Remembering Roger Ebert

The worlds of cinema and journalism lost an iconic voice this past Thursday when venerable film critic Roger Ebert passed away at 70.

I'd been a fan of Ebert's reviews since At The Movies premiered on television back in 1982. I was only 12 years old at the time but his straight-forward, unpretentious approach to analyzing movies engaged me in such a way that I actually started dissecting the characters and storylines I was seeing on the screen with my buddies Saturday afternoons.

A movie was no longer cool just because it had mind-blowing effects or exotic locales. I started paying attention to photography, how deeply layered the story was and if the characters were memorable and actually had three dimensions. Ebert's reviews made me aware I was seeing a bad movie and gave me the wherewithal to know when I was sitting in the dark with a really good one.

When I started working for the student newspaper my freshman year in college, film reviews were some of the first things I wrote. Now I'd probably read a couple hundred print reviews prior to high school graduation but it was Ebert's television voice that guided me through my first written critique. Give a little background on the director or star, lay out the story and convey how well or poorly the film was executed. Pretty simple. It's a recipe I follow when writing reviews to this day.

It's pretty obvious the passion Ebert had for the cinema. What some may not realize is that he had an equal or greater passion for writing. We began his career writing film reviews for the Chicago Sun-Times back in 1967 and became so astute at it, he actually won a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism at age 33. He kept writing while enjoying a successful television career and even seemed to double his output after cancer robbed him of his vocal cords back in 2006. I remember a co-host asking him on an award show what advice he would give to someone wanting to make a career from reviewing movies. His response: "Love writing."

Roger Ebert may have lost his ability to speak, but he never lost his voice. It will continue to inspire future journalists and filmmakers for generations to come.

Oscar Predictions

My predictions in the major categories for Sunday's Academy Awards:

Picture: Argo
Director: David O. Russell Silver Linings Playbook
Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis Lincoln
Actress: Jennifer Lawrence Silver Linings Playbooks
Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones Lincoln
Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway Les Miserables
Original Screenplay: Mark Boal Zero Dark Thirty
Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio Argo

Oscar Nominations Announced

Nominations for the 85th Annual Academy Awards were announced this morning. The nods for the major categories are as follows:

Best Picture

Amour
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

Amour is a bit of a surprise since it did get a nod for Foreign Language Film. The Dark Knight Rises could have taken its place with Moonrise Kingdom slipping into the #10 spot.

Best Actor:

Bradley Cooper Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis Lincoln
Hugh Jackman Les Misérables
Joaquin Phoenix The Master
Denzel Washington Flight

Four of the five SAG nominees are present with Joaquin Phoenix replacing John Hawkes. While Phoenix was spot-on as a crude, despicable psychopath in The Master, is it a performance I'd want to see twice in my lifetime? No. Jack Black should have taken his spot for Bernie. Of these five, I'd say Day-Lewis is the favorite.

Best Actress

Jessica Chastain Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva Amour
Quvenzhané Wallis Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts The Impossible

Three of the five SAG nominees are present with Riva and Wallis getting nods over Helen Mirren and Marion Cotillard. I wasn't a fan of Beasts of the Southern Wild and thought both Chastain's and Lawrence's performances were a bit overrated. The favorite here is anyone's guess.

Best Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin Argo
Robert De Niro Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman The Master
Tommy Lee Jones Lincoln
Christoph Waltz Django Unchained

De Niro and Jones both gave nice performances but Arkin was, well Arkin, and Hoffman's character in The Master really wasn't that memorable. Javier Bardem should have taken one of their spots instead for Skyfall. Waltz shined in Django and should be the favorite here, but it will probably come down to Arkin and Jones.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams The Master
Sally Field Lincoln
Anne Hathaway Les Misérables
Helen Hunt The Sessions
Jacki Weaver Silver Linings Playbook

Liked Weaver in Playbook, thought Adams was bland in The Master and felt Field was a bit over the top at times in Lincoln. While Hathaway could mount a challenge, Field is the favorite here.

Directing

Michael Haneke Amour
Benh Zeitlin Beasts of the Southern Wild
Ang Lee Life of Pi
Steven Spielberg Lincoln
David O. Russell Silver Linings Playbook

The most surprising category as only two of the DGA noms are present here - Lee and Spielberg. No Affleck, Bigelow or Hooper. I'd say Spielberg is the fav here but both Russell and Lee did great work and Amour seems to be gaining traction.


The Oscars air Sunday, February 24th on ABC. Check back Feb. 22 for my picks.

Top 5 Films of 2012

Well, it ended up being a record-breaking year for Hollywood in 2012. It was a little touch and go there for a while. Things started out great with blockbusters like The Hunger Games and The Avengers but cooled considerably over the course of the summer as seasonal grosses and attendance dropped to their lowest numbers in 20 years. Fortunately, the studios had aces like Lincoln, Skyfall and The Hobbit up their sleeves this fall to rescue the industry and ultimately deliver the kind of mind-boggling year everyone assumed was a forgone conclusion back in January.

2012 wasn't just a bank-bursting year for Hollywood grosses, it was tops for number of releases as well. A staggering 653 films filled the screens of multiplexes and art houses from January through Christmas. I did my part and caught roughly 30 of them. Below are five of my favorites.


1. Moonrise Kingdom: No other film put a smile on my face and kept it there like Wes Anderson's 1960s-set tale of two young, mismatched lovers who run away from home and send their small New England island into turmoil. Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Bruce Willis all give terrific, quirky performances and every shot offers some kind of wonderful little relic of nostalgia that engulfs you like a warm, snug blanket.

2. Bernie: Chances are you missed this comedic little gem from Richard Linklater about portly mortician Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) who befriends and then kills a wealthy Texas window (Shirley MacLaine). Black gives the performance of his career as the magnanimous, overtly effeminate Bernie, prancing through every scene with such infectious gusto you just can't help but root for him. Trust me, even with the subject matter, you won't stop laughing with this one.

3. The Dark Knight Rises: Christopher Nolan's thrilling, epic conclusion to his Batman trilogy just hit all the right notes for me. Even at 165 minutes, I walked out of the theater and instantly felt like seeing it again (I didn't, the wife wouldn't let me). And the ending just may be the best ever for a super-hero film. It still makes me smile just thinking about it.

4. Skyfall: Not just Daniel Craig's best turn as 007, the best Bond film in nearly 20 years. Just a slick, richly textured and highly satisfying piece of entertainment. Oh and Javier Bardem makes a pretty good villain, too.

5. Life of PI: Ang Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's beloved novel is just a joy to behold on screen. Every shot penetrates the soul and reminds us just how powerful the art of cinema can be. This is definitely one to experience inside a theater.

If I Could Choose Five More: 6. Silver Linings Playbook 7. Robot & Frank 8. Lincoln 9. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen 10. Django Unchained

Happy New Year!

Top 5 Blu-rays of 2012

So did you finally get that Blu-ray player this year? No? If you've got an HDTV and love movies, Blu-ray really is the best way to replicate the movie-theater experience in the comfort of your own home.

The format continued to take some impressive strides in 2012. In addition to getting high-def editions of such classics as Lawrence of Arabia, Chinatown, Sunset Boulevard and Casablanca, cinephiles were treated to a 22-film James Bond 50th anniversary set, a 14-film Alfred Hitchcock collection and not one, not two, but five of Steven Spielberg's most beloved and iconic films.

If you're expecting a Blu-ray player this holiday season or plan to upgrade in the near future, you can't go wrong with the five releases below, my favorites of 2012.


1. Lawrence of Arabia - Sony Pictures Home Entertainment: Arguably the greatest widescreen epic of all time, David Lean's 1962 masterpiece has always been one of those films best experienced inside a theater, not your living room. Well if you can't convince your local cineplex to screen a print, Sony's new Blu-ray is the next best thing. Restored and remastered at 4K resolution, The 50-year-old film is truly a sight to behold on Blu. Everything, from the sand of the desert to Lawrence's white flowing robes, just sparkles anew and makes the once-exhausting 227-minute running time actually enjoyable.

2. Jaws - Universal Studios Home Entertainment: Steven Spielberg's 1975 thriller about a man-eating shark terrorizing a small New England island never gets old (I screen it every 4th of July) and thanks to Universal's new digital restoration, it's never looked or sounded better. Throw in the new feature-length documentary The Shark Is Still Working and you're definitely going to need a bigger screen for this one.

3. Casablanca - Warner Home Video: The crown jewel of the Warner library got a new 4K digital scan and the result is nothing short of amazing for a 70-year-old black and white film. The image is exceptionally crisp, remarkably fluid and above all else, classically cinematic. With this one, Warner Brothers proves a perfect film can actually get better. Play it again, Sam.

4. Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures - Lucasfilm/Paramount Home Video: While it would have been nice to have this set for Indy's 30th anniversary last year, the Blu-ray debut of the intrepid archaeologist's first three cinematic adventures (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade) is a welcome one. (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released on Blu in 2008 and is also included.) While each of the four films look and sound great, the true Holy Grail here is a new Raiders documentary that features several deleted scenes, including Indy's extended tussle with the Cairo swordsman.

5. E.T. - Universal Studios Home Entertainment: Everyone's favorite little alien turned 30 this year and to mark the occasion Universal and Steven Spielberg ditched the silly 2002 special edition and rolled out a newly remastered print of the original classic that looks and sounds as good as it did in theaters back in 1982. The real bonus, however, is the E.T. Journals, a newly discovered feature-length making-of documentary that puts you right on set and unfolds as a Spielberg-taught master class in filmmaking.

Next Week: Top 5 Films of 2012

Top 5 Albums of 2012

2012 was another satisfying year for music. Not only did we get great new albums from the likes of Dylan, Knopfler and Springsteen, but we were graced with long-overdue efforts from Neil Young and Crazy Horse (two albums, actually) and a David Lee Roth-fronted Van Halen. Throw in an eclectic rocker from Jack White and a welcome surprise from John Mayer of all people and my ears were kept happy pretty much most of the year. Below are five of my favorites:

1. Born and Raised - John Mayer: Never really considered myself a John Mayer fan until I heard the single Queen of California, liked its laid-back vibe, and thought I'd give the rest of the album a try since I had a few bucks left on a giftcard. That was in May and damned if I haven't played that disc at least once a week since. (I'm actually listening to it as I write this). Each of the 12 tracks is a soothing, melodic little gem, like a lost classic from the singer/songwriter era of the '70s. It's the perfect listen for a Sunday morning or a lazy day at the beach. Favorite tracks: Queen of California, Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967

2. Privateering - Mark Knopfler: I've been a fan of the erstwhile Dire Straits frontman's solo work since 1996, have all of his albums and one thing has remained remarkably consistent over the last 16 years: the guy can not release a bad collection of songs. His new one, a 20-track, Celtic-infused double album, is no exception. This is another set I haven't stopped listening to since I got it. Favorite tracks: Miss You Blues, Go Love

3. Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen: The Boss' 17th studio album, his fifth in the last seven years, is a timely 11-track mix of folk-tinged arena rockers and recession-themed ballads that prove America's favorite Jersey boy is just as relevant today as he was 40 years ago. I actually saw him perform live last week, my fifth such occasion over the past 20 years, and the 62-year-old is nothing short of a miracle: simply the best live performer on the planet. Favorite tracks: Shackled and Drawn, Wrecking Ball

4. Blunderbuss - Jack White: Jack White's first solo album since the White Stripes disbanded last year is an infectious, wildly original 13-song set that gets you moving from the opening track and doesn't let up until the needle slips off the disc 40 minutes later. We knew going in that White was a great musician. With Blunderbuss, he emerges an artist. Favorite tracks: Sixteen Saltines, I'm Shakin'

5. Tempest - Bob Dylan: My wife always laughs when I tell her a new Dylan album is coming out. Granted the 71-year-old's voice may a bit gravelly and incoherent at times, but there's no denying he's still a great musician and songwriter. His 35th studio album offers 10 richly textured folk tracks, half of which are over seven minutes in length, that seem just as pertinent and impassioned as anything he's done in the last 50 years. Favorite tracks: Duquesne Whistle, Tempest


Next Week: Top 5 Blu-rays of 2012

Five Autumn Films Worth Falling For

You can probably tell from the lack of posts the last four months that I didn't see many movies this summer. Odds are you didn't either as seasonal grosses were down and theater attendance was the lowest it's been in 20 years.

Of the 209 films released from May through August this year, I caught nine of them, roughly two a month. Of the nine, I enjoyed five: The Avengers, Bernie, The Dark Knight Rises, Moonrise Kingdom and Robot & Frank.

Was it the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado that draped a dark shroud over the season and kept people at home? Perhaps (I can tell you I sure felt uncomfortable going to movies and writing about them after that). Perhaps it was just the rising costs of seeing a crappy, uninspiring film in the company of a bunch of inconsiderate, text-happy patrons; especially when you can wait 90 days and see it in the comfort of your own home for virtually the same price, if not cheaper.

Whatever the reasons, the studios have four months to get moviegoers back in theaters and help their bottom lines. The good news is they've got some worthwhile offerings this fall that just might bring the masses back. Below are five I'm putting my money on (in order of release).

The Master: Paul Thomas Anderson, the acclaimed auteur of Boogie Nights, Magnolia and There Will Be Blood, returns with his first original feature in five years. This one takes place in the '50s and centers around a volatile WWII veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) and his relationship with a magnetic author and spiritual guru (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Hoffman denies the reports that the film is inspired by L. Ron Hubbard and the early days of Scientology. Whoever or whatever the muse, anything Anderson does is worth seeing in a theater opening weekend. As an added bonus, select locations will screen 70mm prints. (Sept. 14)

Flight: Robert Zemeckis returns with his first traditional live-action film since 2000's Cast Away. This one features Denzel Washington as a airline pilot who miraculously saves a plane-load of passengers from certain doom only to have his alcoholism placed on trial. Sounds a little depressing, I know, but Zemeckis is a true craftsman who knows how to make tough subjects entertaining as well as thought-provoking. And Washington is....well, he's Denzel. (Nov. 2)

Lincoln: Sure it's directed by one S. Spielberg, sports a script by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner and features a cast that includes David Stathairn, John Hawkes and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. But all you really need to know is how utterly amazing Daniel Day-Lewis looks as our 16th president (take a gander at the poster above for proof). As far as the story, I don't care if Honest Abe is hunting vampires, selling vacuums or teaching yoga, I'm there opening week, as you should be. (Nov. 9)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Peter Jackson returns to Tolkien's Middle Earth for this Lord of the Rings prequel, this time telling the story of hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he accompanies a group of dwarves on a perilous journey to reclaim a dragon-guarded treasure. Guillermo del Toro was initially attached to direct but bowed out due to scheduling conflicts. While I'm a fan of del Toro's work, this was always Jackson's story to tell. If there's one film the rest of the year that will bring people back to theaters, this is it. ( Dec. 14 )

Django Unchained: It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since video store clerk Quentin Tarantino exploded on the scene with Reservoir Dogs. Seven films and an Oscar later, he's still one of the most wildly entertaining and original filmmakers working today. His new one's a spaghetti-infused Western and features Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) as a bounty hunter who enlists the help of a slave called Django (Jamie Foxx) to help track down his quarry, the same men as it turns out who abducted Django's wife. Throw in that great Tarantino dialog and Leonardo DiCaprio as a nefarious plantation owner and we've got a Christmas present that won't require a gift receipt. ( Dec. 25 )

Five more that look intriguing: Trouble With the Curve (Sept. 21), Looper (Sept. 28), Argo (Oct. 12), Killing Them Softly (Oct. 19) and Hyde Park on Hudson ( Dec. 7)