DVDs this Week – June 9th
Picks of the Week
Juno – The indie darling of this year that’s much better than the now-naysayers would like you to think. Any Juno backlash should be counteracted by a) Ellen Page’s amazing performance as well as the turns from Michael Cera, Allison Janney and JK Simmons, b) The whipsmart script that never gets too enamoured with itself, and c) the fact it features Cat Power singing ‘Sea of Love’ and Michael Cera and Ellen Page singing at each other at the close. Lovely.
AND…
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – Just the most moving and honest piece of cinema to be released over here this year. Julian Schnabel’s adaptation of Jean Dominique Bauby’s memoir written while suffering from locked-in syndrome is an astonishing achivement of acting, writing and cinematography. Also, Max von Sydow as Bauby’s father delivers the most crushingly emotional scene of the year and yet, never once is the film mawkish. Brilliance.
Also out:
Curb Your Enthusiam Season 6 – Still delivering great moments here and there but this one’s time has passed and the genius of the first three season broadened to create just a very good sitcom rather than a work of misanthropic art.
Cloverfield – I mentioned this last week but it is a decent little monster movie and worth a watch even if the cast bland it to the max.
The Edge of Heaven – Can’t wait to see this, Fatih Akin’s follow-up to Head On looks like just wonderful.
Dirty Harry Collection – Full box set of all the terrific Harry Callahan films including the truly masterful original.
Dan in Real Life – Decent if deeply unspectacular Steve Carell vehicle in which he is good despite having to share the screen with Dane Cook.
War Inc – No cinema release for this little one starring John Cusack and seemingly some sort of comment on the war-as-business debate. Looks pretty uninspired.
Jesus Camp – Excellent if one-sided portrayal of a Christian camp for young children that features some truly satisfyingly horrifying scenes for us atheists.
Battle for Haditha – Nick Broomfield’s outstanding semi-documentary piece on Iraq’s My Lai.
Tony Jaa 2 Pack – Ong Bak and Warrior King in one handy boxset for those days when all you want to do is watch someone kick someone else really, really hard. No plot but the kicking, oh, the kicking.
Region 1:
Jumper – Shitty, Hayden Christensen starrer saved fully in my book due to the presence of Rachel Bilson.
The Bucket List – Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman celebrate being old with hilarious/cringey results.
DVD Round-Up
Pick of the Week: Damages – Complete First Season
A ridiculousy entertaining, drunkenly convoluted and mean-spirited corporate thriller in which Glenn Close does her best bitch and Ted Danson turns the sleaze up to eleven. It starts slightly annoying but once you’re in, its quite a ride.
Also out:
St Trinians – I’ve not seen it but I really feel like it can’t possibly be worth its RRP even if The Daily Star gave it away free.
The Lookout – Neat thriller from Out of Sight-writer Scott Frank starring the ever-excellent Joseph Gordon Levitt.
30 Days of Night – Bloody graphic novel adaptation with a non-promising cast (Josh Hartnett and Melissa George) but an eminently promising director in David Slade (Hard Candy).
Silent Light – The new film from Carlos Reygadas, the director of the uncompromising and somewhat uncomfortable Battle in Heaven.
Lonesome Dove – Larry McMurtry’s beloved novel got an elegant adaptation but feels staid and irrelevant in a post-Deadwood age.
Nirvana on Film – A visual feast of grunge-nihilism and little-boy-lost promos from the most important rock band of the 1990s (take that Shed Seven!)
Ten Commandments: The Musical – I have no idea about this movie although I imagine what the tin says it what it does. More importantly though, it’s a religious musical starring Val Kilmer.
Region 1:
Juno – Very nice special edition of one of the strongest movies of this year (UK releases)
Blast of Silence – Classic idiosyncratic noir from Allen Baron which should really be seen my more folks.
American Dad: Season 3 – The best season yet of the ever-improving McFarlane creation which, whisper it, is sometimes better than Family Guy.
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead – Flawed Sidney Lumet character study with a brilliant performance from Philip Seymour Hoffman at its core.
Oscar Predictions: Director
Director Nominations: Joel & Ethan Coen (No Country For Old Men), Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood), Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton), Jason Reitman (Juno)
The Coens have been unstoppable in the precursors and so you’d be unwise to bet against them. This is often a place the Academy agrees with the prior judging groups so I’d put all my money on the brothers taking it.
Paul Thomas Anderson joins them in the category of ‘should have won before’ but it seems the momentum is with the Coens at this point. Schnabel too must take a dark horse spot due to the quality of his prior work, particularly regarding the snub for Before Night Falls.
Gilroy and Reitman are almost no-hopers, neither really taking control of the movies. Gilroy is the stronger contender of the two, due to the visual style particuarly, but the stars of his show are the ensemble and the script. Exactly the same with Reitman, except it’s Ellen Page who towers over the rest of the film.
Will Win: The Coens
Should Win: The Coens or Paul Thomas Anderson
Dark Horse: Julian Schnabel
Ain’t Talking ‘Bout Oscars!
Well, I am actually so, sorry about the lie. Still, like the saying goes, every lie is sweeter if you mix some Van Halen in.
So the Oscars were announced today and, as you can see my my middling to good predictions, a few interesting surprises occurred. No major ones really in the Picture category, much of that could have been predicted but I like to mix things up. The best director nods too were fairly on the nose with the notable exception of Joe Wright losing out to Jason Reitman for Juno.
The main surprises occurred among the best actors and actresses. Perennial nominee Laura Linney nicked one for The Savages, knocking out Angelina Jolie’s fantastic performance as Mariane Pearl. Then again, Angie already has an Oscar and gets to go home to Brad so she’ll likely be floating around her house singing ‘C’est La Vie’ by Bewitched. The actor category goes one better and delivers two surprise nods for Viggo Mortensen and Tommy Lee Jones. Jones has likely been rewarded for his work in both In The Valley of Elah and No Country For Old Men but Viggo’s is puzzling. It’s a major snub for McAvoy in Atonement, joining Knightley on the list of Brits given the cold shoulder.
The big loser for the nods is Sean Penn whose Into The Wild was roundly disliked. Really nice however to see Sarah Polley given an adapted screenplay nod for Away From Her but annoyance reigns in me for Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead being shoved to the side.
No real surprises in the other categories so onwards to the ceremony folks. Enjoy!!
The Link And The Dead
Welcome to your Thursday fun-filled and informative links post. It’s Friday tomorrow and that means only one thing – it’s almost the weekend!
So, have you been preoccupied lately, wondering about who the Grammy nominees are going to be for 2008? Well, Kanye West is perched at the top of the class with eight nominations, and Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters, Jay Z and Justin Timberlake are close behind. The winner will be announced at the ceremony in LA on Feb 10th.
NOTOFU “is a new online magazine covering the best in independent film and music.” And Sam writes for it – check out his American Gangster review here!
The British Comedy Awards 2007 were as controversy filled as ever. But were right to award Simon Amstell and Never Mind The Buzzcocks two awards… the man’s hilarious!
PopSugar is asking who the sexiest woman on TV ever is / was? Any suggestions?
Fashion on film… a movie is to made by Ridley Scott about the Gucci dynasty.
The Sugababes’ new single Change is available on a USB stick… surely it’s easier to just download it? Anyway, PopJustice are offering you the chance to win one!
Want to see a Japanese, violin playing robot? Well here’s your chance…
Dinaw Mengestu’s Children of the Revolution won the Guardian First Book Award, an award open to all debut writers regardless of genre.
Here, Ricky Gervais introduces a collection of weird MTV celeb-filled interview clips.
The phenomenal Journey have found their new singer via YouTube!
Homer Simpson’s vocal chords talk to The AV Club.
Is Juno Knocked Up for girls. Slate investigates.
Billboard has this slideshow of the 25 best ever rock posters.
Wooden Link
Hope you’re all having a fabulous weekend – here’s your 2 day work break links.
Want to see our Take That pics from their AMAZING concert on Friday night? Take a look here…
Sadly, as you probably know, Motorbike daredevil Evel Knievel died at the age of 69 this week.
Post bikini-on-the-beach photos, Jennifer Love Hewitt has decided to stop sitting ‘…by in silence … about the way women’s bodies are constantly scrutinized. To set the record straight, I’m not upset for me, but for all of the girls out there that are struggling with their body image.” Good for her – click to read the rest of her statement.
Are these the 100 best films of 2007?
“You don’t have to buy it…” How can Vivienne Westwood defend her ‘the more you consume, the less you think’ stance, when she’s contributing to consumerism herself? Find out in this Observer interview…
The sacked Spice Girl is still bitter. Or just capitalising on the fact they’re back…
15 people have been injured by the latest Tate Modern art installation. I’m happy to say Sam and I were not! Victory!
Prince Harry’s ex / girlfriend / friend Chelsy Davy has been served by nearly naked waiters. Where do I find them?
The striking writers are still rejecting offers… I want more The Office. When will this pain end? Just pay them already!
Hope may have been my only act left in the house X Factor sweepstakes, but I’m glad they were voted out last night.
Ewan McGregor as Iago in Othello? On the London stage? Sign me up.
Apparently It’s A Wonderful Life has been surpassed in the US as the most popular holiday movie? So what is it now?
Director of Slums Of Beverly Hills and upcoming The Savages, Tamara Jenkins, talks to The AV Club…
A movie I’m really looking forward to next year – Juno – is the subject of a great Paste article here.
Michel Gondry directs Bjork’s new video for ‘Declare Independence’ – check out this behind the scenes video.
Take That Live Video of the Weekend: Apache 2006
Bonus Take That live 2007 video – Never Forget – Beautiful World Tour
Electricity & Lust 
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