Here’s a fun giveaway for any fan of Pixar and/or “Cars,” a movie loved by both kids and adults, thanks to the retro feel of it.

THE MOVIE: The CG-animated movie takes place in a world inhabited entirely by cars. Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is the slick rookie taking the Piston Cup series by storm when the last race of the season ends in a three-way tie.

On the way to the tie-breaker race in California, Lightning loses his way off Route 66 in the Southwest desert and is taught to stop and smell the roses by the forgotten citizens of Radiator Springs – including former big-city lawyer Sally Carrera (Pixar veteran Bonnie Hunt), the town’s patriarch Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), and kooky tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy).

THE GIVEAWAY: Ultimate “Cars” Gift Pack, which includes the Blu-ray and DVD editions of the movie, as well as two exclusive cars (Lightning McQueen and Rescue Squad Mater). Tons of bonus features, too.

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post by midnight on Feb. 13, 2010, and tell us your favorite PIXAR movie. A winner will be chosen at random and notified by email. Good luck!

Image: Amazon.com

Post from: Film Gecko

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Nathaniel's on the road so I don't think he has the time to post the winners from this year's Sundance film festival. I hope y'all have been following Nathaniel's Sundance writings and you'll recognise some of the names from the winners list. Debra Granik took home top honours for her film Winter's Bone, which has people crying "Frozen River!" Frozen River was my #1 film from 2008 so if Bone gets anywhere close to being as good as that one then I will be happy.

For me, however, the bigger news was that David Michôd's Melbourne-set crime saga Animal Kingdom took home the World Cinema Jury Prize. Last year that very prize was won by The Maid, so hopefully you'll see Animal Kingdom pop up at more festivals and maybe even at your local cinema (NY/LA only, natch) some time over the next year. Kingdom has big buzz down here at the moment within film-watching circles with it's big ensemble cast and zeitgeist-y plot.

Grand Jury Prize (U.S. Dramatic): “Winter’s Bone”
Grand Jury Prize (U.S. Documentary): “Restrepo”
World Cinema Jury Prize (Dramatic): “Animal Kingdom”
World Cinema Jury Prize (Documentary): “The Red Chapel”
Audience Award (Dramatic): “happythankyoumoreplease”
Audience Award (Documentary): “Waiting for Superman”
World Cinema Audience Award (Dramatic): “Undertow”
World Cinema Audience Award (Documentary): “Wasteland”
Directing Award (Dramatic): Eric Mendelsohn, “3 Backyards”
Directing Award (Documentary): Leon Gast, “Smash His Camera”
World Cinema Directing Award (Dramatic): Juan Carlos Valdivia, “Southern District”
World Cinema Directing Award (Documentary): Christian Frei, “Space Tourists”

Read the rest of the winners at InContention and IndieWire.Nessun tag per questo post.

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Actor Rip Torn was arrested on Friday night in Salisbury, CT for reportedly drunkenly breaking into a bank carrying a fully loaded revolver!

WTF!!

The actor broke into the Litchfield Bancorp building and was promptly caught by state police who noticed that Rip was “highly intoxicated” at the time of his arrest. Torn is currently being held on $100k bond at North Canaan and has been charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal trespass, carrying a pistol without a permit, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, and third-degree criminal mischief.

What in the hell was he thinking!

This proves that celebrities also do stupid things while drunk.

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The following celebrities were born on Jan. 31:

Justin Timberlake is 29.
Carol Channing is 89.
Stuart Margolin (”The Rockford Files”) is 70.
Jessica Walter (”Arrested Development”) is 69.
Glynn Turman (”The Wire,” ”A Different World”) is 64.
Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band is 59.
Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols is 54.
Anthony LaPaglia (”Without a Trace,” ”Murder One”) is 51.
Kelly Lynch is 51.
Lloyd Cole is 49.
John Dye (”Touched by an Angel”) is 47.
Jeff Hanneman of Slayer is 46.
Al Jaworski of Jesus Jones is 44.
Minnie Driver is 40.
Portia de Rossi (”Arrested Development,” ”Ally McBeal”) is 37.
Kerry Washington (”Ray”) is 33.

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1. "Avatar" ($30 million)
2. "Edge of Darkness" ($17.1 million)
3. "When in Rome" ($12.1 million)
4. "Tooth Fairy" ($10 million)
5. "The Book of Eli" ($8.8 million)

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, "Avatar" once again topped the box office charts this past weekend for its seventh straight weekend victory. Following the $30 million haul, James Cameron's latest film sits atop a domestic money pile worth $594.5 million and is well within days of eclipsing "Titanic's" current record of $600.8 million.

Beating "Titanic" at the domestic box office is more or less the last meaningful record that "Avatar" has to break. Early last week, the science fiction epic secured its place as the highest grossing film of all time, having brought its worldwide tally up to $2.04 billion. Despite the victory, many are quick to point out that "Avatar's" current record isn't adjusted for inflation or the significantly higher cost for 3-D ticket purchases. But even with those exceptions in mind, there's absolutely no denying the unprecedented success this movie has enjoyed in only seven weeks in theaters.

In the world of non-"Avatar" news, Mel Gibson's return to the spotlight in "Edge of Darkness" wasn't able to slow down the 3-D epic's momentum, taking home a $17.1 million second place medal. Newcomer "When in Rome" and holdover "Tooth Fairy" took the third and fourth place slots while Denzel Washington's "The Book of Eli" earned a fifth place finish worth $8.8 million.

Although it didn't crack the top five, "Crazy Heart" nonetheless left the weekend with a solid $2.3 million over just 239 theaters, translating to a $9,414 per screen average. On the opposite end of the spectrum was "Extraordinary Measures," the Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser film that earned only $2.6 million from Friday to Sunday, a 57% drop from its debut last weekend.

Tell us what you think of the box office results in the comments section or on Twitter!

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Three more movies... But in truth I'm not sure which day we're on. I may have scrambled up the chronology just like Blue Valentine does. I am typing this on Saturday for publication on Sunday about movies from Friday. Where am I? WHEN AM I? I spent today being sick so no more movies. The sickness is why, even though it seemed like i was seeing a bajillion movies, I really wasn't. I worry that I missed a few great pictures and that I saw too many that ended up with or already had distribution deals that I could have seen later. But it's my first Sundance trip. I was doin' it wrong. Better luck next time.

The Romantics
Old college friends gather at a seaside home to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Lila (Anna Paquin) and Tom (Josh Duhamel). Laura (Katie Holmes), their maid of honor, used to be Tom's girl and it's immediately clear that that relationship hasn't fully run its course. The other friends (Malin Akerman, Elijah Wood, Adam Brody, Rebecca Lawrence and Jeremy Strong) know this. Lila even knows it in a way. What follows is a curiously artificial dramedy, with a few diverting moments and a central question that is provocative (do you marry the person you want deeply or the person who you obviously need). I couldn't connect with this movie from the beginning and knew I was in trouble when I started enjoying Malin Akerman more than the other actors. Maybe Rachel Getting Married spoiled me forever but after that film's gloriously complicated conflicting real time wedding awkwardness everything else involving toasts, rehearsal dinners and wedding jitters, excitement just feels pedestrian and canned.

The biggest problem here might be the casting. At first it didn't bother me as these are all adequate to good actors, but I realized midway through that I didn't buy for a second that they had all known each other for years. They're all TV pretty without the movie star soulfulness required to hurtle this type of material or make it sing. When I began to write this I had completely forgotten that Adam Brody was even in the movie. The characters make reference to their past incestuous dating history -- that's where they get their name "The Romantics" -- but none of the performance outside of maybe Lila/Laura/Tom convey anything like past romantic history. The performances convey general horniness for other hotties instead. Where is the backstory textural performance stuff? Worse yet, moody evasive Laura and nearly mute Tom supposedly have a fiery deep sexual connection that we're meant to believe springs from their love of poetry, English lit and deep philosophical conversations. I don't know about you but when I think about Katie Holmes and Josh Duhamel, intellectual all-nighters and poetry recitation aren't the first or even the two-hundred and thirty-first thing that spring to mind. D+

Blue Valentine
Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) have been married for years. The marriage isn't what it used to be. This beautifully rendered film, twelve years in the making, is co-written and directed by one-to-watch Derek Cianfrance. The lived-in feeling of the acting reminded me of Mike Leigh so it didn't surprise me to hear that Williams and Gosling had both been involved with the project for years, and helped shape their characters in substantial ways. We follow Cindy and Dean through two parallel linear chronologies charting both the birth of their relationship and the death of it. In the best moments, this plays less like a conceptual gimmick and more like a revelation, allowing you to see how the past and future are always connected. This reminded me of the brilliant stage musical The Last Five Years. Since I love both Years and Mike Leigh a great deal, trust that these comparison points are enormous compliments.


Michelle Williams proves again why she's one of the best young actresses working and Ryan Gosling is straight up fantastic nailing often daringly conflicted character details: he understands Dean's confidence and inferiority complex as well as both his volatility and gentleness. He's as specific here as he was in Half Nelson but the characterizations don't feel at all alike.

<-- Gosling, Williams and their screen daughter Faith Wladyka at the premiere in Park City

Two hander dramas only sizzle if the actors are in synch and the chemistry is strong here. As an added bonus both young stars are entirely believable in parenting scenes with their screen daughter and that isn't always the case [*cough* Brothers]. Blue Valentine isn't perfect, the ending feels only halfway worked-through and I understand Katey's quibble about the confusing geography (where are we exactly in both past and present?). It's often depressing and I know the movie won't play for everyone. But though it might be a minor achievement, it's definitely an achievement. A must see for fans of either actor and of romantic dramas in general.
B+/A-

happythankyoumoreplease
This is the writing and directing debut for Josh Radnor, better known as "Ted Mosby" on How I Met Your Mother. This is a touch like watching a mumblecore film performed by the cast of Friends. I don't mean to sound mean or glib, since it's a harmless and even optimistic movie. But there's a lot about it, from Malin Akerman's alopecia -- I don't understand how Malin Akerman is an indie actress now? Help me! -- to a huge plot thread involving a little foster care black boy, that plays in an artificial overscripted way rather than lived-in and felt. In short, it's a situation dramedy, that might work better as a TV show.

Best in show: Pablo Schreiber, brother of Liev, who has done a lot of television but who I was unfamiliar with. He plays a late twentysomething man who really loves his commitment-phobe girlfriend (Zoe Kazan) but is aching to take a next step of one sort or another in his life. He provides one of the most endearing, openly emotional reactions to a pregnancy announcement, I've ever seen captured on film.

happythankyoumoreplease was the last film I saw and when it ended I knew I had had enough so perhaps I was just grumpy (no movies for a week!). But I do think it provided welcome takeaway positivity. Whenever you're feeling grateful to the universe, say "thank you" and chase it with "more please." C


Best Pictures: The Kids Are All Right, I Am Love, Blue Valentine and Please Give
I'm not really sure how much I loved these four movies. I like to let things settle but I'd love to see each of them again as soon as possible. The festival climate sometimes messes with your reactions to movies.
Documentary: Last Train Home (runner up: Catfish)
Screenplay: The Kids Are All Right (runner up: Cyrus or Please Give)
Art Direction: The Runaways (runner up: Nowhere Boy)
Costume Design: The Runaways (runner up: Nowhere Boy)
Best Cinematography: I Am Love (runner up: The Runaways)
Best Editing: I Am Love (runner up: Blue Valentine)
Best Use of Music/Score: Blue Valentine (runner up: I Am Love)

Actress: Annette Bening for Mother & Child and The Kids Are All Right (runner up: Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine)
Actor: Ryan Gosling for Blue Valentine (runner up: James Rollston, Boy)
Supporting Actress: (tie) Kristin Scott Thomas & Anne-Marie Duff in Nowhere Boy (runner up: Rebecca Hall, Please Give)
Supporting Actor: Mark Ruffalo in The Kids Are All Right (runner up: Jonah Hill, Cyrus)
Ensemble: The Kids Are All Right (runner up: Please Give)

Some people's favorite movie moments tend to be centered around action. I am more turned on by musical numbers so I have to shout those out... along with a couple other categories.


Best One Liners: Please Give (runner up: Cyrus)
Best Sex Scene: Tilda Swinton and Edoardo Gabbriellini in I Am Love (runner up: Gosling and Williams in Blue Valentine)
Best Use of Nudity: Body art in Vegetarian
Best Gimmick: Ryan Reynolds in a coffin for the entirety of Buried
Seven Best Musical Moments: "You Always Hurt the Ones You Love" (I think that's the song?) performed by Ryan Gosling (with an assist from Michelle Williams) in Blue Valentine ; "Thriller" performed by the cast of Boy; "Blue" performed by The Bening in The Kids Are All Right; "Cherry Bomb" performed by Dakota Fanning and cast in The Runaways; "Aborigine" performed by Rocky McKenzie and cast in Bran Nue Dae; "Don't You Want Me" performed by John C Reilly (with an assist from Marisa Tomei) in Cyrus. Dancing at the Late Night Lodge performed by Nathaniel and Parker Posey. Sorry, I'll shut up about that now. But can you blame me for obsessing?
*
SUNDANCE IS OVER. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. i.e. Oscar nomination hoopla and this site's own Film Bitch awards.Nessun tag per questo post.

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Jose here with a take on the Foreign Language Film Oscar race.



The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (read my review here) not only has the coolest name in AMPAS' foreign film shortlist, it might also go ahead and get Bulgaria its very first Oscar win.

First we must consider that this whole post might be irrelevant come Tuesday, but for now indulge me while I explain why I think this movie might make it to the final five and snatch the damn thing.

The movie doesn't have even have a Stateside release date yet (except for a film festival in Florida) but I've read many articles that proclaim they'd nominate the film merely because of its awesome title. AMPAS of course can't do that, because the people who vote for this category need to have seen all the movies.

Fortunately for them, they won't have to do that much thinking, given how the movie is made out of previous Oscar winners and nominees!

The first scene which narrates the main character's birth is straight out of Amélie (complete with sepia cinematography and a musical theme ripped off Yann Tiersen's score for Jeunet's movie).
And later in the plot there's a certain reference to how a childhood treasure can trigger healing adulthood qualities.
I know Amélie didn't win the Oscar but there's more...

The plot contains elements that do more than recall Roberto Benigni's Life is Beautiful, which like it or not, was a big hit with AMPAS. In this movie a grandfather (played by Kusturica regular Miki Manojlovic) helps his ailing grandson (Carlo Ljubek) recover his health by devising a way to make life a game based on backgammon rules. This doesn't only ease the grandson's trauma from living in a refugee camp during his childhood, but makes him see how positive thinking can Auntie Mame the iron curtain! The whole "let's make a game out of historical misfortune" strategy is perfect to hint of the film's importance while ignoring any trace of reasoning on the audience's part.

But wait! There's also moments from Zorba the Greek, Manojlovic's performance is one part Pelle the Conqueror, two parts Phillipe Noiret in Cinema Paradiso (he even looks like him in some scenes) and before you can say "Greatest Hits: Foreign Oscar version" you'll get references to The Lives of Others.
Oh and did I mention the film is based on an autobiographical novel?

If this doesn't sound like Oscar slam dunk I don't know what does then...

Has anyone else seen this movie? If so, what do you think of its Oscar chances?Nessun tag per questo post.

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Jay Leno’s set in Burbank is going to get a makeover, while the Olympics air, to get ready for the re-premiere of The Tonight Show.

No word yet on what will be the fate of Conan O’Brien’s $50 million studio, but rumor has it NBC may use it to shoot TV pilots.

One thing’s for sure over at NBC — what Leno wants, Leno gets!

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The following celebrities were born on Jan. 30:

Christian Bale is 36.
Gene Hackman is 80.
Tammy Grimes is 76.
Vanessa Redgrave is 73.
Jeanne Pruett is 73.
Norma Jean is 72.
Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is 68.
William King of The Commodores is 61.
Phil Collins is 59.
Charles S. Dutton is 59.
Brett Butler (”Grace Under Fire”) is 52.
Jody Watley is 51.
Tammy Cochran is 38.
Josh Kelley is 30.
Wilmer Valderrama (”That ’70s Show”) is 30.
Jake Thomas (”Lizzie McGuire,” ”AI”) is 20.

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