El Luchador Says........

12 Movies El Luchador is Looking Forward To in '11

2011-08-12T16:00:00.001-04:00

As the 2011 Summer Blockbuster season whimpers to a close after dreadful entries like "Green Lantern" and "Cowboys & Aliens" spewed their visual and aural detritus all over our collective unconsciousness, we can finally start ringing in the fall with some smaller films, albeit a couple weeks early. The end of 2011 promises some films with brains, the most neglected organ by the film industry in

Comedy or Tragedy?

2011-08-12T14:39:00.008-04:00

In 2003, just before his shift ended at Mama Mia’s Pizza-Ria in Erie, Pennsylvania, a pizza delivery man named Brian Wells agreed to go on one last delivery of the day. It would be the last of his life. His day ended with a bomb, while strapped to his neck, detonating, killing him. It seems like a sequence from a “Saw” movie however this real life story eerily mirrors the events in the new

Better Living Through Chemistry

2011-03-22T09:15:00.006-04:00

“What if you could be the best version of yourself?” is the question asked in Neil Burger’s new film, “Limitless.” But at that point would you really even be yourself? In the film floundering novelist Eddy Morra (Bradley Cooper) gains such abilities through a wonder drug ominously dubbed NZT that speeds up his intellect, allowing his IQ to increase exponentially. Hovering somewhere between a

We Band of Brothers

2011-03-12T10:48:00.004-05:00

In the cynical world of modern media “clichés” are can be a gift and a curse. Wielded deftly a play against or making light of them can elevate a film giving it a sense of erudition. On the flipside employing every one in the book without any wink or nod to the audience can sink any, otherwise, sea worthy picture. The latter is the case with the new alien invasion effects showcase, “Battle:

Metaphysical Red Tape

2011-03-09T15:59:00.003-05:00

In the world of modern cinema the trailer has become an art form in its own right. A well done trailer gives just enough info to excite a perspective audience, and mobilize them away from HD TV, Netflix OnDemand, Bluray, IPTV, or any of the myriad of choices available to consumers today. A trailer if done wrong can instill the wrong idea about a film into the minds of viewers, completely

I'vehadenoughthanks

2011-03-04T15:50:00.004-05:00

In the world of scrolling text, internet banner ads and much publicized trailers one would think that some marketing person would have suggested that Josh Radnor’s new film “Happythankyoumoreplease” should rethink such a moniker. Overly wordy and confusing to look at are the obvious problems, but once one can decipher the actual title it unfortunately conjures up images of greeting cards rather

Aimed Right at the Bullseye

2011-03-01T10:00:00.005-05:00

Here at the end of Award Season there seems to be a void. Everything from the Producers Guild to the Oscars reward the best and the brightest, but what about the trashy and the tarnished? For every “King’s Speech” there are hundreds of pictures designed to do little more than take the hard earned cash of the proletariat. Instead of Best Picture how about an Award show to celebrate the best

El Luchador's Full 2011 Oscar Picks

2011-02-25T10:03:00.005-05:00

This weekend is the Superbowl of movie-nerdom. The time when those who mourned the loss of the Fantasy Moguls game all gather together to pit their supposed expertise against that of their fellow geeks. I am no different. This year I'm pulling for an upset, an "Inception" or "Social Network" revolution against the Colonel Gaddaffi that is "The King's Speech," but I have a feeling I am going to

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Best Picture

2011-02-25T09:00:00.001-05:00

Probably Will Win The King’s Speech Iain Canning, Emilie Sherman, and Gareth Unwin - If you’ve read any of these picks you know how I feel about this. Going to win. Sorry arbiters of good taste, you lose. Should Win The Social Network Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin - Hands down the best film of the year. Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher really make this film stand

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Director

2011-02-24T09:00:00.002-05:00

Probably Will Win David Fincher The Social Network – This could arguably be Fincher’s best film. He put together a crack team of people, and sent them on their way to making a magnificent picture. David O. Russell doesn’t really have a chance, and the Coens already have their trophy. Aronofsky is a decent bet, but my money is coming down to Fincher and Hooper. I think he’ll beat out Tom Hooper

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Actor

2011-02-23T09:01:00.002-05:00

Probably Will Win Colin Firth The King’s Speech – He didn’t win for, “A Single Man” though he should have, so I guess it is fitting that he’ll probably take home the statue this year. Though I want to see pretty much anyone win besides James Franco just to see if his attitude changes in the waning minutes of the program. Not that I bear any ill will against the guy – he seems cool – but it may

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Actress

2011-02-23T09:00:00.002-05:00

Probably Will Win Jennifer Lawrence Winter’s Bone - This is another film that I thought was good, but not incredible. When it comes down to it the movie was a bit annoying. The film’s director, Debra Granik is a Cambridge, Massachusetts born, Brandies/NYU educated woman who has no ties to the Ozarks. Not that hillbilly roots are a prerequisite for making such a film, but the faux-authenticity

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Supporting Actor

2011-02-22T09:01:00.001-05:00

Probably Will Win Geoffrey Rush The King’s Speech – Okay, this is where this movie picks up steam. And I say again, Geoffrey Rush was good, but at the end of the day the movie wasn’t mind blowing. Should Win Armie Hammer and Josh Pense The Social Network – These guys were mind blowing, almost distracting even, as the Winklevi. The face replacement technology employed in this film is pretty

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Supporting Actress

2011-02-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

Probably Will Win Melissa Leo The Fighter – Every time this lady opens her mouth she seems more and more insane. I love her Oscar campaign ads that are touting her as a glamour icon. Maybe they work, or maybe they are just nuts. Eh, she was good in this movie. Maybe I was wrong about “The King’s Speech.”Should Win Hailee Steinfeld True Grit – I don’t know if I would call this “Supporting,”

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Foreign Film

2011-02-21T09:01:00.002-05:00

Probably Will WinBiutiful Alejandro González Iñárritu – How do you say the title? Why? Because that’s how Iñárritu’s kids spell it? Oh that’s cute! Voters love that stuff.Should WinI Am Love Luca Guadagnino – One of the best of the year. A cinematic adventure of technique and storytelling. This was a stylistic masterpiece that was well acted, impeccably directed, and stitched together with

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Animated Feature

2011-02-21T09:00:00.003-05:00

Probably Will WinToy Story 3 Lee Unkrich – Pixar is the Cadillac of animation, and everybody knows it. Not only are they driving the technology, but their writing is usually second to none. Here is no exception. Rarely does a film franchise score a hat trick, but the “Toy Story” saga does.Should Win Toy Story 3 Lee Unkrich

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Cinematography

2011-02-18T09:01:00.002-05:00

Probably Will Win The King’s Speech Danny Cohen – People fell for this movie, and I don’t know why. It was a good movie, but nothing about it stood out to the point of the acclaim it is getting. The photography is one of the aspects that people are talking about, and that was the most pedestrian. Tom Hooper and Danny Cohen had a beautiful and lush palette in the film, and the softness of the

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Editing

2011-02-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Probably Will Win 127 Hours Jon Harris - You may say what you like about Danny Boyle, but you can’t say he doesn’t have a very deep bag of tricks. Pulling out all of the stops he and Harris craft something out of nothing. This is one of the times that “King’s Speech” won’t take home the gold, mostly because the whole of “127 Hours” was made with flashy editing, and it is hard for voters to see

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Art Direction

2011-02-17T09:01:00.001-05:00

Probably Will Win The King’s Speech Production Design: Eve Stewart, Set Decoration: Judy Farr - Like I said in Costume Design, nothing beats research. Should Win Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Production Design: Stuart Craig, Set Decoration: Stephaenie McMillan - And creativity is usually left by the wayside.

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Costume Design

2011-02-17T09:00:00.004-05:00

Probably Will WinThe King’s Speech Jenny Beavan - And now begins the “King’s Speech” steamroll. Months ago I would have said that “The Social Network” would be the big winner this year, but with the momentum the former has been gaining, and that which the latter has been losing it seems tides have turned. Not that “The Social Network” is up for an award in this category, but I do think the

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Make Up

2011-02-16T10:05:00.003-05:00

Probably Will Win The Wolfman Rick Baker and Dave Elsey - I’m always a little confused about why things like “Barney’s Version” gets nominated for this category. Sure they can make a guy look old, but can they make him look like a human dog? That is way cooler than making Paul Giamatti look droopy. Not a stretch if you ask me. Should Win Sex and the City 2 Judy Chin, Kerrie R. Plant,

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Original Score

2011-02-16T09:52:00.005-05:00

Probably Will Win Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross The Social Network – This is technically the best score of the year. There are no “buts.” Like the Three Six Mafia before him Trent Reznor is finally respectable. Ever since his Nine Inch Nails farewell tour in 2009 Reznor has been in the global consciousness once again, and he’s the hot pick to win. If the farewell tour can do this for a dude

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Original Song

2011-02-16T09:47:00.005-05:00

Probably Will WinWe Belong Together from “Toy Story 3” Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman – I think it is just because of the fondness we all have for “I Love LA” that we forget how insipid Randy Newman’s music really is these days. I really like the “Toy Story” movies, but not because of the obligatory Randy Newman song. However, out of the nominees, this is the best of a bad situation.

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Documentary

2011-02-16T09:44:00.002-05:00

Probably Will Win Inside Job Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs – I’m feeling the wars and the environment are the underdogs here. The real hip thing this year is the economy, and everyone is talking about “Inside Job.” Personally I’m unemployed, and have to beg for spare change just to get a ticket to any movie so I wasn’t going to waste my money on this when I could see “Country Strong” for a

El Luchador's 2011 Oscar Picks: Documentary Short Subject

2011-02-16T09:38:00.007-05:00

Probably Will Win Killing in the Name Jed Rothstein – Again a hard call. The other one that may pull the win is “Sun Come Up,” about an island in off Papau New Guinea that is being swallowed by the sea due to melting ice caps. The villagers are forced to relocate to a place that is already rife with violence and civil war. “Killing in the Name” is about a terrorist, and contains interviews