Young Hollywood: The names to watch for in 2011

Like Andrew Garfield, Jennifer Lawrence, Hailee Steinfeld, and Mia Wasikowska last year, the following names are set to be the next breakout stars this year in film:

Rooney Mara
Last year, the 25-year-old actress  shined in a supporting role in David Fincher’s The Social Network. Fincher was so impressed by her talent, that he chose her as the lead star in his remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Mara takes over the role of Lisbeth Salander from Noomi Rapace. The film comes out on December 21, 2011.

Elizabeth Olsen
Most people will be surprised to know that there is a younger Olsen sister. The 22-year-old actress could easily be mistaken for one of her famous twin sisters. But she has already started to create an identity of her own in film. At the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Olsen garnered praise for her performance in Martha Marcy May Marlene, a role that is already earning her early Oscar Buzz for Best Lead Actress.

Jessica Chastain
You may not know her name, but you should get used to it. The 30-year-old actress has six films set to be released this year. But her upcoming film with the most buzz is Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. Chastain co-stars with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. The film comes into theatres on June 10, 2011. 

Michael Fassbender
For film geeks, this 34-year-old’s name is not unknown. His breakout performance in 2008’s Hunger got him the attention of film lovers. He continued to deliver in films like Fish Tank and Inglourious Basterds. But 2011 will be the year where his name will enter in the mainstream as he plays Rochester in Jane Eyre, Carl Jung in Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method, and a young Magneto in X-Men: First Class. 

Zoe Kravtiz
Famous for being the daughter of rock star Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, 2011 is a year where the 22-year-old is planning to make a name of her own. She plays Angel Salvadore in the much anticipated superhero blockbuster, X-Men: First Class. In contrast to the big budget comic franchise film, she is also leading an indie film, Yelling to the Sky.

Felicity Jones
At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the 27-year-old actress was honored with a Special Jury Prize for her breakout performance in in Drake Dormeus’ Like Crazy. Her performance could be a contender at the next Academy Awards for Best Lead Actress if she follows the path of Jennifer Lawrence. Of course, she will have competition with her fellow Sundance actress, Elizabeth Olsen.

The Tree of Life will not get early U.K. release



Brad Pitt in The Tree of Life (photo courtesy of: Kevin Jagernauth/The Playist)

The Tree of Life has been hyped about by cinephiles since the moment it was first announced. On monday, Empire magazine online reported that the U.K. would be the first country to have the film grace it’s big screens on May 4, 2011. But Hollywood Elsewhere has learned that this is not true.

Jill Jones, Summit’s senior vice-president of international markering and publicity released the statement to Hollywood Elsewhere:

”The information regarding the May 4th UK release is incorrect. Icon Film Distribution Ltd. does not have the right to distribute The Tree of Life in the UK, as it is in default of its agreement. The matter is pending before an arbitration tribunal in Los Angeles.”

The film started principal photography in 2008 but has been in post-production for nearly three years. Considering it was written and directed by the legendary Terrence Malick, then it’s hardly a surprise.

According to the official synopsis, the film “follows the life journey of impressionistic journey of a Midwestern family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the eldson son, Jack, through the innocense of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father.”

The cast if has two A-List stars in the main roles. The adult Jack is played by Sean Penn and his father, by Brad Pitt. Rising star Jessica Chastain plays the role of Jack’s mother.

While the synopsis sounds easy to understand, you only have to look at the captivating trailer to see the complexity of the film.

The film has two limited North American release dates on May 27, 2011 (U.S.) June 10, 2011 (Canada). It is also set to premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival in May.

Source: Hollywood Elsewhere

Movie Review: The Social Network

(Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network (photo courtesy of: Matt Goldberg/Collider)

In The Social Network, David Fincher continues to prove why he is one of the best directors working today. Fincher can tackle various genres from a crime thriller like Zodiac (2007) to romantic drama/fantasy film like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). The Social Network, arguably his best film to date, is a drama about the creation of social network phenomenon Facebook, and its young creator Mark Zuckerberg’s rise to becoming the world’s youngest billionaire. The film’s screenplay written by Aaron Sorkin, was adapted from the Ben Mezrich’s 2009 novel, The Accidental Billionaires.

The film set in Harvard University opens in 2003 with Zuckberberg (Jesse Eisenberg) being dumped by a girl named Erica Albright (Rooney Mara). He’s so hurt that seeks revenge, venting his frustrations towards her on the Internet. Together with his best friend Edwardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), it eventually leads him to an idea called “Facesmash”, an online game that compared pairs of the female students of Harvard based on physical attraction. The site’s popularity gets Zuckerberg the attention of the Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer) and Divya Narendra (Max Minghella), who hire him as a programmer of their website. During this time, Zuckerberg finds the inspiration for “TheFacebook” and together with Edwardo, they created the social networking website the world is obsessed with today. 
 
In the surface, the film may seem like an rise to power story, from rags to riches. But the film is really about the destruction that comes as price for fame and fortune. As the site becomes increasingly popular, so does Zuckerberg’s ego. The collaboration with Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) only feeds into Zuckerberg’s cold persona, and damages the friendship with Edwardo. In addition to losing his best friend due to his selfishness, Zuckerberg faces the Winklevoss twins and Divya Narendra, who are suing him because they claim he stole their idea.

Fincher directs an ensemble of strong performances. Jesse Eisenberg leads the cast giving a commanding performance as the fast-speaking self-centred Zuckerberg. As his best friend Edwardo, Andrew Garfield steals the show, as his character is the heart and moral of the film. In the other supporting roles, regardless of screentime, each character still makes an impression on screen. With the help of excellent visual effects, Armie Hammer is doubled to play the Winklevoss twins. He plays both of them with double the charisma. Rooney Mara, the lead star of Fincher’s next film, only has a few scenes, but she manages to have a memorable presence. Finally, Justin Timberlake surprises by giving a decent performance without seeming out of place..

The film is an brilliant character-driven story that grabs you from the beginning and never loses the viewer’s interest. With a fantasic cast, subtle yet excellent visual effects achievements,  and scenes with wonderfully written dialogue, The Social Network is fully deserving of all the hype and awards it has gotten this year at awards season. While it may not have won Best Picture, it’s my personal pick of best film of 2010.

Grade: A+

The Social Network was nominated for eight Oscars at February’s Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor in a Leading Role. It took home three awards for Best Achievement in Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Movie Review: The King’s Speech

Colin Firth as King George VI in The King's Speech (photo courtesy of: Kevin Jagernauth/The Playlist)

The King’s Speech is an exceptional period drama by director Tom Hooper. It follows the story of British monarch Prince Albert, Duke of York (Colin Firth),  as he battles his life-long problem with stammering and fear of public speaking. The film begins in 1925, when George’s wife, Elizabeth, The Duchess of York (Helena Bonham Carter) hires a speech therapist, Lionel Logue, to help get rid of her husband’s problem.  With Logue’s help, he must face the must face the troubles of his childhood which was the root cause of his speech problems. Nearly a decade later, his brother, King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce) resigns from the position of king. This makes Prince Albert the new king, and he becomes known as King George VI. This new title brings even more pressure for  him. In 1939, the biggest challenge comes with the threat of World War II, and George VI must make the first of many great speeches of his life.

The film’s key to success is it’s fascinating story and wonderful cast. Kings in films are usually powerful and intimidating, but this story shows a different side to the monarchs and royal family. It goes behind the titles and reveals their personal problems. The film’s cast is led by a brilliant performance by Colin Firth, who continues to prove why he’s one of the best actors of his generation. He perfectly portrays a man who with a stammering problem, showing vulnerability and strength, and creating a character audiences will root for. He is supported by a scene-stealing, witty, and humorous performance of Geoffrey Rush. Together, their scenes are arguably the best of the film as they interact so well together. Finally, as his supportive wife, Helena Bonham Carter shows how you can add depth to a one-dimensional character.

The film never drags and doesn’t feel like it’s over 118 minutes. It’s a drama that is never dull because it has a sense of humor. The scenes with only Firth and Rush in particular are so much fun to watch, as their banter is full of wit and charm. One of the most hilarious scenes has Firth’s George VI swearing profanity out loud as an exercise in confidence and speech. In the technical aspect, the film is visually stunning. Every scene is like a portrait that takes you back in time. The film is definitely worth watching, even for those who aren’t into period dramas. The credit goes to Hooper, the wonderful cast and a story that guarantees to inspire its audience.

Grade: A+

The King’s Speech won 4 Oscars at February’s Academy Awards, including Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. The film will be released on Blu Ray and DVD on April 19, 2011.

Three Men Charged in connection with Gardypie Homicide Appear in Court

Three men charged in the 2010 death of Raymond Bernard Gardypie appeared in Regina Proncial Court on Monday (photo courtesy of: Bryan Schlosser/Canada.com)

Three of six men accused charged in connection with the January 2010 murder of 26-year-old Raymond Bernard Gardypie, appeared at Regina Provincial Court on Monday.

The three men are Ryan Leon Kay, 23, Joseph Abraham Kirkness, 22, and David Dylan Dustyhorn, 21.

Leon Kay, who appeared via closed-circuit television from the Regina Correctional Centre, was adjourned of his charge until April 4, while Kirkness and Dustyhorn were adjourned until March 28.

The dead body of Gardypie was discovered on the morning of January 10, 2010, at the  house in the 1000 block of Retallack Street, after police responded to a tip.

This led to an investigation and multiple arrests in January 12, 2010, December 30, 2010, February 24, 2011, and March 4, 2011.

The six men arrested and charged with second-degree murder range from ages 17 to 24.

Sources: Canada.com, Regina Police Service Newsroom

The King’s Speech and Inception top Oscar winners with 4 awards each

Acting Oscar winners from left to right: Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Melissa Leo, Colin Firth (photo courtesy of: Nathaniel Rogers/The Film Experience Blog)

Last night was the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The following are the highlights of the night, for good or bad:

                                                The Hosts
In an obvious attempt by the Academy to attract younger audiences to the telecast, the awards was hosted by Oscar-nominated actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway. The two began the show in a series of skits in which Franco and Hathaway appear in several of the Best Picture nominated films. The skits were humorous, with surprise cameos appearances by Alec Baldwin and Morgan Freeman.

Throughout the night, Franco seemed stiff and tired. His seemingly lack of effort was the opposite for Hathaway, who at least tried and gave a adequate performance as co-host. But Franco wasn’t that horrible. He got some laughs, such a moment where he was dressed as a woman. Hathaway in particular got to showcase not only her good comedic timing, but as well as her vocal abilites as a singer. In one segment, she sang the Les Miserables classic “On My Own” but with the lyrics changed for comedic effect.

One of the highlights of the night was an appearance by eight-time Academy Awards host and legendary actor/comedian Billy Crystal. As Hathaway introduced him, she acknowledged how much she respected his talents as a host. Crystal received arguably the most memorable standing ovation of the night. His ten minutes or less on stage was undeniably a reminder of why he holds the record for the second most hosting gigs at the Oscars. Crystal was a confident, funny and charismatic presence, making it all seem effortless.

Overall, Franco should have been more enthusiastic, as Hathaway could easily have hosted it on her own. For hosting duties, Franco earned a grade of C+ and Hathaway a B+.

                                            Winners + Surprises
The King’s Speech was the big winner of the night, taking home four of the six major categories: Best Picture, Director (Tom Hooper), Lead Actor (Colin Firth), and Original Screenplay. Inception also earned four Oscars outside the major categories, all technical acheievements: Best Cinematography, Visual Effects, Sound Editing, and Mixing. Next to Firth, the acting winners were all very predictable and followed the SAGs and Golden Globe line-up: Best Lead Actress (Natalie Portman for Black Swan), Supporting Actor (Christian Bale for The Fighter), and Supporting Actress (Melissa Leo for The Fighter).

The biggest snub of the night was for the film True Grit which shockingly received zero of the ten Oscars it was nominated for. Another surprise was The Social Network director David Fincher losing the directing award to newbie Tom Hooper for The King’s Speech. Of the Best Picture categories, Winter’s Bone and The Kids Are All Right both ended the night empty-handed. But as Steven Spielberg wonderfully said during the Best Picture category, “If you are one of the other nine movies that don’t win, you will be in the company of The Grapes of Wrath, Citizen Kane, The Graduate, and Raging Bull.”

For the full list of Oscar winners, visit here: Deadline

The most awkward moment of the night, hands down, goes to the Best Supporting Actress presentation. Legendary actor Kirk Douglas gave the award in what seemed like the longest presentation. It was hard to understand him at times, as he spoke slowly and patiently. But Douglas proved he still had a sense of humor throughout his part, making jokes to delay the announcement.

                                           Awkward Moments

Melissa Leo during her Best Supporting Actress acceptance speech (photo courtesy of: Oscars.org)

 

But the unintentionally funny awkwardness of Douglas’s speech was completely overshadowed by Melissa Leo’s reaction and speech upon being announced the winner. After her infamous self-promotion Oscar campaign received online criticism as being tacky, Leo’s Oscar speech lived up to hype of her crazy antics. Leo reacted in the immsense overwhelm of emotions,  flirting with Douglas. asking him to pinch her, then acknowledging the large audience in a bewildered state.

Her overemotional reaction was awkward to watch. But the climax of her speech was when she dropped the first swear word in Oscar speech history. “When I watched this ten years ago, it looked so f—ing easy,” she said, referencing Kate Winslet’s Best Actress win, when Leo was nominated for 2008’s Frozen River. Leo’s speech will go down in history as one of the most memorable, whether you found it offensive, hilarious, or awkward.

83rd Annual Academy Awards – The Big 6 Oscars predictions

Tom Hooper`s The King`s Speech is the frontrunner at the Oscars with the most nominations at 12. (photo courtesy of: The Daily Mail)

Tommorow night is the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, honoring the best films of 2010. Every single year I look forward to Awards season and the international film festivals to get the buzz on the latest films garnering acclaim. I’ve become so obsessed that I’m a regular at forums like AwardsDaily and IMDB’s Oscar Buzz, where others with the same passion debate about films all year long. But at the end of the day it’s all just for fun. People shouldn’t take awards too seriously. Film is a form of art, and therefore subjective. People have different tastes, perspectives and opinions. But that’s what makes it fun, to root for films you love and see them get acknowledged. 

The following are my predictions for the six biggest awards of the night: 

Best Motion Picture of the Year
Nominees:
127 Hours
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter’s Bone
My Predicted Winner – The King’s Speech: It is the most nominated film this year with 12 chances at Oscar gold. The film won the top honor at the Producer’s Guild of  America Awards (PGAs). The last three winners of the PGA (The Hurt Locker, Slumdog Millionaire, No Country for Olden Men) went on to win the Best Picture Oscar. The King’s Speech has also taken top film prizes at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs). Precursor awards aside, The King’s Speech is the stereotypical Oscar bait as the Academy favours period dramas. Its only real competition in this category is The Social Network who has also dominated in the precursors awards a the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

Best Achievement In Directing
Nominees:
Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen – True Grit
David Fincher – The Social Network
Tom Hooper – The King’s Speech
David O. Russell – The Fighter
My Predicted Winner – David Fincher: Fincher is often considered underrated, but this year he may finally get recognized. He took the Best Directing honor at the Golden Globes. But at the Directors Guild Awards (DGAs), newcomer Tom Hooper won. The last three winners of the DGA (Bigelow, Boyle, Coen Brothers) went on to win the Oscar. But this category and Best Picture, are where The Social Network has a great chance to take home an Oscar in the six major categories. The Academy will want to reward The Social Network in one of the major six categories. If not in Best Picture, then in Best Directing.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees:
Javier Bardem for Biutiful
Jeff Bridges for True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network
Colin Firth for The King’s Speech
James Franco for 127 Hours
Predicted Winner – Colin Firth: Like Portman in the Best Lead Actress race, Firth has been dominating every Best Actor award this season. He has not lost a single award. Firth will follow in the footsteps of Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart (2008) and Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood (2007) who also dominated the Best Lead Actor awards in their years. Firth was previously nominated last year in the same category for A Single Man (2009). If it has not been for Bridges being incredibly overdue for a win, Firth would have been the frontrunner that year.
 
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees:
Annette Bening for The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman for Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence for Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman for Black Swan
Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine
My Predicted Winner – Natalie Portman: Like Charlize Theron in Monster (2003), Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry (1999) and Marion Cotillard in La Vie En Rose (2007) before her, Portman has dominated every single Best Actress prize in awards season. She is the obvious frontrunner to win this category. Her only possible threat is Annette Bening, a 4-time Oscar nominee who has yet to win. Perhaps the members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will finally decide to award Bening? Her chances of winning against Portman are impossible at this point. Portman has not lost a Best Actress award this season.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees:
Christian Bale for The Fighter
John Hawkes for Winter’s Bone
Jeremy Renner for The Town
Mark Ruffalo for The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush for The King’s Speech
My Predicted Winner – Christian Bale: Bale took home Best Supporting Actor awards at the Golden Globes and the SAGs, while Rush won the BAFTA. The race is really between these two. Rush has previously won the Oscar for Best Lead Actor in Shine (1996). But The Fighter is Bale`s first ever nomination, after years of giving Oscar worthy performances only to be snubbed like Sam Rockwell and Gary Oldman. Sean Penn has proven that the Academy could care less about an actor`s controversial personal life or public persona. So Bale`s infamous rant should have no influence. As usual, Bale went method, completely transforming his body and appearance. These drastic De Niro in Raging Bull (1980) type transformations are a favourite of the Academy.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees:
Amy Adams for The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter for The King’s Speech
Melissa Leo for The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld for True Grit
Jacki Weaver for Animal Kingdom
My Predicted Winner – Melissa Leo: Similar to the Best Supporting Actor race, this category has two frontrunners. Leo won the title at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAGs). Her competition is Helena Bonham Carter, who won the BAFTA. Unlike the Golden Globes, the SAGs and BAFTAS actually have members of the AMPAS. So it’s hard to say which of these two veteran actresses they will choose, since they both have equal chances. Leo has the more flashier role, while Bonham Carter is the oppposite, playing a subtle role.

Sources of Awards Statistics: The PGA Awards
IMDb’s Road to the Oscars 2011

Most Anticipated Films of 2011 Updated

Updated with the following films:

Restless
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper.
Release Date: 2011

X-Men: First Class
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne, Kevin Bacon, January Jones, Nicholas Hoult.
Release Date: June 3, 2011

Brian Deer provides words of wisdom, insight to his career

Brian Deer presents a lecture (photo courtesy of: BrianDeer.com)

“I Google myself. I feel pretty confident talking about this because I’m among journalists so an element of vanity I think you’ll forgive,” said British Press Award-winning investigative reporter Brian Deer to a crowd of over a hundred students and press. “It came up with 1455 news hits.”

Deer was at Ryerson University on Wednesday morning to present a lecture about his investigation into Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s false claims that the three-in-one measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) could cause autism in children. His investigation exposed Wakefield’s scam, which the British Medical Journal called “an elaborate fraud.”

Deer’s reports in The Sunday Times provoked Wakefield, who went to the High Court claiming aggravated libel against Deer, Channel 4 Television, and The Sunday Times. At one point, Deer confesses that Wakefield sent him a cheque in the millions out of desperation.

People often ask Deer how Wakefield’s hoax was able to be published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. “They’re just another kind of magazine,” said Deer. “When you read about some study in the New England Journal about how heart disease is increased in people who eat hamburgers. Well it’s just another magazine and they work in the exact same principles.”

Deer points out three moments as the highlights of his career so far. The first was getting hired by The Times. The second highlight was receiving the British Press Award. His third significant career-defining moment was another reference to vanity, for being mentioned in The New York Times.

“For me the flagship of newspapers is The New York Times,” he said. “I can remember actually thinking at the moment. I thought gosh, across North America there were presses rolling printing out in paper my name in an editorial in the New York Times.”

Deer’s passion for print media is undeniable. “There’s a lot of magic in television,” he said. “But the romance for me will always be in newspapers.”

Most anticipated films of 2011 in pictures

Films in order of appearance:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Directed by: David Fincher
Cast: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Robin Wright, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard.
Release Date: December 21, 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Directed by: David Yates
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint.
Release Date: July 15, 2011

Kung Fu Panda 2
Directed by: Jennifer Yuh
Cast: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Gary Oldman, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, David Cross, Michelle Yeoh, Victor Garber.
Release Date: May 26, 2011

Rango
Directed by: Gore Verbinski
Cast: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy, Alfred Molina.
Release Date: March 4, 2011

Untitled Angelina Jolie film
Directed by: Angelina Jolie
Cast: Zana Marjanovic, Nikola Djuricko, Rade Serbedzija.
Release Date: 2011

Cowboys & Aliens
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Cast: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde.
Release Date: July 29, 2011

Contagion
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne, John Hawkes.
Release Date: October 21, 2011 

The Tree of Life
Directed by: Terrence Malick
Cast: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain.
Release Date: June 10, 2011

Submarine
Directed by: Richard Ayoade
Cast: Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Sally Hawkins.
Release Date: June 3, 2011