BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS

 Transformers

 

BEST MUSICAL SCORE

Atonement

 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Children of Men

 

BEST SCREENPLAY

Juno

 

WORST PICTURE OF THE YEAR

Planet Terror

Thanks for voting.  See you next year!

Several years after his documentary, Werner Herzog turns his attention to a live-action biopic on the same subject: Dieter Dengler, an American pilot, shot down in Vietnam, who heroically survived the wrath of Vietnamese prison camp, and the harsh jungles, in order to make a daring escape.  Herzog is an extremely intense director, often putting his actors in the harsh conditions that his characters go through.  Christian Bale, the man who lost nearly 30 pounds for his role in the Machinist, is the perfect candidate for Herzog’s hero.  Bale dedicates himself to the role, bringing the physical and mental condition of Dengler to life.  His performance is absolutely stunning, giving those subtle signs that the mental pressures of being in a prison camp however, always keeping his head, and looking and planning his escape.  The film is dedicated to Dengler’s life, and not to the quality of the story, making the film seem long at parts (especially after the planned escape from the camp.)  However, Bale’s performance is so spectacular, and so Oscar worthy, that this is a film that is hard to escape.

-   Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

"...easily the best action-thriller of the year."

 

How good of a week can a guy have? 
A pretty darn good one…
Here’s what’s been happening: 

Friday Night:  I played the best softball game of my life, playing LIGHTS OUT defense, and hitting a game winning homerun…  I normally don’t brag, but it was just TOO AWESOME not to mention…  Even Nathan said “I’m glad I’m on your team.”

Saturday:  After working, Nate, Hilary and I took Daniel and Jacob out to see Ratatouille…  Here’s the review:

SUMMER MOVIE REVIEW

Ratatouille

Normally, an animated story about a chef and a rat in Paris would not be on my “Summer Must See” list, especially the summer that blockbusters, such as Spiderman 3 and Pirates 3 came out.  However, the simplicity of Ratatouille’s story (and all of Pixar’s films in general) is the key ingredient that keeps their theaters filled and Pixar’s legacy growing strong.  Ratatouille is not only one of the best films of the summer, but it stands alone among Pixar’s other great films.  The movie’s quality is superb because it avoids ridiculous (and sometimes vulgar) humor to make up for lame story, providing only the best quality of animation to date, and chooses great vocal talent instead of using recognizable Hollywood star power to boost the film (except for the majestic Peter O’Toole, who’s role as a food critic could be as classic as any performance he’s done on screen.)  Overall, it’s the wholesome feel that we desire from Pixar; that feeling that, for the next two hours, we can be five again, and relive the days when life was simple.  (Strangely enough, my favorite scene in Ratatouille depicted just this; something taking you back to your childhood.)  For this reason, if Pixar continues to follow their recipe of greatness, I will always come back for seconds.
Overall,

out of ten “Once again, completely amazed” smiley faces

 

Monday: I was contacted by cable channel in New Mexico who has requested permission to air both Saving Private Raymond and The Coffeehouse on TV…  So, its not going to make me rich or popular, but at least my films are getting out!

Tuesday: I finally won my CANON XL1S Camcorder!!!  OH HAPPY DAY!!!  This, of course, is the fantastamagical camcorder that I shot The Coffeehouse on.  (As well as a few Hollywood features, such as the zombie flick 28 Days Later.)  I got a great deal, and hopefully will get it soon.

Oh, and Drew got facebook (So, even if you don’t know him, request him as a friend…  Trust me, he’s exaclty like me, only cooler)… 

And, he’s coming to Bryan…  Can life get any better?

Yes, it can…  Why?  Because of this CD!

So, I told my brother about this song, and he tells me that a friend of his is actually best friends with this guy: Jon McLaughlin.  Seriously, his music rocks! 

Oh, and CD is titled Indiana…  Why wouldn’t you buy it?

Here’s one of the songs: Beautiful Disaster….

So, since I really have nothing to write about, here’s my list of films to watch for this fall and winter.

 

Top 5 Films to watch for this Fall/Winter 

Honorable mentions:

The Heartbreak Kid (Farellys’ next comedy, looks pretty good)

The Golden Compass (A children’s book adaptation with a great cast)

National Treasure: Book of Secrets (I’m nervous: series have been dying as of late)

Gone, Baby, Gone (Ben Affleck’s directing debut: looks intense, but not half bad)

5.
Beowulf
Zemeckis’ next project: Polar Express meets Gladiator…  All things, said, this movie may be incredible!

4.
1-18-08 - Cloverfield – J J Abrams Movie
Ever since watching this brilliant/untitled film’s teaser trailer before Transformers…  Blair Witch meets something worse then stupid witches…  Somethin that BLEW UP THE STATUE OF LIBERTY!!!

3.
I Am Legend
Will Smith?  Yes!  Last man on earth?  Yes!  Fighting Vampires…  We’ll see…

 

2.
3:10 to Yuma
Although I’m not a fan of Westerns, I think having Russell Crowe and Christian Bale on the same screen is too amazing to miss!

1.
American Gangster
Denzel Washington + Russell Crowe + Cuba Gooding Jr. + a Brian Grazer production+ a Steven Zaillian screenplay + a Ridley Scott film….  Do I hear OSCAR?! (Warning: this film looks really raw.)

Reading two FANTASTIC books:
 

Colleen McCulllough’s Song of Troy
The best novel I’ve ever read (which include most) about the Trojan war (my favorite story.)
 

Buzz Bissinger’s Three Nights in August
A book about Baseball…  From the perspective of the Card’s manager…  This book explains WHY baseball is sooo amazing!

 

Softball: played well, went 3-5, raising my average to .567 (21 for 37)

 

SUMMER MOVIE REVIEW

Transformers

If you are going to see Transformers, and are expecting it to be “A Michael Bay film, based of a Hasbro toy, about a war between robots who shape shift into cars and other vehicles”, then Transformers will meet, if not slightly exceed your expectations.  Sure, it has as entertaining and non-juvenile story as you can get about robots named “Bonecrusher” and “Bumble Bee” (take note, Fantastic Four franchise), but its not going to win the Best Picture Oscar, either.  The film is good, effects are amazing, and I am ALL about Megan Fox…  However, unlike Autobots, Michael Bay films still can’t transform into anything more than a cheap summer blockbuster flick.

Overall,

of 10 content smiley faces

 

Song of the Week: From Transformers the soundtrack, comes a new tune by the Goo Goo Dolls…  Before It’s Too Late!

THE CRAZIEST GAME EVER!!!!

So, my first trip to the new Busch Stadium, and watching my defending champion St. Louis Cardinals for the first time since their winning of the World Series, was probably the most memorable game EVER, and I’ve seen some amazing games (including clinching division and playoff games!)  In fact, I haven’t seen the Card’s lose since 1992, impressive, considering I’ve seen around 10 games since then.  So, tonight, the Cards host their cross-state rivals, the Kansas City Royals.  After squandering a first inning lead, the game looked virtually hopeless.  Sure, hometown hero Scott Rolen tied the game with a  bases-loaded single, but the Royals just re-took the lead the next inning.  Finally, in the ninth, Aaron Miles singled, the GREAT AND MIGHTY Pujols doubled, and the game was tied…  And, it would stay that way, through the ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth…  Finally, in the bottom of the fourteenth, and after FIVE AND A HALF hours of play, rookie Ryan Ludwick homered to straight away center, ending the game in victory for the Cards, and ending the game at 12:30 in the morning…  Add a thirty-minute buss ride, and a two and a half hour car ride, and you get a very LONG evening/morning….  But a fun and memorable one, at that!

 Hilary, me and Ruthanne with the World Series Trophy!!!!

 
Me and...  David Eckstien???

Civil War: Me and the Bro...


The Great and Mighty Albert Pujols...

by midnight/13th inning, we were dead tired...

The man who sent us home happy: Ryan Ludwick

Softball: Even though we lost again, much of because of a few misplaces I made in the outfield, I did hit REALLY well, going 4 for 5, with MY FIRST HOMERUN OF THE SEASON!!!  YEAHHHH!!!!!

 

Movies:

Se7en: Crazy, intriguing, gross, but, overall, good! (7 out of 10)

Legends of the Fall: Interesting, great beginning, lame ending. (5 out of 10)

Interview with the Vampire: Just down right stupid.  (4 out of 10)

Fever Pitch: Although not the best, one of my favorite romantic comedies.  (7 out of 10)

I got a job…  Working @ Karasotes Stadium 16…  Hopefully, I won’t have too many late nights, and I won’t have to miss too many games of softball…

 

Song of the Week: Anything by The Calling…  Great song.  (Interesting note: Alex Band is releasing a solo album this fall…  Something to look forward to!)