The Descendants - Movie Review

★★★
Starring George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Nick Krause, Judy Greer and Matthew Lillard.
Directed by Alexander Payne.

I'll start by saying my wife didn't like it. She said it was too slow and she was bored.

I liked it. But I went in expecting a movie that would live up to all the award buzz it's been receiving. I've seen more than one critic call it the best movie of the year. It's good. It's fine. The acting is terrific. But this won't make my top ten, let alone my best movie of the year.

George Clooney plays a real-estate lawyer whose wife is in a coma after a boating accident. He's used to being the backup parent, letting his wife deal with their two daughters (Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller) so he can focus on work. But with her out of the picture, he has to reconnect. He also, with his cousins, owns a trust of a million acres on one of the Hawaiian islands. They're trying to decide if they should sell and to who.

The movie does a good job of displaying how the personal and professional life blends and overlaps, and it has some funny moments, but overall I'd call it a drama. You can tell it's from the man behind About Schmidt and Sideways.  And it could trim the ruinning time by ten minutes and not lose a thing.

Random Movie Stuff - 12/18/11

- Ben Kingsley may reunite with his Hugo co-star Asa Butterfield in Ender's Game.

- Reese Witherspoon will star in Devil's Knot, about the West Memphis Three. It's the true story of three young men who were convicted of killing three boys in 1993, but after several years and a couple documentaries made demonstrating their innocence, they were finally freed. Witherspoon would play the mother of one of the victims, who was sure they were guilty but over the years came to believe them and fought for their release.

- Rachel McAdams is in talks to reunite with her Sherlock Holmes 2 co-star Noomi Rapace in Passion for director Brian DePalma.

- James Frain (Water for Elephants) has joined the cast of The Lone Ranger, starring Armie Hammer, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Tom Wilkinson.

- David Fincher (Se7en, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) is still working on developing an animated film based on the Dark Horse comic-book character The Goon. He's also still looking at doing an origin story of Captain Nemo, a prequel/reboot of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Weekend Box Office

For the week of December 16-18.


　
1. Sherlock Holmes 2 - $40.02 million (WB) - 1 wk
. . . 3703 screens / $10,807 per screen
2. Alvin & the Chipmunks 3 - $23.5 - 1 wk (Fox)
. . . 3723 / $6312
3. Mission: Impossible 4 - $13 - 1 wk (Par)
. . . 425 / $30,588
4. New Year's Eve - $7.42 ($24.83) - 2 wks (WB) -43%
. . . 3505 / $2117
5. The Sitter - $4.4 ($17.72) - 2 wks (Fox) -55.3%
. . . 2752 / $1599
6. Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 - $4.3 ($266.4) - 5 wks (Sum) -45%
. . . 2958 / $1454
7. Young Adult - $3.65 ($4.09) - 2 wks (Par) +1076%
. . . 986 / $3702
8. Hugo - $3.63 ($39.07) - 4 wks (Par) -40.1%
. . . 2532 / $1432
9. Arthur Christmas - $3.6 ($38.54) - 4 wks (Sony) -44.7%
. . . 2929 / $1229
10. The Muppets - $3.45 ($70.93) - 4 wks (BV) -50.5%
. . . 2808 / $1230
11. The Descendants - $3.35 ($28.73) - 5 wks (FS) -23.5%
. . . 878 / $3815
12. Jack & Jill - $1.23 ($70.5) - 6 wks (Sony) -60.3%
. . . 1910 / $641

The real winner here is Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.  In opening in IMAX-only a week before its wide release, it's generated buzz as the event film of the winter.  Not so fortunate were the two sequels for Sherlock Holmes and Alvin & the Chipmunks.  Depends on the legs they have through Christmas, but with all the competition coming, it doesn't look good.

To put the numbers in perspective, the top four grossers this weekend were $83.94 million.

In 2010 - $85 million (Tron Legacy, Yogi Bear, Chronicles of Narnia 3, The Fighter)
In 2009 - $105 million (Avatar, Princess & the Frog, The Blind Side, Did You Hear About the Morgans)

Now next week, you have Mission Impossible expanding, The Adventures of Tintin, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, We Bought A Zoo, War Horse and The Darkest Hour.  It means movies like The Sitter and jack & Jill cannot be expunged from theaters fast enough.

The Myth of the American Sleepover - DVD Review

★★★★

Starring Claire Sloma, Marlon Morton, Amanda Bauer, Brett Jacobsen, Nikita Ramsey, Jade Ramsey, Annette DeNoyer and Wyatt McCallum.
Directed by David Robert Mitchell.

This beautiful night-in-the-life-of ensemble piece among Michigan teenagers is the best debut for a director since Richard Linklater with Dazed & Confused. Mitchell takes unknowns and amateur actors and puts them together in a sweet timeless piece that feels so real it could be a documentary at times.

The movie follows four threads. There's Maggie (Clare Sloma), who plays the Peppermint Patty to her friend's Marcie, as the two go from party to party looking for the right boy to kiss on the last night of summer. There's Rob (Marlon Morton), who spotted a cute girl in the supermarket and spends all night trying to find her. There's Claudia (Amanda Bauer), a sophomore who wonders if her boyfriend's been faithful to her. And there's Scott (Brett Jacobsen), a college student who's trying to find the cute twins he had a crush on in high school.

Like most low-budget indies, not much happens, and yet I loved following these characters around, hoping for each to find their desires. It makes one nostalgic for those times, not for what actually happened, but for what we deserved to happen

Sympathy for Delicious - DVD Review

★★

Starring Christopher Thornton, Mark Ruffalo, Orlando Bloom, Juliette Lewis, Laura Linney, James Karen, Noah Emmerich and Robert Wisdom.Directed by Mark Ruffalo.

Mark Ruffalo's directorial debut is a thorny one. It asks philosophical questions but offers no answers, and based on the premise it goes down some unlikely, not necessarily believable paths.

Christopher Thornton plays Dean, a paraplegic DJ. Hard times and bitterness have left him stuck unemployed on skid row, but one day he discovers he has the power to heal people. The local priest who works with him exploits him to gin up donations for the local shelter, but all Dean wants to do is DJ in a band, and he gets his wish from the local obnoxious star (Orlando Bloom).

Ruffalo uses the same techniques many a low-budget mumblecore director have employed, like hand-held camera movements and several shots of the hero staring off and thinking while soft music plays. The movie really small. I had a hard time believing that he could heal so many people and not have it become a national story.

(*P.S. I wasn't sure if I wanted to see this since I'm almost finished with my own screenplay about a guy who can heal people. I was relieved to see that other than that, they have nothing in common.)

2011 Golden Globe Nominations

Best Motion Picture - Drama

 The Descendants
 The Help
 Hugo
 The Ides of March
 Moneyball
 War Horse

Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

 50/50
 The Artist
 Bridesmaids
 Midnight in Paris
 My Week with Marilyn

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

 George Clooney, "The Descendants"
 Leonardo DiCaprio, "J. Edgar"
 Michael Fassbender, "Shame"
 Ryan Gosling, "The Ides of March"
 Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

 Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs"
 Viola Davis, "The Help"
 Rooney Mara, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
 Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
 Tilda Swinton, "We Need To Talk About Kevin"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

 Jodie Foster, "Carnage"
 Charlize Theron, "Young Adult"
 Kristen Wiig, "Bridesmaids"
 Michelle Williams, "My Week with Marilyn"
 Kate Winslet, "Carnage"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

 Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
 Joseph Gordon Levitt, "50/50"
 Ryan Gosling, "Crazy Stupid Love"
 Brendan Gleeson, "The Guard"
 Owen Wilson, "Midnight in Paris"

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

 Berenice Bejo,  "The Artist"
 Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
 Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
 Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
 Shailene Woodley, "The Descendants"

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

 Kenneth Branagh, "My Week with Marilyn"
 Albert Brooks, "Drive"
 Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
 Viggo Mortensen, "A Dangerous Method"
 Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"

Best Director - Motion Picture

 Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
 George Clooney, "The Ides of March"
 Michael Hazanivicius, "The Artist"
 Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"
 Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

 "Midnight in Paris"
 "The Ides of March"
 "The Artist"
 "The Descendants"
 "Moneyball"

Best Animated Feature Film

"The Adventures of Tintin"
 "Arthur Christmas"
 "Cars 2"
 "Puss in Boots"
 "Rango"

Best Foreign Language Film

 "Flowers of War"
 "The Land of Blood and Honey"
 "The Kid with A Bike"
 "A Separation"
 "The Skin I Live In"

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

"The Artist"
 "W.E"
 "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
 "War Horse"
 "Hugo"

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

 "Gnomeo and Juliet"
 "Machine Gun Preacher"
 "Albert Nobbs"
 "The Help"
 "Masterpiece," "W.E"

Best Television Series - Drama

 "American Horror Story"
 "Boardwalk Empire"
 "Boss"
 "Game of Thrones"
 "Homeland"

Best Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

 "Enlightened"
 "Episodes"
 "Glee"
 "Modern Family"
 "New Girl"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

 Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
 Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
 Kelsey Grammer, "Boss"
 Jeremy Irons, "The Borgias"
 Damian Lewis, "Homeland"

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

 Claire Danes, "Homeland"
 Mireille Enos, "The Killing"
 Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
 Madeleine Stowe, "Revenge"
 Callie Thorne, "Necessary Roughness"

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Zooey Deschanel, "The New Girl"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Laura Linney, "The Big C"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
David Duchovny, "Californication"
Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory"
Thomas Jane, "Hung"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
 "Cinema Verite"
 "Downton Abbey"
 "The Hour"
 "Mildred Pierce"
 "Too Big to Fail"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

 Romola Garai, "The Hour"
 Diane Lane, "Cinema Verite"
 Elizabeth McGovern, "Downton Abbey"
 Emily Watson, "Appropriate Adult"
 Kate Winslet, "Mildred Pierce"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

 Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
 Idris Elba, "Luther"
 William Hurt, "Too Big To Fail"
 Bill Nighy, "Page Eight"
 Dominic West, "The Hour"

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story"
Kelly MacDonald, "Boardwalk Empire"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Evan Rachel Wood, "Mildred Pierece"

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Paul Giamatti, "Too Big to Fail"
Guy Pearce, "Mildred Pierce"
Tim Robbins, "Cinema Verite"
Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family"

2011 Screen Actors Guild Nominations

18th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS NOMINATIONS

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DEMIAN BICHIR / Carlos Galindo - "A BETTER LIFE" (Summit Entertainment)
GEORGE CLOONEY / Matt King - "THE DESCENDANTS" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / J. Edgar Hoover - "J. EDGAR" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JEAN DUJARDIN / George - "THE ARTIST" (The Weinstein Company)
BRAD PITT / Billy Beane - "MONEYBALL" (Columbia Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
GLENN CLOSE / Albert Nobbs - "ALBERT NOBBS" (Roadside Attractions)
VIOLA DAVIS / Aibileen Clark - "THE HELP" (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)
MERYL STREEP / Margaret Thatcher - "THE IRON LADY" (The Weinstein Company)
TILDA SWINTON / Eva - "WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN" (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
MICHELLE WILLIAMS / Marilyn Monroe - "MY WEEK WITH MARILYN" (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
KENNETH BRANAGH / Sir Laurence Olivier - "MY WEEK WITH MARILYN" (The Weinstein Company)
ARMIE HAMMER / Clyde Tolson - "J. EDGAR" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JONAH HILL / Peter Brand - "MONEYBALL" (Columbia Pictures)
NICK NOLTE / Paddy Conlon - "WARRIOR" (Lionsgate)
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER / Hal - "BEGINNERS" (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
BERENICE BEJO / Peppy - "THE ARTIST" (The Weinstein Company)
JESSICA CHASTAIN / Celia Foote - "THE HELP" (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)
MELISSA McCARTHY / Megan - "BRIDESMAIDS" (Universal Pictures)
JANET McTEER / Hubert Page - "ALBERT NOBBS" (Roadside Attractions)
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Minny Jackson - "THE HELP" (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
THE ARTIST (The Weinstein Company)
BERENICE BEJO / Peppy
JAMES CROMWELL / Clifton
JEAN DUJARDIN / George
JOHN GOODMAN / Al Zimmer
PENELOPE ANN MILLER / Doris

BRIDESMAIDS (Universal Pictures)
ROSE BYRNE / Helen
JILL CLAYBURGH / Annie's Mom
ELLIE KEMPER / Becca
MATT LUCAS / Gil
MELISSA McCARTHY / Megan
WENDI McLENDON-COVEY / Rita
CHRIS O'DOWD / Rhodes
MAYA RUDOLPH / Lillian
KRISTEN WIIG / Annie

THE DESCENDANTS (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
BEAU BRIDGES / Cousin Hugh
GEORGE CLOONEY / Matt King
ROBERT FORSTER / Scott Thorson
JUDY GREER / Julie Speer
MATTHEW LILLARD / Brian Speer
SHAILENE WOODLEY / Alexandra King
THE HELP (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)
JESSICA CHASTAIN / Celia Foote
VIOLA DAVIS / Aibileen Clark
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD / Hilly Holbrook
ALLISON JANNEY / Charlotte Phelan
CHRIS LOWELL / Stuart Whitworth
AHNA O'REILLY / Elizabeth Leefolt
SISSY SPACEK / Missus Walters
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Minny Jackson
MARY STEENBURGEN / Elaine Stein
EMMA STONE / Skeeter Phelan
CICELY TYSON / Constantine Jefferson
MIKE VOGEL / Johnny Foote

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (Sony Pictures Classics)
KATHY BATES / Gertrude Stein
ADRIEN BRODY / Salvador Dali
CARLA BRUNI / Museum Guide
MARION COTILLARD / Adriana
RACHEL McADAMS / Inez
MICHAEL SHEEN / Paul
OWEN WILSON / Gil

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
LAURENCE FISHBURNE / Thurgood Marshall - "THURGOOD" (HBO)
PAUL GIAMATTI / Ben Bernanke - "TOO BIG TO FAIL" (HBO)
GREG KINNEAR / Jack Kennedy - "THE KENNEDYS" (REELZ CHANNEL)
GUY PEARCE / Monty Beragon - "MILDRED PIERCE" (HBO)
JAMES WOODS / Richard Fuld - "TOO BIG TO FAIL" (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
DIANE LANE / Pat Loud - "CINEMA VERITE" (HBO)
MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham - "DOWNTON ABBEY" (PBS)
EMILY WATSON / Janet Leach - "APPROPRIATE ADULT" (Sundance Channel)
BETTY WHITE / Caroline Thomas - "HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: THE LOST VALENTINE" (CBS)
KATE WINSLET / Mildred Pierce - "MILDRED PIERCE" (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
PATRICK J. ADAMS / Mike Ross - "SUITS" (USA)
STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch "Nucky" Thomson - "BOARDWALK EMPIRE" (HBO)
KYLE CHANDLER / Eric Taylor - "FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS" (DirecTV)
BRYAN CRANSTON / Walter White - "BREAKING BAD" (AMC)
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan - "DEXTER" (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
KATHY BATES / Harriet Korn - "HARRY'S LAW" (NBC)
GLENN CLOSE / Patty Hewes - "DAMAGES" (DirecTV)
JESSICA LANGE / Constance - "AMERICAN HORROR STORY" (FX)
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick - "THE GOOD WIFE" (CBS)
KYRA SEDGWICK / Dept. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson - "THE CLOSER" (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy - "30 ROCK" (NBC)
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy - "MODERN FAMILY" (ABC)
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott - "THE OFFICE" (NBC)
JON CRYER / Alan Harper - "TWO AND A HALF MEN" (CBS)
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker - "MODERN FAMILY" (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesJULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy - "MODERN FAMILY" (ABC)
EDIE FALCO / Jackie Peyton - "NURSE JACKIE" (Showtime)
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon - "30 ROCK" (NBC)
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett - "MODERN FAMILY" (ABC)
BETTY WHITE / Elka Ostrovsky - "HOT IN CLEVELAND" (TV Land)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch "Nucky" Thompson
DOMINIC CHIANESE / Leander Cephas Whitlock
ROBERT CLOHESSY / Ward Boss Jim Neary
DABNEY COLEMAN / Commodore Louis Kaestner
CHARLIE COX / Owen Sleater
JOSIE & LUCY GALLINA / Emily Schroeder
STEPHEN GRAHAM / Al Capone
JACK HUSTON / Richard Harrow
ANTHONY LACIURA / Eddie Kessler
HEATHER LIND / Katy
KELLY MACDONALD / Margaret Schroeder
RORY & DECLAN McTIGUE / Teddy Schroeder
GRETCHEN MOL / Gillian Darmody
BRADY & CONNOR NOON/ Tommy Darmody
KEVIN O'ROURKE / Mayor Edward Bader
ALEKSA PALLADINO / Angela Darmody
JACQUELINE PENNEWILL / Lilian
VINCENT PIAZZA / Lucky Luciano
MICHAEL PITT / Jimmy Darmody
MICHAEL SHANNON / Agent Nelson Van Alden
PAUL SPARKS / Mickey Doyle
MICHAEL STUHLBARG / Arnold Rothstein
PETER VAN WAGNER / Isaac "Icky" Ginsburg
SHEA WHIGHAM / Sheriff Elias Thompson
MICHAEL KENNETH WILLIAMS / Chalky White
ANATOL YUSEF / Meyer Lansky

BREAKING BAD (AMC)
JONATHAN BANKS / Mike
BETSY BRANDT / Marie Schrader
RAY CAMPBELL / Tyrus Kitt
BRYAN CRANSTON / Walter White
GIANCARLO ESPOSITO / Gus Fring
ANNA GUNN / Skyler White
RJ MITTE / Walter White, Jr.
DEAN NORRIS / Hank Schrader
BOB ODENKIRK / Saul Goodman
AARON PAUL / Jesse Pinkman

DEXTER (Showtime)
BILLY BROWN / Chicago Mike
JENNIFER CARPENTER / Debra Morgan
JOSH COOKE / Louis
AIMEE GARCIA / Jamie Batista
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan
COLIN HANKS / Travis Marshall
DESMOND HARRINGTON / Joey Quinn
MARIA DOYLE KENNEDY / Sonya
RYA KIHLSTEDT / Michelle
C.S. LEE / Vince Masuka
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS / Professor Gellar
JAMES REMAR / Harry Morgan
LAUREN VELEZ / Lt. Maria LaGuerta
PETER WELLER / Liddy
DAVID ZAYAS / Sgt. Angel Batista

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
AMRITA ACHARIA / Irri
MARK ADDY / King Robert Baratheon
ALFIE ALLEN / Theon Greyjoy
JOSEF ALTIN / Pypar
SEAN BEAN / Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark
SUSAN BROWN / Septa Mordane
EMILIA CLARKE / Daenerys Targaryen
NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU / Ser Jaime Lannister
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister
RON DONACHIE / Ser Rodrik Cassel
MICHELLE FAIRLEY / Lady Catelyn Stark
JEROME FLYNN / Bronn
ELYES GABEL / Rakharo
AIDEN GILLEN / "Littlefinger" Petyr Baelish
JACK GLEESON / Joffrey Baratheon
IAIN GLEN / Ser Jorah Mormont
JULIAN GLOVER / Grand Maester Pycelle
KIT HARINGTON / Jon Snow
LENA HEADEY / Queen Cersei Lannister
ISAAC HEMPSTEAD WRIGHT / Bran Stark
CONLETH HILL / Lord Varys
RICHARD MADDEN / Robb Stark
JASON MAMOA / Kahl Drogo
RORY McCANN / Sandor Clegane
IAN McELHINNEY / Barristan Selmy
LUKE McEWAN / Rast
ROXANNE McKEE / Doreah
DAR SALIM / Qotho
MARK STANLEY / Grenn
DONALD SUMPTER / Maester Luwin
SOPHIE TURNER / Sansa Stark
MAISIE WILLIAMS / Arya Stark

THE GOOD WIFE (CBS)
CHRISTINE BARANSKI / Diane Lockhart
JOSH CHARLES / Will Gardner
ALAN CUMMING / Eli Gold
MATT CZUCHRY / Cary Agos
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick
CHRIS NOTH / Peter Florrick
ARCHIE PANJABI / Kalinda Sharma
GRAHAM PHILLIPS / Zach Florrick
MAKENZIE VEGA / Grace Florrick

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

30 ROCK (NBC)
SCOTT ADSIT / Pete Hornberger
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy
KATRINA BOWDEN / Cerie
KEVIN BROWN / Dotcom
GRIZZ CHAPMAN / Grizz
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon
JUDAH FRIEDLANDER / Frank Rossitano
JANE KRAKOWSKI / Jenna Maroney
JOHN LUTZ / Lutz
JACK MCBRAYER / Kenneth Parcell
TRACY MORGAN / Tracy Jordan
MAULIK PANCHOLY / Jonathan
KEITH POWELL / Toofer

THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
MAYIM BIALIK / Amy Farrah Fowler
KALEY CUOCO / Penny
JOHNNY GALECKI / Leonard Hofstadter
SIMON HELBERG / Howard Wolowitz
KUNAL NAYYAR / Rajesh Koothrappali
JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper
MELISSA RAUCH / Bernadette Rostenkowski

GLEE (FOX)
DIANNA AGRON / Quinn Fabray
CHRIS COLFER / Kurt Hummel
DARREN CRISS / Blaine Anderson
ASHLEY FINK / Lauren Zizes
DOT MARIE JONES / Coach Beiste
JANE LYNCH / Sue Sylvester
JAYMA MAYS / Emma Pillsbury
KEVIN McHALE / Artie Abrams
LEA MICHELE / Rachel Berry
CORY MONTEITH / Finn Hudson
HEATHER MORRIS / Brittany Pierce
MATTHEW MORRISON / Will Schuester
MIKE O'MALLEY / Burt Hummel
CHORD OVERSTREET / Sam Evans
LAUREN POTTER / Becky Johnson
AMBER RILEY / Mercedes Jones
NAYA RIVERA / Santana Lopez
MARK SALLING / Noah �Puck� Puckerman
HARRY SHUM, JR. / Mike Chang
IQBAL THEBA / Principal Figgins
JENNA USHKOWITZ / Tina Cohen-Chang

MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS / Lily
JULIE BOWEN / Claire
TY BURRELL / Phil
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell
NOLAN GOULD / Luke
SARAH HYLAND / Haley
ED O'NEILL / Jay
RICO RODRIGUEZ / Manny
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria
ARIEL WINTER / Alex

THE OFFICE (NBC)
LESLIE DAVID BAKER / Stanley Hudson
BRIAN BAUMGARTNER / Kevin Malone
CREED BRATTON / Creed Bratton
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott
JENNA FISCHER / Pam Beesly Halpert
KATE FLANNERY / Meredith Palmer
ED HELMS / Andy Bernard
MINDY KALING / Kelly Kapoor
ELLIE KEMPER / Erin Hannon
ANGELA KINSEY / Angela Martin
JOHN KRASINSKI / Jim Halpert
PAUL LIEBERSTEIN / Toby Flenderson
B.J. NOVAK / Ryan Howard
OSCAR NUNEZ / Oscar Martinez
CRAIG ROBINSON / Daryll Philbin
JAMES SPADER / Robert California
PHYLLIS SMITH / Phyllis Lapin-Vance
RAINN WILSON / Dwight Schrute
ZACH WOODS / Gabe Lewis

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU (UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
COWBOYS & ALIENS (UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 (WARNER BROS. PICTURES)
TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (PARAMOUNT PICTURES)
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (20TH CENTURY FOX)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
SOUTHLAND (TNT)
SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA (STARZ)
TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Screen Actors Guild Awards 48th Annual Life Achievement Award

MARY TYLER MOORE
(h/t ComingSoon.net)

Noticeable Snubs:

No Gary Oldman for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
No Albert Brooks for Drive
No mention of Corey Stoll in the Midnight in Paris ensemble

Rock of Ages trailer

It's here.

I'm excited about this one for a few reasons. 

1. It's from Adam Shankman, who did a great job on Hairspray.
2. Tom Cruise tends to knock it out of the park in supporting roles (Magnolia, Tropic Thunder).
3. I love the 1980's.

The overall cast looks pretty good, although Alec Baldwin looks out of place with the bad longhair wig.  I'll reserve judgment on that one.

Arthur Christmas - Movie Review

★★★½

Starring the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton and Ashley Jensen.  Directed by Sarah Smith.

Here's the hundredth take on how the North Pole really works, and what do you know, it has some fresh ideas.

Santa is a title that has passed from father to son for over 1500 years like a monarchy. As the world's population expanded, so has Santa's operation, and now with his army of elves and high-tech spaceship, he is still able to cover all the children of the world in one night.

The current Santa has had his 70th Christmas, a jolly good run. His oldest son Steve, the heir apparent, is a militant efficiency machine. His younger son Arthur is a clumsy, well-meaning kid with his heart in the right place. When one child's present is not delivered, Steve argues the percentages, Santa accepts it, and Arthur is appalled. "No child left behind." So Arthur makes a deal with his Grandsanta to deliver the present on their own.

I like the idea of a royal Santa line, and the issues the movie raises with grandparents, parents and children. It's also pretty funny. It's from Aardman, the studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Flushed Away, and it has that British edge to the humor.

Hugo - Movie Review

★★★½

Starring Ben Kingsley, Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ray Winstone, Jude Law, Emily Mortimer, Christopher Lee, Helen McCrory, Michael Stuhlberg, Frances de la Tour and Richard Griffiths.
Directed by Martin Scorsese.

"I address you as you are: wizards and mermaids, travelers, adventurers; come and dream with me!"

In many ways, this "kids" movie is the one Martin Scorsese was born to direct. Based on The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, it's about a boy who winds the clocks at a Parisian train station long after his drunkard uncle has disappeared. He must avoid the station inspector, who likes to catch orphans like rats. Which is understandable. After all Hugo shoplifts his meals every day.

Hugo also steals parts here and there from the toy shop of Georges (Ben Kingsley). Hugo has an automoton from his late father, and he hopes when he fixes it, it will have a message for him.

The movie starts out with kid-movie trappings but the deeper into the story, the deeper the emotions run, and it becomes a tribute to the magic of moviemaking.

Jane Eyre - DVD Review

★★★

Starring Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Fassbender, Judi Dench, Jamie Bell, Sally Hawkins and Simon McBurney.
Directed by Cary Fukunaka.

Somehow I've made it this far in life without ever reading or seeing a filmed version of Jane Eyre. (I hear the musical's good.) But now I have.

It begins and ends with Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) as Jane, and she does amazing work here. There are times her face blanks out and she is truly plain Jane. And then we can see her heart breaking by the smallest twitch of the lip or blush of the cheek.

I enjoyed getting enveloped in the foggy moors of 19th century England in Bronte-land, where everything's restrained and proper, but underneath, there's those pesky emotions dying to get out. Jane has the typical Dickensian childhood. Orphaned, abandoned, raised in a strict and heartless school, but once free as an adult, she acquires valuable employment as a governess for the wealthy Mr. Rochester.

Something felt missing, and my wife explained how the movie trimmed most of God out. Jane's faith is what sustains her, what motivates her, what drives her, at least on the page. The movie gives Jane that solid character; it just doesn't clarify where it comes from. She's Jane Eyre. Enough said. Regardless, I found it a fine introduction to the story, which is understandably classic.

Random Movie Stuff - 12/7/11

- William Hurt is in talks to join Saoirse Ronan (Hanna) and Max Irons (Red Riding Hood) in The Host. Based on the Stephenie Meyer best-seller, it's about post-apocalyptic world where a girl has an alien soul controlling her brain.

- Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren will play husband and wife in Alfred Hitchcock & the Making of Psycho. Hopkins will play Hitchcock, the profilic director who had to scrounge for financing in order to make Psycho, which no studio wanted to touch.

- Angelina Jolie, whose directorial debut In the Land of Blood and Honey opens later this month, has her next two acting projects lined up. First is what's described as a scientific thriller for director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element), and then she'll star in a biopic about Gertude Bell for director Ridley Scott (Robin Hood).

- Chris Columbus's 1492 Pictures have acquired the movie rights to Anne Rice's Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Stoning of Soraya M.) will direct.

- Tom Wilkinson will play the main villain in The Lone Ranger, starring Armie Hammer (The Social Network, J. Edgar) as the Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp as Tonto. Director Gore Verbinski is working on getting the rest of those originally cast reassembled, including Helena Bonham Carter, Barry Pepper, and Dwight Yoakum.

- NBC is looking at Ryan Seacrest as a possible replacement for Matt Lauer on The Today Show.

- Harry Morgan has died at the age of 96. He's been in movies ranging from High Noon to The Apple Dumpling Gang to Dragnet, but he's best known for his Emmy-winning turn as Col. Potter on M*A*S*H.

Has The Office jumped the shark?

I thought the ensemble was strong that it might be able to survive without Michael Scott (Steve Carell), but it occurs to me that it's lost so much more than that. Gone is the byzantine upper management that gave us leaders like Jan and David, gone is the soul-crushing feel of the daily cubicle drudgery. Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) doesn't have the fragile ego that made Michael do impulsive, selfish things. Andy started off as a jerk who had to go to anger management. Now he's a puppy-dog who just wants to please everyone, and all of his co-workers want him to succeed. Where's the comedy in that?
Now with Sabre CEO Robert California (James Spader) I thought we'd get some darkness to rock the boat, but Robert's been hit and miss. This week's episode, where we meet his wife (Maura Tierney) may have been the best use thus far of the potential of this mind-gaming genius. I enjoyed Andy twisting himself into a pretzel trying to do what he thought Robert wanted him to do.

These characters are still fun and funny. Dwight, Jim, Pam, Ryan, Kelly, Toby, Angela, Meredith, Stanley, Creed, Erin, Oscar, Daryl, Phyllis... I just hope the show can find some consistent Michael-free magic. Or maybe they should quit while they're ahead.

Watts & Wright as Grandmothers, Benoit biopic, etc.

- Naomi Watts and Robin Wright have signed on for The Grandmothers, about two lifelong friends who wind up falling for each other's teenage sons.

- SRG Films will be making Crossface, a biopic of pro-wrestler Chris Benoit, who after years of drug use, depression and head trauma, murdered his wife and son before taking his own life.
- Remakes of RoboCop and Total Recall are on their way, and now Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers is getting the remake treatment.


- Speaking of RoboCop, Peter Weller has joined the cast of Star Trek 2 for director JJ Abrams. He joins new cast members Benecio Del Toro and Alice Eve, and the returning seven of Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Anton Yelchin.

- This week's Super Bowl halftime show performer: Madonna.

Breaking Dawn still #1

The box-office for the weekend of December 2-4.

1. Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 - $16.9 million ($247.3) - 3 wks (Sum) -59.5%
. . . 4046 screens / $4177 per screen

2. The Muppets - $11.2 ($56.14) - 2 wks (BV) -61.7%
. . . 3440 / $3256

3. Hugo - $7.63 ($25.19) - 2 wks (Par) -32.9%
. . . 1840 / $4144

4. Arthur Christmas - $7.35 ($25.29) - 2 wks (Sony) -39.1%
. . . 3376 / $2177

5. Happy Feet Two - $6 ($51.79) - 3 wks (WB) -55.2%
. . . 3536 / $1697

6. Jack & Jill - $5.5 ($64.31) - 4 wks (Sony) -45%
. . . 3049 / $1804

7. The Descendants - $5.2 ($18.09) - 3 wks (FS) -29.2%
. . . 574 / $9059

8. Immortals - $4.39 ($75.59) - 4 wks (Rel) -50.5%
. . . 2627 / $1673

9. Tower Heist - $4.1 ($70.8) - 5 wks (U) -42.9%
. . . 2404 / $1705

10. Puss in Boots - $3.05 ($139.52) - 6 wks (DW) -59.4%
. . . 2750 / $1109

First weekend of December tends to be low, but Hugo and Arthur Christmas have to be rethinking their strategy of opening against The Muppets and each other, and just a week after Happy Feet Two. Puss was wise to open Halloween weekend.

Movie Award Season

I saw Beginners the other day.  It was really good, and Christopher Plummer was great in it.  It wasn't exceptional for him; it just showed that if you give him a quality part, he will nail it.  He's a worker.  He'll keep appearing in movies like Priest so he can make a Beginners.  Nevertheless, he has to be the favorite right now to win Best Supporting Actor.

Most of the award-buzzed movies either haven't come out yet, or if they have, it's only on a limited basis.  I want to catch George Clooney in The Descendants as soon as I can, because I get the feeling it may not stick around long.  I'm looking forward to The Artist, The Iron Lady, My Week with Marilyn, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, etc., opening at a theater near me.  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and War Horse are the other big award-bait ones coming.  I hear Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close will be in the mix, but I can't say its trailer appealed to me.

Oh yeah, and Hugo.  Still gotta catch Hugo.

I missed Drive and The Ides of March.  Hopefully they're at a $1 theater somewhere soon.

Exclusive! San Andreas 3-D movie, Ender's Game, etc.

- New Line is prepping a big-budget earthquake movie for 2012. San Andreas 3-D will be produced by Beau Flynn. Here's the exclusive from the L.A. Times, and here's Deadline Hollywood pretending they have the scoop. (h/t @TheInSneider)

UPDATE: After I commented twice there and they deleted my comments, Deadline has removed the word "Exclusive."

In Other News:

- Kyle Chandler (Super 8) has joined the cast of Broken City, starring Mark Wahlberg as a detective hired by the mayor (Russell Crowe) to investigate his wife's lover. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey Wright and Justin Chambers co-star. (VO)

- David Ayer (Training Day) is going write another version of Scarface, and it's said he's studying the 1932 and 1982 versions. (DHD)

- Asa Butterfield (Hugo) will star in Ender's Game for director Gavin Hood (Wolverine). Harrison Ford and Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) are also being sought for roles.

Hugo win NBR's Best Film

The National Board of Review gave out their awards.

Best Film: Hugo
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay: Will Reiser, 50/50
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, The Descendants
Best Animated Feature: Rango
Breakthrough Performance: Felicity Jones, Like Crazy
Breakthrough Performance: Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Debut Director: J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Best Ensemble: The Help
Spotlight Award: Michael Fassbender (A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class)
NBR Freedom of Expression: Crime After Crime
NBR Freedom of Expression: Pariah
Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Best Documentary: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Special Achievement in Filmmaking: The Harry Potter Franchise – A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film

Top Films
(in alphabetical order)

The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Ides of March
J. Edgar
Tree of Life
War Horse

Top 5 Foreign Language Films
(In Alphabetical Order)

13 Assassins
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Footnote
Le Havre
Point Blank

Top 5 Documentaries
(In Alphabetical Order)

Born to be Wild
Buck
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Project Nim
Senna

Top 10 Independent Films
(In Alphabetical Order)

50/50
Another Earth
Beginners
A Better Life
Cedar Rapids
Margin Call
Shame
Take Shelter
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Win Win


Conspicuous by their absense: Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Iron Lady.

After its mixed reviews, I'm surprised J. Edgar made their top ten.