Failure to Launch

Failure to Launch does just that. It fails to launch. Even though that is probably the most obvious pun to use with the title I couldn’t help myself because it is oh-so-true. I honestly don’t know where to begin with this flawed film. For starters, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey don’t have chemistry, thus making the whole movie unbelievable. Then there is the profession of Parker’s character in which she professionally dates men in order to lure them out of their parents’ home. It is a creepy and unrealistic career, even if your name is Sarah Jessica Parker. The plot tries to be original with random and unnecessary outdoor excursions among the three single men who all happen to still live with their parents. One too many animal-biting scenes add to the ridiculousness of the movie as well as a side story to kill an irritating mockingbird. The ultimate fatal flaw in Failure to Launch is that both leading and supporting characters don’t have anything likeable about them. The most entertaining moment comes from a short appearance by Rob Coddry of The Daily Show who in the little camera time he has managed to get a few laughs out of me, a task that everyone else in the movie failed to do. I could go on about the little depth there is to this movie or the completely unnecessary shots of a naked Terry Bradshaw, but I’ll save you from the agony that I unfortunately had to sit through.

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Mathew McConaughey, Bradley Cooper, Zooey Deschanel
Director: Tom Dey
Runtime: 97 minutes

Ren's Oscar Predictions

With the Academy Awards already here, I thought I’d give a quick rundown of my thoughts about who will and who should win. Although I have managed to miss out on a few nominated films, my “will win” picks are partly based on what I’ve heard and read. Here are some of the categories in which I’ve seen all or most of the nominees…
(* means I’ve seen the nominee)

Best Actor

Philip Seymour Hoffman* (Capote) Will Win, Should Win
Terrence Howard* (Huste & Flow)
Heath Ledger* (Brokeback Mountain)
Joaquin Pheonix* (Walk the Line)
David Strathairn* (Good Night, and Good Luck.)

I think every actor here gives a strong performance and I really wish they could all win, but Hoffman is just so chillingly effective and encapsulates the odd and peculiar behavior of Truman Capote.

Best Supporting Actor

George Clooney* (Syriana) Will Win
Matt Dillon* (Crash) Should Win
Paul Giamatti* (Cinderella Man)
Jake Gyllenhaal* (Brokeback Mountain)
William Hurt* (A History of Violence)

It would be so cool to see the usual sleazebag and comedic driven Matt Dillon win this award. And although Paul Giamatti is so exciting and fun, and Jake Gyllenhaal gives the performance of his career thus far, I think that Clooney’s gritty and courageous performance will take the statuette.

Best Actress

Judi Dench (Mrs. Henderson Presents)
Felicity Huffman (Transamerica)
Keira Knightley* (Pride & Prejudice)
Charlize Theron* (North Country) Should Win
Reese Witherspoon* (Walk the Line) Will Win

If I had seen Transamerica I just might have voted for Huffman, but I think that Charlize Theron gives the most natural and heart-wrenching performance. Reese Witherspoon, however, with the most critical acclaim, gives the biggest stretch as being a feisty and charismatic brunette while doing her very own vocals as June Carter.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams* (Junebug)
Catherine Keener* (Capote)
Frances McDormand* (North Country)
Rachel Weisz* (The Constant Gardener) Will Win, Should Win
Michelle Williams* (Brokeback Mountain)

I think Adams or Williams could be an upset here as they give such convincing performances, but it is Rachel Weisz who completely mesmerized me with her powerful and persevering character in my favorite film of 2005 (see my Top Ten blog).

Best Art Direction

Good Night, and Good Luck.*
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*
King Kong*
Memoirs of a Geisha* Will Win, Should Win
Pride & Prejudice*

Memoirs of a Geisha is simply a visual beauty and captures the Japanese culture through its rich colors and breathtaking sets and locations.

Best Cinematography

Batman Begins*
Brokeback Mountatin*
Good Night, and Good Luck.* Should Win
Memoirs of a Geisha* Will Win
The New World

Although I love Memoirs of a Geisha and think it will win, I think Good Night, and Good Luck uses the camera very strategically to every advantage.

Best Costume Design

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*
Memoirs of a Geisha* Will Win, Should Win
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Pride & Prejudice*
Walk the Line*

Oscar winner Colleen Atwood (Chicago) designed for Memoirs and totally deserves it.

Best Editing

Cinderella Man*
The Constant Gardener* Should Win
Crash* Will Win
Munich*
Walk the Line*

Crash will probably take it with its intertwining storylines, but I can’t help but love the fast-paced and raw editing that goes back and forth in The Constant Gardener.

Best Makeup

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe* Will Win, Should Win
Cinderella Man*
Memoirs of a Geisha*

Chronicles is simply the best of these with intricate and innovative ways to bring fantasy creatures to life.

Best Original Score

Brokeback Mountain* (Gustavo Santaolalla)
The Constant Gardener* (Alberto Iglesias)
Memoirs of a Geisha* (John Williams) Will Win, Should Win
Munich* (John Williams)
Pride & Prejudice* (Dario Marianelli)

Even though I absolutely love the romantic score of Pride & Prejudice, I’m a sucker for anything done by John Williams and his enchanting oriental score adds to his diversity of compositions.

Best Sound Editing

King Kong* Will Win, Should Win
Memoirs of a Geisha*
War of the Worlds

With stampedes of dinosaurs, man-eating bugs, and a giant roaring ape, King Kong has such a broad range of sounds that conquers Memoirs and War of the Worlds, even though I didn’t see the latter (thanks to the presence of Tom Cruise).

Best Sound Mixing

The Chronicles of Narnia*
King Kong* Should Win
Memoirs of a Geisha*
Walk the Line* Will Win
War of the Worlds

Walk the Line will take it since Ray took it last year.

Best Visual Effects

The Chronicles of Narnia*
King Kong* Will Win, Should Win
War of the Worlds

Unbelievably real. End of story.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Brokeback Mountain* Will Win, Should Win
Capote*
The Constant Gardener*
A History of Violence*
Munich*

Having not read the original works in which these films were adapted from, I’m going with what has previously won.

Best Original Screenplay

Crash* Will Win, Should Win
Good Night, and Good Luck.*
Match Point*
Syriana*

I really like the language and direction of Good Night, and Good Luck, but Crash captures such diverse stories in a brave and risky film.

Best Director

Ang Lee* (Brokeback Mountain) Will Win, Should Win
Bennet Miller* (Capote)
Paul Haggis* (Crash)
George Clooney* (Good Night, and Good Luck.)
Steven Spielberg* (Munich)

Because I had to give at least something else to Brokeback Mountain. And besides, under the circumstances, I think Ang Lee was very courageous to take on this film and he wonderfully guides four breakout performances.

Best Picture

Brokeback Mountain* Will Win, Should Win
Capote*
Crash*
Good Night, and Good Luck.*
Munich*

I have to say that all of these films have something powerful to say, but Brokeback Mountain’s issues are more groundbreaking and there is something new there that we haven’t seen in theaters. A film that produces controversy and conversation while simultaneously telling a beautiful and tragic love story deserves to win this honor.

Don't forget to watch the Academy Awards this Sunday on ABC at 8et/5pt! Let's just hope they don't start giving out awards in the audience again like last year. Happy Oscar Watching!

Good Night, and Good Luck.

In watching Good Night, and Good Luck I wish I could have been there, in that smoky newsroom of black and white full of wit and knowledge amongst the friendly group of liberated male journalists. Although a few women fill in secretarial roles, the engaging men of the film challenge Senator McCarthy’s communist cleansing in the 1950s through the brave and unafraid reporter Edward R. Murrow. Beyond the courageous risks the group makes to confront a constitutional issue, the film itself is artfully made with fresh angles that give new perspectives on newsroom technicalities while integrating authentic television advertisements that reflect the consumerism and conformity of the times. The relationships are also very telling in such a short period of time, and one can sense the closeness of the coworkers and appreciate the humor that they try to inject into their daily lives under the bearings of McCarthyism. As George Clooney’s second take at directing a feature film, he makes subtle choices that have large effects in a well-evened film that is all about timing. His job as co-screenwriter, along with Grant Heslov, is more impressive as Good Night, and Good Luck is a film that displays the power and manipulation of words and the effectiveness they can have amidst a time when everyone else was afraid to say anything at all.

Starring: David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Daniels, Patricia Clarkson, Tate Donovan
Director: George Clooney
Runtime: 93 minutes

Eight Below

When you first think of eight dogs treading through the snow you might be reminded of a forgettable flop titled Snow Dogs. Thankfully, Eight Below is not that film. Although it is by Disney, making it inevitably a bit corny, Eight Below is sweet natured and quite fun. All human performances seem contrived, but they also weren’t given much to work with. The dogs, however, are cute, smart, and irresistible, just as expected, as they try to survive the harsh winter weather of Antarctica after being left there in an emergency evacuation. Before the evacuation of the research station there are a few enticing moments between the researchers while the dogs show off some of their incredible life-saving skills. Once on their own the dogs fend off threatening seals in a heart-racing scene and struggle to find food and risk being separated from the group in some of the film’s more authentic moments. The story is very clichéd and predictable, but with subtle scientific talk, entertaining adventures, and bittersweet reunions, Eight Below is one small step for dogs, but one giant leap from Snow Dogs.

Starring: Paul Walker, Jason Biggs, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood
Director: Frank Marshall
Runtime: 120 minutes