There are some classics that should never be touched. But Robert Redford’s 1974 adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is not so perfect that it should be sacrosanct.
According to Rotten Tomato’s aggregation of critical reviews, only 37% of film critics gave the 1974 version a positive review. And I would have to agree. Redford, whom I feel is usually a brilliant actor, seemed to be phoning it in. Mia Farrow said in an interview that he spent his time on set in his trailer glued to the Watergate hearings and was distracted on set. And in my opinion, it showed in the complete lack of chemistry between the stars.
Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 adaptation fared better with critics, but only marginally so; only 49% liked it. And this time, I would have to disagree.
Luhrmann can sometimes be a little too frenetic for my taste. It took me a long time to warm up to Moulin Rouge. But with The Great Gatsby, he puts that energy to fantastic use with the party scenes in particular.
But party scenes aside, the film does lag a bit. Perhaps this is simply an unadaptable book. But overall, I would have to say I enjoyed it. It will probably make my list for Best Cinematography. As for other categories, it still seems too early to tell.
Rating: 3 ½ stars
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Movie Reviews: Bridegroom (2013)
Director: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Starring: Thomas Bridegroom, Shane Bitney Crone, Michaela Myers
Documentary produced by Linda Bloodworth Thomason (Designing Women, Evening Shade) uses video diaries, Youtube videos, and old photos along with new on-camera interviews to tell the story of Shane Bitney Crone and his boyfriend, Tom Bridegroom, and the aftermath when Tom’s family refused to allow Shane to attend Tom’s funeral after his tragic accidental death.
It’s amazing how much original footage so many young people have of their lives today. Not just photos, but actually videos showing their inner thoughts at the moment they were occurring. That footage gives Bridegroom an immediacy the documentary desperately needs. Had the documentary been forced to rely on interviews and old photos, it’s hard to imagine it being so impactful.
I do wish Tom’s family had agreed to appear on camera, but that’s no fault of the film’s producers: they were invited, and perhaps their silence is damning enough.
Bridegroom made the film festival circuit in 2013 and was released in L.A. theaters just long enough to qualify for the Oscars (and the Cosmos!). It just had its network premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network and is now available through Amazon and Netflix.
Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Starring: Thomas Bridegroom, Shane Bitney Crone, Michaela Myers
Documentary produced by Linda Bloodworth Thomason (Designing Women, Evening Shade) uses video diaries, Youtube videos, and old photos along with new on-camera interviews to tell the story of Shane Bitney Crone and his boyfriend, Tom Bridegroom, and the aftermath when Tom’s family refused to allow Shane to attend Tom’s funeral after his tragic accidental death.
It’s amazing how much original footage so many young people have of their lives today. Not just photos, but actually videos showing their inner thoughts at the moment they were occurring. That footage gives Bridegroom an immediacy the documentary desperately needs. Had the documentary been forced to rely on interviews and old photos, it’s hard to imagine it being so impactful.
I do wish Tom’s family had agreed to appear on camera, but that’s no fault of the film’s producers: they were invited, and perhaps their silence is damning enough.
Bridegroom made the film festival circuit in 2013 and was released in L.A. theaters just long enough to qualify for the Oscars (and the Cosmos!). It just had its network premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network and is now available through Amazon and Netflix.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Trailer: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Lord of the Rings has been a huge fan favorite of Cosmo Voters, and the most honored film franchise in Cosmo history.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring tied with Moulin Rouge for the most nominations in 2001 -- but since two of Moulin Rouge's nominations were in negative categories, it received the most positive nominations of the year. The following year, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers set a record for the most nominations ever, with 21 nominations, and then the most awards with 9 winners. The final film in the series, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, broke both of those records with 26 nominations and 12 awards. All told, the franchise has received 60 nominations and 27 awards. Even the Harry Potter films only collectively received 27 nominations and 4 awards, though several of its films were released during the period of Cosmo dormancy.
Now director Peter Jackson is returning to Middle Earth to film The Hobbit, the LotR prequel in which the hobbit Bilbo first discovers the One Ring that is the centerpiece of the subsequent trilogy. Though The Hobbit is a much shorter book, it's filled with a lot more action. In addition, much was happening in J.R.R. Tolkien's world concurrent with The Hobbit, revealed in appendices in other books. Jackson will show that concurrent action as well, turning that short novel into three more movies.
The first of those, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, hits theaters in December (and yes, we already have tickets). Will Cosmo voters reward it as the other LotR films? We shall see.
In the meantime, check out the trailer!
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring tied with Moulin Rouge for the most nominations in 2001 -- but since two of Moulin Rouge's nominations were in negative categories, it received the most positive nominations of the year. The following year, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers set a record for the most nominations ever, with 21 nominations, and then the most awards with 9 winners. The final film in the series, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, broke both of those records with 26 nominations and 12 awards. All told, the franchise has received 60 nominations and 27 awards. Even the Harry Potter films only collectively received 27 nominations and 4 awards, though several of its films were released during the period of Cosmo dormancy.
Now director Peter Jackson is returning to Middle Earth to film The Hobbit, the LotR prequel in which the hobbit Bilbo first discovers the One Ring that is the centerpiece of the subsequent trilogy. Though The Hobbit is a much shorter book, it's filled with a lot more action. In addition, much was happening in J.R.R. Tolkien's world concurrent with The Hobbit, revealed in appendices in other books. Jackson will show that concurrent action as well, turning that short novel into three more movies.
The first of those, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, hits theaters in December (and yes, we already have tickets). Will Cosmo voters reward it as the other LotR films? We shall see.
In the meantime, check out the trailer!
The Cosmo Awards WILL return!
The Cosmique Movie Awards has had such an erratic history. An abrupt four year gap, followed by one returned year and then another gap.
Lest you're wondering whether they will ever return again, fear not. We will return in January to celebrate the best (and worst) films of 2012. So get to the theaters or get on Netflix to start catching up. And "Like" us on Facebook to follow news of the awards, including where and when and how to vote.
Lest you're wondering whether they will ever return again, fear not. We will return in January to celebrate the best (and worst) films of 2012. So get to the theaters or get on Netflix to start catching up. And "Like" us on Facebook to follow news of the awards, including where and when and how to vote.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Trailer: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Just last night, I finally got a chance to see the first installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the first part of J.K. Rowlings final book in her fantasy series.
The film has been nominated for eight Cosmique Movie Awards, including:
* Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2010
* Film Best Costume Design Or Make-Up For A 2010 Film
* Best Visual Effects for a 2010 Film
* Favorite Heroic Character of a 2010 Film - Daniel Radcliffe
* Favorite Villain of a 2010 Film - Helena Bonham Carter
* Favorite Villain of a 2010 Film - Ralph Fiennes
* Best Action/Adventure Film of 2010
* Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Film of 2010
And now, just this morning, the trailer for the second Deathly Hallows installment and final film in the Harry Potter franchise was released. For those who felt that the last two films were more build-up and less action, here comes the epic payoff.
Get ready!
The film has been nominated for eight Cosmique Movie Awards, including:
* Film Best Costume Design Or Make-Up For A 2010 Film
* Best Visual Effects for a 2010 Film
* Favorite Heroic Character of a 2010 Film - Daniel Radcliffe
* Favorite Villain of a 2010 Film - Helena Bonham Carter
* Favorite Villain of a 2010 Film - Ralph Fiennes
* Best Action/Adventure Film of 2010
* Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Film of 2010
If you're interested, head over to the Cosmo site to vote for the winners of the 8th Cosmique Movie Awards.
Monday, April 18, 2011
8th Cosmique Movie Award nominations announced!
Inception led the field for the 8th Cosmique Movie Awards with 14 nominations, followed by The Social Network with 12 nominations and Black Swan and The King's Speech with 11 each.
The top-nominated films are all competing in the Best Film of 2010 category, along with Toy Story 3 as the fifth nominee. The top four are also competing for Best Director, along with David O. Russell for The Fighter.
Helena Bonham Carter leads in the acting nominations, with three nominations in an unprecedented three different films: Best Supporting Actress for The King's Speech as well as Best Villain for both Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
Of the six nominees for Best Films of All Time Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame, five of them -- Apocalypse Now, Chinatown, The Godfather, A Letter to Three Wives, and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring -- have all been nominated before. They're joined by another first-time nominee: Edward Scissorhands.
To vote for the final winners, visit the Cosmique Movie Awards website and cast your ballot online by midnight, May 6, 2011. If you change your mind after you vote, simply resubmit your changed ballot with the same email address. Only your most recent ballot will be considered.
The top-nominated films are all competing in the Best Film of 2010 category, along with Toy Story 3 as the fifth nominee. The top four are also competing for Best Director, along with David O. Russell for The Fighter.
Helena Bonham Carter leads in the acting nominations, with three nominations in an unprecedented three different films: Best Supporting Actress for The King's Speech as well as Best Villain for both Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
Of the six nominees for Best Films of All Time Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame, five of them -- Apocalypse Now, Chinatown, The Godfather, A Letter to Three Wives, and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring -- have all been nominated before. They're joined by another first-time nominee: Edward Scissorhands.
To vote for the final winners, visit the Cosmique Movie Awards website and cast your ballot online by midnight, May 6, 2011. If you change your mind after you vote, simply resubmit your changed ballot with the same email address. Only your most recent ballot will be considered.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Time to nominate!
It's time to cast your nominations for the 8th Cosmique Movie Awards!
Head over to the nomination page and do the following:
Head over to the nomination page and do the following:
- Download lists of eligible films and a sample ballot (optional)
- Cast your ballots online.
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