March isn’t just for basketball, it’s also time for the Academy Awards! After many years of five “Best Picture” nominees, ten films have been shortlisted for this year’s award. Although this category has included only five nominees for many years, there have been as many as twelve films nominated. If you want to geek out on the Oscars, visit the Academy Awards Database. Listed here are films that were nominated from 1931 to 1940, when the “Best Picture” category was called “Outstanding Production,” and the number of films nominated topped out at twelve.
- Crystal
British actor Jeremy Irons was born in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, a small island just off the south coast of England. His career began with two years of training at the Bristol Old Vic School, after which he joined the repertory company working in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary dramas. He moved to London in 1971 and had a number of odd jobs before landing the role of John the Baptist in the hit musical “Godspell”. Irons made his on-screen debut in Nijinsky. In the early 80s, he gained international attention with his starring role in the adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel Brideshead Revisited. In 1984 he won a Tony for his role opposite Glenn Close in Tom Stoppard’s “The Real Thing.” Irons won an Oscar in 1990 for his role again opposite Glenn Close in Reversal of Fortune. His most-watched movie from the 1990’s may only include his voice –he brought to life Scar in The Lion King. His latest roles include Brom in 2007’s Eragon, and the Earl of Leicester in Elizabeth I.
The 2010 Winter Olympic Games is just a few weeks away. Go Team USA! For all things Olympics, visit www.Vancouver2010.com. Learn more about Olympic history through these documentaries and films, available from your Nashville Public Library:
Check out videos about the Olympic Games.
Robert Pattinson, the young British actor who portrays Edward Cullen in the Twilight series movies, is next in a long line of actors who have played dark, brooding characters.
Listed here are others, including the best, Marlon Brando, who have taken a turn at playing the brooding male lead. Unfortunately, the 1939 version of Wuthering Heights with Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff (the ultimate brooding character!) is out of print at this time.
Check out more movies with Dark, Brooding Characters.
- Crystal
There Will Be Blood
Wow! This 2007 movie lives up to its accolades as an American epic, with Daniel Day-Lewis earning an Academy Award for best actor for his mesmerizing portrayal of oil prospector/land speculator/entrepreneur Daniel Plainview. Set in the dust bowl areas of California between 1898 and 1927, Day-Lewis is riveting as a swindling, greedy boss out for land in his quest for his ever-expanding oil drilling operations.
I was sometimes reminded of a few other favorite films, including Paper Moon, No Country for Old Men (in the ironic, elliptical discussions between Plainview and devoutly religious Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), whose main concern is always The Church (he is also a healer and has some hilarious early scenes) and Dead Man (especially in the belching, clacking soundtrack, composed by Johhny Greenwood of Radiohead).
This movie is full of great acting, surrealistic scenes and dark humor. Plainview negotiating with the Standard Oil executives is one such scene. Some of his memorable lines include “I really don’t like people” and “I like all religions…” (the latter as he tries to assuage the townspeople early on that he is sincere in his plans).
The cinematography is often stunning (Academy Award winning, in fact. Comparisons to Citizen Kane are not out of place.) as in the scenes involving building the oil drilling apparatus against the western skies. This is quite a long film and the tension and turmoil builds throughout as Daniel becomes embroiled in conflicts as the ultimate capitalist, obsessed beyond his wits against the determined preacher. Like in HBO’s late great Carnivale series, this central battle at times reaches crazy, epic, disturbing proportions.
A film based on Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel “Oil”, this one is not to be missed!
Winter is in full swing here in Nashville! Looking for something to stave off that cabin fever? Try an epic movie. An epic is a genre of film that emphasizes human drama on a grand scale.
- Crystal
There’s still time to create your list of top ten movies released in 2009. Did you catch all the best of 2008?
Check out the films that at the top of last year’s “best of” lists.
- Crystal
Sugar
This heartfelt film by the writers of Half Nelson realistically follows the life of a minor league baseball player from the Dominican Republic. With a stunning lead performance and an unexpected resolution, this is not your average sports movie.
Bright Star
The butterfly scene alone makes this lovely film about the doomed love of poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne worth your time.
Moon
A Science Fiction movie for people who don’t like Science Fiction movies, this is more art house than action film.
- Beth
Cassandra’s Dream
The brothers, played by Ewan McGregor and Colin Ferrell, were my favorite part of this movie. It’s not Woody Allen’s greatest film, but if you enjoy old-fashioned thrillers in the style of Hitchcock, this one is worth your time.
- Jessica
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
3 1/2 Stars
Woody Allen has been making films outside of New York for the past few years, and Spain proves to be a perfect inspiration and setting for his latest film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Rebecca Hall plays Vicky, an attractive and smart woman engaged to a successful and sensible man. Scarlett Johansson plays Cristina, the beautiful and impulsive best friend of Vicky who knows what she DOESN’T want in life, but can’t figure out which “path” to pursue. The girls are invited to spend two summer months in Barcelona with distant relatives of Vicky’s. This gives Vicky a perfect opportunity to finish work on her thesis topic, Catalan culture. After attending an art gallery opening, the two friends end up at a restaurant where they are approached by the handsome Spanish artist Juan Antonio (played by Javier Bardem.) He proceeds to invite both women away for a weekend of art, food and drink, and lovemaking. Vicky is appalled. Cristina is intrigued. And soon they are on an adventure sure to change the course of their lives. There are several angles to talk up this movie to potential viewers. If you’re a fan of romantic comedies, VCB is replete with witty Woody Allen dialogue and plenty of sensuality. For the armchair traveler, there’s good food and wine, breathtaking sights, and the passionate sounds of Spanish guitar. And I haven’t even mentioned Penelope Cruz’s Oscar-winning performance as Maria Elena, the crazy and gorgeous ex-wife of Juan Antonio’s. Last but not least, see this movie if only to realize that Javier Bardem can play a lover as well or better than a villain.
- Crystal
Junebug
See Amy Adams in the best role of her career in this underrated Southern indie film.
-Beth
What’s the deal with odd numbers and movies? If you give it some thought, I bet you can think of at least three movies off the top of your head with an odd number as the title, or at least an odd number in the title. District 9 debuted in the summer of 2009, and a new movie musical directed by Rob Marshall called Nine also hit the big screen in September.
See list of Odd-Numbered Movies.
- Crystal
Shut Up and Sing
Directed by Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck, 2006
The Dixie Chicks are a polarizing force in music. Ever since the ‘fifteen words heard ‘round the world,’ everyone has an opinion and there aren’t many people in middle. While all of this controversy is a reality, none of it affects the Chicks’ musical talent. Love them or hate them, they can still play.
Ticket sales were slow for the Chicks’ latest tour supporting their first post-comment album, Taking the Long Way. The band was also hoping to capitalize on the release of their video documentary, Shut Up and Sing, directed by Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck. I was pleasantly surprised. Shut Up and Sing is an entertaining look at the album making process. All the struggles and doubts showcased in the movie paid off as the Dixie Chicks swept the 2007 Grammy Awards. This movie is a must-see for any fan of the Chicks.
- Amanda
Asylum
Directed by Roy Ward Baker, 1972
I have a slight obsession with insane asylums. I gobble up books set in asylums, and I absolutely love movies where the action takes place in an asylum. So, when Asylum came out on DVD in 2006, I knew I had to check it out!
Here’s a run-down of the plot: Dr. Martin arrives at the Dunsmoor Asylum for the incurably insane to apply for an open position. He expects to be interviewed by asylum director Dr. Starr. Instead he is met by Dr. Rutherford, who explains that Dr. Starr suffered a mental breakdown and is now one of the patients. If Martin can deduce which patient is really Dr. Starr, the job is his.
Who is Dr. Starr? Is it the woman whose affair with a married man turns murderous? Is it the tailor who made a one-of-a-kind suit for a very mysterious customer, with evil results? Is it the beautiful young lady accused of murdering her brother while her nurse insists “Lucy” did it? Or is it the “doctor” whose specialty is making voodoo dolls? You’ll use your own skills of deduction as you join Dr. Martin on his quest to find the real Dr. Starr…
For fans of the Hammer horror films, good old fashioned scary stories, or if you’re like me and enjoy anything set in asylum, Asylum is the film for you!
- Crystal
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