Reflections on the Villains of “The Dark Knight Rises” & the Prospects of a Christopher Nolan 007 Movie

Everyone is abuzz with either praise or criticism regarding the latest news for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. Ever since The Dark Knight (2008) people have wondered and debated whether Nolan would recast the Joker, but he quickly dismissed any casting rumors. In addition, many fans considered the Riddler to be the next prime villain to enter Nolan’s Batman-universe, but he rejected that choice as well as the false rumor that Two Face is still alive. So then that left Catwoman and a handful of other notable villains already portrayed in former Batman movies including the Penguin, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and Bane. Some people believed Nolan would bring in other less prominent villains, such as Dr. Hugo Strange, Black Mask, Clayface, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, and Talia al-Ghul, or even create new ones. Everyone understands that Nolan’s Batman is in a more gritty, realistic world than Tim Burton’s dark one or Joel Schumacher’s fantastical one. Thus, many people believed Nolan would prefer villains without super-human powers. In the end, though, Deadline.com reported that Anne Hathaway will play Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman in the Batman universe, and Tom Hardy, who joined the A-list cast a few months ago, will actually be Bane in the trilogy-ending movie. Here I shall make my considerations regarding the news and what this means for the film.

Also, later in the post you may vote on what you think of the casting and villain choices for the film.

Film Review: Blue Valentine

Hollywood released some of 2010’s most uplifting and depressing films in November-December. Movies like 127 Hours, The Fighter, True Grit, and The King’s Speech inspired audiences with hope and joy while Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan thrilled viewers into disheartened submission. Nonetheless, all of those films were remarkably well-made and proved to be effective in affecting the viewer. You could add Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine to this list of outstanding films. It is an extremely hard-to-watch film that is at times tedious and emotionally grueling but at the same time very compelling and provocative. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams give two of the year’s best performances that elevate the film to profound levels.

The following review contains a few moderate spoilers. However, I do not wish to discourage you from reading the review just because it has some spoilers. By no means does the review ruin the film or its best moments; it simply helps to set the record straight as to what this film is actually about – the poster may say “A Love Story,” but do not go into this film expecting an romantic fantasy or uplifting tale about love. Instead, expect a genuinely honest and heartbreaking elegy.

 

The 61st Annual American Cinema Editors (ACE) Eddie Awards (UPDATED WITH RESULTS)

Many people debate when/where movies are really “made.” Screenwriters will claim that the writing process is the most important part in making a movie; where else do a film’s story, characters, and plot develop? They are probably right in making such a claim. On the other hand, the auteur theory declares that directors are the true artists (responsible for imbuing their visions and style onto the script), and, in that sense, the direction they take while shooting the film is the pivotal part of the movie-making process. However, the most often overlooked part of filmmaking is the post-production process, specifically editing a film. Editors integrate all the other aspects of the filmmaking process; they actually put the movie together. And in some ways, editors even create the story when they choose what (and how much) footage to include and cut. Also, they are instrumental in creating a film’s pace and “feel.” Editing is a fundamental factor in leaving an effect on audiences. Like screenwriters, editors generally receive limited coverage and renown compared to directors, but they deserve to be recognized and awarded for their skills, laborious efforts, and accomplishments.

Regrettably absent from the list of Golden Globe categories are editing ones. (You can see my 68th Annual Golden Globes nominees and analysis post HERE). However, other awards systems, such as the Academy Awards, present editing awards. The American Cinema Editors (ACE) recently released their nominations for this year’s (2010) best film editing awards, officially known as the “ACE Eddie Awards,” which can also be found HERE. The presentation/ceremony will take place on Saturday, February 19, 2011. You can vote on this year’s best edited film at the bottom of the post.

Interestingly, the ACE Eddie Awards “is considered an integral precursor” to determining the Oscar for Best Picture. Deadline.com noted the connection: “No film has won Best Picture at the Oscars without also having received at least a Best Editing nomination since Ordinary People in 1981.” This may have to do to the fact that many of the ACE members are also members of the Academy of Motion-Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) who is responsible for the Oscars. This dynamic does not bode well for True Grit, Winter’s Bone, and other Oscar Best Picture hopefuls or dark horses since they did not garner Best Editing nominations. Continue reading to find out what films actually received nominations…

Winners are highlighted in red.*

The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards – Nominees & Pre-Ceremony Analysis (UPDATED with results)

Another year has passed, and the awards season is upon us. It is a time to recognize and honor the year’s best films, filmmakers and productions. The Academy Awards (or informally known as the Oscars) are the premier awards, which will presented by the Academy of Motion-Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) on February 27, 2011. The Golden Globes, though, are probably the second most distinguished (For a list of all film awards, including festivals, click HERE). Most of them include a set of similar prizes but each one also contains unique rewards or titles. The Golden Globes involve awards regarding both motion pictures and television (TV) series. However, just because a film or filmmaker wins the Golden Globe does not necessarily mean that it or he/she will win the Oscar too; for example, in 2009 James Cameron’s Avatar won the GG but lost to his ex-wife’s, Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker at the Academy Awards and Mickey Rourke won the GG Best Actor for The Wrestler in 2008 but lost to Sean Penn (Milk) at the Oscars. Remember that dynamic as you read through my predictions and see/hear about the actual results.

The 68^th annual Golden Globe awards ceremony will be broadcast live on Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 8 PM EST and hosted by British comedian-actor Ricky Gervais. (If you would like to know more about the 68^th Golden Globe Awards timeline, including various balloting and announcement dates, click HERE). The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), or those responsible for voting for the Golden Globes, announced this year’s nominations on December 14, 2010.

Included below is a list of nominations for all of the motion-picture categories (with the exception of the Best Original Song category). For a full list of all the Golden Globe categories and nominees (including TV series), click HERE. I ranked the nominees in order of how likely they are to win in their respective categories, NOT in order of my preferences. Nonetheless, I have written some thoughts, notes, and perspectives (under some categories) regarding the nominees’ chances, histories, and which are my favorites. Enjoy!

* The winners in each category are followed by an asterisk and appear red.

 

The Top 10 Films of 2010

At last, here is my article listing and explaining my Top Ten Films of 2010 and other movies deserving of Honorable Mentions. I attempted to balance various considerations: which films I thought are the best made, favoritism, and critical consensus regarding the movies. I elaborate under each entry on my Top Ten and Honorable Mentions lists. Some films may be highly praised but not anywhere on my lists; in that case, I either A) did not see the film/hear great things about it, or B) I did see it/hear about it and chose not to include it in the article. As a ground rule I only chose from films that were actually released (to U.S. theaters) in 2010 and eligible for the 83^rd Annual Academy Awards (February 27, 2011), unless otherwise noted. I want this post to be both informative and entertaining; it is lengthly so come back to read more about the films if you cannot finish all of it at once.

I decided to include a decent number of honorable mentions; I did not want to leave many well-made or very enjoyable movies out of the mix. Some of the honorable mentions definitely deserve the recognition. The honorable mentions are divided into four categories. The first group mentions films that I have not (yet) seen but received widespread acclaim. The second set includes four extraordinary documentaries, none of which I have seen but read and heard great things about. The third one contains movies that I have seen and either I liked or they received high praise but not enough to warrant a spot on the Top Ten. The fourth and final category consists of films that premiered at 2009 film festivals and/or were eligible for the 82^nd Academy Awards but were not actually released in the U.S. (limited or wide) until 2010; the films in this group basically are foreign films that should be accredited.

Viewers can vote on their favorite or top film from 2010 at the end of the post. Please feel free to mention any films that I missed and you believe deserve to be acknowledged. I will probably return to update these lists as necessary until the Academy Awards’ presentation. Also please feel free to discuss and debate my choices in the comment section found at the bottom of the post.

Film Review: The King’s Speech

Along with Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours and David O. Russell’s The Fighter, Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech is one of the most uplifting films of the year. The story’s resolution may be predictable, but this character driven, period piece drama is delightful. Besides, the true story of King George VI is staggering (pun intended). Colin Firth gives a magnificent performance as the king; he will almost certainly win the Best Actor Oscar. The King’s Speech is immensely satisfying, funny, and is one of the all-around best-acted films of the year; it may even take home Best Picture.

The following review contains several semi-spoilers; they are not all that spoilerific since anyone going to see the movie could guess how it may turn out (considering the title).

Film Review: True Grit

I recently watched the original 1969 version of True Grit, which is led by John Wayne’s Academy Award winning performance as Rooster Cogburn; it is a charming classic Western film. Many people questioned and criticized the Coen brothers’ decision to make a new one. Critics saw a remake as wholly unnecessary and worried that the 2010 movie could tarnish the legacy of the “Duke’s” classic. However, the Coen brothers did more than just honor the original film, they have created a spellbinding, visually impressive, and at times sentimental modern re-telling of the Charles Portis novel; in addition, their version is more representative of the book than the original 1969 film. The remake features Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, and Matt Damon who perform admirably in the film. True Grit may be one of the last movies to be released in 2010 but it is certainly not the least; in fact, it is one of the more entertaining and better-made films of the year.

Top 10 Trailers of 2010

The following list of previews may be either teaser trailers or full-length theatrical trailers. To qualify, the preview had to have been initially released in 2010; the movie itself did not have to be released in 2010. Furthermore, the trailer does not necessarily have to represent the movie that well; it may be far better than the actual film. I chose and ranked the following previews based on a few different factors. For instance, the trailers should excite or intrigue viewers and possibly convince them to go see the film. Also, I took into account how well the trailers have been made, from their soundtracks to editing and so on. Whether or not the previews spoil the plot is a factor too. I tried to choose the top ten based on a combination of my favorite trailers and the best made ones. I provide more analysis for each of the top ten listed and give a few notes about certain honorable mentions.

At the end of the post, you can vote on which preview is your favorite of 2010.