How Things Change

Author(s): Bryce Marrero
Location: Los Angeles

"How Things Change"

Directed by: Michel Gondry
Written by: Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry
Produced by: Steve Golin, Spike Jonze, and Anthony Bregman
Edited by: Eric Zumbrunnen

Main Cast

Cameron Bright as Billy Maple
William Fichtner as as Phil Maple
Catherine Keener as Victoria Maple
Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Travis Johnson
Lynn Whitfield as Jessica Johnson
Sean Astin as Jack The Cat
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Evil Lord Kunas
Jason Lee as Rocker Dennis
Mickey Rourke as Detective Brock
Tobey Maguire as Private Bobby

Tagline: "His life changed, and so did the world around him...literally"

Synopsis: Billy Maple always had a big imagination, but after he is involved in a car accident he develops a learning disability. To make matters worse, his hard working father, Phil Maple, must work even harder to pay for Billy's medical bills, which causes Phil to drink more often. The more he drinks the more abusive he becomes to his family. Billy's ex-drug addict mom, Victoria Maple, has picked up her old habit of doing drugs because of the stress of the family. As Billy's personal life gets more complicated and with more stress, Billy's imagination becomes more out of control.

Billy would randomly put himself into four different worlds. A superhero world where he has the ability to fly, and has a sidekick named Jack with powers of a cat. In the superhero world they fight the evil telepathic lord Kunis. He also imagines a world of rock and roll, where he and his rebellious guitar man Dennis perform at concerts. He imagines a world of crime, where him and his "play by no rules" partner Brock clean the streets up. Finally, he also imagines a world of space exploration where him and Private Bobby explore different worlds to conquer. Billy's imaginations of these worlds come and go, and his parents are afraid.

Billy's parents send Billy to a very mild and boring psychiatrist, Dr. Travis Johnson, who is having problems connecting with his wife Jessica Johnson. But Dr. Travis learns that he can learn more from Billy that can help his relationship, than Billy can learn from him. As more problems occur, Billy is more engulfed in his imaginations, and the ones who love him must act quickly before Billy completely losses his mind.

What the Press would say:

How Things Change, is the movie that will change the movie going experience. The story is about a boy with a vivid imagination who is more engulfed by his imaginations as life gets harder for him. Directed by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind's director Michel Gondry, and written by two time Oscar winner Charlie Kaufman, this movie is another masterpiece made by the duo. The editing done to the movie is quite unique. The transitions between the imagination worlds and the real world situations are so subtle that audiences won't be aware at times if they are in the imagination world until the familiar imaginative characters appear. Some great comedic aspects are given through the imagination parts that give a well needed comedic relief at times, and with the imagination parts making up about sixty percent of the movie I would consider this Dramedy to be more comedy than drama.

The acting is phenomenal. The young Cameron Bright gives a performance that is out of this world, as he must portray different versions of his character depending on what imaginative world he is in. Truly remarkable on levels that are beyond belief. Laurence Fishburne's character starts out like how most of his characters are, but as his character comes to realizations and starts to change you can really feel the emotions of the character. He plays a psychiatrist that is very serious about his job and learns how to be a bit more loose and fun in order to patch up his dying relationship with his wife. William Fichtner and Catherine Keener both give dramatic performances as the couple who is worried about their son but can't seem to stop fighting with each other. Fichtner character is very interesting to watch as he turns from hard working father to abusive husband, and Keener's character is very disturbing as her son starts to realize what she is doing for drugs.

Michel Gondry's direction is similar to Eternal Sunshine with only one exception. Gondry focuses heavily on the smooth transitions between the real world and imagination worlds so that audiences won't know which world they are seeing until it become apparent. This is establish by unique camera angles, and unique lighting. Gondry is also able to successfully express the theme of the movie, which is about how people must adapt to the changes around them. The theme is strong and common enough to connect with audiences on a personal level. How Things Change is Gondry's next masterpiece. It is the movie event of the year, and will have audiences talking about the film for years to come.

Best Musical/Comedy (Golden Globes)
Best Ensemble (SAG)
Best Picture
Best Director- Michel Gondry
Best Actor- Cameron Bright
Best Supporting Actor- Laurence Fishburne
Best Supporting Actor- William Fichtner
Best Supporting Actress- Catherine Keener
Best Original Screenplay- Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry
Best Editing

The Informer

Author(s): D.W. Dillon
Location: Nevada

"The Informer"

Directed by Abel Ferrara
Written by Jimmy Santiago Baca
Based on the novel "The Informer" by Liam O'Flaherty
Cinematography by Matthew Libatique
Edited by Roberto Silvi
Art Direction by Dante Ferretti
Music by Joe Delia
Produced by Brian Grazer

Main Cast

Javier Bardem - Gypo
Benicio Del Toro - Commadante Guillermo
Rudy Youngblood - Frankie Felipe
Rosanna DeSota - Mrs. Felipe
Laura Harring - Maria Felipe
Samantha Ives - Katrina
Kirk Acevedo - Bartolo
Jesse Borrega - Pedro
Edward James Olmos - "Judge" Fernandez
Scott Glenn - U.S. Army Officer

Tagline: "Dropped the dime for a nickel, now he's a rat on the run"

Synopsis: The year is 2016, and the United States occupies most of the northern half of Mexico. Because of the influx in drugs, illegal immigration, and the ultimate collapse in the Mexican government to control it's crumbling society and drug lords, the United States President deemed it necessary to invade and neutralize it's borders for good. Mexican uprising groups are formed to take back their land and freedom, most notably the MRA (Mexican Republican Army), inspired by the Irish Republican Army of Ireland.

On the 100th anniversary of Ireland's Easter Rising, MRA foot soldiers, the brute and slow-witted Gypo (Javier Bardem) and the anxious-intelligent Frankie (Rudy Youngblood) assassinate a high ranking U.S. officer (Scott Glenn). Frankie has been ID'd by authorities and is on the run while Gypo flees undetected. A handsome reward is promised to anybody with information leading to Frankie's arrest. Unfortunately, Gypo arrives home to find his girlfriend, Katrina (Samantha Ives) turning tricks as a prostitute for American soldiers. Enraged and without many options to keep his girlfriend off the streets, Gypo drops the dime on Frankie, but comes to find his reward is not so handsome. Gypo, in his tattered garb and cheap reward is now on the run from the group he had sworn allegiance to. He comes to find Frankie's mother (Rosanna DeSota) uncontrollably distraught, while Frankie's sister, Maria (Laura Harring) strikes Gypo with immense guilt when she informs him of Frankie's suicide upon apprehension from the military. He's only got a few places left to hide and nobody else to turn to. Hot on his trail is his old friend and MRA Commadante, Daniel Guillermo (Benicio Del Toro). A compassionate but determined hard-nosed leader who draws upon influence from legendary IRA leader, Michael Collins. Now he must keep his two trigger-happy assassins, Bartolo (Kirk Acevedo) and Pedro (Jesse Borrego) at bay. With the apathetic head of the MRA "Judge" Fernandez (Edward James Olmos) undermining Guillermo at every turn, he must bring the informer to justice or watch Gypo suffer under the hands of his unforgiving comrades. Gypo, was once his toughest foot soldier, but is now way past redemption, drowning his guilt and sorrow in the bottle. A battle of wit versus brawn in the midst of honor and friendship, Commandante Guillermo knows what he has to do, but can he?

What the Press would say:

Director Abel Ferrara's modern adaptation of the classic novel, "The Informer" marks a refreshing conflict of Man vs. Man and Man vs. Himself. In the real world there is no black and white, there are shades of gray. Ferrara, director of such acclaimed films as "The Bad Lieutenant" and "The King of New York", known for the brutal honesty of his characters who often fight within themselves, trying to hold onto their last piece of faith, he brings not one, but two souls into the forefront, Commadante Guillermo and Gypo. Two completely contrasting figures who represent the same fight within themselves. Latino heavyweights Javier Bardem and Benicio Del Toro take on these roles with such vulnerability, that your stomach drops as if you were in their shoes. Bardem's Gypo is a ship that's sinking. We see a transformation from a thick-headed massive thug, and into a sincere, yet tragic being. While Del Toro's Commadante Guillermo, a no non-sense leader, begins a spiraling downfall, as he struggles with the job of having to save or kill a friend. Guillermo represents us, the viewer and how we perceive Gypo's unforgivable actions, but as we see him deteriorate, our compassion grows as well as Guillermo's. As the catalyst to Gypo's fate lies Mrs. Felipe, played with such grace by the undeniable Rosanna DeSota. By forgiving Gypo for causing her son's death, she unleashes a pain inside him that will carry with him forever. While DeSota's pushes Gypo to the brink of self-destruction, Edward James Olmos' magnificent portrayal of "Judge" Fernandez, who is out for blood, pushing Bardem's Gypo into a survivor's state of mind, leaving him in limbo. Ferrara has created a world in the future, yet not so distant, and all too familiar. We leave "The Informer" thinking days past what we would have done under such intense circumstances. A triumphant and bold undertaking, "The Informer" hits every mark as a truly thought-provoking masterpiece.

Best Picture
Best Director - Abel Ferrara
Best Actor - Javier Bardem
Best Actor - Benicio Del Toro
Best Supporting Actor - Edward James Olmos
Best Supporting Actress - Rosanna DeSota
Best Adapted Screenplay - Jimmy Santiago Baca
Best Score - Joe Delia
Best Cinematography - Matthew Libatique
Best Editing - Roberto Silvi
Best Art Direction - Dante Ferretti

It's a Public Life

Author(s): Michael
Location: Oklahoma

"It’s a Public Life"

Directed by Alexander Payne
Distributed by Universal Studios
Written by Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, and B.J. Novak
Music by Rolfe Kent

Main Cast

Ellen DeGeneres- Judy “Wilde” Glenn
Florence Henderson- Jenna Wilde
Ricky Gervais- Tony Parker
Nathan Lane- Alex Crawfish
Megan Mullally- Veronica Bergin
Cloris Leachman- Julie Glenn

Tagline: "N/A"

Synopsis: After the press gets a hold of the story about Judy and her real mother Jenna, Hollywood is dying for the two of them to get together and star in a film. The head of Sham Studios, Tony Parker approaches the mother/daughter duo about making a picture called The Shankshaw Punishment about two cellmates sitting on death row who bond over the period they have to wait until execution. Judy falls in love with the story as the words are pouring out of Tony’s mouth; Jenna on the other hand isn’t totally convinced that she wants to star in a movie. After much convincing they agree to do the project which gives the press a field day. Once they are signed on to the film, the director of Judy’s old films Alex Crawfish agrees to direct the film.

With all the news surrounding the Wilde duo Veronica Bergin is one of the first members of the press to hound the Glenn and Wilde clans trying to find the next day’s top headline. Once again, Veronica goes to the greatest depths to get a story including hiding in FedEx delivery boxes to the families’ homes, going through air conditioning units, and even having a mole inside Judy and Jenna’s mansion.

6 months later, the filming wraps on The Shankshaw Redemption the offers for Judy and Jenna start pouring in with projects ranging from East by Eastnorth, Most Like it Freezing, and Japantown. They commit to all the films and America is still obsessed with the Wilde team. Then The Shankshaw Punishment opens to rave reviews, critics love the film and premiers with 50 million at the box office. With both the women having their first hit, they can’t wait to put their mark on the 3 other projects. Then all of the sudden the team is fired from all of the 3 movies. Now the mystery becomes why were they fired after having such a big hit…

What the Press would say:

What can I say, this really caps off the trilogy and in a very nice way. It’s hilarious, emotional, awkward, and all around smart comedy. Alexander Payne does yet another fine piece of directing here where unlike a lot of films this year it really shines through. The script is well written, funny, clever and witty and the cast is tremendous. I have to say if Ellen doesn’t get an Oscar for this performance the whole thing is a sham. After 2 pervious nods for her performances as Judy Glenn this is definitely the best. Her timing is impeccable, the expressions she has are perfection, it really is the best performance of the year. The supporting cast is just as good, but in much smaller doses. Megan Mullally gives a wonderful performance that is a great parody of the paparazzi these days and Nathan Lane is just as crazy as ever. I have to say I was crying laughing during the scene where Cloris Leachman is confronted with what she has done. Simply hilarious and the best scene of the year! All around this is the by far the best comedy of the year and light-years better than the #2 film of the year!

FYC:

Best Picture
Best Director- Alexander Payne
Best Original Screenplay- Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, and B.J. Novak
Best Actress- Ellen DeGeneres
Best Supporting Actor- Nathan Lane
Best Supporting Actress- Megan Mullally
Best Supporting Actress- Cloris Leachman
Best Supporting Actress- Florence Henderson
Best Original Score

The Last Page

Author(s): Maia
Location: Los Angeles

"The Last Page"

Written and Directed by Alejandro Amenabar
Produced by Alejandro Amenabar and Guillermo Del Toro
Cinematography by Guillermo Navarro
Original Music by Javier Navarrete

Thriller / Supernatural

Main Cast

Glenn Close as Julianne Wolf-Stevens
Morgan Freeman as Raphael Stevens
Robert Downey Jr. as Blake Smith
Maribel Verdu as Carmen Sanchez
& Hope Davis as Angela Wolf

Tagline: "Some endings are not meant to be told"

Synopsis: After her introverted daughter commits suicide, best selling author Julianne Wolf-Stevens (Close) copes with her loss by writing a novel about the many things left unsaid between them. However, when she finishes and starts reading through her first draft; Julianne discovers that everything has been changed to a new story told through Angela’s point of view: one that ends up with a different version of her death and lots of unanswered questions...

From that moment, Julianne becomes obsessed with Angela’s story (firmly believing she has received a message from her deceased daughter) and without any support from her husband Raphael (Freeman); she seeks help from Blake Smith (Downey Jr.), the sour detective who unwillingly closed Angela’s case due to a lack of evidence. The two immerse into Angela’s chronicle as Raphael becomes more and more concerned about his wife’s mental health. Carmen, their trusted maid, seems to be the only one apart from Smith who believes in Julianne and she also seems to know more about Angela than her own mother. Julianne and Smith interpret Angela’s story as clues to solve her death and they follow them to a dead end on its last page…

Smith can’t understand why Carmen figures so much on Angela’s story while Julianne secretly fears that a bond between them would explain many things about her daughter’s life. Both are also perplexed by the constant mention of Angela’s long-time deceased father (Julianne’s first husband) and the intriguing details on the story that seem to become true day after day. When the gory events detailed on the last page of the story finally happen, Julianne realizes is time to confront more than one ghost from her past… as well as her present…

What the Press would say:

“The Last Page”, the smartly titled new drama by Spanish director Alejandro Amenabar, is definitely one of the most subtle and suspenseful films in recent years. Clearly inspired by the hispanic beliefs about ghosts and life after death (topics Amenabar and producer Guillermo del Toro have explored magnificently in previous films like The Others and The Devil’s Backbone); “The Last Page” is a contemporary thriller that efficiently mixes supernatural elements with relatable human conflicts. Glenn Close is captivating as the mother haunted by guilt, remorse and the need for closure. The Oscarless actress proves why she is a living legend in a role that demands her to go into darker places than she has ever before, and one that most likely will earn her another Oscar nomination and possibly; a long deserved win. Robert Downey Jr. is also terrific as the frustrated law enforcer drawn into the mystery (even if he isn’t completely convinced at first) and he is allowed to demonstrate a wide range of emotions as his character bonds with Close’s. An unusual supporting turn by Morgan Freeman as Julianne’s harsh husband is also outstanding; the veteran actor is able to turn this unsympathetic character into a man legitimately worried for his wife and what he perceives as delusions. Maribel Verdu plays a key role as the maid with a past that secretly intertwines with Angela’s, the spanish actress engages the viewer on each of her scenes. Finally, the much underrated Hope Davis delivers a solid performance through many flashback scenes.

Although the film’s conclusion is not your typical Hollywood ending, Amenabar’s imaginative writing and gifted direction turn the film into a powerful and highly enjoyable thriller where his mysticism fits in perfectly and where his characters remain authentic in spite of the supernatural events around them.

Consider “The Last Page” for the following awards:

Best Picture
Best Director – Alejandro Amenabar
Best Original Screenplay
Best Actress – Glenn Close
Best Actor – Robert Downey Jr.
Best Supporting Actor – Morgan Freeman
Best Supporting Actress – Maribel Verdu & Hope Davis
Creativity Awards

Lucky Clover

Author(s): Sergio
Location: Spain

"Lucky Clover"

Directed by Jim Sheridan
Written by Emma Thompson
Produced by Arthur Lappin, Jim Sheridan
Music by Gavin Friday, Maurice Seezer
Photography by Peter Biziou B.S.C.
Edited by Gerry Hambling A.C.E.

Main Cast

Emma Thompson (Dt. Abigail Green)
Jamie Bell (Graham Foster)
Liam Neeson (Patrick Foster)
Emily Watson (Mary Foster)
Gerard Butler (Mathew’s father)
Saffron Burrows (Mathew’s mother)
Samantha Morton (Nurse Loretta)
Matthew Goode (Peter Foster)
Alan Rickman (Lawyer)
and Sean Biggerstaff (Matthew O’Brian)

Tagline: "The past can destroy the future, but fate makes the circumstances"

Synopsis: Graham, called “Lucky Clover” by the international press, is now in coma. He was the only survivor and witness in a terrorist act in Belfast, in the 70s, by the IRA. Three years later, detective Abigail Green visits him every day with the hope of his awakening. She was retired from this case the day she had a car accident considered as a clear attempt to kill herself. Abigail continues investigating because Graham is her only choice to know who killed her husband and her son that terrible day. She doesn’t give up. She asks to nurse Loretta every day about Graham’s health. Sometimes, Abigail comes completely drunk to the hospital even before midday, but she has lost everything, her family, her job and her close friends. She only has Graham besides her but he doesn’t know her yet. One night Graham opens his eyes. He jumps from the bed and he starts running. Abigail and his bodyguard follow him. They try to catch him but they can’t. Graham faints away in the exit door. Abigail tries to awake him. He opens his eyes again but he’s completely absent.

Three years before. Graham opens his eyes. He lies on the ground. It’s a soccer match and his companions help him to get up. Matt, a player from the opposite team, comes to ask for excuses. Graham and Matt will turn into great friends since then. They come from very different families and religions. They have nothing in common but they match from the beginning. Matt is brave, he is not scare about fighting. Graham is weaker, his mother use to overprotect him. Patrick and Mary see their son weak and helpless. His brother, Peter, is strong and independent but Graham is Mary’s favorite son. The family has a lot of good values. Graham’s father is a policeman with a great sense of duty, he is strict and distant and they use to discuss very often. Graham gets into Matt’s circle, sharing friendship, drunkenness and excesses. Graham discovers a fascinating group of people. His new friends are not well seen by his father and they discuss about that all the time. Graham doesn’t last any more in his house and decides to spend a few days with Matt and his family. Graham admiration to Matt’s parents and environment pushes him to do some things against his own values but he feels special and integrated. His mother ask him to come back home and to talk to his father. Everybody seems to be nervous one evening in Matt’s home. Matt’s warns him not to stay there that night. But Graham is tired, he has no place to go so he seeks in Matt’s lumber’s room and that simple choice will involve him in his family’s death. Voices inside the house awake Graham, and he hears a conversation that will change all his life forever. Graham runs as fast as he can to get into the Greens Pub. He is in tears and screaming for help. He arrives to the pub and he sees his family through the glass celebrating his brother’s ascent. The last thing he saw before the explosion was his father smiling at him because he was there.

Now, Graham is accused of belonging to a terrorist group and he will have to testify in the judgment, when he recovers his sanity. One night Graham receives the unexpected visit of Matt. He takes his hand and asks for excuses again. Matt is on a dilemma because Graham knows too many things about him and his family and Matt knows that his friend is in danger. His look is still empty, absent. Abigail knows he’s innocent and she will demonstrate it in the judgment with the help of his lawyer. Abigail remembers the tragic day when she lost her husband and her son in their pub. She broke into tears with Graham in her arms.

What the Press would say:

The peace process is getting to the end in Ireland. It has been many years of fight and terror to a tired and desolated people. Now, from the distance, the people are what will stay in our memories, their acts, what they were, and what they wanted to be. This is what this film wants to reflect. A film that presents a group of people in a special circumstance, showing two different worlds, two very different boys that can understand each other in the edge of their political and religious ideologies.

Jim Sheridan knows well this conflict (In the name of the father) recapturing this topic with a different view: The past must not prevent the dialogue. The script was difficult to write to Emma Thompson. She pretends to be neutral, creating some characters that flee from what they are supposed to be. This film talks about people that have internal conflicts with their families and environment and they are capable to auto-criticize and auto-analyze, always from the respect. Emma Thompson also has one of the main characters. She creates her character from a little sketch and it starts growing on the paper. Abigail is a strong woman with a hard life. A woman with a tragic past that finds some support in the young Graham. She talks to him, opening her heart to a boy that cannot listen to her. Jamie Bell plays Graham, showing his interpretive force. Jamie Bell has a big challenge with this extremely complex role. He finds a big support in Emma Thompson and Jim Sheridan, and they all create very strong and emotive scenes. A great cast completes the plot, emphasizing the great work of Liam Neeson, Emily Watson, Gerard Butler, Saffron Burrows and the young Sean Biggerstaff. We can find intense and contained performances, (Neeson, Watson) that you could never forget, characters that suffer, love and fight in this life. Without doubt one of the best human dramas based in the real life, but with people that have never existed, though they could have existed anytime.

FYC:

Best Picture
Best Director: Jim Sheridan
Best Original Screenplay: Emma Thompson
Best Leading Actress: Emma Thompson
Best Leading Actor: Jamie Bell
Best Supporting Actor: Liam Neeson
Best Supporting Actress: Emily Watson

Mindset

Author(s): Ryan Drake
Location: N/A

"Mindset"

Directed by: Sofia Coppola
Written By: Sofia Coppola

Main Cast

Nikki Reed- Christine Brown
Shia Lebouf- Paul Winters
Sean Penn- John Brown
Allison Janney - Susan Brown
Jeanne Tripplehorn- Chelsea Winters

Tagline: "Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest"

Synopsis: 1965

A car pulls up onto a suburban neighborhood. The sun reflects bright orange and yellow throughout the neighborhood as children play in the leaves on the first day of fall. Paul and his mother Chelsea pull up to their new house. Paul had to leave his old town because he had a falling out with a good friend and it got so bad they had to move. Before pulling in he sees a woman Mrs. Brown and her captivating daughter Christine. The father is fighting in Vietnam, so it is just Mrs. Brown and her daughter. Susan is rarely home, so it’s just Christine. She invites Paul into her basement. Her basement is filled with brown leather, and has a musky dazed feel. Christine is a sexual girl and automatically starts putting up a flirtatious attitude. Paul is intrigued in Christine who is a mystery to him; she is a mystery to everyone. She refuses to tell him anything about her past and all he knows about her is what he hears from neighbors. Paul and Christine’s relationship progresses into sex.

As Christine and Paul’s relationship gets heavier he slowly gets pieces and pieces of her past. He finds out that she has had a rough childhood. Her family is very religious, and before Vietnam the family spent a lot of time with each other, following strict Christian rules. Christine refuses to talk about her father, but we know him as an angry, drunk father who hates is daughter. Paul notices that she has a scar on her stomach, which she doesn’t like to talk about. While she goes upstairs to get something to eat, Paul notices a little closet in the corner of the basement. He finds information on a surgery he has never heard of. Paul asks what these are and she freaks out and asks him to leave.

The next day at school you hear shots in the hallway of the classroom. It is Christine, who has the gun. As Christine has Paul at gunpoint, she says she wants the attention. Paul finally understands her in an instant. He sees flashbacks of her past from clues that she gave him. Christine was abused and molested by her father. Christine became pregnant and an unmarried pregnant girl did not settle well with her strong Christian family. The father knows it is him who is the father, so he tries to beat her to kill the unborn child. Her father now at Vietnam is gone and it is only her mother who doesn’t know that it was the father that did this to her, and she never talks to Christine. She had an abortion. Christine is dying for attention and this story she has been keeping for so long is now causing her to act out. All of a sudden it moves to another location at Paul’s old school. Another kid has him at gun point where Christine had him. Was what happened real, or made up in his imagination the .5 seconds he had while the bullet was going into his skull. As the camera pans out we see another girl shot in the head that looks exactly like Christine.

What the Press would say:

Sofia Coppola does it again making her best feature yet. She uses the musky dazed cinematography that she used in the Virgin Suicides. She is able to make a moving film with such an intense thrill, yet keep it at a relaxed tempo. Her shocker ending is one of the best ending we will see this year. The story questions what you think goes through your mind before you die. Shia Lebouf playing Paul is amazing as a teenager trying to find the mystery behind his lover. He is able to exhibit anger and desperation, yet show a loving compassion for Christine. Nikki Reed leaves us with the knock out performance. His Flashbacks are an example of some of the best acting I have seen from a young actress. We see the growth from a seductive regular teenager to a psychopath with inner demons. Coppola is able to use different quick themed shots of American flags, Christine sitting in a frigid position naked, and etc. to show her past in 10 minutes. Sofia also uses the musical styling of early Simon and Garfunkel, and “right here, right now” by Fatboy Slim. Scarborough Fair for example which is played last gives us that intoxicating, dazed, dream-like feel that the film goes for. Sophia Coppola invites you into the world of youth. She seems to leave you with more questions than answers which is ironic to what the movie is about. With an intelligent script using Paul’s old friend as the person who has him at gunpoint. This movie sinks in your brain for a long time, and you still can’t get a grip on what actually happened. Also though short, Sean Penn gives it his all in his drunken angry version of John. Simply one of the best pictures of the year.

Best Picture
Best Picture-Drama
Best Director: Sofia Coppola
Best O. Screenplay: Sofia Coppola
Best Actress: Nikki Reed
Best Actor: Shia Lebouf
Best supporting actor: Sean Penn
Best supporting actress: Allison Janney
Best supporting actress: Jeanne Tripplehorn
Best Cinematography
Best Ensemble

Mom is 80

Author(s): Alex
Location: Washington State

"Mom is 80"

Written & Directed by Noah Baumbach

Main Cast

Bea Arthur (Natalie)
Alec Baldwin (Charlie)
Annette Bening (Nicole)
Albert Brooks (Drew)
Joan Cusack (Libby)
Greg Kinnear (Sam)
Frances McDormand (Aubrey)
Molly Shannon (Emily)

Tagline: "Sometimes, all it takes to bring a family back together is a little slice of Birthday cake"

Synopsis: Some Families just don’t get along very well. Another term for it is household chaos. Natalie is a loudmouthed mom who just won’t shut up. Charlie is secretly a recovering alcoholic who has just gotten up the courage to tell his mother. Nicole is the insulting family drama queen. Drew, the eldest, is hilarious and everyone’s best friend. Libby is the family clown always ready with a joke, even when it might not always be the time or place. Sam is the suck-up baby of the bunch. Aubrey is clueless as to why she was even born into this family, seeing that she’s the only sane one. Emily is Sam’s twin and equally as nosy as her mother.

Ever since a big family fight at Natalie’s 70th Birthday party, things have not gone so well. They’ve been very distant from each other, and Anne wants to finally change that. When her Birthday roles around she has everyone over to celebrate and mend old wounds. But can they?

What the Press would say:

The vibrant, “Mom is 80”, is by far the best comedy in years. Noah Baumbach superbly directs this tale of a family coming together at their mother’s Birthday party. Bea Arthur plays the mother with more style and panache then ever before. She is perfect for the part of the over opinionated, loudmouthed, Natalie. I can’t think of anyone else who could possibly step into her shoes to play this exciting role. Although this all of the supporting cast members are fabulous, Alec Baldwin and Frances McDormand have the best chances at a nomination. Baldwin gives such a hilarious performance as Charlie, the family’s recovering alcoholic. You can see the perfect chemistry between him and Arthur when he tells her about his alcoholism. It’s to die for. McDormand is brilliant and equally deserves a nomination as the insanely witty Aubrey. She gives such a good performance, I can see this even surpassing her “Fargo” fame and becoming her most well known role. I can see these three definitely rising above their contenders this Oscar season to become the frontrunners in their categories. The screenplay, also by Baumbach, is absolutely brilliant. “Mom is 80” is one of my favorite comedies of this year (maybe of the decade), and I’m hoping to see nominations in these categories:

Best Picture
Best Director (Noah Baumbach)
Best Actress (Bea Arthur)
Best Supporting Actor (Alec Baldwin)
Best Supporting Actress (Frances McDormand)
Best Original Screenplay (Noah Baumbach)