My Casting Call

1 Hot guy a day for 1 week: Tom Hardy

2012-01-27T11:40:00.000-08:00

Tom Hardy is about to have one of the most hectic year since his first noticeable role in Layer Cake. Hardy is playing super villain Bane in the highly anticipated final chapter of the Nolan Dark Knight saga; The Dark Night Rises. The premature passing of Heath Ledger and his Oscar winning performance as the maniacal Joker, makes taking the role of the next villain pretty daunting. If the trailer is any indication, Hardy is definitely up to the challenge.

Most people recognize him as the smart mouthed member of the Inception gang and he may seem like the tough guy but his sultry lips and devilish eyes give him away pretty quickly. He is betting on these two "attributes" to reel in flocks of women in theaters to see his next film, the romantic comedy, This Means War, with another hottie Chris Pine and romantic queen Reese Witherspoon.

Another "better" film to look forward to is The Wettest Country, with Jessica Chastain, Gary Oldman, Guy Pierce and Mia Wasikowska

If a Hardy fix is needed ASAP, Tom can currently be seen in theaters in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and soon on DVD in Warrior with another one of 2011's it boys; Joel Edgerton.

Enjoy.but don't stare..Its rude you know

Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

2012-01-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

JonathanSafran Foer’s novel about the journey of a very particular boy dealing with theaftermath of 9/11 is groundbreaking. As one of the most heartbreaking fictionexploring the post 9/11 generation, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close wasbound to be adapted to the big screen. Stephen Daldry was given the task to create its cinematic version and hewas is perfect director to do so.

Oskar Shellis portrayed by newcomer Thomas Horn. This is Thomas’ first and onlyperformance to date and an incredible one at that. A true revelation, Hornstuck to Oskar’s particularities and made them endearing, heartbreaking andcompletely understandable. After loosing his beloved father during 9/11, Oskar findsa key and vows to find what it unlocks. He takes it as his father’s lastextraordinary adventure. This quest gives justice to the saying that thejourney is sometimes more important than the destination. Through his travels,Oskar meets hundreds of people and hears stories which, in the end, opens hismind, his heart and breaks through the loneliness of loss.

Thomas Hornis not the only gem in this movie. Yes, we follow him throughout the film, butthe people surrounding him were as brilliant as this new kid. The casting ofthe parents was; on point. Tom Hanks is one of the most loved actor inHollywood and making him the victim in one of the greatest catastrophe the UShas ever known made the story that much heartbreaking. The beauty of hisperformance was that the audience saw Thomas Shell like Oskar saw him; perfect.Sandra Bullock was as good and the audience understood the loneliness and guiltMrs. Shell felt. The renter was a key character in the novel and Max Von Sydowbrought him to life with a subtlety and honesty that eventually garnered him abest supporting actor Oscar nomination. Last but not the least, Viola Davis,this force of nature, had a small role but crucial role and her chemistry withOskar was electric.

A truebeauty, this film makes you laugh out loud and cry somewhat at the same timebut without falling into sappiness. Its nomination as best picture is trulydeserved. If you haven’t seen it yet, go!

Grade A+

2011 Oscar nominees are...

2012-01-24T12:45:00.000-08:00

The Oscarnominations were announced this morning and the entire film world is analyzing,commenting, congratulating and complaining about who made it and who were leftin the cold.

The AcademyAwards are the last step in the producer and studio campaigning for their film(films if you are Harvey Weinstein) and they can all finally breathe. However, the breath will be short because Sundance is almost over and the batch of newfaces and critically acclaimed films are going to take their place and the racewill start all over again. Now, lets give them their last run in the spotlight of the year.

The filmindustry saw some breakthroughs (Melissa McCarthy, Michael Fassbender, OctaviaSpencer, Shailene Woodley, Jessica Chastain and Jean Dujardin) some whoestablished their place in the Hollywood elite (Michelle Williams, RyanGosling, Viola Davis) and the usual suspects (Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, GeorgeClooney, Christopher Plummer and Brad Pitt). All in all, a very good year!

BIG WINNERS
The Artist
George Clooney
HUGO

Huge Snub
TheAdventures of Tintin-Steven Spielberg-not included in best animated feature. Really!!!

BEST ACTOR

Demián Bichir- ABetter Life
George Clooney- The Descendants-WINNER
Jean Dujardin- The Artist-WANT TO WIN
Gary Oldman- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt- Moneyball

TheSurprise
Demiàn Bishir for his performance in A Better Life. Absent from the GoldenGlobes, Bishir is also among the SAG nominees. His inclusion is not a surprisebecause of he doesn’t deserve it but because of the two big snubs below.

The Snubs

Michael Fassbender-Shame- A winner at the Venice filmfestival and a nominee at the Golden Globes and my favorite Fassbender might be on the fast track but sadly, Fassbender is not among the luckyfew on the race for Oscar gold.
LeonardoDiCaprio-J.Edgar Oscar usually loves biopics and Clint Eastwood but J. Edgar did not receive any nominationsand Leo’s nomination was the biggest surprise of all. Included in the SAG andGolden Globes list, Leo is nowhere to be found when Oscar came around.
RyanGosling-Drive, Crazy, Stupid Love & The Ides of March
3 performances, 3 buzz worthy films and no nominations this year. A harshreality for the most talked about actor of the season. Whether it was forDrive, Crazy Stupid Love or George Clooney’s The Ides of March, Gosling gets nolove from the golden statue. Why?

BEST ACTRESS

Glenn Close-AlbertNobbs
Viola Davis-The Help-WANT TO WIN
Rooney Mara-The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep-The Iron Lady-WINNER
Michelle Williams-My Week With Marilyn-WANT TO WIN

Surprise
NONE

Snub
Tilda Swinton-We Need to Talk About Kevin Tilda Swinton’s performance in thebrilliant We need to Talk about Kevin should’ve been rewarded with anomination. She received praise for her portrayal and Rooney’s turn is FincherThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo took her place!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Kenneth Branagh-My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill-Moneyball
Nick Nolte –Warrior
Christopher Plummer-Beginners-WINNER/WANT
Max Von Sydow-Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Surprises

Jonah Hill-Moneyball-His performance was good and a definite turn for the comedian but was it Oscar worthy? Not as much as the snub in thecategory. A definite surprise of a hell of a coup for his career.

Snubs
Albert Brooks-Drive-A stellar performance and an amazing comeback for theveteran actor. His portrayal was raw and true and it doesn’t seem that theacademy likes him so much.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Bérénice Bejo- TheArtist
Jessica Chastain- The Help
Melissa McCarthy- Bridesmaid
Janet McTeer- Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer-The Help-WINNER/WANT

Surprise
Melissa McCarthy-Bridesmaid The funny girl has arrived and Cinderelladefinitely arrived at the final ball of her fairy tale of a year. Oscar is nota huge fan of comedy, especially not raunchy comedy, but McCarthy broke the iceand scored nominations in every awards in the circuit this year, whether it wasfor TV or film.
Snubs

Shailene Woodley-The Descendants-If Jonah Hill scored a nomination, Ms.Woodley, surely deserved one. Never thought that her name and Oscar would be inthe same sentence after seeing her in the soapy teenage TV show The Secret Lifeof the American Teenager but... she surely showed us! This goes to show that actors are as good as thematerial they receive. A definite switch, Woodley surprised critics with herintense performance and her ability to become a true sparring partner to thegreat George Clooney.

1 hot guy a day for 1 week 2012 edition-Superhero edition

2012-01-23T14:24:00.000-08:00

Super heroes are admired for their selflessness, courage, determination and upholding justice. When there is a cinematic superhero adaptation every 6 months its hard not to admire them for something else than these excellent personality traits. When Superman, Batman, Thor and Green Lantern (to name a few) are not animated, their physical traits (and abilities), well.. are greatly admired! I'm sure that with these, superheroes won't be just for boys anymore! Here are, for your eyes only, Henry Cavill, Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale and Ryan Reynolds. Enjoy!!

1 hot guy a day for 1 week 2012 edition Bradley Cooper

2012-01-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

Ok so he caused a frenzy in Montreal last summer when he passed by to shoot his latest film The Words. So here is People magazine's sexiest man alive 2011 and 2nd post in the 2012 edition of 1 hot man a day for 1 week=Mr. Bradley Cooper!!!

1 hot guy a day for 1 week-2012 edition Ryan Gosling

2012-01-21T11:54:00.000-08:00

First on the roster is this year's golden boy and the only actor who knew how to make a decent romantic comedy...Ryan Gosling! To understand where I'm coming from, if you don't already do, check out this clip of Crazy Stupid Love which illustrates my exact thoughts!

Coup de Coeur 2011: Yes, still on the Fassbender bender...

2011-12-25T08:12:00.001-08:00

2011 is not his breakout year, it's a more important year. In 2011 Fassbender finally established himself as one of Hollywood's elite. Nominated for a Golden Globe for his nearly perfect performance in Shame, his second collaboration with director Steve McQueen, Fassbender is now rubbing shoulders with heavy hitters like Pitt and Clooney.

Needless to say Steve McQueen is part of every high point in Fassbender's career. He gave him the powerful role of Bobby Sands in his first opus Hunger. Fassbender's intense portrayal garnered him acclaim from fans and critics alike.

This year, Fassbender perfectly combined independent and big budget movies giving him the visiblity he lacked and insured his credibility. This combination forged his place on the top of the Hollywood food chain.

This new face on the Hollywood landscape is shaking our notion of masculinity. Fassbender exudes masculinity and gave the strong silent type another shot to be sexy.

His inner strength is what makes his performances so compelling and sexy as hell!

This year might be done abut Fassbender is still on a role. Next on the roster is Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method and Ridley Scott's highly anticipated latest venture into outer space with Prometheus.

To understand this Fassbender obsession watch

Hunger

Fish Tank

Inglorious Basterds

X-Men First Class

Shame

Coup de Coeur 2011-Elizabeth Olsen, the other sister...

2011-12-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

We had Ellen Page, Jennifer Lawrence, Carey Mulligan and nowcomes Elizabeth Olsen. These are young actresses entered the Hollywood eliteduring festival season. Juno, Winter’s Bone, An Education and this year’sMartha Marcy May Marlene gave these young ingenues the perfect playing groundto show off their incredible talent and make heads turn and jaws drop. MarthaMarcy May Marlene premiered last year at the Sundance Film Festival and thebuzz it created has not yet subsided, not by a long shot.

The Screen Actor’s Guild Award and the Golden Globenominations were announced this week but Olsen was not included. Nevertheless,her performance speaks for itself and if you have seen the film, it speaksvolumes. Nomination or not, this kid claimed her spot in the Hollywood elite.

Subtle and powerful, Olsen is mesmerizing. She captures theaudience as soon as she pops on screen and doesn’t let it go until the finalcredits are rolling down. Yes, Olsen’s name is familiar and yes she is relatedto the media moguls Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and this little sister is proofthat blood runs thick. Blood, however, can get you so far. Instead of rushinginto Hollywood and becoming a pure product of nepotism Elizabeth decided to armherself with an acting degree before heading to the front. This move shows thededication she has to her craft and her performance reaps all its benefits.

The beauty of these discoveries is that they are new andtherefore just beginning. Olsen is just getting started and like the onesbefore her, there is no doubt that the best is yet to come!

Next: Yes, still on theFassbender bender!

Coup de Coeur 2011: Ryan Gosling’s big year...

2011-12-12T10:24:00.000-08:00

2011 is a very important year for Mr. Gosling. Thisyear, he sealed his fate and became one of Hollywood’s main leading men. Thisyear, Gosling reached the third stage of an actor’s Hollywood career, the everymanroles. He appeared on our screens as a kid, a teen, a young adult and now anadult.

From Young Hercules to The Notebook, Gosling was the teen/young adultheartthrob; a perfect start for an actor’s career. With Lars and the Real Girl,Half Nelson and last year Sundance’s favourite Blue Valentine, Gosling rose toa critically acclaimed actor and not just a pretty face.

His latest films gave his name the weight needed to headline any project in any festival orbox office war. In Crazy Stupid Love, he shed his good guy routine and went fromsweet romantic lead to the sexy one, abs included.

The role that gave him themost praise this year and third year of Oscar buzz (Half Nelson, Blue Valentine and now Drive) was definitely Drive. Anunusual role for any actor but Gosling’s portrayal of the stoic drivercatapulted him directly into the elite category.

Last but not least, his rolein Clooney’s The Ides of March showed that he could hold his own in the midstof giants like Clooney, Seymore Hoffman and Giamatti.

Ryan Gosling’s best publicity move was not accepting People’sSexiest Man Alive award. He decided to focus on the acting and I guess makingaudiences focus on his acting too...

Next: Elisabeth Olsen, the other sister

Coup de Coeur 2011: The Cast of The Help!

2011-12-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard gave a new meaning to ensemble work. Talk about the power of women!!

The Help is the Cinderella story of the year. It was first a best selling novel and then a critically acclaimed film; this beautiful story became a classic in an instant. Recreating these characters was going to make this movie a hit but this group of actresses made it a home run!

The 2 casting directors, KerryBarden and Paul Schnee, had a tough challenge ahead of them. Their work was, however, flawless as they managed to not only find the perfect actress to play eachand every part but created the perfect group of women who truly succeeded to recreate the novel's energy.

Everyone knows the depth of the talent of theseincredible women but the two discoveries of the year were the impeccable Octavia Spencer andJessica Chastain.

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer had big shoes to fill. Minny is theheart and soul of The Help but Spencer did not disappoint.

Her comedic timing was on point, her dramatic turnsheartbreaking and, like in the novel, Minny was one of the highlights of thefilm. She transported the audience back into the book, as if they were still reading it. Spencer's award buzz is already starting and the best supporting actress nominations are surelyin the stars for her, and rightly so.

Jessica Chastain

The other new girl on the block is Jessica Chastain.This actress seemed to be everywhere this year and has been racking up onecritically acclaimed performance after the next. Alongside The Help, Chastain, starredthis year alone in, Take Shelter with Michael Shannon, in Ralph Fiennes’Coriolanius and Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. Chastain is a truediscovery and if 2011 is any indication of the career she has ahead of her,well, we can’t wait to see what else she has to offer.

Next: Ryan Gosling’s big year...

Fall 2011-Midseason status report

2011-11-23T19:47:00.000-08:00

The 2011 fall TV season is coming to an end and the networks are staring at their hits and most importantly their misses. Variety already proclaimed ABC, CBS and FOX to be the victors of the Fall network showdown leaving NBC the task to reinvent itself one more time.

Even if there were many misses including the Drew Barrymore produced Charlie's Angel and the mega FOX production Terra Nova, Fall 2011 gave viewers shows that will surely stick around and here is the roundup!

ABC

ABC is on definite roll with its dramatic programming. Since 2005, ABC studios produced shows like Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Castle, Brothers and Sisters, Lost and that is just to name a few. This year, ABC came back full force with an epic drama; Revenge. If there is one success in the dramatic department for networks this year its surely this one. Created by Mike Kelley, Revenge stars a brilliant Emily Van Camp and the great Madelaine Stowe. Shows with interesting premises sometimes falter after a couple of episodes but Revenge stands its ground by opening one Pandora's box after the other and matching the intrigue with solid performances. The key to a successful show is talent but it has to keep you guessing and for Revenge the guessing game has just begun!

CBS

CBS won its bet with the Two and a Half Men revamp. A risky move after the Charlie Sheen PR nightmare but Ashton Kutcher and the consistency in the writing kept the ratings somewhat steady for the CBS goldmine. The winner for the network however is another little sitcom that could; Two Broke Girls. Everyone knew that Kat Dennings is made for network comedy thanks to her impeccable comedic timing but its her relatively unknown costars Beth Behrs that has turning heads. Produced by Sex and City guru Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings, the show was an instant success and another addition to already impressive CBS comedy lineup.

FOX

FOX has the X-Factor. That's all it seems to need to win this year. The Zooey Deschanel helmed sitcom, The New Girl performs relatively well but came down a notch after its highly anticipated premiere. FOX' main problem however is the sudden drop in ratings of its critically acclaimed and revolutionary singing show; Glee.

NBC

NBC is not the winner this year, not by a long shot. Hopefully the return of The Voice and the premiere of the highly anticipated Smash will give NBC the push it needs to revamp itself. It seems that NBC has a true talent for antagonizing fans. First with the decision to cancel Friday Night Lights, giving Direct TV some credibility and to then to air its final season after DirectTV already aired it. Then it was the constant sword of Damocles on top of the fan favorite Chuck. Finally, the latest executive decision coming out of the 30 Rock is to not air Community until further notice. Fans are surely antagonized and NBC has to buck up and rise up this Winter or hopefully next Fall.

The CW

CW won its bet this year with addition of two great dramas to its roster. The great Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec came back this year with another adaptation of an L.J Smith series; The Secret Circle. Well written and with a good cast, The Secret Circle is a solid teen TV series, perfect for the CW audience and a great companion for the ratings champion Vampire Diaries on Thursday nights. The second home run for the network is the thriller Ringer and obviously the comeback of a teen icon Sarah Michelle Gellar. Buffy is back and doubly so. Ringer and The Secret Circle is softening the blow of the recent drop in ratings of the original CW drama Gossip Girl, who might not be coming back next year!

The 2011 Fall season gave audiences so new favorites and now we have to wait until January...

New Crush: Homeland

2011-11-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

After viewing most of the new shows this fall season, this show is worth writing about. Showtime offers us another jaw-dropping series with a killer cast and a subject few would dare to venture into. Check out Homeland!

The American adaptation of the Israeli original series Hatufim, Homeland follows CIA operations officer, Carrie Mathison, played brilliantly by Claire Danes, who is reassigned to the counter-terrorism center after conducting an unapproved mission in Irak. While in Irak, Mathison is warned by an asset of an imminent attack on American Soil by an American. Things get complicated when US Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody, played by Band of Brothers' Damien Lewis, is rescued during an American raid on a terrorist compound. Brody was reported MIA since 2003. Mathison obviously suspects Brody to be the one her asset in Irak was talking about.

Already renewed for a second season, Homeland keeps garnering critical praises for its premise, its writing and impeccable acting. The obvious necessity for any show tackling the delicate issue of counter-terrorism and homeland security is the gray area. The character's affiliations and motivations could never be black and white and the line between the good and bad guys has to be as blurry as possible. Homeland achieves that within the 10 first minutes of the pilot. However, what reels you in is not only plot's twists and turns but the characters' responses. Claire Danes' character, Carrie Mathison, is still a complete mystery. Danes' portrayal is bound to bring this heavyweight an Emmy and Golden Globe. All and all the cast transports this already fantastic premise to another world where our post 911 world is even more complicated than we thought.

Grade A+

Trailer:

Spotlight: Emma Stone

2011-07-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Asmall, independent comedy gave this 22 year old bombshell the perfect vehicleto show off not only her beauty but her impeccable comedic timing. Easy A isone of the most refreshing comedies of 2010 and its success is mainly thanks tothe breath of fresh air that is Emma Stone.

Let’sjust say that opinion became fact pretty fast because this kid is one hell of arole since her breakthrough performance. Just this summer, Stone will be seenin three highly anticipated blockbuster films.

First on her impressive summerCV, is a cameo role in the Justin Timberlake/Mila Kunis sexy romantic comedy Friends withBenefits. Stone might have a small part but like the optimistsaying says “there is no such thing as small parts” right? Right and she provesthis a million times over.

Nextup is this week’s romantic drama Crazy,Stupid, Love in which she co-stars with heavy hitters SteveCarrell, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei and Julianne Moore. Finally, if that wasn’tenough, Stone is headlining the big screen adaptation of the criticallyacclaimed novel by Katheryn Stockett, The Help.

Thissummer is definitely Stone filled but its nothing compared to summer 2012 Stone is Spidey’s new love interest, Gwen Stacy, in the Spiderman reboot The Amazing Spiderman.

EmmaStone is rapidly becoming the one to watch in young Hollywood and for goodreason. Talent is a rare commodity these days and Emma is the precious stoneaudience’s have been craving for!

Link to article on Watchmojo.com

Tuesday Review: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

2011-07-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

WARNING: BEFORE HEADING TO THE MOVIES PLEASE REALIZE THAT THIS MOVIE IS NOT AN AWARD WINNING NARRATIVE BUT JUST A REALLY FUN RIDE.

A Michael Bay original with explosions, tons of really cool robots and lots of action, Transformers 3 is awesome if it’s all you expect from it. If you expected more, well, you are a hopeless idealist!

The story was ok and had some intrigue but the script was left to be desired. Shia Leboeuf had a maximum of maybe 15 lines and should definitely star in a horror film next because he knows how to scream like a pro. The Meghan Fox replacement, Victoria Secret model, Rose Huntington Whiteley, is certainly stunning but her role is completely useless and who has time to change when robots are taking over the world? The whole supermodel pairing with Leboeuf is still hard to believe, especially when Tyrese, Josh Duhamel and Patrick Dempsey are part of the cast. The main problem was not the story but characters. They were maybe lean in substance but all were mean fighting machines. Another eye candy addition was Patrick Dempsey. Did not mind seeing in IMAX 3D but wished he had more to work with.

All in all a fun and mindless summer movie

Boom Boom Pow factor: A+ Need brain matter factor: C-

Oh Canada!

2011-07-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

Tocelebrate this beautiful country’s 144^th birthday, an acknowledgment of its best and brightest is in order. So this is a special“Canada day” post to put a spotlight on some of Canada’s rising stars.

JessicaParé: This Montreal girl scored one of the most coveted roles in televisiontoday; a hig profile role on Mad Men! Paré started her appearance on the AMChit late in season 4 and did what so many women thought impossible; tame theever elusive Don Draper. Paré exploded on US screens starring in the shortlived WB show Jack and Bobby starring Christine Lahti, Mad Men alum Matt Longand The Three Musketeer’s star Logan Lehrman. The show may have been cancelledafter only one season, but the critical acclaim it garnered was enough to make aname for her. Paré also starred in Jacob Tierney’s The Trotsky and will bestarring in the 5^th season of Mad Men. She is definitely a Canadianto watch!

EmmanuelleChriqui: This girl may be one of the boys on HBO’s cult series Entourage butshe is no tomboy. In 2010, she ranked #1 on AskMen.com top 99 Most DesirableWomen, how’s that for proof! Being one of the only women on a show full of guyshas its perks. Apart from being surrounded by gorgeous men all day, Chriqui isinstantly recognizable. She is like a breath of fresh air on the show, a coolbreak from all that testosterone. Chriqui ismuch more than grade A eye candy, her performances keep getting better and asshe proved in Entourage, she is a definite scene stealer! The HBO hitmay be wrapping up with its 5^th season this year but I highly doubtthat this Canadian beauty will be off our screens for long. As a matter fact,she will be starring in the second season of Showtime’s The Borgias with fellowMontrealer Francois Arnaud (see below) and appearing in the star studdedSebastian Gutierrez’ film Girl Walks into a Bar. Oh and an Entourage moviemight be in the works!

Ellen Page: This Oscarnominated pocket sized Canadian is one hot commodity in Hollywood. Thewhirlwind adventure that was Juno put this Nova Scotia native on the map andfor obvious reasons. She might be tiny but she is definitely mighty. Herperformance in Christopher Nolan’s Inception was fearless and she actually madeher place among heavy hitters like DiCaprio, Murphy, Caine and Hardy. A greatCanadian actress and an awesome addition to this 100% Canadian list!

TaylorKitch: Ok so the Texas Forever hunk is not from Texas? Who knew? This KelownaBC native is a hell of an actor. His performance as Tim Riggins during 5 yearrun of Friday Night Lights was stellar and heartbreaking. Playing a characteron television is not easier than movies but its definitely different. Thecharacter needs to be researched and the audience needs to see the evolution.Kitch mastered this evolution brilliantly and made Riggins one of the mostlayered character on TV today. FNL is definitely not the end of Mr. Kitch, notby a long shot. He is the star ofthe upcoming Bang Bang Club, a true story about the true life experience of 4photographers active in South Africa during the Apartheid. He will also be starringin Peter Berg’s Battleship, portraying John Carter in John Carter of Mars andfinally will star in the next Oliver Stone project Savages. Tim Riggins may begone but Taylor Kitch is definitely here to stay

ScottSpeedman: Ben is every late 90’s teenager’s first crush. His big break wasdefinitely his stint in the brilliant WB coming of age drama, Felicity. He wasthe subtle playboy with this bad boy front but the heart of gold. It worked andhe will go down in history being part of one of the most celebrated lovetriangle on TV. Ben or Noel-an impossible choice! Since then, Speedman has beenmaking his place in Hollywood with big budget blockbusters and small Canadianindependent pearls. His most recognizable appearance on screen is his vampireloving werewolf in the underworld series. Speedman’s performances in AtomEgoyan’s Adoration and in last year’s Barney’s Version truly showed his range and what he iscapable of. His latest work is the Canadian thriller Good Neighbours directedby Jacob Tierney. He will be starring with Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum innext year’s romantic drama The Vow. Speedman’s career is just taking off and wecan’t wait to see where he is going.

FrancoisArnaud: This Montreal native went from starring in Xavier Dolan’s criticallyacclaimed J’ai tué ma Mère to headlining Showtime’s The Borgias with none otherthan Jeremy Irons. Talk about a big break! Arnaud is perfect as Cesare Borgiasand to believe that he is a French speaking Quebecer is sort of crazy but hepulls it off brilliantly. Arnaud just had his big break but its just thebeginning for him, his future is definitely bright!

Tuesday Review: Bad Teacher

2011-06-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Stuctureis the most important aspect ofany project. From an essay to a building, if the structure is not perfect, theproject failed and the only way to fix it is to start all over again.

Bad Teacherhad a great premise and great promise but fell short to impress because of, shocker, its lack of structure. It seemed that the narrative was set in placeand the “funny parts” were inserted instead of written into the script. Thescenes were separately funny but when you searched for the relevance to the storyyou seemed to be a bit lost.

The premiseof the bad teacher is brilliant and can be extremely funny but a dosage isnecessary. Its seems like they took one main joke and spread it thin, giving theaudience way too many examples of her bad behaviour.

Cameron Diazand Jason Segal had great chemistry and the movie could’ve benefited of alittle bit more of their interaction. Justin Timberlake on the other hand had abit too much screen time.

Timberlakehas potential. He broke out in Alpha Dog and was surprisingly good in The SocialNetwork, but Bad Teacher was not a high point in his acting career. Hopefullyhis role in his romantic comedy Friends with Benefits will do him more justicebecause he needs a redemption role after this one.

What thismovie needs was more depth. The structure was off and the storyline should’vebeen more developed.

All in allfunny in some parts but mostly falls short to truly impress C-

Trailer:

New Crush: Michael Fassbender

2011-06-26T21:08:00.000-07:00

Fassbendergives new meaning to Kylie Minogue’s Can’t get you out of my head! Its been aFassbender bender since X Men First Class and he did not disappoint yet!

ThisIrish/German actor brings to the screen another facet of masculinity that is,to say the least, intriguing. Irish actors have this sweet/bad boyparticularity that makes them authentic, sexy as hell but more importantlyextremely layered. From Daniel Day Lewis and Brendan Gleeson to Jonathan RhysMeyers and Cillian Murphy, these actors have a similar modus operandi and eachgeneration of actors needs one or ten!

Fassbenderhonours his Irish roots but does not deny his German ones and rightfully so. Heis cool, calm and collected and the audience can sense that his insides areboiling in every performance. Charismatic, he seduces his audience in aninstant and doesn’t let you go until the final credits roll.

Thank you XMen!

Playing amythical character like Magneto is a particularly daunting task. First, theanticipation and expectation ofthe fanboys (and girls) can be very intimidating. Second, playing a charactermade famous on screen by the likes of Ian McKellen, intimidating is anunderstatement. His performance was however perfect and an introduction to one ofthe rising stars of the moment.

X Men FirstClass is one of his latest films and therefore the beginning of this eyeopening journey.

Next onthis bender was 2008’s Hunger. The movie made headlines after premiering at theTIFF in 2009. The film was named the "Best Film of 2009" bythe Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. It shared the award with anotherMichael Fassbender film, Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds. His depiction of IRA Irish volunteer Bobby Sands was absolutely incredible. His introduction sceneperfectly exactly how mesmerizing Fassbender can be. If any actor can be calleda scene stealer, he is one of them.

His rolesin 300, Fish Tank and Centurion just made it clearer that this man is here tostay. His looksremind us of a young Kevin Kline. Sexy, confident and capable to do absolutelyanything without ever loosing his cool. Fassbender may be a crush for now buthe might flourish into a full blown love affair!

Just take a look at his nextfilm; The David Cronenberg directed film A Dangerous Method. With ViggoMortensen, Kiera Knightley and Michael Fassbender

Tuesday Review: Midnight in Paris

2011-06-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

When it comes to romantic comedies, Woody Allen knows how to make them and his few pinches of neuroses makes his recipes somewhat perfect. To be perfectly honest, a Woody Allen film led by Owen Wilson made me somewhat skeptical but it worked. If this film was done 20 years ago, Allen would've been the lead and Wilson made that very clear. His performance was up to the challenge and he led this group of talented actors fairly well.

Rachel MacAdams and Michael Sheen were completely detestable and perfectly so. It made Wilson's character's lack of self confidence understandable and compared to them completely lovable.

Without giving away the plot, Midnight in Paris is an exploration of the city in all its glamor, glory and fantasy. Cities like Paris, Rome or New York have a certain myth surrounding them and Allen exploited this element to the fullest. The supporting cast added to this fantasy perfectly.

Allen cast icons of French culture like Mrs. Sarkozy herself, Carla Bruni as a tour guide, the new French darling Lea Seydoux as a modern French girl and the most popular French actress today; Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard as a French from the past.

Cotillard, as my guy friend said throughout the film, is a vision and I have to agree with him. She embodies the beauty, the subtlety and in some ways the simplicity we associate with Paris; a perfect casting call!

PS: Look out for Adrian Brody, his rhinoceros and a little French comic named Gad Elmaleh-Hilarious

Midnight in Paris is a breath of fresh air during this summer of blockbusters.

All in all a charming film-B+

Trailer:

Spotlight: Melissa Mccarthy

2011-06-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

Breakthrough might be a big word in Hollywood but its just the right one to describe Melissa Mccarthy's year! She is having one of the best years any actor could possibly have; A hit sitcom, one of the sleeper hits of the season and most importantly; recognition.

She was adorably funny as the kooky head chef Sookie in Girlmore Girls and hilarious as the crazy glue best friend to the amnesiac Christina Applegate in ABC's Samantha Who, but this year she was always front and center. CBS obviously saw her potential and for the first time in a long time bet on a female star to lead a new sitcom. Mike and Molly's success was instantaneous, she was finally in the spotlight. Her performance gave CBS a 2 and half men/Everybody Loves Raymond/King of Queens comedy to put in their roster, a formula that has been proven to be as precious as pure gold (minus the Charlie Sheen factor)!

However, the role that made her the summer's hit girl is definitely her hilarious turn in Paul Feig's Bridesmaids.

This role is sort of the female version of Zach Galifianakis' character in The Hangover.

Offbeat, weird, uncomfortable and the total opposite of all her previous characters, it pulled Mccarthy out of the shadows and into the light. The audience finally was exposed to one of the funniest ladies in the business.

The Emmy nominations are right around the corner, nominations she and Fringe star/Canadian cutie Joshua Jackson are presenting. Hopefully, she will not only be announcing nominations for others but discover that she is also nominated.

Tuesday Review: Super 8

2011-06-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

In the day of IMAX, 3D VBox and everything else to make the cinematic experience "as real as possible" sci-fi movies usually loose their plot line along the way. Movies, especially summer movies, are all about the size of the alien/explosion/special effects and never about the actual story or the performance. This movie is not, this movie is a throwback!
J.J Abrams is one of the most innovative minds in the industry and Super 8 proves it a million times over. Based on Spielberg's original idea, Super 8 was just that; an idea. Abrams knew how to transform it into one of the most exhilarating films of the summer. Abrams touched at everything and it shows. The story was perfectly constructed and hooked the audience from the first frame to the last

What was surprising, to say the least, was its cast. The teasers and trailers showed us the leads looking at the skies and definitely did not prepare us for tour de force performances. When it comes to aliens/monster/zombies/vampire movies, the cast is secondary, this movie however put them front and center.

The adults were great. Kyle Chandler is one of the most underrated actors out there and to see him on the big screen is a treat. He was perfectly cast as the grief striken deputy sheriff and fed the pre-teen angst perfectly, which fueled most of the adventure. Since Bastard out of Carolina, Ron Eldard always makes my skin crawl and that proves the power of his performance. He did not dissapoint with this small but very important role and it was great to see him back.

However the stars of this film were definitely the kids. Super 8 is a mix between E.T and Stand by Me. A complete throwback to the days where it was all about the adventure and the lessons you learn from it. Joey Courtney, who played the lead Joe Lamb, nailed the wide-eyed look to perfectly and the rest of the crew, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Riley Griffiths and Gabriel Basso were irreplacable. The only female lead, Elle Fanning is a prodigy. She might be born in 1998 but that kid is a definite old soul. She is superstar and if Somewhere didn't prove it Super 8 just sealed the deal.

It seems that the only ones not afraid of the unknown are kids. We saw it with E.T, Stand by Me, The Goonies and all the other classics but Abrams somehow recaptured that spirit that most viewers thought was lost

All in all, a beautiful film! A+

Finale Week -Post Mortems

2011-05-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

Beforethe summer season kicks in, it’s important to give an overview of the best andthe worst of Fall Finale week. As much as we are excited to discover new summershows and old favorites, the end of Fall season is definitely bittersweet!

Likeevery season, not every show on or DVR roster are coming back and the one thatwill definitely be missed is the last relic of the WB generation; Smallville.

Thisending was inevitable after a 10 season run but definitely dreaded but it wasthe perfect ending of an epic show!

For10 years we followed young Clark Kent come to terms with his destiny, have tocourage to pursuit it, put on the mythic suit and cape and fly. They were 10years of teenage angst, soul searching, father issues and awesome battles, aglorious adventure. Smallville did what some considered being impossible andgave the mythical character justice.

With a role he rejected twice, Tom Wellingbecame part of pop culture as much as his predecessors, George Reeves andChristopher Reeve. The whole cast made sure that the characters they portrayeddid not fall into caricature and even after 10 years, the audience would stillbe invested in their growth. The series finale had it all; a wedding, acomeback, a rebirth, a final battle, a suit and a giant leap, which made this,last Friday night so bittersweet.

Smallvillegave us closure but it was one of the only ones who did. All the others gave usthe palpitations that finales are supposed to do.

Ifthere were a chart of the best to worst fall finales, The Good Wife woulddefinitely take home the top prize. Moments are key to a great televisionepisode and The Good Wife excels in creating them.

Themoment below was the high point of the finale; not only because of its content,but also because of the way it was done. The writing, the acting, the music andthe editing of this minute of television are pure bliss; watch and enjoy!

Another finale that made viewers hold their breath was Castle. Richard Castleand Kate Beckett have chemistry you can cut with a knife and this willthey/won't they dilemma is what fuels this show. The season finale was loadedand the season premiere will have to answer a lot of questions. Bottom line:moments were key in this finale from shootings, to word wars and long-awaited ILU,Castle and Beckett did not disappoint!

TheVampire Diaries had another epic episode, flipping the switch again andthrowing all of the audience's prediction out the door. If a show knows how tosurprise, scare and fall in love, it’s definitely Plec and Williamson's VampireDiaries.

For thelast mention in this fall finale hall of fame, the ending of Grey’s Anatomy hadto be mentioned. This season had a whole lot to deal with, not to mention thebaggage of last year’s shooting. When asked about this season’s finale, showcreator Shonda Rimes said that this year will be more of an emotional shootout.Rimes was not kidding. Derek needs time to think, Owen is done being patientwith Christina and all hope seemsto be gone for the Mark/Lexie shippers. Maybe this shootout is not as scary asseeing someone put a bullet in McDreamy’s chest but it was nonetheless scary.Oh and I love this Henry/Teddy storyline.

The onlyseason finale that left a bitter after taste was Bones. Happy to have Bones andBooth finally together but not to see this anticipated reunion was painful.Hart’s decision not to explain the whole relationship is understandable but noteven a kiss! C’mon faithful Bones viewers deserve this at least!

Ok so hereis the finale post mortem, stay tuned for the fall preview!

Casting Superheroes: Zack Snyder's Superman reboot

2011-03-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

Zack Snyder's reboot of the superman franchise is gaining super speed. The recent casting of Amy Adams as the journalist extraordinaire gives more credibility to the highly anticipated film. Adams will have big shoes to fill portraying one of the most beloved comic book characters. After so many interpretations of Ms. Lane in movies and television, she will have to surprise comic book aficionados with a fresh take on the character; an easy task for this Oscar nominee. Her Oscar nominated performances in Junebug, Doubt and The Fighter proved that her acting chops are solid and can handle any role thrown at her. Her roles in Enchanted, Julie and Julia and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian showed a lighter, funnier and spunkier side of Adams, which is key to nailing the Lois Lane role.

Adams is not the only heavyweight in this cast. Pairing Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as Jonathan and Martha Kent is pure genius. They have this perfect look for heartland America farmers and it will be great to see Costner back on the screen.
The casting of the man of steel seemed to be the coolest guessing game in the blogosphere. The choice of the beautiful Brit Henry Cavill was surrounded with a bit of controversy because he was not American. Passport issues aside, Cavill, has the build, looks and innocence the man of steel is supposed to have in his early years. He doesn't have the mega career that could overshadow his performance. After George Reeves Christopher Reeve, Tom Welling and Brandon Routh, Henry is the latest actor to put on that red cape and hopefully will give it justice.

DC comics seems to give an edgier, darker look to their superheroes and proved it with the revival of the Batman franchise. They handed The Dark Knight to the Nolan/Goyer duo and decided not to part with a winning team and gave them the task to do the same to The Man of Steel. Batman director Christopher Nolan is producing the film and David S. Goyer will be telling the story. Directing Superman: Man of Steel is none other than 300 and SuckerPunch director Zack Snyder who has a much darker, edgier aesthetic than his predecessors.

Casting superheroes is always tricky. There are so many factors to consider and so many versions of the superheroes to choose from, you can never please every fan out there.

Matthew McConaughey-A comeback?

2011-03-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

After watching Lincoln Lawyer yesterday, I realized I missed the “serious” side of Matthew McConaughey. The cinematic adaptation of the Michael Connelly novel is sort of predictable but entertaining to watch nonetheless. This year, McConaughey tries comes back in theaters playing what really made him pop out of the lot; a lawyer.
His first appearance was his small but noticeable performance in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, but McConaughey’s star truly rose in the late 90’s early 2000’s. He was People’s sexiest man alive, Mr. Romantic Comedy and on his way to become one of Hollywood’s favorite leading men. Sadly, he hit a rough spot around 2004 when his romantic comedies weren’t as romantic as he hoped. His most successful venture in the genre was 2003’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. It became one of the best rom-com’s of the decade and sealed his romantic leading man status. However, Failure to Launch, Fool’s Gold and the horrendous Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past made the status fade away little by little. He became famous thanks to his breathtaking good looks but it was his closing arguments in A Time to Kill that made us see him as a great actor. He followed this heart wrenching performance with another lawyer role in Spielberg’s beautiful Amistad. McConaughey’s comeback might start with The Lincoln Lawyer since it reminds us why we loved him in the first place. The movie is not a masterpiece but is not a disaster either and his performance might be just enough to bring him back on track.
Matthew is Hollywood’s resident cowboy and his look is rare to find. It is very difficult to find a man not as rough as an action hero but not too soft. Matthew’s co-star in the Lincoln Lawyer, Josh Lucas could take over but McConaughey’s charisma is very difficult to match. After seeing McConaughey’s upcoming movies, it’s clear that comedy is going to be his next venture. He is capable but I wish he would stay in drama and here is why!

Clear eyes, full heart, can't loose FNL Forever

2011-02-15T21:16:00.000-08:00

You don’trealize a show is really over until its regular time slot approaches and theiris nothing on your television screen. Wednesday night is arriving slowly andthe fact that no new episodes of Friday Night Lights will ever air again, isstarting to sink in. A horrific feeling of loss is slowly taking over and theonly comfort is knowing that a perfect series ended just right.

The seriesfinale embodied everything the show stood for the last five years; heart, soul,guts and glory.

The endingwas bittersweet, heartbreaking but overall satisfying. None of the charactershad unbelievable futures, no open-endings and most importantly we were leftwith the feeling that our beloved characters were going to be fine. There wereno long, tearful good-byes for the Taylors and thank the writers for that, Itwould have been too hard. However this incredible duo do deserve a standingovation. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton were flawless for five years andplayed people/parents/lovers we could all aspire to be. When Julie said her parents were herinspiration, she also spoke for every FNL fan out there. These 2 actors heldthe show together and sadly never really were recognized for it.

Thisepisode was all about moments and Friday Night Lights knows how to deal withemotional moments. First with Landry and Matt having one last sarcasticconversation about Julie was brilliant and. Matt proposing to Julie in front ofthe Alamo Freeze was epic, perfect and as sweet as 22.

However thecharacter who truly embodies the soul of Dillon, Texas is Tim Riggins. Riggins,like Dillon, has no artifice; he is simple, heartfelt, raw and pure. TaylorKitch’s performance was flawless and, if possible, made us fall deeper in lovewith Tim. Riggins is definitely one of the best characters ever written fortelevision. His growth is like no other and he was never static, always moving,brilliant.

The show’s biggest strength are thetransitions. From the seniors to the juniors, to the goodbye episodes forSmash, Street, Lyla, Tyra, Matt and Landry,to the switch from the Panthers tothe Lions and finally to the arrival of the new kids, the writers always madethese characters family, never strangers, even if it was their first episode.During the finale, Vincent, Jess, Luke and Becky had their place in the sun andwere as heartbreaking as the original crew.

The bestpart of this finale are the hints of FNL history which were scatteredeverywhere during the few last episodes. Smash appearing on a televised game atBuddy’s, the shot of Jason Street’s name tagged on the wall of the Panther’slocker room, or Buddy supervising the hanging of the Dillon credo, were all perfect. All in all a perfect ending toa great television show.

Academy Awards-Predictions and Rant

2011-01-28T18:08:00.000-08:00

Oscar has spoken and the fate of the film artists of 2010 has been sealed. A single golden little man for some reason measures greatness. His name, Oscar, he has the power to make and remake careers just by mentioning the artist’s name. As soon as an Oscar is on any artist or film’s CV, the term legendary is marked permanently next to it. Spielberg, Cameron, Streep or Hanks will forever have the golden seal of approval and their talent will never be put in doubt. To be more dramatic, a nomination to the big game makes the work anchored in our collective memory, the key to immortality.

As much as being included in the prestigious nominees list is beneficial, the ones that are omitted but are deserving of one can gain much more. Sad but true, justice is applauded but rarely appreciated and always taken for granted.It is injustice that provoke reactions and rebellion. In other words, if a film or artist is overlooked, it will create more buzz and discussion than if it was nominated. The performance, the film will be debated, will gain popular support and therefore become a cult film or a fan favorite and thus gain immortality.

Like every year, there were predictable nominations; some great and some not so great surprises. Portman, Firth, Franco, Bale and Benning were obviously going to be on the roster and with evident reasons.

The biggest surprise however is the exclusion of Christopher Nolan in the best director category. His omission infuriated film aficionados, bloggers and critics and that rage even translated in Nolan trending on Twitter, right after the nominations were announced. This snub will go down in history and Nolan, already considered as one of the visionary of his generation, will benefit of the status Scorsese had before he finally won for The Departed or the one Fincher inherited after the critics created Fight Club and Se7en as two of the greatest cult films of the 90's. With 10 nominees for best film and 5 for best director, it's sure that there will be some sort of cinematic injustice on the part of the Academy, but we are used to it no?

There is one nomination however that is deserving and not a lot of people understand why. One of the most important categories at the Academy Awards is without a doubt, the Best Foreign Language Film category. Why? Mainly because it allows film lovers to discover new actors, new directors, new visions and most importantly new horizons.This year's nominees list is extra special because a Canadian film from Montreal is nominated. Incendies by accalaimed Quebec director Denis Villeneuve and internationally renowned playright Wadji Mouwawad scored a well-deserved nomination.This film opened this fall in theaters and has been spread like wild fire among the film community. The play is already brilliant but the performances and the cinematographic genius of Mr Villeneuve brought Mouwawad's words to a whole new level.

If you are preparing for the Oscars by watching all the movies and performances you can get your hands on, go, run and watch Incendies.

Now, the only thing left to do is wait for the actual show, pray that the hosts live up to their talent and put some money where our mouth is!

Predictions:

BEST PICTURE: The Social Network

BEST DIRECTOR: David Fincher-The Social Network

BEST ACTOR: Colin Firth-The King's Speech

BEST ACTRESS: Nathalie Portman-Black Swan

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christian Bale-The Fighter

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Melissa Leo-The Fighter

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: The Social Network

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Inception

BEST ANIMATED FILM (FEATURE): Toy Story

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Incendies/Butiful

BEST ORIGINAL SONG: I See the light-Tangled

Award season 2011-What a year!!

2011-01-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

The 2010-2011 award season just kicked into gear and the major contenders are about to suit up for the big game. The nominees for the Globes the SAG usually give a clear indication of who will show up on the Oscar ballots.

The first consensus this year is the evident inclusion of Nathalie Portman for her absolutely brilliant performance in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. Aronofsky did it again this year by delivering a powerful and disturbingly beautiful film. Portman is flawless in her portrayal of the young and innocent Nina on her quest to embody the swan queen. The goal of film is to stir emotions, to shake audiences to their core. Black Swan shakes you with a subtlety only worthy of Tchaikovsky’s himself. Portman’s inclusion in every best actress award nomination list this year is a necessity and will test the very credibility of the association who does not nominate her for her performance.

Another evidence is the nomination of the whole cast of David O Russel’s The Fighter. Talk about a team effort! The cast includes this year’s strongest contender in the best supporting actor category; Christian Bale. Bale gave a tour de force performance that brings back memories of his performance in The Machinist, which was, with American Psycho, movies that helped Bale's transition from teen actor to leading man. This role can transform the superhero into an award winner, an honor he surely deserves. The second strongest performance in The Fighter is definitely best supporting actress nominee Melissa Leo. She completely transformed herself into the small town power mom. An incredible performance and she might have had a supporting role but she played the role of the mom to the fullest and became the uniting force of the cast. Her competition in the category is her co-star; Amy Adams. What a switch! She definitely nailed the hard-ass Massachusetts barmaid that stands by her man. She had a great energy and her chemistry with lead actor Mark Wahlberg made the side love story, a crucial part of the story. Walhberg is stepping up and trusting him with the lead role was a long but great shot and he completes the home run for the actors of The Fighter.

Finally, the last but surely not the least ensemble effort is the terrific cast of The King’s Speech. Colin Firth escaped the Oscar curse by following his best Oscar nod for his role in last year’s A Single Man with another sure to be Oscar nominated role. The film is a masterpiece and Firth, Bonham Carter and Rush gave fantastic performance which brought this little historical drama to the front row on Oscar night. This film solidified Colin Firth as Hollywood royalty.

Evidences aside, there are some snubs that were not obvious at all!

Case 1 Inception

The Golden Globes nominated the film for best motion picture-Drama and with just cause. However, the film was completely snubbed at the SAG nominations. Christopher Nolan’s vision deserves to be recognized for its original writing, filmmaking and the cast has a lot to do with the believable aspect of the film. DiCaprio, Caine, Gordon-Levitt, Page, Cotillard, Hardy and Murphy were in perfect symbiosis throughout the film and should’ve gotten a nod!

Case 2 The Tourist

Seriously? The film is surly star-studded but is it really deserving of a best actor, best actress and best comedy nod at the golden globes? The movie was good, a bit lighter than expected and Johnny delivered as usual, but it was ordinary not more. Depp deserves an Oscar or a lifetime achievement award for the constant snubbing but do not make the mistake to give him an award or a nomination to make-up for its past offenses.

Will it be Colin Firth or James Franco, Christian Bale or Geoffrey Rush? All bets are off and the decisions are soon arriving. Love Awards season, the Superbowl of film lovers! Bon Cinema

The Globes-MIA TV section

2010-12-14T18:46:00.000-08:00

So the Globe nominations are out which officially kicks off the 2010 award season. The film world is just starting to sweat because the globes are just the beginning of the campaign for studios, actors and directors. Television, however, is closing 2010 and hopefully some with a big golden bow. The television nominations are pretty straight forward but there are some snubs which need to be pointed out!

First off, nominating The Good Wife for best dramatic series and best actress was a must but Alan Cummings should be among the best supporting actors with Chris Noth. Eli Gold became a very important part of the show's intrigue and Cummings performance should definitely be recognized.

One of the biggest surprises this morning was Piper Perabo's nomination for best actress for her role in USA's summer hit; Covert Affairs. The Coyote Ugly beauty fits in television very well and delivered in CA's first season but the slot belonged to the always overlooked and under appreciated Connie Britton of DirectTV's Friday Night Lights. FNL is sort of the little train that could, fueled by hard-core fans and flawless performances, this Peter Berg opus is without a doubt a television gem and will be remembered as the most underestimated show of the past 5 years. Britton and Chandler might be the quarterbacks but the kids are the heart of the team. Taylor Kitch, Scott Porter, Zach Gilford, Minka Kelly, Amee Teegarden and for the last 2 seasons Michael B. Jordan, Jurnee Smolett, Matt Lauria and Madison Burge are terrific supporting actors and greatly unnoticed. I am still hoping that the powers that be will soon wake up and give this show and its artists its due!

Another show completely overlooked was FX' Justified. This western-type drama stars Deadwood's Timothy Olyphant as bad-ass US Marshall, Raylan Givens, who has to get back to his home town after using his own kind of justice. This show has what every good show should have which is characters. It is filled of well-rounded characters, amazing dialogue and the the right actors to deliver. Timothy Olyphant should definitely be included in the best actor category.

The nominations are not all bad, Elisabeth Moss is finally nominated and Matthew Morrison is praised for being a insanely sexy triple threat on Glee!

Celebrity Crush: Gwyneth Paltrow

2010-11-19T21:05:00.000-08:00

Ok so after the purely physical crushes, it's time to focus on someone more 3 dimensional than the obvious pretty face. Don't get me wrong, these boys are as talented as they are beautiful, but this week I reconnected with someone that was off the radar for quite some time.

This week's episode of Glee, The Substitute, was more than a promotional tool for Gwyneth's new film Country Strong, it was her comeback. Mrs. Paltrow has been focusing on her little family in London and has been out of the spotlight for years. When it comes to long distance relationships, some may say out of sight, out of mind. Others may be more optimist and say that distance makes the heart grow fonder. For this particular relationship, you don't realize how much you missed someone until you see them again.

Television is a pretty closed circuit so having an Oscar winning actress guest star on a TV show creates buzz but having her perform in a musical TV show creates an earthquake in the Entertainment world.

She dabbled being a triple threat with Duets but Glee truly convinced the world, and her kids, that dad could sing but mom can sing just as well.

A crush is supposed to make palms sweaty, turn brains into mush and make hearts beat at 100 miles per hour. After Tuesday's Glee episode, MyCastingCall has a definite crush on Gwyneth!!

GLEE - "Forget You" Full Performance feat. Gwyneth Paltrow!

DAY 4-trio

2010-10-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

This one is for my best friend missadvertising and since she can't make a decision for her life, well I decided I can't either. When it comes to hypothetical boyfriends why should we anyways. So MyCastingCall chose 3 men that illustrate perfectly my besties taste evolution.

It started with Speed and Keanu Reeves' clean-cut dreamy eyed look. Then, the bad boy phase took over and the Irish version Colin

Farrell became the object of her affection. Finally, she decided to stay in Ireland and fall for King Henry IIX, a true combination of both, the bad boy and the dreamer, Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

So since she can't choose, I will cheat and I did not post any one yesterday on purpose to post 3 today!

DAY 3-Jon Hamm

2010-10-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

This super suave and sexy star of Mad Men is one of the only man's man left in the world. Strong features, killer smile and a classic presence, Jon should be in every 5 of hottest guys list out there. After the explosive season 4 finale on Sunday, I had to dedicate a post to Mr. Draper!

DAY 2- Jesse Williams

2010-10-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to The Lady and the Sweatshop! Grey's Anatomy's newest recruit, Jesse, is in need of a Mc nickname stat. He is definite eye candy and capable to warm up the coldest Canadian winter in a heartbeat. So ladies, and 1 lady in particular, enjoy!

1 man a day for 1 week-something hot for the beginning of winter

2010-10-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

DAY 1

As an early Chrismukah present for my girls, My Casting Call decided to provide daily eye-candy to warm up with before the rough Canadian winter is in full swing.

Brian Austin Green-Desperate Housewives' newest recruit

Brian is definitely the best addition to Sunday nights. For every teenage girl growing u in the 90's Brian Austin Green was the nerd of their cult series 90210. Who knew that the little David Silver was going to become the new hunk raising the temperature on Wisteria Lane. Brian is a TV staple and the buzz he is getting from his stint on the ABC staple is going to score him a show of his own.

He is a demigod for every guy in the world for being married to Megan Fox but for women everywhere Megan is the lucky one!

Romance queens in need of a kingdom-Are great romantic comedies missing in action?

2010-10-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

Random fact-Romantic comedies, no matter how bad they are, still perform well at the box-office during their opening weekend. It seems that our society is not as cynical as we may think. The promise of falling in love is alive and kicking and also so appealing that even if the script, the performance or the direction is not up to par, audiences will show up in theaters. These past weeks, two romantic comedies hit the movie screens and although they were not masterpieces, they performed relatively well at the box-office.

In fact, the Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel helmed Life as We Know it came out this week and dislodged Fincher’s impeccable The Social Network out of the top spot at the box office. Heigl, even with her supposed difficult diva –like personality, reels in audiences. Of course her co-star has a certain appeal and is responsible for the flocks of female viewers rushing to the theaters. However, the actor can be as beautiful as Duhamel or Cooper; it is crucial that these same women identify with the leading lady. Is Heigl the right choice? She fits perfectly in the cookie cutter mold Hollywood made for these girl next door actresses but I have yet to be convinced of her appeal with the audience.

The other actress competing with Heigl for this special spot in America’s heart is Kristen Bell. This Veronica Mars alum is a much more loveable character than Heigl and needs one great romance to seal her deal. After her alter-ego Veronica Mars had her life cut short, this multi-talented actress jumped into the movie world with both feet. The reason why her star is not as bright yet is material or more precisely the lack of it.

Heigl and Bell have, in some ways, similar paths. Coming from TV, they both exploded onto the movie screens with a Judd Apatow produced film. Heigl with Knocked Up and Bell with Forgetting Sarah Marshall. They both proved that they had the comedic chops to fit into the romantic comedy mold. They both followed their success with same caliber movies. If I had to pick a winner of this race to the throne I would put money on Bell. Her appeal is wider and she just seems nicer than Heigl. The high

maintenance bit Heigl is maintaining might prevent her to reach the finish line.

The romantic comedy does not seem to survive on critical acclaim but on a feel-good factor. The Heigl and Bell of this world are not pioneers; their predecessor had the same pattern and continues to search for the film that will make her own the category of romantic comedy queen. The predecessor I am referring to is none other than Jennifer Aniston.

Aniston was the most popular friend and the one industry moguls pegged to become the movie actress after the final curtain fell on Friends. The public display of her personal drama made it very difficult for her to have the media focus on her career and not at her, Brad and Angelina. However, this very public break-up created a team; team Aniston, and by association she became a perfect candidate for the girl next-door slot in the Hollywood casting world. Sadly, the on-screen persona these actresses are picked to play are intrinsically synced with the personality they project off-screen.

This sympathy for Aniston, felt by every woman in the world, fills seats in every theater where an Aniston movie is projected. She was chosen by many casting directors to try and overthrow Sandra Bullock’s reign but her movie choices did not work in her favor.

Jennifer just guest starred in her Friend’s, Courtney Cox, TV series Cougar Town to remind viewers of her past and therefore try to reboot her career after this year’s other flop; The Switch. It is a mystery where she gets these scripts and I’m beginning to think that her advisers (agents, publicists, managers) might be dyslexic. The Bounty Hunter had promise; her pairing with Gerard Butler could have been explosive, if it wasn’t for the horrendous script. Like Heigl and Bell, Aniston has the acting ability and, as she proved season after season of Friends, the comedic timing necessary to pull off a romantic comedy.To conquer the rom-com throne, Aniston needs to star in a film as successful as The Proposal.

This category is a double-edged sword. It is a world very difficult to get in but sometimes impossible to get out of. The label stuck on their forehead is written with a permanent marker and erased only temporarily. Aniston is one of the contenders, not because she excels at it, but because she keeps doing them. Don’t get me wrong Jennifer Aniston is a great actress but you are only as good as your material and what she is given is not Shakespeare or in the contemporary romantic world, Garry Marshall.

The new era of romantic comedies needs to come barging on Hollywood’s door sooner rather than later because if the material is still mediocre our best actors will bypass this step in their career and our society will definitely become more cynical.

Fall Premiere Week-too many shows to mention in a title

2010-10-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks were filled with premiers of returning shows and brand-spanking new ones. Every night was a battle for networks. Which one will come out of premiere week triumphant and which one will have to re-shape its schedule all over again. Apart from sweeps, premiere week is the most important week for every professional in T.V land.

From fan favorites like Grey's Anatomy and Smallville to newbies like Blue Bloods and Boardwalk Empire, television was having a definite party these past two weeks. Well, its sad to say that the fun is over and this week is the week to choose.

Choice; what differs a television fan from a couch potato. The difficult task of choosing the few shows during the week that you will plan on seeing and not planning on sitting in front of the TV to watch everything.

Returning shows:

Choice # 1: Glee!

Condensed happiness is the perfect way to describe this hour of television. Perfect comedic performances thanks Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer, amazing musical numbers and obviously Brittany, who makes every single show priceless. Glee is one of the few shows confronted to their second season and the terrifying sophomore slump. The bar is high after their first season and barely exceeding it won't cut it. Their season premiere not only passed that bar but raised it even higher

Glee overcame, in just one show, the sophomore slump with flying slushie colors!

Choice # 2: Being Erica!
This show is the front runner in the comeback of Canadian TV and its about time. Canadian television was always eclipsed by the numerous American shows and CBC's Being Erica could put a small dent in the American television powerhouse. The premise is refreshing but most importantly one that everyone can relate too. Regret, being able to rewrite the past and the importance of learning from your mistakes are things that every one of us can understand and having a character like Erica Strange leading the way, makes this show a true home run. The strongest asset of this Canadian gem is definitely its cast. A true ensemble effort, Being Erica is a definite hit and is too us girls what Hockey night in Canada is to guys.

Best Casting Call: Erin Karpluk A.K.A Erica Strange

Hilarious, adorable, imperfect are the three most important characteristics of any female lead in a romantic comedy, TV shows included. Erin Karpluk just scored a hat trick with her performance as Erica Strange. She won a Gemini for her performance and with cause. She is, like Josh Jackson, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Scott Speedman and Sandra Oh, a true Canadian success and definitely worth mentioning.

Choice # 3 The Good Wife

This is what a courtroom drama should look and feel like. Drama inside and outside the courtroom, CBS's The Good Wife is nothing but stellar. Beautiful performances, amazing chemistry and fantastic writing, Julianna Marguiles and Chris Noth are headlining one of the best shows on television. The premiere lived up to every expectation and the addition of Friday Night Lights' Scott Porter and Michael Ealy makes this already impeccable cast truly remarkable. The denouement of the Will-Alicia-Peter love triangle was perfect. Alan Cummings's portrayal of the cunning Eli Gold is flawless. The Good Wife is a definite winner and another safe bet for ratings winner CBS.

New shows:

Best: Blue Bloods

Finally a show on Friday nights that doesn't make me wanna yawn! Fridays are known as the night where TV shows come to die. This is why CBS is taking out the big guns to give Fridays a comeback-Tom Sellek. The mustache is back on the tube and he does not disappoint. It may be sold as another cop show, but do not be fooled, this one has a twist: family. The Reagan family dynamics are more complicated than the average cop family and the pilot made you see that there is more that meets the eye. Tom Sellek is the selling point but Donnie Walberg, Bridget Moynahan and Will Estes hold their own and makes this family drama a definite keeper.

Honorable mentions: Law & Order: LA, Boardwalk Empire

Worst: Running Wilde

Even if I did not have high hopes for this FOX show after watching the trailer but I sat down and watched it for Keri Russel. Sadly, the trailer was as bad as the show. Predictable and the pairing of Russel and Will Arnett are proof of the worst casting since the dreadful Alex & Emma. Keri Russel return to television had to be a comedy in order for her to shake the Felicity tag but Running Wilde was not the best career move. Will Arnett is a great actor but it seems that he always plays a jerk and his character in Running Wilde is not any different. Hopefully, the show will get a bit more compelling with time but I'm definitely not holding my breath.

Other contenders: My Generation, Hellcats, The Event

What was your favorite new show this season? How about your worst? Any recommendations or warnings?

Fall Premiere Week-Parenthood

2010-09-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

The second week of fall premieres has started and one of the shows I was looking the most forward to this week was definitely Parenthood. During the last few years, NBC was struggling to offer great dramatic programming and was relying on Law & Order, its numerous spinoffs and the iconic ER to fill the dramatic gaps. NBC is known for its great comedic shows and the best night on TV was, for many years, Thursday nights on NBC. Since their star players, Friends, Will & Grace, Seinfeld and more recently ER left the roster, NBC execs were scrambling to restructure their weekly schedule, especially the difficult 10pm time slot on weekdays. This scrambling even led the network to make its biggest mistake-give Jay Leno the 10pm time slot which eventually kicked our beloved Conan out on the curb.

Family Drama

All that said, NBC's programming desperately needed a dose of drama. Parenthood seemed to be the perfect remedy and this season may lead to the network's almost full recovery. The dialogue is impeccable and the story lines are completely believable. The "documentary" style of filming really makes the audience part of the action and makes the family drama exactly what its supposed to be; messy and shaky. Ensemble family dramas or, comedies for that matter, depend, not necessarily on the talent of the actors, but more on their chemistry.

Do they look like a real family? Do they feel like one? Are they believable enough?

Dramas like ABC's Brothers and Sisters and comedies like this year's best comedy Modern Family have it, this coveted chemical balance between each and every character that makes every dialogue, every moment, every scene hilarious or heartbreaking. I was sure about the show last season but its after this week's season premiere that I realized that Parenthood achieved this balance brilliantly.

This balance was achieved thanks to its beautiful cast. Every actor, supporting or leading, pulls the right amount of weight without overshadowing each other. The Bravermans might be a made-up family, but if they weren't on your TV screen, you wouldn't know.

Best Casting Call: Lauren Graham A.K.A Sarah Braverman.

The whole cast of Parenthood is brilliant but the one who truly shines in the show is Lauren Graham. The actress is a gem and one of the great TV actresses in the business. TV, because she has an approachability only a few women have in film but that every woman should have on TV. The audience needs to relate to the character, not only for 2 hours, but for an entire season. Graham is capable of doing this in her sleep. Her portrayal as Lorelei Gilmore in the WB's critically acclaimed Gilmore Girls proved it and her portrayal of Sarah Braverman shows her consistency. Sarah is the black sheep, the screw-up, the single mom who is trying to make ends meet and ends up back home with her tail between her legs. Graham's Sarah is a screw-up, maybe, but a strong one and one every viewer can relate to. The role of Sarah went through a lot of changes, especially when it came to casting. Helen Hunt was first chosen for the role but passed. Hunt is a brilliant actress but, maybe it's because she was out of our radar for so long, I cannot picture her as Peter Krause's little sister! The role was then proposed to Maura Tierney, who would've been great, but had to back out to pursue her chemotherapy treatment. Thankfully Tierney is in remission and is starring in Bruckheimer's new drama The Whole Truth. Finally, the show's casting director stepped-up to the plate and hit a home runby giving the role to Graham.

NBC scored big with the Ron Howard and Jason Katims produced show and the Bravermans might even fill the huge void ER left last year.

Fall Premiere Week-Vampire Diaries

2010-09-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

There is always a competition between TV and film but these past few years, TV programming has been stellar and makes me wonder if TV is the current leader in this never ending battle. Sure shows like Mad Men, Dexter, The Good Wife up the game quite a bit but like in the movie hierarchy, these TV shows are the award winners, the front runners.

If the competition focused on smaller shows in smaller networks put against the blockbuster films and not between the Emmy contenders and the oscar favorites or festival winners, who would win in this TV VS movies death match.

One of the shows that blew me away last season was the CW's Vampire Diaries. As I mentioned in other posts, VD is one of the redemption shows of the CW and could bring this teen network out of the dark. This show is helmed by producer Julie Plec but the key to its success among teen viewers is definitely its scribe; the great Kevin Williamson. Williamson is an icon for 90's teenagers (Dawson's Creek, Scream) and he truly made his comeback with The Vampire Diaries. The series was already a commercial success when it debuted last February but it was its season finale that had everyone at the edge of their seats.

Best Casting Call: Ian Somerhalder A.K.A Damon Salvatore

The show's cast did a load of publicity touring but its the draw of evil brother Damon, portrayed by the stunning Ian Somerhalder, that might have made RPatz shake in his boots and bring the show that many supporters. Somerhalder was even named Entertainment Weekly Ultimate Sexiest Beast! Never a Kevin Williamson newby, Somerhalder played in Dawson's Creek short lived spinoff Young Americans. His claim to fame however is his 2 seasons of Lost as Boone. With Vampire Diaries, he finally got a role that uses his talent, dark looks, devastating gaze and killer smile to good use

The anticipation for the season premiere was palpable and it did not disappoint. The return of Katherine and the double performance by Canadian Nina Dobrev made the premiere a hell of an episode. The twists and turns, the love triangles, the different story lines, raised the bar for vampire fiction and teen television alike.

This is the first time in a long time that I've seen teen television taken seriously and focusing on writing and performance instead of pushing the sex scene barriers and exploiting the fashion industry. The chemistry of its trio; Paul Wesley, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder (Nina is definitely one of the luckiest women in the world!!) is definitely unique and takes Kevin Williamson's adaptation of the L.J Smith series to a whole new level.

I cannot wait to get my Fall TV schedule back on track and if the premieres are anything like VD I am in for a treat!

Takers: Why are these movies even made?

2010-09-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Rarely have I seen a movie so disastrous that the envy to write about it made me anxious to come home in order to shout it out into cyberspace to prevent any unfortunate soul to venture into movie theaters and sit through this movie.
The first two lines uttered by the often misused Matt Dillon was the first indication that the film was going to be disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I love a good heist movie as much as the next guy but Takers missed key ingredients (script, performance, directing, story...) to make it a good, not even great, but only good.

The story had as many holes as the movie had bullets and they were not gun shy. I admit the actors did not have much to work but the performances were horrible? talentless? No why use big adjectives when my gut feeling is screaming bad, just plain bad. I had a little bit of hope considering the presence of Matt Dillon, Hayden Christensen and Paul Walker (less in him but the eye candy impossible to resist) but the inclusion of Chris Brown and T.I made the ensemble acting atrocious. In a bank heist movie, you are supposed to root for the bad guy, but during the useless and horribly directed chase of Chris Brown, I found myself cheering for the good guys to at least get fake Hollywood justice for Brown.

This could've been a come back for both, Jay Hernandez, who was brilliant in Crazy/Beautiful and Michael Ealy but they were not strong enough to overcome the script. After a sigh of relief when the movie ended, I was curious to see who wrote the film and to not watch out for his/her next opus, when to my surprise I saw that it was written by 4 writers!!!

As I arrived home, before writing this blogpost, I realized that I TiVod Mad Men and that it couldn't hurt to watch something worth watching for a change. Well, "The Suitcase" restored my faith in Hollywood and made me think, is TV better than film? After Takers, I'm starting to think so...

Summer...A new TV season?

2010-09-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

In film, the seasons are determined and labeled with specific events like Awards, blockbusters and festivals.

TV is more simple, the seasons are simply seasons; Fall, Winter, Spring and recently the addition of summer.
Fall is for the renewal of old shows, winter is for the come back after the holidays, spring for sweeps and thawing the roster to keep just the very best for next fall and finally summer, a series a fresh new shows to go with the warm weather.
For many years, summer tv was filled with repeats, game shows and bad reality shows. However, these past few years, summer TV became much more interesting. The competition in time slots during the fall season is vicious and the summer seems to be the perfect season to debut a new pilot.
The speciality channels broadcast some of their critically acclaimed tv shows after the fall finales for two very important reason. Primo, TV fans go through withdrawal syndrome as soon as the end of May nears and shows starting in the summer months are salvation to them. Their ratings soar and leads to Secondo: Summer season is pretty dry for entertainment TV journalists and giving them the opportunity to write about actual airing shows and not the rumours concerning the season premieres is perfect for the visibility of the network, the show and the cast, therefore a win win situation.

The revival of summer TV are prominent on networks like USA with White Collar, Burn Notice and Covert Affairs. USA would have never been a player in the big network leagues if it did not stray from the typical fall prime time schedule.The competition is way too fierce and audiences simply do not have the time or the attention span to follow that many shows. Matt Bomer's career started with White Collar and made him one of the slickest characters on TV today. Neil Caffrey's coolness comes only a close second to the versatile and incredibly sexy Don Draper. AMC made Mad Men this year's Emmy Award winner for Best Dramatic series by airing it during the summer. The show is not mainstream enough to survive during the fall season and airing it during the summer made audiences finally appreciate something different, with a slower pace and truly focused on writing and amazing performances. This show made Jon Hamm a critically acclaimed actor, an award winner and a megastar in his 40's.

Seeing the popularity of summer series on speciality networks, ABC decided to get into the game and finally air a summer show. It resulted to a major score for the network because the completely Canadian series, Rookie Blue became one of the hits of the summer and just got picked up for a second season.

Now off to my guilty pleasure: teen dramas. It took a while for the networks to understand that school's out in the summer and a teen summer series is bound to score big in the rating charts.

With this new strategy, the torch for the champion of the teen/tween audience may have been passed on from the WB and given to ABC family. Yes, I know the WB has been replaced by the colourful CW a while ago but the new network has never managed to reach the frog's level.Shows like Gossip Girl and the 90210 re-boot might be pushing the boundaries but they are definitely not raising the bar. Nevertheless, shows like last season's Life Unexpected, helmed by two WB alums, Roswell's Shiri Appleby and Dawson's Kerr Smith and The Vampire Diaries marking the return of teen writing king Kevin Williamson might save the network.

The key strategy for ABC family is sticking with the old formula of great characters, great story lines and leaving the over-sexed teenager to Jersey Shore. Shows like Make It or Break It, Greek, The Secret Life if the American Teenager (the only show on the network I cannot stand) Huge or this summer's teen mega-hit Pretty Little Liars made the network the tv ratings champion in the teen demographic .
For the first time in a long time TV viewers are torn instead of excited at the end of August; Sad that their summer hits are coming to an end but excited for their favorites to return and for pilots to premiere. Weird huh!

The Emmys-The forgotten ones!

2010-08-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

In honor of this Sunday's Emmys I am not going to analyse the repercussions of nominations and wins on the actor's career or the network's fate but quite the contrary. I am going to rebel and name the 2 shows which, in my humble opinion, should've been nominated throughout the years and never were.
1- Everwood

One of the only male oriented teen shows ever, this WB series was beautifully written and perfectly executed thanks to its brilliant cast. Its only fault, being on a network like the WB. This said, following these characters was pure joy and the chemistry between all the characters truly represented the essence of living in a small town. Treat Williams and Tom Amandes' constant bickering as the 2 doctors in town were priceless and the saga between Gregory Smith's soft spoken Ephram Brown and girl next door Amy played by the other Canadian Emily Van Camp made this little town show a masterpiece and sadly overlooked.

2-Friday Night Lights:

Yes Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler were finally nominated this year, but this show needed major vouching by the industry's critics to be recognized by the academy.
The show is like an orchestra, each character pulls its weight and brings an element to perfectly balance the tone. This could've been a simple football show with lots of testosterone and no depth. FNL is the exact oposite, each episode was as heart wrenching or heart lifting as the next and the infamous goodbye episodes were definitely Emmy worthy. NBC made the biggest mistake letting it go and DirectTV made its name picking it up. Sadly, FNL has one more season to offer and hopefully will give an Emmy to Zach Gilford and Taylor Kitch or, even better, the whole cast. As for now lets thank Ausiello from EW for his faith in coach Taylor and his wife and cross our fingers that one of them, or both, bring the statuette home!

The changing world of television!

2010-08-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

The award show where TV is king is coming soon. The night when the best and the brightest of the small screen will be crowned.

On this night, Lady Emmy will knight leading men and women, comic geniuses and iconic characters who marked audiences everywhere and therefore are more part of American pop culture than any movie star.

For true entertainment fanatics, TV has the most impact, its on everyday and is a much bigger part of common consciousness than movies.

TV’s credibility within the industry is a whole different story. TV was always seen as a stepping stone to get into the entertainment big leagues: movies. Bigger screens, bigger roles, bigger exposure and obviously bigger pay checks, but in this world who’s counting. A great performance, a successful show, a critically acclaimed series, all these elements could lead the little actor that scored big during pilot season a bigger movie deal.

Whether we are talking about Robin Williams, John Travolta, Denzel Washington or the freshest migrant George Clooney-TV is a definite star maker.

However these past few years, this usual hierarchy was overthrown. TV has its own kings and queens but, lately, they have been overshadowed by the movie royalty of the 90’s. This migration of movie superstars to television is mainly due to the creation of new networks. Cable networks with less boundaries that make way to more interesting, more dramatic but most importantly more controversial subject matter.

Case and point: Carrie Bradshaw and Ari Gold

These 2 iconic characters were created for one of the first cable networks to arrive in the TV viewer’s stratosphere: HBO

Sarah Jessica Parker and Jeremy Piven were catapulted from sidekicks in romantic comedies to the headliners of two of the most influential shows of the decade. Sex and the City and Entourage, together with The Sopranos, made HBO the network it is today and these shows anointed SJP and Jeremy Piven queen and king of the “new” TV world.

Shows like Mad Men, Dexter, True Blood, The Tudors, Saving Grace, Justified, Breaking Bad, The Closer-these critically acclaimed shows make TV attractive to movie stars and can be a very smart move to many of them. The cable networks made actors see the power of TV and what it can do to revive a career that could not survive in today’s cutthroat movie world.

Sally Field is one of the most respected actresses in the business but for any woman passed the age of 60, roles in movies are hard to come by. Field is a well loved actress and her connection with the audience made her transition into the TV world impeccably smooth. She is headlining Brothers and Sisters, a regular network TV drama, that brought her back on the award circle, back into the limelight and made audiences realize how much she was missed.

Field is not the only movie star to grace the TV landscape. Glenn Close, Gary Sinise, Mary Louise Parker, Holly Hunter, Keira Sedgwick and the latest one being Laura Linney and I’m naming just a few. Television remade their career and gave it new life, new challenges and new praises.

TV is a definite portal for actors to become kings and queens of Hollywood but it is also for the kings and queens to return home and receive a marvellous welcome. TV is no longer considered the second fiddle of the entertainment industry. It is where stars are born and where some stars are born again.

Labels of love-Man edition!

2010-06-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

Labels, why are they so important? Clothes have Tom Ford, Gucci, D&G, high school kids have jock, geek, freak, cheerleader but it doesn't stop there! It seems that everything these days needs to be categorized, stored in a box and lodged somewhere deep in our sub conscience.

Even actors have their fare share of labels plastered on their forehead as soon as they sore into the Hollywood stratosphere. Casting directors are the industry's label makers. They are the ones who place, repackage if needed and create the label the new merchandise before putting it out on the shelves for everyone to see.The labels are also made for audiences to figure the actors out. As film fans, they need to create a sort of “relationship” with the actor to know what to expect when they show up at the movie theater.

However, if the actor is not careful, the label that came on so easily will be very difficult to come off. Labels, if on too long, can be limiting to actors, but at the beginning of their career, labels are crucial for these young actors. They help the writers, the producers, the directors and future casting directors create their wish list and fit each actor in the right category.

For men, they are separated into 4 main categories; The Everyman, The Leading Man, The Action Hero and The Villain!

The Everyman

2010-06-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

First and foremost the actor needs a specific look. He cannot be drop-dead gorgeous, he cannot be a playboy or womanizer. He needs to look like a regular joe, the boy next door but all grown up.

The pioneer of the category and the reason the label was ever created was without a doubt Mr. Jimmy Stewart, who kicked some serious ass portraying Mr. Everybody.

Fast forward a couple years later and Mr. 90's himself, Tom Hanks, became the most recognizable successful everyman to appear on the silver screen in the recent years. Handsome but not jaw dropping, serious but silly and most importantly completely relatable, Hanks seems like the man you want to bring home forever and not only for one night. This quality is hard to find in Hollywood and it is this, that scored him one legendary role after the next.

However, we are heading for a change of guard. Every 10 to 15 years, audiences want another good guy and as soon as the young actor reaches a certain age, 35-40 to be precise, the role of the everyman might fall into his lap.

As the young guns and heartthrobs of the late 90's got older, a new generation of "everyman" appeared. The perfect transition role for some of these teen dreams, playing the everyman ensures employment as well as critically acclaimed roles.

Case and point: Leonardo Dicaprio.

Dicaprio was the epitome of teen heartthrobs and as he grew older, unlike many of his peers, he got better. He became Scorcese's muse and transitioned perfectly into the everyman category. Whether it was with The Departed, Shutter Island or Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated next opus, Inception, Dicaprio grew out of his boyish roles but without loosing his boyish charm.

Other contenders: Matt Damon, Aaron Eckhart, Viggo Mortensen,

Next Generation: Jay Baruchel, Emile Hirsh, Colin Hanks, Michael Cera, Jesse Eisenberg, Paul Dano, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

The Leading Man

2010-06-12T18:31:00.000-07:00

Being considered as a leading man not only says volumes about the actor's presence but also can make his career. With an attribute like this one, he is automatically seen in the industry as a player, a selling point, the main attraction and more importantly, for big studios, the reason why the movie will be green lit. Leading man have this undeniable ora that screams "If you want this film to have any kind of success, you have to put me in every f@#$%? shot"

In order to get the label of leading man, a certain amount of class is required. A characteristic that automatically makes him the leader of the pack.

Men like Carey Grant and Clark Gable exuded class from every pore. Every generation had its leading man, the one that made men want to be him and women fawn over him. From Paul Newman to Richard Gere, Harrison Ford to Tom Cruise or from Russell Crowe to Denzel Washington, leading men are the dream makers, the adventurers and the heroes.

Class, charm, style and a great smile introduces the actor to the leading man category but its his talent that makes him legendary!

Case and point: George Clooney

The main contender for the leading man is without a doubt, George Clooney. He is classy, sexy, charming, funny and makes women, young and old, giggle continuously. All of these qualities make him popular but what makes him a true contender is his ability. Producer, director and actor, Clooney's critically acclaimed performances and films gave him the credibility not many of his contemporaries in the category have.

Other contenders: Ryan Reynolds, Bradley Cooper, Josh Duhamel, Daniel Craig, Gerard Butler, Clive Owen, Jude Law

Next Generation: Zack Efron, Liam Hemsworth, Jaime Bell, Jim Sturgess, Kevin Zegers

The Action Hero

2010-06-12T12:21:00.001-07:00

With the upcoming release of the Stallone helmed The Expendables, Hollywood and audiences alike are remembering the impact of the 80's and 90's alpha male. From Stallone's Rambo and Rocky to Willis' Die Hard, the action hero was the blockbuster certainty.

The action movie was a staple during the summer season and the movie to pull off playing the protagonist in these stunt filled flicks was a bad ass attitude mixed with a buff body.

After the Stallone-Willis-Van Damme- Segal dynasty, three macho men, not the Village People version, exploded onto the screens. These three colossus were The Rock, Vin Diesel and most recently Jason Statham.

The action hero category split in two at the beginning of the new millennium; the human and the superhuman.

The purists are still in favour of the all human action hero. The one who gets hurt and suffers. The one who saves the world because of his super powers but because of the purity of his heart and his completely natural abilities.

Case and point: Sam Worthington

A new action hero that is getting more and more recognition is a little Aussie named Sam Worthington. Worthington has starred in three action-filled films in the past year and seems to have the size, the roughness and the rage to become America's next action hero. Avatar, Clash of the Titans and Terminator Salvation already created the action hero label on his resume, a label he is still capable to overturn if he makes the right moves.

The modernists are completely in favour of a super powered action hero. As long as there are explosions, damsels in distress and a alpha-male to follow, they are satisfied.

The superhero film is so successful that it made action stars out of the most serious actors and directors in the business. The reboot of the genre gave much more credibility than their kitschy predecessors. They gave superheroes a coolness factor that was lacking since the original superman film came out.

Case and point: Christian Bale and Robert Downey Jr.

Batman gave Christian Bale's career a new breath and Iron Man brought Robert Downey Jr. back to life.

Without superheroes leading men like Bale, Downey Jr., Reynolds would never have had the credibility to pull off playing in any action film and it seems the tights, the armour and the headgear are their secret weapon.

Other Contenders: Hugh Jackman, Gerard Butler

Next Generation: Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans

The Villain

2010-06-12T12:18:00.001-07:00

The villain in a movie is sort of the piece de resistance. If the story has a good vs. evil dichotomy, the evil needs to be palpable to the audience. A good villain can make the movie and a mediocre one can destroy it. Norman Bates, Hannibal Lector, Gordon Gekko, Darth Vader, Voldermort, the villains were instrumental to the story and to the success of these films.

For some generations of viewers some actors are down-right scary and seeing them in other roles is debilitating. Anthony Perkins, Anthony Hopkins, Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates and Robert Englund scared generations of moviegoers and made their cinematic experiences unforgettable.

The latest legendary villainous performance was the late Heath Ledger's brilliant and psychotic performance as the Joker

Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight was perfect and if it wasn't for his untimely death, Ledger could've taken the role of the villain to a whole new level.

Case and Point: Mark Strong

Another mighty successor is newcomer to the genre; Mark Strong. Strong is making a name for himself by playing villain after villain in box-office hits like Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood, Kick Ass and the upcoming Green Lantern and John Carter of Mars. These movies definitely made him the strongest contender to become another villainous legend in Hollywood.

Other Contenders: Ralph Fiennes

Next generation: Michael Pitt

Coup de Coeur!

2010-03-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

Chanel and Dior bring glamour back to Hollywood by making its leading ladies glamourous again!

My Casting Call's Coup de Coeur are the short films made by celebrated directors to sell perfume and using their muse to do so:

Baz Luhrmann & Nicole Kidman for Chanel # 5

After Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge, Luhrmann shows the fashion world how glamourous Aussies could be!

Click here to watch video

Joe Wright and his Pride & Prejudice and Atonement muse for Coco Mademoiselle; Keira Knightley

Click here to watch the video

Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Coco avant Chanel herself; Audrey Tautou for the latest Chanel # 5 campaign

Click here to watch video

Dior chooses Nick Wright and the stunning Charlize Theron for their J'Adore Dior campaign; J'ADORE!

Click here to watch video

Last but certainly not least, here is the La Môme's dynamic duo Marion Cotillard and Olivier Dahan-

8 minutes of pure Glam!

Click here to watch video

Simply Mia-The Breakout Role

2010-03-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

The first right of passage of any actor in their path to superstardom is the breakthrough. This role does not necessarily have to be the first one the actor has. In fact the breakthrough can come very late in an actor's career. This year's best supporting actor winner, Christoph Waltz and best actor nominee Jeremy Renner, waited a long time to get the roles that made heads turn.

The breakthrough is the role that will make the industry take notice, the one that will create the 'oh so' important buzz making these young thespians the ones to watch.

As an up and coming actor, the primary goal is finding a paying job. However, the first noticeable role might determine the types of roles that actor will be offered in the future. There is no one specific formula to score the perfect breakout role. It can be their performance in an independent film that will surprise the critics or their 'blink and you miss it ' appearance in a blockbuster movie, anyway it is done, the main goal of the breakout role is to get their face noticed and in the public eye.

A perfect example is Amy Adams. 2005's festival favourite Junebug and the critical praise for her performance, paved the way for Amy' career. Another festival breakthrough is Canadian Ellen Page. She received an Oscar nomination and the it girl status after starring in the sleeper hit Juno in 2007. Blockbuster breakthrough include acting heavyweight Kate Winslet with her lead in James Cameron's first mega-blockbuster Titanic and Orlando Bloom for his role in The Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring.

This year's first star sighting is none other than the lead of this week's box-office champion Alice in Wonderland; Mia Wasikowska

This Australian beauty crashed into the Hollywood stratosphere by booking one of the most coveted roles available. To start your career by starring in a Tim Burton film and sharing the screen with the best working actor, Johnny Depp, is the best scenario a budding actor could ever ask for.

Wasikowska might play the lead in Alice but she is not the main attraction, Johnny's Mad Hatter is. However, waiting for Hatter to make his appearance is not as painful as expected, thanks to Alice. To choose an unknown to play Alice in Alice in Wonderland is gutsy to say the least but the young Aussie truly stepped up to the plate. Her ability to be the lead in a movie whose supporting actors were none other than Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover and Anne Hathaway is impressive.

Wasikowska can be compared to Claire Danes. She is beautiful yet fierce, delicate yet fearless, wonderland for Mia is just a pit stop. She is currently filming Gus Van Sant's latest film and will star in the Jane Eyre remake later this year.

It girl, rising star, one to watch, however you may want to call her, bottom line is that Wasikowska definitely broke through!

The Quest to find Captain America

2010-03-09T22:31:00.000-08:00

The 2011 release of Marvel's Captain America is slowly approaching but the Captain is yet to be found. It seems that casting agents are calling all red-blooded American male actor between the age of 22 to 35 to audition to become the leader of the Avengers. Casting rumours are invading the blogosphere and every superhero geek (MycastingCall included) are throwing in their speculations as to who will slip on the red, white and blue costume.

According to IMDB the 4 main actors who are fuelling the rumour mill presently are The Office's John Krazinsky, Miami Medicine's Mike Vogel and for some odd reason Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford. Other potential candidates include Fantastic Four's Chris Evans, Michael Cassidy from the CW's Privileged and Smallville and Patrick Flueger from Brothers.

All these boys look great but none have the maturity, the edge and history to become Steve Rogers. Captain America is not a pretty boy, a nerd, he is not scrawny and does not look 18. He is a war hero with a lot of baggage and this baggage needs to be shown in his body, his face and his acting range.

John Krazinsky, although a great actor, would be like putting Chuck as the Captain don't you think? As for pretty boy Crawford, no. He will star in the Footloose remake and that just seals the deal for him. For the rest, they are great but way too young and way too pretty for the role. Steve Rogers should be a guy like Ben Affleck. Strong, rugged and handsome, Affleck would've been perfect if he didn't star in the dreadful Daredevil.

The first actor that comes to mind who has no superhero history, a characteristic actor to find these days is Paul Walker. His career needs to transition out of the teen dream and out of the Fast and Furious character and Captain America would be the perfect role for him. Seriously, if he loves playing the same character so much, maybe he needs a TV show! All kidding aside, this role can give him the redemption role he needs and finally, if he really wants, another franchise.

Second on the list would be TV veteran Mark Valley. He looks the part, can definitely be a superhero and is kind of the TV version of Aaron Eckhart and Thomas Jane, without the pay check and superhero baggage (Eckhart was Two Face in The Dark Night and Jane was The Punisher.) Valley is relatively unknown and it seems Marvel is looking for a "cheaper' actor to helm the movie.

Bottom line for My Casting Call Marvel's Captain America, is that the Captain needs to be older, built, blond and ruggedly handsome (please no pretty boys), but most importantly a good actor!

on the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Supporting Actress-Mo'Nique (WINNER)

2010-03-07T16:37:00.000-08:00

The Sure Thing: Mo'nique
A force to be reckoned with, Mo'nique just had her career's highest level to date. A perfect introduction to the film acting world, this comic actress proved that she can be as serious and dramatic as the rest of the Hollywood royalty. Precious, is one of these movies that are fuelled by the power of its performances and Mo'nique was the definite fire starter. Strong, mean and heart breaking Mo'nique brought the movie to another stratosphere. A sure thing, tonight her win is not even contested, not because of her lack of competitors, but because of her unanimous critical praise and sweep of every pre-oscar award. Mo'nique stepped up and will be, again, draped in gold tonight with her last award of a very golden year!

on the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Supporting Actress-Vera Farmiga

2010-03-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

The Femme Fatale-Vera Farmiga
Jason Reitman called her the real American woman. That, she definitely is! Strong enough to pursue a love affair with Clooney with a lot of credibility. She delivered a great, layered and subtle performance. She might not win tonight but that nomination was a must! Farmiga is finally out of the shadows and an integral part of the Hollywood it list. She fills a void in America. She is the sexy, but not overly sexual, smart and unseeingly fragile American woman. We all saw how powerful she can be in her role as the only female in Scorcese's The Departed. Farmiga is definitely the It Girl woman of the year!!

on the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Supporting Actress-Anna Kendrick

2010-03-07T16:21:00.000-08:00

The Young Gun-Anna Kendrick
Before the critical acclaim and award nominations, Kendrick was just another teen actress trying to make her mark in Hollywood. An integral part of the Twilight franchise, Kendrick worried more about being followed by paparazzi and crazy tween fans rather than worrying about acceptance speeches and wardrobe malfunctions. In one year and with only one film, Kendrick transitioned from being the teen queen to the one to watch. Her supporting role was not the easiest feat. Head to head with the charismatic George Clooney in Jason Reitman's hit Up in the Air, Kendrick not only did not look mediocre next to him but actually held her own. This movie put her in the big leagues and showed every one that she can play with the big kids just give her the time and place. Kendrick is not walking away with Oscar tonight but she broke away from the pack and now this young gun is in a league of her own.

On the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Supporting Actress-Penelope Cruz

2010-03-07T16:09:00.000-08:00

The Spanish Import-Penelope Cruz
This Spanish beauty is the only representation of Rob Marshall's highly anticipated musical Nine. Sadly, Nine was a critical bomb and one of the deception of 2009's film season. Not truly in the race, many believe that if Nine were to be represented on Oscar night, Marion Cotillard should've taken her spot. However, Cotillard was pushed for a spot in the best actress category and did not make the cut.
Other critics believe that Cruz' spot should've been given to Julianne Moore, for her role in Tom Ford's A Single Man; a spot taken by the surprise Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Cruz is sublime, there is no doubt about it. If one word was used to describe her, that word would be fearless. Her Oscar winning performance in last year's Vicky Christina Barcelona was absolutely flawless and cannot be compared, even if great, to her performance in Nine. Was her latest performance really worthy of an Oscar nomination? I don't think so...

On the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Supporting Actress-Maggie Gyllenhaal

2010-03-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

The Surprise: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Diversity should be this actress' middle name. Gyllenhaal could truly play anything. Secretary put her on the map and she is on the one to watch list ever since. Snubbed from most of the pre-Academy Awards nominations, her appearance in the category is a surprise to most film critics. Taking the place of Julianne Moore, Gyllenhaal's performance opposite Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart, made the academy notice and rightfully so. Thank you Academy!
A win may be a long shot but the mere fact of having her in the presence of the other women in this category is reward enough for this up and coming actress. If an actress needs to be known and appreciated its certainly her. Her first two critically acclaimed movies, Secretary and Sherrybaby are brilliant and show Gyllenhaal's range. Her role in Crazy Heart was somewhat like Marisa Tomei's role in last year's The Wrestler; poignant and relatable to the audience.
This indie princess might not come out a winner tonight but it is definitely not her last time at the Kodak Theatre, not by a long shot!

on the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Actress- Sandra Bullock (WINNER)

2010-03-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

The Sweetheart-Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock was stuck in the perpetual romantic comedy type cast for most of her career. Often dubbed America's sweetheart, Bullock needed to branch out of the box and create a smooth career transition. Breaking free of this romantic comedy queen name tag is extremely challenging, especially for an actress with Bullock's history. In the minds of casting directors, film producers and audiences she is that person and most of them are comfortable seeing her as that character. Her smooth transition started with supporting roles in the Truman Capote biography, Infamous and in Paul Haggis' Oscar winning film Crash. Her small but noticed roles made it easier for film producers to let her branch out and take the lead role in John Lee Hancock's The Blind Side. Her powerful performance blind sighted many of her critics, peers and fans. Subtlety, Southern charm, grace and strength are the four key words of this performance, her best to date. Like many other nominees, 2009 was a very interesting and pivotal year for Ms. Bullock. Blockbuster successes and flops, nominations at the Academy Awards and the Razzies, Sandra became somewhat of a Hollywood paradox. A win for Bullock means that she is finally in the big league, one she wanted to get into for a long time. Sandra Bullock is surprising to say the least, and this performance, all Hollywood buzz aside, finally shut the mouth of many cynics.

on the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Actress: Gabourey Sidibe

2010-03-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

The New Kid: Gabourey Sidibe
The first word that comes to mind after seeing Lee Daniel's opus, Precious Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire , was masterful. As the dust settled, heartbreaking came to mind then intense and finally wow, for the lack of a better word. The heart-wrenching story is evidently at the core of the film's success but its the exquisite performance of the film's two leading ladies that made the film as powerful as it is. Gabourey shocked the audience and the film industry by delivering a beautifully layered performance that broke the soul of every viewer but somehow left them with a little hope. At 27 years old, Sidibe is already established in the film industry as one hot commodity and one of the most promising actress of her generation. She might not go home with Oscar on Sunday night but she is the biggest winner of the night. After only one film, she gained the respect of her peers, and if her performance in precious is any indication of the depth of her talent, well we can't wait to see what she will do next!

on the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Actress-Carey Mulligan

2010-03-06T16:36:00.000-08:00

The Darling-Carey Mulligan
Carey Mulligan was on Oscar's radar since An Education opened at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Thanks to her subtle and powerful performance, England born Mulligan became Hollywood's overnight obsession. Receiving praise from every critic, she has been booking one role after the next. She appeared in Michael Mann's Public Enemies and played alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, Nathalie Portman and Toby McGuire in Brothers. She is now starring in Oliver Stone's highly anticipated and publicized Wall Street sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. She blew away every critic with her charisma and presence, as soon as she appeared on screen. This Audrey Hepburn look-alike has a very bright future ahead of her and might be walking in the footsteps of the likes of Keira Knightley and Kate Winslet. Winner or not, Mulligan reaped all of Oscar's benefit. She has her credibility and even her very own paparazzi!

On the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Actress-Helen Mirren

2010-03-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

The Queen-Helen Mirren
Dame Mirren is one of the most respected actresses in the business today. 4 Oscar nominations and 1 win for her extraordinary turn as Queen Elisabeth II in The Queen. She is, at 63 years old, at the top of her form. Mirren, like many British actors of her generation, started her acting career on stage with The Royal Shakespeare Company. Her most recognizable role, before playing HRH, was as Jane Tennison in BBC's mega hit mini-series Prime Suspect. This British icon and international star may have had a very eclectic journey but excellence was never compromised.
Her turn as Leo Tolstoy's wife Sofya, in Michael Hoffman's The Last Station was key to the film's success and critical acclaim. She truly embodied Sofya's passion and tempestuous personality.
A win for Mirren, however, is a long shot and very improbable but her not leaving with Oscar and hardly a loss. For this dame, the nomination and the recognition that comes with it, is enough. We will surely see her back in the Kodak Theatre very soon.
Long Live the Queen!

on the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Actress-Meryl Streep

2010-03-06T16:32:00.000-08:00

The Legend-Meryl Streep
1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2009
16 nominations and 2 wins, Meryl Streep is definitely a living legend. This statement could seem like an opinion but it is not, it is a statement that many actors, film professionals and audiences abide to. Holding the record for the most nominations ever, she is the main competition for 1st time nominee and possible winner, Sandra Bullock.
Her turn as Julia Childs, in Julie and Julia, was truly flawless. She had an uncanny resemblance to the culinary queen in every aspect. Her performance brought this little quirky, untraditional biography to new heights like only she is capable of.
Streep did not walk away with a golden statue since she brought home the gold for her role as Sophie in Sophie's Choice and some might feel like she is due for her third after so many nominations. However, the odds are not in her favour. She won the best actress in a comedy at the Golden Globes, tied with Sandra Bullock at the Critics Choice Awards and lost to Bullock at the SAG awards. Streep might still be a contender but Bullock might have the edge necessary to bring it home.
Win or no win, Streep is still and will always be considered as the greatest, whether she approves the nickname or not. At 60, she is still a driving force in the industry and an inspiration to, not only her fellow nominees, but to actors and aspiring actors everywhere.

On the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Supporting Actor-Christoph Waltz (WINNER)

2010-03-03T22:51:00.000-08:00

The foreign exchange student: Christoph Waltz (WINNER)

The awards season has its importance, it can shed light on the little movie that could, give pionneers in the industry the credit they deserve and finally make the world notice performances that would otherwise be overlooked. Christoph Waltz is exactly that; a discovery. This Austrian actor, relatively unknown in North America, baffeled film critics everywhere with his portrayal of the Jew hunter in Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds. Since the beginning of the award season, Waltz accumulated one award after the other, leaving his competition trailing behind. The critical buzz his performance created, put Inglorious Basterds into the limelight and subsequently put it in the oscar race; a surprise for the cult classic director. Tarantino gave Waltz the golden opportunity; to play in an American film but Christoph made his fortune with a hilarious and memorable performance. Like Penelope Cruz and Marion Cottillard before him, Waltz is the latest import to come into Hollywood royalty by the very top.

On the road to the Academy Awards-Focus: Best Supporting Actor-Woody Harrelson

2010-03-03T22:24:00.000-08:00

The Chameleon: Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson is one of those actors that continually surprises film audiences. As soon as we think we have him figured out, he comes out with something that makes us looks twice, or even three times. He got his breakthrough role playing Woody the bartender on Cheers, one of the most recognizable TV character in history. Breaking free from this character and the type casting that followed was the hardest part of Harrelson's career. He needed roles that were the polar opposite of the one he played on TV and the two movies he made while still on TV, did just that. The 90's classics Indecent Proposal and White Men Can't Jump were the perfect launching pad for the promising film career he wanted so much. Then came his first critical success with Natural Born Killers and first oscar nomination for his portrayal of Larry Flynt in The People Versus Larry Flynt. This gave him the credibility he not only deserved but desperately needed to make his transition to film perfect. After a few small memorable film roles, Woody came back to TV with a very successful stint on Will & Grace. This was the role that put him back into the spotlight in the new millennium. Fast forward a couple of years and Harrelson is getting better and meatier roles. He was the best part of the disaster that was 2012, absolutely incredible in Zombieland and now an oscar nomination for his role in this year's The Messenger. He gave a tour de force performance as the stoic and seemingly emotionless Captain Tony Stone. 2009 was a pivotal year for Harrelson and this nomination is the icing on the cake. A win is a long shot, but for Woody, the nomination is win enough for now. The chameleon has many more tricks in his bag and this in only the beginning!