PHIL/GEEK/PHIL

interesting to see what films Mr Tarantino admires in the last 20 years.

I agree with half of that list. the other half is just too nerdy.

Here’s the latest trailer from Martin Scorcese…
Looks a lot like a conspiracy thriller ! Which, in the hands of Mr Scorcese, could be BANANAS!!!… or it could be a disaster. We’ll see in october…

oh, and in case it wasn’t clear just yet, DiCaprio is the new De Niro.

This is simply one of the most hilarious and original animation films I’ve seen in a while.
Here’s a trailer for it.

Hopefully you can catch it soon on DVD or in theatres if you’re lucky.

(Stoners, beware….)

Every year, around may, I get to say the following sentence : “Pixar’s done it again”.
This year is no different.

***

Their latest film, Up, is simply magical, moving as hell, and funny beyond expectations. I don’t want to talk too much about it to avoid spoiling it. I do want to say, though, that it’s films like these that make you glad that some corporate minds are still in charge of pushing animation forward. Pixar was always the best example of art being made with shitloads of money. When other studios keep coming up with crappy films like Monsters vs Aliens, and focusing on action and stupid modern-day references, Pixar is still trying to uphold one core value : goodness. And that one transcends religions, social backgrounds or race. It’s universal, and that’s why you get the urge to cry so many times in their films, especially this one.

Also, in a world where all characters have to be modern, flashy and silly, this flick comes packed with characters that are so far from your expections that you wonder what went through their heads. Two of the three lead characters are grumpy old men, the child is NOT wiser than the adults (breaking the usualy sterotype) and actually learns something, the sidekicks character animals don’t talk (at least not in the traditional way). And, most importantly, when someone gets kicked in the face, there’s some blood (no gruseome splatter, just plain human bleeding)…

And my god the colors. and the camera work. and the acting. and the pace. and the music.

***

I can’t say enough good things about this film. It’s not a masterpiece like Wall-E, but it’s definetly a huge success !

If David Lynch had directed Dirty Dancing….

Now tell me this is not still relevant today !

Could I be more excited ?

always great to hear about a new Lars Von Trier film, especially when it looks so creepy…

The film will premiere at Cannes this year and hopefully get a release in canada soon.

Well, it’s the oscars tonight. I never do this, but here are my official predictions/desires list for major categories. We’ll see how many I get right….

UPDATE : I did fairly well. I predicted 19 of the 24 categories correctly. Getting better at knowing the academy ! see below, for what I got right

BEST PICTURE
Who I think will win : Slumdog Millionnaire CORRECT
My Pick for win :  Milk

BEST DIRECTOR
Who I think will win : Danny Boyle CORRECT
My Pick for win : Danny Boyle

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Who I think will win : The Dark Knight
My Pick for win : The Dark Knight

BEST ACTOR
Who I think will win :  Mickey Rourke
My Pick for win : Sean Penn next time, I’ll vote with my heart

BEST ACTRESS
Who I think will win : Kate Winslet CORRECT
My Pick for win : Anne Hathaway

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Who I think will win : Heath Ledger CORRECT
My Pick for win :Heath Ledger

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Who I think will win : Penelope Cruz CORRECT
My Pick for win : Viola Davis

BEST SCREENPLAY (ADAPTED)
Who I think will win :  Slumdog Millionnaire CORRECT
My Pick for win : The Reader

BEST SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL)
Who I think will win : Milk CORRECT
My Pick for win : Wall-E

BEST FOREIGN LANGAGE FILM
Who I think will win :  Waltz with Bashir
My Pick for win : The Class