tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post8086221129437928001..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: In the Valley of The Valley ofNATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-79417263337089977702007-08-31T17:15:00.000-04:002007-08-31T17:15:00.000-04:00"Just tell me he's OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!..."Just tell me he's OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!"<BR/><BR/>I really hope that works better in the movie than it does in the trailer....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-21310835509084464302007-08-31T05:41:00.000-04:002007-08-31T05:41:00.000-04:00Just tell me he's OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!...Just tell me he's OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-14091743552818021252007-08-30T16:47:00.000-04:002007-08-30T16:47:00.000-04:00I am ambivalent on "the Valley of Elah", though ea...I am ambivalent on "the Valley of Elah", though eager to see it. I am just as ambivalent about Paul Haggis - hated "Million Dollar Baby", loved "Crash" (sorry, folks), so I know this one could end up anywhere on my top or bottom ten lists this year. <BR/><BR/>The participation of Haggis may not matter, though, for Tommy Lee Jones. This role is squarely in his wheelhouse. The last time he was this perfectly cast was as Lt. Sam Gerard in "The Fugitive"...and we know how that ended up. He could even draw the same lead/supporting double that Cate Blanchett is being touted for, except that his Supporting nod would be for "No Country for Old Men". Playing an officer of the law on the trail of a wanted man. Sound familiar?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-58770777858437387332007-08-30T12:38:00.001-04:002007-08-30T12:38:00.001-04:00in response esp best actress 00,02,03,05,06 all pl...in response esp best actress 00,02,03,05,06 all played real people quite frankly i ma bored of it esp if blanchett wins for the golden age.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-80737618740184754962007-08-30T12:38:00.000-04:002007-08-30T12:38:00.000-04:00can i just say that 13 out of the last 20 oscar wi...can i just say that 13 out of the last 20 oscar winning performances lead & supp from 2000 - 2006 were for playing real people so when predicting always start with those playing real people alive or dead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-25771386176086880912007-08-30T12:02:00.000-04:002007-08-30T12:02:00.000-04:00Jeffrey Wells also blogged that Rendition is more ...Jeffrey Wells also blogged that Rendition is more commercial fare, and not the Oscar bait movie people thought it would be. Good news for me, I loved her in Walk the Line and Legally Blonde, but can no longer stand her. What's with her ridiculous screaming in the trailer?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-31036529415838634242007-08-30T03:17:00.000-04:002007-08-30T03:17:00.000-04:00I've been predicting Sarandon since the start of M...I've been predicting Sarandon since the start of March. If she's good then I'd love her to make a comeback of sorts. Last weekend I saw her in this bizarre Australian movie called <I>Irresistible</I> with Sam Neill and Emily Blunt. Utterly ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>"Atonement's biggest problem is its hype machine. People seem to already be getting sick of it, and the film hasn't even opened yet."<BR/><BR/>I would say that the film is only hyped my internet savvy movie bloggers and not so much by your casual moviegoer, which are the ones that every romance must target if they wanna make a hit.Glenn Dunkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05424659636310160482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-43909534064560364212007-08-29T23:46:00.000-04:002007-08-29T23:46:00.000-04:00Paul Haggis and Susan Sarandon. It's like the perf...Paul Haggis and Susan Sarandon. <BR/>It's like the perfect storm.<BR/>They couldn't ham it up more if they cast Catherine O Hara's character from For Your Consideration.MadHatterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12532310721706455266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-73197913527075930732007-08-29T23:10:00.000-04:002007-08-29T23:10:00.000-04:00Charlize hags it up....how can she NOT get nominat...Charlize hags it up....how can she NOT get nominated. She has brown hair and looks washed out. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Seriously, though, I do want to see what Sarandon does b/c I love that woman.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-3802914961627286682007-08-29T21:29:00.000-04:002007-08-29T21:29:00.000-04:00What's your gut telling you about In the Valley of...<B>What's your gut telling you about In the Valley of Elah and its Oscar chances and/or quality?</B><BR/><BR/> My gut tells me it's better for my soul if I don't predict a Haggis film for quality honours, as he has singlehandledly destroyed possibly great films (<I>Million Dollar Baby</I>) and brought down mediocre films to the level of terrible pap (<I>Flags of our Fathers</I>, <I>Crash</I>)<BR/><BR/><B>Or are you more excited for the other political hot buttons coming out: The Kingdom, Rendition, Lions for Lambs or The Kite Runner.</B><BR/><BR/> You know, not really. My two favourite films from 2006 were <I>Children of Men</I> and <I>Iraq in Fragments</I>, and <I>Munich</I> was one of my top three of 2005, so I really like political films, but none of these appeal to me. Either the directors haven't shown a great deal of talent, or the trailers have been unexpectedly bad. Plus, Hollywood is always nervous when it comes to politics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-12634455152030710942007-08-29T20:46:00.000-04:002007-08-29T20:46:00.000-04:00Guess it's always hard to spot the comedies/non-dr...Guess it's always hard to spot the comedies/non-drama/non-biopics this far out...but looking at the possibilities for picture - yikes! we're gunna need something light.<BR/><BR/>i think sasha stone might be on to something by thinking Once might be the little engine that could (i mean...a globe nod m/c seems at least capable at this point, yes?). <BR/><BR/>as for Elah - meh. i'm not particularly interested in any of the "frontrunners" (i'm sure buzz, awards, and reviews will change that...but most of them just aren't my kind of movies - a lot of them seem like CNN meets Lifetime mediocrity).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-76317491476402507692007-08-29T20:25:00.000-04:002007-08-29T20:25:00.000-04:00I was kind of expecting this reaction for Atonemen...I was kind of expecting this reaction for Atonement, I mean the more you hype the movie the more people will be like ..mehh!!!!!!!!! <BR/><BR/>Thats me wiping off the movie from my front runner list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-56443267097686268022007-08-29T19:52:00.000-04:002007-08-29T19:52:00.000-04:00The trailer for Rendition looks so cool though. As...The trailer for Rendition looks so cool though. As in coolly shot - for some reason its the word that most springs to mind. Looking forward to it the most out of the politicals this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-89825897871536142102007-08-29T19:42:00.000-04:002007-08-29T19:42:00.000-04:00Stephen G --definitely a good point there. I may b...Stephen G --definitely a good point there. I may be overreaching. that list is very convincing that snagging the nom isn't easy. Even for past nominees.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-21114822494813201122007-08-29T19:28:00.000-04:002007-08-29T19:28:00.000-04:00A possible comeback of Susan is the only thing tha...A possible comeback of Susan is the only thing that get me excited.<BR/><BR/>My expectation for "Charlie Wilson's War" got a bit higher than the others after reading the screenplay.Chinese Odysseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02179941200679106723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-86420953412693698042007-08-29T18:50:00.000-04:002007-08-29T18:50:00.000-04:00My gut feeling also is that Elah will be the most ...My gut feeling also is that Elah will be the most Oscar-friendly of the Iraq bunch. Anne Thompson saw it and also praised Jones and Sarandon. But I guess the Academy have got to get tired of Haggis sooner or later, so who knows?<BR/><BR/>Funny how an actress can get nominated multiple times until their win seems long overdue. And then they have an uphill battle to get noticed again. Would be great to see Sarandon make the lists once more.<BR/><BR/>But it's weird how there is often a former winner actress who gets talked about at the start of Oscar season, gets a mention or two but never the Oscar nom. I'm thinking of perfs like Cloris Leachman in Spanglish, Sarandon in Igby or Moonlight Mile, Emma Thompson in Stranger than Fiction, Maclaine in In Her Shoes, Clayburgh in Running with Scissors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-57216754223569934612007-08-29T17:21:00.000-04:002007-08-29T17:21:00.000-04:00I'm excited for In the Valley of Elah only because...I'm excited for <I>In the Valley of Elah</I> only because I liked Crash a lot. Paul Haggis isn't as bad as what people can make him out to be (did that make sense?) <BR/><BR/>Anyways, I want to see <I>Rendition</I> over <I>Lions for Lambs</I>. The latter has Tom Cruise in it and I can't stand him. It's good that Meryl Streep is in both of them.Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14789811118238494036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-72656487930269633932007-08-29T16:47:00.000-04:002007-08-29T16:47:00.000-04:00I too have no instinct on this. I've got a fond-s...I too have no instinct on this. I've got a fond-spot for <I>Elah</I> despite its Haggis-ness. This week I'm loving the idea of shortshort Supporting Actress noms.<BR/><BR/>But the reasons for my early fondness for <I>Elah</I>.<BR/><BR/>1: A really talented former <A HREF="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2340691/" REL="nofollow">student</A> of mine has a tiny part, with a number of other students in bitsy roles.<BR/><BR/>2: <I>Elah</I> provided the occasion of my only real world Susan Sarandon sighting. (In first class on NYC-ABQ flight, in the row behind Parker Posey and Alessandro Nivola. Talk about cups runnething...)StinkyLuluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11765533714740641857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-32024648034186692482007-08-29T16:16:00.000-04:002007-08-29T16:16:00.000-04:00Atonement's biggest problem is its hype machine. P...Atonement's biggest problem is its hype machine. People seem to already be getting sick of it, and the film hasn't even opened yet.<BR/><BR/>Even as a strong admirer of the film, I'd concede that the almost too-strategic planning of the various release dates, the fawning articles that keep coming out of the Guardian, the multiple preview and 'gala' screenings across the UK - these will ultimately work against what is a great film.<BR/><BR/>People like to see an underdog go the whole hog, and Atonement just isn't an underdog anymore. The studio, director and others concerned with the film KNOW they have an awards magnet on their hands. The problem is, they haven't been humble enough, "oh really, our film is great, is it?" about it. I personally don't care much for humility anyway.<BR/><BR/>PS. Quite looking forward to Elah, myself (Theron/Sarandon bits anyway).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-38170039014684719442007-08-29T15:23:00.000-04:002007-08-29T15:23:00.000-04:00LOL. I knew it, some critics are calling Atonement...LOL. I knew it, some critics are calling Atonement BORING. It is being warmly received. I said that this will be the big HYPE movie and not be up to standards. LMAO.<BR/><BR/>Sorry Nat, but I had to do it, too many people were talking about it and I was getting sick of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-33730609126699807612007-08-29T15:21:00.000-04:002007-08-29T15:21:00.000-04:00I'm dreading this, partially because I think it wi...I'm dreading this, partially because I think it will do well with the Academy, and that will mean that the Oscar-fanatic in me will have to see it (Crash is the Best Picture nominee I most personally loath, and the script of Million Dollar Baby is, in my estimation, it's poorest element).John Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778817752411507792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-84169622054176270582007-08-29T14:28:00.000-04:002007-08-29T14:28:00.000-04:00Atonement reminds me more of Cold Mountain than Dr...Atonement reminds me more of Cold Mountain than Dreamgirls - popular novel, wartime love story, outlaw lead. It's looks dazzling, but it will need to be great, not just good.<BR/><BR/>Elah and Rendition are in direct competition with each other for the Iraq slot, and I don't think they will both be nommed. I don't consider The Kite Runner in the same vein - it's mostly foreign actors and it's not as political.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-55606759977567345552007-08-29T14:11:00.000-04:002007-08-29T14:11:00.000-04:00I'm extremely hesitant about Elah. It looks... li...I'm extremely hesitant about Elah. It looks... like it has the possibility to be fine, but also terrible. (I find it amusing that Haggis, a white Canadian, made a film about racism and now America... But whatever, make films about whatever you want.)<BR/><BR/>I hope Rendition emerges the best of the bunch, just because it's got a cast I like best out of all of them (Streep, Gyllenhaal, Witherspoon, Arkin, AND Sarsgaard?! My cup runneth over!) Plus, Witherspoon's one of my picks on the Actress contest, so... Well, there's that. :-D<BR/><BR/>And J.D.: I see Atonement going the route of a more successful Dreamgirls. I.e., the same kind of hype, but it'll probably live up better and wind up with the most nominations but also Pic and Director.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08464878841487140417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-31558352532611072202007-08-29T13:47:00.000-04:002007-08-29T13:47:00.000-04:00What happened in 1988? Too many good performances ...What happened in 1988? Too many good performances form actresses, not enough slots. Remember, that was the year that both Sigourney and Glenn were robbed by Jodie. Thankfully, Susan was awarded further down the line; S. and G. are still bridesmaids.TONY GOEShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09674268431760901934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-51776806083477272072007-08-29T13:31:00.000-04:002007-08-29T13:31:00.000-04:00No particular ESP about this. I'm with Anon up to...No particular ESP about this. I'm with Anon up top: I don't dislike Paul Haggis, and I'm actually sort of interested to see this, especially for Jones, even though I doubt I'll be bowled over.<BR/><BR/>Also, Tommy Lee has indeed been flailing around, but I expect he was focused pretty heavily on making (and financing) <I>The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada</I>, which almost nobody wound up seeing because it was released so stupidly. But see it! Great movie, and by far Guillermo Arriaga's best script since <I>Amores perros</I>.NicksFlickPickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04607501848596529493noreply@blogger.com