Best Director Predictions

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Zac Petrillo

Current Predictions 09-26-11:
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive
Tomas Alfredson, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Bennett Miller, Moneyball
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Director Notes: Nobody stands out as a definite candidate just yet. The majority of exciting movies so far this year were either heavily story-based (Moneyball) or ultra-specific directorial visions (Tree of Life). Both will certainly alienate some. I’m very confident Moneyball will sneak into the Best Picture race but I’m less confident that Bennett Miller has the legs to get into the director race. I feel similarly about The Help, actually.

Earlier this year, Malick and Allen released pictures to huge acclaim, leading some to think one of them might get something of an honorary nod. I feel like of the two, Malick is more likely as Allen. Allen Oscar dominance now stands as roughly a decade ago; seems dead and buried on these younger voters. As it stands, I do think Miller will get in as will Alexander Payne.

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REWIND: A Few Words About “The Last Picture Show”

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Zac Petrillo

A recent insomnia movie viewing brought me back to Peter Bogdanovich’s remarkable 1971 film, The Last Picture Show. Like all movies of this caliber, upon every viewing new layers reveal themselves and make the work seem even more indispensably than previously thought.

Set in 1952 in a small Texas town called Anarene (Based on Archer City, Texas, the real life hometown of screenwriter and author Larry McMurtry), The Last Picture Show focuses on a group high school seniors played by young ‘soon-to-be stars’ such as Jeff Bridges, Sam Bottoms, Randy Quaid, and Cybill Shepard in her first role.  These kids deal with both unique and typical coming-of-age struggles in a frank way largely controversial for the time. Simultaneously, we get a glimpse into their future as the film follows the stories of middle-aged Anarene residents, some are parents, some are football coaches, and some are lovers. As the story unfolds the intersections between the characters build into plenty of dramatic tension as the crossroads of everyone is negotiated as deliberately as a lonely road intersection.

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New Production Photos of Malick Surface

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Zac Petrillo

Photos of Terrance Malick directing Christian Bale surfaced last week. Looks like some type of concert scene with a contemporary setting and dark, grungy feel. Both a huge departure for the director (not to mention, the scene is indoors!). These pics are from Malick’s upcoming picture starring Bale along with as Rachel Weisz, Jessica Chastain, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck and Javier Bardem.

Not much else to report but anytime Malick shows up it’s kind of giddily exciting. Strange how little this man changes in the decades between leaked photos of him.

Two more photos after the cut.

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Best Picture Predictions

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Zac Petrillo

Best Picture 09-25-11: The pundit world has almost universally decided that both The Artist and War Horse will be nominated. I having a sneaking suspicion that neither will actually break through and I feel pretty confident that both certainly will not. The Artist looks a little cute for Oscar voters and, ironically, too esoteric as well.  War Horse feels exactly like Nine from years ago, all but handed a nomination until people actually set eyes on it.

I have a gut feeling Moneyball will get nominated (with no chance for the win). Critical acclaim and pretty standard fluff, but not entirely hollow subject matter, makes Moneyball a virtual lock as far as I can tell. The other four are good bets with Ides of March still feeling really shaky. Outside of Moneyball, any one of these could fall away.

Close To Locks:
Moneyball
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Descendants
Ides of March
The Help

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Your Points on “Moneyball”

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Zac Petrillo

I’ve had my say about Moneyball, now give us your best points.

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REVIEW: Moneyball

Posted on September 24, 2011 by Zac Petrillo

Confidence. Those who have it can move mountains because they’re blessed with never being fearful or shrunken by self-doubt. Those who don’t have it can reduce monumental skill and talent amidst crippling insecurity. Moneyball tells the story of Billy Beane, the real-life GM of the Oakland A’s who experienced a mythical rise in popularity by employing a little known strategy of sabermetrics – in short, get men on base – into a winning baseball team. Billy was a five-star athlete when he was young. He was offered a scholarship to Stanford, which he turned down in order to follow the money into the big leagues. He wound up fizzing into obscurity like so many highly touted athletes. The memory of his demise still haunts him, even within his incredible success as a GM.

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