Here Comes a New Year...

What's your biggest movie wish? (I haven't given 2011 that much thought yet but I'm hoping that the Pedro/Antonio reunion is worth the wait.)
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Seasons Greetings!

[Thx to Jeffery for this fun image]

Happy Holidays.
Be back tomorrow!

Movie Thingamajigs. Put That In Your Stocking

year in review - part 4 of several

Are you ever stumped as to what to put in your loved ones Christmas stockings? Here are some ideas culled from this year's movies. Gadgets, random junk or magical objects that lingered after the credits rolled. (If you don't have time to use these ideas for Christmas, there's always birthdays.)

Let them inspire gift giving!

• Tiny things are wonderful. How about some Tiny Furniture? You can easily slip a miniature chair, bed or bookshelf into a stocking and it's weird, funny, and could even be significant if it recalls some memory with that loved one.  

• Remember at the beginning of 127 Hours when he reaches for his fancy swiss army knife thingie in the cupboard and can't reach it? That's important later in the movie but it's not as important as they make it out to be; even with a good pocketknife, he'd still have to cut off his arm! But everyone needs a good pocket knife, don't they? Or so you hear when you're young. I haven't really needed one yet but maybe if I fell into a cave I would.

• If you need a practical cheap gift, everyone needs razors. But please leave them in their packaging and don't try to deliver by hand or mouth.

A Prophet

• Speaking of sharp unpleasantries... if one of your friends is obsessed with Black Swan (it happens) slip a file sharpener or a tube of lipstick into their stocking with a note. "Sorry I stole your things!". Better yet find a broken ballerina figurine.

• Alexa already beat me to those Inception totems but you know some movie geek is going to be thrilled to find that in the stocking.

• Remember that hilarious dinner sequence in Please Give when the teenage daughter Abby (Sarah Steele) refuses to show her face because of a pimple? Gift certificates for facials are a luxury that some people would never buy for themselves. A pre-paid spa treatment doesn't necessarily imply that your loved one has terrible skin. But don't go for the acid peel though because ouch that red blistery face did not look good on her.

• If all of these gifts sound too extreme, I'm sure there's a ton of "minion" merchandise from Despicable Me -- though they seem overpriced to me for something only 6" high-- or any of the new toys from Toy Story 3 that would be so cute in a stocking. My favorite new toy was Dolly. Despite Ken's protestations, there's no shame in girl toys.

• One gift I would advise against giving is an unpublished manuscript. If you've seen You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger or The Ghost Writer or even Rabbit Hole you'll understand; they cause so much trouble.

• But speaking of Rabbit Hole, how about a homemade comic book? That's where the movie Rabbit Hole gets its name and as Nicole Kidman turns its pages, you get the sense that she's never read one before and that it's opening up whole new world(s) to her. Homemade items are awesome to receive for Christmas, birthdays, or for no obvious reason at all...

True story: One Christmas I made my nephews and niece a comic book starring them as superheroes.  It was a crude quickly drawn thing (I made it in 2 days, racing against the clock) but it was personal, with lines of dialogue inspired by the way they talked and powers that reflected their own kid personalities and interests at the time. It was messily assembled and crazy but somehow to them it was pure magic. They read it incessantly for months.

• If you're handy on the sewing machine or with a needle and thread you could gift your sluttiest friend their very own Easy A patch to accessorize their school uniform looks. [Emma Stone's charisma not included. Sold separately by way of movie ticket or DVD purchase.]

• Or an eyepatch ala True Grit.

• I was about to make a joke about Never Let Me Go but decided it was in extremely poor taste. So, let's go serious instead: The best gift you can give a complete stranger is to register as an organ donor. Trust that you won't need those vital organs when you're dead. But plenty of living suffering people sure need them.

Hmmm.

Let's end with two less practical gifts that we gazed glassy-eyed at in the movie theaters. One of them is even small enough to be a stocking stuffer. Both are difficult to procure but their rewards are great.

• If you were to receive the "Sands of Time", encased in a lovely ornate dagger, what would you use it for? I would probably go far back enough in time to pick a different movie to see that day. And if you gave it to Jake Gyllenhaal, wouldn't he probably steal back some of those months of hard in the gym since they only gave him like 8-10 seconds of shirtlessness in the movie? What would you use it for? It seems like a handy priceless gift and more mobile than a Hot Tub Time Machine.

• Finally, there's the "Sword of Self Respect" from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. But that one you have to earn; it's a gift you give yourself.

Which items from the movies did you dream of after the movies were gone?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all Film Experience readers
drive safe, be merry, enjoy your wee break from the daily grind.

Merry Christmahanakwanzukkah. It's an Open Thread.

We've hit some roadblocks and posting may be light for the next few days. Or heavy. You never know. It's the holidays. So let this be an open thread. What's on your mind? To you readers who are starting your festive travels today, be safe. If any of you are offline this week have a great time.

thanks for visiting and making this place so festive in the comments, just like it's the holiday season every week of the year. xoxo.
.........-Nathaniel 

p.s. Check out these auteur-themed cards starring Martin Scorsese & Mike Leigh. So funny.

p.p.s. In case you didn't see it, AMPAS posted a reminder list of eligible films at their official site.
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What are you seeing this weekend?

Do share in the comments -- or maybe you're just Christmas shopping?

Sorry I've been away: internet connectivity problems today. Have you already started your holiday break?

I must see several movies this weekend and over the holiday week so as to finalize all the year in review goodies and listicles, the 11th annual Film Bitch Awards are right around the corner. The new website is on the way too though I'm having a few engineering snafus -hence the delay. Ack! Where are my magical elves to fix it?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Eat up. Drive safe. Hug loved ones. And thanks for being so faithful to The Film Experience. We give thanks for your patronage. We'll be back when we're back at some point tomorrow and a bit over the weekend. Enjoy your holiday.

Amen.

See a movie. There's so much good stuff in movie theaters right now (links go to post collections): fun musicals like Burlesque & Tangled both of which I already want to see again; Oscar hopefuls that are totally worth seeing even if they're not quite "Best of Year" like 127 Hours & The King's Speech; Things I can't vouch for (haven't yet seen) like Love and Other Drugs and Harry Potter's and The Final Money Grab Pt 1; If you're entertaining at home, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and The Kids Are All Right are must-sees on DVD.

The Greatest Halloween Moment in the History of the Movies

"RAAAAACHELLL FLAAXXXX!!!"

[img src]

Cher, Christina Ricci, Mermaids (1990)

If you dare to disagree, you'd better list an inspired trick or a whopper of a treat in the comments!

Oh and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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Happy 4th of July!

Be safe out there!
The Film Experience will be back tomorrow. Enjoy your festivities whatever they may be.
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O Canada

Confession. I really did mean to post a celebration of Canada yesterday on its special day.

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee

I was even going to rework the lyrics of their national anthem or somesuch to celebrate my favorite movie Canadians: David Cronenberg, Norma Shearer, The Ryans (Gosling & Reynolds), Marie Dressler (Min & Bill!), Rachel McAdams, Fay Wray, Geneviève Bujold, Yvonne de Carlo, Molly Parker, Sarah Polley... the list would go on and on. Not to mention great Canadian movies like Away From Her, Lilies or Jesus of Montreal. What's your favorite person, movie or thing from Canada?

Norma, The First Lady of MGM (Her rank in Canada is unknown)

So to all our Canadian readers -- Hope you enjoyed / are still enjoying your national event while we start our own for the 4th of July. I'm off for a short day trip myself but more posting and halfway mark celebrations and such when I return.
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Oscar Night... in January?

I don't know how much stock to put in Deadline Hollywood's "breaking" rumor -- how is a rumor, "exclusive news"? Discuss -- that AMPAS is debating about moving the Oscars to January. If it is true, or rather, if after discussing it (which is all the "news" states), they actually decide to do it, I can't imagine we'll see that happen until the 2011/2012 race.

Pros: Hollywood might actually release the films in the same calendar year that they're supposedly being honored for. You'd think that last year's Best Picture race, in which summer > December by a 4/2 Best Picture nominee margin (including the actual winner), would have helped convince distributors to spread out the prestige pieces in 2010 but that doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe a January awards ceremony would help? This would also help to stop confusing 'which year are you talking about?' questions that come up in Oscar discussions. When someone says "the 2008 Oscar winner!" do they mean Slumdog Millionaire (released in 2008, winning in 2009) or do they mean No Country For Old Men (released in 2007, winning in 2008)? The Film Experience always go by the year of release y'hear, but the later the Oscars are the more other people don't (including the IMDB) which makes things confusing. A January ceremony could potentially make November the month of choice for adult oriented studio releases which would be a better alternative from a moviegoing perspective than Christmas. November is far less hectic than December. Plus, why wouldn't Hollywood want the holiday money twice over (first by opening limited in November, second by expanding at Christmas time) ? I'll never understand why they ignore Thanksgiving the way they do.

Cons: It's very possible that the December releasing with platforms stretching until March and April is so ingrained in Hollywood's DNA now that they wouldn't think to start earlier to alleviate concerns about whether or not the movies are actually being seen. And, actually, from a big studio perspective, they might prefer that the films aren't seen. It's much easier to buy votes if people are voting on buzz and "looks good on paper" than on their actual firsthand relationship to the film; Buzz can be bought but personal feelings are difficult to purchase. An earlier awards ceremony could also mean that we see even less discernment in Oscar nominations and winners than we do now, and even less careful consideration of merits from the critics and precursor groups (obviously if Oscar moves earlier everyone else will too which means you'll see critics groups voting in November before they've seen everything). Nobody wants Oscar's choices to get yet more repetitive and blah.

What say ye?
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Happy 'They Aren't Mothers' Day!

Sometimes we resent how the biological drive takes the great actresses away from us for years at a time or even forever. We're selfish about movies. Sue us. You'll be hearing or saying "Happy Mother's Day" all day today -- call your mother! -- but just for something a bit different we'd like to wish the following actresses and directors a "Happy Day!" even though they never had children (biological or adopted).

The Queen... Dame Helen Mirren

There's more than one way to give back to the universe and live on past your own time.

These women have given us much to enjoy so Happy Day to them, too. Some of them, like Katharine Hepburn, are no longer with us and some of them, like Zeéeee and The Lovely Laura Linney may yet still have children... but that's no reason not to cherish what any of them have already given the world over the years.

Formidable Ava, 'Barefoot Contessa' / Enigmatic Julie, 'The Sunshine Girl'

A VERY HAPPY DAY to...

• Helen Mirren
• Patricia Clarkson
• Katharine Hepburn
• Ava Gardner
• Dolly Parton
• Maggie Cheung
  
• Julie Christie
  
• Betty White
• Jacqueline Bissett
• Daryl Hannah
  
• Kim Cattrall
• Lily Tomlin
• Marsha Mason
• Mae West
  
• Juliette Lewis
• Anjelica Huston
  
• Renée Zellweger
• Katherine Bigelow
• Julie Taymor
  
• Lauren Hutton
• Laura Linney
• Tallulah Bankhead
• Parker Posey
• Claudette Colbert
• Kathy Bates
  

Read more about any of them by clicking on their names. Did I forget anyone? (If I missed a pregnancy or adoption announcement for someone, my apologies and best wishes!). We send all of these women virtual flowers and cards today.

This post is dedicated to three of the cinema's very first star actresses: Florence Lawrence (1886-1936), Mary Pickford (1892-1979) and Lillian Gish (1893-1993).

Mary Pickford & Lillian Gish. Their lives made history.

None of them had children but in many ways they helped to invent both the movies and screen acting. Their artistic descendants, one might say, are legion.
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Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

I apologize for the absence of posts today. I clearly need a secretary executive assistant!

Selina Kyle has a rough day at work. And afterwards, too

My four favorite movies about administrative professionals are probably Executive Suite (1954), Secretary (2002), 9 to 5 (1980) and Batman Returns (1992). What? Batman Returns is totally about a secretary. Which movie were you watching? The title is misleading because Batman is barely in it. It's a gothic dramedy about a lonely secretary and her open window policy for the neighborhood cats. It's all about the secretary and she's in every single frame of the movie. At least that's the way I remember it.

If you are an administrative professional the Film Experience sends you virtual flowers today and encourages you to leave work early. Don't let your evil CEO push you out an impossibly high window. Don't let them work you like a dog!

Happy Easter

I didn't do any movie-themed Easter eggs this year like before. Nor have I spent time creating any elaborate photoshopped bunny themed card for y'all. Nor have I compiled a Happy Resurrection "Comebacks I Long For" list... though obvs you know at least one of them. I am fail for this particular holiday. See, I just lost my sidebar corporate job that supports my freelance writing addiction so am a bit blue without help from any colored dye.

I hope you're enjoying the holiday however you celebrate it or don't.

More of that first batch of the year's Oscar predictions coming up this afternoon.

If you're feeling all crafty revisit my easter egg post from last year (click on the pic) and come up with your own variations and new characters.


* HAPPY EASTER *
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It's not easy being green. Except today.

Awww, classic Kermie



Yes, I used that last year too. But Kermit. Classic.

Kermit's not the only one who found it to be a problematic color.


No, it's not usually easy being green but today, they celebrate you if you're wearing it... even if you aren't Irish.

Some movie peeps seem to enjoy being that color nonetheless.


(It helps if you're from outer space)

The word is still out on whether he'll enjoy it. Or whether we'll enjoy him in it.

photo src

Green Lantern is one of my favorite comic books but I have to say I'm totally worried about the movie. I never thought the comic was all that transferrable (power lanterns and rings and vast imagination powers and chanting?) Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are both lookers but they're also the type of generically handsome / beautiful that can get capital B boring if the characters or the performances aren't interesting. I like my comic-to-screen characters to have 3D personalities... or at least 2D stylistically heightened to feel like 200D (wait, what?) like Downey Jr's Iron Man, Pfeiffer's Catwoman, Ledger's Joker, etcetera.

But I got off topic...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Have a happy one. And kiss Michael Fassbender if you see him!

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UP and the Post-Oscar Sadness of Helium Balloons

This morning, post-High Holy Day (i.e. The Oscars) the apartment floor was brightly colored in spots, littered as it was with tired helium balloons. Lying there on the floor, they're the perfect symbol of post-Oscar melancholy. To think, just last night they drifted so beautifully above the partygoers, dangling their cute little yellow houses. This morning they still look festive, but the life has gone out of them. They're like an Actress who accidentally fell asleep in her Oscar gown. Technically she's still beautiful but her glamour has smeared all over the pillow and she's lost a heel.

UP inspired decor in earlier more festive hours

Time for a pot of coffee, a long shower and then -- gird your loins -- the whole 365 day process begins anew.

I know some people were frustrated that I didn't live-blog the Oscars but I've only ever done that once and didn't enjoy it. It's my Christmas and who wants to go to work on Christmas day? Especially for a job that doesn't pay. The site and blog have always been a labor of love and though they've led to freelance work... they're for passion rather than bank.

Anyway... most of the food from last night's party was devoured so clean up was easy. Curiously two of the offerings that got the most comments and laughs didn't set mouths watering.


Maybe people only want bananas at a party if it's more like the party Peter Sarsgaard had in mind for An Education? The bunch was still mostly intact. And even with its 100% Authentic Certification, most party guests avoided "Bad Blake's Pee". Looking at it this morning in the fridge, it does look rather unhealthy. Bad Blake is way dehydrated! Drink lots and lots and lots of water before the next Crazy Heart tour, Bad!

gif borrowed from the great fourfour

Oscars in Review: worst & weirdest moments, most wonderful moments and all 09/10 awards season posts

Next Week: "We Can't Wait" 2010 Preview and the return to our usual cinematic musings and actressy diversions

Four score and seven years ago our forefathers...

.
... did something.

JA from MNPP here, wishing y'all the happiest of President's Days (here in the US). Whenever this day rolls around I think of my favorite movie about the presidency. You can keep your All the President's Men's and your JFK's and even your Air Force One's... no, for me, it's always gonna be all about Dick.

"Dick frightens me!"

I could go on and on quoting the film, I've done it before. But the film's a delight. Dunst and Williams are like an infectiously addle-brained Gidget-version of Lucy and Ethel, and Dan Hedaya does some hysterical bug-eyed spittle-flecked work as bug-eyed spittle-flecked Tricky Dick.

My favorite President movie, hands down.
But what's yours?

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Happy Valentine's From... ???

Who sent these cards and to whom? Highlight the answers after each photo.


Answer: That'd be Mamma Leigh Anne to adopted son Michael in The Blind Side. Note the Ole Miss map and the Taco Bell bag. Some funny answers to this one. Including me to Michael Fassbender. Ha. Correctly guessed by Travis


Answer: This one's from sexy Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) to Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) in Up in the Air. Correctly guessed by Nate Tyson who wonders whether the recipient will even accept. Good question.


Answer: It's Carla (Penélope Cruz) to her beloved Guido (Daniel Day-Lewis) in Nine. Correctly guessed by ZiZo.


Answer: It's Briggite Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) to, well, whomever from Inglourious Basterds.

What's your...

...significant other's fav movie? Do you have similar taste in movies or do you avoid them on Valentine's?

What are you seeing this weekend?

Bollywood's My Name is Khan? Benicio as The Wolfman (my review)? Percy Jackson & The Uma: With Snake Hair? And don't you think it's weird that they're opening Valentine's Day on the 12th. It's as if they're announcing that it only has three days of business in it tops and then its one for the dumpster. Maybe you're just enjoying a long weekend sans cinema. Or are you catching up on Oscar films or classics on DVD?

What will it be. Share in the comments. I think I'm watching The Lost Weekend for the next BPFTOI episode. And maybe The Hurt Locker again.

Happy New Year !!!

Can you believe it's 2010?

Are you superstitious about how you start your filmgoing year? What will the first movie be? I'm aiming for Avatar in IMAX and a couple of other revisits before the top ten list commences in a day or three.
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