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1/27---I'm Back! Updates In Progress... My move to NYC is winding down, and I'm finally able to do some much need work here. Sorry for the delay, but I will be updated predictions and nominees all day, as well as the precursor chart and hopefully make some headway on the 2011 Breach Awards.
1/19---Programming Notes & News! I just wanted to give you all a head's up on the next couple of weeks. I am making my big move from Dallas to New York this weekend, so updates may be a little scarce. I will try to get settled in as fast as I can and get the updates flowing regularly again. I know the Oscar nominations are DAYS away, so naturally I decided to make a huge, life-changing move the same week! ;) Also, I have some very exciting news to all you devoted readers...I have started working on the 8th Annual Breach Awards! I am hoping to have it completed by next week, I'm just not sure how much I'll be able to get done this coming week, but I will try my hardest! Again, thanks to all of you for reading!!! Cheers! -Zak P.S.- London Critics announced winners today, the 2012 Precursor Chart has been updated!
1/17---The BAFTA Nominations! The British Academy of Film and Television have announced their 2011 Nominees. The Artist leads with 12 nominations, Tinker Tailor follows with 11, Hugo with 9, My Week With Marilyn with 6, The Help and War Horse with 5 each, and The Iron Lady with 4. I have updated the 2012 Precursor Chart.
1/16---ACE Eddie Nominees Nominations for the 62nd Annual ACE Eddie Awards Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic) The Descendants The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Hugo Moneyball War Horse Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy or Musical) The Artist Bridesmaids Midnight in Paris My Week With Marilyn Young Adult Best Edited Animated Feature Film The Adventures of Tintin Puss in Boots Rango
1/15---Golden Globe Wrap-Up The 69th Annual Golden Globes are history and we have a slightly clearer picture of the awards race. Looks like Best Picture is a horse race between The Artist and The Descendants, and I think the former has the edge. Best Actor is all Clooney, who may be unstoppable at this point. Best Actress is a two woman battle between Streep and Davis. SAG will be a huge predictor of who's in front. The past 10 years, the globes have matched up with Oscar for Best Actress, and the last woman to lose the Globe but win the Oscar was Halle Berry. The supporting races are slightly easier to predict. Plummer is a lock. Spencer has it pretty much sewn up as well. All other winners have been added to 2012 Precursor Chart. We still have PGA, DGA, WGA, SAG, and BAFTA to go, so it's not nearly over yet!!!
1/12---Critics Choice Movie Award Winners It seems the BFCA decided to be "different" this year. No Scorsese, Pitt, Streep, or Chastain. Documentary, Cinematography were shockers as well. Huge wins for The Artist, Clooney, Davis, Spencer, and Plummer. The 2012 Precursor Chart has been updated. Next Up: The Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 15th!
1/11---My Critic's Choice Awards Predictions Picture: The Artist, alt: The Descendants Director: Michel Hazanavicius, alt: Nicolas Winding Refn Actor: Brad Pitt, alt: George Clooney Actress: Meryl Streep, alt: Viola Davis (If history teaches us anything, it could definitely be a tie) S. Actor: Christopher Plummer, alt: Albert Brooks S. Actress: Jessica Chastain, alt: Melissa McCarthy Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris, alt: The Artist Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants, alt: Moneyball Cinematography: The Tree of Life, alt: Hugo Art Direction: Hugo, alt: Harry Potter Editing: Dragon Tattoo, alt: War Horse Costumes: Jane Eyre, alt. Hugo Makeup: The Iron Lady, alt: Harry Potter Visual FX: Rise of the Plant of the Apes, alt: Harry Potter Sound: Hugo, alt: Super 8 Animated: Rango, alt: Tintin Foreign: A Separation, alt: The Skin I Live In Documentary: Cave of Forgotten Dreams, alt: Project Nim Song: "Life's A Happy Song" (The Muppets), alt: "Man or Muppet" (The Muppets)
1/10---Denver Film Critics Society Winners The Denver Critics award Tree of Life, Pitt, Streep, Plummer, and Woodley. All winners have been added to the 2012 Precursor Chart
1/10---Vancouver Critics & Alliance of Women Film Journalists Winners Winners include: The Artist, Fassbender, Davis, Olsen, Plummer, Chastain, McTeer, and Spencer. They've all been added to the 2012 Precursor Chart
1/9---Directors Guild of America Nominees No major shockers. Many expected a nom for Tate Taylor (The Help), but I thought it was a long shot. I really was hoping Nicolas Winding Refn could pull off a nom for Drive, but it didn't pan out. I think Spielberg's exclusion is the biggest shocker here. Woody Allen - "Midnight in Paris" David Fincher - "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" Michel Hazanavicius - "The Artist" Alexander Payne for "The Descendants" Martin Scorsese - "Hugo"
1/9---DGA Predictions Here are my predictions for the DGA's today...I have the expected ones as well as a surprise "wishful-thinking" nom for Refn. Woody Allen - "Midnight in Paris" Michel Hazanavicius - "The Artist" Nicolas Winding Refn - "Drive" Martin Scorsese - "Hugo" Steven Spielberg - "War Horse" Alternates: Alexander Payne for "The Descendants", Tate Taylor for "The Help", and David Fincher for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
1/9---National Society of Film Critics Award Melancholia
1/6---Central Ohio Critics Award Drive & Denver Society Critics Announce Drive wins Best Picture & Director from the Central Ohio Film Critics, and The Denver Society of Film Critics Announce Nominees. I have updated the 2012 Precursor Chart ...once again :)
1/5---Writers Guild of America Announce Nominees
Zak's Top 10 Films of 2011 10. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
9. The Artist
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
7. A Separation
6. Beginners
5. Midnight in Paris
4. Bridesmaids
3. Hugo
2. Weekend
1. Drive
1/3---Producers Guild of America Nominations!
Happy New Year!
From Awards Breach
12/28--- The Poster for The 84th Annual Academy Awards! 
12/27---AMPAS Mails Oscar Ballots Today!
12/26---Online Film Critics Society Love Drive & Hugo
Merry Christmas!
From Awards Breach
12/19---Winners Announced from Chicago, Southeastern, St. Louis, and Golden Satellites!
12/16---The Descendants Sweeps Dallas-Fort Worth Critics
12/16---Detroit Film Critics Winners
12/15---Golden Globe Nominations!
12/14---Screen Actors Guild Nominees!
12/13---The Artist & Hugo Lead the BFCA Nominations!
12/12---More Critics Awards!
12/11---Big Precursor Day! The Artist and The Descendants Win Big! The Boston Society of Film Critics, The New York Film Critics Online, The Los Angeles Film Critics, and The American Film Institute all announced their winners today! Big Winners of the day include: The Artist, The Descendants, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, A Separation, Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams, and Melissa McCarthy! All the winners and runners-up can be seen in the 2012 Precursor Chart And don't forget this week, we have nomination announcements from the Golden Globes, BFCA (Critic's Choice), and SAG!
12/11---Houston Film Critics Announce, Plus More to Come!
12/9---Big Week Coming Up!
12/5---The Artist Wins Best Picture from WAFCA!
12/4---WAFCA & BIFA Announce Nominees & Winners! BIFA Winners
12/4---Predictions Update: Complete
12/1---Full Predictions Update: Coming This Weekend!
12/1---National Board of Review Names HUGO Best Film!
11/29---NYFCC Winners! & Independent Spirit Award Nominees!
11/28---NYFCC Predictions
Happy Thanksgiving
From Awards Breach
11/21---NBR & NYFCC Coming Next Week!
11/19---Documentary Shortlist To 15!
11/14--- Streep Shines in New The Iron Lady Trailer & Poster! 
11/10---Billy Crystal Will Host The Oscars!!!
11/9---Eddie Murphy Pulls Out of Hosting 84th Academy Awards!
11/8---Brett Ratner Resigns As Oscars Producer I'm happy to report that Ratner has pulled out of producing the 84th Annual Academy Awards after his insensitive racial and homophobic remarks. Personally, I think this is the way it should be, and I'm glad. I'll say no more on the subject and will leave you with the link to the Academy's statement regarding Ratner's resignation Here.
11/3---New Trailers!
Happy Halloween! From Awards Breach
10/14---Trailers For Shame & W.E.  
10/13---AMPAS Announces Eligible Foreign Films & Documentary Shorts! Documentary Shorts
10/13---Albert Nobbs Trailer 
10/6---Young Adult Trailer 
10/6---My Week With Marilyn Trailer 
Steve Jobs 1955-2011
Rest In Peace
9/29---Trailer & Poster for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 
9/28---Film Calendar! September 30th - Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Jane Eyre October 4th - Buck October 11th - The Tree of Life October 25th - Captain America: The First Avenger, Winnie The Pooh November 1st - Cars 2 November 11th - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 November 15th - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Larry Crowne November 22nd - Super 8
9/27---New War Horse Poster! 
9/26---Prediction Update: Completed!
9/23---Best Picture Updated
9/22---New Poster: The Iron Lady 
9/22---Full Predictions Update: This Weekend!
9/20---J.Edgar First Trailer! 
9/12--- Venice Film Festival Winners!!!
9/8---New Posters & Albert Nobbs Clip!  
9/6---Eddie Murphy Named Host for 84th Academy Awards!
8/25---New Posters!    
8/6---Rise of the Planet of the Apes : Short Review Directed By: Rupert Wyatt  I don't have much to say other than Rise of the Planet of the Apesa is the best film of the Summer and of the year (so far). It's a heart-pounding, action-packed thriller. It's a prequel that does the original justice, and perfectly sets up the original film. Essentially, the entire film is building up to the climatic end and yet it never gets old, and the audience is never left behind. The build-up and suspense of knowing what's coming is what makes it so exciting. Great performances from Franco and Lithgow, but the undeniable star is Andy Serkis, the master of video capture. He reminds us in Apes why he is the best, and how sadly how over-looked he is. I don't think AMPAS is at a place yet where they will honor an achievement like his in not only this film but of course LOTR and King Kong as well as Zoe Saldana in 2009's Avatar but maybe one day we will have awards for amazing performances such as these. I think the visual effects race is very exciting this year but as of now it's a race between Harry Potter and Apes. If you haven't seen the film yet, go immediately...it's the ultimate popcorn filled summer action film that needs to be experienced by everyone. My Rating: ★★★★★ Oscar Contention: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor: Andy Serkis, Best VFX, Best Art Direction, Best Make-Up, Best Sound, Best Sound Mixing
8/5---Brett Ratner & Don Mischer will produce the 84th Annual Academy Awards
7/28---The Ides of March One Sheet & Full Trailer 
7/26---Toronto Lineup Announced, Venice to Announce Thursday The 36th Annual Toronto International Film Festival will begin on September 8, 2011
7/22---New Trailer Friday!
Goodbye, Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 opens worldwide tonight, and with that, the highest grossing film franchise in history comes to an end. This franchise is unlike any other and over the last decade it has grown up just as we have. The films have gotten progressively better which doesn't happen often (if ever!). JK Rowling created a legacy that has swept the world and sold millions upon millions of books, films, merchandise, and of course it's very own theme park. Whether or not you're a die hard fan, just your average film watcher, or not a fan at all, there's no denying that this franchise has had a profound effect on us throughout the years and will always be considered one of the best. Harry Potter is in a class of it's own, and has created it's very own world where everyone and anyone is welcome. It has been a big part of my life personally, and I know that it must come to an end, and it will be the epitome of bittersweet. I have never been attached to a film franchise like I am with Potter, and I'm sure nothing will ever come along to replace it. Harry Potter is for everyone, it's for the kids that are different, that have an over-active imagination. It's for the adults that will always celebrate their inner-child, and have grown up with Harry and his friends over the years. Harry Potter is about friendship, imagination, magic, adventure, loyalty, truth, but above all it's about love. Love has always been prevalent in Harry Potter, and I believe it's the single best part of the series. Love is what it's all about in the end. I have loved Harry Potter, and I will miss it tremendously. I'd like to thank Ms. Rowling, Dan, Emma, Rupert, Maggie, Michael, Julie, Alan, Tom, Ralph, Helena, Brendan, Evanna, Gary, Warwick, John, Matthew, Devon, Alfie, Bonnie, Jim, Miriam, Gemma, George, David, Mark, James, Oliver, Natlia, Emma, Imelda, Jason, Helen, Robbie, and Richard for allowing me to be a part of something so wonderful for so many years. They'll never be anything like it again.
7/13---Full Predictions Update: Complete
7/8---Full Predictions Update Coming Next Week
7/7---Streep Teases Us With The Iron Lady
Happy Independence Day! From Awards Breach
6/30---Trailers!
6/30---2011: Where We're At So Far
6/27---Los Angeles Film Festival Winners
6/24 Peter Falk 1927-2011
Rest in Peace
6/22---George Clooney's The Ides of March to open Venice
6/21---A Dangerous Method UK Trailer Premiere
6/20---The Iron Lady Gets a Release Date 
Harvey Weinstein's juggernaut The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep got a release date of December 16, 2011 which places it in prime position to be a strong awards contender. Streep portrays former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the film, and by the look of it, Streep could be in line for her elusive third Academy Award. We'll have to wait and see how it's received.
6/16---Some News & Tidbits... The new trailer for Moneyball can be seen Here. The buzz is growing on the new documentary Tabloid. Watch the trailer Here.
6/7---New Trailer Tuesday! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 The Muppets The Guard
6/2---The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Trailer & Poster Released 
5/26---The Descendants Trailer & Poster 
5/26---Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides : Short Review Directed By: Rob Marshall  Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow in this fourth installment of Disney's Pirates franchise. Right off the bat, the film feels much darker and less like the first 3. Depp performs at his usual caliber and is terrifically funny as well. We meet new characters in Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane as Blackbeard. McShane's turn as the villainous Blackbeard is about the only new and fresh turn this film takes. Now, don't get me wrong; the film is fun and filled with adventure. It's gorgeous as well, but it's just more of the same. There isn't anything new, and it's missing the magic that we saw in the first 2 films. I don't know if Pirates will be able to compete with any other summer blockbuster come award season, but it will certainly be a juggernaut at the box office. My advice for you when seeing this film is to go into it with a sense of humor, and a want for fun, and you'll enjoy yourself. My Rating: ★★★☆☆ Oscar Contention: Best Costumes, Best Cinematography, Best Score
5/24---A Few New Trailers & Clips The Tree of Life Take Shelter
5/23---The Conspirator :Review Directed By: Robert Redford  Robert Redford's historical drama about the assassination of President Lincoln and the conspiracy trial afterward feels like an expensive History Channel re-enactment. The first ten minutes is probably the best part of the film because of the fast-pace sequences we see during the assassination. After this of course, we move more into a courtroom drama film and it gets increasingly stiff. As a history buff myself, I was sadly disappointed in the flow and gaping plot holes throughout the film. It's rare that a film can have such a stiff, slow pace, and yet, have so many plot holes that it ultimately feels rushed. Thankfully, there are some silver linings, such as the costumes, cinematography, and score. This film was shot beautifully and was often very fun to watch. Most of all, we were treated to dazzling performances from Robin Wright and James McAvoy. This is a case where the performances in the film are much better than the film itself. Other smaller performances from Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel-Wood, and Tom Wilkinson were great as well. It's sad that the film's inability to flow like it should and tell such a compelling story about an American tragedy is it's ultimate downfall, and I don't think it will have much success come awards season. The performances will undoubtedly be overlooked by AMPAS, but could still find some recognition from the Globes and SAG. My Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Oscar Contention: Best Actor: James McAvoy, Best Supporting Actress: Robin Wright, Best Costumes, Best Cinematography
5/23---Cannes Wrap-Up: The Tree of Life Wins Big  Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life won the Palme d'Or yesterday at Cannes. The film received both raves as boos, but ultimately, it looks like Robert DeNiro and the Cannes Jury liked it best of all. This win, of course, only strengthens the films award chances for the upcoming awards season. It will be interesting to see how it does with the critics here and if it can keep up it's momentum. Full List of Award Winners: Palme d'Or: "The Tree of Life," Terrence Malick Grand Prix: (tie) "The Kid With a Bike," Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne; "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia," Nuri Bilge Ceylan Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, "The Artist" Best Director: Nicolas Winding Refn, "Drive" Best Actress: Kirsten Dunst, "Melancholia" Best Screenplay: "Footnote," Joseph Cedar Prix du Jury: "Polisse," Maiwenn Camera d'Or: "Las Acacias" Palme d'Or (Short Film): "Cross Country"
5/20---Take Shelter Wins Top Critics Prize at Cannes 
5/17---The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn Trailer The new poster below... 
5/16---"The Tree of Life" Cannes Review
5/12---New Trailer Thursday! Hesher Project Nim Beautiful Boy Martha Marcy May Marlene Green Lantern Buck 30 Minutes or Less The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Horrible Bosses
5/3 - Thor : Short Review Directed By: Kenneth Branagh  Out of all the superheroes out there, Thor has never been one of my favorites or one that I followed much, so I was a bit apathetic to start with when I saw the film. Basic story line of son succeeding his father's throne, but is thrown for a loop when the younger brother's jealousy interferes. I wasn't very impressed with the story or it's flow. The dialogue was atrocious, as were the special effects. The acting was, however, adequate. I enjoyed the little comic gems thrown at us from Stellan Skarsgard and Kat Dennings, but it wasn't enough to save this film for me. It felt rushed and incomplete. I blame the fast pace and poor writing for not allowing us to relate to the characters more or understand their relationships. This is a typical "popcorn action flick" and comic book film, but it's nothing more than that, and as far as Marvel films go, this is nowhere near the top of the list. My Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Oscar Contention: Sound, Sound Mixing
5/3--Full Predictions Update
May 1, 2011
Popcorn Flicks A Summer Movie Guide MAY Thor Bridesmaids Everything Must Go Midnight in Paris ★Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Kung Fu Panda 2 The Hangover: Part II ★The Tree of Life JUNE Beginners Submarine X-Men: First Class ★Super 8 Green Lantern Cars 2 JULY Larry Crowne Transformers: Dark of the Moon ★Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Winnie the Pooh Captain America: The First Avenger ★Cowboys and Aliens Crazy, Stupid, Love. AUGUST Rise of the Planet of the Apes The Help One Day ★= My Most Anticipated
4/29--Coming Next Week...
4/28--Tribeca Film Festival Award Winners
4/28--New Trailer Thursday! Thor Transformers: Dark of the Moon The Debt Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Submarine The Help Larry Crowne Lebanon, PA Beautiful Boy
4/26 - Important Oscar Dates Announced!
4/19 - Hanna: Review Directed By: Joe Wright  Hanna is the story of a 16-year-old girl, trained by her ex-CIA operative father (Eric Bana) to be the ultimate assassin. We meet Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) in the wilderness, hunting for food, training with her father, and being prepared for an impending mission. Hanna is presented with a choice to flip a switch and be led to Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), a high-ranking CIA official. Her mission is relatively simple; Kill Marissa and meet her father in Germany. I have always had a soft spot for films showcasing ass-kicking women, and "Hanna" did not disappoint. Saoirse Ronan delivers another amazingly strong performance as Hanna. She possesses such an astonishing talent for being so young. Personally, I found this film engaging, exciting, and very intriguing. It was by all means, that "edge-of-your-seat" thriller that I've always loved. I appreciated the fast pace that the film was able to maintain, while at the same time could slow down and really show some beautifully understated scenes where we see Hanna discovering things she never dreamed of, such as music, friends, and even boys. "Hanna" is a modern day fairytale. We have our heroine, our larger than life villain, and her minions. It's a genius, fresh new take on this genre of action and suspense. While the story-line has some flaws, and it's not the most original, it still provides a fun, very entertaining, raw story of a girl thrown into a world she doesn't understand and tries to find her way. I heard many reviews of The Chemical Brothers unique score for this film, and I was happily surprised to find that it is truly a brilliant score. It adds another level of excitement to the action sequences, and a beautiful underlining to the more tender scenes. I loved the music and I hope it can make the long haul through awards season. Originally, I put this film in my "Year in Advance" predictions, but I don't think it's the sort of film AMPAS will go for. I hope I'm wrong because Ronan deserves an Oscar nomination for her stellar performance, as does Blanchett. I think it will fare well in the technical categories. My Rating: ★★★★☆ Oscar Contention: Actress, Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Score, Sound, Sound Mixing
Your Weekly Oscar Crumbs... RIP Sidney Lumet GoldDerby Dallas IFF Winners TwitchFilm Can Early Contenders Last? AwardsDaily Michael Shannon is ZOD /Film Malik Returns TheTelegraph "Hanna" Gets Fresh RottenTomatoes "Melancholia" Trailer YouTube
The 2011 AFI Life Achievement Recipient Morgan Freeman
Congratulations! From Awards Breach
4/8 Trailer Friday! Cars 2 Crazy Stupid Love Hesher Thor Warrior
4/4 Stunning Faye Dunaway Covers 64th Cannes Poster 
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4/1 - April Fool's Best Picture Contender: The Hangover: Part II
3/28 - Potterheads Rejoice! New Poster for "Deathly Hallows: Part II" 
3/28 - Stunning New Poster for "The Tree of Life" 
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: Ten Meryl Streep Some call her the greatest living actress. Some call her the greatest actress of all time. Some even call her tremendously overrated. Whatever your opinion is, one things for certain, Streep has had a huge impact on film. Whether you like her or not, I don't think anyone can deny her power in the film industry. Obviously for me, I consider her to be one of the greats, which is why she's on the list, and finishing out my retrospective. She came into the industry fairly late in age by most standards, making her feature film debut in "Julia" in 1977 at the age of 28 and was nominated for her first (of 16!) Oscars in 1979 for her role in "The Deer Hunter". Throughout her illustrious career, Streep has given a wide range of brilliant performances from drama to comedy, and even an action flick. She's always been the ultimate chameleon and continues to amaze us with her work, after over 30 years in the business. It's almost unheard of for an actress of her age to still be so sought out after in Hollywood, and for any actor to have resurgence in their career like she's had. So, to finish off this series, I've chosen two of her best films in my opinion: "Sophie's Choice" and "Adaptation". Sophie's Choice -1982
In my opinion, this is one of the greatest performances of all time. Streep earned her second Academy Award for playing Holocaust and Concentration Camp survivor Sophie Zawistowski. Throughout the film the audience is given glimpse after glimpse of Sophie's past that explains who she is in the present. We see her struggle for love and happiness while being haunted by her past. It's not until the end that we find out the grimmest of her secrets. Once revealed, we can fully understand her sadness, her pain, and her unimaginable anguish. The "choice" scene is one of cinematic brilliance and horror. Streep, a technical master, is able convey the true emotion of a mother forced to choose between her two children, and remains a fete only she has been able to conquer. Her precisely crafted Polish accent and German language is astonishing. We see her true pain, her open mouth, longing to scream; yet no sound emerges. It's a haunting character and performance by Streep that is complete perfection. Adaptation -2001
Susan Orlean is a complicated character in Charlie Kaufman's "Adaptation". She is a woman longing for passion in life. Streep brings her to life in a magically understated way. We see her put on fronts to family and friends while at the same time deeply contemplating what's missing in her life. A very unhappy woman, she finds what she thinks is passion in the company of Jon Laroche, a man she is writing a story about. Near the end, we are treated to Streep's comic ability. The "Hotel Room" scene is filled with hilariously subtle moments. Streep's character experiments with drugs and we are there to watch it unfold. Seeing her brush her teeth and try to recreate a dial tone with her voice is genius. At the end, Streep's ability to emulate this woman's happiness and sadness together in a perfect balance is outstanding. Only with her eyes, you're able to see everything going on in her head. Only the master thespian can emote such feelings without any dialogue. Streep is at the top of her game as this character, and it shows in every scene. It's A Wrap!
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: Nine Michael Caine Michael Caine is already a screen legend. With over 150 films under his belt, he shows no signs of slowing down. He's constantly putting out great performances, in a wide range of genres. He's a six-time Academy Award nominee and two-time winner for his performances in "Hannah and her Sisters" and "The Cider House Rules". He's one of the rare actors that can find success in the small, indie film as well as the mega action blockbuster, such as his role as Alfred in the Christopher Nolan "Batman" films. It's great to see a man who has had such an illustrious career still work and still bring such an amazing talent to the silver screen. Noises Off... -1992
In Peter Bogdanovich's screen adaptation of Michael Frayn's play, Michael Caine plays Lloyd Fellowes, a theatre director that has perhaps the most difficult project of his career. Caine lead an all-star cast including: Carol Burnett, Julie Hagerty, Marilu Henner, John Ritter, and Christopher Reeve. While the whole cast was just spectacular in this very fast-paced comedy, it was Caine's comic timing and wit that I always remember. He's just so very funny. We hate and love his character all at the same time, and nearly everything that comes out of his mouth is searing with comedy. Like I've said before, with a huge ensemble cast such as this one, it's very easy for specific performances to be forgotten or not stand out, but that is certainly not the case with Michael Caine's. "Noises Off..." has always been one of the funniest films I have ever seen, and my favorite part of it is Michael Caine. Children of Men -2006
With so many films under his belt, it was hard to pick another great Michael Caine performance I wanted to talk about. I finally decided, I wanted to talk about his role in "Children of Men". I know you might say if you blink, you might miss his performance, but performances that are so great yet have such little screen time have always been impressive to me. It's that exact type of performance Caine gives us in this film. In such a bit part, Caine brings to life his character of Jasper, a hippie recluse living in relative solitude (away from the craziness of London) with his mute wife in the woods. Caine shows off his comic wits yet again, and it's almost the only silver lining in this very brilliant, yet dreary film. For a brief 15 minutes or so, we're treated to Jasper's jokes and love for life, he's funny, he's endearing, and he's completely unaffected by the looming demise of the world. A very touching moment for me was when Jasper comes to terms with his end, and the little moment he shares with his wife is truly beautiful. Michael Caine brings such realness to his work that is very rare, and watching him is watching a master thespian. In so little time, he was able to bring a resonance to this film; a task would be nearly impossible for any other actor. Final Installment: Meryl Streep
Your Weekly Oscar Crumbs... Celebrating TennesseeTheFilmExperience Captain America:The First AvengerNewFoundFilm More Rotten than Ripe RottenTomatoes 30 Years of Gay Cinema AwardsDaily Paul W.S. Anderson Takes on The 3 Musketeers AppleMovieTrailers Whoopi's Oscar Win was a Real "High" Point! TheEnvelope 10 Musicals That Should Be Movies FilmMisery 2012 Oscar Predictions! AwardsFrenzy
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: Eight Natalie Portman When I began this retrospective, I decided that I wanted to include a younger actor in the top ten, someone I thought has tremendous potential to have a very successful career, and I decided that actor is Natalie Portman. We first saw Portman in "The Professional" along side the great Jean Reno. I remember being instantly blown away by this girl I had never seen before and thinking she has what it takes. We've seen her in numerous films since then, many accolades and awards have come her way including this year's Best Actress Oscar for "Black Swan". I believe she has the talent to sustain a prestigious career, and will only continue to excite and impress us. V for Vendetta -2006
In this political thriller about justice and revenge, we first see Evey, played by Portman, walking through the streets of a future London, it's under martial law, and curfews are in effect. We instantly sense Evey's fear and intensity to get to her destination safely. Portman is able to capture us within the first few minutes of us seeing her. She is genuinely scared and we cannot only see it, but we can feel it. She meets V, a masked vigilante, when he saves her from some crooked police officers, and they strike up an unusual relationship. His mission is to show her the real world, and enlighten her mind to the ways of the British government and their fear mongering. Something that has always impressed me with this performance of Portman's is her character complete arc throughout the film. We see her journey from a woman terrified by almost everything to an all-out badass who fears nothing. I think a role like this could have easily been portrayed as cheesy, or over the top, but Portman has amazing control of Evey, and it's a real gem to watch. The most powerful scenes are when Evey is, in her mind, captured and being tortured. She's able to go through all of this pain and suffering, and all the while, never falters. It's a great performance, in a very well written film that should be seen by anybody and everybody. Black Swan -2010
With this film and performance so fresh in our minds, it shouldn't be difficult for me to convince anyone that it's arguably one of the best female performances of the last decade. Portman completely transformed herself for this role, learned ballet, and the result was astounding. In typical Darren Aronofsky fashion, the film itself is mind-bending, intense, and fast moving. Portman shines as Nina, and she never fails to have us at the edge of our seats. The level of intensity that Portman is able to maintain is amazing, there's never really a down time, or break from the madness, and I loved it. The supporting performances were all great as well, but it was Portman's that drives this film. From the very beginning, Nina's fear about being perfect is palpable. We want her to succeed the entire time, and she's able to get us so invested in her journey that we are almost just as terrified to fail as she is. It's truly a brilliant performance, and Portman's dedication to her craft is very visible in this film. It'll most likely always stand on it's own as not only one of Aronofsky's best films, but as Portman's greatest performance. So far. Up Next: Michael Caine
3/24-New trailers and character featurettes for "Win Win"
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: Seven Tom Hanks Tom Hanks is the all-American actor. He can make us laugh and cry. He's our best friend. Hanks has an amazing ability to portray the perfect un-perfect character. He's so good at what he does, that his characters' faults are actually perceived by us to be normal, and we can relate to them as if they're our own. Tom Hanks has always had a huge range in his repertoire. He's shown us funny and playful in films like "Big", "A League of Their Own", "You've Got Mail", and shown us dramatic, heart-wrenching turns in "Philadelphia", "Forrest Gump", and "Cast Away". In all of his many roles, no matter what genre, Hanks is believable, we never doubt him, and we never doubt that his talent is natural and un-calculated. Big -1988
I'm sure I'm not going to write anything about a comic-classic like "Big" that someone else hasn't already, so I'll just talk about why it's one of my favorite Tom Hanks performances. Hanks plays Josh Baskin, a young kid from New York that wants nothing more than to be older. He gets his wish after he visits a mysterious genie machine at a carnival. Hanks plays the older version of Josh, and it's instantly funny to see Hanks portray a child. It's never contrived or campy; it's just honestly funny. The real treats of this film are in the little things. Just watching Hanks and his mannerisms is hilarious. All the classic scenes and small details are brilliant; from Josh trying the caviar, to jumping on the trampoline, to playing the foot piano at FAO Schwartz, they're all genuine and that of great comedy. "Big" will always be a classic, and it's just one of those films you can watch over and over without ever getting tired. Cast Away -2000
Tom Hanks plays Chuck Noland, a fast-moving FedEx employee whose life is planned down to the second. He's a workaholic, and being driven by the time is his life. A wrench is thrown into his holiday plans with his girlfriend (played by Helen Hunt) when he has to get on a plane and go around the world for work. His plans are completely turned around when the plane crashes, and he as the lone survivor, washing up on a deserted island. What makes this performance of Hanks' so spectacular is that for 80% of the film, he is all-alone. One of the toughest things for any actor is being forced to act alone, when you take away other characters and outlets for communication, you are forced to covey them all yourself. Not many actors can do this successfully, but Hanks is not one of them. He has a tremendous talent, and his ability to convey all the emotions of a trapped man on an island is genius. It's intriguing; it's terrifying, and it's heart breaking watching him attempt to survive. As time progresses, the physical transformation Hanks performed was astonishing. After four years in movie time, seeing Hanks' new physique is just another great tool he uses to perfect his craft. I think his biggest achievement in this great performance was that he was able to establish a real friendship with none other than a volleyball. Wilson is a real character in "Cast Away" and for an actor to be able to bring an inanimate object to life like Hanks did with Wilson is an amazing accomplishment. When Wilson drifts away and Hanks yells for him, it's extremely emotional and heart-breaking, and I don't think any other actor could have done that as well has Tom Hanks. He is the all-American actor, and will always be Hollywood Royalty because of that. Up Next: Natalie Portman
Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011
The world lost a true screen icon today. Elizabeth Taylor passed away this morning after a long battle with congestive heart failure. Her contribution to film was tremendous, and she will always be missed. An unfailingly brilliant actress, and forever a legend. Rest in Peace.
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: Six Kate Winslet Kate Winslet has quite an impressive resume at the age of 36. She accumulated 6 Academy Award nominations (and a win) by the age of 34. Why the quick success? I think it's due in large part to her role choices. She has often gone against the grain when choosing roles, and most of the time it has paid off. While she has done the more "typical" roles like "Sense and Sensibility", "Iris", and "Finding Neverland", it's her more eclectic roles that have garnered her such prestige and success. From "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" to "Little Children", Winslet has shown us amazing range and ability to embrace more unusual roles than her counterparts. Two of my absolute favorite Winslet performances are "Eternal Sunshine" and "Revolutionary Road" and those are the ones I'll discuss today. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind -2004
Charlie Kaufman's "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is nearly a perfect film. He has a knack for writing the most intriguing, original, and flawless screenplays, and this is a perfect example. The only thing that makes a beautifully written film better is brilliant performances, and that's exactly what we got from Kate Winslet in her role as Clementine. The film is about Joel (played by Jim Carrey) and Clementine who decide to have a procedure to erase their memories of each other after their relationship fails, but it's only after this happens that they re-discover through their loss what they had. Winslet brings this quirky character to life, she allows the audience to relate to her and feel her pain just as she does. She's funny and exudes this adventurous side that makes us urn for more of her. The chemistry between Carrey and Winslet is not thrown in our face, but it's actually developed throughout the film very naturally. The two actors bring completely different personas to the film that works beautifully. It's by far one of the most original love stories ever told, and Winslet shines as Clementine. It's definitely some of her best work to date. Revolutionary Road -2008
Revolutionary Road became an instant American Drama Classic when it came out. It became a classic partly because of the brilliant writing of Richard Yates and partly because of the two powerhouse performances at its helm. Winslet plays April Wheeler, a wife and mother of two living the seemingly perfect life in a Connecticut suburb. April is nowhere near happy however. She needs more, she wants for nothing else than to have an exciting life. Winslet delivered a raw, emotional performance that was utterly heart breaking. We, as an audience, feel just as trapped in her life as she does, and just like her, there's nothing we can do. The exchanges between April and Frank (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) are full-on battle scenes. The fights are tremendous, and Winslet's scenery chewing performance makes the hair on your arms stand straight. This performance is arguably her best ever, and was inexcusably overlooked by AMPAS. It'll be hard for Winslet to better herself after a performance like this, but with the exceptional talent she possess, I believe it's very possible. Up Next: Tom Hanks
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: Five Jack Nicholson Here's Johnny! Jack Nicholson is a true screen legend. For decades, he's been a staple in the cinema and is constantly bringing us amazing performances. He's the Academy Award King with 3 wins and 12 nominations. His face is instantly recognizable to millions and his fierce wit is what made him who he is today. From slapstick comedy, to sweeping dramas, to terrifying horror films, there is nothing Nicholson can't do. With so many years of acting and such an array of different characters, anyone and everyone can relate to Nicholson one way or another, and that's what makes him such a treasure in the film industry. Even in his seventies, he's putting out great work, and we hope it continues for many more years. As Good As It Gets -1997
Jack Nicholson plays Melvin Udall, a very peculiar man with many eccentricities. He's severely obsessive compulsive and lives his life by a strict code. Everything he knows is quickly shaken up when he is forced to care for his gay neighbor Simon (played by Greg Kinnear) and begins to fall in love with his waitress Carol (played by Helen Hunt). Nicholson's comic timing is a jewel in this film, and it's literally perfect. His facial expressions alone were Oscar worthy. Portraying such a hateful, mean character is in itself a tough endeavor, but making that same character loveable and funny at the same time is nearly impossible, but Nicholson did it without missing a beat. The exchanges between Nicholson, Hunt, and Kinnear are movie gold; they're funny, endearing, and executed brilliantly. In this comedy, directed by James L. Brooks, the performances are what drives it to success, and thanks to Jack Nicholson's amazing performance, it's now a comedy classic. Nicholson won his third Academy Award for this performance. The Departed -2006
No one on Earth could have played the role of Frank Costello, Irish Mob Boss, better than Jack Nicholson. "The Departed", directed by Martin Scorsese is the story of two men on opposite sides of the law and both undercover spies in the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish Mafia. Frank Costello is a ruthless leader, and a truly terrifying man. Nicholson has always been able to give us his signature "larger than life" performances, and many of them have a tinge of "crazy" in them that we've come to admire, but Costello is different. Unlike his characters before, Nicholson as Costello is not only mean, scary, and eccentric, his crazy is understated. He exudes terror solely from a look or a gesture that is almost scarier than if he were to be over the top. Of course, he has his moments of loud, obnoxious rants, but for the most part, Nicholson played Costello very calmly and perfectly understated. Nicholson manages to not only be uncomfortably terrifying, but in all of his madness, he's actually funny. Only a master craftsman could pull that off, and that's exactly what Jack Nicholson is. It was a shock when he was overlooked by the Academy and not nominated. I think when critics and pundits look back at his career; this performance will be in most of their top 5 Nicholson performances. Up Next: Kate Winslet
3/21 - New Trailer & Poster for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 
3/21 - The Adjustment Bureau: Review Written & Directed By: George Nolfi  The Adjustment Bureau, written and directed by George Nolfi based on the short story "Adjustment Team" by Philip K. Dick, is about how much one would be willing to sacrifice in the name of love. Matt Damon plays David Norris, a young, ambitious politician seeking election for a seat in the Senate. However, upon a short encounter with Elise (Emily Blunt), where they share a brief but meaningful kiss, David realizes his true love for Elise. The "adjusters" quickly notice the spark, and are determined to separate the two, because according to "the plan", their love was never meant to be. David, however, refuses to back down, and fights against his fate to be with the one he loves. The two major genres of this film are sci-fi and romance. Usually having these two genres in the same film can be tricky, but for the most part I think they pulled it off. I went into this film with excitement and high expectations, but was somewhat disappointed by the finished product. The writing contained numerous plot holes and the overall flow of the film was off. I don't feel like I ever got a chance to relate to the characters to the extent I wanted to. I blame the writing for this huge miscue. Many things were not explained like the hats, the tunnels, or the actual "Adjustment Bureau" themselves. I don't like it when films leave so many unanswered questions for the audience. Throughout most of the film, all I wanted was some more explanations, some more elaboration and I never got it. I think the plot and story are so original and I was very intrigued to see it on the screen, but I was sadly disappointed. The only thing that saved this movie from being borderline ridiculous were the exceptional performances from Matt Damon and Emily Blunt and the love story they shared. There are many poor films with excellent acting and this is one of them. The instant chemistry between Damon and Blunt is very believable, and we, as an audience, root for them the whole film. We can relate to them only so much from their great performances, but the poor writing is what keeps us from completely connecting. At the end of the day, The Adjustment Bureau is a descent film with major plot problems and terrific performances. My Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Oscar Contention: Art Direction, Sound, Sound Mixing
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: Four Cate Blanchett Over the last 15 years, Cate Blanchett's name has become synonymous with "Great Acting". She has a tremendous talent to transform into character and constantly reinvent herself. Many film critics often compare her rise in Hollywood to that of Meryl Streep. I think Blanchett possesses similar talent to Streep's and I think she will have a very long and successful career. With a wide array of different characters under her belt, Blanchett still manages to surprise us with amazing performances. This year in particular, she has another interesting character in "Hanna" where she plays a ruthless intelligence operative. Even though Blanchett won her Academy Award for "The Aviator", I've decided to highlight two of my favorite Blanchett performances in "Bandits" and "Notes on a Scandal". Bandits -2001
"Bandits" is the story of two escaped inmates turned bank robbers who fall in love with a woman, played by Blanchett. Kate Wheeler is a woman who is looking for the missing passion in her life. She's in an unhappy marriage, and the day she decides to leave, she finds herself in the middle of Joe and Terry's (played by Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thorton) robbery escapades. Blanchett plays the "quirky" character to perfection. She is so believable as Kate, that you are actually annoyed by her most of the film. (In a good way) She has this energy and thirst for life that make you root for her and the guys to succeed. The chemistry between these three is exceptional, and it's not often that a film can pull off a 3-person lead, but "Bandits" managed it very well. All in all, it's a light performance from Blanchett, but it's always stood out to me as one of her best. I can only hope that she'll have more like this in the future. Notes on a Scandal -2006
Most people say this film belongs to Judi Dench, but I would disagree. Cate Blanchett's performance in "Notes" is by far one of her best in my opinion. I agree that Judi Dench was phenomenal in this film, but her counterpart was a huge part of its success. Blanchett plays Sheba Hart, a new art teacher who is having an affair with a student. Barbara, a fellow teacher who is interested in more than just friendship, befriends Sheba. Barbara discovers Sheba's affair and blackmails her with it. It's an intense, thrilling film with cutting dialogue and it's intriguing to watch these two powerhouse women battle it out, mentally and physically. I was so impressed with Blanchett's performance partly because it was so natural. No accents or costumes, we only see her, and it's brilliant. She's in an impossible situation most of the film, and we hate her and love her all at the same time. Blanchett pulls of a superb balancing act of "child predator" and "victim". It's rare that an actor can have their audience hate them and pity them all in a two-hour time frame. This film will stand the test of time I believe and its performances will always be among the best in history. Blanchett and Dench were both nominated for Oscars for their performances. Up Next: Jack Nicholson
Your Weekly Oscar Crumbs... Chole Sevigny is Lizzie Borden Deadline Anna Karenina: Reloaded GoldDerby "The Hobbit" Begins....Finally. TheHollywoodReporter Stunning trailer for "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" AwardsDaily Goodbye, Alfred. InContention Film Bitch Awards Continue TheFilmExperience "Limitless" Wins the Weekend Box Office Mojo
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: Three Robert Duvall America's premier actor, Robert Duvall has been a staple on the silver screen since 1962 when he made his movie debut in "To Kill a Mockingbird". Since then Duvall has put out brilliant performance after brilliant performance. His talent is unfailing, and his ability to portray the "All-American" man with such dignity and realism is astounding. In my humble opinion, he's the best there is when it comes to acting. He has amazing control over his characters and is so true to them without ever compromising the performance with flamboyancy or airs. He has been nominated for six Academy Awards and has won once for "Tender Mercies". Actors like him come once in a generation, and his legacy will be around for many, many years. Lonesome Dove -1989
I know this wasn't a feature length film, but a miniseries, I still believe it to be one of the best performances by an actor in history. Robert Duvall's Gus McCrae is a good-ole boy from Lonesome Dove, Texas. He and his partner Woodrow F. Call decide to do a cattle drive up to Montana and make a name for themselves. This was such a sweeping, epic drama about life, love, betrayal, and heartbreak that it would have been easy for any one character or performance to be overlooked or just considered average. Only Duvall's performance really stood out. He brought his signature realism into this and is simply astonishing. You can instantly relate to Gus when we first meet him in Lonesome Dove. He's laid-back, easy going, and loving life. All thee while, we tend to forget that he's actually giving us a performance. It's hard to dislike an actor of his caliber, and in Lonesome Dove, he gave us one of his best characters of his career. Lonesome Dove was nominated for 19 Emmy Awards, winning 7 and 4 Golden Globe Awards, winning 2: Including Best Actor -Robert Duvall and Best Miniseries. The Apostle -1997
Directed by, written by, and starring Robert Duvall. The Apostle is considered by many to be Duvall's finest work. (He received his 6th Academy Award Nomination for his performance) I would definitely put it in my top 3. Duvall plays Sonny, a Texas preacher who is a devout Christian, yet has some personal life challenges. Trouble comes to Sonny and he's forced to change his name and run across the border into Louisiana to start another life for himself. Without trying to sound redundant, Duvall's performance as Sonny is genius. This character is nearly everything that most of Duvall's characters are not. He's loud, obnoxious, and flamboyant. Throughout this film, however we are treated to glimpses of his characters true side, his love for life and the lord are apparent, and Duvall manages to balance this character's over the top tendencies with his usual, understated ways, and it works brilliantly. It's very rare that an actor can direct, write, and star in his own film and produce something this good. It's a tiny little film with one huge performance and will undoubtedly be a film where critics and film lovers alike will go to for years when they want to witness a truly great performance. Up Next: Cate Blanchett
Happy St. Patrick's Day! From Awards Breach
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: Two Shirley MacLaine I know this will sound cliche, but Shirley MacLaine is a true living legend. She has been in the business for over 50 years and is still going strong. She is practically Hollywood Royalty. Some of my favorite aspects of MacLaine's work other than her obvious talent are her comic ability and her consistency to always put out amazing work. Many of you will probably expect me to write about her Oscar winning performance in "Terms of Endearment" but I have decided to talk about two of my all-time favorite MacLaine performances in "Steel Magnolias" and "Postcards From the Edge". Steel Magnolias -1989
This is an endearing film that many people still love to this day. It's hilarious and heart wrenching all at the same time. It was an all-star cast led by Julia Roberts and Sally Field, along with Olympia Dukakas, Dolly Parton, and Daryl Hannah. For me (and many others I suspect) the best part of the film was always Shirley MacLaine's brilliant portrayal of Ouiser Boudreaux. Ouiser is a mean old southern woman who likes to wear silly hats and grow vegetables in the ground because that's what southern women are supposed to do. Every time we see Ouiser, she's struggling in some way, whether it is from her attempting to control her enormous dog, or getting a routine lip wax, she's always bringing the comedy. With one glance from Ouiser, MacLaine has us all laughing, and that's all it took. MacLaine is just superb in this, and to this day, it remains a role that is still talked about and quoted from. The women in the film worked so well together, but it was MacLaine's comic talent and timing that made her performance stand alone. Postcards From the Edge -1990
This comedy written by Carrie Fisher and directed by the incomparable Mike Nichols was based on Fisher's life and her struggles with addiction as well as her relationship with her famous mother Debbie Reynolds. MacLaine played Doris Mann, an aging actress and champion drinker. Mann's larger than life persona gave MacLaine all the fuel she needed to make this character absolutely hilarious and memorable. The complicated relationship between Doris and her daughter (played by Meryl Streep) feels so natural and real and just shows us the power and talent these two women have. The "staircase fight" scene is still a classic. With MacLaine at the top of the stairs and Streep at the foot, the scene takes on a "Mildred Pierce" feel and is so entertaining and above all hilarious. My favorite scene however, is near the end in the hospital. MacLaine completely de-glam, and the raw emotionally charged exchanges between her and Streep are so real as is the quick little song they sing. It brings a new meaning to "enjoy the little things". A huge part of enjoying MacLaine's performances are just that; enjoying the little things. From over the top, showy performances to understated, little mannerisms, MacLaine can do it all. Here's hoping this living legend gives us 50 more years. Up Next: Robert Duvall
3/16-SXSW Winners
The Greatest Living Actors and Their Performances: A Retrospective Part: One Daniel Day-Lewis Daniel Day-Lewis has been around for decades. He has always been very selective of his films and actually doesn't do many (at least by Hollywood standards), but when he does he never fails to put out some amazing work. He is the proud owner of two Academy Awards for his work in "My Left Foot" and "There Will Be Blood" (the latter is the second performance I will talk about). Day-Lewis has a command of the screen like no other actor working today. He's very technical and precise in his craft, and when he is on the screen he transforms into whatever role he needs. Out of my top 5 male actors, he is by far the most chameleon-like and that itself is a rarity these days. Gangs of New York -2002
In Gangs, Daniel Day-Lewis plays Bill "The Butcher" Cutting; a notoriously gruesome man and the leader of the street gang the "Dead Rabbits". Day-Lewis has an unusual knack for portraying such gritty, badass characters and this is no different. As Bill the Butcher, Day-Lewis is simply terrifying. His acting transcends through the screen and you can feel his terror. With his glass eye, and greased hair Bill owns the Five Points of New York, and no one will touch him. Because of his immense talent, you never once see Daniel Day-Lewis in this role. From the beginning, he is Bill the Butcher and no one else. This film and his performance were sorely overlooked in 2002. He, along with the film garnered 10 Academy Award nominations and won Zero. I think with time, this film will withstand, and it will always be a seen as an achievement in cinema as will Daniel Day-Lewis' brilliant performance. There Will Be Blood -2007
My second choice of film for Daniel Day-Lewis is "There Will Be Blood". I know I picked two films where he plays pretty ruthless, scary characters, but I don't care. In this film, Day-Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, a very strong-willed oil prospector who is hell bent on being successful and wealthy, no matter the personal cost. Yet another pristine command of the screen in TWBB, Day-Lewis is unbelievably captivating in every scene. Not only did Day-Lewis complete a transformation into the character, but his character makes a transformation of his own throughout the film into this crazed, money hungry monster. He alienates nearly everyone in his life from himself, and eventually leads to a shocking end that put this film in the history books for good. I think we're shocked by what we see from Day-Lewis in this film, but we also recognize that it's such an amazing talent that we can't look away. Performances like this one don't come along very often, but when they do, it's a treat for everyone. "There Will Be Blood" was nominated for 8 Academy Awards and won 2, including Best Actor for Daniel Day-Lewis. Up Next: Shirley MacLaine
3/15- Starting Tonight!
Your Weekly Oscar Crumbs... First Look: "Source Code" from SXSW SlantMagazine More Meryl as Thatcher in "The Iron Lady" SimplyStreep Harry Potter is Broadway Bound GoldDerby "Super 8" in HD and a fresh new posterAppleTrailers Julianne Moore will channel Sarah Palin. Emmy to come. GoldDerby Best Posters of the Year...So Far. YourMovieBuddy Early Oscar contenders showing their Box Office Weight. Box Office Mojo
3/14 -New "Super 8" Trailer
3/9 -Year in Advance Predictions Complete!
3/7 - Coming This Week! awardsbreach@yahoo.com
3/6 - Greetings!Hello to all of the Awards Breach readers! My name is Zak, and I am the new host of Awards Breach. I would like to thank Brinton for giving me the opportunity to become his successor. He has created a very informative, fun, and entertaining website that has always gone against the grain and given Oscar fans a different perspective on the awards race. I will do my best to carry on in the same fashion. I have always had a strong passion for the film industry and I hope that passion comes through on this site. Also, within the next week, I will be posting my first "Year in Advance" predictions!! So, stay tuned! Thank you to all the dedicated readers for sticking around with me as we head into the 2011 Awards Season. I hope you enjoy! -Zak
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