Cooking Class

Author(s): Iñaki
Location: Spain

"Cooking Class"

Directed by Elizabeth Harrison
Written by Paul Haggis
Music by John Williams

Drama

Main Cast

Penélope Cruz (Amanda Martínez)
Helen Mirren ( Tina Wilson)
Chandra wilson (Tess Fray)
Eva Green (Paola Berlinni)
Edward Norton (Saul Fernández)
David Thewlis (George Wilson)
Gabriel Mann (Alex Everett)
Gena Rowlands (Jeena Lewis)

Tagline: "A pinch of salt and a teaspoon of love will solve everything"

Synopsis: This is the recipe for a movie about four different women who attend a cooking class in Jeena Lewis' garage because they want to scape from their tragic lives. They are very different and they from different places so they each give the movie their own taste. Amanda Martinez is a Spanish woman who arrived in Chicago a year ago. She has two children and she lives with her husband Saul. They have many financial problems and it causes him great anger. Amanda is often he victim of it. She loves lemon cake which is sharp and sweet at the same time. Tina Wilson is a seventy year old woman who attends the cooking class because she feels lonely at home with her husband George, who suffers from paralysis. What she wants is to meet new people and escape from the drama that she lives. Spaghetti is her favorite meal because she enjoys the tomato sauce in her tongue.

Paola is an Italian woman who is a former drug addict and her treatment includes this cooking class. Also she is battered by her boyfriend Alex, but she suffers it in silence. Strawberries and cream is her favorite dessert because it gives her all love she needs.
Tess Fray is an African-American nurse who has four children and is a widow. She wants to learn more recipes so she can cook her children the best meals. She feels lonely because everything she does is for her children and she never thinks of herself. She loves to make home made meals beacuse she loves her mother's recipes.

These four different women become friends and they start to know the problems of the other ones. They try to solve them without paying attention to their own problems. They go to Jeena's class twice a week and they work in groups so they finally know each other. One of the most revealing scenes is when Paola's boyfriend appears at Tess' party and starts to shout and hit Paola in front of her friends. They run to help her and Alex starts to run. Paola starts to cry and she tells her friends everything about her situation. They try to help her but it is very difficult. Finally, Paola becomes a drug addict again and she finally dies the night before the cooking festival in Chicago after her boyfriend beats her up. This cruel action opens the other women's eyes and they finally discover the peace and happiness inside their house with their own families. They realize that happiness can be found in the worst places, all you have to do is look for it. They discovered that the best ingredients to make a good meal are a lot of love and patience mixed with a teaspoon of joy, baked in each one's heart and served with a big smile.

What the Press would say:

The press loves this film. It is sad but you realize that you can find all the support you need in your family. Elizabeth Harisson's work is fantastic and she has made a very good film without much money. This independent film has a great female cast composed of Helen Mirren, Eva Green, Chandra Wilson and Penélope Cruz. All of them have a very difficult roles and they play them perfectly. Their roles are not plain roles, they are very difficult because they have to act as they are happy when they are in the cooking class and when they return home they live a nightmare. They are the embodiment of different flavors: sweet (Chandra), sour (Helen), sharp (Penélope) and spicy (Eva). One of the best performances is by Helen Mirren, who acts as if she is a seventy year old woman perfectly. She has the same characteristics from the voice to the health problems. Furthermore, she is very ironic when she talk so it is the funniest part of the film wich is a great drama.

The press loves all the female roles, but they also love David Thewlis' role which is very difficult because he has to act as he is a paralytic. Also they like Edward Norton's role: a hysterical father who hates the economic situation of his family and tries to improve it anyway. This is a very good movie and people who love good dramas will love this one too. The best scene of the film is at Tess' party, and the end of the film when you can see all women enjoying their families. Desperation, cruelty, anger, poverty and love are the ingredients of this movie which, at the end, has a very sweet taste.

Best Picture
Best Director: Elizabeth Harrison
Best Actress: Penélope Cruz
Best Supporting Actress: Helen Mirren
Best Supporting Actress: Eva Green
Best Supporting Actress: Chandra Wilson
Best Supporting Actor: Edward Norton
Best Supporting Actor: David Thewlis
Best Original Screenplay: Paul Haggis
Best Costume Design
Best Make-Up
Best Cinematography
Best Score
Best Sound Editing

Dark Knight of the Soul

Author(s): Tony
Location: Pittsburgh

"Dark Night of the Soul"

Directed by William Friedkin
Written by Paddy Considine
Produced by Michael De Luca

Main Cast

Jonathan Jackson as Count Grishnackh
Michael Pitt as Euronymous
Edward Furlong as Dead
Freddy Rodríguez as Hellhammer
Joey Kern as Maniac

Tagline: "Controversy, Carnage, Evil, Mayhem"

Synopsis: The sky is blanketed by swollen, gray clouds. Under this leaden bell jar, an hour outside Oslo in the Norwegian Countryside, lie the remains of Holen Church, burnt to the ground. Such events have gone on for years in the devestating country of Norway. A new lifestyle was created, a new way of living, a new breed, when in 1983 the guitarist Euronymous formed the band "Mayhem". Known mostly for their unique style and obsessions in gore and violence, Mayhem brought so much more to the country then music, but rather a risky way of life, with the drummer, Hellhammer, being the only composed of the bunch. The story started when lead singer, Maniac, had to be confronted by a mental institution, claiming he was sick of life and had a failed attempt at suicide. It was then new lead singer, Dead, would follow. Dead was fascinated in death, satanism, and occultism. Often he would bury his clothes in the ground along with a dead raven for weeks, then wear them to get a real feel for "death". He would also bring raw pigs heads on stakes on stage, licking the blood from the stake, and cutting himself numerous times. Only 22 years old, Dead had killed himself, found with a shotgun wound to head and lacerations to the wrist. The most bizarre about it was that when Euronymous found the body, he decided to take pictures, one of which was the album cover for one of their albums, making a necklace out of his remaining skull and cooking his brains in a soup with potatoes and carrots. In time it was later found out that Euronymous would become more demented and disturbed then Dead.

Euronymous had no remorse, no pain, and no feelings. He felt great pleasure in the fact that his very own friend Dead had killed himself. Euronymous had a business, he owned the record store Hell, but beneath Hell was the Inner Circle, an underground party where his followers would gather, wearing corpse paint, cutting themselves with knifes and broken bottles. He wanted to incite young people to violence, methods of torture, and causing nothing but chaos. However, it was when Count Grishnackh, bassist at the time, decided he wanted to prove to be more evil then Euronymous and Dead. He's cold and intense, his emotions and actions based more on ideology than anything inside his heart. The Inner Circle devised the idea of setting fire to the pride of Norway, burning down churches, raising havoc among the countryside. Euronymous predicted that Grishnackh would soon do something even grander to get his face in the papers. It was then Grishnackh had murdered his own friend Euronymous, stabbing him 23 times. The police had questioned more than 100 black metallers. Grishnackh appeared in court wearing pigtails and spiked leather gloves, constantly using a sinister laugh, taking the whole incident as a joke. It was then reported that the shells used in Deads suicide were given to him by Count Grishnackh. The Count remains in prison to this day.

Black Metal continues to stun idyllic Norway with ideology and terrorist acts. It is corrupted by a whole different society, churches continue to be burnt down and murders are often occured.

What the Press would say:

"Dark Night of the Soul" is the film the world has been dying for. Finally, a horrific, psychological look at real life human behavior, the other side to horror, the real side. No unrealistic torture gadgets, no burnt man in haunting your dreams, this is the real deal, and fascinating enough, director William Friedkin brings us this original masterpiece full of new ideas and ways of directing that really quite haven't been used yet. Dark Night takes you on a complete mind race, meaning it shifts you into certain gears, those gears witnessing demented behavior, while taking it as an entire new film experience and appreciating its abilities. Friedkin teases you in some shots, the infamous scene in particular where in which we see the soup being made but we never see the brains go in and it leaves us in questions. Later in the film it's revealed that Euronymous has added that ingredient and we are left speechless. The film is narrarated by Freddy Rodríguez, or Hellhammer. If there's anything sane in which this film provides it's Freddys great portayal of a character that can sort of relate to us in the audience. He's going through the madness, much like we're going through the war in Iraq, Hellhammer sits back and witnesses all the hell break lose, the hell in which he has no control over. He's a troubled man, and the performance is strong. Jonathan Jackson and Michael Pitt pull off quite frankly the most disturbing duo film has ever seen. It's a complete rush when these two are in the same scene. Their friendship seems like it can't be broken, there's trust between them, but deep inside each of them they know what their capabilities are, and in actuality have more hate for each other then likeness. Both guys are pitch perfect and should be credited for it, they are evil as they come in their own special ways. To add on the magnificience of each character, the actors had to speak with a Norwegian accent language, very dedicated were these young men.

People may question this films intentions, but let me remind you the thing that seperates this film from the rest of the horror genre is that this film truly comes from the soul, William Friedkin turned a risky subject into a film clinic, much like The Exorcist, "Dark Night of the Soul" is especially horrifying with great performances and wonderful production value to follow up with it. It's a real look at different places in the world, a unique, documentary like aspect of the real life horrors and conflicts that are going on outside of our country, well it's something to be accounted for, and this film is something to be accounted for.

FYC:

Best Picture - William Friedkin, Paddy Considine, Michael De Luca
Best Director - William Friedkin
Best Supporting Actor - Jonathan Jackson
Best Supporting Actor - Michael Pitt
Best Supporting Actor - Freddy Rodríguez
Best Original Screenplay - William Friedkin
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Make-up
Best Original Score

David Copperfield: I Am Dead

Author(s): Lee
Location: New Jersey

"David Copperfield: I Am Dead"

Screenplay by Kenneth Lonergan
Directed by Ang Lee

Main Cast

Uriah Heep- Steve Buscemi
David Copperfield, the younger-
David Copperfield, the older-Matthew Goode
Mr. Murdstone-Daniel Day Lewis
Jane Murdstone-Helena Bonham Carter
Aunt Betsy Trotwood-Julie Christie
Clara Copperfield (David's Mother)- Samantha Morton
Peggoty-Imelda Staunton
Steerforth-Jude Law
Tommy Tradles-Rupert Everett
Agnes Wickfield-Kate Winslet
Mr. Wickfield-Michael Caine
Older Emily-Emily Mortimer
Dora Spenlow-Rachel Weisz
Mr. Peggoty-Alfred Molina
Ham-Sean Bean
Mr. Micawber-Jim Broadbent
Mrs. Micawber-Helen Mirren

Tagline: "We gain life, we lose life, but memories are forever!"

Synopsis: Charles Dickens beloved classic, "David Copperfield," is revived on the big screen in frightening fashion as a tale of horror and intrigue. The film begins with a bright-eyed David opening his eyes in his own grave, declaring, "I am dead!" Whereas the novel is chronological, and starts with a chapter titled, "I am born," this film tells a non-linear story deeply reliant on memory.

Charles Dickens was obsessed with memories and their power. He questioned whether we should trust them and to what extent. This film ponders that very question. It is narrated by David from his grave, and it's broken up into three chapters. The first half up to the climax focus on David's adult life from his marriage to Agnes, and previous marriage to Dora before her death, to his old age. The second chapter of the film focuses on David's education and his friendships with Steerforth, Tommy Tradles, Emily and his life as the nephew of Betsy Trotwood, and before that, his conflicts with the Murdstones upon his mother's death. The last part of the film is that which is most heartfelt, his early relationships with his mother and Peggoty. The penultimate scene features David's birth, while the last scene takes him back into his mother's womb. Therefore, the end of David's story is narrated by Clara (his mother) who possesses David in her womb, and who is the vessel that allows David to feel anything at all. In a way, David is his mother and she is him, and the feelings he recalls in her womb mark the end of his story.

Relying on the argument that the older you are the more access to information you have and thus the more you know the film demonstrates how little David feels and understands as a child compared with his later years. Who David loves is also an important theme in the film, as David's memories do not allow him to value one moment or romance more than another. The deeper into the story we get, the more difficult it is to discern who is a villain and who is a hero. David's blurry perception of his life is the main source of our knowledge of the story. Like George Cukor's 1935 Best Picture nominated film version, this film boasts with a predominately British cast that encompasses some of Hollywood's most familiar British actors including Jim Broadbent reprising the role of Mr. Micawber which earned raves for vaudeville performer W.C., Fields in the 30's.

What the Press would say:

"A haunting performance by Daniel Day Lewis as the ruthless Mr. Murstone!" Richard Roeper

Awards Consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director, Ang Lee
Best Screenplay, Kenneth Lonergan
Best Editing
Best Ensemble Acting
Most Creative Plot/Synopsis
Best Actor: Matthew Goode
Best Supporting Actresses: Julie Christie, Emily Mortimer, Kate Winslet, Rachel Weisz, Helen Mirren, Imedla Staunton, Helena Bonham Carter and Samantha Morton
Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Day Lewis, Jim Broadbent, Jude Law, Sean Bean, Steve Buscemi, Michael Caine, Rupert Everett
Best Set Design
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design

Elm Falls

Author(s): T.D.
Location: Killeen , TX

"Elm Falls"

Distributed by Miramax Films
Directed by Todd Field
Produced by Ross Katz & Graham Leader
Written by Susannah Grant
Cinematography by Roger Deakins
Film Editing by Peter Boyle
Art Direction by Christopher Freeman & Shannon Hart
Costumes by Melissa Economy
Music by Thomas Newman

Drama

Main Cast

James Caan as Gilbert Henderson
Faye Dunaway as Louise Henderson
Thomas Haden Church as Sam Henderson
Felicity Huffman as Rachel Henderson
Paul Dano as Jacob Henderson
Jessica Biel as Melissa Henderson

Tagline: "In a small town, a grandfather will finally connect with his grandchildren"

Synopsis: Gilbert and Louise are retired pastor and schoolteacher, respectively, who decided to spend two weeks of their summer vacation at the old family ranch in Elm Falls , South Dakota . They both left the ranch in the hands of their farm-loving son Sam and his poet wife Rachel. When the four have dinner on the first night, Sam receives a call from his gay actor son Jacob. Jacob tells Sam that is coming back to Elm Falls to visit the family and the old ranch for the summer. This excites both Sam and Rachel, for they haven’t their son since he left for college four years ago. This news also excites Louise, but not Gilbert because he detests Jacob and before Jacob left for college, he told the family that he was gay and Gilbert said that he never wants to see or speak to him again. And remembering this Sam doesn’t tell Jacob that his grandparents were also staying at the ranch.

Early next morning, while the family is having breakfast, Rachel gets a call from her fashion designer daughter Melissa, and she tells her mother that he is coming to visit the family for the summer. Everyone but Gilbert are excited to hear this news, and he goes upstairs and remembers the time when he scold at Melissa for having a child out of wedlock with an old friend of hers. For the next two days Sam, Rachel, and Louise prepare the house for the return of the children, while Gilbert acts strange and pretends to not notice the preparations. Louise notices his strange behavior, and one day as they were walking in the field, she talks to Gilbert. He tells her that he doesn’t want to see his grandchildren because they are sinners in his eyes and of God’s eyes. Louise believes and tells him that he should forget the past and try to see his grandchildren in a different way instead of sinners.

On the day of the arrival, Gilbert resides in his room while the rest of the family greets Jacob and Melissa. He finally comes down and gives looks at the two. They speaks a little, and when they mention about having a boyfriend and raising the child by herself, he walks out of the living room and goes to the field. Louise follows and confronts him by saying that he did was wrong and that he should apology for his actions. He refuses, and she stomps back into the house and up to her room. She sits on her bed and cries until Rachel comes and begins to comfort her. Meanwhile, Jacob and Melissa tell Sam why they detest their grandfather and how he ridiculed both of them when they were still living in Elm Falls . When Sam speaks of his father, Gilbert, who comes back after a while of thinking, comes in and said that he’ll try to get to know his grandchildren better, and he goes upstairs and apologizes to his wife. For the next week, Gilbert begins to see his grandchildren as different people, as they all go out on the evenings to Elm Falls and reminisce their past times living in the town. During the bond, he helps them with their problems they’re facing back at their homes in Los Angeles and New York, such as Jacob with the break up of his ex and the troubles he having like landing a big part in a movie and finance, and Melissa with her secret anorexic problem and struggles with being a single mom.

When the week ends, Jacob and Melissa both head home with having a new found relationship with their grandfather and advice on their lives. When returning home, Jacob finally lands a big part and becomes a successful actor and Melissa overcomes her anorexic problem and gets engaged to an accountant. Also, Gilbert and Louise decide to stay for a few more weeks at the ranch, and they walk out to field and talk about their lives and how proud they are of having such wonderful grandchildren, and in the end, they stand out on the field, watching the sunset with Sam and Rachel watching on the porch and hugging each other.

What the Press would say:

Director Todd Field puts together a powerful drama that is being called “one of the year’s best films” and “one of the best of the decade”. Academy Award-nominee James Caan delivers a strong performance as a grandfather who lives by his religious beliefs and thus shuns his own grandchildren, but then later grows to love them for who they are. Along with Caan, Academy Award-winner Faye Dunaway gives an amazing performance as his understanding and caring wife. But all together the film is an outstanding achievement, from the performances to the score, and it will go down as one of the best films of the decade.

For Your Consideration

Best Picture
Best Director – Todd Field
Best Actor – James Caan
Best Actress – Faye Dunaway
Best Supporting Actor – Paul Dano
Best Supporting Actress – Jessica Biel
Best Original Screenplay – Susannah Grant
Best Cinematography – Roger Deakins
Best Film Editing – Peter Boyle
Best Original Score – Thomas Newman

The End of the Alphabet

Author(s): Chris M.
Location: NJ

"The End of the Alphabet"

Written, Directed, and Produced by Phil Alden Robinson
Based on the novel “The End of the Alphabet” by CS Richardson
Director of Photography - John Lindley
Editing - Craig McKay
Score - Thomas Newman
Original Music - James Taylor

Main Cast

Dennis Quaid - Ambrose Zephyr
Rene Russo - Corinne Zephyr
Ray Liotta - Matt Kelly
Amy Madigan - Laurie Kelly
Chris Evans - Matt Kelly Jr

Tagline: "Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives"

Synopsis: Ambrose Zephyr (Quaid) has been living his childhood dream for that last twenty five years, working as a columnist for Sports Illustrated. Ambrose’s life drastically changes when he is informed before his fiftieth birthday that he is dying and has a month to live. Ambrose’s wife, Corrine, (Russo) a fashion editor for a New York magazine, never thought she would settle down, always putting her career before her personal life; everything changed when she met Ambrose. Facing his imminent death, the Zephyr’s decide to do something Ambrose has fantasized about since childhood; traveling across the United States. As a sports columnist, Ambrose has traveled all over the country, but had been confined to stadiums, arenas, and hotel rooms. As they move from one destination to the next, Ambrose is comforted by the gentle humor and affection of his wife and friends. All the while Corinne struggles to remain afloat, forced to imagine the unimaginable, a life without Ambrose. After their visit to Chicago where they met with Ambrose’s life long friend Matt Kelly (Liotta) and his family, the course of their journey takes an unplanned turn when Ambrose seeks out the destination most fitting; home.

What the Press would say:

Dennis Quaid delivers a tour de force performance as sports writer Ambrose Zephyr. “The End of the Alphabet” finally has given Quaid the role that showcases his abilities as an actor. Quaid wisely chose a subtle approach to playing Ambrose Zephyr which resulted in an incredibly affective performance that will most likely be nominated for Best Actor. This is the film Dennis Quaid will be remembered for. Rene Russo carries “The End of the Alphabet” with her subtlety and grace, and her ability to balance emotional and humorous scenes with incredible ease. Recognition for Russo is long over due, and the role of Corinne Zephyr has given Russo the opportunity to display her gift. Rene Russo is a lock for Best Actress. Phil Alden Robinson reunites with “Field of Dreams” stars Ray Liotta and Amy Madigan and finds magic once more. Ray Liotta shines in his portrayal of former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher turned Chicago White Sox scout Matt Kelly. Liotta delivers the quintessential supporting performance by making every minute matter. Liotta effectively transforms an array of emotions as his character comes to terms with the loss of his best friend. Liotta will finally receive the recognition from his peers that he deserves. Stylish, witty, joyous and moving, “The End of the Alphabet” is a magical film about an everyday life defined by extraordinary love and friendship. Phil Alden Robinson, the Academy Award nominated writer and director of “Field of Dreams” has taken CS Richardson’s novel and transformed it into one of the most affective films in recent years. In a time when theatres are over crowded with sequels and films of little substance, “The End of the Alphabet” is a welcomed treat. “The End of the Alphabet” boasts an incredible script and features a solid cast. This is the one movie you must see this year.

Nominations:

Best Picture – Phil Alden Robinson
Best Director – Phil Alden Robinson
Best Actor – Dennis Quaid
Best Actress – Rene Russo
Best Supporting Actor – Ray Liotta
Best Adapted Screenplay – Phil Alden Robinson

Flint

Author(s): Marcus Dennis
Location: N/A

"Flint"

Directed by Michael Mann
Adapted by Eric Roth & Michael Mann
Cinematography by Dante Spinotti (The Insider, Heat, Red Dragon)
Editing by Stephen Mirrione (Traffic, Babel, 21 Grams, The Ocean Trilogy)
Score by Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke (The Insider, Ali)

Main Cast

Samantha Morton - Grace Flint
Tony Shaloub - Frank Harling
Don Cheadle - AJ Simpson
Gary Oldman - Harry Cohen
Clive Owen - Aldus Cutter
Jean Reno - Mario Silva
Peter Stormare - Aleksei Rykov

Tagline: "Revenge has a new name"

Synopsis: Grace Flint (Morton) is the one of the best undercover agents that the FBI has. But that all changes one day. On an undercover operation, a potential client, Frank Harling (Shaloub) discovers that Flint and her accomplice are feds. Harling murders Flint's partner and almost destroys Flint's face. After a worldwide manhunt, Harling disappears into thin air.

After being coerced back into going undercover by her demanding boss, Harry Cohen (Oldman), to pose as the wife of another agent, Aldus Cutter (Owen), to take down a Russian arms dealer, Aleksei Rykov (Stormare), she is inadvertently given a clue to the whereabouts of Frank Harling. She breaks away from the hold of doing things by the book and pursues Harling on her own.

Flint's bosses Cohen and the reserved AJ Simpson (Cheadle) chase her around the globe before she does something that she will regret. While globe-trotting, they reveal their personal lives to each other, including, the death of Cohen's wife and Simpson's regret over sending Flint on the Harling mission.

Flint's search leads her to Italy, to gain information from a ruthless, but suave French gangster names Mario Silva (Reno). She finds a videotape that nothing is what it seems inside the bureau.

Deception and betrayal challenge Flint's mind and body. And everything is never what it seems.

What the Press would say:

Samantha Morton is given the title of the first leading actress in a Mann film and she doesn't disappoint. Behind Flint's hard shell is an emotional and fragile woman, and Morton displays that perfectly. She is the female Michael Douglas: Able to look strong and weak at the same time. Gary Oldman and Don Cheadle have perfect ping-pong chemistry, bouncing off their characters strengths and weaknesses like the seasoned vets that they are. Jean Reno and Peter Stormare add veteran support in their villainous roles, but Tony Shaloub is pitch-perfect as a the vile and brutal criminal, Frank Harling. He inhabits the role with an aura of filth the film world hasn't seen since Frank Booth. Michael Mann approaches this best-selling novel like a veteran the same he has approached his previous top-notch films: With methodical precision. His auteuristic visuals give this film a noirish feel that many films are lacking. The script, like Mann's direction, is methodical and precise.

Well-acted and thoroughly directed, Flint is the best of the year, bar-none.

Best Picture
Best Director: Michael Mann
Best Adapted Screenplay: Eric Roth
Best Actress: Samantha Morton
Best Supp. Actor: Gary Oldman
Best Supp. Actor: Don Cheadle
Best Supp. Actor: Tony Shaloub
Best Cinematography
Best Sound
Best Editing
Best Score

Glitz

Author(s): Brian

Location: Arizona

"Glitz"

Directed by Tim Burton
Written by Charlie Kaufman
Music by Danny Elfman
Produced by Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi

Main Cast

Renee Zellweger as Claudia Alden
Jim Carrey as Luther McAlbert
John Lithgow as Detective Steve Fontana
Kathleen Turner as Fran Alden
Helena Bonham Carter as Natasha McAlbert
Katherine Heigl as Carrie Brennan
Martin Short as Clive

Tagline: "Eye-Catching Glamour. Unbeatable Style. And a Dab of Murder"

Synopsis: The most violent, goriest of black comedies, “Glitz” tells the story of Claudia Alden through the eyes of her manager, Luther McAlbert. Claudia is on top of the world. In her 10-year career, she has sold over 50 million albums, won 5 Grammies and starred in a handful of (terrible) movies. And, though she has been single for years, it is only because she has always loved Luther. She always assumed from his spending time with her that he loved her as well, and the only reason he didn’t act on it is because his wife, Natasha, is ferocious, sadistic, controlling and German. It seems as though nothing can stop her. That is, of course, nothing but her 40th birthday. Every star knows that turning 40 is a one-way ticket to bring their career to a halt. Claudia simply isn’t ready for that. She decides that she needs a way to keep that from happening to her. So, by fate, as she, Luther and her assistant manager, Clive, are up late thinking of new marketing campaigns, Clive electrocutes himself when getting a second cup of coffee. As saddened as Claudia and Luther are by this, they cannot help but notice that, two weeks after Clive’s death, her album has climbed up 30 places on the Top 40 chart...

Ashamed of thinking that Clive’s death should be celebrated, they quickly forget the idea and find another assistant manager. But, when he is hit by a car, Claudia’s latest song becomes an overnight sensation. She thinks they may be on to something, and she sweet talks Luther into conspiring with her to kill her assistant managers repeatedly in order to survive pop star life after 40. He agrees. But, just to make sure that it is not a coincidence, Claudia finds someone who deserves murder: her mother, Fran. Fran has hated Claudia since she was born, and blames her for all of her problems. And yet, she lives and tours with her because she cannot pay the rent. So, acting semi-rationally, Claudia kills her. But, of course, it’s up to Luther to prevent her from getting caught. As the film continues, Claudia kills dozens of assistant managers and Luther can always find the perfect cover-up. And then, when Luther meets his college sweetheart, Carrie, after 10 years of separation, he comes up with the idea of using the “assistant manager process” as a tool to better his life. He tells Claudia that he has found a woman he adores, and he knows that he can never be with her if his wife is still alive. Claudia, delighted, assumes the woman is herself, and she kills Natasha with delight, and her success grows, yet again. Only this time, Detective Steve Fontana notices. Fontana was never particularly bright—or good at his job—but he is determined to put Claudia behind bars. And yet, after questioning her, she talks her way out of it. Now, Claudia can focus on being with Luther. But, she soon discovers that she was not the woman Luther wanted to be with. It was Carrie. Furious, she meets Carrie and gives her the job of assistant manager, saying it will give her more time with Luther (who, at this time, is on a press tour). And then, it’s off with her head. Only this time, Steve sees her killing Carrie with his own eyes. He rushes in, ready to call the cops. But Claudia seduces him into not only loving her, but also into being her assistant manager. And then, the inevitable happens with him. Soon thereafter, Luther returns from his press tour. He tells Claudia all about Carrie and how excited he is to spend his life with her. After listening to this for hours, Claudia simply cannot take it anymore. If she can’t have Luther, no one can. And so, she kills him, reasoning that if killing her assistant managers has been so successful, killing her head manager should do twice as much. And it does. Claudia, now 45, has survived the much feared 40th birthday, even though 90 others didn’t. Claudia is bigger than ever, because she has talent. Because she has luck. And, most of all, because she has glitz.

What the Press would say:

I never expected that the year’s bloodiest film would also be the funniest. And I certainly never expected that the year’s bloodiest film would also be the best. But both of those theories were put to rest after I saw “Glitz”. On the surface, this is a film way outside Tim Burton’s comfort zone. But, when you dig deep into the plot, you discover that it is much more than a pop star decapitating her assistant managers, but is rather a brilliant satire of revenge, greed, superstition and America’s obsession with celebrities. If that doesn’t spell Tim Burton, then I don’t know what does.

Of course, I could be confusing outstanding direction with outstanding performances. Gosh, where should I begin? Well, let’s start with John Lithgow. We all know that Lithgow is fantastic at comedy, but I never, ever expected that he could give a performance as good as this one in a comedy. He plays Steve Fontana, a dimwitted detective. If portrayed by a lesser actor, this part would be annoying and dull, but with Lithgow’s hilarious touch of subtly, every scene he is in feels too short. In a film with three female supporting performances, it is hard to choose just one to campaign for, as Kathleen Turner, Katherine Heigl and Helena Bonham Carter are all amazing in this film. But, if I had to choose one, it would be Kathleen Turner.. Turner, one of the most underused and talented actresses of our time, is devilishly entertaining as Fran Alden, the mother of the murderous pop star Claudia Alden (Renee Zellweger). She steals every single scene she is in. Renee Zellweger stars as Claudia Alden, a successful pop star who, in fear of losing her popularity, decides to kill her managers after finding that it brings her luck. This very well may be the trickiest role of the year, but Zellweger is somehow able to bring charm to this character and by the end, you almost want to see her succeed, even if she decapitates innocent people. And, saving the best for last, Jim Carrey is a revelation in this film. As Claudia’s head manager (one of the funniest characters of the year) who needs to keep her murders under wraps, he gives possibly the greatest comedic performance I’ve ever seen. If he does not win Best Actor, I will never forgive the Academy.

“Glitz” is one of the best black comedies of all time. Filled with impeccable and hilarious dialogue and truly phenomenal performances, it will be a force to be reckoned with at this year’s Academy Awards, with a strong campaign in the following categories…

Best Picture
Best Director (Tim Burton)
Best Original Screenplay (Charlie Kaufman)
Best Actor (Jim Carrey)
Best Actress (Renee Zellweger)
Best Supporting Actor (John Lithgow)
Best Supporting Actress (Kathleen Turner)
Best Film Editing
Best Costume Design
Best Makeup
Best Art Direction