Movie Trailer and Review

Sacha Baron Cohen Banned from the Oscars?

2012-02-26T00:04:36Z

UPDATED: The latest on Sacha Baron Cohen's battle with the Oscars. Did The Dictator just get the last laugh?

Spy on the stars with Oscar.com’s hidden cameras

2012-02-26T00:03:08Z

Academy Awards nominees and presenters are getting even more exposure at this year’s show. Thanks to an expanded collection of hidden backstage cameras, which capture unscripted action near the green room, the lobby, the winners’ walk and the Governors Ball, fans can click around on Oscar.com to see various perspectives that aren’t part of the [...]

Academy Awards nominees and presenters are getting even more exposure at this year’s show.

Thanks to an expanded collection of hidden backstage cameras, which capture unscripted action near the green room, the lobby, the winners’ walk and the Governors Ball, fans can click around on Oscar.com to see various perspectives that aren’t part of the main telecast.

“We want to encourage them to be part of the experience,” said Christina Kounelias, chief marketing officer for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“We’re giving fans the control to follow their favorites,” added Karin Gilford of ABC’s digital media division.

The Oscar.com site — a partnership between AMPAS and the Oscars’ longtime broadcaster, ABC — will have more than a dozen cameras filming the proceedings on the red carpet, backstage and inside the theater, where a camera will be trained on front-row celebrity minglers during commercials. Visitors to the site can choose which camera they want to look through and change it any time. A running ticker will advise what’s happening in front of the other cameras so star-watchers don’t miss their favorites.

The celebrity surveillance, which is free, will begin with the start of red-carpet arrivals and continue with live feeds until the Governors Ball gets under way.

Oscar attendees needn’t worry about too much exposure, though. There are no hidden cameras in the theater’s restrooms.

Emilie De Ravin joins ABC drama pilot

2012-02-25T16:05:18Z

Lost star Emilie De Ravin is joining Anthony LaPaglia in ABC’s drama pilot Americana. The show is a primetime soap

Honda Classic: A going-out guide to Palm Beach Gardens

2012-02-25T16:03:05Z

Where to eat, shop, relax – and do some Tiger spotting, too! The Gardens offers a solid mix of dining options, from traditional-fancy spots to easy-casual eateries, from neighborhood haunts to promising newcomers. But if I have to boil it down, here are my top five dining picks: IRONWOOD STEAK & SEAFOOD at the PGA [...]

Where to eat, shop, relax – and do some Tiger spotting, too!p>

The Gardens offers a solid mix of dining options, from traditional-fancy spots to easy-casual eateries, from neighborhood haunts to promising newcomers.

But if I have to boil it down, here are my top five dining picks:

IRONWOOD STEAK & SEAFOOD at the PGA National Resort; 400 Avenue of the Champions; (561) 627-4852: The resort leadership along with PGA’s outstanding executive chef, Gordon Maybury, recently revamped the menu and re-branded this handsome spot, and they did a beautiful job. The steak menu is varied and robust with such offerings as a 32-ounce bone-in ribeye (a cross of Wagyu and Black Angus) that’s dry aged for 21 days. Maybury has created a selection of specialty salts and sauces to accompany the beef and fresh seafood choices.

CAFE CHARDONNAY; 4533 PGA Blvd.; (561) 627-2662: Classic and cozy, the café has built a well-deserved reputation on stellar dishes and great service. It’s no wonder why Frank and Gigi Eucalitto have been in business here for more than 25 years, despite a fickle, changing market.

TALAY THAI; 7100 Fairway Drive; (561) 691-5662: Talay is a temple of Thai soul, the domain of chef Charlie Soo, who serves wonderful panang curry specialties (both the short rib and the scallop with panang curry are out of this world), luscious pad thai and super-fresh fish. Well-appointed and understated, the eatery is a favorite spot of PGA golfers and sports celebs. Reservations are a must in season.

ROCCO’S TACOS; 5090 PGA Blvd. (PGA Commons); (561) 623-0127: Restaurateur Rocco Mangel extended the taco-licious party that is Rocco’s to the PGA corridor – and already the place is packed. Rocco’s fans from Clematis and Boca will find the same delicious guacamole, margaritas and Mexican specialties here. The vibe is Cinco-de-Mayo-meets-Distrito-Federal chic.

CHRISTOPHER’S KITCHEN; 4783 PGA Blvd.; (561) 318-6191: This is what new-school organic looks like – a polished, minimalist space serving artful cuisine. Chef Christopher Slawson serves an organic, plant-based menu that’s neither drab nor dated. Be it the salads, juices or lightly cooked specialties, the food is delicious.

- Liz Balmaseda

LOOKING FOR TIGER?p>

You’re not likely to see him except on the greens. But fans have spotted him in several local bars and eateries, most notably at these Downtown at the Gardens joints:

Dirty Martini, the bustling club where serious players can get a $400 martini (crystal glass, diamond pick).

Supper Club 51, the retro-luxe restaurant and lounge just across the courtyard from Dirty Martini.

Cabo Flats, the party-hearty cantina where it’s always Cinco de Mayo.

Downtown at the Gardens, 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave. in Palm Beach Gardens, just north of PGA Boulevard and east of I-95.

- Liz Balmaseda

FUN-IN-ONE

Want a break from all that golf? Here are five ways to have fun at or near PGA National during the tournament that don’t require knowing a birdie from an eagle.

1Hear Kenny G, the golfing sax man, at the Eissey Campus Theatre on Thursday night. After Wednesday’s Kenny G Gold Pro-Am tournament, the smooth-jazz man will play a benefit concert for Jack Nicklaus’ Children’s Health Care Foundation. Tickets are $75 to $125 and include a performance by The Benjamin School band. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call (866) 846-6328 or go to www.thehondaclassic.com .

The Eissey Campus Theatre is on the Palm Beach State College campus, 11051 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens.

2Have a spa day. Book a facial or massage (from $125) from the PGA National Resort and Spa and you can spend the day at the Waters of the World mineral pools, without a golf ball in sight. Bonus pampering: Have a spa lunch at the Waters of the World Cafe. Call (800) 843-7725.

3Hang out by the pool, if you’re a PGA National guest. The resort’s glamorous pool pavilion includes the poolside Wave Cafe for lunch.

4Watch fireworks and a concert. After the last putt drops on Friday and Saturday, family-friendly concerts and fireworks begin at the Michelob Ultra Terrace. Friday night, String Theory Band plays covers from the ’60s to today. Saturday night, it’s country rock with the Bryan Bobo Band. Spectator tickets required.

5Schedule some adult time on Saturday by dropping off the kids at the MetLife Kids Club at the Honda Pavilion. They’ll have supervised, age-appropriate games with contests and prizes. For kids 3 and up, from 2 to 8 p.m., Saturday only. Free with spectator ticket.

- Barbara Marshall

Five best happy hours in PBG

iBar, PGA National. 627-4852 : Start your happy hour journey at the center of it all – literally. iBar sits in the lobby of the PGA Resort, near the Ironwood Grill, so when you need a change of scenery from the action on the greens, settle in for the 2-4-6-8 special – $2 draft beers, $4 house cocktails, $6 premium martinis and $8 appetizers. 2-4-6-8 deals that we appreciate!

RA Sushi, Downtown at the Gardens, 340-2112: Consistently one of the area’s most varied happy hours, RA offers great deals on sushi, appetizers, sake and other drinks every Monday to Saturday from 3-7 p.m. The open wall of windows at the bar gives a great view for people-watching.

Brio, The Gardens Mall, 622-0491: An upscale-casual Italian bistro, Brio’s not fooling around with either the food – a $2.95 bar menu including hearty burgers and ravioli – or the $5 martini menu in the bar. It’s another great people-watching spot, and since it’s located in The Gardens Mall, there’s plenty of parking.

Dirty Martini, Downtown at the Gardens, 799-1115: Classy, mood-lit and slightly mysterious, the lounge offers Dirty Hour (we love the name and its saucy implications) from 4-8 p.m., featuring half-priced appetizers and (of course) martinis.

Spoto’s, 4560 PGA Blvd., 776-9448: The whole point of Florida in late winter, particularly if you’re visiting from someplace cold, is fresh seafood. So it’s a perfect time to check out Spoto’s seven-day-a-week happy hours from 4-6 p.m. There are $1.50 bluepoint oysters, $1 cherry stone clams, plus $4.75 appetizers and $3.50 house wines.

These waterside joints are no hazard

Waterway Café, 2300 PGA Blvd., 694-1700: Consistently one of the most popular eateries and drinkeries in the area, Waterway has not only several signature drinks and a winning happy hour but boat access, a jamming Sunday night reggae dance party and excellent crab cakes.

Panama Hattie’s and Rum Bar, 11511 Ellison Wilson Road, 316-9414: If you’re looking for some fun in the sun just down the street from the action at the PGA, you’ve come to the right place. Inside, Panama Hattie’s offers sun-drenched views of the Intracoastal while dining on some of the area’s best seafood and sipping some mighty cocktails. And if you’re in a beachy mood, settle into a chair in the sand at the Rum Bar, and enjoy a rum-based libation and some excellent beach fare (we like the tuna tacos).

Seasons 52, 11611 Ellison Wilson Road, 625-5852: Famous nationwide for its seasonally inspired menu featuring fresh, inventive items all under 475 calories each, the PGA location of Seasons 52 happens to be in seasonless South Florida. Bonus: It’s right on the water, with dining out on the patio, and nightly live music.

The River House, 2373 PGA Blvd., 694-1188: Upscale seafood dining, boat access, a waterfront bar under a gazebo and a Wine Spectator-acknowledged wine list. What’s not to love?

- Leslie Gray Streeter

GREEN FEES

(dollars.

You’ll need some here)

Five Places

to Shop

in PBG

The Gardens Mall is the jewel in the crown of Palm Beach Gardens’ rich retail landscape. The high-end center’s tenants include Burberry, Chanel, David Yurman, Henri Bendel, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and Tiffany & Co.

3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, (561) 622-2115, TheGardensMall.com

Golf Club Art features the work of West Palm Beach artist Jeff Diamond, a former lamp manufacturer who turns golf club heads into sculptures, wall hangings, fruit bowls, umbrella stands, tables and, of course, lamps.

Downtown at the Gardens (next to Cabo Flats), 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave., Palm Beach Gardens, (561) 514-5570, GolfClubArt.com

At Kimono My House, kimono collector and seamstress Elizabeth Bartholomew showcases the one-of-a-kind jackets, dresses and caftans – plus pillows and placemats – she creates from gorgeous textiles imported from Japan.

11678 US Highway 1, Palm Beach Gardens, (561) 625-4446

T is for Table has got a hostess’ every table-setting need covered. Its stock includes items by Carrol Boyes, Vietri, Mariposa, Union Street Glass, Juliska, Lampe Berger and more.

PGA Commons East, 4600 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, (561) 799-9733, TisforTable.com

Carrying only made-in-the-USA jeans, Oliver Boutique boasts more than 100 piles of denim to paw through (Genetic, Siwy, Seven for All Mankind), plus undergarments (Hanky Panky) and accessories (CC Skye bracelets, Rebecca Minkoff bags).

4767 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, (561) 626-6323, OliverClothing.com

HONDA CLASSIC: Thursday-March 4, PGA National Resort & Spa, 400 Avenue of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens

(877) 432-6031.

Is The Killing's Joel Kinnaman Your New RoboCop?

2012-02-25T16:02:27Z
These deals-in-the-making stories always carry a grain of salt since nothing in Hollywood is ever so sure just about until the cameras roll, but the trade scoop that The Killing's Joel Kinnaman may be your next RoboCop is just too tantalizing. Joel Kinnaman who, you may ask, and rightly so? The Swedish-American actor's been in [...]
These deals-in-the-making stories always carry a grain of salt since nothing in Hollywood is ever so sure just about until the cameras roll, but the trade scoop that The Killing's Joel Kinnaman may be your next RoboCop is just too tantalizing. Joel Kinnaman who, you may ask, and rightly so? The Swedish-American actor's been in a handful of stateside film projects here and there (including the recent Safe House and, briefly, Fincher's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo ) but the closer I look at his work, the more enticing this casting move becomes.

According to a Tweet by Variety's Jeff Sneider (also confirmed by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter ), Kinnaman has been offered the lead in Jose Padilha's reboot of Paul Verhoeven's 1987 sci-fi pic. "Dealmaking is expected to begin imminently," writes THR's Boris Kit, whatever that really means. In any case, it's the first solid movement on a RoboCop lead since those Michael Fassbender fantasy rumors were waved away by the secretive Padilha.

Kinnaman's not an obvious choice to headline a high profile franchise reboot, but he's been dancing on the cusp of breakout status for a few years. The 32-year-old Kinnaman got his start in Swedish film, most notably taking the lead in Daniel Espinosa's crime adaptation Easy Money (AKA Snabba Cash ), based on Jens Lapidus's novel; the film is being released in the U.S. on July 27 and will be remade in English with Zac Efron , while a Kinnaman-starring sequel, Snabba Cash II, is set for release in Sweden in 2012.

According to the Swedish website Ostran.se , Kinnaman was once up for the leads in both Thor and Mad Max 4 (the roles went to Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hardy, respectively), so Hollywood filmmakers have already been looking at him to carry a major studio release. But while he's obviously pretty easy on the eyes, it's his screen presence -- whether speaking English and Swedish -- that's impressed me the most. Take a look at Kinnaman below and weigh in: Is there cause to be excited if this is indeed your new RoboCop?

Snabba Cash trailer:

In a scene from Swedish franchise entry Johan Falk: National Target (opposite Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol's Samuli Edelmann):

Behind the scenes on AMC's The Killing (via Slashfilm ):

In the trailer for Snabba Cash II (via Playlist ):

Wanderlust Movie Review: One Funny Farce

2012-02-25T16:00:55Z

Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd have great screen chemistry, as we first saw in The Object of My Affection. You can imagine our delight when we heard about their re-teaming in Wanderlust. The film is a true comic farce, which doesn’t forget the heart.

Rudd and Aniston play a married Manhattan couple. Right after they buy their dream “mini-loft,” her documentary gets rejected by HBO and his company is closed by the government for fraud. What’s a pair of soul mates to do? Unfortunately with no other options, they pack up and drive to Atlanta, where Rudd’s brother lives. As established early, this guy is -- how do we put this nicely -- a jerk.

Moments before they arrive in Atlanta, the late-night hour gets to the couple and they pull over at a B&B in northern Georgia. Welcome to Elysium, a commune. Don’t say that hippie-associated word near Justin Theroux’s character, the leader of our fair communal troupe. Like the classic Clash song, soon Aniston and Rudd are asking Should I Stay or Should I Go? One night at the brother’s house is all they need to answer that question. In a truly funny movie, the scenes in the Atlanta mansion where Rudd’s brother lives are among the film’s most hilarious.

They give themselves two weeks to see if they can handle Elysium. The film truly gets going when it dives into what it means to be a part of a community where everyone shares everything. What appears to be a pure life of living without boundaries clearly is not without complications. Rudd is the first to see this and thus where our film’s conflict arises from.

Wanderlust Red Band Trailer

Rudd and Aniston are a dream team of comic couplehood. Their play off of each other is effortless. But, they are not the true stars of the film. That award goes to Theroux and his enigmatic Seth. How the actor says the lines he emits and is able to deliver them with such humorous panache is beyond what we expected. He single-handedly raises Wanderlust from an average fish-out-of-water comedy and brings it to Nirvana.

There are obvious scenes where director David Wain ( Role Models ) allowed his actors to go off on an improvisational path. The performer who takes that baton and runs with it the most is Rudd. In one particular sequence, he takes what could have been awkwardly mundane and made it legendary. His comedy chops have never been called into question. Yet after witnessing him in a fall-on-the-floor hilarious scene with Elysium resident Malin Akerman that was clearly improv gone wild, our high esteem for the actor crept ever higher.

HUMPHREY BOGART CASTS A DARK SHADOW IN NOIR DRENCHED ‘CONFLICT’

2012-02-25T08:05:12Z
Lately, I've been on a huge Humphrey Bogart kick, with my obsession going to dramatic lengths after my recent purchase of Bertie Higgins' 1982 CD Just Another Day In Paradise. For readers under 40 or naysayers of Charmin soft pop music, Mr. Higgins wrote and performed the Top Ten hit "Key Largo," which featured [...]

Lately, I’ve been on a huge Humphrey Bogart kick, with my obsession going to dramatic lengths after my recent purchase of Bertie Higgins’ 1982 CD Just Another Day In Paradise. For readers under 40 or naysayers of Charmin soft pop music, Mr. Higgins wrote and performed the Top Ten hit “Key Largo,” which featured the catchy refrain, “We had it all, just like Bogey and Bacall.”

What doesn’t exactly quite have it all, but has way more than enough, is the recent MOD (manufactured on demand) DVD release Conflict. One of Bogart’s lesser known pictures, the 1945 feature is based on an original story (titled The Pentacle) by The Killers filmmaker Robert Siodmak and Alfred Neuman.

Richard Manson (Bogart) is an engineering executive trapped in a loveless marriage with his shrewish wife Katherine (Rose Hobart). Any flicker of passion between the two has extinguished, as only has eyes for Katherine’s sister Evelyn (Alexis Smith). A girl next door type with only love in her eyes, Evelyn utters such lines as “It doesn’t matter what happens to people as long as they have something to live for,” words which put Richard down an even deeper emotional hole.

After a dinner held by their psychiatrist friend (Sydney Greenstreet, commanding the screen as usual) to celebrate their fifth anniversary, Richard drives his spouse and sister-in-law home. But it’s a rainy night, and a quick glance at Evelyn through the rear view mirror distracts him just enough to crash his vehicle, leaving him wheelchair bound for weeks. From the comfort of his chair, he hatches a seemingly foolproof way to murder his spouse on a deserted mountain road.

His plan starts off without a hitch, as a luckless ex-convict is arrested in suspicion of the killing. But Conflict is a straight up film noir, and whether it’s a cop, a killer, a private eye, or a femme fatale’s latest victim, fate has a way of evening the score. After receiving a phantom phone call and finding traces of Katherine’s belongings (a locket, a kerchief) in random places, Richard wonders if his wife is a ghost, or worse, still alive.

Bogart wasn’t too thrilled with Conflict’s screenplay, and he originally rejected the role, a decision which didn’t sit well with Warner Bros. honcho Jack Warner. Under contract with the studio, Bogart eventually relented, and even if it’s not one of his more memorable roles, Conflict has its merits, thanks to the direction of German born filmmaker Curtis Bernhardt and solid performances from all the leads.

With a prolific directing career in Germany behind him (as well as several European pictures), Bernhardt started off in Hollywood by signing a seven picture deal with Warner Brothers. Merging German expressionist touches and studio system drama, Bernhardt creates a killer swallowed up in his own darkness, lost in the shadows of a suffocating telephone booth, limping his way back to the scene of the crime. Conflict is a picture right out of Fritz Lang’s cinematic oeuvre of fatalism, and it’s a surprise Bernhardt, who would direct two subsequent Warner Bros. noirs (A Stolen Life with Bette Davis and Possessed, starring Joan Crawford), is a name one wouldn’t put next to Siodmak, Jacques Tourneur, or Lang.

The DVD also comes with an overly dramatic (but highly welcome) trailer for Conflict, and it features appearances from Bogart and Greenstreet (they’re both in character) discussing Katherine’s murder. “Never has the screen presented a more daring motion picture,” reads the scrawl as the trailer closes. “(A) Powerful drama which lays bare the innermost soul of a man torn between two loves - caught in the inescapable conflict of his overpowering emotions. It’s Humphrey Bogart at his best.”

I’ve seen better, but if you’re sick of watching Casablanca or The African Queen, Conflict is an easy on the eyes bedfellow, especially if your heart belongs to noir.

Conflict is available to order at www.warnerarchive.com or www.wbshop.com

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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi )

Academy Awards 2012: What’s on this weekend!

2012-02-25T08:04:43Z
So much Oscar programming, so little time! Luckily, here’s a rundown of what Oscar-related shows are on TV this weekend

Miami’s Poulos hits the stage at Broward Center in ‘Billy Elliot’

2012-02-25T08:02:37Z
Miami native Mitch Poulos will hit the stage at Broward Center for The Performing Arts in Billy Elliot starting Feb. 29. Poulos stars as Big Davey, and is also the understudy for Dad and George. He’s coming home to South Florida where it all started for him. He brings not only “versatility” in wearing different [...]

Mitch Poulos got started in drama in a kids' theater in Coral Gables. (Courtesy MitchPoulos.com)

Miami native Mitch Poulos will hit the stage at Broward Center for The Performing Arts in Billy Elliot starting Feb. 29.

Poulos stars as Big Davey, and is also the understudy for Dad and George. He’s coming home to South Florida where it all started for him.

He brings not only “versatility” in wearing different hats throughout show, but also a true understanding of the full circle his life has now made as he returns to the place that gave him the desire to want to pursue drama.

Before he was a teenager, Poulos attended his first production at the Merry Go Round Playhouse which used to be in Coral Gables. It was during a production of The Wizard of Oz that he became captivated with the theatre world and decided that he wanted to take acting classes.

Directions, nearby dining

He continued to learn his craft in junior and senior high school, learning drama from teachers that to this day he is still tremendously grateful to and in touch with.

He began to work in shows on the weekends and after graduation attended the Boston Conservatory of Music. A desire to get to New York landed him at a theater session at New York University’s Circle on the Square.

Poulos then attended the University of Miami, working with actors like Ray Liotta and Steven Bauer and appearing at UM’s theater, The Ring.

He was fortunate to then get on the national tour of Billy Elliot, which played in Toronto, Canada and later in the U.S. for the second tour.

In his role as Big Davey, Poulos’ favorite part of the show is during a scene where he lends Billy much needed support. Poulos’ character helps break up a fight, and the townspeople are brought together with him leading them with the song “He Could Go and He Could Shine”.

He shared that he too was fortunate in that he had several people that were prominent in persuading him to pursue his talent. Both drama teachers from junior and senior high school recognized his gift and encouraged him to push farther.

Poulos is excited about being in South Florida where he will show his family and friends how much his talent has evolved.

He said that his best training came from that little theatre in Coral Gables, the Merry Go Round, and he hopes that the message in Billy Elliot — is about individuality and being true to self and taking that step in trusting people to support you — will resonate with South Florida.

Oscar Predictions: S.T. VanAirsdale On the Usual — and Not-So-Usual — Suspects Favored This Weekend

2012-02-25T08:02:10Z
Forty-eight hours to Oscar. Gut-check time — or maybe make that "gut-instinct check" time, a moment to break away from the meticulous zeitgeist-combing science of Movieline's Institute For the Advanced Study of Kudos Forensics and make a few choices for myself. Not that they'll be so different, but if you can't go with a hunch [...]
Forty-eight hours to Oscar. Gut-check time — or maybe make that "gut-instinct check" time, a moment to break away from the meticulous zeitgeist-combing science of Movieline's Institute For the Advanced Study of Kudos Forensics and make a few choices for myself. Not that they'll be so different, but if you can't go with a hunch where 5,765 fickle, insular industry minds are concerned, then what can you go with? We can't all be be Otis the Oscar Cat , you know. Anyway, let's make this quick:

BEST PICTURE

A certain voluble sliver of the Oscar punditocracy likes to whine about The Artist's awards-season supremacy — as if it signaled some searing compromise of the Academy's historic tradition of recognizing only the finest, most artistically challenging and rigidly contemporary work. These people sound like some bitter old man bitching about how the Super Bowl halftime show never features anyone good anymore, or some mouth-breathing fanboy complaining about the vanquished integrity of Star Wars. You guys, they were never good to begin with. In their own way — as meritocratic tastemakers — neither were the Academy Awards. This year's foregone Artist win has less to do with regressive, reductive cultural tastes than it does with Harvey Weinstein being a good marketer, no different than 15 years ago. If these whinging bozos won't learn, then can't they at least shut up?

Will win: The Artist

Should win: Melancholia. Wait, what? Oh. Fuck it. That's the best picture of 2011. Period.

BEST DIRECTOR

Have you seen Midnight in Paris recently? Man, that one does not hold up. The Descendants never did in the first place. Hugo is fine, but I think the groundswell of voters who got Terrence Malick into the competition in the first place could be formidable enough to actually sweep him right past Martin Scorsese into very close competition with Michel Hazanavicius. In fact, you know what? I'll call it for Malick, why the hell not.

Will win: Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

Should win: Lars von Trier, Melancholia. Yes, I heard you the first time. Make your own predictions.

BEST ACTOR

Here's where I'm a lot more confident in the upset factor: Demián Bichir hasn't won jack most of the year, but ask around in awards circles and he's the one guy everyone loves. Well, they love Jean Dujardin and George Clooney, too, but they love Bichir a little... different. The truth is that where a lot of observers are tripping over each other to taxonomize the trends in this year's race (nostalgia? Francophilia?), a parallel, white-Academy-guilt reality suggests recognizing stand-ins for the social underclass. The same voters who are rallying for Viola Davis over Meryl Streep are facing a decision Best Actor as well, and Dujardin's precursor triumphs aside, I don't see why Bichir (who, by the way, is also good in the film) persists as such an also-ran under the circumstances.

Will win: Demián Bichir, A Better Life

Should win: Brad Pitt, Moneyball

BEST ACTRESS

For not only the quality of her performance but also her unerring class, grace, and eloquence evinced one step after another all awards-season long, Viola Davis, this one's for you.

Will win: Viola Davis, The Help

Should win: Viola Davis, The Help

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

I love Christopher Plummer — sincerely — and I remain pretty certain that he will win. Nevertheless, does the Academy really have the heart to shaft Nick Nolte again — especially after that whole Moby Dick-off-the-wagon scene in Warrior? If Nolte doesn't win, we'll be laughing at that sequence for the rest of our natural lives. Only Oscar can rescue its solemnity now. Academy, do your worst.

Will win: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Should win: Nick Nolte, Warrior

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Does anyone care about this "race" anymore? Did they ever? It's Jacki Weaver's world and we're still living in it .

Will win: Octavia Spencer, The Help

Should win: Anyone's fine, really

And the rest.... feel free to mark those ballots in ink:

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Stan Chervin, Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian, Moneyball

BEST ANIMATED FILM FEATURE
Rango

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FEATURE
A Separation, Iran

BEST ART DIRECTION
Laurence Bennett, Robert Gould, The Artist

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Life

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Lisy Christl, Anonymous

BEST FILM EDITING
Christopher Tellefsen, Moneyball

BEST MAKEUP
The Iron Lady

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Ludovic Bource, The Artist

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Man or Muppet," The Muppets

BEST SOUND EDITING
War Horse

BEST SOUND MIXING
War Horse

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Rise of the Planet of the Apes

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Saving Face

BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT
Tuba Atlantic

BEST ANIMATED SHORT
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

PREVIOUSLY
Stephanie Zacharek's Oscar Predictions
Otis the Oscar Cat Predicts Best Picture

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Oscars 2012: Why 'Drive' Deserved A Best Picture Nod

2012-02-25T08:01:28Z
Nine films are nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year, begging the question: who deserved a tenth spot on that list? Oscars 2012: 10 Spot answers that question, as the MTV Movies team highlights some of 2011's greatest films and argues why they deserved a nod as the tenth Best Picture nominee. [...]

Nine films are nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards this year, begging the question: who deserved a tenth spot on that list? Oscars 2012: 10 Spot answers that question, as the MTV Movies team highlights some of 2011's greatest films and argues why they deserved a nod as the tenth Best Picture nominee.

I dare you to name a more visceral movie-going experience from 2011 than the gritty, gripping " Drive ." Nicholas Winding Refn's taut drama outpaced a slow and steady field of contenders, taking audiences on a white-knuckle ride they won't soon forget. And how did the Academy choose to recognize this well-oiled movie machine? With a nomination for Best Achievement in Sound Editing. Clearly deserved, but falling miles short of the numerous noms it should have earned. (I mean, how did that scorpion jacket not cinch up a Costume Design nomination?) But I digress, because the category we're here to discuss is the coveted 10 Spot in the Best Picture race.

To be sure, "Drive" would have been the most oddball nominee—what with its gratuitous violence, zippy car chases and pulsing synth soundtrack—in a race populated by heartfelt nostalgia pieces ("Hugo," "Midnight in Paris," "The Artist") and character-driven dramas ("The Descendants," "Moneyball"). But that certainly doesn't make it less worthy. If anything, its uniqueness should have been an asset.

Its cast must have known they were making something special too, because each gave performances worthy of their own Oscar statuettes. Ryan Gosling, all steely and stoic, didn't utter much dialogue, but he didn't need to—one meaningful glance or one crack of the knuckles conveyed everything we needed to know about his strong, silent Driver. Then there's Albert Brooks, known chiefly for his comedic roles, who took a turn for the serious in "Drive" and never looked back. I think we can all agree a Best Supporting Actor nomination should have been his for portraying villainous Bernie Rose.

"Drive" also looked (and sounded) like nothing else we saw this year. Eschewing the oft-treaded, glitzy streets of L.A., Refn opted for "real" locations (the Valley!), using Gosling as his real-life wheelman as he scouted locations. Throw in an unforgettable '80s-esque soundtrack (we're looking at you College!) and it all adds up to a film that blew our hair back and had us raring for more. Unfortunately, it seems the Academy viewed "Drive" not as the slick hot rod it was, but as the little engine that couldn't.

The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 26, tune into MTV.com at 5:30 p.m. ET for our three-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night's big winners.

Oscars 2012: We're Live Streaming The Red Carpet!

2012-02-25T08:01:13Z
Where do you plan to be on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET? If your answer doesn't include some variation of "logged on to Hollywood Crush, watching the Oscars red-carpet live stream," then you got it wrong. Hollywood's biggest night is nearly here, and we're gearing up to bring you every memorable moment from outside the [...]
Where do you plan to be on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET? If your answer doesn't include some variation of "logged on to Hollywood Crush, watching the Oscars red-carpet live stream," then you got it wrong.

Hollywood's biggest night is nearly here, and we're gearing up to bring you every memorable moment from outside the famed Kodak Theatre. MTV News' own Josh Horowitz and Christina Garibaldi will be prowling the red carpet, snatching up your favorite stars to talk about their hopes, dreams and fashion highs and lows. Meanwhile, your trusty Hollywood Crush writers will be snug inside the MTV studios adding our own color commentary during our Oscars red-carpet live blog.

It all goes down Sunday from 5-7:30 p.m. ET. Yep, that's 180 minutes of live Oscar coverage even before the show starts. You won't want to miss it.

The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 25, tune into MTV.com at 5:00 p.m. ET for our two-and-a-half-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night's big winners.

Puss in Boots Purrs onto DVD and Blu-Ray

2012-02-25T08:00:46Z

One of 2011’s best animated features (and Oscar nominee ) has premiered on Blu-Ray and DVD: Puss in Boots. The lovable furry kitty from the Shrek movies gets his own flick starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis.

What’s not to love about the Puss in Boots home video? Absolutely nothing! In fact, there is even a bonus movie included in the package that is sure to thrill. The Three Diablos is a new adventure starring Puss along with three of the cutest animated kittens you will ever see on screen.

The Puss in Boots DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack that Movie Fanatic received for review had us spending hours basking in the fantastic creativity by DreamWorks Animation.

Leading the extras excellence is a feature called The Animators’ Corner that takes viewers inside the making of the film. Filmmaker interviews feature many noted animators that all came together to create a modern animated masterpiece. The kids will adore the bonus feature called A DreamWorks Fairytale that allows them to craft their own custom Jack and Jill, Humpty Dumpty or Jack and the Beanstalk story.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, further features showcase the talent behind the film including in depth interviews with Banderas, Hayek and Galifianakis.

Alex Makes Art #72

2012-02-25T00:06:18Z
Oh hey! Look who's here! It's me, the rapidly unraveling grad student who can't seem to keep her shit together to blog more than once a week! Look at that. I haven't had much time to make art either, which is really depressing me. I can only say that updating (both reviews and art posts) will continue to be lessened- but never completely stopped- until at least April. You'll all survive, somehow, I'm sure, even if I don't.

Anyway. I managed to make a new movie poster! Wow! I saw Princess Mononoke at the Boston MFA last week and it was splendid to see on a big screen (and with subtitles, my goodness!) so I was inspired to design something for it. I hope you enjoy this thing I have made, it is available for purchase if you really do! A review is on the way.

Also as a little extra, here's another entry in that big commission series I've been working on for an etsy customer. I've never seen One Tree Hill but she had a more specific idea for the subject matter and after reading up a bit on the characters I came up with this. She likes it! Hurray!

Oh also my Bringing Up Baby and The Apartment posters are for sale, did I mention that?

Keepin' It Reel, Episode 157

2012-02-25T00:05:09Z
This week's movie podcast topics include Die Hard 5, Skyfall, John Carter, Star Wars and Hunger Games, as well as our Oscar picks.

Holiday Mathis’ horoscopes for Fri., Feb. 24

2012-02-25T00:03:26Z
The opposition of Mercury in Pisces and Mars in Virgo is still in effect, giving a terse edge to communication. The good news is that it can be softened with careful wording and, perhaps even more important, an even, friendly tone of voice. The tension breaks this evening, and by tomorrow good humor returns. ARIES [...]
The opposition of Mercury in Pisces and Mars in Virgo is still in effect, giving a terse edge to communication. The good news is that it can be softened with careful wording and, perhaps even more important, an even, friendly tone of voice. The tension breaks this evening, and by tomorrow good humor returns.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Avoid the person who insists on helping you regardless of whether you need or want them to. Notice how this overly helpful energy feels repellent, and heed the warning in that feeling.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You know what you know, and you’re not so worried about the rest because you also know where you can find out more if you need to. You show your true intelligence through what you choose to share (and leave out).

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s better to be real about who you are and what you can do (and want to do!) than to try for sainthood. A fallen halo becomes a leash. Avoid over-promising. Don’t give anyone a reason to have one up on you.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You please people every day, but you’re not a “people pleaser” who sacrifices his or her own joy to satisfy others. It just so happens that when you make yourself happy, others smile, too.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). “There is no terror in a bang,” said the iconic suspense filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, “only in the anticipation of it.” May these wise words from a fellow Leo help you stop fretting and move forward.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Instead of laboring over a decision, you weigh the pros and cons in an instant. You trust your subconscious mind to pick up the details that you miss with your conscious mind and give each item the proper credence.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Avoid asking, “Do you know what I mean?” It’s important that you sound incredibly self-assured. The words you choose send a signal to others about what you’re trying to say and how seriously to consider your message.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You eventually will outgrow these conditions that right now feel so much like who you are. Disassociate yourself from what is happening for a moment, and acknowledge that you’re bigger than this circumstance.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). One way you can tell that you are fully engaged in life is that when you move, the world naturally adjusts and reacts, making way for you. Notice your special power today and enjoy it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Take pause from striving. You don’t have to achieve or succeed at anything to be secure in the universe. You always have a place. Whether you are feeling it at the moment or not, you fit.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It would be absurd to avoid reading a story because you’re afraid of how it will end. It is equally absurd not to start a relationship because you don’t know how it will end. Go forward in good faith.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You have much to give now, and there’s a demanding task on the table just waiting for someone to take charge. Self-confidence and dedication will be required, and you have plenty of both.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 24). Your flexible attitude helps you move with the times. Loved ones wine and dine you in the weeks to come, and you deserve the extra attention. You’ll sign important documents in March. In June, a fellow adventurer encourages you to move forward into unexplored territory. You’ll make money using new skills. Cancer and Capricorn people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 2, 41, 20 and 24.

WEEKEND LOVE FORECAST: ARIES: Your social savvy will save you from boredom and put you right at the center of the action. TAURUS: Silly games will bring you closer to the ones you love. GEMINI: You have a few hobbies, but you’re starting to sense that you need one you can enjoy with your partner, or one that brings you into contact with potential partners. Get on that now. CANCER: Your emotional intelligence will grow as you deal with a complicated individual. LEO: Just when you think you can read a person, you’ll be thrown for an interesting loop. VIRGO: Someone from your past resurfaces reminding you of who you used to be. LIBRA: You’ll sense a connection between you and someone you hardly know. SCORPIO: You are extra perceptive, but you need to be careful not to take things too personally. SAGITTARIUS: Your fearless attitude will inspire others and help your love grow in new directions. CAPRICORN: What you can’t buy you can borrow to make this weekend truly remarkable. AQUARIUS: You’ll ask nicely and get just what you want from a loved one. PISCES: Your charisma is undeniable. You will get more attention than you’ll know what to do with.

COUPLE OF THE WEEKEND: Taurus and Pisces use different methods to understand their environment, though they often come to the same conclusion about things. Taurus gets information through smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing and draws a conclusion as to another person’s feelings, interest level and, ultimately, devotion. Pisces comes to the same conclusion through dreams, instinct and an intuitive knowing.

If you would like to write to Holiday Mathis, please go to www.creators.com and click on “Write the Author” on the Holiday Mathis page, or you may send her a postcard in the mail. To find out more about Holiday Mathis and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

MARK RUFFALO MAKE HULK FACE

2012-02-25T00:02:40Z
Here is your first look at Mark Ruffalo in his full motion-capture Hulk get-up from The Avengers. No spoilers on the home page; click through for the Hulk-y goodness/weirdness, whatever. The faithful will find more Avengers photos at ScreenRant (via /film). That is all.
Here is your first look at Mark Ruffalo in his full motion-capture Hulk get-up from The Avengers. No spoilers on the home page; click through for the Hulk-y goodness/weirdness, whatever.

The faithful will find more Avengers photos at ScreenRant (via /film ). That is all.

'Wanderlust,' 'Act Of Valor,' And More: Double Feature Friday!

2012-02-25T00:01:47Z
If one movie is never enough for you and you're looking for a flick to get you in the mood for this week's new release, Double Feature Friday is here to help. Every week we break down the new releases and pair them with older movies that you should catch before heading out to the [...]

If one movie is never enough for you and you're looking for a flick to get you in the mood for this week's new release, Double Feature Friday is here to help. Every week we break down the new releases and pair them with older movies that you should catch before heading out to the theater. Or just skip the new movie and check out the classic we recommend.

"Wanderlust" & "Martha Marcy May Marlene"
Compared side-by-side, Justin Theroux's Seth in "Wanderlust" and John Hawkes' Patrick in "Martha Marcy May Marlene" may not look that different. These charismatic leaders of their respective communities welcome new members to their tight-knit, alternative families with songs on guitar and soft-spoken charm. That's about where the similarities end. Seth leads a free-living commune, while Patrick heads a dangerous cult. The similarities and differences here make quite the pairing, and with "Martha Marcy May Marlene" coming out on video this past week, there's never been a better time to check it out if you missed it in theaters.

"Act of Valor" & "Commando"
In "Actor of Valor," real Navy SEALs bring an ultra-realistic vision of modern war to the big screen. In "Commando," Arnold Schwarzenegger rips the front seat out of a car and eats Green Berets for breakfast. The only way to properly prepare yourself for the real deal is to enjoy the ridiculous opposite end of the spectrum. Schwarzenegger may not have been a real life soldier, but he's the muscle-bound, Speedo-wearing ideal we should all strive to be.

"Good Deeds" & "Good Will Hunting"
The title "Good Deeds" makes enough sense without knowing that Tyler Perry's character is named Wesley Deeds, ("OH, GOOD DEEDS! I GET IT!") but the title of the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck-penned drama barely makes sense without knowing connecting it to Will's name. "Good Will Hunting" still plays well all these years later, and there are few greater joys than seeing where the guy who brought you "Surviving Christmas" got his big break.

"Gone" & "Mystic River"
If you want to see a real movie about a former kidnapping victim taking the law into his own hands, look no further than Clint Eastwood's 2003 Boston-set acting all-star game. Tim Robbins and Sean Penn took home Oscars for their portrayals of boyhood friends dealing with the disappearance of Emmy Rossum.

'Hunger Games' Woody Harrelson Spills On Haymitch's Alcohol Content

2012-02-25T00:01:30Z
When it comes to Woody Harrelson's portrayal of Haymitch Abernathy in "The Hunger Games" movie, there's really just one question on pretty much everyone's mind: Exactly how wasted is Haymitch going to be in any given scene? Because let's be real, in order to stay true to the books, Woody would have to be visibly [...]
When it comes to Woody Harrelson 's portrayal of Haymitch Abernathy in " The Hunger Games " movie, there's really just one question on pretty much everyone's mind: Exactly how wasted is Haymitch going to be in any given scene? Because let's be real, in order to stay true to the books, Woody would have to be visibly buzzed on District 12's special sauce just about every time he's on screen. (And for good measure, he should probably be shouting obscenities and crashing into things in the background even when he's not technically in the scene.) And when we asked Woody about it, he said that striking the right balance of wasted-ness was definitely one of his major concerns when it came to playing the part.

"I was a little bit worried about looking kind of phony," he admitted.

Of course, there is one way to make sure your drunken performance is as authentic as possible—which was not lost on Woody.

"Now some method actors might go drunk on-screen," he mused. But the veteran actor said that one early attempt at that approach was more than enough: "I tried it one time when I was doing 'Indecent Proposal.' I had this scene, and I was supposed to be really drunk...and I got smashed! Because I was supposed to be, so I rationalized it. But it wasn't a pleasant experience."

And in the end, he said, what we'll see is a Haymitch of Variable Drunkenness, thanks to the input of director Gary Ross.

"There was a thing during filming, with me and Gary trying to decide the level of drunkenness in any given scene," Woody explained. "I was always pushing for more drunkenness, but he didn't want me to be drunk in every scene. I was always pushing for more, just because I think it's kind of funny and interesting. But knowing Gary, I think he got the right balance."

And really, Woody should just be glad Gary didn't make him drink the actual concoction upon which Haymitch relied for his daily buzz in the "Hunger Games" books. Because we hear it tasted like a combination of motor oil and monkey pee.

How drunk would you like your Haymitch when the movie hits theaters? Sound off in the comments and on Twitter !

Gone Movie Review: Amanda Seyfried's Scary Thriller

2012-02-25T00:00:47Z

Amanda Seyfried has been running for her life in the most intense of Gone trailers . After experiencing the young actresses’ film, it’s easy to see why her character could not sit still and relax without continually looking over her shoulder. Seyfried stars as Jill. She claims to have been the only woman to have survived a serial killer. Only thing is police can't find any proof that her story is real. Throughout the film, flashbacks are doled out with the right amount of tease to illustrate that Jill is not lying. Or is she?

Safely taking her meds and working at a local diner, Jill is putting her life back together. One morning she comes home from work and discovers her sister Gone from the house. Through Seyfried’s powerful eyes, we see that something is extremely not right. In fact, the scene is awfully familiar to the one her character describes having experienced. Upon involving the police, she realizes how alone she is in the search for her sister.

It’s a race against the clock thriller. Jill knows how long the kidnapper keeps a subject alive before taking their life, and as such, the “time’s up moment” is constantly hanging over the film like a black cloud.

Gone is Seyfried’s movie. The actress has truly come into her own. The promise seen in Mean Girls and Mamma Mia has come to full fruition. Heck, we even thought the actress was the best thing about In Time ! And in Gone, she doles out just enough of an emotional roller coaster ride that it keeps the audience’s guessing as to how this story will play out.

Gone Trailer

Movie Fanatic also salutes the production as they made Portland, Oregon and its vast natural resources a character in the film. When producers could have easily filmed it in Vancouver and saved some coin, for authenticity and the continued success of the U.S. film market, Gone goodness also lies in its locale. It pays off within the story. As Seyfried is racing through the dense forest, convinced she is moments away from finding her sister, by that point in the story -- we know that our journey has been in the American Pacific Northwest, a site with a storied history of people vanishing… and sometimes turning up.

At times, the film can come across as a stretch. Most thrillers can suffer under the weight of their premise. With Seyfried in control of her emotional power and demons as Jill, getting Gone with the actress is a solid two hours spent.