Showing posts with label Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas. Show all posts

The LAMB Devours the Oscars - Best Picture: The Blind Side

Editor's note: Welcome to the twenty-eighth of a 33-part series dissecting the 82st Academy Awards, brought to you by the Large Association of Movie Blogs and its assorted members. Every day leading up to the Oscars, a new post written by a different LAMB will be published, each covering a different category of the Oscars. To read any other posts regarding this event, please click the tag following the post. Thank you, and enjoy!










By Mike Cersosimo of Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas.

I'm going to be completely honest with everyone reading this. The Blind Side isn't going to win Best Picture. I'm sure some of you are disappointed to hear this, but it's the truth. This film is simply what is wrong with ten nominees. Am I saying this is a bad film? No. The Blind Side is a good film, but definitely not great. Definitely not an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture.

The Blind Side is one of the feel good movies of the year. It's based on a true story about current Baltimore Ravens' offensive lineman, Michael Oher. Actually, the movie is based on a book by Michael Lewis, which also looks at how football changed since Joe Theisman took a vicious career ending hit from Lawrence Taylor. After that hit, the position of left tackle became one of the most important on any team. Why? That player protects the Quarterback's blind side.

Though, the film focuses more on Oher (Quinton Aaron) and how he was adopted by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and Sean Tuohy (Tim McGraw). It also looks at Oher's friendship with his adoptive brother SJ (Jae Head), which makes the two of them on screen look like the next odd couple. It's a very Hollywood story structure and a highly predictable film. At times, it's too overly sappy (i.e. "This team is your family"). Still, it's effective in it's own right and the film is anchored by a great performance by Sandra Bullock.

It's a performance that has garnered her numerous awards this season and has made her a frontrunner for the Best Actress Oscar. Without Bullock, there would have probably been no chance for it to get nominated for Best Picture. She's really the reason this film is still being talked about this time of year. The rest of the cast in the film give forgettable performances.

The film only has two nominations (Picture and Actress). Really it should be happy that it garnered that much support from the Academy. I really want to write more about this film, but there's nothing else to really say. It doesn't belong in the Best Picture race even if Sandra Bullock may very well be named Best Actress on March 7th.

3rd Annual Oscar Contest

Hello everyone, this is Mikey Filmmaker from Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas (LAMB #34). My blog covers mostly the Oscars and I volunteered this year to run the Oscar contest for the LAMB. I'm actually merging my contest with LAMB to hopefully create a very large and competitive one.

We have some prizes for this contest. I live in Los Angeles, so I'm still trying to figure out a few Oscar related prizes. I'll have more information on these prizes in the near future. I do know Fletch has told me he is donating a t-shirt. I also know that I will be giving away $100 Fandango bucks to anyone that can break my Oscar record of 22 correct picks that I set last year.

Click HERE to enter.

Good luck everyone, spread the word, and if you have any questions feel free to contact me at MikeyFilmmaker@gmail.com

LAMB Leaderboard updated for April!

...and we have a new B.L.O.C. (Big LAMB on Campus). Technically, The Lightning Bug's Lair is atop the Leaderboard, but per the "no site shall own the B.L.O.C. spot for consecutive months, regardless of the stats" rule, Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas gets their banner featured this month (by virtue of having a higher pages/visit over Sarahnomics, who also delivered 65 hits).

Complicated, no?

In other LAMB Banner news, I've added eight more to the gallery again - if you were one of the eight, your banners now 'hang' proudly there and have been inserted into the Random LAMB Banner box.

Want yours in there? Just send it to me.

PLUG: Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas

My film school is having a competition and I need votes. This is a film that I made way back in 2005 when I was a junior. I graduated from Chapman in 2007 with a BFA in film production.

It is not my best work, but I want to try to win this just for the hell of it. The projects entered for this contest are called 3-2-1. Three pages of script. Two characters. One location.

You don't have to sign up. You just need to vote "Keep". It would be much appreciated. Below is the link. Voting ends on Thursday. Thanks!

http://beta.inmyshorts.com/video_detail.php?id=243&comp_id=45

For Your Consideration: Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas

There was mention of this in the comments section of the 2009 LAMMYs announcement post, but just in case you didn't see that, this is your official invitation: send me an FYC image and I will put it up. I don't care if I get one from 50 sites, I'll find a way to get them all up, and as soon as possible (the nomination voting period only lasts until May 4th!). And let this also serve as the first official hint hint to vote: http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/430540

The first in the series belongs to our Resident Oscars Blogger. Now, many people might consider themselves to be Academy Awards experts, but as Mikey points out, how many live within walking distance of the Kodak Theater?

The LAMB Devours the Oscars - Best Art Direction

Editor's note: Welcome to the twenty-first of a 24-part series dissecting the 81st Academy Awards, brought to you by the Large Association of Movie Blogs and its assorted members. Every day leading up to the Oscars, a new post written by a different LAMB will be published, each covering a different category of the Oscars. To read any other posts regarding this event, please click the tag following the post. Thank you, and enjoy!










By Mike of Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas.

Achievement in Art Direction
Changeling, Art Direction: James J. Murakami, Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
The Dark Knight, Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando
The Duchess, Art Direction: Michael Carlin, Set Decoration: Rebecca Alleway
Revolutionary Road, Art Direction: Kristi Zea, Set Decoration: Debra Schutt

It feels like any category without a Slumdog nomination is a huge relief for the other films. Especially, a film like Benjamin Button, which may get shut out (though I think that's unlikely). The Art Directors Guild announced their winners last week. They were the following:

Best period film design: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best fantasy film design: The Dark Knight
Best contemporary film design: Slumdog Millionaire

Even before the guild announced their winners, Button was the frontrunner in this race. This should only further establish that. On a side note, I'm still trying to figure out why The Dark Knight is a fantasy film. I personally think this should be one of the less dramatic categories of the night.

Changeling would be more of a threat if the film was better received within the Academy. I also think it's comparable to Button and that film's art direction is superior. Anyway, this is Murakami's second nomination ('84 for The Natural) and Fettis' second as well ('90 for The Godfather: Part III). Both are looking for their first win. When you watch this film, it just feels like a standard 1920s LA re-creation.

Button is the frontrunner in this category and rightfully so. It's very epic and the film spans almost a hundred years. That's a lot of different worlds to create and they should be rewarded for it. This is actually the first nomination for both Burt and Zolfo. I feel like if Button can only win this award, then this should be it.

The Dark Knight presents a different type of art direction. It's not a period film, but a comic book adaptation (or a fantasy film according to the ADG). The city of Gotham is dark and creepy at times. This is the second nomination for Crowley ('06 for The Prestige) and first for Lando. The last couple years the Academy has gone with more fantasy in this category (Pan's Labyrinth and Sweeney Todd), so that could bode well for Knight. I just don't know how much the Academy really likes this film. It was shut out of Best Picture, but landed all these technical categories. I feel like this film could either take home like five Oscars or one. This film could be a real wild card.

The Duchess is a classic period piece that almost always gets nominated for this category. This is the first nomination for both Carlin and Alleway. I saw this film and couldn't really get into it. The art direction and costumes were great, but will the quality of film hurt its chances? For costumes the film’s quality hasn't mattered recently (Marie Antoinette and Elizabeth: The Golden Age), but I don't see it winning here at all.

Revolutionary Road recreates classic 50s suburbia. This is the second nomination for Zea ('97 for As Good As It Gets) and first nom for Schutt. Like The Duchess, I don't like this film's chances. I love the 50's, but this film is greatly misunderstood by many people. It definitely is not liked within the Academy as it failed to get nominations for both Kate and Leo. It will suffer from that and the chances of a film like this winning would seem slim to none.

I expect Button to win this category. I wouldn't say it's a lock, but I'm fairly confident. A lot of people don't like this film, but obviously the Academy likes it enough to give it 13 nominations. While I don't see it winning anything major on Sunday, it should still win a few Oscars. Look out for possibly The Dark Knight, but I would consider that to be an upset.

The LAMB Devours the Oscars - Best Documentary Short Subject

Editor's note: Welcome to the seventh of a 24-part series dissecting the 81st Academy Awards, brought to you by the Large Association of Movie Blogs and its assorted members. Every day leading up to the Oscars, a new post written by a different LAMB will be published, each covering a different category of the Oscars. To read any other posts regarding this event, please click the tag following the post. Thank you, and enjoy!









By Mike of Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas.

It's somewhat comical that as a self proclaimed Oscar blogger, I got stuck with this category. I've been analyzing the Oscars since 2000 and this is one of the hardest to do. Why? No precursors. Also, most people have not seen these films besides members of the Academy, so it's difficult to know how each film really stands.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is I'm going to keep this really short (well, it is a short subject category). I'm not going to fill you with in-depth analysis when I simply don't have any. It's a waste of time.

I usually go off a couple things when predicting this category. First is word of mouth. Second is actual subject matter. I've actually predicted the last two years correctly using that very simple formula. So let's take a quick look and see if I can make it three years in a row.

Here's a short synopsis of every nominee that was lifted directly from the Academy Award's official website.

The Nominees:

The Conscience of Nhem En
In the wake of Cambodia's takeover by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, a sixteen-year-old soldier named Nhem En was instructed to photograph the tens of thousands of citizens who passed through a processing center on the way to their execution.

The Final Inch
Contributing to the global efforts to eradicate polio worldwide, dedicated individuals in India travel throughout the country urging parents to vaccinate their children against the disease.

Smile Pinki
Pinki, a girl in rural India whose cleft lip has made her a social outcast, has a chance for a new life when she meets a dedicated social worker.

The Witness - From The Balcony of Room 306
The Reverend Samuel "Billy" Kyles, a witness to Martin Luther King's assassination, reflects on King's life and legacy as he recalls the events surrounding his murder.

I like two films in this category. The first is The Conscience, which is directed by the only returning nominee (three nominations with one win in 1990). I feel like that shows that the filmmaker has some real talent and probably knows how to make an effective short subject documentary. The synopsis seems also very heavy and Oscar friendly.

The second is The Witness, which is a film that has the subject matter going for it. It's about Martin Luther King's assassination. With the recent inauguration of Barack Obama, a subject like this feels relevant even though King was killed 40 years ago. It's also the only film to take place in the United States, which helps voters relate to the subject even more. This film just feels like it packs the most punch and has the most going for it.

Prediction: The Witness - From The Balcony of Room 306

Again, this is a tough category to predict and analyze. Many times it's simply luck in this category. Good luck ladies and gentlemen.

I will also be doing my own analysis on all the Oscar categories. Feel free to check it out as I have a good track record. I'll also be putting on an Oscar contest and will be giving away a PRIZE. You can enter it HERE.

Okay, I'm done.

Summer of LAMB entry: Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas

Name: Mikey Filmmaker
Site: Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas

1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - $310M
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - $270M
3. Wall*E - $260M
4. The Dark Knight - $245M
5. Speed Racer - $165M
6. Iron Man - $135M
7. Sex and the City - $125M
8. Pineapple Express - $120M
9. The Incredible Hulk - $85M
10. The X-Files 2 - $80M

Guaranteed Flop: You Don't Mess With the Zohan (It's a stupid title and Adam Sandler looks stupid. Enough said.)

Rip Van Winkle Hit (sleeper): Son of Rambow (I've only heard good things about this film. It's been making a huge impact on the festival circuit. Don't expect it to make a lot of money, but it's a film few people have heard about.)

3 Movies I'm Looking Forward To:
1. The X-Files 2 (I watched the tv show growing up and have been
waiting for the sequel for the last ten years.)

2. The Pineapple Express (I'm almost done with the script and this
should be a really funny film.)

3. The Dark Knight (Batman is back and the sequel should only reassure
that statement. Looking forward to Ledger's performance sadly because
it will be his second to last.)

My Dinner With Andre, er, rather, My Weekend With Some LAMBs

A confluence of events led to not only a weekend spent with some LAMBs (virtually and in reality), but also to the usage of the word "confluence," which isn't one that I get to use very often. Let me explain.

To start off the weekend, I got an email from Mikey Filmmaker of Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas. Mikey had seen that I was from Phoenix, and it just so happened that a film he produced, I Saved the World from Global Warming, was being played at the Phoenix Film Festival (which, like the formerly titled Phoenix Open, is actually held in Scottsdale, but whatever). As a bonus, Mikey was planning on road-tripping from the City of Angels with some of his fellow filmmaking buddies to catch the screening. Mrs. Fletch and I were planning on hitting the festival this weekend at some point (since we're festival regulars these days), but this gave us a perfect reason not to miss it.

Global Warming was playing in one of two "Arizona Shorts" collections, so we headed out Saturday morning to see them. It tells the tale of a man that, some years past, came up with the solution/"cure" for global warming. The only problem is, he was barely recognized at the time for his contribution, and, all this time later, works as a forgotten high school teacher questioning what to do for an encore. It's a well-written gonzo comedy, with crude (but effective) animation mixed in. The two leads are hilarious, and the production values are high. As an eventual wannabe filmmaker myself, I enjoy watching shorts, mostly for inspiration, but also to see the diversity in quality that can be done on a (relative to features) budget. I can gladly say with no bullsh*t that Global Warming was far and away the best of the seven shorts in the program we saw.

As a result, we were glad to meet up with Mikey (aka Mike) after the screening. The first ever LAMB-to-LAMB meeting (note: not as kinky as it sounds)! Luckily for Mike, the co-directors of the film held a short Q & A session immediately following the screening, so we didn't have to interrogate him on the whats, whens and hows of his film. But we did get a little background and, more importantly, got to meet a fellow movie lover (and blogger), in what I can only hope will be the first of many meetings between LAMBs. I'd wish Mike much success in his future as a producer, but (seriously) judging by the quality of this one, he doesn't need my assistance.

To cap off the night, we popped in a recent DVD purchase - the complete works of unHeralded Films, also known as the brainchild of fellow LAMB Shea Sizemore and Paul Metzger. The guys (and gals) of unHeralded have put up their collection of shorts for sale on the site linked above for a modest $10, and I highly recommend it. It features the work of Shea (who serves primarily as writer/director), Paul (actor/writer), another fellow LAMB Adam Frazier (writer/actor/producer), Tim Grant (cinematographer/writer) and Krystal Liner (producer), amongst others.

The feature presentation here is their latest, Occupato. I'll let them describe it: "Occupato adds a twist on the horror genre. This is a tale of unexpected heroism and courage amidst the strangest of circumstances...and guarantees you will never look at a portable toilet the same way again." It's a beautifully shot, 15-minute (or so) film that features Frazier as its star (well, outside of the portable toilet). More importantly, with this being the latest and greatest, and with the rest of the collection on the disc, it gives the viewer an insider's gaze at the growth of a filmmaking team. From Shea's humble beginnings as a claymation director (Poo Hero) all the way through to efforts on a music video, documentary and a few 72-hour film contest entries, the progression is clear, as each film seems to add an element previously missing from the one before it, whether that be an original score, added camera angles, or access to greater props. My only complaint? I'd have liked the DVD menu to have presented the films in opposite order, guiding the viewer from oldest to newest, rather than vice-versa. Oh, and how dare they not put Poo Hero on the unHeralded filmography page. A travishamockery, I say!

Could there be a LAMB Film Festival in the future? Who knows, but with talent like this on hand, I'd certainly like to think so.

Sirens of the LAMBs: Sil vs. Bonnie Parker.

(Welcome to the third official face-off of Sirens of the LAMBs! If you have not done so already, please read the previous fights and cast your vote! Remember to base it on the narratives and not just a bias! Oh, and there is no longer going to be pictures to go along side the narratives. They're making everything out to be a formatting hell. Sorry.)

--------------

By Fletch from Blog Cabins.

Poor Sil.

Sil wants a baby. The problem is, she can’t seem to find a decent potential baby daddy anywhere. Scientists just want to “study” her body (yeah, right), and the guys she meets at bars just can’t keep up with her hormones. She found cops to be a good match, but sooner than later, they find out about her history and want to “bring her in” and/or kill her — neither of which will help her become impregnated.

So, our distraught heroine did what anyone in her situation would do. She called up her old friend Max Walker to see if he couldn’t bend the rules a bit (time traveling is strictly meant for timecops, as civilians are always screwing things up) and send her to another time where someone like her wouldn’t be judged so quickly or, you know, feared by everyone just because they heard some report on the news about some psycho half-alien/half-human megababe who kills just about everyone she comes into contact with.

Max owed her a solid, so he felt he had to help, despite his worries about killing the former mayor of Cleveland or JFK or destroying the space-time continuum or anything like that. Knowing that Sil wanted to go to a time when CNN and Fox News and things like that didn’t exist, Max sent her to the early 1930s (too early and she might not be able to assimilate). And just like that… she was gone.

When she exited her space-time hoopty, Sil was a bit disoriented. She’d hoped to be sent to a vibrant metropolis like New York City, but she found that she was instead stuck in the dust bowl of America, somewhere between Mexico and Missouri. Though this certainly limited the number of prospects available, her first impression of the people was that they were of a kind nature, so she politely decided not to kill anyone for awhile.

For awhile, things were going swimmingly. Sil took up residence in small-town Texas and found a job as a teacher. She discovered that, when not morphing between her alien and human forms, she had a real knack for getting children to do long division and write in cursive. A new part of her personality blossomed into the tulip Max had seen all along (and secretly longed for). Things were looking up, though there was still a drought in the man department, and she was aging at an accelerated rate, meaning alien menopause could strike at any time.

She was feeling particularly low one day, when she happened to meet just the man of her dreams. She was running an errand for the school, taking some buffalo nickels and two-dollar bills to the local bank for deposit, when a handsome devil of a man walked in. He was dressed in a suit and fedora and had the cocksure confidence that most men lacked in that day. Even better, he was burning a hole through Sil with his steely gaze. The only problem? There was something buzzing all around him — a gnat or flat or some such nuisance. Sil advanced towards the scallywag for a closer look at what seemed to be troubling him.

As it turned out, it wasn’t a gnat at all. It was a person named Bonnie something or other. Though Sil was fixed on the rogue (whose name was Clyde), she couldn’t help but hear some of the muttering that this “Bonnie” was making a fuss over (something about being in love with him and willing to fight for her man). With the speed and precision of a nail gun, Sil discreetly killed the “gnat.”

She and Clyde lived happily ever after.

(What — you thought there’d actually be a battle between those two?)

-------------

Miss Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow enter a saloon. They quickly get a seat to grab a quick bite to eat. While eating, a woman enters and walks to the bar. She pulls out a large wad of cash and orders a drink. This catches the attention of both Bonnie and Clyde. They see their next victim to rob.

Bonnie walks over to the woman. "Hello there. I'm Miss Bonnie Parker and over there is Mr. Clyde Barrow. What's someone like you doing in a place like this?"

"I'm Sil, and I'm looking for a partner," replies the woman. "Is that your husband?" (referring to Clyde).

Bonnie shakes her head and motions Clyde to join them. "I'll be right back," said Bonnie. She leaves Clyde and Sil alone at the bar.

In the bathroom, Bonnie takes out her handgun in her purse. She lights a cigarette and puts on some lipstick since she wants to look good when she takes Sil's money.

Meanwhile, Sil tries to make out with Clyde. After kissing him, she senses that he is not the right partner to get her pregnant. After realizing this, she kills Clyde as Bonnie comes out of the bathroom.

"Clyde!" yells Bonnie as her partner and lover is killed.

Sil is not paying attention to Bonnie as she fires her handgun and repeatedly shoots Sil. The multiple gunshot wounds knock Sil unconscious.

Later that night, Bonnie takes Sil to a secluded area in the woods. Sil's wounds may be magically healed, but she is a captive. She sits on a chair all tied up. The ropes make it impossible for her to break free. Her mouth is gagged with a cloth.

Bonnie walks over carrying a tank of gasoline, a camera, and has an unlit cigar in her mouth. "Now, let's take a picture to remember this moment," says Bonnie with a smile on her face. "I want to send this to the newspapers."

She places the camera on a rock and poses with Sil. She kisses her on the cheek as the camera snaps the photo. She laughs as she pours the gasoline all around Sil's body. Bonnie reaches in her pocket and reveals a book of matches. She strikes a match and lights the cigar. Bonnie takes a couple puffs and blows the smoke in Sil's face. Sil coughs as the smoke makes her eyes teary.

"Remember the name Bonnie and Clyde," Bonnie says. “We rob banks." Sil tries to move and escape, but there's no time. Bonnie throws the cigar at Sil, whose body burns in flames. Her screams are loud and painful. Her body slowly deteriorates to a charcoal carcass.

Bonnie walks away, eating a pear as the flames slowly burn in the background.

LAMB Chops (for the week ending Feb. 26)

With the LAMB growing to almost 50 sites, it's high time we take a weekly look at some of the best posts from the last week from our impressive, highly diverse group. I'm going to kick it off this week, but in the future, I'd like to get your thoughts on which posts (not from your site) should be the LAMB Chops for the given week. So, if you'd like to nominate anyone for the week of February 27 - March 4, please send me an email with the subject "LAMB Chops nomination."

As this progresses, perhaps we can start thinking widgets and/or any other ways to publicize these posts - I'm open to your ideas for this and any other LAMB projects (I'm specifically looking for cool alternatives to presenting the posts; I'm not sure I like the format you see below). For now, here are the Chops for February 20 - 26 (in no particular order).

To read the particular post that's been Chopped, just click on the picture.

Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas has some words for Ethan Coen.











Ferdy on Films' Rod Heath breaks down the history of the Best Picture (previously posted here on the LAMB).











The Center Seat counts down the best moments from Sunday's Academy Awards.









I'm cheating as this was posted on the 19th, but Dave's Movie Reviews takes an in-depth look at Run Lola Run (one of my favorites) as part of it's Foreign Film February.









Karlhungus.com has had it with anti-pirates (anti-piracy ads, that is).


LAMB #34 - Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas














URL: http://mikeyfilmmaker.blogspot.com/

Site Name: Spaghetti Sauce and Sweet Peas

What is the main focus of your site (reviews, editorials, news, lists, etc.)?
I do review of movies, news, and the occasional list. My main focus this time of the year (November to February) is the award season.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
I just like to write and love movies. I like to think of myself as a member of the film industry (even though I'm out of a job right now, but I studied film in college). I just have an opinion and I want it to be heard.

Do you prefer an interactive 'community' for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers are the students?
I definitely prefer a community. I like to read comments and reply to them. It's fun to hear different opinions and debate certain topics.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I started this blog up last May. I have been blogging in one form or another since August 2004. I try to post daily. The level of posts varies on what is going on. I've done ten posts in a day to one or two.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Boogie Nights, Bonnie and Clyde, and Sex, Lies, and Videotape.

How did you hear about the LAMB?
My friend sent me a link to LAMB and said it was a cool site. I checked it out and agreed.

Any additional comments.
I have also begun podcasting to give an even more in depth look at the award season. We're in the iTunes store! I also cover the occasional non-movie related issue, but entertainment is my primary focus.