Review: Magic Mike (2012)

Channing Tatum (center) as Magic Mike

Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Produced by Reid Carolin, Gregory Jacobs, Channing Tatum, and Nick Wechsler
Written by Reid Carolin
Starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Olivia Munn, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, and Gabriel Iglesias

Best Supporting Actor: 1940s

1940: Frank Morgan, The Shop Around the Corner

Oscar winner: Walter Brennan, The Westerner
Was he nominated?: No

AMPAS Makes a Few Changes

This year the Academy's rule changes are relatively small, but interesting nevertheless. For instance, Best Makeup will now be called Best Makeup and Hairstyling. In addition, Best Original Song nominees can now consist of four songwriters for a given song under certain circumstances. (I didn't even know that was an issue.) The Best Visual Effects shortlist must now be 10 films instead of 7-10, which makes sense given that it is whittled down to 5 nominees. Also, Best Foreign Language Film submissions no longer have to be screened in 35 mm or DCP in their home country. Nothing earth-shattering, but the Makeup change is a noteworthy amendment at least.

Press release here.

UPDATE: The Academy has also invited 176 people to become members.

Remembering Krzysztof Kieslowski (1941-1996)

Poland's great director would have been 71 on June 27, 2012

Krzysztof Kieslowski has created some of the finest cinematic works that few people other than critics and cinephiles have seen. Though I've only seen 5 of his films, they are all beautiful, touching masterpieces. His passing was too soon, and I hope his audience will continue to grow. While he received two Oscar nominations for Three Colors: Red, he is not known outside rather limited circles. If you haven't seen one of his films, I highly recommend you do so.

Check out a lesson in cinema with him and some movie clips after the cut.

Review: Brave (2012)

Kelly Macdonald voices Disney's newest princess Merida

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Produced by Katherine Sarafian
Written by Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Brenda Chapman, and Irene Mecchi
Starring Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd, and Craig Ferguson

Review: Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen

Directed by Rupert Sanders
Produced by Sam Mercer, Palak Patel, and Joe Roth
Written by Evan Daugherty, John Lee Hancock, and Hossein Amini
Starring Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin, Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, and Toby Jones

Best Supporting Actor: 1930s

1930: Louis Wolheim, All Quiet on the Western Front