Olympus Has Fallen (2013) Review
When a terrorist attack on the White House sees the President taken hostage and all secret service agents wiped out it is left to Mike Banning who was a former presidential guard to save the day.
Oblivion (2013) Review
Jack Harper is assigned to Earth to extract its remaining resources after it was abandoned after a war took place in 2017. But everything is not as it seems when Jack still has flashbacks from his life 60 years earlier . . .
The Magic of Belle Isle (2012) Review
I have to admit that I had never even heard of this film, until I saw it on Sky Movies Premiere a few days ago. So I decided to give it a watch last night. I mean it has Morgan Freeman in it so it had to be worth a watch! I thought that was true as well and found it to be a very nice Sunday night movie.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Review
The epic conclusion to the Legend of Batman . . . The Dark Knight Rises
A Life in Movies
The latest blogathon event around the film-blogging world is ‘A Life in Movies’ this quite simply means I have picked a film from each since I was born. That year being 1987. The approach I have taken to this post is to document the films which have meant something to me. Mainly from that time (although the first couple of years will be that I watched them when old enough to remember).
I always enjoy doing blog posts like this one as it always lets you take a trip down memory lane when it comes to certain films. Also the thought of then posting them the same day as many other blogs and then having the chance to compare and see if they have chosen any of the same films in their list as well.
Most of the films in my list consist of my most watched films ever. Mainly because of over watching as a child and not being able to pass the film over if it is on TV now. So here goes my life in movies . . .
Day 1: Favorite film
Everyone who has read my blog before will already know the answer to this one . . . yes that’s right Million Dollar Baby. I have loved it since the first viewing when it really broke my heart. Such fantastic performances from the whole cast and such an inspirational story of a woman who is determined to get to where she wants to in a sport.
Oscars 2011 – The Show
Well this year the approach from the Academy was to have two young actors to host. This called upon nominee James Franco and Anne Hathaway to add a different edge to the Oscars ceremony.
The main theme of the evening seemed to be looking back at the past of the Oscars, taking into consideration how times have changed. Including music and some scenery from different Oscar winning films of the past. Obviously all eyes were on Franco and Hathaway, who in my opinion were very disappointing. Hathaway was given the over the top, in your face excited role while Franco just stood looking slightly upwards. Which made the audience feel awkward, he did not look comfortable on the stage at all!
The main part I actually thought was amusing from Hathaway had to be seeing “On My Own” claiming that Hugh Jackman would not do a duet with her this year. (After she done one with him when he was the host). Personally I would have liked to see Jackman host again! Or even Alec Baldwin who I thought was fantastic with Steve Martin last year. Baldwin was involved in the opening segment which poked fun at Inception and going into his dreams to steal hosting tips. This let us see Franco and Hathaway in many of the nominated films.
Yes whilst this opening was was amusing, it seemed to all go very downhill from that point. I didn’t even manage to stay up and watch all of the ceremony. The tiredness and boredness really did take over and I went to bed, didn’t think I would miss very much as no shocks had occurred with the supporting actor/actress awards. Have to mention Kirk Douglas who was rather heartbreaking to watch as he really struggled to get his words out, yet managed to still be so funny and likable.
In my opinion I found the show quite a flop.
What does everyone else think?
Oscars 2011 – Live Blog
Live updates with my thoughts on the 2011 Oscars!
- Well I made the decision to watch E! for the red carpet coverage, which I have no idea if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Ready for the Oscar ceremony to start on Sky Movies.
- Alec Baldwin included in the opening scenes with James Franco and Anne Hathaway. Appearing in all the best picture nominees. Brilliant start!
- Ahhh Morgan Freeman making a little appearance too!
- Very clever editing Franco and Hathaway into the films!
- Hugh Jackman looked like he wanted to be back on the stage!
- Getting the parents and grandparents involved. Very funny! Especially Franco’s grandmother saying Marky Mark! Mark Wahlberg, love it!
- A look back at ‘Gone with the Wind’ the ultimate classic <3
- Tom Hanks presenting ART DIRECTION – WINNER - Alice in Wonderland
- CINEMATOGRAPHY – WINNER – Inception
- Credit given to Christopher Nolan!
- Awww Kirk Douglas! Standing ovation for him. He’s just incredible for his age. Very funny with both Franco and Hathaway. Struggling to speak bless him!
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – WINNER – MELISSA LEO for The Fighter
- Now for a very over the top speech . . . Or maybe not, she actually sounds very nervous. Just dropped the f-word too.
- Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis presenting. Timberlake claiming to be Banksy!
- BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM – WINNER – THE LOST THING
- BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – WINNER – Toy Story 3
- Hathaway talking about the very first Academy Awards
- Presenters Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem . . . wearing old school white tux’s.
- BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – WINNER – The Social Network – Aaron Sorkin
- BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – WINNER – The King’s Speech – David Seidler
- Oldest person to win that award, he hopes its broken quickly and often.
- Hathaway performing musical number, directed at Hugh Jackman . . . Using ‘On My Own’ from Les Mis. Franco comes on in a very pink dress. Charlie Sheen joke!
- Helen Mirren and Russell Brand presenting
- BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM – WINNER - IN A BETTER WORLD (DENMARK)
- Reese Witherspoon presenting. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – WINNER - CHRISTIAN BALE for The Fighter
- He actually sounds rather nervous with his speech, Dicky Eklund is there too
Very emotional in his speech, especially towards his wife and daughter. - Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman presenting . . . Aussie rules!
- BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – WINNER – THE SOCIAL NETWORK
- SOUND MIXING – WINNER – INCEPTION
- SOUND EDITING – WINNER – INCEPTION
Red (2010) Poster
It seems as though as I post a poster for Red another one seems to be released! I can’t help but post them especially if it features Morgan Freeman, like this one does . . .
Top 10 – Best Films of 2009
The 10 films I found the best from the year 2009. Yes you may think its now April, but I was trying to keep it to films from 2009 based on the year they were made rather than UK release date as that is often different to the US release date. Anyway I didn’t want to end up with a confusing list not containing some of the best of 2009 because I saw them at the beginning of 2010.
Check it out see if you agree with many of the films! As I am sure some of the films included would not have been expected.
Desert Island DVDs
Whilst trying to decide which films to include, I decided the biggest factor had to be if your able to watch it over and over again. I mean your only going to have 8 DVDs to chose from. Pointless having DVDs in there if you could not watch them over and over.
In putting together my list they had to have a good story, acting and interesting characters who you could either relate to or are very likeable.
My initial idea was to narrow it down towards the 8 films by separating the films into different genres. Then attempting to have at least one from each genre, giving a wider variety of film choice. But I am not entirely sure that actually happened when I look at my finished list.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
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Thought provoking and complex with a very interesting concept.
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Brilliant performances from Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey
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Has to be watched many times for you to really notice a lot of things in it.
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Makes you wonder if you would erase someone
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Confuses you so much throughout
American Beauty
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“Look Closer . . . ” – tagline really explains it all, that you must look closer as life isn’t always what it first appears.
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You must look closer at everything.
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Brilliant performances from all members of the cast, who work so well together.
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How midlife crisis can go
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You will never look at a plastic bag blowing in the wind in the same way again!
The Sound of Music
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Feel good film you can sing along to and enjoy at any ages.
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The love story, between Maria and the Captain.
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This is the film I watch when I feel a little down or ill, as it makes me smile.
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Julie Andrews being just amazing
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Heartwarming
The Dark Knight
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Amazing performances and storyline
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I saw it 3 times at the cinema (holding the record for most cinema viewings for a film)
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The Joker & Batman
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Thought provoking in the sense of terrorism
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Amazing Batman installment
Million Dollar Baby
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I tried to resist all temptation of including my favorite film in this list, but the pressure got to me and I decided to include it.
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Amazing performances and a storyline which really got to me.
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The score by Clint Eastwood is just brilliant
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The trio of Swank/Eastwood/Freeman
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Best Picture Oscar winner
As Good As It Gets
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Jack Nicholson at his very best in a best actor winning role.
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Such a funny film with sarcastic and very witty humour used.
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Helen Hunt in an Oscar-winning role
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The dog - amazing in so many ways
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The amazing lines Nicholson delivers
Beaches
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The ultimate tale of friendship lasting and how you get past disagreements and heartache.
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Tear-jerking
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“Wind Beneath My Wings”
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Bette Midler putting in a believable and brilliant performance
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Totally heart-breaking
Rocky Horror Picture Show
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Yes I am very much part of the Rocky Horror fan club
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This has to be one of the ultimate cult films.
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Launched the Time Warp
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Brilliance of Tim Curry in Drag
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“Give yourself over to absolute pleasure”
Oscars 2010 – The Show
Possibly the most predictable Oscars in recent times. But what was the show like? Well I thoroughly enjoyed it last year and that was because of host Hugh Jackman and some changes made to the show. I had also seen most of the nominated films and was much Team Rourke thinking we were going to see Mickey win for his role in “The Wrestler” a film I really loved. But that didn’t happen and then the very overrated Slumdog took the big prize, I pretty much fell out of love with the Oscars.
Invictus (2009) Review
Nelson Mandela, in his first term as the South African President, initiates a unique venture to unite the apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Oscars 2010 Luncheon – Pictures
The annual luncheon for nominees before the Oscars took place earlier this week which is a build up to the Oscar ceremony. I am still really happy that Colin Firth has been nominated, I can’t wait to see “A Single Man” which has still not come out here yet.
Movie Quote of the Day 57
Today’s quote comes from is an inspirational one from “Shawshank Redemption”.
“Hope is a good thing maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies.”
Oscars 2010 – Nominations
The day eventually arrived and the nominations have now been released (I now know which films I have to watch before 7th March) and we can all start debating and creating our predictions on who is going to walk away with the golden statue come Oscar night.
We go back to 10 nominations for Best Picture and an animated film has been included in those 10, that being Up. Now that will cause a lot of debate because from what I have read people preferred Wall-E to Up. From my first look at the nominations the only suprise for myself is seeing District 9 in the Best Picture cateogry. Everything else is pretty much what was expected.
Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
Golden Globes 2010 – Predictions
In build up for tonight’s Golden Globes I have decided to post my predictions. Who I want to win but who I think will win (if those are different). I am looking forward to the show tonight and quite curious of how Ricky Gervais will get on as the host. Lots of my favorite actors and actresses should be in attendance as well which makes it even better before it starts. Onto my predictions . . .
Critics Choice Awards 2010 – Results
The award season was well and truly kicked off last night with the 15th Annual Critics Choice Awards.
I think most of it is pretty predictable. We will have to see how the Golden Globes go on Sunday night.
The winners are . . .
BAFTA Awards 2010 – Long List
The long list of possible nominee’s for this year’s BAFTA awards has been released today. I was not going to blog about this, but as I got further down the long list and to the actor in a leading and supporting role, I was extremely happy to see both Michael Sheen and Timonthy Spall’s names down for their work in “The Damned United” which is a film I enjoyed a lot. So now we just have to hope that they both get into the last 5, who will then be up for the award. It is best of British so *fingers crossed*. Also the best adapted screenplay possibility for it too.
I am also pleased to see Gran Torino on the list too, as it missed the cut off point for last year, if I remember rightly someone didn’t send a copy of the film in time for it to be viewed? Clint Eastwood could indeed be up against himself as Invictus is in the best picture and director list. Interesting . . . I suppose it is rather silly talking about that now.
Have to wait until 21st January to find out the actual nominations.
SAG Awards 2010 – Nominations
23rd January 2010 the awards voted by actors for actors will be awarded. I have only posted up the film related awards, another pointer to who will win the Oscar? Just maybe. The nominations are . . .
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
An Education (2009)The Hurt Locker (2008)Inglourious Basterds (2009)Nine (2009)Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) (more…)
Golden Globes 2010 – Nominations
The 67th Annual Golden Globes take place on 17th January 2010 and are the first major awards to be handed out in what will be another busy awards season. Because I had been slipping with the blog for the last few weeks I still had not posted this years nominations.
Closer to the ceremony I will post my predictions on who I think will walk away with the Golden Globe on the night.
Invictus (2009) Trailer
Quickly after the release of the poster comes the trailer for Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus” and this really does have Oscars 2010 written all over it. It really does look and will be that good. The biggest questions will be, if Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon will go up against each other to get nominated and go forward to win in the Best Actor cateogory or not.
Invictus (2009) Poster
A poster has been released for the new film about Nelson Mandela from Clint Eastwood. Starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.
