Ava DuVernay talks at Sundance

I came across this great post on Awards Daily.  It includes an eight-minute video excerpt of Ava DuVernay's talk at Sundance as well as links to the longer interviews on Democracy Now.  At one point, DuVernay comments that the problem is not so much about an Oscar omission for "Selma", but more about the fact that "Selma shouldn't have been the only hope for faces of color in this kind of celebration of film".  It really does start on a larger level with the types of films that studios are willing to finance and distribute.  The representation of minorities in film still needs increased visibility and the opportunities given to female directors and writers just aren't where they should be.  I hope this changes in the coming years.  

SAG Awards night honors diverse performances

From the cheesy announcer opening to the "I'm an actor"stories from the tables, the SAG Awards are always an entertaining night.  The fact that they are much shorter than the Golden Globes or Oscars with no host or musical numbers quickens the pace of things and you can always feel the love in the room as the actors celebrate their peers.

On the television side, it was great to see the whole cast of "Orange is the New Black" up on stage.  Every actor is so critical in the success of that show and the way that the characters bounce off of each other is what makes it such a must-see.  Uzo Aduba's win was a wonderful surprise too, and it was nice to see her take the stage after telling her story how she got her SAG card on "Orange".  Wins from Mark Ruffalo for "A Normal Heart" and Frances McDormand for "Olive Kitteridge" were for some of the best acting work I saw this past year.

For film work, the ensemble of "Birdman" continued the surge of their film after a Producers Guild Award win on Saturday night.  Julianne Moore, J.K. Simmons and Patricia Arquette also kept their streaks alive after previous Globe and critics group wins.  Eddie Redmayne and Michael Keaton looked neck and neck heading into the the night, but Redmayne was the one who claimed the Best Actor trophy.  I think it will still be a tight race heading into BAFTA and Oscar night.  I've been a fan of Redmayne's work since I first saw him in the 2008 indie film "Savage Grace" with....Julianne Moore.  A great year for both.

Zach Galifinakis getting a quick joke from Julianne Moore's acceptance speech and spouting "When I was on As the World Turns..." proved a very funny end to the evening.

Check out a complete list of the SAG Awards winners here at HitFix.

10 films I wish I was seeing at Sundance...

The Sundance Film Festival kicked off Thursday in Park City, Utah.  Here are ten films I wish I was there to check out!

1.  The Stanford Prison Experiment - Featuring a huge ensemble cast that includes Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan, Olivia Thirlby and Michael Angarano, "The Stanford Prison Experiment"is the intense story of a 1971 mock prison experiment that examined psychology and involved twenty-four undergraduate students.  Billy Crudup plays Dr. Philip Zimbardo who headed the study.  This sounds like an intense viewing experience.

2.  Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief - Alex Gibney's new documentary exposes the world of Scientology as he interviews eight former members.  From their personal experiences, to the origins of the church and its practices, this sounds like another unforgettable documentary from the filmmaker.  Based on the book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright.

3.  Lila & Eve - Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez play Lila and Eve, two grieving mothers whose children were killed on the same night.  They join forces to seek justice in what sounds like an emotional thriller.

4.  Diary of a Teenage Girl - Based on the reaction coming out of the festival today, this seems like the film to see.  Newcomer Bel Powley is getting rave reviews for this coming-of-age story about a girl in 1970's San Francisco who engages in an affair with her mother's boyfriend.  Alexander Skarsgârd, Kristen Wiig and Christopher Meloni also star.

5.  True Story - James Franco plays Christian Longo who was on the FBI's most wanted list for the murder of his wife and three children and hid under the identity of journalist Michael Finkel.  The real Finkel (played by Jonah Hill) goes to interview Longo.  Oscar-nominee Felicity Jones plays a supporting role.

6.  The End of the Tour - Jason Segal plays author David Foster Wallace on tour after the publication of his novel Infinite Jest.  The film details his five-day interview with Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky, played by Jesse Eisenberg.  The film debuted yesterday and buzz is high.  I'm a big fan of director James Ponsolt ("The Spectacular Now") and this is a film I expect we'll be hearing a lot more about upon release.

7.  The Hunting Ground - I recently posted the trailer for this new documentary from Kirby Dick that exposes the horrible pattern of sexual assault taking place on college campuses.  Bound to make me angry, I have no doubt it will be an important work, especially for the survivors as they fight for change.

8.  The Overnight - A couple moves to Los Angeles from Seattle with their son.  Looking to make new friends, they meet up with another family and a gathering exposes various aspects of the group as the night progresses.  The film stars Taylor Schilling, Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman and Judith Godrèche.

9.  I Am Michael - The story of gay-rights advocate Michael Glatze who later in life denounces his homosexuality.  An intriguing premise to say the least, the film stars James Franco, Zachary Quinto and Emma Roberts.

10.  Z for Zachariah - Craig Zobel is a director to follow, especially after his last feature film "Compliance".  Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Pine and Margot Robbie star in this film about a woman who believes she is the last woman on Earth following a disaster.  She then meets a dying scientist who is searching for survivors.  This sounds very different for Zobel and I can't wait to catch it.

2015 SAG Awards film predictions

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

The big one of the night and it's a tough call.  I'm going to go with the cast of "Birdman".  Michael Keaton leads a cast filled with well-written female supporting roles and Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough and Amy Ryan all nail it.  You can't count out the great work by Edward Norton either.  The talented ensembles of "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "Boyhood" are alternate possibilities to take the stage though.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

It's going to be a tight one, but I think SAG will go with Michael Keaton for his tour de force performance in "Birdman".  Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch are right on his heels though.  The degree of difficulty for all five performances is high.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Julianne Moore has been delightful throughout the season in every interview and on every show.  More importantly, she is loved by the people she works with and her work in "Still Alice" is difficult and layered.  If anyone upsets, I think it would be Reese Witherspoon or Rosamund Pike.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

J.K. Simmons has dominated the season for a reason.  His work in "Whiplash" is scary and unforgettable.  He is getting some of his first major industry recognition after a long time in the business.  He has worked with most of the actors who are going to be in the room.  Edward Norton's turn in "Birdman" may prove a possible spoiler.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

I think Patricia Arquette is a sure bet in this category.  She turns in incredible work in "Boyhood" and her scenes with Ellar Coltrane are raw and heartbreaking.  She is loved by her fellow actors.  Emma Stone would be the surprise win here.

"The Hunting Ground" premieres at Sundance tomorrow

Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival tomorrow, "The Hunting Ground" is sure to be an emotional and anger-inducing film.  After directing the powerful Oscar-nominated documentary "The Invisible War", Kirby Dick is back with a documentary that exposes the horror that one in five women in college are sexually assaulted and shows that the perpetrators are rarely punished.  You can read more about the film here on the Sundance Film Festival website.  The trailer is below.

Ida: Past, present and future revelations

In the haunting "Ida", Anna (Agata Trzebuchowska) plays a novice nun in 1960's Poland who as an orphan has spent her life raised in a convent.  Before she goes to take her vows, her Mother Superior encourages that she meet with a relative, a stranger to Anna.  Her aunt Wanda (Agata Kulesza) becomes the family she has never known.  Wanda is a judge and Communist Party member, an alcoholic and promiscuous woman whose troubles seem deeply embedded.  Wanda's life has positioned her worlds away from her young niece, but she holds shattering secrets and reveals to Ida stark truths about their family history.  "Ida" unfolds slowly and with stretches of little dialogue, but is incredibly affecting.  Sometimes it is even the slightest look that conveys the deepest meaning to what a character is feeling.  This is most on display in Anna's meetings with a young saxophone player at a nearby jazz club.  

It is no wonder that "Ida" has been noted (and Oscar nominated) for its haunting black and white cinematography, exposing a Polish countryside where you almost feel the bitter cold through the screen.  The film does an exquisite job in illustrating that life is a journey of discovery and that we must often venture into the unknown to fully uncover our own beliefs.  Director Pawel Pawlikowski has crafted a film that asks questions about how one processes and handles the truth about the past in order to decide a future path.     

"Ida" is now available for viewing in the U.S. on Netflix.  

Finding Vivian Maier - Hidden treasures

After finding out Tuesday that "Finding Vivian Maier" was nominated by the Academy for Best Documentary, I was excited to discover that it was available for viewing on Showtime.  Directed by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel, the film is a fascinating story that unravels like a life mystery as we are introduced to former employers of Vivian Maier, a woman who worked as a nanny for most of her life.  After buying a chest at an auction house, John Maloof acquires around 100,000 photographs that Maier took over the course of her life.  Her photos comprised a stunning collection of street photography that she never developed.  Other personal items left behind after her death included clothes, several short films, and small trinkets.

The best way to view this film is to go in with little revealed ahead of time.  Vivian Maier's life seems to have contained large spans of sadness and anger, but also moments of joy in France and with the children she took care of.  Throughout her life, there was clearly a true love of taking photos of a world that she was wary of in a lot of respects, yet also intrigued by.  A brilliant artist was there, either not wanting to have her art displayed publicly, or not having the means to make her lifelong passion a career.  "Finding Vivian Maier" made me think about all the brilliant talent and work in the world that lies waiting to be discovered or even hidden from exposure forever.  I highly recommend you seek out this film.

My ten favorite films of the the year

1.  Whiplash -  Yes, some teachers really are that crazy.  I've been there.  I haven't found myself in a situation close to the one Miles Teller's Andrew finds himself in with jazz professor Fletcher, but I've witnessed some crazy things being an arts student.  "Whiplash" was a film that as my friend and I walked out of the theatre, I knew I had really enjoyed.  We both talked about our connection to the film in terms of our own experiences with teachers who had been overly aggressive in their tactics or had been out of line in their teaching methods.  Immediately, the film started a discussion.  I just didn't know how much I loved it and that it would stay with me for months to come.  Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons turn in performances for the ages.  I had to remember to breathe when the credits rolled.

2.  Pride - A beautifully made British indie about a group of lesbian and gay activists who work with the miners during the strike of 1984.  The relationship between the two groups is dynamic and every performance in the film feels so lived-in.  With one of the best ensembles I've seen on screen, "Pride" will be a film I revisit in the years to come.  All of the characters feel so complex and human that I often felt as if I was just watching from a nearby doorway as they strategized and planned their next move as a group.  I highly recommend you seek out this small gem of a film.

3.  Nightcrawler - 2014 was a year that I thought a lot about the role of media.  "Nightcrawler" didn't do anything to change that.  Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, and Riz Ahmed do haunting work with a great script by Dan Gilroy.  The film made me think about the abuse of power, the shocking way in which people in the news business look to profit from tragedy, and the unfortunate tactics they use to rise above their competition.

4.  The Imitation Game - I find the time of Alan Turing and the breaking of the Enigma codes incredibly fascinating.  This film was right in my wheelhouse and Benedict Cumberbatch's performance captures the complexity of Turing living in a time when his personality was not understood and he was unable to be open about his sexuality.  Keira Knightley brings a wonderful sense of compassion as Turing's co-worker and friend Joan Clarke.  If only those who brought him down and drove him to his end could have seen the genius he was during his life, and how much he would add to the world's technological growth.  The production design, script, score, costumes, direction and performances are all top-notch.

5.  Wild - I actually read the "Wild" novel before my viewing and was anxious to see how the memory time jumps would be captured on film.  Although a couple of Cheryl Strayed's relationships to people on the trail were sacrificed, I think director Jean-Marc Vallée did great justice to her story.  Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern's mother-daughter relationship is complicated and beautiful.  "Wild" makes us think about our own life journey and how we choose to process the often painful events that can sometimes lead to true personal growth.

6.  Selma - "Selma" managed to put me through every emotion in the book.  Ava DuVernay composes a film with many powerful moments brought to life by a towering performance by David Oyelowo and his fellow cast members, who perform even the smallest of roles to heartrending effect.  The current relevance of the film made me sad and angry, but hopeful in change that change.  She hasn't been singled out much this year, but Carmen Ejojo's work is lovely.  She may not get the one big dramatic scene, but her moments with her husband are drenched in a deep, personal history.  "Selma" is a difficult watch, but an important one.  

7.  Gone Girl - I love David Fincher's work.  Rosamund Pike's Amy is unforgettable and she skillfully handles Amy's persona and the sociopathic ways she proceeds in her fractured marriage.  The performances from the whole cast hit their mark in just exactly the right way, with the environment constantly changing as the case unfurls.  Although there is much debate, I think "Gone Girl" touches on the side of humanity that shouldn't always be shied away from.  A sense of comfort in this type of film and its characters is perhaps not the goal.  I found myself walking around for days after wondering - do we ever really know anyone?  Creepy, yes.

8.  Boyhood - Richard Linklater once again proves that he has an uncanny ability to show what it means to be human, in particular the way that we grapple with love or family relationships.  My own childhood was nothing like young Mason's, yet I still was able to relate to the questions he asked and the feelings he went through.  "Boyhood" reminds us to appreciate life's seminal moments and the preciousness of time.

9.  The LEGO Movie - I'm a lifelong Disney kid and the Warner Bros. animated film is one of my favorites of the year?  Correct.  The incredible imagination that went into the making of this film and the great laughs it provided me on a cold day were welcome and unexpected.  The joy of different LEGO worlds meeting and Chris Pratt's voice performance as Emmet Brickowski resulted in a truly delightful viewing experience.

10.  X-Men: Days of Future Past - My last slot goes to my true inner nerd.  This almost went to "Guardians of the Galaxy", which I really enjoyed, but I found the newest "X-Men" installment to be a total blast.  If you looked at me during the big Quicksilver scene, you would have seen a goofy smile plastered across my face.  "X-Men" reminds me of watching the cartoon on Saturday mornings in my pajamas, and the last two films have captured that same sense of excitement for me.

Thoughts on this year's Oscar nominations

Oscar nominations were announced this morning and you can find the full list here.

Let's start with the positive.  I was delighted to see Laura Dern recognized this morning for her work in "Wild".  Although her screen time was limited, she was able to give the character surprising depth.  Her impact was truly felt which is so important for Reese Witherspoon's Cheryl Strayed character.  It was also nice to see Wes Anderson get his first directing recognition for his wildly inventive "The Grand Budapest Hotel".  Many who even haven't been fans of Anderson's previous work had a blast going on the adventure with Ralph Fiennes and company.

"American Sniper" was clearly a big hit with the Academy, showing us that late breaking films shouldn't always be counted out.  Clint Eastwood has been here before in a similar position with "Million Dollar Baby".  I'm really looking forward to catching Marion Cotillard's nominated performance this month in "Two Days, One Night".  She was the talk of Cannes and I'm glad to see that a lack of nominations throughout the year didn't impact her chances later on in the season.

What hurts?  Quite a bit.  "The LEGO Movie" missing was the shocker today.  It really makes you wonder what the Animation branch didn't like.  Did it come down to - "I didn't like the way LEGO people move?"  Let's hope not.  The wonderful documentary on Roger Ebert "Life Itself" missing out was also unfortunate.  I really thought the Academy would find the love for it.  I was hoping that Jake Gyllenhaal would show up in Best Actor for his work in "Nightcrawler".  Many would consider it career-best work and the film only found recognition in Best Screenplay.  Aside from that nomination and Rosamund Pike's Best Actress nod, it seems "Gone Girl" and "Nightcrawler" just didn't connect as much as expected after faring well with many of the guilds and critics groups.  Two of the best pictures of the year in my mind.

The most disappointing moment of the morning for me was no nomination for "Selma" director Ava DuVernay.  Her work on that picture was incredible and she was able to make something so emotionally-charged and relevant to today's world.  Her astounding leading man David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King, Jr. also found himself without a nomination.  I was frankly relieved to see it in for Best Picture.  It's also disheartening to think that there was not a single Best Picture nominee this year led by a female.  There was also not a single person of color nominated for acting this year, the first time this has happened since 1998!  Anyone who was expecting a female writer to be nominated with Gillian Flynn's great and much talked about "Gone Girl" script were also left wondering what happened.

I found 2014 to be a great year in film, but I don't think this was reflected in the Academy's choices this time around.  Time to cheer me up Neil Patrick Harris!  We will see how it all shakes out on February 22nd.