Next Stop the Oscars!

Other winners here.

I really hope I'm not jinxing this but it's looking more and more likely that Kate's finally going to get her Oscar. While she won for Supporting (Lead went to Meryl - but how cool was her speech?), it was for The Reader and she's got so much buzz around her right now. She's too cool to ignore! Don't fail me AMPAS!

Tarzan (Chris Buck and Kevin Lima - 1999)

The final film in the Disney Renaissance, Tarzan is a young boy raised in the jungles of Africa by a group of apes after his parents are killed. As he grows he has no contact with other humans until a group of explorers come to study the apes, including the alluring but rather ditzy Jane (Minnie Driver.)

I was a little apprehensive about watching this film. Two words - Phil Collins. He provides the soundtrack to the film with some rather dull and frankly patronising songs. If you try hard enough though you can block them out. They aren't sung as set pieces or big show stopping numbers, more left to fill as background music which is just as well. Luckily the film is visually breath-taking enough to help you ignore the music. The backgrounds look like a canvas painting come to life. The lush colours and movements of the world are exquisitely captured using an animation technique called Deep Canvas. You feel like you're part of the action as you watch Tarzan move through the trees and vines, almost surfing his way through the jungle. The humans are drawn less realistically than the apes, taking on the by now trademark abstract design of the later Disney films, with big eyes and anatomically impossible bodies.

The script deals with issues usually not seen in kids movies, such as death and sexual awakening, but does so subtly and in a way that refuses to talk down to younger viewers. It's a film that can be viewed many ways. The more child friendly scenes like the "Trashing the Camp" sequence will amuse young ones while watching Tarzan and Jane connect is a gently romantic moment for the adults. It's a wonderfully handled romance, the characters grow to understand each other on several levels and, if it wasn't for the Phil Collins songs, would be completely free of gag inducing moments. It's a simple story executed well.

The interaction between Tarzan and his surrogate family is treated just like any other family which isn't a criticism. You need to feel that there is a real bond with the group and you thankfully do. Glenn Close, the voice of Kala, sounds like a protective suburban mother which works well with the story. It's one of Disney's more faithful adaptations although not straight down the line. The change from Tarzan talking to apes then humans is a clever one and keeps you involved with what's happening as well as understanding how Tarzan copes with such a culture shock.

Minnie Driver's voice-over is the right mix of funny and serious. Sounding like an upper class girls' school prefect, she can be a bit silly and ditzy but clearly loves the wild and shows a great enthusiasm for exploring. Nigel Hawthorne is your typical sort of English professor, Rosie O' Donnell and Wayne Knight are the mandatory animal sidekicks ("I have had it with your emotional constipation!") and Brian Blessed lends his booming voice to the villain Clayton (Watch his Have I Got News For You episode - you'll laugh until you fall unconscious). He's a slimy sort, very pantomime villain but with a very sickening agenda. His end is also one of Disney's more adult moments, something that really shocked me when I first saw it. Once again proof that these films aren't for kids!

I was glad I gave this film a chance. While it isn't my favourite that I've watched over my sleep deprived months, it was better than I gave it credit for. Ignore the music and immerse yourself in the romance and groundbreaking visuals. Knowing that this was the last film in Disney's revitalized artistic years is sad, but I stay optimistic for the future.

"You've got to give them hope."

Well after tonight's double bill of film I now have a choice for Best Actor.

This film was amazing. I shall write a better review later, along with my Frost/Nixon one.

And the nominees are...

Best Film
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Director
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - David Fincher
Frost/Nixon - Ron Howard
Milk - Gus Van Sant
The Reader - Stephen Daldry
Slumdog Millionaire - Danny Boyle

Actor In A Leading Role
The Visitor - Richard Jenkins
Frost/Nixon - Frank Langella
Milk - Sean Penn
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Brad Pitt
The Wrestler - Mickey Rourke

Actor In A Supporting Role
Milk - Josh Brolin
Tropic Thunder - Robert Downey Jr.
Doubt - Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Dark Knight - Heath Ledger
Revolutionary Road - Michael Shannon

Actress In A Leading Role
Rachel Getting Married - Anne Hathaway
Changeling - Angelina Jolie
Frozen River - Melissa Leo
Doubt - Meryl Streep
The Reader - Kate Winslet

Actress In A Supporting Role
Doubt - Amy Adams
Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Penélope Cruz
Doubt - Viola Davis
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Taraji P. Henson
The Wrestler - Marisa Tomei

Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
Doubt - John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan
The Reader - David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy

Original Screenplay
Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh
In Bruges - Martin McDonagh
Milk - Dustin Lance Black
WALL-E - Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Pete Docter

Animated Feature
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

Art Direction
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Cinematography
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Costume Design
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Documentary Feature
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

Documentary Short
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Foreign Language Film
The Baader Meinhof Complex
The Class
Departures
Austria
Waltz with Bashir

Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Alexandre Desplat
Defiance - James Newton Howard
Milk - Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire - A.R. Rahman
WALL-E - Thomas Newman

Original Song
WALL-E - "Down to Earth"
Slumdog Millionaire - "Jai Ho"
Slumdog Millionaire - "O Saya"

Sound Editing
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Sound Mixing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Animated Short
La Maison de Petits Cubes
Lavatory - Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up

Live Action Short
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The PigSpielzeugland (Toyland)

What do we think? No double nomination for Winslet sadly but her 6th nomination is always a lovely one. I really want her to win but everyone in that category is fantastic so I'd be happy with anyone. Melissa Leo is a lovely surprise, as is Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon and Taraji P. Henson. No Sally Hawkins is a real shame! No Sheen either but that was expected (damn). Go Heath! Slumdog Millionaire is doing the UK and Indian film industry proud and I'm happy for the film. Wall-E for original screenplay! It's the most nominated Pixar film ever.

One can only hope...

One of the most underrated people working in movies today, a brilliant actor and totally ignored for this role! Best Supporting Actor nod! (I want an Actor nod but Langella will get it over him). We'll find out soon enough though...

How can you say no to this face?

Don't let me down Academy! You do it too often!

BAFTA - How could you let me down UK?

Nominees Here.

Well, where do I start? Let's begin with the snubs. No Sally Hawkins which was a massive surprise. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Kate Winslet is double nominated here but Hawkins was such a star in Happy Go Lucky and I was counting on old Blighty to give her some recognition of how good she was. The Golden Globes did, why not BAFTA? And I was begging for Michael Sheen to be nominated for Frost/Nixon. Who does he have to shag to get some recognition? He didn't win when he was nominated for Fantabulosa, he was snubbed for The Queen, where he nailed Tony Blair down to a tee, and yet he's so underrated. Langella is the showier role, of course, but Sheen has class and needs a nomination. An OBE will have to suffice for now. No Gus Van Sant for Milk? He's a bit avant-garde for some tastes and Clint Eastwood is an awards darling but it just doesn't feel right. A lot of surprising love for Burn After Reading. And a double nod for Brad Pitt - odd. Give that supporting nod to Michael Sheen. Please.

I'll try and concentrate on the goods now. Double Winslet! Dev Patel! Angelina Jolie! Wallace and Gromit! Ledger and downey Jr! I hope Robert gets an Oscar nod, how hilarious would it be to see a clip of him in blackface doing his ghetto act? I'm glad Son Of Rambow is getting some love too, at least they're doing something right. And what does it take to get Wall-E a Best Picture nomination? Anyway, I'll be watching it live, with Jonathan Ross (take that Daily Mail.) and probably scowling at the screen like I do every year.

Golden Globes - the field is open.

Best Picture, Drama: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Picture, Comedy Musical: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor, Drama: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Best Actress, Drama: Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz With Bashir
Best Animated Feature: WALL·E
Best Actor, Musical/Comedy: Colin Farrell
Best Actress, Musical/Comedy: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Original Score: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millonaire
Best Original Song: Bruce Springsteen, The Wrestler

Go Kate! Go Kate!

I truly wasn't expecting her to win both awards. After the website mix up declaring Anne Hathaway had won, plus the HFPA's snubbing of her in the past, I was convinced she wouldn't win Leading Actress, although supporting seemed more likely. Her speech was lovely, heartfelt, genuinely surprised and totally wonderful, as is she. Mickey Rourke's win was a surprise. I thought Sean Penn would take it. I am glad his comeback is going well, and his speech was surprisingly touching. Slumdog Millionaire swept it up!

Do we have a new leader in the lead up to the Oscars? Colin Farrell was effortlessly cool and Sally Hawkins' hair left a lot to be desired, unlike her win which was deserved. Right now I'd say the field is totally open. I guess it's a bit much to hope for a Best Picture nomination but Wall-E all the way!

Milk is still very popular with the critics as is Rachel Getting Married and it's leading lady. You can't ignore Doubt at this point either, Meryl is loved by the Academy. Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road, Changeling, Frost/Nixon...there's so much speculation. I will say this though - Heath for the Oscar is looking more and more likely and I couldn't be happier.

Isn't this a beautiful sight?

Team Winslet on the way to the Oscars!

Mulan (Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook - 1998)

Taken from an ancient Chinese ballad, Mulan is the eponymous heroine who, after shaming her family, disguises herself as a boy and runs away from home to fight for the Chinese army in place of her father in order to protect the family honour. Unfortunately, great danger is approaching as the Hun army, lead by Shan Yu, have invaded China and are preparing to overthrow the emperor. Aided by an opportunistic dragon called Mushu and a lucky cricket, Mulan must keep her identity secret and stay alive.

If you thought the term "Feminist Disney movie" was an oxymoron, then you should watch this movie. Mulan is a fantastic chracter - a woman not preoccupied with finding a husband, who cares about her family and will do anything to protect them, even subvert the basic rules of gender in her society! Poking fun at the typical masculine and feminime roles, the film follows Mulan through army training and her desperation to keep her sex a secret, even while bathing. It all feels very modern but keeps a timeless energy with the storyline. Even though the obligatory romance is shoved in, it doesn't feel fairy-tale sickly or forced. You can genuinely understand why Shang (B.D. Wong) likes her. The girl is kicking arse and it's a joy to watch!
The Disney tradition of the sidekick is alive and well in this film with Mushu (voiced by Eddie Murphy.) Imagine a blaxploitation dragon (yet another oxymoron I never though I'd write) keeping the spirit alive and looking out for his friends. I think Murphy should stick to good voice-over work, it's funnier than anything else he's done recently. Ample comic support is provided by Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Tondo and Gedde Watanabe as Mulan's soldier friends, desperate to show off their masculinity. Shan Yu, the villain of the piece, is easy to hate but there isn't much else to him, although he has a very menacing voice (thanks to Miguel Ferrer.) Jerry Goldsmith is on musical duties and provides a beautiful score, mixing traditional Asian sounds with synthesizers and adding the pleasant songs we come to expect. Reflection is a lovely ballad, although Christina Aguilera's cover ruins the subtlety (nothing new there.)

The film is epic in all senses of the word. From the more intimate scenes of Mulan preparing to leave her family, to the battle in the mountains, the sweeping cameras, painstaking detail and sheer beauty on display is stunning. Some images genuinely send shivers down your spine. The mix of exaggerated character design and the larger scale detail of the backgrounds sit perfectly together. The action scenes are genuinely thrilling and wouldn't look out of place in a Kurosawa film. It's a film made by people who care and it's evident from the very beginning, with thetraditional Chinese art opening the story. Although the occasional Chinese pun is made, the film feels like a real love letter to China (how ironic that it took a year's delay before their government would release it).

Stunning, sweet, exciting and giving one for the girls, Mulan is entertainment of the highest order, one of Disney's more unusual films but all the better for it. Featuring one of their best female characters, it will always stick in my mind as the film where the girl can save herself.

Critics choice fashion choices

Favourites? I really like Evan Rachel Wood's one despite my better judgement and Amy looks amazing as always. Josh Brolin is pretty gorgeous there, strange to think he was once the brother in The Goonies. I love Diane Lane's dress too.Thoughts?

Critics Choice Award winners...

Best Comedy Movie: Tropic Thunder

Best Acting Ensemble: Milk

Best Young Actor/Actress: Dev Patel

Best Writer: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Action Film: The Dark Knight

Best Composer: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Song: Bruce Springsteen, The Wrestler

Best Documentary: Man On Wire

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader

Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz With Bashir

Best Animated Feature: WALL·E

Best Movie Made for TV: John Adams

Best Actress: (tie) Meryl Streep, Doubt; Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk

Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Thoughts:

Hurray for Slumdog! I am dying to see this movie after Empire's stupendous review and I love Boyle's back catalogue, bar a few exceptions. It's building up a lot of momentum and could be a surprise winner at the Oscars. I want a surprise this year, a good one. How cool would it be in Dev 'Skins' Patel won an Oscar? Winslet and Ledger is always welcome and the actress draw with a win for Hathaway is just what she needs. No wins for Benjamin Button though, a little surprising. Wall-E deserves a win for Best Picture though, an animation nod just doesn't do it justice.

BAFTA Rising Star nominees...

Last year's winner was Shia La Boeuf. The Brits outnumber the rest of the world this year (come on, of course we do!) for the one award the UK public can vote for. The nominees are:

Rebecca Hall
Michael Cera
Noel Clarke
Michael Fassbender
Toby Kebbell

The one problem with this being a public vote is that the most deserving will be ignored in favour of the most famous or most popular. Luckily this year's bunch is a little more spread out evenly and are all perfectly deserving of the award. I'd like to see Michael Cera win, although Noel Clarke might get the Doctor Who edge.

Hercules (Ron Clements and John Musker - 1997)

The 35th Disney animated feature, loosely based on the Greek myths of old, begins with the 5 Muses telling the tale of the greatest hero of all, Hercules. The son of Zeus (Rip Torn) and Hera, he is adored by all, except for the god of the underworld, the bitter and cynical Hades (James Woods). Desperate to make sure his future plans to take over the underworld succeed, he has Hercules made mortal and dumped on earth to be raised by peasants. The only thing that remains of his former god-like powers is his super strength. As he grows, he wishes to rejoin the gods on Mount Olympus and sets out to prove he is worthy.

About this time in Disney's Renaissance period, their animation style took a more abstract, stylistic approach. Humans were less realistic, backgrounds were more cubist and bright colours were welcome. Hercules is a shining example of this new design. It doesn't quite have the eye grabbing appeal of other films from this period but it works for the feel of this film. The characters' faces are sharp and angular, almost statuesque in appearance and similar to the paintings on Greek vases. There is some good use of computer animation, although it appears much more dated than it did in Beauty and the Beast.

Don't go into the film expecting to hear the actual myth of Hercules. From the offset the film has taken liberties (there were 9 muses, Hera was not Hercules' mother and in fact tried to kill him, Philoctetes was not a satyr, etc.) but if you go into a disney film expecting honest story to film adaptations, you'll be continually disappointed. The key to this film is the humour. Hercules is a film that enjoys poking fun at itself as well as the Disney company itself (one creature is described as "a rodent looking for a theme park.") The wit and sarcasm flies across the screen and is probably a bit too much for some younger viewers. A lot of this is thanks to the surely inspired James Woods. Next to Robin Williams, I would say this is the funniest Disney voice-over. Hades is played like a smily Hollywood agent, a guy who makes cheap jokes and has a very short fuse (he bursts into flames when he gets angry.) Even when he's trying to kill people, you still laugh at his jokes. Danny DeVito is great fun too as Phil the satyrn trainer. Twisting the stereotypical mould for heroines in Disney is Meg (voiced with attitude by Susana Egan). How refreshing to see a Disney heroine who's sultry and less than innocent ("You know men. They think 'yes' means 'no' and 'get lost' means 'take me, I'm yours!'")


The character of Hercules himself is a little predictable. Different boy who goes on to become a huge hero but not before learning some lessons along the way. We've seen it before, but it's still interesting. He is a bit dim which is humourous and more entertaining than the knight in shining armour. He is outshadowed by other characters though. However there is a strange irony that one of the world's most powerful sellers of commericalised junk to kids has made a movie that says fame and wealth aren't what make you happy.

Whoever had the idea to put gospel songs to this film is a genius! Alan Menken is fast becoming one of my heroes. Keeping with the film's stylistic feel, the Muses occasionally appear to sing a song that's guaranteed to stick in your head for days afterwards. Some of the songs are a bit gag inducing though, especially the over-sentimental Go The Distance (which, to add salt to the wound, is sung by Michael Bolton in the credits.)


It's not quite up to their modern classic standards but Hercules is always entertaining and a very funny film. If you're willing to ignore some of the more morally dubious undertones Disney just can't help but put in, then you'll have a good time. It's definately underrated and has a witty charm more suited to the adults than the kids.

Meet the 11th Doctor.

Matt Smith.

What do we think? He's only 26, so I am very worried that he's too young. Stephen Moffat is known for making a lot of right wing casting choices and going a bit off the beaten track! This one's going to take a lot of convincing for me. He's a great actor but the part is more difficult than people think it is and Tennant has left some big shoes to fill. I knew my choice of Michael Sheen would never happen sadly. He is very cute at least. Good luck to 11.

Roger Ebert's Favourite Films of 2008.

Instead of his usual top 10, Ebert has chosen 20 movies from 2008. Listed in alphabetical order.

Ballast

The Band's Visit

Che

Chop Shop

The Dark Knight
Doubt
The Fall
Frost/Nixon
Frozen River
Happy-Go-Lucky
Iron Man
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Shotgun Stories
Slumdog Millionaire
Synecdoche, New York
W.
WALL-E