STUDIO RUNDOWN 2007

Ladies and Gents, even if its only been a month since the end of the 2006-2007 Oscar season, it looks like we’re opening the doors wide open for the 2007 – 2008 Season. After a month of analogies, I’ve rendered the qualifiers by studio. Why? Because, separating them by camp makes it more easily to see which films will have sonority. Much like a general’s battleground, it is strategically planned name films “frontrunners” making them the main Eye Candy, where all pundits observe year round to see a slight triumph or critical failure. While all of this attention is fixated on the “frontrunners”, the surprise factor of the immense triumphant “low key” films, berried by studio exes, rings so loudly that it ends up being over hailed, making a bigger noise then expected (ex: The Departed). Here’s our first case study Columbia ….

COLUMBIA / SONY / SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Columbia has awfully weak track Record. The Last Time that they got a Best Picture nom was in 2000 with Crouching Tiger (and co-distributing Erin Brockovich). Since then the studio has been dwindling what if failures like Running With Scissors, Spanglish, The White Countess, Closer (despite getting actings noms for Portman and Owen), etc. The failing studio has been, keeping in the game with the sole procession of Sony’s Classic Picture. The sub-division rose to fame in 2005, when it produced the Best Picture Nominee Capote (which ended up winning Philip Seymour Hoffman his Oscar).

The Big Dogs

The Other Boleyn Girl by Justin Chadwick (debut) Starring: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Krsiten Scott Thomas, Mark Pylance, Jim Sturgess [TBR: Late December] In the vein of the great period pieces such as Shakespeare In Love, The English Patient, etc, The Other Boleyn Girl seems to be more of the same, expecially since Golden Age, seems to be more promising. I’m kind of leaning towards a Goya’s Ghost redux here, don’t know why, but Columbia doesn’t have a good track record, and the fact it being the feature debut of director Chadwick, doesn’t reassure me. But here’s my biggest problem with the film, the match up of Portman and Johansson. See ever since The Island, Johansson went from best of generation to downright awful (ever he perf in Match Point was all over the place), I can’t stand her anymore, well I do love Portman, she’s (1) overrated and (2) I can see Scarlett stinking this up.

Vantage Point by Pete Travis (debut). Starring: Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver, Matthew Fox, Forrest Whitaker, William Hurt, Zoe Saldana, [TBR: Otober] A smart looking political thriller that might considering the A list Cast become the heavy talking political drama of the season. Featuring 80’s Oscar heavyweights (Waver and Hurt), a newly Oscar crowned actor (Whitaker), up and comers (Fox and Saldana) and an actor in the wings (Quaid), the film is a roshomon esque tale that depicts the assassination tale. I’m really doubting, considering the fact that its writer and director are both making debuts and its from the producers of films like XXX2 and Not Another Teen Movie, it might becomes this years Capote or another bump in the road.

Wild Cards

Reign Over Me by Mike Binder (Upside of Anger) Starring: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jeda Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Saffron Barrows, Donald Sutherland, Robert Klein, Melinda Dillon and Mike Binder [TBR: Late March] Another 9/11 related studio offering, this time leaving the day off telling, and focusing on the aftermath affect. Directed by Mike Binder, the film faces the same obstacles as his previous film Upside of Anger. The March release date is very unfavorable, especially the since the reviews aren’t revolutionary, but strong notices for Sandler and Cheadle, might serve them well. But we’ve gotten no indication that the Academy would go for Adam The Sap Sandler doing drama.

And When did you Last See Your Father by Pete Travis (Hillary & Jackie). Starring: Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson, Gina McKee [TBR: TBA] A Prestigious British piece, that revolves around the possibility of giving 2001 Supporting Actor winner Jim Broadbent a second coming. After making a name of himself, as one of the most consistent British actors, Colin Firth is looking at his first nomination playing Broadbent’s Son, if the role features great depth. This film is more of an acting film, then a dominant Best Picture contender.

Other films

Across the Universe Julie Taymor (Titus) 60’s Beatles themed Odyssey. [Oct]

The Waterhorse British Vet Watson stars, in a cute Irish Fantasy film. [Dec]

Perfect Strangers Willis & Berry Heat it up, in a sexy moneymaking thriller. [April]

21 Doesn’t sound that promising despite starring Spacey & Fishburn, but they haven’t been at the top of their game in years

Jane Austin Book Club An All star Cast worship the work of legendary author Jane Austin. Jindalbyne Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney are getting raves for their work in this Aussie Indie. [April]

Spider – Man 3 The third chapter in Sony’s ever grossing top reigning comic book franchise. [May]

Oscar 2007 Recap

Who would have thought that this year’s Oscar ceremony would end up being so odd? Where I loved 90% of the winners, the was barely anything to be contempt with the dead beat ceremony. The idea of bringing popular daytime TV show host Ellen to broaden the audience numbers failed. Much like Woopi Goldberg and David Letterman, DeGeneress was the wrong person for this, she really doesn’t miggle well with the Hollywood crowd, she really did treat the cream de la cream of Hollywood, as ordinary audience members of her daytime talk show (come on pictures with Clint Eastwood … Gospel singers roaming threw the audiences). But on the other side, produces knew exactly what to do with special guests Jack Black, John C Reilly and Will Ferrell, presenters Al Gore and Leo DiCaprio, heck even the Meryl Streep tie-in was wonderful. The winners were surprisingly, refreshing, the voters woke up and realized that they don’t have to award Eddie Murphy, and picked the more deserving Alan Arkin, The Departed surprisingly keeping its momentum, Pan’s Labyrinth sweeping most of the tech awards, etc. Anyways Here are my categorized thoughts on this year’s awards:

Most Ironic Gesture of the Night Part 1: Having DeGeneress host, while 100 times funnier comics Black and Ferrell settle for a small sketch

Most Ironic Gesture of the Night Part 2: Proving that the Foreign Film category is a class of its own, after winning most of the tech categories Pan’s Labyrinth still loses to Lives of Others

Creative High jinx: Human acrobatics representing the year’s nominated films. I have no idea who got this idea or how, it might be the oddest thing ecver shown at the Oscars.

They’re Still Dreaming: I surprisingly loved the Dreamgirls number. Loved seeing non celebs Rose and Robinson gets there share of lime light. Congrats to the Academy, for well staging such a musical number.

Thanks for Ending the Annoying Trends: Cinephiles: By Awarding Scorsese his first Oscar we can end predicting everything Scorsese to sweep. Academy: Realizing that they don’t need to join the consensus by awarding Alan Arkin over Eddie Murphy.

Cheap Laughs: Leo Dicaprio and Al Gore joking on him announcing his run for Presidency. Fun yes, but come on, how unoriginal.

Best Speech: Alan Arkin

Worst Speech: Hudson, come on she’s so full of herself

Best Improved Speech: Whitaker, Not generally strong, but he atleast feels a bit heartfelt.
Don’t Let the Oscar Door Hit You on the Way Out: James Earl Haley, Jennifer Hudson, Abigail Breslin, Rinko Kickuchi, Peter O’Toole, Eddue Murphy, Forrest Whitaker, Helen Mirren

Come on back now you Hear: Kate Winslett, Leo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Ryan Gosling, Will Smith, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Mark Wahlberg, Alan Arkin, Djimon Houson, Cate Blanchett

And that’s It, here’s for my Final Grade:

Host: C-
Winners: A-
Overall Night: C

Oscar Season 2007 - 2008 report comming soon