All Good Links

Before we get to today's link roundup -- I went a little crazy as I sometimes do -- enjoy the heat sensor-like photography of the All Good Things poster. Perhaps Ryan and Kiki were a bit jealous of the ruckus Jake & Annie's nude poster caused online.

P.S. Jake Gyllenhaal is obsessed with Ryan Gosling. Just saying. I would try to quote his answer from Saturday night when the audience question 'who would you like to work with?' popped up but it was so rambling and long and confusing that I can't. But let's just say it began with Ryan Gosling, was jilted by Ryan Gosling via text "I'm busy" and then ended again with a circular non sequitor shout of "Ryan Gosling!" Jake likey. Ryan Gosling is what you might call an actor's actor... since everyone seems to want to work with him.

On to the linkage...
Candy Magazine A double take of pleasure. Yes, that's James Franco to your left continuing his trans formation from one of the great herd of Hollywood pretty boys to an actually interesting celebrity.
My New Plaid Pants is an über fan of Let the Right One In. Doesn't hate Let Me In. Since the response has been so positively muted like "it's good: also, a recreation" I've decided not to see it.
Broadway.com Carrie the Musical being revived. Wow.
Cinema Blend Me pal Katey basically says all I have to say about the trailer for Julie Taymor's Tempest so I don't need to cover it here. What she said, minus the positive bits since I liked the movie even less than she.
The Big Picture Tony Curtis grand sendoff in Las Vegas
Hero Complex Emma Stone will play Gwen Stacy in the new Spider-Man. I'm glad that early reports were wrong. Why do the whole Mary Jane story again. That said, isn't it weird that someone known as a redhead is going to play Spidey's favorite blonde and someone known as a blonde was cast as his favorite redhead. Weirdness.
The Awl Sasha Frere-Jones and Natasha VC on The Social Network. If you haven't read enough yet, it's fun as always to read these two.
50 Best Theater Blogs I'll have to investigate this list.
Just Jared Joseph Gordon-Levitt lost his older brother. So sad.
Towleroad celebs speaking about gay bullying on Larry King Live
Movie|Line offers tips to Renée Zellweger on how she could regain her A list status. I love the suggestion of a brilliant twitter feed. I hope she calls it @Zeéeee after my new nickname for her. Zeéeeee reads me right? *

Double Duty!
Movielicious Have you seen this great mashup poster for Toy Story and Tron? I wish I knew who did it to give them proper cred.
Scott Feinberg "Are Bening *And* Moore All Right." Some smart words on the The Kids Are All Right Oscar campaign.
John Luciano a Calvin & Hobbes mashup with Let the Right One In. Teehee. I used to love Calvin's girlcrush but can't remember her name right now

*Obviously I am kidding. Someone I am acquainted with who works in the industry once told me that every star googles themselves --whether they admit it or not -- and is familiar with their biggest cheerleaders and nemeses online. But I chose not to believe her because it weirded me out too much to think of Beelzebub, She Who Must Not Be Named, La Pfeiff and The Bening reading or even knowing of my puny existence.

TIFF Capsules: Let Me In, Tamara Drewe, The Illusionist and Stone.

Normally my friend txtcritic who must remain anonymous just, well, texts me. Usually in the form of pithy sentence long reviews or moviegoing observations. But this time he sent capsules of his Toronto experience thus far. Enjoy.

"The Illusionist" shifts downgear from the infectious exuberance of "Triplets of Bellevile" to a more melancholy, low-key thing. It's largely lovely and endearing, but leaves one with a lot more to admire than to get caught up or involved in (though many others seem to be ringing the "masterpiece" bells). The film's incremental snowballing cynicism will ultimately leave you either profoundly sad or oddly cold/disengaged. I'm somewhat between the two, but I'd like another viewing. B

Leigh, Manville, Ruth Sheen & Jim Broadbent @ TIFF

"Another Year" belongs in Leigh's upper-tier. Lesley Manville gets the showy role. At first, I was ready to cry 'overhyped' but her character subtly shifts and slowly grows more downtrodden in such a realistic way that it will make some uncomfortable with recognition. As a whole, the movie's consistently absorbing and lovely in character detail, but Manville's performance is what makes it a heartbreaker. A-

Consensus definitely places Lesley Manville as an Oscar nominee. We already know that Oscar voters respond to the women in Mike Leigh pictures. But will it be a lead or supporting campaign? That probably depends on how the studio feels about her winning chances in either category. I'll be seeing this picture in a couple of weeks. I loved Manville & Broadbent's chemistry together in Topsy Turvy (1999) and though they're not a couple this time I hope they have plentiful scenes together.

Dominic Cooper and Gemma Arterton at the Tamara Drewe premiere to your left. About Stephen Frears latest....

Based on the graphic novel by Posy Simmonds, "Tamara Drewe" constantly alternates between amusing and irritating. It's devoid of substance and aggressively quirky, while never being less than watchable. Certainly a change of pace for Stephen Frears, but makes you wonder why he decided to make this movie. Tamara (Gemma Arterton) is an empty vessel who barely registers as a character and the only one who gives a performance of any depth or complexity is Tamsin Greig as a cuckolded wife. B-/C+

Though it's to be commended for reaching for something beyond the conventional movie the trailers are selling, "Stone" only barely falls just short of Trainwreck designation. It has enough batshit moments to never lose your interest, but it's ultimately the very definition of a "mess"; there's nary a coherent thought in its head. No one seems to have been given much direction, and we're as dumbfounded as how we should feel about their characters as they seem to be. De Niro shows early signs that this will be his first inspired performance in years but then loses his way, and I never could quite get a handle on what Edward Norton or Milla Jovovich were doing. D+

Finally, the early buzz on Let Me In is good dashing our hopes that critics would crucify it. Now normally we don't root against pictures we haven't seen but why was it remade in the first place? Read on...

While "Let Me In" remains an 'unnecessary' remake throughout, Matt Reeves has crafted a surprisingly successful, respectful 'cover' version of the beloved "Let the Right One In." Aside from one or two (superb) sequences, and some amped-up suspense and gore, not much new has been added here. What most impresses is how the film avoids pretty much every possible expected "remake" decision where it could have pandered or "broadened" appeal or caved to general American sensibilities. Reeves absolutely nails the tone of the original film, imposes largely the same look (often even paying homage to the original shot compositions), and the perfectly cast chief actors -- Chloe Grace Moretz, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas -- feel just right in their roles. Skeptics, put away your knives. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. A-

I'm not sure I'll be pleasantly surprised. So far I've read a couple of reviews proclaiming that it's better than the original and several going to lengths to describe how meticulously director Matt Reeves has transferred the visual aesthetics, mood and even the shots of the original. How is a carefully detailed copy ever better than an original? Or at least how does whatever praise it garners seem like more than an interception? Please to explain. Whatever we love about it, must be credited to the original, if what we love was originated there. It's like when some people wanted to give Zach Snyder credit for the visual aesthetics of Watchmen when what he was essentially doing was following the storyboard and character designs provided by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons in graphic novel form.

Kodi Smit-McPhee gets bullied in Let Me In

Sorry, sorry. I know I'm off consensus on this topic. But faithful remakes they make-a me crazeeeeeeeeeee. This is why, ironically, I respected Gus Van Sant's Psycho (1998) so much. See, that widely hated film purposefully billed itself as a recreation... it was, therefore, an honest aesthetic experiment and cinematic exercize rather than a movie made to replace another movie for people who can't bring themselves to read subtitles or watch older films.

Maybe I'll calm down once I've seen it if it's good. Maybe I just don't relish having to watch Chloe Moretz every time a film needs a teenager this coming decade. They're casting her in everything (8-10 projects already on the way) and even if I loved her more, I always enjoy a variety of faces in my moviegoing.
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Yes, No, Maybe So: Let Me In

It's a "yes, no, maybe so" first. It's just a yes and no which is actually just a no. Bias alert!

Let Me In
While I normally try and maintain an open mind about new films, beyond the common 'I know what I like' biases that every critic or casual moviegoer goes in with (whether or not they admit to it... but that's another topic), this is a special case. I'm a "No" before watching the trailer given that the whole thing reminds me of nothing more than those knockoff dresses meant to replicate a popular Oscar gown. Only in this case, it makes no sense to buy the knockoff because it's not any cheaper than the great original. In fact, it's more expensive since ticket prices are always going up.

But before I even watched the trailer I must admit unoriginal but sincere confusion as to why the aesthetically beautiful teaser poster is constructed of blood and ice. One of the most chilling aspects (hahaha) of the original film was its wintry Scandinavian setting. The new film supposedly relocates the movie to New Mexico but both the poster and the trailer suggest we're still in wintry Scandinavia. Now, I've personally only been to New Mexico once, for cheesy 'Drive around the four corners!' tourist reasons so my knowledge is extremely untrustworthy... but it didn't strike me as a wintry place at all. And though I'm no meteorological expert I have the vague perception that it's not very cold in the Southwest even in the winter. Do lakes even freeze over in the winter?

Whatever. I'll shut up. It's just a poster. Here's the trailer.



Yes Here's the one thing I'm genuinely curious about. What's the cinematography by Greig Fraser going to be like over the course of the whole film? His work on Bright Star was just exceptional. I could see forgiving this film's existence if it made people notice (retroactively) how amazing his work on Bright Star was since it won virtually no awards.
No I can answer that in five words "Let the Right One In" or I could use just two "Chloe Moretz".
Maybe So A trailer has finally stumped me. I have no mixed feelings about this movie. I object to its very existence as well as all the credit it will get as "original" or "visionary" or whatever adjective the press notes will supply people should it happen to win good reviews whilst copying a superior film.

BlaA--AA--aaaARRrrrggh. Sorry.

Are you a yes, no or maybe so?
I won't judge you. I'm still too busy judging the film I haven't seen.
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Eat Pray Link

eat, pray
<--- Look, it's the new poster for the Julia Roberts flick Eat Pray Love. Julia appears to be eating a little low fat ice cream or substitute product or some such. Two days back, while melting in the hateful sun and picking up more cat medicine -- don't ask, things have been terrible -- I actually bought a cup of this stuff. Eating while praying, I had to cheer up.

The marketing department was always going to be hard pressed to beat the book cover but isn't this a bit... dull? Especially considering how much they have to work with: Different countries, hot co-stars, spiritual awakenings. I mean, there's an elephant in the movie. Elephant! How can you pass up an elephant for a stone bench? Ah well, at least it's not a giant floating movie star head. Which is pretty much all you'd see if I did an episode of posterized with Julia herself.

Are you excited to see this in August? I'm hoping it's good. Seems like the sort of thing that's just right for Julia in the right now. [see also: previous post]

link
Fassinating Fassbender the Michael Fassbender fanblog gets its own interview with the man himself.
Telegraph UK Tim Robey "Why I Love: Juliette Lewis". Ah, I knew I loved Tim for a reason. Well, several of them.
CHUD laments the state of movie posterdom. The only great ones (Buried) are rip offs of classics.

I Need My Fix Quote of the Day Ashton Kutcher on his post Killers body
Cinema Blend a test screening review of the remake Let Me In. It's extremely positive but I'm hoping critics take this down on principle ;) Why remake something if you're only going to copy it? That's living off other people's glory.
Towleroad a couple of notes on Splice. My feelings haven't changed much since Sundance but I suppose the parts that were good have aged well. That "Dren" really is a memorable creation. Good sound design, too. There's more interesting links there, too...

Eat Pray Link. But mostly Link apparently.

Link Reactor

Salon "Superheroes Suck" a great piece on the problematic popular genre by Matt Zoller Seitz
Atlantic "3 Things Glee Does Wrong" an excellent take on the chinks in Glee's delightful armor. Are you listening show runners? This is spot on
i09 The villain of Iron Man 2 is Tony Stark. Discuss
The Hollywood Reporter a porn biopic for Lindsay Lohan. This could either be the comeback of "yes I can act" or a very very bad move. Hard to tell


Film Freak Central "the perils of Dirk the Daring" wow. i was just thinking about this 80s cartoon videogame the other day.
The Playlist first pic of Chloe Moretz as the vampire in the misbegotten remake Let Me In
Deadline NY Kristen Wiig options Clown Girl. Sounds intriguing
fourfour 'old people getting high' a gif wall from It's Complicated
i09 production art and casting demands for John Carter of Mars

Finally, you really should read this heinous homophobic article on Newsweek about the inability of gay actors to sell straight roles. Yeah, I guess Rock Hudson, Montgomery Clift and god knows how many others never gave any performances that were worth a damn. The article is mostly about today's out actors and it does them a terrible disservice. Where's the respect? Make sure to read the comments section though. The ever wonderful Kristen Chenoweth shows up to tell Newsweek what's what about her gay co-stars and gay actors in general.

Curio: Cinema Greetings

Alexa here with a little more cinema impulse shopping. No matter how rich our e-spondence, nothing beats getting a handwritten card. I'm still waiting for some 500 Days of Summer-inspired greeting cards ("Roses are red..."), but in the meantime, here are my film-themed favorites.

Just in time for March Madness, a bracket I actually care about: All Valley Champion!

If you are looking to send thanks, how about a robothanks...

...or just have Burt say it for you.

When that important birthday call gets interrupted, this greeting by Zeichen Press might do the trick.

Something simple and classic always works.

Finally, I love this Let The Right One In greeting, but what is the right occasion to use it? "Let's go steady?" "Thanks for eating my bullies?" Any more ideas are welcome.
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European Film Awards: Un Prophète, Antichrist, The Reader

The EFAs are only 20 years old, a novice awards organization really, but their prizes offer up a rich variety of films, languages and genres. It's truly a grab bag and, if you're too Oscar focused, their prizes can be head scratching. Their 2009 Best Picture Nominees encompass three years worth of U.S. release dates:

• (2008) Slumdog Millionaire, Let the Right One In and The Reader
• (2009) The White Ribbon
• (2010) Fish Tank and Un Prophète.

Tis a pity we can't bring the world closer together for simultaneous multilingual film discussions.

The Best Director is filled with heavyweights. When will you ever see an Oscar lineup that's this populated with critical giants: Pedro Almodóvar Broken Embraces, Andrea Arnold for Fish Tank, Jacques Audiard for Un Prophete, Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire, Michael Haneke for The White Ribbon and Lars von Trier for Antichrist. Maybe a lot of what led to these nominations is reputation (I don't think this is anywhere close to the best work from any of the nominees, Audiard & Arnold excluded since I haven't yet seen those pictures) but it's still nice to read their names under "best".

Here's Best Actress because one should never go without them... Actresses that is, particularly the best ones.

• Penélope Cruz, Broken Embraces
• Charlotte Gainsbourg, Antichrist (Cannes Winner)
  
• Katie Jarvis, Fish Tank
• Yolande Moreau, Seraphine (César Winner)
  
• Noomi Rapace, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo --->
  
• Kate Winslet, The Reader (Oscar Winner)
  

You can see a full list of nominees here.

For me the big surprise was the snub of Giovanna Mezzogiorno. She's been collecting raves and honors for months as Mussollini's mistress in Vincere. Her absence feels like a snub not because she's deserving (I haven't seen the performance) but because the reputation of the star turn precedes it. Perhaps EFA voters just didn't like the movie (it was only recognized for Editing and Actor). The doubly nominated eyebrow raiser was Swedish thriller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo which will compete for Best Actress and Best Composer. Good year for Sweden with two films in major play at the EFAs... the other being that little vampire movie that could.

That Oscarless Prophet
Maybe I'm naive about its content -- I understand that its brutal but Oscar isn't automatically squeamish (they're inconsistent on that front) -- but from this vantage point I think Sony Pictures Classics made a bad decision delaying Un Prophete (A Prophet) until next February in the U.S. With 10 spots open for Best Picture why weren't more arthouse distributors looking at opportunities like this one? Wherever the Audiard picture has played it seems to have seized audiences by the throat. People come away raving. Who's to say that it couldn't have become a critical pet here in the US and competed in more categories than just Foreign Film come Oscar time? Why not build its rep as a masterpiece (if that's what it is) by opening it in August or September and letting people discover it / become obsessive about it? Seems risky to chance it all, marketing wise, on the unpredictable response of the foreign film branch.
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Is Me Gonna Be The Right One?

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Howdy! JA from MNPP here. I was a big, huge fan of last year's bloody and bloody-good Swedish coming-of-age tale Let the Right One In - made #2 on my year-end list, it did - as I'm sure many of you were too. So when news broke of the American remake, I joined in on the earth-rattling sigh we all let forth.

But since then I've been keeping abreast of the news and have found myself having a bit of a mental tennis-match over it all. I was a bigger-than-most fan of Cloverfield - a jolly good time in the theater I thought, even though yes, I don't get how anyone could walk sixty blocks in heels either - so word of that film's director, Matt Reeves, taking the reins on the Right One remake dulled my hate-lust a wee bit. A weeeeee bit. I still don't think he can possibly match the heights Tomas Alfredson did, but I do think he can maybe make a go of it without totally blowing it.

Then came word that they were going to use a more literal translation of the book's Swedish title - instead of Let the Right One In it would simply be Let Me In. Oh I raged at first - way to vanquish the poetry, you guys! If was gonna be their general attitude, literalizing the beauty right out of the original, then I knew we were in for what we expected - an edge-dulled Hollywood bore. But the further I got from that, the more I began to appreciate the title-switcharoo. Not because I thought it wasn't a sign of what I just called it mind you, but for reasons purely of self-interest: I'm appreciating every step they take to distance their remake from the original. Let the Right One In keeps its space on the video-store shelf; it keeps its own IMDb page (or at least it will once IMDb gets around to recognizing the title-change, which it hasn't yet). When somebody talks about one film there won't be the need to qualify which one you mean. So simple, so easy, especially for a blogger like me who'd inevitably get tired of specifying. All that extra typing!

And according to script reports they're going even further distancing the two films by renaming at least the two main characters - instead of Oskar and Eli we now have Owen and Abby. Which... again I refer you to the tennis match in my head. We've swung back to unhappiness. In the book (which I'd quote if I had my copy right now), Eli's name has some very specific and deeply significant purpose on a couple of fronts. Slight spoilers ho for those of you who haven't seen the film. See, the name is taken from the Latin Aramaic "Eli Eli lama sabachthani?" which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" which is of course what Jesus utters as he dies on the cross. How do you just erase without a second thought to that sort of beautiful character shading? I don't get it. And secondly, it confuses Eli's gender which is a pretty important point. Renaming her/him to Abby pretty much guarantees that that's something they're probably nixing from the remake. Again, dulling off all the interesting edges. Not good. End spoilers.

But then came the rumor that the very good Australian child actor Kodi Smit-McPhee might be taking the role of Oskar excuse me Owen. I've only seen him in Romulus, My Father but he was terrific there, and Nathaniel tells me that he gives a very good performance in this Fall's Cormac McCarthy adaptation The Road. And he definitely looks like he could play this part. And he's the right age - it's good to see they're not casting older. So all that's a step in the right direction.

Then came some early artwork for the remake yesterday; you can see them here - including that poster to the left - and they're not too bad. Give the right mood, at least.

So again I don't know where I stand on this film. I don't believe it can top the Swedish film but I'm curious, obviously, all the same. Perhaps they can find something worth the retelling in it so soon. Like I keep saying at my own blog, at least the CG cat-attack will have a higher budget and look better than it did in the original.

And now for the obvious question to you all: With Kodi Smit-McPhee probably playing the boy part, who should get cast as Eli excuse me Abby? What young actress has the goods? I was kind of surprised but the first girl I thought of was Dakota Blue Richards who was wonderful in The Golden Compass and then sort of vanished, but a) I can't decide if that's good casting or not, and b) She's fifteen now so maybe a little old for the part. Smit-McPhee is 13. But then Eli excuse me Abby IS older, much much older... I don't think it would be terrible if she looked a year or two older than the boy.

ETA Slash/Film has posted a trio of casting tapes for the role of Abby up today! Coincidence? Conspiracy? You decide!

Hrm. Casting ideas? Your thoughts?
General concerns?
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Let the Dumb Subtitles Win

Today's Must Read: Icons of Fright details the dumbing down of Let the Right One In by way of simplified subtitles (thanks to H-E for pointing this out). Plenty of screengrabs prove their sharp point. Eli got staked!

Why would they do this for the DVD release? The film was plenty successful in its initital form. If the distributor felt it should be dumbed down shouldn't they have just waited for the American remake to do that deed? American remakes are efficiency experts at just that. They always get the job done!

Related Post: Top Twelve of 2008

Link What Yo Mamma Gave Ya

not a movie poster very cool UK poster for Let The Right One In. I'm confused. Does this mean the film hasn't yet opened there?
MNPP declares war on stupid sex-phobic Watchmen articles
Dr. Stan Glick alerts us to a free screening of Korean Oscar submission Secret Sunshine in NYC on March 26th. If you're fond of great actresses don't miss it. The lead performance is pretty damn incredible (she won at Cannes).
The House Next Door a detailed piece on misogyny and feminism in Battlestar Galactica


Deep Focus terrific review of the must see prison picture Hunger
Screengrab talks to Garret Dillahunt about his career upswing. I love him as an actor but there's no way I'm seeing Last House on the Left. If I need my scary Dillahunt I'll just have to wait for The Road to open and see it again (he terrified me and he was barely in it.)
/Film Will Chris Pine be Hal Jordan in The Green Lantern? Seems like a dull choice to me but then I am still haunted by Just My Luck. Unless he's suddenly bursting with heretofore unseen movie star charisma post Star Trek filming...

Gwyneth Loves Actresses / Sofia Loves Vampires

We have something in common with Gwyneth Paltrow. I use the term "we" because I assume if you're a regular Film Experience reader you are at least partially actress cuckoo. Turns out Gwynnie is too. In a recent GOOP newsletter whilst talking about her taste in film she says...

The films I love best usually contain a breathtaking female performance (The Reader, Sophie’s Choice, Klute), as the genius of a creative woman inspires me in all areas of my life.

That's so gushy/lifestyle guru of her but it's tough to argue with that sentiment. Plus, the latter two of those performances I'd rank in the top ten of all time I suspect, should I ever make such a list.

Oh. Um... distracted by the actresses was I.

The article is actually about five DVD rental suggestions straight from five famous film directors and you can read the whole thing here. (Thanks to BSLS for pointing it out)

James Gray (Two Lovers) recommends Rocco and His Brothers which I have sitting at my desk right here from Netflix (coincidence!), Jon Favreau recommends Kung Fu Panda (which his son likes more than Iron Man. Hee). But my favorite of the recommendations is Sofia Coppola's thumbs up for Let The Right One In.

That makes perfect sense, if you think about it for a few seconds. Let The Right One In favors lonely, dreamy, haunting moods and obsesses over an isolated girlcreature... its just like a Sofia Coppola movie!


Minus Kirsten Dunst, plus snow and bloodlust.
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DVD: Toxic Sisters, Wooden Boys and Swedish Vampires

You know how in December about 79 movies emerge at the same time wanting all of your very limited attention during the holidays? Well, yesterday here in Marchland, that happened on a slightly smaller scale only on DVD. I tried to write a post yesterday three or four times about the new DVDs but the sheer volume of interesting stuff defeated me. So here goes nothing everything too much. It's the 70th anniversary of that wooden boy with the world's greatest lie detector right on his face? He probably needs his own post. Those magic twins I was obsessed with as a wee tyke in the original 70's Witch Mountain features deserve a whole post, too now that their movies are reissued. Not just these three sentences. (I'm not sure I'm ready to think about the, uh, reboot.


And the new films...

Perhaps it's time to dive back into the muddy potentially infectious waters of Synecdoche New York. DVD seems like the only hope for learning to love that relentlessly ashen labyrinthine puzzle -- which inadvertently... no, no purposefully begs you to reject it so it can go on being misunderstood. It's like a self loathing lover who continually pushes for both attention and self-fulfilling rejection "I'm ugly and pathetic! You hate me ...[long pause] ...WELL, DON'T YOU???" A lot of people I respect love this movie so I may try again. Help me.

Also new on DVD: Charlize Theron in Battle in Seattle, Beyoncé in Cadillac Records (A.O. Scott seems to think she can suddenly act but I have my doubts), Vera Farmiga stars in 2008's other split decision Holocaust picture ("Offensive!"/"One of the Year's Best!" you know how those things go) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Marie and Bruce stars Julianne Moore and it's finally made its way to DVD years after filming and being shoved into a vault somewhere. Is it bad or just unmarketable... there's a very big difference. This means that soon I'll be able to say (again) that I've seen everything she's ever done including Broadway's Vertical Hour and the awesome Beckett short Not I.

Most importantly this week a full 33% of my top dozen films of 2008 arrive on DVD simultaneously: Mike Leigh's clear-eyed ode to optimism Happy-Go-Lucky with Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins (interviewed here), the terrific Swedish horror flick Let the Right One In, Best Picture nominee Milk and my pick for the cherry on top of 2008 cinema: Jonathan Demme's tender and thorny Rachel Getting Married with Anne Hathaway and Rosemarie DeWitt (interviewed here) brilliantly portraying two squabbling sisters. Debra Winger and Bill Irwin (interviewed here) co-star as their confrontation averse parents.

Which of these films are you just getting around to, which do you already love and which do you plan to go nowhere near?
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Get Off My Link

Goatdog a top ten list. But not the kind you usually get. Top ten rentals. I love this list
Word Smoker a sharp 'five second review' of Let the Right One In
In Contention the makeup finalists for Oscar. I think this is the first year where they can't embarrass themselves with their final nominees. These are all good choices.
The Flick Filosopher "the merely very good movies of 2008"
Cinema Styles talks about the Supporting and Lead categorizations and what they mean in terms of Protagonist/Antagonist. Interesting stuff and not as strident as I get ;)


Stop Smiling looks back at their year of film reviewing
Welcome to LA the joy in revisiting Bonnie & Clyde. Mmmmmm, Bonnie & Clyde.
NY Post Josh Brolin at the NYFCC awards... drunk
Antagony on the OFCS nominations
The Hot Blog Poland's top ten (with a fun hat tip to Mamma Mia! -- no, really)
Lazy Eye Theater the 20 Actress meme continues... only this time with redheads
ModFab geeks out over the forthcoming Caprica series (Battlestar Galactica prequel of sorts)