Meryl as Margaret

Check out this trailer from the forthcoming Margaret Thatcher biopic. I swear, there is no one better than Meryl.

The Tree of Life: A Mixed Bag

There are moments during Terrance Malick's "The Tree of Life" when an editor's hard hand would be quite welcome. Long stretches where the principal actors in this drama make no appearance. There are volcanoes and even two dinosaurs. And the point of this meandering?Malick's attempt at contemplating the Divine? Our connection to a planet and universe that is in constant states of change, of evolution? Who the hell cares. The truth is if this 40-minute stretch of nothing (God, it felt longer) were removed, "The Tree of Life" would be a much better film.

I suppose every artist struggles with how to fully indulge in his craft while keeping it accessible. For what good is art if people walk away from the viewing or the reading shaking their heads because the only thing they've witnessed is something that comes across as an artist engaged in the act of auto-fellatio?

Don't get me wrong: there are moments of genius in "The Tree of Life." Jessica Chastain and Bratt Pitt are a wonderfully bruised Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien. Most of what she says is expressed in her visage, open and raw. He does most of his talking in hard barks or with his hands, as when he's lunging across the table in a rage to quiet an insulate child. The film, however, belongs to Hunter McCracken, who plays Young Jack (Sean Penn, not doing much in this movie, is Adult Jack).

When the camera swoops into the interior lives of the O'Briens, "The Tree of Life" is hauntingly brilliant, full of truth and vigor. But then Malick too often moves away from the people in favor of silly CGI graphics and screen shots that look like they were taken out of "Nature" or "National Geographic."

NYT doesn't like 'Thor,' but I'll see it anyway.

The New York Times' review of Thor is so vicious it borders on genius.

Check out these passages:

"Mr. Branagh has not failed to make an interesting, lively, emotionally satisfying superhero movie, because there is no evidence that he (or the gaggle of credited screenwriters, or Paramount, the sponsoring studio) ever intended to make any such thing."

"If you can’t remember what you saw, then there’s no harm in seeing it again. There is no reason to go to this movie, which might be another way of saying there’s no reason not to. Something like that seems to be the logic behind 'Thor,' and as a business plan it’s probably foolproof."

I get the sense this reviewer, A.O. Scott, tends not to like movies like this one, and that a film based on a comic books is rather beneath him. He says in his rebuke of Thor that those who liked Iron Man, for example, thought it was better than it actually was.

I say: Bruh, get over yourself. It's a move based on a comic book! You don't go to see Thor to learn greater truths about the human condition. You watch it to see shit blow up.

Must See: HBO's 'Mildred Pierce'

I've not written much in this space since the Oscars. Partly because the Oscars were so predictable and boring, but also because there's not been much to say. I've not been to the movies in quite some time and apart from Southland, Big Love, and, well, nothing else, there's not been much in terms of serious drama on television.

Thank God for HBO. The cable network will deliver a powerhouse five-part miniseries starring Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet (The Reader): Mildred Pierce. The miniseries premieres Sunday at 9 p.m.

If the LA Times' review is true, Winslet has bypassed that leading lady Oscar trend of taking a dud role for the paycheck (Halle Berry does Catwoman after winning an Oscar, Charlize Theron does Aeon Flux? WTF!). Excerpt from the review: "Winslet, grim and unsmiling for almost the entire 5½ hours, is determined to create a woman driven by judgmental internal voices so loud you can almost hear them; her only sources of pleasure are the emotionally sadomasochistic relationship with her daughter and occasional bursts of hot but manic sex with men she doesn't much respect."

Winslet never got enough credit for her work in Revolutionary Road. In that film, she showed us the depths she could travel, the way she could carry pain and frustration and desperation on her visage. I imagine she'll take that craft to a new level in Mildred Pierce.

Oscars....

Perhaps Melissa Leo may not get the Oscar. Perhaps, but I don't believe this.

Colin Firth will win his Oscar. This I know for sure. As will Natalie Portman and Christian Bale.

And, yes, King's Speech will take best picture. No question.

Tonight isn't about surprises of any kind. It's instead about Hollywood and us celebrating a phenominal year of films. A unexpected good year at the movies.

Where a little bit of genre went beyond convention to produce powerful art (Black Swan), and where a familiar face made us forget, for a moment, the name Darcy and appreciate simply the genius of his craft (Firth).

Where story -- narration that reveals the interior lives of complex folk -- seemed to matter more than blockbusters or pretention.

'King's Speech' Leads Oscar Race, Will Likely Take the Prize

The producers of "The King's Speech" should perhaps begin preparing their speeches for the February 27th Oscar telecast. Their movie is the confirmed front runner in what has been something of a horse race between what was one of the year's other favorite films, "Social Network."

At the end of this morning's announcement of nominations for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, the little British film about stammering King George VI had nabbed 12 nominations, including those for best picture, best director (Tom Hooper), best supporting actress (Helena Bonham Carter), best supporting actor (Geoffrey Rush) and best actor (Colin Firth).

"Social Network" got the Golden Globe and many of the critics awards earlier in the season. But a win for "Speech" at the Producer's Guild last week all but solidified its place as the film to beat come Feb. 27. If history serves as an indicator, however, the likelihood that this British import will be dethroned is slim. In the last 20 years, the Producer's Guild and the Academy have agreed on the best picture selection all but seven times. And since 2007s "No Country for Old Men," they've not wavered.

With that said, I expect not many surprises come Oscar night.

The top prizes will go like this:

Firth should and will win the Oscar for best picture.

Natalie Portman ("Black Swan") should and will win the Oscar for best actress.

Melissa Leo ("The Fighter") will win the Oscar for supporting actress, though this award should perhaps go to her co-star Amy Adams.

And Christian Bale ("The Fighter") should and will win for supporting actor.

The directing award will go to David Fincher for "Social Network."

'King's Speech' on it's way to best picture Oscar?

"King's Speech" nabbed the top prize at the Producers Guild Awards this weekend, turning the tide in a film season that seemed all but assured to crown "Social Network" on Oscar night.

I'm relieved at this. While I enjoyed "Social Network," it lacked a depth of feeling, real people and heart. And what was up with the Asian fetishism!

I believe firmly that "Black Swan" and "The Fighter" were the year's finest films. But "Speech" is also very good -- brilliant acting, writing, directing, cinematography. A meaty film with the snoot factor to boot.

Natalie Portman Is a Revelation in 'Black Swan'

In Darren Aronofsky's dark psychological drama Black Swan, Natalie Portman is so fragile in the early scenes she seems on the verge of breaking. The camera follows her close -- the crane of her neck, the sway of her arms, the arch of her feet as she rises en pointe. And when she speaks, the voice is childlike, floating barely above a whisper. She does a lot of her acting in the earliest scenes with her body, so terribly thin, worked mercilessly for her art -- the actor for the demands of a script, for the stage she commands. And as the film careens to its breathtaking finish, the actress transforms into something darker, something fully visceral and sexual and magnificent. "Perfect," is what Portman's Nina says at the close.

Believe the hype: Black Swan and Natalie Portman are as good as they say. She, perhaps, better than she's ever been. Her performance here surpasses her Oscar-nominated work in 2004's Closer.

Portman competes with Annette Benning (The Kids Are All Right), Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole), Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone), and Hilary Swank (Conviction) for the lead actress Screen Actor's Guild award. So far, I've seen the three who've gotten the most buzz this award season, Portman, Benning and Lawrence. Without a doubt, the Actor, and by extension, the Oscar, should go to Portman. And though I enjoyed Inception, True Grit, The Kids Are All Right and Social Network, the film that kept me on the edge from the opening was Black Swan, which is, so far, my favorite film this season.

On "True Grit"

"True Grit" -- the latest Coen brothers offering -- is funny, packed with action, and a much more satisfying film than "No Country for Old Men." That's partly because "Grit" has a definite ending and "Grit" clearly IDs the good and the bad guys. There is no ambiguity here, and you begin Mattie Ross' adventure in her corner. Which brings me to award season 2010-2011. I wrote in my last post that there were no front-runners in the supporting actress race. Hailee Steinfeld should be competing for lead here, but she's young and she and her studio have her in the lesser category. Which is all good. Her only competition is probably Helena Bohnam Carter who plays Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Consort, in "The King's Speech."

My Notes on the Season

With the Golden Globe and SAG nods out, the season stands as such:

1. Momentum for best picture stands with 'Social Network.' Though 'The Kings Speech' is still a favorite, Social Network has the momentum of, say, 'Slumdog' and 'Hurt Locker.'

2. Best Actor to beat is Colin Firth. I don't see James Franco pulling an upset in this category.

3. Best Actress; Natalie Portman. Annette Benning could still take this one, but I don't see it happening.

4. Supporting Actor -- Methinks Christian Bale. He's the only actor of note with some serious buzz building around his performance in this category. And with 'The Fighter' doing well with critics and at the box office, a win in this category makes sense.

5. Supporting Actress. Wide open. No talk like the talk for Monique.

6. Animated Film. Toy Story 3.

68th Annual Golden Globe Nods Announced

There were few surprises today when the Hollywood Foreign Press announced nominations for the 68th Annual Golden Globes.

Perhaps the biggest of the morning was Halle Berry's nomination for the little seen, little discussed "Frankie and Alice." The Emmy, Globe and Oscar champ nabbed the only unexpected nomination for lead actress in a motion picture-drama. She competes with Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole), Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone), Natalie Portman (Black Swan) and Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine). If Berry can nab a Screen Actor's Guild nomination, she may find herself with another Oscar bid (the win this year is Natalie Portman's to lose).

Everything else -- as expected and, perhaps, as it should be. The films with the most nominations were :

• THE KING’S SPEECH 7
• THE FIGHTER 6
• THE SOCIAL NETWORK 6
• BLACK SWAN 4
• INCEPTION 4
• THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT 4
• 127 HOURS 3

The TV categories saw a wider distribution of nominations:

• GLEE 5
• 30 ROCK 3
• BOARDWALK EMPIRE 3
• DEXTER 3
• THE GOOD WIFE 3
• MAD MEN 3
• MODERN FAMILY 3
• PILLARS OF THE EARTH 3
• TEMPLE GRANDIN 3
  

Upcoming: 'For Colored Girls'

Tyler Perry seems to have stepped his game up with the forthcoming "For Colored Girls," the screen adaptation of Ntozake Shange's play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf."

The film stars Thandie Newton, Whoopi Goldberg, Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington and Janet Jackson.

The trailer, below, is serious.

New Harry Potter Trailer Released; Looks Awesome

Seriously, just watch.

Natalie Portman Gets Early Oscar Buzz

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that actress Natalie Portman is getting serious early buzz for Academy Award contention. Film journo Tim O'Neil says while it's still a bit early in the season, Portman, the lead actress in Darren Aronofsky's dark drama "Black Swan," has a few things on her side:

1) DIVA APPEAL: In "Black Swan," Portman gives in dance what many past winners did in song -- the full-throttle diva performance: Barbra Streisand ("Funny Girl"), Liza Minnelli ("Cabaret") and Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose"). Unfortunately, ballet has played only a minor role at Oscars past, so it's hard to look backward for guidance to what will happen ahead. "The Turning Point" spawned two best actress nominees (who probably canceled each other out in the voting), Shirley MacLaine and Anne Bancroft, but they played dancers past their prime, not bouncing ferociously and constantly on stage.

2) GET PHYSICAL: Throughout the two hours of "Black Swan," Portman gives an even more athletic performance than Hilary Swank did when boxing her way to an Oscar victory for "Million Dollar Baby."

3) THE BABE FACTOR: Those notoriously frisky good ol' boys in the motion picture academy have clearly turned the best actress competition into a beauty contest in recent years: Sandra Bullock ("Blind Side"), Charlize Theron ("Monster"), Nicole Kidman ("The Hours"), Halle Berry ("Monster's Ball"), Julia Roberts ("Erin Brockovich"), Gwyneth Paltrow ("Shakespeare in Love") plus many more examples in between and earlier. Portman is knockout gorgeous in "Black Swan."

4) THE SEX FACTOR: Overt eroticism used to be a turnoff at the Oscars in more prudish times, but nowadays we're seeing those academy gents get excited by sexy roles. Some cynics say Kate Winslet ("The Reader") and Halle Berry ("Monster's Ball") wouldn't have won without their brazen sex scenes. In "Black Swan," Portman has steamy masturbation and lesbian scenes.

Check out the trailer:

'Inception' Is Great Entertainment

"It's gratifying to experience a summer movie with large visual ambitions and with nothing more or less on its mind than (as Shakespeare said) a dream that hath no bottom." -- Michael Phillips, the Chicago Tribune.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Coming Soon: John Lennon Biopic

Here's a trailer for Nowhere Boy, a biopic of the early life of John Lennon. Looks good.

Critics Schmitics. Airbender Was Enjoyable

Yes, there were slow moments. But overall, The Last Airbender stayed true to the spirit of "Book One: Water" of the animated series. Granted, I saw it in 2-D, not 3. And that's probably how it was supposed to be viewed before the scramble for 3-D flourishes brought on by Avatar. But, yes, the movie scored only 8 percent on RottenTomatoes because 1) most of the critics didn't watch the cartoon series on which it was based and 2) they weren't the audience anyway. I'm hoping for a part two. The movie debuted in No. 2 and has since grossed $62.5 million.

Mad Men, Glee Top Emmy Nods

From the first commercial for the sneak peak way back when, I knew Glee would be damn good TV. And it's place as one of the most affecting and addicting new comedies ever was solidified today when it nabbed 19 Emmy nominations, including acting nods for Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer. Neil Patrick Harris and Kristin Chenoweth are nominated for their guest turns on the series.

Our other favorite show, Mad Men, was nominated 17 times. And this year, January Jones -- who seriously killed it last season as Betty Draper -- is nominated for female lead in a drama. Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss compete in the supporting actress race, John Hamm gets another lead male nod and John Slattery competes for a supporting actor award.

Other standouts:

• Showtime's crazy spectacular Nurse Jackie (did you see the last minute of the second season finale!) nominated for best comedy and actress (Edie Falco)
• That guiltiest of guilty pleasures, True Blood got a nomination for dramatic series (disappointed there were no acting nods for Anna Paquin who plays Sookie and Nelsan Ellis who plays Lafayette)
• You Don't Know Jack, HBO's Dr. Kevorkian bioflic starring Al Pacino (nominated for lead actor) as well as Brenda Vaccaro and Susan Sarandon, who compete in the supporting actress race
• Mary Kay Place and Sissy Spacek, both nominated for their work on Big Love
  

Check out the full list of nominations at The Envelope at the Los Angeles Times.

New Trailer for Harry Potter and the Dealthy Hallows

This, my friends, looks like its going to be sick! Part 1 hits theaters Nov. 16.

Coming in October -- 'Red'

Bruce Willis hasn't been in a movie I've wanted to see in many, many, many years. That changes now with "Red," a new action flick set to hit theaters in October. He stars opposite Helen Mirren, who hasn't appeared in a bad movie in many, many years. Check out the trailer.