Monday, January 14, 2008

Matt Hughes Visits Borders Wheaton

January 10, 2008
by Zoda

"Matt Hughes was at the Borders in Wheaton last night signing copies of his new auto-biography, Made in America. Facing possibly one of the largest crowds yet. (I assure you that borders was not expecting that many fans, they were sold out of copies long before Matt even showed up.) Matt showed why he is one of the classiest guys in the sport. He was very great to meet and as many of you may know he has always been one of my Idols, and I don't use that word lightly. He signed, took pictures, chatted with fans and generally promoted good will for the great sport that is MMA. His book is off to being a great read too. So pick up a copy at your local booksellers and if you get a chance to catch him somewhere else on the tour leading up to the next UFC on Jan 19th... stop out and say HI."

Golden Globe Winners

There was no red carpet, no political speeches or worse-dressed sightings, but the Golden Globes still went on.

And the winners are:

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
ATONEMENT

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
JULIE CHRISTIE Away From Her

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS There Will Be Blood

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
MARION COTILLARD La Vie En Rose

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
JOHNNY DEPP Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
RATATOUILLE

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY – FRANCE AND USA

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
CATE BLANCHETT I’m Not There

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
JAVIER BARDEM No Country for Old Men

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
JULIAN SCHNABEL The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
ETHAN COEN & JOEL COEN No Country for Old Men

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“GUARANTEED” — INTO THE WILD
Music & Lyrics by: Eddie Vedder

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
MAD MEN

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
EXTRAS
BBC and HBO Entertainment; HBO

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
TINA FEY 30 Rock

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
QUEEN LATIFAH Life Support

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
JEREMY PIVEN Entourage

Thursday, January 10, 2008

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

National Book Foundation: "Based on the author’s own experiences, this heartbreaking yet funny story chronicles the adolescence of one contemporary Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he seems destined to live."

This is one of the best teen lit books I have ever read. I laughed throughout and nearly went for the tissues a few times. Adults and teens both should read this and learn from Arnold Spirit.

"Excellent in every way, poignant and really funny and heartwarming and honest and wise and smart .... I have no doubt that in a year or so it'll both be winning awards and being banned." - Neil Gaiman, best-selling author

"When my horoscope said I was going to meet someone tall, dark and handsome ... who knew he'd be 14! Thankfully for me Arnold Spirit is one of the funniest, most endearing characters I've met in a very long time. This book is so original, I laughed consistently from beginning to end." - Amy Sedaris, actress, comedian, and author of I LIKE YOU: HOSPITALITY UNDER THE INFLUENCE

"Arnold Spirit's offbeat coming-of-age tale will touch your battle-scarred teenage heart." - Megan Kelso, cartoonist

Sherman wins the 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Watch a clip on the New York Times Web site. Read the stories in The Seattle P-I (11/14/07), The Seattle Times (11/14/07), The New York Times (11/15/07), and Publishers Weekly (11/15/07).

See the True Diary page for reviews and to hear an audio file of Sherman reading from the book.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Sunshine

Dark days are coming.

Jacket: It is the year 2057, the sun is dying and mankind faces extinction. Earth's last hope rests with a courageous crew of eight men and women on a mission to ignite the fading star with a massive nuclear weapon. Deep into their voyage, out of radio contact with Earth, their mission begins to unravel and they find themselves fighting not only for their lives, but for the future of us all. with twists and turns you won't see coming, this pulse-pounding journey to the sun is a non-stop thrill ride.

I'm convinced that the best Sci-fi films were created in the late 70's and early 80's. Sunshine tried to be philosophical like 2001: A Space Odyssey and a thriller like Alien. Thankfully, this was a free rental for me. Cillian Murphy completely absorbs himself in any leading role and for that I watched the entire film.

If you need to watch a Danny Boyle film check out Shallow Grave or Trainspotting. I plan on renting his 28 Days Later soon.

IMDb: References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - Both the scene where Mace, Capa and Harvey jet from airlock to airlock is almost identical to the scene in 2001 where Dave does the same thing, and the part where Icarus 2s voice starts to deepen and slow when the cores are pulled out is very reminiscent of HAL singing "A Bicycle Made for Two" (which HAL incorrectly calls 'Daisy') as Dave turns him off. Dark Star (1974) - Character name (Pinback/Pinbacker). Also set on a spaceship carrying out a bomb mission. Alien (1979) - Character jokes about the film while entering the Icarus I.

The Mist

The Screen Door: "Frank Darabont’s adoption of the Stephen King novella may be a contender for my Top Ten list. Darabont meticulously directs this thriller that is far superior to I AM LEGEND as it keeps you on the edge of your seat even after the film is over. The ensemble cast includes a lot of familiar faces from Darabont’s other films (SHAWSHANK, GREEN MILE) and make the characters come to life. Whatever is in the mist outside of the grocery store they are trapped in is far more real and scary than any other Hollywood invention. A director’s film that you won’t be able to shake off." Rating: A

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

The Screen Door: "Standard Hollywood popcorn fare that works well, but is ultimately forgettable. It’s engaging, makes the time fly by and is highlighted by a peek-a-boo performance by Ed Harris. But like most fast food, it goes down easy, but rarely leaves a lasting impression." Rating: B-

IMDb: "Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates (Cage) looks to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by uncovering the mystery within the 18 pages missing from assassin John Wilkes Booth's diary."

War

Jet Li and Jason Statham star in Lionsgate Films' War

Vengeance is the ultimate weapon.

I am at war with myself for actually watching this. As much as I love to look at Jason Statham, this slow-going action film tried too hard to be a drama as well. Rating: C-.

IMDb: " An FBI Agent seeks vengeance on a mysterious assassin known as "Rogue" who murdered his partner."

The Savages

The Screen Door: "Brutally honest with a small dash of humor thrown in, once again, Philip Seymour Hoffman shines alongside Laura Linney who continues to devour all of the prime roles of women going through a mid-life crisis. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it’s an important one. The humor is very faint and as harsh as the story is, it doesn’t quite make it to the top tier of filmmaking, but still damn good." Rating: B

IMDb: "A sister (Linney) and brother (Hoffman) face the realities of familial responsibility as they begin to care for their ailing father."

27 Dresses

The Screen Door: "This was a sneak peak and after dragging my family to all of the films I wanted to see, I owed my Mom and wife. It’s not great, but it’s solid. Katherine Heigl is rather splendid in the lead but this is probably a rental for 99% on the list."

IMDb: "After serving as a bridesmaid 27 times, a young woman (Heigl) wrestles with the idea of standing by her sister's side as her sibling marries the man she's secretly in love with."

Charlie Wilson's War

A stiff drink. A little mascara. A lot of nerve. Who said they couldn't bring down the Soviet empire.

The Screen Door: "I had zero interest in seeing this, but I went and was pleasantly surprised. Philip Seymor Hoffman steals the film with his colorful take on a CIA agent. I found it rather engrossing and the supporting cast, which includes the radiant Amy Adams, was excellent. Definitely worth seeing." Rating: B

Wikipedia: "Charlie Wilson's War is a 2007 film about Democratic Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson, who conspired with a rogue CIA operative named Gust Avrakotos to launch an operation to help the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The film is adapted from George Crile's 2003 book Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History.^[1]"

The film is directed by Mike Nichols, written by Aaron Sorkin, and stars Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Ned Beatty. It has been nominated in 2007 for five Golden Globe Awards, including "Best Motion Picture."

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

No one was supposed to get hurt.

The Screen Door: "One of the five best films of the year. Brutal, bracing and biting all around with exultant direction from Lumet, boiling performances by Ethan Hawke, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marissa Tomei and AlbertFinney. It’s a crime thriller that turns the audience on their head. As we left the theater the other night NO ONE was up out of their seats three-minutes into the credit roll just because they could not believe how it ended." Rating: A

Roger Ebert: "Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" is such a superb crime melodrama that I almost want to leave it at that. To just stop writing right now and advise you to go out and see it as soon as you can. I so much want to avoid revealing plot points that I don't even want to risk my usual strategy of oblique hints. You deserve to walk into this one cold."

IMDb: "When two brothers organize the robbery of their parents' jewelery store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that sends them, their father and one brother's wife hurtling towards a shattering climax. "

Wikipedia: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is a 2007 film written by Kelly Masterson and directed by Sidney Lumet. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei and Albert Finney. The title comes from the Irish saying: "May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead".

Saturday, January 5, 2008