Hitman (2007)

Opened November 21, 2007
Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity
Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper, Ulrich Thomsen, Henry Ian Cusick
Director: Xavier Gens
Screenwriters: Skip Woods
Composer: Geoff Zanelli
Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Producers: Vin Diesel, Charles Gordon, Adrian Askarieh (II)

Synopses:

• A gun-for-hire known only as Agent 47 hired by a group known only as 'The Agency' is ensnared in a political conspiracy, which finds him pursued by both Interpol and the Russian military as he treks across Eastern Europe.
• The "Hitman" is a genetically-engineered, elite assassin known only as Agent 47. His hallmarks are lethal grace, unwavering precision, and resolute pride in his work. But even 47 couldn't anticipate a "random equation" in his life exactitude: the unexpected stirrings of his conscience and the unfamiliar emotions aroused in him by a mysterious Russian woman.

The official website for Hitman has multiple categories to look through including about the film. Click on the following links for more resources and information on the movie as well as reviews: Wikipedia, Internet movie databata (imdb), Yahoo! movies, Rotten Tomatoes, NY Times, Houston Chronicle, Movies Online, Roger Ebert, Fandango, Moviefone, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide

Trivia:

• When the project was first announced, Vin Diesel was going to star as Agent 47. Despite Timothy Olyphant taking over, Diesel is still credited as executive producer.
• The car Agent 47 drives is an Audi S5.
• When Agent 47 jumps through the hotel window into the kid's room, they're playing Hitman: Blood Money (2006) (2006) (VG) for the PlayStation 2. (They're playing through "Death of a Showman", the training level.)
• Diana and Agent Smith, characters from the video games, make appearances in the film.
• The movie was delayed from its October 2007 release, to late November 2007 to facilitate for re-shoots.
• Timothy Olyphant underwent muscle and martial-arts training in preparation for his role.
• The character of Nika (Olga Kurylenko) draws inspiration from a recurring female character from the games known as Lei Ling (changed to 'Mei Ling' in 'Contracts'). Lei/Mei Ling was a prostitute that 47 saved on two occasions, receiving vital information in return.
• Olga Kurylenko was distraught after having to cut her hair for the role. She said she didn't feel like herself anymore, which she used to help her connect with her character.
• Director Xavier Gens was originally asked by the studio to make the movie PG-13, which he refused to do because of the source material. He was allowed to shoot the movie aiming for an R, however in the final stages, he was removed and Nicolas De Toth was brought in to re-edit the movie for commercial purposes, as he did with Live Free or Die Hard (2007) (he is thanked in the credits for this editing).
• The production had originally tried to use Jesper Kyd's music, but instead opted for an original score by Geoff Zanelli.
• During the restaurant sequence, the scene in which Nika talks about owning a squirrel/chipmunk when she was young was actually true for the actress, and the scene was improvised during filming.
• The scene where Agent 47 sits atop the roof, sniper in hand and red lettering behind him is taken directly from artwork from the game, as is the scene between 47 and Yuri in the bathtub, including the rubber duck.
• Most of the footage from the opening credits is edited from footage from the TV show “Dark Angel” (2000), which shares a similar story line about genetically enhanced children trained as super assassins and soldiers.

Reel Thoughts entertainment rating: 2/5
Reel Thoughts award-worthy rating: 2/5

15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2009)

On January 25, 2009, the winners of the SAG awards were announced. Below find the nominations with the winners in red:

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Richard Jenkins (Walter Vale in The Visitor)
Frank Langella (Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon)
SEAN PENN (Harvey Milk in Milk)
Brad Pitt (Benjamin Button in The Curious Case of Ben jamin Button)
Mickey Rourke (Randy in The Wrestler)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Anne Hathaway (Kym in Rachel Getting Married)
Angelina Jolie (Christine Collins in Changeling)
Melissa Leo (Ray Eddy in Frozen River)
MERYL STREEP (Sister Aloysius Beauvier in Doubt)
Kate Winslet (April Wheeler in Revolutionary Road)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Josh Brolin (Dan White in Milk)
Robert Downey, Jr. (Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Father Brendan Flynn in Doubt)
HEATH LEDGER (Joker in The Dark Knight)
Dev Patel (Older Jamal in Slumdog Millionaire)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams (Sister James in Doubt)
Penelope Cruz (Maria Elena in Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Viola Davis (Mrs. Miller in Doubt)
Taraji P. Henson (Queenie in The Curious Case of Ben jamin Button)
KATE WINSLET (Hanna Schmitz in The Reader)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Milk
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Ralph Fiennes (Bernard Lafferty in Bernard and Doris)
PAUL GIAMATTI (John Adams in John Adams)
Kevin Spacey (Ron Klain in Recount)
Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer in 24: Redemption)
Tom Wilkinson (Benjamin Franklin in John Adams)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Laura Dern (Katherine Harris in Recound)
LAURA LINNEY (Abigail Adams in John Adams)
Shirley MacLaine (Coco Chanel in Coco Chanel)
Phylicia Rashad (Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun)
Susan Sarandon (Doris Duke in Bernard and Doris)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Michael C. Hall (Dexter Morgan in Dexter)

Jon Hamm (Don Draper in Mad Men)
HUGH LAURIE (Gregory House in House)
William Shatner (Denny Crane in Boston Legal)
James Spader (Alan Shore in Boston Legal)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

SALLY FIELD (Nora Walker in Brothers & Sisters)
Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
Holly Hunter (Grace Hanadarko in Saving Grace)
Elisabeth Moss (Peggy Olson in Mad Men)
Kyra Sedgwick (Dep. Chief Brenda Johnson in The Closer)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

ALEC BALDWIN (Jack Donaghy in 30 ROCK)
Steve Carell (Michael Scott in The Office)
David Duchovny (Hank Moody in Californication)
Jeremy Piven (Ari Gold in Entourage)
Tony Shalhoub (Adrian Monk in Monk)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Christina Applegate (Samantha Newly in Samantha Who?)
America Ferrera (Betty Suarez in Ugly Betty)
TINA FEY (Liz Lemon in 30 ROCK)
Mary-Louise Parker (Nancy Botwin in Weeds)
Tracey Ullman (Various Characters in Tracey Ullman's State of the Union)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Boston Legal
The Closer
Dexter

House
MAD MEN

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

30 ROCK

Desperate Housewives
Entourage
The Office
Weeds

Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire wins 2009 Grand Jury Prize at Sundance

The 25th Sundance Film Festival culminated with a celebration recognizing the films that Festival juries and audiences selected for awards. Festivalgoers packed into the Park City Racquet Club for this special evening highlighting some of the 2009 Festival’s most original voices.

Jane Lynch, the ceremony's host, followed in the spirit of this year's storytime theme and opened with a windy mad-lib pieced together by this year's film titles.” In fact, at the risk of sounding Crude let me tell ya, going Toe to Toe with that damn sexy Louise-Michel was The Greatest,” Lynch said at one point during her opening remarks.

16 U.S. films comprised the Dramatic Competition, and the 2009 Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic went to Lee Daniels' Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire. The film tells the heartbreaking and uplifting story of Precious Jones, a young girl in Harlem struggling to overcome tremendous odds to find her own voice. "This is so important to me. Speaking for every minority in Harlem, in Detroit, in the Bronx, who has been abused, can't read, that's obese, that's been turned their back on," he said. "If I can do this shit, ya'll can do this shit." In a very rare occurrence of the jury and audience agreeing on the top honor, in addition to the Grand Jury Prize, Push also picked up the Audience Award: Dramatic.

For the Documentary Competition top honor, the jury selected Ondi Timoner's We Live in Public from the 16 films in the U.S. Documentary category. Timoner's second Grand Jury Prize (she won in 2004 for Dig!) is the story of the Internet's revolutionary impact on human interaction portrayed through the perspective of Josh Harris, the web maverick notorious for his experimental public art projects. "Sundance is home to me,” Timoner said as she accepted her award. “It's such a nurturing environment."

Sundance Institute Executive Director Ken Brecher welcomed the jurors, filmmakers, and Festivalgoers by noting the air of change at this year's Festival. "When we began this Festival George Bush was the president, and we ended it with Obama," he said.

Festival Director Geoffrey Gilmore remarked how this year's unpredictable lineup signaled the innovations still to come in filmmaking. "We opened the Festival with animation and closed with science fiction and in between showcased some of the best films we've ever seen," he said. "People ask us how independent film has evolved over the past 25 years and the answer is, quite simply, it's better."

Films receiving jury awards were selected from the four categories: U.S. Dramatic and Documentary Competitions and World Dramatic and Documentary Competitions; these films were also eligible for the 2009 Audience Awards. Joseph Gordon-Levitt announced the U.S. Audience Awards presented by Honda. Push won for Dramatic, and the Audience Award: Documentary was presented to Louie Psihoyos' The Cove, which captures the horrors of a secret cove in Japan used to kill dolphins.

The World Cinema Competition categories celebrated a range of films from continents spanning the globe. The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was awarded to Sebastián Silva's The Maid (La Nana) about a bitter servant who wreaks havoc on her mistress when another servant is brought into the household.

The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary went to Rough Aunties, directed by Kim Longinotto. Set in Durban, South Africa, Rough Aunties follows the story of a fearless and unwavering group of women who serve to protect abused, neglected, and forgotten children.

The World Cinema Audience Awards were presented by Benjamin Bratt. Lone Scherfig's An Education received the World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic. An Education, which Nick Hornby wrote the screenplay for, is a coming-of-age story stationed in an early 60's Oxford on the cusp of cultural revolution.

The World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary went to Afghan Star by Havana Marking. This film follows the dramatic story of four contestants risking their lives to sing on an Afghan American Idol-like television program.

The 2009 Sundance Film Festival Juries consisted of: U.S. Dramatic Competition: Virginia Madsen, Scott McGehee, Maud Nadler, Mike White, and Boaz Yakin; U.S. Documentary Competition: Patrick Creadon, Carl Deal, Andrea Meditch, Sam Pollard, and Marina Zenovich; World Dramatic Competition: Colin Brown (U.S.), Christine Jeffs (New Zealand), and Vibeke Windeløv (Denmark); World Documentary Competition: Gillian Armstrong (Australia), Thom Powers (U.S.), and Hubert Sauper (France); Shorts Competition: Gerardo Naranjo, Lou Taylor Pucci, and Sharon Swart; The Alfred P. Sloan Prize: Fran Bagenal, Rodney Brooks, Raymond Gesteland, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, and Alex Rivera.

Following is a list of other awards presented:

Directing Award: U.S. Documentary - Natalia Almada, El General

Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic - Cary Joji Fukunaga, Sin Nombre

World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary - Havana Marking, Afghan Star

World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic - Oliver Hirschbiegel, Five Minutes of Heaven

Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award - Nicholas Jasenovec and Charlyne Yi, Paper Heart

World Cinema Screenwriting Award - Oliver Hirschbiegel, Five Minutes of Heaven

U.S. Documentary Editing Award - Karen Schmeer, Sergio, directed by Greg Barker

World Cinema Documentary Editing Award - Janus Billeskov Jansen and Thomas Papapetros, Burma VJ, directed by Anders Østergaard

Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Documentary - Bob Richman, The September Issue, directed by R.J. Cutler

Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Dramatic - Adriano Goldman, Sin Nombre, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga

World Cinema Cinematography Award: Documentary - John Maringouin, Big River Man

World Cinema Cinematography Award: Dramatic - John De Borman, An Education, directed by Lone Scherfig

World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Originality - Benoît Delépine and Gustave de Kervern, Louise-Michel

World Cinema Special Jury Prize: Documentary - Ngawang Choephel, Tibet in Song

World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Acting - Catalina Saavedra, The Maid (La Nana)

Special Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary - Jeff Stilson, Good Hair

Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Independence - Lynn Shelton, Humpday

Special Jury Prize for Acting - Mo'Nique, Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire

Earlier this week, the awards for the Festival shorts were announced. The 2009 Jury Prize in U.S. Short
Filmmaking was awarded to Short Term 12, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.

The jury also presented the International Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking to Lies, directed by Jonas Odell. Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking were presented to The Attack of the Robots from Nebula-5, directed by Chema García Ibarra; Protect You + Me, directed by Brady Corbet; Western Spaghetti, directed by PES; Jerrycan, directed by Julius Avery; Love You More, directed by Sam Taylor-Wood, I Live in the Woods, directed by Max Winston, Omelette, directed by Nadejda Koseva; and Treevenge, directed by Jason Eisener.

As announced on Friday, Adam, directed by Max Mayer, is the recipient of this year’s Alfred P. Sloan Prize. The prize, which carries a $20,000 cash award to the filmmaker provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, is presented to an outstanding feature film focusing on science or technology as a theme, or depicting a scientist, engineer, or mathematician as a major character.

On Thursday, Sundance Institute and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) announced the winners of the 2009 Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Awards honoring and supporting emerging filmmakers – one each from the United States, Japan, Europe, and Latin America. The winning filmmakers and projects for 2009 are Diego Lerman, Ciencias Morales (Moral Sciences), from Argentina; David Riker, The Girl, from the United States; Qurata Kenji, Speed Girl, from Japan; and Lucile Hadzihalilovic, Evolution, from France.

Sundance – Day 6 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)

Today is the travel day home which, of course, is a bummer. This was one of the perfect vacations for me: cold weather, snow and movies!

There are a few movies from the Festival that I would like to see but didn’t get the opportunity: 500 Days of Summer, Adam, Adventureland, An Education, Art & Copy, Big Fan, Black Dynamite Brooklyn’s Finest, Cold Souls, Endgame, Five Minutes of Heaven, Good Hair, Humpday, Lymelife, Push, The Killing Room, The Maid, The Missing Person and The September Issue. Hopefully some of them will get picked up for distribution.

Well, that’s it for this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It’s been a great vacation!

Sundance – Day 5 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)

The Greatest

Run time: 98 minutes
Director/Screenwriter: Shana Feste
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan, Johnny Simmons, Aaron Johnson, Michael Shannon
Theater: Library

Synopsis and review (by Geoffrey Gilmore in the Sundance Film Guide):

Crying your eyes out at the movies used to be commonplace. But the difficulty of affecting a contemporary audience emotionally demonstrates how much respect a work like The Greatest engenders: it is an enormously moving, intelligent exploration of pain and grieving, a film that will touch you and stay with you.

The death of their teenage son, Bennett, in a car crash is almost too much for the Brewer family to bear, not just because his was a life of such promise but also because the impact of his death unleashes the turmoil that was just beneath the surface of their lives. His mother becomes obsessed and can’t let go; his father, in turn, can’t face it at all; and his brother’s secondary status is magnified and entrenched. And when Bennett’s girlfriend appears, the family must come to grips with circumstances that complicate their loss even further.

An ensemble film that is the debut of Shana Feste, a particularly talented young filmmaker, this sensitive and heartbreaking feature showcases Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan at their best and launches a career for young actress Carey Mulligan that is certain to be impressive. This is one of the standout works of this Festival and is as fine a debut as we can present.

Notes and observations:

This movie had moments of sheer brilliance; for example, one of the opening scenes with the family in the limousine was filmed in one long shot and so completely and totally told the story of each of the family member’s roles with no dialogue. It was an amazing scene to watch. Pierce Brosnan had a number of scenes which were incredibly acted. Susan Sarandon’s performance, although good, was nothing that we haven’t seen from her before (think Lorenzo’s Oil). Carey Mulligan was charismatic and impressive as was the remainder of the cast’s performances.

After seeing The Greatest, I decided to stand in the wait list line and see if, by chance, I would get into Shrink. They start giving away wait list numbers about 2 hours prior to the movie. When I got there just after 2 hours before the start of the movie, I was number 128. I waited about 2 hours and they only let in 40 people so I decided I would just go back to the condo, take a nap and get ready for the late movie. As I was walking out, a staff volunteer asked me a question which I heard as “Are you single?” I answered “no” and then politely asked to repeat her question again. She asked me “Are you a single?” meaning only needed one ticket. I said “yes’ and she handed me a ticket so I got in the movie!!! What a nice volunteer … I wish I had gotten her name so I could have thanked her again.

Shrink

Run time: 110 minutes

Screenwriter: Thomas Moffett

Director: Jonas Pate

Cast: Kevin Spacey, Keke Palmer, Mark Webber, Dallas Roberts, Saffron Burrows, Robert Loggia

Theater: Eccles

Synopsis and review (by John Cooper in the Sundance Film Guide):

What happens when the people we count on to hold us together … are barely holding it together themselves? Jonas Pate’s Shrink is a striking, fast-paced expose of the “other” Hollywood, featuring folks living outside their comfort zone and the people who put them there.

Henry Carter (Kevin Spacey) is a psychiatrist with an A-list clientele, including a once-famous actress (Saffron Burrows), an insecure writer (Mark Webber), and a comically obsessive-compulsive superagent (Dallas Roberts). Henry is not in a good place, however. He has been asked to take his first pro bono case, a troubled teenage girl from a neighborhood far from the Hollywood hills. Considering his present state of mind, is he ready for the real-life troubles of a young woman who loves the world of movies he has become so jaded by?

At its core, Shrink is a study of control and our endless need for it, even when it grows increasingly impossible to obtain. Writer Thomas Moffett uses classic archetypes in this modern Hollywood tale, but never pushes them over the edge of credibility. Performed by a well-matched cast at the top of their form, the result is both satisfying and exhilarating. Watching Shrink makes us feel like voyeurs looking through a window into the lives of people who look great, feel worse, and end up behaving badly.

Notes and observations:

To see Kevin Spacey in the flesh at the Q&A was surreal! Keke Palmer, Mark Webber, Dallas Roberts, Saffron Burrows, Pell James and Robert Loggia were at the Q&A as was the director, Jonas Pate and his wife, Jennifer Pate, who was also in the film. The movie was a good movie but not one of the best I’ve ever seen.

As the Q&A was about to start, I overheard the lady sitting next to me tell someone on her cell phone that she wasn’t feeling well so she was going to see if she could sell her ticket to someone on her way out. She got off the phone and apologized to me for coughing throughout the movie. I told her (honestly) that I hadn’t noticed her coughing and gave her my Vicks tip since I had just been sick and it worked for me. She said she was going to skip her next movie and I asked her what she was going to see. She said “Motherhood” and I told her that I hadn’t been able to get a ticket for it. She offered to sell me hers and I bought it! So, I got to see both of the movies that I wanted to when I didn’t think I was going to get to see them. The only downside was that it was going to get out too late for me to catch the last movie with Lisa and Ron.

Motherhood

Run time: 90 minutes
Director/Screenwriter: Katherine Dieckmann
Cast: Uma Thurman, Anthony Edwards, Minnie Driver, Jodie Foster
Theater: Eccles

Synopsis and review (by David Courier in the Sundance Film Guide):

Eliza Welch is having a really bad day. A middle-aged mom in post-9/11 Manhattan with two kids, an oblivious husband, and an incontinent dog. Eliza is a consummate multitasker facing the soul-crushing fear that her dreams of being a writer are going down the diaper bin.

Motherhood takes places in a single day – a day when Eliza becomes a magnet for the entire city’s hostility. She has to throw her daughter’s sixth birthday party, battle for a parking space, chase her toddler son, navigate playground politics, repair a botched birthday cake, contemplate a fling with a sexy messenger half her age, juggle a career-changing opportunity, find time to have a breakdown, briefly run away from home, and realize what is truly valuable in her life – all in one day.

As Eliza, the irresistibly charming Uma Thurman is up to the task. Anthony Edwards and Minnie Driver lend expert support. With a keen eye for the delicious details that define authenticity, Motherhood depicts a world we may think we know and injects it with freshness and humor. Written and directed by Katherine Dieckmann, Motherhood is a funny and poignant comedy about one woman’s quest to hold onto her true self as she embraces the foibles, heartache, and joys of being a mother.

Notes and observations:

Uma Thurman, Minnie Driver, Anthony Edwards and Jodie Foster were all at this premiere. Wow!!! So cool to see them all and so close! The movie was good and all of them gave solid performances. Again, it wasn’t one of the best movies I had ever seen but I enjoyed it. The director and screenwriter, Katherine Dieckmann, was there and quite humorous during her responses to the questions.

I was sad that I didn’t get to see “Push” with Ron and Lisa because it was supposed to be one of the standout films of the Festival. They both said the movie was incredible and gave it the highest rating on the audience voting ballot. I will have to hope that it gets picked up for distribution so that I can see it as some point.

Sundance – Day 4 (Tuesday, January 20, 2009)

The morning movie seems to come so quickly! I got to the movie theater this morning and realized that I forgot to put my battery in my camera. All of the pictures from World's Greatest Dad and Taking Chance are from other sources.
World's Greatest Dad

Run time: 98 minutes
Director/Screenwriter: Bobcat Goldthwait
Cast: Robin Williams, Daryl Sabara, Alexie Gilmore, Tom Kenny, Geoffrey Pierson, Henry Simmons, Mitzi Mccall, Tony V
Theater: Prospector Square Theater

Synopsis and review (by David Courier in the Sundance Film Guide):

As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. In World’s Greatest Dad, a wickedly funny dark comedy, Lance Clayton (Robin Williams) discovers that what he covets most in life may not be what makes him happy, and being lonely is not necessarily the same as being alone.

Lance is a high school poetry teacher who dreams of becoming a rich and famous writer. A single father, he tries desperately to connect with his teenage son, Kyle (Daryl Sabara), an insolent, hormone-raging smartass who defies his dad at every turn. Lance exercises his own hormones with Claire (Alexie Gilmore), a painfully adorable art teacher who may have her eyes on a bigger prize. After a freak accident, Lance suddenly faces both the worst tragedy in his life, and the greatest opportunity. Determined to make lemonade from life’s lemons, Lance treads a path that could land him everything he’s ever dreamed of, as long as he can live with the knowledge of how he got there.

Alexie Gilmore is cheeky and Daryl Sabara is droll incarnate, but it’s the outstanding performance by Robin Williams that propels World’s Greatest Dad. Writer/director and longtime-comedian Bobcat Goldthwait returns to Sundance with another lusciously perverse, and refreshingly original comedy that tackles love, loss, and our curious quest for infamy.

Thoughts and observations:

Who knew that Bobcat Goldthwait could be something other than irritating and annoying? I certainly didn’t think he was capable of writing and directing such an original movie.

Bobcat Goldthwait was at the movie as was Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara and numerous other cast members. He was funny, humble (maybe honestly so) and irreverent. He seemed genuinely touched by the audience’s reaction and praise for his body of work and for this film in particular.

In the same way that I was skeptical about seeing Jim Carrey in I Love You Phillip Morris¸ I was hesitant to see Robin Williams in such a dramatic role. I haven’t been crazy about some of his other serious films (One Hour Photo, for instance). But, Williams was funny, dramatic and totally captivating in this film. It is quite possibly his greatest film to date.

Taking Chance

Run time: 85 minutes
Director: Ross Katz
Screenwriter: Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl (ret.), Ross Katz
Cast: Kevin Bacon
Music: Marcelo Zarvos
Cinematography: Alar Kivilo
Theater: Eccles Theater

Synopsis and review (by Geoffrey Gilmore in the Sundance Film Guide):

You might presume that yet another film about the war in Iraq couldn’t possibly reveal anything new, and that, regardless, you can anticipate its message from what is almost always a clearly defined ideological point of view: Left or Right, pro- or antiwar, pro-administration or opposed. But you would be wrong. Taking Chance is, without question, one of the most powerful and vital films ever made about Iraq – or, for that matter, the military – and yet its potency comes not from melodramatic or political statements but simply from its reality and execution.

The true story of a Marine who volunteers to escort the remains of a 19-year-old killed in Iraq to his family in a small Wyoming town, the film is based on a book by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl. It is in every sense a personal narrative, beautifully presented by first-time filmmaker Ross Katz - who was heretofore an accomplished producer and now makes a remarkable debut as a director.

Fueled by an outstanding performance by Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance is about respect, about death and sadness, about honor and the military fraternity, and about the American community during a time of tragedy. It is an extraordinary film from any perspective.

Thoughts and observations:

Let me start by saying I am not a Kevin Bacon fan. From the first movie I saw him in (Footloose), I have never found Bacon appealing as an actor. Bacon’s recent turn in Frost/Nixon had me beginning to believe that perhaps I didn’t dislike him as much as I thought. Now I know that is true. Bacon was wonderful in this film. A film about the war in Iraq could have easily and quickly turned political and been used as a vehicle for expressing personal opinions regarding the Iraq war. This movie never interjected a political agenda or position and, for that, I am eternally grateful because this movie was brilliant and, if it had become a political statement, the movie would not have been so powerful. This movie was beautifully and brilliantly directed with a lush score and lovely cinematography. I haven’t seen a movie like this since I can’t remember when. I wasn’t sure I wanted to see this movie but I’m so glad that I didn’t miss it. It’s a movie that shouldn’t be missed because it’s one of the best films to come around in a long time. The audience gave it standing ovations and you just don’t see that much in a movie theater anymore.

Kevin Bacon, Ross Katz, Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl (ret.), Marcelo Zarvos, Alar Kivilo were all at the Q&A.

I was very tired and really didn’t know if I was going to be up for the movie tonight. Lisa and Ron were going to see Passing Strange, the Spike Lee movie, but I wanted to see either The Killing Room or The Vicious Kind. I decided to see The Vicious Kind because I could drive to the theater and park across the street.

The Vicious Kind

Run time: 92 minutes
Director/Screenwriter: Lee Toland Krieger
Cast: Adam Scott, Brittany Snow, Alex Frost, J.K. Simmons
Theater: Library

Synopsis and review (by Rosie Wong in the Sundance Film Guide):

In his second feature film, director Lee Krieger presents a redemption tale focused on Caleb Sinclaire, a bitter construction worker whose life is turned upside down one Thanksgiving weekend.

Estranged from his family, Caleb lives an isolated, but contented, life. Following a difficult breakup, he becomes scornful toward women and wears his disdain as a badge of honor. Caleb’s resolve is tested, however, when he meets his younger brother Peter’s new girlfriend, Emma. Immediately distrustful of her, Caleb warns Peter that she will only end up hurting him. Despite his efforts to protect his brother, he finds himself drawn to Emma and surprised by his growing attraction, Caleb’s unexpected feelings force him finally to confront the vulnerability he has struggled so long to conceal.

Adam Scott gives an inspired performance as Caleb, a misanthrope not only prone to angry diatribes but also susceptible to flashes of naked frailty. Superbly shot, and supported by a lush score and hip soundtrack, The Vicious Kind offers a glimpse into the soul of a damaged man whose obstinate defense mechanisms are laid bare by his fractured relationships.

Notes and observations:

After reading the review in the Sundance Film Guide, I expected to be more moved by this movie. Adam Scott does give a great performance but, unfortunately, the story was not one that captured me more.

Lee Krieger, the director and screenwriter, was at the Q&A. He talked about how he came up with the script and I enjoyed hearing him speak.

Sundance – Day 3 (Monday, January 19, 2009)

Another early morning to see the movie I Love You Phillip Morris.

I Love You Phillip Morris

Run time: 100 minutes
Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Cast: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro
Theater: Eccles

Synopsis and review (by Geoffrey Gilmore in the Sundance Film Guide):

With alacrity and style, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, the codirectors of I Love You Phillip Morris, have fashioned an improbable, but true, tale of a spectacularly charismatic and resourceful con-man’s journey from small-town cop to flamboyant white-collar criminal. Concocted by the absurdist sensibilities and warped minds that were behind the creation of Bad Santa and centered around an eccentrically wonderful performance by Jim Carrey, the film relates a story that is truly stranger than fiction and showcases a love story that will not be denied.

When a local Texas policemen, Steve Russell (Carrey), turns to cons and fraud to allow him to change his lifestyle (in more ways than one), his subsequent stay in the state penitentiary results in his meeting the love of his life, a sensitive fellow inmate named Phillip Morris, perfectly portrayed by Ewan McGregor. What ensues can only be described as a relentless quest as Russell attempts escape after escape and executes con after con, all in the name of love.

This is the world of the preposterous: it plays like a farce but it is vastly entertaining because it turns all that we take for granted about life on its head. As a primer on the irresistible power of a man who is either insane or in love (is there a difference?), I Love You Phillip Morris surely serves to remind us of the resilience of the human spirit.

Thoughts and observations:

I found this film funny, heart warming and unexpected. Jim Carrey was spectacular as was Ewan McGregor. I loved that the cons in this movie were on so many levels and, to explain further, would spoil parts of the movie. I found the characters interesting, entertaining and wholly engaging.

What a nice surprise that both Carrey and McGregor attended the Q&A! Carrey is much more normal looking and attractive in person. Both had some nice comic moments in responding to questions but I was more impressed with the sincerity with which they spoke about their characters, the real people on whom the film was based and the movie.

In the afternoon, we attended the world premiere of Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

Run time: 72 minutes
Director/Screenwriter: John Krasinski
Cast: Julianne Nicholson, John Krasinski, Bobby Cannavale, Ben Shenkman, Dominic Cooper, Christopher Meloni
Theater: Eccles

Synopsis and review (by Trevor Groth in the Sundance Film Guide):

John Krasinski, best known for playing the charming everyman, Jim Halpert, on The Office, may seem an unlikely candidate to adapt and direct the late David Foster Wallace’s caustic exploration of the hideous nature of men. However, he proves himself up to the challenge and delivers a provocative and darkly comedic film.

When her boyfriend leaves her with little explanation, Sara Quinn is left looking for answers. A doctoral candidate in anthropology at a prestigious East Coast university, she thinks she can remedy both her heartache and her academic challenges with a new research project and beings conducting a series of interviews with men. As she records the astonishing and disquieting experience of various subjects, Sara discovery much more about men – and herself – than she bargained for.

The subject matter of the stories ranges from the bizarre to the banal. What is most alarming is that the stores aren’t extreme but all too common. Julianne Nicholson delivers a subtly nuanced performance as the recording object, both literally and figuratively, of the men’s revelations and desires. Motivated by all the right reasons, Krasinski’s passion for the book resounds as he crafts a film that is sure to inspire heated conversations. He also displays his deft ability in front of – and behind – the camera.

Thoughts and observations:

Although this movie was short (72 minutes), it felt like a much longer film. I found it difficult to care about any of the characters and, unfortunately, found most of the movie unentertaining and underwhelming. The scene between the father and son is by far the best scene in the movie but seemed misplaced among the other scenes dealing primarily with the relationships between men and women.

John Krasinki, Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Meloni and Ben Shenkman were at the premiere. John Krasinki is intelligent, articulate, attractive and charming and I wished that I liked the movie as much as I liked him. I have never watched The Office but listening to him today made me want to watch more of him. Christopher Meloni came into the theater strutting his stuff which I found quite amusing. Let me tell you that man has some guns on him! There were a number of the other cast members there (the two waiters and the father/son scene actors) and I will have to look up their names at a later date.

The midnight movie tonight was the world premier of Helen.

Helen

Run time: 120 minutes
Director/Screenwriter: Sandra Nettelbeck
Cast: Ashley Judd, Goran Visnjic, Lauren Lee Smith, Alexia Fast, Alberta Watson, David Hewlett
Theater: Library

Synopsis and review (by Geoffrey Gilmore in the Sundance Film Guide):

Feature a riveting performance by the gifts Ashley Judd and infused with intelligence and detail by Sandra Nettelbeck, a storyteller who clearly knows intimately the parameters of this universe, Helen transcends the usual limitations that besiege portraits of mental illness and depression. In trust, for all that we’ve learned about depression – its causes, its cures, and the breadth of its affliction – the old clichés and stigmas still dominate our tales and popular culture. What Nettelbeck and her colleagues have accomplished is an unapologetic moving examination that offers no simplistic answers and refrains from reductively singular happy endings.

Helen focuses on a woman with an apparently perfect life: a successful academic, she seems happily married with a wonderful daughter. But we witness a sudden breakdown and a journey that is enigmatic and heartbreakingly real. When solutions prove elusive and Helen is hospitalized, she forges a relationship with Mathilda, a former traveler who both aids and traumatizes her life’s course. When death seems the only answer, and the safe haven of family gives no respite, the pain of bipolarity is exhausting and overwhelming. Told with poignancy and insight – and ultimately concluding with as much courage as inevitable sadness – Helen is the work of artists whose craft and sensibility are special.

Thoughts and observations:

Here are the immediate words that come to mind when I think about this movie: devastating, heartbreaking, moving, genius, powerful, uncontrived, riveting, sad, compassionate, haunting, sympathy, special.

Ashley Judd was magnificent in this brilliantly written story. While a movie about mental illness could have come across as contrived and totally unrealistic, this movie did not and Sandra Nettelbeck sensitively, articulately and delicately presented an incredibly raw and intimate portrayal of mental illness. The witnessing of Helen’s breakdown was nothing short of gut-wrenchingly brilliant. The soundtrack was fantastic (I want to get the Couperin piano piece that Judd’s character plays at the beginning of the movie). Music and silence each seemed to be characters in this movie. The actress who played Mathilde was mesmerizing. Mathilde is more than just a character who helps and devastates Helen; she symbolizes Helen’s mental illness itself.

Sandra Nettelbeck attended the premiere and I wish that I could sit down with her and talk more about this screenplay. This movie worked on so many different levels. I would really like to see it again and I hope that the soundtrack will be available.

Sundance – Day 2 (Sunday, January 18, 2009)

We got up early to get to Eccles Theater to see the Ashton Kutcher movie “Spread.”

Spread

Run time: 97 minutes
Director: David Mackenzie
Screenwriters: Jason Dean Hall
Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche, Margarita Levieva, Rachel Blanchard, Sebastian Stan, Sonia Rockwell
Theater: Eccles Theater

Synopsis and review (by Geoffrey Gilmore in the Sundance Film Guide):

Los Angeles is often the customary style for myth-making in the American cultural iconography. It is a place, for instance, where the legend of the sexual exploits of the male gigolo seems perfectly at home in the decadent universe of Hollywood dreams and nightmares.

Surely inspired by the classic tradition of American Gigolo and Shampoo, Spread is such a perfectly tuned, contemporary depiction of the trials and tribulations of sleeping your way to wealth and success that, guilty pleasure or not, it’s irresistible. Especially so since it’s driven by the iconic persona of Ashton Kutcher, who plays Nikki, and breathes the charged sexuality of the sexual grafter as if he were born to it.

Stylishly directed by David MacKenzie (Hallam Foe, Young Adam), Spread is a moral tale in a very modern sense with its characters of a young man and his middle-aged well-to-do client (played by Anne Heche), his various associates and conquests, and a waitress whom he begins to really care about (unbeknownst to him, she’s playing the same game). The world of money, sex, and privilege is an ephemeral one, and the fall can be as sudden as the ascent. Spread is a finely crafted vision of ambition, indulgence, vanity, and self-realization that epitomizes the lifestyle of a fabled Mecca.

Thoughts and observations:

This movie was not exactly as I expected in the sense that it was more graphic sexually that I was anticipating. Don’t get me wrong … I didn’t mind and I wasn’t offended but, if the film is picked up for distribution, there would most surely have to be significant edits in order to obtain an “R” rating. Ashton Kutcher did not attend the movie but he was there for the Q&A and he was more articulate that I would have imagined. The writer, Jason Dean Hall, was there (and a cutie I might add) as was the actress who played Nikki’s love interest.

After the movie, we headed to Main Street and ate at the Main Street Pizza & Noodle, which is apparently quite the celebrity hangout. I had a Stromboli with added anchovies that was delicious and started with cheese fries and ranch. Umm … really salty, really delicious and really not on my nutritional program (I had a bit of food remorse later. Oh well). We sat at the same table Macaulay Culkin sat at the day before. The table faced the windows of Main Street and the people watching was great. We didn’t really see any stars (although possibly Trisha Yearwood) through the windows but Johnny Rzeznick, the lead singer of The Goo Goo Dolls, was eating at a nearby table. As we were leaving, Seth Green was coming in and he is TINY. He looked about 12 years old, was very short and slight in build. After lunch we can back to the condo and Lisa and Ron took a nap while I loaded pictures, wrote on the blog and took a little cat nap.

At 11:30 p.m., we saw No Impact Man, a film in the Documentary Spotlight category.

No Impact Man

Run time: 90 minutes
Director: Laura Gabbert, Justin Schein
Cast: Colin Peavan, Michelle Conlin
Theater: Holiday Theater III

Synopsis and review (by Caroline Libresco in the Sundance Film Guide):

GLOBAL WARMING! The headlines scream it; the thermometer confirms it; but few of us do much to address it. Author Colin Beavan and his family are pictures of liberal complacency – sophisticated, takeout-addicted New Yorkers who refuse to let moral qualms interfere with gold old-fashioned American consumerism. Then Colin turns things upside down. For his next book, he announces he’s becoming No Impact Man, testing whether making zero environmental impact adversely affects happiness. The hitch is his needs his wife, Michelle – an espresso-guzzling, Prada-worshipping Business Week writer – and their toddler to join the experiment.

A year without electricity, cars, toilet paper, and non-local food isn’t going to be a walk in the park. Or is it? As Michelle contends with caffeine and shopping withdrawal, compost worms, and defending her dreams in the face of Colin’s household hegemony, she’s gradually transformed by this life-without-wastefulness. Meanwhile, Colin’s numerous media appearances unleash a viral rash of criticism among bloggers and friends, raising doubts about the project’s integrity. Is it ostentatious or altruistic? Hypocritical or visionary?

Whatever the conclusion, no one can deny we’re going to have to alter our habits radically to achieve sustainability. Through the intimate prism of conflict within a contemporary marriage, No Impact Man suggests that individual change can be the first step in a quantum leap toward a systematic, societal shift. And the temporary discomfort just might be worth it.

Thoughts and observations:

Both Colin and Michelle were at the movie as were the directors. I found the movie thought provoking and it definitely made me think about the things I could and could not live without. For example, I could see eventually adjusting to no television but there is no way that I could adjust to no toilet paper. I just don’t see how I could live without air conditioning but I could see utilizing local markets for food. One of the things I thought that was so impactful (is that a word?) is that Colin and Michelle did this project as urban dwellers (they live in New York City). Living in the sprawling vastness of Houston, giving up transportation would simply not be feasible for my life but I liked that they showed how change could be accomplished in a busy, urban life. If I lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere, giving up going to the scrapbook store would be easy – there wouldn’t be one. But, to make such radical changes in a city environment seems so much more difficult and challenging. I would like to explore some options when I get home about how Joe and I can make less adverse environmental impact.

Sundance – Day 1 (Saturday, January 17, 2009)

Much like the last trip I took, the day started out with a few hiccups. I had been leisurely packing and getting ready when I decided to look at my flight itinerary. I was surprised to realize my flight left 30 minutes earlier than I thought it did so then I had to hurry to make it to the airport on time. I got to the airport fine, parked in my usual lot and then proceeded to get frustrated as the shuttle driver took a wrong turn and then informed me that he couldn’t actually let me off in the terminal that I was leaving from and he had to drop me 2 terminals away! I started to get anxious that I might actually miss the flight. Fortunately, I got to the gate as they were boarding … a little sweaty, a little flustered but I got on the plane.

I am travelling with my friends, Lisa and Ron, and they were on the same flight. We got to Salt Lake City, picked up our bags and rental cars and then were on our way towards Park City with the hopes of finding something to eat along the way because Lisa and I were starving. As I was driving I thought to myself, “I know it’s been a few years since I was here but none of this looks familiar.” Well, no wonder. I was on the wrong freeway! I got back on track and met Ron and Lisa at Olive Garden for a lunch of portabello mushroom ravioli and salad.

We are staying in a condo in Park City right at the edge of Park Avenue and not far from one of the Sundance shuttle stops. The condo is nice enough but the bathroom is TINY! You can barely move in there so it will be interesting to see how 3 people get ready on time with that minute space.

We took the shuttle down to Main Street so we could pick up the individual tickets we purchased and our catalogs. We walked around Main Street and Park Avenue a little bit and had our first celebrity sighting: Dominic Monaghan who plays Charlie Pace on the television show “Lost”. He’s definitely shorter than I thought he was.

The shuttle was so crowded and hot that we actually decided to walk back to the condo and it was nice to get some fresh air. It’s actually not very cold (about 40°) and, based on the forecast that Lisa saw, it seems like that is what it will be like all week. If so, I definitely won’t get too cold!

Lisa and Ron bought tickets for the movie “Tyson” so they have ventured out for their first Sundance movie experience. I am sitting in the condo frustrated that there is no WiFi. How can you have a rental property these days and not have internet access of any kind?!?! It will definitely be one of the complaints I make about the condo when we leave.

Not much more to report as of now … stay tuned for more movie news and hopefully more celebrity sightings.

Mystery Team

Run time: 105 minutes
Director: Dan Eckman
Screenwriters: Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover, DC Pierson
Cast: Donald Glover, DC Pierson, Dominic Dierkes, Aubrey Plaza, Bobby Moynihan, Matt Walsh
Theater: Library Center Theater

Synopsis and review (by Trevor Groth in the Sundance Film Guide):

If Encyclopedia Brown, the kids from American Pie, and Nancy Drew all had sex, their baby would probably look something like Mystery Team, a wonderful blend of innocent and seedy humor from the Derrick Comedy group. Already an Internet phenomenon, they transition gloriously into the realm of feature films.

When they were kids, the Mystery Team solved pint-sized mysteries like “Who stuck his finger in the pie?” Now it’s senior year of high school, and they are still solving mysteries the same way. Though each member of the team has a supposed specialty – Jason is the Master of Disguise; Charlie is the Strongest Kid in Town; and Duncan is the Boy Genius – they are really just stunted and naive kids. When a little girl asks them to find out who killed her parents, Jason realizes they have an opportunity to prove to the town, and themselves, that they are real detectives.

A dark comedy that hits on classic mystery conventions, Mystery Team cleverly places the naive innocence of yesteryear within the jaded, crime-laden world of today. What makes the ludicrous premise work so magnificently is the impeccable chemistry among the three leads. This is a film for anyone who is nostalgic for a time when solving a mystery was the greatest feeling in the world, but adult enough to like a little raunchy humor.

Thoughts and observations:

We saw the premiere of this movie at 11:30 p.m. on our first night of the Festival. The movie was hysterically funny. The young actor of the film has some raunchy and filthy dialogue that was shocking and funny at the same time. The director and cast were there and the Q&A was enjoyable. I was surprised at how young they looked. Apparently, the cast and Eckman are part of a comedy group, Derrick, whose shorts have been viewed online over 100 million times.

Nominations for the 81st annual Academy Awards

The 81st Academy Awards will be presented on February 22, 2009. The following list includes most of the nominations:

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor

Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Best Actress

Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Melissa Leo – Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet – The Reader

Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin – Milk
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road

Supporting Actress

Amy Adams – Doubt
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

Best Director

David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant – Milk
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire

Foreign Film

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

Adapted Screenplay

Eric Roth and Robin Swicord – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley – Doubt
Peter Morgan – Frost/Nixon
David Hare – The Reader
Simon Beaufoy – Slumdog Millionaire

Original Screenplay

Courtney Hunt – Frozen River
Mike Leigh – Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonagh – In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black – Milk
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Peter Docter – WALL-E

Animated Feature Film

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

Art Direction

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Cinematography

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Original Score

Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
James Newton Howard – Defiance
Danny Elfman – Milk
A.R. Rahman – Slumdog Millionaire
Thomas Newman – WALL-E

Original Song

Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman - "Down to Earth" from WALL-E
A.R. Rahman and Gulzar - "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire
A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam - "O Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire

Costume

Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Documentary Feature

The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

Makeup

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (Oscar statuette)
Jerry Lewis

For a complete list of nominations, please visit the offical website of the Oscars: http://www.oscars.org/awards/81academyawards/nominees.html

At the Movies - Best Movies of 2008

Ben Lyons of E! Entertainment and Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies rated their top movie picks of 2008. You can get more information on http://www.atthemoviestv.com/. If you click on each entry, you will be re-directed to the Internet Movie Database to get more information on the movie.

Lyons' top 10 movies of 2008:

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Slumdog Millionaire
3. Milk
4. The Wrestler
5. The Dark Knight
6. Frost/Nixon
7. Let the Right One In
8. The Reader
9. Miracle at St. Anna
10. In Bruges

Mankiewicz's top 10 movies of 2008:

1. The Wrestler
2. Frost/Nixon
3. The Reader
4. Milk
5. Man on Wire
6. The Bank Job
7. RocknRolla
8. Towelhead
9. Happy-Go-Lucky
10. Iron Man

The Children's Hour (1961)

Released December 19, 1961 (USA)
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner, Miriam Hopkins, Fay Bainter, Karen Balkin, Veronica Cartwright
Director: William Wyler

Screenwriters: John Michael Hayes (screenplay), Lilliam Hellman (play), Lillian Hellman (adaptation)

Original Music: Alex North
Production Company: United Artists
Distributor: United Artists

Nominations: 1962 Academy Awards – Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Fay Bainter), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White (Fernando Carrere, Edward G. Boyle), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (Franz Planer), Best Costume Design, Black-and-White (Dorothy Jeakins), Best Sound (Gordon Sawyer); Directors Guild of America - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (William Wyler); Golden Globes - Best Motion Picture Actress – Drama (Shirley MacLaine), Best Motion Picture Director (William Wyler), Best Supporting Actress (Fay Bainter)

Synopses:

• A private school for young girls is scandalized when one spiteful student, Mary Tilford, accuses the two young women who run the school of having a lesbian relationship.
• Best friends Karen Wright and Martha Dobie are headmistresses at a successful private school for girls in New England. Mary Tilford, a spiteful, angry child, is caught in a lie and punished. In retaliation she tells her grandmother, a matriarch in the town, that Martha was "jealous" of Karen's relationship with Dr. Joe Cardin, and tells that Martha's Aunt Lily thought those feelings were "unnatural." Grandma believes her and pulls Mary out of school. The word quickly spreads and within days Karen and Martha are faced with empty classrooms. Joe is fired from the hospital for siding with the teachers. Karen and Martha sue for slander in a case that makes national headlines.
• A troublemaking student at a girl's school accuses two teachers of being lesbians.

Click on the following links for more resources and information on the movie as well as reviews: Internet movie database (imdb), NY Times, TV Guide, Moviefone, Yahoo! Movies, Turner Classic Movies, MSN movies, Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes

The movie is based on the play "The Children's Hour" by Lillian Hellman which which can be purchased on Amazon.

Trivia:

• Audrey Hepburn's final black and white film.
• Miriam Hopkins who played Martha in the original film "These Three" (1936) played the part of Martha's Aunt Lily. Merle Oberon, who played Karen in the original film, turned down the part of Mrs. Tilford.
• Screenwriter John Michael Hayes was so faithful to Lillian Hellman's play that large chunks of the dialogue are identical to the dialogue in "These Three."
• "These Three" was the 1936 film version of "The Children's Hour," for which Lilliam Hellman herself wrote the adaptaion and screenplay despite the fact that "These Three" was a watered-down, censored version of "The Children's Hour."
• William Wyler cut several scenes hinting at Martha's homosexuality for fear of not receiving the seal of approval from the Motion Picture Production Code. At the time, any story about homosexuality was forbidden by the production code.
• The film gets its name from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
• Shirley MacLaine, in the documentary "The Celluloid Closet" (1995), said that nobody on the set of "The Children's Hour" discussed the ramifications of the issues regarding homosexuality that are implied, but never spoken about outright, in the film. She said, "none of us were really aware. We might have been forerunners, but we weren't really, because we didn't do the picture right. We were in the mindset of not understanding what we were basically doing. These days, there would be a tremendous outcry, as well there should be. Why would Martha break down and say, 'Oh my god, what's wrong with me, I'm so polluted, I've ruined you.' She would fight! She would fight for her budding preference. And when you look at it, to have Martha play that scene--and no one questioned it--what that meant, or what the alternatives could have been underneath the dialog, it's mind boggling. The profundity of this subject was not in the lexicon of our rehearsal period. Audrey and I never talked about this. Isn't that amazing. Truly amazing."

Reel Thoughts entertainment rating: 3.5/5

Reel Thoughts award-worthy rating: 4/5