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‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ nominated by the WGA

2009/01/08 at 12:00am

‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ nominated by the WGA

01.8.2009 | By Mack Chico |

Woody Allen received his 19th screenplay nomination from the Writers Guild of America on Wednesday, when he was named for his romantic comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” Allen, 73, has previously won the WGA award for original screenplay for “Annie Hall,” “Broadway Danny Rose,” “Hannah and Her Sisters” and “Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

Joining Allen in the original screenplay category are Joel and Ethan Coen for “Burn After Reading” — the brothers won the guild’s award for adapted screenplay last year for “No Country for Old Men” — Dustin Lance Black for “Milk,” Tom McCarthy for “The Visitor” and Robert Siegel for “The Wrestler.”

Nominated for best adapted screenplay are “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” screenplay by Eric Roth, screen story by Roth and Robin Swicord, based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald; “The Dark Knight,” screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer, based on the characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, Batman created by Bob Kane; “Doubt,” screenplay by John Patrick Shanley based on his stage play; “Frost/Nixon,” screenplay by Peter Morgan based on his stage play; and “Slumdog Millionaire,” screenplay by Simon Beaufoy based on the novel “Q&A” by Vikas Swarup.

Although “Dark Knight” didn’t perform well with many critics’ groups or with the Golden Globe nominations — save for Heath Ledger’s supporting actor turn as the Joker — the box-office blockbuster is still shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with this award season, having earned nominations this week from the Producers Guild of America, the American Society of Cinematographers and now the WGA.

Competing in the documentary screenplay categories are “Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story,” written by Stefan Forbes and Noland Walker; “Chicago 10,” written by Brett Morgen; “Fuel,” written by Johnny O’Hara; “Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson,” screenplay by Alex Gibney from the words of Hunter S. Thompson; and “Waltz With Bashir,” written by Ari Folman.

Though the WGA and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences haven’t always seen eye to eye on screenplay picks over the decades, the academy was in agreement with last year’s WGA winners: “No Country for Old Men” and Diablo Cody’s original screenplay for “Juno.”

The 2009 Writers Guild Awards will be held simultaneously Feb. 7 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hudson Theatre in New York.

Woody Allen won’t be coming back to film in New York

By Mack Chico

2008/12/31 at 12:00am

Movies

Woody Allen won’t be coming back to film in New York

12.31.2008 | By Mack Chico |

US filmmaker Woody Allen said Tuesday he hopes to shoot a new comedy in Paris next summer, continuing his recent run of choosing to film in European cities over his native-New York.

“I have always wanted to shoot a film in Paris. I have a scenario for Paris all written. I was going to shoot it a few years ago but when we came here and I started to put the film together, suddenly it became such an expensive film that I could not do it,” he said.

Allen’s last batch of films, including “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and London-based drama “Match Point”, were filmed in Europe.

He said financial problems should not derail the Paris project completely but added that he is prepared to film the comedy during the summer of 2011 in the event of more delays.

“Now that there is a new tax incentive in Paris we are returning and trying to see if it is possible to come again to do it,” he said after meeting with French Culture Minister Christine Albanel.

“If I can’t do it, then I will probably do another film in the US this year,” he added.

Golden Globe nominations are announced; Bardem and Cruz on top

By Mack Chico

2008/12/11 at 12:00am

Movies

Golden Globe nominations are announced; Bardem and Cruz on top

12.11.2008 | By Mack Chico |

This is what the Oscar’s might look like as the nominations for the Golden Globes were unveiled:

“Doubt,” which tied with “Frost/Nixon” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” for the most nominations with five, earned nods for all four of its main actors — Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis — but none for either best director or best drama. “Milk’s” Sean Penn received a best actor nomination, but the film — which the New York Film Critics Circle named the year’s best — was shut out of the best director and best drama categories as well.

“Frost/Nixon” earned a nomination for Nixon (Frank Langella) but not Frost (Michael Sheen). Both Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. earned supporting actor nominations for “Tropic Thunder,” but the film itself couldn’t find its way onto the best comedy or musical list. “Gran Torino,” the just-out Clint Eastwood flick that’s again earning the director critical plaudits, received its sole nomination for best song, which he co-wrote. (Eastwood also received a nomination for his “Changeling” score.)

“The Dark Knight,” the year’s top box-office success and the runner-up for best picture among the Los Angeles Film Critics, earned just one nomination, a supporting actor nod for Heath Ledger‘s performance as the Joker.

Then again, the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presents the Globes, showed some love toward movies that were generally overlooked by the general public.

“In Bruges,” a comedy that earned mixed reviews and had a quiet box-office run in late winter, earned nominations for best comedy or musical and actors Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. And Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” cleaned up — the film earned nominations for best comedy or musical and its stars Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall and Penelope Cruz. Allen, however, didn’t get a nomination for either screenplay or director.

The nominees for best drama are “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon,” “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road” and “Slumdog Millionaire.”

The nominees for best comedy or musical are “Burn After Reading,” “Happy-Go-Lucky,” “In Bruges,” “Mamma Mia!” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

The nominees for best director are Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Stephen Daldry (“The Reader”), David Fincher (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), Ron Howard (“Frost/Nixon”) and Sam Mendes (“Revolutionary Road”).

The nominees for best actor in a drama are Leonardo DiCaprio (“Revolutionary Road”), Langella (“Frost/Nixon”), Penn (“Milk”), Brad Pitt (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and Mickey Rourke (“The Wrestler”).

The nominees for best actress in a drama are Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”), Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”), Streep (“Doubt”), Kristin Scott Thomas (“I’ve Loved You So Long”) and Kate Winslet (“Revolutionary Road”).

The nominees for best actor in a comedy or musical are Bardem (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), Farrell (“In Bruges”), James Franco (“Pineapple Express”), Gleeson (“In Bruges”) and Dustin Hoffman (“Last Chance Harvey”).

The nominees for best actress in a comedy or musical are Hall (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), Sally Hawkins (“Happy-Go-Lucky”), Frances McDormand (“Burn After Reading”), Streep (“Mamma Mia!”) and Emma Thompson (“Last Chance Harvey”).

The nominees for best supporting actor are Cruise (“Tropic Thunder”), Downey (“Tropic Thunder”), Ralph Fiennes (“The Duchess”), Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”) and Ledger (“The Dark Knight”).

The nominees for best supporting actress are Adams (“Doubt”), Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”), Davis (“Doubt”), Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler”) and Winslet (“The Reader”).

Screenplay nominations went to Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”), David Hare (“The Reader”), Peter Morgan (“Frost/Nixon”), Eric Roth (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”).

The nominees for best animated film are “Bolt,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “Wall-E.”

The Globes also give out awards for TV series. Nominees for best comedy series are “30 Rock,” “Californication,” “Entourage,” “The Office” and “Weeds.”

Nominees for best drama series are “Dexter,” “House,” “In Treatment,” “Mad Men” and “True Blood.”

The awards will be presented on January 11. The show will air on NBC.

By Mack Chico

2008/10/08 at 12:00am

Movies

Woody Allen heads to Spain to perform

10.8.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Holidaymakers heading to Murcia over the festive season might cross paths with a movie star.

According to the Costa Blanca Leader, the actor, writer and director Woody Allen will be arriving in the region to perform with his jazz band on December 31st.

Allen plays clarinet in the group, which performs weekly in Manhattan, New York.

The star will not be the first famous face to enjoy the charms of La Manga, however.

La Manga Club has welcomed various big names over the years to its Celebrity Golf Classic.

Lawrence Dallaglio, Robert Powell and Zinzan Brooke are just some of the celebrities that have taken part in the charity golf tournament.

But one need not be a celebrity to enjoy golf holidays to La Manga Club.

There are plenty of opportunities for golfers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the world-class facilities, whether it be lessons at the academy or taking part in a game with friends.

Bardem Calls The Spanish ‘a bunch of stupid people’

Javier Bardem

By Mack Chico

2008/09/09 at 12:00am

Movies

Bardem Calls The Spanish ‘a bunch of stupid people’

09.9.2008 | By Mack Chico |

Oscar winner Javier Bardem lashes out at Spanish critics, calling them “a bunch of stupid people” in response to backlash following his Academy Award success. The Spanish actor sat down recently with The New York Times for an interview touching upon the criticism from his homeland, fame, and how he feels about his Spain. Read More

By Alex Florez

2008/08/13 at 12:00am

Reviews

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

08.13.2008 | By Alex Florez |

Rated: PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexuality, and smoking.
Release Date: 2008-08-15
Starring: Woody Allen
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA, Spain
Official Website: http://vickycristina-movie.com/

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Not so long ago, New York based director (at that time, anyway) Woody Allen once confessed to us that the reason there are never any prominent hispanic characters in any of his films is because he sticks to what he knows.Â Meaning of course, old Jewish families, upper class Manhattanites and chaotic love affairs that usually flirt with death.Â So what does Allen now know about Catalonia and Spanish culture in general that prompts him to set his latest film on the mediterranean coast? Other than that they will finance his films?

To answer my own question, I think the appeal for Allen has been the idea that such sexual promiscuity and emotional confusion also exists outside the realm of New York and in practically every single corner of the globe.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona, his first and most likely last film to be set in Spain, pits Scarlett Johansson (Cristina) and Rebecca Hall (Vicky) as two American friends who decide to spend their summer in Barcelona.Â Cristina, more of a wandering spirit, is always on the lookout for adventure, while Vicky on the other hand, is much more sensible and committed to her fiance back home.

But their radically different attitudes towards love are tested when they meet Spanish painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) and his volatile ex-wife Maria Elena (PenÃ©lope Cruz).

A case can be made that Allen has made this same film 35 times over (excluding the â€˜early funny onesâ€™). As usual, youâ€™ll find plenty of sarcasm, infidelity and yes, a few rounds fired from a gun.Â But the plot only sizzles when Penelope Cruz joins the cast.Â Her turbulent behavior is wildly reminiscent of Judy Davisâ€™ brilliant performance in Allenâ€™s Deconstructing Harry (1997).Â

Unfortunately, in this film, Cruz is the catalyst for an event that never arrives. The sense that something absurd, tragic and utterly hilarious would take place in the end, the way it did in Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) for instance, kept building throughout the film. Instead, it moves right along, one lustful scene after another, wondering what sort of statement it wants to make about â€˜loveâ€™ that it hasnâ€™t already.

Then thereâ€™s the mysterious voice over which threads the film together. Totally unnecessary given that it doesnâ€™t really explain anything nor does it provide any insight from an omniscient point of view.

The movieâ€™s funniest moments, without question, rely on the chemistry between Bardem and Cruz, giving way to the little momentum the film manages at times – making Johansson and Hall seem out of touch with the whole â€˜Woody Allen genreâ€™.

Hispanics however, will marvel at how well Allenâ€™s neurotic language translates in Spanish. While most of the film is spoken in English, the few scenes where Bardem and Cruz exchange a few words in, are hysterical.Â More evidence that these days, the international community seems to get Woody more than we do.