Movie with Abe: 50/50

50/50
Directed by Jonathan Levine
Released September 30, 2011

Sometimes the more serious topics in life are best handled with levity. Comedies can be laced with tragedy and end up being both funny and extremely moving. “50/50” is an appropriate title for director Jonathan Levine’s film, released six weeks ago but still playing in select theatres. Half the film is a comedy about two buddies, Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Seth Rogen (Kyle), navigating the ups and downs of life, and the other half is the more sober story of Adam’s untimely cancer diagnosis. Strong writing and affecting performances help mold the two halves together into one charming and powerful dramatic comedy.

Casting Seth Rogen in a film usually means the opportunity for a decent level of ridiculousness and a hefty amount of swearing, sometimes in sweeter moderation (“Knocked Up”) and others in full-fledged offensiveness (“Observe and Report”). When he was relegated to a supporting role in “Funny People,” he wasn’t actually that funny, but in this case, he’s perfectly cast as Adam’s unserious best friend whose comments are almost entirely lewd and who supports his friend in a manner that can hardly be deemed conventional. Rogen does exactly what a supporting actor should do – make the most of the scenes in which he appears and not distract from the film’s subject, which is decidedly Adam.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has demonstrated enormous promise over the past few years, proving that he is more than just a teenage TV star from his time on “3rd Rock from the Sun.” His role in “50/50” can be described as a more sedated, nerdy version of his excitable romancer from “500 Days of Summer,” content just to get through life without ever getting too agitated about anything. Adam is given some memorable personality tics, most notably his refusal to drive because it represents one of the greatest risks of death. Gordon-Levitt is genuine and believable, and he handles the film’s dramatic moments exceptionally well. “50/50” is also a great vehicle for two talented young actresses, Bryce Dallas Howard, recently seen in “The Help,” as Adam’s girlfriend Rachael, and Anna Kendrick, from “Up in the Air,” as his therapist, Katherine, who is several years younger than Adam. The ensemble includes Angelica Huston and Philip Baker Hall as well, and these characters certainly feel like real people. Debut screenwriter Will Reiser’s script knows just when to be funny and when the mood should be more serious, creating a balanced and endearing story filled with humor and heart.

B+

Wednesday Oscar Watch

Welcome to a newly-restarted feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Watch with Abe. It’s a bit early to be able to accurately predict the eventual Oscar nominees, but around this time, plenty of likely contenders are being released. I’ll be looking every Wednesday at the awards chances for all of the films released the previous week. Chime in with your thoughts on the Oscar chances for these films in the comments section. Also, if I’ve missed any films from the previous months, please say so!

Films released November 11, 2011

J. Edgar
Of the last eight films Clint Eastwood has directed, six have netted Oscar nominations. The film wasn’t entirely warmly received by critics, but Leonardo DiCaprio is almost certain to hear his name called for Best Actor. If the film does well, Eastwood will earn a directing nod and the film could compete for Best Picture. Armie Hammer is a possibility for Best Supporting Actor as well, and the film’s costumes, art direction, and editing have a shot.

Melancholia
Lars Von Trier films have earned a total of two Oscar nominations, “Dancer in the Dark” for Best Original Song and “Breaking the Waves” for Best Actress. His latest film is among his best reviewed, and its strongest contenders are Kirsten Dunst for Best Actress and its gorgeous cinematography and art direction. I’m not sure it will make the cut in the end, though.

Into the Abyss
It’s not certain yet whether it will be eligible, but this Werner Herzog films could compete in the Best Documentary category.

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: 21 Jump Street

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

21 Jump Street – Opening March 16, 2012



I noticed this recently-released trailer for this upcoming spring release online, and I come at this project without any knowledge of the original 1980s series other than that it featured a younger Johnny Depp. It’s the trend these days to remake classic TV shows into either new TV shows or films, and something tells me that this film is going to be a heck of a lot different than its source material. The two actors in the lead, whose actual ages are thirty-one and twenty-seven, seem perfect for their roles. Channing Tatum is actually a good actor, though sometimes his parts don’t showcase his non-physical talents all that much. From the looks of the trailer, I suspect he’s capable of being quite funny. It’s fitting that Jonah Hill’s second truly adult rule, following “Moneyball,” would have him pretending to be a teenager. I’m pleased to see Nick Offerman, Ellie Kemper, and Rob Riggle in the supporting cast as well. The setup here has the potential for plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, with Tatum and Hill’s characters being given enormous opportunity to act juvenilely. The requisite drug-taking scene is featured in the trailer, but the two of them, especially Hill, plays it out so well with his tongue sticking out that it looks like it will be hilarious for sure. The best line from the trailer is delivered by Offerman, dryly repeating Tatum’s description of Miranda rights as explaining that you have the right to be an attorney. The red band trailer is embedded above, but the regular preview is just as funny.

Movie with Abe: London Boulevard

London Boulevard
Directed by William Monahan
Released November 11, 2011

Gangster movies have a distinctive feel, yet there are a number of different types of films that fall under that category. Perhaps one of the most memorable in recent years is “The Departed,” which offered a stylized take focused on characters, both good and bad, either trapped in or trapping others in, the mob life in Boston. After penning the screenplay for that film and for the Ridley Scott action thriller “Body of Lies,” William Monahan now presents his directorial debut, which moves over to London and showcases a similar tale about one particularly smooth mobster trying to get out of the game. It’s an enthralling, moody film that may not be terrific but is still immensely watchable.

What distinguishes “London Boulevard” most from other films like it is a spectacular ensemble. The usually excitable Colin Farrell is reserved and effortlessly cool as Mitchel, recently released from jail and finding himself pulled back to the old life he no longer desires to be a part of following his time spent inside. Keira Knightley takes a subtle and seductive role as a withdrawn actress pursued endlessly by paparazzi, and David Thewlis provides a good deal of the film’s comic relief as her companion and confidante Jordan. Eddie Marsan and Anna Friel have fun small parts as a corrupt cop and Mitchel’s promiscuous sister, respectively, and the role of hardened mob boss Gant is wisely saved for “Departed” and “Sexy Beast” star Ray Winstone. The cast is clearly having fun, and that makes the film enjoyable without diminishing its seriousness.

Mitchel is quickly established as both an endearing and intimidating figure, firmly positioned as the hero in the story. He explains that, were he to actually immerse himself in the gangster life, he wouldn’t be able to stop, and therefore he’s chosen not to be a gangster any longer. The conversations between the non-gangster characters, including Mitchel, are frank and honest, and people actually say what they mean, which is refreshing. The screenplay, based on Ken Bruen’s novel and adapted by Monahan, is smart and full of wit, enabling a fully entertaining cinematic experience. The film does lose some steam towards it end, choosing to wrap up its plotlines in a somewhat removed fashion, making them feel fleeting. That’s not to say that everything else up until that point is invalid, but rather that it loses its lasting impact, leaving the film enjoyable but not entirely memorable.

B

Movie with Abe: J. Edgar

J. Edgar
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Released November 9, 2011

In the past two decades, Clint Eastwood has proven himself to be an enormously talented director. His films consistently feature strong storytelling, top-notch performances, and excellent aesthetic qualities. Even his less impressive films, such as “Hereafter” and “Flags of Our Fathers,” are compelling cinematic presentations. Eastwood’s 2009 biopic “Invictus” was an excellent portrait of one prominent historical figure, and for his latest film, he returns to his home country to tell the story of J. Edgar Hoover, the first director of the FBI. Hoover’s story in itself is enthralling, yet there’s something that feels incomplete about the film as a biography of his life.

“J. Edgar” chooses to take a double vantage point, with an elder Hoover narrating the events of his career to young agents, with frequent flashbacks and other details filled in along the way that he might not recall proudly. Time passes as Hoover continues his service to the FBI after many decades, and care is taken to find parallels between developments occurring in both periods of his life. It is quickly clear from both the beginning and end of his career that Hoover is a singular personality, making more waves than friends, and dead set in his ways, determined to serve his country and protect it from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Technically, “J. Edgar” is extremely strong, highlighting extensive makeup to ensure that stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, and Naomi Watts look the parts when their characters have aged many years from the current ages of the actors. Accents and dialects seem just as important, with special emphasis given to Hoover’s speech and a hearty attempt by “Burn Notice” star Jeffrey Donovan as Robert F. Kennedy. The characters feel authentic, and a host of talented actors inhabit brief supporting parts, including Judi Dench, Josh Lucas, Stephen Root, Geoff Pierson, and Christopher Shyer. This is the movie that could well win DiCaprio his first Oscar, as his performance involves a full immersion in Hoover’s mental and physical mannerisms.

The characters and their setting certainly feel real, but the story as it’s told and unfolded never quite proves gripping in the way that it should. There are standout moments in which Hoover reveals much of himself and offers a glimpse into his psyche, but overall, the film lacks such moments. Nonetheless, the cinematography helps greatly to establish the mood, and the film remains genuinely interesting from start to finish. Though it may not be Eastwood’s best work, it’s still an engaging and worthwhile biopic of an entirely fascinating American.

B

Saturday Night Movie Recommendations with Abe

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. I'm going to be providing a handy guide to a few choice movies currently playing in NYC as well as several films newly released on DVD. I’ll also aim to comment on those films I have not yet had the chance to see, and I invite you to add in your thoughts on any films I haven’t seen in the comments below. Understandably, some weeks will have considerably fewer releases to address than others.

Now Playing in NYC

Melancholia (recommended): This end-of-the-world drama comes from the mind of Lars von Trier, which means it’s understandably unusual. In many of its moments, however, it’s entirely gripping and fascinating, and certainly worth a viewing if its subject matter isn’t too unsettling. Now playing at the Angelika and Lincoln Plaza. Read my review from yesterday.

J. Edgar (recommended): This J. Edgar Hoover biopic comes from director Clint Eastwood, featuring a likely Oscar-winning lead performance from Leonardo DiCaprio. It’s an intriguing, worthwhile film that never quite reaches the heights that the talent involved suggests it could. Now playing in wide release. My review will be up tomorrow.

London Boulevard (recommended): This gangster drama marks the directorial debut of “The Departed” scribe William Monahan and features a superb cast working with an entertaining script full of humor. Now playing at the IFC Center. My review will be up on Monday.

I’d really rather not see Jack and Jill or Immortals.

New to DVD

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (mixed bag): This finale to the epic saga suffers from an extreme case of finale fatigue, proving useful mostly for a marathon of the eight films of the series but failing miserably, especially absent the hype of its initial theatrical release, as a saga capper.

The Change-Up (mixed bag): This comedy earns its status mainly because it’s not nearly as terrible as it could have been. The setup and the ensuing plot doesn’t make any sense, but there are funny moments sprinkled throughout thanks to the talents of Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds being used to decent effect.

Now on Netflix Instant Streaming

Rabbit Hole (recommended): Nicole Kidman’s Oscar-nominated performance wasn’t the only terrific element of this harrowing and moving drama. Its upsetting subject matter may deter some, but the rest will find it heartbreaking and extraordinarily powerful.

The Yellow Handkerchief (anti-recommended): This 2010 road movie starring William Hurt, Kristen Stewart, and Eddie Redmayne of “My Week with Marilyn” doesn’t have much to offer, and is a paler version of other films that are much better.

Some Oscar classics from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s are now available, including Big, Gods and Monsters, Midnight Express, and Bugsy.

Movie with Abe: Melancholia

Melancholia
Directed by Lars Von Trier
Released November 11, 2011

“Melancholia” is a unique film in many ways. Coming from the mind of noted director Lars Von Trier, it’s no surprise. The film is divided around the halfway mark into two explicitly separate parts, but even before the narrative begins, the entire story is told through a mesmerizing outer space view of a planet, later revealed to be called Melancholia, eclipsing and ultimately destroying Earth. That forthcoming event hangs over the film like a shadow, barely present in its first half and nearly omnipresent in its second. Both parts follow what might otherwise be ordinary life cycle events, yet everything here is anything but ordinary. It may not be entirely exciting, comprehensible, or normative, but it certainly is magnificently hypnotic and intensely captivating.

In the first part, titled “Justine,” one sister (Kirsten Dunst) arrives nearly two hours late for her wedding party with her new husband Michael (Alexander Skarsgard) at the large estate of her sister’s husband, angering both her sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her husband John (Kiefer Sutherland). What ensues is one of the most bizarre, disconnected post-wedding festivities ever conceived, which finds new bride Justine wandering off multiple times, drawing herself a bath and having sex with stranger in the middle of a golf course, among other things. Von Trier enlists several esteemed heavy hitters to portray the parents of the couple, eliciting marvelously memorable speeches and toasts from Charlotte Rampling, Stellan Skarsgard, and John Hurt. It’s an experience comparable to, but infinitely more detached and never-ending than, the wedding in “Rachel Getting Married,” though in this case even the happy couple isn’t happy.

Once all the wedding celebrations are over, the film retreats into a sort of solitude, reframing its story through a new protagonist in its second segment, titled “Claire.” The theme of apocalyptic doom returns as Claire nervously anticipates and fears the approach of Melancholia while John reassures her that it won’t hit the Earth. Kiefer Sutherland delivers a particularly strong performance, making John’s scientific curiosity fully believable and reassuring. When certain doom arrives, the look on John’s face is more powerful than any expression Claire gives, and Gainsbourg delivers an exceptional turn as well. Justine remains firmly apart from the world, lost in her own mind and not eager to make any connections, and Dunst has the perfect demeanor to play the part. The gloomy music reminds of the greater threat, and the sweeping cinematography offers a beautiful picture of these characters and their actions. “Melancholia” is an intimate, mesmerizing, agonizing, and depressing experience all at once, difficult to process but just as difficult to forget.

B

Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: Homecoming

The 5th Annual Other Israel Film Festival begins tonight, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


Homecoming
Directed by Oma Ben Dor and Noa Maiman
Screening November 14 at 7:00pm and November 15 at 7:00pm

This engaging and thought-provoking documentary focuses not on religion or any Arab-Israeli conflict, but instead on three teenagers who have spent all of their lives living in Israel as the children of foreign workers. Their first trips back home takes them to the Congo, Peru, and the Phillipines, respectively, where they meet their families and contemplate their connections to Israel. There is a backdrop of political topicality related to the legality and ethics of deporting foreign workers and children born in Israel, but the filmmakers smartly choose to really get to know their three protagonists to ensure that the film is not just proving a larger point but actually discussing real people.

Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: A Place of Her Own

The 5th Annual Other Israel Film Festival begins this Thursday night, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


A Place of Her Own
Directed by Sigal Emanuel
Screening November 14 at 8:45pm and November 16 at 8:45pm

This film follows several years of the life of Reut, an Israeli woman with three children, the first of which she had to give up when she was homeless and who ended up in a religious Jewish home. Reut’s story is intriguing but endlessly depressing, and the film proceeds generally without much of a focus, chronicling Reut as she spirals downward and only occasionally upward, particularly the beginning of her marriage to a Palestinian man. Her situation is certainly unfortunate, but it’s hard for her to become a sympathetic character given the way she acts and addresses the camera. She’s an extremely unstable protagonist, and the film isn’t able to decode or analyze her behavior and motivations successfully. Ultimately, her story is simply an unsettling and disturbing tale, and the film doesn’t enhance it with any added weight or meaning.

Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: David and Kamal

The 5th Annual Other Israel Film Festival begins this Thursday night, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


David and Kamal
Directed by Kikuo Kawasaki
Screening November 12 at 4:00pm and November 13 at 3pm

Reading the summary for this film makes it sound like a shorter, tighter version of “Slumdog Millionaire,” but that’s hardly the case. This family drama centers on children, and as a result, its story and style lacks an adult perspective throughout most of its run time before suddenly bringing that perspective back at the end of the film. Taken as a film expressly for children, its events are overly simplistic and its themes too broad and sweeping, with less than dynamic characters at the center of what should be an exciting and adventure-filled story. As a film for all ages, it is sorely missing any sense of legitimacy for its adult characters, and presents an all-too-narrow vision of the world.

Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: Naomi

The 5th Annual Other Israel Film Festival begins this Thursday night, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


Naomi
Directed by Eitan Tzur
Screening November 11 at 9:15pm, November 12 at 8:45pm, and November 13 at 1pm

This drama, loosely and only somewhat accurately described as a thriller, follows esteemed professor Ilan Ben Natan as he discovers that his young wife Naomi is cheating on him. It’s an extremely top-heavy film, creating its intrigue early on and then spiraling into mild incoherence as its events progress and become less interesting. Calling it a thriller is faulty since it moves at a rather slow pace and contains few truly memorable and exciting moments. As a drama, however, it succeeds decently in its first half, creating a three-dimensional, believable character out of Ilan. Its title character isn’t nearly as dynamic, and as a result, it peters out long before its end, its better moments all featured before its midpoint.

Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: The Human Turbine

The 5th Annual Other Israel Film Festival begins this Thursday night, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


The Human Turbine
Directed by Danny Verete
Screening November 13 at 5:00pm and November 15 at 7:00pm

This chronicle of a groundbreaking use of solar energy in a Palestinian village is not best described as an environmental documentary. The focus is not on the wonder of being able to provide power and electricity thanks to the sun, though its impact and effectiveness is highlighted occasionally throughout the film. Instead, its central theme is a spirit of cooperation and collaboration between Palestinians and Israelis. This film stands out as one of the few at this or last year’s festival that actually underlines peaceful coexistence, with little to no conflict due to a shared interest in success and community. Their energy efforts may be impressive, but the general spirit of positivity and enthusiasm for this shared project is what’s truly inspiring.

Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: 77 Steps

The 5th Annual Other Israel Film Festival begins this Thursday night, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


77 Steps
Directed by Ibtisam Mara’ana
Screening November 12 at 7:00pm, November 13 at 3:00pm and November 14 at 8:45pm

This documentary is directed by its star, Ibtisam Mara’ana, a Palestinian woman dating an Israeli man named Yoni. It follows their relationship and paints a picture of their dynamic, a Palestinian Arab running for office, as she describes herself, determined to fight for the rights of all in Israel, and a Canadian Jew who moved to Israel six years earlier. Normal interactions and events such as voting or celebrating holidays are divisive, stressful experiences, and Ibtisam often finds herself stifled by Yoni, who attempts to calm her down when she gets riled up about her beliefs. Yoni’s visiting grandfather takes to Ibtisam, but others aren’t as friendly or open-minded. Like other films about Arab-Israeli relationships, like Tribeca entry “Love During Wartime,” it represents a constant struggle to stay civil if actual peace is not possible. This is an intriguing glimpse into a complicated situation, but it doesn’t reach any productive or eye-opening conclusion.

Other Israel Film Festival Spotlight: Torn

The 5th Annual Other Israel Film Festival begins this Thursday night, and Movies With Abe is proud to offer you a spotlight on some of the films being presented. Visit the festival website for a complete schedule of screenings for the films.


Torn
Directed by Ronit Kertsner
Screening November 15 at 8:45pm and November 16 at 7:00pm

This extremely interesting documentary follows Catholic priest Romuald Jakub Weksler-Waszkinel, who discovers that he was born to Jewish parents in Poland during the Holocaust. Waszkinel is drawn to the State of Israel and his Jewish heritage, which prompts him to come live on a religious kibbutz. His request to leave on Sundays to go to church is denied, as is his citizenship request, which forces Waszkinel to struggle with the disconnect between his two faiths. The thing he finds most difficult to let go is his love for Jesus, since he claims that Jesus always loved the Jews, and was a Jew. The film includes a moving sendoff for Waszkinel as the nuns at his church bid him farewell and good luck, and his multiple visits to Yad Vashem are all very powerful. The subject matter is very enticing, and this exploration of his character and his religiousness doesn’t disappoint.

Seeing Double: This Year's Dual Oscar Contenders

The start of November means we're getting close to Oscar time, and any regular visitor to this site knows that the last couple of months of the year feature a whole lot of Oscar coverage. Monday Oscar Odds has kicked into gear, Wednesday Oscar Watch has been going for a while now, and Friday For Your Consideration popped up again this week in the absence of any new movies to review. In case you haven't gotten your fill of Oscar posts, head over to Shockya to read my latest entry, which profiles those actors and actresses in the running for Oscars for multiple films. Comment here or there if you think I missed or overestimated anyone.

Saturday Night Movie Recommendations with Abe

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. I'm going to be providing a handy guide to a few choice movies currently playing in NYC as well as several films newly released on DVD. I’ll also aim to comment on those films I have not yet had the chance to see, and I invite you to add in your thoughts on any films I haven’t seen in the comments below. Understandably, some weeks will have considerably fewer releases to address than others.

Now Playing in NYC

I’ve got nothing to report on this particular week. I’ll pass on Tower Heist and certainly on A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas.

New to DVD

Crazy Stupid Love (highly recommended): This winning comedy doesn’t have a weak link, featuring great performances from Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone. It’s hard not to like, and it’s definitely above average. I saw it in theatres twice and enjoyed it just as much both times.

Cars 2 (recommended): This Pixar sequel is just as fun as the first, though those who didn’t enjoy the 2006 original probably won’t care for this bigger, louder, showier film which incorporates some spy adventure into the familiar car-racing storyline. As tends to be the case with Pixar films, it’s just as fun for the parents as it is for the kids.

Now on Netflix Instant Streaming

In the Loop (highly recommended): This biting satire of British-American relations and winner of the 2009 AFT Award for Best Adapted Screenplay is absolutely hilarious. It’s a frantic, fast-paced film with frequent laughs and a terrifically zany plot featuring terrific performances from the likes of Peter Capaldi and the rest of the cast.

Friday For Your Consideration: Mélanie Laurent

Welcome to a returning seasonal weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Friday For Your Consideration. As every year nears to a close, there are a number of actors nominated for Golden Globes, Oscars, and countless other awards. There are so many spots and there are so many deserving contenders, yet some inevitably get left out. Each week, I’ll be spotlighting one performance from this year which deserves a second look but might not get it. This doesn’t mean I’m not in favor of Elizabeth Olsen or Jean Dujardin getting their first nominations. They don’t need my help. As luck would have it, these actors do. I’ll be running this feature on a semi-regular basis until Oscar nominations are announced at the beginning of February, so leave your choices in the comments and I might feature them over the next couple of weeks! I’ve written at greater length about these performances in the reviews of the films, so make sure to read those for a more detailed look at why these actors deserve an Oscar nomination.

Mélanie Laurent (Beginners)

Where you’ve seen her before: The French actress should be universally recognizable to film fans as Shoshanna from “Inglourious Basterds.”

Why she deserves it: Though her character isn’t on the run from the Nazis under an assumed name, Anna isn’t exactly forthcoming with details about her life, making it hard for Ewan McGregor’s Oliver to get to know her. Somehow, Laurent is positively charming, seductive, mysterious, and mesmerizing all at the same time. In a way, Anna seems to exist only ethereally, a fleeting memory for Oliver to enjoy, yet Laurent makes her a permanent and unforgettable fixture of the film.

Standout scene: In her first appearance, a laryngitis-stricken Anna cleverly communicates with Oliver by writing her thoughts down on a pad. As with her portrayal of Shoshanna, Laurent effortlessly conveys so much with a blink of her eyes and a glance that she doesn’t even need to speak to make Oliver fall madly in love with her.

Why she won’t get it: It’s particularly unfortunate to me when a film is explicitly noted by an awards group but one particular performance is not (see “The Last King of Scotland” for a great example of this). Most Oscar pundits are predicting Christopher Plummer to get nominated for – and win – Best Supporting Actor, but I don’t think anyone will take notice of Laurent or McGregor. Laurent was looked over for “Inglourious Basterds,” snubbed in favor of costar Diane Kruger by SAG, and I can’t imagine that this will be her big breakthrough, though it really should be.

Thursday Token Themes

Welcome a weekly feature here at Movies With Abe. I’m a hugely enthusiastic fan of film scores, and music is far too often an element of cinema that goes unrecognized. Therefore I present a platform for a look – or rather, a listen – to some fantastic film scores. I’ll be selecting a composer and one or more of their film scores for your listening pleasure, embedded from YouTube.

This week’s featured composer is Trevor Rabin. The South African composer was a guitarist and musician long before he started scoring films in the 1990s. His selected works below are mostly very fast-paced and high-octane. Most recently, Rabin composed the part action, part sentimental score for the war film “5 Days of War.” His good beat for “Get Smart” helped make the film’s less comic moments thrilling, while the cool, furious music for “Bad Boys II” amped up the already-present excitement. The inspirational end titles for “Remember the Titans” are extremely memorable, as is the loud, angry car heist music from “Gone in 60 Seconds.” The epic, monumental score for “Armageddon” was probably one of the only good things about that film, whereas the aggressive “Con Air” score made that move even more fantastically ridiculous.

5 Days of War (2011)



Get Smart (2008)



Bad Boys II (2003)



Remember the Titans (2000)



Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)



Armageddon (1998)



Con Air (1997)

Wednesday Oscar Watch

Welcome to a newly-restarted feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Watch with Abe. It’s a bit early to be able to accurately predict the eventual Oscar nominees, but around this time, plenty of likely contenders are being released. I’ll be looking every Wednesday at the awards chances for all of the films released the previous week. Chime in with your thoughts on the Oscar chances for these films in the comments section. Also, if I’ve missed any films from the previous months, please say so!

Films released October 28, 2011

Puss In Boots
The first two “Shrek” films were beloved by Oscar voters, whereas the last two were entirely ignored. Antonio Banderas’ character is one of the more beloved parts of the franchise, so it’s possible that this entry could be welcomed back into the Best Animated feature category.

The Rum Diary
At some point, Johnny Depp will once again be an Oscar nominee. I don’t think that’s going to be this year. Depp’s last Hunter S. Thompson project, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” came out before he became an Oscar commodity, and if it’s taken seriously at all, this project may be seen as too out-there.

Janie Jones
I happen to think that Abigail Breslin is making great career choices and deserves another Oscar nomination at some point soon, but I’m sure no one will be watching this small film and noticing her.

In Time
This sci-fi release could be a contender for Best Visual Effects or Best Sound Editing, but I think it will be eclipsed by bigger movies.

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: Man on a Ledge

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

Man on a Ledge – Opening January 27, 2012



As I’ve discussed previously, planned January releases, rather than expansion or spillover, can be dangerous. It’s not often that an Oscar contender emerges at the very beginning of the year, and therefore it’s fortunate that this looks like an entirely different kind of film which could well do January proud. Instead of getting a haircut, action star Sam Worthington seems to have been thinking about what kind of film might be best for the next stage of his career, and while I’m not sure that a non-action part in an action film makes total sense, this certainly looks like a jam-packed thriller. The cast is rather staggering, with Ed Harris as the Big Bad Guy, Elizabeth Banks as the negotiator trying to talk him off the ledge, Jamie Bell as one of his accomplices on the inside, and Kyra Sedgwick as a reporter. “Billy Elliot” star Bell was even decent in “Jumper,” so I have faith that he’s going to be better than he needs to be in this supporting part. The last Man on a Ledge movie I saw, “The Ledge,” wasn’t great, but I think there’s much, more going on here to make it into an exciting and invigorating concept. I’ve been waiting for Ed Harris to have a really good role since “Gone Baby Gone,” and so I’m pleased to see him in a part like this. There’s a strong possibility of incoherence developing in the course of the plot, but I think this has the makings of a strong January release.