Hello Cinemaniacs,
TGIF!
Today, I salute the actors who breathe life into characters. They have this hypnotic ability that arrests our attention, launching us out on an emotional roller coaster ride. When it comes to actors everybody has their list of favorites. Here are male masters of the craft.
Denzel Washington (Sheer Excellence) 12 Awards
Jack Nicholson (Jacktastic) 30 Awards
Brad Pitt (2nd coming of Robert Redford) 3 Awards
Edward Norton (Serious) 3 Awards
Robert DeNiro (Master, who can play any character convincingly!) 14 Awards
Al Pacino (Wow, he has more awards than Brando) 22 Awards
Don Cheadle (He is the truth) 3 Awards
Forrest Whitaker (Finally getting his due) 4 Awards
Will Smith (Mr. Blockbuster) 4 Awards
Tom Hanks (Is great) 11 Awards
Christian Bale (1 of my favorites and 1 the most underrated actors in the game)
William H. Macy (A great actor who masters very complex characters) 2 Awards
Sean Penn (Great actor) 13 Awards
Morgan Freeman (Veteran by far) 9 Awards
Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Awesome) 2 Awards
Terrence Howard (He’s come along way since Sparks. ) 2 Awards
Daniel Day Lewis (Serious Business) 9 Awards
Samuel L. Jackson (Sam’s the man) 6 Awards
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Unsung Heroes
Hello my fellow cinemaniacs. It is nice of you to join me for another fine day. I’m sitting here in front of my computer sipping on my Evian listening to Joe’s “What if a woman”.
We are a day closer to Friday and Labor Day weekend. I’m pumped up.
So let’s get this thing started. I’m going to tip my Yankee cap to some people who usually go unnoticed by movie goers. Some go fairly unknown for years.
Today, I salute screenwriters.
The script doctors who create worlds we care about, characters we connect with and good clean enjoyable fun.
So without further or do I now present to you some unsung heroes.
Gina Prince-Bythewood- She is the writer of the critically acclaimed “Love and Basketball” and is married to Reggie Rock Bythewood (Produced and wrote for New York Undercover). Be on the lookout for her new picture “The Secret Life of Bees” that is due out later this year.
Jieho Lee and Bob DeRosa- Co-wrote “The Air I Breathe.” Which is a really good picture that if you haven’t had the opportunity to see it you need to make that happen. Trust me you will not be disappointed.
Scott Frank- Has a string of hit pictures. Here are a few movies that he wrote that you maybe familiar. Here they are the Lookout, the Interpreter, Minority Report, and Get Shorty. He has a comedy coming out entitled “Marley & Me” that is in Post production.
Jeremy Garelick and Jay Lavender- May not be familiar names to you. But I’m quite sure that you are familiar with their work hit comedy “The Break-up” which starred Vince Vaughn and Jenifer Anniston. It is one of the best relationship movies in the past five years.
Christopher McQuarrie-Has skills. He has written one of the most memorable pictures in 15 years of cinematic history. Who can forget “The Usual Suspects?” He has a few up and coming projects coming up.
Thank you for blessing us with stories we enjoy and have grown to love over the years. Keep doing what you do because we appreciate your masterful artistry.
We are a day closer to Friday and Labor Day weekend. I’m pumped up.
So let’s get this thing started. I’m going to tip my Yankee cap to some people who usually go unnoticed by movie goers. Some go fairly unknown for years.
Today, I salute screenwriters.
The script doctors who create worlds we care about, characters we connect with and good clean enjoyable fun.
So without further or do I now present to you some unsung heroes.
Gina Prince-Bythewood- She is the writer of the critically acclaimed “Love and Basketball” and is married to Reggie Rock Bythewood (Produced and wrote for New York Undercover). Be on the lookout for her new picture “The Secret Life of Bees” that is due out later this year.
Jieho Lee and Bob DeRosa- Co-wrote “The Air I Breathe.” Which is a really good picture that if you haven’t had the opportunity to see it you need to make that happen. Trust me you will not be disappointed.
Scott Frank- Has a string of hit pictures. Here are a few movies that he wrote that you maybe familiar. Here they are the Lookout, the Interpreter, Minority Report, and Get Shorty. He has a comedy coming out entitled “Marley & Me” that is in Post production.
Jeremy Garelick and Jay Lavender- May not be familiar names to you. But I’m quite sure that you are familiar with their work hit comedy “The Break-up” which starred Vince Vaughn and Jenifer Anniston. It is one of the best relationship movies in the past five years.
Christopher McQuarrie-Has skills. He has written one of the most memorable pictures in 15 years of cinematic history. Who can forget “The Usual Suspects?” He has a few up and coming projects coming up.
Thank you for blessing us with stories we enjoy and have grown to love over the years. Keep doing what you do because we appreciate your masterful artistry.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Twisted Tales
I have a knack for stumbling on twisted tales. Whether my fingers are tap dancing across the remote channel surfing or I'm shuffling my feet in Virgin Records or Blockbuster.
After reading the premise of a movie I know if I want to see it or not. So the premise today is twisted tales that spin you around taking you for a nice twirl. So just go with it and enjoy.
Edmund
Henry: the Portrait of a Serial Killer
U-Turn
Pursued
Thursday
Journey to the End of the Night
The Air I Breathe
Dead Birds
Panic
Gun
11:14
Population 436
Red Rock West
Cherry Crush
Hard Candy
Big Nothing
Fargo
Lady Killers
Roman
The Yards
The Mothman Prophecies
Stay tuned in. I have some surprises to end the week with a bang.
After reading the premise of a movie I know if I want to see it or not. So the premise today is twisted tales that spin you around taking you for a nice twirl. So just go with it and enjoy.
Edmund
Henry: the Portrait of a Serial Killer
U-Turn
Pursued
Thursday
Journey to the End of the Night
The Air I Breathe
Dead Birds
Panic
Gun
11:14
Population 436
Red Rock West
Cherry Crush
Hard Candy
Big Nothing
Fargo
Lady Killers
Roman
The Yards
The Mothman Prophecies
Stay tuned in. I have some surprises to end the week with a bang.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
No Ordinary Love
Every time I hear the beautiful Sade sing this song I cannot help but think back to the scandalous movie Indecent Proposal. Don’t you?
For those of you who have never seen the movie check it out. But this is not about an indecent proposal. Let’s view the song in detail, then I will very briefly elaborate on these lyrics while allowing them to usher us into our post today.
Sade - No Ordinary Love
This is lyrics from www.lyrics007.com
I gave you all the love I got I gave you more than I could give I gave you love I gave you all that I have inside And you took my love You took my love Didn't I tell you What I believe Did somebody say that A love like that won't last Didn't I give you All that I've got to give baby I keep crying I keep crying for you There's nothing like you and I baby This is no ordinary love No ordinary love This is no ordinary love No ordinary love When you came my way You brightened every day With your sweet smile
What’s so powerful about the song is it could easily be placed on every films soundtrack that follows. These movies are the kind I hold in the softest place in my heart. They are timeless masterpieces vividly portraying unlimited possibilities in relationships. This is only my short list. Here they are:
The Notebook
Love and Basketball
Love Affair
Love Jones
Keeping the Faith
The Last Kiss
Shallow Hal
True Romance
Bonnie And Clyde
Secretary
Wicker Park
The Holiday
In the Land of Women
City of Angels
Buster & Billie
If by chance you have anymore that you feel should be here please send them to me via post or e-mail. I am working a medium a long and a huge list of romantic movies and all of your help would be greatly appreciated.
Every time I hear the beautiful Sade sing this song I cannot help but think back to the scandalous movie Indecent Proposal. Don’t you?
For those of you who have never seen the movie check it out. But this is not about an indecent proposal. Let’s view the song in detail, then I will very briefly elaborate on these lyrics while allowing them to usher us into our post today.
Sade - No Ordinary Love
This is lyrics from www.lyrics007.com
I gave you all the love I got I gave you more than I could give I gave you love I gave you all that I have inside And you took my love You took my love Didn't I tell you What I believe Did somebody say that A love like that won't last Didn't I give you All that I've got to give baby I keep crying I keep crying for you There's nothing like you and I baby This is no ordinary love No ordinary love This is no ordinary love No ordinary love When you came my way You brightened every day With your sweet smile
What’s so powerful about the song is it could easily be placed on every films soundtrack that follows. These movies are the kind I hold in the softest place in my heart. They are timeless masterpieces vividly portraying unlimited possibilities in relationships. This is only my short list. Here they are:
The Notebook
Love and Basketball
Love Affair
Love Jones
Keeping the Faith
The Last Kiss
Shallow Hal
True Romance
Bonnie And Clyde
Secretary
Wicker Park
The Holiday
In the Land of Women
City of Angels
Buster & Billie
If by chance you have anymore that you feel should be here please send them to me via post or e-mail. I am working a medium a long and a huge list of romantic movies and all of your help would be greatly appreciated.
Monday, August 25, 2008
21 Gun Salute: Can't Knock the Hustle
Action movies are infused with a super adrenaline rush. You know the kind that makes your heart race, pulling you to the edge of your seat, keeping you hypnotized with anticipation.
I thoroughly enjoy action movies. Not your typical action flicks with weak story lines, bombs blasting, and guns raining havoc. I'm talking about action movies with colorful characters. Characters that snatch you by the collar who demand your undivided attention.
I enjoy those diabolical characters who turn to a life of crime, thievery, gangsters, hit(wo)men, and drug dealers with nothing to lose. This is my 21 gun salute to those wild cowboys and cowgirls who are ready to die for their cause. Not in any particular order.
1. Heat (DeNiro and Pacino)
2. The Professional
3. True Romance
4. A Bronx Tale
5. Black Caesar (A powerful drug dealer tale many have stolen from)
6. Hell up In Harlem ( Part II to Black Caesar)
7. Gloria (Gena Rowlands)
8. Blue Hill Avenue
9. Sugar Hill
10. Menace II Society
11. The Usual Suspects
12. Carlito's Way
13. American Gangster
14. A Long Kiss Goodnight
15. The God Father Trilogy
16. Once Upon a Time in America
17. Inside Man
18. Training Day
18. Steal
19. Juice
20. Scarface
21. Ronin
22. The Italian Job
23. The Bank Job
24. Good Fellas
25. Chaos
26. Mobsters
27. Man on Fire
28. Pulp Fiction
29. The Point of No Return
30. Truth or Consequences
31. Street Kings
32. Dirty (Cuba Gooding Jr.)
33. Harsh Times
34. Shadow Boxer
35. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
I thoroughly enjoy action movies. Not your typical action flicks with weak story lines, bombs blasting, and guns raining havoc. I'm talking about action movies with colorful characters. Characters that snatch you by the collar who demand your undivided attention.
I enjoy those diabolical characters who turn to a life of crime, thievery, gangsters, hit(wo)men, and drug dealers with nothing to lose. This is my 21 gun salute to those wild cowboys and cowgirls who are ready to die for their cause. Not in any particular order.
1. Heat (DeNiro and Pacino)
2. The Professional
3. True Romance
4. A Bronx Tale
5. Black Caesar (A powerful drug dealer tale many have stolen from)
6. Hell up In Harlem ( Part II to Black Caesar)
7. Gloria (Gena Rowlands)
8. Blue Hill Avenue
9. Sugar Hill
10. Menace II Society
11. The Usual Suspects
12. Carlito's Way
13. American Gangster
14. A Long Kiss Goodnight
15. The God Father Trilogy
16. Once Upon a Time in America
17. Inside Man
18. Training Day
18. Steal
19. Juice
20. Scarface
21. Ronin
22. The Italian Job
23. The Bank Job
24. Good Fellas
25. Chaos
26. Mobsters
27. Man on Fire
28. Pulp Fiction
29. The Point of No Return
30. Truth or Consequences
31. Street Kings
32. Dirty (Cuba Gooding Jr.)
33. Harsh Times
34. Shadow Boxer
35. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Friday, August 22, 2008
REEL CINEMANIAC
How many times have you read a good movie review from a critic that turned out to be false?
I know I have been there more than once.
I recall leaving the bookstore to meet up with my lady and purchasing tickets to see no Country for Old Men. I was so damn mad at myself for sitting there through it that we walked from Lincoln Center back to my place in the 100's by Central Park. Bottom line is I hated the movie. It was the worst movie that I purchased tickets for and sat through its entirety.
It was just so unrealistic.
Javier Bardem has to be the best villian that I have seen in the past 25 years in cinema. Hands down-evil in its darkest sense. You are awesome.
The critics sang praises of the movie as if the Pope was coming to town. I can name quite a few movies of 2007 that were much better than that piece of Coen brothers crap. As far as the Coens brothers go I love a couple of their twisted tales but, this is by far their worst.
I will never classify myself as a critic.
I love movies too much to call myself a critic. Most of these people don't even have creative talent. But make their living critiquing the work of masters who they are not even worthy to stand with in the same room.
I am a reel cinemaniac.
What does that mean to be a reel cinemaniac? It means that I love many different genres of movies in various times and space, I dissect them, expose the good and the bad about them and keep it real. I don't take the sides of directors despite respecting their craft. I call em how I see them.
So buckle up your seatbelts, hold on tight and prepare to get on the thrill ride of a lifetime with a die hard reel cinemaniac. Let's go
I know I have been there more than once.
I recall leaving the bookstore to meet up with my lady and purchasing tickets to see no Country for Old Men. I was so damn mad at myself for sitting there through it that we walked from Lincoln Center back to my place in the 100's by Central Park. Bottom line is I hated the movie. It was the worst movie that I purchased tickets for and sat through its entirety.
It was just so unrealistic.
Javier Bardem has to be the best villian that I have seen in the past 25 years in cinema. Hands down-evil in its darkest sense. You are awesome.
The critics sang praises of the movie as if the Pope was coming to town. I can name quite a few movies of 2007 that were much better than that piece of Coen brothers crap. As far as the Coens brothers go I love a couple of their twisted tales but, this is by far their worst.
I will never classify myself as a critic.
I love movies too much to call myself a critic. Most of these people don't even have creative talent. But make their living critiquing the work of masters who they are not even worthy to stand with in the same room.
I am a reel cinemaniac.
What does that mean to be a reel cinemaniac? It means that I love many different genres of movies in various times and space, I dissect them, expose the good and the bad about them and keep it real. I don't take the sides of directors despite respecting their craft. I call em how I see them.
So buckle up your seatbelts, hold on tight and prepare to get on the thrill ride of a lifetime with a die hard reel cinemaniac. Let's go
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