Oscars: New Poster Revealed!

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) have revealed their new poster through press release for the 84th Oscars.  The poster features many beloved classics in the background with the Oscar statue prominently featured, the object of desire for all come Oscar night.  I recognize all the movies except one on the poster.  Can you name all the films?

New Photos: Brave and Frankenweenie

Princess Merida from Brave

Frankenweenie

Two new film stills come our way courtesy of Empire Online.  First up, another look at Princess Merida in action from Brave and secondly, it's a first look at Tim Burton's Frankenweenie.  If Frankenweenie is anything like previous Burton ventures like Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas, we should be in for a film unlike any other.  Brave releases next June while Frankenweenie opens October 5, 2012

New Posters: 21 Jump Street, Mirror Mirror, Prometheus and more!

A slimmed down Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum go back to school in 21 Jump Street.

Not to be confused with Spielberg's Lincoln biopic, here comes Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

An all British star cast for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

A portrait of The Dictator (Sacha Baron Cohen).

The IMAX poster of John Carter.  Those are some scary looking white apes!

Two new posters for Tarsem Singh's Mirror Mirror.  I prefer the second one.

The new poster for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The very curious poster for Ridley Scott's Aliens prequel Prometheus.

Cool new poster for Dreamworks' next original animation feature, Rise of the Guardians.  No, there are no owls in this one.

Finally, the sequel to Clash of the Titans, it's Wrath of the Titans.  

New trailer: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The studios are absolutely killing it these past few days.  As the end of 2011 nears, they are unveiling what's due to come in the coming year.  One such long-expected movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's trailer debuted today and we should be ever so thankful to see this.  This has been a long time coming and many a time, there was even a doubt that the film would ever get made.  Thanks to the genius of Peter Jackson and his dedication to the world of Middle Earth, we get to see Bilbo Baggins' tale.  It feels so good see old favorites as Gandalf and Galadriel again and I have no doubt The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be a treat to see in 3D.  The bad part?  We still have another year to wait.  Until then, enjoy the trailer and the production updates/featurettes that are sure to emerge from the set.  

New Trailer: The Dark Knight Rises

 What a wonderful surprise to wake up to!  Warner Bros. released the second official trailer to The Dark Knight Rises, the last in the Batman trilogy, as evidenced by the end of the trailer and the caption, 'The Legend Ends'.  Here we get glimpses of other characters in the universe besides Bane and Batman.  We finally hear Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) aka Catwoman speak.  First thoughts, Bane seems like a more than worthy villain/foe for Batman after The Joker.  The scale of menace seems much more grander than Joker's.  And because his face is obscured by that creepy mask, it makes me question his intentions even more.  Is he out to kill Batman here?  And is it me or does Bruce Wayne/Batman look weary of the whole thing.  Do I spy gray hairs?  What is going on?  Well, all our questions will be answered July 2012 but until then I'm sure hundreds of fans will be dissecting the trailer for more clues.  

New website: The Amazing Spiderman

For my 300th post (whoa, already!), I thought it would be interesting to take a look at next summer's big blockbuster, The Amazing Spider-man which has released its new website with has lots of new photos and information including more Spider-man movies.

The official summary on the website says:

The Story
Like most teenagers his age, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he to be the person he is today. In his journey to put the pieces of his past together he uncovers a secret that his father held... a secret that will ultimately shape his destiny as Spider-Man. This is the first in a series of movies that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story. On July 3rd, 2012, the untold story begins.

(Photos: The Amazing Spider-man website)

Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), camera in hand. A nod to his future career?

Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field)

Spiderman in action.

Talking with Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) in the hallway.

New logo on back of the costume.

Gwen Stacy

Captain Stacy (Denis Leary), Gwen's father.

What is the photograph in the corner? I spy Dr. Connors (Rhys Ifans).  

Be sure to check out the official website at http://theamazingspiderman.com/ for more goodies and photographs and "like" it on Facebook!

New Trailers: Rock of Ages, Jack the Giant Killer and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.!

Interesting, very interesting.  The story of Jack and the Beanstalk turns into Jack the Giant Killer.  Directed by Brian Singer (X-Men, Apt Pupil), the film stars Nicholas Hoult as Jack along with Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Warwick Davis, Bill Nighy, Ian McShane, Eleanor Tomlinson and Eddie Marson.  The movie will release in the summer of 2012.

Based on the hit Broadway show, Rock of Ages come to the screen this summer.  The star cast includes Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Ackerman, Mary J. Blige, Bryan Cranston, Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise.  Yes, Tom Cruise! In a musical!  The movie is directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray).  

And finally we have The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel's UK trailer featuring an all British cast of my favorite Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson and Dev Patel.  This, obviously, contains the usual stereotypes of India but as the trailer shows, there are quite a few comic elements to to the film.  This will be on my must-see list for sure as it features Dame Judi Dench.  My favorite line from the trailer is, "Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it's not the end." The film is directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love).  

New Poster: The Hunger Games

(Photo: The Hunger Games on Facebook)

Lionsgate, the studio behind The Hunger Games, came up with an unique way to celebrate 100 days until the movie releases.  They officially released the new poster but with a catch.  The poster was divided into a 100 pieces each given to a different media website and fans had to hunt them down on Twitter with the hashtag #HungerGames100.  So damn cool.  Lionsgate, you are becoming my second favorite movie studio.

Anyways, onto the poster, what do we think? It's showing us that Katniss and the movie are about to step on to the big stage with the tagline, "The world will be watching."  I sincerely hope for much success for this film that the sequels get made.  The books have been a highly exciting read and it'd been fun to see them to the end.  

Golden Globes nominees named!

24 hours after the SAG awards were just announced comes the naming of the nominees for the Golden Globes.  Here we go again!

Best Drama

The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse

My take: 6 nominees, yet no Harry Potter again.  I still will hold out hope for the BAFTAs and perhaps some Oscar acknowledgement too.  However, all these movies are top contenders here.

Best Comedy/Musical

50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn

My take: Midnight in Paris is gaining some traction and showing up on critics lists here and there and thank god for Bridesmaids and 50/50 gaining recognition.  It's nice to have some actual comedies in this category.

Best Animated Film

Rango
The Adventures of Timtin
Puss in Boots
Cars 2
Arthur Christmas

My take: This year, I don't think Pixar is going to take the big prize.  Rango was the best animated film this year.  I'm not sure The Adventures of Tintin belongs here as much of the film contains motion-captured performances.  Maybe they weren't sure where to put it.  

Best Actor in a Drama

George Clooney, The Descendants

Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March

Michael Fassbender, Shame

Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar

My take: I have no complaints here.  Every single nominee is deserving.

Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical

Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Brendan Gleeson, The Guard

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50

Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love

Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris

My take: I don't think I have heard of The Guard, I'll have to look it up.  Nice to see Owen Wilson's name on the list.  Ryan Gosling is a double nominee here in both comedy/musical and drama categories and he still had another great movie in Drive out too.  Great year for him.  

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

My take: The sole nominee for Drive is with Albert Brooks.  Viggo Mortensen is the dark horse here, could sneak in and win it.  

Best Actress in a Drama
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

My take: It's between Viola and Meryl this year.  Everyone else should just be happy to be there.  

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
Jodie Foster, Carnage
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Kate Winslet, Carnage

My take: Carnage came out of nowhere, it wasn't showing up on many critics' lists.  The real competition is between Charlize and Kirsten.  

Best Director

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo

My take: All well deserved nominees but I think it boils to Martin Scorsese and Michel Hazanavicius for the big prize.  

Best Screenplay for a Motion Picture

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Kaui Hart Hemmings, The Descendants

Steve Zallian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin, Michael Lewis, Moneyball

George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March

My take: All great screenplays here and I truly think Woody Allen has a great shot at this.  Or else it could be between The Descendants or The Ides of March.

Best Original Score in a Motion Picture

Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Abel Korzeniowski, W.E.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore, Hugo
John Williams, War Horse

My take: W.E. came out nowhere, didn't it? However, I think Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are due to repeat their success from last year's The Social Network.  

Best Original Song in a Motion Picture

“Hello Hello,” Gnomeo & Juliet
“The Keeper,” Machine Gun Preacher
“Lay Your Head Down,” Albert Nobbs
“The Living Proof,” The Help
“Masterpiece,” W.E.

My take: No clue about this category, I was only previously aware of Mary J. Blige's 'The Living Proof' from The Help.

New Trailer: The Dictator

Sacha Baron Cohen's new film The Dictator has a new trailer.  The movie summary on IMDB says, "The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed."  This looks like it's going to be as offensive and controversial as the rest of Cohen's films, Borat and Bruno.  No matter what the story, I'll definitely be watching this.  The film also stars Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley and John C. Reilly and is set to release in May 2012.

SAG Awards nominees announced!!

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris


My take: No Harry Potter? Booo!! This was the last chance to show recognition to the cast of the film which contained almost every working actor in Britain today.  Boo!! It warranted a second boo.  That being said, this award practically belongs to The Help.  


BEST ACTOR
Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The DescendantsLeonardo DiCaprio, J. EdgarJean Dujardin, The ArtistBrad Pitt, Moneyball


My take: Is it finally time for Leonardo DiCaprio to win his first Oscar? Probably but Brad Pitt is the one who is receiving more buzz this year.  Looks like Leo will have to wait another year.  PS- Whatever happened to Michael Fassbender's nomination? Is Shame too risky a movie for SAG members?


BEST ACTRESS
Glenn Close, Albert NobbsViola Davis, The HelpMeryl Streep, The Iron LadyTilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About KevinMichelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn


My take: Meryl, Meryl, Meryl.  She's nominated again for the billionth time and I'd love to see her win again but Violas Davis was something else in The Help.  Those eyes!! She totally deserves to win.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners


My take: Having seen both Beginners and Warrior recently, both Nolte and Plummer have given career defining performances.  I'd say Plummer would be the one to beat.  Way to go Jonah Hill on his nomination!  Please don't give up on comedy though.  


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help


My take: It's all about Melissa McCarthy for this category unless the ladies from The Help have something to do about it.