Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová proved that sometimes the good guys win, and thus there was at least one real-life triumph of the human spirit at this year’s Oscars. The Irish indie film Once, a modest modern musical made on a shoestring budget (less than £100,000) and shot on two mini-DV handycams, won a Best Song award for its stars, singer-songwriters Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová.
In the movie, the pair play strangers who meet on a Dublin street, where Mr. Hansard’s character, a sad-eyed musician, is playing guitar and singing for donations. Ms. Irglová’s character – the viewer never learns either’s name – is a Czech immigrant struggling to make a living. The two become unlikely friends and help each other honorably and gracefully through the pain of loneliness and broken dreams.
Once is an unconventional love story, an achingly tender meditation on the power of art to console, redeem and inspire. The world may or may not reward our sincere efforts, the film says, but true art is reward enough.
Once became a critic’s favorite and won an Oscar nomination for the gorgeous ballad “Falling Slowly.” And guitarist Hansard fell in love with pianist Irglová while promoting the film. Theirs is now a real-life romance.
And there they were, against all odds, these two obscure musicians, stars of a movie made for less than the catering budget of a Hollywood blockbuster, performing their love song live for a worldwide television audience. Moments later, they both held Oscars in their hands.
The story of Once, on-screen and off, reminds us all how much we mortals need art to keep hope alive and to illuminate the goodness, the beauty and the hope beneath the somber overlay of an ordinary life’s burdens.
A film is just flickering images on a screen, but as in the case of the quiet miracle that is Once, it can also be the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it. It’s a cynical world, full of violence, mayhem and evil. But every now and then, the good guys win.
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
Travolta/Washington/Script by David Koepp/Tony Scott directing: Shooting starts next week
Director: Tony Scott
Writers: David Keopp (Screenplay)
Denzel Washington set for ‘Pelham’
Tony Scott will direct hostage drama
By TATIANA SIEGEL, TATIANA SIEGEL, MICHAEL FLEMING
Denzel Washington will reteam with frequent collaborator Tony Scott on a remake of “The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3″ for Columbia Pictures.
David Koepp, who penned “Spider-Man 4″ for the studio, wrote the screenplay.
Washington will take on the role of Zachary “Z” Garber, which was played by Walter Matthau in the original 1974 Joseph Sargent-helmed film. The story, based on a novel by John Godey, also spawned a 1998 TV movie starring Edward James Olmos.
Washington recently wrapped production on his latest directorial effort, “The Great Debaters.”
Travolta will play the leader of a quartet that hijacks a Gotham subway train and threatens to kill the passengers unless a ransom is paid. The role was originated in the 1974 film by Robert Shaw. Washington plays the chief detective of security for the subway, a role originated by Walter Matthau in the Joseph Sargent-directed drama.
Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch are producing through Escape Artists. Tony Scott is also producing through his Scott Free banner. The film rolls into production early next week.
Travolta will play the leader of a quartet that hijacks a Gotham subway train and threatens to kill the passengers unless a ransom is paid. The role was originated in the 1974 film by Robert Shaw. Washington plays the chief detective of security for the subway, a role originated by Walter Matthau in the Joseph Sargent-directed drama.
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Winner: No Country for Old Men (2007) – Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin
Best Achievement in Directing
Winner: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen for No Country for Old Men (2007)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Winner: Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men (2007)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Winner: Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007)
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Winner: Juno (2007) – Diablo Cody
Best Documentary, Features
Winner: Taxi to the Dark Side (2007) – Alex Gibney, Eva Orner
Best Documentary, Short Subjects
Winner: Freeheld (2007) – Cynthia Wade, Vanessa Roth
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
Winner: Atonement (2007) – Dario Marianelli
Best Achievement in Cinematography
Winner: There Will Be Blood (2007) – Robert Elswit
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Winner: Once (2006) – Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová(“Falling Slowly” )
Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Winner: Fälscher, Die (2007)(Austria)
Best Achievement in Editing
Winner: The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) – Christopher Rouse
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Winner: Marion Cotillard for Môme, La (2007)
Best Achievement in Sound
Winner: The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) – Scott Millan, David Parker, Kirk Francis
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Winner: The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) – Karen M. Baker, Per Hallberg
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Winner: No Country for Old Men (2007) – Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Winner: Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton (2007)
Best Short Film, Animated
Winner: Peter & the Wolf (2006) – Suzie Templeton, Hugh Welchman
Best Short Film, Live Action
Winner: Mozart des pickpockets, Le (2006) – Philippe Pollet-Villard
Best Achievement in Art Direction
Winner: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) – Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Winner: The Golden Compass (2007) – Michael L. Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris, Trevor Wood
Best Achievement in Makeup
Winner: Môme, La (2007) – Didier Lavergne, Jan Archibald
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
Winner: Ratatouille (2007) – Brad Bird
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Winner: Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) – Alexandra Byrne
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
Winner: Once (2006) – Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová(“Falling Slowly” )
Daniel Day-Lewis Wins Best Actor Oscar for There Will Be Blood. (I posted this 3 hours before the announcement.)
For her role as Karen Crowder in Michael Clayton Tilda Swinton has won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
ROGER DEAKINS IS NOMINATED TWICE AND HAS ALREADY WON THE BAFTA.
LOS ANGELES — Here’s an Oscar fact to focus on: ROGER DEAKINS is the first director of photography to receive two nominations in the same year since 1971.
The cinematographer on “No Country for Old Men” and “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” pulled off the first double in the category since Robert Surtees was nominated for “The Last Picture Show” and “Summer of ’42.”
Deakins is no stranger to Oscar’s attention, having earned five noms — for the Coen brothers’ “The Man Who Wasn’t There,” “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “Fargo” as well as “Kundun” and “The Shawshank Redemption.”
“It’s fantastic. How often do you get so lucky to do two such great and varied films?” a surprised Deakins said, adding that this year saw “such stiff competition and such diverse work.”
“No Country” and “Jesse James” both are Westerns in the broadest sense but vary in approach. “No Country” is a dark, contemporary thriller with lighting that builds suspense. “Jesse James” is a widescreen period drama.
Read on>
TV alerts (UK) Oscars coverage in addition to the live ceremony.
* Feb 24, 11pm, E!, “Live from the red carpet”
* Feb 25, 9.30am, BBC News 24, “BBC News Special”
The Oscars Red Carpet Live
Kate Thornton presents as a host of Hollywood stars arrive at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles for the evening’s ceremony. Featuring interviews, a look at the designer dresses and all the gossip about possible romantic entanglements
Film/Cinema
Tomorrow at 11:10pm on Sky One
Release Date:
22 May 2008 (UK)
Directed by
Steven Spielberg
Writing credits
David Koepp (screenplay)
George Lucas (story) and
Jeff Nathanson (story)
Cast (in credits order)
Harrison Ford … Indiana Jones
Karen Allen … Marion Ravenwood
Cate Blanchett … Agent Irina Spalko
Shia LaBeouf … Mutt Williams
John Hurt … Abner Ravenwood
Ray Winstone … Mac
Jim Broadbent … Yale Professor
“What’s going on here?”
Tarantino doing what should always be done to paps who get too close.
I got this from http://www.qubetv.tv/ Not that I’m political, but he seems to speak sooth, and the name has a nice ring to it.
About QubeTV
QubeTV.tv is dedicated to bringing your conservative take on politics and culture to the Internet. We know that the history of the modern mass media has been liberal in both its ownership and content for decades. With the world of the Internet playing an increasingly vital part in both our politics and culture, conservatives cannot sit back and cede the territory of online videos and pictures. There will, doubtless, be many conservative sites vying for your attention. We here at QubeTV hope to win your loyalty by committing ourselves to making this your favorite conservative place in the Internet universe. You are the star – the investigative political reporter, the anchor, the comedian, the believer, the student, the jock – and you have a camera.
If you live in New Hampshire or Iowa and you have a presidential candidate pulling into town – consider yourself a reporter for QubeTV. Tell us something we don’t know – better yet show us! If there’s a controversy on your college campus or in your community – show us all! And of course, as you navigate through the films, books, TV shows, commentators, and more that fill up our daily lives – give us your take on that too.
Charlie Gerow is a former campaign aide to the late President Reagan and the conservative activist extraordinaire. The head of Quantum Communications, a Pennsylvania public relations firm, he knows a thing or two about the frustrations conservatives have had over the years in getting their message out. Jeff Lord, a former White House aide, has had his own career as an author and commentator. They have joined forces to create an exciting opportunity in the rapidly expanding field of online videos and pictures, a web site completely devoted to the conservative movement that Ronald Reagan led so well for decades.
So come on in and sign up! It’s free! We know you are out there, and we certainly know you are smart, funny, opinionated, thoughtful, creative, clever, well-read, savvy and – conservative!
Join the fun!
Charlie and Jeff
For a laugh I registered as an extra today. Nice photo eh?
My extras photo
Commercial for fragance Gucci by Gucci, features models Raquel Zimmerman, Natasha Poly and Freja Beha Erichsen, Soundtrack: ‘Heart of Glass’ by by Blondie, Directed by David Lynch.
http://www.bankjobmovie.co.uk/
Starring: Jason Statham
Director: Roger Donaldson
Writers: Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais
Release Date: 28 February 2008 (UK)
Genre: Thriller
Tagline: The true story of a heist gone wrong… in all the right ways.
Based on the true story of the 1971 Baker Street bank robbery which was prevented from being told for over thirty years because of a Government gagging order. The real story of how one of the biggest robberies in British history took place with no arrests ever made nor money ever recovered. Written by Mark Thomas
In September 1971, thieves tunneled into the vault of a bank in London’s Baker Street and looted safe deposit boxes of cash and jewelry worth over three million pounds. None of it was recovered. Nobody was ever arrested. The robbery made headlines for a few days and then disappeared – the result of a ‘D’ Notice, gagging the press. This film reveals what was hidden for the first time. The story involves murder, corruption and a sex scandal with links to the Royal Family – a story in which the thieves were the most innocent people involved.
“Pineapple Express” (2008)
Lazy stoner Dale Denton has only one reason to visit his equally lazy dealer Saul Silver: to purchase weed, specifically, a rare new strain called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop and the city’s most dangerous drug lord, he panics and dumps his roach of Pineapple Express at the scene. Dale now has another reason to visit Saul: to find out if the weed is so rare that it can be traced back to him. And it is. As Dale and Saul run for their lives, they quickly discover that they’re not suffering from weed-fueled paranoia; incredibly, the bad guys really are hot on their trail and trying to figure out the fastest way to kill them both. All aboard the Pineapple Express.
Genres: Action/Adventure and Comedy
Release Date: August 8th, 2008 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, drug use, sexual references and violence.
Distributors:
Sony Pictures Releasing
Cast and Credits
Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Craig Robinson, James Remar, Joe Lo Truglio
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Produced by: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Judd Apatow
UK’s Movie Releases
Friday 15 February 2008:
All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (18) (Trailer below)
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through A Lens (12A)
Away From Her (12A)
Bucket List, The (12A)
Killers, The (Reissue) (PG)
Midnight Talks (Poland) (12A)
River Queen
Find a cinema near you
Posted Feb 14th 2008 9:00AM by Peter Cohan
How much did the strike cost? Los Angeles’s chief economist estimated that the strike cost the area $3.2 billion; writers and production workers lost $772 million in wages; and businesses that serve the strike lost $981 million in revenue. And this doesn’t count the cost to the economy from New York writers who were also on strike.
So what did the writers get for their lost $772 million in wages? According to The Times, writers get a percentage of “distributor’s gross receipts” — but it’s not clear how those are calculated — from new media which varies between 0.36% and 2% depending on the type of program. For example, if the user pays for the download, the writers get 0.36% of the distributor’s gross receipts for the first 100,000 downloads. Writers get 2% of receipts for advertising supported TV streaming after the first 17 days.
Was this worth it? It depends on how big those distributor gross receipts end up being. But to offset the $772 million in lost wages from the three-and-a-half month strike, they would have to reach $38.6 billion (assuming 2% residuals). I doubt that will happen soon.
Article from The Spoof:
Madonna’s Filth & Wisdom Bombs
Written by queen mudder
Story written: 14 February 2008
See a clip for yourself:
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Berlin International Film Festival
From the North Devon Gazette
devon.editorial@archant.co.uk
13 February 2008
THE Central Cinema in Barnstaple has been named best UK Independent Cinema in the 2008 Cinema Industry Awards, sponsored by Walt Disney Studios UK.
It beat off stiff competition from across the country to win the award, recognised as an Oscar for the UK cinema industry.
Tony Meehan, for RAAM, the organisers, said; “The number of entries this year was the highest ever and the level of competition in every category was extremely fierce.
“The Central Cinema was judged by an independent panel of film distributors, including Warner Bros, Disney, Fox, Entertainment, Sony and Paramount to be the best in the UK and fully deserving of the recognition.”
Peter Hoare, managing director of Scott Cinemas, which owns the Barnstaple complex, said: “To receive this prestigious award is tremendous recognition for all the people who work in the company.
“When we heard we were in this year’s nominations, we were delighted. To be named the number one independent cinema in the UK is just terrific and I must thank all of my staff for achieving this award, together with RAAM and the UK film distributors for making this possible.”
The RAAM awards were established four years ago to recognise the achievements of thousands of people who each week make it possible for the millions of cinema-goers to see their favourite movies.
The awards are decided by Nielson EDI box office data, an advisory board which represents all parts of the UK and Irish film distribution and exhibition industry.
Brilliant night for British film at the BAFTAs. Roger Deakins, my favorite cinematographer won Best Cinematographer for No Country for Old men, Daniel Day-Lewis won Best Actor for There Will Be Blood and The Coen Brothers won best Director for No Country, and SUPPORTING ACTOR went to JAVIER BARDEM for No Country for Old Men. Atonement won Best Film and Best British Film went of course to THIS IS ENGLAND – Mark Herbert/Shane Meadows and Johnathan Ross kept his dirty jokes out of it.
The Academy Fellowship went to Sir Anthony Hopkins.
See the full list here: BAFTA WINNERS
Recommended viewing – A Good Year
Russel Crowe – Albert Finney – Directed by Ridely Scott
a good year
A British investment broker inherits his uncle’s chateau and vineyard in Provence, where he spent much of his childhood. He discovers a new laid-back lifestyle as he tries to renovate the estate to be sold. Although an unusual choice of role for Crowe, it works. Beautifully photographed, laid-back comedy.
