Tag: Black Swan

FOX SEARCHLIGHT Sued By Interns Over BLACK SWAN

Two interns, who worked on BLACK SWAN, are not happy with their experience, and have filed a lawsuit against Fox Searchlight.

THE NEW YORK TIMES reports that a lawsuit was filed against Fox Searchlight Pictures (on Wednesday) for not providing their interns with an educational work experience while working on the film BLACK SWAN. Instead, the two men claim that they were assigned menial tasks. Labor laws insist that internships be educational, otherwise an employer is required to pay his/her interns.

THE NEW YORK TIMES article states:

“Fox Searchlight’s unpaid interns are a crucial labor force on its productions, functioning as production assistants and bookkeepers and performing secretarial and janitorial work,” the lawsuit says. “In misclassifying many of its workers as unpaid interns, Fox Searchlight has denied them the benefits that the law affords to employees.” Workplace experts say the number of unpaid internships has grown in recent years, in the movie business and many other industries. Some young people complain that these internships give an unfair edge to the affluent and well connected.

Alex Footman worked as a production intern in New York (Oct 2009-Feb 2010). He reports that his job consisted of making coffee, taking lunch orders, taking out trash and cleaning. The other intern involved in this suit, Eric Glatt, was an accounting intern. He claims to have prepared documents for petty cash, traveled to the set for signatures on documents, and to have created spreadsheets to track missing employee information. Glatt is a 42 year old graduate from Case Western Reserve University with an M.B.A.

Fox Searchlight has yet to comment on this case, other than stating that they had not reviewed it yet.

Source: THE NEW YORK TIMES


Blu Monday: March 29, 2011

Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray

Blu-Ray for Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

  1. Jeff Bridges stars in AGAINST ALL ODDS: Special Edition (1984)
  2. ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN/ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN 2 (1989/1996)
  3. Ryan Gosling & Kirsten Dunst in ALL GOOD THINGS (2010)
  4. Vintage Mel Gibson in ATTACK FORCE Z: 30th Anniversary Edition (1981)
  5. Robert DeNiro & Robin Williams in AWAKENINGS (1990)
  6. Academy Award-Winner Natalie Portman in BLACK SWAN (2010)
  7. Children’s Classic retold CHARLOTTE’S WEBB (2006)
  8. Rose McGowan & Amy Smart are DEAD AWAKE (2010)
  9. Francis Ford Coppola’s DEMENTIA 13: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack (1963)
  10. Academy Award Nominee DOGTOOTH (2010)
  11. Naomi Watts & Sean Penn in FAIR GAME (2010)
  12. THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (1965)
  13. HOTEL FOR DOGS: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (2009)
  14. Dario Argento’s INFERNO (1980)
  15. Nicholas Ray’s KING OF KINGS (1961)
  16. LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED, WHITE & BLONDE (2003)
  17. Extreme Japanese Gore in MACHINE GIRL (2008)
  18. Anjelica Huston & The Sisters Duff in MATERIAL GIRLS (2006)
  19. MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY #1 (2011)
  20. THE MIKADO: Criterion Collection (1939)
  21. Kevin Pollack in PICTURE THIS (2008)
  22. Shelley Winters in POOR PRETTY EDDIE: Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (1975)
  23. Hilary Swank in THE RESIDENT (2010)
  24. SCAR 2D/3D – with 2 pair of 3D glasses (2007)
  25. Wes Craven’s SCREAM (1996) / SCREAM 2 (1997) / SCREAM 3 (2000)
  26. Animated Classic THE SECRET OF NIMH (1982)
  27. Basil Rathbone in SHERLOCK HOLMES: The Complete Collection (1939)
  28. Sasha Grey in SMASH CUT: Unrated (2009)
  29. Charlton Heston in SOYLENT GREEN (1973)
  30. SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES: 2-disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (2008)
  31. THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE: 2-disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (2004)
  32. Franchise Collection: STAR TREK II: WRATH OF KHAN/STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME
  33. TANGLED 2D/3D: 4-disc Blu-Ray/DVD Combo (2010)
  34. Michael J. Fox is TEEN WOLF (1985)
  35. Charlton Heston in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: 2-disc Special Edition (1956)
  36. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: Limited Edition 6-disc Gift Set (1956)
  37. Boris Karloff & Jack Nicholson in Roger Corman’s THE TERROR (1964)
  38. THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK: Criterion Collection (1984)
  39. Mike Leigh’s TOPSY-TURVY: Criterion Collection (1999)

DVD for Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

  1. Randolph Scott 4-Film Collection: COLT. 45/FORT WORTH/TALL MAN RIDING/RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY
  2. 3-Film Collection: ACE VENTURA Trilogy
  3. Paul Perry’s AFTERLIFE (2010)
  4. ALL GOOD THINGS (2010)
  5. Frank Sinatra in ANYTHING GOES (1954)
  6. BECOMING EDUARDO (2008)
  7. BENEATH THE DARK (2010)
  8. Best of British Classics: CANDLELIGHT IN ALGERIA (1944)
  9. Best of British Classics: CHILD IN THE HOUSE (1956)
  10. Best of British Classics: THUNDER IN THE CITY (1937)
  11. BLEADING LADY (2011)
  12. BUREAUCRACY (2009)
  13. Ben Gazzara & Sylvester Stallone in CAPONE (1975)
  14. COLONY: The Endangered World of Bees (2009)
  15. Ondi Timoner’s COOL IT (2010)
  16. Double Feature: Shirley Temple in CURLY TOP/DIMPLES
  17. DEAD AWAKE (2010)
  18. FAIR GAME (2010)
  19. FATAL SECRETS (2009)
  20. FATHER OF MY CHILDREN (2009)
  21. 3-Film Collection: FRIDAY Trilogy
  22. THE GOOD WAR & THOSE WHO REFUSED TO FIGHT IT (2000)
  23. HEAVEN AIN’T HARD TO FIND (2010)
  24. THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE (2008)
  25. After Dark Originals: HUSK (2010)
  26. IMAX: HUBBLE (2011)
  27. INFERNO (1980)
  28. INGREDIENTS (2009)
  29. LOVING LAMP POSTS (2011)
  30. MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY #1 (2011)
  31. THE MIKADO: Criterion Collection (1939)
  32. Charlton Heston in MOTHER LODE (1982)
  33. MY TIME WILL COME (2008)
  34. ONE WEEK (2008)
  35. THE OWLS (2010)
  36. After Dark Originals: PROWL (2010)
  37. British Double Feature: THE 20 QUESTIONS MURDER MYSTERY/TREAD SOFTLY
  38. THE RESIDENT (2010)
  39. THE RESTAURATEUR (2010)
  40. 3-Film Collection: RUSH HOUR Trilogy
  41. SCAR (2007)
  42. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1995)
  43. THE SWIMSUIT ISSUE (2009)
  44. TANGLED (2010)
  45. TEENAGE PAPARAZZO (2010)
  46. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956)
  47. THOSE THREE [An Seh] (2007)
  48. THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK: Criterion Collection (1984)
  49. TINY LITTLE LIES (2008)
  50. TOPSY-TURVY: Criterion Collection (1999)
  51. THE VANQUISHED [I Vinti] (1953)
  52. WATERHOLE (2009)
  53. Sarah Silverman in WHO’S THE CABOOSE (1999)
  54. ZOMBIE WOMEN OF SATAN (2009)

Top Ten Tuesday: BEST OF NATALIE PORTMAN

Natalie Portman has been cleaning up at the Awards Shows this year for her role in BLACK SWAN. With her new film NO STRINGS ATTACHED opening this week, we figured it’s about time to pay tribute to one of Hollywood’s’ most notable actresses.

TOP TEN: BEST OF NATALIE PORTMAN

HONORABLE MENTION: MARS ATTACKS

“I guess it wasn’t the dove”. MARS ATTACKS! was based on a crazy pack of bubble gum trading cards from the 1950’s that featured exploitative gore not tolerated in films of the time — people burned alive, trembling women ‘threatened’ by nihilistic, gleefully violent skull-headed Martians — you know, the subtle approach. The movie reruns the alien invasion playbook as it might be envisioned by Mad magazine, zeroing in on the formula with inspired anarchy. Natalie Portman is part of a truly ridiculous ensemble cast that includes Jack Nicholson, Pam Grier, Tom Jones, and Sarah Jessica Parker’s head on the body of a dog (it’s usually the other way around). Natalie plays unimpressed First Daughter Taffy who has one of the funniest lines in the film and, when the dust finally settles, stands as the only semi-official personage left alive in the Federal Government.

10. MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM

Natalie Portman plays the employee of a magical toy store in 2007’s whimsical MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM. Co-starring alongside Dustin Hoffman, who plays the eccentric 243 year old Mr. Edward Magorium (think Gene Wilder’s WILLY WONKA), Portman is Molly Mahoney, a young women who feels like her life is at a standstill by working at a toy shop. Portman convincingly comes across as young person filled with self-doubt who only needs a push to prove to herself that “she was something more than she believed.” With her string of dramas like V FOR VENDETTA, CLOSER and GOYA’S GHOSTS, it was enchanting to see Portman in a kid’s movie.

09. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL

The San Francisco Chronicle wrote that Portman’s performance has the range and depth unlike anything she’s done before. In THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, Natalie Portman truly shows it by playing the ill-fated 2nd wife to Henry VIII played with such cruelty by Eric Bana. The monarch takes Anne Boleyn as his new wife when his current spouse, Catherine of Aragon, is unable to bear him a son and heir to the throne. When she’s unable to perform the same required job, all the ambitiously calculating schemes ultimately cost the queen her head.

08. WHERE THE HEART IS

Teenage pregnancy has become pretty darn glorified this past year… (Thanks MTV). In WHERE THE HEART IS, Natalie Portman plays a 17 year old who, after finding out that she is pregnant, decides to run away to California with her boyfriend. Well, big surprise, he’s a jerk and abandons her at a small town Wal-Mart. With no money and no place to go, she secretly lives inside of the Wal-Mart until her baby is born, and though the kindness of strangers, builds a brand new life for herself. This film is based off of the book WHERE THE HEART IS, which was a national best-seller. Kudos Miss. Portman, for making a pregnant teenager actually look responsible, rather than like the spoiled brats on tv today!

07. STAR WARS: EPISODE III – REVENGE OF THE SITH

In installation six of the series, although numbered three, pregnant Senator Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) is leading the fight against the Separatist galactic civil war along with the Jedi Council. She is secretly married and with child, while her husband, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen), is constantly away on the campaign against the Separatists. She proves once again she is a strong independent woman, but filled with love and compassion, and not just for her family, but the whole galaxy. Portman displays a grown married woman evolved from the once pouty young queen she played in STAR WARS:EPISODE I-THE PHANTOM MENACE. Her devotion leads her on a quest to save her husband and unborn, but ultimately proves futile in the end of the film and thus bridges a large gap in story lines that started back in 1977.

06. COLD MOUNTAIN

Albeit it a small part, Portman’s portrayal of the young widow Sara in Anthony Minghella’s 2006 Civil War drama COLD MOUNTAIN is unforgettable. Trying to protect herself and little baby, Sara befriends a confederate soldier (Jude Law) seeking refuge from the Union Army. Portman is resolute in displaying the inner strength of this frightened woman to do what she must when attacked by the Union soldiers even it means killing them. You’ll find yourself totally empathizing with her ultimate choice.

05. THE PROFESSIONAL

THE PROFESSIONAL may be one of Natalie Portman’s earliest performances, but don’t let her age fool you. Portman plays a young girl named Mathilda, orphaned from her abusive, drug-addicted family by a corrupt cop (Gary Oldman) and his posse of thugs. Despite his better judgment, an assassin named Leon (Jean Reno) takes Mathilda in and protects her. As it turns out, Leon is actually a kind, gentle man beneath the killer exterior, but Mathilda is drawn to revenge and convinces Leon to teach her the ways of the assassin. Together, Reno and Portman shine magnificently, but on her own, Portman proves she has the acting chops at an early age. One minute she’s young and innocent, the next she’s cold and heartless, but always a child forced to mature at a rate more demanding of a child than anyone should ever ask.

04. V FOR VENDETTA

After taking a trip to the somewhat optimistic universe of George Lucas’s Star Wars, Natalie traveled into the dark world of the Wachowski brothers (via writer Alan Moore) in James McTeigue’s 2006’s film version of the graphic novel V FOR VENDETTA. Unlike the swingin’ London of CLOSER, this is the capitol of a futuristic fascist state. Evey is returning home from her job on a TV show when she is attacked by the State Police. Luckily she’s rescued by the masked anarchist avenger known only as V (Hugo Weaving). Soon Evey befriends the man in the Guy Fawkes masks and returns with him to his underground lair-shades of Batman and the Phantom of the Opera! Eventually Evey aids V by dressing up as an innocent school girl (almost a nod to THE PROFESSIONAL ) to tempt a corrupt priest and gain more info to topple the government. Evey’s access to the sanctioned TV channel allows V to humiliate the Chancellor live on air. At the end Evey helps V carry out his final plan to destroy the Parliament. Though the film initially gained press by Natalie’s commitment ot her role (She shaved her head! For real!! ), it stands as one of the better movie adaptations of a comic book story. Natalie’s next film taken from the comics (she’s Jane Foster in THOR) will have a lot to live up to.

03. CLOSER

While many dramas concern themselves with the conflicts in a romantic triangle, CLOSER is a rare film about a romantic rectangle. Natalie is one of the angles in Mike Nichols’s 2004 film along with Jude law, Clive Owen, and Julia Roberts. We first meet Alice ( or is it Jane? ) walking down a London street flashing a smile at Dan ( Jude ) right before she’s struck by a car. She’s still flashing that smile while lying on the ground as Dan tends to her injuries. That’s quite a spin on the movie “meet cute”. After they hook up, we learn that she’s relocated in the UK after a bad split in NYC. She becomes the subject of a novel by Dan and continues working as a waitress with a side job at a strip club. Then Dan meets up with photog Anna (Julia) and things go right to Hell. Soon Dan and Alice break up and she’s hooking up with Anna’s hubby Larry (Clive) at a “gentleman’s club”. After a couple more twists and turns she re-connects to Dan, but it’s not to be. The film’s final moments concern the mystery around Alice/Jane. Natalie may not be that convincing as an exotic dancer, but she holds her own with this impressive cast while sporting a great variety of multi-color wigs.

02. GARDEN STATE

GARDEN STATE, written and directed by Zach Braff, who also plays Andrew Largeman the friend/love interest of Sam (Natalie Portman), creates quirky and lovable characters both of them. She is a very believable pathological liar with a neurological disorder that meets Andrew in the doctor’s office. The audience gets pulled into this peculiar scenario of the meeting, friendship, and minor journeys they take together. Portman moves throughout this film as if she has always played a character like Sam, in the same situations and same odd living conditions. The weird and strangely wonderful attraction of the two characters does not seem so outlandish because of her ownership of the role of Sam and his genuine portrayal of Andrew. The film leaves you with a fairly open interpretation, but a satisfactory sense of closure and happiness.

01. BLACK SWAN

BLACK SWAN marks Natalie Portman’s greatest performance to date, drawing upon her subtlety and innocent charm – despite what many of us know to be a deviant side, as displayed in a certain music video. We get that there’s something not quite right about her character Nina, but it’s through a carefully regulated flow that her true condition emerges. Meanwhile, the audience is introduced to Nina, slowly revealing the fragile side of her persona. By the time we first get a glimpse of what she hides, the metamorphosis is already under way. Portman manages to succeed in the handful of humorous scenes, as awkward as they may be, as well as the scenes intended to creep the viewer out, showing she and director Darren Aronofsky were working in sync to create this fascinating film.

BLACK SWAN, INCEPTION, THE KING’S SPEECH, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, and TRUE GRIT Cinematographer Nominees

Matthew Libatique, ASC (Black Swan), Wally Pfister, ASC (Inception), Danny Cohen, BSC (The King’s Speech), Jeff Cronenweth, ASC (The Social Network), and Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC (True Grit) have been nominated in the feature film category of the 25th Annual American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Outstanding Achievement Awards.

“These five people have set the standard for today’s cinematography,” says Awards Committee Chairman Richard Crudo. “Although they were nominated for a variety of films, they share the common denominator of extraordinary talent and good taste. Just their mere presence on set would elevate any production.”

This is the ninth nomination for Deakins in the ASC feature film competition. He earned top honors for The Shawshank Redemption (1995) and The Man Who Wasn’t There (2002), and other nominations for Fargo (1997), Kundun (1998), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2001), No Country for Old Men (2008), The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2008), Revolutionary Road (2009) and The Reader (2009). In addition to his nomination for True Grit, Deakins will also be honored as the recipient of the ASC’s 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award.

This is the third nomination for Pfister who was previously recognized for Batman Begins (2006) and The Dark Knight (2009).

Cohen, Cronenweth and Libatique are all first-time nominees.

“The artistically diverse approaches these talented cinematographers employed are a glimpse at what visionaries with a camera can accomplish,” says ASC President Michael Goi. “They are visual storytellers of the highest caliber.”

The winner will be announced at the ASC Awards celebration at the Hollywood and Highland Grand Ballroom on February 13.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best of 2010

With 2010 behind us, it only seems fair to do a recap of the WAMG favorites from the year. There were so many films that came close to being on this list… Please keep in mind that these are just our favorites. There were a ton of great films in 2010, and we just couldn’t include them all.

It’s not you baby, it’s me… I mean us!

So, without further ado… WAMG’S TOP TEN BEST FILMS OF 2010

Honorable Mention: WINTER’S BONE

WINTER’S BONE was directed by co-written by Debra Granik (DOWN TO THE BONE) and is the story of a teenage girl from the Ozarks, who is thrown into adulthood, caring for her mentally ill mother and two young siblings. Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) must track down her father to save her house from being seized to cover the bail bond for her missing father. Filled to the brim with powerfully subtle drama and suspenseful storytelling, WINTER’S BONE features a great folk music score to accompany Lawrence’s stellar follow-up performance to THE BURNING PLAIN and a greatly under-appreciated supporting performance from John Hawkes (DEADWOOD) as Teardrop Dolly, Ree’s uncle who must decide between his family loyalty and doing what’s right. WINTER’S BONE won Best Picture and Best Screenplay from the Sundance Film Festival.

10. THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

A young adult’s search for their heritage and identity has been a popular theme for many coming of age motion pictures. This year director and co-writer Lisa Cholodenko gave this subject a very modern spin in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. Jules and Nic are a lesbian couple in a long relationship who have each given birth to children( a son, Laser, and a daughter,Joni) using the same unknown sperm donor. When Joni turns eighteen she decides to seek out this donor and contacts the carefree restaurateur Paul. After he is introduced to the mothers, the real conflicts and complications ensue. Family dynamics are tested as Paul warms to the idea of becoming a family man and tries insert himself into the home these women have made. As the titles states this kids are all right as Josh Hutcherson’s Laser becomes more mature and Mia Wasikowska’s Joni breaks free from to the nest and heads off to college. But it’s the adults that are so much more than all right in this film. Mark Ruffalo creates a complex character that’s conflicted underneath his charming, scruffy exterior. And, the heads of the family, Julianne Moore as the freewheeling Jules and Annette Bening as the sharply focused Nic give, perhaps, the best performances of their impressive careers and make this the outstanding family comedy-drama of 2010.

09. THE KING’S SPEECH

THE KING’S SPEECH is the engrossing film about speech therapy and the relationship between the King of England and his therapist. The number 9 film on our list will surely leave you emotionally affected by Colin Firth’s moving portrayal of George VI and his triumph over a debilitating stammer to become England’s steadfast monarch when the country needed his leadership the most. This king was truly a man for all seasons. Both Firth and the supporting cast of Helena Bonham-Carter and Geoffrey Rush excel in this poignant drama. THE KING’S SPEECH is unlike any period biopic you’ll ever see. It’s brilliant work from director Tom Hooper (HBO’s JOHN ADAMS) with a beautiful score from Alexandre Desplat. Awards season aside, it’s a must-see film for anytime of the year.

08. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PT.1 was by far one of the biggest films of the year. The Potter franchise has a huge cult following, so it is no surprise that it had high box office numbers. The film itself was the perfect way for die hard fans to ease into the final film (and the epic battle ahead). For those who have seen the first six movies, or for those who have read all of the books, this is the perfect build-up to the final showdown. You certainly do not want to see this movie if you are unfamiliar with the story thus-far, because it does not recap anything that has happened up to this point, and it might be hard to follow, or a bit boring without knowing the back-story. Still, the visuals are stunning, and the characters that we have all grown to love really get a chance to develop in this installment. Because they broke the final book into two films, they allowed time for the story to develop, and the tension to build before all of the action happens. My biggest complaint about HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE was that they rushed the entire film, especially the big fight at the end. This time, they are taking their time and doing it right. I cannot wait for the final film, despite it meaning the end of an epic journey.

07. TRUE GRIT

Jeff Bridges leads the cast brilliantly as a federal marshal (Rooster Cogburn), out to track down the killer of a young woman’s father. He is unwillingly accompanied by Matt Damon (LaBoeuf), in pursuit of the ever slippery villain played by Josh Brolin. The Coen brothers have yet again proven that they can tackle any genre and choose their participants wisely. Writing credits are in order here as well due to the seemingly accurate dialect of this era and fast-paced banter that truly enhance the performances of the cast. The surprise of the movie, however, is the outstanding performance of Hailee Steinfeld (Mattie Ross), through her quick tongue and sharp intelligence. Already nominated for many awards with more to come, this is a definite must-see film for everyone regardless if the western variety is not necessarily your go-to film.

06. INCEPTION

INCEPTION is a powerhouse audio/visual experience, an engaging cerebral journey that challenges the viewer without causing mental breakdown. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, INCEPTION is a unique vision for a new kind of sci-fi film. For a movie over two-and-a-half hours in length, the attention deficit in nearly non-existent, continually pulling the audience deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole (so to speak) and never letting go. The ensemble cast, led by Leonardo Dicaprio, shines on every facet, but succeeds most clearly as a team. Tom hardy once again proves he’s an under-appreciated acting powerhouse and Hans Zimmer’s score will, at times, literally blow you away.

05. TOY STORY 3

“Do you really think Andy’s going to take you to college?’ was the question posed to Woody by Stinky Pete the Prospector in 1999’s TOY STORY 2. That question was finally answered eleven years later in the wildly successful follow-up, TOY STORY 3. The film opens with a recreation of the opening sequence of the first film with Andy dreaming up a wild adventure starring his favorite playthings. Time passes quickly and Andy is now a young man getting ready to leave home for college. Which of his pals will go away with him, or be donated to the Sunnyside Daycare Center(or”gasp” into the trash!). Old friends are separated and re-united while new friends(Ned Beatty’s Lotso-Huggin’-Bear,Micheal Keaton as Barbie’s soul mate Ken, and the toys of little Bonnie) are introduced. In a year of exceptional animated features from the hand-drawn beauty of THE ILLUSIONIST to rival Dreamworks’s best effort HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, the Pixar team cemented their reputation as some of the best filmmakers(not just of family films, but of films in general) working today. From the comedy of the daycare center( echoing films like THE GREAT ESCAPE), to the heart stopping horrors of the trash dump furnace(where the gang holds hands in their last seconds together) and finally the heart wrenching conclusion(darned if I didn’t tear up again the second time I watched it), TOY STORY 3 proved not only to be the best animated film of the year, but one of the most moving cinema experiences of 2010.

04. THE SOCIAL NETWORK

How do you make a movie about Facebook interesting? This was a question posed by many when THE SOCIAL NETWORK was first announced. The answer is, you don’t. You make the film about how relationships can be built, destroyed and altered for personal gain. From a rapid fire dialogue that opens the film, THE SOCIAL NETWORK fires off with all guns blazing. Aaron Sorkin’s script is witty, fast paced and just an all out amazing read on its own right. Coupled by David Fincher’s direction and Jesse Eisenberg’s dramatized interpretation of Mark Zuckerberg, it is a film that demands your attention from frame one. Everything in this film is top notch and it never lets you go.

03. THE FIGHTER

The true tale of a family, boxing, and decisions. Christian Bale (Dicky Eklund) is not cast as the lead role, but is undeniably the scene stealer of this well-told account of prize fighter Mickey Ward. Bale is arguably the best male supporting actor of 2010 as the crack-addicted con/boxer/brother. David O. Russell directs Mark Wahlberg (Mickey Ward) though the maze of tough decisions about his career, love, and the choices he makes with his family. The movie is paced well, keeps you engaged, and quietly cheering for any win for Mickey. The prominent female players are Amy Adams (Charlene Fleming) and Melissa Leo (Alice Ward) and their performances are not to be missed. Looking forward, this may be remembered as one of the finest films about a boxer, with even more awards to go along with the belt.

02. 127 HOURS

I hope anyone who has not seen 127 HOURS yet isn’t avoiding it because they’re afraid they won’t be able to stomach the self-mutilation scene near the end. Don’t skip 127 HOURS because it’s about a guy who cuts off his own arm. See it because it’s about a guy who cuts off his own arm to survive. See it because you need to know the answer to what you would do if you were in Aaron Ralston’s predicament. 127 HOURS is an authentically emotional film and by the end of it you want him to cut off that arm and when he finally does, it’s a cathartic experience and you’re cheering him on.

01. BLACK SWAN

BLACK SWAN stars Natalie Portman in what may be her best performance to date, playing Nina, a timid but ambitious ballerina. Nina is sheltered by her mother (Barbara Hershey), unaccustomed to an adult life of excess or the concept of being a free spirit, but her desire to triumph at her dream role as the Swan Queen drives her deeper into a darker side of herself she has suppressed for years. Darren Aronofsky directs this tensely wound psychological thriller, masterfully combining subtle visual devices with superb acting to tell his story. BLACK SWAN is not a chick flick, as I’ve heard some murmurs spread by those who clearly have not seen the film, but is often as humorous as it is terrifying. Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassell also deliver rich supporting performances.

Weekly Box Office Wrap

Hey guys! We have a new column that we are going to be featuring every week, called the WEEKLY BOX OFFICE WRAP by our newest addition to the Movie Geek team, Allison. (Might I add just how fancy of a writer she truly is! Give her a very big Movie Geeks welcome and show some love!).

Allison will be giving you the box office breakdowns. What did amazing? What fell short? She has your answers right here… so take it away, lady!!!. — Melissa

December 17-19, 2010

TRON: LEGACY was number one this weekend with a light disc, not a bullet, as anticipated. The box office hopes were higher than the actual result, despite the heavy marketing campaign. They were solid figures though, averaging over $12,758 per theater (3,451 to be exact) and about $44,026,211 overall. With a budget of $170 million, it is unlikely TRON: LEGACY will recover that domestically. However, the releasing studio, Buena Vista, has had a fantastic year so far. They are behind the releases of ALICE IN WONDERLAND and TOY STORY 3 as well, which were huge at the box office and also very likely to see some Oscar nods soon.

A far away second was YOGI BEAR, a Warner Brothers release, that was actually in more theaters (3,515), but unfortunately had a much lower per theater average of only about $4,669, resulting in $16,411,322. With a small yield on their investment of a budget of $80 million, they will not likely see the profits over the mountains of Jellystone. Although, it has a very good chance of a slower drop off than would be expected due to the approaching holidays when more families are able to take the time for the family outing.

Coming in at number 8 at the box office this weekend was HOW DO YOU KNOW with a very unsatisfactory $7,484,696 on an operating budget of a staggering $120 million. Yes, a reported $120,000,000. This was a huge swing and a miss for Sony, only averaging $3,014 per theater in 2,483 theaters across the US. Despite the appealing cast, it was still not enticing enough to get the movie crowd tempted to spend their hard earned money on it.

The last two films released this weekend, in an extremely limited fashion, are RABBIT HOLE and CASINO JACK. Both did not have impressive overall dollar figures, but their per theater average was commendable. RABBIT HOLE yielded $53,778 in 5 screens making it a $10,756 per theater average. CASINO JACK averaged $4,933 per theater for the 7 theaters that were fortunate enough to show this film.

So, here is how the Top Ten shaked out for the weekend…

  1. TRON: LEGACY — $44,026,211
  2. YOGI BEAR — $16,411,322
  3. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER — $12,388,662
  4. THE FIGHTER — $12,135,468
  5. TANGLED — $8,775,344
  6. THE TOURIST — $8,522,287
  7. BLACK SWAN — $8,383,479
  8. HOW DO YOU KNOW — $7,484,696
  9. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 — $5,022,361
  10. UNSTOPPABLE — $1,843,696

16th Critics’ Choice Award Nominations

The nominations for the 16th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards have been announced, and amongst the many very pleasing revelations is that BLACK SWAN has earned a record breaking 12 nominations.

Best Picture

  • 127 HOURS
  • BLACK SWAN
  • THE FIGHTER
  • INCEPTION
  • THE KING’S SPEECH
  • THE SOCIAL NETWORK
  • THE TOWN
  • TOY STORY 3
  • TRUE GRIT
  • WINTER’S BONE

Best Actor

  • Jeff Bridges – TRUE GRIT
  • Robert Duvall – GET LOW
  • Jesse Eisenberg – THE SOCIAL NETWORK
  • Colin Firth – THE KING’S SPEECH
  • James Franco – 127 HOURS
  • Ryan Gosling – BLUE VALENTINE

Best Actress

  • Annette Bening – THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
  • Nicole Kidman – RABBIT HOLE
  • Jennifer Lawrence – WINTER’S BONE
  • Natalie Portman – BLACK SWAN
  • Noomi Rapace – THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
  • Michelle Williams – BLUE VALENTINE

Best Supporting Actor

  • Christian Bale – THE FIGHTER
  • Andrew Garfield – THE SOCIAL NETWORK
  • Jeremy Renner – THE TOWN
  • Sam Rockwell – CONVICTION
  • Mark Ruffalo – THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
  • Geoffrey Rush -THE KING’S SPEECH

Best Supporting Actress

  • Amy Adams – THE FIGHTER
  • Helena Bonham Carter – THE KING’S SPEECH
  • Mila Kunis – BLACK SWAN
  • Melissa Leo – THE FIGHTER
  • Hailee Steinfeld – TRUE GRIT
  • Jacki Weaver – ANIMAL KINGDOM

Best Young Actor/Actress

  • Elle Fanning — SOMEWHERE
  • Jennifer Lawrence — WINTER’S BONE
  • Chloe Grace Moretz — LET ME IN
  • Chloe Grace Moretz — KICK-ASS
  • Kodi Smit-McPhee — LET ME IN
  • Hailee Steinfeld — TRUE GRIT

Best Acting Ensemble

  • THE FIGHTER
  • THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
  • THE KING’S SPEECH
  • THE SOCIAL NETWORK
  • THE TOWN

Best Director

  • Darren Aronofsky — BLACK SWAN
  • Danny Boyle — 127 HOURS
  • Joel Coen & Ethan Coen– TRUE GRIT
  • David Fincher — THE SOCIAL NETWORK
  • Tom Hooper — THE KING’S SPEECH
  • Christopher Nolan — INCEPTION

Best Original Screenplay

  • ANOTHER YEAR — Mike Leigh
  • BLACK SWAN — Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin
  • THE FIGHTER — Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson (Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson)
  • INCEPTION — Christopher Nolan
  • THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT — Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg
  • THE KING’S SPEECH — David Seidler

Best Adapted Screenplay

  • 127 HOURS — Simon Beaufoy and Danny Boyle
  • THE SOCIAL NETWORK — Aaron Sorkin
  • THE TOWN — Ben Affleck, Peter Craig and Sheldon Turner
  • TOY STORY 3 — Michael Arndt (Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich)
  • TRUE GRIT — Joel & Ethan Coen
  • WINTER’S BONE — Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini

Best Cinematography

  • 127 HOURS — Anthony Dod Mantle
  • BLACK SWAN — Matthew Libatique
  • INCEPTION — Wally Pfister
  • THE KING’S SPEECH — Danny Cohen
  • TRUE GRIT — Roger Deakins

Best Art Direction

  • ALICE IN WONDERLAND — Stefan Dechant
  • BLACK SWAN — Therese DePrez and Tora Peterson
  • INCEPTION — Guy Hendrix Dyas
  • THE KING’S SPEECH — Netty Chapman
  • TRUE GRIT — Jess Gonchor and Nancy Haigh

Best Editing

  • 127 HOURS — Jon Harris
  • BLACK SWAN — Andrew Weisblum
  • INCEPTION — Lee Smith
  • THE SOCIAL NETWORK — Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Best Costume Design

  • ALICE IN WONDERLAND — Colleen Atwood
  • BLACK SWAN — Amy Westcott
  • THE KING’S SPEECH — Jenny Beavan
  • TRUE GRIT — Mary Zophres

Best Makeup

  • ALICE IN WONDERLAND
  • BLACK SWAN
  • HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1
  • TRUE GRIT

Best Visual Effects

  • ALICE IN WONDERLAND
  • HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1
  • INCEPTION
  • TRON: LEGACY

Best Sound

  • 127 HOURS
  • BLACK SWAN
  • INCEPTION
  • THE SOCIAL NETWORK
  • TOY STORY 3

Best Animated Feature

  • DESPICABLE
  • HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
  • THE ILLUSIONIST
  • TANGLED
  • TOY STORY 3

Best Action Movie

  • INCEPTION
  • KICK-ASS
  • RED
  • THE TOWN
  • UNSTOPPABLE

Best Comedy

  • CYRUS
  • DATE NIGHT
  • EASY A
  • GET HIM TO THE GREEK
  • I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS
  • THE OTHER GUYS

Best Picture Made For TV

  • THE PACIFIC
  • TEMPLE GRANDIN
  • YOU DON’T KNOW JACK

Best Foreign language Film

  • BIUTIFUL
  • I AM LOVE
  • THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Best Documentary Feature

  • EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP
  • INSIDE JOB
  • RESTREPO
  • JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK
  • THE TILLMAN STORY
  • WAITING FOR SUPERMAN

Best Song

  • “I See the Light” – performed by Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi/written by Alan Menken & Glenn Slater – TANGLED
  • “If I Rise” – performed by Dido and A.R. Rahman/music by A.R. Rahman/lyrics by Dido Armstrong and Rollo Armstrong – 127 HOURS
  • “Shine” – performed and written by John Legend – WAITING FOR SUPERMAN
  • “We Belong Together” – performed and written by Randy Newman – TOY STORY 3
  • “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me Yet” – performed by Cher/written by Diane Warren – BURLESQUE

Best Score

  • BLACK SWAN – Clint Mansell
  • INCEPTION – Hans Zimmer
  • THE KING’S SPEECH – Alexandre Desplat
  • THE SOCIAL NETWORK – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
  • TRUE GRIT – Carter Burwell

Source: Critics Choice Awards

AFI Announces Top Ten of 2010

While every online and print source of motion picture industry news and criticism puts out a Top Ten list this time of year (yours truly not an exception, look for it soon), some may say the “definitive” voice is the American Film Institute. For better or for worse, they’ve announced their list of the top ten films of 200… and, personally, I am quite pleased. None of these films are anything short of spectacular.

“Black Swan,” directed by Darren Aronofsky
“The Fighter,” directed by David O. Russell
“Inception,” directed by Christopher Nolan
“The Kids Are All Right,” directed by Lisa Cholodenko
“127 Hours,” directed by Danny Boyle
“The Social Network,” directed by David Fincher
“The Town,” directed by Ben Affleck
“Toy Story 3,” directed by Lee Unkrich
“True Grit,” directed by Joel & Ethan Coen
“Winter’s Bone,” directed by Debra Granik

BLACK SWAN continues it’s remarkable tsunami of critical acclaim, while WINTER’S BONE is still (thankfully) proving small films are capable of competing with the big dogs.

Source: AFI

Review: BLACK SWAN

BLACK SWAN is a tragic tale of a young woman’s quest for perfection, an endeavor complicated by her fractured self. Natalie Portman plays Nina, a promising young ballerina set upon earning the treasured role of the Swan Queen in Thomas Leroy’s new version of the classic production Swan lake. The primary obstacle for Nina is not in her portrayal of the White Swan, but proving she has in her what it takes to play the Black Swan as well.

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the film is meticulously composed with a grainy spontaneous edge, much like that of his previous film THE WRESTLER. Nina is an innocent, seemingly fragile young woman, extremely talented but pressed upon and protected too much so at times by her overbearing mother, played perfectly by veteran Barbara Hershey. Nina fears she ruined her one chance at the coveted role, until Thoma Leroy (Vincent Cassel) notices quite by accident that she has the raw seedlings of what makes the Black Swan within.

Mila Kunis offers a fun and exhilarating supporting performance as the wild child Lilly, a ballerina who plays dirty while vying for Nina’s prized role. Winona Ryder’s supporting performance as the aging ballerina Beth may be brief, but not without merit. Beth’s mental state is crumbling under the weight of being a fallen star, something for which Nina feels guilt. Ryder’s performance is eerie and compelling, combined with Aronofsky’s chilling Dario Argento-inspired vision of a tortured soul.

BLACK SWAN is a dark, psychological thriller with the antagonist and protagonist rolled up into one mesmerizing performance from Natalie Portman, a stellar achievement deserving of unquestionable Oscar notoriety. She conveys Nina in such a virginal, incorruptibly innocent that, as her character unfolds upon herself to embrace the essence of the Black Swan, that the result is both shocking and intensely surreal. Portman’s performance was surely a formidable task, both creatively and emotionally.

Visually, Aronofsky’s film is far more intricate than it leads on at the surface. Nina’s personality is at the core of the story, an element reflected repeatedly throughout the film by his abundantly effective use of mirrors. So much is this an integral role in the film, that to consider the logistics of such a production is mind boggling in and of itself. While watching BLACK SWAN, be mindful of the mirrors and what they represent about Nina and her reality.

The classical music of Swan Lake, combined fluidly with original music from Clint Mansell (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM), provides a visceral sound-scape for Nina’s metamorphosis. I need not sell this film to fans of Darren Aronofsky, as they are already well aware of his talent and appeal. However, those who have not yet succumbed to the his cinematic prowess should not refrain from this gem due solely to it’s association to ballet. The classical dance is merely a vessel for a much more potent, terrifying tale.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Review originally published during the 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival

12 “Behind-the-Scenes” Featurettes From BLACK SWAN

Fox Searchlight has released 12 Behind-the-Scenes clips of Darren Aronofsky’s BLACK SWAN. The film saw four nominations at this morning’s Film Independent Spirit Awards announcement. In these various featurettes, the director, producer, actors and crew talk about the new thriller.

Director Darren Aronofsky

 

Producer Scott Franklin

 

Writer Mark Heyman

Actress Natalie Portman

Actress Mila Kunis

Actress Barbara Hershey

Actress Winona Ryder

Actor Vincent Cassel

Production Designer Thérése DePrez

Natalie Portman’s trainer Mary Helen Bowers

Choreographer Benjamin Millepied

Costume Designer Amy Westcott

BLACK SWAN will be in theaters December 3, 2010.. The film is rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use

Photo by Fox Searchlight