Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:
“Bridesmaids”
“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“The Help”
“Midnight in Paris”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role:
George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Demian Bicher, “A Better Life”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “J. Edgar”
Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
Brad Pitt, “Moneyball”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role:
Michelle Williams, “My Week with Marilyn”
Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis, “The Help”
Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”
Tilda Swinton, “We Need to Talk About Kevin”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role:
Nick Nolte, “Warrior”
Kenneth Branagh, “My Week with Marilyn”
Armie Hammer, “J. Edgar”
Jonah Hill, “Moneyball”
Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role:
Octavia Spencer, “The Help”
Berenice Bejo, “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain, “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer, “Albert Nobbs”

For a full list of winners, including winners from the television categories, click here.

Well if you know anything about J. Edgar Hoover then you have definitely heard the rumors of his alleged homosexuality. And not just your typical ‘Tom Cruise is gay’ Hollywood rumors, these allegations began back in 1940 and it has been suggested that his lover was Clyde Tolson, his protégé. Armie Hammer will be portraying Mr. Tolson in the film and it has even been reported he and DiCaprio will share a steaming hot kiss scene in the film!

So I’m sure you’ve figured this all out, but just in case you haven’t let me lay it out for you. Clint Eastwood is making a biopic film based on the life of J. Edgar Hoover written by Dustin Lance Black who recently won an Oscar for writing ‘Milk,’ and the FBI has attempted to persuade Clint Eastwood to leave out all of these “false” portrayals about Hoover. Assistant FBI Director spoke to USA Today and said, “Vague rumors and fabrications have cropped up from time to time but there is no evidence in the historical record on this issue.”

The problem is, Clint Eastwood had already spoken on this matter in the past and stated this film will be more focused on J. Edgar’s work in the FBI, and his love life was taking a back seat. So now, in an attempt to stop the gay rumors, the FBI has only brought this rumors front and center again causing more speculation. What are they so afraid of?

If you want my opinion, when there is smoke there’s fire. If enough people were talking about this back in 1940, it’s most likely true. And I think it’s great that Eastwood is going to portray that side of J. Edgar in his film. It is clear J. Edgar made some amazing contributions to America, why is his homosexuality such an issue to the FBI? It was so long ago anyway, it’s time to move on.

Does the FBI realize they are giving the movie free publicity? This is only going to increase interest in the film don’t you think?

Do you Banters think the FBI should stay out of Hollywood? I think so!

First up is the Clint Eastwood directed ‘J. Edgar’ starring the one and only Leonardo DiCaprio.

J. EDGAR:

Here’s the plot for those of you unfamiliar, “As the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled, and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career, and his life.” Now, I think this movie sounds fantastic, a political drama with Eastwood behind the camera, DiCaprio in front of the lens, and a controversial possible gay sub-plot, count me in. But let’s put my personal feelings for the movie aside and judge the poster on it’s own.

What I do love about this poster is how the title is in handwritten style, very cool in my opinion. I also love how straightforward it is, with the plain brown color scheme and just having the leading man front of center. However, while I admit you really can’t go wrong with having Leonardo DiCaprio on your poster (he’s a huge box-office and critical draw for the film), I really hate the typical Hollywood “floating heads” posters. But at the same time, it’s not your run of the mill shot of DiCaprio, it’s almost like an action shot so it’s not terrible. The slogan, “The Most Powerful Man In The World” is a bit weak in my opinion, but that’s not the focus of the poster anyway so I can get passed it.

On to the next one, ‘Shame.’ Now this film is a bit more under the radar than ‘J. Edgar’ but it has definitely been on my personal must-see list for a while.

SHAME:

Here’s the plot, “Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a 30-something man living in New York who is unable to manage his sex life. After his wayward younger sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment, Barandon’s world spirals out of control. From director Steve McQueen, ‘Shame’ is a compelling and timely examination of the nature of need, how we live our lives and the experiences that shape us.” So basically it’s about a sex addict in NYC who’s sex-capades are disrupted when his lil sis shows up unannounced. Sounds pretty original in my book. So let’s take a look at the poster.

Wow. What an incredible poster. I know it doesn’t have the star power of the poster for ‘J. Edgar’ but in my opinion the minimalism absolutely works for it. Besides, while Fassbender and Mulligan are great actors in their own rights, Leonardo DiCaprio they are not. What I really love about it is without even knowing the plot synopsis for this film you would already be intrigued. It’s clearly got sex in it with the word “shame” written right over the messy bed. This is such a stunning but simplistic poster.

WINNER: ‘SHAME’

The poster for ‘Shame’ without a doubt as won me over. While I might be a tad bit more excited for ‘J. Edgar’ in theaters, the poster just didn’t convince me.

Which poster is your favorite Banters?

But here’s the thing– the man is 81 years old. So, in his, what, 40 years of directing (his directorial debut was in 1971) he’s had a total of 3 flops, if that. Well, big whoop. After all, Martin Scorsese made Shutter Island, Steven Spielberg made Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Gus Van Sant remade Psycho. All I’m saying is you would have a very difficult time naming a successful director who didn’t have couple mistakes on his list. All that has to be judged is the following criteria: does the director in question’s good work make up for his bad work? And in Eastwood’s case it is definitely yes. Oh, don’t believe me? Um, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Unforgiven, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, True Crime, Mystic River, and Million Dollar Baby, anyone? And those are only a few! That’s more than just a small “yes”. That is one resounding “yes.”

And so, when Eastwood tells me (via the internets, of course) that he is directing a biopic about the one and only J. Edgar Hoover, the first director of the FBI, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, Armie Hammer, Judi Dench, Dermot Mulroney, and Ed Westwick, well I do more than merely listen up; I may even get excited. And judging by the release of the film’s first trailer, my excitement was well-granted.

The two and a half minute trailer does a good job in setting up the film yet, thankfully, does not reveal too much. More than anything, it proves that DiCaprio (true to form, I guess) can believably be the person he is imitating, J. Edgar Hoover, and in a completely stylized film no less (many thanks, Eastwood!).

J. Edgar is scheduled for a November 9th release date. Watch the trailer below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

10- The Skin I Live In

Release Date: October 14, 2011

Starring Antonio Banderas as a deranged, but brilliant plastic surgeon, who creates a synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage, his guinea pig, a mysterious and volatile woman, holds the key to his obsession. To be honest even after that synopsis I don’t know too much about the film, and after watching the trailer I know less. But this actually intrigues me more. Watch the trailer and you’ll see, this film will definitely be different than anything you’ve ever seen before.

Click here to view the embedded video.

9- Carnage

Release Date: December 16, 2011

You can’t really go wrong with a Roman Polanski film in my book. Not to mention a dynamite cast of Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, and John C. Reilly. It tells the story of two sets of parents who decide to have a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a schoolyard brawl. If the trailer is any indication of the film itself, we can look forward to some incredible chemistry among the cast.

Click here to view the embedded video.

8- My Week With Marilyn

Release Date: November 4, 2011

While we haven’t seen a trailer yet for this film, early positive buzz and a solid cast already has this one a lock at awards season next year. While some people had their doubts about Michelle Williams pulling off a convincing Marilyn Monroe, I always had faith in her and after the first few promo pics were released, I see that I am right. Look out for Emma Watson in a supporting comedic role too!

7- J. Edgar

Release Date: November 9, 2011

Like ‘Marilyn,’ we don’t have much information on this film yet. But how can you go wrong with Clint Eastwood in the director’s chair and a spectacular cast of Leonardo DiCaprio (as J. Edgar Hoover no less), Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer, Judie Dench, Ed Westwick and more! Throw in a controversial gay subplot and I’m hooked. Does anyone else think it’s time DiCaprio won an Oscar?

6- Warrior

Release Date: September 9, 2011

I have to admit, when I first heard about this film all I could think of is how it is just a rip-off of last year’s ‘The Fighter.’ But after checking out the emotionally driven trailer, and reading up on some positive early buzz, I definitely have had a change of heart. Some people are even saying it is better than ‘The Fighter’! I’ll believe that when I see it, but I’m definitely intrigued.

Click here to view the embedded video.

5- The Ides of March

Release Date: October 7, 2011

The moment I saw the trailer for this flick I was sold. Not only is it directed by George Clooney, he also stars in it, along with a few other names you may know. Ryan Gosling, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. I’m sure one of those names at least rings a bell huh? With a scandalous and exciting political storyline to boot, this film is definitely a must see.

Click here to view the embedded video.

4- Drive

Release Date: September 16, 2011

Ryan Gosling sure has a big year ahead of him. There is already some talk that ‘Drive’ is going to be the biggest surprise hit of the year and while I’m not convinced yet, I can’t deny the story of a Hollywood stunt performer who turns into a heist driver by night doesn’t grab my attention. Throw in tons of great action sequences and the talented Carey Mulligan and I’m in.

Click here to view the embedded video.

3- Contagion

Release Date: September 9, 2011

Without a doubt, ‘Contagion’ has to be one of the most anticipated films of the year. A high-profile cast? Check. A slick marketing campaign? Check. A gripping and exciting trailer? Check. Yep, the Steven Soderbergh directed flick not only has a roster of Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law, and Laurence Fishburne, it also has a sinister plot. An action film with a thriller tone? Count me in!

Click here to view the embedded video.

2- 50/50

Release Date: September 30, 2011

I have already had the pleasure of seeing ‘50/50’ in theaters (expect my review closer to release), and let me just squash any doubts about a cancer comedy now. Not only is this film hysterical, well-acted (Joseph Gordon-Levitt killed it!), and emotional, it’s actually my favorite film of the year by far! Even Seth Rogen (who usually annoys me) nailed his role. Don’t miss out!

Click here to view the embedded video.

1. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Release Date: December 21, 2011

Of course my most anticipated movie of the year also has the latest release date. Not only is this based on my favorite book series, it’s also being helmed by my favorite director, David Fincher. The cast is filled with plenty of international stars and the teaser trailer proves Fincher is going dark with this one, real dark. The tagline reads ‘The Feel Bad Movie of Christmas’ and I couldn’t be more excited!

Click here to view the embedded video.

What do you think Banters? Any of these grab your attention? And what’s YOUR most anticipated film of the Fall season?

In case you were wondering, Leo and Scorsese have worked together in the past on ‘Gangs of New York,’ ‘The Aviator,’ ‘Shutter Island,’ and ‘The Departed,’ the latter winning Best Picture at the Oscars as well as earning Martin Scorsese a much deserved Best Directing award for the film, even if it wasn’t his best picture ever, ahem, ‘Goodfellas.’ So based on their past track record we can all assume this ones going to be a treat!

‘The Gambler’ is a remake of the 1974 film starring James Caan as an English professor (who Leo will presumably be playing) with a gambling addiction. The professor falls into a debt of $40,000 with the mob and it follows the man’s downward spiral of bad luck. Although I am not thrilled it is a remake, we must all remember that ‘The Departed’ was a remake as well and that turned out golden so let’s have some faith!

The project is being developed by Paramount Pictures and also has William Monahan attached to write (he also worked with Scorsese on ‘The Departed’).

Stay tuned for more news on this exciting new project Banters!

I had some time to kill on recent flights during my vacation. Being that I hadn’t seen Inception since midnight on opening night, I decided to rewatch the film. It has been on my to-do list for a while especially after all the hoop-lah about the ending. Did the top fall over? Did it keep spinning? Was Cobb in reality or still dreaming? With purchasing the film on I-tunes I had the ability to rewind and fast forward at will, which enabled me to confirm the ending.  An awesome way to watch the movie as well.

Nick P wrote a post over the summer about the ending of Inception, a post that took off like wildfire. So many people had questions on what happened. In the comments of that post the topic of the children’s clothing was hot. Many people based their thoughts of the ending on the outfits the kids were wearing at the end compared to the outfits they wore in the dream sequences throughout the film. Well, let this be the final test.

In the final scene of the film, right as Cobb sprints towards his kid, you can see that his daughter is wearing a white undershirt underneath her outfit. However, during the dream sequences with the kids throughout the film, the daughter is NOT wearing an undershirt. This tiny difference is actually evidence toward the side of concluding that Cobb was in reality at the end. His kids were wearing the exact same outfits during each dream sequence throughout the film and had different attire in that final scene. Do I think this is proof enough? No!. However, the true test of the ending comes in following the path of the wedding band.

Follow the path of the wedding band – this is Nolan’s minor and oh so tricky hint to providing clarity on the ending.  Inside each of the dream sequences you can notice that Cobb is wearing his wedding band.  He tells us, in a conversation with Ellen Page’s character, that his dreams keep him connected to his dead wife Mal and thus he considers himself married in his dreams.  From the sequences where he tutors Ellen Page to the giant dream sequence at the end, Cobb wears his wedding band throughout. This is also evident in each of the sequences where he is dreaming about his kids.  However, this is different in the reality scenes.

In the scenes that take place in reality, Cobb DOES NOT wear his wedding band. In reality, Mal committed suicide and thus Cobb and Mal are not married. From the sequences with Cobb being chased to the scenes where he is getting the group together, you will not find a wedding band on his finger. Most importantly, in the final scene as Cobb sprints towards his kids, he is NOT wearing a wedding band on his finger. This is Nolan’s hint to us that he is in fact back at home and in reality. The ending is no dream.

If you follow the path of the wedding band, I think we get the proof that the ending is in reality. It’s very Nolan-esk to provide us with such hints.

What do you think?

Keep Bantering.

Here’s something that has been brought to my attention recently, and I thought was pretty cool.

So we all know the Inception theme song.  Click here to get a clip of it. Credit to Hans Zimmer, the genuis composer behind the score.  Zimmer also did the score for Gladiator.  Aside from John Williams, Zimmer might be the best in the business.  This is not the purpose of the post.  What I want to discuss is the way theme song was made.  I bet you didn’t know that the main theme (the one with all the loud buzzing banging sound) is actually a SUPER DUPER slower down version of an Edith Piaf song.  Check out this amazing video below.  It shows the theme song from Inception, than presents the comparison to the slowed down version of Edith Piaf’s performance.

Click here to view the embedded video.

See how brilliant Nolan is here.

Now, if you didn’t know that check this out. Marion Cotillard, Leonardo DiCaprio’s crazy wife Mal in the film, actually won her Best Actress Oscar portraying Edith Piaf in the 2007 film ‘La vie en rose.’

For those that knew this, I hope this is not a let down.

Keep Bantering

So if you saw Inception, you naturally have an opinion of what happened.  Well, I’ll admit it’s a confusing ending, as it should be. Those last few seconds of the film are what causing all this discussion. Blogs are on fire; discussions rage; people have to view it again. Bravo Nolan, people are going to have to see your film many times.

Come Friday afternoon I was one of those people. Having already seen the midnight showing, I thought to myself: I bet I’d understand it better a second time. Walking out of the theater, I felt like I had.

My thoughts about the ending go back and forth, but I think ultimately everything worked out for the best. Here is my logic (feel free to tear it apart):

Within the first dream sequence (Yusef’s), the heavy sedation is explained. Someone points out that if they die, they will go into limbo. This is where it gets a little tricky. They also explain that they’ll enter someone else’s limbo if they were sharing a dream with someone who had been there before. Here, it is obviously Cobb (Leo). Fine….then they go to Arthur’s (Gordon-Levit) and eventually into Eames’ (Tom Hardy) dream. When in Eames’ dream, both Robert Fischer Jr. (Murphy) and Saito (Wantanave) die. Fischer dies first, which gives Mal (Cotillard) ample time to find him within Cobb’s mind. In order for the plan not to be a bust, Ariadne (Ellen Page) suggests they go after Fischer via Cobb.

Cobb’s mind is the first one Ariadne had not built for the mission; it is also limbo. This tricked me at first. How could his dream be limbo? I believe that Cobb couldn’t dream anymore without being sedated. But being sedated led him into his limbo because that is all that he can dream about. (Which seems apparent when Ariadne goes into his head without his permission.) When they get there Mal has Fischer because it was the easiest way to draw Cobb to her. She knows what he knows/wants because she is only alive in his head. Eventually Ariadne “kicks” Fischer freeing him from limbo, and then does the same for herself.

Being that it’s his own dream as well as limbo, Cobb is more aware of his surroundings when he goes to find Saito. The only thing that throws me off is Saito’s age. Even though time does elapse that much faster, how could Saito age so much more than Cobb? It seems at the final table they both somewhat recognize each other, but Saito has completely lost his mind and needs Cobb to bring his mind back. Perhaps, this is the reason Saito ages significantly more than Cobb. (Something else to consider: the two of them are in the same place as the beginning. However, the original setting was within Arthur’s dream.)

So something clicks in both of their heads, and the gun is the kick. Clearly Saito kills Cobb and then himself. Even if we don’t see it go off Saito does reach for it. Considering the vast time difference from the plane to limbo, it seems possible that they had enough time to accomplish all of this. (The third dream sequence was X number of years slower than dreams 1 and 2, so limbo/fourth dream sequence was exponentially longer.) In the end, they wake up on the plane all synced together; Cobb gets picked up by Miles, and sees his kids again.

However, what we all want to know is whether Cobb’s reality top actually fell over.  Nolan here leaves this up to the viewer making up his/her own mind. Did Cobb basically say he didn’t care whether he was dreaming or not because he wanted to stay with his kids? Thus, it didn’t matter whether the top fell over or kept spinning. However, one thing to point out is that we do see the face of Cobb’s kids at the end, which he himself was unable to see in his dream world. Does this mean he was back in reality? Other things to note are that his kids were wearing the same clothes and they appeared to be the same age (how long was he gone for?).  The beauty here is that we truly don’t know.

That’s my theory based on two times, and I’d love to see it again for a third. Because the actual reality is we don’t have to know. Even my own roommate disagrees with me. We love it anyway. That’s the whole point. right?

The mind of Christopher Nolan is an amazing thing. He originally dazzled us with Memento, which is now 10 years old, and he completely blew us away with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.  This time he gets to team up with Leonardo DiCaprio, our generation’s finest actor, in bringing us his newest film Inception.  Nolan’s resume, combined with the cast in this film, generated enough buzz to make this movie the most anticipated film of the summer;  not to mention the trailers kept us clueless of what the plot was about.   Just like Michael Jordan holding the rock with the game on line, Christopher Nolan does not disappoint.

Inception is an absolute smash. Starring the above mentioned DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, Marian Cotillard, and Ken Wantanabe, Inception takes us deep inside the layers of the mind.  To sum the plot up real quick, Leonardo DiCaprio leads a team of dream invaders to try and inprint ideas inside the minds of others.  Why do they do this? Well, you’ll have to go see it to find out? Are there parts to this movie, aka the absolute last scene, that still boggle my mind, no question about it.. As the credits hit, the entire theater simultaneously sighed in disbelief and shock.  After 2 hours and 30 minutes, we wanted just a few more. Nolan’s story is so fresh and original, that it reminds us that while Hollywood might have lost its touch, there is still hope for creative filmmaking.

Much like Nolan’s first masterpiece Memento, Inception plays more on the psyche of the film than on the actors themselves.  Despite an all star cast led by DiCaprio, Inception is more of a testament to Nolan’s imagination and talent.  I found myself questioning certain scenes and then answering those questions in order to piece the story together.  I actually had to do this in order to follow the sequence of events in the final hour or so.  But even so, I found myself so engaged in the story itself that it was an adventure just to sit through the film.

Unlike the choppiness of the final 30 minute scene in The Dark Knight in which Batman, seeing through sonar, takes down a bunch of the Joker’s henchman in the partially constructed building, the shooting in Inception is silky smooth and free flowing.   It almost seemed effortless.  I was extremely impressed by this as the final hour of the film is set in multiple worlds and required a tremendous amount of cutting to just prevent us from forgetting what is going on in each one.  Not to mention, the cinematography is magnificent and is definitely an early Oscar contender for the techy awards that nobody really follows.

Inception is my favorite movie of 2010 thus far. It has it all; an engaging story, action, suspense, and an ending that will definitely have us talking by the water cooler on Monday.  It is an astounding piece of story telling that commands full attention of its audience.  A MUST SEE