10.03.08
AFI Gets ‘Che,’ ‘The Wrestler,’ Rome Gets ‘8,’ We Get ‘Kung Fu Panda 2,’ Melissa Leo & ‘Elegy’ Get Oscar Pushes & More
Melissa Leo is the first actress out of the gate this year in terms of studio pushing towards Oscar glory, with screeners sent out for Courtney Hunt’s “Frozen River,” which I still have not seen, just the other day. “Elegy” followed, another film I have yet to see, but was only sent to the Acting Branch. In a year with some rather great performances (if we believe all the buzz, advance word, etc) I am guessing that is just wishful thinking. But what do I know. [The Gold Derby]
The upcoming AFI Film Festival has added the following film’s to its always delectable slate,“The Wrestler,” “Che,” “The Brothers Bloom,” “Tokyo!,” “Sugar,” and more. Craig Kennedy must be smiling right now. [indieWIRE]
On another continent altogether, the UN-backed “8,” featuring vignettes by Gus Van Sant, Mira Nair, Gael Garcia Bernal, Wim Wenders and more is scheduled for the Rome International Film Festival, as well as “Pride and Glory,” “Good” and “The Baader Meinhof Complex” [Variety via The Playlist, who is partially responsible for this post]
Kung Fu Panda 2 is scheduled for release on the 3rd of June 2011, with Jack Black and Angelina Jolie both signed on the for the sequel. We loved “Kung Fu Panda,” very much, but I’m not so sure how I will take a sequel, and whether or not it will be as good as the first and why a sequel is really necessary in the first place. [Hollywood Reporter]
Will Rob Siegel be the first Onion alumni member to be nominated for an Academy Award? The Playlist seems to think so, and they are not alone. The raves just keep pouring in, and I can’t wait to see the “seriocomic, existentialist wrestling drama” soon, else I’ll wet my pants. No, wait, oops.
Who’s watching The Watchmen? Two groups of lucky bloggers and entertainment journos it seems, and they also seem to like what they see, a lot actually. What I can gather so far is that it is infectiously unlike anything we’ve seen before. [Thompson on Hollywood]
Dave said,
October 3, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I met Rob Siegel once, great guy. If he gets an Oscar nom, I’d be glad.
Kerry said,
October 3, 2008 at 1:25 pm
If he doesn’t get a nomination for The Wrestler, I’d be very, very surprised. It’s a great screenplay.
As for Elegy, it had some really good performances – the highlight of the mediocre film really – but I don’t think it has much of a shot at Oscar glory, to be perfectly honest.
Sam Juliano said,
October 3, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Yeah, I’m definitely with Kerry on Rob Siegel, and without even having seen the film yet (I have decided to mug someone for their ticket outside Avery Fisher on that closing day to gain admittance) I am rooting for him. And Dave that is terrific that you actually met him!!!
Ms. Leo was the one irrefutably excellent aspect of FROZEN RIVER, and her nomination in the final five seems imminent.
And again Kerry is the man!!!! ELEGY is indeede a mediocre film.
Jerry said,
October 3, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I’m so looking forward to The Watchmen, those bloggers are fucking lucky.
Nick Plowman said,
October 3, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Good idea Sam, whatever it takes buddy! You and Craig are mighty lucky, but if anyone was seeing those two films before me, I’m glad it’s people I actually like whose writing I value. Good luck!
J.D. said,
October 3, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I swear to God or Vishnu or Laura or Oprah or whatever (we mortals can never be too sure), I WILL SEE FROZEN RIVER. It’s been in my area for a while, and is now at TWO theaters. But it’s rated R, so I need my mom to see it, but of course she doesn’t even know what it is long enough to know if she wants to see it or not (which she probably doesn’t). And Elegy LEFT YESTERDAY, and we didn’t see it last night (it’s last) because her “body hurt.”
*sigh*
Parents suck.
Nick Plowman said,
October 3, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Yes they do suck, a lot of the time. I missed a Body of Lies press screening on Wednesday because of mine. And she is trying to make me miss Appaloosa on Monday, but I will no longer let her. Ugh. Oh yeah, and I missed the Elegy screening because of her too.
But please see Frozen River, I want you to. I missed seeing it at a festival because of well, my mother.
J.D. said,
October 3, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I’ll try, man. Believe me. :)
Ooh, Appaloosa! That’s here too. And for some reason she wants to see that. So yay?
Nick Plowman said,
October 3, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Yay. I’m not STOKED to see it, but I still want to. It only opens here next year (lol) so its Monday or never.
Sam Juliano said,
October 4, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I appreciate that Nick!