The Tidbits For The Day... It's Yom Kippur!

-Yes everyone, it's Yom Kippur, which means that I have to fast all day tomorrow... but to make up for it, I get to eat like crazy tomorrow night! I've already made a great Apple Brown Betty! But enough talking about food, I might get hungry...

*And now on to some tidbits:



-Can Josh Brolin get a nomination for W.? Oliver Stone's controversial film comes out next week, but early reviews say that Josh Brolin is deserving for an Oscar nomination for playing the one, the only Dubya. And it's chances are starting to look good! Just the other night, the W. premiere was star studded, as pointed out by Pete Hammond (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/season/2008/10/how-w-plans-to.html), with such stars as Bill Maher, Paul Haggis, Al Pacino, Martin Sheen, Diane Lane, Maria Bello, Jodie Foster, Jonah Hill, James Brolin, and Barbara Streisand all there. And even Academy prez himself Sid Ganis was there as well. Is that a sign of things to come considering it was a "near-unanimous thumbs up" at the premiere as well?



-Entertainment Weekly is "Recall[ing] the Gold!" This past week, EW sent out ballots to 7,000 film industry professionals and insiders, many of whom are Academy members themselves, asking them to "re-vote" years later to see if in fact the winners have held up over the years. But it gets even better, every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of the year, anyone can vote online from one year's race and see, if out of the five nominees, if the same winner would be picked today just like years ago. And when "Recall the Gold" is over, EW will tally all the results of both the readers of EW and and the 7,000 industry pros and insiders. Pretty cool EW, I just wonder what the Academy will think of it?

-Lately, I don't think you can go one day in life now without hearing the name Sarah Palin at least five times a day, and Tina Fey thrown in there at least one or two times in that five! Well, my friend recently sent me an article on how Palin and politics made TV better, and it's actually very interesting - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=24&entry_id=31111.

-And still on the topic of Sarah Palin, the guys over at The TV Zone had some fun with wondering what would happen if Sarah Palin came face to face with "Sarah Palin"... - http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/blog/2008/10/snl_fake_palin_to_meet_real_pa.html


-Life On Mars is premiering tomorrow, and ABC is promoting the hell out of this show, and for example, ABC and the NY Daily News have teamed up to create this (it's actually pretty cool) - http://www.nydailynews.com/news/1973/



-And last but not least, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOOGLE! The company said it actually wants only 5 presents - the top 5 world-changing ideas submitted to the Project 10^100. In a statement, the company said it was "asking our users to send us exciting ideas for ways to improve people's lives," adding that it has "committed $10 million to turn up to five of the best ideas into reality." The company said that an idea could use technology or not, could be big or small, but it must have an impact. The 100 best ideas will then be identified, and users will be asked to vote on which ideas the company should back with funds.

I'm Back!

Hey Guys, sorry I haven't been able to blog in the past couple of days. I don't think I have ever been this busy in my life, but right now, it has slowed down a bit and I am able to get get back to blogging!

So to start off again, here are the tidbits of the day:

-Could Dubya really get an Oscar nomination? Of course, lately, it has been wishful thinking for Brolin to get recognized for playing the president, but could he really land a spot in the top 5? According to Politico (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13820.html),

People who have seen the film, and there are not many at this point, have said the most astonishing part of the movie isn’t the storyline, which doesn’t contain any shocking new information. And it’s not the liberties the film takes with reality — like any biopic, it includes invented dialogue, and several lengthy real-life events have been telescoped into a few minutes of screen time. Instead, “W.” watchers say that Brolin has positively nailed Dubya, channeling his very soul in the same way Jamie Foxx inhabited Ray Charles’ skin in “Ray,” Joaquin Phoenix captured Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line” and Jim Carrey became Andy Kaufman’s reincarnation in “Man on the Moon.”

Brolin is said to be so impressive that there has been discussion of using his performance to market the entire picture. “He gives off such an amazing vibe that Lionsgate should promote the movie as a great dramatic piece, instead of hyping it as another Oliver Stone controversy, because that’s going to happen anyway,” said a source close to filmmakers. While viewers have an awareness of Stone that no other
director enjoys, the campaign will be very “Josh-centric,” confirmed a studio insider who requested anonymity.

As a result, expect Lionsgate to move hard for a best actor nomination come Oscar season in order to move more DVDs, with release of the home video version of the film expected to conincide with Academy Awards hoopla early next year.

Stone said he then chose Brolin, who was “not a star” but felt “more rural Americana.” According to the director, Brolin was “scared sh-tless” at the thought of mocking the sitting president — probably because he remembered the grief that his father, James Brolin, went through after playing Ronald Reagan in a CBS TV movie that ultimately got bumped from the network. But the younger Brolin dove into his work, spending hours perfecting his Texas twang and listening to speeches, press conferences and other material to strike a proper tone.

One thing to be grateful about: Unlike Stone’s previous presidential picture about Richard Nixon that ran an interminable 192 minutes (and 212 in the subsequent “director’s cut”), his take on Bush is way more concise. Advance word from the London Film Festival (where the picture will make its European debut) indicates it will clock in at a mere 110 minutes.

-Is anyone else excited for Sasha Baron Cohen's Bruno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T-Shirt? Yeah, long name... but Cohen recently got arrested for it. Earlier this week, the notorious Cohen managed to somehow get backstage and walk down the catwalk before getting pulled away by security at Agatha Ruiz de la Prada show in Milan. After being bundled away by the Italian police, one officer recalled, "He was actually very funny, and the first thing he said was 'Can I make a phone call', like they do on TV."

Luckily, an Italian film crew captured everything that went on at the show:



-John Foote over at In Contention (http://www.incontention.com/?p=2075) wonders if Kate Winslet is the greatest actress of her generation? I think he is right!

-And speaking about Kate Winslet, Scott Rudin and Harvey Weinstein have finally come to an agreement! The Reader will be released on December 12, 2008 after a long and heated debate between Rudin and Weinstein, and even a rumored bet.

-And while we are still on the topic of the amazing Kate Winslet, Anne Thompson says that Paramount Vantage will officially debut the Revolutionary Road trailer during tonight's broadcast of Mad Men. This is very appropriate because Matthew Weiner, the show's creator, was mostly inspired to create Mad Men after reading Richard Yates's amazing book, Revolutionary Road.

-Will Helen Mirren be the next iconic action star? Mirren will star in John Madden's The Debt. According to Empire Magazine (http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=23323),

Mirren will play a former Mossad agent who, along with two colleagues, fails to capture a Nazi war criminal. They decide to cover their tracks, only for the criminal to resurface thirty years later, prompting Mirren to track him down before the truth can be revealed.

Seems like this could be a doozy of a role for the ever-wonderful Mirren – not only will there be a great deal of soul-searching and self-examination, there should be the chance to see a sixtysomething woman kick arse on the big screen.

To be honest, we should have seen Mirren’s casting coming the minute we discovered that the plot called for two actresses to play the main character – one in her thirties, and the other in her sixties. Quite frankly, there aren’t many actresses around these days who could handle a role like this – and Mirren is at the top of a very short list.

-An in Foreign Language submissions news, China has unusually submitted a documentary for their choice: Dream Weaver: Beijing 2008. It is about the country’s seven years of preparation for last month’s Olympic Games. It was produced by a state-owned company. Israel has submitted the animation flick Waltz With Bashir, which is about the director's attempt to reconstruct lost memories of his -- and the Israeli Army's -- involvement in the massacre of Palestinian civilians by Christian militias during the first Lebanon War in 1982. Waltz recently premiered at Cannes and won the top prize at the Israeli Film Academy Awards. France chose the Cannes winner, The Class, and Germany in a very surprising move chose The Baader Meinhof Complex. Most people thought Germany would choose The Wave, but instead they chose this movie which is about the early years of the RAF.



-And who will be the new Oscar host for this year? I say the amazing Kathy Griffin, but rumor is that Ricky Gervais will be the man! I am a huge fan of Gervais and I think he will make a great host. The Academy has made a statement that they have not chosen a host yet, but apparently some light bulbs were turned on with some execs when Ricky Gervais was telling Steve Carell to "Give me back my Emmy."



I swear, I crack up everytime I see that! Ricky Gervais is brilliant! Last week, after recieving praise, his movie Ghost Town premiered... and flopped at the box office. But hey, that could be like a punchline at the Oscars if he is the host. He has another movie coming out in 2009 called This Side of the Truth, in which he wrote and directed and stars along Jennifer Garner and the amazing Tina Fey.

-And by the way, Ricky Gervais has like the best blog ever! Check it out - http://www.rickygervais.com/thissideofthetruth.php

And now on to my OBSESSION of the week. Now, I just realized that I forgot to do my obsession of the week for last time, so I got two obsessions for you guys.

1. The trailer for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. What a great looking trailer!



2. This has nothing to do with movies or tv or anything like that, but just the other day my friend told me about how there is a "secret menu" at Jamba Juice! I've always loved Jamba Juice and was excited when I heard about this "secret menu." She told me that she got one smoothie that was called "White Gummie Bear" and another one called "Pink Star" (which is suppossed to replicate a Pink Starburst - which just so happens to be my favorite flavor). Well, later on in the day, I googled up "secret menu jamba juice," and sure enough I found a few pages relating to this "secret." As I was looking down the list of names of these smoothies, I saw such titles as "Fruity Pebbles," "Skittles," "Wake-Up Call," "Push-Up Pops," "Strawberry Shortcake," "PB+J," "Hello Jesus," "Thank You Jesus," and my personal favorite "Screaming Orgasm" just to name a few on a very long list.

Well anyways, today I decided that I would go to my nearest Jamba Juice and order a "secret menu" item. I ordered the Pink Star. When I ordered it, the guy was like "no problem." And the woman at the check-out station rung me up like normal with a smile and without any questions. But here's the best part. As I was waiting for the smoothie to be made, there were like two people working the blenders there - the guy making my "Pink Star" and another girl. The girl asks the guy, "So, what smoothie are you making?" And the guy responds "Pink Star." And girl is like, "Are you seriously making that?" And they guy is like, "Who cares, it's already in the blender." And he rolled his eyes. Ah, that was great! Pathetic, but great. And it tasted so good too! It was like a Pink Starburst! So if you get a chance, go to your nearest Jamba Juice and order a secret menu item.

Trailer Round-up!

Finally, the real trailer for W. by Oliver Stone starring Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Banks. Based off this trailer, I am highly considering predicting Banks for a Best Supporting Actress nomination!



And here is a better version of the Revolutionary Road trailer, extended and without the Mary Hart narration.



And here is the trailer for Bride Wars starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson. This looks like it can be funny but not funny at the same time...



And here is the new trailer for Waltz With Bashir that is Israel's Official Selection for the Foreign Film race at the Oscars. Waltz With Bashir just won the top prize at the Israel Film Academy Awards (Israel's answer to the Oscars). Sony Pictures Classics will be releasing this film here.



Well this movie could be interesting... Here is the trailer for Notorious. For some reason, I had no idea that there was going to be a movie about this, and meanwhile I keep on thinking that I heard of it. But oh well...



And here is the trailer for Inkhart starring Brendan Frasier and Helen Mirren.



And to end it off, here are two clips from Adam Resurrected starring Jeff Goldblum.

Is anyone else excited for this weekend?

First of all, sorry I haven't been able to post in the past few days, I've been really busy. But I'm here now!

But anyways, I was reading EW today and I saw this awesome advertisement for the Emmys:

I think it will be a good night for the Emmys. I've noticed that the Emmys tend to be at it's best when it is on ABC, and NBC... Think about it. Last year it was on FOX, it sucked, and when it is was on CBS, it was alright, but when it has been on ABC and NBC it has always been great... So even with five hosts on Sunday night, the overall theme to "celebrate television" over the past 60 years, I have high expectations for it... It should be exciting! And I will post my predictions very soon!

-And also I thought I would bring up W. If you look on youtube, Oliver Stone has a new contest where you can create your own "mashup" for W., and if you win, you get a prize... But there are snipet-clips up on the page, so if you want to check that out, go to: http://www.youtube.com/WtheFilm.

And speaking about W., here is a new cast photo from Vanity Fair:

Class of 2008?

It seems to be that this year for the Oscars, we will be seeing many new faces come nomination time, and here are a few stars to lookout for in the next couple of months:

Josh Brolin

After becoming a more well know name after last year's Oscar-winner No Country For Old Men, Josh Brolin may just become the name you will hear quite a few times in the coming months as he takes on playing the current President George W. Bush in Oliver Stone's W. And though he will get a lot of press for W., it will most likely be Milk that will give him the Oscar nomination. Though there is a chance he will get nominated for W., watch out for him in Milk. I wonder what the real George Bush will think about his version, of well, him!?!

Elizabeth Banks

She is the "IT" girl of 2008! Watch out for her! Her name will be everywhere in the next couple of months, especially for playing the First Lady Laura Bush, as well as being in a "porno." Yes you read right. She will be starring alongside Seth Rogen in Kevin Smith's Zack And Miri Make A Porno as well as playing Laura Bush in W. How much more opposite can you get? Ha ha ha... She will also be seen in the comedy Role Models and the Toronto Film Festival gem Lovely, Still starring Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn. But definetly watch out for Elizabeth Banks this season, especially for her Oscar chances for playing Laura Bush for Best Supporting Actress.

Anne Hathaway

She is practically a lock after recieving amazing reviews for her role as the sister from hell who shakes things up at her sister's wedding in Rachel Getting Married. We all remember her from The Princess Diaries and then making the shift to "adultland" in The Devil Wears Prada, and now she has gone even farther in Rachel Getting Married, a role that will most likely finally get her a nomination. In the past, Hathaway has attended the Oscars as a presenter for a few years, now she might attend the Oscars as a nominee! So definetly look out for Hathaway as she may get Oscar nomination number one!

Rosemarie DeWitt

She started to become well-known when she took on a role in (one of my favorite movies ever) Cinderella Man, starring alongside Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, and Paddy Considine, which in real life she is the granddaughter of James Braddock, who the movie is about, but she became more recognizable after nabbing the lead role in Fox's Standoff alongside Ron Livingston and then AMC's Mad Men alongside Jon Hamm. Now, she stars alongside Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married, and earning rave reviews as well, even some saying it would be a "crime" not to nominate her for Best Supporting Actress.

Sally Hawkins

Hawkins is the "breakout" star of the year. She won the Best Actress award at the Berlin Film Festival and has been recieving great reviews for her role as Poppy, a cheery schoolteacher, in Happy Go Lucky. The film is by Mike Leigh, who is known for his leading (unknown) women who earn Oscar nominations for his movie (such in the past as Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake and Brenda Blethyn in Secrets and Lies). It looks as if it's Sally Hawkin's turn! Definetly look out for Sally Hawkins as her chances are looking good for an Oscar nomination.

Richard Jenkins

What a role of a lifetime for this 61 year old! His role as Professor Walter Vale in the indie-gem of the year, The Visitor, was Jenkins's first lead role in a movie. In the past, he has been known for playing the supporting roles, but this time it was all about him! He was unbelievable in The Visitor, and he truly deserves an Oscar nomination! He earned rave reviews as The Visitor started to become bigger and bigger, and what a way to reward Jenkins then with a nomination! It would be the most deserved nomination among all of the nominees!

Michael Sheen

He should've got a nomination for playing Tony Blair in The Queen, but he was wrongfully shut out from recieving a nomination. Though the BAFTA Awards nominated him... But now he has another chance! He plays David Frost, the reporter who interviews President Richard Nixon, played by Frank Langella, post-Watergate. Sheen is reprising his role as Frost from the original stage version of Frost/Nixon, as Langella is doing the same. Sheen may finally get that nomination that he deserves!

Kodi Smit-McPhee

It seems to be that Kodi Smit-McPhee may be the child nomination of the year. He recieved rave reviews from down under in Australia for Romulus, My Father, in which he won the Australian Film Institute award for his role, but it may be his role in the Cormac McCarthy adapation The Road that will kickstart his future acting career as he stars alongside Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron in the post-apocalyptic tale about a man (Mortensen) and his son (Smit-McPhee) trying to survive by any means possible.

Viola Davis

You may recognize Viola Davis from Antwone Fisher, in which she recieved an Independent Spirit nomination, as well as tv shows Century City and Traveler. Now, she stars alongside Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams in Doubt. In the original stage version, Adriane Lenox won the Tony Award for the role as Mrs. Muller, which is the role Davis is playing in the film adapation.

James Franco

James Franco is being considered the next James Dean, but wait, didn't he already play him? The resemblance is striking, which led Franco to win a Golden Globe for his portrayl as Dean as well as earning an Emmy Award nomination for the role. Since then, Franco has starred in the Spider-Man series alongside Tobey Maguire and Kristen Dunst, Flyboys, and most recently Pineapple Express, in which he has now become more well-known. Now he is starring in a supporting role in Milk alongside Sean Penn. To get an idea of Franco's character in Milk, in which he play's Penn's character's gay partner, see this interview that Franco did with Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!: