Watch Kids Say the Darndest Things while Reenacting Best Picture Nominees

Forget all the lobbying and schmoozing that come with the Academy Awards, it's important to remember that these movies are supposed to be fun. Right? Ok, maybe not in the case of 12 Years a Slave, but even the grimness of Steve McQueen's historical drama can lighten the mood when performed by children. Cinefix have gathered up a bunch of kids, complete with oversized clothes, fake mustaches, and great wigs, to reenact scenes from this year's Best Picture nominees. So you can imagine how they look in vintage American Hustle gear, or giving a childish take on The Wolf of Wall Street. It's all cute and hilarious stuff, and the 12 Years A Slave bit is pretty clever, too. Frankly, I found the most offensive one to be Captain Phillips with a little boy waving a gun around. It's obviously fake but couldn't they have used a NERF or something?

Read More

The 7 Best Movie Duos of 2013

How can anyone resist a great movie duo? Whether they're romantic relationships, friendships, siblings, or bromances, no one can deny that these types of duos, when combined with great actor chemistry and great dialogue, can be what makes or breaks a movie. Movie duos can carry a movie, make us laugh, make us cry, connect with them, or just enjoy their banter. 

So, I've compiled a list of the seven best movie duos of 2013 that have been the most memorable. Once again, I admit to being indecisive, so they're in no particular order because no one is necessarily better than the other, though some might be dearer to my heart than others! 

Her - Theodore and Samantha (Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson) 

• Not many onscreen romantic couples can sway you with a few conversations like Theodore and Samantha did in Spike Jonze's film. Sure, Samantha's an artificially intelligent operating system, but their relationship is natural and full of witty and genuine moments that it's kind of hard not to like them.  

The Kings of Summer - Joe, Patrick, and Biaggio (Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias)

• Ok, so this is technically cheating because it's a trio and not a duo, but Joe, Patrick, and Biaggio wouldn't be anything without the other in some way. And so, I've gone and included all three of them. Initially, Joe and Patrick leave their parents and build a house in the middle of the woods, learn to be independent and grow. Biaggio doesn't so much tag along so much as he just kind of blends in. He's the middle man and weird persona who keeps the peace... and the humor. 

Philomena - Philomena Lee and Martin Sixsmith (Judi Dench, Steve Coogan)

• Judi Dench and Steve Coogan make for a great dynamic duo. Based on a true story, Martin Sixsmith helps Philomena search for her long, lost son who was adopted without her consent fifty years ago. Coogan and Dench have an easy relationship and although they seem to be polar opposites, their interactions are filled with witty banter and deep conversations. 

Rush - Niki Lauda and James Hunt  (Daniel Bruhl, Chris Hemsworth)

• Hollywood loves making sports movies, but it's been awhile since there's been one that makes you really feel for the characters. Ron Howard gets it right when he decided to make a film about the rivalry between Formula One racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Daniel Bruhl and Chris Hemsworth have an onscreen bitterness and hatred towards each other, but the duo respect the other underneath it all. Bruhl and Hemsworth prove that angry looks and quick-witted banter works regardless of the movie subject. 

The Spectacular Now - Sutter and Aimee (Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley)

• Rarely do teen films these days make any lasting impressions. Half the time, they make teens look stupid, shallow, and uninteresting. This film does the opposite and what makes the film even more special is the chemistry and relationship between Teller and Woodley. They have a natural and genuine relationship that builds on friendship before moving into romance. They make a great duo simply because they work really well together in all respects. 

Star Trek Into Darkness - Spock and James T. Kirk (Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine)

• Probably one of the most well-known and loved duos is the friendship between Spock and Kirk. That doesn't change in J.J. Abrams' reboot of the franchise nor in its sequel. Spock's logic vs. Kirk's emotionally-fueled decisions makes for a great balance and their constant banter makes for great entertainment all while keeping the momentum of the film going. 

White House Down - President Sawyer, Cale (Jaime Foxx, Channing Tatum)

• The White House took a double hit in 2013 with both this film and Olympus Has Fallen. But only a duo that includes Tatum and Foxx is worthy of any kind of respect. The film has drama mixed with humor, and a lot of it is thanks to them. If there was any doubt that Tatum's character wasn't qualified to protect the president, all doubt is removed when you see the two of them working side by side. 

Read More

Review Spike Jonze's 'Her' Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, and Amy Adams

How do we define love in the digital age? Has our Internet, social networking, mobile world made us less capable of true intimacy? Are we less capable of finding true love, or have our horizons been broadened to a whole new world of possibilities? Why is it that we seem to have a deeper emotional connection with our Iphone than with the people closest to us? There are a great many questions asked in Spike Jonze's observant and funny Her, a film that takes us through the familiar heartaches and joys of a relationship but from a completely different light.

In vivid pastel colors, Jonze cleverly introduces us to lonely, depressed Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), the best writer at BeautifulHandwrittenLetters.com, a service that provides deeply personal letters for other people to share. He speaks casually to his computer and the words come with ease for him, displayed neatly and beautifully on the screen. In this not-too-distant future version of Los Angeles Jonze has fashioned, human emotion and intimacy has been dulled so much by technology that it must be created out of thin air by others and then, yes, filtered through more technology. It's an introduction worth a chuckle or two, mainly because it's not as far-fetched as it seems, and in some ways recalls Joseph Gordon-Levitt's greeting card writer from (500) Days of Summer.

But there is no manic pixie dream girl in Theodore's future, he's wrapped up in his own pain for that. He's been unable to finalize a divorce with his wife Catherine (Rooney Mara), holding out hope for a reconciliation that won't come. They've been together all their lives but the divorce was bitter, brutal, and Theodore can't help but think back to those terrible final arguments while trying to recall the moments of genuine happiness. It's almost as if he's trying to prove to himself there was a time before the depression, in an effort to find that place again. He's not very good with people, as evidenced by the brief conversations with his boss (Chris Pratt), but he does have friends, mainly his equally-awkward neighbor Amy (Amy Adams, as far from American Hustle as imaginable). She programs video games for a living, which is convenient because he freely admits to being addicted to them, not that he finds them emotionally rewarding in any way. Everything changes when he sees an ad for the new OS1, hailed as the first true artificial intelligence program, capable of evolving over time. Intrigued, he buys one and brings it home, answers a few easy questions (not unlike an online dating profile, coincidentally) and is introduced to Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), the voice that will come to be his constant companion

Right away he's amazed at how engaging and probing Samantha can be, and while she organizes his cluttered life she also begins to grow into a real friend. She does more than help him out at work, talking to him through a little earpiece and seeing the world through a tiny camera stashed in his pocket, she also starts pushing Theodore back out into civilization. She encourages his ultimately disastrous blind date with a sexy, somewhat unstable woman (Olivia Wilde), and begins sorting through his best writing for a potential book. Eventually, that friendship begins to turn into something more, built on long late-night conversations of a personal nature. He takes her on whirlwind trips to show her the world, and she's genuinely fascinated just as much as he's enlivened by having a partner to share these things with. When things begin to turn to a romantic, and ultimately a sexual nature, it feels very natural; as natural as anything Theodore has ever experienced.

Movies about our destructive dependence and obsession with technology are nothing new; we had one just a few months ago in the badly misguided Disconnect; but Jonze's film is a unique, humanist take on the idea. The genius of it is how Jonze is capable of making us believe in this relationship as something real, looking beyond just the physical limitations and focusing on the feelings. And soon it's like we're watching just another relationship, with its blistering honeymoon period and eventual fall into comfortable predictability. As things become too familiar, jealousy and doubt become a destructive presence, especially as Samantha's circle of disembodied friends (including the mind of Zen philosopher Alan Watts!) begins to grow.  Jonze isn't telling us anything new about male/female interaction per se, what he does say is deeply felt and truthful, enough to move through what can be a slowly-paced first hour.

Shot in soft tones and given a soothing climate by Arcade Fire and Karen O's score, the film is both sad and hopeful, with humor that comes from a place of genuine warmth.  That warmth is embodied in another idiosyncratic performance by Phoenix, who shows a broad range of emotions in a role that requires him to be on screen alone for long stretches. It seems like ever since his return after the whole I'm Not There debacle, he's been delivering increasingly expressive performances, and we've never seen him like this before, covering the range from melancholic to joyful with equal efficiency. While Amy Adams is somewhat forgettable as Theodore's pal, it's Scarlett Johansson shows just how much can be done merely with the various inflections of her voice. Her Samantha is a fully-realized character, as much as anybody else in the film if not more so. If there's a case to be made for altering the criteria for acting awards nominations, Johansson makes it here and now with a performance that is more than worthy of recognition.

Jonze finds real beauty and genuine passion in the midst of the technological landscape, suggesting all is not lost for true love just yet.

Read More

New Clips from Spike Jonze's 'Her' Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson

We've come to expect Spike Jonze to deliver movies that are a little off the beaten path, and while his latest film Her certainly fits the bill, it's also one of his most deeply personal. The film, a rather quiet, unassuming romance, takes place in the near future and chronicles the relationship between the lonely Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) and his Siri-esque computer OS, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. As the film prepares to roll out in select cities this week, a handful of new clips have been released to get you ready for this unusual love story.

The four clips are actually quite revealing, as Theodore and Samantha (the OS's chosen name) battle with the reality of their feelings, questioning if those feelings even can be real in the first place. We also see flashes of Theodore's prior relationship with his ex-wife (Rooney Mara), his opening up to best friend Amy (Amy Adams) who is in a similar situation, and also how Theodore and Samantha interact when on a double-date. It's a film that won't be for everybody, and probably some won't be able to get around the concept, but others are sure to fall in love with Jonze's deep insights and unique perspective on love in the modern age.

Her opens in limited release December 18th, and here in D.C. on Christmas Day before going wide January 10th.

Read More

Cate Blanchett Sweeps New York, Boston, and Los Angeles Film Critics Awards

While it's almost always foolish to start prognosticating for the Oscars based on critics group awards, that has especially been true over the last few days. No one film has emerged as a dominant force, and that continues today as the Los Angeles Film Critics, New York Film Critics Online, and Boston Society of Film Critics announced their top honors.

Steve McQueen's moving historical drama 12 Years A Slave took Best Picture from NY and Boston, while LA did their own thing and went with a tie between Spike Jonze's Her (not surprising, really) and Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity. LA was wrought with indecision, actually, delivering ties for Best Director between Cuaron and Jonze; Best Actress for Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine and Adele Exarchopoulos for Blue is the Warmest Color; and another tie with James Franco winning for Spring Breakers and Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club.  Blanchett would clean up by taking home the award from NY and Boston, as well. So much for any talk of her losing steam. Chiwetel Ejiofor was honored with Best Actor by NY and Boston, while LA showed Bruce Dern some love for Nebraska.

Lupita Nyong'o continues to look like the heavy favorite for Best Supporting Actress with LA and and NY adding to her tally, while Boston went with Nebraska's June Squibb. What you won't find is much mention of American Hustle or The Wolf of Wall Street, with the former only winning NY's Best Ensemble Film category and producer Megan Ellison taking LA's New Generation award. Boston clearly fell in love with Nicole Holofcener's Enough Said, approving of her screenplay while also giving the late James Gandolfini a posthumous Best Supporting Actor win. The Best Documentary category may be moving towards a showdown between The Act of Killing and Sarah Polley's Stories We Tell. While 'Stories' edged out 'Killing' in LA, it was the latter that came out victorious in Boston and NY.

The full list of winners for all three groups is below. The Washington DC Area Film Critics Association will reveal their awards tomorrow at 8am. Follow the announcements with Twitter #WAFCAAwards13

New York Film Critics Online
Best Picture: “12 Years a Slave”
Director: Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
Best Supporting Actor: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Best Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
Best Ensemble Cast: “American Hustle”
Breakthrough Performance: Adele Exarchopoulos, “Blue Is the Warmest Color”
Best Screenplay: Spike Jonze, “Her”
Best Debut Director: Ryan Coogler, “Fruitvale Station”
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, “Gravity”
Best Use of Music: “Inside Llewyn Davis”
Best Foreign Language Film: "Blue is the Warmest Color"
Best Documentary: "The Act of Killing"
Best Animated Feature: "The Wind Rises"

Boston Society of Film Critics
Best Picture: “12 Years a Slave”
Best Director: Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave”
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
Best Supporting Actor: James Gandolfini, “Enough Said”
Best Supporting Actress: June Squibb, “Nebraska”
Best Ensemble Cast: “Nebraska”
Best Screenplay: Nicole Holofcener, “Enough Said”
Best Documentary: “The Act of Killing”
Best Animated Film: “The Wind Rises”
Best Foreign Language Film: “Wadjda”
Best New Filmmaker: Ryan Coogler, “Fruitvale Station”
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, “Gravity”
Best Editing: Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill, “Rush”
Best Use of Music in a Film: “Inside Llewyn Davis”

 Los Angeles Film Critics

Picture: “Gravity” and “Her” (tie)
Director: Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”
Actor: Bruce Dern, “Nebraska”
Actress: Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine,” and Adele Exarchopoulos, “Blue Is the Warmest Color” (tie)
Supporting actor: James Franco, “Spring Breakers,” and Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Supporting actress: Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
Screenplay: Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, “Before Midnight”
Foreign-language film: “Blue Is the Warmest Color”
Documentary/nonfiction film: “Stories We Tell”
Animation: “Ernest & Celestine”
Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, “Gravity”
New Generation: Megan Ellison
Film editing: Alfonso Cuaron and Mark Sanger, “Gravity”
Production design: K.K. Barrett, “Her”
Music score: T Bone Burnett, “Inside Llewyn Davis”
Douglas E. Edwards Independent/Experimental Film/Video Award: “Cabinets of Wonder: Films and a Performance by Charlotte Pryce”
Special citation: The creative team of “12 Years a Slave”
Legacy of Cinema Award: Criterion Collection

Read More

Arcade Fire-Backed Trailer for Spike Jonze's 'Her'

In a way it's extremely sad that Scarlett Johansson's performance in Spike Jonze's Her has been disqualified from the Golden Globes. Just because we only hear her voice and never see her on screen doesn't mean her character makes any less of an impact, and if the story is about anything it's looking beyond what's right in front of your face. It's about broadening horizons, not succumbing to the status quo, and I think the Globes have missed an opportunity to do something really special.

Anyway, a new trailer for the film has been released, featuring a score backed by Jonze's favorite collaborators, Arcade Fire. Starring Joaquin Phoenix and set in a not-too-distant future version of Los Angeles, it centers on a lonely man coming out of a bad divorce, who begins to fall in love with his sentient operating system's sexy computer voice. It's a very unconventional romance and probably won't be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who like to see love explored from a fresh angle (think Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in its quirkier moments) this could be for you.

Co-starring Amy Adams, Portia Doubleday, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt, and Olivia Wilde, Her opens December 18th.

Read More

First Trailer for Spike Jonze's Sci-Fi Love Story 'Her' Starring Joaquin Phoenix

With the arrival of fall also comes the expected run of Oscar contenders, and for the most part they are pretty easy to spot. But there also a number of dark horses that emerge, usually films that have a ton of potential but have been kept a mystery for so long they are tough to gauge. One of those is Spike Jonze's Her, a sci-fi romance of sorts that we've seen literally nothing official from until now with the arrival of a new trailer.

The unconventional love story stars Joaquin Phoenix as a lonely man who buys the world's first intelligent operating system, only to fall in love with the sexy female computer voice, which happens to be the voice of Scarlett Johansson. The trailer doesn't give too much away, playing the oddball premise straight with genuine human emotions of loneliness and resentment. The ensemble cast is terrific with Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Chris Pratt, and Olivia Wilde, but it's Phoenix who looks like he may be in line for another Best Actor nomination. Stick around for the end credits and you'll get a taste of the score by Arcade Fire, who collaborated with Jonze on Where the Wild Things Are and the short film, Scenes from the Suburbs.

Her opens in limited release on November 20th.

Read More