A few words on ... 'Sunshine Cleaning' and 'Two Lovers'

I had two trips to the movie theater this weekend: One good one, and one ... meh.

Let's start with the meh, which is more commonly known as 'Sunshine Cleaning.'

It kind of breaks my heart to blog about this one because I really wanted to love it. It had a nice (albeit 'Little Miss Sunshine'-esque) trailer, and Amy Adams and Emily Blunt are both terrific actresses.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to sell such a poorly thought out screenplay, which was driven by a silly and at times implausible premise. Much of it felt very lazy, and with rushed bookends the film didn't allow any time for the story to thaw out on its own (although it was always game for a saccharine moment or two). I'd cautiously recommend this, but only as a DVD rental (C-/C).

On the plus side, I also got around to seeing 'Two Lovers,' which I actually loved way more than I was expecting to after watching the first 15 minutes.

I found the whole experience to be hypnotic. Whether it was the music, or New York or the pacing, I slowly fell into this world, and by the end of it I was really quite emotionally taken by the experience.

I felt the same way about Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow's performances. Both took some time getting used to, but when they settled in they really took off. In fact, I'd argue that everything that went on in the film's final moments was brilliant.

More reason to hope Phoenix's media meltdown is a joke after all (B+).

Trailers that should be banned

I vote 'The Soloist,' a trailer that plays at every. single. movie. -- like the two I saw this weekend.




Seriously, I can almost quote the entire thing.

Weekend screening schedule

Snore.


What are you watching this weekend?

'Taking Woodstock' trailer

Meh. I got an 'Almost Famous' lite vibe from watching this.

Oscars return to March (for one year)

Looks like the Olympics will push back the Oscars once again, says AP.

Next year's ceremony will officially be held on March 7.

I'm personally all for these kinds of delays. It opens the door for potential surprises, which seem to be a thing of the past these days.

Quick post: Best movie of '09 (so far)

We're almost a quarter of our way into 2009 and so far it looks like we're off to a good start.

But what's the best movie you've seen in 2009? Is it 'Coraline'? 'Two Lovers'? Post your reviews and recommendations below.


For me, I'd have to go with 'Duplicity' only because I haven't seen much of anything this year. But it was a fun movie given what it was trying to accomplish. Good for Julia and Clive.

Anne Getting Oscar?

So it turns out Anne Hathaway will be playing Judy Garland on the big screen after all.

The biopic is reportedly titled 'Get Happy' and will be released by the Weinstein Co.

Read the full story here.

I really don't see how she won't get nominated/win for this. It sounds like it's going to be a huge, huge performance.

Variety chimes in on 'Broken Embraces'

So is Penelope in for this or 'Nine'?:

Partly a film about films and partly a film about love, Pedro Almodovar's "Broken Embraces" can't quite decide where its allegiances lie. A restless, rangy and frankly enjoyable genre-juggler that combines melodrama, comedy and more noir-hued darkness than ever before, the pic is held together by the extraordinary force of Almodovar's cinematic personality. But while its four-way in extremis love story dazzles, it never really catches fire. The Spanish helmer's biggest-budgeted and longest movie to date will get warm hugs from local auds on release March 18; headed for Cannes in May, it goes out Stateside via Sony Pictures Classics later this year.


Full review.

YouTube Clip of the Week: 'Grease'

Weekend screening schedule

What'll it be, bloggers: 'Duplicity' or 'I Love You, Man'?


I think I'm finally getting around to 'Two Lovers' tonight. 'Duplicity' will have to wait until tomorrow.

RIP Natasha Richardson

Terrible news.


I remember hoping she might get an Oscar nomination for 'The White Countess' back before it was released. I've always loved her as an actress, so today feels especially sad.

RIP.

Quick poll: 'Duplicity'

'Duplicity' opens this Friday, and while reviews are mixed so far, I'm finding the Julia/Clive combo too much to resist.


Will you see 'Duplicity' this weekend? Or are you saving your cash for 'I Love You, Man'?

poll by twiigs.com

'Scent of a Woman': The most "Hollywood" movie ever made?

I watched 'Scent of a Woman' during my weekend of cable/internet-less hell, and I'm still baffled by it.

In fact, I'm willing to wager that it may be one of the worst Best Picture nominees ever. From implausible premise, to the car chase through Brooklyn to the slow-clap at the end, it all felt like an empty bag of tricks -- a big, flashy movie that tricks people into thinking it's great.

Am I right? Am I wrong? Bloggers who have seen it chime in ASAP, because I'm at a loss for words.



Hoo-ah! my foot.

Aaand we're back. Again.

Looks like my internet is working again thank God.

To celebrate, here's a pic of James Franco as Allen Ginsberg in the upcoming flick 'Howl':


Let the Oscar campaign begin.

Sigh

Just when I go to blog my internet shuts down for the weekend. Fun.

We'll be back up and running whenever it decides to work again.

Weekend screening schedule: Spring cleaning

I'm pretty much counting down the days to 'Duplicity.'

But I do really want to see 'Sunshine Cleaning,' which seems like it premiered 8 years ago at Sundance.

In the meantime, I gotta get back to blogging this weekend. More to come.

Most Anticipated Performances: 2009

I'm really, really excited about 2009. It could be a result of 2008's craptastic year, or it could be because of the amount of star power lined up.

Either away, 2009 is looking very good ... for now.

Here are my most anticipated performances of the year:

Matt Damon, 'The Informant'
Damon has a number of potential Oscar vehicles floating around this year -- what with the Mandela movie and 'Green Zone' -- but 'The Informant' intrigues me most. Damon seems like the perfect fit for a "darkly comic" thriller from Steven Soderbergh.

Meryl Streep, 'Julie & Julia'
If this triggers a Nora Ephron renaissance then I am totally game. Plus, it'll be fun to see if Meryl can get nominated for another summer movie (she probably will).

Michael Sheen, 'The Damned United'
Sheen/Morgan has proven to be a great combination thus far. I have high hopes for this one, even if it'll never break Oscar's radar.

Penelope Cruz, 'Broken Embraces'
Mostly because of her performance in 'Volver.'

Robert Downey Jr., 'Sherlock Holmes'
I don't know if this will be Oscar-worthy, fun or just plain awful. But after 2008 I say the more Robert Downey Jr. movies, the better.

Emily Mortimer, 'Shutter Island'
I've heard grumblings that Mortimer has the best female role in 'Shutter Island.' Can anyone confirm?

Demetri Martin, 'Taking Woodstock'
Very unique casting choice here, and I think it'll pay off.

Mo'Nique, 'Push'
Academy Award-nominee Mo'Nique. I never thought it would happen, but it looks like it will; Sundance and Oprah cannot be ignored.

Brad Pitt, 'The Tree of Life' and 'Inglorious Basterds'
I don't usually jump for joy over Brad Pitt but it would be idiotic of me to overlook these two performances -- especially the latter -- given the directors he is working with.

The cast of 'Nine'
'Nine' scares me a lot because I think it has potential to be the most overhyped movie of the year (think: 'Dreamgirls.') But the cast has so much pedigree that I can't help but anticipate every performance equally (even Fergie's!)

Johnny Depp, 'Public Enemies'
This is another Brad Pitt-type situation where I'm anticipating this more because of the director. Surely 18-year-old blogger can shed more light on this.

Anika Noni Rose, 'The Princess and the Frog'
There are certainly a lot more interesting animated movies opening this year. But I want this to do well mostly for Anika, who deserves a much better platform than something like 'Dreamgirls.'

Larry David, 'Whatever Works'
This could be either really brilliant or terrible. At least we'll get our answer early when this goes to Tribeca in May.

Amy Adams, 'Sunshine Cleaning'
Random, but she looks absolutely glowing in the trailer, so I couldn't resist.

Michelle Pfeiffer, 'Cheri'
Because the 1989 snub still stings. Watch her in an exclusive clip below:

What about you: Which performances are you anticipating most this year?

Quick poll: 'Watchmen'

I didn't get around to seeing 'Watchmen' this weekend -- and I'm not sure if I ever will. It just doesn't interest me.

But you tell me: What was the movie like? Great, good, ok ... or awful?

poll by twiigs.com

YouTube Clip of the Week: 'The Bourne Ultimatum'

And we're back

I took a little post-Oscars holiday this past week. Sorry I didn't notify you ahead of time (it was another impromptu one).

But we're back and ready to go re: 2009.

Coming SUNDAY: My 10 most anticipated performances of the year. Stay tuned!