The Monica Edwards Weblog

Just when legendary filmmaker Quentin Tarantino had seemed to have had enough with Cannes, organizers of the event announced last Thursday that he will be teaching this year’s Cinema Masterclass.

It is no doubt that the living icon will have more than enough to teach upcoming directors, for he himself has not only won the 1994 Palme d’Or award for Pulp Fiction, but also appeared as a judge for the festival in 2004. Along with his overwhelming accomplishments, Tarantino’s affinity and love for film have always made his interviews and speaking events quite memorable for fans everywhere.

Previous teachers of the Masterclass include Sydney Pollack, Stephen Frears and most recently, Martin Scorsese.

Who knows, perhaps this will push him to finish Inglorious Bastards, eh?

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Listen up, you entertainment junkies. Once again, the real world has encroached upon our precious escapist media.

The Hollywood Reporter is (aptly) reporting that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will shirk tradition next year and announce its nominations a full two days later than usual. Since 2004, when the Oscars were moved from March to February, the nominations have been revealed on a Tuesday in the middle of January. However, the planned date conflicts with the upcoming Presidential Inauguration and has been rescheduled.

I personally applaud the Academy for having the foresight to avoid such a conflict of attention—some would likely have trouble deciding which to watch live and which to read in the following day’s paper. One can only imagine, though, a future in which a newly sworn-in president, filled with pride and hope for the future, would turn to his or her constituents and say: “And now, the nominees for best actor.”

Come on, think of the ratings!

Click to continue reading Presidential Inauguration to Delay Oscar Noms

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Last night’s Best Actor categories were as predictable as the Best Actress races were surprising.  Yesterday’s ceremony was also as disappointing as it was routine.

For months now, we’d been hearing about several plans being orchestrated for the Academy Awards.  If the writers’ strike was still in effect, the producers swore the telecast would continue with packages that celebrated Oscar’s 80-year history.  Interestingly enough, even with the scribes back at work, the show was still horribly written and crammed with unnecessary fillers.  (Even I could have penned ‘the always Fantastic...Jessica Alba’.)

As it was, the winners appeared to have been given less time last night to accept their awards than ever.  (Which may or may not have been a good thing.) But did Javier Bardem really need to rush his lovely speech to his mother?  Did the organizers have to reshow the previous awards presentations?  Did the AMPAS President really need to waste time explaining how the selection process is done??

Click to continue reading Memorable Moments from the Unmemorable Academy Awards

Read More | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

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Lindsay Lohan - the recent focus of a nude pictorial - has just now earned a heap of awards for her turn as a stripper.  Unfortunately, it’s not the kind of merits she was hoping to achieve.

While Hollywood will be celebrating the Best of the Best today, Lohan will have to deal with being this year’s Worst of the Worst.  Her last completed film, I Know Who Killed Me, garnered a record eight statues at yesterday’s 28th Annual Golden Raspberry Awards.  Up until now, the most any film had attained was seven.  (Both Showgirls and Battlefield Earth have reached that mark.)

Lohan, like Eddie Murphy, earned three awards yesterday for their acting work.  Lohan tied herself for Worst Actress while also scoring one for Worst Screen Couple (since she played two characters).  Murphy snagged his trophies for his three roles in Norbit.  (Dreamgirls seems oh so long ago now.)

Congratulations to this year’s winners…

Read More | Golden Raspberry Award Foundation

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Both film and book nerds alike have been watching cult author Chuck Palahniuk‘s every move since Fight Club was released in theaters. While all of his novels are fully capable of becoming both marketable and move theater-friendly, his fourth novel, Choke, has finally seen the light of day past the production floor. With Fox Searchlight having bought the film for $5 million and it winning a Best Ensemble Cast jury award at Sundance, the Choke crew and Palahniuk fans everywhere cannot be more ecstatic about the film’s release date of August 1, 2008.

Although the film is Clark Gregg’s directorial debut, he has certainly been no stranger to the industry nor the project, having gone through numerous obstacles to get his adaptation onto the big screen. His script is so good that even Palahniuk himself has done nothing but award it praise. With Palahniuk’s seal of approval and a lead cast including Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, and Kelly Macdonald, nothing can go wrong, right?

Click to continue reading Palahniuk’s Film Choke Finally Set to Release in August

Read More | Chuck Palahniuk's Official Site

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It isn’t too often we here at FilmCrunch get to do an official unboxing like our sister site, Unboxing.com. But I kind of think this actually one-ups their normal gadgetry, allowing you to get your vicarious thrills doubly—it’s cool and it’s related to one of this year’s best films, Juno. Case in point, I give you the Official Juno Hamburger Phone. Yes, that so-ugly-and-weird-that-it’s-cute-and-I-actually-really-want-one phone was handed to me as part of the film’s promotion, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

I haven’t had the chance to use it yet—I don’t have a landline—but I hear it works about as well as the one from the movie. Remind me not to use it the next time I call my local abortion clinic.

Check the rest of the meaty, telephony photos after the jump.

Click to continue reading Unboxing: The Official ‘Juno’ Hamburger Phone

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If the February sweeps period hasn’t offered you enough to watch on TV, here is a surefire way to fill up your DVR.  For the next few weeks, Turner Classic Movies will be honoring Oscar-nominated films.

The cable channel will devote one day of each week to a different era (e.g. Tuesdays/1940’s, Fridays/1970’s).  This, of course, all leads up to the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, February 24th.

Although we are already one week into February, TCM still has many films left to cover.  (Approximately 4-6 movies will be show on any given day.) Here is a list of some of those upcoming selections:

• MONDAYS (1920’s and 30’s): It Happened One Night, Mr. Deeds Comes to Town
• TUESDAYS (1940’s): The Red Shoes, Yankee Doodle Dandy
• WEDNESDAYS (1950’s): Vertigo, Roman Holiday
• THURSDAYS (1960’s):  2001: A Space Odyssey, Easy Rider
• FRIDAYS (1970’s):  The Goodbye Girl, Apocalypse Now
• SATURDAYS (1980’s):  Raging Bull, Ordinary People
• SUNDAYS (1990’s and 2000’s):  Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

To use their fantastic interactive site and schedule your own recordings, click on the link below.

Read More | Turner Classic Movies

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For coverage of the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, please click here for the list of winners on TV Envy.

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The Academy Award nominations have been announced, AMPAS is determined the show will go on in February, and everything seems to be moving toward the big night (the Oscar ceremony). But…is it, really? The Writers Guild is in talks with the producers, and all parties seem to be hopeful this whole strike might end. According to some nominees, that’s the only way they’ll even attend the event.

Tony Gilroy, nominated in the Best Director category, told the Associated Press he “would never cross a picket line ever.” Viggo Mortensen, who received the Best Actor nod, likewise said that if the strike continues he’ll not be on the red carpet. Others, like producer Scott Rudin, said they doubt there will even be an Oscars event if the strike isn’t solved beforehand.

The Academy, however, is sticking to its guns; President Sid Ganis said they will put on the show. That settles that.

Read More | Yahoo! News

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The nominations for the 80th Annual Academy Awards were announced bright and early Tuesday morning from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.  Assuming the ceremony goes on as scheduled, you can see the live broadcast Sunday, February 24th on ABC.

Notable additions/omissions from today’s announcement:

• Based on the major categories alone, it looks like Michael Clayton may be the frontrunner.  It received six nominations.
• Aside from one nod each in the Best Supporting Actor category, both Into the Wild and Charlie Wilson’s War were virtually shut out from the top prizes.
• Sweeney Todd - winner for Best Comedy/Musical at the Golden Globes - was shut out for Best Picture.  Johnny Depp’s nom was the only major accolade for the film.
• A much-deserving Amy Adams did not receive a nom nor did her film, Enchanted.
• Atonement - the movie with the most nominations at the Globes - only received 3 in the major areas.  The two main stars (Knightley, McAvoy) were also shut out.
• Cate Blanchett earned two nominations this year (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I’m Not There).
• Angelina Jolie was not recognized for her heartbreaking performance in A Mighty Heart.
• And last but not least, great news for (my personal) standouts this year: Ellen Page (Juno), Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) and screenwriter Sarah Polley (Away From Her).

Click to continue reading The 80th Annual Academy Award Nominations

Read More | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

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