published our Top Ten Tuesday article on Clint Eastwood’s best films as director. With word that Eastwood has come out of acting retirement, it’s time for another Top Ten list, this time of movies that Clint has starred in. TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE is currently filming and stars Clint as an ailing baseball scout in his twilight years who takes his daughter (played by Amy Adams) on the road for one last recruiting trip. This will be Clint’s first acting role since GRAN TORINO in 2008.

Super-8 CLINT EASTWOOD Movie Madness will be a great way to celebrate the life and films of this legendary American actor. It takes place February 7^th at the Way Out Club in St. Louis (2525 Jefferson in South City). Condensed versions of these memorable Clint Eastwood films will be shown on a big screen on Super-8 sound film: WHERE EAGLES DARE, ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ, and THE EIGER SANCTION each run 18 minutes, and HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER runs 35 minutes. We’re also bring our 16mm projector and showing a 16mm print of an episode of RAWHIDE, the western TV series that Clint Eastwood starred in in the 1960′s and 8-minute versions of TARANTULA and REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, two ’50s sci-fi films that Clint Eastwood had small roles in early in his career. We’ll have Clint Eastwood trivia with prizes, and much more. The Way Out Club is located at 2525 Jefferson Avenue (at Gravois) in South St. Louis. Admission is only $3.00.

Clint Eastwood has appeared in 67 films in his six (!) decades as an actor, and here, according to We Are Movie Geeks, are his ten best:

Honorable Mention: HONKYTONK MAN

By the 1980s, Clint Eastwood was one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.  With his own production company, directorial skills, and economic clout, Eastwood was able to make smaller, more personal films.  A perfect example is the underrated HONKYTONK MAN, which also happens to be one of Eastwood’s finest performances.

Drawing upon Eastwood’s love of both music and period history, MAN tells the story of Red Stovall, a consumptive but hard-living country singer, set sometime during the Depression.  While on his way to Nashville for a shot at the Grand Ole Opry, Red stops to collect his nephew Hoss (charmingly played by Eastwood’s son, Kyle) from his sister’s farm in the Oklahoma dust bowl.  Also tagging along is Hoss’s grandfather (John McIntire), who wants to return to his family homestead in Tennessee.  From that setup, the film is essentially a road trip full of adventures—both comic and tragic—that will affect Hoss forever.

This fairly simple story is told with great affection by Eastwood the director.  The period detail and setpieces are wonderful, with Eastwood again showing a keen eye for both comic timing and character-driven drama.  He even throws in some suspense, as once again Eastwood the actor wields a gun—but this time with humorous results.  And a traffic stop which begins with some tension ends with an extended punchline.  Eastwood also handles his actors with ease, drawing first-class performances from a group of great character actors, including Eastwood “regulars” Verna Bloom (HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER) and Matt Clark (JOSEY WALES), plus Barry Corbin, Tim Thomerson, and Gary Grubbs.  As grandpa, the veteran McIntire was never better; the scene where he recalls the Land Rush of 1893 is simply perfect.  Also giving a fantastic performance was Alexa Kenin as Marlene, a young stowaway on the road trip who provides much comic relief.  A familiar face on 1970s TV, Kenin was a rising young supporting actress (PRETTY IN PINK) who was found dead in her apartment a few years later at age 23.  Her cause of death has never been disclosed.

MAN is also peppered with some of the brightest stars of country music.  Ray Price, Shelly West, David Frizzell, and Porter Wagoner all make brief appearances, and Marty Robbins, who died a short time after filming, had a Top 10 country hit with his rendition of the title song.  In addition to the country music which fills the soundtrack, there is a healthy shot of blues in the form of Linda Hopkins.  Eastwood does all his own singing for the film, and has a pleasant enough voice to make his performance entirely believable.  Relaxed and funny, Eastwood seems right at home with the period dialogue, such as “my raw-boned Okie girl,” and “double damn tarnation!”  Whether he’s on stage singing, or teaching his nephew the ways of the world, or stealing chickens (!), Eastwood dominates the film and shows just what a great screen presence he is—sometimes rough, sometimes sensitive, but always likable.

10. ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ

Fact: Alcatraz is an impenetrable island fortress. Fact: No one has ever escaped from Alcatraz. Fact: Clint Eastwood doesn’t care much for facts! In ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ Eastwood gave one of his best screen performances; distinctive, persuasive, and powerful. We know very little of his Frank Morris except that he has escaped from prisons before and has been sent to Alcatraz because no one gets off the Rock. Eastwood’s fifth and final film with director Don Siegel has aged well, with no sentiment or melodrama to get in the way of the details of the escape. ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ doesn’t proceed at the break-neck pace of your typical action film. Siegel follows the breakout plan with meticulous detail. Even when Morris and his two comrades manage to get out of their cells, the story doesn’t focus on the suspense of the chase between escapees and guards. In fact, the prison officials are not seen until the discovery on Angel Island, and at that point, the prisoners are never seen again. Instead, the battle is between men and the physical space they have to conquer. It’s less about avoiding guards and more to do with navigating heights and depths and barriers. The prison itself, rather than those who oversee it, becomes the antagonist. When Eastwood won his first directing Oscar, he thanked Siegel (and Sergio Leone) and when watching ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ, a masterful piece of storytelling in which the characters say little, letting the camera explain the action. the older director’s influence is apparent.

An 18 minute condensed version of ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ will be screened at Super-8 CLINT EASTWOOD Movie Madness February 7^th at The Way Out Club

9. IN THE LINE OF FIRE

As Clint Eastwood’s movie career neared the fifty year mark, his characters eased into old age, slowed down physically, and were haunted by their ghosts of the past. This is definitely the case with Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan in Wolfgang Peterson’s IN THE LINE OF FIRE. Frank’s still on the job, and he sweats and wheezes as he joins the much younger agent s in running alongside the presidential limo. Besides his shortened stamina, he’s haunted by that Fall day in Dallas over thirty years ago, when he couldn’t shield the young Commander-in-Chief in time. As Frank puts it, ” If I had taken that bullet, it would’ve been alright with me”. Unfortunately a deranged assassin played with gusto by John Malkovich knows of Frank’s past and taunts him ( ” I see you standing over the grave of another president’ ) in several encounters. Eastwood’s registers Frank’s every emotion ( shock, disgust, fear while trying to keep him on the line long enough for a trace ) during several phone conversations with the threatening gunman. Besides these scenes with Malkovich, Eastwood shows a different side with two of the other young actors in the film. With the novice agent played by Dylan McDermott, Eastwood’s a teacher, mentor, and father figure, while with Rene Russo’s Lilly Raines, he attempts a gentle, hesitant friendship that becomes a tender romance. Peterson has crafted a gripping, edge-of-your-seat action thriller anchored by one of Eastwood’s best, mature, vulnerable performances.

8. THE BEGUILED

THE BEGUILED was a gothic tale of deception and horror from 1971 set in the time of the Civil War. Clint Eastwood played John McBurney, a wounded Union soldier who takes refuge in a Southern school for ladies whom he must keep beguiled or risk being turned over to the Confederates. Directed by Don Siegel, this gothic horror story ends with the captive paying dearly for his ingratitude towards his captors’ sick brand of Southern hospitality. In addition to the implied sexual situation, there is an explicit seduction followed by a gruesome amputation scene. Siegel (whose DIRTY HARRY would open a couple of months after this box-office failure) not only paces THE BEGUILED with a solid mix of sexual tension, eroticism and black humor, he fits the female cast perfectly to their roles – from Geraldine Page’s yearning spinster (with a very dirty secret), to Elizabeth Hartman’s naive nineteen-year-old with chaste romantic fantasies, to Jo Ann Harris’s seductive teen slut. The characters Eastwood played in his career survived Nazis, lynchings, assassins, and gangsters but John McBurney never stood a chance in a house full of scorned women.

7. HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER

One of the headstones in a graveyard in HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER bears the name Sergio Leone as tribute as the first western that Clint Eastwood directed exudes the mythical aura of many of Leone’s genre offerings. Basically reprising his “Man With No Name” persona from the Leone trilogy, Eastwood took the standard Western revenge story to new levels. In HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER Eastwood is “The Stranger” who wanders into the small mining town of Lago to merely have a few drinks, a quick shave, and bath. Before long, he’s killed three bad guys, raped the town tramp, forced the town to rename itself ‘Hell’ and has literally painted it red. And he’s the hero! Almost all the characters in HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER are repellant and unlikeable especially the cowardly townsfolk who stood by idly and watched as three gunmen bullwhipped their sheriff to death. No wonder John Wayne, after seeing HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER, wrote an angry letter of protest to Eastwood complaining about the negative depiction of Wayne’s beloved “spirit of the West”. Too bad Duke, HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER is one of the greats!

An 35 minute condensed version of HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER will be screened at Super-8 CLINT EASTWOOD Movie Madness February 7^th at The Way Out Club

6. MILLION DOLLAR BABY

For a fella that’s long past most folks’ retirement age, Clint Eastwood is full of surprises. And great performances. In 2004′s MILLION DOLLAR BABY, which he also produced, directed, and scored, Eastwood is grizzled old boxing medic Frankie Dunn. Like many of his later characters Dunn is haunted by the past. But it’s not just the memories of big fights and title bouts, it’s his estrangement from his daughter. In his golden years his only family is another former boxer Eddie ‘ Scrap-Iron’ Dupris played by Morgan Freeman who helps in running Dunn ‘s seen-better-days training gym. Just as in  UNFORGIVEN the two actors have a great relaxed rapport as they wax nostalgic about the good ole’ days ( correcting each other’s recollections ) and disparage the lack of class and grit in the new kids. And then Hilary Swank’s Maggie enters their lives. We see Eastwood act casually dismissive of the ” lady ” boxer, but he gradually responds to her spirit. Reluctantly he becomes her stern trainer and slowly becomes a surrogate father to Maggie. In one terrific sequence Maggie’s greedy, ” trashy”, relatives berate and bully them. The Eastwood of a couple of decades ago would’ve put that young ‘mouth-y’ punk through a wall, but the older, wiser man knows this thug isn’t worth the effort or abbreviation. He’s worth no more than a hard, disgusted stare. In the film’s heartbreaking final scenes we get to see a tender, loving Eastwood that he’s rarely shown on screen. The final encounter between Frankie and Maggie may have the most macho movie fan reaching for his hankie. Although Eastwood earned no acting gold , his co-stars Freeman and Swank both earned Oscars. It’s quite a testament to Eastwood’s acting ( and directing ) skills - he’s so good he pushes his fellow thespians do their best work.

5. GRAN TORINO
In 2008, Clint Eastwood made GRAN TORINO, both as a director and as an actor, but Eastwood himself pronounced this would be the last time he stars in one of his films. Whether or not that holds true is yet to be seen, given rumors about his next film TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE. What was, perhaps painfully clear however, is that Eastwood is no longer a spring chicken. Much like his character in the film, Walt Kowalski is an aging and stubborn man, set in his ways. Walk sets out to teach a teenage neighbor a thing or two after he attempts to steal Walt’s pride and joy, a sweet 1972 Gran Torino muscle car. The tension arises as Walt, a Korean War veteran, builds an unlikely friendship with the boy of Hmong ethnicity, both of whom live in a crumbling urban neighborhood. Walt sees the world around him falling apart in his eyes, but eventually comes to terms with his own prejudice through his actions in the teenage boy’s benefit. Eastwood plays the crotchety curmudgeon with a natural ease, drawing a bit from Dirty Harry’s own sense of charm and manners. It’s great to see Eastwood expanding his storytelling craft into more meaningful films, while also embracing his age as an actor in a less flattering role, giving the film a stronger resonance.

4. DIRTY HARRY

“You’ve got to ask yourself a question: ‘do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?” Clint Eastwood muttered his most famous line in DIRTY HARRY, starring as Harry Callahan, the hard-working San Francisco cop who can’t finish his lunch without having to stop a bank robbery with his 44 Magnum (“the most powerful handgun in the world”). Harry must take the law into his own hands when a psychotic killer is released on a technicality and the cat and mouse play between Harry and the killer ‘Scorpio’ is taut, suspenseful and horrifying but critics in 1971 attacked the movie for evading the complex legal problems and moral issues of vigilante justice. Clint’s cynical superhero is basically irresponsible in endangering the lives of innocent people in his personal crusade against criminals but that just made Harry more endearing to most audiences and the movie was a smash success, spawning four (excellent) sequels. Director Don Siegel keeps the action tightly-wound and fast-paced and Andy Robinson is one of the most vicious, warped, and complex villains in cinema. Due to Callahan’s fascist nature, John Wayne, Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman all reportedly turned down the part. Eastwood stepped in to the role and when he’s twisting Scorpio’s broken arm (“I have a right to a lawyer!” Scorpio whines), he smiles just a little and we behold the perfect match between actor and character.

3. THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES

In 1976, the nation’s Bicentennial received a special gift with the release of THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, arguably Clint Eastwood’s best Western film, and one of the best Westerns ever made.  There is so much about JOSEY WALES that is remarkable, compelling, and downright entertaining, that I reckon we’ll begin with the making of the film.  Based on a novel by Forrest Carter, the film follows the books’ mixture of vengeance tale, travelogue, buddy story, Old West folklore, and realistic Native American characters, with a sprinkling of actual historical figures, such as the great Comanche leader Ten Bears.  (The author himself is a fascinating story, as he was originally a segregationist speechwriter named Asa Carter, who worked for George Wallace and even ran for public office before reinventing himself as an award-winning author sympathetic to Native American causes.  For years, “Forrest” denied that he was Asa Carter and even tried to give the impression that he was Native American.)

The film’s production is also a grand tale of Hollywood lore.  Originally, Phil Kaufman (RIGHT STUFF) was hired to direct the movie with Eastwood and his company producing.  Kaufman worked on the pre-production and casting, rewrote the script, and began principal cinematography.  However, less than a month into shooting, Kaufman was unceremoniously fired from the production, and Eastwood took over as director and finished the film.  The Director’s Guild became involved and created a new rule that prohibits anyone working on a film to replace a director fired from the same film.  This rule (unofficially called the “Eastwood rule”) is still in effect today.  According to legend, Kaufman was fired because both he and Eastwood were smitten with a pretty young actress in the film named Sondra Locke.  In fact, Locke and Eastwood became a couple afterwards and worked together on five more movies before their relationship crashed and burned in a stormy public breakup 10 years later.  However, a more likely reason for the firing was Kaufman’s detail-oriented style using multiple takes.  An economy-minded Eastwood supposedly had his fill when Kaufman drove miles back to town from an isolated set to acquire a small prop he wanted to include in a scene.

Whatever its origins, JOSEY WALES has become a modern classic.  One of the few Western films to be included in the National Historic Registry, the movie succeeds on all levels.   JOSEY WALES begins as a post-Civil War revenge tale, but this plotline is soon more or less resolved in what is the first of many amazingly filmed gun battles.  The story then becomes a road movie, with Wales on the run from the evil bluecoats.  It is interesting to note that in nearly every other film treatment of the Missouri/Kansas border wars, the pro-Union Kansas abolitionists are portrayed as the good guys, while the Missouri rebels are the bad guys.  JOSEY WALES neatly flips this model so that we immediately sympathize with the outlaw.  During his flight to safety in the Indian Nations, Wales collects a ragtag group of citizens (a Native American man and woman, two Kansas women, a Mexican, etc.) who seem willing to forgive whatever crimes are in his past and follow him.  It also doesn’t hurt that Wales is mighty handy with a pistol, and has saved many of their lives.

The film is built as a series of misadventures, and Eastwood the director shows an exceptional flair for character-driven comedy, and for staging some of the coolest gunfights ever to hit the silver screen.  Eastwood the actor gives one of his best performances as Josey Wales, a man who has lost everything but finds he is not alone.  As the film progresses, we see the brittle hardness of the outlaw soften into a man with hope for a future.  The supporting roles are uniformly excellent as well.  John Vernon (POINT BLANK, ANIMAL HOUSE) is the turncoat who comes to sympathize with Wales.  Bill McKinney (DELIVERANCE) is the obsessed evil bluecoat leader.  Sam Bottoms, Woodrow Parfrey, Sheb Wooley, and Royal Dano are all great character actors who are marvelous here.  Locke is simply wonderful in her scenes and brings a sweet note of innocence to the movie.  But special mention must go to Chief Dan George (LITTLE BIG MAN), the great Native American actor as Wales’ first new friend, Lone Watie.  Part Scarecrow of Oz, part spokesman for the Native American plight, and part action hero, George steals every scene he is in.

And the classic dialogue- much of it lifted right from the novel –is simply unforgettable:   “Dyin’ ain’t much of a living.”  “Hell is coming to breakfast.”  “Endeavour to persevere!”   Most important of all, the film has a big, bold heart as Eastwood unabashedly shows both his love for this period of American history and his love of film, never shying away from softer moments, such as with Locke, or from the violence of the frontier which could happen at any moment.  In the meeting with Ten Bears, the thematic climax of the film, these elements combine beautifully in a brilliantly executed scene that contains the wonderful “There is iron in your words of death” speech delivered by actor Will Sampson.  The struggles of the modern world may not be life or death, but we as moviegoers and Americans can certainly relate to stories of friendship, adversity, and everyday human truths.

2. THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

In 1964, Clint Eastwood accepted the lead role in a Western being filmed in Spain titled “The Magnificent Stranger.”  The part had been offered to many of Hollywood’s most rugged actors, including Henry Fonda, Charles Coburn, and Charles Bronson.  Eastwood, on break from his TV series RAWHIDE and looking for a film project, immediately recognized the story as a remake of Kurosawa’s YOJIMBO.   When the movie was finally released in the US, the title had changed to A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, and both a star and a new genre, the “spaghetti Western,” were born.

The “Man With No Name” series of Westerns directed by Sergio Leone and starring Eastwood came to a spectacular conclusion with THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY.   Set amid the turmoil of the Civil War, the story follows three men (hence the title) on a quest for gold treasure.   Leone directs with his usual dramatic flair, filling the screen with landscapes, gunfights, closeups of dangerous men, treks through the desert, prison camps, Civil War battles, and an incredibly suspenseful and satisfying conclusion.  With cinematographer Tonino Delli Colli, who would later shoot films for some of Europe’s greatest directors (Louis Malle, Roman Polanski, Lina Wertmuller, etc.) and composer Ennio Morricone (who topped his previous two No Name Westerns with one of the great film scores of all time here), Leone created what some critics regard as his masterpiece.  Yes, even better than ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.

Eastwood’s “No Name” character fills the good role of the title, while great character actors Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach are the bad and the ugly.  Van Cleef, the co-hero of Leone’s and Eastwood’s previous Western FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, here perfectly personifies evil.  Ruthless and calculating, with his “devil eyes,” Van Cleef is a great screen villain.  Wallach gives the performance of his career as Tuco, the ugly.  Whether he’s faced with death on the hangman’s noose, or confronting his Catholic heritage, or trying to revive his “friend,” the marvelous Wallach always makes Tuco sympathetic and likable—so much so that you’re alarmed when Eastwood’s character is mean to him.

Eastwood has joked that the small cigarillos he had to smoke kept him in character as The Man With No Name because (a) he’s a non-smoker, and (b) they tasted really, really bad.  In his final Leone Western, Eastwood shows the same laconic squint that made him so famous.  But he also shows a bit of the same compassion we only glimpsed in the previous No Name Westerns, here in his relationship with Tuco, and in smaller moments, such as witnessing the carnage left after warfare.  In its final images of Eastwood riding off into the sunset, rich and invincible, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY capped an incredible trilogy in the annals of film mythology.

1. UNFORGIVEN

In the 1960′s Clint Eastwood broke free of his television work and helped redefine the movie Western ( along with film maker Sergio Leone ). Nearly thirty years later Eastwood decided to close the door on his work in the ‘oaters’ with the character of William Munny in UNFORGIVEN. While most of his Westerners were anti-heroes or rebels, Munny is a full-fledged outlaw who’s tried to change his ways. You can see the toll this life has taken on Munny’s face : exhausted by his failure at farming during the day and from sleepless nights haunted by the ghosts of his victims of his lawless years. Eastwood has great rapport with his co-stars. Morgan Freeman shares the trail ( and criminal memories ) during the trip to avenge the “working” ladies. The two old saddletramps are almost an elderly married couple who calls out the other on their B.S. without hesitation. Eastwood becomes the teacher/ mentor with Jaimz Woolvett as the full-of-bravado ‘ Schofield Kid’. After a bloody shoot-out they exchange the film’s best lines. The visibly shaken Kid : ” Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming.” The weary Munny replies, ” We all got it coming, kid “. And then there’s the scenes with the town Sheriff, ” Little” Bill Daggett expertly played by Gene Hackman ( earning a well-deserved Oscar ). After Bill shows his true colors, Eastwood releases his inner beast from his younger violent days in a memorably brutal, bloody climax. His ” Man with no Name” may be his most famous Western character, but Willian Munny makes for an exceptional final act for Eastwood’s work in this genre.

Clint Eastwood has made so many great films and runner-ups for this list would have to include A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, BRONCO BILLY, TIGHTROPE, and WHERE EAGLES DARE.  Stop by the Way Out Club February 7^th for more Clint mania.

The new 3D family adventure JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND begins when seventeen-year-old Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist.

Unable to stop him from tracking the signal to its source, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest that will take them first to the South Pacific, and then to a place few people have ever seen. Or lived to tell about. It’s a place of stunning beauty, strange and threatening life forms, volcanoes, mountains of gold and more than one astonishing secret.

Together with Gabato (Luis Guzmán), the only helicopter pilot willing to risk the trip, and Gabato’s beautiful, strong-willed daughter Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone human inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island underwater and bury its treasures forever, in this follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit “Journey to the Center of the Earth.”

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND also stars Michael Caine as Sean’s grandfather, Alexander, the stranded traveler they’re seeking, and Kristin Davis as Sean’s mother, Liz.

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND will be in theaters and IMAX® Friday, February 10. WAMG has passes so you can bring the whole gang (a family 4-pack) to the advanced screening – Saturday (2/4) at Wehrenberg Ronnies 20 Cine at 10AM

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:  Tell us what title both Jules Verne and HG Wells share.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Shot in 3D, the film is directed by Brad Peyton from a screenplay by Brian Gunn & Mark Gunn, story by Richard Outten and Brian Gunn & Mark Gunn. It is produced by Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson, and Charlotte Huggins, who previously collaborated on “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” Richard Brener, Michael Disco, Samuel J. Brown, Marcus Viscidi, Michael Bostick and Evan Turner serve as executive producers.

One of the things filmmakers hope that moviegoers will feel as they watch JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND is the sense of wonder that Jules Verne imbued into his adventures.

“As a kid, growing up, those books were summer reading,” Flynn recalls. “It’s the kind of story that would make your imagination run wild. To be making a movie now, based on a Jules Verne book, and to possibly be introducing young people to him and his ideas for the first time, is fantastically rewarding.”

“This is everything I wanted to see on screen when I was a kid, and something I think is cool enough for families to enjoy together,” Peyton concludes. “It’s a lot of action and laughs, weird creatures, and some touching moments that I hope will resonate with both kids and adults.”

This film is rated PG for some adventure action and brief, mild language.

Visit the film’s official site: www.themysteriousisland.com/

“Like” it on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/journey2themysteriousisland

The elegant, period ghost story follows young lawyer Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), who has been dispatched to the small village of Crythin Gifford to close an estate - a house he soon discovers has a bad reputation in town, as locals have spotted a “Woman in Black,” indeed a ghost of the occupant who died years before. With the children of the village in danger from the Woman in Black’s wrath, Arthur seeks to appease the spectral forces and put the town, and himself, at peace. The film also stars Ciaran Hinds and Tony Award winner, Oscar nominee Janet McTeer. Produced by Talisman Films in association with Hammer Films.

WAMG is giving away passes to the advanced screening of THE WOMAN IN BLACK in St. Louis on Tuesday, January 31st at Ronnies at 7PM

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What are some sure signs that your house is haunted?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

If you’re a tweeter use #WomanInBlack and #WhatDidTheySee Twitter hashtags to share movie info with friends! @WomanNBlack

WHAT DID THEY SEE? Find out for yourself: http://whatdidtheysee.com/

Become a FAN on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheWomanInBlackMovie

THE WOMAN IN BLACK opens in theaters
February 3, 2012

The fourth installment in the blockbuster TWILIGHT SAGA franchise THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 has grossed an estimated $701.3 million in global box office receipts since the film’s release on November 18, 2011. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 1 is on its way to becoming the highest grossing film in the series to date looking to surpass the worldwide box office gross of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON which tallied $709.8 million.

WAMG has the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for that special Twi-hard in your life! Win a DVD copy of THE THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 1, available on Blu-ray and DVD February 11th. Click HERE to find the nearest BreakingDawn DVD/Blu-ray Midnight Release Party near you!

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.

2. FILL OUT YOUR REAL NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: How well do you know your TWILIGHT? What 2 animals do Emmett and Edward prefer when hunting?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PRIZES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA film series stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen, a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together…even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires. The action-packed, modern day vampire love story TWILIGHT, the first film in the series, was released in theatres on November 21, 2008 to a blockbuster reception. The second installment of the film franchise, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON was released November 20, 2009 and the third installment, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE was released June 30, 2010.

The next chapter in THE TWILIGHT SAGA, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 2 will arrive in theatres on November 16, 2012. Academy Award winner Bill Condon directed both the first and second part of the two-part finale starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The project, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, was written by Melissa Rosenberg with Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt and Stephenie Meyer producing.

Visit the film’s official website: http://www.breakingdawn-themovie.com/

Follow the film on Twitter: @Twilight #BreakingDawn

“Like” it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BreakingDawn

Review by Dane Marti

For the first time that I can recall, the desire to write a film review has filled me with an odd dread, a feeling of dislocation and loathing. Why? Well, in a nutshell, I couldn’t think of anything positive to write about this film. If you’ve read any of my film reviews, you know that the film must have some serious problems.

I dislike writing something that will hurt a filmmaker, a production company, and an actor or ruin the film’s chances at the box office. I sincerely believe in “constructive criticism,” but sometimes a guy has got to take a stand. Every year I see a handful of movies that make a person happy that they love motion pictures. It’s a small handful to be sure, but it still re-energizes me.

This film, DRAMA CLASS written and directed by John Salvatorelli, is the exact opposite of that wonderful feeling. This film wasted so much time, money, love and ego. Actually, it made me mad.

Chief among my thoughts was this big one: Who let this guy direct? Is the writer/director a wealthy guy who can just waste a lot of cash? Why did anyone think he could direct? Why did he think he could direct? Ah, these and other questions will never be answered – This movie brings out a frothing, visceral reaction in me. Without consulting a therapist conversant in Jungian symbols, I cannot even begin to figure out the deep-rooted reasons why I found this flick deplorable; it’s like a dental operation – and the doctor is blind.

The DVD packaging of this film made it look rather professional. I thought, “it can’t be that bad.” The old saying is true  – ˜never judge a book by its……..” Ah, the fine art of deception. Well – you definitely need an electron microscope to read the micro-mini writing on the box cover. Also, it credits everyone, and I mean everyone, on the DVD cover: it’s the War and Peace of Film Credits!

Basic film story (as far as I can tell; as far as I want to go): A TV company comes up with the brilliant idea of doing a Reality TV show around a small college, the drama class within the school and the extramarital romance of the sexy, blond principle who is cuckolding her husband/sugar daddy – some old guy who spends all his time conferring with his chauffer. Soon, the Reality show and college mesh into a mess of stardom and lustful abandon. Actually, it’s just very boring. And it really is nothing like an actual college – definitely more like a high school. This makes it sound kind of fun, but, trust me, be very afraid.

As simple as this story might sound, none of this is easy to watch. I would go into more discussion about the plot here except for the fact that it makes very little logical sense; it doesn’t hold together as a fictional story or as something that would be that earth-shattering in reality. The conflict within the film does not balance out with meaning, so with nothing to keep the viewer connected to the film, it just seems to ramble on, lost in its own ineptitude.

The casting is somewhat stereotypical, but weird: I’m not putting down actors or actresses here, but some people are better for some roles than others. In this film, the casting sucks. Supposedly ‘beautiful’ women are not beautiful, jocks are sluggish and Acting teachers literally cannot act.

People pause in the middle of line-readings for no apparent reason other that the director unwisely told them to stop in the middle of a long piece of dialogue. It defies reason and makes a viewer want to run away from the movie and start reading newspaper obituaries instead.

There is a psycho-voyeur in the film who is writing blackmail notes to the principle. His acting is possibly the worst performance I have ever seen in a movie.

What is also annoying is that all the actors telegraph to the viewer that they are so clever, so professional, so grown up in their ‘craft.’ They are fooling themselves. This only adds insult to injury when you take into account their bland, ineffective performances.

The sound recording is atrocious and clunky.

At first, as the film started, I was hopeful – it sounded like the movie at least had a visual ‘look,’ even if the look was pastel and 1980′s handheld cameras. I didn’t realize that the entire film would be filmed in the same haphazard manner. The cheap digital look continued throughout the entire film.

The dialogue is filled with dopey jokes that are meant to be timely and cool. Frankly, it was hard to tell if the worst aspect of the production was the acting, writing and direction. Hell, it was all three. A triad of doom! Given that truth, the writing is a major liability here. I understand that the production was not slick in a Hollywood-type way, but since the production still involved large sums of money (large sums in my universe), I was disgusted.

Editing and transitions have neither style nor pacing.

The overall acting is sophomoric at best. At worst, I wondered why anyone even gave them the role. There is more charisma in a porno film. ‘Party of Five,’ the old Fox TV show, had more subtlety, truth, passion and quality acting.

Visually the film is a non-cinematic experience. It’s almost as if the director, with just a rudimentary knowledge of theater, had decided to make a slick movie without ever having seen a single film – it has no professional or aesthetic qualities: Bland compositions, no camera movement within the film except murky-jerky hand-held work and, of course, there is NO lighting. Some scenes are overexposed outdoors. Shot of Digital equipment, this film does not take advantage of any new equipment available. Still, I don’t believe the filmmaker/director has ever seen a motion picture. He obviously has no interest in the cinematic medium.

I do not enjoy tearing people down, but this film was so terrible that it insulted my intelligence. For most people, including artists, it is very difficult to compose a well-structured sentence, to take a good photograph, paint a cool picture or learn the craft of acting. So why would a delusional producer decide to make a film like this? Films are hard to make. With all their tricky elements, there are a plethora of things that can go wrong. I guess it was made for money, I guess. Or was it vanity on someone’s part? However, this film is not going to fool anyone.

Watch as the nominations for the 84th Academy Awards are announced live on Tuesday, January 24 at 8:30 a.m. ET / 5:30 a.m. PT by Academy President Tom Sherak and Academy member and Oscar-nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

FOLLOW THE ACADEMY
www.oscars.org
www.facebook.com/TheAcademy
www.youtube.com/Oscars
www.twitter.com/TheAcademy

Oscar® winner Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in the action-thriller SAFE HOUSE. Washington plays the CIA’s most dangerous traitor, who stuns the intelligence community when he surfaces in South Africa. When the safe house to which he’s remanded is attacked by brutal mercenaries, a rookie (Reynolds) is forced to help him escape. As the masterful manipulator toys with his reluctant protégé, the young operative finds his morality tested and idealism shaken. Now, they must stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. 

WAMG has passes to the advance screening of SAFE HOUSE in St. Louis on February 7th.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: Tell us your favorite spy / CIA film and why?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Synopsis:

For the past year, Matt Weston has been frustrated by his inactive, backwater post in Cape Town. A “housekeeper” who aspires to be a full-fledged agent, the loyal company man has been waiting for an opportunity to prove himself. When the first and only occupant he’s had proves to be the most dangerous man he’s ever met, Weston readies for duty.

Tobin Frost has eluded capture for almost a decade. One of the best ops men that the CIA’s known, the ex-intelligence officer has given up assets and sold military intel to anyone with cash since he turned. From trading secrets to North Korea to aiding splinter cells, the damage he’s done to the U.S. is immeasurable. And he’s now back on the reservation with a secret.

As soon as Frost is brought in for debriefing, mercenaries come and tear apart Weston’s safe house. Barely escaping, the unlikely partners must discover if their attackers have been sent by terrorists or someone on the inside who will kill anyone standing in the way. Now it’s up to Weston to figure out who he can trust before they’re both eliminated from the game.

SAFE HOUSE will be in theaters
February 10

Visit the film’s official site: www.NoOneIsSafe.com

“Like” it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SafeHouse

SAFE HOUSE is Rated R for strong violence throughout and some language.

For the first time in many a blue moon, the eventual Best Picture winner hasn’t already been decided as in years past, but it’s beginning to feel as if a certain silent movie will take home the big enchilada. Frankly there were no films to feel passionate about in 2011 - no one taking sides, no one predicting months ago. And most of the presumed BP nominees were released in the spring and summer. The only things left to decide now are what will be the big surprises and the all important snubs. On Saturday, the Producers Guild announced THE ARTIST as their choice for Best Picture. The Directors Guild and the Screen Actors Guild announce next weekend.

Below is a look at our Oscar predictions in the big categories to be announced Tuesday morning. With the rule changes again in Best Picture, we’ve decided on 7 films. Rules: ”The pictures receiving the highest number of votes shall become the nominations for final voting for the Best Picture award. There may not be more than ten nor fewer than five nominations; however, no picture shall be nominated that receives less than five percent of the total votes cast.” Don’t be surprised if AMPAS President Tom Sherak and Actress Jennifer Lawrence only announce 5. (We can always hope.)

Some of us are sticking to our guns that a film should not be eligible for both Best Picture and Best Animated Feature, therefore, dismissing all this baloney about HUGO being nominated for Best Picture, placing it strictly within the Animated category. Best Director, however, is still fair game!

And let us know what you think in our comments section. Where did we go wrong? What did you like seeing on our list?

PREDICTIONS:

BEST PICTURE

HUGO

THE DESCENDANTS

THE ARTIST

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

THE HELP

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

MONEYBALL

Watch out for – WAR HORSE, BRIDESMAIDS, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2, DRIVE, and TREE OF LIFE

BEST DIRECTOR

1. Woody Allen, MIDNIGHT INPARIS
2. David Fincher, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
3. Michel Hazanavicius, THE ARTIST
4. Alexander Payne, THE DESCENDANTS
5. Martin Scorsese, HUGO

Watch out for – Steven Spielberg, WAR HORSE, Tate Taylor, THE HELP, Terrence Malick, THE TREE OF LIFE, Nicolas Winding Refn, DRIVE

BEST ACTOR
1. George Clooney, THE DESCENDANTS
2. Jean Dujardin, THE ARTIST
3. Michael Fassbender, SHAME
4. Gary Oldman, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
5. Brad Pitt, MONEYBALL

Watch out for – Demián Bichir, A BETTER LIFE, Leonardo DiCaprio, J. EDGAR, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50, Michael Shannon, TAKE SHELTER

BEST ACTRESS

1. Glenn Close, ALBERT NOBBS
2. Viola Davis, THE HELP
3. Meryl Streep, THE IRON LADY
4. Tilda Swinton, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
5. Michelle Williams, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

Watch out for – Kirsten Dunst, MELANCHOLIA; Rooney Mara, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO; Charlize Theron, YOUNG ADULT

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1. Kenneth Branagh, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
2. Albert Brooks, DRIVE
3. Jonah Hill, MONEYBALL
4. Nick Nolte, WARRIOR
5. Christopher Plummer, BEGINNERS

Watch out for – Max Von Sydow, EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE, Armie Hammer, J EDGAR, Jim Broadbent, THE IRON LADY, in our “anything is possible” dreams – Andy Serkis, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1. Bérénice Bejo, THE ARTIST
2. Jessica Chastain, THE HELP
3. Melissa McCarthy, BRIDESMAIDS
4. Janet McTeer, ALBERT NOBBS
5. Octavia Spencer, THE HELP

Watch out for – Shailene Woodley, THE DESCENDANTS, Carey Mulligan, SHAME or DRIVE, Judi Dench, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

1. Woody Allen, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
2. Michel Hazanivicius, THE ARTIST
3. Tom McCarthy, WIN WIN
4. Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig, BRIDESMAIDS
5. Will Reiser, 50/50

Watch out for – Mike Mills, BEGINNERS; Diablo Cody, YOUNG ADULT

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

1. Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, THE DESCENDANTS
2. Tate Taylor, THE HELP
3. John Logan, HUGO
4, Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zaillian, MONEYBALL
5. Peter Straughan & Bridget O’Connor, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

Watch out for – Richard Curtis & Lee Hall, WAR HORSE, Steven Zaillian, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

ANIMATED FEATURE

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
KUNG FU PANDA 2
RANGO
PUSS IN BOOTS
HUGO

Watch out for – RIO, CARS 2

Award winning actress Glenn Close plays a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland in ALBERT NOBBS. Some thirty years after donning men’s clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making. Mia Wasikowska (Helen), Aaron Johnson (Joe) and Brendan Gleeson (Dr. Holloran) join a prestigious, international cast that includes Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Janet McTeer, Brenda Fricker and Pauline Collins.

Rodrigo Garcia directs from a script that Glenn Close, along with Man Booker prize-winning novelist John Banville and Gabriella Prekop, adapted from a short story by Irish author George Moore.

WAMG is giving away passes to the advanced screening of ALBERT NOBBS in St. Louis – Wednesday, January 25th at 7pm at Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: How many times has Glenn Close been nominated for an Academy Award?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

ALBERT NOBBS opens nationwide in theaters January 27, 2012.

Visit the film’s official site: http://albertnobbs-themovie.com/

“Like” it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertNobbs

Photo Credit: Patrick Redmond

Check out Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum is the brand new clip for ONE FOR THE MONEY now live on SheKnows! Think family dinners at your house are crazy? Nothing beats dinner at the Plum household, especially when Grandma Mazur is up to no good.

Check it out now: http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/945955/exclusive-katherine-heigl-stalks-her-ex-in-one-for-the-money

Katherine Heigl stars as Stephanie Plum, Jersey girl turned recovery agent, in the fun action-comedy directed by Julie Anne Robinson. The film also stars Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata, John Leguiziamo, Debbie Reynolds and Debra Monk.

Based on the massively popular novel by Janet Evanovich, the movie will be in theaters next Friday, January 27, 2012 and WAMG is giving away Run-Of-Engagement passes for the film!

OFFICIAL RULES:

FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: What 2007 movie did Katherine Heigl play ‘Alison Scott’?

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED

Katherine Heigl brings Stephanie Plum – the popular heroine of Janet Evanovich’s worldwide best-selling eighteen-book mystery series – to vibrant life in Lionsgate and Lakeshore Entertainment’s ONE FOR THE MONEY.

A proud, born-and-bred Jersey girl, Stephanie Plum’s got plenty of attitude, even if she’s been out of work for the last six months and just lost her car to a debt collector. Desperate for some fast cash, Stephanie turns to her last resort: convincing her sleazy cousin to give her a job at his bail bonding company…as a recovery agent. True, she doesn’t even own a pair of handcuffs and her weapon of choice is pepper spray, but that doesn’t stop Stephanie from taking on Vinny’s biggest bail-jumper: former vice cop and murder suspect Joe Morelli – yup, the same sexy, irresistible Joe Morelli who seduced and dumped her back in high school.

Nabbing Morelli would be satisfying payback – and a hefty payday – but as Stephanie learns the ins and outs of becoming a recovery agent from Ranger, a hunky colleague who’s the best in the business, she also realizes the case against Morelli isn’t airtight. Add to the mix her meddling family, a potentially homicidal boxer, witnesses who keep dying and the problem of all those flying sparks when she finds Morelli himself…well, suddenly Stephanie’s new job isn’t nearly as easy as she thought.

Starring Katherine Heigl, ONE FOR THE MONEY is a fresh, funny action-comedy directed by Julie Anne Robinson and also starring Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata, John Leguiziamo, Debbie Reynolds and Debra Monk. Lionsgate and Lakeshore Entertainment present a Lakeshore Entertainment Lionsgate Wendy Finerman production in association with Sidney Kimmel Entertainment Abishag Productions. Directed by Julie Anne Robinson. Screenplay by Stacy Sherman & Karen Ray and Liz Brixius. Based on the novel by Janet Evanovich.

VISIT THE OFFICIAL SITE : http://oneforthemoneyfilm.com/
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/oneforthemoneymovie
TWITTER PAGE: http://twitter.com/#!/lionsgatemovies

AOL:

• Book Club sweepstakes for Girls night out: http://www.girlsnightoutsweeps.com/

Daily Candy:

• Sponsored Deal : Buy ticket for OFTM and get Curves 2 week free membership and personal fitness analysis

GoodReads:

• “Cast Your Friends” challenge Sweepstakes: http://www.goodreads.com/oneforthemoney

Barnes and Noble:

• Sponsored Deal on the homepage within the “Deal of the Day” section: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-for-the-money-janet-evanovich/1100300716?ean=9780312600730&itm=1&usri=one+for+the+money

When former NYPD officer-turned-prison escapee Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington, Avatar & Clash of the Titans) enters the famed Roosevelt Hotel on 45th & Madison in New York City, heads to one of the highest floor and steps out onto the ledge, he threatens more than just his own well-being. A whole city is about to seize up, including some very nervous people with some very big secrets.

Ex-cop Cassidy ‘s heart-stopping decision to stand on the ledge of a high-rise building creates not only a media firestorm, but a delicate situation for hard-living New York Police Department negotiator Lydia Spencer (Elizabeth Banks, The Next Three Days & Zack and Miri Make a Porno), who tries to talk him down while dealing with a departmental rival (Edward Burns, Nice Guy Johnny & 27 Dresses) who believes she has a conflict of interest. But the longer Lydia spends trying to get to the root of Cassidy’s predicament, the more she realizes he could have an ulterior objective.

Might it have something to do with the mysterious project his brother and ardent supporter (Jamie Bell, The Adventures of Tintin & Billy Elliot) is working on with his girlfriend (Genesis Rodriguez, Casa di mi Padre) while Cassidy bides his time on the ledge? Or with the efforts Cassidy’s best friend on the force (Anthony Mackie, Real Steel & The Hurt Locker) is making to help get him down? Or with the behind-closed-doors dealings of a powerful businessman (four-time Oscar® nominee Ed Harris, Pollock & A Beautiful Mind)? As more pieces of the puzzle are revealed over the course of Cassidy’s bold stunt, suddenly the story of one disgraced cop trying to prove his innocence becomes something decidedly more eye-opening. Eventually the stakes become more dangerous than the prospect of one man on one ledge simply losing his balance.

WAMG is giving away passes to the advance screening of MAN ON A LEDGE on Thursday night, January 26th, at B&B Wildwood Theater at 7pm.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: In the propulsive, twisty action thriller Man On A Ledge, director Asger Leth (Ghosts of Cite Soleil) takes a naturally heart-pounding scenario and delivers a 3 twisty, nail-biting thriller about the risk a desperate man with few options is willing to take to clear his name. How far would you step out if your life was on the line?? 

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

MAN ON A LEDGE will be in theaters January 27, 2012.

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.manonaledge.com/

“Like” MAN ON A LEDGE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ManOnALedge

The film is rated PG-13

OPENS FEBRUARY 3RD

Based on the inspiring incredible true story that united the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

Local newsman Adam Carlson (Krasinski) can’t wait to escape the northern tip of Alaska for a bigger market. But just when the story of his career breaks, the world comes chasing it, too. With an oil tycoon, heads of state and hungry journalists descending upon the frigid outpost, the one who worries Adam the most is Rachel Kramer (Barrymore). Not only is she an outspoken environmentalist, she’s also his ex-girlfriend.

With time running out, Rachel and Adam must rally an unlikely coalition of Inuit natives, oil companies and Russian and American military to set aside their differences and free the whales. As the world’s attention turns to the top of the globe, saving these endangered animals becomes a shared cause for nations entrenched against one another and leads to a momentary thaw in the Cold War.

Meet Fred, Wilma and Bam-Bam at the advanced screening of Universal Pictures’ BIG MIRACLE – Saturday (1/28) at 10AM.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.

2. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST NAME REQUIRED.

3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: One onlooker of the unfolding rescue was journalist Thomas Rose, whose book was published in 1989. Name the book that BIG MIRACLE is based on.

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Visit the film’s official site: http://www.everybodyloveswhales.com/

“Like” it on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bigmiraclemovie

Tweet #BigMiracleMovie to join the conversation